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Simone Biles is officially back and pushing the limits of human possibility - both on the gymnastics floor and on the medal stand. The world’s most decorated gymnast will compete for her record eighth national title at the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, August 24-27, in San Jose, California.

That’s “record,” as in the first woman or man to win eight national all-around titles. When Biles won her seventh title at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth in 2021, NBC notes, she tied a male gymnast named Alfred Jochim, who won seven, from 1925 to 30 and in 1933. (Yes, 90 years ago.)

At 26, Biles also could become the oldest U.S. women’s all-around champion since USA Gymnastics was founded in 1963. She will go for gold by competing the most difficult vault in women’s gymnastics, the Yurchenko double pike.

To get to the title, Biles will have to flip, twist, and soar above some of her fiercest competitors and Olympic teammates, including Jade Carey, Suni Lee, and her Houston training mate Jordan Chiles. Also in the mix: 2022 national champion Konnor McClain and silver medalist Shilese Jones, and superstars Skye Blakely (of Frisco) Leanne Wong, and Joscelyn Roberson (of Texarkana).

“Fasten your seatbelts. Because there has never been a better time to be a gymnastics fan than now,” say the experts at Inside Gymnastics Magazine.

How to watch this potential history-making competition? With several broadcast and streaming sites all carrying coverage, it’s more complicated than a roundoff-triple-double.

Men will compete for their national titles on Thursday and Saturday, women, on Friday and Sunday. All the action will be shown across NBC properties. The schedule looks like this, all times CDT:

Thursday, August 24

  • 7 pm - Men Day 1 - live on Peacock

Friday, August 25

  • 7 pm - Women Day 1 - live on Peacock

Saturday, August 26

  • 9:30 am - Men Day 1 - rebroadcast on CNBC
  • 3:30 pm - Women Day 1 - rebroadcast on CNBC
  • 6 pm - Men Day 2 - live on Peacock, NBC.com, and CNBC

Sunday, August 27

  • 11 am - Men Day 2 - rebroadcast on NBC
  • 5:30 pm - Women Day 2 - live coverage begins on Peacock and NBC.com
  • 6 pm - Women Day 2 - live on NBC

On the men’s side, the biggest names include Asher Hong and Donnell Whittenburg; reigning all-around champ Brody Malone is out due to injury.

Both the men and women will be competing for spots on five-person teams at the World Championships in October, and looking toward the 2024 Olympic team.

Biles began a comeback to competitive gymnastics earlier this month after a two-year hiatus following the Tokyo Olympics. She won it by a full five points.

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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.

Bowie House hotel debuts in Fort Worth with chophouse serving dry-aged beef

Hotel News

A long-awaited hotel has debuted in Fort Worth: Bowie House, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection portfolio, is now open at 3700 Camp Bowie Blvd., with a chophouse-style restaurant and hundreds of pieces of art.

The property is owned by Jo Ellard, who breeds horses and cattle, and is managed by Auberge Resorts Collection, which is part of the Friedkin Group, a privately held consortium of automotive, hospitality, entertainment, sports and adventure companies.

Bowie House, Auberge Resorts Collection is the second property in Texas, joining Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection in Austin. There's also one coming to Dallas.

Restaurant
The signature restaurant is Bricks and Horses — argh, is that really the name? — a Texas-style contemporary chophouse that will specialize in dry-aged local beef. Executive Chef is Antonio Votta, a Las Vegas native who says the menu will offer an elevated spin on cult Americana classics such as Wild Boar Ribs, Lobster Thermidor, and Big Eye Tuna Crudo with Blood Orange Citronette.

There is also:

  • The Garden, an outdoor space
  • The Billet Room, a "convivial social club"
  • The Mulberry Room, an intimate library bar
  • The Bar, a bar with cocktails, whiskeys, all-day bites, a double-sided fireplace, and a meticulously restored saloon bar

In spring 2024, there are also plans to open Whinny's — argh, is that seriously the name? — a poolside restaurant serving a Middle Eastern-inspired, Texas BBQ menu of light bites, salads, ice cream sandwiches, and frozen drinks.

Rooms
Bowie House has 88 studios, 12 lofts, and 6 suites, several with open-air balconies, boasting a Western-themed decor including hat racks, boot benches, customizable boot shines, white oak floors, woven rugs, textured strié wallcovering, linear headboards upholstered in woven leather with stitched belt straps, and curved bar cabinets with sliding tambour doors revealing lacquered aubergine interiors. The signature accommodation is the three-room Goodnight Suite, which comes with its own dining room for eight, and bird’s eye views of the Cultural District.

Art
Architectural and interiors firm BOKA Powell has combined modern and Western themes, with brick, cast stone, and glass across more than 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, and more than 400 pieces of art by artists such as Ashley Collins, Max Zorn, Don Drumm David Yarrow, and photographer Constance Jaeggi.

"People ask me all the time what the style of Bowie House is, but like the art collection, it’s not any one style, it’s an expression of different elements coming together to create something truly unique," says Jo Ellard. "Sophisticated and comfortable, reflecting its distinctly Texan setting in an entirely original way, Bowie House welcomes everyone who steps inside not as a hotel, but as a wonderful, one-of-a-kind Western home - that was the goal."

Spa
An in-house spa called Ash — argh, is that really the name? these people need branding help — contains five treatment rooms, sauna and steam room, fitness center, nail studio, boutique, and relaxation lounge, with private access to the second floor terrace. Treatments include water dancing, synergistic skin treatments, infrared therapy, non-sleep deep rest massage, an apothecary, and visiting wellness specialists and fitness instructors such as Manjit Devgun, a mindfulness instructor, who'll be on-site December 1-5.

Events
The Nick Fouquet Shop, the French-American designer, will be on-site through mid-February with a custom hat collection inspired by Bowie House, while also offering custom fittings and finishes.

  • December 12: Conversations in the Library is a monthly speaker series kicking off on December 12 with Steve Wrubel sharing the stories behind Ride & Ridden’s limited edition wine label designs as you taste.
  • December 5: Country music writer Heather Morgan will divulge the meaning behind her lyrics in The Mulberry Room’s first Songwriter Sessions.
  • December 7: The Billet Room will welcome Frankie Leonie and Jake Palescic, in the first of regular Thursday Bowie House Records performances.

Seven venues for rental include the terrace of Laney’s Room, the Silverton Room ballroom, the lofty Arcade, or The Billet Room.

Kitchen hideaways among Houzz's 10 top home design predictions for 2024

designed with care

Industrial-style kitchens and tongue-and-groove ceilings were among the hottest home design trends of 2023, but next year is shaping up to be all about timeless style blended with familiar trends of the past.

A new report by Houzz predicts the top home design trends that could emerge in 2024, using data based on the website's search results and expert insight. Here are the top 10 trends they're forecasting in months to come.

Mixing tile and stone for backsplashes
Tile remains the leading backsplash choice for kitchens. However, designers are choosing to break up the monotony of an all-tile background by installing stone or quartz slabs behind the stovetop.

"The slab is often the same material as the countertops, giving the kitchen a vertical display of graphic veining or other interesting details to create a striking focal point that’s easy to wipe clean," the report said.

Fluted furniture
Fluted furniture (namely cabinets and dressers) was initially popular during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic after many viral DIY videos highlighted the idea's budget-friendliness. And Houzz reports that fluted elements have been seen frequently enough "throughout the year" at trade shows to make it a possible emerging trend in 2024. Nearly all furniture pieces can be adorned with the thick appearance of the fluted texture, from bathroom vanities to living room furniture.

2024 Houzz home design trendsJust don't get toothpaste on the fluted bathroom vanity.Photo by Shanna Hickman / parsons i.d.

Cool tones are out, warm neutrals are in
It might be time to say goodbye to "agreeable gray" wall paint, according to Houzz. Gone are the days of cool-toned rooms, as more and more designers are leaning back toward warmer neutrals like beige, cream, and rich brown.

"We first predicted this infusion in the kitchen, but the look is beginning to dominate throughout the home to offer a calmer, more welcoming environment," the report said.

While you're in the middle of picking out your next room color, don't forget to incorporate different tones or experiment with new textures and patterns to give the room a "layered look" that can be versatile across every season.

Blue is the color of 2024
Designers on Houzz are predicting blue will be the color of 2024, no matter what Pantone decides the Color of the Year will be. Adding a pop of color to any room is a great way to draw attention to certain pieces a homeowner may want to showcase.

"Whether it’s a sky-inspired hue or a deep watery color, look for an array of blues to be featured more prominently in decorative materials and housewares in the coming year," the report said.

2024 Houzz home design trendsWarm neutrals are in, but so is a nice calming blue.Photo by Mike Healey Photography / Brittany Lyons Interiors

Can't go wrong with a timeless look
Sustainability is also top-of-mind for many homeowners and designers heading into the new year, no matter what overarching design style they've chosen. According to the report, timeless details like brick, handmade clay tiles, and wood are becoming trendy among modern homes looking for a "quiet luxury" aesthetic. Adding more traditional design elements is also a popular choice for home renovations.

Handmade and custom design details
Speaking along the lines of a timeless style, designers are often searching for handmade or custom-made pieces to include in a home. European design shows championed personalized design elements in 2023, and the idea is catching fire throughout the U.S.

"[Bespoke elements] create a feeling that the homeowner has something truly unique and special," the report said.

A 2023 Houzz report analyzing bathroom trends further corroborates this shift to personalized details with the discovery that 62 percent of homeowners renovating their space were opting for custom-made bathroom vanities.

Hideaways for your countertop appliances
According to interior design blog Apartment Therapy, appliance garages rose to fame in the 1980s-90s, but eventually fell out of favor in the public eye when open shelving began to take over as the dominant kitchen trend. Now the clocks are turning back, and appliance garages are seeing a resurgence among homeowners who want to hide all the gadgets taking up space on their counters.

"Appliance garages conceal countertop appliances such as blenders, coffee makers, and toasters while keeping them easily accessible and organized," the report said.

Where else are we supposed to keep the air fryers or stand mixers?

2024 Houzz home design trendsNo kitchen gadgets will be taking up space in this kitchen while being hidden behind folding cabinet doors.Photo by Andrea Rugg Photography / kate roos design

Herringbone design
In another win for timeless style, herringbone is also making a comeback and can suit any room in a house. As a new-and-improved style, herringbone doesn't have to flow horizontally like it commonly used to. Designers are opting to create an "updated" look with herringbone tile by installing it in funky zig-zag or vertical patterns to improve visual interest.

2024 Houzz home design trends

Photo by Shanna Wolf Photography / Rochelle Lee Interiors LLC

Can't go wrong with herringbone tiles in the kitchen.

Combination laundry and mud rooms
For families with kids running around, combining the laundry room with the mud room is one of the safest ways to mitigate entryway messes. And it's becoming increasingly popular.

"[A mud-laundry room] lets homeowners place grimy sports uniforms, sandy beach towels, or muddy winter coats directly into the wash before they track dirt further into a home," the report said. "A utility sink lets you soak dirty clothes or delicates, and a pulldown faucet is effective at rinsing muddy boots or cleats."

Designers on Houzz highly recommend taking advantage of a mudroom's cabinets, hooks, and cubbies to help organize all the clean clothing, athletic gear, and other items.

Let the green grass grow
When it comes to maintaining curb appeal, leaving more room for greenery never hurts. Garden paths and patios made of pavers that leave space in between for grass to grow is an emerging trend for 2024. Houzz says the natural look and design versatility of greenery between pavers softens the harsh angles of the stone and other hardscape elements. Plus, who doesn't love living in a house where the backyard looks like a lush garden?

2024 Houzz home design trendsA cozy backyard where the green grass grows.Photo courtesy of J. Montgomery Designs, Inc.