Fort Worth Magazine - December 2025

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Best New Restaurants

Barbecue and burgers aren’t going anywhere, but this year’s best new spots whisk diners to Tokyo, London, Bangkok, and beyond — a globe-trotting lineup that shows just how far Fort Worth’s palate has come. By

Malcolm Mayhew

48 Holiday Gift Guide

We got a list and checked it twice. Start your shopping here. Everything for those special someones in your life. Your go-to holiday catalog. By Jenny Davis

54 Got Purple?

Tracing purple’s strange journey through emperors, chemists, and artists — all the way to Fort Worth’s own royal hue: TCU

77 Top Attorneys

Your honor, we have no objection. Trusted. Tested. Tenacious. Meet the 642 attorneys who earned their place among Fort Worth’s best courtroom pugilists.

Horned Frog purple. By Shilo Urban

DEPARTMENTS

THE FORT

16 City Dweller

The court jester crashes Daniel Pullin’s inauguration as TCU’s chancellor.

22 Calendar

Jonas Brothers and Pentatonix bring holiday greetings to Dickies Arena.

24 Fort Worthian

Horsing around with Jordan Skeith, professional farrier.

26 Home & Design

On the hunt for home décor with HGTV star Grace Mitchell in Fairmont.

34 State Lines

Fredericksburg, Texas: pop. 11,766

38 Cowhand Culture

Step inside the world of Larry Buchanan — strangest film legacy Fort Worth ever produced.

44 The Reverie

To be mayor, you’ve got to really want to be mayor.

CHOWTOWN

154 Dining Nikuya brings an elevated sushi experience to downtown — literally and figuratively.

158 4 Courses

Café Modern chef Jett Mora presents his idea of righteous holiday eating. Yes, please.

162 Center for Transforming Lives

Families once bereft of hope, are now seeing a future for themselves and their children, thanks to work being done at the Center for Transforming Lives. Now in a building that matches its mission.

Feasting With the Fam

It’s that time of year when things, people, or whatever’s on TV seem to continually remind me of what’s most important in life. One can pin it on the saccharine nostalgia of the holidays or the cozy nature of the winter season, but a longing to spend time with family is always invariably and incessantly at the forefront of my mind.

This year, the feeling hit me like a jolt I didn’t know I needed when I sat down with Jett Mora, chef at Café Modern, for a brief interview when our team photographed his dishes for our “4 Courses” feature on page 158.

In the middle of our half-hour chat, I expressed an epiphany — a throughline I noticed among all the local chefs and restaurateurs I’ve interviewed: Each one speaks openly, lovingly, and enthusiastically about their families. Jon Bonnell, Tim Love, the Lancartes, and now Mora, all spoke about their happiest moments being those when cooking for their loved ones.

Mora, who’s from Los Angeles, shared that his brother, who still lives in the area, was coming to Fort Worth for Thanksgiving, and his excitement was obvious. “Nothing makes me happier than to rub elbows with my family,” Mora said. Doing a search of the word “family” in the transcript of my conversation with Mora brings up 29 results. That’s right, the word was uttered, on average, every minute of our interview. In fact, I suspect family was the core reason he agreed to prepare these dishes and provide their recipes for our story.

“I think the overall gist of the holidays is: How do we make it easy for us to spend more time with family?” Mora says. “And maybe cooking is the family portion part of you spending time. Or maybe you make a mess in the kitchen, and you all clean together at the same time — that’s always a family task we do together. But when family visits, I’m

asking, ‘How do I best utilize my time with them?’ And for me, that’s cooking with them.”

Curious, and in line with the season, I’d asked Mora about his New Year’s resolution and whether he had one yet. Wanting to give me a thoughtful response, he requested to think on it a little. A few days later, and wanting to make sure I received his response, he said, “To cook more for my wife.”

Family. Having it remain top of mind shouldn’t be a seasonal thing, and I’m sure for Mora, as it is for many of you, thoughts of his loved ones are unfading. Personally, I have a tendency to get caught up in other things, things less important, and it takes the holidays and conversations with people like Mora to snap out of it.

At least now I know my resolution for the New Year — never lose sight of what’s most important.

Brian Kendall EXECUTIVE EDITOR

ON THE COVER: Behind the bar at Yoichi, one of Fort Worth’s Best New Restaurants, the eatery’s trio of chefs — Ilwon Suhr, Ian Kim, and Mark Kim — prepare delicious omakase dishes while posing for the cover shot.

What’s your favorite Christmas song?

Torn between “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby and “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon. Think I’ll stick with both; I’m liking the dichotomy between the singers and the songs.

Nothing like Bing Crosby performing Irving Berlin’s classic “White Christmas” to put me in the holiday spirit.

My favorite Christmas song is Robert Earl Keen’s “Merry Christmas From the Family.” I still laugh every time I hear it come on during the holidays.

“Angels We Have Heard on High” by The Roches

While I absolutely love Bing Crosby and TransSiberian Orchestra, I think I’ll have to go with “River” by Joni Mitchell. It really captures the bittersweet, reflective side of the holidays — the mix of nostalgia, longing, and quiet beauty that makes this time of year so meaningful.

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Michael Bublé’s version of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” are at the top of my Christmas playlist.

Obviously, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Favorite of all time!

I love Christmas, so it’s really hard for me to pick just one song. Here are four of my favorites: “Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives, “Mary, Did You Know?” by Gaither Vocal Band, “All I want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey, and “This Christmas” by Chris Brown.

“Don’t Shoot Me Santa” by The Killers

“Santa Baby” by Eartha Kitt

As any good Italian would say, “Dominick the Donkey” [by Lou Monte] is my favorite Christmas song. My other favs are “Where Are You Christmas” by Faith Hill and “Hard Candy Christmas” by Dolly Parton.

DIGITAL EDITION: The virtual editions of both current and previous issues are available on our website. Flip through the pages to read more about the great city of Fort Worth by visiting fwtx.com.

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FortWorthMagazine(ISSN 1536-8939) is published monthly by Panther City Media Group, LP, 6777 Camp Bowie Blvd., Suite 130, Fort Worth, TX 76116. Periodicals Postage Paid at Fort Worth, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send change of address notices and undeliverable copies to Panther City Media Group, 6777 Camp Bowie Blvd., Suite 130, Fort Worth, TX 76116. Volume 28, Number 12, December 2025. Basic

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THE FORT

PEOPLE TO KNOW THINGS TO DO PLACES TO GO

THIS OLD HOME (SUPPLY) We go on a hunting-andgathering home décor expedition with HGTV star Grace Mitchell at her favorite Fort Worth stop in Fairmount.

WHAT WE’RE WRITING ABOUT THIS MONTH:

On page 22 Things to do in December. On page 24 Jordan Skeith, professional farrier who gets the “Jordans on the horses.” On page 34 Fredericksburg’s yuletide glow gets even brighter with new stays, old traditions, and Hill Country wine. On page 38 The Fort Worth playhouse that quietly fed Hollywood’s weirdest low-budget dreams. On page 44 The mayor’s office is not exactly a dream job.

by John Henry

The Chancellor and the Court Jester

Gordon Gee crashes TCU’s inauguration, confesses his sins, and wins the room.

TCU formally inaugurated the school’s 11th chancellor with a ceremonious affair showcasing TCU’s time-honored traditions and full of academic pop.

For some reason, Gordon Gee was there.

Gee, once crossed off every guest list in Fort Worth for insulting the TCU Rose Bowl-bound football team and the Little Sisters of the Poor in one single string of syllables, presumably appeared here last week to face Texas justice.

Instead, he made us all fall in love with him.

The nerve of this guy. How dare he make us like him? We want him back — as soon as possible. He fits right in here with his verbal bits and George Burns-

with-a-bow-tie wit, a wise-cracking elder statesman of higher education who never misses a punchline, even when it’s aimed at himself.

We need him on that wall.

“A few months ago, my dear friend Daniel Pullin called and asked if I believed in free speech,” Gee said as a guest speaker at the formal installation Thursday of Daniel Pullin as chancellor at the Van Cliburn Concert Hall. “Of course, I replied. He said, ‘Good. I want you to give one.’”

Gee brought his A-game as a speaker and humorist while performing the opening act for the headliner, Pullin, who is now officially TCU’s chancellor. Pullin is the 10th successor to Addison

Clark, co-founder of the university who served in the capacity from 1873-1899.

The new chief executive vowed to lead in communion with the founders’ original intent.

“TCU’s founders Addison and Randolph Clark were Disciples of Christ ministers,” said Pullin. “They believed that faith, unity, scholarship, and service transforms lives. They are still correct. The same values of integrity and excellence, community and engagement, they remind us of the importance of learning, and learning lifts the human spirit and fosters a shared connection that sustains us all.

“And I know, Clark Brothers, your plan has never been about chasing trends or navigating the flashpoint item of the moment. Your plan, which is our plan, is based upon how we prepare our students to meet the world with wisdom and resilience, and purpose.”

Gee threw himself on the mercy of the court in acknowledging his “foot-inmouth disease.” You undoubtedly recall some 15 or so years ago, he declared, as only he could, that TCU’s football team, then a member of the Mountain West Conference, couldn’t be compared to teams in power conferences because the Horned Frogs’ competition was tantamount to playing the Little Sisters of the Poor.

“Did I ever get an earful about that,” said Gee, then president of Ohio State University and, today, president emeritus of West Virginia University.

“I discovered two things about TCU supporters. They love this institution, and, second, they have a hell of a lot of money because they bought every billboard in Columbus, Ohio.

“I had no idea there was an order called Little Sisters of the Poor. I got a call from Sister Mary Francis. She said, ‘One, we do not play football. Two, we accept donations.’”

He then went on to list off his reasons why TCU is a “great American university,” one, among them all, that will play an integral part in America’s next 250 years.

So, we untied him and let him go in peace.

Blazing Trails for 25 Years

817.829.6809 | ivey.ramsey@williamstrew.com

903.651.9192 | jennifer.nix@williamstrew.com

who navigated city regulations, preservation committees, and local architects to create a gateway that would officially mark the district’s western boundary.

Arthur Weinman served as the architect. The general contractor was Marathon Commercial Construction LLC.

“It’s more than a directional sign,” says City Councilman Carlos Flores, who represents the Stockyards. “It signals that something special is happening here.”

The morning began with a traditional Native American blessing by Eddie Sandoval, who recalled the Pioneer Days when the streets hosted flatbed trailer dances.

“This represents the connection and possibility of the Stockyards — one foot in the past and one foot in the future,” says Mayor Mattie Parker.

by Stephen

Montoya

West, Marked

With a new Stockyards sign crowning the street, West Exchange steps out of the shadows and into the district’s spotlight.

In the Fort Worth Stockyards, east and west have united City leaders, including Mayor Mattie Parker and Councilman Carlos Mendez, and business owners gathered in the second week of November to mark the installation of a sign declaring that there’s lots to do up the hill on West Exchange.

Like the iconic sign on East Exchange Avenue, one now graces West Exchange Avenue, except this one blares: “Fort Worth Stockyards: Where The West Begins.”

The Fort Worth Herd gave its

approval with a parade down West Exchange, under the watchful eye, of course, of drovers.

Once considered the overlooked portion of the ’Yards is no more. You can’t miss it now.

“I opened this restaurant about nine years ago because I wanted to be in the Stockyards,” says Ruth Hooker, owner of Hooker’s Hamburgers. “But I didn’t realize not everyone knew this was the Stockyards. So, here’s your sign, people.”

The sign is the culmination of a six-year passion project for Hooker,

Weinman, whose family has shaped Fort Worth architecture for generations, described the sign’s brick columns and solid concrete bases as both durable and symbolic. “It’s more than just lettering across the street,” he said. “It gives the public a destination and anchors the character of West Exchange.”

Longtime Stockyards businessman Steve Murrin reflected on the transformation. “There’s no question it’ll increase traffic going west,” he said with a grin.

When the Fort Worth Herd finally passed beneath the new arch, hooves striking the brick like a drumbeat, it was clear that the western edge of the Stockyards had arrived. One woman’s vision had become a neighborhood landmark, giving the street its own stage and inviting visitors to explore what had long been an oversight.

“This was a neighborhood project,” Hooker says, watching the longhorns move on. “We hope it brings more people and energy to West Exchange.”

by John Henry

Fore the Gladney Children

A biennial round of good shots, good company, and lifechanging outcomes for Gladney families.

Let’s all raise a glass of eggnog to the participants in The Gladney Cup, which this fall wrapped up its 16th golf tournament. The tournament raised $1.8 million at the Riviera Country Club.

What many call “The Masters of charity golf,” the event founded by Fort Worth businessman Howard Katz has raised $15 million for the Gladney Center for Adoption since its first tournament at Colonial Country Club in 1999.

The tournament — which this year attracted former Texas and NFL quarterback Colt McCoy — is always played at U.S. Open venues.

“This tournament has become the vehicle for Gladney to gather the right people at the right time,” Lisa Schuessler, Gladney’s COO, says. “Without it, I don’t know that we’d have had the same staying power. We can pick up the phone and get to someone — within one call — for the support and encouragement we need. And that’s not a normal charity model.”

The spark came 30 years ago, when Katz was both a new member of the Gladney board and a newcomer to golf at 44.

In 2005, while at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, President George W. Bush hosted a cocktail

reception for tournament guests. The tournament is set to return to Congressional in 2027.

The tournament has also been played at Bethpage State Park Black Course in New York; Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania; Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York; Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan; Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey.

Each event opens with a welcome reception and city excursions, culminating in a Champions Dinner for 500 guests — headlined over the years by Harry Connick Jr., Hugh Jackman, and Ben Rector. NBC’s Craig Melvin emceed in 2019. This year, two young brothers stole the show, sharing their journey from foster care to adoption.

So many of us need second chances. Too many need a first chance at life.

“We had two tiny little boys join us on stage [this year] with such courage,” says Lisa Schuessler. “That’s why we do this — to advocate for lives like those.”

For Katz, the tournament is a gift that keeps on giving.

“What I didn’t realize was the gift I’d get in return,” says Katz. “The No. 1 gift is knowing that these dollars are helping to underwrite what Gladney is doing.”

Around Cowtown in 8 Seconds

A smattering of things you might’ve missed

What’s a Big Check Get Ya? TCU’s College of Science & Engineering will be named the Louise Dilworth Davis College of Science & Engineering in recognition of alum’s Louise Dilworth Davis’ $40 million gift, the largest philanthropic investment in the college’s 25-year history.

Now That’s an Exit: Privately-owned Novaria of Fort Worth agrees to sell to Arcline Investment Management in a $2.2 billion allcash transaction.

Dragon Green Space: The city of Southlake will make a park out of the Old Dragon Stadium, home to the first three of eight Carroll High School state football titles, after acquiring the site from the school district in November.

Railroading the Muslims: Bo French, dying to run for something, makes every Tarrant County Republican’s dream come true by stepping down from his post as county Republican chair to run for Texas Railroad Commissioner. He presumably will do so by running on the platform of defending the homeland from the boogeyman in a prayer rug. Running is, he says, the best way he can “stop the Islamic invasion” of Texas.

The Purple People: Taylor Sheridan heads Paschal High School’s Class of 2025 Hall of Honor. Ginger Rogers made it, too — though her graceful feet carried her far from Paschal well before she could walk across its graduation stage. Our departed friend Mr. Gus Bates and the late Dr. John Richardson, Gen X’s pediatrician, also have deserved (and overdue) permanent places in Paschal lore. UT Arlington’s Big Swing: UTA is reimagining its campus with a planned boutique hotel, fresh residence halls, and new academic buildings. Administrators say the makeover will reshape the campus and stitch it more tightly into downtown Arlington’s fabric. Fields of Dreams (and Dollars): The city of Fort Worth is eyeing more diamonds, fields, and upgraded sports complexes to keep pace with exploding demand. The 2026 bond could pour tens of millions into parks and stadiums. Little League parents have political power.

Pilgrims of Peace: A contingent of Fort Worth Buddhist monks are on 2,300-mile walk to Washington, D.C., to advocate for peace. They’ll cross 10 states on their pilgrimage, stopping to meditate, gather community, and remind America to slow down.

December

2-21

A Rock ‘N’ Roll Christmas

The Reid Cabaret has quickly become a go-to spot for catching some of the greatest artists of all time — or at least men and women who look, dress, and sound like them. This holiday show will include Elton John, The Eagles, and Mariah Carey.

The Reid Cabaret Theatre casamanana.org

3-21

‘All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914’

The players of Stage West take on the incredible true story of a World War I soldier who used the power of song to inspire a temporary ceasefire on Christmas Eve, 1914. The show will feature a 10-man a cappella chorus. Stage West stagewest.org

4

Jonas Brothers

Early-aughts teen sensations Kevin, Joe, and Nick swing by Cowtown as the brothers tour behind their seventh studio album, Greetings From Your Hometown, but we’re sure they’ll still play “Sucker.” Dickies Arena dickiesarena.com

5-7

‘A Christmas Story: The Musical’

The quirky, nostalgic holiday classic that brought us lines like “Fra-gee-leh, it must be Italian,” and “Only I didn’t say ‘Fudge’” got the musical treatment in 2013 and is making its Bass Hall debut this year. Bass Performance Hall basshall.com

The Arlington-based a cappella group visit Fort Worth for the final performance of their “Christmas in the City” tour. The tour’s namesake album, the group’s seventh Christmas album, had its official release in October.

Dickies Arena dickiesarena.com

12-28

‘The Nutcracker’

6-7

Ryan Place

Candlelight Christmas

This year’s tour of incredible Ryan Place homes — all done up for the season — will include five historical homes, a decorated Daggett Elementary, carriage rides, and a Polar Express for the kiddos. Ryan Place ryanplacefortworth.com

12-13

Winter’s Cabaret

Featuring locals Amber Marie Flores and Zak Reynolds, past editions of this annual show have included a champagne station and performances of holiday classics, famous show tunes, and singalongs — which get easier with the champagne. Amphibian Stage amphibianstage.com

The famous Tchaikovsky holiday staple about a girl who dreams of her recently gifted nutcracker coming to life — and battling rats — brings to the theater even the most ardent loather of ballet. Bass Performance Hall texasballettheater.org

20-Jan. 25

Ernest de Soto, Master Printer

Shedding a spotlight on Ernest de Soto, the first Latino master printer in the U.S., this exhibit will feature 28 stunning lithographs from the famed artist as well as other artists with whom de Soto worked.

The Amon Carter Museum of American Art cartermuseum.org

30-31

Turnpike

Troubadours

Touring behind their seventh studio album, this red-dirt country band (meaning they’re from Oklahoma) continues to pump out tunes that serve as great alternatives to the “Nashville sound.”

Billy Bob’s Texas billybobstexas.com

photos provided by Dickies Arena // Amon Carter Museum of American Art

Jonas Brothers

Jordan Skeith

Farrier

By

Brian Kendall

Photos by Olaf Growald

Jordan Skeith probably — no, definitely — saved a few layers of skin on the bottom of my left foot after warning me of the horseshoe I was getting dangerously close to stepping on. The horseshoe had recently been taken out of a forge — a small furnace attached to the backdoor of the trailer out of which Jordan operates that “gets hotter than the blazes of hell and damnation itself.” So, the shoe’s temperature was running at well over 700 degrees, plenty hot to quickly burn through the thin rubber soles of my Chuck Taylors.

Jordan, a professional farrier who owns and operates Skeith Equine Services, was tending to one of his many clients in the area, which includes some of the top people in the cutting horse industry, when we happened upon his impressive horseshoeing operation. He’d trimmed a hoof with what they call nippers, then shaped and smoothed it with what they call a rasp — essentially a large, metal nail file — and cleaned the hoof with what they call a pick. In some ways, it’s the equivalent of giving the horse a pedicure, except this isn’t done merely for aesthetic purposes. No, sir. This is about comfort, balance, and overall health of the horse.

“Horses don’t all need the same thing,” Jordan says. “I mean, there are basic fundamentals that still apply to every horse, but every horse grows different, moves different, some have different training styles. I work for quite a few different trainers, so we have to make sure what we’re doing with their feet matches what a trainer is doing.”

When competing, a cutting horse without the healthiest of hooves and great fitting shoes is immediately at a disadvantage. Jordan is their personal Nike outfitter, giving his clients’ horses an edge. Which does, after all, align with Jordan’s namesake.

“I have older brothers, and when I was born, Michael Jordan was the GOAT,” Jordan says. “They wanted to name me Michael, but my mom wouldn’t let ’em name me Michael, so they named me Jordan. So, that’s why I

tell guys, ‘We got to get the Jordans on your horses.’”

Growing up in Seattle — not what one normally expects of a farrier’s place of origin — Jordan didn’t spend his formative years around equines but managed to catch the horse bug around the age of 10, when he first started riding. “Everyone thought I’d get over it,” he says, “but I never did.”

Fresh out of high school, Jordan would go to horse college in Oregon — yes, that’s a real thing — where he would get introduced to the sport of cutting. He’d then leave home to work for his first cutting horse trainer in California and “hadn’t looked back since.”

“And, of course, if you’re doing cutting, it leads you [to the Fort Worth area],” I say. “Of course, of course,” Jordan responds. “[In this area] you can’t throw a stick without hitting a horse.”

Jordan, who started Skeith Equine Services five years ago, has about 300 horses (all cutting) that he regularly shoes over the course of five to six weeks — this being the time when a horse is likely due for a new fitting.

Like a traveling doctor with a black bag, he arrives at horse ranches towing his trailer, which is stocked with all necessary tools and rows and rows — hundreds — of horseshoes, each different in shape and size according to a horse’s needs and whether he’s fitting a front or back hoof. These shoes will go into Jordan’s forge before he expertly pounds the shoe’s hot metal with a hammer on an anvil, getting the U-shaped shoe into the right shape.

Before nailing the shoe into place, Jordan places the still-hot-as-thebejesus shoe on the horse’s hoof, imprinting its outline as a thick cloud of smoke engulfs the air. This, I’ll note, does not hurt the horse, as it has no nerves on the bottoms of its hooves.

The smell of the smoke is distinct and unlike anything I’ve smelled before — sulfuric but also sweet. I comment on the smell to Jordan.

“Smells like money,” he says.

Shopping With Grace Mitchell

The author, interior decorator, and HGTV star takes us on a tour of her favorite Fort Worth stomping ground: Old Home Supply.

By Brian Kendall Photos by Asia Eidson

In the Fairmount neighborhood in Fort Worth’s Near Southside, deep in its sea of bungalows and a few blocks from any other retailers or eateries, is an antique shop that’s become a go-to resource for home renovators and DIY interior decorators searching for one-of-a-kind furnishings, fixtures, knickknacks, and cast-iron bathtubs (yes, bathtubs). The Old Home Supply, which occupies all four corners of the intersection at West Jefferson and College avenues, opened 25 years ago and is filled to the brim with decorative gems. Shopping here is a veritable scavenger hunt for home décor treasures.

And a scavenger hunt is precisely what we went on when we met up with the interior decorator, author, blogger, former HGTV star, influencer, and Fairmount resident Grace Mitchell at this jewel of an antique store.

Though she’s been an active blogger since 2012 (check out her site astoriedstyle.com) — which led to gaining interior design clients, which led to hosting her own HGTV show, “One of a Kind” — Mitchell recently took her writing to the world of the printed press and released a handsome and very comprehensive book, Storied Style. In the book, Mitchell reveals her process and philosophy behind home design, incredible stories of her clients, and even some of her own personal anecdotes. It’s a book that’s all at once personal, reflective, and approachable. And pages filled with her interior design work are jaw-dropping. Whether one calls her tastes eclectic, farmhouse, boho or midcentury modern, it ultimately creates an atmosphere that’s personal, warm, inviting,

and, most importantly, tells the stories of her clients.

“It’s a real getting-into-someone’s-brain for me when I’m working with a client,” Mitchell says. “I’m trying to figure out what you love, what your history is, how that affects how your home looks, and how it should feel.”

And Old Home Supply serves as a perfect place to gather pieces of that story.

At this store made up of multiple warehouses, like a homing device, Mitchell is able to lock in on something hidden within what one might call clutter to discover a singular and exceptional item. And she sees potential in almost everything. A stained-glass window with a missing section or a wooden door with a crescent moon carved out of it. The throughline: They have character, and you won’t find them anywhere else.

“My career started because people were trying to copy photos of spaces they thought they liked but wound up hating and didn’t know why,” Mitchell says. “Or they had hired someone who put a lot of pretty things in their house, but none of it really felt like home to them.”

With Mitchell’s Seven Questions, which you can find in her book — and sprinkled in the following pages — she’s able to get to the meat of the matter and create spaces that, well, feel like home. Believe it or not, it might be a feeling some have never felt about a space. And as we look for a remedy to such a problem, on this day, Old Home Supply is a great place to start.

Question 2 (of Mitchell’s 7 Questions)

What places are filled with special memories for you?

“When someone comes over to your house, it should be more than pretty. It should be memorable.”

“Everything old is much better quality. When you buy old, it’s something that could last a lifetime.”

Question 4 (of Mitchell’s 7 Questions)

Do you have any interesting family history?

“In this day and age where we just Pinterest and internet everything to death and it kind of killed design quite a bit. Everybody just copies, copies, copies, copies. And that’s not what you want.”

Question 6 (of Mitchell’s 7 Questions) What do you not like?

“I love old sinks and tubs because there are so many things you can do with them. You just can’t beat an old cast-iron tub.”

by Shilo Urban

Fredericksburg, Texas

Population: 11,766

Hand-carved wooden angels and nutcrackers slowly spin on a towering Weihnachtspyramide (Christmas pyramid) in Fredericksburg’s light-filled Marktplatz. The 26-foot-tall carousel is a Texas-size version of a traditional German decoration, and it’s just one of the old-world delights that descend

on the Hill Country town during the holidays. From Bavarian gingerbread to mulled wine at Christmas markets, Fredericksburg glows with a warm yuletide nostalgia.

But there are plenty of novelties, too. Two luxury lodgings opened on Main Street this year, starting with

the full-service Albert Hotel. Several 19th century buildings have been beautifully integrated with new construction to create a tucked-away oasis with a spa and limestone pool. Glass bricks, earthy greens, and a touch of botanical whimsy evoke a rustic, natural vibe, and the queenbed bunk rooms seem made for a girls’ getaway. You can choose from four eateries, including a backyard barbecue joint headquartered in an 1870 Sunday house.

Walk a few blocks to the Emigrant Boutique Hotel, a new build that feels historical with its bespoke mahogany millwork and pressed metal ceilings. There are only five guest rooms, each with timeless details like white oak floors and brass-legged vanities. But there are plenty of seats at the lobby bar, where the German-born bartender, David, conjures a magical espresso martini. Come nightfall, the moody basement speakeasy fills with locals and travelers alike.

Right across the street is the National Museum of the Pacific War, whose renovated George H.W. Bush Gallery reopens Dec. 6 with 32 new exhibits. Immersive environments come to life through virtual characters, high-tech projection screens, and hands-on displays. Help President Roosevelt write his famous speech and vote on the war’s moral dilemmas. You can also submerge yourself in submarine warfare with

Fall color on the sidewalk of downtown.

The Rescue, a multisensory mission based on a true story. Clamor through the jungle — watch out for that snake! — then board a sub and feel it shudder as you dodge the enemy’s depth charges.

After surviving the attack, you might be ready for a glass of wine. Head out to Prochnow Vineyards to relax at one of the newest vineyards in the Hill Country, which centers around a vintage farmhouse. Grab a seat on the back porch and try a creamy cab sauv or zingy picpoul blanc (picpoul means ‘lip stinger’ in French). Adventurous types can ride through the rows of grapevines on a wine train made from old steel drums.

Discover another offbeat winery tour at Wildseed Farms, the largest wildflower farm in America. They’ve introduced a “cruise” through their vineyards on the Sassy Coot, a pontoon boat towed through the vines. Go fishing for bottles of tempranillo and listen to stories from Wildseed’s owner, John Thomas. Back in the 1960s, Thomas played an integral role in helping Lady Bird Johnson realize her highway beautification efforts, the primary reason that Texas roadsides today are blanketed with bluebonnets each spring.

Whether you visit Fredericksburg in springtime for the wildflowers, summer for the peaches, autumn for the grape harvest, or winter for the holiday fun, you’ll always find a reason to return to this Hill Country haven.

Explore Fredericksburg

Savor: Cooler temperatures in December mean that you can properly enjoy Fredericksburg’s hearty German cuisine. Otto’s serves the best schnitzel this side of the Rhine River: golden-crisp duck breast with a rich cherry demi-glace served atop cheesy spaetzle and warm red cabbage. Not a fan of cabbage? Otto’s sauerkraut balls will convert you — and the blue cheese cheesecake will open your third eye. At Hill & Vine, it’s the roadside peach pies that will make you sing, along with the enormous 1015 onion rings and pretty much everything else on the menu. Vaudeville, Hill Country Herb Garden, and Alla Campagna will also never do you wrong.

Shop: Garlands of greenery and sparkling lights adorn Main Street’s historic shopfronts in December, and you could spend an entire day (or two) ducking into one boutique after another. Cute indie shops sell quirky gifts, local crafts, handmade goods, gourmet treats, Western wear, Texas wines, and unique fashions. Pick up presents for your foodie friends at Das Peach Haus (like hot peach honey sauce or onion garlic jam), and browse oodles of holiday decor at the Grasshopper, the Christmas Store at Carousel, and Remember Me Too. Fredericksburg’s Warehouse District (Llano, Lincoln, and Washington streets) is a hotspot for one-of-a-kind home furnishings at handsomely curated shops like Blackchalk Home and Carol Hicks Bolton Antiquities.

Enjoy: Christmas festivities fill the season, including a nightly tree lighting in Marktplatz at 6 p.m. Cheery music accompanies a 10-minute voiceover about the town’s German heritage. Dive deeper into Fredericksburg’s fascinating past at the Pioneer Museum or book a historic district tour on a vintage trolley. Watch an illuminated parade down Main Street (Dec. 6), listen to a choral concert (Dec. 13), and shop at European-style pop-up markets (Dec. 13 and 14).

Snooze: New accommodations abound, not just fancy Main Street digs but also quiet escapes just outside of town. Onera’s elevated cabins are shaped like wooden diamonds or dancing parallelograms, modern

hideaways designed for Instagram. Cool extras like hammock lofts and decks with hot tubs add pizzazz. Go boho with the fairytale forest treehouses at HoneyTree, which blend organic elements with vintage charm — perhaps a tree growing through the floor or a rooftop bathtub. And if you like to plan ahead, Waldorf Astoria Fredericksburg will open in 2027, the first hotel in Texas for the prestigious white-glove brand.

How to Get There: Don’t feel like driving? Ladybird Jet’s new air shuttle flies between Addison and Fredericksburg’s Gillespie County Airport. For road-trippers, this pretty countryside route is about 230 miles and a little over four hours. Head south from Fort Worth on the Chisholm Trail Parkway and turn right on US-67 at Cleburne. Past Glen Rose, you’ll pick up US-281 S toward Hico and continue through Lampasas, Marble Falls, and Johnson City. At Blanco, turn right onto US-290 and just before Stonewall, turn left onto TX-16 S. Follow it all the way to Main Street in Fredericksburg.

The Fredericksburg Memorial Library

Fredericksburg lights up its Marktplatz to display its historic small town German culture with an ice rink, decorated Christmas tree, and the larger-than-life wooden Christmas pyramid.

“It’s Alive !” (1969)

by Michael H. Price

Before There Was Sheridan, There Was Buchanan

… If we dare compare. The films of Larry Buchanan, a selfdescribed “schlockmeister,” might’ve been low-rent, but he succeeded in getting Fort Worth on the silver screen.

Casa Mañana, Fort Worth’s landmark musical-drama playhouse, served a low-key backup function during the 1960s — as virtually a central casting-type agency for a low-rent movie producer who sought to make North Texas competitive with the corporate film industry in Los Angeles.

Larry Buchanan (1923-2004)

succeeded chiefly at making homegrown motion pictures so odd as to defy belief — so politically neurotic as to make Oliver Stone’s conspiracy-riddled “JFK” (1990) look like documentary realism — and so frankly blunt as to obscure deficiencies in budgeting and logic. Buchanan had no tax-break incentives or

major-studio underwriting, but he possessed gumption.

The fuller story on Buchanan, often treated with derision, has only gradually come to light. During the waning 1990s, the artist launched a second career as a film-festival personality, a genially defiant moving target.

Buchanan’s films belong more to the dream-state. A stilted intensity prevails. But Buchanan’s zest for life recalled the days when he had rehearsed for prominence by delivering fund-raising speeches for the orphans’ shelter he once called home.

The Buchanan films remain memorable in the manner of an illogically vivid dream. Some, like “High Yellow” (1965), are technically the equal of such acknowledged low-budget gems as Edgar G. Ulmer’s “Detour” (1945) and Herk Harvey’s “Carnival of Souls” (1962). Buchanan would topline his ensemble casts with capable, once-famous talent. His naïve political candor is sufficient to make Oliver Stone (whose films “The Doors” and “JFK” Buchanan had anticipated) seem middle of the road. And if Buchanan’s erratic pacing and homemovie scenic compositions play with less than propulsive force, he rallies with confidence.

His pictures have proved influential on directors of larger acclaim. It was in Buchanan’s “High Yellow” that a local actor, Bill Thurman, delivered the portrayal that helped to land him a key role in Peter Bogdanovich’s breakthrough film of 1971, “The Last Picture Show.”

“I don’t know that I bring any great command,” Buchanan told me in 1997, “but I love what I’m doing, and I believe that shows. We meant to defy formulas. We let our imaginations run as free as our budgets would allow.”

Buchanan has been hailed as an example of the “so-bad-it’s-good” class of motion pictures. In another sense, Buchanan enabled honest work for the once-prominent likes of John Agar and Disney alumnus Tommy Kirk, after Hollywood had given such talents the boot.

“Well, an assignment is an assignment when you’re raising a family,” he said. “But from time to time, I’d get free to do my more serious pictures.”

Origins of a Filmmaking Species

Recalled Buchanan: “My mother died when I was little. My father, a constable, arranged for his kids to be taken in by the Buckner Orphans’ Home in Dallas. With the theater at the orphanage, I was able to learn showmanship — my first relationship with the movie industry.” Dallas-based Interstate Circuit Theatres supplied Buckner with popular films.

“Around age 14, I’d go on the road, soliciting funds for Buckner. I was offered this scholarship to Baylor if I’d study for the ministry. But I said, ‘No, I’m heading west.’ The Interstate people gave me my intro to 20th Century-Fox.” Buchanan landed a small appearance in a war melodrama, “Wing and a Prayer” (1944). He became a regular at Fox: “One of the guys standing 70 feet away from Betty Grable.”

He recalled, “Then Fox tested me for the key role in “The Razor’s Edge” (1946). Tyrone Power was about to go overseas with the service. But then Power returned. The frustration made me quit Hollywood.” Buchanan retrenched in New York, where he developed a short instructional film, “The Cowboy.” He assisted Hollywood director George Cukor on “The Marrying Kind” (1952), on Greenwich Village locations. Jamieson Film Laboratory in Dallas offered Buchanan a directing hitch on TV commercials for such brands as Dr Pepper and Mrs. Baird’s Bread. The assignments fueled his feature-film ambitions.

“The stage scene — Casa Mañana in Fort Worth, especially — became my central casting surrogate,” said Buchanan, “a stock company of local talent. A slow breakthrough, sort of, was ‘The Naked Witch’ — filmed during 1957, down around the Hill Country, based on the old ‘Luckenbach Witch’ legend.”

Buchanan’s players from local

stages and TV included Annabelle Weenick MacAdams, Libby Booth Hall, Bill Thurman, Patrick Cranshaw, Annalena Lund, George Edgley, and George Russell.

Buchanan said: “One picture of mine, “Free, White and 21,” anticipated the so-called ‘Blaxploitation’ [or Black exploitation] movie craze of the 1970s. Made back its $30,000 cost, and then some, in its first week.”

A prominent face in “Free White and 21,” Bill Thurman graduated to Peter Bogdanovich’s “The Last Picture Show” (1971) and William Wiard’s “Tom Horn” (1980). Another stock player, Patrick Cranshaw of Buchanan’s “Mars Needs Women” (1966), wrapped up a long career at age 86 with roles in a new century’s “Air Bud” series and network television’s “Monk.”

Two Buchanan movies dealt with the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Buchanan had launched “Naughty Dallas” as a 1950s project, finally completed for release in 1964. His dealings there with racketeer Jack Ruby’s Carousel Club established “Naughty Dallas” as a ragged precursor of John Mackenzie’s ambitious historical drama “Ruby” (1992). Buchanan also tackled a fictional speculation: “The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald” (1964).

Breakthroughs, after a Fashion Then American International Pictures commissioned a series of TV-syndication scare-shows, based upon recycled scripts.

“American International wanted a hired gun — around $32,000 a picture.” Those include “The Eye Creatures,” a remake of Edward L. Cahn’s “Invasion of the Saucer-Men” (1957); “Zontar, the Thing from Venus,” starring big-studio has-been John Agar, a retread of Roger Corman’s “It Conquered the World” (1956); and “Curse of the Swamp Creature” (1966), resembling Cahn’s “Voodoo Woman” (1956). In “Mars Needs Women,” Disney cast-off Tommy Kirk plays a spaceman; the plot resembles an AIP musical, “Pajama Party” — also star-

ring Kirk as a spaceman.

“It’s Alive” (1968), last of the AIP–TV movies, is a tour de force for supporting players Bill Thurman and Anne MacAdams, alias Annabelle Weenick. Thurman plays the deranged keeper of a prehistoric monster. MacAdams plays a woman enslaved by Thurman. Thurman also plays the rubber-suit monster.

“Anyhow, the AIP connection gave me the momentum to move back to Hollywood, in 1968–1969. Of course, I arranged to shoot around Texas whenever I could.”

“Goodnight, Sweet Marilyn” (1988) became Buchanan’s last completed release. Buchanan announced that year a plan to return to Texas for a sequel to “Mars Needs Women.” Nothing materialized.

Frustrations and struggles aside, Buchanan declared his career a success.

“Working the way I have, I’ve had fewer troubles — other than securing money. Y’see, once you walk through the big-studio gates, you become a corporate property, subject to what seems commercially viable.

“And once I’d learned that fact, I decided I’d make my pictures without ever traveling that route. And no, I’d not change a thing.”

A young Sandra Day O’Connor

by John Henry

Mayor’s Chair Not for the ThinSkinned

Nothing more justifies trimming back public comments at Fort Worth City Council meetings quite like one gentleman’s rant last month.

He devoted the last part of this remarks to haranguing Mayor Mattie Parker for mispronouncing a Pan-Asian surname and patting himself on the back for living out his Jesuit upbringing in social justice by — haranguing the mayor for mispronouncing a Pan-Asian surname.

I’m one of them rum Romanists, too, and I must have missed the part about social justice as a vanity project. I don’t recall Christ’s edict to perform works of mercy so you can paste it all over social media as a way of pronouncing, “How great I am.”

Loving self over neighbor, in fact, was the last thing Christ had in mind, as I recall it. It’s true, no one will mistake me for a theologian, though the decree of he who is without sin shall hurl the first stone like a Nolan Ryan fastball in the backside is all too familiar.

Well, this all came to mind because of the council decision in recent months to reduce the length of public comments and the uproar from the activists over this “anti-democratic” reform from council members and, clearly, a mayor with tyrannical ambition.

The whole episode brought back my first lesson in representative democracy. People are elected to represent the masses. “So, if you have something to bitch about, you go bitch to ’em,” my fifth-grade teacher instructed. “And really let ’em have it. The ship has sailed on being friendly

as a way of making friends.”

In the 21st century, there are any number of ways to get in touch with your city councilman or even your state or federal representative. A phone call or email probably serve as the best ways. You can send off a hurried missive full of invective. You don’t even have to wait for the next council meeting. Just let it loose. Hit Send. None of that, however, will get you a video on the social channels and praise from the social sycophants and wanna-be politicos.

So, this charged debate one evening reached a fevered pitch when Ms. Patrice Jones, a noted rabble-rouser, said the council should reconsider its wayward, harebrained policy because they can’t get enough attention.

“If you guys make it harder for us to talk to y’all in spaces like this, then we’re just going to have to come to spaces where you are and make it uncomfortable,” Jones said.

It was at this point casket-gate was born. It endures forever.

“Patrice, I still have your casket,” the mayor responded, as if to say that the activists were already infringing on comfortable spaces.

Activists, you’ll recall, dumped a casket in the mayor’s front yard during the trial of a Fort Worth police officer who was later convicted of murdering Atatiana Jefferson in 2020. The casket had the name “Atatiana” painted on it.

Parker says she was merely referring to the fact that the casket remains with the Fort Worth Police Department as evidence.

The comment, Ms. Jones and her ride-or-die inner circle, all presumably

forged in activist ire, of course, said the remark represented a threat. That could have “energized” the mayor’s base to “cause harm to me,” says Jones.

Now, as an aside, that begs the question of who that could possibly be considering Parker is surrounded — from the left and the right — by cranks.

But anyway, Ms. Jones denies she made the drop. Police said there is no evidence Ms. Jones was the driver or occupant of that hearse, even though she acknowledges she wrote a social media post looking for a casket to borrow a week before one just happened to appear in the mayor’s front yard.

It’s the same police whom the activists want to see neutered. It was Parker’s no vote on a proposed police oversight board in 2022 — considered a slight to minority communities — that has had the left fielders worked into a froth.

However, consider: Parker has been a friend to minority communities in her two-plus terms, centering much of her work on uplifting the historically underserved through economic and workforce development initiatives. She was a strong supporter of major urban renewal projects, including the Stop Six and Evans and Rosedale revitalizations.

Her maternal and infant health initiative specifically targeted ZIP codes with the worst outcomes, predominantly a minority population. Before and since she was elected in 2021, she has insisted on education and career pathways to help underrepresented children escape cycles of poverty be a priority.

Through an initiative called “Good Natured,” she has worked to ensure all residents, especially in historically forgotten areas, had access to quality parks and green space.

You got to really want that job of mayor.

If the activists really wanted to punish her, they’d insist she return for another term in 2027.

Rasson Wolf Pool Table in Silver Fluorocarbon

2025

Holiday Gift Guide

From denim to diamonds, the local scene has everything you need to gift a loved one — whether him or her — the ideal holiday present.

Credits: Photographer: Alicia Stepp, Opal Creative Producer & Stylist: Jenny B. Davis, The SWB Agency Hair & Makeup

Artist: LB Rosser, Kim Dawson Agency Models: Lacee Teel, Kim Dawson Agency Jackson Marshall, Kim Dawson Agency Digitech: Luke McDonald Assistant Stylist: Cale Bedingfield

On Him:

Suede Overshirt: $425. Tecovas

Shirt: $79.50. Levi’s Store

Jeans: $225. Chieffalo Americana

Belt Buckle: $600, Chieffalo Americana

Belt: Vintage Tony Lama, $250. Chieffalo Americana

Shoes: $135, Tecovas

Watch: Breitling Premier B01 Chronograph 42mm, $9,750. Bachendorf’s

Best of the West

On Her:

Jacket: Alix of Bohemia, $1,450. You Are Here

Top: $425, Chieffalo Americana

Skirt: Xirena, $250. You Are Here

Boots: Staud, $495. Bette’s

Bag: Polo Ralph Lauren, $698. Neiman Marcus Fort Worth

Earrings: 14K yellow gold, 1.23 ctw diamond and pearl, $3,100. Bachendorf’s Ring (right): 18K white gold, 1.57 ctw opal, 2.3 ctw round diamonds, $3,100. Bachendorf’s Ring (left): Roberto Coin, 18K yellow gold with turquoise, mother of pearl and .28 ctw round diamonds, $5,890. Bachendorf’s

Day Dream On Her:

Bomber: Bonnie Smith by Isiah Shayle, by special order. contact@theswbagency.com

Sweater: Love the Label, $275. Birdie

Skirt: Emily McCarthy, $268. Birdie

Bag: Akris, $1,690. Neiman Marcus Fort Worth

Sunglasses: Christian Dior, $590. Adair Eyewear

Earrings: 18K yellow gold with 106 baguette diamonds (2.82 ctw), $6,460, Bachendorf’s

On Him:

Sweater: Paige, $309. Neiman Marcus Fort Worth

Shirt: Rag & Bone, $195. Neiman Marcus Fort Worth

Pants: Theory, $265. Neiman Marcus Fort Worth

An Enchanted Evening

Tuxedo Jacket: Veronica Beard, $898. You Are Here Fort Worth

Blouse: $229, Lindsay Nicholas New York

Skirt: $299. Lindsay Nichols New York

Heels: Saint Laurent, $1,450. Neiman Marcus Fort Worth

Watch: Chopard La Strada 18K rose gold and diamond, $94,100. Bachendorf’s

Earrings: 18K yellow gold, white topaz over white mother of pearl, 190 round diamonds (.87 ctw), $4,943. Bachendorf’s

Ring: 18K yellow gold diamond pave (3.3 ctw), $8,360. Bachendorf’s

Bracelets:

Top: 18K yellow gold, bezel set, straight line bracelet with 40 emeraldcut diamonds (5.50 ctw), $15,550

Middle: 18K yellow gold diamond straight line bracelet with 43 round diamonds (9.36 ctw), $28,500.

Bottom: 18K yellow gold straight line bracelet with 54 round diamonds (6.27 ctw), $12,500

All from Bachendorf’s

Where to Shop

Adair Eyewear

3550 W. Seventh St. 817.377.3500 adaireyewear.com

Bachendorf’s

The Shops at Clearfork 5175 Monahans Ave. 817.806.0303 bachendorfs.com

Birdie x Bette’s

3905 Camp Bowie Blvd. 817.353.2072 birdiefortworth.com shopbettes.com

Chieffalo Americana

4698 Camp Bowie Blvd. 817.626.9000 chieffaloamericana.com

Lindsay Nicholas New York

The Shops at Clearfork 5270 Monahans Ave. lindsaynicholasnewyork.com

Tecovas

2341 N. Main St. Fort Worth 817.663.1977 tecovas.com

Levi’s Store 1604 S. University Drive 682.267.3791 levis.com

Neiman Marcus Fort Worth

The Shops at Clearfork 5200 Monahans Ave. 817.738.3581 neimanmarcus.com

You Are Here

4804 Camp Bowie Blvd. 817.862.7466 youareherefw.com

Presents of Mind: The Gift of an Experience

By Jenny B. Davis

We all know the meaning of the season — and it’s not synonymous with stuff. Year after year, we’re stuck in the same spending cycle, often closely followed by the get-and-regift cycle (don’t worry, we won’t tell). But there is a better way. When you give a gift that comes with an experience, you’re giving much more than a thing. You’re giving time, you’re giving togetherness, and you’re helping to create a special memory that can last a lifetime.

Curating Cocktails

Since the Bowie House luxury hotel opened in Fort Worth’s Cultural District two years ago, it’s become a stomping ground for A-list celebrities and a beacon of modern luxury-meets-Western chic. Now you, too, can partake in this elite group, thanks to the bartending team’s private cocktail classes, where lead bartender Tia Downey will lead you

through three curated tastings plus a customized cocktail.

$150 per person; class availability is limited but must be booked at least 48 hours in advance.

3700 Camp Bowie Blvd. 855.683.4092 auberge.com/bowie-house

Bowie House

Candles for a Cause

Taking part in The Worthy Co.’s signature Candle Studio Experience isn’t just about making a custom candle; it’s about providing help and hope to survivors of sex trafficking. Every penny from The Worthy Co.’s candle-making class benefit

The Net Fort Worth, the company’s parent nonprofit that assists survivors through programs that range from jail outreach to support groups and employment assistance.

$48 for a seat in the one-hour-long class. Private classes are also possible for groups up to 20, and physical and digital gift cards are available.

5008 Gage Ave.

The Shops at Clearfork

817.615.9272

worthy-co.com

Honoring Character and Courage

Arlington’s newly opened National Medal of Honor Museum won’t just educate you about the meaning of our nation’s highest military award for valor, it will inspire you. The immersive museum is a mustvisit for everyone, but its VIP tours offer the opportunity to experience its powerful exhibits in a small-group setting where a docent offers more in-depth information and insights surrounding some of the medal’s 3,528 recipients.

VIP tickets for the 60-minute tour range from $40–$60 but includes all-day access to the museum and its grounds.

1861 AT&T Way

Arlington 817.274.1861

mohmuseum.org

Scents and Sensibility

Planning a Dallas daycation? Make plans to visit Olfactory NYC, the popular Big Apple-based custom fragrance maker that opened its first Texas location in October. Located in the bustling Uptown neighborhood’s West Village shopping district, Olfactory NYC offers everyone the chance to custom blend a signature scent, as an advisor guides each guest through a multistep custom blending process.

$85 for the bottle gift card or the at-home custom fragrance experience; gift sets of custom fragrance range between $80–$100.

3699 McKinney Ave.

Dallas 646.609.1991 olfactorynyc.com

Custom Cowgirl

Started in Texas by a former fashion journalist, this dynamic boutique specializes in Boho-Western style clothing and accessories, plus unique vintage finds. But it also boasts the Original Hat Bar, a personalized hatstyling experience where a dedicated hat stylist helps you choose the perfect hat to fit both your head and your style.

$20 to reserve a spot with a hat stylist, which includes a boozy sip or a suede hat band to add to your creation. Hat prices depend on customization.

128 E. Exchange Ave., Ste. 580 682.224.5887 fleastyle.com

Olfactory

NYC

National Medal of Honor Museum

Flea Style

The Worthy Co.

Got Purple?

Follow the fascinating path of purple from prehistoric power color and Victorian fever to artistic revolution and finally: the TCU Horned Frogs.

By Shilo Urban

Purple isn’t just a one-of-a-kind color — it’s actually not a “real” color at all because it doesn’t exist on the visible light spectrum. Remember ROYGBIV, the mnemonic device to help you recall the colors of the rainbow? There’s no “P” in there — just indigo and violet, which aren’t quite the same. Violet is cooler and more blueish, a single wavelength of visible light. And indigo — well, Isaac Newton just added indigo to the rainbow because he felt like it needed seven colors to match the seven musical notes and seven (known) planets.

Purple, however, is just a trick of the brain, a perceptual invention that our minds create when our eyes see blue and red together. Weird, huh? Wedged between soothing blue and stimulating red, TCU’s school color refuses to be one thing — and that’s what makes it so magical.

Fort Worth’s Favorite Color

Football season brings a flood of purple to Fort Worth: purple banners, purple hats, purple mugs, purple lights, purple flags, and purple face paint. Grown men wear bright purple shirts, and purple adornments pop up on front lawns. But for most of human history, purple was exquisitely rare and wildly expensive. The color’s circuitous path from ancient royalty to Amon G. Carter Stadium reveals its unconventional cultural meaning and why it’s such a power player.

TCU’s standout school color, Horned Frog Purple, is a medium-dark shade of blueish magenta (Pantone PMS 268 C if you want to paint your house). The school’s website explains it simply: “Purple represents royalty.” Humans have long associated the color with dominance and majesty — but why? It all started back in the Bronze Age, not with horned frogs, but with carnivorous sea snails. Millions of them.

Purple’s Journey

The Land of Purple

About 1,700 years ago on the coast of modern Lebanon, some enterprising individuals with a great deal of time on their hands made a promising discovery: The toxic mucous secreted by certain carnivorous sea snails could be turned into purple dye. One of the rarest colors in nature, purple was highly prized. Dye manufacturing centers soon sprang up in the cities of Tyre and Sidon, powering the rise of local economies and civilizations. Word of the purple spread far and wide; many scholars think the names Canaan and Phoenicia came from the Mesopotamian words for land of purple.

It took 300,000 Murex snails to produce just one ounce of dye, enough to color 20 TCU bandannas. The process was long, laborious, and atrociously smelly: First, catch 300,000 of the meat-eating sea snails. Smash their shells, extract their disgusting mucous glands, and then soak the snail snot in saltwater. Let it all rot in the sunshine for several days. Like mucilaginous magic, the snail juice would slowly transform into a vibrant purple color. Depending on the duration of the snot rot, the hue could be anywhere from dark crimson to brilliant violet-blue.

But rich, pure “Tyrian purple” was the crowd favorite, described poetically by Pliny the Elder as the color of “clotted blood.” The dye wasn’t just vivid and lustrous — it was incredibly long-lasting. It didn’t fade in sunshine, wash out in water, or dim with time. Tyrian purple pigments unearthed in archaeological sites today can still be used to dye fabrics (if you can find them amongst the billions of crushed snail shells).

Only two countries have purple on their flags: Dominica (on a purple parrot) and Nicaragua (in a rainbow).

Power to the Purple

The Greeks called Tyrian dye porphura, which became purpura in Latin, purpul in Old English, and purple to us. Everybody knew about Tyrian purple; it was name-dropped in Homer’s Iliad and the Old Testament’s Book of Exodus. But almost nobody could afford it because it was so ridiculously expensive to make. You had to be filthy rich and famously powerful to drape yourself in purple, on par with Persia’s King Cyrus the Great or Alexander the Great. If you didn’t have “the Great” after your name — put the purple down.

By the Roman era, a pound of Tyrian purple silk cost the same as a top-shelf male lion. It was twice as expensive as gold. Only victorious generals or emperors like Julius Caesar could wear an all-purple toga, the ultimate status symbol. Senators were allowed one wide purple stripe, and priests had to make do with a simple purple hem. Eventually, Roman rulers wanted all the purple for themselves and instituted a state monopoly on its manufacture. For anyone else, wearing purple was now a crime punishable by death.

Byzantine emperors continued the “royals only” rule for purple and were equally obsessed with the color. Their queens gave birth in a room made of purple marble, which in turn gave birth to the phrase “born in the purple” (denoting royal heirs born during their parents’ reign). The production of Tyrian purple continued until 1453 when the Ottomans conquered Constantinople. The Byzantine Empire fell, and the secret snail snot recipes were lost — but the connotations of purple as royal, imperial, and powerful remained.

Mauve Madness

Fast-forward four centuries to Britain and the Industrial Revolution. Coal combustion fueled the factories, steamships, and railways that were modernizing society, but it also created a slimy black waste product called coal tar. It was sticky, stinky, and most people just dumped it in the rivers to get rid of it. But chemists were fascinated by coal tar’s complex compounds and started doing experiments.

One such chemist was Henry Perkin. In 1856, he was trying to turn coal tar into quinine, a malaria medication much in demand in the expanding British Empire. He failed. But Perkin discovered something else in the bottom of his test tube: mucky dregs that dissolved into a bright, beautiful purple. Adding a few more chemicals transformed it into dye.

Perkin knew he had a gold mine on his hands. A few synthetic purple dyes (made from guano and lichen) had recently popped up here and there, but they were crazy expensive and of mediocre quality. Still, the likes of Queen Victoria and Empress Eugénie of France had recently worn lilac dresses to feverish acclaim. The people were hungry for purple.

Perkin patented the process, moved his laboratory out of his parents’ attic, and borrowed their life savings to build a dye factory (never mind that he had never been inside a dye factory before). He was only 18. To market it to the British middle class, he chose a sophisticated name for his color: mauve, the French word for the purple mallow flower.

For the first time in history, purple was available and affordable. It was a triumph of alchemy and industry — and by 1858, purple was everywhere. Everywhere, from dresses and bonnets to school uniforms and men’s suits. There were purple kitchen appliances, purple stamps, purple books, purple wallpaper, purple ribbons, and purple rugs.

The color went global, and Perkin became a very wealthy man. Other chemists went coal tar-crazy, creating two new hues you’ll recognize from your crayon box: fuchsia and magenta. Traditionalists considered the new colors vulgar and cheap, an epidemic disease blamed on the ever-stylish French. Once the most uncommon color in the world, purple was now impossible to escape — even in art galleries.

Violettomania and Monet

Purple is almost missing entirely from the history of art before the 1800s. Pure purple pigments are rare, and reds and blues were far too expensive to try and mix. And varnished canvases yellowed with age, turning any purples into brown blah. But around the same time Perkin invented mauve dye, a group of painters called the Pre-Raphaelites started putting purple in their pictures. They dabbed it into shadows, clouds, trees, fields, and even sheep.

Then came the Impressionists, who embraced the color with wild abandon. Monet painted purple snow, purple water, and purple haystacks. He saw the color everywhere, from medieval cathedrals to Victorian train stations. He painted purple images of London blanketed in foggy smoke — only too fitting, as the smog was created by the same coal combustion that produces purple dye.

Art critics were not impressed. Were the Impressionists colorblind or simply insane? One reviewer wrote in the Parisian paper Figaro: “Make it clear to M. Pissarro that the trees are not violet … that in no country can we see the things he paints and that no intelligence can adopt such foolishness!” Another explained that “this predilection for violet is simply an expression of the nervous debility of the painter.” The critics called it “violettomania” and predicted the Impressionists’ rapid demise. They were wrong.

In 1896, when Monet was painting purple pictures of the Seine River in Giverny, a small group of students at Add-Ran Christian University in Texas met in committee. They decided that their school colors would forever be purple and white — and that the Horned Frog would be their mascot. Renamed Texas Christian University in 1902, the school is now the purple pride and joy of Fort Worth.

Purple appears in some of the earliest prehistoric cave art (like at Altamira and Lascaux). Ancient humans made purple paint by grinding manganese and hematite into a powder, then mixing it with animal fat or blood.

So, as you don that purple shirt or hang a purple flag from your window, remember the snails that didn’t have to die for the dye, the chemists who made that possible, and the painters called crazy for their love of the color.

The Prettiest Purple Places on the Planet

Forget the Red River, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Yellowstone National Park — these purple vacation destinations feel like fantastic daydreams brought to life.

Pfeiffer Beach, California

Sea lions frolic in the waters off this mile-long beach, a secluded oasis that’s tucked away on the celebrated Big Sur coastline. Waves explode against dramatic headlands, including a towering offshore rock arch, so there’s no swimming allowed. But you won’t mind because you’ll be too busy gaping at the purple sand. The mountains that cradle Pfeiffer Beach contain manganese garnet, and tiny particles of the purple gemstone wash down to create the mysterious hue.

Banwol Island, South Korea

During the pandemic, people dealt with their restlessness in different ways — baking sourdough bread, perhaps, or planting a garden. On Banwol Island, the residents decided to paint everything around them purple: shops, docks, bridges, telephone booths, picnic tables, hundreds of roofs, and even cars. Farmers joined in and started planting beets and purple kohlrabi. The islanders hoped the new look would attract tourists, and it did — it’s so busy that visitors now must pay an entrance fee. But it’s free if you’re wearing purple.

Provence, France

Cherry trees, olive groves, sunflowers, and herbs fill the fields of the Luberon Valley in Southern France — as do rows and rows of lavender, which burst into vivid bloom every summer. Their fine fragrance mingles with scents of thyme and honey, turning every breath into a healing dose of natural aromatherapy. Be sure to visit Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque and the rosy-red hilltop village of Roussillon.

Chefchaouen, Morocco

With winding cobblestone lanes and a 15th century fortress, this mountain village is already evocative, but most travelers come to see its purple buildings, streets, and stairways. Ranging from periwinkle to indigo and leaning toward blue, Chefchaouen’s stunning Old Town was painted purple to symbolize the heavens … or maybe to repel mosquitoes, which supposedly mistake the color for running water. Time to paint your back porch purple?

Bentonite Hills, Utah

Ribbons of lavender, mauve, and rusty-rose swirl through these surreal hills, which look like giant dollops of soft-serve ice cream. Hikers scamper over the slick, trailless terrain, formed from volcanic ash during the time of the dinosaurs. It’s an otherworldly landscape — so much so that it’s the location of the Mars Desert Research Station, a simulation of the Martian homeland.

Kitakyushu, Japan

Every year between April and May, the century-old wisteria trees at Kawachi Fuji Garden blossom with lush, cascading curtains of purple flowers that connect into tunnels you can walk through. The perfumed portals are as long as two football fields and so popular that you’ll need a timed ticket to get in.

F UNFACT An irrational, persistent fear of the color purple is called porphyrophobia.

Menu: Throw an All-Purple-Food Football Party

Whether you’re tailgating at TCU stadium or kicking back in front of the big screen, show everybody your school spirit with a watch party that’s pure purple.

Dips & Chips

• Blackberry salsa + purple corn tortilla chips

• Beet hummus drizzled with olive oil + sliced purple carrots

• Baba ghanoush (smoky eggplant dip) + purple potato chips Veg

• Red cabbage slaw with red onions and apple

• Balsamic berry feta salad with blueberries, blackberries, grapes, and arugula

• Roasted purple cauliflower buffalo bites (the hot sauce brings out the colors)

• Loaded purple potato skins with bacon, cheddar, and chives

Mains

• Toasted ube gnocchi with goat cheese

• Spanish squid ink spaghetti

• Grape-glazed meatballs (toss in a mix of chili sauce and grape jelly)

• Beef brisket: It’s not exactly purple, but no one’s going to complain.

Sweets & Treats

• Fruit skewers with figs, plums, and purple grapes

• Grape soda floats

• Purple sweet potato pie

Bevs

• Lavender lemonade with grape juice ice cubes

• Sangria with blackberries and purple grapes

• Blueberry mojitos

• Grape Jell-O shots (if it’s going to be that kind of party)

Purple: The Rarest Shade in Sports

Who dares to wear the royal, ruthless color on the field? Only the boldest and bravest in college and pro sports:

Purple Prose (PUR-pul prohz) – Noun: Overly ornate, extravagant, overwrought writing that struts like a shimmering peacock on the page, lush and melodramatic, sashaying from thought to thought in velvet slippers and silken synonyms — never simply telling a story, but bedazzling it like a poet of pure ecstasy whose sparkling chalice spills out tremulous metaphors, sentences like ceaseless strands of pearls, and the flowery golden perfume of a thousand and one thesauruses.

Pop Quiz: Prove Your Purple Chops

Channel your inner kindergartener: Which shade of purple in the crayon box is the darkest?

A. Plum

B. Royal Purple

C. Mauve

D. Orchid

Purple cocktails are having a moment, like the Papillon Violette at Le Margot and Purple Reign at The Mont. Which of these ingredients can be used turn libations purple?

A. Butterfly pea flowers

B. Clarified amethyst

C. Shrinking violet

D. Sous-vide velvet syrup

Grimace, the fuzzy purple McDonald’s character, was initially supposed to be…

A. …a cheeky eggplant

B. …a melted gumdrop

C. …a teddy bear

D. …evil

According to Balkan folklore, if you’re born under a “lilac-bleeding star,” then you will be a…

A. Florist

B. Mystic

C. Traveler

D. TCU quarterback

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

If you’re going through a “purple patch,” you’re experiencing…

Only two countries have purple on their flags: Dominica (on a purple parrot) and Nicaragua (in a rainbow).

A. …turbulence on an airplane

B. …a run of success or good luck

C. …a pirate phase, you scurvy dog

D. …acute football season face-paint disorder

John F. Kennedy was the only U.S. President to receive this military award, which is given to U.S. service members who have been wounded or killed in action.

A. Purple Cross

B. Purple Shield

C. Purple Heart

D. Purple Medal

Which purple Marvel villain collected the Infinity Stones?

A. Psylocke

B. Tinky-Winky

C. Thanos

D. Donatello

Ultraviolet light can do all the following except:

A. Disinfect medical equipment

B. Make scorpions and bananas glow

C. Pasteurize fruit juices

D. Let you see through walls

Prince’s hit single “Purple Rain” was originally written as…

A. …a national anthem

B. …the theme song for an umbrella brand

C. …a hip-hop track

D. …a country song

What personality trait is most associated with purple-loving people?

A. Impulsiveness

B. Individualism

C. Incessant dancing

D. Psychopathy

Purple’s Alter Ego

Purple means power, luxury, and royalty — right? Not always. In some cultures, purple may send a very different message.

India: Spirituality

In Indian religious traditions, your body has seven energy centers called chakras that run from the base of your spine up to the top of your head. The uppermost is the purple crown chakra, sahasrara, which connects you to the spiritual world and universal consciousness. Enabling transcendence and enlightenment, it has the highest vibration of all the chakras — similar to violet light, which has the fastest frequency in the rainbow.

Brazil: Mourning

It’s unlucky to wear purple in Brazil unless you’re going to a funeral, and you definitely wouldn’t wear it at a wedding. Alongside black, it’s the color of mourning and grief — although this flips upside down during the raucous Carnaval celebrations. Catholic priests in Brazil (and around the world) don purple vestments during Lent to symbolize Christ’s sorrow. Purple is also worn by grieving widows in Thailand and by the bygone British Victorians in half-mourning.

China: Vulgarity

The early Chinese prized five primary colors (red, yellow, blue, white, and black) that symbolized virtual and proper civic order. But purple blurred the lines between blue and red, which could obviously lead to a complete upheaval of society. Confucius “detested” the color, which represented moral decay and debauchery. Everyone agreed — for a few hundred years, then purple began its inexorable rise to the throne.

Russia: Indifference

Quotes About Purple

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering … blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen…’” – Exodus 25:2-4

“She took up a great robe, richly broidered, dyed in purple … the most beautiful in embroidery, glittering like a star, and laid it on the knees of Athena.” – Homer, The Iliad

“[Odysseus] wore a cloak, beautiful, of purple dye, twofold; and on it was a clasp of gold…” – Homer, The Odyssey

“Aeneas sat on a throne, splendid in shining arms, wrapped in a cloak of purple, gleaming with gold and purple dye.” – Virgil, The Aeneid

“Seek to be the purple thread in the long white gown.” – Epictetus

Purple’s secondary status on the color wheel may also have contributed to its association with apathy and ambivalence in Russia. If you say, “it’s purple to me (мне фиолетово)” in Moscow, it means that you couldn’t care less. Whatever. You don’t have strong passions one way or the other. When you think about purple states in America, it makes a lot of sense.

Peru: Devotion

One of the largest religious processions in the world takes place in Lima, Peru, as hundreds of thousands of purple-clad pilgrims walk, sing, and pray their way through the city. Purple flower petals carpet the streets during the Lord of Miracles Procession, led by a 17th century painting of Christ. It’s a seven-mile route but festivities last throughout the entire month of October, el mes morado (the purple month), as devotees express their deep faith — not least by wearing purple.

“You adorned me with garlands of violets and roses … and clothed me in garments of purple.” – Sappho

“I have discovered the true color of the atmosphere. It’s violet. Fresh air is violet.” – Claude Monet

“It would be as difficult to persuade Pissarro that the trees were not violet … as to persuade the inmate of a lunatic asylum that he wasn’t the Pope in the Vatican.” – Anonymous art critic, 19th century France

“I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it.” – Alice Walker

BEST NEW Restaurants

Though Fort Worth rarely dips outside its comfort zone of burgers, brisket, and birria, this year’s slate of incredible new restaurants proves Cowtown’s palate is getting a little adventurous.

By Malcolm Mayhew

You could say the best new restaurants to open in Fort Worth this year have commitment issues — with Fort Worth.

Instead of hitting diners over the head with Tex-Mex, barbecue, and cowboy kitsch, 2025’s class of best new restaurants do little to remind you of the city in which you’re eating, instead transporting you somewhere else entirely. At Yoishi, you’re swept into a serene Tokyo omakase bar. At Chumley House, you squeeze into a lively London pub. And Ko Thai’s bold flavors and towering Yaksha statues make you feel as if you’ve stepped into the streets of Bangkok or beyond.

Unlike other local high-profile restaurants that have opened over the past few years, which wear their Fort Worth pride on the sleeves, walls, and plates, this new wave of eateries seems intent on taking diners out of the city altogether.

Maybe we’re simply bored — tired of barbecue, traditional steakhouses, and burger joints that have forever defined the local dining scene. Or maybe this shift reflects something deeper: a city in flux.

As more people move to Fort Worth from other parts of the country, perhaps our restaurants are starting to mirror that migration, as they cater to broader palates and sensibilities, explore new

flavors, and redefine what Fort Worth food can be.

That’s not to say the city’s culinary calling cards were no-shows this year. Barbecue still made a great showing via a mom-and-pop spot in North Fort Worth, the West Side inherited a fantastic, family-run steakhouse, and downtown was the recipient of a unique Mexican restaurant. For those who still cling to Fort Worth’s gastronomic roots, there was plenty to love — proof that while Fort Worth’s dining scene may be stretching its boundaries, it hasn’t forgotten where it came from.

And while Michelin once again passed over Fort Worth for any stars — just as it did last year — we all know what they don’t: The city’s dining scene has never looked sharper or tasted better.

Before we dig into this year’s list, a note about eligibility: To be considered, restaurants had to open between October 2024 and October 2025, Fort Worth Magazine’s calendar year for this story, so to speak, since we work two months in advance. That means restaurants debuting in November or December of this year will be eligible for next year’s list. Restaurants were also required to be located in Fort Worth proper.

That being said, time to chow down.

Photos by Thanin Viriyaki

Yoichi Omakase & Handroll

The city’s best new restaurant, hands down, is a joyful experience from beginning to end — one that begins the second you walk in, when the entire staff stops what they’re doing to greet you with a resounding hello, like when Norm walks into the “Cheers” bar. From there, you make your way to one of the 26 seats at the sushi bar (there are no tables), and your server goes over the menu of handrolls, appetizers, and omakase. Though popular and well-known elsewhere, the latter is relatively new culinary ground for Fort Worthians and one of the reasons this place feels so special. For the uninitiated, omakase is a multicourse meal with a set price, similar to a prix fixe menu, typically guided by the seasons and availability of ingredients. Here, it features 12 courses — nine small dishes of sushi, crudos, and specials, all presented together on a large, bento-style platter — plus two appetizers and a dessert. Chefs prepare the meals within inches of where you’re sitting and explain each and every bite, making the experience personal and immersive. You can order other items à la carte, such as the restaurant’s signature handrolls — the seaweed-wrapped sushi first popularized in Fort Worth by Hatsuyuki Handroll Bar. The former home of Shinjuku Station has been beautifully transformed. The bar where you sit is made from rich, dark-grain walnut, and above you hang playful Japanese posters that give the space a splash of color and  personality. Opened by a trio of longtime chefs, Ilwon Suhr, Ian Kim, and Mark Kim, the restaurant takes its name from a Japanese single-malt whisky, served here alongside other Japanese libations. You’re greeted as warmly on your way out as you were coming in, the staff offering cheerful farewells. It’s the one thing that unmistakably feels like Fort Worth.

Good to know: Yoichi is first come, first served; there are no reservations. Get there early for the omakase as it often sells out. The restaurant opens daily at 4:30 p.m. What to get: Aside from the omakase, the handrolls are mandatory. Made with a variety of raw fish, from tuna to snapper, and served one by one, they’re impossibly fresh — the kind

Yoichi Omakase & Handroll

of simple, perfect bites that remind you why sushi became an art form in the first place. Info: 711 W. Magnolia Ave., instagram.com/ yoichi_omakase_handroll

The Chumley House

The restaurant that best captures Fort Worth’s growing appetite for escape is The Chumley House, a handsome Cultural District spot where the steakhouse aesthetic of New York and Chicago meets the convivial charm of an English pub. Opened in November by Duro Hospitality — the Dallas group behind The Charles and Michelin-recognized Mister Charles and El Carlos Elegante — The Chumley House is as transportive as restaurants come. Its dining rooms unfold like a well-appointed home: a cozy study with mahogany walls and a crackling fireplace, plaid rugs underfoot, velvet banquettes comfy as a grandmother’s couch. The menu reads like a European travelogue, spanning butter chicken potpie, beef Wellington, a halibut “porterhouse,” and tenderloin stroganoff with ricotta dumplings. Still, for all its non-Cowtown flair, Fort Worth’s vibe is all over it: the warmth of the service, the handshake from your server, the bartender who remembers your name. “We want guests to feel at home,” co-owner Benji Homsey, a TCU grad, told me shortly after the restaurant opened. “That’s the best compliment we can get — that we feel like home, wherever that home may be.”

What to get: Most definitely the beef Wellington, a center-cut tenderloin wrapped in a puff pastry layered with savory duxelles and Tasso ham; not many restaurants in Fort Worth serve it anymore. Herb popovers with salted butter are a small-plate treat. Butter chicken potpie with coriander-glazed roots and ginger yogurt is a cool play on the traditional India comfort dish, marrying classic Indian flavors with a British and American pastry staple. Good to know: If you can’t land a reservation, no prob. Head to the bar for full dining; the restaurant leaves room for walk-ins so neighborhood peeps can always find a seat. Info: 3230 Camp Bowie Blvd., thechumleyhouse.com

Duchess

Yes, you’ve had pork belly before, but was it served with freshly made and incredibly crunchy chicharrónes, housemade tortillas, pickled pineapples, peanuts, and a housemade hot sauce? That’s the kind of inventive, left-of-center dishes you’ll find at Duchess, the remarkably inventive restaurant inside The Nobleman, the newly opened boutique hotel built around the restored No. 5 Fire Station on Bryan Avenue in the South Main area. While most hotel restaurants play it safe for hotel guest-pleasing palates, Casey Thompson, a “Top Chef” alum and Dallas native, and Fort Worth chef Marcus Kopplin combined their talents to develop exciting menus that reimagine American classics with global twists (Thompson recently left the restaurant, leaving the kitchen in the capable hands of Kopplin). There are well-executed straightforward dishes for

sure, like a nice 8-ounce center-cut filet, beautifully cooked and perfectly seasoned, and an exquisite Waldorf salad with candied walnuts and flash-fried Brussels sprouts. Those with more adventurous appetites will surely dig dishes like tagliatelle pasta with beef shin ragu and Thai-inspired trout, butterflied and flavored with a tamarind-infused brown butter and a chili-garlic sauce. The small, sleek main dining room can fill up fast, but there’s extra legroom on a large outdoor patio.

What to get: The aforementioned Lucky Pig is a must-try, as is the Duck & Dumplings. This unique pasta dish features agnolotti stuffed with duck confit that’s been slow cooked for 36 hours and combined with housemade foie gras. The pasta is coated in a rich duck glacé and garnished with fried sage and chives. Good to know: The restaurant isn’t open for lunch

TheHouseChumley

currently (that may change in the future), but it is for breakfast, with dishes such as Turkish eggs and gingerbread pancakes. Info: 503 Bryan Ave., duchessatthenobleman.com

The Mont

In one of the year’s biggest culinary surprises, Jeff Payne and Jason Cross, a pair of longtime Cousin’s Barbecue partners, traded brisket and ribs for shrimp risotto and black garlic-glazed duck, opening The Mont, an elegant, midcentury-inspired fine-dining restaurant perched on a hill overlooking Interstate 20. There’s meat on the menu, yes, including a 20-ounce rib-eye, Wagyu beef tartare, and the showstopping Irodori Wagyu tomahawk, a 42-ounce hunk of rich, buttery crossbred Wagyu and Black Angus. But there’s not a speck of brisket or a single rib to be found. Rather, chef Michael Duff, working alongside culinary director Michael Arlt, delivers a New American menu full of refinement and range: duck served two ways, housemade tagliatelle with smoked caviar, chicken liver pate with green tomato chow chow.  Small plates lean decadent, from crab hush puppies with truffle aioli to deviled eggs crowned with caviar. Designed by Fort Worth’s Maven firm, The Mont’s 7,400-square-foot space, anchored by a glamorous, radiant bar, beams a groovy, mid-cent sophistication — all mahogany wood, leather seating, and “Mad Men” chandeliers handcrafted by local studio Stage Works. For Payne and Cross, The Mont represents more than a new direction; it’s a signal of how far Fort Worth’s dining scene has come. “We still love barbecue,” Cross told me earlier this year, “but this city’s palate is growing — and we want to grow with it.”

What to get: The restaurant recently introduced a new fall menu, with dishes such as Gulf fish ceviche, beet-cured salmon, and a 24-hour braised Wagyu short rib. Good to know: When the weather’s nice, grab a seat on the patio, which overlooks the Montserrat neighborhood that inspired the restaurant’s name. Info: The Mont, 4729 St. Amand Circle, themontfw.com

The Mont

Duchess

Polanco

Perched on the second floor of The Tower downtown, its vibrant dining room offering views of Sundance Square, Polanco brings to Fort Worth a fine-dining interpretation of Mexican cuisine that’s as ambitious as it is luxurious. We wish Fort Worth could take credit for it, but it’s the handiwork of Azteca Concepts, a hospitality group with a string of high-end restaurants in and around the Dallas area. Dining at Polanco is a truly unique experience meant to emulate the affluent Mexico City community it’s named after. Guests enter the restaurant on the ground floor and are then escorted up a grand staircase to a dimly lit dining room full of well-heeled snuggling couples and lively out-on-the-towners. You quickly get the feeling you’re in for something special. That something might even be broccoli.

Haters, Polanco’s version — drizzled with a piquant Roma dressing, dusted with Parmesan and pistachios — might possibly change your mind about the vegetable entirely. The rest of the menu follows suit, reimagining familiar ingredients through a fine-dining lens: scallops bathed in ajillo sauce, a New York strip paired with fried kale, enchiladas stuffed with octopus. It’s the latest in a line of Fort Worth restaurants, from Don Artemio to the long-missed Lanny’s Alta Cocina Mexicana, that push Fort Worth’s Mexican dining scene forward. Polanco goes a step further, pairing inventive food with the kind of elegance and service more often found in the city’s top steakhouses. Servers refold napkins between courses, cocktails arrive with smoke and flair (literally, there’s a cocktail

that emits smoke), and several dishes are prepared tableside. Joe T’s, this ain’t.

What to get: There’s an extensive menu of tacos filled with your choice of salmon, sea bass, and octopus, outlined in a crunchy crust of Oaxaca cheese. Scallops with guajillo peppers are must-tries, too. Good to know: There is a strict dress code in which jackets are required for men. Info: 570 Throckmorton St., polancodfw.com

Beren Mediterranean Empire Kitchen

While the space isn’t necessarily transportative, the excellent Mediterranean cuisine served by a local family at this tiny spot most certainly is. Located inside the Funky Town Food Hall in the Near Southside, Beren is a full-fledged restaurant trapped inside a food hall. It’s not fast-casual, as most food hall restaurants tend to be; you’re quickly invited to sit where you’d like, and someone will be along to take your

Polanco

Beren Mediterranean Empire Kitchen

order. Nor is the food of fast-casual caliber. Down to the warm pita bread, everything is made from scratch, cooked to order by the Erhan family, making their restaurant debut. Beyond the cuisine’s familiar favorites — lamb kebabs, gyros, falafel, and baba ghanoush — Beren’s menu offers plenty of interesting, cool culinary surprises. Even the most devoted fan of the cuisine will undoubtedly discover something new.

What to get: Try the kavurma, which features tender, braised beef shoulder, seasoned with aromatic spices, on a bed of rice, and the sweet, unconventional Cyprus dessert: a rich walnut and coconut flake cake finished with sweetened cream and a hint of orange. Good to know: Beren is the only Mediterranean restaurant in Fort Worth open for breakfast. Go all in with the $20 Turkish Breakfast, a generous spread offering a beautiful contrast of creamy cheeses (feta, mozzarella) and fresh produce (tomatoes, cucumbers, olives), anchored by a choice of traditional Turkish bagel (simit or pogaca). Complete with homemade jelly and butter, it’s a refreshing change of pace from the usual breakfast fare. Info: 1229 Eighth Ave., berenmediterranean.com

Ichiro Izakaya

This charmingly tiny spot on Bryan Avenue captures the look and feel of a traditional Japanese izakaya, where small, shareable plates are served amid a relaxed vibe. For his debut restaurant, former petroleum engineer Vy Ton has created a place that feels both lively and intimate, the kind of restaurant that can shape-shift depending on who’s dining. Big groups pile into roomy booths, passing plates around as if at a dinner party, while couples tuck into cozy tables in the back or settle side by side along the white oak bar, sampling each other’s dishes and sipping sake. The menu revolves around skewers of meats and vegetables cooked over a charcoal grill, a Japanese style of cooking called kushiyaki. There are other shareable dishes, too: crisp karaage chicken, panseared scallops in a garlic ponzu sauce, comforting noodle bowls, and specials that showcase Ton’s playful curiosity in the kitchen. Ichiro’s interior mirrors that

Ichiro Izakaya

Chef’s Corner

energy: cheerful and unpretentious, with glowing lanterns, colorful murals, and warm lighting that wraps the room in a welcoming glow.

What to get: You can’t go wrong with any — or all — of the skewers. Grilled chicken hearts are our faves — tender, juicy, rich with a deep, almost beefy flavor. Duck breast follows close behind, perfectly seared so the fat crisps just enough to contrast the silky meat. Rib-eye skewers bring a hit of smoky indulgence, while the tomatoes wrapped in bacon burst with sweet and salty perfection. Good to know: The restaurant is open for dinner only, starting at 4:30 p.m. Info: 401 Bryan Ave., ichiroizakaya.com

Chef’s Corner

Michael Douresseaux is one of the city’s most talented chefs, and his newly opened spot on Fort Worth’s East Side finally gives his refined mashups of Cajun and soul food the setting they deserve. It’s a major upgrade from his previous digs inside a gas station, where, not long ago, you could find him plating elegant dishes just a few feet away from racks of Doritos and Ding Dongs. The sight of a chef in full whites serving restaurant-quality meals in such surroundings became a TikTok sensation, and the loyal following he built there followed him to his new, full-fledged restaurant. Chef’s Corner is bright and contemporary, with high ceilings, a vibrant atmos, and a spacious patio perfect for the big church groups that pile in every Sunday. His menu has changed since his gas station days but still showcases what he does best: elevating Southern, Cajun, and Americana comfort foods with global flair. Wait till you see his monolithic chicken and waffles; you’ll be eating on it for days.

What to get: Those chicken and waffles are magnificent to behold and an even bigger pleasure to devour, although you’ll be hardpressed to do so in one sitting, the portion is so huge. Elsewhere on the menu is the city’s best gumbo, literally boiling over with crab legs, shrimp, and planks of fried catfish, and lamb chops so huge, a machete might come in handy. Good to know: Lunch is a great time to go,

Stewart’s Croquet Club & Cocktails

as most of the lunch specials hover in the $10$12 range, and include items such as po’boys, pork chops, and sirloin steak. Info: 1201 Oakland Blvd., chefscornerftworth.com

Stewart’s Croquet Club & Cocktails

Named after his father and inspired by his childhood adventures with him, Tim Love’s 14th concept combines cocktails, food, and croquet, all wrapped in an atmosphere that channels The Great Gatsby with a wink. Guests can sip champagne or martinis while playing a round on the manicured croquet lawn or retreat inside to a dining room that feels like an English country club: vintage furnishings, subdued colors, old-school charm. The menu leans into the theme, offering elegant yet playful fare — shareable snacks, hearty handhelds, and dressed-up classics delivered with Love’s signature combo of flavor and swagger. It’s the kind of spot that encourages lingering: an afternoon game that rolls into sunset cocktails, then dinner that stretches into the night.

What to get: The very good lobster roll, towering with knuckle and claw meat, served on buttery, toasted bread. Also try the croque monsieur, a seldom-seen in Fort

Worth sandwich comprised of smoked ham, melted Mornay, and Gruyère cheese on toasted brioche. For dessert, there’s bananas Foster, made tableside of course. Good to know: Housed in the old George’s Specialty Foods, Stewart’s sits next door to another Love restaurant, Gemelle, along with Hotel Otto, the chef’s boutique hotel made up of eight freestanding bungalows, each featuring sleek, midcentury-inspired decor, rooftop

patios, and kitchenettes stocked with local products. Info: 4424 White Settlement Road, stewartscocktailclub.com

Fort Redemption

When you think of Fort Worth’s best steakhouses, you think of the opulence of Grace, the grandeur of Wicked Butcher. You don’t necessarily think “strip mall.” But what a pleasant surprise this fatherand-son, meat-centric spot on the West Side turned out to be. The Locke Block space, last occupied by Mariachi’s Dine In and before that, Mariposa’s Latin Kitchen, has been handsomely transformed by owner and chef Tony Chaudhry, a restaurant veteran with more than two decades of experience. With its purple and gold color palette, snug leather booths, elegant floral arrangements, and midcentury-inspired high-top tables and chairs, the dining room strikes a balance between approachable and upscale; it’s classy without trying too hard. The menu reads like a love letter to red meat: barbecue and burgers sit alongside tenderloins, rib-eyes, and lamb chops, all expertly prepared by Chaudhry and his son, Troy Raza. In a city where steak is practically a religion, Fort Redemption proves there’s still room for new converts,

Lil’ JJ’s Smokehouse

Fort Redemption

even if the sanctuary happens to be in a strip mall.

What to get: Perfectly seared and seasoned, the 8-ounce tenderloin is the restaurant’s go-to, although the lamb chops are pretty spectacular. A 37-ounce cowboy rib-eye is good to share, and you’ll still need a to-go box. Be sure to get dessert — they’re all made in-house. The banana pudding is A-plus. Good to know: A good way to get their fantastic, half-pound burger at a good price is on Wednesdays at lunch, when it goes for $10 — and that includes a side. Info: 5724 Locke Ave., instagram.com/fortredemption

Lil’ JJ’s Smokehouse

After a devastating few years marked by loss, fire, and rebuilding, John and Brandi Berry, longtime fixtures in the North Texas barbecue scene, relocated from the mid-cities to far North Fort Worth, opening what is essentially both a new beginning and a memorial to their son JJ, who passed away tragically of a fentanyl overdose. JJ’s memory lives on through pictures on the wall and dishes he helped create, including a sandwich that bears his name. The family’s barbecue is better than ever: lean brisket comes ringed with smoky crust, the pork ribs are plenty big and plenty juicy, and sides still steal the show, like collard greens, candied yams, green beans, and the Berrys’ famous baked beans, mixed with bits of smoked meat.

What to get: Definitely the Lil JJ sandwich, made with a small mountain of chopped brisket and chopped sausage. New items include the addictive Boom Boom Candy, a jalapeño stuffed with brisket and cheese and wrapped in bacon. Good to know: Weekends are a fun time to visit: There’s karaoke on Friday nights from 6 to 8 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday, the restaurant hosts fish fries in which the super crispy catfish is on special. Info: 9321 N. Freeway, facebook.com/BestBBQBerry

Ko Thai

This upscale Thai restaurant in the Near Southside, one of several new Asian spots to debut in the area this year, looks like a

Los MexicanGuaposStreet Food

Ko Thai

million bucks. Towering yaksha statues guard the dining room, appearing to hold up the second floor of the sleek, doubledecker building, while a wraparound patio gives diners a front-row seat to Magnolia Avenue. At first glance, Ko Thai could easily be mistaken for a big corporate restaurant. In truth, it’s a deeply personal project from local couple Thana “Nick” Pornin and Theepaka Joy, the husband-and-wife team behind Bedford’s beloved Koracha Thai. Their first Fort Worth outpost takes everything they’ve learned and turns it up a notch or two hundred. Dishes are plated like art — bright, colorful, carefully constructed — but the flavors remain true to the couple’s roots, which are deeply embedded in traditional Thai cuisine.

What to get: Ko Thai’s must-tries are the yazo thon — roasted duck breast with a peanut-infused, slightly spicy red curry; red snapper, lightly fried, cut into bite-sized pieces and served in a bowl made of fried rice paper; and the udon rib, a T. rex of a beef rib, unbelievably tender and served on a bed of egg-infused sticky rice, then blanketed with a highly addictive curry sauce. Good to know: Ko Thai recently launched a rotating dessert series, introducing new sweets whenever inspiration strikes. One recent standout was a matcha pistachio soufflé, lightly perfumed with green tea and topped with a sprinkle of crushed pistachios for a nutty finish. It’s a clever blend of East and West, much like the rest of Ko Thai’s menu, and a sign that dessert here is no afterthought. Info: 725 W. Magnolia Ave., kothai.co

Los Guapos

Mexican Street Food

Fort Worth chef Angel Fuentes has come a long way from his gas station taqueria days, when he’d juggle every role — cashier, cook, dishwasher — without missing a beat. His dedication has paid off with Los Guapos Mexican Street Food, his vibrant West 7th restaurant that celebrates the food and flavors of his hometown, Monterrey, Mexico. Opened last fall, the restaurant is modest in size but big in heart, offering indoor and outdoor seating that feels like a natural extension of Fuentes’ easygoing personality. The menu

brings back many of the dishes that made Fuentes a local favorite at Mariachi’s Dine In and Guapo Tacos — rich birria tacos, massive burritos, and hearty tortas — while introducing traditional Mexican plates such as alambre (grilled meats and vegetables bound by melted cheese) and huaraches (crispy masa topped with beans, veggies, and protein). Fuentes also continues to carry the torch for vegan cuisine; most of his dishes are available with plant-based ingredients.

What to get: Made with rich, beefy stewed meat and outlined in crispy edges, his birria tacos remain some of the best in the city. But really, you can’t go wrong with any of his tacos, all made to order with super-fresh ingredients and bright, balanced toppings. His verde chicken pozole is another standout, fragrant and deeply comforting, perfect for cool nights or lazy Sunday lunches. Good to know: It may sound odd for a Mexican street food spot, but Fuentes’ fish and chips are a sleeper hit — lightly battered, perfectly crisp, and paired with perfectly salted fries. Info: 2708 W. Seventh St., instagram.com/ losguaposfw

Margie’s Italian Gardens

A redux wouldn’t normally merit a place on a “new” list, but Margie’s

is less revamp, more rebirth. After acquiring the 70-year-old restaurant, Westland Hospitality took it down to the studs, rebuilding it with the original in mind: a simple menu made up of housemade pastas and pizzas presented in a low-key but enigmatic atmosphere. With its flickering candlelight, boisterous bar area, and timeless soundtrack of Frank and Dean, Margie’s captures the essence of an old-school Italian joint reimagined for today. Westland’s Gigi Howell grew up here; consider it her homage to Fort Worth’s past and a toast to its next chapter.

What to get: The restaurant does pastas exceptionally well: ribbons of fettuccini tossed with slow-simmered bolognese, pappardelle draped in braised short-rib ragu, delicate ravioli stuffed with four cheeses. But don’t sleep on the rectangular, crackly-crust pizzas; the smoked chicken pesto pie is excellent. Good to know: Margie’s recently unveiled a new fall/winter menu with dishes such as fire-roasted pumpkin and butternut squash ravioli and smoked and seared beef teres major with blue oyster mushrooms and pomegranate gremolata. Info: 9805 Camp Bowie West Blvd., margiesitaliangardens.com

Margie’sGardensItalian

MARK CHILDRESS

Managing Partner & Founder

For more than two decades, Mark Childress has proudly served Fort Worth and surrounding communities with integrity, compassion, and skill. Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, he founded the Law O ces of Mark M. Childress, PLLC in 2007 after earning his J.D. from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. Today, he is recognized among Fort Worth’s most respected family-law attorneys for combining skilled advocacy with a client- rst philosophy. Under his leadership, the rm has grown into one of the region’s premier family-law practices—empowering clients through complex divorce, custody, and property cases with compassion and strategic excellence.

DESIREE HARTWIGSEN

RICK MITCHELL

ELIZABETH PARMER

Partner & Managing Attorney – Camp Bowie O ce

As Managing Attorney and Partner, Desiree Hartwigsen shapes the rm’s vision and daily operations from the Camp Bowie o ce. She leads with precision and purpose—overseeing attorneys, re ning rm processes, and ensuring that each client receives attentive, high-caliber representation. Her strategic leadership and commitment to excellence have made the Camp Bowie o ce the rm’s central hub for family-law representation.

Also recognized: Attorney Konnor Lee, of the Camp Bowie o ce, nominated for Top Attorney.

Partner & Senior Litigation Attorney – Southlake O ce

Rick J. Mitchell leads the rm’s Southlake o ce and brings more than two decades of distinguished trial experience to the practice. Rick began private practice in 2001 after clerking for a leading trial attorney in Oklahoma. His work spans high-asset divorce, complex custody disputes, appeals, and collaborative-divorce matters.

A member of the Tarrant County Collaborative Divorce Bar, Rick promotes mediation and alternative resolution methods but is equally prepared to litigate when necessary—o ering clients unmatched strategy, precision, and courtroom experience.

Partner & Senior Litigation Attorney – Vickery O ce

Elizabeth “Betsy” Parmer leads the rm’s Vickery o ce and brings over 30 years of acclaimed trial experience to the team. A Yale graduate and recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award for Legislation and Con icts of Law from the University of Texas School of Law, she has tried more than 200 cases before judges and juries. Betsy represents clients in multimillion-dollar estate divisions and high-con ict litigation. She represents entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals in sophisticated divorce and custody matters where strategy and courtroom mastery are paramount.

Top Attorneys 2025

While it’s true that legal advice is best left to the pros, you also want to make sure the pro you have in your corner is up to the task. To ensure you have the best representation, we recommend starting here with Fort Worth Magazine’s 2025 Top Attorneys, our annual listing of the best lawyers in town, as voted for by their peers.

This year, 642 lawyers made the list, categorized by specialty and whether they’ve been in practice for more or less than five years.

How we did it: Earlier this year, we asked local attorneys to submit nominations via our website, fwtx.com. The magazine applied a minimum number of votes it took to make the list, giving bonus weight to lawyers who made the list any of the prior three years. We then asked a panel of highly regarded lawyers in the area to review the list prior to publication and make recommendations on other lawyers who should be on the list, and even ones who should come off for any reason. With this input, we finalized the 2025 Top Attorneys list. Byincludingalawyerontheselists,themagazinedoesnotrecommendorendorsehisorherservice. LawyerslicensedasofDecember2019areconsideredtohavemorethanfiveyearsinpracticeforthislist.

Top Attorneys 2025

MORE THAN FIVE YEARS IN PRACTICE

ADMINISTRATIVE

Leann Guzman

Ryan Hughes

ADOPTION

Gerald Bates

Marguerite “Breanne” Clark

Heidi Cox

Eric Freeby

Alyssa Jacobs

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

John Brookman

John Allen Chalk

Christian Dennie

Randy Hall

Wade McMullen

Jason Nash

Diego Pena

Michael Tresidder

Len Wade

APPELLATE

Marianne Auld

John Cayce Jr.

Jacob DeKeratry

Joseph “Joe” Greenhill

Thomas “Tom” Harkins Jr.

Steven “Steve” Hayes

Caitlyn Hubbard

David Keltner

Christopher “Chris” Knight

Scott Lindsey

Thomas Michel

John “Chris” Nickelson

Karen Precella

Jody Sanders

William “Brent” Shellhorse

Ryan Valdez

AVIATION

Geffrey Anderson

John Proctor

Guy Riddle

Daniel “Dan” Vela

BANKING

James “Robbie” Clarke

Brandon Hill

BANKRUPTCY

Katherine “Kat” Hopkins

Hunter “Brandon” Jones

Mark Petrocchi

Stephen “Steve” Pezanosky

Nancy Ribaudo

Robert Simon

Behrooz Vida

BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL

Joshua “Josh” Borsellino

Bryon Boyer

Zachary Cate

Mark Dugan

Elliott Garsek

Marshal Jacobini

Michael “Mike” Moore

Jon “Andrew” Norman

Bryan “Olyn” Poole

Randall Schmidt

Andrew “Andy” Wambsganss

CIVIL LAW & LITIGATION

Randy Agnew

Cash Barker

Nicholas “Nick” Bettinger

Grant Blaies

Joe “Kirk” Bryant

Caleb Bulls

Alyse Burks

Julie Camacho

Michael “Mike” Cooke

Larry Cotten

Randal Dean

Michael Dean

David “Brad” Dowell

Laura Elkind

Paul Elkins

Graigory Fancher

Donald “Don” Ferrill

Charles “Chad” Fillmore

H. Dustin “Dusty” Fillmore

Jeffrey “Jeff” Gilmore

David Goodman

George Haratsis

Jonathan “Jon” Harrison

Jordan Harrison

Michael Hassett

Michael “Jay” Henry Jr.

Emily Hollenbeck

Kaitlin Kerr

Trey Loftin

Jerold Mitchell

Brian Newby

Jay Newton

Michael “Shane” O’Dell

Troy Okruhlik

Melinda Owens

Lu Pham

David Rapp

Brittani Rollen

Marshall Searcy Jr.

Brian Singleterry

Marylynn Smitherman

Bradley “Brad” Timms

Paul Vitanza

Stephen “Kyle” Voss

William “Bill” Warren

Kyle Weldon

Mollee Westfall

CIVIL LAW, TRANSACTIONAL

Kathryn McGlinchey

Charles “Chuck” Milliken

Christopher “Chris” Morris

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

Allison Allman

Michael Anderson

Jason “Chad” Arnette

Joseph Austin

Mary Barkley

Lars Berg

Derrick Boyd

Bryan Bruner

Logan Cochran

Jeremy “Heath” Coffman

Christopher “Chris” Collins

Hugh Connor II

Anthony Cuesta

Russell “Russ” Devenport

Roger Diseker

David Drez III

Shannon Dugan

John Easter

Michael Farmer Jr.

Zachary “Zac” Farrar

Robert “R.L.” Florance IV

Michael Forman

Lynne Frank

Walker Friedman

Brian Garrett

Katherine “Kate” Hancock

Dee Kelly Jr.

Matthias Kleinsasser

Matthew “Matt” Koronczok

Sidney “Sid” Lange

Kelsey Linendoll

Christian “Reed” Loftis

Hunter McLean

Caleb Moore

Shayne Moses

Marcus Mungioli

David Palmer

Schyler Parker

Michael Peck

Ryan Roper

Roland “Rollie” Schafer

Patrick Sheridan

Adam Simmons

Andy Sims

Xintong Song

Elizabeth “Lizzy” Thomas

Joe Tolbert

Scott Wheatley

Scott Wiehle

Thomas “Tom” Williams

Julia Wisenberg

Shauna Wright

CONSTRUCTION

Stephanie Harrison

Stephen “Steve” Harrison

Grant Jordan

Cara Kennemer

Matthew “Matt” Motes

Andrew Piel

Bradley “Brad” Rice

Richard Schellhammer

Eamonn Wiles

Meet Our Fort Worth Magazine 2025 Top Attorneys

Jackson Walker continues to advance the world of business by helping companies of all sizes navigate today’s increasingly complex, interconnected legal landscape.

FIRST ROW: Joel W. Heydenburk, Ginger M. Webber, Brittani Rollen, Shannon Dugan, Lauren Azopardi, Heidi Angel

SECOND ROW: Michael J. Vecchio, Nathan McCune, Len A. Wade, Jay K. Rutherford, Adam L. Plumbley, Brett M. Epstein, Scott A. Wheatley

NOT PICTURED: Allison Allman, Jarrod Cone, Je rey R. Gilmore, Evan M. Malloy, Tyler Wallach

GENERATIONS OF EXPERIENCE

TRADITION

At Decker Jones, we take pride in our tradition of providing clients with unparalleled innovation, value, and commitment to excellence. Congratulations to the 18 Decker Jones attorneys and all the trusted advisors named 2025 Top Attorneys by Fort Worth Magazine. We are honored to be recognized among the best lawyers in our community.

PRACTICE AREAS

Business & Corporate, Commercial Litigation, Construction, Estate Planning & Probate, Finance & Banking, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, Mergers & Acquisitions, Oil & Gas, Real Estate & Real Estate Litigation

Not Pictured: Eric Camp, Raymond Kelly III, Randy Hall, Patrick Flueckiger, Gary Moates, Timothy Malone

From left to right: Prichard Bevis, Natalie Waters, Mark Dugan, Christopher Flanagan, Janet Hahn, Michael Goodrich, Brian Yost, Charles Milliken, Vianei Braun

From left to right: Adam Fulkerson, Philip Spencer, Anthony Cuesta, Eamonn Wiles, Kiala Ellingson, Bradley Rice, Jacob Kalinke, Daniel Bates

Top Attorneys 2025

CORPORATE COUNSEL

Tasheena Byrd

Lane DeYoung

Charlie Florsheim

Scott Hays

Justin Light

Christine “Chrissy” Long

Robert “Bobby” Masterson

Andrea Palmer

Jennifer Willingham

Craig Woodcook

CORPORATE FINANCE/MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

Brian Barnard

Jacob “Jake” Boyd

Paul Bradford

Douglas “Doug” Clayton

David Cook

Tave Doty

Adam Fulkerson

William “Bill” Greenhill

Kyle Harter

Evan Malloy

Nathan McCune

James “Drew” Neill

Christopher Nezworski

Sara Norman

John Phair

Brandon “Scot” Pierce

Vernon Rew

Gabriella “Gabi” Snow

Philip Spencer

Jarratt Watkins

Stephen “Steve” Westermann

Wesley “Wes” Williams

CRIMINAL

Frank Adler

Collin Ashworth

Francisco Balderrama

Arthur “Art” Brender Jr.

John Brender

Miles Brissette

Tiffany Burks

Kara Carreras

Virginia Carter

Cody Cofer

Elizabeth “Mimi” Coffey

Craig Dameron

Mark Daniel

Clemente De La Cruz

Andrew Deegan

Steven Ditommaso

Kathy Ehmann-Clardy

Lance Evans

Curtis Fortinberry

Steven “Steve” Gebhardt

Myra “Cami” Gildner

Robert “Bob” Gill

Ashley Gilmore

Cody Gomora

Stephen “Steve” Gordon

Leon Haley Jr.

Phillip Hall

David “Dave” Hart

Michael “Mike” Heiskell

Daniel Hernandez

Lisa Herrick

Bryan Hoeller

Jeffrey “Jeff” Hoover

Jason Howard

Robert Huseman

Elizabeth “Christy” Jack

Jeffrey “Jeff” Kearney

Jeffrey “Jeff” Kennedy

Christopher Lankford

Thomas “Chad” Lee

Landon Loker

Jonathan Lowe

Bret Martin

Leticia “Letty” Martinez

Chelsi McLarty

Colin McLaughlin

Kyle Morris

John “Eric” Nickols

Donald “Graham” Norris

Shawn Paschall

Tracie Kenan Perkins

G. Andrew “Andy” Platt

Zane Reid

Matthew “Matt” Rivers

Paul “Mike” Schneider

Thomas “Frank” Sellers

Columbus “Monroe” Solomon

Justin Sparks

Anna Summersett

Mark Thorne-Thomsen

Mary “Alex” Thornton

Dustin Trammel

Lindsay Truly

Benson Varghese

Harry White

Luke Williams

Bryan Wilson

Sheena Winkfield

Hilary Wright

EDUCATION/SCHOOL LAW

Antonio Allen

Janet Bubert

Megan Cooley

Sarah Flournoy

Daniel “Austin” Ortiz

Andrea Paris

Larry “Lee” Tyner

ELDER LAW

Monica Benson

Steven Katten

Dana Zachry

ESTATE PLANNING & PROBATE

Heidi Angel

Marvin Blum

Antoinette Bone

Elizabeth Brooks

William “Ryan” Campbell

Thomas “Tom” Campbell

Kandice Damiano

James Davidson

Matthew “Matt” Davidson

Clinton “Clint” Davis

Kelly DeBerry

Angelica Farinacci

Tena Fox

Kaitlin Goddard

Catherine Goodman

Ross Griffith

Nikki Grote

Shannon Guthrie

Janet Hahn

Shelli Harveson

Christopher “Ryan” Heath

James Holliday

Amanda Holliday

Lisa Jamieson

Michael Kaitcer

Kevin Kuenzli

Richard “Paul” Lancaster

Robert “Bob” Loudermilk

Jennifer Lovelace

Mark Maples

Daniel “Dan” McCarthy

Phillip “Phil” McCrury

Dyann McCully

Jeffrey “Jeff” Myers

Roger “Blair” Norman

Christopher “Chris” Ponder

Rachel Saltsman

Lani Sandu

Melinda Smith

Aimee Stone

Michael “Mike” Sweet

Leslie Thomas

FAMILY

Laura Alexander

Timothy “Tim” Alexander

Katherine Allen

Brian Alpiger

Andrew Anderson

Leslie Barrows

Norma Bazan

Kathleen “Katie” Berry

Sarah Blake

Ola Campbell

Tina Campbell

Nicole Carroll

Tawanna Cesare

Mark Childress

McKenzie Coe

Malorie Crosley

Anita Cutrer

Lori Dally

Rachel Dalton

Kelly Decker

Scott Edmonds

Cynthia “Cindy” Fitch

Louis “Bodie” Freeman III

Kayla Gertsch

Kayla Harrington

Desiree Hartwigsen

Taryn Horton

Elizabeth “Brooke” Hubbard

Jeffrey “Jeff” Johnson

Dawn King

Heather King

Mark Lane

Konnor Lee

Michael Livens

Results-DrivenMain

DedicatedResults-Driven

At Brackett & Ellis, we believe great law is built on great relationships. Since our founding, we’ve served as trusted advocates for individuals, businesses, and governmental entities— locally in Fort Worth, across Texas, throughout the U.S., and abroad.

As a full-service civil practice rm, our strength lies in the depth and range of our experience. We’re proud to o er Fort Worth’s only combination of expertise in intellectual property, public and private education law, and international syndicated insurance matters—along with comprehensive counsel across a wide range of legal disciplines.

(Backrow - L to R) Heath Co man, Logan Cochran, Joe Cleveland, Dillon Minick, Kale Ridge

(Frontrow - L to R) Sarah Flournoy, Andrew Norman, Russell Norment, Ally Conoley, Andrea Paris

(Backrow - L to R) James Sanders, Mike Sweet, Joe Tolbert, Brad Timms

(Frontrow - L to R) Xintong Song, Madison Kuczynski Craig, Reed Loftis, Zak Martinez, Angelique McCall Ditty

Top Attorneys 2025

Monique Lopez-Hinkely

Sean Lynch

Paige Lyons

Dana Manry

Patton Maynard Sr.

Kenneth “Ken” McAlister

Janine McGill

Zena McNulty

Tiffany Yates McWhorter

Bailey Michell

Stephanie Milliron

Constance Mims

Rick Mitchell Jr.

Tyler Monahan

Charla Moore

Kristen Carr Mullins

Kimberly “Kim” Naylor

Gary Nickelson

Jeffrey “Spencer” Nilsson

Heather Ogier

Chandni Patel

Cassidy “Cassi” Pearson

Jessica Phillips

Alison Porterfield

Sarah Pricer

Michelle Purvis

Michael Rousseau

Karon Rowden

Stephanie SabelhausVillaman

Sarah Seltzer

Justin Sisemore

Donna Smiedt

Dwayne Smith

Kathleen “Kate” Smith

Kimberly “Kimmy” Stoner

Melissa Swan

Bat-Sheva Tabakman

Anna Teller

Jeffrey “Turner” Thornton

Cindy Tisdale

Sara Vargas

Whitney Vaughan

Courtney Walker

Daniel “Danny” Webb

Dana White

Stacie Wright

Michael “Mike” Wurtz

Holly Youngblood

HEALTH

Joseph “Joe” Gallagher

Stephen Madsen

Jordan Parker

Lauren Sorokolit

Wayne Whitaker

IMMIGRATION

Rosa Maria Berdeja

Veronica Garza

Natalia Lopez

Daniel Louis

Rocio Martinez

Lisa McBee

Edwardo Meza

Jason Mills

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Bradley “Brad” Birchfield

William “Allan” Braxdale

Decker Cammack

Joseph “Joe” Cleveland

Clark Cowley

Scott Fredricks

Charles Gunter Jr.

Dave Gunter

Angélique McCall Ditty

Enrique “Rick” Sanchez Jr.

Richard “Rocky” Schwartz

David Skeels

Juan Vasquez

Brian Yost

LABOR & EMPLOYMENTEMPLOYEE

Elizabeth “Beth” Bones Chermel

Kyle Carney

S. Rafe Foreman

Drew Herrmann

Pamela Herrmann

Susan Hutchison

Jason Smith

James “Rod” Tanner

Jonathan “Jack” Walters

LABOR & EMPLOYMENTEMPLOYER

Lauren Azopardi

Lanie Bennett Read

Tom “Tom” Brandon Jr.

Vianei Braun

Sarah Carmichael

Russell Cawyer

Nikki Chriesman-Green

Karen Denney

Adam Greenfield

Caroline Harrison

Claudine Jackson

Spencer Mainka

Jay Rutherford

Taylor Winn

LAND USE & ENVIRONMENT

Joseph “Ray” Oujesky

Melinda Ramos

Tyler Wallach

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

Gregory “Greg” Blaies

Darrell Keith

Wesley “Wes” Myers

MOVING VIOLATIONS

Andrew Hawkins

Justin Holt

Sommer Walker

Bonnie Wolf

NONPROFIT LAW

John Anthony

Michael Appleman

Daniel “Dan” Malone

Darren Moore

Harrison Smith

Michele Sparkman

Dana Stayton

OIL & GAS

Donald “Prichard” Bevis Jr.

William “Cole” Bredthauer

William “Bill” Bredthauer

Eric Camp

Timothy “Tim” Howell

Terry McClure

John “Pat” Murphy

Roger Neely

Robert “Mark” Oliver

Adam Plumbley

Michael Reer

Clark Rucker

Brian Smith

Mason Smith

Todd Spake

Paul “Taylor” Spalla

PERSONAL INJURYDEFENSE

Daniel “Dan” Bates

Maria “Alejandra” Conoley

Neely Fortinberry

Wesley “Wes” Hightower

Zak Martinez

Christopher “Chris” Pruitt

Katherine “Kathy” Reid

Jackie Robinson

James “Jim” Stouffer Jr.

Jeffrey Tillman

PERSONAL INJURYPLAINTIFF

Matthew Aulsbrook

Monica Barnard

Wade Barrow

Herman “Gene” Burkett Jr.

Robert “Rieker” Carsey

Edward “Dwain” Dent

Claire Fore

Michael Francis

Mark Frenkel

Michael Galyen

Elizabeth Haslam

Robert “Bob” Haslam

Michael “Mike” Henry Sr.

Robert “Rob” Henry

Richard “Rich” Hyde

Gregory “Greg” Jackson

Kolter Jennings

Kimberly “Kim” Jones Penepacker

John Jose

Serech Kissire

Steven Laird

Kern Lewis

Jesse “Jess” Lotspeich

Brittanie Mayo

Gregory “Greg” McCarthy

Victoria McDowell-Drew

Matthew McLain

Mitchell “Mitch” Miers

Rachel Montes

Anna Patterson

William “Travis” Patterson

Stephen “Steve” Postlewate

Accelerate Innovation Mitigate Risk Safeguard Advantage.

Our AI Governance team helps organizations manage, protect, and monetize AI systems and data - allowing companies to advance quickly, govern responsibly, and protect strategically.

We advise clients at the intersection of technology and law by:

» Drafting governance frameworks and development agreements,

» Protecting AI models and ML algorithms,

» Responding to cyber incidents, and

» Navigating regulatory compliance in the U.S. and abroad. Congratulations to our 2025 TOP ATTORNEYS

» Brad Birchfield

» Jake Boyd

» Thomas Brandon BL

» Kirk Bryant

» Decker Cammack BL SL

» John Allen Chalk BL SL

» Clark Cowley

» John Fahy

» Donald Ferrill

» Charles Gunter

» Thomas Harkins

» Michael Kaitcer BL SL

» Matt Koronczok OTW

» Mark Maples

» Hunter McLean BL SL

» Caleb Moore

» Scot Pierce

» Vernon Rew

» Rick Sanchez OTW

» Rocky Schwartz BL SL

» Brent Shellhorse BL SL

» Robert Simon BL SL

» David Skeels SL

» Brian Smith

» Melinda Smith

» Mack Ed Swindle BL SL

» Juan Vasquez OTW

» Robert West SL

» Wayne Whitaker

» Estate Planning

» Income Tax Planning

» Asset Protection Planning

» Business Planning

» Family Legacy Planning

» Tax Controversy

» International Tax

Over 30 attorneys with o ces in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Austin, e Blum Firm serves clientele across Texas and the United States. For over 40

O

» Trust & Estate Litigation

» Probate/Estate Administration

» Guardianship

» Mediation

» Charitable Planning

» Tax-Exempt Organizations

» Business Succession Planning

Top Attorneys 2025

George “Alan” Powers

Jose “Joe” Robles Jr.

Victor Rodriguez II

John “Tony” Ross Jr.

Judith “Judy” Rota

Mattilyn Smith

Kathryn “Katie” Steele

Jason Stephens

Tyanthony “Ty” Stimpson

Christopher “Chris” Stoy

Andrew Strong

Tennessee Walker

Roger “Rocky” Walton

Ben Westbrook

Coby Wooten

REAL ESTATE

Kendall “Ken” Adair

Mark Bishop

Edward “Teddy” Boschini

Jarrod Cone

Richard DeBerry

Brett Epstein

Zachary “Zach” Garsek

Robert “Bob” Ginsburg

Michael Goodrich

Bryon Hammer

Sarah “Sadie” HarrisonFincher

Alan Hegi

Joel Heydenburk

James “Jim” Jay IV

Samuel “Sam” Johndroe

John “J.C.” Johnson

Chad Key

Matthew Luensmann

Michael “Mike” Malone

Gary Moates

Russell “Russ” Norment

Jeremy Pruett

Kylie Rahl

Jeffrey “Jeff’ Rattikin

Robert “Robbie” Reeb III

Brian Restivo

Grant Sorenson

Kenneth Stogdill

Thomas “Tom” Turet

Micheal “Mike” Vecchio

Judd “Jody” Walker

Hannah Watkins

Ginger Webber

Robert “Bob” West

Dan White

SECURITIES

Jarrod Azopardi

John Fahy

Toby Galloway

Calvin “Cal” Jackson

Andrew Rosell

TAX

Jacob Birnbaum

Lawrence “Larry” Brown

Sean Bryan

John Hunter

Jordan Stimpson

Gary “Len” Woodard II

LESS THAN FIVE YEARS IN PRACTICE

ADMINISTRATIVE

Alessandra Papa

BANKING

Kaitlin Paule

BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL

Preston Polk

CIVIL LAW & LITIGATION

Chandler Dean

Cheyenne Haley

Joanna Hughes

Abigail “Abbey” Irwin

Christian Martinez

Jacey Mizer

Tyler Scholes

Thomas Swafford

Jaret Thurston

CIVIL LAW, TRANSACTIONAL

Peyton Dietz

Tristan Watson

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

Stefan Garcia

Dillon Minick

Mallory Williams

CONSTRUCTION

John Fronk

CORPORATE COUNSEL

Alisha Manzo

CORPORATE

FINANCE/MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

Chanel Thomas

Natalie Waters

CRIMINAL

Thomas “Tom” Beach

Erika Flores

Tanner Ford

Audrey Hatcher

Macy Jeffers

Marissa Matthews

ESTATE PLANNING & PROBATE

Annie Counts

Madison Craig

Jenna Lusk

Hannah Orand

FAMILY

Tanner Breed

William “Chandler” Cramer

Brianda Curry

Chloe Day

Christiana Doherty

Avni Hathi

Hailey Klingbeil

Tarrah Lett

Patton Maynard Jr.

Haley Shaw

Andrew Tisdale

IMMIGRATION

Raul Natera

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Kiala Ellingson

Mack Swindle

OIL & GAS

Desiree Malone

PERSONAL INJURYDEFENSE

Kale Ridge

James Sanders

Geno Slavchev-Kurkchijsky

PERSONAL INJURYPLAINTIFF

Alyssa Alfaro

Tara Schmidt

Riley Waters

REAL ESTATE

Alyssa “AJ” Marquette

TAX

Samuel “Sam” Pumphrey

R]

FORT WORTH OFFICE

* Congratulations to our Fort Worth Magazine 2025 Top Attorneys winners

GORANSON BAIN AUSLEY

[L to

Andrew Tisdale *, Cindy Tisdale*, Gary Nickelson*, Cassidy Pearson*, Brooke Baker, Hailey Schmitt, Chris Nickelson*

At Goranson Bain Ausley , you’ll find accomplished attorneys united by a commitment to putting clients first. Our Fort Worth team includes five lawyers named Top Attorneys by Fort Worth Magazine and four Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Among them is one lawyer who is Double Board Certified in both Appellate and Family Law, as well as a former president of the State Bar of Texas. Each lawyer practices with a client-first mindset to protect assets, preserve relationships, and deliver exceptional value. When you face a family law matter, rely on the team that keeps your best interests at heart.

Left to Right

(Page 1, Standing Up): Hannah E. Orand; Tristan L. Watson; Christopher J. Pruitt; Andrew L. Wambsganss; Michael L. Forman.

Left to Right (Page 1, Sitting Down): Geno R. Slavchev; Morgan Register; Zachary S. Cate; Cade Cross ; Christopher T. Nezworski; Left to Right (Page 2, Standing Up): Randal L. Dean; R. Mark Oliver; Eric C. Freeby; Alyssa A. Jacobs; Tyler G. Scholes,

Left to Right (Page 2, Sitting Down): Peyton D. Dietz; Michael J. Moore; Abigail D. Irwin; S. Kyle Voss; Jaret R. Thurston.

FOCUS

Attorneys to Know

They stand by us through some of life’s more memorable moments. They guide us through everything from an adoption to starting a company. They are some of Greater Fort Worth’s brightest, most-sought-after professionals, and they want to tell you how hiring them will benefit you.

The information in this section is provided by the advertisers and has not been independently verified by Fort Worth Magazine.

Dorsett Johnson & Cisneros

SPECIALTY: Real Estate, Corporate, Commercial, and Construction. AWARDS/HONORS: Lawyers of Distinction; Legal Elite, U.S. Business News; Super Lawyers; board certified by Texas Board of Legal Specialization; Texas Bar Foundation. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Our clients have repeatedly identified our responsive and practical solutions as the hallmarks of the value we provide. The trust of our clients and the value we deliver to our clients are our greatest professional achievements. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Our law firm prioritizes developing exceptional client relationships by listening to our clients’ needs, communicating

proactively, and anticipating future challenges. THE TEAM: We have strategically assembled a team of 48 professionals to serve the needs of our clients. LOCATIONS: Fort Worth, Austin, Brownsville, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. PICTURED: Frank Morphis, Kasey Rachel, Kimberly Sikes, J C Johnson, and Jennifer Reali.

Dorsett Johnson & Cisneros 421 W. Third St., Ste. 700 Fort Worth 76102 DorsettJohnson.com

Frenkel & Frenkel

FOCUS: The firm focuses on personal injury cases, commercial vehicle cases, 18-wheeler, rideshare, and delivery vehicles. We also handle car and motorcycle wrecks and cases involving dangerous/defective drugs and/or products, such as automotive defects and medical devices. AWARDS/HONORS: Scott Frenkel – Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, 2007-2025; Texas Super Lawyer, a Thomson Reuters publication, 2011-2025; Best Lawyers in Fort Worth, 2017-2020; Million Dollar Advocates Forum & Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum; member, Texas Bar College. Mark Frenkel – past president, Dallas Trial Lawyers Association; Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, 2009-2025; Texas Super Lawyer, a Thomson Reuters publication, 2014-2025; Million Dollar Advocates Forum & Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Gene Burkett – Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine, 2015-2025; Best Lawyers in Fort Worth, 2017-2022; Texas Super Lawyer 2020-2025, a Thomson Reuters publication, Million Dollar Advocates Forum & Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum; member, Texas Bar College. Addison Magazine readers voted Frenkel & Frenkel their favorite law firm, 2013-2022. GREATEST

PROFESSIONAL

ACCOMPLISHMENT: Creating this firm has helped tens of thousands of individuals in their time of need. Daily, we give our clients the ability to take on any adversary. We will not be outworked, and we have the resources to take on any adversary. WHAT SETS THEM APART: We can handle and fund any size case; employ advanced techniques learned over 25+ years; and stay at the front of technology useful in presenting our clients’ cases. Our experience on the defense side of the docket gives us insight into how the opposition works. APPROACH TO LAW: Clients first; results oriented. We hold careless and negligent companies and individuals accountable for their actions. Having been practicing in Texas for over a quarter of a century, insurance companies and defense lawyers know we fight vigorously to get our clients what they deserve. MOTTO: Integrity. Safety. Results. FREE ADVICE: If you’ve been in a wreck, call us immediately. The other side is not there to help you. They are there to get your claim settled as inexpensively and quickly as possible. PICTURED: Scott B. Frenkel (Partner), H. Gene Burkett (Partner), and Mark D. Frenkel (Partner). NOT PICTURED: Jason L. Boorstein (Associate), David I. Adest (Associate), Aaron C. Spahr (Associate), Joshua A. Cohen (Associate), Carlos A. Fernandez (Associate), Shawn Thompson (Associate), Brett Baker (Associate), Andrew M. Gross, M.D., J.D. (Of Counsel).

Frenkel & Frenkel

12700 Park Central Drive, Ste. 1900 Dallas 75251

817.333.3333 | 214.333.3333 | Fax

TruckWreck.com

Hoeller McLaughlin PLLC

SPECIALTY: Hoeller McLaughlin PLLC specializes in criminal defense and DWI defense. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Our entire legal team consists of former Tarrant County criminal and DWI prosecutors with over 350 criminal jury trials, from DWI to capital murder. Partners Colin McLaughlin and Hilary Wright are both Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. AWARDS/ HONORS: Our entire legal team was named Top Criminal Attorneys by Fort Worth Magazine for 2025. Managing Partner Bryan Hoeller has been named a Texas Super Lawyer for 2003, 2004, 2025 by Thomson Reuters. Partner Lindsay Truly has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in each of the last five years by Thomson Reuters. Partner Dustin Trammel has received two Not Guilty verdicts this year, has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2024 by Thomson Reuters, and is a U.S. Army Veteran. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Every member of our legal team holds active membership in both the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, reflecting our unwavering commitment to excellence in criminal defense and ongoing professional development. In addition, Partner Hilary Wright is the presidentelect of the Texas Association of Specialty Courts. MISSION: Our mission is to protect the future of our clients. FREE ADVICE: Don’t talk to the police. PICTURED: (left to right) Dustin Trammel, Bryan Hoeller, Hilary Wright, Lindsay Truly, and Colin McLaughlin.

Hoeller McLaughlin PLLC

101 Summit Ave., Ste. 101 | Fort Worth 76102 817.334.7900 | bryanhoellerlaw.com

Stephens Law Firm PLLC

SPECIALTY: We focus exclusively on representing individuals and families who have been involved in an 18-wheeler or commercial vehicle accident, a life-changing personal injury, or have lost a loved one in a wrongful death. The firm limits its practice to select cases, allowing us to fully understand our clients’ losses and struggles while forging a strategic plan to help move their lives forward. “When we take on a case, our client’s problem becomes our problem, and we are driven to righting that wrong,” says Jason Stephens. AWARDS/HONORS:

Jason Stephens – American College of Trial Lawyers (less than 1% of lawyers achieve this honor); Top 100 Super Lawyers in Texas by Thomas Reuters (2025); Texas Super Lawyer by Thomas Reuters (2004-2025); Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers Association (2011-2025); member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates. Rieker Carsey – Texas Super Lawyer by Thomas Reuters (2022-2025); Rising Star-Super Lawyer (2020-21); and president of the Tarrant County Trial Lawyers (2020). FIRM’S PROFESSIONAL APPROACH: Jason,

Rieker, and their talented team are devoted to helping clients get answers, move toward healing, and seek the financial compensation they deserve. The firm takes the trust of clients seriously and personally and always strives to serve their clients and community with honor and integrity. WHAT SETS THEM APART: We are extremely passionate about what we do and have 60-plus combined years of experience with a long record of success. This isn’t just a job — it’s our calling! PICTURED: Attorneys Jason Stephens and Rieker Carsey. Stephens Law Firm PLLC

Varghese Summersett FOCUS ATTORNEYS TO KNOW

SPECIALTY: Varghese Summersett is a premier personal injury, family law, and criminal defense practice dedicated to helping people through life’s greatest challenges. Each division is comprised of experienced, award-winning attorneys who are committed to providing exceptional communication, unmatched service, and unparalleled outcomes. The firm is headquartered in downtown Fort Worth but also has offices in Dallas, Southlake, and Houston. AWARDS/HONORS: Varghese Summersett has been named a Fort Worth Small Business of the Year, a DFW Favorite Law Firm, a Best Company to Work For, a Best Place for Working Parents, and one of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies. The firm’s lawyers have also been recognized as Top Attorneys, Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, Best Lawyers, and Ones to Watch in America. Four lawyers

are board-certified, the highest designation an attorney can achieve. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Our attorneys are at home in the courtroom, but we are also deeply involved in the community outside of it. We serve as adjunct law professors, gubernatorial appointees, nonprofit board members, and even in the military. We are committed to making a positive impact on our community and our country, bringing our passion for service to every facet of our professional and personal lives. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Our attorneys have helped thousands of people through the darkest moments of their lives. Our greatest achievement is that past clients continue to trust us to represent their family and friends. MISSION: Varghese Summersett’s mission is to provide unmatched service and obtain unparalleled outcomes while

maintaining a growth mindset, connecting with compassion, and supporting our firm family. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Our unique value is folding premier customer service into expert legal representation. As trial attorneys, we understand the importance of results, but as service providers, we also understand the necessity of a peaceful process. FREE ADVICE: Proactive representation is key to ultimate success. If you feel something is wrong or out of place, get an expert legal opinion immediately. Delay is detrimental. PICTURED: (left to right) 2025 Top Attorneys: Benson Varghese, Anna Summersett, Christy Jack, Turner Thornton, Lisa Herrick, Tiffany Burks, Letty Martinez. (NOT PICTURED): Kristen Carr, Nicole Carroll, McKenzie Coe, Audrey Hatcher, Hailey Klingbeil, Michael Livens, Ty Stimpson, Alex Thornton, Sheena Winkfield, and Katie Steele.

Varghese Summersett PLLC

300 Throckmorton St., Ste. 700 Fort Worth 76102 817.203.2220 versustexas.com

SPECIALTY: The firm focuses on family law: divorce, child custody, and property division.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Leslie Barrows – J.D., Oklahoma City University School of Law; B.A., Sam Houston State University; certified mediator with training in collaborative law. MEMBERSHIPS: Member of the State Bar of Texas and the Tarrant County Bar Association; past roles in boards such as the Carroll Education Foundation (executive board member) and involvement with youth/ juvenile programs. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Building The Barrows Firm since 2006 into a recognized, award-winning practice providing family law, estate planning, and probate services. MISSION: To provide pragmatic, experienced legal counsel in familylaw matters that protects clients’ financial security and parental rights when those are at stake. APPROACH: Every client is treated like family … we bring expertise, experience, and ethics to the table. WHAT SETS THEM APART: The firm emphasizes both negotiation and readiness to fight when necessary. It maintains a boutique, client-focused practice while handling complex and high-stakes matters. MOTTO: “Protecting your family. Securing your future.” FREE ADVICE: When your family, finances, or future are on the line, don’t try to navigate alone or settle for less-experienced counsel. Choose a team experienced in family law who will protect your interests while guiding you with care and clarity. PICTURED: Leslie Barrows.

520 E. Southlake Blvd., Ste. 140 Southlake 76092

817.481.1583

barrowsfirm.com

The Barrows Firm

The Barrows Firm

Wade Barrow Barrow Law

SPECIALTY: Representing victims of personal injury and wrongful death. EDUCATION/ CERTIFICATIONS: B.A., Baylor University; J.D., University of Texas; LLM in Trial Advocacy, Temple University; Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law, TBLS, Civil Trial Advocacy, NBTA; Truck Accident Law, NBTA. AWARDS/HONORS: Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum; National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, 2012; Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorney, 2010-2025; Super Lawyers, 2013-2025; Rising Stars 2008-2013; Top Premises Liability Verdict in Texas 2024. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Texas Trial Lawyers Association, vice-president, 2019-21; Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association, past president; American Board of Trial Advocates. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Trying 50 civil cases before my 50th birthday. WHY HE CHOSE THE LEGAL FIELD: When I was a kid, I saw unfairness in the world and wanted to do something about it. APPROACH TO LAW: Treat every client like a unique person and case. FREE ADVICE: Always meet with the attorney who will actually be handling your case in person and have all of your questions answered before you sign a contract with the attorney. Make sure the attorney you hire specializes in the legal matter for which you are seeking help and is board certified in that area of the law. PICTURED: Wade Barrow and Matthew Tautfest. Barrow Law 1214 Fairmount Ave.

817.617.7797

Fax 817.900.3408 barrow-law.com

FOCUS ATTORNEYS TO KNOW

BNSF Railway

Jennifer L. Willingham, Sr. General Attorney II

Chrissy H. Long, Sr. General Attorney I

Tasheena L. Byrd, Sr. General Attorney I

SPECIALTIES: Jennifer Willingham is BNSF’s senior litigation counsel providing strategic direction on legal risks and mitigation strategies affecting business decisions as well as managing a team and large portfolio of litigated matters across the 28 states in which BNSF operates. Chrissy Long provides legal counsel to BNSF’s commercial teams on economic regulatory issues related to the Surface Transportation Board. Tasheena Byrd provides legal counsel on commercial and property matters involving shortline railroads connected to BNSF’s network and oversees legal issues that impact the efficiency, safety, and strategic priorities of its operations.

EDUCATION: Jennifer Willingham – Baylor University School of Law, J.D. Chrissy Long – The University of Texas School of Law, J.D. Tasheena Byrd – SMU Dedman School of Law, J.D. AWARDS/HONORS: Jennifer Willingham – Top Attorney 2008-2012 and 2024, Fort Worth Magazine. Chrissy Long – Top Attorney 2023 & 2024, Fort Worth Magazine; Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow. Tasheena Byrd – Texas Bar Foundation. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: At BNSF, in-house attorneys have become indispensable utility players. In a constantly evolving industry with some of the best legal talent, Jennifer, Chrissy, and Tasheena distinguish themselves through expertise in navigating complex business operations, advising clients with unique legal challenges, and championing BNSF’s commitment to safety and service for its customers and communities. PICTURED: (left to right) Jennifer Willingham, Chrissy Long, and Tasheena Byrd. Photograph by French F. Thompson.

BNSF Railway

2500 Lou Menk Drive   Fort Worth 76131

jennifer.willingham@bnsf.com  chrissy.long@bnsf.com  tasheena.byrd@bnsf.com

SPECIALTY: Civil trial and appeals. Kyle helps trial lawyers with their cases and serves professionals and small-business owners in employment, higher education, and unfair competition matters. EDUCATION: Texas A&M School of Law. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: Texas Aggie Bar Association; State Bar of Texas. RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS: Kyle obtained a reversal rendering a take-nothing judgment from the 14th Court of Appeals, cancelling a $2.4 million judgment. Kyle established his own law firm handling complex trials and appeals to make high-quality representation available to small businesses and professionals. APPROACH: Kyle uses his experience and network to handle complex cases while also serving employees, professionals, and small businesses through tech-enabled efficiencies. WHAT SETS HIM APART: Kyle has trial experience that allows him to empathize with the busy trial lawyer handling the case on the modern battlefield. Kyle has enough trial experience to appreciate the challenges of trial work and to help the trial lawyers succeed in their mission. FREE ADVICE: Get an appellate lawyer involved early in your case. It will position you for success by preserving your legal claims and narrowing down your opponent’s.

9800 Hillwood Parkway, Ste. 140

Fort Worth 76177

817.717.1195

carney.law

Kyle Thomas Carney Carney Law PLLC

Kyle Thomas Carney

SPECIALTY: We protect people being investigated or prosecuted for state and federal criminal offenses. Our proactive group of experts defend allegations ranging from capital murder to white collar crime. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Double Board Certified in Criminal Law and Criminal Appeals by Texas Board of Legal Specialization; J.D., Texas Tech University School of Law; MBA, Texas Tech University. AWARDS/HONORS: Many of our attorneys are Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, serve as law school adjunct professors, and are consistently recognized on nearly every prestigious list. Our greatest honors are the thank-you cards and mementos we receive from clients and their families. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Earning Double Board Certification in both Criminal Law and Criminal Appeals from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. APPROACH: We follow three steps: (1) uncover the full richness of our client’s story, (2) dissect the prosecution’s case, and (3) build an aggressive plan of attack. Our approach is proactive, relentless, and always focused on creating opportunities to win. WHAT SETS THEM APART: We act fast and fight hard. While others wait, we investigate and push forward. This isn’t just work—it’s what drives us. FREE ADVICE: Act fast. The government won’t wait. Time is leverage. Early defense stops momentum. PICTURED: James Luster, Demetrice Lopez, Cody Cofer, Chris Curtis, Pam Boggess.

604 E. Fourth St., Ste. 101 Fort Worth 76102

682.777.3336 coferluster.com

Cofer Luster Law Firm

Cody Cofer Cofer Luster Law Firm

The Coffey Firm

CONCENTRATION: DWI, Criminal Defense. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Mimi Coffey – Baylor University, Texas Tech School of Law, Board-Certified in DWI by the NCDD. AWARDS/HONORS: Former dean of the National College of DUI Defense; national speaker on DWI; five national articles published in The Champion; seven statewide articles in The Voice; author of Texas DWI Defense: The Law and Practice, now in its second edition; Texas Lawyer, 2015 Extraordinary Minorities in Texas Law. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/ AFFILIATIONS: NCDD, NACDL, TCDLA, TCCDLA, DCDLA, TCBA, State Bar College, Texas Bar Foundation, Texas Tech School of Law Foundation Board. Cindy Stormer –former elected District Attorney of Cooke County, former Super Chief of Dallas District Attorney’s office, career prosecutor, author, former police officer, former TCC professor. SPECIAL INTERESTS: Coffey – “I love people. I love to help people. Everyone makes mistakes.” Stormer – “We are passionate about keeping people out of jail.” PICTURED: Cindy Stormer and Mimi Coffey.

The Coffey Firm 4700 Airport Freeway Fort Worth 76117 817.831.3100

mimicoffey.com

Cotten Schmidt, LLP

SPECIALTY: Civil Law, including trials in all courts, business organizations and commercial transactions, construction, real estate, family law and probate. APPROACH TO LAW: Our approach is to leverage experience with hard work and creative legal strategy to achieve successful outcomes. FOCUS: Our focus is to find innovative methods to get to efficient outcomes. We work with our clients at each step of the process, whether in a lawsuit, a business or real estate transaction, a probate or divorce, to keep our client involved and informed and to answer the questions that they have. WHAT SETS THEM APART: What we have found to be unique is our openness and availability to our clients. We enjoy the practice of law and the opportunity to meet, get to know and help clients achieve successful results. PICTURED: (seated, left to right) Larry Cotten, Randall Schmidt, Brent Brown; (standing, left to right) Jerold Mitchell, Sean Lynch, Marshall Jacobini, Randal Moore. NOT PICTURED: Brian Esenwein, Gene Ward, Steve Gordon, and Frank Jacobini.

Cotten Schmidt, LLP

301 Commerce St., Ste. 2900 Fort Worth 76109

817.338.4500

cottenschmidt.com

Dally & Webb Family Law, PLLC

SPECIALITY: Exclusively Family Law. CERTIFICATIONS: Lori & Laura – Trained in Collaborative Law. Daniel, Lori, Laura and Steven – Board Certified in Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization. AWARDS/HONORS: Lori – Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers (2019-2025); Top Attorney in Family Law, Fort Worth Magazine (2017-2025). Daniel – Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers (2012-2020) and Super Lawyer (2021-2025); Top Attorney in Family Law, Fort Worth Magazine (2022-2025). GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Lori – Swearing in before the United States Supreme Court. Daniel – Acceptance to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. APPROACH TO LAW: As a firm, we prioritize matters with sensitivity, creative legal strategies, and a deep understanding of evolving family and legal dynamics. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Results! Our exceptional team of family lawyers stays up to date on the latest legal developments, which ensure optimal outcomes for our clients. It’s not enough for us to just say we are great at providing exceptional results for our clients, we go out and continue to prove it time and time again. FREE ADVICE: Finding a lawyer is hard; do your homework. Find a lawyer you trust, listen to them, and take their advice. PICTURED: J. Steven King, Laura E. Copp, Daniel P. Webb, Lori E. Dally, Lakyn M. Hixon, Sara E. Vargas, and Max Brewington.

Dally & Webb

Family Law, PLLC

2813 S. Hulen St., Ste. 250 Fort Worth 76109* 817.409.1136

106 S. Jones St. Granbury 76048 817 408 3541

Andrew Deegan Attorney at Law

SPECIALTY: Criminal cases filed in state court, including DWI, assault charges, and drug cases. Law office is in Fort Worth, but Andrew handles cases in surrounding counties and across the state. EDUCATION/ CERTIFICATIONS: University of Mississippi School of Law, 2013; ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer Scientist 2017. AWARDS/HONORS: Super Lawyers Texas Rising Stars, 2020 – 2023. MEMBERSHIPS: Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. PROFESSIONAL MISSION: To help people get out of legal situations that are often unexpected, difficult, and terrifying. WHAT SETS HIM APART: Andrew believes that a very important part of defending someone is telling that person’s story. This takes time, and for that reason, he does not have a high-volume practice like some other lawyers have. FREE ADVICE: “Don’t try to explain anything to anyone until you’re in your lawyer’s office.” PICTURED: Andrew Deegan.

Andrew Deegan, Attorney at Law 933 W. Weatherford St., Ste. 212 Fort Worth, Texas 76102 817.689.7002 andrew@andrewdeeganlaw.com andrewdeeganlaw.com

The Dent Law Firm

Dwain Dent, Alyssa Alfaro

CONCENTRATION: Wrongful death, pharmaceutical, insurance, and injury. EDUCATION: Dwain Dent – St. Mary’s School of Law and TCU undergraduate. Alyssa Alfaro – UNT Dallas College of Law and Trinity University undergraduate. WHY LAW: They have a passion for fighting the giants, i.e., David versus Goliath. Being an advocate for those who feel overwhelmed by the legal system. HISTORY: The Dent Law Firm, founded in 1990, has successfully represented thousands of clients in serious injury and death claims, claims against insurance companies, car wrecks, aviation, and other personal injury cases. HONORS: Dwain – Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist, Trial Lawyers for Public Justice Foundation, Washington, D.C., 2011; Preeminent Lawyers in America; Who’s Who in American Law; Million--Dollar Advocate Forum member; “Top Attorney” in Fort Worth Magazine, 2003 - present; “Texas Super Lawyer” by Texas Monthly, 2003-present; St. Mary’s Law School Distinguished Graduate, 2012; St. Mary’s Law School Hall of Fame, 2013; Recognized Best Lawyers in America; Board Certified Personal Injury State of Texas, National Board of Trial Advocacy. Alyssa – 360West Top Attorney 2024 - 2025; “Top Attorney” in Fort Worth Magazine, 2024 - 2025 in Personal Injury; and voted Best Lawyers: “Ones to Watch” 2026. ADVICE: “Never assume an insurance company will do the right thing.”

The Dent Law Firm 1120 Penn St. Fort Worth 76102 817.332.2889

thedentlawfirm@cs.com

thedentlawfirm.com

SPECIALTY: Energy and Commercial Litigation. EDUCATION: Michael K. Reer – University of Houston, LL.M., Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Law; Boston College Law School, J.D.; Boston College, B.A. Desireé Malone – UNT Dallas College of Law, J.D.; UT Arlington, B.A. HONORS: Michael K. Reer –2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Reer is a top trial lawyer with lead counsel experience in cases over $200 million. He’s been featured in Law360 and Top Verdict for securing Texas’s largest environmental law jury verdict in 2023. As an associate, Malone has experience secondchairing complex litigation, contributing to multiple jury trial victories, and first-chairing successful bench trials involving property disputes. PROFESSIONAL APPROACH: Reer and Malone employ a client-centric approach to trial work, defining client objectives and goals early and focusing on achieving those goals in a diligent, efficient manner. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Reer and Malone are dynamic and results-driven trial lawyers who thrive in the courtroom. Known for their rigorous preparation, compelling cross-examination, and relentless pursuit of excellence, they have built reputations for tackling challenges head-on with integrity and precision. PICTURED: Michael K. Reer and Desireé Malone.

FBFK Law

777 Main St., Ste. 3200 Fort Worth 76102

972.378.9111

fbfk.law

FBFK Law

The Law Offices of Gill & Brissette

SPECIALTY: Criminal Defense – State and Federal, Criminal Appeals. With more than 165 years of collective legal experience, our team delivers strategic, results-driven criminal defense shaped by extensive courtroom expertise. We’re proud to include a retired state district judge and several former chief prosecutors — each Board Certified in Criminal Law — bringing rare, insider insight into the workings of the justice system. AWARDS/HONORS: Gill – board member, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer Association (TCDLA); author of Texas Criminal Lawyer’s Handbook and Texas Criminal Forms. Brissette – past-president, Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCCDLA); past-president, Texas Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI). Don Bodenhamer – TCU Athletic Hall of Fame. APPROACH: We approach each case with full focus and intensity, giving every client personalized attention backed by our experience and strategic insight. Our creativity, skill, and meticulous detail consistently deliver meaningful results. WHAT SETS THEM APART: We specialize in difficult cases. Our in-house private investigators and full-service digital forensics lab are designed to deliver effective representation in complex cases. FREE ADVICE: When the stakes are high, early advice matters. Reach out to a criminal defense lawyer at the first sign of trouble. PICTURED: Bob Gill*, D. Miles Brissette*, Page Simpson*, Preston Spivey, Tracey Kapsidelis*, Don Bodenhamer. *Board Certified in Criminal Law.

The Law Offices of Gill & Brissette 3663 Airport Freeway Fort Worth 76111 817.803.6918 GillBrissette.com Info@GillBrissette.com

SPECIALTY: Criminal Defense. EDUCATION: SMU Dedman School of Law. MEMBERSHIPS/ AFFILIATIONS: Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. APPROACH TO LAW: Focused, vigorous defense. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Steve Gordon & Associates is a small firm that provides individualized, compassionate, zealous defense strategies. FREE ADVICE: Don’t talk to police. PICTURED: Steve Gordon.

Steve Gordon & Associates 2101 Moneda St. Fort Worth, Texas 76117 817.877.0610

stevegordandassociates.com

info@stevegordonandassociates.com

Steve Gordon & Associates

Hernandez Law Center

Daniel Hernandez, Brianda Payan Curry, Bailey Michell, Mark Thorne-Thomsen

SPECIALTY: Our firm focuses on family law, criminal law, and crimmigration. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Daniel Hernandez –TCU, Texas Wesleyan School of Law. Brianda Payan-Curry – SMU, Texas A&M School of Law. Bailey Michell –Texas A&M, Texas A&M School of Law. Mark Thorne-Thomsen – UT, Texas A&M School of Law. AWARDS/HONORS: Daniel Hernandez – Top attorney Fort Worth Magazine 2025; winner of DFW Favorites multiple awards. Brianda Payan-Curry – Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorney 2021-2025; 360 West Top Attorney 2023-2024. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Daniel Hernandez – I’ve secured acquittals in felony jury trials and obtained dismissals for innocent or wrongly accused clients, including one whom I later helped gain U.S. citizenship. With support and guidance from my father and brother, we have built a successful law firm, mentoring young attorneys and fostering a collaborative, purpose-driven environment where I’m proud to practice alongside an exceptional team. PROFESSIONAL APPROACH: We believe that every client we represent deserves our focused dedication, one-on-one attention, and quick, responsive action. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Bilingual law firm offering direct attorney access, personalized service, and deep U.S.–Mexico legal expertise — without the red tape. FREE ADVICE: You cannot talk your way out of a ticket or criminal charges. Politely and confidently exercise your right to speak with an attorney prior to engaging with law enforcement. PICTURED: Daniel Hernandez, Brianda Payan-Curry, Bailey Michell, and Mark Thorne-Thomsen.

Hernandez Law Center 701 W. Belknap St. Fort Worth 76102

817.336.3100

hernandezlawcenter.com

SPECIALTY: Family Law, Complex Divorce, High Stakes Custody. EDUCATION/ CERTIFICATIONS: Kelly Decker – Board Certified in Family Law; Texas Tech Law School, J.D. (2004); University of Texas at Austin, B.A. (2001). Patrick Dooley – University of Oklahoma, College of Law, J.D. (1997); University of Oklahoma, B.A. (1994). AFFILIATIONS: Texas Bar Association, Tarrant County Bar Association, Camp Bowie District, Inc., Junior League of Fort Worth, Multicultural Alliance of Texas, Public School Advocate. ACHIEVEMENTS: Established a thriving team and permanent location on Camp Bowie, defying industry odds. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Kelly Decker Law, PLLC offers a team of lawyers and staff with a rare skillset capable of creating advantage in the most complicated family law matters. Due to the amount of experience we have, we can make predictions and craft strategies to turn nightmare scenarios into positive outcomes. APPROACH TO LAW: Our approach to litigation is client directed, evidence based and ethical. While we can shoot from the hip where needed, we do not rely upon that skill. Our clients do not typically want to go to court, but if they have to, we know how to advance their goals whether it’s aggressively asking a judge for permission or humbly seeking forgiveness. ADVICE: Iron sharpens iron. PICTURED: Kelly Decker and Patrick Dooley.

Kelly Decker Law Firm

6490 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth 76116 817.348.9060 | kellydeckerlaw.com office@kellydeckerlaw.com

KoonsFuller, P.C. Family Law

SPECIALTY: At KoonsFuller, we offer our clients a level of legal representation and a range of resources unmatched by any other family law firm in the Fort Worth area. We have an office with 10 experienced attorneys — six of whom are board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization — that has been established in Southlake for almost 25 years. Our attorneys, who are no strangers to the Tarrant County courts, are experienced and equipped to handle all family law needs. Whether your case calls for informal negotiations, mediation, collaborative law or court proceedings, KoonsFuller’s Southlake office is who you need in your corner.

AWARDS/HONORS: KoonsFuller attorneys have received multiple accolades, including Texas Super Lawyers and Texas Rising Stars Honorees recognized by Thomson Reuters; Fort Worth Magazine’s Top Attorneys; The Best Lawyers in America© in family law and family law mediation recognized by Best Lawyers, LLC; Top 10 Family Law Attorneys in Texas; 360 West Magazine Top Attorneys. ADVICE FOR ASPIRING CAREER WOMEN: Seek experienced opinions early and often. You don’t have to learn everything on your own. Your mentors and colleagues will help you achieve more than you can by yourself. PICTURED: Tarrah Lett, Kimberly Stoner, Dana Manry,* Heather King,* and Courtney Walker. *Board Certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

KoonsFuller, P.C.

550 Reserve St., Ste. 450 Southlake 76092

817.481.2710

koonsfuller.com

Principal office in Dallas*

SPECIALTY: Elder Law, Estate Planning, and Family Law, emphasizing complex divorce and custody cases. Our results-driven approach combines strategy and compassion to protect what matters most—our clients’ families, futures, and peace of mind.

EDUCATION: B.S., Psychology, Lamar University; J.D., Texas Wesleyan University School of Law; retired Roanoke Judge (14 years). MEMBERSHIPS: State Bar of Texas, Texas Family Law Section, NAELA, ElderCounsel, Family Bar Association, U.S. District Court (N.D. Texas). GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: My proudest accomplishments come from helping clients through life’s toughest transitions. Whether winning a complex legal battle or guiding a family through estate planning, each success represents a second chance, a fresh start, or a legacy. MISSION: We protect families and fight for fairness with integrity. Every case gets personal attention — no two families are alike. Our approach is strategic, honest, and fearless, delivering the advocacy we’d want for our own family. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Trusted, experienced, and honest, our firm brings 28 years of legal practice, 14 years on the bench, and over 10,000 cases of insight to every client. Mark Lane leads with integrity, real-world perspective, and a deep understanding of both the law and the people it serves. FREE ADVICE: Don’t wait for chaos to strike. Whether it’s a will, divorce, or custody, delay costs peace.

Mark Lane Law Office

4000 W. Vickery Blvd., Ste. B Fort Worth 76107

817.377.1077

marklanelaw.com

SPECIALTY: DWI and Criminal Defense. EDUCATION: Chris Lankford – J.D., Baylor Law School. Marissa Matthews – J.D., Texas A&M University School of Law. AWARDS/HONORS: Chris Lankford and Marissa Matthews have both been voted 2025 Top Attorneys by Fort Worth Magazine. This was Chris’ 12th consecutive year being voted a Top Attorney. Chris Lankford’s other accolades include being named a 2025 National Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 Trial Lawyer, 2024 Super Lawyer Rising Star, and 2025 Top Attorney by 360 West. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Chris Lankford is the past-president of the Tarrant County Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section. Marissa Matthews is on the board of directors for the Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Each of the many times we have heard a jury say “Not Guilty” for a deserving client. PROFESSIONAL APPROACH: We put our clients first and leave no stone unturned. Our firm is known for trying tough cases with great success. We believe excellent results come from hard work. We get to know our clients, their cases, and devote countless hours to mastering the law. FREE ADVICE: The most difficult paths should never be traveled alone. PICTURED: Chris Lankford and Marissa Matthews.

Lankford Law Firm

300 Burnett St., Ste. 121 Fort Worth 76102 817.500.4357

Lankford Law Firm

McNulty Law Firm

SPECIALTY: Family Law. AWARDS/HONORS: Multiyear Top Attorneys, Fort Worth Magazine. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Board Certified by Texas Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of Texas. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Earning the trust of families across North Texas by securing outcomes that safeguard their futures. Our greatest achievement is consistently delivering results that truly protect what matters most to our clients. MISSION: At McNulty Law Firm, we combine compassion with strategy, focusing not only on winning today but on ensuring our clients’ long-term security tomorrow. We guide families through their most difficult moments with foresight, skill, and care. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Every client, every case, every detail matters. We pride ourselves on meticulous preparation, personalized strategies, and unwavering advocacy. At McNulty Law Firm, clients never feel like just another file. Each client is treated as if their case is the most important one we’ll ever handle. FREE ADVICE: Work with an attorney who sees you as more than a case number. The right lawyer should not only understand the law but also care deeply about your family’s future. If you don’t feel that connection, keep looking. PICTURED: Chloe Day, Doug Wright, Zena D. McNulty, and Alissa Jackson.

McNulty Law Firm

212 S. Main St., Ste. 120 Fort Worth 76104

817.686.1112 themcnultylawfirm.com info@themcnultylawfirm.com

Law Offices of Jason Mills, PLLC Immigration Law Firm

SPECIALTY: The Law Offices of Jason Mills was established in 2001 as a full-service immigration and naturalization law firm specializing in Immigration Law. Established by Jason Mills, the first-ever board-certified specialist in immigration and nationality law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Fort Worth in 2006, it is a successful multidisciplinary practice focusing on all aspects of U.S. immigration law, including consular processing, waivers, removal defense, family-based visas, business visas, and investor-related cases. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Mills – Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M, 1995; Juris doctorate from Texas A&M School of Law, 2000; international studies, Cambridge Law School, England; admitted to the State Bar of Texas, the Northern District of Texas, and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Creating an honest environment for people to come in and get advice. APPROACH TO LAW: It is essential to be honest and efficient with clients. The firm’s approach in maintaining clients begins with keeping the client informed. The firm emphasizes a progressive and hands-on approach to problem-solving and effectively and efficiently handling legal matters. FREE ADVICE: Check references in the form of former clients before hiring an attorney. PICTURED: Jason Mills, Lauren Wallis, and Jorge Arias.

Law Offices of Jason Mills, PLLC 1403 Ellis Ave. Fort Worth 76164

817.335.0220

Fax 817.335.0240 immigrationnation.net info@immigrationnation.net

SPECIALTY: Board-Certified in Personal Injury/Wrongful Death Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, helping those who have been harmed by the negligence of others, including commercial vehicle and car crash cases, insurance claims, unsafe premises cases, unsafe workplace, day care injuries, and injuries caused by defective products, among others. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Wesleyan/Texas A&M School of Law, The Trial Lawyers College. AWARDS/HONORS: Multiple accolades, including Best Lawyers Under 40 in Dallas, Best Lawyer in Dallas in PI/Wrongful Death multiple years, “10 Best Attorneys” for Texas in PI, Texas Super Lawyer 2003-present, “10 Best Attorneys” for Texas by the American Institute of PI Attorneys, Best Law Firms U.S. News and World Report. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: President of the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association, 2024; Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association; Texas Trial Lawyers Association; Attorneys Serving the Community; Dallas Women Lawyers Association. APPROACH TO LAW: Leave no stone unturned. Montes aggressively pursues justice in all forms, builds solutions, and works all cases to achieve the best, maximum result in the least amount of time, oftentimes with corporate safety upgrades that benefit the community. FREE ADVICE: Hire an experienced, board-certified trial lawyer to protect you. We create solutions to benefit you and your family. We put our clients first. PICTURED: Rachel Montes.

Montes Law Group, PC 1121 Kinwest Parkway, Ste. 100 Irving 75063

214.522.9401

Fax 214.522.9428

rachel@monteslawgroup.com monteslawgroup.com

Montes Law Group, PC

FOCUS: Family Law and Criminal Defense. PREFERRED CASES: High-Conflict Divorce Litigation; Custody Cases; Jury Trials; Family Violence Defense; Sex Crimes Defense. WHAT SETS US APART: We have an exceptional team of attorneys that not only have experience in procedure, evidence, and trial dynamics, but a reputation within the Tarrant County legal community of advocating fiercely for our clients. From the initial client meeting through the final disposition, our attorneys use experience, empathy, keen legal knowledge, and problem-solving skills to provide an unparalleled level of representation for our clients. We understand that every case and every client are different, and we communicate and listen to our clients to ensure they understand the overall legal process and any options they may have available to achieve a favorable result in their case. Our attorneys are compassionate toward our clients but truly excel in the courtroom. FIRM’S MISSION: Win every case. MOTTO: Be a tiger! PICTURED: Taryn Horton, Danielle Reagan, Melissa Swan, Micheal Schneider, Jessica Phillips, Alison Porterfield, Aubrian Sanders.

P. Micheal Schneider Law Firm, P.C. Fort Worth Office • 400 E. Weatherford St. • Fort Worth 76102 • 817.850.9955

Mansfield/Arlington Office • 714 Hunters Row Court • Mansfield 76063 • 682. 276.6050

Alliance/Keller Office • 5332 N. Tarrant Pkwy. • Fort Worth 76244 • 817.849.2404

TeamSLF.com

P.

Micheal Schneider Law Firm, P.C.

SPECIALTY: Commercial and Residential Real Estate & Title Insurance, Real Estate Investments, Private and Hard Money Lending, Creative Real Estate Financing. EDUCATION: Martin A. Garcia – Texas A&M School of Law, J.D., 2012; Certified Title Insurance Professional designation from the Texas Land Title Association, 2018-2025. AWARDS/HONORS: Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorney since 2014; Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star in Real Estate since 2016; 2018 Texas Wesleyan Young Alumnus Achievement Award; 360 West and 76107 Top Attorney recognition since 2016.

GREATEST

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT:

Going solo six years ago and taking the firm from only a couple hundred thousand in production its first year to an eight-figure company. Credit to the staff and team members for their loyalties and for sharing the vision. MISSION: To continue being the face of Fort Worth real estate and title insurance by facilitating the most creative and innovative transactions, where others give up on/cannot handle/or simply want to refer to the best.

PICTURED: (left to right) Ethan Stinson, Katy Spurlock, Kirby Wells, Martin Garcia, and J. Spencer Nilsson.

MAG Law, PLLC

3108 W. Sixth St., Ste. 222 Fort Worth 76107 817.768.3355

Martin.Garcia@Select-Title.com texas-title.com select-title.com/location/forth-worth-office-maglaw-pllc/

Law Office of Kate Smith, PLLC

FOCUS OF PRACTICE: Collaborative Law, Family Law, Mediation, Estate Planning. EDUCATION/ CERTIFICATION: Board Certified in Family Law; J.D., Texas Wesleyan; LL.M, Pepperdine University School of Law; B.A., University of Houston. AWARDS/HONORS: Recognized as Best Lawyers in America, Family Law-Collaborative; recognized as a Master/Credentialed Collaborative Professional by Collaborative Divorce Texas; consistently recognized by Super Lawyers for many years including recent years. PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Building a practice that handles complex and sensitive family law and estate planning matters for North Texas families since 2005. WHY SHE CHOSE THE LEGAL FIELD: Prior to going to law school, I mediated family law cases to help families reach resolution without having the court make decisions for their family. I have a passion for helping families find their way through the legal system while retaining as much autonomy as possible regarding the important decisions in their lives. WHAT SETS HER APART: Emphasis on a collaborative divorce and mediation mindset (Master Credentialed Collaborative Lawyer) offering alternatives to purely adversarial litigation. MISSION: I am proud to have dedicated my practice to solving disputes by utilizing alternative methods such as collaborative law and mediation. I strive to help families navigate through tough times by empowering clients to make decisions for their families without asking for court intervention, if possible. PICTURED: Traci Kriesman, Kayla Gertsch (Attorney), Kate Smith (Attorney), Kara McLeroy, and Alyson Bellinghausen.

Law Office of Kate Smith, PLLC 6500 Colleyville Blvd., Ste. 100 Colleyville 76034 817.479.0562 katesmithlaw.com

Sparks Law Firm

SPECIALTY: Criminal defense, federal and state. All federal or state charges including firearms, self-defense, DWI, and white collar. Our representation includes individuals or entities with white-collar allegations; clients accused of DWI; and clients forced to defend themselves who later face criminal charges. Program Attorneys for US Law Shield for the state of Texas. AWARDS/ HONORS: Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorneys, 2010-2025; Texas Monthly Super Lawyer 20192025; Texas Monthly Rising Stars, 2014-2017; Texas Monthly 2017 Up and Coming 100 (ranking amongst attorneys in all Texas practice areas). PROFESSIONAL APPROACH: Proactive, not reactive. We pride ourselves on our preparation and results. GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: The appreciation from our clients and their families when we successfully defend them. PICTURED: Max Appel, Macy Jeffers, Ken Sparks, Justin Sparks, Lindsay Williams, Steven Ditommaso, and Tanner Ford.

Sparks Law Firm 603 E. Belknap Fort Worth 76102 817.334.0300 justin@sparkslawfirm.com sparkslawfirm.com

Tefera Law Firm, PLLC

Chrissy Tefera, Managing Attorney

Jessica Arreguin, Associate Attorney

SPECIALTY: Family Law, Estate Planning & Probate. EDUCATION: Chrissy Tefera has a B.S. in Economics from University of North Texas and J.D. from Texas Wesleyan University. EXPERIENCE: Chrissy has 18 years of experience (licensed June 29, 2007).

AWARDS/HONORS: Super Lawyers Rising Star for Estate Planning & Probate and Family Law, 2017; Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorney, 2020-2025; Southlake Style Top Lawyers, 20242025. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Texas Bar, Tarrant County Bar, Tarrant County Family Law Bar, Family Section of the State Bar, Texas Bar College. GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: The ability to work in a career that allows us to help others while making an impact on justice. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Personal service provided by the attorneys. Our clients do not have to go through a gatekeeper to get to us. We are here for them! MISSION: Our mission is to practice law in such a way that we have happy clients and thus abundant referrals. INTERESTS: Junior League of Fort Worth, Van Cliburn Piano Competition, and Fellowship of the Parks. FREE ADVICE: Always be completely honest with your lawyer. Lawyers cannot zealously advocate for you if they are missing facts. PICTURED: (left to right) Chrissy Tefera, Managing Attorney, and Jessica Arreguin, Associate Attorney.

Tefera Law Firm, PLLC

1205 Hall Johnson Road Colleyville 76034

817.503.0776

Fax 817.398.4252

legal@teferalaw.com

SPECIALITY: Westbrook Law specializes in trucking wrecks, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, workplace injuries, motorcycle wrecks, pedestrian wrecks, car wrecks, slip and falls, and premise liability injuries.

EDUCATION/ CERTIFICATION: Texas A&M, B.A.; Texas A&M School of Law, J.D.; Texas Trial Lawyer College graduate. AWARDS/HONORS: Super Lawyer, 2025; 360 West Top Attorney; Best of the Bar for a Top 100 Verdict in the State of Texas, 2020.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association President, 2025, Texas Trial Lawyers Association Board of Directors, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), American Association for Justice, Tarrant County Bar Association. GREATEST

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Top 100 Verdict in the State of Texas, 2020, Multiple million-dollar settlements. MISSION: Helping hardworking Texans get justice and holding reckless drivers and careless companies accountable. WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT THE FIRM: Our core values include vigorous advocacy, integrity, and delivering “wow” customer service. This means you will be updated monthly on the status of your case; you will be able to speak to your attorney when needed, and we will take your matter all the way through trial if necessary. FREE ADVICE: Never accept the insurance company’s first offer. PICTURED: Ben Westbrook.

Westbrook Law, PLLC 8507 Benbrook Blvd.

Fort Worth 76126

817.489.5499 westbrooklawfirm.com team@westbrooklawfirm.com Ben Eric Westbrook

SPECIALTY: Personal injury with a focus on commercial motor vehicle wrecks.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Victor Rodriguez II – Texas Tech School of Law, J.D.; Stephen F. Austin State University, B.A. Mitch Miers – The University of Texas at Austin, B.S.; St. Mary’s University School of Law, J.D. AWARDS/ HONORS: Victor Rodriguez II – Fort Worth Magazine, Personal Injury Top Attorney in 2022, 2024, 2025; Bob Black Bar Leaders Award, Texas Tech University School of Law Alumni Association, 2014. Mitch Miers – Top Attorney, Fort Worth Magazine, 5 years. MISSION: As a champion for people, we serve and guide our clients, community and one another with unmatched expertise and absolute integrity. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Expertise on your team™. Witherite Law Group combines top-tier legal expertise with a people-first approach. Our attorneys are supported by Client Care Coordinators, a Rapid Response Team, and full litigation support — ensuring every client receives the attention and results they deserve. FREE ADVICE: If you’re in a wreck, call law enforcement immediately and request a crash report to document the incident. Take photos and videos of all vehicles, damage, and surroundings. Record the other driver’s account if possible — especially if they admit fault — as stories often change after leaving the scene. These steps can protect you later. PICTURED: Victor Rodriguez II, Amy Witherite, and Mitch Miers.

Witherite Law Group

901 W. Vickery Blvd., Ste. 900 Fort Worth 76104 817.263.4466 witheritelaw.com

Coby L. Wooten, Attorney

FOCUS: Personal Injury Litigation. The firm focuses on negligence cases including truck wrecks, car and motorcycle collisions, premises liability, injuries caused by animals, traumatic brain and catastrophic injuries, and cases of wrongful death.

EDUCATION: Coby Wooten –B.A., political science, Texas State University; Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. Mattilyn Smith – Double B.A. History and Philosophy, University of Texas Austin; Texas A&M School of Law. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Wooten is a litigator with over 29 years of experience. He is a Board of Regents Litigator Award winner and has an Avvo Superb 10+ rating. Smith is a trusted name in the legal community. Both are repeat winners of Texas Monthly Super Lawyers. MEMBERSHIPS/ AFFILIATIONS: Wooten – Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association, Texas Trial Lawyer Association, American Board of Trial Advocates, the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and the Academy of American Truck Accident Attorneys. Smith –Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, American Association of Justice, and Texas Women’s Trial Lawyers Association. WHAT SETS THEM APART: The firm has a history of great success and great results. They are committed to aggressively advocating for personal injury victims against big businesses and insurance companies to get them the compensation they deserve. Quality representation for all across the state of Texas.

Coby L. Wooten, Attorney at Law, P.C. 1301 Ballinger St., Ste. 100 Fort Worth 76102 817.632.8400ph cobywootenlaw.com

M.Breanne Clark The Clark Law Firm

SPECIALTY: Family Law, Adoption, Divorce, Custody, Child Welfare. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: B.S., TCU; J.D., Texas Wesleyan School of Law; Credentialed Mediator with Advanced Family Mediation Training and Collaborative Law Interdisciplinary Training. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Serving as court-appointed amicus attorney or ad litem in high conflict cases involving children’s rights, in addition to helping hundreds of children find families through adoption, including foster, private, and kinship placements. MISSION/APPROACH: We provide professional guidance for families navigating life’s most complex and uncertain journeys. With skill, empathy, and steadfast commitment, we help clients achieve successful outcomes that fulfill their unique needs and goals. WHAT SETS HER APART: Combining nearly two decades of litigation experience, strong negotiation skills, and a genuine understanding of the emotional significance of family law litigation to offer clients a balanced and solution-oriented approach to end conflict.

The Clark Law Firm

101 Summit Ave., Ste. 403 Fort Worth 76102

817.332.7739 | texasclarkfirm.com Photography: 325-photography.com

Aly C. Halpern

Griffith Davison, P.C.

SPECIALTY: Commercial construction and real estate. EDUCATION: SMU - Dedman School of Law, J.D.; Washington University in St. Louis, B.A. HONORS: Recognized repeatedly as Texas Rising Star by Thompson Reuters, Top Attorney by Fort Worth Magazine, and Top Attorney by 360 West magazine. GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: Launching and running my boutique solo practice sharpened my business skills and client relationships, leading to my role at Griffith Davison. PROFESSIONAL MISSION: Griffith Davison attorneys are deeply embedded in the commercial construction and real estate industries, leveraging extensive expertise to help clients manage risk, navigate complexity, and achieve business objectives. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Griffith Davison delivers tailored transactional and litigation solutions, backed by deep industry focus and hands-on experience. ADVICE: Invest time in building strong relationships and clear communication at the start of every project — it’s the simplest way to prevent costly legal issues later.

Griffith Davison, P.C.

464 Bailey Ave., Ste. 220 | Fort Worth 76107 817.894.8900 | griffithdavison.com

Lance T. Evans, Attorney at Law

SPECIALTY: Criminal Defense in Federal, State, and Juvenile Courts. EDUCATION: Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization,1998; Texas Tech School of Law, 1991. AWARDS/HONORS: Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorney (24 years); Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating (23 years); Texas Monthly Super Lawyers (23 years). MEMBERSHIPS: Tarrant County Bar Association (president, 2018-19); Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (president, 2001); Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (2nd vice president, 2025). GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Not guilty verdicts from juries for my clients in cases including DWI, theft, assault, sex offenses, and drug cases. MISSION: To zealously defend our clients’ rights while guiding them through the most difficult period in their lives. WHAT SETS THEM APART: The attention we give to individual clients. PICTURED: Lance Evans.

Daniel, Moore, Evans, Biggs, Decker and Smid (not a partnership) Bank of America Tower

301 Commerce, Ste. 2001 | Fort Worth 76107 817.332.3822 | egdmlaw.com/team/lance-t-evans lanceevans@egdmlaw.com

Jose & Vaughn, PLLC

SPECIALTY: Catastrophic Personal Injury and Wrongful Death. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: John Jose – J.D., SMU; B.S., UT Austin; Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Dillon Vaughn – BBA, ACU; J.D., Texas A&M School of Law. MISSION: Our mission is to provide exceptional representation in complex personal injury and wrongful death cases. We approach every case with meticulous preparation, compassion, and determination, ensuring each client receives the time, care, and resources their case deserves. WHAT SETS THEM APART: We limit our caseload to provide personalized attention. Each case is handled directly by a partner from start to finish, ensuring top-tier service and results. FREE ADVICE: If you or a loved one is seriously injured, seek legal help early. The right attorney protects your rights and guides you through tough times. PICTURED: John Jose and Dillon Vaughn.

Jose & Vaughn, PLLC

100 Lexington St., Ste. 070 Fort Worth 76102 joseandvaughn.com

Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP Jordan Rolfe Stimpson, Partner

SPECIALTY: Administrative Law and Tax Law. EDUCATION: SMU, B.A.; U of H Law Center, J.D. AWARDS/HONORS: Top Attorney award recipient in past years. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: From her start as a prosecutor to her leadership at Linebarger, Jordan has earned a reputation as a trusted advisor to local governments across Texas — helping cities, counties, and school districts recover the revenue needed to fund essential services. AFFILIATIONS: Jordan has supported numerous organizations including Lena Pope, Fort Worth Forum, Leadership Fort Worth, Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court, Fort Worth Sister Cities International, CASA of Tarrant County, United Way Tarrant County, Project 4031, Tarrant County Bar Association, L. Clifford Davis Legal Association, Junior League of Fort Worth, Downtown Fort Worth, Inc., and several education foundations that uplift students and teachers in Fort Worth and throughout Tarrant County.

Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP

100 Throckmorton St., Ste. 1700, Fort Worth 76102 817.877.4589

Melinda Owens Law Firm

SPECIALTY: The firm focuses on family law and also offers services in estate planning, small business matters, and criminal law. EDUCATION: BBA in Accounting & Finance, TCU; J.D., Texas Wesleyan University School of Law; Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Establishing a solo practice in 2018 and building a client-focused, nontraditional law firm. PROFESSIONAL APPROACH: “My practice focuses on compassionate advocacy for my clients. It is not a traditional law firm but rather an innovative firm that is focused on clients’ needs.” MISSION: The firm aims to guide clients through major life transitions with empathy, clarity, individualized attention, and advocacy. WHAT SETS THEM APART: The firm emphasizes its difference from a “traditional law firm” by being fully client-need centered. MOTTO: “Legal Solutions for New Beginnings.”

Melinda Owens Law Firm

1023 W. Pearl St., Granbury 76048 682.936.4005 | melindaowenslaw.com

Michael K. Dean and Jim Stouffer Ray Peña McChristian, P.C.

SPECIALTY: Civil litigation defense, insurance defense, medical malpractice defense. EDUCATION/ CERTIFICATIONS: Michael K. Dean – Brigham Young University, B.A.; Baylor University School of Law, J.D. Jim Stouffer – Stephen F. Austin State University, B.S.; University of Houston College of Law, J.D.; Board Certified Civil Trial Law, National Board of Trial Advocacy; Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Dean – Presenting my son for admission to the Northern District of Texas. Stouffer – Practicing law in my hometown. PROFESSIONAL APPROACH: Preparation, preparation, preparation. WHAT SETS THEM APART: The firm holds a strong reputation with highly competent attorneys that are licensed in multiple states including Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. ADVICE: Make and keep thorough records. Although most cases don’t result in a jury trial, you need a seasoned trial lawyer on your side, just in case it does.

Ray Peña McChristian Law Firm

101 Summit Ave., Ste. 705 | Fort Worth 76102

866.832.7200 | raylaw.com

Stoy Law Group, PLLC

SPECIALTY: Chris Stoy leads Stoy Law Group, PLLC, a plaintiff-focused personal injury firm known for taking cases to trial and pursuing accountability for injured Texans. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Texas A&M graduate with a J.D. from St. Mary’s University, he is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, has tried more than 30 jury cases, and served as president of the Tarrant County Trial Lawyers Association. MEMBERSHIPS: ABOTA, TTLA, the Tarrant County Bar Association, and the State Bars of Texas and Utah. MISSION: The firm’s mission is simple: provide the highest-quality representation through a “less clients, more attention” approach that keeps clients at the center.

ADVICE: After a crash or catastrophic injury, don’t assume insurers will do the right thing — make them. PICTURED: Chris Stoy.

Stoy Law Group, PLLC

4055 International Plaza, Ste. 550 Fort Worth 76109

817.820.0100 | warriorsforjustice.com chris@stoylaw.com.

WE COMPOUND:

» Weight Loss Injections

» Ophthalmic Sterile Solutions

» Hormone Replacement Therapies

» Pediatric Medications

» Dermatological Preparations

» ED And Women’s Health Treatments

» Veterinary Medications

by Brian Kendall

How the Era of AI Looks for Vision Specialists

While the human touch will never leave the offices of one’s optometrist or ophthalmologist, harnessing the power of artificial intelligence could lead to better patient care and improved outcomes.

We’ve come a long way over the past 700 years — this being when glasses were, supposedly, invented. A few hundred years later, the great Benjamin Franklin would take time away from being a revolutionary to invent bifocals — brilliant — and contacts would take off in the 1970s once soft lenses reached the market.

Then, like a bad sci-fi novel from yesteryear, lasers entered the picture. Doing away with the whole notion of using physical items to correct vision (i.e., glasses and contacts), Dr. Gholam

A. Peyman, an Iranian American ophthalmologist, received a patent for LASIK, a minimally-invasive surgery that involves using lasers to reshape one’s cornea and improve eyesight. This came in 1988, and iterations of the same idea would follow.

Each of these innovations was a giant step forward in the worlds of optometry and ophthalmology — the beginnings of epochs, if you will. And, well, after recent advancements in artificial intelligence, these specialties are likely seeing the beginning of a new era: the AI era.

While AI has yet to develop the ability to become one’s eyes — one cannot simply type “give me 20/20 vision” into ChatGPT in the hopes of great outcomes — optometrists and ophthalmologists are using the tool in clever and creative ways to improve outcomes. Though the technology is

far from perfected and still taken with a grain of salt, its constant improvement will no doubt lead to universal application by all eye docs.

More than anything, vision specialists are harnessing AI to streamline workflows and decision-making to increase the efficiency of their offices. With a severe shortage of optometrists — especially in rural areas — and, according to the American Optometric Association, 60% of optometry offices are short staffed and not operating at full capacity, optometrists have long been desperate to meet the everincreasing demand for their services. And, yes, with an aging population — median age in the U.S. has increased nearly 10 years since 1980 — and increased screen-gazing no doubt contributing to blurrier vision and “fillin-eye-problem” here, the demand for doctors who can improve eyesight has intensified.

Currently, many optometrists are using AI to help with diagnosing eye conditions from retinal images, as the tool can quickly analyze large datasets from such images and assist in detecting conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. While artificial intelligence isn’t replacing one’s optometrist in such scenarios, it is serving as a key assistant that can help a vision specialist more accurately diagnose the cause of vision problems.

Ultimately, an AI tool might detect issues through its scouring of data that flies under the radar for an overburdened optometrist. Further, with its treasure trove of data and historical cases, AI could also flag anomalies nearly impossible to detect with the naked eye, leading to an increase in early detection of eye diseases. And, as you may already know, early detection could be the difference between preserving one’s vision or losing it entirely.

Outside the realm of diagnoses, AI assists vision specialists through the simple act of easing time constraints by streamlining mundane or simple tasks like administrative duties, data analysis, and initial patient screenings. For optometrists and ophthalmologists, more time leads to better patient care.

On the ophthalmology front, many are using AI in cataract surgery to assist in pre-operative planning (determining the correct strength of an implanted artificial lens), precision, and post-operative care (predicting complications and tracking recovery). Further use includes corneal disease and refractive surgery, where AI can help detect keratoconus (thinning and bulging of the cornea) in corneal imaging and the integration of AI to help interpret complex data patterns that could prove challenging for the human eye.

Despite some of society’s understandably knee-jerk negative responses to the AI acronym, when used appropriately, vision specialists are discovering the many benefits of using AI in their offices. Afterall, AI doesn’t get fatigued, it doesn’t blink, and when it comes to scanning massive amounts of data, its vision is nearly 20/20 (with some caveats). While having a human touch will never leave the offices of optometrists or ophthalmologists, AI is assisting vision specialists to make their difficult jobs a little easier and improve patient care and outcomes.

FOCUS

Vision Specialists

Our eyes are one of our most precious gifts. That’s why it is important that we maintain good vision and eye health as we age. To help you select a vision care specialist who will meet your needs, the following experts want to tell you more about themselves, their practices, and how their services can help improve your outlook on life.

The information in this section is provided by the advertisers and has not been independently verified by Fort Worth Magazine.

Key-Whitman Eye Center

SPECIALTY: Ophthalmology – adult eye care including treatment for cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, and dry eyes. Also offering laser vision correction and hightech lens implants for reduced dependence on glasses and contacts, as well as cosmetic eyelid surgery.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Chian-Huey “Amy” Hong, M.D. – cum laude, Columbia University; B.A., pre-med and economics; medical degree, UT Southwestern Medical School; internship, ophthalmology residency and glaucoma fellowship, Tulane School of Medicine. Ronald Barke, M.D. – undergraduate and medical school, University of Southern California; internship, Los Angeles County University of Southern California Medical Center; fellowship, Jules Stein Eye Institute in lens and cataract biochemistry; training, UT Southwestern Medical School, fellowship in oculoplastics and residency in ophthalmology; currently on staff as a clinical volunteer at UT Southwestern Medical School. Andrew Pazandak, M.D. – medical degree, University of Texas Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine; ophthalmology training and chief resident, LSU Health Science Center; fellowship in glaucoma surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center. WHAT SETS THEM APART: Key-Whitman is one of the few eye centers that offers the full range of options to improve your vision, with customized Wavelight Plus LASIK and high-tech lenses for cataract procedures. INNOVATIONS: The advances in high-tech lenses like the Light Adjustable Lens, Odyssey, PanOptix Pro, using the latest techniques with Femtosecond laser, which give many patients a wide range of vision for near or far distances with less dependency on glasses or contacts. FREE ADVICE: Everyone needs to have regular eye health exams. Oftentimes, permanent vision loss can be easily prevented with early diagnosis and treatment of conditions before any symptoms are present. PICTURED: Mingi Choi, OD, Ronald Barke, M.D.; C. Amy Hong, M.D.; Rosmary Sanchez, O.D.; (not photographed) Lauren May, M.D.; Andrew Pazandak, M.D.; Jimmy Tran, O.D.; Fariba Eshraghi Parmer, O.D.; and Timothy Leach, O.D.

Key-Whitman Eye Center

910 N. Davis Drive • Arlington 76012

400 W. Arbrook Blvd. • Arlington 76014

3400 N. Tarrant Parkway • Fort Worth 76177 2201 Westgate Plaza • Grapevine 76051

817.460.2272 • Toll-free 1.800.442.5330 • Fax 817.265.9684 patientservices@keywhitman.com keywhitman.com

Texas Eye and Laser Center

Texas Eye Surgery Center

Texas Eye Research Center

Jerry G. Hu, M.D.; Scott A. Cherne, M.D.

WHAT SETS THEM APART: Texas Eye and Laser Center (TELC) has been delivering cutting-edge eye care in Tarrant County for nearly 50 years. They introduced LASIK and PRK to Fort Worth in 1997 and have remained at the forefront of laser vision correction ever since. In 2011, TELC introduced LenSx® Blade-Free LaserAssisted Cataract Surgery to the metroplex. As clinical investigators in numerous FDA studies, they have also pioneered in each generation of intraocular lenses for the treatment of cataract, presbyopia, and astigmatism, including the PanOptix trifocal implant, Tecnis Synergy, Vivity extended-depth-of-focus lens, Tecnis Eyhance lens, ClearView by LensTec and light-adjustable-

lens by RxSight, among many other state-of-the-art intraocular implants. In 2019, they brought to Fort Worth the most advanced laser vision correction — SMILE (aka no-flap LASIK). Advanced technologies aside, what makes Drs. Hu and Cherne truly special is their emphasis on personal touch and exceptional patient experience. AREAS OF SPECIALITY: TELC offers a complete range of eye-care services including Blade-Free Customized LASIK; SMILE (no-flap LASIK); LenSx® Blade-Free Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery; premium cataract implants including PanOptix, Synergy IOL, Vivity, Tecnis Symfony and Eyhance, Toric IOLs, lightadjustable-lens by RxSight, EVO™ Phakic ICL; cornea collagen

crosslinking (CXL), Intacs intracorneal rings, corneal transplants; MIGS; glaucoma care; treatment of macular degeneration, and diabetic eye disease. EDUCATION: Jerry G. Hu, M.D. – Duke University School of Medicine; fellowship in Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA; Certified, American Board of Ophthalmology. Scott A. Cherne, M.D. – Loma Linda University School of Medicine; Clinical Instructor in Anterior Segment Fellowship, Pacific ClearVision Institute; Certified American Board of Ophthalmology. PICTURED: Ashleigh Young, O.D.; D’Laine Heisterkamp, O.D.; Keith Head, O.D.; Megan Solis, O.D.; Jerry G. Hu, M.D.; Deborah Zanella, O.D.; Scott A. Cherne, M.D.; and Mark Zebrowski, O.D.

Texas Eye and Laser Center 1872 Norwood Drive • Hurst, Texas 76054

3405 Locke Ave. • Fort Worth, Texas 76107

817.540.6060 • Fax 817.571.9301 texaseyelaser.com

Fort Worth Eye Associates

SPECIALTY: Fort Worth Eye Associates is excited to welcome Dr. Arko Ghosh, our newest comprehensive ophthalmologist. A Fort Worth native, Dr. Ghosh provides the excellent care that our patients have come to expect at Fort Worth Eye Associates. He specializes in cataract surgery with premium IOLs, comprehensive eye exams, glaucoma care, diabetic eye exams and dry eye treatment. EDUCATION: Ann Ranelle, D.O. – Saint Mary’s University, Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, pediatric ophthalmology fellowship at Children’s Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Tyler Moore, M.D. – University of Texas, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Arko Ghosh, M.D. – University of Southern California, Texas A&M College of Medicine. Kacy Pate, O.D. – University of Oklahoma, Northeastern State University College of Optometry. AWARDS/HONORS: Ann Ranelle – Tarrant County Medical Society Physician Humanitarian Award. MEMBERSHIPS: Ann Ranelle – Board-certified member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Academy of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Tyler Moore – Board-certified with the American Board of Ophthalmology. AFFILIATIONS: Baylor Medical Center of Fort Worth, Texas Health Surgery Center–Park Hill, and Cook Children’s Medical Center. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Serving the greater Fort Worth area for over 50 years with warm, compassionate, and professional care. FREE ADVICE: Schedule an appointment with Dr. Ghosh. You won’t be disappointed. PICTURED: Ann Ranelle, D.O.; Tyler Moore, M.D.; Arko Ghosh, M.D.; Kacy Pate, O.D.

Fort Worth Eye Associates

5000 Collinwood Ave. Fort Worth 76107

817.732.5593

ranelle.com

SPECIALTY: Ophthalmology: Cataract Surgery, Premium Lens Implants (Toric Lens, PanOptix, Vivity, Tecnis Odyssey), Diseases of the Retina and Vitreous, Diabetic Retinopathy/Lasers, Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma Treatment.

EDUCATION: B.A., magna cum laude, Harvard University, 1986; M.D., University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, 1990; Ophthalmology Residency, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, 1995; Vitreoretinal Fellowship, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 1997. CERTIFICATIONS: Board Certified, American Board of Ophthalmology. AWARDS: Physician’s Recognition Award, American Medical Association. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Texas Ophthalmological Association, Texas Medical Association, Tarrant County Medical Society. AFFILIATIONS: Baylor Scott & White Surgical Hospital Las Colinas, Baylor Scott & WhiteIrving, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Texas Health Surgery Center Arlington. PATIENT CARE: A commitment to excellence in eye care is enhanced by our outstanding, caring staff. Dr. Reinke is a uniquely talented surgeon who personally provides all preoperative and postoperative care.

Reinke Eye and Laser Center

1310 N. White Chapel Blvd. • Southlake, Texas 76092 817.310.6080 • Fax 817.310.6014 1916 Central Drive • Bedford, Texas 76021 817.283.6607 • Fax 817.283.2674

7433 Las Colinas Blvd. • Irving, Texas 75063 972.556.1915 • Fax 972.556.1877

reinke.southlake@gmail.com dfwlasercataract.com

Reinke Eye and Laser Center

Martin Reinke, M.D.

Mueller Vision LASIK & Cataract Eye Surgery

Dr. Brett Mueller

SPECIALTY: Dr. Brett Mueller is a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in modern vision correction surgery, including LASIK, EVO ICL, SMILE LASIK, PRK, Refractive Lens Exchange, and advanced Laser Cataract Surgery with premium lens implants. EDUCATION: He completed fellowship training in refractive surgery through the World College of Refractive Surgery and Visual Sciences at Parkhurst NuVision. Dr. Mueller earned his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and both his medical degree and Ph.D. from UNT Health Fort Worth. AWARDS/ HONORS: Recognized as one of the Best Cataract Surgeons and Best LASIK Surgeons in America (2024–2025), Dr. Mueller was also named a “One to Watch Eye Surgeon in the United States” (2023) and honored as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor – Rising Star in Ophthalmology (2022–2023).

ACHIEVEMENTS/PHILOSOPHY: Dr. Mueller has performed thousands of successful cataract and modern vision correction surgeries and published more than 60 peer-reviewed research papers. His practice, Mueller Vision, is built on the philosophy of treating every patient like family and achieving exceptional, personalized outcomes. INNOVATION: At the forefront of technology, Dr. Mueller offers customized, topography-guided, and ray-tracing LASIK treatments with advanced diagnostics for cataract and refractive surgery. Mueller Vision provides all seven modern vision correction options, tailoring each plan to every patient’s age, lifestyle, and anatomy. PICTURED: Dr. Brett Mueller.

Mueller Vision LASIK & Cataract Eye Surgery fortworth-lasik.com

SPECIALTY: Retina specialist; board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologists specializing in the most advanced treatments for medical and surgical diseases of the retina including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular occlusions, retinal detachment, macular holes, epiretinal membrane, and intraocular tumors. EDUCATION: The physicians have trained at leading institutions, including the Johns Hopkins Hospital Wilmer Eye Institute, Harvard Medical School, Duke University Eye Center, Wills Eye Hospital, University of Southern California, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of California San Francisco, Associated Retinal Consultants/Beaumont Health, and the Georgetown University/Retina Group of Washington. PATIENT CARE: We believe the most important qualities of the doctor-patient relationship are communication, trust, and compassion. As physicians, we should know more than our patients about their disease; our goal is to have them understand their disease at least as well as we do. We are humbled by our patients’ trust and feel that trust is a strong foundation upon which our relationship is built. Our goal is to heal; often, that healing comes from soothing the mind or the heart through compassion. We advise our patients to take an active part in their treatment.

Retina Center of Texas

3455 Locke Ave., Ste. 310 Fort Worth, Texas 76107

305 Morrison Park Drive, Ste. 100 Southlake, Texas 76092

3804 W. 15th St., Ste. 130 Plano, Texas 75075

12222 N. Central Expressway, Ste. 250 Dallas, Texas 75243

817.865.6800 • Fax 817.865.6790 retinacentertx.com

Retina

CHOWTOWN

LOCAL EATS AND RESTAURANT NEWS

WHAT WE’RE CHEWING OVER THIS MONTH: On page 154 Nikuya elevates the sushi scene at the top of a downtown skyscraper. On page 156 Fort Worth again gets the Michelin

What gives?

snub.

4 Courses Standing bone-in porchini prime rib roast, popovers, Robuchon-style potato puree, ginger-pumpkin bread with butter cream cheese frosting — oh, my. 4 Courses with chef Jett Mora of the Café Modern.

by Malcolm Mayhew

Photos by Thanin Viriyaki

Flying Fish

The Sinclair’s new rooftop restaurant, Nikuya, brings elevated sushi to a Cloud 9 atmosphere.

If you’d told me a decade or so ago that I’d someday be eating fatty tuna nigiri atop a downtown Fort Worth skyscraper, in a sushi restaurant as swank as anything on the coasts, I might have said you’ve had too much sake.

Fort Worth’s restaurant scene has, however, dramatically changed over the past several years — 2025, espe-

cially, as I point out again and again in my cover story about the city’s best new restaurants, published elsewhere in this issue. This year has been tantamount in bringing new flavors — and new ways of presenting them — to a city whose culinary scene was once dominated — or should I say doomed?

— to burgers and barbecue.

But here I am, on top of the historic Sinclair building, downtown’s lights twinkling at my feet, being handed one amazing piece of nigiri, sushi, and sashimi after another from talented chef Alvin Chik, who leads the kitchen at Nikuya, a thrilling new rooftop sushi restaurant opened by the same hospitality group that owns the restaurant 16 floors below us, Wicked Butcher.

If you’re not tapped into the city’s culinary scene, you may not have even heard about it, the restaurant, opened by DRG Concepts, arrived with such little fanfare. You may not even know about it regardless of how much attention you pay to restaurant openings. There’s no outside — or inside, for that matter — signage. At this point, just a few days after opening early November, it’s an if-you-know-you-know type of thing.

Guests are led by a host through Wicked Butcher, then the hotel lobby, and are then escorted to the elevator. The host must turn a key and hit a button inside the elevator to grant you access to the rooftop level. Once you’ve arrived, your reservation is confirmed and you’re led to your seat, one of 16 barstools that surround a luxurious, L-shaped sushi bar, carved out of thick, cool-to-the-touch, midnight-black quartz.

“It’s like a speakeasy,” Chik says, his knife piercing through a slab of fresh King Salmon, which will soon be dissolving in our mouths. “It’ll be more like a conventional restaurant eventually, but we wanted to start off slow, get the staff acclimated to the menu and the space.”

Nikuya takes over the Sinclair’s rooftop bar area, initially used by the Wicked Butcher team for light snacks and sandwiches. Surrounded by 360-degree views of downtown, the restaurant itself is in an enclosed space, its walls and ceilings made of windows, like a greenhouse. Outside of the restaurant are tables and chairs designed primarily for drinks and lingering. Club music pulses in the background but unlike so many other

Nikuya’s Cowboy Kiss roll, made with fresh king salmon and tangles of fried salmon skin.

Fort Worth restaurants these days, not annoyingly so. Servers are incredibly friendly.

The small, adventurous menu focuses on nigiri, sashimi, sushi, and handrolls — think of the unadorned quality of Hatsuyuki and Shinjuku Station, not the sauce-soaked creations of Piranha and Blue Sushi. Fresh fish is flown in from all corners of the globe, Chik says, and sushi rice is made in small batches, ensuring texture and warmth.

Nikuya’s dishes include tuna tartare with avocado, fresno chili, house ponzu, and crisp rice; Hokkaido scallop crudo with citrus, serrano, and watermelon radish; and salmon crudo dressed in yuzu leche de tigre with jalapeño and cucumber. The nigiri lineup features hon-maguro brushed with umami soy and finished with fresh wasabi, and A5 wagyu that’s warm, delicate, and lightly seasoned. The rolls continue the theme of refinement: the Butcher Hand Roll, made with seared beef filet, warm yolk sauce, and chive, and the Nikuya Cut Roll, a rich combination of seared A5, avocado, fried leek, and house nikuyá sauce.

Chik says the menu is designed as a progression, beginning with bright, clean crudos, then moving into more concentrated flavors through nigiri and sashimi, and ending with hand rolls or makimono — an intentionally paced arc that mirrors the approach of high-end omakase while remaining approachable for diners simply looking

for a night out.

“If you want to come in and just spend a few dollars on some sushi, we’d love that,” he says. “If you want the full omakase experience, we can do that, too.”

Part of what makes Nikuya feel like such a leap forward for Fort Worth is Chik himself. With more than 15 years of experience in Japanese cuisine, he brings a level of discipline and refinement that’s rare not just for Fort Worth, but for Texas. Before landing here, he held key roles at Uchiko in Plano, Kampai in Jackson Hole, and several acclaimed San Francisco restaurants, including Akikos and Angler, and most notably Kusakabe, a Michelin-starred sushi bar known for its precise, quietly theatrical omakase service.

Those kitchens, he says, shaped his approach to whole-fish breakdown, rice and knife technique, ingredient integrity, and a leadership style built on calmness and confidence.

“If I get busy, I try not to let it show,” he says, laughing. “It’s hard to stay calm when you work at a high-energy restaurant, but it’s important to main-

tain a certain amount of discipline when you’re making such intricate food.”

The restaurant represents two converging storylines: downtown’s continuing dining revival and the city’s growing community of Asian restaurants. It joins newly opened Polanco and Buonissimo downtown (even more downtown eateries are on the way in ’26, including The Beverly) and adds to the growing wave of Asian restaurants reshaping Fort Worth’s culinary identity: Oisshi Sushi & Pan-Asian Cuisine, Ichiro Izakaya, and, my favorite restaurant of the year, Yoichi Omakase, among them. (Nikuya opened after the cutoff for best new restaurant consideration; it’ll be eligible in 2026).

“It feels like a good time to be in Fort Worth,” Chik says. “The city is growing, and I think people’s palates are expanding. People want to try something new, maybe something they haven’t had before. Good things are happening here.”

512 Main St., nikuyarooftop.com

Nikuya’s food is both inventive and visually stunning.

Nikuya’s rooftop patio offers drinks and beautiful views of downtown.

by Malcolm Mayhew

Photos by Thanin Viriyaki

A Star Is Scorn

Fort Worth was snubbed by the Michelin Guide — again. Is our food just not Michelin-worthy? Local foodies and chefs weigh in.

On Oct. 28, the second Texas Michelin Awards ceremony unfolded in Houston.

Emcee Java Ingram rattled off winner after winner from Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas. And when the hourlong production wrapped, Fort Worth was left with a familiar question: “What about us?”

It wasn’t for lack of participation. Last year, Fort Worth joined hands — and pocketbooks — with other Texas cities to help lure Michelin south, betting that the world’s most famous dining guide would finally give local chefs their international due. Over the past decade, Fort Worth’s dining landscape has evolved rapidly, with longtime fine-dining stalwarts like Grace and Paris 7th standing alongside

ambitious newcomers such as Don Artemio and Hatsuyuki Hand Roll Bar. The assumption was that once Michelin experienced our city’s cuisine, it would find at least a few stars worth awarding.

In that inaugural year, things looked hopeful: Goldee’s BBQ earned a Bib Gourmand, and Panther City BBQ, Cortez Birrieria y Taqueria, and Smoke ’N Ash in Arlington were listed as “Recommended.” Many in Fort Worth quietly expected that momentum to carry into 2025. But as the awards were handed out this year, Fort Worth once again walked away starless — though it’s worth noting that every Fort Worth restaurant recognized in 2024 held its distinction in 2025, no

small feat for any restaurant.

But the question lingers: Are Fort Worth restaurants simply not good enough for Michelin stars?

As with last year’s rollout, Michelin’s anonymous inspectors spent months dining across the five Texas cities that invested financially: Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth. But Michelin has been clear: This isn’t pay to play. Selections are based purely on food quality, consistency, and the company’s five-point criteria, not money. Just because we paid them to come here, in other words, doesn’t automatically mean they’re going to bestow stars on our restaurants.

But even some smaller awards would have been nice.

“I think there should have been a few Bib Gourmands,” says Mark Hitri, executive chef and co-owner of Paris 7th, a beloved French restaurant near the Cultural District. “There are definitely restaurants that are worth the trip.” Not as life-changing as stars but still significant in the Michelin universe, Bib Gourmands are meant to honor value restaurants with exceptional food.

Hitri also shares a lesson from a mentor: “A restaurant can only be as good as its diners allow,” a reminder that Michelin and local audiences may not always reward the same things.

Fort Worth’s restaurant culture has long valued individuality over formality — a trait both its chefs and diners embrace. Yet Michelin often favors tightly structured, technique-forward dining, the sort found in cities with dense clusters of tasting-menu restaurants.

Local food writer Josie Singleton says the guide has done well spotlighting certain Fort Worth stories: “Birreria y Taqueria Cortez is the American dream come true, one birria taco and one consomé-soaked napkin at a time,” she says. “Similar stories are found at Panther City BBQ and Goldee’s Bar-B-Q.”

But, she argues, Fort Worth’s depth goes well beyond tacos and barbecue.

“There are a few spots that also tell a story and deliver an exceptional experience worthy of a Michelin nod.”

Birreria y Taqueria Cortez is one of the few Fort Worth restaurants to be recognized by Michelin.

Like many others in Fort Worth’s culinary circles, she points to Don Artemio as an example. “To start, Don Artemio literally seeps in story,” she says. “The dishes elevate Mexican cuisine to a level not seen since Lanny Lancarte opened Lanny’s Alta Cocina Mexicana.” Its endlessly creative use of traditional Mexican ingredients, from nopalitos to cabrito, she says, illustrates how our city’s palate is evolving.

Another contender, she says, is Hatsuyuki Hand Roll Bar, a West 7th spot that specializes in Japanese hand rolls. “The ingredients are beyond fresh,” she says. “The service is as exceptional and as consistent as the food.” To Singletary, it’s the perfect example of a Fort Worth restaurant going far, far, far beyond steak, tacos, and barbecue, which were once our city’s culinary calling cards.

Fort Worth’s financial participation in Texas’ three-year agreement with Michelin remains a point of discussion. Alex Catterton, Director of Content and Public Relations for Visit Fort Worth, confirmed 2025 marks the second year of the agreement but isn’t sure what the future holds. “There haven’t been any talks about the future yet,” she says.

But Catterton says the investment has paid dividends in awareness: “It has helped in terms of getting Fort Worth’s name on the national scene.” She also notes that Fort Worth now boasts three Michelin-recognized hotels, including Bowie House, the only North Texas property with a Two Key designation. “We are proud of our culinary scene but know there are many more that deserve to be honored as well,” she says.

Chef Graham Elliot, a Michelin-starred chef from Chicago who now lives and works in Fort Worth, believes the city is closer than many think. “When it comes to technical skill, attention to detail, and taking care of guests, the chefs and restaurants in Fort Worth are absolutely on the same level as other major cities,” he says.

For Elliot, the next step is sharpening the city’s identity. “We need to ditch the ‘D-’ and highlight the ‘FW,’” he says. “Nobody can deny the level of food, beverage, and service this city delivers. Now the shift needs to be putting the microscope not on the bigger cities but on the incredible talent growing right here.”

His advice to chefs is simple: “Find your own voice and create a genuine reason for people to come experience what you do,” he says. “Every chef and restaurateur has a story.”

Maybe Fort Worth’s restaurants don’t fit the guide’s longtime mold. Or maybe, as several chefs suggest, the city’s story just needs to be told more loudly.

Either way, Fort Worth’s best chefs will keep doing what they do: cooking with heart, honoring their stories, and proving that the measure of a restaurant isn’t a star, but the people who fill the seats.

“We didn’t really change anything after the last round, and we’re not gonna change anything this round,” says Hitri from Paris 7th. “We’re gonna keep doing what we do. If Michelin recognizes us, then very nice. If not, we’ll still keep doing what we do.”

The Chowtown Lowdown

By the time you read this, Dos Mares, the long-anticipated coastal Mexican concept from the team behind Don Artemio, will be open. Chef and culinary director Rodrigo Cárdenas Garza, who also helms Don Artemio, says the restaurant deliberately took its time, refining both its atmosphere and its menu to honor Mexico’s shoreline traditions. He and his father, restaurateur Juan Ramón Cárdenas, spent months traveling through the country’s coastal states, cooking with local experts and gathering recipes that now form the backbone of Dos Mares’ menu. The menu leans heavily into seafood — crudos, ceviches, oysters, and signature dishes like the Tostada de Atún and Taco Gobernador — while still offering satisfying options for land-loving diners, from a buttercrusted rack of lamb to charcoal-grilled steaks. Desserts include a 30-hour flan. Looking ahead, the team plans to introduce dry-aged fish, a five-taco omakase lunch option, and a tableside botanical gin and tonic service. Weekly tuna-cutting demonstrations and DJ nights will round out the lively coastal experience. 3260 W. 7th St., dosmares.com

Shogun Taqueria, the Japanese-themed taqueria opened by longtime Fort Worth restaurateur Francisco “Paco” Islas earlier this year, recently unveiled its next-door bar, Secreto Speakeasy. It is indeed a speakeasy, accessible only by passing through a certain door inside Shogun. Like Shogun, Secreto playfully fuses east with west, with drinks such as yuzu margaritas and seasonal cocktails built around Japanese spirits and ingredients. Dim lighting, jade-green plush barstools, and cozy living-room-style furniture create a space that feels part Edo tavern, part Fort Worth lounge. Cool, cool spot. 1508 W. Magnolia Ave., instagram.com/secretofortworth

One of the city’s most well-known and popular chefs, Stefon Rishel, has turned up in a restaurant about an hour to the west: Oak & Third, the new in-house restaurant at the historic Crazy Water Hotel in Mineral Wells. His menu doesn’t veer far from his areas of Texana cuisine expertise: Dishes include pan-roasted grouper with field pea succotash and a root vegetable puree; Niman Ranch braised beef cheek; a fondue made with smoked redfish, crab, shrimp, and Gouda cheese; and PB&J wings, his signature dish from Wishbone & Flynt. Great to have him back. 401 N. Oak Ave., Mineral Wells, thecrazywaterhotel.com

The Mont, Fort Worth’s new upscale New American restaurant in the Montserrat area, is joining the ranks of other local fine dining restaurants that offer holidaymenus. On Dec. 23 and 24, the restaurant will offer five- and eight-course menus that showcase its seasonal cuisine. Dishes will include Chestnut “Cappuccino,” Loche Etive Trout, and a whimsical Gingerbread Roulade. There will be optional wine pairings, as well. The five-course menu is priced at $75 per person, while the eight-course option is $90 — not bad considering you can’t have Christmas Eve dinner at some restaurants around here for less than $100. Reservations are recommended. Click/ call themontfw.com/817-502-3400.

4 Courses

Jett Mora, executive chef at Cafe Modern, shows us some of his favorite holiday dishes for feasting with the family.

By Jett Mora Photos by Richard W. Rodriguez

STANDING BONE-IN PORCINI PRIME RIB ROAST

Ingredients:

• 3 bone-in prime rib (tied), 11-15 pounds

• 2 cups chopped garlic

• 2 cups chopped shallots

• 1 cup dried porcini, rehydrated, drained, chopped

• ½ cup chopped rosemary

• 1 cup chopped thyme

• 1 1/2 cups canola oil

• ½ cup salt

• ¼ cup cracked black pepper

Instructions:

1. Combine chopped garlic, shallot, porcini, rosemary, thyme, canola oil, salt and black pepper until it forms a paste

2. Rub the paste around the roast (tied with butcher twine) and allow to sit over night

3. Four hours before cooking, allow roast to sit loosely covered at room temperature

4. Cook roast for approximately 3 hours at 275 F until the internal temperature reads 115 for medium rare

5. For 15 minutes, raise the temperature to 375 F until a crust forms on exterior of roast. Pull out of the oven earlier if the roast gets too dark

6. Allow roast to rest for at least 30 minutes before serving

7. Slice to desired thickness and enjoy with Armagnac Sauce (Go to QR code for sauce recipe)

POPOVERS

Ingredients:

• 2 cups milk

• 4 eggs

• 2 cups flour

• 2¼ teaspoons salt

• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

• Gruyère cheese, grated

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 190°C

2. Place 24 mini, 2-ounce aluminum cups on a sheet tray and heat in oven

3. In a stand mixer, whip the eggs on speed No. 4 for 30 minutes

4. Warm the milk (warm, not hot)

5. Sift together the flour, salt, and cayenne

6. Slowly drizzle the warm milk into the eggs while mixing on low speed

7. Remove from the mixer and fold in the sifted flour

8. Pass the batter through a China cap strainer

9. Remove molds from the oven and spray with grease

10. Fill each cup about ¾ full

11. Sprinkle grated Gruyère on top of each popover

12. Bake for 25 minutes, rotate the tray, then bake an additional 15 minutes

13. Popovers are done when the bottoms and tops are golden brown.

14. Serve immediately

GINGER-PUMPKIN BREAD WITH BROWN BUTTER CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

BY CHEF GABRIELA DAMIAN

Ingredients:

• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• ½ teaspoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 1 tablespoon ground ginger

• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1 ¾ cup pumpkin puree

• 2/3 cup vegetable oil

• 2 large eggs

• 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F

2. Grease a ¼ sheet tray and line with parchment paper

3. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg

4. In a separate bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla — whisk until well combined

5. Pour pumpkin mixture into the dry mix and mix until combined

6. Pour into prepared pans and bake for 12 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs, and the center springs back when lightly pressed

BROWN BUTTER CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds butter

• 2 pounds cream cheese

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 to 2 pounds powdered sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:

1. Place butter in a pot, turn it into brown butter, and let it come to room temperature

2. In a mixer bowl, whip room-temp butter with salt

3. Once salt is dissolved, add cream cheese and vanilla

4. Add sugar as needed

Jett Mora

ROBUCHON-STYLE POTATO PUREE

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut in 1-inch pieces

• 3 cups heavy cream, warm

• 1-pound cold butter cubes

• Salt

Instructions:

1. In a vacuum-sealed bag or Ziploc bag, put in the potatoes and salt and remove as much air as possible (sous vide)

2. Bring a pot of water to 212 degrees and insert bag of potatoes

3. Cook for 30 minutes or until forktender, ensuring the potatoes stay sealed and away from the water. Remove potatoes from the bag

4. After cooking, pass the potatoes through a fine sieve or tamis for smoothest texture possible

5. Warm the cream to 175 degrees

6. In a bowl or pot, combine the cream and potatoes

7. Slowly incorporate the cold butter with a rubber spatula

8. Adjust salt to taste

GROUND FOR BECOMING

Center for Transforming Lives is striking at generational poverty, building generational strength.

By John Henry

The mayor lends her support to a mother and son at the Center for Transforming Lives.

AS CAROL KLOCEK LEADS ME ON A HARD-HAT TOUR THIS SPRING OF THE ROOMY NEW FACILITY THAT NOW HOUSES THE CENTER FOR TRANSFORMING LIVES, WE STOP TO LOOK OUT OVER A SPACIOUS LANDSCAPE THAT WILL SOON BECOME A PLAYGROUND FOR CHILDREN — BUT NOT JUST ANY CHILDREN.

The playground plays a pivotal role in early childhood development, according to mounds of research. Its importance spans physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development.

In short, it’s the place where kids learn to be human.

I become stuck thinking about the children who will soon roam this ground below us, designed for resilience, joy, and a first chance at life. Klocek breaks in.

“It’s 10 times the size of the playground that the kids have now,” says Klocek, the CEO of the nonprofit Center for Transforming Lives, which provides a range of wraparound services for at-risk women and children, from initial crisis support and high-quality child care, to financial education, housing services, traumainformed family counseling and job training.

“And it is a very nontraditional playground. It’s built specifically with intent of repairing the neurological damage of trauma. When they go through all the things that they do, when they grow up in places like shelters and housing projects and hotels and all of those places where they just are in containers and concrete and around a lot of the violence, it has a significant physical impact on the brain.”

Klocek explains the impact of all of this to the novice in childhood development. I’ll have to do some research of my own to gain a full grasp.

Early childhood adversity impacts the brain, including its so-called alarm

system — the amygdala, which becomes enlarged because it’s constantly on guard. When children grow up in environments marked by instability, trauma, or chronic stress, the amygdala works overtime, scanning for threats.

Over time, that nonstop vigilance can make kids more reactive, anxious, or hyperaware, their emotional circuitry tuned to danger rather than discovery.

At the same time, the brain regions responsible for calm and control don’t develop as robustly. The prefrontal cortex — the headquarters for planning, decision-making, and regulating emotions — can be smaller and slower to mature under chronic stress.

And because stress hormones disrupt the formation of neural connections, children often end up with fewer or weaker pathways linking the brain’s key regions. In practical terms, they’re missing some of the wiring that supports learning, memory, and emotional balance.

These effects are not destiny — children are remarkably resilient — but they underscore why safe, stable, and enriching environments in the early years matter so profoundly.

“So, what we wanted was a playground where the surfaces, the equipment, the colors, and everything else is designed to counteract that through a sense of simultaneous safety and adventure,” she says. “It really requires the children to interact with the environment by taking risks in a protected way — in a creative way.”

This is all part of the Center for Transforming Lives’ new complex at Riverside Drive and East Berry. It’s a $39 million reimagining of an old Montgomery Ward store and warehouse that opened this spring.

Bennett Partners designed the renovation. Beck Construction was the general contractor.

The place is nothing short of transformational.

Its main components include a traumainformed Child Development Center for 106 children; an Economic Mobility Center designed as an incubator for female entrepreneurs; a therapy wing; and housing services offices.

And, yes, a healing playground crafted to support single mothers and their children who have experienced trauma and poverty.

“The entire building, but particularly the child development center, is trauma informed,” Klocek says. “We’ve used trauma-informed design elements throughout the building, including what are called biophilic elements. You’ll see lots of the natural elements in the building, including the natural light and then the shapes.”

The goal of biophilic design is to connect people to nature, which, it is hoped, improves well-being, reduces stress, and

enhances cognitive performance.

Center for Transforming Lives is one of the community’s largest family safety nets, servicing the needs of 3,000 women and children annually through a comprehensive, two-generation and trauma-informed model.

Thanks to housing support, early childhood education, economic mobility services, and counseling services that work across generations, parents and children establish financial security and well-being as a family.

“Our services are designed to remove any barriers to success for women with young children experiencing poverty or homelessness,” says Klocek.

There is more to the mission than merely charity. There is an economic development benefit to the city.

Each family that CTL successfully transitions from homelessness to self-sufficiency saves the community approximately $20,000 per year, CTL says. Last year the agency moved 205 families out of shelters and off the streets and 81% remained stably housed. Savings are estimated at $4.1 million, according to the nonprofit.

Fads and trends may come and go, but single motherhood and poverty continue to endure in society.

New research from CTL shows that

in Tarrant County one-third of single mothers with a child under age 5 live in poverty. In some ZIP codes, that number jumps as high as 70%. The Center’s findings highlighted three key factors preventing upward mobility for single mothers, including affordable housing, access to child care, and health care.

The report (focused on Tarrant County) states:

• Single mothers spend 51% of their income on rent.

• The eviction rate is five times the national average, with four in 10 renters evicted in 2023.

• There are only 11 seats for every 100 children needing subsidized child care.

• Women with children under age 6 have the highest rates of unemployment (6.7%).

• As many as 40% of single mothers lack health insurance.

“This research is essential to understanding the challenges faced by single-mother-led families living in poverty and identifying effective ways to support them,” says Bethany Edwards, CTL’s director of research and evaluation at Center for Transforming Lives, and author of the report. “For the first time, we have a comprehensive picture of the very real challenges facing these families, from lack of affordable housing to lack of child care to lack of mental health support. You can really see how these factors play into one another and why it is so difficult for these families to break the cycle of poverty without integrated support.”

According to Data USA, the median household income in Tarrant County in 2023 was $81,905. For single mothers, the average income is $33,909, while the average rent for a two-bedroom home is $1,700 a month.

“Due to the perfect storm of record-high rent rates, lack of affordable child care, and wages that have stagnated, lowincome families headed by single mothers are simply priced out of the market,” said Carol Klocek, CEO of Center for Transforming Lives. “Even working multiple jobs, single mothers have a difficult time keeping a roof over their children’s heads.”

Moreover, Klocek says, government

subsidized housing involves as much as a seven-year wait.

The move to the new campus — its 100,000 square feet dwarfs its old building in downtown — will significantly expand capacity to provide services: a 30% increase in families served is projected during the first year.

The new location — next to a bus stop and four-line bus transfer station — will also improve community access in a historically underserved area in southeast Fort Worth, where the poverty rate for single mothers with children under age 6 is 71%.

The new building replaces the CTL’s headquarters in downtown on Fourth Street since 1954. Then called the YWCA — which was rebranded CTL in 2015 — the nonprofit purchased the 1928 Elks Lodge in the mid-1950s.

The new complex on Riverside, as best as I can tell, is the organization’s fourth since its founding in 1907.

The building on Riverside was once part of the Montgomery Ward retail empire. The building opened in 1961 as the second Wards in Fort Worth. The first, attached to the mail order house — before the miracle of Amazon, there was the miracle of mailorder catalogs — on West Seventh, opened in 1924.

Montgomery Ward shut down stores and operations in the aftermath of bankruptcy in 2000.

The new complex also has allowed the nonprofit to add a new tool to the mission. Ending the cycle of generational poverty in many instances is best done as an entrepreneur. Many have good ideas and concepts but don’t have the support.

The Riverside Coworking, Kitchens & Studios is designed to give women and families the space — and the support — to build thriving businesses. Inside CTL’s new Riverside Campus, the incubator pairs practical resources with something rare and revolutionary in the world of entrepreneurship: free drop-in child care. By removing one of the most persistent barriers for parents, the center opens the door to a more inclusive and sustainable path to economic stability and independence.

Riverside Coworking is intentionally

built as an ecosystem, not just a workspace. Members will find desk options and meeting rooms alongside a 24-hour commercial kitchen, a classroom-style teaching kitchen, a makerspace filled with equipment for artisans and creators, and fully outfitted audio and visual studios for content production.

The amenities include phone booths, a wellness room, printing and Wi-Fi, snacks, and coffee, while free workshops and events foster community and skill-building.

The space is open not only to CTL clients. The public at-large is invited to take advantage of the space, with prices and scholarships designed to keep it accessible to all.

The new venture is a natural extension of CTL’s “Level Up” small-business program, which has already walked nearly 200 low-income entrepreneurs through everything from business planning to financial management to marketing.

Graduates can apply for a matched-savings grant of up to $5,000, helping them turn a plan into a storefront, a kitchen, or a digital platform.

With the addition of Riverside Coworking, CTL expects to help launch or expand roughly 100 small businesses annually.

That’s a win-win for individual families and the entire community.

“By combining child care and other support services within the small-business incubator, we’re unlocking the potential of parents as innovators,” Klocek says. “We’re empowering mothers to pursue

their dreams so they can thrive. The two-generation approach nurtures mothers, who are building change, and their children, who will inherit it.”

According to a 2023 report by GoDaddy. com, single-mother entrepreneurs account for roughly one in three womenowned businesses in the U.S. and — within that group — 69% aspire to grow their business into a small or mid-size company or even a corporation (compared with 52% of women business owners without children). The survey also found that 51% of single-mom microbusinesses were launched within the past three years (versus 39% overall) and that these entrepreneurs were more likely to start their business while still employed elsewhere.

“This is a way that they can join a community of like-minded women who are all on that path of reaching their dreams,” Klocek says.

As we work our way back to a secondstory landing overlooking the playground, Klocek points out a live oak tree, which has witnessed the goings-on here for generations.

“Isn’t it a fantastic old live oak?” Klocek says. “We call it the survivor tree because it has survived all the storms and change. And then it kind of represents the families we serve.”

Families once bereft of hope, are now seeing a future for themselves and their children, thanks to work being done at the Center for Transforming Lives.

Now in a building that matches its mission.

Families and civic leaders formally christened the Center for Transforming Lives’ new digs in April. Carol Klocek, in the middle with a clean cut, is flanked by former Tarrant County Commissioner Roy Brooks and Mattie Parker on the right, while Fort Worth City Councilman Chris Nettles is to her left.

2025 Debutantes

Steeplechase Club

On Oct. 25, the Steeplechase Club presented the 2025 Debutantes at the 108th annual ball at River Crest Country Club. President Ross Biggs’ uniquely inspired themed, “Bar Hemingway,” soared to life in each and every room under the creativity of Melanie Tatum Events.

Ambience for the ballroom captured Ernest Hemingway’s time in

Paris where he socialized with fellow expats, mostly writers and artists, in the 1920s, with a dark teal and black art deco stage and outdoor patio mimicking the true Bar Hemingway in Paris, complete with lit scotch decanters and a displayed marlin centered between Hemingway photos.

The Ragtime band entertained

while guests lounged on pink velvet furniture amongst 1920s Parisian photos while ladies dressed in fringe donned fringed lampshades. The bar area conveyed Hemingway’s time in Cuba featuring daiquiris and an abundance of palm trees. Last but not least, the Tavern was a noble nod to Hemingway’s love of sport. Multiple animal mounts were placed on wooden panels within this room, and a large lioness sat demurely on a round centered table with a look imploring you to cozy up to yet another of Hemingway’s bar.

(back row) Mack Newberry (Secretary), William Rattikin (Treasurer), Brodie Hyde (Committees); (middle row) Tabitha Wolfe, Anna Love, Brailey Connor, Ella Love; (front row) Lily Senter, Lottie Lydick, Ross Biggs (President), Macie Mallick, Paxtin Stimson

photo by Gittings

Mad Scientist Ball

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

Mad Scientist Ball is the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History’s signature annual fundraiser and the most unique party in Fort Worth! This year, on Sept. 27, nearly 375 guests joined the event for a memorable night supporting curiosity and lifelong learning.

Nick & Debora Martin

Brittinie & Ben Stewart

Marc & Amber McGurren

Ty & Jordan Stimpson

Kimberly & Joseph DeWoody

Benson & Anna Varghese

Shirley & John Henry Dean III

Kelly and Tom Hanley

photos by Thomas Garza Photography Aleena Mir

Seismic Dance Event Austin

Photo Credit to Eduardo Martinez

Photo Credit to Eduardo Martinez Zoo Amphitheatre, OKC, OK

by

Christmas in Cowtown

The Junior League of Fort Worth

The Junior League of Fort Worth welcomed 21,750 shoppers at its 19th annual holiday gift market, Christmas in Cowtown, Oct. 8-12. The multi-day market features unique gifts, seasonal décor, specialty foods, and boutique finds, all while supporting the Junior League’s mission to improve the community through volunteerism and charitable initiatives. Proceeds from the event directly benefit local nonprofit programs and community projects across Fort Worth.

Top row: Savannah Petronis, Leslie Ford, Jenna Cox, Chelsea James, Alli D’Acosta, Jordan Stimpson. Bottom row: Krista Bohr, Eva S. Williams, Kristi Brhlik, Kendall Riddell, Shay Gipson, Elizabeth Knuckley, Holly Hinsey

Peggy Simms, Santa Claus, Lauren Harwell

Sarah Martinez, Maggie Shipman, KayLynne Lisenby, Nicole Miglionico, Reagan Smith, Ally Conoley

Junior League of Fort Worth volunteers

Alexis Craig, Leann Bender

Canon Elizabeth Photography

GIVE BACK

Celebrating Over 25 Years of Giving Back

Philanthropy is one of the ways FortWorthMagazine carries out its mission of celebrating Fort Worth and making it better.

During the past quarter of a century, FortWorthMagazine has partnered with more than 225 different Tarrant County nonprofits, contributing over $16 million in cash and in-kind donations.

Give the Gift of Giving

The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever® Gift Card is like any other traditional retail gift card; the difference is that the funds on the card are used to make charitable contributions to any of the 25 great organizations featured in The Catalog, rather than buying material things. The purchaser of the card receives the tax deduction and the recipient gets to direct the funds to the programs and charities that are most meaningful to them.

Kicking o on January 2nd at 12:00, this year’s Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl takes our mission of honoring our nation’s Armed Forces to new heights as we celebrate 250 years of bravery. Scan the QR code or visit our website to get your tickets now!

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Witherite Law Group, PLLC; KDC, LLC on behalf of Witherite Law Group, PLLC

Like Atlas, the Greek Titan condemned by Zeus to bear the weight of the heavens on his shoulders for eternity, this incredible sculpture found in Ko Thai, a new Thai restaurant on Magnolia Avenue, portrays a man bearing the weight of this two-story restaurant’s second floor on his shoulders. Of course, unlike Greek mythology, this is not necessarily an ode to a religious figure within the Thai culture, where Theravada Buddhism is the dominant religion — practiced by over 90% of Thailand’s population, according to the Association of Relgion. To put this in perspective, the dominant religion within the U.S., Christianity, is practiced by 62% of the nation’s population, according to a 2025 Pew Research Poll. Ko Thai, which opened this year, was named one of our magazine’s Best New Restaurants from writer Malcolm Mayhew. You can read the full feature on page 62.

@severus_snapshot

PHOTO BY THANIN VIRIYAKI