Michael used to live in Lewisville, a suburb of Dallas.
I had been to Lewisville a few times, and it seemed like pure sprawl: chain stores, fast food restaurants, big highways, and a massive landfill. When we finished cleaning out Michael’s old apartment, I got the brilliant idea to visit downtown Lewisville – a city of 100,000 people must have a cute downtown, right?
Well…
Shops and vintage signs in downtown Lewisville.
The Wayne Ferguson Plaza water feature has some very specific rules.
A monster car of sorts in downtown Lewisville, Texas.
The historic part of Lewisville was tiny because the apparently city didn’t reach 10,000 people until the 1970’s. We went on a Saturday, and it was pretty dead – most of the stores were closed, and there was only one muggy bar.
The few people walking around were wearing sarees (there was a private event at the town community center) but nothing else was going on.
Lewisville City Hall.
A historic house near downtown Lewisville, Texas.
Exploring downtown Lewisville, Texas.
After Lewisville, we went to Denton.
Denton is the northernmost city in the metro area and a double-college town. Unlike the suburban sprawl of Lewisville, Denton has a fully developed downtown with bars, restaurants, and shops that are actually open on the weekends.
Approaching the Denton County Courthouse.
Denton County Courthouse as seen from LSA Burger Co.
Confederate statue in front of the Denton County Courthouse.
LSA Burger Co. and other shops across the street from the Denton County Courthouse.
Maple Peabody’s Beauty Parlor and Chainsaw Repair.
There’s one gay bar in Denton
We went to Maple Peabody’s Beauty Parlor & Chainsaw Repair, which is Denton’s only gay bar. It feels more like a gay student union than a real bar.
Apparently Denton County has some strange liquor laws too – the bartender at Maple Peabody’s had to swipe our driver’s licenses to create a “temporary private club membership application” before serving us beer. At least they were able to serve – Texas has some completely “dry” counties.
After one drink at the gay bar, we went across the street to the cheapest bowling alley that I have ever been to. The bowling alleys near our house are outrageously expensive, so this was awesome.
I won, of course.
Bowling in Denton, Texas.
A crazy mural inside LSA Burger Co. in Denton.
Historic buildings in Denton, Texas.
A building near the town square of Denton, Texas.
The trip was fun, but I think it reaffirmed our love for Oak Lawn. I can’t imagine driving 45 minutes into the gayborhood, but apparently people that all the time.
Perhaps Texans are less sensitive about commuting than I am.
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