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

Let's All Go to the Movies

Photo courtesy of Flix Brewhouse

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."

Photo by Daniel Daza/Prime Video

A Million Miles Away flies with true story of migrant worker turned astronaut

We are in the midst of, if not the golden age, the rising age of representation in the movies. Minorities, including women, the LGBTQ community, and people of color, are seeing a significant number of films featuring them as leads. It’s a wonder it’s taken this long, as not only are the filmmakers and actors making them proving how talented they are, but the movies also tend to show how profitable they can be for the studios.

The latest example is A Million Miles Away, which centers on the somewhat improbable journey of former NASA astronaut Jose Hernández (Michael Peña). Hernández (played as a child by Juan Pablo Monterrubio) grew up as one of four children of migrant farm workers, traveling annually from their hometown of Michoacán, Mexico to a variety of farms around California to help pick crops.

Hernández showed academic promise at an early age, and went on to get an engineering degree. The bulk of the film shows him doggedly pursuing his dream of becoming an astronaut, one that still seems far away despite his experience as an engineer. With the help of his wife, Adela (Rosa Salazar), and a never-quit attitude, Hernández demonstrates how far one can travel from their supposed station in life.

Written and directed by Alejandra Márquez Abella, and co-written by Bettina Gilois and Hernán Jiménez, the film is inspiring, featuring an appealing lead performance by Peña, who doesn’t get as many starring roles as he should. The filmmakers consistently hit the sweet spot between telling a version of the story that only exists in the movie and being truthful to actual events, blending them seamlessly for a rewarding experience.

While Hernández was not the first Hispanic astronaut at NASA, the movie sells the story as one worth telling because of his background. Márquez Abella pointedly shows how hard Hernández and his family worked during his childhood and the sacrifices they were willing to make, not so subtly showing the value of all migrant farm workers. The movie never strays far from his Mexican culture, an important point that stands in contrast to other films that assimilate their minority characters.

Hernández’s time at NASA is treated neither as a surprise nor as the only important part of his life, and both approaches feel right. The family aspect of the film shines through, first as a child and then with his wife and her family, and spending as much time with them as the film does pays big dividends by the end. Hernández’s career is still the most prominent part of the film, but the debt he owes everyone else in his life comes through loud and clear.

Peña, who has run the gamut of characters in his filmography, shines in this role. He has a great combination of friendliness and determinedness that the part needs, and he elevates everyone around him. Salazar makes the most of what can be a thankless role playing the supportive wife. Bobby Soto, playing a similar role to the one he did in Flamin’ Hot, is once again a solid presence.

There have been a multitude of people who have risen from the bottom in the United States, giving filmmakers innumerable ways to tell a rousing story. A Million Miles Away is an entertaining, hopeful, and joyful look at one such man, and the many people who supported him along the way.

---

A Million Miles Away debuts on Prime Video on September 15.

$Michael Pe\u00f1a in A Million Miles Away$

Photo by Daniel Daza/Prime Video

Michael Peña in A Million Miles Away.

Austin Food + Wine Festival Facebook

Traverse Texas this fall and winter for festivals, food, art, and more

Hit the Road

One of the perks of living in Texas is having a handful of other big, fun cultural cities within driving distance. Perhaps you've already blown through your PTO or still have some vacation time you're looking to fill — why not hop in the car and drive to one of Texas' big five?

We're talking Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, and boy do these cities have a full calendar coming up to close out 2023.

Whether you're looking to experience the holiday spirit in another area code or are tempted by one of the local festivals, fall and winter are the ideal times to visit your Lone Star neighbors.

Here's a month-by-month look at what's happening around the state:

Austin Food + Wine Festival Facebook

Austin Food + Wine Festival is back this November.

September

AUSTIN: Pecan Street Festival
The Pecan Street Festival, a twice-yearly arts festival, is returning to downtown Austin on September 16-17. Over 300 local artisans and vendors will be selling their handmade art, crafts, clothing, and more in booths lined along 6th Street between Brazos Street and I-35 for the weekend. Live performances by local musicians are also scheduled throughout the weekend. And the best part? The festival is free.

DALLAS: Autumn at the Arboretum
This yearly festival features 100,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash hailing from the pumpkin capital of Texas, Floydada, and 150,000 beautiful fall-blooming plants throughout the garden. For its 18th year, running September 16-November 5, the theme is "It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" with the return of the Peanuts Gang, themed pumpkin houses that make up the Pumpkin Village, a hay bale maze, and plenty of special events.

FORT WORTH: Oktoberfest
This three-day, Munich-style celebration of German culture includes a ceremonial tapping of the kegs, carnival rides, dachshund races, a brat-eating contest, bier barrel-rolling, stein-hoist competition, the Oktoberfest Run Und Ride, and plenty of polka bands. It's held in Trinity Park September 21-23.

HOUSTON: Houston International Jazz Festival
Head to the Miller Outdoor Theatre on September 16 for this celebration of jazz in Houston, this year featuring the Duke Ellington Orchestra directed by Charlie Young. Special guests Paul Mercer Ellington (Duke's grandson) and Tierney Malone will be there, along with the featured work of acclaimed artist Jack Whitten.

SAN ANTONIO: McNay Art Museum presents "Dreamland: Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas"
In the exhibition, a 30th-anniversary celebration of filmmaker Tim Burton’s 1993 stop-motion animated film, visitors can reacquaint themselves with Burton’s awkwardly charming cast that includes Sally, Oogie Boogie, Bone Crusher, and the beloved hero, Jack Skellington. Also meet unusual characters created by artists from the McNay’s collection, including José Clemente Orozco Farías, Julie Heffernan, Eugene Berman, Marilyn Lanfear, Willem de Kooning, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Julie Speed, and others. The exhibition runs through January 14.

October

AUSTIN: Austin Film Festival
During the eight-day festival, held October 26-November 2, audiences can view screenings of film and television premieres galore, plus competition films, documentaries, shorts, and more, with all-star line-ups and Q&As by your favorite writers, actors, and filmmakers.

DALLAS: State Fair of Texas
The State Fair of Texas begins its run in Dallas September 29, with 24 days of live music, carnival games, fried food creation competitions, and more. Luckily for CultureMap readers, here's a thorough guide to getting every possible discount at the fair this year.

FORT WORTH: Art Worth
This festival on the lawn at Will Rogers Memorial Center, now in its second year, celebrates visual arts and classical music October 20-22. Expect artists' exhibitions plus demonstrations of decorative arts disciplines,such as glassblowing, metal pours, potters wheel, and wood-turning.

HOUSTON: Bayou City Art Festival
A juried art festival that's responsible for raising more than $3.7 million in support of local nonprofit organizations. The outdoor festival attracts more than 20,000 attendees, offering the opportunity to meet with exhibiting artists, buy one-of-a-kind art, and enjoy food, music, and entertainment.

SAN ANTONIO: Tasting Texas Wine + Food Festival
Culinaria and Visit San Antonio head up this four-day epicurean experience that allows food and wine lovers alike to explore the unique flavors of Texas for themselves. Guests can look forward to enjoying live music, educational panels, and sampling a variety of cocktails, wines, and craft beers from October 26-29. The best part is that it’s a party with a purpose — the James Beard Foundation is the beneficiary, with $250,000 committed to support culinary students in Texas.

November

AUSTIN: Austin Food & Wine Festival
The 12th Annual Austin Food and Wine Festival will feature chefs, restaurants, and wine and spirits experts over two days, November 4-5. Festival highlights include the new Made In Texas Saturday night event; the return of the Hands-On Grilling event with chef Tim Love; the Fire Pit, featuring bites hot off the flames; cooking demonstrations and conversations; samples of signature dishes from local chefs and restaurants; wine, beer and cocktail tastings; live music; and more.

DALLAS: Chi Omega Christmas Market
A 46-year tradition, this massive market will feature more than 200 merchants and is expected to welcome more than 10,000 shoppers in search of the holiday spirit on November 15-18. Browse holiday decor, women’s clothing and accessories, home accents, children’s clothing and toys, food items, and more. All proceeds from ticket sales, merchant booth fees, and donations are donated to vetted local charities.

FORT WORTH: Lone Star Film Festival
Since its founding 16 years ago by local film advocates and legendary actor and Fort Worth native Bill Paxton, the Lone Star Film Society has provided film education programs for hundreds of students interested in filmmaking in the Fort Worth area. The festival itself has grown into a premier destination for filmmakers, producers, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts, with the honor of being ranked a “Top 50 Film Festival” by MovieMaker Magazine. Catch it November 2-5.

HOUSTON: Nutcracker Market
The 43rd annual Nutcracker Market will host more than 270 merchants from across the country — including more than 30 new merchants — showcasing a curated collection of unique holiday items, gourmet food, apparel, jewelry, accessories, home decor, gifts, toys, and more. Go shopping November 9-12 at NRG Park.

SAN ANTONIO: Cirque du Soleil Bazzar
Cirque du Soleil’s first return to San Antonio since 2006, and the first time the city will welcome a Big Top show, Bazzar is a dazzling homage to the Cirque du Soleil legacy that highlights its awe-inspiring acrobatic displays, adroit dancers, and talented musicians. Inspired by a traditional Middle Eastern bazaar, the production captures the bustling kinetic environment of the centuries-old, open-air market setting through its ensemble of diverse characters. It runs November 5-December 3 at Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium.

December

AUSTIN: Trail of Lights
What began as a small gathering in 1965 known as the Yule Fest, a gift to the city of Austin from Austin Parks and Recreation Department, has now grown into a community wide celebration of the unique spirit and people of Austin. In the 59 years since the first Yule Log was lit, the Trail now features more than 2 million lights illuminating the park, 96 lighted holiday trees, and more than 70 other holiday displays and lighted tunnels. You can visit December 8-23.

DALLAS: BMW Dallas Marathon
The annual event, held this year December 8-10, features a half-marathon (running and, new this year, walking), 50K ultra marathon, five-person marathon relay, and two-person half-marathon relay. There is also a 10K, 5K (running and walking), 5K team challenge, kids' 100-yard dash, and Oncor Kid’s Race on the following day, and return of the Friday Night Lights Mile. The weekend's events directly benefit Scottish Rite for Children. Since being named as the primary beneficiary in 1997, the Dallas Marathon Festival has donated more than $4 million to the organization.

FORT WORTH: Lightscape at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens
Lightscape returns for its second year with 80 percent newly designed displays. Visitors will walk a one-mile-long path with suspended strands and tunnels of light, see a fire garden, undulating wave of bluebonnets, singing trees, treetop sculptures, and artistic installations, all while toasting marshmallows and drinking hot chocolate and other seasonal drinks at stations along the trail. It opens November 17 and runs through January 1, 2024.

HOUSTON: Moody Gardens Ice Land
Part of Holiday in the Gardens, Ice Land lets visitors experience the vibrancy of rainforests with the monkeys, birds, butterflies, and orchid, as Christmas-decked leaf-cutter ants lead you through a magical world intricately carved from ice. Go down the giant ice slide that transports guests from the canopy to the forest floor, past ancient ruins, and along river edges. There is even an opportunity to enjoy Shivers Ice Bar, featuring festive holiday spirits inside this ultra-cool bar made completely out of ice. Visit November 18-January 16, 2024.

SAN ANTONIO: Alamo Bowl
The 2023 Valero Alamo Bowl will be played at the 65,000-seat Alamodome and broadcast on ESPN on December 28, kicking off at 8:15 pm. Last year, the Valero Alamo Bowl and its partners awarded more than $1.2 million split between students representing every participating San Antonio-area high school and four-year university — a record-setting number.

---

No matter where your next adventure takes you, a Hilton hotel is waiting for you.

With over 550 Hilton hotels spanning across the state of Texas, the possibilities to earn more while exploring the Lone Star State are endless.

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios

Kenneth Branagh scores a scary story in A Haunting in Venice

Movie Review

For the last six years, actor/director Kenneth Branagh has been trying to breathe new cinematic life into old Agatha Christie stories. However, he failed miserably in his first two attempts, Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile, serving up stories that were never mysterious in the slightest. And yet, he’s back for a third try with A Haunting in Venice.

Very loosely based on Christie’s book Hallowe’en Party, the film finds Hercule Poirot (Branagh) living in contented retirement in Venice, Italy. An old friend, mystery novelist Ariadne Oliver (Tina Fey), convinces him to attend a Halloween party where the hostess, Rowena Drake (Kelly Reilly), is set to hold a séance led by Mrs. Reynolds (Michelle Yeoh) to get in touch with Drake's daughter, who died by suicide.

Oliver is hoping Poirot will expose Reynolds as a fake, but a series of eerie incidents followed closely by the death of one of the party attendees brings Poirot back into full detective mode. Poirot and Oliver systematically interview the surviving members of the party while trying not to get freaked out by a variety of scary things happening around the house.

Teaming up again with screenwriter Michael Green (who wrote the previous two films) , Branagh has finally figured out the formula for making an effective Christie adaptation. Strangely, though, it involved getting rid of 90 percent of the original Christie story. While the names of a few of the characters remain the same, the setting and almost the entire plot have been changed from the 1969 book, freeing the filmmakers up to not have to remain faithful to anything Christie wrote.

This turns out to be a good thing, as the film has a solid unnerving tone, even if true mystery still escapes Branagh. The story takes place in a driving thunderstorm, which, combined with the events inside the house, imparts a feeling of constant impending doom. As it’s set at Halloween, the film also offers up a few jump scare attempts. Branagh tries a little too hard in this aspect, but it still aids the overall feeling of the film.

The film takes place mostly in one location, but Branagh and cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos up the claustrophobic factor by using close-up shots liberally. There’s also a good deal of humor, aided greatly by the presence of Fey, who knows how to deliver a cutting line. The ultimate solution to the central mystery leaves a little to be desired, but because almost everyone is a suspect, it’s difficult for anything to be a shock.

Branagh plays Poirot with aplomb for a third time; even if you question his accent, he still knows how to hold the attention of the audience. Fey and Yeoh are welcome additions, as is Ricardo Scarmarcio as Poirot’s bodyguard. Branagh rewarded two of his Belfast actors, Jamie Dornan and Jude Hill, with parts, with Hill once again overshadowing some of the adults.

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios

Kenneth Branagh in A Haunting in Venice.

While not quite enough to say that Branagh should keep making Christie adaptations, A Haunting in Venice is a vast improvement over the last two films. With solid acting and a story that doesn’t strictly follow a pre-determined outcome, it’s a surprisingly pleasurable experience.

---

A Haunting in Venice opens in theaters on September 15.

Photo by Yannis Drakoulidis / Focus Features

Third time's not the charm for My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3

Movie Review

Keeping a franchise going in Hollywood is dependent on a lot of factors, but prime among them is a studio’s willingness to pay for it and an audience’s interest in seeing more of it. My Big Fat Greek Wedding was the surprise hit of 2002, earning over $368 million worldwide and even a screenwriting Oscar nomination for writer/star Nia Vardalos.

Vardalos immediately turned that success into a CBS sitcom, My Big Fat Greek Life, in 2003 … which lasted seven episodes. Thirteen years later, she tried to resurrect the franchise with 2016’s My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 … and was met with a resounding yawn from both critics and moviegoers. And yet, she’s somehow convinced the right people that an audience exists for My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3.

For the first time in the franchise, the title doesn’t refer to just the family of Toula (Vardalos), but also the location, as she, her husband Lan (John Corbett), her brother Nick (Louis Mandylor), her daughter Paris (Elena Kampouris), and more have returned to the Greek hometown of the family patriarch for a “reunion.” Except, for most of the film, it’s just them, the town’s mayor, Victory (Melina Kotselou), and a few others.

There is no real plot to speak of from writer/director Vardalos, as it’s just an excuse to string together a bunch of supposedly humorous gags about the unwelcoming nature of one local woman, the boorish personality of Nick, a will they/won’t they with Paris and ex-boyfriend Aristotle (Elias Kacavas), and more. That would be all well and good if the film had any kind of comic timing or charm. Which it doesn’t. Zero.

In fact, the first 30 minutes of the film are shocking in how inept the filmmaking is, with it turning into the equivalent of watching dead air on radio. None of the jokes land, shots are held on characters for unknown strange reasons, and the music sometimes drops out altogether, making the scenes very awkward.

Once they arrive in Greece, there are at least the visuals of the countryside to distract, but Vardalos manages to botch even that. Very few of the scenes take place in objectively picturesque locations, and even those that do don’t take full advantage of the views. Why you would travel all the way to Greece to not make it a love letter to that country is strange indeed.

You would also think that being in Greece would result in fun performances, but almost none of the actors seem like they’re having a good time. The lone exception is Andrea Martin as Aunt Voula, who absolutely slays with her criminally-small amount of screentime. Vardalos has also saddled Toula’s mother, Maria (Lainie Kazan), with dementia, a choice that does neither the actor nor the film any favors.

Much like Adam Sandler setting many of his movies in exotic locations, it feels like Vardalos only made My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 as a way to get her and her cast to Greece. The film itself is a hodgepodge of scenes with little humor or emotion, making it a waste of 90 minutes for anyone unlucky enough to sit through it.

---

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 is now playing in theaters.

Photo by Yannis Drakoulidis / Focus Features

Nia Vardalos and John Corbett in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3.

Photo by Sean Gleason / courtesy of Bleecker Street and Shiv Hans Pictures

Golda lacks compelling drama despite Helen Mirren's performance as Israeli prime minister

Movie Review

Historical biopics can be tricky to pull off, as filmmakers have to make them accurate enough to be believable but entertaining enough for moviegoers to sit through what is essentially a history lesson. And when telling a story about relatively niche person or time, the assignment can that much more difficult.

That’s the issue facing Golda, which chronicles a month in the life of former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir (Helen Mirren) as she did her best to handle the fallout of the Yom Kippur War in 1973. The war, started by a coalition of Arab States led by Egypt and Syria, came 25 years after the creation of Israel, and – as continues in many respects to this day – was about land that Israel had claimed as its own.

The film is firmly on the side of Israel, as it only tells the story from the perspective of Meir and other Israeli government and military officials. Meir deals with a lot during that period, including a lack of respect from the mostly-male government (she’s referred to as a “caretaker prime minister”), mounting casualties from the war, and her own ill health, exacerbated by her heavy smoking.

Directed by Guy Nattiv and written by Nicholas Martin, the film starts with flashes of news about Israel’s creation and its various wars in the mid-20^th century, setting the scene for non-history buffs. The film – and Meir's assistant, Lou Kaddar (Camille Cottin) – rarely leave her side, following her through her official duties, inside a hospital for cancer treatments, and even into her bedroom as she agonizes over the war and the losses Israel is sustaining.

The filmmakers do their best to impart the historical significance of the war itself and how it affected the higher-ups who oversaw it, but there’s something missing from the drama. Perhaps it’s because the war is only “seen” through distraught radio calls from the front lines and grainy video footage, but seeing Meir and others react to the seemingly non-stop barrage of bad news isn’t as compelling as the filmmakers seem to think it is.

There is also the relevant impact of the people playing real figures. Mirren wears heavy makeup to look like Meir, including a bigger nose, jowls, and wrinkles, but the fact that she herself is not Jewish has become a point of contention. Liev Schreiber, who plays U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, is Jewish, but, at 6’ 3”, he towers over the relatively small Kissinger. The film mixes in real footage of Meir and Kissinger, so it’s all too easy to compare and contrast how well each actor favors their real counterpart.

Mirren is, of course, a phenomenal Oscar-winning actor, so her performance is the most interesting part of the film. Though the scenes she’s called upon to play sometimes turn maudlin, she tends to rise above that, still making an emotional impact. Schreiber only has a few scenes, but his presence is welcome. Cottin, whose profile has been growing in recent years, puts in another nice role.

You probably have to have more than a passing interest in Israeli history to fully understand everything going on in Golda. Meir was – and remains – Israel’s only female prime minister, and even though the film is intensely focused on her, she is still a bit of an enigma by the time it’s finished.

---

Golda is now playing in theaters.

Photo by Sean Gleason / courtesy of Bleecker Street and Shiv Hans Pictures

Helen Mirren in Golda.

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.

Restaurant bullish on burgers and bourbon cocktails comes to Grapevine

Burger News

A better burger concept from South Carolina is taking a crack at Texas: Bohemian Bull, a small chain founded in Charleston in 2013, has opened its first Texas location in Grapevine, featuring burgers and a full bar with 24 craft beer taps.

The restaurant is located at 1112 W. Northwest Hwy., just west of historic downtown Grapevine in the former BoBo China space, where they're doing burgers made with house-ground brisket and chuck, and cocktails featuring small-batch bourbon.

Husband-and-wife Dennis Johnson and Sonja Singer left corporate jobs in government and HR to bring the concept to Texas.

“We are not just another burger place,” Singer says. “We serve freshly prepared meals with ingredients prepared by our staff in-house including a vast selection of toppings, sides, and combinations that leave lots of room for customization."

Six burger options include a bacon cheeseburger, a blackened burger with blue cheese, a veggie with black bean, and a build-your-own with sauces such as beer cheese, Mexican crema, and sausage gravy.

Beyond the burgers, the menu runs deep with Southern influences, an ode to its Charleston roots. Think fried green tomatoes, bacon jam, pimento cheese deviled eggs, and fried okra.

There are wings and chicken tenders, salads, sandwiches, and wraps. Entrees range from fish & chips to steak frites with tenderloin and garlic herb fries.

Desserts include strawberry shortcake, a brownie sundae, and doughnut holes with vanilla ice cream.

Bohemian Bull is big on bourbon with half a dozen small-batch bourbon cocktails including a single barrel mint julep and "Mom's Juice," a bourbon twist on a mule with Makers Mark, ginger beer, mint syrup, and lime, also available in a frozen option. Other notable specialty cocktails include strawberry frosé and a Key lime margarita tinted with butterfly pea powder and featuring a graham cracker crumb rim.

On Wednesdays, burgers are half price, and tacos are a special feature on Tuesdays. Among the many updates that have been made to the space: a rainbow-colored bull mural, a longhorn skull at the entrance, and a 1,600 square-foot crushed granite-covered patio with festive string lights and umbrella-topped picnic tables; dogs are welcome.

These are the 14 best things to do in Fort Worth this weekend

Weekend Event Planner

This weekend marks the beginning of fall, even if the temperatures don't yet reflect the seasonal change. With it this year in and around Fort Worth comes a music superstar, fall holiday events, dance productions, a cabaret show, NASCAR races, multiple other concerts, and more.

Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, September 21

Fort Worth Oktoberfest
Fort Worth Oktoberfest is a three-day celebration of German culture with the best in Bavarian entertainment. Guests can drink das bier, eat das sausage, and polka till they drop. This year’s lineup includes Alex Meixner Band, Das Ist Lustig, Alpenmusikanten, Walburg Boys and the Happy Hour Oktoberfestband. There will also be a midway with carnival rides and games. The festival takes place through Saturday at Trinity Park.

Haunted houses/Halloween events
Halloween is over a month a way, but you can get in the spirit now by going to one of a couple of haunted houses/Halloween events now open near Fort Worth. They include Pumpkin Nights at Howell Farms in Arlington, featuring over 5,000 hand-carved real and artificial pumpkins; and Fright Fest at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, featuring seven different haunted houses, a variety of scare zones with zombies, witches, and more, and chilling rides in the dark. Both are open through at least October 30, with more haunts opening next week.

Authentic Flamenco presents Amador Rojas
Teatro Real - The Royal Opera of Madrid and Fever have teamed up to present Authentic Flamenco, a traditional flamenco dance show. The live presentation features award-winning Spanish artists Amador Rojas and Ángeles Gabaldón as dancers, Paco Iglesias on guitar, Diego Amador and Tomasa Peña as singers, and Luis Amador on percussion. There will be two performances on Thursday at Downtown Cowtown at the Isis.

Fort Worth Dance Festival
The mission of Fort Worth Dance Festival is to preserve and promote dance in the city of Fort Worth. The festival will gather various area dance institutions, ranging from dance professionals, artists, choreographers, students, teachers, studio owners, artistic directors, dance clothing stores, and others to share ideas, experiences, technique, and artistic voices. The festival takes place through Saturday at I.M. Terrell Academy.

The Cliburn presents Anna Geniushene
Anna Geniushene’s fresh, layered, and powerful interpretations defined her participation at the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition - and won her the coveted silver medal and the adoration of fans around the globe. Her inaugural season as a Cliburn winner included recital appearances in the United States, Japan, China, and Lithuania. She'll perform on both Thursday and Friday at Kimbell Art Museum.

Casa Mañana presents Vintage Pop!: From The 1920s to the 1980s with Carole J. Bufford
Vintage Pop travels by decade, from the 1920s to the 1980s, exploring how the style and sound of pop music developed over the years. The show will highlight Carole J. Bufford's inimitable style, stories behind the music, and songs by Judy Garland, Sophie Tucker, Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Sting, Tina Turner, Prince, and more. The show will play in the Reid Cabaret Theatre at Casa Mañana through September 30.

Beyoncé in concert
It's taken a long time, but R&B/pop superstar Beyoncé has finally arrived in Arlington in one of the last stops on her Renaissance World Tour. The tour, which is in support of her 2022 album, Renaissance, has been met with rapturous reviews at every stop, featuring a variety of big special guests and the production value that only Queen Bey can deliver. If you're lucky enough to have a ticket, you can see her perform at AT&T Stadium.

Friday, September 22

Southall in concert
Southall - formerly The Read Southall Band - formed out of the local songwriting scene in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 2015 following the success of Read Southall's debut solo album, Six String Sorrow. The country band has released three albums in their short career, most recently 2021's For the Birds. They'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History presents "Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit"
The new exhibition "Very Eric Carle" highlights a journey into the imaginative world of the renowned author and illustrator. Inspired by his quintet of "very" books, including the beloved classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the play-and-learn exhibition is all about friendship, creativity, and the power of imagination. Visitors can step into a kaleidoscope of colors, textures, and shapes, where the boundaries between art and nature blur. The exhibition will be on display at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History through January 7, 2024.

NASCAR Weekend at Texas Motor Speedway
With the NASCAR season in its final stretch, Texas Motor Speedway will play host to two major races with playoff implications. On Saturday will be the Andy's Frozen Custard 300, which kicks off the Xfinity Series Playoffs. That will be followed on Sunday by the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400, in which the top 12 drivers left in the Cup Series compete on the 1.5 mile speedway, including point leaders William Byron and Martin Truex Jr.

Saturday, September 23

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents FLY Dance Company: Breakin’ Classical
FLY is what happens when street dance and classical music meet, but that’s not all. Based in Houston, FLY is pure fun - youthful energy, risk-taking movement, and clever choreography set to a mix of surprising musical selections. FLY has been spreading their infectious “theatrical hip hop” around the world since 1992. They'll perform with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra at Will Rogers Auditorium.

Daughtry in concert
For a fourth-place finisher on American Idol, Chris Daughtry sure has made the most of his opportunity. He's one of only a handful of contestants to become an unqualified success after the show, as he and his band have racked up multiple No. 1 songs and albums. With six albums in their career, most recently 2021's Dearly Beloved, they'll play at Arlington Music Hall.

Sunday, September 24

BoDeans in concert
Rock band BoDeans is entering its fifth decade, having formed in Wisconsin in 1983. Although they've released 14 albums throughout the career, most recently 2022's 4 The Last Time, they're best known for their 1993 song, "Closer to Free," which served as the theme song to the TV family drama series, Party of Five. They'll play at Tannahill's Tavern & Music Hall.

Christian Nodal in concert
It's still early in Mexican singer Christian Nodal's career, but he's already set an enviable pace. Each of his three albums, most recently 2020's Ayayay!, have gone to No. 1 on Billboard's Regional Mexican Albums charts, as well as the top 10 Billboard Latin charts. And pretty much every single he puts out, including two off his new EP, Forajido 2, make the top 10 on the Mexican charts. He'll play at Dickies Arena.

$Beyonc\u00e9 Renaissance album cover$

Photo courtesy of Beyoncé

Beyoncé will perform at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on September 21.

View All Listings