Fort Worth Weekly // July 6-11, 2023

METROPOLIS

The Como shooting, The Berry Theater, The Original, and more await in our News Roundup.

BY STATIC

With their debut album Cuss Words, this new supergroup defines collaboration.

BY JUAN R. GOVEA

EATS & DRINKS

Though far from the Tropics, Fort Worth overflows with premier piña coladas.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CODY NEATHERY

SCREEN

Asteroid City is a Wes Anderson picture but atypical of his signature style.

BY KRISTIAN LIN

MUSIC

Summer Dean’s honkytonking Biggest Life is coming to a town near you.

BY PATRICK HIGGINS

more thrills

INSIDE

Friends with Benefits

Cody Neathery

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

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

BlueJay

METROPOLIS

News Roundup

A mass shooting in Como, keyboard warriors unite to save a historic theater, and more is happening in Fort Worth.

BY STATIC

With temps topping 100 degrees, many of us have taken to whispering “Hail Mary”’s as we pass our domestic altars — our thermostats — hoping our overburdened and underregulated power grid doesn’t unexpectedly test our rugged independence once again. Load up on ice and refreshments in bottled or canned form just in case. Now, your News Roundup.

Tragedy in Como

The historically Black community of Como was the scene of a mass shooting by unidentified armed assailants that wounded 11 and killed three. The violent attack occurred just before midnight on Monday near 3400 Horne St. Despite the bloodshed, area residents held their annual Fourth of July Parade Tuesday.

The bloodshed over the Fourth of July holiday was not isolated to Fort Worth. At least 17 mass shootings across the country took place within the same time frame. Ours remains the state of choice for mass-murder events like the one that recently unfolded near Horne Street, and those armed assailants often wield the NRA’s favorite instrument of death: the AR-15. The Lone Star State is one of the most gun-friendly parts of the country, and it’s little surprise five of the 10 deadliest U.S. mass shootings over the past eight years have been in ruby-red Texas.

Fort Worth police are investigating Tuesday’s crime and asking anyone with information about the identities of the shooters to call the Fort Worth Homicide Unit at 817-392-4330.

Saving Berry Theater

Following mostly online public uproar over the potential demolition of The Berry Theater, near TCU, preservationists are cheering the recent decision by the owners to not tear down the 83-year-old building — for now.

Fort Worthians are rightfully protective of historic structures even as they often fail to take proactive steps to ensure old build-

ings and facilities are preserved or restored. Historic Fort Worth, a preservation-minded nonprofit, deserves kudos for maintaining a list of endangered buildings (HistoricFortWorth.org).

Former District 9 Councilmember Ann Zadeh said she was glad to see the community rally behind The Berry, although if everyone paid attention to preservation, we wouldn’t be caught in sticky situations in the first place.

“We tend to be a city where people do little until they see a fight, and then they come in guns blazing,” she said. “I would love people to be involved prior to a fight.”

Zadeh continues to advocate for saving historic buildings among other urban design initiatives as the head of a new nonprofit. Community Design Fort Worth focuses on improving the quality of life here.

“If you are talking about the economic value of preservation, you can see how Fairmount [on the Near Southside] has added value for homeowners,” she said. “I think there is value in maintaining some historic buildings just for the sake of the history that they emote. Fort Worth has tended to be property rights-focused. They haven’t been a city that is willing to place an overlay over property without the owners’ consent.”

Zadeh urges folks who value decades-old buildings to follow Historic Fort Worth and suggest structures for the group’s annual list of endangered sites. Finding credible sources of information is also important, and she recommends relying on city officials for overlay maps and other data. Locals who want to learn how to designate their neighborhood as a historic district, which comes with the benefits of tax incentives and protections, can email the city at DesignReview@fortworthtexas.gov.

The clamor over the possible demolition of The Berry follows news that Fort Worth’s Central Library downtown will likely be torn down by Dart Interests, developers who purchased the building from the city several months ago for $18 million. City officials said the location and layout of the Central Library no longer served the longterm goals of the public library system. City officials said they plan to lease a downtown space to relocate the Central Library’s offices and public resources.

Along with the good news about The Berry, the Fort Worth Public Market will soon be restored and revamped by Wilks Development. The $58 million project will add coffee shops and stores to the near-downtown building from 1930 that has been long vacant.

Zadeh said the pause of The Berry Theater’s demolition is a “win-win” for the South Side and nonprofit owners.

“The owners have shown that they are community-minded and at least willing to listen to the community,” she said.

Tight Housing Market Helps Slumlords

Like bail bondsmen and scam artists, slumlords run predatory businesses that can wreck the lives and livelihoods of folks struggling to find affordable housing. In Republican-led Texas, tenants have few protections, and our gun-obsessed, Trump-loving state leaders are unlikely to take any steps to address the plight of renters anytime soon.

Local singer-songwriter Simone Nicole is dealing with health problems due to mold in her Near Southside apartment. The property managers inspected the bathroom around the tub and just told her “it was normal and nothing to worry about,” Nicole said. “Last year, I had to beg management for a month to clean my air ducts because of a strong musky smell. Turns out the vents were filled with mold. I noticed I was getting sick more often. Last weekend, I decided to open up the bathroom duct myself. It was very black and moldy. I haven’t been staying at home because I keep feeling sick when I’m there. The lady in the office won’t hire anyone to come inspect the mold or eradicate it or professionally clean the ducts again.”

Tenants with mold problems have three options, Sandy Rollins has said. The director of Texas Tenants Union said renters can “terminate the lease and sue, stay and sue, or repair and deduct the price of repairs from your rent.”

Suing a landlord puts the onus on working-class people when basic regulations could prevent the types of serious problems afflicting Nicole.

For James Talambas, broken pipes created the smell of feces at the home he recently vacated just off West Magnolia Avenue on the Near Southside. When the artist/musi-

cian called the city to complain, he was told Fort Worth’s health department does not become involved unless leaking sewage reaches the sidewalk or street.

So how much leaching crap does it take for the city to get involved? Apparently, a shit ton.

Talambas, unwilling to wait for the refuse to overflow onto public property, recently moved and bought a home on Hemphill Street, but not everyone has that option. Nicole is looking to move, but with average rent starting around $1,400 pretty much everywhere, she said that’s no easy task.

Talambas believes North Texas’ tight housing market emboldens crummy landlords to neglect properties because there’s always someone willing to live with broken pipes and mold. Sadly, he’s probably right.

Fenced Out

After a contentious seven-year court case, the owners of The Original Mexican Restaurant recently lost the lease to their Camp Bowie location, where they served Tex-Mex for 93 years. With a July 1 deadline to vacate the building, the owners left a parting gift — a chain-link fence marked “Private Property. No Trespassing.”

Turns out that the Original still owns the parking lot.

“Seems like they’re playing chicken” with the building owners, someone commented online.

It seems that if anyone wants the Original’s original building, they’re going to have to go through the Original’s owners for convenient parking. The abrupt lot closure also leaves nearby Fort Worth Coffee Co. without

Locals are wondering what prompted The Original Mexican Eats Cafe to fence off its old parking lot after relocating to the North Side.

Courtesy Facebook

easy access to parking. The Original is relocating to the North Side soon.

The Original’s owners should realize that kneecapping parking out of spite doesn’t help their public image at all. We get it. You’re mad you had to leave your home. But don’t take it out on your neighbors or the neighborhood. Be better.

New Hardware in the Newsroom

Congratulations to the Weekly for bringing home another Diamond Award, this time for an editorial by Editor Anthony Mariani and Staff Writer Edward Brown. The Southwest-regional distinction by the Arkansas chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists was awarded for the writers’ Feb. 23, 2022 piece on a constable allegedly using public resources to manage his campaign.

“Strong community focus,” the judges wrote. “Immoderate language but contextualized facts and process back up arguments. Calls for action, not just critiquing what’s past.”

Good job, boys. Keep up the great work.

Pride Month Flies High

Tim O’Hare can suck it. Fort Worthians rolled deep for a glorious month-long Pride Month bash that only recently ended. Whether hosting drag shows, selling Pride Month cocktails to support LGBTQ+ non

profits, hosting discussions on gay history, or organizing Trinity Pride Fest, business owners and locals sent a message to the county judge and all his backward cronies in charge that love is love.

The homophobia from a liar who claims drag queens are a danger to children should be seen for what it is — a limp move and more projection from sex-obsessed Republicans. It doesn’t take a degree in psychoanalysis to understand conservatives clearly have a hard-on for drag queens and sexually liberated folks. We just wish they would find healthier ways to cope with their pentup frustrations because the whole groomer thing is really getting stale.

Race to the Bottom

Rick Barnes recently withdrew his bid for Precinct 3 County Commissioner following uproar from within his own Republican party over his work as Tarrant County Republican Party chair. Over the past six months, our office has fielded complaints from active Republican volunteers alleging Barnes failed to properly pay taxes and fees for his party while hiding the address of former precinct chair Lisa Grimaldi, which allegedly allowed her to represent part of Fort Worth even as her social media posts indicated she lived in Saginaw.

One email forwarded to us from a Republican Party insider which circulated among numerous Republican precinct

chairs described mistrust over Barnes’ leadership. Or lack thereof.

“Barnes neglected important financial duties and should not be entrusted with public funds,” the email reads. “He has not been transparent regarding [Tarrant County GOP] finances and projects, and there are legitimate concerns that this will continue if he attains public office. He allows his ego to get in the way of the deliberative process.”

Rather than doing the county a favor and leaving any ambitions for public office behind, Barnes recently announced he will run against Republican Wendy Burgess for her elected seat as Tarrant County tax assessor-collector in 2024. For a guy who clearly has difficulty maintaining clean books and the trust of his employees and supporters, his newfound political ambitions could spell danger for property owners throughout Tarrant County.

Barnes, who pushed baseless voter fraud allegations against Deborah Peoples during the race that put pathological liar Tim O’Hare in office, has lost the faith of his peers, which undoubtedly means he will push further right and fail upward like a few other GOP “stars” we know and loathe. Only in the Republican Party can you make a cushy living demonizing the very system in which you are comfortably ensconced. And conservative voters eat it up. 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 concision and clarity.

Demolishing The Berry Theater (shown here in the 1950s) has been delayed.

Courtesy of Paul Millender

Dispatches from the News Desert

Remembering

METROPOLIS

Chevys. It got so bad that at one point I was assigned stories like: Go ask people buying lottery tickets what they’re gonna do with all that loot!

It became clear that to be taken seriously or write anything substantive as a twentysomething at this rag, I had to pitch my own stories.

One story I found was about the director of the local massage therapy institute. Ginger Mensik was helping elderly folks trying to kick their opioid addictions through cheap massages and exercise regimens. The massages came at a huge discount as they were practice for the students about to graduate.

community throughout this digital age of sub-culture tribalism.

BY JESSICA WALLER

The first time I was fired from a rural newspaper for reporting inconvenient facts — read: facts not in line with the newspaper’s monetary gains — was back in 2012 during the heyday of the opioid crisis. Of course, back then, we knew it only as the nameless epidemic slowly killing our grandparents who could afford premium health care.

At the Waxahachie Daily Light, I was hired fresh out of college on a writing sample I sent the editor, complete with a persuasive call to seal the deal. Right away, Editor-in-Chief Neil White loved my plucky enthusiasm — as far as he could exploit it, as I realized later. Isn’t it ironic how often enthusiasm in young women is seen as a weakness to men in power whereas in other men it’s simply a good old-fashioned whiff of ambition.

White was well-loved because he specialized in articles about the greatness of the Chevys at our local dealership. Soon after I was brought on, the newspaper was bought by a conglomerate that had been going around buying up struggling news outfits to monetize the struggle presaged by the explosion of technology, bending the little guys to the big boy’s vast and impenetrable will. Or, ya know, capitalism. This eventually became the death of the Light and most other rural news outlets in deference to let’s call it — greed news, a.k.a. “convenient facts.”

Stories that build morale in the community — that was the direction we were handed down from on high by way of jacked-up

I loved everything about this story and what this lady was doing. Soon after I turned it in, White called me to say I was fired because it was illegal to write anything that sounds like medical advice, because the paper could “get sued.” Actually, he asked me to call him back right away and change the story as “quick as I can.” I put off calling him until the next day and never considered editing my story. Frankly, though, I had been slacking off in general due to the malaise that came with the beginning stages of confronting the truth about what was happening to the rural newspaper biz. Good thing I’ve always kept my day job. (Teaching pay is shit, too.)

Public data from the last two decades show both revenue and newsroom employment have fallen over 60% across the country. Texas is among the top three states in the nation to experience the blight of “news deserts,” with the closure of nearly half of all media outlets — 211 out of 423 — since the digital takeover began around 2005. Since independent papers in small towns have been hemorrhaging money over the last decade, newspaper chains funded by corporate interests (actually, political lobbyists) now own more than two-thirds of the nation’s daily newspapers, many of which have slashed jobs and sold off the remaining properties. Every week, two more newspapers close — as news deserts grow.

In poorer, less-wired parts of the United States, it’s especially harder to find credible news about your community. Local news about businesses, events, and high school sports are some of the sections that mainly old folks in small communities seek out and discuss over a coffee at Dairy Queen. (I’ve actually seen this adorable display in several towns.) This plague on reputable information — information that has further been replaced by Fox “News”/MSNBC for adults and apps like TikTok for youths — has further exacerbated the decline in our sense of

Dispiritedly, I proclaimed the blatant fact that somehow Chief Pickup was unfamiliar with the First Amendment and my recording of the interview with Mensik, replete with testimony from the recovered elderly. His response was that I had majored in education (a more reliable career path to care for my daughter), not journalism, and didn’t know the first thing about writing. Mensik had also coincidentally called me later that day full of apprehension at losing her license. She informed me that the doctors had “this town on lock” and if I wanted to make some sort of happy horseshit difference, I should see my way “to Austin.”

I wish. Rural Texas towns feel inescapable to the impoverished as they are much more affordable than urban areas, and we are beset on all sides. I soon found myself in grad school at Texas A&M in the tiny town of Commerce due to said affordability. This is how I wound up getting shit-canned a second time from a rural newspaper, this time in the neighboring town of Paris, for trying once again to unabashedly print unmarketable facts (read: the truth) in small-town Texas. That’s about the time I gave up denying that this whole unshakeable-sovereignty-of-digital-media thing was here to stay and accepted its impact on my beloved written word. Further unpalatable for my broke ass was the impending doom that rural publications would go on bearing the brunt of.

I am nothing if not optimistic to a fault. Righteous indignation and raging hope are the only things staving off the sweet release of apathy, which is all that’s keeping real journalism alive. So, with that in mind, I chirped into my first autumnal day at The Paris News with what I hoped was an infectious air of optimism. The first hour was disheartening to say the least — I recall Editor Klark Byrd becoming noticeably surlier than his phone self while showing me to the bullpen. He interrupted my manic spiel on the merits of “new journalism” and the ways in which my revolutionary ideas would surely liberate these cornpone country folk and take the town by storm.

“Look,” I recall him saying, cutting my shit abruptly, “nobody under 50 really reads newspapers anymore. The only reason we’re still in business out here is to report on local sports and taxes, so just watch your ass and please don’t bring any shit on my head.”

The storm I was referring to quickly became a shitstorm — on this man’s head.

But this was only due to the fact that I proudly possess a predilection toward facts, and once again I found myself in a territory where the brutal truth meant bankruptcy for yet another publication read primarily by rural subscribers/voters, who most certainly did not prefer the sun in their eyes to their heads in the sand. In these rural areas, as “rural” is defined by a population of 50,000 or fewer, the subscribers/voters yearning for a time gone by were as much to blame for the papers’ deaths as the publishers pandering to these simple folk who had clearly moved out here not only to save money but also to avoid people and the realities of modern society at large.

According to the writers there, Publisher Clay Carsner was “quite friendly” with the local politicians, and, as a still cheerful young gal, I was once again hired to be the “goodwill ambassador” — of bullshit. Regale the elders with tales of their kids in public office and grandkids not in public schools. Once again, it was made clear to me that my job was to spin a bright and shiny yarn on stories from around the community. In all honesty, as a sentimental soul myself, I did this happily and well. Writing about beloved teachers’ surprise retirement parties, local charity donations to the needy, and adorable kiddos winning art contests? Yes, please. Where they went wrong was giving me my own column.

The perk of this weekly opinion writing made the laughable salary tolerable as I finally got to pop off for a living. Admittedly, every reporter had a column considering that it took up space where the truth should have been. Contrary to my new-gal principles, the veteran writers all dreaded it. They saw it only through the lens of their long-established resignations: an exercise in writing independently while implementing the least amount of independence possible to remain gainfully employed.

The other three writers at this entire paper — by this time, newsrooms had begun downsizing rapidly — were writing only about the most mind-numbingly mundane topics (“Once I was on a Jumbotron”), but I saw this as the opportunity I’d been gunning for, to flex my First Amendment right. I fearlessly and — as my co-workers repeatedly said — stupidly wrote every column on controversial topics I cared deeply about, such as affordable health care, women’s reproductive rights, and education reform.

continued on page 7

her reporting time in East Texas’ trenches, the author arrives at a sort of peace.

Subscriptions were canceled. Psychotic hate mail came flooding in. After we published an article about opposition to a Confederate statue, we had to lock the front door of the building for fear of a crazy asshole who was threatening to shoot us all. And then another one of my column pitches was rejected, again for fear of a lawsuit. This time, I was spirited in my rhetoric to uphold the truth to the public. I recall Byrd telling me, “We just don’t have the money to go to court if we get sued by these politicians. Rural papers are dying, and we just need to stay in business at this point.”

I recall Byrd also saying that because of his fear of libel I couldn’t write a story about the mayor of a nearby town who pulled a gun on his wife and daughter.

This, even though I had just received a mugshot of the Reno mayor that day from a trusted source, an ex-police officer also dedicated to exposing political corruption. A competitor, a digital news source, broke the story, and the next day I was fired for not “meeting” my quota on stories despite out-writing everyone there.

My termination at this rural news outlet was yet another self-fulfilling/-destructive prophecy, I must admit. For only a month before, I argued with Byrd about not being allowed to report on black mold inhalation at the Sara Lee factory which killed seven Black women. He rejected the story because

many of the sources were afraid to give their names due to retaliation, termination, and police harassment, as well as a deal they accepted from the bakery to settle out of court — a deal that ended up being far less than the agreed-upon amount. Wealthy business owners who kill off factory workers do so because they know they can usually just pay their severely impoverished employees to keep quiet, especially in news deserts, where corruption grows exponentially by the day. This was another reason the women did not want to give their names, and the publisher’s policy was to never report on anything with anonymous sources as we “owe it to the community” to be accountable. Did we not owe it to the community to report on black mold leading to breast cancer and killing factory workers?

By the third time it happened, I was an old hand at this game, hopefully smart enough to see it coming and quit with plenty of evidence in hand. Once again, and by God for the last time, I was the cheery girl Friday guided toward polishing vapid stories to boost morale — which I now saw clearly for what it was: a distraction from the malfeasance of powerbrokers.

This came from an editorial position at the Southlake Independent, a career choice that I must admit was fueled by a roiling hostility toward crooks of the fourth estate and an undercover investigation into what I knew would be the easiest target within a hundred-mile radius. Within a month, I

discovered that publisher Fred Stovall was allowing school board members to edit my school board stories in real time. I showed screenshots of the “edits” to Editor Ronell Smith, who replied, “How much do you want to not leave?” Another call I recorded.

My story of this experience was published almost exactly a year ago today in our little operation here, an ethical endeavor I found at long last. Surprisingly, the Weekly was the only publication interested in my story of abject corruption in local government. And we’re still rolling.

It’s so weird how the massive amount of corruption in Texas used to shock me and

how now it’s the honest goal of an ethical publication. Life can be funny that way sometimes. And by “funny,” I mean “sad.” But as long as I can keep exposing the pesky truth about what’s going on around here, I try to stay cheerful. Only now it’s cheerful for real. And, as always, with a side order of “fuck you” to the fraudsters.

This column reflects the opinions and fact-gathering of the author 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. l

CONNECT WITH ART THROUGH COCKTAILS, CONVERSATIONS, AND CREATIVITY. Each month you’ll find something different—from performances, artist talks, and unique tours to art making, music, and films.

JULY 13, 2023 | FREE

Conservation & Composition

Explore the Carter’s conservators’ discoveries about Arthur Dove’s miniature watercolor paintings and make your own.

Second Thursdays at the Carter is generously supported by the Louella Martin Foundation.

Pulling Favors?

The DA’s recommendation to drop aggravated assault charges against a Tarrant County jailer stinks of just more Republican backdoor dealings.

BY STATIC

The levels of savagery that led to Corey Rodrigues’ mid-2020 hospitalization are beyond dispute. Video footage shows Tarrant County jailer Reginald Roy Lowe entering Rodrigues’ cell before slamming the mentally handicapped inmate onto a bunk and punching him several times. Jailers Lewis Velasquez and Dakota Coston looked on as Lowe fractured several of Rodrigues’ ribs and broke his cheekbone.

Rodrigues’ sister told the Star-Telegram that no one from the sheriff’s department contacted her or her family about the assault which caused her brother’s hospitalization and near death. County officials fired the three detention officers soon after, and, in late January the following year, a grand jury indicted Lowe on one count

of aggravated assault (a felony) and official oppression (class A misdemeanor). As the case sat in Judge Wayne Salvant’s Criminal District Court No. 2, Rodrigues prepared to file a civil rights lawsuit against the county. In September, District Judge Mark Pittman placed the lawsuit on hold until the criminal case was resolved — one of several peculiar steps by the courts and prosecutors which appear coordinated to absolve the sheriff’s department of financial liability.

Prosecutor Jonathan Simpson recently recommended that Salvant dismiss the pending criminal charges against Lowe through a motion known as DM 14 (prosecutorial discretion). In other words, the district attorney’s office refused to cite why it was dropping charges. Prosecutors can recommend dismissing a case for a range of reasons, and most of them are common sensical. Based on state guidelines, assistant district attorneys can cease prosecuting a case because the defendant is deceased, the victim requests dismissal, or the case has been refiled under a new cause number. DA Phill Sorrells, who would have likely approved if not ordered the call to drop charges, did not say why he’s letting Lowe walk free other than trotting out the old chestnut, “Trust us on this one!”

For anyone following the white supremacist/Christian Nationalist cabal that is Tarrant County’s top leadership (Sorrells, County Judge Tim O’Hare, and Sheriff Bill Waybourn), the dropped charges that the DA’s office likely hoped would go unnoticed protect Waybourn’s cult of death that has seen 54 population members die over the past five years in the shithole downtown jail that houses largely legally innocent, impoverished defendants who can’t afford bail. Cue: knee-jerk Republican comments of “Oh, there are murderers in there.” Serious offenders are held in prisons, not jails, and if any violent perpetrators are under Waybourn’s watch, they are awaiting trial or transportation to a long-term holding facility.

Were Sorrells not a lazy Trump-loving idiot, we would probably have little reason to suspect nefarious reasons for the abruptly dropped charges.

But this is Tyrant County.

In 2022, then-candidate Sorrells was endorsed by the disgraced former president currently facing more than 70 state and federal felony charges. The public backing came conspicuously soon after Sorrells’ sugar stepdaddy donated a cool $100,000 to the civilly convicted rapist. When it comes to being right-wing nuts, it’s all in the family for the Sorrellses.

Lawsuits keep coming, and we’ll have Waybourn to thank if the litigation bankrupts the county. A recent wrongful death suit filed by the children of Georgia Kay Baldwin, the 52-year-old mother claimed by dehydration in detention at Tarrant County Jail, claims she died because of the jail’s “policies, practices, and customs.”

Since Tarrant County’s Trumpy cabal rarely expresses concern for anything other than stupid culture-war bullshit, attorneys are researching wrongful deaths on Waybourn’s watch and fine-tuning arguments.

Disgraced former DA Sharen Wilson abused her office when she sought the unprecedented indictment of two Southlake school board members as a favor to her friend O’Hare, who was stirring up CRT

conspiracy theories to build his political base of walking dildos who misread the Bible on purpose and hate brown people. County prosecutors only recently dropped the bogus charges, but Sorrells also appears more than willing to abuse his office to pull favors for friends.

Tarrant County residents have few if any reasons to trust the local criminal justice system with a Trump-loving sycophant at the top who is obsessed with prosecuting near nonexistent voter fraud while helping a sheriff who should and may one day himself be locked up for the murderous culture he condones at the Tarrant County Jail. l

This story is part of City in Crisis, an ongoing series of reports on unethical behavior and worse by local public leaders, featuring original reporting.

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.

Phil Sorrells (right) may have ordered the dismissal of criminal charges against a former jailer who nearly beat an inmate to death two years ago — all as a favor to his good friend and fellow Trump bootlicker, Sheriff Bill Waybourn.

Courtesy YouTube

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 support provided by

SCREEN

Cosmic Cowboys

Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City runs into a drought in the desert.

BY KRISTIAN LIN

It’s taken this long for computers to mimic the Wes Anderson style, when humans have been parodying the great Texas filmmaker for more than a decade at least. When you develop maybe the most distinctive visual language in cinema history, you’re going to be imitated. Seriously, you can show a frame of any of his movies to people, and they’ll recognize it as Anderson. How many other filmmakers enjoy that kind of instant recognition? Miyazaki? Del Toro?

We shouldn’t be surprised. Anderson is easy to mimic. We know his geometrical pans, his overhead shots, his delight in taking inventories, his deadpan actors. If you were imitating an Anderson film, you might have a car chase tear through a small town with cops and bad guys shooting at each other and the main characters offering nary a comment on it. The filmmaker seems as aware of it as anyone, and yet his references to his own style seem curiously barren in Asteroid City, his latest entry. If he were intentionally parodying himself, you’d think the results would be funnier than this.

The main story takes place in 1955 in Asteroid City, a fictitious desert town at the nexus of California, Arizona, and

Nevada which is named after the asteroid that crashed there some 5,000 years before. The city’s population of 87 has temporarily swelled due to tourists seeking a view of an astronomical anomaly and a ceremony honoring five of the country’s best secondary-school science students. The festivities are crashed by a mute space alien (Jeff Goldblum in a mocap suit) who lands, takes the asteroid, poses for a photograph, and leaves in his — its? — flying saucer. The Army general in charge of the ceremonies (Jeffrey Wright) institutes a quarantine lockdown of the town, and everybody loses their minds or at least as close to that as they get in a Wes Anderson movie.

Against that backdrop, war photographer Augie Steenbeck (Jason Schwartzman) and Hollywood movie star Midge Campbell (Scarlett Johansson) are in Asteroid City because his son Woodrow (Jake Ryan) and her daughter Dinah (Grace Edwards) are among the students being celebrated. While Woodrow and Dinah fall

madly in love, their parents both have a harder time connecting with anyone. Midge is shut off because of her history with abusive men, while Augie has not yet told his children that their mother died of an illness three weeks before. Indeed, he’s the one who snaps a perfect photo of the alien, and he feels nothing about that career-defining achievement.

A better Anderson film would have made Augie’s grief into something moving and taken advantage of Schwartzman graduating from the precocious kid of Rushmore to the sad Bill Murray role. Instead, Anderson piles on layers of metafiction with the framing device of a 1950s TV program with an onscreen narrator (Bryan Cranston) telling us that the above story is a stage play while he takes us behind the scenes. This entire gambit could have been lost, and even when Augie — or the actor portraying him — breaks into the framing device to ask what his character is about, Anderson can’t make it pay off. Also, the

narrator appears briefly in Asteroid City, which confuses him as much as it does us. A host of actors work with Anderson for the first time (Tom Hanks, Steve Carell, Margot Robbie, Matt Dillon, Hong Chau), and their work only serves to persuade us that anybody can act for him as long as they stay as deadpan as possible. The subplot with Woodrow and Dinah teaming up with their fellow science nerds (Sophia Lillis, Ethan Josh Lee, and Aristou Meehan) to contact the alien on their own is a promising subplot that Anderson doesn’t follow up on.

The film still has some residual pleasures like the period Country-Western soundtrack that’s heavy on the Western. There’s also Maya Hawke as a schoolteacher who suppresses her increasing levels of panic as she doggedly sticks to her lesson plan while her second-grade students keep asking about the alien. You can feel Asteroid City reaching for the levels of pathos that underlaid the comedy of Anderson’s great works like Moonrise Kingdom and The Grand Budapest Hotel. It never quite gets there. l

In adjoining motel cabins, Jason Schwartzman and Scarlett Johansson remain far apart in Asteroid City

Asteroid City

Starring Jason Schwartzman and Scarlett Johansson. Written and directed by Wes Anderson. Rated R.

NIGHT & DAY

7

Friday

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (3200 Darnell St, 817-738-9215) and its inhouse restaurant, Cafe Modern, present First Friday at the Modern. Gallery admission is always free on Fridays, but from 5pm to 8pm this evening, you can

enjoy drink specials, complimentary light bites, and live music by the First Friday House Band in the museum’s Grand Lobby. For a complimentary 20-minute docent-led tour, be there by 6:30pm.

continued on page 13

I Wanna F#cking Tear You Apart explores friendship in all its tangled, messy forms at Stage West thru Sun.

Courtesy Stage West

The Taylor Party: Water Park Edition splashes into Hawaiian Waters Saturday.

Courtesy TaylorSwiftNight.com

continued from page 12

13 Saturday

8 Sunday

With Taylor Swift touring the country, Arlington Museum of Art’s The Eras Collection isn’t the only Taylor-centric event in North Texas. Hawaiian Water (4400 Paige Rd, The Colony, 972-9059925) hosts The Taylor Party: Water Park Edition. From 7pm until dusk, Swifties will take over the entire facility for an exclusive, private event. From relaxing pools and lazy rivers to high-speed thrill slides, Taylor fans will enjoy everything the park offers. At dusk, things will heat up at the wave pool with music, food, and dancing centered on a largerthan-life Taylor on the park’s massive video screen. The epic fun will continue until 10:30 pm. Tickets are $28 at HawaiianWaters.com.

Tonight is the final performance of I Wanna F#cking Tear You Apart at Stage West (821 W Vickery Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-784-9378). This play is about what happens when a new friend gets between best friends/roommates. Doubts creep in. Secrets are revealed. Drama ensues. This “hilariously modern ode to the complication of friendship in its many messed-up forms, with a special nod to a kind of love that sometimes looks a lot like rage” shows at 7:30pm Thu, 8pm Fri-Sat, and 3pm Sun. Tickets start at $40 at StageWest.org.

Thursday

From 8am to 1:30pm, the Governor’s Small Business Summit will be held at Globe Life Field (734 Stadium Dr, Arlington, 512-936-0100) to help Texas small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with the needed resources to grow a new business. There will be sessions featuring local, state, and federal partners offering advice on a variety of subjects. The keynote speaker is Rob Matwick, executive vice president of business operations for the Texas Rangers. Registration is $20 at Gov. Texas.Gov/Events and includes access to all sessions, resource providers, the keynote, lunch, and complimentary headshots.

By Jennifer Bovee

9 Monday

The Fort Worth Botanic Garden (3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, 817-463-4160) and the Fort Worth Zoo (1989 Colonial Pkwy, 817-759-7555) have modified hours to help you stay cool. The zoo and gardens are now open 9am-4pm Mon-Fri and 9am-5pm Sat-Sun. “We know that many people enjoy visiting during the summer, but we also want to offer an opportunity for our visitors to beat the heat,” said Zoo Executive Director Mike Fouraker. “We hope guests will take advantage of the extra morning hour, shaded pathways, ample seating, extra fans, and misters.” The last admission will be sold one hour before closing time.

10

Happy 7-Eleven Day! At participating 7-Eleven stores, you can drop in between 11am and 7pm for a complimentary 12-ounce Slurpee while supplies last. Originally known as an ICEE, these frozen delights come in various flavors. I’ll stick with the Coke one.

The world tour of A Night of Grief & Mystery, “an improbable, ceremonial night of words, wonder, and spirit work,” hits Hip Pocket Theatre (1950 Silver Creek Rd, Fort Worth, 817-246-9775) at 9pm. This event combines the stories and observations by author/culture activist Stephen Jenkinson with original music by Gregory Hoskins. Tickets start at $25 on Eventbrite.com.

Hip Pocket Theatre welcomes the world tour of A Night of Grief & Mystery on Wednesday.

Courtesy Eventbrite.com

EATS & drinks

If You Like Piña Coladas …

STORY AND PHOTOS

BY CODY NEATHERY

Even if you don’t like getting caught in the rain and are actually into yoga, you don’t have to take out a classified ad in our magazine to enjoy what we’re going to call the Cocktail of Summer ’23.

The key to making a delectable piña colada in a frozen machine relies solely on the balance of water, sugar, and booze. Any one of these ingredients applied too heavily or too cautiously can affect both flavor and the integrity of the drink, whose buoyancy truly reflects on the maker.

If you’re not prone to cruising the back pages of local rags but enjoy escapism without being whisked away to some tropical island for this frothy frozen beverage, then allow us to furnish you with a one-way ticket to some of Fort Worth’s best piña coladas.

Making love at midnight in the dunes of the cape is up to you.

The piña colada at Joe T. Garcia’s (2201 N. Commerce St., 817-626-4356) is one whose fate relies on whoever’s behind the bar. On most of my visits, this has been one of the best I’ve ever drunk. Served in one of Joe T.’s branded plastic cups crowned with whip, the drink is an attractive fit for the spacious patio with lush vegetation and water features,

but occasionally the consistency falters and the beverage is just too dense. I would like to see a piña colada keyholder who maintains the same standard applied to the Northside institution’s world-renowned margaritas.

After a tumultuous past few months, caught in a lease/landlord tug-of-war, and after spending 97 years on Camp Bowie Boulevard, The Original Mexican Eats Cafe is moving to the North Side. Now located

at 1400 N. Main St. (817-738-6226) among some of the best Mexican restaurants and taquerias in all of North Texas, The Original can definitely put a dent in the draws of nearby Joe T.’s and Los Vaqueros, two other heavy hitters nearby. The Original’s piña colada has never faltered. It’s never failed. When the pandemic shut the world down and a sliver of sanity presented itself in low-occupancy restaurant openings, The continued on page 17

… the Fort is loaded with exceptional versions, and no two really taste alike.

Along with the tropical ambiance, Joe T.’s piña colada is the perfect escape.

Down N’ Out keeps its mix interesting and enticing.

Original was the first place I visited. Holding that plastic cup full of sultry slush was a moment of hope for a return to normalcy. We wish they find that same peace in their new space.

Keeping it all in the Northside family, not only does Los Vaqueros (2629 N. Main St., 817-624-1511) serve up the most consistent piña colada in town, but they also produce a quality of food to match. Housed in a historic, partially hollowed-out two-story building slightly north of the Stockyards, Los Vaqueros serves their piña colada in a schooner, which is especially gratifying after standing in one of the long lines to get in. Los Vaqueros, boasting a vibrant rustic interior with a constant flow of live music, is truly an adventure minus sandy beaches and palm trees.

Our tour takes us to the South Side, where piña coladas are represented well. Serving the TCU area and Near Southside since 1986, the family-owned La Tortilandia (1112 W. Berry St., 817-922-0205) is perhaps one of the only places where you can be served a piña colada with your breakfast tacos.

Reflecting owner Jose Robles’ interests, the restaurant is decked out in TCU and golf memorabilia, and sitting at the bar is where you’ll likely find him greeting guests or slinging drinks. Regarding what I believe is the best piña colada in town, he is tight-

lipped on its origins, saying only that it’s a “family recipe.” The only solution I can think of is to drink one yourself.

Opened since December, with a Christmas-themed tiki pop-up, Down n’ Out (150 W. Rosedale St.) has been whipping up piña coladas since Day 1 — but with a twist. With an unassuming spice, these might throw off the purist but, with their varying nuances,

can easily win over adventurous and cautious imbibers alike. Not all piña coladas must mirror each other, and DNO’s are thicc in texture and ambiguous in flavor, making it easy to order another.

Honorable Mention: At 4 Kahunas Tiki Lounge (506 E. Division St., Ste. 160, Arlington), look out for The Headhunter. This delicacy is rich in banana flavor, but

on Elvis Presley’s birth- or deathday, the bar adds peanut butter to make for a hunka hunka hip-swiveling cooling love in a glass. l

4 Kahunas’ Elvisian Headhunter is a refreshing twist to the piña colada game.

Not even the panny could stop The Original from dishing out world-class piña coladas.

HearSay

Say Hello to The Nancys!

With their debut album Cuss Words, this new supergroup defines collaboration.

BY JUAN R. GOVEA

The Nancys are playing hard to get. They just put out a killer record but don’t plan on playing it or anything else onstage unless the money is right. Apparently, there’s just way too much Nancy to go around.

Driven chiefly by Sean Russell (Cut Throat Finches) and Nolan Robertson (The Hendersons), the pop-rock project also features members of the hard-rocking Arenda Light, plus all the guests who appeared on The Nancys’ rollicking, involved debut Cuss Words.

Russell said he started the band after realizing that the industry has “doubled or tripled” its appetite for collaboration and that collaboration was somewhat lacking in town.

“The product is often better together,” he said.

Recorded at Niles City Sound (Leon Bridges, White Denim) with Joel Raif, the eight-track record is a fun rock outing with some rowdy, ragtime (?) elements.

“I was really excited to be able to get in there with everybody,” Raif said. “It’s such a great mix of great players, and I was just trying to wrangle cats.”

One of the songs is from 2020. Russell wrote “Evangelicals” for personal, political reasons. Theatrical and satirical, it wouldn’t be a good fit with the Cut Throat Finches, he said, so “I wanted to find a place where I could express the ideas in the writing. Once I had a structure for what I wanted to say, I could’ve written 40 more verses on all the things that piss me off about the evangelical movement. I feel like my faith got hijacked by this political agenda, and honestly a punch in the gut from [a fellow Christian] seems to gain more attention and traction.”

Robertson mapped out the lyrical ideas and brought his dynamics to a lot of the material, Russell said, especially album opener “(I Was Tainted and) It Felt So Right.”

Along with core members Kris Luther, Nick Tittle, and Eric Webb, The Nancys enlisted help from Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra French horn player Alton Adkins and the horn section of Dallas’ Bastards of Soul, who happened to be recording at Niles City at the same time.

It would be nearly unfathomable for The Nancys to play a show with everyone involved — but not impossible.

“If we would do a live show presentation, we will need a full theatrical-quality performance,” Russell said. “Somebody will have money to burn to be spent on this.” l

Featuring members of the Cut Throat Finches, The Hendersons, Arenda Light, and more, The Nancys are bringing collaboration to the fore in the Fort.

MUSIC

Summer Dean’s Best Life

BY PATRICK HIGGINS

A handful of years after Summer Dean took a chance and gave up her work in education to focus instead on her dream of country music as a career, the risk she took is starting to pay off. Since the release of her debut album Bad Romantic in 2021, those dreams have become her reality. She’s essentially spent the last two years on the road, playing countless shows opening for heroes like Mike & The Moonpies, Charlie Crockett, Colter Wall, and the legendary Marty Stuart, as well as headlining plenty of her own bills.

It’s been everything she had hoped and has been a testament to her simple, confessional writing and its resonance with her audience. She released the follow-up to Bad Romantic last month, and the momentum that began with her debut has found another, higher gear. Appropriately titled The Biggest Life, the 13-song sophomore effort shows an artist growing into being exactly where they’re meant to be.

“It has completely changed my trajectory and my goals and my career, and I’m having a wonderful, wonderful time,” Dean said from the road in Portland before her show there that night. “I just feel like I’ve turned some kind of corner. I feel like on Bad Romantic, I had my fist in the air, and I had something to prove in country music. Now with The Biggest Life, it’s not about proving anything or being anything. It’s about these songs and their stories. Arrows were pointing in on my career [then], and now, my arrows are pointed out,” meaning, instead of proving something to herself, she’s focused on showing her audience who she is.

Upon listening to The Biggest Life, it’s easy to see why audiences are responding to who it is Dean is showing them. Her style is faithful to classic women country greats like Loretta Lynn and Tanya Tucker without being overtly derivative. Her husky twang is

RIDGLEA THEATER

SAT 7/15 TRANCEPORTAL

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

warm and welcoming, whether over a tender ballad like “She Ain’t Me” or the bright honky-tonk of “The Sun’s Gonna Rise Again.” The stories she crafts in her songs are as relatable as they are memorable, her sultry melodies delivering her words with the care of a woman who knows who she is and has something to say about it.

“You write about what you know,” she said, “and I know what it’s like to be me. I know what it’s like to be a woman in her forties. I know what it’s like to be a musician, and I know what it’s like to be a country person. I know what it’s like to be alone and single and wishful and hopeful, so I write about those kinds of things. I don’t know what it’s like to be in love so much, so there’s not too many songs about that,” she joked.

Because of what she writes about, she’s earned a bit of a reputation as a voice for women in country music and for women in general. You’ll find some mention about these themes in seemingly every bit of media surrounding her. However, when it comes to being saddled as some sort of standard bearer for country feminism, Dean is bemused.

“To be honest, it’s wearing a little thin,” she laughed about the label. “But that’s OK. Sometimes I’m like, ‘Why is everybody calling me this or calling me that,’ and then I watch a video of one of my shows or look at my songs, and I’m like, ‘OK, that’s why they do it.’ I don’t want to be recognized as ‘chick country’ or ‘woman country’ or as a ‘country feminist.’ That’s not where my brain is. I don’t wake up every morning thinking, ‘I’m a woman, and I’m in country music!’ I just wake up every day trying to be great, trying to be badass, no matter whether you’re a woman or not, so that comes across as a country feminist? I can’t help where it lands and how it’s perceived, but if it’s effective, and helps people, and people enjoy it, and if it keeps selling tickets, well, I guess I’ll just keep doing it,” she laughed again.

Intentional or not, it’s resonated with her audience, and it’s currently affording her the life she always dreamed about. The life she yearned for and took such a risk to pursue. One she’s growing more and more comfortable living.

“I definitely settled into it,” she said, “but sometimes you’ve got to pinch yourself. If you’re gonna be a dreamer, you’ve got to be a doer. That dream is always there, but you have to physically do the work. You can’t sit there and complain and wish. You’ve got to do. You’ve got to try, and fall down, and get back up. The biggest thing is knowing your abilities and realizing you’re probably underestimating yourself, so just go for it.”

With The Biggest Life and the momentum it’s gaining, not only are Dean’s arrows pointed out, but they’re also pointed up. l

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

SAT 7/29 THE ZEUS REBEL WATERS LUV TOUR

RIDGLEA LOUNGE

SUN 7/9 VON TEZ BAND WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

FRI 7/14 VELVET MORNING, TRASH PUPPIES SLUGG, THE GRAE, LARVAE, WAYSIDE MOTEL

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

WED 7/26 PAPER STREET OREJA / ROBOT ARMS DEPOT

On her sophomore album, the burgeoning country star shifts from proving herself to showing herself.

The Biggest Life, Dean said, “has completely changed my trajectory and my goals and my career, and I’m having a wonderful, wonderful time.”

BlueJay Photography

Dean: “You can’t sit there and complain and wish. You’ve got to do. You’ve got to try, and fall down, and get back up.”

Errol Colandro

LIVING LOCAL

Fort Worth on the Move: How Luke’s Moving Services Supports the Local Community

Classified Promotional Feature

Imagine finding a reliable partner in your journey within, to, or from the vibrant city of Fort Worth, Texas. A partner who understands the beat of the city and its people. That’s precisely what Luke’s Moving Services embodies - a deep-rooted commitment to Fort Worth and its residents, making their moving processes smoother with their unique services.

Fort Worth on the Move

But what makes Fort Worth a city on the move? It’s all about a thriving economy and a rich culture. Let’s take a closer glance.

Economic Resilience

Fort Worth’s dynamic economy, characterized by diverse industries and plentiful job opportunities, continues to attract an influx of residents. Amidst this flux, Luke’s Moving Services (2833 Crockett St, Ste 170, Fort Worth, 817-839-3530) plays a pivotal role, assisting newcomers and locals alike.

Cultural Vitality

Fort Worth is also a hub of cultural fusion, blending Texan and Mexican influences. This vibrant local culture, supported by businesses like Luke’s Moving Services, further enriches the living experience.

Luke’s Moving Services: Making Moves Happen

Birthed from a community-oriented vision, Luke’s Moving Services has grown over the years into a trusted partner for Fort Worth residents’ moving needs. They’re not just a business; they’re a part of the local identity.

A Closer Look at the Services of Luke’s Moving

Luke’s Moving Services offers an impressive suite of moving services catering to diverse needs, each specially tailored to provide the utmost care and attention to your possessions.

Local Moving

If you’re moving within the city or to a nearby town, Luke’s offers a comprehensive local moving service. They understand the ins and outs of Fort Worth and its surroundings, which allows them to navigate the most efficient routes, ensuring timely delivery. Their local moving service is designed to minimize stress, maximize efficiency, and keep your belongings safe and secure during the entire process.

Residential Moving

Are you planning to move homes? With Luke’s Residential Moving services, you can expect a seamless transition to your new abode. They handle everything from large furniture to small valuables with utmost care. They not only transport your items but also help with their placement in your new home, turning a usually daunting task into a breeze.

Apartment Moving

Apartment moving comes with its unique challenges, from navigating tight hallways and stairs to dealing with building regulations. Luke’s has expertise in maneuvering these complexities, making your apartment move hassle-free. They coordinate with building management, handle logistics, and ensure the move respects the community rules.

Packing Services

Packing can often be the most tedious part of moving. With Luke’s professional packing services, you can sit back and relax. They use high-quality packing materials and techniques to ensure the safety of your items during transport. From books to kitchenware, clothes to electronics, every item is packed securely for maximum protection.

Piano Moving

Moving a piano is no ordinary task; it requires special knowledge and equipment. Luke’s Moving Services has both. They use the right tools and procedures to secure your piano, navigate it safely out of your property, transport it, and set it up in your new location. Their piano moving service safeguards your instrument while maintaining its pristine condition.

Antique and Art Moving

For your precious antiques and art pieces, Luke’s provides a dedicated service that ensures their safety and preservation. They use custom crates, special padding, and climate-controlled vehicles to protect your valuable possessions from any potential damage. Every antique or art piece is handled with the highest care and attention it deserves.

Texas State-Wide Moving

For those moving across Texas, Luke’s is your go-to partner. With their thorough understanding of the state’s geography and logistics, they guarantee a smooth moving experience. Whether you’re moving to the serene countryside or a bustling city, their expert crew handles every detail of your state-wide move, ensuring that your items arrive safely at your new location.

continued on FWWeekly.com)

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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

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

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

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

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

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

Alcon Vision, LLC has openings for Associate Director - SAP Development for the Fort Worth, Texas office. The Associate Director - SAP analyzes support issues in interaction with functional team members and business analysts, and collaborates with many teams including security, functional, development and operations support groups to efficiently and effectively deliver operational excellence. Job is 40 hours per week. Please send all resumes to Sylvia Cruz, Alcon Vision, LLC, 6201 South Freeway, Fort Worth, TX 76134, Ref. No. SK0623

EMPLOYMENT

Aviation Finance Analyst is needed at Rock Solid Funding LLC in Colleyville, TX at https://www. rocksolidfunding.com/aviation-finance-analyst-joblisting/

EMPLOYMENT

Charles Schwab seeks Staff, Software Development Engineer (Westlake, TX & various unantcptd locs thru USA incl telecmmtng): Perf devlpmt, autom & montorng of key buz feats of Schwab Retrmt Tech adherng to modrn devlpmt & codng practs. Reqs edu & exp. EOE. For full job details & to apply online, visit: https://www. schwabJobs.com/ & search Req. ID: 2023-93266.

EMPLOYMENT

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

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

Wabtec Manufacturing Solutions, LLC seeks Specialist, Materials/Planning III in Fort Worth, TX to work closely with the fulfillment and planning teams to forecast and avoid part shortages impacting production, escalating issues and communicating to the operations teams as necessary. Telecommuting permitted. Apply at www. jobpostingtoday.com Ref# 10467.

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, Earl, Mo, Damnit, Annabelle, Belinda, Joe and Jim. 4445 River Oaks Blvd

Good deals and good times!

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

LIFE LINE 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