Bikinis and martinis

Dip into the 10 most fabulous hotel pools in Dallas this summer

Dallas has some of the coolest hotel pools in the country — from rooftop infinity pools that surround you with city views to sparkling pools set in the swankiest courtyards you've ever visited. Usually you must plan a staycation to take a dip. But this summer, some of Dallas’ most marvelous pools are opening their sun-soaked, bartended decks to the public.

Here are 10 top Dallas hotel pools for a summer swim. Some are brand new, and some are favorites for good reasons. Most are available for a daily fee or by RSVP to special events, but some do require you to be a hotel guest to swim. They're included because they're worth it.

The Adolphus
The recently renovated Adolphus hotel also is opening its pool to the public all summer — for free. It’s open to non-hotel guests every Friday night for Sundown on Seven from 8pm-midnight. Take a night swim and have cocktails by the fire pit, all while listening to DJ Souljah. The pool itself is 4 feet deep and has a refreshing limestone waterfall.

Hotel Crescent Court
Although the pool is exclusively for guests, The Crescent is worth the overnight stay. After its recent multimillion-dollar renovation, the iconic Uptown hotel has modernized and spruced up its lobby, guest rooms, and spa and fitness center. It is possible to become a member of the Crescent Club and gain access to pool on the second-floor urban oasis.

The Joule
For breathtaking skyline views, reserve a spot at The Joule any Sunday through September 2. For $50, gain one day of access to the plexiglass-fronted rooftop pool, even if you're not a guest of the hotel. A day pass includes valet, one snack, and one drink from the pool menu. Test your courage by swimming to the edge that hangs off the building by 8 feet or kick back and relax on a chaise lounge.

Le Meredien Stoneleigh
The historic Stoneleigh's pool is open to the public on weekends — for free. You can tread water at one of the pool parties, wade around on floats, and listen to a live DJ. While you're there, you can try the hotel's new French restaurant, Perle on Maple Restaurant & Bar, which serves "bistro classics with a Texas twist."

NYLO Dallas South Side
Located on the rooftop patio of the NYLO, this beautiful pool allows swimming for guests only. But the bar is for everyone, and the view of the Dallas skyline from The Cedars is worth the trip. Stop in for a drink before a show at South Side Ballroom or dinner at the Terrace Bistro.

Omni Frisco
Omni Frisco opened last summer at The Star, the popular new entertainment district in Frisco. The Edge pool deck and bar is for guests only, but worth paying for a night after checking out the Dallas Cowboys headquarters or going to a FC Dallas soccer game at Toyota Stadium. The pool overlooks events on the Ford Center next door and includes a bar and grill, cabanas, and fire pits.

Renaissance Dallas at Plano Legacy West
Although you have to be a guest for this one, the new Legacy West hotel in Plano is worth the cost to stay. Take a little staycation 30 minutes outside of Dallas and enjoy the scenic rooftop pool, but stay to dine at OMA (an Asian fusion restaurant) and explore all of the “West of Zen”-themed art displayed throughout the building.

The Statler
Renovated in February and open for business, The Statler is hosting Secret Sundays for non-hotel guests at the hotel pool bar, Waterproof. You must RSVP on Facebook or Prekindle to attend the party, but make sure to get there early as entry is first come-first served. The rooftop pool is immersed between skyscrapers and downtown views; a free ticket includes access to the pool and an opportunity to jam out with DJ Blake Ward.

The W Wet Deck
On Sundays, or "Sundaze," The W hotel opens the Wet Deck on the 16th floor to everyone. Just go to Eventbrite.com and buy a Sundaze pass for $20. Spend Sunday Funday at the downtown hotel, floating across the panoramic rooftop infinity pool and taking in some city views with a drink in hand.

Hotel ZaZa
At Hotel ZaZa, you must be a guest to swim, but the bar is open to all. Grab a drink at the Dragonfly next door, while still enjoying the ambiance of the lap-style pool in the swanky backyard setting. Or, if you absolutely cannot resist the charming little pool, pay for a room and join the cool kids in the water.

The Adolphus is opening its pool to the public all summer.

Photo courtesy of Adolphus Hotel

The Adolphus is opening its pool to the public all summer.

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Movie Review

The life of an actor is far from rosy in dramedy Misty Green

Photo courtesy of A24

Rosalind Eleazar in Misty Green.

For every well-known/successful actor in Hollywood, there are thousands of others whose lives are more tenuous as they struggle to find work. The new film Misty Green is about one such actor who, after a period in the limelight, now finds herself on the outskirts of the industry, just hoping to find her way back in.

Misty (Rosalind Eleazar) won an Emmy for a 2000s-era TV show that still gets her recognition, but not much work. Still living in the apartment of a recently-deceased man with whom she was having an affair, Misty spends her days sleeping in and her nights getting blitzed on alcohol and drugs. She seems to be heading nowhere fast until a few things coincide to break up her routine.

The man’s wife (Amy Landecker) shows up and tells her she has seven days to vacate the apartment; Misty’s brother, Jay (Daniel Kaluuya) — who is bipolar — arrives after being kicked out of his facility for non-payment; and Jordan (Chris Rock), a former colleague with whom she had a falling-out, reappears in her life, offering a possible chance to rehabilitate her image.

Written and directed by Rock (his first feature since 2014’s Top Five), the film is a funny and excruciating look at how the entertainment industry might actually work. Misty is her own worst enemy thanks to late nights fraternizing with unsavory characters like Zach (Adam Driver), who deals in drugs and women in equal measure, but her frustration proves warranted when her agent, Randy (Topher Grace), and casting directors like Rhonda (Tracie Thoms) hardly give her the time of day.

Misty tries her best to stay positive, but when jobs like singing in a bar are the best she can do, the mountain seems insurmountable. Rock does an effective job of demonstrating the elements that are within and without Misty’s control that affect her ability to regain her position in the industry. The chip on her shoulder is almost as big as the bias some have against her, and other negative circumstances don’t help matters much.

There are many small touches that Rock and his crew put in the film to give it an air of authenticity. Filming in Los Angeles (a rarity these days), Rock uses both subtle and overt shots of homeless people in the city, suggesting that the line between the haves and have-nots is a fine one, especially with Misty on the verge of not having a place to live. He also has cameos from a few of his funny friends, including a bit of meta-casting of Anthony Anderson (who has faded a bit after starring in Black-ish) in a bit part as a cop.

Eleazar, a British actor best known for appearing on the Apple TV show Slow Horses, is a magnetic presence as Misty. The character herself is somewhat cringey in her decision-making, and Eleazar sells every bit of her righteous indignation and self-defeating actions. The supporting cast is great across the board, including Rock, Driver, Kaluuya, Thoms, Grace, Anna Kendrick, and Rich Sommer.

Misty Green makes you rage against the Hollywood machine, laugh at the various ways different people deal with its maddening quirks, and hide behind your fingers as Misty chooses options that don’t help, either voluntarily or because her back is against the wall. It’s a powerhouse of acting that gives a unique angle on the inner workings of Hollywood, one that ironically might be competing for awards at year’s end.

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Misty Green is now playing in theaters.

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