CREW CUTS: DALLAS & FORT WORTH
Q&A BY PIERS TOWNLEY
Fine dining, friendly folk, spectacular sunsets and an all-night party crowd… each issue AirTran Airways crew members reveal what they love best about their chosen city.
THIS MONTH: DALLAS & FORT WORTH
Crew member Brent Eyster knows Dallas/Fort Worth like the back of his hand. He’s been flying with AirTran Airways for the past two and a half years.
What’s special about Dallas/Fort Worth? Why do the cities appeal?
Everyone says this of their favorite city, but wherever you go, you’ll meet friendly folks. Most of the Dallas/Fort Worth population aren’t native, but bumper stickers saying, “I wasn’t born here, but I got here as fast as I could!” attest to the pride we take in our adopted hometowns.
What should a first-time visitor to Dallas/Fort Worth expect?
You have two very different cultural choices between Dallas and Fort Worth. The West End of downtown Dallas is one big party, with outdoor dining, carriage rides and fun bars. It’s a young crowd, and they party until the sun comes up. Stop by the Kennedy Memorial first and stand on the famous “X”. Fort Worth offers everything from the elegance of the Bass Performance Hall to the cowboy-shtick of the old Stockyards, with brick streets, old- fashioned street lamps and lots of topiary. Stop by Billy Miner’s Saloon (150 W 3rd St.) for the best burgers downtown, or wash down an al fresco dinner at Joe T. Garcia’s restaurant (2201 N Commerce St.) with a frozen margarita while watching one of our glowing Texas sunsets. I think it’s illegal to visit and not try our Tex-Mex cuisine, so don’t take any chances!
Any tips for finding your bearings when you first arrive?
We refer to the “metro area” by its city code: DFW. And DFW can best be described as BIG! DFW International Airport, the world’s third busiest, is the second largest by area and larger than Manhattan Island. The DFW metro area it serves is bigger than Rhode Island—and it takes some time to cross it, especially in traffic. Get a map, plan your long trips to avoid weekday rush hour or Cowboys game traffic, and ask a local for the best route, as the shortest route is not always a straight line here. DFW International Airport is located midway between Dallas to the east and Fort Worth to the west, making travel to either fairly easy by car. Rail or bus isn’t convenient if you have a short time to spend and a yen to roam.
Do you have any hot tips for places to eat?
You can enjoy fine dining at the revolving Antares restaurant (300 Reunion Blvd.), at the top of Reunion Tower in downtown Dallas, for superb food and an even better view. Want to see other stars come out? Try the five- star Mansion in Turtle Creek (2821 Turtle Creek Blvd.) and rub shoulders with the upper crust.
If someone was only here for a day, what should they definitely make a point of doing?
Apart from the Kennedy tourist stuff, if you can’t get far from the airport, take a cab to downtown Grapevine, my hometown. It’s a historical 1800s city just north and west of the airport, with specialty shops, great dining, Grapevine Mills Mall, Outdoor World and a steam train. Stop by Esparza’s (124 E Worth St., Grapevine) on Wednesday night for its unofficial “crew night”. The food is great, and the company is AirTran Airways personnel. And don’t miss the South Prairie Oyster Bar (651 S Main St.) for oysters and some local history from Will, a third generation Grapeviner. It’s a city that has so much to offer. You’ll be back!