There are 27 days left until school, exams and graduation are done and everyone leaves for home or travel. But with a little less than a month left on the Hilltop, there is a lot of learning and cramming left to do. Here are seven places to visit either on your way to another Dallas hotspot or for a break from sitting in Fondy for eight consecutive hours.
First stop is the Adrian E. Flatt, M.D., Hand Collection at Baylor University Medical Center. The hand collection, named after hand surgeon Adrian E. Flatt, is made of more than 100 cast, bronze-coated hands. A wide contrast of personalities are in various sizes presented on the first floor of the hospital. Katherine Hepburn, Walt Disney, Louis Armstrong and Winston Churchill are just a handful of the personalities captured in the sculptures.
Everyone has heard of the Dallas Farmers Market and if you haven’t been there yet, you need to visit before you leave the Hilltop. Switch out your Whole Foods produce for local, fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs, purveyed honey and nuts. The market operates seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. so it fits perfectly with your schedule. Be sure to check out Shed 2, where specialty products are offered, or watch a cooking demonstration.
For a not so healthy Dallas staple, Keller’s Drive-in serves up classic American food. Vintage cars owners, families and bikers alike gather at the Northwest Highway joint, which takes you back to the ‘50s. Pull up, set your hazard lights on and you wait for the server to come to you. Fun fact, Dallas is home to the first drive-in in the nation. This is probably not the place for you if you’re gluten free or vegetarian. But if you’re not, be sure to stop by, preferably in the evenings.
The Crow Collection of Asian Art is known for their extensive collection of art, but most people haven’t heard or seen The Samurai Collection at The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum. Tucked away in the second floor of the Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar, the collection includes Japanese armor, artwork, helmets, masks, horse armor, weaponry and accessories. It’s one of the largest collections of its type in the world and just a few seconds from a bar stocked with craft beer.
Ever stepped on a Lego? It hurts. A lot. Otherwise, Legos can actually be quite fun. You might not be playing with Legos anymore, but consider stopping by the Lego Land Discovery Center in the Grapevine Mills Mall. There is even a mini replica of Dallas, built of nearly 1.5 million Lego bricks, that lights ups like the Dallas Skyline. It’s pink and gold-labeled commemorating the historic city. There is also a 4D cinema. Granted the characters are all Lego Characters, but it’s 4D.
Rooftop anything is always fun, and one of the best places to experience the Dallas Skyline is at the Belmont Hotel. Perched on North Oak Cliff, one of the few hills in Dallas, you can see for miles. The historic motor court hotel holds the BarBelmont and SMOKE, which serves up southern cuisine. Other rooftop options include NYLO’s, the Den Bar & Grill, the Quarter Bar, and the Green Room.
Last but not least, the historic Texas Theatre is known for being the place Oswald was found and arrested after shooting JFK and Officer J.D. Tippitt. Among the plush red velvet seats, a gold-labeled pink chair remains, commemorating the historic capture. It simply says: “Lee Harvey Oswald, November 22, 1963.”
Located in Oakcliff, the theatre hosts a number of events, including burlesque shows, live music, parties and movies. Between now and graduation, you can watch documentary “Flex Is Kings” or the burlesque show and movie “Show Girls,” or attend a Q&A; with Patrick Warburton.
