HIS MOVES ON THE GRIDIRON ARE LEGENDARY, BUT WHERE DOES THE NFL’S RECENTLY CROWNED ALL-TIME LEADING RUSHER GO AFTER THE GAME? HERE’S A WEEKEND IN BIG D WITH THE DALLAS COWBOYS’ DASHING DYNAMO.
As the sports world hails Emmitt Smith for breaking Walter Payton’s all-time NFL rushing record of 16,726 total yards, Smith marks another milestone: his decade-plus as a citizen of Dallas. Born in Florida, he came to the home of the Cowboys as a first-round draft pick in 1990. And almost as soon as he hit the field, he started smashing records, including leading the NFL in career rushing touchdowns and helping the Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories, while personally claiming the Super Bowl MVP award in 1994. Off the field, the 33-year-old running back lives in the bustling suburb of Addison with his wife, Pat, and their children Jasmin, Rheagen, and baby Emmitt, Jr. Here’s a weekend with the quintessential Cowboy in the city where he became a champion.
FRIDAY
LODGING
“The Mansion on Turtle Creek is the city’s most famous hotel. It’s in a former old home in the middle of the city, and it’s known not only as the best hotel, but also one of Dallas’ best restaurants. The Four Seasons Resort and Club is in Las Colinas, a suburb of Dallas, and has a great spa and two golf courses. The Crescent Hotel is in the middle of the city, close to downtown and the arts district. It’s a Philip Johnson-designed building that you have to see to believe.”
DINNER
“First, Bob’s Steak & Chop House. The atmosphere is successful yet laid-back, and I enjoy the bone-in prime rib. Del Frisco’s is another steakhouse with great food and atmosphere. I love their crab cakes. It’s a great place to relax, and they make you feel at home. And there’s an excellent wine selection. The Mansion on Turtle Creek is for that special evening when I want to have a romantic evening with my wife. I always get their lobster taco appetizer. Then the Alaskan halibut. Their bread is excellent, too.”
NIGHTLIFE
“Terilli’s is great for jazz. It’s an Italian restaurant on Greenville Avenue, which has lots of restaurants and bars. There’s always a jazz band playing in the corner of Terilli’s, so you can either have dinner and listen to music — or just go for the music. Cool River is supposedly the biggest restaurant in Dallas. I love to go there for refreshments, to play pool, and to smoke cigars.”
SATURDAY
BREAKFAST
“The Waffle House has locations all over Texas. It’s very casual. In most instances, I can eat there with very few interruptions. My favorite Waffle House meal consists of waffles, bacon, scrambled eggs with cheese, and hash brown potatoes.”
SIGHTS
“I love the skyline of downtown, with the giant, lighted Reunion Tower ball, featuring a revolving restaurant. There are several big bank buildings, one of which is outlined in green neon. In its heyday, Dallas was known for big money and big real estate. The skyline still offers some very unique architecture and makes a unique statement. I also love driving down Strait Lane, one of the city’s most impressive neighborhoods. It’s a short street filled with beautiful homes and well-manicured lawns. The landscaping is unbelievable. One of Dallas’ best-kept secrets is the canals at Las Colinas, near Texas Stadium. You can walk beside them or sit in the grass or even ride in a boat and be at peace. On a clear night, you can look up and see the moon and stars and the airplanes passing overhead.”
CULTURE
“The Sixth Floor Museum in the old Texas School Book Depository is right above Dealey Plaza, where the assassination of John F. Kennedy took place. It’s a world-renowned museum about the event, and tells all sides of the mystery. From there, you can see the triple underpass and the grassy knoll. I also like the African American Museum at Fair Park, where the Texas State Fair, America’s biggest state fair, is held every year, and the Dallas Women’s Museum. But no one should miss Texas Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. The legacy of owners, players, fans, and coaches has made Texas Stadium a living monument; a shrine of success. You’ll find the names of the great players who have built the franchise in the Ring of Honor that circles the field.”
LUNCH
“Houston’s. There are two locations in Dallas. My wife’s favorite meal there is the traditional salad, with barbecue chicken, beans, and coleslaw. At The Cheesecake Factory, my favorite dish is the calamari. Both restaurants have a lively atmosphere and excellent food.”
GOLF
“Dallas is filled with great golf courses. The Four Seasons Resort and Club at Las Colinas is where the Byron Nelson golf tournament is held every May. But it’s a great course to play year-round. Afterward, you can visit their sports club and spa. Cowboys Golf Club, the world’s only NFL-themed course, is also great to play and is conveniently located close to the airport.”
SHOPPING
“Shopping is a major Dallas pastime. My wife loves Gregory’s. They have one-of-a-kind clothing items that she’ll never have to worry about seeing anywhere else. For me, most of my clothes are custom made by Lombardo Custom Apparel. For casual wear, I shop at Sebastian’s Closet at Village on the Parkway.”
DINNER
“Steel is Japanese and Indochine. It’s a really open and fun atmosphere, and it’s usually packed with people. Their sea bass, steak, and sushi are all wonderful. Nick & Sam’s is a great restaurant. Again, it’s a steakhouse. Their porterhouse is a must, and their wine selections are by far one of the best. Lefty’s Lobster-Chowder House is a small but great restaurant down the street from my home. We often eat in or have takeout delivered to the house. The crab legs, lobster bisque, and pasta dishes are delicious.”
NIGHTLIFE
“Sambuca is a great place to hear jazz. There are two locations, the first one in Deep Ellum, which is like a combination of Venice Beach and Greenwich Village. Shops, clubs, restaurants, bars, artists, yuppies, Generation X, everything. There’s also a Sambuca in North Dallas. Both have great jazz and a wonderful ambience. Touring entertainers have been known to sit in on occasion. Downtown, there’s the West End, a warehouse district transformed into an entertainment district that has just about everything.”
SUNDAY
GAME DAY
“During the football season, my day starts with breakfast with my teammates, followed by relaxing and listening to music until game time. After the game, Dave & Buster’s is a great place to go with family and friends. In the off-season, I start my Sunday by attending church at The Potter’s House. The Bishop T.D. Jakes is my pastor. Then we eat breakfast at the Waffle House or Marriott Quorum hotel at the Galleria. The Marriott’s breakfast buffet consists of a variety of delicious items, including waffles, French toast, made-to-order omelets, bacon, sausage, ham, fruit, muffins, biscuits, and hash browns. Then I relax at home with my kids in the backyard around the pool.”
ONE SPECIAL DAY
“My most memorable evening in Dallas was the visit of a young lady who would eventually become my wife. Pat was living in Los Angeles. We met through a mutual friend, Terry Kirby, a running back with the Oakland Raiders. I invited her to visit Dallas to see why I loved this city. The evening began at McFarlin Auditorium, where we grooved to the romantic music of Maxwell in concert. For dinner, we went to Terilli’s. The food, atmosphere, and service bordered on perfection. After dinner, I had the restaurant present her with a huge birthday cake, even though it wasn’t her birthday. She enjoyed my sense of humor. Then we toured downtown, and I showed her the Dallas skyline from the open roof of the limo. We visited the Kennedy Memorial and the West End and Deep Ellum entertainment areas. We finished enjoying the evening outside talking by the pond at my home. My intent was to show the city I loved to this wonderful person I had fallen in love with — and it worked. We were married three years later, after a one-year engagement.”
emmitt smith's dallas essentials
lodging
hotel crescent court, very expensive; (214) 871-3200
four seasons resort and club, very expensive; (972) 717-0700
the mansion on turtle creek, very expensive; (214) 559-2100
restaurants
bob’s steak & chop house, steakhouse; expensive; (214) 528-9446
café costa, marriott quorum hotel, american/mediterranean; inexpensive; (972) 661-2800
the cheesecake factory, new american; moderate; (214) 373-4844
dave & buster’s, american; moderate; (214) 361-5553
del frisco’s double eagle steak house, steakhouse; very expensive; (972) 490-9000
houston’s, american; moderate; (214) 691-8991
lefty’s lobster - chowder house, seafood; moderate; (972) 774-9518
the mansion on turtle creek, southwestern fusion; very expensive; (214) 559-2100
nick & sam’s, steakhouse; very expensive; (214) 871-7444
steel, pan-asian; expensive; (214) 219-9908
waffle house, american; inexpensive; more than 15 dallas locations
nightlife
cool river café, bar/restaurant with live entertainment; (972) 871-8881
sambuca, jazz club and restaurant; (214) 744-0820
terilli’s, jazz club and restaurant; (214) 827-3993
shopping
gregory’s, men and women’s shoes, clothing, and accessories; (972) 490-1285
lombardo custom apparel, custom men’s clothing; (214) 265-8488
sebastian’s closet, men’s clothing; (972) 387-0888
sights
african american museum, historical and visual arts museum; (214) 565-9026
dallas cowboys, tickets (214) 373-8000
the sixth floor museum at dealey plaza, historical museum; (214) 747-6660
texas stadium, football stadium; (972) 554-6368
the women’s museum, historical and interactive museum; (214) 915-0861
worship
the potter’s house of dallas, nondenominational church; (214) 331-0954
golf
cowboys golf club, (817) 481-7277
four seasons resort and club at las colinas, (972) 717-0700