AG Paxton can try but would have a hard time arresting the Dems breaking quorum.
BY THE TEXAS TRIBUNE
NIGHT & DAY
The Book of Mormon, National IPA Day, Robert Gallagher’s 80th birthday, and more are this week. BY JENNIFER BOVEE
STUFF
From the Near Southside, CrossFit Westwood expands into the old Ridgmar Movie Tavern building.
BY BUCK D. ELLIOTT
MUSIC
Local imagemakers Syncwave are here for artists’ long-term visions. BY
ANTHONY MARIANI AND JUAN R. GOVEA
In the heart of downtown, the hyper-stylish Polanco is as buzzy as it is tasty.
BY CODY NEATHERY
INSIDE
Presence
Local imagemakers Syncwave want artists to think long-term. By Anthony Mariani and Juan R. Govea
No Quorum
As Texas Democrats stand tall, AG Paxton looks to prosecute them. By The Texas Tribune
CrossFit Crosstown
Westwood outgrows its humble Near Southside digs. By Buck D. Elliott
Vibey
With a spectacular skyline view and stellar Mexican fare, downtown’s Polanco satisfies all around. By Cody Neathery
Anthony Mariani, Editor
Lee Newquist, Publisher
Bob Niehoff, General Manager
Michael Newquist, Regional Director
Ryan Burger, Art Director
Jennifer Bovee, Marketing Director
Clint “Ironman” Newquist, Brand Ambassador
Emmy Smith, Proofreader
Julie Strehl, Account Manager
Sarah Niehoff, Account Executive
Stacey Hammons, Senior Account Executive
Tony Diaz, District Manager
Wyatt Newquist, Account Executive
Wendy Maier, Account Executive CONTRIBUTORS
E.R. Bills, Jason Brimmer, Stephen Cervantes, Jadon Chesnutt, Jess Delarosa, Buck D. Elliott, Juan R. Govea, Mark Henricks, Patrick Higgins, Kristian Lin, Cody Neathery, Emmy Smith, Steve Steward, Teri Webster, Ken Wheatcroft-Pardue, Elaine Wilder
Juan R. Govea
METROPOLIS
Unfair Fight
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will ask courts to vacate Democratic lawmakers’ seats.
BY ELEANOR KLIBANOFF, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE
Attorney General Ken Paxton will ask for a court ruling declaring vacant the seats of any lawmakers not back to work by Friday, he said in a press release Tuesday.
At least 50 House Democrats have left the state to prevent the chamber from having quorum — the minimum number of people necessary to undertake legislative business — to delay the passage of a new congressional map. The unusual mid-decade redistricting effort comes after Donald Trump pushed for a new map, aiming to net five additional GOP seats in the upcoming midterm elections.
Democrats left the state Sunday afternoon, ahead of a Monday vote to advance the bill. House Speaker Dustin Burrows signed arrest warrants, directing the sergeant-at-arms and the Department of Public Safety to find and bring members to the chamber. Those warrants are only enforceable within state lines.
A BEAUTIFUL YARD IS
On Tuesday, the chamber once again was six votes short of quorum, and Burrows adjourned until Friday at 1 p.m.
If members are not back by then, Paxton said that would qualify as “abandonment of office,” enabling him to file a legal action seeking to have their seats vacated.
“Democrats have abandoned their offices by fleeing Texas, and a failure to respond to a call of
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Legal experts say it would be difficult to argue that engaging in a quorum break qualifies as abandonment of office.
“I am aware of absolutely no authority that says breaking quorum is the same as the intent to abandon a seat,” said Charles “Rocky” Rhodes, a constitutional law expert at the University of Missouri law school. “That would require the courts extending the premise to the breaking point. It’s inconsistent with the very text of the Texas Constitution.”
Chad Dunn, a former attorney for the Texas Democratic Party, said proving abandonment of office would require showing that the member had failed to perform the duty of their office and intended to relinquish the seat, both of which he argues are not evident in a quorum break.
“It is not just an option but one of the features of elected office to decide whether to appear and help establish quorum,” Dunn said. “Each member as part of their duty of office must make that decision.”
Paxton himself has acknowledged that this would likely be a lengthy and complicated process, telling conservative podcaster Benny Johnson that they’d have to bring individual lawsuits in each district.
the House constitutes a dereliction of their duty as elected officials,” Paxton said in the statement. “Starting Friday, any rogue lawmakers refusing to return to the House will be held accountable for vacating their office.”
Texas’ Constitution explicitly enables the possibility of a so-called “quorum break,” the Supreme Court of Texas ruled in 2021, although it also allows for consequences to bring members back.
“We’d have to go through a court process, and we’d have to file that maybe in districts that are not friendly to Republicans,” Paxton said on Monday. “So, it’s a challenge because every district would be different.”
If a judge were to find that the seats were vacant, they would be filled through a special election. l
A version of this story originally appeared in The Texas Tribune
Texas Democrats boarded a private plane in Austin for Chicago to avoid making a quorum in the legislature.
Bob Daemmrich/The Texas Tribune
METRO
Friday Night Whites
Only fake reparations exist for Thomas Bean and the official theft of his fortune.
BY E.R. BILLS
White flight, the departure of white residents from predominantly urban areas — particularly as those areas become more racially and ethnically diverse — is a relatively new phenomenon. Black flight is not, especially here in Texas. And we should be reminded of this every July.
On July 24, 1887, a forgotten legendary North Texas landowner named Thomas Bean died. He never enjoyed the same notoriety as the infamous Judge Roy Bean (no relation) in Southwest Texas, but he was a prominent figure. And he does have a town named after him.
Thomas Bean was a resident of Bonham, Texas, the Fannin County seat, but when I visited recently, I didn’t encounter a single soul who’d ever heard of him — which was exceedingly curious.
By the mid 1880s, Thomas Bean had amassed tens of thousands of Texas acreage in at least eight counties, including Fannin, Grayson, Cooke, and Collin. Some folks claimed that Bean could ride from Bonham to San Antonio by horse and spend every night on his own land, but his land holdings notwithstanding, Bean lived in a modest 14-by14-foot one-room cabin. And instead of leasing, cultivating, or at least fencing his vast holdings, he kept them available for poor folks, free of charge. In fact, he allowed several Black Texans to put up cabins near his and seemed to prefer their company to that of the white Bonham townsfolk.
Bean was soft-spoken and reserved, but everyone in Bonham knew him. He was a respectable gentleman but had few close friends. He gave to every church in the community but declined membership in all. He occasionally made appearances at town balls, but neither called on nor courted any white Bonham ladies. One newspaper of the period characterized Bean as one “possessed of the noble but rare trait of attending to business.” And business was good. Bean had moved to the Bonham area in the early 1840s and worked as a land surveyor. He charged 25 cents an acre but would accept payment only in acreage. According to Fannin County, Texas Land Titles (published in 1979), Bean owned almost 7,000 acres in Fannin County alone at the time of his demise.
A Black woman named Sukey Byers lived right behind Bean and reportedly worked as his cook and housekeeper. She and her immediate kin
were always around the Bean place, and it was clear he considered them extended family.
When Bean died surrounded by his extended Black family, Sukey Byers ran through the streets crying. Maybe she loved Bean. Maybe she knew what would happen next.
It was generally believed that Bean had left behind a will, leaving most of his assets to his extended Black family, but the document conveniently disappeared, and, by July 26, 1887, folks were already wondering what would happen to Bean’s immense holdings. Fannin County Judge E. D. McClellan placed W.W. Russell, Sim Winneler, John Sparks, and a Bonham municipal judge on a committee to take charge of the papers belonging to the Bean estate, but, with the will missing, his lands and wealth were fair game.
Within a month, the story of Bean’s heirless fortune was bandied about in conversations along both coasts and from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, and Bonham became a mecca for the litigious. As the Galveston Daily News described it, “Claims were filed and the lawyers smiled sweetly … like vultures watching their victims.”
On Sep. 23, 1887, a Louisianan named James W. Saunders appeared in Bonham claiming to be
One newspaper of the period characterized Bean as one “possessed of the noble but rare trait of attending to business.”
Nov. 29, 1887. A new player, H.P. Howard of San Antonio, filed a motion for executorship of the estate, based on a plea of direct kinship. Howard claimed to be the grandson of Colmore Bean’s brother John. Howard’s attorney stated that Bean’s identity could be established as far back as 1836, and this demonstration rendered Saunders’ claims of murder and flight ludicrous. Saunders argued that there was no need for an executorship (because the estate was only minutely indebted) and that the matter should proceed directly to district court to determine “heirship.” W.W. Russell, a member of the current committee serving as executor of the estate, pleaded for an extension of his executorship.
Bean’s younger brother. He said Bean changed his name after killing a man named “Crutchfield” in Tennessee and asserted that Bean had lived as a fugitive in Camden and Fayetteville, Arkansas, before settling in Bonham.
James Gass, a Black man identified as a former slave of Bean’s, insisted he had seen Saunders visit with Bean in 1864. A Galveston Daily News reporter initially described Gass as “mute as an Egyptian mummy,” but Gass eventually loosened up, claiming that he could “prove by prominent white men that Col. Bean had a will” and that “he gave a part of his estate to we darkies.”
On Oct. 1, a Col. M. Leeper of Sherman came forth and claimed to have known Bean, his father Colmore, and his brothers John and Oscar as far back as when they lived in Fayetteville between 1839 and 1840. Leeper said Bean never mentioned that his name was Saunders or that he had killed a man. “In fact,” Leeper added, “I am loath to believe that he would kill anyone.”
Bean had been to the Leeper residence in Sherman on several occasions, so Col. Leeper’s opinion held great weight.
The first hearing regarding the future of the Bean estate occurred in Fannin County Court on
On the second day of court proceedings, to the surprise of many, counsel for H.P. Howard suddenly introduced a packet of letters supposedly discovered at the Bean cabin, chronicling correspondence between Bean, his father, and his brothers from 1842 to 1846. How this packet had escaped Judge McClellan’s preliminary committee for the estate was never quite explained, but it clearly gave Howard the upper hand.
The packet of letters reportedly included an 1832 correspondence from B.F. Landers of Fayetteville to Bean, relating the news of Oscar Bean’s demise while en route to California, and an 1833 letter from W.B. Smith of California, describing the circumstances of the death of Bean’s brother John due to the accidental discharge of his own firearm.
After Howard’s attorney presented Bean’s supposed personal correspondences, counsel for W.W. Russell introduced witnesses for rebuttal. A former Fannin County district clerk named Blair was sworn in and presented election records of 1870 which indicated that Bean listed his sworn age as 48. Russell also took the witness stand, testifying that despite what Howard’s counsel had submitted, no papers found at the Bean residence traced his identity as far back as 1836.
For the next four decades, dozens of ambitious white claimants continued to appear, introducing continuations, fresh disputations, inter-pleadings, requests for judgment dismissals, and more. By 1920, the presiding county courts began requiring $5,000 bonds to even have litigation involving the
When Thomas Bean died on July 24, 1887, his will stipulated that a significant portion of his vast land holdings would go to his extended Black family but white “justice” intervened.
Courtesy the author
Bean estate revisited or reopened. In 1938, the state reportedly stepped in and assumed control of whatever parts of the estate that were still in dispute.
In the end, every parcel of Bean’s immense holdings was sold or claimed and leased and fenced, and Bean’s extended Black family was entirely disenfranchised. In fact, they seem to have fled or disappeared.
Today, the only evidence of Thomas Bean’s life and times is Tom Bean, a town named after him in Grayson County. Shortly before his death, he donated 50 acres for a new stretch of railroad from Sherman to Commerce. His namesake community sprang up along the new railroad branch, and though he’d never been there and probably wouldn’t have been comfortable with having a town named after him, it’s practically the only trace of him left.
Five days and 23 years after Thomas Bean’s extended Black family was robbed in court proceedings, Black Texans farther south in southeastern Anderson County and northeastern Houston County were dispossessed extra-judicially. Greedy white folks just started killing them indiscriminately in what would come to be known as the Slocum Massacre of 1910. The surviving Black citizens fled for their lives, and though seven white men were indicted, none were ever prosecuted.
This July 29 marked the 115th anniversary of the Slocum Massacre, and an unknown number of victims still lay in unmarked mass graves around
the area — but they have no land left to steal or toils left to exploit. So, white folks here in Texas pay them little mind. An official investigation and some act of civic atonement — similar to those of Oklahoma’s regarding the Tulsa Race Massacre or Florida’s concerning the Rosewood Massacre — seems as far away as heaven.
But one ironic note.
White flight made small towns and suburbs grow and expand, but Friday Night Whites sucked. They realized they needed the inner-city descendants of their forebears’ victims to improve their chances on Texas’ biggest stage.
So, young, Black, inner-city teenagers who can carry a football (and their families) are now welcome in white-bread ’burbs, some (if not all) expenses paid (or deferred). And it works out all around. Friday Night Whites can become Titletown. And their new compensated Black teammates (and families) get a head start on the collegiate NIL system.
That’s a form of reparation, right? And twoa-days are just around the corner. l
Fort Worth native E.R. Bills is the author of seven nonfiction titles, including Tell-Tale Texas: Investigations in Infamous History
This column reflects the opinions and fact-gathering of the author(s) and only the author(s) and not the Fort Worth Weekly. To submit a column, please email Editor Anthony Mariani at Anthony@ FWWeekly.com. He will gently edit it for clarity and concision.
Free Event for Neurodivergent Adults
Meet Up at the Museum: Living on the Land
Explore botany, geology, and biology in the Carter’s collection and special exhibitions during this sensory-friendly drop-in event for neurodivergent adults!
Thursday, August 7 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Free
Meet Up at the Museum is designed for the needs of neurodivergent adults, it is also fun for family and friends of all abilities.
In partnership with EPIC (Empowering Personal Interactions in the Community) at University of North Texas
With the help of a number of young, inner-city Black athletes, Friday Night “Whites” in Aledo have become known as “Titletown.”
STUFF
Head Westwood
Local gym expands offerings to become one-stop shop for fit Funkytowners.
BY BUCK D. ELLIOTT
It was almost exactly a year ago when the CrossFit Games, the Super Bowl of fitness, kicked off what was supposed to be a two-year stay in Fort Worth, as only the third major home of the company’s flagship event at the end of the professional functional fitness season. What followed the anticipation was tragedy during the first event, when a well-known competitor drowned and the weekend was overshadowed by grieving spectators and competitors alike.
CrossFit, both the workout methodology and gyms, have and will endure despite the negative feelings some might associate with the corporate entity. One of those enduring gyms is CrossFit Westwood. Nestled on the Near Southside, the gym has been humming with grotesquely fit people for more than eight years now. Westwood served as the local affiliate headquarters (a CrossFit franchise) during 2024’s CrossFit Games and held workouts and clinics with athletes and influencers who possess large followings in the fitness community. There are many sizes of these boutique gyms throughout North Texas, the country, and the world, but Westwood’s membership of approximately 300 patrons is on the larger side among many who operate out of small warehouses, storefronts, or anywhere they can acquire commercial real estate cheaply enough
CrossFit
to keep the lights on in a competitive and often turbulent industry.
Matt Haynes, owner of CrossFit Westwood, has already expanded the space once to accommodate his growing clientele and increase offerings to his members, but it wasn’t until his wife finished her fellowship in orthopedic surgery that he decided to take the big leap of moving the gym.
Haynes, who moved to Kansas with his wife for a year, returned in 2023 with big ideas of how to create a CrossFit space that doesn’t fit the mold of what most garage-vibe facilities have fostered over the last 20 years since the training style started gaining traction. Haynes, a self-described workout addict, spent his year away training out of a large commercial gym, and the insight gelled with some moves he’d already made at Westwood that his clients appreciated.
“The group schedule really didn’t work for everyone, so we started adding more traditional machines to the expanded area and allowed people 24-hour access to fit their schedules,” Haynes said on some of the ways he broke the mold of other group-fitness gyms.
The next step is a huge one in many facets. Haynes has purchased the former Ridgmar Movie
Tavern and is turning it into one of the only CrossFit gyms of its kind anywhere. Building a large commercial gym is not unique at face value — most “globo gyms” are large, housed in retrofitted grocery stores, or purpose-built with huge corporate money. CrossFit gyms, though, are usually mom-and-pop, upstart operations that fold all the time for revenue reasons, but Haynes’ proven success at the current location, along with his investors, will hand him sole control of a hybrid gym offering amenities and options not usually available to a crowd accustomed to rolling on chalk-filled horse-stall mats and losing their hearing thanks to the roar of drum fans in sweltering summers with no air-conditioning.
Haynes’ vision is to combine the traditional top-tier machines of modern bodybuilding gyms — along with dedicated space for them (8,000 square feet) — with areas (4,500 square feet) full of equipment for CrossFit classes, HyRox training, or whatever your favorite form of personal-demon slaying is branded. On top of that, CrossFit Westwood’s new home will offer an area for contrast therapy, which for those whose spouses don’t force them to listen to Dr. Andrew Hubermann, are saunas and ice baths. Haynes visited a sauna-focused establishment in
College Station and enjoyed it so much that he knew the methods belonged in his new gym, though he’d charge far less as they’re included with all-access membership.
Along with typical amenities offered at highend gyms (though not usually CrossFit ones), Westwood will lease space to Peak Performance, run by Julian Carreno, a physical therapist and certified orthopedic manual therapist. Additionally, Amy Robbins, a nurse anesthetist who owns Youthful Magnolia on 8th Avenue, offers a full catalogue of aesthetic services but will be more focused on wellness products like bloodwork and hormone therapy.
“You don’t have to run all over Fort Worth to get all your fitness needs met,” Haynes said when expounding on his one-stop body shop vision that he’s hoping to have open for full operation by March 2026.
This vision does come at a cost, though within the realm of or less than what your typical groupclass gym would charge. Chains of boutique fitness studios like Orangetheory range from $150 to $250 per month for unlimited memberships, while F45 outlets are similar. CrossFit gyms have a wider range, but typically $150 is the lower end. That can easily eclipse $200 depending on the location and size. With CrossFit Westwood’s new home still under renovation, Haynes is offering foundational memberships to the first 450 members at $199 for 24-hour access along with contrast therapy. After those spots are gone, he expects $250 to be the standard all-access rate, which positions the gym at a very competitive price point for the amenities compared to other group fitness options, with the added flexibility of being able to train outside the constraints of a class schedule.
CrossFit as a company and brand has endured its share of struggles, which were only exacerbated last year during the first-event death of Serbian athlete Lazar Dukic. When the original owner of the brand, Greg Glassman, sold the company in 2020 — driven largely by a self-imposed social-media debacle — it was purchased by private equity firm Berkshire Partners, and a new CEO took the helm. That leader has since been replaced, and Berkshire is searching for a buyer, citing declining affiliate numbers and financial issues. Despite the seeming devaluation of a brand that ballooned from nothing, Haynes retains his affiliation and cites the visibility through CrossFit’s website as valuable for his gym. Many similar gyms have dropped their official franchise status to save their yearly fee, but CrossFit Westwood is one of only four affiliates operating within the 820 Loop, though he’s about to set his apart from anything else within the brand in the region or even the world. l
Westwood’s new location can be considered a functional fitness resort, offering name-brand large-gym amenities and high-end services but catered toward CrossFit and HyRox clientele.
LIVING LOCAL
MIM Therapy PLLC: A Safe Space for Healing and Growth
In the heart of Texas, MIM Therapy is redefining mental health care with a deeply personal and trauma-informed approach. Founded by Angelica Matthews, a doctoral student in Marriage and Family Therapy, MIM Therapy PLLC offers a welcoming environment where individuals and families can explore healing through evidence-based practices and compassionate support.
Whether facing anxiety, grief, trauma, or relationship challenges, clients are met with empathy and expertise. The diverse team of therapists specializes in modalities such as EMDR, CBT, IFS, and Satir Model, tailoring each session to meet the unique needs of every person.
With both in-person and virtual services available, MIM Therapy PLLC ensures that healing is accessible, inclusive, and rooted in the belief that every story matters. In a world that often feels overwhelming, MIM Therapy PLLC stands as a beacon of hope — where healing begins with being heard.
This company is revolutionizing the way mental health is approached. They have ingenious ideas on how to ensure that both busy professionals and the homebound can access therapy. You don’t have to leave your job or your house to get quality therapeutic services!
MIM Therapy PLLC is offering on-site treatment (provided the environment is appropriate for confidentiality and safety). They also offer group therapy in-person and online for grief & loss, depression, anxiety, and more. They are finding ways to make it easier for those who want to access services to do so.
About Group Therapy
Find support, learn tools, and heal together with peers on the same journey. Options include a grief and loss group for adults, a depression group for ages 16+, and an anxiety group for ages 16+. During the six weeks of group therapy, you will understand the disorder, build healthy coping skills, and receive expert-led psychoeducation while growing in a supportive community.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
On August 14, 2025 MIM Therapy PLLC will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony through the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. They will celebrate their achievements and announce their plans for the future.
Wellness Retreat 2025
This October 2nd to 6th, you are invited to attend an inclusive wellness retreat right here in Texas. For more information, email Hello@ MIMTherapyPLLC.com.
For more promotional information from MIM Therapy PLLC, visit MIMTherapyPLLC.com or use the QR code on this page.
Angelica Matthews CEO/LPC Associate
Supervised by Dr. Wallace, #8881 682-258-6756 Hello@MIMTherapypllc.com
Lindsey Nance
LPC Associate
Supervised by Dr. Wallace, #8881 940-360-9131 lindseynance@outlook.com
Melody Chitobolo
LPC Associate
Supervised by Mary DAINTY #18640 469-759-0875 chitobolom@gmail.com
Deanna Mehaffey, LPC Associate Supervised by Dr. Wallace, #8881 817-476-0614 deannamehaffey@gmail.com
Ryan Karper LPC Associate Supervised by Dr. Wallace, #8881 682-328-3336 ryan.karperlpca@gmail.com
Chelsea Jaubert LMFT Associate
Supervised by Dr. Misti Sparks, #201137 469-807-1264 keysoflife192@gmail.com
Get excited! From Monday, August 4 through Sunday, August 10, all Trinity Metro local services are FREE! Ride the Bus, TEXRail, On-Demand, Bikes, or TRE anywhere in Tarrant County completely fare-free. Just hop on!
/FREERIDES
EATS & drinks
The Gaucho, Amigo
In the heart of downtown, the hyperstylish Polanco is as buzzy as it is tasty.
Inspired by an upscale neighborhood in Mexico City, Polanco not only borrows its name but delivers similar glitz and glam to downtown. This new Mexican restaurant that quietly opened its doors recently is a place to see and be seen unlike any other establishment in town. Don’t laugh, but
one of the most stunning parts is the restroom, offering a panoramic view of downtown. As with the dining room, customer service shines here, too. An attendant opens the doors and turns on the water faucets for you. There’s also a full-length mirror nearby that stays busy with selfies. Because if there isn’t photographic evidence, did you really visit Polanco?
After a couple flights of stairs, the restaurant sitting above street level utilizes a minimalist approach to design, incorporating the marbled and bare concrete walls of the space’s brutalist
architecture. With brown leather and woodgrain accents throughout and modern chandeliers high above, Polanco’s simplicity works well for this environment. In fact, having an entire glass wall facing downtown that electrifies at night is enough eye candy or, as the crutch-word influencers lean on, “vibes.”
The bar faces a partially open kitchen, where a team works to put out items from an enticing menu while bartenders work to keep up with the demand of cocktails. Low-top tables in the lounge are available for walk-ins or those waiting to be
seated, and the bar itself rolls on a first-come basis. The signature cocktails are creative, fun, and stylish and all priced at $18, while margaritas fluctuate within a dollar either way.
Craving a piña colada, which regularly courses through my veins, I opted for the cinnamon-rimmed Ajusco, with coconut rum, Giffard coconut liqueur, and Horchata mix. Add an espresso shot for $3 to achieve that caffeinated ecstasy. The house margarita was served by a blinged-out French bulldog figurine holding a continued on page 13
In the dining room, simplicity and natural light work together to provide the aesthetic. Polanco’s fiery shrimp tacos were outstanding and can be a starter or solo dish.
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Stock your Kitchen at Mission!
Small wares, pots & pans, and all kitchen essentials available to the public.
Come see our showrooms! MON-FRI 8am-5:30pm
2524 White Settlement Road Fort Worth • 817-265-3973
Come break the rules and say “yes!” to new art experiences at the Carter’s Second Thursdays! Every Second Thursday is different than the last — mingle with fellow art lovers, make art, and meet visiting artists, sometimes with live music and always with themed cocktails. You’ll never think of museums in the same way again.
SECOND THURSDAYS ARE ALWAYS
THURSDAY AUG 14 | 5–8 P.M.
SECRETS & SIPS
Go behind-the-scenes and hear tales from Carter staff about the work that makes a museum run.
smoking caldron with a glass containing the simple combination of Patrón Cristalino tequila, watermelon liqueur, and jalapeno syrup. La Catrina was another Instagrammable gimmick, but gimmicks sell. Delivered in a ceramic skull, this marg was equally as simple, with mezcal, strawberry, and hibiscus, and when this concoction was poured into the mug, smoke rose, which was spooktacular enough for us to order two because drinking from a smoking skull feels right. Or slightly demented.
The appetizers are divided into cold and hot, and due to the steamy summer weather, the chilled options were inevitable. Offering nothing but seafood, ranging from tuna and shrimp to seabass to octopus, the kitchen served everything fresh with accoutrements like boba and fried curled potatoes or cucumbers, plus a healthy mix of avocado, cilantro, and onions. The ceviche, served with various sauces and homemade baked tostadas, hit us with zest right where it counts. After that, my guest and I gave in to the hot side and ordered the aguachile carnívoro: tender carved meat split with sliced avocados and radish, nestled next to arugula and truffle oil. The Parmesan cheese, queso fresco, crushed spicy chips, cilantro, and morita mayo of the fuego esquite made a bold statement that Polanco’s street corn is on another level. Other hots include a chicharron ribeye and crisped pork belly with macha sauce, serrano pepper, and fried cilantro.
We ordered tacos, as it would feel sacrilegious otherwise, and selected the Vaquero, even though cowboys and saltwater aren’t usually allied.
Róbalo Aztlán
However, this seafood rodeo had octopus and fried shrimp in corn tortillas reinforced with Oaxaca cheese crust and dazzled with grilled onions along with macha and verde sauces. Other tacos feature filet and sirloin, and Polanco’s pastor stars pork, chorizo, grilled pineapple, and grilled onions.
Enchiladas are also listed under the taco tab, so we went for the catch again, choosing the mar y fuego, or fiery shrimp. Oaxaca cheese, reforma sauce, queso fresco, and Mexican crema provided splendid company to the fried crustaceans. Vegetarian options are also available.
Onward to the portion of the menu from the ocean, and that’s where we landed with Róbalo Aztlán, Polanco’s tantalizing seabass dish, with roasted corn, chambray onion, and peppery arugula, accentuated with spicy, tangy Aztec sauce. Each bite through the crispy outer layer to the soft meat beneath was a blast of pleasure.
Taking a recommendation from our server, we moved on to the high-quality meats. Our Filete Castelar was cooked to request, and the covering bigote sauce brought an earthy spiciness to it, introducing new flavors to the table.
The menu is as provocative as the restaurant itself. With plenty to enjoy and shareables that can pass as entrees, Polanco can make for a bud get-friendly meal. Stay tuned for their next move, a speakeasy. l
Spooktacular fun awaits with Polanco’s La
Polanco’s filet aguachile is shareable — but
Polanco’s namesake margarita is as cool as the French bully serving it.
The dining-room view is made romantic due in part to the sparkling Fort Worth skyline.
NIGHT & DAY
In The Book of Mormon , we’re all simply doomed. Running Fri-Sun at Bass Performance Hall (525 Commerce St, Fort Worth, 817-212-4280), the comedy musical from the South Park guys follows “a mismatched pair of missionaries sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word.” Miscommunications and hilarity ensue. If you act fast, you can score $25 tickets for the Friday show in a digital lottery at 9am Thu. Visit BassHall.com/lottery for more information. Otherwise, tickets start at $67.50 at BassHall. com/mormon.
Celebrate National IPA Day at Our Taphouse (1001 Bryan Av, Fort Worth, 682224-0431) with live music by Panthy-winning “brewed-up” rapper J/O/E with Seshun on the ones and twos. Music starts at 7pm. No cover to this family-friendly event, and there are many beer and nonalcoholic options on tap.
On the second Saturday of every month, Liberty Lounge (515 S Jennings St, Fort Worth, @LibertyLoungeFWTX)
hosts Lit Liberty Book Club. From 4pm to 6pm, the group will discuss the August book, The Fuck-Up , by Arthur Nersesian. Considered an underground classic, this novel portrays the darkly humorous journey of an unnamed slacker navigating the gritty realities of New York City life, a series of personal setbacks, and a life spiraling downward.
Oh, so you think you’re funny? Test that theory at Big Laugh Comedy Club (604 Main St, Ste 100, 512-8179535) every Monday at 7:30pm as part of the Big Laugh Open Mic. Cover is only $2. In the late 2000s, Weekly scribe Steve Steward dabbled in standup and participated in several open-mic nights around town. Naturally, when this one launched, he wanted to check it out for himself.
Read about his experience in “Belly Achin’ ” at FWWeekly.com.
Does the name Robert Gallagher ring a bell? This music industry legend has worked at Billy Bob’s Texas (2520 Rodeo Plz, Fort Worth, 817-624-7117) since its opening in 1981 and has been its entertainment director since 1988. While he stepped down in 2015 to spend more time with his family, he remains involved as a consultant. Gallagher is celebrating his 80th birthday at the club at 7pm. All ticket proceeds will be donated to local Fort Worth music scene causes. Tickets start at $15 at BillyBobsTexas.com.
By Jennifer Bovee
From the South Park guys, the hilarious Book of Mormon comes to Bass Hall this weekend.
Courtesy Bass Performance Hall
Fort Worth music-scene legend Robert Gallagher will celebrate his 80th birthday at Billy Bob’s on Tue, Aug 12.
Courtesy Billy Bob’s Texas
Discuss The Fuck-Up as part of Lit Liberty Book Club at Liberty Lounge on Saturday.
MUSIC
In Syncwave
This creative production duo is here for artists to elevate their image and presence.
BY ANTHONY MARIANI AND JUAN R. GOVEA
The two guys behind Syncwave Creative know what they’re talking about because, as musicians and engineers, they’ve been there themselves.
Say you’re a local muso. You’ve got the musicmaking part down but just don’t care or know enough to tackle the image side. That’s where Micah Labrosse and Joshua Mather come in.
“There’s so much talent in Fort Worth,” Mather said. “Artists who are independent are notorious for not representing themselves enough online and also don’t have backing good enough or frequently enough to make a presence.”
The two officially launched Syncwave Creative on July 1 in a stately 1,600-square-foot building at 1212 E Lancaster Av on the East Side. Labrosse and Mather specialize in audio, video, and photo services along with other forms of content creation, including podcasts and electronic press kits (EPKs). Rentals start at $75 per hour, and more intensive projects are priced per size.
Syncwave has the capacity to record music and create music videos.
“I want [an artist] who is looking way down the line and thinking about how their career will unfold,” Mather said.
One happy client is buzzy alt-country stylist Tristan Inman. “I can’t say enough good things about my experience at Syncwave. From start to finish, the team was professional, creative, and fully committed to bringing my vision to life. Whether it was recording audio or capturing video, their attention to detail and passion for quality truly stood out. … They really take the time to understand what you’re going for and elevate it with their own artistic touch.”
Labrosse and Mather have been in the music industry for the past 14-plus years. Labrosse toured the world as a guitarist for hire, and both worked as producers and engineers professionally starting in 2018 at Mather’s former studio, The Garrison, inside Platinum Music Complex in North Richland Hills.
“I loved that place,” Mather said, “but we needed something of our own that we could equip for visuals and not just audio.”
Syncwave’s new home is utterly stylish. The 100-year-old building has tall ceilings, giant windows, and brick and concrete floors, perfect décor for EPKs or videos of any genre.
While Mather serves as head engineer and Labrosse as head photographer/videographer, the two outsource whatever else a client wants.
“We do like to get our hands dirty with every shoot and help directing the Syncwave style,” Labrosse said.
As part of Labrosse and Mather’s mission to build larger visions for independent artists than traditionally expected, there’s also a rentable podcast space on the premises.
“Our ideal client is an artist who’s looking farther down the road and wants to build a career with us,” Mather said. “Come in and do a single or EP or an album with us and build all the visuals to accompany those songs and then come back in eight months or a year or whenever you’re ready for Round 2.”
Whether you’re an artist or creative business or in a band considering elevating your game, Syncwave Creative, Labosse said, understands “how hard it can be, and we practice what we preach.” l
With tall ceilings, giant windows, and brick and concrete floors, Syncwave’s décor is perfect for EPKs or videos of any genre.
Juan R. Govea
Micah Labrosse (left) and Joshua Mather created Syncwave to handle the image and presence aspects of an artist’s career.
CLASSIFIEDS
WEEKLY LISTINGS
Free Will Astrology
By Rob Brezsny
ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19)
Everything may seem almost too vivid, too raw, too marvelous, and altogether too much. I advise you to welcome these surges and allow them to enhance your perceptions. Laugh hard. Cry freely. Invite goosebumps.
TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20)
Something fragile and fine is ready to emerge, but it needs your gentle touch and natural methods. You are often grounded in the adept manipulation of raw material—what works, what holds, what can be relied on.
GEMINI (May 21-Jun 20)
Use your natural gifts and stylish flair to serve the greater good. Look for opportunities to mentor, encourage, and advocate for those lacking your advantages.
CANCERIAN (Jun 21-Jul 22)
A slow, relentless, and ultimately magnificent process is afoot in your life. Others may not yet see the forward momentum. Even you may doubt it. But the shift is real and permanent. Trust the deep, inexorable push.
LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22)
Be wisely discerning with your energy. Don’t mistake illumination for invincibility. Bask in the light, yes, but protect your rhythms.
VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22)
Release your unconscious mind from old fixations
that subtly drain your power to fulfill your dreams. Please surrender trivial obsessions that distract you from your life’s key goals.
LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 22)
Your ability to enhance and nurture your network is at a peak. You have extra power to weave together threads that have become frayed or unraveled. Given your potential potency as a social glue, I advise you to avoid gossip and instead favor wise, kind words that foster connection.
SCORPIO (Oct 23-Nov 21)
Allow yourself the sweet satisfaction of having just the right amount. What you have created may be more organically whole than you realize.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21)
Jettison your inessential desires and cherish the precious yearnings that are crucial. Dispose of outmoded goals so you can make expansive space for robust goals that steer you away from the past and guide you toward the future. The coming weeks can be a turning point in your quest to claim this birthright.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19)
Bow toward the mysteries from which your blessings flow. Honor the quiet sources that keep you fertile. Praise the treasures in the dark that fuel your intense activities.
AQUARIUS (Jan 20- Feb 18)
Shed the armor around your heart. Strip off your defense mechanisms and discard pride-spawned obstacles that impede your communions with those you love.
PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20)
Be persistent. Tap into reserves of strength that have previously been unavailable. You will activate potentials that have been half-dormant.
EXPANDED HOROSCOPES
For unabridged versions of the horoscopes above by Rob Brezsny, go to FreeWillAstrology.com.
BULLETIN BOARD
For local listings, products, and services, flip to page 20 and check out the back cover!
Happy Birthday, Leo!
BULLETIN BOARD
ADVERTISE HERE!
Email Stacey@fwweekly.com today.
Are You Road-Trip Ready?
CALL COWTOWN ROVER!
With our handy pick-up and drop-off services, having your car checked out could not be easier. www.CowtownRover.com
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CELEBRATION
Located at 908 Pennsylvania Av (817-335-3222), Celebration Community Church has services on Sundays at 10am. Want to check out a nonjudgmental, inclusive church at home before attending in person? All services can also be viewed on YouTube! (@ CelebrationCommunityChurch130)
DENTAL INSURANCE
from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-888361-7095 www.dental50plus.com/fortworth #6258
EMPLOYMENT
Data Scientist to dev. predictive models/code, optimize data flow & test modeling approaches for EV charging network and ensure seamless data comm/mgmt between charging stations & CSMS, using OCPP. Bachelor’s in Comp Sci, Mathematics, Statistics, or rel req. Mail resumes to job location: PNE Systems America Co., 2845 Exchange Blvd, Ste 180, Southlake, TX 76092.
EMPLOYMENT
Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. in Fort Worth, TX seeks to fill the position of Technical Instructor, Prin to deliver Instructor-led trainings (classroom/virtual), technical job trainings and direct product sales or business development training for internal and external customers. Supports course design and development/ updates of training content or curriculum based on individual business need. To apply, visit jobs.halliburton. com and enter #201020 in “search by keyword” field. If offered employment, must have legal right to work in U.S. EOE, including disability/veterans.
EMPLOYMENT
Senior Quantitative Analyst – positions offered by Crestline Investors, Inc. (Fort Worth, TX). Build, maintain, & use a variety of models built in Python focused on portfolio reporting & analysis, liquidity management, business projections, & other asset management tools. Position based in Fort Worth, TX; telecommuting permitted up to twice per week. Please submit resume & transcripts to Recruitment@ crestlineinc.com. Reference Job ID: 8653098.
EMPLOYMENT
We are seeking a detail-oriented and motivated remote Part-Time Data Entry Specialist to join our team. As a Data Entry Specialist, you will be responsible for accurately and efficiently inputting and managing data into our systems, ensuring data integrity and maintaining high levels of accuracy. This position offers a flexible schedule, allowing you to work part-time and balance your personal and professional commitments. This role offers a competitive salary of $680 per week. Apply Email recruitment@thedebbiestaffing.com
GET PUBLISHED!
Dorrance Publishing, trusted by authors since 1920, is accepting submissions. Book manuscripts are currently being reviewed. Comprehensive services include consultation, production, promotion and distribution. Call 1-866-2560940 or go to DorranceInfo.com/ftworth for your free author`s guide and become a published author. (MB)
INSTANT SHADE!
SunSetter: America’s Number One Awning! Instant shade at the touch of a button. Transform your deck or patio into an outdoor oasis. Up to 10-year limited warranty. Call now and SAVE $350 today! 1-855-628-7701 (MB)
LIFE INSURANCE
Up to $15,000.00 of GUARANTEED Life Insurance! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses.Call Physicians Life Insurance Company844-782-2870 or visit www.Life55plus.info/ftworth (MB)
LIZ BUYS HOUSES
We Buy Houses for Cash AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-877-509-9772. (MB)
NEED A FRIEND?
Ronnie D. Long Bail
Bonds
Immediate Jail Release 24 Hour Service. City, County, State and Federal Bonds. Located Minutes from Courts. 6004 Airport Freeway. 817-834-9894
RonnieDLongBailBonds.com
OLSHAN Foundation Solutions
Your trusted foundation repair experts since 1933. Foundation repair. Crawl space recovery. Basement waterproofing. Water management and more. Free evaluation. Limited time up to $250 off foundation repair. Call Olshan today at 1-855-824-7345. (MB)
POTTER’S HOUSE
Join the Potter’s House of Fort Worth (1270 Woodhaven Blvd, 817-446-1999) for Sunday Service at 8am and Wednesday Bible Study at 7pm. For more info, visit us online at www.TPHFW.org.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The following vehicle has been impounded with fees due to date by Sega Tow (VSF0576658) at 2711 S Riverside Dr, Fort Worth TX, 76104, 817-572-7775: Chevrolet, 2021, Corvette, VIN 1G1YB2D43M5112234, $960.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The following vehicles have been impounded with fees due to date by Texas Towing Wrecker, 205 S Commercial St, Fort Worth TX 76107, 817-877-0206 (VSF0000964): Four Wheeler, 2025, Four Wheeler, VIN NA, $1127.73; Four Wheeler, 2025, Four Wheeler, VIN NA, $1127.73; and Western Star, 1981, 4900, VIN 2WKPDCLE6BK907186,$2598.33.
PREPARED for OUTAGES?
Be ready with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 817-752-957 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move. (MB).
SAFE STEP: North America’s #1 Walk-In Tub
Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-855-868-0192
STUCK WITH A TIMESHARE?
Wesley Financial Group, the Timeshare Cancellation Experts has over 450 positive reviews and over done over $50 million in successful timeshare debt/fees cancellations. Get free consultation, free info package, and learn how to get rid of your timeshare today. (mb) Call 844-511-2581
WATERING YOUR LAWN IS
EASY AS
When it’s time to water your lawn, think 1, 2…zero. Once a week if it needs a little water. Twice a week if it’s dry and hot. Zero if it’s been raining. Make sure your sprinklers aren’t leaking or pointing the wrong way. And try drip irrigation for flowers and shrubs. Visit Water is Awesome.com for more tips.
