There are quite a few hazards involved in outdoor dining during a Dallas summer. Luckily, these spots make it so darn nice to have a bite al fresco you probably won’t notice them.

It’s been quite some time since tacos made the leap from sidewalk fare to posh eateries, and we proudly stake our claim on the Tex-Mex variety. But Rock ‘n’ Taco, the new late night joint that popped up last week in the old Rocco’s Pizza venue next to nightclub Aura, exhibits more of a Cali-Mex style. No one in Uptown seems to mind.

School’s out, so you just got another day job. Looking for family fun this summer that will keep everyone happy? Keep reading.

Ah, summer. Barbecues, boat rides, it’s all about having some fun in the sun. But just because the party’s moved poolside doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your stylish dishware for Styrofoam plates and red plastic cups (still left over from those beer pong years.) There are plenty of reasons to celebrate with friends and family this season, and you want to do your oh-so-haute ergonomic terrace furniture justice.

Divide, and conquer.

The folks at local luxe favorite Bijoux have decided to offer some a la carte options in addition to their traditional three to five course prix fix menu and their nine-course chef’s tasting menu. This is great news for those of us dying to visit the understated New American bistro without the pomp and circumstance of a full dinner. Given the restaurant’s centralized location at Inwood Village shopping center, a lot of nine to fivers will enjoy this new design, sampling some pan-seared foie gras with a martini after a day at the office, or nabbing a quick, decadent dessert after a movie.

Summer doesn’t exactly sneak up on you in Dallas. We know it’s here when we’re running from our offices to the sanctuary of our air conditioned vehicles. But if we manage to take the boat out to party cove or visit the infinity pool on the weekends, we know we need to look our best. Here’s how to get you beautiful for any nearly-nude affair the season may bring.

I’m a fan of health food stores. The Whole Foods chain has spawned many grocers that work in the same vein, offering organic, wholesome varieties of the foods we love without all that “processed” this or “partially hydrogenated” that. And, having seen my fair share of meat packing documentaries, I’m basically on the verge of vegetarianism anyway (I say verge, because come on, we’re Texans after all.)

At a loss for Father’s Day plans? Brunch mimosas and a few flowers may had worked for Mom, but Dads are a little trickier to please. You know a day of shopping is out, and you can’t imagine yourself throwing pig parts on a grill or trudging along side him on a scalding hot golf course, carrying clubs like a pack mule. Luckily, there’s something you both may enjoy.

What’s a Saturday morning without a slight champagne hangover and blistered tootsies? There’s plenty of haute clubs in the Big D to shake and shimmy your week away. So step through the velvet rope and find your dance dreamland.