Dallas/Fort Worth International just soft-launched a new website, and it's quite user-friendly. Reason number one? The airport's usually-paid WiFi will let you log on for free. Beyond that, everything you'd actually want to access is right there on the front door.
For example, it's now easier to find shops, restaurants and services. For restaurants, simply go to the home page, and you can filter 'em down to cuisine and terminal--and even see PDF menus (with prices!) before you pick a spot to eat.
The live flight info has also been expanded. The site uses data from FlightStats to track arrivals and departures, also right from the home page. And since you can log on for free, you'll be able to verify if that gate announcement of a 15-minute delay is for real--or if it's time to start calling the airline's reservation number.
And since the airport figures passengers will have even more ideas about how to update the website, officials will be hosting a user feedback blog until July 2. We can only imagine the comments will be more positive than what showed up on American Airline's blog.
When President Bush is your neighbor, local barbecues are never the same: A new documentary explores the relationship of Crawford, Texas to its most famous resident, currently he of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Nearly half of the town's 705 residents turned out for the film's outdoor premiere.
Bush moved to Crawford in 1999 and brought the eyes of the world with him. Opponents of the president also used the town to influence public opinion, like when soldier's mother Cindy Sheehan took her antiwar feelings public with a protest across from Bush's ranch.
Hilariously, the IMDb summary for "Crawford" is hidden because of "spoilers," just in case you've been under a rock for the past 8 years.
Calling all boardheads! Houston is the latest city to open up a public park specifically for skateboarding. Crowds braved the scorching heat this weekend to inaugurate the Lee & Joe Jamail Skatepark in downtown's Tinsley Park, which will be open seven days a week all summer long.
The venue came to life thanks to Public Use Skateparks for Houston (PUSH), a local organization which lobbied hard for the city to follow others like Nashville, Philadelphia and Black River Falls, Wisconsin.
Houston's new skate center is named for a local Lebanese-American lawyer and his wife who made a major donation to the park, so maybe that's why--despite what you see in this photo--helmets are mandatory. The park closes at 10 pm, but check out those awesome views of the skyline!
Relatively new Mexican LCC Viva Aerobus made its first flight into Austin, Texas on May 1, and the early reviews are fairly decent. And the airline is certainly thrilled, says a spokesman:
The Austin-Cancun route has been madness. We underestimated the potential of the American market.
Flights between AUS and CUN have been close to capacity all month, says the airline. (Maybe those promotional fares of $10 each way helped?) Monterrey has proven less popular, with only about 55 percent of the seats sold on a given flight.
Apparently unconcerned about fuel prices, Viva Aerobus is looking to expand to Chicago this summer and Las Vegas this fall. The carrier needs DOT approval first, and there's one other little problem at Gary/Chicago International: The airport still needs to build out an international arrivals gate and staff it with customs agents before Viva Aerobus lands at GYY.
Mmmm, May in Texas: It's a great time to run for the nearest air-conditioned building and never leave it. But the heat didn't bother President George W. Bush as he celebrated daughter Jenna's wedding on the family ranch in Crawford, Texas. (Jenna's on the right above with twin Barbara, impolitely wearing a white dress, on the other side of their beaming parents.)
Jenna wore Oscar de la Renta for her first dance with her new husband Henry Hager, a former employee in the office of Karl Rove (who was at the wedding); the tune was Taj Mahal's "Lovin' In My Baby's Eyes." Jenna's the first child of a sitting president to wed in 16 years, but she opted not to marry at the White House. At least there she might not have seen her dad getting down to the Archies on the dance floor. Oh, uncoordinated dads, you know no politics!
Honeymoon plans have not been released, but Jenna has been traveling far and wide to promote her family-planning novel Ana's Story, even making a stop at our old high school. Now that the president's back in DC, maybe she and Henry can have a staycation on the ranch!
This week witnessed American Airlines' PR meltdown as the megacarrier canceled thousands of flights due to safety concerns. So you're single and stuck in a hub city far from friends and family... what's a seasoned traveler to do? Make the best of it by making a connection at one of these national hot spots, even in your most wrinkled suit.
In Dallas: Try not to stare at Twisted Root Burger Company (2615 Commerce St.) which serves its juicy hunks of meat with in-house root beer. More Dallas Missed Connections.
Houston is the latest city to adopt the generic and unoriginal "My (Fill in the blank of your city)" tourism campaign.
The New York Times reports that the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau has put together the "My Houston" television and print campaign where local celebrities talk about what they love about Houston:
Clay Walker, the country singer, promoted the zoo and Texas's biggest rodeo; Hilary Duff, the actress and singer, Mexican food; Oscar de la Rosa, lead vocalist of the Latino group La Mafia, cultural diversity; and the Bushes, the city's big heart and neighborliness.
Also Yao Ming, the Houston Rockets gigantic center says he likes Yao Restaurant and Bar because, well, he knows the owner. Cue monumental eye roll.
Yeah, we'd love to set you up this week, but our eyes are glued to our brackets as March Madness begins. What's spring break when we can spend the next two weeks in sticky bars yelling at the TV?
Luckily Craigslist can help you find the cilantro in your guacamole, the buffalo on your wings:
Pegasus :: This laid-back gay bar features karaoke on weekend nights and nice... nice bodies all week long. 1402 N. Main Ave.
Elizabeth's Mexican Restaurant :: This hidden gem in the city's northwestern quadrant serves up delicious tamales and eye contact with cute girls. 5251 Timberhill Dr.
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