Fort Worth Weekly // June 21-27, 2023

Matt Tedder

The guitar virtuoso and former Voice contestant puts rock in the rearview for classic country on his new record.

STORY AND PHOTOS

BY JUAN R. GOVEA

METROPOLIS

As the food/beverage industry changes, local insiders discuss low hours, lower wages, high costs, and allegedly entitled millennials.

BY EDWARD BROWN

METROPOLIS

Privatization of the arts center will only stifle free speech.

BY STATIC

EATS & DRINKS

Creative farm-to-table bites abound at Heirloom.

BY CHRISTINA BERGER

BUCK U

With the Frogs in the College World Series, TCU can say it’s No. 1 overall in one category.

BY BUCK D. ELLIOTT

STAFF

Anthony Mariani, Editor

Lee Newquist, Publisher

Bob Niehoff, General

Ryan Burger,

Jim Erickson, Circulation

Edward Brown, Staff

Emmy Smith, Proofreader

Michael Newquist,

Jennifer Bovee, Marketing

Stacey Hammons, Senior Account

Julie Strehl, Account Executive

Tony Diaz, Account Executive

Wyatt Newquist, Digital

Clintastic, Brand Ambassador

CONTRIBUTORS

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

EDITORIAL BOARD

Anthony Mariani, Edward Brown, Emmy Smith

Cover

METROPOLIS

Food, Service

Worker shortages and unpredictable consumer behaviors batter but can’t stop Fort Worth’s resilient restaurant and bar owners.

BY EDWARD BROWN

A noticeably frustrated Cody Neathery prompted my greetings with a disclaimer.

“Sorry, if I sound salty,” he said as he gestured toward piles of lumber and unopened appliances, “but does that look like it’s ready to open in one week?”

His unfinished bar was weeks behind its scheduled opening date of early June. As we chatted, several workers moved and unwrapped equipment. Neathery’s team had

gutted and cleared recently shuttered High Top Pub & Grub just south of downtown, but much of the renovations and finish-out for Neathery’s business was missing or unfinished.

Neathery, a Weekly contributing writer, said Jackie O’s is his first attempt at bar ownership. He recently brought on general manager Derrik States to handle much of the day-to-day work of running Fort Worth’s newest gay bar and the first local watering hole to pay homage to President John F. Kennedy and wife Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who spent the night together in downtown Fort Worth the day before his assassination in Dallas. On a back patio, States leaned into Neathery’s ear.

“The ice machine won’t be here for a week,” States said. “Dishwasher should arrive in the next 45 minutes.”

Neathery told me construction requires executing steps in a particular order, meaning any late contractor or missing piece of equipment causes a cascade of delays. The owner told his crew that he was going to pick up a small fridge from Cowtown Restaurant Supply as we hopped in his beat-up red truck.

“If you have a large sum of money that you are willing to flush down the toilet, then you can open a bar or restaurant,” he said as we cruised the North Side.

The statistics for any business primarily serving alcohol aren’t encouraging. Finding consensus on those figures is difficult, but most experts and studies report around 75% of watering holes close within their first year. And those that survive may never find easy profitability. Fort Worth’s pubs and restaurants, like similar establishments across the globe, were hit especially hit hard during the pandemic.

Tens of thousands of waiters and bartenders here and across the country left for new careers during 2020 and 2021. The national restaurant industry lost around $250 billion in expected revenue during 2020, based on reporting by TIME. Even with those challenges, the number of local bars and restaurants rose throughout the pandemic, based on data from the city, with 2,726 restaurants (up from 2,287 three years ago) and 719 bars (up from 637 in 2019) currently open.

States said workers who left brought their hard-earned skills to a wide range of careers.

“I was one of those who initially left the industry,” he said. Food service workers “develop skills that are translatable to other fields, like the ability to multitask, self-manage, collaborate with other people, present professionally, and put in hard work.”

Bartenders, waiters, GMs, and venue owners readily agree that the bar and restaurant industry remains drastically altered from COVID and the resulting upheaval of logistics and the workforce, but while other sectors of the economy have largely returned to pre-pandemic operations, many local pubs and dining establishments struggle to staff their businesses or attract customers. Through private conversations, the folks who tend bar and wait tables say there’s a small but significant percentage of potential customers who haven’t returned to dining in, whether that’s due to public safety concerns or a preference to eat at home.

In an email, a spokesperson with the Texas Restaurant Association said many dining spots across the Lone Star State are struggling to staff shifts.

“Restaurants continue to rebuild from the pandemic despite historic cost increases and labor shortages,” the spokesperson said. “An estimated 67% of Texas restaurant operators do not have enough employees to meet existing demand. This shortage, coupled with an 11.5% increase in wholesale food prices, creates a real challenge for even the busiest restaurants.”

Still, many areas of the city are once again bustling, like Mule Alley in the continued on page 5

After weeks of delays, Jackie O’s proprietor Cody Neathery (right) and general manager Derrik States will oversee Fort Worth’s newest gay bar in years.

Edward Brown

Jackie O’s sex toy machine comes with an unmarked mystery gift.

Edward Brown

Stockyards, the West 7th corridor, and the Near Southside. Veteran bartender Jackie Roy said many dining and drinking establishments struggle due to poor management that can’t be blamed on economic factors.

“Bad management will kill a place like a virus,” he said. Industry norms like “low hourly pay and no health insurance don’t help.”

Roy, who has worked in numerous job sectors, said the food service industry still offers friendships and memories that are hard to find in other career fields.

“I really enjoy going to work and laughing and making jokes,” he said. “You don’t get to do that in other places. I’ve laughed the hardest I’ve ever laughed in a walk-in freezer. Bartenders are part of a community.”

Partly inspiring this story was a text message from Cyrus Rodriguez, the long-time area bartender and barback who helped launch Birdie’s Social Club last fall. Rodriguez alleged the West 7th restaurant’s owner, Bryan Lee, did not notify workers before drastically cutting their hours.

After working five to seven days a week, Rodriquez noticed that management assigned him only a handful of shifts during

colder and rainier weather in November.

“Towards the last week of November, I tried to log into our scheduling app to see about more shifts to work,” Rodriguez said, referring to Sling. “I could no longer access the app. It would say that I’m no longer part of any employee team. I immediately texted [Lee] to see what’s going on, and he never responded.”

Rodriguez alleges that Lee’s wife, whom he tried to text as well, blocked the bartender’s number.

“Then I go to try to text [Lee], and he blocked my number as well,” Rodriguez claimed. “They have left me high and dry with no work or no reasoning or explanation. They didn’t even have the decency to let me know to [look] elsewhere for work.

That is just not the way to run a business or treat employees who have been there since Day 1 to help the business grow and thrive.”

In an email, Lee said he is not able to discuss personnel information out of respect for the privacy of employees.

“We have a third-party [human resources] company to support all of our staff, continued on page 6

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Cody Neathery (left): “If you have a large sum of money that you are willing to flush down the toilet, then you can open a bar or restaurant.”

Edward Brown

Food is social. Without that, for me, I might as well as go to therapy.

and we take pride in our open-door policy,” he said. “In regards to available shifts, we do our best to provide opportunities for all. With being a business that can be severely affected by cold weather and rain, our shift availability can change on a weekly basis, and we communicate this regularly with our staff.”

Rodriguez’ frustrations highlight an ongoing disconnect between many food service workers, who see their earnings as unreasonably volatile, and owners/managers who characterize many workers’ expectations as unrealistic. Several owners of bars and food trucks privately confided a belief that twentysomethings in particular are more unreliable and less willing to put in long hours than older generations.

Hao Tran, owner of Hao’s Grocery & Cafe, said she struggled early on to find consistent staff to work her smallish Asian grocery store on the Near Southside.

“We initially had a lot of interest,” Tran said. “We didn’t have many people show up for interviews. I think we had five

or six people send emails back. They didn’t follow up. I set a time, and they did not show up. That was two months ago.”

The expanded and extended unemployment checks during COVID left many workers feeling too entitled, she said.

Business owners, she said, treated the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) like “a gift card — some businesses took loans and said, ‘Oh, we are going to close down. We don’t have to pay it back.’ ”

Tran has had some luck hiring high school students, but many teens bristle at the $15-an-hour wage that Tran said is the most she can offer.

“They want more,” she said. “Before COVID, our salary was $10 an hour. The student I had was happy to have it. The job is not hard. It is a small local foods market.”

Tran, who also works for the Fort Worth school district, said many of her students make $20 and up working for their parents in roofing, contracting, automotive, and plumbing.

“During COVID, those kids went out and had to work to sustain the family,” she said. “Now these kids have been in the workforce. They are used to making more money. Jobs offering $12 and $15 an hour are not enough for them.”

Tran said she has seen many restaurants cut back on hours of operation, likely because staffers are less willing to work

slow Sundays and Mondays. Now that her staffing issues have subsided, the grocery owner said her biggest challenge is dealing with the city’s permitting department, which she said can be slow to respond and often fails to coordinate efforts with other city departments.

COVID changed the food industry, she said, but not everyone left the sector entirely.

“I know people who food blog” and live off sponsorships, she said. “I know people who do ghost writing for chefs or writing recipes. The digital world has changed the food world. The labor part is where the struggle is.”

Bartender Roy said the exodus of experienced waiters and bartenders during 2020 and 2021 had a huge impact on the industry which can still be felt.

“I had a lot of friends leave,” he said. “Once you’re out, it’s tough to go back. It’s not a forgiving job. You are on your feet all the time, and there are not a lot of breaks. You have to love it. There was so much uncertainty during the pandemic. It was scary.”

Roy saw many of his friends pursue careers in the arts or health and fitness. Beyond the loss of many veteran bartenders and waitstaff, Roy said restaurants and bars have to contend with changes in consumer behaviors.

“I’ve noticed people aren’t willing to go out as much,” he said. “A small percentage isn’t willing to go out to fine dining anymore. When someone can grab something quick, that helps. People are less willing to take the time to go down and sit and spend a ton of money.”

The veteran bartender said he hears complaints about millennials and Gen Z suggesting they’re lazy and less willing to work their way up than past generations.

“I don’t think they’re lazy,” he said. “They know their worth.”

States agrees while acknowledging that

every age group has its share of slackers.

“I think those stereotypes are bullshit,” he said. “I will not mince words on that. I do not think there is a labor shortage. I think there is a shortage of positions that are willing to pay appropriately for the labor they expect or there is a toxic work culture that people will not put up with anymore.”

After many veteran food service workers left the field, teens and twentysomethings began filling those openings, he added.

“There has been some learning curves and bumps,” he said. “The labor pool is less qualified, which can come off as being lazy. This is the question I would ask managers who complain about new hires: Have you taken the time to train, support, and mentor these workers? If an employer has felt that they have done that, then it is fair criticism, but to make a broad sweep about my [millennial] generation and the generation after me” is bogus.

Tran said restaurants that can provide convenience and value with fewer employees will have an advantage in the post-pandemic environment. She points to Chef Jon Bonnell’s drive-thru pickup service for $40 family meals at Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine as one example.

“I think that was a brilliant idea to get him through COVID,” she said. “Now it is here to stay. Online ordering for pickups has changed my world. It’s convenient for people, and it reduces traffic into a store. For me, I don’t want to go to a store anymore. I will get online and order groceries and pick it up.”

The trend toward not dining in, she said, means there are fewer reasons to tip, which can drive down food service wages. continued on page 7

Veteran bartender Jackie Roy said the food service industry offers camaraderie and friendships that can’t be found elsewhere.

Edward Brown

One week before Jackie O’s delayed opening, workers scrambled to unpack a 900-pound fridge and move it behind the bar.

Edward Brown

“If you are picking up something, you tend to tip less,” she said.

The bar and restaurant industry, she added, is evolving, and consumers should be mindful that mom-and-pop stores drive our local economy.

“Support small businesses,” she said. “That is your bread and butter around here. They pay local taxes. We cannot survive without community support.”

Even with the challenges of staffing her small business without the benefit of a marketing budget, Tran said it’s the love of people that keeps her in the industry.

“It is not about the money,” she said. “It is about the love of the food and serving people. I love to eat. Food is social. Without that, for me, I might as well as go to therapy. We need that human interaction.”

States believes his team will weather any challenges that arise, especially with the support of queer locals and their allies.

“We are joining a community,” he said, looking across the street to queer-friendly Liberty Lounge, a bar that “is truly inclusive. That is what our community is all about. As much as queer spaces can be safe, they can also be divisive. [Liberty Lounge owner] Jenna Hill-Higgs is one of the most politically active people in our community.

She has done so much to support the Near Southside and Fort Worth in general. We are excited to be the new kid on the block, especially during Pride Month. We are here because a lot of people paved the way for us to be here.”

Neathery said Fort Worth has long needed another gay bar and Jackie O’s will be a quirky cocktail lounge that’s a little “swanky and a little skanky.” In addition to a sex toy vending machine, the bar will have a set cocktail menu that includes the former First Lady’s favorite drink: a negroni with a twist. States said several drinks will have risqué names.

“We have a drink called Just the Tip that’s made with phallic ice,” he said. “It’s quite a, um, stiff drink.”

States and Neathery’s commitment to providing a safe and respectful work environment — both for customers and employees — makes good business sense, and it’s just the right thing to do.

As for the pre-COVID days that many bar and restaurant owners pine for, those days are gone.

“There is no returning to what it was,” States said. “The world and food service industry has changed in such a profound way that there’s no path directly back. Whatever we’re becoming is different. We have done an amazing job of showing our resilience as an industry. If you are doing your best to be a good concept and leader, that’s all you can do at the end of the day. If something better comes along for my staff members, I’m not going to have hard feelings about that. I want my staff to be happy and fulfilled just as I want that for myself, my friends, and my family.”

More than three years after the pandemic, nightlife is once again alive and well, he added.

“Bar programs are returning to having the chance and capital to be innovative again,” he said. “We’re back at a point where we can celebrate what we’re doing and how we’re doing it instead of worrying about being able to do it at all.” l

Hao Tran finds that high school students still make for great employees, but many of them are unable or unwilling to work for $15 an hour these days.

Edward Brown

Chef Jon Bonnell embraced the to-go family meal concept during COVID, and many customers now prefer pickup.

Courtesy Facebook

METRO

Last Stand for Free Speech?

The fate of the Fort Worth Community Arts Center tests the limits of freedom of expression in Republican-controlled Tarrant County.

BY STATIC

In the Cultural District, near the entrance to the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, a green spherical polyhedron sits covered with messages etched on several of its panels, one of which reads, “About one in four women (24%) will have an abortion by age 45.”

Created by Fort Worth’s Sarah Ayala last year, “F**k the Supreme Court” is one of dozens of works of public art throughout the city and, as a taxpayer-funded initiative, is completely protected by the First Amendment. That doesn’t mean everyone’s happy with it.

Earlier this year, Councilmember Michael Crain fielded a constituent complaint about the public artwork before forwarding the angry email to the councilmember whose district encompasses the arts center, who then passed the grievance to directors at Arts Fort Worth, the nonprofit tasked with disbursing grants to area nonprofits and overseeing the arts center, the city’s public art program, and the Rose Marine Theater.

James Talambas, who volunteers as vicechair of the Fort Worth Art Commission, said Arts Fort Worth staffers have a duty to put freedom of speech over the reactionary comments of locals. The advisor to the city on public art projects said his commission too frequently fields complaints that he believes are selectively forwarded to him from conservative city leaders. While he does not have a copy of the email in question, he said the complainant clearly took issue with Ayala’s mention of abortions.

“Ayala’s piece speaks to our collective human experience of making difficult choices in the face of adversity,” Talambas said. “It speaks directly to being in a free society, where we as Americans can unabashedly criticize our leaders for their blatant overstepping of our individual rights as citizens. Cue the irony” of having a councilmember question those rights.

The NIMBY-ism, thankfully, fell flat. Ayala’s installation hasn’t moved and won’t anytime soon.

It’s too bad that other areas of our local government continue trying their hardest every day to undermine the First Amendment. Exhibit A: The Tarrant County District Attorney’s office recently blocked public comments on social media.

Exhibit B: possibly the arts center.

After decades of neglect by city officials, the Fort Worth Community Arts Center is in need of at least $20 million in upgrades and repairs. Rather than investing in the building that has provided affordable gallery and theater space to the city for nearly 70 years, city leaders punted the problem to a business-friendly task force.

Dozens recently rallied at City Hall to voice support for keeping the arts center public and free from private interests. Leading up to last week’s meeting were months of debate among the council-appointed 1300 Gendy Street Task Force, who listened to feedback from the community before recommending the city renovate the building with the help of an outside developer. City Council unanimously accepted the recommendations, and developers are now able to submit proposals to the city through early fall.

Before the vote, local artist Bernardo Vallarino told councilmembers that he worries public-private partnerships could infringe upon artists’ free speech.

“Private entities may not like what I do,” he said, referring to his recent pieces that depict handguns as penises. “Our First Amendment can be easily put aside because of those” special interests.

In a state that routinely places gun rights over the lives of school children, Vallarino’s works are an affront to the culture of death embraced by state leaders whose campaigns are partly funded by the NRA. Vallarino’s mistrust of private interests is not unfounded. The ACLU characterizes private-public partnerships as a threat to free speech. Citing public spaces managed by private companies

in Detroit, Michigan, the civil liberties group said, “Though public spaces, private security is at liberty to prevent activists and organizations from protesting and speaking in support of their cause as it sees fit.”

The ACLU believes the 2014 disbanding of Black Lives Matter protestors in Minneapolis’ Mall of America as an example of private interests abusing law enforcement to block free speech.

“Mall authorities and police disbanded the protest and stated days later their intentions to pursue criminal charges and seek payment for lost revenue,” ACLU said. “Though the mall was created in part by and continues to thrive on millions of dollars in public subsidies, its private ownership allows it to criminalize protesters deemed unfit.”

The 2020 unrest following the murder of George Floyd tested the limits of free speech

downtown, which is mostly owned by the Bass family. We noted a discernible change in policing practices that summer when protestors began entering buildings on and around privately owned Sundance Square. After several days of flooding West 7th Street business and area parks, going inside businesses and marching, BLM supporters turned their attention to Sundance Square. While both areas are owned by separate private companies, the political influence of the Bass family appeared to change the behavior of local law enforcement.

“While police have not intervened on West 7th,” we said, “protest organizers used last night to see if police response would be different when the same tactics were employed in areas where mayor ‘Betsy Price eats.’ Fort Worth police placed officers between protesters and downtown business entrances, a departure from their handling of the West 7th corridor.”

Without force, police kept protestors from entering downtown establishments.

In a city as large as Fort Worth, it is easy to forget that public grounds in densely populated areas are increasingly rare, as green spaces along West Magnolia Avenue and elsewhere have been replaced with developments. The Fort Worth Community Arts Center is one of a few local tax-funded properties with high public visibility and a commitment to free thought and speech. The city’s effort to open that vital public space to private interests comes at a time when the county’s top leaders have aligned themselves with a well-moneyed Christian Nationalism movement that has successfully installed right-wing zealots in office. The worldviews of County Judge Tim O’Hare, Sheriff Bill Waybourn, and District Attorney Phil Sorrells save no room for anyone outside of their racist, heteronormative, Fox “News”-influenced beliefs, and spaces like the Fort Worth Community Arts Center are where progressive notions of equality and justice can persist in the face of institutionalized oppression.

Last week, Mayor Mattie Parker pledged to only support a development plan that maintains space for galleries and a theater at 1300 Gendy St. Her actions appeared to placate some boisterous artists.

For the two dozen locals who spoke at city council last week and their supporters, the fight over the fate of the arts center is less a struggle to preserve a building and more a battle to maintain a space where freedom of expression can be preserved in a state that remains openly hostile to anyone who isn’t white, wealthy, straight, and Christian. Every dollar gained through private interests should be weighed against the potential loss of First Amendment rights. City leaders have already relinquished their duty to protect freedom by not adequately funding Arts Fort Worth. Now the final battle has fallen to the hands of a small civic-minded group of arts advocates who remain understandably skeptical that corporate interests will ever care about anything other than the bottom line. 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. He will gently edit it for clarity and concision.

Speaking at a recent city council meeting, around two dozen Fort Worthians voiced concern over the potential privatization of the Fort Worth Community Arts Center.

Edward Brown

Sarah Ayala, shown next to her public artwork “F**k the Supreme Court,” is free to voice her views on public land using taxpayer funds, but a future private-public partnership between the Fort Worth Community Arts Center and a developer may thwart similar projects in the future.

Courtesy Arts Fort Worth

BUCK U

Froggy Four

Baseball is capping off the Year of the Frog with their third national semifinal appearance.

BY BUCK D. ELLIOTT

“The Everything School,” a catchy slogan adorning TikToks and billboards on the road to Omaha, congratulates and acclaims TCU baseball’s climax of what has been the ultimate season for Horned Frog athletics overall. It was a tough beginning in Omaha for TCU as the Tulsa Tornados (current power-outage puns inadvertent) from Oral Roberts overcame a three-run deficit in the top of the ninth to beat TCU 6-5 and send them to the loser’s bracket to face elimination against Virginia. What followed was slow baseball at its finest: full counts, stout defense, and many of TCU’s four runs coming from sacrifice fly balls. In the end, the Wahoos were sent packing, and the Frogs advanced from elimination for an eventual rematch with ORU yesterday.

Through eight games of the men’s College World Series, the run differential between the winners and losers is 11, with most affairs being of the single-run flavor. Skipper Kirk Saarloos and company changed that on Tuesday afternoon with the most dominant performance of the series thus far. The Horny Toads downed the Golden Eagles 6-1 during a wild afternoon each team stranded loaded bases; an ORU fielder forced a Frog off third base by

sliding into him, resulting in an out and a 10-minute review; and Oral Roberts logged fewer hits (seven) than the aggregate number of pitchers that appeared (nine).

The road to redemption from the Frogs’ opening loss, which puts them a game down against Florida on Wednesday, is very difficult. The Gators are the second overall seed, and the Frogs will have to beat them on consecutive days to grant themselves amnesty and reset for a championship series against either Wake Forest (top overall seed) or Tennessee (who is in the same situation against the Deacons as the Frogs are against Florida).

Saarloos is familiar with the position and opponent, as TCU’s last MCWS appearance was a first-round loss to Florida and the Frogs hopped back to win three straight before washing out against the Gators in the knockout game preceding the finals, landing just short. This will be the third time the Frogs have been among the final four baseball teams playing (’10, ’17). The Diamond Frogs are the fifth TCU varsity sport this school year to make either the final four in their postseason tournament or finish the season ranked among the top four (football, women’s rifle, beach volleyball, tennis, baseball).

Frogball’s comeback success in Omaha marks a momentous accomplishment that only our Fort Worth university can claim.

TCU is the only school to reach the college football playoff, NCAA men’s basketball tournament, and men’s College World Series in the same year — ever. Obviously — or maybe it isn’t, but it will be after I point it out — the college football playoff is the bottleneck of that statistic. The four-team arrangement is younger than a decade, and only 14 schools have ever appeared. Yet even in 10 years, TCU football disrespected every analyst by finishing an undefeated regular season after replacing a generational coach in Gary Patterson. Not bad for the smallest school ever to appear in the modern National Championship Game and the second smallest (with a slightly larger student body than Notre Dame) to ever appear in a semifinal.

While all the hoopla of football season raged, women’s futbol sturdily held what has become an extremely high standard by qualifying for their seventh consecutive postseason and second straight Sweet 16 appearance.

Women’s rifle, though competing in a smaller pool of schools than other sports, was national runner-up for the third consecutive year since winning their last national title in 2019. Men’s basketball made their typically strong start to the season before being beaten up a bit toward the end yet managed a second-round appearance before losing by three to Gonzaga, who made the Final Four. Men’s

tennis exceeded their own standard of excellence by repeating as national indoor champions and matched coach David Roditi’s best career finish by making the national team outdoor semifinal. Women’s tennis, a program on the rise, took a page out of basketball coach Jamie Dixon’s playbook and just missed their postseason tournament, instead utilizing the opportunity to win the women’s tennis NIT. The Frogs on horseback also qualified for their national semifinal and lost a tough dual match to crosstown rival SMU, who would go on to claim the national title against Auburn. Women’s beach volleyball, which has existed for only nine seasons, finished third nationally after going 37-3 and was bested only in their tournament by USC, who moved on to claim the title.

Then baseball, who despite being in only the second year of the Kirk Saarloos’ era, overcame an average midseason to own the month of May, chase Arkansas out of their own regional, and finish as at least one of the four best teams in the nation.

The most baffling part of this, to me, is that TCU has done it without coaches who had become names so well-known they seemed bigger than the programs themselves. That hasn’t happened. It even, for a time, felt like the departure of Chris Del Conte to UT was a strike against little TCU and that new frontman Jeremiah Donati would be rolling the proverbial stone uphill, but quite the opposite has occurred. Fort Worth still doesn’t seem like the place anymore for coaches to go and establish a cushy retirement. Winning, and winning now, are the standards. Those expectations bring their own baggage, and it’ll be an important cultural change to monitor in the coming years. Schools like Texas and Maroon Texas are great examples of how expectations go sideways with too many big spenders demanding success yesterday. We should bask in the golden purple glow while it shines.

There are undoubtedly more important years to you and your family, like when your children were born or when you were married or started a life-changing business venture or career, but for Fort Worth and the Horned Frogs, 2022-’23 has been a culmination of good fortune, piles of cash, and laserlike focus to craft Texas Christian University into a powerhouse athletic program. The success experienced by Frog Nation this year will be difficult to replicate and maybe impossible to better. l

It’s warmer in Fort Worth than Omaha, but Frog batters are doing an admirable job of bringing the heat.

Courtesy TCU Athletics

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. Promotional

STUFF The Mean (and Fun!) Streets

With a vast single-player mode and exciting new mechanics, Street Fighter 6 pushes the series and genre forward.

BY COLE WILLIAMS

Street Fighter V launched on shaky legs back in 2016. People criticized its lack of single-player content, thin roster of characters, and poor online performance. While the game eventually found a redemption of sorts with its DLC packs and Arcade edition in 2018, it still left players feeling a little crossed up. Thankfully, it seems Capcom has learned its lesson, as Street Fighter 6 is here with an almost literal world for its gaming warriors to fight in.

Moving the series timeline forward for the first time since the third entry in 1997, 6 finds the world of Street Fighter somewhat at peace. Series heavy M. Bison is dead and his criminal organization Shadaloo seems to be gone for good. Enter: you. Yes, you! The game’s main plot takes place in World Tour mode, where players make a custom-created avatar and go through a lengthy story mode a la Soul Calibur VI’s Libra of Souls. Beginning training under SFV’s Luke, players then go on to study under and learn

the fighting moves of everyone from Ryu to Chun Li, all the while traveling a vast open world that includes locations like Metro City from classic beat-’em-up Final Fight. You can challenge practically any person, from old women to gang members to police officers, and instigate fights to level up your character, earn money to buy them new outfits, and more. It’s a full-action RPG on its own, with a story full of heated rivalries and twists with new villain JP and gives players a meaty single-player mode to chew on.

But that’s not all, because online matchmaking has gotten an upgrade. Players take their avatars into the Battle Hub, a sort of arcade and club where you can challenge other players to fights at arcade machines, pit your avatars against each other in one-on-one

fights or even play classic Capcom games like Final Fight. The inclusion of rollback netcode as well as servers for specific geographic regions so far means less lag during online matches. Overall, it’s flashy and fun and nicely captures the feeling of being in an arcade, letting you play with others or just observe matches.

And, finally, there’s the Fighting Ground. Here you’ll find the Arcade mode, where you can play through the storylines of the game’s main combatants and the ability to play one-on-one matches with the people right in your own living room, letting you show off your fighting-game prowess while definitely not getting humiliated by your girlfriend using Chun Li for the umpteenth time.

As far as gameplay goes, the major new mechanic is the Drive Gauge system. Players begin with six bars and can spend bars by doing things like Drive Impact, which can hit opponents into walls and, if they’re out of Drive Gauge, stun them momentarily. Then there’s Drive Parries, which will block all enemy attacks by using up their own Drive Gauge. There’s also Drive Reversals, which can let you counterattack while blocking and can stop an opponent’s combo. Then, of course, there’s Overdrive, this game’s version of EX Special Moves, in which you unleash a flurry combo of moves. It’s a dynamic system that allows for good risk and reward but can be daunting if not managed well.

The game also makes conceits for more inexperienced players. There’s a simplified button-control scheme that would make Smash Bros. players feel more at home, though it’s still not going to do much to help you against more skilled players like someone’s girlfriend.

Graphically, the game makes great use of Capcom’s RE Engine, with improved lighting and hair bringing the characters to even more exaggerated and stylized life. Accompanying that is a great sense of style that really brings the “street” into Street Fighter, with hip-hop music and graffiti and neon designs everywhere, not to mention the splashes of paint accompanying Drive Gauge moves.

Still, things aren’t gorgeous everywhere. There is a tendency for characters to pop up in World Tour mode and for NPCs far of in the background to be of a noticeably lower frame rate. And the modern controls scheme will never be a substitute for honing skill with a character. And while DLC promises to extend the roster in the future, the initial 18, six of whom are brand new, can feel scant compared to other games’ rosters.

Those gripes aside, Street Fighter 6 is a dynamic entry visually and gameplay-wise that offers numerous ways to play and things to do. Those wanting to test their mettle have a wealth of options and ways to do so. l

Street Fighter 6 is here with an almost literal world for its gaming warriors to fight in.

Courtesy Capcom Courtesy Capcom

Street Fighter 6

Directed by Takayuki Nakayama. Produced by Kazuhiro Tsuchiya, Shuhei Mastumoto and Kansuke Sakurai. Starring Aleks Le, Kyle Herbert, and David Matranga. Available for Playstation 4, Playstation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S. Rated T for Teen.

NIGHT & DAY

Parking is free. Tickets are $30 for general admission or $40 for VIP.

This year’s Trinity Pride Fest will be 6pm-10pm at Magnolia Green Park (1201 Lipscomb St, Fort Worth, @TrinityPrideFW). There will be an artisan vendor market by Wandering Roots, food available for purchase from assorted trucks, and live music by local queer artists. Organizations that work directly with the LBGTQ+ community will also be on hand. This event is free to attend. For more information, visit TrinityPrideFW.org.

North Texas magician Will Baffle returns to Downtown Cowtown at the Isis Theater (2401 N Main St, 817-808-6390) with his Show of Wonders at 3pm. Baffle combines comedy, illusion, and other “amazing acts of skill” in a family-friendly format that the whole gang can enjoy. Tickets are $25 at WillBaffle.com.

Cherry 4pm-7pm, live bands 7pm-9pm, and a burlesque show from Roxie Mae Rumble’s Burlesque Revue at 9pm. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 the day of the show at NoiseRot.com.

Fort Worth singer-songwriter Joshua Ingram is putting on a free 12-hour concert outside at Harvest Hall at Hotel Vin (215 E Dallas Rd, Grapevine, 817796-9696) from 10am to 10am. Called ALZ the Songs, this second annual event benefits the North Central Texas chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association (ALZ.org, 214-4554861). Ingram said he’s proud to work with the organization on The Longest Day, in which participants from all around the world come together to fight Alzheimer’s through a fundraising activity of their choice. “Playing for 12 hours straight wears on the body, and before it’s over, I’ll have to superglue my fingers to keep playing,” Ingram said. “Seeing the body break down while the mind is still working demonstrates the true power of the mind. I believe there will be a cure someday for this terrible disease that robs someone of their mind and memories.” Food and drinks will be available for purchase at Harvest Hall.

Attend the four-week Glenna Janda Drawing & Painting Workshop for teens and adults 6pm-8pm on Thursdays today thru Thu, Jul 13, at Arts Fifth Avenue (1628 5th Av, Fort Worth, 817-923-9500).

Janda received her art degree from TCU, then studied at the University of the Americas in Mexico City. Her ceramics, paintings, and sculptures have been shown at galleries in Dallas, Denver, Mexico City, and Santa Fe, as well as her hometown of Fort Worth. Registration is $100 per person at Arts5th.org.

As part of the National Juneteenth Heritage Festival, Jim Austin Online presents the Juneteenth Comedy Showcase at The Warehouse FW (1125 E Berry St, Fort Worth, 817-923-9305). Featuring Celebrity the Comedian with guests Ronnie B, Shaunie B, Vanity the Comedian, and M Dot White, the event is BYOB, but food and set-ups are available for purchase.

The Post at River East (2925 Race St, Fort Worth, 817945-8890) hosts NoiseNite, an art fair at 3pm, DJ Soft

As it is officially summer, United Way of Tarrant County has launched its second annual Beat the Heat campaign, in which air conditioning units are collected to help those in need. For information about collection sites, visit the blogs at UnitedWayTarrant.org. UWTC is asking the community to donate working portable and window A/C units — and funds to purchase units — to help older adults and disabled individuals keep cool and reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses and fatalities during the summer months. To qualify to receive an AC unit, an individual must be a Tarrant County resident who is either 60 or older, disabled, or an active-duty military member or a veteran. The drive will continue thru Sat, Sep 30. New units can be purchased via the UWTC wishlists on Amazon and Walmart, and funds can be donated at UnitedWayTarrant.org/BeattheHeat.

By Jennifer Bovee

As part of an Alzheimer’s fundraiser, Fort Worth singer-songwriter Joshua Ingram will play for 12 hours straight at Hotel Vin in Grapevine Wed, Jun 21.

Courtesy JoshIngram.com

Roxie Mae Rumble’s Burlesque Revue slithers and slinks into The Post on Mon, Jun 26.

Courtesy Instagram

Fort Worth’s Glenna Janda hosts a four-week drawing/painting class at Arts Fifth Avenue starting Thursday.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND PARTIES:

POLYMER ADDITIVES, INC., has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for renewal of Air Quality Permit No. 49050, which would authorize continued operation of a Polymer Additives Fort Worth located at 510 East Central Avenue, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas 76164. Additional information concerning this application is contained in the public notice section of this newspaper.

1.) Tonight (as in Wed, Jun 21), celebrate the First Day of Summer at Fred’s Texas Cafe West (7101 Camp Bowie West, Fort Worth, 817-332-0083) with owner Quincy Wallace and Shiner Brewmaster Jimmy Mauric, who started working at the brewery at the age of 17 and graduated from the prestigious Siebel Institute of Technology to became Shiner’s sixth brewmaster in 2005. At Free Beers with the Brewmaster, Wallace will quiz Mauric about brewing. This happy-hour event is from 4:30pm to 7:30pm, and there will surely be specials on Shiner.

2.) Brix Barbecue, winner of best barbecue in our Best Of 2022 issue, will soon move to a new #brickandmortar space near The Cidada. (More on that later.) Meanwhile, you can visit their food truck — currently parked at the intersection of Bryan Av and E Broadway St in Fort Worth — thru Saturday. Brix is also still accepting Independence Day orders for racks of ribs and whole briskets at BrixBarbecue.com, with orders ready for pickup on Sun, Jul 2, at the new location. For updates, follow Instagram.com/ BrixBarbecue.

3.) In celebration of Summer Solstice, Maven’s Moon Apothecary (8341 White Settlement Rd, 817-367-9235) is holding a special event on Saturday. From 2pm to 6pm, celebrate Mother Earth with teas and snacks (BYOB), ancestral wreaths, homemade flower necklaces, henna tattoos, karaoke (bring your drums), and more. There will also be a mini pool with “enchanted flower magic water” to cool your feet. Admission is $20 per person. RSVP at 817-367-9235 or via direct message to Facebook.com/MavensMoon.

4.) The Bearded Lady (300 S Main St, Fort Worth, 817-349-9832) hosts its annual Pride Brunch on Sunday. From 11am to 4pm, enjoy pride-themed/-colored cocktails, food, and decorations. There will be a special market from Wandering Roots, along with live music. For updates on all the festivities, keep an eye on Facebook. com/TheBeardedLadyFortWorth.

5.) From noon to 6pm Sun, you can also enjoy a day party at Afro-Caribbean Brunch

Vibes at Alibaba Lounge (2238 Walnut Hill Ln, Irving, 612-272-2446). Along with an African and Caribbean menu, there will be Afro-Caribbean and R&B songs played by DJ Mulukuku. Doors open at 11:30am, and the cover is $20. There are also VIP options available on Eventbrite.com.

6.) There is still time to sign up for the Freedom First BBQ Cookoff on Fri, June 30, at The Shack (395 Purcey St, Fort Worth). All area pitmasters are invited to participate. The contest categories are brisket, chicken,

and ribs, with prize payouts ranging from $100 to $300 for fifth to first place. The entry fee is $150 for one to three meats. For details on tray pickup and turn-in times or to register, visit JuneteenthFTW.com/ BBQCookoff.

7.) Speaking of Juneteenth, remember the Taste of Juneteenth Food Festival. Head to Panther Island Pavilion (395 Purcey St, Fort Worth, 817-698-0700) from 1pm to 9pm on Sat, Jul 1. 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 food to exotic delicacies. For more information, visit JuneteenthFTW.com/TasteofJuneteenth.

8.) On the first Saturday of the month, Tarrant County Food Bank hosts a Mobile Food Bank at the Potter’s House Church (1270 Woodhaven Blvd, Fort Worth, 817446-1999). On Sat, Jul 1, those needing essential groceries can come to the church parking lot for this drive thru-style pantry, and volunteers will load trunks or backseats. For more information, visit TPHFW.org.

By Jennifer Bovee

Join the conversation between Fred’s owner Quincy Wallace and Shiner Brewmaster Jimmy Mauric on Wednesday.

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

EATS & drinks

Beyond the Plants

Al

More

STORY AND PHOTOS

BY CHRISTINA BERGER

I’m a murderer.

My crimes generally affect anything green and leafy in nature, as all plants entrusted to my care wither and die. Mind you, it’s not purposeful. Could these offenses be considered plant-slaughter then? In any case, it genuinely baffles me that I’ve managed to keep a dog with allergies and a sensitive tummy alive for more than six years, but when it comes to even the least-needy vegetation, there are no survivors.

Despite my lethal proclivities, I hazarded a visit to Archie’s Gardenland to enjoy

the charming al fresco — or should I say “al flora”? — dining experience at its budding Heirloom Garden Cafe. Disclaimer: No plants were harmed in the writing of this article.

Archie’s Gardenland has been “a growing tradition since 1934” — a pun I vehe -

mently hope was intended. Situated in its outdoor nursery, the soft-opened Heirloom is housed within a forest-green food truck surrounded by bright, sunflower-yellow bistro seating. The stationary kitchen on wheels is parked beneath a simple lean-to structure on a raised, fenced-in deck at the

far end of the outdoor garden space, just in front of the greenhouse. It’s only fitting that you have to saunter through rows and rows of verdancy until you reach the matching green garden cafe.

Heirloom features a limited lunch menu that’s posted on social media every week. Offerings usually include a handheld sandwich, charcuterie-style spread with heirloom tomatoes and housemade mozzarella — “motz,” as it appears on the menu — and dessert. Chef Kevin Martinez of Tokyo Cafe is the man at the elm (er, “helm”), crafting scrumptious fresh fare from seasonally grown produce served on coordinating pine-colored camping-style ware.

So, what’s so special about Heirloom? After sitting behind a computer and dozing off in meetings most of the day, I’ll be the first to say it’s refreshing to take a break from the screens (and internal screams) to be among nature. If you’re worried about suffering in the excessive heat, the place has fans set up — at the very least to help the airflow as you wipe wet strands of hair off your neck.

“It’s you again!”

The charismatic server leaning out the window of the food truck as I approached had recognized me by my latest earring obsession: a pair of dangly mint arches I’d purchased at ArtsGoggle and wear constantly. Blissfully unaware of my criminal history, he luckily hadn’t clocked me and wagged an accusing finger at my photo hanging nearby with the words, “Plant Killer: Banned for Life.” This was my second midday foray in as many weeks to the plant lovers’ haven down Camp Bowie Boulevard.

As I blotted my face, lest my mascara streak and I begin to resemble a raccoon or Alice Cooper, I’ll admit that it might not continued on page 19

fresco?

like “al flora” at the budding Heirloom Garden Cafe, which offers fresh seasonal fare in a charming outdoor space at Archie’s Gardenland.

You could probably dip the Wagyu patty in sauerkraut, and it would still “slap,” as Gen Z says.

Heirloom at Archie’s Gardenland

BEST RAMEN WINNER

- Fort Worth Weekly Best Of 2021

have been just the summer heat that was getting to me. It’s a little intimidating to sit across from a former Weekly food critic with a 10-year tenure and indulge in a meal that you yourself are now tasked with reviewing. No amount of oscillating fans can relieve that kind of heat — even if you are now colleagues at the same institution who escape the banality of the 8-to-5 grind during the occasional lunch hour together.

(If my employer is reading this, that was a joke. I love work. Work is the best. … Are they gone? OK, whew.)

The longtime food critic had recommended we try out Heirloom — and isn’t that the best way to reap the rewards of the local (or any!) food scene? As much as I brag about my Fort Worth roots, there’s still so much of this city’s dining options I have yet to explore. Best to let the experts take point.

The most notable course we gorged on during our couple visits to the garden cafe had to have been the signature spread. Sliced heirloom tomatoes and watermelon, both vibrant tones and extra juicy, were paired with toasted sourdough bread for dipping into a dollop of creamy motz and oily, luscious pesto. To top it off, everything was drizzled with a balsamic glaze and sprinkled with pumpkin seeds. Fresh and light, the array was possibly the perfect repast for a sizzling summer day.

The muffuletta with slices of ham, salami, and provolone and a thin spread of olive salad (plus a bright orange dressing I couldn’t identify) was also delicious. I’m a sucker for a nice cold sandwich on a hot day, especially when it’s accompanied by crunchy, salty chips.

On our next jaunt a few weeks later, we tried the Wagyu burger. The main, meaty attraction of Heirloom’s tasty Beeman Ranch Wagyu creation was enhanced with a sundried tomato aioli-slathered brioche bun, crisp lettuce, crunchy red onions, and a slice of American cheese. Honestly, you could probably dip that patty in sauerkraut, and it would still “slap,” as Gen Z says.

In comparison, the roast beef melt presented on a buttery thick toast, covered in melty cheese, and oozing a peppery brown sauce was yummy but played second fiddle. The beef was a bit fatty and gristly, though the melt packed some fairly hearty flavor nonetheless.

As the (in)famous foodie and I returned our emptied plates, the server ribbed, “I see y’all hated it,” emphasizing and elongating the “a” vowel. Let’s just say I can’t wait to “hate” the next dish Heirloom serves up. l

The meat on the roast beef melt was a bit fatty and gristly, though the sandwich packed some fairly hearty flavor nonetheless.

Situated in the outdoor nursery, the softopened Heirloom is housed within a forestgreen food truck surrounded by bright, sunflower-yellow bistro seating.

RIDGLEA THEATER

FRI 6/30 DFW REVIVAL - ONE NIGHT ONLY

SAT 7/15 TRANCEPORTAL

1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY - SNEIJDER (UK) + MANY MORE!

TUE 8/1 TRISTON’S LEGEND OF THE COWBOY FOUNDATION’S 2ND ANNUAL BIRTHDAY BASH

RIDGLEA ROOM

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

FRI 7/28 STUDS OF STEEL LIVE

RIDGLEA LOUNGE

SAT 6/24 WELCOME TO THE PSYCHWARD

SUN 7/2 JW FRANCIS FEATURING ELI JOSEF & 8BIT WIZRD

SUN 7/9 VON TEZ BAND WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

SAT 7/15 THE DEAD KEVS PINCH A COOL ARROW & DJ KOZT

MUSIC

Matt Tedder

The guitar virtuoso and former Voice contestant puts rock in the rearview for classic country on his new record.

STORY AND PHOTOS

BY JUAN R. GOVEA

Matt Tedder is going through some changes. For his new record (out Friday), he’s shelved the hot licks of the blues rock for which he’s best known, and in their place is a less rowdy, more studied, classic-country sound. I Can Dream You is dedicated to his father, Charles Tedder, who died in 2021 of lung cancer, and is also an homage to Hank Williams, Chet Atkins, and all of the other C&W artists whose music soundtracked Matt’s time with his dad growing up.

Dedicating a work of art to his late father is somewhat bittersweet for Tedder.

“I wanted to make an album about the times I spent with my father listening to the old country music that he loved,” he said. “If he were alive today, I bet he’d get a kick out of the album.”

I Can Dream You is a country work but one with a contemporary, postmodern sheen.

“This record, for me, is mixing it all up into a stew with lots of influences,” Tedder said.

All 10 songs come from different points in time, he added — some before, some after the pandemic. Mostly full of emotion and storytelling, I Can Dream You also features purely groovy tracks with catchy vocal melodies.

Recorded at the Finishing School in Austin last year with producer Gordy Quist from Band of Heathens (Band of Heathens, Justin Tipton, Jason Eady), I Can Dream You includes songwriting and performance contributions from Quist, Cut Throat Finches’ Sean Russell, and Austin’s Dan Dyer.

“For me,” Tedder said, “this album is a journey inward, a road back to what feels good and true, a love letter to my father and the music he shared with me.”

Tedder wrote “In My Arms,” the album closer, when he was 16 years old and has played it onstage for over a decade. Another standout track is “Serenity,” written in 2018 on the front porch of Russell’s Fort Worth home.

“At the end of the day,” Tedder said, “I made a record I feel very proud of, that explores a wide range of influences, and was recorded in a way that sounds real and intimate.”

Tedder said I Can Dream You is a new chapter for him, and while it was recorded a year ago, it still represents where he is stylistically and lyrically.

“I want to establish myself as a solo artist in the local scene, but I want to break out nationally,” he said. “Fort Worth has been great to me, but I have been here for quite a while. I want to make a comfortable living as a touring artist playing theaters across the country and Europe.”

Tedder feels the album is a good start to his pivot.

Though he busted onto the scene when he was just a kid as Matt “Mojo” Tedder, sang on The Voice, and fronted the popular Black Keys-styled rock outfit Polydogs, he’s still a country boy at heart.

“I kind of want to be recognized more in the country vein,” Tedder said, “and there seems to be more facets of country music now, but for the past two years, I’ve pretty much been listening to country music.”

The release show for I Can Dream You is Saturday, July 8, at Tulips FTW (112 St. Louis Av, 817-367-9798) with Frankie Leonie. l

Tedder: “I want to establish myself as a solo artist in the local scene, but I want to break out nationally.”

Tedder: “I kind of want to be recognized more in the country vein.”

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RUSTIC FURNITURE HEADQUARTERS!

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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.

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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

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DIRECTV

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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.

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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!

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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

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

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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

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

CLASSIFIEDS

Texas Commission on environmenTal QualiTy

NOTICE OF RECEIPT OF APPLICATION AND INTENT TO OBTAIN AIR PERMIT (NORI) RENEWAL PERMIT NUMBER 49050

APPLICATION. POLYMER ADDITIVES, INC., has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for renewal of Air Quality Permit Number 49050, which would authorize continued operation of a Polymer Additives Fort Worth located at 510 East Central Avenue, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas 76164. AVISO DE IDIOMA ALTERNATIVO. El aviso de idioma alternativo en espanol está disponible en https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/air/newsourcereview/ airpermits-pendingpermit-apps. This link to an electronic map of the site or facility’s general location is provided as a public courtesy and not part of the application or notice. For exact location, refer to application. https://gisweb.tceq.texas.gov/ LocationMapper/?marker=-97.344166,32.782777&level=13. The existing facility and/or related facilities are authorized to emit the following air contaminants: carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, organic compounds, particulate matter including particulate matter with diameters of 10 microns or less and 2.5 microns or less and sulfur dioxide.

This application was submitted to the TCEQ on April 29, 2023. The application will be available for viewing and copying at the TCEQ central office, TCEQ Dallas/Fort Worth regional office, and the Fort Worth Public Library - Central, 500 West 3rd Street, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas beginning the first day of publication of this notice. The facility’s compliance file, if any exists, is available for public review in the Dallas/Fort Worth regional office of the TCEQ.

The executive director has determined the application is administratively complete and will conduct a technical review of the application. In addition to the renewal, this permitting action includes the incorporation of changes in emission factors related to this permit. The reasons for any changes or incorporations, to the extent they are included in the renewed permit, may include the enhancement of operational control at the plant or enforceability of the permit. The TCEQ may act on this application without seeking further public comment or providing an opportunity for a contested case hearing if certain criteria are met.

PUBLIC COMMENT. You may submit public comments to the Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below. The TCEQ will consider all public comments in developing a final decision on the application and the executive director will prepare a response those comments. Issues such as property values, noise, traffic safety, and zoning are outside of the TCEQ’s jurisdiction to address in the permit process.

OPPORTUNITY FOR A CONTESTED CASE HEARING. You may request a contested case hearing if you are a person who may be affected by emissions of air contaminants from the facility. If requesting a contested case hearing, you must submit the following: (1) your name (or for a group or association, an official representative), mailing address, daytime phone number; (2) applicant’s name and permit number; (3) the statement “[I/we] request a contested case hearing;” (4) a specific description of how you would be adversely affected by the application and air emissions from the facility in a way not common to the general public; (5) the location and distance of your property relative to the facility; (6) a description of how you use the property which may be impacted by the facility; and (7) a list of all disputed issues of fact that you submit during the comment period. If the request is made by a group or association, one or more members who have standing to request a hearing must be identified by name and physical address. The interests the group or association seeks to protect must also be identified. You may also submit your proposed adjustments to the application/permit which would satisfy your concerns.

The deadline to submit a request for a contested case hearing is 15 days after newspaper notice is published. If a request is timely filed, the deadline for requesting a contested case hearing will be extended to 30 days after mailing of the response to comments.

If any requests for a contested case hearing are timely filed, the Executive Director will forward the application and any requests for a contested case hearing to the Commissioners for their consideration at a scheduled Commission meeting. Unless the application is directly referred to a contested case hearing, the executive director will mail the response to comments along with notification of Commission meeting to everyone who submitted comments or is on the mailing list for this application. The Commission may only grant a request for a contested case hearing on issues the requestor submitted in their timely comments that were not subsequently withdrawn. If a hearing is granted, the subject of a hearing will be limited to disputed issues of fact or mixed questions of fact and law relating to relevant and material air quality concerns submitted during the comment period. Issues such as property values, noise, traffic safety, and zoning are outside of the Commission’s jurisdiction to address in this proceeding.

MAILING LIST. In addition to submitting public comments, you may ask to be placed on a mailing list for this application by sending a request to the Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below. Those on the mailing list will receive copies of future public notices (if any) mailed by the Office of the Chief Clerk for this application.

AGENCY CONTACTS AND INFORMATION. Public comments and requests must be submitted either electronically at www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/, or in writing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087. Please be aware that any contact information you provide, including your name, phone number, email address and physical address will become part of the agency’s public record. For more information about this permit application or the permitting process, please call the Public Education Program toll free at 1-800-687-4040. Si desea información en Español, puede llamar al 1-800-687-4040.

Further information may also be obtained from POLYMER ADDITIVES, INC., 510 East Central Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76164-9218 or by calling Mr. John Glassmeyer, Global EHSS Manager at (216) 875-7252.

Notice Issuance Date: May 18, 2023

EMPLOYMENT

Vehicle Systems Manufacturing Zone Engineer-General Assembly (GA), Arlington, TX, General Motors. Plan &perform design, installation, testing, &ensure deployment of safe, flexible, & efficient production tools, fixtures, gauges, & ergonomic aids, to assemble full-size SUVs in GA area. Follow sequence & flow of operations for effective utilization of personnel, material, tooling, machines & facilities necessary for execution of vehicle prgms, Major Model Change & non-portfolio projects at GA based Plant Floor Syss incl Scalable Error Proofing (SEP) sys, Error Proofing Platform (EPP), Option Data Delivery (ODD) sys, & Quality Andon System (QAS). Dvlp & ensure alignment of projects w/ Tooling Eqpt Bulletins, Bill of Eqpt & Process, to automate/improve GA syss, trim/chassis lines, Instrument Panel/Cockpit, EBoost, Liftgate & Exhaust subassy lines; brake air pressure decay, brake & transmission fluid syss; fuel, diesel & windshield washer filling eqpt; coolant &refrigerant filling machines, diesel emissions fluid eqpt, collaborative robot safe contact stop sensor robots, alignment eqpt, water test & marriage robots eqpt, vision syss in high volume vehicle assy plant environment. Bachelor, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Electromechanical, Industrial Engrg, or related. 36 mos exp as Engineer, integrating & ensuring deployment of safe, flexible & effective utilization of personnel, material, eqpt & facilities for projects at vehicle assy plant in GA area, incl SEP sys, EPP, ODD sys; QAS, or related. Email resume to recruitingreply1@gm.com (Ref#9129).

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EMPLOYMENT

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

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RTC Technical Assistant Manager for Richemont North America, Inc. (Fort Worth, TX). Manage the watch repair function at the Richemont Technical Center to meet Richemont’s quality & productivity objectives. Reqts: 2 yrs exp in postn. offered or rltd, incl 2 yrs exp w/: all steps of watch repair, incl. dismantling, polishing, case preparing, dismantling/cleaning/repairing movement components, regulating free sprung balances, dial/hand setting, regulating & adjusting the movement, encasing, water/air resistance testing, & final quality control; assembly of mechanical manual & automatic winding & movements, incl. working on complications (calendar, moon phase, power reserve) & chronographs; diagnosing watch problems by analyzing all checkpoints, identifying abnormalities, & implementing appropriate path of action to rehabilitate the movement w/in the brand specifications & giving an accurate cost estimate; & using SAP software for watch history, repairs, cost estimates, & warranties. Resume to Richemont North America, Inc. at Jobs@richemont.com & ref position title in subject.

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PUBLIC NOTICE

Members of the Mansfield-Johnson Amateur Radio Service will hold their annual Field Day event on June 24th from 1-9 pm. They will be stationed at the Patriot Pavilion at the top of Big Cedar Wilderness Trail, 8991 Isom Lane, Dallas, Texas 75248. The operation will run on full solar power and batteries; running less than 100 W. They will be using a three-element beam for 10m, 20m and 15m as well as an end fed dipole for 10-80m. Members will also demonstrate sending and receiving email via ham radio airwaves. For more information about Amateur (ham) radio please visit www.MJARS.org..