No offense to my dear Texan friends but prior to ERA Real Estate announcing the “Big D” (Dallas) as the 2017 ERA® International Business Conference location, I had no plans to visit the city of bright lights and die-hard sports fans.

That said, I am a magazine junkie and over the last few weeks, Dallas has popped up in quite a few articles in some of my favorite periodicals including Fitness Magazine, GOOP, People, Southern Living and Vogue. The more I read, the more excited I get!

Now, you only have so much down time during IBC but I have created a bucket list of things I want to do, see and eat in March. If I don’t get to all of them, I fully expect our ERA family to check them out for me! Here’s what has me excited: 

• Reese Witherspoon: The Southern Belle of the Oscars has opened her own clothing and
gift line – Draper James. The line is now featured in a pop-up store in Dallas Texas within the must-shop Market Highland Park Village and let’s just say, I am not leaving the Big D without the Dolly tote and Dallas coasters at right.

• BBQ: Dallas is booming with BBQ joints but it’s the new year-old restaurant, 18th& Vine BBQ, that is getting a lot of recent press. From what I read in Southern Living Magazine and on the web, it distinguishes itself from the rest by offering Kansas City – style ‘cue. I have no idea what that means but I intend to find out. The reviews are fantastic! Check out the menu here. 

• Books, History and Records: No matter what party you support, visiting the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum is pretty important. It features revolving exhibits, a 9/11 memorial, and a replica of the Oval Office (selfies anyone?). Then head over to Spinster Records where vinyl is king and live performance prevail. I definitely won’t have a full day to explore but if you do, please check out the BIG D via the Dallas CityPass for me and take pictures! It is a nine-day pass that includes admission to several sights including the Dallas Zoo and the Sixth Floor Museum (Think JFK). Go explore y’all!

• Girl Powered Eats: A soda fountain dinner spot run by uber-talented female chefs? Yes, please. I am so excited to try the deviled egg salad and the chili Fritos cornbread pie pictured at right (OMG!) at Remedy. Seriously, they had me at Fritos. Check out the menu here.

For more ideas, check out this amazing guide to Dallas in Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP newsletter. Do you have other ideas to add to my bucket list? Add them in the comments section please!