Fort Worth Weekly // January 17-23, 2024 by Fort Worth Weekly

January 17-23, 2024 FREE fwweekly.com

Dickies Arena may be the center of the rodeo world now, but bull riding goes year-round thanks to at least one group. S T O R Y

METROPOLIS Republicans crave border problems to keep scaring potential voters.

BY K E N W H E AT C RO F T- PA R D U E

A N D

P H O T O S

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J A S O N

EATS & DRINKS Tasty cocktails — plus popcult ephemera and references — abound at Low Doubt. BY CHRISTINA BERGER

B R I M M E R

ART Color rules Bonnard’s Worlds at the Kimbell. BY EDWARD BROWN

MUSIC The Vintage Yell’s debut screams old-timey Americana. BY EDWARD BROWN

Experience the light and color of France Closing January 28

The exhibition is organized by the Kimbell Art Museum and The Phillips Collection. It is supported in part by Frost, the Texas Commission on the Arts, the Fort Worth Tourism Public Improvement District, and by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.

Promotional support provided by

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LARGE FLORIDA & TEXAS GRAPEFRUIT

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FORT WORTH 4651 WEST FREEWAY | 817-989-4700

SOUTHLAKE 1425 E. SOUTHLAKE BLVD. | 817-310-5600

Volum e 1 9

N umber 39

J an uar y 17-23, 2024

INSIDE

STAFF Anthony Mariani, Editor Lee Newquist, Publisher Bob Niehoff, General Manager Ryan Burger, Art Director Jim Erickson, Circulation Director Emmy Smith, Proofreader Michael Newquist, Regional Sales Director Jennifer Bovee, Marketing Director

Buckle Up

Tony Diaz, Account Executive

Wyatt Newquist, Digital Coordinator Clintastic, Brand Ambassador

By Christina Berger

Fine Whine

Country-tinged Americana becomes The Vintage Yell. By Edward Brown

Christina Berger, Edward Brown, E.R. Bills, Jason Brimmer, Buck D. Elliott, Juan R. Govea, Patrick Higgins, Laurie James, Kristian Lin, Cody Neathery, Wyatt Newquist, Steve Steward, Teri Webster, Ken Wheatcroft-Pardue, Cole Williams

Pretty POVs

Let a delightful French impressionist be your guide at the Kimbell.

By Edward Brown

4 7 8 Cover photo by Jason Brimmer

CONTRIBUTORS

9 11 12 13 14

Feature Metro 1 Alive & Kicking

Metro 2: Kiddie Table ATE DAY8: Mocktails Big Ticket: I’d Tap That Night & Day: Stockyards Critter Corner

15 Art 17 Eats & Drinks 1 19 Eats & Drinks 2 21 Music 24 Classifieds

Backpage . . . . . . . . . 24

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TRINITY METRO

Saddle up on The Dash for your best way to the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. No driving, parking, or hitching posts needed! Find your ride now at .

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Next to Tulips FTW, sibling bar Low Doubt couldn’t get any cooler.

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Retro Rockin’

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By Jason Brimmer

Julie Strehl, Account Executive

Cour tesy Boston Museum of Fine Ar ts

Whether at the stock show or year-round, bull riders got some balls.

Stacey Hammons, Senior Account Executive

Jump for Jump

Dickies Arena may be the center of the rodeo world now, but bull riding goes year-round thanks to at least one group.

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The bullfighters watch every move that both the rider and the bull make. Big Show, on the left, is looking for any indicator that the rider is about to be thrown.

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he cowboy is holding a helmet in his hands, rubbing a thumb across the thin metal bars meant to protect his face should things go wrong. A look of deep contemplation tightens up his youthful features. I doubt he can hear the roar of the crowd, even though they’re less than 100 feet away. He also probably doesn’t even realize that I am here, too, close enough to reach out and grab his arm as my camera clicks away.

“Are you ready for some bull riding?” the announcer says from the skybox. The crowd cheers. The young bull rider pulls on his helmet and calmly lowers himself into the chute. Weathered hands around him reach down and yank on thick ropes — soothing the bull, pestering it, too — then slap the rider on the back. The bull, aggravated and ready to run, thrashes inside the too-close-for-comfort chute, banging against the metal rails. The animal throws its head back — cowboys are a nimble lot, and those clinging to the rails by nothing more than the sharp heels of their boots dance out of the way, dodging the horns as if stepping over a stone. Someone asks the rider if he’s ready. A pair of bullfighters watch the commotion from their place in the small arena. Just beyond them, the crowd waits for the gate to open. Rodeo Hall of Famer Kelly Clark stands toward the back of the arena and announces that “this is gonna be a good one!” Clark ought to know. He figures that over the course of his 32 years in the rodeo, he rode more than 3,000 head of bucking bulls. “You know how you ride a bull?” he had asked me earlier that day. “Jump for continued on page 5

A young bull rider waits his turn. Despite the noise and the dust, he sits quietly and calmly, seemingly untouched by the swirling excitement around him.

jump, and you don’t open your hand [off the reins] until the back of your head hits the ground.” For the past 14 years, Clark has been busy putting on rodeos in small

municipalities all over North Texas. The first took place in Haslet, and the event was so successful that first the City of Justin and then Ponder came calling, eager for Clark to put on similar events there. Since then, he has hosted at least 10 rodeos every year. “The production and the presentation [are] paramount,” Clark said, explaining that his team goes to great lengths to replicate the polish and professionalism that

you would expect at Dickies Arena but on a scale where everyone in the audience is close enough to see the expression on the rider’s face as he and his bull come out of the gate. Given the relatively small footprint of his mobile arena, about 100 feet across, Clark’s production company, Chute 2 Productions, can host a show almost anywhere, be it a parking lot, the middle

of a town square, or right on the beach — Granbury’s Bulls on the Beach is always a big hit, he said. As I watch the young bull rider settle in on the back of his animal, I wonder if that’s what’s going through his head. When I asked Clark, he replied, “When you crawl down into that chute … all you’re thinking about is tending to business.” l continued on page 6

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continued from page 4

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Feature

At a Roanoke event, a cowboy watches from the chutes as one of his friends hangs on, waiting for that 8-second whistle.

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Take it “jump for jump.”

Feature

continued from page 5

Mutton Busting, a popular event at the Chute 2 rodeos, allows children the opportunity to ride a sheep in the rodeo arena.

“How do you ride a bull?” Hall of Fame Bull Rider Kelly Clark said. “Jump for jump, and you don’t open your hand [off the reins] until the back of your head hits the ground.”

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Big Show, a rodeo bullfighter, bolts toward the bull as a cowboy is thrown.

The 8-second whistle has just sounded. Now, every moment that the cowboy stays in the saddle will count toward his score.

S T O R Y A N D P H O T O B Y W H E A T C R O F T - P A R D U E

K E N

Cruelty is our watchword now. On our phones, we watch in real time as Palestinians are slaughtered with our money and weapons, enduring Israel’s indiscriminate, Dresden-style bombings of hospitals, schools, mosques, and refugee camps, while all we have to face are Israeli spokespeople torturing logic and getting the feeblest pushback by American TV “journalists.” Closer to home, our governor, for political gain from the dominant sadist faction of his party, brags that he’s doing everything he can to stop the flow of undocumented immigrants into our country except shoot

campaign for Hair Furor for obvious, cruel reasons.

them, which he intimates he would do if the Biden Administration wouldn’t charge him with murder. He wasn’t joking. Recently, after a woman and two children drowned trying to cross the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass, some enterprising DA now might have legal grounds to charge the governor. Armed Texas National Guard soldiers sent by Abbott to Shelby Park in Eagle Pass prevented U.S. Border Patrol agents from rescuing the victims. Illegally entering the United States should not be a capital offense. The woman and children could have been saved. But this latest example of cruelty will not stop the Republican Party that backs the traitor Hair Furor to be

Ken Wheatcroft-Pardue is a fifth-generation Texan who loves his state. 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.

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Without the border, Republicans have nothing to run on, which is why In 2019, Gov. Abbott came to Fort Worth to they refuse to fix it.

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Bloodsport

Republicans don’t really want to solve our immigration problem because doing so would take away one of their main campaign issues. Texas Republicans are not only cruel about the border. Every day, they’re spending our tax dollars on policies that are cruel and inhumane. In banning abortions, Texas’ GOP has not only over-burdened Texas women, causing many to have to flee the state for adequate medical care, but have caused some to die. Instead of passing common sense gun safety laws, Republicans have made firearm ownership so easy that gun fatalities are now the leading cause of death for Texas youths. Texas is one of only 10 states to not expand Medicaid, which would offer care to many of our most vulnerable Texans. Texas Monthly recently found that Medicaid expansion would decrease maternal mortality rates and help hospitals, especially in rural areas where they are struggling. Also, expanding Medicaid would help reduce homelessness, crime, and hunger. But, come on, Republicans don’t care about helping Texans, unless they’re rich. The Texas GOP is too busy suppressing votes, cutting holes in the social safety net, and, you know, being cruel. l

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president. No, the GOP’s cruelty knows no bounds. They wear it proudly. Our governor has spent more than $100 million of our tax dollars to traffic undocumented immigrants to cities controlled by Democrats, cruelly treating those who struggled mightily to get here as pawns in his own craven political game. As Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker wrote in an open letter printed recently in the Star-Telegram, “You are now sending asylum seekers from Texas to the Upper Midwest in the middle of winter — many without coats, without shoes to protect them from the snow — to a city whose shelters are already overfilled with migrants you sent here. … Your callousness, sending buses and planes full of migrants in this weather, is now life-threatening to every one of the arrivals. Hundreds of children’s and families’ health and survival are at risk due to your actions.” The purpose of this cruelty is clear. Republicans believe they can ride the crisis on the border to victory in November. Trump, who oozes cruelty like mothers ooze empathy, imitates Hitler, belting out that immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country,” which, of course, is nonsensical because we are a nation of immigrants. And while Fox News and its sheep love to blame Biden alone for the problems at the border, the truth is that there wouldn’t be so many people clamoring to get in if the Biden economy wasn’t booming. Not that the sheep would recognize that obvious fact, since they’re all being lied to about the economy that has had near full employment for almost two years now. And the fact is most of the work these immigrants do are not jobs most Americans want.

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METROPOLIS Kiddie Table

When I think too long on contemporary grown-ups, I do not like what I see. Something about it reminds of the final scene in Citizen Kane, after his love interest decides to leave him. Kane (Orson Welles) begins throwing luggage around and tearing up her room, and then, winded by the effort, spots a small snow globe and picks it up. The artificial snow begins swirling around the translucent sphere, and Kane is taken aback — and back — to a wintry time when he was a child. His famous final line is, “Rosebud.” After he dies, a large gathering of family, friends, and enemies wonder what his last word meant. Welles, himself, said it best. “Rosebud is the trade name of a cheap, little sled on which Kane was playing on the day he was taken away from his home and his mother. In his subconsciousness, it represented the simplicity, the comfort, and, above all, the lack of responsibility in his home, and it also stood for his mother’s love, which Kane never lost.” The devolution of modern adults is a collective treatise on nostalgic longing but often not for experiences we ever really had or adventures we even partook in. Most of us didn’t have sleds. Most of us didn’t have mothers waiting for us at home — they were working. But we had TV, sports, or video games. And, after a while, we had sports on TV or played sports-themed video games. Or skipped sports altogether and focused on fantasy-themed video games, never actually experiencing the thrill of riding or navigating a sled, cheap or otherwise. Like so many things in contemporary human existence, it is not so much a lost art as the vanishing knowledge of physically inhabited moments that define life at

an elemental level. If Citizen Kane is ever remade, “Rosebud” may refer to an Atari joystick. Or the film may never need to be remade because many adults remain committed to video games into their 50s and beyond. And many are consumed by sports viewing or sports wagering, even if they never played the sports they watch or wager on. Many grown men and women are consumed by fantasy, video games, anime, cosplay, or plain old childhood nostalgia. You can find pacifiers for adults and baby wipes for “dudes.” There are now official, adult dodgeball leagues, and shuffleboard, horseshoes, and croquet have all been replaced with the most childish joke of them all, cornhole. Which is particularly inane, because “cornhole” is sexual slang for “anus.” The term reportedly came into use as a noun in early-20th-century America due to the use of dry corncobs in lieu of toilet paper. Its verb form was popularized in the 1930s as slang for engaging in anal sex. It’s a potty punchline on steroids. And as adulthood ends, childhood teases a lifetime appointment. Children today spend more time on their phones than outside, physically playing less and, as they become teenagers, having less sex. All this, while their parents are shaving away their pubic hair so that their genitals look more like their children’s. Which seems doubly asinine because, for most of human existence, the appearance of pubic hair historically announced a child’s approach to biological adulthood. In fact — though it’s nothing new, just accelerated and increasingly universal — adults are spending billions if not trillions of dollars a year to appear as little aged or adult as possible. And it demonstrates a

dangerous, burgeoning communal neurosis characterized by a headlong flight into infantilism that modern society clearly fosters if not encourages. Meanwhile, their idle child counterparts are endeavoring mightily to avoid adult endeavors. English poet William Wordsworth wrote “the child is the father of the man” in 1802, and maybe it was true 220 years ago. But today more and more men and women are perpetually infantile, and their children are trapped in an infantile stasis. It’s all play-pretend, and we are each encouraged to “live our own truth” — with or without one another or the last or next generation. One of the next fortunes will probably be made by the creator of adult bed mobiles featuring spinning figures from Game of Thrones or Star Wars to soothe us when we silence the iPhone or turn off the flatscreen TV and try to fall asleep. But back to the kids. Social media and digital communication platforms allow youths to forgo interpersonal, face-to-face engagements, so young people are less and less capable of navigating these situations healthily or productively. Many young people are more committed and devoted to virtual relationships than actual, face-to-face connections with the people they live among or encounter every day. Their personal detachment leads to impractical isolation and retards their social development. There is certainly more to life than work, but consider this passage regarding infantilism in the workplace in Medium earlier this year. Employers need employees who are self-motivated, able to take initiative, and willing to learn and adapt. When

Fort Worth writer and journalist E.R. Bills is the author of the upcoming Letters from Texas, 2021-2023. 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.

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Our generation’s “Rosebud”?

Sound familiar? Well, not if you avoid the workforce. But it’s as true in human relationships as it is in the workplace. It’s true of our 46th president. It defines our political parties. It’s inherent in contemporary social movements. It often even seems true of Americans in general because we are no longer conjointly whole. Free market Capitalism has converted de Tocqueville’s chronicle of “enlightened self-interest” to simply self-interest. And our exaggeratedly innocent and uncomplicated past — where we had fewer opinions and enjoyed fewer responsibilities — beckons almost dreamlike, an attractive mirage. The real reason the old want their youth back so badly (or never want to leave it) is that they didn’t spend it particularly productively and didn’t appreciate it for what it was at the time. And, ultimately, they have this simultaneously in common with Gen Z, which, excepting a lack of pubic hair, is literally doing and experiencing even less than their parental or grandparental units. We’re no longer encouraged to be grown-ups or adults, which allows the powers that be to manipulate and pit us against each other more easily while they bury us all under their own childlike indulgences. Which means our children’s “Rosebud” will be an earbud and their children’s children will likely enjoy implanted earbuds to feed them the answers and teach them what to believe — but not how to think — rendering them children even as adults. A brave new world full of cowards. l

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Cour tesy Wikipedia Commons

Most adults want to play forever because their youth was misspent — now their screen-addicted children will be even worse off.

adults exhibit childlike behavior, such as expecting constant praise and recognition, avoiding challenges, and being unable to handle criticism, they become a liability rather than an asset to their employer. This can lead to decreased productivity, increased turnover, and a general decline in the quality of work being produced.

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Are You Mocking Me? Yes. Yes, I am.

Last week was National Mocktail Week, so we posed a question on social media. While any decent bartender can make a virgin version of most drinks, who makes a great craft mocktail? Below are the nine that you came up with.

The mocktail menu at Bendt Distilling (225 S Charles St, Lewisville, 214-814-0545) just got a Dry January refresh and features an espresso mocktini, a virgin Jam Jar, a virgin paloma, and more. Open 2pm-9pm Sun-Thu and noon-10pm Fri-Sat.

3.) Don Artemio Mexican Heritage (3268 W 7th St, Fort Worth, 817-470-1439) is open 10am-8pm Sun, 11am-9pm MonThu, and 11am-10pm Fri-Sat and offers a contemporary take on the cuisine of Northeast Mexico, plus classic cocktails and wine along with zero-alcohol cocktails. @PrimalVintage says, “Don Artemio has a full Dry January menu!” 4.) Funky Picnic Brewery & Cafe (401 Bryan Av, Ste 117, Fort Worth, 817-7082739) whips up pizza, salads, sandwiches, and freshly brewed beers, plus signature cocktails and mocktails. 5.) Nickel City (212 S Main St, Ste 100, Fort Worth, @NickelCityFWTX) is open noon-2am daily, doling out hot dogs,

6.) Reata Restaurant (310 Houston St, Fort Worth, 817-336-1009), specializing in Southwestern fare, cocktails, wine, and mocktails, is open 11am-2:30pm and 5pm-9pm daily. @IvyFontaine says, “I was happily surprised by one of Reata’s limeades on the NA menu. Didn’t just taste like juice like many do. Had a sort of kick and mouthfeel, so it was interesting to drink.” 7.) Tarantula Tiki Lounge (117 S Main St, Fort Worth, @Tarantula_Tiki) is open 4pm-2am Mon-Thu and 2pm-2am Fri-Sun and concocts classic, original, and virgin drinks, including the most iconic rumbased beverages of the Tiki era. 8.) Tinies (113 S Main St, Fort Worth, 682-255-5425) is open 4pm-10pm MonThu, 4pm-midnight Fri, and 11am-3pm and 4pm-midnight Sat and slings rustic Mexican cuisine and cocktails/mocktails plus mezcal flights. 9.) The Usual (1408 W Magnolia Av, Fort Worth, 817-810-0114) has mixologists pouring Prohibition-era cocktails and mocktails from top-shelf ingredients 6pm-midnight Sun-Mon, 4pm-midnight Tue-Wed, and 4pm-2am Thu-Sat.

By Jennifer Bovee By Jennifer Bovee

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At last week’s Adulti-Verse event at Meow Wolf in Grapevine, Beyond the Bar showed us how to make the Smooth Sailor, a nonalcoholic Dark ’N Stormy, with Ritual Rum Alternative partnering with the lime juice and ginger beer. DJ Sober, of course, spun tunes throughout all the kid-free, alcohol-free fun.

2.) The Cicada (1002 S Main St, Fort Worth, @The_Cicada_FTW), Tyler Anne Stevens’ indie bar serving beer and cocktails in addition to mocktails with live music throughout the week, is open 2pm-2am daily. She let us know about her notable mocktail bartenders @CaitlinRose817 and @Jetson817.

Cour tesy Blackall Photography

Cour tesy Ritual Zero Proof

Along with a lavender vodka lemonade (purple), Funky Picnic Brewery & Cafe (401 Bryan Av, Ste 117, Fort Worth, 817708-2739) also has a splendid Resolution Solution mocktail (bright red) slushing from the frozen machines. Open 11am-4pm Sun and 11am-9pm Tue-Sat.

sliders, wings, and tater tots, plus beer, cocktails, and wine to go with mocktails.

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As another media outlet recently pointed out, there is way more attention on Dry January than usual this year for some reason. Everyone is covering it. While I hate to be late to the party, this is important. Whether you’re giving up drinking for the month or have resolved to quit for good, there are plenty of mocktails to imbibe instead here in North Texas, like the ones pictured here.

1.) Bar Dryce, the lobby bar at Hotel Dryce (3621 Byers Ave, Fort Worth, 817330-6437), is open 3pm-10pm Sun-Thu and 3pm-midnight Fri-Sat, serving beer, cocktails, and food along with mocktails. @TexAlli says, “Bar Dryce has a dry cocktail menu year-round!”

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Cour tesy Funky Picnic

Readers’ Favorite Mocktail Locales

I’d Tap That

Kim Platko & String Theory (Sun). Tickets start at $45 at ArtsFifthAvenue.org. Still not convinced you want to move your body rhythmically in front of other humans? Like my ex-boyfriend’s mom, if you’re going to dabble in this new hobby in the privacy of your own home and not make a public spectacle of yourself, pick up a pair of those TAPfits I’m seeing all over my Facebook feed. (I feel so targeted right now.) For $59, receive a pair of sustainably made taps that slip directly onto any flat-bottomed shoe. Or for $97, the taps come with six weeks of Learn to Tap online classes. Check it out at ShopTapFit.com. l

In which tap dancing follows me everywhere.

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B O V E E Cour tesy iMBD.com

All The Glorias love tap dancing. Be a Gloria!

I discovered The Glorias film last weekend, I thought, Oh, yeah. She likes to tap dance. If she can do it, maybe I can, too. We’ll see. Like Ms. Steinem, if you want to experience life a little fuller — and get moving — Arts Fifth Avenue (1628 5th Av, Fort Worth, 817-923-9500) is for you. Located in Fairmount, A5A offers classes and workshops for children and adults on intro to dance, ballroom, swing, visual art, and yoga, but the primary focus is the celebrated American artform of tap dance. Beyond the one-time registration fee of $20, classes at A5A are $20 to drop in, $55 monthly for one class per week, $100 monthly for two classes per week, or $135 for a tap pass of 10 classes at ArtsFifthAvenue.org/Classes. Occasionally, A5A will bring in celebrity guest teachers like Justin Boccitto. An international instructor currently on faculty at Broadway Dance Center and Marymount Manhattan College, he has taught Lady

Gaga, Sean Fosse, and Sophia Anne Caruso and has appeared as a coach on MTV’s Made Show. He was even asked to teach tap to Stephen Colbert! On Saturday at A5A, Boccitto will teach a Tap Class at 1pm (beginners) and 3pm (intermediate). The fee is $40 for the 75-minute class. A5A hosts dance concerts, live music, theatre productions, and art exhibits, too. Before committing to tap classes, maybe check out the facilities at a special event. One such opportunity is the 20th Annual Django Reinhardt Festival 6:30pm Fri-Sat, Jan 26-27, and 5:30pm Sun, Jan 28. This celebration of the life and legacy of the “King of Gypsy Jazz” includes three nights of live music, film, French ambiance, and a taste of French country cuisine. There will be performances by Marcelo Berestovoy & Amigos (Fri); Gypsy Moon, Francis Meaux Jeaux, Jimmie Dreams, and Katie Shore (Sat); and

Cour tesy Justin Boccitto

J E N N I F E R

In December, I watched a different holiday-themed movie almost every night. Except for the falling in the swimming pool part, I’ve always thought that the Charleston dance scene in It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) looked fun, and except for the cheesy music, the Vaudeville-esque tap dancing in White Christmas (1954) is also quite enjoyable to watch. But am I doing tap dancing in real life? Hmm. When I was a freshman in college, my ex-boyfriend had a little sister who had just started kindergarten. With no other sibling in between, she was doted on. She attended every kind of dance class, from ballet to jazz to tap. Adorned with baby jewelry and frilly dresses, she was the cutest thing, especially with those tap shoes on. Her mother decided to join the fun and took an adult tap class at the same studio. While she would practice for us at the house, there was no way she was going to do the studio’s end-of-season recital. She was way too shy. Nope. I say all this to say: Tap sounds fun. With the holiday behind me, I’ve recently begun watching biopics. I already knew a thing or two about Ms. magazine publisher, activist, women’s movement icon, and general badass Gloria Steinem from watching the Mrs. America limited series last year. So, when

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Celebrity instructor Justin Boccitto will teach tap at Arts 5th Avenue Sat, Jan 20.

Come on down to the Stockyards for the 23 days — now thru Sat, Feb 3 — that is the annual Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, the most authentic western lifestyle experience on the planet. In addition to a kickin’ rodeo in Dickies Arena (1911 Montgomery St, Fort Worth, 817-402-9000), enjoy livestock and horse shows, kid-friendly activities and exhibits, live music, carnival midway, and more in the Stockyards (121 E Exchange Av, 817-6251025). Park that truck and get to walkin’!

FWSSR Rodeo Events

Every Thursday to Sunday thru Sun, Feb 4, celebrate the Stockyards 134th Anniversary with a Western Wear Celebration. Plus, on Saturdays, receive a complimentary fun package, which includes a kid›s bandana, entry into the Cattlepen Maze, historic walking tours (there›s that walking idea again), and more! The following two weekends on Fri-Sat, Jan 19-20 and Jan 26-27, saddle up for an afternoon of action-packed bulls, broncs barrels, and more at the Stockyards Championship Rodeo. On Sundays thru Sun Feb 25, witness the adrenaline-fueled, high-intensity rodeo sport known as Ultimate Bullfighters that showcases skilled, thrill-seeking athletes as they uniquely blend courage, agility, and quick thinking to outwit the bull in the arena. Beyond the FWSSR season, every Thursday night through the rest of 2024, enjoy more high flyin’ bull ridin’ at the weekly PBR Stockyards Showcase.

Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo

On Sat, Feb 17, PBR presents the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo in the Stockyards, celebrating and honoring Black cowboys and

On Sat-Sun, Feb 24-25, run, jog, or walk through The Fort at the annual Cowtown Marathon events. The organizers have combined the love of running with «the excitement of racing, the joy of giving, and the culture of Fort Worth all together to make a race like no other.» With a starting line at 3400 Burnett Tandy Dr in Fort Worth (817-207-0224), you›ll make your way through the sites of the city, including the Stockyards, Downtown Fort Worth, the Botanic Garden, Trinity Park, the campus of TCU, and the Museum District. Along with the marathon, there is a 10K, adult 5K, kids 5K, half marathon, and an ultra-marathon happening at various times Sat-Sun. Registration for the 2024 Cowtown Race Weekend starts at $45 at CowtownMarathon. org, with proceeds benefitting The Cowtown CALF, which advocates children›s activities for life and fitness.

Horseback Riding at Stockyards Stables

Ride the Trinity River Trails on horseback with the Stockyards Stables (157 E Exchange Av, Fort Worth, 817-23-8830). Take a trail ride with experienced guides along the beautiful landscape of the Trinity River. This activity is great for families or individuals to enjoy. It›s a healthy outing, too. You›re guaranteed to use muscles you didn›t even know you had! Schedule your adventure at FortWorthStockyardsStables.com.

Music to Your Ears

If your New Year›s resolutions included hearing more live music, head to the Stockyards immediately! As the «world’s largest honky tonk,» you can always count on Billy Bob’s Texas (2520 Rodeo Plz, Fort Worth, 817-624-7117) for a good time and great music. This month, make sure to attend concerts from beloved artists such as

Pony Bradshaw (Fri, Jan 19), Ian Munsick (Sat, Jan 20), Elle King (Fri, Jan 26), and Pat Green (Sat, Jan 27). The Stockyard’s newest music venue, Tannahill›s Tavern & Music Hall, features live music plus food and drinks by Chef Tim Love. (Can you say dinner and a show?!) Upcoming concerts include Braxton Keith (Fri, Jan 26), Roger Creager (Fri, Feb 2), and The Mavericks (Fri-Sat, Feb 9-10).

FW Music Festival & Conference

Get ready for four days of live music across multiple stages in the Stockyards at Fort Worth Music Festival & Conference from Wed, Feb 28 to Sat, Mar 2. This 2nd annual event will feature 40+ artists, including Abraham Alexander, Band of Heathens, William Clark Green, Radney Foster, Futurebirds, Ben Kweller, The Nude Party, Shinyribs, Them Dirty Roses, and more. Pricing starts at $39.50 for single-day tickets. For the full schedule of artist performances, panel discussions, other ticket options, and more, visit FortWorthMusicFestival.com.

Step into the West

Fort Worth is where the West begins, and nothing embodies Western heritage better than the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. From the original brick walkways to the wooden corrals, every inch of the Stockyards tells the true history of Texas’s famous livestock industry. For more event ideas and information beyond this promotional feature, please visit FortWorthStockyards.org.

Cowtown Culture

On Thu, Feb 8, see a Historic Reenactment of the Luke Short & Jim Courtright Shootout in front of the White Elephant Saloon (106 E Exchange Av, 817-624-8273). Known as «Fort Worth›s last gunfight,» the altercation happened in 1887 between Sheriff Jim «Longhair» Courtright and saloon owner Luke Short. Current saloon owner, Chef Tim Love, will gladly serve you a warm bowl of award-winning Texas Red Chili and a piece of homemade cornbread ($6) at the Chili Parlor while you›re there, so be sure to step inside. While there›s no info yet on a time for the shootout, my gut says «high noon.» Then, on Sun, Feb 11, enjoy Mexico En La Sangre: New Year Fiesta at Cowtown Coliseum (121 E Exchange Av, 817-625-1025). This celebration captures the art of charreria (Mexican rodeo), Caballos bailadores (dressage or dancing horses), Folklorico, and live music. Festivities begin

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Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

Cowtown Race Weekend

For a spooky adventure, you can’t beat the ghost tours in the Stockyards. Walking tours start daily at 7pm at the Cowtown Winery (128 E Exchange Av, Ste 610, Fort Worth, 817-626-1011). You’ll learn about the unexplained often happening in the area and the detailed history of the Stockyards and its bordellos, hangings, shootouts, and more. The stops include The Cadillac Hotel, Miss Molly’s B&B (as seen on the Discovery Channel), and The Stockyards Hotel, to name a few, and it all starts at the winery. The paranormal activity in the Stockyards is one of the country›s most active and written about, so put this event on your local bucket list.

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When you visit the Fort Worth Stockyards, beyond the bars, restaurants, and shopping to check out, there are fun activities and walking tours to get your blood pumping, plus plenty of music to get you dancing. According to Google Snippets, walking can also reduce your risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and some cancers. As little as a half hour per day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat, and boost muscle power and endurance. With all that in mind, here are some ways to kick it in the Stockyards this month and beyond.

The Old West comes to life before your eyes during the world›s only twice-daily cattle drive presented by the Fort Worth Herd. Real Texas cowhands drive a herd of Texas longhorns down East Exchange Avenue in the Stockyards National Historic District every day at 11:30am and 4pm. Every detail of the cattle drive — from the saddles and chaps to the boots and hats — is authentic and historically accurate. You can also get a behind-the-scenes Fort Worth Herd Experience every Fri-Sun 1:30pm-2:30pm behind the Livestock Exchange Building (131 East Exchange Av). For the most up-todate schedule, please check the social media pages (@FortWorthHerd).

Ghost Tours at Cowtown Winery

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By Elaine Wilder

The Fort Worth Herd

with a special parade at 11:30am, followed by a show at 2pm. There is no cost to attend either of these events.

Cour tesy Cowtown Marathon

Kicking It Stockyards Style

cowgirls and their contributions to building the West. BPIR also serves as a cultural event and opportunity for families to enjoy and embrace the cowboy culture while being educated and entertained with reenactments, history highlights, and Western adventure.

Right after the FWSSR ends, it’s time for Cowtown Race Weekend.

Guest contributor Shawna Gibson from SHAW›S Paws Pet Services (@FetchPetSit, 817-296-1769) has been caring for their own (and other people›s) furkids for more than 14 years. Since our second annual Creature Comforts edition last year, we›ve published her answers to your Critter Corrner questions in a Q&A format. (Think: Dear Abby.) With the holidays behind us, many of you have new fur babies you›ve adopted recently. One reader has a question about what to do next. Question: When you have a new puppy, when can they start meeting new dogs? Or start going to doggy daycare?

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Answer: Happy New Year! First, I want to give you all the kudos on recognizing the importance

Cour tesy iStock

Promotional Feature

A well-socialized puppy becomes a wellbalanced, confident dog.

of proper vaccinations for your new family member and understanding how vital it is for their mental, physical, and emotional health to safely and properly socialize with other pups. Dogs are pack animals. They need friends just as much as we humans do.

A well-socialized dog is a well-balanced, confident dog. Fort Worth has many excellent opportunities to socialize your pup, from dog-friendly restaurants, hardware stores, and parks to a plethora of wonderful Doggie Daycares specializing in organized activities and opportunities for social stimulation. I would be remiss if I didn›t offer you or anyone reading this who has not had an opportunity to visit SHAW›S Paws Pet Care a Free week of play care and a discount off their first boarding. We have acres of climate-controlled, safe, fun inside/outside social stimulation and training. We at SHAW›S like to PAWty! Call us at 817-296-1769.

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As always, I defer everything to your veterinarian. However, in my experience, after their second series of vaccinations at 10-12 weeks (which should include all the standard as well as InfluenzaLeptospirosis and Bordetella shots), it is the perfect time to begin socializing with your new best friend. If your veterinarian is out of any vaccines, please get in touch with me at the number below. I have many resources I can connect you with.

Cour tesy F

New Year, New Puppy? Awww!

ShawsPawsPetCare.com 817-296-1769 (call/text)

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Cour tesy Boston Museum of Fine Ar ts

Viewers bring their own preconceptions to visual art even as the creators have their own fully formed ideas and messages in mind. Bridging the gap between the observer and objet, the Kimbell Art Museum’s Bonnard’s Worlds features 70 paintings by Pierre Bonnard (1867-1947) which allow the French impressionist to become the guide into his home and personal life. The guy is supremely pleasant to have around. “Paris Boulevard at Night” is told from the interior of Bonnard’s flat in Northern Paris looking out onto the working-class neighborhood below. In the darkness, people pass along a greenspace near the center encircled by buildings. Plentiful blues and greens underline the relaxing mood. Nearby, “The Riviera” is striking for several reasons, especially its colors. Light green and blue dominate the rural landscape awash in lush vegetation fading elegantly into distant hills. As with a lot of Bonnard’s paintings, his choice of color is as equally thematic as the content. “The Riviera” has all the elements of

“Paris Boulevard at Night” places us in the artist’s flat in Northern Paris looking out onto a quietly busy evening.

MEMORY MAP October 15, 2023–January 21, 2024

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This week offers one last chance to view the Kimbell’s journey into the colorful mind of a French master.

Jaune Quick-to-See Smith:

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Between ‘Worlds’

a warm, sunny day, but the overall effect — due to the colors — is surprisingly cool, perhaps hinting at the pleasure the Frenchman took from the vantage point he frequented. Following the exhibit clockwise, the pieces travel into Bonnard’s home and those he visited. “The Bowl of Milk” revolves around a young girl standing to the right. Her eyes are closed as she holds a golden plate in her left hand. At her feet, a black cat walks toward her. The most eye-catching part of the domestic scene is the bright sunlight beaming through the window to the left, illuminating a table beneath the window in radiant golden yellow. The artist undoubtedly found sublime beauty in each passing moment. With each successive piece, the viewer’s perspective becomes more entangled with the artist’s. Near the final portion of the exhibit, “Dachshund on a Chair” compels our gaze downward at a seated wiener dog. The steep angle puts us right in Bonnard’s shoes. In the last segment of Bonnard’s Worlds, we meet the artist’s wife and even Pierre himself. The capacious oil painting “The Siesta” finds Marthe Bonnard resting on her stomach across the couple’s bed. She is nude with her rear prominently centered. Were someone to stumble onto her like this in real life, they would apologetically retreat. Here, the painter welcomes them. And near the exit is a parting message from Bonnard — not only can we see him at age 60 in “Portrait of the Artist in the Dressing Room Mirror,” but we can inhabit his POV as he stares at his reflection. Pale, bald, and skinny, he is just himself, seeming to invite us to share a moment with him. The late work argues that all observers — including artists — bring their own views and lived experiences to renderings of observed environments. It is clear from the works spanning 50 years that Bonnard wanted to do more than reflect his world. He wanted to share it, and this show that’s up for one more week dutifully conveys his wishes. l

MODERN ART MUSEUM OF FORT WORTH 3200 Darnell Street • Fort Worth, Texas 76107 • 817.738.9215

themodern.org

This exhibition was organized by the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. Pictured: Jaune Quick-toSee Smith, The Rancher, 2002. Acrylic and charcoal on canvas, 72 ¹/₄ × 48 ¹/₈ inches (183.5 × 122.2 cm). Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; purchased through the William S. Rubin Fund 2005.13. © Jaune Quick-to-See-Smith. Photograph courtesy the Artist and Garth Greenan Gallery, New York

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Bonnard’s Worlds Thru Sun, Jan 28, at the Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd, FW. $14-18. 817-332-8451.

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EATS & drinks

“

He was conveniently out of town during the time this blew up.

Not That Kind of Business

Owned by Chef Andrew Dilda (former head chef at Reata and also of Clay Pigeon and Lonesome Dove, among other places), the Near Southside’s Eazy Monkey opened over the summer to pretty much universal acclaim. Tia Downey, one of the most visible and talented faces behind a bar or in front of one in town, was the general manager, and the Magnolia Avenue location — in the building formerly occupied by Ben Merritt’s Fixture — was ideal for the casual, hip Texasian fare and vibe. In October, our reviewer found it wild, wacky, and tasty. Raves from Texas Monthly in November and other local publications followed. Eazy Monkey shut its doors the week after another local magazine’s food critic spent a lot of column inches praising the new place. Because there’s been no public explanation, the abrupt closure shocked a lot of people. There is nothing on the restaurant’s website, and there’s been essentially no information from Dilda, which led to speculation.

Perhaps the employees were among the most stunned, and allegations of nonpayment of wages popped up immediately. On a recent post in a Facebook foodie group, a member shared a screenshot allegedly from an employee claiming that Dilda “mishandled” their tips and “failed to take responsibility for this and has not communicated when we will receive our money.” There were more allegations, and insults, and even more accusations, including that the owner “stole tips and didn’t pay anyone for two pay periods.” Indeed, claims of tip thievery don’t go over well with anyone who works in or around the service industry, their friends and families, and their supporters. In a phone conversation this week, Dilda said the allegations of not paying employees are “baseless.” He allows that the fledgling business was “a few days late on payroll,” but he said he “got everybody

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paid.” He also said that he did not set up the methodology for pooling tips and did not purposefully withhold them, adding that thanks to the magic of Toast, the restaurant’s point of service system, he’s able to research when and how any discrepancy in tips occurred. To date, he believes he’s now even with everyone. However, “to make sure things are right,” he is going back through shift reports since the place opened four months ago –– in Texas, the burden of documenting how pooled tips are divided falls to the business owner. “Certain characters are just doing this for attention,” he said. “I’m not going to sling mud.” Unfortunately, all of this chaos occurred right around Christmas, which is absolutely the worst time to be closing a business or losing a job. Meg Rodriguez been outspoken on social media about the treatment of both the hourly employees and the staff. Starting as a server at Eazy Monkey in late October,

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Eazy Monkey’s Texasian fare was a big hit before everything went south.

she was one of the dozen or so staff laid off and locked out. She said she was a fan of GM Downey, and that was a draw. “I heard the buzz about the food,” Rodriguez said. “I was maybe there for two weeks, trained with Tia, learned a little about the menu, and worked on the floor about three or four nights” before trouble allegedly began. Rodriguez said she’s been the service industry for 24 years, and although she acknowledges that Eazy Monkey eventually paid everyone, Dilda was “conveniently out of town during the time this blew up.” She has since found another job. At the point Eazy Monkey opened this summer, Dilda alleges that his business partner (whom he’s not naming) said Dilda was on his own for capital. This was after several months of renovations to the property and all of the other expenses an owner incurs before they even sell a single plate of food. “We were underfunded from the beginning,” Dilda said. “We were doing well, but we got to the point where our operating capital was less than we needed.” The operating capital was essentially Dilda, his reputation as a chef, and his credit cards, which he says he maxed out to keep the restaurant open — until its closure. “It’s been the worst learning experience of my life,” Dilda said. “I want to make sure this never happens again.” l

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Cody Neathery

The collapse of the wildly acclaimed Eazy Monkey after only four months has led to a lot of confusion.

”

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As I walked briskly inside from the cold, a tatted fellow in a slouchy beanie asked me, “Have you seen the dog?” Assuming it was lost, I darted my eyes around the place. The guy disappeared momentarily and returned with a snoozing puppy that couldn’t have been more than 2 months old wearing a

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folks lounged around the bar and at a long oval booth. Some even braved the cold to mill about on the back patio. Low Doubt’s interior was bathed in an orange-crimson glow, giving a sort of warm edginess to all the retro furnishings and patterned wallpaper. It was as if my mates and I were drinking in a photo darkroom. That ambiance permeates throughout. The wall behind the bartop is covered in simple crate-style shelving filled with

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the implied promise of spirits were all it took to beckon me down the adjacent alleyway — thankfully well-lit by a zigzag pattern of outdoor lighting above. The end of the makeshift boardwalk with a concerning amount of give beneath each step brought me to a back patio and bouncer, who carded me. The flattery was too much, honestly. Though I had missed the grand opening the previous evening, I found the place fairly packed. A large group crowded around the red felt billiards table, and several more

Say hi to Panther Lily, the furball and personal furnace on temporary loan for the evening.

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dinosaur jacket and hoodie. While I melted, the man gingerly placed the itty-bitty dino doggo in my arms. To say my visit to newly opened Low Doubt Bar in South Main Village started off on the right paw would be an understatement. Moments earlier, a fairly plain sandwich board acted as a compass (“FEELIN’ THIRSTY / BAR THIS WAY!!!”) to the sister establishment to the venue Tulips FTW just next door. Perhaps I lack a sense of self-preservation because that sign and

Low Doubt Bar, 112 St. Louis Av, Ste 108, FW. 817-367-9798. 4:20pm-2am daily.

Low Doubt’s interior was bathed in an orange-crimson glow, giving a sort of warm edginess to all the retro furnishings and patterned wallpaper.

It’s a bar! The sibling establishment to Tulips FTW has a retro personality and menu all its own.

Christina Berger

Good Times, Low Doubt

Eats & Drinks

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Low Doubt Bar No Sympathy for the Devil ......................... $10 The Mad Ones............................................. $13 All God Does Is Watch Us and Kill Us When We Get Boring .................................................. $10 Paloma......................................................... $9 Dr Pepper Old Fashioned ........................... $15

Christina Berger

Sasha Maksimik

records, bottles of booze, and the Texas flag at the center, with two TVs flanking it. On one, a sweaty Bruce Willis bit down on a gag, while, on the other, Noah Cappe bit into various fare on Carnival Eats. By the pool table, another screen showed episode after perplexing episode of the absolutely unhinged cartoon Popeye. In one of the more inventive displays I’ve seen, two vintage refrigerator doors filled with letter magnets spell out all of the menu offerings. Later, I discovered the fridge bodies are utilized in the bathrooms to store necessities. The drinkery’s name is a play on the term “load out,” when bands take down and pack up their equipment after a show. Since it’s situated at the back of Tulips, “Low Doubt” is certainly apt. My curiosity of the menu was piqued by the drink All God Does Is Watch Us and Kill Us When We Get Boring. That seemed like a quote — and, in fact, it is. It was written by Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club) in Invisible Monsters. “We must never, ever be

Sasha Maksimik

continued from page 19

The drinkery’s name is a play on the term “load out,” when bands pack up their equipment after a show — fitting, as its sister establishment is Tulips FTW.

To say the author’s visit to the newly opened Low Doubt Bar in South Main Village started off on the right paw would be an understatement.

The owners must be literary and pop-culture fans, because a lot of the cocktail names refer to quotes from books or titles of songs and plays. Every one we tried was scrumptious in its own right.

boring,” the author concludes. Ominous or a good motto to live by? You decide. The beverage itself, a tequila cherry limeade served in a shiny, lidless container — like your soda or beer can before it’s labeled and topped — was refreshing, if not cold to the touch. As I slurped up the last bit, I was pleasantly surprised to find not a Maraschino but a Luxardo cherry at the bottom. That little luxurious touch made all the difference. The owners must be literary and

pop-culture fans because a lot of the cocktail names refer to quotes from books or titles of songs and plays. Every one we tried was scrumptious in its own right. No Sympathy for the Devil turned out to be a tasty Arnold Palmer but with the added flair of super-sugary Chicken Express sweet tea, and, by the time I got to The Mad Ones — containing apple cider shrub, Jamaican rum, cognac, pineapple, tiki bitters, and soda — I was too tipsy to trust any of my scribbly notes. I remember it being strong and quite delicious, though.

To be honest, I was thoroughly distracted by Panther Lily, the furball and personal furnace on temporary loan to me. Throughout the night, my friend and I were approached by strangers both fawning over the pup’s little body draped over my chest and unintentionally (or intentionally?) petting me instead. Let’s just say we made a lot of friends that night — and there’s Low Doubt in my mind that I’ll be back again. Something tells me the experience will never, ever be boring. l

MUSIC All the Vintage Yell

Zach Moffatt

A chance meeting of two local singer-songwriters leads to national ambitions. After more than a year of preparation and recording, The Vintage Yell is ready to take their In 2021, singer-songwriters Chris Raspante and Jesse Spradlin were ready for new directions in their respective music careers, although neither was sure what that would look like. “A friend asked if I would go help Jesse with a song she was recording” at The Cove Studios in Arlington, Raspante recalled. “I was recording or playing guitar and thought, ‘She has a really good voice.’ We got along.” Raspante sought a creative outlet outside of tribute bands, so he pitched Spradlin the idea of starting a new, original Americana band together inspired by Lake Street Dive, The Civil Wars, and Lukas Nelson. She said yes. Minus popular duos like Danni & Kris and Genini, most Fort Worth acts are solo or trios or more. “There are not a bunch of duos out there,” Raspante said. “That’s probably a good thing for us.” The two spent most of 2023 building the band’s website and social media while booking gigs. The Vintage Yell’s auspicious start over the past few months has included several high-profile gigs, including at the Dallas International Guitar Festival and opening for Whiskey Myers. Raspante said he enjoys the duo concept. “I don’t have to do the loop thing when I solo,” he said, meaning he doesn’t have to play over prerecorded tracks. “I can say, ‘Go to the chorus. I’m going to keep soloing.’

The Vintage Yell 9pm Sat, Feb 10, w/Simone Nicole and Timlightyear at The Cicada, 1002 S Main St, FW. $10.

soulful Americana songs on the road.

That’s something you couldn’t do as a solo act. I’ve done many three- or four-hour solo gigs. That’s work. It’s nice to not have to carry the full load all the time.” To tease two forthcoming EPs produced by Raspante and released by Mesquite St. Records (Brenton Scott McCorkle, Brad Thompson, Pocket Theory) this spring and early fall, he and Spradlin will release a new single, “Wrong Direction,” next Friday, Jan. 26, on all major streaming platforms. The accompanying video, filmed and edited by Zach Moffatt, will premiere simultaneously via YouTube @TheVintageYell. Raspante said his goal for the EP is to give listeners an authentic version of The Vintage Yell’s live performances. Spradlin added that good songs should speak for themselves without being over-edited. “There shouldn’t need to be extra bells and whistles,” she continued. “Hopefully, all the songs we chose can stand on their own. When I play with [Raspante], there is a sense of effortlessness in the collaboration. I don’t have to bang my head against the wall to get him to understand what I’m trying to say. He makes me a better artist.”

For large gigs, The Vintage Yell employs a full band with bassist Austin Gardea (ALG) and drummer Scott Matthews (Junior Brown, Dale Watson, The Derailers). For the forthcoming EPs that will each feature five original tunes and a cover, Raspante and Spradlin relied on previously written songs completely rearranged to equally incorporate both musicians. “We went over our originals to see which could be Vintage Yell songs,” Raspante said. “If it was her song, we’d add my vocals and make sure that my guitar was on it.” With two EPs wrapped up and ready for release, Raspante and Spradlin are focused on booking gigs and possibly opening for a large touring act. The Vintage Yell will always call Fort Worth home, but the singer-songwriters created their new outfit with performing in mind, especially on the road. “We want to play the Ridgleas, Kesslers, and Levitt Pavilions of the country,” Raspante said. “We look forward to getting on the road and playing. Our goal has always been to be a working, traveling band playing our own music.”

“

I don’t have to bang my head against the wall to get him to understand what I’m trying to say.

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Open 7 Days a Week 10a- 8p COUPLES WELCOME!

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