Fort Worth Weekly // June 14-20, 2023

Summer Birds

In a city rich in wildlife like Fort Worth, they’re plentiful and diverse.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY ERIC STONE

EATS

& DRINKS

Goat & Vine looks to break the Montgomery Plaza corner curse.

BY EDWARD BROWN

BUCK U

The Diamond Frogs are on fire heading into the College World Series.

BY BUCK D. ELLIOTT

SCREEN

Being late to the multiverse fad slows down The Flash.

BY KRISTIAN LIN

MUSIC

Even the Smashing Pumpkins and the rest of the Yellowjackets playlist can’t cure the infinite sadness.

BY STEVE STEWARD

May 7–September 3

The exhibition is organized by the The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Kimbell Art Museum. It is supported in part by the William and Catherine Bryce Memorial Fund, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the Fort Worth Tourism Public Improvement District.

by

INSIDE

Outta Sight

Summer’s fine for our fine, feathered friends.

By Eric Stone

A New Haunt

This resto is poised to best Montgomery Plaza’s cursed corner.

By Edward Brown

Reality Bites

4 17

Anthony Mariani, Editor

Lee Newquist, Publisher

Bob Niehoff, General Manager

Ryan Burger, Art Director

Jim Erickson, Circulation Director

Edward Brown, Staff Writer

Emmy Smith, Proofreader

Michael Newquist, Regional Sales Director

Jennifer Bovee, Marketing Director

Stacey Hammons, Senior Account Executive

Julie Strehl, Account Executive

Tony Diaz, Account Executive

Wyatt Newquist, Digital Coordinator

Clintastic, Brand Ambassador

CONTRIBUTORS

Hit Blood

The fiery Frogs are headed to Omaha for the College World Series (quarterfinals) — again.

Christina Berger, E.R. Bills, Jason Brimmer, Buck D. Elliott, Juan R. Govea, Patrick Higgins, Laurie James, Kristian Lin, Vishal Malhotra, Cody Neathery, Wyatt Newquist, Madison Simmons, Steve Steward, Teri Webster, Ken Wheatcroft-Pardue, Cole Williams

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Summer Birds

STORY AND PHOTOS

BY ERIC STONE

To a Kroger parking lot that lay sunscorched like a griddle over flame, I had brought my camera with me, because that whole week I saw a scissor-tailed flycatcher perched on a nearby powerline. As predicted, the bird was there. Unrolling my window, I took a few discrete photos. Despite my caution, the scissortail noticed me and flew into a broiling summer sky, trailing the black chopsticks of their tail. My picture, not my best due to poor focus, showed tail feathers at least twice as long as the body, salmon pinks where wings meet the breast, a snowy head, and eyes like black drops of oil.

With a warm latitude and cross-timber prairies mixed with thickets, Fort Worth is rich in biodiversity. Birds are no exception — 375 avian species are confirmed by iNaturalist, an online citizen science project to which users upload pictures of plants, fungi, and wildlife. Observations are confirmed, denied, and curated by biological experts. The website has exploded since its humble inception in 2008, with 3.2 million users reported globally in January 2023. The site verified sightings of scissor-tailed flycatchers in Tarrant County as early as March and as late as November. Every spring, they come from steaming ferns as far south as Panama, breeding in open prairies north to Nebraska. Members of the kingbird genus Tyrannus, they’re also called the Texas “bird of paradise” for their lush tail plumage, reaching up to 9 inches.

I’ve photographed many of Fort Worth’s waterfowl, including great blue and little blue herons, lesser scaups, hooded mergansers, and wood ducks. However, most of these waterbirds are yearlong residents, though the yellow-crowned night heron breeds here in the warmer months and flies back to the tropics in winter. Last year at a local pond, I startled one such night heron, who splashed from the water to a tree in safety from my hu-

man interloping. I don’t observe birds before they observe me first. Usually, it’s because they permit me to photograph their lives voyeuristically. As in most of my pictures, my observations happen through serendipity, being in the right place and right time, by an animal’s permission, through invocation or prayer. Sunlight glimmered on the fierce cherry eye. Blonde threads spooled from the back of an oblong head with a mattocking beak, the wings China-blue.

Avian summer residents in North Texas usually arrive during spring and depart in fall. Among migrating birds, seasonal changes, such as temperature or the availability of insects, waken a latitudinal wanderlust. The National Audubon Society says migrating birds navigate using Earth’s magnetic field and the patterns of the stars. A common human hubris assumes that only our species can notice heavenly bodies, sentinels of eternity that connect us to the divine, yet Darwin states in The Descent of Man that people differ from animals in degree and not kind. Earth is a biosphere where life depends on life, not a linear hierarchy based on intelligence, even though it is clear that birds are smart.

One soft summer morning, I heard a Carolina wren singing teakettle, teakettle, teakettle, perched on a bald cypress twig, chirping signs for territory, sexual desire, or warnings, alien to humanity yet an unmistakable language of Earth. In America, humans spend hours staring at screens for social media, which claims to give connection but isolates us to a projection of life, distant from life itself. Sometimes people wonder if humanity is the lone intelligent species in the universe. The piercing cry of the Carolina wren answers that we are not alone. I think of William Blake. “He who shall hurt the little wren shall never be loved by men.”

The passenger pigeon, once superabundant in America’s cornucopian skies, is now extinct. We deplete avian habitats and increase global temperature, disrupting migration patterns, all for temporary comfort and convenience. We cannot ignore birds without ignoring ourselves. This small bird pierced dawn with an immense voice, inside the world we live, not lost on a screen. Maybe the Carolina wren teaches us that nowhere is more miraculous than home, here, in Fort Worth. l

In a city rich in wildlife like Fort Worth, they’re plentiful and diverse.

A Carolina chickadee rattles a voice into the morning air.

A Carolina wren sings full-throated as if triumphant. Avian summer residents in North Texas usually arrive during spring and depart in fall.

Though most of our waterbirds are yearlong residents, the yellow-crowned night heron breeds here in the warmer months and flies back to the tropics in winter.

Every spring, scissor-tailed flycatchers come from steaming ferns as far south as Panama, breeding in open prairies north to Nebraska.

A

red-shouldered hawk stands fiercely.

A Cooper’s Hawk bathes and drinks in a creek bank.

A white-throated sparrow, high above, clings to twigs with pride.

A great blue heron perches over a pond, contemplating the fish below.

The green heron plunders the pond for a snack.

The red-bellied woodpecker seeks larvae by hacking trees.

A male Eastern bluebird glows rusty in the dawn.

BUCK U

OmaFrogs

Hot bats and a hot streak deliver TCU to the College World Series.

BY BUCK D. ELLIOTT

Time to call myself out. It’s been an entire season, and then some, and I haven’t written a single thing about TCU baseball. In my defense — to myself, as it were — I didn’t think our readers would be interested in a summary of a Frog roster that for most intents and purposes was average-good for the majority of the season. TCU baseball, as an institution, has at times been the only major sport on campus that’s buoyed the purple and white in the national collegiate sports conversation, especially during the late years of Gary Patterson’s football tenure.

TCU baseball experienced its greatest successes under Dutch Meyer — yes, that Dutch Meyer — back in the days when coaches coached and the actual sport was simply ancillary. In the modern era, Frogball had known relevance only under Jim Schlossnagle, who managed the team from ’04 through the end of the 2021 season before absconding to College Station for perennial SEC pretender Texas A&M. During Schloss’ time in Fort Worth, they reached the College World Series five total times, including four consecutive appearances, downing what would become their manager’s new team multiple times during stroke-inducing regional matchups.

Replacing Schlossnagle, while less nationally criticized because it’s baseball and not football, was akin to replacing Patterson after the massive success he had achieved. Kirk Saarloos, a longtime assistant and pitching coach, received the honor and burden of trying to continue where his boss left off. So far, he’s been up to the task. This season, as I alluded to before, had been ho-hum in the way that baseball in general progresses with ebbs and flows. The season began with promising wins over highly ranked SEC opponents in Vanderbilt and Arkansas (more on the Hogs later) before settling into an underwhelming conference slate in which they dropped three-game series to Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas Tech and were swept by West Virginia. TCU’s slightly above-average performance left the purple and white at fourth of nine (Iowa State plays only club baseball) with relatively low expectations heading into the conference tournament.

Two wins over Kansas State, one against Kansas, and a championship game victory over Oklahoma State earned TCU an automatic regional birth — their national rank was high enough to earn it anyway hosted in Fayetteville by the Razorbacks (No. 3 overall), whom the Frogs hadn’t faced since their second game of the season. When regional play opened, the Frogs were on a six-game win streak and were 14-2 during the month of May. All of this is a fancy way of saying the Frogs were finding their froggiest legs at the correct time, mostly thanks to outstanding — and, in Fayetteville, almost comical — offensive performances.

Friday in “R”-Kansas featured a quick dismantling of the Arizona Wildcats as TCU racked up 12 runs on 17 hits. Saturday storms forced a postponement of the first game against the tournament hosts, and I’ll bet my investment account the Hogs wish it could have been delayed in-

definitely. Sunday was an ESPN thirst trap of Frog bombs in a game that was stopped multiple times because of weather but mercifully ended with a 20-5 victory, partially because Frog second baseman Tre Richardson hit two grand slams in addition to another homer and drove in 11 runs to tie an NCAA individual playoff record. The Hogs would ascend from the losers’ bracket after beating Santa Clara a second time, only to be dismantled again during TCU’s second 12-4 victory of the weekend. The Frogs had rolled into a hostile regional and scored 44 runs in only three games.

Good fortune kept pop-flying the way of the hometown team when super-regional host Indiana State couldn’t because of their city’s previous engagement with the Special Olympics — a cause to which Frog alumni donated more than $25K after it was mentioned on a TCU baseball podcast so the game was moved to Fort Worth. Saarloos and his boys made quick work of the Sycamores, beating them in consecutive games 4-1 and 6-4, respectively.

The Fort Worth super regional wasn’t the batting onslaught of Fayetteville, but it means that the former pitching coach has definitively left his former boss’ shadow. Schlossnagle is doing fine with the Aggies. Though they fell in the Stanford Regional this season, the former Frog manager took the Ags to Omaha last season at the expense of the Frogs while hosting their own regional and super.

That means TCU baseball is headed to its sixth College World Series (or quarterfinals). The Frogs are one of only three teams — top-ranked Wake Forest and LSU are the others — who are unbeaten in the tournament and are the last remaining Big 12 representative after Texas lost their super regional series against Stanford and Oklahoma State was shamed at their own regional by last-seeded Oral Roberts, who advanced to beat Oregon in the Eugene Super Regional and will face the Frogs on Friday in Omaha. TCU baseball’s advancement to the series is a trifecta of sorts and gives our little school in Fort Worth the distinction of the only program in the nation to qualify for the college football playoff, NCAA basketball tournament, and College World Series this year. Remember this year, Frog fans, because it probably isn’t going to get a lot better than this. l

TCU’s Tre Richardson (shown batting against his former team, Baylor) is responsible for 15 playoff RBI through five games and hit grand slams in back-to-back innings against Arkansas.

Courtesy

TCU Athletics

SCREEN

Back Flash

BY KRISTIAN LIN

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, The Flash makes history this week. It’s the first-ever major Hollywood movie with a gender-fluid lead actor. This should be cause for celebration — it is Pride Month, after all. Trouble is, that lead actor is Ezra Miller. Even before the pandemic, their reputation as an excellent young actor was being eclipsed by their notoriety as a person in need of a mental institution.

Seriously, have you read the stories about them? Miller’s dossier is full of single incidents that would be terrifying by themselves: allegations of death threats, stockpiling guns, kidnapping children, trespassing, harassment, numerous assaults. They also apparently told members of the Ku Klux Klan to kill themselves, which I’m actually OK with.

Miller has apologized and said that they are seeking professional help, which is more encouraging than not doing those things. I do understand that mental illness can be a bear to deal with. Thing is, starring in a big Hollywood movie can put a strain on even the healthiest psyches, and still Warner has stuck with Miller in this role, possibly because the studio cares about them as a person, but more likely because the studio has thrown away too much money to recast the part and delay a project that was announced back in 2014. That’s irresponsible and downright reckless, and Miller might

well have been better served with some time alone to put themselves together.

So I’ve broken out precisely one party hat to celebrate The Flash, because that excellent young actor is still in evidence here and because I find it to be the best of the DC superhero movies. Only one hat, though, because it’s easily the weakest of the recent movies about multiple universes.

The script’s best material comes before Barry Allen (Miller) creates the multiverse. The film opens with a funny scene as Barry deals with a highly unprofessional barista who holds strong opinions about Barry’s usual breakfast order. Our hero is called away to save an entire maternity ward full of babies from falling to their deaths from a collapsing hospital, a sequence that’s done with wit and energy by Argentinian director Andy Muschietti. I like the fact that Barry is always depicted as eating something, because The Flash has a sky-high metabolism. Then both Barry and Batman (Ben Affleck) make embarrassing admissions under the influence of Wonder Woman’s truth lasso. When Barry does create the multiverse, it gives rise to some trippy visuals that we

haven’t seen the DC films take. Miller has enough range to convey the character’s trauma and also perform some physical comedy after Barry loses his superpowers.

Alas, the film loses its groove when dealing with the murder of Barry’s mother (Maribel Verdú) when he was 10 and his father (Ron Livingston) being wrongfully imprisoned for the crime. Barry’s desire to run off his emotions results in him running faster than light speed and turning back time, which gives him the idea to undo the murder. Bruce Wayne warns him of the consequences, but Barry does it anyway and finds himself stranded in another universe where there’s another him (also Miller) and General Zod (Michael Shannon) is threatening to destroy the Earth unless they turn over an imprisoned Kryptonian. Turns out Zod isn’t referring to Superman, who is dead in this timeline, but rather Supergirl (Sasha Calle).

Oh, and when the two Barrys enlist Batman’s help, they find a different Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton), a long-haired recluse in flipflops who’s given up on the world. Newcomer Calle offers up an intriguing hard-bitten presence as Supergirl, but she’s

not given the chance to follow that up. The story drowns in fanservice that includes even more versions of Superman and Batman. The CGI renditions of young Christopher Reeve and Helen Slater may warm some fans’ hearts, but they don’t have the same impact as the flesh-and-blood appearances of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Nor does the movie reach the absurdist glee or the visual fecundity of the Spider-Verse movies, and Barry’s view of the other universes pales in comparison to Miles Morales’ look at the canon. I mean, even Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness uses the trope more effectively than The Flash does. If that sounds harsh, well, your movie has to suffer the comparisons when it arrives late to the latest trend. l

The multiverse is a little too much for the DC franchise.

Incredibly serious allegations against Ezra Miller have not stopped Warner Bros. from sticking with the actor for The Flash.

Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

The Flash Starring Ezra Miller and Michael Keaton. Directed by Andy Muschietti. Written by Christina Hodson. Rated PG-13.

POWERED BY JIM AUSTIN ONLINE

What I Learned (About Juneteenth) on My Summer Vacation

BY JENNIFER BOVEE

Beyond remembering Uncle Ben’s face on rice packaging at the grocery stores of the past, many white folks (myself included) have no idea how big a factor rice played in the slave trade. With North Texas located a bit inland, rice being a coastal endeavor, and history classes lacking a truth or two, that’s understandable, I suppose.

On my recent honeymoon trip to South Carolina, we visited Myrtle Beach for some summertime tourist fun on the boardwalk. Then we headed to Charleston for the second leg of the journey. As my beloved has an interest in the Civil War (and history, in general), we saw the Old Slave Mart Museum (6 Chalmers St, Charleston, South Carolina, 843-958-6467), visited the South Carolina Historical Society Museum (100 Meeting St, Charleston, South

Carolina, 843-723-3225), and toured Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens (1235 Long Point Rd, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, 843-8844371) and learned about rice in the process.

The enslaved people first brought to South Carolina, Louisiana, and Texas’ Gulf Coast were skilled workers taken (as in “stolen”) specifically for their experience and knowledge in cultivating, growing, and harvesting rice as they did in their home villages along the coasts of West Africa. While most island and coastal cultures have rice-based meals in their culinary repertoire, this connection to our troublesome past adds another level of interest and importance to American rice.

Before starting at the Weekly, I took six weeks off after my last job ended. I hung out with my cat and marathon-watched every episode of A Chef’s Life on PBS. Since I’m a huge fan of Vivian Howard, the North Carolina chef whose life it is, I was excited to try her newest concept Lenoir (68 Wentworth St, Charleston, South Carolina, 843-534-9031), named for her home county. She had me at peas and rice.

Boone Hall, the plantation we visited (one of the country’s only continuously working farms), is at a remote location and was protected from the destruction of the war. When the slaves were emancipated in April 1865, the property was left virtually unscathed. Our tour guide mused that it must have been quite a sight when the soldiers arrived and the celebration began. “Hollywood should do a movie about that moment at Boone Hall.”

Word spread from port to port along the Gulf Coast, but it did take some time to reach everyone. In our state, they got the news in June 1865 in the Port of Galveston. Since then, Black Texans have celebrated the occasion every June 19, and thanks to the efforts of our own Dr. Opal Lee, Juneteenth is now a national holiday.

With Juneteenth 2023 upon us, local community leaders like Dr. Lee and Jim Austin — and events like Soul of Sycamore — have big plans for us here in North Texas in the coming weeks. Read about the upcoming events in this week’s Night & Day.

After trying the Carolina gold variety of rice, I’m interested in learning more about the rice grown throughout our region. Along with Juneteenth, it is also National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. For food and booze events honoring all of the above, check out Ate DAY8 a Week in this issue. l

Texan Reginald Adams painted the public work “Absolute Equality” in honor of Emancipation Day in 1865, the first Juneteenth, when enslaved Galveston people first learned of their freedom.

Courtesy Facebook

Rice plays a vital role in the history of Juneteenth and in this fantastic dish at Lenoir.

Courtesy Facebook

Mega Mixer at the Warehouse FW with Live Performance by Hunter Kennedy Men’s Health Summit

Bill Picket’s Invitational Rodeo: Texas Connection Series DR. OPAL LEE’S WALK FOR FREEDOM

Juneteenth Comedy showcase featuring Celebrity the Comedian R&B Unplugged Party with Paul Cannon and the Band

A Tribute to Selena featuring Natalie Rodriguez R&B Party with Chain Reaction

This National Juneteenth Festival will benefit the non-profit organization National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum & Hall of Fame.

NIGHT & DAY

From 3pm to 6pm, head back to Sycamore Park (2525 Sycamore Dr, Fort Worth, 817-253-2216) for the Soul of Sycamore Father’s Day Celebration: Praise & Worship in the Park. There is no cost to attend.

Celebrating Juneteenth Throughout June

While the Emancipation Proclamation was made in April 1865, the enslaved people of Texas didn’t get the news until June, and Black Texans have celebrated the occasion on June 19 ever since. Thanks to the efforts of our own Dr. Opal Lee, Juneteenth is now a national holiday. Beyond this Monday, events are popping up all over North Texas. Here are a few.

The newly established National Juneteenth Museum, slated to open in 2025 in Fort Worth, presents its inaugural Uniting Voices Speaker Series at 7pm at the I.M. Terrell Academy (1411 I. M. Terrell Cir, Fort Worth, 817-815-2100). Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson will speak, and author Leah Frazier will moderate. Tickets are $25-100 at bit.ly/ UnitingVoices.

The annual Soul of Sycamore Juneteenth Music & Art Festival is from noon to 8pm at Sycamore Park (2525 Sycamore Dr, Fort Worth, 817253-2216). A Parade of Freedom starts at noon, followed by a 3-on-3 basketball tour-

nament, art exhibits, gaming competitions, and a kids’ zone. The free festival also includes a Community Car Show this year. At 1pm, more than 40 vehicles will compete for trophies. Vehicle registration is $25 at SoulofSycamore.com. Food and drinks are available for purchase.

From 4pm to 10pm, head to Levitt Pavilion (100 W Abram, Arlington, 817543-4308) for the Arlington Juneteenth Celebration. This free public event will feature R&B/jazz artist Ron Artis II, and local food trucks and arts/crafts vendors will be on-site with items available for purchase. You are invited to bring a blanket, lawn chairs, snacks, and drinks. (No glass containers, please.) For more information, visit ArlingtonJuneteenthCelebration.com.

At 2pm, Texas Wesleyan University (3165 E Rosedale St, Fort Worth, 817-531-4444) hosts the second annual Juneteenth Jubilee. This free event will feature African dancers, a bounce house, a fashion show, and local food/market vendors, plus a live art auction. Now thru Sunday, preview the featured pieces of the Second Annual Juneteenth Art Auction via BeMoreinLife.net. The art we’ve featured here, as well as works by various artists, will be available for purchase.

Presented by JimAustinOnline.com, the National Juneteenth Heritage Festival runs now thru Sat, Jul 1, featuring two Juneteenth R&B Unplugged events at The Warehouse (1125 E Berry St, Fort Worth, 817-923-9305). Paul Cannon performs on Sat, Jun 24, and then Chain Reaction hits the stage on Sat, Jul 1. Doors open at 8pm. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $40 for VIP seating at PaulCannonUnplugged.Eventbrite.com and ChainReactionUnplugged.Eventbrite.com.

Saturday

As another part of the National Juneteenth Heritage Festival, see A Tribute to Selena featuring Natalie Rodriguez at 8pm at The Warehouse (1125 E Berry St, Fort Worth, 817-923-9305). Hear Natalie’s take on “Biddy Biddy Bom Bom,” “I Could Fall in Love,” and many other Tejano hits. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $25 for VIP at NatalieTributetoSelena.Eventbrite.com.

Jennifer Bovee

Soul of Sycamore is back at Sycamore Park Fri-Sun.

Celebrate Juneteenth at the second annual Juneteenth Jubilee at Texas Wesleyan on Sunday and purchase paintings from various artists at a live art auction.

SHOPPING LOCAL

Top Ways to Keep It Local for Dads & Grads

FWW Marketing Feature

There are many, many gift options to consider. We know. As long as you spoil your Dads and Grads this month with locally-sourced gift items, no one will hassle you. #ImSailing

Beer (Duh)

Fort Brewery (2737 Tillar St, Fort Worth, 817-923-8000) has a great promotion this weekend. Buy one six-pack of beer for your dad and get the second one for a penny. Shop online at FortBrewery.com.

DVDs from Movie Trading Company

With nine locations in the North Texas area, Movie Trading Co is a great place to find that perfect Bill Murray film for your father or the newly graduated future film maker in your like. (Who loves you, Don?) Check out the inventory at MovieTradingCompany.com.

Pancakes (Have Some or Make Some)

Cigars (Smoke ‘Em if You’ve Got ‘Em)

Gift Certificates to Underground Cigars (6409 E Lancaster Av, Fort Worth, 817-5073640) is a great way to move yourself higher up the will list. While you’re there, sit a spell and enjoy the inside cigar lounge and outside patio. Ask for owner Don Wiggins and see if he’s still offering that bounty to meet Bill Murray. Can you say obsession? Check out the shop at UnderGroundCigars.com.

You’ve really got three choices here. You can take your people to Ol’ South Pancake House in Fort Worth (1509 S University Dr, 817336-0311) or Burleson (225 E Renfro St, 817989-9090) for a nice meal, buy them a gift card for future enjoyment, or get a gift box of items to create the experience at home. I’m not sure we’d tackle German Pancakes in my own kitchens, but oh they are yummy. Shop online at OlSouthPancakeHouse.com/Store.

In celebration of Juneteenth, National Caribbean American Heritage Month, and all things that make our community delicious in general, here are some great upcoming events to check out.

1.) Kick off the weekend at the annual Juneteenth Cookout & Celebration on Friday at 6:30pm at Dalworth Recreation Center (2012 Spikes St, Grand Prairie, 972-2374760). Then on Saturday at 9am, the Juneteenth Parade will begin in front of the City Hall Liberty Bell (300 W Main St) and wind its way to Tyre Park (2327 Tyre St). Once the parade ends at the park, free food and entertainment will be available to conclude the celebration. There is no cost to attend.

2.) On Saturday from 3pm to 6pm, Soma Winery (201 S Main St, Fort Worth 682-7031515) invites you to celebrate local Black artists with a Juneteenth Vendor Fair in its pup-friendly space where the wine flows. There is no cost to attend.

3.) If a party is more what you had in mind, the Juneteenth Boat Party: Brunch Edition is for you. Head to Hidden Cove Marina (20400 Hackberry Creek Pk, Frisco) 1pm-4pm Sat for an “all-red affair” (think: red swimsuits). Tickets are $65-85 on Eventbrite and include entertainment by DJ Tone Def, complimentary drink mixers (BYOB), and food. Don’t miss the boat! Be at the dock at 12:30pm.

4.) Another Saturday option is happening at AT&T Stadium (1 AT&T Way, Arlington,

817-893-4000). The Dallas Cowboys Juneteenth Celebration includes live entertainment, lawn games, and shopping opportunities with local Black-owned businesses like Miss J’s Cupcakes (@MissJsCupcakes) from 4pm to 8pm. Admission is free, as is parking in Lot 10.

5.) Head to the Big D on Sunday from 11am to 5pm for the Juneteenth Soul Food Festival at Lofty Spaces (816 Montgomery St, Dallas, 214-457-6789). While this event is free, you must reserve a ticket on Eventbrite. com and bring some spending money to partake in the food offerings.

6.) All area pitmasters are invited to participate in the Freedom First BBQ Cookoff on Fri, June 30, at The Shack (395 Purcey St, Fort Worth). Event chair Chef Randy White says Juneteenth has always been synonymous with barbecue. “With the new freedom gained to choose what they eat, participants from then to now share in the spirit and aromas of great food cooked in the open outdoors.” The contest categories are brisket, chicken, and ribs, with prize payouts ranging from $100 to $300 for fifth to first place. Entry fee is $150 for one to three meats. For details on tray pickup and turnin times or to register, visit JuneteenthFTW. com/BBQCookoff.

7.) From 1pm to 9pm on Sat, Jul 1, Panther Island Pavilion (395 Purcey St, Fort Worth, 817-698-0700) is also home to the Taste of Juneteenth Food Festival. This free event will showcase Afro-Culture cuisines, including Caribbean, Latin, and American soul food through art activations, cooking demonstrations, and live music. To partake in food sampling, you’ll need a Food Passport. For $60, you can access various vendors serving everything from classic comfort fare to exotic delicacies. For more information, visit JuneteenthFTW.com/TasteofJuneteenth.

8.) And, finally, I would like to wish a Happy Caribbean American Heritage Month to neighbor businesses Jamaica Gates Caribbean Cuisine (1020 W Arkansas Ln, Arlington, 817-795-2600) and One Love Lounge (2315 S Cooper St, Arlington, 682-323-4950). For an

taste of the Caribbean, visit one of these small business owners soon.

EATS & drinks

Goat

of a Chance

Will a new high-end chain end abrupt closures in Montgomery Plaza’s “haunted” corner?

Goat & Vine Restaurant + Winery, 2600 W 7th St, Montgomery Plaza, Ste 153, FW. 817-839-3333. 10am-11pm Sun, 11am-10pm Mon-Thu, 11am11pm Fri, 10am-11pm Sat.

STORY AND PHOTOS

BY EDWARD BROWN

The bucolic, plush environs of Goat & Vine Restaurant + Winery aren’t what you would typically expect from Montgomery Plaza, which is heavy on retail and anchored by longtime sports bar BoomerJack’s. On a re -

cent afternoon and after making the mistake of day drinking along scalding hot Magnolia Avenue, I greedily guzzled a cold glass of water and glanced over the menu in which elevated American fare mingles with Mediterranean options.

The interior is posh, blending red and green furniture and decor. It seems like an uneasy color combo, but it works somehow. Abutting nearly every table are smallish fake plants that add an upscale Garden of Eden vibe. Local gourmands may remember the location at the north end of the plaza as the past home of several failed establishments, most recently Barrel & Bones Craft Bar. Former Weekly food critic Chow, Baby wrote the definitive account of the culinary Bermuda Triangle that sunk Mac’s Steaks & Seafood, Honey Smoke Pit, M Bistro, King Crab Tap House, Bite City Grill, Monty’s Corner, and Deluxe Bar & Grille all within the past several years. No string of misfortunes lasts forever, and the newish spot (the chain’s third in North Texas) was packed on my recent visit.

The G&V Burger was a gargantuan delight. The Wagyu patty, topped with pungent slivers of prosciutto and gobs of goat cheese, was juicy, and a slathering of fig jam added a tinge of sweetness. The only veggie, sauteed kale, seemed an afterthought to the continued on page 19

Goat cheese and prosciutto are unconventional toppings for burgers, but the decadent ensemble was a delight.

CREATED BY ROSS SOHO LYCHEE LIQUEUR, WHITE RUM, COCONUT CREAM, PINEAPPLE, LIME, & HOUSE MADE BLACKBERRY SYRUP

Eats & Drinks

continued from page 17

bold sammy that abounded with cured meat and funky fromage. The entree included a lovely side of thin fries dusted with Parmesan and doused in nutty truffle oil.

Trading my day drinking for a somewhat more respectable indoor-dining im-

bibement, I ordered the Black Goat, a decadent mix of red wine, rum, and fruit juices. At $15, I was hoping for a stiff drink and wasn’t disappointed. The well-presented libation had lovely dark berry notes livened by fresh lemon juice. It reminded me of a boozed-up sangria that would likely satiate and satisfy any cocktail lover or oenophile.

One wonderful appetizer, baked goat cheese, was an exercise in simple ingredients executed to near perfection. Two large,

charred pieces of white bread arrived near a bowl of rich, dense, salty tomato sauce peppered with diced rosemary, sage, and thyme. In the middle of the savory red spread was a large baked scoop of goat cheese, which, when slathered over the bread, sent my tastebuds tingling.

Goat & Vine offers four desserts, and my waiter recommended an Italian classic. The tiramisu was velvety and creamy with alternating notes of espresso, cookies, and almonds. The brick-sized closer was the perfect end to a well-balanced and well-executed dining experience. The service was prompt and polite. Chow, Baby is no longer around to officially announce the lifting of the 2600 W. 7th St. curse, and perhaps it’s too soon to do that here, but this reviewer sees nothing keeping Goat & Vine from becoming a longstanding neighbor in a rich Cultural District dining community. l

The baked goat cheese demonstrated how simple ingredients can make for memorable dining.

Heavenly and creamy, the tiramisu had all the hallmarks of a perfectly prepared Italian dessert.

The Black Goat is a boozy, juicy pleaser.

MUSIC

Bullet with Yellowjackets Wings

The hit TV show’s soundtrack can’t cure anything but still resonates deeply.

BY STEVE STEWARD

A few weeks ago, I got a little drunk after my bartending shift at the Boiled Owl. It was a Wednesday night, or rather, an early Thursday morning, somewhere between 4:30 a.m. and 5, and I was sitting amid my houseplants in my apartment patio, sipping rum, smoking weed, and growing increasingly maudlin from listening to Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, the Smashing Pumpkins’ multiplatinum double-album from 1995. Nostalgia is a helluva drug, and like other hellava drugs, it is never really good for your long-term mental health. Yet there I was, seven tracks in, hoping “To Forgive” (and later, “Porcelina of the Vast Oceans”) would blunt the crush of momentary ennui the way it did when I was 18. It did not, and I went to bed feeling just as rudderless as ever.

How I got to those feelings isn’t worth mentioning, but I can tell you how I turned to an album that might very well be the apex of the ’90s alt-rock extravagance as a coping mechanism for middle-aged lassitude. It’s because of Yellowjackets, a TV series about a high school girls’ soccer team forced to turn to cannibalism to make it through the winter of 1996 after surviving a plane crash over a Canadian forest while en route to a championship tourney in Seattle. The

show flashes back and forth between the mid-’90s and the survivors’ present in 2021, with the soundtrack filled with era-appropriate hits. The Wednesday that I got all sad-faced over Mellon Collie was a couple days after my girlfriend and I had finished watching the show’s Season 2 finale. I won’t spoil it, but the final scene is cued to “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” by Radiohead (off their 1995 album The Bends), which raised the hairs on my arms and put a lump in my throat.

Certainly, getting emotional over a song that was important to you when you were a teenager is nothing new, and I am not the only former 18-year-old to have lived through moments of personal significance that were pinned to a Radiohead song. But I spent the day after watching that finale skipping here and there through the show’s official Spotify playlist, and I realized it was not only bands I liked from the early- and mid-’90s that affected me. “Mother, Mother,” an anxious, angsty one-hit wonder from Tracy Bonham that I used to low-key loathe, also pressed that wistful button in my brain. Same for “Lightning Crashes” by Live and “Bells for Her” by Tori Amos. I didn’t like them when I was in high school. Why was I clinging to them now?

I suppose the obvious answer is that those songs, as well as their cohabitants on the Billboard charts of the 1990s, were so ubiquitous that whether I liked them or not, I heard them all the goddamn time, and they composed the soundtrack of my youth. What made me laugh about Spotify’s Yellowjackets playlist is that there are not one, not two, but at least three songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals, which triggered memories of seemingly every mom I knew wearing Phantom of the Opera sweatshirts when I was a kid.

I saw Phantom in Sacramento when I was in seventh grade, but I don’t remember it because I fell asleep. I do recall many times spent lying on my bedroom floor at my family’s old house or that of my freshman dorm room at TCU, absorbing every note of Mellon Collie, willing whatever sadness and uncertainty had accumulated in my head to disappear in the decay of every distorted chord. And I guess maybe that was what I was going for after work that night, sitting in a quiet spot during a liminal hour, wishing for the music to work its former magic, to somehow make me feel as if my middle 40s are not just as uncertain and riddled with decision paralysis as my late teens. I didn’t get that, and in hindsight, wishing for Billy Corgan’s voice to make you feel better in 2023 is like believing there are other cures for hangovers besides water, sleep, and/or traveling back in time. I guess a little bit of nostalgia doesn’t hurt, even when it’s for a time when you were sad. At least now I know that sitting through 28 Smashing Pumpkins songs will not unlock some magic bullet (with or without butterfly wings) to cure what ails me. Only getting up the next morning and moving ahead can do that. l

RIDGLEA THEATER

SAT 7/1 ROCKY HORROR

PICTURE SHOW WITH LIVE SHADOW CAST LOS BASTARDOS

SAT 7/15 TRANCEPORTAL 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY - SNEIJDER (UK) + MANY MORE!

RIDGLEA ROOM

FRI 6/16 SOUNDS LIKE SUMMER ‘23

SAT 6/17 MALICE IN EDEN, SLOW ROOSEVELT (SPECIAL PERFORMANCE), CRUSHPOINT & MORE!

FRI 7/7 PAPA Z, MIC MATTHEWS FT. SOULO & KING DRE PLUS MORE

RIDGLEA LOUNGE

SAT 6/17 MIDDLE OF AMERICA TOUR (DOES ANYONE EVEN LIVE HERE?)

SUN 6/18 DOG PARK DISSIDENTS THE PINK AND BLACK TOUR

SAT 6/24 WELCOME TO THE PSYCHWARD

SUN 7/9 VON TEZ BAND WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

Yellowjackets’ Spotify playlist is loaded with great songs and ones that you may have facepalmed at the time but somehow feel today.

BUY/SELL/TRADE

DEFIANT ARMS

Haltom City’s only true gun shop is ready to help you with accessories, ammo and more. Visit us at 5200 Denton Hwy (817-393-7738) or online at: Defiant-Arms.com

DORRANCE PUBLISHING

Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive services include consultation, production, promotion and distribution. Call for your FREE Author`s Guide or visit DorranceInfo.com/FTWorth today.

1-866-256-0940

RUSTIC FURNITURE

HEADQUARTERS!

Unclaimed Freight has financing, layaway, delivery, and 5 locations in Tarrant County to serve you. For more info, visit: MyUnclaimedFreight.com

EMPLOYMENT

Hysen’s Nizza Pizza is Now Hiring!

Nizza is seeking a counter person, delivery drivers, and wait staff. Apply in person at 401 University Drive, FWTX, 817-877-3900. (Open Sun-Thu 11am-10pm and Fri-Sat 10:30am-11pm.)

HysensNizzaPizza.com

UNCLAIMED FREIGHT

We are hiring for Sales at all locations. To apply, please call: 817-277-1516

EMPLOYMENT NOTICES

Companies Offering

Travel Accommodations:

According to the New York Times, the following companies have said they would cover travel expenses for employees who need abortions: Airbnb, DoorDash, JP Morgan Chase, Levi Strauss & Co, Netflix, Patagonia, Reddit, Starbucks, Tesla, and Yelp.

Additionally, NowThis has listed the following companies also offering the same assistance to employees: Amazon, Apple, BuzzFeed, Citigroup, Comcast, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lyft, Mastercard, Meta, Microsoft, Paramount, Sony, Tesla, Walt Disney Co, Vox Media, and Zillow. (JMB, FWW)

HEALTH & WELLNESS

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.

Special Offer: 5 Screenings for $149! 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).

LIFE INSURANCE

Up to $15,000.00 of GUARANTEED

Life Insurance! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses. Visit Life55Plus.info/FTWorth or call Physicians Life Insurance Company today! 844-782-2870

Planned Parenthood Of Greater Texas

We’re not going anywhere. We know you may be feeling a lot of things right now, but we are here with you and we will not stop fighting for YOU. See 6 ways you can join the #BansOffOurBodies fight on FB @PPGreaterTX. For more info, go to: PPGreaterTX.org

HOME RESOURCES

DIRECTV

Get DIRECTV for $64.99/mo for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Save an additional $120 over 1st year. First 3 months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix included!

Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Some restrictions apply. Call 1-855-966-0520.

DIRECTV Stream

Carries the Most Local MLB Games!

CHOICE Package, $89.99/mo for 12 months. Stream on 20 devices in your home at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/CHOICE Package or higher.) No annual contract, no hidden fees! Some restrictions apply. Call IVS at 1-855-810-7635.

DISH Network Get 190 Channels for $59.99! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo (where available). Switch and get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card. FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call 1-855-701-3027 today!

EARTHLINK

Highspeed Internet

Big Savings with Unlimited Data! Fiberoptic Technology up to 1gbps with customizable plan. Call 855-767-0515 today!

ERIE Metal Roofs

Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material steel from Erie! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime!

Limited Time Offer: $500 Discount +

Additional 10% Off Install (for military, health workers & first responders.) Call 1-888-778-0566.

GENERAC GENERATORS

Prepare for power outages today with a home standby generator. No money down. Low monthly payment options. Call for a FREE quote before the next power outage. 1-844-887-3143

LEAF FILTER

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever with LeafFilter, the most advanced debrisblocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. Ask about 20% off entire purchase. Plus, 10% senior and military discounts available. Call 1-877-689-1687.

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.

Hannah in Hurst 817.590.2257

Massage Therapy for pain relief, deep relaxation, and better sleep. Professional office in Mid-Cities for over 25 years. “I am accepting new clients now and happy to return your call.” -Hannah, MT#4797.

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!

EMP STUDIOS

Musician-owned rehearsal and recording studios in Arlington and Fort Worth. Onsite screenprinting, merchandising services, recording, mixing, and mastering. For more info, visit: EMPStudiosTX.com

PET ADOPTIONS

PUPPIES!

A Rottie Rescue has puppies available for adoption! Thor, Odin and Loki are 8 week old males, 16 lbs each. Adopters outside of Texas must arrange and pay for transport costs. For questions or an adoption application, please email: Info@ARottieRescue.com

EMPLOYMENT

Progress Rail Services Corporation has available positions of Software Engineer in Fort Worth, TX. Position requires a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering & 24 months experience as an Embedded Software Engineer. Position also requires: Exp. must include: 1) 24 mos. exp. writing firmware that is embedded in ECU (Electronic Controls Unit); 2) 24 mos. exp. developing software utilizing CAN/J1939 & Transport protocols; 3) 24 mos. exp. using Yocto Project build tool for embedded Linux platform; 4) 24 mos. exp. working with MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) & AMQP (Advanced Message Queuing Protocol) Messaging Protocols; 5) 24 mos. exp. working with LTE (Long Term Evolution) Cellular Technologies; & 6) 24 mos. exp. developing software test plans. Exp. reqs. may be met concurrently during the same time period. Job duties: Develop embedded software within all phases of Progress Rail Services Uptime suite of products for locomotives. Design, implement, test, deploy, & support various software development activities utilizing various software & protocols including GitLab, AWS (Amazon Web Service), Vault, PKI (Private Key Infrastructure), Yocto, CAN/J1939, MQTT, AMQP, Linux, & SMB (Systems Management Bus). Develop software test plans. Work with CAB-E (Cab Electronics) to bring up & test new Cab Electronics Hardware deployed with UCOS (Uptime Connect Operating System). Develop device drivers, firmware, & BSPs (Board Support Package) for the Uptime suite of products. Work with LTE hardware including testing & validation. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status. We maintain a drug-free work place & perform pre-employment substance abuse testing. Qualified applicants should e-mail resume & verification of reqs. to pmcghee@progressrail.com.

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.

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 Marketing@fwweekly.com

ADVERTISE HERE!

If you need to hire staff or promote your business, let us help you online and/or in print. For more info, call 817987-7689 or email stacey@fwweekly.com today.

DENTAL INSURANCE

Physicians Mutual Insurance Company covers 350+ procedures. Real dental insurance, NOT just a discount plan. Get your FREE Dental Info Kit with all the details by calling today or visiting Dental50Plus.com/FortWorth #6258. (MB)

1-888-361-7095

DIRECTV for $64.99/mo

Get DIRECTV for $64.99/mo for 12 months with CHOICE Package. Save an additional $120 over 1st year. First 3 months of HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz and Epix included! Directv is #1 in Customer Satisfaction (JD Power & Assoc.) Some restrictions apply. (MB) call 1-855-966-0520

EARTHLINK INTERNET

Saving just got easier with EarthLink Internet. Get up to $30 off your monthly bill and unlimited data with the Affordable Connectivity Program. Apply without credit checks. Call 855-769-2689 now!

EMPLOYMENT

American Airlines, Inc. has openings in Ft. Worth, TX for: Manager, SOX Compliance (Ref. 589): Resp for coordinating the activities for the Company’s SarbanesOxley internal controls over financial reporting initiative. Edu: Bach degree in Finance, Accounting, or rltd fld, plus 2 years of exp in SOX or Enterprise Risk Mngmnt.

To learn more or to apply respond to: Gene.Womack@ aa.com, Subject line Reference: Ref 589.

EMPLOYMENT

CHIP SPREADER OPERATOR WANTED: Road construction crew. Paid Health insurance and other benefits. Per Diem. EOE. 830-833-4547

EMPLOYMENT

Mouser Electronics, Inc. seeks Web Systems Engineer in Mansfield, TX to install, configure, monitor, and troubleshoot the hardware and software associated with the maintenance of the e-commerce websites. Telecommuting permitted. Apply @ www.jobpostingtoday.com #32439.

EMPLOYMENT

Now Hiring CDL Drivers with Tanker & Hazmat preferred. Also hiring Laborers. Health Insurance and other benefits. Per diem paid. EOE. 830-833-4547.

EMPLOYMENT

Senior FSQ Auditor and Training Manager

Flying Food Group LLC Grapevine, TX

Responsible for ensuring compliance with all Good Manufacturing Procedures in our company’s food processing environments. Training of all levels at Flying Food Group‘s current policies and procedures related to food safety and quality. Must have a Master’s degree in Food Science or a related field. Degree studies must have included course work in Food Engineering, Food Technology, Food Chemistry and Food Safety. Must have HACCP certificate and SQF Practitioner certificate. Must also have three (3) years of experience as a Technical Services Technician. Qualified applicants should send resumes to ddelligatti@flyingfood.com and reference code FSQ0323.

ERIE METAL ROOFS

Replace your roof with the best looking and longest lasting material steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime! Limited Time Offer: $500 Discount + Additional 10% off install for military, health workers, and 1st responders. Call Erie Metal Roofs today. (MB) 1-888-778-0566

FLEA MARKET

EVERY Sat & Sun 9-5 Indoors with AC!

Dealers Dean, Billy, Glen, Mo, Jim, Arlene and Robert. Good deals, Great Fun! 4445 River Oaks Blvd

The Gas Pipe, The GAS PIPE, THE GAS PIPE, your Peace Love & Smoke Headquarters since 4/20/1970! SCORE a FREE GIFT on YOUR Birthday, FREE Scale Tuning and Lighter Refills on GAS PIPE goods, FREE Layaway, and all the safe, helpful service you expect from a 51 Years Young Joint. Plus, SCORE A FREE CBD HOLIDAZE GIFT With-A-Buy thru 12/31! Be Safe, Party Clean, Keep On Truckin’. More at thegaspipe.net

Hannah in Hurst

Pro Massage, private office. No outcalls. (MT#4797). Call 817.590.2257 (no texts, please)

HISTORIC RIDGLEA THEATER

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

LIFELINE SCREENINGS

Stroke and Cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line to schedule yours. Special offer: 5 screenings for just $149. (MB) call 1-833-636-1757

PLANNED PARENTHOOD

Care. No matter what. WeArePlannedParenthood.org