I love the art deco murals and sculptures in Fair Park. My favorite may be the Spirit of the Centennial sculpture in front of the Woman’s Building.
I have seen it in the daylight many times and took some photos of it. But I had never had a good look at it at night. It glows with a preternatural beauty – worth a gander, for sure.
Spirit of the Centennial, Woman’s Building, Fair Park, Dallas, Texas
Spirit of the Centennial, Woman’s Building, Fair Park, Dallas, Texas
Artwork in Bark Park Central
Deep Ellum
Dallas, Texas
Bark Park Central
Deep Ellum
Dallas, Texas
Bark Park Central
Deep Ellum
Dallas, Texas
A couple of weeks back I went out and took some sunflower shots – wrote about it on this blog entry. Here are a few more photographs.
(click for larger version on Flickr)
(click for larger version on Flickr)
(click for larger version on Flickr)
The City of Dallas is slowly working on developing the long-neglected river bottoms along the Trinity River. In conjunction with the opening of the Continental Avenue Bridge Park a limited system of hike and bike trails were opened up in the river bottom called the Dallas Skyline Trail.
Map of the Dallas Skyline Trail
(click to enlarge)
These trails will eventually be extended to the south to connect up with the Santa Fe Trestle trail once the work on the I45/I30 “Horseshoe” project is finished (if we all live long enough).
For the time being, the 4plus miles in place will have to do. I took the DART train down there to explore. The biggest problem right now is lack of access on the downtown (north) side of the river. I had to ride across the Continental bridge where there is a steep ramp down the levee into the floodplain and the trails. The limited (2) trail heads open now, with one more to open in a few months, is fine if the trail system is used for recreational riding, but if it is to help with car-free transportation, they need more access points.
I rode the whole system and wanted to check out another possible point – on Commerce street, behind the city jail complex. The trail climbs the levee and it may be another spot to get to the system – though it’s hard to find and there isn’t any parking very close.
At any rate, the view from there is nice – in all directions.
Part of the Dallas Skyline Trail. The Commerce Street Bridge, Old Railroad Trestle, Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge.
(click to enlarge)
The paved trail climbs the levee. That’s the Commerce Street bridge in the foreground, with graffiti on the pillars, a bit of the old railroad trestle, and the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in the distance.
Top of the levee, with the Dallas Jail in the background.
The top of the levee is paved the short distance to Commerce Street behind the sad monoliths of the Dallas Jail and its parking garage.
Dallas Skyline Trail on top of the levee.
In the other direction the trail is paved for a short way along the tip of the levee. Beyond is a gravel road which is rideable with a mountain bike.
Trinity River Floodplain
The open floodplain of the river bottoms, across to Oak Cliff. The construction of the Horseshoe can be seen in the distance.
Nice levee top view of Downtown from the Dallas Skyline Trail.
(click to enlarge)
To the North, there is a great view of the downtown skyline from the top of the levee.
Trinity River
Dallas, Texas
(click to enlarge)
(click to enlarge)
O, wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in’t!
—-Shakespeare, The Tempest
Nola Cherry Bombs Dance Troupe
performing with
Daria & The Hip Drops
Bayou Boogaloo Festival
New Orleans, Louisiana
NOLA Cherry Bombs
NOLA Cherry Bombs
Daria & The Hip Drops
Bayou Boogaloo Festival
New Orleans, Louisiana
Lead Singer and Steel Drum
Daria & The Hip Drops
Brass Section
Daria & The Hip Drops
Guitar
Daria & The Hip Drops
Trombone and Backup Singer
Daria & The Hip Drops
(click to enlarge)
Almost three years ago, while the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge was still under construction, I took a photo of a train going by on an old railroad trestle next to the new bridge. Now, the city has opened up the beginning of a network of trails in the river bottoms, and I was able to pass underneath that old trestle.
I never realized how old it really was.
(click to enlarge)
(click to enlarge)
Vegetation growing on the wall near the entrance at the Dallas Museum of Art Sculpture Garden.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, Texas
“We are made aware that magnitude of material things is relative, and all objects shrink and expand to serve the passion of the poet. Thus, in his sonnets, the lays of birds, the scents and dyes of flowers, he finds to be the shadow of his beloved; time, which keeps her from him, is his chest; the suspicion she has awakened, is her ornament”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nature
Bill Chance 