Writes of Passage

920 S Harwood St., Unit #150
Dallas, TX 75201

… more pix on Google Maps, Yelp & TA

Will return.

They’re one of the many eateries at the Dallas Farmers Market, with outdoor seatings too.

The French Open is on their four tv monitor (the last match of the day – well past 10 pm in Paris: Džumhur v Alcaraz), so we stopped for a drink.

Counter service by a few energetic young people, professional and proficient.

They grind their own horseradish, which is great – it tastes so so good.

Three kinds of oyster we tried:
Great White of MA: light
Birch Point of ME: flavorful – our favored
Irish Point of PEI: they’re good (Prince Edward Island)

We’d have more but can’t – have an Italian dinner coming up.

Does the increasing efficient shipping service makes it possible for anyone to realize their dream business – Dallas, and Texas in that matter is a landlocked region. But what do I know.

… Alcaraz won in four, on his second match point, near 5pm Dallas time.

I’d think Friday evening is a hopping time in the city but it feels dead, the mall is pretty empty. Where’s everyone? Or it’s too early for everybody -:) – my first full day in Dallas.

Wishing everyone with a desire to succeed in a biz the best of luck.

1903 Main Street
Dallas, TX

… more pix on Google Maps,Yelp & TA

An average Italian restaurant: a little dark, a little tight and a little bill. Service and food are ok.

Pizza is delicious, so is the eggplant.

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.

^{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.

400 S Houston St,
Dallas, TX 75202

… more pix n videos on Google Maps & here

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, as the train head planned 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:

From Hyatt Regency to the station is only 8 minutes walk on the road but it isn’t pleasant, because no one uses public transportations in Texas. The hotel staff didn’t know the underground walkway. Oh well.

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.”

525 Commerce St,
Fort Worth, TX 76102

… more pix n videos on Google Maps

Will NOT return – the silly security feels like a harassment.

The Bass Performance Hall opened in 1998, with 2,000+ capacity. Initially, it was suggested by the pianist Van Cliburn (1934-2013), and one of the Basses; ultimately built with private equities – I suspect much of it or part of it were from the Bass brothers, because when I commented of the two ceilings, a docent said the difference was due to two Bass brothers who built it.

Although the foyer is compact, the major hall is very pleasant, well kept, feels new (not many layers of paints…), with clean line, so are the bathrooms.

It’s interesting to see so many posters on the walls are Most Mozart and Met Opera – both are New York institutions.

I went to two Van Cliburn competitions today (semi final #2 and #3), which is one of the permanent events here.

The security IS unbelievable!

A swamp of black clothed guards stationed at the entrances, who are fleecing patrons, from handbags to pockets (I was asked to take out my iPhone fm my leggings’ pocket), and water bottle – they demand it to be threw out. By then I was at my limit. So I told them “no way”. You don’t ask me to throw my handbag away, do you? So the guard asks her colleague or supervisor who has no clue, other than I can’t bring my water bottle in. I told them I brought one IN this afternoon. So they called a woman in regulars cloth, perhaps a manager who, make the silly story short, offered a bottle of water in THEIR bottle. I accepted it only because there are people waiting to get in.

Brooke Astor (1902-2007), the scion of NY high society, noted about her need to bring a bottle of water – really for the good of the concerts.

Some guards even have handheld scanners, like in an airport. There are still at least three guards mingling around AFTER the concert, as we’re leaving. I can’t help but asking “why??” I mean, who do you think you are? New York? You’re NOT, bec NY doesn’t do this kind of crap. One of them replied “… oh we want to ensure the contestants are well protected.”

Front entrances?

Hello, they ARE not famous yet, for Petes sake. They’re NO ONE.

Let Olga Kern, who was 2001’s winner, walks on the street, see how many people will stop her: I just googled past winners who had made it. AI replies

“… include Yunchan Lim (2022), Vadym Kholodenko (2013), Jon Nakamatsu (1997), Olga Kern (2001), and Nobuyuki Tsujii (2009).” I love classical music and go to concerts all the time but I only knew the name of Kern, and would NOT recognize her on the street.

A very unique experience.

…

^{A fish tank at Gate E21}
2400 Aviation Dr,
Dallas, TX 75261

… more pix on Google Maps.

DFW is the largest hub for AA, its headquarter is near by. It’s also hub for United, Delta, Frontier, Alaska, and Spirit.

Dallas (pop 1.3m) and Fort Worth (pop 918k).

I visited two lounges: Capital One and Centurion: both in terminal D.

1 Skyview Drive,
Fort Worth, TX 76155

Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, it was founded in 1926, commerced 10 years later.

Their frequent-flyer program is AAdvantage, Alliance with Oneworld. I stopped flying it when they forfeited my 14k points in 2017.

Interestingly to note, the last Friday afternoon in May, I was in Dallas, every time I looked up at the skies, there was a Southwest plane. Never an AA.

.

121 Aviation Dr,
Santa Fe, NM 87507

… more pix on Google Maps

A cute tiny regional airport – it’s smaller than Ushuaia in Argentina. It’s 13 miles from Santa Fe, closer than Albuquerque’s ABQ, which is an hour away

The security agent looks at my driver’s license and said that’s the town he got his first job out of college as an accountant on Grace Avenue -:)

Staff are kind and friendly.

Our flight is delayed for two hours.

Two rental car companies on site. The outdoor waiting area has a few rocking chairs.

Two spacious unisex bathrooms, equipped with baby station.

… and taking off

311 Old Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87501

… more pix n video on Google Maps, Yelp & TA

Will return

3.5 out of 5.

A decent Chinese restaurant in town. They’re the only Chinese we tried.

Large hall, plenty outside seatings. I think they share the bathrooms with the motel.

A lady is making dumplings at the station when we walked in at 4pm. I asked what kind dumplings is she making, she said “I don’t speak English.” The skins look different, but I did order – five steamed dumplings arrived – they’re huge, double the normal size. I ordered chives and pork, they include corns too (freebie… but not young), which I don’t see often. The fillings are too solid.

We’ve mapo tofu 麻婆豆腐 and beef with string beans 牛肉四季豆. Both taste good, especially the tofu has the numbing spice. The beef is tender (tenderizer?) but the string beans are way too old, which is chewy.

A fly is persistent around our table.