From Texas to Beyond was about to publish our 100th article, and the four of us were looking for an excuse to celebrate a bit. Well, what better way to celebrate than a trip! Since we didn’t have an all-inclusive trip to an international resort in the budget this year, we decided on a day trip to Deep Ellum.

While Deep Ellum is not far from Fort Worth, it was quite an experience! I quickly realized that Deep Ellum may be located in Dallas, but it is not really Dallas. In fact, they (Deep Ellum-ites) don’t always like their less-hip neighbors. This neighborhood exudes an entirely different culture in these few square blocks.

A Brief History

In the 1920’s, Deep Ellum was the place to visit for blues and jazz music. However, by the 1970’s, most of these businesses closed and the neighborhood went into a deep decline. In recent years, the Deep Ellum Foundation and others have turned Deep Ellum from a place to avoid to an up-and-coming destination, using music and art to revitalize the area. From colorful graffiti to live music venues to public art installations, such as the giant metal Traveling Man Sculptures, art has saved this neighborhood.

A Day in Deep Ellum

If you think you know Dallas and haven’t visited Deep Ellum, spend a day here…

Which is exactly what we did.

Rachel planned our day trip, putting together a wonderful sampling of this fun and diverse neighborhood.

First up Pecan Lodge, a mandatory stop when you visit Deep Ellum. This beloved joint serves up delicious Texas pit barbeque. None of us had eaten at Pecan Lodge before, but recommendations from friends made this restaurant the prime choice for lunch. We heard stories of long lines, so we arrived before noon (they open at 11 AM), hoping to miss the bulk of the crowds. Unfortunately, we didn’t arrive early enough, but the delicious food was well worth the long wait!

After a big meal, we washed down the barbeque with some tasty craft beers at Deep Ellum Brewing Company. The brewery tour from 12 to 3 PM fit wonderfully into our after-lunch schedule.

Hoping for one last experience before heading back to Fort Worth, we visited Method Coffee for our afternoon caffeine fix. Method is a comfortable place to get a craft coffee or tea in a comfortable atmosphere.

Overall, this trip took a few hours on a Saturday and a little cash, but we all came away with a great travel experience. A day trip can be a wonderful reminder that you can travel to the other side of the world, or to the other side of the Metroplex. There is always something new to experience!

Detailed Reviews

Wednesday, September 16 – Pecan Lodge

Thursday, September 17 – Deep Ellum Brewing Company

Monday, September 21 – Method Coffee

While our day trip features these 3 venues for a dose of Deep Ellum culture, there are other fun places to explore:

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