Dallas

It's almost that time of year again: the holidays. That wonderful season where you get to be jolly with your friends and family, host dinner parties and toast to good cheer. You are also, however, dealing with visiting in-laws, picky eaters and those darn Christmas lights. Give yourself a little pre-holiday vacay, at Design Hotel's new Laos destination.

Admit it: chocolate is one of your guilty pleasures. Right next to Desperate Housewives and stealing your neighbor's paper, you need to get your cocoa fix to get through the day. Dallas-based The Dark Chocolate Bakery understands your needs, and thankfully has mastered their mini-cake recipes for you and those nearest and dearest to you.

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore. Or just good Italian dining. Lucky for us Dallasites our city is full of fine ristorantes for that special evening--or that spaghetti craving. Here's a few of the best.

Nothing sets the mood like a room with a view. You know they think you're nuts when you ask for an western-facing room with a beach view, but you know what the moment is worth. And if you have to sacrifice waves for walls of glass, then you must be living in Dallas. Don't forsake your dream; you can still get a bird's eye view of the city at these haute spots.

The smell of pumpkin spice, the chill in the air, leaves on the ground, college football, Halloween upon us….Fall is definitely in the air! With so many fall festivities going on, why not checkout the One Arts Fall Block Party coming up on Sunday, Oct. 31?

If there ever was a list Texas was meant for, this is it. If you are looking for a den framed in cherry wood and leather, white linen table clothes and the swirling of Speyside scotches under buck busts, then a good Texan steak restaurant is what you want. Here's a few of the best in Dallas.

Last year's Cattle Baron's Ball might have been a bit soggy, but that didn't stop the invitees from having a ball, who year after year weigh in heavily to contribute to the biggest single-night fundraiser for cancer research in the world. This year's event was no exception, the 37th annual ball which took place on October 9th at the same locale as last year's romp: Southfork Ranch.

Dallas' Heritage Auction Galleries, ranked the third largest auction house in the world behind Sotheby's and Christie's, opened their newest gallery in Manhattan last week. After months of anticipation, the new location at 445 Park Avenue and 57th Street opened to the public, and will feature a rotating window showcasing upcoming auction items.

You've noticed the big burly football players donning their pink accents in the name of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. How are you going to get your pink on this October? Running for the cure, perhaps, or getting some pink extensions in your hair? Well why not go head-to-toe pink, with V Spa at the Hilton Anatole's October pedicure package.

Forget Gillette — there's something to be said about a professional barbershop shave. And while you're at it, a nice trim to make those ears look bigger, too. Of course these days, the barbershop menu has grown a bit, to include anything from chest waxes to pedicures, massages to facials. But metrosexual manicuring is for even the manly folk these days. It's OK, we won't tell anyone.

When it comes to living in North Texas, your proximity to the hub of what's happening often depends on the time of year. East Dallas hardly gets recognized until the State Fair hits every fall, and Addison gets quite a crowd for their Fourth of July and Oktoberfest celebrations. Now there's another city that will reap some serious benefits next year: Arlington, home of the new state-of-the-art Dallas Cowboys Stadium, and soon to be location of SuperBowl XLV.

Stephan Pyles can do no wrong in Dallas, given his 25 years in the local restaurant circuit, opening some 15 restaurants since his first venture, Routh Street Cafe, in 1983. After being touted as one of the founding fathers of Southwestern Cuisine, Pyles tried his hand at creating more foreign fare with his latest eatery, Samar, which celebrated its one year annivesrsary Friday evening.