A couple of months ago, Sylvia and I noticed that Carrie Underwood was coming to Dallas for a concert. It seemed like a good time for a short road trip to Dallas to see her play. Initially, we planned to drive up the same day but later decided to come a day early so that we wouldn't be rushing. Since I had "points" on a credit card for some of the hotels in Dallas, we stayed the first night at the Kimpton-Pittman Hotel in the Deep Ellum region of downtown Dallas.

The area is a lively district that reminded me of sixth street in Austin. Elm Street was lined with many clubs and bars with music eminating from them. We were there on an early Wednesday evening, so things were fairly quiet, but I could see that the area most likely comes alive on the weekends when the sun goes down. One place we walked into sold frozen daiquiris. Sylvia got a watermelon one and I got a peach flavor. We were allowed to walk around with our drinks along the street. After stopping in some shops and stores, we finally settled on Fuzzy's Taco Shop for some dinner for the evening.

One of the sights that we wanted to see was a collection of sculptures collectively called THE WALKING MAN. Here are three pictures of Sylvia with the different works. The first shows the head rising from the ground outside a piano bar. The second, shows the structure playing the guitar and the third is a full upright 35 foot walking man as he races for the train. In the background of the second picture is a breakfast shop (also pictured at the bottom) known as the Biscuit Bar where we ate twice during our mornings there.

We had a couple of hours to kill between the time we checked out of the Kimpton-Pittman Hotel and checked into the W Victory Hotel, so Sylvia and I went to the north side of Dallas to visit Northpark Mall for a little bit of shopping. The funny part was, Sylvia seemed to do all of the shopping!?

Since she didn't bring her denim jacket, we went to the Levi store and found a grey denim jacket that went with her "cowgirl" outfit. Then it was off to Sephora for some green eyeshadow and finally some milk chocolate covered turtles at the See's candy shop. I would have bought something for myself but my credit card was already maxed out by then!!!

We then moved over to the W Victory Hotel which was right across the street from the American Airlines Center where Carrie Underwood was playing that night. The pictures, left, shows the outside of the hotel building.

Sylvia, right, standing in the lobby of the hotel as we head out to the event center, all dressed up in her country outfit ready for the concert.

(Notice the new grey denim jacket she just purchased. Yes... I know... sexy!)

The walk was a short one since the hotel was just across the street. This was also the place that the Dallas Mavericks basketball team play their home games. It is right in the heart of downtown Dallas and buzzing with preconcert excitement.

The area outside the concert center is lined with places to eat and drink before and after the events that play there and since we had an hour to kill, and since Sylvia was a little "hangry" (that's so hungry, she's angry), we went into the HERO BAR AND GRILL for a couple of drinks and appetizers. Sylvia ordered the fried beef empanadas and they were so good, she ordered a second batch. (Okay, okay... I helped her eat some of them, too!) The drinks were tasty, also!


(two cowpokes with their libations)

Then it was time to head in for the concert. It started right at 7:30 and even before the opening act, there was a DJ getting everyone hyped up. He was pretty good. Then the opening act, Jimmy Allen, came on. Neither Sylvia nor I had heard of him but he turned in about 30 - 40 of some of the most entertaining minutes of the evening. He was terrific!

Then when Carrie Underwood was about to come on, I snapped this selfie of Sylvia with my camera. It is a little blurry, but I love the way she is beaming with anticipation. It sits well with a picture she took of me in juxtaposition before the concert where it looks like I'm falling asleep "cowboy"style.

The show was fantastic. Carrie Underwood did not disappoint. Multiple costume changes, multiple layouts, power ballads, rockers, a little gospel, wow... she poured her heart and her voice out that night.

At one point in the middle of the concert, she moved along a wire across the whole auditorium coming very close to our seats (perhaps 20 yards) and sang 3-4 songs. It was a great part of the show and gave us some of our best pictures.

When we left, we were as worn out as she was from all the excitement and emotion. Plus, we had to climb about 40 steps back up to the exit level to get out of the arena since we had floor seats. That part wore us out the most.

To the left is the tee shirt that Sylvia got at the concert as a souvenir. To the right is a place we ate at twice during our stay in Dallas. It was right around the corner from our first hotel and served a variety of breakfast biscuit sandwiches that were delicious. As we were heading out of Dallas on that last day, we stopped there to pick up a couple to eat on the road.

We did get to stop at the Little Czech Bakery at the Czech stop in West, Texas for kolaches and even took some to Michelle in Temple. We stopped and chatted with her for about an hour. The toll road was a little busy but made the trip through Austin an easy ride home. Another great road trip.

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