SUNDANCE SQUARE STOCKYARDS CULTURAL DISTRICT NEAR SOUTHSIDE
Y OUR P ASSPORT T O C ENTER C IT Y L IFE
April 2009
Neil P. | Your Downtown Wedding Planner | New Direction for Bass Hall & Casa Ma単ana
Main Street Arts Festival
INSIDE
Art. Music. Films. Food. Fun.....................................
Easter Listings Where to go for Easter Sunday service...................
Bass Hall & Casa Mañana The Theaters take new directions ...........................
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The Foodie Pages
Table Scout ................................................. 10 You Gotta Try This......................................... 10 Beat the Clock ............................................ 11
Your Downtown Wedding Planner Latest trends in wedding planning .........................
Neil P. Own your own piece of history ...............................
April Entertainment What’s going on around Cowtown ........................
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APRIL • 2009 Andy Taft, President 777 Taylor St., Suite 100 Fort Worth, Texas 76102 817-870-1692 • www.dfwi.org Editor Stacey Pierce Director of Marketing and Communications Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. stacey@dfwi.org Advertising Director Kristen Jenkins Marketing Director Dana Crumbliss-Mariani JSW Publishing 817-321-9724 Business/Operations Trish Bermejo Art Director/Layout Editor Amy Royer DOWNTOWN FW is a free monthly publication distributed in the Fort Worth center city, and supported by the downtown Public Improvement District. The entire contents of DOWNTOWN FW are copyright 2005 by DFWI and JSW Publishing. NO portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the publication. DFWI Mission Statement To be the catalyst for transforming Downtown Fort Worth into a vibrant place to live, visit, enjoy and conduct business
through aggressive leadership of programs, projects and partnerships.
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Two Distinctive Properties One Prestigious Address Introducing Colonial Park and Gallery 1701
Quality - Comfort - Convenience
downtown fort worth
april 2009
Fort Worth’s Perfect Urban Lifestyle
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Visit our leasing office and move in today! 1800 Rogers Road - Fort Worth - 76107 817-698-0422
www.colonialparkapts.com • www.gallery1701.com
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DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH
APRIL, 2009
The Main Event: MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival Fine art, music, film and food pack Main Street in 24th annual festival MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival (MAIN ST.), downtown’s main event presented by Coors Light and produced by Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc., will hit the streets April 16-19 as one of the top three fine art shows in the nation and the region’s biggest entertainment showcase. “The nation is discovering what North Texans have known for years: MAIN ST. is a major venue for fine art from across the country and the world, and it’s a lot of fun” said Richard Ruddell, festival and events committee chair for Downtown Fort Worth, Inc., which produces MAIN ST. MAIN ST. packs downtown Fort Worth each spring with a celebration of fine arts and crafts, music, film and food stretching from the Tarrant County Courthouse to the Fort Worth Convention Center. More than 200 juried artists and fine crafts exhibitors line brick-paved Main Street, joined by musicians and dancers on three stages. Performance artists and food and drink vendors complete the scene. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, April 16; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 17-18; and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, April 19. Admission is free.
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THE MAIN ATTRACTION: JURIED FINE ART Visual art is the centerpiece of MAIN ST., and exhibiting artists work in media ranging from sculpture, painting and photography to woodcarvings, glasswork, jewelry, fashion, multimedia and more. More than $4 million worth of art may be sold during the festival at prices ranging from $50 for signed, limited edition prints to thousands for original works.
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MUSIC ON MAIN MAIN ST. jams with live music on three stages starting at noon daily during the festival and brings the biggest names in Texas R&B, blues, jazz, Latin rock--even traditional African instrumentals-to Main Street, Fort Worth. The schedule mixes it up, blending different musical styles on every stage, and an eager public can follow the full concert line-up at www.MainStreetArtsFest.org. Music is a family affair for featured performers like native son Jimmie Vaughan and singer Shemekia Copeland, daughter of blues legend Johnny Copeland. These two greats give R&B and the blues center stage in this year’s Music on MAIN schedule, but jazz holds sway on the Sundance Square stage with performances by George Duke, Najee and Lizz Wright. Catch the American roots rock sound of the BoDeans, the Latin rock of Austin’s
Del Castillo and hometown favorites Latin Express at this year’s show, or discover Mamadou Diabate on the kora. The sonic sculpture of Mass Ensemble makes beautiful music and is a wonder to behold. More than 10 appearances across the Music on MAIN schedule make Mass Ensemble’s a don’t-miss performance. OFF MAIN! Pillars of the downtown arts community host Off Main!, a series of performances, exhibits and lectures that celebrate fine art, film and theater in venues both on and off Main Street. FEARLESS FILM FESTIVAL 3 Fearless Film Festival 3, a.k.a. 3F3, returns as the sequel to the sequel of the event that brought moving pictures to MAIN ST. Winning films in 3F3 will be screened free to the public from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 1:15 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 18-19 in the David L. Tandy Lecture Hall in the Fort Worth Central Library, and organizers are adding two panels-”Copyright Law” and “Texas Filmmakers Resources”-to this year’s film festival. GOOD TASTES - FESTIVAL FOOD MAIN ST. is all about good taste, and the city’s finest have something cooking--from tamales and burritos, wraps and gyros, and turkey legs and funnel cakes to barbecue, burgers and hot dogs-for every palate and preference at MAIN ST. Save time and skip the lines by purchasing food and beverage coupons in advance through April 13. Strips of 12 coupons cost just $8 at the Festival Store at www. MainStreetArtsFest.org. YOUNG AND EMERGING TALENT Award-winning outreach programs bring the magic of fine art to young people and spotlight undiscovered talent. MAIN ST. CREATES! presented by CHASE draws families north past 2nd Street and into a world of pure imagination, where kids immerse themselves in arts and crafts. The Young People’s Art Fair presented by XTO Energy releases the energy and enthusiasm of budding artists ages 7 to 17 who show and sell their art from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 19 and 20. The Emerging Artist Program is in its fourth year and offers an opportunity for artists who have little exhibition experience to sell their work at MAIN ST. Discover these rising stars on Third Street. THE GREEN TEAM: MAIN ST. & UT ARLINGTON The 2009 show also will feature an expanded emphasis on environmental awareness, thanks to a partnership between MAIN ST. and the green team at The University of Texas at Arlington.
MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival celebrates its 24th year in 2009 and is presented by Coors Light. Official Sponsors for 2009 are American Airlines, Chase, Sundance Square, Target, Texas Lincoln Mercury Dealers, and XTO Energy. Media Sponsors include CBS 11/TXA 21, D Magazine and the Star-Telegram as well as radio stations WRR 101.1, Mix 102.9, 102.1 The Edge, 106.1 KISS FM, 95.9 FM The Ranch, Country Legends 92.1, and Lone Star 92.5. Supporting Sponsors include Coca-Cola Bottling Company of North Texas, Dallas/Fort Worth Professional Musicians Association, Fort Worth Transportation Authority, Green Mountain Energy, and The University of Texas at Arlington.
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GET HERE Use of public and alternative transportation is encouraged, and MAIN ST. guests will have a new option-T bus shuttle service-for transportation to and from the festival this year. The shuttle will operate every 20 minutes from 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday from free parking at Billy Bob’s Texas in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Trinity Railway Express and the T’s regular city bus service also offer hassle-free transportation, or bike to the festival, then secure your wheels at the popular Bike Corral, where cyclists enjoying valet parking courtesy of Bicycles, Inc. and Fort Worth Bicycling Association. For more information on parking and transportation, visit www.MainStreetArtsFest. org or www.fortworthparking.com.
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Holy Week Services Monday, April 6
12 noon
Midday Prayer
Chapel
Tuesday, April 7
12 noon
Midday Prayer
Chapel
Wednesday, April 8 12 noon
Midday Prayer
Chapel
Thursday, April 9
12 noon 7:00 p.m.
Maundy Thursday Chapel Maundy Thursday Great Hall
Friday, April 10
12 noon 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday Chapel Tennebrae Service Sanctuary
Sunday, April 12
7:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m.
Easter Sunrise Easter Worship Easter Worship Easter Worship
Outside Sanctuary Great Hall Sanctuary
1000 Penn Street Fort Worth 76102 817-335-1231 www.fpcfw.org
First Christian Church of Fort Worth 612 Throckmorton • 817.336.7185 Maundy Service Thursday, April 9th 7 :00 pm Easter Sunday Sunrise Service on Lake Worth Easter Egg hunt and continental breakfast 9:30 am Worship Service 10:50 am First Presbyterian Church of Fort Worth 1000 Penn St • 817.335.1231 Easter Sunday 7:00 am Outside Sunrise Service 8:00 am in the Sanctuary • 9:00 am in the Great Hall 11:00 am in the Sanctuary First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth 800 W 5th St • 817.336.7277 Easter Sunday Sanctuary 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 11:00 am Wesley Hall (contemporary service) 9:30 am, 11:00 am Gethsemane Presbyterian Church 960 W Bluff St • 817.332.9061 Easter Sunday 6:30 am Sunrise • 11:00 am Service Easter Egg Hunt, Bounce House, Pot Luck Greater St. James Baptist Church 210 N Harding St • 817.336.2214 Easter Sunrise Service at 6 am Easter Worship at 10:45 am Morning Chapel C.M.E. Church 2612 Sara Jane Ln • 817.332.4842 Easter Services 11am
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Saint Andrews Episcopal Church 917 Lamar • 817.332.3191 Maundy Thursday, April 9 7:00 am - Holy Communion • 8:30 am - Morning Prayer 7:00 pm - Holy Communion Good Friday, April 10 12:00 - 3:00 pm Seven Last Words 6:00 pm - Children’s Way of the Cross Easter Sunday, April 12 7:30 am - Holy Communion • 9:00 am - Holy Communion * 11:00 am - Holy Communion * * Easter Egg Hunt for Children Following the Service
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St. Patrick’s Cathedral - Catholic 1206 Throckmorton • 817.332.4915 7:30 pm - Holy Thursday, April 9 Good Friday, April 10 3:00 pm - Liturgy of the Word, individual Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion Holy Saturday, April 11 8:30 pm - Service of Light, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of Baptism and Liturgy of the Eucharist Easter Sunday Masses 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 11:00 am, 12:30 pm St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 1800 W Freeway • 817.332.2281 Maundy Thursday, April 9 11:30 am - Holy Communion Served 6:30 pm - Holy Communion Served Good Friday, April 10 11:30 am - Worship • 6:30 pm - Worship Easter Sunday, April 12 6:30 am - Holy Communion Served 8:00 am • 10:50 am 11:00 am - Contemporary Service
Experience the Near Southside... The best entertainment Fort Worth has to offer Fort Worth South, Inc. presents
FIRSTFRIDAY ONTHEGREEN Bring your family, blankets, chairs, pets & friends for the latest in a series of live music events at Magnolia Green Park.
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providiNg iNsUrANCe ANd FiNANCiAL serviCes State Farm, Bloomington IL
Friday, April 3rd Show Starts @ 6pm Food & beverages available. No outside coolers/containers please.
special thanks to our April Sponsors
the
for
Healing Arts
1100 Block of Lipscomb (between Rosedale & Magnolia)
www.centerforthehealingarts.net
••••••••••• Fort Worth South, Inc. www.fortworthsouth.org•••••••••••
DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH
Center
APRIL, 2009
Admission is Free however we ask that everyone donate a can of food for the Tarrant Area Food Bank.
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DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH
APRIL, 2009
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TARRANT COUNTY FAMILY LAW GARAGE Calhoun between Weatherford & 1st Streets Evenings after 5pm & Weekends
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SUNDANCE GARAGE I
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SUNDANCE GARAGE II
Commerce between 1st & 2nd Streets
Calhoun between 3rd & 4th Streets
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CHISHOLM TRAIL LOT 3rd Street - Evenings after 5pm & weekends Merchant & AMC Theater Validations
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SUNDANCE GARAGE III
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SUNDANCE SQUARE GATEWAY LOT
3rd Street between Taylor & Throckmorton
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CRESCENT
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CITY PLACE GARAGE
Calhoun between 5th & 6th Streets Bass Performance Hall Patrons Only
Belknap Street between Throckmorton and Taylor
Base Maps Courtesy of
No Longer Available to the Public JUNE 2008
DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH
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New Direction
Administrative Professionals Week April 19-25
q Marie Antoinette 101 W. 2nd Street • FW 817-332-2888 marieantoinettespa.com
Flowers To Go 120 W 3rd Street • FW 817-339-2555 flowerstogofw.com
april 2009
he vibrant and eclectic Fort Worth performing arts scene has earned an international reputation for attracting and creating some of the world’s best theater and music. So it’s no small deal when two of the heaviest hitters in the arts community make changes in their leadership. Dione Kennedy took over as president and Chief Executive of performing arts Fort Worth at the beginning of this year, and William (Wally) Jones began his tenure as president and Executive producer of Casa Mañana Theater last November. Kennedy comes to the Fort from Dayton, Ohio, where she was president and chief executive of the Victoria Theater Association and was responsible for operating three theaters in Ohio’s Miami Valley. She worked with Victoria Theater Association for 18 years, beginning her career with the organization as a part-time box office employee and working her way to the top. Her experience in both the artistic and business sides, as well as managing multiple venues, makes her uniquely qualified for her new gig at Performing Arts Fort Worth, the umbrella organization for the Bass Hall, McDavid Studio, and the Van Cliburn Recital Hall. The Bass Hall is the unquestioned epicenter of the performing arts in Fort Worth. It is the permanent home for Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth Opera, and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and Cliburn concerts. The Hall and hosts several Casa Mañana productions and its own “Hall Series,” featuring eclectic performers and productions. While working for Victoria Theater Association, Kennedy visited Bass Hall as her company prepared to build its own new performance hall. During the interview process, she was impressed with the city’s art scene. “Fort Worth is really quite well endowed with a number of arts amenities - not just performing arts, but visual arts as well, and a vibrant community when it comes to cultural opportunities for its residents and visitors,” she says. “So that was something that was important for me and my family.” Kennedy says she won’t be reinventing the wheel. But she will try to focus on specific genres and developing shows that can be packaged together, along with discounts and preferred seating opportunities. “This Hall has a great reputation and has done really great work over its first 10 years of its existence,” she says. “I don’t think it needs an overhaul. I don’t want to try and fix something that’s not broken. Having said that, there are some things we could do differently and some new things we can try.” Bass Hall is in its 10th year and has raised the bar for performing arts in our fair burgh. But over 50 years ago Casa Mañana Theater set the bar pretty high. The silverdomed “house of tomorrow” has been the standard bearer of live theater excellence since its inception in 1958. In that time, only six men have been at the helm. Late last year, William (Wally) Jones added his name to that vaunted list. Jones comes to Fort Worth via Raleigh, North Carolina, where he was executive director and producer of North Carolina Theater. In that position, he renewed that theater’s youth education, performance, and outreach programs. He was in charge of the Capital Awards, North Carolina Theater’s version of the Tony awards, and is credited with cultivating new live theater audiences within the community and nurturing theater in area high schools. He created Kids on Broadway and the North Carolina Conservatory, a place for young people to train in the performing arts. He formed William Jones Production Company, which brings theater to younger audiences. Jones’ experience in managing youth theater in addition to adult professional theater makes him uniquely qualified for his new position. The Casa Mañana Theater School was started 45 years ago and is one of the largest in the nation. Casa also boasts a considerable community outreach program, including Casa Kids and the Casa Playaz, who bring theater to audiences who might not otherwise be able to see live theater. The Children’s Playhouse season has been introducing children to theater since 1962, and Casa presents touring Broadway shows and their own productions at Bass Hall. In 2003, the former theater in the round was renovated into a modern facility.
Gift Certificates, Manicures, Pedicures & Massage in Sundance Square!
downtown fort worth
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for Bass Hall & Casa Mañana
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Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
3100 W. 7th St., 817-336-8000 Dinner 5pm-11 p.m. Mon-Sat, 5-10 p.m. Sun; V-Lounge 4-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 4-midnight Friday and Saturday; 4-10 p.m. Sunday Appetizers, soups, and salads $6.95-$16.95; seafood entreés $23.95 and up; steaks $32.95 and up The wows start coming even before you reach the door of Eddie V’s. The small outdoor patio, with stylish but comfortable couches and chairs set on Texas stone flooring, is perfectly positioned at the point of Bailey and West 7th streets to offer a killer view of Downtown. If you didn’t make a reservation - prime weekend slots are filling up three weeks in advance - it’s a stunning place to have a cocktail while waiting for a table. Or head inside, past the glass wall and around the curve - pause to admire the raw bar, where a white-jacketed shucker works on plump Louisiana and North Atlantic oysters - to the warm, intimate V Lounge. Here you’ll find more curved walls, a compact horseshoe bar with friendly ‘tenders mixing up traditional and
specialty drinks, and often a three-piece jazz ensemble entertaining the dressedto-the-nines crowd. The thoughtful architectural details are on full display in the main dining area, where the dim but well-placed lighting emphasizes the room’s modern sophistication, with its accents of stainless steel and frosted glass. For those who find the lighting too soft for menu reading, flashlights and reading glasses are at the ready - but for most people, the selections will jump off the page without assistance. Eddie V’s prides itself on its prime, flownin-daily seafood selections, and the appetizers page is proof: Jonah crab claws, lump crab cake, shrimp cocktail with “atomic” horseradish and melon-jicama slaw - or just ask the sushi chef to prepare
YOU GOTTA TRY THIS
Assorted Cookies & Cupcakes
photo by Amy Royer
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a plate of glistening sashimi. Headliners include smoked Atlantic salmon, Chilean sea bass, swordfish, Georges Bank sea scallops, and much more, all as fresh as they can possibly be. Each is paired with the perfect sauce and garnish, with nods to their geographic roots - a Gulf snapper is sauteéd New Orleans style, with meuniere or almondine sauce; the Pacific ahi tuna steak is seared with shiitake mushrooms and served with wasabi potato puree; lobster tails receive the classic New England treatment, with drawn butter and lemon. In Cowtown, even a seafood restaurant must also offer steak, but at Eddie V’s beef is not just an afterthought - it’s a co-star. The scene-stealer may be the marvelously tender and juicy bone-in rib-eye, 22 ounces of prime aged grain-fed beef. Filet mignon, New York strips, and veal chops round out the meat part of the menu. Sides are huge, serving two or more people, but over-ordering is a must with these can’tpass-them-up dishes, from the intensely flavored truffled mac and cheese to the Asian-inspired sugar snap peas with garlic and sesame (a perfect pairing with the Chilean sea bass, steamed “Hong Kong style”) to the traditional steakhouse
creamed spinach. You’ll be wowed again by the desserts, notably the signature bananas Foster butter cake, flamed with rum at the table, and the airy but decadent Belgian chocolate mousse cake. Service, though rocky when the restaurant first opened in late January, is now impeccable, with meticulous but not hovering attention to diners’ needs and an impressive command of the menu and wine list. We would expect no less from a winner like Eddie V’s, which has two very popular locations in Austin and one in Scottsdale, Ariz., and is planning a slow expansion throughout the Southwest and West. If the management team can sustain the bold and inspired flavors, the lovely contemporary dŽcor, and the mood of lighthearted sophistication, Eddie V’s is sure to be just as successful in other cities as it already is in Fort Worth.
The bright and inviting J. Rae’s Fort Worth bakery offers a delectable array of cookies, cakes and cupcakes in various sizes, shapes, and flavors. Iced cutout sugar cookies are festive, delicious and perfect for Easter or any occasion. The chocolate chip and chocolate-chocolate chip cookies are slightly crisp on the outside, while still perfectly gooey and chocolaty on the inside. The melt-in-your-mouth red velvet cupcakes are moist and smooth and topped with rich cream icing. The chocolate cupcakes are a chocolate lover’s dream with rich chocolate cake and light, whipped chocolate icing. Assorted Cookies & Cupcakes $1.50 - $5.00 each (also available by the dozen) at J. Rae’s 935 Foch St. • 817-332-0090 • jraes.com
Beat Clock the
Short lunch break? Grab a quick and tasty meal in under an hour!
Market on the 8, 901 Throckmorton St., 817-885-7425 The setting: One part deli, one part convenience store, one part coffee-provider - the bodega, as it’s known in some cities, is a crucial element for fast-paced urban life and an element that Downtown Fort Worth sorely lacks. Market on the 8’s pretty front room emphasizes its coffee-lounge side, with comfy upholstered chairs and window seats bordering a few two-top lunch tables. For the nearby loft-dwellers, a few grocery shelves stock basic necessities - cat food, dish detergent, sewing kits and milk and eggs chill amid the soft drinks and vitamin water in the drinks coolers. City employees and office workers head straight for the back, where breakfast and lunch sandwiches are made to order. The menu: Invent your own sandwich or wrap from a wide variety of deli meats and cheeses (most $4.24-
$5.99) and breads ranging from dense ciabatta to softas-a-pillow marble rye. Or plump for a specialty like a classic Reuben (corned beef, sauerkraut, and Swiss). The sandwiches include chips and pickle spear; the more health-conscious can pick up fresh fruit at the cash register. The service: Friendly, energetic owners Driss Siyas and Marie Francis clearly love their little corner shop and will go the extra mile to make sure their customers are happy. The verdict: For a fresh-made sandwich, emergency paper towels, or a lazy afternoon with Wi-Fi and fine espresso, Market on the 8 is Downtown’s go-to spot.
Time in: 11:30 am
Time out: 1:45 pm
15 Minutes of Eating, 2 Hours of Lounging
fresh delicious
525 Taylor
Corner of 4th and Throckmorton
SUNDANCE SQUARE 817.348.9828 Introducing
The Woolworth Building Sundance Square
111 West 4th Street Suite 15 817.348.0633 • www.simplyfonduefortworth.com
Live DJ
FI R ST ANNI V ERSARY CELEBRATI O N executive chef, Victor Garcia owner, Jean Michel Sakouhi
downtown fort worth
goodness
Nightly Happy Hour Monday Service Industry Night Wednesday Ladies Night featuring $4 Martinis
april 2009
Wine tasting and Wine dinners
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Wedding Trends by Julie Eastman a
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april 2009
s i recently wandered the aisles of the exhibit hall at The Special Event 2009 in San Diego, i was impressed by how far the wedding and event industry has come. The latest trends were in the spotlight as approximately 7,000 of my peers took note. The fashion industry is definitely leading the way, as linens for tables Julie Eastman and chairs follow suit. The choices are amazing, with a variety of colors, textures, and patterns in all the latest palettes. Chair covers echo the styles of a formal dress or men’s tuxedo. amazing fabrics with sequins, feathers, and more are available through linen rental companies that will ship straight to your venue. another must-have is the instant photo. The classic photo booth is still very popular, but now there are set-ups that can instantly put your photo into flip books, impose a photo onto a custom scene designed for your wedding, or even
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put it on a key chain for your guests to take home. Your guests can even stand on the “x” and snap their own photos, which can then be uploaded to your own web site for everyone to admire. By far, one of the new players in the wedding game is the luxury event rental company. These companies rent chic lounge furniture, illuminated bars and dance floors, mirrored end tables, and much more. The growing popularity of creating a separate “night club” area at a reception has spawned these creative high-end rental companies. adding a lounge area around the dance floor can give a large ballroom a very intimate feel with settees, ottomans, and lamps. luxury rental companies can even supply designer throw pillows and rugs. if you want to go green for your wedding, here are a couple of ideas that can help. There are several new ways to “shower” the bride and groom as they make their getaway. My current favorite is to use lavender rather than rice. The 100 percent pure lavender buds are safe for birds and completely biodegradable. The color is lovely, and the scent is soft and pleasant. Fill customized cones with
portions of lavender for guests to toss at the couple. Many brides wonder what to do with their bouquet after the wedding. Dry it and save it? That usually means no one ever sees it again. at least one company will turn your bouquet into 100 percent recycled thank-you notes. These even come with wildflower seeds embedded into the paper: The recipient can actually plant the card after reading it. in a world looking for green ideas, i think this one is a winner! The business even makes the process easy by sending you a box in which to ship your bouquet. You can make your wedding reception memorable by taking advantage of some of these great trends! please check out Julie Eastman’s blog at www.extraordinaryideasbyjules. blogspot.com for more great ideas! Julie Eastman, CWS, is the founder of Extraordinary Events & Design. With a degree in interior design, Julie has been creating beautiful spaces for more than 20 years. passionate, imaginative designs and flawless execution are her trademarks. She’s designed magnificent spaces around the country from New York to New
Mexico. Her unique combination of design expertise and flawless eye for perfection provide her clients with unprecedented events of any magnitude.
a restful spot for those living and working Downtown, complete with sculptures, fountains, pools, and granite walkways. The amenities for residents begin at the entry. The 1920s style is preserved, with polished brass doors and a canopy. The vestibule area features polished custom marble floors and glass walls. Residents also have exclusive access to the Anderson Hall Drawing Room, a hospitality lounge with a stone fireplace, an original oil painting of Neil P Anderson sitting above the stately mantel, elegant finishes and traditional furnishings, a flat-screen HDTV, and a cappuccino bar. The combination of modern amenities with historical features was important in the design. “The building was restored to its original look,” Ferguson says. “The windows are original, and everything was designed to give residents the feeling that they are living in a place with an important historic perspective. But we also have very modern kitchen and bathroom features, along with cable and high-speed internet access.” One unique part of the development is the Sanctuary located behind the building. The Sanctuary is accessible from both the second and third floors and features a multi-level swimming pool and hot tub spa. The space is sheltered from the city by the surrounding buildings, making it quite calm and tranquil. A fully stocked kitchen and grills make it ideal for intimate gatherings. “The location and the special amenities for this building are unique,” Ferguson says. “The units are comfortable and have great views of the city. You can have a formal party in the Anderson Hall Drawing Room or entertain guests with swimming and outdoor grilling. A big park is across the street, and restaurants and concerts and theaters are just a few blocks away.” But the Neil P. at Burnett Park is more than just a great location. Modern amenities are combined with a historic structure that is nearly 90 years old. And there is a quiet comfort level in an urban area that is part of a vibrant Downtown. For more information on Neil P. at Barnett Park, visit the website www.neilp.com or call 817.698.0411.
The Place To Live In Downtown The Depot Lofts 555 Elm Street • 817-885-7600
Open living areas and abundant natural light are part of the appeal at Neil P.
www.thedepotapts.com • myspace.com/thedepotlofts Mon - Thurs: 10am - 6pm • Fri & Sat 10am - 5pm • Sunday 1pm - 5pm
april 2009
he Neil P. at Burnett Park condominium complex is offering some of the most affordable Downtown living units. But at the same time, the conversion from office space to urban living has protected the historic nature of one of Fort Worth’s architectural gems at West 7th and Lamar streets. Built in 1921 and designed by the famed Fort Worth architecture firm Sanguinet and Staats, the Neil P. is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated by the state as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. The structure was originally named the Neil P. Anderson Building after the cotton industry tycoon, and the 11th floor was a cotton exchange showroom, with seven skylights facing true north. That floor is now a penthouse, with the skylights bathing the dwelling in natural light. There are 56 other condos in the building, ranging in size from 820 to 2,200 square feet. A total of 27 units have already been sold. Prices range from the low $200,000s to $450,000. The Neil P. Anderson Building is a unique example of Fort Worth architecture. It does not easily fit into any given period or style, but it does bear the distinct thumbprint of Sanguinet and Staats. The building sits at the gateway of the city’s central business district, its gently curving fa ade carefully following the curve of 7th Street. The architects had to customize the window glass with special frames to achieve that curve. Pam Ferguson, marketing director for the Neil P. at Burnett Park, said the luxury condominiums are part of the boutique market. “These units are smaller and quieter than most Downtown housing, and the price per square foot is much lower than the average Downtown,” Ferguson says. “Customers get to customize their housing to their needs, and this is very popular with those who buy here,” she continues. “And you will be three blocks from Sundance Square, and people really enjoy being able to walk to restaurants and entertainment venues.” The Neil P. is just across the street from one of Fort Worth’s first public parks, Burk Burnett Park. The Downtown open space is
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Get Your Own Slice of History
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ENTERTAINMENT april in Fort Worth has always been a time to get out and do, do, do stuff, and april 2009 will be no different, with everything from museum shows to plays to opera and to footracing going down. Comfy shoes, classy shoes, and running shoes are required. For the past couple of years, the esteemed Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (3200 Darnell St. in the Cultural District) has been opening its doors and sculpture garden for an evening of art, music, food, and fun. This year’s Modern ‘til Midnight is on Sat., April 18, from 6 p.m. ‘til, well, midnight and will feature performances by some of Baltimore, Md.’s finest, including Dan Deacon & Ensemble, Future Islands, and Teeth Mountain, plus some special guests to be announced later. The $15 cost of
downtown fort worth
april 2009
dan deacon & Ensemble perform at Modern ‘til Midnight.
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admission also grants concertgoers access to the Modern’s art galleries. On display this month are selections from the Modern’s permanent collection and also works by Dallasite Rosson Crow, whose paintings, according to the Modern, “frequently evoke the romance of a bygone era by matching the masculine environments of rodeos, saloons, and trophy rooms with a lush, expressionistic style.” Crow’s subjects include los angeles’s Koenig House and Fort Worth’s White Elephant Saloon. Tickets to Modern ‘til Midnight are available at the door or can be purchased by calling 817-738-9215. For more information, visit www.themodern.org. a different kind of event will be happening at the Modern on Mon., april 13, when the Fort Worth/New York City theater troupe Amphibian Productions trots out playwright Tony Bicât’s A Buyers’ Market, a story about two of our most favorite things: assassins and high-end real estate. For more information, call 817-738-9215 or visit www.amphibianproductions.org. There’s more going on beneath the footlights this month. perhaps the entire Southwest’s most lauded african-american troupes, Jubilee Theatre, is presenting
Jubilee theatre presents the Piano Lesson.
legendary playwright august Wilson’s pulitzer prizewinning The Piano Lesson, a yarn set in 1936 pittsburgh about an impoverished Southerner who relocates to the Steel City and has to decide whether or not to sell a valuable family heirloom, the titular piano, to buy some land. The piano is partially owned by his sister and features
all in the hopes of eventually finding a cure. This year’s walk/run takes place on Sat., April 11, at Sundance Square. registration is $30-100 and can be done online, at www.komentarrant.org. The money raised by charitable contributions and registration fees helps make possible such important programs as low-cost mammograms, medical treatment, support services, and education about warning signs, methods of early detection, and latest treatment options. and since you’ll be all sweaty, might as well hang around for a performance by Mesquite cover band Professor D. Comfy shoes will be required for Funky Finds Spring Fling, a daylong craft fair at Will Rogers Memorial Center (3401 W. lancaster ave., in the Cultural District). Vendors will come from as close as Fort Worth and as far away as Dallas, South Texas, and Oklahoma. For more information, visit www. funkyfinds.us/springfling.html. and back for another season is Thursday Night Live, Central Market and the Fort Worth Weekly’s live music series that takes place every Thursday evening out on the CM patio. Coming up in april are Texas Music chanteuse Maren Morris, singer-songwriter Eric Tipton, reggae monsters Pablo and the Hemphill 7, and Highspeed Hayride. For more information, visit www.fwweekly.com.
engravings that trace their family’s rise from slavery. For more information, call 817-338-4411 or visit www. jubileetheatre.org. Break out your snazziest set of loafers or heels for the beginning of Fort Worth Opera’s 2009 season. The curtain lifts on Carmen, the first of a four different works being put on by the FWO, on Sat., April 25, at race for the Cure’s Bass Performance Hall (555 Commerce St., in Sundance Square). First performed Annual 5K walk/run: in paris in 1875, Georges Bizet’s tale of love, lust, and tragedy Sat., April 11. shocked concertgoers and critics, who called it “immoral” -which is probably why it’s become one of the most beloved operatic works of all time. Carmen will be performed in French with projected English translations. On Sun., april 26, the FWO kicks off its second of four productions, Cinderella, also at Bass performance Hall. rossini’s take on the legendary fairy tale was first performed in rome in 1817 and warmly received. Though the legendary composer wrote the piece is the short span of three weeks (with help from an anonymous collaborator), he managed to conjure up some of the finest writing for ensembles and solo voice. Cinderella will be performed in italian with projected English translations. For more information on Carmen, Cinderella, or the FWO’s other two productions -the Christmastime favorite Amahl and the Night Visitors and the contemporary Dead Man Walking -- call the box office at 1-877-396-7372 or visit www.fwopera.org. Break out your toe shoes -- but not really -- to help celebrate Texas Dance Theatre, a local ballet company that’s putting on a gala opening at Scott Theater (1300 Gendy St. in the Fort Worth Community arts Center) by premiering two exciting pieces. For more information, contact www.texasdancetheater.com. You’ll need your running shoes for the largest charitable texas dance 5K walk/run in Tarrant County. For the past 16 years, the Race of the Cure’s annual 5K walk/ theatre‘s gala at run has been raising money to fund local breast cancer programs, Scott theater.
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