The Place to Bury Secret Society Members
I.O.O.F. Cemetery

What's weird: The fact that I.O.O.F. stands for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a national private group of men from small towns. Many of them are buried here! Many tombstones have the Masonic symbol on it; it is a creepier-than-normal cemetery. On top of that, there are several large stones around Denton that have the I.O.O.F. symbols on them...but who knows what they mean?

In Case of an H-bomb threat...

Denton has a bomb shelter! It's not useful any more because it's full of refrigerators and other home appliances from a local appliance store. Said bomb shelter is off the square on Locust St. It's in a brick building on the right, before you pass the post office. EVEN WEIRDER: The bomb shelter used to have the I.O.O.F. symbol on its door...

Tie the Knot in Denton, Tx without Spurs
TWU - Little Chapel in the Woods

The Texas Woman's University has a beautiful campus, but there is one area that is particularly awesome. Towards the edge of the campus there is a garden with a small chapel nearby. This chapel was actually designed by TWU students and dedicated to Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt. If you want to have a wedding before an Ignite show, this is the place.

Boost Self-Esteem with Pickup Lines from Both Sexes
Hailey's 80s Night

For ye children of the 80s: Hailey's, a club off the square, dedicates EVERY Thursday to 80s music and fashion. Grab your neon glowstick, put on your big earrings and stockings, and go dance to all the classics like Michael Jackson and Oingo Boingo - LOVE IT! (18 - 20 with cover, 21+ FREE)

Local Animal Life for the Brave
Goatman's Bridge

There's a tale about a man who is half goat. He owns a bridge off Teasley Ln...If you visit it at night, chances are you'll be scared s***less (ahem, that was 'selfless' for the kiddos.) Old bridge, imminent death...bring your sweetie to hold on tight : D

This is our most popular feature right now! So, we're going to provide even more info about the goatman's bridge.

Directions:
Exit Teasley Ln. from I-35, and go west away from the 7-Eleven.
You'll pass Eureka park and eventually reach a CVS:
Turn right at this CVS, onto Teasley Ln/2181.
Drive a looong way down until you pass Guyer High School.
Turn right on Old Alton Rd.

Undress Yourself
And redress as a knight or pimp. Rose's Costume.

Theater folks know this place well; Halloween folks know it better. If you haven't been to Rose's, you're missing out. This is a warehouse of every type of costume for sale and rent. The best part: themed dressing rooms. That's right, each dressing room is themed after a major motion picture. My favorites are the Indiana Jones and Psycho dressing rooms o.O

A Ghost Tale for UNT STUDENTS

If you stay in Bruce Hall at UNT, you're a brave person! It is haunted by the ghosts Wanda and Boiler Room Bill. These two ghouls create some disturbances for the residents at this hall. If you have time for a little tale, below there is a link to an article in the North Texan, the school paper.

Drink Coffee! NEVER GO TO SLEEP!
Jupiter Coffeehouse

This is a chic place off the square that is 24 hours. Great place to grab your mac and eat a bagel. The decor is lacking and the coffee selection isn't that great, but insomniacs still love this place. MUST STUDY! SLEEP BAAAD! BAGEL YUMMY!

Because New Books Cost $25
Recycled Books, Records, & CDs

This is the treasure cove for book nerds with small wallets. 3 levels of used books, shelves and shelves of DVDS and CDS and VINYL (HOLY GOD THEY HAVE VINYL!). Off the square, this place is a lifesaver. PLUS it has one of the largest theater book sections known to man.

Rent Your Own Planetarium

The UNT Sky Theater offers original productions about our galaxy. The pollution haze and ambient light might prevent you from looking at real stars, but at the low, low price of $150.00 (75.00 weekdays) you can rent the entire theater for your own posse. If it were me with $150.00 to blow, I would use it as a date idea. Just imagine it: A large empty theater with just you, your sweet, the stars, and the projection operator. : D

I'm in Denton, and I need rare adult magazines...
Strawberry Fields

I know exactly how you feel. Kidding. Maybe. Moving on..Find several rare movies, cds, vinyl (OH MY GOD MORE VINYL I LOVE IT!), and even rare exotic adult magazines...It's only good when it's retro. Wink.
but check the website below because they are moving. Damn landlords!

For more information on all this weirdness, check out the links below!

Ferra's

A quaint house that serves delicious Italian favorites at affordable prices. Great atmosphere, a little romantic, very nice. I recommend the huge Calzones!
Local theater majors have been eating at Ferra's for over 4 years. (We even know that it was once called Bari's).

SweetWater

I enjoy a Guacamole Burger with a big Margarita, but you can order anything from Fried Pickles to Tex Mex. If you're thirsty for some sweetwater, their bartenders will take excellent care of you so you can take care of yourself ; D

Fuzzy's Tacos

Most people used to drive all the way down to TCU to enjoy Fuzzy's fish tacos and awesome burritos. Folks, we know people love Chipotle. I love Chipotle, too. But Fuzzy's has a larger selection and is a formidable foe. Go enjoy the food at Fuzzy's. Ok...it's been said before, so sorry...if you leave hungry, it's your own damn fault. : D

Art Six Coffeehouse

We're particularly fond of the guys at Art Six. Why? 2 of the founders Tommy and Olivia were theater majors! Art Six is the home to several live performances; several local artists get their works placed on the walls of Art Six; and most importantly they serve extremely awesome coffee that you can't find anywhere else. (TRY THE BETTER THAN SEX LATTE. ; D It comes very...very close...)

Rudy's BBQ

It's not the only Rudy's in Texas, so I guess it's not exactly the most unique place...but it has the best BBQ EVER! Plus...it's a gas station...YEEHAW Y'ALL...and the meat is slowly cooked and fatty. YUM! Though, y'all can order lean!

The Greenhouse

Vegetarians, the mothership has arrived! Even meat lovers can love the vegetarian selections at the Greenhouse. PLUS they do serve meat...so don't rush to Rudy's BBQ just yet!!! The Chef at the Greenhouse also likes to create experimental dishes that you won't find anywhere else! Don't forget to take shots over a conversation about Global Warming at their full service bar! Truly a remarkable place!

El Matador's

MARGARITAS!! CHEAP CHEAP MARGARITAS!!! Great place where there are ads on the tables...the food is very affordable and very quick for the uber hungry! That's cool...but not as cool as CHEAP MARGARITAS!!!

J&J's Pizza
How could we forget J&J's!!! (Much love, Scarlett.)

I used to be a big fan of The Tomato before it burned down in arson crime. I quickly learned about a place called J&J's, and it easily beats out Joey's, Ferra's, and even the Olive Branch!

So that's our fav. picks! How do you find out about them? Check out the links below!

What is Fry Street?

It used to be Denton's culture spot - awesome bars, The Flying Tomato Pizza, and homeless people. Sadly, corporate America knocked on our door, and the people of Denton answered. There are still some bars and stuff. It's just that you'll be seeing a CVS instead. How lame is that? A CVS...

What's Still There?

A Pita Pit, Jimmy John's, The Drink, Fry Street Tavern, Cool Beans, and Kush (A Hookah Bar!!!).

Also Michael "E.B." Latimer, an herb vendor whose herb van sits outside the bank, is there for cool stuff.

Our parents raised us to snag those precious golden opportunities to cheap, and Denton has a few free attractions. I know it's now Summer Season so we'll only list things unrelated to UNT and TWU, which have their share of free events and attractions.

Thursday Night Twilight Tunes on the Square

Because UNT has the no. 1 jazz program in America, Denton is considered a music haven. That's why the town folk decided to offer free concerts over the summer season. EVERY Thursday you can see a FREE concert . Check out the website below to find one you'll enjoy!

Culture Yourself

The Greater Denton Arts Council knows the lowdown on some free events. It's everything from free museum exhibits to free classes about knitting. Go to the GDAC website below. If it doesn't have a $ by the description, no moolah required!

Free Games & Pool

I know that some peeps already go to their friend's apartments to use the free pools, basketball courts, gym, and even Billiards. But sometimes we don't know residents at these often gated communities. That's why I recommend the Uptown apartments for a summer play date. Located off W. Oak St, this apartment complex isn't gated off from the world. It has an open pool area, volleyball court, and grill for you to have some fun in the sun!

Eureka Park, a park to just chill
(Also known as the South Lakes Park.)

It's surprising that some UNT and TWU students don't know about Eureka Park. It's a perfect place to jog, play some tennis or basketball, have a picnic, and even fish...Yup, you can fish at Eureka Park so long as you free the fish...Also, feel free to play in wooden playground. Some friends and I came late one night to have a water balloon war in that playground.

North Lakes Park, a park for the athletic

This is the mother load of all athletes. If you're not playing soccer on UNT's open field, you should be down here at one of their 9 soccer fields! Rugby and Softball players can also find some space here! And their one mile trail is perfect for biking!

Wine x Wine

Denton actually has a few places that will offer you a great selection of wine. Wine 2 beats them all by being the classiest and trendiest. You can also become a oenophile by taking one of their affordable wine courses. Go there, get some Merlot, enjoy your night : D

Hannah's Off the Square

This is our favorite fancy place in Denton. If you have an expensive taste, feed it at Hannah's. Plates range from $20 - $30. It's steep, but it's one of the only places with fine dining from a celebrated chef. Enjoy this gem!!

Sweet Basil

This is a great place that serves high end Thai food in a cozy atmosphere. If your tongue can take the heat, try their spiciest menu items. It might impress your date...but I'm going to go out on a limb and say your breath won't..

Master Grill

Come hungry, come loaded. At roughly $30 a person, you can eat delicious cuts of meat, Brazilian style! Great waiters, romantic atmosphere: this is a wonderful gem in Denton.

It's hard to plan memorable dates ANYwhere. If make out with your date, there's no need to thank us.

Ultimate Romantic Date
Perfect for that Special One :D

Remember that Little Chapel in the Woods (See Above)? It's near a gorgeous garden, which is perfect for this scenario.

YOU NEED:
*A Small Table (Don't have one? Buy a cheap one at Denton Thrift - located on 380. It's by the Kroger's.)
*A Nice Table Cloth
*Some roses (We have your back on Florists - websites below. You're welcome.)
*Home-cooked Dinner
*If you can avoid a fireman, some candles.

Here's what you do with your stuff:

Go to the garden by the chapel - don't worry, she won't know it's a place of marriage. Set up your table and cover with your cloth. Spread rose petals over the cloth, the red against the white looks really cool. (If you're feeling really creative, you can also layout stemmed roses in the center of the table...if it looks dumb, stick to the petals : D) Then, fire codes permitting, light some candles.

This works best if you get a friend to help setup and hold your place at the park. He or she can also shoo off any nosy people. Then bring your gal, eyes closed. It's perfect.

If you have room for Desserts
(Thanks for reminding us Sammm!!)

Take her to Beth Marie's. It's this old fashioned ice cream joint on the downtown square. So many good flavors. Get the ice cream and walk around the square holding hands - especially since the square features Christmas lights all year.

You're a pro. Take my wisdom and be the best boyfriend on the planet!

Just in case you need help finding your supplies, I've tagged some extra links!

You don't really get Denton's music scene until you've heard an up-and-coming band in one of Denton's major party houses.
Some places have MySpaces, while others you just gotta know about them. I've included street addresses so you can Google map them.

House of Tinnitus

If your eardrums long for static crunches, this is the home of experimental music in DTOWN. They don't have a huge schedule, so frequently check their MySpace.

Slutbanger

Now, we've got two conflicting reports on this...some say that Slutbanger has been closed for good because of too much vandalism and drugs...but it might still be housing parties. If you're not really into hardcore partying, this is probably not your scene.
1729 Scripture Street

Fra House

For you indie lovers, the Fra House is down the street from Strawberry Fields. This is a place you'll usually find indie veterans like Shiny Around the Edges and The Baptist Generals.
2127 W. Oak St.

The Loophole

Clever name since it's across the street from the Courthouse...fantasic place with a little English pub class in its blood.
Best Drink Special:
$1 domestic draft | Mondays

Hooligans

Great booze, awesome bar food. Theater majors frequent this place to watch the Mavs play...next year, hopefully we'll be watching them in the finals under a new coach... (21+ after 9)
Best Drink Specials:
$1 Shiner drafts | Tuesdays
$2.50 Wells | Wednesdays

SweetWater

By now, you know our love for this place. Great prices on drinks, amazing Margarita's. (18+ bar.)

THE DRINK

If you're older than 28, you will probably look out of place. This is a hot spot on the famous Fry Street. Awesome dive!

Beer Barn

The beer barn has a drive thru. This is probably a bad idea, but it's perfect for a quick beer run. But don't drink and drive...just because you bought beer from a barn does not mean you should act like an idiot.....We're still waiting for someone to sell beer from a pickup truck.

Cool Beans

Great rooftop space to eat, drink, and stare at the courthouse...the food is awesome with a mix of bar food and vegetarian-friendly stuff. Oh, but you gotta love that Fry Street crowd. I once had a guy walk up to me to ask my opinion on "why sex robots hadn't been invented yet."
Best Drink Specials
$2.00 Wells | Tuesdays & Saturdays
$5.00 Double Captain Morgan's Rum | Thursdays

Rubber Gloves

Great live bands at this joint. If you're into the music scene, you've heard of Rubber Gloves before! It has great recording studios in the same building. Get your drink on, then listen to some music. Sweet.

R Bar

A Dive is a DIVE, and that's ok. This is a no frill place for you to chug down your Natty Lights. Parking is sparse, but that's only because it's popular.
Best Drink Specials:
$1.75 Wells | Mondays (plus BEER PONG!)
$.50 Wells and $1.50 Longnecks | Sundays
$3 Long Island Iced Teas | Every Night!

Eskimo Hut

When it's hot, come down to the Eskimo Hut to get some alcoholic SNOW CONES! BRILLIANT I LOVE IT! Nothing like it to beat off the heat.

Do you want a drink after a show at Ignite Theatre Co.? Check out the links below!

288

It's that road surrounded by all your favorite restaurants and retail stores...Most locals avoid it because of the construction.

WHAT'S BETTER:
2 Things..

..Exit Ft. Worth Dr. to visit Denton's downtown square, enjoy local shops and restaurants instead.

..Going Northbound on I35 E, take the 288 exit. Turn right before you pass On the Border (Southern Hills Blvd.) Make a left on Colorado Blvd...that'll help you avoid the majority of the traffic!

Golden Triangle Mall

If you want to waste your time looking at empty retail space, this is a great place. The Barnes and Noble that's attached is wonderful, but the actual mall is terrible. Very limited selection of stores.

WHAT'S BETTER:
3 things...

..shop in Denton Square at its unique boutiques.

..Drive down the block to the plaza with a Best Buy

..or Drive South I 35 E to the Vista Ridge. Much better!

Wal-Mart

It's the third BUSIEST in the nation. If it's the beginning of a school semester at UNT or TWU, you're screwed...sorry. AVOID IT!!!

WHAT'S BETTER:
Across the street, there's a Super Target and Krogers. Down the road, on Colorado Blvd., there is a Dollar Tree!

Driving around UNT at 21 MPH

The University of North Texas is very strict about its 20 MPH speed limit. There is no leniency! NONE! PLUS, UNT has two police forces: Denton Police and UNT Campus Police. Both are willing to ticket you.
Also, don't park anywhere that requires a permit, unless it's a weekend or after 10 P.M...you will get a $30+ ticket or worse towed.

WHAT'S BETTER:
Driving the speed limit until you pass a 30 MPH speed posting....

Bums on Fry Street

Yes, Denton has its share of homeless people. There's been a lot of construction on Fry Street, so some of them moved away. Still, there are some shaggy dudes who will ask you for cash. I'll give you a reason to avoid Fry Street Bars (the biggest reason you'd go there.) Check out the R Bar, Rubber Gloves, Loophole, Hooligans, Andy's Off the Square...these bars are far from Fry.

WHAT'S BETTER:

If you feel generous, Denton has a local Habitat for Humanity. Check it out! If you have extra supplies from a paint job or just want to give some cash. These guys are committed to giving homes to worthy families. : D