THE BASICS

CAR TALK

People in Dallas love their cars. They’ll get behind the wheel just to drive down the block. And so will you, or you’ll get funny looks from the neighbors.

Once you arrive in Dallas, you’ve got 30 days to obtain a Texas driver’s license and to put Texas tags on your car, truck, van or whatever. Go to a Department of Public Safety office for your license; call 226-5370 for the location nearest you and more information. The county tax assessor’s office will outfit you with new license plates, now emblazoned with the Texas flag. You’ll also need to get your car inspected. Most gas stations, quickie oil-change places and dealerships can do that for you.

DALLAS SPEAK HIGHWAYS & BYWAYS

Dallasites identify highways and roads by names rather than by the numbers used on maps and signs. Here’s a key: Central Expressway (75); LBJ (635); Stemmons Freeway (I-35, north of downtown); Airport Freeway (183); Northwest Highway (Loop 12); Old Fort Worth Turnpike (I-30); R.L. Thornton Freeway (I-30 heading east of the city but I-35 going south); Julius Schepps Freeway (I-45); C.F. Hawn Freeway (175); Marvin D. Love Freeway (67 south from I-35). Memorize it. Know it. Or you’ll never find your way around.

CITY SECRET MAPSCO It’s a blown-up version of the city, in easy-to-understand quadrants with bingo-like grids. (For instance, 1 live in 39-J.) Available at the MAPSCO stores, bookstores, office supply places and many gas stations.

OTHER WAYS TO GET AROUND

Like we said, walking is out, so the other option is the bus. DART, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system, has an extensive routing network for the area. The Hop-A-Bus system-buses painted with frogs, bunnies and other things that hop-services downtown. For more information, call DART, 979-1111. To find out about car pools, phone DART’S Ride Share, 747-RIDE.

THE PLANE TRUTH

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, located smack dab between the two cities, is the largest airport in the country and the second busiest in the world. It is also the hub for American Airlines. For general airport information, call 574-8888. Dallas Love Field Airport, just minutes from downtown, is headquarters for Southwest Airlines. Love’s number is 670-6080. There are two other area airports-Addison Airport, 248-7733, and Red Bird Airport, 670-7612.

WEATHER

To find out just how hot it’ll be in Dallas today, call 787-1111.

For the traveler’s forecast, call 787-1701.

TIME AND TEMPERATURE

Just remember 844. Dial that plus any four numbers and you’ll get the current time and temp.

THE MAIL

To give your letters the ZIP they need, call the post office at 647-2996. For packages that absolutely, positively have to be postmarked today, the main post office, 401 DFW Turnpike, located off I-30 at Sylvan, is the latest drop-off spot. Letters can be mailed until 11:30 p.m. and receive a same-day postmark. For general questions, phone 741-5508. Window service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport post office at 2300 West 32nd St. on the southwest service road. Call 574-2622 for more information.

GETTING IT TURNED ON

TU Electric …653-1311

Lone Star Gas Company …741-3750

Southwestern Bel] …392-6231

Water Department …651-1441

Water Emergencies …744-5005

Street and Sanitation …747-2600

Recycling information …670-4475

TCI Cable …328-5000

DALLAS SPEAK METRO NUMBERS When calling around the area, sometimes you need to dial a “metro” number. Remember, metro numbers are goooood. They’re toll-free, and you just need to dial the area code and the number, without a 1.

EMERGENCIES

Emergency (Police, Fire, Ambulance) …911

Emergency (Telephone Device for the Deaf) …670-5263

North Central Texas Poison Center …590-5000

Dallas County Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Center …653-8740

Child Abuse Hotline …817/640-6200

Suicide and Crisis Center …828-1000

Contact 214 (24-hour counseling service) …233-2233

Victims Outreach (24-hour crisis hotline for victims of violent crime) …233-0944

Family Violence Unit …670-5385

Runaway Hotline …800/392-3352

AIDS Hotline …559-AIDS

CITY SECRET POST THIS NUMBER ON YOUR FRIDGE: 744-3600. To report potholes or find out about any city department, call the City of Dallas Action Center. They can even tell you where the closest recreation center is. Calls answered 24 hours a day. Telephone Device for the Deaf number is 670-4192.

GOING TO THE DOGS

Fido and Fluffy must receive rabies vaccinations and be licensed annually. Any veterinarian can vaccinate and tag your dog or cat. Some area pet stores also offer low-cost vaccinations.

24-HOUR EMERGENCY VET SERVICES

Emergency Animal Clinic, 13031 Coit …661-2112

Animal Medical and Surgical Hospital, 600 W. Airport Frwy., Irving …438-7113

Red Bird Animal Clinic, 3107 W. Camp Wisdom …350-5200

USEFUL ANIMAL NUMBERS

Animal Control …670-7436

Humane Society …946-1440

Operation Kindness …418-7297

SPCA …651-9611

Lost Pet Hotline

(west of Tollway) …670-1965

(east of Tollway) …670-8389

GETTING INVOLVED

Here’s a partial list of the agencies that assist and advise those in need.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

Office of Senior Affairs …670-5709

Alcoholics Anonymous …239-4599

Al-Anon. Alateen …363-0461

American Cancer Society …631-3850

American Red Cross …871-2175

Big Brothers and Sisters …871-0876

Boy Scouts of America …580-2000

Tejas Girl Scout Council …823-1342

Boys & Girls Clubs of Dallas …821-2950

Camp Fire Boys & Girls …521-2267

MADD…744-6233

North Texas Food Bank …330-1396

Salvation Army…630-5611

United Way of Dallas …978-0000

YMCA…880-9622

YWCA…827-5600

Volunteer Center …826-6767

Goodwill Industries …638-2800

March of Dimes…458-0110

Easter Seal Society …358-5261

AIDS Resource Center …521-5124

FOR THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED

REACH …630-4796

Dallas Handicapped Services …670-5208

Texas Commission for the Blind …350-0500

Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center …637-4600

Handirides…828-6800

WELCOME TO BIG D

Dallas Convention and Visitor’s Bureau …746-6700

Dallas Chamber of Commerce …746-6600

Newcomers’ Club of Greater Dallas …596-8677

Park Cities Newcomers’ Club …522-6609

The Relocation Center …869-3131