Featuring Smoke-A-Holics, the southeast barbecue spot that's the talk of the town.
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23
011
56
Best
New Restaurants
If there’s anything to like about 2020, it’s the food — especially the new eateries dishing up everything from elevated Southern fare to outlandish pizza. Whether you’re comfortable dining in or prefer curbside/takeout, here are 18 of the city’s best new places to eat.
BY MALCOLM MAYHEW
72 Miracle Man
The only survivor of a rare and aggressive form of cancer tells his story 10 years later.
BY MARY MURPHY
80 Top Nurses
Our first-ever Top Nurses awards honor 10 standout professionals who exemplify both compassion and courage.
BY BRIAN KENDALL AND SAMANTHA CALIMBAHIN
87
Medical Guide
A guide to the area’s hospitals, rehab, and cancer centers.
know 14 Buzz
One of the city’s most iconic events gets the boot.
20 Fort Worthian
Grabbing a beer with a guy named “Shugg.”
22 What They’re Doing About It
The Fort Worth Police Department is taking steps to improve community relations and racial inequality.
28 Relaxed to the Max Stay chic and chill with these cozy winter looks.
32 Lights, Camera, Livestream?
Going virtual isn’t necessarily a bad thing for the Lone Star Film Festival.
34 Snaps
Party pics from the magazine’s 2020 Dream Street and EOE Awards.
37 The 2020 Give-Back Gift Guide ideas that go toward greater
46 Restaurant News
My Lan’s third location, a chat with a taco maestro, and a sweet potato pie recipe we’re stealing from a popular local baker
Feeling Blue
So, blue is Pantone’s color of the year. Figures.
122 Mistletoe Masterpiece
Gutted and redesigned, Tori Rubinson seamlessly combines traditional and modern elements to this home in Mistletoe Heights.
152 Pink or blue?
Fast. Friendly. Fair.
Here's the deal.
AUTO GROUP
On Food Writing
Disclaimer: This note is full of mundane insight into how a relationship works between an editor and a freelance writer. But please recognize that this is not how a relationship should work — delivering masterclasses in anything is far from my forte.
Malcolm Mayhew was one of the first people I had lunch with when I moved to Fort Worth. He invited me to the Swiss Pastry Shop on Vickery Boulevard, a classic that has since become one of my local go-tos (as are most places where he and I dine). Malcolm had been writing for us for a number of months. Our previous editor, Kendall Louis, brilliantly brought him on board for our Best New Restaurants feature in 2017. If I remember correctly, Best New Restaurants was one of our first topics of conversation. The article was, at the time, something the magazine had done every couple of years. This frequency makes sense. We cover the local culinary scene (a lot), and rounding up the best places to grab a meal is perfectly in line with both our audience’s expectations and the content we love to provide.
Keep in mind, this meeting took place over two years ago, and Malcolm had already started working on his list. He licks his chops at the idea of writing any food-related content, and it’s something he’s damn good at. I like to say I’m far too skinny to be a decent food writer.
Malcolm’s hope: that we would do a Best New Restaurants feature in 2019. We didn’t. Being a prisoner of my desire to upend norms, I felt forced to do a guide on the best steaks in Fort Worth (which, by the way, he agreed to write) instead.
Malcolm was happy to hear we were doing the list in 2020. You see, I have since learned that the local food scene is Malcolm’s mecca — I suspect he feels compelled by a greater power to do a weekly pilgrimage to a new culinary spot. He lives barbecue and breathes birria tacos; they are his lifeblood. It leads me to having a hunch he views this list as being of equal importance as the Oscars, Nobel Prize, or Peabody awards. This is his scene, and no one knows it better. And when you read the feature (page 56), I think you’ll agree.
So, finally, despite a year’s delay, I present to you Malcolm’s amazing list of Best New Restaurants.
ON THE COVER:
A slab of brisket and a custommade cleaver shot beautifully by Crystal Wise. Helmed by pitmaster Derrick Walker, SmokeA-Holics, a new barbecue joint in southeast Fort Worth, routinely has lines out the door and wrapping around its small building. And for good reason. According to numerous local, regional, and national publications, its brisket may be second to none.
Corrections? Comments? Concerns? Send to executive editor Brian Kendall at bkendall@ fwtexas.com.
NEXT ISSUE
Tuf Cooper and the NFR in Fort Worth
2020: Year in Review
Brian Kendall EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Top Attorneys
owner/publisher hal a. brown
president mike waldum
EDITORIAL
executive editor brian kendall
managing editor samantha calimbahin
contributing editor scott nishimura
contributing writers jenny b. davis, malcolm mayhew, mary murphy, jessica strange
copy editor sharon casseday
editorial interns isabella delgado, miranda vilchis
ART
creative director craig sylva
senior art director spray gleaves
advertising art director ed woolf
contributing photographers olaf growald, truitt rogers, crystal wise
ADVERTISING
advertising account supervisors gina burns-wigginton x150, marion c. knight x135
account executive tammy denapoli x141
customer support susan peterson x131 sales interns emily canales, avery kenney, rosa ramirez
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 11, November 2020. Basic Subscription price: $23.95 per year. Single copy price: $4.99
Let’s Chat
A few words from our readers
Free admission?
-Cristina Meza
Everything is amazing, but I love the TCB salad and Pollo Sanchez quesadillas the best. -JR Faigin
So sad for kids who use earnings for their college … not to mention how they’ve worked all year to be disappointed.
-Sue Peterson
Potentially the nail in the coffin for many businesses that depend on this income after a several month-long disaster.
-Trent Cole
Sad but good call.
-Dani Woodhurst
Editors on Air
Executive editor Brian Kendall and managing editor Samantha Calimbahin recently appeared on the 817 Podcast, chatting with hosts EJ Carrion and Jimmy Sweeney about Fort Worth Magazine’s September feature, “20 Ways to Make Fort Worth (Even) Better.” Find 817 Podcast on Spotify to listen.
Christmas Is Coming
COVID-19 isn’t canceling everything happening this holiday season. Keep an eye on fwtx.com for a roundup of ways to celebrate in the Fort Worth area.
TRENDING ONLINE
Visit fwtx.com for the full story.
» A Weird Night at the Ballpark: Globe Life Field in the Time of COVID-19
One of our editors spends an evening at Globe Life Field and reflects on what it’s like to watch a game at a new stadium ... without the home team ... during a pandemic.
» Mayor Betsy Price Responds to Fort Worth Mention During Presidential Debate
Fort Worth got a shoutout on national TV when presidential debate moderator Chris Wallace mentioned crime spiking in Republican-led cities. Here’s what Mayor Betsy Price had to say in response.
Goat Men, Pterosaurs Highlight New Book on Local Monsters
The Lake Worth Monster and other cryptids star in a new book that delves into the creatures that have long haunted the DFW area.
Keeping You in Good Spirits
® Local delivery same day through our website, Drizly and Uber Eats
® Large selection of fine spirits, wine, specialty beers and kegs
® Artisan cheeses and accoutrements
® Gift baskets
® Barware
® Specialty Cigars
® Kate Wiser Chocolates
Yes, They Can Turn to page 20 to meet the man who works behind the scenes helping Martin House Brewing Company reach the masses.
the fort
Stock Show & Rodeo Canceled due to COVID-19
BY SAMANTHA CALIMBAHIN
won’t be seeing one of Fort Worth’s most iconic events take place.
The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, originally scheduled for Jan. 15 – Feb. 6, has been canceled due to COVID-19. This is only the second time the event has been canceled — the other time being 1943, during the height of World War II.
“The Stock Show is canceled in an effort to overcome an enemy common to all Americans,” Stock Show president and general manager Brad Barnes said in a video announcement Oct. 9. “Today’s enemy is invisible and very deadly, having taken the lives of more than 210,000 Americans in this point and time. With more than 1.2 million Stock Show guests, exhibitors, and competitors converging into the various buildings on the Will Rogers
complex during our 23-day show, the chances to harbor and spread coronavirus well beyond the North Texas region, especially in the midst of flu season, is too great a risk to take for the public good.”
The decision to cancel came after a unanimous vote by the Stock Show’s executive committee. According to a news release, daily Stock Show attendance can exceed 140,000 people, with exhibitors traveling from approximately 235 Texas counties and 40 states. The Stock Show consulted with infectious disease and public health professionals who deemed the event “very high risk” for the spread of COVID-19.
“Short-term gain is no substitute for the long-term wellbeing of our many loyal exhibitors, guests, their families, and the community at large,” Barnes said.
More than 30,000 Animals typically exhibited More than 1.2 million Visitors each year Approx. 235 Texas counties represented 40 States represented 1896 Year of the first Stock Show & Rodeo 1943
The only other year the event has been canceled
10Things to Know This Month
1
Fort Worth’s tallest skyscraper is up for sale. Commercial property firm Jones Lang LaSalle is currently marketing Burnett Plaza, which stands at 40 stories and more than 1 million square feet. The building first opened in 1983 and is currently 84% leased to major tenants like Americredit and Freese and Nichols.
2
The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is asking for public input on a couple DFW transportation initiatives, one of them being design funding for the Cotton Belt Trail, a 26-mile regional trail corridor that will run parallel to the DART Silver Line and connect seven cities across three counties from DFW Airport to Plano. The public can submit comments via nctcog.org/trans/involve/meetings. Deadline is Nov. 10.
3
If you’ve seen a “vote” mural pop up around town recently, it was likely done by one of two entities: Vote = Voice, an initiative led by local artists Sedrick and Letitia Huckaby and Delia deVer, or Voting is Voice, led by Facebook. Both projects have the same mission — to increase awareness about voting through art. A full list of mural locations can be found at voteequalsvoice.org/mural-projects or fortworthtexas.gov.
4
The Fort Worth Botanic Garden has officially transferred management from the City of Fort Worth to Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT). BRIT’s plans for the garden include a marketing campaign that will launch over the next two quarters. The Botanic Garden and BRIT will have a combined website along with integrated social media marketing and public relations efforts.
5
Camp Bowie District Inc. recently rebranded, unveiling a new logo that “will better represent the six-mile corridor and reflect the historic preservation that Camp Bowie District represents and promotes.” According to developer Rodger Chieffalo, who serves on the District board, Camp Bowie is going through a “renaissance” of sorts, and the public should keep an eye on new developments like the incoming Bowie House Hotel and various storefront renovations taking place.
6
The annual GM Financial Parade of Lights is going virtual this year due to COVID-19. The parade will be broadcast Nov. 22 from a sound stage set up inside the Fort Worth Convention Center, and viewers can watch live via TV and Facebook. Then, on Nov. 23 – 24, the floats will be set up downtown for photo opportunities. More info at fortworthparadeoflights.org.
7
The Fort Worth Zoo was recently named a Certified Autism Center, a designation granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards to organizations that have completed an autism-specific training and review process. It’s the first Texas zoo to receive this designation. More information about accessibility at the zoo is available at fortworthzoo.org/accessibility.
8
The Cowtown Coliseum has a new manager — Stockyards Heritage Development Co., the company behind the redevelopment of Mule Alley. Stockyards Heritage recently released a schedule of events, which includes the American Paint Horse Association’s Cowgirl Gathering and various activities related to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. View the full schedule at cowtowncoliseum.com.
9
Holiday event organizers in Grapevine are making adjustments around COVID-19. The Gaylord Texan Resort, for example, will forgo its annual ICE! exhibit and instead host I Love Christmas Movies, which has guests walk through scenes from iconic films like “Elf” and “A Christmas Story.” The event begins Nov. 13. Ticket information is available at christmasatgaylordtexan.marriott.com.
10
New media artist Refik Anadol is inviting locals to contribute to an audio-visual artwork for Pioneer Tower at Will Rogers Memorial Center. He’s specifically looking for “Fort Worth memories” in the form of stories or photos, which will be projected onto the tower during the last weekend of February 2021. Locals can submit their memories at pioneertowerdreams.org.
Community Fridge in Near Southside Offers Produce, Other Goods to Families in Need
BY MIRANDA VILCHIS
Kendra Richardson was like the rest of us, spending countless hours scrolling on social media during quarantine — when she came across a community fridge and was instantly inspired to do the same.
“People can give what they can and take what they need,” Richardson says. “It’s a 24/7 refrigerator that sits inside of the host location, and people can bring fresh produce, canned goods, water.”
While the idea was born from social media, Richardson was also motivated
by the struggles she saw many face during the pandemic and figured there wasn’t a better time to fight food insecurity than now.
“I sat with myself and asked, ‘What could be done?’ There’s got to be a way to help people and make real systemic change while breaking down these barriers,” she says.
The project came together rather quickly. Richardson got the fridge from a friend who was about to throw it away and began posting about the project on Instagram — a post that eventually caught the eye of Deryk Poynor, owner of floral shop The Greenhouse 817.
Poynor fell in love with the idea and offered to help in any way she could.
“We met in person and really hit it off,” Poyner says. “[Richardson] handled a lot of the logistics when I wasn’t able to; she’s literally perfect.”
On Sept. 26, Richardson and The Greenhouse 817 hosted a block party to launch Funky Town Fridge at 3144 Bryan Ave., and since then, the community has responded in positive ways.
“So many people want to help and pitch in,” Richardson says. “My phone is blowing up from people telling me how inspired they are and how much they appreciate our work.
I’m just a girl with a fridge.”
Soon to be a girl with many fridges, Richardson is planning to expand her efforts in all parts of Fort Worth. She just opened a second fridge at 2308 Vaughn Blvd. in the Poly neighborhood, kicking it off with a Halloween-themed block party complete with costumes.
“I hope people can become more educated about the matter and find ways to create real change just as I have,” Richardson says.
Richardson continues to seek food, monetary donations, volunteers, caterers, and hosts to help feed Fort Worth. For more information on how to help, visit Funky Town Fridge’s website, sites.google.com/affiantauto. com/funkytownfridge/home.
Kendra Richardson at her Funky Town Fridge on Bryan Avenue
Director of marketing, Martin House Brewing Company
Shugg Cole
BY SAMANTHA CALIMBAHIN
PHOTO BY CRYSTEL WISE
If you’ve ever messaged Martin House Brewing Company, 90% of the time, if not 100, the person answering on the other side of the screen is Sam Cole — or, as most folks like to call him, “Shugg.”
Shugg’s the guy who works behind the scenes at Martin House, juggling spreadsheets and managing the beer launch calendar (he already knows what beers are coming out in July). He collaborates with artist Donny Stevens to conceptualize each beer can’s design. And, yes, Shugg’s also the one answering the Martin House DMs.
“It should be personal,” he says. “This is Martin House. This is this dirty brewery; we make these weird beers — we just want to drink beer and have fun. That’s what it should be about.”
Shugg’s road to the brewery was about as unconventional as the Martin House beers themselves. He studied marketing at the University of North Texas but spent a stint traveling as a roadie for a country band — that’s where he earned the nickname “Shugg,” short for “sugar,” for the way
he’d hide sweets under his pillow while out on the road.
Not long after college, Shugg began to develop an interest in craft beer. He became one of Martin House’s earliest employees in 2014, selling and delivering kegs out of his own car. His role has since morphed to focus on social media and events, and now, he’s taken on more of an executive position as the director of marketing.
But beer isn’t all business for Shugg. What he loves most is interacting with Martin House fans — being the guy who answers messages or greets people while they line up outside the brewery to get their hands on a sixpack of Best Maid Pickle Beer.
“I have conversations with everybody, like on Instagram, and that’s how I know them. Then they come up here, wait in line, and are like, ‘Yo, you’re that guy from Instagram,’ and we just have a beer and chill,” he says. “That’s what I think is so special. That’s what I love most about my job.”
1. Shugg’s dad — “Poppa Shugg” — on a visit to the taproom. 2. Shugg’s dog, Peaches, “the ultimate snuggle monster.” 3. A cartoon of Shugg, drawn by Martin House beer can artist, Donny Stevens. 4. For Shugg, crawfish season is “the best time of the year.” 5. Shugg doing some quality control in the brewhouse. 6. The Cole brothers and their dad at their annual dove hunt in West Texas. 7. Shugg with his nieces, nephews, and dog, Peaches.
Shugg admits sour beers aren’t necessarily his favorite (he’s more of an IPA guy), but if he were to point out the five most influential beers Martin House has ever made, he’d say Acheron, Best Maid Pickle Beer, Salty Lady, Salty Lady Michelada, and Lemon Icebox Pie.
What They’re Doing About It
Even before the death of George Floyd, the Fort Worth Police Department has been working to improve racial inequalities and its relationship with the community. And while there’s still a long way to go, here’s some of the progress that’s been made so far.
BY JESSICA STRANGE
On May 25, George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man in Minneapolis, died after Derek Chavin, a white police officer, pinned him to the ground and knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds with three fellow officers watching. Video of the incident quickly spread and launched worldwide protests sparking what could be called the largest civil rights movement since the 1960s. Floyd’s death led to nationwide demands for drastic police reform. Locally, Fort Worth saw over a month’s worth of protests. Although Floyd’s death happened almost 1,000 miles away, the systemic issues of racial injustice hit close to home.
Flashbacks to the controversial arrest of Jaqueline Craig in 2016 and the police shooting of Atatiana Jefferson in 2019 reminded us that Fort Worth is far from immune to these problems in our own police department.
But the Fort Worth Police Department does not deny that there is work to be done. In 2016, when a video of Craig being wrestled to the ground by a white FWPD officer for what would otherwise be a routine call went viral, the City of Fort Worth responded to the national outrage by creating a community-led Race and Culture Task Force to improve racial disparities in Fort Worth. Jefferson’s wrongful death in 2019,
BY
PHOTO
BROOKS BURRIS
shot in her home playing video games with her nephew by a white officer responding to a welfare check from a concerned neighbor, spurred an expert review panel to examine the police department which released a report in July.
“I think we can demonstrate that, in comparison to most cities, Fort Worth has been dealing with racial injustice in the police-community relations more transparently, more directly, and more effectively than most cities around the country,” assistant city manager Fernando Costa says. “We’ve been at it for a while — for good reason — and we have a long way to go to address these issues adequately, but I think we’ve made a good start.”
The current climate has cities across the country viewing their police departments through a magnifying glass, looking at how reforms can lead to a more equitable system. So how is Fort Worth doing? We asked city officials and community members to find out.
RACE AND CULTURE TASK FORCE
Following six months of protests in response to Craig’s arrest, the City of Fort Worth created a 23-member Race and Culture Task Force to address racial inequalities in the areas of criminal justice, economic development, education, governance, health, housing, and transportation. The Task Force, made up of community leaders, issued a report in 2018 to city council with 22 recommendations.
City council approved the implementation of all recommendations, and progress has since been made on each of the 22. While each recommendation topic relates to the overall subject of racial disparities in Fort Worth, we followed up on the implementation of the three key criminal justice recommendations.
POLICE OVERSIGHT
According to criminal justice committee chair Ty Stimpson, the task force recommendation that received the most attention was for civilian oversight of the police department. The report called for a civilian review board or an alternate oversight model to improve policecommunity relations.
As a result, the city established the Office of the Police Oversight Monitor.
Kim Neal, former executive director of the Citizens Complaint Authority in Cincinnati, became Fort Worth’s first police oversight monitor in March and is assisted by deputy police monitor Denise Rodriguez. The police monitor’s role includes handling complaints, reviewing policies, and engaging community relations with the FWPD.
Neal says the new office has had its fair share of challenges, opening amidst the pandemic and protests, but is still collaborating with members of the community and the FWPD in surveys and roundtables to facilitate discussions and establish the role of the police monitor.
“We have to get down into the weeds and tackle the issues,” she says of her new role. “I’m not just putting all of this on the police department as it relates to how they deal with the community, but it’s also the community’s understanding of policing. It has to be a full-fledged engagement of both police and community so that both sides can understand exactly where the other side is coming from.”
FWPD chief Ed Kraus says he welcomes Neal’s expertise. “She’s got a good handle on the process to decide what oversight will look like,” Kraus says. “She’s getting a lot of community input. She’s reaching out to the department as well as different city leaders to see what they’re interested in.”
Whether or not there will be a civilian oversight board to work alongside the Police Oversight Monitor will be determined by city council members later this year.
“I think they can coexist if done correctly,” Stimpson says.
DIVERSITY The task force also suggested improving the diversity of the FWPD. They found that the department’s demographics did not proportionally match that of the community, especially in higher ranks and specialized units.
At the time of the report, there were no Black officers in specialized units such as SWAT, K-9, Criminal Intelligence, or Homicide. Hispanic and female officers were also disproportionately representative of the community.
“That is something we’ve struggled with for years,” Kraus says.
The task force gave measurable
goals to meet by 2025 and suggested the department provide quarterly data. The department has since published a demographic report each quarter and has made some progress toward the goals set by the task force but several specialized units still lack representation.
Director of the Diversity and Inclusion Department Christina Brooks was hired in December to oversee the implementation of task force recommendations.
Kraus says the police department recently started a “Be The Change” campaign through social media platforms to inspire more diverse applicants to the force.
“In the last week of the application period, we got a lot more applications and a lot more that were from minority and female candidates,” he says.
CADET PROGRAM The final recommendation was to reinstate the cadet program, disbanded in 2009, to encourage high school and community college-aged minority recruitment. The cadet program launched earlier this year.
“We hired 20 [cadets] right off the bat, which has been the number that we committed to,” Kraus says. “They are part-time employment positions. We’re using them in different areas of the department to familiarize youngsters with the police department, with the role of not just the police officers but the other civilian support staff. Our hope is that they will want to transition into a permanent full-time position to make this a career.”
Other Efforts
The Race and Culture Task Force is not the FWPD’s standalone attempt to strengthen community relations and restore trust in the department. Read the online version of this article on fwtx.com to learn more about the FWPD’s additional efforts, as well as an update on Chief Kraus’ retirement and how the community is responding.
Relaxed to the Max
This season’s style is cozy, comfy — and camera ready.
BY JENNY B. DAVIS
If you’re heading into winter wearing sharpshouldered, cinched suits and sky-high heels, we salute you. Meanwhile, we’ll be taking a more relaxed approach to seasonal style, seeking out super-soft fabrics, generous fits, and coordinated sets. Fashion experts call it “Cozy Core,” and it includes pretty much anything that makes you feel happy on the couch. But soft doesn’t have to mean sloppy. These soft, warm, roomy selections boast the perfect blend of at-home comfort and at-work style, whether you’re hanging out in your bedroom or doing business in a Zoom room.
Indoor Cat
Kate Spade’s satiny lounge set updates classic leopard print by adding bold black accents and a cute crop to the bottoms. Perfect with jeans for patio dinner or luxe lounging around the den, you’ll fall in love with the roomy fit, the feel of the fabric, and the handy pockets. $88. Kate Spade New York, The Shops at Clearfork, 5150 Monahans Ave., 817.377.0041, katespade.com
One Piece
This faux-wrap one-piece is called the Super Soft Lounge Jumpsuit for a reason — it’s super soft, and it’s meant for jumping … back in bed or onto an important Zoom call. This figure-flattering style comes in two timeless colors, muted gray and an elegant camel. $55, figleaves.com
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Florida Tile offers made in the USA porcelain products that are Greeguard Certified & Green Square Certified in a variety of styles. Every collection begins with intensive market research on customer needs and emerging interior design trends and styles. From that our analysis, our design team begins the journey of finding the most beautiful natural materials in order to create stunning designs. Our quality team ensures that only the highest quality raw materials are used to create a product that is beautiful, natural, and made to last a lifetime.
Come visit our Dallas showroom, we look forward to seeing you face to face. Or give us a call we will you direct to a dealer showroom close to you. 972.366.0845
Chill Space
The Chocolate Lounge Set from Beehive is the perfect ensemble for chilling out in superchill shorts. Paired with a boxy crop top, it brings inside all those Coachella vibes. Even better, each piece is sold separately. $55, top; $48, shorts. Beehive, 4808 Camp Bowie Blvd., 817.570.0484, lovebeehive.com
Haute Hippie
This vibrant set from By Samii Ryan — BSR for short — combines a hoodie with sweatpants, accented with a chain of Monarch butterflies. While the style is laid-back, the woman behind the brand is a straight-up, power entrepreneur: Ryan started in fashion when she was in high school, handmaking hair clips and earrings to sell at music festivals. One day, Nordstrom called, and the rest is history. $134 for the set, bysamiiryan.com
Fort Worth Feels
From afar, it looks like a fancy French toile, but on closer inspection, it actually looks like home. That’s the clever twist that makes Katie Kime’s city-themed fabrics so popular. Instead of traditional pastoral scenes, they depict the beloved landmarks of cities such as Austin, New Orleans, Marfa, Dallas — and now, Fort Worth. This fall, the Austin-based designer released a new pattern honoring Panther City, and she tapped Fort Worth jewelry designer Kori Green to lend her expertise to the process. “I was excited that she wanted to feature Fort Worth in her designs,” Green says. The two met through LOCAL Design Studios + Gallery, the Fort Worth retail collective where Green has her jewelry shop, and have kept in touch ever since. Green helped ensure that both the design and the colorways captured the authentic feel of the city, and clearly, the efforts paid off. The print is proving to be so popular that women are wearing it as loungewear but also as tops in “real life,” Kime says. “I hope these comfy separates have made life at home a little brighter, especially in such a crazy year.” $108, katiekime.com
Lights, Camera, Livestream?
The virtual version of the Lone Star Film Festival may not have all the bells and whistles of an in-person event, but organizers say that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
BY ISABELLA DELGADO AND SAMANTHA CALIMBAHIN
COVID-19 canceled a lot of events in 2020 — the Lone Star Film Festival isn’t one of them.
LSFF will be returning virtually this year and will take place from Nov. 4 – 8. The independent film festival, which has become a prime destination for both filmmakers and film enthusiasts alike, won’t have its usual bells and whistles nor the backdrop of Sundance Square.
But LSFF director Chad Matthews says that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
“It’s going to be unique experience, but something that we are looking forward to the challenge of trying out,” he says. “And I think it’s going to be a really good event, because we’re going to be able to, hopefully, reach audiences outside of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, outside of Texas, outside of the U.S., possibly.”
A virtual festival has its pros and cons, Matthews says. For one, there’s less overhead expense from not having to rent out movie theaters or
hotel rooms, which Matthews says saves tens of thousands of dollars. But he also expects income to be down, due to badge rates being lower this year.
“We don’t expect to have the revenue that we’ve had in the past, and a lot of this year is going to be really dependent on donations support,” he says.
There will also be fewer showcase films — that is, midsize Hollywood films that are often contending for Oscars — due to the festival not having access to movie theaters.
On the flipside, there will be more interactions between filmmakers and audiences. LSFF will have more Q&A sessions compared to past festivals, meaning filmmakers will be a lot more connected this year, Matthews says.
Also new this year — LSFF and the Fort Worth Film Commission (FWFC) announced a joint partnership to coproduce the festival. According to Jessica Christopherson, assistant vice president of marketing and film
commissioner for FWFC and Visit Fort Worth, the film commission is taking on a larger role, helping with advertising, design, and public relations efforts. The FWFC is also curating and producing all virtual panel content, as well as partnering with Hear Fort Worth to feature local musicians and music videos filmed in Fort Worth throughout the online festival.
Ticket information and the full lineup of feature and short films is available at lonestarfilmfestival.com.
FORT WORTH FILMS AT LSFF
• “Amaraica” directed by Tim Sparks
• “Bodily Injury” directed by Travis Patten
• “Project Girl” directed by Robyn Tomiko
• “Taken In” directed by Travis Guba
• “The Twilite Hour” directed by Warren Cook
• “Worthy of More” directed by Juan Ojeda
OTHER LOCAL FILMS
• “Coming Home” directed by Daniel Andrés Treviño (Keller)
• “Exactly As They Are” directed by Philip Heinrich (Dallas)
• “Manos De Oro” (“Hands of Gold”) directed by Merced Elizondo (DeSoto)
• “Movie Night” directed by Matt Rosenblatt (Grapevine)
• “Pant Hoot” directed by Richard Reens (Dallas)
• “The Fregoli Project” directed by Samuel Broadous (UNT)
2020 Dream Street
The inaugural Fort Worth Magazine Dream Street ribbon cutting and VIP Party took place Oct. 1 at the three homes in Southlake. Touring opened to the public Oct. 3, and proceeds benefited a Wish with Wings.
2020 EOE Awards
Fort Worth Inc. celebrated its 2020 Entrepreneur of Excellence finalists and award winners with a gala held Sept. 10 at the Fort Worth Club.
Tony Ford, Scot Nishimura
Hal Brown Marcie Finney, Mark & Cathy Block
Heath Souders of Atwood Custom Homes, Southlake Mayor Laura Hill,Phil Matwijszyn of Willow Tree Luxury Homes
Four Day Weekend PHOTOS
PhilanthroBee Bee-Cause Body Bar
Made with organic raw honey, unrefined beeswax, and bee propolis from California, this body bar also supports the bees themselves — PhilanthroBee donates 20% of profits to beekeeping conservation services at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo in San Jose. $38, PhilanthroBee, philanthrobee.com
The 2020 Give-Back
BY SAMANTHA CALIMBAHIN AND BRIAN KENDALL
Strength Necklace
Sounds Palo Santo
Made from naturally fallen trees from the dry forests of Ecuador and Peru, these scent sticks by Brooklynbased brand Sounds both refresh your home and contribute to various causes. Sounds donates 30% of profits from this product to a rotating list of organizations, one of them being the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., which fights for racial equity in areas from criminal justice to education. $18.50, Gifted, giftedftw.com
Lola + Lolita Collection
This mommy-and-me collection by Fort Worth shop Luna Antigua not only provides living wages to women artisans in Guatemala — when Fort Worth Magazine readers use the code LALovesFW, 10% of proceeds go to the Tarrant Area Food Bank. $54 (child), $145 (adult), Luna Antigua, lunaantigua.com
No doubt this is a statement piece. Show the world your confidence and help an amazing cause in the process. A portion of the proceeds from purchasing this necklace will benefit the nonprofit Girls Inc., which partners with schools to teach young girls to be healthy, educated, and independent. $38, ban.do, bando.com
Floral Candle Collection
This collection includes three floral fragrances — lavender and bergamot, desert and agave, and fig and seagrass. Each candle sold provides vital funding to nonprofits working to give freedom, justice, and empowerment to survivors of human trafficking. $68, Calyan Wax Co., calyanwaxco.com
BKIND Nail Polish - Seasure
The BKIND brand is big on vegan and cruelty-free products, like this organic nail polish found at local boutique Gifted. The brand donates 2% of sales to an animal advocacy group. This year’s beneficiary is Refuge Pageau. $15.95, Gifted, giftedftw.com
Jet-Setter Set
Essential oils and a meditation book made specifically for those who travel frequently. A portion of the profits from this purchase goes toward helping survivors of sexual exploitation in India and the U.S. gain dignified employment. $60, Savhera, shop.savhera.com
Bee Tee
Eco-friendly hair salon Novak Hair Studios, which has locations in Fort Worth and Burleson, sells a T-shirt that supports bee conservation. All proceeds go to The Bee Conservancy. $20, Novak Hair Studios, call 817-592HAIR or visit salon to purchase
Fort Worth Whiskey Glasses
Ollie Ella Dinkum
Doll - Sprout
A portion of the proceeds from this doll goes toward Save the Children, a global organization that supports young people through various humanitarian efforts. $68.00, Gifted, giftedftw.com
Thirty-Eight & Vine
Purchase any bottle from Thirty-Eight & Vine, and The Foundry District wine bar will give $1 to SafeHaven of Tarrant County, which fights against domestic violence. Prices vary, Thirty-Eight & Vine, thirtyeightandvine.com
Fort Worth Zoo adoption package
Purchasing a pair of these whiskey glasses — which cleverly say “Fort Worth is Neat” and the other, “Fort Worth Rocks,” respectively — benefits Support Our Fort. This local charity purchases gift cards and certificates from neighborhood establishments and subsequently gifts the purchases to community heroes. $25, Support Our Fort, supportourfort.com
COVID-19 Journal
Local boutique Gifted offers a handmade journal designed to help individuals navigate through the mental effects of COVID-19. All profits go toward Meals on Wheels, which delivers food to the elderly. $10, Gifted, giftedftw.com
Locals can support the Fort Worth Zoo by adopting lions, elephants, and other animals — symbolically, of course — and financially contributing to their care and feeding for a year. All packages come with a personalized adoption certificate, and those above $100 also come with a plush animal and zoo tickets. Price varies per package, Fort Worth Zoo, fortworthzoo. org/adoptions
Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co.
Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co. donates 20% of profits to various animal rescue programs throughout the country, and beans can be found locally at Camp Bowiearea juice shop Boulevard of Greens. $15, available in store at Boulevard of Greens, 2700 Horne St., Ste. 110
The Worthy Co
No matter what you purchase from Fort Worth-based The Worthy Co, all proceeds benefit survivors of trafficking, exploitation, and prostitution. “Know Your Worth” sweatshirt, $44; The Taos Earring, $34; The Worthy Co, worthy-co.com
Elaina Gold
Friendship Bracelet in Rose Quartz
An intricate handbraided cord featuring a playful tassel and beautiful rose quartz makes for a stunning twist on the classic friendship bracelet. And, 20% of the item’s proceeds will go toward the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
$48, Kendra Scott, kendrascott.com
The Tatreez Pillow
Giving a boost to poverty-stricken areas in the West Bank, this elegant accent pillow is hand-stitched by refugee and low-income women artists in Palestine. Profits from buying this pillow support Child’s Cup Full, which aims to create lasting women economic growth in the West Bank. $44, Etico, eticoshop.com
Tiffany & Co. Rhino Brooch
Fittingly, 100% of the profits from this rhino brooch — made from 18-karat rose gold and round diamonds — goes toward the Wildlife Conservation Network, which helps protect endangered wildlife through supporting conservationists. $2,900, Tiffany & Co., tiffany.com
Salvatore Ferragamo City Camera Bag
While this stylish bag — a perfect companion for hopping around the city — is perhaps not an essential item itself, this purchase will provide 28 essential supplies for a family in need through Save the Children. $750, Salvatore Olivela, olivela.com
Saddleback Leather Backpack
This stylish backpack is part of Saddleback Leather Co.’s Love 41 collection. Any purchase in this collection benefits Africa New Life Ministries, which assists those affected by the Rwanda genocide. $215.20, Saddleback Leather Co., saddlebackleather.com
Frogs Ball Cap
Just in case you don’t have enough purple in your closet. Profits from this distressed TCU cap help support local nonprofit, The Net — an outreach program targeting the local refugee and homeless communities. $30, Sew Many Thoughts, sewmanythoughts.com
The Gift of Giving:
10 Nonprofits to Support this Holiday Season
BY SCOTT NISHIMURA
Here’s a different way to give this holiday season: Give a gift in your loved one’s name to a nonprofit. COVID-19 has socked all of our nonprofits, and they can use your help. Here are some ideas:
A Wish with Wings awww.org
Cause: Fort Worth organization grants wishes to Texas kids facing lifethreatening conditions.
• $25 - $75 – Gift cards for Disney World, top destination for Wish kids
• $100 – Helps provide one night’s stay at Give Kids the World Village in Orlando, Florida, for a Wish kid visiting Disney World.
• $150 – Helps grant emergency wish for a child in end-of-life care.
Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County mealsonwheels.org
Cause: Meals on Wheels has seen weekly expense rise $35,000 from new clients added before COVID-19 and greater demand during the pandemic.
• $35 – One week’s meals for one client
• $70 – Two weeks’ meals
• $140 – One month’s meals
The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever tggce.org
Cause: Fort Worth-based catalog onestop shop for gift cards. Buy a gift card, and 100% of your gift is distributed to more than 20 charities.
• $100 – Pick your gift card amount. This year’s participating charities: Airpower Foundation; Alzheimer’s Association - North Central Texas Chapter; a Wish with Wings; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tarrant County; Boys and Girls Clubs of Tarrant County; Camp John Marc; Catholic Charities Fort Worth; Community Healthcare of Texas; Don’t Forget to Feed Me; Gill Children’s Services; Helping Restore
Ability; Hope Center for Autism; Kids Who Care; LinkED; Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County; Recovery Resource Council; Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth; The First Tee of Fort Worth; The Parenting Center; Union Gospel Mission
Texas Health Resources texashealth.org
Cause: Your gift to the COVID-19 Response Fund supports health care workers with help for food, shelter, day care, and critical supplies.
• $25 – Feeds two employees for one day.
• $300 – Provides daily chaplain and spiritual support for workers and patients.
• $500 – Pays weekly discounted hotel rate for one employee.
• $1,000 – Pays for one month of day care for a frontline worker.
Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation jordanharrisfoundation.org
Cause: Eradicate suicide by funding depression research, creating awareness through education, erasing stigma, and raising hope.
• $50 – Covers cost of booklets for 60-minute “Question, Persuade, and Refer” suicide prevention training.
• $100 – Helps fund a Hope Training initiative.
• $500 – Provides Hope Squad funding to a local public school.
• $1,000 – Increases foundation’s investment in depression research.
Catholic Charities Fort Worth catholiccharitiesfortworth.org
Cause: Empowers families to raise themselves out of poverty.
• $500 – Sponsor a family
Taste Project tasteproject.org
Cause: Pay-what-you-can Near Southside restaurant helps the foodinsecure, using your gifts.
• $20 – Give a Taste Project Meal Token to a friend or neighbor, or the restaurant can give it to someone in need.
• $1 - $191.07 – Browse the Taste Project Amazon Wish List for items and supplies the restaurant needs to fulfill its mission.
Ronald McDonald House Fort Worth rmhfw.org
Cause: Ronald McDonald House helps give families of sick children what they need most — being together. Online Star Light, Star Bright raffle runs through Nov. 13 drawing.
• $100 – Buy tickets to win a $14,899 Kawasaki Mule, $2,100 Gucci handbag, or $2,000 Gulf Coast getaway in Alabama or Florida.
North Texas Humane Society hsnt.org
Cause: Woman’s best friend needs your help. Just as COVID-19 has pushed up demand for human services, so it has for our furry friends.
• $11.39 - $44.95 – Buy anything from a jar of Milk-Bone doggy treats to a Miracle Nipple Syringe 10-pack at the Humane Society’s Amazon wish list.
SafeHaven of Tarrant County safehaventc.org
Cause: You can help SafeHaven and its mission to end domestic violence through safety, support, prevention, and social change by donating to the organization and shopping at its resale shop, Berry Good Buys.
• $5 – Buys play therapy supplies for children in SafeHaven’s shelter.
• $30 – Feeds a mother and her children three meals and two snacks at the shelter.
• $75 – Pays for one night’s emergency shelter for one client.
• $500 – Sends five children to Camp Heart for one weekend.
Three’s Company
You can now find the city’s best Vietnamese cuisine in far north Fort Worth, thanks to a newly opened third location of My Lan.
BY MALCOLM MAYHEW
Today, Vietnamese restaurants can be found in nearly every pocket of Fort Worth, from upscale, high-end spots to tiny neighborhood joints; the cuisine is practically as common as burgers.
But 25 years ago, when the first location of My Lan (pronounced me lon) opened in a strip mall in Haltom City, Vietnamese food was still in search of an audience beyond its own community. In a city raised on burgers, barbecue, and chicken-fried steaks, My Lan staples such as vermicelli, chao, and chow fun weren’t a part of the city’s culinary vernacular, at least on a widespread scale. Not many knew
what pho was, much less how to pronounce it.
“The reason why we opened in Haltom City was because there was already a strong Vietnamese community,” says Michael Bui, whose parents, Kiem Bui and Quy Nguyen, opened the restaurant in 1996, naming it after their daughter, Lan Trinh. “To us, we were just opening a restaurant to serve the neighborhood. We didn’t know it would go beyond that.”
Through word of mouth, My Lan eventually became one of the city’s most beloved restaurants. Its popularity helped boost the profile of Vietnamese cuisine in Fort Worth, paving the way for so many others to
follow. Now, more than two decades later, the family is in expansion mode. Trinh opened a second location last year in Colleyville, and Michael Bui and his wife, Trang Do, opened a third location, called My Lan Bistro, recently in far north Fort Worth.
The latter quietly opened in January, then shut down amid the pandemic. Last month, it reopened with new safety measures firmly in place.
The family’s goal, Bui says, is to bring Vietnamese food, their family’s food, the food they grew up on, to those who may be unaware of it. Twenty-five years ago, that was a healthy chunk of Fort Worth. Now, the family is moving into areas like
Bits and Bites
After a nearly yearlong delay, the first Fort Worth location of Ascension Coffee will open late October in the WestBend district, next door to Bartaco. Owner and Australia native Russell Hayward landed a sweet spot for the 10th location of his North Texas chain, with views overlooking the Trinity River. In addition to a wide range of coffee drinks, there will be food, too, including all-day breakfast items like bacon and egg sandwiches. There will be more sandwiches at lunch, like a stately Wagyu pastrami and various fruits and grains bowls. Dine in or get your grub to go — a service window is designed exclusively for those who bike or wander along the trail. 1751 River Run, ascensiondallas.com
Colleyville, where there are few Vietnamese options. Ditto for far north Fort Worth, where My Lan Bistro resides in Alliance Town Center, a monolithic shopping mall dotted with every kind of restaurant — Japanese, Tex-Mex, burgers, seafood — except Vietnamese.
“We look for areas that don’t already have a lot of Vietnamese restaurants,” he says. “We’re not trying to compete with other places. We’re trying to bring our family’s recipes to people who may not know Vietnamese food.”
Boasting more than 100 items, the menu at the Haltom City mothership can be overwhelming for newbies but a goldmine for the devoted. The spinoffs have abbreviated menus, offering My Lan’s greatest hits: large, steaming bowls of pho, accompanied by side plates spilling over with lime, basil, rings of jalapeño, and bean sprouts piled like kindling; chow mein and chow fun, bird’s nests of crunchy or soft noodles topped with protein and veggies in an addicting gravy; barbecue pork ribs, etched in black crust.
Each restaurant offers a different experience. In its pre-COVID life, Haltom City was a bustling ball of energy. Servers hustled from table to table, yelling out orders to the kitchen, while cooks yelled right back at them, creating an amusingly chaotic atmosphere. Diners sat in numbered booths along the walls or at community tables where strangers could become fast friends over plates of chicken fried rice. (In COVID-19 times, the community tables are no longer in use.)
Colleyville is the direct opposite. It’s a more elegant experience with tablecloth-fitted tables and hovering service.
The new location in Alliance is somewhere in between. It’s not as rough around the edges as the original, but it’s not as glitterati as the Colleyville store.
“That was intentional,” Do says. “Each restaurant has its own personality. It gives you a reason to visit all three.”
My Lan Bistro, 9180 North Freeway, Ste. 504, 817.750.2121
Another new entry into WestBend: Zaap Kitchen Lao & Thai Street Eats, a spinoff of the original acclaimed Asian restaurant concept in Dallas. Like its Dallas counterpart, the Fort Worth branch will serve foods from Laos and Thailand in a fast-casual setting. It’ll take over the spot recently vacated by Popbar and should be open by the end of November, says owner Tony Singharaj. Its menu includes sizzling Lao sausage; beef jerky; and Laotian fried rice with egg, garlic, tomato, raisins, peas, and, if you want, your choice of proteins from pork to shrimp. 1621 River Run, zaapkitchen.com
Enchiladas Ole’ has expanded its footprint beyond Fort Worth. Owner Mary Perez has opened a new location of her popular Enchiladas Ole’ restaurant in North Richland Hills. It’s the second new location for Perez’s homage to enchiladas. Earlier this year, she relocated her original store to 2418 Forest Park Blvd., where her brisket and ancho chili sauce have been a major hit. At the new location in North Richland Hills, look for Sunday brunch from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., with dishes like egg enchiladas and spinach chilaquiles. 9005 North Tarrant Parkway, enchiladasole.com
Michael Bui and Trang Do, owners of My Lan
Fiendish for Tacos
Fort Worth’s appetite for tacos is seemingly insatiable. A pandemic, for instance, could be going on, and taquerias would still open.
Case in point: A new high-end taqueria called Maestro Tacos will soon open in the West Seventh area in the space last occupied by OMG Tacos. The kitchen will be led by
chef Miguel Mendoza, a native of Monterrey, Mexico. His menu will include tacos stuffed with carnitas, barbacoa, pollo asado, al pastor, and birria; the fast-casual restaurant will also serve margaritas and rotating agua frescas. Mendoza chatted with us about the new restaurant, slated to open in November.
FW: Fort Worth has a lot of good taquerias. What will make this one stand out?
MM: We hope that our food speaks for itself. I’m using family recipes and locally sourced ingredients. Everything will be made in-house, from our tortillas to salsas, which we are very proud of.
FW: Tell me about the birria — will it be goat or beef and how will it be prepared?
MM: Our birria starts with us marinating our beef in a combination of secret spices, ancho, guajillo, and chipotle peppers. We allow our birria to marinate for 12 hours to really penetrate the meat. We then prepare it in the traditional way — by simmering it nice and slow for seven to eight hours.
FW: We’re particular about our al pastor tacos, too.
MM: We will have an in-house rotisserie/trompo for our al pastor tacos. Our al pastor will be prepared daily and cooked slowly, making every bite juicy and caramelized to perfection.
FW: Living in Monterrey, how did you become involved with opening a taqueria in Fort Worth?
MM: I was a butcher and taquero in Monterrey for 16 years, prior to moving to the U.S. After working as a contractor the last 20 years, I finally had the opportunity to open up my very own restaurant this year. I wanted to bring the food that I loved in my hometown to my new home in Texas.
Bledsoe St., maestrotacos.com
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Minnie’s Sweet Potato Pie
November brings thoughts of Thanksgiving, and Thanksgiving brings thoughts of our favorite turkey day dessert: sweet potato pie.
There may not be a more qualified expert on this particular subject than Lindsey Lawing, founder of Fort Worth-based pie catering company Sweet Lucy’s Pies, which Lawing named after her daughter.
For this month’s issue, Lawing shares her recipe for sweet potato pie, which was greatly inspired by her beloved grandmother, Minnie.
“My grandmother, who I loved dearly, loved the holidays … and she absolutely loved sweet potato casserole and had to have it on the table, without fail, every single Thanksgiving,” Lawing says. “She died during Thanksgiving three years ago this holiday, and not a day goes by that I don’t miss her and that sweet potato casserole sitting on our table. This recipe is for her. So, here’s to you Minnie, my love.”
Ingredients:
Crust:
2½ cups of flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
16 tablespoons cold butter
¼ cup ice cold water
Add flour, salt, and sugar to a mixing bowl or food processor and blend. Cube cold butter and slowly add and mix with a pastry blender or pulse it in food processor. Do not overmix; leave pea-size butter pieces. Slowly add in water and knead dough until dough all comes together. Wrap in plastic and let rest in the refrigerator for an hour. Recipes yields two crusts. Roll half into prepared pie pan, and wrap one up and save for later. Can be frozen for up to three months.
Filling:
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon molasses (optional)
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon cardamom
2 cups sweet potato puree
2 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
1 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
¼ cup whiskey (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine sugar, brown sugar, molasses, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and sweet potato puree and whisk until smooth. Add eggs, yolk, and heavy cream and mix. Slowly add in melted butter. Whisk in vanilla and whiskey. Pour batter into prepared pie crust (you will have extra filling left over). Bake for one hour or until the center of the pie is set and the edges are puffed. Cool to room temperature and store in the refrigerator for up to three days. Top with toasted meringue or fresh whipped cream and enjoy.
Sweet Lucy’s Pies offers seasonal pies year-round. For flavors and ordering information, follow Sweet Lucy’s Pies on Facebook or Instagram or email order@ sweetlucyspies.com.
FROM SWEET LUCY’S PIES
PHOTO
Enjoy a new level of sophistication when you stay at Hotel Revel. Discover well appointed rooms that feature larger spaces, luxurious bedding and ultra comfortable Awara mattresses. Every detail for your stay has been considered down to the Malin+Goetz personal care products.
Stay away from the ordinary, Revel in it.
The best thing about 2020? The food, no doubt. While takeout, curbside pickups, and masked dining became the norm, there were plenty of new and exciting culinary spots Fort Worthians could enjoy.
BY MALCOLM MAYHEW
While most of us can’t wait to forget 2020, there’s a lot worth remembering, at least from a culinary standpoint.
We’ll remember how local chef Jon Bonnell battled the pandemic by offering $40 family meals; we’ll remember the traffic jams when it was chicken-fried steak night. We’ll remember how Kevin Martinez of Tokyo Cafe hosted weekly meal giveaways, made up of food prepared by some of the city’s top chefs. We’ll remember the other food drives, too, the ones hosted by churches and schools and other helping hands. Some of us volunteered, and some of us got in line. We’ll remember one minute, we were dining at our favorite restaurant and the next, we were contributing to a GoFundMe to help them stay alive.
This year of nonstop tumult will also be remembered as the year Fort Worth once again embraced its heritage: beef. In particular, barbecue. A few years ago, the city seemed hot to get away from its past as one new restaurant after another, from Wabi House to Piattello, introduced us to new, exhilarating cuisines or new ways of eating that had little to do with Fort Worth’s history as a hub for the cattle industry.
Over the course of the past two years, however, Fort Worth’s restaurant scene has, in a way, devolved, resorting back to what the city has done so well for so long. Heim Barbecue opened the door, and nearly a dozen other ’cue restaurants and food trucks came crashing through. Barbecue aficionados are now driving up from Lockhart and Austin to taste our barbecue.
Even the city’s new high-end restaurants have gotten in on the ’cue game as new places like Provender Hall, Wicked Butcher, and Toro Toro have embraced, in one fashion or another, the art of smoked meat.
Barbecue may have dominated our food scene but not at the expense of other types of new restaurants. Even during a pandemic, new restaurants have opened and continue to open, a testament to the resilience of our city’s food community. As such, we present our Best New Restaurant list, made up of the city’s best and brightest new spots. All have opened over the past 18 months or so, and all are in, for the first time ever for this list, Fort Worth proper.
Please note: Due to COVID-19, some restaurants may not be open for dine-in service. Call before you go. Otherwise, dig in.
Derrick Walker of Smoke-A-Holics. Read more on page 67.
Provender Hall
From left to right, executive chef Scott Lewis, owner Marcus Paslay, and Kellen Hamrah, who oversees front of house.
PHOTOS BY CRYSTAL WISE
Ashim’s Hibachi Grill
TRY THIS: Grilled sea scallops
With colorful decor, an upbeat vibe, and absolutely terrific food, Ashim’s has breathed new life into the old concept of a combination hibachi grill and sushi restaurant. Located on the west tip of downtown, it does monster business at lunch as the city’s movers and shakers talk bonuses and layoffs over poke bowls, sushi rolls, and bento boxes generously stuffed with grilled salmon, veggies, and dumplings. In the evening, there’s a lot of action on the grill, but the hibachi chefs are more about offering you a mouthwatering peek of what you’re about to eat — be it rib-eye, sea scallops, or lobster — than showing off their knifethrowing skills, as is the case at other hibachi grills.
424 Taylor St., ashimshibachi.com
Provender Hall
TRY THIS: Steak and frites
Even the city’s upscale restaurants have been paying more attention to barbecue, beef, and various facets of homestyle cooking. Case in point: Provender Hall, the third restaurant from local chef and restaurateur Marcus Paslay, pays homage to smoked meats and other forms of Southern cuisine, making it the perfect fit for the Stockyards’ Mule Alley development. Inside the twostory restaurant, converted from the area’s original livestock barns, diners get picture-perfect views of the kitchen, where Paslay and executive chef Scott Lewis prepare smoked chicken, smoked pork chops, chicken-fried steak, and a ginormous beef rib for two. It’s not all just meat, mind you. The grilled trout is a must. It comes on a bed of “Hoppin’ John,” a stew of black-eyed peas, jalapeños, and tomatoes. Haven’t heard of “Hoppin’ John”? Well, it’s a Southern thing. 122 E. Exchange Ave., provenderhall.com
Black Cat Pizza
TRY THIS: TMNT veggie pizza
At his South Main-area pizza spot, opened last year, owner Jaime Fernandez takes inspiration from crusts thin and thick to come up with his unique pizza crust, which is somewhere in between — a near-perfect balance of
light and dense. He tops his pies with ingredients we all know and love, from pepperoni to mushrooms, but spends more time and energy coming up with creative combos like the all-veggie TMNT pie, a chicken-and-waffles pie, and the Red Fang, a fiery beast of a pizza topped with chorizo, roasted heirloom tomatoes, and Thai chili honey, whose pleasure is definitely worth the pain.
401 Bryan Ave., blackcatpizza.com
Wild Acre Brewing
TRY THIS: Reuben sandwich
A spinoff of Wild Acre’s mothership on the east side, this west side brewery offers a small but wildly impressive menu of artisan sandwiches, soups,
salads, and small plates. You’ll have a tough time finding a better Reuben on this side of Camp Bowie. Wild Acre’s is stacked high, high, high with Wagyu pastrami, housemade sauerkraut, and a spicy Thousand Island dressing. There’s also a smoked bacon grilled cheese, an imaginative fish ’n’ chips sandwich made with Agave Americana beerbattered cod, and a vegan Cuban made with braised jackfruit. All this from a brewery. Wild, indeed.
6473 Camp Bowie Blvd., wildacrebrewing.com
The Meat Board
TRY THIS: Sliced tenderloin sandwich
More proof meat has made a comeback: The Meat Board, a combo restaurant and high-end meat shop/butcher, has been swamped since it opened on the west side in late 2019. Many swing by after work to pick up rib-eyes, strip steaks, pork, chicken, sausages, and charcuterie. Others go by at lunch for excellent handhelds: a sliced tenderloin sandwich topped with bleu cheese crumbles on a sweet kolache bun; a burger with double patties of chuck and tenderloin; a BLT piled high with Klein Hardwood smoked bacon, which just may be the best bacon in the world.
6314 Camp Bowie Blvd., themeatboard.com
The purrrfect pie: Jaime Fernandez of Black Cat Pizza makes some of the best pizza in Fort Worth.
Wild Acre’s Reuben sandwich.
Derek Allan’s Texas Barbecue & Goldee’s Barbecue
TRY THIS: Wagyu burnt ends at Derek Allan’s; housemade sausage at Goldee’s The number of new artisan ’cue spots in Fort Worth has been staggering; these are two of the best. Derek Allan’s Texas Barbecue, run by Allan and his wife, Brittany, is different from most ’cue joints in that it serves Wagyu meat, known for its marbling and richness. Allan’s spot also sets itself apart from other ’cue joints by serving breakfast dishes, such as housemade biscuits stuffed with brisket. Goldee’s Barbecue, located off the bean path near Kennedale, is run by a group of lifelong friends, each of whom has worked in a storied ’cue joint, such as Franklin’s in Austin. Pooling what they’ve learned, they offer their takes on Central Texas barbecue, including tender-to-the-touch brisket and excellent pork ribs. They also make their own sausage, rotating flavors every week; they’re worth the drive. 1116 Eighth Ave., derekallansbbq.com; 4645 Dick Price Road, goldeesbbq.com
Gemelle
TRY THIS: Detroit-style pizza
Love him or love him not, Fort Worth chef Tim Love is often ahead of the culinary curve. At Woodshed Smokehouse, he was doing craft barbecue before many of us even knew what that meant, and his 20-year-old Lonesome Dove blazed trails for modern Southern cuisine. One of three concepts
he launched within a year (he also started a fajitas delivery service and opened Atico, a rooftop restaurant at the Springhill Suites in the Stockyards), Gemelle is another Love endeavor that marks a first in Fort Worth: Opened last fall, it was the first local restaurant to serve Detroit-style pizza. There are other reasons to like Love’s stylish ode to Italian food: You can sit outside near the sunken garden where some of the restaurant’s produce is plucked; the pasta’s good; and the service and drinks are top-notch, both vastly improved since Gemelle opened. But it’s the pizza you want. Love’s rendition, made in honor of his wife, a Michigan native, is rectangular-shaped with a fluffy interior and crisp, browned edges — the perfect specimen of this now-trending dish. 4400 White Settlement Road, gemelleftw.com
Carpenter’s Cafe
TRY THIS: Chicken salad
You’ll see so many people dressed in scrubs, you’ll swear you’re in a doctor’s office. That’s because area hospital workers are in the know about Katrina and Travis Carpenter’s tiny cafe, found a block or two from the hospital district. Since opening earlier this year, the couple has been building a solid foundation of fans by offering next-level sandwiches, soul food staples, and barbecue in a frills-free, warm environment. Start with the Smoky Chick, a chicken salad whose
Nice to meat you: The Meat Board’s sliced sirloin sandwich.
What’s for breakfast?
Barbecue, courtesy of Derek Allan’s Texas Barbecue.
Gemelle
namesake ingredient is expertly smoked, then mixed with celery, green onions, and seasonings that the Carpenters are hesitant to divulge. Smart move, or else everyone would have a chicken salad this good. Next, try the loaded brisket fries, made with Rahr & Sons beer-infused queso, smoked brisket, and sriracha sour cream. Then go back for breakfast, which includes housemade biscuits, avocado toast, and humongous tacos that’ll keep you full till dinner.
1116 Pennsylvania Ave., carpscafe.net
Wishbone & Flynt
TRY THIS: Smoked redfish egg rolls
One of the busiest chefs in Fort Worth, Stefon Rishel opened two restaurants this year — Wishbone & Flynt and Berry Street Ice House — and his Trident Restaurant Group has more coming, including Cast & Hook, a seafood restaurant at the new Hotel Revel on Eighth Avenue. Opened in January, this charmingly eclectic restaurant in the South Main Village is where you’ll find him in his element, making bar food great again, with dishes such as redfish egg rolls and PB&J wings, his signature chicken wings coated in Thai peanut sauce and blackberry coulis. He balances upscale finger food with equally intriguing entrées, like pan-seared scallops with fried green tomatoes; a watermelon gazpacho spiked with cucumber and red onion; and an outstanding burger, whose patty is seared in duck fat. Weekend brunchers swarm the place for lemon bar French toast, which tastes every bit as good as it sounds.
334 Bryan Ave., wishboneandflynt.com
Zoli’s
TRY THIS: Hot chicken sandwich Fort Worth needed another pizza place like Grapevine needs another wine bar. But Jay Jerrier — the Dallas restaurateur who brought us Cane Rosso — did Fort Worth a solid by opening a location of this family-friendly pizza joint here, and now it’s hard to imagine what life was like before it. Yes, yes, yes, by all means, get the pizza — the New Yorkstyle round pies are so authentic, you’ll think Scorsese is going to saunter by. But the sandwiches are pure gold. Try the fire-breathing hot chicken sandwich, made with hot chile-glazed fried chicken
and horseradish pickles, and the O.D. Burger, stacked with double patties of a chuck-brisket-short rib blend, American cheese, farmhouse cheddar, and a zesty housemade sauce. Zoli’s is one of the few new restaurants built with families in mind. Kids love the big playground, fun Star Wars decor, and, of course, scoops and cones from the ice cream shop next door, Cow Tipping Creamery — and heck, we do, too.
3501 Hulen St., zolispizza.com
Wicked Butcher
TRY THIS: Bone-in rib-eye with red wine butter
Housed in the art deco Sinclair Hotel downtown, Wicked Butcher is a highend steakhouse from Dallas-based DRG Concepts. The menu features domestic and international premium cuts of beef, including dinner-with-ashow dishes such as double-rib steak for two, served tableside. There’s a lot of seafood, too, including a ginger miso white soy swordfish. An impressive wine program features bottles from the globe. The restaurant is currently closed due to COVID-19, but owner Nafees Alam insists it’ll reopen by year’s end.
512 Main St., wickedbutcher.com
Stefon Rishel of Wishbone & Flynt.
Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich at Zoli’s.
NONRESTAURANT DISHES WORTHY OF A BITE
Not all of the city’s best new bites came from traditional restaurants. Here’s a look at some of our fave new eats from food trailers, trucks, and pop-ups:
Hot chicken sandwich from Hot Chicks Chicken: Forget The Cookshack and Rule the Roost. A pop-up called Hot Chicks Chicken served a spectacular Nashville hot chicken sandwich whose namesake component was ridiculously crispy and flavorful. The chicken was topped with a pile of coleslaw, helping keep things cool, and cradled in freshly made buns. Held at Texas Republic bar, the pop-up was hosted by One Entertainment, which operates a number of businesses in West Seventh, and was meant to be a sneak preview of a brick-andmortar to come. facebook. com/hotchickschicken
Quesatacos from Birrieria y Taqueria Cortez: Thanks to smart use of social media, this extraordinarily popular food truck near Texas Wesleyan kick-started the local birria taco trend. Owner Reglio Cortez specializes in quesatacos — grilled tacos stuffed with marinated beef and mozzarella cheese
and served with a side of consommé for dipping. 2220 East Rosedale St., instagram.com/ birrieriaytaqueriacortez
Smoked chicken salad from Big Boyz Pit
Smoked BBQ & More: After months of selling chicken salad to friends out of the trunk of his car, Fort Worth native T.J. Ragster opened a drive-through-only spot in the Brentwood-Oak Hills area. He serves great ’cue, too, but his smooth and spicy chicken salad — sold as a sandwich or with a sleeve of Club crackers — is the absolute best in town. 6513 Brentwood Stair Road, facebook.com/ thesmokedchickensaladman
Burger from Brix Barbecue and sausage from Dayne’s Craft Barbecue: Two of Fort Worth’s best and brightest new pitmasters — Trevor Sales of Brix and Dayne Weaver of Dayne’s — have been running food trailers for months, developing their own unique styles of craftinspired ’cue. Every Sunday night, Sales takes a break from barbecue to dish out excellent burgers, doublepatty beauties with expertly crisped edges and a remarkably smoky flavor. Not far from Brix, Dayne’s serves killer brisket and other ’cue essentials, but he pays extra attention to sausage,
making it himself. Weaver is constantly coming up with cool sausage flavors like chicken bacon ranch, and those flavors rotate every week — no small feat. 218 Bryan Ave., brixbarbecue. com; 2735 W. Fifth St., daynescraftbarbecue.com
Beignets from Dusty Biscuit: Bless Trey Smith for bringing New Orleansstyle beignets and Café au Lait coffee to the South Main area. Catch him in an Airstream at 105 South Main St. until he opens a nearby brick-and-mortar in the old Alchemy Pops spot, which should be any moment now. thedustybiscuit.com
Ramen from Calisience: Jacqueline Anaya’s East Belknap food truck, which she launched early 2020, has been drawing big crowds for her take on birria tacos (see our profile in the October issue). Get the ramen, too. It’s made with traditional ramen noodles, the rich, beefy broth from her birria, and a shot or two of a hot sauce she makes herself. 3318 East Belknap St., instagram.com/ calisience
Tinie’s
TRY THIS: Empanadas
One of this year’s most anticipated restaurants, Sarah Castillo’s high-end homage to Mexican homecooking opened in the South Main Village in March, then shut right back down when the pandemic hit. But like other area restaurants, Tinie’s reopened recently with a slightly smaller menu that, thankfully, includes all the hallmarks that made it memorable to begin with. That would include the empanadas, perfectly flaky and irresistibly buttery; the achiote roasted pork, draped in a cape of luscious mole verde; and the super-cool guacamole flight, made up of three different kinds of guac. In developing the restaurant, Castillo drew from two sources of inspiration: her mother, whose playful nickname, “Tinie,” gave the restaurant its moniker, and Castillo and executive chef/coowner Christian Lehrmann’s travels to Mexico City, where the two soaked up the flavors of local and regional cuisines. In particular, the second-story bar was modeled after the dark mezcal halls of Mexico City. There, you can indulge in co-owner/drinks maestro Glen Keely’s
The Wicked Butcher at downtown’s Sinclair Hotel.
King’s Kitchen
PHOTOS
craft cocktails, plush seating, and stunning views of downtown. 113 South Main St., tiniesfw.com
King’s Kitchen
TRY THIS: Chicken tikka masala
Helping boost the city’s embarrassingly low number of Indian cuisine options, King’s Kitchen opened last year in the Wedgwood area of Fort Worth in a nondescript strip mall near Interstate 20. Don’t let the modest digs fool you. Inside you’ll find a plush dining room, all glasstop tables, and comfy high-back chairs, and, more importantly, stellar Indian/ Middle Eastern cuisine, crafted and often served by owner Tarlok Signh. His go-tos are biryani, a spice-infused rice dish served with your choice of lamb, chicken, goat, beef or shrimp, and chicken tikka masala, a rich, thick curry punctuated with bite-size pieces of chicken. You’ll find a handful of less common dishes, too, like a spectacular saag gosht (lamb shoulder cooked in spinach) and Nepalese chicken dumplings. 5054 Trail Lake Drive, kingskitchenrestaurant.com
Smoke-A-Holics
TRY THIS: Sliced brisket
The past two years have been banner years for craft-inspired barbecue in Fort Worth, and one of the reasons why is this family-run ’cue joint not far from the Near Southside. You’ll stand in line with people of all walks of Fort Worth
Meat, sides, and more from Smoke-A-Holics.
life, from locals who live around the corner to ’cue chasers who’ve traveled miles and miles to sample Derrick and Kesha Walker’s nationally acclaimed food. Where to begin? The calling card of a good barbecue joint is brisket, and Derrick’s — smoked for hours in a 1,000-gallon offset smoker over mesquite and pecan — is top-notch, outlined in a magnificently peppery black crust, a beautiful smoke ring, and ribbons of
fat that give the tender meat texture and flavor. Other menu items include mac and cheese doused in chopped brisket; smoked chicken salad; and loaded cornbread, a fantastically messy mashup of brisket, cornbread, baked beans, shredded cheese, and green onions. Derrick calls his barbecue “TexSoul” to let you know you’ll see touches of soul food here and there, as on his phenomenal rib tips and must-get collard greens. “A lot of the new guys are doing barbecue with a Tex-Mex twist,” he says. “Tex-Soul is my twist. It’s me putting my own stamp on Texas barbecue.” 1417 Evans Ave., smoke-a-holicsbbq.com
Nana’s Kitchen
TRY THIS: Meat loaf
From a distance, this tiny restaurant on the city’s east side may seem to lack the visual razzmatazz one might associate with the city’s best dining. Once inside, it’s a different story. Owner Toshia “Nana” Ramsey or one of her friendly employees will greet you with a menu and a smile, and soon you’ll feel right at home. Of course, that’s the point: Nana’s is determined to take you back home to the meat-and-potatoes type of
Meat loaf at Nana’s Kitchen on the city’s east side.
food many of us grew up on. Particularly good is the Le Cordon Bleu-trained cook’s meat loaf, made from scratch and big enough for two. Smothered pork chops and rotisserie chicken are also faves, as are the housemade desserts, every single one of them made by hand. Fort Worth could use a few more places like Nana’s, that’s for sure.
7403 John T.White Road, facebook.com/nanaskitchenftw
Belzoni’s Catfish Cafe
TRY THIS: Catfish basket with fries and hushpuppies
The far west side of Fort Worth has needed a good catfish spot for years, and that’s exactly what west siders got when Louisiana native Dwight Cooley opened his acclaimed catfish joint last year near Northwest Loop 820. Named after the town from which Cooley hails, Cooley’s snug spot specializes in farm-raised catfish. You can get it fried or grilled, but most prefer the former with its feather-light batter, addictive seasonings, and pearl-white innards. The former school teacher also serves whole catfish and catfish cake rounds, similar to circular hushpuppies but stuffed with catfish. Sides such as turnip greens are made in-house, as are dipping sauces like his sriracha tarter. Be sure to grab a slice of sweet potato pie, too. 110 N. Jim Wright Freeway, facebook. com/belzoniscatfishcafe
Kintaro
TRY THIS: Paitan ramen
The pandemic forced restaurants — and the rest of us, too — to add a new word to our vocabularies: “pivot.” That’s exactly what Jesus Garcia did this year
when he opened the Fort Worth outpost of his Japanese food concept, Kintaro, scrapping a traditional brick-and-mortar for a ghost kitchen, wherein there is no dining room, and food can only be delivered or picked up. For people too freaked out to eat out, the concept caught fire, and Garcia has been nonstop busy, filling orders — often by himself, a one-man kitchen — for specialty sushi rolls and incredible bowls of ramen. A full-service restaurant, the Arlington location of Kintaro, which also opened this year, shines the spotlight solely on ramen, offering a half-dozen variations of the popular comfort soup, such as the outstanding Paitan ramen, which subs the usual pork or miso broth for a rich chicken broth. The Arlington store also serves appetizers, beer, and sake.
6916 Camp Bowie Blvd., 101 E. Abram St., Arlington, kintaroramen.kitchen
Trinity College Irish Pub
TRY THIS: Scotch eggs
Fort Worth’s prayers for a good Irish pub were answered this past summer when Trinity College Irish Pub arrived in the West Seventh area, taking over the spot briefly occupied by Tortaco. The restaurant has good pedigree: Owner Alan Kearney is a native of Ireland (the pub’s name is a tip o’ the ol’ hat to a school located in his birthplace of Dublin), and he has experience in running Irish pubs from here to his homeland. The place is gorgeous, decked out in handsome booths and dark woods, the vibe is upbeat, and the food is divine. Pay attention to the scotch eggs, hard-boiled eggs wrapped in herb-infused sausage and panko breadcrumbs. Of course, you gotta get the fish and chips, made with Bowth beer-battered cod — so good, you may never go back to Zeke’s. There’s plenty of traditional bar food, too, including a halfdozen burgers, an excellent selection of beer (duh, Irish pub), and a killer patio.
910 Currie St., trinitycollegeirishpub.com
Louisiana native Dwight Cooley serves farm-raised catfish at Belzoni’s.
Soup’s on: Kintaro serves a mean bowl of ramen.
MiracleMan
If the cancer didn’t kill him, the treatment would, doctors thought. But 10 years after his diagnosis, Marc Semmelmann remains the only survivor of a rare and aggressive form of cancer. He now shares his story of faith and resilience to give others hope.
BY MARY MURPHY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY OLAF GROWALD
TTen years ago, Marc Semmelmann was enduring intensive chemotherapy. He spent many of his days in a comatose state. He was most cognizant during the last two days of his treatment when the chemo was wearing off and the first two days before the chemo kicked in and pulled him under yet again.
According to his wife, Susan, Marc was in a “very low state.” He was fighting to survive. He slept endless hours, barely ate, and had severe mouth sores. Raquel’s Wings for Life, a local nonprofit, would fly him back and forth between Decatur and Houston for his chemo treatments at M.D. Anderson.
His treatment needed two IVs. The first one coated Marc’s veins and heart so they “didn’t get fried,” and the second pumped his system full of a chemo cocktail that included the “red devil” — doxorubicin, one of the most powerful chemo drugs ever created.
His nurse told him if it got on his skin, “it’d cause a third-degree burn.” His doctor told him “if the cancer didn’t get him first, the chemo might.” A few weeks prior, halfway through 2010, Marc found out that a rare form of cancer was attacking his body.
Earlier that year on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend, Marc sat in his orthopedic specialist’s office. It was almost 5 p.m. He looked at an X-ray of a cancerous tumor that was eating away at his pelvic bone. The tumor had been growing, putting pressure on his muscle, causing lower back pains.
At first, they thought it was bone cancer. Initially, Marc thought it was back pain. Having played football at the University of Texas from 1985 – 89, Marc knows the aches and pains related to sports, and this was different. This was more than a pulled muscle. The pain in his back made him restless.try sleeping on the couch, and when he couldn’t find comfort on the couch, he slept on the floor.
years. They’d met at Milo Butterfingers, near SMU, when Marc asked Susan’s friends to introduce them. They’d talked all night, and the rest was history.
The couple now had three kids, two girls (11 and 12) and a boy (9). Marc owned his own business, which he’d started in 2007. Things were going well.
Then, that March, he began looking into his back pains. Five doctors and two MRIs later, he found the answer here. In an X-ray of his pelvis, lit up with cancer. Oh. It’s cancer. What kind? Will I die?
By the time July came around, Marc was preparing for a 19-hour surgery at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Dr. Valerae Lewis, chair of the Department of Orthopedic Oncology, removed the cancerous tumor attacking Marc’s pelvic bone. She also removed part of his hamstrings, his groin muscle, and some of his stomach muscles. She then replaced his pelvic bone with a new one (from a female bone donor), and a plastic surgeon tidied up the new cavity in his right leg.
“It was as if they took a Folgers Coffee can and pushed it through the right side of my pelvis,” Marc says. “Everything in that coffee can went in the trash.”
The next day, Marc felt a stabbing pain in his chest. It was a double-pulmonary embolism, and the low levels of oxygen in his blood could be fatal. He spent 24 hours fighting to survive.
Two weeks after that close call, Dr. Lewis introduced him to Dr. Vinod Ravi, a medical oncologist at M.D. Anderson. Dr. Ravi specialized in chemotherapy. Marc was confused — he didn’t need chemo; he was supposed to start physical therapy and relearn how to walk. Then, Dr. Ravi gave him the news: “Son, you need to get your affairs in order. You have six months to live, at best.”
After slicing up the tumor that was in Marc’s pelvis, the doctors learned that the situation was worse than they thought. This wasn’t bone cancer. This was something different. Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma, a rare cancer that attacks both bone and cartilage. When cells are produced in the body, they’re meant to create something — like a fingernail. If the cell reaches the end of its specialized process, it’s differentiated; things are normal. If a cell is dedifferentiated, it morphs into something that it isn’t supposed to be. Something like cancer.
Aggressive cancer. Unpredictable cancer. Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma is difficult because it’s rare (constituting 1%-2% of all bone tumors), and it can appear in various forms, making it hard to track down the cells that cause it. There’s little to no success in removing it from the body. This aggressive cancer always seems to come back unless the patient is undergoing intense chemotherapy.
Marc later learned that in other cases, doctors would “take the cancer out, then it’d show up again somewhere else, so they’d take it out somewhere else. Eventually, they’d get to a point where they couldn’t take it out anymore because you didn’t really have anything left of you to take out ... and you’d die.”
Marc wanted to know. What are the statistics? Has anyone survived?
Marc was 44. He was a go-getter, an athlete, a father, a husband. He had been married to Susan — his best friend — for 17
“‘We’re not going to talk about any of that stuff. We’re going to talk about having a positive attitude, having a great support group of friends and family, and praying to whomever you may pray to,’”
Marc recalls Dr. Ravi telling him. “‘Place whatever faith you have in whatever you have faith in.’”
Marc didn’t need to know the situation was so grim. He needed to focus on fighting to stay alive, against all odds. Hearing this “pissed him off at the time,” but with some reflection, he realized that Dr. Ravi was helping him in the long run. “These are really the three things that got me through,” Marc says. “Faith, family, and a positive attitude.”
That night, his mind was on family and faith, but he was far from positive.
“I was lying in bed, having an argument with God at 2 in the morning,” he says. “It wasn’t a nice one. I was cussing at him and hollering at him in my head.”
I can’t leave, he cried. I have a good wife, good kids. I haven’t finished raising them. I can’t leave my wife, my best friend, on her own.
While hashing it out with his higher power, “a peace came over me,” Marc says. “The anger evaporated. The tears dried up.” In the quiet of the hospital room, he felt a sudden peace. “I didn’t hear a word from God, but it’s like he said, ‘You’re good; don’t worry about this. I got this.’”
Marc knew that Dr. Ravi needed to take him as close to death as he could to kill whatever cells were creating the cancer. “Instead of worrying about dying,” he says, “I knew my job was to survive as long as I could with chemotherapy.”
Over the next few months, Marc flew back and forth between home and the hospital multiple times with help from Raquel’s Wings for Life. Neither Marc nor Susan knew how long it would be before he returned home from a visit to the hospital. It could be four days; it could be 10. Once it was 15.
“At 21 days, you start the [chemo] treatment over again,” Marc says. “I’d get to make it home for about three to four days and then turn around and go back again. It was rough.”
While Marc was undergoing chemo at M.D. Anderson, Susan was trying to keep her head above water in DFW. She was managing both of their businesses, raising their three children, and taking care of Marc when he was home. On a normal night, she got two to three hours of sleep.
“She was losing weight, just like I was,” Marc says. “Her hair was falling out in clumps, just like mine, but hers was stress-related and mine was chemo-related.”
During his few days of consciousness, Susan would ask Marc as many questions as she could about his business. He would coach her, then she would carry it out, and wait for his next bout of clarity.
“I had to be faith-driven every day to withstand and have endurance,” Susan says.
One night around 11 p.m., as Marc was undergoing chemo treatments, Susan gave him a call. She was in the middle of a breakdown. She’d spent the day listening to her friends and family tell her that she needed to get ready for life without Marc; he wasn’t going to make it. The odds were too slim. The research she’d found herself sucked into online said the same.
She was stressed. She was tired. She sat down with all the cards he’d written to her throughout the years, bawling, and called Marc, hoping he’d tell her that everything would all be all right.
Instead, she heard him say two words: “Buck up.” It wasn’t what she wanted to hear. It made her mad. She hung up on him,
but his words stuck with her.
“[His words] challenged me to show that I trusted I could do it,” she says.
There was no other option but to continue putting one foot in front of the other. In the end, she says, it was the best advice because it caused her to do just that — buck up.
Marc admits that “buck up” isn’t something he recommends any husband tell his wife in this situation. “I got in a lot of trouble,” he says. At the same time, he knew the toll the chemo was taking on his body. “I was trying to say, put on your boots and get ready for the ride as if I’m not here.”
He, too, felt that he was being tested. “I had [doubts] all the time during this process,” he recalls. “I would have to constantly remind myself of all the situations where I was given peace and comfort from above. Refocus my mind.”
After enduring chemotherapy for nine long months, Marc arrived at death’s doorstep.
“I was so weak and so frail that I couldn’t get myself out of the airplane,” Marc says. “On the drive home, I decided that I wasn’t going to do this anymore. If I did, I may not
The chronic pain in Marc Semmelmann’s back hasn’t deterred him from dabbling in adaptive snowboarding.
“Complaining won’t change anything. It is what it is ... so you deal with it. Pain is just an emotion to me like happiness, sadness, fear. People overcome fear all the time.”
come back.”
When they stopped the chemotherapy treatments, Dr. Ravi told him he should prepare for the cancer to return within three weeks. A month passed and then a year. Marc visited the hospital every so often to check in.
Each time, Marc would ask Dr. Ravi the same handful of questions he’d asked on the day he found out he was dying. What are the statistics? How many survivors are out there?
Marc didn’t get an answer until 2013 on his third year of being cancer-free: He was the only known patient that hadn’t had the cancer come back within the first year. On his next visit in 2014, Dr. Ravi revealed that there had only been 455 cases of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma to date.
Then, in Marc’s fifth year of being cancerfree, he learned even more surprising news.
“Dr. Ravi said, ‘I really thought I’d go from a 0% success rate to 20% success rate [after your case] ... but that hasn’t happened yet,’” Marc recalls. “He thought he had found the magic elixir with the red devil and some other concoction.”
But no other successes had come from the chemotherapy treatment Marc had gone through. Everyone else who had been treated for this cancer had it return within a year. Marc was five years’ cancer-free, and he wasn’t doing chemo. It seemed he was the first person who had fought this disease ... and won.
The intensive chemo caused permanent tinnitus in Marc’s ears, along with slight hearing loss. He says his new hearing aids help with the tinnitus, and he jokes that they’re great for when he wants to watch football in peace. He just turns the volume
down to zero.
Neuropathy causes his fingers and toes to feel like they’re “asleep all the time”; another reminder of his chemo treatments. The annoying tingle has become a part of Marc’s daily life. Instead of complaining, he’s traded out his closed-toed shoes for flip-flops. They’re less painful for his feet.
“Complaining won’t change anything,” Marc says. “It is what it is … so you deal with it. Pain is just an emotion to me like happiness, sadness, fear. People overcome fear all the time by either controlling or conquering their emotions.”
This past January, he broke his right femur. Although the injury has changed his leg’s range of capabilities (his foot wobbles more now when he walks), he says he’s “learning to live with a new normal.” His solution? “Modify and adjust.”
He cliff jumps during family trips at Possum Kingdom Lake, and he’s learned to “adaptive snow ski.” He and Susan joke that he’s working on wakesurfing.
Since his battle with cancer, Marc hasn’t been able to run, play basketball, or any other “ball sports” like he used to. It’s a disappointment, but he’s used it as fuel to discover a new hobby flying.
“There are two reasons I learned to fly,” Marc says. “To pay back what had been given to me and to replace some of the physical things I couldn’t do anymore with something different. [Flying] is physical, emotional, and mental gymnastics.”
Marc volunteers at Raquel’s Wings for Life, where pilots donate their planes and their time to fly cancer patients to and from M.D. Anderson. The organization pays for their fuel, and they never say no to helping a new patient. Marc, “the flip-flop flyer,” enjoys giving back.
“I get to share my story with [the patients I fly] and provide them with hope,” he says. “They see someone who’s survived and has a good attitude — not just someone saying, ‘You’ll get over it.’ I’m living proof that there’s hope. That makes a difference.”
In Marc’s opinion, hardship is temporary. It could be divorce, death of a family member, or a rare form of cancer attacking your body. To survive, you need to decide how you’re going to approach what’s happening. Are you going to give up, or are you going to believe there’s hope?
“I found that’s the hardest part — wanting to make the change in your mind,” says Marc. “Once you decide to make that change, it doesn’t make it any easier. It just allows you to refocus your efforts into something positive.”
There was a reason why Dr. Ravi had told Marc to focus on the positive. It’s easier to fight to survive when you believe there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, even if you can’t seem to see it through the darkness.
In the depths of chemotherapy, Marc’s whole focus was on getting through each moment. He withdrew, tucked inside his own head to survive and function.
During some of their most difficult days, it was Marc’s confidence that helped Susan combat the worries that swirled around her.
“Everyone else was saying that it wasn’t going to be okay, that I needed to check reality,” she says. “My reality was watching a man fight for his life, a man who knew in his heart of hearts that he was going to be okay. He just had to get through it.”
Unexpected moments when things shift from “okay” to “very not
okay” can shake you to your core. A pain in your back reveals that you have a rare form of cancer, and it’s probably going to kill you. A global pandemic leads to a turbulent year, filled with spikes in unemployment rates, police brutality, and a pivotal election. Your stomach drops. You try not to panic. You try not to scream.
How am I going to handle this?
Marc, the man who overcame all odds, speaks from experience.
“You need to replace fiction with fact. Take captive every single negative thought that comes into your mind: ‘I can’t do this. I’m not good enough. They don’t love me. I’m going to die.’ Replace all that with ‘I can do it. I am loved. I’m not going to die.’ Stick that in your head, and things will start to change.
“Remove the worry in your life and replace it with faith — trust that things are going to be okay, even when everything is against you. Like gratitude, your attitude is a muscle you work to develop, and it takes a conscious effort.
“When you wake up, don’t lie there and say, ‘I have to go do this,’ or ‘I have to go do that.’ Start out with ‘It’s going to be a great day.’ Tell yourself that you’re going to have a great day. Do it over and over and over again. Every day. Don’t let it be just a thought. Start believing it, and it’ll help you overcome.”
COVID-19 AND CANCER SCREENINGS: SHOULD I BE SCREENED THIS YEAR?
By Jennifer Hecht, D.O., FACOS, breast surgeon, Texas Breast Specialists-Southwest Fort Worth & Noelle Gillette Cloven, M.D., gynecologic oncology surgeon, Texas Oncology-Fort Worth Cancer Center
Many questions are swirling right now about COVID-19, including one particularly important question: Should I cancel my cancer screening to avoid the doctor’s office? The answer may surprise you.
A recent survey released by the Prevent Cancer Foundation, America’s leading cancer prevention-focused nonprofit organization, reports that 35% of American adults had a cancer screening scheduled during the pandemic and missed it. What’s more, 43% of American adults have missed routine medical appointments because of COVID-19.
Pandemic or not, screenings are the most effective way to identify cancers in their earliest stages — often before you experience symptoms. Delaying cancer screenings may lead to detecting cancer at a later stage, requiring a more aggressive and lengthy treatment.
Be aware of new or unusual symptoms. Symptoms of concern may include, but are not limited to, unexplained weight loss, changes in bowel and bladder habits, sores that don’t heal, unusual bleeding, and/or a lump. Make an appointment with your doctor immediately if you have noticed these or other symptoms that are unusual to you. And remember that self-exams for breast, skin, and testicular cancers can be done at home. If you find something concerning, immediately alert your doctor, who will direct you to next steps.
Know if you are at heightened risk for cancer. You can’t inherit cancer, but you can inherit a higher risk for developing it. Factors that determine if a person has a higher risk of developing certain types of cancer include pre-existing conditions, personal health history,
and family medical history. For example, hereditary breast and ovarian cancer risk factors include male breast cancer at any age, breast cancer at age 45 or younger, or a relative with a BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 mutation.
Talk to your doctor about the best time for you to be screened. It’s a simple yet important step to take. According to the American Cancer Society, how long it’s been since you were last screened, how prevalent COVID-19 is in your community, your risk of getting a certain type of cancer, your age, and overall health are all factors your doctor may consider when evaluating the risks and benefits for you to be screened sooner rather than later. Your doctor can assess your medical history and individual circumstances to make an informed decision about the best time for you to be screened. The ease with which patients can schedule virtual appointments through telemedicine means there is no reason not to reach out.
Remember, the purpose of preventative cancer screenings is to diagnose and treat cancer early. Skipping preventive screenings can adversely affect your long-term health. Don’t let fear of COVID-19 stand in the way of these essential preventative health screenings. Medical facilities and hospitals across North Texas are taking extensive precautions to keep patients safe. Should a cancer screening lead to a diagnosis, rest assured it can be treated safely using a combination of in-person appointments and telemedicine — because cancer care can’t wait.
Marc and Susan Semmelmann
Statement of
and
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Top Nurses 2020
BY SAMANTHA CALIMBAHIN AND BRIAN KENDALL
We’ll avoid dwelling on everything that’s happened in the medical industry in 2020; it’s been, as each of the following health care professionals can attest, a most difficult and pain-stricken year. The novel coronavirus is one thing — and a big thing, at that — but other ailments, illnesses, and injuries have not taken a break. This has forced those in the medical field to work double duty while putting themselves at risk on the frontlines of a pandemic. A massive thank you, while feeling futile, is certainly in order. This year is proof that heroes wear scrubs, not capes.
Our process:
Fort Worth Magazine’s editors asked readers — whether they be patients, family members of patients, or colleagues — to nominate Tarrant County-based nurses they felt were deserving of the distinction of being named a Top Nurse for 2020. The nomination form also prompted the nominator to write a short description as to why the person was/is deserving. After receiving dozens of nominations, the editors compared the list to recent DAISY Award honorees and vetted nurses through their hospitals’ administrations.
Glenn McBride Medical City Alliance
Glenn McBride wanted to become a doctor at first, taking an interest in psychology after losing a family member to suicide. He went to Texas Woman’s University for his pre-med degree and got a job as a medical assistant — but eventually decided being a doctor wasn’t quite his calling.
Still, he always enjoyed the nurse-patient relationship, so he went back to school to get a degree in nursing and has stuck with it since. Two years into the job, McBride says he’s right where he needs to be.
“I found that nursing is the craziest of them all,” McBride says. “[But] I’ve found my calling. It’s perfect for me.”
Now a medical-surgical nurse at Medical City Alliance, McBride
Olu
Abiara
Medical City Fort Worth
Olu Abiara says she’s always wanted to take care of people, even from a young age. She spent the first five years of her life in the U.S. before moving to Nigeria, moved back to the U.S. in her 20s, and finally settled in Texas about 12 years ago.
For the past seven years, she’s been at Medical City Fort Worth, where she’s currently a neuro/cardiac nurse working on the PCU (Progressive Care Unit) floor. She treats patients recovering from stroke and dealing with an altered mental status or cardiac-related problems.
“I believe that it’s my life mission — to take care of people,” Abiara says. “When you see that change, that impact you make, it gives me joy.”
Abiara says her job hasn’t changed much since the onset
is witnessing the pandemic firsthand, working directly with patients in the COVID-19 unit.
“It’s been pretty hard on us nurses,” he says. “But we’ve really come together as a team because we’ve had to completely isolate from our families and friends, so we’ve kind of developed our own family at work.”
In spite of the challenges brought on by COVID-19, McBride says his compassion for others is what continues to drive him every day.
“One thing you have to remind yourself is these patients are having a way harder time than we are,” he says. “As nurses, we’ve really had to step up and be their friend, their family, and their advocate.”
of the pandemic — while COVID-19 may be the illness making headlines, that hasn’t stopped the other illnesses that continue to impact patients.
As for being named a Top Nurse — Abiara is quick to turn the spotlight on her peers, crediting fellow nurses for their hard work that often goes unnoticed.
“I thank God for the opportunity to be recognized — not everyone that’s doing the job is recognized,” she says. “That is the truth.”
Jeanette Uribe
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth
Jeanette Uribe grew up in the Medical District, going to school at Trimble Tech, just a stone’s throw away from her future place of employment, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth. Her time spent getting involved with her school’s medical program and volunteering at the hospital sparked her interest in becoming a nurse. Today, she works at Harris Methodist’s oncology unit, treating adult cancer patients — a post she’s held since 2012.
But no one could have predicted how much her job would change in 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Uribe’s had to be extra cautious to ensure the virus doesn’t reach cancer patients whose immune systems are already compromised.
“We have to protect them,”
Eduardo Flores
she says. “We’re already their advocate, but we have to go the extra step for protection. Make sure the patients are getting screened before they come to the floor, and make sure we [health care workers] don’t come across anybody who’s positive.”
For Uribe, caring for cancer patients has helped put things in perspective, especially when it comes to the little things in life that the average person takes for granted. Something as simple as grabbing a Chick-fil-A sandwich or a Dunkin’ doughnut for a patient — which she’s done before — can go a long way.
“I try to brighten my patient’s day up,” Uribe says. “I try to make them smile; I try to make them laugh. Just seeing them smile drives me.”
Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center
Eduardo Flores, who goes by Eddie, was in high school when a family member became ill with cancer. He’d been fortunate up to that point, not having any family members who had died or been sick.
“I went with her to a couple of her radiation treatments,” Flores says. “Serendipitously, this kind of leads up to me becoming a nurse. I saw how, even on her worst days, the oncology nurses would brighten her day. They really made a dramatic effect on her at the end of her life.”
Those nurses worked in the intensive care unit, which, as fate would have it, is where Flores finds himself at the All Saints Medical Center — he previously spent eight years at UT Southwestern in Dallas. As an ICU nurse, Flores takes
care of one to two critically ill patients at a time. Like those who cared for his family member, Flores makes it a point to personalize his care.
“Involving the family is one of the main parts of my personal nursing practice,” Flores says. “Their family member could be literally on death’s door, but you just ask them, ‘Can I get you anything? Can I have somebody get you anything?’ That small thing can ease tensions with families, and it lets them know that you’re taking care of everyone, not just the person in bed.”
Grace White
My Health My Resources of Tarrant County
There’s a photo that exists of a 3-year-old Grace White, dressed in a nurse outfit and pretending to care for her sister. White, now an advanced public health nurse at My Health My Resources of Tarrant County (MHMR), says she’s always been fascinated by not just medicine but the idea of helping others.
“What I really wanted to do was try to help people and make a difference,” she says. “In thinking of careers that can do that, nursing was always one I was drawn to.”
For White, health care is more than just physical. She’s spent the past 29 years working for MHMR, a medical center that specializes in services for mental health, substance abuse,
homelessness, and other areas. She’s a big believer in caring for the “whole person” — that means being there for patients emotionally and mentally alongside giving them physical treatment.
“Most people, what they want is somebody that’s going to listen to them — listen with empathy and try to help them get through whatever their health concerns are,” White says. “Each person’s not a box or a checklist; each person’s an individual. You have to show them that you’re really listening with empathy, and you’re advocating for them.”
Toni Lewis
West Magnolia Plastic Surgery Center
Growing up on a farm in Olive Branch, Illinois, Toni Lewis was always taking care of everyone, whether it be her four other siblings (she was the oldest) or the chickens, cows, and other animals she was always around.
Her family moved to Fort Worth in 1977, and today she’s a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) at West Magnolia Plastic Surgery Center.
Lewis also has a knack for business, having helped open at least 12 surgery centers including the Lemmon Avenue Surgery Center in Dallas. She also works for Gulfstream Health, a health care system that aims to solve the issue of out-of-network medical centers and provide treatment at a lower cost. Among her latest projects is a Gulfstream surgical center on the UNTHSC campus on Haskell Street.
“I bring a very different perspective to the construction process because I have that clinical background,” Lewis says. “Just because you can draw it, doesn’t mean that’s the way it should be built. How does it really work in the clinical environment? How does it function to bring the best level of care?”
While she loves the business side of medicine, Lewis says she feels more at home in the operating room, and she still gives anesthesia at least two or three days a week.
“I would be lost if someone told me I could only do business; I would be so sad if they told me I could only do construction,” Lewis says. “I really don’t play golf or tennis. I love patient care. I love taking care of people.”
Misty Miller Civitas Senior Living
Not all nurses wear scrubs every day to work. While there are those who administer medications and insert IVs, there are also those in administrative capacities whose main charge is to ensure the safety and well-being of both patients and nurses. And, in the middle of a pandemic, the importance of these roles couldn’t be more apparent.
“Obviously I loved being at the bedside and taking care of people,” Misty Miller, who is the chief operating officer at Civitas Senior Living, says. “The nursing profession on a whole is extremely rewarding. What I love about being in the position that I’m in is I get to impact change on a larger of a scale.
“I really like data and
Maribel Rodriguez Cook Children’s Medical Center
Affecting thousands of newborns each year, a cleft lip or palate is one of the most common birth defects, and it can lead to a number of medical problems which can require a team of doctors to remedy. In a highly specialized field, a nurse who works with cleft children can become a firmly established figure in a child’s life, as they can sometimes provide care for the child well into their teen years. And this happens to be right in Maribel Rodriguez’s wheelhouse.
A nurse with the cleft, craniofacial, and pediatric plastic surgery team at Cook Children’s, Rodriguez was previously a stay-at-home mom.
“When it came time, I wanted to do something to connect with people and help
quality metrics. So, I can look at different quality scores throughout all of our organizations and really start to build some robust quality improvement plans to improve and drive quality.”
With her mother being a private duty caregiver, Miller knew at a young age that nursing is what she wanted to do, and before entering the corporate role, Miller was a bedside nurse for many years.
“My mom worked for a family, providing care for a mother,” Miller says. “I thought it was really neat to see how my mom wasn’t related to these people, but she really became part of their family. And, so, I think that’s what inspired me to become a nurse.”
people, and nursing just called to me,” Rodriguez says.
Starting out in the adult ICU, Rodriguez eventually transitioned to the pediatric population at Cook Children’s, where she now helps children and can assist mothers like herself.
“It’s nice to work with families so closely,” Rodriguez says. “It’s stressful when your baby’s sick, and parents are trusting you with the most precious thing they have, their baby. But it’s such a special thing to see the children improve and start to flourish. I just love it.”
Kelsey McClellan
Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center
Unlike more specialized nurses, Kelsey McClellan, who works for the progressive care unit at All Saints Medical Center, sees it all. The progressive care unit, where some patients go after being treated in the ICU, doesn’t discriminate based on illness, ailment, or injury.
“We see a lot of post openheart surgeries,” McClellan says. “We see a wide variety of patients: kidney patients, lung patients, everything.”
McClellan works hard to be as thorough as possible on the medical side, while being as compassionate as possible on the bedside manner side.
“I think sometimes as nurses, we can kind of get in the rut as only seeing it as a job,” McClellan says. “But I really seek
Kathleen Dahle
John Peter Smith Health Network
Nurses do more than care for the physically ill and their families; they also play a big role in helping those with mental illness. While nurses, especially during this time, routinely put themselves at risk to contract diseases, nurses like Kathleen Dahle, who works in the psychiatric department at John Peter Smith Health Network, put themselves at risk in a different way.
“So, I guess I’ve been assaulted a few times,” Dahle says. “So, that’s part of it. But I always remind people working in my unit: ‘Guys, he or she may be like this right now, but they’re going to get better.’ And, without fail, you see patients become new people, and it is so awesome.
“There’s nothing better than watching people get better.”
to get to know my patients, their family members, and to answer all their questions.
“I have learned to always seek to understand, because if someone is upset, there’s always a reason why. Why are you feeling that way? Why do you have these questions? I feel like that is so important as a nurse to communicate well with the family and to communicate well with the patients, because I think communication can alone dissolve some of the stress and the anxiety of being in the hospital.”
Dahle says medication noncompliance is one of the biggest reasons patients end up in the psychiatric department. “But once you get them back on the regimen, they get better,” she explains.
Dahle, whose nursing career started in her teen years, had to get over a certain phobia to enter the medical field, which she desperately wanted to do after finding her calling while attending nursing school in Rochester, Minnesota.
“Anytime I saw someone throw up, I would throw up,” Dahle says. “But, one summer while I was a gymnastics coach at a summer camp, every girl I was teaching got the flu and threw up. But I handled it. So that’s when I knew I was destined to be a nurse.”
Medical Guide
A guide to Tarrant County area hospitals, rehab, and cancer centers.
HOSPITALS
Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center – Fort Worth 1400 Eighth Ave. Fort Worth 76104
817.926.2544
bswhealth.com/locations/ fort-worth
572 beds, 1,100 physicians
Baylor Fort Worth offers a comprehensive range of services including programs in cardiology, transplantation, neurosciences, oncology, and women’s services.
Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital – Fort Worth 1400 8th Avenue Fort Worth 76104
1.844.BSW.DOCS
baylorhearthospital.com/fortworth
The 50,000-square-foot diagnostic and treatment center features five catheterization labs, two echocardiogram rooms, and one stress echocardiogram room, and offers services from cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation to advanced surgery techniques.
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center –Grapevine
1650 W. College St. Grapevine 76051
817.481.1588
bswhealth.com/locations/grapevine
302 beds, over 1,000 physicians
Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine is a full-service hospital offering advanced cardiovascular and
women’s services, diagnostic imaging, orthopedics, spine, oncology, neurology, intensive and emergency care, and a Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Verified as a Level II Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons.
Baylor Scott & White Surgical Hospital
– Fort Worth
1800 Park Place Ave.
Fort Worth 76110
682.703.5600
bshfw.com
30 beds, 183 physicians
Baylor Surgical Hospital is an affiliate of United Surgical Partners International. Specialty areas include orthopedics; pain medicine; urology; general surgery; gynecology; ophthalmology; pediatric surgery; plastic surgery; podiatry; oral surgery; and ear, nose, and throat surgery.
Cook Children’s Medical Center
801 Seventh Ave.
Fort Worth 76104
682.885.4000
cookchildrens.org
443 beds, approximately 300 physicians Cook Children’s Health Care System is a not-for-profit, nationally recognized pediatric health care organization comprising eight entities — a Medical Center, Physician Network, Home Health company, Northeast Hospital, Pediatric Surgery Center, Health Plan, Health Services Inc., and Health Foundation.
JPS Health Network
1500 S. Main St.
Fort Worth 76104
817.702.3431
jpshealthnet.org
578 beds, 600 providers
A highly regarded teaching hospital, JPS is home to 10 residency programs and is the only Level I Trauma Center in Tarrant County and the only Psychiatric Emergency Center in the county.
Kindred Hospital is a long-term acute care hospital that specializes in the treatment and rehabilitation of medically complex patients who require an extended stay in a hospital setting. Kindred offers a wide variety of OP services such as wound care, hyperbaric, infusion, endoscopic procedures, permacath placement, pulmonary rehab, CT, and radiologic exams.
Kindred Hospital Mansfield
1802 Highway 157 North Mansfield 76063
817.473.6101
kindredmansfield.com
55 beds, 107 physicians
Kindred Hospital Mansfield is a transitional care facility that specializes in ventilator dependency, wound care complications, chronic cardiac conditions, multi-system organ
Medical Guide
failure, complex orthopedic conditions, dysphagia management, postoperative complications/trauma care, multiple intravenous therapies, chemotherapy, preoperative and postoperative organ transplant care, chronic nutritional management, and total parenteral nutrition.
LifeCare Hospital of Fort Worth
6201 Overton Ridge Blvd. Fort Worth 76132
817.222.8300 lifecare-health.com
80 beds, more than 160 physicians
LifeCare specializes in the treatment of medically complex patients who require extended hospitalization. Services include nursing, case management, pharmacy, nutritional services, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, hyperbaric therapy and wound care, recreational therapy, social services, and psychological services.
Medical City Arlington
3301 Matlock Road Arlington 76015
682.509.6200
medicalcityarlington.com
432 beds, 700 physicians
Medical Center Arlington is Arlington’s first certified Chest Pain Center, Tarrant County’s first designated Primary Stroke Center, Arlington’s only trauma designated hospital (Level II), Primary Cancer Center certified, and the official hospital of the Texas Rangers.
Methodist Mansfield Medical Center is a modern acute-care hospital that has served the community since 2006 and is among the top performers nationwide in both patient satisfaction and quality care.
Medical City North Hills
4401 Booth Calloway Road North Richland Hills 76180
817.255.1000
medicalcitynorthhills.com
164 beds, over 300 physicians
North Hills Hospital is an acute-care hospital that offers a wide range of services from 24-hour chest pain emergency care to diabetes education and a senior health clinic.
Medical City Fort Worth
900 Eighth Ave.
Fort Worth 76104
817.877.5292
medicalcityfortworth.com
320 beds, 675 physicians
Medical City Fort Worth is a teaching and research hospital with six graduate medical education programs. Research focuses on cardiovascular, electrophysiology, and neurological medicine. Medical City Fort Worth is also the only comprehensive stroke center in Fort Worth.
Texas Health Huguley Hospital Fort Worth South 11801 S. Freeway Fort Worth 76028
817.293.9110
texashealthhuguley.org
291 beds, more than 350 physicians Operated as a joint venture of Texas Health Resources and AdventistHealth System, Texas Health Huguley is an acute-care hospital with a cardiovascular critical-care unit, behavioral center, and a top-ranked wound center.
Texas Health Harris Methodist
Hospital Alliance
10864 Texas Health Trail Fort Worth 76244
682.212.2000
texashealth.org/alliance
101 beds, 500 physicians
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance offers services like acute care, neonatal intensive care, and occupational
health and wellness programs to communities in North Fort Worth, Keller, North Richland Hills, Haslet, and the surrounding areas.
Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital
800 W. Randol Mill Road
Arlington 76012
817.960.6100
texashealth.org/arlington
Over 350 beds, 677 physicians
Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital is a full-service medical center, a Cycle III Chest Pain Center, nationally accredited breast center, and a Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology.
Texas Health Hospital Clearfork 5400 Clearfork Main St. Fort Worth 76109
817.433.7000
texashealth.org/clearfork
54 beds, 12 operating rooms
Texas Health Hospital Clearfork specializes in joint replacement and is a licensed department of Texas Health Southwest Hospital Fort Worth, which is located less than five miles away.
Texas Health Heart and Vascular Hospital Arlington 811 Wright St. Arlington 76012
817.960.3500
texashealthheartandvascular.org
48 beds, 400 physicians
Texas Health Heart and Vascular Hospital Arlington is a joint venture by Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital and participating physicians on the campus of Texas Health Arlington Memorial. The hospital is a Cycle III Chest Pain Center and is certified as a full atrial fibrillation facility by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care.
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle
108 Denver Trail
Medical Guide
Azle 76020 817.444.8600
texashealth.org/azle
36 beds, 267 physicians
Texas Health Harris Methodist Azle is a community-based hospital with 24-hour emergency services, diagnostic imaging, endoscopy services, and after-hours urgent care.
Serving Johnson County, Texas Health Cleburne is an accredited Level IV Trauma Center, Chest Pain Center and designated as a “Baby Friendly” facility by the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. Fort Worth 76104
817.250.2000
texashealth.org/fortworth
720 beds, 1,328 physicians
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth is a Magnet-designated hospital and is Tarrant County’s largest hospital and regional referral center.
Texas Health HEB
1600 Hospital Parkway Bedford 76022
817.848.4000
texashealth.org/heb
396 beds, 679 physicians
Texas Health HEB offers a Level III Trauma Center, a Cycle IV Chest Pain Center and Heart Failure Center, and has been certified as a Primary Stroke Center and designated as a “Baby Friendly” facility by WHO and UNICEF.
Texas Health Southwest Fort Worth 6100 Harris Parkway Fort Worth 76132
Texas Health Harris Methodist Southwest Fort Worth is a Texas Ten Step that offers a range of comprehensive services including 24-hour emergency service, surgical and imaging services, orthopedics and sports therapy, a Level IIA neonatal ICU, adult critical care, obstetrics and gynecology, and cardiovascular services.
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Stephenville
Texas Health Stephenville has received national accreditation as a Level IV Trauma Center, Cycle III Chest Pain Center and Breast Imaging Center of Excellence.
USMD Hospital at Arlington 801 W. I-20 Arlington 76017
817.472.3400
usmdarlington.com
30 inpatient suites, 16-bed day surgery, four-bed SICU, 418 physicians USMD Hospital at Arlington is equipped with the latest technology that allows the hospital to perform leading-edge spinal procedures, gastric band and bypass surgery for obesity, and robot-assisted prostate and gynecologic procedures.
UT Southwestern Monty and Tex Moncrief Medical Center at Fort Worth 600 South Main St. Fort Worth 76104
817.882.2400
UT Southwestern Monty and Tex Moncrief Medical Center at Fort Worth focuses on outpatient care and offers consultations in 12 different areas, including allergy and immunology, pharmacy and rheumatology.
WellBridge Healthcare 6200 Overton Ridge Blvd. Fort Worth 76132
817.361.1991
wellbridgefortworth.com
48 beds
WellBridge provides beds in a secure unit for ages 50 and above who require inpatient hospitalization for psychiatric illness.
DIAGNOSTICS
Free Pregnancy Testing Center
1115 E. Pioneer Parkway, Ste. 143 Arlington 76010
817.460.1147
freepregtestcenter.com
Medical Center Arlington offers free pregnancy testing with no appointment necessary, free physician referrals, free Medicaid application assistance, as well as free childbirth education.
Touchstone Imaging Southwest Fort Worth
6900 Harris Parkway, Ste. 100 Fort Worth 76132
817.294.1131
touchstoneimaging.com
Touchstone Medical Imaging LLC is a leading provider of diagnostic imaging services in the U.S. Diagnostics include High Field 1.5T MRI, 3T MRI, Open MRI, CT, PET/CT, Ultrasound, Digital Mammography, Bone Density, Fluoroscopy, and walk-in X-ray.
Additional Locations:
Downtown Fort Worth Rosedale 1701 W. Rosedale St. Fort Worth 76104
817.922.7780
Touchstone Imaging Southlake 925 E. Southlake Blvd. Southlake 76092
817.424.4800
Touchstone Imaging Grand Prairie 2740 N. State Highway 360, Ste. 200 Grand Prairie 75050 972.579.4480
Touchstone Imaging Keller
Meet Your Family’s
First
Line of Defense
Comprehensive, family-focused care is close to home at Texas Health Family Care. Educated and trained at UNT Health Science Center, Dr. Justin Ezell practices family medicine with an emphasis on musculoskeletal care. He knows what it takes to care for you and your loved one’s health. From wellness strategies to risk assessments, find the care your family needs at every stage.
As always, we have protocols in place designed around your safety. To learn more, go to www.THPG.org/EzellSafe.
New patients welcome.
We are scheduling both in-person and virtual visits. To schedule yours, call 817-799-6021. 4201 Camp Bowie Boulevard Fort Worth, Texas 76107
For over 20 years, we’ve had our ears to the ground, our eyes on the ball, and our fingers on the pulse of Fort Worth. This gives us an edge to deliver the city’s best lifestyle, business, and home content.
Medical Guide
601 South Main St., Ste. 100 Keller 76248
817.482.2000
Touchstone Imaging Arlington 601 W. Arbrook Blvd. Arlington 76014
The JPS Oncology and Infusion Center provides medical oncology/hematology, including chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, clinical research, pain palliation, hospice care, and radiation therapy for Tarrant County residents.
UT Southwestern Moncrief Cancer Institute
400 W. Magnolia Ave. Fort Worth 76104
817.288.9800
moncrief.com
1 full-time physician
Moncrief Cancer Institute, affiliated with UT, focuses on cancer prevention, survivorship, research, and cutting-edge clinical trials. Its new facility features a fitness area free for all cancer survivors, genetic testing and risk assessment, psychological counseling, free nutrition
classes, and breast screening for insured and uninsured women.
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth Klabzuba Cancer Center
1300 W. Terrell St. Fort Worth 76104
817.820.4848
texashealth.org
The Klabzuba Cancer Center is recognized by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons as an approved comprehensive community cancer program, ranking it among the best cancer treatment facilities in the country. It offers a full range of prevention, screening, diagnostic, treatment, survivorship, and palliative care services.
Texas Health HEB Cancer Services 1600 Hospital Parkway Bedford 76022
817.848.4000
texashealth.org/locations/texas-health-heb Texas Health offers comprehensive oncology care including diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and education.
Texas Oncology-Fort Worth Cancer Center
500 South Henderson St. Fort Worth 76104
817.413.1500
texasoncology.com
14 physicians
Texas Oncology is united with The US Oncology Network and participates with the largest network of clinical research trials nationally to provide high-quality care in communities throughout the state.
Additional Locations:
Texas Breast Specialists-Arlington 906 W. Randol Mill Road, Ste. 150 Arlington 76012
817.664.9600
1 physician
Texas Oncology-Arlington Cancer Center North 906 W. Randol Mill Road, Ste. 200
Arlington 76012
817.664.9600
5 physicians
Texas Oncology-Arlington South 515 W. Mayfield Road, Ste. 101 Arlington 76014
817.664.4400
5 physicians
Texas Breast Specialists-Bedford 1609 Hospital Parkway Bedford 76022
The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders - Central Campus
800 W. Magnolia Ave. Fort Worth 76104
817.759.7000 thecentertx.com
12 physicians
The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders provides patients with services that include medical oncology, radiation oncology, cyberknife, hematology, and a wide array of patient support services.
Additional Locations:
The Center at Arlington 515 W. Mayfield Road, Ste. 102 Arlington 76014
817.759.7000
4 physicians
The Center at Arlington USMD
811 W. Interstate 20, Ste. G-14 Arlington 76017
817.759.7000
2 physicians
The Center at Burleson (Texas Health Resources Huguley Hospital Fort Worth South)
11805 S. Freeway, Ste. 201 Burleson 76028
817.759.7000
6 physicians
The Center at Fort Worth Southwest (THR Harris Methodist)
6100 Harris Parkway, Ste. 260 John Ryan Building Fort Worth 76132
817.759.7000
1 physicians
The Center at Granbury Lake Granbury Medical Center
1308 E. Paluxy Road, Ste. 205 Granbury 76048
817.759.7000
1 physician
The Center at Mineral Wells 400 SW 25th Ave. Mineral Wells 76067
817.759.7000
2 physicians
The Center at Stephenville 150 River North Blvd. Stephenville 76401
817.759.7000
1 physician
The Center at Weatherford 920 Santa Fe Drive Weatherford 76086
USMD Breast Health Center is the only breast center in North Texas that can care for patients from diagnosis to treatment to recovery. USMD provides patients with integrative care consisting of physical, mental, and spiritual elements, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, nutritional therapy, counseling, and massage therapy.
USMD Urology offers a wide variety of urology services, including image-guided radiation therapy for prostate cancer.
REHABILITATION CENTERS
Fort Worth Carter Rehab 1400 Eighth Ave. Fort Worth 76104
817.922.7105
bswrehab.com
Baylor Rehabilitation System is a network
of inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs and services located across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Cityview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
5801 Bryant Irvin Road Fort Worth 76132
817.346.3030
regencyhealthcare.com/locations/cityview Cityview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center offers services including in-house physical, occupational, and speech therapists; stroke care; cardiac care; wound care, IV therapy, orthopedic care, diabetic care, and management; among others.
Emerald Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center 5600 Davis Blvd. North Richland Hills 76180
817.503.4700
emeraldhillsrehabhcc.com
Emerald Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center offers physical, occupational, and speech rehabilitation in a patient-centric approach.
Fort Worth Transitional Care Center 850 12th Ave. Fort Worth 76104
817.882.8289
regencyhealthcare.com/locations/fortworth
The Fort Worth Transitional Care Center offers various services including inhouse physical, occupational, and speech therapists; post-surgical care; wound care; IV therapy; and orthopedic care.
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Arlington 3200 Matlock Road Arlington 76015
817.468.4000
encompasshealth.com/arlingtonrehab
Encompass Health offers various rehabilitation services for amputations, brain injuries, stroke, trauma, and other conditions.
HIGHER STANDARDS GREATER HOPE
For leading edge surgical approaches and high-quality care, visit Texas Breast Specialists, part of the Texas Oncology network. We offer comprehensive breast care, including diagnostics, surgical services, and medical and radiation oncology. With compassion and understanding, our physicians partner with you to help you understand your options and develop a personalized treatment plan. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit www.TexasBreastSpecialists.com.
MORE THAN 20 LOCATIONS IN THE DFW METROPLEX
Alison Unzeitig Barron, M.D. Carrollton and Dallas, TX
Katrina E. Birdwell, M.D., FACS Dallas, Mansfield and Waxahachie, TX
W. Lee Bourland Jr., M.D., FACS Dallas, TX
Mary B. Brian, M.D., FACS Bedford, TX
Lynn Canavan, M.D., FACS Denison, McKinney and Plano, TX
Tuoc N. Dao, M.D., FACS Carrollton and Dallas, TX
Allison A. DiPasquale, M.D. Dallas and Mansfield, TX
Amy Eastman, M.D., FACS Rockwall, TX
Archana Ganaraj, M.D. Dallas, TX
Meghan Hansen, M.D. Frisco and Plano, TX
Jennifer Hecht, D.O., FACOS Fort Worth and Granbury, TX
Melissa Kinney, M.D. Flower Mound and Lewisville, TX
Martin L. Koonsman, M.D., FACS, CPE Dallas, TX
Jeffrey P. Lamont, M.D., FACS Dallas, TX
Angela E. Seda, M.D.
Arlington, Bedford and Keller, TX
Carolyn L. Thomas, M.D., FACS Dallas, TX
Rachel Karen Warren, M.D. Dallas, TX
Medical Guide
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Cityview 6701 Oakmont Blvd. Fort Worth 76132
817.370.4700
encompasshealth.com/fortworthrehab
The hospital holds the Joint Commission Disease-Specific Care Certification in Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Stroke Rehabilitation.
Southwest Nursing & Rehabilitation
5300 Altamesa Blvd. Fort Worth 76133
817.346.1800
southwestnursingcenter.com
Southwest Nursing & Rehab Center specializes in individualized treatment programs with a team of occupational therapists, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, and speech language pathologists.
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance
10864 Texas Health Trail Fort Worth 76244
682.212.2000
texashealth.org/en/locations/texas-healthalliance
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance’s therapy center offers programs in occupational, orthopedics, and physical therapy; sports medicine; aquatics; women’s health; and others.
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. Fort Worth 76104
The Therapy Services Center at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth offers various treatment programs and facilities equipped with a heated indoor pool and advanced therapy equipment.
Programs center on education and progressive exercise designed to help those who have chronic lung disease to return to an active and enjoyable lifestyle.
A team of physical and occupational therapists and speech pathologists provide patients comprehensive therapy in a 7,000-square-foot facility. Services include sports medicine and orthopedic services, occupational and physical therapy, speech therapy, sports rehab, certified hand therapy, and vestibular and balance therapy.
Texas Health Neighborhood Care & Wellness Burleson
2750 SW Wilshire Blvd. Burleson 76028
817.782.8000
texashealth.org/locations/texas-healthburleson
Services include comprehensive outpatient physical therapy, sports therapy, hand
therapy, and cardiac rehabilitation. The center features advanced technology and equipment for patient evaluation and treatment coupled with a team of professionals who oversee a patient’s rehabilitation.
Texas Rehabilitation Hospital of Arlington 900 W. Arbrook Blvd. Arlington 76015 682.304.6000
texasrehabarlington.com
40 beds
Texas Rehabilitation Hospital of Arlington is an acute rehabilitation hospital that helps patients recovering from stroke, brain injury, trauma, and other issues.
Texas Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Worth
425 Alabama Ave. Fort Worth 76104
817.820.3400
texasrehabhospital.com
66 beds
Texas Rehabilitation is designed for patients recovering from major illnesses, traumas, or surgeries. It is a joint venture between Texas Health Resources and Centerre Healthcare Corp.
Sports Rehab Specialists 1901 Cooper St. Fort Worth 76104
817.877.8977
sportsrehabspecialists.net
Sports Rehab Specialists is a privately owned outpatient physical therapy clinic. Programs and services include general orthopedic and post-surgical rehab, spine stabilization, manual therapy, return-towork programs, custom shoe orthotics, vertigo/vestibular rehab, pelvic floor dysfunction/women’s health, and fall prevention programs.
FOCUS
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS
The partnership between you and your doctor is one of the most vital pairings for a happy and fit lifestyle. In matters of health, you should never settle. Selecting the right practitioner can make all the difference. To aid in choosing the perfect person for your medical needs, a few local physicians have purchased space to tell you more about themselves, their practices, and how partnering with them will improve your quality of life.
The information in this section is provided by the advertisers and has not been independently verified by Fort Worth Magazine.
Accent on You Cosmetic Surgery
Center and Medical Spa
Y. Anthony Nakamura, M.D., P.A.
SPECIALTY: Plastic Surgery. EDUCATION: B.A., UT Austin; M.D., UTMB, Galveston; Intern resident and general surgery, LSU School of Medicine, Charity Hospital New Orleans; Plastic Surgery resident, UTMB, Galveston. CERTIFICATION: Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. WHAT SETS US APART: My concentration in the body contouring part of aesthetic surgery, as well as 31-plus years of experience in knowing what works and what doesn’t. COSMETIC SURGERY CENTER SERVICES: Breast enlargement, breast lift, liposuction body contouring, waist tuck, and mommy makeover. MEDI SPA SERVICES: Cosmetic fillers, Restylane/Juvederm, Botox®/Dysport®, medical grade facials/chemical peels, microdermabrasion, SkinPen®, CoolSculpting®, AquaGold®, and vitamin B12 shots. PATIENT CARE: My goal is to create a beautiful and natural appearance. To ensure the highest level of care possible, our
beautiful facility combines a surgery center that is fully accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. with a medical spa. We are one of very few surgery centers that has a private, one doctor, fully accredited facility. FREE ADVICE: When consulting for surgery, do so with a board-certified plastic surgeon. I have been practicing plastic surgery for over 31 years and plan to continue for many more years. I am in surgery four days a week and in consultations one day, and there is no place I would rather be. I love what I do.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
3030 S. Cooper St. • Arlington, Texas 76015 817.417.7200 • Fax 817.417.7300 accentonyou.com
Diane Blaising, Au.D. Cityview Audiology & Hearing Aids, Inc.
SPECIALTY: Audiology and hearing aids prescription and fitting for 24-plus years. Expert advice in hearing aid product comparisons and technologies; tinnitus evaluation and treatment. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Doctor of Audiology, A.T. Still University for Health Sciences; M.S. Communication Disorders, UT Dallas, Callier Center for Communication Disorders. MEMBERSHIPS: Board-Certified by American Board of Audiology; Fellow, American Academy of Audiology; Academy of Doctors of Audiology; Member, Christian Medical and Dental Association; Adjunct Faculty, Callier Center for Communication Disorders and University of North Texas. GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: When a patient refers a family member or friend into her care. INNOVATIONS: We have hearing instruments with artificial intelligence using integrated sensors, allowing the hearing aid to track several brain and
body activities including sensing your heartbeat and detecting falls with messages sent to your chosen contacts. Tinnitus sufferers can have relief with a custom tinnitus treatment program in the hearing aid.
PATIENT CARE: Blaising takes the time needed to listen to patients’ concerns and formulates a unique treatment plan for each one. FREE
ADVICE: Cognitive Decline – Those with untreated hearing loss experience a 30% to 60% greater decline in thinking abilities compared to those without hearing loss. It is always a good idea to treat your hearing loss with hearing aids. PICTURED: Dr. Diane Blaising.
MEDICAL SPECIALTY: Geriatrics, Senior Living. EDUCATION/ CERTIFICATIONS: Master of Science in Nursing. MEMBERSHIPS/ AFFILIATIONS: Texas Assisted Living Association, Alzheimer’s Association, National Association of Directors of Nursing. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a direct impact on our organization. I am extremely proud of the dedication and commitment of our staff at Civitas Senior Living and the way they responded to the pandemic. The team at Civitas and throughout our communities has spent tireless hours on protocols to provide high-quality care and service during the pandemic, while also keeping our residents safe. It is an honor to serve as the Chief Operating Officer and to work alongside such a passionate group of individuals. INNOVATIONS: We have a forward-thinking team that focuses on innovations to improve the resident experience. Our team has
assembled robust dashboards of key performance indicators across all departments that provide real-time data regarding our communities, residents, and their needs. UNIQUE PATIENT CARE: With over 17 years of Senior Living experience, I have a passion for serving this population and enjoy finding fun and unique ways to provide the best quality of life for the residents. PICTURED: Madalyn Burkhart, Director of Clinical Operations; Misty Miller, Chief Operating Officer; Brooke Wood, Regional Director of Wellness; Hollie Bangura, Director of Wellness Initiatives; Bobby Lane, Chief Wellness Officer.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
930 W. First St., Ste. 400 • Fort Worth, Texas 76102 817.386.8888
CivitasSeniorLiving.com
DFW Center for Spinal Disorders
MEDICAL SPECIALTY: Spine surgery. EDUCATION: Biology, Chemistry, Business Administration, magna cum laude, Presbyterian College; M.D., with honors, Medical College of Georgia. HOSPITAL AFFILIATIONS: Baylor Surgical Fort Worth, Texas Health Fort Worth, Baylor Oakmont Surgery Center, Wise Health Surgical Hospital. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Medical mission work in indigent countries has been the most gratifying for me. These people with cancer, infections, or paralysis have no access to help, and repairing them feels wonderful. INNOVATIONS: Disc replacement in the neck is a brilliant development to avoid fusion and minimize risk of breakdown of other levels. When fusions are necessary, however, I use techniques that spare the muscle and use biologic properties of the implants placed to allow for less stiffness created, less exposure required, and faster healing.
UNIQUE PATIENT CARE: I think I tend to place a larger focus on exercise, strength, and flexibility than others. I also would say at times I am brutally honest, but in general, I treat patients like they are my family, and I take their pain very personally. FREE ADVICE: Almost all spinal issues need to fail nonsurgical efforts prior to surgery. I prefer to direct that nonsurgical care through collaboration with other providers to ensure the patient has the best chance of improvement. PICTURED: Jason Tinley, M.D.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
6900 Harris Parkway, Ste. 310 • Fort Worth, Texas 76132
MEDICAL SPECIALTY: Dr. Farah is a globally recognized and highly accomplished Invasive Cardiologist practicing in Fort Worth. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Board-Certified Cardiologist, Board-Certified Nuclear Cardiology, Board-Certified Internal Medicine. AWARDS/HONORS: Top Doctors, Fort Worth Magazine, 2020; Rising Faculty of the Year 2018, University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Dr. Farah is the founder, CEO and medical director of Bentley Heart; founding director of the Global Health Alliance Foundation; recently nominated to serve on the Global Health Advisory Board for the Government of India; has served as a spokesperson for COVID-19 and heart disease; and has been featured on different news media both nationally and internationally more than 20 times this year. She was recognized in two different books this year by authors from Australia and the U.S.
HOSPITAL AFFILIATIONS: Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital, Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center, Medical City Fort Worth, Harris Methodist Fort Worth. UNIQUE PATIENT CARE: Dr. Farah is an internationally recognized Cardiologist, and what sets her apart from the rest is her ability to practice evidence-based medicine while combining mind-body-soul with a holistic approach for the best individualized care for her patients. FREE ADVICE: The heart is the most important part of the body and prevention is key.
Drs. Brian Tobias, Nathan Lesley, Jonathan Guevara, Christopher Bates
SPECIALTY: Orthopedic Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery. EDUCATION: Our physicians have trained at prestigious programs including the Cleveland Clinic, Brown, and Wake Forest University. CERTIFICATIONS: Our physicians have all completed sub-specialty fellowships focused on the upper extremity including Hand, Elbow, and Shoulder Surgery. MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS: Our physicians are members in several national and international societies. PATIENT CARE: We provide expert care from the fingertip to the shoulder. If you have carpal tunnel syndrome, a broken wrist, elbow pain, a rotator cuff tear, or anything in between, we have fellowship trained Orthopedic Surgeons at your disposal. INNOVATIONS: The Hand to Shoulder Center was designed from the ground up to improve care for the people who matter most, our patients. This includes in-office radiology, on-site therapy, same or next day appointments, custom splint fabrication,
newer and minimally invasive techniques to speed up your recovery, and even in-office procedure rooms for some surgeries. OUR ADVICE: Expect to have a custom treatment plan built for you. We do much more than repair damaged or painful extremities. We tailor treatment to meet the unique demands of each patient. Whether your goal is returning to professional sports or working in your garden pain-free, The Hand to Shoulder Center will help you accomplish your goals.
PICTURED: (left to right) Drs. Christopher Bates, Jonathan Guevara, Brian Tobias, and Nathan Lesley.
SPECIALTY: Ophthalmology: Cataract Surgery, Premium Lens Implants (Crystalens, PanOptix, Tecnis, Toric Lens), Laser Refractive Surgery, Diseases of the Retina and Vitreous, Diabetic Retinopathy/ Lasers, Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma Treatment. EDUCATION: B.A., magna cum laude, Harvard University, 1986; M.D., University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, 1990; Ophthalmology Residency, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, 1995; Vitreoretinal Fellowship, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 1997. CERTIFICATIONS: Board-Certified, American Board of Ophthalmology. AWARDS: Physician’s Recognition Award, American Medical Association. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Texas Ophthalmological Association, Texas Medical Association, Tarrant County Medical Society.
AFFILIATIONS: Baylor Scott & White Surgical Hospital-Las Colinas, Baylor Scott & White-Irving, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, Texas Health Arlington Surgery Center. PATIENT CARE: A commitment to excellence in eye care is enhanced by our outstanding, caring staff. Dr. Reinke is a uniquely talented surgeon who personally provides all preoperative and postoperative care.
CONTACT INFORMATION: 1310 N. White Chapel Blvd. • Southlake, Texas 76092
MEDICAL SPECIALTY: Professional Weight Loss, Nutrition and Fitness Consulting. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: Bryce Calvillo –Doctorate of Chiropractic; B.S., Health and Wellness. Angela Calvillo –B.S., Nutrition; B.A. Psychology. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL
ACHIEVEMENTS: First weight loss clinic in Fort Worth to incorporate 3D Body Scanning, DNA Nutrition and Fitness Testing and direct one-on-one consulting with educated and professional staff. INNOVATIONS: SciFit Center utilizes state-of-the-art technology such as the Fit3D Body Scanner to monitor patient progress and DNA Nutrition and Fitness Testing to identify the most effective strategies for particular genetic profiles. The technologically advanced body scanner will provide you with the most accurate body composition data, such as body fat percentage, muscle mass, and anatomical measurements.
UNIQUE PATIENT CARE: SciFit’s scientific approach focuses on
working smarter, not harder, and effectively balancing healthy eating while still enjoying life’s indulgences. Through specifically formulated nutrition and fitness programs that are tailored best for you, see results in as little as two weeks. FREE ADVICE: The key to any weight loss journey is consistency and sustainability. You should approach your goals with an enjoyable and manageable lifestyle change, rather than a difficult to execute fad diet that keeps you from enjoying life.
PICTURED: Dr. Bryce Calvillo; Angela Calvillo.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
2408 Forest Park Blvd. • Fort Worth, Texas 76110
817.975.7583
SciFitCenter.com
HealthyLife@SciFitCenter.com
Barbara Vaughn, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CCM
Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center – Fort Worth.
MEDICAL SPECIALTY: Nursing leadership. Clinical background in acute care, medical surgical care nursing. EDUCATION/CERTIFICATIONS: BSN and MSN from Texas Woman’s University, Denton; DNP from American Sentinel University, Aurora, Colorado. AWARDS/ HONORS: Completion of the SMU/Baylor Nurse Executive Fellowship Program; completion of the Leadership Lab for Women by the ELI Group. HOSPITAL AFFILIATIONS: Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center, Fort Worth. GREATEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS: Completion of the DNP program for executive leaders; guest presentation at the UT School of Nursing on “My Leadership Journey”; guest presentation at TWU DNP program discussing the role of the practice experience in a DNP program. INNOVATIONS: Being able to put together not only a group of nurses but other disciplines in the facil-
ity in order to obtain the Pathway to Excellence designation. UNIQUE PATIENT CARE: My focus and passion around patient care are always putting what is best for the patient first. My focus as a leader has been on enhancing quality and safety through effective teamwork, while placing a high priority on staff development. FREE ADVICE: If given the opportunity, identify your passion and do all that you can to live out that passion. As a leader, be fair and consistent in how you manage situations, and your life will be so much easier.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
1400 Eighth Ave. • Fort Worth, Texas 76104
817.926.2544
BSWHealth.com/FortWorth
John Ronan, FAIA
Mark Wellen, FAIA
The garage door and garage door operator brand women choose and recommend the most is the Overhead Door™ Brand. We have won the Women’s Choice Award for 9 years in a row. Overhead Door Company of Fort Worth™ is a woman-owned business and she is a proud TCU Alumni! Go Horned Frogs! Serving Our Community For Over 50 years Contact us
and
Twelve Cowboys Way Some big names watch this TV on gameday, so the Interior Designer required perfection and we delivered. This TV surround was a custom feature to compliment the elegant outdoor setting.
Pavillion at Preston Hollow This all steel Pavilion in Preston Hollow
Color Story
Feeling Blue
Given what a tumultuous year it’s been, it seems only fitting that classic blue would be Pantone’s selection as the color of 2020. But puns and metaphors aside, this quintessential hue remains a favorite among designers, decorators, and homeowners alike. Ironically, classic blue breathes both edginess and calmness into a home, and it plays nice with almost any color on the spectrum. It’s truly a hue for all seasons.
1. Blue Floral Print Pillowcase $14.90, Zara Home, zarahome.com
2. Organic Modern Kloot Freeform Bunching Coffee Table $2,499, France & Son, franceandson.com
4. Mare Wave Wallpaper $198, Anthropologie, anthropologie.com
5. Nagar Glass Vase, 20 cm $39, Structube, structube.com
6. Prisha Rug $48, Lulu and Georgia, luluandgeorgia.com
7. Espada Sofa $1,698, APT 2B, apt2b.com
8. Blue Tree Panels $775 each, Natural Curiosities, naturalcuriosities.com
MAKE THE MOST OF HOME
Zemora Collection
GET A FREE ESTIMATE
Our Work Speaks For Itself. Our pricing is competitive with home centers, and our estimates are absolutely free with no strings attached.
Our design software allows you to take a virtual tour and view the entire room before renovation begins. Once you see our preliminary design, we can make changes quickly. We measure every job, then work with you to design your dream kitchen, office, entertainment room or bathroom. Once you’ve approved the plans, we take over seamlessly to ensure your peace of mind from inception to completion, keeping to both time and budget.
UNMATCHABLE
When you find the perfect color, nothing else will do Perfection comes from our paint and our proprietary Gennex® colorants, together, creating results that are breathtaking. Rely on Benjamin Moore® for premium quality and Gennex Color Technology, which makes our long-lasting colors, all 3,500 of them, one-of-a-kind. Unmatchable.
Official paint supplier for two of the Fort Worth Magazine Dream Street Homes: Atwood Custom Homes and Willow Tree Custom Homes
Explore colors, get inspired and find your locally owned Benjamin Moore store at benjaminmoore.com.
WALL: Golden Retriever 2165-30, Regal® Select Eggshell
MISTLETOE MASTERPIECE
One of Fort Worth's most celebrated interior designers takes on a project that required a little elbow grease. But the nature of her clients made it more than worth the effort.
by Tori Rubinson and Brian Kendall photography by Stephen Karlisch
To some, working with one's parents can create stress, havoc, and, well, lead to unwanted and petty arguments. But, according to local interior designer Tori Rubinson of Tori Rubinson Interiors, this couldn't be further from her experience collaborating with the 'rents on their new Fort Worth home.
"In a way, I had an advantage because I really understood what my parents' desires would be and what they would love," Rubinson says. "They were just trusting, which I think usually ends up when you have that trust with client and designer."
The result is an interior design that perfectly mixes traditional and modern elements while seamlessly incorporating pieces with sentimental value.
Here's Rubinson's explanation of the home:
"My parents moved to Fort Worth to be close to family, as my
family and my brother and his wife live here in town. They found a great home in Mistletoe Heights, but it needed some loving. The home was built in the ’90s, so relatively new compared to the rest of the neighborhood. It had a great layout and nice high ceilings. The original owner was a builder herself and took pride in her work. There was little doubt as to the quality of the home; it just needed to be updated.
"One of the things we kept was the moldings in the front portion of the house. They were large-scaled, and with a fresh coat of paint, they took on a new life.
"We updated every inch of the house — reworked the layout of the kitchen, extended the laundry room, and added on a new covered porch and patio. I feel the biggest story of this home is about family, history, and traditions."
This room is filled with treasures passed down from my grandmother to my mom. Each piece has lasted the test of time but has been updated through new fabrics.
The entry features family photos from generations past, which run up the formal entry staircase. I love to use wallpaper to create a unique backdrop which sets the tone of the space.
This is another table and chairs set that was my grandmother’s. We reupholstered the seat cushions and added a custom bench seat with fabric that livens the space.
This room also has furniture and rug that were in the home my mom grew up in. With a beautiful mural wallcovering and silk drapes and beautiful new paint scheme, this room was totally transformed.
The custom screens were a housewarming gift I made from Japanese fabric wraps. They set the tone for the whole room. The
is custom monogrammed from
bedding
Matouk
The wallpaper border was original to the room. We ran with it. New custom bedding and window treatments mixed with some new furniture, mixed with old sweet dishes, all made for a sweet girl’s room.
The master bathroom is elegant and ties in with the traditional architecture of the home.
The back patio is a favorite place. My parents love to grill and entertain out here. The backyard backs up to the Trinity River, so you see nothing but trees out back. It is a beautiful backdrop.
EXPERTADVICE
Fort Worth Magazine asked the following advertisers to provide our readers with Expert Advice in the individual field in which they are specialists. Just like you, we rely on others with experience in their specialized fields to provide us with useful information. Whether you are searching for a cosmetic surgeon, an attorney, a financial planner or any specialist in between, Fort Worth Magazine’s Expert Advice section is a great place to begin your selection process.
PICKING THE RIGHT WINE FOR THE CROWD
In the coming months, many of us will begin shopping for gifts and planning celebratory gatherings. As a gift, wine is an excellent choice because there are so many types and price ranges to choose from. We know that this variety can also be overwhelming when trying to select a wine that fits the right situation or person.
At Lost Oak Winery, we frequently receive calls to suggest pairing wines with foods or to help in selecting a gift for colleagues, friends, and family. With a few simple questions about the recipient or the occasion, we have found that it’s fairly easy to identify a wine they will love.
In the land of sweet tea and Dr. Pepper, there are some dead giveaways as to what a few of the Texas wine drinkers would prefer.
If sweet drinks are their preferred beverages, we would suggest a sweet wine such as moscato or riesling. If they prefer carbonated beverages like sodas or fizzy waters, they might prefer a sparkling wine which is any wine that has carbonation added to it. For whiskey lovers and stout beer drinkers, where the tastes are strong and distinctive, we’d suggest one of the bold dry red wines such as a cabernet sauvignon or Montepulciano. If your whiskey lover pairs their drink with a Coke, then we’d suggest a fruitier, softer red such as a merlot. For light beer drinkers, go with a dry crisp white such as sauvignon blanc.
Lost Oak Winery’s event team frequently guides guests through the selection process to identify the perfect wines for parties and weddings, which means some-
times they won’t know what their guests typically prefer. Make sure to consider the occasion and time of year. For those hot Texas days, you can’t go wrong with a light rosé or white wine — sweet or dry. Are your guests coming from outside of Texas? Provide a Texas-made wine ... we often suggest our blends, Texas Duet and Texas Trio.
The Lost Oak team is skilled in helping guests identify their favorite types of wines. Through guided tastings, you can try what you like and receive suggestions from someone who’s been guiding wine drinkers for years.
* ROXANNE MYERS
LOST OAK WINERY
8101 County Road 802, Burleson, Texas 76028 817.426.6625
lostoakwinery.com
CONSTRUCTION DETAILING: WWSD – WHAT WOULD SUSAN DO?
What is Construction Detailing? Construction Detailing is where the form of interior design meets the function of spatial planning, allowing custom design elements to be woven into the fabric of a home. It is based on fully understanding the construction process, then sourcing and refining the details that go into the overall design. When a designer collaborates with architects and builders at the inception of a project, they develop a comprehensive approach that allows for the orchestration of every nuance that makes a home unique and seamlessly functional. The result is a home that is as cohesive as it is beautiful from the ground up. As Coach John Wooden once said, “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” At Susan Semmelmann Interiors, we settle for nothing less than big things and big results for our clients!
Why does Construction Detailing matter? Susan Semmelmann Interiors is devoted to giving our clients the top-ofthe-line experience they deserve. With our vast experience in building homes and understanding the construction process, we know that Construction Detailing is crucial. It’s the difference between limiting the design to predetermined spaces versus having the freedom to craft each space to complement the homeowner’s signature style and taste. Think in terms of buying a product off the rack as opposed to having the same product custom-made; anything custom-made is fine-tuned to create a perfect, individualized fit. The process of Construction Detailing bridges the gap between construction and the critical elements of design that make a home unique and ultra-functional, down to the finest point. This all-inclusive approach ensures that nothing is missed, and the result is a
home that fits like a custom-made glove! What does this process look like when working with clients? We love working with our Construction Detailing clients because we know they are getting the very best from their homebuilding experience. They benefit greatly from a “meeting of the minds” of everyone touching their project, from designers to builders to architects and beyond. This process allows us to sit with each client, ask questions, catch their vision, and be in the creative flow that results in a framework for their desired outcome. We are then able to take the big picture and begin filling in the details that range in scope from larger, structural considerations to the smallest accessory decisions. This ongoing process lasts for the duration of the project as plans are fluid and flexible to a certain point. We stay in constant contact with our clients through all phases of design and construction so we can give process updates, consult on design decisions, and provide peace of mind by staying on top of budget considerations.
What are some examples of Construction Detailing? When we say Susan Semmelmann Interiors touches every detail of a home, we mean it. The Construction Detailing process guarantees that every design aspect is considered and cross-referenced for its viability, functionality, and ultimate aesthetic quality of a home. When beginning the design of a home’s interior, fabrics are always selected first as an anchor, and all other interior elements are chosen accordingly. These selections include items such as flooring, hardware, paint, lighting, countertops, and custom cabinetry, as well as bathroom tiling, tub surrounds, showers, and fixtures. There is nothing that can’t be customized to suit a client’s taste and add a personalized feel to a home. The framing
stage is vital as it dictates the functionality and flow and sets the backdrop to highlight the interior finishings. Important structural considerations include architectural details, strategic placement of lighting, outlets, and plumbing fixtures, as well as feature walls, designated spaces for artwork, and proper setup for furniture placement and entertaining. We consider all of the above and much more when consulting with each client.
What is Architectural Detailing? Architectural Detailing focuses on the overall character and defining personality of a home’s structural design. Think along the lines of doors, trims, moldings, railings, curved or linear lines. The consistency of detail in the architectural design of a structure is crucial to the integrity of the whole. We like to think of the structure as the canvas and the interior detail as the paint, so the canvas must be smooth and uninterrupted for the masterpiece to shine. This does not mean, however, that architectural details need to be dull or flat. Quite the contrary, they can take otherwise monotonous spaces and bump them up a notch in style and visual appeal, as long as the continuity is intact throughout every area of the home.
How long have you been in the Construction Detailing business? Susan Semmelmann Interiors has 20-plus years of experience in the construction and interior design industries. Construction Detailing is in our DNA, it is our absolute passion, and it brings us great joy to walk with our clients through the process of designing their homes from the foundation to the very last finishing touch. We are in the business of building dreams from the ground up!
* SUSAN SEMMELMANN
OWNER, SUSAN SEMMELMANN INTERIORS
4372 West Vickery Blvd. Fort Worth, Texas 76107
940-577-1000
www.semmelmanninteriors.com
WHY CHOOSE A FIDUCIARY FINANCIAL ADVISOR?
Having a trusted financial advisor on your side can make a big difference in planning for a comfortable and secure future. When seeking an advisor, learning these two words will help level the playing field: fiduciary and suitability. Knowing the difference can affect the quality of advice you receive, who provides the counsel, and how much your wealth grows in coming years.
Financial advisors are governed by two federal regulatory standards: the fiduciary standard and suitability standard. Under the fiduciary standard, advisors have a legal obligation to always act in the best interests of their clients. Meaning, they must consider several factors when recommending investments, including, but not limited, to riskiness of investments, reasonableness of fees and potential for conflicts of interest.
Financial advisors who operate under the suitability standard are required to confirm investments purchased by clients are suitable for their needs — even if lower-cost alternatives are available.
When seeking a financial professional, family and friends are a great place to start, but make sure their recommendations follow the fiduciary standard.
If you would like additional information about working with a fiduciary financial advisor for your trust and estate planning needs or investment management strategies, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re ready to help.
* KATHY CHRISTOFFEL
ARGENT TRUST
4200 South Hulen St., Ste. 217 Fort Worth, Texas 76109
817.502.2931
kchristoffel@argenttrust.com
argentfinancial.com
LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET TRENDS
Q: David, how would you describe the Fort Worth real estate market now?
CAPTEX BANK — READY TO SERVE YOU
A: Extremely hot. Prices are up about 5%, year-over-year, across the city. It’s a great time for sellers. There is a ton of demand with very little supply. And, buyers are enjoying the benefits of ultra-low interest rates. Many buyers are coming from other parts of the country, and they view our real estate as extremely affordable and a great value proposition.
Q: How would you describe the market in an area where you focus?
A: We live in The River District and spend a bunch of time on the west side of town. Houses aren’t staying on the market long, and we’re getting multiple offers for properly priced properties. All the cities bordering Fort Worth are hot. Nice neighborhoods have popped up seemingly out of nowhere — and there’s no shortage of demand.
Q: How has the pandemic affected how you work?
A: We’ve never been busier. People are moving out of the major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco. They’re moving here in a big way. Recently, I sold a premium property in Southlake to a buyer out of New York City who bought it sight unseen. A buyer out of Portland is building a portfolio of rental properties in Fort Worth. The secret’s out: Fort Worth real estate provides incredible bang for the buck.
* DAVID CHICOTSKY
BRIGGS FREEMAN SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY
6400 Mira Vista Blvd.
Fort Worth, Texas 76132
817.888.8088
briggsfreeman.com chicotsky.com
CapTex Bank is a Fort Worth-based community bank with over 100 years of Texas history. At CapTex, we strongly believe that the owner-operated “small businesses” in our community fuel the economy, and the entrepreneurs who start them are a different breed. We are that breed. In fact, every member of our executive team has been deeply involved in at least one bank startup. That makes a difference in the way we look at opportunities and solutions. It also influences the way we approach our banking relationships. We know that we must EARN your business by being responsive, respectful, and knowledgeable, and we will KEEP your business by continuously investing in our products, technology and security, AND teaching you, our client, how to use them. We feel strongly that local decisions are the best decisions. This is OUR market, and we believe that our depth of local knowledge gives our clients a great advantage. If you’re interested in working with a likeminded entrepreneurial team, give us a call or stop by. PICTURED: Mike Thomas, Jr.
* CAPTEX BANK
2929 W. Fifth St.
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
817.569.6226
captex.bank
ARE HEARING LOSS AND DEMENTIA LINKED?
That’s the suggestion raised by a 2011 study by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the National Institute on Aging. A study published in February reinforces the theory that the two conditions may be linked.
“A lot of people ignore hearing loss because it’s such a slow and insidious process as we age,” said Dr. Frank Lin, the lead author on both reports. “Even if people are not affected, we’re showing that it may well be a more serious problem.”
Some 17% of American adults — 36 million people — report some degree of hearing loss, according to the National Institutes of Health’s center devoted to communication disorders. And more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.
What’s the connection between hearing loss and dementia?
• Cognitive load, which means a brain is so busy trying to make sense of something — in this case, muffled sounds that it knows should form distinct words — that its working memory is compromised. If all of a brain’s energy is devoted to trying to turn sounds into words, it’s difficult to then assign meaning to those words or to remember them.
• Pathology, or a disease process that results in both hearing loss and dementia.
• Social isolation, which other research has associated with dementia. People who’ve lost some hearing encounter this when they can’t take part in group conversations.
If you’re experiencing hearing loss, treat it. Sooner, rather than later.
* ROBIN CARSON, AU.D.
CARSON HEARING CARE
817.737.4327
rcarson@carsonhearing.com
REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY ADAPTING TO CHANGES IN THE MIDST OF COVID-19
The last few months have resulted in changes in market conditions but also in the way most of us have had to conduct business. Open houses, showings, and client meetings were done via FaceTime, Zoom, and Teams; closings were held in title company parking lots; and we all realized the value of the place we call home. In addition to the way the business of real estate has been conducted, we are seeing a change in what buyers are looking for in a home. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, we have all had an abundance of time to evaluate what is important in a home and what we need. Increased functionality in our homes has suddenly become critical, and home buyers’ wants are reflecting this shift. Rooms and features that may have been considered a nice amenity are now being recategorized as a “must-have.” Features such as home offices, media rooms, pools, built-in desks for homework, and proximity to a park or a green space — all of which were once thought of as additional amenities — are now being considered by some with the same gravity as kitchens and master baths. Over the years, we have seen a decreased demand for dining rooms, but since the quarantine, the request for a home with one or a space for family dining has increased. Perhaps families dining together with more regularity has rekindled this tradition, reminding us of what is most important in a home, the ones we love.
* RICK WEGMAN
CHRISTIES INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE | ULTERRE
rickw@ulterre.com
817.584.7033
ulterre.com
HOME
HOW TO AFFECT HOMELESSNESS HERE AT HOME
You’ve seen people camped out under overpasses, sleeping behind buildings, sitting outside of businesses, standing on street corners. As a fellow human, you feel the tug at your heart to help, but how?
Many organizations in Tarrant County are doing excellent work with people experiencing homelessness, functioning together within the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition (TCHC) to address needs including food, clothing, temporary shelter, health care access, permanent housing, and more.
DRC Solutions concentrates on Housing First, a proven approach to homelessness, which has demonstrated that contributing factors — unemployment, health issues, addiction, mental illness, etc. — are more easily and more successfully mitigated when someone has a clean and safe place to call home. DRC’s programs are all designed with housing as the primary goal.
Concentrate your personal efforts on supporting local organizations. Instead of driving down East Lancaster handing out sandwiches, contact one of the shelters and ask how you can support their meal distributions. Instead of giving the person at the intersection a few dollars, make financial investment with an organization that is truly changing lives daily.
The most important thing you can do is treat people with dignity and respect. People experiencing homelessness are individuals with unique life experiences. They are not a homogeneity of one-size-fits-all stereotypes. Judgment and contempt only make their journeys home more difficult. A little compassion goes a long way.
* Learn more about the DRC and our Housing First programs at DRC-Solutions.org.
FINANCING THE PURCHASE OF A BUSINESS
Q: What factors do banks evaluate for a loan request to purchase a business?
A: Banks will evaluate the owner’s or management team’s experience in running this type of business and assess the reasonableness of the business plan and financial proforma developed by the owners and/or management team.
Analyzing the owner’s financial capacity is an important factor in the consideration of this type of loan. The owner must have the capacity to carry the debt in the event the business does not perform to a level needed to cover the debt payments.
Q: What do I need to provide to the bank for them to evaluate my loan request?
A: Banks will need to see a business plan that shows a financial proforma and the assumptions used to develop the proforma. The proforma should cover at least twelve months but preferably for the next two years. The business plan should outline the business’s competitive landscape and an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities. In addition, the bank will need the last three fiscal year operating statements on the business under the previous ownership. The borrower should also provide a bio on each owner and the management team of the business. Finally, the borrower should provide a current financial statement and three years of tax returns for each owner of the business.
INNOVATIVE NATUROPATHIC BRAIN TREATMENT
THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR ROOF MAINTENANCE
What if a treatment existed that could impact your brain in such a way that your anxiety or depression could potentially decrease from a level 10 (severe) to unthinkable levels such as 0, 1, or 2 in a matter of 45 minutes (or less)? What if long-term results of this treatment were possible within 15-20 sessions? What if such a therapy was FDA approved and could produce effective naturopathic healing that fosters homeostasis within your brain, therefore reducing issues associated with trauma, PTSD, mild-traumatic brain injuries, ADHD, addiction, insomnia, migraines, or strokes? Does this sound too good to be true? Over one year ago, I certainly thought so. That is, until I became a certified provider of a cutting-edge treatment called IASIS Micro-Current Neurofeedback (MCN) therapy and began providing the treatment myself.
Metroplex Counseling and Wellness is the first counseling center in DFW to offer IASIS MCN. This isn’t your traditional neurofeedback therapy; rather, it is a form of neurofeedback that uses low intensity pulses of energy imperceptible to the person receiving treatment (and no, this is nothing like electroshock therapy). Stuck, maladaptive brain patterns caused by acute trauma or chronic struggles associated with issues such as anxiety, depression, or ADHD are disrupted, and the brain responds by laying down new neural pathways. Nothing more than sitting still for 30-45 minutes in a very safe and relaxing atmosphere.
* JEREMY LELEK, PH.D., LPC-S
OWNER, METROPLEX COUNSELING AND WELLNESS 2501 Parkview Drive, Ste. 220 Fort Worth, Texas 76102
817.571.4110
metroplexcounseling.com
In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, roofs are subjected to extreme weather conditions, such as hail, wind, heavy rain, and ice. A roof is often neglected due to the fact it cannot always be seen, and damage is often noticed after it is too late. Damage that may occur from even the smallest leak could result in deterioration of the roof insulation and deck; interior ceiling, wall, and floor damage; as well as damage to interior furnishings and fixtures. For every $1 you spend on your roof leak, there is an average of $9 in interior damage potential if the roof fails. Stay ahead of these problems with regular roof maintenance. A roof maintenance program could highlight any potential problems before they occur. Early detection is important for maintaining your roof and avoiding costly emergency repairs. So, what can you do? Simply check up on it as often as possible, especially after a heavy storm or high winds. You just need a good pair of binoculars to inspect your roof, and look for missing, curling, or cracked shingles; peeling flashing; or missing granules. Any of these signs of damage should be looked at as soon as possible by a professional roofing contractor who can safely make the necessary repairs. Call us to schedule an annual maintenance visit.
You may think you know what a heart attack or stroke looks like, but they don’t always stick to a script — and they won’t wait for a pandemic to pass. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, and 90% of women have at least one risk factor for heart attack or stroke. The good news is you can lower your chance of a sudden event. Start by knowing your risk factors for heart disease.
Some heart disease risks are in your genes rather than your behavior. If there’s a family
history of coronary heart disease (plaque buildup in the arteries), you are more likely to develop the condition and run a greater risk of having a heart attack. But no matter what genes you are born with, you still need to mind your lifestyle.
If you smoke, quit. If you are overweight, get active. If your cholesterol level is high, talk to your doctor about ways to improve it. Above all, don’t try to wait out a pandemic to seek medical treatment for certain symptoms. Chest pain, a shortness of breath, or weakness on one side of your body should be immediately addressed.
For nonemergency heart and vascular care and support in reducing your heart disease risk, the cardiovascular specialists of Texas Health Physicians Group provide safe in-person and virtual visits. Get quality heart-health care for now and the future.
* TEXAS HEALTH HEART & VASCULAR SPECIALISTS
800.916.8080
THPG.org/HeartVascular
HELPING NORTH TEXANS AGE
WITH DIGNITY SINCE 1934
Established in 1934, the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (VNA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that helps seniors age with dignity and independence at home. VNA is the community’s most trusted provider of quality health care services in the home and is the first nonprofit and most experienced Hospice Care provider in Texas. Focusing on living life to its fullest and treating our patients and families with the dignity and respect they deserve. VNA provides compassionate Hospice and Palliative Care in Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Henderson, Hunt, Kaufman, Rockwall, Tarrant, Van Zandt, Wise Counties, and parts of Johnson and Navarro counties.
VNA’s fundraising events held throughout the year include North Texas Giving Day, Power of Pie, Light Up a Life, and Celebrity Chef.
VNA Hospice Care provides a wide variety of opportunities to visit with patients and caregivers to provide support. Sewing projects and administrative support is also needed.
Donations help the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas. A gift of $150 will provide compassionate hospice care for a patient with nowhere to turn. Your support makes it possible to serve and provide the highest-quality care to those facing terminal illness with no means to pay. Visit our website, vnatexas.org, for more information on how you can help.
PICTURED: Olivia Rodgers, a leading voice in health care and senior services and the VP, Chief Nursing Officer of VNA Texas.
* SARAH HARRIS
VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS 214.535.2615
harriss@vnatexas.org www.vnatexas.org
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)
THANK YOU
Fort Worth Magazine would like to thank the builders, designers, contractors, sponsors, and the partners for making the inaugural Dream Street such a great success.
Call for Entries
Enter your well-designed space for a chance to be featured in the special HOME section of Fort Worth Magazine in March. Winners from 13 different categories will be recognized at a future event in front of the top Fort Worth/Dallas design professionals. Categories:
Give Back
Because COVID-19 caused a delay or cancelation of the charity events this season, as a service to all the charities in the Greater Tarrant area, we are listing the new dates or cancelations as they come in.
NOV. 5
Light The Night Leukemia & Lymphoma Society lightthenight.org
NOV. 10
Heart (at home) for the Homeless Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County heartforhomeless.com
NOV. 13 Virtual Art Auction & Gala
An Artists’ Christmas Camp Fire campfirefw.org
DEC. 4 Virtual Event
Home for the Holidays Gala Presbyterian Night Shelter journeyhome.org
APR. 24, 2021
Butterfly Wishes Gala a Wish with Wings awww.org
APR. 29, 2021
It’s in the Bag
The Ladder Alliance ladderalliance.org
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.
Fall of 2021
Hearts of Gold Giving Rutledge Foundation rutledgecancerfoundation.org
Ongoing Donations
Make-A-Wish ntx.wish.org
Ongoing Donations
Parenting Center theparentingcenter.org
Ongoing Donations Legacy of Women/Legacy of Men SafeHaven safehaventc.org
Ongoing Virtual Event
Pivot with a Purpose Wings of Hope wingsofhopeequitherapy.org
S ILVER C REEK M ATERIALS steward of the earth
Photographer Tate Lee snapped this scene during a night out downtown, using a little Adobe Lightroom magic to create the pink and blue glow around the Razzoo’s neon sign. “I really like how it’s a guy just walking around town,” he says. “People really inspire me, and you never know what they are thinking or what kind of life they live when they are walking around, especially late at night. So many untold stories in people’s minds.”
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
PHOTO BY TATE LEE
Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty. Agents for life — and all of its ups, downs, highs, lows, spills and thrills. Seeing you through, since 1960 and counting.
DREAM
Drive
Avid golfer and Lexus fan Carolyn Grant always told herself that one day she would own a Lexus SC 430 luxury hardtop convertible. “So, upon retirement, we decided it was time to go and get the vehicle I always wanted,” the retired official court reporter says. However, when she found that the Lexus SC 430 was discontinued in 2010, she turned to its successor, the Lexus LC 500, with its head-turning design that stands out on the road like few cars do. Grant relishes “the performance, handling, and great look of the vehicle.” And the Lexus LC 500’s sumptuous interior is beautifully made, exactly what you’d expect from Lexus.
Grant, an Arlington resident, purchased her 2020 Lexus LC 500 from Park Place Lexus Grapevine — an experience about which she raves. “You’re treated like family before, during, and after the sale. Ezell (EZ) Williamson, [Sales Experience Manager], and Charles Owen, [New Car Sales Director], made the overall experience easy and enjoyable,” Grant says. “Park Place is My Place because it feels like home. We’re always greeted and treated in a friendly and attentive manner.” It’s the unrivaled service, care, and attention that Park Place Lexus Grapevine consistently delivers that has her hooked. “This was our first experience with Park Place Lexus Grapevine, but it won’t be our last.”
