This Week in Gluttony

These are the 6 best food and drink events in Fort Worth this week

Fort Worth will get its oompah on at Oktoberfest.

Photo courtesy of Trinity River Vision Authority

This week’s events are good for the mind, body, and soul. Yoga poses are paired with pints, a taste of Germany comes to Fort Worth, and there’s a crawfish boil for a great cause. Also enjoy childhood favorites with desserts made from Girl Scout Cookies and a craft brew version of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. But first, make reservations for the Grace Clam Bake before it sells out.

Tuesday, September 19

Desserts First Fort Worth
An all-female lineup of chefs will share their Girl Scout Cookie dessert creations at this fundraiser benefiting Girl Scout programming in greater Fort Worth. Sip wine and taste treats from Dena Shaskan of Bravo Catering, Jane Sokolov of Local Foods Kitchen, Deb Cantrell of Savor Culinary Services, and Carolyn Phillips of Alchemy Pops. Tickets for the event, which takes place at The Marquis on Magnolia, start at $35 per person, and the festivities begin at 6 pm.

Wednesday, September 20

Shannon Brewery Company’s Rare Release Wednesday
Craving Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in beer form? Shannon Brewing Company has that sweet tooth covered with the release of its Reese’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Stout. The rich and creamy brew will sell for $6 a pint, one day only, from 4-9 pm. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Admission is free.

Thursday, September 21

Oktoberfest Fort Worth
The three-day German festival returns to The Shack at Panther Island Pavilion, where guests can enjoy German food, music, dancing, and new this year, midway rides. Spaten and Oktoberfest craft beers will be available for purchase along with bratwurst, schnitzel, German pretzels, and more. Tickets range from $5-$15, or $65 for a three-course dinner by Reata. Purchase in advance through September 20 and get a free commemorative stein. The revelry runs through Saturday, September 23.

Friday, September 22

Grace Clam Bake
There are a few seats left at Grace’s annual clam bake, a four-course dinner on the downtown restaurant’s street-side patio that’s sure to sell out. Chef Blaine Staniford will serve King salmon five ways; New England clam chowder; and an abundance of baked shellfish to include Diver scallops, Maine lobster, jumbo prawns, mussels, king crab, calamari, and, of course, clams. Seats are $135 per person plus tax and gratuity. Wine pairings are included with each course. Call 817-877-3388 for reservations.

Saturday, September 23

Beer and Yoga at Martin House Brewing Company
Sip and stretch at Martin House Brewing Company with an hour-long yoga class followed by pints of craft brew. The class will take place on the grassy lawn outside the brewery (weather permitting) with views of the Trinity River and downtown skyline. The $20 fee includes the class, a pint glass, and three beers. (Try the brewery’s new Cuvee Pumpkin Latte beer, released just last week.) Don’t forget your yoga mat.

Sunday, September 24

Crawfish for a Cause Boil at Waters Restaurant
Having interned in New Orleans before opening his namesake restaurant in Fort Worth, Jon Bonnell knows how a hurricane can devastate a Gulf Coast community. That’s why he’s hosting a crawfish boil on the patio of his Sundance Square seafood restaurant that will benefit Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, specifically in Port Aransas. (He’s there now helping to feed displaced residents.) A pound of spicy crawfish with potatoes and corn cobs will run $14.50. Furry friends are welcome on the pet-friendly patio. No reservations required.

fundraisers desserts dinner craft-beer festivals

Closure News

Tropic Lady restaurant-bar on Fort Worth's Race Street says aloha

Tropic Lady

The dip trio at Tropic Lady.

A chill restaurant and bar in Fort Worth's River East district has closed: Tropic Lady, which opened in the former Fuzzy's Taco space at 2719 Race St. in 2023, has closed.

The restaurant, which closed in mid-December, was a sibling to Bearded Lady, the popular gastropub in Near Southside; their last Facebook post was on December 10. Their phone number is not working, and their website is no longer active. Owner Shannon Osbakken was unavailable for comment, but a Bearded Lady employee confirmed the closure.

Tropic Lady was a tropical-themed gastropub opened by a trio of friends: Bearded Lady owner Shannon Osbakken, her business partner Sarah Allen, and general manager Amanda Yunger. It offered a similar menu as Bearded lady but with more tropical-inspired fare, including shrimp tacos, bacon-wrapped grilled pineapple bites, and guacamole dotted with mango.

For a gastropub, they did interesting food with dishes like watermelon salad with feta and cucumber; or their Dip Trio, with mango guacamole, tomatillo salsa, and queso blanco served with house-made tortilla chips. Definitely not run-of-the-mill. They also had great lunch specials like a smashburger with curly fries for $10.

Food did not seem to be the problem.

Decor featured artwork and murals created by local artists. A beautifully landscaped patio wrapped around the building’s facade. So the setting did not seem to be a factor.

It's tempting to point the finger at its location on Race Street, which has witnessed a round of closings in the past two years including buzzy birria taqueria Caliscience, which closed in February 2024; as well as The Post at River East, a restaurant and live music venue that shut down the same month.

In 2023, three other restaurants on Race Street closed: Tributary Cafe, the Bon Appetit-lauded La Onda, and vegan burger spot Zonk Burger. But separate reasons can also be found for each of those closures, whether that be inexperience or lease issues.

For years, the city and neighborhood advocates have been trying to turn Race Street into a trendy hotspot. As part of the city’s Urban Villages program, the city of Fort Worth invested $5.6 million in revitalizing the area, making improvements to traffic flow, sidewalks, landscaping, and outdoor lighting.

When Osbakken opened the bar, she said she loved the area, stating "it reminds me of Magnolia when were first were on it 10 years ago in our old location. It's a great community and the neighbors have been friendly and reaching out."

And there are still restaurants along the street, including a popular Mexican restaurant called Tesoro, the Dough’d Up doughnut shop, and Kingyo Sushi & Ramen House, as well as a coffee shop, Race Street Coffee.

The Bearded Lady continues to flourish. Osbakken originally opened the popular gastropub on Magnolia Avenue in 2013. Six years later, she moved it to the South Main, where it’s still going strong.

closings