To tell you the truth, I haven't had much time to sample the Dallas nightlife, you know this is a working trip for Super Bowl XLV.  But the Super Bowl week is as much about the parties and concerts as the game itself.  Being in downtown Dallas has been a bit isolating from the fun after dark.   From everything I've seen and read, downtown Fort Worth is the place to be.  A much livelier atmosphere in and around the square where ESPN has been broadcasting from.  Still, found a couple of spots I wanted to write about.  The first has a real Packers touch.  Former linebacker Brian Williams, a member of the Super teams in the 90's, still lives in Dallas and I ran into him and former receiver Derrick Mayes in the media center Thursday afternoon.  He invited me to his opening week party at a bar and restaraunt he just opened the doors to on Wednesday.  Cedar Social is the name of the place and it's at 1326 South Lamar Street, just south of the Dallas Convention center and a block from Gilley's Dallas saloon.  It's a quaint little place, with no Packer memorabilia draping the walls.  More of a cocktail bar with a fancy bill of fair.  There's about 20 tables surrounding an open fire place in the dining area and even a small cubby library with oversized chairs to relax in.  In the summer, they'll have a patio offering a great view of the Dallas skyline.  Met a couple who live in a loft apartment across the street and they were really impressed by the addition to the neighborhood.  With Brian serving as host, he also welcomed a few of his buddies to the place, former teammates Dorsey Levens, William Henderson, Doug Evans and Antonio Freeman were all there.  We had a good time reliving the past Packers glory.  Another spot I stumbled into (figuratively, not literally), is the City Tavern on Main street, about five blocks from my hotel.   What drew me in was the small, circular sign sticking out from the non-descript red brick building.   When I stepped inside, found a narrow, two story, old time bar with brick walls and tin ceilings.  Felt like I stepped back in time and Brandon, the bar tender told me I did.  For this bar, opened in the early 1900's, was once under the ownership of Jack Ruby.  Ruby in fact, held the deed to nearly every building on the block which included of course a strip joint and apartments. A facisnating story, underscored by the fact on nearly every bus trip to the Packers team hotel or the stadium this week, we drove right past the Texas Book Depository and Dealy plaza with yes, the grassy knoll memorial.

Now it's time for football and I'm still on the fence about how this game will go, by Sunday morning, I'll break it down as I see it and offer up a prediction.