Finding Home in Old East Dallas

“I live in an apartment on Swiss Avenue, right next to the historic district with mansions from the early 1900s…
I think Old East Dallas is a hidden gem.”

Name: Kyra Barker

City: Dallas

Neighborhood: Old East Dallas

Company/Title: CONNECTIVE Agency, Senior Account Executive

When did you move here? Where from?

July 2019 / Eugene, Oregon

Where else have you lived?

Manhattan Beach, California, and Eugene, Oregon, where I attended the University of Oregon. I moved to Dallas after graduating with a journalism / public relations degree. You may think you know Texas, but you really don’t unless you’ve lived here! Let go of all preconceptions and just explore the state for yourself… It’s a city in Texas but it isn’t defined by the state. It’s diverse and multicultural, and more welcoming than I thought it would be.

What made you ‘Say Yes to Dallas’?

What brought us to central Texas was my boyfriend’s pursuit of a career in the aerospace industry. He grew up going to airshows and had his sights set on working for Lockheed Martin.

I was drawn to Dallas because it is such a diverse, vibrant city with so much to do. When we visited the area before the move, I just fell in love. The great weather is obviously a plus, and the restaurants are amazing.

How did you choose where to live in the Dallas Region?

I live in an apartment on Swiss Avenue, right next to the historic district with mansions from the early 1900s. It’s a fascinating area — one of Dallas’s earliest planned residential communities — where nationally renowned architects designed and built these grand estates.

I think Old East Dallas is a hidden gem. It’s in a great location, close to the CONNECTIVE Agency office, and the reasonable rent was also attractive. When I look out my window, I can see the Dallas skyline. It’s very close to the city, yet it’s still affordable.

It’s the ideal location to easily access Downtown and all the interesting surrounding neighborhoods such as Uptown, Lower Greenville, Bishop Arts and Deep Ellum.

Tell us about your city/neighborhood. What do you like best? What makes it different?

Walking Swiss Avenue is one of my favorite things. The houses have plaques in front of them that give the history of the homes and details on their residential design. It’s a lovely neighborhood to walk through.

There are some great restaurants in my neighborhood. La Victoria is one of my favorites. It’s a local family-owned Mexican restaurant with the best breakfast burritos in town, and it’s just right around the corner from me. There are also some great Thai options including Sakhuu Thai and Bangkok City Restaurant that I can walk to.

I also love Deep Ellum. Pre-COVID, I went there every other weekend. I really enjoy sitting out on the outdoor patio at Deep Ellum Brewing Company.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to move here?

You may think you know Texas, but you really don’t unless you’ve lived here! Let go of all preconceptions and just explore the state for yourself.

If you are moving to Dallas, I highly recommend living close to the city. As far as job hunting, while there are a lot of huge Fortune 500 companies that are a major draw, there are also a lot of smaller, nimble and creative startups and small businesses to consider as well.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to connect with people. In Dallas, I’ve found that people want to have a conversation with you. You don’t really get that vibe in California, especially Los Angeles. People are so busy they don’t have the time to answer your calls or questions. But in Dallas people genuinely want to help you and network with you, so don’t be shy about reaching out.

What is the one thing that you could have done to make your move easier?

If you’re moving from college, leave everything behind. Just sell it and start over anew. I moved here with three suitcases and that was it. It made my life so much easier.

How has your opinion of the Dallas Region changed since moving here?

It’s changed in a lot of ways. It’s a city in Texas but it isn’t defined by the state. It’s diverse and multicultural, and more welcoming than I thought it would be. When I moved here, I think working at CONNECTIVE was the best way for me to understand what Dallas is.

Our team is so diverse, and filled with such brilliant, kind people who are open to having conversations and value experience and ideas from other areas. I think Texas is honestly a melting pot of all the things that I love.

What would you miss most about the area if you had to leave?

I would miss a lot of things if I left. I love Dallas summers and really enjoy all the outdoor bars and restaurants the city has to offer. I would definitely miss the weather. The winters are usually mild, and the sun comes out every so often. In Oregon, we went weeks on end without sun and that definitely takes a toll on you.

I would miss the diversity of the city, the amazing food here, and so many random things to do. No matter what your passions are, you’ll be able to find a community that’s equally as passionate as you are to connect with.

Where do you go and what do you do on the weekends or days off?

I can’t get enough of plant shopping! I love Oasis Plant Shop in the Bishop Arts District. I also like to go to Lower Greenville as often as I can. I haven’t been exploring as many things as I’d like to because of the pandemic, but there are safe ways to get out with outdoor bar and restaurant options.

The Rustic is a really good restaurant with live music, farm-to-table food and craft beers.

Where do you go to experience culture?

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is on everyone’s favorite list, for me especially because one of CONNECTIVE’s clients, Signature Illumination Designs, does some of their lighting. I recently went to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science with my nephew, who just turned 4. He is crazy about dinosaurs and absolutely loved it.

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is a can’t miss for visiting guests; it really put everything into perspective for me on the JFK assassination. And one spot that I haven’t had a chance to see yet but is next on my list is the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum.

What is your favorite outside activity, and where is your favorite place to do it?

My favorite outside activity is just sitting in the sun on a nice, hot Dallas day. I like going to Excelsior Park near my apartment.

Where do you like to shop? Why?

I did a lot of my Christmas shopping this year in the Bishop Arts District. I wanted to buy local and find unique boutique shops for one-of-a-kind gifts.

What is your passion, and how does the Dallas Region help fulfill it?

Sustainable living is a big one for me. I am also passionate about marketing. What I really like about marketing is finding unique ways to tell a brand story. Finding ways to communicate a brand’s message and get others excited about it is really interesting to me.

I’m able to blend my two passions through CONNECTIVE’s client Aquafil, a leading global nylon manufacturer with a sustainable product that’s helping to reshape the fashion and design industries. Our company values include going deep and creating positive experiences, and I believe that works both ways!

Who is your local hero? Why?

My local hero is Jacqueline Chen Valencia, partner at CONNECTIVE Agency. She is one of the first people I talked to in Dallas, and through the phone she gave me a great first impression. She was so kind, energetic and passionate about her work and where she lives, it gave me a really neat insight into what Dallas could be.

Jacqueline stayed in touch with me throughout my Dallas job search, and she genuinely seemed to care about me and my career goals, which I feel like you don’t find very often. I was attracted to CONNECTIVE as it’s a woman- and minority-owned business, with talented and authentic people deeply involved in making the community a better place along with our clients and partners.

Where do you feel most at home in the Dallas Region?

The plant shop or my apartment. After getting my own space, Dallas really feels like my home. I feel like it’s where I belong.

Do you travel often? Is it easier or harder to do here?

I haven’t been traveling much lately but it’s a great place to be for travel. You’re in the middle of country, so I can easily get to California to visit family or head to the East Coast to visit my brother in New York.

On Dallas’ job market

As far as job hunting, while there are a lot of huge Fortune 500 companies that are a major draw, there are also a lot of smaller, nimble and creative startups and small businesses to consider as well.

On the Dallas Community 

In Dallas, I’ve found that people want to have a conversation with you. You don’t really get that vibe in California, especially Los Angeles… in Dallas people genuinely want to help you and network with you, so don’t be shy about reaching out.




Great Place for Cycling Adventures

“With all the work across the region to expand trail and green space access, imagine the new places you can explore each day!”

By: Philip Hiatt Haigh, Executive Director, The Circuit Trail Conservancy

My name is Philip Hiatt Haigh, and I am the Executive Director of the Circuit Trail Conservancy (CTC), the public private partnership building The LOOP. My professional and personal lives recently merged in my current role building an urban trail network around the core of Dallas, but I have been riding and racing bicycles in Texas and around the country for the past 13 years.

My passion for cycling began in undergrad at Texas Tech University after watching a short film on mountain biking in British Columbia (before YouTube!). At the time, I didn’t know anything about cycling and didn’t know you could explore new places and ride trails as an adult – I hadn’t been on a bike since middle school!

After graduation, I moved back to Dallas and began riding local trails at least three times a week with my “home trail” at Rowlett Creek Preserve. The North Texas mountain biking organization, Dallas Off Road Bicycle Association (DORBA), provides great resources on all the local off-road trails, volunteer opportunities to keep our green spaces clean, and coordinating events like races and clinics to improve your handling skills.

While I still look forward to racing around the country, I’m often out scouting new routes or leading groups through beautiful parts of Dallas that most people have never seen. I think the easiest path to an adventure is on the Trinity Levee System. These gravel roads are not open to vehicles (occasional maintenance trucks) and span the city for all sorts of scenery and landscapes. Even if you don’t have a bicycle, these roads provide convenient and safe routes for everyone to enjoy.

Over the next two years, construction on a number of bicycle and pedestrian trails will make access to Dallas green space even better. The most prominent example will be a segment of The LOOP connecting the Katy Trail in Victory Park to the Trinity Strand Trail in the Design District. This 1-mile connection will allow people to get from Uptown into the Trinity Levee System (and eventually Fort Worth) – without ever leaving a dedicated trail!

It may seem like riding a bike for years may give me special insight to hidden gems – but with all the work across the region to expand trail and green space access, imagine the new places you can explore each day!

The Trails (and Tales) Go On and On

So, there you have it. For more exhaustive listings, visit our Hitting the Trails page and our Walk & Roll page. The North Central Texas Council of Governments also has a comprehensive trail page. Cyclists can visit the DORBA page, while joggers/runners can visit North Texas Runners.

Don’t forget to check out our Hidden Gems page for more of the Dallas Region’s best kept secrets.




An Outdoor Lover’s Dream

“I enjoy being outdoors and working out in the fresh air. My Uptown neighborhood – which includes the Katy Trail — offers tremendous opportunities to me.”

Name: Jacqueline Twillie

City: Dallas

Neighborhood: Uptown

Company/Title: ZeroGap, President

When did you move here? From where?
I moved here from Atlanta, Georgia, in 2016.

Where else have you lived?
I lived in Ohio (while earning my MBA at Tiffin University) and in Louisiana, where I was born.

What made you ‘Say Yes to Dallas’?
I said ‘’Yes” to Dallas because I love that there are two airports, making it easy to travel and catch a flight at any time of the day. I also chose Dallas because of the diverse base of large corporations in the city. There are so many cool neighborhoods in Dallas and it makes it easy to have unique social experiences.

How did you choose where to live in the Dallas Region?
I chose Uptown because of its mix of local restaurants and its proximity to both Love Field and to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. I love that Uptown is walkable and the Katy Trail is a huge bonus.

Tell us about your city/neighborhood. What do you like best? What makes it different?
I enjoy being outdoors and working out in the fresh air. My Uptown neighborhood – which includes the Katy Trail — offers tremendous opportunities to me. Dallas is filled with neighborhoods that include greenspace and parks. It’s an outdoor workout lover’s dream.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to move here?
Stay in Airbnbs in the neighborhoods that interest you most and visit the restaurants and shops. You’ll uncover gems in the various neighborhoods that will help you determine the spot that is best for you.

Tell us about the work environment here.
As an entrepreneur, the work environment is exciting. I’ve been able to form great partnerships and serve clients to advance in the leadership and development of women who work within traditionally male-dominated industries. My company has been a catalyst in assisting women to deepen their impact and lead with greater confidence.

Where do you go to experience culture?
My first choice is the African American Museum of Dallas. The museum was founded in 1974 as a part of the Special Collections at Bishop College, a historically black college that closed in 1988. The museum has operated independently since 1979 and is in historic Fair Park.

What is your favorite restaurant in the Dallas Region?
Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que near Dallas Love Field and Saint Ann Restaurant in the Harwood District.

What is your favorite outside activity, and where is your favorite place to do it?
Katy Trail or White Rock Lake for outdoor picnics, workouts, and simply being outdoors.

What is your favorite festival/event?
A fun event is the annual Dallas St. Patrick’s Day Parade and, of course, the horse and carriage rides in Uptown and Downtown Dallas during Christmas.

What is your passion, and how does the Dallas Region help fulfill it?
My passion is to eliminate the gender wage gap and to advance women’s leadership. Dallas is a great region to build a business that supports the advancement of equality in the workplace for women.




Beyond Dallas, Calm Yet Lively

“I would challenge new residents to explore and discover areas around the metroplex before planting roots. It may be easy to settle somewhere close to your office or children’s school, but you may find that you spend majority of your time in a part of town not close to these locations.”

Name: Aubrey Coleman

City: McKinney

Company/Title: Microsoft

When did you move here? From where?
My wife Elizabeth and I moved from Houston to the Dallas Region in February 2018. Her hometown is Austin, Texas, and mine is Birmingham, Alabama.

Where else have you lived?
In addition to my hometown, I have also lived in Knoxville, Tennessee; Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Miami; Atlanta; Seattle; and most recently Houston.

What made you ‘Say Yes to Dallas’?
Elizabeth and I were both relocated here by our current employers. However, we were excited to relocate to Dallas because of the affordable cost of living, abundance of restaurants, and proximity to our families.

How did you choose where to live in the Dallas Region?
Proximity to family played a large role in determining where my wife and I would settle. When we first moved to the region, we didn’t have many friends, nor did we understand the city well enough to know the best places for a young couple to live. My sister and brother-in-law (with whom we are very close) lived in Plano and eventually moved to McKinney. Because our jobs are in Plano and Frisco, we decided to settle in nearby McKinney.

Tell us about your city/neighborhood. What do you like best? What makes it different?
I love the peacefulness of the suburbs. I have a busy work schedule, so it’s nice to relax on the weekends and enjoy a quieter, slower life away from the hustle and bustle of the city. With so much development and transplants moving in, we are a short drive to restaurants, shops, entertainment venues, bars, clubs, and more. When we do want to visit friends and explore the city – which we do quite frequently – both Dallas and Fort Worth are nearby.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to move here?
Moving can be stressful, and it’s easy to rush finding a home and planting roots. I would challenge new residents to explore and discover areas around the Dallas Region before settling in to one place. It may be easy to choose somewhere close to your office or children’s school, but you may find that you spend majority of your time in a part of town not close to these locations.

What would you miss most about the Dallas Region if you had to leave?
The people! We’ve made such amazing friends during our time here and would definitely suffer from withdrawals from our friends and family if we left. The barbeque would be a close second.

Where do you go and what do you do on the weekends or days off?
I’m a big sports fan, so I take any opportunity to visit a stadium, ballpark, or sports bar to support any of the local teams. Elizabeth is big into the arts, so you will catch her performing with her talented castmates at Firehouse Theater in Farmers Branch. As a couple, we love exploring new restaurants and parks throughout the Dallas Region with friends and family.

What is your favorite restaurant in the Dallas Region?
For breakfast, I love Up Inspired Kitchen in Frisco or Ellen’s. We also enjoy Bob’s Steak and Chop House, Hutchins BBQ, and Coaches Box.

Where do you feel most at home in the Dallas Region?
As a performer, Elizabeth would likely say on stage. I enjoy spending my time in any of the area’s parks or professional sports stadiums.

Do you travel often? Is it easier or harder to do here?
Yes, for both work and pleasure. With two major airports, it’s easy for us to travel – whether I’m traveling home to see my family, visiting friends across the country, or taking our annual trip overseas to explore the world.

Anything else you’d like to tell us?
The Dallas Region is a special place that we are proud to call home. We are excited to continue exploring the beauty of this area, become more involved in the community, and grow our family over time in this wonderful region.




Vibrant, welcoming, and family-friendly

“A city of transplants – everywhere you go, you’ll meet people from different parts of the country and the world… Everyone is open and eager to welcome you into their circle.”

Name: Clayton Lougee

City: Dallas

Neighborhood: M Streets

Company/Title: Thomson Reuters, Director, Customer Experience Strategy

When did you move here? From where?
I moved from Chicago in January 2015. As soon as we rang in the New Year, we packed up our lives and our two Labradoodles, and drove across the country to start a new life in Dallas.

Where else have you lived?
Chicago, London and South Bend, Indiana

What made you ‘Say Yes to Dallas’?
I grew up in Dallas but spent 12 years away for undergrad and graduate school, living and working in Chicago. My wife Lindsay couldn’t face another winter in the Midwest, and we were both ready for a new pace of living. Dallas’ temperate weather, good quality of life, culture and thriving job market made it an obvious choice. Plus, we knew we would love having family nearby when it came time to start one of our own.

How has your opinion of the Dallas Region changed since moving here?
Dallas is much more complex than people realize. There are so many different cultures reflected in the food, architecture and people. There’s amazing history, theater and art all around. There’s much more to the city than meets the eye, and we’ve loved exploring all it has to offer – from the major attractions to the hidden gems.

How did you choose where to live in the Dallas Region?
We spent a year in Oak Lawn while we got acquainted and re-acquainted with the city. We loved the vibrant culture and accessibility of the area. Since then, we’ve been in the M Streets neighborhood, where we think we have the best of many worlds – a close-knit neighborhood with a residential feel and parks all around, just steps from some of the best bars, restaurants and shops in the city.

Tell us about your city/neighborhood. What do you like best? What makes it different?
Our neighborhood has some of the most beautiful architecture in Dallas, which we love to admire on our morning walks. We get to enjoy many of the hottest restaurants and bars in the city. Our 17-month-old and her canine brothers love the green parks with kids and families all around. It feels like a suburban neighborhood in the middle of a big city, and it lets us enjoy the perks of both. It’s no wonder that our little neighborhood has residents that have spent their lives here, and it attracts newer, young families like ours all the time.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to move here?

Dallas is a one-of-a-kind community with so much opportunity, and we would encourage anyone to jump in with two feet. There are social clubs and a thriving job market, and the entire city is open, friendly and welcoming. We have loved making Dallas our home, and there’s still so much to explore and enjoy.

Dallas has evolved tremendously over the past several years. Lindsay, who grew up in Chicago, likes to call it a city of transplants. Everywhere you go, you’ll meet people from different parts of the country and the world. It makes it easy to get to know new people and make friends. In our experience, everyone is open and eager to welcome you into their circle.

Tell us about the work environment here.
In the five years we’ve been here, the job market in Dallas has continued to grow as the metroplex attracts new employers and talent. We are both fortunate to work for two great companies – AT&T and Thomson Reuters – and we’ve had opportunities here that are hard to come by in other big cities. Beyond our jobs, there are amazing ways to get involved with philanthropic groups, attend networking events and participate in a bustling scene of young professionals.

Where do you go and what do you do on the weekends or days off?
When we first moved to Dallas, weekends were spent at MUTTS Cantina letting our dogs run around while we sipped margaritas or checking out a new restaurant or bar. With one toddler and another baby on the way, things look a bit different these days but no less fun and exciting. We love to let our daughter run around the fountains at Klyde Warren Park while we enjoy the food trucks or get a cocktail at Savor, walk around White Rock Lake or sit outside with the dogs at Katy Trail Ice House. We may sound like gluttons, but Dallas has amazing weather and an even better patio scene, so what’s not to love?

What is your favorite outside activity, and where is your favorite place to do it?
Our favorite way to experience the city is by walking it. We love to walk the Katy Trail or White Rock Lake, stroll down Greenville Avenue on a weekend morning or drive to Highland Park during the holiday season for a special evening walk to check out the beautiful Christmas lights.

Do you travel often? Is it easier or harder to do here?   
Yes. Since moving to Dallas five years ago, we’ve travelled throughout the U.S. and also visited four other continents. Both Dallas Love Field and DFW Airport make travelling a breeze.