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Dallas Love Field

To cut back curbside congestion at its terminal, Dallas Love Field is relocating the pick-up area for rideshare, app-based rides, and taxis.

Services including app-based rideshares (Lyft, Uber, and Wingz) taxis, peer-to-peer luxury vehicles, and limousines for hire will all be relocated from the airport's lower-level roadway to the adjacent Garage B’s Level One. (Alto is the exception; according to a spokesperson, the company won the right to do curbside pick-up at the airport and will not be moving to the garage.)

The change will go into effect Thursday, September 14, 2023.

Passengers seeking app-based rideshare, taxi, peer-to-peer luxury vehicle, and black car/limousine pick-ups will be directed to the south end of level one in Garage B.

Transportation network drivers will only be allowed to stage and pick up passengers on the south end of level one in Garage B.

Repeat violations will result in penalties.

DART and all shuttle buses will continue to pick up and drop off on the lower-level roadway in designated areas only.

Passenger vehicles will not be allowed to park in the designated TNC area on level one in Garage B. (Approximately half of level one will still be available for public use.)

Passengers requiring special assistance will continue receiving prearranged accommodation for their pick-ups.

Love Field undertook an eight-month long project to repurpose existing parking spaces on the first level of Garage B to create pick-up areas and install driveways, LED lighting, wayfinding signs, security cameras, striping and signage.

In an effort to streamline operations, the Department of Aviation analyzed multiple locations to relocate the pick-up area. Garage B was determined to be the most efficient location due to the flexibility it offers for TNC operations and the comparative ease with which the solution could be implemented.

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How to navigate DFW Airport: 6 insider tips from a frequent flyer

Airport News

Air travel is back to normal after the pandemic, with lots of people traveling again this summer and fall, especially abroad, with a demand for international travel that industry pros say they haven't seen in years. If you're returning to the skies, CultureMap contributing writer and frequent flyer Steve Miller has some tips for navigating your way back through the doors at DFW Airport.

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Not only is Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport among the most trafficked in the U.S., it’s also ranked #5 on a list of best airports worldwide. Dallas denizens gladly accept the honor, but with the accolades and the crowds come the inevitable headaches. Parking is a pain, getting in and out of the airport can be a chore and why is every snack or beverage so pricey? And where is the best eating and relaxing in the joint? To traverse DFW’s five terminals and 171 gates, we have a handful of help.

Getting there and back

Riding TEXRail saves money and it’s easier than you think.
We landed one morning at DFW, surprisingly fresh from an overnight from Anchorage via Seattle. Uber showed a one-way rate of $89 to our abode - nearly double the usual price, due to the combination of rush hour and a paucity of drivers. Trinity Metro's TEXRail Line, which runs from DFW Airport to downtown Fort Worth an hour later, is $2.50. From there you can Uber to your doorstep. Uber home cost was $9 from the West End station.

For the best on-site parking, do the math.
The closest and most convenient parking at the airport is Terminal parking, but you’ll pay - $27 per day. Fortunately, DFW Airport reinstated Remote parking in 2022 (although it’s only the South lot, the Remote North lot remains closed). Make sure to book online and use your NTTA toll tag for easy in/out at the lot. A random search gets a rate of $8.36 a day for a week at the remote south lot. Quick math: $100 r/t Uber from Dallas, minimum. Versus $58.50 at the lot. Do that a few times and it adds up. Note: Remote South accepts contactless payment options only - credit cards and NTTA TollTags -but no longer accepts cash.

Secret pickup tips
Pickup and drop off has for decades been a chore at DFW. But we have a method for avoiding the crowds. If you are picking up someone, depending on time, make the connection at the drop off section, which is almost always less crowded. This is especially so in the evening when more people are coming in than leaving. Conversely, when dropping off a passenger, consider the time and perhaps make that move to the arrivals, especially in the a.m., when fewer flights are arriving.

Once you’re inside the airport

Get to Terminal D.
This advice is good only if you arrive early for a flight, or worse, encounter a delay. (And if you’re flying international, you’re already there.) But the food offerings, the layout, the modern design, and the space make this a destination. You can reach it from any terminal since all terminals are connected by tram – a very, very slow-moving tram – which makes the short trek easy. Check the Banh Shop and, yes, the Buffalo Wild Wings in the mezzanine, which has seats overlooking the action on the floor. And the upstairs waiting areas, available at some of the D gates, are excellent for stretching out.

Best place to get gifts.
You’ll never notice it if we don’t tell you; the DFW Employee Store is a great place to score last minute gifts, browse for luggage and other travel accessories, or to look at cool stuff that you probably don’t need. And that includes American Airline swag. It’s located by gate C2, an area that is soothingly sedate on busy days if you want to get away from the noise. Our favorite item right now is the sticker that says, “I ❤️ Airplane Noise”.

Don’t buy the water.
While DFW Airport is unlikely to go the route of SFO, LAX, and the Van Nuys airport by banning the sale of bottled water, we bring our own water container and avoid the 400 percent markup on airport Dasani. We use the plastic cups from Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q. DFW, like many other airports, has over a dozen water refill stations.

Photo courtesy of Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines lets friends fly free with new limited-time pass

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Dallas-based Southwest Airlines has dropped a new promotion but you need to act fast, and it's only for those in their loyalty program.

Starting Monday, August 28, Southwest customers can bring a loved one or friend along for free (mostly) with a new Companion Pass promotion for Rapid Rewards members. Rapid Rewards members can enjoy unlimited usage between January 8 and March 8, 2024.

According to a release, Rapid Rewards should:

  • Register for the Companion Pass online and purchase a Southwest flight — one round trip or two one-way trips — between August 28 and August 30.
  • Be sure to travel by September 30.
  • Designate one companion who will fly for free (flight taxes and fees starting at $5.60 one-way apply, hence the "mostly" free) with them from January 8 through March 8, 2024.

Importantly, the promotion applies to one round trip or two one-way qualifying flights that are booked between August 28, 2023 and exactly 11:59 pm CDT on Wednesday, August 30. Travelers should also remember that the travel period to qualify ends on September 30.

"The Companion Pass is one of the most coveted airline perks in the industry, rewarding Customers for being part of our Rapid Rewards loyalty program,” said Jonathan Clarkson, vice president marketing at Southwest Airlines, in an announcement. "As the airline with heart, we want our Customers to feel appreciated for flying with Southwest, and what better way to do that than to offer the opportunity to travel and share experiences with a Companion."

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Sweet cheesecake 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 listhere.

1. Doors are open at this sweet mom-and-pop cheesecake shop in Fort Worth. A Fort Worth cheesecake company has made it official: Sweetie's Cheesecakes, a family-owned company that's been selling cheesecakes in jars at markets and pop-ups throughout North Texas, has opened its own retail store in far north Fort Worth, at 13033 Harmon Rd. #203.

2. Trinity Metro chooses design team for new Near Southside station in Fort Worth. Trinity Metro has hit another benchmark in its plan to extend TexRail to the Near Southside: The agency has selected a team consisting of Huitt-Zollars + TranSystems, who will partner to serve as final design consultant (FDC) on the transit expansion.

3. 7 Dallas-Fort Worth BBQ joints make Texas Monthly 'new & improved' list. The barbecue experts at Texas Monthly are once again sharing their perspective on where to eat smoked meats statewide courtesy of a new list titled "Top 25 New and Improved BBQ Joints in Texas." Dallas-Fort Worth earns seven of the 25 spots on the list.

4. Top medical cannabis provider sprouts first pickup location in Hurst. Popular medical cannabis supplier Texas Original continues its expansion through Dallas-Fort Worth with the opening of its first-ever permanent pickup location in Hurst. Texas Original's new shop opened August 9 at 760 Airport Fwy. #300 D.

5. Fort Worth cider shop hits the right spot for its distinctive brews. A Fort Worth mom-and-pop cider shop has moved to a glorious new space: Atheneum Cider has relocated to new headquarters in Saginaw, at 1029 N. Saginaw Blvd. #F3, where they celebrated their grand opening on July 7.

Fort Worth Aviation Museum

Aviation exhibit at Fort Worth museum showcases city's rich history of flight

Aviation News

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History has a new exhibit spotlighting Fort Worth's long-standing history with aviation.

Called "Cowtown Takes Flight," it will serve as a tribute to the city's flight heritage, which dates back to aviation's early days when pilots performed aerial stunts in the city's fields.

The exhibit will debut on August 19.

According to a release, the exhibition will shed light on the social histories surrounding aviation's transformation in the Fort Worth area. That'll include the human stories behind the technological advancements and the impact aviation has had on the community.

The exhibit will feature a collection of photographs, artifacts, and hands-on learning, focusing on people from several eras, like a pilot, a servicemember, an industry-related individual, or a record setter. There will be artifacts from each era, both from the museum's collection and items on loan from other organizations and businesses.

That includes contributions from the Fort Worth Aviation Museum, who donated artifacts as well as knowledge, says executive director Jim Hodgson.

"We’ve worked with the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History on a couple of exhibits including 'An Unexpected Friendship: Jimmy Stewart’s Love for Fort Worth,' which is currently on display," Hodgson says. "On this exhibit, we helped with artifacts and research, helping to craft a storyline and filling in the blanks in terms of people and events that they didn’t have."

The exhibit also reflects the domain of The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History's interim director Orlando Carvalho, who was appointed in 2022. Carvalho is a former executive vice president of aeronautics at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Business and a former officer of the Lockheed Martin Corporation. (Regina Faden, Ph.D. is the Museum’s new President and begins her tenure this week.)

Fort Worth has been home to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth (formerly Carswell Field) since 1942, and the adjacent Air Force Plant 4, which started manufacturing military aircraft the same year.

The plant is operated by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, which is supporting the exhibition, alongside the Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation and Humanities Texas.

The city also hosted the AllianceTexas Aviation Expo, formerly known as the Bell Fort Worth Alliance Air Show, for 32 years before the annual event was canceled earlier this year.

"Aviation completely transformed this state from a farm-and-ranch culture to one of the leading aviation centers in the world," Hodgson says. "Most people aren't fully aware of its influence, because it started so long ago."

“Cowtown Takes Flight,” which does not have an announced end date, will be included with regular museum admission.

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Trinity Metro chooses design team for new Near Southside station in Fort Worth

Train News

Trinity Metro has hit another benchmark in its plan to extend TexRail to the Near Southside: The agency has selected a team consisting of Huitt-Zollars + TranSystems, who will partner to serve as final design consultant (FDC) on the transit expansion.

Huitt-Zollars is a design firm with expertise in planning, program management, and construction management. TranSystems oversees construction on transportation networks and infrastructure. Both firms have previously worked for Trinity Metro on projects such as the TEXRail Track and Stations project, which was completed by TranSystems; and the Mahaffey Maintenance Facility, which was completed by Huitt-Zollars.

This project consists of a 2.1-mile commuter rail extension from the Fort Worth T&P Station to a new Near Southside Station in the Fort Worth Medical District.

In addition to the rail extension, it also includes the design of the Near Southside Station with a 100-space park-and-ride lot. Construction on the $167 million program will begin in 2024.

In a statement, Trinity Metro President and CEO Richard Andreski says the expansion represents "a crucial milestone" in the development of Fort Worth's transportation infrastructure.

"By connecting riders to the Near Southside and Medical District, we are offering medical workers, patients and visitors an opportunity to ride the very popular and very successful TEXRAIL," Andreski says. "The expanded rail service will provide a great commuting choice many people while also offering Near Southside residents a seamless connection to DFW Airport."

Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs between downtown Fort Worth and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B; and co-owner of Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART).

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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.

Tasty restaurant news 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 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.

Mr Gatti's Pizza returns to home turf Fort Worth with new location

Pizza News

A Fort Worth-based pizzeria concept has opened a location in Fort Worth: Mr Gatti's Pizza has opened a restaurant off Camp Bowie at 2812 Horne St. #100, a space previously occupied by Helen's Hot Chicken, where they're open with pizza, pizza rolls, and their signature ranch dressing.

The location is a franchise owned by Kirk Jefferies, who also owns and operates franchises of Jason’s Deli and Chicken Express. This is his first Mr Gatti’s, but he has more locations planned.

“When people talk about Mr Gatti's Pizza, you can see a spark in their eyes. We love being able to bring that 'excitement' and combine it with our passion for pizza,” Jefferies says in a release. “Mr Gatti's Pizza has been satisfying cravings for over 50 years. It truly is an honor to be a part of this legacy brand that people cherish."

Menu favorites from about a dozen pizza options include The Sampler, The Deluxe with sausage, pepperoni, & smoked provolone, and BBQ chicken. A basic 12-inch cheese pizza with one topping is $12.

There are lunch specials from 10:30 am-3 pm including pepperoni rolls and salad for $10; 8 wings and salad for $13; and a medium pizza with 2 salads for $15.

The chain was first founded in Stephenville, Texas as The Pizza Place, in September 1964. In 1969, founder James Eure moved to Austin and opened the first Mr Gatti’s Pizza, named for his wife's maiden name.

They have a major presence in South Texas but only two in the DFW area: Plano and Allen.

There was a location that opened in Fort Worth in 2016, at 3280 W. Seventh St. in Museum Place, which at the time, was the first to use the Mr. Gatti’s name; the chain had been going by "Gatti's." So many name changes! It closed in 2018. There was also a location in North Richland Hills which opened in 2016 and closed in early 2019; and a location in Richardson that closed in 2018.

Back in the day they had a big buffet as well as a big game room, two features for which many longtime fans are nostalgic. But this location is just about the pizza.

There are now more than 70 locations in states across the Southeast, including Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.