Stay at the 1912 Adolphus, a Beaux-Arts hotel downtown

The Statler opened in 1956 as the Statler Hilton, closed in 2001 and was nearly demolished before a restoration brought it back as a hotel. An AIA Dallas guide called its glass and porcelain midcentury block the best of 1950s architecture in the city. Crews found an original 1956 mural by Jack Lubin in the former…

Dallas' Original Pumpkin Day is held every October in The Shed at the Dallas Farmers Market. Past editions had Texas-grown pumpkins, live music, a pumpkin painting station, kids' crafts and face painting. The market's own fall list also includes sweet corn, sweet potatoes, pecans and more than 20 pumpkin varieties…

Dallas has proclaimed every April as Arts Month since 2013, when it started as Arts Week, with hundreds of events across the city. Besides the Deep Ellum arts fair, the lists have included the Dallas Art Fair and film festivals. Costs vary by event, so check the Arts Month calendar and book early for ticketed ones…

The Granada opened as a movie house in 1946 and has been a concert hall on Greenville Avenue since the mid-2000s, run by the same owners since 2004. Check the calendar on its website for upcoming shows, and buy ahead for popular acts. Arrive early and eat nearby on Lower Greenville first, where the patios fill after…

The Kessler is a former neighborhood movie house in Oak Cliff's Winnetka Heights, restored as a live-music theater. Touring and regional acts play most weeks, and popular nights show as sold out, so buy tickets ahead from the venue's calendar. Listening-room style evenings suit people who want to hear the band, not…

First Monday Trade Days in Canton, about an hour from Dallas, is a huge flea market that runs from Thursday to Sunday before the first Monday of each month. Go on Thursday or Friday when crowds are lightest, wear comfortable shoes and bring cash, since many vendors and food stalls do not take cards. There are ATMs on…

The Shed at the Dallas Farmers Market is open on Saturdays and Sundays all year, with more than 100 local producers selling produce, honey, eggs, meat, bread and cut flowers. Arrive early on Saturday for the best selection, and ask the information booth about the bag drop while you shop. The Market food hall next door…

Fair Park holds one of the largest collections of 1930s Art Deco exposition buildings in the United States, and the Hall of State stands at the end of the long Esplanade and its reflecting pool. Most visitors come during the 24-day State Fair, so aim for another time of year when the buildings are easier to frame…