The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

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Dallas named one of Forbes’ Coolest Cities

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Dallas ranks number 4 on Forbes' list of America's Coolest Cities. (Courtesy of BigSkyline.com)

Look out, world. Dallas is moving on up.

Forbes recently named our fair city as the 10th coolest in America. Partnering with Sperling’s BestPlaces to rank the 60 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Metropolitan Divisions, Forbes found that Dallas ranked higher than New York (11) and Los Angeles (16).

Using calculations of entertainment options, the number of restaurants and bars per capita and diversity, the news outlet found that Washington D.C. fit all the boxes.

Dallas ranked high for arts and culture, recreation and local eats, also showing an average number of young adults, in line with the other top 10 countries.

The Dallas and Fort Worth areas continue to draw major companies like Toyota, and Texas leading the country in moves from other states, making it an up-and-coming city that is making strides in separating itself from its country roots.

“I have always said to faculty we recruit at SMU that you eat better in Dallas than you used to 25 years ago, largely because of our greater diversity and the growing interest in being plugged in to the world,” said Professor Caroline Brettell, who teaches the “Greater Dallas Experience” course.

The largest urban arts district in the United States and a growing local culture in Oak Cliff that was recently highlighted in The New York Times, the area is quickly becoming a destination in its own right.

Nothing makes Dallas especially different from any other major city, Brettell said, but what the city does have is on a much larger scale.

“Dallas has pulled off a major achievement with the completion of the arts district. The impressive collection of buildings, most designed by Pulitzer prize-winning architects, is really without comparison and speaks to the ambitions of the city and the generosity and civic-mindedness of its citizens,” she said. “The Klyde Warren Park is an amazing achievement that has reunited uptown and downtown and has become a real ‘people place’ in the heart of the city.”

With Austin and Houston also in the top 10, Texas is taking the reigns on top.

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