Cafe Malaga is one of my favorite places to eat around DFW. It is just off the square in downtown McKinney, at 111 W. Virginia Street.

Cafe Malaga is one of those places where you plan to just go have a little something, yet you end up having a lot of little somethings. That's because it is a tapas restaurant, where typically one orders several small plates to share. And then, of course, there's that wine list.

It is a small restaurant, and reservations are suggested for Friday and Saturday evenings. It is so small, that we frequently find ourselves chatting with the people at the next table. It is just that type of place, and so often we have the good fortune to sit next to, or between (!) parties who have never been to Cafe Malaga before. Last time, we were between two parties who inquired about what we had ordered, and they followed suit.

My personal favorite is the wood grilled hanger steak over fried potatoes in paprika bleu cheese vinaigrette, but how can I not have the mojete, or the delicious potatoes with garlic aioli? And then how can we not have some wine, perhaps an Argentinian Malbec, and a San Pellegrino to go with that?

The menu has so much variety, there is truly something for everyone. And I love the tapas style. I would much rather select a few quality small dishes than have one overwhelmingly large bulk food entree.

I hate to say it, but the service has been spotty at times. Our last visit was for my birthday dinner, and the waiter had to be reminded to bring several things, including my San Pellegrino, our cheese plate, and a few other items. Of course the dinner was still delicious, and the evening wonderful. And, I was glad that the two adjoining tables of new patrons were chatting with us so that I could mention that the service was usually much better.

It is worth scheduling dinner when they have live music. It's great when they clear some room in this already small restaurant to add a few guitar players, or the second Saturday of the month when they feature the E-Flat Porch Band.

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
3200 Darnell Street (in Fort Worth’s Cultural District). Parking is available on premises.
Tues - Sat 10A–5P, Sun 11A–5P. Closed Mondays and holidays, including New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas.

We really enjoy The Modern. This is a good thing, since we have been members for several years. The building itself is impressive, a simple concrete edifice with a beautiful reflecting pond visible through soaring windows.

We usually find the exhibits to be quite interesting, sometimes shocking. We don't claim to know a huge amount about art, and to be honest, some of the "art" escapes me. But, there is always enough to enjoy to keep us going back, or at least wanting to go back.

The Magnolia at The Modern is an ongoing series of critically acclaimed films. The theater is small, without all the cushy accoutrements of the other independent film theaters (such as the Angelika), and I don't believe food or drink is allowed. In fact, the theater's use as a film venue seems to be almost an afterthought. It is comfortable, though, and I would not hesitate to see another film there.

Last weekend we decided to have a date at the Modern, and we timed it so we could see The Pool, an Indian movie with English subtitles. I really enjoyed it. A boy working in a hotel becomes obsessed with a swimming pool in the opulent hills of Panjim, Goa in India. His life gets turned upside down when he attempts to meet the mysterious family that arrives at the house.

Also, check out Cafe Modern, named one of America's best restaurants by Gourmet Magazine. David took me to Cafe Modern for a special Valentine's dinner last year, and we have also had light brunch. It is very good food indeed.

Check out First Fridays at the Modern. The first Friday evening of each month, enjoy live music and cocktails from 5P - 8P, and dine in the cafe by night.

It is a frequently asked question in our area. What can we do when the relatives come to visit? And it's a good question, as Dallas doesn't have too many interesting natural sights to see. We've no beach, no mountains, and not much that really stands out from the rest of the country. In fact, we seem to have a large percentage of chain retail and restaurants, and a short list of unique or interesting attractions.

So, I'm assembling this catalog of good things to do in the north Texas area, especially those things to do near McKinney.

I'm not ruling out shopping altogether, but I am leaving out most malls and chain stores. Who really wants to travel across several states to go to a generic mall with the same stores and merchandise as one can find at home?

If you have any suggestions of additions to my list, feel free to comment!