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Photo by Amitava Sarkar

This weekend across Fort Worth features a nice mixture of big and small events. On the larger side are a golf showcase, a dance production, shopping for funky items, and a St. Patrick's Day celebration. More intimate will be a local theater production, a trio of concerts, an opera competition, shows by a traveling comedian, and a symphony concert.

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.

Friday, March 17

11th Annual DFW Golf Show
The DFW Golf Show is a three-day event that will feature dozens of vendors, interactive games, golf fittings, and entertainment for the whole family. Visitors will be able to see World Long Drive Champion and former UNT golfer Kyle Berkshire, US Women’s Open champion and Dallas-Fort Worth local Brittany Lang, golf comedy group Country Club Adjacent, and more. The event takes place through Sunday at Esports Stadium Arlington.

Jubilee Theatre presents Bread N’ Gravy: The Songs and Life of Ethel Waters
Bread N’ Gravy: The Songs and Life of Ethel Waters is a staged reading performed in collaboration with Jubilee Theatre and The Modern Museum of Fort Worth. The play, written by Frank Cullen and Donald McNeilly, tells the story of American singer Ethel Waters and her many contributions to jazz and blues genres. Along the way, audiences will learn more about Waters’ life through song and performance theater. There will be four performances through Sunday at the Modern.

Ben Rector in concert
Singer-songwriter Ben Rector has been releasing music since 2007, and had a nice run in the mid-2010s with a trio of albums charting high on the Billboard 200 and Folk charts. The pandemic might have slowed his progress a bit, as 2022's The Joy of Music is his first album of new songs in four years. He'll play at Will Rogers Auditorium as part of his Old Friends Acoustic Tour, joined by Stephen Day and Jordy Searcy.

Texas Ballet Theater presents "Modern Masterpieces"
Texas Ballet Theater presents "Modern Masterpieces," featuring three different pieces. In Bartok, playful motifs and intriguing backdrops set the stage for a ravishing neoclassical ballet. In Image, the arc of Marilyn Monroe’s tragic life, from Hollywood ingénue to iconic starlet, is captured in this one-woman performance. Imbue is modern and minimalistic, a dramatic piece that celebrates human growth and transformation. There will be four performances through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.

Cody Canada & The Departed in concert
The music of Cody Canada & The Departed blurs the lines between hard-edged country, rock & roll, and all the gritty sounds in between. The band has released four albums in their career, most recently 2022's Soul Gravy 2022. They'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.

Saturday, March 18

The 15th Annual Funky Finds Spring Fling
The 15th Annual Funky Finds Spring Fling features the sweetest batch of handmade and vintage items, showcasing the funkiest finds in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The event also will include a charitable raffle and other fundraising, which will benefit child advocates CASA of Tarrant County and Saving Hope Animal Rescue. The event takes place on Saturday and Sunday at Will Rogers Memorial Center.

Fort Worth Stockyards presents Cowtown Goes Green
Fort Worth's largest and most family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day celebration will feature an entire day of Irish-Western fun in the Fort Worth Stockyards. The event includes festive food & drink, live music, armadillo races, lawn games, pony rides, Old West gunfight shows, cloggers & dance troops, cattle drives, a special matinee Stockyards Championship Rodeo at 1:30 pm, and an Irish-Western parade at 4 pm.

Fort Worth Opera presents The McCammon Voice Competition
After a five-year hiatus, the Fort Worth Opera will present the return of The McCammon Voice Competition. Over 500 hopeful singers have applied to the competition, which seeks to foster the talent of young opera singers. Ten gifted finalists will perform for judges and the audience at W. E. Scott Theatre at Arts Fort Worth.

John Crist: The Emotional Support Tour
John Crist is a fast-rising stand-up comedian who's widely known for viral videos like Honest Football Coach, Every Parent at Disney, Brands that need to be Cancelled, and more, although Crist would still tell you that his live show is better than any of his videos. He'll perform twice on Saturday at Will Rogers Auditorium.

Mark Chesnutt in concert with Casey Chesnutt
It will be a family affair at Billy Bob's Texas on Saturday as longtime country star Mark Chesnutt headlines, with his son Casey serving as the opening act. Mark was among the wave of male country vocalists who rose to fame in the early 1990s, scoring eight No. 1 hits in as many years, including "Brother Jukebox," "I'll Think of Something," and "It's a Little Too Late." Casey is just getting started, having released two EPs, most recently 2021's Down Mexico Way.

Sunday, March 19

Texas Ballet Theater presents Modern Masterpieces
Photo by Amitava Sarkar

Texas Ballet Theater presents "Modern Masterpieces" at Bass Performance Hall, March 17-19.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents "From Despair to Hope: Messiaen and Mozart"
Messiaen wrote the first sketches Quatuor pour la fin du temps ("Quartet for the End of Time") as a prisoner in Germany during World War II for himself and fellow musician prisoners, who premiered the work at the camp. Pianist Robert Spano and musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will bring to life the anguished voices of the birds of Messiaen's best-known work as well as Brahms' transformative Trio in E-flat Major for Piano, Violin and Horn. The concert will be at Kimbell Art Museum.

Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Opera

Fort Worth Opera presents The McCammon Voice Competition

The Fort Worth Opera presents The McCammon Voice Competition, which returns after a five-year hiatus. Over 500 hopeful singers have applied to the competition, which seeks to foster the talent of young opera singers. Ten gifted finalists will perform for judges and the audience.

Photo by Jacob Oderberg

These are the 15 best things to do in Fort Worth this weekend

Weekend Event Planner

There is so much going on around Fort Worth this weekend that it will be tough to make a choice. Will it be one of four new theater productions, including a national tour? How about one of five different concerts, ranging from classical to country? A new art exhibition? A celebration of Black opera performers? A heartbreaking movie about a donkey? All those and more are among the options from which you can choose.

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, February 9

Theatre Arlington presents Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Photo by Jacob Oderberg

Theatre Arlington presents Gypsy: A Musical Fable, February 10-March 5.

The Cliburn presents J'Nai Bridges
J'Nai Bridges comes to Fort Worth fresh off a 2022 Grammy win for her recording of Philip Glass’ Akhnaten with the Metropolitan Opera. Bridges has graced the world’s top stages in repertoire ranging from traditional favorites to world premieres to spirituals and standards. The Thursday performance will be at Kimbell Art Museum, and the Friday performance will be at The Post at River East.

Broadway at the Bass presents Pretty Woman: The Musical
Based on one of Hollywood’s most beloved romantic stories of all time, Pretty Woman: The Musical springs to life with a powerhouse creative team led by two-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell. The production, featuring an original score by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance and a book by the movie’s director, Garry Marshall, and screenwriter, J. F. Lawton, runs through February 12 at Bass Performance Hall.

Casa Mañana presents Unchain My Heart: The Music of Ray Charles
Often called the “Genius,” Ray Charles pioneered the genre of soul music during the 1950s, combining blues, gospel, R&B, rock, country music, and jazz to create groundbreaking hits such as “Unchain My Heart,” “I’ve Got a Woman,” and “What I’d Say.” The cabaret production will feature singers Matt Manuel, Trisha Jeffrey, and Winston Daniels. There will be 10 performances through February 18 in the Reid Cabaret Theatre at Casa Mañana Theatre.

Hyena's presents Pauly Shore
Pauly Shore tasted stardom in the 1990s thanks to his MTV show Totally Pauly, as well as starring roles in films like Jury Duty, In the Army Now, Bio-Dome, Encino Man, Son In Law, and A Goofy Movie. Apart from actively touring the country with his stand-up comedy, Pauly is working on a documentary of his life that spans the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. He'll perform once on Thursday and twice on Saturday at Hyena's in Fort Worth.

Friday, February 10

Magnolia at the Modern: EO
EO, a gray donkey with melancholic eyes and a curious spirit, begins his life as a circus performer before escaping on a trek across the Polish and Italian countryside in a journey marked by absurdity and warmth in equal measure. Legendary filmmaker Jerzy Skolimowski directs one of his most free and visually inventive films yet, placing the viewer directly in the heart and mind of the four-legged protagonist. The film will screen seven times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Theatre Arlington presents Gypsy: A Musical Fable
Gypsy is the ultimate tale of an ambitious stage mother fighting for her daughters’ success – while secretly yearning for her own. Set all across America in the 1920s and '30s, when vaudeville was dying and burlesque was born, Arthur Laurents’ landmark show explores the world of two-bit show business with brass, humor, heart, and sophistication. The production runs through March 5 at Theatre Arlington.

Stolen Shakespeare Festival: A Midsummer Night's Dream
Stolen Shakespeare Guild will presents the comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream as part of their annual Stolen Shakespeare Festival. When two pairs of star-crossed lovers, a troop of inept amateur actors, a feuding pair of supernatural sprites, and a love potion gone awry all come together in an enchanted moonlit forest, the result is an unequalled mixture of entertainment and enchantment. The play, running in repertory with The Winter's Tale (which starts on February 17), will run through March 5 at Arts Fort Worth.

Amphibian Stage presents Spaceman
Spaceman is a full-sensory, surround-sound expedition into outer space thatfollows Molly Jennis’ solo mission to Mars after her husband’s failed, tragic attempt at the same journey. The production, the first since the world premiere at New York City’s Loading Dock Theatre in 2019, will run through March 5 at Amphibian Stage.

Ashley McBryde in concert
Country singer Ashley McBryde's first album in 2018 was called A Girl Going Nowhere, but she's quickly proven that title wrong, as her first two albums reached the top 10 on the Billboard Country charts. She's won a handful of awards from the various country music organizations, and just took home a Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "Never Wanted to Be That Girl," her duet with Carly Pearce. She'll play at Billy Bob's Texas in support of her 2022 album, Lindeville.

Saturday, February 11

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents "An Evening of Brahms"
This one-night-only special concert at Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU will be conducted by newly-appointed principal guest conductor Kevin John Edusei. It will also feature violinist Michael Shih and cellist Allan Steele. Selections will include Brahms' Academic Festival Overture and Concerto for Violin and Cello.

The Mavericks in concert
For more than 30 years, The Mavericks have made their own way in the music industry, along the way becoming masters of country-Latin rock’n’roll. The band, born in the rich cultural mix of Miami, found their biggest success during their Nashville days in the 1990s, with hits like "O What a Thrill" and "Here Comes the Rain." Their most recent album was 2020's En Español. They'll play at Tannahill's Tavern & Music Hall.

Wade Bowen in concert
Texas country/Red Dirt singer Wade Bowen has slowly but surely been making his way up in the industry, scoring three top 10 albums in recent years. He's recently collaborated with Randy Rogers on three separate albums, including 2020's Hold My Beer, Vol. 2. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas in support of his new album, Somewhere Between the Secret and the Truth.

Sunday, February 12

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth presents "I'll Be Your Mirror: Art and the Digital Screen"
The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth presents the landmark "I’ll Be Your Mirror: Art and the Digital Screen," a thematic group exhibition that examines the screen’s vast impact on art from 1969 to the present. This exhibition surveys more than 60 works by 50 artists over the past five decades. The artists included examine screen culture through a broad range of media such as paintings, sculpture, video games, digital art, augmented reality, and video. The exhibition will remain on display through April 30.

Fort Worth Opera presents "A Night of Black Excellence"
Fort Worth Opera will continue its annual celebration of Black History Month with "A Night of Black Excellence: Songs of a Native Son." This year’s event will feature performances from singers John Holiday, Donnie Ray Albert, Naguanda Nobles, and Tesia Kwarteng, joined by the ANOBE Ensemble, Dr. Clark Joseph, Monya Davis Logan, Lesio Littlejohn and Cassidy Robinson, along with poet Leslie N. Polk, the Cosmopolitan Dance Troupe, members of the Hattie Mae Lesley Resident and Studio Artists, and more. The event will be at I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM and VPA.

Harlem Globetrotters World Tour
The Harlem Globetrotters 2023 World Tour will feature favorite Globetrotter stars, showcasing their amazing basketball skill, outrageous athleticism, and a non-stop LOL good time. The Globetrotters will go head-to-head against the Washington Generals, who will stop at nothing to try and defeat the world’s winningest team. The event will be at Dickies Arena.

Photo courtesy of John Holiday

Fort Worth Opera presents A Night of Black Excellence

Fort Worth Opera will continue its annual celebration of Black History Month with A Night of Black Excellence: Songs of a Native Son. This year’s live performances, curated by General and Artistic Director Afton Battle and Music Director Alfrelynn Roberts, will feature performances from singers John Holiday, Donnie Ray Albert, Naguanda Nobles, and Tesia Kwarteng.

They will be joined by the ANOBE Ensemble, Dr. Clark Joseph, Monya Davis Logan, Lesio Littlejohn and Cassidy Robinson, along with poet Leslie N. Polk, the Cosmopolitan Dance Troupe, members of the Hattie Mae Lesley Resident and Studio Artists, and more.

This year’s event will honor Commissioner Roy C. Brooks for his years of service to Tarrant Country and Fort Worth.

Photo by TayStan Photography

These are the 13 best things to do in Fort Worth this weekend

Weekend event planner

Welcome to February, when the ice always seems to come to town. This week's storm has already wreaked havoc with early week events, and it's possible weekend events - of which there are many - will be affected as well. For now, the ones listed are still scheduled to take place, but check with the event organizer or venue before heading out to be sure.

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, February 2

Final days of Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo
It may be cold and icy outside, but the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo goes on through Saturday. Some outdoor events like the carnival may be canceled on Thursday and Friday due to the frigid weather, but it'll be nice and cozy inside Dickies Arena for the final three days of the rodeo. There will also be two more concerts in the Auditorium Concert series - keep reading for details.

Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo's Auditorium Concert Series: John Anderson with Bryan White
The final two concerts of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo's Auditorium Concert Series will start with country singer John Anderson with special guest Bryan White. Anderson, whose most recent album was 2020's Years, celebrated the 40th anniversary of his iconic hit “Swingin'” in 2022. White, best known for No. 1 hits like "Someone Else's Star" and "Rebecca Lynn," has released five albums in his career, most recently 2009's Dustbowl Dreams.

Circle Theatre presents Lonesome Blues
Lonesome Blues is the celebration of the legendary local bluesman Blind Lemon Jefferson. Born blind, but ultimately able to express his deepest emotions through music, Jefferson was discovered on a street corner in the Deep Ellum section of Dallas in 1925. He made more than 80 records over the next four years, becoming one of the most prolific and influential performers of his generation and propelling the growth of rhythm and blues, soul, doo-wop, rap, and hip-hop. The production runs through February 11 at Circle Theatre.

Ryan Bingham in concert
Americana/roots rock musician (and Yellowstone star) Ryan Bingham is one of those artists whose popularity is belied by his chart performance. He has released seven albums in his career, most recently 2019's American Love Song, with only a couple reaching the top 10 on the Country charts. His biggest success has been winning an Oscar for his song "The Weary Kind" from the 2009 film Crazy Heart. Winner of the Stephen Bruton Award at the 2022 Lone Star Film Festival Gala, Bingham returns to Fort Worth to play two shows at Billy Bob's Texas on Thursday and Friday. Both are sold out, so scour the resale market if you want in.

Friday, February 3

Magnolia at the Modern: All the Beauty and the Bloodshed
Movie lovers wanting to be completists for the upcoming Oscars will want to see Best Documentary nominee All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Laura Poitrasis. It is an epic, emotional, and interconnected story about internationally renowned artist and activist Nan Goldin told through her slideshows, intimate interviews, ground-breaking photography, and rare footage of her personal fight to hold the Sackler family accountable for the overdose crisis. There will be six screenings through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

TCU Opera Series: Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)
While the next Fort Worth Opera production won't come until Aida in April, opera lovers can get a temporary fix by taking in this performance of Mozart's The Magic Flute from The School of Music for the TCU Opera and TCU Symphony Orchestra. The performance of the classic opera will take place in Ed Landreth Auditorium on the TCU campus.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents "Twist & Shout: The Music of the Beatles"
"Twist & Shout" celebrates The Beatles in America, beginning with their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964, and following their journey through the U.S., including highlights from their Shea Stadium and Hollywood Bowl appearances that brought Beatlemania and the British invasion into the hearts of Americans everywhere. Conducted by Bryon Stripling, the concert will have three performances through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.

Jubilee Theatre presents Moon Man Walk
Upon hearing about the sudden death of his mother, Spencer returns to his home in Philadelphia to plan her funeral. Along the way Spencer falls in love, discovers the truth about his absent father, and learns that his past is also the making of his present. This magical journey through space and time takes audiences literally from Philadelphia to the moon and back. The production runs through February 26 at Jubilee Theatre.

Saturday, February 4

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents Family Series: "Heroes at the Symphony"
This family-friendly concert from the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will celebrate the most memorable musical themes of heroes and heroines, from Beethoven to Superman. Attendees will hear all their favorites from blockbusters like Harry Potter, Wonder Woman, The Incredibles, The Avengers, Star Wars, and more. The concert will be at Bass Performance Hall.

Casa Mañana presents Charlotte's Web
In Charlotte's Web, Charlotte the spider, who proves to be “a true friend and a good writer,” is determined to save Wilbur the pig. She begins her campaign with the “miracle” of her web in which she writes, “Some pig.” It’s the beginning of a victorious campaign which ultimately ends with the now-safe Wilbur doing what is most important to Charlotte. The all-ages production will run through February 19 at Casa Mañana Theatre.

Kody West in concert
Country singer Kody West is one of the latest in a long line of musicians to come out of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Hailing originally from Denton, he gained a loyal following with his 2017 debut album, Green, which led to him serving as the supporting act for artists like Charlie Robison, Whiskey Myers, and Koe Wetzel. He'll play at Tannahill's Tavern & Music Hall in support of his new album, Circles.

Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo Auditorium Concert Series: Shane Smith & The Saints
The final event of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo will be this concert by Shane Smith & The Saints from the Auditorium Concert Series at Will Rogers Memorial Center. The Austin-based band can be considered veterans, having released their first album 10 years ago. They've become a mainstay on the Texas circuit, playing at a wide variety of local venues and festivals (and recently appearing on Yellowstone). Their most recent album was 2021's Live from the Desert.

Casey Donahew in concert
Country singer Casey Donahew had a nice run of success on the national country music scene, charting four straight albums in the top 10 on the Billboard Country charts in the 2010s, including the No. 3 All Night Party. He comes back to town in support of his 2022 album, Built Different. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.

Circle Theatre presents Lonesome Blues
Photo by TayStan Photography

Circle Theatre presents Lonesome Blues through February 11.

Photo courtesy of TCU Opera

TCU Opera Series: Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)

The School of Music for the TCU Opera and TCU Symphony Orchestra will present a performance of WA Mozart's The Magic Flute.

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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.

Best restaurants for lunch top this week's 5 hottest Fort Worth headlines

This week's hot headlines

Editor's note: A lot happened this week, so here's your chance to get caught up. Read on for the week's most popular headlines. Looking for the best things to do this weekend? Find that list here.

1. Where to eat in Fort Worth right now: 6 best restaurants to grab lunch. The March edition of Where to Eat, our monthly feature recommending best Fort Worth restaurants to try, centers on a meal that needs some attention: lunch. Here are six Fort Worth restaurants where you can grab a bite for lunch.

2. The top 10 neighborhood restaurants in Fort Worth offer a feeling of home. Up first in our special editorial series leading up the Tastemaker Awards, the category of Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year. These places are close and convenient to established residential neighborhoods and offer a feeling of home that keeps regulars coming back over and over again. Here are the 10 nominees for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year.

3. Where to drink in Fort Worth right now: 7 best new bars for March. A fresh batch of new bars has popped up in recent weeks, and this round is prime for spring sipping. All offer either expansive patios or picturesque interiors, and there’s plenty of space at each to spread out; so going with a group is welcomed. Live music is also a common theme with this collection of new spots.

4. 10 new ideas for a FOMO-free spring break staycation in Dallas-Fort Worth. It’s spring break time across North Texas. For families who did NOT jet off to ski the slopes or head to the beach, there’s still plenty of fun to be had in Dallas-Fort Worth. We once called this "staying home." Now it's a "staycation!" Here are 10 new ideas for fun things to do, even into the weekend.

5. 5 Texas cities make a splash as best places for family-friendly vacations. Fort Worth families looking to create lasting memories - or just really need a last-minute getaway for spring break - don’t need to look outside their state. In a new report from lawn care company Lawn Love, five Texas cities ranked high as Best Cities for Kid-Friendly Vacations.

Fort Worth's buzzy new Koe Wetzel's Riot Room pops open beer-can chicken

Koe has arrived: Koe Wetzel's Riot Room, a new Fort Worth bar and restaurant in which famed country singer-songwriter Koe Wetzel is partnered, has softly opened in the 7th Street district at 1100 Foch St., with live music and a food menu of Southern and Texas classics.

Wetzel is the Texas-born "outlaw" singer-songwriter who's been blazing a trail with albums such as his most recent release, Hell Paso, which debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200.

The new venue is an exciting collaboration put together by hospitality veteran Emil Bragdon, whose Funky Lime Hospitality Concepts portfolio includes Reservoir, The Whiskey Garden, Junk Punch, and Your Mom's House.

Their vision for the Riot Room was a venue steeped in country music culture, a high-energy country bar and restaurant with drinks and live music — and the reason we are here today, a menu of comfort food executed by chef Chad Burnett, and with creative input from Wetzel.

Burnett is a partner and VP of Culinary for Funky Lime Hospitality Concepts who oversees menu development and kitchen design. He worked with Wetzel to give the menu a country focus.

"The food is country-style cooking with a Southern backbone and Texas flair," Burnett says. "So we have cornbread, chicken-fried steak, and brisket that we smoke overnight."

Their signature dish: beer can chicken. Burnett says they put "a lot of love into it."

"We brine it overnight, then smoke them for six hours every day before service," he says. "Our smoker’s only so big, and it's first-come first-serve. You can’t call ahead and reserve."

The cornbread is a "sticky jalapeno & cheddar cornbread" and is one a handful of appetizers along with fried pickles and cheddar-stuffed jalapenos with house-made garlic ranch. Blackened chicken quesadilla and fried catfish fingers with chunky Cajun remoulade can be shared as appetizers or serve as an entree.

For their chicken-fried steak, they get the steak from 44 Farms and offer a Nashville-hot-chicken style of preparation, where it gets dipped in jalapeño oil, then doused with dried jalapeno seasoning.

Their other signature is the Trailer Park Sandwich, featuring two breakfast sausage patties smothered in cheddar cheese and served on a soft, buttery biscuit with strawberry jam.

Last but not least, the burgers.

"Our burgers are some of the best you'll find," Burnett says. "We use a smaller quarter-pound patty, so you can order it with one or two. It's on a brioche bun, nicely toasted, with garlic butter, and the burgers are cooked on a flat top, with raw onion."

Prices are low with the most expensive item topping out at $14.95 for the CFS. "We like to have scratch food prepared with a chef's touch, but offer it at a value," he says.

Wetzel also helped craft the name, which is how they arrived at "riot room."

"The definition a riot in this context is someone who's fun to be around — not with people rioting," says Emil Bragdon. "It's a place you have fun. Inside the venue, we'll have that definition of 'riot': a bunch of people who want to have a good time."