Tasty restaurant news tops this week's 5 most-read Fort Worth stories

This week's hot headlines

Fish City Grill

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 listhere.

1. Fat tacos, crispy pepperoni pizza, and more Fort Worth restaurant news. We have lots of tasty restaurant dish in Fort Worth right now, including a new pizzeria, a new AYCE pizza buffet, and new limited-edition tacos. There's more than one fried chicken offering, and at least two pumpkin specials. Here's what's happening in Fort Worth restaurant news.

2. Restaurant bullish on burgers and bourbon cocktails comes to Grapevine. A better burger concept from South Carolina is taking a crack at Texas: Bohemian Bull, a small chain founded in Charleston in 2013, has opened its first Texas location in Grapevine, featuring burgers and a full bar with 24 craft beer taps.

3. Award-winning Mexican restaurant hits the jackpot at new Denton location. A DFW restaurant that's earned national acclaim has opened in Denton: El Rincón del Maiz, previously of Garland, is now located at 1431 E. McKinney St. in Denton where it's winning over locals with its Tex-Mex classics and vegan dishes.

4. Fort Worth Symphony Opening Night Celebration ushers in new season with grace and gusto. Thunder crashed and lightning crackled outside, but a freak Friday night thunderstorm couldn’t dampen spirits at the Fort Worth Symphony Opening Night Concert and Celebration on September 8.

5. Where to drink in Fort Worth right now: 9 best bars to watch college football. Three weeks into the season and college football is on fire. Here are nine of the best bars to visit for some college football-watching in Fort Worth right now - a mix of old favorites and a few new surprises.

Photo courtesy of Beyoncé

These are the 14 best things to do in Fort Worth this weekend

Weekend Event Planner

This weekend marks the beginning of fall, even if the temperatures don't yet reflect the seasonal change. With it this year in and around Fort Worth comes a music superstar, fall holiday events, dance productions, a cabaret show, NASCAR races, multiple other concerts, and more.

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, September 21

Fort Worth Oktoberfest
Fort Worth Oktoberfest is a three-day celebration of German culture with the best in Bavarian entertainment. Guests can drink das bier, eat das sausage, and polka till they drop. This year’s lineup includes Alex Meixner Band, Das Ist Lustig, Alpenmusikanten, Walburg Boys and the Happy Hour Oktoberfestband. There will also be a midway with carnival rides and games. The festival takes place through Saturday at Trinity Park.

Haunted houses/Halloween events
Halloween is over a month a way, but you can get in the spirit now by going to one of a couple of haunted houses/Halloween events now open near Fort Worth. They include Pumpkin Nights at Howell Farms in Arlington, featuring over 5,000 hand-carved real and artificial pumpkins; and Fright Fest at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, featuring seven different haunted houses, a variety of scare zones with zombies, witches, and more, and chilling rides in the dark. Both are open through at least October 30, with more haunts opening next week.

Authentic Flamenco presents Amador Rojas
Teatro Real - The Royal Opera of Madrid and Fever have teamed up to present Authentic Flamenco, a traditional flamenco dance show. The live presentation features award-winning Spanish artists Amador Rojas and Ángeles Gabaldón as dancers, Paco Iglesias on guitar, Diego Amador and Tomasa Peña as singers, and Luis Amador on percussion. There will be two performances on Thursday at Downtown Cowtown at the Isis.

Fort Worth Dance Festival
The mission of Fort Worth Dance Festival is to preserve and promote dance in the city of Fort Worth. The festival will gather various area dance institutions, ranging from dance professionals, artists, choreographers, students, teachers, studio owners, artistic directors, dance clothing stores, and others to share ideas, experiences, technique, and artistic voices. The festival takes place through Saturday at I.M. Terrell Academy.

The Cliburn presents Anna Geniushene
Anna Geniushene’s fresh, layered, and powerful interpretations defined her participation at the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition - and won her the coveted silver medal and the adoration of fans around the globe. Her inaugural season as a Cliburn winner included recital appearances in the United States, Japan, China, and Lithuania. She'll perform on both Thursday and Friday at Kimbell Art Museum.

Casa Mañana presents Vintage Pop!: From The 1920s to the 1980s with Carole J. Bufford
Vintage Pop travels by decade, from the 1920s to the 1980s, exploring how the style and sound of pop music developed over the years. The show will highlight Carole J. Bufford's inimitable style, stories behind the music, and songs by Judy Garland, Sophie Tucker, Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Sting, Tina Turner, Prince, and more. The show will play in the Reid Cabaret Theatre at Casa Mañana through September 30.

Beyoncé in concert
It's taken a long time, but R&B/pop superstar Beyoncé has finally arrived in Arlington in one of the last stops on her Renaissance World Tour. The tour, which is in support of her 2022 album, Renaissance, has been met with rapturous reviews at every stop, featuring a variety of big special guests and the production value that only Queen Bey can deliver. If you're lucky enough to have a ticket, you can see her perform at AT&T Stadium.

Friday, September 22

Southall in concert
Southall - formerly The Read Southall Band - formed out of the local songwriting scene in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 2015 following the success of Read Southall's debut solo album, Six String Sorrow. The country band has released three albums in their short career, most recently 2021's For the Birds. They'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.

Saturday, September 23

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History presents "Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit"
The new exhibition "Very Eric Carle" highlights a journey into the imaginative world of the renowned author and illustrator. Inspired by his quintet of "very" books, including the beloved classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the play-and-learn exhibition is all about friendship, creativity, and the power of imagination. Visitors can step into a kaleidoscope of colors, textures, and shapes, where the boundaries between art and nature blur. The exhibition will be on display at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History through January 7, 2024.

NASCAR Weekend at Texas Motor Speedway
With the NASCAR season in its final stretch, Texas Motor Speedway will play host to two major races with playoff implications. On Saturday will be the Andy's Frozen Custard 300, which kicks off the Xfinity Series Playoffs. That will be followed on Sunday by the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400, in which the top 12 drivers left in the Cup Series compete on the 1.5 mile speedway, including point leaders William Byron and Martin Truex Jr.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents FLY Dance Company: Breakin’ Classical
FLY is what happens when street dance and classical music meet, but that’s not all. Based in Houston, FLY is pure fun - youthful energy, risk-taking movement, and clever choreography set to a mix of surprising musical selections. FLY has been spreading their infectious “theatrical hip hop” around the world since 1992. They'll perform with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra at Will Rogers Auditorium.

Daughtry in concert
For a fourth-place finisher on American Idol, Chris Daughtry sure has made the most of his opportunity. He's one of only a handful of contestants to become an unqualified success after the show, as he and his band have racked up multiple No. 1 songs and albums. With six albums in their career, most recently 2021's Dearly Beloved, they'll play at Arlington Music Hall.

Sunday, September 24

BoDeans in concert
Rock band BoDeans is entering its fifth decade, having formed in Wisconsin in 1983. Although they've released 14 albums throughout the career, most recently 2022's 4 The Last Time, they're best known for their 1993 song, "Closer to Free," which served as the theme song to the TV family drama series, Party of Five. They'll play at Tannahill's Tavern & Music Hall.

Christian Nodal in concert
It's still early in Mexican singer Christian Nodal's career, but he's already set an enviable pace. Each of his three albums, most recently 2020's Ayayay!, have gone to No. 1 on Billboard's Regional Mexican Albums charts, as well as the top 10 Billboard Latin charts. And pretty much every single he puts out, including two off his new EP, Forajido 2, make the top 10 on the Mexican charts. He'll play at Dickies Arena.

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Photo courtesy of Beyoncé

Beyoncé will perform at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on September 21.

Photo by Karen Almond

Fort Worth Symphony Opening Night Celebration ushers in new season with grace and gusto

Opening night ovation

Thunder crashed and lightning crackled outside, but a freak Friday night thunderstorm couldn’t dampen spirits at the Fort Worth Symphony Opening Night Concert and Celebration on September 8.

First a performance by the FWSO and 19-year-old pianist Yunchan Lim, under the direction of Robert Spano, lit up the audience inside Bass Hall. It was Lim’s highly anticipated return to the stage where he became the youngest-ever winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2022 (and has since become a piano rock star).

After their performance of Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Spano bear-hugged Lim, the audience rose for several curtain calls, a patron in the front row presented Lim flowers, and he returned the adoration with a solo encore.

Spano and the orchestra book-ended Lim’s performance with two beloved works by Brahms, his Academic Festival Overture and Symphony No. 1 in C minor. It was an electrifying start to the 2023-24 season, which marks Spano’s second as FWSO music director.

Following the concert, FWSO's most devoted supporters braved gusty winds of a coming storm to walk to City Club for a dinner party. Hosted by chairman Mercedes T. Bass and the FWSO board of directors, the Opening Night Celebration honored Alann B. Sampson for decades of service to the orchestra, the Cliburn, and the greater Fort Worth arts and cultural community.

While a pianist serenaded, patrons filed in and grabbed glasses of wine and champagne or visited the bar for a mixed drink or shaken martini. A towering violin-shaped ice sculpture provided both the focal point of the elegant room and a popular photo opp.

The opening-night party is as much a celebration of the FWSO musicians as it is of those who support the music-making. Relaxed and fresh from the stage, musicians including concertmaster Michael Shih, principal bassoon Joshua Elmore, assistant principal trumpet Cody McClarty, violinist Camilla Wojciechowska, violinist Albert Yamamoto (and many more) mingled with CEO Keith Cerny and wife Jennifer and other symphony leaders.

Guests dined on a buffet supper of sliced beef tenderloin, lamb chops, cold salmon, an assortment of finger sandwiches, salad, and charcuterie; a mashed potato bar; and a tower of mini desserts.

FWSO principal pianist Shields-Collins “Buddy" Bray introduced Sampson as recipient of the prestigious FWSO Medal of Excellence. Sampson joined the FWSO Board of Directors in 1991 and has been involved with the Cliburn since its inception.

“Alann has been a proselytizer for music, an evangelist for music in the city of Fort Worth, and this has been her story her whole life,” he said, describing how she passed out programs at the first Cliburn competition in 1962.

In her heartfelt remarks, Sampson called it a “privilege of a lifetime” to share the celebratory evening with Lim and the FWSO leadership and musicians. “Please know it is I who celebrates you,” she said.

She acknowledged family members in attendance - daughter Anne and husband Brett Leonard and granddaughter Madeleine Leonard, son Edward Sampson and wife Jennifer - and friends with whom she has shared many decades of service and support.

“To the musicians," she added poetically, “I’m just the backstage girl, and my instrument is my heart … Indeed the musicians, with Maestro, you are the strings to the stars, you are the winds for the celestial orbs, and with unceasing beat, you give awareness to the presence of the eternal. You bring harmony to the marking of time in this world through times of sorrow, praise, and joy, we can’t live without music.”

She ended, appropriately, with "a wink to Van Cliburn," her dear departed friend, who no doubt was celebrating in the presence of the eternal.

Among those offering Sampson warm applause were friends and fellow FWSO patrons Carla Thompson, Marcia French, Frasher Pergande, John Broude, Connie Beck, Priscilla Martin, Charles White, Richard Moncrief, Marsland Moncrief, Gail Rawl, Capera Ryan, Ken Blasingame, J. Brooks, Lee Hallman, Yann Coatanlem, and Tommy Smith.

Photo by Karen Almond

Brett Leonard, Madeleine Leonard, Anne Leonard, Alann Sampson, Yunchan Lim, Jennifer Sampson, Edward Sampson III

Photo courtesy of Lainey Wilson

These are the 12 best things to do in Fort Worth this weekend

Weekend Event Planner

The biggest event of the weekend across Fort Worth will happen right up front, when a big pop star comes to town. Other choices will include a comic residency, a short-form theater festival, the start of a new symphony season starring a piano superstar, a trio of other concerts, a local production of a Tony Award-winning musical, and more.

Photo courtesy of Lainey Wilson

Lainey Wilson plays at Billy Bob's Texas on September 8.

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, September 7

Sam Smith in concert with Jessie Reyez
Singer Sam Smith has experienced quite the musical and personal journey over the past decade. Their 2014 debut album, In the Lonely Hour, seemed to announce them as the next great soul singer. But after coming out first as gay and then as genderqueer, their music has gone in a much different direction, with their last two albums - including 2023's Gloria - having more of a dance pop vibe. They will perform at Dickies Arena, joined by Jessie Reyez.

Amphibian Stage presents Gabe Mollica: Deductible
Comedian Gabe Mollica has tried for something unique in his recent work, developing a stand-up set that straddles the line between theatre and comedy. His new project, Deductible, takes aim at the U.S. healthcare system. He'll perform three times through Saturday at Amphibian Stage.

Friday, September 8

Fort Worth Fringe Festival
The Fort Worth Fringe Festival features a variety of different acts, ranging from rarely-produced theatre, dance, storytelling, puppetry, poetry, and more from performers from all over Texas and beyond. Headlining the festival is A Man of No Importance by the London-based Scrambled Egg Theatre Company, and other companies presenting productions include The Maverick Theatre Company, Next Stage, Scene Shop, imPULSE Dance Project, and more. The festival takes place through Sunday at Arts Fort Worth.

Magnolia at the Modern: Between Two Worlds
Famed author Marianne Winckler (Juliette Binoche) goes undercover to investigate the exploitation of working class people in northern France. She eventually lands a job as a cleaner and develops close connections with the other cleaning women. As she learns more about the plight of these workers, Marianne struggles with her deception and tries to rationalize that it’s for the greater good. The film, which is in French with English subtitles, will screen seven times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Fort Worth Botanic Garden presents Celebramos: A Celebration of Latin American Culture & Heritage
The Fort Worth Botanic Garden will present their third annual Celebramos: A Celebration of Latin American Culture & Heritage. The monthlong extravaganza will include 18 separate events, including dance and musical performances, art exhibitions, food, fashion, shopping opportunities, and special after-hour events. The festival takes place on weekends through October 15.

EarthX Film presents "A Party for the Planet"
EarthX Film presents “A Party for the Planet,” an evening featuring three short films focused on the environment, a discussion of the films, and music from Fort Worth native Abraham Alexander. Alexander will put on both a short, acoustic performance to begin the event, and a full set with his band to close out the evening. The event takes place at Downtown Cowtown at the Isis.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents "Cliburn Competition’s Gold Medalist: Schumann and Brahms"
Once every four years, the Van Cliburn competition pits pianists from around the world against one another in one of classical music’s most prestigious competitions. To open the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s new season, 2022 gold medalist Yunchan Lim - who has shot to superstardom in the year since his win - returns to deliver Schumann’s Piano Concerto. FWSO Music Director Robert Spano also conducts Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 as well as the composer’s Academic Festival Overture. There will be three performances through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.

Lainey Wilson in concert
Unlike some other country singers, Lainey Wilson has faced a somewhat difficult road toward stardom. Coming out of a small town in Louisiana, she moved to Nashville when she was just 19 and put out a couple of lightly-regarded albums. It wasn't until almost a decade later when she finally broke out with the 2020 single, "Things a Man Oughta Know." Her follow-up album, 2022's Bell Bottom Country, made the top 10 on the Billboard Country charts, and thanks in part to her role in the hit show Yellowstone, she looks poised for success for years to come. She'll make her Billy Bob's Texas debut.

Saturday, September 9

Fort Worth Art Dealers Association presents Fall Gallery Night
Twice a year, the Fort Worth Art Dealers Association invites visitors to take in the visual arts and the community’s unique cultural richness during Gallery Night. Most participants are open from 12-9 pm. Guests can take a stroll through participating galleries, museums, retail businesses, and area restaurants, and enjoy the many artists featured during this community event.

Casa Mañana presents Jersey Boys
Jersey Boys is a jukebox musical that takes audiences behind the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons to discover the secret of a 40-year friendship as the foursome works their way from the streets of New Jersey to the heights of stardom. The production, which features hits like “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Dawn,” and “My Eyes Adored You,” runs through September 17 at Casa Mañana.

Magic City Hippies in concert
Embracing everything from AM radio rock and poolside pop to nimble raps and salsa, Magic City Hippies lock into an era-less vibe with no shortage of funk or hooks. The three-piece band delivers the kind of bangers you can play on the way to the party, during the party, and to smooth over the comedown as the sun comes up. They'll play at Tannahill's Tavern & Music Hall in support of their 2022 album, Water Your Garden.

Mike Ryan in concert
Earlier this year, singer Mike Ryan made his return to Billy Bob's Texas after a seven-year absence, and barely six months later he's back again. The San Antonio native is a favorite all around Texas, playing at multiple festivals and concert venues. For the first time in five years, he has new music to showcase, as he released his fourth album, Longcut, in 2022.

Photo by Evan Michael Woods

These are the 11 best things to do in Fort Worth this Labor Day weekend

Weekend Event Planner

Sure, you can get in one last vacation over Labor Day weekend, or you can take in some of the wide variety of events the area has to offer. There will be three new local theater productions, special screenings of a new animated film, a symphonic tribute to a great band, a trio of concerts, the final days of an art exhibition, and another opportunity to see two other popular exhibitions.

Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this Labor Day weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, August 31

Stage West presents Grand Horizons
Bill and Nancy are 50 years into their marriage. But just as they settle comfortably into a new senior living community, the unthinkable happens - Nancy wants out. Their two adult sons are shaken to the core, and are forced to re-examine everything they thought they knew about their lives and the people who raised them. The production, making its regional premiere at Stage West, will run through October 1.

Friday, September 1

Magnolia at the Modern: Ernest and Célestine: A Trip to Gibberitia
Ernest and Célestine return in a delightful and joyous follow-up to their first Academy Award-nominated adventure, which introduced a bear and mouse as the unlikeliest of friends. It is up to Ernest and Célestine and their new friends, including a mysterious masked outlaw, to bring music and happiness back to the land of bears. The film, which is in French with English subtitles, will have six screenings through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents "Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles"
The most successful and longest running show of its kind, Hotel California “A Salute to the Eagles” is the only show to have ever received “Official Authorization” to perform the Eagles catalog of music. The symphonic concert will feature all of the group's biggest hits, including "Take It Easy," "Best of My Love," "Life in the Fast Lane," "Hotel California," and more. There will be three performances through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.

Artisan Center Theater presents Oliver
The streets of Victorian England come to life as Oliver, a malnourished orphan in a workhouse, becomes the neglected apprentice of an undertaker. Oliver escapes to London and finds acceptance amongst a group of petty thieves and pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin. The production runs through October 7 at Artisan Theater Center in Hurst.

Hip Pocket Theatre presents Testing Ground 3+3
Hip Pocket Theatre will return to its roots in experimental theatre by producing a festival of three new works. The production features Mariposa Skyway by Rob Bosquez, Red by JoAnn Gracey, and Concrete Shoes by Shelby Griffin. There will be three performances through Sunday.

Dolly Shine in concert
Texas band Dolly Shine broke out in 2010, releasing their first full length album, Room To Breathe, in 2013, and follow-up, Walkabout, in 2016. While the membership of the band has changed throughout the years, they've remained a presence at local festivals and at Billy Bob's Texas, where they've played a number of times. They'll be there yet again on Friday night.

Saturday, September 2

Josh Weathers in concert
Josh Weathers is a Fort Worth-based soulful singer-songwriter. He has spent close to 20 years honing his craft of combining songs of hope with a high energy rock n’ soul live show. He's no stranger to the various stages around Fort Worth, and he released a live album in November 2020. He'll play at Tannahill's Tavern & Music Hall.

William Beckmann in concert
Born and raised in the small border town of Del Rio, Texas, William Beckmann plays classic country and American roots music that was influenced by his early immersion in Mariachi and Norteño music. He delivers evocative, literate tunes, kind of like fellow Del Rio native Radney Foster, who’s helped mentor him since high school. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas in support of his new album, Here's to You, Here's to Me.

Sunday, September 3

Kimbell Art Museum presents "Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art" closing day
Sunday will be the final day to view "Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art" at Kimbell Art Museum. The exhibition of some 120 rarely-seen masterpieces and recent discoveries depicts episodes in the life cycle of the gods, from the moment of their birth to resplendent transformations as blossoming flowers or fearsome creatures of the night.

Monday, September 4

Fun exhibitions for Labor Day
An extra day off gives you the perfect opportunity to take in two fun exhibitions if you haven't already done so. The recently-opened "FLORIGAMIINTHEGARDEN" at Fort Worth Botanic Garden features 18 museum-quality sculptures inspired by the Japanese art of paper folding, ranging from a few feet to more than 30 feet tall. Meow Wolf: The Real Unreal is a journey through a technicolor wonderland that blends storytelling, technology, and immersive art, featuring more than 30+ rooms of multidimensional art and compelling narrative.

Photo by Evan Michael Woods

Stage West presents Grand Horizons through October 1.

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These are the 10 best things to do in Fort Worth this weekend

Weekend Event Planner

This weekend across Fort Worth features four big concerts, headlined by a huge Hip Hop collaboration. Other choices include two new theater productions, screenings of a new film and a London theater production, a one-night-only symphony concert, and a flurry of movement at an art museum.

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, August 24

Lyle Lovett and His Large Band in concert
A singer, composer, and actor, Lyle Lovett has broadened the definition of American music in a career that spans 15 albums over three decades. Coupled with his gift for storytelling, the Texas-based musician fuses elements of Americana, swing, jazz, folk, gospel, and blues in a convention-defying manner that breaks down barriers. He'll perform at Bass Performance Hall in support of his 2022 album, 12th of June.

Circle Theatre presents The Other Josh Cohen
Josh Cohen just can’t get a break. He’s single, broke, and to top it all off, his apartment’s been robbed of everything but a Neil Diamond CD. Soon though, his luck takes a turn when a mysterious envelope arrives that changes his life forever. Thus begins the hilarious and quirky romantic comedy about a good guy caught in a lifelong battle with bad luck. The play, making its regional premiere at Circle Theatre, runs through September 16.

LL Cool J: The F.O.R.C.E. Live with The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and more
Just two weeks after the official 50th anniversary of Hip Hop, some of the biggest stars in the world come to town for a unique collaborative concert. LL Cool J will be the headliner, but he'll be joined by The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and DJ Z-Trip, as well as Rakim, Big Boi, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Juvenile, Goodie Mob, and MC Lyte. Unlike the traditional “opening act – headliner” format, the show will be a nonstop musical mash up with artist performances interwoven within one continuous musical set backed by The Roots.

Friday, August 25

Magnolia at the Modern: Shortcomings
A struggling filmmaker who works for a local Asian American film festival spends his time obsessing over unavailable blonde women, watching Criterion Collection DVDs, and eating in diners with his best friend, a queer grad student with a serial dating habit. When his girlfriend moves to New York for an internship, he is left to his own devices, and begins to explore what he thinks he might want. The film will screen seven times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Theatre Arlington presents Avenue Q
Avenue Q is a puppet-filled comedy (for adults) that follows a group of twenty-somethings seeking their purpose in big-city life. The laugh-out-loud musical tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton, who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that, although the residents seem nice, it’s clear that this is not your ordinary neighborhood. The production runs through September 10 at Theatre Arlington.

Granger Smith featuring Earl Dibbles Jr. Farewell Tour
For years, country singer Granger Smith has used his alter ego, Earl Dibbles Jr., to explore a more brash and humorous side to his music. Now, however, Smith has decided to retire both the alter ego and his regular personality to devote more time to his other passion, the ministry. He'll play two special shows at Billy Bob's Texas in support of his 2022 album, Moonrise.

Saturday, August 26

National Theatre Live: Best of Enemies
David Harewood and Zachary Quinto play feuding political rivals in James Graham’s new drama, Best of Enemies. In 1968 America, as two men fight to become the next president, all eyes are on the battle between two others: the cunningly conservative William F. Buckley Jr., and the unruly liberal Gore Vidal. During a new nightly television format, they debate the moral landscape of a shattered nation. This screening of a previously recorded event will be at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents "Stars of the Symphony"
"Stars of the Symphony" is an evening celebrating the talent of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra musicians collaborating together in virtuosic roles. In this performance at Bass Performance Hall, members of the orchestra take the spotlight, from clarinetist Stas Chernyshev and bassoonist Josh Elmore in Strauss’ Duett-Concertino and percussionist Nick Sakakeeny in Toshio Mashima’s Marimba Concerto to Shields-Collins “Buddy” Bray with Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

Sunday, August 27

Amon Carter Museum of American Art openings and closings
Sunday is moving day at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, with two exhibitions opening and one coming to a close. Opening is "Come to Colorado," which showcases 19th-century photographs, including work from W. J. Carpenter, Joseph M. Collier, and William Henry Jackson; and "The World Outside: Louise Nevelson at Midcentury," one of the first exhibitions examining Louise Nevelson’s midcentury sculptures and works on paper through the lens of the artistic and cultural landscape that shaped her vision. Both will run through January 7, 2024. Closing is Arthur Dove: "Miniature Laboratories," which examines a selection of work from the last years of Dove’s life, hundreds of works on paper, most measuring three-by-four-inches, that experimented with various mediums and techniques.

Phil Wickham and Brandon Lake in concert
Christian worship leaders Phil Wickham and Brandon Lake will play at Dickies Arena as part of the Summer Worship Nights tour, joined by KB. Wickham’s eighth album, Hymn of Heaven, was released in 2021 with a special guest appearance by Lake. Lake is touring in support of his 2022 album, Help!

Photo courtesy of LL Cool J

LL Cool J will headline The F.O.R.C.E. Live at Dickies Arena on August 24.

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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.

Ultra-chic Postino WineCafe brings wine and bruschetta to Southlake

Wine News

A nationally acclaimed wine bar-restaurant has opened in Southlake: Postino WineCafé, specializing in wine, bites, and a chic atmosphere, opened a location at 1440 Main St., in Southlake Town Square, in the no-brainer slot next to Trader Joe's.

Postino is known for its daily happy hour, bruschetta boards, and menu built for sharing, as well as a laid-back atmosphere, designed for all-day hangouts with friends, date nights, client get-togethers, and family outings.

The chain first came to Dallas in 2021 when they opened a location in Deep Ellum. They closed that location two years later in March 2023 and relocated to Addison, where they just opened in August.

"We are thrilled to bring Postino to Southlake and the heart of bustling Town Square," says Postino Co-Founder Lauren Bailey. “The Dallas/Fort Worth market is very important to us, and we are excited to be expanding our footprint here so soon – just a month since debuting in Addison."

Founded in Arizona in 2001, Postino's goal is to bring people together over wine and food. Its bruschettas are a menu mainstay, artfully presented on boards made of reclaimed wood, with 12 variations including:

Prosciutto Di Parma, Fresh Fig & Mascarpone
Sweet N’ Spicy Pepper Jam & Goat Cheese
Brie, Apple and Fig Spread
Ricotta, Dates & Pistachio

Guests can mix and match four bruschetta per board, meaning you can try more than one a time. The entire menu is that way: designed without a definitive beginning or end, with the freedom to tailor your experience based on the occasion, from a meal to a swift bite.

A category called Snacky Things features chicken and filet skewers with garlic yogurt, shrimp scampi, and crispy cauliflower with sultana raisins, capers, and a Romesco drizzle.

There are entrée salads, soups, hand-pressed paninis (on ciabatta or focaccia bread), with the option to mix-and-match sandwich, salad, and soup.

Desserts include: Chocolate Bouchon with vanilla bean ice cream, Crème Brulee, and Salted Caramel Sundae with vanilla ice cream, chocolate covered corn nuts, pretzel sticks, and salted caramel drizzle.

Weekend brunch is served from 11 am-3 pm with spritzy cocktails, lemonades, and bowls

The wine list by Advanced Sommelier and Beverage VP Brent Karlicek is especially fun to sample during their 11 am-5 pm happy hour spotlighting 25-plus wines for $6 a glass, along with $6 pitchers of beer, both local and beyond.

"We fervently champion winemakers across the globe – from trailblazers like Folk Machine, Mary Taylor, and Scarpetta to the guardians of tradition like Ernst Loosen and Bonny Doon," Karlicek says in a statement. "Producers dedicated to crafting approachable, harmonious wines without sacrificing excellence truly resonate with us. Our aim is to kindle a symphony of excitement and curiosity within our patrons during their dining journey."

Decor is attuned to the neighborhood, with art installations and local/vintage finds. At Southlake, that means a tribute to the Back to The Future series, which was the original inspiration that shaped architect Brian Stebbins’s design for Town Square. An interior wall is decked with close to 400 vintage clocks, juxtaposed by plants.

A semi-private dining space can accommodate up to 14 guests for showers, parties, and other events.

Fort Worth Fire Department welcomes its largest recruit class ever

Firefighter News

The Fort Worth Fire Department must be doing something right: On September 25, the department welcomed its newest class of recruits at Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex to start their Fire Training Academy journey, a 36-week course.

With 60 recruits, the class is twice the size as the usual Academy class — making it the largest recruit class in the history of the department.

The class of 60 includes two sub-groups:

The first group, Class 93, consists of 10 "fast-tracked" students who already hold their Fire and EMS certifications. They'll graduate on November 17.
The second group, Class 94, consists of 50 brand new recruits who hold no certifications. They'll graduate on May 17, 2024.

This largest class in the history of the Fort Worth Fire Department comes after the Mayor, City Council and City Management’s vote to approve staffing levels where they need to be for a Department serving a city this size.

In August, a fire ad-hoc committee recommended increasing the fire department's staffing with 76 new positions, from 979 to 1,049 positions - particularly to cut back on overtime costs, racked up due to an increase in the number of special events they are called on to cover.

The recommendation called for the department to take on two 50-person recruitment classes, one in September and one in February, with approximately 25 percent predicted to fall out due to attrition, for a total of 76.

In addition to the increased number of recruits attending the Academy, staffing studies and negotiations with City leadership and stakeholders has made room for an additional 15 people to be added to the training team. These new training instructors, as well as the use of adjunct instructors from within the Department, will provide even more skill-based learning opportunities with experienced and tenured firefighters.

In a statement, Chief JIm Davis said, "I want to thank the Mayor, City Council and City Management for their diligence in seeing us through our staffing study and helping make the necessary adjustments to our staffing levels. I’m excited that the Department is growing alongside the City of Fort Worth and look forward to watching the new recruits go through one of the best training academy’s in the country."

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