Our neighborhood guides break down the places people live, work, and play in Dallas, but the best way to understand everything a neighborhood has to offer is to experience it firsthand.
There’s more to Oak Cliff than North Oak Cliff, and there’s more to North Oak Cliff than the trendy Bishop Arts District, although you may find yourself spending a good part of your 12 hours in the neighborhood strolling through a few walkable blocks chock-full of hip restaurants, shops, and venues. Here’s how to spend a day exploring one of most vibrant neighborhoods in Dallas.
Walk in the Park | Noon
North Oak Cliff’s parks have no shortage of weekend activities — games, barbecues, even karaoke — but the neighborhood’s green spaces are just as inviting on any sleepy weekday. Bring a picnic basket to Lake Cliff, a fishing pole to Kidd Springs, or a soccer ball to Kiest Park.
Arts & Crafts | 2 pm
Stroll through the Bishop Arts District, the two picturesque blocks of storefronts many of Dallas’ northerly residents think of when they hear the words “North Oak Cliff.” The walkable stretch of top-notch stores and restaurants is sometimes referred to as “North Texas’ Brooklyn or Portland,” which sometimes sounds like an awfully snide way to demean an area for having artisinal flourishes and placing an emphasis on things that are homegrown. Poke your head around the flourishing Bishop Arts District’s many shops. Take solace in some comfort food at Oddfellows or Emporium Pies. Have a cup of coffee (or something a little stronger) and crack open a book at The Wild Detectives.
Mosey just a short distance over to Jefferson Boulevard to cool off with some paletas and browse a string of retailers in the heart of the city’s Hispanic community.
Silver Screen Hideout | 5 pm
Outside of Dallas, the Texas Theatre is still most known for its role as a brief hideout for Lee Harvey Oswald after he may or may not have assassinated John F. Kennedy (and shot J.D. Tippit, the oft-forgotten Dallas police officer who crossed paths with Oswald on East 10th Street). More than 50 years after Oswald’s arrest, the theater is one of the best places to see a movie in Dallas. Catch a matinee or early evening show — the theater screens an eclectic mix of cult classics, new independent films, and art cinema hits.
Stick around to see if any live music is on the schedule: Shows take place both behind and in front of the screen. A variety of performers and artists — touring comedians and directors like John Waters have visited the venue in the past — will also grace the stage.
Listening Room | 7 pm
Since its comeback more than five years ago, the Kessler Theater has built a reputation as one of the best-sounding venues around, and some of the greatest musicians in the country have put the room’s remarkable acoustics to good use. The intimate setting hosts national acts, local bands, community events, and — on one infamous recorded occasion — “white, normal people” who get kicked out of Lee Ann Womack concerts. Catch a show and listen to your favorite band sound better than they ever have before.
Last Call | 10 pm
Wind down and a grab a drink at Ten Bells Tavern, a cozy watering hole with a patio built for warm summer nights and a DJ with the soundtrack to match. If you’re inclined to spend the night at the end of your 12 hours in North Oak Cliff, try the bar at the Hotel Belmont. You’ll wake up to one of the best views in the city.
Editor’s note: The Foundry bar and patio (pictured above) is more accurately within the regional lines of West Dallas. The bar’s neighborhood affiliation seems to be an unsettled subject in some corners of the internet, which we wanted to point out while still recommending the place, perhaps for your “13th Hour Just Outside of North Oak Cliff.”
