How would you describe Dallas? (income, income tax, restaurants)

[-Focused-]

Originally Posted by skids929

Dallas is a suburban city compared to what you are used to on the East Coast..You could go out of Dallas (downtown) about say 5 minutes and it would still feel like a suburb compared to just about any Northeastern City...If you are referring to say City limits to suburban towns yeah about 30 minutes depending on where you want to land in the MP.

Just to clarify, I'm actually from the Midwest (only lived in NJ briefly. It wasn't my cup of tea).

Thank you for answering!

[savanite]

Probably the most urban feeling area would be uptown. The district is an extension of downtown Dallas north of the Woodall Rogers freeway. You can get an impression of it by going to the Google maps street view and traveling north on McKinney avenue. An alternate path is to go north on Cedar Springs/Turtle Creek boulevard as far as, say, blackburn.

I'll grant you that the district does not look like the Manhattan West Side, but it does have a high residential density for a Sunbelt city. It contains many mid rise and high rise structures, office and residential, and many, many restaurants, especially along McKinney Avenue. It is an area where you could walk to many destinations. In the West Village neighborhood in Uptown, you will find Texas' one and only subway station.

It is not completely feasible to live in Dallas without a car, but the Uptown district lets you avoid driving much of the time, especially if you take DART (Dallas's rail transit system) to many of the popular destinations in other parts of Dallas. The Uptown district also has a heritage trolley line along McKinney Avenue that will take you downtown. It's a fun ride, even in the summer.

[-Focused-]

Thank you for the info!

As far as pros and cons, what would you (and others) say in regards to Dallas? I'm just curious to see what others find to be positives and negatives, as one person's pro could be another's con.

I know about the weather and don't think I would have much to worry about coming from the Midwest. Other than that, any help/insight you could provide would be much appreciated!

[savanite]

Focused, I took a look at your original post again, and you were concerned about the Texas feel of Dallas. You worried about the loss of friendliness, or public chivalry and courtesy.

Dallas has become a melting pot for Americans and people from many other countries. As for Americans, probably the largest group is Californians who became fed up with life over there and became enthusiastic Dallasites. Be that as it may, I still see a lot of friendliness and public courtesy here, so the social custom must be very contagious. No Western atmosphere, though. You need to get out into the countryside to see that.

Of course some wit made the point that "Texas is the only country in the world where the peasants still wear a costume". Not too many peasants in Dalas, though.

[-Focused-]

I guess it's a tricky topic, because a lot out-of-staters think of Texas and a certain picture pops up in their head.

From what I've gathered, Dallas isn't what I would have pictured. I'd like to visit a place with Texas culture and such. The international feel isn't something I'm really looking for. That's not a dig at Dallas or anything!

Having lived in NJ, I'm just looking for a friendlier people with better hospitality and manners. In short, something more Midwestern. Having grown up close to the South, it's just what I'm comfortable with. I know this probably doesn't make much sense as you read it, but at least in my head, it does. haha

If I could state it plainly, I would probably just make a list of bullet points:

• Close to a city (within an hour)
• Southern hospitality/culture
• Laid back
• Sense of community
• etc.

Sorry if I am confusing anyone. I'm just trying to clear up some things that I'm looking for and looking to avoid!

[TrueDat]

Sounds like you might like Fort Worth better than Dallas. It's a bit slower pace, slightly more conservative and has more of the obvious traditional Texas culture -- Stockyards, Billy Bob's, the low-rise, brick facades of Sundance Square, the big yearly Stock Show & Rodeo, etc.

Metroplex pros:

1) Access to big-city amenities with (comparatively) low cost of living.
2) No state tax
3) Has two similar but different major nodes -- more cosmopolitan Dallas, more Western Fort Worth, each with its own set of attractions
4) A growing international population
5) About 3 hours by plane from just about anywhere in the continental US

Cons:

1) Summer heat
2) Worsening traffic
3) 4-hour drive to the ocean
4) Longer drive to major mountains
5) Still considered flyover country for some musicians when they tour the US, especially for more esoteric or international music

[-Focused-]

Thank you, TrueDat!

[savanite]

Originally Posted by -Focused-

I guess it's a tricky topic, because a lot out-of-staters think of Texas and a certain picture pops up in their head.

From what I've gathered, Dallas isn't what I would have pictured. I'd like to visit a place with Texas culture and such. The international feel isn't something I'm really looking for. That's not a dig at Dallas or anything!

Having lived in NJ, I'm just looking for a friendlier people with better hospitality and manners. In short, something more Midwestern. Having grown up close to the South, it's just what I'm comfortable with. I know this probably doesn't make much sense as you read it, but at least in my head, it does. haha

If I could state it plainly, I would probably just make a list of bullet points:

• Close to a city (within an hour)
• Southern hospitality/culture
• Laid back
• Sense of community
• etc.

Sorry if I am confusing anyone. I'm just trying to clear up some things that I'm looking for and looking to avoid!

It seems like you would want to live in one of the towns on the periphery of DFW. It is a common belief that Houston is more of a Southern city, and DFW is more of a Midwestern city, with maybe Fort Worth extending itself into the west.

[-Focused-]

Originally Posted by savanite

It seems like you would want to live in one of the towns on the periphery of DFW. It is a common belief that Houston is more of a Southern city, and DFW is more of a Midwestern city, with maybe Fort Worth extending itself into the west.

Can you clarify what you mean (as far as Southern, Mid, and Western)?

People have different classifications and such, so I just want to make sure I'm on the same page as you.

Thanks in advance!

[savanite]

Originally Posted by -Focused-

Can you clarify what you mean (as far as Southern, Mid, and Western)?

People have different classifications and such, so I just want to make sure I'm on the same page as you.

Thanks in advance!

Yes, I will, but I can't do it today... gotta take a break from posting for a bit.