Texas Health is committed to getting you moving again.
A network of joint specialists on the medical staff of Texas Health hospitals use advanced technology to diagnose orthopedic injuries, conditions and diseases. They then determine a care plan that’s right for you—from non-surgical to total joint replacement. Working alongside them are experienced physical therapists and joint care coordinators, who help you kick joint pain to the curb and get you back to doing what you love.
Step into the thoughtfully restored 100-year-old historic horse and mule barns, home to innovative food, beverage, artisans and merchants. This month, come celebrate spring break with Cowtown Goes Green, Mule Alley Block Parties and more.
Unlike the Arlington of yesteryear, there’s more character, culture, and creativity in this mid-city than ever before. And with more development in the queue, Arlington’s rise from the shadows of its big-city neighbors has just begun.
BY MARY MURPHY, MALCOLM MAYHEW, AND TYLER HICKS
Get in, people. We’re going on a road trip. As the weather turns warmer and the highways beckon for adventure, here’s a short-form itinerary for four drivable destinations — Big Bend, New Orleans, Memphis, and Amarillo.
BY BRIAN KENDALL
16 Buzz
Taking stock after the Stock Show, butterflies at the Botanic Garden, and more city news.
18 Fort Worthian
A white guy from Mississippi might be one of the biggest Latin foodies you’ll ever meet.
20 Portrait of a Photographer
Areas like East Lancaster, Como, and Stop Six are locations of choice for photographer Jason Brimmer.
24 To the Moon and Back
A new Moon rises over West Berry Street.
26 Just a Kiss
Five lip tints that do more than color.
28 Lines and Meters
Challenge the mind with some thought-provoking poetry from this month’s reading list.
30 2020 Dream Street
Building three homes at $3 million each, our ongoing Dream Street project touts “the bar” when it comes to luxury.
32 Mindfulness at Work
Eliminate the midday burnout with two simple relaxation techniques.
34 Restaurant News
Savoring the Stockyards’ newest eateries, prepping for Food + Wine, and lining up for some of the best links in town.
38 Pizza Time
Hulen Street’s newest pizza joint is big on creativity but struggles with consistency.
40 The Smoke-a-Holic Revelation
The Southeast barbecue sensation that has one food writer, dare we say it — addicted.
67 What to Do in March
From Bublé to Big Taste, here are the must-attend events of the month.
snaps
70 Vine to Table, Beyond the Bag
96 Stop and reflect.
Encounter the wonders of the world with a membership to the Fort Worth Zoo.
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Aperk of being a city magazine editor is that I get introduced to a lot of interesting people. Granted, this can be a problem for someone who struggles with names as much as I do — a lapse borne from my own cognitive inabilities and never the fault of my company, I promise — but it’s enjoyable, nonetheless. Yet on a recent trip to Arlington, I met a couple of people whose names I’m likely never to forget.
A group of us went to the mid-city on a bitter cold Wednesday afternoon to gather photos (like the picture that graces the cover of this issue) and check out the scene. Mark Joeckel, the general manager of the Arlington Music Hall, greeted me with a firm handshake when we entered the landmark theater. He then figuratively grabbed me by the arm and showed me all around the venue he is clearly proud to manage. He told me stories about timeless musicians who’ve slept on the couch in the green room — stories not suited for print — and waxed poetic about his plans to attract more young people to the theater and how Arlington is changing in such a positive way (you can read all about this change in our cover story on page 44). The journalist in me wanted to take out my voice recorder and later transcribe everything he said. But the moment was fleeting, and I decided to cease trying to remember what he was saying and, instead, enjoy the animated back-and-forth.
The magazine folks and I later went to Gracie Lane, an eclectic collection of local shops in what seems like an abandoned department store. In the rear of this Walmart of knickknacks is a small art gallery called Show Me the Monet. Its owner/curator/gallerist is Pepper Crary, who took me on a tour of her small gallery. She knew every artist by name, age, occupation, hobbies, etc. Not surprisingly, all the artists are local, and she feels a kinship with each of them. When I became particularly interested in the work of one painter who specializes in still life, she proceeded to show me his entire oeuvre, which she had in a binder under her cash register. I just hope her selflessness and joy in talking about the successes of others rubbed off on me.
At the end of the day, I met two of my favorite people, and I did manage to remember their names.
Brian Kendall EXECUTIVE EDITOR
ON THE COVER: Photographer Olaf Growald captured this nighttime shot of Arlington Music Hall, which graciously allowed us to change the marquee for a day — despite hosting a world-renowned pianist that evening.
owner/publisher hal a. brown
president mike waldum
EDITORIAL
executive editor brian kendall
managing editor samantha calimbahin
online editor matt payne
contributing editor scott nishimura
contributing writers courtney dabney, jenny b. davis, david fletcher, tyler hicks, tina howard, malcolm mayhew, mary murphy, linda blackwell
simmons, josie villa-singleton, lauren wessinger
copy editor sharon casseday
editorial intern taylor brumbaugh, scotlyn ogle
ART
creative director craig sylva
senior art directors spray gleaves, ayla whittington
advertising art director ed woolf
photographer olaf growald
contributing photographers rodger mallison, richard rodriguez, truitt rogers
creative intern allyson cochran, daylee mitchell
ADVERTISING
advertising account supervisors gina burns-wigginton x150, marion c. knight x135
account executive tammy denapoli x141
brand manager scott mobley x140
director of customer experience susan peterson
MARKETING
director of events & marketing robyn lacasse x158
digital marketing & development
director robby kyser
Corrections? Comments? Concerns? Send to executive editor Brian Kendall at bkendall@fwtexas.com.
NEXT MONTH
CORPORATE
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CONTACT US main line 817.560.6111 subscriptions 800.856.2032
Camera equipment provided by Arlington Camera
©2020 Panther City Media Group, LP. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.
Fort Worth Magazine (ISSN 1536-8939) is published monthly by Panther City Media Group, LP, 6777 Camp Bowie Blvd., Suite 130, Fort Worth, TX 76116. Periodicals Postage Paid at Fort Worth, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send change of address notices and undeliverable copies to Fort Worth Magazine, P.O. Box 433329, Palm Coast, FL 32143-3329. Volume 23, Number 3, March 2020. Basic Subscription price: $23.95 per year. Single copy price: $4.99
Boxing. Was there before. Should be there again.
-Roberto Montano
“What’s New and What’s to Come in the Stockyards...”
I grew up down there from the ’50s. There’s nothing left of our Stockyards. Broke my heart last time we went down there. -Terry Wydick
Every week, another opening. Let’s see if this is sustainable … I have seen no fewer than five new shops open in the past month with another grand opening on Saturday. I have visited many, and they have all been quality. Just a simple supply and demand question.
-Phillip Poole
I’m loving it every bit. It’s coming along. I think it needed a lift from my prospect view. Some will favor it; some will dislike it. Oh well. Can’t keep everyone happy.
-Kike Ramirez
DIGITAL EDITION: The virtual editions of both current and previous issues are available on our website. Flip through the pages to read more about the great city of Fort Worth by visiting fwtx.com.
We’re launching a new contest series — FW Face-Off — where a vote for your favorite things in Fort Worth could get you a gift card to the winning spot. The first on the battleground: margaritas. Go online and pick your fave for a chance to win. fwtx.com
Nominate an A-plus educator to be among our 2020 Top Teachers. The winners will be honored in a special feature coming soon in our August issue. fwtx.com/best-top/top-teachers
Got a nose for news and pulse for what’s happening in the city? Email your clips, portfolio, and resume to executive editor Brian Kendall at bkendall@fwtexas.com.
Visit fwtx.com for the full story.
» Stage West Theatre Begins Renovations Stage West Theatre had its official “wall-breaking” for upcoming renovations and additions to a building originally built in 1930.
» Blockbusters ‘The Lion King’ and ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Highlight Coming Broadway at the Bass Season
The seven-show series at the Bass Performance Hall includes hits from Broadway, revivals, and Tony Award-winners.
Secret’s Out — the Amber Room is Fort Worth’s New, Stylish Speakeasy Named after the original Amber Room, which was dismantled during World War II and never to be seen again, the cocktail lounge reflects the chambers’ upscale, yet comfortable atmosphere.
follow us for more @fwtxmag
Truck Month is on at Don Davis Auto Group. Factory incentives have never been better on Ford, Ram and Nissan trucks. And our selection is second-to-none. You’ll find the truck and the deal that’s right for you during Truck Month at Don Davis Auto Group.
PRINT IS MEMORABLE.
Print creates an emotional connection.
Print builds relationships.
Physical material is more “real” to the brain, involves more emotional processing, is better connected to memory, with greater internalization of ads — all important for brand associations. (FORBES)
Bone Chillin’ Tarantula Tiki
Lounge isn’t open yet, but turn to page 35 for a recipe of its soonto-be signature drink.
BY MATT PAYNE
The TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine has announced a residency training program with Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center that aims to produce more local physicians.
The accredited residency program will select its first cohort of medical school graduates this year. Students in the program will then begin their residencies in internal medicine and emergency medicine at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Fort Worth in July 2021, adding residents each year.
150
The number of residents at which the program is projected to top out
41 out of the 50 Where Texas ranks among states with 219.4 physicians per 100,000 residents
59
The percent of physicians who remain in-state after training in Texas
31,000
The number of jobs TCU and UNTHSC are on track to produce by 2030
(Sources: City of Fort Worth, TCU, and UNTHSC School of Medicine)
Fort Worth Botanic Garden debuts renovated conservatory in style.
BY MATT PAYNE
The newly restored Rain Forest Conservatory at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, in what promises to be an Instagram haven, will be reintroduced by hundreds of butterflies fluttering brightly colored wings.
Butterflies in the Garden, said to be the largest exhibit of live butterflies in North Central Texas, runs through April 12. The six-week exhibit will be open daily, including Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibit's coordinated between the Botanic Garden and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT).
“Beautiful, exotic butterflies of every hue and size will be flying in the conservatory,” said Gail Manning, Fort Worth Botanic Garden entomologist, in a news release.
“People will have a chance to walk
An array of Central American butterflies will flutter through the air, including:
Starry Night Butterfly
Mosaic
Glass Wing
Small Postman
Green Malachite
Tiger Longwing
Pink-Spotted Cattleheart
Blue Morpho
(said to be the most striking and a fan favorite)
among hundreds of fluttering butterflies from around the world, watch them land on tropical flowers and lush foliage — maybe even on their shoulders — and learn about the amazing life cycle of the butterfly.”
The Rain Forest Conservatory, which first opened in September 1986, has been closed since 2016, according to the Botanic Garden. Work to replace glass, install new fixtures, and prune heavy plant overgrowth has been underway. An exclusive ribbon-cutting of the renovated space will be held the night before Butterflies in the Garden starts.
Tickets run $12 for ages 16-64; $10 for seniors 65 and over; $8 for ages 6-15; and free for children under 5. Purchase online at fwbg.org/bitg.
Fort Worth Stock Show hauls in record-breaking $4.75M at Junior Sale.
BY MATT PAYNE
In its 40th year, the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate (FWSSS) surged past its fundraising record by nearly $800,000 as $4.75 million was awarded to Texas 4-H and FFA youth exhibitors in the Junior Sale of Champions.
It was the eighth year in a row FWSSS raised more than $3 million, and the first year to hit $4 million — the previous record of $3.96 million was set in 2019. Included in the 2020 total was a record-setting purchase of the Grand Champion Steer of the Show for $300,000.
STOCK SHOW MONEY RAISED OVER THE YEARS:
$4.75 million in 2020
$24 million since 2014
BY SAMANTHA CALIMBAHIN
The 35-degree chill Feb. 5 became just slightly more bearable from inside Globe Life Field, what with the retractable roof and all, shielding construction workers and media from the elements.
The stadium was a little more than a month away from becoming the new home of the Texas Rangers, but this day wasn’t just about the home team — it was about the Big 12 Conference, announcing that Globe Life Field will host its championship baseball tournament from 2022 – 2024.
“To have the thrill of young people participating in a major league stadium, our coaches and student athletes are going to be over the moon with enthusiasm about this,” Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said.
BY THE NUMBERS:
Nearly 300 steers, lambs, barrows, and wether goats were auctioned.
FWSSS has now purchased more than 9,000 animals at a total price in excess of $64.2 million.
Giving Back:
This year, the organization awarded a total of 24 $10,000 scholarships (12 for FFA, 12 for 4-H) to students as part of the James M. “Jim Bob” Norman Scholarship Fund.
$64.2 million since 1980
The conference has played 20 of its last 23 championships at Oklahoma City, including the last four. The 2020 and 2021 tournaments will take place at Oklahoma City’s Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, a minor league ballpark, before heading to Arlington the year after.
According to Bowlsby, the elements did play a role in the decision to move the tournament to Globe Life Field.
“Frankly, our attendance hasn’t been as good as we would like, and we’d really like to take the weather out of the equation,” he said.
“It’s difficult to get a multi-game tournament in. We’ve had years where we were still playing at 2 o’clock in the morning due to weather delays. This takes that out of play.”
Meanwhile, construction on Globe Life Field continues. The 1.8 millionsquare-foot ballpark includes the 5.5-acre retractable roof and a capacity of about 40,300.
Globe Life Field also announced two premium clubs within the facility: the Balcones Speakeasy and the StubHub Club. Both will feature food, domestic and craft beer, and wine. The speakeasy — sponsored by Waco-based whiskey distillery Balcones — will also serve a specialty cocktail for each game.
The first event scheduled to take place at Globe Life Field is a Chris Stapleton concert on March 14. Then, the Rangers will play in an exhibition game on March 23, with the home opener scheduled for March 31.
Influencer, traveler, taco enthusiast
BY
Nathanael Gassett is a blonde-haired, blueeyed white guy from Mississippi — not exactly the type of person one would expect to see standing at the counter of a taqueria, ordering tacos de trompo and a gringa campechana, and speaking seamless, fluent Spanish.
It’s equally surprising that he never lived in Mexico, nor did he grow up in a Spanishspeaking home. Instead, around college age, a family from Mexico came to work on his parents’ house. They treated Gassett like their adopted son, introducing him to authentic Mexican cuisine and, yes, teaching him Spanish.
Gassett fell in love with the culture, prompting him to change his major to foreign language and international trade, a move that led to his studying in Spain and later living in Brazil (he also speaks Portuguese).
He also garnered the nickname “Wero” — a play on “el güero,” the Spanish slang term for a blonde or light-skinned
person. A quasi-renaissance man, Wero has since turned the moniker into something of a personal brand: He started a food blog and podcast, designs clothing under the name Wero Brand, and built a heavy Instagram following, thanks to his camera skills (particularly in food photography). Would he ever move to Mexico?
“One day,” Wero says. He likes Fort Worth, having moved here in 2016 with no job or idea of what he’d be doing; but he’s sloughed off the notion of having a “five-year plan,” instead opting to take whatever opportunities come his way, so long as he’s leaving a mark on the people around him.
“Food is a way for me to connect with people, and it’s a way for me to connect people that normally wouldn’t connect with each other,” Wero says. “Everyone’s important; everyone’s welcome at the table; everyone brings something different to the table. It’s really important for us to be conscious of that.”
(His last trip was in January.)
1 Huarache de Costilla from Huaraches y Costillas Asadas “La Güera,” Mexico City
2 Taco de Flor from Lucio, Mexico City
3 Salsa de Queso from La Florecita, Oaxaca
4 Mole Negro con Tasajo from Alfonsina, Oaxaca
5 Esquites con Chapulines from a streetcart, downtown Oaxaca
Jason Brimmer uses his camera as a tool to shed light on Fort Worth’s disadvantaged.
BY LINDA BLACKWELL SIMMONS
On any given day, one will see Jason Brimmer — his red locks unmistakable — snapping photographs of life in areas where the affluent rarely step foot, where tents function as daily shelter, where drug dealing becomes an act of survival, and where single mothers of seven children scrap and claw to make ends meet. Neighborhoods such as East Lancaster, Poly, Stop Six, and Como — these are Jason’s destinations most mornings. At day’s end, the images he captures are raw, mournful, and foreboding.
East Lancaster, which butts up to the southeast end of downtown, transformed into the what some refer to as the homeless district when a concentration of shelters — the Presbyterian Night Shelter, the Union Gospel Mission and the Salvation Army — popped up in the area, causing development to cease and businesses to close. Traveling just a couple of blocks from the city’s main transit station to East Lancaster can give any newcomer whiplash. On the south side of Interstate 30, the buildings become empty and the streets full of people.
“Life on Lancaster is lived in the open,” Jason says. “There are no doors to close, and because of that, I get to see humanity in full. I see how a person can be equal parts horrible and kind. There are people I am happy to see, people I will embrace, people who know me well enough to ask about my children by name, and there are people who have committed murder.”
Jason, married, father of two, and as Irish as they come, may bear little resemblance to his subjects, but that has not kept him from becoming part of the community he serves. It is not unusual to hear “Hey, Red” — in reference to Jason’s aforementioned red hair — from many of the residents as they greet him.
Jason often spends hours listening to those he photographs before he begins snapping away. They tell him what happened in camp last night, who stole their backpack, who got arrested. He works with close-up shots, so the person needs to be comfortable with him.
“More than a few [people] have been instrumental in keeping me safe while I work in the camps late at night,” Jason says. “At what point can I stop thinking about a person as a drug dealer or a murderer and begin to think about him as the man who carried an elderly woman from a tent on his back for a mile to the bus stop?”
Born in Nashville in an upscale neighborhood, Jason credits his parents — his father, a psychiatrist; his mother, a schoolteacher — for his desire to explore beyond the boundaries of his known world and experiment with his craft. He recalls his grandfather sharing pictures from the Great Depression and World War II — old black-andwhite photographs with somber faces and lean bodies, sometimes names scribbled in the margins.
“Those images from bygone days reflect a poetic, often stern, dignified kind of suffering,” Jason says. “What I have found along Lancaster Avenue is a different sorrow than what I found in those old Great Depression photos. The people who live in the shadows of Fort Worth are economically disadvantaged, but the reason they are on the street or living in the camps is not a lack of jobs; it is a lack of jobs that they can obtain.
“Some of these guys learn how to bag up drugs before they learn how to tie their shoes. It is not an economic system that has failed here, but a social one. In many cases family failed them, the community failed them, and churches and schools failed them.”
There are those in the area who openly question Jason, hinting that his work might be nosing or voyeuristic. “So, man, what are you doing here with that camera? You wanting to take some pictures of the homeless?” Jason said these are
questions he often hears. “You like taking pictures of how we live, of what it’s like out here?”
Jason tells them he likes taking pictures of all people, whether they are homeless or not. It is people that draw him in.
Fort Worth is in the process of closing down its two low-income housing projects — Butler Place near downtown and Cavile Place in Stop Six. Jason recently shifted much of his attention to these two locales. His latest venture is setting up a type of guerrilla photo studio in Cavile to take portraits of everyone who still lives there before the structures are torn down and the community dissolved.
“I have to work fast,” Jason says. “These buildings will soon be gone. Residents will be sent to different parts of the Metroplex, friends will be lost, and families that have been together for decades will be separated, possibly to never see each other again.”
Jason says the Cavile residents step inside his studio, some eyeball him for a while; others who know him, sit down. They need no direction. He starts snapping away.
“How many pictures you going to take tonight?” one asks.
“I will shoot until I run out of batteries,” Jason answers.
By later that evening, other Stop Six residents flow in and out of the door. They cluster around his makeshift studio, comfortable just being.
Jason sold his first two portraits last fall at Fort Works Art at the First Come First Serve exhibition.
“Jason and I sat in my office for some time looking through his photographs and discussing his perspective on our city and the issues surrounding those living without housing,” says Lauren Childs, owner and director of Fort Works Art.
In a typical week, Brimmer may spend more hours on Lancaster, Stop Six, or Rolling Oaks than he does at his own home.
“I am aware it can be dangerous,” Jason insists. “But like many of the people I photograph, I love it.”
jasonbrimmer.com
The Moon — once a thriving music venue — is back, and it’s bringing everyone together in a big way.
BY DAVID FLETCHER
From 2004 to 2011, The Moon was at the epicenter of the Fort Worth music scene, hosting the likes of Quaker City Night Hawks, Bob Schneider, Maren Morris, and literally hundreds of other bands big and small.
But seasons change. Scenes change — especially when great venues are lost.
When The Moon closed the doors of its West Berry Street location in hopes of moving on to bigger things at the Ridglea Theater, the zoning nightmare that ensued took The Moon and the collaborative spirit it fostered down with it.
“I was missing the collaboration,” owner Chris Maunder says. “That was a big part of this music scene. Everybody wanted to be hanging around everybody. There was just a lot of synergy. Maybe it was just lightning-in-the-bottle-type of thing. Maybe it’s just that this whole thing is just very circular.”
Seasons come back around, after all.
The reopening of The Moon at the intersection of Eighth and Berry is all about recapturing that lightning and providing local bands a new venue in which to collaborate, but this time Maunder wanted The Moon to appeal to all ages.
“We wanted a more family-friendly environment, not dark red and black walls,” he says in remembrance of the smoky dive The Moon used to be. “We wanted to brighten it up and hopefully be able to influence some of the younger kids and introduce the younger generation to a music scene.”
The Moon has kept the lights that used to adorn the ceiling of their old location, but today’s Moon has a very clean feel to it with midcentury sci-fi paintings on the wall and band stickers confined to the tip jars.
Also making the venue appealing to all generations is its hosting of BirdieBop, a fried chicken joint serving Southern-Asian fusion recipes from 5 p.m. until close.
The lifeblood of The Moon, however, is the 20,000 students of the venue’s neighbor one mile west, TCU.
“I’ve always felt like college is a very influential time in your life, and music is a big part of that,” Maunder says. “When everything started leaving over here, I felt like we kind of lost the soundtrack of our college years, our formative years — the years we were coming of age. That’s what I’m excited about bringing back.”
Maunder points across the bar past the west doorway to an outdoor area he
and The Moon’s staff have dubbed the Moon Crater, a perfectly level sunken field capable of holding pop-up bars, food trucks, and up to 3,000 people for an event, like, say, a music festival.
“We want to be able to sell 1,000 to 1,500 tickets and bring in some more of the bigger regional and smaller national acts,” Maunder explains. “I think that will help us reach one of my goals in creating that connection between the TCU population, The Moon, and Fort Worth music, whether it’s hip-hop, rock, country, or whatever it is. I’m hoping that we’ll find a way to bring some cohesion back.”
The Crater will also play host to charity events, chili cook-offs, and anything that brings people together in the spirit of good fun and good tunes.
“Music brings people together,” Maunder says. “Music came before the first word was ever spoken, sitting around a fire chanting or humming some beat. It’s a very collaborative thing, and it’s something that brings people of all thought and color, race, creed — whatever you want to call it — together. Everybody gets something very different from it, and that’s pretty cool when you can bring people of different minds in one place for a given amount of time and share moments together.”
When summer games are in session, Zoo Camp always wins with immersive programs that champion learning and fun. Every week is filled with exciting new lessons that teach campers age 3 to 17 what it takes to be a top animal athlete. And, an exciting overnight option allows your night owls to explore the zoo after dark.
With hints of color and a touch of shine, the season’s best lip shades say spring beauty, naturally.
BY JENNY B. DAVIS
Spring is here, signaling a fresh selection of lip shades, glosses, and tints. Set down winter’s rich colors and flat finishes and get ready to lighten, brighten, and beautify with sheer, subtle, slightly glossy formulations. Buzzy brands aren’t must-buys anymore — this season’s chic centers solely on results, achieving a natural glow that brings out the best in every face. We say it’s ’pout time.
With an extremely lightweight formation, this luminous lip color promises to hydrate for hours while remaining naturally beautiful all day long. It may be matte, but there’s nothing flat about this luminous formulation. $38, Sephora stores and sephora.com
As your day develops, your look will, too, with this two-in-one beauty tool. Sephora’s signature lip tint goes on glossy, and as the shine wears away — or melts into the lips, as the name suggests — the pigment shifts to a subtle yet long-lasting lip stain. $10, Sephora stores and sephora.com
Makeup multitaskers love this petite plug that imparts a popsicle-stainlike tint to the lips and a dewy flush to the cheeks, all with a single swipe. It’s also a glow that’s good for you, thanks to antioxidant-packed ingredients like rice brain oil. $15, milkmakeup.com
This limited-edition palette of glossy, lightweight shades makes lips feel soft and look plump, thanks to an infusion of ultra-hydrating hyaluronic acid. Another reason these hues feel so good: They are doing good. Every sale supports the Amazon Conservation Team’s efforts to preserve the hummingbird’s rainforest habitat. $48, Neiman Marcus Fort Worth and neimanmarcus.com
This demi-matte lip color blends pigment with moisturizing shea butter and a bamboo-derived blurring powder to provide full color that lasts all day long. A recent reformulation makes this composition feel even creamier — appropriate considering the brand name. $24, milkmakeup.com
A stanza may be quicker to read than a paragraph, but that doesn’t make it easier to consume. Those running short on time but demanding a challenging read will appreciate these poetry-heavy books.
BY TINA HOWARD
5 QUESTIONS: MICHAEL BALDWIN
1 How did you get started writing poetry and what made you want to publish a book? A wonderful college English teacher introduced me to poetry, and I fell in love. I wrote my first poem during and as a reaction to the Cuban missile crisis when many people thought the world was about to be destroyed in a nuclear holocaust. I’ve been writing poetry like the world might soon end ever since. I originally intended to be a scientist, but the civil rights movement of the ’60s captured my attention in college, so I studied political science instead. I have maintained an avid interest in science, and I use poetry to express many of the concepts of science in ways I hope will resonate with nonscientists like myself. 2 How do you suggest people approach reading poetry, especially if it feels daunting to them? Some poetry can seem daunting because great poets bring a new way of seeing reality through their poems and then use metaphor, simile, and other devices to illuminate the essence, the various possibilities of an object or experience. Obviously, this unusual perspective can sometimes make us uncomfortable or confused. Read the poem several times, seeking understanding of what the poet is expressing. Often a poem is not meant to be grasped intellectually, but to be experienced emotionally. 3 Are you working on anything currently, whether for eventual publication or just for enjoyment? I’m always in various stages of writing. I have a novel out seeking a publisher. I’m in the early chapters of another
novel. I just finished a poetry chapbook based on the messages we often encounter and ignore, such as “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear” or “This page left intentionally blank.” I’m currently writing a nonfiction book on the neuroscience of poetry. 4 What effect do you hope your writing has on your readers? I hope my writing gives readers pleasure but also stimulates their curiosity and sense of wonder at how amazing is the world and the universe. Many of my poems emphasize the beauty, fragility, and sacredness of nature and the need to protect it from our worst impulses. I want my poetry to help people find reasons to laugh, to weep, to wonder, to show compassion, to love. 5 What book have you read recently that you would recommend? For those who would like to learn more about how to enjoy poetry, Fooling With Words by Bill Moyers and Can Poetry Save the Earth? by John Felstiner. I’m currently reading I Is an Other by James Geary, which explores how metaphor is the hidden basis of language.
1
Scapes by Michael Baldwin
Local author and poet Michael Baldwin explores all types of scapes — landscapes, heartscapes, mindscapes … but not escapes — in this Edward Eakin Memorial Poetry Award-winning compilation. Michael deftly paints beautiful imagery with a hint of wit and humor in his poems, making them enjoyable and thoughtprovoking.
2
Brown: Poems by Kevin Young
In Brown, Kevin Young, director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and poetry editor for The New Yorker, shares 32 evocative poems that intertwine the personal and cultural experience of all things brown and calls us to notice their impact on each other.
3
Dominicana by Angie Cruz
Fifteen-year-old Ana Cancion feels trapped and lonely in America after marrying a man twice her age and leaving her home in the Dominican Republic with the hope of giving her family a chance to also immigrate. However, when her husband must return to the Dominican Republic to protect his family’s assets during political turmoil, Ana begins to discover how differently a life in America could look. In this highly anticipated novel, Cruz gives us a taste of the immigrant experience in a powerful coming-of-age story.
It’s March, and luxury homebuyers will see the foundations poured and framing started on the magazine’s Southlake Dream Street in the exclusive 11-lot Oxford Place development.
BY SCOTT NISHIMURA
Fort Worth Magazine’s Dream Street — three luxury homes on an exclusive cul-de-sac in Southlake, minutes from the city’s heart and sought-after public schools — will begin arising from the dirt in March.
The builders — WillowTree Custom Homes, Atwood Custom Homes, and Heritage Homes — expect to pour foundations and begin framing in March. The homes are the first three to go under construction on the 13acre, 11-lot Oxford Place development at North Kimball Avenue and East Highland Street on the west side of Carroll Middle School. The homes are scheduled to be completed late this summer and open for tours in October to benefit the magazine’s official charity, a Wish with Wings.
The Dream Street is the latest in the magazine’s two decades of partnerships with builders, home designers, decorators, and subcontractors to showcase the finest and latest in luxury building, design, and fashion. This will be the first time the magazine has collaborated on a Dream Street and more than two Dream Homes in one year.
The location is a rarity in Southlake — close to schools and minutes to Texas State Highway 114 and Southlake Town Square. The 11 lots
are each 1 acre. The builders have already taken calls from agents and prospective buyers for the homes, which are for sale and will be priced at more than $3 million, what WillowTree co-founder Travis Franks calls “the bar” for spec homes in Southlake. Three other lots on the street have sold.
“This is going to be sold out by summertime,” Franks, who founded WillowTree with partner Jody Alumbaugh in 2013, says. “You can feel the urgency. That’s the kind of phone calls we’ve been getting. There are no tire kickers.”
The site has been in the family since the grandfather of Franks’ wife bought 50 acres in 1955. The family sold 37 acres to the Carroll schools for the middle school and kept 13 acres. Franks subsequently purchased the site which, today, is Oxford Place. Franks, who graduated from the University of North Texas, worked several years for a North Texas homebuilder and later sold plumbing products as a manufacturer’s rep before going into business with Alumbaugh, a Texas A&M-educated structural engineer. The pair started in high-end remodels before moving into new construction. WillowTree today has nine luxury homes under construction in Southlake, Westlake, Bartonville, and Colleyville.
WillowTree’s Dream Street home will be a 7,551-square-foot, two-story home with five bedrooms, six baths, two garages, multiple living spaces, and a pool. Franks calls the design a “cross between transitional and contemporary” — his inspiration: the 1 Hotel in New York. “I put in a nice balance of wood and metal and natural stones.”
Typical of transitional architecture, the home will feature an open floor plan in the main common area with wine cellar and outdoor kitchen. “It’s great for entertaining large groups of people.” The home will likely list between $3.2 million and $3.4 million, Franks says. The home, at 1105 High Court, is the only one of the three that backs up to the middle school, so Franks is creating an immense screen with an 8-foot cedar privacy fence and the planting of 25 30-foot red oak trees. “Our goal is to give this a natural forest feel,” Franks says. “I don’t think the school’s going to be in play once this is done.”
The Dream Street creates a friendly competition among the builders. “Our goal is to really showcase the best of the best,” Franks says. “It comes from creating a finish-out that hasn’t been done before. We’re trying to make sure every room has a wow factor but yet is functional.”
Atwood’s home, at 1100 High Court, is a 6,600-square-foot one-story with five bedrooms, seven baths, two wings, two garages, and multiple outdoor spaces, including a pool. The main wing contains the living and common spaces. The second wing contains the master suite. Atwood, who built the magazine’s 2015 Dream Home at Southlake’s Carillon development, has 11 homes in process today in Southlake, Westlake, and Colleyville. “On the scale of one to 10, it’s 12.5,” CEO Jon Atwood says when asked to rate the market’s strength for luxury construction. “It hasn’t slowed down since 2015. It’s literally been a rocket ship.”
Builder: Atwood Custom Homes
Home plans: J Bolton & Associates
Interior:
Stacy Furniture & Design
Appliances:
Expressions Home Gallery
Cabinet hardware:
Rick’s Hardware & Plumbing
Cabinets, kitchen: The Kitchen Source
Countertop fabrication: Absolute Stone
Doors, exterior: Quarles Lumber
Drywall and Texture:
Alliance Drywall Inc.
Fireplace inserts:
Overhead Door Company
Fire protection systems: Haynes Fire Protection
Foundation: Blythe Concrete
Garage doors/openers:
Overhead Door Company
Gutters: Loveless Gutters
Insulation: New Leaf Foam Insulation
Low voltage/audio/video/security:
H Customs Audio Video
Lumber and trusses:
Builders FirstSource
Plumbing labor and supplies: Posey Plumbing Pool:
Claffey Pools
Windows and interior doors: Quarles Windows
Three of his 11 homes in process are spec homes. “I used to do one spec a year; now, I’m doing about three,” Atwood says. He expects his Dream Street home will be priced around $3.2 million.
With the three homes simultaneously under construction next to each other, Atwood expects to see the builders and subcontractors packing the homes with their best. “You’re going to see three builders that are going to be competing
Builder: Heritage Homes
Home plans: Paragon Design Group
Interior: Elements of Design
Appliances: The Jarrell Co.
Cabinet hardware: Pierce Fine Decorative
Hardware and Plumbing
Cabinets, kitchen: The Kitchen Source
Cabinets, other: Mike Conkle
Custom Cabinets
Countertop fabrication: Absolute Stone
Countertop material: KLZ Stone Supply
Doors, exterior: Quarles Lumber
Drywall and texture:
Alliance Drywall, Inc.
Electrician: C&B Electric
Fireplace inserts:
Overhead Door Company
Fire protection systems: Haynes Fire Protection
Flooring/carpet and wood, materials and labor: Vintage Floors
Foundation: Metroplex Concrete Construction, Inc.
Framing: Lone Star Framing & Construction, LLC
Garage doors/openers:
Overhead Door Company
Gutters: Loveless Gutters
Insulation: New Leaf Foam Insulation
Light fixtures: Passion Lighting
Low voltage/audio/video/security: Multimedia Solutions, Inc.
Outdoor lighting: Passion Lighting
Paint material: J&V Painting
Plumbing labor and supplies: Pro Serve Plumbing
Roofing/flashing: Ramon Roofing, Inc.
Windows and interior doors: Quarles Windows
Wine room cabinets: Vineyard Wine Cellars
against each other for best kitchen, best bathroom, best pool,” he says.
Heritage Homes CEO John Webb is fresh off of another Dream Home, having collaborated with Fort Worth Magazine on the 2019 Showcase Home in Colleyville. Webb has nine homes underway in Southlake, Irving, Dallas, and Colleyville, including three specs. The Dream Street homes are substantially
Builder: WillowTree
Home plans: Flynn + Watson Architects
Interior:
Susan Semmelmann Interiors
Appliances:
Expressions Home Gallery
Cabinets, kitchen: The Kitchen Source
Countertop fabrication: Absolute Stone
Countertop material: Levantina
Drywall and texture: Alliance Drywall Inc.
Fire protection systems: Haynes Fire Protection Foundation: Blythe Concrete
Gutters: Loveless Gutters
Insulation: New Leaf Foam Insulation
Low voltage/audio/video/security: ComwareAV
Plumbing fixtures:
Expressions Home Gallery
Plumbing labor and supplies: Posey Plumbing
more ambitious than the $1.5 million sweet spot for a spec home in Southlake, but the market is so strong, “I fully expect all three of these homes to be sold before the show,” Webb says.
All three builders have already received calls about their homes, which should accelerate in March when the foundations are poured and framing starts. With all three homes going simultaneously side by side, Webb said.
“We’ll see sticks in the air, and people will start seeing it,” he says.
His home will be 7,200 square feet and two stories with five bedrooms, 5 1/2 baths, and a four-car garage. He calls the design Modern Hill Country with an open floor plan in the living spaces. “Tons of glass, tons of light.”
How implementing the practice of mindfulness can help one get through the slog of a workday.
BY LAUREN WESSINGER
In May of 2019, the term “burnout” became a legitimate diagnosis when the World Health Organization declared the condition, which is related to untreated chronic workplace stress, an “occupational phenomenon.” Shedding light on this common malady, the WHO is ensuring that employers can no longer turn a blind eye on the issue.
There are three factors that typically cause burnout: having too much to do and not enough time to do it, challenging people, and worry about the future. In an era when technology, high-pressure work environments, and astronomical employer demands on employees are commonplace, it’s no surprise that, according to the American Medical Association, stress is the cause of more than 60% of all human illness and disease. A potential antidote for such stresses — and a method being adopted by an increasing number of companies — is the practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness is, essentially, being fully present and aware of where you are and what you’re doing; this can help one become less reactive or overwhelmed by situations.
How radical does it sound to slow a workday down and focus for a few minutes on the health of a person instead of the job?
As it establishes itself in all sectors of business worldwide, the practice
of mindfulness has secured its place in daily life for millions of people. Depending on who’s delivering it, mindfulness promises everything from better focus to higher productivity to faster thinking. And companies that are seeing the light are also seeing the benefits — employees are thriving and healthy, as is the bottom line.
Mindfulness isn’t about enhancing focus, but it is about being more present in each moment without distraction. When someone is more present and handles distraction well, the body and brain are less affected by everyday dramas, and enhanced focus is a natural byproduct. Mindfulness isn’t about being a better boss, but it is about having compassion for the shared struggles of the human experience. Compassion can remove the stress that loneliness brings, and it’s through this that a better boss is naturally born.
When the human nervous system is living in a healthy and balanced state where daily stress and distractions are managed well, ideas will emerge, focus will increase, quality will improve, and productivity will rise.
1
Pause now. Take a slow deep inhale, hold briefly, and a very long extended exhale. Repeat twice more. Practice five times per day to reset.
Name the top two stressors in the day. What is felt physically when these stressors are ruminated on? Notice the physical sensations that arise, then make fists with the hands and release. Do the same thing with the feet. Tense and release several times. Inhale slowly; exhale twice as long. Notice the difference.
Alesi-Miller Bosque Real Estate Inc.
All the new food happenings in our city’s ever-changing Stockyards.
Marcus Paslay, the Arlington-bred chef who opened two of Fort Worth’s best and most accolade-winning restaurants, will soon open his third concept. Called Provender Hall, it’ll be located in the Mule Alley development in the Fort Worth Stockyards, at 122 E. Exchange Ave.; Paslay is hoping to open by the end of March.
Described by Paslay as a “Texas brasserie,” the restaurant will fit into the Stockyards nicely, offering menus heavy on American and Southern comfort food. As is the case at his two other restaurants, Clay Pigeon and Piattello Italian Kitchen, mostly everything will be made from scratch, down to the cornbread.
Appetizers will include oysters on the half shell; smoked trout dip with dill, avocado and grilled sourdough; venison tartare; pork rinds with a housemade white barbecue sauce; and grilled bone marrow, a favorite at Clay Pigeon.
For entrées, there will be a Texas redfish with sweet potato hash; chicken-fried steak with mashed
potatoes and peppered gravy; and trout amandine. In addition, there will be at least a half-dozen steaks, including an Akaushi flat iron with fries for $38 and a New York strip for $39.
Dining here won’t break the bank. None of the entrées cost more than $40, except one, a 36-ounce bone-in ribeye for $135. For $13, you can get a burger and fries.
Smaller dishes will include chicken gumbo, a seafood salad, and an iceberg wedge salad, and desserts will consist of Dr. Pepper sheet cake, lemon meringue pie, apple cobbler with vanilla ice cream, and cinnamon sugar doughnuts with chocolate coffee dipping sauce.
A handful of the dishes will be prepared via smoke or fire, including a smoked pork chop with white bean stew, blackened shrimp and grits, and slow-smoked beef ribs.
The restaurant will occupy a healthy footprint — 5,000 square feet, spanning a two-story lofted space. An open-air kitchen and lounge will be on the first floor while the dining room will be on the second.
Other eat/drink spots slated to open in the developing Mule Alley area include the first Fort Worth location of The Biscuit Bar, a Dallasbased concept specializing in freshly made biscuit dishes and sandwiches, along with tater tots and salads; Second Rodeo Brewing Company, a brewpub, music venue, and restaurant from Jason Boso of Twisted Root Burger Co. and Truck Yard fame; and Sidesaddle Saloon, a craft cocktail bar and tiny bites concept from Sarah Castillo’s Neon Light District Hospitality Group. National burger chain Shake Shack opened its first Fort Worth location in Mule Alley earlier this year, becoming the first food vendor in the area redeveloped out of old horse and mule barns.
Also, still to come is Hotel Drover, a luxury, 200-room boutique hotel that will serve as the anchor of the area. Local chef Jenna Kinard will lead the kitchen at the hotel’s restaurant, 97 West Kitchen and Bar. Menu items will include rabbit pot pie, roasted quail, and crab and pimento cheese fondue.
Time once again to turn our attention to the annual Fort Worth Food + Wine Fest, our yearly SXSW for foodies. This year’s extravaganza is happening April 2 – 5, with most of the events taking place at the Heart of the Ranch at Clearfork.
New this year are two specialty events. First up is From Houston to Ho Nai, an Asian/Texasinspired dinner featuring two powerhouse chefs: James Beard Award-winner Chris Shepherd of Houston’s UB Preserve and Tuan Pham of Fort Worth fave Four Sisters: A Taste of Vietnam. The two will prepare a Texas-size dinner with appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Each guest will receive an autographed copy of Shepherd’s new book. The event is scheduled for April 2, 6 p.m. at BRIK Venue.
Also new is Hunt & Gather: A Brunch with Garden & Gun, a Sunday brunch hosted by Visit Fort Worth and Garden & Gun magazine. Wild game and local produce will be prepared by David Bancroft of Acre, Jon Bonnell of Bonnell’s, and Molly McCook of Ellerbe Fine Foods. The April 5 event is sold out, but check the festival’s website for last-minute-released tickets.
Passes and individual event tickets are available at fortworthfoodandwinefestival.com
TACOS + TEQUILA:
All of the main events from last year’s festival return for the 2020 version. Those include:
The festival’s most selfexplanatory event, in which local and regional taco cooks and chefs offer up their best tacos. Thursday, April 2, 8 p.m., Heart of the Ranch at Clearfork
THE MAIN EVENT:
In which the city’s best chefs put their best dishes forward. This year, chef Jenna Kinard will offer a preview of her forthcoming 97 West Kitchen and Bar. Friday, April 3, 6:30 p.m., Heart of the Ranch at Clearfork
NITE BITES: New name for Desserts After Dark but same concept: desserts and cocktails served under the stars at Whiskey Ranch. This year’s participants include The Dusty Biscuit Beignet Bar and The Bearded Lady. Friday, April 3, 9 p.m., Whiskey Ranch
CULINARY CORRAL: Saturday brunch bash with Dough Boy Donuts, Four Sisters, Brewed, and others. Saturday, April 4, 11 a.m., Heart of the Ranch at Clearfork
BURGERS, BREWS + BLUES: In which we all eat way too many sliders and drink way too much beer. Saturday, April 4, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Heart of the Ranch at Clearfork
RING OF FIRE: A NextLevel Cookout: Fest-closing event features barbecue and other smoked goodness. Sunday, April 5, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Heart of the Ranch at Clearfork
Fort Worth’s first tiki bar in 50 years is slated to open in March in the burgeoning South Main District, at 117 South Main St. It comes from the team at nearby Boiled Owl Tavern: owner Autumn Brakeen, along with Steve Steward, Cody Raymond, Matt Day, and Jason Alford. “I’ve wanted to work at a tiki lounge for as long as I’ve been a bartender, and I started in 2002,” says Steward. “My first introduction to the culture and aesthetic was the Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland when I was 5, and while that’s obviously not a bar, it is a good gateway to find where all that gonzo tropical atmosphere came from.”
For this month’s recipe, Brakeen shares with us her recipe for the Tarantula’s signature drink, the Screaming Skull.
Ingredients:
1/2 ounce mezcal
1/2 ounce silver tequila
1 ounce white rum
3/4 ounce Coco Lopez
3/4 ounce pineapple juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
2-3 drops jalapeño syrup
12 ounces crushed ice
As the sun sinks into the ocean, face west and beseech the spirits of sky, sea, sand, and lava for the blessing to have a thrilling night, then combine all ingredients in a shaker and shake vigorously until the Coco Lopez is broken up. Then blend in a drink mixer and open pour into a skull mug. Garnish with a straw, pineapple wedge, and spent lime shell, topped with a crouton soaked in lemon extract. Dim the lights. Take a deep breath, and if the spirits are with you, blow a flame onto the crouton to set it ablaze, or use a match or lighter.
In barbecue circles not that long ago, mind you, sausage was often considered an afterthought — the third wheel to brisket and ribs. Many barbecue restaurants, short on time and know-how, would skip making their own and instead opt for selling commercial links. Making sausage takes patience, and most barbecue restaurants would rather spend theirs on fine-tuning their brisket and ribs.
The craft barbecue movement currently sweeping over Fort Worth has, of course, been a game-changer for sausage. It’s now front and center on various barbecue menus, and pitmasters like Trevor Sales of Brix Barbecue and Dayne Weaver of Dayne’s Craft Barbecue take great pride in making their own and coming up with various flavor combinations.
But for the local Chambers family, sausage has always been a way of life. For the past quarter century, Ivy Chambers and now his son, Alandres, have run a quaint soul food restaurant, called The Sausage Shoppe, in which the restaurant’s namesake is the star dish.
“Some places do great burgers; some do great pizza,” Alandres says. “Our calling card is sausage. It’s what’s kept us in business all these years.”
The family recently moved The Sausage Shoppe to a new location, at 3329 Alta Mesa Blvd., their third location in 25 years. Alandres now runs the restaurant, after Ivy passed away last year.
A native of east Texas, Ivy used to sell sausage out of his home, then out of a small restaurant on East Seminary, where legions of in-theknow neighbors would line up for his links, which he grinded, stuffed, and smoked himself.
“He learned how to make it from his father,” Alandres says. “And that’s how I learned how to do it, by watching my father. The recipes and techniques have all been handed down.”
In 2009, when Ivy turned the business over to Alandres, the
restaurant expanded its footprint considerably, moving into a larger spot on McCart Avenue in far south Fort Worth. As a result of the higher profile, barbecue chasers began to take notice, including Daniel Vaughn, aka the BBQ Snob, who posted a favorable review.
“The Star-Telegram had always been kind to us, but we started noticing new faces after Daniel wrote about us,” Alandres says.
In December, they moved once again, to the Alta Mesa location, once home to Taste ‘N See, a chicken and waffles spot. “There’s a bigger dining room, a drive-thru window, more space to park, a patio,” Alandres says. “There’s a church next door, a doctor’s office. A lot of built-in foot traffic.”
soulfoodfortworthtx.com
3329 Alta Mesa Blvd.
Sausage is served in a very plain and simple and straightforward way — on a plate, by the whole link (roughly a pound), with pickles and onions and a couple pieces of white bread. You can slice it (novice!) or wrap the bread, onions, and pickles around it and tear into it using only your hands and teeth.
There are also sausage sandwiches, made with your choice of beef, pork, or a blend of the two. Sandwiches are a less expensive way to sample each of the three sausages; each comes with about a quarter-pound to half a pound of meat.
Though sausage is the restaurant’s signature item, there’s also a full menu of soul food.
There’s chicken spaghetti, turkey wings as big as the State Fair’s, chicken-fried steak, pork chops, meat loaf, oxtails, beef tips, and what may be the restaurant’s second favorite dish, smoked chicken. It shares smoker space with the sausage, occupying the lower rack of a tall cabinet smoker, where it sops up fat juices sweated out by the sausage,
essentially basting it.
Sides include mashed potatoes, collard greens, black-eyed peas, cucumber salad, french fries, potato salad, and candied yams, made with brown sugar and marshmallows. Alandres’ mom, Mary, often makes desserts.
On a recent Saturday, the dining room was buzzing with energy. Alandres alternates between working the cash register, the drive-thru line, and the kitchen. So does, essentially, everyone else who works there.
A picture of Ivy hangs nearby.
“I know he’d be proud,” Alandres says. “He built this, and we’re carrying it on. Third generation of sausagemakers. Yes, I know he’d be proud.”
Restaurant news writen and compiled by Malcolm Mayhew. You can reach Malcolm at malcolm. mayhew@hotmail.com or on Twitter @foodfortworth.
Hulen’s new pizza hangout is on a roll.
BY COURTNEY DABNEY
The lines have died down a bit at Zoli’s, the new pizza venture of Cane Rosso founder Jay Jerrier. The restaurant opened to huge fanfare in a barrel-vaulted building late last fall on Hulen Street.
Now that you can get a reservation before 8 p.m. on a weekend, it might be time to try a slice. Options come either in New York-style round or fluffy Detroit-style square.
Our informative server suggested we start with the Baked Spinach Dip ($11). A blend of fontina cheese, chopped artichoke hearts, and spinach arrived bubbling hot in a small cast-iron skillet surrounded by tortilla chips, while a spoon of Italian giardiniera (pickled peppers and chopped veggies like carrot and cauliflower) added a little tang and spice. The dip, sadly, was a little stringy, bland, and not memorable.
We initially ordered the Meat Fight pizza ($19 for round, $21 for square). This one has an unusual sesame seed crust, which I liked, that added a little nuttiness to the dough. The pie comes topped with dices of brisket, featuring Holy Cow rub by Meat Church BBQ in Waxahachie, along with caramelized onions and pepperoni slices.
Hidden underneath the cheese on the Meat Fight pizza was a smear of jalapeño that was flaming hot. We got through the first slice — eyes watering — but couldn’t taste anything after that. Not the onions, not the brisket, not even our own lips. Jalapeños are a fickle pepper; some are mild, and others will light you up. We sent the pizza back and downed a glass of water to cleanse our palates, awaiting its replacement.
The Fat Staxx ($17 round, $19 square) arrived quickly, topped with a few spicy elements like pepperoni,
Zoli’s Pizza
Location: 3501 Hulen St.
For Info: zolispizza.com
What We Liked: The cannolis were good, and the option to grab a soft serve from Cow Tipping Creamery next door and hang out on the back lawn are a nice addition to the neighborhood. What We Didn’t: The Meat Fight pizza had an overpowering smear of jalapeño on the night we visited − deafening our taste buds.
Recommendations: If you can plan ahead, get a reservation. We strolled right to our table at 7 p.m. on a Friday night.
hot cherry pepper ricotta, and a drizzle of habanero honey (along with mushrooms) but was mercifully mild. The sauceless pizza had mounds of fluffy ricotta, and the addition of sweet honey made a few bites excellent. Not that dessert was required, but it’s my job, so I chose the Pistachio Cannoli ($9). The dessert comes three to an order and is very shareable, resting in a well-executed blackberry bourbon compote. The cannolis, with both ends dipped in pistachios, were filled in standard crusty shells, perhaps not housemade. The mascarpone cheese filling was not overly sweet but had an interesting lemony zing to it.
The loyal followers of this southeast ’cue joint can easily justify their obsession.
BY JOSIE VILLA-SINGLETON
On a crisp Saturday morning, a few minutes before Smoke-a-holics opened its doors at 11 a.m., I joined a line of Smoke-a-holic veterans and newbies eager for a taste of slow-smoked barbecue goodness. At the stroke of 11, like a performer parting the curtain to see how many people are in the audience, Derrick Walker peers out from the front door to see an eager audience ready for their ’cue. He cheerfully gets everyone in line situated inside to make the maximum use of space for the 20 or so people. As soon as you walk into the small, smoke-tinged dining area, one can hear the sound of steady chopping as Walker’s kitchen crew busily fills orders.
This journey to an in-demand pitmaster started when Walker was about 12 years old. Growing up, he helped his grandfather at family functions by starting and stoking the fire of his offset trailer smoker. Walker never lost the fire, so to speak, of bringing people together over food. When he and his wife were able to get their own place, he had what he described as a “rinky-dink” trailer smoker that would allow him to make barbecue for family and friends, just as his grandfather did.
Word got out about Walker’s barbecue, and he started taking orders and doing pop-ups in the Meadowbrook neighborhood in the early 2000s — well before pop-ups
became a trend. Walker realized how far his passion and skills could take him when he discovered the world of competitive barbecue. Soon after, momentum built for his business, and he registered the name Smoke-a-holics for catering and event vending.
As Walker grew his business, he got to know and became friends with the local craft barbecue community that includes the folks from Panther City BBQ, Dayne Weaver, Derek Allan, and more. He calls them all a band of brothers, and they collaborate rather than compete as they work in tandem to grow Fort Worth’s reputation as a barbecue destination. In this spirit of collaboration, the owners of Panther City BBQ offered Walker a trailer they were no longer using. Fort Worth’s unstoppable demand for barbecue and Walker’s hard work allowed him to not only pay off that trailer within a year, but he was also able to start thinking about opening a brick-andmortar location.
When a location on the southeast side of Fort Worth opened up, it seemed as if fate brought him back to serve his old neighborhood. In speaking with people in line, it’s clear that he’s filling a void for nearby residents. He’s had lines out of his door since opening day. As I wait for my order, a new customer questions the fuss and asks if it is indeed “that good”? Several other customers knowingly chime in with confidence, “Yes!” One goes so far as to say you’ll be hooked after this visit.
After we give our order, we make our way to picnic benches in a small, grassy seating area near the wood structure that holds the large, tanklike 1,000-gallon smoker, which adds a pleasant aroma to the air. Just like sitting in someone’s backyard for a friendly get-together, the sun starts to shine, and kids are playing while everyone surrounding us enjoys their meal. Walker puts his own twist on Central Texas-style barbecue, which he describes as Tex-Soul. I can indeed taste the soul in his barbecue staples — ribs and brisket. Collard greens, mac and cheese, and sweet potato pie round out the menu selections with a homey touch. His rib tips are a revelation and could easily put him on the map; they’re an all-at-once meaty and fatty nugget that has a sweet, crunchy, charred exterior. And his loyal customers are right — I’m hooked. You may even call me a smoke-a-holic.
BY MARY MURPHY
Quick question: The last time you went to Arlington, was it because you went to the OG Six Flags for an adrenaline rush? Cheered on the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium? Or maybe you thought it was a decent idea to sweat through a Rangers game at Globe Life Park? Next question: How long ago was that? If you’re like the rest of us, it’s probably been a while — and you haven’t really explored Arlington outside of these three spots. Sure, driving along Interstate 30 can feel like an expedition to another planet (one that often isn’t worth our time unless it’s rewarded by a concert and beer out in Deep Ellum), but Arlington isn’t all thrill rides and sports games. In fact, the next time you’re thinking of flying past this mid-city, don’t.
Hit the brakes and take a hike, see a concert, or venture your way through this list.
Richard Greene Linear Park is like a modernday Stonehenge: unusual sculptures surrounded by Arlington’s iconic stadiums. Park at Texas Live! and grab a bite to eat before hitting the paved trail across the street.
1601 E. Randol Mill Road
Veterans Park should be at the top of your springtime bucket list. This large green space has more trails than meets the eye, along with a fun playground and disc golf course that’ll give you a run for your money.
3600 W. Arkansas Lane
Village Creek Historical Area is a hidden gem along Dottie Lynn Parkway. The paved trail may only be a mile long, but the canopy of trees overhead and picnic tables sprinkled along the path are ideal for an afternoon outside (with a packed picnic, of course).
2605 Dottie Lynne Parkway
River Legacy Park has eight miles of paved and unpaved hike and bike trails (along with a unique Living Science Center) that are a welcomed respite from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Fan of ghost tales? Look for Hell’s Gate, a rumored haunt deep inside the park.
701 NW Green Oaks Blvd. riverlegacy.org
Legal Draft Beer Company is the brainchild of two friends (Greg, a lawyer, and Curt, a medical logistics professional) with one dream: to open a local brewpub. Their dream is now reality, complete with a taproom, weekly events (including live music), and large dog-friendly patio.
500 E. Division St. legaldraftbeer.com
Division Brewing may look like an old warehouse from the outside, but this unassuming gem is the town’s first locally owned and operated brewery. Its neon sign outside says it all: Beer Me, Now.
506 E. Main St. divisionbrewing.com
Gracie Lane houses multiple local boutiques under one roof. From home décor to jewelry, this is where you’ll discover unique Arlington finds. 4720 S. Cooper St. gracielanecollection.com
Truth Vinyl supports great music, simple as that. Pop in to find a new record or catch a live show. This local hotspot has 10,000plus records, a listening station, and (drum roll, please) is BYOB.
300 E. Abram St., Ste. 190 truthvinyl.com
Vandergriff Arts Festival, formerly known as Art on the Greene, is Arlington’s longest-running arts festival ... and it’s free. Come browse the work of over 150 artists the weekend of May 1. vandergriffartfestival.com
Arlington All-Star Craft Beer, Wine and Cocktail Festival is basically a daylong party at Globe Life Field. Tickets include 16, 2-ounce samples (yes, you can buy more at the event), two tickets to a Rangers game, live music, and free admission to the Texas Live! after-party. ballparkfestival.com/ arlington
Want more art? Mark your calendar for Arlington’s East Main Street Art Festival, May 2, and South Street Art Festival, Oct. 9 – 11.
Levitt Pavilion has free outdoor concerts every summer and fall. Come prepared with a blanket or a chair and kick it on the lawn in Downtown Arlington. You can even bring your favorite adult beverage if you’d like — just make sure it’s in a can or plastic bottle. 100 W. Abram St. levittpavilionarlington.org
Growl (Division Brewing’s neighbor and heaven-made match) will make you miss the ’90s. Head here for talented bands rocking out in a room that’s reminiscent of DIY punk shows. As a bonus, Growl sells records and comic books. 509 E. Abram St.
Stumpy’s Blues Bar lets you feel like a local, even if you’re not. Don’t let the strange exterior dissuade you. Gear up for a dive, grab a drink, and hit the dance floor. 2811 W. Division St.
Arlington Music Hall has probably crossed your radar before — its neon marquee is hard to miss. Step back in time and soak in live tunes at this nostalgic venue. 224 N. Center St. arlingtonmusichall.net
International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame is exactly what it sounds like — one of those odd and unusual museums that deserves to be on your bucket list.
621 Six Flags Drive bowlingmuseum.com
UTA Planetarium, one of the three largest planetariums in Texas, has (surprisingly affordable) public shows. Most are about the universe, but some feature surround sound and digital dome effects set to the sound of Pink Floyd.
700 Planetarium Place uta.edu/planetarium
Top O’ Hill Terrace was where Bonnie and Clyde lay low from the law back in the 1920s. This “Vegas before Vegas” had escape tunnels, an active casino, and a brothel. Although it’s now — ironically — part of Arlington Baptist University, this former gambling haven still offers tours by appointment.
3001 W. Division St. topohillterrace.com
Arlington Museum of Art might not be the Kimbell, but we Fort Worthians are so spoiled. This under-the-radar museum has stellar galleries and is just $10 for adults.
201 W. Main St. arlingtonmuseum.org
Esports Stadium Arlington has made its name as DFW’s gamer hub. Catch a pro tournament or visit the latenight Gaming Center, where you can test your skill on PCs and various consoles.
1200 Ballpark Way esportsstadium.gg
Caves Lounge has a name that rings true. It’s a low-lit dive bar with a cozy atmosphere (note the fireplace featuring a sugar-skull mural) and a big ol’ patio, perfect for Texas nights.
900 W. Division St.
Pearl’s Cherokee Lounge was named one of the best dive bars in Texas by Texas Monthly. Pair that claim to fame with live music every weekend and friendly locals, and you’re in for a night to remember — or not.
2607 W. Division St.
Texas Live! may be a different nightlife scene — think West 7th — but it’s one hell of a party. Ride a mechanical bull at PBR Texas, play some Skee-Ball at Sports & Social, or dance the night away at its newest weekly shindig, The Drop (featuring local DJs).
1650 E. Randol Mill Road, texas-live.com
Ryan Dodson, Fort Worth local and Arlington native, has made Urban Union a reality, and it needs to be on your radar.
BY MARY MURPHY
Ryan Dodson grew up in Arlington. He frequented Division Street for family dinners at Ramon’s Hacienda, went to Arlington public schools (sometimes visiting job sites with his dad, Jerry, to check out concrete pours before heading to class), and walked the stage to receive his degree at Martin High School. Now, he’s the president of development at Dodson Companies, the family-owned powerhouse behind Arlington’s newest up-and-coming district: Urban Union.
The name is a nod to the urban nature of the project and the Union Pacific Railroad, which has tracks along Front Street in the heart of the development, right behind Dodson Companies’ office. As old auto body shops and car showrooms are transformed into breweries and coffeehouses, the train quietly rumbles by in the background, watching Dodson’s concept for a unique, walkable district come to life.
This venture isn’t Dodson’s first rodeo. He’s had a hand in developing multiple urban areas, including Fort Worth’s own Magnolia Avenue and South Main, and Block 300 along Abrams Avenue in downtown Arlington. Five years ago, Dodson began
acquiring property on Division and Front streets with a vision to develop a district.
“When we started looking around after we had success with [Block 300], we felt like there was a lot of demand in Arlington, but still a lot of things missing from the market,” Dodson says. “We thought, Arlington needs that Bishop Arts or Magnolia, a district that’s walkable and has a mix of restaurants, offices, and retail. Residents are tired of going to strip malls and shopping centers. Give them something cool and organic by locals for locals. That’s where this whole project started.”
Urban Union is now home to several locally owned businesses, including 4 Kahunas Tiki Lounge, Legal Draft Beer Company, Lone Star Axe Throwing, and The Tipsy Oak. More are on the way with Cane Rosso and Salter Brothers Coffeehouse & Roastery opening later this year. And this is just the beginning.
Residents are tired of going to strip malls and shopping centers. Give them something cool and organic by locals for locals. That’s where this whole project started.”
Ryan Dodson, Dodson Companies
As the first phase of development comes to completion, Dodson Companies is looking forward to phase two: a two-story building spanning several blocks along East Front Street set to be completed in early 2021. With retail/restaurant space on the first floor and openconcept lofts on the second, the building will provide even more opportunity for local entrepreneurs and
district will span nearly four city blocks and offer more than 145,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, office, and living space.
“We came into [this] area where literally hundreds and hundreds of broken-down cars were parked in every direction and the buildings looked like fortresses,” Dodson says. “Everyone kind of laughed and said, ‘Yeah, I don’t know what you’re thinking about that,’ but now everyone sees it and believes in it. It’s taken a while, but we’re getting ready to go big.”
According to Dodson, Arlington’s City Council (like most) seemed skeptical when he approached it with this idea. The area didn’t necessarily look like the foundation for a bustling new district, but Dodson worked with the council to put an overlay district in place, allowing Dodson Companies to creatively change the face of Front and Division streets. The project has since gained great support from the mayor, the council, and other city officials who have watched Urban Union’s transformation.
“Seeing the area developing and becoming a hub of activity just goes to show that when a city has the right leaders and citizens in place — who care about their destination and want to make their community a great place to live, work, and play — anything is possible,”
Decima Mullen, vice president of Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau, says.
As Urban Union grows, there’s talk of adding exciting new concepts to the scene: a live music bar and grill, yoga studio, boutiques, and even a speakeasystyle jazz lounge. Local muralists like Tex Moton have graced the area with unique street art. The once broken-down car haven is quickly on its way to becoming a walkable district where creatives and local business owners can thrive.
Dodson says that the collaborative spirit between businesses is one of the great byproducts of having local decisionmakers and entrepreneurs as Urban Union partners with complementary businesses around the district. To him, bringing in businesses that complement each other is more important than simply leasing space.
“When you call our office, you’re not talking to a broker who doesn’t care about your business model because they want to get their commission,” Dodson says. “We care. We want you to be successful and view this as a partnership. It’s important to us that everyone that comes down [to Urban Union] does the best that they can do.”
So far, they are. On any given weekend, the area is filled with people on patios, enjoying the Texas sunshine and a unique local vibe. And the train? It continues to rumble on through as its surroundings change from car lots and automotive shops to a lively new Arlington district.
BY MALCOLM MAYHEW
We have to admit it. Sometimes we’re really jealous of Arlington. Particularly in the area of dining. Particularly when we want dim sum or African cuisine or New York-style halal chicken and rice sprayed with an addicting white sauce or ... like we said, sometimes we’re really jealous of Arlington. The city’s restaurant scene is thriving now more than ever, thanks to new development. Then again, it’s always been good. Not flashy, not showy. You won’t see Top Chef: Arlington anytime soon. But beyond the fast-food spots and obvious chains, you’ll find wonderful mom and pop gems of all tastes and cuisines. Oh, and there’s a lot of them. Here, then, is a list of essential Arlington restaurants that, admittedly, barely skims the surface of A-town’s restaurant scene but hopefully symbolizes its scope and greatness.
ABC Seafood & Dim Sum
Fort Worthians wanting dim sum have been flocking to this white tablecloth spot since it opened in 2005. Through the week, you order from a menu. On weekends and holidays, the restaurant goes full dim sum mode, wherein small plates and baskets of chicken feet, dumplings, rice noodle rolls, and other Chinese delicacies are rolled around on a cart, like you’ve seen on TV; you grab what you want.
2420 E. Arkansas Lane abcdimsum.com
Ahi Poke Bowl
Four years ago, long before poke became a thing in North Texas, former Hawaiian Khang Vo opened this unassuming poke shop, where he educated locals in the language of Hawaii-style marinated tuna, piled in a bowl with fresh veggies and rice. Despite competition, Texas’ first poke restaurant is still going strong, thanks to Vo’s vow to use
only the freshest of fish.
3701 Cooper St. ahipokebowl.com
Al’s Hamburgers
Originally opened by Al Matthews in 1957 and now run by his daughter and son-in-law, Al’s is one of Arlington’s many long-running institutions. In 1989, the restaurant moved into its current location, where locals gather for some of the city’s finest thin-patty burgers, the sizzle of the grill popping in the background. Later this year, Al’s will make a third move, this time to bigger digs at nearby Fielder Plaza.
1001 NW Green Oaks Blvd. alshamburgers.com
Ba Le
This tiny, hard-to-find Vietnamese restaurant is Arlington’s go-to for banh mi sandwiches. You’ll probably drive by it a few times before you realize you’ve driven by it a few times. The pho is fine, but do try a banh mi, draped with the filling of your choice, from grilled chicken to pork belly to eggs, and fresh and fragrant veggies, all sandwiched between bread that manages to be both crispy and soft.
2240 Browning Drive
Named after and inspired by owner Tim Arjo’s former New York ’hood, this upscale diner specializes in three meals: breakfast, lunch, and brunch. There’s a wide selection of breakfast dishes — cinnamon rolls and waffles to New York specialties such as crepes — and there are dozens of sandwiches, burgers, and salads for lunch, plus a halfdozen Italian dishes. The only thing missing here: egg creams. Otherwise, hello, New York.
3330 Matlock Road bay34thstreet.com
An inexhaustible number of first dates and marriage proposals have taken part behind the closed booth doors of this landmark restaurant, open since 1957. Owners have changed, and the restaurant itself has gone through more facelifts than a Hollywood has-been, but smitten lovers still snuggle here over pizza, Mexican food, steaks, cold beer, and checkerboard tablecloths. Ain’t love grand?
1202 E. Division St. candleliteinnarlington.com
Dino’s is a long-running sub shop — open since ’80 — that has amassed such a following, you’ll have plenty of time to scan the huge menu while you’re waiting in line. Go for The Dino, made with peppered beef, baked
This breakfast/lunch spot is similar to what you might find on South Congress Avenue in Austin — a little diner with funky décor and fantastic food. Go for chef Josh Hopkins’ burgers: You can build your own using unusual toppings such as pulled pork and pepperoni. Mandatory side: the threecheese mac and cheese called “crack-aroni.” The wise show up early for breakfast and Hopkins’ killer biscuits.
1821 S. Fielder Road
ham, salami, and provolone; or the pastrami, which many Arlingtonites live and die by. And when we’re not completely full, and even sometimes when we are, we’ll polish off the meal with a scoop or two of Blue Bell.
2221 S. Collins St.
There are multiple locations of this local chain, but the Arlington store is one in a million. Servers openly argue with one another, there’s always a loud racket coming from the kitchen, and the place is always in a state of chaos. It’s a lot of entertainment to wash down your roasted duck, bowls of wonton noodle soup, and an endless parade of dumplings. All are served family style, and that’s what this noisy, fun place feels like: family.
2214 S. Collins St.
Opened in the winter of 2016 by a trio of Cuban emigres, this lively little spot remains one of the city’s best restaurants and one of the few places in Arlington that serves authentic Cuban cuisine. A stew of shredded flank steak, tomatoes, peppers and onions, ropa vieja is particularly good, as is the bistec empanizado campestre, a deep-fried, limemarinated sirloin
3701 S. Cooper St.
Downtown Fort Worth is home to the second location of this Mediterranean mini chain; the original is in Arlington. Owner Sam Sensel runs a nice, high-end place, with excellent food that includes staples such as baba ghanoush and hummus,
Arlington’s first independently owned craft barbecue joint comes from pitmaster Brandon Hurtado, who has spent the past year or so honing his smoking chops by working out of a nearby trailer. Smoked for hours in a wood-burning pit, his crusty, fatty brisket is his calling card, but don’t sleep on the excellent sides, tacos, or specialty items.
205 E. Front St., hurtadobbq.com
along with lesser-known dishes like izgara kofte, grilled meatballs made with lamb, beef, and mozzarella; and haydari, an addicting Turkish yogurt dip.
6204 S. Cooper St. istanbulgrilltx.com
Perched on the ninth floor of a high-rise, Mercury Chop House is one of the few fine-dining restaurants in Arlington. And it’s a real stunner, from the beautiful views to the incredible selection of wines to the plush, luxurious atmosphere. Steaks are a must but take a bit of time to prepare. Lunchers and impatient dinner guests can blow through a great burger or huge plate of lobster ravioli in less than an hour.
2221 E. Lamar Blvd. mercurychophouse.com
Beloved by locals, this lowkey breakfast and lunch café is one of the city’s better Mexican food spots. It’s a fantastic option for breakfast — plates of migas and chilaquiles are huge and come with rich, refried beans and warm, thick flour tortillas, made in-house. At lunch, sour cream chicken enchiladas or beef fajita tacos are the dishes du jour.
This favorite specializes in a unique niche: New York street food. Most of the dishes are of the Mediterranean/halal slant and include the coveted chicken over rice, popularized by national chain The Halal Guys. Here, it comes as it would if you ordered it from a New York street vendor: in a large foil plate, streaked with addicting white sauce, with sides of falafel if you want. Late hours make it a UTA student hangout.
604 Doug Russell Road newyorkeats.net
The Joe T. Garcia’s of Arlington, this nearly 40-year-old Italian spot has as many fans as detractors. Long-timers love the classy, romantic atmosphere, live piano music, and brisk service. Others say the straightforward Italian food should be upped a notch or two and clings too mightily to the past. Maybe that’s the beauty of owner Antonio Capaccioli’s institution; it’s not meant to move forward.
829 E. Lamar Blvd. piccolomondo.com
Most large Texas cities have at least one small-townstyle café — a place where regulars eat and meet and talk about politics and women and cars over big plates of bacon and eggs. For many, this spot is the long-running Pioneer, with its sassy, kiss-my-grits
waitresses and extensive breakfast menu that includes items such as a rib-eye steak and eggs plate for $11.
306 109th St. pioneerrestaurant.com
Red Claws Crab Shack
Especially on weekends, people line up for hours to snag a seat at this four-year-old, New Orleansstyle seafood boil spot. No surprise: Food is delivered quickly to your table, and the boozy drinks are as generous as they are affordable. For the boils, wait till crawfish is in season, beginning in the spring, or else you’re stuck with small, frozen mudbugs. Peel-and-eat shrimp is good year-round.
4629 S. Cooper St. redclawscrabshack.com
Taste-Afrik
Opened in 2017 by Lola and Malcolm Fajemirokun, Taste-Afrik is one of the few restaurants in the area to specialize in African cuisine. The menu is made up of dishes closely tied to the couple’s Nigerian homeland: jollof rice (a rice dish made with tomatoes, onions, and cumin); suya (grilled meat on a stick, like a kebab); pounded yam with dried plant seeds called egusi; various meat pies; and “puff-puff” — fried, sweet dough balls similar to doughnuts. Wash it all down with a tall glass of sorrel, a perky, housemade drink made from hibiscus, cloves, and ginger.
1201 W. Arbrook Blvd. tasteafrik.com
The new Texas Rangers ballpark hopes to provide the coolest MLB experience possible.
BY TYLER HICKS
The Mayor of Arlington is hot. The giant, gleaming scoreboard above right field says 98 degrees, but it feels more like 110. Plus, for this summer 2019 baseball game, Mayor Jeff Williams has a place in the shade; most fans do not. He can’t imagine how they feel, watching the Texas Rangers battle the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on this sweltering summer day. As he sips a soda and tries to focus on the action, the mayor thinks one thing, over and over again: “This’ll be better next year.”
Next year has arrived. On March 31, the Texas Rangers are set to kick off their 2020 campaign in the brand-new Globe Life Field, not to be confused with Globe Life Park, their previous home and now neighbor. The ballpark is the result of 30 months of building, years of dreaming, and decades of sweating by fans who supported their hometown team through back-to-back World Series losses and more triple-digit days than you can shake a plastic fork at. The Mayor of Arlington is excited.
“The goal was always to build the best baseball experience we can for the best baseball fans in the country,” he says. “The amenities are terrific, and the food is outstanding. People won’t have to eat before the game anymore.”
Cooler temperatures will be possible, thanks to a 480-foot-wide retractable roof,
which the construction team claims is the largest roof of its kind in the world. Call it “everything is bigger in Texas” bravado or a simple necessity. Either way, any time it rains, sleets, hails, or gets a little too hot, the ballpark brass will have the option to cover the field with a gargantuan roof.
“I think the new stadium is going to be big for the organization,” Williams says. “In the past, pitchers were hesitant to come to Arlington. In the old one, the heat could be unbearable.”
Greg McClure remembers “the old one.” He helped build it. McClure is senior vice president at Manhattan Construction and was the project director for the new ballpark build. As a boy, the Arlington native was a youth league ballplayer and diehard Rangers fan.
“I remember the excitement when the Rangers came to town in the ’70s,” he says. “Going to the ballpark was the thing to do.”
The Texas Rangers arrived in Arlington in 1971. They played their ballgames at Arlington Stadium, a mostly forgettable ballpark that hosted mostly forgettable Rangers teams. In 1993, the Rangers moved to what was eventually called Globe Life Park in Arlington, and the real highlight reel began, including two failed trips to the World Series — in 2010 and 2011.
When 22-year-old closer Neftali Feliz struck out the loathed A-Rod to beat the Yankees and take the Rangers to their first World Series, the audience of 51,404 Rangers fans at Globe Life Park erupted into eardrum-shattering euphoria.
“I’ve never seen fans happier than they were in 2010,” McClure says. “That’s what we want to capture with the new ballpark. We want fans to be excited about coming to a game every day.”
The stadium was announced on May 19, 2016. The announcement included mention of a retractable roof and an accompanying entertainment complex, later dubbed Texas Live!
“It has been the vision of our community for decades to get development around the ballpark,” Williams said in a press conference announcing the project. Yet the main attraction was the roof.
“The first priority was always getting some shade,” Williams said in a phone interview in early February 2020.
Before construction crews could break ground, the people had to vote. The city of Arlington proposed a deal: We’ll pay for half; the Rangers will pay for the other half and pick up any overages. But when “half” is $500 million, some voters take umbrage.
The proposed deal called for the city to issue a half billion in bonds. A half-cent of sales tax, a 2% hotel occupancy tax, and a 5% car rental tax would pay off those bonds over 30 years.
Some fans, including staunch antistadium advocate Jeff Prior, wondered what was wrong with the Rangers’ current home. Prior was a spokesman for Save Our Stadium, an organization that advocated for a “No” vote on the new stadium proposition. The organization’s Twitter account, which is still active, argued that fewer seats, higher ticket prices, and higher taxes were all evidence of a bad deal for the city and its denizens.
“You’re always going to have people who question the cost,” Williams said. “That’s why we talked to the people, and we held a vote.”
On Election Day 2016, roughly 60% of Arlington voters approved the bond measure. Soon after, the Rangers tasked
Dallas-based architecture firm HKS Inc. to design the stadium. HKS designed the Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium and designed Globe Life Park for the Rangers in the early 1990s.
“We’ve always valued our relationship with this organization,” says Fred Ortiz, one of the firm’s leads on the Globe Life Field project. “So, we jumped at the chance to work with them again.”
HKS designed a ballpark that would incorporate some of Globe Life Park’s architecture into a more intimate setting. That means fewer seats (40,300, compared to its former home’s 49,115) but more visibility, including 360-degree circulation on the upper and lower concourse. No matter where they are, fans will be able to see the action on the field without resorting to the tiny television sets above concession stands. In the new ballpark, concessions are receded from the seating bowl, thereby avoiding any obstruction of views. Stadium dimensions were designed with team legends in mind. For example, recently retired third baseman Adrian Beltre, who wore No. 29, inspired the left field line, which is 329 feet.
“Honoring those legends was important to us,” Ortiz says. “We wanted it to be a place that highlighted the team’s history.”
In late September 2017, the Manhattan Construction team broke ground on Globe Life Field.
McClure, who helped build Globe Life Park and four other stadiums, took the lead as project director.
He admits that stadium builds are a nightmare.
“They’ll pull your hair out, they’ll scare you to death, and they’ll keep you up at night,” he says. The new Rangers ballpark was no different.
The 30-month process involved thousands of construction workers, 57 salaried construction managers, and more steel than McClure cares to estimate (the roof alone needed 19,000 tons).
“This is a puzzle, so we had to make sure the right pieces were here at the right time so we can build this thing bottom to top,” McClure says.
McClure and Rob Matwick, Texas Rangers’ executive vice president of business operations, acknowledge that the 30-month journey has been fraught with more challenges than they foresaw. In early December 2019, the construction team closed the retractable roof for the first time, but less than a week later, the roof caught fire. Damage was minimal, but McClure knows how it looks.
“I never promised we’d be done early,” McClure says with a laugh. Nevertheless, he insists they won’t be done late.
“We’ll go right up to the wire, but when you walk in here, it’ll be a bright, shiny new stadium, and no one will know what it took to get it that way.”
Williams is excited that the stadium will be operable 365 days a year. Baseball purists may be annoyed by the field’s artificial turf, but the Mayor prefers it.
“We can do multiple sports, boat shows, concerts, anything,” he says. “Imagine going to a baseball game one day, then a Big 12 tournament game the next.”
He also expects the stadium to help rake in as much as $17 million in tourism in 2020, which would be $3 million more than 2019’s haul. But ultimately, the Mayor can promise at least one thing about the new stadium.
1.8 millionsquare-foot ballpark; 5.5acre retractable roof; 40,300 capacity.
“I can assure you this: It’ll be cooler,” he says.
Globe Life Field will open with a concert by Chris Stapleton on March 14. The Texas Rangers will play its first game in the ballpark on March 31.
If you’re not in any hurry, these four road trips are full of sights, sounds, and good eats before you even reach your final destination.
BY BRIAN KENDALL
When making a mad dash to a destination, some take the old adage — and basic mathematical fact — the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, to heart. Such travelers will plug their final destination into their map apps, put on an audiobook or two, stick to monotonous interstates, and stop only to fill their cars and relieve their bladders.
But for those who enjoy the slow burn of a long drive and see the open road as an opportunity to see more, eat more, and do more, then beelining it to one’s point of disembarkation will likely seem counterintuitive. Instead, to these folks, a single trip will have many side trips — points of interest that might require one to hop off the interstate for a spell and, ultimately, take some state highways and backroads to get to where they wanna go. Whether it’s a catfish joint that has a five-star rating on Yelp, the world’s largest peanut, or a museum of toilet seats, there are some experiences worthy of veering you off track.
Keep an eye out for our road trip playlists at fwtx.com.
We know, Amarillo is near the dead center of the Texas Panhandle, an area known for, well, not much at all. But don’t sleep on this sizeable (pop. 200,000) city known as the “Yellow Rose of Texas” — and the “Helium Capital of the World,” mind you. Amarillo’s strange isolation — it’s a four-plus-hour drive to anywhere — makes it a breeding ground for weirdness, and we’re fortunate enough to live within driving distance.
Perhaps one of our state’s most wellknown public art installations, Cadillac Ranch resides just west of the city in a cow pasture off Interstate 40. The sculpture features 10 Cadillacs buried nose-first into the dry Amarillo soil, with nothing but their rear wheels and tailfins visible. The installation’s been around since 1974, though it was relocated to its current spot in 1997. If you decide to take the short walk through the pasture to the cars, we recommend having a can of spray paint in tow; spray painting the cars is not only allowed but encouraged. So, this might be your lone opportunity to graffiti without any repercussions — aside from inhaling vapors.
For food, you have one option: steak. Sure, Amarillo has all the usual suspects with delicious Thai and Mexican joints, but any trip to the Panhandle, even if red meat isn’t your thing, must include a stop at the Big Texan Steak Ranch. It’s an old-school steakhouse with an enormous dining room, taxidermic heads consistently in patrons’ fields of vision, and a famous 72-ounce steak to boot. While it’s become a tad touristy in recent years, they still serve up some delicious, and gargantuan, cuts of meat. And a quick word to the wise, when you’re in Amarillo, be sure to pronounce it “Am-ur-il-ah.”
A hop and a skip from Amarillo, this state park is the nation’s second largest canyon system. Be sure to pack some hiking shoes.
We recommended stopping in Quanah for some grub at The Medicine Mound Depot Restaurant, a no-frills, homestyle-cooking type of joint that serves steak fingers and keeps the aluminum foil on the baked potato. While you can’t go wrong with any dish, just be sure to get some Armadillo Eggs, four cheeses deep-fried into balls with jalapeño ranch dipping sauce.
A sign reads “Leather goods center of the Southwest” when you enter Nocona via State Highway 82. The sign is old — and both Justin Boots and Nocona Boot Company have left — but the statement rings true to this day. The old Nocona Boot Company factory, an art deco masterpiece, has transformed into a giant boot store aptly called Old Boot Factory, and the Montague Boot Company, established in downtown Nocona, makes boots for the Larry Mahan line at Cavender’s Boot City. Don’t walk away from this town without a new pair.
• Head north on US-287 N (take TX-114 W exit for first stop)
• Continue on US-287 N
• Merge right onto US-81 N
• Turn right onto Galia Street
• Turn left onto East Nelson Street
• Turn right onto North Mill Street
• Turn right onto TX-59 N, which turns into TX-175 N (second stop at US-82 intersection)
• Turn left onto US-82 W
• Keep right at fork to continue on US-287 N (third stop at Main Street in Quanah)
• Continue on US-287 until you reach Amarillo
It’s slightly unjust for two neighboring towns with a total population of 2,400 to have this many quirky attractions. Right off U.S. Route 287, Aurora is home to an alien gravesite — with a historical marker to boot — where a UFO pilot was laid to rest in 1897. Next door in Boyd is the International Exotic Animal Sanctuary, where you can check out bears, wolves, jaguars, and white tigers. We don’t recommend these towns as mere bathroom stops.
Right off the bat, let’s grab lunch. Petty’s Steak and Catfish isn’t the only reason to visit Lindale, but it might be the best reason. The down-and-dirty diner with a chalkboard full of specials offers up some of the state’s best-tasting catfish fillets that come fresh and perfectly fried.
Okay, we admit, this isn’t so much a stop as it is a slow roll. Its kitschy name aside, the Cherokee Trace Drive-Thru Safari located in Jacksonville is the perfect spot to check out — and get exceptionally close to — some herbivorous creatures. With over 30 species of animals that are undoubtedly not native to Texas, the experience is akin to being transported to an African safari, except in the comfort of your own car instead of a topless Land Rover.
• Head east on I-30 E and take right fork onto US-80
• Merge onto I-20 E (first stop at exit 556)
• Head south on US-69
• Turn right onto US-69 S/South Broadway Avenue (second stop)
• Head southeast on South Jackson Street and turn left onto East Rusk Street
• Turn right onto TX-204 E
• Turn left onto US-84 E
• Turn right to merge onto I-49 S (third stop at exit 85A)
• Take exit 1A to merge onto I-10 E (fourth stop at exit 109)
• Continue on 1-10 E until you reach New Orleans
With a trove of man-eating reptiles and enough mosquitoes to reignite a malaria epidemic, it’s a good idea to get a guide if you want to venture out into the Louisiana swamplands. This spot, Cajun Country Swamp Tours, located just outside Lafayette on Lake Martin, is the perfect way to enjoy all the beautiful and deadly flora and fauna of the bayou. The crawfish skiffs are sure to get all patrons into the heart of the swamp, and the guide holds a degree in zoology and botany, so he’ll be well prepared if you’re the inquisitive type.
A smorgasbord of geological wonders, Big Bend National Park isn’t a mere weekend trip. In fact, it could take a couple weeks to pack in everything this mammothsized, 1,252-square-mile park has to offer. Cascading waterfalls. Wildlife that’s both beautiful and frightening. Narrow canyons. Colorful badlands. Long hikes that are, likewise, both beautiful and frightening. Big Bend is like every national park coalescing into one; it even has a freaking hot spring.
Unfortunately, its location — bordering Mexico and a solid mile-plus drive from anything resembling civilization (Terlingua notwithstanding) — also makes it one of the more inaccessible national parks this side of the Colorado. While it might take a few tanks of gas to get there, it’s worth every penny you pour into fueling up.
Some must-do and must-see attractions include the Chisos Mountains Basin, a jaw-dropping alpine valley submerged in monolithic-like rock formations, including the well-known Casa Grande. You’ve likely seen pictures — it serves as the Old Faithful/Half Dome of Big Bend — they don’t do it justice. And, conveniently, this is where you’ll also find the park’s only lodging and restaurant, as well as a ranger station, campground, gift shop, and amphitheater. (As a side note, we highly recommend using the Chisos Mountains lodging or campground; no other spot will offer the same stunning views.) Another must includes dipping your toes in the aforementioned hot springs, which was the area’s first tourist attraction and is part of a former resort completed by J.O. Langford in 1927. If you’re interested in taking in sights on foot, we suggest the Window View Trail, a 0.3-mile walk accessible to hikers of all levels. This short trail offers stunning views of the peaks surrounding the Chisos Mountains Basin.
Marfa gets far more attention than any town of a mere 2,000 folks has a right to. But when a town’s artists per capita is as high as this quirky settlement, it’s bound to attract some good press. The brilliantly juxtaposed Prada store is a must for Instagrammers and selfie aficionados, but we also think the Chinati Foundation, a contemporary art museum with brilliant, interactive sculptures, is also worthy of your time. After checking out the famed Marfa lights, call it the night at El Cosmico, where you can have your choice of a yurt, tepee, trailer, or Cosmic Kasita. Why you wouldn’t choose the latter, we don’t know.
Sorry, Fort Worth, you weren’t the first to call Reata, with its legendary slabs of steak, home. That distinction belongs to the tiny town of Alpine, which doubles as the gateway to Big Bend. After the long yet scenic drive from San Angelo to Alpine, we have a feeling you might be game for some tasteslike-home grub.
Just as you’re leaving Fort Worth, where the hills start to get a little … hillier, lies Dinosaur Valley State Park. This gem of a geological park includes beautiful layered rock formations that have been molded by the Paluxy River. Oh, and you can see dinosaur footprints, too.
With a population that’s barely pushing six digits, there’s a surprising amount of things to do in this charming West Texas city. Historic Fort Concho and the well-curated collection at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts are both worthy of your time. But for our money, we like the International Waterlily Collection, where you can meander through dozens of lily ponds that nearly put Claude Monet to shame — nearly. For dinner, we recommend the PV Deli by chef Jason — who recently expanded to Dallas — at his original San Angelo location. For lodging, stay at the Old Central Firehouse Bed and Brew, where they repurposed an old fire station into a surprisingly modern — and modestly priced — bed and breakfast.
• Head south on Chisholm Trail Parkway
• Turn right onto US-67 S (first stop at Bernard Street)
• Continue on US-67 S (second stop at Main Street exit)
• Merge onto I-10/US-67 S and take exit 248 to continue on US-67 S
• Third and fourth stop off US-67 S/US-90 W
• After Marfa, head east on US90 E
• Turn right onto US-385 S
• Turn left onto Park Route 12 and continue until you reach Big Bend National Park
After building up some dirt and sweat from the previous stop, a bath might sound like a decent enough idea. And there might not be a better place in the nation to do this than at Hot Springs National Park. This cluster of geothermal pools sparked the construction of eight bathhouses in the early 20th century along what is today known as Bathhouse Row. On the southern end of the row is Buckstaff Bathhouse, which has operated since 1912 and offers the full spa treatment with no reservations required.
In a city that touts its dairy museum and public library as its biggest attractions — we mean no offense to either — it’s easy to see why a glass restroom might become a major point of interest. Yes, to reiterate, Sulphur Springs has two glass bathrooms on their downtown square, which sounds like a nightmare for someone with an anxious bladder.
Please excuse the all-too-obvious pun, but Murfreesboro, Arkansas, is a diamond in the rough. The city of a mere 1,600 residents is home to two attractions that allow tourists to get their hands dirty. The first, Crater of Diamonds State Park, is promoted as one of only a few places in the world where visitors can search for real diamonds and, so far, patrons have discovered more than 33,100 diamonds, which they all got to keep. The second attraction is the Ka-Do-Ha Indian Village, which can be excavated for authentic arrowheads.
If you have time, check out the impressive William J. Clinton Presidential Library, located just northeast of downtown along the Arkansas River. The library includes an impressive collection of exhibits and the largest archives of any president. While there, grab a bite and enjoy the beautiful views of the Arkansas Bridge at 42 bar and table; you’ll be blown away regardless of political persuasion. To get a good night’s sleep, head to the Capital Hotel, a posh 150-yearold hotel located just two blocks from the state capitol.
• Head east on I-30 E (first stop off exit 120)
• Take exit 201 onto TX-8, which turns into AR-41
• Turn right onto AR-108 E/East 2nd Avenue
• Turn left onto US-59/US 71 N
• Turn right onto AR-27 N (second stop at Courthouse Square)
• Continue onto US-70 E
• Turn right onto Albert Pike Road
• Turn left onto 3rd Street
• Turn right onto West Grand Avenue (third stop)
• Turn left onto Central Avenue
• Turn right onto Spring Street
• Turn left onto Coy Street
• Turn left onto East Grand Avenue
• Continue on US-70 E
• Merge onto I-30 E/US-70 E (fourth stop at exit 140A)
• Merge onto I-40 E and continue until you reach Memphis
This town can claim a lot of births: Memphis barbecue, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, blues, rock ‘n’ roll, Justin Timberlake. But it’s the city’s role as one of the epicenters of the civil rights movement that has had the greatest impact. Visiting the National Civil Rights Museum, located at the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, is an essential sight one must visit if they’re to come to Memphis. The museum includes exhibits on the vital events that shaped the movement, including the Montgomery bus boycott and the Memphis sanitation strikes.
In the hope that you’re not completely museumed out, the city is also home to two institutions that should be required viewing by all music fans: the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum. Both offer impressive collections and interactive exhibits that tell gripping stories of artists who were ahead of their time. And, naturally, one can’t skip Graceland — home of Elvis Presley — or Sun Studio, where both the King and Johnny Cash got their start in the industry.
After you’ve been fully educated on Memphis’ unparalleled historical impact, you can let loose on Beale Street, the Home of the Blues. With 25 bars and restaurants that line the few hundred yards of the street’s western side, it’s wall-to-wall people, drinks, and music on a typical Friday or Saturday night. For food, check out Miss Polly’s Soul City Café, where you’ll unfortunately have to usurp Memphis barbecue for chicken and waffles (go to Cozy Corner, north of downtown, for the best ’cue in the city). For drinks, Silky O’Sullivan’s has a killer ambience and dueling pianos. After hitting all that up, crash at the swanky Hotel Napoleon. It might take a couple of days, but you’ll eventually thank us.
MARCH 9
Sunset and Full Moon Paddle
Rent a canoe and soak up the moonlight as you paddle along the Trinity River — just be sure not to fall in.
Backwoods Paddlesports
480 N. Taylor St., 817.470.2613 backwoods.eventsmart.com
MARCH 14
Fort Worth St. Patrick’s Festival
Indulge in green beer, Irish grub, and live music at this Paddy’s Day party. If you’re lucky, you might even win a $500 pot of gold in the festival’s raffle. Better start looking for a four-leaf clover.
The Yard
3017 Morton St., 817.353.2073 theyardfw.com
MARCH 14
TRWD Flyfest 2020
Keep it reel on the Trinity River as the Tarrant Regional Water District releases 1,800 pounds of rainbow trout for your fishing pleasure.
River Park Trailhead
3100 Bryant Irvin Road, 817.335.2491 trwdflyfest.com
MARCH 14
3rd Annual Graffiti Art Festival
Fill your Insta story with #content as you snap photos around this shipping container business park, shop arts and crafts vendors, and grab a bite from a food truck. Oh, and your dog is invited too.
Fort Worth Design District
1953 Golden Heights Road, 817.834.3625, ext. 232 fortworthdesigndistrict.com
MARCH 14
Dancing Beyond Borders
The Dallas Black Dance Theatre heads to Fort Worth to perform a diverse repertoire of contemporary modern dance.
W.E. Scott Theatre
3505 W. Lancaster Ave. 214.880.0202 attpac.org
MARCH 14 – 15
Friendly for kids and fur babies alike, Funky Finds returns with its diverse market of handmade and vintage goods, as well as a raffle benefiting the Humane Society of North Texas and CASA of Tarrant County.
Will Rogers Memorial Center 3401 W. Lancaster Ave., 903.665.7954, funkyfinds.com
MARCH 17
Alive at the Bass
Bass Hall hosts internationally renowned composer Ola Gjeilo for a one-night-only performance and the world premiere of “The Tyger & The Lamb.”
Bass Performance Hall 525 Commerce St., 817.212.4280 basshall.com
MARCH 21
Sip & Shop
Caffeine and shopping? Say no more. Browse local vendors while sipping your choice beverage at Dwell’s University location.
Dwell Coffee & Biscuits
3113 S. University Drive, 817.720.6766 dwellcoffeeandbiscuits.com
MARCH 21
Vitro Moda 12
Glass — but make it fashion. Couture models will walk the runway showcasing one-of-a-kind glass pieces created by artists around the country. The Ostreum. 108 South Freeway, Ste. 130, sinacastudios.org
MARCH 22
Big Taste of Fort Worth
Taste signature dishes and wines from local restaurants and help celebrity judges decide this year’s People’s Choice. Proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tarrant County.
River Ranch Stockyards 500 NE 23rd St. bigtaste.org
MARCH 27 – 28
Cowtown Cook-Off and Music Festival
Boxing, barbecue, Austin Allsup. All for great causes. Enough said.
Panther Island Pavilion 395 Purcey St., 817.698.0700 pantherislandpavilion.com
APRIL 4
Zoo Run 2020
Embody your inner cheetah — or turtle — by waking up early on a Saturday morning to run through the Fort Worth Zoo.
Fort Worth Zoo 1989 Colonial Parkway, 817.759.7555, fortworthzoo.org
APRIL 4
Water Lantern Festival
At last, we see the light. Live out your “Tangled” fantasy by setting off lanterns along the water at Panther Island Pavilion.
Panther Island Pavilion 395 Purcey St. pantherislandpavilion.com
APRIL 4
An Evening with Michael Bublé
L is for listening to Michael Bublé on repeat. Swoon-worthy vocals, jazz, and nostalgia will be coming to Dickies Arena as the legendary singersongwriter brings his tour to the Fort.
Dickies Arena 1911 Montgomery St., 817.402.9801 dickiesarena.com
APRIL 4
After helping the city’s largest annual litter cleanup, reward yourself at Trinity Park with food, music, and activities to learn about all things sustainable.
Trinity Park
3003 Trinity Park Drive fortworthtexas.gov/ cowtowncleanup
On Jan. 15, BRIT held its Vine to Table award dinner and fundraiser at Dickies Arena to celebrate the winners of the FWSSR/BRIT Texas Sustainable Winegrowing Competition and the BRIT/FIVS International Sustainable Winegrowing Competition.
On Jan. 25, the TCU Champions Club was transformed to host the ninth annual Beyond the Bag fundraising event benefiting the Joan Katz Cancer Resource Center. Proceeds from the night directly support the General Cancer Navigator Endowment so anyone facing any cancer diagnosis can receive free nonmedical services.
what% of US adults say th read magazines in the last 6 months?
THE HIGHEST OF ALL TIME.
This even includes 93% of those under 35 and 95% of those under 25.
(GFKMRI)
This even includes 93% of those under 35 and 95% of those under 25. (GFKMRI)
MAR. 4
Dinner Party for Life
Cuisine for Healing
MAR. 6
Go Red For Women Luncheon
American Heart Association
MAR. 7
Community Storehouse Concert and Dinner
Community Storehouse
MAR. 19
Ablaze
Alzheimer’s Association
MAR. 20
Butterfly Wishes a Wish with Wings
MAR. 20
Black Dog Society Auction Party
Black Dog Society
MAR. 21
Black Dog Society Shootout
Black Dog Society
MAR. 22
Big Taste
Big Brothers Big Sisters
MAR. 25
Old Bags Luncheon
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
MAR. 27
Celebrity Chef Dinner Meals on Wheels
MAR. 29
Cooking for Kids
Kids Who Care
APR. 2-5
Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival
Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation
APR. 3
Lunch with the Girlz Colleyville Woman’s Club
APR. 3
Roadhouse
Ronald McDonald House
APR. 8
Puttin’ on the Pink Kupferle Health Board of Texas Health
Resources Foundation
APR. 16
Project Goodwill
Goodwill Fort Worth
APR. 18
Diamonds Are Forever Casino Night Meals On Wheels of Tarrant County
APR. 27
Jewel Charity Invitational
Cook Children’s
There’s nothing more rewarding than giving back and making a difference in the lives of people in this great community. As the city’s magazine — which has the eyes and ears of some of Fort Worth’s most affluent and philanthropic citizens — we feel a responsibility to give back to the people of the city that is our namesake, which is why Philanthropy is one of our core values.
Every year, Fort Worth Magazine sponsors more than 100 charity events, which range from luncheons to black-tie galas. The following promotional section is devoted to these charities and their fundraisers. We invite you to consciously peruse and consider lending a helping hand by either making a donation or attending these events.
A unique opportunity to experience chef driven Live Fire events at Whiskey Ranch Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co., overlooking the beautiful Fort Worth skyline.
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Friday, March 20, 2020
FIRE IT UP is an intimate VIP evening enjoying whiskey, wine, and light bites, while Chef Lou Lambert and local celebrity chefs prepare a whole steer roast over an open fire.
*FIRE IT UP tickets are included in the Presenting, Prime, Certified, Choice and Select sponsor levels.
Our MAIN EVENT is a truly one-of-a-kind Live Fire dining experience, featuring a whole steer roast and other Texas-inspired cuisine prepared by Chef Lou Lambert and local celebrity chefs. Guests will enjoy an evening of fire, food, fine wines, whiskey, and craft beer with an exciting live auction and entertainment!
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame’s
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Enjoy a silent auction of new and gently used designer and vintage handbags and luncheon at River Crest Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas. Featuring guest speakers Emily Burnett and Sterling McDavid Founders and CEOs of the luxury womenswear fashion label Burnett, New York
Bene tting the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame Education Programs
For more information, please contact Emmy Lou Prescott at emmylou@cowgirl.net or 817-509-8965
Texas Christian University and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes cordially invite you to the TCU FCA
Thursday, April 16 • Doors Open: 6:30 p.m. • Dinner: 7:00 p.m.
FCA impacts the lives of TCU athletes, coaches, and students by building character, walking in faith, and encouraging leadership.
Please consider supporting this vital ministry through purchasing a table sponsorship or buying individual tickets.
Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility 3000 Stadium Drive
Emcee: Brian Estridge “Voice of the Horned Frogs”
For information about sponsorships, tables and individual tickets, please visit our website at www.tcufca.org/banquet or call or email
Chandler Kurth
Phone: (817) 933-6484 or Email: ckurth@fca.org
Your support enables men and women with any cancer diagnosis to receive free non-medical support services through the Joan Katz Cancer Resource Center. Thank you for your role in assisting patients with writing this chapter of their lives.
Connie and Rick Bertel
Joan and Howard Katz
Mary and Dick Lowe
Nita and George Williams
Ben E. Keith Company
BNSF Railway Company
Carol and Jim Dunaway & Jeanie and Ken Huffman
Cindy Engles
Fenom Women’s Care
Frost Bank
Toni Geren
GM Financial
Lissa and Chris Harrison & Reagan and W.A. Landreth
Dr. and Mrs. D. Alan Johns
Kathy and Frank Kyle
Dan E. Lowrance
Lara and Jim Newman
My Texas Health Care OBGYN:
Douglas Decker, MD, Martha Guerra, MD, Jay Herd, MD, Mickey Hooper, DO, Ingrid Kohlmorgen, MD, Bea Kutzler, MD, Martin Read, MD, Elisabeth Wagner, MD, Robert Zwernemann, MD
Carrie and Kent Adams
Bank of Texas
Boomer Benefits
Anne and Orlando Carvalho
Cavanaugh & Company, PLLC
CB Richard Ellis
Kristi and Len Christensen
Harriette and Arnold Gachman
Dr. Vaishali Kent and Mr. Chris Kent
Northstar Anesthesia, P.A.
Roger Williams
Chrysler Dodge Jeep Fiat
Rozanne and Billy Rosenthal
Donna and Hollis Sullivan
Because all cancer stories matter.
cordially invites you to attend Meals On Wheels of Tarrant County
Join us for an elegant, black-tieoptional evening of casino gaming and entertainment. You will enjoy hosted cocktails, a delicious 3-course dinner, gaming, live entertainment, dancing, live and silent auctions, and more! presented by
Saturday, April 18, 2020 6:oo - 11:00 p.m.
The Worthington Renaissance Hotel 200 Main Street • Fort Worth, Texas
For information on sponsorship opportunities or ticket sales, visit mealsonwheels.org/casino or contact Kindel Carson at 817-258-6414.
Fort Worth’s own Junior League celebrating 90 years in 2019-2020
For 90 years, the Junior League of Fort Worth (JLFW), a charitable organization with 2,000 current members, has been a steadfast community partner to a vibrant, growing Fort Worth.
Rooted in our mission to promote voluntarism, develop the potential of women and improve communities, our active members serve at least 50 volunteer hours per woman each year – making us a true volunteer powerhouse.
Ten charter members founded the JLFW as the Junior Service League in February of 1929, just months before the Great Depression. In March of 1930, the founding members were accepted into the National Association of the Junior Leagues of America, Inc., becoming the Junior League of Fort Worth.
In 2019-2020, the women of the JLFW are pleased to celebrate a long legacy of service and community engagement. Our members come together from many backgrounds, ages and interests to make things better and to do it together – and all women are welcome to join us.
“When a woman chooses to join the Junior League, she’s saying yes to being a part of something bigger than herself with both short-term and long-term impact.”
Ashley Freer President, 2019-2020
To learn more about the women of the Junior League, our community impact and membership opportunities, visit juniorleaguefw.org
GO RED FOR WOMEN IS NATIONALLY SPONSORED BY
NORTH TEXAS GO RED SPONSOR
TOGETHER TO END STROKE® SPONSOR
CHECK. CHANGE. CONTROL. SPONSOR
MOVEMENT SPONSORS
OPEN YOUR HEART SPONSOR
W.B. and Ellen Gordon Stuart Trust
ENSURING A GENERATION OF LIFESAVERS SPONSORS
CBS 11/TXA21
VIP PATRON PARTY
K & L Enterprises, Inc.
MEDIA SPONSORS Fort Worth Magazine Fort Worth Business Press
Colleyville Woman’s Club Presents
35th Annual Fashion Show & Luncheon Benefit
Proceeds Benefit Local Charities
April 3, 2020
Hurst Conference Center
Doors Open at 9:00AM
Fashion Show Designers/Vendors
Austin Lorin | Draper James | Girli Girl | Le Fashion Coach | Terri Ives Couture
Buy Tickets Now!
$125 - $200 per seat Tables of 10
Silent Auction, Live Auction, Shopthe Boulevard, Locks of Love, Wine Pull, Surprise Boxes and Trunk Shows
Follow us on
Featuring Couture, Unique and Fun Fashion from Women Owned Businesses
Purchase Tickets, Become aSponsor and Fashion Show Information atc-w-c.org
Sponsors
Colleyville Garden Club invites you to its 24th
Sunday, May 3rd | 11 am – 4 pm
Featuring: 6 beautiful Colleyville gardens
Plant Sale & Spring Garden Market including garden-related art & items for sale
Colleyville Center, 5301 Riverwalk Dr., Colleyville
Tickets are $20
Ticket Outlets (available soon)
Colleyville – Foreman’s & Market Street • Grapevine – Blooming Colors & Marshall Grain
Hurst – Calloway’s • Southlake – Calloway’s
Proceeds benefit CGC community beautification, service projects, & college scholarships.
Visit us at ColleyvilleGardenClub.org
• Camps o er training in visual art, dance, theatre, and music.
• Led by highly qualified instructors with degrees and experience in their field.
• Students are placed in small groups by age and skill level.
• All camps are FULL DAY.
• A ordable before and after care available.
• Each week ends with a showcase for parents to attend.
• Multiple week discount available!
Sometimes the coolest shots come from the most ordinary places. In this case, for photographer Quinten Plumer, that place was a downtown parking garage and an aptly situated puddle of water. He snapped this image with nothing but a camera and natural light. “The fog and natural vignette create a moody, mysterious, and almost ominous feeling that’s offset from the bright lights of the city that are inviting you in and creating a sense of wonder,” he says.
@qplumerphotography
So you’ve snapped a cool pic of the city. We want to see it. Tag your photos on Instagram with #fwtxmag. The winning image will get published on this page — so hit us with your best shot. main line 817.560.6111 | subscriptions 800.856.2032 | website fwtx.com
Pampered, proud, coddled, cozy, happy, sappy, home.
60 years now. 60 years next. All
