You Say Deep Ellum, I say Deep Elm

You Say Deep Ellum, I say Deep Elm

If you want to do something off the beaten path in Dallas and go someplace that most of the tourists don't, take a trip down to Deep Ellum. It's just three blocks east of Downtown Dallas and you will find yourself deep in the heart of Deep Ellum.

This area was settled after the Civil War by freed slaves, Deep Ellum gained its name from the pronunciation of Elm Street by locals, and the name forever stuck. It is a unique gathering of unusual shops, eclectic restaurants and residential lofts.

The previously deserted historic buildings and warehouses are now thriving with people eating, working, living and playing. Deep Ellum is a lot of fun, you can visit clubs, catch a bite to eat and listen to just about any kind of music you can think of.

Try to visit Deep Ellum on the first Friday of every month for a sampling of the best music the district has to offer, where you will get into five participating clubs for five dollars. Not a bad deal at all! Jazz and blues musicians, such as Blind Lemon Jefferson, helped make the area a hub of activity from the 1920s through the 1950s, increasing the number of nightclubs.

The area declined and most of the area was deserted until the early 1980s when a redevelopment plan brought new life to the neighborhood. Nowadays, Deep Ellum offers a warehouse district complete with loft housing, trendy clothing stores, galleries, festivals, restaurants, nightclubs and bars.

There is always some fun to be found in Deep Ellum.