This week's hot headlines

Willie Nelson-ZZ Top concert takes spotlight in this week's 5 hottest Fort Worth headlines

SXSW Supermensch Shep Gordon After Party Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson & Family in concert with ZZ Top

Photo by Shelley Neuman

Editor's note: A lot happened this week, so here's your chance to get caught up. Read on for the week's most popular headlines. Looking for the best things to do this Christmas weekend? Find that list here. Searching for the best Christmas lights? Those lists are here and here.

1. Texas legends Willie Nelson and ZZ Top team up for concert at iconic Hill Country venue. Next April, "Shotgun Willie" will be a "Sharp Dressed Man." Taking the iconic stage at Whitewater Amphitheater in New Braunfels, Willie Nelson and ZZ Top will perform together on April 14 and 15, 2023. The shows come before ZZ Top teams up with Lynyrd Skynyrd at Fort Worth's Dickies Arena on July 29, 2023.

2. Fort Worth's animal shelter holds event to get dogs out of the cold. Fort Worth is seeking help to solve a crisis at its animal shelters, which are brimming with pets. Fort Worth Animal Care and Control (FWACC) is facing a record-high population, and is inviting the public to come in and adopt or foster an animal. While one special event took place December 16-17, the initiative will be ongoing.

3. Fort Worth's award-winning Vietnamese restaurant Four Sisters to close. An award-winning Vietnamese restaurant in Fort Worth has closed: Four Sisters - Taste of Vietnam, the acclaimed, family-centric restaurant located at 1001 S. Main St. that is literally named for the owner's four sisters, has closed after four years. According to owner Tuan Pham, the restaurant's final day would be December 23.

4. Son of a Butcher restaurant with sliders & shakes to open in Grapevine. A restaurant that specializes in sliders is coming to Grapevine: Son of a Butcher, which currently has locations in Plano and Dallas, will open a new one at 480 W. SH-114, with an opening set for February 2023. This will be the biggest yet, with 3,405 square feet of indoor and pet-friendly outdoor dining space.

5. Vegan pastry and coffee shop opens in Fort Worth with best inspiration: mom. There's a new place to get vegan food and great coffee in Fort Worth: Called Von's Coffee Shoppe, it's a virtual restaurant operating out of Fort Worth Food Works, the restaurant hub at 3004 Cullen St., where it's serving vegan pastries, omelets, burritos, wraps, and soups. Von's was founded by Monique Farrell, a food & beverage veteran with more than 20 years experience in the hospitality industry who is taking her first step into entrepreneurship.

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Amusement Park News

Amusement park Malibu Jack's makes Texas debut in North Richland Hills

Malibu Jack's

A new mega indoor theme park with go karts and a rollercoaster is rolling into North Richland Hills: Called Malibu Jack's, it's a chain from Kentucky opening in a former At Home space at 8651 Airport Fwy., where it's set to debut summer 2025.

Owned by Five Star Parks, an owner and operator of family entertainment centers, this will be the first Malibu Jack’s location in Texas. It was founded by the Hatton family in 2013 in Lexington, Kentucky and has expanded to six locations in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa.

According to a release, the world-class indoor theme park will span 137,000 square feet and will be one of the largest indoor theme parks in the state, joining the likes of Kalahari Resort in Round Rock at 350,000 square feet and Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine at 80,000 square feet.

“The opening of Malibu Jack’s in North Richland Hills is a big moment for Five Star Parks, and we’re beyond excited to welcome the community to our newest location this summer,” says CEO of Five Star Parks John Dunlap in a statement.

Malibu Jack’s North Richland Hills will offer something for everyone.

The center will feature 12 family-friendly lanes of Duckpin Bowling, a twist on traditional bowling for all ages. For thrill-seekers, the park will include an enormous 30,000 square-foot indoor go-kart track, the Cowabunga spinning roller coaster, the Jumpin’ Jacks Drop Tower, and the zero-gravity Whirlpool ride with a dramatic floor drop.

For kids, there will be a Pedal Kart Track that allows them to channel their inner race car driver. Additionally, the park will feature a Dark Ride Theater, a Texas-themed laser tag arena, and two mini-golf courses themed Under the Sea glow-in-the-dark, as well as a tropical Bogey Beach course.

In the arcade section, there are over 130 video games, virtual reality experiences, and the Valo Arena mixed-reality playground. Plus, there's a pirate ship-themed bounce beach play area.

After all that excitement, guests can refuel at the Jacks Social bar, offering a variety of food, such as smashburgers, wings, and pizza. Adults can relax on the Hang Ten Patio and enjoy the self-pour “Pour My Beer” beverage wall, which will feature 24 beers on tap, along with social games like giant beer pong, Jenga and cornhole.

“With so many incredible attractions to enjoy, we’re certain that it will quickly become the go-to spot for families seeking fun and adventure,” says Dunlap.

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