Mister X

I don't think I was reaching at all. You asked for a list of tacky things in Dallas and I gave you one. This is my honest opinion. Your entitled to your opinion too, but tackyness is in the eye of the beholder. Duh, any list of tasteful and tacky things can only be an opinion. Even yours. If it makes you feel any better Rant, I'm sure there are many people who think the downtown refinery and big dandelion are the pinnacle of taste and sophisication. I could give you much longer list, but really what's the point. In my OPINION even making a list like this is tacky - by the way, SO IS ASKING FOR ONE. But like I said, I don't have a big problem with tacky. Its kind of fun. Just lighten up and enjoy your tacky town - I always get a laugh out of it as I drive around. Anyway, wasn't this supposed to be about bunches of Jumbotrons? They are definitely tacky, but they are also fun and draw crowds. I hope the builders of the Houston Pavilions try to incorporate some into the design. People love blinky, shiny, tacky things. Why do you think we celebrate Christmas for one month out of every year? But seriously, don't worry about tacky - just try to have fun with it.

1. Green neon on city's largest building 2. The refinery looking thing on the top of the building with the big X's 3. Suspension bridges being built over a weed covered floodplain 4. Texas Stadium 5. Soon to be moving jumbotrons 6. 200 ft tall farris wheel east of downtown 7. The Dallas Galleria 8. The Red Pegasus (is it still there?) 9. The endless chain of McMansions 10. I-35 11. I-30 12. Mockingbird Station 13. Six Flags Over Texas 14. The giant dandelion with the blinking lights (aka Reunion Tower) 15. That hideous mirror glass building under Reunion Tower 16. All malls everywhere (not just Dallas) 17. Fountain Place 18. The soon to be built "ski resort theme park" 19. "The Port of Dallas" 20. Harry Hines Blvd Of coarse this list is only opinion, and believe me I just got started, but all that being said, I don't particularly have a problem with tacky things. Tacky things can be very fun and be a great source of entertainment. There is no place in the world without its share of tacky things. Houston has plenty of tacky things, so does LA, NY, CHI, SF, and every other city on earth - so don't take it too personal. You asked for a list. One person's idea of glamour is another person's idea of tacky.

I don't see what there is to debate here. The article is quite clear. For whatever reasons that sound the most palatable, Dallas has no interest in trying to shelter their fair share of people in an emergency. It is as simple as that. It sounds to me that not only is Dallas not able to handle an emergency like this today, but is also making it clear that it has no intention of ever even TRYING to. Their priorities are somewhere else. I admit it. I don't care for Dallas at all. Sue me. I lived in north Dallas for 8 years - didn't think much of it (people or places) and never understood the whole superior attitute thing at all. Now I live SF and as far as general attitude and pomposity goes, the people in SF make Dallas look like Houston during Katrina - on a daily basis! The only difference is when it comes to actual city and bay area assets, they can back up the big talk, not counting all the pointless and annoying politically correct crap going on the streets, there are some actual interesting things to see and do here. SF delivers most of what it promises, Dallas is all about trying to con people into believing in myths or something, like Jason is doing on this forum. I suppose if you live in Dallas long enough, you start to believe in the myth. It must be like some form of brain washing. If everyone goes around calling themselves beautiful and classy long enough, then eventually they will start believing it - when in reality, the rest of the world is laughing at them behind their backs. Many people in Dallas (especially the ones who frequent this Houston Architecture forum) don't realize that the myths end at the Dallas city limits. Or at very least, 50 miles out. Talk will get you just so far, eventually you have to deliver. I respect Houston because, despite whatever assets or shortcomings, you don't hear a lot of BS. Just action and results. It was no surprise to me that Houston, within such a short time period, had welcomed thousands of people who had just lost everything they had in the world. Good or bad, Houston lets the action speak for itself. No excuses or appologies.

Understood, No Dallas bashing and rated PG. But it's hard not to toss out insults, especially on this forum. The Dallas lovers come to this forum all the time bragging about silly things that most cities already have and TRYING to impress with false images of grandure. On days like today, when reality strikes, and Dallas is seen as the superficial place that it is, it's very hard for people to contain themselves. But I promise I will try to be good from now on.

Read this quick, it will probably be edited by subdude. It is well known thoughout America that Dallas is a city of (I've been censored but it began with the letter A). I'm talking about the local government and the general population. Dallas is completely without character, substance, or soul. There is nothing in this article that is the slightest bit surprising. What a classy place. Not. I understand that a few pea brains might get offended by the word A**H***, but what's wrong with calling a city self-serving when it claims to be big (as in Big D), brags about buildings, jumbotrons, and mall art, but can't or won't pull it's weight to HELP PEOPLE in an emergency? I didn't relize the occasional light profanity was cause for a moderator to completely change the context of the message. I never said Dallas was a city.

It is well known thoughout America that Dallas is a city. I'm talking about the local government and the general population. Dallas is completely without character, substance, or soul. There is nothing in this article that is the slightest bit surprising. What a classy place. Not.

He's foaming! Take a paxil for god's sake.

Red's comparison seems fair to me. He is comparing 80 acres in Houston to 75 acres in Dallas that, within the specific area, will offer similar facilities and venues. To me, Victory looks impressive, but a bit isolated. It is barely connected to the far northwestern edge of downtown D. People working in the heart of downtown or on the east or south side of downtown will probably not want to make the hike on foot, especially in 100 degree summers. While there is no doubt that Victory will be a major draw, it's hard to imagine it becoming the new epicenter of pedestrian Dallas. It seems like the fastest and most convienient way to get to Victory will be by car. By comparison, with that magnificant 12 acre, tree covered park in the center, and it's easy proximity to ALL of downtown, including 2 major league sports stadiums, a convention center, the theatre district, HP, and now this new residential tower, E Hou could be the new Times Square of Texas. It's already half way there, all they need to do is connect the dots and add some tacky electric billboards. Location is everything. I think the organic nature of eastside Hou will also ultimately be a plus. It will look like it came together over time and necessity rather than looking and feeling like an artificial town center or souless business venture that appeared overnight, like something on the Vegas strip. Eastside could develop a real time tested and permanent neighborhood feel to it if done right.

houstunsemipro th;nk yo alll is stoopit. So shupup now!

That's the quickest one I can get to. I wouldn't want you to miss your flight. I'm sure you have plenty of drinks to serve. Wow, if only I could drive them all out of town that easily.

I wouldn't look to you to lead me to it. I can tell by your "high road" posts, that your having some trouble finding it yourself. You seem to be right in the mud with the rest of us.

I think your high right now, 713/214. You certainly must have been when you said Northpark was like a museum.

I know Tam, I was being sarcastic. That post by aztx had to be a joke. Why would anyone from the Phoenix area travel to Dallas to shop when L.A. and Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive is at least 500 miles closer and about 500 times more upscale. Anyway, if it's true, I would love to see what they actually bought so I could laugh in their idiot faces. On a similar topic, I've lived in California for the past 16 years. On rare occasion, I have heard people mention the Houston Galleria, but never once heard anyone mention Northpark mall. I think the Houston Galleria makes a bigger impact on out of towners than Northpark. It certainly is a lot more fun to hang out in.

Oh. That explains how you know so much about Dallas and mall art.

I guess not.

It's mall quality art at best. Only in Dallas is Northpark widely acknowledged as one of the country's best shopping malls. If you think Dallas is the only place that has malls that display original works of art that you can also see in books, you obviously don't get out of Dallas much. Is this a joke? No, Seriously, is this a joke.

Now come on. You know this discussion would not even be happening if Northpark Mall, as it exist today, was located in Houston. If it was, Dallas enthusiast would change the topic - quick - and start comparing bowling alleys or something. I don't go to Dallas forums, do Houstonians clip articles and post photos everytime a new stop sign is erected in Houston. This rivalry, cracks me up. There is nothing wrong with Northpark, it's a nice mall. It's just funny to me that it is not enough for Dallas boosters to say its a nice mall. No, it has to the best mall ever built in the state of Texas, which is a laughable idea that is not being bought by anyone outside Dallas. I would encourage anyone visiting Dallas who wants to see some fine art - go to Fort Worth and see the Kimbell. Go to Northpark if you need a pair of jeans that cost 3 times what they are worth. But for God's sake, try and find something better to do than spend your day at a mall. You can do that anywhere. There certainly has to be something more interesting to do in Dallas than to go to Northpark Mall. I hope.

No it isn't. It's the fact that it's in Dallas.

Oh hear we go. It's the "if your not impressed with something in Dallas, you MUST be jealous" theory. Wrong. I can't believe anyone in Houston would trade their Galleria for Northpark. You can absolutely judge Northpark by those photos. I've seen it. I did NOT deem it worthy of photography. I don't think the photographer used Photoshop or anything to make the mall seem LESS impressive to the people on this forum. I was there last week. That is what the place looks like - a mall, with a chick-fil-a and some "art". I don't speak for everyone, but I bet I speak for more when I say that Northpark is not exactly a life changing experience. Unless maybe you have no life to begin with.

I'm really beginning to question your sanity.

That article didn't change my mind. It's still just a mall. A nice mall, but not the best mall in Texas by a long shot. I would certainly never go out of my way to see it again. Anyone from Houston or any other big city will be very disappointed if they go there expecting much more than what they already have close to home. But I think we get it 214. Dallas has impressed itself with it's new old mall. But don't expect the rest of the world to be. Anyway, you lost me when you put Houston's Galleria in the same class as Gulfgate. That tells us alot about your ability to rate shopping centers. Hizzy was right about this thread turning into Comedy Central. I was going for a cheap laugh earlier, but reading these long, long post from Dallasite's trying to convince everybody how upscale Dallas is, is downright hilarious. Keep it coming. We're all getting a kick out of it. That article from the DMN is pure gold!

Dallas folks crack me up. Hearing people from Dallas talk about what is "classy" and "up scale" is like listening to Tammy Faye Baker talk about how to apply makeup. Ouch!

That's the response I'd expect in Dallas, where they are fighting with Cleveland to be the CHEAPEST property on the board. Dallas is ranked 21 out of 22 cities. Oh the shame. Maybe if the Dallashits rally they can convince everyone that Texas Stadium is the top tourist attraction in America. But seriously, who picked out these strange choices of places to vote on. Kemah Boardwalk is cute, but how the hell did it make the list. I would have thought the Houston Galleria or even the empty Astrodome would be more popular in a national pissing contest like this.

Mister X - as in X Houstonian, X Dallasite, and X Los Angelino. In that order. Current San Franciscan. Thanx for asking.

2 days ago. I'm over it. Afterward, I stopped at a 7eleven for a bottled water. And before you say anything let me tell you it was NOT like going to Buckingham Palace or anything.