Know the game ‘Stadt, Land, Fluß’? A very common game here in Germany – sometimes enhanced with various other things to be listed like the common categories ‘Name, Tier, Pflanze’
(to be written down in short time, a letter chosen from A-Z!). Having returned from Dallas, TX (this time +1, Eva accompanied us), this game came to my mind. And why? Because of the sights we went and were taken to. Let us add then ‘bridges’ to the game, bridges I saw, felt and remember well from Dallas.
Bridges combining city and country, reaching out for new areas to be developed, new bridges like the one designed by Calatrava, a bridge realized in a planned triple of Calatrava bridges spanning over the Trinity River. The first one (Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge) is accompanied by the old one, re-designed by Calatrava, which is now in use for pedestrians to reach a new developed quarter with many different restaurants, even shops to discover. And serves, vice versa, as the portal to Downtown Dallas. The third one is still under construction.
We had the chance to be guided to this new area south of Downtown by friends – lots of different restaurants and shops. Outside or inside, be it rain or sunshine – you’ll find an appropriate spot. For us, it seemed to be a place for the younger ones more than for us as grown ups. Loud, not as cozy as we hoped for after a working day (have been to a NYC style Italian restaurant), and although the dishes sounded Italian they did not meet our expectations regarding the style of cooking.
However, we had fun – particularly when discovering that three of us had the same kind of purse (ha, ha).
Hey, but all in all, for getting out it seems to be the place. Do not forget to taste and take some of the delicious Weiser pralines – perfect as a gift, very tasty, hope there will be more flavors in the future.
Bridges like the Klyde Warren Park in the city center, covering the loud highway, giving easier access to the museum quarter (well, yes, sometimes you can leave your car at home or at the office and get into different kinds of recreation). We were lucky, it was not raining the day we visited the park, could sit outside and enjoy our lunch from the food trucks. ‘Want some coffee?’ ‘Oh yes!’ – Had good ones in the restaurant in the park, hanging around in the lounge chairs outside, Thomas and me reading the newspapers provided for free at the park, people spotting, Eva texting.
By the way, good to know that the ‘Lark on the Park’ restaurant still exists – modern American-Italian cuisine. Tasty.
Enhancing the park further to the North – that’s the plan. So let’s hope for even more funny experiences…
But put aside the pure archtitectural and city development plans bridges are connecting people at the same time.
Dallas Art Fair has been the reason we were in town, our ‘bridge’. DAF. DAF? Trucks? A German rock/ punk band? ‘Deutsch-Amerikanische Freundschaft’, German American Friendship. And if you write it like ‘DaF’ it means ‘Deutsch als Fremdsprache / German as a Foreign Language’. And in a way, being in the US, working at the fair, for the people I met, German really was or still is:
a foreign language. And for us, vice versa, German became, of course, less important during the days.
The fair, as always, relaxed and buzzy at the same time. Known and unknown co-exhibitors, visitors, customers… always exciting as you never know whom you’ll really meet, who will buy
or not. That’s sales business – on a distinctive level. Too risky for you?
Events framed the fair days – in the morning as well as in the evening. Visited some, others not. Attended the opening of the Irving Penn exhibition at the DMA (‘Beyond beauty’, until 8/14/16), a curated show with selected works of the Karpidas collection, the opening at the dallas contemporary, with works of – ladies first – Paola Pivi, Dan Colen and Helmut Lang (until 8/21/16). Do not forget to visit other galleries in this design district. Furniture or art, you will find it.
Hungry after work? Dining out has been easy for us, the quarter we stayed (Uptown West Village) provides several restaurants, Burger Bars and – veeery important in the morning – a fantastic coffee bar. Of course we had steaks – two times to be honest. Depends on what you like more: cozy, intimate dining or a more ‘hello, look at me’ dining situation or just steak. ‘Steak heaven’ as Eva pointed out.
Even super markets in walking distance.
So we could fill our fridge right away after arriving, but –
the super market’s buggy did not allow us to drive our choices home.
And what about moving around in the city? Well, of course, this is America, you have to have a car as the distances are far (remember: big country). Uber is the thing there, that’s a fact. No complaints, the drivers have been nice and we had the chance to sit in cars we do not have at all. Do the drivers earn anything? It is so highly favorable…
And sorry guys – Rusty asked me all the time when reporting to him – ‘And for me? Parks? Other dogs? Did you jog around? What about horse riding?’ ‘Rusty, you would be seen as a really wild one here, I tell you…’ – did not run the Kati Warren Trail nor did horse riding.
There ARE horse riding facilities. At least, have been taken to a ranch and horses.
Ah, the day at the ranch… driving far out north (thank you Mary Anne and Dani for taking us), passing the outskirts of Dallas, the fastest growing US metropolis, from motorway to rough surfaces; we were stunned as the land has been really green, flowers roadside and in the meadows, saw our first longhorns. Yes, still spring time in April; one cannot imagine that the summers are so unbelievably hot.
Had lunch in a Mexican style restaurant in the middle of nowhere (Well, ‘nowhere’ for us – for people living there this is normal I presume), nice starters (guacamole of course) – followed by several dishes – some really cluttered with cheese sauce. Had to be careful not to eat too much with the ranch visit ahead of us.
Oh, the ranch… not at all a Southfork Ranch look a like. Other style, more modern, not cozy, more martial in design (e.g. the rocking chairs outside). Filled with art of different style. Forgive my secrecy, can’t tell you more nor send pictures or drawings as the ranch will be featured exclusively in the PATRON magazine in October. Check it out – online or offline.
What about the horses then? Let’s talk about them. Corrals with equine shelters (when it’s too hot) and huge stables; boxes in appropriate style
(no open stables) – even with fans.
Wonderful horses. Quarter Horses and others.
Ah, have not been taken for a ride, but… We have been asked – on our ride back to Dallas –
after the fair, at the end of this day at the ranch: ‘What do you remember from Dallas
(or was it Texas)?’ ‘Horses.’ Has been my answer in the end.
Guess why? Even now, writing this article, remembering Dallas, yes, horses still.
They always impress me, and sometimes you are able to build a bridge even from yourself
to a horse, like I did, cheek to cheek… Unforgettable.
So, next time, guys, I want to be taken for a ride, or two, and more… Would love to see your
big sky full of stars at night… (sigh), and Dirk – he again did not show up (deeper sigh).
Back in Berlin, first question: ‘And in Berlin? Nothin’ had happened here?
‘Of course – the Gallery Weekend is over and many parallel events during the week until the 1st of May.’ And it is going on:
Hosted the Europäische Schriftstellerkonferenz, the Karneval der Kulturen starts tomorrow.
And a new release of the law against sexual harassment has been started. 20th anniversary of the non-union Brandenburg-Berlin. (deepest sigh)
and other bad memorial days… turning more and more into ‘normal’ memorial days.
And what about 1st of May in Berlin? Had riots? We are glad to say: NO!
(of course not ignoring that there had been some in other cities, right wing and left wing and other demonstrations this weekend)
CHEERS!