Dallas is known as a regional powerhouse with unmatched retail shopping, fashion, and fabulous restaurants; a ‘trademark’ joy for visitors and residents alike. It is the regional center for finance, business, and job opportunities, driven by the large number of Fortune 500 companies and its very favorable business climate for small businesses. Supporting (and to a large degree driving) this fact is the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex’s decision many years ago to become transportation “inland port” – the largest US metropolitan area not on a river or ocean port. The DFW airport is larger than the island of Manhattan.

Now Dallas has another amazing asset. October 2009 will mark the opening of a new cultural complex to add to the distinctive arts centers (museum of art, sculpture center, concert hall, Asian art collection) already existing. After raising more than $300 million in private donations, the city will now have a new opera/ballet house, a performing arts theater center and an outdoors performance artist square – all to open with great fanfare. Sophisticated galas, stunning performances and an array of family-oriented free events will draw every facet of the community.

Residents, who have access to world-class culture venues without battling the crowds of larger cities, realize the ‘specialness’ of Dallas. The ‘do-ability’ quotient is a hallmark of all of Dallas’ activities. Transportation to enjoy the culture is made possible with accessibly easy streets, highways, and DART (the area’s transit system). This means that residents can have great experiences, and yet can choose to live in any one of the many lifestyle neighborhoods. In merging public and private space and activities, one resident described Dallas as offering “the best of both worlds.”