East Dallas visitor says this neighborhood is one of the best kept secrets in town

Yes, this is patting ourselves on the back, but who am I to argue with an unsolicited rave?

This comes from a friend of mine in the wine business, who was in town this week from Napa to meet with various wine types. Jim (I don't want to use his last name, to save him family embarrassment) has relatives in the Park Cities and usually stays at the Mansion. As such, he had never been to this part of town. To which Jim said, when we had dinner at Kitchen 1924 on Wednesday: "Why didn't anyone ever tell me this part of town was here?"

 

I laughed, and explained a little of the East Dallas/Lakewood-Park Cities interplay. Such as they don't like us, and don't consider us worthy of their notice. And that we think of them as, how shall I say it, snobs?

What makes this even funnier is that Jim considered moving to Dallas about 10 years ago, and his family told him the only places to live were the Park Cities and the north suburbs. He didn't much care for any of them, and it's one reason why he didn't move here.

"But it's beautiful here," he said. "And what are you, about 10 minutes from downtown?"

Yes on both counts, I said. We then discussed home prices, which astounded him given that he lives in Napa, one of the most expensive parts of California.

I filled him in on the history of this part of town -- how we had to fight City Hall to stop them from paving it over in the 1970s and how we believe in the value of the neighborhoods, whether it's as upscale as Swiss Avenue and Lakewood proper or as funky as lower Greenville or as interesting as the M Streets. He was impressed.

Jim loved the look and feel of the area, and especially the Lakewood shopping center. He had a hard time believing something like this could exist in Dallas proper, and kept asking, repeatedly, "So this is really within the Dallas city limits, right?" I laughed, and told him his relatives had done a fine job of indoctrinating him on their way of thinking -- which, apparently, is that Dallas doesn't have any nice neighborhoods.

When we were done and paying the bill, Jim asked: "Do the people here appreciate what they have?" "Oh yes," I said. "We may disagree on many things, but that is the one thing we do agree on."

Technorati Tags: Lakewood,East Dallas,Dallas neighborhoods,quality of life

Comments

[Robert]

Maybe we should get city hall to buy some land in Lakewood and build a funky boutique hotel so guys like Jim can stay in our 'hood while visiting (instead of the Mansion). Think of the economic benefits. Heck, it might move Dallas up to a "Tier 1 City" (what ever that is).

[Norman Alston]

I put a small hotel right up with a real deli as our most pressing business needs in Lakewood. I'm just not sure where to put it. Actually, Faulkner Tower would make a pretty nice hotel.

[Bob Johnston]

The Wells Fargo bank building would be better!

[Bob Johnston]

The Wells Fargo bank building would be better!

[jnw32]

Maybe somebody could redo The Tampico Motel on East Grand into a cool boutique hotel like the Hotel Belmont in Oak Cliff, although I don't think the Tampico building has a good pedigree like the Belmont building does.

[wWw '76]

I wonder what the Parkies had to say about our schools?

[wWw '76]

The Tampico has an interesting history but not a pedigree. We jokingly refer to it as our 'official hotel' for class reunions.

I'll bet most of you didn't know there was actually a Lakewood Hotel across from the Theater at one time. I think it came down before my time, but I do remember the little hamburger stand along the back wall of the Theater where the Rats supposedly gathered.

[Norman Alston]

In the early 80's, the Tampico sported a huge display of neon lights. It was spectacular.

[Beth Burrows]

Our first home was in Gastonwood/Coronado Hills. We lived at the corner of La Vista & East Grand. Terrific house! Only problem was you could see the Tampico Sign from our kitchen window. A boutique hotel would be such an improvement!