In our continuing irregular series of posts about new spots that technically aren’t in Lake Highlands but aren’t too far away, either, check this out…

If serving “craft” beers in the style of a European beer hall can make a bowling alley “upscale”, we’re in for a treat when Bowl & Barrel opens a 15-laner this fall at the Shops at Park Lane (behind the new Whole Foods on Greenville).

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The DBJ reports SMU alums Josh Sepkowitz and Kyle Noonan are opening the alley, which will include a 3,000-square-foot restaurant and bar.

The Shops at Park Lane, located between Greenville and Central Expressway south of Park Lane, started off slowly as it came online during the beginning of the recession/real estate crunch of a few years ago, but the place is filling up nicely with Dick’s Sporting Goods, Gordon Biersch, Bailey’s Prime, Grimaldi’s, Old Navy and Saks Off 5th. Bloomingdale’s, The Outlet Store opens in the center May 3.

My wife and I stopped by the center a few Friday nights ago, intending to check out the new Grimaldi’s pizza restaurant, since the West Village version often is too packed to get into. I guess plenty of other people had the same idea, because there was a 40-minute wait, so we ambled down to Gordon Biersch instead.

For Dallas, the center is a pretty walkable place; there are some benches outside on the internal street and a couple of patios off of restaurants, so it’s possible to squint and imagine you’re enjoying a real cosmopolitan experience.

As I recall, original plans for the center included a bowling alley in space where the Home Goods store is located; I believe the Bowl & Barrel is taking some of the remaining space intended for the original alley.