The "Spaces" column covered urban living and the built environment in the Dallas area, with an eye toward broader social, political, and economic trends. D Magazine is the Dallas city magazine.

NorthPark's Secret
May 2006
With curved planters, Hammering Men, and now a $200 million expansion, NorthPark Center is more than a mall.

That Long Drive Out to the Airport
August 2005
Why the Wright Amendment is bad for Dallas

Big Bucks and Blacktops
October 2003
Parking lots are not a very sexy business--especially when they're of the ugly, downtown variety. Despite what downtown boosters and local media say, proposed regulations to "beautify" those lots won't help--as long as landowners think they're going to hit it big.

Technocrats and Glowing Panties
July 2003
According to the State of Texas, retail lighting should be harsh, fluorescent, and unforgiving. But that makes it tough to sell underwear.

Is Dallas Going to the Dogs?
June 2003
Like graffiti, rampant dog droppings can indicate a city in decline. In Dallas, however, they just indicate a city that hasn't grown up yet. Our city girl explores how we handle our pets and what it says about our urban maturity.

The Truth About Plano
May 2003
Inspired by Trading Spaces, our city girl ventures north to the oft-maligned suburb and sees a world of possibility and pleasure.

Come All Ye Faithful
July 2002
The size and technology of Dallas' new megachurches are changing the face of that old-time religion.

Why the Fixation on Downtown is Wrong
May 2002
The idea that Dallas needs a great downtown to be a great city is total nonsense. A vibrant downtown would be nice, but only as one among many great neighborhoods.

When Novelties Become a Nuisance
April 2002
The McKinney Avenue trolley may be cute. But nobody rides it, and it doesn't make money.

We Are Where We Eat
January 2002
Two of the hottest new restaurants in Dallas prove that what's on the walls counts as much as what's on the plates.

The New Republic
December 2001
The grandest buildings in America were built to gratify bankers' egos. In Dallas these proud monuments have sat as cavernous relics. Until now.

Beyond "Machines for Shopping"
November 2001
Can design give a mall the comforts of home?

This Bold House
October 2001
Some people call it the "Smurf house" or the "mushroom house," and a lot of people hate it. But this unusual home has something rare in Dallas: conviction. And it's evidence of the city's freedom to realize your dreams.