Adventures in and Around Fort Worth

I love everything about Friday on the Green in the hospital district just off of Magnolia—it's family friendly, has great food trucks, local breweries' beer, fantastic music, and it's free to the public! Not to mention it is more fun to be outside any day (unless a snownadocane strikes...or it's August in Fort Worth). This year they kick off their 6th season 7-10 p.m. Friday April 4. Friday on the Green only runs Spring through late fall on the  second  Friday of each month. There will not be an event in August due to the aforementioned horrid August heat. I tried to go in August once and thought I just might die, so I am glad to see they canceled this one. 

If you're looking for something cool to do besides lie around your house on the weekend, check out the Lone Star Film Society's Silent Sundays at the Kimbell's new Piano Pavilion auditorium. While silent films seem like a hard sell, you can expect a unique experience as you watch history's first films that shaped the industry with the accompaniment of live music. Way Down East  will screen 2 p.m. March 16,  Strike  plays 2 p.m. Sunday, April 20, and first ever Academy Award for best picture,  Wings, plays 2 p.m. May 18. I'm a little late in the game writing about this—the series kicked off Feb. 16. Their first production F. W. Murnau's "cinematic masterpiece" Sunrise had an unexpectedly large turnout. Classical pianist Robert Edwards performed his interpretation of the film live as the audience went back in time. After all, this is how moviegoers experienced film in the 1920s. And if they saw the same film three times, there may be a differen...

His first pair of blue jeans, cowboy boots, and his first rodeo.  Bucking broncos and bulls send cowboys flying, tough cowgirls whirl around barrels as their horses' hooves thunder back into a tunnel beneath the stands, and children scramble to catch their calves for prize money.  All of these things are reminiscent of the past, but the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo remind us city folks that the Wild West still lives right under our nose. Every winter Jan. 17-Feb. 8, cowboys from as far as France and Australia move to Fort Worth for a few weeks to show us how it's done. They perform daring tasks actually practiced on ranches all over the world to show off their antiquated skills and win prize money. And yes, these cowboys are the real deal. No show ponies here. This long-lived North Texas tradition is one I recommend for everyone. I go at least twice every year. Evening performances sell for $25 a ticket, and matinees $19. The event is held at the historic an...

I don't care how cool or mature you think you are, you have a little kid inside of you that loves to play. If you don't, he or she has run off and you need to find them.  Mine is hyper and needs fun things to do often, so naturally my sister and I gathered a group of willing grown kiddos to go see Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker at Bass Hall .  We left the boyfriends, husbands and actual children at home. Before the show our group met at Del Frisco's Grille for some bar snacks and wine. It is always great to catch up with friends no matter the occasion. This is a Fort Worth event I recommend for everyone, except my husband, father, son and father-in-law.  Parents who look at this like a burden you must endure year after year with your child, stop. The music is more sophisticated and beautiful than anything you will hear on your favorite top 40 station. They sell adult beverages if you need a little help with your restless leg syndrome, and the dancers with Te...

West Wing After days of freezing rain, the sun comes out 11.26.2013 View of the original Kimbell building designed by L. Kahn from the new Piano Pavilion lobby Piano elegantly frames Fort Worth history—The Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum and its allée elms The Kimbell's Kahn Building the night of the Piano Pavilion Grand Opening Party 11.24.2013 What was once architectural silence, the lawn is now a space where Piano weaves the sacred (art viewing) with the profane (socializing). 

View of original Kimbell building from the new pavilion. I pulled my car into the Kimbell Art Museum's sparkling monochromatic underground parking garage. The museum's Renzo Piano Pavilion opened to members this morning, and after months of research I'm afire.  Talk about whether this building will complicate or take away from the original Kimbell Art Museum designed by Kahn have swirled internationally for years—whether the green space that once represented silence will be ruined, whether the jewel box masterpiece actually needed to grow, and why one should augment something that is considered a perfect work of architecture. I grew up close to this museum and was distraught when they erected the ugly tarp and dug into the sacred lawn I once sat by myself and sketched the allée elms or read philosophy texts.  After three years of digging the tarp is gone, and much of the green space intact. I jump into the transparent, glass elevator, float onto the lawn facin...

The Kimbell Art Museum Piano Pavilion will open to the public this week after three years of construction. As a father would do upon arrival of his newborn child, architect Renzo Piano rushed to Fort Worth to nurture, protect and proudly present his latest architectural feat. Piano said if the original Kimbell building designed by Louis Kahn was an introvert with its windows facing interior courtyards, then his new pavilion is an extrovert with its windows forming walls to the lawn and life buzzing outside. Hence the name, pavilion. A pavilion is traditionally a short distance from the main building where people escape and find relaxation. Piano said his building is an open and inviting building where people can meet, hear music, participate in classes or view art, in his talk A Conversation with Renzo Piano Nov. 19 in Fort Worth's Will Roger's Memorial Coliseum. Piano has a history if mixing the sacred and profane, which he does with this building. The profane are the ar...

Maybe you grew up playing in Fort Worth's Botanic Gardens . Maybe you didn't. It's a magical place where children dream of fairies and knomes, and adults escape the hum drum of the city life roaring just outside the garden's gates. This place means something different to everyone, but either way it is important to the city of Fort Worth, and for this reason people who care deeply for the gardens have come together to return the favor. A lot is about to change for the better.  As the oldest and largest botanic gardens in the state of Texas, the Fort Worth Botanic Garden  is nationally recognized as a historical site and for it's beautiful rose gardens.The garden's history started in 1912 when a small portion of land was roped off for a large city park. In 1933 it was purchased by the Fort Worth Park Commissioners. Originally 38 acres, the gardens now encompass 109 acres in the middle of the city. This year the Fort Worth Botanical Society just nominated the...

I've been going to Mayfest since I was in my mom's tummy. She used to volunteer with the Junior League setting up and working the booths. We went EVERY year and the happy memories have stayed with me ever since. I can hardly wait to see what the logo will look like every year. I'm a huge fan of this year's—it has a simple vintage flair. I still wish I had all of the T-shirts I collected over the years. I especially loved one from the early 80s with butterflies on it. Beyond the shirts, how could I forget getting my face painted like a little animal or the wood crafting section.  It was my favorite! Building doll houses and tables made me feel like I do and could make anything.  Smashing confetti eggs on cute boys' heads was the BEST way to flirt in middle school. Face painting, Dippin Dots and turkey legs never got old. I loved getting dressed up for the dance recitals we performed in. As an adult, we drink a beer and mingle with old friends. This is alway...

This piece was originally written for the eChaser, the monthly newsletter of the Fort Worth chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists, Public Relations Society of America and International Association of Business Communicators. The consensus of about 100 people at the Trinity River Vision panel discussion moderated by Society of Professional Journalists Oct. 12 was that the project is one huge, expensive distraction. Panelists Jim Lane, former City Councilman and Tarrant Regional Water District Board Member, former City Councilman Clyde Picht, Fort Worth certified public accountant Steve Hollern and meteorologist John Basham added their input for the project. Trinity River Vision executive director J.D. Granger and the representative for the city of Fort Worth’s seat remained empty. “I don’t really have a big for or against The Trinity River Vision downtown other than that it is a distraction, and what I mean by distraction is we in Texas … don’t get enough rainfall,” ...

Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic When: doors open at 11:30 and festivities start noon July 4 Where: Billy Bob's in Fort Worth How much: tickets are $35 at the door Who: click here to see the schedule of artists Old Fashioned Family Fireworks and Picnic When: 8 p.m. July 4 Where: Fort Worth Botanical Gardens What: Concert in the Gardens How much: $16 for lawn pass (kiddos under 10 are free) City of Fort Worth When: 4:30 p.m. Monday July 4 Where: Trinity River Levee behind LaGrave field (601 N.E. Sixth St.) What: games, water activities, pony rides and music How much: free! There is always a family barbecue or lake house to take it easy with your loved ones and friends. Whatever you do, remember those who died and are still dying for our independence. Happy 4th of July!!! What are you doing for the 4th?

Spring Arts Goggle last weekend was hyper-local in an awesome way. I brought four girlfriends with me that had never been, and we all had a great time. We got there about 5:30 p.m. and walked straight to the Wiener Man food truck for a snack. After all, we were going to be walking all night and needed fuel. All four of us thoroughly enjoyed our order. The crowd started to build and bands played on Magnolia as we ate our artisan hot dogs on a bench in front of Avoca. Next we stopped at The Usual to wash our hands and grab a drink. (You must try the Jimador's Revenge or Moscow Mule cocktails.) When we stepped out 40 minutes later, the crowd multiplied and the scene was bustling on Magnolia. After a few stops and distractions, we arrived to a kaleidoscope of booths filled with clothes, hand-shaped glass beads, drawings, paintings, doggie beds and vintage jewelry that dotted the closed-off street. Everything was affordable, which was so fun because we could actually purchase th...

Arts Goggle 2011 Bring a blanket and your friends to the one-acre park between Rosedale and Magnolia this evening for live music and local yummies. Fort Worth South, Inc . works with Fort Worth Weekly to host First Fridays on the Green every month from April to October. (It happens to fall on the second Friday this month so not to interfere with Mayfest.) Next month the event is June 3, and my favorite local band, Calhoun, will play. Arts Goggle this Saturday is an entirely different and biannual event occurring Spring and Fall. It's a coincidence they both fall on the same weekend this year. Fort Worth South, Inc. originally linked the event in 2003 to Fort Worth Gallery Night to bring people's attention to the South Side. Arts Goggle quickly got it's own following, so the separate events now attract their own substantial crowds. "This part of town is more about the grassroots community and less about expensive art galleries," said Mike Brennan, Fo...

A colorful line of people traced the So7 building on West 7th Thursday evening.  All waiting to see Fort Worth's new oxymoronic bowling alley. It was the VIP Grand Opening of Lucky Strike Lanes. A few wannabe Real Housewives of Fort Worth poured out of a rented black suburban complete with a driver and toting their husbands. They were quickly disappointed when they learned that all 100 people in line also had their name on the list.  They had to walk to the back but not without a fight. In fact, the line was buzzing with disappointed people wondering what happened to their special status. "Didn't I get a VIP invitation? Don't I have my name on the list?" Newsflash: everyone in line was special. One impatient young man approached a woman patrolling the red carpet. He said he was on the list and deserved to be moved to the front. "Everybody in this line is on the list. Everybody is special tonight," said the annoyed staff member for many to hear. T...

Lucky Strike Lanes I'm sure you've seen the  Lucky Strike  sign on 7th Street in Fort Worth for months. Boutique bowling? I believe so, and the voguish 10-lane upscale bowling lounge opened the first week of May! Forget all of your previous mental associations with bowling alleys. It even has a dress code. I'm intrigued, aren't you? They always say the invitation sets the mood for the event — mine came for the ally's grand opening in digital format with pictures of attractive young people, pink martinis and club music that they probably haven't heard yet in Gizmo's Disco on West Camp Bowie. I checked out their website for more info. The 5-page menu looks as hot as the people on their website. It's complete with gourmet burgers, pizzas, salads and small plates. Check it out by clicking here.  It doesn't close until 2 a.m. on weekends and will have an outdoor patio. According to the website it has a four-lane private bowling suite for th...

Click the event name to link to website for more information.  April 28:  The Aluminum Show at the Bass Hall Aluminum Show OK, I've never seen this show, but it looks awesome! Does it count if I've been to the venue before? The choreographer uses aluminum tubes and dance to create odd visual effects on stage.   Click here  to watch a video of the eccentric Israeli dance group. It's 7:30 p.m. April 28 at the Bass Hall. May 4:  Fort Worth Mayoral Candidate Forum If you are anything like me and would like to know more about the FW mayoral candidates, then this would be a good  event  for you. It's from 5-7 p.m. at TCU's Brown Lupton Union Auditorium. May 5-8:  Mayfest Maybe it's because I've been going to this event since I was in my mom's belly, but I think this is fun to do at any age. I love walking around, eating all of the snacks, watching the performances and playing some of the games. But there's endless activities for the kiddos. Try to...

     Some of us didn't get enough in college, so I appreciate it when a university lets me in to soak up a little more brain juice. Last week — the seventh annual journalism symposium hosted by TCU. I heard from several organizers it was the biggest hit of them all. “This is one of the largest crowds we’ve ever had for the symposium,” moderator Bob Schieffer said as he pulled up his pant leg and flashed his new purple boots with TCU stitched in white leather. He had bought them at Lusky’s earlier that day. The full room roared with approval of his latest purchase. Panelists included the hosts of MSNBC’s Morning Joe , Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough, founder of The Huffington Post , Ariana Huffington and FOX news’ senior political analyst, Brit Hume.  Hot issues like Wall Street greed and the fate of journalism darted around the room like a boomerang. Schieffer started the cordial quarrel. He said he’s never seen the government quite like it is right now....

Source Since part of my shtick is writing about cool things in Fort Worth, I had to write about this one. First Lady Laura Bush was in Fort Worth yesterday (April 5) signing her national bestseller,  Spoken From the Heart . Men and women were lined up for hours to get their hands on the paperback and meet the western beauty. But there is a better part to this story. Since I had a VIP pass I got to stand in a short line with some fascinating Fort Worth people. (No, the VIP pass is not the better part of this story ... hold on). The only person I knew in the "cool line" was Fort Worth artist, Cindi Holt, so I stuck by her and played solitaire on my iPhone to look like I had people to email. Dang. Why do I get so nervous going to crowded events alone? Probably because I'm normal, despite what the Paxil commercials tell you. Side note: You may be wondering how an unimportant person like me got a VIP pass. Because people did ask. Ugh.  One of my husband’s business cont...