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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.

Jessica Bailey Photography

Keller native opens indie bookstore with city's first co-working space coming soon

A new chapter

Thanks to a Keller native, Keller now has its own independent bookstore.

Hayley Smith, an interior designer by trade with a permanent thirst for reading, has opened A House With Books in Keller Town Center, at 1101 Bear Creek Pkwy. The 500-square-foot space offers fiction, non-fiction, children’s, young adult, and Christian books, along with an array of gifts, paper goods, a handful of home décor items, and complimentary hot tea.

“I'm a lifelong reader and it's always been my most beloved hobby and passion,” says Smith, who resides in Keller with her husband and two children. “Bookstores are my favorite places, and I've wanted to open one since I was a little girl. I believe it's so important for a town to have a bookstore, and I've dreamed of serving Keller in this way for a few years now.”

Smith had already built a strong following for her design and fashion tips on her Instagram page, also titled A House with Books. The page originally referred to her own home. She’s since added a dedicated bookstore page with the handle @ahousewithbooksshop.

The store shares space with Headquarters, Keller’s first co-working space set to open this spring by Smith’s friends, Erik and Missy Reynolds. Headquarters will offer first-come-first-serve and dedicated desk space available with monthly plans than range from one to five days a week. (There’s even a “side hustle” plan that provides for evening and weekend access.)

Both businesses combine for about 1,600 square feet and are located across from expansive Keller parks, trails, and duck ponds.

“It's a peaceful environment where our customers are welcome to browse the shelves for as long as they like,” says Smith. “I love recommending books to people and I personally handpick our entire stock of books.”

A House With Books is still in soft opening mode operating with “pop-up hours” of 9:30 am-1:30 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays. Smith has plans to gradually expand hours, as well as launch a book club and Saturday morning story time.

Customers can shop online anytime at www.ahousewithbooks.com.

Photo by Brian Luenser

Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival

The Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival showcases 215 jury-selected visual artists, live music on two stages, authentic local cuisine, the family-friendly “TCC Makers Zone,” craft beer, wine tastings, and more across 18 square blocks throughout Downtown.

An estimated $4 million worth of art is expected to be sold from local, regional, and national artists representing 15 artistic media, including sculpture, painting, photography, wood, glass, jewelry, metalwork, printmaking, mixed media, and more.

Headlining musicians include Galactic with special guest Anjelika Jelly Joseph, Them Dirty Roses, King Soloman Hicks, Bones Owens, Tatiana “LadyMay” Mayfield, DadRock, Monica Saldivar,, and cover band Poo Live Crew.

Funky Finds

The 15th Annual Funky Finds Spring Fling

The 15th Annual Funky Finds Spring Fling features the sweetest batch of handmade and vintage finds. The event will showcase the funkiest finds in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. There will also be a charitable raffle and other fundraising which will benefit child advocates CASA of Tarrant County and Saving Hope Animal Rescue.

Photo courtesy of Corona Premier

11th Annual DFW Golf Show

10th 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.

The event will feature the World Long Drive Champion and former UNT golfer, Kyle Berkshire, who will be hitting at world level speeds on the Main Stage. US Women’s Open champion and Dallas-Fort Worth local Brittany Lang will return as a celebrity guest and golf comedy group Country Club Adjacent will take the Main Stage.

The Main Stage features a complete indoor golf simulator so stars like Berkshire can show off their swing and give live tips on how to hit like a World Long Drive Champion.

All attendees will get the chance to take pictures with the pro golfers at the Corona Premier 19th Hole and Photo Op Zone. VIP guests will even have exclusive events with the celebrities in the Tanglewood Resort VIP Lounge featuring Balcones Distilling.

Each day features tons of activities for golf enthusiasts such as the Veritex Bank Championship Short Game Central and the Long Putt brought to you by the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Photo courtesy of Texas Christkindl Market

Texas Christkindl Market

Inspired by the cherished German tradition, the Texas Christkindl Market is a family­-friendly market featuring shopping for holiday gifts, decorations, and unique one-­of-­a-­kind finds. Guests can shop for traditional handcrafted gifts and collectibles straight from Germany, including exclusive Käthe Wohlfahrt merchandise and designs from the iconic Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas Village. Guests can also indulge in German treats and eats while enjoying festive music and shopping local vendors throughout the Market.

The market will be located in the North Plaza at Globe Life Field.

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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.

Carter Museum in Fort Worth showcases rare Western photos by celeb shooter

Photography News

Photographer Richard Avedon is best known for his work in fashion and portraits, but the Amon Carter Museum of American Art is showcasing another glorious side.

Called"Avedon's West," it's an installation of select works Avedon shot from 1979-1985 for an exhibit that was commissioned by The Carter in 1979. That exhibit, called "In the American West," was a landmark body of work of 124 photographs.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Avedon's birth, the Carter will showcase 13 of those 124 photographs, several on view for the first time since their 1985 premiere.

The museum-wide installation is on view at the Carter now through October 1.

"We are excited to take part in the national celebration of Richard Avedon’s 100th birthday and to have the opportunity to highlight this influential project, which our museum commissioned nearly 45 years ago,” says Carter Executive Director Andrew J. Walker in a statement.

"Today, Avedon’s 'In the American West' is regarded as a turning point in the photographic canon, challenging conceptions of portraiture and late twentieth-century American life," Walker says. "We are proud to be a part of the history of this monumental project, which is rooted in the Carter’s long-held commitment to working with living artists to tell a broader story of American art."

In 1979, the Carter commissioned Avedon to create a portrait of the region. He spent the next six summers, from 1979 to 1984, traveling to 189 towns in 13 states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming — and into Canada.

He conducted 752 sittings of everyday and often marginalized people - oilfield and slaughterhouse workers, coal miners, students, and service workers - in the same iconic style he used in portraits of celebrities and politicians: against a seamless white backdrop, designed to remove visual markers of place and focus on the individuality of each person.

Each photograph is titled with subject name, location, date, and an occupation. The 1985 exhibition was regarded as a landmark work of portraiture and a definitive expression of the power of photographic art.

Highlights of the works on view in Avedon’s West include the following subjects and commentaries:

Ruby Mercer, publicist, Frontier Days, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 7/31/82 (1982) — This portrait is on view in the Modern America gallery, which highlights the explosive growth of technological advances and urban development in the twentieth century, and artists’ responses to these dramatic transformations. Avedon’s portrait of Mercer not only highlights the role of working women in the West, which is often overlooked in antiquated narratives of the region, but her profession as a publicist emphasizes the business of selling the West as a commodity.

Carol Crittendon, bartender, Butte, Montana, 7/1/81 (1981) — While most western art features male figures such as Euro-American cowboys, "In the American West" expands the narrative incorporating women more fully into the story of the West. Two photographs of Montanan women, including this portrait, are on view in the Legacy Gallery alongside iconic works by Charles Russell, who lived in Montana for over 40 years, broadening the gallery’s presentation of the American West to include other genders and professions.

Blue Cloud Wright, slaughterhouse worker, Omaha, Nebraska, 8/10/79 (1979), Avedon’s portrait of Wright is on view in the America as Landscape gallery, a space dedicated to depictions by nineteenth-century artists of the landscapes of what is now the United States. This positioning allows viewers to confront the reality of the slaughterhouse industry in a gallery that probes the relationships between humans, animals, and land in American national identity.

Rusty McCrickard, janitor, Tracey Featherston, motel maid, Dixon, California, 5/10/81 (1981) — As a photographer who spent his career photographing the powerful and famous, Avedon’s decision to turn his attention toward picturing everyday people in the same monumental style declares their importance and poses questions about class and equality that reverberate today. This portrait, on view in the Opulence and the Everyday gallery, focuses on the artwork that blossomed out of the affluence of the late nineteenth century. The insertion of Avedon’s subjects within the surrounding representations of wealthy socialites further reinforces the artist’s mission to democratize portraiture.

Country music bad boy Morgan Wallen headlines ACM Awards benefit show in Dallas-Fort Worth

Country concert news

Dallas-Fort Worth will be the center of the country music universe on May 11, when the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards are broadcast from The Star in Frisco. As with any worldwide, Super Bowl-level event, there'll be many happenings leading up to it. First up: a benefit concert headlined by Morgan Wallen.

The country music bad boy (and current superstar and reigning ACM Album of the Year winner) takes top billing on "ACM Lifting Lives LIVE: Morgan Wallen & Friends," a fundraiser for Lifting Lives, the philanthropic partner of the Academy of Country Music. The "friends" taking the stage with him include reigning ACM Songwriter of the Year HARDY, reigning ACM New Female Artist and Song of the Year winner Lainey Wilson, ERNEST, Bailey Zimmerman, and DJ 13lackbeard.

The show will be held at 7:30 pm Wednesday, May 10 on the golfing green at Topgolf in The Colony. It will follow the Topgolf Tee-Off and Rock On Fundraiser, presented by VGT by Aristocrat Gaming, taking place earlier that day; the concert is ticketed separately from the golf tournament.

Just what does Lifting Lives do? According to a release, "in addition to distributing more than $4 million to date through its Covid Relief Fund, ACM Lifting Lives provides critical support through the Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund, significant annual commitments to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, Music Health Alliance, and the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, and individual grants to organizations that reach communities all across America."

Now in its fourth year (and first in Texas), the golf tournament brings together artists, industry members, and fans for a golf skills competition and an extended day of live entertainment.

"ACM Lifting Lives does great work providing aid in times of need to folks inside and outside of the music industry,” Wallen says in the release. “My band and I are excited to help them raise funds to continue doing this amazing work.”

Now, for the ticket details, per the release:

  • General Admission tickets to the concert became available to ACM Members, ACM A-List subscribers, 58th ACM Awards ticket holders, and Topgolf Friends and Family through an exclusive presale that started at 12 pm Thursday, March 23.
  • Remaining tickets will be available for a general public onsale beginning Friday, March 24 at 10 am through AXS.
  • Tickets to the benefit concert only are $350 plus service fees.
  • Those who have purchased bays for golf will be able to remain in their bay for the concert, with the bay serving as a suite to watch the show. A limited amount of VIP fan golf bays for the Topgolf Tee-Off and Rock On are available for purchase; email rockon@acmcountry.com.