Founded 1963 Relaunched 2019. The Postmodern South.
Dallas TX
Dallas TX

Dallas TX

Lose Yourself in Books and Records at @HalfPriceBooks

Half Price Books and Records in Dallas might be the largest used book store in America, or close to it. Of course there are other locations in Texas, as well as in several other states, but this flagship store on Northwest Highway in Dallas is the original location and company headquarters. The store is filled with used and cut-out books, compact discs and vinyl record albums, all at remarkably low prices. Visit them at http://www.hpb.com/001.html for more info. 

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Rewind Music and More-Dallas, TX

Rewind Music and More is one of Dallas’ premiere stores for hip-hop, gospel and blues CD’s and mixtapes. After a number of years in Oak Cliff’s Wynnewood Village, they have relocated to a store front at 3823 Ross Avenue just northeast of downtown Dallas. They’re definitely worth a visit for any fans of Texas rap. And remember, there’s no experience quite like visiting an independent record store. 

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Inside the Headquarters of Music Access in Dallas

While in Dallas, I got a chance to tour the headquarters of Music Access, the only music one-stop still functioning in the South. Their attractive building (complete with courtyard and barbecue grill) is in the process of being enlarged and remodeled. If you own a retail shop and want to carry compact discs in your store, they are a valuable resource. Like them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Music-Access-Inc/120367634642544. 

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Arriving in Dallas at midnight and hungry? No problem if you like gourmet hamburgers. Just head over to West Village’s Village Burger Bar (open until 2 AM) and order a delicious hamburger and fries. You could even enjoy it on the outdoor patio with its unique fire-pit. If you’re not fortunate enough to be in Dallas, you can visit them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Village-Burger-Bar/173162477461.

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Arriving in Dallas at midnight and hungry? No problem if you like gourmet hamburgers. Just head over to West Village’s Village Burger Bar (open until 2 AM) and order a delicious hamburger and fries. You could even enjoy it on the outdoor patio with its unique fire-pit. If you’re not fortunate enough to be in Dallas, you can visit them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Village-Burger-Bar/173162477461.

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Kottonmouth-Dallas Hardhitters

From his beginning as one-half of the legendary Texas rap group P.K.O., Kottonmouth has been a consistent figure on the Texas rap scene. Now he returns with a new album Dallas Hardhitters, featuring appearances from Tum Tum, Lil Keke, Trae and Mr. Pookie, which will hit stores on February 21. This is not an album to be missed.

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Mahalia Jackson Chicken in Dallas TX, 1969

Back in June, I blogged about the Mahalia Jackson Chicken System after I had seen one of their old buildings in Tallahassee. The African-American franchise venture was started in 1968 by Dr. Benjamin Hooks and State Representative A. W. Willis Jr in Memphis as an experiment in Black entrepreneurship. Mahalia Jackson had always been a supporter of Black business as well and had her own recipe for fried chicken. Besides that, it was the late 1960’s, and thanks to Colonel Sanders, franchising was the hottest thing going. Some research in old newspapers at the University of Memphis led to these photos and advertisements from the Dallas, Texas store, which was on Forest Avenue in South Dallas. While the logo and graphics are the same, the building architecture is slightly different from the standard ones seen in Orange Mound on Park Avenue, in Milwaukee, in South Memphis or in Tallahassee. Now if I could only find their chicken recipe…

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