City of Cowboys and Culture

Hundreds of years ago, settlers who came to Fort Worth were greeted by rolling prairies for as far as the eye could see. Today, those welcoming fields have been replaced by growing cities and towns, but Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) remembers this heritage and culture with the annual celebration of Prairie Day.

BRIT's Prairie Day offers family-friendly education about the beauty and importance of the North Texas landscape through hands-on events and activities that kids will love. Kids will be encouraged to get a little dirty as they help to make seed balls, a Prairie Day tradition. Using a Native American technique, visitors will combine seeds, humus, and red clay into tiny packets of life that will be tossed into the fields surrounding  BRIT to populate the area with native plants. Imagine the fun of returning to the BRIT next spring to see the plants you helped to grow!

Other activities throughout the day will combine fun family games with opportunities to learn about nature, including face painting, balloon twisting, and a variety of games provided by the Log Cabin Village.  In addition, live music and cowboy poets will be on hand to entertain the crowd. 

Don't miss these other great activities:

• Beekeeping demonstrations
• Soap and candle making
• Children’s coloring contest
• Basket Weaving
• Solar Cooking Demonstrations
• Meet two special guest prairie dogs

The 3^rd annual Prairie Day event will be held on Saturday, May 18^th from 10 am to 2 pm at BRIT Headquarters 1700 University Drive.

Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK

Occupation: Innkeeper

Ideal Day in Fort Worth:  85 degrees with light winds!

How would you describe Fort Worth to a visitor? Small enough to keep the “home town” and intimate feel, but large enough to have much to offer.

What do you like most about working in the tourism/hospitality industry? Having the ability to bless a couple by providing them with the ultimate romantic experience.

What is the biggest surprise visitors have about Fort Worth? That there is so much to do; it is the City of Cowboys and Culture! 

What makes Fort Worth different than any other destination? It is a self-contained city with diverse offerings, yet is just a short distance to many major attractions.

Hometown: Shreveport, Louisiana / Fort Worth, Texas

Occupation: Guest Service Champion Holiday Inn Express Western Center

Ideal Day in Fort Worth: Whether it is with your spouse, family or friends, an ideal day in Fort Worth is to begin your journey at the Fort Worth Amon Carter Museum of American Art. There you can enjoy the different art works by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell the two greatest artists of the American West and it is free of charge. You also can enjoy walking hand and hand through the Botanic Garden occasionally stopping to take pictures of the beautiful colorful plants that flourish in the garden. Very romantic. When you get hungry you must sit down and enjoy a juicy steak at the Internationally Renowned Cattlemen's Fort Worth Steak House. After enjoying your day in Fort Worth you can end your journey by checking in to the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Western Center and relax in one of our comfortable beds.

How would you describe Fort Worth to a visitor? Fort Worth is a city that values its sometime wild and wooly Western heritage. It is a cultural heritage that revolves around world-class museums and art venues. There are many hot spots in Fort Worth; to name a few; Billy Bob's the world's largest honky tonk, Downtown /Sundance Square Plaza the most exciting downtown in Texas, Texas Christian University a private, coeducational university in Fort Worth and Joe T. Garcia's is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Fort Worth. Landmarks: Fort Worth Water Gardens is a unique free attraction located on the south end of downtown Fort Worth, Bass Performance Hall is the premier venue for performing arts and other attractions and St. Patrick's Cathedral was constructed from 1888-1892 is the oldest continuously used church building in Fort Worth.

What do you like most about working in the tourism/hospitality industry? I like the ideal that I get the chance to meet and greet many people from different states and country’s. To tell them about all the great things they can do in Fort Worth and all the wonderful things we have to offer.

What is the biggest surprise visitors have about Fort Worth? The biggest surprise I have heard visitors speak about is when they visited the Stockyards. They would always say, “I have never seen cowboys drive a herd of longhorn cattle down a street.” A city with a country feel.

What makes Fort Worth different than any other destination? I think the welcoming hospitality and the friendliness of the people is what makes Fort Worth different from any other destination. Fort Worth has a climate of opportunity for business, education and creativity. This is one of the reasons why my family and I decided to live here.

Hometown: Originally from the Austin TX area, I moved to Fort Worth about 6 years ago.

Occupation: Area Director of Sales for the Hampton Inn and Residence Inn Fort Worth Alliance Airport

Ideal Day in Fort Worth: I have two small boys who love the outdoors just as much as I do.  A typical day in Fort Worth would be to grab lunch at Central Market at Fort Worth's West Side. The boys love the slide so we would then head over to Trinity Park to play on the playground and enjoy a ride on the Train!  We may catch dinner at Jakes Burgers and then walk it off with a nice stroll in Sundance Square.

How would you describe Fort Worth to a visitor? Fort Worth is a rapidly growing city with a smalltime feel. This city has reserved the culture of "Where the West Begins" offering live bull riding, cattle drives, the best shops for western wear and the best country dancing ever!  Fort Worth also offers Scat Jazz Lounge, the best spot for Jazz, The Bass Concert Hall to catch an opera, an array selection of museums and a diverse selection of restaurants- City of Cowboys and Culture!

What do you like most about working in the tourism/hospitality industry? Every day is an adventure in this industry. One day, I could be in the dining room to assist with cleaning tables and picking up dishes. In the next few minutes, I'm back on the phones or in my car to find new business opportunities. I meet new people on a daily basis and each day offers a new batch of challenges. At the end of the day, "another satisfied customer!" and that's the most rewarding part of my career!

What is the biggest surprise visitors have about Fort Worth? There's so much to do in Fort Worth and it has something for everyone!

What makes Fort Worth different than any other destination? Fort Worth is an extremely diverse city offering a small-town feel with so much to do  including adult nightlife, entertainment for the family, bull riding to catching an play at the concert hall.

Hometown: Vicksburg, Mississippi

Occupation: Dual Sales Manager for Residence Inn Cultural District and TownePlace Suites Downtown Fort Worth

Ideal Day in Fort Worth: Shopping in the Cultural District, lunch outside at Joe T. Garcia's, and happy hour in the Stockyards!

How would you describe Fort Worth to a visitor? A city with the perfect mixture of culture, Texas heritage, history, artistic flare, fantastic food, and of course, fun!

What do you like most about working in the tourism/hospitality industry? What I like most about working in the hospitality industry are the lasting relationships that I get the chance to build daily.

What is the biggest surprise visitors have about Fort Worth? That we're NOT Dallas! Just having a little fun, but seriously, that Fort Worth is so hospitable, welcoming, and easy to work with!

What makes Fort Worth different than any other destination? The mix of wonderful people. Where else can you see a cowboy in the Stockyards and a gentleman in a tuxedo going to a symphony at Bass Hall, at the same time!
 

In my opinion, there's no better gift than that of an sharing an amazing meal at one of Fort Worth's hottest brunch spots with someone you love. If you're looking for something a little less traditional to do with your mom in Fort Worth on her special day, we've come up with a few ideas for you. Nothing says Cowboys and Culture like a horseback ride along the Trinity Trails and afterwards, perusing any of the five world-class museums—all within walking distance—within Fort Worth's park-like setting of the Cultural District. Maybe your mom is an animal lover, and in that case, adopting an animal in her name from the Fort Worth Zoo, is sure to make a memorable gift. There are few moms who don't enjoy a good find, let alone in an incredible antique mall, so check out Montgomery Street Antique Mall and enjoy lunch in the Secret Garden Tearoom. If your mom just prefers (and deserves) to be pampered, you can't go wrong with a gift certificate to the Mokara Spa at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel. 

If you're with me, and agree that brunch offers the best of both lunch and breakfast worlds, check out our top ten picks for Best Mother's Day Brunch in Fort Worth. Whether you choose brunch in Downtown, Near Southside or the Cultural District, there's plenty to see and do this Mother's Day! Call ahead for reservations. 

Downtown / Sundance Square 

Cantina Laredo - Mother's Day Brunch; 11a-3p.

Cast Iron - Mother's Day Brunch at the Omni Hotel; 10a-2:30

Grace - Mother's Day Brunch and Lunch; 11:30a–1:30p.

Reata Restaurant - Sunday Mother's Day Brunch; 11a-2:30p.

Near Southside

Brewed Fort Worth - Mother's Day Brunch with Free mimosas for mom; 9:30a-2:30p.

Cat City Grill - Mother's Day Brunch; 10:30a-12:30p

Ellerbe Fine Foods -  Mother's Day Brunch; 10:30a-2:00p. 

Cultural District 

Café Modern - Brunch at the Modern Art Museum;10a-3p.

Lanny's Alta Cocina Mexicana - Mother's Day Brunch; 10:30a-2p.

The Gardens Restaurant - Mother's Day Brunch at the Botanical Gardens; 10a-3p.

Hometown: Martha originally from Lubbock, TX & Richard from Lake Jackson, TX

Occupation:  Owners/Innkeepers of Azalea Plantation B&B for 20 years

Ideal Day in Fort Worth: Wake up in your lovely, quiet room at the Azalea Plantation B&B to the aroma of fresh coffee and a gourmet hot breakfast awaiting you in the dining room.  After breakfast, head over to I-30 & Montgomery to browse through artfully displayed aisles of treasures from the past at Montgomery Street Antique Mall. Only a few minutes from there is Kool Nails (corner of W. Seventh & University) where you can treat yourself to an amazing mani and pedi at a reasonable price and by professional and friendly staff.  For a yummy lunch, go across West 7th Street on Foch to La Familia for lunch with the locals. Guaranteed: you won’t be disappointed as they have quite a following! Spend the afternoon checking out Fort Worth’s state of the art museums or the Botanic Gardens. Return to the B&B for a little rest and relaxation, and perhaps a glass of wine.  Later, enjoy dinner at Lonesome Dove in the Historic Stockyards District, an incredibly unique culinary experience. The Stockyards District has plenty of live music and boot scootin’, so don’t turn in too early...go have some fun before heading back to the B&B for a perfect night of sweet dreams! (You’ll be dreaming about Cowboys & Culture!)

How would you describe Fort Worth to a visitor? Fort Worth is a friendly BIG hometown with ties to the past and eyes on the future!

What do you like most about working in the tourism/hospitality industry? I love the opportunity to show people a great time. It’s truly a blessing to have a job that you love doing! True hospitality gives me the opportunity to go that extra mile and create an experience that our guests will cherish and remember for a long time.

What is the biggest surprise visitors have about Fort Worth? We are constantly surprised by the number of international visitors to our city and how much they know about Fort Worth and the area. They absolutely love it here!

What makes Fort Worth different than any other destination? Fort Worth has that air of “having it all together” but without the attitude.  Everyone is welcome and accepted, and leaves feeling that they are better for having visited our “hometown”.

Learn more about Azalea Plantation Bed and Breakfast, located at 1400 Robinwood Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76111.

If you are looking for a fun-and free-way to spend your weekend, bring your family out to Stockyard Exchange for the annual Frontier Forts Days, May 10-11, 2013. During the two-day event, the Stockyard National Historic District will take you back in time to the wild and wooly days of the Texas frontier. During the festival, cowboys, Native Americans, and military personnel come together to reenact a time when these vastly different cultures mingled and clashed, as they forged the future for the city of Fort Worth. 

Exchange Avenue will be transformed to the 19^th century and lined with encampments from the Texas Forts Trail. Wander through the camps to learn about the tools and daily life of the soldiers, as well as get a unique glimpse of the relationship between Texas and US Military. Parades, demonstrations, and other cultural encounters are ongoing throughout the day to give you a glimpse of the journeys and people who shaped the land.

With so many action-packed activities on the agenda, the kids will be so entertained that they won’t even realize they are learning about an important period in Texas history.

You won’t want to miss:

• Artillery demonstrations
• Infantry and Cavalry demonstrations
• Native American performances
• Live music
• 10 Fort encampments
• Military parades and presentations

Frontier Forts Days will begin on Friday, May 10 at 10:00 am and run through Saturday May 11 at 5:00 pm. 

Photo: Brian Hutson

Fort Worth native, Jamey Ice, guitarist for Green River Ordinance, is proud to say he grew up in the City of Cowboys and Culture. For the last seven years, he has traveled the country with GRO—playing every major city in America, but any time he’s asked what his favorite city is, he is quick to respond, “Fort Worth...it's my favorite city in the country”. Jamey recently opened up BREWED, a restaurant/ pub / coffeehouse on Magnolia Ave., the main street on one of Fort Worth’s emerging districts, the Near Southside. The vision behind BREWED was to create a “local living room” – a place where people can come to feel at home, be inspired and enjoy great hand-crafted food and drinks. Jamey said, “It was fun because I got to bring a lot of ideas that I have seen in other parts of the country back here to Fort Worth.”

Hometown: The greatest city in America…Fort Worth, Texas!

Occupation: Guitar player in Green River Ordinance & owner of BREWED. 

Favorite Fort Worth District: The Near Southside. It's a ton of fun. I love it because it is a community that supports and embraces local things. There are so many local artists and artisans here, dreamers and thinkers, awesome one-of-a-kind local businesses, and incredible local eateries. It's also a very community-driven area, with vibrant people who are passionate and active about supporting local goods. People are always outside: riding their bikes, working in the community gardens, or walking their dogs. My wife and I live in Fairmount and we are crazy about our neighborhood and the big front porches are a true reflection of  that everyone is always outside hanging out. I literally see my neighbors every day. I cant think of another neighborhood in town that has the community and camaraderie among the neighbors as Fairmount. 

Favorite Fort Worth Restaurant: BREWED?!? Fort Worth has so many killer places to eat, it is so hard to pick. But if I had to pick the one restaurant that I frequent most and has a special place in my heart, it would have to be Benito’s on Magnolia. It is the real deal authentic Mexican food, not the tex-mex stuff (not that there is anything wrong with good tex mex!). They have great authentic menudo, ceviche, chile rellenos, mole, and my favorite dish, queso flameado (a flaming cheese queso)! It's my dad’s favorite restaurant, so we grew up going there every Sunday and has become a weekly staple ever since. 

Describe your ideal day in Fort Worth. I am obsessed with my city, so it's hard for me to pick just a one-day itinerary. I love Fort Worth in the summertime when the weather is warm. My ideal day would have to include walking around Magnolia, some Fairmount front porch hanging out with my neighbors, sipping margaritas at Joe T's, exploring the Modern, riding my bike around the Trinity River, and maybe catching some awesome music and fireworks during the summer concert series at the Botanic Gardens.

Where are your favorite places to listen to live music in Fort Worth? Green River Ordinance literally got our start at The Aardvark on Berry Street. We started playing there in high school and continued through our TCU days, and I still love catching bands there. The new Live Oak Music Lounge is also a great new spot that is bringing in some awesome music. Of course, it doesn’t get much better than seeing someone play at Bass Performance Hall; that place is unreal. It doesn’t matter who is playing because any show at Bass Hall is sure to be amazing!

If you had to describe Fort Worth in a song title/create a song title for Fort Worth, what would it be? Oh man that’s a hard one. There are some good songs about Fort Worth. Steve Earl has the famous “Fort Worth Blues” song. For some reason Pat Greens music always reminds me of home. With GRO, we have spent so much time writing and recording our music here in town that it's hard not to associate Fort Worth with our songs. “West Wind” and “Dancing Shoes” both loosely about our City. 

If you could play a live show anywhere in Fort Worth, somewhere out of the norm, where would that be? We are playing at the Concerts in the Garden this summer. That is literally one of my favorite things to go to every year, so I am pretty pumped for that. Definitely a “Bucket List” show. But something out of the norm....hmmm. It would be fun to do a show on the roof of the 7^th street parking garage. It has a killer view of all of downtown, so that would be pretty fun! 

Your favorite place to get inspired in Fort Worth: The Kimbell Art Museum lawn (before they started construction on the Renzo Piano expansion). I can’t tell you how many Green River Ordinance songs were written right in front of the Kimbell or by the giant vortex statue at the Modern. Whenever we would get writer’s block, we would always grab our guitars and go down to Fort Worth Cultural District. 

Celebrate the beauty of spring, one of the best times of the year to visit the City of Cowboys and Culture. Spring in Fort Worth is evident through the incredible 75-degree and sunny weather, blooming bluebonnets and the influx of people enjoying the Trinity Trails. Each year, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden celebrates the season with a Japanese-themed Spring Festival in the enchanting Japanese Garden. On Saturday, April 20th (10am-5pm) and Sunday, April 21st (11am-5pm), discover the beautifully-lanscaped Japanese Garden, where stone, earth, leaf and water become one amongst 7-acres of wonder.

This family-friendly festival offers entertainment for all ages including Sakura Dancers, demonstration of martial arts and the deft use of Japanese swords. Attendees can wander the wavering paths of the garden, listening to koto music and taiko drumming, participate in the tea ceremony, explore the bonsai and ikebana exhibits, indulge in reiki relaxation techniques, and shop among numerous vendors selling jewlery, artwork and gifts. Enjoy an afternoon culinary delight in the food court and shop in the gift store that features Japanese tea sets, sake sets, toys and books. Bring the kids for special children's activities including kimono dress up; Japanese storytelling; origami, calligraphy, Japanese crafts and games; temporary tattoos; Japanese fish painting; and feeding the koi fish. For more information, click here.

Admission: $6.00 for adults $3.00 for children 4-12; under 4 admitted free. 

This Earth Day, (April 22, 2013) Fort Worth will be celebrating in style as the city launches the Fort Worth B-Cycle, the first-ever bike sharing system in North Texas. Texas is making environmental strides as the only state with three cities to have a bike-sharing program: San Antonio, Houston and now, the City of Cowboys and Culture. If you're not familiar, bike sharing is an environmentally-friendly mode of transportation based on the shared use of public bicycles. Run by the nonprofit organization, Fort Worth Bike Sharing, the system will feature 300 specially designed Trek bicycles available for checkout from 30 docking stations located throughout the city: from Downtown Sundance Square to the Cultural District and the Near Southside.

Memberships for the new bike share program are for sale and if you sign up before the Earth Day launch on April 22, you receive a $10 discount on an annual membership by using promo code, "earlybird." An annual membership costs $80; students, seniors and military can purchase for $65. Annual members will receive "B-cards," which enable them to more quickly checkout bikes from the bike share station. Another perk for these annual members is that they can use their B-cycle memberships in other B-cycle cities, including San Antonio, Houston, Denver and Nashville. The Earth Day event launch will include a featured send-off of approximately 300 volunteers riding the bicycles from Burnett Park to each docking station. Avid cyclist, Mayor Betsy Price and Councilman Joel Burns will be among the riders. Come on out for this special Earth Day celebration at Burnett Park on April 22-Let's Ride! 

Photo: Fort Worth Bike Sharing - Jason Lamers, Mayor Price's Chief of Staff testing out the B-Cycle

It's no secret that we’re not all barbeque and Tex-Mex in Fort Worth. In addition to succulent steaks, righteous ribs, farm-to-table dining, and mouth-watering Mexican fare, you’ll find world-class flavors from around the globe, including sophisticated Italian dining and exotic Asian cuisine. In fact, some of the greatest culinary artists, Jon Bonnell, Tim Love and Lanny Lancarte call the City of Cowboys and Culture home. As the culinary scene in Fort Worth continues to rise, there's no better time to share Fort Worth's finest and no better way to celebrate the thriving culinary scene than Fort Worth's first annual Food + Wine Festival next spring: March 27-30, 2014!

Be sure to save the date, as you don't want to miss this celebration of the Fort Worth food culture!

Hometown: Westport, ct 

Need your belly washed? 

 

In cowboy parlance, belly wash is coffee, a saddle blanket is a pancake and Pecos strawberries are beans.

 

Welcome to Fort Worth, Texas, which prides itself on being known as the City of Cowboys. (You can see cowboys herding longhorn cattle on the streets twice each day in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, though today it’s strictly for the tourists.)

 

But Fort Worth also prides itself on being a city of culture. After all, there are five world-class museums here, from the Modern Art Museum, the second-largest museum gallery space for modern art in the country after MoMA New York to the Kimbell Art Museum, which has in its collection Michelangelo’s first painting and is undergoing a $125 million expansion to the Cattle Raisers Museum, that is literally a museum within a museum at the fantastic Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, which also includes the Fort Worth Children’s Museum.

 

It was at the Cattle Raisers Museum that I learned the lingo for chuck wagon eats. By the end of the Civil War, I also learned, millions of heads of cattle were in Texas and the teams that herded them North along the Chisholm Trail stopped here for supplies at what originally was settled as an army fort to protect settlers from Indian attacks on the frontier. The kids will love the interactive computer games that challenge them to drive the cattle to the ranch. Did you know that some ranchers use helicopters today to keep track of their herds?

 

Fort Worth certainly would be a good option for a Family Spring Break

 

Got a little cowgirl in the bunch? A few steps from the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame that celebrates the resilience and athleticism of the women who helped settle the frontier and entertained at rodeos and Wild West shows. 

 

I love that Fort Worth offers the opportunity to juxtapose Western history in museums and outside on the streets. Did I mention the Amon Carter Museum of American Art and the Sid Richardson Museum, both feature works by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell, two of the country’s greatest Western artists.

 

Eat some Texas barbecue  or Tex-Mex(we went to Riscky’s) for traditional Mexican fare at the sprawling Joe T. Garcia’s in a Mexican-style hacienda that has been a fixture here since 1935. (Enchiladas or fajitas?) Stop for breakfast (biscuits and gravy or cheese grits maybe?) or a piece of freshly-made pie (coconut or chocolate) at the Paris Coffee Shop that has been in the same family for more than 70 years. In case you are wondering, owner Mike Smith, who makes the pies, says coconut and chocolate cream are the most popular.

 

By now you’ve got to work off all the good eats, so grab your cowboy hat and go horseback riding along the Trinity River trails or take a hike at the huge (3,600-acre Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, where there’s also the chance to see a variety of animals native to this area — cottontail rabbits, prairie dogs, beavers and bison among them.

 

I’m busy breaking in my new Fort Worth cowboy boots.

 

© 2012 EILEEN OGINTZ

 

For more Fort Worth information and things to do this Spring Break, Click Here. 

 

Fort Worth Cattle Raiser's Museum (within the Museum of Science and History)

Even though it seems like we just celebrated Halloween, Fort Worth is starting to look a lot like Christmas. With Sundance Square's Christmas tree in place and the Annual Chesapeake Parade of Lights in Downtown Fort Worth on the Horizon, it's time to get into the holiday spirit! Check out these fantastic events to build up your holiday cheer.

Don't miss the Annual Sundance Square tree lighting ceremony following the Parade of Lights on November 23, 2012. To celebrate the parade's 30-year milestone, the route will be lengthened, and will extend from the Tarrant County Courthouse to the Fort Worth Convention Center. Expect over half a million holiday lights, ultimately transforming Downtown Fort Worth with "The Wonder of it All!" theme.

Christmas in the Stockyards takes place December 1, 2012, and is a Fort Worth holiday tradition where you can take your picture with Cowboy Santa, enjoy pony rides and celebrate the season with the one and only, Fort Worth Herd.

One of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit is to catch a show with your family at one of the numerous performing arts venues in Fort Worth. Holiday favorites include 'Twas the Night Before Christmas at Casa Mañana and Home for the Holidays at Bass Performance Hall.

With more than two million LED lights, The Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway is back and a great opportunity to share the joy of the season with friends and family. Evenings through January 6, enjoy dazzling displays; proceeds from Gift of Lights benefits the Tarrant Area Food Bank, Goodwill Industries, and KLTY Christmas Wish. Click Here for more information on holidays in the City of Cowboys and Culture. 

The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is ranked 4th in terms of operations and 8th in terms of passengers in the world! DFW International Aiport makes it easy for visitors to come to North Texas from more than 190 destinations! This busy airport covers more than 26.9 square miles - It's a city on its own.

Each day more than 150,000 passengers pass through DFW International Airport on their way to and from the North Texas Region. This is one of the busiest airports in the nation, with an average of 2,000 flights daily. This airport is not only beneficial to visitors but to residents of North Texas who travel for business and pleasure. With 20 airlines and just 17.5 miles from Fort Worth, DFW Airport makes it convenient to visit the City of Cowboys and Culture. 

Once your in Fort Worth, getting around is even easier. The close proximity of Fort Worth's three districts makes the city's convention center, hotels, attractions, and restaurants extremely accessible for visitors. The fact that they are located within a three-mile radius of one another, coupled with beautiful scenery, a friendly atmosphere and safety, makes Fort Worth the ideal destination. Click here to learn more about Transportation in and around Fort Worth.

Alright Tech Fans, this weekend is the big game, Texas Tech vs. TCU. As a Tech alumn, I thought I would recommend a few places that you might enjoy pre or post game.

1. If you’re a Chimy’s fan in Lubbock you’re in luck! There is a Chimy’s in Fort Worth too. Your favorite margaritas are not that far away!
2. If you’re a Cricket’s fan in Lubbock try Flying Saucer. This great Fort Worth original can offer you a wide range of beers and a great atmosphere in downtown.
3. If you’re a Mesquites fan in Lubbock try Lola’s Saloon. If unique and one of a kind is your thing. This is the place to be.
4. If you’re a Blue Light fan in Lubbock try Magnolia Motor Lounge. Live music lives here! This is a great place to relax and take in some great music!
5. If you’re a Roof Top fan in Lubbock try The Usual. Located on Magnolia Street in the Near Southside district, The Usual will never disappoint! Sip unique cocktails and enjoy this sophisticated atmosphere.

There are so many great places to try in Fort Worth, the City of Cowboys and Culture! Check out our Nightlife Page for more going out ideas or visit our Tech VS. TCU Gameday Weekend Page. 

Now through January 2013, you have the opportunity to see the largest traveling exhibition the Amon Carter Museum of American Art has ever presented-completely free. Opening in Italy in 2010, traveling to Madrid, then Tokyo and now Fort Worth, To See as Artists See: American Art from the Philips Collection is composed of ten thematic units that takes you through a journey across time of American art. Fort Worth, the City of Cowboys and Culture is one of only three cities to host the exhibition.

Duncan Phillips, one of the few voices to champion American art as well as young struggling artists, opened The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C. in 1921 as America's first museum of modern art. To See as Artists See is the first large-scale, traveling presentation of The Phillips’s celebrated collection of American art. The exhibit offering a historical narrative of the collection from 1850 to 1960, includes work by over 63 American artists including Georgia O’Keeffe, Stuart Davis, Arthur G. Dove and Walt Kuhn.

After a guided tour last week , what I found most transparent about the exhibit was Duncan Phillip's compassion for young, struggling artists and his artistic eye for paintings that at the time of purchase were worth very little. In the 1920s, Phillip purchased Edward Hopper's Sunday (pictured below) for just $600; now the painting is estimated to be worth well into the millions. This reoccurring motif is apparent throughout the exhibit and uniquely parallels that of the American Dream: taking a chance on someone or something to follow the pursuit of one's passion. Don't miss your chance to view the passion that paid off and see this incredible exhibit in the world-renowned Fort Worth Cultural District. 

Photo Credit: Good Guys Rod and Custom Association 

Fort Worth is a city that loves music, whether it’s a renowned symphony orchestra or the jingle of western spurs and bellowing cattle, music strikes a special chord in the City of Cowboys and Culture. With the live music scene on the rise, it's no surprise that Fort Worth hosts the Annual Fort Worth Music Festival, (formerly Jazz by the Boulevard) a two-day music, art and culinary event in the Fort Worth Cultural District off Camp Bowie Blvd. 

The festival which takes place on the shady lawn of Will Rogers Memorial Center this weekend, (Sept. 28-29, 2012) is open to all ages. Experience incredible talent from national, regional and the local music scene. 20 acts on 2 stages, cooking classes led by area chefs and local artwork for sale include the fest's entertainment lineup. Headliners include Dr. Dog, Hayes Carll, Kevin Eubanks and more. Expect tons of food options from local food truck scene as well. 

In addition to the rockin' time you'll have at the fest, don't miss the After Hours shows and parties all around town. From Lola's to the Live Oak, there's nonstop live music happening throughout weekend, even after the fest. Visit the full after show lineup. For more info on live music in Fort Worth, click here. >>> Photo credit: Brian Hutson