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Having a morning show on WBAP and being the voice of TCU keeps Brian Estridge on a tight schedule.
The last thing Brian has time for is shopping all day for a new vehicle, which is why he has been a loyal D&M Leasing customer for the past ten years.
Brian also knows the value of a dollar, and with D&M Leasing he saves 40-50% each and every month compared to buying a vehicle.
Leasing a new or pre-leased vehicle with D&M Leasing is easy. They’ve been based in Tarrant County for 34 years, and now with an office in Fort Worth, it’s easier than ever.
Contact D&M Leasing today and they will even deliver your new car or truck to your home or office.
features
July 2015
Slices of Heaven
In searching for the best slices in Fort Worth, we found that people are passionate about pizza. Our list includes 19 specific slices in Fort Worth proper and just one outside the city limits (located in nearby Arlington) that’s unlike any other we found in town. by Celestina
Blok
54
Inside Job This month we decided to profile four uniquely and thoughtfully designed office spaces in Fort Worth.
by Jocelyn Tatum
64
Shredding the Competition
Texas Appliance Warehouse once again hosted Fort Worth, Texas magazine’s Top Chef preliminary round. Six of the area’s most talented chefs showed off their skill and creativity for an excited crowd of fans and attendees. by Courtney
Dabney
68
Beneath the Surface Fort Worth, Texas magazine’s 2015 Dream Home by Scott Nishimura
Chadra Mezza
(Retired) by Gail Bennison
Snapshots Behind the ropes and on the red carpet, the photos of the personalities and parties that have everyone talking 119 fwevents From the mustsee live concert to the highly esteemed art exhibit, a month of events worth checking out
fwdish Culinary ventures in and around town
Listings The most sought-after restaurant guide to navigate the area’s diverse dining options
This? How well do you know Fort Worth? Can you guess where this photo was taken based on the clues?
HOMETOWN HEROES
Presented by TXO
Diane Ayres
Associate Publisher
Fort Worth, Texas magazine
Diane Ayres’ longtime community volunteer experience made her a perfect fit for Associate Publisher, starting with Fort Worth, Texas magazine in 1998. Diane says it’s rewarding “to be able to sponsor over 100 charity events each year through my job at Fort Worth, Texas magazine. I could not begin to do all that I do in the community without the support of the owner and publisher of our publication, Hal Brown.”
Actively involved in various capacities, Diane has chaired and served on committees, special projects and fundraisers including Mayfest, Legacy of Women, Joy of Life, Fort Worth Can Academy, Wish with Wings, Joy of Life, Putting on the Pink, Leukemia Texas, Kinderfrogs, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters Taste of Fort Worth, just to name a few.
When asked about what inspires her, Diane is quick to name her husband, four children and six grandchildren. “My husband, Bill, inspires me, supports me and rolls up his sleeves to help me in everything I do. Most mornings, his first question is, which charity are we going to tonight and what should I wear?”
With all of her endeavors and achievements, it’s easy to understand how Diane Ayres was chosen as a Hometown Hero. But in her eyes, she’s no different than other volunteers who work together to make a difference. Diane said, “Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.”
owner/publisher hal a. brown
any way you slice it
GrowinG up, my parents were strict about our meals. We were required to eat two vegetables each night, with at least one of them being green, and we couldn’t leave the table unless we had gulped down a glass of milk. But every Friday night, we would get a pizza and a two-liter bottle of soda, and my brother and I were allowed to pick out one movie each at the Blockbuster next door to the pizza place.
Things haven’t changed too much since then. I’ve swapped the soda for red wine and can now stream my movies with the click of a button. It’s remarkable how a slice of cheesy, crusty goodness can be so gratifying.
In our cover feature, Slices of Heaven (page 38), we highlight the 20 best pizzas in town. From thick, Chicago-style deep dish to thin-as-a-cracker crust topped with the works, we’ve covered the pizza gamut. There are yummy vegetarian options, too, like the Squash Blossom pizza served at Vivo 53. Writer Celestina Blok spent weeks visiting all 20 establishments to ensure the pizzas were up to the hype they receive. Being a fitness instructor, luckily those extra calories didn’t do her any damage.
Approximately 3 billion pizzas will be sold in the U.S. this year, with each American eating an average of 46 slices (23 pounds). We implore that you let 20 of those slices be from the local joints found in this issue.
Casseday-Blair Executive Editor
stayconnected
Seeing Red
Great article, but of course what a great person to feature! If we had more Red Steagalls, we would have a better world.
–Terri Holland
New Brews
Why do reporters not understand the difference between a brewery and a distillery?? The Acre is going to feature hand-crafted spirits, NOT craft beer!
—Kimmer
In yet another instance of brilliant writing by your staff, the blurb about HopFusion Ale Works in this month's issue makes a couple glaring errors. You list other breweries that HopFusion will be neighbors with: Rahr, Chimera, and Martin House. Last time I checked, Martin House is most certainly NOT in the Near Southside neighborhood (more like Carter Riverside--northeast of downtown). HOWEVER, Collective Brewing is very much in the Near
If someone beat you to the
tions
Southside, yet isn't mentioned at all. Do your staffers know anything about this city, or do they just assume their readers don't know where things are?
—Shannon Evan
Tweet, Tweet
BigsTX @bigstx
Thank you @FWTXmag for honoring the legacy of Big Brother and Tarrant County Board Member, Barrett Havran.
Jonathan Morris @JonathanDFW Why no Best Of Barber Shops @FWTXmag? Next year?
Yatai Food Kart @YataiFoodKart Feeling really blessed about this pick. Thank you everyone @FWTXmag.
Crowley ISD @CrowleyISD CHS alum Leon Bridges is making beautiful music. Read about our 2007 grad (formerly Todd Michael Bridges) @ FWTXmag.
MAX’sWineDiveFtWorth @MWDFortWorth
Huge congrats to Chef Stefon Rishel, winner, Top Chef Challenge Prelims! You rocked! #topchef @FWTXmag #fortworth
The Wild Mushroom @wildmushroom1
Guess who’s moving on to the @FWTXmag Top Chef finals? Chef Jerrett Joslin! #fearthebeard
Kendall S @YelpFortWorth First #topchef challenge! Make pico de gallo super fast – taste is most important! @FWTXmag
Mark Doyle @mark_doyle_ftw
Just saw an ad in @FWTXmag for #fwtxinc #business magazine. Can’t wait! #fort worth #local #biz
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Gail Bennison mostly enjoys writing about people, art and culture, health, and history. This month Gail contributes a review of Fort Worth writer Tim Madigan’s first novel, Every Common Sight (page 28), and introduces readers to Ridge Roberts, a young fiddling phenom (page 26). She also provides an up-close look at Robin Akin, U.S. Army Brigadier General (Retired), on page 80.
2
Style extraordinaire, Holland Sanders, is a blogger who loves celebrating the evolving world of fashion. Through her blog, Haute Holland, she introduces readers to the hottest trends and latest fashion topics. This month Holland introduces a local business, Rebel With Cause. She features some of its shoes and handbags on page 30.
3
Jocelyn Tatum visited some of the coolest offices in town for this issue. She writes, “Almost every detail, down to the color of exposed wiring, was thought about, and every space was designed with the type of work each company performs… All of these offices were created to inspire not only the employees, but also the clients.” For photos of the innovative spaces, turn to page 54.
4
Having lived in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex for the majority of her life, Kacie Galloway is a Texas native. She is now a Fort Worth resident, and she loves writing about both big issues, especially in politics, and the smaller-scale, more intimate stories. When she is not busy writing, she enjoys spending time outdoors, playing with her goldendoodle, trying new recipes and traveling. This month she contributed a piece about Heim Barbecue. If you want to read more about where the locals are eating, turn to page 130.
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Jessica Llanes gives readers the facts about the risks of a sedentary job in this month’s Be Well section. New research shows that sitting for extended periods of time can actually be more dangerous than smoking. In addition to the drop in calories being burned, long periods of sitting can cause muscle imbalances, inflexibility, neck and back pain, headaches and blood clots. To read more, turn to page 32.
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Fort Worth-based food news writer Celestina Blok (on Twitter @celestinafw) regularly contributes to INDULGE, Star-Telegram and Texas Highways while moonlighting as a fitness instructor at The Fort Worth Club and YMCA. On our cover this month is one of everyone’s favorite indulgences. Celestina painstakingly visited all 20 pizza joints in search of the best slices in Fort Worth. They range from chewy thick crust and crispy thin crust to saucy deep-dish and floppy with tips that dip. For the complete list, turn to page 38.
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Brian Byrd, M.D. is the owner of Texas Family Medicine, a primary care clinic located in Harris Southwest Hospital, Fort Worth. He is board certified in Family Medicine and is the medical director for Encompass Hospice. Brian grew up in Fort Worth and attended Arlington Heights High School. He and his wife, Stephanie, have three children. This month he informs us about carpal tunnel syndrome. To read more about this common problem, turn to page 82.
Big green egg
Cooking columnist Nancy Farrar went toe-to-toe with her Big Green Egg this month. Her whole rosemary chicken and grilled peaches are sure to be a hit at any gathering. For a behindthe-scenes look at Nancy in action, visit fwtx.com/videos.
Culinary Awards
Now is your chance to reward your favorite places by nominating them for listing in the 2015 Fort Worth, Texas magazine Culinary Awards. Give us your opinion on categories ranging from Appetizers to Wine Lists. Voting ends on Aug. 30.
Hot Tickets
Don’t miss out on some of the magazine’s hottest upcoming events. Our Top Chef Final Challenge will be held on July 21 at Cendera Center. Guests will watch some of the area’s best chefs compete for the title of Top Chef 2015. To purchase your tickets, visit fwtx.com/topchef.
giveaway Central
Be sure to regularly check our website for fun giveaways to local restaurants, retailers and spas. Follow us on Facebook for updates about our routine giveaways.
Best Of Party recap
If you missed our 2015 Best Of party, don’t fret. You can check out the party recap at fwtx.com/videos. We bet after seeing all the fun you missed, you will get your tickets for next year’s party.
Bountiful Blogs
From foodie news and stylish entertaining ideas to reviews of local art happenings and Western heritage, visit fwtx.com to read the musings of our many blog writers.
Most Beautiful
Fort Worth, Texas magazine is looking for the 10 most stunningly beautiful females in the city. We want your help deciding who are the fairest of them all for our 2015 Most Beautiful Women in Fort Worth feature. Go to fwtx.com
That’s how many providers and associate providers are in the USMD SeniorCare program. It adds up to a different approach to senior care, one that extends beyond the office visit to follow-up calls and care management support. Because USMD is more than a healthcare system. It’s a healthcare home.
For more information, call 817.514.5277 and ask about the USMD SeniorCare program.
Our
Saving water takes a game plan, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Take a page from the Team Lawn Whisperer playbook. Our strategies include no watering between 10am and 6pm, watering twice a week or less, and using the “cycle and soak” method when irrigating to reduce runoff.
Ready to play? Join our team and let’s save water. Nothing can replace it.
Staying connected with the latest local happenings
thescoop
Best-Case scenario
The Wylies, a local Christian family from Johnson Country, were recently featured on an episode of the CBS show The Briefcase.
Believing they were participating in a documentary about families and their finances, Matt and Becky Wylie were surprised to discover they had instead been cast in a new TV reality show.
The premise of The Briefcase is that hardworking families who are experiencing financial setbacks are presented with a briefcase containing a large sum of money. They can keep all of the money for themselves or give all or part of it to another family in need.
Matt and Becky and their two daughters, 16-year-old Haley and 20-year-old Skyler, were presented with a briefcase containing $101,000. They were then told that there was a couple in Boston that was struggling just as much as they were, and the Wylies could share as much or as little as they wanted with this other family.
As an added twist, the Boston family had a briefcase as well. They were presented with the same scenario of giving an amount to the Wylies.
The episode concludes with the two families meeting and telling each other how much they decided to share.
—FWTX Staff
byte out of Crime
big fish
The verTebrae of a monsTer shark that once swam the seas that covered Texas nearly 100 million years ago was discovered just west of Fort Worth in the Duck Creek Formation. College students on a paleontology trip discovered the fossil in 2009 and ended up excavating three total fossils belonging to the shark that measured at least 20 feet long. The enormous fish, Leptostyrax macrorhiza, would have been among the largest predators of its time.
In June, Joseph Frederickson and his wife Janessa DoucetteFrederickson, who were on the trip and first discovered the fossil, and their colleague Scott Schaefer published their findings, A Gigantic Shark From the Lower Cretaceous Duck Creek Formation of Texas, in the scientific journal PLOS One.
—FWTX Staff
The TarranT CounT y Dis TriCT aTTorney’s DigiTal forensiCs serviCes began 15 years ago with one investigator who programmed one computer for the use in economic crime cases.
As digital devices have become widespread, they have become instrumental in solving criminal cases. This led former district attorneys Joe Shannon and Tim Curry to increase staff members that would analyze data from cameras, video and audio equipment and cellphones.
In May the Digital & Forensics Services team set up shop in the Tarrant County Plaza Building, which will allow the newly consolidated unit to perform an increase in its digital forensic services to law enforcement agencies in Tarrant County, across the state and even nationwide.
The new facility has stations to remove computer hard drives and four computer examining stations, which allows multiple cases to be worked on using multiple computers if necessary. —FWTX Staff
Getting Rail Ready
If theRe weRe any doubts about the fruition of the plan to construct a 27-mile commuter rail line from downtown Fort Worth to Grapevine and DFW Airport, they might be cast aside now.
TEX Rail officials officially signed a contract to order eight rail cars and the parts to cover a decade of maintenance. The $106.7 million deal was made with Stadler Bussnang AG, based out of Switzerland.
Scheduled to open at the end of 2018, the rail line should receive
Comings and Goings
A new water park just celebrated its grand opening in White Settlement right in time for summer. h awaiian falls boasts a football fieldsized wave pool, lazy river, ziplining and multiple spiraling water slides for aquatic fun, as well as an indoor arcade and 60-foot climbing and rappelling wall open year round. Its new location at 8905 Clifford St. is the park's newest addition to its other parks in Garland, The Colony, Mansfield, Roanoke, Waco and Pflugerville.
fort worth Camera is moving from its home off the West 7th Street corridor to a new two-story, state-of-the-art location on the southwest corner
of Montgomery Street and Crestline Road. Construction at the new location in the museum district, 1600 Montgomery St., is set break ground before the fall, and its grand opening will take place in the summer of 2016. MacKenzie Hughes, the store’s marketing manager, said the company’s goal is to make the new Fort Worth Camera location the best, most modern camera store in Texas.
Mother Rucker’s s weets is known for Karel Rucker’s delectable brownies, specialty cookies, gift baskets and more, as well as their online ordering and shipping option, ideal for holidays and special occasions. The
enough federal grant funding to cover half of its total cost.
TEX Rail will use the Stadler FLIRT cars, which stands for Fast Light Innovative Regional Train. This type of car is known for its panoramic windows and extremely quiet ride.
Stops will include downtown Fort Worth, Haltom City, North Richland Hills, Grapevine and DFW Airport’s Terminal B. For more information about this project, visit texrail.com.
FWTX Staff
company has been working out of a small plant in east Fort Worth and is now relocating to a new 32,000-square-foot facility in the Arlington Westway Business Center. The location at 301 E. Stephens St. will include multiple shipping docks and room for a much-needed expanded kitchen.
Mexican fast-casual restaurant chain, s alsarita’s fresh Cantina, is on its
way to making a new home in North Texas. The restaurant already has 75 locations in 18 states, including existing locations in Longview and Tyler, and now their sights are set on opening a new restaurant in Lewisville. The cantina, which features a menu of tacos, burritos, nachos, salads and more, will also plan to build more locations in Plano, Frisco and Allen over the next four years. Nicole Crites
Remodel your garage.
Nothing will spruce up the ol’ garage like a brand new car or truck. And Don Davis Auto Group has more of the makes and models you’re looking for. Like the best-selling, all-new 2015 Ford F-150. Or brighten up the space with an eye-catching 2015 Nissan Altima. Perhaps a brand new Jeep Wrangler if you’re after a certain outdoorsy look.
Home improvement can be quick and easy. We’ll show you how, at Don Davis Auto Group.
Your definitive guide to living well
fwliving
Nancy Farrar cooks up a summer feast on her Big Green Egg this month. Her menu features a beautiful dessert of Grilled Parker County Peaches with Crème Fraiche and Mint.
recipe,
fwliving escapes
islands in the backyard
An island getaway is a no-brainer for anyone looking to unwind. When searching for sun and fun, we’re quick to make plans for Cozumel, Jamaica or maybe the Bahamas. But what about that body of salt water right in our own backyard?
This month we are visiting Gulf Coast island getaways for nearby sand and surf. These islands offer world-class nature excursions, coastal history and culture, locally harvested seafood, and clear Gulf waters for swimming, fishing and sunning.
florida: st. george island
St. George Island is a 28-mile long barrier island off the coast of Apalachicola in the Florida Panhandle. It’s one of the last inhabited barrier islands with a year-round community of less than 1,000 people. However, the environment is virtually unspoiled. Perhaps the best way to experience the island is to first visit Jolly Roger
Beach Shop where you can book a fishing trip, sunset cruise or a river trip. Or slow down and see the Forgotten Coast by way of kayak or paddleboard. They’re also the experts on family shelling adventures and dolphin watching.
Afterward, visit the reconstructed 1852 Cape St. George Lighthouse, board a paddle wheel riverboat and tour the Apalachicola River, or visit one of the many museums in the area. For some great seafood, live music and island nightlife, kick back at Blue Parrot Oceanfront Café or stroll into Eddy Teach’s Raw Bar.
On the east side of the island are the beaches, boardwalks and hiking trails of St. George Island State Park. Here you’ll discover a ninemile stretch of pristine shoreline,
sand dunes, bay forests and salt marshes, perfect for birding, strolling and relaxing.
alabama: dauphin island
South of Mobile Bay, across a three-milelong, high-rise bridge, is 14-mile-long Dauphin Island, better known as the Sunset Capital of Alabama. Here you will discover Gulf Coast nature and history at its finest. Begin at the 164-acre Audubon Bird Sanctuary, where boardwalks and hiking trails pass through woodlands, swamps, fresh water lakes, sand dunes and white sand beaches. There is also the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, home of the Estuarium, where visitors can get up close and personal to more than 100 species of resident marine life.
| by kyle whitecotton |
Grand Isle in Louisiana is a Gulf Coast paradise. Vacationers visit for fishing, birding and sunning on the whitesand beaches.
Dauphin Island is better known as the "Sunset Capital of Alabama." It's Gulf Coast nature and history at its finest.
On the north side of the island is Shell Mound Park, an archeological site dating as far back as 1100 AD, where people from the Bottle Creek site deposited their oyster shells over centuries of meals. Relive the Battle of Mobile Bay at the historic Fort Gaines, an experience complete with well-preserved ramparts, blacksmith demonstrations and living history events. Then take a quiet stroll through the old oak trees of historic Cadillac Square, or watch the comings and goings of shrimp and crab boats from Aloe Bay Landing Park. Afterwards, take your picnic basket to the Dauphin Island Pier, Magnolia Park or beautiful Bayou Heron Park before heading to the pet-friendly public beach for some quiet time. The island’s West End Beach is great for families.
Mississippi: West Ship Island
The Ship Island Excursions ferry from Gulfport, Miss., to West Ship Island is an hour-long, 12-mile trip across Mississippi Sound and through a host of shrimp boats, tugs and freighters. The destination is an uninhabited barrier island where tranquil white sand beaches and pristine Gulf waters beckon visitors to leave their troubles behind. As part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore and protected by the U.S. Park Service, West Ship Island trades the constant noise of traffic for the steady rhythms of the coastal breeze and lapping tide. This is the beach environment minus the resort fuss.
Favorite island pastimes here include birding, hiking, shelling and fishing for flounder, red drum and speckled trout from the shore, pier or local charter. Visitors also enjoy touring Fort Massachusetts, a 19th century structure built for national defense that has withstood both war and weather. However, the most popular activities on West Ship Island, aside from sunbathing, are swimming and snorkeling in the warm coastal waters. But don’t get too comfortable here, no overnight stays are allowed on West Ship Island. However, camping facilities are available next door on East Ship Island.
Louisiana: Grand Isle
As Louisiana’s only inhabited barrier island, Grand Isle is a Gulf Coast paradise for thousands of visitors each year. The island’s history includes the Chitimacha tribe, frequent visits by pirates and occupation by Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Today vacationers visit the island for fishing, birding and relaxing on seven miles of white sand beaches.
Offering more than 280 species of fish and four seasons in which to catch them, Grand Isle is a fisherman’s paradise. Charter a boat and head out into the Gulf or set out in the shallow water marsh around the island in a kayak. Visitors can also surf fish for speckled trout year-round or luck into a redfish during the fall and winter months, but don’t miss the island’s Tarpon Rodeo in July.
Set out on the two-mile Grand Isle
Birding Trail, which includes five birdwatching sites located throughout Louisiana landscapes of oak and hackberry forests, salt marshes and tidal ponds. The annual Grand Isle Migratory Bird Festival in April corresponds with the area’s peak bird migration. Grand Isle State Park on the island’s eastern end makes for great camping and picnicking.
Texas: Galveston Island
Texas offers up the biggest and best in Gulf Coast island getaways with 32 miles of beach along with numerous resorts, restaurants and shopping, and a 2,000-acre state park, all found on Galveston Island. When
it comes to beaches, Seawall Urban Park is the island’s central hot spot for shopping, eating, sidewalk strolling, sightseeing and people watching. For a healthy dose of partying and live music, your best bet is to head to East Beach’s boardwalk and pavilion. And if you’re looking for some family-friendly sun and surf, head to Stewart Beach.
Museums abound on Galveston Island, including the Lone Star Flight Museum and Texas Seaport Museum. Take the kids to Moody Gardens for endless entertainment, including a giant aquarium, a rainforest pyramid, 3D and 4D theaters, ropes courses and loads of fun. Then check out Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark and the Gulf Coast’s biggest family attraction—Pleasure Pier.
Nature enthusiasts will appreciate Galveston Island’s birding, dolphin watching, and fishing opportunities. Galveston Island State Park offers up a quieter perspective with swimming, hiking, kayak tours, picnicking and camping in one of the 66 campsites (most of which face the beach). And the beaches here are easily some of the very best in the Gulf.
While there’s nothing wrong with a trip to the Virgin Islands and no one would scoff at the thought of a getaway in the Dominican Republic, our local islands are worth another look. So before you pack your flip-flops and sunscreen this year, see what the Gulf Coast has to offer and consider staying local for your island vacation.
If you haven't visited in a while, Gulf Coast island getaways are worth another trip.
For more information on exhibits and performances, go to fwtx.com and click on culture.
He’s Not Just Fiddlin’ Around
Ridge Roberts, music prodigy from Granbury
| by Gail Bennison |
Photo by Shad Ramsey
I F you A sk 12-ye A r-old Gr ANB ury F iddle prodi G y, r id G e r o B erts, t H e di FF ere N ce B etwee N A violi N AN d A F iddle, H e smiles AN d s A ys: “ w ell, wit H A violi N , you HA ve stri NG s; wit H A F iddle, you HA ve str ANG s.” But make no mistake about it; Ridge is a fiddle historian, from the different types of wood and strings and how they are made to famous fiddle players and their music. He collects old fiddles, Bibles, coins and cowboy hats, and he loves Lego building and cooking, to name a few of his interests. He will talk all day about music, but when it comes to his talent, he is humble. At age 7, Ridge picked up a fiddle and began playing by ear. He’s following in the footsteps of his dad, John Roberts, as well as an uncle and a family friend. Ridge loves vintage music and some of the traditional fiddle tunes that are well
more than a century old. He likes older country music and Western swing, tunes you might hear on a Bob Wills’ recording. Ridge is a Texas state champion and has won fiddle competitions all over the U.S.
Joey McKenzie, a renowned, Grammy awardwinning world champion fiddle player, is Ridge’s teacher. He describes his protégé as an old soul. “He is outstanding, one of the best students I’ve ever had, and I’ve taught nine national champions,” McKenzie says. “The key to that is his absolute love of the music. He does the work with a smile on this face. As he keeps progressing, the door will open for him to play professionally.”
In addition to fiddle playing and writing music, Ridge also is developing his guitar playing and singing. He plays old music that hasn’t been written down. “It’s taught by ear when a student and teacher sit toe-to-toe and work this stuff out,” McKenzie explains.
Ridge is preparing for the 63rd National Oldtime Fiddlers’ Contest & Festival, being held June 22 – June 27 this year in Weiser, Idaho. The contest is sequestered. The judges do not hear the names announced or see the players. They only hear the music. For Ridge’s age division, the limit is 55 contestants, which usually fills up, says Ridge’s mother, Cindy Roberts. “This competition is stressful, with new music, constant fiddling and strict time limits throughout the day,” she says.
Ridge isn’t nervous. He seems to thrive under pressure, whether in formal competition or performing at nursing homes or charitable fundraising events in his hometown. Which does he enjoy more? “I like getting on stage and being able to talk and play whatever I want,” Ridge says. “But, I like going to contests and talking to other fiddlers and listening to them play. I like learning from them.”
His future goals include winning three national championships and teaching others to play.
Ridge has two brothers, Aedan, 15, and Rio, 10, who is a special needs child.
To contribute to the family’s travel fund to Idaho, visit gofundme.com/FriendsofRidge.
Every Common Sight
| by Gail Bennison |
Wendell knew he would be dead in a few seconds, but he didn’t pray. He never thought of heaven or hell or God, because he knew that what had started to happen in that snow was way beyond God’s ability to do much about. Instead, Wendell remembered feeling amazed by how fast a soldier can die, how easy it can be.
ASTEEP LEARNING CURVE, which resulted in numerous drafts, as well as the interruptions in the writing of two critically acclaimed non-fiction books, kept getting in the way of Fort Worth writer Tim Madigan’s first novel. Twenty years in the making, Every Common Sight was released in 2015. A well-known scribe for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for 30 years, Madigan was honored three times as Texas’ reporter of the year. Non-fiction works include: I’m Proud of You: My Friendship with Fred Rogers, published in 2001, and The Burning: Massacre, Destruction and the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921, published in 2006.
“Whenever one of those [projects] came along, I put the novel aside,” Madigan says. “Frankly, I just had to learn how to write good fiction. I studied without any coach or teacher until finally, in the last year or so, I felt like I got it to where it needed to be.”
In 1994, Madigan was reading a story about the 50th anniversary of D-Day that described some horrific situations in combat. He recalls wondering why we heard so much about post-traumatic stress in Vietnam veterans but nothing like that in World War II veterans. “I wondered if there was something about World War II that was less terrible than Vietnam. I learned that World War II veterans tended to deal with their stress,” Madigan says. “They came back to the states and worked so hard that basically they were too tired to dream. They kept the nightmares away. In the mid-1990s, they started to retire, and the war started to come back,” Madigan continues. “Across the country, they started creating PTSD therapy groups for them. These veterans were suffering and struggling.”
Out of this came Every Common Sight’s lead character, Wendell Smith, a hero of the Battle of the Bulge. Wendell brought home to Texas terrible memories of the battlefield, and a secret—one he could not confide even to his wife. It consumes him from the inside out. The character, Claire Cavanaugh, who has a secret of her own, came from Madigan’s many experiences as a journalist, he says. “I was just sitting there writing, and she appeared. I kept wondering if someone had gone through what she had gone through, how that would manifest in later life. Claire just evolved out of the whole writing process and then just kept evolving.”
The novel’s takeaway, Madigan says: “I feel like the book, in a very small way, tells the story of the heroism of the Greatest Generation that really hasn’t been told before but needs to be told.”
Every Common Sight is available online through Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.
Rebel With Cause
Bulgarian born and 2009 TCU business graduate Ivet Taneva has set her sights high for her new Fort Worth fashion start up. Taneva, who in 2014 launched her shoe and handbag business, Rebel with Cause, founded the brand on the principles of high quality, eco-friendly products at an affordable price. Working with London-based designer Maks Miuk, Taneva has created a sleek line of European-inspired pieces that major online retailers are clamoring to sell. This summer R.W.C. will launch not one, but two online promotional sales with mega web vendors Zappos and Zulily. Following the seasonal sales, Rebel With Cause will make a statement at London Fashion Week and on the shelves of some of your favorite stores across the U.S. Check out R.W.C online at rebelwithcausetx.com.
RWC Bucket Bag, Black, Rebel With Cause; $210; rebelwithcausetx.com
Summer Suede Strap Anatomic Sole Sandal, Gray, Rebel With Cause; $89.99; rebelwithcausetx.com
RWC “Gigi” Premium Leather Round Cross Body Bag, Brown, Rebel With Cause; $199; rebelwithcausetx.com
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Illustration created for Fort Worth, Texas magazine by local artist Mackenzie Asdzåån and geometric designs by artist Mike Lopez.
| by Holland Sanders | photography by Alex Lepe |
fwliving be well
sitting pretty
New research shows that sitting for extended periods of time can be more dangerous to your health than smoking. Our experts weigh in on what you can do to offset the risks of a sedentary job.
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by Jessica llanes
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A re you logging long office hours in front of a computer? y ou aren’t alone. The average person spends 64 hours a week sitting, and the effects can be deadly.
“Sitting doesn’t affect us right away— just like smoking the first cigarette won’t kill you,” explains Dr. Bryan Hapka at Active Spine & Sport Therapy. “Sitting day in, day out has the most negative effect on our bodies.”
This year, The Annals of Internal Medicine published research showing that people who sit 8-12 hours daily increased their risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 dia-
betes, and early death by up to 40 percent.
“The moment you sit down, the amount of calories you burn drops to one per minute,” Dr. Hapka says. “After two hours, your good cholesterol drops by 20 percent, and after 24 hours, the effect of insulin on your blood sugar drops.”
Long periods of sitting can also lead to muscle imbalances, inflexibility, neck and back pain, headaches, and blood clots.
“We’re built to move, not sit in front of a computer,” says Dr. Robert Machos, medical director of the executive health program at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth. “Look at the people around you hunching over their laptops and cell phones. They look older than they really are.”
And bad news for active couch potatoes and weekend warriors—research shows 30 minutes of daily aerobic exercise isn’t sufficient to offset the risks.
“Just being active isn’t enough,” says Dr. Timothy Odom of the Texas Center of Chiropractic Orthopedics. “You have to specifically counteract all the hours you spend sitting down.”
Prolonged sitting puts pressure on the low back, weakens core muscles, and tightens the hip flexors and hamstrings. In fact, athletes with sedentary day jobs are more prone to sports injuries.
“We sit all day and then go to the gym, stretch a minute or two, and go for a run,” explains Dr. Machos. “Now we are seeing all of these injuries—hip pointers, IT band issues, pulled muscles and tendons, and shoulder and ankle injuries.”
What’s the best way to lower your risks? Dr. Hapka suggests we simply “move well and move often,” but our experts shared
some specific recommendations:
1. Maintaining optimal posture. “People have their computer screens at odd angles. They’re slouched in their chairs,” says Dr. Odom. “Not being in ergonomic positions can actually cause a lot of problems.”
2. Moving at least 5 minutes every hour. Staying active throughout the day is the best way to stay healthy. Research shows as little as two minutes of walking per hour of sitting may reduce early death by 33 percent.
“In our building, we have a challenge to walk up three flights of stairs four times a day,” says Dr. Machos. “It doesn’t take long, and you feel more productive afterward.”
3. Getting a fitness evaluation. Prevention is key, so listen to the body’s cues.
“When the dash lights come on in your car, hopefully you take care of the problem immediately,” says Dr. Odom. “We have dash lights that come on in our bodies all the time. Any stiffness, tightness, headache, or numbness or tingling in the hands are all signs of a problem.”
office hacks to stay active
Below are some tips from our doctors to avoid inactivity in the workplace.
• Set an hourly alarm on your phone. Get some water, use a bathroom on another floor, or hike a flight of stairs.
• Visit a colleague instead of calling, emailing or sending an IM.
• Hold standing or walking meetings, and stand up or pace when answering the phone.
• Get a step counter like a Fitbit to track daily steps.
• Walk to lunch or for any errands that are one mile or less, or use your lunch break to hit the gym.
• Commute to work by bike or park further away from your office building.
• Consider swapping your desk for a standing or treadmill desk if space allows.
• Make time for an atyour-desk stretching routine.
• Bring a mat to work for foam rolling or 5-minute yoga breaks, such as sun salutations, planks and warrior poses.
• Start an office competition to encourage workplace fitness.
ADVERTISERS... READERS VALUE PAID MAGAZINES OVER FREE MAGAZINES
Monroe Mendelsohn Research examined readers in the D/FW area and asked them how they feel about magazines they pay for versus free regionals mailed to their homes. The study found free magazines “proved to be significantly less likely to be read and significantly less likely to be valued than paid magazines.”
The study also states that a significant number of respondents indicated they wanted to be taken off circulation lists of the freebies saying they receive too many
UNSOLICITED catalogs, brochures, magazines and newspapers in the mail.
So, consider paid versus free distribution when you are deciding how to spend your advertising dollars. Just looking at the bulk numbers isn’t enough.
fw
Find these and other recipes on my blog at ChefImpersonator. com. Watch me and Chef Sarah Hooton make the Corn Lobster Chowder at fwtx.com/videos/corn-lobster-chowder.
Simple Summer Meal on the Big Green Egg
| by Nancy Farrar, Chef Impersonator | photography by Alex Lepe |
So ME p E op LE w AN t d IAM o N d S F or Chr IS t MAS , and some people want furs. Some people want lavish trips, and others want pearls. But this Chef Impersonator wanted a Big Green Egg, and Santa didn't disappoint. So my July menu features three recipes all made on this modern marvel of outdoor cookery, the ceramic and green porcelain-glazed cooking vessel with quite the cult following – the Big Green Egg.
I'm not sure where I first learned about the Egg, but the minute I heard about it, I had to have one. They're only sold by approved Egg dealers and have a cult following of self-proclaimed "Eggheads" who blog recipes, post diatribes about their cooking exploits and even attend an annual conference called EGGtoberfest, which is held every year in Atlanta. What makes the egg so special is that it can cook at very high temps, up to 700 degrees. It can be a smoker, a slow cooker, a searing hot grill and even a convection oven.
There is virtually nothing you can't make on a Big Green Egg – including my Rosemary Chicken with Onion and Lemon, Stuffed Tomatoes with White Cheddar, and Grilled Parker County Peaches with Crème Fraiche and Mint for dessert. An entire meal cooked right in the Egg. And if you don’t happen to own an Egg, no worries. All of these recipes can be adapted for whatever grill you use and even made indoors. So let's get grilling!
fwliving cooking
Whole Roasted RosemaRy ChiCken With onion and lemon
ingredients:
• 1 whole chicken
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 8 sprigs fresh Rosemary
• 1 tsp. fresh Rosemary chopped
• 3 Tbsp. butter, softened
• Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper
instructions:
Clean and dry the chicken, and season cavity generously with salt and pepper. Insert onion, lemon slices and 3 sprigs of Rosemary until full. No need to overstuff. Lift the skin from the breast with your finger and insert 1 Tbsp. butter under each side. Then slide 2 sprigs of Rosemary under the skin on each side. Cover the top skin with the remaining butter, salt and pepper and chopped Rosemary. Place the ConvEGGtor (aka plate setter) with its legs up in the Egg with grill grate placed above it. Place chicken directly on the grill grate, close the dome top and grill at 375 degrees for about 45-60 minutes or until
breast temp is 165 degrees and juices run clear. It’s always a good idea to check your cooking time, as it varies depending on the size of the chicken and the temp of your grill.
stuffed tomatoes With White CheddaR
ingredients:
• 4 large, ripe tomatoes
• 2 Tbsp. butter, softened
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 2 tsp. minced garlic (I use my garlic press)
• 2 cups Italian Style Bread Crumbs (or plain if you desire)
• 1/2 cup shredded white cheddar, saving a bit to top the tomatoes
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste (about 1/4 tsp. each)
instructions:
Cut tomatoes in half and remove insides with a spoon and discard. In a non-stick pan, melt the
BiG GReen eGG faC ts
• Big Green Eggs come in seven sizes, from mini to XX large.
• They use Big Green Egg lump charcoal for maximum heat and longer burn time.
• You can make everything from pizza to dessert on the Egg, using the various EGGcessories.
• The egg temperature is controlled through the domed lid and with top and bottom air vents.
• There are 40 Egg dealers in the DFW area. Visit BigGreenEgg.com for more info.
butter and cook onion and garlic in the butter until soft, but not browned, about 10 minutes at medium low heat. Add bread crumbs to the butter mixture and stir until bread crumbs are starting to brown. Place mixture into a bowl and add white cheddar, parsley and salt and pepper and stir. Fill each half tomato with the mixture and top with more cheese and a touch of chopped parsley. Place on grill grates, close the dome top and cook in the Egg for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and golden.
GRilled PaRkeR County PeaChes With CRème fR aiChe and mint
ingredients
• 3 peaches, cut in half, pits removed
• 1/2 stick butter, melted
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1Tbsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• Crèmefraiche
• slivered almonds
• fresh mint
instructions:
Mix together the first 5 ingredients. Place butter mixture in bottom of a square glass baking dish. Place peaches cut side down on top of the butter mixture. Place dish on grill grates in 400-degree Egg. Close the dome top and cook for 15-20 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes. Place 2 halves in a dessert bowl, top with a dollop of crème fraiche. Garnish with slivered almonds and mint and serve. (Regular grill alternative: Place peaches cut side down right on the grill grates until warm with nice grill marks.)
As always, a special thanks to our friends at Central Market in Fort Worth for the groceries used in my recipes.
There is virtually nothing you can't make on a Big Green Egg – including Nancy's Rosemary Chicken with Onion and Lemon, Stuffed Tomatoes with White Cheddar, and Grilled Parker County Peaches with Crème Fraiche and Mint for dessert.
★ Chef Jon Bonnell Head Judge ★ The CoMPeTITorS MeT ANd Four AdvANCed :
Kalen Morgenstern Tillman’s Roadhouse
Jerrett Joslin The Wild Mushroom
Charles Youts The Classic Café
Stefon rishel Max’s Wine Dive
FINAL rouNd Final Round: July 21, 6pm – Cendera Center, 3600 Benbrook Hwy. To purchase tickets and for more information, go to
Slices of Heaven
From cardboard-boxed deliveries that generate childlike excitement to gourmet versions paired with appetizers and wine, pizza has a fan base that’s as diverse as its varieties. Now, in a town with a food scene still dominated by steaks and Tex-Mex, pizza possibilities are on the rise thanks to wood-fired ovens and fancy ingredients, like house-made mozzarella, candied jalapeños and even squash blossom petals. Nostalgic versions, with their garlic butter crusts and stretchy cheese, are still popular as well, as evidenced by busy buffets and multi-generational diners. In searching for the best slices in Fort Worth, we found that people are passionate about pizza. Some are loyal to neighborhood joints while others will drive a half-hour just to wait an hour more. This list includes 19 specific slices in Fort Worth proper and just one outside the city limits (located in nearby Arlington) that’s unlike any other we found in town. They range from chewy thick crust and crispy thin crust to saucy deep-dish and floppy with tips that dip. There are vegetarian options, too. Whether you hand hold it or knife-and-fork it, grab a slice and dig in.
| by celestina blok | photography by alex lepe | Taverna – Gorgonzola
Taverna – Gorgonzola Longtime Taverna customers might remember that the gorgonzola pizza was once topped with thinly sliced pears. It was a unique, popular offering that’s no longer on the menu, but the reinvented version, dotted with salty pancetta, dark caramelized onions, sweet and chewy figs and the same tangy globs of dolce latte, is a tasty rendition. Taverna’s thin crusts, wood-fired in a large, showpiece oven near the entrance, are crisp, buttery, and halfprice during happy hour. 450 Throckmorton St., 817.885.7502, tavernabylombardi.com
Fort Worth, Texas: The City’s
Inzo Italian Kitchen –
Christina Brix Pizzeria updated its name to Inzo Italian Kitchen around three years ago, but the pizzas are still there and still worth the traffic-heavy trek, whether to the Fort Worth original or to the Roanoke location. There are more than a dozen dusty, doughy pies to choose from, but the Christina shines for its thinly sliced grilled eggplant slices drizzled with a sweet balsamic sauce. Thick goat cheese adds tartness while basil shreds add floral notes. What’s most impressive is the eggplant – it’s not soggy and maintains crisp structure, even after a night in the fridge. 2747 S. Hulen St., 817.924.2749, inzoitalian.com
Prima’s Pasta & Pizza - Florentine With a soft, airy crust and a mountain of fresh spinach leaves – some that peek out from under mounds of melted mozzarella - Prima’s Florentine pizza is a refreshing departure from the usual tomato-based, meat-centric selections. It’s fluffy, fresh and almost resembles garlic bread with its lightly browned cheese and easy-to-tear dough. 6108 S. Hulen St., 817.263.7711, primasitalianrestaurant.com
Chadra Mezza - Victoria
Named for a longtime customer who came up with the amalgamation of ingredients, the Victoria pizza is the most popular at this primarily Mediterranean eatery that’s also recognized for stellar oven-baked pies. The medium crust pizza, slightly charred on the bottom, is topped with crumbled sausage, fresh spinach leaves, chopped tomatoes, white onions, and thick bacon bits. Look for it on
Monday nights when the restaurant hosts its pizza dinner buffet. 1622 Park Place Ave., 817.926.3992, chadramezza.com
Prima’s Pasta & Pizza - Florentine
Inzo Italian Kitchen – Christina
Chadra Mezza - Victoria Fort Worth, Texas: The City’s
Mellow Mushroom - Maui Wowie With dense, doughy, garlicinfused crusts offering thick, soft pretzel-like edges, Mellow Mushroom’s pizzas are popular for their far-out flavor combinations, like that of the Maui Wowie. This parmesandusted pie is heavy to hold, thanks to a slew of ingredients, including grilled chicken strips dusted with dark jerk seasoning, canned pineapple chunks, bacon, honeyed ham and pesto sauce. It’s a chewy mishmash of sweet, salty and spicy cut by the tinge of vinegar from sliced banana peppers. 3455 Blue Bonnet Circle, 817.201.9677, mellowmushroom.com
Pizza Snob - Italian Sausage with Alfredo and Candied Jalapeños With a lineup of elevated toppings like beer-glazed onions, roasted potatoes, Vermont cheddar and pulled pork, most patrons creatively build their own personal-sized pies at this Texas Christian University student favorite. But keep things simple and go for the spicy Italian sausage pizza on the specialty list, topped with crisp, crumbly sausage pieces (not the usual soft, pea-sized pellets), buttermilk Alfredo sauce and candied jalapenos. The lightly bubbled, thin crust pie –creamy, sweet and spicy – is cornmealdusted on the bottom and delicately finished with a drizzling of olive oil. 3051 S. University Dr., 817.462.7662, pizzasnob.com
Palio’s Pizza Café - The King Popular for unusual toppings like roasted cashews with pineapple and cranberries and refried beans with taco meat, Palio’s has established a large fan base in southwest Fort Worth. The casual café is BYOB and offers a gluten-free crust, too. We like The King as a solid supreme-inspired option. It has the core meat trio of pepperoni, sausage and ham along with mushrooms, black olives, onions and a rainbow of bell peppers in red, yellow and green. Mozzarella cheese is browned by way of a conveyor belt oven, and crust is thin, flaky and soft. 4855 Bryant Irvin Road, 817.294.7254, palioscafe.com
Pizza Snob - Italian Sausage with Alfredo and Candied Jalapeños
Mellow Mushroom - Maui Wowie
Palio’s Pizza Café - The King
Fort Worth, Texas: The City’s
Picchi Pacchi - Veggie Pizza Where downtowners go for pizza by the slice, Picchi Pacchi serves massive wedges that fill a paper plate in both thin and thick crust varieties. The veggie pizza diverges from the norm, which typically offers a medley of diced bell peppers, mushrooms and black olives, and instead features vibrant Roma tomato slices, fresh spinach and even plump broccoli florets if ordering the double crust version. Crusts are crisp, sturdy and satisfying. 512 Main St., 817.870.2222, dfwpicchipacchi.com
Partons Pizza – Bacon-Tomato It’s no wonder this Fort Worth pizza institution has built a loyal following since it was established in 1968. The cracker-like crunch of Partons’ crisp, thin-crusted pizzas are as addicting as potato chips, as evidenced by the bustling lunch and dinner buffet that packs the wood-paneled, low ceiling dive with in-the-know pizza buffs – mainly, really hungry men. Partons’ signature pie is the bacontomato – two-thirds of a BLT in pizza form, with fresh sliced tomato halves and crumbled bacon on a layer of mozzarella cheese atop a creamy ranch dressing base. It’s an inhalable, crave-worthy combination not found anywhere else. 2813 Cherry Lane, 817.244.5152
Picchi Pacchi - Veggie Pizza
Partons Pizza – Bacon-Tomato
Rocco’s Wood Fired Pizza – Carbonara Rocco’s elevated Fort Worth’s takeout and delivery pizza scene when it opened 10 years ago, thanks to sauces made on-site and a wood-burning oven that puffed and charred crust edges. We like the white saucetopped carbonara, a popular pizza made smoky with bacon, chunks of grilled chicken and sharp purple onion slivers. The dough is sturdy and yeasty –like crusty bread. 5716 Locke Ave., 817.731.4466, roccosfortworth.com
Hysen’s Nizza Pizza –Meat Lovers Pizza Sold whole or by the slice, Hysen’s Nizza Pizza’s meat lovers pizza is floppy, foldable and completely covered in sausage, ground beef, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, Italian sausage and mozzarella cheese. The blackand-white checkered tablecloth, New York-style pizza dive, which sits in a former Long John Silver’s spot, also has a convenient drive-through window, which stays busy with order pick-ups and slices to go. 401 University Dr., 817.877.3900, hysensnizzapizza.com
Rocco’s Wood Fired Pizza – Carbonara
Hysen’s Nizza Pizza –Meat Lovers Pizza Fort Worth, Texas:
Speck
Cane Rosso - Honey Badger
Mama’s Pizza – Pepperoni
Chimera Brewing Company
– Brie & Speck While primarily a brewery and bar, Chimera Brewing Company also slings some excellent pizza. Dough and sauces are made in-house, and recipes come from Italian-born founding partner Carlo Galotto. A stone oven produces Chimera’s super thin, crispy, almost transparent crust. Pizzas are very simplistic, some with just olive oil and cheese. The brie and speck (smoked prosciutto) pizza is a standout for its thin layer of bubbled brie, salty and crisp speck slices and freshly-chopped, aromatic basil. 1001 W. Magnolia Ave., 817.923.8000, chimerabrew.com
Cane Rosso - Honey Badger
An off-menu Cane Rosso cult favorite, the Honey Badger, made with hot soppressatta, mozzarella made in-house, fresh basil and habaneroinfused honey, was inspired by a Kansas City pizza shop that offered squeeze bottles of honey on its dining tables for drizzling atop slices, says owner Jay Jerrier. The addicting, floppy crusted, authentically Neapolitan pie (as indicated by Cane Rosso’s strict adherence to the pizza-making rules of the Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana) is kept off menu, along with several others. Jerrier says he didn’t want a menu as big as The Cheesecake Factory’s, and he has fun providing options for insiders and regulars. 815 W. Magnolia Ave., 817.922.9222, ilcanerosso.com
Mama’s Pizza – Pepperoni
It’s the glistening, garlic butterbrushed crust that makes Mama’s doughy pies a favorite in town, along with nostalgic memories of the Fort Worth institution’s storied past. The basic pepperoni, with its stretchy cheese, flecks of Italian seasoning and tiny pools of grease, is drippy and messy when hot, just like a good pepperoni pizza should be. Multiple locations. mamaspizza.net
Thirteen Pies - Eggplant With Goat Cheese and Basil Pesto
Thirteen Pies - Eggplant With Goat Cheese and Basil Pesto With eggplant, goat cheese, fontina, dried tomato, red onion and basil pesto, this pizza is a clear winner. Even though this was the rotating "Thirteenth Pie" on our visit, we are hoping it finds a permanent place on the menu. Formerly Fireside Pies, the popular West 7th eatery is known for its bubbly, fire-baked, honey-tinged crusts, as well as lengthy wait times most evenings. 2949 Crockett St., 817.769.3590, thirteenpies.com
Gino’s East – Chicago Fire Waiting an hour on a table before waiting another 45 minutes on a pizza might seem a little ludicrous. That was the sentiment before we tasted deep dish from the Arlington outlet of this Chicago original. Opened this spring and still experiencing lengthy wait times, Gino’s East is worth the drive for its Chicago Fire specialty deep dish pizza, topped with spicy sausage patties, red peppers, red onions and slathered in sweet, chunky tomato sauce. The pizza is not piquant by Texas standards, but the crust, yellow in color, bready and porous, is perfect for sopping up any sauce that slipped off this decadent dish. Try to score seats at the bar to avoid waiting for a table, and note that the small size is more than enough for one hungry diner. Orders can also be called in for pick up. If dining inside, watch out for waiters navigating the crowd with hot pans in hand. Just listen for “Hot pie coming through!” 1350 E. Copeland Road, Arlington, 817.809.7437, ginoseast.com
Vivo 53 - Squash Blossom This newcomer to the Fort Worth pizza scene is already generating rave reviews for its cherry wood-baked, puffy crust that’s crunchy on the outside with a slightly chewy interior, kind of like sourdough bread. While pies with luxurious toppings like kobe meatballs, chile-fennel soffrito and fresh clams are on the menu, the squash blossom pizza with creamy burrata and sweet tomato marinara sauce is a standout for its delicate flavor and pretty presentation. 525 Taylor St., 855.202.1370, vivo53.com
Gino’s East – Chicago Fire
Vivo 53 - Squash Blossom
Winslow’s Wine Café - Jim
Bowie Doused in barbecue sauce and smoked cheddar cheese, Winslow’s Jim Bowie pizza is a peppery pie made fiery with raw, sliced jalapeños. Diced grilled chicken breast and applewood smoked bacon bits add to the backyard barbecue theme. Because of the heft of the ingredients, the creamy cheese and the chewy, dense dough, each weighty slice is thick and rich. 4101 Camp Bowie Blvd., 817.546.6843, winslowswinecafe. com
Buffalo Brothers - Buffalo
Chicken It’s only fitting that a pizza and wing joint inspired by Buffalo, N.Y., would offer a buffalo chicken pizza, and the thick-crusted pie has all of the expected components – vinegary hot sauce, chicken and blue cheese.
The sliced chicken shimmers with cayenne and butter-based Buffalo sauce, just like Buffalo chicken wings, and the blue cheese dressing adds a tangy kick. 3015 S. University Dr., 817.386.9601, buffalobrostexas.com
Campisi’s - All the Way
Pizza The landmark pizza kitchen, which has been serving its signature oval-shaped pies in Dallas since 1946, opened its long-awaited Fort Worth location in 2013. Regulars know the All the Way Pizza, coated in sausage crumbles, salty salami cubes, sliced mushrooms, diced green peppers and chopped green onion stems, as the longtime fan favorite. The thin crust oblong pizza –crispy around the edges and soft in the middle – is cut into several rectangular pieces, making it easy to share. 6150 Camp Bowie Blvd., 817.916.4561, campisis.us
Winslow’s Wine Café - Jim Bowie
Buffalo Brothers - Buffalo Chicken
Fort Worth, Texas:
InsIde Job
This month we decided to profile four uniquely and thoughtfully designed office spaces in Fort Worth.
| by Jocelyn Tatum | photography by Alex Lepe |
Fort Worth, Texas: The City’s
One cOnsistent theme was each Office’s design reflected the Occupants’ wOrk philOsOphy. A triangular conference room and table reflected a democratic approach to working with their colleagues. Or old wood removed from 100-yearold walls in a building were repurposed to keep the building’s story alive. Almost every detail, down to the color of exposed wiring, was thought about, and every space was designed with the type of work each company performs. First, these brilliant architects consider what makes the space function as an office. Then, the architect considers what type of work the company practices making each of its ideas come to life in design. All of these offices were created to inspire not only the employees, but also the clients.
iprOspect – Sloan Harris, AIA, VLK Architects iProspect’s President of the Americas and Global Chief Marketing Officer Misty Locke said when brainstorming with architect Sloan Harris at VLK Architects that her office space must stimulate innovative thought, promote creative conversation and nurture collaboration. The 25,000-square-foot office does just that. It has an open concept, high ceilings with brightly colored exposed wiring, “seated pods” for the separate teams to work together and a massive kitchen filled with snacks and food where colleagues congregate.
Each “team” sits in this shared desk-like space designed to fit their personalities. One team had a laser disco ball shining lights onto their desks. Some employees bring their dogs to work. A few of these dogs
cuddled up next to their parents as they worked away.
Common spaces such as their vast “home-style” kitchen support interaction among various levels of the company. The ceiling is made into vaulted bays like the Kimbell Art Museum to create a dialogue with the city. Harris said these vaulted arches were made of brick because this company (Range) started in the Fort Worth Stockyards meatpacking district before the international firm iProspect partnered with them.
The company’s entryway is a full mural of the Fort Worth Stockyards, again, where the company was originally based. Conference rooms are shielded with old barn doors as another nod to the stockyards. “Power pea green,” maroons and reds catch your eye everywhere you look, all colors of Range (maroon and red) and iProspect (green) again reflecting their partnership.
Every employee got to contribute his or her ideas for what the office should look like. Their “Brain Room” — a circular room within a larger room including writable walls and a projector to create a place for teams to brainstorm — won a national office design award.
“Our goal was to create an office that inspired, a space that not only reflects our open and collaborative culture, but allows it to flourish. Together with VLK, we created a unique environment with nods to our Fort Worth roots while reflecting the international aspect of our business and our clients. A thoughtful mix of lighting, breathable materials and open areas infused our brand into the space,” Locke said.
Nearly the entirety of their back wall is made of glass garage doors they can open on beautiful days. More interior walls made of rocks and held together with a “steel cage” lend to the breathability of the space. Light softly peaks between the rocks.
But one of the aspects Harris is most proud of is how the furniture design is consistent with the office design. They all allow for collaboration while bringing the creative mind to life.
tailwind – Gary Cunningham, AIA, Cunningham Architects The typical office space for private equity firms and financial or real estate advisors can seem dated with things like leather chairs, dark rooms and cherry wood furniture, but Tailwind is far from that cliché.
Tailwind office space
They wanted to make the statement that they have new ways of thinking where to invest money.
Now one of the most innovatively designed offices in Fort Worth, just a few years ago it was a roughly 100-year-old rusted, dome-shaped shell that housed an industrial company. Tailwind’s real estate advisor, J. Searcy, called Dallas-based, renowned architect Gary “Corky” Cunningham to design at the antiquated space. It was a complete mess, but Cunningham said he knew it would be “kick ass” the minute he saw it.
“People should scrap less and use what is there,” Cunningham said.
They gutted the shell while still keeping the old cranes and wooden rafters. Tracing the interior of the steel dome are pale wooden planks. The architect loves that while perfectly parallel, they are uneven because of the ripples in the old steel roof, which creates a dialogue between the old and the new. If you haven’t guessed by now, architecture and design is about figurative dialogues between the old and new, the buildings around it and the city it exists in.
Between the wooden planks is insulation to absorb sound since the floors are polished concrete. Light strips are also arbitrarily yet intelligently fitted between the wooden planks to work with the natural light allowed by frosted-glass skylights.
The landscaping plays a big part in Tailwind’s office as well, as it does with all architecture. A bubbling, square pool brings the calming element of water at the entrance. Just think again of the Fort Worth Modern Art Museum or the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth and how those famous architects, Tadao Ando and Louis Kahn, used water to create serenity in their design. Cunningham continues this dialogue not only with the water, but a lone mesquite tree and native grasses echo the Texas ranch heritage. Beauty lies in bringing nature into the design since they all have a symbiotic relationship.
What completes this impeccably designed office is that the front
glass doors, which make up most of the building’s façade, can slide open to bring that water and Texas ranch heritage inside. Oh, and for fun, there is a putting green on the side of the building in case an employee needs to knock a few golf balls around on a stressful day. I know I sound like a saleswoman, but I am seriously impressed with these structures.
The STarr ConSpiraCy – Michael Bennett, AIA, Bennett Benner Partners
As soon as their lease was up on Magnolia Avenue, these urban pioneers wanted to be one of the first to move to the next hot spot—South Main Street. Their 9,400-square-foot space used to be a cavernous nightclub. All sorts of unspeakable things were left behind as if the previous tenant just ran out one day and never looked back.
However, with the help of architect Michael J. Bennett, AIA, and registered interior designer Emily Gilmore, RID, they brought in light and openness that lend to the firm’s creative and collaborative nature as a strategic marketing and advertising agency. A skylight brings in natural light, which is reflected off the white walls and ceilings. Industrial light fixtures hang from the ceiling to, again, bring that perfect marriage of natural and artificial light into the space. Bennett and Gilmore painted the walls white so they become luminous reflectors of that light.
The Starr Conspiracy's office space on South Main Street
The “crown jewel” of the space is a large poplar wooden wall that bisects the building from the front to back, reaching from the ground floor almost to the ceiling. This divides the bottom floor in half.
“One side is the quieter side, where writing, web development and creative design take place, and on the other side are the accounts teams, who are on the phone most of the day with clients,” said Dan McCarron, The Starr Conspiracy Partner and COO. “It’s funny; we fought Michael and Emily on this one for a while, but they said ‘Trust us.’ ”
Bennett said they chose the honey-colored poplar wood because it added a warm element to the concrete floors and drywall. Between the wood strips is an acoustic material that absorbs the sound. And they purposefully chose wood that had graining and texture.
The previous nightclub had a mezzanine where partygoers could watch dancers on the floor below. Bennett and Gilmore incorporated that space into the design by adding offices on that top floor that overlook colleagues working away. Don’t get me wrong; you still may find some dancing in The Starr Conspiracy on a Friday afternoon. This internationally successful firm is known for being a “fun” group. When you walk in the glass front door that allows for more natural light, a bar filled with adult beverages, complete with a Kegerator, greets employees and clients alike. That’s a refrigerator for a keg, folks. Bennett said their design reflects their clients and “this is a fun group of guys.”
The clear glass garage door on the building’s façade faces South Main Street, which can be opened on pretty days. They wanted a dialogue with South Main because they said that’s the next big “thing”
in Fort Worth.
“We see Fort Worth as a world-class city in the making and wanted the new office space to contribute in some small way to that vision,” McCarron said.
PAVLOV AdVertising, LLC. – Quorum
Architects Pavlov got lucky 14 years ago when they landed their industrial space in the now hot redevelopment just south of downtown. Principal Allen Wallach spent more than a year trying to find the perfect office space that would stimulate the employees at his advertising agency. When he walked into an old warehouse with dirt floors on Vickery, it was true love.
“Typical office design with walls, doors and low ceilings seems stifling. That type of office is kryptonite to me. Conversely, open offices without doors, high ceilings, natural light and work station ‘pods’ can foster socialization, communication, positive energy and creativity,” Wallach said in an email. “Ours is a fast-paced, deadline-oriented business, so the fewer roadblocks to productivity the better.”
Wallach, together with Quorum Architects, created a democratic atmosphere to make everyone feel like an entrepreneur. For example, their custom-built, triangular conference room and table have no true head like a traditional conference room table. And Wallach said it is “unexpected and a break from convention.” There are also no doors on the offices and very few walls, which suggests that anyone is welcome into anyone’s office to collaborate over ideas or ask questions.
Other favorite features are their massive steel and glass entry bay door, the natural light, high ceilings, acrylic translucent walls similar to Plexiglass that carry the natural light into other rooms, and bright colors that “punch you in the eyeballs,” as Wallach said, the exposed wiring and sandblasted brick from the original warehouse.
“The overall design concept is what I call industrial chic or brutal chic. It’s the juxtaposition of old and new and refined and rough. There is a sense of controlled chaos to our space, much like the creative process itself,” Wallach said.
Pavlov Advertising office space
The Fort Worth Dating Company
1300 S. University Dr., Ste. 510
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
817-464-8121
www.TheFortWorthDatingCompany.com
Owner: GE FT Worth Group LLC
The Fort Worth Dating Company sets itself apart from other matchmaking services through the old-fashioned concept of personal connections.
Outstanding customer service is the foundation of The Fort Worth Dating Company’s way of doing business. From an initial orientation with potential clients to events where clients can meet other singles, it’s all done face-to-face with a handshake and a smile.
“We are not like those big, online dating sites,” said Membership Services Manager Layla Adams. “Those sites are large, impersonal and it’s easy for people to get overwhelmed by the operation and underwhelmed by the results.”
Each member receives one-on-one attention and personal service.
Located nearby the Texas Christian University campus, The Fort Worth Dating Company prides itself on a “homegrown approach” where the staff is made up of all local residents who are invested in the community.
The Fort Worth Dating Company has been in business since 2001 and has a staff with more than 50 years of combined experience helping singles find lasting love and marriage.
While the business’ ultimate goal is perfect matchmaking, The Fort Worth Dating Company takes pride in offering its clients, particularly women, complete security and transparency.
“The safety of our clients is of utmost importance to us,” Adams said. “We make sure that all of our clients are legitimate singles who are not predators or married.”
Online sites make it easy for people to set up false profiles but The Fort Worth Dating Company’s careful screenings and in-person interviews prevent clients from misrepresenting themselves or lying about their marital status or criminal background.
Research shows that 40 percent of people engaged in online dating are married, according to a survey conducted by The Wall Street Journal. Also, 10 percent of people involved in online dating are sex offenders, according to stastisticbrain.com.
Besides marital status and criminal background, the company screens for employment status, and age.
As part of the company’s dedication to honesty, all clients have their photos taken by an in-house professional photographer. The up-todate photographs guard against misrepresentations, first date disappointments or unexpected situations all while making sure each person looks their very best.
An important part of The Fort Worth Dating Company’s matchmaking services are frequent exclusive events for clients to meet one another. The events can include outings to a Texas Rangers game or other sporting events as well as happy hours, speed dating mixers, wine-tasting parties, casino night parties, singles cruises and much more.
The Fort Worth Dating Company’s website includes dozens of
testimonials from satisfied clients who point to the business’ excellent customer service, professionalism and fun-filled special events.
“I just recently became a member, and I have been treated so well by the staff that it is almost not believable,” one client wrote. “I used online dating before, and they do not even come close to what you guys offer. The staff has helped me every time I had a question, they are great!”
Another client wrote: “I am engaged, and yes, it is to someone I met through your service!”
To find your perfect companion, don’t waste any more time sifting through useless online profiles. Contact The Fort Worth Dating Company today for first-class service and extraordinary results.
Donny and Paula joined The Fort Worth Dating Company and recently celebrated their first year of wedded bliss.
Singles Cruises embarking from Galveston Island
S and LetLove Bloom.
PERSONAL SERVICE
As a member of the Fort Worth Dating Company you’ll enjoy the benefits of working one-on-one with our staff to find your perfect match. We get to know each member face-to-face, and while you’re busy with your career, family and life’s commitments, we’re working hard for you.
SINGLE EVENTS
Enjoy meeting other Fort Worth Area singles by participating in our exclusive singles events. We offer everything from speed dating to happy hours; afternoons at the ballpark to singles cruises out of Galveston. Contact us today to find out more about our Spring and Summer schedule of events.
QUALITY DATING EXPERIENCE
No fake profiles, misrepresented photos, or non-qualified members here. Our clients are local Fort Worth area singles who have come through our screening process and have only the sincerest intentions when it comes to meeting that special someone, just like you.
SINGLE EVENTS
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“I have nothing but respect for The Fort Worth Dating Company. You don’t feel like a client, number, or paycheck, you feel like family.” - Craig, FWDC Member
Shredding the Competition
Texas Appliance Hurst once again hosted Fort Worth, Texas magazine’s Top Chef preliminary round. Six of the area’s most talented chefs showed off their skill and creativity for an excited crowd of fans and attendees.
| by Courtney Dabney | photography by Alex Lepe |
Ravenous foodies packed the house at the spacious Hurst showroom and were treated to beer, wine, hors d’eurves and one heck of a show. Multiple Emmy Award winner, former televison anchor and local personality Scott Murray emceed the event with his familiar charm.
Chef Jon Bonnell took the lead as our head judge again this year. Bonnell is a graduate of the prestigious New England Culinary Institute. He is the executive chef and owner of the Bonnell’s Restaurant Group, which includes his flagship restaurant, Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine, his newest restaurant, the highly acclaimed Waters, and the hottest sports bar in town — Buffalo Bros, Pizza Wings & Subs. Jon is the author of three cookbooks: Jon Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine, Jon Bonnell’s Texas Favorites, and Jon Bonnell’s Waters Fine Coastal Cuisine. He is also the celebrity chef of TCU’s Amon G. Carter Stadium.
Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen
The six chefs in this year’s competition are a varied group. Each brings a unique skill set and background to the competition.
Jerrett Joslin is chef and owner of both The Wild Mushroom, now in Fort Worth, and The Vintage Grill and Car Museum, which opened earlier this year in Weatherford. He was one of the Top Five Chefs in Fort Worth, Texas magazine, has been named as one of the Top 5000 Chefs by Best Chefs America for the past three years running and was named New Chef on the Rise by Savoy magazine. Chef Joslin says, “I hope that our love for the process and the time we put into choosing the freshest ingredients are apparent to our patrons.” His style runs from classic preparations to upscale American cuisine.
Charles Youts is the executive chef of The Classic Café in Roanoke. His menu is usually inspired by the Chef’s Pantry Garden, which is planted just behind his restaurant. He says that his greatest culinary influences were “definitely my grandparents and parents. They taught me how to grow and maintain vegetable gardens and how to cook, can and preserve everything.” Chef Youts has also been named in Best Chefs America for 2013 through 2015. He serves as a chef mentor in the Byron Nelson High School Academy of Culinary Arts in its ProStart Competitions, which have succeeded in making it to Nationals for the past four years.
Kalen Morgenstern, chef de cuisine at Tillman’s Roadhouse, is a culinary graduate of the Art Institute of Tennessee. She has been mentored by the likes of Josh Habiger at The Patterson House in Nashville, Brian Owenby and Nicholas Erickson at the Gaylord Opryland, Tim Love at The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, and even Gordon Ramsay during her short stay on Season 13 in Hell’s Kitchen. Chef Morgenstern reveals her long-term dream and says, “Someday, I want to own a farm and ranch with lots of animals and grow my own food.” She likes to put a few Texas twists into her Southern comfort food.
Marcus Paslay is the chef and owner of Clay Pigeon Food & Drink. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park in 2006, he traveled all over the United States, from New York to Alaska and from Seattle to Vail and Hawaii. Chef Paslay considers Gerard Thompson, executive chef at Rough Creek Lodge, to be his culinary father and says, “My food style and philosophy are both heavily influenced by
Chef Jon Bonnell
(standing, left to right) Jerrett Joslin, Marcus Paslay, Stefon Rishel, Charles Youts (seated, left to right) Kalen Morgenstern, Derek Venutolo
Fort Worth, Texas: The City’s
him, which I am very proud of.” He calls his format “from scratch seasonal cuisine,” and is committed to making as much as possible inhouse, including his own bacon, breads, pastas and ice creams.
Stefon Rishel serves as executive chef at Max’s Wine Dive. He is a self-taught chef who has been recognized for producing the Best Dish at Taste of Fort Worth 2015, as well as Best Comfort Food 2014, Best Use of Bacon 2014, Best Brunch in Fort Worth 2014 and 2015 from Fort Worth, Texas magazine’s Best Of issue. He credits his grandfather with introducing him to his passion. Chef Rishel says, “To this day, a simple cucumber sandwich takes me back to their lake house and making lunch out of the garden. He really sparked my interest in food from an early age.” He prepares contemporary American cuisine with Southern influence.
Derek Venutolo is the executive chef partner at The Capital Grille. He graduated on the President’s list from Western Culinary Arts Institute in Portland, Ore. He worked for Christy Bono (Sonny Bono’s first daughter) in Long Beach, Calif., for seven years, training under executive chef Matt Hewitt, then for King’s Seafood Company of Southern California, and finally trained under executive chef Shelly Bojorquez at the 555 East American Steakhouse. Chef Venutolo says, “My mother was the first one to inspire my love for food. She had me in the kitchen at a really young age, helping her cook and bake.” He won overall best food at Big Taste of Fort Worth in 2014.
Entering the Splash Zone
Chef Bonnell always thinks up a rigorous set of skills challenges to put our contestants through their paces. Since his Waters Restaurant is famous for its impeccably fresh assortment of oysters (which are flown in daily), the thought had crossed his mind to have them shuck some oysters. But, he took pity on them...knowing that some may have never shucked an oyster before in their lives.
He said, “We will have two different skills challenges tonight. And those of you standing on the front row, you might find yourself in the Splash Zone.”
A tray of red onion, cilantro, tomato, jalapeño, limes, salt and pepper were positioned
in front of each chef. Those are the ingredients that go into any pico de gallo. You could see the knowing glances passed among the row of contestants. Bonnell dubbed this knife skills challenge, “Blades of Fury.”
“You will receive six points for speed of preparation, but even more importantly, there are 12 points riding on your accuracy and overall taste −− so don’t forget to taste your pico before raising your hand,” Bonnell said.
In the speed category, Chef Joslin finished first, reaming his lime with the butt of his knife, not wanting to leave those precious points on the table. He was followed quickly by Rishel and Paslay, who presented a very finely chopped blend. But it was Chef Youts who took the 12 points for accuracy and taste.
Next up, Judge Bonnell presented each chef with two different proteins to portion. The secret ingredients for the night were both rabbit and duck, which after butchering them to Bonnell’s liking, he warned, “whatever you are butchering now, you will see later in the cooking challenge.”
“This challenge has the same point value. I want two clean breasts and legs on the duck, as well as four legs and loins on the rabbit.” Chef Venutolo began by emptying the carcass of its organ meat. Joslin held his duck up and danced it around for a bit before slapping it down on the cutting board. Morgenstern had her duck legs removed in record time. Venutolo and Youts were into their rabbits first.
This was a tight round, with Rishel taking home the speed points, and Paslay, Youts, Morgenstern and Rishel all receiving 12 points for accuracy. The crowd was wowed, watching six of the best in the business show off their expertise.
The chefs had drawn spoons (numbers) prior to the preliminaries, and the first three made their way to the kitchen to begin their 30-minute trial by fire. Each was provided with the same pantry filled with ingredients. After the first three dishes were judged, the final three took their turn.
Everyone’s a Critic
Along with Head Judge Jon Bonnell were myself (your intrepid Food Critic at Fort Worth, Texas magazine), Carol Ritchie and Chef Todd Phillips.
ACE MArt BArEfoot winE
BonnEll’s
MurrAy MEDiA
rAhr & sons BrEwing
rEnt A frog
Carol Ritchie has graced our judge’s panel for the past three years. Ritchie has been sharing her cooking tips and recipes for more than 20 years as a traveling cooking instructor. Her half-hour cable television cooking show is called Cookin’ with Carol (her book by the same name will be re-issued soon). She was a 2001 James Beard Award Nominee for “Best Local Television Cooking Show,” featuring notable guests like Julia Child, Martin Yan and Jacques Pepin. Ritchie is also a recipe developer, a culinary consultant and serves as a volunteer spokesperson for the American Heart Association cookbooks.
We also welcomed back the reigning champion of Top Chef 2014 - Chef Todd Phillips. Chef Phillips has served as the executive chef at J.R.’s Grill in Colleyville for the past 10 years. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., and has more than 25 years of hands-on experience. He is inspired by good quality, fresh ingredients −− cooked simply. He sums up his format as new Southern and loves to present classic dishes like his famous creamy grits alongside locally sourced produce and perfectly prepared meats.
Dishing It Up
The judging began with Chef Derek Venutolo’s offering. It was a colorful composition on a bed of arugula leaves and topped with a bright tasting citrus marmalade and sprigs of thyme. I thought the arugula was a little overpowering and would have enjoyed it better if it had been dressed in mild vinaigrette. Ritchie, on the other hand, said, “I love the bitterness of arugula and think it was a great complement to the dish.” Phillips was impressed by the marmalade and liked the pan-fried purple and white fingerling potatoes.
Chef Charles Youts’ plate arrived next. It was bold with a grilled bunch of cherry tomatoes. Bonnell said, “I have never grilled them stem-on before, and it makes for an attractive presentation. There’s a lot to enjoy on this plate.” Phillips said, “Although the duck was nice and rare, just the way I like it, at first I couldn’t find the rabbit. Then I noticed it was mixed into the grits. That’s a very creative use of the main dish.” It was accompanied by an onion and radish slaw and a mild citrus dipping sauce.
tErEsA's BArtEnDing & sErving
The only one to incorporate the pico from the earlier round was Chef Jerrett Joslin. He blended it with fresh avocado chunks, filling a crisp leaf of Romaine, and stacked his duck breast on top with a sprinkle of pine nuts. Next to that sat a braised rabbit leg atop a hollowed eggplant filled with wild rice. All the judges agreed it was an ambitious dish. Bonnell said, “The rice was slightly undercooked, but they nailed the duck.” Ritchie agreed that the temperature was perfect and enjoyed the heavy use of herbs in the dish.
Chef Stefon Rishel’s dish was one of our favorites. I said, “Inside the creamy polenta there is a hidden surprise...more rabbit meat and wilted spinach.” Then for a garnish, he used a sprig of rosemary as a skewer for some of the organ meat, which Bonnell identified for me as kidney. Bonnell said, “It’s an attractive presentation with its color and symmetry. There is nothing safe about this plate.” Phillips agreed saying, “This plate is restaurant ready.”
The dish Chef Marcus Paslay dreamed up included a tasty fennel salad and sautéed broccoli rabe on the side. Ritchie said, “The sliced duck is lovely but perhaps a bit overcooked for my taste. I really enjoyed the fennel salad though.” Phillips said, “This is an elegant and refined dish.” I loved the smashed potatoes and the fact that he utilized the rabbit tenderloin, since none of the other chefs had. He even prepared a delicate rabbit sausage as an extra treat, winning some points for degree of difficulty.
When Chef Kalen Morgenstern’s plate arrived, all the judges were amazed by how unique it was. She went in a completely different direction. Once we finally got Bonnell to put his fork down, he said what the rest of us were thinking, “Chicken-fried rabbit and an Asian sweet and sour sauce… didn’t see that coming.” I was amazed at how tender the rabbit meat was inside the crispy battered crust. Ritchie loved the sauce and thought it made the dish. It was a knockout combination.
When all the scorecards were tallied, only four of our contestants could advance on the final round. The finalists were Stefon Rishel, Charles Youts, Kalen Morgenstern and Jerrett Joslin. Fans and foodies alike will converge at Cendera Center on July 21 to see which one will be this year’s Top Chef. We hope to see you at the final round.
Beneath the Surface
| by Scott Nishimura |
Much of what goes into dream homes won’t ever be seen by the eventual owner.
Like the plumbing. The 2015 Dream Home, on a corner lot in Southlake’s Carillon planned community being developed by Hines, is the second full Dream Home project for plumber Kenneth Golden of Pro Serve Plumbing.
Golden, who’s been a plumber for more than 20 years and went into business for himself five years ago, is responsible for bringing in the plumbing from the curb and into the slab and walls, installing the drains and plumbing the sinks and toilets.
“It’s good for the charity” that benefits from Dream Home, A Wish with Wings, Golden says. “We usually pick a couple, three different things every year to get involved with.”
The Dream Home is also an opportunity for builders and contractors to showcase their best.
The 2015 Dream Home overlooks a lake. Jon Atwood of Atwood Custom Homes is the builder. The interior design is by Stacy Furniture and Design, a family-owned and operated company with showrooms in Grapevine, Allen and Plano.
Proceeds from tour ticket sales benefit A Wish
Aaron Ornamental Iron Works
Alliance Drywall Inc.
Atwood Custom Homes
Century Granite & Marble
Durango Doors of Fort Worth
Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery
Fort Worth Billiards
Gladiator Fence
Hunter Trim and Cabinets
Ideal Partners
IMC by The Stone Collection
Interceramic Tile & Stone Gallery
J & S Air Inc.
J. Caldwell Custom Pools
Loveless Gutters
Masonry Custom Design
Overhead Garage Doors
Pierce Decorative Hardware and Plumbing
Prewitt Electrical Services Inc.
ProBuild Building & Construction
ProServe Plumbing
Red Oak Insulation
Stacy Furniture and Design
Steinway Hall - Fort Worth
Texas Custom Window and Door
Texas Tile Roofing
The Kitchen Source
The Sherwin Williams Co.
Universal Systems
Vintage Floors
Wells Glassworks
with Wings, a nonprofit that fulfills wishes for children with lifethreatening illnesses. It’s the third consecutive year the charity has benefited from the Dream Home project.
Also behind the walls is the home’s electric service, being installed by electrician Jeff Prewitt of Prewitt Electrical Services. J. Caldwell Custom Pools is installing the home’s pool.
Kelly Russell, owner of Texas Custom Window & Door, is a veteran of the Dream Home. For this one, he’s installing the French doors and most of the exterior aluminum-clad wood windows: four French doors and 39 windows in total, manufactured by Jeldwen.
It’s the first time Russell has worked with Atwood. Dream Home
2015 Fort Worth, texas DREAM HOME
1100 Lake Carillon Lane, Southlake 76092
Benefiting: a Wish with Wings
Touring: Sept. 26 - Oct. 25
Wed.-Sat.: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sun.: noon-5 p.m.
Admission: $10; Free with a $20 subscription ($10 goes to the charity)
“is an opportunity to meet new builders,” Russell said.
He and Atwood met during a Jeldwen-sponsored trip to Grand Cayman earlier this spring.
Russell, who worked for another company for 10 years, opened his own business in 2001. He’s done several projects for HGC and worked lately in Dallas’ Park Cities and Preston Hollow.
“Anybody who survived the Great Depression four or five years ago has got to be doing something right,” he said.
goodwill
To see more people in the community doing good deeds, visit fwtx.com and click on goodwill.
Where there is a Will
| by Jocelyn tatum |
He pulls a business card out of his khaki cargo shorts. It says Will Lourcey, founder & CEO of FROGs: Friends Reaching Our Goals. Turn it over, and there is a picture of him in a suit and a bowtie with the quote: “Be a Doer…Not a Watcher!” Will is 12 years old.
A homeless man on a street corner caught Will’s attention five years ago when he was 7 years old. His parents explained that the man was hungry and asking for food. Will’s goal ever since has been to end hunger and inspire other children to make a difference, too.
Stats roll off his tongue, like one in four people are at risk for being hungry in Fort Worth, which is higher than the national average of one in five. One dollar equals five meals according to Feeding America, and 17 million children suffer hunger. He’s done the research.
He spent the summer after first grade getting his company off the ground. Will and 11 other friends had a goal to donate 1,000 cans of food to the Tarrant Area Food Bank. They exceeded their goal that summer by raising money with lemonade and popsicle stands. Since then, Will has gone on to speak at events like “Count Me In” in Toronto to a live audience of 3,000 youths. It was streamed live to 108 countries, reaching more than 2 million people. He also spoke at the National Youth Leadership Council in D.C. to more than 1,000 people. Afterward, he went over his speech with Colin Powell.
Last year he transferred to a private school in Fort Worth because the public school system would not forgive all of the absences
accrued on his “business trips” and threatened to make him repeat the fourth grade.
“He never sees obstacles,” Julie Lourcey, Will’s mother, said.
In his backyard, Will has a full Aquaponics food production system. You may ask, what the heck is that? The top layer is like any raised garden box but filled with small clay pellets sprouting a few pumpkins and bell peppers, but a roughly 100-gallon fish tank full of swimming goldfish sits below the garden.
Simply put, the goldfish excrement feeds the plants through some sort of system that pipes their waste to the plants while cleaning the fishes’ water. Will practices what he preaches — growing his own vegetables in a sustainable way and eating healthy while having fun. And a science experiment of this size is a boy’s dream.
His parents said he is always brainstorming, and they never get in the way of his big ideas.
“FROGs is 100 percent kid run. Parents don’t get involved. If you can keep the parents out of it, then kids can do amazing things,” Will’s father, Bill Lourcey, said.
Will and his young colleagues host a number of fundraising events every year with fun in mind — Dodgeball: Hit Hunger, Game Over, Hits & Kicks: Against Hunger, and so much more. At routine events like FROGs Dinner Club, he teaches children in “food deserts” about nutrition while providing them a meal. In late April, he hosted this event at the Boys & Girls Club and offered Cousins’ BBQ.
“Part of the time, I talked with them about what they like to do. They liked sports and having fun, too. We are all the same,” Will said.
Will’s awards and accolades
*All of the money he won was donated to fight hunger
• 2013 Youth Service America (YSA) –Everyday Young Hero
• 2015 YSA – Global Youth Service Day Sodexo Foundation Grant
• 2011 Kohl’s Cares for Kids – Scholarship Program Store & Regional Winner
• 2010 Scholastic’s “Be BIG in Your Community” – 1st Place Winner
• 2013 & 2014 –ABC YSA Summer of Service Award
• 2012 Huggable Heroes from Build-A-Bear
• 2012 CNN Heroes – “Young Wonder”
• 2014 Time for Kids – featured in “Hometown Hero” article
• 2012 The U.S. White House – For the Win: Frogs for the Future
• 2014 Sodexo Foundation Stephen J. Brady STOP Hunger Now Scholarship National Honoree (Regional Awardee in 2012)
• 2015 Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Award
• 2014 The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
• 2011 Association of Fundraising Professionals- “Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy”
• 2012 Hasbro Community Action Heroes
• 2013 Caring Institute – Caring Youth Award and Inducted into Caring Hall of Fame
• 2011 & 2013 Points of Light Award
• 2010 The Gary Patterson Foundation – Incentive Award
• 2015 Make Your Mark in Hunger grant by ConAgra
Will Lourcey, 12 years old, goes by the motto: "Be a Doer...Not a Watcher."
goodwill
top dogs
| by Scott nishimura |
Katie and Sadie don’t nece SS arily look like prayer warrior S – they’re dogs – but the last thing they did before leaving Mollie Herring’s hospital room at Plaza Medical Center recently was bow their heads during a prayer.
Katie and Sadie visit hospitals, the homeless, nursing homes and retirement centers for Delta Hearts of Gold, a nonprofit formed in 2007 in Fort Worth to use animals for their therapeutic value.
“We put smiles on peoples’ faces,” Dianne Hughes, who owns Katie, a 10-yearold Golden Retriever, says. “Sometimes we’re bringing something normal to what’s abnormal.”
Hughes was a co-founder of Delta Hearts of Gold, formed as a community partner of
Pet Partners International. Today, it has 42 members and 52 “teams,” meaning some members have more than one animal in the program.
They visit four hospitals, Plaza Medical, Cook Children’s, Texas Health Harris Methodist, and Weatherford Regional Medical Center. The teams also visit Union Gospel Mission in Fort Worth, The Stayton and Trinity Terrace retirement communities, nursing homes, and the special needs programs at two Fort Worth schools.
More recently, Delta teams visited the libraries at four college campuses – TCU, University of North Texas, and two Tarrant County College campuses – during finals to help students take their minds off their studies.
Delta Hearts of Gold, which is all-volunteer run, has 51 dogs and one cat. The volunteers own the pets, and the organization does little fundraising. The animals must be immunized and are trained in basic obedience, accepting treats gently, being handled by people they encounter
and shrugging off loud noises. The Delta Hearts of Gold volunteers help sanitize the hands of anybody the pets encounter.
And the animals also are trained to bow their heads in prayer, if their owners offer and people like Herring accept.
Lynn O’Neill, Plaza’s chief nursing officer, worked to implement the program and bring in Delta Hearts of Gold after she saw it work at another hospital she previously worked for.
The animals help lower patients’ stress and often don't want them to leave, O’Neill said.
“It takes their mind off of what’s happening,” she said.
Delta volunteers visit Plaza once or twice a week, O’Neill said. The recent visit by Sadie, a Mini Golden Doodle, and Sadie’s owner, Karen Rainwater, was that team’s first to the hospital.
“Our goal is once a day,” she said. The emergency room, for one, has asked for the volunteers to stop by with their animals.
On the dogs’ visit to Herring’s room, Katie – an American Kennel Club Distinguished Therapy Dog, meaning she has more than 400 visits under her collar –hopped up on the bed and flopped down, as if she was going to sleep. “Oh, honey, I love you,” Herring said.
“Everybody always asks me what makes a perfect therapy dog,” Hughes told Herring. “You can teach a dog basic obedience, but you can’t teach them to love a perfect stranger unconditionally.”
Katie the golden retriever with patient Mollie Herring (right) and her visiting son, Bradley Herring.
Volunteer Karen Rainwater with hospital visitor
Brookelyn Kelley, shaking the paw of Sadie the golden doodle.
Sean Knight has been a member of the Certified Master Build Corporation since
goodwill
Walking to remember
| by scott nishimura |
he Alzheimer’s Associ A tion annual Fort Worth Walk to End Alzheimer’s is coming up, Oct. 24, and the organization’s fundraising goal is $315,000.
TIt’s the largest walk in the association’s North Central Texas Chapter, which hosts seven walks annually. This year’s chapterwide goal: $838,000, or about one-third of the chapter’s budget.
“It’s so grass-roots,” Theresa Hocker, CEO of the North Central Texas Chapter, says. “The bulk of the dollars (raised) are from individuals raising money through bake sales or car washes. A lot of people form teams. A lot of people do it in memory of loved ones.”
Last year, the 2.5-mile walk through Trinity Park, also the site of this year’s event, drew 2,537 participants.
To register individually or as a team or donate, visit alz.org. Paper forms are available, either on the website or by contacting the association. For information, you may call Ashley Powell, 817.336.4949 or email her at apowell@alz. org.
Donors can also sponsor artificial flowers for a Promise Garden set up during the walk, pledging “I promise to keep fighting
The annual Fort Worth Walk to End Alzheimer's is on Oct. 24. Last year the 2.5-mile walk through Trinity Park, also the site of this year’s event, drew 2,537 participants.
the disease” and “I promise to not forget.”
Anybody who raises $100 or more receives a Walk T-shirt.
The association will conduct training for team captains this summer.
NBC5 anchor Deborah Ferguson, who has been emcee of the Fort Worth walk for several years, will be emcee again this year.
Chris Lokey, owner of Lokey Metals in Fort Worth, is honorary chair for the Fort Worth walk. His wife has Alzheimer’s.
“Her care is my highest priority,” Lokey says. Second is the future of their two daughters.
“Their grandmother died from Alzheimer’s, their aunt has the disease too. They are worried that if a cure isn’t found, their fate will be the same as their mother’s. Finding a cure or at least a means to control the disease is so very important to them and to me.
“Watching someone you love slowly fade away is a very helpless feeling,” he says. “Helping to raise money through the Walk to End Alzheimer’s gives me a sense that I’m doing something positive that gives me a chance to make a difference for those I love.”
Money raised from the walks supports the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.
Dr. Meharvan Singh, dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, is chair of the Alzheimer’s Association North Central Texas Chapter board. Singh’s faculty focuses include Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Rebecca Cunningham of the UNT Health Science Center received a $100,000 grant from the national Alzheimer’s Association last year for her research, looking into the association between sleep-related disorders, such as sleep apnea, and the development and progression of Alzheimer’s.
In 2014, Alzheimer’s Association nationally had 458,828 registered walkers, 49,138 teams and $29.2 million in total revenue. Walk to End Alzheimer’s was held in more than 600 communities.
goodwill
needed support
| by scott nishimura |
Bras for a Cause, holding its seventh annual major fundraiser for breast C an C er awareness this oC tober, is oneupping itself on the event’s hot s C ale, where firefighters model celebrity-decorated bras in a runway show and auction.
This year, Rahr & Sons Brewery – co-founder Erin Rahr is the fundraiser’s co-chair with banker Rattana Mao – is donating pink-tinted Rahr Blonde beer to the event, 7 p.m., Oct. 9, at The Worthington Renaissance Hotel.
Emily Weathers, the volunteer executive director of the Tarrant County nonprofit, said her goal for this year’s fundraiser is $100,000.
Last year’s beneficiaries were the Careity Foundation, which provides services and early detection for economically challenged cancer patients and relief for children with devastating illnesses; and The WARM Place in Fort Worth, which provides grief support for young people and their families who have lost a loved one.
Careity and The WARM Place will be the beneficiaries of this year’s fundraiser, Weathers said. Bras for a Cause also is interested in using some of the money it raises to establish a peer therapy program for children who have loved ones currently being treated for
cancer, she said.
Bras for a Cause is selling tickets and sponsorships and collecting items for live and silent auctions at the event.
The centerpieces are the 13 bras that will be decorated and auctioned off.
This year’s decorators include Erin Rahr; Kelsey Patterson, wife of TCU football coach Gary Patterson; Diane Stow Ayres, associate publisher of Fort Worth, Texas magazine; Janice Simpson, wife of Texas Rangers co-owner Bob Simpson; Sandra McGlothlin, owner of Empire Roofing; Melissa Ice, founder of The Net and wife of Green River Ordinance guitarist Jamie Ice; Chelsie Zachman, marketing director for Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine and Waters Fine Coastal Cuisine; lawyer Kori Green, wife of country singer Pat Green; Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price; Brittany McMullen, executive assistant to Dallas Stars CEO Jim Lites; and Corrie Watson, co-owner of Frank Kent Cadillac.
Bras for a Cause was founded seven years ago by the Women’s Council of Realtors in Tarrant County, which was looking to raise money for its programs and philanthropy. The first year, the council raised enough money to cover its programs and donate $10,000 to Susan G. Komen Greater Fort Worth.
Bras for a Cause today is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and is no longer affiliated with the Realtors.
Its board wants to move towards funding testing that women can undergo to determine if they are genetically at risk of developing breast cancer or passing it to their children.
The tests are expensive. “It’s not readily available,” Weathers said. “I want them to be able to get it.”
At the annual Bras for a Cause fundraising event, firefighters model celebrity-decorated bras in a runway show and auction.
Dad wasn’t doing well. His doctor suggested VITAS Healthcare. We resisted—wasn’t it too soon for hospice? But VITAS came to the house, got to know Dad, and we all talked about what was important to us.
Finally, Dad’s comfortable We all are. Dad is smiling; he has more energy And VITAS is helping us make the most of this gift of time together.
800.723.3233 VITAS.com
according toheywood
Chickening out
Fit to be Fried
| by heywood | illustration by Charles Marsh |
I found thIs lIttle tIdbIt to be rather InterestIng. According to a recent study, a human being will eat about 7,500 animals over the course of a lifetime. That would include roughly 4,500 fish, 2,800 chickens, 80 turkeys, 30 lambs, 27 pigs, 11 cows and a various amount of rabbits, ducks and geese. I imagine you could adjust this number downward quite a bit if you're a member of PETA. You could also add a species or two if you live in West Virginia or your name is Hannibal Lecter.
As you can tell from the list, the chicken is far and away our favorite land animal to eat. That's why very few of them have ever died of natural causes. They spend their brief lives oblivious to the fact that their final resting place will probably be a cardboard bucket. Now although we all know the plight of the chicken, it still remains one of our favorite dishes. And my favorite way to eat it is fried.
It's a common misconception that fried chicken originated in the Deep South of the United States. Fried chicken actually dates back to ancient civilizations in Europe and Asia. Even in medieval times, fried chicken was the "go-to" snack while tossing back a couple of goblets and watching the knights joust. Scottish immigrants are credited with being the ones to introduce fried chicken to America when they settled in the Deep South. (They also decided to lose the kilts just so the Indians would quit laughing at them.) But over the years, other parts of the country started putting their own spin on fried chicken using different seasonings and spices.
Of course these days it's become a fashionable trend to avoid fried foods altogether. The ones that do this are the type of people that would eat a roll of paper towels if it had "gluten free" stamped on it. But sadly, they're also right about fried foods being unhealthy
because they raise the levels of triglycerides and bad cholesterol in our bloodstreams. Just recently my doctor told me I needed to cut out fried foods. Then we both laughed.
In the coming months, the magazine will feature where you can find the best fried chicken in the area. But I'm pretty sure that all of us had a relative who could also make it pretty well. My mother was good at it, but my daughters are probably even better. Trouble is, they just don't make it often enough. So a few months ago, I decided to try doing it
myself. How tough could it be? All you apparently needed was a cast iron skillet, a chicken and a fistful of lard. Right?
Well, the first batch I fried didn't turn out so good. It was so oily that I almost started to frack it. I consulted with my oldest daughter, and she told me it was because the lard wasn't hot enough. So I just turned the stove all the way up, waited a few minutes and then dropped in the second batch. Maybe the chicken was too cold or the lard was too hot, but I couldn't get my windows and doors opened fast enough. All I recall next were sirens and a TV news truck.
I have finally come to realize that frying chicken is an art. And judging from the looks of my kitchen after my last attempt, I am not a good artist. I best leave that particular talent to the professionals or my daughters. But frying turkey looks fairly simple. Maybe I'll try that around Thanksgiving. I mean, what could possibly go wrong?
upclose
Extraordinary personalities shaping Fort Worth
Robin Akin Brigadier General (Retired)
| by gail bennison | photography by Alex lepe |
Robin Akin, U.S. ARmy bRigAdieR geneRAl (RetiRed), was the only woman in her Master Parachutist class in 1986. She wanted to be part of the big boys’ network, she says. To her, that meant the elite airborne community. Akin says she didn’t know if she would survive her first week in the Army. When she arrived at airborne school as a brand new 2nd Lt. fresh out of the University of Tennessee, she failed the first
week because she had just had a root canal. Her mouth started bleeding while doing push-ups. “The drill sergeant told me: ‘No, you shouldn’t be doing this. You’re not going to make it anyway; we’re going to put you back and recycle,’ ” Akin recalls. “I told him I wasn’t coming back a second time. I was going to get this thing done. I never knew I had that much determination until that moment in time.”
During her 31 ½ years of service in the military, Akin made 155 jumps. She never lost a soldier. In her journey from a Master Parachutist to serving in senior leadership positions in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Desert Shield/Storm in Saudi Arabia, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Unified Response in Haiti, Akin has been a trailblazer. She grew up in poverty. Early in life, she lost her father, who was a Vietnam veteran. Her work ethic, she says, came from her mother, who held down four jobs to support the family.
In present day, as a director of strategic marketing, Akin says she’s not doing the passionate things that grew her as an individual. “I’m not leading people, I’m not fixing people’s problems, and I’m not the mentor I was for many years. I’m just an average person, and I miss my soldiers and their families. I do have a good boss, but this is not my passion.”
Akin is passionate about helping returning women soldiers. “Many women were sexually molested in service,” she says. “They have marital issues and other problems. They have to find their center of gravity and move on. Many of these women don’t consider themselves veterans, just women who served. We’ve got to fix that paradigm. We need to help them find jobs. With over 2 million people coming back from combat, we have to help them.
Over 22 percent of women veterans from current wars live on the streets.”
Being a woman in the military is not easy, Akin says. There was a time when a superior tried to make her go to events where there were female strippers. “I just flat out told him I didn’t want to do it. And, I got a bad rating out of it. I asked to be transferred to another unit and was deployed to Korea. And, well, he made it to Col., and I made it to Gen.,” Akin says laughing.
She married Col. Greg Akin, who also is retired, in 1989. They are parents to daughter, Alexis, 29, and son, Brian, 24.
“It’s no sure thing to make any rank in the military, and to be a general officer takes someone of talent, intellect and compassion,” Greg says. “What I love most about Robin is her compassion. Her soldiers and her family have always been her center, and helping her family has always been a main driver of what and who she is. Now, about the fact that I was a Col., and in public had to salute my wife, my normal response to husbands who asked about this, is that their wife outranks them too, but mine has been formalized by the U.S. Army and gets paid for it.”
“The only people who call me general now are former soldiers, my son when I’m mad at him and my husband when he gets back from long trips,” Akin says.
Akin’s role model and mentor was her husband’s father, who was a Maj. Gen. He died five years ago.
The family has moved 28 times in 32 years. Akin never served in Texas or lived in Texas. Her husband is an Aggie. “When we were deciding where to settle, my husband posed this question to me: ‘Do you like Mexican food?’ It’s my No. 1 cuisine. ‘Do you like warm weather?’ Yes. Brian was going to Texas A&M. The third question he asked: ‘Do you want to see your son?’ So we’re in Fort Worth. I love Fort Worth. It’s been amazing. Every day is a new adventure, and we’re not ever going to leave.”
electric Hands
| by Brian Byrd |
Have you ever felt a tingling sensation in some of your fingers after typing a few too many emails? Do you find yourself shaking and flicking your hand in the air trying to get feeling back in your fingers when this happens? If the answer is yes to both of these questions, you may suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome.
If you could look through the skin on the palm side of your hand and wrist, you would see a whitish yellow nerve about the diameter of a very thin pencil running right down the middle. This nerve carries impulses to the muscles that move your thumb and first three fingers. (If the symptoms occur in the pinky finger the diagnosis is not carpal tunnel syndrome.) It is called the median nerve because it
courses in between two other main nerves. The median nerve runs through a tunnel formed by some curve-shaped bones in the wrist and hand called carpal bones. If the nerve begins to swell within the carpal tunnel, pressure increases and causes the nerve to malfunction. When that happens, it feels like electricity, pain and numbness are running through your hand and wrist.
When I was in kindergarten, I was often instructed to sit with my legs crossed. If I did that long enough, my feet would start to tingle. These sensations are called paresthesias, and they result from prolonged compression to one of the nerves in our arms or legs. My Uncle Dave used to refer to this as having 7-Up in his foot. These symptoms are the same kinds of sensations patients feel when they have carpal tunnel syndrome.
Doing anything with our hands repetitively, such as writing, typing or texting, will cause an overuse of the median nerve and swelling. That is why carpal tunnel syndrome is part of a group of disorders classified as overuse syndromes.
Some of the tests we use to diagnose carpal tunnel are Phalen's test, Tinel's test
and the flick test. All involve bending or tapping the wrist in an attempt to increase the pressure in the carpal tunnel. If the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome increase or occur during these maneuvers, the result is considered positive. Sometimes we order a nerve conduction study to verify the diagnosis, but usually this expensive test is unnecessary.
There are lots of good treatment options for carpal tunnel besides surgery. The most effective treatment is to determine what overuse actions the patient is doing and adjust accordingly. A good example is texting less for those who text often enough to get carpal tunnel. Another is adding ergonomic devices to a keyboard.
One of the best treatments is a night carpal tunnel splint that looks like a Velcrosecured bowler’s splint. This device keeps the hand cocked back rather than curled in. A lot of us sleep with our hands curled in and underneath us, and this positioning contributes to carpal tunnel syndrome. I have found that this device is effective in most cases of carpal tunnel.
In my 13 years of medical practice, I have performed injections into the wrists of patients suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome only a few times. Although it is effective, for long-term relief it must be combined with decreasing the offending activity causing overuse.
Surgery is reserved only for cases that have been ongoing for a long period time and are not responding to conservative treatments. That being said, the surgical option for carpal tunnel syndrome is very effective and safe. Surgeons now use arthroscopic techniques that cause very limited scar size and allow for a quick recovery. The surgeon's job is to release some of the tissue overlying the carpal tunnel, diminishing the pressure.
Hopefully, you won’t find yourself with this overuse disorder. If you do, you can take advantage of some of these conservative treatment options.
snap shots
To see all the photos from the hottest events in town, visit fwtx.com/party-pics
The Scene
Best Of Party
Fort Worth, Texas magazine’s 2015 Best Of party took place on the patio of Sundance Plaza. Guests sampled food from 12 of the area’s best chefs and were entertained by Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar, Four Day Weekend and danced to the headlining band, Downtown Fever. Photos courtesy of Honey Russell
Who WaS Seen (1) Larry & Mickie Tigner, Jamie Cashion (2) Don & Lois Bacon (3) Yancey Ward, Shelly Jones, Cole Montgomery, Rob Door, Chad Jones, Tanner Dippel, Twila Burkhark (4) Anthony Marcus Black, Doug Pleskovitch, Eva Monahan, Adrian Wright, Sharron Nicol, Mark Nicol (5) Debbie Prizzi, Lillian & Gary Kite, Candace Mills, Jeff Mills, Paul Prizzi (6) Joe & Sandra Munoz, Jim Austin
(5)
(1)
(3)
(2)
(4)
(6)
The Scene
Best Of 2015
Fort Worth, Texas magazine's Best Of 2015 Party drew nearly 500 guests. Party band, Downtown Fever, kept attendees dancing late into the evening under the umbrellas in Sundance Square Plaza.
Who WaS Seen (1) Angela Hall, Jen Barnes (2) Hal Brown with Downtown Fever (3) David Wilk, Anthony Bowling, Floyd Grant, David Ahearn of Four Day Weekend (4) Amy & Gary Norris, Cindy & David Medanich (5) Kathy Wolfe, Janet Rickman, John Neaderhiser, John Wolfe (6) Best Of at Sundance Square
Photos by Honey Russell
—Queen Latifah
The Scene
Top Chef
Fort Worth Texas magazine’s Top Chef preliminaries were held at Texas Appliance in Hurst. Chef Jon Bonnell was the lead judge, and Scott Murray was the emcee for the evening. The finalists are Jerrett Joslin from The Wild Mushroom, Charles Youts from the Classic Café in Roanoke, Stefon Rishel from Max’s Wine Dive and Kalen Morgenstern from Tillman’s. The finals will take place July 21 at Cendera Center. Photos courtesy of Honey Russell
Who WaS Seen (1) Stacy McGee, Kristen Bradford, Daren Bradford, Chef Stefon Rishel (2) Mary Ann Ingold, Hans Ingold, Barbara Trohimovich (3) Livia Chapman, Katharina Miller, Farrell Amis, Denise Harris (4) Jani Rasco, Mechelle Thurston
The
Scene
Cook Children’s Golf Classic
The 19th annual Cook Children’s Charity Golf Classic was hosted by Colonial Country Club. The combined efforts of the generous team sponsors, underwriters and other team sponsors resulted in more than $300, 000 for the patients at Cook Children’s. Photos courtesy of Rhiannon Lee
Who WaS Seen (1) Stewart & Kristin Henderson, Janeen Lamkin, Debbie Reynolds (2) Jim Whitten, Rob Hood, Chuck Scherer, Bobby Patton (3) Joe & Lezlie Monteleone, Michelle Hancock, Dan Lowrance (4) Blayne Rhynsburger, Hank Paup, Aaron Shut, David Motheral, Jr.
REALTORS WORTH KNOWING
Looking for a new home, or even your first home? The Realtors on the following pages would like to tell you about themselves, their practices and why working with them will improve your chances of finding the perfect home.
The information in this section is provided by the advertisers and has not been independently verified by Fort Worth, Texas magazine.
portfolio Realtors Worth Knowing
Virginia Cook, Realtors
SPECIALTY: Virginia Cook, Realtors is a locally owned, independent real estate brokerage that has helped thousands of families, individuals, investors, builders and developers buy, sell and lease homes throughout North Texas. AWARDS/HONORS: Our Fort Worth team of experienced professionals has maintained a strong market share for the past decade, while also serving on many Fort Worth area civic, charity and non-profit organizations. The Fort Worth Business Press has named CEO Virginia Cook one of the Great Women in Texas. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Virginia Cook, Realtors is a member of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Fort Worth Association of
Realtors and the Texas and National Association of Realtors. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: Our heart in the home logo says it all. While Virginia Cook, Realtors’ industry presence is global, our customer focus remains local and very personal. The greatest volume of our business comes from the loyal customers who return to our firm for each home purchase or sale and refer us to friends and family with confidence. PICTURED: (back
row) Nancy Pine, Ann Nayfa, Phyllis Boudreaux, Jeff Anderson. (front row) TK Dorsey, Sharion Bostic, Marilyn Hysell.
row,
Holbert,
Jordan,
Nelon. (front row)
page: (back
portfolio Realtors Worth Knowing
Virginia Cook, Realtors
MOTTO: One Company. One Vision. One Purpose. WHY CHOOSE THEM: Our agents have valuable experience in today’s local market. They understand the trends and their effect upon each client’s buying or selling opportunities. But what really sets us apart is the level of personal attention clients can expect. Our sales associates live and work in the communities of Fort Worth and care deeply about the people we have the privilege of serving. FREE ADVICE: The market is fast-moving; get up to speed on home values so you know the right decision when it presents itself.
Hesitate, and you may lose that dream home. Likewise, today’s historically low mortgage rates are worth seizing. They won’t last forever!
PICTURED: (back row)
CONTACT INFORMATION: hulen@virginiacook.com
Lori Beal, Sandie Conner, Ivey Ramsey, Sandra Regester. (front row) Jan Aziz, Laura Thomas, Phyllis Brown.
Realtors Worth Knowing portfolio
HGC Real Estate Services
SPECIALTY: HGC Real Estate Services is a full-service brokerage firm serving North Texas in a broad spectrum of classes, including residential and commercial sales, acquisitions, lease representation and property management. MEMBERSHIPS: Fort Worth Builders Association, National Association of Home Builders, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Realtors, and ARBOR. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: During the economic downturn, our company continued to grow and prosper. WHY CHOOSE THEM: It is our goal to ensure clients a smooth transaction and to exceed expectations by providing the finest representation possible. MOTTO: We bring Fort Worthians home, one dream at a time. FREE ADVICE:
Interest rates are still historically low. If you are considering buying, now is the time. PICTURED: (bottom, left to right) Melanie Goeders, Kolby Simonson; (middle, left to right) Nick Alexander, Ben Pevoto, Tyler Baucom; (top, left to right) Eric Walsh, Todd Davenport; (not pictured) Rick Wegman, John Giordano and Julie Parks Webber.
CONTACT INFORMATION: rwegman@hgcdevelopment.com
Dan Murphy and Carrie Murphy Re/Max Trinity
SPECIALTY: I began my career in residential real estate 15 years ago. Over time, I’ve expanded into multi-family, land and commercial. My expanded expertise was brought on by my personal investments in these areas. As a result, I chose to bring my hands-on knowledge and experience in these areas to my clients. EDUCATION: I am a licensed realtor in the state of Texas. Something I am very excited about is that my wife, Carrie Murphy, is a part of my team. She owned her own residential real estate appraisal company and was a real estate appraiser for 15 years before joining my team. PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT: The satisfaction of knowing that I have given each and every client my very best. I leave no stone unturned in my efforts to assist my clients in reaching their real estate goals. WHY CHOOSE US: Our vast knowledge of the
industry. Our dedication to fulfilling our clients’ needs. Our commitment to ethics. Our results speak for themselves. CHARITABLE INVOLVEMENT: My family is involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). This is near and dear to my heart since my daughter was diagnosed with this disease at the age of 6. We will not rest until we find a cure for juvenile diabetes. FREE ADVICE: Take the emotion out of it. Your real estate decision must be based on facts.
CONTACT INFORMATION: Fort Worth and Weatherford offices murphyrealestateteam.com
masters of real estate
TOP ROW: LEFT TO RIGHT: LINDA MAGAZZINE 817-654-8589, lindamagazzine@ebby.com n MARY ANN HEUGATTER 817-654-8507, maryannheugatter@ebby. com n JULIE DEMOTT 817-654-8457, juliedemott@ebby.com n MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM 817-654-8445, michaelcunningham@ebby.com n JANE HAYNES 817-312-1366, janehaynes@ebby.com n BILLIE REDDEN 817-654-8470, billieredden@ebby.com n PATT KLEMMER 817-654-8427, pattklemmer@ebby.com
DOROTHY HOWARD 817-654-8474, dorothyhoward@ebby.com FRONT ROW: LEFT TO RIGHT: LAURA BUMGARNER 817-654-8436, laurabumgarner@ebby.com SUZANNE BERRY MCCABE 817-654-8453, suzannemccabe@ebby.com n CAROLYN CASSELBERRY 817-654-8462, carolyncasselberry@ebby.com
You get more with a Master
Widely admired for their professionalism and exceptional customer service, the 11 members of the Masters of Real Estate network have built their reputations by exceeding client expectations. Among our area’s foremost sales and marketing experts, the Masters offer countless connections and a shared commitment to each client’s success.
How may we serve you?
Justin J. Sisemore has been recognized by his peers as a ‘Rising Star’ in Texas Monthly Magazine, recognized as a ‘Top Attorney’ in Fort Worth, Texas Magazine for the last seven years, and has been a guest speaker for the Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association. Samantha M. Wommack has been recognized by her peers as a ‘Top Attorney’ in Fort Worth, Texas Magazine. We are proud to welcome Zoe Meigs to the Sisemore Law Firm. Zoe Meigs has an AV Preeminent Rating and has over 25 years of legal experience. Our firm provides an extensive range of family law services, which includes all aspects of divorce; including property divisions, and custody disputes. While we represent clients throughout Texas, we regularly service Tarrant, Dallas, Parker, Johnson, Denton, Hood and Wise counties. The Sisemore Law Firm works diligently to provide highly competent and efficient service to each and every client. Our firm also works with various civil litigation firms throughout the DFW metroplex to assist their clients in family law matters. Visit our website at www.thetxattorneys.com to view our client testimonials.
Family lawyers Worth KnoWing
They stand by us through the hard times. They guide and support us from the beginning to the end of the divorce process. They are some of Greater Fort Worth’s brightest, most sought-after family law and collaborative law professionals, and they have purchased space to show you how working with them in your time of need will benefit you.
The information in this section is provided by the advertisers and has not been independently verified by Fort Worth, Texas magazine.
port folio
Gary L. Nickelson
Law Office of Gary L. Nickelson
Chris Nickelson
INNOVATIONS: The firm is uniquely qualified to handle the most complicated matrimonial cases in the trial or appellate courts throughout Texas, having board certified attorneys in both Family Law and Civil Appellate Law. This adds a fresh perspective in resolving complicated litigation. CERTIFICATION: Gary is board certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Chris is board certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: Gary has been the chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, president of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; both the Texas Chapter and national organization. He is also a diplomate in The American College of Family Trial Lawyers. This membership is by invitation only and limited to 100 Family Law attorneys nationwide. Chris is past president of the Tarrant County Bar Association, Appellate Section and currently on the Family Law Council of the State Bar of Texas’ Family Law Section. Both are frequently authors and lecturers for the State Bar of Texas and other organizations. HONORS: Gary holds many prestigious awards and has been
named a “Texas Super Lawyer,” a Thomson Reuters business, as published in Texas Monthly magazine since the program began in 2003. Chris was designated a “Super Lawyer,” a Thomson Reuters business, in their Super Lawyer issue in 2014, and was designated as a “Rising Star,” a Thomson Reuters business, in their Super Lawyer issue as published in Texas Monthly from 2004 to 2013. Both father and son have won the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas’ highest and most prestigious award, The Dan Price Award, in 2003 and 2013, respectively. EXPERIENCE: Gary has handled family law cases exclusively for 30 years. He is dedicated and has the experience to handle any and all family law cases throughout Texas. Chris, a 15-year attorney, clerked in El Paso Court of Appeals, appeared as an attorney in many of the appellate courts in Texas and is an accomplished family law attorney.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
garynickelson.com
portfolio Family Lawyers Worth Knowing
Aldrich, PLLC
SPECIALTY: General civil trial and appellate practice, including commercial litigation, catastrophic personal injuries, divorces involving substantial marital estates, will contests, whistleblower claims and other fiduciary litigation. We concentrate on family law matters involving partition of complex marital estates. We approach family law as we approach all complex civil trial matters by investigating and preparing the matter thoroughly in order to get the best results for our clients, whether through settlement or trial. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Robert Aldrich - Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law; Scott Lindsey - Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Appellate Law. Laura Conway - A&M Law School graduate. AWARDS/ HONORS: Aldrich - “Best Lawyers in America” in Family Law; Super Lawyer; Preeminent Lawyer; Director, State Bar of Texas; past presi-
dent, Tarrant County Bar Association; and member, American Board of Trial Advocates (president, Fort Worth Chapter, 2015). Lindsey - Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating™; member, Texas A&M University School of Law Dean’s Advisory Council; past president, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law Alumni Association; and member, College of the State Bar of Texas. GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Being recognized by our peers for the highest quality of legal services and integrity. PICTURED: Robert Aldrich, Laura Conway, Scott Lindsey.
CONTACT INFORMATION: 1130 Fort Worth Club Tower
aldrichpllc.com
Barlow Garsek & Simon, LLP
SPECIALTY: Family law is only one of many areas of civil trial practice in which BG&S excels. In the family law context, while the firm handles all kinds of matters involving divorce and suits affecting the parent-child relationship, we are particularly skilled in managing high net worth and complex estates, contested proceedings related to conservatorship, possession and access, and cases involving fraud and wasting. AWARDS/HONORS: Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating™, Best Lawyers in America, Best Law Firms by U.S. News and World Report, Texas Monthly Super Lawyers/Rising Stars, and Top Attorneys by Fort Worth, Texas magazine. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL
ACHIEVEMENT: The firm has achieved great successes for its individual and corporate clients for 40 years in the practice of civil litigation and transactional law, helping countless clients work through difficult and emotional issues involved in family court proceedings.
WHY CHOOSE THEM: The broad scope of the firm’s civil trial and transactional practice provides an immeasurable advantage in the family law arena. The firm’s sophisticated civil practice is of the highest caliber, involving careful and timely management of a case from prefiling through trial and appeal. Our extensive trial experience equips our attorneys to quickly recognize the best strategy and approach to a case, whether that involves aggressive pursuit of litigation or recognizing how to achieve settlement of a case quickly and efficiently. PICTURED: Chris Taylor, Ben Barlow, Chris Collins.
CONTACT INFORMATION: bgsfirm.com
portfolio Family Lawyers Worth Knowing
The Barrows Firm, P.C.
EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: B.A., Sam Houston State University; J.D., Oklahoma City University School of Law. AWARDS/ HONORS: Metroport Teen Court (Values Award 2015 and Judge of the Year 2013); Fort Worth, Texas magazine Top Attorney 2012, 2013, 2014; Eldon B. Mahon (Distinguished Service Award as Secretary 2013-2014). PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (Board of Directors); Greater Fort Worth Komen Foundation (Board of Directors); Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, Tarrant County Bar Association (Board of Directors), National College of DUI Defense, American Inns of Court (Secretary), State Bar of Texas Trial College, State Bar of Texas, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Denton County Bar Asso-
ciation, Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Northeast Tarrant County Bar Association (President), Tarrant County Probate Bar, National Association of Counsel for Children. FREE ADVICE: People end up in our offices during some of the most difficult times in their lives. Remember to take care of yourself and try not to worry too much. We have offices in Fort Worth and Trophy Club to serve you.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
lbarrows@barrowsfirm.com barrowsfirm.com
Family Lawyers Worth Knowing portfolio
Gardner & Smith, PLLC
Terry Gardner
Dwayne W. Smith
SPECIALTY: Divorces, including those involving complex or substantial assets, and child-custody matters. EDUCATION: Both attorneys graduated from The University of Texas and The University of Texas School of Law, Terry with honors and Dwayne as a member of The Order of Barristers. AWARDS/HONORS: Fort Worth, Texas magazine Top Attorneys, Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Distinguished Lawyers, Preeminent Lawyers. Terry received the Blackstone Award and Outstanding Mentor Award from the Tarrant County Bar Association. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Texas Bar Association, Tarrant County Bar Association (Terry is a past president), Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association, Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association, Texas Bar Foundation, and Eldon Mahon Inn of Court. GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: Recently merging their two law practices into Gardner & Smith, PLLC after working together for several years. APPROACH: Sensitive
to clients’ needs in a difficult time and prepared to represent them vigorously. CHARITABLE WORK: Humane Society, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, The First Tee, Arlington Youth Symphony, and Texas Lawyers Assistance Program, mentors for volunteer legal services. MOTTO: Creating workable solutions to difficult problems. FREE ADVICE: Choose a lawyer who has common sense, is respected in the legal community, and is highly skilled in the courtroom.
SPECIALTY: Divorce, Modification, Paternity, Child Custody, Complex Property/Asset/Business Division, Pre and Post-Marital Agreements and appellate services at every level of litigation and appeal.
EXPERIENCE: Due to her vast experience in all aspects of family law, Heather King is known as one of the most versatile and “complete” divorce attorneys in the state. Handling complex property divisions, divorce and child custody, she’s helped a countless number of clients navigate through some of toughest times in their lives. She has a calculated insight that makes her a talented negotiator and formidable litigator in the courtroom. King is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. AWARDS/HONORS: Texas Super Lawyer (since 2003), Top 100 Lawyers in Texas 2014, Top 100 Lawyers in DFW (since 2006), and Top 50 Female Attorneys in Texas (since 2004):
Texas Monthly magazine; Top Women Lawyers 2010: D Magazine; Top Attorney: Fort Worth, Texas magazine; Fort Worth Business Press Power Attorney 2014; Best Lawyer in America (since 2007) and proud graduate of TCU. FREE ADVICE: Avoid decisions based upon anger, guilt or sadness. If you’re under the duress of a negative emotion, counsel with a friend, leader of faith, mental health provider or legal professional before making any important choices regarding your family law issue.
FIRST STEP: When resolving marital problems becomes overpowering, it’s time for heroic measures. Take the first step by harnessing the power of our elite team - all distinguished as top attorneys. FOCUS: We are exclusively divorce, property division and custody focused. With that focus comes a depth of expertise in complex family law issues. CERTIFICATION/EXPERIENCE: Barbara is Board Certified in Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Stephen has been practicing for more than 20 years in Probate, Personal Injury and Family Law. Sonya brings powerful talent in litigation and Dispute Resolution to her Family Law practice. RECOGNITION: (These action figures are usually disguised as mild-mannered attorneys. But their peers know them to be otherwise.) HONORS: With more than 30 years of experience in North Texas, Barbara has been repeatedly
recognized as an elite “Super Lawyer” by Thomas Reuters and Texas Monthly and as a “Top Attorney” by Fort Worth, Texas magazine. As the founder of the Nunneley Family Law Center, she dedicates herself to helping clients protect their financial future and their children.
REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS: Business owners, C-Level executives, spouses, dedicated parents and grandparents. FREE ADVICE: Action speaks louder than words. PICTURED: Barbara Nunneley, Stephen Farrar, Sonya Carrillo.
CONTACT INFORMATION: nunneleyfamilylaw.com
portfolio Family Lawyers Worth Knowing
Jim Ross & Associates, P.C.
AIM: At Jim Ross & Associates, straight talk is the foundation of our practice. We tell things as they are and value honesty above all else. Sometimes, this isn’t easy to do. The news isn’t always good. But we firmly believe that our clients deserve the truth. And they deserve to have unyielding support from a tough legal team that delivers on its promises. Our law firm operates on the philosophy that all people deserve representation. It’s often said that “no man is above the law.” In America, that’s the truth. At our law firm, we represent people from many situations and walks of life. SPECIALTY: Our concentration is on litigation in the practice areas of Personal Injury, Family Law, Criminal Law, Business Law and Probate. EDUCATION: B.S. in Criminal Justice, Dallas Baptist University; J.D., Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. AWARDS/HONORS: “Family Law Lawyer
Worth Knowing,” 2012, 2013, 2014; Best Attorney in Arlington and Mansfield in Living Magazine. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: American Bar Association; Texas Bar Association; Tarrant County Bar Association; Texas Trial Lawyers Association; Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association; Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association; American Institute for Justice. APPROACH TO LAW: A blue collar work ethic in a white collar job. PICTURED: Jim Ross.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Family Lawyers Worth Knowing portfolio
Shannon Dunlap Law, P.L.L.C.
SPECIALTY/CONCENTRATION: I handle divorces, custody, modifications, enforcements, termination/adoptions. EDUCATION: I received my legal education from Western Michigan University and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: State Bar of Texas, Tarrant County Bar, Tarrant County Family Bar. PERSONAL/PROFESSIONAL GOALS: After law school, I achieved another goal for which I am supremely proud: building an orphanage for the suffering children of Nepal. APPROACH: When I take on divorce or custody cases, I see my role as contributing to the healing of the entire family. Every member of a family is affected when disputes occur and families fall apart. I especially focus on protecting the rights of children. I understand crisis and difficulties. Like most people, I feel that I have
overcome many difficulties to achieve my goals in my life. MOTTO: Pay it forward! The more you help others, it insures you are always protected when a need arrives. FREE ADVICE: Blessed are the peacemakers. I believe in this ancient truth. My fees are reasonable, and treating people fairly is one of my core values. If you need a strong legal advocate who will listen with love and counsel with compassion, let me represent you. I will bring positive energy to a painful situation.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
shannondunlaplaw.com shannon@shannondunlaplaw.com
G. Thomas Vick, Jr. Vick, Carney & Smith
AWARDS/HONORS: Named in 2013 as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Texas by “Super Lawyers” as featured in Texas Monthly. Vick is a frequent author and lecturer on family law topics around the state and is a former Director of the State Bar of Texas. He has been honored by the State Bar Family Law Section and the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists with their highest awards for contributions to the practice of family law in Texas. He was named the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) Fellow of the Year in 2009. He was presented with “Presidential Citations” in 2008 and 2012 by the State Bar of Texas for his service to the Bar and the profession. He is Past Chair of the State Bar Family Law Section, the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, the Texas Chapter of the AAML and Board of Trustees of the Texas
Bar Foundation. CERTIFICATION: Board Certified – Family Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (since 1987); Fellow – American and International Academies of Matrimonial Lawyers. SPECIALTY: Complex family law matters throughout North Texas, whether in litigation, mediation or collaborative law. ADVICE: “The outcome of your family law matter can have a lifelong impact. Find the lawyer who’s right for you and right for your case.”
CONTACT INFORMATION: vcslaw.com
Things to do in July
Trace Adkins will perform at Billy Bob's on July 18. Tickets are available from $18-$60 at billybobs.com. For more information, turn to page 122.
Fort Worth, Texas:
For more information on area events, go to fwtx.com and click on events.
to list an event
Send calendar information to Fort Worth, Texas : The City’s Magazine, c/o Jennifer Casseday-Blair, executive editor, 6777 Camp Bowie Blvd., Ste. 130, Fort Worth, Texas 76116, or e-mail ideas to jcasseday@fwtexas.com. Special consideration will be given to submissions that include photographs. To meet publishing deadlines, information must be received two months prior to monthly magazine issue.
MuseuMs
Indigenous Beauty: Masterworks of American Indian Art from the Diker Collection, July 7 through Sept. 13
Drawn from the celebrated American Indian art collection of Charles and Valerie Diker, Indigenous Beauty: Masterworks of American Indian Art from the Diker Collection showcases approximately 120 masterworks, including fine examples of basketry, pottery, sculpture, ivories, kachina dolls, regalia, and pictographic arts from tribes across the North American continent. The exhibition provides rare access to many exquisite works from one of the most comprehensive and diverse collections of American Indian art in private hands. Amon Carter Museum of American Art. 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd. cartermuseum. org. 817.738.1933.
American Still Life, through Aug. 2
This exhibition showcases approximately thirty works from the museum’s collection of nineteenth- and twentieth-century still lifes. Organized in celebration of the recent acquisition of Raphaelle Peale’s Peaches and Grapes in a Chinese Export Basket (1812), the exhibi-
tion includes works from across the collection including paintings by the trompe l‘oeil masters William Harnett and John Frederick Peto, vibrant floral subjects by Georgia O’Keeffe and Arthur Dove, prints by Louis Lozowick, and photographs by Wynn Bullock and Carlotta Corpron. Amon Carter Museum of American Art. 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd. cartermuseum. org. 817.738.1933.
Audubon’s Beasts, through Aug. 2
Industrious field mice, frolicking squirrels, fierce otters, and fearsome wild cats are just some of the stars of this selection of handpainted prints by famed scientist and artist John James Audubon (1785-1851). Although we know Audubon today primarily for his devotion to birds, he was more than a chronicler of flying creatures. This exhibition features some of his greatest depictions of North America’s four-legged animals in their natural habitats, from swamps to savannahs. Amon Carter Museum of American Art. 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd. cartermuseum.org. 817.738.1933.
Toulouse-Lautrec & La Vie Moderne: Paris 1880-1910, through Aug. 16
Toulouse-Lautrec and La Vie Moderne: Paris
1880-1910 contains almost 200 pieces from avant-garde Post-Impressionist artists working in a new French “modern” style. Built around the work of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, painter of scenes and artists from the famed Paris theatre the Moulin Rouge, this expansive exhibit will explore the anti-establishment movement among artists seeking alternative means to bring their art to a broad public and break out of the traditional molds. Arlington Museum of Art. 201 West Main St. arlingtonmuseum.org. 817.275.4600.
FRAMING DESIRE: Photography and Video, through Aug. 23
The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth presents FRAMING DESIRE, an exhibition showcasing over 40 recent acquisitions alongside iconic photographs and videos from the permanent collection. The artists included in FRAMING DESIRE each use their medium in ways that transcend what the imagery literally depicts to intensify the idea of desire. Interweaving the documentary, subjective, and symbolic, these artists address sexuality, gender, longing, catharsis, and transgression, among other subjects. Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. 3200 Darnell St. themodern.org. 817.738.9215.
Like Father, Like Son: Edward and Brett Weston, through Aug. 23
Edward Weston (1886–1958) and his son Brett (1911–1993) were both master photographers. Yet rarely is their work shown together. Featuring 23 prints, this exhibition offers an unusual opportunity to compare the visions of these two artists and to see how each balanced recording the world’s direct appearance with a sense of abstraction. Amon Carter Museum of American Art. 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd. cartermuseum.org. 817.738.1933.
Samuel F. B. Morse's Gallery of the Louvre and the Art of Invention, through Aug. 23
The Amon Carter is delighted to participate in a national tour organized by the Terra Foundation for American Art of Samuel F. B. Morse’s iconic painting Gallery of the Louvre (1831–1833). Though Morse is most widely known as a scientist and inventor, he was a leading artist of his time and served as president of the National Academy of Design. Gallery of the Louvre stands as one of Morse’s last great artistic achievements. Amon Carter Museum of American Art. 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd. cartermuseum.org. 817.738.1933.
Botticelli to Braque: Masterpieces from the National Galleries of Scotland, through Sept. 20
The 55 paintings in the exhibition span a
Gallery of the Louvre. On exhibit through Aug. 23, Samuel F. B. Morse's Gallery of the Louvre and the Art of Invention is a national tour organized by the Terra Foundation of American Art of Samuel F. B. Morse's iconic painting.
period of more than 400 years (1490–1932) and include some of the greatest holdings of the Scottish National Gallery, Scottish National Portrait Gallery and Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art—the three institutions that comprise the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh. Kimbell Art Museum. 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd. kimbellart.org. 817.332.8451.
Pasture Crows Crossing Indian Creek, through May 30, 2016
A visionary storyteller, Esther Pearl Watson (b. 1973) blends memories and imagination to capture her Texas upbringing. A muralsize painting (about 13 feet tall and 10 feet wide), Pasture Cows Crossing Indian Creek, was created specifically for the Amon Carter’s atrium. It is part of the museum’s program of rotating contemporary artworks in the atrium space and an exciting addition to an ongoing exploration of Texas artists and their contributions to modern American art. Amon Carter Museum of American Art. 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd. cartermuseum.org. 817.738.1933.
In the Moment at the Modern: A Program for People with Memory Loss, Fourth Wednesdays
Designed for people with memory loss and their caregivers, the monthly program enables participants to experience works of art at the Modern through intimate conversations with docents and thoughtful projects designed by the museum’s education staff. 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., with space for up 20 participants at both times. Free. Includes admission to the galleries and all materials. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. 3200 Darnell St. themodern.org. 817.738.9215.
American
Airlines C.R. Smith Museum, Ongoing
The C.R. Smith Museum takes visitors on a flight through American Airlines history, with interactive exhibits that entice participation by all age groups. The museum features hundreds of historical artifacts, photographs, full-scale aircraft engines and a rare Douglas DC-3 airliner. In addition, the museum’s state-ofthe-art digital theater features “The Spirit of American,” a film featuring the history of commercial aviation as well as breathtaking aerial photography. Tuesday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday. $0–$7. 4601 Texas Highway 360 at FAA Road. crsmithmuseum. org. 817.967.1560.
Leonard’s Department Store Museum, Ongoing
Visitors can view displays featuring hundreds of vintage items from the iconic downtown retail giant. Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Free. Fort Worth Screen Printing Building. 200 Carroll St. 817.336.9111. fwscreen.com.
Texas Civil War Museum, Ongoing
Featuring 15,000 square feet of exhibits, this is the largest Civil War museum west of the Mississippi River. The museum consists of three separate galleries that display a Civil War collection, Victorian dress collection and United
Daughters of the Confederacy Texas Confederate collection. Along with the exhibits, the museum includes a 75-seat movie theater that hosts a commissioned movie, “Our Homes Our Rights – Texas in the Civil War.” Tuesday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. $0–$6. 760 Jim Wright Freeway N. 817.246.2323. texascivilwarmuseum.com.
Galleries
Gallery Reception at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, First Fridays
Monthly reception for art exhibits opening at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center. 6–9 p.m. Free and open to the public. 1300 Gendy St. fwcac.org. 817.298.3021.
Films
Family Film Series, Second Saturdays
Stop by the Central Library for a familyfriendly flick on the second Saturday of every month. Check website for details on titles and descriptions. 1 p.m. Free. Fort Worth Central Library. Youth Center Discovery Theatre. 500 W. 3rd St. Parking is free on the streets and in the Third Street garage after 6 p.m. fortworthlibrary.org. 817.392.7323.
Films at the Modern
The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth offers a variety of events and programs on films. Check the website for details on titles, times, tickets and descriptions. 3200 Darnell St. themodern.org/films/upcoming. 817.738.9215.
First Sunday Film Club
This series showcases the Fort Worth Library’s large and vibrant media collection. 2 p.m. Free. Fort Worth Central Library, Tandy Hall. 500 W. 3rd St. Parking is free on the streets and in the Third Street garage after 6 p.m. fortworthlibrary.org. 817.392.7323.
Magnolia at the Modern
Magnolia at the Modern is an ongoing series featuring critically acclaimed films shown weekly on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Check the website for titles and times, as well as for info on other film-related happenings. Tickets: $6–$9. Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. 3200 Darnell St. themodern.org. 817.738.9215.
Omni Theater and Noble Planetarium
Check the museum website for times and dates. Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. 1600 Gendy St. fwmuseum.org/calendar. 817.255.9300.
music
Dirty
Dancing, July 7-12
The classic story on stage is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heartpounding music, passionate romance, and sensational dancing. Seen by millions across the globe, this worldwide smash hit tells the classic story of Baby and Johnny, two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives. Bass Performance Hall. 525 Com-
merce St. basshall.com. 817.212.4300.
Suzy Bogguss, July 17
Suzy Bogguss is one of country music’s most pristine and evocative vocalists. With the release of the Illinois native’s 1989 major label debut, Somewhere Between, Suzy quickly became one of the key artists that defined those golden days of 90’s country. On her new album, Lucky, a collection of songs all written by country legend Merle Haggard, Suzy does more than just listen. The CMA, ACM and Grammy Award-winning singer makes the country rebel's compositions her own, reinterpreting classics like The Bottle Let Me Down, Silver Wings and Today I Started Loving You Again from a female point of view. 7:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets: $38.50. McDavid Studio. 301 E 5th Street. basshall.com. 817.212.4280.
Pippin, July 21-26
PIPPIN is Broadway's high-flying, deathdefying hit musical! Full of extraordinary acrobatics, wondrous magical feats and soaring songs from the composer of Wicked, PIPPIN will lift you up and leave you smiling. This unforgettable new production is the winner of four 2013 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival. Hailed as "an eye-popping, jaw-dropping extravaganza" (NYT), it's unlike anything Broadway has ever seen! Come experience PIPPIN, one young man's journey to be extraordinary. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $66-$121. Bass Performance Hall. 525 Commerce Street. basshall.com. 817.212.4300.
Lindsay Wagner, July 28
Emmy award-winning actress Lindsay Wagner comes to Fort Worth for a fun and unique trip down memory lane. More than a Bionic Woman: An Evening with Lindsay Wagner promises to be a night of heart-warming and hilarious anecdotes from a career spanning over four decades by one of the world's most popular actresses. Don't miss this entertaining and candid multi-media self-portrait, during which Lindsay provides a rare and unique insight into the life of an internationally renowned Hollywood actress, including questions from the audience. A truly memorable experience for everyone. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Tickets: $55-$93.50. Bass Performance Hall. 525 Commerce Street. basshall.com. 817.212.4300.
Billy Bob’s Texas
Fort Worth Stockyards. 2520 Rodeo Plaza. billybobstexas.com. 817.624.7117. (Ticket prices are general admission/reserved.) Thursday concerts at 9:00 p.m, Friday and Saturday at 10:30 p.m. unless noted otherwise.
July 3: Billy Bob’s Texas 4th of July Picnic. Tickets: $45-$200
July 4: Billy Bob’s Texas 4th of July Picnic. Tickets: $45-$200. (2-day passes online)
July 10: Wayne Troops. Tickets: $12-$18.
July 11: La Mafia with Gary Hobbs and Stephani Montiel. Tickets: $20-$25.
fwevents july
July 17: Roger Creager. Tickets: $12-$18.
July 18: Trace Adkins. Tickets: $18-$60.
July 24: Tracy Lawrence. Tickets: $16-$25.
July 25: Wade Bowen. Tickets: $16-$25.
July 31: Big Smo. Tickets: $12-$18. Live Oak Music Hall & Lounge
Check the website for upcoming shows. 1311 Lipscomb St. theliveoak.com. 817.926.0968.
Sport S Texas Rangers texas.rangers.mlb.com
July 1: @ Orioles, 6:05 p.m.
July 2: @ Orioles, 6:05 p.m.
July 3: vs. Angels, 8:05 p.m.
July 4: vs. Angels, 8:05 p.m.
July 5: vs. Angels, 8:05 p.m.
July 7: vs. D-backs, 7:05 p.m.
July 8: vs. D-backs, 7:05 p.m.
July 10: vs. Padres, 7:05 p.m.
July 11: vs. Padres, 8:05 p.m.
July 12: vs. Padres, 2:05 p.m.
July 14: National vs. American, TBD
July 17: Astros, 7:10 p.m.
July 18: Astros, 6:10 p.m.
July 19: Astros, 1:10 p.m.
July 20: @ Rockies, 7:40 p.m.
July 21: @ Rockies, 7:40 p.m.
July 22: @ Rockies, 2:10 p.m.
July 24: @ Angels, 9:05 p.m.
July 25: @ Angels, 8:05 p.m.
July 26: @ Angels, 2:35 p.m.
July 27: vs. Yankees, 7:05 p.m.
July 28: vs. Yankees, 7:05 p.m.
July 29: vs. Yankees, 7:05 p.m.
July 30: vs. Yankees, 7:05 p.m.
July 31: vs. Giants, 7:05 p.m.
Stage and theater
The Color Purple: The Musical, July 24 through Aug. 23
THE COLOR PURPLE is the inspiring family saga that tells an unforgettable story of a woman who through love, finds the strength to triumph over adversity and discover her unique voice in the world. This musical adaptation of Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel (and the popular 1985 Seven Spielberg film) spotlights Celie, a downtrodden young woman whose personal awakening over the course of 40 years forms the arc of this epic story. With a joyous score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, African music and blues, THE COLOR
PURPLE is a story of hope, a testament to the healing power of love and a celebration of life. Check the website for dates and times. Tickets: $20-$30. Jubilee Theater. 506 Main Street. jubileetheater.org. 817.338.4411.
A staple of the local entertainment scene for many years, this popular Fort Worth-based improvisational comedy troupe performs skits and songs based on audience suggestions. It’s a must for visitors. Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. 18 and older are welcome. Tickets: $20. 312 Houston St. fourdayweekend. com. 817.226.4329.
Hyena’s Comedy Night Club, Ongoing
Various performances each week in downtown Fort Worth, ranging from local to national stars. 425 Commerce St. hyenascomedynightclub.com. 817.877.5233.
other attraC tionS and event S
150 Years of Fort Worth Satellite Exhibit, Ongoing
The exhibit traces the city’s development, from its beginning as a frontier outpost, through its rowdy youth as a cattle town, to present day. Created by the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, in cooperation with City Center Development Co. Open daily from 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Free. Historic Fire Station No. 1. Second and Commerce streets. fwmuseum.org. 817.871.7686.
Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Ongoing
The museum has a full slate of fun and informative public programs for its visitors, from lectures by visiting artists and scholars to extended education opportunities, family events, children’s programs and a book club. Admission is free unless otherwise noted. Check the website for details. Amon Carter Museum of American Art. 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd. cartermuseum.org. 817.738.1933.
BRIT First Saturday, Ongoing
Free family fun and activities on the first Saturday of the month, including a farmers market that features a variety of fresh, seasonal produce sourced from local gardens based around Fort Worth. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Botanical Research Institute of Texas. 1700 University Drive. brit.org/firstsaturday. 817.332.4441.
BRIT Tours, Ongoing
Lace up your sneakers and learn about Botanical Research Institute of Texas’ history, present and future, research programs, herbarium, libraries, educational programs and its sustainable building. Thursdays 1:30 p.m., first Saturday of the month 10:30 a.m. Free. Botanical Research Institute of Texas. 1700 University Drive. brit.org. 817.332.4441.
Cattle Baron Mansions, Ongoing
Tour the Ball-Eddleman-McFarland House and Thistle Hill mansion and stand where the famous cattle barons stood when livestock was king and ranching ruled the Southwest.
Wednesday–Friday, hourly, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday, hourly, 1 p.m.–3 p.m. Tickets: $15/ adults, $7.50/children 12 and under. BallEddleman-McFarland House, 1110 Penn St. Historic Fort Worth. historicfortworth.org. 817.332.5875.
Clearfork Food Park, Ongoing
This waterfront and woof-friendly park features a variety of food trucks and live music in a laid-back, alfresco setting. Thirsty folk can swing by the Cantina, which boasts a full selection of beer and wines. Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday. 1541 Merrimac Circle (located on the Trinity Trail just off University Drive across from the Fort Worth Zoo). clearkforkfoodpark.com.
Coyote Drive-In, Ongoing View flicks the “old-fashioned way,” in an under-the-stars setting that’s anything but antiquated. The Panther Island locale provides stunning views of downtown Fort Worth along the Trinity River near the Panther Island Pavilion, where concerts and tubing are regularly happening. Coyote Drive-In is a joint collaboration between Coyote Theatres, the Tarrant Regional Water District, Trinity River Vision Authority and the city of Fort Worth. Check the website for movies, times and special events. 223 N.E. 4th St. coyotedrive-in.com. 817.717.7767.
Fort Worth Botanic Garden, Ongoing
A peaceful haven nestled in the heart of Fort Worth’s Cultural District, the Garden is home to more than 2,500 species of native and exotic plants that flourish in its 23 specialty gardens. Open daily from dawn until dusk. Free. Admission fees apply to Conservatory and Japanese Gardens. 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd. fwbg.org. 817.871.7686.
Fort Worth Food Park, Ongoing
Enjoy a variety of gourmet dishes served up by some of the area’s top local chefs — all in one serene, park-like setting in the heart of Fort Worth’s cultural and entertainment district.
Setting the Standard 2015 Mercedes E350 / 302 hp / 3.5 Liter V-6 engine / 7-speed automatic / 0-60 in 6.5 seconds / 18-inch twin 5-spoke wheels / SmartKey remote / COMAND system with central controller
Park features outdoor games, live music and other special events. It’s also pet-friendly and has free wireless Internet. 2509 Weisenberger St. Thursday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5 p.m.–8 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 4 p.m.–10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m. fwfoodpark.com.
Fort Worth Herd Cattle Drive, Ongoing
The world’s only twice daily cattle drive. Historic Fort Worth Stockyards on East Exchange Avenue in front of the Fort Worth Livestock Exchange Building. 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, Ongoing
The 3,621-acre refuge is one of the largest city-owned nature centers in the United States with more than 20 miles of hiking trails. The center provides a variety of regular and special programs. Check website for details. Refuge: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. daily. Hardwicke Interpretive Center: 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. daily. Admission: $2–$5. 9601 Fossil Ridge Road. fwnaturecenter.org. 817.392.7410.
Fort Worth Water Gardens, Ongoing
Designed by famed architect Philip Johnson, the 5-acre downtown park features a peaceful oasis of fountains and pools. 10 a.m.–10 p.m. daily. 1502 Commerce St. Free. 817.871.5700.
Fort Worth Zoo, Ongoing
The oldest zoo in Texas, the Fort Worth Zoo was founded in 1909 and has grown into a nationally ranked facility, housing nearly 7,000 native and exotic animals. Open daily at 10 a.m. Tickets: adults (13+), $12; children (3–12), $9 (2 and under free); seniors (65+), $9. Wednesdays: half-price. 1989 Colonial Parkway. fortworthzoo.org. 817.759.7555.
Granbury Ghosts and Legends Tour, Fridays and Saturdays
Hour-long walking excursion around Granbury’s historic downtown square guided by actors dressed in Civil War-era attire. 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. $7–$10. 116 W. Bridge St. granburytours.com. 817.559.0849.
Lectures and Discussions at the Kimbell, Ongoing
Year-round evening, weekday and Saturday lectures by staff and guest speakers explore various topics relating to the permanent collection and special exhibitions on view at the Kimbell Art Museum. Some programs require advance reservations. Kimbell Art Museum. 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd. kimbellart.org. 817.332.8451.
Log Cabin Village, Ongoing
Step back in time to the 1800s at Log Cabin Village, a living history museum devoted to the preservation of Texas’ pioneer heritage. And be sure to keep tabs on the website, which details the Village’s ever-changing array of special events. Tuesday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 1–5 p.m.; closed Monday. Tickets: $4–$5. Log Cabin Village. 2100 Log Cabin Village Lane. logcabinvillage.org. 817.392.5881.
Martin House Brewing Co. Tours and Tastings, Saturdays
Admission includes a souvenir pint glass, guided brewery tour and three complimentary pints (must bring your ID). $10. 2–5 p.m. Martin House Brewing Co. 220 S. Sylvania Ave., Ste. 209. martinhousebrewing.com. 817.222.0177.
Panther Island Pavilion, Ongoing
Self-billed as “the only outdoor entertainment venue in Funkytown,” PIP caters to a wide variety of uses, including concerts, festivals and events — all staged along the banks of our beloved Trinity, with stunning views of the best downtown in the country (aka, ours, of course!). Besides boasting the only waterfront stage in Texas, it’s also got a main stage for year-round events and two additional band shells for multi-act festivals. In addition to attending a multitude of live events throughout the year, guests also can rent stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, canoes and pedal boats and take part in some watersports fun. Check the website for specifics. 395 Purcey St. pantherislandpavilion.com. 817.698.0700.
Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. Tours and Tastings, Wednesdays and Saturdays
There’s a $10 tour admission fee for anyone over 18, but a tour of the brewery and a Rahr & Sons pint glass that holds up to three free beer samples are yours for no additional charge. Wednesdays, 5–7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 1–3 p.m. Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. 701 Galveston Ave. rahrbrewing.com. 817.810.9266.
Revolver Brewing Tour and Tastings, Saturdays
Great beer, fresh country air, picnic tables, a band, barbecue or fajitas, corn bag toss and an informative tour of the brewery. Noon–3 p.m. Admission is $10 and includes a Revolver Brewing pint glass. Food vendors will be on site. Revolver Brewery. 5650 Matlock Road, Granbury. revolverbrewing.com. 817.736.8034.
River Legacy Living Science Center, Ongoing
The 12,000-square-foot nature center offers interactive exhibits, terrariums, aquariums, nature trails and Saturday events. Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Free admission. 703 N.W. Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington. riverlegacy. org. 817.860.6752.
Southside Urban Market, Ongoing
Their mission is to foster relations among a diverse group of people, promote local artisans, encourage eco-friendly food production and promote healthy living. Saturdays 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Southside Fort Worth on the corner of South Main and East Daggett. southsideurbanmarket.com.
Stockyards Championship Rodeo, Ongoing
Full-on rodeo action Friday and Saturday night, year-round at the historic Cowtown Coliseum. 121 E. Exchange Ave. 8 p.m. Tickets: $15–$20.
Stockyards Walking Tours, Saturdays
Wrangler Walking Tour: Historical facts, culture and stories of the Stockyards. 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets: $6–$8. Available in Spanish, French, German, Japanese and English. Stockyards Station, 130 E. Exchange Ave. stockyardsstation.com.
Vintage Railroad: Trinity River Run, Thursdays–Sundays
Hit the rails in an authentic Victorian-style coach between Grapevine and the Fort Worth Stockyards. From the Fort Worth location, visitors can ride on a trip to the Trinity River and back, enjoying beautiful scenery and the 19th-century ambience of a steam locomotive. 3:15–4:15 p.m. $6–$10. Grapevine Vintage Railroad – Fort Worth. 140 E. Exchange Ave. grapevinetexasusa.com. 817.410.3123.
Dirty Dancing This classic love story is on stage at Bass Performance Hall from July 7-12.
PRESENTING SPONSORS:
Friends of a Wish with Wings
UNDERWRITING
SPONSORS:
DIAMOND
SPONSOR:
GOLD SPONSORS:
Cynthia & Scott Prince
Karen & Larry Anfin
The Walsh Foundation
SILVER SPONSORS:
H. Paul Dorman
Debbie & Scott Horton
Don Marable, CFP
The Honorable Mike & Rosie Moncrief
Cheryl & Fred Moore
Lei & Frank Testa
PLATINUM SPONSOR:
Butterfly Wishes 2015
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
PRESENTING MEDIA SPONSORS:
WISH FAMILY TABLES:
Amon Carter Foundation
Anchor Roofing Systems
Karen & Larry Anfin
Junior League of Fort Worth
Janeen & Bill Lamkin
Lockton Companies
Dan Lowrance
O’Neal Oil Company
Rozanne & Billy Rosenthal
Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation
RESERVED TABLES:
AZZ incorporated
Bank of Texas
ENTACT, LLC
Lindy Eubank
Friends of A Wish With Wings
J & S Air, Inc.
Linda & Gary Reeder
BJ & Herb Pease, JR. & Kimberly Pease
Amy & Trey Quinn
Renaissance Worthington Hotel
UPS
Victory Therapy Center
Sponsors as of Press Time
Culinary ventures in and around town
fwdish
126 Cannon Chinese Kitchen / 128 Dutch's Hamburgers / 130 Heim Barbecue
Executive Chef Scott Kaiser at Cannon Chinese Kitchen is having fun updating traditional Chinese cuisine. It is a small-plate format, which is typical of Chinese family-style dining. If you are hungry for more, turn the page.
at long last... Chinese
After promising us authentic Chinese cuisine a year ago, owners Jarry Ho and Casey Kha finally delivered in a big way. Cannon Chinese Kitchen opened last April, and it's been a feeding frenzy ever since.
| by Courtney Dabney | photography by alex lepe |
When I f I rst got word from Kha that the duo planned a new venture, I was thr I lled. After all, Ho's Tokyo Cafe (which will re-open by year end) has been a Camp Bowie staple for years. The brother-in-law's first joint venture was Shinjuku Station, bringing the taste of traditional Japanese Izakaya (tapas style/small plates dining) to town. Shinjuku Station was met by rave reviews (mine included), and they just celebrated their four-year anniversary.
When Kha told me they envisioned a true Chinese restaurant, I was overjoyed. That seems to be the missing piece. Fort Worth has a plethora of Japanese/Sushi, and in recent years Thai, Vietnamese and Pan Asian concepts have popped up like weeds. However, when you are looking for non-chain, non-buffet Chinese, you still need to drive to Richardson for that.
Located away from the hustle and bustle of Magnolia Avenue, Cannon is firmly planted in a quaint neighborhood around the corner from Rahr Brewing and some original Victorian-style gingerbread houses. Peaceful Watt Park is just across the street.
The eclectic and appealing interior took a page out of BREWED's popular reclaimed/repurposed playbook. It is fun, colorful and eye-catching (with
loud floral wallpaper in the main dining room featuring dragons tucked around chrysanthemum blossoms). It's an environment that makes you want to kick back with friends.
The stylish bar area is a comfy spot to wait for your table. There is a classy array of house cocktails, wines and both local and imported bottled beers to choose from.
Like Shinjuku Station, it is a small-plates format, which is typical of Chinese family-style dining. Executive Chef Scott Kaiser is having fun updating traditional Chinese cuisine. The Nine Layer Scallion Pancake ($5.50) is a mild five-spice flatbread filled with scallion (a little like stuffed Indian naan bread, but thinner).
The Maple Leaf Duck Stir-Fry ($11) uses every part of the duck, including the crispy duck skin that is sprinkled over the bowl. This Peking duck is a 24-hour cooking process with a rich brown sauce and a hint of local honey. The table is dressed with reusable plastic chopsticks and two condiments you can blend to taste. Instead of soy sauce, you will find Maggi, which is a savory seasoning staple found throughout Asia (and especially German-speaking Europe, as the Nestlé product originated in Switzerland), and a house-made mini-Mason jar of chili
The Niman Ranch Pork and Shrimp Spring Rolls at Cannon Chinese Kitchen come two to an order. Shredded cabbage and carrot fill the crispy fried cigar rolls.
oil (go easy on the latter). Individual bowls of Jasmine rice accompany each shareable dish.
Niman Ranch Pork and Shrimp Spring Rolls ($5) come two to an order. Shredded cabbage and carrot fill the crispy fried cigar rolls. Beware the hot mustard painted on the plate — it packs a wasabi punch.
The Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs ($12) are a must-try item on the new menu. Four Niman Ranch ribs are stacked in a bright char sui marinade. Fresh beets give the sauce its color. Chef Kaiser braises the ribs in the sauce that consists of beets, lychee (the cartoonish-
looking fruit is prized for its floral scent), rice wine vinegar, (and wait for it...) rock candy. "The rock candy melts down, imparting a different flavor than just plain sugar," Kaiser says.
Service was good, and we enjoyed the ’80s playlist background music at just the right volume. It's just loud enough to prove you remember all the words to your favorite songs but still background music, instead of the pounding club beat found elsewhere.
Location: 304 W. Cannon St. for info Call: 817.238.3726 price range: $-$$ hours:
9
5
- 10
3 p.m. - 10 p.m., closed Sun. What We Like: The formula really works at Cannon Chinese Kitchen. The atmosphere, service and good is spot on. our recommendation: Don't forget to try the Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs. For dessert, we recommend the Chrysanthemum Panna Cotta. It's like nothing you've ever tried before.
The dense Chrysanthemum Panna Cotta ($4) was unique. Infused with dried chrysanthemum flowers and sweetened with local honey, it is something you have never tasted before. The small cup, topped with a toasted unsweetened meringue, will leave you wanting more.
Going Dutch
| by Nicole Crites | photography by Alex Lepe |
DutCh’s hAmburGers oCCupies A spot iN oNe of fort Worth’s most historiC retAiL strip CeNters, DireC tLy fACiNG tex As ChristiAN uNiversity’s CAmpus. It housed the original TCU Theater, built in 1949, before being demolished in 2006, and has been the home of Record Town since 1957 –probably the greatest (as well as one of the few) success stories in that particular location.
Since 2007 Dutch’s Hamburgers has been fortunate to call 3009 S. University Drive its home, and it does not look like that will be changing anytime soon.
The neighborhood burger joint has changed up its look in the past few years with the addition of an upstairs patio overlooking the strip and the surrounding TCU area with seating that is ideal for sunny weather accompanied by a craving for a juicy burger.
Inside the restaurant feels light and airy, with clean wooden bars and tables and huge windows lined with more seating that
The Vaquero Burger at Dutch's is loaded with fried onion and jalapeño strings, bacon, shredded cheddar, barbecue sauce and chipotle mayo.
The atmosphere at Cannon is fun, colorful and eye-catching with loud floral wallpaper in the main dining room.
Alliance For Children would like to sincerely thank the Picnic at the Park sponsors, underwriters, committee and attendees for their contribution to the support and healing of child abuse victims in Tarrant County.
MVP
Aero Components, Inc. Cy Young Janet & Frank Cappuccio
Sid Richardson Carbon & Energy Co. Gold Glove
Arlington Municipal Patrolman’s Association, Big Sky Minerals, Pavestone, Vandergriff Technologies NDT Services, Luann & Dale Westerfeld All Stars
Accel Imaging Systems, Inc., Theresa & Randy Brillhart, Charles R. Green & Associates, CoVerica, Hanner & Associates PC, PSK LLP, Lacey & Michael Perkins, Pier 1 Imports, The Pinwheel Society,
Kathleen & Dan Powderly, Sandlin Homes, Catherine & Jim Severin, Shamrock Industries, Star Waste, Dayle & Ken Swaim, Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, Julie & Brent Tebbets, Texas Capital Bank, Sunni & David Wheelwright Underwriters
Spring Creek Barbeque, Drs. Alexander Orthodontics, Johnson Cattle Marketing Print Sponsor Fort Worth, Texas Magazine Committee
Chairs - Vecki & David Blake, Becki & Bill Cate, Brittani Cate, Diane & John Williams
Janet & Frank Cappuccio, Denise Doherty, Michelle & Victor Hadash, Deanna & David Lopez, Melissa & Rico Lucero, Theresa & Norm Lyons, Lacey Perkins, Catherine & Jim Severin, Sherri & Jim Thomson, Emma & Roger Trevino
look out onto University Drive. If the Horned Frog memorabilia and purple “Riff Ram Bah Zoo” chant painted on the wall do not clue you in that this is a major TCU hotspot, then maybe the flood of customers sporting purple attire will.
The college town atmosphere and exceptional, breezy outdoor seating only augment the restaurant’s exceptional burgers. Dutch’s unique sweet bread hamburger buns are soft, grilled and utterly addicting. The fat, juicy burger patties complement them with excellence.
The menu boasts 12 different hamburgers, bar food, salads, ice cream, specialty items like the Dutch’s Frog Dog, as well as a variety of sandwich melts and a good selection of draft beers.
Location: 3009 S. University Drive, Fort Worth
For info call: 817.927.5522
Price range: $-$$
hours:
The Vaquero Burger ($8.95), loaded with fried onion and jalapeño strings, bacon, shredded cheddar, barbecue sauce and chipotle mayo, is a true Texan burger intended for those with an insatiable appetite. The savory cheeseburger is literally dripping with the two sauces, which complement each other very well.
However, where Dutch’s exceeds expectations is with its Bacon Bleu Cheese Burger ($8.65). The potency of bleu cheese is not necessarily for everyone, but combined with bacon, chipotle mayo and Dutch’s signature sweet buns, it makes for one of the best bleu cheese burgers in town.
The burger joint has recently tried to mix things up a little bit, expanding its ice cream selection with new sundaes, as well as adding some seriously huge, cheesy mozzarella sticks.
extrabites
Good ’Cue
| by Kacie Galloway |
Two words came To mind when i Tas Ted h eim BarBecue’s Bacon BurnT ends: BarBecue candy. The bite-sized morsels were sweet, smoky and peppery all at once, an explosion of unexpected deliciousness. I ate them slowly throughout the meal, already planning to return on Saturday to get more. These alone were enough to bring me back to Heim, but the bacon burnt ends ($6/quarterpound) were not the only stars at the humble food truck.
The brisket ($10/half-pound) was out of this world, the kind you wait in long lines for. It was truly the star of the show, both smoky and incredibly tender with a delicious bark. We ordered the fatty portion, but Heim offers lean for those watching their calories. The meat was perfect by itself but also wonderful with Heim’s unique sauce. The pulled pork ($8/half-pound) was also delightful and tender, hand-pulled right in front of us. I was not a fan of the ribs, though; while they were flavorful and peppery, they were not tender enough for my taste.
Heim’s side dishes seem to rotate, so we tried the twice-baked potato salad and coleslaw, both great with unique twists and ample single servings. The slaw was made only with purple cabbage and was not overdressed, a welcome difference. There was also classic banana pudding for dessert, topped with freshly crumbled vanilla wafers. Heim gets bonus points for using real bananas.
The food truck is only open on Wednesdays for dinner and Saturdays for lunch, but according to Heim’s Facebook page, they often sell out before closing. I strongly suggest showing up early. If the weather is nice, there are several picnic tables under trees surrounding the truck, where businessmen, locals, families and friends enjoyed the good food and company. And with a bar next door, it’s easy to enjoy a cold Rahr & Sons beer with Heim’s delicious offerings. The food truck and outdoor seating also welcome pets and children. Refreshingly secluded from the bustle of other food hubs in town, Heim is truly a hidden gem.
Dutch's Bacon Bleu Cheese Burger
Emma and Travis Heim are responsible for some darn tasty barbecue.
fwdish restaurant listings
For more information on area restaurants, go to fwtx.com and click on dish.
The Listings section is a readers service compiled by the Fort Worth, Texas magazine editorial staff. The magazine does not accept advertising or other compensation in exchange for the listings. Listings are updated regularly. To correct a listing or request a restaurant be considered for the list, contact Jennifer Casseday-Blair at jcasseday@fwtexas.com.
pricing: $ - Entrees up to $10, $$ - Entrees $10-$20, $$$ - Entrees $20-$25, $$$$ - Entrees $25 and over
american Arlington/Mid-Cities
Babe’s Chicken Dinner House 230 N. Center St., 817.801.0300. Lunch Hours 11am-2pm Mon.Fri.; Dinner Hours 5pm-9pm Mon.-Fri; All Day 11am-9pm Sat. and Sun. $
BITE City Grill 2600 W. 7th St., 817.877.3888. 11am10pm Mon.-Thur.; 11am-11pm Fri.; noon-11pm Sat.; 11am-9pm Sun. $$
Bj’s Restaurant And Brewhouse 201 Interstate 20 E., 817.465.5225. 11am-midnight Mon.-Thur.; 11am-1am Fri.; 10am-1am Sat.; 10am-midnight Sun. $-$$
Chef Point Cafe 5901 Watauga Rd., Watauga, 817.656.0080. 11am-9pm Mon.-Thu.; 11am-10pm Fri.; 7am-10pm Sat.; 10am-9pm Sun. Breakfast Saturdays. $-$$
Sake Hibachi Sushi And Bar 100 W. Debbie Lane, Mansfield, 817.453.5888. 11am-10pm, Mon.Thu.; 11am-10:30pm, Fri.-Sat.; noon-10pm, Sun. $-$$
SouthlaKe
Gingerine Fresh Asian 2750 E. Southlake Blvd., Ste. 100, 817.749.0998. 11am-10pm Sun.-Fri.; noon10pm Sat. $
Kobeya Japanese Hibachi & Sushi 1230 Main St., 817.416.6161. Lunch: 11:30am-2:30pm Mon.Fri; noon-3:30pm Sat.-Sun.; Dinner: 5pm-10pm Sun.-Thu.; 5pm-11pm Fri.-Sat. $$
Pei Wei 1582 E. Southlake Blvd., 817.722.0070.
Save the Date Awards Luncheon
The 23rd Annual Legacy of Women Awards Luncheon, benefiting SafeHaven of Tarrant County, honors women across Tarrant County who demonstrate remarkable success in their chosen field of arts, business, education, health and human services, and volunteerism. We hope you will consider joining us on October 1st as we honor 15 extraordinary women and raise funds to help victims in Tarrant County’s only two domestic violence shelters.
Sponsorship Opportunities available starting at $2,500.
For ticket and sponsorship information, visit www.safehaventc.org or call 817-535-6462, ext. 106
Event Details: Special Guest Speaker
Jennifer Siebel Newsom is a filmmaker and advocate for women and girls. Newsome is the writer, director and producer of the 2011 Sundance documentary film Miss Representation. Miss Representation made its national broadcast debut on OWN: the Oprah Winfrey Network. Newsom serves as the Founder and CEO of Miss Representation.org.
Confirmed sponsors as of June Fort Worth,Texas magazine print date include:
Presenting Sponsor: KLN Foundation
Heritage Sponsor: Macy’s
Tribute Sponsor: Frost
Additional sponsors:
Tribute: TXU Energy
Media Sponsor: Fort Worth, Texas magazine
Official Photographer: Gittings Portraiture
In-Kind Sponsor: Diamonds & Designs
fwdish restaurant listings
10:30am-9pm Sun.-Thu.; 10:30am-10pm Fri.Sat. $
Sushi Sam 500 W. Southlake Blvd., Ste. 138, 817.410.1991. Lunch: 11am-2:30pm Mon.-Sat.; Dinner: 5pm-9:30pm Sun.-Thu.; 5pm-11pm Fri.Sat. $-$$ Thai Chili 215 Grand Ave., 817.251.6674. 11am-10pm
Chapps 2045 N. Hwy. 360, 817.649.3000. Other locations: 153 Southwest Plaza (1-20 & Little Road), 817.483.8008. 2596 E. Arkansas, 817.460.2097. 11am-9pm daily. $ Chop House Burgers 1700 W. Park Row Drive, Ste. 116, 817.459.3700. 11am-9pm Mon.-Sat. $
regarded as one of the elites of texas barbecue, cooper’s Old time Pit Bar-B-Que is among fort Worth’s standout ’que joints. At Cooper’s, they say that “it’s all about the meat.” I agree — to an extent. It’s also about the environment. Its casual, easygoing vibe is both relaxing and refreshing, and butcher-paper plates are both practical and symbolic of its no-frills attitude. Aluminum-siding walls painted rusty red and concrete floors give the restaurant a barn-like appearance. Black-and-white photos of Fort Worth decorate the walls, and several flat-screen televisions invite diners to sit and stay awhile. Extra-long, stained wooden tables and bench seating are a notch above run-of-the-mill picnic-style tables, yet still adequately downto-earth.
An expansive connected outdoor patio is perfect for dining on a summer evening. Because it’s covered overhead, the sun can’t beat down too much, and exterior walls open up to let cooling breezes sweep through.
At Cooper’s, a variety of meats slowly cook over mesquite wood that’s been burned to coals. Diner-ready meat fills a pit inside the restaurant’s front doors. A pitman slices the requested type and amount of meat, dips it in barbecue sauce if desired, and places the meat on a bare tray. All in all, Cooper’s lived up to its reputation, making it among Fort Worth’s best barbecue restaurants.
La Madeleine 2101 N. Collins St., Arlington, 817.461.3634. 6:30am-10pm daily. Other location: 4201 S Cooper St., Arlington, 817.417.5100. 6:30am-10pm Sun.-Thu.; 6:30am-11pm Fri.-Sat. $
Fort WortH
La Madeleine 6140 Camp Bowie Blvd., 817.654.0471. 6:30am-10pm Sun.-Thu.; 6:30am11pm Fri.-Sat. Other locations: 4626 SW Loop 820. 817.717.5200.; 900 Hwy. 114 W., Grapevine, 817.251.0255. 6:30am-10pm daily $ Saint-Emilion 3617 W. 7th St., 817.737.2781. 5:30pm-9pm Tue.-Thu.; 6pm-9pm Fri.-Sat. $$$
Hacienda San Miguel 2948 Crockett St., 817.386.9923. 11am-10pm Sun.-Thu.; 11am-midnight Fri. & Sat. $-$$
Joe T. Garcia’s 2201 N. Commerce, 817.626.4356. Cash only. 11am-2:30pm, 5pm-10pm Mon.-Thu.; 11am-11pm Fri.-Sat.; 11am-10pm Sun. $$ La Familia 841 Foch St., 817.870.2002. 11am-10pm Tues.-Fri.; 8am-10pm Sat. Closed Sun.-Mon. $ La Playa Maya 6209 Sunset Dr., 817.738.3329. Other locations: 1540 N. Main St., 817.624.8411. 3200 Hemphill St., 817.924.0698. 11am-10pm Sun.-Thu.; 11am-11pm Fri.-Sat. $ Los Molcajetes 4320 Western Center Blvd., 817.306.9000. 11am-9:30pm Mon.-Thu.; 11am10pm Fri.; 9am-10pm Sat.; 9am-9pm Sun. $ Los Vaqueros 2629 N. Main St., 817.624.1511. Other Location: 3105 Cockrell Ave., 817.710.8828. 11am-9pm Mon.-Thu.; 11 am-10pm, Fri.-Sat.; 10:30am-9pm Sun. Other location: Crown Valley Golf Club, 29 Crown Road, Weatherford. 817.441.2300 $
Mambo’s 1010 Houston St. in the Park Central Hotel, 817.336.3124. 11am- 2pm Tues.-Fri.; 4pm10pm Wed.-Sat. $ Mi Cocina 509 Main St., 817.877.3600. Other locations: 4601 W. Freeway (I-30 and Hulen), 817.569.1444. 9369 Rain Lily Trail. 817.750.6426. 11am-10pm Sun.-Thu.; 11am-11pm Fri.-Sat. $ The Original 4713 Camp Bowie Blvd.,
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND PLANNING COMMITTEE
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Eddie V’s 3100 W. 7th St. 817.336.8000. 4pm-11pm Sun.-Thu.; 4pm-midnight Fri.-Sat. $$$$ J&J Oyster Bar 612 N. University Dr., 817.335.2756. 11am-10pm Sun.-Thu.; 11am-11pm Fri.-Sat. $
Truluck’s Seafood, Steak & Crab House 1420 Plaza Pl., 817.912.0500. 5pm-10pm Sun.Thu.; 5pm-11pm Fri.-Sat. $$$ WilloW Park
Fish Creek 4899 E. I-20., 817.441.1746. 11am-9pm Sun.-Thu.; 11am-10pm Fri.; noon-10pm Sat. $$ southwest Fort Worth
Blue Mesa Bar & Grill 1600 S. University Dr., 817.332.6372. Other Location: 550 Lincoln Square, Arlington, 682.323.3050. 11am-10pm Mon.-Thu.; 11am-11pm Fri.-Sat.; 9am-10pm Sun. $$
Old Hickory Steakhouse Restaurant Gaylord Texan Hotel & Convention Center, 1501 Gaylord Trail, 817.778.2215 (after 5pm, 817.778.2280). Nightly, 5:30pm-10pm. $$$$
Each month we will present our readers with an obscure detail shot from somewhere in fort worth, courtesy of photographer brian luenser. We will provide the clues, and you will have the opportunity to guess where the shot was taken at fwtx.com/articles/where-july-15. The following month we will include the full photo as well as a new obscure detail shot. Here are this month’s clues:
1. Originally a Howard clock, this iconic structure first sat outside a jewelry store on 6th and Main.
2. After WW II, the manually wound clock mechanism was replaced with an electric clockworks.
3. Today the four-faced, lighted clock is atomic.
reveal from last month
Joe T. Garcia’s 2201 N. Commerce St.
Custom
Luxury
Charles and Nellie Blanchard know a lot about service to others. Nellie, a 25-year FWISD retired teacher, and Charles, a 30-year Army and Special Forces Green Beret veteran, love the unparalleled quality service they receive at Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth. Nellie said, “We love the staff; they’re friendly and never pressure you. They give you the best deals and help you make the right decisions.”
The retired Fort Worth couple spends a lot of time on the road, often traveling to visit grandchildren in Austin and Houston, in the comfort of Nellie’s 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550 or Charles’ 2015 Mercedes-Benz SL. “We travel often and are going to Houston again because our granddaughter, Alesha, is graduating from the University of Houston,” Nellie said.
Nellie delights in her 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550. She said, “I had mine custombuilt the way I wanted it with everything they offered, except tables in the back! I don’t want anyone eating back there!”
The Blanchards, who trust many friends and family members to Park Place, have purchased 12 Mercedes vehicles from Park Place Motorcars Fort Worth since 1988. The couple said, “The service there is second to none.” Nellie said, “We have special friends there--George Johnson, John Bui, Bob Mellencamp, Christina Russell, and Walter Reed—they are like our family.”