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21 North Texas museums offer free admission to military families this summer

Giving Back

Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

Nearly two dozen Dallas-Fort Worth museums are honoring active duty military personnel and their families with free admission through the Blue Star Museums initiative, May 20-September 4, 2023.

Established by the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and the U.S. Department of Defense, the Blue Star Museums program annually provides military families free access to 2,000 museums nationwide throughout the summer. The program begins yearly on Armed Forces Day in May and ends on Labor Day.

Free admission is extended to personnel currently serving in the U.S Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard (including those in the Reserve), and all National Guardsman. Members of the U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps and NOAA Commissioned Corps are also included in the program.

Those who qualify can use their military ID to bring up to five family members - including relatives of those currently deployed. More information about qualifications can be found here.

There is no limit on the number of participating museums that qualifying families may visit. Admission for non-active military veterans, however, is not included.

According to the National Endowment for the Arts website, the initiative was created to help "improve the quality of life for active duty military families" with a specific focus on children. The site states 2 million have had a parent deployed since 2001.

"Blue Star Museums was created to show support for military families who have faced multiple deployments and the challenges of reintegration," the organizers say. "This program offers these families a chance to visit museums this summer when many will have limited resources and limited time to be together."

In Dallas-Fort Worth, participating institutions include well-known art, science, and history museums, as well as smaller museums outside the city limits. Here's a look at all the museums in North Texas that are participating in the Blue Star Museums initiative this year.

In Fort Worth:

In Dallas:

In Garland:

In Irving:

In Mesquite:

In Cleburne:

In Krum:

In Sanger:

More information about Blue Star Museums and a full list of participants can be found on arts.gov.

Photo by benedek/Getty Images

Booming Fort Worth added more new people than any other U.S. city last year

POPULATION REPORT

If it seems like rush hour is getting worse, it's not your imagination. Fort Worth saw the largest numeric population gain of any U.S. city in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's latest findings.

From July 2021 to July 2022, Fort Worth added 19,170 new residents, bringing its total population to 956,709.

Fort Worth is the 13th largest city in the country by population, the bureau says. By comparison, Dallas (population just under 1.3 million) is the ninth largest.

Together, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ranked No. 4 in the list of the 10 most populous U.S. metro areas (as opposed to the cities, themselves). Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land ranked No. 5.

Texas cities and towns dominated every list in the new Census Bureau report. "Texas was the only state that had more than three cities on both the 15 fastest-growing large cities and towns by numeric change and by percent change lists," the report says.

Fastest-growing cities
Six out of the 15 fastest-growing cities in the United States are in Texas, and with one Dallas suburb - Little Elm - zooming up to No. 5. Little Elm had an 8 percent population increase from July 2021 to July 2022, bringing the city's total population to more than 55,300 residents.

The north Austin suburb of Georgetown had the highest growth rate in the nation, at 14.4 percent, bringing the city's total population to more than 86,500 residents. Surrounding Austin suburbs Kyle and Leander landed in No. 3 and No. 4 with the same population growth rate of 10.9 percent. Two more Texas cities, Conroe and New Braunfels, landed in the top 15.

The top 10 fastest-growing large cities in the U.S. are:

  • No. 1 – Georgetown, Texas
  • No. 2 – Santa Cruz, California
  • No. 3 – Kyle, Texas
  • No. 4 – Leander, Texas
  • No. 5 – Little Elm, Texas
  • No. 6 – Westfield, Indiana
  • No. 7 – Queen Creek, Arizona
  • No. 8 – North Port, Florida
  • No. 9 – Cape Coral, Florida
  • No. 10 – Port St. Lucie, Florida
Largest population increases
While Fort Worth landed on top of the 15 U.S. cities with the largest numeric population increases, two neighbors also made the list. Dallas and Frisco ranked No. 13 and No. 15, adding 8,833 and 8,506 new residents, respectively.

When it comes to most populous cities overall, Texas takes five of the 15 top spots. In addition to Dallas (No. 9) and Fort Worth (No. 13) Houston came in No. 4 with its population of over 2.3 million, San Antonio at No. 7 with over 1.47 million residents, and Austin, at No. 10 with 974,447 residents.

The top 15 most populous American cities are:

  • No. 1 – New York City, New York
  • No. 2 – Los Angeles, California
  • No. 3 – Chicago, Illinois
  • No. 4 – Houston, Texas
  • No. 5 – Phoenix, Arizona
  • No. 6 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • No. 7 – San Antonio, Texas
  • No. 8 – San Diego, California
  • No. 9 – Dallas, Texas
  • No. 10 – Austin, Texas
  • No. 11 - Jacksonville, Florida
  • No. 12 - San Jose, California
  • No. 13 - Fort Worth, Texas
  • No. 14 - Columbus, Ohio
  • No. 15 - Charlotte, North Carolina

The report also discovered that housing inventory skyrocketed by 1.6 million units between 2021 and 2022. Texas had the third fastest housing growth with a rate of 2.3 percent, versus Utah, which had the fastest growth at 3.3 percent. Two Texas counties had the highest numeric gains for housing units in the nation: Harris (No. 1) and Travis (No. 3).

The full report can be found on census.gov.

Photo by Jarek Ceborski on Unsplash

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

NO SPACE TO WASTE

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.

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5 Dallas-Fort Worth universities earn top spots for gra​duate programs in Texas

TOP-TIER EDUCATION

The 2023 results are in, and U.S. News and World Report has deemed five Dallas-Fort Worth universities among the best grad schools in the state, with some departments landing among the top 100 in the country.

U.S. News publishes its national "Best Graduate Schools" rankings every year, which looks at several programs including business, education, engineering, fine arts, health, and many others. For the 2023-2024 report, the publication decided to withhold its rankings for law and medical schools, which will be published later this year. It also changed the methodology for ranking education and business schools by focusing on outcome rather than a program’s reputation and selectivity.

The University of Texas at Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Managementranked No. 3 in Texas and No. 27 overall in the nation, with its project management program ranking eighth best nationally. The Jonsson School of Engineering earned the No. 73 spot among engineering schools, and sixth best program in Texas. Additionally, the university's audiology and speech-language pathology programs landed the No. 2 and No. 10 spots in the nation.

Southern Methodist University followed right behind UT Dallas for the No. 4 top graduate business school in Texas, and No. 33 overall. The university also has the third best graduate education school in the state, and 49th best nationally.

Denton's University of North Texas earned the No. 6 spot in the state for its graduate education program, which ranked 99th overall. It faired similarly in the business category at No. 95 nationally, and ninth best in Texas. Most notably, UNT has the No. 20 best library and information studies programs, with its health librarianship program ranking the sixth best in the nation. The public affairs department also earned some nods for its No. 8 and No. 10 overall ranks in local government management, and homeland security and emergency management programs.

At No. 50 nationally and No. 6 in the state for its graduate business school is Fort Worth's Texas Christian University. The graduate education school ranked No. 8 in Texas, and No. 125 overall. It also has the No. 43 best doctorate nursing program in the nation.

The University of Texas at Arlington earned the No. 4 spot in Texas for its graduate engineering program, and No. 69 nationally. It is the No. 54 best master's nursing program and No. 51 best social work program in the nation, according to the report.

“When prospective students are considering their options for graduate school, the Best Graduate Schools rankings are designed to help them identify schools that excel in the program they want to study,” said LaMont Jones, senior editor of Education at U.S. News. “With many options available, U.S. News provides a wealth of data in an easy format to help each student make the best decision.”

Some category rankings have not been released for the 2023-24 school year, but the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center ranked No. 2 in Texas in the “Best Medical Schools: Research” and “Primary Care” categories for 2022. Additionally, the School of Law at Texas A&M University in Fort Worth and the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University previously ranked No. 2 and No. 4 respectively in Texas for the 2022-2023 academic year.

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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.

New Charlie Brown Christmas exhibit fills Fort Worth with holiday spirit this summer

Christmas in June & July

June and July are going to get jolly when a beloved children's holiday film comes to life: "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!" will open at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History on June 17.

The very merry exhibition is traveling to Fort Worth for the first time from its home at the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, California.

It goes behind the scenes of the 1965 animated film in which a Christmas play, good friends, and a "sad" little tree help a dejected Charlie Brown find the true meaning of the season.

"For millions of Americans, it really isn’t Christmas until they have watched A Charlie Brown Christmas at least once," says a release. "The latest traveling exhibition from the Charles M. Schulz Museum examines the making of the animated classic and celebrates the anticipation, joy, and pitfalls of the holiday season."

Highlights include:

  • A video featuring Charles Schulz, producer Lee Mendelson, and animator/director Bill Melendez that "details the sometimes magical and often madcap making of A Charlie Brown Christmas," organizers say.
  • 50 "Peanuts" daily and Sunday comic strips
  • More than 50 vintage "Peanuts"-themed seasonal novelties
  • A Santa letter writing station and photo opportunity for visitors

Detailed information about the exhibition can be found on the Schulz Museum's website.

The FWMSH will host the exhibition June 17-August 20, before it moves on to the Sand Springs Cultural & Historical Museum in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.

"Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!" is included with FWMSH museum admission: $16 for adults, $14 for ages 65+, $11 for kids 3-11, and free for 0-2 years old. Members get in free.

The museum also is participating in the Blue Star Museums initiative, which allows military families to get in free through Labor Day.

Summer hours are 10 am-5 pm Tuesday-Saturday and 12-5 pm Sunday; closed Monday.

Acclaimed tapas restaurant from Dallas expands to Fort Worth's Crockett Row

Tapas News

A Dallas tapas concept is expanding to Fort Worth: Si Tapas, a restaurant that's been doing authentic Spanish-style tapas for 14 years, will open a location in Fort Worth's Crockett Row, in the former Fireside Pies space at 2949 Crockett St.

According to a release, it'll open in the fall.

Si Tapas is from Ildefonso Jimenez, a tapas pioneer who opened his first location in Uptown Dallas in 2009. Jimenez had previously operated Cafe Madrid, Dallas' original tapas restaurant with his wife Donica; she took over the restaurant after the couple split.

He opened Si Tapas in a cute white cottage at 2207 Allen St. in the State Thomas neighborhood, which he infused with an Old World atmosphere, soccer memorabilia, decorative bottles of wine, and a sweet oasis of a patio.

Their menu includes tapas classics such as cold cuts, cheeses, olives, garlic shrimp, patatas bravas, calamari, Spanish potato omelet, serrano ham croquettes, whipped garbanzos & spinach with toasted bread, marinated red bell peppers, and more - kind of like a charcuterie board, disassembled.

They're also known for their big and highly affordable wine list, with bottles ranging from $30 to $200. It's a place to share a bottle and snack on snacks, which has really become the contemporary way to eat out for a lot of people.

Their house drinks and wine list offer a unique collection of Spanish wines hand selected by region, and their food reflects the rich regional diversity of classical and modern Spain.

Ildefonso will be adding menu items exclusive to Fort Worth such as Cochinillo, a Spanish dish consisting of a roasted pig; and Lechazo, a Spanish dish consisting of roasted lamb.

"We are excited and grateful for the opportunity to expand our second location of Si Tapas into Fort Worth’s growing culinary scene," Jimenez says in a statement.

This is not the first time Jimenez has expanded the Si Tapas empire: He previously opened a location in Austin in 2014, and he once had a spinoff on McKinney Avenue called Hola!

Kathy Permenter, co-managing partner of Younger Partners, says in a statement that they're thrilled to bring Si Tapas to Fort Worth.

“They have many Fort Worth patrons and this new location will give them a chance to enjoy a tapas in a casual elegant setting," Permenter says.

Younger Partners purchased Crockett Row in August of 2022 and has a plan to revitalize the development that includes adding gathering spaces, parking technology to help locate their 1500 complimentary parking spaces, improved wayfinding for all five garages, updated signage, and additional elevators that will improve accessibility throughout the property, Permenter says.

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