| Live
and breathe Big 12 hoops, don't you? But, friend, that final buzzer
is going to sound soon, your team
will disappear into the locker room, and you'll need
somewhere to recover from – and perhaps refuel for – the
strain of tournament play. Well, we're here for you. We know you want to feel at home, so we've recruited one of your own to provide some insight and advice on where to relax and get that old college-town excitement after the game. Kept it short and sweet, too.
We asked each of our representatives from a Big 12 school to recommend a bar and a restaurant that you might find to your liking. We also asked them to compare their new home (Dallas) with the college town they left behind. Granted, no place can compete with your favorite hangout (and those many exaggerated memories) from your college days, but give the following advisories a peek. You just might find a place you like, and even a few kindred spirits. And when the tournament returns to Dallas in a few years, you'll be ahead of the game. John Bayne BAYLOR
HUNGRY AS A BEAR? Looking for a restaurant like Health Camp? Check out Jake's Old-Fashioned Hamburgers. Many years ago, the Health Camp showed up on the Washington Post's top 50 hamburgers list. The burgers and tater tots at Jake's are great too, but the chocolate malts put this place over the top. Jake's has several locations in the area, but the one on Skillman is dangerously close to my house. OUR MEN IN TOWN: Michael Johnson. The former Skyline and Baylor sprinter and five-time Olympic gold medalist lives in San Rafael, Calif., but he still swings through his hometown regularly. Former Duncanville and Denver Broncos cornerback Ray Crockett, former Dallas Cowboys safety Thomas Everett and WFAA-TV (Channel 8) weatherman Troy Dungan receive honorable mention. WHAT YOU HAVE IN WACO THAT WE NEED IN DALLAS: Southgate Barbershop. Rumor has it that Gene and his staff have gone up to – gasp – $8 for a haircut. "Make it a No. 2 [razor] high and tight." WHAT WE HAVE IN DALLAS THAT YOU NEED IN WACO: Not a thing. IF THE BEARS EXIT EARLY: Drive over to Fort Worth and eat at Joe T. Garcia's Mexican Restaurant. It's the best Tex-Mex restaurant in the nation, and you can sit outside by the pool if it's warm. Actually, if you're a Baylor fan, just go directly to Fort Worth. We won't make the tournament because of probation. Matt Mosley COLORADO
A PLACE TO GRAZE: Looking for a restaurant like the Sink? Check out the Angry Dog in Deep Ellum. Sadly, there's no pizza here and Robert Redford never served as a busboy, but the Dog has outstanding burgers, a plethora of beers and an atmosphere void of pretention. OUR MAN IN TOWN: Andre Gurode. That 2001 Big 12 championship victory left such a good impression with the 6-4, 326-pound former Buffalo lineman that he decided to stay in Dallas. Actually, he was drafted by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft. He plays right guard for the home team. WHAT YOU HAVE IN BOULDER THAT WE NEED IN DALLAS: Mountain sunsets, cool summers and, perhaps, a whitewater kayak park like the one on Boulder Creek. WHAT WE HAVE IN DALLAS THAT YOU NEED IN BOULDER: Barbecue. It could be that Boulder has too many vegetarians to support a great smokehouse like the many to be found in Dallas, so enjoy the Texas ribs and brisket while you're here. IF THE BUFFS EXIT EARLY: Rent a bike at the Richardson Bike Mart. Be sure to tell them you attended the same university as former Buff and Tour de France rider Tyler Hamilton, then go pedaling around White Rock Lake and the White Rock Creek Path. The 18-mile trip is sure to remind you of Boulder's network of bicycle paths. Kristen Everett Waidler IOWA STATE
STEER THIS WAY: If you're looking for a restaurant like Hickory Park in Ames, spin in to Peggy Sue BBQ near the Southern Methodist University campus. Casual and comfortable, it has the coziness of a neighborhood family restaurant. Make sure to try the fresh veggies with your preferred meat, and leave room for some of Peggy's famous fried pie. OUR MAN IN TOWN: WFAA-TV (Channel 8) newsman Brad Watson. He has been reporting for the ABC affiliate in town since 1979. WHAT YOU HAVE IN AMES THAT WE NEED IN DALLAS: Four seasons. We're stuck with two in Dallas, and I remember Ames being beautiful year-round. In this part of the country, you learn to live without fall, and our summer is not a season, it's a test. WHAT WE HAVE IN DALLAS THAT YOU NEED IN AMES: More shopping. The one mall in Ames would be akin to a strip mall here. Two of our best are NorthPark Center in Dallas and Stonebriar Centre in Frisco. IF THE CYCLONES EXIT EARLY: Head for the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon & Spa, 6121 W. Park Blvd., Suite C-100 (in the Shops at Willow Bend), Plano. 214-291-2888. It will make you forget any and all of your problems and how dreary the basketball season has been. Carol Banks KANSAS
It doesn't have the ambience of Free State, and this stretch of Greenville lacks the charm of Mass Street. But TwoRows does brew its own beer, and there is a large mural of a wheat field – that has to count for something. ALMOST PARADISE: Looking for a restaurant like the late, lamented Paradise? (It's no longer serving food, we were dismayed to learn on our last Lawrence trip.) Check out Hattie's. Hattie's serves inventive food and yummy desserts, although it lacks breakfast a la Paradise. It's in the Bishop Arts District, which feels a bit like Mass Street with its non-chain restaurants and quirky shops. OUR MAN IN TOWN: Paul Mokeski, who handles player development and advance scouting for the Dallas Mavericks. This 7-footer wore No. 44 and was a co-captain of the 1979 team. WHAT YOU HAVE IN LAWRENCE THAT WE NEED IN DALLAS: How about Allen Fieldhouse? No? Then, streets named after states and arranged in order of their admittance to the union, of course. Learn your history or be lost, Dallasites. WHAT WE HAVE IN DALLAS THAT YOU NEED IN LAWRENCE: Brazilian barbecue. Waiters dressed like gauchos bring around an all-you-can-eat supply of grilled meat on skewers. It's a Midwestern carnivore's delight. Check it out while you're here at Fogo de Chao in Addison. Or try Texas de Brazilon Cedar Springs Road. IF THE JAYHAWKS EXIT EARLY: You need to go to Trinity Hall. Drown your sorrows in a pint of Guinness, ordered from a waiter with an Irish accent. Then head next door to the Angelika Film Center. It's newer and shinier than Lawrence's Liberty Hall, but the arty offerings are the same. Shawna Seed KANSAS STATE
THE CATS LAIR: Looking for an all-night spot like Bob's Diner? Try Café Brazil in Deep Ellum. It's open 24/7 from Thursday through Saturday, and the menu boasts sandwiches, build-your-own crêpes and omelets around the clock. Natural, homemade desserts from the bakery next door accompany the cafe's "bottomless" coffee, a welcome offering after the many nearby bars close. OUR MEN IN TOWN: Yes, there are our well-known Wildcats: Rolando Blackman, the longtime Dallas Maverick, and Terence Newman, the up-and-coming Dallas Cowboy. But there's also Thane Baker, who lives in Granbury near Fort Worth. After running at K-State in 1949, Mr. Baker hit his stride in the world arena. He won a silver medal in the 200 meters at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, and three medals, including a gold, in the 1956 Summer Games in Melbourne, Australia. WHAT YOU HAVE IN MANHATTAN THAT WE NEED IN DALLAS: Dallas has its share of ice-cream shops and tony mall spaces with chilled, hard surfaces on which heavenly high-carb treats are built. But these many cold spots can't hold a scoop to K-State's Call Hall Dairy Bar, which sells old-fashioned ice cream, malts and shakes produced at the university. WHAT WE HAVE IN DALLAS THAT YOU NEED IN MANHATTAN: The soothing strip of lush greenery that surrounds Turtle Creek and Lee Park. This slice of God's green earth is at the heart of a multimillion-dollar plan to transform the Turtle Creek corridor into a park for the entire city. Even in its current state, the trees, water features and lush plantings along Turtle Creek would fit in nicely as the gateway to Tuttle Creek Reservoir, five miles north of the Little Apple. IF THE WILDCATS EXIT EARLY: You need to visit the Nasher Sculpture Center. Occupying a full city block, the Nasher is adjacent to the Dallas Museum of Art. Architect Renzo Piano designed the building, which is in the Dallas Art District. It features the art collection of Dallas philanthropist and collector Ray Nasher and his late wife, Patsy. Among the collection's 300-plus pieces are works by Calder, de Kooning, Matisse, Miró, Picasso, Rodin and Serra. Jane E. Allen MISSOURI
GUTEN TAG: Looking for a restaurant like the Heidelberg? Well, you're going to be hard-pressed to find one. That said, you might try The Gingerman. Craft beers – both domestics and imports – are the emphasis here, and the plank floor and double-decker patio recall both college and the beach. The patio is heaven when the weather is right. WHAT YOU HAVE IN COLUMBIA THAT WE NEED IN DALLAS: Shakey's Frozen Custard. There aren't many things better than eating an Oreo Concrete while sitting on a curb in the snow. That's some good stuff. WHAT WE HAVE IN DALLAS THAT YOU NEED IN COLUMBIA: A good variety of authentic Mexican restaurants. There is life beyond Chevy's Tex-Mex, and you can find it while you're here. Check out Desperados on Greenville Avenue. It has great tacos. IF OUR TEAM EXITS EARLY: You need to drink heavily because that probably means we're not going to the NCAA tournament. The best place to do so is the section of downtown Dallas known as Deep Ellum. I hear Coyote Ugly is where Kansas drowned its sorrows last year (heh, heh). Graham Watson NEBRASKA
HOW MANY SLICES YOU WANT? Looking for a restaurant like Piezano's? Check out Picasso's Pizza & Grill in Dallas' Lake Highlands neighborhood. Like Piezano's, it's a local operation with sensational, inexpensive pizza and a collegial, nonchalant atmosphere. If Picasso's is too far off the beaten path, opt for the nearly-as-good Nero's on Greenville. OUR MEN IN TOWN: Kris Brown. The Houston Texans placekicker grew up in the Irving area and attended Southlake Carroll High School before becoming a record-setting Husker. Dallas Cowboys linebacker Scott Shanle also wore the red and white before heading to the pros. WHAT YOU HAVE IN LINCOLN THAT WE NEED IN DALLAS: Clean air and no traffic. Dallas-Fort Worth is among the smoggiest metropolitan areas in the nation during the summer months, and I don't ever recall a roadway jam in Lincoln. We could use some of that legendary Husker spirit at our local universities, too. WHAT WE HAVE IN DALLAS THAT YOU NEED IN LINCOLN: Mild winters. Walking to class in a blizzard with a 40-below-zero wind chill wasn't fun; year-round golf is. Lincoln could use an upscale shopping mall and some home-grown Tex-Mex, too. IF THE HUSKERS EXIT EARLY: You need to visit Billy Bob's Texas and the Stockyards Historic District in Fort Worth. The World's Largest Honky Tonk lives up to its billing, and the nearby stockyards were larger than those in Omaha when cattle was king. In many ways, Fort Worth feels like a larger Lincoln. Mike Daniel OKLAHOMA
NO BARRY, BUT GOOD PIZZA: Looking for a restaurant like Othello's? Chances are you won't run into former OU football coach Barry Switzer (who's regularly spotted at Othello's), but you can get good Italian food at Terilli's on Greenville. The pizza comes with a very thin and crispy crust, and there are live jazz performances several evenings per week to wash it down. OUR MEN IN TOWN: You remember Roy, right? Sure, you do. And Roy Williams is just as big in Dallas as he was in Norman, having made the Pro Bowl this year. But, of course, you're here for basketball, and former Sooner Eduardo Najera is in his fourth season with the Dallas Mavericks. WHAT YOU HAVE IN NORMAN THAT WE NEED IN DALLAS: A few more Sooners and a few less Longhorns. WHAT WE HAVE IN DALLAS THAT YOU NEED IN NORMAN: There's this upscale grocery called Central Market, and it can – I'm sad to admit – become an obsession. If you enjoy grocery stores, there is heaven. IF THE SOONERS EXIT EARLY: Remember that grocery store I'm obsessed with. The nearest one to the arena is at Lovers Lane and Greenville Avenue near SMU. Make sure to buy some of the breads and some of the hard-to-find produce. Ann Pinson OKLAHOMA STATE
ANOTHER HIDEAWAY: Looking for a restaurant like the Hideaway? Check out Campisi's Egyptian Restaurant. Campisi's is a Dallas landmark, with its own unique charm and terrific pizza and other Italian fare. OUR MAN IN TOWN: Financier and legendary corporate raider Boone Pickens, who dropped the T. from his name several years ago. WHAT YOU HAVE IN STILLWATER THAT WE NEED IN DALLAS: College-town drink prices. And if they can have a Hideaway in Norman, of all places, why can't we have one in Dallas? WHAT WE HAVE IN DALLAS THAT YOU NEED IN STILLWATER: A place to shop. Granted, Dallas is a shopping mecca, but Stillwater is way behind the times when it comes to retail. IF THE COWBOYS EXIT EARLY: Shop your sorrows away. For unique items and shops, check out West Village or Mockingbird Station. There are also such old faves as NorthPark Center and the Galleria. Dorothy Pugh TEXAS
IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR: Looking for a restaurant like the Kerbey Lane Cafe? Check out Café Brazil's many locations. If you have a hankerin' for good late-night food. Café Brazil delivers the goods 24 hours a day with Texas-size breakfasts. And, like the Kerbey, the crowd can be drastically different depending on the time of day. OUR MAN IN TOWN: Tom Hicks. Yes, he's big into sports and does spend a little cash on his two local professional teams, the Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers. If you see him, thank him for the arena you're sitting in. Or, if you're a Rangers fan, give him a Bronx cheer. WHAT YOU HAVE IN AUSTIN THAT WE NEED IN DALLAS: Between South by Southwest in March and the Austin City Limits Music Festival in September, Austin has the all-encompassing festival show down to a science. Dallas has ... well, let's not go making too many comparisons. WHAT WE HAVE IN DALLAS THAT YOU NEED IN AUSTIN: A break in the traffic. We actually have whole stretches of I-35 in Dallas that sometimes don't have bumper-to-bumper traffic. But no matter the time of day, I-35 in Austin seems to be an equal-opportunity traffic jam. IF THE LONGHORNS EXIT EARLY: Go museum hopping. Since the last time you were up here for the Big 12 Tournament, Dallas has added a world-class museum in the Nasher Sculpture Center. And if you missed it last year, head west to see the relatively new incarnation of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Stephen Becker TEXAS A&M
JUST LIKE HOME: Looking for a restaurant like Freebirds World Burrito? Check out ... Freebirds World Burrito on Greenville Avenue. The growth of Aggieland's trademark burrito joint into Dallas last year ranks as one of the happiest moments for local Ags in recent memory. You can bet there will be a handful of them in those long lines out the door. OUR MAN IN TOWN: Dallas Cowboys starting middle linebacker Dat Nguyen. The Aggie football recordholder – 51 consecutive starts, 517 career tackles and a 10.7 tackles-per-game average – was drafted in the third round in 1999 by the Cowboys. WHAT YOU HAVE IN COLLEGE STATION THAT WE NEED IN DALLAS: Two words: Duddley's Draw. See, there are Dixie Chicken people and there are Duddley's people. Count me in the Dudd's camp. Best bar ever. A come-as-you-are mentality, good sandwiches and nachos, and really cheap beer. Good times. WHAT WE HAVE IN DALLAS THAT YOU NEED IN COLLEGE STATION: Dave & Buster's. The video-game mecca for adults is fun; the food and drinks are a bonus. There's nothing like it in College Station. The Gattiland in Bryan doesn't come close. IF THE AGGIES EXIT EARLY: You need to visit The Sixth Floor Museum and Deep Ellum. The former is an impressive display of history, and the latter is as close as we get to a party district. Rob Clark TEXAS TECH
TRY THE ENCHILADAS: Looking for a restaurant like the Santa Fe? Check out Pepe's & Mito's Mexican Cafe in Deep Ellum. I grew up on Santa Fe's 50-cent margaritas and free taco bar. Pepe's & Mito's is a great family-owned Mexican restaurant. The enchilada plates are a lock. If you want to avoid the crush of the crowds in Deep Ellum but still want Mexican food, try La Calle Doce. Reservations are recommended, and the menu brims with seafood dishes. OUR WOMAN IN TOWN: Sheryl Swoopes. The former NCAA Player of the Year, and the first woman to have a Nike shoe named after her, plays for the Dallas Fury of the National Women's Basketball League. WHAT YOU HAVE IN LUBBOCK THAT WE NEED IN DALLAS: A selection of real vineyards and wineries. I miss touring the many vineyards and wineries and sampling their products. Can't really do that in Dallas, although the western suburb of Grapevine is making progress. WHAT WE HAVE IN DALLAS THAT YOU NEED IN LUBBOCK: You've probably heard it before, and it's still true: Shopping. IF THE RED RAIDERS EXIT EARLY: You need to visit the 60 acres on the northeast side of downtown known as the Dallas Arts District. Must sees include the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center (designed by I.M. Pei), Annette Strauss Artist Square, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Arts District Theater and the new Nasher Sculpture Center. Cameron Maun Published in The Dallas Morning News: 03.12.04 Photos by EVANS CAGLAGE / DMN |
IT'S NOT GEORGE'S IN WACO, but you should try 
IT'S NOT THE DARK HORSE IN BOULDER, but you should try 
IT'S NOT THE TIP TOP LOUNGE IN AMES, but you should try 
IT'S NOT THE FREE STATE BREWING COMPANY IN LAWRENCE, but you should try 
IT'S NOT THE LAST CHANCE IN MANHATTAN, but you should try 
IT'S NOT HARPO'S IN COLUMBIA, but you should try 
IT'S NOT THE ZOO BAR IN LINCOLN, but you should try 
IT'S NOT THE MONT, but you should try 
IT'S NOT ESKIMO JOE'S, but you should try 
IT'S NOT B.D. RILEY'S ON SIXTH STREET IN AUSTIN, but you should try the 
IT'S NOT THE DIXIE CHICKEN IN COLLEGE STATION, but you should try the 
IT'S NOT THE DEPOT DISTRICT, BUT YOU SHOULD TRY: