Hannah Steiner
Go Wild In Oak Cliff This Spring Break.
Welcome to Perfect Date Night, a new weekly feature that acts as your spirit guide for going on a perfect date in what is objectively Texas' best city, Dallas. Each week, we'll give you a night's worth of suggestions for a date night in a specific neighborhood, complete with recommendations for bars, restaurants, concerts, art shows, sporting events or, well, anything, really. Just make sure you include an emoji or two when you text your crush to invite them out.
Date Details.
• When: Sunday, March 20.
• Duration: 4 hours.
• Number of Stops: Two.
• Modest Estimated Budget For Two: $80.
• Ballin' Estimated Budget For Two: $150.
• Ideal Partner: Someone else who still loves The Lion King.
• Romance Scale: 3.5 out of 5 hearts.
As you've probably heard or noticed, we're in the midst of spring break for most schools. Since most of us are real adults with real jobs that don't give us a week off to sleep in or get hammered on beaches, we're going to instead take full advantage of the decent weather happening this weekend and behave like the kids we wish we still were.
Stop No. 1: Brunch at Jonathon's (1111 North Beckley Avenue, Dallas). Yes, there's food at the zoo (more on that later), but we're still adults, and therefore we're better than hot dogs and overcooked burgers — on dates, at least. Instead, fuel up with brunch at this classic Oak Cliff favorite. A go-to brunch spot, Jonathon's has been dishing out delicious fried chicken and crazy waffles for years. With friendly service and smaller crowds than Oddfellow's, you definitely don't want to miss out. So they're our first stop on our day date. Don't miss the build-your-own Bloody Mary bar.
Stop No. 2: Dallas Zoo (650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas). Zoos have long been among my favorite excursions in new cities. I was quick to visit the Dallas Zoo when I first moved here, and I still bug my friends to go back with me all the time. Believe it or not, this zoo is considered one of the best in the country, and for good reason. The monorail safari — which is currently closed for renovation, unfortunately — is super cool. But it's still one of the only zoos in the U.S. with koalas. Also, there's a current exhibit involving giant animal statues made of Legos. And the knowledgeable guides are quick to arm you with all sorts of fun facts. You can spend hours wandering the place with your favorite person. So you should. Backed by all of these adorable animals, you'll come off as even more charming than you already are, promise.
