Downtown Dallas and Beyond

Downtown Dallas is calling.  We've answered.  A chance to visit with the nephew and do some city walking is always a choice opportunity.  To make it ever more urban, it's a DART day.  Why not?  Who wants to deal with parking?

Due to some work on the rail lines downtown, the last stop we can exit at gives us additional fun with a little longer walk.  You see -- some could be brought down by that, but not us.  It's just that much more up close fun.  Yes, we drive through downtown all the time, but when driving just how much can you really see?  It's hard to look up and keep eyes on the road AND all the great stuff is small.

Our first stop is at the Majestic Theater.  OMG -- I had no idea about the history behind it.  "The Majestic Theater is the sole survivor of a section of Elm Street that was once renowned  as Dallas' 'Theater Row.'  Built in 1921 (and by coincidence, located at 1921 Elm Street), the Majestic is actually the second theater by that name, the first being a vaudeville house built in 1905 at Commerce and St. Paul.  Throughout the 1920s, this grand old theater, designed to seat 2,400 patrons, presented vaudeville shows as well as motion pictures and, from time to time, live theater.  Some of the better-known performers who appeared on its stage were Milton Berle, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Bob Hope, Ray Bolger, Sally Rand, and Duke Ellington.  During its early years the elaborately-decorated Majestic boasted a full orchestra pit and a downstairs play area for children called 'Majesticland.'  In the 1930s the vaudeville acts were dropped and for many years only movies were shown here.  Today the Majestic is a live theater venue only."

This is cool --- old meets new.

Gotta keep moving as we have an appointment to keep with Bob.  Mister's spidey senses are weaving us downtown until we come right to the location we need.

Our coffee destination this morning is Ascension Coffee and we arrive about 5 minutes before our scheduled time.  At 9:01 we get a text from our nephew -- "Still meeting at 9 right?  I'm gonna walk over."  Hmmmm.

I REALLY want to type --- "Nope not meeting at 9 since that is already past."  Instead, Mister simply takes a picture of me and sends it to him.

We already ordered our beautiful drinks arrive shortly.  Yum.

Our spot is right near the window so we can watch and wait.  Oh look --- here he comes.

We have an absolutely wonderful visit -- truly and then he offers to take us on a little tour of a couple of the apartment buildings downtown.  Apparently, one company owns four of them and if you have access to one, you get access to all.  Kinda strange, but I'm up for some fun.  Off we go.

Check out this little view between buildings -- and the reflections involved.

Our first tour is at the Wilson Building.

"J.B. Wilson was the wealthy Dallas cattleman, investor, and banker who left a novel monument to his driving spirit and business acumen in the form of an architectural landmark in downtown Dallas, the eight-story Wilson building erected in 1093-4, which covers the east half of the block bounded by main, Ervay, Elm, and Stone streets.  The oldest surviving office 'skyscraper' in the city, it commands renewed attention today on a number of scores, not the least of which is its architectural design."  As we go through the doors to take the elevator to the 6th floor, I spot this wonderful remnant of postal days.  The tube goes all the way to the top and different offices on the many floors would simply drop their mail down the chute, for the postman to retrieve all at once.  Love it.

The building was "presented to the public in 1904 as 'a modern adaptation of French Renaissance,' the Landmark Building has recently been compared with the ornate Opera House built in Paris a quarter of a century before, one of the major artistic legacies of Napoleon the Third, his Empress Eugenie, and their gas-lit Second Empire.  There was a Napoleonic streak in Wilson himself, which cropped out in his decision to build what he termed in 1904, 'this magnificent structure, the largest, most convenient and up-to-date office building in the South.'"

On the sixth floor, we take the stairs to the rooftop.  Bob had us stop here instead of riding the elevator all the way to the top so that we could see the staircase.  It is so beautiful.  We climb to the eighth floor and this is looking down from the side.

And straight on.  I love it so much.  It is all apartments now, so we can't really roam the building, but a LOT of the doors still contain the office names/occupations of their previous inhabitants.  We are both enthralled with it all.

"The planning and construction of the building bearing his name represented the culmination of a long ambition.  Its architects were Saguinet and Staat of Dallas and Fort Worth, and its curator was Alex Watson of Dallas.  Wilson personally negotiated with the many subcontractors to insure the elegance of materials and the finish of the work.  No cost figures were released then and Wilson's heirs today are unable to compile a reliable estimate, but it is admitted that Wilson obviously spared no expense in making his dream a reality.  In the years since its completion, the building has been repeatedly modernized inside, including the installation of air conditioning in 1949, but its original exterior of glazed brick, the enameled terracotta columns, the handsomely carved and decorated marble arch, and other features remain untouched.  The interior was finished throughout with marble floors, marble wainscoting, and mahogany doors and window casings.  The Wilson Building, it has been pointed out, is detailed in a very personalized manner appropriate to J.B. Wilson.  As may be noted today, the metal of all light switches, door hardware - including elevator doors - and many external features bear the initials of 'J.B.W.'"

Bob brought us here first because, even though it is only 8 stories high, he likes the rooftop patio better than his own building.  And the view.  It is sooooo fun up  here.

The old Pegasus and a water tower contrasting with new glass.

A view of Fair Park between the buildings and if I could make the picture crazy blown up -- you can even see the Ferris Wheel.

Next up is Bob's building - The Mercantile National Bank Building or The Merc.  "Construction of the Mercantile Tower brought a monumental landmark to Dallas with an enduring legacy.  Completed in 1942 (and the only major skyscraper constructed in the U.S. during World War II), the 523-foot Mercantile Tower was the home of Mercantile National Bank, founded and owned by Dallas' powerhouse banker and civic leader, Robert L. Thornton.  At the time of construction, the wooden Art-Deco murals decorating the lobby were the largest in the world.  In 1958, a new tower was erected and still remains crowned by an ornamental four-sided clock tower and decorative weather spire that told the time and current weather conditions."

I managed to chop the clock in my picture.  Ugh.

Art-Deco for sure.  I feel as though I have definitely stepped back into a time period I actually remember and didn't just learn about in history.  This is just off the lobby.

Check out the elevator doors.

Another gathering room near the roof.

And out we go for our views --

Looking back at the  Wilson and the roof we were just on.

Now for the tour of his apartment and some time visiting.  Just one sneaky picture taken.

And it's time for us to continue on with the day.  During our walk back to the train, the Pyramid Food Court pops into view.  We should check it out sometime.  Right?  I'll put that on the list.  (It's the gateway to tunnel exploration too.)

Back on the train, Mister surprises me and asks if I want to ride it out to Rowlett for lunch and a beer at Bankhead Brewing.  Of course.  Life is good.  Big story in this picture - for another time.