About

What you see is what you get

I work a regular full-time job so I plan ahead, and I schedule time on my days off to get out and see things and take pictures. If that's the one day I have and it turns out to be a windy day, you'll get no-fliter pics like this one. Hair sticking straight up? That's "just me."

I don't follow trends

That's not a humble brag or a brag of any kind; it just is. I'm not a trend follower and I'm not a trendsetter. I'm OK with that, and here's why. Dallas has a whole host of great media sources that are ready to tell you what's in, and you don't need me for that. (And by the way, I absolutely support and subscribe to a number of local media sources - we need them for hot news and all the up-to-the-minute stuff.)

But maybe you'd like someone to tell you what's unique or what's quirky. Sure, I like some popular places, and I'll share those. But I'l also share hidden gems, long-time favorites and local Dallas businesses that haven't been written up in four (or more) different publication this week.

When it comes to lists (which I love to write), I go out of my way to be inclusive from every angle. I don't usually call my lists "the best" but sometimes they absolutely are. You'll find some damn good recommendations in various parts of town (plus suburbs), and whenever possible, options for every budget.

I'm not your typical blogger - I'm "just me" and I think plenty of people who live in and visit Dallas feel like they're "just me" too. I hope to share some stories and experiences that will resonate with anyone who "gets" the "just me" vibe.

The Neiman Marcus Popover Story

When D Magazine's multi-week poll named the Neiman Marcus popover the Most Iconic Dish in Dallas, I had to take a pause. I won't argue with a public poll, but it made clear who the audience for D Magazine is. How many nurses, teachers, firefighters, or service industry workers have ever been able to lunch at Neiman Marcus?

Don't get me wrong - I read D Magazine all the time. And they're right to provide content that suits their audience. And they also do deeper dives into the culture of Dallas that appeal to (and benefit) everyone. But the focus is absolutely on the affluent.

That was the first inspiration for my social handles @JustMeInBigD. I just don't have that affluent mindset, and it's fine if you do, but it's also fine if you don't. I plan to feature places that are somewhat more accessible.

For the record, my bracket votes for the most iconic dish in Dallas were for Snuffer's Cheddar Fries, El Fenix Enchiladas, and of course, Fletcher's Corny Dogs.

I did go try the popover. I took it as a challenge, which is very "just me." It was Christmas time at NorthPark Center (now that's iconic Dallas) so I popped in to NM Cafe for lunch. The complimentary treat was nice, and the burger on the menu at NM Cafe was really good, but I still think Fletcher's Corny Dogs was robbed.

I go solo, and I find fun everywhere

I enjoy doing things on my own. Yep, it’s true. I eat alone, go to movies alone, travel alone - no shame and no loneliness. Being a party of one lets me pursue happiness and the joy of the moment at my own pace, which is very important to me.

Not only does this allow me to be as goofy or eccentric as I want to be, it also puts me in a unique position to make recommendations for single people and solo travelers.

Of course, it's important to have friends, and I'll be talking about that too. I know some fun ways to meet people and some great places to make new friends here in Dallas and around DFW.

Where did the nickname "Big D" come from

I’m from Big D, my oh yes

Big D, little a, double L-A-S!

If you're young, you've never heard this song, so you might wonder why Dallas is known as Big D. The song, written by Frank Loesser for the 1956 Broadway film, The Most Happy Fella. The show ran on Broadway for 14 months and was broadcast on The Ed Sullivan Show.

The musical certainly isn't the first time Dallas was called Big D, but it certainly gained nationwide acceptance of the nickname.

Check out the lyrics here and take a moment to appreciate the mentions of Neiman Marcus and the part about "that spells Dallas, where ev'ry home's a palace cause the settlers settle for no less." I'm also fond of "that spells Dallas, I mean it with no malice, but the rest of Texas looks a mess." Pretty prescient for th 1950s, eh?

Better yet, watch Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews performing it at Carnegie Hall. I've embedded the YouTube video below.

about

Why I'm "Just Me​" in Big D