Riverway Estates - Dallas, TX

Riverway Estates holds a zip code for Dallas, but the central part of the neighborhood was called Scyene in 1854. In 1873, the bustling town contained a Masonic lodge, a wagon factory and six saloons, but in that same year, the city of Mesquite built a depot for the Texas and Pacific Railway, which circumvented trade and growth from the town of Scyene. Today, what remains of Scyene is a 7-mile stretch of road between Dallas and Mesquite.

The neighborhood doesn’t contain any museums or much of an arts scene; instead, residents travel to Dallas to visit the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealy Plaza or the Dallas Museum of Art. They also attend the Chinese Lantern Festival, which celebrates the western and eastern New Years.

Diners can find chain restaurants four miles northeast along the I-635 corridor where it intersects with highway 80. Residents do not always head to the row of available restaurants though, since the neighborhood contains several smaller family-owned choices.

When in the mood for an authentic Tex-Mex cuisine, try Gonzalez Restaurant. Located on Bruton Road near the south side of the neighborhood, the restaurant has been feeding Dallas residents since 1973. The tortillas here are handmade daily, which makes the enchiladas extra satisfying. Spices blend naturally in the asado de puerco, making the pork dish one of the restaurant's specialty dishes. For those favoring a vegetarian dish, try the chile relleno poblano. Round out your meal with a sangria margarita and honey-filled sopapillas.

When you want Chinese food delivered straight to your door, give Formosa Express a call. Fast service and great dishes ensure that your night in won’t lead to a complicated meal. Grab an order of fried dumplings and a plate of General Tso’s chicken; ask them to make it extra spicy to give the dish more kick. The restaurant sits on the corner of North Jim Miller Road and Samuell Boulevard and provides dine-in and carry-out options as well.

Post Time Honky Tonk, a short distance away on I-30, sets claim as the hottest lil country bar in Texas. The country dance club features live music and weekly happy hour specials.

Some of the residential avenues in the neighborhood maintain their rural heritage as narrow streets without sidewalks. Walking in the neighborhood can give the impression of walking down an old country road, but many of the streets have high traffic and can be dangerous for walking or bicycling. Only a handful of streets are considered bicycle friendly, and none of them mark off dedicated bike lanes.

The sheer size of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area makes Dallas commuters prefer personal vehicles for transportation. Neighborhood residents can easily access Highway 80 and Interstate 30 to the north and Interstate 635 to the east. These freeways give access to most communities in the area. Hailing a cab on the street here won’t be possible, but you can use your smartphone to request an Uber or Lyft ride.

Parking in the area does not require any special parking permits. All residences come with private parking, and street-side parking provides ample overflow parking options. Business complexes and commercial properties provide free spots, as do parks and recreation facilities.

Bus stops along Scyene, Prairie Creek Road and Bruton Road provide neighborhood residents with easy access to public transportation. A trip to downtown Dallas takes about an hour and includes bus and light rail travel.

Riverway Estates contains several small parks. The largest of them, Gateway Park, provides 110 acres of grassy areas for visitors to enjoy. The park also contains a soccer field and softball field for the athletically minded. A playground provides a great area for children to romp around while parents watch on. Picnic tables under trees and a pavilion with a barbecue grill make great spots for family events. There are not any official events held in the park, but you can reserve the pavilion for private parties. The park is dog friendly but doesn't provide an off-leash run area.

The cost of living in Texas normally lands 10 percent lower than the national average, and Riverway Estates matches the rate. The cost of living in nearby Dallas or Mesquite rises to 6 percent above the Riverway Estates neighborhood. An average one-bedroom apartment will run around $555.

A one-day pass on the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system costs $5, while a monthly pass costs $80. Gas prices in the neighborhood runs nearly 15 percent below the national average. You can expect to pay around $4 for a pint of beer in local bars and restaurants.

Several small grocery stores within the neighborhood provide residents with quick access to everyday needs. Larger grocery stores on the east side of Interstate 635 provide shoppers with a more comprehensive selection of goods. Shoppers looking for locally grown produce can find it at the Dallas Farmers Market Thursday through Monday 8 a.m to 5 p.m. between March and October. The market holds a Market After Dark event for shopping Thursday nights between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

The Garibaldi Bazaar on Thornton Freeway gives vendors an outlet to sell their merchandise indoors, flea market style. The large market contains shoe, clothing, jewelry and makeup vendors along with services such as massage and hairstyling. If you get hungry, a large food court provides satisfying meals such as Indian fry bread tacos and Mexican enchiladas.

High-end shoppers will head to the Galleria which contains the department stores Nordstrom and Macy’s. The three-level mall connects to the Westin Galleria and houses an ice skating rink on the lowest level. The fashion center also features designer stores such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Michael Kors.