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

Go Red for Women

Photo courtesy of AHA

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

Photo courtesy of Hilary Roberts

35th Annual Clifton Morris and Jim Bradshaw Memorial Stars in Recovery Luncheon

The featured speaker for the 35th Annual Clifton Morris and Jim Bradshaw Memorial Stars in Recovery Luncheon will be recording artist Hilary Roberts, a singer and songwriter who uses the darkness of her past to inspire and empower others. After suffering many years of trauma, torture and abuse, Roberts made the decision not to deal with those demons alone. On May 9, 1997, she reached out to a mentor who offered her solutions and a way of life that helped her start her recovery journey.

To honor her late husband, Clifton Morris, this year’s presenting sponsor is Sheridan Morris. Clifton Morris was a Fort Worth native and a strong supporter of Recovery Resource Council and the local recovery community.

Since its inception, the annual Stars in Recovery Luncheon has featured well-known and beloved celebrities speaking publicly about their paths to recovery from alcohol/substance misuse and mental health issues. Proceeds from this event will benefit Recovery Resource Council, whose mission is to promote wellness and recovery from disorders relating to alcohol, substance use, trauma, and mental health.

Photo by Sharon Ellman

Fanciful Fort Worth fundraiser brings inspired designs to the table for 30th anniversary

Milestone events

What: Design Inspirations' 30th Anniversary Preview Party & Luncheon

Where: Ridglea Country Club

Photo by Sharon Ellman

2023 event chairs Allie Turney, Katie Howard, Molly Van Amburgh, and Leigh Brown

The 411: For 30 years, volunteers from the Fort Worth Alumnae Associations of Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi have teamed up for one of the most unique fundraisers in the city - Design Inspirations. The two-day, mega showcase of beautifully set tablescapes has raised more than $1.4 million since its inception.

The 2023 edition marked Design Inspirations' 30th anniversary and was chaired by Allie Turney and Molly Van Amburgh (Pi Beta Phi), and Leigh Brown and Katie Howard (Kappa Kappa Gamma). Proceeds went to Gill Children’s Services, Inc. and Breakthrough Fort Worth.

The event started the evening of Wednesday, March 1 with champagne toast that included event chairs from the past 30 years, and most significantly, the four founders: Carol Dunaway, Ann Harwood, Kay Howell, and Judy Schell.

A Preview Party followed, where nearly 500 guests sipped on cocktails and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres while previewing 64 elegant tablescapes designed by local designers, florists, and businesses. Tables by longtime designers, including Beckley Design Studio, Central Market, Christy Dunaway Smith, Domain XCIV, Inc., Jessica McIntyre Interiors, Kay Genua Designs, Neiman Marcus Fort Worth, and The Enchanted Florist, sat alongside newer designers and supporters, including Allison Curry Interiors, Emily Gilbert Designs, Mackenzie Page Interiors, Paxton Place Design, and Schumacher.

The next morning, more than 550 guests - dressed in their spring florals best - enjoyed the Design Inspirations Luncheon, featuring a presentation by New York interior designer and author of the new book More Rooms, Katie Ridder. (Of course she went home with her own custom boots from M.L. Leddy's.)

Music and the scent of hundreds of fresh florals filled the room as attendees sipped on Prosecco and strolled through the five rooms decorated with jaw-dropping floral and creative table themes from garden party to Western chic.

Following the presentation, a lunch of tomato and cucumber salad, grilled filet and wedge salad, and a special 30th Anniversary raspberry cream cake was served.

For more information on Design Inspirations and the causes it supports, visit the website.

Who: Attendees included Tanya Runyon, Courtney Mitchell, Duffy Bloemendal, Heather Senter, Leslie Daly, Jessica Dodson, Robyn Hatfield and Laura Rooker, Kristi Newman, Olivia Kearney, Melinda Adams, Lou Martin, Jordan Davidson, Alison Gengelbach, Courtney Holm, Katie Semple, Lizzie Sell, Ro McKee Rynd, Carrie Woodson, Rebecca Hillard, Pepper McLean, Sharon Fulgham, Rhonda Rich, Amber Robertson, and hundreds more.

Photo by Lawrence Jenkins

Save the date for these 10 can't-miss Fort Worth galas and soirees of spring 2023

The gown lowdown

Time to steam the ballgowns and send the tuxes to the cleaner: Spring gala season has arrived.

Fort Worth's biggest fundraising balls - along with sleek cocktail soirees and panache-filled power luncheons - kick off early this year with Grand Entry Gala the first weekend of January. Then, don't sleep on tickets to see music icon Yo-Yo Ma headline the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Gala Concert and Dinner in February. Jewel Charity Ball is going to Japan, and Classically Cliburn Gala is headed to Monte Carlo.

Photo by Lawrence Jenkins

The FWSO Gala is back, February 25.

Here are the 10 spring dates every social butterfly in Fort Worth should circle now.

Junior League Grand Entry Gala, January 7
Saddle up for the first big gala of the season. Junior League of Fort Worth's annual Grand Entry Gala serves as serves as a glam kickoff to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, which officially starts on January 13. The Western-chic evening features dinner, dancing, cocktails, silent auction, and a concert by vintage country stars Tracy Byrd, Mark Chesnutt, and Neal McCoy. The 2023 gala returns to "the dirt floor" of Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum, and Grand Entry Gala supports the organization's mission to promote volunteerism, develop the potential in women, and improve the lives of women and children in Fort Worth. This year's president is Becky Escott. For more information, head here.

Fort Worth Symphony Gala, February 25
The title alone - "Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra: A Gala Evening featuring Yo-Yo Ma" - should tell you that tickets will go quick. Good thing there are options for those wanting to spend an evening in the presence of the global cellist superstar. First, Yo-Yo Ma will mesmerize listeners at Bass Hall with a performance of Elgar's Cello Concerto with the FWSO, under the direction of music director Robert Spano. The the black-tie gala amps up post-concert, with themed cocktails, a delectable four-course meal, and dancing in the Grand Ballroom of the Worthington Renaissance Hotel. Gala chair Mercedes T. Bass and co-chairs Ashli Blumenfeld, Anne Marie Bratton, Mary Hart Lipscomb, Kim Johnson, and Misty Locke will bring the unforgettable evening to life in support of Music Education initiatives. Limited tickets remain for both the Gala Concert and Dinner. For information about the dinner, email Development Manager Malia Lewis.

St. Jude Celebration at Sundown, February 25
Coming off a record-breaking event last year, organizers have moved this annual affair to a bigger venue: Tannahill's Tavern, the new restaurant-music venue in the Stockyards' Mule Alley. Benefiting the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and chaired by Jennifer Wright and Paige Charbonnet, the cocktail-casual evening annually includes silent and live auctions, dancing, drinks, dinner, and live entertainment. It's always a powerful evening, with a special emphasis on the challenges that child cancer patients face. Families who go to St. Jude, founded by Danny Thomas and located in Memphis, Tennessee, never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food. Tickets and information are here.

Go Red for Women Luncheon, March 3
Benefiting the American Heart Association's efforts to research and eradicate cardiovascular disease in women, this annual heartfelt luncheon will take place at the Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel and is chaired by Texas Health's Jennifer Chavez and Becky Tucker. They typically offer onsite health screenings, as well as champagne, a multicourse lunch, speakers, and onstage performances. After the luncheon, be sure to save the date for Tarrant County's Heart Ball, which is April 22, with more details to be announced soon. For more information and tickets to Go Red, visit tarrantcountygored.heart.org

Jewel Charity Ball, March 4
Fort Worth's grandest gala, the 68th Jewel Charity Ball - themed “Gateway to Kyoto” - will be held at Will Rogers Memorial Center, Amon G. Carter, Jr. Exhibits Hall. Jewel Charity president Shannon Shivers and ball co-chairs Hillary Jennings, Suzanne Sanders, and Peggy Sims - along with ball designer Bill Robertson with Events by Bill - are planning an elegant evening inspired by Japan. The night will include a seated dinner by Wolfgang Puck, dancing, a silent auction, and raffle, all capped with a performance by legendary band Kool and the Gang. Of course, JCB's official jeweler, Collections Fine Jewelry, will add some sparkle with an onsite store featuring cases of exclusive pieces. Since 1954, Jewel Charity has helped raise nearly $80 million for Cook Children's Hospital, and the ball celebrates the Angel donors who generously support the patients. For information and tickets, visit jewelcharity.org or call 817-347-6104.

Classically Cliburn Gala, March 31
This year, the extravagant black-tie ball goes to glamorous Monaco. "Classically Cliburn Gala 2023: Monte Carlo" will feature all the signs and sounds of the French Riviera destination, including a casino extraordinaire. The gala also takes place in a new location: Fort Worth Club. Event co-chairs are Gina and Bob Ravnaas, and honorary chairs are Teresa and Luther King. Throughout the night, gala-goers will drink, eat, dance to the fabulous Jordan Kahn Orchestra, and enjoy the chance to mingle with Fort Worth's most influential patrons of arts and culture — all while remembering the Cliburn's mission to advance piano and classical music around the world. For gala information and tickets, visit the website, email khowell@cliburn.org, or call 817-738-6536.

Butterfly Wishes Gala, April 14
A Wish with Wings has been bringing joyful experiences to children with life-threatening medical conditions since 1983. Last year's 40th anniversary Butterfly Wishes Gala, themed "Where the Wish Begins," raised a record-breaking $500,000, which will helped grant the wishes of 65 young Texans. Details are still in the works for this year's gala; it takes place April 14. Check the website for more details.

Texas Ballet Theater Opening Night Dinner, May 26
One big change that COVID brought was a shift, for some organizations, away from big galas to smaller, more targeted fundraising events. Texas Ballet Theater is focusing its spring efforts on two Opening Night Dinners ahead of the premiere of Alice in Wonderland in both Dallas and Fort Worth. Guests will enjoy an exclusive dinner and hear from the artistic staff behind the ballet before heading into the theater to watch the last production of the season. The Dallas Opening Night Dinner will be Friday, May 19 and the Fort Worth dinner will be Friday, May 26; location TBA but not far from Bass Hall, where the performance will take place. Check the website for more details.

Puttin' on the Pink Luncheon, April 18
The 30th anniversary edition of this fashion-forward luncheon will bring all the best-dressed women (and some men, too) to the Fort Worth Convention Center ballroom. It's hosted by the Kupferle Health Board of Texas Health Resources Foundation and supports mobile health outreach and screenings for underserved women in Tarrant County. Event chair Wendy Wright — and her mile-long host committee of influential Fort Worth women — is planning a sit-down lunch and a Jan Strimple-produced fashion show of the latest looks provided by Neiman Marcus. Arrive early for a Champagne reception. For information and tickets, visit the website.

TEX Gala, April 20
This rare Thursday night gala benefits the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, which improves the lives of children, the military, and first responders' families in the community. Attendees will experience a red-carpet arrival, dinner on the playing surface of Globe Life Field, live and silent auctions featuring exclusive Rangers experiences and sports and Hollywood memorabilia, and a live performance from country superstar Kenny Chesney. For information and tickets, visit the website.

Photo by Rhi Lee

Save the date for these 12 must-attend spring 2022 soirees and galas in Fort Worth

The gown lowdown

Dust off the ballgowns and stilettos. Galas, parties, and power lunches are back for a real spring social season in Fort Worth.

After COVID canceled most 2020 and 2021 in-person events, local nonprofits, community groups, and arts organizations are staging their glamorous fundraisers once again. Beyond being swanky soirees, these events raise crucial funds for causes that need them now more than ever. Most local charities are still recouping losses from the past two years. If you can't attend in person, you can still donate in other ways — from chipping in a few bucks directly to asking your rich great aunt to sponsor a table; click the links provided to find out more.

Also, as COVID health and safety protocols continue to change, each event says it will follow best practices at the time. But why not tuck a sparkly sequin mask inside your evening bag just in case?

Here are the 12 spring dates every social butterfly in Fort Worth should circle now.

Junior League Grand Entry Gala, January 8
Gala season comes back blazing with Junior League of Fort Worth's annual Grand Entry Gala. The cowgirl-chic evening features dinner, dancing, cocktails, silent auction, and a concert by country star Sara Evans. The 2022 gala returns to "the dirt floor" of Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum and serves as a glam kickoff to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, which officially starts on January 14. Grand Entry Gala supports the organization's mission to promote volunteerism, develop the potential in women, and improve the lives of women and children in Fort Worth. This year's event co-chairs are Nicole Shelton and Anne Wright, and Debbie and Albon Headback are being recognized as honorary chairs. For more information, head here.

Go Red for Women Luncheon, February 10
Talk about an event with heart. This annual girl-power mega-lunch benefits American Heart Association's efforts to research and eradicate cardiovascular disease in women. It will take place at The Omni Fort Worth Hotel, with Barbara Peace, director of nursing quality and magnet at Cook Children’s Health Care System, as chair. There's a lot to love about this luncheon because they typically offer onsite health screenings, as well as Champagne, a multicourse lunch, speakers, and onstage performances. After the luncheon, be sure to save the date for Heart Ball, which is April 23 at the Ashton Depot, with more details to be announced soon. For more information and tickets to Go Red, visit the website.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra: A Gala Evening with Sarah Chang, February 26
This "choose your own adventure" uber-gala has several parts, and you can attend one or all. First, the FWSO will present its annual gala concert at Bass Hall. The orchestra welcomes guest conductor Patrick Summers (Houston Grand Opera artistic and music director) and featured violinist Sarah Chang (making her FWSO debut) for a performance of Dvorák's beloved Violin Concerto; the program also includes Brahms' Hungarian Dances and Ravel's Boléro. The performance will be followed by cocktails and a black-tie dinner in the Grand Ballroom of the Worthington Renaissance Hotel, with live music played by a string and piano ensemble. Mercedes T. Bass is the gala chair, with Ashli Blumenfeld, Anne Marie Bratton, Mary Hart Lipscomb, Kim Johnson, and Frasher H. Pergande serving as co-chairs. Concert tickets are available here; for information about the dinner, email jneumann@fwsymphony.org.

St. Jude Celebration At Sundown, February 26
Taking place at the sparkling new Hotel Drover, this annual affair will benefit the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The evening will include silent and live auctions, dancing, drinks, dinner, and live entertainment. It promises to be a powerful evening, with a special emphasis on the challenges that child cancer patients face. Families who go to St. Jude, founded by Danny Thomas and located in Memphis, Tennessee, never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food. Tickets and information are here.

Design Inspirations, March 2-3
If pretty homes inspire you, this is the event to attend — two events, actually. The beloved Preview Party and Luncheon, held at Ridglea Country Club, are thrown by the Fort Worth Alumnae Associations of Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi and benefit Gill Children’s Services and Rivertree Academy. More than 60 tables are elaborately decorated by local interior designers, florists, and creative individuals. There are two chances to see them — at the Preview Party (with cocktails, food, and entertainment) the evening of March 2, and at the Luncheon on March 3. Interior design expert, author, and entrepreneur Melanie Turner will give the keynote speech. Tickets are sold separately for each event; check the website for information and Preview Party tickets, and email Lummis.wright@gmail.com for Luncheon tickets.

Jewel Charity Ball, March 5
Fort Worth's grandest gala of all is back to dance, after sitting out for the first time in 67 years last year. The 67th Jewel Charity Ball, themed “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” will be held at Will Rogers Memorial Center, Amon G. Carter, Jr. Exhibits Hall. Jewel Charity president Michelle Marlow and ball co-chairs Olivia Kearney, Julie Sawyer, and Paige Pate are planning an evening that features entertainment by Motown legends The Temptations and The Four Tops. The night will include a seated dinner by Wolfgang Puck, dancing, a silent auction, and raffle. JCB's official jeweler, Tiffany & Co., will add some sparkle with an onsite store featuring cases of exclusive pieces. Since 1954, Jewel Charity has helped raise more than $75 million for Cook Children's Hospital, and the ball celebrates the Angel donors who generously support the patients. For information and tickets, visit jewelcharity.org or call 817-810-9849.

Classically Cliburn Gala, April 8
This year, the glamorous black-tie ball lets the good times roll to New Orleans. "Classically Cliburn Gala 2022: NOLA" will feature elegant Garden District decor, a Carousel Bar, and Big Swing band. The gala also takes place in an exciting new location: Simmons Bank Pavilion at Dickies Arena. Event co-chairs are Jennifer and Philip Williamson, and honorary chair is Gail Rawl. Throughout the night, gala-goers will drink, eat, dance, and enjoy the chance to mingle with Fort Worth's most influential patrons of arts and culture — all while remembering namesake Van Cliburn. His name will come up a lot this year, with both the 16th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition set to take place in coming months, making Fort Worth the official piano capital of the world in 2022. For gala information and tickets, visit the website, email khowell@cliburn.org, or call 817-738-6536.

Casa Mañana Gala, April 8
With a theme of "Peace, Love, & Casa Mañana," Fort Worth's famous silver-domed theater promises a far-out party, complete with flower power, neon outfits, and chill vibes. The evening — co-chaired by Madolin Rosenthal and Kendall Kostohryz — includes cocktails, dinner, silent and live auctions, and entertainment from Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar. It all takes place in the Claudia Stepp Grand Lobby of Casa Mañana. Proceeds benefit the theater’s arts education and outreach initiatives. For information and tickets, visit the website.

Puttin' on the Pink Luncheon, April 13
This fashion-forward luncheon brings all the best-dressed women (and some brave men, too) to the Fort Worth Convention Center ballroom. It's hosted by the Kupferle Health Board of Texas Health Resources Foundation and supports mobile health outreach and screenings for underserved women in Tarrant County. Event chair Ashley Peeders — and her mile-long host committee of influential Fort Worth women — is planning a sit-down lunch and a Jan Strimple-produced fashion show of the latest looks provided by Neiman Marcus. Arrive early for a Champagne reception. For information and tickets, visit the website.

Butterfly Wishes Gala, April 22
A Wish with Wings has been bringing joyful experiences to children with life-threatening medical conditions since 1983. This year's Butterfly Wishes Gala, themed "Where the Wish Begins" (get it, Fort Worth?), will honor one of its wish families, the Barnard family, with the Rosie Moncrief Wings of Hope Award. Loretta and Don S. Marable are chairing the 40th anniversary celebratory event. The gala, taking place at the Simmons Bank Plaza at Dickies Arena, will feature dinner and dancing the night away to the Emerald City Band. For more information and tickets, visit the website.

Fort Worth Opera 75th Anniversary Celebration, April 22
Fort Worth Opera will host a glittering night of music and celebration in conjunction with the highly anticipated opening of an all-new version of Verdi's La Traviata. Post-performance at Bass Hall, patrons will get to toast FWO's 75-year history in an event that includes food, cocktails, and dancing the night away to the Georgia Bridgwater Orchestra. For more information and tickets, visit the website.

TEX Gala, June 20
This rare Monday night gala benefits the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, which improves the lives of children, the military, and first responders' families in the community. Attendees will experience a red-carpet arrival, dinner on the playing surface of Globe Life Field, live and silent auctions featuring exclusive Rangers experiences and sports and Hollywood memorabilia, and a live performance from country superstar Darius Rucker. It's just the second year for this gala, but it's already become a big-deal event; last year's inaugural edition (headlined by Tim McGraw) raised a whopping $1.625 million for the foundation. For information and tickets, visit the website.

Jewel Charity president Michelle Marlow with Scott Marlow at the 2020 ball.

Photo by Rhi Lee

Jewel Charity president Michelle Marlow with Scott Marlow at the 2020 ball.

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.

New brunch cafe cracks top spot in this week's 5 most-read Fort Worth stories

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 weekend? Find that list here.

1. New cafe in North Fort Worth does eggtastic breakfast, brunch, and lunch. There's an exciting new restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and brunch in Fort Worth's Alliance Town Center: Called Eggtastic Brunch Cafe, it's located at 9160 North Fwy. #452, in the same shopping center as Sam Moon, where it opened in mid-April and is already drawing raves from locals for its hearty and well-made dishes, doting service, and cheerful bright atmosphere.

2. Fort Worth chef Tim Love cooks up collection of premium jeans and accessories. Fort Worth chef Tim Love’s next project trades chef’s whites for blue jeans: Love Collection, his debut line of premium women's and men's apparel and accessories, launched Friday, May 19 online and at one of Love’s properties in the Fort Worth Stockyards.

3. Burleson's Jellystone Park unlocks grain bin cabins, covered wagons, and tipis for summer glamping. Ahead of the busy summer travel season, the North Texas Jellystone Park in Burleson has added a few of the coolest new "glamping" accommodations in Texas. Furnished tipis, covered wagons, and grain bin cabins opened to guests on May 19.

4. New lagoon-waterpark with lazy river dives into Dallas-Fort Worth. A long-awaited waterpark in Cedar Hill is debuting Memorial Day weekend with two of Texas' favorite splashy attractions: a lagoon and lazy river. The Lagoon at Virginia Weaver Park will open Saturday, May 27 after more than a year in development.

5. Action-packed Fast X drives home the ridiculousness of series' premise. Believe it or not, we are now over 20 years into the existence of the Fast & the Furious franchise, evolving from a street-racing story to one that could be compared to the Mission: Impossible and James Bond series. Our critic reviews the latest entry, Fast X.

Fort Worth Symphony launches summer concerts with sparkly extra: drones

Fireworks News

The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra returns in 2023 with its annual summer concert series, Concerts in The Garden, featuring 11 concerts taking place at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, starting May 26 and running through June 11.

This year's lineup includes tributes to the Beatles, the Eagles, and Led Zeppelin, as well as nights featuring cinematic themes such as Harry Potter and Star Wars.

But the coolest part of the 2023 series might be the light show: For the first time, they're replacing old-school fireworks with the use of cutting-edge drones.

Drones are an innovative technology that creates stunning night-sky displays using LED lights. The practice of using drones to create light shows has only been around a few years, but has been used in high-profile Olympics ceremonies as well as by the city of Dallas, who added drones as an enhancement to its 2022 New Year's Eve fireworks display.

They're an up-and-comer with many benefits, both practically and aesthetically, says FWSO VP of operations John Clapp, including avoiding the potential to start fires, as Fort Worth endured on July 4, 2022 when a fireworks show at Panther Island Pavilion started a grass fire and the event had to be shut down.

"The Botanic Garden has a lot of grass, trees, and other landscaping that could pose an issue if fireworks were to go astray," Clapp says. "Parts of Texas are so dry and fires are not uncommon. This seems like a safer option."

"It also reduces the impact on homes and residences in the area - we don’t need that noise late at night and drones don’t have that problem," he says.

"We’re doing all kinds of enhancements to our indoor concerts, and we thought, why not do something with our outdoor concerts, too?" he says.

The company helping the FWSO with its programming is headquartered in North Richland Hills: Called Sky Elements, they're risen to become the top name in drone shows, flying all over the country, from Seattle to Key West to the Santa Monica Pier in California, where they'll be headed for Memorial Day.

The company employs a team of 3D animation specialists who can create displays with customized themes, says VP of development Rick Boss.

"That's one of the fun things about the Symphony's program, it has multiple unique themes like Star Wars, which is quite fun, like putting together pieces of a puzzle," Boss says.

Sky Elements started out as a pyrotechnics company, and they still do fireworks, but they're shifting all of their resources to drones, and can't keep up with demand.

From a practical standpoint, drones surpass fireworks because there's no risk of fire, and they're silent. Noise from fireworks is extremely harmful to people with PTSD as well as to wildlife and pets who get spooked and run in fear; the worst days of the year for animal shelters are July 4 and New Year's Eve.

Drones have also come down in cost to be about the same as fireworks, which have become more expensive in recent years.

The duration of a drone show is 10-15 minutes and is dependent on the drones' battery life. You measure the splendor of a drone show by how many drones. Ross says they've done shows with up to 1,000 drones; their shows for the Concerts in the Garden will deploy approximately 100 drones.

"It's a nice size, and most people haven't seen this before, so it will be a fun one," he says. "I get such a kick out of seeing the joy it brings to people."

Beyond the pragmatic element, drones also offer a more nimble and expansive palette, allowing designers to create designs and displays that fireworks cannot, says the FWSO's Clapp.

"Fireworks kind of spread out and do what they do," he says. "Pattern-wise, it's nice to look at, but the drone shows are artistically fantastic, with images that animate and move into 3D. They let you tell a story."

View All Listings