Fort Worth Meeting

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 Today, those welcoming fields have been replaced by growing cities and towns, but Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) remembers this heritage and culture with the annual celebration of Prairie Day.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.

“The prairie, in all its expressions, is a massive, subtle place, with a long history of contradiction and misunderstanding.  But it is worth the effort at comprehension.  It is, after all, at the center of our national identity.” – Wayne Fields

On May 18, a variety of local organizations will descend upon the Botanical Research Institute of Texas® (BRIT) for a day of free family-friendly fun that celebrates the history and beauty of the North Texas landscape. Known as “Prairie Day”, the annual celebration focuses on BRIT’s acre-and-a-half of restored prairie habitat, which is filled with the native plant life that would have covered Fort Worth almost two hundred years ago.

Prairie Day began in 2010 when seed balls were created to help populate BRIT’s new campus meadow with a variety of native flowers and grasses. Seed balls are a Native American tradition, consisting of tiny modules that contain all the ingredients needed to give seeds a little help getting started in their new habitat – seeds, humus, dried powered red clay and sand. After being mixed with water and rolled into spherical shapes, seed balls literally become tiny gardens waiting to happen.

Local Dallas-Fort Worth organizations will also be participating in Prairie Day, including the Fort Worth Zoo, Metro Bee Keepers Club, and Blackland Prairie Raptor Center. The Log Cabin Village, a living history museum located just south of BRIT in Fort Worth’s Cultural District, will be offering a variety of activities including paper flower-making, spinning, and games. Other pioneer-themed demonstrations include making mesquite flower, acorn leeching, soap and candle making, solar oven cooking, composting, basket weaving, and gourd art.

Prairie Day visitors will have the opportunity to visit discovery booths, which will be representative of a variety of local environmental causes, including the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge, the River Legacy Foundation, the Fort Worth Prairie Park, Texas Bluebird Society, and many more. Finally, performances will be staged by the Bearclaw Singers and Dancers, cowboy poet Lanny Joe Burnett, Prairie Divas & The Outlaw. Live music by 3 Fools on 3 Stools will culminate in a barbeque lunch at noon.

New to Prairie Day this year are two special guests: a pair of prairie dogs from Lubbock-based organization Citizens for Prairie Dogs. BRIT has been hosting a competition to name these special guests on their Facebook and Twitter pages, and the person who contributed the winning name submissions will receive several prizes, plus a one-on-one meeting with BRIT’s furry friends.

A Celebration of Texas History

At one time, the Texas landscape could boast about 20 million acres of tallgrass prairie. According to the Native Prairies Association of Texas, in the early 1800s the tallgrass prairie ecosystem extended across the heartland of the United States, from southern Canada through Fort Worth-Dallas before continuing south to San Antonio. (Texas’ Blackland Prairie and Grand Prairie subregions are included in this.) Before settlers arrived, the prairie was home to a variety of plant life and grazing animals, from buffalo and deer to rabbits and prairie dogs. The native grasslands protected watersheds across the Texas plains, increasing water infiltration and yield, as well as reducing erosion and reservoir sedimentation.

Today, less than 1% of that historic tallgrass prairie remains due to a combination of suburban sprawl, plowing for row-crop agriculture, and overgrazing by livestock. In fact, the tallgrass prairie is considered by the National Park Service to be one of the most endangered large ecosystems in the world.

Restoring a Prairie

The acre-and-a-half of prairie that resides next to BRIT’s sustainable, LEED-certified headquarters has proven incredibly beneficial to researchers hoping to study and preserve this disappearing ecosystem. For example, it allows BRIT researchers to learn the most safe, effective, and practical way to control the spread of invasive species such as Johnson grass (introduced from the Mediterranean region), King Ranch Bluestem (an invasive exotic grass from Asia), and Bermuda grass (a native of Asia and northeast Africa). BRIT’s prairie is also undergoing a soil remediation and regeneration project, in which different areas of the prairie are dusted with a combination of prairie soil and compost tea intended to inoculate the soil with the microbes and bacteria that are present in healthy native prairies. “The posts in the field mark the areas of different experimental treatments,” explains Dr. Will McClatchey, BRIT Vice President and Director of Research. “All of the treatments use native soil from a donor prairie site in the same watershed as BRIT. The donor soil has been processed in different ways – simply spread onto the surface of the BRIT soil, or fermented to produce a liquid that was then spread on the surface of the BRIT soil. A third choice has been to add no donor soil. Our prediction is that one of the donor soil additions will prove to be more effective at promoting prairie soil regeneration than not adding any donor soil at all.” With time and a little patience, BRIT’s prairie research will eventually prove beneficial not only for scientists, but for others who wish to manage urban grasslands.

Going Back to Basics

BRIT’s building, completed in 2011, seems brand new when compared to the legacy of the land that it stands on. And ultimately, that legacy is what the organization’s celebration of Prairie Day is all about.

“There is value in native plants, in terms of their relevancy to the history of Texas, but native plants have more value in contemporary times in terms of their effects on water, soil, and conservation in general,” says Tammie Crole, BRIT’s Head of Membership. “BRIT’s prairie demonstrates that beauty is not just defined by fancy green lawns. There is another way to save water and to maintain the integrity of the landscape, and that’s going back to the basics, filling our environment with plants that naturally grow here and belong here, as they have for hundreds of years. Prairie Day is more than a celebration of Fort Worth’s historical past. It’s a reminder that we have to be good stewards of our own lawns, our own natural resources, and our own landscapes.”

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.

There is nothing quite like the joy that comes from a family bike ride. With every turn, not only do you travel forward, but you also keep the air clean, get some exercise, and join a global community of riders who are traveling the miles using pedal power. 

Be a special part of the biking community this Saturday, May 18^th as you join with bicycling enthusiast Mayor Betsy Price and the bike patrol of the FWPD for the annual Southside Bike Ride. A leisurely ride through Fort Worth’s Near Southside neighborhood kicks off at 9:00 am at One Safe Place, 777 W. Rosedale St. raising awareness for safe bicycling practices for participants of all ages. At the end of th ride, families will enjoy a kid’s bike rodeo, booths promoting family health, and a special chance to meet local police officers and firefighters. You can even get your picture taken with the Chief of Police.

The event is free and you can register online or at the event on Saturday morning.  Don’t forget to grab your $10 commemorative T-shirt, proving that you and your family are bicycling rock stars. All proceeds from the event go to support the FWPD bike patrol in purchasing new equipment and fund special training.  For more family fun in Fort Worth, visit our Family-Friendly page.

Hometown: I grew up in Ennis, TX, which is a small town about an hour south of Fort Worth.

Occupation: Sales Manager at the Holiday Inn Express at Cityview.

Ideal Day in Fort Worth: Bike ride at Trinity Trails, a short trip to Fort Woof Dog Park (I have two very spoiled dogs), and wrap it up with a night at Concerts in the Gardens.

How would you describe Fort Worth to a visitor? Fort Worth is a big city with a small town feel.

What do you like most about working in the tourism/hospitality industry? I am a “people” person, I love meeting people and showing off our beautiful city.

What is the biggest surprise visitors have about Fort Worth? Visitors are most surprised by the hospitality of the Fort Worth people.

What makes Fort Worth different than any other destination? The diversity of Fort Worth, its Western Heritage to its unmatched cultural arts, makes this city stand out from the rest.

Look out Fort Worth, the newest taco revolution has landed! Torchy's Tacos has recently set up shop in the Near SouthSide at 928 Northton Street. This menu is full of options that you have never seen before like this months ‘Taco of the Month’ the Double Wide. This taco features hand-battered chicken fried steak with chopped bacon, then topped with green chile queso, cotija and pico de gallo. You won’t want to miss their one of a kind Green Chile Queso & Chips. This features Torchys’s homemade chips with delicious green chile queso topped off with guacamole, queso fresco, cilantro & diablo sauce. Chef Mike Rypka has created an exciting menu that will keep you guessing and coming back for more.

Torchy’s started when Chef Michael Ryka left his executive chef job to follow his dreams. The first Torchy’s was in a food truck in Austin. Mike literally drove around on his scoter and handed out free chips and salsa to bring in the customers. Hard worked paid off and today Torchy’s operates several stores and trailer parks.

This is a great place to meet up with friends for a drink or casual meal. Check out other great Near SouthSide Restaurants or Nightlife locations for more Things To Do in Fort Worth!

Photo Credit: Aimee Wenske

Chandler Bownds has had his PRCA card for two years and has won several major rodeos in that short amount of time. In 2011, he was not only named Resistol’s Rookie of the Year, but also qualified for the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Be sure to catch Chandler on February 8th and 9th when he will be competing at the 117th annual Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo!

Name: Chandler Bownds
 
Hometown: Lubbock, Texas
 
Rodeo Event: Bull Riding
 
How did you become interested in riding bulls?
My Dad is a team roper and when I was little I used to follow him around every time he went to go rope. However, I was introduced to bull riding and raising bucking bulls at age ten when I met stock contractor Lyndal Hurst. His daughters moved into our school district and we stock showed together.  He invited me to come and try to ride and it stuck…I’ve been doing it ever since then.
 
What is your most memorable moment in the arena?
My most memorable moment in the arena is when I was 95 points and tied the arena record is Ellensburg, Wa.
 
Who would you consider one of your heroes in the sport of rodeo?
Lane Frost because he was a great bull rider and an inspiration to the rodeo world. I had the honor of meeting Lane Frost’s parents at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo a couple of years ago. I consider that to be a memory I will never forget.

What would your advice be to someone interested in becoming a bull rider?
Set a goal, try hard, be positive, and surround yourself with a good support system. Make sure you have the right equipment, especially your Justin boots, and you get on a lot of practice bulls when you get the opportunity. Most of all, don’t forget where you came from and what it took to get there.
 
What is your favorite thing to do outside of competing when you visit Fort Worth?
I like going to a Rangers game or hanging out with friends that live in the area.
 
What is your favorite place to eat when you visit Fort Worth?
 My favorite place to eat is Fred’s. It’s a great atmosphere and I like to listen to some of the bands that they have play there.

Photo Credit: James Phifer

Fort Worth is excited to announce that they will be host to Go West Summit January 28th-31st, 2013! Go West Summit is the premier business-oriented travel tradeshow selling the American West. We bring together the world's top international tour operators with specialty suppliers who offer year-round products in a 13 state region of the Western United States.

Monday starts off with a Buyers only exclusive tour of Fort Worth. This will be for tour operators from all over the world to get a sneak peak at all the Fort Worth has to offer.

Opening night will kick off on Monday evening at Billy Bob's Texas with an event called "Two Step Across Texas". Cities from all over Texas are coming together to welcome this group. In the 25 years that Go West Summit has been meeting this will be the first meeting in the State of Texas!

Tuesday, after a long day of meetings this group will spread out across Downtown and the Stockyards for a dine around. This gives attendees the chance to Experience Fort Worth on their own. If you happen to be out and about that night and see someone looking lost show that Fort Worth hospitality that we are known for and ask if they need directions somewhere! Check out our dinning selection and point them in the direction of your favorite restaurant!

Wednesday the conference celebrates the last day of meetings with a reception by Omni Hotel, an evening out at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and after hours in Sundance Square at Lone Star!

Thursday offers six different tours around the Fort Worth area depending on the attendee’s interests. They range everywhere from the Western Experience at Wildcatter Ranch to Shopping at Paragon Outlets,  Cowboys Stadium Tours to the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, a walk in JFK's footsteps to a fast pace tour at Texas Motor Speedway. There is never a short supply of things to do in North Texas!

Help us in Welcoming Go West Summit this January to Fort Worth! Fort more information contact your Tourism Team or Go West's Website.

The North Texas Area was fortunate enough to be chosen as the host of the 2012 Japan-America Grassroots Summit. 165 adults and students traveled from Japan to DFW International Airport on August 28^th. The Hilton Hotel in downtown Fort Worth served as a home away from home for this group. After settling in at the Hotel the group ventured to Rangers Stadium where for the Japan-America Friendship Night. The 16-member youth baseball team from the Japan city of Ishinomaki were in attendance. Many of the boys were still talking on Thursday morning about how they were able to meet Ranger’s player Yu Darvish and that he made a donation to the TOMODACHI Initiative. TOMODACHI initiative support's Japan's recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011.

The next day the group enjoyed site seeing all over the DFW Area before meeting back together in the Fort Worth Historic Stockyards for the Daily cattle drive by the Herd and an opening ceremony at Billy Bob’s Texas that will keep them talking for years to come. The following morning the group took a walking tour of downtown which included: Fire Station No.1, Sid Richardson Museum, Bass Hall and iFortWorth.

After leaving Fort Worth the group will be broken into 15 groups and will be participants in a homestay program involving 15 of the cities in the DFW area. Safe Travels to all of our new friends!

Hometown: Originally from Brentwood, Tenn., but have lived in Fort Worth for 14 years.

Occupation: Full-time Mom, Part-time Public Relations Consultant

Top Fort Worth kid-friendly activity/attraction: Hands down the Fort Worth Zoo. Every time we go we see something new and different. We also love the benefit of having a family membership. It’s nice to be able to go stroll around for an hour if that’s all the time we have, or stay and explore all afternoon. I will have to say we love the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History too. You can’t beat an air-conditioned family attraction during the Texas summers.

Favorite Fort Worth family memory: One of my favorite Fort Worth family summer memories was two summers ago when we were in town for the Fourth of July. We swam all day, grilled hamburgers, made homemade vanilla ice cream and then climbed up on our second-story deck and saw fireworks displays in all directions around the city (without the loud noise).

Describe your ideal summer day in Fort Worth with the kids:  My ideal day would start early before the heat sets in. We would head to the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens to feed the fish in the Koi pond. Next we might go across the street and ride the Forest Park train. It’s always fun the see the ducks and turtles sunning on the rocks in the Trinity River. After the train ride, we would meet up with some friends at Central Market to grab lunch on the patio and let the kids play on the playground. If my kids could hang, I would take them to the Kimbell Museum to see the French Impressionist exhibit (with a stroller of course). To wrap up the day it would be fun to pack a picnic with the family and head out to Concerts in the Garden to listen to music, let them dance and watch the fireworks. This is an “ideal” day of course. Realistically, we might be able to accomplish one or two of these things in a day. It’s great to live in a city with all of these options. If we couldn’t do it all in one day, we could save something for the next.

Hometown: Atchison, Kansas

Occupation: Hostess at Del Frisco’s Golden Eagle Steakhouse

Ideal Day in Fort Worth: My ideal day in Fort Worth would be begin with an early jog along the Trinity Trails followed by breakfast at one of my favorite local cafes, Yogis. My friends and I would spend mid-morning in the Fort Worth Stockyards where we would have a glimpse into the past by watching the cattle drive, shopping at the Stockyards Station shops, and ending with lunch at Tim Love’s Love Shack.  If its football season in Fort Worth, there is no doubt I would be enjoying a late afternoon tailgate and cheering on my alma mater, the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs!  Afterwards, my friends and I would enjoy the amazing signature cocktails at Del Frisco’s in beautiful downtown.

What do you like most about working in the tourism/hospitality industry? It is an industry that allows you to grow professionally and personally.  I like the opportunities that it has provided me to use my talents and skills. Meeting people from different cultures and making friends and business associates is exciting.

How would you describe Fort Worth to a visitor? Fort Worth is the true definition of a community.  The members of the community are well natured and show the ideal southern hospitality. The city is constantly growing yet members of the community are excellent at preserving its history. I love living in Fort Worth!

What makes Fort Worth different than any other destination?  Fort Worth is different from any other destination because the city is constantly growing.  The variety of attractions provides the opportunity for a visitor to experience a one of a kind museum, a family day at the zoo, or late night dancing under the Texas stars. No matter where you are in the city there is always great weather and excitement awaiting!

Hometown: Fort Worth (YEAH)

Occupation: Assistant Manager at IFORTWORTH (Downtown Visitor Information Center)

Ideal Day in Fort Worth: Taking a picnic and going to the Fort Worth Zoo with the grandchildren

What do you like most about working in the tourism/hospitality industry? Meeting all the first time visitors from other countries and hearing how they have enjoyed Fort Worth

How would you describe Fort Worth to a visitor? Safe, Friendly, Small City with Big City amenities

What makes Fort Worth different than any other destination? Our down home feel- and we mustn’t lose it- as we continue to grow.  I have had people ask if we had Prozac in the water !!!    Nope – we are just happy people with where we live. I have traveled extensively and found only a handful of places as friendly as we are.

A few weeks ago, the Fort Worth CVB invited some of the nation's hottest food writers to follow us on a food tour through Fort Worth! We couldn't have done it on our own. We had the help of local foodie writer, June Naylor who knows the Fort Worth food scene like no one else. We managed a great balance of small shops and larger restaurants, some new places and those that have been around forever. Now, we don't suggest you follow this exact itinerary--we might still be recovering from all the food, but we will promise you that a visit to any of the below restaurants and venues will be worth going! Enjoy and Bon Appetite!

Day 1: The tour started at one of Fort Worth's newest hot spots, The Woodshed Smokehouse with a meet and greet with Chef Tim Love. Needless to say, the journalists were impressed with the atmosphere and amazing food. Next, we headed to Fred's Texas Cafe where we sat down with owner and outlaw Chef Terry Chandler where we had some laughs and enjoyed burgers of all flavors. Afterwards, we moseyed over to Hacienda San Miguel in West 7th where we had a lovely shaded spot on the patio and were treated to authentic Mexican dishes by Chef Hugo L. Galvan. Our next stop was Fort Worth's coziest winebar, Times Ten Cellar where we received a tasting and tour by Owner, Dustin Walker. After two hours of siestas, we were back at it again for our first night out in Fort Worth. We visited The Usual and chatted with Owner Brad Hines over delicious drinks and some plates from their food truck, Holy Frijoles! Just across the street, we enjoyed an amazing spread of tastings from Ellerbe Fine Foods; We were so happy to introduce our new friends to this innovative, fresh and fabulous restaurant! Following Ellerbe, we headed to the Fort Worth Cultural District for dinner on the patio at the Modern Art Museum. We were treated to a beautiful six-course meal prepared by Chef Dena Peterson from Cafe Modern and Jon Bonnell of Bonnell's Restaurant. This collaborative dinner and discussion was certainly one of the highlights of the tour and left everyone feeling full, happy and amazed at the culture and cuisine Fort Worth has to offer! The journalists stayed at the Hilton Fort Worth Hotel (perfect location for Main Street Arts Festival), so we had to walk across the street for a nightcap cocktail at Del Frisco's. You're probably full just from reading this, but we're just on Day 1!

Day 2: Starting the day at Avoca Coffee for a micro roast tasting was the perfect way for the group to jump back from our food comas. Red Jett Sweets Food Truck was parked not too far for us to grab try one of their famous cupcakes. We then walked over to Paris Coffee Shop, one of the oldest establishments in Fort Worth for some serious home cooking. Afterwards, we visited the oldest family owned establishment in Texas at Penderey's Spices where we were lucky enough to meet some of the family! No tour of Fort Worth would be complete without a trip to Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. where we enjoyed a tour, a beer that we watched be bottled before our eyes and some delicious tacos from Yes!Taco. We had to show off the Kimbell to our new friends and afterwards, took a stroll to Lanny's Alta Cocina Mexicana where we tried tamales and tequila! (Did I mention there was also drinking involved in this food tour?) After some time enjoying Main Street Arts Festival in downtown Fort Worth, the crew headed to Firestone & Robertson Distillery for a tour and whiskey tasting followed by a delectable dinner at Grace and a dessert with a fabulous view on the Reata rooftop.

Day 3: Our last day, we enjoyed breakfast at Esparanza's where we sat down with much of the Lancarte family. We even got a private tour of the wonderful Joe T. Garcia's. Afterwards, we visited with the Fort Worth Herd, shopped around in the Stockyards and filled up one last time at Lonesome Dove with Chef Tim Love. We ended on a spectacular note with a cooking demo featuring Chef Lou Lambert at Fort Worth's Central Market.

Hopefully, you made it to one of the amazing four days of Main Street Arts Festival this year! The weather couldn't have been more cooperative, and as usual, the artists' tents were filled with interesting, beautiful and unique works of art! Downtown Fort Worth is home of this annual mile-long event that is highly regarded as one of the nation's premiere fine art and fine craft fairs. 

I was fortunate enough to enjoy the festival three days and still couldn't get enough of the incredible range of artwork, rockin' live music and fantastic food. I was so amazed at what a great family atmosphere Main St. created with Main ST. Creates!, an area dedicated to interactive activities for children of all ages ranging from face painting, sand art, sculptures and a rock wall. 

One of the coolest parts of the festival was the massive floating sculptures created by local college students.  The 2nd Annual 'Where Art Meets the River' contest was hosted by Trinity River Vision Authority where local students created the sculptures from 1,500 pounds of Styrofoam.  The winning float, a giant yellow duck in a cowboy hat floating on an inner tube, was eight feet high and 11 feet long.

You don't want to miss next year's Main Street Arts Festival in the "City of Cowboys and Culture"! Make sure to check back for next year's dates!