This is how big an apartment renters get for $1,500 in Fort Worth

NO SPACE TO WASTE

Photo by Jarek Ceborski on Unsplash

We all know what renters dream about when they’re not thinking about the logistics of owning a home: low rent prices with the perfect amount of space. In cities across Dallas-Fort Worth, that’s getting harder and harder to come by.

For renters who have a budget of $1,500 a month, the average apartment size they can get in Fort Worth spans about 909 square feet. The good news: That's almost 100 square feet more than they get in Dallas (805).

That’s according to a new study by apartment rental marketplace RentCafe.

In Arlington, renters get even more bang for their buck, at 928 square feet for the same budget.

Residents of the Dallas suburb of Mesquite, by far, get the most space in DFW, at 999 square feet for $1,500. Those in neighboring Garland come close, with 937 square feet.

The DFW cities that offer the smallest space for the price are Plano and Frisco. Plano renters have to make do with an average apartment size of 766 square feet, while Frisco renters get even less space, at 740 square feet. That’s more than 200 square feet less than an apartment in Mesquite.

RentCafe’s study looked at data from their sister site, Yardi Matrix, to determine the average size and price per square foot for a $1,500 monthly budget in 200 of the largest American cities.

Here’s how much space you can rent for $1,500 in other Dallas-Fort Worth-area cities:

Grand Prairie – 873 square feet
Denton – 868 square feet
Irving – 848 square feet
McKinney – 809 square feet

Elsewhere in Texas, apartments in the Rio Grande Valley have the best price per square foot in the state. McAllen residents get the most space out of any other Texas city with an average apartment size of 1,471 square feet. Renters in Brownsville, which is 60 miles east on the border, can get a similarly sized apartment that’s 1,307 square feet for the same $1,500 a month budget.

Much like Mesquite, Houston residents can find apartments that are just under 1,000 square feet for the same budget. But that doesn’t go nearly as far in Austin, where renters can find apartments that are an average of 714 square feet.

The full report can be found on rentcafe.com.

Photo courtesy of Hotel Vin

Dallas-Fort Worth hot spots rack up 14 Texas Travel Awards - with one glaring omission

Award-winning attractions

Some of the best attractions in the state are in Dallas-Fort Worth and surrounding areas, according to the 2023 Texas Travel Awards, which "shine a spotlight on the most exciting, innovative, and inviting places around the state."

The Texas Travel Awards were created by Austin Monthly, San Antonio Magazine, and Texas Music publishers, and the winners are decided by a panel of industry professional judges, travel journalists, and a musician. The awards are bestowed in "by population" categories (small, mid, or big market), as well as in statewide and people's choice categories.

In all, the Dallas-Fort Worth region won 14 accolades this year, which highlights just how positively travelers perceive the Metroplex. The winners of these prestigious awards - including spots in Arlington, Mansfield, Grapevine, Granbury, and even Mineral Wells - offer some of the most unique experiences in Texas for travelers.

However, there is one big and inexplicable oversight - Fort Worth itself was shut out entirely. No awards for Stockyards, Cultural District, festivals or other events. Makes one think the judges have never heard of the place.

Despite that malarkey, here's who did win across North Texas ....

The only Dallas attraction to win a best "by-population" award was the 561-foot-tall iconic Reunion Tower, in the category for the most Instagrammable "Big Market" Spot. (The storied Dallas landmark will surely draw even more Instagram attention now that it's home to a new restaurant.)

The remaining awards all fell to the 'burbs and two outlying cities.

The town of Grapevine took home three" by population" awards in this year's rankings, which is one more than last year's awards. For the second year in a row, Third Rail and MagnumSpeakeasy won Best "Mid Market" Live Music Venue and Best "Mid Market" Bar. Magnum opened in 2021 at the height of the speakeasy trend that took over Dallas-Fort Worth, as did Third Rail, and have been popular additions to the city's nightlife scene.

And what do they have in common? They're both conveniently located in the Best "Mid Market" Hotel: Hotel Vin, Autograph Collection. It is the only boutique hotel in Grapevine, mixing luxurious accommodations with classic Texan hospitality.

The city of Mansfield earned two accolades in this year's awards, after not gaining any in 2022. The "Love Your Vibe" mural won most Instagrammable "Mid Market" Spot, and Music Alley Music and Arts Festival won the title for Best "Mid Market" Music Festival or Event.

Arlington took home one award in the "by population" category for Best "Big Market" Food Festival or Event. The city's #SaveTheTacos Contest won the award, where several local restaurants add new, specially-made tacos to their menus and compete to become the city's favorite taco.

One up-and-coming city that earned one statewide award and two by population awards is Mineral Wells, located 50 miles west of Fort Worth. Mineral Wells' downtown area earned the statewide Best Revitalization award, while its visitor center won the Best "Small Market" Visitor Center. In the category for Best "Small Market" Under the Radar Activity, Mineral Wells Fossil Park was awarded that accolade.

For the second consecutive year, the Texas Travel Awards created People's Choice awards for the public to vote on the best destinations in four categories: arts and culture, families, foodies, and outdoor adventures. And Dallas-Fort Worth cities swept in the category, leaving other Texas cities in the dust.

Dallas was named the Best Destination for Arts and Culture, and Grapevine won the award for Best Destination for Families. The outlying southwestern city of Granbury, which is located less than 40 miles from Fort Worth, won Best Destination for Foodies, and Mineral Wells earned the title of Best Destination for Outdoor Adventures.

Elsewhere in Texas, the Hill Country city of New Braunfels just outside San Antonio took home 12 awards, the most out of any Texas city in this year's rankings.

The full list of winners in the 2023 Texas Travel Awards can be found on their website.

Photo courtesy of the Arlington Museum of Art

Taylor Swift continues Texas takeover with new Eras exhibition at Arlington museum

IN HER MUSEUM ERA

Taylor Swift’s reign in Arlington won't end when her March 31-April 2 "Eras Tour" shows end. She'll continue to dominate Dallas-Fort Worth thanks to a special exhibition called "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Collection" opening this summer at the Arlington Museum of Art.

In collaboration with the HELP Center for LGBT Health & Wellness, "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Collection," will feature items from Swift’s private collection. It will open June 3 and run through September 24, 2023.

Visitors will be able to experience her journey as an artist and view outfits, photographs, and concert videos from the “eras” of her life and career, a press release says. Highlights of the collection are eight iconic costumes from four of Swift’s albums.

“As an artist, Swift's career is rich in depth and detail, and we believe the exhibition will appeal not only to her fans, music lovers, and art lovers, but to the next generation of emerging museum-goers,” says Arlington Museum of Art president and CEO Chris Hightower in a press release.

Hightower also shared that the new museum exhibition is the perfect opportunity for guests to understand the gravity of what it takes to become a multimedia artist, and what it means to sustain that popularity, especially through the eyes of a 12-time Grammy winner.

“Great artists throughout history have been able to express themselves so sublimely because they were so dedicated to their craft,” he says. “They never stop learning and never hold back. They influence the future because they take creative risks in spite of opposing forces.”

Arlington Mayor Jim Ross says in the release that the collection reflects the city's dedication to building its reputation for world-class entertainment and the arts, and upholding its Texas Music-Friendly Community designation.

“In Arlington, we love collaboration, a can-do spirit, and out-of-the-box thinking,” said Mayor Ross, “and the team at the Arlington Museum of Art continues to surprise and thrill us by really putting all that into practice. It has been so exciting to see the Arlington Museum of Art find its voice in the last few years, and there is no doubt that even bigger things are on the horizon.”

The "Eras Tour Collection" will run June 3-September 24. Arlington Museum of Art members will be able to purchase tickets starting 10 am April 13, and the general public sale will begin at 10 am April 17. Tickets ($5-$20) can be purchased at arlingtonmuseum.org.

Photo courtesy of Six Flags Over Texas

New Aquaman: Power Wave water coaster ready for 150-foot splashdown at Six Flags Over Texas

SCREAM BREAK

Adrenaline junkies, get in line and prepare to get drenched: The long-awaited new Aquaman: Power Wave water coaster is officially opening at Six Flags Over Texas on March 11.

The revolutionary new roller coaster is touted as the first of its kind in North America.

It's a multi-launch "water coaster" that propels riders in two 20-passenger boats back and forth along a 2,000-foot track and up two 150-foot towers. Then, riders are held, face down, at 90 degrees before being thrust 63 miles per hour straight down.

Then, splash! The ride comes to a thrilling end with a plunge into a giant water wave. (Watch a video demo of it here.)

Aquaman: Power Wave is Six Flags Over Texas' 14th coaster.

Aquaman: Power Wave will be open during Scream Break evening hours.Photo courtesy of Six Flags Over Texas

Its grand opening comes in conjunction with Six Flags’ spring break week, including special "Scream Break" evening events.

Scream Break will take place every night from 9 pm-12 am, March 11-18. Visitors who aren’t afraid of the dark can experience two haunted houses, a designated scare zone, a freakshow, and other spooky activities that are unavailable in the daylight.

Richard Douaihy, the president of Six Flags Over Texas, says in a release that spring break is one of the best times during the year to visit the park.

“We are always filled with joy to see legions of fans and their families creating lasting memories at our park, and the classic Spring Break and new Scream Break events are sure to deliver such moments,” he says.

Besides Aquaman: Power Wave, other thrilling amusement rides such as Mr. Freeze (which is celebrating its 25th anniversary at the park) will also be open at night.

Nighttime attractions that will be available during Scream Break include:

Aquaman: Power Wave
Batman: The Ride
Catwoman Whip
Mr. Freeze
The Riddler Revenge
Texas SkyScreamer
Arania’s Murder Mansion haunted house
Labsics classified haunted house
Killer Clowns Scare Zone
Freakshow – The Ringmaster Presents

Scream Break tickets can be purchased separately or added to any single-day ticket or pass for $39.99 per person. Tickets can be found at sixflags.com.

Photo courtesy of Arlington Parks & Recreation.

Zip through the trees at a high-flying new adventure park in Arlington

ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE

In time for spring break fun and adventures, two new zipline and ropes courses have opened at Arlington's River Legacy Park East. The city’s parks and recreation department teamed up with Go Ape, a nationally renowned zipline and adventure park company, for the new attractions, which opened March 3.

The new Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park includes two ropes-adventure courses: the Treetop Adventure and Treetop Journey.

The Treetop Adventure is a three-hour, high-ropes course with eagle-eye views of the park and Trinity River. It includes more than 60 obstacles, a Tarzan swing, and plenty of ziplines to fly through the sky 40 feet above the ground. Admission is $59.95-$64.95, and it's open for all ages (must be at least 4-feet-7 to participate, and those under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult).

For a shorter, at-your-own-pace experience, the Treetop Journey packs in just as much fun as the Adventure in a one-hour ropes course with half the obstacles and two ziplines just 20 feet in the air. Admission is $39.95, and it's open for all ages (must be at least 3-feet-3 to participate, and those under age 6 must be accompanied by an adult).

There's also a new range for outdoor axe-throwing. With four lanes of targets and a variety of games and challenges, visitors can compete with their friends to determine who’s the best axe-thrower. The activity is suitable for ages 10 and up and participants aged 15 and under must be supervised by an adult. Cost is $19.95 per hour.

Reservations are recommended, at goape.com.

This is the second Go Ape Adventure Park in Dallas-Fort Worth, there's also one in Plano at the Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve.

Go Ape CEO Vernon West says in a release that he is thrilled to bring more “adventurous experiences” to Arlington's residents of all ages and skill levels.

Photo courtesy of Arlington Parks & Recreation.

The new adventure park opened to the public March 3.

“Our instructors will provide a tree-mendous experience for all guests, giving them a unique and fun adventure with the highlight being a 550-foot zipline over the Trinity River,” he says.

Arlington Parks and Recreation director James Orloski adds that he can’t wait to see adventure-seekers smiling as they “soar through the skies” with any of the new activities.

"Partnering with Go Ape, the premier zipline and ropes course vendor in the U.S., is an exciting opportunity to provide a thrilling outdoor experience for Arlington residents and visitors alike and gives us the chance to showcase our parks system from a new vantage point," Orloski says.

Find the park at 1601 NE Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington.

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Funnel Cakes and More in Arlington delivers exactly what it promises

State Fair News

There's a restaurant in Arlington dedicated to a State Fair favorite: Called Funnel Cakes and More, it's located at 2430 N. Davis St. #100, just north of I-30 near Fielder Road, and is exactly as advertised, with a menu of decadent funnel cake creations, plus some unique Southern treats.

The restaurant was originally founded by Jessica Espinoza, whose focus was on the sweet side with funnel cakes and gelato. New owner April Campbell is keeping that sweet specialty but adding some savory items, as well.

"We're definitely keeping the funnel cakes and have even added some new twists," Campbell says.

Updates include new flavors such as:

peach cobbler funnel cake, a hugely popular offering topped with peaches, vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream
strawberry banana funnel cake, topped with sliced banana, and strawberry jam
Reese's peanut butter & jelly deluxe

But Campbell's big innovation is to add savory items, everything from wings to a funnel cake burger, with the funnel cake serving as a sweet and novel "bun."

"I am incorporating some light soul food, plus wings, burgers, and hot wing baskets," she says.

Campbell has worked in the medical field for more than 20 years as a physician's assistant, but this fulfills her entrepreneurial dreams.

"I always wanted to open a restaurant in honor of my late grandmother, whose cooking inspired me," she says.

Once she gets her liquor license, she'll add daiquiris. Meanwhile, she's currently fermenting what is sure to become a hit: pickles cured in Kool-Aid.

"It's a real Southern treat, with a flavor that's both tart and sweet," she says. "The longer you let them sit, the more sweet they become. We want to hold off, but people keep asking, 'When are they going to be ready?'"

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Property Showcase

'Yellowstone' stars to greet fans at Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

Yellowstone news

Yellowstone fans, get your comfy shoes ready - there'll be a long line for this one. Cole Hauser a.k.a. "Rip Wheeler" on Yellowstone, and Taylor Sheridan, the show's co-creator, executive producer, and director of the series, will meet fans and sign autographs at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

The event will take place from 4:30-6:30 pm only on Friday, February 3. Location is the 6666 Ranch booth near the south end of Aisle 700 in the Amon G. Carter, Jr. Exhibits Hall.

According to a February 2 announcement from FWSSR, "fans will have the opportunity to snag an autograph as well as purchase some distinctive Yellowstone and 6666 Ranch merchandise while also enjoying all the features the Stock Show offers."

The event is free to attend (with paid Stock Show admission) and open to the public.

It's the second year in a row for Hauser to appear at FWSSR; in 2022, he and fellow cast mates drew huge crowds.

Sheridan, a Paschal High School graduate, is no stranger to Fort Worth; he lives in a ranch near Weatherford and filmed 1883, the prequel to Yellowstone, in and around Fort Worth. Currently, another spinoff, 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, is filming in North Texas.

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is winding up its 2023 run on Saturday, February 4.

Cafe with made-to-order mini-doughnuts to open near TCU in south Fort Worth

Doughnut News

Little doughnuts are rolling into south Fort Worth via a new doughnut cafe. Called Batter & Beans, it'll serve doughnuts, coffee, and more, and it's opening at 3548 South Hills Ave., south of TCU in Westcliff Center.

They'll be right around the corner from Cafe Bella [which it should be noted recently won Best Neighborhood Restauant in CultureMap's 2023 Tastemaker Awards].

Batter & Beans will be a family-owned collaboration between Matthew Whip, a partner at Ernst & Young, and his brother-in-law, who worked for a restaurant group in Michigan and brings the food knowhow.

They'll be doing miniature doughnuts, similar to the Pittsburgh-based Peace, Love, and Little Donuts chain (which has one location in Texas, in Southlake).

They're aiming to be open by early fall.

"We'll be doing fresh, made-to-order mini cake doughnuts plus premium coffee we're sourcing out of Chicago, from Metropolis, a small-batch artisan roaster," Whip says. "We're originally from the Chicago area, and that's always been my favorite roaster, and they also roast coffee for Yolk, which has a location in Sundance Square."

The cafe will also offer fresh lemonade, iced tea, and ice cream, for neighbors who want to stop in for a treat at night.

Whip and his family first relocated from the Chicago area to North Texas in 2018, then moved down the street from the shop last year. It's a small storefront, about 920 square feet, and they're currently in the final stages of design and permitting.

"There's lots of kids in this neighborhood, and I think a place with mini doughnuts would do well," Whip says.

It was only after they signed on to do the shop that they learned from a neighbor that the space they're taking had good doughnut karma, with a longtime history as a doughnut shop, most recently a place called Donut Palace. Sadly, it closed during the pandemic. Now the doughnuts will return.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus navigates marriage pitfalls in You Hurt My Feelings

Movie Review

Anybody who’s been married or in a long-term relationship knows that it’s almost impossible to be completely honest with his or her partner. There are always going to be moments – whether for the sake of expediency, in a show of support, or other reasons – when one person withholds their true opinion so as not to hurt the other person’s feelings.

That idea is the central tension point of You Hurt My Feelings, which follows Beth (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a writer/teacher, and her husband, Don (Tobias Menzies), a therapist. Beth is in the middle of trying to get her first fiction book published, a process that is causing her unceasing anxiety. Don sees a series of patients, including a constantly-bickering couple (played by real-life husband and wife David Cross and Amber Tamblyn), and a few lapses cause him to question his commitment to the profession.

When Beth and her sister, Sarah (Michaela Watkins), accidentally overhear Don telling his brother-in-law, Mark (Arian Moayed), that he doesn’t like Sarah’s new book and is exhausted having to tell her otherwise, it sends Beth into an emotional spiral. The aftermath winds up pulling in not just the two couples, but also Beth and Don’s son, Eliot (Owen Teague), dredging up feelings that all of them normally try to keep hidden.

Written and directed by Nicole Holofcener, the film is a funny and genuine look at how even the best couples can run into pitfalls. By most measures, Beth and Don get along fantastically well, supporting each other unwaveringly and showing their love in a variety of ways. When the story puts them at odds with each other, there’s never a question that they belong together, as even their arguments are tinged with exasperation instead of anger.

Holofcener complements the story of Beth and Don with a nice variety of side plots, including Eliot trying to start his own writing career while working at a weed store; Beth and Sarah’s mom, Georgia (Jeannie Berlin), offering up support and criticism in equal measures; and more. Don’s patients and Beth’s students offer an opportunity to expand the two characters’ personalities outside of their marriage while also adding a few other funny roles.

While perhaps not the most insightful film about marriage that’s ever been made, it is still highly enjoyable thanks to Holofcener’s writing and the strong performances. Filmed in New York City, the particular feel of that urban landscape and the way it affects the lives of the characters also plays a big part in the success of the film.

Louis-Dreyfus, as always, is a delight to watch. A kind of spiritual sequel to her previous collaboration with Holofcener, 2013’s Enough Said, the film gives her plenty of room to show off both her comedic and dramatic skills. Menzies makes for a steady presence, showing good chemistry with Louis-Dreyfus and a preternatural calm in therapy sessions. Watkins, Moayed, Teague, and Berlin all fit in seamlessly.

You Hurt My Feelings is not a world-changing kind of movie, but rather a solidly-told story about how relationships can be complicated. With actors who are easy to like and Holofcener’s reliably great filmmaking, it’s a movie for adults that’s nice counter-programming to the glut of summer blockbusters.

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You Hurt My Feelings is now playing in theaters.

Photo courtesy of A24

Tobias Menzies and Julia Louis-Dreyfus in You Hurt My Feelings.

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