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Photo courtesy of Key Residential, Ltd. Porch.com

A fireplace is the focus of a room, bringing elegance and sophistication to living spaces, bedrooms, and sometimes even bathrooms. Whether traditional wood-burning, modern gas, or electric, fireplaces like these six from Porch.com are heating up Dallas-Fort Worth homes.

Porch.com fireplace
Photo courtesy of Design by Keti Porch.com
A fireplace is the focus of a room, bringing elegance and sophistication to living spaces, bedrooms, and sometimes even bathrooms. Whether traditional wood-burning, modern gas, or electric, fireplaces like these six from Porch.com [http: /porch.com] are heating up Dallas-Fort Worth homes. --- A classy black and white living room is topped off with a soft, neutral fireplace in this home staged by Design by Keti [https://porch.com/projects/thomas-ave-townhomes].
Photo courtesy of Domiteaux & Co. Porch.com

Crib ideas for the heart of your home from these 6 local kitchens

Design Inspiration

The kitchen may be the most important room in the house, and its design often sets the tone for the entire interior. Get inspired by these well-designed Dallas-Fort Worth kitchens spied on Porch.com.

Kitchen designed by Ware Architecture Studio
Photo courtesy of Ware Architecture Studio Porch.com
The kitchen may be the most important room in the house. It's more than a place to cook; it's where we make memories with family and friends. And a kitchen's design often sets the tone for the entire interior. Get inspired by these well-designed Dallas-Fort Worth kitchens — from contemporary to traditional — spied on Porch.com [https: /porch.com/]. --- Tailored to a couple who wanted an open and modern residence, Ware Architecture Studio [http://www.warearchitecture.com/] designed this simple yet superb kitchen with sleek countertops and cabinetry in high-contrast white and chocolate brown, large stainless steel appliances, and a mosaic tile backsplash on one wall that reads like art. Yellow accents in the pendant lights and chair cushions add sunny yet understated color.
Photo courtesy of Ware Architecture Studio Porch.com

These 6 local living rooms inspire bright design ideas

Living Room Love

It can be daunting, deciding how to decorate your living room. There's arranging the layout, choosing the color palette, picking out the most comfortable couch, and deciding on stylish accessories. Look to these six Dallas-Fort Worth living rooms, discovered on Porch.com, for inspiration.

Dallas living room porch.com
Photo courtesy of Domiteaux & CO Architects Porch.com
It can be daunting, deciding how to decorate your living room. There's arranging the layout, choosing the color palette, picking out the most comfortable couch, and deciding on stylish accessories. Look to these six Dallas-Fort Worth living rooms, discovered on Porch.com [http: /www.porch.com], for inspiration. --- Make a statement in your living room by infusing the design with bold color, like the large, striped rug and red accent chair in this interior by Domiteaux & CO Architects [https://porch.com/projects/1476140-11].
Photo courtesy of The Viking Craftsman Porch.com

7 local master bathrooms better than a luxury spa

Master Bath Envy

A master bathroom should be functional, yes, but it should also be a place to get away from it all, a spa-like retreat within the confines of your own home. Look to these seven luxurious Dallas-Fort Worth master bathrooms spied on Porch.com for inspiration.

Porch.com master bathroom in Dallas
Photo courtesy of Ware Architecture Studio Porch.com
A master bathroom should be functional, yes, but it should also be a place to get away from it all, a spa-like retreat within the confines of your own home. Look to these seven luxurious Dallas-Fort Worth master bathrooms spied on Porch.com [https: /porch.com/] for inspiration. --- A large, open master bathroom in this home features a sleek frosted glass shower designed by Ware Architecture Studio [https://porch.com/projects/ridge-residence-147539605]. With a little less privacy and a fresh look, this walk-in shower design presents a state of peace and tranquility.
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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.

New vegan BBQ spot sizzles in 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. New Fort Worth vegan barbecue concept VBQ Smokehouse resides at Mariachi's. There's a new BBQ concept in Fort Worth dishing out a vegan rendition of barbecue fare: Called VBQ Smokehouse, it's a startup restaurant-inside-a-restaurant from chef Hank Storm, operating out of Mariachi's Dine-In at 5724 Locke Ave., where it's serving Southern plant-based barbecue, fixins, desserts, and cocktails.

2. Tarrant County tax office issues reminder about looming property taxes. The Tarrant County Tax Office has a reminder for homeowners: The last day to pay property taxes for 2023 and avoid penalty and interest is Wednesday, January 31. Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector Wendy Burgess recommends not waiting until the last minute and maybe do it online.

3. Get brunch and Mexican coffee from an Airstream at new Fort Worth startup. There's a new food truck in Fort Worth featuring two irresistible specialties: Called Café x Jose, it opened January 6 in Near Southside with an innovative Mexican twist on coffee, and Southern brunch. The business is located in the a shiny Airstream truck in South Main Micro Park, in the parking lot of Soma Winery at 105 S. Main St.

4. Home of Juicy Dumplings restaurant coming to Euless seizes on hot trend. A new restaurant specializing in traditional Chinese cuisine, including buzzy handmade dumplings, is coming to the Fort Worth suburb of Euless. Called Home of Juicy Dumplings, it’ll open in early summer at 2910 Rio Grande Blvd. #300, in a new space at the Glade Parks shopping center.

5. Coffee lovers brew up cafe-wine-bar-market on Race Street in Fort Worth. A cool cafe-combination-wine-bar and bodega is percolating in Fort Worth: Called Ostara Coffee + Wine + Market, it'll open at 2707 Race St. #121, in a former pizzeria space, with a debut set for the spring. The new cafe is a spinoff of Ostara Coffee Roasters, the first female-owned coffee roaster in Fort Worth.

Where to drink in Fort Worth right now: 8 best bars for Dry January

Where to drink

Navigating your way through a “Dry January?” You’re not alone. Local bartenders and brewers agree, the non-alcoholic movement is on the rise, and not just in January. Patrons are becoming more “sober curious” as they reconsider their relationship with alcohol, whether for health reasons, for a refocused mindset, or for exploring alternatives like ethnobotanical drinks and THC seltzers. (More on those later.)

“People aren’t whispering about getting something without alcohol anymore,” says Jason Pollard, head bartender at The Usual, one of Fort Worth’s pioneering craft cocktail bars. “Not only have we seen an increase in requests for zero proof offerings, we are seeing guests expect something beyond simple juice and syrup drinks. Most are willing to pay close, or the same, as they would for an alcoholic cocktail, as long as the care in preparation is there.”

At Hop Fusion Ale Works in South Fort Worth, director of operations Matt Gurley says non-alcoholic requests aren’t specific to January but have been a “slow-brewing thing for a while.” The brewery has its own line of non-alcoholic beverages, like an award-winning root beer, and started carrying non-alcoholic canned beer from Connecticut-based Athletic Brewing Co. more than a year ago.

“We just try to carry as many N/A products as we can that guests have asked for,” says Gurley.

Whether participating in Dry (or damp) January or embarking on a new lifestyle, here are eight places to enjoy elevated alcohol-free options in Fort Worth this month – and maybe beyond.

Funky Picnic - Mockaccino Martini, cocktail, mocktailBehold the Mockaccino Martini at Funky Picnic.Photo courtesy of Funky Picnic

Funky Picnic Brewery & Café
The Near Southside craft brewpub has launched a mocktail pop-up experience called Dry Bar, running January 11-13, with more dates to be added this month. Funky Picnic co-owner Samantha Glenn says the pop-up is a result of not only Dry January but the rising interest in mindful drinking. "We wanted to create a space where individuals can savor exceptional mocktails and celebrate their commitment to a sober lifestyle,” she says. The pop-up will take place in The Back Room at Funky Picnic, where patrons can visit from 5-9 pm for zero-proof cocktails like the Mocaccino Martini, a sober twist on the espresso martini; Mule Love This Too, made with apple butter, lime juice, and ginger beer; and I Know That She’s Pretty, made with pink lavender water, lemon juice, and angostura bitters. The pop-up will also feature an interactive build-your-own-mocktail bar where bartenders can help guests select glassware, garnishes, and more.

Kava Culture, kava, mocktailsKava Culture is a non-alcoholic bar in North Fort Worth.Facebook/Kava Culture

Kava Culture
New in North Fort Worth is Kava Culture Kava Bar, a Florida-based kava and elixir bar that serves a slew of botanicals on tap but not one drop of beer, wine, or liquor. (A North Dallas location is coming soon.) Kava, a root from the South Pacific, is touted as natural muscle relaxer that provides a natural sense of calm without affecting motor skills. The juice is made by squeezing the root and is traditionally sipped from coconut shells. Kava Culture’s expansive menu is a bit daunting for newbies, with options ranging from traditional shells of “bula” (kava root blended with various botanical additions) to botanical cocktails, infusions, herbal and sparkling teas, and coffee and espresso drinks, including “Bu-Lattes.” Luckily the “kavatenders” are ready to help first timers navigate their selections. The bar is open daily from 8 am-12 am.

Hop Fusion Ale Works
There’s something “on tap” for everyone at this longtime Near Southside brewery, where a roster of alcohol-free beverages is created right on-site. Called Oh Snap!, Hop Fusion’s non-alcoholic line includes grapefruit soda, lemonade, and an award-winning root beer that won bronze in the 2022 U.S. Open Beer Championship. Hop Fusion also carries Austin-based Buddha’s Brew kombucha, tea from nearby Leaves Book and Tea Shop (which now shares space with Stir Crazy Baked Goods at 1251 W. Magnolia Ave.), and cold brew coffee from Ostara Coffee Roasters, set to open this spring on Race Street, among various bottled non-alcoholic beverages.

The Usual cocktail, mocktailThe Great Obsession non-alcoholic cocktail at The Usual.Photo by Brian Hutson

The Usual
The pioneering craft cocktail bar was one of Fort Worth’s first to elevate the mixed drink scene when it opened in 2009. Ironically, The Usual is now a leader in the zero-proof libation movement, serving non-alcoholic gin, rum, sparkling wine, and beer. Try the La Curandera, a cocktail made with Lyre’s Spiced Cane (a non-alcoholic spiced rum), Earl Grey tea, lemon, orgeat syrup, smoked sea salt, and rosemary.

Bar Dryce
The Tastemaker Award-winning hotel bar located steps from Dickies Arena has entire menu of “dry cocktails.” Co-owner Jonathan Morris says, “We want to make sure you’ve got something sexy to sip on – with or without alcohol. Staying away from alcohol doesn’t mean you have to stay away from a good time.” The lineup includes the Cardamom Fizz, made with Ghia aperitif, yucca syrup, lime, and sparkling water; The Remix, made with guava paprika syrup, smoked chili bitters, ginger beer, and candied chili mango; and the effervescent Refresh & Repeat, made with sparkling water, lime, and grapefruit ice cubes. Hotel Dryce also hosts DJ music regularly for a bumping night out.

cannabis-inflused seltzersCannabis-infused seltzers are now a thing. Photo courtesy of Bayou City Hemp Company

Roy Pope Grocery
While not a bar, Roy Pope Grocery is among the first in Fort Worth to sell the recently legal cannabis-infused seltzers, which are non-alcoholic but contain legit hemp-derived THC. The beverages are “budding” in bars all over Texas, increasing in popularity for their high-flying properties. Roy Pope sells multiple brands including Howdy and Third Coast Blends, both Texas-based. Howdy offers THC canned seltzer versions of two classic Texas cocktails: Ranch Water and Paloma. The coastal-inspired Third Coast Blends offerings include Beach Break Watermellow and Swellberry. The cans be and purchased to-go or for enjoyment right in Roy Pope’s dining area or outdoor patio.

HG Sply Co.
The WestBend riverfront restaurant, bar, and patio has always been on the forefront of healthier dining in Fort Worth, with well-executed menu items that can fit any lifestyle, even those not looking to cut corners. The cocktail lineup is no different, with ginger kombucha sharing menu space with draft beer and drinks like beet-infused margs and mimosas made with cold-pressed juices. Zero-proof cocktails include the Mango Refresher, made with turmeric and Topo Chico; the Guava Dog, made with grapefruit, pineapple, guava, and lemon juices; and the #Beetbetter, made with strawberries, citrus, and simple syrup. Note that Trophy Club has its own HG Sply Co. location, too.

Maiden cocktail, mocktailThe Maiden Spice Melange.Facebook/Maiden

Maiden: Fine Plants & Spirits
Texas’ first vegan fine dining restaurant, bar, and tearoom, opened last summer by Spiral Diner founder Amy McNutt in the Near Southside at 1216 6th Ave., has a lengthy lineup of zero-proof cocktails on its extensive drink menu. Options range from the Rhubarb Pear Smash, made with non-alcoholic Seedlip Spice 94, pear shrubs, and soda water; to the classic gin fizz, made with Ritual Zero-Proof gin and either ruby red grapefruit soda or strawberry puree. There are at least seven unique signature mocktails in all, making Maiden a leader in the local mocktail movement.