I love Dallas. It's a behemoth of a city that spreads out like a spider's web. There aren't any mountains or gorgeous natural vistas as Texans, at least in North Texas don't like trees. Anywhere there's a new development, down go the trees. I find it really irritating, because Texas really is beautiful. Think the Dixie Chicks song "Wide Open Spaces." That song just captures the soul of this place.
In the last decade, Dallas jumped on the bandwagon of downtown renaissance projects -the city's elite obsessed with competing against New York City as a cultural center. Texas does have this thing about bigger is better. The Capitol Building in Austin is bigger than the one in DC.
But for all the successes and very sad failures (They ruined Deep Ellum!), I think my favorite is the latest jewel to transform the Dallas skyline - and that's the new Winspear Opera House.
Designed by British architects, Foster & Partners, it's a gorgeous red building with a 60-foot glass facade that wraps around the building and includes a sky canopy on all sides. It's part of a $350 million multi-venue performing arts center designed to be the crown in Dallas' burgeoning arts district.
So, if you're in Dallas, be sure to check out the Opera House and Dallas' other little Joule. This Joule is a 129-room artsy boutique hotel situated in a "revitalized 1920's Neo-Gothic building."
The lobby resembles an oil rig and has some gorgeous artwork. Its main claim to fame is the infinity rooftop pool on the 10th floor which hovers over Main Street. The views are gorgeous. The cocktails delish!
Websites
The Joule - www.starwoodhotels.com
Dallas Opera - www.dallasopera.org
Dallas Arts District - www.thedallasartsdistrict.org
I love the Joule! It's great for people watching, plus it has a great view of the downtown area.
Posted by: Frogette | November 09, 2009 at 08:25 PM
Yes it does. They had a cucumberish cocktail that was quite good.
Posted by: Denise | November 19, 2009 at 02:47 PM