State of the Arts
By: Zach Everson
Everything’s bigger in Texas, but a ride through Dallas and beyond reveals an unexpected arts scene and low-key luxury.
11:30 am: Parigi
Texan cuisine isn’t just about big barbecue and chicken-fried-everything. Chic Oak Lawn bistro Parigi works with more than 20 local partners, including farms, vineyards and even a gristmill, to build its Italian-French-American menus. You can also find colorful cityscapes by resident artist Shane Pennington covering the walls. Brunch on brie and pumpkin-bread French toast with nutmeg butter and amaretto syrup, then browse the trendy neighborhood’s galleries and boutiques.
3311 OAK LAWN AVE., DALLAS
1:00 pm: The Office of Angela Scott
Instead of returning from the Big D with an iconic (but expected) pair of cowboy boots, pick up a pair of hand-painted women’s oxfords from designer Angela Scott. While her bench-made, single-cobblercrafted footwear has stepped into the pages of Glamour and Nylon (and is sold in Japan, Austria and Italy), she chose Dallas as the location of her first dedicated boutique.
2420 VICTORY PARK LANE, DALLAS
2:00 pm: Artspace111
Fort Worth, a 30-minute drive west from Dallas, is home to the Kimbell Art Museum and its collection of works by European masters from Duccio to Picasso. But it’s the city’s Artspace111 – a warehouse turned gallery and sculpture garden – that buzzes with emerging and acclaimed Texas artists. Time your visit with an opening reception and you’ll mingle with the who’s who of the burgeoning contemporary arts community.
111 HAMPTON ST., FORT WORTH
3:30 pm: The Gallery at The Fairmont
The Fairmont Dallas isn’t just located in the heart of the city’s urban arts district – it’s a vibrant part of the community itself. The hotel’s inaugural artist in-residence, Zach Saucedo (whose painting, P.E.A.C.E. The Suite Life, graces the lobby), has returned to oversee a new on-site gallery showcasing mixed media, as well as the re-launched residency program.
1717 N AKARD ST., DALLAS
5:00 pm: Lost Oak Winery
All it takes is a swirl, sniff and sip to discover what Texas winemakers already know: European grapes like tempranillo, roussanne and vermentino thrive in the Lone Star State. This family-owned and operated winery, located an hour southwest of Dallas, produced a 2010 viognier that scored Double Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Taste it for yourself after a guided tour of the vineyard.
2116 FARM-TO-MARKET RD. 731, BURLESON
(Photos by Lorne Bridgman)