Coming off their weekend win against Toronto FC, Orlando City hits the road this 4th of July to take on FC Dallas.
The Venue
Since 2005 Toyota Stadium has been the home of FC Dallas with room to seat 20,500. The stadium is only a part of what this complex has to offer. There are 17 regulation fields in a soccer park north of the stadium that are used for practices and youth soccer tournaments.
FC Dallas has five recognized supporters groups: El Matador, Red Shamrock, Lone Star Legion, Dallas Football Elite and Dallas Beer Guardians. Serious props to DBG for the name, can I come party with you?
Things To Do
Sixth Floor Museum at Dealy PlazaLet’s start with a million dollar question that many of us are still wondering – was JFK’s assassination a conspiracy? Or do you believe that what happened on that tragic day in 1963 is exactly what was reported through the Commission report and Lee Harvey Oswald was the guilty individual that fired the fatal shot. Exploring the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza may well help sway your opinion, or perhaps it will leave you further confused as to what actually took place on November 22, 1963.
George W. Bush Presidential Library
Welcome to the world of presidential libraries, where the agenda is always the same: Prove that the figurehead in question was, without a doubt, one of the best U.S. Presidents to ever hold the office. Whether or not you agree with that assertion will definitively shape your experience of the George W. Bush Presidential Library.
Reunion Tower GeO-Deck
Take in the view the of Dallas skyline 470 feet about ground at the Reunion Towers GeO-Deck. Also stop by the Cloud Nine Café, where you can enjoy a meal or snack or if you’re on a liquid only diet during this holiday weekend stop by the bar.
P.S. All these things can be done through the Dallas CityPASS that costs $46 and it also includes the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.
Bars and Restaurants
Hutchins BBQ
We can’t leave Barbeque off the list, that timework culinary tradition of slow cooking meat in a smoker till it falls off the proverbial bone. Lucky for you Hutchins BBQ isn’t too far from Toyota Stadium.Honored in books and magazines as being part of the stratosphere of local barbecue joints, this family-owned chainlet slow-smokes meat over pecan and oak 24/7. If you’re jonesing for a little seafood to break up the meat-otony, Hutchins also serves a killer fried catfish.
Manny’s Uptown Tex-Mex Restaurant
Much like pickup trucks, barbeque and football, Texans take their Tex-Mex seriously (after all, 3/5 of “Texas” is half the name!). Located in an old house on the corner of Lemmon and Oak Grove sits Manny’s Uptown. Manny’s is known for its fajitas, brisket tacos, and spicy pica-pica sauce -- but mostly for their swirl margaritas. Be sure you're at least a few tacos deep before you attempt to drink more than one. This is important.
Double Wide
Some bar had to do it, some bar in Dallas had to step up and be as pretentious as everyone thinks they are already. Luckily Double Wide stepped up to the plate and fell on that sword, and of course, if you have actually been to Double Wide, you know NONE OF THAT IS TRUE. One of the most iconic and laid-back bars in Dallas, Double Wide brings you instant-classic cocktails like the Yoohoo Yeehaw and Twisted Tang. There’s great live music and if you like your women, and your venue, a little on the trashy side, make sure to make Double Wide a staple.
Old Monk
Just a good ol’ bar being a bar, Old Monk is a no-frills spot that focuses on beer and Whiskey, two of life’s greatest joys. When you go in you will find a dimly lit, slightly dingy -- in an endearing kind of way --place that offers more than 100 beers and a slamming whiskey/cocktail list. You’ll hear great music, eat really solid food, have loud conversation, and feel right at home posted up in a booth or bellied up to the bar.
