Addison, TX

Located 13 miles north of Dallas, Addison has only about 14,000 full-time residents-but on weekdays, its population swells to around 100,000, including workers from all over the Dallas-Forth Worth metroplex, as well as visitors staying in one of Addison's more than 4,000 hotel rooms. This influx of people is accommodated by more than 150 restaurants, and the city provides residents and visitors with 118 acres of parks to enjoy.

Both business and tourism keep Addison Airport thriving. It is the third-largest general aviation airport in the country and home base to more than 700 aircraft. Addison was named after the town's second postmaster, Addison Robertson, and was incorporated as a city in 1953. Since 1982 it has been formally known as "Town of Addison," and every spring, the whole area turns into a colorful garden, as 75,000 Holland tulip bulbs burst into bloom.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Businesses located in Addison employ more than 100,000 people, filling up an extensive array of office parks and high-rise buildings, as well as warehouse and showroom space. The top five employers in Addison are:

• MBNA Infosystems, a credit clearinghouse
• Mary Kay Inc., a cosmetics company
• CompUSA, a computer company
• Pizza Hut, a food services corporation
• Hotel Inter-Continental Dallas

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Addison accommodates about 8,100 houses, out of which 7,500 are occupied. Out of these houses, the majority is occupied by renters, and just 1,500 are occupied by the owners. The housing density is 1832 houses per square mile.

The city is not walkable and you will need to rent a car or opt for local transport to roam around the city. Notable tourist attractions in Addison include WaterTower Theatre, Cavanaugh Flight Museum and Addison Circle Park.

FOR VISITORS

• Cavanaugh Flight Museum: Located on the grounds of Addison Airport, this museum features 50,000 square feet of historic aircraft used in military conflicts from WWI to Vietnam. Most of the museum's warplanes are in flying condition, and visitors can look beneath the skin of the aircraft.
• Mary Kay Museum: The museum explores the history of Mary Kay Inc. and its founder Mary Kay Ash.
• The Sixth Floor Museum: Located in nearby Dealy Plaza in Dallas, the museum is housed on the sixth and seventh floors of the former Texas School Book Depository. Since 1989, 6 million visitors have come to the museum to find out more about the 1963 assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
• Watertower Theater: As part of the Addison Conference and Theater Center, the Watertower Theater is the only professional theater in the North Dallas area. The theater hosts a full season of plays every year, along with an annual festival that showcases new work from regional and national writers.
• Blueprints: Addison Circle is home to a four-story sculpture that honors the city's development. The sculpture is 45 feet tall, 140 feet wide and weighs 410,000 pounds. The $2.1 million work of art has five petals, each of which contains detailed elements from the town's actual blueprints.
• The Village on the Parkway: The Village provides shopping, day spas and a wide variety of international dining choices.

FAMILY FUN

• Les Lacs Linear Park: Addison's largest park has a 2.5-mile lighted jogging and bike path. There is also a lake, two playgrounds, picnic tables, a pavilion, tennis courts, sand volleyball courts and an outdoor basketball court.
• Addison Circle Park: This 372,000-square-foot park features outdoor and indoor space, three performance venues, a 200-seat pavilion, a water garden, fountains and a walking trail.
• Addison Square Garden: The facility offers ice rinks for public skating, figure skating and ice hockey. During the holidays, the rink is decorated with 40,000 Christmas lights for the annual "Christmas in New York" celebration.
• Addison Athletic Club: This extensive facility is exclusively for Addison residents and provides more than 3,000 members with weight equipment, treadmills, a gymnasium, aerobics studio, whirlpool, spa, steam rooms and tennis courts.

EVENTS

• Addison Community Garage Sale: This annual event offers big bargains on furniture, clothing, household items, jewelry and more.
• Taste of Addison: This three-day festival, which offers food from more than 50 local restaurants, live music, celebrity chef demonstrations, wine tastings and activities for children, draws visitors from across the metroplex.
• Addison Urbanato: Venues throughout the city host this 15-day festival that showcases dance, art, literature and music.
• WorldFest: Addison goes international for this event, which features the cultures of 70 countries. Food, shopping and entertainment are offered at the International Marketplace and the Global Food Court.
• Summer Event Series: From June through August, this series features films, food, live music and theatrical performances. The highlight of the summer is the Kaboom Town fireworks display that can be seen anywhere in Addison.
• Addison ArtFest: Hosted every Memorial Day weekend, the festival features 200 artists, live music, art auctions and a children's craft area. All proceeds benefit arts organizations in Dallas County.
• North Texas Jazz Fest: Performances by jazz musicians and showings of rare jazz films are part of free festivities sponsored by the city and the University of North Texas' Department of Jazz studies.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Although Addison doesn't have any professional sports teams, residents cheer for Dallas teams, including:

• Basketball: Dallas Mavericks (NBA)
• Football: Dallas Cowboys (NFL)
• Hockey: Dallas Stars (NHL)