Have you read this? I ask, showing my copy of Conrad Hilton's Be My Guest to the man at the front. "My boss just got me a copy," he replies. "I've heard it's great." It is, I continue, a hospitality business must-read, especially if you work here.
Here is the Hilton Anatole Dallas, our respite for a weekend staycation. And it seems fitting to bring a copy of Conrad Hilton's autobiography for leisurely pool-side reading. What better place for this book?
The hotel is a year younger than I, and as a kid, I remember adults talking, referring to it as simply "The Anatole." It hosted the likes of Frank Sinatra and Stevie Wonder and was the headquarters of the 1984 Republican National Convention — with two life-sized, hand carved Thai elephant sculptures from the Crow Collection as a reminder of the GOP event.
Walking through the lobby, the sheer number of art never ceases to impress. There are over 1,000 pieces, with a heavy bent to Asian art. This is an art gallery you can stay at. The 26th floor, down the hall from the Mary Kay Suite, is home for the next 24 hours.
The kids, of course, make a beeline for the pool. But it's not just any pool — it's a $20 million resort-style pool complex called Jade Waters, complete with lazy river and slides. The swim-up bar exudes resort vibes. I like Hilton resorts. I stay at Hilton resorts. This felt like a Hilton resort.
But that's exactly what it is, right here in the middle of Dallas. It's far enough from Collin County to feel like an escape (and heck, even if you're in Dallas County, it feels like one, too), which makes it a primo early fall getaway. We read, munch and imbibe as we watch the kids play in the pool all afternoon. Relax. Unplug. Weekday stress seems miles away.
Previously, we dined at SER — truly, one of the best restaurants in the city. Award-winning chef Aubrey Murphy is doing culinary magic. But tonight, for dinner and fun, we head to Top Golf, which is always a good time. The combination of a resorts-style pool in the afternoon and virtual links enhances the getaway feel.
"Can you believe we're not on vacation?" my 15-year-old says to me, between rounds of virtual golf. Technically, we are, but his question is, perhaps, the highest compliment possible. It really does feel like we are far, far away at a Hilton resort.
I think about that as I doze off to sleep, the copy of Be My Guest on the nightstand.
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