STUFF
All-Star Week
Ohtani, Harper, Judge, Skenes, and more MLB greats are in town to play ball.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY
OZZIE GARZA
Arlington and the rest of North Texas will be baseball heaven next week as Globe Life Field hosts the 2024 All-Star Game on Tue., July 16. Baseball’s greatest players will come together for the 94th Midsummer Classic, a sports extravaganza that reigns supreme among the country’s four major sports leagues.
Baseball’s “Crown Jewel,” as Rangers owner Ray Davis calls it, will have a
significant economic impact, bringing tens of millions of dollars to DFW.
It’s been 29 years since the All-Star Game was held here. What a time that was. I saw my childhood hero Mickey Mantle. He was 64 years old and making a surprise appearance in his Yankees pinstripes with the familiar No. 7 on his back. Walking along the third-base line, he chatted with some of the players and coaches before the All-Stars’ workout.
However, it was the heat that I remember most. Rangers Manager Bruce Bochy recalls being at the Home Run Derby that year with his son and having to leave early because of the dreadful weather.
The following day was just as hot — 101 degrees, to be exact — when Rangers great and baseball legend Nolan Ryan threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Also that year, fan-fest activities were scattered throughout the Metroplex. That will not be the case this year. The game will be played in a stadium where the inside temperature stays a cool 74 degrees, and the majority of fan-fest activities will be in Arlington’s Entertainment District (Globe Life Field, Choctaw Stadium, and the newly created Esports Stadium) and the North Lawn.
“Arlington is proud to welcome baseball’s All-Stars to our city to show off their skills in one of the best stadiums in the country,” said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross.
Over the years, I have been to about half a dozen All-Star games and pregame festivities, and it looks like this year’s will surpass them all as Arlington and the Rangers are going all out.
Baseball fans like myself will be treated to a wide array of fan-friendly activities surrounding the games. Besides the All-Star Game itself, Globe Life Field will also host the HBCU Swingman Classic, the All-Star Futures Game, the All-Star Celebrity Softball Game, the Home Run Derby, and the increasingly popular Red Carpet Show, where players, wearing a lot of bling, model wild but also often thoughtfully designed clothes.
Planning for the five-day extravaganza began on Nov. 17, 2022, when baseball commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement. He said MLB is indebted to the Rangers for their willingness and ability
to host playoff games and the World Series in 2020 during the pandemic. He indicated that he and the league took that into “great consideration.”
Another reason, the commissioner said, is that “Globe Life Field is an unbelievable state-of-the-art facility, and we are excited to once again feature baseball’s newest ballpark on a global stage.”
It all begins on Fri., July 12, with the Swingman Classic, an annual All-Star game featuring student-athletes from D-I HBCU programs. There also will be a battle of the bands between two premier HBCU marching bands: Prairie View A&M’s Marching Storm and Texas Southern’s Ocean of Soul.
On Saturday, the All-Star Futures Game at Globe Life Field will put more of baseball’s top prospects on the field than any other event. Three Rangers prospects — pitchers Emiliano Teodo and Winston Santos as well as infielder Sebastian Walcott — will play for the American League team that will be managed by Rangers Hall of Famer Michael Young. The National League team will be managed by Rangers Hall of Famer and soon-to-be National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Adrian Beltre.
Following the Futures Game will be the inaugural Futures Skills Showcase, in which eight Futures players will take part in a batting competition, trying to hit specific targets on the field.
The day’s events will end with the AllStar Celebrity Softball Game with stars from music, screen, stage, and sports, plus MLB legends.
continued on page 7
On Sun., July 14, one of the major events of All-Star week will be in Fort Worth. For the fourth consecutive year, the MLB Draft will take place during All-Star week, and opening night will be at the Cowtown Coliseum in the Stockyards.
But the main feature of the festivities is the Capital One All-Star Village, which will host All-Star events inside Choctaw Stadium and the nearby Esports Stadium. Open Sat., July 13, through Tue., July 16, the Village will feature appearances from legendary baseball players and dozens of interactive baseball-themed attractions for all ages, plus a Ferris Wheel. There will also be the Capital One Play Ball Park, where kids can play informal games on differently sized diamonds.
Throughout the week, fans will have the opportunity to receive free autographs and participate in question-and-answer sessions with former players, who will also lead clinics.
This will be the first All-Star Game since 1939 to be hosted by the reigning World Series Champions. Managers of the two teams that vied for the title last year — Bochy and Torey Lovulllo of the Arizona Diamondbacks — will once again meet at home plate as the All-Stars and starting lineups are introduced.
What a difference a year makes. Last year, the Rangers had six players named to the American League All-Star team, five of them starters. This year, only two players — second baseman Marcus Semien and closer Kirby Yates — were named to the All-Star roster. Neither will start.
For Bochy, this will be his fifth as an All-Star manager. His previous four were with the National League club. This will be his first as the skipper of the American League squad.
The All-Star rosters were announced last month and include familiar names as well as 32 first-timers, including the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 22-year-old rookie phenom Paul Skenes, who has pitched in
just 10 games but is 5-0. Another newbie is Cincinnati Reds speedster Elly de la Cruz, who leads the Major League in stolen bases so far with 40.
Among the most recognizable names are Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, superstar Bryce Harper of the Phillies, and the top vote-getter in the fan balloting, Aaron Judge of the Yankees.
For Judge, coming to Arlington should bring back good memories. It was here where he hit two historic home runs: the last at Globe Life Park (Sep. 29, 2019) and, three years later, on Oct. 4, 2022, at Globe Life Field, his 62nd home run, becoming the single-season American League home run champ, surpassing Roger Maris.
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is looking forward to again playing on the field where his team won the World Series in the shortened 2020 season, and Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte may not be too excited to play where his team succumbed to the Rangers in the 2023 World Series. It was Marte who made the final out after taking a called third strike from pitcher Josh Sborz.
For Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson and catcher Adley Rutschman, it will be a week-long stay in the area as they have a three-game series with the Rangers at Globe Life Field following the All-Star Game.
The game is also a homecoming for Bobby Witt Jr., a Colleyville Heritage High School star and now shortstop for the Kansas City Royals. Former Rangers Jurickson Profar of the San Diego Padres and Emmanuel Clase of the Cleveland Guardians will be back in the area where they began their Major League careers.
Baseball is definitely an international game as 24 All-Stars were born outside the United States. There are 10 players from the Dominican Republic, six from Venezuela, two from Japan, two from Puerto Rico, and one each from Canada, Cuba, Curacao, and Mexico. l
A frequent contributor to the Fort Worth Weekly,
Ozzie Garza has been writing about the Rangers for more than 25 years.
A Ferris Wheel is one of the main attractions at the All-Star Village in Arlington.
Unveiled last July, the All-Star logo depicts a vibrant celebration of Texas and the diverse community of Arlington and surrounding cities.
Before heading off on my out-of-state vacation adventure to see Fiona the Hippo, Dave Grohl the Badass, and Mammoth the Cave later this month, I’m having some staycationing fun across North Texas. Join me, won’t you?
We are a house divided. My husband, who as a toddler loved “David Ree Roth” and still prefers “wings over rings” (referring to the different “VH” logos) has a very low tolerance for Sammy Hagar when it comes to Van Halen. As for me, I love Van Hagar as much as I love the original lineup. While I was not in attendance at that very last Texxas Jam when Sammy ended their VH set early due to vocal issues and promised from the stage to perform a free concert in North Texas in the future, nothing could have stopped me from going to that makeup show in the streets of West End three years later. (I still remember the tree I clung to.) With the release of the box set of For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge: Expanded Edition, the rooftop of Sundown at the Granada Theater (3520 Greenville Av, Dallas, 214-823-8305) will screen the previously unreleased footage from that free concert found in high definition on the Bluray disc included in the set. Guess where I’ll be at 8:30pm? But not hanging from a tree.
The UTA Planetarium (700 Planetarium Pl, Arlington, 817-272-1183) hosts various events — celestial and earthbound alike — including a 10-show music series with dates now thru late December. Fort Worth’s own Housekeys kicked things off last week, and the second show tonight features Dallas Skies and Panther Cello with Kasey Dixon. Appetizers are included with the admission price, and a cash bar will be available. The reception with food and drinks starts at 6pm in the atrium, followed by the concert at 7pm. To see future lineups and purchase $35 tickets, visit UTA.edu/ planetarium/shows/events.
Denton-based community radio station KUZU 92.9FM and Recycled Books & Records host the second annual Revolution Record Convention at the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center (400
E Hickory St, Denton, 940-382-2787) 11am5pm, with local, regional, and national vendors offering collectible vinyl records and other music media, memorabilia, posters, and more. Live entertainment will include DJs, special guest appearances, and a panel discussion with local journalists Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe, Lyndsay Knecht, and Ken Shimamoto. Admission is $10, and those who purchase them in advance at RevolutionRecordConvention.com will be granted early entry (10am).
You’re not alone if you believe Halloween starts when Fourth of July ends. Join fellow horror fans at the Texas Haunters Convention at the Mesquite Convention Center (1700 Rodeo Dr, Mesquite, 972-329-3100) 10am-10pm Fri, 7:30am-10:30pm Sat, and 9am-3:30pm today. This Halloween and costume expo features classes, parties, haunting tours, and vendors. Weekend passes are only $25, but there are daily options, too. See the event schedule and register for tickets at TexasHauntersConvention.com.
My aforementioned Hagarhating husband works weekends, so Mondays have become our date nights (translation: #MovieNight). Tonight’s feature will be A Quiet Place: Day One (PG13). I saw the first film in this franchise at an Alamo Drafthouse, where you are already required to behave yourself and not make a lot of noise, and the added pressure of trying to eat popcorn in a room full of silent people watching a quiet-oriented movie was a bit much. We’ll see the third installment/prequel at Studio Movie Grill (452 Lincoln Sq, Arlington, 682-267-9465), where everyone will be chowing down, not just me. You can also stream the film on Amazon Prime or YouTube for $24.99. Our film critic thinks the series has evolved enough to stay fresh. Read more of Kristian Lin’s thoughts in last week’s Film Shorts at FWWeekly.com, but proceed with caution. A spoiler or two await.
The MLB All-Star Game is at Globe Life Field (734 Stadium Dr, Arlington, 817-533-1972), and for a closer look, go to pg. TK. For tickets, your best bet is to search Seat Geek, the official reseller, because I don’t want you to get scammed. As of press time, the cheapest seats start at $219 each at SeatGeek.com/ mlb-all-star-game-tickets.
And now something for the Boomers at Bass Performance Hall (555 Commerce St, Fort Worth, 817-212-4280). And their offspring. And maybe even you. Spinning a tale of young love and wacky comedy to the tunes of disco giants ABBA, the award-winning jukebox musical Mamma Mia! brightens up the downtown venue for one final week: 7:30pm Tue-Fri and 1:30pm/7:30pm Sat-Sun. We dare you to sit still. — Anthony Mariani
Footage from a free local Van Halen show from 1991 screens Thu at the Granada Theater’s Sundown.
EATS & drinks
Good Space, Cowboy
Two new, regionally owned eateries in downtown Arlington bode well for the food scene.
BY LAURIE JAMES
Soy Cowboy recently opened in the ground floor of Arlington’s new Lowes Hotel across from Texas Live!, the massive indoor/outdoor space between our two baseball parks. The upscale pan-Asian restaurant adds some much-needed festivity to a town long on chain joints and short on white-tablecloth, celebratory spots.
The brainchild of Houston’s Berg Hospitality Group, Soy Cowboy is cousin to B&B Butchers in Clearfork. The media
opening was hot (literally, one of the warmest days of early summer) and loud — with dragon dancers, live music, and an overflow crowd of Arlington luminaries and the requisite social media-teers. The selection of sushi, dim sum, cocktails, and desserts was impressive and yummy. The snow-crab taco and truffle-kissed salmon sashimi were two impeccably fresh standout appetizers. The impressively presented, grilled whole branzino and a simple, tasty orange chicken were enough to convince me that I’d like to revisit the glittery corner restaurant in the
fall to better take advantage of some people-watching from the wrap-around patio.
My joy for Soy Cowboy has only been amped up by the arrival of Cafe Americana, a new tapas and paella bar/restaurant slightly farther away from our Fun-Central stadia. Open about three months, Americana is owned by a collective and headed by chefs Wendy Felix and Mark Guatelara (chef of Fort Worth’s late, lamented Ober Here, first a food truck, then a brick-and-mortar specializing in lovingly executed Filipino cuisine). continued on page 17
Soy Cowboy
888 Nolan Ryan Expw, Ste A, Arlington. 817-766-6444. 11am-10pm Sun-Thu, 11am-11pm Fri-Sat.
Cafe Americana
403 E Main St, Arlington. 682-338-3033. 11am-11pm Sun, 11am-11pm Tue-Thu, 11am-1am Fri-Sat.
The charcuterie at Cafe Americana features a DIY option or the house collection of interesting meats and cheeses.
Soy Cowboy’s Pear 76 (far left) is a refreshing spin on the French 75.
Eats & Drinks
Cafe Americana took over the space formerly occupied by Urban Alchemy, an ethereal place where you could have coffee and snacks in the morning and/or wine and snacks in the evening. Americana retained much of Alchemy’s beautiful bones, including the light-filled main dining room and a small, intimate private room, and I’m celebrating its arrival because Arlington is also short on these kinds of third spaces, where you can meet for coffee/cocktails/mocktails, or work, or just sit and think.
Cafe Americana’s gloriously presented charcuterie board that easily serves three came stuffed with unusual meats and fun cheeses. A creamy burrata appetizer with toasted sourdough crusts, tomatoes, and a healthy dose of olive oil also proved to be a substantial snack. Most refreshingly, there are zero-proof mocktails on the bar menu along with your favorite standards.
If you’ve lived in Arlington long enough, you probably have some priceless memories of a local restaurant that no longer exists. Mine is Daniel’s on Division Street and their International Burger (with Canadian bacon, Swiss cheese, and cheap yellow mustard –– still my burger standard). Later on, Cacharel Restaurant served glorious French cuisine out of a top-floor space not too far from Cowboys Stadium until 2016, and I still miss Olenjack’s Grille, which was arguably the best that we had until Brian
Olenjack was allegedly done dirty by his financial partners in 2007.
Most of the restaurants in A-town are either small mom-and-pop places or chains. What we’re short on are white-tablecloth, celebratory joints like Fort Worth’s B&B and Bonnell’s. Or even regular-tablecloth celebration stops like Clay Pigeon.
Frankly, between the trains that parallel Division Street, the lack of parking, and the lack of any coherent transit system, locals
like me don’t want much to do with Texas Live! unless we’re headed to a game, and this feeds my concern for Soy Cowboy, which is possibly the nicest restaurant in town as of this writing. Berg has some familiarity with pan-Asian cuisine –– Houston’s Benny Chows offers an impressive array of specifically Chinese dishes and delights. Some of these have migrated to Soy Cowboy. Founder and CEO Benjamin Berg has a long history of supporting local, including treating first
responders to lunch every October and offering a meal to veterans and their families on Veterans Day. The bad news is that parking around Soy Cowboy is an absolute crap show, whether one or three of the stadiums are open for business or there’s something going on at Texas Live! On a game day, you can forget about a casual drive-by dine.
There’s a possibility that if my crew and I plan right, we can start with appetizers and a Pear 76 (Grey Goose, Monin Pear puree, prosecco, lemon squeeze) at Soy Cowboy, hit a game, and negotiate our way to a celebration/commiseration with a nightcap at Cafe Americana. Send good vibes our way. l
Sushi at Soy Cowboy explodes with flavor.
Courtesy Soy Cowboy/Facebook
The burrata appetizer at Cafe Americana is one hearty snack.
Laurie James
ATE DAY8 a Week
ATE DAY8 of All-Star Week
BY LAURIE JAMES
If you’re headed to Globe Life Field (734 Stadium Dr, Arlington, 817-533-1972) for any of the upcoming All-Star Game shenanigans, remember that the bulk of the eateries at Texas Live! are not locally owned (and a few of us locals don’t have anything nice to say about any of that mess). Here’s a list of my favorite non-chain Arlington restaurants within about three miles of the stadium. Stop in and support the local restaurateurs who are making it happen every day in the Big A.
1.) Cafe Americana (403 E Main St, Arlington, 682-338-3033) is only three months old, but already the fusion coffee bar/bar-bar is drawing raves from locals and out-of-towners alike. Coffee and cocktails (or mocktails) are served
While only months old, Cafe Americana is already drawing raves from locals and out-oftowners alike.
with an eclectic selection of snacks and meals. Foodie picks: charcuterie board, La Morena espresso martini.
2.) Grease Monkey (200 N Mesquite St, Arlington, 817-665-5454) is raucously loud most times because a musician friend or 20 of the owner’s is usually rocking out onstage. The food and drinks are simple, fairly inexpensive, and really good. Foodie picks: Black & Blue Burger, chicken-fried burger, or, if you’re vegetarian, the chipotle sweet potato tots.
3.) Hurtado BBQ (205 E Front St, Arlington, 682-323-5141) started as a humble shop in Arlington right before the COVID closures. Now, it’s a mini-empire across Tarrant County, but you ate it here first. Foodie picks: beef ribs, Mexican cornbread. Bonus: Brandon Hurtado converted the empty space next door into
Hayters, a basic bar. If there’s a line for food, send one of your party over there with your drink order to save a little time.
4.) J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill (407 E South St, Arlington, 817-274-8561) is an institution. A sticky-floored, kid-friendly spot where three generations of families have celebrated sports victories with fried goodness. Foodie pick: Irish nachos, fries with the housemade ranch dressing.
5.) A little farther away from the stadium lies ramen heaven at Kintaro Ramen (101 E Abram St, Ste 130, 817-538-5344). Chef/ restaurateur Jesus Garcia is a genius when it comes to the brothy noodle things. Foodie pick: Karashimiso ramen with extra spice, Thai green curry house special.
6.) The sole non-chain restaurant at Texas Live!, Lockhart Smokehouse (1650 E Randol Mill Rd, Ste 130, Arlington, 817769-1747) is owned by people who actually live and work in North Texas. The recipes are steeped in co-owner Jill Bergus’ history –– her family has owned the legendary Kreuz Market in the Texas Hill Country for three generations. Foodie picks: smoked salmon (Fridays only), Kreuz Market Sausage.
7.) Since taking over an old Sonic near a hospital in 1989, the Kotby family has provided Lebanese takes on the Mediterranean diet using family recipes and a lot of love. Although Prince Lebanese Grill (502 W Randoll Mill Rd, Arlington, 817-469-1811) is neither diner, drive-in, nor dive, Guy
Fieri featured it on his Food Network show. Foodie picks: the overly generous lunch shawarma special, baba ghanoush.
8.) If you’re looking for a sweet treat after walking around downtown, Sugar Bee Sweets (201 N East St, Arlington, 817903-8661) — the cute bakery inside The Hive restaurant — has got you covered. Unusually, Sugar Bee offers a stellar array of gluten-free items that taste just as good as the real deals (available to preorder only). Foodie picks: red velvet white chocolate chip cookies, Tea & Honey cake (Earl Grey tea cake with a honey buttercream top).
For diehard baseball fans with extra money to blow, there are a variety of interesting — but somewhat pricy — selections at Globe Life Field. Read more about this season’s ballpark food in “And Boom Go the Sticks” at FWWeekly.com. l
Lockhart Smokehouse inside Texas Live! is owned by people who actually live and work in North Texas.