gave the Park Cities the old college try, but . . . (Houston: crime, big home)

[Lakewooder]

Hi zuzu -

The Dallas Morning News ran a neighbors section cover story on IB at Long last Friday, I have posted the link on this thread: http://www.city-data.com/forum/dalla...kewood-11.html

Long parents whom you could contact are PTA President Maria Hasbany hasbany@sbcglobal.net and SBDM Chairman Vince Murchison vince.murchison@snrdenton.com

[zuzuspetalsTX]

Looks great, Lakewooder! Thank you!!

[debtex]

Zuzu,

We've been here a few years, and there is definitely an element of the "Park Cities East" crowd, but we have found that they are more than outnumbered by the majority of down-to-earth folks that are drawn to the neighborhood. It's a big place, so be sure that you get solid guidance on where to buy to get that bike/walk friendly experience you're craving. There are a lot of streets where the traffic is a barrier and it's hard to identify it from the outside. Bob O Link comes to mind.

Lots of families here do private, but it's a very different kind of experience than the North Dallas privates. As much as it would kill LWer to admit it, generally the privates reflect the difference in the neighborhood as well. I readily admit, not in terms of racial/financial diversity, but more in terms of different types of families and general culture. As the parent of a kid struggling with ADD, I know the concerns around culture fit and the uncertainty of future academic needs. I would at least tour the East Dallas privates to get a sense for what's out there, even if you're not at all convinced it's a good fit for your family in the near term. I think you'll find they feel very different from the North Dallas privates.

That said, I'm sure there are loads of ADD kids getting a good experience at the Lakewood public schools too...and that culture may be closer to what you're wanting.

Good luck with your move!!

[zuzuspetalsTX]

Originally Posted by debtex

Zuzu,
Lots of families here do private, but it's a very different kind of experience than the North Dallas privates. As much as it would kill LWer to admit it, generally the privates reflect the difference in the neighborhood as well. I readily admit, not in terms of racial/financial diversity, but more in terms of different types of families and general culture.

Debtex,

Thanks for your post.
Would you mind expounding upon this? I'm not quite sure what you mean by the "privates reflecting the difference in the neighborhood" and the "different types of families and general culture"? Do you mean the "Park Cities East" types send their kids to privates and the Lakewood types don't?

[elan]

Originally Posted by Macbeth2003

Lots of chicken here in East Dallas, at least three neighbors on my block have them, and the neighborhood elementary school is getting some soon.

That said, chickens are nice enough, but Ducks are where it is at.

No.. I'm not desperate to convince others to keep ducks too, just to have fellow duck-keepers.... how could you even think that?

Oh my gosh, those ducks look so happy. They are so cute.

[debtex]

Originally Posted by zuzuspetalsTX

Debtex,

Thanks for your post.
Would you mind expounding upon this? I'm not quite sure what you mean by the "privates reflecting the difference in the neighborhood" and the "different types of families and general culture"? Do you mean the "Park Cities East" types send their kids to privates and the Lakewood types don't?

I think the Park Cities East folks are interspersed with everyone...they are at Lakewood Elementary, they are at the privates...maybe they add to our diversity? ;-)

What I meant to express is that the privates are still pretty low-key compared to what you find in North Dallas, from what I can tell. As East Dallas is generally more low-key and down to earth than North Dallas and the PC, so are the schools, both public and private. I feel like there is a little less pressure towards conformity in East Dallas, although I still feel it more than I would like. I put that down to the general Dallas culture, which is inescapable to some degree.

[BigDGeek]

IMHO there is always pressure to conform in Dallas, even if what you're conforming to is "not conforming," because even the "non-conformists" are conforming to something.

[debtex]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

IMHO there is always pressure to conform in Dallas, even if what you're conforming to is "not conforming," because even the "non-conformists" are conforming to something.

This is my biggest issue with Dallas (I grew up here too), but I have found that in East Dallas, the mix of people diminishes the problem a bit. The only pressure I regularly feel is to spend $$, which is pretty easy for me to dismiss.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by debtex

This is my biggest issue with Dallas (I grew up here too), but I have found that in East Dallas, the mix of people diminishes the problem a bit. The only pressure I regularly feel is to spend $$, which is pretty easy for me to dismiss.

My experience with the hardcore East Dallasites has been different; they are quite conformist and seem to all be reading from the same "we hate chains/we love mom and pops/you eat WHERE?/I never go north of Mockingbird" songsheet. YMMV.

[Macbeth2003]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

My experience with the hardcore East Dallasites has been different; they are quite conformist and seem to all be reading from the same "we hate chains/we love mom and pops/you eat WHERE?/I never go north of Mockingbird" songsheet. YMMV.

IF you think all of those down here are that way, you should come to the new Mi Cocina. Or Follow some of us through a Target. The chains seem to be doing just fine, many of us just don't like them taking over.
I also find the Mockingbird thing to be overstated. I know a few of the type you mention, but most anyone I know will go North of Northwest Hwy (That is the real barrier, people here do go to either shop at Northpark, see movies there, or go to Target on NW Hwy you klnow ). In the last week neighbors have gone to Ikea, Dined in Far North Dallas, and gone to thr Aquarium thing in Grapevine. We just only need to go north of there for specific trips of that nature. The "I don't go N Of Mockingbird/ Northwest Hghwy" thing is really more of a, admittedly somewhat self satisfied, reference to the fact that it is rarely necessary to go more than a mile or two at the most for day to day things. Shopping Restaurants, etc. It is one of the attractions of living here, much as increased house size for the same cost would be an attraction spoken of in the Exurbs.