These are the 8 best food and drink events in Fort Worth this week

This week in gluttony

Photo by Ashley Gongora

Crawfish, coffee, and Cowtown burgers are on the menu this week, which features many unique events and one of the biggest foodie celebrations of the year. A respected “roast master” from a New Orleans-based coffee chain will visit the area for an educational class. A local distillery will release a new rye whiskey after four years of aging. A Grapevine hotel will challenge two sommeliers to pair wine with dinner, and diners get to judge who’s best. Finally, the CultureMap Fort Worth Tastemaker Awards arrive on Thursday, when winners in multiple categories highlighting the best of Fort Worth food and beverage will be announced with a grand party.

Wednesday, April 26

Egelhoff Wine Dinner at Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine
Partake in Texas cuisine paired with California wines during this five-course dinner by chef Jon Bonnell and his team. Menu highlights include blackened scallops, cocoa and coffee smoked pork roulade, and duck breast with stuffed crepes. Cab lovers will be happy to know there’ll be three served along with brut reserve, pinot noir, and tawny port. The dinner is $190, plus tax and gratuity. Note that there is no official “start time” for the dinner. Diners are welcome to make reservations for the evening and will be visited by Bonnell and winemaker Bob Egelhoff at their table throughout the evening.

Thursday, April 27

Coffee Cupping at PJ’s Coffee
The North Richland Hills outlet of the respected New Orleans-based coffee chain will host Felton Jones, PJ’s official roast-master for more than 20 years. Jones will educate participants on the nuances of cupping (or tasting) coffee properly and understanding the roasting process. The cost is $30 and guests will receive a PJ’s t-shirt, coffee mug, fresh green coffee samples, and light pastry bites to cleanse the palate. The event will run from 4-6 pm.

CultureMap Fort Worth Tastemaker Awards
Our big annual celebration of Fort Worth’s top restaurant and bar talent arrives this week, at the 4 Eleven venue on South Main Street. Hosted by chef Jon Bonnell, the evening will feature sample bites and specialty sips from many nominated restaurants, including Guapo Taco, JD’s Hamburgers, Tannahill’s Tavern, Tributary Café, Pizza Verde, and more. Awards for Bar of the Year, Chef of the Year, the reader-voted Best New Restaurant, and more will be handed out. Tickets are $75 for entry at 7 pm, or $125 for VIP early entry at 6 pm, valet parking, and a dedicated bar. Proceeds from the event will benefit Cuisine for Healing. Read more about the nominees here.

Meet the Maker at Toro Toro
It’s the last Thursday of the month, which means it’s time for Meet the Maker at Toro Toro. Visit the Latin steakhouse inside the Worthington Renaissance hotel for complimentary samples from Del Maguey Mezcal from 5-7 pm. Also enjoy craft cocktails and happy hour pricing featuring the spirit inside the Toro Toro bar. Bonus that valet is always complimentary.

Friday, April 28

Somm Smackdown at Hotel Vin
Let’s get ready to rumble. The Grapevine hotel will host a tongue-in-cheek “smackdown” event pitting two expert sommeliers against each other to see who can best pair wine with dinner. Five courses will feature beef croquettes, Hamachi, and Iberian Secret – a succulent piece of pork shoulder. Tickets are $125, plus tax and a service fee, and the face-off begins at 7 pm.

Saturday, April 29

TX Whiskey Straight Rye Whiskey Release
Be one of the first to purchase TX Whiskey’s new Straight Rye Whiskey Bottled in Bond, exclusive to the Whiskey Ranch distillery. (To be “bottled in bond” requires certain criteria, including maturing for a minimum of four years.) Master mixologist Jason Shelly will be on-site to serve specialty cocktails using the spirit. There’ll be live music, food trucks, and complimentary bottle engraving with purchase. The $10 ticket includes your first cocktail, and the event will run from 12-5 pm.

Sunday, April 30

Crawfish Boil & Brew at Hop & Sting Brewing Co.
The Grapevine brewery will host its fifth annual crawfish boil, pairing cold craft brew with mudbugs and live music. Couillon’s Cajun catering will provide the crawfish and fixings, including sausage, corn, and potatoes. Purchase a ticket in advance (by April 29) to guarantee a plate, which will run $23.95 (plus tax and a small fee) for two pounds. The event will run from 12-4 pm.

Cowtown Burger Showdown
The second annual burger competition will take place at River Ranch Stockyards, where local burger pros will share their best burgers to be judged for cash prizes. Tickets start at $29 for general admission, which includes three tasting tickets, endless fries, and a beer and whiskey tasting. Or pay $69 for VIP seating, hosted bar, four tasting tickets, and apps. (Kids ages 6-13 can get $15 entry that comes with two tasting tickets and endless fries.) The showdown, which also includes live music and vendors, will run from 1-5 pm.

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Fort Worth restaurant news comes with cookie nachos and clown burgers

Burger News

This edition of Fort Worth restaurant news includes some fun openings, a resuscitation, and lots of new menus for spring.

Here's the latest restaurant news in Fort Worth:

Boba Chicken is a new spot in Southlake specializing in two major food groups: Korean-style BBQ chicken wings and boba tea drinks. The menu includes wings with a variety of sauces, and teas, including classic milk teas and fruity slushies, either of which can be spruced up with boba or jellies. The menu also features popcorn chicken, French fries, sweet potato fries, cheese nuggets, onion rings, fried mushrooms, and pickled radish. Located at 2801 E. Southlake Blvd. #100, Boba chicken is from Chuck Lo, who also owns Pokeworks, next door. It's in the former Beanvoy Coffee Lounge, which closed in 2022 after two years.

Clown Hamburgers, a longtime burger staple in Haltom City at 5020 Stanley-Keller Rd., has been taken over by a new team: Cody Medford, who grew up in the restaurant business, and whose mother Renee Medford and grandparents own Dixie House. Clown originally opened in 1959 and was beloved by locals during the '60s and '70s for its burgers. They're doing Angus burgers and fries, but take cash only (they have an ATM machine on-site).

Chip'd, a food truck that specializes in "hot cookie nachos," has expanded into a storefront at 2430 Forest Park Blvd., in the former Black Rooster Bakery space near TCU. Cookie nachos consist of warm cookies adorned with various toppings such as chopped PB cups, mini M&M’s, chopped nuts, and chopped Heath Bars in creations such as the Loaded Pretzel Chip'd Nacho featuring cookies topped with salted caramel and crushed pretzels. They'll continue to operate the truck in neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and private events.

Thirsty Lion Gastropub has a new spring menu available through June 18 which includes Spicy Moroccan Meatballs, blackened salmon Caesar salad, Wagyu burger with prosciutto, caramelized onions, white cheddar, & arugula, lemon pepper shrimp with cilantro jasmine rice and asparagus, smoked chicken enchilada stack, and chocolate three-layer cake.

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery has launched a new spring menu featuring innovative breakfast riffs such as Love You E’Lote Breakfast Pasta (with bell pepper, asparagus, corn, egg, cheese), Habanero Pork Belly Breakfast Fried Rice, Veggie Breakfast Tacos (with scrambled eggs, portobello mushroom, red bell pepper, and cauliflower), Double Bacon Sandwich (with bacon and pork belly, egg, and arugula), and a Kale & Avocado Quinoa Bowl. New beverages include Spicy Kimchi Bloody, Chamomile Bourbon Palmer, Summer Sangarita, blackberry mint limeade, and strawberry lavender lemonade.

Newk's Eatery has new dishes for spring: cranberry & almond chicken salads sandwich on Parisian bread, pesto pasta chicken Caesar salad, lobster bisque, and coconut nut cake. They'll be available through June 21.

El Pollo Loco is bringing back shredded beef birria for a second year, beginning April 20 in three entrée choices: Birria Crunchy Taco, Birria Grilled Burrito, and Birria Overstuffed Quesadilla, paired with a consommé dipping sauce and tortilla chips.

Golden Chick is bringing back the Big & Wicked Chicken Sandwich, an extension of its Wicked chicken creations, which have evolved from regional products to limited-time offerings. It's available through June 18.

Freebirds World Burrito has brought back smoked brisket, available in any entrée, burrito, bowl, salad and more at all 63 locations across Texas while supplies lasts. The brisket is smoked for 16 hours.

Taco Cabana has brought back Carne Asada, available in a three-pack of street tacos plate for $8.49 or a combo featuring chips & queso and drink; or in a Carne Asada Cabana Bowl with rice, refried beans, lettuce, monterey jack & cheddar cheese, pico de gallo and sour cream. It's available through mid-June.

Bonchon, the Korean fried chicken chain, has two new comfort food items: Loaded Bulgogi Fries topped with sliced marinated steak, mozzarella cheese, and spicy mayo drizzle; and Korean Donuts, also known as Kkwabaegi (kwa-bag-gee) - soft, fluffy, twisted cruller-like treats coated with cinnamon and sugar. It's $5 for two doughnuts, plus another $ for a side of Sweet Cream Dipping Sauce.

Tiff's Treats is bringing their Snickerdoodle Cookie Cupcake, a collaboration with Sprinkles Cupcakes, to Dallas. The dessert mashup is a cinnamon cupcake with a Tiff’s snickerdoodle cookie crust, topped with cinnamon frosting, cinnamon sugar dust, and a mini Snickerdoodle cookie. The confection was initially introduced in Austin, and will be available through May.

Red Mango, the froyo chain, has a new lineup of toppings available through June 30: salty almonds, Easter Peeps marshmallow candies, Mango Boba bubbles, Tajin and Chili Chamoy gummy bears, and Green Apple Boba.

McDonald’s is making its Big Mac sauce available for the first time, but it's only available via the McDonald's app. This creamy, tangy, slightly sweet sauce can be requested with any order of Chicken McNuggets or ordered a la carte to pair with other McDonald’s menu items. It'll be available starting April 27 in little plastic "dip cups" done in a blue & silver packaging inspired by the 1968-era Big Mac sandwich wrapping.

Chick-fil-A has two new bottled sauces – Barbecue Sauce and Sweet & Spicy Sriracha Sauce – headed to retail shelves nationwide. They also have a new 11-piece sauce-themed merchandise line including tote bag, bucket hat, T-shirt, water bottle, saucy sneakers, etc. Everyone wants to sell swag.

Fall Creek Vineyards is releasing 2021 Lescalo Rosé, a new low-alcohol, low-calorie wine with 9.8 percent alcohol by volume, made with a blend of Chenin Blanc and Tempranillo grapes grown in Texas. It's the second Lescalo release joining Lescalo Chenin Blanc introduced in 2020. Market analyst firm IWSR has forecast sales of lower-alcohol still wine to grow approximately 27 percent from 2021 to 2025.

Pepsico has launched a program to help 10 Hispanic-owned food and beverage brands that includes a $20,000 grant and a six-month mentorship program. Candidates should apply online; the deadline is May 15.

Cici’s Pizza made the list of Pizza Marketplace’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers list recognizing 25 executives and 75 brands during the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas. Cici’s Pizza placed first on the top marketing campaigns list for its new look with the Endless Pizzabilities campaign and president Jeff Hetsel was named a top executive.

Courtesy photo

These 10 beefy Fort Worth restaurants flip the best burgers in town

Tastemaker Awards

It’s a passionate subject in a city nicknamed “Cowtown” – burgers, that is. Everyone has their favorite, from unfussy classics to flashy gourmet versions with their aioli and brioche buns.

We're throwing charcoal on the grill and stoking fires of debate by making Best Burger our "Wildcard" category the 2023 CultureMap Fort Worth Tastemaker Awards. The Wildcard category changes every year depending on what's hot. And there's no hotter cuisine right now than burgers.

This group of nominees covers restaurants serving up wide-ranging styles, including the smashburger, the pitmaster burger, the fancy truffle burger, the eccentric burger made with local beer-infused ingredients, and the traditional chargrilled hamburger served basic with lettuce, tomato, and onion.

Study up on the selections - and all the other nominees - in a special editorial series leading up to the Tastemaker Awards ceremony and signature tasting event, being held April 27 at The 4 Eleven (411 S. Main St.).

The event, emceed by Fort Worth chef Jon Bonnell, will feature bites and beverages from the nominees. Note that early bird ticket sales end April 2. Snag those here.

The Tastemaker Awards, returning for a second year in Fort Worth, shine a spotlight on the people making the local restaurant scene special and honor their innovation, energy, and creativity. Nominees and winners are determined by a panel of industry experts, including past winners — except for Best New Restaurant, which is determined by reader vote.

Here are the 10 nominated restaurants for Best Burger, in alphabetical order:

B&B Butchers & Restaurant
The Shops at Clearfork steakhouse knows how to get fancy with burgers in a big way. Maybe it’s topping them with a thick pad of indulgent truffle butter and slathering them with truffle aioli and three-onion jam, like on the restaurant’s Truffle Burger. Or maybe it’s serving them open-faced with fried oysters, filet, and pork belly as they do with the Carpet Bagger Burger. There’s also the Hill Country Burger featuring smoked sausage, barbecue sauce, and pepperjack cheese; and the Butcher Shop Burger loaded with thick applewood smoked bacon. All are served with thick-cut steak fries and are available only at lunch.

The Bearded Lady
The half-pound burgers are always head-turners at this South Main Street gastropub and patio. One example: The Bill Dill, a mile-high pickle-themed burger topped with fried pickles, bacon, dill ranch, queso made with Martin House Brewing Company’s Best Maid pickle beer, and pickles soaked in Martin House’s Salty Lady beer. There’s also the BOTM (burger of the month), a limited special that goes wild with creativity. March’s feature is The Jambalaya, ladeled with actual sausage and chicken jambalaya along with blackened shrimp and “dirty gravy.” Get ready to get messy.

Dayne's Craft Barbecue
Dayne Weaver’s elusive OG Burger is available from his barbecue trailer as a special only on Thursdays and Fridays, and word is that they can sell out by lunchtime. Comprised of two juicy patties made from a mix of ground beef and brisket trimmings, the smoky smashburger draws legions of fans for its cheesy, heavenly goodness. Because of its limited supply, the burger has achieved legendary status. Look for it to be a daily menu offering once Dayne’s opens its brick-and-mortar location in the up-and-coming Westland area on Camp Bowie West.

Dutch's Hamburgers
This TCU-area burger hub holds a lot of history. It’s named for legendary TCU grad and football coach “Dutch” Meyer and is located in the former home of another iconic TCU burger joint, Jon’s Grille (the original, not the reincarnated version recently opened by Jon Bonnell on West Berry Street). Burgers are mostly traditional here; they come with half-pound patties, shredded lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickles if desired. Slightly flashier versions include additions like hickory barbecue sauce, bacon, blue cheese, mushroom and Swiss cheese, and fried onion and jalapeño strings.

Fred's Texas Café
Having moved after more than 40 years in its original Currie Street location to Camp Bowie West in 2022, Fred’s picked right up where it left off. The look and feel – with a patio stage for live music, icy schooners, and rustic Texas décor – is still the same, as are the medium-cooked Black Angus burgers that still come with a big pile of hand-cut fries. While the chipotle pepper and grilled onion-topped Diablo Burger is still popular, don’t sleep on creative newcomers on the menu like the Enchilada Burger; Guajillo Burger with Dr Pepper candied bacon; and the Spicy Todo Jalapeño Burger with fried jalapeños, jalapeño cream cheese, and jalapeño jam served on a cheddar jalapeño bun.

Hookers Grill
There’s nothing scandalous about this hidden Stockyards burger shack, where orders are taken and picked up from an outdoor window. Hooker is the last name of Ruth, who runs the place with her mom, Kathryn. Here, fried onions are pressed into the thin Hereford beef patties, which almost fall apart between smashed, griddle-top-toasted buns. The ensemble comes wrapped in red-and-white checkered paper and is a delicious, addicting mess. Most popular is the “regular,” which comes with mustard and pickles. Customers can add cheese, jalapeños, bacon, chili, green chili gravy, or a fried egg. Hookers is open late on Friday and Saturday nights to accommodate the honky-tonk crowd after dancing.

JD's Hamburgers
After losing its roof from high winds during storms on March 2, JD’s Hamburgers is still working hard to reopen. The Westland district burger café and patio debuted last September, drawing happy crowds from West Fort Worth and beyond for its long list of burgers and Southern-inspired bites like deviled eggs, salmon patties, and fried green tomatoes. Burger varieties include the Sherlie Ann & Donnie with bacon, peach pico de gallo, and Swiss cheese; the Cheryl & Bo with Hatch chile queso; and the more traditional Allie Mae & JD with shredded lettuce, American cheese, caramelized onions, tomato, and pickle ribbons. All come on a toasted sourdough bun and may be served with sweet potato fries or long-cut okra fries.

Kincaid's Hamburgers
The longtime Camp Bowie Boulevard burger dive evolved out of a 1940s grocery store and is still family owned and operated, now with five locations across Tarrant County. Praised on countless “best burger” lists over the decades, Kincaid’s keeps things simple with its half-pound chargrilled burgers presented with the classic build of lettuce, sliced tomatoes, white onions, and pickle chips. Additions include cheese, chili, and bacon, and all burgers come with mustard unless the customer requests otherwise. There are “fancier” options, like the “Cowtown Deluxe” with pimento cheese, bacon, and grilled jalapeños and onions, but it’s the humble original that’s kept customers coming back for generations.

Little Red Wasp
This downtown restaurant and bar hangs with the local burger elite for its “knife + fork” cheeseburger. The beefy ensemble can come with one or two patties, each melted with aged cheddar cheese and stacked with thick-cut tomatoes, red onion slivers, pickle chips, crisp lettuce, and a tangy “Wasp sauce.” A toasted potato bun holds it all in place. The concept is owned by restaurateur Adam Jones and chef Blaine Staniford, who also own and operate nearby downtown fine-dining destinations Grace and the new 61 Osteria Italian restaurant.

Wishbone & Flynt
Ask for the Flynt Burger at this South Main Street hub for high-end, home-cooked dishes. With a custom-blended patty made from short rib, ground chuck, and brisket seared in rich and luxurious duck fat (a game-changer), the result is juicy and flavorful. The burger comes with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles, along with tangy slices of white cheddar melted on top. A fluffy, toasted brioche bun keeps everything in place.

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The Best Burger category is sponsored by Goodstock by Nolan Ryan. The Tastemaker Awards event will feature a Burger Throwdown where attendees will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite slider.

Courtesy of Zonk Burger

Fort Worth's only vegan burger joint is calling it quits

Vegan News

A vegan burger joint in Fort Worth is calling it quits: Zonk Burger, the city's first restaurant dedicated to vegan burgers, which opened two years ago on Race Street, will close on April 2.

Co-founder Emily Hahn called it "a bummer," but said it was time.

"Four years ago, we started taking steps to open a high-quality but accessible restaurant, filling what we thought was a hole in the Fort Worth scene," Hahn said in a note. "We feel like we succeeded in many ways and are really proud of what we put together here. However, whether we were naïve, dumb or victims of broader macro trends, the demand just isn't there for what we're selling."

Zonk opened in a former doughnut shop at 2912 Race St., where it's serving a variety of vegan burgers, sandwiches, and fries.

Zonk was from Erin Hahn and Zachary Stacy, who started out with a food truck in 2019 before graduating to a permanent location in the River East neighborhood of Fort Worth taking over a former doughnut shop at 2912 Race St., where they served vegan burgers made from in-house recipes using high-quality ingredients, plus sandwiches, fries, and the occasional doughnut special.

Zahn started devising recipes as a labor of love, after she changed to a vegan diet, developing burgers from beans, grains, fungi, vegetables and seasonings.

Their burgers earned them a number of nods including making a list of Fort Worth's top 5 vegan restaurants, and a nomination for Best New Restaurant in CultureMap's annual Tastemaker Awards.

Hahn says they nearly found someone to keep the dream alive by aquiring Zonk Burger, but it didn't work out, and were on a tight timeline before their lease ended.

"It has truly been our pleasure to get to know y'all, and we're so grateful to everyone who made us a part of their routine. Some of you seemed to get what we were going for, and you made this experiment worth it," she says.

They're changing their Saturday service to brunch, like Sunday, so they'll serve both the regular Zonk menu and their brunch menu from 10 am-4 pm. There may be unexpected menu changes or the possibility they'll sell out of items, and they recommend ordering online in advance.

Hopdoddy/Facebook

Austin-based Hopdoddy fires up burgers & margaritas in north Fort Worth

Burger News

A beloved burger chain from Austin is opening a new location in Fort Worth: Hopdoddy Burger Bar, the "better burger" pioneer, will open a restaurant in buzzy Alliance Town Center, at 3101 Heritage Trace Pkwy.

According to a release, it'll open on January 17 with a spiffy renovation that incorporates music-themed interior décor and a covered dog-friendly patio overlooking Bluestem Park.

It's taking over a space previously occupied by a location of the Bryan, Texas chain Grub Burger Bar, which closed on January 7. Grub was acquired by Hopdoddy in January 2022. Alliance is the seventh of 18 Grub locations to be converted to the Hopdoddy Burger Bar brand.

Hopdoddy has almost 40 locations across Texas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and Louisiana.

The menu features Piedmontese beef, grass-fed bison, and chicken from Red Bird Farms. They've been a pioneer in catering to a variety of diets with a vegetarian black bean & corn patty; a plant-based patty from Beyond Meat; and a dedicated Gluten-Free menu.

Burgers are served on one of three house-baked buns or as a bowl on house greens. A full-service bar features margaritas, draft cocktails, and local craft beer.

Hours will be Sunday-Thursday 11 am-10 pm and Friday-Saturday 11 am-11 pm.

As Hopdoddy CEO Jeff Chandler notes in a statement, this is the second Hopdoddy in Fort Worth; the first opened in 2017 in Fort Worth's Left Bank. There's also a location in Euless which opened in 2018.

"The city of Fort Worth has been asking for more of our unique burgers and shareable fries," Chandler says. "We’re excited to open a second Hopdoddy location to serve North Fort Worth and can’t wait to see everyone at our grand opening on January 17!"

Hopdoddy will kick off the grand opening by giving a free burger to the first 100 people in line at 11 am. Guests can also enter to win free burgers for a year by sharing a post or story on Instagram, tagging @hopdoddy and using #hopdoddylove.

Photo by Shelley Neuman

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

This week's hot headlines

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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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.

Best ways to celebrate your Pride throughout June in Dallas-Fort Worth

Have Some Pride

The month of June is designated as Pride Month to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, and various groups and businesses around Dallas-Fort Worth are showing their support in a multitude of ways.

Here are some of the best ways we've found for members of the community and allies to participate in Pride Month in style. While some are specific events, other celebrations will occur all month long. Find even more events here.

Monthlong celebrations

Pride Month screenings at Rooftop Cinema Club
Rooftop Cinema Club on top of the Worthington Renaissance Hotel in downtown Fort Worth will screen a variety of films with LGBTQ+ themes or characters throughout the month of June, including Mamma Mia!, Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Birdcage, Moulin Rouge!, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and The Devil Wears Prada.

Special Pride drink from Gong cha
Gong cha, which has seven stores in the DFW area, will donate a portion of every purchase of their special Lemon Ai Love Yu bubble tea to the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) in name of #Equalitea. The special Pride drink is a sweet and tart Lemon Ai Love Yu bubble tea with white pearls and (edible) glitter for some extra festive sparkle. The limited time promotion will run through June 30.

Luckys Pride Celebration
A Dallas institution off Oak Lawn Avenue for more than 35 years, Luckys has long been a supporter of the LGBTQ community. They'll celebrate Pride Month throughout June with a special commemorative T-shirt and a celebratory cocktail, the Pride ’Rita, featuring El Jimador Blanco tequila blended with Chambord, lime juice, and agave nectar.

Electric Shuffle Pride Brunches
Every Sunday in June starting at 12 pm, Electric Shuffle in Deep Ellum will host a Drag Brunch and donate 10 percent of those brunch sales to DIFFA. There will be big-name performers, a Drag Race Royalty special guest, high-tech shuffleboard, live DJs, and more. Additionally, $1 of each purchase of their new summer cocktail, the Prickly Pear Margarita, will be donated to DIFFA.

Pride events

Weird Wednesday Night Market + Secret Movie Screening
June 7, 5-10:30 pm: Fort Worth Community Cinema hosts a special Pride Month Weird Wednesday event at Southside Preservation Hall. The event will feature more than 35 food vendors (but it's BYOB), along with art, collectors, "retro preshow," and a screening of a secret Pride Month comedy at 8 pm. Admission is free, but they request “pay what you can” donations for entry into the movie. Register here.

Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum presents “Voices of LGBTQ+ Dallas”
June 7, 7 pm. The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum is hosting “Voices of LGBTQ+ Dallas,” a special exhibition program for Pride Month highlighting trailblazers in the Dallas area LGBTQ+ community. The program featuring speakers such as Chris Luna and Naomi Green is already sold out, but the Museum’s current special exhibition, Rise Up: Stonewall and the LGBTQ Rights Movement, is on display through June 18.

Arttitude presents OutLoud: A Night of Pride
June 8, 6 pm: OutLoud: A Night of Pride is an inclusive event where artists and performers can fearlessly share their stories and experiences. The event will include poetry, burlesque, and a music performance by special guest Gina Chavez. At the Latino Cultural Center.

Dallas Wings Pride Night
June 9, 7 pm: Pride Night for the Dallas Wings of the WNBA. They'll be taking on the Phoenix Mercury, who feature Brittney Griner as their star player. All attendees at College Park Center in Arlington will receive a special rally towel for the occasion.

Arlington Pride Celebration
June 10, 5-11 pm: Arlington's Pride Celebration takes place at Levitt Pavilion, which will fill with vendors and performers including RuPaul's Drag Race Queens, Symone, Angeria Paris VanMichaels, Kennedy Davenport, and Lady Bunny will DJ. The event is family-friendly and (well-behaved) dog-friendly. Admission is free, but tickets are required for entrance.

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden presents Pride in Bloom
June 10-11: Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden will highlight Pride Month with its second Pride in Bloom celebration, featuring a full weekend of LGBTQ+ artisans, entertainers, chefs, and small businesses. Visitors can shop items at the vendor market, pack or purchase a picnic, listen to live entertainment, and enjoy Gary Lee Price’s Great Contributors’ bronze exhibition. Admission to the Children’s Adventure Garden will also be free.

Dallas Arts District presents Pride Block Party
June 16, 6 pm: The Pride Block Party in the Dallas Arts District features a variety of activities at the Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, and Crow Museum of Asian Art, and throughout the district. Activities include gallery tours, drag performers, comedy, dancing, and a fashion show.

LGBTQ SAVES Youth Pride Picnic 2023
June 17, 10 am-2 pm: Designed as a youth-centered Pride event for LGBTQ individuals 24 and younger, the festivities include a free picnic lunch and activities in Trinity Park. Participants are invited to invite their family or chosen family, but tickets are required. Ticket priority will be given to LGBT+ youth. Volunteers are needed, too. Register here.

Dallas Comedy Club presents "Stand-Up for Hope"
June 17, 5 pm: Stand-Up for Hope is a stand-up comedy show featuring all-LGBTQ performers and benefiting Dallas Hope Charities, which helps provide food, shelter, and services that instill dignity, stability, and Hope For All. Hosted by Stefan Newman, host of Queer Factor, the event will feature performances by Kim Wadsworth,Kerry Day, Charlotte Parker, Lucia Hardaway, and Jamie Zeske.

Ride for Pride
June 24, 9 am: Ride for Pride is a four-mile bike ride down the Katy Trail and back, starting at Reverchon Recreation Center. There will also be Health and Safety fair from 10 am-2 pm.

Holiday sensation Lightscape returns to Fort Worth for 2023 with new displays and pricing

Planning ahead for the holidays

Fort Worth's biggest holiday sensation of 2022 is coming back for a second year, promising to be even better than the first: Lightscape walk-through holiday lights experience will return to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, November 17, 2023-January 1, 2024.

Tickets are on sale now for FWBG members and go on sale to the general public Friday, June 9, according to a release.

The 2023 edition is being "reimagined" with 80 percent newly designed displays, organizers say. The popular Winter Cathedral and Bluebonnet displays will return.

“You may think you’ve seen Lightscape, but you’ve never seen this Lightscape," says Patrick Newman, CEO and president of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, in the release. “This is a celebration of the holiday spirit and a way for families and friends to come together to create a new holiday tradition with long-lasting memories – we like to call them emotional souvenirs.”

There's also new pricing for 2023, set based on feedback from the first year, Newman says. Although ticket prices are not yet available on the FWBG's website, organizers tease in the release that they just might be cheaper. (Admission for 2022 ran $28-$30 for adults and $18-$20 for children ages 3-12. FWBG members received $5 off of each ticket. Prices did not include parking, which ran $15-$20.)

According to the release, off-peak tickets for 2023 will be as low as $15 for adult members of the FWBG. Guests also can purchase an "Anytime Access" ticket that includes parking, flexible arrival times, and a dedicated check-in line, they say, although pricing is not yet available.

“This year members receive a deeper discount with $8 off each ticket, a great incentive for attending Lightscape at a lower price while also receiving free year-round Garden admission,” Newman says.

Lightscape, produced by the Fort Worth Botanic Garden in association with Sony Music and Culture Creative, made its North Texas debut in November 2022 and immediately attracted sell-out crowds as the most Instagrammable holiday experience in DFW.

The event immersed visitors in more than a mile of holiday light and music displays incorporated into the natural landscape of the garden.

A CultureMap review of the experience said, "What makes Lightscape different from other modern Christmas light attractions is that it’s not a constant, over-the-top, bombastic blast of LEDs. There are high-lights and low-lights, moments of razzle dazzle and moments of quiet contemplation. Parts are whimsical, parts are worshipful."

Lightscape creators aim to build on the success of last year’s inaugural show, organizers say, and are hard at work on new displays created exclusively for Fort Worth.

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