September in DFW: Fair Time, Fall Fun & Old-School Charm
Hello, September! 🍂
September is pretty much my favorite month of the year. Yes, it’s my birthday month 🎂, but there’s so much more to love—the weather starts to change, the holiday season kicks off, and suddenly there’s just so much fun happening around North Texas.
August was a busy one, but such a fun month! I assisted my girl Hannah with officially launching her new group, Hello Culture Ellis County, at her Hello Culture Ellis County Launch Event, and it was so good. We had about 50 amazing women entrepreneurs come out, shop with 10 incredible local women-owned businesses, connect, and learn more about what’s ahead.
It was such a fun time and a great reminder of how much I love being around creative, ambitious women who are building something of their own. We’re building something pretty special here locally, and I hope you’ll come be part of it!
And one more little September milestone: this year marks four years since we moved to Dallas! Four years of exploring North Texas, discovering hidden gems, falling in love with old houses and Texas history, and slowly making this place feel like home. It really doesn’t feel like four years, but I’m so glad we took the leap and made our way here. ❤️
This month, I’m heading down to Galveston, celebrating my birthday, soaking up as much September as I can, and—of course—getting very excited for my favorite North Texas tradition: the State Fair of Texas! 🎡
So grab your pumpkin-spiced coffee (I won’t judge if it’s still 90 degrees outside), and let’s get into September!
– Tash
The Zodiac Room, Dallas Sept 1957
Old Mill | Fair Park
A Fair Park Classic Returns. Built for the 1936 Texas Centennial, the historic Old Mill Inn is open again! Dallas’ second-oldest restaurant has been revived with a full-service restaurant, bar, 300-seat patio, and its iconic paddlewheel. A little piece of Fair Park history is back.
Élephante | Uptown Dallas
If you’re already planning your fall dinner calendar, add this one to the list. Élephante is opening September in Uptown, bringing its California-inspired coastal Italian menu to Dallas with a huge patio, colorful interiors, and the kind of see-and-be-seen atmosphere that makes you want to dress up just a little. The Dallas location is its third, following openings in Santa Monica and Scottsdale.
JOEY Maple | Uptown Dallas
Another big name is making its Dallas debut this month. JOEY Maple is opening in Uptown with globally inspired dishes, a polished dining room, private dining, and a pretty impressive art collection. Translation: this feels like one of those spots that will be very busy on a Friday night, so make that reservation now.
Marlowe | Uptown Dallas
Okay, this one feels especially up my alley. Marlowe is a new evening destination opening on McKinney Avenue this month, and the design is leaning heavily into Art Deco-inspired lines and cinematic lighting instead of the usual modern-Uptown look. Basically, if you like your cocktails with a little old-Hollywood glamour, keep this one on your radar.
The Zodiac Room | Downtown Dallas
There’s a little bittersweet Dallas history happening this month. The iconic Neiman Marcus Downtown Dallas location will close its doors September 30 after more than a century in downtown Dallas. That also means the beloved Zodiac Room is leaving its longtime home. If you’ve never had lunch there—or if you have memories of doing so—September is your last chance to visit it downtown before elements of the restaurant move to the NorthPark location.
Retro Texas Fun Fact: 👗 The Zodiac Room wasn't just a place to grab lunch—it was a fashion show, too! In its heyday, models would weave through the dining room during lunch, showing off the latest fashions while diners ate. When the Zodiac opened in 1953, Neiman Marcus advertised “informal modeling every day at luncheon.” Honestly, I think we need to bring this back.
State Fair Food Winners | Fair Park
It's officially time to start planning your Fair food strategy! The 2026 Big Tex Choice Award winners are in, and this year's lineup includes Burger Chop Tater Tacos for Best Taste–Savory, Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog for Best Taste–Sweet, Tropical Coco Fresca for Best Taste–Sipper, and Berry Me in Matcha for Most Creative. Personally, I think “researching” all four is the only responsible thing to do.
Preservation Dallas: In Town Outing to East Dock | Dallas | September 3
If you’re a sucker for old buildings, historic neighborhoods, and seeing what happens when Dallas history gets a new life, this one's for you. Preservation Dallas is hosting a final visit to East Dock, giving you a chance to see the finished project after some members watched it come together during construction.
Double Wide Flea | Dallas | September 13
Come get weird. The Double Wide Flea is back with vintage treasures, records, clothes, jewelry, art, handmade goods, oddities, and plenty of things you absolutely didn't know you needed until you saw them. It's free to shop, and honestly, this feels like a very Retro Texas Tash Sunday.
Wrinkles & Relics | Oak Cliff | September 20
Vintage shopping + adorable Bulldogs? Say less. Oak Cliff Revival is teaming up with Lone Star Bulldog Club Rescue for an afternoon of vintage finds and adoptable Bulldogs. Because apparently the only thing better than finding a cool old piece is finding a cool old piece while hanging out with a wrinkly little face.
State Fair of Texas | Fair Park | September 25–October 18
It's Fair time, y'all! The State Fair of Texas returns to Fair Park, and you already know this is one of my favorite times of year. Big Tex, Fletcher's corny dogs, Midway lights, historic Fair Park architecture, and approximately 47 things on a stick—what's not to love? The 2026 Fair runs for 24 days.
Sundance Square Car & Culture Show | September 19
Get ready for a whole lot of chrome! The Sundance Square Car & Culture Show celebrates Latin culture and the lowrider community with classic cars, live music, folklórico, local food and market vendors, and plenty of gorgeous custom rides. The event takes over the Plaza and surrounding downtown streets, making it a pretty fun excuse to spend an afternoon wandering around Fort Worth.
If you love vintage cars, photography, or just appreciate a seriously good paint job, put this one on your September calendar.
Oddities & Curiosities Expo | Dallas | September 26–27
For my fellow weirdos: this one's for you. Think taxidermy, antiques, vintage oddities, creepy collectibles, strange artwork, preserved specimens, and all sorts of wonderfully bizarre finds. Basically, the place to go when regular antique shopping isn't weird enough.
DFW Paper Show | Bedford | September 25–26
Calling all lovers of old things! The DFW Paper Show is basically a treasure hunt for vintage paper, with dealers from around the region bringing old postcards, photographs, and all kinds of paper ephemera to Bedford. Think forgotten Texas towns, vintage travel postcards, old advertisements, photographs, and little pieces of history you can actually take home.
The best part? Admission is completely free, and you don't need a ticket or registration to browse. The show runs Friday from noon–6 PM and Saturday from 10 AM–6 PM.
Looking for even more fun things happening around DFW? Check out my Retro Events Calendar for swing dance nights, tiki events, vintage markets, pin-up meetups, classic movie screenings, and more retro-inspired happenings around town.
Stats from North Texas Real Estate Information System Trends, Resale, Single Family, Residential August 2026
The market is giving buyers a little more breathing room.
We’re not in the wild bidding-war days of a few years ago, and honestly? That’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Homes are taking a little longer to sell, buyers have more opportunity to think things through, and there’s more room for negotiation. The catch? Mortgage rates are still hovering near 7%, so buyers are understandably paying close attention to the monthly payment.
For sellers, this means pricing and presentation matter. For buyers, it means you may have more leverage than you realize.
The takeaway: You don't have to perfectly time the market—you just need to understand the market you're buying or selling in.
Thinking about making a move this fall? Hit reply. I’d love to talk through the numbers with you.
The Esplanade, Fair Park
If you love old buildings, Art Deco, and a little Texas history, Fair Park is basically your playground. The park dates back to 1886, but its real glow-up came in 1936 when Dallas hosted the Texas Centennial Exposition. That’s when Fair Park got the incredible collection of Art Deco buildings, murals, sculptures, fountains, and larger-than-life details that make it so fun to wander around today.
And this isn't just pretty architecture—it’s a National Historic Landmark and the only intact and unaltered pre-1950s world’s fair site in the country. Pretty cool, right?
Of course, September also means the State Fair of Texas is right around the corner, so there’s no better time to wander through Fair Park and appreciate all the history behind the corny dogs, Midway lights, and Big Tex.
Perfect for: Art Deco addicts, architecture nerds, Texas history lovers, photographers, State Fair fans, and anyone who likes their local landmarks with a little personality.
Retro Texas Fun Fact ❄️
Fair Park was keeping things cool way back in 1936. When Dallas hosted the Texas Centennial Exposition, air-conditioning was still a pretty exciting new technology—and several exposition spaces showcased it. The Continental D.A.R. House even advertised its air-conditioned interior as a place for visitors to escape the Texas heat.
So while we might complain about a 95° September day today, Texans at the 1936 Centennial were getting a first taste of that sweet, sweet A/C.
Looking to obsess over cool houses with someone who fully supports your Zillow spirals? I’m your girl.
Thanks for being here and supporting this weird little retro corner of the internet. 💗
