Adventures in and Around Fort Worth

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...

Pop! The first bottle of wine to be consumed spits its cork out. We pour our first glass, sigh and settle into our adorable rent house just off Llano street in Fredericksburg, Texas.  We passed these Poppy Fields at Wildseed Farms on our way into town.  Our first stop in this little German getaway is dinner at  The Nest . The cozy house-converted restaurant has everything to offer from fresh fish shipped that day to rack of lamb. The atmosphere was delightful and comfortable, and the service was punctual but not bothersome.  I ordered the salmon smothered in a rich garlic sauce with a side of sauteed spinach and roasted beets. The salmon was falling apart tender and cooked to perfection. The sides complimented it perfectly. And most importantly, it was piping hot when brought to the table. For those of you who know me, if it's not hot, I can't enjoy it. I know, first world problems, but nevertheless, important.  Salmon, roasted beets and ...

UPDATE (7.30.13) Ryan's is now closed due to failure to make rent. This is such sad news to me for I ate there weekly and still crave their food. UPDATE (5.01.13.): Ryan's now offers brunch from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Ryan's is like a museum experience but at a grocery store. And like a museum inspires some to study art and create, Ryan's inspired me to want to cook differently and know more about food. My newly walking baby came crashing through the doors with me to the media event at Ryan's Fine Grocer and Delicatessen , and I couldn't stop long enough to take a single note before he attempted to pulverize something that looked like an apple and a plum's offspring. But he at least brought my attention to the beautiful produce he was about to destroy. While I didn't jot down what it all was, I still got to observe and taste as I restrained a kicking one-year-old wild man. I loved everything from the clean atmosphere to th...

Although it may look the same as Fort Worth's original sushi joint,  Little Lilly Sushi is a different animal (or fish) in a novel way. diced tuna, sushi rice, shiso, sake-soy, mountain yam and wasabi It's in the same location and has the same chummy atmosphere as the former Hui Chuan but a crisp carte du jour. The 24-year-old blooming chef, Jesus Garcia, created the menu and plays with it weekly to keep his job amusing and see what works for his customers. And trust me, it's DELICIOUS. So good that it inspired me to write on my food blog for the first time since I had my baby. He's 11 months old. While there are a few items that stay on the menu (like my favorite Hamachi Zest roll), he adds treats every week to keep things interesting. Check out their Facebook page under the "current fish selection" album to see what's fresh and what Jesus is experimenting with this week. If ever confused by the contents, Chef Garcia explains all of his crea...

It's been a while since I've done a travel piece, but a few days ago I got to escape to my favorite weekend getaway — Fort Davis and Marfa, Texas.  Sitting on the roof of the Indian Lodge, I look out through the valley of the Davis Mountains. It is quiet. The only thing I can hear is my fingers tapping my computer keys. I feel clean, raw, pure and more fully myself out here. I don’t know anybody, and nobody is expecting anything of me. Wispy, high clouds brush the blue-gray, autumn sky. A cool breeze tickles my bare feet and lifts my hair. The sun slowly sets over the pale gold winter grass and mountains reflecting peach hues off the high clouds. I love it here in West Texas. Lunch earlier that day             For lunch we stopped at the Pizza Foundation in Marfa. It is some of the best pizza I’ve ever had — thin, chewy homemade crust, big slices and even bigger flavor.The cheese has so much flavor that I didn’t want to...

I know the Rangers lost the World Series again, but failure is a part of life. It's especially a part of baseball. But some people can't live with failure. I was reading an article in Atlantic Monthly last week about how the Angels' pitcher, Donnie Moore, committed suicide because he couldn't accept his failure. Finding this article seemed to confirm that failure was the theme for the week—at a dinner party I had last night, one friend said her New Year's resolution was to "fail more." She said if you don't fail then you aren't trying. Washington's failure got our team to the World Series not once, but twice two years in a row. I'm posting this article about accepting failure by one of my favorite writers and a friend of mine, Michael Mooney. I think we all have something to learn from Washington and how he faces challenges in his life. After all, "he do what he do." Ron Washington: He Do What He Do by Michael J. Mooney

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,” ...