Everyone knew that the upcoming Marvel’s Midnight Suns would be a tactical game of some kind. The developer, Firaxis Games is famous in the tactics RPG genre thanks to previous hits like XCOM and Civilization. However, there was a lot of interest in what direction they were planning on taking the game. Was it going to be just a Marvel version of the popular XCOM series, a spin-off of Civilization, or was there a plan to take this potential new franchise in a completely different direction?
On Wednesday, we finally got our answers to at least some of those questions. Marvel released a gameplay trailer of the upcoming game to give fans some insight into some of the features we’ll see in Midnight Suns. The trailer featured a lot of fun gameplay such as dialogue trees, multiple characters, and most interestingly a card system. While the trailer didn’t go too in-depth into features, because it’s a trailer, what stood out the most was definitely the cards that appeared to represent characters’ abilities and powers.
Traditionally, tactical RPGs go in one of two directions. They either take the Civilization direction where it’s basically a turn-based Real-Time Strategy game. The alternative is the XCOM or Fire Emblem route where characters are positioned in a way that can create tactical battle advantages. These advantages can swing the direction of a fight and allow the player to potentially do more damage to their opponent. Midnight Suns however seems to be building their system around deck building, which has its pros and cons.
Deck building games in concept are simple, put together a deck of cards that will act as actions for the players. Where the fun in them lies is that, if the player spends enough time creating their deck, they can build ultra-powerful move sets. It’s all about creating the perfect win scenario and it requires a lot of scrolling through menus, trial, and error. For some people, the idea of collecting cards, building out a deck, and creating the perfect setup for characters is a ton of fun. For others, it’s a chore that is going to make them not want to play the game. Deck building isn’t for everyone and it’s a bit of a surprise to see such a polarizing gameplay style applied to a franchise with such a huge potential fanbase like Marvel.
However, there is one aspect of this trailer that could solve an issue that so many tactical RPGs have to deal with, especially the XCOM series. Cards might mean that the accuracy system from the XCOM games will not be a part of this game. Anyone that’s played XCOM knows this frustration. The setup is perfect, the enemy has been outmaneuvered, and all that’s necessary is for your AI to hit their shot. You have a 99 percent chance of a hit, and then your character misses. The enemy turns around and hits a shot on you with not only a lower percentage chance, but it’s a critical hit and you die immediately. Controller? Broken.
A reaction to the Midnight Suns, and one that would have been completely reasonable, is to say that it should have just been Marvel XCOM and in a lot of ways it looks just like that. However, with these cards acting as powers, the rules change. It becomes not only about how you have set yourself up for an attack, but what deck you’ve brought in with you. Set yourself up perfect, play the right card at the right moment, and watch the results of your work come to fruition. No 99 percent misses. While cards might not be for everyone, they may feel more fair and rewarding than the percentages of previous games.
The Alien franchise hasn’t been doing so hot, despite valiant efforts. Though a Noah Hawley TV series version is still a go, Alien: Covenant, the prequel that was also a sequel to the universe-building Prometheus, dramatically underperformed back in 2017. But there was also another Alien film — a fifth in the main storyline, concerning Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley, to be helmed by District 9’s Neill Blomkamp. That seemed to be dead a few years ago, but there was someone who always had its back: Sigourney Weaver.
In an interview with The Independent (by way of IGN), Blomkamp — promoting his new film, Demonic — opened up about the aborted project, which would presumably concern the surviving clone of Ripley, who emerged in the fourth outing, Alien: Resurrection (which also underperformed, once upon a time). He didn’t seem to have much optimism about it ever being exhumed.
“I don’t know, to be honest. I’m not sure that I would do that project,” he said. “My assumption is that it’s completely dead.” But he had nothing but warm thoughts about its almost-star.
“Sigourney was unbelievably supportive and amazing. I have nothing but the best things to say about Sigourney,” Blomkamp said. “I’m such a fan of hers on every level. She was always into the project, but Fox just clearly doesn’t want it. I haven’t had anything to do with that for years.”
Weaver had been interested in returning to the role that made her name since at least 2004, when she talked about doing a “small, spooky movie” that would “take Ripley to whatever the next stage may be.” But that obviously never happened. But given how much Hollywood loves reboot/revivals — and how much press the high school stage version of the original Alien received a while back — maybe never say never.
At the top of the year, Julien Baker staged her return, following up 2017’s Turn Out The Lights with Little Oblivions. Our own Steven Hyden dubbed it her best album, thought her 2015 debut Sprained Ankle is still in my own personal rotation for epic, silvery confessional records. Now that she’s ushering in this new phase, Baker is also opening up her work for reimagining from her fellow artists, launching the Little Oblivions remix EP a few weeks ago with a rework for “Bloodshot” by Helios.
Today she’s shared another remix, this one by Australian songwriter Gordi — who released the magnificent breakout album Our Two Skins last year — tackling the beautifully brutalist “Ringside.” Today also marks the release of the full EP, which includes the following additional remixes: Half Waif remixing “Faith Healer,” Jesu remixing “Favor,” and Thao remixing “Ziptie.”
After an appearance at the Newport Folk Festival, Baker is slated for a series of tour dates behind the album this fall. While it’s most likely she’ll be playing the original versions of her songs, there’s always a chance some of these artist may join her on the road to unveil their own versions live. Check out the latest remix by Gordi above and the get the EP here.
We live in a world where men, who have never and will never experience pregnancy or childbirth, make laws about women’s reproduction, which in and of itself is a headscratcher. When we’re talking about anti-abortion legislation, which effectively forces women to go through pregnancy and childbirth whether it’s healthy for them or not, it seems like the people who actually experience those things should have a more heavily weighted say in such legislation.
Of course, women have varied opinions on the matter. (The most recent Gallup poll found that 53% of women in the U.S. identify as “pro-choice” and 43% identify as “pro-life.”) But interestingly, a Twitter thread is showing how actual experience can either shift or concretes a person’s views.
Writer Jennifer Wright wrote, “Raise your hand if pregnancy and childbirth only made you *more* pro-choice,” and the responses came flooding in.
Raise your hand if pregnancy and childbirth only made you *more* pro-choice.
Scores of women responded in the affirmative, saying that going through pregnancy, childbirth, and childrearing has either made them change their stance from anti-choice to pro-choice or solidified their pro-choice beliefs.
For some, it was getting a first-hand taste of the potential dangers pregnancy poses.
@S_Lynne_13 @JenAshleyWright Pre-eclampsia here too. Needed emergency csection to save me and my baby. I was 34 wee… https://t.co/61DPCdUw49
Many women shared that going through pregnancy and childbirth made them realize that forcing someone who doesn’t want to be pregnant or birth a child to do so is cruel.
@JenAshleyWright After my two pregnancies there is no way I would force a person to go through the same thing who w… https://t.co/8hY0OTVOFC
A few men even weighed in, saying that their experience just witnessing their wives’ pregnancy and childbirth difficulties made them see that no one should be forced through it against their will.
@JenAshleyWright Watching my wife spend 7 days in the hospital giving birth to our daughter made me hate 2 things m… https://t.co/nZz355IjID
Scrolling through the hundreds of comments in the thread, the consensus was clear.
Pregnancy and childbirth are difficult and dangerous, with lifelong consequences, even when you want a child. Adoption is not the panacea people make it out to be. Struggling through infertility and multiple miscarriages can make women more understanding of how complicated reproductive choices are. And the idea of the government forcing a woman to stay pregnant and deliver a baby no matter the circumstances feels wrong when you know exactly what that can mean for her.
Let’s leave personal medical choices that don’t affect others to patients and their providers, period.
Welcome to SNX DLX, our weekly roundup of the best sneaker drops of the week. We’re now officially in the month of September and if you step outside you can actually feel summer turning to fall. It’s a bummer for those that live for that summer freedom but from the looks of this week’s offerings and the sneaker drops set to release in the coming weeks, we’re going to end 2021 strong. It’s already been a great year for sneakers, so anything else we get at this point is just icing on an already delicious cake.
We here at SNX DLX love cake, so we say bring it on!
This week we’ve got some summer-inspired looks from Melting Sadness and Adidas, as well as some great Jordan colorways, and new Yeezy Slides. But the week’s best drops are easily the Nike collaborations, with Social Status and Undefeated bringing radical redesigns of two of Nike’s best silhouettes. Let’s dive in!
Melting Sadness x Adidas Melting Ice Cream Collection
Atmos
Zhang Quan’s Melting Sadness label has teamed up with Adidas to drop the best ice cream-themed shoes ever. Yup, sorry Pharrell. This four-shoe collection sees the brand taking on Adidas’ 3MC and Campus silhouette, offering two iterations of each sneaker dipped in colorful melted ice cream detailing that’ll have you mourning the end of summer.
The colorways even sound like flavors, we’ve got Halo Mint, Campus Sand (gross), Cream White, and Icy Blue. Okay admittedly only one of those actually sounds like a good ice cream flavor but each pair at least looks like ice cream and features a unique waffle-cone-inspired tag.
The Melting Sadness x Adidas Melting Ice Cream Collection is out now with each shoe hitting a retail price of $120. Pick up a pair exclusively at Atmos.
AtmosAtmosAtmos
Nike WMNS Air Force 1 Next Nature White & Pale Coral/ White & Metallic Grey
Nike
Nike is slowly but surely finding new ways to add a sustainable edge to its classic silhouettes. This move is a must, and while they aren’t moving quite as quickly as we’d like them to (make all the Jordans more sustainable!), at least they’re making the effort.
This week they’re dropping two new WMNS-exclusive iterations of the almighty AF-1, constructing the sneaker from 20% recycled material by weight and giving each a clean new colorway. Dropping in White & Pale Coral or White & Metallic Grey, both sneakers feature a white upper with either a pastel pink swoosh or a metallic grey outsole.
We prefer the pink swoosh but the metallic grey outsole is a fresh look as well — check them both below!
The Nike WMNS Air Force 1 Next Nature White & Pale Coral/ White & Metallic Grey are set to drop on September 2nd for a retail price of $95. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
Nike
UNDEFEATED x Nike Dunk vs. Air Force 1 5 On It Drop 2
Undefeated
A couple of weeks back, Los Angeles-based streetwear brand UNDEFEATED unveiled their double sneaker collection Nike Dunk vs Air Force 1 5 On It, and it was easily one of the best sneaker drops of the year. If you missed it, don’t kick yourself too hard because this week brings the collection’s second drop and, while it isn’t quite as iconic as the first, it’s still pretty dope.
Like the first set, this new drop sees UNDEFEATED reimagining Nike’s Dunk low and Air Force 1 silhouettes, combining five premium materials across each sneaker’s upper including crocodile skin patterning, canvas, two different types of leather, and suede. The Dunk features a blue, yellow and white color scheme while the AF-1 goes the all-black route and features a pony hair swoosh.
The second UNDEFEATED x Nike Air Force 1 5 On It drop is set for September 3rd for a retail price of $120 each exclusively at the UNDEFEATED webstore.
Undefeated
Air Jordan 4 Shimmer
GOAT
How many iconic AJ-4’s dropped this year? Enough that we’re going to have to think long and hard about revamping our ranking of the greatest Jordan 4 colorways of all time. This week Nike is dropping yet another AJ-4 that is going to have sneakerheads complaining all weekend long when they catch that inevitable L on the SNKRS app.
The WMNS-exclusive Shimmer combines burnished leather and soft nubuck in a mix of coral and white with a metallic silver Jumpman at the tongue. It’s beautiful.
The Air Jordan 4 Shimmer is set to drop on September 3rd for a retail price of $190. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or hit GOAT and Flight Club to pick up a pair on the aftermarket.
GOAT
Social Status x Nike SB Dunk Low Chocolate Milk
Social Status
In what is probably this week’s freshest collaboration, Nike has teamed up with Social Status for a chocolate milk-inspired mid-rise Dunk that pays tribute to the concept of free school lunch. If you were more of a strawberry milk kid growing up, just wait a week because the brand has also hit Strawberry Milk and it’s just as dope, if not better.
Featuring a mini-swoosh at the toe box, a chunky wrap-around pink swoosh, dual branding, and a sky blue midsole, the Chocolate Milk combines rich brown paneling over a milk-white upper.
The Social Status x Nike SB Dunk Low Chocolate Milk is set to drop on September 4th for an unannounced retail price. Enter the raffle to pick up a pair exclusively at Social Status.
Social StatusSocial Status
Air Jordan 6 Bordeaux
GOAT
Is it wrong to describe a sneaker as sexy? Probably, but I mean just look at the Air Jordan 6 Bordeaux! It combines moody grey tones with black paneling and a wine-toned tongue and heel tab. We fully expect to be hit with mood music once we pop open the box.
With this sneaker, Nike has another easy win on their hands, the Bordeaux is more commonly associated with the Air Jordan 7 but it looks just as good if not better here on the 6. Rounding out the design are halloween-esque orange lace locks. Nike could’ve sat on this one for fall, but we’re not complaining about the early unveil!
The Air Jordan 6 Bordeaux is set to drop on September 4th for a retail price of $190. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or hit up GOAT to pick up a pair on the aftermarket.
Nike
Adidas Yeezy Slide Glow Green
Adidas
As we mentioned earlier, the summer season is coming to a swift end so unless you live in one of the warmer states that offer year-round summer weather, you’re probably not going to be rocking sandals for the next eight months or so. This means this is the last week of the year that we’ll probably bother highlighting the latest Yeezy Slide release.
While not technically dropping this week (it arrives this Monday on Labor Day), the Slide Glow Green — which doesn’t in fact glow in the dark — features an EVA foam body that keeps the sandal lightweight but comfort-focused. Does it kind of look like barf? Yes, but let’s face it, Kanye makes better footwear than he does music these days, and the Yeezy Slides are universally beloved by Yeezy fans. Unlike Donda.
The Yeezy Slide Glow Green is set to drop on September 6th for a retail price of $60. Pick up a pair at the Adidas webstore or via Yeezy Supply.
Adidas
Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.
Last month, Haiti was hit with a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that caused more than 2,000 deaths and left over 12,000 people injured, with more than 300 people still missing. Since then, a number of celebrities have stepped forward to contribute what they can for relief efforts towards the country. The latest are rappers Lil Baby and Jackboy, who announced they plan on building a hospital in Haiti.
Recently Jackboy visited the country and spoke about what he saw. He revealed that many patients were forced to stay outside of the hospital because there wasn’t enough space for them inside. This pushed him to commit to building a new hospital in the area. He also announced that he would donate $100,000 towards relief efforts.
“I just walked through a hospital in Haiti & all the patients sleeping outside,” Jackboy wrote on his Instagram Story according to Complex. “I personally handed every single last 1 of them a envelope full of money but fr fr I feel like that ain’t enough…Who want to go half with me & get a hospital built it’s not really that much especially if we using dollars.”
Shortly after Jackboy shared the post on Instagram, Lil Baby replied and wrote, “I’m in.” It’s here that Lil Baby committed to helping Jackboy build the hospital in Haiti.
Time was that wrestlers didn’t translate into movie work. Professional wrestling, at least in the style practiced by the WWE, requires a ton of acting, but just ask Hulk Hogan about his Hollywood stint. It took Dwayne Johnson to break that ceiling some two decades ago. (Heck, maybe he’ll break another one and become president.) Now there are enough wrestler-actors that they can be picky. Recently Dave Bautista, who’s retired from the WWE, said he wants to avoid acting with fellow pugilists — a bold statement that colleague John Cena both mourns and understands.
Cena recently did a video chat for Esquire (in a bit teased out by Digital Spy), in which he tackled regular folks’ questions. There were light queries about his tighty-whitey scenes in The Suicide Squad. But one person went heavier, asking about what Bautista — with whom Cena has wrestled — said.
“I’m super sad about that, because Dave Bautista is an unbelievably gifted actor,” Cena replied. But I think when someone makes a statement like that, the important thing is to look at things from his perspective.”
He went on:
Dave has worked so hard on his craft, he is so dedicated to his characters, and really wants to put forth a body of work that gives him his own identity. I 100% understand that. Dave is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet and one of the most generous guys you’ll ever meet. I don’t have any beef with Davie and I genuinely think Dave doesn’t have any beef with me. He really just wants to be identified and recognized for his work. And I cannot fault him for that. I applaud him for it. To be brave enough to say something like that kind of allows him to go forth on his own. And I appreciate that.
It’s an incredibly diplomatic and mature thing for Cena to say. Still, it would be nice to one day see the two of them playing best friends or brothers — something that has nothing to do with wrestling. At this point, they’ve shown so much range that few think of them as wrestlers trying out acting. They’re simply actors now. Who are, on top of that, great wrestlers.
Ben Simmons would like to be traded very soon, something his camp made abundantly clear this week by ensuring it was reported that he wants out of Philly and won’t report to training camp.
The Sixers would also like to trade him, as they have been actively shopping Simmons all summer, but their asking price continues to keep discussions with other teams from advancing into a serious stage. It’s been rumored that the Sixers are asking for a James Harden-like trade package that would net them four picks as well as an All-Star caliber player, which is a price tag that, so far, no one has been willing to even really engage on.
Maybe the best evidence of just how far apart the Sixers are from every other team in Simmons trade talks is with regards to the Sacramento Kings, who have long been reported as interested in the All-Star guard. Sacramento has a number of young guards on their roster, headlined by De’Aaron Fox (fresh off signing a max extension) and last year’s first round pick, Tyrese Haliburton. On Wednesday morning, it was reported the Sixers were demanding at least one of those two be involved (along with Buddy Hield and whomever else would make the financials work).
However, the Kings are not interested in swapping out one of their young guards for Simmons, instead envisioning a world where they all coexist — something you can do with a point-forward type. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Kings have made it clear they won’t include Fox or Haliburton in a Simmons deal, which, as of this moment, means Sacramento won’t be seriously involved in Simmons talks.
According to a source with knowledge of their situation, the Kings spoke to the Sixers weeks ago and made it clear that both De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton would not be included in a possible Simmons deal. That stance, the source said, has not and will not change and the internal expectation is that the core of their roster will remain the same heading into training camp later this month. There are no current conversations between the two teams and, barring a drastic change in demands, it appears the Kings are an unlikely landing spot for Simmons.
That precludes one of the favorites to land Simmons from the conversation, which would seem to put a damper on Philly’s ability to create a bidding war for Simmons as the season approaches. That leaves the Timberwolves, who have reportedly been among the most aggressive teams in trying to land Simmons, and the Warriors as the favorites remaining, but neither of those teams seem willing to engage in talks that give up a significant haul either. The Wolves want to create a quartet of Simmons-Towns-Russell-Edwards, but if they aren’t offering those three, it’s hard to see what they have the Sixers would be enticed by.
Golden State, meanwhile, has plenty of firepower in terms of young, intriguing talent, plus the Andrew Wiggins contract to make money work, but it would seem, based on the lack of real traction on conversations, that the two sides aren’t exactly close when it comes to who should be included in a Warriors package (or if there’s enough to keep Philly in the immediate title contender conversation).
What seems to be clear is that the rest of the league refuses to come close to the Sixers’ desired return and is willing to bank on Philly eventually balking at the idea of a very awkward situation to start the season with a player who doesn’t want to be there and knows the organization also would like him gone. Once the price goes down on Simmons, though, it will be very interesting to see who tries to get involved, as it wouldn’t be a surprise if rumblings build about far more than just the few teams that have been reported as interested recently.
I’ve been to almost every state along both the West and East Coasts, but I haven’t spent too much time exploring the places in between. This left me feeling slightly anxious leading up to my first time visiting Dallas, Texas over the summer. I didn’t know what to expect. And with the state becoming both a political and pandemic battleground, it was hard to not go in with pre-established ideas.
What I found was basically one big concrete jungle juxtaposed with classic Texan warmth and hospitality. Hikes and outdoorsy excursions were generally harder to find than they are on most of my adventures, so the main attractions for me became the restaurant and nightlife scenes. From five-star steakhouses to Tex-Mex hotspots and rooftop bars serving the most Instagrammable drinks, I found no shortage of gorge-worthy establishments and proceeded to do exactly that.
For what it’s worth, I typically don’t eat meat. But when I’m traveling to a new destination, I’m pretty much down to try whatever the local delicacies may be. In this case, “delicacies” translates to sour cream enchiladas, ranch waters (tequila sodas made in a Topo Chico bottle), and ribeye steaks bigger than my head. No, I don’t regret a single bite (though all I wanted to eat was salad for a week straight after I got home).
If you’re planning a trip to Dallas, make sure to pack your stretchiest pair of pants because food and drinks are abundant. To help you eat your way through Dallas, I’m sharing eight restaurants that I would recommend to any other first-time visitor to the city.
If you’re looking for the ultimate Texas steakhouse experience and feel like balling out on a nice dinner, head to Nick & Sam’s. I’m not exaggerating when I say it was one of the most luxurious (and gluttonous) dinners I’ve ever enjoyed. The dimly lit, elegantly decorated dining room featured sharply dressed diners and waitstaff.
The food was no less buttoned up. Your best plan of action at Nick & Sam’s is to order a ton of shareables for your table. The roasted brussels sprouts with bacon and dates literally felt life-changing. Next up, you need to order the sushi (this is non-negotiable). I normally wouldn’t trust raw fish served at a steakhouse in a land-locked city, but this sh*t was the bomb. You can get a massive sashimi and sushi platter or order a few specialty rolls (I did both). Tip: the volcano roll isn’t technically on the menu, but you can order it. And you should.
Now, for the main course. The waiters literally bring a raw meat presentation to each table so you can hand-select your choice of steak. As I said, I usually don’t eat meat. So this made me a tad queasy, but I respect the personalized service. If you’re going with a group of about five, the tomahawk is a must. It should be plenty for the table after pregaming your steak with sushi and apps.
Nope, we’re not done yet. It might be difficult, but make sure to save room for dessert. They have light-up cotton candy and a giant sparkling rainbow cake. Let me say that again…A SPARKLING RAINBOW CAKE. It’s topped with gummy bears and paired with ice cream for the final touch. This is what I imagine the more fun, excessive, partying corners of heaven being like.
You didn’t think I would only include one steakhouse, did you? This is Texas we’re talking about! Perry’s wasn’t originally part of my Dallas agenda, but it ended up being one of my favorite restaurants in town. The backstory to my meal is that I somehow ended up scoring a date within my first few hours in Dallas. Being a nice southern gentleman, my date took me to what turned out to be one of the most renowned steakhouses in the city. Unlike the Saturday night party at Nick & Sams, Perry’s was a much more intimate environment. The best part (aside from the food) was the floor-to-ceiling windows on the second floor — offering a look Dallas’s picturesque nighttime skyline. It was romantic, to say the least.
Oh, the date? He’s engaged to someone else now. At least I got a nice meal out of it.
Perry’s is a steakhouse, but the establishment is actually best known for its, “Perry’s Famous Pork Chop.” It’s slow-smoked, caramelized, and carved tableside on a hot cast iron plate – everything at Perry’s is a performance. I also ordered the bacon-wrapped scallops to start, which sounds like a sodium overload. However, the balance between the juicy fats and fishy flavors worked magically together. For the sides, you will likely regret your entire existence if you don’t order the asparagus. It’s topped with blue lump crab and charred to veggie perfection. The lobster mac & cheese and whipped potatoes can also do no wrong at Perry’s. The entire meal effortlessly fused every food group together.
As I said, everything at Perry’s is a show, including the dessert. The menu features a whole list of flaming desserts that the waiter sears right next to your table. I ordered the Bananas Foster, which consists of sliced bananas flambéed with brown sugar, rum, cinnamon, and nutmeg served over vanilla ice cream. Yes, it was as good as it sounds. The perfectly charred sugary sweetness and layers of spice keep the banana flavors from overpowering the rest of the dessert. Worth every calorie.
In my opinion, a restaurant’s meal presentation and ambiance can make or break the dining experience. In Paradiso’s case, it’s what earned it a spot on this list of Dallas must-haves. The whimsical vibes and elegantly plated dishes were like a trendy culinary fairytale. There are literally two massive trees adorned with twinkling bohemian-inspired chandeliers and a fountain in the center of the patio area. If it’s too chilly to sit outside, the indoor dining space is just as nice — with lush greenery, brightly colored decor, and abstract art covering the walls.
Aside from the dreamy environment, Paradiso has some delicious Southern European-style food. The menu consists of classic hand-made pasta favorites, wood-fried pizza, and all the main course protein meals you know and love. I ordered the seared scallops, which come with celery root purée, pear, cranberry, and hazelnut. Mmm, I’m hungry just thinking about it. Paradiso’s desserts are probably the most unique thing on the menu. With options like a grapefruit cheesecake infused with elderflower, your taste buds are sure to get a kick out of the final treat.
What I loved most about Paradiso is the little bar adjacent to the patio where you can lounge and sip while waiting for your table. Its swanky, old-school vibe is the perfect place to chill out and try one, or two, of Paradiso’s signature cocktails. I like things sweet, as you may have gathered, so I ordered the Ciao Bella, a glass of strawberry-infused Campari, sweet vermouth, Cocchi di torino, and prosecco.
Ready to add Paradiso to your Dallas foodie bucket list? Check out the menu and restaurant photo gallery here.
Skyline views are aplenty at Sky Blossom Bistro in the heart of Downtown Dallas. The rooftop restaurant and bar is six stories high and sits next to one of Dallas’ most peculiar landmarks, the Giant Eyeball. It’s a 30-feet tall fiberglass sculpture of a human eyeball placed in the middle of a fenced garden. Weird, I know. But it definitely adds some zest to the otherwise concrete landscape. Sky Blossom Bistro serves Asian fusion appetizers, salads, and entrees like Bo Kho beef stew and shrimp garlic noodles.
The popular rooftop food spot is also known for its sushi tacos, which are essentially a hand roll served in the shape of a taco. I, of course, had to try them for myself. I ordered the spicy tuna tacos, but they also offer shrimp tempura tacos and avocado tacos. I recommend that messy eaters request extra napkins before digging in, as these can get a bit flimsy after the first bite (I learned this the hard way).
If you need something to wash your sushi tacos and spring rolls down, Sky Blossom Bistro has a slew of fruity cocktails that are equally as colorful as they are strong. One of them even comes with sour candy ropes on top!
Check out their Instagram here for a peek at their tasty meals and vibrant drinks.
I obviously couldn’t visit Dallas without eating Tex-Mex at least once. Mi Cocina seemed to be one of the popular Tex-Mex spots, as there are several locations scattered throughout the city. After pigging out here on my last night in Dallas, I completely understand why. I never thought a sour cream chicken enchilada would be something I’d choose to eat, but Mi Cocina proved my apprehension wrong. Every bite was a greasy, cheesy, and confusingly satisfying ball of goodness – okay, now I’m daydreaming about cheese. Anyway, if you’re opposed to trying the rare delicacies of Texas, there are plenty of other options. The menu features all of the classic favorites you can expect to find at a Mexican restaurant, from tacos to tortilla soup.
Everyone knows you can’t have a true Mexican supper without a margarita, but Mi Cocina takes it to the next level. Their signature drink called the Mambo Taxi is a dangerous combination of Sauza silver tequila, lime juice, housemade sangria with pinot noir, brandy, and fruit juices. You’re going to want to drink your Mambo Taxi slow, despite the irresistible slushy-like texture and great flavor. If I’m being candid, I was borderline hammered after drinking only one. I may just be a lightweight, but those things will get you if you’re not careful. It gives you a buzz and a sugar rush at the same time, so you’re sure to be feeling yourself after a few sips. No wonder Mi Cocina limits all guests to order no more than two Mambo Taxis.
Browse the menu and find the Mi Cocina location closest to your hotel here.
Meso Maya may not have Mambo Taxis, but they do have avocado margaritas. It sounds interesting, I know. But the signature concoction of mulled avocado, freshly squeezed pineapple and lime juices, Cointreau, and tequila blanco is surprisingly palatable and refreshing. Their outdoor dining area is the perfect place to sip on your avo marg (or try a Texas ranch water!) on a summer day. The space is enclosed within brick buildings, so you’ll get plenty of shade and a cool industrial atmosphere to chill out in. The little light bulbs strung across the top of the patio add a nice touch, too.
Now, for the food. At this point in the trip, I needed to take a short break from all the red meat. I ordered the shrimp tacos, and they offered a unique twist to your average tacos de camaron. In addition to the classic cilantro and cabbage, mango was also thrown into the mix. It was a sweet and salty Tex-Mex masterpiece. Some of their popular house specials also include the enchiladas en mole (you can never go wrong with that), Oaxaca steak, and queso poblano.
If you’re someone who likes to have diverse options, head to the Dallas Farmers Market. There’s a 26,000 square foot food hall and vendor market called The Market Shops, open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The market features four restaurants, as well as local specialty and artisanal food vendors and seating areas both inside and outside (where you can get yet another view of the city skyline). It’s also a great place to shop for gifts, boutique clothing, and other artisan trinkets like handmade soaps and souvenirs to bring home. I ordered the vegan tikka from one of the local vendors, 8 Clove. It was the spicy kick I needed for an afternoon pick-me-up.
There are so many food spots to try all within The Market Shops. You could likely go there for a meal every day of your trip and never run out of new options. Overall, it’s the ultimate casual, diverse dining location in Dallas. Pursuing through all of the intriguing food choices and quirky tourist gifts makes the Dallas Farmers Market both a tasty and fun experience.
For a full list of the local fare, boutiques, and other vendors, click here.
One way to get your dose of the outdoors in Dallas is by taking a stroll on the Katy Trail. It’s a 3.5-mile long jogging, walking, and bike path that runs through the Uptown and Oak Lawn neighborhoods. Located along the trek is the Katy Trail Ice House, a laidback beer garden and restaurant where you can stop for a cold one and barbecue munchies. I always lean toward something light like a Pacifico or a cider, but the beverages menu features 50 beers on tap ranging from Texas domestics to regional and international imports. There’s a brew for every kind of beer drinker!
If you worked up an appetite while walking the trail, Ice House’s food menu is all about classic backyard barbecue favorites. They’ve got gourmet burgers and hotdogs, loaded cheese fries, steakhouse onion rings, grilled cheese sandwiches, and all of the Southern fixin’s of your dreams. Being here really does feel like a summer party with friends. 10/10 recommend for a long (and tipsy) afternoon outside.
The world today is exhaustingly unpredictable, every day a flurry of Mad Libs news stories of random nightmares no one was expecting. For instance: A lot of anti-vaxxers sick with the disease they don’t believe is that big a deal are taking horse dewormers, then making themselves sicker. That one came out of nowhere. But this story was bound to happen eventually: Joe Rogan, noted free thinker and spreader of pandemic misinformation, tested positive for COVID. And of course he’s taking the aforementioned animal drugs to treat it.
In a post on Instagram with the caption “I GOT COVID,” the NewsRadio alum-turned-podcast king reveals that he returned from a gig on Saturday feeling “very weary” and “just run-down.” Sure enough, he tested positive for the coronavirus the next day. At that point he “threw the kitchen sink at it,” taking an army of drugs — including, Ivermectin, better known as the farm animal dewormer that somehow has poisoned the brains of American anti-vaxxers (as well as their bodies).
Did it work? Who knows? After bingeing on various treatments of various efficacy and safety for three days, he said he feels “great.” The “bad news,” he said, was that he had to cancel a show he was doing alongside Dave Chappelle on Friday, moving that to late October.
He ended by giving a “wonderful, heartfelt thank you to modern medicine for pulling me out of this so quickly and easily.”
Rogan has claimed that he’s “not an anti-vax person,” advising that anyone over 16 should get one of the three vaccines designed to battle COVID. But he’s also repeatedly slammed Dr. Anthony Fauci and claimed, falsely, that those who are young and healthy don’t “need” to get dosed, which caused White House officials to correct him.
So when Rogan revealed he’d gotten the ‘rona and was taking a drug used to eradicate worms in farm animals, people weren’t that surprised.
Joe Rogan got Covid and decided to take Ivermectin Jfc Stop taking horse dewormer and get vaccinated pic.twitter.com/S4fkgnNf3R
Others pointed out that when an extremely popular podcaster beloved by people who don’t listen to experts sings the praises of horse medicine — which has led to an uptick in poisons — that might be a bit irresponsible.
Joe Rogan took a bunch of nonsense medicine alongside a bunch of real medicine for COVID and will be fine because he has infinite money
But his example will convince more dumb people to just take horse paste https://t.co/ZI34pVU6XO
— Robert Evans (The Only Robert Evans) (@IwriteOK) September 1, 2021
In the meantime, please don’t take horse drugs to treat COVID. And just, like, generally, too. Don’t take horse drugs at all.
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