Dallas

Among the ten largest American cities, Dallas is a cosmopolitan place with world-class architecture, a booming arts district, and a diverse dining scene. But there's also an old- fashioned sense of community that makes the city welcoming to it many diverse elements.

Dallas also has one of the country's biggest gay populations. The old gay area of North Fitzhugh is still lively - especially blessed with several stripper bars. The newer and trendier Oak Lawn neighborhood around Cedar Springs Road and Oak Lawn Avenue has the area's largest cluster of gay bars, stores and restaurants. Employee-owned Caven Enterprises has five clubs alone here, all in a one block complex of Cedar Springs (between Throckmorton & Reagan), known collectively as the Party at the Block.

Cedar Springs Road is also the focal spot of Dallas Pride celebrations with a parade on Sunday, September 19, and the Oak Lawn Halloween Street Party, on October 30th.

Getting here
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has TRE rail service to Union Station and seven more Dallas locations operated by the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Single fare rides are $3.75.

Getting around
This city sprawls in every direction, so the car is the easiest way to get around. The Oak Lawn area is walkable, but during the hot and humid season you may crave the air-conditioning of a car more than it's wheels.

Gay media
Dallas Voice is the gay community newspaper. The Dallas Tavern Guild website is a great resource with listings for events, reviews and maps of all local gay bars, many restaurants, and stores, plus photo galleries of Pride and other gay events.

Accommodations

Adolphus Hotel (1321 Commerce St; 214-742-8200), with stylish rooms and suites in a central hotel, treats guests like royalty: afternoon tea, elegant French Room restaurant, Texas style bar & grill, in-room dining; sedan service, and private athletic club access.

Daisy Polk Inn (2917 Reagan St; 214- 522-4692) a restored arts-and-crafts mansion, gay-owned B&B, small with attentive service. They're near the bars,  French is spoken, and there's free wi-fi.

Ramada Inn Love Field (1575 Regal Row; 214-3638-6100) is a modern business hotel with spacious rooms and all amenities, convenient to airport with scheduled shuttle service, a large pool, guest laundry, and mini-mart store.

Hotel Palomar (5300 East Mockingbird Lane; 214-520-7969) offers Texas-style elegance, a spa and gym, gourmet treats, in-room spa services, concierge, and they're pet-friendly.

MD Resort B&B and Country Inn (601 Old Base Rd, Aurora; 817-489-5150) is a working ranch amid open fields and mature trees, outdoor pool, horseback riding to the northwest of the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area.

Warwick Melrose Hotel (3015 Oak Lawn Av at Cedar Springs Rd; 214-521- 5151) has a ritzy vibe with oversized rooms and marble floors, all the perks and amenities, nice restaurant and bar, near everything in Uptown Oak Lawn.

Bars and clubs

Alexandre's (4026 Cedar Springs Rd), an intimate lounge and piano bar with eclectic mixed crowd and entertainment every night ranging from jazz and rock to R&B.

Barbara's Pavillion (325 Centre St.) aka the Pav, is an easygoing mixed crowd neighborhood bar with karoke all-year patio, and a general good vibe.

BJ's NXS (3215 N Fitzhugh Av) neighborhood bar has cheap drinks, friendly young strippers, and hunky bartenders.

Brick/ Joe's (2525 Wycliff Ave, 120) new location for well-loved club, with weekend dancing, and seven nights of events such as Show Tunes, karaoke, cabaret, and male dancers; amateur strip-off contests each Thursday.

Dallas Eagle (5740 Maple Ave) Levi/leather men, bears, underwear and shirtless nights, gets busiest in the later hours. Home bar to many local bear and leather groups who have their events here.

Drama Room (3851 Cedar Springs Rd ) dance club in Oak Lawn, back patio, newly renovated since it was known as Mickey's.

Elm & Pearl (2204 Elm St) young 18+ mixed hip-hop crowd, erotic male dancers, dancing on Fridays and Saturdays with drag and variety shows and pageants on Sundays.

Exklusive Club (4207 Maple Ave), aka Klub Hot, is billed as the first Latino male and female dancers club in Dallas.  The large floor gets packed for Latin and Salsa music; also with big outdoor patio, and Cowboy NIght each Friday.

Havana (4006 Cedar Springs Rd) Latin, Hip Hop and Afro-Caribbean bar and dance club, with Cuban food, drag shows, and a late-night well-dressed crowd.

Hidden Door (5025 Bowser) 'old school'  bar with deep community ties, mostly men, busy but with laid-back attitude, large and popular patio - big Sunday afternoon beer bust popular with bears.

Jr's (3923 Cedar Springs Rd), big, prosperous multi-level club with mostly young guys, videos, quality sound system, dancing day and night, a popular deck, and Sunday shows. Food includes sides, salads, burgers and dogs, and they have internet access.

Kaliente (4350 Maple Av) Latin dance club with drag, comedy shows, hot chico/chica contests.

Klub Wet (4100 Maple Av), piano and music bar/lounge, nightly entertainment, amateur strip-off contests, Latin nights, former Illusions corner.

Level Bar & Grill (3903 Lemmon Av) new bar/lounge, old Rush location, live entertainment, karaoke, comedy shows, VIP service.

Los Rieles (600 S Industrial Blvd) Latin club with big dance floor, plus some of the best drag shows and sexiest male dancers in town.

Pekers (2615 Oak Lawn Av) easygoing neighborhood bar for everyone, with live entertainment, karaoke, pool tables and video poker games.

Pub Pegasus (3326 N Fitzhugh Av) popular neighborhood bar with juke-box, laid-back feel, wi-fi for working lunches.

Rose Room (3912 Cedar Springs Rd) upstairs at Station 4, with gender illusion shows every Thurdsays through Sundays from 11pm and a second 12:30am show Fridays through Sundays. Special pageant events begin at 9pm.

Round-up Saloon (3912 Cedar Springs Rd) a big and busy cowboy bar of six themed bar-rooms, draws a mostly male crowd with their beer busts, seven nights of country music and line dancing, poker tournaments, karaoke, a games room, and patio bar.

Station 4 (3911 Cedar Springs Rd) aka S4, a big high-tech 18+ dance complex Wednesdays through Sundays, with patio, sexy bartenders, popular with a young crowd; drag shows upstairs at the Rose Room, and after-hours dancing from 2-4am.

Sue Ellen's (3014 Throckmorton) women's bar with live bands, high-definition video, karaoke or comedy shows, patio, dance floor and Lipstick Lounge for chilling out. Fridays are 18+

Tin Room (2514 Hudnall St) small cozy neighborhood club with loyal regulars, karaoke and young male erotic dancers who are attentive for your tips.

TMC (3903 Cedar Springs Rd), aka 'The Mining Company,' two-level men's cruise club with low lighting, patio, pool tables, and regulars who welcome vistiors. Open Thursday - Saturday from 5pm, Sunday from 2pm;  Friday - Sunday after-hours dancing to 4am.

Woody's (4011 Cedar Springs Rd) sports and video bar with patio. Nightly entertainment of karaoke, show tunes, comedy . Wednesday Miss Wanda Shows from 11pm, live music on Thursdays and Fridays from 8pm; summertime cook-outs.

Zippers (3333 N Fitzhugh Av) a men's bar with strong drinks, male strippers and go-go dancers - more muscular than at other clubs nearby.

Restaurants

Black-eyed Pea (3857 Cedar Springs Rd) home-style cooking restaurant chain with outpost in the gay district.

Bronx Cafe (3835 Cedar Springs Rd) gay-owned restaurant with lunch, brunch and dinner, next to Melrose Hotel, nice ambiance, free WiFi.

Buli (3908 Cedar Springs Rd) great panini sandwich and coffee shop where desserts are born and diets forgotten. Breakfast big or small, big salad variety and blended drinks.

Dish (4123 Cedar Springs Rd) good, fresh and simple food, lunch and dinner every day, trendy, nicely designed space.

Hector's on Henderson (2929 N. Henderson Av) New American bistro cuisine with a Texas accent, live music, full bar.

Hunky's (4000 Cedar Springs Rd and 321 Bishop, Oak Cliff) old-fashioned burgers with many toppings, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, all the sides, yummy shakes, cute guys.

Lucky's Cafe (3531 Oaklawn Av) popular Oak Lawn breakfast and brunch spot known for pancakes and omelets; also extensive lunch menu from burgers, fries & shakes, to meatloaf or fried catfish. Dinner hours until 10pm. Take-out, beer/wine, open daily.

Tillman's Roadhouse (324 W 7th St) classic comfort food with a Texas accent, in casual environment; rustic but lush decor.

Saunas and gyms

Midtowne Spa (2509 Pacific) secret nooks, work-out station, steam and dry saunas, hot tub, leather and fantasy/theme rooms, social lounge, rooftop skyline views, weekend cookouts.

Club Dallas (2616 Swiss) fitness center with trainer, sundeck, heated pool, full gym, whirlpool, dry & steam saunas, media room and free WiFi.

Shopping
Cedar Springs Road is a intersting street to shop as well as party. The Shops of Cedar Springs Road group hosts a monthly First Wednesday event with great deals at member stores, street artists and socializing.

Condom Sense (4038 Cedar Springs Rd ) the gayborhood branch of a chain of boutique adult novelty stores with 8,000 unique erotic products from vibrators, novelties, condoms and lubes, to massage oils, body and bath products.

Leather Masters (3000 Main St) sells quality leather merchandise, with custom clothing and accessories for men and women. Also has an online store.

Lost Antiques (1201 N Industrial Blvd ) hip antique shop, design studio and gallery, with Art Deco and mid-century-modern pieces, a big collection of fine art; also vintage motorcycles.

Obscurities (4008 Cedar Springs Rd) offers safe piercing, award-winning tattoos and body jewelry. See an online photo gallery of their work.

Outlines (3906 Cedar Springs Rd) has T- shirts, underwear, swimwear, jeans, shoes, jewelry and accessories for men.

Skivvies (4001-C Cedar Springs Rd) is billed as the largest men’s fashion underwear store in the world, this gay emporium has jeans, g-strings, jockstraps, briefs, swimwear, tees and tank tops, and erotic/fetish wear too.

Tape Lenders (3926 Cedar Springs Rd) has a wide selection of gay/lesbian DVD movies, art and photo books, lubes, gifts such as Vitruvian figurines, plus rainbow/pride items.

Union Jack (3920 Cedar Springs Rd) targets young to middle-aged men with their unique clothing lines,  jewelry, watches, belts, footwear, underwear, socks, swimwear and more.