1508 Commerce St,
Dallas, TX 75201
… more pix on Google Maps, Yelp & TA
A cute and relaxed bar with a pool table, in an old building. The facade is beautiful. My red wine is served in a narrow bottom glass.
Pegasus is everywhere in the room, from the clock to decor.
From the entrance, the neon Pegasus atop the Magnolia Building (now known as the Magnolia Hotel) is very visible.
1428 Young St,
Dallas, TX 75202
… more pix & videos on Google Maps
This park has a large sculpture, depicting cattle drive, featuring three cowboys herding their longhorn, live size cattle of 49.
(1994.01.17 nyt Dallas Casts New Image, In Bronze, as a Cow Town – artists sued to stop the project … )
One of the cowboys, with the pegasus on top of the Magolia hotel to his right.
Pioneer Park Cemetery, with the Confederate War Memorial is to the east and then the City Hall.
… their city hall is rather empty, on this Friday afternoon: many staff is working from home.
This photo is taken from Dealey Plaza near the Grassy Knoll
300 Reunion Blvd E,
Dallas, TX 75207
… more pix n video on Google Maps, Yelp & TA
A circular dinner room at the top of the Reunion Tower, the 15th tallest structure in the city has wonderful views. I came after dinner, had a glass of wine at the left side of the bar, watching the sunset.
Female hostesses manage the reservations and monitor the dress code on the ground level. It bills itself as an upscale (rare steaks and fine seafood), however, it doesn’t feel flush but bustlingly touristy – glad that I had dinner elsewhere.
A crown block is a fixed set of sheaves (pulleys) located at the top of a derrick (or mast) on a drilling rig. The 561 ft (171 m) tower is known as ‘The Ball’, built in 1978, as part of city redevelopment with Hyatt Regency and the Union Station. The globe is often lighted in synch with the event in the city. Before Crown Block since 2023, it was Wolfgang Puck’s Five Sixty, but was closed in 2020 due to Covid-19.
301 Main St,
Fort Worth, TX 76102
… more pix n videos on Google Maps, Yelp, TA
Will return.
Chef John Bonnell‘s restaurant.
They’re near the Sundance Sq in downtown, on the corner of Main St. and E 2nd St.; high ceiling, industrial, pleasant on the eye.
Good stem Schott Zwiese (I prefer Riedel), mini decanters (single-serve carafes) … which might add a touch of elegance and sophistication (?) but, actually, I’d rather not to have my wine wash through one more medium …
Our female server looks seasoned, with a big seasoned smile. 
We’ve
After the appetizer she asked us if we’d like some bread … yes but no and I told her she’s a bad girl -:)
Well stocked bathroom, from hand cream to mouthwash – a good natured bitching: shouldn’t the mouthwash be the purple colored Total Care? ha ha ha … Thank you.
400 S Houston St,
Dallas, TX 75202
… more pix n videos on Google maps: EBJ Union & Union Station
Will return.
This has to be the emptiest main station of a city with over a million population. Small, clean, and used to host Wolfgang Puck catering. It renamed to Eddie Bernice Johnson (1934-2023), in 2016.
As part of city redevelopment, it’s part of Hyatt Regency & Crown Block. Of course, when the train head was planning this trip, she didn’t know, except saw the hotel, Hyatt Regency that is close to the major train station, Union Station.
However, the reality could have been better because there is a Tunnel, that links Hyatt Regency and the station: clean, well lighted and patrols by the city (once an hour), and it closes at 7pm.
But the hotel staff didn’t know, and the two valets directed us the Google Maps’ way: 8 minutes walk on the road, which isn’t too pleasant, because no one uses public transportations in Texas.
TRE train cost $12 one way to Fort Worth‘s Central Station, which takes about an hour, pretty much the same time as using Uber. Two double deckers are ptetty empty. Although the seat cushions are wore, but I enjoy the ride: a train ride is a train ride.
In the morning, we’re running tight and the ticket machine is broken … the chubby conductor told me to just get on. “Can I buy the tickets on the train? … or in Fort Worth?” He waved, “get on, it’s free.”
The announcement “Prove of valid fare is required” is repeatedly played in the PA.
I was worried, till I saw the same conductor …
10:30pm is the last train back to Dallas. The skinny conductor didn’t check our tickets either, just said “you’re ok.”
Fun Expo is in town …
… the tunnel
1001 Jones St,
Fort Worth, TX 76102
… more pix on Google Maps.
A small, simple and equally deserted (as the Union in Dallas) train station, in downtown Fort Worth. 8 minutes walk to Bass Hall. Apparently, the trains function well in Texas. Despite no one seems taking the public transportation. We take it back to Dallas after the concert, catching its last train, departing at 10:30pm.
We’ve lunch at Little Red Wrap, which is a solid 4 star restaurant with great service.
808 Main St,
Fort Worth, TX 76102
… more pix on Google Maps, Yelp, TA
Will return for good service and foood.
High ceiling, brick walls, booths and tables. They were willing to change one tv to French Open tennis – thank you very much.
The only down side is – two tv monitors are bid small but again, this isn’t a sports bar and my aging eyes are on the decline.
the conversation – DRC emergency services helps communities to fight disasters
We’ve Kale salad and Ruben – both are good.
Getting there at the tight time, it was only half full. By the time we almost done, it became full: the convention attendees are pouring in for their lunch. We would sit a little longer to watch Joao Fonesca’s defeat of Pierre-Hugues Herbert, but when the girl came by, asking if we need anything, we asked for the bill. She said ok and then proceeded to take the cream and sugar away. The manager (?) told her not to do it quietly and she put them back – I appreciated this kind gesture – thank you.
916 Main St,
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Rest in peace, President!
A dignified corner to commentate a former president.
I love these two quotes fm him
“We celebrate the past to awaken the future.” 1960
“A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.”
1502 Commerce St,
Fort Worth, TX 76102
… more pix n videos on Google Maps, Yelp & TA
A wonderful garden to rest up, especially on a hot day.
I went down and did little yoga meditation … I know I know – with the gushing water.
Fort Worth, TX 76102
2025 competition is the 17th, since 1962 – every four years, (he won International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1958 in Moscow.) It was held in Bass Hall.
A little yoga during the intermission.
The 2025 competition has 28 competitors:
the final 6:
5.29 Thursday, Semi final #2: two recitals (2:30-5:00)
Semi final #3: four piano concertos (7:30-10:00)
Chaeyoung Park, S Korea
Definitely not a bucket list for me but I did want to come for over two decades: it runs every four years. In the past, either forgotten, missed or Covid… So I finally put this on my calendar last year, voila, there I went.
For the Bass Performance Hall, please see my review on Google – just posted: good concert hall but very silly security process that feels like harassment.
Two semi concerts today (#2 and #3): two recitals in the afternoon (about an hour each) and four (30 min each): happened, all played Mozart’s piano concertos in the night session.
They all played well, polished and poised. (We went to Chopin’s in Miami this past January and the quality of the pianists were not as good – ok, Miami’s was preliminary and this is the final run.)
Between the two in the afternoon session, I prefer Aumiller over Wang: whose pasture is better and plays a little better too. Angel Wang has hunchback (?) which I thought could have corrected early on (his parents are musicians). The four, the lone woman impresses me the most (Chaeyoung Park, 27) who wears a yellow black dress like a bumblebee, which reminds me of Sunja in her youth, in tv series Pachingo.
A thought: did most or all the musicians in the orchestra have gone through this stage – competing to be a soloist? I appreciate them all, virtuoso or part of a team. An elite person in any profession has an exceptional ability and drive but I always consider musicians are tough to be – physical and mental, think of their repertoire – how many millions little notes they’ll have to remember.
Logistic: We stayed in Dallas (Hyatt Regency), took the hour long TRE train to and from. Both ends is less than 10 minutes walk but pretty grungy (didn’t realize). Uber would take about an hour too. I’m a huge train head, would take it over all other types of transportation, whenever possible. Both stations Union in Dallas and Central in Fort Worth are empty, so is the train both ways. I felt I could handle it. (Local friends think I’m nuts …) It turned out, to be very enjoyable rides.
… more thoughts on Van Cliburn – do you still remember him wining the first Tchaikovsky competition, in Moscow, in 1958? And Khrushchev asked if the dammed American was the best (ok, I add “dammed” – it was Cold War era and who knows, maybe he did say it?) Very regretful that he stopped performing publicly long before I came to US.
