Special Events

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 Today, those welcoming fields have been replaced by growing cities and towns, but Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) remembers this heritage and culture with the annual celebration of Prairie Day.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

Most often, I come away from an opera with a remnant of an aria flitting around my inner ear, and an uplifting skip in my gait. Rarely do I look back on a gut-level, visceral experience -- where I've been riveted, moved, and finally provoked to consider the unrelenting toll of war and captivity, betrayal, the double-edged sword of forgiveness, and the ultimate challenge of rebuilding a shattered life. 

But it's precisely that meaningful and dark collage of feelings that coalesced in me at the conclusion of the Fort Worth Opera Festival's performance of Glory Denied. With its "based on a true story" imprimatur, Glory Denied, (music and libretto by Tom Cipullo) is inspired by the agonizing Vietnam War experiences of Colonel Floyd James (Jim) Thompson, whose name is engraved in contemporary military history for being America's longest held P.O.W. Over nine-years, Thompson endured unspeakable suffering, from failed escape attempts, physical torture, to the more invisible, psychological toll of prolonged loneliness and that agonizing feeling that everyone had forgotten him. When he is finally released, the euphoria of his new freedom is tempered by how drastically the world has changed, and the challenge of making his place in such a foreign world.

Fort Worth Opera's staging of Thompson's story is suitably stark, with the captive, "young Thompson" (David Blalock) sharing one-half of the stage with his post-captivity "older Thompson" self (Michael Mayes). The other half of the stage also plays with biographical time as it is home to "young Alyce" (Sydney Mancasola) or Thompson's wife at the time of his Vietnam service, and, a decade older Alyce (Caroline Worra), reduced to gazing nostalgically at letters and other fragments of a happier time, but who is now trying to cope with the stranger that is her freed, war-addled spouse.

Set in the intimate, semi-in-the-round confines of McDavid Studio, the opera permits each audience member to witness at close range time skipping from young Thompson's desultory jail cell (the opera's nimble, 12-piece chamber orchestra provides the slap of a torturer's whip across his back), to young Alyce, whose relatively upbeat mood is conveyed by her soaring voice and the sunniness of her robin's egg-blue dress. Then the spotlight lands on the "older Thompson," in a frumpy yellow sweater, trying to comprehend the '70s America he's re-entered. Finally, the agile light lands on the "older Alyce," reduced to ripping off what looks to be days in a calendar, like a wound's scabs, as she marks time spent wondering if her husband will ever come home.

When Thompson finally does return, to a hero's welcome, it sets up the opera's high point, a bravura solo by  Mayes who, in a passage echoing Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire, and R.E.M.'s It's the End of the World, reels off a vast litany of all the totems of the early 70's (mini-skirts and Roe v. Wade, Patty Hearst and leisure suits, to Stonewall, Playboy, and Richard Nixon) most of them punctuated by the era's great counter-cultural motto:  "Turn on, tune in, drop out."

By the end of the opera, the audience is left with the hypnotic use of projected black and white scrap-book pictures of the real Jim Thompson, on the battlefield, and reunited with his family. This montage precedes the opera's ultimate scene of a near-broken Thompson, all but flailing about the stage, as he blurts out the dilemma of everyday existence ultimately facing us all: "What to do today?" followed by his feeble solution: "One day at a time." 

Glory Denied delivers powerfully on its title as the light slowly fades on a crumpled Thompson, one of the American military's great war heros, for whom life after wartime may be his most daunting battle. 

Details: Glory Denied plays May 11 at McDavid Studio, 301 East 5th Street, Fort Worth. Sung in English. As it runs about 90 minutes, there is no intermission.

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

For over four decades, families have gathered on the banks of the Trinity River for the annual food, music, and fun of Mayfest. Highlights of this four-day festival include seven stages featuring live music, a dedicated children’s area with over 20 free booths, and a global smorgasbord of treats from jambalaya to tacos. 

With so many activities, you can’t go wrong, but be sure not to miss these kid-pleasing activities.

·The Tom Thumb Children’s Area: It’s easy to find-just look for the white picket fence. Once inside, kids will enjoy activities such as face painting, clowns, Radio Disney, and art projects.

·The Range: An area where kids and adults can go wild with carnival rides, including a giant inflatable walk- on- water ball, and, of course, a mechanical bull.

·Live Shark Encounters: Imagine live sharks swimming in a giant tank in the middle of Trinity Park. You won’t want to miss it!

·Sandpile Creations: This is not your average sandcastle, but an artistic display of whimsical figures created from a pile of sand. What figures will take center stage this year?

·The Frost Zone: Bungee Jumping, pony rides, a petting zoo, and a giant human maze are waiting here. Watch out! You may never be able to get the kids to leave!

Mayfest is May 2-5 in Trinity Park. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for children 6-12, and free for children under $5. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or at www.mayfest.org

Photo Credit: Mayfest 

The Fort Worth Music Festival, scheduled this year from Friday, May 17-Saturday May 18, is the annual reminder of just how stunningly diverse and rich the various musical strains and traditions that run deep in Fort Worth. Historically, that variety stretches all the way back to the country swing of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, the jazz giant, Ornette Coleman, to the present day stylings and musical production vision of T-Bone Burnett.

This year's edition of the festival will continue its historically varied offerings as 30 bands populate three stages and all offering up a spectrum of music from rhythm and blues and gospel, to jazz, country and indie rock.

The festival isn't just about a striking abundance of music, but it will also be a showcase for art exhibits, cool local vendors, food offerings, and even classes taught by notable local chefs.

Among the cornucopia of musical offerings, there will be something for just about every musical sensibility. Friday's lineup will offer festival goers the chance to revel in everything from the soul-country sounds of the Drive by Truckers, the alt-country, power pop enduring (as in more than 15 years long) presence of the Old 97's, and the quintessentially Texan brand of boogie rock, Memphis-flavored soul, and blues of the Quaker City Night Hawks. Saturday's lineup will offer a stunning richness of musical expressions, from the rock-revivalists, The Walkmen, marking their 10th anniversary together, and 25-year old Allen Stone, a self-proclaimed "hippie with soul," who has earned plaudits from no less a musical king-maker as the New York Times, comparing his socially aware music and lyrics to that of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, to the Hammond organ-propelled funky grooves of Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk (doubtlessly the catchiest name on the bill), to the bluesy, psychedelic Southern rock sounds of Fort Worth's The Hanna Barbarians (sporting the second catchiest name on the two-day bill).

And if that isn't enough ear-stretching variety for you, the Festival is also showcasing the roots music, steeped in the raw living done in far west Texas, as purveyed by the always energetic, harmony-driven band, The Dirty River Boys, along with the trumpet and sax-driven New Orleans-flavored musical gumbo that is the 35-year old Dirty Dozen Brass Band. 

The details: The festival runs Friday, May 17th-Saturday, May 18th. Gates open at 3 p.m. on Friday with music running 4 p.m.-11 p.m. On Saturday, gates open at 1 p.m. with music running 2 p.m.-11 p.m.  And it all takes place at Panther Island Pavilion, 395 Purcey Street in Fort Worth. 

Photo Credit: Brian Hutson, Fort Worth Music Festival 2012

Get ready NASCAR fans because this weekend is the first big race week of 2013 at Texas Motor Speedway! This is one of the best racing events in Texas! The Sprint Cup events are annually rank among the largest sporting events in the United States and are also the largest-attended, single-day sporting events in the state of Texas.

This weekend’s races have made national news! The National Rifle Association has revved up its relationship with NASCAR and will title sponsor its first NASCAR Sprint Cup race. The former Texas 500 race will now become the NRA 500. This race will make its depute Saturday evening.

April 12^th - O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series

April 13^th -  NRA 500 NASCAR Spring Cup Series

For a complete list of weekend activities click HERE. Can’t make it this weekend? Don’t worry there are three major race weekends at Texas Motor Speedway each year. Can’t get enough of the action? Experience the thrill for your self during the Total Driving Experience where you can test drive a 405-horsepower Z06 Corvette at Texas Motor Speedway and experience the track from the driver’s perspective! Check out this and other Thrill Seeking Tours at www.FortWorth.com.

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

This Thursday, March 21^st head on down to West 7^th Street for Trunk Show Thursday! The spring fashions are in stores, and you’re invited to a special evening showcasing this season’s collections. Shoppers will enjoy live music by the Marcus Rockwell Trio from 5 to 8 pm and complimentary Cosmo martinis will be served at each participating location. The Trunk Show will be the 2900 Block of Crockett Street and will include: Reads Jewelers, Flirt, Lane-Knight, Wrare, Moda Salon & Spa, Toni&Guy, Climate by CD Ski & Sports and Teskey’s Uptown. Each of the participating venues will have something extra special going on for one day only!

Reads Jewelers will play host to Rosemary Crowley from Konstantino Fine Jewelry. Konstantino jewelry comes all the way from Greece is known for its unique designs and remarkable artisanship.

At Flirt Boutique trunk show patrons can meet local designer Ashley Burghardt of Ashard Richley. Ashley will have her spring handbags as well as her new women’s clothing line on hand for preview and preorder before it hits stores at the end of April.

Lane-Knight will display MZ Wallace and their unique selection of bags made from quality Italian fabrics, thick zippers, and thoughtful pockets.

Daniel Wright from W Durable Goods will be at Wrare for the event.  W Durable Goods are handmade in Texas and are a line of well-made affordable briefcases, accessory bags and other goods.

Stop by Moda Salon & Spa  to enjoy a complimentary chair and hand massage. Receive 10% off retail on all products on this night only, plus a free gift (no purchase required for free gift). Make-up touch ups will also be available.

Call ahead because TONI&GUY will be offering Happy Hour Style Outs for $25 (by appt only). Also, receive a FREE makeup application with purchase of a cosmetic product.

A representatives from WORN for Peace will be at Climate by CD Ski & Sports. All  WORN products are hand-knit in the USA by women who have survived the afflictions of their war-torn and poverty-stricken homelands.

Alma Soul will be displaying their collection of handcrafted belts, bags, and scarves and  Willow Creek Jewelry will show off their line of semi-precious silver jewelry at Teskey’s Uptown.

This is sure to be an event you wont want to miss! Check out our website to learn more about Shopping, Nightlife and Restaurants in the West 7^th District!

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

Join Goodguys for a Spring Fling at Texas Motor Speedway – the Goodguys 3rd Annual Spring Lone Star Nationals features three big days of hot roddin’ fun Texas style! March 15^th-17^th Texas Motor Speedway will be filled with race fans of all ages. Enjoy over 2,000 Rods, Customs, Classics, Muscle Cars and Trucks thru ’72. There will also be vendor and manufacturer exhibits and live music entertainment! Bring the whole family because there will be free kids entertainment - Revell Model Car Make n’ Take, PPG Kids Coloring Contest, clowns & more. Other activities you won’t want to miss include: Goodgals Arts & Crafts Gallery, Ahwooga.com Swap Meet, Model & Pedal Car Show, and Goodguys Autocross. Download the Weekend Hap’s Flyer for a complete list of details. General Admission is $18; Admission for kids (ages 7-12) is $6.00, (6 & under) are free, and parking shuttles are complimentary. For more event information and to buy tickets visit www.good-guys.com/slsn.

Two lucky winners who comment on this blog post will receive 4 general admission tickets!

How to Enter: comment below, and you will be automatically entered to win! You must enter by Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Click here for Contest Rules. 

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!

In just a few days, on January 19, 2012, there is a show at the intimate Casa Manana Theatre that is sure to have you dancing, rocking and singing along.  Fort Worth’s own Josh Weather’s Band, the best thing you might not yet know about, and the legendary Eddie Money are teaming up to put on the show you’ll be talking about for the rest of the year.

The Casa Manana Theatre is a terrific place for a show and delivers on all of the important details you would want. It is a small, intimate venue without a bad seat in the house. You want to make sure you get there early to see the opening act, Josh Weather’s Band. They are known for their big soul-infused rock sound with even bigger energy that will have you humming for days and ready to download their music on iTunes as soon as you get home.   

After Weather’s concludes rocking it, Eddie Money, one of the best entertainers and musicians you’ll ever experience, will perform live. He will be thrilling the crowd with some of his classic rock hits like “Two Tickets to Paradise,” “Think I’m in Love,” “Take Me Home Tonight,” etc., while also showcasing his unbelievable talent playing the saxophone.

So, let Josh Weathers welcome you and have Eddie Money make you “Wanna Go Back” in this can’t miss show to really kick start your 2013. Get your tickets today!

The smash hit Broadway revival of West Side Story will open at Bass Performance Hall in Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth on January 15 and will run through January 20. More than 50 years ago, this musical changed theater forever and is back mesmerizing audiences once again. From the first note to the final breath, West Side Story soars as the greatest love story of all time and remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever.  Make an evening in Sundance Square with many dining choices before the performance. I’ll be there on opening night. See you there! Get your tickets now! 

For more Fort Worth entertainment and events, visit www.FortWorth.com

 Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg

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.

Following my typical routine yesterday, I left work and headed for the gym. However, I was shocked at how busy it was! It was full of New Year’s resolution hopefuls getting a jump start on 2013. This got me thinking. It starts off this way every year but, how many of those people are still at the gym come December? So this year why not give yourself a goal to stick with it this year? There is a race of some kind almost every weekend in the DFW area. Why not sign up for one? Grab a friend and run a 5K fun run!

Want something a little more challenging? Cowtown Marathon is coming up at the end of February. This year will be the 35^th Anniversary for Cowtown Marathon. Racers can sign up for the Marathon, Half Marathon, Ultra Marathon, 10K, Adults 5K or Cooks Children’s Kids 5K. Running in any of these races will also benefit five Charity Organizations: C.A.L.F. (Children’s Activities for Life & Fitness), American Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Association, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Team Red, White & Blue. Training Schedules are also available on Cowtown Marathons website for FREE!

Cowtown Marathon is a great way to start out the New Year! See y’all at the finish line! Check out other fun ways to keep your New Year's Resolutions by checking out Fort Worth's Outdoor Activities.

Texas Motor Speedway is twinkling once again with Christmas spirit. This favorite Fort Worth venue is home to The Gift of Christmas where visitors will find more than two million LED lights in dazzling displays every night of the week.

The Gift of Christmas will be open November 21, 2012 through January 6th, 2013.  The gates are unlocked at 5:30 pm and don’t close until the last car in line gets through. Click Here for daily hours of operation.

Get your tickets in advance at Walgreens, Tom Thumb or online. The price is $15 per car Monday-Thursday and $20 per car Friday-Sunday. Part of proceeds will benefit the Tarrant Area Food Bank, Goodwill Industries, and KLTY Christmas Wish. 

The Gift of Lights is back and this family-friendly holiday show is a great opportunity to share the joy of the season with friends and family. Click HERE to learn more!

Show your support for the great men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces at the 10th anniversary Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl as the Air Force Falcons take on the Rice Owls at Amon G. Carter Stadium on December 29th! Click Here to purchase your tickets!

Enjoy an action-packed weekend of football, pageantry and much more! Rev up for the game Friday, December 28th at the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl Pep Rally at the Flying Saucer from 6-7pm (free). On game day, check out the Armed Forces Adventure area and enjoy a free pregame concert by Good Question Band and postgame concert by Le Freak.

This truly is more than a just a bowl game. All five branches of the service are prevalent throughout the game and each quarter honors a different service branch. Pregame ceremonies include flyovers and skydivers, joint military color guard, 36th Infantry Division band and Texas State Guard flag bearers. 

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.