West FW May 2015

West FW

WestFWLifestyle.com

MAY 2015

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Travel in Time

Cuba The New American Travel Frontier

™

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Editor’s Letter

Love & Travel

M

ike and I are returning to our beloved New Orleans at the end of this month. We got married 2 years ago at the Royal Sonesta and were able to share our love of this city with our nearest and dearest. Whether we were riding a mule through the quarter, dining at Stanley in Jackson Square or traveling through the swamps to play with gators, the rich history and fantastic food of New Orleans put a spell on us all.

This year we are going to extend our trip east, down Highway 90 into Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The first stop will be at Darwell’s in Long Beach, Mississippi, for the world’s best crawfish etouffee. Then on to the IP Casino where Mike is determined to win his money back from the blackjack tables. From there, we’re just going to go where the Gulf breezes blow us. I haven’t visited this part of the country much and am greatly looking forward to this new adventure.

This month’s issue is all about travel. Doug Matus will introduce you to West Texas’ hidden gem Marfa while David Stovall will walk you through his trip to Cuba.

Whether you are planning your dream vacation or just enjoying a staycation on the West Side, always remember that travel and love go hand in hand. That is why the best trips, like your true love, never really end.

MAY 2015 publishers

Christie & Mike Thomas | CThomas@lifestylepubs.com 817-290-2120

editor

Christie Thomas | CThomas@lifestylepubs.com advertising sales Ashley Sanchez

contributing writers Juliet George, Martha Helton, Doug Matus, David Stovall

contributing photographers Kat Swift& David Stovall

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Happy Travels,

regional sales director | Michael Arel production director | Christina Sandberg director of marketing | Brad Broockerd art director | Sara Minor ad coordinators | Cyndi Vreeland, Samantha Engel

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WestFWLifestyle.com ON THE COVER Cuba’s Colorful Taxis PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID STOVALL

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P.O. Box 12608 Overland Park, KS 66282-3214 Proverbs 3:5-6 West FW Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of West Fort Worth’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in West FW Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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SENSATIONAL SKIN AND A SPARKLING SMILE

May 2015

Departments

18

8

Good Times

10

Around Town

12

Hot Spot

14

History 101

16

Healthy Lifestyle

22

Family Feature

26

Road Trip

28

Food & Wine

30 Lifestyle Calendar 34

Parting Thoughts

12 Around the World in 500 Beers

You don’t always need an airline ticket to travel the world.

18 Travel in Time

America is coming to Cuba.

12

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Good Times

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Around Town The benefit event will feature a fashion show celebrating the lives of 18 local cancer survivors who will model and share their stories of triumph and hope. Amy Yudiski will serve as honorary chair and Linda Cloud and Kellye Garrett will serve as event co-chairs. Melissa Adair (Dillard’s) and Shannon Sanderford (Miss Fort Worth) will serve as co-masters of ceremonies. The evening will feature wine and an assortment of delicious appetizers, all prepared to meet Cuisine for Healing certification guidelines. Guests will also have the opportunity to win prizes. Tickets for Survivors in Style are $65 each. Reserved tables are available for $500 and seat 8 guests. All proceeds benefit Cuisine for Healing, a nonprofit organization, and sponsorships are still available. To purchase tickets or become a sponsor, visit CuisineForHealing.org/survivors.htm or contact Sue Austin at 817.921.2377. For more information, please visit the Cuisine for Healing website at CuisineForHealing.org.

THE COWTOWN BALL

AVENTINO’S LANGE TWINS WINE DINNER - MAY 19 Join Avention's for a very special evening when Guynell Whetstone of Lange Twins Winery will showcase the finest of LangeTwins varietals paired with five courses of homemade Italian fare prepared by Chef Chris Hight.

Dinner will begin with a wine reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by four courses specifically created for the evening. Erica Hight has paired each course with a varietal specifically selected to compliment the flavors and subtleties of each dish. Dinner will be served at a traditional Italian community table, with drawings for bottles of wine at the end of the evening. For five generations the LangeTwins family has been growing sustainable wine grapes in the Lodi Appellation region of California. Join the fun as these two families combine their passions for food and wine at this very special event.

Aventino’s Lange Twins Wine Dinner Tuesday, May 19 6:30 p.m. Wine Reception, 7 p.m. Wine Dinner For reservations, call 817.570.7940.

CUISINE FOR HEALING SIXTH ANNUAL SURVIVORS IN STYLE BENEFIT Cuisine for Healing, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making nutritious, delicious food readily available to cancer patients and others combating disease, announced details for its sixth annual Survivors in Style: An Evening of Fashion, Food and Fun. The event will be held on Thursday, May 7, from 5:30until 8:30 p.m. at the Omni Hotel located at 1300 Houston Street in Fort Worth.

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West FW Lifestyle | May 2015

You’re invited to an evening of True Grit and Glamour, featuring John Michael Montgomery, at the 22nd Annual Cowtown Ball on May 2! In its over two decades, Cowtown Ball has raised over $6 million for the American Cancer Society’s fight against cancer and they’re just getting started. These funds are vital to the Society’s mission to saving lives and creating more birthdays by helping people stay well, get well, find cures and fight back. So put on your best western chic attire and join us for cowboy-style cuisine, dancing and entertainment as we raise money to Finish the Fight. Gala.ACSevents.org/site/

UNTAPPED FORT WORTH At its origin, Untapped was designed by its organizers as an event equally focused on quality music and beer, a balance uncommon at music festivals and rarely found at beer events. The aim is not about the quantity of selection but rather the curating of the best in both craft beer and emerging local and national bands. A few of our favorite things so to speak. The addition of local artisans, quality food vendors, and unique locations add texture to each event and create a vibrant village of activity.

What started as a self-serving shindig designed to showcase our personal interests turned out to be something that resonates in a way that is meaningful to us and our supporters. At Panther Island Pavilion. Untapped-Festival.com/ftw/

TRWD SPRING TRINITY TRASH BASH Come join us for the 1st Annual TRWD Spring Trash Bash!

The community has come to love the Trinity Trash bash in September so we have decided to provide a cleanup in the spring as well. Groups, families and individuals can choose any of the locations listed in the registration form as a cleanup location.

On the day of the event volunteers hit the trails and make our river and city beautiful one piece of trash at a time. After the morning cleanup, all volunteers are invited to the after party at Panther Island Pavilion with free food, door prizes and entertainment. TrashBashFW.com

Hot Spot

AROUND THE

WORLD IN 500 BEERS

WORLD OF BEER BRINGS ITS WORLD-CLASS SELECTION OF SUDS TO WEST 7TH ARTICLE DOUG MATUS | PHOTOGRAPHY KAT SWIFT

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ou don’t always need an airline ticket, a full tank of gas, or paid vacation days to enjoy the benefits of travel. Some of the very best trips can occur in the comfort of an armchair — via the joys of a good book — or, in the case of World of Beer, while perched on a barstool. World of Beer recently moved into west Fort Worth with its newest location on West 7th. In an area chock-full of bars and restaurants, World of Beer officially puts the competition on notice: it’s time to up the ante, at least in terms of beer selection and creative food pairings. With literally hundreds of brews available, World of Beer sets a whole new standard for the discerning beer lover. More than just a bar, World of Beer also offers a full, inventive menu, comfortable outdoor seating and generally classy atmosphere. Whether it’s date night or an evening out with friends, World of Beer offers a environment where an empty pint glass is a passport to an international experience.

Most patrons will need to pinch themselves when they first enter a World of Beer. The tap wall contains 50 different brews from around the world. An additional 500 canned and bottled beers fill 12

West FW Lifestyle | May 2015

the coolers. If variety is the spice of life, World of Beer is the ghost pepper for beer lovers. If you’re wondering who to thank for World of Beer’s arrival, look no further than Fort Worth’s craft brewers.

“All the craft breweries here is what attracted us to Fort Worth,” says Phillip Taylor, general manager of World of Beer on West 7th. “Between Rahr Brewing Co., Panther Island and all the distilleries, the West Seventh area seemed like a great location for for us to dive into Fort Worth’s craft world.”

World of Beer proudly supports the craft brew movement and understands that the best beers are often local beers. If you want proof of this, look no further than World of Beer’s “Texas Corner,” an area of the tap wall dedicated to 20 local and regional brews. If the sheer range and scope of choices sounds intimidating, never fear: World of Beer devotes just as much care to the training of its staff as it does the selection of beer.

“We have an intensive training for our waitstaff,” says Phillip.

“Our servers and bartenders go through two weeks of beer training to ensure that they’re knowledgeable and can help customers.

We want to make sure that you get the right beer in front of you.”

To help navigate the vast menu, servers come equipped with iPads to aid customers in the selection process. Patrons can also download the World of Beer app, which provides an inventory of what’s available on a daily basis.

World of Beer completes the guest experience with its food menu. You’ll find no drab, uninspired pub grub here; each item on the menu was chosen to highlight some aspect of the beer selection. Much of the food even has beer as an ingredient. For example, the Black & Tan Onion Rings are dipped in a stout and brown ale batter, while the pickle chips come with an IPA

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dipping sauce. As for entrees, the Chimay Burger comes with Chimay Classique cheese and a house-made Chimay sauce. The beer-infused cheeses, made with Panther Island beer, occupy a place of pride for World of Beer. As for personal recommendations, Phillip has a few: “I think everyone needs a German Pretzel when they come in.

We also have gluten-free crab cakes and a range of gluten-free beers and ciders.”

World of Beer is open daily for anyone who wants a spur-ofthe-moment vacation. No need to pack your bags; World of Beer has everything you need.

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History 101

Where the West Began... Guests Camped Free ARTICLE JULIET GEORGE

D

espite initial enthusiasm from both tourists and community boosters, the heyday of free municipal tourist camps was surprisingly short lived. By mid-decade, with thousands of low-priced cars on the market, everyone from office clerks to factory workers was now able to pack the family in a flivver and take to the open road . . .

--Chester H. Liebs, Main Street to Miracle Mile: American Roadside Architecture (Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1995) As did many cities across the U.S. in the early 1920s, Fort Worth invested in a non-profit hospitality venture. Automobile travelers motoring along West Seventh Street could pull over and check into the Trinity Tourist Camp – located on the western edge of Trinity Park. Officially opened in 1923, it featured showers, writing and reading rooms, sanitary facilities, and guards. The camp would – city officials hoped – bring people to stay for a few nights and to spend some money in the city. It would also cut back on unauthorized camping on private land and roadsides.

As early as 1918, a free city-owned camping ground had materialized at the southern end of Trinity Park, primarily serving drought (then spelled “drouth” in the press) refugees from West Texas. Families arrived in canvas-covered wagons. “Under the giant trees,” a journalist wrote, the weary and worn travelers can lay down to rest and for the moment forget the sun-baked lands, withered crops and wasted efforts.”

A different crowd hit the roads in the early 1920s, though. Affordable vehicles and expanding highway systems inspired recreational excursions. The new, better-equipped camp on the north end of the park proved popular; more than 16,000 people camped there during the first year, according to a Fort Worth Star-Telegram story published in January of 1924. Historians of the era have written that cities actually competed for short-term sojourners, and Fort Worth’s camp earned compliments.

“Why can’t all tourist camps be like this one?” a Star-Telegram interviewee asked.

What diminished the nation’s free camps? There was money to be made through private facilities. Thomas D. Green of New York, president of the American Hotel Association, referred to “the tourist camp problem” in 1930. Disparaging remarks about “squatters” also hurt. Chester H. Liebs, a St. Paul attorney who researched camp phenomena, noted that – in the late 1920s – “municipal officials also became concerned over who 14

West FW Lifestyle | May 2015

Image courtesy of the late Pete Charlton, scanned from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s booklet 1924 Fort Worth Guide. Charlton - respected and beloved historian, speaker, blogger, and owner of Electric Books - died in March of 2015.

might roll into town and set up house on any given evening.”

Although some unsavory people did alight at camps, Liebs wrote, “Many of these fears and apprehensions were grounded solely in class prejudices, and the majority of camp guests were still by and large responsible and law abiding.” Proliferating tourist courts along the West Seventh-Camp Bowie corridor replaced the riverside haven. Farewell, campers.

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Healthy Lifestyle

Healthy Lifestyle HOW TO GET BACK ON TRACK WHEN YOUR WORKOUT GOES OFF THE RAILS ARTICLE DOUGLAS MATUS | PHOTOGRAPHY KAT SWIFT

W

hen it comes to workouts, we all occasionally fall off the wagon. Sometimes this happens due to a busy lifestyle; with so much going on, you neglect to hit the gym for a few days.

Other times, travel might keep us away, or life might intervene with an illness or obligation. Sarah Cornett, owner of the Pilates Concept, understands that the occasional short or long-term absence is almost unavoidable. This month, we talked to her about some strategies to deal with a break in the routine. We also checked in with Christie Thomas, whose relationship with pilates is chronicled in this series, to see how she’s doing in the aftermath of her surgery.

For a lot of people, they feel like a failure if an extended break occurs in their workout plan. How common is this feeling, and what do you say to clients who feel intimidated about getting back on track?

Sarah: It’s very common for people to get down on themselves when they take a break from Pilates, or any other type of workout.

When they do come back, people will often tell me they’ve been thinking about returning for six months, but didn’t because they were intimidated or scared. With pilates, though, everything is catered to the individual, and you can always start again. If you take a break, or take some time off, even if you start slowly, it's much better than the alternative.

What are some reasons you see for lapses in clients' programs, and how do you help people stay on track?

Sarah: It really depends on the individual. We have a lot of people 16

West FW Lifestyle | May 2015

who travel, or who financially need to take a break, or because family issues take precedence. We always work with our clients and try to give them tools so they can continue on their own. If we know that a break is coming, we might use the last workout to showcase things they can do anywhere. For clients who travel, we give them resistance stands they can pack and carry. We also text with traveling clients to answer questions or give them guidance.

If someone takes a longer break, do they have to start over again from scratch?

Sarah: Not necessarily. We always return to the basics, but a person’s muscle memory remains, so the workout will come more naturally to them. Some people, especially those forced to take a break because of surgery, come back and are very hard on themselves. They want to be right back where they were, and that’s not always possible. This is when pre-surgery prep work can pay off. For example, with Christie, we did so much prep work that we noticed an immediate impact when she returned.

The important thing to remember is that breaks are natural. It can be nice for people to take a break from something they do all the time, and when they return, they’re reminded why they fell in love with it in the first place.

As for Christie, her surgery went off without a hitch and she’s dived back into her pilates program with renewed vigor. She greatly appreciates everyone who reached out over the past several weeks, and offers sincere thanks to Dr. Deborah Lehmann and her staff members Kelly, Crystal and Darla.

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In the hustle and bustle of daily life, between the stresses of work and the obligations of family, it’s easy to forget that the future remains right around the corner. Some people, blessed with a sense of prudence and foresight, carefully plan for their golden years with wise investments and moderate spending habits. For everyone else, advisers bridge the gap between now and later, and point the way towards long-term solvency. The decision to entrust another person with your financial well-being should not be made lightly, however. Between investment advice and 401(k) management, a financial adviser should act in the client’s best interest. For a profession that exists to remove some of life’s anxieties, it’s ironic that choosing an adviser can inspire a high degree of worry. Luckily, an option exists in Fort Worth that’s worthy of the highest level of confidence: Charles R. Green, who has served the needs of clients since 1986.

“We’ve built our reputation on personal service,” says Mr. Green. “We’re big on that, and people seek us out for it. We’re not everything to everybody, but we’re everything to our clients.”

Charles R. Green & Associates, Inc., offers a broad range of services that includes investment management and retirement and investment planning.

Periodic Reviews are an integral part of the relationship to ensure that client’s goals and objectives are on course. In addition, Mr. Green is connected with established CPA’s and attorneys that provide excellent tax guidance and estate planning services. At Charles R. Green & Associates, Inc., the clients come first. Their goal is to be the last financial planning firm a client ever works with, and it shows. Their clients are very loyal.

“Financial planning becomes more and more important as people live longer,” says Mr. Green. “Long-term care becomes an issue, and people need to

be well informed on all of their available options. With our clients, we see to it that they have a plan tailored to their individual needs.”

Charles R. Green & Associates, Inc. offers educational seminars throughout the year covering topics such as Retirement Solutions, Social Security/ Medicare, or Identity Theft. Many of the topics are presented by speakers with expertise in their field. Charles R. Green’s success relies on three key ingredients: Plan, Build, and Protect. Many people operate from the misconception that financial planning only gains importance as one ages. In reality, most can benefit from the services available at a firm like Charles R. Green & Associates, Inc. Visitors to the firm’s website, www.charlesrgreen.com, will find a wealth of resources, from market updates, to newsletters and financial calculators.

What are some common missteps that people make with their finances?

Charles R. Green has some insights: “Withdrawing money from 401(k)’s improperly, not saving enough money, or paying too much in taxes on your investments are the issues that first come to mind,” says Mr. Green.

If you need qualified and steady-handed advice for your finances, consider the proven expertise of Charles R. Green & Associates, Inc. His unique and total commitment to servicing his clients is what makes this firm stand out from the crowd.

Prospective clients are offered a complimentary, one-hour private consultation with Mr. Green at no cost or obligation. Even if you currently have another advisor, it never hurts to get a second opinion.

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Cuba: The New American Frontier Discover a land frozen in time.

ARTICLE & PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID STOVALL

C

uba is rapidly becoming the new travel frontier for Americans.

With the recent changes in travel regulations by the Obama administration, Americans can travel to the island nation easier than ever since the embargo was put in place over 50 years ago. On a recent visit to Havana, I was struck by how the country is truly a land frozen in time.

This capital city, founded by the Spanish in the 16th century, seems to have been left behind in the 1950s. Havana is primarily made up of three main areas: Centro Habana, La Habana Vieja (Old Havana) and Vedado, a more modern central business district built in the early part of the 20th century. For shopping in Havana, you’ll want to visit Calle Ospido in Vieja Habana. A long, narrow promenade, Calle Ospido is

bordered with restaurants, shops, antiques and Cuban art where many locals gather in the evening to stroll and mingle with friends over ice cream. Don’t expect to find Louis Vuitton, Prada, or other designer stores. Scarcity of most goods is widespread and luxury items are all but nonexistent.

In addition to the beautiful architecture of the deteriorating buildings, Cuban jazz, the cigars and rum, Havana is famous for its 1950s era American cars. The brightly colored Chevys, Fords, and Cadillacs traverse the streets in such large numbers that standing on a street corner, I had the distinct feeling of watching an old Technicolor Hollywood film from that period. These classics are kept alive through a sort of Cuban mechanical ingenuity where recycling and

Havana (it is a police state, after all). Overall we never felt unsafe anywhere at any time. Most hotels have ample security as well as doctors on premises who are available 24 hours.

As of this writing, American credit and debit cards do not work in Cuba. Plan to carry ample cash which you will need to convert to Cuban Convertible Pesos upon your arrival at the airport in Havana.

Internet access is extremely limited if you can find it and there is no WiFi. Also, your American cell phone is as useless as your credit cards but we actually enjoyed the opportunity to unplug, disconnect and go analog for a few days.

Getting there: Currently, there are no non-charter direct flights to Cuba, however, direct service from most major US cities should

re-use take on a whole new level. We rode in a 52’ Oldsmobile taxi, in remarkably good condition, which was powered by a late model Hyundai diesel motor.

For hotel accommodations, we chose the Hotel Mercure Sevilla Havane, which we found online through TripAdvisor. Centrally located near shopping, La Habana Vieja and the Malecon seawall, this historic hotel was built in 1908 and served as a favorite haunt of American mobsters for decades. For $110 per night, we found our room to be clean and secure with air conditioning, a safe and a nice view. When choosing your hotel, be aware that generally a 5-star hotel in Cuba equates closer to a 3-star hotel in the U.S. There are very few luxury hotels by U.S. standards in Havana.

As for safety, crime, and especially violent crime, are rare in

be in place by the end of 2015. We travelled to Cancun then took the 45 minute flight to Havana on Air Cubana which we booked in advance. It is important to understand that the embargo is still in effect and until policy changes are made, Americans may travel only under 12 specific categories, all of which are designed to promote people-to-people exchanges: 1. Family visits. 2. Official government business. 3. Journalism. 4. Professional research and meetings. 5. Educational activities. 6. Religious activities. 7.

Public performances, clinics, workshops, exhibitions and athletic competitions. 8. “Support for the Cuban people.” 9. Humanitarian projects. 10. Activities of private foundations or research for educational institutes. 11. Exporting or importing information or “information materials.” 12. Travel related to some authorized CONTINUED >

May 2015 | West FW Lifestyle

19

CUBA (CONTINUED)

export transactions. Under the old rules, Americans planning to travel to Cuba were required to obtain a travel permit under one of these 12 criteria from a travel agency authorized by the U.S. Treasury Department. This is no longer necessary and travelers are now on a kind of “honor system” that they are indeed travelling within the guidelines.

There appears to be little oversight by the government on this which leaves US travelers basically free to go as they please, however, it is advised to keep a journal or something that documents the category of your visit.

According to the Treasury Department website, they can ask to see this for up to five years after you return from Cuba but it’s unlikely an agent of the Treasury department is going to ask you about that tan you got while lounging on a Cuban beach.

Some tips for travelling to Cuba: • Pack like you are going for a week 20

West FW Lifestyle | May 2015

in the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Items we take for granted as easy to find anywhere in the U.S. such as over-the-counter remedies, personal hygiene items, batteries, memory cards, etc., are scarce or impossible to find in Cuba. • Carry small items to hand out to people you will meet in Cuba. We took cigarette lighters, reading glasses, and baseballs. • Except for our hotel, most restrooms we found were pretty filthy and nearly all had little or no toilet paper. Stuff a roll in your backpack or purse along with some hand sanitizer.

You’ll be glad you did.

Change is coming to Cuba. Big change, and with it will come a new kind of revolution for the once isolated island nation. No one knows what these changes will bring but one thing is for sure: America is coming to Cuba and it will never be the same. Go see it now, before Starbucks and McDonalds and Wal-Mart get there.

You’ll be glad you did.

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Family Feature

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center

A FUN FAMILY DESTINATION WITH A PURPOSE ARTICLE MARTHA HELTON | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

T

ucked away in the rustic hills of Somervell County, you will discover—and be enthralled by— giraffes, wildebeest, zebras and other endangered animals that freely roam amidst live oak thickets, limestone outcroppings and juniper-filled vistas. Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, an 1,800-acre ranch located in Glen Rose, is a fun family destination right in our own backyard. Visitors drive through the nine-and-a-half mile road to enjoy and feed these magnificent creatures from their vehicle’s window.

But what Fossil Rim visitors may not fully realize is that their paid admission is not only a chance to see some exotic animals.

They are helping to fulfill a strategic mission: to save endangered species. “We want people to come through and see the scenery and the animals and enjoy themselves,” says Fossil Rim’s chief operating officer, Kelly Snodgrass, “But we really want them to know that there’s a whole lot of other things going on…not only within the fences, but even outside of the fences in our associations and our partnerships with others.” Snodgrass, who has been employed at Fossil Rim 30 years, gushes with passion as he shares.

“We eat, sleep and live our mission.”

The mission of Fossil Rim is “promoting the preservation and procreation of threatened/endangered species, environmental awareness, and a recreational and educational experience for people of all ages.”

The concern for species extinction began with Tom Mantzel, who purchased Waterfall Ranch, an exotic game ranch, in 1973,

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West FW Lifestyle | May 2015

renaming it Fossil Rim Wildlife Ranch. He continued adding to the exotic hoofstock that he found there. Mantzel’s concern over loss of wild habitat and species extinction compelled him to experiment in captive breeding at Fossil Rim. In 1982 he brought Grevy’s zebra to Fossil Rim as his initial commitment to propagate an endangered species.

After success with the Grevy’s zebra, Mantzel worked with other endangered animals such as the African addax, the African scimitar-horned oryx and cheetahs, one of Fossil Rim’s greatest propagation success stories with more than 150 cheetahs born at Fossil Rim. The ranch became open to the public in 1984 to help fund the growing propagation programs and continued to f lourish under new owners and philanthropists, Jim Jackson and Christine Jurzykowski.

Today, Fossil Rim is a non-profit organization and is one of six institutions dedicated to advancing endangered species conservation in a collaborative group known as C2S2 or Conservation Centers for Species Survival. The center also participates in a worldwide network of wildlife conservation organizations working to restore the delicate balance between people, animals, and the environment.

The most urgently needed propagation program at Fossil Rim is the nearly extinct Texas native Attwater’s Prairie-Chicken.

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Family Feature

(CONTINUED)

Fossil Rim’s involvement is vital to that species’ existence, although initially they began with very little knowledge. “With the Attwater program we didn’t just stick our toe into the water,” says Snodgrass. “Whether we knew anything about it or not, we just jumped in and we continue to grow and expand that program.”

The Attwater facility, located on the backside of Fossil Rim, is dedicated solely to breeding these birds with two dedicated full-time staff who have been with the program from the beginning. With 24-25 pairs of birds a year they are actively breeding, they pay close attention to the genetics involved.

“I can’t even explain to you the intricacies of dealing with Attwater’s Prairie-Chickens,” says Snodgrass, shaking his head in amazement. “During production season, those two (staff ) are there seven days a week, all hours of the day and night.” Three interns are brought in to help as well during this crucial time. Last year, 200 birds were released in a Texas coastal prairie refuge.

Although you can’t see the birds on the Scenic Wildlife Drive, during chick rearing season (May – August) the Behind-the-

Scenes Tour goes into the hallway of the Prairie Grouse Chick Rearing Facility where the tour group can peek into windows and see chicks being cared for by the trained staff.

Fossil Rim employees can understandably get attached to individual animals and even give them names--especially the long-lived ones, like rhinos. But, another “name” is vital for propagation and healthy herds. “The more important thing is their studbook number,” shares Snodgrass. “That way you can manage the genetics of the population and it can be a global destination. We have some numbers attached to the cheetahs that mean something on an international scale.”

Come, drive through, take a guided tour, volunteer or stay in a “tent” safari-like cabin to help sustain this animal kingdom—and beyond. Kelly Snodgrass issues a personal invitation: “Enjoy it, take your time, go through, look deep and know that you’re supporting something that we certainly feel passionate about. Your support by coming has a much broader purpose and meaning.” FossilRim.org

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Road Trip

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Far West Texas

THE STATE'S WEIRD AND WONDERFUL WESTERN EXPANSE REWARDS COMMITTED EXPLORERS ARTICLE DOUGLAS MATUS PHOTOGRAPHY DOUGLAS MATUS

D

rivers from North Texas can reach Marfa in seven to eight hours. The drive awards a true appreciation for the vastness of Texas, with long stretches where scrub trees and fences provide the only obstruction to the horizon.

If you’re averse to long drives, consider this: Marfa’s nearest airports, located in El Paso and Midland, are three hours from the town.

The experience of the long drive — much of it through unremarkable country — provides the ideal preparation for the eventual shock and awe of high desert scenery. The final stretch along Highway 67, usually reached in the late afternoon after a hard day of driving, offers mental and spiritual deliverance. Fatigued eyes receive the balm of a drastically evolved landscape of rugged mountains and, depending on the time of year, lush greenery. The sky itself seemingly changes: the light softens, and the clouds become infused with shades pf pink, blue, and orange.

Road noise evaporates as you travel onward, with the world and its cares abandoned somewhere back along Interstate 10.

If you’ve made the effort to drive out to Far West Texas, you do not want to limit your experience to Marfa. The region has a host of flavorful towns and destinations, and jaw-dropping scenery abounds practically everywhere you look.

The town of Alpine provides a useful home base for a wide-ranging exploration. A college town, Alpine hosts Sul Ross State University, and has a central drag full of art galleries and shops. Visitors from Fort Worth will appreciate a pair of connections: Alpine is home to the original Reata Restaurant, and just outside of town lies the vineyard of local winemakers Times Ten Cellars.

Marfa and Alpine provide two points of a geographical triangle, with Fort Davis as the third. The towns lie about 30

Fort Davis, restored and open to the public, once protected settlers from Apaches.

The only thing that haunts the Terlingua Ghost Town is good times.

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West FW Lifestyle | May 2015

In Far West Texas, the sky dominates all.

minutes apart, barely a commute in such a vast region. Fort Davis, the highest elevated town in Texas, hosts the University of Texas’s McDonald Observatory. The observatory is one of the region’s top attractions, and its Star Parties — outdoor events where guests are encouraged to bring snacks and wine — attract locals and tourists alike. Like seemingly every town in the region, Fort Davis has its historic hotel and quaint shops, and also the meticulously restored frontier fort that gives the town its name.

Another half-hour north of Fort Davis takes drivers to one of the region’s true wonders — Balmorhea, which trumps Barton Springs

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as the largest all-natural, spring-fed swimming hole in the world. No visit to Far West Texas is complete without at least a drive through Big Bend. The country’s largest national park is the main draw for many area travelers, and a visitor could easily spend a week or two tramping down trails, hiking the South Rim, or canoeing the various canyons.

At the very least, a day-trip to Big Bend should involve a drive down into the basin of the Chisos Mountains. There you can find the Chisos Mountain Lodge, the park’s restaurant and hotel, along with a scenic outlook area and quick access to several hiking trails.

Drivers who enter Big Bend from the west must go through Terlingua. It’s not uncommon for travelers to go no further, as this surreal and supremely isolated town inspires a unique kind of fascination.

Terlingua once hosted a thriving copper mine settlement, the ruins of which now dominate the tiny town. At one point largely abandoned, the town has revived as a haven for artists, wanderers and eccentrics, with the Starlight Theatre acting as the community’s nexus. The Starlight hosts the occasional touring performer, and serves dinner and drinks to all and sundry. The theatre’s front porch boasts a near-panoramic view of the barren, rugged Big Bend wilderness. It’s excusable if, after a long day’s drive, your best intentions of hiking Big Bend wither and die on the Starlight’s front porch. As the sunlight dies over the Chisos and you order another beer, you join a long and proud lineage of those who found exactly what they were seeking, somewhere out in Far West Texas.

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Food & Wine

Another Festival in the (Cook)Books THE 2015 FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL SATISFIED APPETITES AND EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS ARTICLE DOUGLAS MATUS | PHOTOGRAPHY KAT SWIFT

T

he 2015 Food and Wine Festival has come and gone, leaving downtown Fort Worth satiated for another year. Such a stellar array of winemakers, distillers, brewers and chefs leave quite an impression, however, and attendees are forgiven if they’re already salivating at the prospect of 2016’s festivities.

The party kicked off at Billy Bob’s Thursday night, March 26th, and continued through the Sunday Family Funday at the Coyote Drive-In. In between, event sponsors, ticket-holders, and media were treated to a host of premier events that included the Grand Tasting, Desserts After Dark, Rise + Dine, and Burgers, Brews and Blues.

The Artisan Marketplace in Sundance Square gave attendees a chance to stretch their legs, encourage their digestion, and enjoy the festival weekend’s clear skies and temperate weather. The Grand Tasting, held at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel on Friday evening, paired food from the best of North Texas’s chefs with regional brews and wines from around the world. Attendees were presented with an embarrassment of riches, as the exhibit halls contained over 100 presenters who somehow managed to keep the generous samples flowing throughout the event’s three hours.

Chef Jon Bonnell’s Waters Restaurant offered succulent calamari steak fries paired with a jalapeño remoulade. In the adjacent booth, Ellerbe Fine Foods offered up confit duroc pork shoulder. Some presenters delivered inspired takes on classic dishes, such as the delectable pork and beans served up by downtown’s Grace. Austin’s Dripping Springs Vodka was on hand to showcase its newest offering, an artisanal gin, and also prepared drinks with a grapefruit and rosemary-infused vodka. A clutch of craft brewers also supplied drinks, and the dozens of winemakers didn’t skimp on the good stuff.

The fun continued at Desserts After Dark, which picked up where the Grand Tasting left off and continued until midnight. Held at 809 at Vickery, the event highlighted local distillers Firestone & Robert-

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West FW Lifestyle | May 2015

son, whose TX Whiskey fueled an extravagant fete of cocktails and desserts. Those who burned the midnight oil could still make Saturday’s Rise + Dine, which didn’t kick off until 11a.m. Also held at the Worthington Renaissance, Rise + Dine mirrored the set-up of the Grand Tasting, though with an emphasis on brunch-style foods. A highlight came in the form of Max’s Wine Dive’s boudin, served with a yellow curry sriracha ketchup. Black Rooster Bakery and newcomer Pearl Snap Kolaches gave attendees their daily dose of baked goods, and Avoca saved many attendees’ mornings as the sole presenter onhand with coffee.

Those in need of eye-openers had no shortage of options, what with three Bloody Mary bars, two cocktail lounges, and the return of many of the previous evening’s brewers and winemakers. The Artisan Marketplace in Sundance Square brought a sense of festivity to downtown Fort Worth, with 20 tents and a variety of vendors. Highlights included Sweet Lucy’s Pies, whose homemade creations feature local and seasonal ingredients, and Scorpion Gourmet Hot Sauce. If you’re brave, try Scorpion’s Very Hot blend, made here in Fort Worth with 100% organic ingredients and no preservatives.

The Sunday Family Funday, held from 2 to 5 p.m. at the scenic Coyote Drive-In, provided the perfect capstone for the four-day festival. Thirteen of Fort Worth’s finest mobile food vendors — including an authentic chuck wagon — lined up to distribute samples. Also on hand were Rahr Brewing and St. Arnold’s, two festival stalwarts whose generosity kept the good times flowing. Also deserving of mention is H9, whose bottles of water kept people hydrated throughout the festival.

If you missed out on the festivities this year, or only managed to make it to an event or two, don’t fret: you’ll get another chance in 2016, when the Food and Wine Festival returns March 31st through April 3rd.

Dr. Cindy Zimmerman, Optometrist 817-738-9301 | www.eyesoncampbowie.com 6333 Camp Bowie Blvd. Ste. 272 • Fort Worth, TX

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Lifestyle Calendar

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Every third Saturday, September through May, join the museum’s librarian or archivist on a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum’s research library and archives. The tour starts in the reading room and continues to book storage and then to archives and special collections. Along the way, learn about the history of the facility, its collections (over 150,000 items), and its various programs. No reservations required.

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Open-format sessions join art-making and gallery activities to encourage fresh ways of looking at and responding to featured artworks and themes.

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West FW Lifestyle | May 2015

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HOME SERVICES Archies Gardenland (817) 737-6614 archiesgardenland.com Aloha Pool Service (817) 560-7665 Evans Vacuums (817) 732-5400 Ramon Roofing (817) 924-1645 ramonroofing.com Southern Harvest (817) 236-5296 harvestlandscape.com

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Parting Thoughts

The Silent Teacher WORDS RACHEL C MURPHY

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ost children take after one parent more than the other.

Such was the case with my family. I am the spitting image of my father: the nose, the opinions, the gregarious nature. My sister is equally like my mother: quiet, stubborn and extremely shy.

In these situations, it can be easy to assume that the big life lessons come from the parent that the child is most like. I beg to disagree. For me, a lot of the things that I work on to this day, I’ve learned from my mother. My father’s nature is already ingrained, natural. But when I think of the things that I want to curate in myself, my mother comes to mind.

As I said, my mother is quiet. She’s funny and vibrant and has a razor sharp wit, but she shares that with only a few select people.

She was never one to dictate great truths and expect us to take note. Her actions are her edicts and these are a few of the things that I learned from watching her love us.

Read. My father loves to read. My mother loves to read. The difference is that my mother read to my sister and I. It started with simple children’s books, of course, but it didn’t end there.

She read novels to us, series of books that we would look forward to getting a chapter or two of before bed. She taught us that sometimes the best escape is between the leaves.

Be rational. There is nothing irrational people hate more, than being irrational. My mother is possessed with book smarts and common sense. In seeing her deal with two children and a somewhat high-strung husband, I have often thought I would have torn my hair out. But she remained calm. Kids will wear out their energy

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West FW Lifestyle | May 2015

and husbands will eventually see that they are being unreasonable.

And in the end, you will be the one that didn’t hurt anyone in anger trying to control something that isn’t controllable.

Be present in nature. Once again, my father loves to be outside, with a camera, shooting in the woods. But my mother loves to go out walking as well. While Dad was on his knees in the dirt, my mother is the best wildlife spotter I know. She’s aware and present in her surroundings, unencumbered by f-stops and aperture. Instead, 40 paces ahead, she’s seeing the fleeting beauty that a camera misses.

Be the friend you want. My mother is a great friend. She’s shy, so it takes a while to get to know her, but when you do, she’s warm and attentive and puts in the effort to be friendly. I make friends easily, but being the friend that I would like to have and be is more difficult. She has taught me that sometimes more isn’t necessarily better.

Live your lessons. My mother used to make my sister and I read a chapter of the Bible a day and write down our favorite verse. At the time I found it tedious, especially when the subject wasn’t very exciting. But in addition to this, I saw my mother reading her own Bible. She wasn’t just giving us busy work to try to get us interested in our faith. She was trying to share the words that gave her comfort and inspiration.

These were never spoken things, but they resonate with me today. Sometimes mothers need to lay down the law. And sometimes they simply need to live a life worth emulating. Mine always has.

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