I have taken one of the shuttles and I have taken a cab. If you have three or four other people, I highly recommend the cab. While the shuttle gets you there, there are lines and it goes real slow. For me personally, I cannot stand the slowness of the bus as I am full of that pre-game anxiety.

“pre-game anxiety” — Yeah I’m full of a few pints of that myself.

Make sure to throw your horns up when ever you see a car with Oklahoma plates also get there early for the game because trafic is going to be HORRIBLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1&3) If I were coming from out of town, I would want to be traveling north while the land thieves are traveling south (and vice versa). Although it’s some distance from downtown there’s a light rail service that runs along I-75 near the Plano / Richardson area where one might also experience lower room rates. The train takes you downtown, where a cab would be less expensive to the fair grounds. One could probably judge the Thief-Factor at a lodging establishment, by checking for primer gray vehicles that smell like a fresh batch of meth in the parking areas. Afterall, they have been saving up the proceeds from aluminum recycling all summer to go to the big city. There will be many of them here posing as an annual pox (but not so many in years when they suck more than they usually suck…which is a lot)

2) Food / Drink – The Barley House over by SMU is a big hang out. Live bands..yada yada. If things are too crowded there, just keep going north on 75. The variety is endless.

4) We don’t need no stinkin charms. We’re Texas. Show them what rabid really means.

5) Probably don’t want to drink and drive this weekend in the Dallas area (or any area for that matter). Law enforcement will be watching with heightened scrutiny. I would expect every suburb along the I-35 and 75 corridors to have extra patrols out.

6) Have fun at the game. Come Early. Be Loud. Wear Orange. Hook Em!

Remember with the influx of the two schools more often than not the bars will be PACKED so don’t look to move more than a place or two.

In Uptown (all within 2 miles of each other):
1) The Loon – strongest drinks in town. If you don’t get there before 10:30 there will be a line. No windows, hot 20 somethings, and I can almost guarantee a Tim Cowlishaw sighting. Has delicious bar food.

2) Uptown Pub (across the street from The Loon) – moderately sized patio. smaller venue and can be difficult to get a drink. good place to relax if you get a table outside. No food.

3) Black Friars – newer bar. Huge front patio facing McKinney Ave. Great place to people watch and lots of hots. Might serve food at night but not sure when the kitchen closes.

4) Idle Rich (across from Black Friars) – biggest inside of the bars listed above. small patio. Good selection of beers. Food (see Black Friars)

5) Gingerman – front and back patios. small inside but back patio is quite large. Lots of beers on tap. Not sure on the ladies. Has food.

6) TABC – Huge back patio. Good looking girls but usually more around 30 years old. Great food. It’s basically a hybrid bar/restaurant.

7) Quarter Bar – new orleans style bar. can be difficult to get a drink. no food.

Around Uptown:

8) Sunset Lounge – half club, half bar. Inside is loud rap and what not. Majority white crowd. Outside has a medium sized covered patio. Good spot to grab a beer but still be able to grind on some ‘strange.’ Just outside of Uptown.

9) Lee Harvey’s (as referenced in an earlier post) – I would describe it as the Dallas bar that feels like it should be in Austin. HUGE front area. Not a patio bc it’s gravel but it can fit about 200 people comfortable. Cheap drinks, but it’s definitely by itself in a very sketchy part of town. I’ve never had problems or heard anyone having problems but I wouldn’t leave my car down there overnight. To defend though, it is my favorite bar in Dallas and is guaranteed to have live music.

10) Vickery Park – small patio. Good drinks. Has food. Off of Knox Henderson.

Other bars to consider: The Slip Inn, Capital Pub, The Time Out Tavern, Uptown Bar and Grill, Stan’s Blue Note, The Dubliner, M Street, etc.

Cabs – are mildly expensive but are easy to get. Nothing like trying to get a cab on 6th post 2 am.