New pop-punk band of veteran luminaries is in bloom. BY
STEVE STEWARD
METROPOLIS
A quarter million Tarrant County residents need to prepare for insurance rate hikes thanks to Congress. BY MARK
HENRICKS
ATE DAYS A WEEK
Several local eateries combat SNAP cuts by offering free food. BY ELAINE
WILDER
EATS & DRINKS
Lil JJ’s Smoke House brings a downhome barbecue cookout to Sprawlsville.
BY ANTHONY MARIANI
BUCK U
Though several games remain, the Frogs’ season may go down as a letdown.
BY BUCK D. ELLIOTT
INSIDE
Whence HypnoToad?
Though
By Buck D. Elliott
Help in a SNAP
Several local eateries are offering free food to locals hit hard by the White House’s malevolence.
By Elaine Wilder
Smokin’ Suburbia
’Cue lovers, set your nav app for Lil JJ’s Smoke House in North Fort Worth.
By Anthony Mariani
Editor: Anthony Mariani
Publisher: Lee Newquist
General Manager: Bob Neihoff
Art Director: Ryan Burger
Marketing Director: Jennifer Bovee
Regional Director: Michael Newquist
Sr. Account Executive: Stacey Hammons
Account Manager: Julie Strehl
Account Executives: Tony Diaz, Wendy Maier, Sarah Neihoff, Wyatt Newquist
Proofreader: Emmy Smith
Brand Ambassador: Clint “Ironman” Newquist
CONTRIBUTORS
E.R. Bills, Jennifer Bovee, Jason Brimmer, Jess Delarosa, Buck D. Elliott, Danny Gallagher, Juan R. Govea, Mark Henricks, Patrick Higgins, Kristian Lin, Cody Neatherly, Rush Olson, Emmy Smith, Steve Steward, Teri Webster, Ken WheatcroftPardue, Elaine Wilder, Cole Williams
EDITORIAL BOARD
Laurie James, Anthony Mariani, Emmy Smith, Steve Steward
COPYRIGHT
The entire contents of Fort Worth Weekly are Copyright 2025 by Ft. Worth Weekly, LP. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the publisher. Please call the Fort Worth Weekly office for back-issue
Heavy Petal brings its punk/pop
By Steve Steward
For national advertising: 817-243-2250 website: www.fwweekly.com email: question@fwweekly.com
DISTRIBUTION Fort Worth Weekly is available free of charge in the Metroplex, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies of Fort
Movie Nights
Cover photo by Jake Hill
Health Insurance Gets Pricier
Even a best-case scenario could leave a quarter of a million Tarrant County residents potentially looking at higher premiums.
BY MARK HENRICKS
A quarter of a million Tarrant County residents could face bills of hundreds of dollars more per month for health insurance next year.
METROPOLIS
Congressional reluctance to extend COVID-era tax credits for people covered by Obamacare policies under the Affordable Care Act has driven the price hike. Even if lawmakers eventually vote to keep the credits, insurance companies have already raised 2026 premiums to compensate for the expected impact of millions of healthy people dropping their suddenly more expensive Obamacare plans.
Percentagewise, this will be the biggest hike in Obamacare premiums since at least 2018.
“For a lot of people, when they look at the premiums, it’s going to be quite shocking,” said Simon Haeder, a professor of public health at The Ohio State University.
Texans will be more shocked than most.
Average premiums in Texas will climb 35% for a mid-level silver Obamacare plan, compared to 26% nationally, according to a report from health policy research firm KFF. The reason is that Texas, unlike most states, has no statewide health insurance marketplace.
In dollars, the average premium for a 40-yearold individual Texan will increase $172 from $489 to $661 in 2025. That increase is baked into insurers’ announced 2026 rates and doesn’t include the potential effects of losing tax credits. If the credits
Healthy people are most likely to drop coverage, leaving Obamacare insurance companies with higher costs to treat sicker people.
aren’t available for 2026 policies, KFF estimates the average Obamacare premium will rise far higher, by an average of 114%.
The increase will be more for some insureds, especially older, higher-income people. For example, a 60-year-old Texas couple earning $82,000 a year could see premiums increase by more than 250% to $24,923 per year. That’s for a mid-level plan, according to a report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Many enrollees already struggle to pay for insurance, and some will drop coverage if it gets much more expensive, said Lynn Cowles, director of health and food justice at Every Texan, an Austin health research and advocacy nonprofit.
“Estimates are that in Texas just over 1 million people will drop their plans,” Cowles said. “That will get us up around an uninsured rate of 19%, and we already have the highest percentage of uninsured.”
One problem with that is that healthy people are most likely to drop coverage, leaving Obamacare insurance companies with higher costs to treat sicker people. To protect profits, insurers anticipating the impact of ending tax credits have announced rate hikes that may remain in place, no matter what happens with the credits.
While insurers set the actual rates for Obamacare policies, many say the blame for the hikes lies elsewhere.
continued on page 5
“The short answer is that it’s because Congress has failed to extend the subsidies that make insurance affordable,” Cowles said.
Partisan politics underlies the Congressional inaction. Republicans have refused to negotiate on credits until Democrats vote to temporarily fund federal government operations. Democrats, until recently, presented a united front insisting that tax credit extension must be part of any deal to end the government shutdown. However, some breakaway Dem lawmakers now say they will accept a promise to vote on the matter.
Although a deal to reopen the federal government now appears imminent, there is still no agreement to extend the tax credits or vote on the matter by a specific date. Credits may eventually be extended, at least temporarily, removing for the time being the main driver of higher insurance premiums. However, even if the credits are maintained and millions of healthy Obamacare enrollees don’t drop their coverage, it’s not clear whether insurance companies will or can roll back the higher premiums set in expectation of the end of tax credits.
The Congressional inaction directly impacts Tarrant County, where figures provided by Every Texas show 245,049 people are covered by Obamacare plans. Nationwide, 93% of Obamacare participants qualify for tax credits, so it’s likely that nearly every Fort Worthian using Obamacare is looking at the prospect of much higher insurance costs next year.
The effects on Tarrant County go beyond Obamacare enrollees, said Brandy Taylor Dédé, Dallas-based state director of the Children’s Defense Fund advocacy organization. She expects, for instance, that some parents will drop their own
coverage while their children remain insured under another program, such as the federal Child Health Insurance Program for low-income families. But children will still suffer if a parent has untreated or very costly medical conditions, Taylor Dédé said.
More broadly, rural hospitals and clinics may stop offering services such as labor and delivery, or close altogether, under the financial pressure of having to provide care for uninsured people, she said.
“People think it’s just the person losing health coverage who will be impacted,” Taylor Dédé said, “but it affects all of us. When our neighbors can’t access affordable health care, we all end up bearing the burden of those costs.”
There’s one group of people who won’t be directly affected by expiring tax credits, Cowles said. Those people are undocumented immigrants.
“One huge piece of misinformation the federal government is sharing is that subsidies are going to undocumented people,” she said. “They are not. Undocumented people have never been eligible for assistance for health insurance.”
While Congress mulls its next move, Taylor Dédé urged Fort Worthians to contact their elected representatives in Washington, D.C., to express their concerns about the prospect of doubling health insurance premiums. Cowles said Obamacare enrollees should log onto Healthcare. gov, make sure their information is up to date, and be sure to cancel auto-enrollment. Otherwise, they’ll be automatically billed in January for the higher premiums, even if they’ve found another solution or decided to forgo coverage.
Other than that, it’s a waiting game to see how the partisan conflict in Washington plays out. With 2026 Obamacare coverage costs still unknown, current enrollees may want to keep their options open during open enrollment, which started Nov. 1 and ends Jan. 15, Haeder said.
“My advice would be to hold out as long as you can to get a January start date,” he added. l
“One huge piece of misinformation the federal government is sharing is that subsidies are going to undocumented people. They are not. Undocumented people have never been eligible for assistance for health insurance.”
METRO
Where Independence Begins
Fort Worth’s Lighthouse for the Blind brings meaning — and living wages — to the visually impaired.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY KENA SOSA
“When Independence Begins” is not just any mural. Painted on the exterior of the Lighthouse for the Blind on the Near Southside, it’s interactive. The visually challenged enjoy it by reading inspirational quotes in Braille along the protective outer railing, and large swaths of bright colors make for
easier viewing. The 2,000-square-foot artwork by Fort Worth’s Kristen Soble also includes QR codes for more about the institution’s history and mission. And its mission — to provide gainful employment for the visually impaired — has not changed since its inception.
I first heard about this organization many years ago when my beloved, recently departed, legally blind aunt was employed at the San Antonio facility. Being able to work allowed her to live independently and feel respected and purposeful. I never forgot how empowering that was for her and how encouraging that was to see in action. The Lighthouse for the Blind truly focused on releasing limitations and blasted open opportunities and mindsets. I recently decided to take a tour of the facility to learn more about its mission and facilities.
Each Lighthouse for the Blind location follows a similar model but is completely independent and has a unique origin story, including Fort Worth’s. In 1935, the Texas Commission for the Blind chose Willie May Lewis to create an environment where the visually impaired could thrive. With the grace and kindness of the community, she managed to gain support for the organization in the middle of the Great Depression, when most people did not have enough to sustain themselves, much less give to others. Community members sought support door to door, making personal connections that cultivated roots. Since then, the site has undergone changes in leadership and has experienced growth and transformations, giving more visually impaired workers the skills to be able to earn a living wage.
“Opportunity is a word that I use often when talking about the Lighthouse,” said President and CEO Platt L. Allen III. “For us, an opportunity is around every corner, opportunity for
competitive employment, opportunity to expand independence.”
Ninety years later, behind the brightly painted wall at 309 S. Adams St., the magic really happens. Through the door at the beginning of the mural, visitors can learn what happens at the 80,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. That’s right. Manufacturing.
School groups and other visitors regularly tour the facility. Fort Worth’s employs the visually challenged to manufacture a wealth of products, from copy paper to flashlights and privacy shields, and from drug-test kits to targets for shooting. The employees work with standard manufacturing machinery adapted for the blind but not changed
in purpose. Private and government buyers have publicly praised the quality of Lighthouse’s products. With at least 75% of the 58 employees blind or with low vision, Lighthouse for the Blind is the preferred vendor for many governmental companies, including the military.
“We’ve been working with [Fort Worth’s Lighthouse] for over 20 years,” said Steve Wyatt of Elbit Systems of America, which makes technology-based systems for defense, homeland security, and commercial uses. “Customer service is great. Anytime I need boxes, we have them within a day. Very grateful for everything [they] do.”
Hot Damn, Tamales! is another happy corporate customer.
“We’re grateful to work with Lighthouse for the Blind,” said co-owners Constantine Stavron
continued on page 7
The Fort Worth Parade of Lights is on everyone’s wishlist this year, so avoid all that holiday tra c with Trinity Metro TEXRail! Just take a $4 roundtrip ride down to Central Station and you’ll save yourself a sparkly busload of stress. Plan your trip for Sunday, November 23 now at RIDE TRINITYMETRO .org/ POL
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Painted by Fort Worth’s Kristen Soble, Lighthouse for the Blind’s mural “Where Independence Begins” has multisensory adaptations allowing the visually impaired to enjoy the message.
and mom Ione Stavron in a joint statement. “Their team brings heart, dedication, and a sense of purpose to everything they do. It’s inspiring to be part of something that supports meaningful employment and strengthens our community.”
At a training room on-site, Texas Operations instruments adapt technology for use for all. Magnifiers, Braille keyboards, and audio devices are just a few of the adaptations. For those with low vision or blindness, these skills can open doors to success and independence.
Garry Coufal, head of industrial operations, has worked at this site since 2014, most of the time making shipping/transportation tubes. One branch of Lighthouse’s operations that’s really impressive, Coufal says, is devoted to energy-dissipating pads. They prevent hard impacts for the materials and boxing used by the military and in overseas operations.
Fort Worth’s Lighthouse also creates custom products and services for businesses. It starts with a conversation between Coufal and the prospective business. He asks them what they don’t want to do, then takes that information and creates a model to adapt the task to the blind workers, who get the job done. Last year’s numbers show an impressive level of productivity and efficiency. Fort Worth’s Lighthouse produced 166,027 boxes, which amounts to almost 800 per day and resulted in $4,588,272 in sales.
Interestingly, none of the Lighthouse for the Blind locations make the same products, not because they can’t but because they have no wish to compete with one another. This is an intentional tactic to be successful locally and support one another’s own independent missions. That display of selflessness is rare in business. However, it is a welcome message and reminder that people should be more important than profit.
Industrial Operation Supervisor Jose Barbera said most of the new employees require less training than you might expect. Depending on their role, some need only about a day. The machinery is standard manufacturing quality but has been adapted to be used by the workers who commute to and from work daily.
Optical Lab Manager Brian Talkington runs a highly technical eyewear lab on-site that makes 500 kinds of glasses. Equipped with top-notch machines, the lab’s work is known for its accuracy and precision. The high-tech Easy Fit Trend machine, named Denny, allows the lab to process more than 100 orders per day. Denny was named after Robert D. Alexander, who has been a caring sponsor for the Lighthouse’s mission for years. Talkington pointed out a poster for a program called Mission Optical, a nonprofit that donates glasses to qualifying applicants of all ages. Many similar charities focus on children but drop support for those who need it in adulthood. Mission Optical wants all to be able to see clearly regardless of their stage in life and financial status.
With at least 75% of the 58 employees blind or with low vision like Rickey Simpson, Lighthouse for the Blind is the preferred vendor for many governmental companies, including the military.
multi-slotted shipping box, one of the many specialized products built here.
Community Outreach Specialist Latrisha Johnson is happy to give tours for school groups and other visitors. Johnson encouraged anyone who enjoys this message to come volunteer and bring in new ideas on serving the community and make connections. It is her mission to see support and the number of people served grow. “Working for [Lighthouse] is amazing because I am helping the same community that helped me.”
The main building is undergoing renovations and should reopen in 2026. The updated facilities will be bigger and have more space for specialty departments like the Optical Lab. In addition, the improved building will feature a fully functioning apartment for trainers to conduct life skills classes like cooking and making the bed for those with visual challenges. Jay Semple, head of client services, is especially excited about this development. “Learning these life skills in a realistic and safe setting will help clients live safely that will boost the ability of clients to live safely and comfortably on their own, which is the goal for many.”
If you or someone you care about is experiencing low vision or blindness, make sure to refer them to the Lighthouse for an empathetic ear, technology advances, and skills for work to enable them to flourish. Best of all, they will gain a community who understands and supports them through life. Sign up for Blind Awareness Training (BAT), which dives deep into communication and exercises that demonstrate the blind and low-sighted experience.
For those whose interests range from art to community-building to how things are made, make your way over to admire the mural on S. Adams Street, even if it is just for the interactive experience. At a time when most things feel complicated and conflicting, go ahead and open the door to a new way of envisioning the world, a place where profit does not outrank the people who make things possible.
My tour was ending around clock-out time for the workers, but several were willing to stay and show off some of their work. A production line worker, Bobby Worrell, proudly demonstrated the use of the screen-printing machine used to print labels onto boxes. Richard Simpson, another production line worker, displayed a
In the short time since my visit, my Aunt Carol, who lived her best life during her years at work and in the community of Lighthouse for the Blind in our hometown, passed away peacefully. She was 58. I’m grateful to this organization for empowering her to live up to her own expectations on what her life could be. And in her memory, I hope to share encouragement for what is possible when we refuse to accept others’ expectations and live the life we want. Spreading the word about this organization feels like the best way to do that. l
No talking. No food and drinks. No collecting.
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. You’ll never think of museums in the same way again.
SECOND
THURSDAYS ARE ALWAYS FREE!
THURSDAY NOV 13 | 5–8 P.M.
COLLECT & CREATE
Discover tricks to starting your own art collection and explore the paintings in American Modernism from the Charles Butt Collection
Second Thursdays at the Carter is generously supported by: DON’T MISS OUT!
Underachievers
The TCU Horned Frogs are eliminated from playoff contention after a fourth-quarter collapse
against Iowa State.
BY BUCK D. ELLIOTT
This week’s Buck U is akin to two old friends with young children catching up after months of not speak ing: It feels like the busiest season of life with so much to catch up on, yet there’s really not that much to say.
Since we last caught up, the Frogs managed to break their Big 12 road curse against bottom-feeder West Virginia, though it wasn’t without strife. For the second consecutive game, TCU had to survive an opponent storming back in the final minutes with an onside kick in hopes of stealing a game from the jaws of defeat. Just like against Baylor, the Frogs managed to stave off the onslaught and leave Morgantown with their first conference road win of the season, but 23 total points against the Mountaineers was hardly confidence-inspiring from an offense capable of so much more.
The road trip led TCU into a bye week and two weeks to prepare for an Iowa State team that was in freefall after starting the season with five victories and a national ranking but had lost four consecutive before arriving at Amon G. Carter on Saturday afternoon. The Frogs — who had been moving the ball effectively through the first half, at least — struggled. QB Josh Hoover (#10) tossed two interceptions within the first three drives, and a continually shaky kicking game (thanks to injury) left the Frogs in a 6-3 hole at half time — not an inspiring indicator of things to come.
Despite the lackluster start, the offense did find traction in the passing game, scoring by way of efficient midrange passing in the third and fourth quarters, respectively. The rushing game never amounted to much — a recurring theme — but I can’t entirely blame OC Kendal Briles and HC Sonny Dykes (other than their scheme not being designed to rush the ball when specifically chal lenged). The Iowa State defense committed their linebackers and safeties to smothering the run. It was a marked decision, forcing Hoover to beat them through the air, which he did, but not with enough continuity to win the game.
What ultimately did in TCU’s game and therefore season were special-teams blunders. A doinked field goal in the second quarter and an over-kicked punt returned for a touchdown in the fourth were the difference in losing to an Iowa State team that played the power run and controlled the ball well but whose offense is still mostly ineffective and pedestrian. The TCU defense tried to pick up the slack by intercepting Rocco Becht (#3) twice to match Hoover’s misfires, but Jeremy Payne’s (#26) lost fumble left the Frogs down one in the turnover differential. Andy Avalos’ defensive unit
FRIDAY, NOV 14TH
LANE BRICKER
SATURDAY, NOV 15TH THE TEXAS HEAT
FRIDAY, NOV 21ST MEREDITH CRAWFORD
SATURDAY, NOV 22ND FASTBACK - TEXAS ROCK N’ ROLL
Over the Moon
We’re super-excited for some nonseasonal events this weekend.
Next week, we’ll publish our annual Turkey Awards. Basically, the opposite of our Best Ofs, the Turkeys “celebrate” all that’s wrong in our fair ville and state. Then, it’s time to get ready for the holiday onslaught of eating, drinking, shopping, and eating some more. Meanwhile, we have some regular stuff to do.
As part of its Broadway at the Bass Series, Bass Performance Hall (525 Commerce St, Fort Worth, 817-212-4280) is hosting the hit musical & JULIET, which interrogates the famous Shakespeare play, asking what would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? This fabulous journey finds her ditching her legendary ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love — her way. Performances are daily at 7:30pm Wed-Sat; 1:30pm Thu, Sat, Sun; and 6:30pm Sun. Tickets start at $50 at BassHall.com.
While the original, iconic sign at the entrance of the Stockyards remains ever welcoming, a new, additional ranch-style sign has been erected at the western boundary of the Stockyards at 292 W Exchange Av, thanks to the efforts of business owner Ruth Hooker, city councilmember Carlos Flores, and others. “This new West Exchange Avenue sign will provide wayfinding for visitors to help businesses get more visibility and define a sense of place in our Fort Worth Stockyards,” Flores said. “It will be distinct and complement the iconic and historic sign on East Exchange Avenue.” After architect Arthur Weinman and city leaders cut the ceremonial ribbon, there will be live music and refreshments until 1pm.
Tonight is Theatre Wesleyan’s opening performance of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest on the campus of Texas Wesleyan University at the Thad Smotherman Theatre (1205 Binkley St, Fort Worth, 817-531-4211). This comedic play about mistaken identity, which ridicules the codes of propriety and etiquette, will be staged in the round. Dashing men-about-town John Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff pursue fair ladies Gwendolen Fairfax and Cecily Cardew. Matters are complicated by the imaginary characters invented by both men to cover their on-the-sly activities and the disapproval of Gwendolen’s mother, the formidable Lady Bracknell. The production runs Thu-Sat, Nov 12-15, and Thu-Fri, Nov 20-21, at 7:30pm, plus there is a matinee performance 2pm Sat, Nov 22. Tickets are $10 at TicketstotheCity.com.
Tulips FTW (112 St. Louis Av, Fort Worth, 817-367-9798) will celebrate its fifth anniversary with a party at 7pm featuring Austin psych-rockers the Black Angels plus Henry
the Archer and Strange Lot. Five years also marks the date of the Black Angels’ last album. This event will showcase the band’s new LP, Wilderness of Mirrors. Tickets are $38.66 at SeeTickets.us.
In honor of its 10th anniversary, the Wellman Project hosts Wellie 10: A Decade of Curiosities and Creative Reuse at Amphibian Stage (120 S Main St, Fort Worth, 817-923-3012) 2pm-5pm. This free community event features a mobile museum showcasing Barb the Bus and “Wellie weird finds through the years,” plus there will be arts and crafts activities, a cake walk with a chance to win a cake made by a champion from the Food Network’s Chopped, live printmaking and screenprinting, and shopping with local vendors. There is no cost to attend, but VIP experiences are available starting at $50 at TheWelmanProject.org/wellie10.
By Jennifer Bovee
Nearby, it’s Lost ’N Sound on the Near Southside, and the Rock ’n’ Roll Rummage Sale is also happening, so get out early and make a day of it.
(Left to right) Dylan Evans and Aaron Simmons star in The Importance of Being Earnest at Theatre Wesleyan this week and next.
Fabiola Caraballo Quijada, Joseph Torres, and the rest of the North American Touring Company of & JULIET are performing at Bass Hall this week.
LIVING LOCAL
Turkey Day Made Easy
Are you ready for the holidays? We’re not either. Thankfully, for those looking for someone else to handle the whole meal, Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine (4259 Bryant Irvin Rd, Fort Worth, 817-738-5489) is a reliable resource for Thanksgiving and has been the go-to for many for over 15 years. “It’s our absolute favorite time of year,” says Chef Bonnell. “We truly love doing it, and the feedback from our guests makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
With the cost of food continuing to rise they do their best to keep prices as low as possible while maintaining Bonnell’s top-notch quality. Every dish is made entirely from scratch, without a can or box in sight. Their Turkey Deal is $300 and includes a smoked or fried turkey, two medium sides, 12 dinner rolls, and
a quart of turkey gravy. For an extra $100, upgrade to The Leftover Deal: the same plan, but with double sides, rolls, and gravy.
For those who just need sides, they are available at $100 for large (serves 12-16), $75 for medium (serves 8-10), or $50 for small (serves 4-6) and include green chili cheese grits, southwest cornbread stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes, green bean casseerole, sweet potato casserole, and green bean almondine.
Other people need the opposite. Along with their tried-and-true family recipes for side dishes, they want to pick up the protein to go with. If that’s the case, consider a whole beef tenderloin for $325, a Creole-smoked or deep-fried turkey for $100. There’s also grilled quail priced at $20 per bird. Add turkey gravy for $15 per pint and a dozen dinner rolls for $12.
Last but not least, don’t forget dessert! For $35 each, be the holiday hero and bring a bourbon buttermilk pie, caramel-pecan or pumpkin cheesecake, flourless chocolate cake, or a Texas pecan pie.
Place your order by using the QR code below by noon on Wed, Nov 19 and let Bonnell’s take care of the rest. Orders will be available for pickup on Wed, Nov 26 between 10am and 4pm.
For more promotional information or to order on their local website, go to BonnellsTexas.com.
Ate Days (and More) of Texans Helping Texans
Due to the ongoing government shutdown and the USDA stating it had “run out of money,” SNAP benefits were halted on Nov 1, leaving many families without sufficient household groceries. Not cool. Following federal court rulings, the Trump administration confirmed it would use emergency funds to partially fund SNAP for November. These payments are expected to be roughly 50% of the normal amount. As of press time, Texans have begun to receive partial payments. With the situation constantly changing, it’s best to keep an eye on HHS.Texas.gov/services/food/snap-food-benefits for the most current info.
Meanwhile, Texans are doing what Texans always do: helping one another. Many restaurants are offering free meals, plus the area is flush with food banks of all sorts. Here are some resources to consider if you’re in need.
Restaurant Deals
On weekdays, Beacon Cafe 287 (12721 Hwy 287 North, Fort Worth, 817-809-8606) is offering a free smiley face pancake to children of families affected by the SNAP pause with proof of SNAP benefits.
Biundo’s Pizzeria (104 W Second St, Venus, BiundosPizza.com) is offering one 10-inch cheese pizza per family on Tuesdays in November with proof of SNAP, a valid ID, and at least one child present.
Boo-Rays of New Orleans (5728 Boat Club Rd, Fort Worth, 817-236-6149) believes that no child should go hungry and has committed to providing one free kid’s meal for children 12 and under with the purchase of an adult entree now (dine-in only) until SNAP benefits are restored for Texans.
Chicken Salad Chick locations in Tarrant County, including the three in Fort Worth (ChickenSaladChick.com/Locations), are also providing free kid’s meals until SNAP benefits are restored to Texans. It is limited to one kid’s meal per each child present, dine-in only. No purchase necessary, no questions asked. The locations will also accept donations to the Tarrant Area Food Bank.
El Primo’s Mexican Grill & Cantina (2300 Matlock Rd, Ste 21, Mansfield) is providing free meal kits for children. “With the ongoing government shutdown, we know times are tough for many families,” El Primo’s said. “We’re also challenging our fellow local restaurants and businesses, if they’re able, to join us in supporting the families who need it the most.” The kits are available for pickup 4pm-6pm on Mondays in November at the valet stand. On Saturdays in November, El Primo’s is hosting a food and toy drive 9am-11am. All donations will go directly to local food banks and Toys for Tots. (Note: All food items must be nonperishable and unexpired.)
Kokitos (6708 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-732-2820) is offering free nachos and a small agua fresca for kids on Wednesdays.
Marquez Bakery & Tortilla Factory (1730 E Division St, Arlington) is offering a free meal for kids, limited to one meal per child present. No purchase necessary and can be dine-in or to-go, no questions asked.
If you have friends who work at DFW International Airport, let them know that TGI Friday’s, whose three remaining North Texas locations are all inside the airport, can help. Now thru Thu, Nov 20, families can receive one free kid’s meal with each adult entree purchase. After the 20th, the company said, the offer will continue every Tuesday until the end of the year. The offer is only for dining in, and guests must present a valid EBT card.
Two of the Taco Casas within our circulation area, including Cleburne (1669 W Henderson St, 817-556-0991) and Weatherford (919 S Main St, 817-598-0036) are currently offering free kid’s meals for families in need, regardless of their SNAP status.
Grocery Resources
Speaking of Weatherford, discount grocer Town Talk Foods has a location there at 106 College Park Dr (817-438-8099), and they can really help you stretch your food dollars and benefits, once you get them back. (Yes, they do accept SNAP/ EBT.) The original store is still open in Fort Worth (121 N Beach St, Fort Worth, 817-831-6136), plus the business opened a third location a while back in Arlington (2320 S Collins St, 817-435-2300).
There are also many organizations running free food pantries. Start with the Tarrant Area Food Bank. Along with hosting their own events, they act as a clearing house for where to find what. At TAFB.org, under the “Find Food” drop-down, you will find a food map, instructions on applying for food benefits, and information about TAFB’s home delivery, senior boxes, and farmers’ market programs. If you are fortunate enough not to need any of the above, please consider helping your neighbors by helping TAFB. Networking allows them to provide five meals for every $1 you donate.
When people are having trouble even feeding their kids, the household pets are also affected. That’s where Don’t Forget to Feed Me (DF2FM) comes in. The pet food pantry’s mission is to provide pet food to local agencies in support of pet owners while also educating the public about pet food insecurity. By providing pet food for those in need during challenging financial times through a network of partners, DF2FM offers an alternative to surrendering — or worse, abandoning — a family pet. If you need pet food, visit DontForgetToFeedMe.org/get-help.
The full amounts of SNAP benefits could take weeks or months to be paid, depending on how long the government remains shut down. Benefits are expected to be released between now and Nov 28 in a staggered manner, with those who were first to miss their benefits receiving them first. According to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the state will continue issuing benefits on this staggered schedule until it can “catch up” to its normal payment schedule.
By Elaine Wilder
On weekdays, Beacon is offering a free smiley face pancake to children of families affected by the SNAP pause.
Beacon Cafe 287
Pick up free meal kits and drop off donations at El Primo’s in Mansfield.
El Primo’s Mexican Grill & Cantina
Town Talk Foods can help you stretch your dollars, and, yes, they take SNAP/EBT.
Courtesy Town Talk Arlington
EATS & drinks
Quality ’Cue in the ’Burbs
In North Fort Worth, Lil JJ’s Smoke House
is worth the drive from
Timbuktu.
Lil JJ’s Smoke House, 9321 N Fwy, Fort Worth. 817-615-9460. Noon-7pm Sun, closed Mon, 11am8pm Tue-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri-Sat.
BY ANTHONY MARIANI
Not sure why — maybe my chronic misanthropy — but every time I watch football on TV and catch a closeup of an offensive lineman, I immediately think, “That guy probably really loves barbecue. Gosh, I bet he can put away the ribs and brisket. His tray probably weighs 10 pounds.”
And so on, which is not only unfair to him — some people are naturally not small — but also to a cuisine I love so much, that we all love so much. Since “healthy” barbecue remains beyond the reach of modern science and technology, the key is to chow down on ’cue only sparingly. With costs skyrocketing on everything, including restaurant food, “sparingly,” for my family and me, has been easy. What has been making it even easier is distance. As big BBQ fans, my 14-year-old and I try
to keep our consumption to about once a quarter. It hasn’t been a problem because we live in the chain-laden wilds of North Fort Worth and the 40-minute roundtrips to town and back for the good stuff stretch the fuel budget — avoiding 35 for the side streets just elongates our time in the Rogue and on the road. The conversation’s great, but: hunger pangs.
Unfortunately, the boy and I have just discovered quality, independent barbecue by our house,
and while our bellies are happy, my wallet — and our digital scale — are not amused.
Located in a strip mall off 35N in the sprawling knot of recliners, mattresses, jewelry, kitchen appliances, and chain restos that is Presidio Towne Crossing, Lil JJ’s Smoke House stands out as a beacon of backwoods-Texas barbecue in the heart of gleaming Sprawlsville.
Beyond the glass storefront doors awaits a small, clean, narrow space with a room-width continued on page 17
The peppery sausage and turkey as good as Grandma’s on Thanksgiving shine with or without Lil JJ’s homemade Boom Sauce.
Abeeku Yankah
Lil JJ’s memory lives on through his parents’ smoke house.
counter, where you order, plus a micro-bar opposite the condiments table. Assorted photos cover the walls. Among the pics are several of the restaurant’s namesake. Lil JJ, one of married co-owners John and Brandi Berry’s sons, died last year at 20 from a fentanyl overdose. The smoke house is the Berrys’ way of keeping their son’s memory alive.
Lil JJ worked alongside his folks at their business’ previous incarnations across North Texas, including the beloved and much ballyhooed Berry Best BBQ in North Richland Hills. He would be proud of his parents’ new work. Based on the ribs and brisket alone, Lil JJ’s Smoke House demands a drive from anywhere in North Texas. On all our visits, the ribs have been meaty and tender with a hearty, traditional, well-smoked flavor. The brisket sings. Soft, juicy, and with just the right amount of tasty exterior char, it’s done perfectly. The accompanying homemade Boom Sauce is smoky and semisweet and works best when only kissing your bites of ribs and brisket, which underlines just how good each item is on its own.
You also need only a smidgen of sauce for Lil JJ’s peppery sausage and the moist sliced turkey that rivals Grandma’s on Thanksgiving.
And the chopped brisket goes boom on its own. On our first visit, the staff gifted some to my son and me. Sweet, meaty, and tender, it disappeared like candy.
The sides we’ve tried also hark back to downhome cookouts. Texas Monthly raved about the Berry Best Beans, and we agree. Infused with barbecue sauce and loaded with ground beef,
they’re classic baked beans but denser and more flavorful and a meal unto themselves. The mac ’n’ cheese comes on creamy and gooey, and the zesty coleslaw bursts with piquant freshness. The service has been prompt and friendly to the point of downright coziness. Ask for a to-go container, they’ll rush around the counter to give you two. More Boom Sauce? They’ll dispense it into a cup for you, put a lid on it, and hand it to you with a smile. Craving a beer to wash down all that smoky goodness? They’ll hand you a cold, frosty one in return for only a cash tip.
Maybe the best part, Lil JJ’s Smoke House respects the harsh economy. Your choice of rotisserie chicken, turkey, or sausage with two sides and Texas toast runs only $21, while similar combos with ribs or brisket are $23. A two-meat plate is $24, and a three meat’er goes for $25. That’s the price of two martinis at any DFW watering hole these days.
Lil JJ’s also serves an assortment of offensive lineman-friendly “deals.” The Mini (your choice of 2 lbs. of meat and two large sides) is $45, while $105 gets you the Big Deal (your choice of 4 lbs. of
meat, four large sides, and four desserts).
All this delicious food at all these low prices, and my son and I will be trying out for the Dallas Cowboys in no time. l
Ask the staff about alcohol service.
Inside is a small, clean, narrow space that’s cozy and comfortable.
Abeeku Yankah
Lil JJ’s ribs and brisket alone demand a visit from anywhere in North Texas.
MUSIC
Heavy Petal New pop-punk band of veteran luminaries is in bloom.
BY STEVE STEWARD
It’s not that Heavy Petal is swept along on some prevailing sense of urgency, but the four-piece punk band seems to be imbued with a tailwind of forward momentum. To wit: Though they’ve been a band only for three months, they’ve already released their first single, an effervescent blast of pop-punk called “Sweetheart.”
Written by frontwoman Stephanie Benjamin and guitarist Kevin Wellendorf and recorded at Wellendorf’s home studio, “Sweetheart” is a sarcastic response to the waves of men who slide into a woman’s DMs the instant the word gets out that she’s single.
“I wrote the lyrics post-breakup [in 2023] after I’d been in a serious relationship for, like, five years,” Benjamin said, sitting with her bandmates — Wellendorf, drummer Matt Mabe, and bassist Jordan Tucker — on the patio of a Magnolia Avenue bar. “All of my bar friends that were mutual friends of that former relationship started popping up in messages at 2 a.m.: ‘Hey, how are you doing? Are you OK? I went through a breakup, too. Do you want to talk?’ Like, no, I don’t want to trauma-bond with you. Thank you. Leave me alone.”
At the time, Benjamin had been playing keyboards and singing backup for a couple of years in local power-pop band Big Heaven, but her “Sweetheart” lyrics never made it into any Big Heaven songs. Over Big Heaven’s seven-year history, founder and frontwoman Mandy Hand had written most of the band’s music, and though she did allow for input from the other members, Benjamin and Big Heaven guitarist Wellendorf both eventually parted ways with Big Heaven in October 2024 out of a shared desire for a more collaborative approach to songwriting.
Timing, it is said, is everything. Big Heaven dissolved, and Benjamin and Wellendorf were both without a band. As it happened, by the time spring 2025 rolled around, so were drummer Matt Mabe and bassist Jordan Tucker. Mabe’s main band at the time was Arenda Light. Tucker’s was Dead Vinyl, and both were on indefinite hiatus. As a rhythm team, their respective experiences playing hard rock fit well with Wellendorf’s love of punk, metal, and classic-rock riffage, and since the summer, the four-piece has been writing and rehearsing in Wellendorf’s garage.
“Sweetheart” was one of the first songs that came together. During the pandemic, Wellendorf wrote and tracked “Sweetheart” as a means of testing out the home studio he’d assembled during the lockdown. “I cut everything myself, and my
idea was to write a song at the time that was, you know, just kind of how I was feeling about the fucking pandemic.”
He and Benjamin had talked about writing together, and Big Heaven’s dissolution provided the nudge they needed.
“I sent her that song,” Wellendorf said. “I was just like, ‘Hey, this is something old, but I don’t know if you’ll like it.’ And then instantly she said she came up with a melody.”
In August, the band started meeting at Wellendorf’s house to jam. Each member brought song ideas. One night after a practice, Wellendorf replaced his own drums and bass on “Sweetheart” with Mabe’s and Tucker’s parts, respectively.
“I think it was, like, three takes,” Wellendorf said. “I was just happy. It’s like, ‘Oh, cool, we can use this.’ And it became a thing, but that was like the first kind of clue to me. I was like, ‘OK, that was really easy,’ like [being in a band] is supposed to be easy. And because it was, that was my first kind of, like, light bulb about this band.”
Another song came from Mabe, who recalled that Wellendorf “was like, ‘When are you coming over? We gotta do more!’ ”
Mabe, who teaches drums at Music Junkie Studios, had used the school’s gear to record his own demo. “I just did guitar, bass, drums — just an idea I had — and I showed it to the Arenda Light guys, like, a year or two ago, and they were like, ‘Dude, that’s really cool,’ but then they never brought it up again, so I was like, ‘Alright, I guess hang onto it.’ ”
Mabe eventually sent it to Benjamin. “A couple hours later, she sent it back with lyrics and a melody.”
Tucker had her own demo that Benjamin was also able to help flesh out in flash.
“Same thing with my demo,” Tucker said. “She’s really good at putting melodies together.”
With each member bringing their own inspiration and songwriting input to practices, the band’s sound doesn’t neatly fit into a box. “Sweetheart” sounds like a pop-punk song in the vein of bands like the Groovie Ghoulies and Screeching Weasel, but given
the combined time that Wellendorf, Mabe, and Tucker have spent in hard rock bands — the Sex Rhinos for Wellendorf; Stella Rose, Quaker City Night Hawks, and Arenda Light for Mabe; Panic Volcanic and Dead Vinyl for Tucker — Heavy Petal’s other material winds its way through harder, faster, and sludgier sounds.
“We have one that’s our take on a straight-up hardcore song,” Benjamin said. “And then there’s some stuff that’s — at least to my ear — like a grunge song. The band is definitely a lot heavier than we thought it would be.”
Wellendorf said, “When you have [Mabe] playing drums, [Tucker] on the bass, and I’m on guitar, it’s like shit’s gonna get heavy just because it’s us three, like that’s going to happen. But, you know, it’s the straight, fun, lighthearted kind of vibe of this that’s always going to sound like us but still be loud, still be heavy. I don’t foresee us, you know, writing a fucking reggae song.”
Anything’s possible, though, especially with such a democratic songwriting process.
“Everybody will try everybody else’s ideas,” Mabe said. “If it doesn’t work, we’re like, ‘Aright, well, at least we tried it.’ ” Benjamin added, “I don’t think I’ve ever been in a situation where everyone in the band was just sitting around on an instrument throwing out ideas like, What if we did this?’ We wrote this one song together. All I gave them was how I wanted to sing it and three chords, and those three chords are based on the sound my car makes when it’s overheated.”
With Heavy Petal, inspiration can come from anyone and anything, so unforeseen reggae jams are not out of the question. Heavy Petal makes its live debut at the Chat Room Pub on Wed., Nov. 12, as part of singer-songwriter Wayne Floyd’s monthly Waynesday residency, along with sets from Floyd and up-and-coming singer-songwriter Kelvin Thomas. When you consider the rate at which they’re going, Heavy Petal might write an album’s worth of material about the experience next month. Hopefully, the post-show 2 a.m. DMs will at least be congratulatory. l
Heavy Petal
Wed, Nov 12, w/Wayne Floyd, Kelvin Thomas at the Chat Room Pub, 1263 W Magnolia Av, Fort Worth.
With each member bringing their own inspiration and songwriting input to practices, Heavy Petal’s sound doesn’t neatly fit into a box.
Jake Hill
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 59 OF THE TEXAS PROPERTY CODE: Curio Storage DeSoto, located at 601 S Interstate 35 E, DeSoto, TX 75115, (phone: 409-203-4147) will hold a public auction of property being sold to satisfy a landlord’s lien. The sale will take place at www.storageauctions.com beginning on 11/19/2025 at 12:00 AM and ending on 11/26/2025 at 12:00 PM. Property in each space will be sold by the space. Deposit for removal and cleanup may be temporarily required. No cash accepted. Seller reserves the right to not accept any bid and to withdraw property from sale. Property being sold includes appliances, furniture, toys, electronics, personal items, boxes, and other items. Name and unit number of tenants: Sherry Martinez, unit 0A11; Michael Martinez, unit 0A16; Phylensia Watson, unit 0B22; Nikki Lawrence, unit 0D21; Khalilah Mclemore, unit 0F15; Derrick Robinson, unit 0F22; Gary Williams, unit 0G10; Magan Munoz Abu Dari, unit 0G22; Marilyn L Cunningham, unit 0G27; Kevone Edmonds, unit 0G30; Porsha Bell, unit 0G38; Khalilah Mclemore, unit 0G59; Jerriony Porter, unit 0G64; Gloria Mcgraw, unit 0G79.
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