New shops at Southlake Town Square lead this week's 5 most-read Fort Worth stories

This Week's Hot Headlines

Facebook/Lululemon

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 long holiday weekend? Find that list here.

1. Southlake Town Square to welcome 8 hot new stores and eateries by year's end. The post-pandemic retail comeback continues at Southlake Town Square, with a slew of new openings happening through the end of 2022. Here's a rundown of what's coming soon, where, and when.

2. Fort Worth-based American Airlines adds new nonstop flights to picturesque island nation. Fort Worth-based American Airlines announced May 26 that it’s launching daily nonstop flights between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Auckland, New Zealand, on October 29. The nonstop service, which will operate through March 25, will be the first between the two cities.

3. Texas' largest crystal lagoon dives into Memorial Day weekend with floating cabanas and more. North Texans ready to dive into Memorial Day weekend with a refreshing road trip can aim their cars toward Houston, for Texas’ largest Crystal Lagoons amenity. Lagoonfest Texas returns for its third year with crystal-blue water, white beaches, and the favorite aquabanas — the floating cabanas.

4. Fort Worth's Wild Acre Brewing gets new owners who plan big things. One of Fort Worth's top craft beer brewers has a new owner, and they have very big things planned. Wild Acre Brewing, founded in 2014 by John Pritchett, has been acquired by Dallas' Bishop Cider as part of a crazy-big expansion that includes the acquisition of another brewery in Arlington.

5. Fort Worth Medical District bags some burnin' hot Nashville chicken. A spicy hot chicken concept from California has debuted in Texas: Called Burnin' Mouth Chicken, the restaurant just opened in Fort Worth at 1229 8th Ave. #127, advantageously located right in the thick of the Near Southside/Medical District, where it's serving its version of the Nashville hot chicken sandwich, along with chicken strips, wings, and fries.

More Lululemon yoga pants coming to Southlake.

Facebook/Lululemon

More Lululemon yoga pants coming to Southlake.

Photo by Melissa Gaskill

A quintessential Texas road trip to Shiner beckons with beer and barbecue

Texas travel

A koozie in the gift shop at the Spoetzl Brewery demands, “Eat Meat. Drink Beer.” That pretty much sums up any good journey to Shiner, a town about 80 miles southeast of Austin that’s home to roughly 2,000 souls and the famed brewery that produces iconic Shiner beers.

For the meat, options abound along the route to Shiner. For lunch, consider a stop in Lockhart for some of Central Texas’ best barbecue. There’s Smitty’s Market, where the line starts right next to the open pit and the ’cue is served on sheets of paper, old-school style, like all the best Texas barbecue. (Smitty’s also serves Shiner beer, but the eatery only takes cash, so come prepared.)

Other celebrated Lockhart options include Black’s Barbecue and Kruez Market. There’s also City Market (it’s cash only here, too) and Luling Barbq, literally across the street from each other in the town of Luling.

The beer part of this adventure, naturally, happens most deliciously in Shiner. Czech and German immigrants founded a brewery here in 1909 after discovering artesian water. Bavarian Kosmos Spoetzel bought the operation, named it for himself, and continued using traditional methods as its brewmaster from 1914 to 1950. Today, Spoetzel is one of the largest independent craft brewers in the country, selling beers in all 50 states and Mexico, every drop of it brewed here.

That water is key, says Jimmy Mauric, current brewmaster.

“Beer is 93 percent water, so the local water makes Shiner special,” he explains. “The water is pristine, not chlorinated, and we use the well water only for our beers and seltzers.”

Other ingredients used at the brewery include roasted barley malt grain, a special blend of hops, and three types of yeast, including two proprietary strains. For its seasonal beers, the brewery sources special ingredients, like peaches and dewberries, locally as much as possible.

A tour of the brewery is a must. Tour packages start at $15 for guests 21 and older, $10 for guests younger than 21, and run approximately every hour, from 11 am Monday through Saturday and 1 pm Sunday. The last tour is at 4 pm every day.

You’ll be treated to a history video, a stop by a kitchen where the guide explains the beer-making process, a peek at shiny copper fermenters, and a wall of caps from all retired employees since the company started recording keeping. Plus, you’ll get a brief visit to a mock fermentation tank to check out a creative video on that process and the tiny yeast that power it.

A viewing deck overlooks the massive bottling line where the iconic brown bottles travel on moving conveyor belts, piling up like traffic on I-35. The last stop is a classic honky-tonk-style bar, walls covered with historic photographs and a display case of the different seasonal special beers the brewery has released throughout the years.

The tour ends with beer tastings — which you will definitely crave by this time — and visitors can purchase a pint (or two) of their favorites while enjoying a respite at one of the onsite picnic tables on the sprawling lawn outside.

Other local must-visit stops include Howard’s, at 1701 N. Avenue East, which looks like the typical corner gas station convenience store in every small town, but actually offers many wonders, including beers on draft and a charming biergarten out back that often features live music.

Choose from several hundred beers at Antiques, Arts and Beer, each served with complimentary peanuts and popcorn. The historic 1911 building features tin and barnwood walls, art and antiques, and, out back, a pet-friendly covered deck.

Shiner’s Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church is worth a photo stop. The red brick Romanesque Revival-style church, dedicated in 1921 and listed in the National Registry of Historic Places, features a dramatic altar backed by a painted mural, statues, and stained-glass windows. Take a look inside, and feel free to offer up a prayer of thanks for Shiner beer.

Fitzhugh Brewing/Facebook

6 intoxicating breweries and distilleries to spirit away to in Dripping Springs

Dripping with drinks

Dripping Springs bills itself as the Wedding Capital of Texas, complete with a trademark on the phrase. The growing community near Austin also brags about its official International Dark Sky designation, a draw for stargazers. While there may be no official recognition for an abundance of wineries, distilleries, and breweries — trust us — this area has boozy bona fides.

As summer fades into fall (yes, please!), here are three distilleries and three breweries in Dripping Springs offering plenty of reasons to stop by.

Booze

Desert Door Distillery
Sotol is tequila’s smoother cousin. This distillery makes it from sotol plants wild-harvested in West Texas and uses it to make ranch water, margaritas, and bespoke cocktails. A covered outdoor seating area with misting fans is kid- and dog-friendly. Enjoy live music, limited editions of sotol, and farm-to-table inspired dishes from the Eden West food truck, open Thursday 4-8 pm, Friday and Saturday noon-8 pm, and Sunday noon-6 pm. Distillery hours are Thursday 3:30-8 pm, Friday and Saturday 11:30 am-8 pm, and Sunday noon-6. 211 Darden Hill Rd., 512-829-6129.

Dripping Springs Distilling
In 2005, the Kelleher brothers built the first distillery in the Texas Hill Country and in 2007, sold their first bottle of Dripping Springs Vodka. The venture became Dripping Springs Distilling in 2018, offering vodka, gin, bourbon, tequila, and other spirits. A new location with a bar; visitors center; event venue; and spacious, oak-studded grounds, complete with a kids’ play area and water bowls for the pups, opened in August. After a pandemic-related hiatus, distillery tours and tastings are back by reservation or walk-up ($21.65 per person). Venue operations manager Kristi Quick reports plans for Sunday tours with Austin Tour Company, featuring this and two other area stops. The distillery plans to roll out fall cocktails in October, with seasonal touches such as warming spices and hot drinks. Also in the works: Sunday brunch. The distillery is open Thursday through Sunday 10:30 am-5 pm. 5330 Bell Springs Rd., 512-858-1199.

Treaty Oak Distilling
On 28 shady acres, tour the production facility, dine at Alice’s Restaurant, sip cocktails, or sample spirits in the Rickhouse Bar or tasting room, or grab a picnic table under the oaks. Bring the dog and the kids (there’s a play area for the little ones). A $25, 45-minute guided tour and tasting includes $5 off any bottle, up to two bottles. Tours run Saturday noon-5 pm every hour. Live music happens on Friday and Saturday. Nab one of 10 spots in the Single Barrel Select program that includes behind-the-scenes tasting and barrel samples, a personalized bottle of cask-strength Ghost Hill Texas Bourbon, a barbecue plate, and a 40 percent discount on food, beverages, and merchandise all day. The entire facility is open Friday and Saturday noon-9 pm, and Sunday noon-6 pm. 16604 Fitzhugh Rd., 512-400-4023.

Beer

Beerburg Brewing
Hops don’t grow well in Texas, but Beerburg sources all its other brewing ingredients from the state, with a Wildcraft Series featuring Texas-foraged plants. Seasonal offerings for fall include a mesquite bean and pecan brown ale. Taqueria la Violeta offers a variety of regional Mexican street food, including tacos and house-made ice creams. Enjoy it all on a large deck and tree-shaded beer garden. Live music jams every Friday and Sunday, and local artwork is on view in the lounge. Beerburg is open Thursday and Friday 3-8 pm, and Saturday and Sunday noon-8 pm. 13476 Fitzhugh Rd., 512-265-0543.

Fitzhugh Brewing
Here, the possibilities abound. Choose to spend your day in an expansive indoor space, on the covered patio, or in the large outdoor beer garden with shaded picnic tables, a playscape, and a stage. Co-owner Kerbey Smith and brewer Nathan Rice make beers for everyone, not just aficionados. Rice brews styles from Barbados to Belgium, all piped straight to the bar taps. (It doesn’t get fresher than that!) Food by PEJ Kitchens (the sister company of longtime Austin smokehouse Pok-e-Jo’s) features tender riffs on barbecue, from smokehouse nachos to burnt ends, pork ribs, and sausage — and one of Austin’s most inventive charcuterie boards. Events range from those featuring baby goats to kids’ nights, four-course dinner and beer pairings, and a one-year anniversary party planned for October 16 that will include music, raffles, and bottle releases. Fitzhugh is open Thursday and Friday 4-8 pm, Saturday 11 am-9 pm, and Sunday noon-7 pm. 15435 Fitzhugh Rd., 512-648-0653.

Jester King
The picnic tables in the pole barn, beer garden, pasture, canopy, goat barn, and grotto are first-come, first-served here, but there are a lot of them and most offer glorious shade. In addition to a rotating cast of unique beers, including one brewed with 100 percent Texas ingredients (very impressive since Texas-grown hops are a challenge), Jester King makes wine and cider using its own groundwater and Texas grapes and fruit for wine and Texas apples for cider. Food options include fresh-made pizzas, barbecue, and sides. Walk the mile-plus nature trail and the grounds on your own, or reserve a Goat Experience or Goat Walk with the herd of Nigerian Dwarf goats ($10 per person) or a tour ($5 per person). Jester King is open Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 pm, Friday 3-10 pm, Saturday noon-10 pm, and Sunday noon-9 pm. Reservations are encouraged. 13187 Fitzhugh Rd., 512-661-8736.

Find even more Dripping Springs options here.

Indulge in the charm — and tasty brew and barbecue offerings — at Fitzhugh Brewing.

Fitzhugh Brewing/Facebook

Indulge in the charm — and tasty brew and barbecue offerings — at Fitzhugh Brewing.

Courtesy of Martin House Brewing Company

Texas' beloved Twang inspires spicy new craft beer from Fort Worth's Martin House

Flavor Bomb

Those who like a little zing in their beer have a salty San Antonio-based business to thank for Martin House Brewing Company's newest beer sensation.

Twang, a family-owned flavor factory known for creating “the original beer salt” and other spicy drink boosters, has teamed up with the Fort Worth craft brewery to release a new beer inspired by Twang, called Twang-a-Rang.

Twang-a-Rang, which Martin House describes as tasting like “a sweet mango candy with a spicy chili finish,” is brewed in Fort Worth and is now available at select retailers and bars throughout DFW and Texas, while supplies last.

“San Antonio has shown us so much love over the recent years, that it really is special to be able to team up with Twang and start a new friendship,” says Shugg Cole, Martin House Brewing’s director of marketing, in a release. “We are looking forward to many more flavors of Twang-a-Rang and many more hangouts with our new San Antonio family.”

Brewed with mango flavoring, mango puree, and a blend of salts and spices, Twang-a-Rang has an alcohol content of 6.5 percent and emulates the sweet and spicy flavor of Mango Chili Twangerz, which inspired the beer.

“Twang is really excited to be a part of this collaboration with Martin House Brewing Company,” says Edmundo Macias, Twang’s director of marketing. “This is a great opportunity to come together with another Texas brand to create something that’s unique but also tastes great. We encourage consumers to dress the beer with Mango Chili Twangerz to give it a Latin twist.”

Twang-a-Rang is available at select retailers and bars that already carry Martin House beers, including select H-E-B stores, Total Wine, Spec’s, and Trader Joes; it is sold in six-packs for $10-$12.

Westin Southlake

Distillery popular in Dallas expands to Fort Worth's Magnolia Avenue

Vodka News

UPDATE 11-22-2021: The distillery says it has "super softly" opened its location in Fort Worth.
---

A Dallas County booze-maker is expanding west: Lockwood Distilling Co., a combination distillery-eatery in Richardson, will open a second location called the Lockwood Distilling Co. Bottle Shop, in Fort Worth.

It'll open in a sweet vintage brick building at 1411 W. Magnolia Ave., in the same block as The Usual, The Lazy Moose, and Nonna Tata.

According to a release, will open in late September.

Lockwood is from husband-and-wife Evan and Sally Batt, who opened their Richardson location in October 2019 with a line of spirits that included vodkas in flavors such as cinnamon rum and hibiscus. They just won a 2021 Microliquor Award for their Triple Gold Hibiscus Vodka and Single Gold Bourbon.

Evan previously worked at beverage companies such as Desert Door Distillery, Glazer's, and Imperial Brands, Sally had a passion for making connections, and they shared a love of food.

They opened only a few months before the pandemic and were among the companies that pivoted quickly into making hand sanitizer. With help from their neighbors, they set up a socially-distanced patio in the parking lot and in the past few months have completed the expansion of a 4,000-square-foot production and storage warehouse and market for Lockwood merchandise and bottles.

The new outpost on Magnolia evokes the Richardson original with a black-and-white industrial aesthetic, natural woods, dark metals, and a covered patio where they'll host live music.

The space features their trademark custom artwork including familiar faces like Biggie Smalls and Dolly Parton (their original has a portrait of Will Ferrell).

The menu is from executive chef Julio Ortiz (The Ritz-Carlton, Knife Steakhouse, Dallas Cowboys), and includes Poblano Pimento Cheese, Dirty South Pie, and their Smoked Bologna Sandwich.

General manager will be Sean Masucci, who has vast experience in the microbrewery and tequila businesses, and as the release notes, has a beard, which is "a true LWDC characteristic."

"We are thrilled to bring our division of the community, charity, and craft spirits to Magnolia Avenue in the Near Southside Village," Evan says in a statement. "Fort Worth has grown gracefully and even as a big city, it still maintains a small-town feel, which makes us feel right at home."

Photo courtesy of Neutral Ground Brewing Co.

New NOLA-inspired craft brewery taps in with king cake beer for Fort Worth

Brews News

After months of pandemic-related delays, Fort Worth's newest craft brewery is ready to pour: Neutral Ground Brewing Company has officially opened its doors at 2929 Race St., in Fort Worth’s up-and-coming River East District.

It's owned by Stan Hudson and Sean Doublet, brewery partners who are combining their backgrounds in Texas and Louisiana for both the brewery and the beers. Hudson is a Texas native who’s homebrewed for more than a decade, while Doublet is from New Orleans and has a chemistry degree from Tulane University.

The name "Neutral Ground" refers to the once-disputed border between Texas and Louisiana, after the Louisiana Purchase.

And the signature beer? A king cake flavor that nods to Doublet's New Orleans roots. It actually combines multiple styles of non-traditional brewing ingredients, they say.

Other selections range from the Force Majeur IPA to the Ode to Excess Oatmeal Stout. They plan to have 20 beers on tap, but are still waiting for larger equipment to arrive, so they're getting started with a smaller system with limited capacity, they explain.

“We pride ourselves on our diversity and want to draw under-represented groups to the craft beer scene,” says Doublet.

Patrons can expect a restaurant feel inside, with custom-designed booth seating, tables and chairs, distinctive architectural details on the ceilings and walls, and unique lighting fixtures. The building features open-air, street-side barstool seating and patio seating both in the front and the back.

They do not sell food; however, folks may bring food in, whether from neighboring restaurants or via Door Dash or Uber Eats.

As for the location in River East, the owners say they purposely shunned warehouse buildings in industrial parks for their project and instead sought out locations near restaurants and residences. For them, Race Street checked all the boxes.

“We wanted a location with foot traffic,” Hudson says. “We must have done a drive-by through at least 20 properties.”

It's been a hot area for new businesses in recent years, including Tributary Café; The Post at River East live music venue, bar-restaurant; the new Latin-inspired seafood destination La Onda; several boutiques and shops; and a high-rise apartment complex.

Hudson was especially excited about Race Street, he says, because he lived in and still owns property in the nearby historic Oakhurst neighborhood.

“I've seen the Race Street and River East area develop over the years,” he says. “Race Street has such a good vibe.”

Neutral Ground Brewing Company is currently open from 4-10 pm Fridays and 2-10 pm Saturdays. They're currently selling beer by the pint, and they plan on tastings, tours, and beer to-go in the near future.

Ad Placement 300x100

Ad Placement 300x600

CultureMap Emails are Awesome

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.

Heart health advocates raise over $800,000 at red-letter Fort Worth luncheon

Go Red for Women

What: Tarrant County Go Red for Women Luncheon benefiting American Heart Association

Where: Worthington Renaissance Hotel

The 411: The American Heart Association's annual Go Red for Women Luncheon is always one of the most anticipated fundraising luncheons of spring in Fort Worth. Nearly 1,200 patrons - decked out in red, of course - filled the Worthington's ballroom on March 3 to join the fight against cardiovascular disease.

Co-chairs leading the charge were Jennifer Chavez (Chief Nursing Officer at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth) and Becky Tucker (Senior Vice President of Channel Integration at Texas Health).

"Her Story is Our Story" was the theme of the 2023 luncheon, which raises awareness of heart disease in women - and guests heard the message repeatedly that it could happen to any woman they know or love.

While patrons dined on a heart-healthy lunch, emcee Morgan Young of WFAA facilitated a number of performances and presentations, including a spoken word performance by local artist Alicia Azahar and a choral rendition of "Stand By Me" by the Word of Truth choir from Texas Christian University.

Featured survivor Sheena Fannin shared her scary but inspirational experience with heart disease, and a memorable keynote address was given was Bean Gill, an entrepreneur and an inclusion and diversity expert. Joni Nash led an "Open Your Heart" moment that allowed patrons to raise their paddles and contribute directly to the cause. Entire tables were challenged to give, for a chance to receive a champagne toast and gift cards to Woodhouse Spa.

There was fun outside the ballroom, too. Fabulous silent auction items filled long tables in the foyer. During a pre-luncheon champagne reception, musicians from the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra serenaded guests, who were greeted by tiara-wearing Texas pageant title-holders, such as Miss Corpus Christi Sharity Brent and Miss Southeast Texas Meaghan Co.

Guests had the chance to take part in free health screenings, lip-print readings, hands-only CPR demonstrations, and more activations.

In total, the luncheon raised more than $800,000 toward the American Heart Association's lifesaving research, education, and health impact initiatives for women.

Who: More than 1,200 participants, survivors, organizers, patrons, and supporters including Brooke Berryman, Lindsey Lyons, Lisa Cobb, Kristin Jaworski, Nicole Maucere, Mary Robinson, Anita Rigues, Hannah Kopriva, Tracy WIlliams, Amanda Stallings,Nancey Murphy, Monika Mathur, Sherry Decker, Abbey Dudek, Jim Austin, and many more.

Tarrant County Go Red for Women luncheon 2023

Photo courtesy of AHA

Lisa Cobb, Kristin Jaworski, Nicole Maucere

Fort Worth Symphony's 2023 Concerts in the Garden series brings Beatles, Star Wars, and Pat Green

Al Fresco Music

The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will offer 11 concerts as part of the 2023 Concerts In The Garden Summer Music Festival, taking place May 26 through June 11 at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.

The earlier dates for this year's season mean that the series will not include the traditional Fourth of July concerts. Instead, the orchestra will presents Patriotic Pops on Saturday, May 27, featuring favorite patriotic songs and marches in their first-ever Memorial Day celebration. The concert will also include a brand new drone fireworks display.

The season will kick off with Windborne’s The Music of Queen on May 26, where the FWSO, under conductor Brett Havens, will welcome singer MiG Ayesa and a full rock band to capture Queen's distinct sound.

After the Patriotic Pops concert, the Memorial Day weekend slate will be wrapped up with The Music of Harry Potter on May 27, where the orchestra will conjure favorite tunes from the eight films in the Harry Potter series that took young witches and wizards to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The weekend of June 1-4 will be mostly orchestra-free. Preservation Hall Jazz Band will perform by themselves on June 1, celebrating 60 years of making great music in New Orleans and around the world. They'll be followed by Radio Highway Performs The Music of The Eagles on June 2, delivering many of the classic band's biggest hits.

The orchestra makes a return on June 3 with Chicago Nights starring Jason Scheff, highlighting the longtime vocalist/bassist for Chicago singing the group's songs. Finally, Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to The Beatles will take the stage without accompaniment to presents more than two dozen Beatles tunes performed exactly as they were originally recorded.

That visit to the '60s will be followed a flashback to the '70s with The Music of Led Zeppelin on June 8. A full band and orchestra playing Led Zeppelin’s hits. Then it's on to the '80s with REWIND: The Music of the '80s on June 9, as the orchestra tackles the greatest songs of the decade from artists like George Michael, Mister Mister, Kool & The Gang, Joan Jett, The Cure, and more.

June 10 will bring a visit to a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars, in which the orchestra will play selections from several Star Wars films. The series will come to a close on June 11 with a solo performance by Texas country music legend Pat Green, playing songs from throughout his long career.

Tickets for the series go on sale for VIPs and subscribers on March 27, followed by Botanic Garden VIP and Members on March 28. The general public will finally get their shot on March 29.

Lawn tickets are $28, with children 10 and under admitted free if accompanied by a paid adult. Reserved seating at round tables of 4 is $40-$79, with a 20 percent discount for children 10 and under in price levels B and C.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.fwsymphony.org or by calling the FWSO Box Office at 817-655-6000. Advanced parking is also available.

View All Listings