+1 for Hackberry Creek.  Had a fine time there this Spring.

MalibuRenter - 27 May 2009 06:48 PM

I have come across an interesting comparison.  Irving, TX versus Irvine, CA.

Population: Irvine 201,160, Irving 199,505.  Almost identical.
Density: Irvine 4356 people per square mile, Irving 2968.  As you would expect, Irvine has crammed more housing units in per square mile.
Median household income: Irvine $98,923, Irving $45,337. 
Median home price, early 2009; Irvine $540k, Irving $160k.
Drop from peak: Irvine about 33%, Irving about 20%.

Both areas are master planned.  Irving has an early example of the large master planning in Las Colinas.  Oddly, both contain a major street called MacArthur. 

Lots of corporate headquarters in both.  Irvine has Allergan, In N Out, Standard Pacific, and Taco Bell.  Irving has Exxon, Fluor, and Chuck E Cheese.  Interestingly, Fluor was headquartered in OC just north of Irvine until 2005.  They used to be a client of mine. 

Anyone here been to both places?

I lived in the Dallas Ft. Worth Area for about 12 years in the 80’s and early 90’s.  The weather was a negative for me.  My roof got damaged 3 times due to the hail storms during the spring rain seasons.  Summers were hot and it can stay around 90 degrees at night.  Winter can be pretty bad with the wind blowing South from Kansas and Oklahoma.  The biggest negative for me was that the ocean was at least 7 hours away in Galveston and the mountains were 12 hours away in New Mexico.  There are plenty of of lakes around but they were not the same as walking on the sand in Laguna Beach.

There are really nice areas in many parts of the city.  3,000 - 4,000 square foot lake front homes can be had for less that $500k.  Property taxes are high but with median price homes between $150k to $200k, on average you pay about the same.  The biggest plus is no State Income Tax.  Texas doesn’t waste money like California so they provide vital services for a lot less.  The Dallas Area has some tremendous school districts (i.e. Plano, South Lakes) so you can buy in those areas and your kids can get a great education.

If you can’t afford to buy a home here, Dallas is not a bad choice.

I just sold a home in Steeplechase in June of last year, which is very near to Maliburenter’s new digs.  I have also lived in Houston and Austin. 

I think Texas is the perfect place to live if you are a homebody and love a McMansion, or if you love inviting friends over to BBQ every weekend, or if you love going to a restaurant and a movie.  The simple life.  And it is extremely family friendly. 

But all that can get old real quick - and the heavy air laden with bugs is just not inviting to me.  And forget about driving to anywhere but somewhere else in Texas!

While I wouldn’t mind moving back to Texas, I am going to have to go with the CA weather.

I have just found something which is much more annoying in TX.  Imagine your landlord pays all of the utilities.  The power goes out, and your landlord’s voicemail is full.  And there are at least 6 possible electric utility companies serving you.

They appear to have no central way of telling you whose account it is.  If you are the one paying the utility bill everything looks fine.  We almost had to switch services in order to get the power turned back on.

Here is another unusual thing in Dallas.  Automatic shopping cart stoppers, which keep people from taking the carts outside of the parking lot.  http://carttronics.com/

A lot of places have them here.  Today, I was surprised when the Kroger one wouldn’t even make it to the Target next door.  They share a parking lot.

This may help explain the fewer visible homeless people, and why there aren’t shopping carts scattered around the neighborhood by neighbors who didn’t drive to the store, and don’t carry things by hand. 

Well, there is another group, people who are taking the carts to use for hauling things completely unrelated to the store.

I found an interesting tool on Weather.com , http://www.weather.com/outlook/events/weddings/setthedate/average/compare?from=wed_setdate_compare&clocid1=75229&clocid2=91364

This allows you to compare climate from two zip codes, using the same source data.  When comparing Woodland Hills (a rather warm part of LA County) to Preston Hollow in Dallas, you find that the people who keep saying it’s hotter in Dallas are wrong.  They also are not quite right about whether it cools off at night in TX.  It does cool off, but not quite as much as Woodland Hills.

The big glaring difference you can see from the website’s comparison wasn’t mentioned by anyone here yet.  In Dallas, it rains in summer and fall.  In Woodland Hills, you get almost no precipitation.

MalibuRenter - 30 May 2009 07:09 PM

Here is another unusual thing in Dallas.  Automatic shopping cart stoppers, which keep people from taking the carts outside of the parking lot.  http://carttronics.com/

A lot of places have them here.  Today, I was surprised when the Kroger one wouldn’t even make it to the Target next door.  They share a parking lot.

This may help explain the fewer visible homeless people, and why there aren’t shopping carts scattered around the neighborhood by neighbors who didn’t drive to the store, and don’t carry things by hand. 

Well, there is another group, people who are taking the carts to use for hauling things completely unrelated to the store.

These are common in many places.  Stores here in Riverside have them, and have prominent signs posted talking about them.

MalibuRenter - 31 May 2009 11:51 AM

I found an interesting tool on Weather.com , http://www.weather.com/outlook/events/weddings/setthedate/average/compare?from=wed_setdate_compare&clocid1=75229&clocid2=91364

This allows you to compare climate from two zip codes, using the same source data.  When comparing Woodland Hills (a rather warm part of LA County) to Preston Hollow in Dallas, you find that the people who keep saying it’s hotter in Dallas are wrong.  They also are not quite right about whether it cools off at night in TX.  It does cool off, but not quite as much as Woodland Hills.

Live through several summers in Dallas, then we’ll talk.  You can compare web information all you want, but you have yet to live in Dallas long enough to truly understand what many of us are talking about.  And, one summer doesn’t cut it.  Something your web data doesn’t mention is the humidity levels.  The moisture is a real energy zapper.  Additionally, the humidity creates a “heat index” - the temp it “feels like” due to various factors…one of them being humidity.  Something else your web data fails to address.  While the actual temperature in Dallas may be 98^, add in the 80% humidity, the heat index may be 105^ (just an example…..not necessarily an actual HI number).  The high 90’s your expected to see this weekend (98, 99, 96), with the likely moisture levels due to the recent rain…..it will feel much hotter.

Then there’s those pesky tornadoes. 

The big glaring difference you can see from the website’s comparison wasn’t mentioned by anyone here yet.  In Dallas, it rains in summer and fall.  In Woodland Hills, you get almost no precipitation.

Well, for me personally, I didn’t mention it because it’s a given…..like saying it snows in NY during the winter.  Once you go east of CA, it rains year round.  If you’ve lived your entire life in SoCal, then it would be a glaring difference.  I grew up in NJ, moved to SoCal when I was 13, then moved to Dallas when I was 25, so I don’t perceive it as a “glaring difference”.  Plus, I travel all over the US for business, so I have a good understanding of weather differences across the US at various times of the year.

BTW - I’m not trying to poo-poo living in Dallas.  We really loved it there, and don’t regret the 16+ years we spent in TX.  Seeing what’s happening in CA makes me wonder if we made the right decision to come back to here…..

“Seeing what’s happening in CA makes me wonder if we made the right decision to come back to here…..”

I know.  The State was a client of mine at my former job.  I know their finances in a lot of detail.  The hole the State is in in very deep, and they didn’t realize how much of their revenue was indirectly from the bubble.  The end of the bubble is like having 20% of the workforce unemployed. 

I’m not sure what will happen to the quality of life over the next 2-5 years in CA.  The drop in revenues will last for years.  There are a number of expenditures in the State budget which are exceptionally difficult to cut.  I think the furloughs will get longer, and the State will cut way back on money going to local entities.

MalibuRenter - 03 June 2009 06:11 PM

I’m not sure what will happen to the quality of life over the next 2-5 years in CA.  The drop in revenues will last for years.  There are a number of expenditures in the State budget which are exceptionally difficult to cut.  I think the furloughs will get longer, and the State will cut way back on money going to local entities.

As a start, if the state and Fed would stop financing illegals (health, welfare, SS benies, etc), we might, just might, be able to dig ourselves out.  It would help, but clearly there’s significantly more that needs to be done.

Adam Ginsberg - 05 June 2009 11:34 AM

MalibuRenter - 03 June 2009 06:11 PM

I’m not sure what will happen to the quality of life over the next 2-5 years in CA.  The drop in revenues will last for years.  There are a number of expenditures in the State budget which are exceptionally difficult to cut.  I think the furloughs will get longer, and the State will cut way back on money going to local entities.

As a start, if the state and Fed would stop financing illegals (health, welfare, SS benies, etc), we might, just might, be able to dig ourselves out.  It would help, but clearly there’s significantly more that needs to be done.

One of the problems is, if a million people (legal or illegal) left the state, real estate problems would get worse.  There would be an even bigger vacancy rate.

I have been surprised at how many of the same retail places are in both LA and Dallas.  They are even arranged the same way inside.  That can be creepy sometimes, like a spatial form of deja vu.

Of the places that I have gone to frequently in LA, these are the same in Dallas:
Lowes, Home Depot, Bank of America, Chase, Bed Bath Beyond, Sears, Target, Anthropologie, CVS, Apple Store, Fry’s and Best Buy.

Somewhat different:
Many of the Albertson’s on Dallas don’t sell wine, beer, or other alcohol. 

Not in Dallas:
In N Out, Carl’s Jr, Trader Joe’s, Disneyland. 

Not in Los Angeles:
Central Market http://www.centralmarket.com/
Twisted Root Burger
Whataburger (and LA is probably better off without it)
BassPro, politically incorrect for Los Angeles, but a very interesting place, http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId;=-1&appID=94&storeID=18 .  The one in Dallas is so big it has it’s own freeway exit.

MalibuRenter - 06 June 2009 06:43 PM

BassPro, politically incorrect for Los Angeles, but a very interesting place, http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId;=-1&appID=94&storeID=18 .  The one in Dallas is so big it has it’s own freeway exit.

We have a Bass Pro at Victoria Gardens shopping center.

SoCal78 - 06 June 2009 11:37 PM

MalibuRenter - 06 June 2009 06:43 PM

BassPro, politically incorrect for Los Angeles, but a very interesting place, http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId;=-1&appID=94&storeID=18 .  The one in Dallas is so big it has it’s own freeway exit.

We have a Bass Pro at Victoria Gardens shopping center.

Rancho Cucamonga is in Riverside County.  There are a number of things related to hunting which are easier to do or find in Riverside than Los Angeles.

Actually, Rancho Cucamonga is in San Bernardino County, but the point is still valid.

MalibuRenter - 06 June 2009 06:43 PM

Somewhat different:
Many of the Albertson’s on Dallas don’t sell wine, beer, or other alcohol.

Don’t forget - you’re in the “Bible Belt”.  It’s only recently (within the past ~5 or so years) that several cities are no longer dry, and have done away with the whole ridiculous “membership” thing.

I don’t think you’ll ever find a grocery store that sells hard liquor (whisky, vodka, etc) in Dallas.  Our local Kroger sold beer and wine, but nothing more powerful.  You have to go to a liquor store.

Not in Dallas:
In N Out, Carl’s Jr, Trader Joe’s, Disneyland. 

Oddly enough, you’ll find Carl’s Jr in some outer lying areas, but not in the large metropolitan cities.  And certainly not in the numbers like CA.

Trader Joe’s was something we sorely missed while living in TX.  Although they don’t carry everything for our needs, we love shopping there.

Not in Los Angeles:
Central Market http://www.centralmarket.com/
Twisted Root Burger
Whataburger (and LA is probably better off without it)
BassPro, politically incorrect for Los Angeles, but a very interesting place, http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId;=-1&appID=94&storeID=18 .  The one in Dallas is so big it has it’s own freeway exit.

Whataburger is a TX classic.  Great place to grab a damn fine burger after a late night out. 

The BassPro shop you linked is very close to our former home.  We used to go there for bow equipment for our youngest - the place is huge.  Try the steakhouse on site - Big Buck Brewery & Steakhouse.

When we first moved to TX, we noticed allot of similarities between Dallas and LA, and it surprised us.

There are extensive rumors that Trader Joe’s is coming, especially starting in Ft Worth and then Dallas.

Yes, a few Carl’s outside of the City.  Dallas is covered with Sonic locations.  Seem to be more of them and Subway than McDonald’s.

There was a really interesting case of In N Out having a Texas stalker/impersonator.  It’s the first corporate case of this kind I can remember.  We’re not talking counterfeit DVDs.  http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2002/03/25/story6.html

” Hooked on the tasty burgers, James Van Blaricum said he just wanted to own a piece of the In-N-Out Burgers fast-food chain, highly popular on the West Coast.

But documents filed in ensuing court cases in California and Texas allege the Dallas investor’s passion for burgers strayed into espionage and theft after the family owned chain in Irvine, Calif., rejected his offer to invest in or open a franchise.

In a lawsuit filed in Dallas County District Court Jan. 22, In-N-Out says Van Blaricum set in motion an “elaborate industrial espionage scheme.” In an earlier federal suit in California, a former company executive of Van Blaricum’s enterprise said the investor used an array of high-tech tools to “replicate In-N-Out in virtually every respect.”

Van Blaricum could not be reached for comment. Attorneys on both sides have declined to discuss the cases.

Van Blaricum had high aspirations, looking to open 1,000 fast-food burger joints in 10 years and take his company public in half that time, said Jason Newling, Van Blaricum’s former vice president of operations, in federal court filings Oct. 10. Those dreams crumbled, according to the records, when Newling blew the whistle in the summer of 2001.

At the time the California suit was filed in October, court records show, Van Blaricum’s Dallas-based upstart restaurant known as Lightning Burgers had opened its first location at Six Flags Mall in Arlington and had land leases for five more Texas locations.

Van Blaricum and a group of his former employees admitted, among other things, to stealing trade secrets, uniforms, training materials and financial reports from In-N-Out, according to court documents filed by In-N-Out.

Parties to the California suit agreed to a settlement in November that requires Van Blaricum and his associated companies to pay $250,000 to In-N-Out. His seven former employees agreed to pay $250 each.

The settlement also called for Lightning Burgers to cease operations and barred all defendants from working for any burger business associated with Lightning Burgers.

In January, In-N-Out filed a Texas suit against Six Flags Mall L.P., owner of the Arlington mall, for allowing the business to continue. In-N-Out obtained a temporary restraining order preventing the use of the name Lightning Burgers anywhere in the mall.

The business there that now officially operates without a name is known among employees as “the burger place.” At one point, the restaurant had an overhead menu advertising such items as the “Thunder Burger” and “Lightning Fries.”

Mall spokesman Tom Morris said the mall terminated Van Blaricum’s lease and has reached a confidential settlement with In-N-Out. The mall is now the owner of the burger business, Morris said.

“Six Flags Mall is more or less on the side of In-N-Out, and Six Flags believes In-N-Out is on the side of Six Flags,” Morris said. He added the unnamed restaurant “is in the process of being sold to a national chain.”

Newling said in the court papers he raised concerns about “blatantly copying In-N-Out” when Van Blaricum first approached him in the fall of 1999. Newling, who worked for Van Blaricum between August 1999 and June 2001, said he and Van Blaricum were associates in previous business ventures.

Newling said he later decided “what we were doing was wrong, and I decided I could no longer be involved in this theft of In-N-Out’s confidential and proprietary information.”

Newling also said Van Blaricum was “obsessed with copying In-N-Out down to the last detail.”

To copy the burger’s famous taste, Newling said he placed samples of In-N-Out’s meat, cheese, buns and spread in “kyro-vac” containers that lowered the temperature and sucked out the air. The food samples were then sent to testing facilities for analysis.

“We found vendors who were willing to provide us with meat, cheese, buns and spread to replicate the samples,” Newling said.

While working at an In-N-Out Burger store in Nevada, Newling said in court documents he would sneak inside between 2 and 4 a.m. to record the dimensions of the store. Using a digital camera, Newling shot “hundreds” of photographs of the store’s equipment and e-mailed them to Van Blaricum in Dallas, according to court documents.”

The BassPro shop you linked is very close to our former home.  We used to go there for bow equipment for our youngest - the place is huge.  Try the steakhouse on site - Big Buck Brewery & Steakhouse.

When we first moved to TX, we noticed allot of similarities between Dallas and LA, and it surprised us.

Somewhere between the kayak test pool and the fishing equipment, I missed the steakhouse.  Since it was a hot day and no one was in the kayak pool, they let our Lab in for a swim.

Last night, and continuing through this morning, we are getting lots of thunder, lightning, and heavy rains.  I remember storms like this from when I lived in KY and Chicago.  Fun to watch from the safety of your house.  Not so much fun if you are on a flight.

Sometimes winter storms in LA are this bad or worse.  However, there is a big difference.  In LA, it is usually cold rain.  The most severe storms often leave snow at low altitudes.

In Dallas, it’s often 70 degrees while it’s raining.  The rain itself is often swimming pool temperature. 

Another big difference is people’s response to this kind of storm.  In Los Angeles, the local news treats heavy rains like a 6.5 earthquake.  They go looking for landslides and stupid people trying to surf the LA river.  When traffic lights go out, people don’t handle it well.

Here, even where six lane roads intersect six lane roads, drivers cross one set at a time (e.g., 3 cars Midway northbound, then 3 cars Royal eastbound, etc.).  It feels much safer in the rain in Dallas.

One other difference is not the fault of drivers in So Cal.  Because there are extended periods without rain, the first storm will bring lots of oil on the roads to the surface.  That makes the first few minutes of rain especially dangerous.

A lot of people I work with cite the ease of traveling anywhere from DFW as a major advantage of being here.  I’m interested in what the people from IHB think.  Here are my opinions and observations on DFW vs LAX.

I’m a frequent business traveler, and my wife flies some too.  I have picked up and dropped of people at both airports, taken shuttles/cabs, and I have driven myself.

DFW has very slightly more air traffic than LAX.  Just a few more passengers so far in 2009.  Thus, it probably comes as a surprise to people from California that DFW is considerably easier to get in and out of, and to park at. 

Part of this is due to DFW being huge, over 18,000 acres.  LAX is 3500 acres.  It also has to do with how DFW is laid out, and where it is located.  Major freeways surround DFW (121, 114, 635, 161, 183, 360) .  LAX is accessed primarily from the 405 or 110 freeways, or urban streets. 

Because LAX has terminals and access laid out in a large U, regardless of what terminal you are going to, you will encounter either people dropping off or picking up passengers for every terminal. 

For arrivals, LAX has two sets of curbs.  One is for hotel and parking shuttles.  The other is for individuals.  At DFW, there is only one curb at each terminal, and thus there are not nearly as many vehicles trying to cross lanes.  The need to get across at least two lanes to pick up and drop off is one of the prime reasons LAX is annoying.

I didn’t realize one of the other reasons that LAX had such difficult traffic was pretty much unnecessary.  At LAX, police and security are persistently making people move their cars.  You can’t sit at a curb and wait for someone.  Even if you are there a couple of minutes, they will force you to move. 

At DFW, you pull up to the curb and wait if you would like.  There is security, but they don’t make you move a car if it’s occupied.  The pick up and drop off areas for each terminal are accessed separately.  Thus, people going to Terminal C don’t get in your way if you are going to Terminal D.  DFW has also been laid out with vastly fewer lights and stop signs than LAX.

DFW has toll booths.  If picking someone up, or dropping them off you will typically pay $2.  If you stay longer, you pay more.  I think this is to discourage people from getting there very early and driving in circles.  At LAX, there are no tolls.

I am unsure of the reason, but I see far fewer parking and hotel shuttles at DFW.

At LAX walking from parking or the curb into the terminal is usually temperate, though sometimes windy or rainy.  At DFW, you will more often get hot weather or a downpour.

LAX security lines are fairly short weekdays after 10 am.  However, if you are taking a flight from LAX that leaves around 8 am, you might be standing in a security line for well over an hour.  I have consistently gotten the feeling that people in Terminals 1, 5, and 6 are just making things up on a day to day basis about how to get people into and through the security lines. 

Inside, the food is of similar quality and quantity.  Ranging from candy bars at the stores to Starbucks, to full bars and restaurants.

My favorite airline, Southwest, flies from LAX but not DFW.  DFW also doesn’t have JetBlue or Virgin, making that a major drawback.  For anyone here who hasn’t yet flown Virgin, try it.  The Boston to LAX flight I took was awesome.  Virgin has their own checkpoints at many airports, and the waits are very short.

I will have to pay closer attention next time at DFW, but I know LAX has lots of irrelevant announcements.  If someone is already past security, they don’t need to know that the white zone is for loading and unloading only.  If they are catching a flight having left an unattended car at the curb, it’s already towed.  I don’t really need to be reminded every 5 minutes to keep my baggage in close visual contact. 

For anyone who likes choosing your own seat on a plane once you can see who you would be sitting next to, or believing we should live in a classless society, the preponderance of American flights out of DFW might annoy you.  You will get to sit through boarding announcements starting with first class, and then Executive Platinum, regular Platinum, Gold, and Elite.  Some of us like to just get on the plane. 

When in LA, I like to fly from Burbank, and from Dallas, Love Field.  More on those airports later.

MalibuRenter - 13 June 2009 06:57 AM

A lot of people I work with cite the ease of traveling anywhere from DFW as a major advantage of being here.  I’m interested in what the people from IHB think.  Here are my opinions and observations on DFW vs LAX.
When in LA, I like to fly from Burbank, and from Dallas, Love Field.  More on those airports later.

I believe DFW ‘s major advantage is like CA’s weather.  has nothing to do the airport itself, instead its pure location factor - middle of country, max three hours to west coast and max three hours to east coast.  since AA has its hub there, you can get to many places via direct flight.  And you can always make a day trip if it is necessary. 

In terms of DFW, for the people who lives in the DFW area, it has easy access.  But if you live in Plano, or Frisco, it is no more convenient than me living in Irvine and going to DFW.  Not sure if you have noticed,  if you take AA, and leave from gate C, you might come back at Gate D, or Gate E.  So deciding where to park your car becomes a problem unless you take a car services to the airport.  I don’t like the parking at LAX, so I use one-person shuttle services or car services to LAX.  Frankly, I think SNA is extremley convenient for most of us living in OC.  Once a while, we drive to LAX, which is not a big deal.  The flight from ca to the east coast is just way too long, espeically if you sit in coach.

If you don’t live in Dallas, connecting in DFW is also no more convenient than any other major hubs, like Chicago, Denver, or Houston.  1/2 time when I connect at DFW via AA, I have to hike to another terminal, which is a pain. 

You probably haven’t experienced:  DFW has very long and often delays in summer and winter due to storms, which rarely happens in LAX ( often in SFO, due to fog). 

Bottom line: DFW is centrally located that make it a very business friendly location.

On a different subject: I think AA is among the worst airlines in the US, while continental is the best.  I travelled to the east coast last week on coach, and came back on first class.  Both services were so much better, and friendlier than my recent experiences on AA, and United.  Not sure if any of you noticed, AA’s planes are just look and feel dirtier.

irvine123 - 13 June 2009 08:00 AM

MalibuRenter - 13 June 2009 06:57 AM

A lot of people I work with cite the ease of traveling anywhere from DFW as a major advantage of being here.  I’m interested in what the people from IHB think.  Here are my opinions and observations on DFW vs LAX.
When in LA, I like to fly from Burbank, and from Dallas, Love Field.  More on those airports later.

I believe DFW ‘s major advantage is like CA’s weather.  has nothing to do the airport itself, instead its pure location factor - middle of country, max three hours to west coast and max three hours to east coast.  since AA has its hub there, you can get to many places via direct flight.  And you can always make a day trip if it is necessary. 

In terms of DFW, for the people who lives in the DFW area, it has easy access.  But if you live in Plano, or Frisco, it is no more convenient than me living in Irvine and going to DFW.  Not sure if you have noticed,  if you take AA, and leave from gate C, you might come back at Gate D, or Gate E.  So deciding where to park your car becomes a problem unless you take a car services to the airport.  I don’t like the parking at LAX, so I use one-person shuttle services or car services to LAX.  Frankly, I think SNA is extremley convenient for most of us living in OC.  Once a while, we drive to LAX, which is not a big deal.  The flight from ca to the east coast is just way too long, espeically if you sit in coach.

If you don’t live in Dallas, connecting in DFW is also no more convenient than any other major hubs, like Chicago, Denver, or Houston.  1/2 time when I connect at DFW via AA, I have to hike to another terminal, which is a pain. 

You probably haven’t experienced:  DFW has very long and often delays in summer and winter due to storms, which rarely happens in LAX ( often in SFO, due to fog). 

Bottom line: DFW is centrally located that make it a very business friendly location.

On a different subject: I think AA is among the worst airlines in the US, while continental is the best.  I travelled to the east coast last week on coach, and came back on first class.  Both services were so much better, and friendlier than my recent experiences on AA, and United.  Not sure if any of you noticed, AA’s planes are just look and feel dirtier.

American is not my favorite airline.  They are only half a notch above United in my book.  If the only flight which fits my schedule is United, I consider coming in much earlier on another airline or moving the meeting.  I have been stranded or missed meetings when flying United far more often than any other airline, despite doing my best not to fly with them. 

I’ve had to switch terminals at DFW for connections and getting to my car.  The train isn’t bad.

For the past 10+ years, I’ve traveled for business, obviously doing so primarily from DFW, now LAX/BUR.  Probably 90%+ is with AA.  Everyone has their reasons, but I prefer AA - they’ve always treated me well.  Being a Gold club member certainly helps.

If you are in the NW Dallas area, DFW is a breeze.  Closer to downtown Dallas?  Use DAL.  Without a doubt, it’s the most convenient and easy airport to get in and out of.  Peak travel times @ DFW are the ~8am flights.  If you take the early, early am flights (6am), you won’t hit hardly any lines at all.  Like most airports, Monday’s are the worst.  And, as noted, if you fly AA, you’ll likely leave from one terminal, and arrive back at another, so parking can be a PITA.  However, parking right at the terminal is only $16 per day, as compared to $30 per day @ LAX.

Frankly, I was spoiled flying in/out of DFW - depending on the day/time, I could typically leave my home ~90min before my flight, and have plenty of time to drive to the airport, park, check in, drop my bags, and make it through security with time to spare.  Plus, 3-3.5 hours to either coast, mostly via a single hop.  Now, it’s 2+ hours of drive time, 30min to park and take a shuttle, and another 1.5 hours to get checked in/bags dropped and through security.  And, more times than not, I have to make 2 hops.

If you decide to put down roots in Dallas, and still continue traveling for business, consider moving closer to the airport.  Lot’s of very good neighborhoods, and still an easy commute to your office.

Adam Ginsberg - 15 June 2009 12:15 AM

For the past 10+ years, I’ve traveled for business, obviously doing so primarily from DFW, now LAX/BUR.  Probably 90%+ is with AA.  Everyone has their reasons, but I prefer AA - they’ve always treated me well.  Being a Gold club member certainly helps.

If you are in the NW Dallas area, DFW is a breeze.  Closer to downtown Dallas?  Use DAL.  Without a doubt, it’s the most convenient and easy airport to get in and out of.  Peak travel times @ DFW are the ~8am flights.  If you take the early, early am flights (6am), you won’t hit hardly any lines at all.  Like most airports, Monday’s are the worst.  And, as noted, if you fly AA, you’ll likely leave from one terminal, and arrive back at another, so parking can be a PITA.  However, parking right at the terminal is only $16 per day, as compared to $30 per day @ LAX.

Frankly, I was spoiled flying in/out of DFW - depending on the day/time, I could typically leave my home ~90min before my flight, and have plenty of time to drive to the airport, park, check in, drop my bags, and make it through security with time to spare.  Plus, 3-3.5 hours to either coast, mostly via a single hop.  Now, it’s 2+ hours of drive time, 30min to park and take a shuttle, and another 1.5 hours to get checked in/bags dropped and through security.  And, more times than not, I have to make 2 hops.

If you decide to put down roots in Dallas, and still continue traveling for business, consider moving closer to the airport.  Lot’s of very good neighborhoods, and still an easy commute to your office.

I flew to Houston the other day from Love Field.  From my house to the security checkpoint was under 15 minutes.  I was at the gate in 28 minutes.  More on that in my next post.

Another observation on real estate here.  In CA the white wood sign posts are ubiquitous.  There is a place next to the Metrorail tracks where they are made and stored.  When I last took the train past it in late 2008, there were thousands of them.

As I drove around rural areas of Malibu and Calabasas, there were also hundreds of them realtors had never picked up.  “Once for sale” litter.  Usually the sign had blown off in the wind.  Frequently the post had fallen too.  I went to several raw land properties with 3 or more sign posts one the ground.

In Dallas, all-metal rectangular signs are more common.  They don’t fall apart in the wind.