13 OctOber 5–11, 2023 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents TX/OU Dallas Observer Guide to Texas/OU Weekend 2023 BY J E N N I F E R DAV I S - L A M M Texas/OU Traditions If you think “boomer” is an insult to your dad and “Bevo” is an 80s group with plastic hats, then chances are, you’re not from ‘round here. Because if you’ve spent any time in Dallas during the month of October, you’ve encountered both of those terms shoe-polished on the rear windows jammed up on I-30 or hollered across the State Fair of Texas Mid- way. 2023 marks the 118th year of the classic college football matchup and all its grand traditions. And if all you know about those traditions centers around giant TV screens and beer buckets, maybe it’s time to add a little context to all this weekend’s activities—like, did you know that the OU game ball is run down nearly 200 miles from Oklahoma? The OU Midshipmen start their journey in Norman, Oklahoma, running in shifts toward Dallas over two days. When they arrive, they meet up with the UT Naval ROTC, who have run north from Austin with their game ball. The groups meet up and run the final leg into the Cotton Bowl to deliver the balls. Both groups handle the game balls with care: dropping them is bad luck. Another tradition associated with the game? The annual Red River Sing-Off at the Galleria. Held the day before the game at noon, this friendly competition features the UT Longhorn Singers and the OU Men’s Glee Club, singing school songs and other Texas/Oklahoma-centric tunes. Game day itself is rife with tradi- tions, too. Tailgating at Fair Park is a high art for Red River Rivalry revel- ers: expect to see painted/themed coolers, food, brews, and plenty of school spirit. Texas fans will find a sea of burnt orange flooding Gate 5. And finally, the set of traditions that really count: the trophies. First is the coveted Golden Hat, a gold cowboy hat presented on a wooden base--a tradition that dates back to the 1940s. The winning team is presented this hat on the field, passes it around for the players to try on, and then takes it home until the following year’s matchup. The Red River Ri- valry Trophy is exchanged between the student bodies of the universities and features imagery of both states and corresponding football helmets. Third is the Governors’ Trophy, ex- changed between the governors of Texas and Oklahoma—usually some- thing representative of the losing state is given to the lucky winner. Gameday at the State Fair of Texas This weekend is all about going big, from pep rallies to football to food— and there’s no better place than the State Fair of Texas to supersize your gameday experience. Gates to the Fair open at 9 a.m. and concessions and the midway will come alive at 10 a.m. That gives you a good 90 min- utes or so before kickoff to try some of the most talked about deep fried creations on this end of the Big 12. We suggest trying the sweet stuff before the game to help power your school spirit: check out Fernie’s Fried Cherry Pie in the Sky, a pie tart with pastry dough, cherries, and shortbread cookies topped with ice cream. If that doesn’t spike your blood sugar enough, give the Biscoff Delight a shot: it’s cheesecake coated in Biscoff cookie crumbs, topped with chocolate and pre- sented on a stick. When the game’s over, load up on the savory stuff: Deep Fried Pho is a great place to start, with noodles, beef, bean sprouts and fresh herbs rolled up and fried to perfection. It also comes with a side of dipping broth, srira- cha, hoisin and jalepeños. And of course, you have to try the Insta- grammable, artery-clogging, alco- hol-soaker-upper delight that is Loaded Fries Pizza. That’s exactly what it sounds like: pizza topped with ranch, cheese, bacon bits and fries. Grab a 2023 Visitor’s Guide when you enter the fair and zero in on your chosen bites—you can’t lose even if your team does. Texas/OU Weekend Guide This is it, football fans and Texas/OU alums: that magical weekend in Oc- tober that brings you together with 100,000 crimson or burnt-orange clad cohorts for three days of stand- still traffic, cold beers, fried food, cries of “Boomer! Sooner!” or “OU Sucks!”, and hugs of celebration…or consolation. Let’s suit up, head to the Cotton Bowl (or the nearest air- conditioned bar with drink specials and giant TVs) and make this leg- endary sports showdown one for the record books. Kick off your weekend by checking into The Statler hotel. Located just minutes away from Fair Park, this mid-century modern marvel fea- tures luxurious rooms and onsite dining for any occasion. Order up breakfast or gourmet coffee at Overeasy; the glamorous 50s-in- spired Ivi features elevated bistro fare including steaks, seafood and creative cocktails, while Scout hosts a Red River Rivalry bash with food and drink specials all day and the game on the big screens. Wrap up the evening with drinks at speak- easy Bourbon and Banter. Seeking something spicy? Hattie B’s has what you need to heat things up on game day. This Deep Ellum hot chicken outpost serves up six levels of spice, ranging from the polite “Southern” to the off-the-charts “Shut the Cluck Up”. Don’t skimp out on the sides, either: try their famous pimento mac and cheese, bacon cheddar grits, or red skin potato salad. Dessert is a must, with the ba- nana pudding competing with the divine peach cobbler for your atten- tion. Just order both, trust us. Need to commemorate this Texas/ OU weekend with a permanent sou- venir? Franklins Tattoo and Supply is your East Dallas tattoo destina- tion: this shop offers custom tattoos, piercing, clothing and professional supplies. Check out their work on Facebook and Instagram and book your appointment today. Perk up post-game with coffee and pastries from White Rhino Coffee. Order up cold brew, signatures lattes like the Toasted Coconut or the Whole Lotta Love (with lavender and honey), traditional brews, and sea- sonal faves like the Campfire Latte. Add on a quick bite like the Two Texas Breakfast Tacos, croissants, and chicken biscuits. With 10 Metro- plex locations, including Deep Ellum, Downtown, and Uptown, they’re never far away. Nothing beats TexMex after a long day in the bleachers: Ojeda’s Res- taurant, with three locations in Dal- las, Plano and Desoto, serves up mouth-watering fajita plates and all your traditional faves. Try their shrimp fajitas, spicy brisket nachos, or enchiladas verdes for dinner, or load up on breakfast tacos and hue- vos rancheros for breakfast. Need to feed the whole crew? We suggest the fajita bar for your famished foot- ball fans, with options for beef, chicken, ribeye or veggie plates. Abandoning the fried food for fine dining is a great way to cap off your weekend. We’ve got just the place: La Stella Cucina Verace, lo- cated in the Arts District, is an ele- gant Italian eatery, combining traditional cuisine and second-to- none hospitality. The dinner menu features house-made pasta, in- cluding Spaghetti Agli Scampi with prawns, cherry tomatoes, garlic and chili and Ravioli All’Aragosta with lobster and saf- fron cream. House specials like the Agnello Scottadito, featuring New Zealand lamb chops with salmori- glio sauce, shine while the wine list always impresses. Make reser- vations today for an unforgettable dining experience. If you need options for Game Day watch parties, lunch or dinner, check out Trinity Groves at the western end of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge. This sprawling complex of restaurants and dessert shops has something for ev- eryone. Sushi? Check out Temakeria. Burgers? Lexy’s is your place. Pizza? Holy Crust is right up your alley. And Cake Bar is always a good idea: order up their famous strawberry cake for a sweet treat and then take it over to Art Park to enjoy. While you’re there, check out live music, watch parties, and lawn games. Looking for some grown-up time this Texas/OU weekend? Dallas has plenty of options. Legendary Dallas gentleman’s club Baby Dolls Saloon rolls out the red carpet for Texas and OU fans to watch the game, pop some champagne and enjoy the view. Chicas Bonitas is a gameday destination, with plenty of company to help you cheer on your team and drink specials throughout the day. And Bucks Cabaret Dallas has drink specials, beautiful ladies and plenty of big screens for your game-day viewing. And finally, maybe you need to take your game day celebrations to the next level? Fly away to your next football destination with FlexJet, a full-service aviation company that gets you access to flexible travel, dedicated crew, and first-class ame- nities with their fractional ownership and leasing programs. Purchase eq- uity in an aircraft and get an alloca- tion of hours based on your ownership stake, or lease for more flexibility. Different cabin sizes are available, and the FlexJet team is ready to help you maximize your mileage.
