In the Bag

Peek inside the Dallas-Fort Worth Tastemaker Awards exclusive Tasting Totes

This year, the biggest party of the Dallas and Fort Worth food and beverage scenes came right to your living room. CultureMap's Tastemaker Awards — Virtual Edition brought all the delicious and innovative ideas from our cities' best chefs and bartenders straight to you, courtesy of Tasting Totes that were brimming with goodies.

If you purchased a ticket to the online awards show, hosted by hip-hop legend Bun B, then you also got to indulge in generous samples from nominees. Missed out this year? When you see what you could have enjoyed, you'll be first in line to purchase in 2021, whether the party is virtual or in-person.

VIP ticket-holders had their Tasting Totes delivered right to their door via swanky ride service Alto, while general admission attendees swung by the West Village to pick up their swag bags.

Once home, a feast awaited, complete with a bottle of Grandes Vinos Monasteria Reserva or Old Vine Garnacha (read more about their history here), a six-pack of Topo Chico, and cans of Dallas Blonde and Blind Lemon hard seltzer from Deep Ellum Brewing Co (plus a can of Easy Peasy IPA for VIP attendees).

The next best thing to having 2019 Bartender of the Year winner Chris Unruh make you a drink in person is to have him show you how to do it yourself, step by step onscreen. Equipped with two great Texas spirits, Dripping Springs Vodka and Desert Door Texas Sotol, along with Topo Chico, lime juice, and a to-die-for lavender lemonade mix, guests learned how to mix two signature cocktails to get the party started.

Guests could also shake things up with the first edition of the Tastemakers Cocktail Book, filled with exclusive recipes by Bartender of the Year nominees from across the state.

As for delicious bites from the nominees, VIP guests could dig into a noodle salad from Asian Mint, cacio e pepe pasta from The Charles, smoked salmon from Hugo's Invitados, a shrimp cocktail and concha pastry from Casa Jacaranda, and vegan barbacoa bowls from Toluca.

A salted hazelnut spice mix from chef Toby Archibald and chili condiments and house furikake from Salaryman will surely come in handy during future cooking adventures.

For dessert, you could take your pick from Texas Dugout Pie from Gold Ribbon Confections, bonbons from Kate Weiser Chocolate, spiced dark chocolate from Gemelle, sweets from Better Than Sex, and "baby trops" from La Tarte Tropézienne.

GA diners certainly weren't left out in the cold. Chips and queso from Meso Maya and chili Parmesan potato chips from Love Shack kicked things off, with Archibald's spice mix and a whole bottle of Norma's Cafe ketchup earning spots of honor in pantries all around DFW.

The Charles' pasta made another appearance, this time accompanied by Toluca's vegan elotes, Casa Jacaranda's shrimp empanada, and an assortment of savory nibbles from Little Lilly Sushi. Dessert here included a double-stuffed Oreo bread pudding from Better Than Sex, mini banana pudding from Lucky's Hot Chicken, and Micah cookies from Gold Ribbon Confections.

You can relive the virtual awards ceremony all over again here, as well as toast to all the 2020 Texas Tastemaker winners here. See you next year!

Tasting Totes brought the Tastemaker Awards to you.

Courtesy photo

Tasting Totes brought the Tastemaker Awards to you.

desserts tastemakers craft-beer wine cocktails recipes chefs promoted awards drinks

Movie Review

Onscreen intrigue in Don't Worry Darling blunts off-screen drama

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Harry Styles and Florence Pugh in Don't Worry Darling

Opportunities for female directors have only been growing in recent years, a development that’s taken too long to happen. One of the beneficiaries of this sea change is Olivia Wilde, who made her directorial debut with 2019’s well-received Booksmart. Now she’s back with her highly-anticipated (for an assortment of reasons) sophomore film, Don’t Worry Darling.

The film stars Florence Pugh as Alice Chambers, who lives in a utopian small desert town with her husband, Jack (Harry Styles), who works for a company called Victory. The town has all the trappings of an idyllic version of the 1950s, from the style of the houses to the cars to the way the wives dote on their husbands. But right away it’s clear there’s something off about the town, especially since everyone seems to hold up the company’s leader, Frank (Chris Pine), as some kind of infallible person.

Olivia Wilde and Nick Kroll in Don't Worry Darling Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Alice starts to sense the cracks in town’s veneer, and gradually tests the boundaries that everyone else adheres to faithfully. Her suspicions only deepen when another wife disappears, and anyone with whom she chooses to confide gaslights her into thinking that she’s losing her mind. Trying to figure out what’s real or not drives her to do many things that threaten the whole town’s way of life.

Collaborating once again with Booksmart writer Katie Silberman, Wilde creates a mysterious and tension-filled film that is about as far away from the revelry of her previous film as you could get. There are times when the story starts to become too enigmatic for its own good, but Wilde seems to know exactly when to add on a new layer to keep viewers interested in where the story will take them next.

Wilde and Silberman also continue to explore gender politics through this well-told allegory. The actions of Alice and the other women (which include Wilde, Gemma Chan, Kiki Layne, Kate Berlant, and others) come off as Stepford Wives-ish, but they also act in ways inconsistent with people who have been brainwashed. When secrets finally start to be revealed, the story takes on a deeper meaning of male insecurity and female empowerment.

Chris Pine in Don't Worry Darling Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

The behind-the-scenes technical team greatly aids in the mood of the film. The production design by Katie Byron is impeccable, and it and the desert landscape are shot extremely well by cinematographer Matthew Libatique. Especially standing out is the score by John Powell, who utilizes unconventional sounds and voices to create music that elevates every scene to which it’s attached.

Pugh has already been a star for several years, and she shows yet again why she’s held in such high esteem. She brings just the right level of angst, confusion, and anger to the evolution of her character, making her compelling throughout. Styles acquits himself well in his biggest role to date, never coming off as just a singer pretending to be an actor. Pine is also great as the creepy-but-charismatic Frank, demonstrating skills that every good cult leader needs.

Don’t Worry Darling holds a lot more than what it shows on the surface, making it a great second film for the talented Wilde. With a proven ability to jump between genres effortlessly, she should be given many more opportunities to tell stories on the big screen.

---

Don't Worry Darling is now open in theaters.

Don't Worry Darling | Official Trailer www.youtube.com

video movies upload sharing free camera phone video phone youtube.com

bring the pack

Great Wolf Lodge breaks ground on massive indoor water park resort in new Texas city

Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge is coming to Webster.

Fans of Grapevine's Great Wolf Lodge will now be able to hit their favorite water park in another Texas city. The popular nationwide family resort and indoor park broke ground in Webster, near Houston, on Thursday, September 22.

It will be Great Wolf Lodge's second Texas location.

Great Wolf Lodge Gulf Coast Texas will boast 532 rooms and — importantly for kids and families — a 95,000-square-foot indoor water park and a 58,000-square-foot family entertainment center known as the Great Wolf Adventure Park. The 27-acre destination, located east of the Gulf Freeway near the Flyway at Clear Creek development, is slated to open in mid-to-late 2024, according to Great Wolf Resorts announcement.

“With millions of families visiting our resort in Grapevine, we know Texas families love the Great Wolf Lodge experience and we’re excited to introduce our second resort to the Lone Star State,” said Murray Hennessy, CEO of Great Wolf Resorts. “A hallmark of Great Wolf Lodge is that we help families strengthen their pack by offering a fun-filled getaway that is close, convenient and carefree, and with this new resort, we will be able to better serve families in the Houston area and southeastern portions of the state.”

Accommodating year-round visitors, Great Wolf Lodge Gulf Coast Texas will feature myriad attractions and amenities for all ages, including:

The resort features a massive indoor entertainment hub.Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge

● An expansive, 95,000-square-foot indoor waterpark, heated to a comfortable 84 degrees, featuring a variety of body slides, tube slides, raft rides, activity pools and splash areas for every member of the family – from toddlers and teens to parents and grandparents.

● A 58,000-square-foot family entertainment center known as the Great Wolf Adventure Park. This center will offer a variety of family-friendly attractions, including MagiQuest – Great Wolf Lodge’s exclusive live action-adventure game where players use interactive magic wands to battle goblins and dragons.

● A collection of complimentary family events and activities including Yoga Tails, a morning exercise program that combines tales from the creatures found in the Spirit Water Forest with yoga poses, and evening events such as Great Wolf Lodge’s signature Hustle & Howl dance party and Story Time event.

● Several dining options that will appeal to a variety of culinary styles ranging from pizza and burgers to upscale dining and premium ice cream treats at Wood’s End Creamery.

● Family-friendly suites in a variety of categories and styles including Great Wolf-themed suites with separate sleeping quarters for kids designed as either a log cabin or wolf den and outfitted with bunk beds and Great Wolf character theming. The resort will also feature suites with multiple bedrooms for large families or multi-generational groups.

Area businesses can make use of the destination’s more than 11,000 square feet of flexible conference space with breakout rooms, built-in A/V technology, customizable catering options, and a team of dedicated industry professionals to serve visiting conferences and events.

Great Wolf Lodge slide Families can slide into the fun in 2024.Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge

Aside from a major tourist attraction, Great Wolf Lodge’s new outpost will be a boon for area employment. An estimated 600 construction and trade workers will be on-site each day during the peak of construction. And the resort will fill approximately 500 full and part-time jobs to prepare for the grand opening, with positions including senior management, engineering, IT professionals, lifeguards, guest service agents, housekeepers, and more.

In an effort to seamlessly integrate with the community, the new resort will operate with environmentally friendly practices, including energy usage and water consumption.

The resort’s location in Webster makes the perfect addition to a weekend jaunt to nearby NASA/Johnson Space Center/Space Center Houston — as well as Galveston.

“Tourism is one of Webster’s top economic drivers,” said Donna Rogers, mayor of the City of Webster, in a statement, “and Great Wolf Lodge is a force multiplier that will attract visitors from a super regional and global market.”

Great Wolf Resorts currently operate across the U.S. and in Canada. The company plans more growth: a Great Wolf Lodge in Perryville, Maryland is scheduled to open summer of 2023 and a location in Naples, Florida just broke ground.

Fans of the howlingly fun resort can stay up to date on developments on the company’s social media channels and on www.greatwolf.com.

families vacation

Social media success

Fort Worth Foodies Facebook group hits milestone 100,000 members — with big plans ahead

Photo by Becca Wright

Cheers!

When Connie Bally founded the Facebook group Fort Worth Foodies in 2017, she was just looking for some dinner friends. But when the group attracted hundreds of members within its first few weeks, she realized it had potential for much more than restaurant dates.

Now, five years later, Bally has proven herself right. Fort Worth Foodies reached 100,000 members on September 22, making it the largest public Facebook group in North Texas. The group’s mission is to be the most reliable and dynamic source of where and what to eat in Fort Worth while increasing commerce in foodie-related stores and services. Members ask for restaurant recommendations, offer food advice, and share dining-related news articles.

Bally, 69, a Fort Worth resident since 2009, says the group reached the milestone through organic growth. Before starting Fort Worth Foodies, she had no experience in social media management, but she says she has a “really good business head” thanks to 32 years of working in finance. Now that she’s achieved this member milestone, she wants to take her group to the next level.

“We will always be where you go to get the best banana pudding,” Bally says of the group. “We will always be a good resource, but we could be so much more. And we’re ready for that next step.”

Bally says she has been able to fully monetize the group thanks to hands-on guidance and feedback from Facebook. So far, she only works with "brand partners" (similar to paid advertisers) and has held off from seeking out investors, admitting that she’s not ready for that step yet.

The group has six volunteer administrators, but Bally hopes to be able to pay them by next year.

For now, Bally is working to strengthen her startup business and increase revenue. She’s gunning to be selected for a Community Accelerator program started by Facebook to provide mentorship, training, and a $40,000 grant to the leader of a community Facebook group. Being chosen for the program would allow her to make significant headway in developing her business and strengthening city relations. Her dream is to work with the Black Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the city’s economic development department to host an expo or hiring fair focused on culinary arts and connecting community members with culinary resources and networking.

If she’s not selected for the program, Bally is confident her vision will still come to life. She says she’ll seek out sponsors independently and capitalize on opportunities like North Texas Giving Day next year to fund her plans for the group.

In the future, Bally wants to start a foundation that creates scholarships for those pursuing culinary arts. It takes half a million Facebook members for a group to start a foundation, but she’s already a fifth of the way there. She sees no reason why Fort Worth Foodies can’t make it the rest of the way.

“It sounds crazy, but who better than us?” Bally says of her goals. “Fort Worth is the 12th largest city in the nation, the DFW area is the fastest growing metroplex in the nation, we’ve got eight million people in 14 different municipalities. I am enormously proud of my 100,000, but it is just the beginning.”

Bally is developing an interactive map of Fort Worth’s restaurants called Steps and a digital directory of restaurants. She also publishes an online foodie magazine called Fort Worth Foodies Presents.

In the meantime, Bally hopes to see the group continue to grow and hopefully reach 150,000 members by next year.

To celebrate the current milestone, group members will have the chance to win one of three giveaway gift baskets filled with more than $500 worth of hotel packages, gift cards, and more. She hasn’t made any plans on how to celebrate her achievement personally, but her real prize, she says, is the community she has built.

interview media

In the Bag

Peek inside the Dallas-Fort Worth Tastemaker Awards exclusive Tasting Totes

Tasting Totes brought the Tastemaker Awards to you.

6 perfect weekend getaways to plan around Texas this fall

Fort Worth restaurant vet to open burger joint in former dive bar space

These Dallas-Fort Worth spots are hosting big voting drive if you need to register

6 perfect weekend getaways to plan around Texas this fall

Fort Worth restaurant vet to open burger joint in former dive bar space

These Dallas-Fort Worth spots are hosting big voting drive if you need to register

bring the pack

Great Wolf Lodge breaks ground on massive indoor water park resort in new Texas city

6 perfect weekend getaways to plan around Texas this fall

Fort Worth restaurant vet to open burger joint in former dive bar space

These Dallas-Fort Worth spots are hosting big voting drive if you need to register

Social media success

Fort Worth Foodies Facebook group hits milestone 100,000 members — with big plans ahead

6 perfect weekend getaways to plan around Texas this fall

Fort Worth restaurant vet to open burger joint in former dive bar space

These Dallas-Fort Worth spots are hosting big voting drive if you need to register

In the Bag

Tasting Totes brought the Tastemaker Awards to you.

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome Get Fort Worth intel delivered daily.

We will not share or sell your email address.

Movie Review

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome Get Fort Worth intel delivered daily.

We will not share or sell your email address.

bring the pack

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome Get Fort Worth intel delivered daily.

We will not share or sell your email address.

Social media success

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome Get Fort Worth intel delivered daily.

We will not share or sell your email address.

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome

Get Fort Worth intel delivered daily.

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome

Get Fort Worth intel delivered daily.

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome

Get Fort Worth intel delivered daily.

CultureMap Emails Are Awesome

Get Fort Worth intel delivered daily.