Fort Worth Shopping

“You’ve never had the Black Forest Cake at Swiss Pastry Shop?” my friend asked in disbelief, as we were driving around last week searching for a lunch spot.

And before I could even protest that I’m not a huge chocolate fan (and that I really don't think chocolate mixes well with cherries), he pointed his car towards Vickery Blvd.

The Swiss Pastry Shop  is a longstanding institution on the Fort Worth dining scene, opened in 1973. It serves up breakfast and lunch diner staples, with a strong German slant. (Think lots of bratwurst, knackwurst, and Polish sausage.) But what usually compels locals to make the detour there is the bakery and pastry counter at the front, and especially the famous Black Forest Macaron cake, which the owners dub "The UnCake."

And, as it turns out, my weird chocolate-and-cherries phobia was entirely misplaced. The traditional Black Forest Cake has layers of chocolate cake separated by some sort of whipped cream, frosting and cherries concoction, with still more cherries on top – it usually looks like this. The Swiss Pastry Shop version ($2.50 per slice), however, has no cherries at all, and the cake layers are actually a crispy, impossible light meringue. The layers are divided by whipped cream and a generous portion of thin chocolate shavings, which also goes on top.

It isn’t at all heavy or cloyingly sweet – before I could finish one bite, I was determined to have another. My friend has a tradition of ordering a full cake every year for his birthday (prices range from $17.25 to $100.25, depending on size). Now that I’ve been belatedly turned on this local culinary wonder, I will likely be following his routine.

Meanwhile, the whole experience got me thinking about how dessert can often be the best part of any meal – and wondering about other Fort Worth restaurants that have stand-out offerings. A few other favorites leaped to mind:

Reata offers dessert tacos with bananas and chocolate "gravy" – an ingenious twist on the Tex-Mex classic.

The late Nora Ephron, who had a famous policy of ordering multiple desserts ("You should always have at least four desserts that are kind of fighting with each other"), would have especially liked Lanny's Alta Cocina Mexicana, where I can never decide between the key lime goat cheesecake and the gourmet twist on churros. 

And, of course, there's the inimitable, innumerable pies by Paris Coffee Shop – my favorite is the coconut cream.

Use the comments field below to tell us about your favorite desserts. Because as much as great desserts should be relished, they should also be shared. 

The Swiss Pastry Shop is open 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday to Friday; 7:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday. Full cakes should be ordered in advance. 

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.

Drop me in any foreign country, and radar takes over: It won't take me long at all to find the fancy cheese shop.

Sharp or creamy, blue or brie, sheep's milk or cow's or goat's -- I'm hard-pressed to find a cheese I don't like (though as my sometimes-empty wallet can attest, some I like much better than others). There's something especially tantalizingly about buying cheese at an off-the-beaten track fromagerie, where the proprietor takes particular care sourcing the cheeses, and has a long list of suggestions and samples for you to try.

Until recently, though, I've mostly had to do my cheese shopping at some of the Fort Worth gourmet grocery stores and shops, like Central Market or Oliver's Fine Foods -- not that I'm complaining, but those places lacks that intimate personal touch that you can find at a specialty artisan shop. Needless to say, then, I was very excited when Magnolia Cheese Company opened its doors earlier last December on bustling Magnolia Avenue. 

Who needs to jet off to Paris or Brussels when you have a charming little neighborhood spot like this one in the Near Southside and cheeses so good that you'll have an impossible time picking just one or two to take home? 

Magnolia Cheese Company actually doubles as a cafe, where you can order from the blackboard menu such sandwich options as the Gouda and Pork (which features gouda cheese, proscuitto, smoked bacon, sweet chili saw and pickled red onion) and the Fraiche Fish (which features horseradish creme fraiche, house-cured salmon lox and avocado), as well as salads, soups and a regularly changing line-up of daily specials. If you're looking to sample some of the shops cheeses, you can also opt for a five-cheese tasting plank ($16). 

On our recent visits, though, we were searching for a couple cheeses that we might take home and enjoy before dinner. After sampling a couple of different blue cheeses, we settled on the Point Reyes blue, made in California, an exceptionally creamy cheese that also has a nice tangy bite to it ($10/ per half pound); and since you can't just stop at one, we also purchased a wedge of the Alta Langa Cravanzina, a soft-ripened cheese from the Piedmont region of Italy, made from a mixture of sheep's and cow's milk. It has a soft rind, a creamy center, and a lingering hint of earthiness ($15.45 per half-pound). 

Magnolia Cheese Company also has a nice selection of wines -- you get a $15 discount on bottles if you're purchasing to take away. We opted for an Italian red, which paired nicely with both cheeses – so nicely, in fact, that when we got home, we skipped dinner altogether and just gobbled up our cheeses. Here's hoping this is just the start of a cheese shop boom in Fort Worth.

Magnolia Cheese Company is open: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.,  Monday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday

Top Left Photo: Sample Catering Platter from Magnolia Cheese Co.

Hometown: Fort Worth

Occupation: Concierge 19 years

Ideal Day in Fort Worth: Breakfast at The Paris Coffee Shop, a visit to the Sid Richardson Museum (free of charge), a visit to the Water Gardens (free of charge thank you very much!), Lunch at Esperanzas (not free of charge), cruise down University with stops at the museums, the zoo, the flea market, Botanical Gardens (free of charge), a drink al fresco at The Woodshed, pass through TCU and look at our new football stadium and continue up to 7th Street and close out the day with bowling at Lucky Strike in West 7th.

How would you describe Fort Worth to a visitor? Somewhere you need to be right now.

What do you like most about working in the tourism/hospitality industry? It's always fun to surprise people with information about my hometown (i.e., Amelia Earhardt's plane, The Electra, was built at Lockheed!).

What is the biggest surprise visitors have about Fort Worth? Most are surprised at the great variety of food options in Fort Worth, i.e: Del Frisco's, Ellerbe Fine Foods, or a food truck at the Ballpark. 

What makes Fort Worth different than any other destination?We have an extremely eclectic selection of things to do. (NASCAR, Six Flags, Lone Star Park, Opera at the Bass, Golf at Colonial, or ski, sail, fish or enjoy a quiet sunset at one of our many great lakes).  You could live here your entire life and not see everything there is to see.

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!
 

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. 

Check out this free Fort Worth activity during spring break at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, where over half of the nation's currency is produced! From Tuesday, March 12 – Friday, March 15, 2013, enjoy two floors of interactive exhibits and displays showcasing the history of currency and the intricacies of the printing process. During your free self-guided tour (last tour at 4:30 p.m.), you can actually see billions of dollars being printed as you walk along an enclosed elevated walkway suspended over the production floor! It is an amazing sight to see, and kid of all ages will love this discovery! The tour experience also includes a high-definition theater film, the Moneyfactory Gift Shop, and a vending and rest area.

During the employee craft demonstrations, experience both floors of activities. On the first floor, witness Intaglio engraving artisanship at the engraver’s workbench, educational activities in the Kid’s Corral and see how currency was printed circa 1900 at the refurbished spider press (image below). Second floor activities include plate making for offset printing presses, see mutilated currency reconstructed piece-by-piece, and learn how Intaglio printing plates are “grown” in a nickel solution. For more information about this Spring Break event, click here.

For more Texas-sized fun to see and do this Spring Break, visit FortWorth.com/Spring-Break!

Photo Courtesy: Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Hometown: A born and raised desert dwelling Phoenix girl transplanted to the snowy plains outside Denver, CO

Occupation: Director of Social Influence for Traveling Mom, Travel Blogger at Mom Off Track

Describe Fort Worth in three words: charming, welcoming and full of character!

What is the number one thing you need to know when traveling with a teenage boy? Where to eat, of course. Fort Worth certainly has no shortage of answers to that question. Breakfast at Paris Coffee Shop is the way to start off the day with groggy, hungry teenagers.  Nothing gets their day started off right more than a little pie after a hearty breakfast of eggs and bacon. It’s OK. You are on vacation. No one will judge your parenting skills although I may have to judge you if you leave there without at least a little piece of owner Mike’s coconut pie which is made fresh daily by 11 am.  

I travel frequently and I love nothing more than to sneak one of my teenage sons into my suitcase whenever I can. We were excited about seeing the cowboy culture in Ft. Worth, but didn’t realize until we got there for the Family Travel Conference that we would be eating like cowboys—just the way teenage boys like.

We enjoyed a lovely lunch at Joe T. Garcia’s where we had probably the best chicken tortilla soup we have ever had. It reminded me of the authentic Mexican food I grew up eating in Arizona. The patio was gorgeous and the margaritas were the perfect way to top it off for mom. I would have loved more time to just sit there and enjoy a second margarita. But, alas, teenagers are always on the go!

For dinner we headed over to the Stockyards area for some BBQ Texas style, (dry rubbed, not wet) at Riscky’s. There are lots of things on the menu but my teen went right for the All You Can Eat Beef Ribs. For $9.95 you can actually afford to feed a teenager here! After a few plates he slowed down and we decided to walk it off strolling through the Stockyards. He had a blast riding a mechanical bull and having his picture taken on a real one. We took a walk over to Billy Bob’s, billed as the world’s largest honkey tonk, where we took some great photos and bought some fun, logo t-shirts as souvenir’s.

Besides the constant worry of where your teenager will graze, what is the second most important thing you need to know about Fort Worth? There is plenty to do here! We enjoyed several of the museums in the Cultural District. The small cultural district is home to six world class museums. What I loved is that they are so close together that you can just walk from one to the other. So convenient and easy. One of our favorite Cultural Districts museums was the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History where we were able to see the amazingly powerful Titanic Exhibit which closes March 24, 2013 so if you have an early Spring Break, make this a must see on your itinerary.  I wasn’t sure how much my 16-year-old boy would enjoy the National Cowgirl Museum Hall of Fame would be for a 16 year old boy buy we went anyway because we had some time to kill. Turns out he enjoyed it because of the several interactive audio-visual exhibits. He really had fun making a video of himself riding a mechanical horse that he could share with his friends.

During our trip here we also enjoyed visiting JFK Tribute located at the southeast corner of Main and 8th Streets, in downtown’s General Worth Square. This is the last place the nation heard the 35^th President speak and the life-sized bronze sculpture commemorating that moment is stunning.

And, because he’s 16, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take a college tour. We chose Texas Christian University because of its small size and community feeling.  TCU students showed the warm and welcoming feeling we felt throughout all of Fort Worth. The campus was beautiful and we enjoyed learning about the history and tradition of the school. We were even able to rub the TCU mascot, The Horned Toad’s, nose for good luck.

The only unfortunate part of our trip was that we were only here for a day and a half. Those of you planning your Spring Break trips have the lucky ability to plan a much longer, relaxed trip. The Fort Worth Zoo was ranked one of the top 5 zoos in the nation by USA Travel Guide and is top of my list for when I have the chance to return. No matter how many days you have the good fortune to stay, I am certain you and the teens will have plenty of fond memories of Fort Worth just like Connor and I have.

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Occupation: Database programmer

Describe Fort Worth in three words: Quintessentially Texas, y’all

My return to Fort Worth comes 30 years after I was last there.  I lived in Fort Worth for about three years in the early 80s – just long enough to attend middle school.  Looking back on my childhood, it was not the brightest time of my life, but that didn’t stop me from showing my wife, Stephanie, some sights and telling tales of a younger, less sure-footed me.

We started at the Fort Worth Stockyards.  I figure if there’s one sight in Fort Worth not to miss, this is it.  Historically, this district is where cattle and other livestock were bought and sold, earning Fort Worth the nickname “Cowtown.”  Now it’s a touristy stretch of bars, western-wear and souvenir shops.  We found some unique, and undeniably Texan items to bring back to the gang in Philadelphia.  We also found a spot where instead of a mechanical bull, you can ride remote controlled mechanical animals including a saddled bass, a TCU horned frog, and a “reinsteer” (a longhorn with horns and reindeer antlers).

Next up were the Fort Worth Water Gardens.  I remember this place (a) from when I was a kid, and (b) from the final scene of the movie “Logan’s Run.”  The Water Gardens feature three different pools of water.  The most famous is the “active pool” where you can walk down stepping stones and watch the water cascade all around you.  It is hard to describe the feeling of being surrounded by water falling all around you at different levels, while you stay dry, beneath the street level in the middle of a city.  There’s also a “Quiet Pool”, which is again below street level, lined by perfect rows of trees, and designed to make you feel very small in the large space around you.  Finally, there’s the Aerated Pool, where sprinkler-like apparatuses spray huge water droplets into the air before they fall back down into the pool.

After this we drove to my old neighborhood, where we saw the house where I lived, the synagogue I attended as a kid, and even the rectory where my Boy Scout troop met.  At the rectory, there is a short drainage culvert that I was afraid to walk through when I was 12, but was able to successfully – and probably illegally – navigate with Stephanie’s help.

We also paid a visit to the Hulen mall where in the early 80s I discovered the joys of video games.  The mall is now a crowded behemoth, especially since we were there two weeks before Christmas, but the cool clock is still hanging inside, so yay.

Every city in Texas seems to have its own personality, but Fort Worth screams “Texas” more than any others.  If you really want to sample a slice of the Lone Star State, start here.

Follow me and Stephanie, the Mile High Duo, as we travel around the world!

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

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)

For the past five years, Dusty Tuckness has been hired as one of two PRCA Rodeo bullfighters for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. As part of being a bullfighter, Dusty puts his life and body on the line each time a bull is bucked and/or a rider is down or hung up. For this, bullfighters are one of the biggest reasons that bull riders are able to compete and stay healthy. He wears very little padding, his trademark makeup, cowboy hat, cleats and “baggies.” Like many bullfighters, Dusty has taken some hard hits in his career – most recently during the televised 2012 National Finals Rodeo – and if he is able, gets right back out there to do his job for each performance and never misses a beat. He fights bulls with a fluidity and style that makes his job look effortless which is one of the many reasons he has won the PRCA “Bullfighter of the Year” award  three times.

Name: Dusty Tuckness

Hometown: Meeteetse, Wyoming

Which rodeo Events do you/have you participated in?
 Bullfighting and I got on a few bulls but didn’t like it though.

What are your current rodeo related career achievements?
•    2X Professional Bullfighters Tour World Champion
•    3X Bullfighter of the Year – PRCA
•    4X NFR Bullfighter
•    3X College National Finals Bullfighter
•    6X Mountain States Circuit Finals Bullfighter
•    Salinas Bullfight Champion
•    Big rodeos I’ve worked: Odessa, Fort Worth, Houston, Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo (previously DNCFR); Cody Stampede, Central Wyoming Fair, Cheyenne, Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo, Nampa, Idaho; National Western Stock Show & Rodeo, Omaha, Nebraska; American Royal, Oklahoma City and Greeley, Colorado.

What would your advice be to someone interested in getting into fighting bulls/ cowboy protection?
Get to a good Bullfighting school and learn from someone who knows what they are talking about.

What is the your most memorable/favorite Stock Show moment?
I survived, LOL. There are a lot of great moments from the Stock Show. My first year there, the group of guys that were working the Rodeo was a lot of fun: Andy Burelle, John Harrison, Gizmo, the trick riders and myself. We all got along and hung out all the time. My 2nd year, Andy Burelle, Ted Bert, Chad Denton and a few others would stay up late every night playing monopoly. We had a lot of fun with it. Sometimes when I am working the event, I’ll sit up in the stands and just look into the arena and think of all the greats that have either competed or fought bulls in that arena. The history is awesome, and I’m just glad to be a part of it.

What type of preparation does it take throughout the year to get ready for a Show the size/length of the FWSSR (23 days/ 36 rodeo performances)?
My preparation really doesn't’t change much going into the FWSSR because I work out and train all year long. The FWSSR is one of a kind rodeo though. You have to be mentally and physically tough because it is the longest rodeo you can work – 23 days, 36 rodeo performances, and 12-15 Bull Riders per performance.

How has your experience in the rodeo arena benefited you in life (to date)?
My experience in the arena has had a big benefit in my life because I grew up in one. My dad fought bulls and it’s something I have always wanted to do. It’s what has helped make me the person I am today.

What has been your worst rodeo-related injury?
Worst injury that I have had would have to be when I tore my shoulder up and had to have surgery.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of the FWSSR when you visit Fort Worth?
Well, we do make a few trips down to Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. We eat there a lot when we are there for the Rodeo.
 

The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame pays tribute to the cowboys and cowgirls who have excelled in the sports of rodeo, cutting and ranching, and those individuals who have dedicated their lives to promoting and preserving Texas Western heritage. The Sterquell Wagon collection features more than 60 Old West wagons, carts and sleighs. At the Exploratorium, children can learn to pack for a trail drive and dig for treasures in the sawdust, among other hands-on experiences. Western-themed apparel, jewelry and souvenirs are available in the gift shop.

Induction into Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed on individuals who have shown excellence in competition, business, and support of rodeo and the western lifestyle in Texas. This year's induction will take place January 17th, 2013 at the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District.

This year's Inductees include:

• Dr. Tandy Freeman, III - Medical Director for the Justin Sports Medicine Team and Professional Bull Riders Sports Medicine Program, Team Physician for the Dallas Mavericks and a member of the physician pool for the U.S. Ski Team.
• Sandy Kirby - A 9-time qualifier for the bull riding and 5-time qualifier for the bareback competition. Kirby took home the Bareback Average title in 1973 and the Bull Riding Average title in 1974.
• Edwards Family & Edwards Ranch - The Edwards Ranch, which has been operating over 160 years, is considered prime real estate in Fort Worth. Over the years parts of the ranch have been sold and developed into Trinity Park and the Fort Worth Zoo.
• Tommy Steiner - The Steiner Rodeo Company has been home to some of rodeos finest stock including 6 Black 6, the 1975 Bull of the Year; 11 Red Lightning, the 1978 Bull of the Year and Stormy Weather, the 1975 Bareback Horse of the Year just to name a few.

Rick Smith Spirit of Texas Honoree:

• Randy White – A retired professional football player, White has appeared in numerous western and children’s fundraising events and is involved in celebrity roping events as well as with other western organizations.

Proceeds benefit the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in their ongoing education and preservation efforts. Click here for more information on the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony or other Events in Fort Worth.

We caught up with Rikki Buckalew, Fort Worth Stock Show exhibitor who presented the 2010 Grand Champion Market Steer, War Admiral (a 1,309-pound European crossbred). That year, during the Sale of Champions, she set an all-time auction record when Larry B. White Jr. Investments purchased War Admiral for a record of $210,000. What makes her story that much more special is that she overcame health issues just to be able to compete during the Show. She has since gone on to Texas A&M and will graduate next fall.

Name: Rikki Buckalew

Hometown: Graham, TX

Livestock Events: I showed steers at all of the major livestock shows in Texas for eight years and goats for four years. I also showed heifers at major live stocks in Texas for two years.

Favorite Stock Show moment: My favorite stock show moment was my senior year of High School when I showed my steer, War Admiral, at the Fort Worth Livestock Show. The experience was special because I knew it was my last livestock show as an exhibitor and it was my last opportunity to see what all of mine and my family’s hard work had brought. It was also special because I did not even know if I was going to be able to participate in my last livestock show. But thankfully through the work of my family, close family friends, and doctors I was able to show and win the title of Grand Champion Steer.

What type of preparation does it take throughout the year to get ready for a Show the size of the FWSSR? Preparing for a livestock show the size of the FWSSR is no easy feat. It requires time, patience, and lots of hard work. It requires making the trek to the barn to feed and water your animal when it’s freezing cold or blistering hot. It requires spending hours working with your animal so that they are properly trained and show ring ready. You have to groom your animal, keep them cool during the horribly hot days of summer, and clean their pens every day.

How has your experience in the livestock arena benefited your immediate future and how do you expect it to benefit you long term? Being in the livestock arena has benefited me in so many ways. The biggest two lessons it has taught me to be is being cool and collected under pressure. It has also taught me to accept defeat and success both with grace and humility. These lessons will benefit me in so many ways in my future career, school, and even in daily life.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of the FWSSR when you visit Fort Worth?
I enjoy walking around Sundance Square and visiting all of the shops. I also enjoy watching performances at Bass Hall, touring the Kimbell Art Museum, and visiting the Stockyards. Fort Worth has so much to offer and there is always something new and exciting to do!

Besides food at the Stock Show, what is your favorite place to eat when you visit Fort Worth?
My favorite place to eat when I visit Fort Worth is Razoos in Sundance Square. I love the atmosphere and I have always had great service. Everything on the menu is delicious and their bread pudding is the best I’ve ever had.

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is a 23-day extravaganza, offering a unique atmosphere rich in tradition and history. Also known as Tarrant County's largest annual event, the Show attracts more than one million visitors each year. This year's event will last from January 18th - February 9th, 2013.

The 117-year old event is the nation's oldest livestock show, featuring over 22,000 head of world-class livestock on exhibit. The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is home of the World's Original Indoor Rodeo®.

In addition to the various livestock shows and professional rodeo thrills, Stock Show patrons can also enjoy interactive educational exhibits, nearly 200,000 square feet of unique shopping, live music, an exciting carnival, great food and much more! Experience this legendary event full of western heritage, family entertainment and lasting education each January through February at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.

Rodeo tickets range from $19 to $25 and will be available for:

• "Best of the West" Ranch Rodeo @ 7:30 p.m. January 18-19th
• Best of Mexico Celebracion @ 7:30 p.m. on January 20th
• Cowboys of Color Rodeo @ 2 p.m. on January 21st
• "Bulls' Night Out" @ 7:30 p.m. January 22-23rd
• World's Original Indoor Rodeo January 24th-February 9th.

Check www.fwssr.com for a complete list of times and events for the 2013 Stock Show and Rodeo. Check back on our Facebook page for a FWSSR photo contest January 2-January 14! 

The ticket office at 3401 W. Lancaster Ave. will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Fans also can purchase tickets by calling 817-877-2420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. 

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.

Everyone knows that this Friday promises some of the best deals and on Monday, the best deals online, but don't let Black Friday or Cyber Monday keep you from supporting local Fort Worth businesses! Shop Small Saturday (November 24, 2012) is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses around the country. It's a reminder to support the small businesses that form the backbone to our community. Last year, small businesses received the attention they deserve with over one hundred million people shopping small in their communities. 

When we shop small, we improve our community, support our neighbors and strengthen the local economy. Wherever you plan to shop this holiday season, think about what small businesses in the Fort Worth area you can support. Need a few ideas? Some of our favorite Fort Worth small shops include Ernest Tubb Record Shop (pictured below), Carter Bowden Antiques, Dirty Laundry , Earth Bones and Maven. What are your favorite small local businesses?

Whether heading to a TCU football game or taking the kids to the Fort Worth Zoo you might have never known that an escape into the 19th century Texas frontier was just footsteps away!  Log Cabin Village is a living history museum devoted to the preservation of Texas heritage. Historical interpreters wearing 1800s-styled clothes bring our seven log cabins, one-room schoolhouse, smoke house, and blacksmith shop to life. One of the cabins is converted into a working grist mill which grinds more than 600 pounds of corn a year into fresh cornmeal, available for sale in our museum store.

Founders of the Village project in the 19502, Pioneer Texas Heritage Committee and members of the Tarrant County Historical Society realized that log structures, prevalent in the 1800s, were rapidly vanishing from the Texas landscape – and a portion of Texas history was vanishing with them thus providing inspiration to create a Village dedicated to log cabin culture, history and preservation.

Six log houses, dating back to the mid 1800s, were selected from the North Texas region, moved to the present site, and restored in the 1950s to early 1960s. Since 1966, it has been open to the public and operated by the City of Fort Worth.  Today, the Village is seen by more than 27,000 visitors annually from more than 45 different states and 40 countries.  Whether you’ve lived in Fort Worth all your life or are planning your next vacation here, we invite you to escape the present…experience the past at Log Cabin Village!

This morning I as I was walking from the parking garage to the office, I noticed a woman running. Now this is not an uncommon thing to see in downtown Fort Worth, but what made me notice her was that she kept getting distracted by all the great window displays. She would stop at Pappagallo Classiques and then try to start running again but get distracted by Leddy’s Ranch in Sundance. Have you visited the shops in Sundance lately? Come on down and you will see why this woman was having such a hard time completing her morning workout.

The brand new Ann Taylor Loft has been a huge success with their great sales! Don’t worry gentlemen, there is shopping for you,too. Jos. A. Bank offers a great selection of men’s apparel! Sports lovers can find this year’s game wear at Texas Rangers Team Shop or the Dallas Cowboys Pro Shop. Find some truly unique memorabilia items at Earth Bones or Retro Cowboy or pick up some great jewelry at Barse Jewelry Shop. Sundance Square has it all! End your shopping experience with a sweet treat from Schakolad Chocolate Factory. Click HERE to see a full list of Shopping options in Downtown!