In Arlington, football fanatics are a dime a dozen but these aren’t your run-of-the-mill fans. These are paint-their-face, novelty-license-plate-owning, likely-to-have-a-Cowboys-tattoo, probably-have-a-child-named-Emmit-or-Roger type of fans. These are fans that can do entire loads of laundry of just cowboy gear, fans who have grandmothers that know more about the 4-3 defense than the average American and fans who will tell you without blinking an eye that if you schedule a birthday party during a game, you better believe they won’t be there.
People in Arlington like “The Big Lebowski” for the bowling. Unlike the rest of the country, they judge an alley not on its bar, but by its lane integrity. And, when you overhear people discussing a turkey, it’s not Thanksgiving or hunting season—they’re reviewing the score sheet to make sure everything adds up correctly. Whether dueling it out in a competitive league or hitting the lanes for a family friendly party, there is no hiding an Arlingtonian’s drive to be the best bowler in the room. With every turn, there are hopes of landing one of their ten pins in the annals of bowling history at the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame.
Arlington is home to the original Six Flag theme park, and as such they are a bit opinionated when it comes to what rides are worth the wait. No doubt, hands down thrill seekers who want the most bang for their buck go straight for the New Texas Giant or The Titan.
Arlington is headquarters of American Mensa. If you didn’t know that was the high IQ club, you can go ahead and show yourself to the door. These are not the people you want to engage in debates with. Aside from translating their astronomical test scores into scholarships, folks in Arlington are also bar trivia sharks. Don’t think for an instant that Trivia Night at the Mellow Mushroom is going to be a walk in the park. This is where Arlingtonians go to show off their head RAM and are always eager to send an Einstein wannabe out the door feeling more like a Gomer Pyle lookalike.
The Texas baseball Rangers pack as much punch as Walker the Texas Ranger, and as such hold a place near and dear to the hearts of Arlington’s sports aficionados. While the team recently rallied for consecutive American League titles subsequently coming up short in the World Series, fans keep the team on a pedestal and defend their them with a ferocity that would have Chuck Norris ducking for cover.
Calling Arlington late to the public transportation train is an understatement. They have only recently gotten limited bus service as a trial period, and even its success remains to be seen. Arlington voters have consistently elected not to fund a public transit system, and would much rather sit in traffic and foot their own gas bill than be caught dead on a loser cruiser.
The food pyramid in Arlington is shaped like a tortilla chip. If you ask what somebody wants to eat and it’s not a burrito, a fajita or nachos, check to make sure they’re not feeling under the weather. Nothing says Arlington like an ice cold margarita drink and a brisket taco from Mariano’s. Mariano’s is far from the only Mexican joint in town, but its the only one that can lay claim to the world’s first frozen margarita machine. Folks in Arlington swear by Mariano’s margaritas and so does the Smithsonian--the machine took its rightful place in the American History Museum in 2005.
While the advent of the bus has skipped over Arlington, there is a posse of pedal-power enthusiasts that is gaining power on the promenade. Cyclists in Arlington are not just passive commuters, but rather organized promoters of all things two-wheeled as well as the development of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in the surrounding community.
The University of Texas Arlington is home to dedicated and driven students that embody what it truly means to be Mavericks. They are consistently a bright spot in the community, adding diversity and developing life-long leaders that continue to advance the Arlington area long after graduation. One thing all mavericks have in common is they aren’t afraid to get a little dirty. The annual Oozeball mud volleyball tournament is by far the most hallowed tradition pitting teams of students, faculty, staff, and alumni and raises money benefiting student scholarships.
Arlington has its fair share of country music fans but the real cowboys to look out for are the fans of local legends Pantera. You can spot these fans by their tattoos, tattered jeans and indignant attitude. Pantera fans are far beyond driven, and even though the band broke up over a decade ago and even especially following the tragic murder of lead guitarist Dimebag Darrell (by a disgruntled fan no less) Arlington’s devotion the band that revolutionized the metal world is second to none. Did we miss anything? Tell us what you think of Arlington in the comments below!
