This list from BuzzFeed, “30 ways you know you live in Dallas” has been making the social media rounds this week. While I agree with most of them, Oak Cliff isn’t really mentioned except at No. 24, which is “You love the Bishop Arts District because it’s not too … ‘Dallas.'”
We need our own list. So here it is. The BuzzFeed-style 30 ways you know you live in Oak Cliff:
1. You will wait for elotes at El Si Hay unless the line is more than five deep.

In which case, you drive to your second-best elotes stand.
2. You know exactly where this is.

And it fills you with hometown pride every time you see it.
3. You can walk or ride your bike to the best live-music venue in Dallas.

4. You can find Lee Harvey Oswald’s seat at the Texas Theatre.

But you’re really there for the great programming.
5. You are frustrated when you crave Aunt Stelle’s on Monday (or anytime between Labor Day and Memorial Day).
6. But thankfully, there’s always this.

7. Sunset vs. Adamson: You have a dog in that fight.
You might even wear the corresponding mum.
8. You don’t need to see a menu at Norma’s, or Eno’s, for that matter.

9. Speaking of Eno’s, you rarely go there (or any place else in Bishop Arts) on the weekends because that’s when it’s overrun with tourists from Dallas.

Unless you are entertaining a guest from out of state, in which case, Tillman’s or Hattie’s.
10. Your Instagram feed includes at least one amazing photo of a sunset, shot from Jefferson Boulevard or the Jefferson Street Viaduct.
11. You upgraded to a bike-shop bike with skinny tires because your big-box store cruiser couldn’t get you over the viaduct.

Plus, cuter.
12. You have emailed your city council representative with ideas for bike lanes or other urban-planning issues, or at least, you have attended a public meeting on those matters.
13. You know how to identify a Charles S. Dilbeck house.
14. The Oak Cliff Mirror and Glass sign is comforting because you know you’re almost home when you see it.

15. This guy.
16. You walk or otherwise exercise at Kidd Springs, Lake Cliff or Kiest Park.

You either feed or fear the ducks and geese.
17. You prefer to stay within a 2-mile radius of your house. Uptown? Lakewood? Preston flippin’ Hollow? Too. Far. Away, man. And the suburbs might as well be Siberia.
18. Half the dudes you know have beards. Some of them make furniture on the side. For paychecks, they’re mostly graphic designers.
19. You know at least one person who has a business that involves baking or remaking vintage clothing or furniture.

But there’s only one Smooth Operator.

And any number of confections from the fruiteria, like the mangonada slushie from Fruiteria Cano, above.
21. You know which restaurant has the cheapest, best margaritas depending on the day of the week.

22. You are a taco snob.

And you always know the best taquerias because you read thetacotrail.com.
23. You’re pretty much OK with the city giving Rudy’s an outrageous economic development grant of $890,000 because, dang. That chicken is good.

24. You follow the Real Housewives of Oak Cliff on Facebook.
And you’d like to take “Shay” out to Red Lobster for a cocktail sometime.
25. You have taken in a stray cat or dog from your street.

Now your house is at pet capacity, and you have begun pushing your friends and family into taking strays.
26. You curse every time you forget and turn right onto Interstate 30 from Sylvan instead of heading to the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge to Dallas.
27. At first you are jealous of your friends across the river because they have so many more options for Thai and Vietnamese food.

But then you’re all, “Whatever. They don’t have chef Justin Holt’s ramen.”
28. You daydream about uses for the “condemned motel” next to Chicken Scratch.
29. You have a very strong opinion about the Alamo Plaza Hotel Courts sign.
30. Most of all, you live here because you love your neighbors, there’s always something interesting going on, and you know Oak Cliff is the best neighborhood in Dallas.
Seems like you only did North Oak Cliff… I’m slightly offended lol. Great list anyway.
We still don’t have liquor tho…
You totally forgot the guys rolling cigars on Bishop Ave!
I’m asking $249K for my 100 year old two-story home at 330 S. Montclair!
it is not possible. the picture in the article is taken from Deep Ellum or somewhere East of downtown. you can see the Calatrava bridge in the background.
We don’t have to “go across” any more because Oak Cliff is wet now!
Chicken scratch has a billboard that says it. It’s just satire.
Who made that phrase famous?
Would like to buy that if she would sell!
I lived in OC for 30 years before moving to Colorado. Anyone know what the term “going across” means? If you don’t, then you’re just lame. If you do, then high-five me brother!
No. 15 is Jason Roberts, who co-founded The Better Block, Bastille on Bishop, Dallas Tweed Ride and many other events. No. 21, the photo was taken at El Corazon de Tejas, which has $3 margaritas during happy hour.
Well, yeah.
I realize that, Amanda. As you know, I am not the one who made that phrase famous.
THE MISSION MOTEL HAS NEVER BEEN CONDEMNED ……PLEASE GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT.
How about “you were born and raised here and still live in the neighborhood”? Doed that count?
thinking on the hill at the Belmont Hotel? maybe
Really resonate with #3, 4, 9, 14, 17, 19, #28 – all the time, would make a
nice meditation retreat center lol good practice, #21 WHERE? you tell me your margarita finds, I’ll tell you mine! #30 LOVE you and North Oak Cliff for sure ~ Hey #15 – is that the guy that started the Bandits, Beer and Blues Festival?
Scratching head, trying to figure out how it would ever be physically possible to stand in Oak Cliff and take a picture of a sunset over downtown Dallas, which is to the east.
Portlandia is alive and well in Oak Cliff!
It’s my home town! My little paradise!
I know the history and it’s little old charm.
I live in Uptown but my heart is in Oak Cliff