Grab your girlfriends, don your pinkest pinks and buckle in for a daycation just under two hours north of Waco. A handful of WACOAN staff put together the perfect girls’ day out to sample a few of Dallas’ newest destinations. This itinerary is all about the experience, and we made the most of our day out in the pinkest way possible.
In the shadow of Dallas’ towering skyscrapers are the smaller neighborhoods that carry their own quaint charm and personality. Exploring each one could be a day trip in its own, but we curated a fun selection all with only a 15-minute drive between each destination.
Our day began downtown at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza, where we boarded a bus decked out in pink and florals. Tea Around Town is an afternoon tea experience on-the-go. Tea and finger sandwiches are paired with a sightseeing tour through the downtown area aboard a double decker bus. Panoramic views are accented by large blooms that line the windows, and parties are seated in pastel pink booths with bus-friendly but chic dining sets, including a tiered serving tray loaded with sweet and savory treats. The scene is completed with the gentle ambiance of music from “Bridgerton” — orchestral tracks of well-loved songs — with brief intermissions of jazzy vocals from your tour guide.
Though comprised of bite-sized finger foods, the variety of snacks at each table offered enough for a satisfying lunch. Traditional tea sandwiches including the classic Cool Down Cucumber sandwich and Light ‘n Green egg sandwich were accompanied by more unique selections like the Triple Crown Steak Stack with ribeye, Gruyère, tomatoes and horseradish and the Earthly Elegance Crostini, a roasted baguette topped with herbed mushrooms, lemon ricotta and balsamic glaze. Upgrading to the Luxe experience also scored us the Nautical Splendor Lobster Roll, Ahi Tuna Delight and Napoleon Alaska, smoked salmon rolled atop toasted rye.
The dessert selection was divinely sweet. The Floral Fun Pop was almost too adorable to eat (but the white chocolate was too irresistible), and the Mini Lemon Meringue brought a little tart to the party. Of the Luxe selections, the Ferrero Velvet Delight was exactly as its name implies: delightful. And, of course, afternoon tea is not complete without a scone. Each meal comes with two scones: the freshly baked cranberry scone and the plain scone. Layer on the Cloud 9 Crème and preserves for the complete London afternoon tea experience.
While enjoying the sampling, we were guided through the Main Street district and Victory Park, with various well-known and lesser-known sites showcased along the way. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science, the American Airlines Center, Dallas Museum of Art, Winspear Opera House and Union Station are just a few of the major destinations on the tour, though there was plenty of time in the tour to discover the more obscure points of interest. We followed “The Traveling Man” sculpture through Deep Ellum, passed by the Crow Museum of Asian Art, locked eyes with the “Eye,” a 30-foot-tall eyeball at The Joule (the other eye sits in Missouri) and visited some familiar faces at the Pioneer Plaza where a collection of 40 bronze longhorn steers and three cowboy sculptures roam the grounds. This is artist Robert Summers’ predecessor to Waco’s iconic “Branding the Brazos” sculptures depicting the famous cattle drive through the Shawnee Trail through Dallas.
Following our ride, it was time to get on our feet. Gallery DeFi, 2200 Evanston Ave., opened earlier this year, but it’s already found its niche. Showcasing the work of over 40 local and international artists, this immersive experience offers vibrant, thought-provoking artwork to visitors. It was an unexpected hit with everyone in the group, and we couldn’t stop talking about it for days after.
The gallery featured an eclectic selection of artwork ranging from graffiti to neon lights to projections to mixed media pieces, creating an interactive exhibition. A few eye-catching pieces include 2022 Miss Universe-turned eco-friendly designer R’Bonney Nola’s piece made from recycled denim inscribed with the words “If Not Now, Then When?” Ducking under the arm of “Twilight” and “Descendants” actor Booboo Stewart’s larger-than-life sculpture leads you into a small room of mirrors. Stand still for just a few seconds, and the lights wink out and the words “Stillness is the Ultimate Luxury” illuminate the darkness, a clever piece of art from Zach Saucedo that requires the viewer to take in the moment. On a pedestal deep within the gallery sits a horse covered in rhinestones by Los Angeles artist Randall Byers who has collaborated celebrities including Madonna and Paula Abdul, to name a few. A cloud of bubbles hangs overhead, created by Shawn Koldony who made the famous Eras tour friendship bracelet. One piece that stuck out to me was B.Moore Creative’s photo of an intense close up of a pair of red lips with a tablet between the teeth reading “I don’t feel the same” — a hard pill to swallow.
Waco’s very own Cade Kegerreis has made his mark on the walls of Gallery DeFi. His full-wall mural just beyond the gallery’s doors depicts several famous Dallasites, including Post Malone, Erykah Badu and Michael Johnson. He also illustrated iconic symbols of Dallas, such as the 7-Eleven logo (the famous convenience store that’s found all around the world was started in Dallas in 1927) and the city’s mascot Pegasus, The Flying Red Horse of Dallas.
While visiting the space, we had the opportunity to speak to two of the founders. Travis McCann, co-founder and curator for Gallery DeFi, is an artist himself. Known for the signature design of two hearts connected by a line, he had the idea of Gallery DeFi because he wanted to “redefine the typical gallery experience that everybody’s kind of used to.”
“[The goal for Gallery DeFi was] to provide a space for artists to think big, create big and have better art seen by the masses,” he explained just outside of Leah Kirsch’s exhibit that features neon lights that read “This Must Be the Place.”
There is something to be said about every piece of art at Gallery DeFi that I simply can’t fit on the pages, so you’ll have to make the drive to experience it firsthand.
“I think that if you’re into art and you don’t know where to start, the reason that we built this is to make art more accessible,” said Kyle Sauter, co-founder and operating director of Gallery DeFi. “So, come to Dallas and see what we’d see in another city. We get a lot of correlations, like Miami and New York. A lot of people say you don’t see stuff like this in Texas; it’s just a different spin on art. I would come here because we have them all: fashion designers, motorcycle builders, first time gallerists, people in the Hall of Fame.”
Our final stop on the excursion was Pinkies Coffee + Cocktail Lounge, a pink-filled spot perfect for grabbing drinks with the girls. Located at 3900 Cedar Springs Road, it’s away from the downtown hub but still on a shop-lined street, so dinner is just an easy walk away. Whether you need a caffeine fix or are ready to indulge in a crafted cocktail — or even a little of both (hello espresso martini) Pinkies is the place to be.
We visited Pinkies in the late afternoon, so we took advantage of the cozy seating and moody atmosphere. Sitting on chic brown leather couches in a tucked away corner covered in a greenery wallpaper with pink flamingos, a pink neon sign reminds us to be “Pinkies Up” — exactly my kind of aesthetic. Without a doubt, the evening hours bring a whole new vibe to the space. Karaoke is a must on Tuesdays, and the disco ball lights up for events like a Dolly Parton Rave and a Bob Wig Party.
We started with a round of coffees and the group fave was the Pinkies Latte, iced of course. Espresso is sweetened with brown sugar, cinnamon and caramel, making it the perfect occasion drink. We also sampled the Pinkies Matcha Latte, made with organic matcha and vanilla for a kick of caffeine that’s a blend of bitter and sweet.
If you want a matcha in a ‘grown-up’ drink, the Matcha Martini carries over the indulgent taste of matcha mixed with Tito’s vodka and a lavender cold foam for just the right amount of floral sweetness. The orchid adorning the drink was the perfect little feminine accent for this vibey outing. Next, we tried one of the newest additions, the Violet Tendencies. Made with Tito’s vodka, lavender and lemon, it’s a sour sweet, delightfully light cocktail that almost had me asking for a second round. Finishing off the selection was the namesake Pinkies Up. Titos vodka is mixed with cold brew and coffee liquor for a classic espresso martini that is the perfect boozy coffee.
A round of cocktails was the perfect end to a girls’ day out. Topped off with a few finger foods — a couple of gluten-free donuts, a rainbow sprinkle sugar cookie and empanadas stuffed with bacon or ham — it was just what we needed before ending our daycation in Dallas.
