Northeast Dallas Dallas, TX

Greenville Avenue, bordering the western edge of Northeast Dallas, has been an important thoroughfare since the turn of the century, providing a route from central Dallas to major urban hubs in Oklahoma and beyond. Residences inevitably popped up around this commercial road and expanded eastward to White Rock Lake. Immigrants from around the world settled north of the area in Vickery Meadows, contributing an ethnic diversity that has continued to shape the commercial culture of Northeast Dallas.

White Rock Lake was created to address water shortages in the early 1900s. The park that surrounds it is the site of an annual White Rock Lake festival. Music venues, dance companies and an art house cinema round out the art scene in Northeast Dallas, and a number of museums, including the George W. Bush Presidential Library and the beautiful Meadows Museum, can be found close by, just west of Highway 75.

The restaurant district of Upper Greenville showcases the cosmopolitan diversity of Dallas in all its culinary glory. Head over to the western edge of Northeast Dallas on Greenville Avenue, and take your pick of Vietnamese sandwiches, Mediterranean entrees, Tex-Mex staples or Irish Pubs.

bbbop Seoul Kitchen is a popular and inexpensive introduction to Korean cuisine. The restaurant's mix-and-match approach to the traditional bibimbop rice dish allows you to choose your ingredients and design a meal for your palate. Nearby Royal Thai provides more standard Asian options: classic pad Thais and curries make up the menu here, and the owners have earned a reputation as one of the most reliable Thai restaurants in Dallas since founding their business back in 1992.

Grub Burger Bar has an array of variations on the American beef classic, although the cheese fries are substantial enough to constitute a meal on their own. Try one of the spiked milkshakes if you want something a little different. Locals come here for the excellent, enthusiastic service. The rest of Upper Greenville is jam-packed with Ethiopian diners, sushi bars and fast food of all sorts.

Northeast Dallas' dining options are rivaled only by its nightlife. Bars, bistros and live music venues line Upper Greenville: It's really just up to you to decide what you're in the mood for. The People's Last Stand sells well-crafted cocktails and light dining, while Trinity Hall Irish Pub serves up breakfast, brunch, cider and the occasional Celtic harp performance. Local bands and drum circles provide entertainment at the Green Elephant. For a quieter classic pub environment, head towards the lake down East Mockingbird Lane for the Lakewood Growler, an unpretentious and friendly bar tucked inside of an unassuming strip mall.

Drivers will find it easy to navigate Northeast Dallas, which affords close proximity and easy access to Highway 75 to the west and Interstate 30 to the south. Some free lots and pay parking can be found around the more commercial areas, and street parking is allowed in residential areas. Local day passes for the train cost $5 apiece, and the Lovers Lane station is located at Milton Street beside the highway. Buses are also available on major routes, and taxis and Uber are easily attainable. This is a neighborhood that is growing increasingly friendly to cyclists, with bike lanes on several major routes and trails running through the parks. Most of Northeast Dallas-White Rock is very pedestrian friendly.

Some of Dallas's most beloved and utilized parkland surrounds the thousand acres of White Rock Lake. Over nine miles of trails circle the lake, attracting the city's cyclists and runners year-round. Other activities include bird watching throughout the park’s marshlands, kayaking, sailing and Frisbee golf. White Rock Lake Park includes a number of picnic areas and a dog park, as well as the Park Museum and Dallas Arboretum. Like any classic village green, White Rock Lake also hosts numerous festivals and outdoor concerts, including the Cool Thursday Concert Series and the Arboretum's annual Fine Art Show. The Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden provides a wealth of activities for kids and classes. Most of the park and its activities are free to the public.

Tucked away in the center of Northeast Dallas' residential area, the Ridgewood/Belcher Recreation Center holds regular classes and maintains a small playground, tennis courts, gymnasium and fitness center, as well as providing meeting facilities.

The well-established commercial and residential areas of Northeast Dallas have a slightly higher cost of living as compared to the city average. One-bedroom residences rent for about $993, and gas runs about 14 percent below the national average. A two-hour bus fare costs $2.50, and a beer will typically set you back between $3 and $5, depending on what you're ordering.

Northeast Dallas' shopping district occupies the same territory as its restaurants and clubs: the lively Upper Greenville Avenue. Book and music stores, shopping centers and markets of all sorts provide for anything that residents might need. The options here extend from the mundane (tires and opticians) to the high-end (lingerie and home decor).

Movida Boutique sells affordable jewelry and hard-to-find women's wear in an environment that's both comfortable and refined. Fashion here ranges from the casual to the ultra-fancy.

The friendly staff at Retro Revolution caters to Dallas' hippie crowd with clothing, incense, jewelry and smoking paraphernalia.

Northeast Dallas has a Central Market, Kroger, Whole Foods Market and Tom Thumb and more grocery stores both small and large. There's no farmers market in the neighborhood, but Saint Michael's Farmers Market in nearby University Park has a wealth of local produce and street vendors.