Where to live in Dallas for someone who hates Dallas? (Austin: how much, house)

[Monkey27]

Hi!

I've recently moved up to Dallas from Austin for work and so I am committed to being here for the near future. My boyfriend and I are thinking about moving in together, but he still lives in Austin and absolutely HATES Dallas. I live in Uptown though, so it's not really fair to judge all Dallas based on my little (pretentious) neighborhood.

I'd like to take him around to other neighborhoods we could possibly live, but I don't know the area too well yet, so I don't know where to start. Please help!

We are:
Late twenties
Interested in some nightlife in the area but prefer bars/pubs to lounges or clubs
Thinking about a small house with a yard so we can have a dog
Not interested in raising kids here so don't want to get too far into the 'burbs
Outdoor people, so a place with a trail, park, etc close by would be great

He hates Dallas because:
1) It can't compete with Austin (atmosphere, outdoor activities, laid back people, ease of making friends, etc). What can I say to that?
2) All he's seen is pretentious, plastic people who don't care about anything going on in the world, except how much money they make, the car they drive, how tan/skinny/buff/etc they are. (Yes, these are all major stereotypes about Dallas folks, but I don't know where to take him to show him otherwise).

We did check out the M Streets which he was more open to, but I still want to find more options. We're open to Fort Worth too, if you have any suggestions about areas to look over there.

Any advice y'all can give on places to live would be very much appreciated! I'd also welcome any advice on laid back nightlife where we can meet cool people around our age.

Thanks!!!!

[rb4browns]

Originally Posted by Monkey27

Hi!

I've recently moved up to Dallas from Austin for work and so I am committed to being here for the near future. My boyfriend and I are thinking about moving in together, but he still lives in Austin and absolutely HATES Dallas. I live in Uptown though, so it's not really fair to judge all Dallas based on my little (pretentious) neighborhood.

I'd like to take him around to other neighborhoods we could possibly live, but I don't know the area too well yet, so I don't know where to start. Please help!

We are:
Late twenties
Interested in some nightlife in the area but prefer bars/pubs to lounges or clubs
Thinking about a small house with a yard so we can have a dog
Not interested in raising kids here so don't want to get too far into the 'burbs
Outdoor people, so a place with a trail, park, etc close by would be great

He hates Dallas because:
1) It can't compete with Austin (atmosphere, outdoor activities, laid back people, ease of making friends, etc). What can I say to that?
2) All he's seen is pretentious, plastic people who don't care about anything going on in the world, except how much money they make, the car they drive, how tan/skinny/buff/etc they are. (Yes, these are all major stereotypes about Dallas folks, but I don't know where to take him to show him otherwise).

We did check out the M Streets which he was more open to, but I still want to find more options. We're open to Fort Worth too, if you have any suggestions about areas to look over there.

Any advice y'all can give on places to live would be very much appreciated! I'd also welcome any advice on laid back nightlife where we can meet cool people around our age.

Thanks!!!!

If out of a metropolitan area of 6 million people your boyfriend only sees what he thinks are pretentious, plastic people than it sounds to me like the problem is with the BF, not Dallas. For someone in his late 20's it seems to be an awfully immature and insecure world view. Not trying to make personal attacks, just pointing out what to me seems a little silly. If I were you I would find a place that youlike and let him deal with it.

[Monkey27]

Uh, thanks? I realize his view is somewhat limited (as is mine, since I just moved here and don't do a whole lot but go to work and come home) so any suggestions you have on areas I could look at outside of uptown would be helpful! Thanks again!

[whitechocolate86]

Originally Posted by Monkey27

Hi!

I've recently moved up to Dallas from Austin for work and so I am committed to being here for the near future. My boyfriend and I are thinking about moving in together, but he still lives in Austin and absolutely HATES Dallas. I live in Uptown though, so it's not really fair to judge all Dallas based on my little (pretentious) neighborhood.

I'd like to take him around to other neighborhoods we could possibly live, but I don't know the area too well yet, so I don't know where to start. Please help!

We are:
Late twenties
Interested in some nightlife in the area but prefer bars/pubs to lounges or clubs
Thinking about a small house with a yard so we can have a dog
Not interested in raising kids here so don't want to get too far into the 'burbs
Outdoor people, so a place with a trail, park, etc close by would be great

He hates Dallas because:
1) It can't compete with Austin (atmosphere, outdoor activities, laid back people, ease of making friends, etc). What can I say to that?
2) All he's seen is pretentious, plastic people who don't care about anything going on in the world, except how much money they make, the car they drive, how tan/skinny/buff/etc they are. (Yes, these are all major stereotypes about Dallas folks, but I don't know where to take him to show him otherwise).

We did check out the M Streets which he was more open to, but I still want to find more options. We're open to Fort Worth too, if you have any suggestions about areas to look over there.

Any advice y'all can give on places to live would be very much appreciated! I'd also welcome any advice on laid back nightlife where we can meet cool people around our age.

Thanks!!!!

I'm guessing the thing about people who care about needless materialism are from Dallas and not Austin? All of those stereotypes sound like Laguna Beach, the O.C...stereotypes that come from ridiculous fiction...

Dallas has plenty of opportunities for whatever you were doing down in Austin...Dallas and Fort Worth are both mecca's in their own right...granted Dallas and Tarrant Counties voted for Bush, but that doesn't really mean anything for youthful culture. I would take Fort Worth over Dallas any day...much more cultural value for Texas than Dallas (home of Neimen Marcus) dunno if I spelled that right...you will have plenty of uptight people in Austin and even San Francisco and likewise laid back, because both are big cities with people trying to make a living in a dog eat dog atmosphere...I haven't been to Sixth Street enough to compare with Deep Ellum and Uptown Dallas...and never have gone to a bar in Fort Worth, although I have been there many times...but the nightlife (Dallas) is great...how much time have y'all spent in Dallas before now?

[rb4browns]

Originally Posted by Monkey27

Uh, thanks? I realize his view is somewhat limited (as is mine, since I just moved here and don't do a whole lot but go to work and come home) so any suggestions you have on areas I could look at outside of uptown would be helpful! Thanks again!

I like my neighborhood in N Dallas (Preston/Royal), but it's probably a little too family-esque for a single person and too snobby for the bf . Seriously though, it's a big diverse city, but I guess I'm just not clear on where you could live where he would be happy since he seems to hate the whole city (and what it represents in his mind/imagination) and really wants to just be in Austin. Others prob have more specifc recommendations on places that might resemble Austin. Good luck I hope it works out!

[Grainraiser]

What kinda of neighborhood did you guys livin when you where in Austin.

[Monkey27]

Originally Posted by Grainraiser

What kinda of neighborhood did you guys livin when you where in Austin.

I lived in Hyde Park and he lives Downtown off of Congress.

[netfrog]

Monkey27, I highly recommend the Little Forest Hills neighborhood, located on the south side of Garland Road just east of White Rock Lake. It's close to downtown, Lakewood, and other parts of the city, and an easy walk/run/ride from miles of trails around the lake. It's also funky and eclectic, and offers a variety of housing stock (mostly small cottage-type mid-century homes for $150-200k). There have been a few teardowns happening there, but for the most part it has retained its character.

I lived there for a while in the early 2000s and adored it - the only reason I moved is because I got married and we bought further north to be more convenient to both our jobs.

Here is their neighborhood association page - lots more info here:
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

If you decide that's not right for you, there are PLENTY of other neighborhoods around the lake (primarily on the east side) that are affordable and interesting. I love Austin, and this area is about as close to Austin as it gets in Dallas. Good luck with your search!

[artsyguy]

He thought it was easy to make friends in Austin????

To respond to your comment below: Um, those are the types of people I've run into in Austin.

"All he's seen is pretentious, plastic people who don't care about anything going on in the world, except how much money they make, the car they drive, how tan/skinny/buff/etc they are"

Originally Posted by Monkey27

Hi!

I've recently moved up to Dallas from Austin for work and so I am committed to being here for the near future. My boyfriend and I are thinking about moving in together, but he still lives in Austin and absolutely HATES Dallas. I live in Uptown though, so it's not really fair to judge all Dallas based on my little (pretentious) neighborhood.

I'd like to take him around to other neighborhoods we could possibly live, but I don't know the area too well yet, so I don't know where to start. Please help!

We are:
Late twenties
Interested in some nightlife in the area but prefer bars/pubs to lounges or clubs
Thinking about a small house with a yard so we can have a dog
Not interested in raising kids here so don't want to get too far into the 'burbs
Outdoor people, so a place with a trail, park, etc close by would be great

He hates Dallas because:
1) It can't compete with Austin (atmosphere, outdoor activities, laid back people, ease of making friends, etc). What can I say to that?
2) . (Yes, these are all major stereotypes about Dallas folks, but I don't know where to take him to show him otherwise).

We did check out the M Streets which he was more open to, but I still want to find more options. We're open to Fort Worth too, if you have any suggestions about areas to look over there.

Any advice y'all can give on places to live would be very much appreciated! I'd also welcome any advice on laid back nightlife where we can meet cool people around our age.

Thanks!!!!

[da jammer]

OK, I'm in agreement that the OP probably could have chosen a different approach with their initial posting. That said if you can help out, please post up....if not please move along so this thread can stay active for the benefit of the OP. Thanks folks