Reunion Tower

Locally, Reunion Tower is called the "ball" or even the "microphone." It's not Dallas' tallest structure, but the tower's silhouette and twinkling lights distinguish downtown's skyline more than any other building.

The lights sometimes flash in the pattern of something fun, like a soccer or basketball. From the inside, thelighted sphere offers breathtaking views and draws romantics of all ages, from teenage couples after prom to elderly couples celebrating their golden anniversary. The vista includes Uptown, downtown, the Trinity River, American Airlines Center, the network of highways and the Old Red Courthouse's intricate rooftop. New-American cuisine restaurant Antares and The Dome Lounge is housed inside, both good choices for a scenic dinner, a business lunch or a post-convention drink.

The "Reunion" name is a slice of Dallas history. French, Belgian and Swiss socialist immigrants established La Reunion Colony nearby in the mid-1800s. They sought to cultivate a perfect, Utopian society based on the writings of philosopher Frantois Marie Charles Fourier. A couple of harsh winters did the colony in. But its name survives, honoring the settlers' contribution to the city's cultural fabric.