Quantcast
Photo courtesy of Fireside Pies

An artisanal pizzeria is returning to Fort Worth: Fireside Pies, which previously had a location on Crockett Row for more than a decade, is opening a new location in the Left Bank Shopping Center, at 628 Harrold St.

According to a spokesperson, the restaurant will open on March 24.

Fireside Pies was a catalyst that elevated the pizza scene in Dallas-Fort Worth when it debuted in 2004 in a funky cottage on Dallas' Henderson Avenue with pizzas boasting a puffy crust and artisanal toppings such as chunky slices of fresh tomato.

The concept was originally created by Dallas chef Nick Badovinus and his then-partner Tristan Simon and has been owned by Golden Tree, which also owns the Golden Chick chain, since 2018.

There are two other locations, in Grapevine and Dallas' Lake Highlands. The location on Crockett Row closed in early 2022.

The new Fort Worth location goes into a vibrant area that also includes Snooze an A.M. Eatery and Akarii Revolving Sushi, where it will serve Fireside Pies classics such as spinach-artichoke dip and signature pizzas such as Triple Roni, BBQ chicken, spicy sausage, and prosciutto & parm.

They also have a selection of pastas such as the simple but comforting Butter Noodles tossed in butter, Parmesan, and parsley; and pappardelle with house-made Bolognese. A separate menu for brunch includes chicken & waffles, frittatas with bacon & avocado or Mexican chorizo, and a bacon & egg pizza.

In a statement, Fireside Pies director of operations Joe Bozarth says they've been all hands on deck to get a Fort Worth location.

“We have been anticipating our return to Fort Worth for a while, but wanted to make sure when we did, it was to a spot that would truly support our brand,” Bozarth says. “Our whole team has been hands-on in the process to return to this city, and I can’t thank everyone enough for their diligence while we’ve worked on getting our doors open. We are truly excited to be getting back to serving our loyal Fort Worth customers the delicious, wood-fired pizzas they know and love.”

Chicago Deep Dish Pizza

New pizzeria in Arlington lobs Chicago-style pizza and Italian roast beef

Pizza News

A new take-out pizzeria is bringing deep dish pizza to a neighborhood in need: Called Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, it's opening at the Green Oaks Plaza in Arlington, at 4407 Little Rd. #610, where it will serve Chicago's favorite style pie as well as a few other Windy City classics.

Chicago Deep Dish is from Ashraf Ghousheh, a veteran on the Chicago-style pizza front who previously opened Chicago Pizza Las Colinas back in 2009 (which he sold last year).

"I was taking a break from the pizza business, but there's no Chicago-style pizza in this part of Dallas-Fort Worth, and I found this spot in Arlington that's close to where I live," Ghousheh says. "Pizza is what I know."

If all goes well with construction and permitting, he anticipates that this new spot will open in March or April.

His menu includes 15 specialty pies, each named for an element of Chicago culture. There's one called the Chicago Bulls with pepperoni, salami, sausage, and bacon; and another called the Great Chicago Fire with sausage, sport peppers, garlic, cilantro, and mozzarella cheese.

His pizza with Alfredo sauce, fajita chicken, red onion, bacon, and jalapeno is called the White Sox, while the John Dillinger has BBQ chicken, red onion, and smoked Gouda cheese.

He offers five vegetarian options including one with spinach and olives, and the "Sears Tower," with "veggies stacked high as the sky."

While deep dish is the trademark, he'll do a thin-crust option as well. He makes his own tomato sauce using Bonta Brand tomatoes and Grande brand mozzarella. There's also pesto sauce, alfredo, barbecue, and olive oil.

Sizes begin at 6-inch for an individual, starting at $7.99, and top out at 16-inch, with a basic cheese pizza going for $19.99.

Other Chicago specialties include an Original Chicago hot dog topped with pickle, celery salt, red onion, mustard, sport peppers, tomato, and green relish; and an Italian roast beef sandwich, sliced wafer thin.

There's also a meatball sub, Greek salad, antipasto salad, wings, garlic bread, cheese bread, and pesto garlic cheese bread, a sourdough baguette topped with basil pesto and mozzarella, with a side of marinara.

One thing that drew him back into the restaurant world was the post-pandemic trend of being a place that does delivery and takeout only. His location does not have a dining room or dine-in option.

"Staffing is still an issue these days, and this means that I can put my focus on the kitchen," he says.

Photo courtesy of The Fitzgerald

The 10 most delectable dining headlines Fort Worth devoured in 2022

This year's hottest headlines

Editor's note: Looking back at our most-read dining stories of 2022, we see Fort Worth's adoration of a certain Texas grocery store that's finally expanding into Tarrant County - it claimed two spots in our top 10. Readers also gobbled up news about new restaurants, a new high-tech McDonald's, and Fort Worth's very first Tastemaker Awards event honoring local culinary superstars.

1. McDonald's tests out one-of-a-kind new restaurant model in Fort Worth. McDonald’s is trying out a brand new test restaurant concept, and the only place it's happening is in Fort Worth. Located at 8540 West Fwy., the new store is a first-of-its-kind test restaurant that the company says is designed for customers on-the-go.

2. New Crazy German restaurant serves Dallas-Fort Worth the best wursts. There's a very-authentic German restaurant newly opened in North Texas. Called The Crazy German, it opened quietly on February 1 in a little shopping center at 27379 E. University Dr. in Aubrey and comes with the best credentials: The owner was born and raised in Germany.

3. Best Fort Worth restaurants for Thanksgiving 2022 dining-in or to-go. One minute it's January. The next minute, we were thinking about the holidays. It's never too soon to start dreaming about pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, and stuffing fragrant with sage and thyme. In late October, we rounded up the best restaurants to get Thanksgiving 2022 feasts in Fort Worth.

4. Where to eat in Fort Worth right now: 5 hot new restaurants for March. Fort Worth saw a burst of restaurants open early in the year. There was a little something for everyone, including high-profile chef-driven spots and bar-driven restaurants with generous outdoor space. For our March edition of Where to Eat, we presented five need-to-know restaurants that recently had opened.

Photo courtesy of The Fitzgerald
Oysters from The Fitzgerald.

5. H-E-B supermarket chain opening first location in Tarrant County. In the biggest news of August, adored Texas supermarket chain H-E-B is opening a location in Tarrant County: specifically, Mansfield. The store will be located at the corner of US 287 and Broad Street. This will become the first H-E-B store in Tarrant County, joining its sibling Central Market in Fort Worth.

6. Location accidentally leaked for possible H-E-B supermarket in Fort Worth. On June 8, it was looking like Fort Worth was going to get an H-E-B grocery store, according to a press release from Parkside at Alliance Town Center that got nearby residents excited. An H-E-B spokesperson confirmed that the company owned land there but had no immediate plans to build a store. Then in October, H-E-B finally made it official: Fort Worth's Alliance is getting an H-E-B store after all. A groundbreaking took place at the northwest corner of Heritage Trace Parkway and North Riverside Drive on November 16.

7. Fort Worth restaurant vet to open burger joint in former dive bar space. Gigi Howell, a Fort Worth restaurant veteran, announced in January that she was opening her own burger joint. Called JD's Hamburgers, it's now located at 9901 Camp Bowie West, a space previously occupied by bars such as Last Call and Randi's Knotty Pine Saloon.

8. Fort Worth's best restaurant, chef, and more winners crowned at 2022 Tastemaker Awards.The annual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards program came to Fort Worth for the very first time this year, with a brand-new event to honor the city’s talented and hard-working culinary stars. The nominees for bar, chef, and restaurant of the year, best new restaurant, and best breakfast were introduced in an editorial series, and winners were crowned at an awards ceremony and signature tasting event on Tuesday, May 10 at the 4 Eleven venue.

9. Fort Worth bar is one of 9 across the U.S. to host spooky Halloween pop-up. A Fort Worth bar was one of the few bars across the U.S. chosen to host a special pop-up with a Halloween theme. Called Black Lagoon, it was an immersive Halloween pop-up bar concept that hit nine cities across the U.S., and that includes Nickel City, the neighborhood bar located at 212 S. Main St. in Fort Worth.

10. Authentic deep-dish pizza from Chicago is coming to Fort Worth. An authentic Chicago-style pizza name announced in February it was coming to Fort Worth: Rosati's Pizza, a chain based in Illinois that's been doing Chicago-style pizza since 1964, then opened a location at 5152 Golden Triangle. It went into a new little center at the intersection of Park Vista Boulevard in far north Fort Worth.

Photo courtesy of Pizza Verde

These are the 11 best food and drink events in Fort Worth this week

This week in gluttony

Christmas comes early this week with the debut of a holiday-themed pop-up with tropical vibes at a brand-new bar. There’s also lots of opportunity to learn about holiday wine pairings, with several wine dinners and tastings on the list. Mark your calendar for the launch party of a new coffee-infused version of a popular local whiskey, celebrate the anniversary of an acclaimed Fort Worth pizzeria, and more.

Monday, November 14

Anniversary Dinner at The Basement Lounge with La Onda
La Onda chef Victor Villarreal will help the underground Camp Bowie Boulevard lounge celebrate its seventh anniversary with a three-course seafood-centric dinner. The menu includes papas bravas with whipped crème fraiche and sturgeon caviar, Brazilian seafood stew, and a surprise dessert. Dinner is $100, plus tax and gratuity, and begins at 6 pm.

Tuesday, November 15

Antinori Wine Dinner at Tre Mogli
It’s the first wine dinner for this popular Italian destination from chef Stefon Rishel and his team. Six courses will feature a raw bar, ricotta and leek ravioli, seafood risotto, crispy quail, Niman ranch lamb chop, and fig tart with smoked whipped cream. The dinner is $125 (which includes gratuity), plus tax, and begins at 6:30 pm.

Holiday Crepes and Wine at Landon Winery Grapevine
The Grapevine winery will partner with Crepes on the Go to serve two sweet and two savory crepes paired with wines during this unique pairing event. The tasting is $42, plus tax, and will run from 6:30-8 pm.

J. Lohr Wine Dinner at Hotel Vin
Cynthia Lohr, co-owner of California’s J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, will visit the Grapevine hotel for a four-course wine-pairing dinner in the Bordeaux Ballroom. Chardonnay, two Cabernets, and a Petite Syrah will be paired with a seafood starter, lemon, basil, and fontina tortellini, Wagyu prime rib, and red velvet cake with cheesecake mousse and chocolate glaze. Dinner is $200, plus service charge and tax, and begins with a reception at 6 pm. Also note that Hotel Vin’s Winter Wonderland pop-up begins Friday for the holiday season, featuring the hotel’s popular igloo bubbles available for happy hour or dinner reservations. (This year they’re decked out with après ski lodge décor.) Reservations start at $150, plus tax and gratuity, for a bottle of wine and fondue to share during happy hour.

Wednesday, November 16

Willamette Valley Vineyards Wine Tasting at Wine 30
The Roanoke wine bar will offer a tasting of five Oregon wines from Willamette Valley. The $25 price includes charcuterie board bites. The tasting begins at 5:30 pm.

Thursday, November 17

The Beast & Co. Fall Wine Dinner
Near Southside restaurant Beast & Co. is hosting a seven-course wine dinner featuring seasonally inspired dishes and specially selected wine pairings from Chef Michael Arlt and owner Dustin Lee. Courses include beet with anchovy powder, oyster with seaweed dressing, burnt celeriac with endive & pear, halibut with mushroom & mustard, smoked duck with cassoulet, ginger molasses sorbet, and chocolate tart with salted cream. It runs from 7-9 pm and is $190 including tax & gratuity. Reservations can be made online: Go to the date 11/17 and select the "Fall Wine Dinner" event.

Friday, November 18

Gather with Gewurztraminer: A Thanksgiving Wine Pairing Class at Messina Hof Grapevine Winery
Learn how to pair Thanksgiving staples with Messina Hof wines during this tasting event. Thanksgiving tasting menu items will include honey glazed ham, oven roasted turkey, cornbread stuffing, sweet potatoes, fresh asparagus, cherry cobbler, and Southern pecan cobbler. The pairing is $45, plus tax and gratuity, and begins at 6:30 pm.

Pizza Verde: One-Year Celebration
The award-winning pizzeria marks its one-year anniversary with a weekend-long celebration from November 18-20 with giveaways, freebies, swag, and more. All three days, there'll be a spin-the-wheel for a shot to win free pizza and drinks. All weekend, for every $10 spent, diners get a raffle ticket and entry to win one of their three raffle baskets featuring items from Mariachi's Dine-In, the Modern Art Museum, Boulevard of Greens, Mashup Market, Planted Bakery, and more. On Saturday at 3:30 pm, there'll be a complimentary mimosa toast. Friday-Sunday, 11 am-3 pm.

Saturday, November 19

Texas Flavor Series Launch at Whiskey Ranch
Be among the first to sample and purchase TX Whiskey’s newest release – TX Blended Whiskey Texas Flavor Series Limited Edition with Avoca Coffee. This is the first flavored offering from TX Whiskey – although the distillery has partnered with the local coffee roaster in the past to create TX Whiskey-tossed coffee beans. The $10 ticket includes tastings available at 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm, along with a cocktail from the bar. There’ll also be food trucks, live music, and complimentary bottle engraving. The new release will retail for $39.99 and the event will run from 12-5 pm.

Monday, November 21

Vegan Thanksgiving Beer Dinner at Funky Picnic Brewery & Café
The South Fort Worth brewery and restaurant has partnered with the Blue Zones Project to present a five-course plant-based dinner with a Thanksgiving twist. The family-style dinner includes green bean casserole, maple-roasted carrots, mashed cauliflower and mushroom gravy, butternut squash risotto, sage stuffing, chickpea meatloaf, vegan seitan turkey, and vegan pumpkin pie. A beer pairing flight is included. Dinner is $90 and begins at 7 pm.

Sippin’ Santa at The Down ‘n Out
The new watering hole at 150 W. Rosedale St. will open its doors in festive fashion by hosting Sippin’ Santa, a tropical-themed holiday pop-up that will have more than 30 locations in bars across the country. Island-inspired libations will include the Kris Kringle Colada made with dark Jamaican rum and cream of coconut; the hot Undertow Toddy made with cognac; and Rudolph’s Rum Rhapsody made for two. The pop-up will run until December 31.

Photo courtesy of Rice Village

Buzzy new ice cream shop tops 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. Fort Worth's WestBend center scoops location of buzzy ice cream concept. The WestBend mixed-use development in Fort Worth's University District is booming, and now there's a slew of new shops and businesses lined up to join the mix, including Van Leeuwen, New York-based ice cream company that makes dairy and especially ice creams. It's opening its first store in Fort Worth.

The Key Lime Pie at Anderson Distillery. Photo courtesy of Anderson Distilling

2. Where to drink in Fort Worth right now: 5 best new bars in the 'burbs. New bars open in Fort Worth on the regular, but the ‘burbs are also buzzing with new drinking destinations. Northeast Tarrant County, in particular is hot, with several swanky lounges and new sports bars recently opened for business. Here are five new bars to visit that are the worth the trek beyond the 820 loop.

Pizza with mushroom and shaved asparagus. Funky Picnic

3. Funky Fort Worth brewpub unveils speakeasy bar with pizza on the side. A Fort Worth restaurant is about to debut an ultra-trendy new spinoff. Funky Picnic Brewery & Café, the brewpub in the Near Southside, is opening a speakeasy bar and pizza kitchen called The Back Room at Funky Picnic, which will occupy the space right next door at 401 Bryan Ave. #109 that was previously occupied by Black Cat Pizza.

100 Things to Do in Fort Worth Before you Die will be released on September 25. Courtesy photo

4. Fort Worth author’s new book compiles ultimate bucket list of 100 things to do in Cowtown. If you’re out of ideas of things to do in Fort Worth, one local author has you covered. Celestina Blok has compiled her top recommendations in her new book, 100 Things to Do in Fort Worth Before You Die. The new title, which releases Sept. 25, covers the categories of food and drink, music and entertainment, outdoors and recreation, culture and history, and shopping and fashion.

Coco Gauff is one of the top-ranked singles and doubles players. Julian Finney/Getty Images

5. How to see Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and more WTA tennis stars compete in Fort Worth. Fresh off her US Open victory, the world's No. 1 female tennis player, Iga Swiatek, will lead the top eight singles players and doubles teams into Fort Worth next month for the 2022 Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Finals. The competition will take place October 31-November 7 at Dickies Arena, and tickets are now on sale.

Courtesy photo

These are the 7 best food and drink events in Fort Worth this week

This week in gluttony

There’ll be multiple ways to escape (at least mentally) this week. Jet set to France at a French wine dinner or tasting. Or pretend to be on the beaches of Mexico at one of two National Tequila Day celebrations. Or simply find respite from the heat with a refreshing glass of iced tea, which will be free at a sandwich shop chain this week.

Wednesday, July 20

One Night in Paris: A French Wine Tasting at Chef Point Restaurant & Bar
Escape to Paris by way of Watauga at this French wine tasting hosted by chef Franson Nwaeze at Chef Point Restaurant & Bar. Featured dishes include escargot, smoked duck breast, grilled lamb kabobs, and duck confit. Reservations are $78 and include tax and gratuity. The dinner begins at 6:30 pm and will also be held at Chef Point’s Colleyville location on Thursday at the same time.

Thursday, July 21

Free Tea Day at McAlister’s Deli
Weather this hot calls for a cold beverage, and McAlister’s Deli will answer with free iced tea. Visit any location for any variety of the sandwich chain’s brisk tea, which is brewed with orange pekoe black tea leaves. Options include sweet, unsweet, half-and-half, half-tea-half-lemonade, or tea with flavored shots. Limit one tea per person in-store, and four teas per order via the McAlister’s Deli website or app.

Friday, July 22

Summer Wine Tasting in Southern Rhone at Mason & Dixie
The Southern-inspired restaurant in Grapevine will go European with a French wine tasting. Guests will partake in four wines paired with four courses highlighting the flavors of Southern Rhône. Tickets are $49 and the tasting will begin at 6:30 pm.

Saturday, July 23

Riscky’s BBQ 16th Annual Rib-Eating Competition
The 95-year old Fort Worth barbecue institution will host its annual rib-eating contest at its Stockyards Station location. The first 30 participants to sign up on the day of the event will have 60 seconds to eat as many beef ribs as possible. Then the top qualifiers will move on to the next round, where prizes will be valued at $100 for third place, $250 for second place, and $500 for first place. There’s a $5 entry fee and the contest will begin at 11 am.

National Tequila Day at The Post at River East
The popular Race Street live music destination invites patrons to celebrate tequila on Saturday with specials all day long. Go for $5 margaritas, tequila, and mezcal flight specials; $3 bloody Marias; and $6 bowls of pozole. Free live music will entertain all day, too. The Post opens at 11 am.

Sunday, July 24

Half-Priced Tequila at El Chingon for National Tequila Day
For one day only and only until 5 pm, the part-bar-part-Mexican-restaurant El Chingon will offer its selection of tequilas and mezcals for half-price, including bottles and shots. Get the day started early with brunch featuring classic dishes like chilaquiles and huevos rancheros. El Chingon opens at 11 am.

Make Your Own Wood-Fired Pizza at Pizza Verde
The plant-based pizzeria will teach participants how to make vegan wood-fired pizza. The class includes apps and a glass of prosecco, and an ingredient bag with dough, house-made mozzarella, and sauce recipe to make pizza at home. Tickets are $60 per person and class begins at 5:30 pm.

Ad Placement 300x100
Ad Placement 300x600

CultureMap Emails are Awesome

'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.

Where to find beautiful bluebonnets in Dallas-Fort Worth and around Texas in spring 2023

Signs of spring

In exciting news for wildflower watchers, bluebonnet season not only came earlier across Texas this spring, but the blooms are more abundant, more colorful, and even more fragrant than in recent years.

Thanks to plenty of rain and recent warm, sunny weather, the beloved state flower is painting the landscape blue along highways and in fields all over Texas. At this writing (in the last days of March), bluebonnets are peaking in the Houston area and throughout the Hill Country. Don't wait too much longer to plan your flower expedition; they'll be past their prime by mid-April.

Here in Dallas-Fort Worth, we're a few weeks behind - but not too far off, as anyone who's driven on the local highways in the past week knows. Our biggest bluebonnet mecca in the region, the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails, are opening Saturday, April 1 - and the blooms are already popping, organizers say.

Following are areas in Dallas-Fort Worth and around Texas where folks have reported bluebonnets already, or where they're looking reliable for pretty photos further into spring. Hopefully, just like the flowers, this list will continue to grow.

And, don't forget: Bluebonnets aren't the only wildflower that bloom in spring. Indian paintbrush, Indian blanket, evening primrose, Mexican hat, anemone, redbud trees, Mexican plum, elbow bush, and coreopsis are also among the thousands of varieties that paint Texas with color throughout the season.

Ennis

The Ennis Bluebonnet Trails, North Texas’ No. 1 spot for bluebonnet spotting, open April 1 and run through the end of the month. The trails wind visitors through 40 miles of picturesque wildflowers. But not all of them bloom at the same time; be sure to stop at the Welcome Center for a map and expert guidance. The blooms are expected to peak around mid-April, coinciding with the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival, April 14-16. The first week of April, there’ll be pretty patches along Sugar Ridge Road, spotters say. Those interested in making the trek about 60 miles southeast of Fort Worth can check out maps and updates on the website and social media channels. Download the Ennis Y’all mobile app to get all the information on your smartphone.

Dallas-Fort Worth roadsides, fields, and parks

Freeway embankments
Stopping beside a highway or posing for photos on the side of the road is never advised. But the blue patches are always thrilling for passengers to spot while traversing local freeways. Some to note: The lush fields of blue along either side of SH 183 are a pleasant diversion while stopped in rush-hour traffic near D/FW Airport. Look on either side of I-30 from Fort Worth to Arlington to Dallas (don't miss them between the Montgomery and Hulen exits in west Fort Worth). There are even some that have popped up at the onerous convergence of I-35W and I-30 near downtown Fort Worth. Also check them out along SH 114 in Grapevine, SH 75 going north out of Dallas, and I-635 in northwest Dallas. Drive I-45 south from Dallas, through Corsicana, toward Houston, and you’ll see them everywhere. The blooms also are thick along SH 287 toward Waxahachie. Inside Fort Worth city limits, the Weatherford Traffic Circle has more sprouting up each day.

Fort Worth Botanic Garden/BRIThas thousands of tulips and other spring flowers blooming, but you'll see some bluebonnets, too. Head toward the Cactus Garden greenhouse. Other colorful spring blooms that typically dot their landscape in spring: Texas mountain laurel, peach trees, crabapples, Redbuds, and Dogwood, and cherry blossoms. Keep up with what's flourishing in the gardens via their Facebook page.

Fort Worth Nature Center & Refugehas bluebonnets popping at the end of March, along with picturesque budding redbuds. The best way to find them is to take a naturalist-led tour ($5 with paid admission/members free). Nature hikes take place Thursdays, 10-11:30 am.

The Laura W. Bush Native Texas Park, a 15-acre urban park on the grounds of George W. Bush Presidential Center at SMU, features a one-mile network of trails that walks visitors through native Texas environments, including spring wildflowers. Bluebonnets are peeking out among a sea of other native wildflowers, and they're just getting started. Peak is still a few weeks off. According to park personnel, visitors will also find Winecup, Pink Evening Primrose, Plains Coreopsis, Engelman Daisy, Foxglove, Prairie Spiderwort, White Prairie Clover, Prairie Verbana, Texas Yellowstar, Gaillardia, and Scrambled Eggs. Download a guide to the flowers here.

Cedar Hill State Park, a favorite place for mountain bikers, has bluebonnets popping along the trails. Visitors are sure to see some on a guided hike, and the ranger-led sunrise hikes are especially rewarding.

Bluebonnet Trail Greenbeltin Plano is already popping with blooms at the end of March, with many more to come. Bluebonnet Trail runs from Central Expressway to Midway Road, following an Oncor power line easement and along Spring Creek Parkway and Chase Oaks Boulevard; it intersects with the Chisholm Trail in the middle of Plano and connects with the Preston Ridge Trail at Carpenter Park. View maps of the trails here and here.

McInnish Park & Sports Complex, Carrollton
This go-to spot in DFW is blooming nicely but not yet at peak in late March. Find it at 2335 Sandy Lake Rd., just off the Bush tollway.

Freedom Meadow, Frisco
The field at the Warren Sports Complex is a bluebonnet photo hot spot each year. The flowers are getting revved up; look for them to really pop in April, spotters say.

Hill Country
Just a few hours out of the Metroplex, wildflowers are at peak already. Here are some places to check out in the Central Texas/Hill Country region.

Marble Falls
The bluebonnets are flourishing in this popular Hill Country town (and home to the famous Blue Bonnet Cafe). Look for bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes, yuccas, and many other wildflowers to paint landscapes all over the area. Turkey Bend Recreation Area is always a specific hot spot. A old house off SH 281 called, simply, "The Bluebonnet House," is showing up in many picturesque photo shoots already; read about it here. Check out the guide to this year’s fresh patches here. They even have scenic drive recommendations, here.

Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area, Spicewood
The bluebonnet fields at this public park northwest of Austin are more abundant than they have been in years, say spotters. There usually are large patches of flowers on the riverbank, and it's easy to drive around and park a car to set up and take time for photo shoots (rather than pulling over on the side of the road). Find it at 2820 County Road 414, Spicewood.

Fredericksburg
For many Texans, Fredericksburg is synonymous with bluebonnets. If you're going there, don't delay. "The 2023 wildflower season is in full bloom. Bluebonnets are at their peak and should be abundant through the first 10 days of April," a report on the Visit Fredericksburg website says. While you'll see the blooms all over the region, a good first stop is always Wildseed Farms, the largest working wildflower farm in the country. Then ask the locals for their favorite flower-viewing spots. They offer a list of places to see them here. The Fredericksburg Bluebonnet Festival will happen April 22. Pro tip: Plan a mid-week F'burg getaway since weekends get mobbed during the spring. While you're in the area, don't miss the ...

Willow City Loop
One of the best drives in Texas is the 13-mile, two-lane Willow City Loop. A lot of people start in Fredericksburg, take State Highway 16 north approximately 13 miles and turn east on Ranch Road 1323 to Willow City. It's reportedly more of a wildflower wonderland this season than it has been the past few. It's a pretty drive, traversing hills and creeks, offering gorgeous views of meadows and valleys. Warning: Roadside property along this route is private, so no wandering into the fields.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin
For some of the most abundant and accessible wildflowers in the state, head to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, roughly 12 miles southwest of downtown Austin. Open daily by reservation, the center has native gardens, wild meadows, and experts who can tell you what you’re looking at. They also host special events (in-person and virtual) and offer various resources on plants and flowers around Texas. They offer a wildflower report and ideas for bluebonnet excursions here.

Southeast Texas
Down toward Houston, fields have been bursting with color in March, reports say. Don't wait to much longer to visit or they'll be past their prime. "Bluebonnets are HERE at peak and looking gorgeous! We anticipate they will look vibrant for the next 1-2 weeks," Visit Brenham posted on March 29.

Brenham/Chappell Hill/Industry, Washington County
Halfway between Austin and Houston, Brenham is a town that prides itself on its wildflowers (and on being the home of Blue Bell Ice Cream). Using "Flower Watch," visitors can check in almost daily on the Visit Brenham website to see what is blooming. Spotters rave about a field of bluebonnets behind a Walmart store.

Washington County as a whole thrives with bluebonnets. Prime viewing spots typically are along Highway 290 east and west as you drive into Brenham; FM 1155 to 2679 in Chappell Hill; and FM 2447 and Highway 290 at First Baptist Church of Chappell Hill (the church typically welcomes visitors, but requests that the parking lot remain open to members of its congregation).

Somerville-LaGrange-Ellinger
Also between Houston and Austin, Lake Somerville State Park typically has fields of photo-worthy bluebonnets. The nearby towns of LaGrange and Ellinger do, as well; a scenic drive on Highway 71 in the area will bring some colorful stops, spotters say. FM 1291 from Frelsburg through Fayetteville to LaGrange has photo-worthy fields.

Industry-Fayetteville
One of the hottest spots in Texas has both bluebonnets and zebras - yes, zebras. About 80 miles east of Austin and 90 miles from Houston is a field where zebra roam, along with cows. Occasionally, they'll graze among the bluebonnets and up to the fence line, photographers say. The address is 5411 TX-159, Fayetteville (between Industry and Fayetteville).

2023 bluebonnet festivals

Resources to keep up with wildflower season

Rules of the road

  • Remember that while it isn’t illegal to pick the blooms, it is bad form. Leave them for others to enjoy and so the flowers can go to seed and make more for next year.
  • By the same token, minimize trampling of the plants, as crushing them repeatedly (by, say, sitting on them) can destroy the flowers. Try to walk in other people's footprints in a field.
  • Be aware that fields can also contain fire ants and the occasional snake. Be careful if walking through grass where it’s not possible to see where you’re stepping.
  • Pulling over on the side of a highway for photos is never recommended. Find a nearby parking lot.
  • Also, remember the "groups" rule. If you approach a pretty patch and another family is taking photos, ride on by.
  • Finally, be respectful of private property — no climbing fences, going through gates, or driving up driveways to get that photo. You might get a less-than-warm welcome.

---

Got a great bluebonnet spot? Email stephanie@culturemap.com.

Taylor Swift continues Texas takeover with new Eras exhibition at Arlington museum

IN HER MUSEUM ERA

Taylor Swift’s reign in Arlington won't end when her March 31-April 2 "Eras Tour" shows end. She'll continue to dominate Dallas-Fort Worth thanks to a special exhibition called "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Collection" opening this summer at the Arlington Museum of Art.

In collaboration with the HELP Center for LGBT Health & Wellness, "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Collection," will feature items from Swift’s private collection. It will open June 3 and run through September 24, 2023.

Visitors will be able to experience her journey as an artist and view outfits, photographs, and concert videos from the “eras” of her life and career, a press release says. Highlights of the collection are eight iconic costumes from four of Swift’s albums.

“As an artist, Swift's career is rich in depth and detail, and we believe the exhibition will appeal not only to her fans, music lovers, and art lovers, but to the next generation of emerging museum-goers,” says Arlington Museum of Art president and CEO Chris Hightower in a press release.

Hightower also shared that the new museum exhibition is the perfect opportunity for guests to understand the gravity of what it takes to become a multimedia artist, and what it means to sustain that popularity, especially through the eyes of a 12-time Grammy winner.

“Great artists throughout history have been able to express themselves so sublimely because they were so dedicated to their craft,” he says. “They never stop learning and never hold back. They influence the future because they take creative risks in spite of opposing forces.”

Arlington Mayor Jim Ross says in the release that the collection reflects the city's dedication to building its reputation for world-class entertainment and the arts, and upholding its Texas Music-Friendly Community designation.

“In Arlington, we love collaboration, a can-do spirit, and out-of-the-box thinking,” said Mayor Ross, “and the team at the Arlington Museum of Art continues to surprise and thrill us by really putting all that into practice. It has been so exciting to see the Arlington Museum of Art find its voice in the last few years, and there is no doubt that even bigger things are on the horizon.”

The "Eras Tour Collection" will run June 3-September 24. Arlington Museum of Art members will be able to purchase tickets starting 10 am April 13, and the general public sale will begin at 10 am April 17. Tickets ($5-$20) can be purchased at arlingtonmuseum.org.