I think so many downtowns are dying as the people - and attractions and entertainment - are moving to the 'burbs. Dallas got it right - they made a
Public Art Walk to bring people downtown. My mom and I went down on a Sunday morning, and I wouldn't call it hoppin' - but it obviously brought us down, and I saw several others toting the Public Art Walk map we had downloaded and printed.
The map had 30 art and architecture landmarks in a planned, walkable route. I won't bore you with all 30. I'll stick to the highlights. But you can always see the others on the
Public Art Walk website.
My favorites, most of which I've gone back to see more than once by now.
By far, my favorite was
Fountain Place. I've already been back in fact, I loved it so much.
"The plaza, designed by landscape architect Dan Kiley, features 172 bubbler fountains in the pools, and 360 fountainheads in the Central Court Fountain. Kiley also designed the well-known Fort Worth Water Gardens."
It is claimed that it is up to 10 degrees cooler in the summertime. It definitely had a cooling effect. Love the bubbling "brooks," but even better are the shooting fountains.
They weren't on the first time I visited, but my mom and dad and I went to lunch while they were visiting at Avanti, which overlooks the fountains, which was so relaxing and beautiful. The patterns of the shooting water are always different.
Towering beside the fountains is an I.M. Pei office skyscraper. I wouldn't mind working there - and having my lunch outside every afternoon.
My mom's favorite: The
Pioneer Plaza.
Developed by Trammell Crow, the "combination of landscaping and sculpture offers a glimpse into a cattle drive along the Shawnee Trail, which was a conduit for cattle on their way to market in Missouri, passing through Dallas near the current site of Pioneer Plaza as early as the 1840s until just after the Civil War."
Each sculpture weighs ~1200 pounds!
I don't think you can fully communicate in photographs what this plaza feels like.
This isn't just a bunch of metal cows. It is laid out over 4.2 acres - with full landscaping - and is impressively done.
The intricacy of the sculptures, the way they are laid out - coming down the hill, crossing the stream.
You feel like you've gone back to the 1800s and the escaping steer is really being reigned back in by the cowboy.
Also loved the Magnolia and the Adolphus. Side by side.
On the right,"the
Magnolia building was the first skyscraper in Dallas and the first high-rise in the United States to have air conditioning. Originally designed for the Magnolia Petroleum Company - later the Mobil Oil Corporation.
Atop is the famous
Pegasus. The winged red horse has been a fixture in the Dallas skyline since 1934. Airline pilots have said Pegasus is visible as far away as Waco (about 100 miles away). Actually two horses 14 feet apart, the current Pegasus was rebuilt to match the original and unveiled on New Year's Eve 1999.
The
Hotel Adolphus was built by Adolphus Busch, founder of the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association, with the intention of establishing the first grand hotel in Dallas. Upon completion in 1912 the Adolphus was the tallest building in Texas with 22 floors (the Magnolia Petroleum Building beat it in 1922). The tower on a corner of the roof is said to be modeled after a Busch beer stein. When it opened, it was called the most beautiful building west of Venice.
Then there was
Thanksgiving Square - a park developed to promote the concept of giving thanks as a universal human value. On a Sunday morning, it is also apparently where everyone takes their dogs to do their business. It disgusts me a little than humanity can't find a better place for the pooper scooper.
My mom and I tried to go into the little sprial chapel. The door was open, but the sign very clearly said on the door that the "hours of operation" weren't until that afternoon.... so we obeyed. Not sure that anyone would have stopped us, but you know that guilty feeling like "Someone" (with a capital S) is watching, especially as you go into a chapel.
The second time, I didn't get much time to look around - just literally up. Apparently, I picked a time when many were there for the Muslim afternoon prayer time. Out of respect for them, I refrained from snapping my normal million photos, but did sneak a quick one so you could see too. The inside of the chapel is much more beautiful than I had imagined from its appearance on the outside. "Inside the chapel is a stained glass window by French designer Gabriel Loire." Kudos Gabriel!
And so many more. :) Great Public Art walk. Way to go Dallas. Check out more photos on my
Flickr.
