The Nation’s Largest Arts & Culture Destination
Greetings!
The arts are essential to a vibrant 21st-century city, and in Dallas we are blessed with an amazing Arts District that has been recognized as one of the nation’s very best.
Located in the heart of our thriving city center, the Dallas Arts District is a hub of culture and creativity, education and entertainment, and flavor and flair. You can dine at one of our fine restaurants such as Ellie’s or Sloane’s Corner. You can peruse the acclaimed Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center. You can catch a top-notch show at the AT&T Performing Arts Center or check out the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. And you can have an enriching family outing at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science—followed by an afternoon at the bustling and relaxing Klyde Warren Park.
On our stages, in our museums, and in the kitchen, the people and places of the Dallas Arts District are ready to delight and inspire you, to help you escape to new places, and to make you feel and think differently about the world around you.
Thank you for your support of the arts and for visiting our extraordinary city—the ninth largest in the United States and the engine of the country’s fourth largest and fastest-growing metropolitan area. You can use this visitor’s guide and visit dallasartsdistrict.org to learn about everything we have to offer. Enjoy the Arts District and have a wonderful time here in Dallas.
Sincerely,
Eric Johnson Mayor of Dallas
2023 marks the 40th anniversary of the Dallas Arts District. In these four decades, 100-yearold historic churches thrived, commerce grew, multicultural neighborhoods came together, education reinvented itself into a national model, and the arts provided the unique identifier. Adrian Ellis, founder and chair of the Global Cultural Districts Network, said, “Dallas Arts District is a model of a planned district to which we return again and again in our work. Its vibrant character today bears witness to the skill and imagination with which the District has been developed, programmed, and managed subsequently. May the next four decades be as successful.”
Today, the now 118-acre Dallas Arts District, the largest urban arts district in the nation, has garnered acclaim around the globe and has put Dallas in the world’s spotlight for its exemplary success. Celebrating 40 years of creativity, we look forward to the tremendous impact of decades to come. “It is a shining example of the vibrant Dallas cultural community representing the very best of what makes Dallas so very special,” says Charles Santos, artistic/ executive director of TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND and current chair of the Dallas Arts District board of directors.
Our visitors are at the heART of our success as a neighborhood! The Dallas Arts District is grateful to partner with Patron to release the 2023–2024 Dallas Arts District Guide! Explore the dynamic arts programming in these pages, then come often to experience some of the finest cultural treasures that Dallas has to offer.
Sincerely,
Lily Cabatu Weiss, Executive Director, Dallas Arts District
1900 Pearl | Arts District Properties, LLC | AT&T Performing Arts Center | Billingsley Company | Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts | Cathedral Santuario de Guadalupe | City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture | Crow Museum of Asian Art of the University of Texas at Dallas | Dallas Black Dance Theatre | Dallas Museum of Art | Dallas Symphony Orchestra | Dallas Theater Center | Downtown Dallas, Inc. | First United Methodist Church | Fountain Place | Green Family Art Foundation | HALL Group | Klyde Warren Park | KPMG Plaza at HALL Arts | Moody Performance Hall | Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center | Nasher Sculpture Center | One Arts Plaza | Perot Museum of Nature and Science | St. Paul Place | St. Paul United Methodist Church | TACA – The Arts Community Alliance | Texas Ballet Theater | Thanks-Giving Square | The Dallas Opera | TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND | Trammell Crow Center | VisitDallas
ACTX | AECOM | Anonymous | Arts District Mansion | Atelier Flora Lofts | Balfour Beatty | Billingsley Company | Caramel & Honey | Corgan | Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District | Diaz Dental Studio | Downtown Dallas, Inc. | G-Texas Catering | HKS Architects | Jackson Walker | HALL Arts Hotel | James and Gayle Halperin Foundation | HURST Electric Company | Interabang Books | Louise W. Kahn Endowment Fund of the Dallas Foundation | KERA Go See DFW | Moody Fund for the Arts | Patron Magazine | Texas Commission on the Arts | Trinbrook Fund of the Communities Foundation of Texas | Uptown Dallas | VisitDallas
02 A NOTE FROM MAYOR ERIC JOHNSON
28 DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT MAP
34 A LEGACY OF CREATION
Marking the 40th Anniversary of the Dallas Arts District.
36 TOP OF THE BILL
Quintessential programming for the 2023-2024 season.
What
Editor in Chief Terri Provencal
Design Lauren Christensen
Copyeditor Sophia Dembling
Contributing Writers Nancy Cohen Israel, John Zotos
On the cover: HALL Arts Hotel.
of HALL
The Arts District’s first office building, 2100 Ross boasts modern amenities and a light filled lobby with original artwork throughout the common areas. Fitness, conference facilities, and multiple dining and retail services all come together to create a casual and creative atmosphere that appeals to the modern office user seeking value without sacrificing quality.
Don’t miss the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s GRAMMY® Award-winning Music Director, Fabio Luisi, at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.
SEP 28 & OCT 1
Copland and Liszt
OCT 12–15
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2
FEB 22–25
Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony
MAR 1–3
The Book with Seven Seals
MAR 28–30
Mahler Symphony No. 5
APR 4–6
Brahms Requiem
MAY 1 & 4
Ring Cycle: Das Rheingold
MAY 2 & 5
Ring Cycle: Die Walküre
The Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) is among the 10 largest art museums in the country. With a free general admission policy and community outreach efforts, the DMA is distinguished by its commitment to research, innovation, and public engagement. At the heart of the museum and its programs is its global collection, which encompasses 26,224 works and spans 5,000 years of history representing a full range of world cultures. The museum acts as a catalyst for community creativity, engaging people of all ages and backgrounds with a diverse spectrum of programming, from exhibitions and lectures to concerts, literary events, and dramatic dance presentations. The DMA is an Open Access institution, allowing all works believed to be in the public domain to be freely available for downloading, sharing, repurposing, and remixing without restriction. dma.org.
Founded in 1998 by Trammell and Margaret Crow, the Crow Museum of Asian Art of The University of Texas at Dallas inspires and promotes learning and dialogue about the arts and cultures of Asia through its exhibitions, the research and preservation of its collections, artistic and educational programming, and visitor experience and engagement. Free and open to the public and with an array of beautiful spaces and galleries, it provides a serene setting for quiet reflection. In 2019, the Crow family gifted the collection to The University of Texas at Dallas in honor of its founders and to ensure its preservation in perpetuity. A second location designed by Morphosis Architects is scheduled to open by 2024 as part of a larger campus arts and performance complex. crowmuseum.org.
The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is the place to amaze your brain in Dallas. Race a T. rex, experience an earthquake, touch a tornado, and challenge your family and friends in a game of robot tag. The museum offers five funfilled levels with hands-on discovery and adventure around every corner! Experience the science behind sports in the Lamar Hunt Family Sports Hall. Be dazzled by stunning gems in the Lyda Hill Gems and Minerals Hall. Encounter prehistoric life through fossil casts of enormous creatures in the T. Boone Pickens Life Then and Now Hall. And finally, catch a thrilling film in the Hoglund Foundation Theater. perotmuseum.org
Reopening at Atelier in October 2022, the GFAF presents three exhibitions per year featuring works by emerging and established artists, aiming to provide a greater platform for underserved artists. These exhibitions will most often be group exhibitions curated in-house or with a guest curator and will be threaded with a common theme. greenfamilyartfoundation.org.
Located in the heart of the Dallas Arts District, The Nasher Sculpture Center is home to the Raymond and Patsy Nasher Collection, one of the finest collections of modern and contemporary sculpture in the world, featuring more than 300 masterpieces by Brancusi, Basquiat, Hepworth, LeWitt, Matisse, and Miró, among others. The Nasher Sculpture Center is open Wednesday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission includes access to special exhibitions and is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for students, and free for members and children 12 and under. nashersculpturecenter.org
Founded in 1975 by Anita N. Martinez, Dallas’ first Hispanic city councilwoman, what started as a small community dance group, has achieved artistic stature in the community and is a resident company of the AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District. As one of the city’s oldest culturally centric arts organizations, ANMBF has served the Dallas community in a broad capacity for over 47 years. Although intended for audiences of all ages, ANMBF has always championed the community’s youth, acting as cultural and artistic stewards for future generations of art patrons and performancegoers to come. anmbf.org
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (BTWHSPVA), part of the Dallas Independent School District, has provided students with in-depth dance, music, theatre, and visual arts classes as well as a thorough academic program since 1976. It was the first secondary school in the district to be awarded the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award for Exemplary Education from the Department of Education. The school has earned the distinction for Exemplary Arts Education from the Rockefeller Foundation, was named one of the top eight Magnet Schools in the country by the Department of Education, was listed as one of the top five schools in the nation by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, and is a Texas Medal of the Arts honoree. For events call 972.9251200. dallasisd.org/btw
The AT&T Performing Arts Center operates and programs a 10-acre campus comprising three premier performance venues and a park in downtown Dallas. Audiences enjoy the best from Broadway; world-class dance companies co-presented with TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND; live concerts; top comedians; iconic speakers; and Dallas-based artists and small groups through the Elevator Project. Thousands of students experience the arts through AT&T Performing Arts Center’s education program, Open Stages. The Center provides free tickets to underserved groups through Community Partners. These programs are made possible by the ongoing support of donors and members. The Center’s resident companies are among the city’s leading arts institutions: Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, The Dallas Opera, Dallas Theater Center, and Texas Ballet Theater. attpac.org
Dallas Black Dance Theatre celebrates the 2023/2024 season as the ninth-largest contemporary modern dance company in the nation and the oldest and largest dance company in Dallas. DBDT’s 47th season features five vibrant performance series in the Dallas Arts District performed by DBDT or DBDT: Encore! Each series is different, showcasing one or two mesmerizing world premieres by international and national choreographers. The season kicks off with the 18th annual Dance Africa Performance Series celebrating African heritage with soul-stirring songs and heart-searing drumming, including a free festival and marketplace. During the holidays, Dallas Black Dance Academy’s Espresso Nutcracker presents the only Nutcracker of color in DFW, featuring youth casting in all key parts. For season details visit dbdt.com
Hailed by the Dallas Morning News as “exhilarating,” “revelatory,” and “intensely dramatic,” the Dallas Symphony Orchestra is a cultural oasis in the heart of the Dallas Arts District. Led by Grammy award–winner Fabio Luisi, the DSO makes its home in one of the country’s great music halls, the I.M. Pei–designed Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. With a rich medley of concerts, including the complete Wagner Ring Cycle in concert, Grammy award–winning artist Lila Downs, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in concert, and Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony, the 2023/2024 season provides an opportunity for music lovers of all kinds to enjoy a world-class orchestra experience. And don’t miss holidays at the DSO as the Meyerson lights up for a season of celebration with a host of holiday concerts and activities.
The Dallas Opera is dedicated to the advancement and diversity of the art form, artists, and audiences in Dallas and beyond. The 2023/2024 season features a long-awaited world premiere, three new-to-Dallas productions, tenor superstar Lawrence Brownlee in recital, and the free People’s Choice concert in October 2023. Puccini’s dramatic Tosca kicks off the mainstage season (Oct. 1321, 2023), followed by the world premiere of Talbot and Scheer’s inspiring The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (November 3-11, 2023). The Dallas Opera returns in spring with R. Strauss’ thrilling Elektra (Feb. 9-17, 2024) and closes the momentous season with Gounod’s fabled romance, Romeo and Juliet (Mar. 1-9, 2024). The final performance of each production will be livestreamed. To learn more, visit dallasopera.org.
Dallas Theater Center (DTC) is a Tony award–winning regional theater with innovative programming that has made a significant impact in the performing arts arena since 1959. DTC’s 2023/2024 season features an exciting lineup of performances, including the cult classic musical, The Rocky Horror Show, Jonathan Norton’s world premiere comedy, I Am Delivered’t, the popular murder mystery Dial M for Murder, the beloved Disney classic The Little Mermaid, and more! 2023/2024 subscriptions are available now. dallastheatercenter.org
The award-winning Moody Performance Hall is a publicly funded, City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture–owned and –operated rental performance facility. The space was designed in conjunction with feedback from over 70 local arts organizations and continues to provide an accessible, state-of-the art facility to a wide variety of local organizations in the heart of the Dallas Arts District. Consisting of a 749seat multiuse audience chamber and versatile lobby, Moody Performance Hall provides a unique platform from which emerging and midsized arts organizations can express their individual voice and culture to the community. It is the perfect place to discover the next generation of local arts organizations and be enthralled by the energetic and creative spirit of the performing arts community.
The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, one of the most iconic buildings in Dallas, opened in 1989 and is home to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Designed by world-renowned architect I.M. Pei and acoustician Russell Johnson of Artec Consultants, the building is an optimal space for musical performances and an elegant venue for special events. The centerpiece of the Meyerson is the Eugene McDermott Concert Hall, an intimate performance space with seating for 1,838 or 2,062 with Choral Terrace and Dress Circle Loft seats. Surrounding the concert hall, the expansive lobby space includes several distinct areas with marble floors and rails and stainless steel, limestone, glass, and onyx fixtures. The main lobby area boasts 24,000 square feet with 50-foot-high ceilings—a soaring and elegant architectural background. The Loge Terrace on the second level provides two distinct seating areas plus a dramatic view of the city and the main floor. dallassymphony.org.
TBT’s 2023/2024 season showcases thrilling productions that will transport you to worlds of mystery, intrigue, and delight. The season opens at Winspear Opera House Sep. 15–17, 2023 with Dracula, an audience favorite choreographed by Artistic Director Laureate Ben Stevenson, O.B.E. Next, patrons can ring in the holidays with TBT’s annual production of The Nutcracker, running Nov. 24–Dec. 3, 2023 at the Winspear. The company will present Brilliants Mar. 1–3, 2024 at Wyly Theatre. This mixed-repertoire production features four shorter ballets in one show, including George Balanchine’s dazzling Rubies. The season closes with Beauty and the Beast, running May 3–5, 2024 at the Winspear. All productions run in Fort Worth as well. texasballettheater.org.
TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND, in association with AT&T Performing Arts Center, is the preeminent dance presenter in North Texas and one of only a handful of presenting organizations in the nation dedicated exclusively to dance. For more than 40 years, it has been a vital leader and advocate for the arts, presenting over 625 programs by the most intriguing and influential artists across more than 42 countries, making it a must-do cultural destination for American and international performing artists and companies. Alongside performances, TITAS provides extensive community education, including master classes, artist talks, and special performances for K-12 students. With extraordinary companies from all over the world, TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND is exciting, diverse, and not to be missed. titas.org
TACA–The Arts Community Alliance supports excellence and impact in the arts through grantmaking, capacity-building and thought leadership. TACA exists to nurture arts organizations and provide visionary and responsive leadership to the arts community. By providing flexible funding and muchneeded resources, like professional development workshops, TACA allows arts organizations to spend less time on keeping their doors open and more time on running strong and effective programs that transform lives through the arts. taca-arts.org
For current and up-to-date information on restaurants, exhibits, and performances, please use this QR code.
Unobstructed 360-degree views are guaranteed for life at 1900 Pearl. The development is nestled in the Arts District with Klyde Warren Park, the theater district, and the Annette Strauss Pavilion just steps from the building. This Class AA building is designed with modern, luxurious finishes throughout. Upon arrival, take the elevator directly from your car to your office floor. Recharge and enjoy a state-of-the-art 14thfloor amenity center that includes a court for basketball and yoga, a workout facility, wine lockers, and luxury lounge space for cocktails and meetings. The lounge leads to an open-air balcony featuring expansive views of Uptown, Downtown, and Klyde Warren Park. Restaurants and entertainment surround the property, but the building itself houses the ultimate in both. A true luxury. For leasing, please contact Jake Young at jyoung@plc.com or Worthey Wiles as wwiles@lpc.com
Designed in the neoclassical revival style, the Arts District Mansion was built in the late 1800s by A.H. Belo, founder of the Dallas Morning News, as a tribute to A.H. Belo’s wife, Nettie. In 1977, the Dallas Bar Association purchased and restored the property. In 2003, the Dallas Bar Association added the exquisite pavilion and the expansive past was once again linked to the present and future through innovative design and distinctive architecture. The Arts District Mansion boasts an atmosphere for conducting business that is unmatched in the city. As few as 10 or as many as 1,000 guests can gather for breakfast meetings, luncheons, receptions, or elegant dinner affairs. artsdistrictmansion.org
Fountain Place is a Dallas landmark, an instantly recognizable 58-story glass prism that defines the city’s skyline. Designed by preeminent architects I.M. Pei and Harry Cobb of I.M. Pei Partners and originally constructed in 1986, Fountain Place recently completed an extensive $70 million renovation that carefully and thoughtfully updated all of the building interiors to timeless perfection in keeping with the iconic exterior. All-new amenities include a tenant lounge, event space, and state-of-the-art conference center, along with a spa-quality fitness center. AMLI Fountain Place Luxury Apartments is now open. Fountain Place occupies the largest block of urban office space, boasting 600,000 square feet available to lease. Work in art—contact CBRE Fountain Place representatives Fletcher Cordell (214) 979-6102 fletcher.cordell@cbre.com; Dennis Barnes (214) 979-6308 dennis.barnes@cbre. com; Jackie Marshall (214) 979-6115 jackie.marshall@cbre.com; fountainplace.com
Reside in the Dallas Arts District. Atelier caters to discerning residents with a choice of loft-style apartment homes with private entry or tower apartment homes with impeccable views. The apartments feature efficient and wellappointed units with Italian kitchens including gas cooktops, custom quartz countertops, stainless steel Bosch appliances, kitchen islands, and undercabinet lighting. Other apartment features include wide plank wood flooring throughout, dining rooms, private balconies, expansive walk-in closets, and Hansgrohe German matte black plumbing fixtures. Select units feature vertical spas, stand-alone showers, and dens. Future residents have a variety of one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans to choose from ranging in size from 697 square feet to 2,273 square feet. An expansive amenity deck on level 11 offers 360-degree views. atelierdallas.com
Welcome to the award-winning HALL Arts Hotel, the first hotel located in the Dallas Arts District. The luxury hotel offers 183 contemporary guest rooms, including 19 Dallas Arts District-inspired suites, a rooftop pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and 8,000 square feet of event space. Guests to HALL Arts Hotel can experience an exclusive tour of the diverse, thoughtprovoking art collection, and weekly curated events centered around the arts, wellness, and community. Each guest room is equipped with advanced technology, impactful local photography, and floor-to-ceiling windows to showcase scenic views of the district. Located on the second floor, Ellie’s Restaurant & Lounge ties art and locally sourced ingredients into an elevated Napa-inspired dining experience. hallartshotel.com
HALL Arts Residences offers the perfect blend of art and beauty with an exclusive collection of 48 luxury homes in the Dallas Arts District. Throughout the tower residents can enjoy a private art collection on permanent display and resort-style amenities such as a lap pool, putting green, outdoor grill, state-of-the-art fitness studio, and climate-controlled wine cellar. The 28-story tower provides a unique opportunity to reside in the heart of Dallas’ cultural center surrounded by the district’s Pritzker Prize–winning architecture. hallartsresidences.com
This Dallas Arts District hotel is minutes from renowned shopping, dining, and entertainment, including the American Airlines Center and Klyde Warren Park. Enjoy elevated local cuisine and craft cocktails at their signature full-service restaurant, Margaret’s, or enjoy a cocktail at Vincent’s with amazing views of the Dallas skyline. Take a dip in the 11th-floor heated rooftop pool or work out in their state-of-the-art gym. Enjoy a premier venue with 20,000 square feet of flexible spaces offering natural light and modern amenities paired with exceptional planning and catering services. Experience first-class accommodations in one of their elegantly furnished guest rooms. Many rooms include floor-to-ceiling windows, and all rooms offer deluxe bedding and premium amenities. Experience an approachable luxury experience at the newest luxury hotel in Downtown. jwmarriottdallasartsdistrict.com
KPMG Plaza is a Class AA, 18-story office building located in the heart of the Dallas Arts District. At KPMG Plaza, tenants enjoy three on-site dining options and a fullservice, exclusive fitness center; a connected four-diamond hotel; and access to over 70 walkable amenities, including restaurants, residences, museums, entertainment venues, and public art installations. The property’s location presents a unique opportunity to showcase additional existing and new commissioned works of art and the publicly accessible Texas Sculpture Walk. kpmg.com
Embarking on its second decade, Klyde Warren Park, one of the first urban deck parks in America, provides a physical and social connection between the Dallas business community, the city’s Arts District, and the vibrant Uptown neighborhood. The nonprofit park serves as a gathering place for the entire city, welcoming visitors daily from every part of North Texas as well as the rest of the world. It is a highly active space, providing free programming that ranges from yoga to children’s activities to outdoor concerts and films. Popular features of Klyde Warren Park include the new Nancy Best Fountain, the expanded Sheila and Jody Grant Children’s Park, Mi Cocina on the Park, and the CBS Texas Food Truck Lane.
A 24-story state-of-the-art tower overlooking the Dallas Arts District, this mixed-use complex combines office, residential, restaurants, and retail. The lobby features a large digital art installation, and One Arts Plaza offers countless amenities for residents and office tenants, such as a fitness center, coffee lounge, conference center and offices with unobstructed views of Downtown and Uptown. Award-winning restaurants Tei-An, Yolk, and The Playwright Irish Pub provide perfect spots for before- or after-show cocktails and fare overlooking a dazzling fountain in the plaza that lights up the night. An on-site 7-Eleven store offers visitors grab-and-go convenience. Valet and garage parking are available day and night. oneartsplaza.com
The Texas Sculpture Walk is a half acre of landscaped walkway, between KPMG Plaza at HALL Arts and HALL Arts Hotel and Residences, that spans Ross Avenue to Flora Street. Filled with nearly two dozen contemporary sculptures, the Texas Sculpture Walk is a perfect place to visit and experience world-class sculptures for free in the Dallas Arts District.
Saint Paul Place is the only boutique Class A office building located in the Dallas Arts District. The building offers best-in-class service with dedicated onsite property management, market-leading amenities, and high-quality office space featuring beautiful views of the surrounding Arts District and Klyde Warren Park. For more information, please contact (214) 3020080, or info@pacelm.com
Begin and end your Dallas Arts District and Klyde Warren Park experiences in the best way when you park your vehicle, motorcycle, or bicycle in PARK FAST, a centrally located gateless public parking facility at 1821 N Pearl Street (aka 2121 Flora). PARK FAST has 160 self-park spaces, fully illuminated, and is open 24/7/365 so you can come and go at any time. The operations are expertly handled by Park Place, which attends, cleans, and monitors the facility with 20 high-resolution cameras throughout. Level 2 EV charging stations (Juice Bar/Amp Up) are provided on both levels, as are e-bike plug ins. An “art infrastructure” program is being initiated in association with local and international artists and will enhance your Dallas Arts District visit with thoughtful urban interventions. parkplaceparking.com
APRIL 4 - 7, 2024
FASHION INDUSTRY GALLERY
90 INTERNATIONAL ART GALLERIES
A Dallas icon for the past 30 years, Trammell Crow Center has completed a sweeping renovation and expansion focusing on enhancing every aspect of the tenant experience. Tenants can now enjoy a 9,000-square-foot conference center, a sleek new athletic club, expansive green space with inviting outdoor gathering spots, plenty of new parking, and fully modernized elevators. From a thoughtfully appointed collection of on-site amenities to seamless access to the Arts District and Klyde Warren Park, Trammell Crow Center is the premier destination for forward-looking organizations wanting to blur the lines between work and life. trammellcrowcenter.com
Thanks-Giving Square has been an important and magnificent center of downtown Dallas for over 45 years. The founders employed one of the most influential architects of the day, Philip Johnson, to create a space centered on the virtue of gratitude. Johnson designed a sunken garden as a place of contemplation, away from the noise of the Downtown traffic and chaos of our daily life; for this reason, it is an architecturally unique and spiritually significant soul of the community in the heart of Downtown Dallas. In addition to Johnson’s one-of-a-kind architecture, other artistic gems can be discovered in the chapel and in Thanks-Giving Square, including Gabriel Loire’s Glory Window, John Hutton’s etched dove, and a mosaic of Norman Rockwell’s Golden Rule. thanksgiving.org
Cathedral Guadalupe serves a diverse Catholic community that welcomes visitors of all faiths to enjoy this beautiful historic church and spend a quiet moment within the rush of Downtown Dallas. For services, visit cathedralguadalupe.org.
Embracing the present and innovating for the future, First United Methodist Church Dallas welcomes all, just as they are, to grow, connect and serve our city with love. FirstChurch views music and arts as sacred expression, showcasing the work of local artists and performers in our Goodrich Gallery and Wortley-Peabody Theatre. For more information on worship and music and arts programming, visit firstchurchdallas.org.
St. Paul United Methodist Church is the only faith community in downtown Dallas rooted in the African American tradition of worship. The welcoming church built by freed slaves was founded in 1873 and is the oldest African American United Methodist Congregation in North Texas. Today, 150 years later, it is still a vibrant place for all to encounter God’s amazing love and grace. If you want creative and artistic expressions through worship, you will not be disappointed by the myriad of events and worship experiences at St. Paul Downtown. From jazz in the sanctuary to holidays with the Concert Truck in the parking lot, St. Paul’s innovative ways of reaching neighbors are possible because of unique partners within the Arts District. You are invited to worship and serve with us at St. Paul Downtown, where we love all people, body and soul. Join us for worship in person or live online Sundays at 11:00 a.m. stpaulumcdallas.org.
Behind the inner workings of Musume lies the sexiest speakeasy in Dallas. A secret passage leads to a hidden bar with sublime energy. Signature cocktails and bottle service are mainstays at Dallas’ latest icon.
In a modern ambiance, replete with al fresco dining, 400 Gradi dishes are cooked with enthusiasm and served with an emphasis on customer service that strives to make each dining experience unforgettable. What makes an Italian restaurant the best is authentic, simple flavors with bold, natural ingredients. Less is more, with traditional Italian herbs and spices used in moderation to enhance the main ingredients’ flavors. Zero Gradi is highly regarded for using the freshest and highest-quality products. Guests are invited to relax and enjoy authentic gelato in an array of fresh and seasonal flavors. Affogato (espresso plus two scoops of gelato) is a fan favorite. Try the house-made pastries and variety of coffees. 400gradi.com
The Artisan Craft Kitchen offers breakfast, lunch, and corporate catering created with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The menu includes a variety of chef-inspired flavors with grab-and-go selections that are prepared on site daily. The Rooftop Terrace is one of DFW’s premier wedding and event venues. Its modern feel coupled with incredible views of the Dallas Arts District make it the perfect backdrop for your next event. theartisandallas.com
Berkley’s Market is a small, chic neighborhood spot with a great coffee bar, prepared foods, local goods, groceries, and beer and wine. Stop by to stock up or dine inside or on the patio for breakfast, lunch, happy hour, and sharables. berkleysmkt.com
Begin your Dallas Arts District excursion with a world-class art collection and dining experience at Ellie’s Restaurant & Lounge, located within HALL Arts Hotel.
Overlooking the Texas Sculpture
Walk, Ellie’s is named after visionary Craig Hall’s late mother and fuses her dedication to art and authenticity into an elevated dining experience. Savor seasonal cocktails, a featuredwine list, and showstopping cuisine to turn your outing into a masterpiece. Enjoy live entertainment several days a week and frequent events open to the community, along with happy hour; Wine Down Wednesday featuring halfpriced wine; and a Pre-Show Prix Fixe menu. Inspired by dining traditions that harmoniously balance a modern aesthetic with great food and genuine hospitality, the restaurant’s seasonal Napa-inspired cuisine is refined yet approachable, led by renowned Executive Chef Anthony Hsia. ElliesDallas.com // @ElliesDallas_
Courtesy of HALL Arts Hotel.
Flora Cantina is a vibrant new restaurant located on Flora Street at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. Its menu is a unique combination of regional Texas and Mexican cuisines and cocktails. For lunch, choose from a selection of street tacos, plated entrees, and fresh salads, while afternoon and evening dining include additional small bites and delicious tapas. The location is ideal for diners who are searching for elevated flavors and quick service. The late-night cocktail and tapas service is also perfect for patrons who are looking to enjoy a quick bite after the show. attpac.org/your-visit/dining/
La Stella Cucina Verace brings an authentic Italian atmosphere to Dallas that honors old-world Italian roots, lifestyle, food, and décor, offering a one-of-a-kind dining experience. The menu features Italian classics from regions across Italy, prepared by Chef Nicola Bacchi and his team the way they have been for generations, and served in a fine-dining atmosphere. La Stella also boasts one of the largest Italian wine lists in Texas as well as a sensational bar program with the best Italian-inspired signature craft cocktails in the Arts District. lastellatx.com
Musume offers contemporary Asian cuisine and worldclass authentic sushi in a vibrant atmosphere in the heart of the Dallas Arts District. Serving lunch and dinner, the restaurant features the largest sake collection in North America as well as the largest Japanese whisky collection in DFW. Reservations can be made by calling (214) 8718883 or at musumedallas.com
Miriam Cocina Latina features shared plates, soups, salads, tacos, enchiladas, combination plates, entrees, and desserts from Mexico, with vegetarian options. A combination of authentic dishes and new creations are prepared using fresh ingredients, as well as house-made sauces and moles prepared with bold, aromatic chiles. The clever cocktail menu showcases a broad selection of margaritas in addition to rum and mezcal libations, a curated list of wines available by the glass, and Mexican and local beers. miriamcocina.com
At Mendocino Farms, sandwiches, salads, and more become a culinary adventure filled with fresh ingredients and fearless flavor combinations. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. mendocinofarms.com
Mi Cocina on the Park, located within Klyde Warren Park, is an 11,000-square-foot restaurant with three distinct experiences: the dining room, featuring Mi Cocina’s TexMex classics and legendary margaritas; The Bar on the Park, an elevated bar with handcrafted cocktails and margaritas; and La Parada, a walk-up kiosk facing Pearl Street serving Mi Cocina favorites, beer, and margaritas for guests to enjoy in the park. The iconic glass building designed by renowned architect Thomas Phifer draws the park’s beautiful surroundings indoors, creating a unique dining experience for guests, with panoramic views of both the landscape and Downtown Dallas. micocina.com
“Live large, drink margs!” Visit Dallas’ Margarita Mile celebrates our city’s history as the birthplace of the frozen margarita machine, which was invented by local restaurateur Mariano Martinez in 1971 and currently sits in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The Margarita Mile is a free, self-guided tour of the finest margaritas across the city. From classic recipes like the Squozen Margarita at José, to handcrafted unique creations like Beto & Son’s liquid nitrogen margarita, we left no bottle of tequila unturned in search of the best margaritas in Dallas. Sign up for the free, mobile-exclusive pass and experience Dallas’ diverse neighborhoods, earning cool swag along the way. Enter to win a sweepstakes drawing for a two-day trip to Dallas. Many participating restaurants are in easy walking distance of the Dallas Arts District, making the Margarita Mile the perfect way to unwind after an afternoon in the museums. margaritamiledallas.com
The Playwright Irish Pub offers a tried-and-true experience at One Arts Plaza in the heart of the Dallas Arts District. The bar includes hundreds of whiskeys and scotches and a wide variety of beers on tap, including a healthy Irish selection. As for the menu, customary Irish dishes such as fish and chips, Scotch eggs, and shepherd’s pie are just a few of the made-in-house items. The Playwright Irish Pub is open for lunch and dinner on weekdays and serves brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. playwrightdallaspub.com
Known for its Sicilian-style pizza, Pizza Leila’s cozy and inviting atmosphere makes it an ideal spot for a casual dinner or night out with friends. The menu features a diverse range of pizzas, all made with fresh and high-quality ingredients, along with a selection of salads and appetizers. Whether you prefer the classics or more unconventional options like Korean BBQ or queso fundido, Pizza Leila has something to satisfy your taste buds and is a must-try for anyone visiting Dallas and the Arts District. pizzaleila.com
A James Beard Award regular, Chef Teiichi Sakurai makes the list again and again as a nominee for Best Chef Southwest for his perfectly springy soba noodles, freshest of fresh fish, inspired omakase offerings, and every Dallasite’s favorite starter, the white seaweed salad. This Zen sanctuary boasts a trickling fountain right in the middle, and general manager Best N. Ranglek is a sake aficionado. tei-an.com
Sloane’s Corner, within Trammell Crow Center stands at the corner of delicious and easygoing. The New American bistro incorporates flavors from around the world to feature great food, delicious craft cocktails, and a seat for everyone. Lunch, happy hour, and dinner are just the beginning at Sloane’s Corner. Sloane’s offers a full bar, catering, barista station, bakery featuring delicious made-fresh-daily options, and a patio. sloanescorner.com.
Located within 1900 Pearl, Nusr-et Steakhouse offers the finest cuts of meat available, including a Nusr-et tomahawk steak, Kobe, Dallas steak with mustard sauce, and New York–style lamb, rack of lamb, and lamb filet. Top-notch service and a warm atmosphere are the international restaurant’s hallmarks. nusr-et.com.tr
Made for the true breakfast lover, this upscale brunch eatery serves savory egg dishes. such as five-egg omelets and chilaquiles; sweet treats like red velvet French toast and crepes with strawberries, Nutella, and pecans; and more, daily until 2:30 p.m. A perfect location to grab brunch and mimosas with friends, you can also enjoy a lunch menu that includes a selection of burgers, salads, and sandwiches. eatyolk.com
Forty years ago the Dallas Arts District was born, by all accounts through a harrowing act of labor. Everyone involved knew they had set in motion a development that would change the face of Dallas forever. This was no easy feat in a city that had failed to support and nurture a downtown core that was a center of activity and urban energy from the end of WWII through the early ’70s.
Officials from the City of Dallas along with cultural and business elites decided to start a competition to select a master planner from submissions by architects and urbanists throughout the country. In the end, they adopted what has come to be known as the Sasaki Plan in 1983. The plan envisioned a walkable stretch of land, which has since come to occupy 118 acres in northeast downtown Dallas, as an arts and entertainment district. With Flora Street as a backbone, the Dallas Arts District is bookended on the west side by the Dallas Museum of Art and on the east side with what became One Arts Plaza.
The Dallas Museum of Art and the Meyerson Symphony Center, as home to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, entered first, in 1984 and 1989 respectively. They had outgrown their spaces in Fair Park, a part of town seen at the time as a decentralized location, and were eagerly primed and ready to take up residence in the new district.
Terry D. Loftis, chief advancement and revenue officer at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, says the DSO is “extremely proud of our history in the district as we continue opening hearts and
minds through music and expanding the minds of children.” He eagerly looks forward to the near future, when the Symphony Center “will significantly expand educational programming with the opening of the Jeanne R. Johnson Educational Center in 2024.”
Currently, the development is regarded as the most dense arts district in the country, boasting four major buildings designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architects within the original designated area, and two more beyond.
Along these lines, Lily Cabatu Weiss, executive director of the Dallas Arts District, sees the district as “an architectural gem” that “has also succeeded in creating engaging and educational programming to reach diverse communities.” The district “has become the city’s cultural hub and a world-renowned destination for tourists and locals,” says Weiss, underscoring an array of “exemplary programs and exhibits” that “drive economic impact, increased cultural tourism, and the connectivity to our surrounding neighborhoods.”
The first building to enter the district designed by a Pritzker winner was I.M. Pei’s Meyerson Symphony Center. Over the next two decades it was briskly followed by Renzo Piano’s Nasher Sculpture Center (2003); the Winspear Opera House (2009) by Sir Norman Foster; and the Wyly Theater (2009) by Joshua Prince-Ramus and Rem Koolhaas, who was awarded the prize in 2000. The prestige of important art collections, musicians, and actors is significantly enhanced when they take up residence within the advanced architecture.
These iconic structures share space in the district with other arts and education institutions, such as what was originally named the Crow Collection of Asian Art (1998), the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing Arts (2008; 1976 in the original building), and the Moody Performance Hall (2012). In all, the concentration of structures devoted to art is as astounding as the forces that came together over the years to realize a public space with access to visual and performing arts programming that’s oriented toward diversity. As of the latest statistics, a vibrant 4.1 million visitors per year come to the Arts District; of these, around half a million are students.
Charles Santos, executive/artistic director of TITAS/ DANCE UNBOUND, which uses performance venues located in the district, sees the 40th anniversary as a time “to look back and see the growth and accomplishments of the Dallas Arts District,” and he credits the DAD organization for “fostering collaboration and inclusion, all the while servicing the arts and the city of Dallas.” He’s equally “excited to see the continued development of the district for the future of the city.”
Once the core venues were established, the Arts District became a catalyst for development both within and beyond its perimeter. For instance, projects dedicated to residential real estate have been built, most recently the Atelier Tower. On the ground level of the Flora Street side, a new art exhibition space, the Green Family Art Foundation, opened in 2021 as a nonprofit devoted to featuring group exhibitions with the work of both established and emerging artists.
This summer the JW Marriott Dallas Arts District opened on North Harwood Street, directly across from the Dallas Museum of Art, joining the HALL Arts Hotel that opened in 2019 on Leonard Street, just down the block. Due north of the district, an urban park built above a section of Woodall Rodgers Freeway, which is submerged below street level, came to be known as Klyde Warren Park (2012). It literally connected the Arts District to the Uptown neighborhood of Dallas, becoming nationally recognized as an urban design feat akin to an oasis. Additionally, built that same year, adjacent to the park, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, designed by Thom Maine of Morphosis Architects, is yet another Pritzker winner.
Clearly, the Dallas Arts District is a living, breathing, and successful example of contemporary urbanism. As far as future plans go, Weiss proclaims, “our goal is to continue developing an urban cultural district that creates a vibrant, healthy, and complete neighborhood for generations to come.” Based on this model, perhaps the Arts District will inspire the rest of Dallas and surrounding cities to embrace a similar collaborative spirit when they consider how to enhance the built environment.
By John Zotos DADThis season, Jonathan Norton, playwright-in-residence at Dallas Theater Center, will debut his third work for the company, I AM DELIVERED’T. “I knew I wanted to write a play that would explain the lives of the Black LGBTQ community and explore the Black church experience in all its complexity,” he says of this work, which premieres in February 2024. He hopes that it will promote conversations within the Black community. “It can be a tool and a resource that pastors and faith leaders can use to have conversations with their congregants,” he says.
DRACULA Texas Ballet Theater
“You can’t go wrong with Dracula. It will be a great way to start our season,” enthuses Tim O’Keefe, artistic director of Texas Ballet Theater. Last performed locally in 2015 , this contemporary work advances the genre of narrative ballet. O’Keefe, who originated the title role while at Houston Ballet, is delighted to train a new generation of dancers as TBT reprises this popular work in September 2023. Dracula is one of many locally conceived works.
At The Dallas Opera, the world premiere of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is on stage November 3, 5, 8, and 11, 2023. Based on the memoir by JeanDominique Bauby, it reunites the creative team behind Everest, which premiered with TDO in 2015. Bringing this work to the stage has unique challenges explains Ian Derrer, Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO of The Dallas Opera. “There are elements of the piece that are the physical reality of an individual who cannot move anything but his eyes, and other elements that are reflective of the imagination.” The season also includes new-to-Dallas productions of Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca, Richard Strauss’ Elektra, and Charles Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet
Dallas Museum of Art
Dallas is also an important stop for traveling exhibitions and productions. In October 2023, Afro-Atlantic Histories opens at the Dallas Museum of Art “The exhibition presents a way to center the history of the Black diaspora and the ongoing legacy of the transatlantic slave trade,” states Ade Omotosho, The Nancy and Tim Hanley Assistant Curator of Contemporary Arts. Omotosho stresses the global nature of the exhibition, which features work by artists from several continents. He further notes that bringing together historical with more contemporary works illuminates the path from where we were to where we are today.
Nasher Sculpture Center
Within the visual arts, Dr. Leigh Arnold, associate curator at the Nasher Sculpture Center, has organized Groundswell: Women of Land Art. The season’s opening exhibition includes the work of 12 female artists. While land art tends to be ephemeral, the museum hopes to recreate Maren Hassinger’s Blanket of Branches (1986). As Arnold notes, “One of the biggest challenges is dealing with the tension that land art was always supposed to be outside of the museum experience.” In this spirit, Arnold has commissioned Mary Miss to create a site-specific work. Stream Trace: Dallas Branch Crossing reflects Miss’ interest in waterways and how they are manipulated in an urban environment.
In November 2023, TITAS presents Les 7 Doigts’ PASSAGERS in their Texas debut. According to executive director Charles Santos, “I’m always fascinated with innovation, and this piece is just so innovative.” The Montrealbased company combines dance and acrobatics into a mesmerizing, multimedia event. “This will be one of the surprise hits of the season,” predicts Santos.
Japan, Form & Function: The Montgomery Collection
Crow Museum of Asian Art of The University of Texas at Dallas
The Crow Museum of Asian Art has dedicated its entire Arts District space to Japan, Form & Function: The Montgomery Collection, a dazzling gathering of mingei, or Japanese folk art. As Amy Lewis Hofland, senior director of the Crow Museum of Asian Art of The University of Texas at Dallas, notes, “It’s so rare for the Crow Museum to be able to present a collector’s story with 240 objects.” Its yearlong run is meant to encourage multiple visits.
In October, Dallas Black Dance Theater presents its annual DanceAfrica Festival & Marketplace at Klyde Warren Park. Daytime events include arts activities, vendors, food trucks, and live dance performances. The celebration concludes at Moody Performance Hall, where, according to Nycole Ray, artistic director of DBDT: ENCORE!, “The evening performance features all five of our companies as well as a guest artist.” For a preview of this event, Ray adds, DBDT will welcome the community into their studios for a free Master Class on the Wednesday prior to the event.
In their season, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents two operas-in-concert featuring Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle. Kim Noltemy, Ross Perot President and CEO of the Dallas Symphony, notes that music director Fabio Luisi won a Grammy Award for this work with the Metropolitan Opera. For these concerts, she remarks, “He’s hired many of the great singers of the world.” Amadeus Live in Concert opens the popular Movies in Concert season with the 1984 biopic. “To hear it with a live orchestra will take it to a new level,” Noltemy avers.
On any given day or evening, the Dallas Arts District is a bustling area. With this season’s abundance of options, there is something for everyone to enjoy in this, the nation’s largest contiguous arts district.
By Nancy Cohen Israel DAD
Just an evening stroll through the Dallas Arts District offers a spectacle all its own when the prized buildings along Flora Street light up with activity. Layered with plentiful cultural programming and a wide range of dining and cocktail options, nighttime outings present a variety of surprises.
Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s 14th annual Black on Black series is a fabulous opportunity to experience the creativity of DBDT dancers during the winter holidays. The all-inclusive affair includes a happy hour, performance, and after-party complete with food, spirits, and a DJ. Original dances created by DBDT dancers are performed in the intimate cabaret-style setting of the DBDT studios. From there, walk over to La Stella Cucina Verace, Musume, or Ellie’s in HALL Arts Hotel to enjoy some of the best culinary flavors Dallas has to offer.
Scores of exciting performances are there for the taking, from TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND’s daring 2023/2024 season to evenings with the maestro when music director Fabio Luisi conducts the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Mahler Symphony No. 5 will mark Luisi’s first time performing one of Mahler’s full symphonies exclusively with the DSO, (March 28-30, 2024). Tosca fights to save the life of her lover in The Dallas Opera’s season opener, October 13, 15, 18, and 21, 2023, while Elektra seeks revenge February 9, 11, 14, and 17, 2024. Dallas Theater Center presents a regional premiere when Dial M for Murder takes the stage at the Dee & Charles Wyly Theatre
April 5–28, 2024 in a revamped edge-of-your-seat thriller from Hitchcock.
Free and open to the public, ‘til Midnight at the Nasher presents live outdoor concerts and film screenings, all amid the world-class sculpture in the Nasher Garden. Each third Friday of the month (except December 2023 and January–February 2024), the Nasher offers an outdoor stage to new music and voices. Delectably whipped up by Wolfgang Puck Catering, a special menu, bar services, and grab-and-go snacks are available. ‘til Midnight takes place rain or shine—concerts and films will be moved indoors in the event of inclement weather.
Arts & Letters Live at the Dallas Museum of Art brings world-renowned authors to the museum’s Horchow Auditorium for titillating conversations. Alice Hoffman in
conversation with Dallas-based author Kathleen Kent, will examine The Invisible Hour, Hoffman’s new novel about love, grief, and self-discovery, on August 13, 2023 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. See National Humanities Medal winner James McBride in conversation with Brandon Manning, associate professor and director of graduate studies at Texas Christian University. On August 23, 2023, the pair will discuss McBride’s novel The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store Evenings like this call for further discussion, so stroll over to Flora Cantina, the new casual post-show destination in Sammons Park at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, and enjoy café seating under the stars. Grab some late-night Tex-Mex and margaritas. Play ping-pong, puttputt, or cornhole. Listen to music or talk about the exciting performances and art you’ve just seen.
Or dine in style at one of JW Marriot Dallas Arts District’s restaurant options. Vincent’s is a covered-patio affair integrating eye-level skyline views and inventive cocktails. From there take a brisk walk after sunset, when Klyde Warren Park’s Nancy Best Fountain illuminates and performs to a medley of music. Dip your toe in and join the interactive fun from 7 to 10 p.m. nightly.
By Terri Provencal DAD
Reliant Light Your Holidays rings in the most festive season of the year on December 12, 2023.
Dallas Arts Month in April is an art lover’s dream season when every visual and performing arts venue presents unprecedented shows and performances. A special treat during this month is the Dallas Art Fair taking place April 5–7, 2024, with a VIP Preview Benefit on April 4.
In celebration of national LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Pride Block Party Dallas Arts District on Friday, June 21, 2024, will be a night filled with Dallas artists, gourmet food-fare, family-friendly activities, and more.
One Arts Plaza, designed by architect Lionel Morrison and known for its color-shifting neon square rendered by lighting designer Scott Oldner, is a mixed-use development conceived by Billingsley Company. The plaza fronts the intersection of Routh and Flora streets. Through the back entrance, a stunning work by Jennifer Steinkamp welcomes home residents inhabiting the 18th through 24th floors. Large terraces overlooking the Arts District add a modern touch to urban living.
Among the first residents of One Arts Plaza, Lucilo Peña was instrumental in the development. Here he shares his thoughts about living and working in the Dallas Arts District.
Terri Provencal (TP): You grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, lived in Spain, and now live and work in the Dallas Arts District as president of development for Billingsley Company. In what ways has Dallas become a worldclass city?
Lucilo Peña (LP): Dallas is a very different city than the one I first moved to in 1982. It’s much more diverse, truly reflecting the country. It has world class cultural institutions and a very rich and active cultural community.
TP: You’re an expert at developing mixed-used projects. For One Arts Plaza, what considerations were made for the future and growth of the Dallas Arts District?
LP: One Arts Plaza anchors the east end of the Arts
District by responding to the axis of Flora, creating a significant public plaza with seating and fountains. The high-rise part of the building is set off the street while the low-rise responds to the urban context. I’m referring to lining up the north and south walls of the plaza with the facades of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and Moody Performance Hall, respectively. The three buildings relate to each other and better define the public realm.
TP: In addition to working in One Arts Plaza, you and your husband were among the first residents of the building. What’s your favorite thing about living there and what inspires you when you get up in the morning?
LP: I’m inspired by the incredible, constantly changing views and love the classically modern design of the building and its interior. My favorite thing about living there is that I can live, work, and play in the District and in the building itself.
TP: Favorite things to do, eat, and see in the Arts District?
LP: My favorite things to do in the district are eating at Tei An, having drinks at Ellie’s or The Playwright, and making weekend visits to the DMA, Nasher, and Crow. I also love Friday evening TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND’s performances, the DSO, and the many great offerings at AT&T PAC.
TP: How has the Dallas Arts District changed in the last 15 years, since the opening of One Arts Plaza?
LP: The Winspear, Wyly, and Moody opened, and we now have a great boutique hotel in Hall Arts. We also have more condos, apartments, offices, and restaurants—with much more to come.
TP: Billingsley is big on sustainability. What must every urban project utilize today?
LP: Urban projects today must consider mixing uses and allowing buildings to define and activate the public
space. The more walking options we have, the less we’ll need to get in a car. It’s also important to relate and, where possible, integrate with mass transit options. Projects should provide shade in public areas, and of course, minimize glass reflectivity. Most other aspects of sustainability are the same for suburban and urban projects.
TP: You are very involved in many of our great institutions and organizations—Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, TACA, and The Dallas Architecture Forum to name a few. Are there particular programs or initiatives that you helm or embrace?
LP: I chaired the DMA Building Committee for 21 years, from 2000 to 2021, and have been very involved in all renovations and updates. Now we’re looking at how to renovate and expand the facilities to respond to the DMA’s new strategic plan. I’m co-chairing the Architect Selection Committee with Jennifer Eagle.
I was the chair of the Nasher Sculpture Center Program Advisory Committee from 2016 to2022, and I appreciate how thoughtful, innovative, and educational all aspects of the Nasher’s programs and exhibitions are.
We’re strong supporters of TITAS/DANCE Unbound, and all things related to dance. In fact, my husband, Lee Cobb, serves as president of its board of trustees. TITAS brings truly the best of the dance world to Dallas, and we’re so lucky to have it in our city.
I’ve also been involved with the DAD infrastructure and planning committees since 2005 and worked on the Connect Plan, which updates the planning and urban design guidelines from the 1983 Sasaki Plan.
We now think of public spaces and connectivity very differently than we did back then. The new plan expands the boundaries of the Arts District to the east to include both sides of Ross Avenue; encourages the public use of the right-of-way for seating, cafes, etc.; allows more flexibility in street landscaping; and improves the connections between the Arts District and adjacent neighborhoods.
DAD“My favorite thing about living there is that I can live, work, and play in the District and in the building itself.”
–Lucilo PeñaCourtesy of One Arts Plaza.
From toddlers splashing in the fountains at Klyde Warren Park to Teen Ambassadors guiding their younger peers in art-making experiences at the Dallas Museum of Art, the Dallas Arts District is an entertainment destination for the entire family.
“We try to have something for every stage. I hope kids can grow up at the Dallas Museum of Art,” says Leah Hanson, the museum’s director of Family, Youth, and School Programs. The DMA regularly offers free, handson events for kids from cradle to high school. Toddler Tuesdays are quarterly programs for the under-five set while weekend Open Studios provide a rotating calendar of art projects. At the annual Family Festival in November the museum comes alive with activities and performances. Similarly, the Nasher Sculpture Center hosts Free First Saturdays, a family friendly program that includes
interactive activities. Each fall, the Nasher hosts The Great Create, a program that transforms the Nasher Garden into a hands-on, fun-filled adventure where area artists engage with younger visitors to ignite their creativity.
Bimonthly free Family Weekends at the AT&T Performing Arts Center bring Sammons Park to life with activities such as face painting, petting zoos, and kidfriendly Zumba classes. Miniature golf at the Reliant Putting Green is one of the games available on the lawn. For children over eight-years old, the Center offers free First Saturday Tours of its spectacular campus. Many organizations welcome the public into their spaces with age-appropriate programming. At The Dallas Opera, for example, young audiences can enjoy family shows. Sung in English, they are under an hour in length. TDO also offers students and teachers the opportunity to
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experience its main stage productions during its Dress Rehearsals program. For older students, TDO extends $15 student tickets to its productions.
Movies in Concert provides an easy introduction to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban will be a highlight of this season. The DSO also offers a Family Christmas Pops program. An abbreviated version of the full holiday show, it includes pre-concert activities for younger visitors. And for youngsters inspired by these experiences, the DSO offers children from underrepresented backgrounds the opportunity to learn music through its Young Strings and Young Musicians programs. In an effort to broaden equity, these programs provide free instruments and lessons to aspiring school-aged musicians.
For dance lovers, Behind the Scenes is a free annual program at Dallas Black Dance Theater. During the week of Thanksgiving, the program gives families the opportunity to experience the rehearsal process while also getting a preview of upcoming works by DBDT’s two professional as well as its three Academy companies. In early December, families can enjoy DBDT’s annual Espresso Nutcracker, an abbreviated adaptation of the holiday classic with a jazzy score. Also during the holidays, the Dallas Theater Center’s production of A Christmas Carol remains a family favorite.
While family programs are often geared for toddlers and younger children, the Dallas Arts District offers plenty to keep teens engaged in the cultural life of the city. The Dallas Museum of Art, for example, offers several programs for older kids. Among them is Art History Conversations, a free monthly program for middle school and high school students in which curators engage the students in conversation with and about the collection. Additionally, the DMA hosts a Teen Advisory Council and Teen Podcast Project.
Every spring, the AT&T Performing Arts Center hosts the Young Women’s Leadership Conference. It brings together approximately 150 young women from area public and private high schools. “We are very intentional in how we select schools for the conference. We want to be sure that we have a very diverse group,” explains Autumn Garrison, Director of Education and Community Engagement at the Center. Selected junior and senior girls gather for a day of workshops and discussions with leaders in their field. The program includes breakout sessions led by prominent women. Past special guests have included Michelle Obama, broadcast journalist Soledad O’Brien, and Peabody-award winning writer and producer Wendy Calhoun.
Performances at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts are open to the public. The award-winning arts magnet school showcases its students through a full calendar of dance, theater. and music programming as well as art gallery openings throughout the academic year.
A cultural oasis serving the entire community, the Dallas Arts District is a place in which families can watch children grow, explore, and most importantly, have fun. By Nancy Cohen Israel DAD
Enriching young talent through museums and stages is the way the Dallas Arts District community rolls. Applications await those wishing to pursue opportunities and careers in both the visual and performing arts.
The cornerstone of the Dallas Arts District and artistic aspiration is Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (BTWHSPVA), a Dallas Independent School District (DISD) Arts Magnet educating grades 9–12. An application and audition process are required for students interested in pursuing dance, theater, music, and the visual arts. High school students benefit from the wisdom of talented professionals working in the area among the arts organizations of the Dallas Arts District.
Down Flora Street, Nasher Sculpture Center invests in the artists of tomorrow through a grant program open to North Texas artists working in any media. The Nasher Summer Institute for Teens is an intensive program tailored to students interested in pursuing careers in museums and visual arts. They can learn from the city’s finest art world professionals, discover behind-the-scenes museum
adventures, and partake in hands-on studio projects.
Next door, the Dallas Museum of Art will start accepting applications this fall for the 44th annual Awards to Artists program, which provides significant opportunities for local artists and beyond to find success in the Dallas Arts District. The Clare Hart DeGolyer Memorial Fund and Arch and Anne Giles Kimbrough Fund were established in 1980 to recognize young visual artists with exceptional talent and potential. More than 300 artists have received over $630,000 since the funds’ founding, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in North Texas and beyond.
Created in 1990, the Otis and Velma Davis Dozier Travel Grant honors the memory of these two multidisciplinary Dallas artists who were strong believers in the influence of travel on the creative process. Professional artists 30 years and older residing in Texas are eligible to apply.
The Dallas Opera aims to address the extreme gender imbalance of leadership on the podium and in administration at opera companies through its Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors, launched in 2015. Over 500 women conductors from 40 nations have applied to this extraordinary initiative, which has influenced classical music by advancing the careers of women in the most visible positions. Now in its 7th year, the institute will take place via a hybrid residency, with virtual sessions in November 2023 and in-person sessions in January 2024.
Nurturing young minds in underrepresented communities through a rigorous orchestral after-school music program, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kim Noltemy Young Musicians program is inspired by and based on El Sistema Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela, founded by Maestro José Antonio Abreu in 1975. Through community and parent involvement, program participants will develop a passionate work ethic designed to achieve individual and collective excellence to discover their own inherent value.
For burgeoning arts groups, The Moody Fund for the Arts (MFA), was created in 2017 as a permanent endowment that would help fund the work and projects of small and young arts organizations supported by the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture (OAC). This transformative fund is designed to raise awareness and engagement throughout the Dallas community. As well, TACA (The Arts Community Alliance) upholds this promise with the recently launched Arts Accelerator, a new learning experience for small and emerging arts and culture nonprofits in Dallas County. The nine-month initiative is tailored to increase arts groups’ organizational capacity, teach new skills, and build a solid foundation for the next stage of their development.
By Terri Provencal DAD
Fostering tomorrow’s talent to build artistic futures.Sonic Meditation for Solo Performer, 2022. Steve Parker. Salvaged brass, electronics, astroturf, EEG brain monitor, and video projection, 20 x 15 x 10 ft. Image courtesy of the artist. Bombshell Dance Project. Courtesy of TACA. Artist Joel Murray works with students during the Nasher Summer Teen Institute. Courtesy of the Nasher Sculpture Center. The Dallas Opera Hart Institute concert, Photograph by Kyle Flubacker.
Just steps away from performing arts options at the Meyerson Symphony Center, the Winspear Opera House, and the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, La Stella Cucina Verace, noted for a gourmet Italian menu and an excellent wine list, is where special occasions begin. Pastas include the heavenly Agnolotti Pizzicati filled with ossobuco, Parmigiano Reggiano, and a butter and sage sauce with veal reduction. If seafood is on your mind try the Branzino Mediterraneo, and for the heartiest appetites try the Cotoletta di Vitello Milanese, a 16-ounce bone-in veal chop.
At the new JW Marriott Dallas Arts District, discover three restaurants, from full-service to light bites. Margaret’s, named after one of Dallas’ most influential arts patrons, the late Margaret McDermott, offers farm-to-fork breakfast,
lunch, and dinner and a 30-seat bar as the hotel’s primary gathering place. Vincent’s (yes, inspired by that Vincent) features an open-air patio with exceptional views, shareables, and pretty cocktails on the sky level terrace. Arts patrons will love the craft cocktails and morsels available at 800 North, the lobby bar at street level
An art-filled eatery located within the HALL Arts Hotel, Ellie’s Restaurant & Lounge offers live entertainment and specialty events open to the community, such as Wine
Down Wednesday, Sunday Jazz Brunch, Meet the Maker Series, and other signature events throughout the year.
Inside the spacious lounge, guests are invited to enjoy happy hour every Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. for a fine palette of seasonal cocktails, featured wines, and shareables with exclusive pricing. A Pre-Show Prix Fixe
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12
6:30 – 10 PM
PARK DÉCOR
Presented by The Schlegel Family
NANCY BEST FOUNTAIN COCKTAIL RECEPTION
Presented by First United Bank
SEATED DINNER UNDER THE STARS
Presented by SMU
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT BY Q THE BAND
Presented by Sheila and Jody Grant
Klyde Warren Park’s annual fundraiser, Party in the Park, presented by Republic National Distributing Company, will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2023. Honorary Chairs for this signature event are Myrna and Bob Schlegel. Event Chairs include the Schlegels’ son, Kirby Schlegel, and their daughters and spouses: Krystal and Luke Davis, Kari and Troy Kloewer and Kimberly and Justin Whitman.
Party in the Park celebrates everything about Klyde Warren Park, including the way it has transformed Dallas. Located in the heart of Big D, connecting downtown to uptown, the Park offers an exceptional 360-degree view of the Dallas skyline. Last year’s 10th anniversary celebration saw almost 1,000 of the City’s most involved philanthropists, corporate leaders and public officials come together to raise over $1 million for Park programming and maintenance. This year’s celebration will include Hall wine at every table, stunning décor by Todd Events and dancing to Grammy-nominated musicians, Q The Band, fresh off performances with Ed Sheeran, Luke Combs and Ashley McBride.
Managed by the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation, the 5.2-acre park relies on contributions from donors to support maintenance, free programs and educational activities for more than one million visitors each year. Fundraising events such as Party in the Park are critical to the nonprofit’s ability to serve the public daily.
To purchase tickets or a sponsorship for Party in the Park, please contact Tricia Dzina (tdzina@klydewarrenpark.org or 214.716.4500) or scan the QR code to the right.
menu is available on show nights with offerings to include a three-course dinner. Chef Anthony Hsia’s creative selections include seasonal soups, salads, entrées, and stunning desserts to finish off the meal.
One Arts Plaza has three restaurant mainstays. For breakfast, Yolk has the most complete menu in the Dallas Arts District, including five-egg omelets, eggs benedict four ways, and sweet specialties like the Banana Nut Bread and Red Velvet French Toast. Yolk also serves lunch. At The Playwright Irish Pub, try the corned beef Castletown sandwich or Uncle Jack’s shepherd’s pie with lamb, beef, and mashed potatoes. And for fine dining, foodies will love Tei-An, led by founder and chef Teiichi Sakurai, nominated six times for the James Beard Awards’ Best Chef of the Southwest. This Japanese soba house is a must.
Contemporary Asian cuisine, sushi, a robust premium sake menu with 120 varieties, and Japanese whiskey rule at Musume. Lunch is available Monday through Friday and dinner is served seven nights a week. Saunter through Musume’s kitchen to the speakeasy, Akai, to extend the evening in a Japanese-inspired cocktail den.
Want a great view of the Dallas Arts District? The Artisan Craft Kitchen and Terrace Bar overlooks Flora Street and offers fresh local flavors, grab-and-go options, and a casual dining atmosphere for breakfast and lunch. Or try Flora Cantina, the all-new dining option adjacent to the Winspear Opera House.
Several dining options are within walking distance of the Dallas Museum of Art, Crow Museum, Nasher Sculpture Center, and Dallas Arts District stages. For pizza, head to 400 Gradi, where La Vera Pizza Napoletana is famed for sauces created with San Marzano tomatoes, or Pizza Leila, which boasts Sicilian-style pizza options. New American cuisine and great patio dining bring broad appeal to Sloane’s Corner; try the Black Mission Fig Salad, and the Ahi Tuna Tostada or the Lobster Fritter from the shared-plates menu. For entrees check out the day’s catch or a cut of prime beef from the Butcher’s Block.
Stroll through the Dallas Arts District to discover the signature restaurants of Klyde Warren Park, including Mi Cocina on the Park. Start with the Nachos Mi Tierra and a world-famous Mambo Taxi followed by the aged Angus beef Ribeye Al Carbon. At La Parada you can’t beat the Brisket Avocado Melt. From morning to nightfall, The Salty Donut is a must, with both sweet and savory choices.
Love a little adventure? From the American street food at The Butcher’s Son and vegan options at Soulgood to Vietnamese delicacies at Wuden Chopsticks and a taste of the Mediterranean at Greek Lover, Klyde Warren Park’s food trucks offer appealing flavors for everyone.
Across the street from the park, try Miriam Cocina Latina, featuring “exotic flavors and zingy cocktails,” including a plethora of margaritas, and flavor profiles from Mexico and the Dominican Republic, where Miriam Jimenez was born.
No matter where you end up, Dallas Arts District restaurants present a front-row seat to the burgeoning arts community paired with the Southern hospitality the city is known for. DAD
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History survives through memory. Through stories that are heartbreaking and hopeful. Beautiful and haunting. Terrifying and true. Some of humanity's most incredible stories of struggle and courage live right here in Dallas. Listen. Remember. Because what we remember never dies.
FOR TICKETS, VISIT DHHRM.ORG
The Dallas Arts District Foundation (DADF) grants program was made possible by the inaugural donation from the Crow Family Foundation. Over the past 30-plus years, the Dallas Arts District Foundation has awarded over 450 grants totaling $1.2 million to Dallas arts organizations. In 2018, DADF partnered with HALL Group and created Through the Lens: Dallas Arts District, a coffee table photo book with 91 stunning photos by 56 talented photographers. All sales of the book go toward growing the foundation grants program. This project marks the first effort to grow funding to support local artists through the grants program for the Dallas Arts District Foundation since the first donation by the Crow Family Foundation. The grants program promotes access and collaborations while attracting new audiences to the neighborhood. Reinvesting in the performing and visual arts is critical now more than ever. Dallas Arts District Foundation is excited to celebrate the 2024 grant recipients.
American Baroque Opera Co.
Ballet North Texas
Bruce Wood Dance
Lone Star Wind Orchestra
Orchestra of New Spain
Sammons Center for the Arts
The Writer’s Garret
Verdigris Ensemble
Bruce Wood Dance, Our Last Lost Chance, 2022. Photograph by Sharen Bradford.DALLAS ART FAIR’S 15TH EDITION
NASHER PRIZE LAUREATE Senga Nengudi
Cerámica Suro at DALLAS CONTEMPORARY
TACA’S TOP HONORS
Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico
Education and Cultural Awareness through the Arts. anmbf.org
AT&T Performing Arts Center
Yours to Discover. attpac.org
Avant Chamber Ballet
Avant Chamber Ballet brings together exceptional dance and live music for audiences in Dallas. avantchamberballet.org
Ballet North Texas
Presenting exceptional and innovative performances, exquisite training, and empowering community engagement for all. balletnorthtexas.org
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts
Dallas’s revolutionary high school for 21st-century scholar artists. dallasisd.org/btw
Bruce Wood Dance
Harnessing the power of dance to entertain, enrich, and heal. brucewooddance.org
Crow Museum of Asian Arts of The University of Texas at Dallas
A variety of galleries with changing exhibitions featuring the arts and cultures of Asia. crowmuseum.org
Dallas Black Dance Theatre
Relentless Excellence. dbdt.com
Dallas Museum of Art
The Dallas Museum of Art is a space of wonder and discovery where art comes alive. dma.org
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Entertaining, inspiring, and changing lives through musical excellence. mydso.com
Dallas Theater Center
Dallas Theater Center is the 2017 Regional Tony Award recipient and strives to engage, entertain, and inspire our diverse community. dallastheatercenter.org
Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra
To inspire and cultivate excellence in youth through music education, ensemble building, and performance opportunities. gdyo.org
Green Family Art Foundation
Providing a venue for contemporary artists we believe communicate critical ideas that are relevant and discussion-
worthy today, and making grants to museums for the benefit and education of others. greenfamilyartfoundation.org
Klyde Warren Park
We supply the fun; all you have to bring is yourself. klydewarrenpark.org
kNOwBOX dance
Saying NO to the BOX by presenting and engaging dance-related art. knowboxdance.com
Moody Performance Hall
Providing an exceptional performance opportunity for local, emerging, and mid-sized arts organizations. moody.dallasculture.org
Nasher Sculpture Center
Home to one of the finest collections of modern and contemporary sculpture in the world. nashersculpturecenter.org
Pegasus Contemporary Ballet
Using the classical foundation of ballet to express contemporary perspectives, engage diverse audiences, and enrich the human experience. pegasusballet.org
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Inspiring minds through nature and science. perotmuseum.org
Texas Ballet Theater
Creating and presenting world-class ballet, from classical to cutting-edge. texasballettheater.org
The Dallas Opera
A recognized arts innovator and leader dedicated to the advancement of opera, its artists, and audiences. dallasopera.org
TACA - The Arts Community Alliance
Transforming lives through the arts. taca-arts.org
TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND
TITAS/DANCE UNBOUND entertains, educates, and inspires by curating and commissioning dance and performance art from around the world. titas.org
Turtle Creek Chorale
The most recorded male chorus in the world, with a mission to entertain, educate, unite, and inspire. turtlecreekchorale.com
Uptown Players
Celebrating 22 years presenting professional theater at the Kalita Humphreys Theater that strengthens cultural bridges with the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies. uptownplayers.org
To plan your next visit to the neighborhood and learn about upcoming events, visit DallasArtsDistrict.org. @dallasartsdistrict facebook.com/dallasartsdistrict dalartsdistrict dallasartsdistrict
