| Yeeee… ha! Take your partner by the hand and ride him 'til his Stetson rams! OutUK's Adrian Gillan rates raunchy ranchers and pumps man-oil in sexy Texas! | |
| Boy, big sure is better, especially if you swagger! Texas may be second largest and second most populous US state; but you'd have to rank it first for attitude and beefy blokes. And those Lone Star rangers in Dallas sure do offer the warmest of southern welcomes! And don't forget to check out the Texas Freedom Parade every September |  Where's the beef? |
WHAT TO DOI need this drink JR, I really do! Visit the filming location for surely the ultimate soap, "Dallas" at Southfork Ranch 'though tiny in reality! The infamous Texas School Book Depository is now converted into the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, a fab exhibition about the fateful day someone shot, not JR, but JFK. Sit at the window ledge and gaze down on history!The cultured queer will enjoy the small exhibitions of top-notch contemporary art and pics at the Goss Gallery, owned by George Michael's eponymous boyfriend, Kenny - who you might even see! Then check out the world-class collection of Planet Earth's finest art and artefacts inside Dallas Museum of Art; or internationally renowned, partially "roof-less" museum of mainly 20th Century sculpture, the Nasher Sculpture Center & Gardens - an urban oasis right at the foot of the Dallas downtown skyline. Shop at couture-brand-brimming North Park Center; or at the amazing, unique craft boutique and eating paradise that is the Bishop Arts District just south of Downtown. For something equally uplifting, pop into the stunningly LGBT-affirmative Cathedral of Hope "an oasis in a desert of hurting people" - pre Sunday brunch. WHERE TO EAT | |
| You'll certainly pig out, jumbo-steak-style in Texas! Try the 21st Century downtown "fusion of food, art and fashion" from its eponymous, legendary founding father of Southwestern Cuisine, at Stephan Pyles Restaurant; gorge at Pearl Street Café in the foyer of Adam's Mark's spacious Downtown hotel, for a mix of traditional and contemporary cuisine. |
 Texas ribs on the grill. |
Check out the sensual design and enticing world-beat rhythms behind
the "collision cuisine" dished up at Dragonfly Restaurant at Hotel Za Za;
chomp at historic West End no-frills meat-n-veg smokehouse,
Sonny Bryan's Bar-B-Que; rave at festive, friendly Mexican,
Uncle Julio's;
be enchanted at fab, up-market Oak Lawn fish 'n steakhouse,
Al Biernat's;
or savour classy-casual update on classic Texas roadhouse,
Tillman's Roadhouse, in the Bishop Arts District.
WHERE TO BOOZE & DANCEDallas' main asset is its flamboyant, friendly, direct and sexy people! And that amazing Texan accent! You'll love the concentration of community in the "gaybourhood", around the Oaklawn strip, along and off Cedar Springs Road. | |
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Check out great value all-American-style, Original Market Diner, bustling with queer folk any time of day; friendly
gay-run Buli Café on the main Oak Lawn strip - famous for its soups and cakes and so much more; Barbara's
Pavilion, a small, unique, earthy off-scene joint that only locals seem to know about; equally
tucked-away, tiny tinny Tin Room; delightful, fun drag haunt, Illusions; dark 'n cruisy leather and Levis local,
Dallas Eagle; or small but friendly Alexandre's - with regular live music, on the main Oaklawn strip.
Yeeeeeeeeeeeee… HA! As toes-a-tap, hole up at Round-Up - arguably the most friendly and authentically Texan queer joint in town! |
Acrobat Neal Everett at Dallas club S-4. |
Then gawp at the jocks busy flexing their throats in sports, video and karaoke bar,
Woody's; get lost in the crowds at sprawling bar-club with upper street-view
balcony, JR's - enjoy a good shot; feel the energy at vibrant, unpretentious cross-borders Mexican
club, Kaliente; and end your night at S-4, Dallas' largest regular gay club, with buzzing young crowd.
WHERE TO STAYSome of the most interesting gay-friendly accommodation options in town include luxury downtown landmark, Westin City Centre Hotel; the grand old Warwick Melrose, in the heart of the Oaklawn gay scene; swish 70s retro style lair Hotel Palomar, back in downtown; the gorgeous little olde world gay-run 1904 home-cum-B&B near the queer quarter that is the Daisy Polk Inn; or the Belmont Hotel - a converted motel, reeking of futurist 40s chic.GETTING THEREAmerican Airlines are proud to support the LGBT community, offering two direct daily flights from London Gatwick to Dallas Fort Worth, at unbeatable value. Treat yourself to an upgrade to their new Business or Upper Class seats! For special discounts on a range of gay-friendly destinations check out www.aa.com/rainbow.Published September 2007
Dallas Tavern Guild
THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK
Alexandre's (4026 Cedar Springs Road; T: +1 214-559-0720) | |