Review @ Tripadvisor -- Dallas: Reunion Tower Lookout: Observation Desk still closed, doubt it will ever reopen

Originally posted @ Tripadvisor here

Observation Deck is still closed to the public, but they will take your parking money before they tell you that.

Local staff is saying that it will reopen 'later in the year', but have been saying that since the restaurant and conference rooms reopened in February 2009 (18 months ago). It is not clear when or if the Observation Desk will ever reopen, even though this is a major Dallas tourist destination.

18 months is 18 months. There's nothing they couldnt finish in that time, especially when it only took 2years to 'renovate" the restaurant and conference rooms. Really, how long does it take to renovate a walkway?

Gut feeling is that they are keeping observation deck closed on purpose to force people to eat at the restaurant, use the conference rooms for weddings and other special events -- and to generally keep out the regular people and tourists who wouldn't necessarily shell out the major bucks to use the amenities when they visit the tower. If your not flashing the big money, they dont want you around.

Very very sad, and yet another missed opportunity by dallas and whomever owns the Hyatt Regency to establish/maintain the city's 'Dallas is more than just a hoity toity working city, you should come down and visit us for fun' image.

Its really is all the little stuff like this, that when all added up -- why downtown dallas has no night life to speak of

And it's a real shame. Dallas has some solid potential. They just dont get it. Fort Worth 'gets it' with Sundance Square. San Antonio 'gets it' with the Riverwalk. But Dallas doesnt. And I dont get *that*

Right Now @ christoperj|[.com]

Yep, it seems to be my birthday. . .

Right Now @ christoperj|[.com]

Whats stupider - a 2y dell laptop that wont boot due to a dead $.98 cmos battery, or how I had to fully dismantle it to parts to fix - WTF?

Review @ Tripadvisor -- Pilot Point: Ray Roberts Lake State Park: I Love the Park, but Harassment by Park Police was 'Over the Top'

Originally posted @ Tripadvisor here

There's a great section of this park, near the horse trails on the Greenbelt underneith the FM455 dam -- where most of the area light pollution is blocked by trees and the dam and everything. The stars shine brightly in this area, and on a clear night, you can see Milky Way plane.

Perfect on a meteor shower night, and on this night, my Fiancée and I found a quiet spot underneath the dam to lean on the car watch the show.

Unfortunately, I also echo the other comments about Park Police Harassment. While we were enjoying the show, we looked over and saw a vehicle speeding down the hill from FM455 and around the turn. They were obviously speeding. And to a point where we were thinking they were drunk or teenagers who thought they were indestructible.

They came up on us, turned on the red/blues did a quick decel. The entire time, we were simply standing there by my car holding our drink cups.

With their headlights and lightbar highbeams shining in our faces, they jumped out. There was two of them, but only a young one with short blonde hair did all of the talking.

He asked us "What's going on", still with the lights in our faces. We explained we were there to look at the stars.

They both did a quick run down on both sides of my car with their flashlights. They seemed to be particularly interested in my backseat of my coupe, but never asked for access

He went back to where he was so the lights of his truck were in our faces, and then asked us if we had an entrance receipt. This was an open area of the park, without a park station -- so I didnt know there was a fee. I explained that I missed the fee and asked where I should pay. He said, "so you dont have a receipt" I said no, and again asked where to pay. He then asked if I knew my inspection was out. I admitted I did. He asked if I knew I was parked illegally. I said I didnt, because I was off the road on a gravel turnout and there was not a sign. He said where I was, was for emergency access only.

(I was facing the dam, and there was no gate for any emergency access to drive through. It was obviously a turn out, and I was no more than 5 feet away from the car at all times)

He then asked me again why I didnt pay the entrance fee. I again repeated I didnt know there was a fee for this area and asked where I should pay. He then threatened me by asking if "i wanted [him] to write [me] $50 - $500 ticket." I again asked where I should pay the entrance fee. NEVER got a clear answer to the question.

At that point, his partner waved him off and I received only a warning as he turned and walked away. I thanked him and offered to shake his hand -- at which point he said "no sir, I dont shake hands". They then sped off further down the park road, again speeding, again w/o any red/blues on.

This all took about 10 minutes. At no time did they ask for identification or insurance or whatever. I imagine they took down my plate number, but they were not there long enough to run it.

We left at that point.

This entire encounter was, at the least, an overly aggressive approach at park enforcement by a rookie officer who hasnt figured out the balance between "the handbook" and reality. To me, it felt like more like a shakedown. Driving up on park visitors at an excessive speed, employing scare tactics, and then driving off just as fast pretty well speaks for itself.

Maybe there was something else going on in the park that they were responding to, and we were just the first ones they saw.

I apparently was in the wrong on a few little things and I admit that. But perhaps verbally smacking around a park visitor who obviously is just enjoying the night isnt the right approach to making a park seem both save and inviting to the public.

Whatever the case, this Over the Top behavior overshadowed the park experience. I would recommend any potential visitors weigh the hassle of overzealous police harassment before deciding to visit.

Right Now @ christoperj|[.com]

Saddened to hear about the death of my Grandmother, Dorthy Lee

Right Now @ christoperj|[.com]

Stand back, I'm a professional