I recently traveled with some colleagues to Dallas, Texas for the AVID Summer Institute, an annual conference held in multiple cities around the United States that trains educators to implement the AVID program in their schools. You can read more about the AVID program here.
My colleagues and I stayed in comfortable accommodations, and we found fun spots during our downtime that allowed us to socialize and build meaningful connections. Join me as I describe some of our favorite finds.
Hyatt Regency Dallas
This AVID Summer Institute took place across three sites that were located relatively close to each other: the Hyatt Regency Dallas, the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, and the Omni Dallas Hotel. A complimentary shuttle transported participants among the three venues.
I was fortunate to stay at the Hyatt Regency and have my conference sessions there as well. I found the hotel’s services, amenities, and layout to be comfortable and easy to navigate.
- Check-In: The hotel check-in process was quick, courteous, and hassle-free in spite of our arriving a few hours before the stated 4:00 p.m. check-in time. The front desk clerk’s hospitality made an excellent first impression.
- Layout of the Hotel: Most floors overlook a centrally-located atrium, one level up from the lobby, that is the hub of the hotel’s activity. A small amount of noise carries from the atrium, but it is minimal and does not disrupt a restful night’s sleep. The hotel’s conference facilities include ballrooms and meeting rooms located on the lobby and atrium levels. They are an easy, short walk from the hotel’s main elevators.
- Room: The hotel provides spacious, comfortable rooms. The beds have high-quality mattresses, pillows and linens. The mattresses and pillows are on the firm side, yet I found them to be perfect for sleeping well. The bathroom offers Pharmacopia Argan Oil Collection shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in large pump bottles attached to the shower wall. Having these products available was a nice convenience. The room also has a mini fridge which was great for keeping food items on hand. Housekeeping did an excellent job of servicing the room daily without requiring any additional communication or special requests.
- Fitness Center: Exercise facilities are available on the third floor, just a short walk from the elevator. The space provides a variety of cardio machines and strength-training equipment. It does get crowded early in the morning, with 5:30 a.m. being a peak time, so arrive a half hour before or after that to avoid a wait for the equipment you want.
- Dining Options: The hotel has several dining options. We frequented Coffee Post which is a coffee bar and snack shop that is open 24 hours. We appreciated having easy breakfast or lunch items, snacks, and beverages available whenever we needed them. We also ate lunch at Centennial Cafe where we enjoyed crispy chicken tacos, brisket tacos, burgers, and loaded baked potato soup. All of these items were delicious!
- Getting Around: An underground tunnel, accessible from the hotel’s lowest level, connects the hotel to historic Union Station (now a beautiful event venue) and DART, the city’s light rail system. DART provides an easy, affordable alternative to Uber or Lyft.
Chet’s
We were eager to find a place to eat lunch after checking in to the hotel. We chose Chet’s, an eatery serving Irish-American classics located in the West End Historic District, because it had received excellent reviews, and it was an easy 15-minute walk from the hotel. The restaurant lives up to its reviews! The color palette and decor create a unique ambiance that is stylish yet cozy. Our server, Andrea, was friendly and forthcoming with helpful recommendations. A brunch menu was available alongside the regular lunch and dinner menu. Group members ordered a variety of dishes: the highly-acclaimed truffle mac ‘n cheese with beef bacon and grilled chicken, chicken rigatoni, a breakfast burrito, and a hamburger with a fried egg over medium. As I re-read the list of entrees that we chose, I realize that none of us chose traditional Irish-American dishes, which speaks to the diversity of Chet’s menu. We loved Chet’s atmosphere, and we thoroughly enjoyed the entrees we chose.
Jaxon Beer Garden
We arrived in Dallas on a Sunday afternoon, and the conference began on Monday. After our first full day of conference sessions, we were looking for some fun places to unwind. First on the list was Jaxon Beer Garden, located in the AT&T Discovery District — a downtown destination where tech, culture, and entertainment come together. We enjoyed a breezy evening on the patio with live music playing on the plaza next to us. We ordered a variety of cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, individual entrees, and shareable food items. I ordered a cocktail named The Jackalope (Blackland rye whiskey, honeysuckle, orange bitters, and citrus oils) which was a balanced mix of tart and sweet. I really liked it! A few colleagues and I shared an order of queso and an order of nachos, both of which we enjoyed and would recommend.
Uptown Social
Next up was a casual neighborhood bar named Uptown Social. Since it was a Monday night, business was slow, so we had the place to ourselves. The bartender was friendly and eager to take good care of us. We enjoyed a variety of beverages including margaritas and Moscow mules. The bar has indoor and outdoor spaces, so we alternated between the two — chatting, joking, and playing some of the games that were available such as shooting free throws and playing Jenga. This spot made for a relaxing end to our day.
Deep Ellum
Deep Ellum is a Dallas neighborhood famous for its art and entertainment venues. Originally named Deep Elm after the area’s principal street (Elm Street), the spelling of the name evolved to reflect the locals’ pronunciation. Elm became Ellum. The area was established in the 1870’s as a commercial and residential district for African-Americans and European immigrants. The area’s musical heritage is steeped in jazz and blues. The area has undergone a variety of cultural, economic, and infrastructure changes over the course of its history, but it remains a vibrant part of the city that is well worth visiting.
Elm Street Tattoo
Four of us decided to go on a personal adventure Tuesday afternoon and get some new ink. For two of us, this was our first experience in a tattoo shop. The other two members of our group already had tattoos and were open to getting something new. I have always been open to the idea of getting a tattoo, and I had thought about getting one at earlier stages in my life. I had just never done it. Getting my first one in the company of these friends and colleagues seemed like the right thing to do, so I was on board even though it was a spontaneous decision.
We already knew that we would be in the Deep Ellum neighborhood, so we searched online for possible tattoo shops in the area. We chose Elm Street Tattoo because of its good reviews and its ability to take walk-ins that afternoon. The shop is incredibly clean and well-organized. The staff and tattoo artists were welcoming and easy to talk to about what we wanted to have done. Lindsey Carmichael completed two of my friends’ tattoos, and they were happy with his work. Monica Smith completed mine and another friend’s. I appreciated how kind and patient Monica was with me as I made my final decisions about what I wanted to have done. Knowing that this was my first tattoo, she reassured me by saying that she has a gentle hand. She was accurate, and receiving the tattoo was quick, easy, and painless.
Punch Bowl Social
We spent our last evening in Dallas at Punch Bowl Social, a restaurant and bar in the Deep Ellum neighborhood that also offers a variety of games and activities. We had eaten dinner elsewhere, so we relaxed over cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, and desserts. I ordered a Mason Mule which is their take on a Moscow mule. It was light and refreshing. A colleague tried and really enjoyed the Horchata Rum Fresca which she described as tasting similar to eggnog. Molten chocolate bundt cake and blueberry cheesecake satisfied everyone’s desire for something sweet. We ended the evening singing karaoke together in Punch Bowl Social’s private karaoke room which individuals or groups can rent for an hour at a time.
This list of Dallas highlights is far from comprehensive. The city offers a wealth of activities to suit a variety of tastes and interests. The places on this list provided a backdrop for enjoying time with friends and getting a taste of the city. I highly recommend all of them. I encourage you to give them a try as well as venturing out to find some favorite spots of your own.
The Good Life 
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