Searching a MORE LIBERAL, HIP, ARTSY Dallas suburb (Austin, Plano: school, college)

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

That is precisely why I suggested East Dallas. Actually we were once a city separate from Dallas, as was Oak Cliff. Most of the cool areas in town are originally 'streetcar suburbs' which have a little more density, history, trees, culture.. oh wait, I already said that..

Long before your time my friend...nobody on this board was even alive yet when East Dallas was a "suburb". The word suburb when used in 21st century context usually refers to a much smaller city or town not centrally located inside an urban area or major city, but rather on the bordering outskirts of those city limits.

Metropolitan areas like Dallas are sprawling so far out now we're having to use the term exurb to describe once far flung rural farm land that has developed almost over night. A good example of this would be Frisco, Tx.

[mboyle1988]

Originally Posted by ChristieP

Uptown Dallas, or move to Austin.

Unfortunately, most of the burbs around DFW are quite conservative, especially in Tarrant County. As you said, "it's still Texas."

That's not unfortunate. It's the best dang thing about Dallas.

[Katenorthwest]

hey all- i'm katenorthwest's husband. thanks for the directions you're giving us so far it's very helpful. to clarify on what my wife is getting at a bit, we're both independantly-minded people from Seattle (as she said) and i think important things to us are culture, arts, independant movie theaters, some history (as a previous poster mentioned) and a music scene that hosts some indie acts. we know we'll be able to find a gargantuan mall or behemoth-plex if need be.

we're obviously asking a lot, but we'd also like a place that is not filled with social recluses. maybe a bit more sincere and conversational neighborhoods where people are "urban" or whatever that means.

anyway- keep the suggestions coming and again- much thanks. it's truly helpful as we've both never been out of seattle really except on trips.

[pepper131]

A town that is not Dallas but near Dallas that might work is Denton.

Others have already given you the liberal areas of Dallas - East Dallas (within there are more neighborhoods), Uptown, Oak Cliff (Bishop Arts, etc).

[TrueDat]

Originally Posted by Katenorthwest

hey all- i'm katenorthwest's husband. thanks for the directions you're giving us so far it's very helpful. to clarify on what my wife is getting at a bit, we're both independantly-minded people from Seattle (as she said) and i think important things to us are culture, arts, independant movie theaters, some history (as a previous poster mentioned) and a music scene that hosts some indie acts. we know we'll be able to find a gargantuan mall or behemoth-plex if need be.

we're obviously asking a lot, but we'd also like a place that is not filled with social recluses. maybe a bit more sincere and conversational neighborhoods where people are "urban" or whatever that means.

anyway- keep the suggestions coming and again- much thanks. it's truly helpful as we've both never been out of seattle really except on trips.

If you don't truly mean "suburb" and just mean a liberal area that has more of an urban feel, and price is no object, look at Oak Lawn. During the election, it was a sea of Obama stickers. It's a stone's throw from Uptown/West Village, not artsy perhaps but it's where the Magnolia movie theater (Landmark Theatres) is located. If you want more of a loft feel, Deep Ellum -- despite all the negative press it has gotten in the last few years -- has a lot of new art galleries popping up these days.

[Big G]

+1 on Denton. College town with a pretty good music scene. Killer commute, though.

[hstfan82]

I can't think of anyplace that's not on the coasts where the suburbs are liberal and artsy. Maybe some of Chicago's? If you want good schools and want to be close to the city, I would go with Richardson, even though I wouldn't call it artsy. Denton's downtown area is great for what you're looking for, but I wouldn't want to make a commute from Denton to anywhere near Dallas everyday. People in West Richardson seem to be into natural foods stores as there are a couple close by, and I can't think of another suburb where I see so many bicyclists.

If you want independent movie theaters, Dallas has three, plus one in Plano, but I definitely prefer the Dallas Angelika.

[jobert]

Anywhere close to a college will attract the liberal, artistic types. West Richardson could fit the bill because of UTD maybe. I second the Denton recommendation with North Texas nearby. The music school there is outstanding, and the community benefits as a result. Those two are really your only options if you are using the 21st century definition of "suburb"

[ctrres]

Originally Posted by jobert

Those two are really your only options if you are using the 21st century definition of "suburb"

That's it. Bethesda; Arlington. Somerville; Cambridge; Brookline. Berkeley. Technically suburbs, but they all lie as close to their respective metro hubs as, like, Oak Lawn and East Dallas do.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by pepper131

A town that is not Dallas but near Dallas that might work is Denton.

Others have already given you the liberal areas of Dallas - East Dallas (within there are more neighborhoods), Uptown, Oak Cliff (Bishop Arts, etc).

Even though there are 2 universities in Denton and the area is a little diversified, I do not think it is particularly liberal. I know the county itself is quite conservative. I think OP will pretty much have to think in terms of Dallas proper.. for some reason I read into the comments he is making a bit of an intellectual snob attitude, Denton is way to country for someone like that. Just my opinion. By the way I didn't mean the comment as a negative particularly just a fact.

I think the only place they are going to be happy at all will be someplace like uptown, Oak Cliff or Deep Ellum. Nothing is going to be like Seattle I am sure. Dallas is Dallas and Seattle is very different.

NIta

Nita