Dallas - Arts District

It's about 2:30 pm on November 17, 2012. I'm leaving the Wheel of Fortune contestant auditions at Southfork Ranch earlier than I thought. Convinced I will never be seen on television looking at the Game Show Goddess's booty as she turns over tiles on the Wheel of Fortune letter board. From now on I think I'll just stay at home to watch Wheel of Fortune while I inconspicuously have a crush on Vanna White. For now though, I've got to watch the road as Popeye and I begin a new spontaneous adventure in Dallas. Although I'm heading towards Downtown Dallas, I don't know exactly where I'll go. I'll just drive that way and go where Popeye takes me. I figure it's about a 30 minutes drive south down Highway 75, to Downtown Dallas. That gives me some time to think randomly about people, places and things in Dallas.

      My first thoughts are to drive downtown and look around the area where JFK was assassinated 49 years ago. I always have been intrigued by the JFK assassination as it is one of my oldest if not my first childhood memory. It wasn't so much that the President was dead that upset me, as it was the president's death meant John Jr. and Caroline be without a Dad. John-John  and I were the same age and at that age, I couldn't imagine anyone growing up without a Dad.

I've always wanted to know exactly where that 6th story window is on the building Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly shot his rifle from. Back then it was called The Texas School Book Depository but now it's called The Dallas County Administrations Building. I'm sure I've passed it before but never knew which building it was or the address so I never really looked. I saw a recent news report about a guy who started up a new business, driving around Dallas in a trolley, following the footsteps of Oswald on that day the President was assassinated. He charges $20 for the so called assassination tour. It takes about an hour to complete. This would be something I'd like to do. I bet if you ask people not living in Texas what pops in their mind first when you say Dallas most people would say the JFK assassination. I'm not sure what ever happened to that The JFK Years book we had when I was a kid. I used to look at that book a lot. It had some good photos in it.

When I hear Dallas, I think of the Dallas Cowboys football team. I think about Texas stadium being imploded. The Dallas Mavericks and The Cotton Bowl. I have many good memories of Dallas, Texas. I especially remember one year, meeting all the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Trying to get every one of them to autograph a calender I bought with pictures of them in bikini's

Anyway, I was thinking about all that when I saw a sign on the expressway that had SMU on it. I started to think about that area. I remembered my daughter having a cheerleading camp at SMU (Southern Methodist University). SMU has a long history and some prominent alumni too. Former First Lady Laura Bush for example graduated from SMU. I wanted to drive around the SMU campus for a little while, so I exited the expressway at University Drive. I believe this area of Dallas is called Uptown. It's about another 10 minute drive on the expressway to downtown. As I wait in the left lane for the light to turn green, I was trying to remember which direction the campus is. Not until the traffic light changes to green, do I remember it's to the right. I turn left thinking I'll take the next right and loop back around. I turned south on Greenville Ave, but as I approached Mockingbird Blvd. I became distracted when I saw a girl with tattoos and body piercings and wildly painted blonde and black hair. She looked really cool. I  wondered if she would let me take her picture. So I pulled over into the 7-11 store at the corner and started to walk towards her to ask her if I could take a photo of her. But when the pedestrian cross light came on she began to walk away before I could talk to her. I got back on the expressway and drove south a few miles. Forgetting all about SMU.

 I drove until I saw a sign that said Pearl Street Exit. I've think I've been on Pearl Street a long time ago. I recall Pearl Street is where the tallest building in Dallas is located. I also recall that building is in the heart of The Dallas Arts District, which is where a new city park recently opened. Ahhh, finally I know where I'm going. To the new City Park. On the news they said the Park is built on a deck above The Woodall Rodgers Expressway. It sounded pretty cool. So I get off the expressway at Pearl Street and immediately see the new park. I turned left and then left again, looking for a parking spot, before I turned right, into the Booker T Washington High School Parking lot. I'm thinking Washington High must be a pretty old school to be in this part of Dallas, among all the skyscrapers. I think I'll have to explore the school after I check out the new park. I got out of my vehicle and walked towards the park along the sidewalk, next to the expressway service road.

Booker T. Washington High School built in 1922

AT&T Performing Arts Center back wall built in 2009

Ivy grows around the Annette Strauss Artists Square sign

As I'm walking towards the park I realize what a beautiful day it is. It was sunny and about 75 degrees with

light winds. A little warmer than normal for the second week of November. It was about 3 pm. I still had a couple hours of light for some pictures. I noticed the shadows were long so I would have to try to keep the suns glare and my shadow out of any photos. I couldn't remember the name of the park but as soon as I get to it i see its called the Klyde Warren Park.

Klyde Warren Park opened in 2012

There were a lot of people at the park on this Saturday afternoon. The first thing I noticed was they built an area for dogs and named it Mans Best Friend Park. A place where dogs meet dogs and guys will use a cute puppy for a chick magnet.

Visitors gathering at the dog park

A Beagle smells my camera

My Best Friend Park

Walking up the sidewalk I notice the traffic from the freeway coming towards me. Then to the left I saw people playing ping pong. Beyond that, I saw people playing badminton and croquet, while more people sat at tables and chairs scattered throughout the park. Then the other way I saw there is a putting green and a couple Foosball tables. 

Badminton

Table Tennis

Putting Green

Foosball

Then I notice a row of white archways on both sides of the park. Thinking they must represent the tunnels below the park where the expressway traffic is. 

As I walk around thinking what a cool park this is, I noticed an area with books and magazines on racks. Then an enclosed kids area where the little ones can have fun and the moms need to take their high heels off.

No High Heels in The Children s Park

Games and Reading Area

Kids, Hills and my shadow inside The Children s Park

A wading pond in The Children's Park

A fence around The Childrens Park

A platform to climb in the childrens park

Building sand castles

21st Century Monkey Bars

Poor little guy didn't like wadding in the Childrens Park

I then walked to the end of the park to snap a few shots of the area where a garden is growing with plants and flowers along a walkway before I noticed the traffic on the expressway below. 

Peaceful walkways at the south end

Do Not Jump from this bridge

Klyde Warren Park sign at the south end

Gardens with plants

Gardens with flowers

As I walk away from the park and towards the Art Museum, I think about how this is probably the coolest city park I have ever seen. Then I notice another picture taking opportunity and take a photograph of myself in a mirror.

Dallas Museum of Art was opened in 1984 and expanded in 1993

I crossed the road and went to the Dallas Museum of Art but it was closed. I then walked down to Olive Street where some construction was going on. It looked like the workers had been laying rails for a trolley and were cleaning up the mess, to call it a day. I wasn't sure. Most of the buildings in this area were built since the last time I was driving around here.

Pearl Street construction.

Making a mess on Pearl Street.

I continued down Olive St. to Flora Street. Where I saw a sign for the Nasher Sculpture Center and took a photo of it. Then across Flora Street I see a Buddah statue. It's at the entrance of the Crow Collection of Asian Art building. That building was closed too but the Buddah sculpture was begging me to take his photo, so I did. I thought it was odd that everything was closed, until I walked through and past the Buddah. There I saw a security guard pacing to and fro on the plaza in front of a high rise building. I asked him what the name of the skyscraper is. He told me it's The Museum Tower. He said it was closed because the power was turned off for some construction taking place. He added, that the whole city block was without power and the buildings would reopen on Monday. I asked him if that high rise was the tallest building in Dallas. He told me no and said the tallest building is The Chase Tower. He pointed in a direction behind The Museum Tower. I took a photo of the skyscraper in front of me while thinking he doesn't know what he's talking about. Because as I recall, The Jolly Green Giant in Dallas is the tallest building at 70-something stories tall and is the centerpiece to the Dallas skyline. It's called the Jolly Green Giant in reference to the green neon lights that line all the outside corners of the building. Later I found out the skyscraper he called the Museum Tower is actually The Trammel Crow Tower

Nasher Sculpture Center opened in 2003

Crow Collection of Asian Art opened in 1998

Trammel Crow Center built in 1985

Then I noticed a Bell Tower off to the right. I asked the security guard about the Bell Tower, but he misunderstood my question and again pointed in the direction of The Chase Tower. I told him thank you and walked over to take a photo of The Bell Tower with a large bronze bell hanging from the center of the structure. Continuing to walk around to the back of The Trammel Crow Tower towards Ross Street, I saw some gardens with flowers and a bamboo thicket growing around a large vent next to the skyscraper. 

Bronze Bell placed in 2012

Bamboo Thicket

Hot Pepper Garden

I then walked down Ross Street to take some photos of The Chase Tower. Even if it wasn't the tallest building, the architecture was unique, as it had a hole through the center near the top. I took some photos then continued on Ross to walk across Pearl Street. In front of The Chase Tower is a green carpeted three tiered plazan. Off towards the north side and in front of the high rise building.is a fancy Rotunda. I liked this skyscraper. I think The Chase Tower is my favorite high rise building in Downtown Dallas.

The 55 story Chase Tower was completed in 1987

The Chase Tower Rotunda

The Chase Tower North Plaza 

While I take a photo of the Rotunda, a building further down Ross Street caught my attention because of an open space on one of the walls. I was curious about that building, wondering if it was under construction. I snapped a photo of it and I went that way. Until...

The Wyly Theater is the only vertical theater in the world

 ... I looked back to cross Ross Street. That's when I noticed the most amazing building yet. It was a church. I thought that was odd too. First a school, now a church among the high rise buildings. This area of Dallas must have been a residential community at one time. Regardless, I had to take some photos of it. I walked back across the street towards the side of the church, looking for a good advantage point for a photo. because I thought the late afternoon shadows made the front side of the church too dark for a good photo. In front of the church was a sign that had Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin Guadalupe printed on it. As I got to the side of the church I saw a statue with bouquets of flowers lying in front of it. The flowers looked dried up and may have been there a while. Next to the statue there is a cage. Three of the walls inside the cage have three shelves on on them. On the shelves are candles in glass containers covered with images of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. One of the glass containers had long stick matches in it that were obviously used to light the candles. A few of the candles were already lit. This was all new to me. I had never seen anything like it. I snapped a few photos and thought to pray.  I took one of the previously burnt sticks out and lit it with my lighter. After the candle was lit, I felt something... It was spooky feeling. It was like... as if i was going to cry. A tear dripped out of the corner of my eye. I turned to see if anyone was there watching me, but nobody was nearby. I probably wouldn't have thought to say a prayer if someone was watching, because I wasn't sure how to do this. I thought maybe I should close the gate on the cage. So, I tried to close it, but it swung back open. I tried to close it again and got the same result, except it swung back open wider. I left the gate open and looked out again to see if anyone was watching. I turned to pick up the candle I had lit. I closed my eyes and silently said a quick prayer before saying amen out loud. I opened my eyes and looked out the cage again before I sat the lit candle back down on the opposite wall. I thought I should blow it out but didn't. I walked out of that cage feeling pretty good. It was a happy feeling. I felt like as if I was skipping instead of walking.

Virgin Guadalupe Statue

The Cage Shrine

Candles Burning Inside the Cage

Time to say a prayer

I walked (or skipped) to the front of the church to take a photo of the bell tower when I noticed a young man dressed up in a suit, coming out of the front door of the church. After taking the photo of the bell tower, I walked up the steps and opened the Church door. I was astonished at it's beautiful angelic interior with the sunshine gleaming through it's large stained glass windows. It looked like a wedding had just taken place just before I entered the church, as photos of a bride and groom were being taken near the altar. I quietly walked along the church's outside aisle and took a few photos before exiting through a side door leading into a foyer. Even the foyer was awesome. It looked to be an addition onto the building. The outside of the original building was made into a foyer wall. It's a really awesome church. Down the hallway and up some steps leading further inside to the church offices was a table of candles. Some of those candles were lit. I thought about saying another prayer but two young boys were playing around nearby so I said hi, walked away and left the building through a side door.

The Cathedral opened in 1902 as The Sacred Heart Church. The bell tower was added in 2005

I was in awe at the beautiful interior

A couple getting married

The old outside wall is now an interior foyer wall 

Light a candle - Say a prayer

I walked out towards that building with a hole in the wall. On the way I saw a building back across Ross Street, with a mural on the outside wall. Once I got closer I could see the building with the hole in the wall, wasn't under construction  It was designed to look like that. Very interesting I thought. I walked along the side of the unique structure and towards the front on Flora Street. In front of the building was an outdoor built-in place for an assembly. I could see across Flora Street was the front side of The AT&T Performance Center and to the right of it was The Booker T. Washington School for performing and Visual Arts, where I began this adventure through The Dallas Arts District. I snapped a few shots before heading to Washington High School.

A mural titled "The Storm" was painted in 1997

There's a hole in the building dear Liza, dear Liza.

The Wyly Theatre opened in 2009

The San Jacinto Tower sits next to The Chase Tower

The AT&T Performing Arts Center includes The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House

I took a couple photos of the old front entrance to the school before heading back to Popeye. As I was about to get in my vehicle and drive off, I saw some people inside the school. This gave me an idea to go inside and take some pictures. I walked around to the back side of the school where there is a Pegasus sculpture decorated with lights. This is also where the parking lot is for the school. The back of the school is off the service road for Woodall Rodgers Expressway. I saw an entrance to the school with stairs leading down to it. To the right of the staircase is a schoolyard, filled with sculptures, made out of various materials. I took some photos of the sculptures and laughed as I saw clips holding a backboard with a hoop on an old basketball stand. As I took photos, I saw a woman with a purse inside the school, looking out the window at me. I looked at her and she smiled. I figured she was probably a students parent. I smiled back and nodded as I walked down the stairs to take a few more photos of the schoolyard sculptures.

The old front of the school faces Flora Street.

The back of the school has a Pegasus sculpture

The schoolyard was filled with interesting sculptures.

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Blocks of Limestone were carved

A basketball hoop held on with clips

Dragon metal sculpture

A different kind of recess

A scorpian sculpture was my favorite.

I walked back to the door and found it unlocked so, I entered nonchalantly. Looking down the hallway I could where I entered is one floor below the front entrance facing Flora Street I didn't see anyone in the offices to my left so I walked down the main aisle towards the old front of the school building, taking a couple photos on the way, before coming to a dead end. I turned back around and sat down on some stairs leading up to the 2nd floor. I set my camera's self-timer function, then posed for a photo of myself sitting there on the stairs. I continued on up the stairs to the second floor and took a photo of some 2012 Seniors photos on the wall. I looked up and saw more photos of Seniors on the wall of the floor me. I wanted to go up and take some photos of the other seniors but I decided I should leave.

I could see the front entrance as I entered from the back.

A set of lockers for the students

It was somewhat dark on the schools lower floor

2012 Seniors at Booker T Washington High School

There was still sunlight left. So, I thought, on the way home to Arlington, I would drive through West Dallas via the new Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and take some photos of the Dallas skyline at sunset.

Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge opened in 2012

Dallas Skyline From N Beckley Ave South of W Commerce St.

Old abandoned motel in West Dallas