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North Texas' celebration of St. Patrick's Day, one of the area's favorite holidays for merriment and gaiety, is making a comeback for 2022 after a pandemic-induced two-year layoff. The actual St. Patrick's Day falls on a Thursday, but for some restaurants and bars, the party is happening all week long. We're looking at St. Patrick's Day Week.

Although Dallas' Greenville Avenue Parade got all the buzz last weekend, there is plenty of hoopla to be found in Tarrant County this week, including big events in the Stockyards and Crockett Row, plus a host of individual celebrations, drink specials, and Irish fare. (And check out our list of the Best Irish Pubs in Fort Worth.)

Here's what's happening in the Fort Worth area for St. Patrick's Day Week.

Fort Worth

Cowtown Goes Green in the Stockyards
The biggest and most well-known St. Patrick's Day celebration in Fort Worth takes place in the Stockyards on Saturday, March 19. The day includes a Shamrock beer garden, armadillo races, cow milking, lawn games, the Cowtown Kids Rodeo matinee, live music, Irish dancers, and an Irish-Western parade (following The Herd trail drive at 4 pm). The whole family-friendly event, presented by Cavender’s, takes place 10 am-8 pm.

Shamrocks & Shenanigans at Crockett Row
The West 7th district will host a St. Patrick's Day festival on Saturday, March 19, featuring rides and photo opps with live green miniature ponies, face painting stations, balloon art, gift card giveaways, and live local DJs. Participating Crockett Row restaurants will also be serving fan-favorite green beverages and brunch and/or lunch specials, and a portion of restaurant sales will be donated to Cook Children’s Medical Center. It runs 11 am- 3 pm, and admission is free.

Third Thursday in Near Southside
St. Paddy's Day happens to coincide with the Near Southside district's Third Thursday event. From 5-8 pm Thursday, March 17, guests can enjoy visit participating businesses including Stir Crazy Baked Goods (featuring artwork by Joshua Crockett), SiNaCa Studios, The Holly Natural Wine Bar, Arcadia Coffee, The Table, and more. Bars along Magnolia and South Main are promising Irish Pub fun, and Fort Worth Bike Share will be on hand to offer bikes to bar hop. Don't forget to wear green.

Arlington

43rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Block Party at J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill
The Metroplex’s biggest day-of St. Patrick’s Day party happens Thursday, March 17 at this time-honored downtown Arlington bar and grill. Hundreds will visit throughout the day for the 43rd edition of this annual tradition. Arrive as early at 11 am for lunch or later at 4 pm when the fun begins outside under tents. There’ll be live music, green beer, and those famous Irish nachos that have featured on Food Network. Note that a cover charge of $6 begins after 6 pm.

Shamrocks & Shenanigans at Texas Live!
The Arlington entertainment complex will host a St. Patrick’s Day-themed party with live music, drink ticket packages, and gold coin giveaways on Saturday, March 19. Drink ticket packages start at $10 for two drink tokens and go up to $20 for five drink tokens, but expect prices to go up closer to the event. The party starts at 4 pm.

Mansfield

St. Paddy’s Pickle Parade & Palooza
Mansfield (where Best Maid pickles originated) touts itself as the pickle capital of Texas. The city will celebrate the title with two days of festivities — Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19 — including a 5K, 10K and Kids 1K, live music, food, drinks, and the world’s only St. Paddy’s Day pickle parade, which will take place on Saturday. On Friday, runners can pick up their race packets and enjoy vendors and music. Saturday the real fun happens with the parade starting at 10 am, a concert by Kevin Fowler at 2:30 pm, and multiple contests including pickle juice drinking, pickle eating, and pie eating. Admission is free.

Keller

St. Patrick’s Day at Shannon Brewing Company
The Keller brewery with Irish roots will host its annual St. Patrick’s Day party on Saturday, March 19. It will feature live music and bagpipe performances, food trucks, and even cigar rolling. Admission is free, but drink card packages start at $25 in advance for a pint glass, pint glass koozie, and a drink card for six eight-ounce pours. Or purchase at the door for $30, but only until 4 pm. A la carte purchases also welcome. The party will run from 12-9 pm.

Irving

St. Patrick's Day Celebration at Toyota Music Factory
Toyota Music Factory is celebrating St. Patrick's Day on Thursday, March 17 from 6-10 pm with music, festivities, and promotions at 20 restaurants and bars including Thirsty Lion, Yard House, Grimaldi's Pizza, Gloria's Latin Cuisine, Pacheco Taco Bar, and more. Play the Toyota Music Factory Saint Patricks Bingo game at participating restaurants and bars for a chance to win prizes. Cleghorn: America's Celtic Rock Band will perform on the Texas Lottery Plaza at 6 pm, and there'll be a costume contest on the plaza at 9 pm. Wear your green and take a picture with a Leprechaun. Entry is free, but RSVP here.

Food & drink specials around DFW

Here are all the bars and restaurants serving fish & chips, Irish whiskey, green beer, and more:

Andy's Frozen Custard has two limited-time treats: Mint Cookie Concrete with vanilla frozen custard, mint, and crumbed mint cookies; and the CrumbleMint Shake, with vanilla frozen custard, crumbled Oreo cookies, and mint.

The British Emporium in Grapevine is overflowing with Irish goodies for at-home celebrations. Stock up on treats and groceries from the Emerald Isle, including teas, Guinness chips, hot chocolate, mugs, soda bread, bacon, sausages, black pudding, marmalades, Kerrygold butter, and more.

Bar Louie is hosting a week-long celebration for St. Patrick’s Day from March 12-19, with Green Beer, $3 Jameson Sidecars, Irish Slammers, and pints of Guinness.

Big Shots golf-themed venue will offer green beer specials all day on St. Patrick's Day, plus Reuben sandwiches, Reuben nachos, Irish Mules, and Irish Old Fashioneds with Jameson Orange.

Blackland Distillery in Fort Worth's Foundry District has a green deal: Guests who show up wearing green on St. Patrick's Day will receive 17 percent off a whiskey bottle of their choice. They'll also be serving limited-time-only Irish-themed cocktails, including "Shamrock Shake-Nog" and "Buena Vista Blackland Coffee."

Chef Point's Colleyville and Watauga locations will be serving up traditional corned beef & cabbage and shepherd's pie for St. Patrick’s Day beginning at 4 pm Thursday, March 17 and on into the weekend until they sell out.

Chet's Dallas, the newly opened cocktail bar and Irish-American eatery in the West End Dallas, will celebrating from March 14-19 with Irish decor and drink specials that include $7 Guinness Pints, Green Beer, Irish Mule with Jameson Whiskey, Cucumber Jalapeño Gimlet with Zephyr Gin, and Luck of the Irish Shot with Bailey’s, Creme de Cacao, Creme de Menthe, plus food classics like Irish Stew and Shepherd’s Pie.

Corner Bakery is serving a special green apple flavored Shamrock Lemonade.

Dog Haus is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 with green beer on tap, $6 Jameson shots, and $7 Pickle Back shots.

Fort Brewery & Pizza in Fort Worth will be serving “Lucky Charms” green beer St. Patrick's Day, through the weekend, for $3. There'll also be Irish nachos and pizza on the menu, nightly live music, and more.

From Across the Pond, the family-friendly British pub in Colleyville, is offering Irish specials like corned beef & cabbage, colcannon, Reuben sandwiches, corned beef hash, and hearty beef stew — plus Irish whiskey drinks — all day Thursday, March 17 through the weekend, until they sell out.

Funky Picnic Brewery & Cafe is hosting St. Patrick's Day-themed trivia on Wednesday, March 16 at 7pm. On March 17, they'll serve a special smoked corn beef & cabbage dish and will release a new Dry Irish Stout. All week through March 17, they're offering the following drink specials: $2 Green Tea shots, $3 Jameson shots, $4 green beer (Kolsch), and $5 Green Goblin cocktails.

Harwood Arms, the British Isles inspired pub in Dallas' Harwood District, will host a St. Patrick’s Day on Thursday, March 17, with an all-day celebration beginning at 11 am. A traditional bagpiper will begin playing at 5 pm, followed by live music at 6 pm.

Hotel Drover in the Fort Worth Stockyards is serving green beer and a green, Jameson whiskey-based cocktail called "Luck of the Drover" through Sunday, March 20 at The Lobby Bar, Veranda Bar, and 97 West Kitchen + Bar.

Hyatt Regency Frisco-Dallas will celebrate on March 17 at their lobby bar and lounge with a $7 green beer, the Karbach Horseshoe Pilsner for St. Patrick’s Day, as well as $8 Jameson shots and the seasonal feature, the Shamrock Shooter for $10, containing Irish whiskey, melon liqueur, and Irish cream liquor. Chef Bryan Patton has a seasonal special as well: the Copper & Steel Shepherd’s Pie.

Lochland's in Lake Highlands Dallas will celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a day of live music, Irish dancers, bagpipers, corned beef & cabbage, and more traditional Irish fare, on Thursday, March 17.

Michaels Cuisine in Fort Worth is serving up special Irish cuisine all day on March 17. Dishes include Luck of the Irish (corned beef) soup ($9), Irish nachos ($15), Corned Beef & Cabbage ($24), Guinness Irish Beef Stew ($18), Corned Beef Sandwich ($16), and Ranch Reuben Sandwich ($16). Green beer and a Leprechaun champagne cocktail are available at the bar, too.

The Radler on Magnolia Avenue in Fort Worth is throwing a St. Paddy's Day Bash, with the kitchen open 12-10 pm. Drink specials include $10 green domestic steins, $6 green tea shots, and $8 Car Bombs.

Roots Market and Juicery will serve $5 green juices and smoothies on Thursday, March 17 including Maca Spice, Lean Greens, Super Greens, and Strong and Radiant. Green juices include Green Goddess, Greenology, Skinny Greens, and Go Green.

The Statler Dallas hosts Dublin Downtown, a three-day celebration with drink specials, live music, and festivities from March 17-19, starting at the Ballroom on March 17 with a performance by Emerald City at 8 pm. Tickets start at $19 and can be purchased at TheStatlerDallas.com/St-Patricks-Day. VIP seating is $59 and includes a hosted bar. VIP tables for four are $399 and include a bottle of Champagne. Scout at The Statler will host Boozin' Bingo on March 17 at 8 pm. From March 17-19, Scout will serve $3 pints of green beer and $2 Jameson Irish Whiskey shots, and Primo’s MX Kitchen & Lounge will serve $5 green margaritas, frozen or on the rocks. Hotel packages include a guest room, general admission tickets, and valet parking.

Stirr is serving $6 Irish Coffees, $6 Teeling Shots, and $6 baby Guinness shots on March 17.

Taco Cabana will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day from March 11-30 with a signature Leprechaun Margarita for $3 at all Texas locations. The margarita is a refreshing blend of Taco Cabana’s frozen Mango and Blue Curaçao margaritas, which creates its signature green color.

Thirsty Lion Gastropub in Irving and Euless is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a seasonal menu from March 3-17 featuring Irish inspired dishes and beverages including Scotch Eggs, Bacon Cheddar Potato Cakes, Shepherd’s Pie, Corned Beef Mac & Cheese, and an Irish Mule with Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey, ginger beer, and lime.

Trinity College Irish Pub in the Crockett Row at West 7th area is making a week of celebrating St. Paddy's Day. Festivities include live music from Keltik Clan and 5 Second Rule on March 17, a special Jameson Orange menu, green beer, and more.

Tulips FTW is hosting "St. Patios Day" on March 17, with $4 Green Tea Shots, $5 Guinness, $6 Frozen Irish Coffees, $9 Irish Car Bombs, and $12 Dew and Brew (shot of Tullamore dew and Guinness).

Twin Peaks customers get free Fried Pickles on March 17 with any $20 purchase.

Vidorra is serving $6 Green Whiskey-rita's, $6 Teeling shots, and $6 baby Guinness shots on March 17.

Velvet Taco's weekly featured taco is a St. Paddy's-themed Rueben, with grilled corned beef, swiss cheese, velvet sauce, house-made sauerkraut, and house-brined pickles on a flour tortilla ($5.50), available March 16-22 at all locations.

Whiskey Hatchet, the cocktail bar and axe throwing lodge in Deep Ellum, is serving $5 Irish Car Bombs, $5 Jameson, and $5 Green Draft Beer on Thursday, March 17.

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Celestina Blok contributed to this story. Got an event to add? Email stephanie@culturemap.com.

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Airbnb-style parking app aims to ease the race for spaces around Dallas-Fort Worth

Parking made easier

An app being hyped as the “Airbnb for parking” has driven into Dallas-Fort Worth. FanSpotz LLC recently introduced its peer-to-peer mobile parking app in DFW after launching in Fayetteville, Arkansas, home of the University of Arkansas.

The app helps drivers find reasonably priced parking spaces — in yards and driveways, for instance — being rented out by everyday folks during sporting events, concerts, holiday gatherings, rodeos, festivals, and other activities where parking is at a premium.

“FanSpotz can be used for any kind of event or location that experiences surges in event parking,” says Dallas native Steven Zapata, co-founder and chief customer officer of FanSpotz. “Growing up in Dallas, I remember parking blocks away from Lower Greenville in residential neighborhoods on busy Friday nights. If only there was a service like FanSpotz then, I would have used it.”

All parking payments are processed through the FanSpotz app using Stripe, a mobile payment service.

This is how FanSpotz works:

  • A property owner lists available parking spots and set prices.
  • A driver browses the app to hunt for parking and reserve a parking spot based on price and location.
  • The app directs the driver to the reserved parking spot.

Parking spots can be advertised, and spots can be booked weeks in advance of a big event. The FanSpotz app is available through the Apple App Store and Google Play.

In North Texas, FanSpotz is looking for parking “hosts” around:

  • AT&T Stadium in Arlington
  • Texas Christian University’s Amon G. Carter Stadium
  • Fort Worth Stockyards
  • University of North Texas’ Apogee Stadium
  • LiveNation Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, Irving
  • Dallas Market Center
  • Bishop Arts District
  • Southern Methodist University’s Gerald Ford Stadium
  • Lower Greenville, Dallas
  • Uptown and Turtle Creek, Dallas
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'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.

Country icon Willie Nelson returns to 'hillbilly' inspiration in new album

The Red Headed Stranger goes Blue

Almost as much as Willie Nelson is known for Austin, he's known for Nashville — and for subverting it. The 90-year-old singer has made an iconic, and extremely long career of conforming to and bucking against musical expectations, and now he's circled back around to tradition — without losing his own sound.

Nelson's new LP, Bluegrass, is his first album-length tribute to the traditional country genre. Yet, released on September 15, it's not even his first album of 2023. It follows I Don't Know A Thing About Love: The Songs of Harlan Howard, a tribute to the Nashville songwriter who gave folks "I Fall to Pieces."

Bluegrass, in a way, is Nelson's genre-bent tribute to his own work. The setlist gathers a dozen of the songwriter and his fans' "favorite" songs he wrote, according to a press release, re-rendered with a bluegrass ensemble.

The focus on orchestration highlights that this is a collaborative effort by the amiable, but largely solo performer. One song, "Good Hearted Woman," is the only track on the album not just written by Nelson, thanks to the similar creative genius of outlaw country great Waylon Jennings. Willie's son, Micah Nelson, created the cover art: an appropriately blue portrait of the singer with warm undertones and a wreath of familiar recreational leaves. The album was produced by Willie's longtime collaborator Buddy Cannon.

Willie Nelson BluegrassNelson's son created the cover art — in blue, of course.Image courtesy of Willie Nelson; created by Micah Nelson

Even if a listener doesn't recognize each song on the album, Nelson's voice is as unmistakeable as ever. Against a bluegrass arrangement, it floats undisturbed and unhurried. At times, it even sounds like Nelson and the band are performing in different meters, the band bustling along cheerfully while the singer lounges around the beat — but never on it.

In fact, listeners who avoid Bluegrass may find their tune changes when listening to these laid-back renditions. "Still Is Still Moving To Me" brings the more frenetic tempo and multi-part harmonies that the genre is known for at its most ferocious; but iconic songs like "Sad Songs and Waltzes" and "Yesterday's Wine" may not even strike listeners as bluegrass if they're not listening for it — just very string-heavy traditional country tunes.

"On the Road Again," "Man With the Blues," and album-opener "No Love Around" are perhaps the tracks that benefit the most from the Bluegrass treatment. All three seem a little more cheerful, a little more upbeat, and a little more reassuring than their original forms. There's nothing warmer than hearing the iconic "On the Road Again" melody on gut strings — except perhaps listening to the country legend offer his "advice" over that plucky, self-assured backcountry orchestra.

Most important, the arrangements rework rather than rewriting the songs. None of the renditions give off an air of hokeyness or trying to shake things up; These are just great country songs that sound even better with a banjo. It makes sense that the change in instrumentation wouldn't shift much, since according to the release, Nelson decided to record the tribute because the style informed so much of his natural songwriting style.

"Using his own catalog as source material, in the spirit of traditional bluegrass sourcing hillbilly folk music, Willie chose songs combining the kind of strong melodies, memorable storylines and tight ensemble-interplay found in traditional bluegrass interpretations of the roots (from European melodies to African rhythms) of American folk songs," acknowledges the release.

By Texas Monthly'scount (shared in the release), this is Nelson's 151st album. Avid collectors can look forward to a 12-inch special edition pressed in blue vinyl, available for purchase on September 29. Preorder ($29.98) at willienelson.com.

This year the songwriter was honored with a five-part documentary series, a blowout 90th birthday concert, the naming of a prestigious arts endowment by the University of Texas at Austin, and two Grammy Awards. His book, Energy Follows Thought: The Stories Behind My Songs, comes out October 23. He will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame days later, on November 3.

Listen to Bluegrass on your favorite streaming platform. More information is available at willienelson.com.

Flix Brewhouse set to open in Mansfield with food and beer brewed in-house

Let's All Go to the Movies

Austin-based Flix Brewhouse, famous for its first-run cinema and in-house brewery, will debut a new location in Mansfield, with an opening set for Thursday, September 28.

The theater will open at 416 N. US 287, in The Shops at Broad, with its trademark full menu of sandwiches, salads, burgers, and pizza as well as beer that's brewed in-house.

Mansfield marks the chain's 10th location and the fifth in Texas, joining the original in Round Rock, along with Frisco/Little Elm, El Paso, and San Antonio.

But Mansfield will offer something new that no other location has: the ability to order your meal directly from your phone. Instead of pressing the button at your seat and waiting for a server to take your order, orders can be transmitted directly to the theater's kitchen. So convenient!

Call buttons are still available to order for moviegoers without smartphones or for those who prefer that method.

The 38,000-square-foot theater and brewpub will have nine auditoriums featuring reclining chairs and personal, pivoting tabletops.

A full bar incorporates a fully-functioning brewery where a team of brewers craft beers that are unique to the location and the featured films. A small taproom is available for guests to enjoy a brew before or after a movie and play movie-themed pinball.

In addition to new releases, Flix Brewhouse offers their Flix Picks program, which curates specialty monthly FanFests around cult classic movies that are paired with a themed menu and souvenir glassware.

For those who go to the movies a lot, Flix has The Circle, a loyalty program with special perks like discounts, birthday tickets, and more. Early sign-ups for the free program receive an exclusive invitation to the theater's soft opening event.

The opening date coincides with the release of PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie for the younger set, as well as the sci-fi epic The Creator and the latest in a gruesome horror franchise, Saw X.

“Moviegoers can expect to have a transformative experience when they visit a Flix Brewhouse location,” said Chance Robertson, Flix CEO, in a statement. “Our team pours its passion into every aspect of the theater whether that is in a glass of award-winning, freshly brewed beer, a delectably-themed meal, or the state-of-the art audio visual experience of a movie."