St. Paddy's in Dallas

Those who have lived in Dallas for several years have seen the annual St. Patricks Day parade grow year after year. 2008 was no exception. The floats were enthusiastically lousy as always while the crowd rose to the occasion once again. Dallas shines on no other day quite like St. Patricks Day.

As in years before, two block parties immediately followed the parade. One on lower Greenville, one on Yale Ave. Both parties rocked once again. As they say, pictures are worth a thousand words.

Valentine's Day in Dallas

Looking for an extra special place to take your lady on Valentine's Day? First of all, you're too late. No place worth a damn is going to seat you. Follow my lead on this Valentine's Day. Avoid the generic steakhouse option with the set menus and rushed time slots. Stay in and show off your cooking skills. Every guy should have 1 or 2 go-to meals in his arsenal. If you don't, don't forget to swing by Eatzi's on the way home and get those empty cartons out to the garbage before she arrives! Order a nice, lame romantic comedy and light a candle. You're probably going to get lucky either way, so why fight traffic.

By the way, if you were considering Reunion Tower, I'd like to reach through this screen and slap you. Actually, it is closed for renovations anyway, so you are out of luck.

On September 15, 2007, officials of Hyatt Regency Dallas and Woodbine Development Corporation announced plans for a major renovation of the 50-story Reunion Tower. The $23-million project is being managed by Woodbine and will require the closing of Reunion Tower as of November 16, 2007, with reopening set for fall 2008.

Van Halen Rocks AAC

Dallas's biggest concert of the year took place at the American Airlines Center last night. Van Halen's first of two performances was a quick sellout and highly anticipated.

The DMN Blog is posting reviews from the concert. Reviews from other cities have been mixed thus far, so it will be interesting to see what Dallas has to say about the reunion tour. A second date has already been scheduled, so be sure and get your tickets now!

Spas in Dallas

The Dallas area is home to many world-class spas. Dallas Spas such as ZaSpa at Hotel ZaZa and the Spa at Crescent Court are among the most upscale in town.

Looking for a memorable gift for your girlfriend or wife? A gift certificate to a posh spa resort can put a smile on a loved one's face and/or get you out of the doghouse. Get her a massage, manicure, pedicure, facial, or a complete spa package.

A day at the spa can also be a relaxing escape for new mothers. Babysit the kids for the afternoon and send her off to a Dallas spa armed with a gift certificate for a day of relaxation.

Best Bloody Mary in Dallas

A bloody mary can be the perfect compliment to a late morning brunch or start to a great vacation day. I'm a fan of the bloody mary and have enjoyed them all of Dallas. Two Bloody Mary bars stand out:

• Ozona's (Greenville)
  
• Frankie's (Uptown)
  

Both are available on the weekends and both offer a wide variety of mixes, ingredients, and condiments to allow you to build the perfect BM.

Now, if only we could put together some type of bloody mary competition, as seen on Cheers (Bar Wars II). Not sure anyone could top the fictional bloody mary available at Gary's Tavern...

Hangover Cures in Dallas

You had yourself a late night of fun in Dallas. Where do you go for some good, all-American greasy food to soothe your foggy head and upset stomach? Dallas has plenty of great spots for the morning-after partier in all of us.

• Cafe Brazil - the Brazilian Breakfast has everything you need for a full recovery
• Taco Cabana - go with a couple of breakfast tacos and a stack of tortillas (with queso, of course)
• Breadwinners - great patio to enjoy your coffee and watch the world go by

Where to Watch Bowl Games in Dallas

College Football Bowl season is upon us and it's time to find a good venue to hoist a few beers with friends over a platter of wings and pretend you know all about all of the teams playing. If you were lucky enough to score Cotton Bowl tickets, congratulations. Bring a jacket. Otherwise, here are a few good options for watching the big games in Dallas.

• Frankies (Uptown) - plenty of big TVs, good burgers, and excellent bloody mary bar
• MAT (Uptown) - always pretty crowded, but a great place to watch a game if you can score a table
• Gaylord Texan (BFE) - a classy place with leather recliners. A man can really feel at home out there.
• Stan's Blue Note (Greenville) - classic beer hall. good people.
  

Enjoy the games.