Felicia

One of my favorite childhood memories is going to Aunt Stelle’s to get a delicious, ice cold snow cone after a long day of swimming at the YMCA down the street. My husband and I still go here every summer, even if the line is all the way down the block! It’s not summer without an Aunt Stelle’s snow cone :)

I was born and raised in Oak Cliff, and have just moved back after living in Duncanville. I can definitely say that I missed Oak Cliff. While it was considered to be the ‘bad side’ of town for the longest, it is slowly being made over, especially in and around the Bishop Arts District. I can’t wait to see what this side of town will look like in five to ten years, but I love it just the way it is. It is, and will always, be my home.

Stop by for drinks at The Magnolia Bar before heading into the cozy theater to watch some of the best independent films.

Some of the BEST sushi I have ever had! ;)

I used to work in Addison. To be honest, since I hated my job I used to hate driving out there but now that I don’t work there anymore, I love going out to Addison. There are so many different restaurants to try, especially off of Beltline Rd. Shuck N Jive has some of the best Po Boys!

I love the State Fair! Caramel apples, fried green tomatoes, corn dogs…! I can’t wait!

My husband proposed to me here last year in the observation deck. It was completely romantic as we stood there and watched the stars. Dusk hovered over the city and he read me a story of how we first met. He then got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. This will always be a special place for us.

written August 20, 2005

Downtown Dallas has slowly been withering over the past decade. My father says that Dallas died on that fateful day that JFK died. Since then, it has lost its shimmer and has become home to a wide array of the homeless, and while some people are afraid to venture out onto the streets, I find that the buildings of Downtown still have character. They have their ghosts too, I’m sure. I always feel strangely nostalgic as I pass through the streets of vast buildings, but barren streets. There’s something that calls out to me from the cracks in the pavement, from the old buildings with fire escapes and the strange man at the corner who screams out prayers as you walk by. No matter where I go or where I live, Dallas will always be my home. I know this in my heart.

Lately, I notice that the city seems to be trying to renovate certain areas, and I have to smile and think of what Dallas will look like in ten years. After a doctor’s appointment last week, I drove down Live Oak, the street that my father used to live on in a delapidated and crumbling old house when he was a child. The old white house has since been torn down, and an empty parking lot reigns over the soil now. I became quite emotional when I looked across the street at the beautiful new townhomes and lofts that are being built. What was once one of the worst and poor neighborhoods to live in has become something new and beautiful, and I felt my mouth drop open in shock and tears filled my eyes.

The story goes that in the 1800s, there was a woman named Anna who was in love with a sailor. He loved the sea more than he loved her and so when he left one day, Anna jumped from the second story and committed suicide. Her ghost is supposed to roam the inn and restaurant to this day.

We had the pleasure of eating here on our last night in Savannah. It was a small, dark lit restaurant and we were the only ones there after a short while. There was the nicest little piano player in the corner and he said he was going to play us a song. He began to play “My Funny Valentine” which we danced to in the center of the room. I’m not sure why the restaurant was so empty because it was the best food in Savannah. Anyone who has a chance to go here should definitely try it!

And don’t worry about the ghost. If there is a ghost there, she was definitely a nice one and didn’t bother us in the least bit!

We tried all week to go and eat at The Lady & Sons and each time we were told it would be an hour to two hours wait. We finally got the chance to eat some good Southern cooking on our last day! Fried green tomatoes, collared greens, pork chops, green beans, corn bread, and black eyed peas! We must have gained about ten pounds from that one meal alone!