Dog Days of Dallas

Name: Chester Winthrop Levy; apparently my owner really likes the movie “Trading Places.”

Owner’s Name: Jared A Levy

City: Dallas

Neighborhood: Kessler Park in Oak Cliff

When did you move here? From where?
I’m originally from Houston and have been in Dallas for two months. I already love the city and am enjoying getting acquainted with my new neighborhood friends and fire hydrants.

Where else have you lived?
I’ve traveled a few places, but since the signs were in a language I can’t read, I had taken my hints from pictures – and given all the BBQ and Cajun food I saw (and sometimes tasted!) – I deduced that much of my early life was spent in south Texas and Louisiana.

What made you Say Yes to Dallas?
I’d always heard about Dallas, its diverse population, strong economy, a plethora of outdoor activities and so many food options.

As fate would have it, a Yankee human who has lived in Dallas for 14 years and absolutely loves it adopted me!

How did you choose where to live in the Dallas Region?
My human has lived all over Dallas. We toured some of his past neighborhoods, from Uptown and Turtle Creek to Oak Lawn and north Dallas.

While I loved the hustle and bustle of uptown and all the cute dogs that roamed the streets, we decided on Oak Cliff because of its history and laid-back vibe. There are so many parks and trees here for me to enjoy, and I can even chase geese and ducks at Kidd Springs Park.

Tell us about your city/neighborhood. What do you like best? What makes it different?
Oak Cliff is a hilly, historic and diverse gem just minutes from downtown. It’s loaded with trees, interesting people – and dogs – and tons of green space. Bishop Arts and the new TyPo Area (Tyler-Polk Corridor), which is about a half mile walk with my owner to the west of Bishop Arts, area have so much to do and experience culturally.

We both love Veracruz café. The seafood soup and carne texolo are my favorites, and my human seems to like them both too. For brunch, we either do Oddfellows or Jonathon’s. 

Maybe it’s because I’m an old soul, but the 100-year-old craftsman homes, unique character and classic old town feel of our area really get my tail wagging.

Is the Dallas Region dog friendly?
Dallas is incredibly dog friendly! There is a plethora of bars and restaurants that allow us to relax and enjoy the party along with our humans and provide water – and some even have treats. In fact, Eastwood’s in uptown even has a special menu just for dogs –  talk about a brunch worth barking about!

The best part about Dallas is the diversity in the neighborhoods. One day we might be jogging around White Rock Lake and the next hanging in Deep Ellum at Deep Ellum Brewery, downtown at the Main Street Garden Park or our own dedicated area at Klyde Warren Park, where I’ve even seen a few movies.

I think it’s safe to say that Dallas supports man’s best friend.

Where are the dog friendly restaurants and bars?
You can find them all over, but between Katy Trail Ice House, Bolsa, Truck Yard, OddFellows, Eastwoods and Gloria’s, we always have a place to hang out.

What is your favorite outdoor activity, and where is your favorite place to do it?
If I had the choice, I would spend the entire day at Mutts Canine Cantina in Uptown. I can socialize with so many dogs there, large and small. And after a couple margaritas, my human plays fetch and frisbee with me.

Where do you like to shop? Why?
My human is a recovering Yankee and doesn’t like chains or big stores (frankly, I love North Park Mall, but you need a service dog designation to get in). My human loves Bishop Arts and West Village, and since they are dog friendly, I happen to like them, too.

For antiques and cool collectibles, we always check out Uncommon Market, DFW M’antiques and Lula B’s.

Do you travel often? Is it easier or harder to do here?
My human is a pilot and has an awesome plane. We’ve traveled all over the U.S. but typically keep within a 400-mile radius. Dallas is centrally located with fantastic weather which makes flying a pleasure.

And from what my human tells me, DFW International Airport and Love Field are both extremely easy for flying into and out of the Dallas Region to destinations near and far.