barcadia

Ditch the boring brunch and shake it up with Mom this Mother’s Day! Here are some ideas for ways to show Mom some fun.

Bowl & Barrel – Grab your bowling shoes and buy Mom a barrel cocktail and a giant soft pretzel.

Mutt’s Canine Cantina – Bring all the bitches (err … dogs) along to enjoy the weather while sipping on a rocks Margarita made with 100% agave tequila and orange liqueur.

LOOK Cinema – Drop in for a movie and a cocktail, followed by dinner at the adjacent Coal Vines (which has a full bar).

Anvil Pub – Get Mom shitty with Anvil Pub’s monstrous anti-brunch, F**k Brunch. Choose from a huge mason jar of bloody mary, mimosa, screwdriver, and sangria, paired with a beer and garnishes big enough to count as a meal.

L’Acqua Nail Spa – Make a reservation for a mom/daughter* mani/pedi, which always includes complimentary booze. (Oh … and it’s BYOB and BYO food.) *Men are welcome, too … obvi.

Klyde Warren Park – Take a (literal) walk in the park and enjoy the April weather. Grab a bite at Meso Maya (Downtown has a killer patio) and then finish the meal off with a (read 10) minis from Trailercakes.

Barcadia – Give your mom the chance to beat you at Skiball or Giant Jenga. Sometimes competition is the best way to bond.

IFLY Indoor Skydiving** – This is a fun (and safe) way to bond with Mom. See how she handles the 1400 hp vertical wind tunnel! Grab some BBQ in Frisco at 3 Stacks Smokehouse after … because this …

**Book a flight at dallas.iflyworld.com.

To top off the day, stop into TGI Fridays for one of their “mom-friendly” drinks, or go ahead and make them yourself!

Peach Sangria

¾ oz. Hendrick’s Gin
¼ oz. St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
2 oz. Seven Daughters Moscato
¼ oz. Honey Simple Syrup
½ oz. Peach Purée
2 oz. Fresh Sour Rocks Mix
2 Peach Slices, thawed
3 Strawberry Slices

Cosmo Noir

2 ½ parts Raspberry Vodka
1 part Lemon Juice
1 part Vanilla Syrup
1 ½ parts Pinot Noir (floated)

I thought it was about time to write up one of my most frequented spots in Dallas… I’ve been afraid I wouldn’t do it justice – but here it goes.

Barcadia is a formerly-hipster hangout that has been invaded by the usual Dallasites. You can still find some tattooed, plaid-clad, bearded/pink-haired people, but I am afraid to say most of them have moved on … except for on a Wednesday when they return to Barcadia to play Street Fighter II and Skee Ball with a PBR in hand.

If you haven’t yet been to Barcadia and live in Dallas, shame on you. This bar has so much character and even offers free games on a Tuesday … that’s right … free 80s arcade games. They have a bevy of game choices: Astroids, Mario Brothers (both original and new), Donkey Kong Junion, Ms. Pac Man, Q*Bert, Millipede, Star Wars, Spy Hunter, Robotron, Phoenix, Joust, Galaga, Defender, Tempest, pinball, and, not to be outdone, three giant jenga sets with entertaining graffiti.

I can only think of one bad night I had at Barcadia and it wasn’t the bar’s fault at ALL. The drinks are strong, induce a fun party atmosphere, and inspire irresponsible behavior. The music is fanTAStic along with the fun bar art, TVs are HD and easily seen, and the porch is HUGE and encourages you to meet your table neighbors.

Barcadia tips: watch your feet when playing Jenga in sandals, never give the bartender a hard time but DO flirt, don’t talk to strangers in the bathroom, drink PBR

Drink strength: 4
Overall: 4.8 (I can’t give up the 5 yet!)

Barcadia
www.barcadiadallas.com
1917 North Henderson Avenue | (214) 821-7300