Fresh off its first-ever time hosting the Super Bowl, the Dallas-Fort Worth region will play host to the Mortgage Bankers Association and its National Mortgage Servicing Conference & Expo.
I’m a Texan through-and-through. Both my first and last names are cities in Texas—most people have heard of Austin, but few know of Kilgore, the city of about 12,000 people located 120 miles east of Dallas. I was born and raised in Houston and later moved to Dallas, where I lived for seven years attending college and starting my career as a journalist. So it seemed only appropriate that I provide readers with a practical user’s guide for this year’s show.
The venue for this year’s servicing conference is the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in the North Texas suburb of Grapevine, located near the northern border of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and about 25 miles away from Dallas to the southeast and an equal distance from Fort Worth to the southwest.
North Texas has got a lot going for it as a conference city. It’s centrally located and the massive Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport makes it easy to catch a flight. Average weather in late February ranges from lows in the 40s and highs in the 60s, making it a decent spot weather-wise. But as fans and NFL organizers recently found out, the weather can be fickle in North Texas, so it’s not a bad idea to bring a few clothing options for the trip.
On the downside, it’s a large region that’s very spread out and lacks the public transportation infrastructure of other large cities. Cabs are an option, but they’re not overly abundant, so it might be wise to look into renting a car, especially for attendees who want to get away from the conference venue during the evenings.
The Gaylord Texan boasts four-and-a-half acres of indoor gardens and winding waterways, along with shopping, dining and a spa center. Sports fans should check out the Texan Station sports bar and its 52-foot wide TV screen. The Glass Cactus is a nightclub and concert venue located on the resort grounds in a building nearby the main hotel lobby. Country music singer and Texas native Cory Morrow will perform at the venue Thursday night.
Grapevine wouldn’t be living up to its name without a collection of wineries. The city is home to eight, each with its own unique ambiance and specialty. The Grapevine Mills Mall is about 10 minutes away by car from the Gaylord Texan. Its more than 180 stores vary widely, making it a hybrid between a traditional shopping mall and a discount outlet center.
Even more shopping awaits further east at the Galleria Dallas. The 1.7-million-square-foot upscale mall has more than 200 stores, an ice rink and restaurants, not to mention an adjacent hotel. Mark your calendar or take it as a warning—From 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Kim Kardashian will appear at the Galleria’s Nordstrom department store to promote a cosmetics company that she is the spokesperson for. The first 150 customers who spend $75 on makeup can meet the celebrity during the event.
Those looking for a quintessential Texas experience should venture to the Fort Worth Stockyards historic district. The former livestock market is now home to shops, dining and Billy Bob’s Texas, a 127,000-square-foot bar and concert venue that bills itself as “The World's Largest Honky Tonk.” But leave your vegetarian colleagues at the hotel—restaurants in the Stockyards district are heavy on the beef.
If Texan Station doesn’t keep the sports fans satisfied, check out the real thing with a tour of the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Stops in the 90-minute tours include a private suite, the radio and print media press boxes, the football field and the locker rooms of both the Dallas Cowboys and their famed cheerleaders.
The American Airlines Center in Dallas is the home to the pro hockey’s Dallas Stars, who take on the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday and the Dallas Mavericks basketball team, who host the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.
Finally, a trip to North Texas isn’t complete without visiting some of the area’s unique restaurants. Here’s a selection of choices popular with locals and visitors alike:
Babe’s Chicken Dinner House—Arguably the best fried chicken restaurant in North Texas is also one of the easiest meals. After diners each pick their main dish, the wait staff will keep the table full with unlimited family-style sides. The original location in nearby Roanoke is a short drive from the Gaylord Texan to the west and serves fried chicken and chicken fried steak. Another location sits equidistant to the east in Carrollton and has a broader selection of main dishes, including catfish, pot roast and smoked chicken. Neither location serves alcohol, but diners are free to bring their own beverages.
Bob’s Steak and Chop House—Bob’s is a North Texas mainstay, offering steaks, seafood and a traditional steakhouse experience at its locations in Grapevine, Dallas and Fort Worth. The steaks are great, but don’t be surprised when your 16-ounce filet mignon comes with an over-sized glazed carrot, that’s just how they do it at Bob’s.
Fireside Pies—The pizzas at Fireside Pies range from polished versions of the classics, like the Triple ‘Roni, to the Peta Pie, topped with goat cheese, portabella mushrooms, arugula, roasted red peppers, roasted pinon nuts and tomato vinaigrette. For an appetizer, try the Fireside Fondue, molten four-cheese blend and Fireside’s fire roasted pie sauce with “Really Garlicky Herbed Crisps” for dipping. Locations in Grapevine, Dallas and Fort Worth.
Joe T. Garcia’s—A Fort Worth classic since 1935, Joe T.’s as it’s known to locals has only two options on its dinner menu, cheese enchiladas and fajitas. Get there early to avoid the rush, or grab a pitcher of margaritas and join the other eager diners waiting for a table at Joe T.’s expansive and exquisite outdoor patio. But come prepared, the restaurant has a strict cash-only policy, no credit cards or checks. It may seem like a lot of hassle but trust me, it’s worth it.
La Duni Latin Cafe—The dinner menu is great, with a variety of Latin-inspired entrees and some of the best margaritas and mojitos in Dallas, but save room for desert, La Duni’s specialty. The cuatro leches cake kicks it up a notch from the traditional tres leche desert and Nutella fans will go crazy for the Nutella Milk Chocolate Cake. For large groups, try the Texas-sized Baked Alaska, which serves four to six.
Lonesome Dove Western Bistro—Tim Love of “Iron Chef America” fame offers what he calls “Urban Western,” a unique style of upscale southwestern cuisine, at his flagship restaurant in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Diners can order beef or buffalo steaks hand-cut to specification or try one of Lonesome Dove’s more unique specialties, like kangaroo tenderloin nachos or the rabbit and rattlesnake sausage served over spicy manchego rosti, a fried grated potato dish with sheep’s milk cheese.
