Nightlife and entertainment | Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau

About Me

Hi! My name is Jessica Dowdy and I’m the Sr. Manager of Marketing and Public Relations for the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau.

I was raised in North Texas and lucky enough to experience all the fun Fort Worth has to offer from a young age. Some of my fondest memories are of time spent with my family at the Fort Worth Zoo, seeing The Nutcracker at the Bass Performance Hall and going to all the wonderful museums.

I’m married to my best friend, Bryan, and have a scraggly little dog named Texas. I graduated from UTA and spent four years living in Los Angeles.

I love to travel, experience different cultures, hike and generally spend as much time outdoors as possible.

I couldn’t be happier to be back in the Lone Star State and promoting the fun, friendly and unique destination that is the "City of Cowboys and Culture."

There truly is no place like Fort Worth!

Lights, Camera, Action in the Fort Worth Stockyards

Friday, March 30, 2012 by Jessica Dowdy

Head down to the Stockyards on any given day and your likely to see TV camera crews capturing all the excitement and charm along Exchange Ave.

This weekend is no different. Saturday, March 31st, the CBBC (Children’s BBC) will be filming the grand finale of the UK hit children’s TV series, “Trade Your Way to the USA.”

The show consists of two teams of kids battling it out to become Britain’s best young traders. Over the course of the season, teams of kids are challenged to use business skills to sell different types of products all over the UK. Think Apprentice, but for kids. The series finale is always shot in a U.S. city: last year it was New York City, this year, Fort Worth! On Saturday from 3:30PM to 6:30PM the kids will be tasked with selling “wild west” designed cookies. If you’re in the Stockyards this weekend, be sure to check out all the action. Who knows you may end up on TV across the pond!

Spring Break Idea #6: Log Cabin Village

Saturday, March 3, 2012 by Jessica Dowdy

This Spring Break embark on a journey to a far away place. A place where you can abandon the creature comforts of home and get back to the basics. Say goodbye to running water, electricity, computers, cell phones and microwaves. Visit a place so foreign you'll swear you've traveled back in time...like 200 years back in time. Just where can this place be found you ask? Log Cabin Village in the Fort Worth Cultural District!

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of today and spend a Spring Break afternoon unplugged the way the men, women and children of the Texas pioneer era use to. Log Cabin Village is a personal favorite of mine. As children, my brother and I loved to wander around the village and pretend the cabins were our houses. It's a great place to let your imagination run wild! Seeing the historical interpreters dressed in authentic pioneer clothing really transports you back to the days of the wild Texas frontier.

It was always fun to participate in the special activities and crafts that were offered from time to time. To this day, I still remember sitting with a group of children my age, making paper dolls with one of the historical interpreters. In fact, my mother still has one of the crafts I made from an activity day at Log Cabin Village back in the 80s!

This Spring Break, make some great family memories of your own at Log Cabin Village. Whether you take part in one of the planned activities or just walk around and admire the cabins, it's a fun way to spend an afternoon and even learn some history!

BBQ, Tex Mex...and Vegan!?

Friday, February 10, 2012 by Jessica Dowdy

When most people think Fort Worth dining, Vegan fare is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. However, it’s time to readjust that thinking, because nestled in the heart of Near Southside District on Magnolia Avenue, may be the best Vegan restaurant I’ve ever been to, the Spiral Diner & Bakery.

Spiral Diner is located right on Magnolia Avenue across the street from Avoca Coffee. The place has a very cool, fun, hipster feel to it. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, the menu offers a wide range of choices from Philly Cheese Steaks, to tacos to meatballs (all Vegan). If you’re not a Vegan, these options could sound weird, seeing as they are not made of actual meat. However, Vegan or not, I suggest you give them a try!

My husband and I recently went for lunch and tried the El Paso Burger, the Cowboy Burger and the Chocolate Mountain Mudslide for desert. My husband, being neither Vegan nor Vegetarian, was skeptical about how a burger would taste, without any burger, so to speak. However, even being a red-meat loving kind of guy, he thought it was delicious! The portions were just right and the burgers were hardy, satisfying and full of flavor.

If you’re a chocolate lover, then definitely try the Chocolate Mountain Mudslide. It’s basically chocolate on chocolate goodness. A warm brownie smothered in chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, whipped cream and covered in peanuts (also all Vegan!). I happen to have a best friend who is Vegan, so I am really excited to take her by the next time she’s in town. The Spiral Diner is truly an example of just how diverse the dining options in Fort Worth really are! For more information on Fort Worth restaurants, Click Here.

An Entertaining Evening at Arts Fifth Avenue

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 by Jessica Dowdy

If you’re looking for something artistic, entertaining and off the beaten path to do during your stay in Fort Worth, then make your way over to Arts Fifth Avenue.

Arts Fifth Avenue is a neighborhood visual and performing arts center that offers everything from painting classes, to yoga, to tap dance lessons. The center also hosts musical events, film screenings, theatrical productions and dance revues. The walls of the center are lined with work from local artists and photographers (all for sale) which adds to the eclectic ambiance. Arts Fifth Avenue is located in the Near Southside district and walking distance to plenty of unique restaurants, bars and coffee shops

This past weekend, Arts Fifth Avenue held their 9th Annual Django Reinhardt Festival; a tribute to the famed Gypsy Jazz King. My mother is a huge jazz fan, so I surprised her with tickets to the festival. The evening started with a documentary about the life of Django and was followed by local jazz musicians, Gypsy Moon and a group from Austin called The Stray Gypsies. Nibbles and drinks were included in the price of the ticket, so it was a very affordable night of entertainment. From chatting with some of the other attendees, we learned that people from all over North Texas and even as far away as New Orleans, came to Fort Worth for the festival.

Whether you take a class or attend a performance, spend some time at Arts Fifth Avenue and you're sure to experience some of the homegrown arts and entertainment unique to the "City of Cowboys and Culture." For more information about the Performing Arts in Fort Worth, Click Here.

An Afternoon at Rahr & Sons Brewing

Thursday, January 12, 2012 by Jessica Dowdy

Looking for a fun laid-back Saturday afternoon activity? Round-up your friends and head to Rahr & Sons Brewing Company on Galveston Avenue near the Fort Worth Neart Southside. Every Saturday from 1-3PM, the brewery opens its doors to the public for tastings, tours, lively music, great food and good times.

For a small admittance fee of seven dollars you'll get not one, but three generous pours of your choice of Rahr beer, a souvenir pint glass and a tour of the facility. It's worth mentioning that a portion of the seven dollars goes to a local charity. Pretty cool!
The tour starts at 2:30PM and last call is shortly thereafter; get there early to ensure plenty of time to enjoy your tastings. On the tour you can expect to hear a little about the Rahr & Sons history, a description of the beer making process and some amusing

stories.

I arrived at 2PM and the brewery was packed wall-to-wall. Don't let the crowds intimidate you, the line for the tastings moves fast and the atmosphere is entertaining. Between the music, a big screen projecting the game and chatting with fellow beer lovers; you'll be to the front of the line before you know it. It truly feels like you are at a big party with old friends!

Since I arrived a little late, I only had a chance to try one of the beers on tap, Rahr's Blonde. Rahr's Blonde is a pale lager that's light, crisp and delicious. I highly recommend it to anyone who prefers a pilsner style beer.

If you need a quick bite while at the brewery you can enjoy one of the local family-owned restaurants that Rahr's brings in every Saturday. This past Saturday, the Grill Kings were on site barbecuing up a storm.

Can't make it to Rahr's on a Saturday? You can take part in the same type of fun every Wednesday from 5PM to 7:30PM. From what I hear, specialty beers are featured on Wednesdays, food trucks stop by and it's not quite as crowded. Sounds like the perfect happy hour spot! Cheers!