To all my fellow Irish pub goers, check this one out:
TRINITY HALL
LOCATION NUMERO UNO - (the original)
5321 E. Mockingbird Lane, #250, Dallas, Texas
LOCATION NUMERO DOS - (brand spankin new)
305 Central Expressway N, Allen, Texas 75013
It's MY favorite. And I emphasize the MY because I do not want to take away from a few other favorites around Dallas that we can discuss at a later date. I also emphasize the MY because I am afraid, my dear readers, that I am perhaps too personally involved in my affinity for this particular watering hole(s)... but cest la vie... we shall proceed!
OK, so not to be lazy, but I want to start this entry with a pull quote from Trinity Hall's site (http://www.trinityhall.tv/):
"We do joke that the biggest difference between the Pub & a Bar is that a Bar is where you go to get inebriated, a Pub however is a refuge, a place to spend an afternoon or evening, chatting with like-minded guests, learning more about the world and relaxing in the company of soon to be fast friends. "
This sums up exactly why I love a pub... maybe it's in my blood... or maybe I'm just that kinda human that enjoys actually interacting with other humans... or maybe I'm just plain getting old.... but damn it, give me a pub any day over a bar.
A pub offers all that I love in a crowd at a drinking establishment... variety. You'll find a corner with the old men that have been sitting there since noon watching a rugby game or waiting for trivia to start. You'll find your handful of SMU soriority girls with their Ken Doll counterparts. You'll find your local neighborhood urbanites with their dogs on the patio. Trinity Hall is no exception to this Pub rule.
The atmosphere is similar in both locations which brings me to my first personal reason for counting this establishment among my favorites. The space is wide and open at both with that classic feel of a Pub - dark wood bar to belly up to, oversized booths, large tables, great lighting, open standing areas, flat screens throughout - all the makings for the best kinds of friendly get togethers. A close friend of mine recently reminded me that dark, cozy pubs are maybe the best place to take an old flame, cozy up with a comfortable drink and get lost in conversation...Time seems to stand still and the surrounding crowd melts into the woodwork.... it has that romantic vibe. The Dallas location has a large patio. Further the Dallas location is in Mockingbird Station - on the second level - so... the patio is awesome on a hot day for people watching from above. Now, onto MY favorite reason - the new Allen location (happens to be about 4 minutes from MY apartment)... first, I'd like to thank Trinity Hall for making their Allen location almost identical in feel to the Mockingbird location. It is smaller in size but otherwise very similar with one large exception: You can smoke! Woo hoo! The Allen location has windowed off the entire "bar" area for the purpose of allowing smokers to smoke in peace... I don't want to get on my soapbox about this... we all understand that smoking is bad for your health, but so is drinking and fatty foods and the like... so can't we all just get along?
Speaking of fatty foods... MY next favorite aspect of Trinity Hall: Fish & Chips. Seriously? No, Seriously. One of my favorite meals on the planet regardless of its affects on my heart or ass... I love it and I love Trinity Hall's. Further, if you're a beer whore as I am - great selection here. My favorite person (often my drinking cohort as he enjoys debauchery and pubfair as much as I do) recently discovered St. Peter's Porter (not the Stout)... it seriously smells like pot and tastes like chocolate... if only it came with the climax of sex (pardon the pun), it might be the world's best libation. Try it.
So there you have it folks. I love Trinity Hall.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Monday, August 3, 2009
Drink easy at a modern day speak easy
It’s just one more of my favorite spots… and honestly, I’m a little wary of sharing any information of why it’s so fabulous… One of the best aspects of Absinthe is it’s low-key, small crowd. So, do me a favor – don’t all flock at once!
Absinthe
1409 South Lamar, Suite 008
Dallas Texas 75215
www.absinthelounge.net
Absinthe is located in the basement of the Southside on Lamar building. Could it get anymore clandestine? And adding to its mystique is the rich history of the Southside building. Registered as a historic landmark, the Southside building is the former Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalog Merchandise Center and forever in Dallas has been known as the “Sears Building”. Opening in 1910, the company closed this location in 1993.
Further, owner & visionary Kevin, has created a space that makes you feel transported to a time before our own… a time of art nouveau, jazz, flappers and prohibition… a time when the forward thinkers challenged the accepted traditions. And to drive the atmosphere home, he has called his lovely little haunt “Absinthe” or also known as “the green fairy”... a drink surrounded in fascinating legend. No longer legal in its original state (containing wormwood that is said to have incited hallucinations), Absinthe does offer the legal form of the drink. (I only recommend it if you like black licorice.)
Ok, so onto our regular criteria: cost, crowd and music…
Drink costs are fair. Draft beer will run you $4.00 but are served in a large glass… they seem larger than the average 16 ounces and being that I am a beer connoisseur… I think I can judge the weight fairly accurately... I will be sure to ask just how many ounces the next time I’m bellied up to the bar. A mixed drink is similar in cost. Specialty drinks will run you a little more.
Absinthe is well rounded in events. Always check their online calendar… they offer everything from open mic nights to karaoke to local djs. The music varies a great deal as well. You’ll find chilled house beats to electric hip hop nights. And at this point, I must mention one of my absolute favorite musical duos discovered at Absinthe: The Goldfish Girls. Talk about adorable and really, pretty good at spinning old school vinyl. Paige and Charly are twelve year old DJ-ing prodigies. Visit their site at goldfishgirls.com. Remember, the girls have a bedtime… get their early to catch their act.
Because of its diverse event calendar, the crowd at Absinthe varies a great deal. You will always find your regulars because above Absinthe is residential lofts… that’s why I can’t live in the building – I’d be drunk all the time. Otherwise, I have never found any facet of the crowd annoying per say… but on a popular night, it can get very crowded. It’s a small, narrow space. I prefer the nights when you can sink into one of the several velvet couches and chill by the low light of the tiffany lamps.
I am pleased to say that I have nothing negative to say. The green fairy truly glows.
P.S. If you have to pee (which you surely will) and you want to look like you know “whats up”, head to the back of bar – take a left, go out the door, round the corner and follow the arrows. You’ll see what I mean.
P.S.S. Because Kevin is so cool and true to his theme, you can still smoke at Absinthe. Damn the man.
Absinthe
1409 South Lamar, Suite 008
Dallas Texas 75215
www.absinthelounge.net
Absinthe is located in the basement of the Southside on Lamar building. Could it get anymore clandestine? And adding to its mystique is the rich history of the Southside building. Registered as a historic landmark, the Southside building is the former Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalog Merchandise Center and forever in Dallas has been known as the “Sears Building”. Opening in 1910, the company closed this location in 1993.
Further, owner & visionary Kevin, has created a space that makes you feel transported to a time before our own… a time of art nouveau, jazz, flappers and prohibition… a time when the forward thinkers challenged the accepted traditions. And to drive the atmosphere home, he has called his lovely little haunt “Absinthe” or also known as “the green fairy”... a drink surrounded in fascinating legend. No longer legal in its original state (containing wormwood that is said to have incited hallucinations), Absinthe does offer the legal form of the drink. (I only recommend it if you like black licorice.)
Ok, so onto our regular criteria: cost, crowd and music…
Drink costs are fair. Draft beer will run you $4.00 but are served in a large glass… they seem larger than the average 16 ounces and being that I am a beer connoisseur… I think I can judge the weight fairly accurately... I will be sure to ask just how many ounces the next time I’m bellied up to the bar. A mixed drink is similar in cost. Specialty drinks will run you a little more.
Absinthe is well rounded in events. Always check their online calendar… they offer everything from open mic nights to karaoke to local djs. The music varies a great deal as well. You’ll find chilled house beats to electric hip hop nights. And at this point, I must mention one of my absolute favorite musical duos discovered at Absinthe: The Goldfish Girls. Talk about adorable and really, pretty good at spinning old school vinyl. Paige and Charly are twelve year old DJ-ing prodigies. Visit their site at goldfishgirls.com. Remember, the girls have a bedtime… get their early to catch their act.
Because of its diverse event calendar, the crowd at Absinthe varies a great deal. You will always find your regulars because above Absinthe is residential lofts… that’s why I can’t live in the building – I’d be drunk all the time. Otherwise, I have never found any facet of the crowd annoying per say… but on a popular night, it can get very crowded. It’s a small, narrow space. I prefer the nights when you can sink into one of the several velvet couches and chill by the low light of the tiffany lamps.
I am pleased to say that I have nothing negative to say. The green fairy truly glows.
P.S. If you have to pee (which you surely will) and you want to look like you know “whats up”, head to the back of bar – take a left, go out the door, round the corner and follow the arrows. You’ll see what I mean.
P.S.S. Because Kevin is so cool and true to his theme, you can still smoke at Absinthe. Damn the man.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
A veteran drinker's virgin post
I don't know about the rest of you, but at the end of a long grueling day... sometimes just a ridiculously boring one... the first thing on my mind and the minds of my fellow cohorts is one or several drinks.
SIDENOTE: We are not here to talk about vices or how anyone should or should not drink... no moral judgments please. If you are a member of AA, NA, MADD or any other soapbox approach to life, please navigate to the address bar at the top of your screen and type yourself toward a more self-aligned blogspot.
We wake up, breathe, live and drink in Dallas, Texas.
Being that our favorite pastime is drinking in Dallas, I think it is only fair to share our thoughts, reviews and general knowledge of drink specials with our fellow drinking Dallasites. What I hope to offer more so than some of my other favorite informational nightlife sites is an uninhibited honesty about why we choose - our favorite spots and why, our most hated spots and why... and brace yourselves - the crowd you can expect to encounter. (That last part is key.) Sure, we'd like to like everyone and live in a blissful state of drunken peace but the truth is that a crowd at any particular establishment is #1 in making or breaking the experience.
Being that I'm a virgin blogger, I feel that it is only appropriate that my most frequented spot pop my figurative cherry....
ZUBAR
2012 Greenville Ave. Dallas
www.zubar.com
This could be a controversial first pick, but I will remain loyal. Further, I am willing to admit that this is one of my / our favorite spots because of numerous acquaintances. But doesn't that just illuminate my original point? It's the people that make or break any experience (how existential, right?).
So, let me speak on the crowd that frequents Zubar. During the low-key weeknights, there is not much of a crowd type. Moreover, you will find your average 20s to 30s hip, urban professionals often working in a creative facet, service industry or the like. There are no color lines at Zubar, but I will say that depending on the scheduled music, you will find a predominately black crowd on the weekends. Now, I want to be real here. I am not a person of African American descent. I am a white, 30-something female. Truth be told, I have found myself at various times in my life with varying degrees of discomfort surrounded by people unlike myself (i.e. not white)... Zubar creates an atmosphere that transcends the color boundaries we all often encounter. I appreciate this. The black crowd that you may find on a Saturday night does not make me uncomfortable... I just often don't like A. how crowded it is... and B. the music that draws this particular crowd. (It varies from kind of a trip hop freestyle to an urban reggae...)
Moving on... I prefer Zubar on weeknights. Weekends - it's hit or miss because as mentioned above, it can get quite crowded... as in line at the bar, line at the bathroom, lots of elbows to navigate from front to back of the bar and just the general annoyance of too many humans in one place. Also, on the weekends, there seems to be an agreement among patrons that dancing is in order. However, there is very limited space for getting jiggy wit it... I find this irritating.
So what do I love about Zubar? Lighting is key for me and you will read my rants about the subject in future posts. Zubar has great lighting - low and inviting. The general decor is also modern, clean-lined, hip... the front of the house has open yet semi-private half-moon booths as well as a stool-lined bar - beware, the bar stools disappear once the crowd appears - and high ceilings. The back of the house has another bar and an overstuffed couch area that begs to be made out on... And of course, these days - with the everpresent NO SMOKING - a patio is a key to the survival of any Dallas drinking establishment. Zubar has a decent, comfortable patio.
Music is diverse at Zubar and I have to admit that I am not a music Nazi. I like anything from chilled out (think Thievery Corporation) to catchy-loud (think Lady Gaga), just depends on the scene. Zubar is known for featuring local DJ's and usually offers different DJs from front to back of the house. Check out their event calendar: www.zubar.com.
Drinks are fairly priced but not the cheapest. I hear Chance has mastered the straight up Stoli martini with a twist... way to go, dude. :) There is rarely a cover. No food served, but who cares when you're drinking your dinner...
This next bit opens an entire new can, depending on who you are and how long you've lived in Dallas: Zubar is located on lower Greenville. I can't get into all nuances of this location and all the pros and cons... but for those of you who know what I'm talking about, read this... absorb this... There is something to be said for a bar that's lasted YEARS on lower Greenville.
Something to say? wheredallasdrinks@gmail.com
Happy drinking...
Until next time....
Sarah
SIDENOTE: We are not here to talk about vices or how anyone should or should not drink... no moral judgments please. If you are a member of AA, NA, MADD or any other soapbox approach to life, please navigate to the address bar at the top of your screen and type yourself toward a more self-aligned blogspot.
We wake up, breathe, live and drink in Dallas, Texas.
Being that our favorite pastime is drinking in Dallas, I think it is only fair to share our thoughts, reviews and general knowledge of drink specials with our fellow drinking Dallasites. What I hope to offer more so than some of my other favorite informational nightlife sites is an uninhibited honesty about why we choose - our favorite spots and why, our most hated spots and why... and brace yourselves - the crowd you can expect to encounter. (That last part is key.) Sure, we'd like to like everyone and live in a blissful state of drunken peace but the truth is that a crowd at any particular establishment is #1 in making or breaking the experience.
Being that I'm a virgin blogger, I feel that it is only appropriate that my most frequented spot pop my figurative cherry....
ZUBAR
2012 Greenville Ave. Dallas
www.zubar.com
This could be a controversial first pick, but I will remain loyal. Further, I am willing to admit that this is one of my / our favorite spots because of numerous acquaintances. But doesn't that just illuminate my original point? It's the people that make or break any experience (how existential, right?).
So, let me speak on the crowd that frequents Zubar. During the low-key weeknights, there is not much of a crowd type. Moreover, you will find your average 20s to 30s hip, urban professionals often working in a creative facet, service industry or the like. There are no color lines at Zubar, but I will say that depending on the scheduled music, you will find a predominately black crowd on the weekends. Now, I want to be real here. I am not a person of African American descent. I am a white, 30-something female. Truth be told, I have found myself at various times in my life with varying degrees of discomfort surrounded by people unlike myself (i.e. not white)... Zubar creates an atmosphere that transcends the color boundaries we all often encounter. I appreciate this. The black crowd that you may find on a Saturday night does not make me uncomfortable... I just often don't like A. how crowded it is... and B. the music that draws this particular crowd. (It varies from kind of a trip hop freestyle to an urban reggae...)
Moving on... I prefer Zubar on weeknights. Weekends - it's hit or miss because as mentioned above, it can get quite crowded... as in line at the bar, line at the bathroom, lots of elbows to navigate from front to back of the bar and just the general annoyance of too many humans in one place. Also, on the weekends, there seems to be an agreement among patrons that dancing is in order. However, there is very limited space for getting jiggy wit it... I find this irritating.
So what do I love about Zubar? Lighting is key for me and you will read my rants about the subject in future posts. Zubar has great lighting - low and inviting. The general decor is also modern, clean-lined, hip... the front of the house has open yet semi-private half-moon booths as well as a stool-lined bar - beware, the bar stools disappear once the crowd appears - and high ceilings. The back of the house has another bar and an overstuffed couch area that begs to be made out on... And of course, these days - with the everpresent NO SMOKING - a patio is a key to the survival of any Dallas drinking establishment. Zubar has a decent, comfortable patio.
Music is diverse at Zubar and I have to admit that I am not a music Nazi. I like anything from chilled out (think Thievery Corporation) to catchy-loud (think Lady Gaga), just depends on the scene. Zubar is known for featuring local DJ's and usually offers different DJs from front to back of the house. Check out their event calendar: www.zubar.com.
Drinks are fairly priced but not the cheapest. I hear Chance has mastered the straight up Stoli martini with a twist... way to go, dude. :) There is rarely a cover. No food served, but who cares when you're drinking your dinner...
This next bit opens an entire new can, depending on who you are and how long you've lived in Dallas: Zubar is located on lower Greenville. I can't get into all nuances of this location and all the pros and cons... but for those of you who know what I'm talking about, read this... absorb this... There is something to be said for a bar that's lasted YEARS on lower Greenville.
Something to say? wheredallasdrinks@gmail.com
Happy drinking...
Until next time....
Sarah
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