A Dog's Life

Enjoy the dog days of Dallas at these pet-friendly downtown spots

Mutts Canine Cantina is fun for both dogs and their owners.

Mutts Canine Cantina/Facebook

Dallasites love their dogs, and luckily the city is a pet-friendly wonderland. Whether you want to relax with your pooch on a patio or hit the trails for a four-legged workout, there are plenty of activities in downtown Dallas for dog owners and their furry friends.

Park it
Socialization is important, both for canines and humans. Main Street Garden Urban Dog Run allows your dog to scamper off-leash, as does My Best Friend's Park at Klyde Warren Park — which also has fountains to jump through. Deep Ellum Bark Park has plenty of room to roam and cool urban artwork to enjoy, while Meadows Foundation Dog Park is a charming, grassy spot enclosed by a white picket fence.

In a league of its own is Mutts Canine Cantina. At this Disneyland for dogs, you can purchase a day pass for the parks or grab a cold beverage and hang out in the 200-seat, beer garden-style patio. Hot dogs and "doggie dogs" are also available at the concession stand.

Patio life
Dot's Hop House welcomes dogs of all shapes and sizes on its large outdoor patio, which is crowned by a glittery chandelier. Sundays from 12-6 pm at Lee Harvey's are Dog Day Afternoons, where Fido can run free — well, as free as he can in the enclosed patio area.

You'll also find pet-friendly patios at La Ventana, throughout the Dallas Farmers Market, at City Tavern, the sports bar Frankie's, and at what some consider the best patio in town: Harwood Tavern.

Getting around downtown
Sometimes everyone's feet need a rest. An easy way to travel while still being green is the eco-friendly Efrogs shuttle. Rides are free for both you and your pup, but tips are appreciated. Another free mode of pet-friendly transport is the McKinney Avenue Trolley, a vintage streetcar that links downtown to Uptown.

Treat time
Let your pal know that their unconditional love and eternally wagging tails are recognized with a puppy cookie from The Upper Paw or a Dead Sea mud bath from Downtown Pawz. For extra pampering, book them a bath and haircut at the Pawliday Inn Pet Resort & Spa. If you're on a staycation or valeting your car at The Joule, make sure to grab a doggie snack from the treat jar in the dog-friendly lobby.

Dog parents need their own treats as well. Bring Fido along to The Shed at the Dallas Farmers Market when you're picking up fresh produce for the week ahead. Four Corners Brewing Co. lets you have a cold one with your dog (water for them), as does Deep Ellum Brewing Company, which often has live music. And if you're looking for a new furry friend, Community Beer Co. hosts regular adoption events with Dallas Pets Alive!, a local animal nonprofit.

Hit the trails
For such a cosmopolitan city, Dallas has many serene trails that are ideal for an evening stroll with your loyal pal. Trinity Skyline Trail explores the Trinity River, or you can walk the 2.5-mile urban Trinity Strand Trail in the Design District. Of course, there's always the famous Katy Trail in Uptown, plus you can watch the sun set on the Sante Fe Trestle Trail and find solace in the fact that, no matter what, your dog will love you forever.

Politics News

Dallas narrows down field for new city manager to 4 candidates

Photo by R K on Unsplash

This is an Dallasite's sign to launch that small business they've been dreaming of.

After six months without a city manager, the city of Dallas has narrowed down the field of replacements to four semifinalists including one serving as current interim city manager, plus candidates from Fort Worth, Michigan, and Georgia.

Dallas has been without a city manager since May, when previous city manager T.C. Broadnax left to take a job with the city of Austin. Since that time, Broadnax's former chief of staff Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has served as interim city manager.

The city retained Baker Tilly, a consulting firm, to recruit and compile candidates. (Baker Tilly famously erred in the brochure it created for the position by featuring a photo of the Houston skyline instead of Dallas; they've since replaced it with Dallas.)

A spokesperson for Baker Tilly did not respond to inquiries but according to D Magazine, an email listing the candidates has been sent to the Dallas City Council.

The semifinalists include:

Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas’ current interim city manager
William Johnson, an assistant city manager in Fort Worth
Mark Washington, the city manager of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Zachary Williams, a county chief operating officer in Georgia

All have more than 25 years' of public administration experience and have worked in similar capacities in their respective cities.

Before working in Fort Worth, Johnson was Baltimore’s transportation director and Atlanta’s deputy chief operating officer and public works commissioner.

Washington worked in Fort Worth and Austin before becoming Grand Rapids’ city manager.

Williams has mostly worked in Georgia at the county level, including serving as county manager in Fulton County and chief operating officer in DeKalb County.

Tolbert began working for the city in 1998, first as the city manager’s assistant and later in the aviation department. Broadnax hired her as his chief of staff in 2017.

Unlike the Mayor and the Dallas City Council, the city manager position in Dallas is not elected but is instead appointed by the city council, and is tasked with executing policies, overseeing the annual budget, and managing staff at city hall.

The council’s Ad Hoc Committee will choose finalists, introduce them to the public, and make an offer in early 2025.

politics