Kudos to the Competitor Group for another well-organized event. As a Tour Pass Unlimited member, I…read moredecided to make Dallas one of my stops this year. I flew in on Friday and headed to the convention center for the expo. Packet pickup on Friday was a breeze (it was on Saturday, too, when I returned with my running partner, but more crowded). This expo seemed smaller than some of the others and some of my fave vendors were absent (Sparkly Soul, ProCompression, Nuun), but plenty of local vendors, which is great for those who live in North Texas. 5K On Saturday, I participated in the inaugural 5K, which was organized in Fair Park. 2 of the 3 miles were through the park, but one mile was on an out and back on a road leading to one of the entrances (not so interesting). Even with this short distance, there was a water stop, which is nice. Finish line was well-staffed with volunteers handing out medals, bananas, water, etc. A live band was playing at the end, too. Corrals were self-seeded based on estimated pace (6/7/8/9/10 minute miles).Compared to other 5Ks, RNR definitely offers more amenities. Half Marathon Sunday was part two for those of us doing the remix challenge (running the Saturday and Sunday events). For the longer events, RNR seeds corrals based on estimated finish time, though they are not enforced. This was obvious over the first few miles when we encountered plenty of walkers (which for people with my corral would not involve much walking). 2015 brought a new course, but since I'd never run this one before, I can't compare. It was continuously hilly, and heavily on concrete streets (which I really felt later in the race), many of which were in poor condition, which meant I spent a lot of the race looking down to avoid tripping hazards. For a RNR event, this course seemed to be light on the entertainment. There were a handful of bands, which were really good, but then long stretches with no music and a few spots where there were speakers hooked up to a sound system. Kudos to the volunteers along the course and at the finish line. You are so appreciated!! As far as scenery, I loved running over the new bridge and near the turtle creek park. We finished at the American Airlines Center. Crowd support was great when we came across it, but again, long stretches without. Not my favorite event, but always well organized by the Competitor Group.

This was my 5th year running this race. The series has races all over the world and this is one…read morestop of many. I will be running RnR San Diego in June and totally looking forward to it! It's a great way to see the city. This race is always very organized with bag/gear check, and the volunteers and spectators are always awesome. The expo where you pick up your race packet was stocked with swag and goodies. I love getting my drawstring bag every year as well as the dri fit shirt. The medal was great this year too! It's a pricey race but you do get a bang for your buck so it's worth it. My only issue with the shirts would be that they would make them more gender specific. Other than that I very much enjoy this race and will definitely be back next year! Up next San Diego!!

PR or ER was not the motto for this one. Fast finishing is not my speciality on this distance…read more I've been extremely sedentary the past 7 months (I don't even know who I am anymore) and have had a few injuries including multiple plantar plate tears in my left foot, but there was no way I wasn't going to run the Dallas marathon since I'm here. That was until we were headed to the start line and it was beyond freezing. Literally. Real Feel less than 20 degrees. Hell to the No No, this is not optimal for me. I told my bff I just can't do it today, there's no way I'm going to pull this one out of my a** in these conditions. I bundled up in a very serious way (never had so much on for a marathon, it's a shocker I could even move in this many layers) and imagined I'd strip this off before the start but then decided there's just no way I can manage this distance in this temp. He later told me, the only reason I ran this marathon and ended up getting out of the car (after saying drive me there, but I'm not getting out of this car) was because I had to use the restroom. Facts. I ran the marathon but he deserves the medal for braving the temps he did to provide support for me. This marathon can basically be summed up as the Jack and Coke run for me, although it was never Jack - I did stop at 3 different miles for some serious heavy pour whiskey shots to warm up and drown whatever pain I imagined I'd be in store for. I'd briefly studied the course/elevation chart the evening prior and knew this course would probably feel ok, pancake flat can really take a toll on me where rolling hills help switch up the muscle groups which I feel is always better for your body. I was frozen solid the entire race, each time I stopped to meet bestie at our designated miles 10, 18 and 23 or use the restroom- I'd quickly remove a glove and my hand would just burn from the cold. I couldn't slip my ear warmer away from my ears even for a moment and I legit had my thickest hoodie on with the hood tied up and over my ear warmer and hat most of the race. I love me some cloud cover but I was out here praying for some sunshine, none until the finish - go figure! All in all this marathon is extremely well executed. Registration, Expo, Start Line, Finish, Course Support, Spectators, you name it - it's a job well done in every aspect. The course is great as an out and back. The rolling hills are gradual enough to provide the fluctuation your body needs. I cursed the bridges around the lake, they were causing serious vertigo on a body that was on the brink of hypothermia. It took a moment to realize they were actually shaking and I wasn't on the verge of a seizure. The spectators were strong, it never felt deserted. I will say Texas loves their alcohol, I've never seen so many bars and shots set up. The entire race was one big bar. I'm very thankful for the little snackies that were out. I had a mini donut hole and an orange slice here and there. My go to marathon fuel remains the same, I always pack cheez its, Coca Cola has been brought into the rotation the past couple of years (I dont consume soda and had it on a course once and it was life changing), and a little sweet treat (cookies or gummy bears). I rarely if ever can stomach brekke prior so it's usually a few cheez its, a bite or two of a sweet treat (cookies), a sip or two of coke, a few Advil for shits and giggles - it's preventative folks! a pack of Bloks, sips of Gatorade at the stations, smart water and whatever else sparks my interest along the course. This time lots of whiskey! I will go out on a limb and say this course is probably a good one for a PR if you actually train for the race. Congrats to all the finishers and a huge shout out to the exceptional volunteers and spectators who were out here doing gods work in these below freezing temps, ya'll are the real MVPs.

Super organized race. Only thing I can complain about is the lack of pre-race restrooms. There were…read morethousands of people there and about 10 porta-potties available near the start. Other than that, this was a beautiful course and I would do it again.

This is one of the best things I've ever been a part of. The food was excellent by all vendors,…read morepeople were friendly, the lines moved quickly, the alcohol was fantastic, and the ambiance was great for this event. You come in and get to immediately drink and eat until your heart is content. Unlimited samples and I will be checking out a lot of these restaurants and businesses. There was no real need for some of the non-food/alcohol vendors, but they were nice. My favorite dish was the Vegan Boudin Balls from Le Rouge Cuisine Food Company. Very easily got my vote for best food. Best alcohol was the Blue Chair Rum that I will now stock my liquor cabinet with. Can't wait for next year.

Annual ritual coming here, but unless they make some changes, I do not know if I will be coming…read moreback. Ambiance - 4/5 - Overall, nothing has changed much other than the type of restaurants that were here this year. It is still basically a HUGE warehouse where different restaurants come together and offer unlimited samples. Service - 5/5 - Not really applicable here, but everyone is more than willing to hand you samples. Food - 3/5 - This is where I was bummed out. There wasn't anything really memorable this year. I miss the candied bacon, or bbq samples from last year. I honestly cannot think of something that was really amazing this year. We were able to score free tickets, but at $45 a pop for others, it really was not worth it this year.

This is our second year participating in CitySolve's Urban Race around Downtown Dallas. Because we…read morewere involved last year, we received an email in late December to register for $25/person, which is a really good price compared to other same type race. Also, there were Living Social deals that offered the same price weeks before the race. This year was much better than last because they had better, much more difficult clues. You have to solve 9 out of the 10 clues given with two mandatory clues. There was one clue that was ambiguous so it took us on a detour. When we got back, the organizer of the event decided to accept more answers. Because you had to take pictures and show it to the volunteers at the end of the race, it took a while to turn everything in. The after party was neat because The Greek hosted it and gave away complimentary flat breads and happy hour priced drinks. They had raffle prizes, costume contest, and cash/cash equivalent prizes for top three. We will definitely race again next year if they'll have us.

What a nice looking area. I love how they have modernized it but still kept some of that art deco…read morecharm. This stadium also has the most decently priced concessions I've seen. We sat pretty high up and we're still able to see everything really well. For parking we parked maybe a 8-10 min walk away to avoid all the traffic. Wasn't bad

I flew from OK to VT to help my daughter with her delivery of her first child …read more I live in tornado alley and was concerned that the flight would be cancelled due to weather concerns. I have a hard time flying with a heart condition anyway but be left in a place such as Chicago and can't get to my destination, it would devastate me and it was only logical to cancel the flight and drive . And know that I will get home safe . But to never be able to get a partial refund on my fight is unacceptable. I had no problem with even a 1/4 of the cost . But give me a credit that I can NOT and will NOT use is horrible customer service. I am not asking for a full refund of my return flight, I am asking for a partial refund. I will never let my family fly with a cheap pathetic airline again .

The Dallas Marathon Health & Fitness Expo is located in Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention center in…read moreDecember for the BWM Dallas Marathon, Half, and Friday night lights offering tons of freebies in an all-around fun environment! I arrived early in the morning to beat all the foot traffic and was able to snag all the goodies without waiting in long massive lines. I would say the longest line I waited in was for the glass BMW water bottle and it was totally worth it! The expo was well organized and had ample staff to assist you in any possible way you needed. The packet BIB pickup was completed in seconds as to where you simply go to the packet pick up and tell the staff your name and they easily locate your BIB number and hand it to you along with your shirt. They also supply a clear bag for race day for all your belongings that you don't want to bring with you on the run you can check in and they will hold it for you. As for the vendors they had everything from the latest and newest shoes to gels and clothing items and much more. This Expo was truly one of the best I have ever attended due to the organization and the friendly staff that made this happen for all the runners in the community!

This is one of my favorite marathon packet pick up expos I go to all year. It's very organized,…read morethere's a ton of runner swag and free samples, and you could pretty much stay in there all day (although, if you're running 26.2 the very next day I do not recommend it). Often times they will sell runner essentials at a discounted rate, and you can pick up your energy gels/last minute race stuff like socks, etc there. Plenty of parking at the convention center and it's easy to get in and out. A+ on a job well done, Dallas Marathon!

I have said before that I am not a guitar player. But I am surrounded by them so naturally, I found…read moremyself at the Dallas Guitar Show. And I'll gladly return year after year. For me, the live music is where it's at. Seriously talented local artists who can get anyone excited about the crazy amount of talent that's packed into Market Hall annually. There is something for everyone - vintage, records, custom, whatever makes you giddy, you'll find it. The Guitar Center booth was huge & they had the best selection by far. I was pumped to spend just enough of my Sunday afternoon supporting the musicians in my life and the amazing craft of so many guitar companies.

First of all, how has the Dallas Guitar Show never been given a review! This thing is a huge event…read morein the metroplex. But let's get down to business... This event gets 5 out of 5 because it is the best exhibition of guitar manufacturing I've ever seen. Dallas Market Hall was bursting at the seams with booths showing off all manner of guitar and rock paraphernalia. 2 dealers worth mentioning are Crow Hill Guitars and Not Just Stands. Crow Hill Guitars, from Erik Smith, makes the most beautiful guitars and basses I've ever had the pleasure of playing. He was a terrifically friendly guy that proved guitar creation can be a form of art (if only he were located here in Dallas). Not Just Stands creates stands for amplifiers that are shaped like guitars. These stands are handmade and expertly crafted, no half-ass work here. Owner, Larry Davis, also restores tub amps, a lost art among the digitally lazy. Yet why give a guitar show 5 stars just for a few notable booths? Don't be dumb! It's because Ted Effing Nugent played at 4:30 on Sunday. The Nugent is a rock god and will take any rock show to another level but his conservative political rhetoric and guitar destruction will elevate the audience into the stratosphere. He complained that the poor lighting was caused by "Obama voters" and wrote Cat Scratch Fever while killing beavers in Michigan. "It's what I do, I kill beavers." He rocked the audience for a solid hour and when called on us to demand the next song, we asked for Stranglehold. "Y'all need a little Stranglehold and can only get it right here in Texas." He went on to demonstrate how to play the opening riff to Stranglehold and challenged the audience, "If anyone can play this riff better than I, I'll suck your d*** right here on stage." We promptly went crazy. You want a good show, have a plethora of guitars and basses on display. You want a great show, throw terrific deals at the consumer like a 5800 dollar Shecktor bass for only 2500 bucks. You want an amazing show, top off the weekend with Ted Nugent and some mind blowing guitar work.

Very well orchestrated event that goes to help out people with MS. The chefs who are chosen to be…read morethere are extremely talented and it's amazing what all they can do. There is so much to do, so much to eat, so much to drink. I think this is my favorite event of the year.

WOW, WOW, WOW! A spectacular annual event this is. Three hours of pure fun along with ooos and…read moreaahs with the coming of the Christmas and Holiday spirit within us all there at Sammons Park! The electrifying performances from Rae Lynn and En Vogue this year made the whole crowd with our blinking Reliant Santa hats clapping and dancing! The anticipation grew with the countdown to the magnificent lighting of a million lights to the trees, followed by a jaw dropping fireworks display! Worth the wait were the long lines for photo opt with Santa, to be photographed in front of a brilliant star motif, and for a couple glasses of wine in hand! My gratitude to those who sponsored this FREE event for our great city. Loved it. See u next year! CHEERS!

The fireworks were spectacular…read more Went to this event a few years ago (I think they started in 2012), it was a little different. They lost the food trucks this year. Instead, they had concession booths this time around. Also, they lost the snow rink, which was real fun and replaced them with free Santa photo-op and kid's crafts activity. They also lost a great light show. They projected lights onto big buildings a couple years ago and made it a dynamic show. This year, they just projected a static logo onto the huge buildings. Having said all that, the main activities stayed the same, which was free give-aways of blinking twinkling Reliant santa hats, fireworks, and concert. I probably won't spend $17 for Lexus parking in the future. It's much easier to park elsewhere than going around trying to find Lexus parking.