25 Ladytastic Things to Do in Dallas

Photo from www.thebeautybar.com

Though Dallas may conjure up images of cowboys, oil men and shooting ranges, there is an undeniable girly side to the city as well. In response to the “25 Mantastic Things To Do In Dallas” post, here are a few activities for the ladies to enjoy:

1. Get a Martini & Manicure at Beauty Bar. On weekdays from 4 to8 p.m., Beauty Bar on Henderson will hand you a martini and give you a polish change for $10. It’s a great deal, sure, but the best part is sitting in the vintage 60s hair salon chairs surrounded by pink sparkly wallpaper and a group of your best girlfriends.  Done this? Tweet it.

2. Gossip over tea at Royal Sixty. For a cozy and classy afternoon with your friends, venture over to Royal Sixty in the Design District for a seated tea. The restaurant offers seasonal or standard prix fixe tea menus, which include a soup, assorted finger sandwiches, a dessert tray and, of course, a tea to go with each course. You can check out the harvest tea menu here – think pumpkin bread with honey pecan butter, sweet potato bisque, warm apple spice cake and a steaming cup of Darjeeling or rooibos tea. Done this? Tweet it.

Photo from www.dollypythonvintage.com

3. Browse through time at Dolly Python. Dallas has plenty of shopping options, but if you’re looking for something a little bit different, Dolly Python is the place. Full of funky jewelry, retro clothing, vintage art and kitschy gifts, its racks are definitely worth a look (or an impromptu dressing room fashion show.) Done this? Tweet it.

4. De-Stress at King Spa & Sauna. It’s easy to spend an entire day at King Spa & Sauna, whose facilities include a movie theater, food court and oxygen room. After a long day at work, stop in for a foot massage or aroma therapy scrub and then grab some healthy Korean cuisine at the cafe. Done this? Tweet it.

5. Taste the wines at a Dallas wine bar. Dallas has a lot of wine bars to chose from, so selecting one can be tricky. Luckily, one ILiveInDallas.com writer has already done the homework for you; check out her post on the “Top Five Dallas Wine Experiences” here. Done this? Tweet it.

6. Eye the man candy on the Katy Trail. If you’re on the Katy Trail during

Photo from www.bikeradar.com

peak exercising times, you’re guaranteed to spot some hunks jogging, skate boarding or walking their dogs. If exercise isn’t your thing, grab some friends and sip on beeritas at Katy Trail Ice House overlooking the trail — luckily, happy hour coincides with the busiest time on the trail. Done this? Tweet it.

7. Order bottomless mimosas at brunch.  There are plenty of restaurants around Dallas that offer bottomless mimosas on the weekends, and they’re definitely worth seeking out. A few of my favorite spots are Fernando’s, Nick & Sam’s, Smoke and Cafe Maya. Done this? Tweet it.

Photo from www.arlingtonhallatleepark.com

8. Catch a wedding at Arlington Hall. On warm, sunny weekends in Dallas, you’re sure to see a wedding outside of Arlington Hall at Lee Park. Chandeliers will hang from the trees, white tables will adorn the lawn and a young couple will be posing for pictures between the columns. Guaranteed to make your heart melt. Done this? Tweet it.

9. Get photographed by a Dallas magazine. You may need an expensive ticket or an exclusive invitation to the many benefits and galas that go on in Dallas’ social circles, but certain photographed events are more accessible than others to the not-so-well-connected. Just hang out at the Dallas Contemporary or the MAC on an opening night, and you’re likely to see you and your date in the next issue of Papercity or FD Luxe. Done this? Tweet it.

The Antoinette cocktail at Oak. Photo from www.oakdallas.com

10. Throw back a cocktail at Oak. Plenty of bars around Dallas offer some great cocktails, but most tend to me more man-centered, with whisky, gin and scotch dominating the menus. Not so with Oak, whose cocktail list is refreshing, girly and delicious. My favorites are the Antoinette, with vodka, prosecco, lemon and blackberry puree, and the Designer’s Touch, with Veev, strawberry, basil and sesame oil. Done this? Tweet it.

11. Party at ArtLoveMagic‘s annual GirlShow. ArtLoveMagic has shed light on Dallas’ artistic talent since 2007, hosting live art shows and hip underground parties around the city. One of its most popular annual events is GirlShow, exhibiting art from the most talented female artists around the Big D, including visual artists, dancers, poets, filmmakers, jewelry makers, musicians and fashion designers. The best part is that the talented ladies create their art in front of your very eyes. GirlShow 2012 has already happened, but keep your eyes peeled for their 2013 date. Done this? Tweet it.

12. Bring your own bottle to Cane Rosso’s Ladies’ Night. There’s really no wrong time to enjoy the authentic Neapolitan pizza at Cane Rosso, but, for the honeys, Wednesday night might be the best. That’s because hump day is Ladies’ Night at Cane Rosso, allowing you and your friends to BYOB to the Deep Ellum hot spot. I recommend at least one bottle per person. Done this? Tweet it.

13. Shop for a cause during Dallas’ Partners Card event. Partners Card is an annual event that benefits The Family Place, a nonprofit that helps to support victims of domestic violence. Here’s how it works: One card is $70, 100% of which goes directly to The Family Place. In return, cardholders receive 20% off at over 750 participating Dallas shops and restaurants. And, in my opinion, all the best places around town are in on the event. Luckily, Partners Card takes place right in time for the holiday shopping season (Oct. 26 through Nov. 4); if you’re going to be shopping anyway, why not do it for a great cause? Done this? Tweet it.

Photo from www.thedrybar.com

14. Blowout your locks at DryBar. Sometimes, getting a cut and color can feel like a chore, but getting a professional blowout always feels like pure luxury. Save yourself the stress of taming your own tresses and pay a stylist at DryBar $35 to do it for you. Trust me, you’ll feel much hotter afterwards. Done this? Tweet it.

15. Decorate your home with vintage finds from the Dallas Flea. The Dallas Flea Market is a great place to support local artisans in Dallas, and to find some ultra original pieces for your house or apartment. Not only will you find re-purposed furniture and home decor, but you’ll also see funky vintage clothing, unique handmade jewelry and eco-friendly bath products and scented candles. The flea market usually happen monthly at Southside on Lamar, but check their website for the exact dates. Entry is $5 per person. Done this? Tweet it.

16. Accessorize with goodies from Sam Moon. Sam Moon on LBJ Freeway is a mecca for trendy and affordable jewelry, handbags and accessories. You can find clutches, totes, watches, earrings, sunglasses, scarves, belts and anything else you can possibly accessorize with for an average of $5-$25 a piece. Sure, it may not be the best quality ever, but how long do trends last anyway? Done this? Tweet it.

Photo from www.chocolatesecrets.net

17. Enjoy chocolate, wine and jazz at Chocolate Secrets. If anyone can think of a better combination than chocolate, wine and beautiful music, please let me know what it is. Chocolate Secrets on Oak Lawn Ave. offers all three things in a romantic and relaxing setting. Free live jazz takes place Thursday through Friday evenings, but you can stop by for a glass of wine and gourmet chocolates, French macaroons or handmade ice cream any day of the week. Bonus: Wednesdays are “Wine Down Wednesdays” at the shop, where you can buy one bottle of wine and get the second 50% off. Done this? Tweet it.

18. Be a fashionista at Highland Park Village. Dallas is a renowned destination for shoppers, and at its fashion epicenter is Highland Park Village. Home to storefronts like Ralph Lauren, Christian Louboutin, Diane Von Furstenberg, Stella McCartney and Christian Dior, it’s a great place to indulge in a great bag or pair of shoes. Or, if (like me), it’s completely out of your price range, it doubles as a great place to window shop, get outfit ideas from all the trendy ladies walking by, and maybe stop in for a cupcake and a cappuccino at Celebrity Bakery. HP Village is also the best spot (in my opinion) to celebrate Dallas’ version of the annual Fashion’s Night Out. Done this? Tweet it.

Photo from AC's Facebook page

19. Attend an Assassination City Roller Derby. Any group that advocates “feminine confidence, sportswomanship, and athletic prowess” has my support, and you only need a glimpse of an Assassination City Roller Derby bout to see that it does just that, in the coolest way possible. The ladies take over Fair Park once a month for a bout or two, so check out the group’s website for the next opportunity to see them battle it out on the flat track. Most events are BYOB, and sometimes BYOC (bring your own chair). Also, if you’re enough of a badass, you can try out for their new recreational derby team, “Internal Affairs.” Just make sure you wear pads. Done this? Tweet it.

20. Cleanse yourself at The Gem Juice Bar. The Gem’s list of benefits from its juicing regimen are intriguing: weight loss, higher energy, a balanced mood, vitamin boost, brighter eyes and clearer skin. Try it out for yourself with their one or three-day cleanse options, or just stop in for a one-time juice, smoothie or shot to amp up your energy for the day. Done this? Tweet it.

21. Dance your heart out at It’ll Do Club. It’ll Do Club is an oasis of fun in East Dallas, a place where you can put on whatever you want, grab a group of friends and hit the dance floor without a care in the world. The drinks are cheap, the crowd is eclectic, the music is loud and there’s an LED runway on the floor. Need I say more? Done this? Tweet it.

22. Cook a dinner for two from Bolsa Mercado. Thanks to Bolsa Mercado, only a few steps down from the award-winning

Photo from Bolsa Mercado's Facebook page

Bolsa restaurant, you can bring all the delicious ingredients that go into a meal at Bolsa into your own home. The menu changes nightly, but it’s always fresh, local and healthy. All you need to do is stop in, pick up a bag with all the goodies, and go home to cook up a semi-homemade meal for your significant other or lucky friend. No one will know that you didn’t exactly put it together yourself…Done this? Tweet it.

23. Sip champagne at Dee Lincoln’s Dining Room & Bubble Bar. There exists a machine that dispense different types of champagne and wine at the push of a button, and Dee Lincoln’s has it. You can select to sip your drink by the ounce or by the glass, making it easy to sample different drinks on your way to finding the champagne of your dreams. They also host a “Dancing with the Stars” viewing night every Monday, and a happy hour with $6 glasses of champagne from 4 to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Done this? Tweet it.

24. Take a free yoga class at Karmany Yoga. Voted Best Yoga Studio in Dallas by D Magazine for three years in a row, Karmany Yoga works to make yoga available to everyone, regardless of financial status or skill level. With that in mind, all of its yoga classes are donation-based, allowing members to pay what they can and come and go as they please. There’s no need to commit to a lengthy membership or register for classes in advance, just show up and de-stress. Done this? Tweet it.

Photo from www.neimanmarcus.com

25. Buy something at the original Neiman Marcus downtown. One of the things Dallas is most known for is its status as the hometown of Neiman Marcus, whose original location is on Main Street downtown. So, even if it’s just a scarf or a keychain, you can’t consider yourself a true Dallas lady until you own something from that iconic storefront. It’s worth it to go during the holiday season, when the entire facade is adorned with festive lights and decorations. Done this? Tweet it.

Of course, all you men out there are welcome to do the things on this list as well, but you may or may not be outnumbered by ladies (not that that’s always a bad thing).

What are your favorite ladytastic things to do around Dallas?