134 September 18 - 24, 2025 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Contents | ReadeRs’ PiCks | shoPPing & seRviCes | aRts & enteRtainment | Food & dRink | sPoRts & ReCReation a few notches. And look, we know Pet- icolas’ Velvet Hammer packs a punch, but few things are more empowering than skipping the mid-course water and pounding a small cup of the high ABV imperial red ale before you tackle the final mile or so on a run, knowing you have more tasty local brews wait- ing for you at the finish line. velvethammer5k.com › BEST MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL Boulder Park In the North Texas off-road cycling scene, Boulder Park doesn’t often get the love that its southern Dallas neigh- bor, Big Cedar Wilderness, or Flower Mound’s Northshore Trail typically re- ceive, but it should. It doesn’t tend to stay closed for long after heavy rain, and when you’re on the trail, there are enough ups and downs, twists and turns, rocks and dirt for riders of all skill levels to shred and feel like they’ve had fun, but not effortlessly so. 6600 Pastor Bailey Drive › BEST BIKE SHOP Dallas Bike Works Bicycle enthusiasts can be a picky bunch, but they don’t really want any- thing unusual out of a bike shop. Great service, quality repairs and a well- stocked selection of bikes, parts and gear are enough to please most. As simple as that sounds, it’s not as com- mon as one would hope. All that is present and accounted for, however, at Dallas Bike Works near White Rock Lake. Walk into some bike shops and they either feel like fancy showrooms or cramped closets. Not DBW. You know you’re in a bike rider’s bike shop when you pedal your road ride or MTB to see for yourself. 4875 W Lawther Drive, No. 101 214-343-2453 dallasbikeworks.com › BEST SPORTING GOODS STORE Scheels Scheels in the Colony is, of course, more than a mere sporting goods store. It’s a full-fledged family attraction, complete with a candy shop, cafe, mammoth aquarium and a Ferris wheel in the center of the place. But make no mis- take, whether you’re into bikes, fishing, camping, Little League baseball, youth soccer, kayaking or hunting, you’ll have a hard time finding anywhere in North Texas that can top them, especially when you consider the one-stop-shop- ping vibe of it all. 4450 Destination Drive, The Colony 469-854-7500 scheels.com › BEST SPORTS MEDIA PERSONALITY Jake Kemp The podcast Jake Kemp hosts with Dan McDowell and Blake Jones, The Dumb Zone, is not strictly a sports pod- cast, just as the radio station they used to work for, 1310 the Ticket, is not only a sports station. But no local voice was louder, more indignant and justifiably angrier than Kemp’s after the Luka Doncic trade in February. Kemp went harder into the paint than the players he talks about, becoming a welcome leader to the countless Mavs fans who felt powerless and lost fol- lowing the shocking move. dumbzone.com › BEST UNDERRATED DALLAS SPORT Fly Fishing You might not know it, but North Texas is home to some solid fly fishing. Dallas is also home to Tailwaters Fly Fishing Co., a leading travel guide and outfitter, but also a vibrant clubhouse for the local fly fishing community and those looking to join its ranks. And a recent book, Urban Fly Fishing Dallas-Fort Worth, spotlights more than 70 access points for 17 streams and ponds throughout North Texas. We bet you didn’t know there were that many. › BEST EXERCISE CLASS Title Boxing Club Hitting stuff can be great for ridding oneself of aggression. But hitting stuff in a structured, fast-paced program in co- ordination with others doing the same has many more benefits. Yoga studios and spin classes are great and work won- ders, but there’s nothing like pairing the post-workout physical exhaustion with a healthy dose of emotional release. Title Boxing Club has many locations around North Texas to help you do just that. Multiple locations titleboxingclub.com › BEST INDOOR ROCK CLIMBING Bouldering Project Bouldering Project started in Seattle, and we’re glad they made their way down to Dallas. This gym isn’t just 8,500 square feet of bouldering space; it also has a weight room, sauna, co- working area and a yoga studio. A membership here is truly for holistic wellness, starting on the rock wall. Bouldering Project serves all levels, so whether you’re new to the rock wall or you’re an experience climber, it has something for you. 1330 Conant St. 844-676-4967 boulderingproject.com › BEST PARK Klyde Warren Park Perhaps we’ve gotten used to it being there, so it’s easy to forget just what a unique gem Klyde Warren Park is. The five beautifully arranged, manicured acres have been the festive strip of fun that connects downtown and uptown for 13 years now, yet it never looks or feels nothing less than brand new. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better example of urban oasis than the deck above Woodall Rodgers Freeway with fountains, a Mi Cocina, splash pads, a dog park and events for the family. 2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway › BEST (ACTUAL) ROCK CLIMBING Mineral Wells State Park If you’re looking to get outside and do some bouldering, Dallas isn’t exactly your friend. So with the knowledge that a trek is in order, we point you an hour west of Fort Worth, where the Peniten- tiary Hollow climbing area at Mineral Wells State Park offers a number of climbing and rappelling routes across the sandstone rock formations. This is one of the only spots in North Texas for natural rock climbing, but the views are sure to be worth the trip out west. 100 Park Road 71, Mineral Wells › BEST PUBLIC GOLF COURSE (TIE) Stevens Park Golf Course This Oak Cliff gem isn’t just the most scenic municipal course in Dallas, it’s one of the best public courses in the state. The dramatic views of downtown make this course immediately appearl- ing, and the course layout mixes things up just enough to stay interesting over 18 holes, while still being an approachable course for beginners. Stevens Park is af- fordable, walkable and surrounded by some of the city’s best post-round tacos and beer — and if you get hungry at the turn, don’t overlook the clubhouses’ ba- gel sandwiches, which will only put you back a few bucks. 1005 N. Montclair Ave. 214-670-7506 stevensparkgolf.com › BEST PUBLIC GOLF COURSE (TIE) Cedar Crest Golf Club The Cedar Crest Golf Club in southern Dallas has a storied history as home to the 1927 PGA Championship. The 18- hole course offers picturesque views of the Dallas skyline, a renovated club- house, a driving range, rolling terrain, Kelly Dearmore Scheels // BEST SPORTING GOODS STORE
