Fort Worth Weekly // April 27-May 3, 2022 by Fort Worth Weekly

April 27 - May 3, 2022 FREE fwweekly.com

The Mosaic

This community mural will tour Fort Worth this summer, starting at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. B Y

METROPOLIS Does the city want to privatize publicly funded arts programs and groups? BY EDWARD BROWN

EATS & DRINKS The burgers come thicc and delish at Big Kat. BY EDWARD BROWN

J E N N I F E R

STUFF The Mavs’ toughness is out of character but more than welcome. BY PAT R I C K H I G G I N S

B O V E E

OBITUARY Remembering loving father, writer, and jungle tour guide Peter Gorman. BY ANTHONY MARIANI

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Number 4

A pr i l 27 - May 3, 2022

INSIDE 4

Megan Ables, Christina Berger, E.R. Bills, Jason Brimmer, Sue Chefington, Buck D. Elliott, Juan R. Govea, Patrick Higgins, Bo Jacksboro, Laurie James, Kristian Lin, Vishal Malhotra, Cody Neathery, Wyatt Newquist, Linda Blackwell Simmons, Madison Simmons, Teri Webster, Ken WheatcroftPardue, Cole Williams

Case by Case With a new weekly residency and a fundraiser concert this weekend, this legendary jazz pianist remains a force. By Edward Brown

EDITORIAL

Edward Brown, Staff Writer Emmy Smith, Proofreader Michael Newquist, Regional Sales Director Jennifer Bovee, Marketing Director Stacey Hammons, Senior Account Executive Jessica Kirksey, Account Executive Julie Strehl, Account Executive Tony Diaz, Account Executive Wyatt Newquist, Digital Coordinator Clintastic, Brand Ambassador

Anthony Mariani, Edward Brown, Emmy Smith

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CONTRIBUTORS

Edward Brown

By Jennifer Bovee

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Jim Erickson, Circulation Director

This Near Southside food truck does burgers creatively and heftily.

This new combined mural had the hands of Fort Worth in it.

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Ryan Burger, Art Director

There’s good reason to believe the city might want to get out of the arts-funding game.

Celebrating Heritage

Bob Niehoff, General Manager

Kat-tastic

By Edward Brown

Anthony Mariani, Editor Lee Newquist, Publisher

Cutting Room Floor

By Edward Brown

STAFF

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Metro Static . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Obituary . . . . . . . 7 Letters . . . . . . . . . 8

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Eats & Drinks

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Congrats to Weekly staff writer Edward Brown for his recent First Amendment Award. Administered by the Society of Professional Journalists-Fort Worth, the award that encompasses Texas and Oklahoma goes to the best journalism employing public records. Brown, who was also nominated in the investigative category, won for his story about the deplorable conditions at the county jail. “By using their own words from overwhelming documentation requested by the writer,” the judges said, “the reporter gives powerful voice to these prisoners, who are among those most trapped in a system not designed to provide them the help they need.” Way to go, Eddie. As his first award but definitely not his first hard-hitting story, it’s particularly sweet. — Anthony Mariani

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Weekly Brings Home First Amendment Award

METROPOLIS

Unprovoked accusations of wasteful arts-related spending have many worried that an already bootstrapped arts council’s days may be numbered. B R O W N

Benito Huerta’s “Urban Still Life” was installed on South Main Street in 2017.

Texas. That’s according to a new report by Texas Cultural Trust, a nonprofit that advocates for arts-centered learning in public schools. The most recent economic impact study in Fort Worth, this one funded by Arts Fort Worth, found that, in 2017, arts-related activity generated $26 million annually for local government and more than $450 million per year for the local economy. Cooke did not respond to my requests for comment. Fort Worth Assistant Manager Fernando Costa told me that any rumors about cuts to Arts Fort Worth and Fort Worth Public Art have no basis in fact. “We’ve been working with the Arts Council to streamline the delivery of public art projects in a budget-neutral manner,” Costa said in an email. “The Arts Council has been cooperative and helpful in this effort to complete most public art projects within three years of authorization.” Costa said the city is similarly not looking to disrupt the work done by Arts Fort Worth. He said the city has been working with an advisory group to examine the feasibility of converting the 68-year-old Fort Worth Community Arts Center, where Arts Fort Worth and Fort Worth Public Art are headquartered, into a proposed Fort Worth African American Museum. The building at 1300 Gendy Street in the Cultural District is “one of several sites that the steering committee is considering for such an institution, and we’re helping them to raise funds for a detailed feasibility study,” Costa continued. “The possibility of converting that building is merely

an idea at a formative stage, and the city wouldn’t act upon it without more public discussion and without more compelling data to support such action.” The 21-member steering committee headed by local museum directors and business leaders will meet in May to further discuss potential future sites for the museum. One confidential source shared an email sent from Costa to Arts Fort Worth directors that states the Community Arts Center ranks second in the listing of buildings the steering committee is recommending for conversion to a new museum. In an email, Costa said the steering committee is still early in their search for a suitable home for the Fort Worth African American Museum. The committee members “have not yet completed preliminary discussions with diverse civic leaders, conducted a detailed feasibility study, or formally approached the city about using the city-owned building at 1300 Gendy Street,” Costa said in an email. “Even if the city were eventually to

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E D W A R D

Van Cliburn, the Kimbell Art Museum, and the Fort Worth Circle are as important to the identity of our city as the Stockyards and the skyline. City leaders, perhaps willfully forgetful of that truism, have often cut public spending for the arts whenever politically expedient projects — like Dickies Arena, Amazon Fulfillment Center, and Facebook Data Center — required taxpayers to float investors through direct investments or tax breaks. This story goes back to 2013. That’s when Arts Fort Worth (formerly the Arts Council of Fort Worth) suffered its first huge budget cut in recent memory. The nonprofit that oversees funding for dozens of arts groups across Tarrant County and also Fort Worth Public Art was left with $866,450, about half of its total allotment five years earlier. City Council said cuts were needed across the board to balance the budget. Arts supporters blamed the cuts on the up-and-coming Dickies Arena. Some conservative leaders said they wanted to remove the City of Fort Worth from the arts-funding game altogether — a stated aim that appears to be returning. People who work in the arts in Fort Worth say City Manager David Cooke is seeking to gut funding for Arts Fort Worth and Fort Worth Public Art, claiming his ultimate goal is to privatize public art and arts funding in general even as major cities across the country rely on nonprofits to distribute public funds in a fair and equitable manner. Seeing how much money is generated by the arts across the globe, you could see why some greedy players might want a piece of the action or some of the accolades that come with being an arts patron in the city of Cowboys and Culture. Over the past decade, arts and culture have produced $6.1 billion in economic activity for

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Privatizing the Arts?

City Manager David Cooke sits in front of a Fort Worth Public Art project (the backlit steer head) every Tuesday at council meetings.

find adaptive reuse of that building to be feasible and desirable, the proposed African American museum and cultural center would benefit from cooperation and colocation with [the nonprofit] Kids Who Care and [Arts Fort Worth]. In any case, the future of the public art program is not dependent upon any decision that the city might make about the 1300 Gendy Street building.” Public emails reveal that in early March, city leaders raised concerns over the length of time public art projects take to complete — something that arts supporters believe is a pretext for dismantling public funding for the arts. “I think we should amend our contract with [Arts Fort Worth] so as to require compliance with appropriate timeliness standards,” Costa wrote, adding that Arts Fort Worth should release monthly reports that outline public art project progress. “I also think that we should identify all pre2018 public art projects that have not yet reached the fabrication state and determine whether we should terminate any of those projects.” Martha Peters, director for Fort Worth Public Art, declined to comment on this story, but public art commission chair Estrus Tucker did go on the record about the allegations against Cooke. Tucker defended the $505,295 that the city contributes to the public art program as part of broader funding for Arts Fort Worth. That funding pays the six staffers who manage the program, but many of the public art projects are funded through bond programs in which the city pays the artists and their subcontractors directly rather than through the public art program. Tucker said that, while the commission welcomes recommendations on ways to streamline and improve the process of placing public art throughout Fort Worth, city officials do not appreciate that artists do not work like city contractors. “There is a failure to appreciate the process,” Tucker said in a phone interview. “A lot of the steps involved are in the hands of city staff. City staff have to review certain things because it is their contract. We involve the city councilmembers and the community. All these things take time.” Over the coming weeks and months, Tucker and supporters of the city’s public art program will engage artists, institutions, and the general public to encourage them to speak out loud in support of public art, Tucker said, adding that the quality of work produced by Fort Worth Public Art will be the advocacy effort’s strongest argument against Cooke’s defunding efforts. Fortunately, Tucker added, Mayor Mattie Parker and city council value public art, the gifted artists who create the art, continued on page 5

was around the time he began criticizing other areas of the organization. The arts supporters and volunteers who spoke with me worry that Cooke, who creates drafts of the city budget that Fort Worth City Council approves every September, will use his position to unilaterally cut funding for Arts Fort Worth and Fort Worth Public Art. Based on city documents, Fort Worth’s budget for maintaining the arts center — $200,000 per year — has not increased over the past decade. In 2008, city leaders cut the building’s annual

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maintenance budget by $80,000 to where it remains today. One city proposal may bring a bit of good news to a battered Arts Fort Worth staff. The date to remember is Saturday, May 7. That’s when Fort Worth will vote on whether or not to allot millions of dollars to Fort Worth Public Art for distribution through Arts Fort Worth. Bond election director Roger Venables said in an email that the five propositions could generate $3,655,300 to $7,102,000 in public art funding, as part of a larger $560

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Dan Corson’s “Flight” was completed in 2021.

million proposal, for the bond that aims to build new infrastructure, parks, and city buildings in the coming years. Arts Fort Worth’s current $1,786,370 contract with the city, which I reviewed, allows the city to terminate the agreement with 30 days’ notice in writing, meaning Arts Fort Worth will be around to see the results of the bond vote. City councilmembers approved a $1.8 billion budget for 2022, meaning Arts Fort Worth represents just under .1% of the city’s overall budget. Dallas, by comparison, allots around $20 million per year to support local arts groups while San Antonio contributes just over $11 million per year to arts programs. Dallas and San Antonio each fund a central arts organization that disburses public funds as Arts Fort Worth does. Any disruption or delays in public funding for local arts groups could have disastrous consequences for the nonprofits that already run on tight budgets. I reached out to Americans for the Arts, the national advocacy group for nonprofits that program visual and performing arts, for updated figures on per capita spending on the arts in Texas but did not hear back. Historically, Fort Worth has lagged behind other major cities in that area, and those numbers reflect the priorities of city leaders rather than the general public. In 2013, a study commissioned by the arts council found that Fort Worthians spent 94 cents per capita on the arts while Austin ($6.34), San Antonio ($5.98), and Houston ($2.33) far outspent that amount.

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and the professional staff that support the process. “Our exhibits are refreshingly diverse — an expression of the full range of our cultural heritage,” Tucker added. “For the city to be absent as it relates to public art is unacceptable. Look at other world-class cities in this country. We have so many different models to look at. I’m not aware of any city that has relied exclusively on the private sector to advance public art. Cities are an essential catalyst for broadbased participation in public art. That is a relinquishing of responsibility and accountability. Privatization would be going backward.” Last week, the head of Arts Fort Worth, Karen Wiley, announced her departure. She gave no reason, but the timing of her decision and Cooke’s ongoing public criticism of the nonprofit is not coincidental, based on my conversations with individuals who maintain intimate connections to Arts Fort Worth. Wiley declined to comment on this story. Cooke’s open disdain toward Arts Fort Worth, sources say, can be traced back to a couple of boilers. In December, Arts Fort Worth staff said they believed one of two boilers in the bowels of the Fort Worth Community Arts Center needed to be replaced. The staffers claim Cooke dismissed their concerns. The staffers then said this

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Partnering with private interests would bolster Cooke’s connections to and leverage with local movers and shakers who could potentially team with the city on future private-public partnerships. Tucker said that part of the arts community’s response will need to involve the public and city council. By inviting the public to have a conversation about the role and importance of public art, Tucker said he and his supporters can change Cooke’s narrative that Arts Fort Worth

Static When it comes to government work, the line between doing personal favors for friends and breaking the law depends on the degree of the infraction and whether the officials were caught in the act. Our magazine frequently reports on the type of insider deals that recently saddled New York’s former lieutenant governor with bribery charges. A federal prosecutor recently described them. “A quid pro quo,” he said, describing the tactics of Brian Benjamin, who recently resigned. “This for that. That’s bribery, plain and simple.” Federal law enforcement agents recently arrested Benjamin, and federal prosecutors are accusing him of offering state grant funds in return for campaign contributions. The case is a reminder that government officials who use their positions to benefit themselves or friends risk breaking state and federal laws. Whether at the state or federal level, bribery is a felony charge that can lead to steep prison sentences, which is why one Tarrant County court form recently caught our attention. Request for Assignment forms are locally filed with Judge David Evans, presiding judge of the Eighth Administrative Judicial Region that includes Tarrant County. The form allows county and district judges to request time off. Scheduled hospital visits, personal emergencies, and illness are all perfectly acceptable reasons a judge may need to miss a day or two on their docket. What defies explanation, though, is why Tarrant County’s judges are allowed to personally request who fills in for them. Near the top of the Request for Assignment form is a space labeled “Judge requested.” Since most active judges maintain a busy schedule, ones who ask for time off typically request a visiting retired judge to fill the shortterm court vacancies.

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Good Ol’ Boy Favors or Business as Usual?

“Public art matters, period,” Tucker said. “It is an essential component of economic development and an instrument of equity for the full cultural heritage of a city, race, age, ancestry. Everything that makes us a person is captured in the cultural expression of art. Art is core. Public art is what allows us to look beyond the shadows of privilege without blaming anybody but naming what is while reflecting the hope of something better and more inclusive of us all.” After many years of supporting the work of professional artists, Tucker said he believes that Fort Worth’s public art will only be as good as city leaders allow it to be.

and Fort Worth Public Art are not good stewards of taxpayer monies. Fort Worth’s city manager maintains a low profile, and his public comments are infrequent, but his record on funding the arts — across multiple mayoral and city council administrations — is public record. Arts Fort Worth’s funding has been in trouble since 2011, and the city’s allotments for repairing the community arts center remain frozen at 2011-levels. As the city’s top administrator who drafts budgets, Cooke can rightfully be blamed for Fort Worth’s abysmal history of underfunding a crucial part of the local economy and a pillar of local cultural life.

Defendants can reasonably believe that the judge who presides over them is not selected for personal or unethical purposes. According to Tarrant County’s website, a computer randomly chooses one of 10 district courts for felony cases, but there’s a loophole that allows visiting retired judges — judges whose term of office has ended — to earn hundreds of dollars a day sitting in for judges who requested them. Across the state, visiting retired judges are paid a daily rate on par with the court they’re sitting on. Tarrant County district judges earn $160,000 a year, meaning that anyone sitting in on a district court stands to earn nearly $500 a day. Judges being able to pick their friends means they’re putting college affiliations and neighborhood associations above jurisprudence. Evans maintains a public list of visiting retired judges who are eligible for assignment, and he should end the current system that allows active judges to choose who sits in for them during vacancies. Doing otherwise gives the appearance that certain judges are given preference for personal or self-serving reasons. Tarrant County’s criminal judges, active and retired, are part of a good ol’ boy club that, if given the chance, will take advantage of county resources for selfish purposes. In 2007, the Weekly reported that Judge Phil Sorrells, who is now retired and currently in a runoff with book banner Matt Krause for the Republican nomination for district attorney, allegedly skirted state law when appointing attorneys from the law firm of Trent Loftin, who is currently running as a Republican for Tarrant County Criminal Court No. 10, where Sorrells presided until late last year. Loftin and Sorrells are known to be longtime friends. “In February, more than half the appointments made by County Criminal Court Judge Phil Sorrells went to only three attorneys, including Trent Loftin, who received 27 of the 79 appointments,” we reported at the time. Our magazine is investigating new allegations from one whistleblower that the quid quo pro between Sorrells and Loftin continued until Sorrells recently retired. The appearance of favoritism when assigning visiting retired judges isn’t the only form of judicial double-dealing in

C o u r t e s y o f Ta r r a n t C o u n t y

Metro

Tarrant County court officials randomly assign felony cases to district court judges, but there’s a loophole to that process when it comes to assigning visiting retired judges.

Tarrant County. In late January, former Tarrant County Justice of the Peace Jacqueline Wright prepared for a trial that she thought would be presided over by Judge Robb Catalano. Wright was unaware that, two weeks before her trial date, Catalano had requested visiting retired Judge Daryl Coffey to sit in. Our reporting found that Coffey has his own history of allegedly tampering with government documents (“Moonlighting as a Senior Judge?” April 13). On Nov 18, 2014, as part of his election to serve as a visiting retired judge following retirement, Coffey allegedly filed a falsified Statement of Appointed Officer — alternately known as the anti-bribery oath — with Judge Evans. The document that appears to have been drafted by Coffey is missing language that Texas’ Congress added via constitutional amendment in 2001: “Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have read the foregoing statement and that the facts stated therein are true.” It may seem minor, but in a world where every word matters and lives and livelihoods are at stake, it’s actually not. Coffey is far from the only judge in Texas who allegedly disregards state laws after retirement. Our statewide search for similar cases found several visiting retired

“We need the city to be as serious about respect for artists and cultural equity as it is about efficiency,” he continued. “When that is approached in a serious manner, we can come together and make those adjustments, so we have a process that respects artists instead of a machine that is responsive to city management’s due diligence and fiduciary role. It’s not that complicated as long as you treat people like humans. Artists are humans. They are not constructing a building. These are people. At times it seems that some see artists as having a hobby rather than a livelihood worthy of equitable wages.” l

judges across the Lone Star State who have failed to file their oaths of office after retirement or filed falsified government documents. Texas’ Court of Criminal Appeals ruled in 1999 that a judge’s Oath of Office terminates on the first day of retirement, meaning that the rulings of any visiting retired judge who does not take and file a valid oath of office with each new assignment are void and as such can be overturned upon appeal. Coffey also appeared to consider himself a senior judge, a designation that can be bestowed only by Texas Chief Justice Nathan Hect and that allows select visiting retired judges to be assigned to cases throughout the state. Coffey’s days as a visiting retired judge appear to be over. In February, Judge David Hagerman filed a Request for Assignment form with Evans, seeking the appointment of Coffey to Hagerman’s 297th District Court in mid-June and within weeks of the May murder trial of former police officer Aaron Dean. Days before the publication of our story about Coffey, Hagerman submitted another request, this one for visiting retired judge Mollee Westfall. In an email to us, Evans said the change in assignment was due to a “scheduling conflict” by Coffey, a statement that we found to be misleading at best. Following the publication of our story on Coffey, Evans considerably slowed the release of other documents we have requested under what is known as Rule 12. As part of our ongoing investigation into Tarrant County’s visiting retired judges, we are seeking the types of oaths and documents that Coffey allegedly falsified or simply failed to file from several retired Tarrant County judges. We are also seeking documents from Hagerman and Catalano. The rulings of retired judges who have not taken and filed an oath of office after retirement are void and subject to being overturned. Texas’ Court of Criminal Appeals is clear on this matter even if visiting retired judges falsely believe they are above the law. l This column reflects the opinions of the editorial board and not the Fort Worth Weekly. To submit a column, please email Editor Anthony Mariani at Anthony@ FWWeekly.com. Submissions will be edited for factuality, concision, and clarity.

Peter Gorman’s Last Ride

The former Weekly staff writer who died over the weekend will be dearly missed. B Y

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It is with great sadness that we inform you that former Fort Worth Weekly staff writer and all-around raconteur Peter Gorman died on Sunday. We won’t know how until his obituary comes out, but everyone from the Weekly who knew and loved Peter is incredibly saddened by the news. Peter started writing for us in the early aughts, and throughout all of his great investigative work — he scared natural gas companies to death — and food reviews, he continued working as a Peruvian jungle guide (you may have read a profile about him in The Guardian in 2017) and doting on his children. Over the past couple of months, he was battling a variety of ailments and illnesses he would never name for me while working on a story for us about his wild times driving a cab in New York City long before 9/11. The idea for the piece came from a pitch he had sent me, this pitch below, which I found it so intoxicating, I cajoled him into turning it into a longform essay. We can only imagine what that version would have read like. For now, this is all we fans have left of our dear friend Peter Gorman. Enjoy. l

Hail Merry

Hold on to all of life’s colors for as long as you can. G O R M A N

Peter Gorman leaves behind a large extended family, including his former and current Weekly co-workers.

the M and M Club on Little W. 12th St. to have a beer and having the mob throw me through the front window because I disrespected their favorite transvestite. Having a stand at the Feast of San Gennaro, the biggest mafia party in New York. I loved having five of my plays produced off-off Broadway and writing stories and falling in love and smoking dope and selling dope. This is a ridiculously selfindulgent. I probably should have been feeding people who did not have enough to eat or making rain for those who did not have potable water. So why do I bother you with this? To say that I am still alive despite this pandemic, despite being ill, and that I want you all to know that I am not quitting yet. That is selfish, and you can hate me for it, but it’s the only solid ground I have left to stand on before I sink supinely into the muck of this world, so hate me or forgive me or use me to keep yourselves from falling into the terrible sinkhole we face. I wish you all strength, strength, strength. Revel in who you have been and what you have done. Do not forget that in these hazy times, OK? Even if it isn’t perfect, it is still a past to grab on to to keep from sinking. l

Through May 8

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Here are a few things I have been thinking about today. I loved driving a taxi in New York City. It allowed me to be part of the armpit culture there. I learned where dog and cock fights happened when dog and cock owners got into the cab and told me where to go. I learned about where the real gambling was going on when people I’d pick up at the airport asked me to take them to a game. Initially, I had no idea, but I made a point of finding out where the games were and what the stakes were and what the code words were, and when clients asked me for a game, I asked them, “What stakes?,” and their answer led me to take them exactly where they wanted, got me a fee, and got the doorman a fee to allow them into the games. I learned where the whorehouses were and used a few when I was scotched on cocaine and booze. I learned where the best gay places were for the fellas who got into my cab with chaps and no underwear. I learned where Catholic masses were held at midnight and where free meals and clothing were had for the poor and forlorn. I knew the after-hours clubs, the pre-hours clubs, and the police and hospital workers’ bars that were allowed to operate 24/7 because the unions protected the workers who had odd shifts. I got to work undercover for the cops a couple of times that were frightening. I got to work with the mob, which was just as frightening. Most of that was born in taxi driving. Some in New York kitchens that I ran. There is so much — the colors were unimaginably fascinating. For a kid in New York, it was wonderful. Stopping at the topless joint

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P E T E R

¡Printing the Revolution! The Rise and Impact of Chicano Graphics, 1965 to Now is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Leonard Castellanos, RIFA, from Méchicano 1977 Calendario (detail), 1976, screenprint on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2012.53.1, © 1976, Leonard Castellanos

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S TAT E O F T H E A RTS L i f t i n g E v e r y Vo i c e : M a k i n g S p a c e f o r H i s t o r y — a n d H e a l i n g — i n Fo r t Wo r t h Join us as we explore ambitious plans for three new museums or cultural spaces in Fort Worth: the National Juneteenth Museum, the Fort Worth African American Museum and Cultural Center, and the Fred

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Rouse Center for Arts and Community Healing.

Presented by Kimbell Art Museum & KERA

F r i d a y, A p r i l 2 9 | 6 – 7 p m Visit kimbellart.org/calendar for more details.

Letter to the Editor J.D. Granger Does Not Deserve Another Penny of Taxpayer Money J.D. Granger, son of U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, posted on his Facebook page last Friday afternoon that he is leaving Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) to start his own consulting company, J.D. Granger Group LLC. The clues are there. He said he will help “the water district as it transitions into its next chapter.” According to the Star-Telegram, Dan Buhman, TRWD general manager, said the water district will have a better idea early next week of what comes next with Granger’s announcement. Granger was formerly head of Panther Island, a $1.2 billion development on the North Side which is part of TRWD’s Central City Flood Control Project. It does not take a rocket scientist to guess what is coming — a lucrative contract for J.D. to help him get his new consulting company off the ground! Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Probably both. It’s bad because TRWD does not need J.D. serving as a consultant, and it will be a total waste of taxpayer money! To have contacts with the Army Corps of Engineers in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Washington, D.C., TRWD contracted with former corps of engineers employee Mark Mazzanti in November 2019 for two years of consulting at $300,000 per year. The corps announced in January that they had allocated $403 million from federal infrastructure bill funds for Panther Island. In February, TRWD’s board renewed Mazzanti’s contract for $90,000 per year. In March, the board renewed a contract with Innovative Management Solutions for $833,151 to coordinate work performed by the Army Corps, City of Fort Worth, Texas Department of Transportation, and TRWD. When the board gave former TRWD General Director Jim Oliver a financial settlement last year, it set a precedent. Employees now know they can ask

for anything upon leaving, and they may get it. J.D. is following in Oliver’s footsteps. Get as much as you can when you walk out the door! A contract for J.D. may be good because it may be cheaper to give him a contract than to keep him on for years. His 2021 compensation package was $315,609.44 — base pay $242,216, health and auto allowance $41,905.36, and retirement $31,488.08. TRWD’s board, please make it a very short-term contract with a defined scope and a definite written ending date. Please do not renew it. In 2019, the Trinity River Vision Authority (staff and contracts) was absorbed into TRWD. No need exists for a position like the one J.D. currently holds. TRWD just needs a special events coordinator to plan Panther Island activities such as fly fishing, ice skating, concerts, lantern festival, and more. TRWD should find out the salary range for special events coordinators at the Convention Center, Dickies Arena, Downtown Fort Worth, Omni Hotel, and the Will Rogers complex and base TRWD’s compensation package on an average of what these places pay an entry-level events coordinator. TRWD may have already hired someone to replace J.D.’s wife and former event coordinator, who resigned the day the board voted on new anti-nepotism policies. Now that TRWD and TRVA are one entity, TRWD should save taxpayers money by eliminating the position of Oliver’s nephew, Matt Oliver, that is a duplicate position (communications officer) already at TRWD. TRWD should also end its downtown office space lease on West 7th Street. Suzanne Mabe Fort Worth This letter reflects the opinions of the author and not the Fort Worth Weekly. To submit a letter, please email Editor Anthony Mariani at Anthony@FWWeekly.com. Letters will be gently edited for clarity and concision.

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- NY Times

This Year’s Mavs Hit Different

On the verge of their first playoff series win in more than a decade, the squad is exuding a quality it’s not historically known for: toughness.

FO R T WO R T H W E E K LY 10

P A T R I C K

H I G G I N S

With seven minutes left in the Mavericks’ 102-77 public shaming of the Utah Jazz on Monday, a scuffle broke out under the Dallas basket. Utah big man/talentless space-occupier Hassan Whiteside took league superstar Luka Dončić hard to the floor on an attempted shot block. Mavs forward Dorian Finney-Smith immediately came to defend Luka’s honor, getting in Whiteside’s face and giving a little shove before coaches from both teams rushed to the court to try and separate the scrum. Fellow Mavs forward Reggie Bullock got a shove in as well before the players were pulled apart and was ultimately ejected along with Whiteside for the little battle. There is something about this moment, with its historically uncharacteristic doggedness, that seems to highlight what has become a new identity for this year’s Mavericks

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B Y

C o u r t e s y Tw i t t e r

STUFF

This team is proving they possess a honey badger-like toughness.

team. Perhaps more than any other quality, they’re showing they are tough. Damn tough. Whether it’s a newfound physicality, their relentless commitment to defense, or the ice-cold swagger that seems to be injecting itself into their oncourt demeanor, this season’s Mavs have a general unfuckwithableness I don’t think I’ve ever seen from them. This toughness has carried them to a 3-2 series lead over the Jazz, and they seem to be wielding a Stormbreaker-sized hammer ready to drive the nail into Utah’s proverbial coffin on Thursday night. It could be argued the series should already be over if not for some confounding final seconds in Game 4. How you let almost five seconds roll off before bringing the ball across half court, leaving only seven to set up the final shot while Luka is being double-teamed, is an egregious error on par with, I don’t know, maybe the Cowboys calling a QB draw up the middle with less than 11 seconds left in an important game. *cough, cough* Not only do the Jazz already seem lifeless, practically rolling over and baring their bellies to the Mavs’ sharp teeth, but the team is now potentially without its own superstar. Donovan Mitchell suffered a hamstring injury Monday by bewilderingly still being in the game while down by more

than 20 late in the fourth quarter. I don’t just see Utah having the fight to claw their way back into this series, and the Mavs are demonstrating they have no intention of taking their Nike 1’s off Utah’s throat. Perhaps no player embodies the Mavs’ new grittiness more than point guard Jalen Brunson. He has an absolute fearlessness when it comes to driving into the lane and has proven he can take a shot (even cheap ones) as he routinely does from opposing players. Despite his short stature by NBA standards, he’s solid and sturdy and consistently uses his size and shiftiness to back off defenders nearly a foot taller than he is to take the ball to the rim. He more than helped fill the void early in the series left by the absence of Dončić while the latter was nursing a calf injury. Brunson was the undisputed leader of the team, averaging 31 points over the first three games without No. 77. Now with Luka back, he’s not simply fading back into a supporting role. As he’s done all season long, Brunson is proving he can run a point nearly as effectively as the Slovenian Superstar he shares the backcourt with. His play this year will no doubt grant the former NCAA National Player of the Year award winner a nice fat sack of cash in the offseason, likely worth north of $100M. We can only hope it’s here with Dallas.

You have to give the credit to Jason Kidd. With largely the same personnel (minus of course an exorbitantly expensive and particularly untough Unicorn), the head coach has remade this squad into a physical, defensively motivated gang of outright dogs! Kidd didn’t bring an impressive coaching resume with him to Dallas, but so far, he is building one here now. This team fights, and they fight as a team. Throughout the Rick Carlisle era, the Mavs were kind of known as a “soft” team. This was mostly due to the supposed softness unfairly ascribed to Dirk Nowitzki and the team’s general disinterest in defensive basketball. Suffering from the stereotype of European players’ supposed lack of toughness coupled with being basically the world’s nicest guy, Dirk had to prove his grit in other ways. Whether by fighting through injury, illness, or opposing players’ classless taunting, No. 41 carried Dallas to its only NBA championship. All while beaming his signature milliondollar smile. With Brunson setting the physical tone and Luka back healthy, I’m starting to believe this year’s team could just possibly do the same, but instead of smiling, they’ll be doing it with gnashed teeth and riled fur. l

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See Bradley Kent’s mural “Downtown Giddy Up” thru Sat at FWMSH.

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Vacations or Staycations

Jimmy Joe Jenkins’ mural “Main St. Cowtown Parade” can be viewed at FWMSH thru Sat.

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By Jennifer Bovee

C o u r t e s y Fa c e b o o k

Earlier this month, at the intersection of the Fort Worth Arts Fair and Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival, a village of more than 1,000 artists convened during the four days of activities to not only sell their wares but also to contribute to the North Texas art scene in a very sustainable way by creating a mural that celebrates downtown Fort Worth’s rich and colorful history. Back in the festival’s Makers Zone, sponsored by Tarrant County College, artists of all ages and disciplines participated in the Community Mural Mosaic Project by mixing colors and painting 6-by-6-inch mini masterpieces. Following the artists’ original patterns and designs, Jimmy Joe Jenkins and Bradly Kent puzzled together the pieces to create much larger murals measuring 8 feet tall by 16 feet wide. The Weekly profiled Jenkins in 2018. A year before, he had just completed his first mural — three monkeys painted on the side of Lettuce Cook (5101 White Settlement Rd, 817-989-2665). By the time our story went to press, he had painted a half-dozen other walls from West 7th Street to the Cultural District and farther west in the burgeoning River District. “His fast pace means Jenkins should have a dozen murals scattered around

town by this time next year,” we said. “All will be interconnected thematically in a way that will become more evident once they are finished.” Freelance artist Kent calls Grand Prairie home and does graphic design for the City of Farmers Branch by day. His art, illustrations, and other design work can be seen at BradleyKent.com or on Instagram via @BradleyKent8. “Working in marketing for the majority of my career,” he says, “I have used my love for hand-drawn illustrations and my trained eye for design to develop the tools and imagery for newspapers, publications, billboards, cards, postcards, brochures, web-based marketing, and for the sake of creating. I was given this gift to help you see the colorful creations in the universe and the endless possibilities of your imagination.” He believes that creativity can be applied to all aspects of life. Known collectively as the Community Mural Mosaic Project, Jenkins’ “Main St. Cowtown Parade” and Kent’s “Downtown Giddy Up” murals will be displayed together and will go on tour throughout Fort Worth until the end of summer. The first stop is the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (1600 Gendy St, 817255-9300) in the Cultural District 10am5pm Wed-Sat and noon-5pm Sun thru Sat, Apr 30. The museum is closed Mon-Tue. Along with the permanent exhibits of the FWMSH and the murals, the price of admission also includes entry into the Cattle Raisers Museum and the Noble Planetarium. Tickets are $12-16 on-site only. For future locations of the mural tour, keep an eye on our Night & Day column in the coming weeks. l

C o u r t e s y Fa c e b o o k

Community Mural Mosaic on Tour in Fort Worth this Summer

NIGHT&DAY

Casa Manana presents Disney Descendants: The Musical at 7pm today; 1pm Friday and 5pm Sat; 3pm Sun; 1pm Thoroughbred racing season starts today, and as they say at and 5pm Sat, May 7; and 11am and 3pm Sun, Lone Star Park, “The horses May 8. Based on the popular Disney Channel Thursday are ready — are you?” If the original movie, “Descendants is a brand-new answer is “yes,” then head to the Lone Star musical comedy featuring the beloved characters Park Grandstand (1000 Lone Star Pkwy, Grand and hit songs from the films! In the present-day Prairie, 972-263-7223) for the 25th Annual kingdom of Auradon, all of Disney’s beloved Opening Night Celebration 6:30pm-10:30pm. heroes and royalty are living happily ever after, General admission is $5, and parking is free. safe from the terrifying villains and troublesome Elvis tribute artist Kraig Parker of Elvis: The sidekicks they have banished to the magic-free King Is in the House will be performing in the Isle of the Lost. That is until Ben, the benevolent Courtyard of Champions out front. The gates teenage son of Belle and King Adam (The a chance of redemption for the open at 4:30pm, and the first of nine live races Beast),1 offers SRF2022-FWWkly-Ad5-7_46x8_41-0422-PRESS.pdf 4/5/22 12:30 PM troublemaking offspring of the evilest villains.” is at 6:35pm.

This show is suitable for all audiences. Tickets start at $19 at CasaManana.org.

Enjoy light snacks and sips while shopping from small businesses like Cake Pops by Saturday Allie, Elle Vee Boutique, Steel City Pops, and more from all around North Texas at the Spring Break Pop-Up at Lemongrass Salon (1612 S University Dr, Ste 436, 817-3321155) noon-4pm. The salon will have a braid bar and makeup touches station, plus attendees will receive 20% off all AVEDA products.

1 Sunday

Car lovers, it’s time to rev your engines. The 50th Annual Pate Swap Meet is back at

41stAnnual

Texas Motor Speedway (3545 Lone Star Cir, 817-215-8500) 10am-5pm Thu-Sun. “The threeday event, encompassing an average of 8,700 vendor spaces, is host to everything automobile, motorcycle, and transportation-related. Visitors can admire and shop for various automobilia, including accessories, antique and collector cars, parts, street rods, and many hard-to-find and vintage items.” This event is free to attend, and parking is only $5.

Leaves Book & Tea Shop (120 St. Louis Av, Ste 101) is partnering with neighboring Monday business The Table (120 St. Louis Av, Ste 103-B, 682-703-1092) for a new monthly book club focused on cookbooks. For the May Cookbook Club, pick up a copy of the new title Fix Me a Plate by Fort Worth author/ caterer Scotty Scott of the popular social media page Cook Drank Eat. Pick a recipe to cook, then bring your dish to share with the group at a potluck-style dinner 6:30pm-8pm at The Table. The book can be purchased at Bookshop.org for $21.99 or in-store at Leaves. Event tickets are $12 at Leaves-Book-and-Tea-Shop.Square.Site and include soft drinks or wine, plus plates and utensils.

Daily Beer & Wine Tasting Events C

APRIL 9 THRU MAY 30

Saturdays, Sundays & Memorial Day Monday

CMY

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Learn all there is to know about beer or wine at the Daily Beer or Wine Tasting Events with our Certified Cicerone® and Sommelier. Each weekend has a different theme & variety of beer or wine! Upcoming Theme Weekends

May 7 & 8 — Celebrating Chivalry including the All New Chocolate Sensations Tasting Event

May 14 & 15 — Legends of the Seas Get your Discount Tickets at SRFestival.com before they sell out! Just 30 Minutes South of Downtown Fort Worth

Veteran comedian J.J. Williamson, best known from the K-104 syndicated show Tuesday Dee Dee in the Morning, hosts a weekly comedy open-mic night called Sippin’ & Trippin’ 7pm-10pm every Tuesday rotating between Addison Improv (4980 Beltline Rd, Ste 250, 866-468-3399) and Arlington Improv (309 Curtis Mathes Way, Ste 147, 817-635-5555). This week, he’s in Addison. Williamson performs live, shows videos reviewing trending social media topics, and often features guest comedians and celebrities. DJ BMW provides the comedy, music, and movie clips, plus coordinates a “weekly karaoke versus battle.” (To get on the battle list, call 469-588-7700.) The cover charge is $20 at the door.

For one night only, Bass Performance Hall (525 Commerce St, 817-212-4280) Wednesday hosts The British Invasion — Live on Stage, an immersive, multimedia concert at 7:30pm featuring songs from the era when The Beatles rocked and shocked America via The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. “From the producers of The Simon & Garfunkel Story, The British Invasion — Live on Stage will showcase the music and how it impacted art, fashion, and literature, changing the very essence of pop culture and redirecting history. Featuring an alllive band with huge projection period photos along with original film footage, the show will focus on British music that dominated the charts and the airwaves with bands such as Manfred Mann, The Searchers, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Zombies, Freddie & The Dreamers, and Herman’s Hermits along with dozens more.” Tickets start at $29 at TheBritishInvationLive. com.

By Jennifer Bovee

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Big (Kat) Time

Peanut butter burger? This Near Southside spot serves some of the biggest, most creative burgers in town. Big Kat Burgers, 200 Bryan Av, FW. 903-3635723. 12-8pm Sun, 11am-8pm Tue-Thu, 11am11pm Fri-Sat. All major credit cards accepted. B Y

E D W A R D

B R O W N

Big Kat Burgers now has a fixed location, and they picked a good one. The spot at 200 Bryan Ave. puts them smack dab in

APPROVED THAI RESTAURANTS IN FW!

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FIRST BLUE ZONES

continued on page 16

Cour tesy of Facebook

EATS & drinks

hoppin’ South Main Street, where, on a recent Saturday, I spent 10 minutes trying to find a parking spot — argh! Actually, I’m happy to see the neighborhood and my favorite watering holes bustling once again. The three co-owners of the popular food truck have a simple origin story: “Fed up with ordinary food at our regular jobs, we set out to make fine burgers.” By “fine,” the owners mean “big and delicious.” A handful of families placed orders or sat waiting for their meals on the parking lot corner. Scanning Big Kat Burgers’ website, I saw a wide range of creative items that included one-offs and staples. There were six burgers on the menu when I visited, and fries were the only side option. Big Kat Burgers offers kid-friendly options like a grilled cheese and mini-burger. In 2020, the first order up snagged the critic’s choice for best nontraditional burger in our Best Of Fort Worth issue. The hefty and dense Peanut Butter Boi featured a generous, delightful slathering of PB. The housemade jam and candied jalapeños added a mildly fiery and sweet pop. Melted provolone, crisp bacon, and the juicy patty kept the overall experience savory and not too sweet.

Every burger at Big Kat shares one thing in common — heft.

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Even though fries are your only side option, you won’t be complaining.

Eats & Drinks

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continued from page 14

The peanut butter permeated every bite but was surprisingly subtle. Not knowing what to expect from my first peanut butter burger, I was pleasantly surprised at how well the concept worked. The Cheesy Kat looked like an overgrown patty melt. The alternating layers of sliced bread, cheese, bread, cheese, meat, bread, cheese, and *catches breath* bread took two hands to negotiate. At first, I found the greasy ensemble to be overwhelmed by the bread, but a few bites in, the jalapeño-bacon jam, beef patty, and provolone made for a delicious centerpiece. Though I tried, I couldn’t finish this bad boy in one sitting. For a menu that goes heavy on meat and cheese, the team behind Big Kat knows how to make one helluva veggie burger. In a crowded field of big-ass burgers, the Veggie Kat was the biggest

I tried that day. The star here was the hockey puck-sized portobello mushroom cap that was dense without being rubbery. Elevating the monster were feta cheese crumbles, provolone, and a zesty avocado-mayo sauce. Crisp white onions added a nice bite to the otherwise texturally subdued experience. Considering how many vegetables were crammed between the buns — red bell peppers, tomatoes, spring mix — the overall effect was far from that of a salad. The mushroom bacon Swiss melt was hefty. An herb-infused aioli lent a creamy mouthfeel to the dense burger that was packed with a juicy 6-ounce patty, gobs of melted Swiss cheese, generous cuts of sauteed mushrooms and onions, and Big Kat Burgers’ bacon jam that seems to come on everything. Big Kat Burgers keeps it simple. You might find the occasional one-off donut burger now and then, but you’re always guaranteed six options that are creative, well-executed, and ridiculously big. l

Big Kat Burgers Peanut Butter Boi ......................................................................$13 Cheesy Kat ..................................................................................$13 Veggie Kat ..................................................................................$13 Mushroom bacon Swiss melt ....................................................$13

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Northside and Trimble Tech in the ’70s, will be doing two sets with their band Latin Express at 8:30pm and 11:30pm. Tickets are $5.50 in advance on Prekindle.com or $10 at doors. Tables are also available for $15-45 in advance.

of Boom (@Boom9467). Like every #ThirstyThursday, Christina’s is serving 20-ounce house margaritas for $7, and, for one dollar more, you can make it a swirl. There is no cost to attend.

1.) State Fair Records’ Squeezebox Bandits are no strangers to the Weekly and our readers, who voted them the winner of the Best Texas Music category in our 2019 Music Awards. See them play some “honkytonk country with a Tex-Mex flavor” at 9pm Thu, May 5, on the Honky Tonk Stage at Billy Bob’s Texas (2520 Rodeo Plz, 817-624-7117). Beforehand, grab some beers and some grub at the in-house Honky Tonk Kitchen when doors open at 6pm. Tickets are $12 at BillyBobsTexas.com. 2.) In celebration of its new music school in Granbury, Sparks Music Center (@ SparksMusicCenterLLC) is hosting a Cinco de Mayo Party at Christina’s Fine Mexican Restaurant in Flower Mound (6424 Cross Timbers Rd, Ste 1700, 817430-3669) 5pm-8pm Thu, May 5, featuring Chris Acosta of Sweet Sexy Sugar (@ SweetSexySugarBand) and Temple

3.) Osadia Margaritas are $4.99 all day long 11am-10pm Thu, May 5, at Primo’s MC Kitchen & Lounge (4120 River Walk Dr, Flower Mound, 469-451-5019). Live music by Mariachis will provide the soundscape on the patio all evening. Daily specials are always available from open to close. 4.) If you haven’t been to The Colony lately (or ever), next week is the time. Lava Cantina (5805 Grandscape Blvd, 214-6186893) hosts Cinceaux de Mayeaux with hiphop legends Bone Thugs-N-Harmony at 7pm Thu, May 5, with special guests The BarnYartists. Doors open at 5:30pm. Tickets are $20-125 on EventBrite.com. For a current food and drink menu, visit LavaCantina.com. 5.) All three full-service locations of Riscky’s Barbecue, including the Stockyards (140 E Exchange Av, 817-6267777), Sundance Square (300 Main St, 817-877-3306), and West Side (6701 Camp Bowie Blvd, 817-989-1800), are celebrating Cinco de Mayo with discount food and drinks. Brisket tacos are $5 (regularly $11.99) and include two flour tortillas full of chopped prime brisket and deep-fried onion strings and are topped with cilantro and a drizzle of Ranch’n Sauce. Schooner house margaritas are also $5 (regularly $8.99) and come frozen or on the rocks.

The food special is also available at the original Riscky’s BBQ & Deli location (2314 Azle Av, 817-624-8662), in Benbrook (9000 Benbrook Blvd, 817-249-3320), and NRH (8100 Blvd 26, 817-581-7696). Each location’s closing time varies, so check out Risckys.com for store hours. There will also be gift card giveaways. For details, visit Facebook.com/Risckys. 6.) Tulips FTW (112 St. Louis Av, 817367-9798) always has great deals on draft beer, cocktails, tallboys, and wells, so I’m sure that will be the case Thu, May 5, for Cinco de Mayo. Carlos and Leo Saenz, brothers who have been playing their “old school for the nu skool” music together in Fort Worth since their high school days at

8.) Finally, the annual Fort Worth Cinco de Mayo Bar Crawl is happening 2pm10pm Sat, May 7. From 2pm to 5pm, check-in is at Texas Republic (945 Foch St, 817-887-9797), and then 5pm-10pm, the crawl will take you to 10-plus bars with the exact locations announced the week of the event. Costumes are encouraged — with props but not weapons — and there’s a costume contest at the After Party 10pm-12am at Playground Bar (3009 Morton St, 817-386-4996). Tickets are $2030 on EventBrite.com and include VIP entrance and exclusive drink specials at all participating venues, a bar-crawl map, a T-shirt, a refillable stadium cup, and one complimentary drink.

By Jennifer Bovee

Oyster Bar

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Try some chilaquiles at Traders Village Sun.

7.) At the local outdoor flea market/festival site Traders Village (2602 Mayfield Rd, Grand Prairie, 972-647-2331), you can celebrate with the whole family at its annual Cinco de Mayo Festival, featuring live music 9am-8pm Sun. Admission is free, and parking is only $5. Rides are $13.99 for an all-day-ride wristband. For food options, try a (giant) Machete Taco or some chilaquiles (pictured) with chorizo or al pastor, red or green chile sauce, sour cream, and onions.

The Ori g i n a l F T W Going on 50 years. Come see us!

D R I NeK of th Month

ry Tues $2 oFF eve

Cour tesy Facebook

A quick Google search reveals that “Cinco de Mayo” is Spanish for the “Fifth of May” and is celebrated in parts of Mexico and the United States in commemoration of Mexico’s victory over the French in 1862’s Battle of Puebla, but in North Texas, it is generally celebrated as an excuse to drink. To that end, here are some places to check out soon.

Happy Hour Mon - Fri

Dollar Off Beers | $8 Drink of the Day

10%Mondays oFF To-G o CoCkTails! and Tuesdays by barTender

C Hris H aM

eekniGHT speCials WMonday - Thursday

117 S Main St • Fort Worth

Fort Worth | 612 University

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MUSIC

Johnny on the Spot The legendary pianist has found a new, pink home on the Near Southside, and he’s throwing a fundraiser concert for a different venue on Saturday. S T O R Y A N D P H O T O B Y E D W A R D B R O W N

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Amid the backdrop of lively chatter and clinking glasses, Johnny Case launched into an upbeat blues number. Backed by

drums and upright bass, the pianist eased into a solo, walking out lines and riffs as he laid the groundwork for a swell of tremolos and block chords that elevated each successive 12-bar journey. By the end of his opening, thick chords filled the room with thunderous effect. Case dropped down to sparse comping as the solos of bassist Nathan Phelps — son of famed local bassist Drew Phelps — explored the full range of his instrument. Next up was multi-instrumentalist Keith Wingate on drums, who launched into percussive explosions with seemingly endless layers of complexity. After several minutes, Case closed out the song that never dipped in intensity or technical mastery on the part of the trio members. You could tell the guys were glad to be back at it. COVID has been a huge setback for the performing arts in general, Case told me that night. To help the local arts community, on Saturday he is headlining a fundraiser concert that he organized at Arts Fifth Avenue, a nonprofit space that hosts concerts and art shows. “I thought it’d be a good idea to have a concert to celebrate Arts Fifth Avenue,” Case said. “All proceeds go to the venue. I’m taking care of the musicians myself.” continued on page 21

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After long stints at restaurants around town, Case is now a regular at Fort Worth’s newest jazz lounge.

Music

continued from page 20

Johnny Case Jazz Quartet celebrates Arts Fifth Avenue 6:45pm Sat at Arts Fifth Avenue, 1628 5th Av, FW. $15. 817-923-9500.

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The concert will feature Phelps, Wingate, and special guest Chris McGuire, who performs on a variety of woodwind instruments. Case has been a local jazz mainstay for decades. After 28 years of performing six nights a week at Sardines Ristorante Italiano, a charming defunct spot near the Cultural District, the pianist briefly played at Niles City Hall Saloon in the Stockyards and more recently at Lili’s Bistro on the Near Southside. On the recent night I caught his trio, he was tearing it up at the resplendently named Pinky’s Champagne Room and Velvet Jazz Lounge on the Near Southside. The new venue that abuts High Top Grub and Pub is headed by bar/restaurant veteran John Cocke. The dim, cozy space is perfect for jazz, Case said. “I like it,” Case said. “It’s comfortable. I wouldn’t change a thing about the way they have things set up. Even though [Cocke] is new with doing anything with jazz, he seems to understand the needs of musicians. Part of that is asking questions.” COVID, he continued, didn’t delay his work terribly long. After a 10-week break at Lili’s, Case resumed performing with a bassist following the start of the pandemic. Case said he feels he is in a good place now. From 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, he plays a solo piano set at Pinky’s, and the Johnny Case Trio alternates there on Saturday evenings. The new music program is evolving with open jam sessions and visiting ensembles throughout the week. The variety, Case said, is good for the local community and Pinky’s. “There are so many different types of jazz,” Case said. “Our type of jazz may be perfect for some people but not others. Keeping the variety here is probably going to be good for the establishment. It takes some of the pressure off of us. Hopefully, people will like it.” The crowd that night had clearly come to take in live jazz — something that remains, unfortunately, a novelty in the city that birthed jazz greats Ornette Coleman, Ronald Shannon Jackson, and Dewey Redman. Cocke told me he is dedicated to seeing Pinky’s grow a reputation as a destination for live music and, of course, a wide selection of sparkling wines. l

Hearsay Crazy Town or Crazy Algorithm?

I’m just going to throw this out there: When was the last time you heard “Butterfly” by Crazy Town? The reason I ask is because I’ve been sitting here trying to come up with a lede for an entirely different, nowabandoned topic, and I asked myself the above question, after which I wondered aloud why I started thinking about Crazy Town in the first place. Had they been in a meme recently? Had I scrolled across some kind of subtle algorithmic suggestion? Did Crazy Town visit me in a dream? Perhaps it was all three of these things, and if that’s the case, who set this nearsubliminal promotion of Crazy Town in motion and for what reason?

RIDGLE A THE ATER FRI 5/6 PATTY GRIFFIN

WITH JOHN FULLBRIGHT

ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW SAT 5/21 THE W/LIVE SHADOW CAST LOS BASTARDOS! SAT 6/11 JEFFERY SMITH W/ SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMANCE BY SAXOPHONIST DAVID CARR JR

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RIDGLE A ROOM

SAT FORT WORTH MUSIC ACADEMY 8TH 4/30 ANNIVERSARY STUDENT CONCERT SAT “THE COWBOYS AND INDIANS” 5/7 TOUR FEAT. GOOD OL BOYZ SAT SPACEMAN ZACK 5/13 OFFICIAL RELEASE PARTY

RIDGLE A LOUNGE

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FRI 4/29 NIGHT OF ROCK FEAT. CORPSE FLOWER AND CROSS BAND SAT 4/30 THE VIRGE AND CODY JOE POPE FRI 5/6 SOFT SHOCK, HOLY SMOKES, SPIT AND THE ACHES LIGHTWORKER, SUN 5/15 SPIRIT BREAKER AND MORE

In my estimation, Crazy Town, a one-hit wonder rap-rock group from the year 2000, is the band equivalent of a halfred, half-primer ’97 Integra, lowered and glass-packed, stuck on the curb part of mall parking lot entry ramp, its interior climate a miasma of clove cigarettes, Ozium spray, and shwag weed, all of which makes a complementary atmosphere for the soggy Taco Bell cup leaking diluted Baja Blast onto a dead Bic and some pocket change rattling around the bottom of a beverage holder. Beneath the driver’s seat of the Crazy Town car is an Ecstasy pill, cut with speed and lost forever in the summer of ’99, slowly disappearing into a cocoon of carpet fibers, caliche dust, and the unpinchable crumbs fallen from the bottom of a thousand Cool Ranch Dorito bags. What emerges from the cocooned pill in the bottom of the Crazy Town car is not a butterfly but a song, called, as it happens, “Butterfly,” though it is actually

more like a nü metal moth, beating around your head in a relentless attempt to lay an earworm in your brain. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t know this song, and I bet you don’t either. Can you hear the opening guitar line in your head? Because I can. Its tone is mewling and single-minded, slithering across my brain like the arm of some goateed slimeball reaching across the back of a booth in a dark club to touch a drunk girl’s shoulder. Sonically, it’s disgusting, like the offer of a Cuervo shot when you’re already drunk enough to fall off a barstool. You know you’re going to throw up, but you take the shot anyway, which basically describes me pulling “Butterfly” up on Spotify. I didn’t even get to the vocals before I stopped the track. What does it feel like for your brain to puke? I quit before that happened. My Brain Crazy Town Concentration is apparently well past the legal limit already.

But to further explore why I might have thought of this band, I looked to see if they were booked nearby anytime soon. They are not, though they did play The Rail in November 2021, so I still do not comprehend how or why Crazy Town was incepted into my mind. Maybe it just happened, a so-called random thought, unbidden by any outside interloper or motivation, but I don’t really believe that, because random thoughts basically feel like advertisements to me. There are no coincidences, just moments along a million individual buy-cycles that masquerade as coincidences. Whatever the far-flung consequences wrought by the flutter of “Butterfly” are, I hope I’ve done my part in their sequence. I don’t want to hear the phrase “sugarrr, babyyy” ever again. — Steve Steward Contact HearSay at Anthony@FWWeekly.com.

EMPLOYMENT The Bearded Lady is Now Hiring! We are hiring cooks, servers, and food runners! Apply in person at 300 South Main St, FWTX, or send your resume to: Shannon@ TheBeardedLadyFW.com

MIND / BODY / SPIRIT Gateway Church Church time is the BEST time! Join us for online church each weekend. Online services start at 4 pm on Saturdays and are available to watch any time after at https:// gway.ch/GatewayPeople.

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MUSIC XCHANGE Music Junkie Studios 1617 Park Place #106, FWTX www.MusicJunkieStudios.com We offer lessons on voice, piano, guitar, bass, ukulele, violin, viola, drums, recording, and music for littles!

HEALTH & WELLNESS Aloe Care Health Medical Alert System The most advanced medical alert product on the market. Voiceactivated! No wi-fi needed! Mention offer code CARE20 for $20 off Mobile Companion. Call today. 1-888-385-0891 Cardiovascular Disease & Stroke These are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening. Call today: 1-833-636-1757 DENTAL INSURANCE 1-888-361-7095 Physicians Mutual Insurance Company covers 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! Call or visit Dental50plus. com/fortworth (#6258). Inogen One Portable Oxygen Concentrator 866-970-7551 May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim independence and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Call for free information kit!

PUBLIC NOTICES TDLR Complaints Any Texans who may be concerned that an unlicensed massage business may be in operation near them, or believe nail salon employees may be human trafficking victims, may now report those concerns directly to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) by emailing ReportHT@TDLR. Texas.gov. RENTALS / REAL ESTATE Cyndy Reep, Realtor Berkshire Hathaway HA Alexander Chandler Realty 2900 S Hulen, FWTX 817-806-4100 Critic’s Choice for Best Realtor in Best Of 2021: “Here in North Texas, ladies — and gentleman, for that matter — tend to do what they want. Realtor Cyndi Reep is no exception. While she does have listings and can certainly help you sell your property, her true love is being a buyer’s agent. Whether it’s buying or leasing a commercial or residential space, she has a flair for helping clients find exactly what they want and need... (Read more at FWWeekly.com.)

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Trojan Commercial Real Estate Services TrojanCRE.com Full-service company specializing in consulting, leasing, property management, real estate, and sales. Call today! 817-632-6252 PRODUCTS & SERVICES AT&T Wireless 1-877-384-1025 Two great new offers! Ask how to get the new iPhone 11 or Next Generation Samsung Galaxy S10e ON US with AT&T’s Buy one, Give One offer. While supplies last! Become A Published Author 1-866-256-0940 DorranceInfo.com/FtWorth Dorrance Publishing - trusted by authors since 1920 - wants to read your book. Manuscript submissions are currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion, and Distribution. Call or go online for your FREE Author’s Guide. DIRECTV NOW 817-730-9132 No Satellite Needed. $40/month. 65 Channels. Stream Breaking News, Live Events, Sports & On Demand Titles. No Annual Contract. No Commitment. Earthlink High-Speed Internet 1-866-827-5075 As Low As $49.95/month (for the first 3 months.) Reliable High Speed Fiber Optic Technology. Stream Videos, Music and More! Call Earthlink Today. Eliminate Gutter Cleaning Forever! 1-877-689-1687 LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call today. GENERAC Standby Generators 1-844-887-3143 Providing backup power during utility power outages, so your home and family stay safe and comfortable. Prepare now. Free 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!). Request a free quote today! Call for additional terms and conditions. SUBMISSIONS We’d Like To Hear From You! Do you have thoughts and feelings, or questions, comments or concerns about something you read in the Weekly? Please email Question@fwweekly.com. Do you have an upcoming event? For potential coverage in Night & Day, Big Ticket, Ate Day8 A Week, or CrosstownSounds, email the details to Jennifer@fwweekly.com.

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Planned Parenthood Available Via Chat! Along with advice, eligible patients are also able to receive birth control, UTI treatments, and other healthcare appointments via the smartphone app and telehealth appointments. To chat, you can text PPNOW to 774-636.

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Beer & Bible @ Tulips FTW

Can you be queer and be a Christian? This is the question that the newly founded Ark Church is posing. On the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, they would like to explain why they believe that “yes!” is the resounding answer. On May 5th and 19th at 6pm, head to Tulips FTW (112 St. Louis Av, 817-367-9798) for Beer & Bible, the church’s gathering, and drink some pints while chatting about various topics. More info:

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COWTOWN ROVER

Inspection Almost Due? Are You Road-Trip Ready? With our handy pick-up and drop-off services, having your car checked out could not be easier. Get ready for the holidays. Call today!

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THE RIDGLEA is three great venues within one historic Fort Worth landmark. RIDGLEA THEATER has been restored to its authentic allure, recovering unique Spanish-Mediterranean elements. It is ideal for large audiences and special events. RIDGLEA ROOM and RIDGLEA LOUNGE have been making some of their own history, as connected adjuncts to RIDGLEA THEATER, or hosting their own smaller shows and gatherings. More at theRidglea.com

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Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details P.O. Box 13557, Denver CO 80201

The MOTHER of ALL ISSUES!

Well, sort of. Mother’s Day is right around the corner. If you have brunches, events, gift items, or any kind of specials, let the people know! Get the word out in the Mother’s Day Section in the Weekly’s edition on May 4th. To participate, email us today at:

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LEGAL NOTICE

The owners or lien holders are hereby notified that the vehicles listed below are being stored at AA Wrecker Service: 5709-B Denton Hwy. Haltom City, TX 76148 (817)656-3100 TDLR VSF Lic. No. 0536827VSF | www.license.state.tx.us

You wont be disappointed!

MAKE

MODEL

VIN

PRICE

Call or Text for

2015

Carryon

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$1662.79

2019

Dodge

Challenger

2C3CDZAG5KH687268

$669.53

John Deere

STX38 mower M00STXB012430

$736.97

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dirtbike

$1012.39

Information or to make an Appointment

817-779-1276

NOW HIRING

Call 817-420-3017 to Apply 5138 Mansfield Hwy Fort Worth Tx 76119

MT#50903

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*Storage charges accrue daily until the vehicle is claimed *Failure of the owner or lien holder to claim the above vehicles within 30 days is a waiver of all right, title, and interest in the vehicles and a consent to the sale of the vehicle at a public sale.