Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Denton
POP 118,700
A bastion of college cool and indie cred, Denton has a great music scene. Home to the
University of North Texas and its renowned arts programs, the fast-growing city rightfully
claims the title as the most musical city in the region. The downtown, centered on
Court-
house Square
, boasts a plethora of music venues, music shops and instrument stores.
By day, pop into the
Courthouse on the Square Museum
( 940-349-2850; 110 W Hickory St; admission
free; 10am-4:40pm Mon-Fri, 11am-3pm Sat)
for local lore and an amazing display of art created
with pecans. It's nuts! Outside check out the 1918
Confederate War Memorial
which has been
modified with apologetic disclaimers. Nearby,
Recycled Books Records CDs
(
940-566-5688;
www.recycledbooks.com
;
200 N Locust St; 9am-9pm)
has hard-to-find tunes.
For music, the top venue is
Dan's Silver Leaf
( 940-320-2000;
www.danssilverleaf.com
;
103 Industrial
St; 7pm-2am)
, with a revered owner who books top bands but doesn't gouge on drink
prices. Other clubs and bars are nearby.
Every March the city hosts
35 Denton
(
www.35denton.com
;
Mar)
, a music festival featuring
everything from rock to blues to jazz.
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Decatur
POP 6200
For 20 years beginning in the late 1860s, Decatur was an important waypoint on the
Chisholm Trail, the legendary cowboy route along which millions of head of Texas cattle
were driven north to markets. As the beef went one way, the state's first fortunes came
south with the the first cattle barons. Today you'll most likely stop in Decatur on your
way to the Panhandle.
Decatur's 1895
Wise County Courthouse
(101 N Trinity St)
is a marvel in pink granite. Sur-
rounding the square where State and Main Sts meet are lively shops and cafes.
Sweetie Pie's
Ribeyes
(
)
serves up Texas
940-626-4555; 201 W Main St; mains $12-25;
11am-8pm Mon-Sat;
menu stalwarts with flair while nearby
Cakes by Leisha
(
940-626-4783; 103 S Trinity St; treats from
8am-5pm Mon-Sat)
has irresistable bakery treats for the onward journey.
$2;
