Fort Worth Weekly // July 12-18, 2023

METROPOLIS

Not only is Tim O’Hare evil, he’s incompetent, too.

BY STATIC

METROPOLIS

New Dem leader, doubledipping judges, trying to curtail gun violence.

BY STATIC

Raise Your Glass

Manny and the rest of the staff at Halo’s Bar & Grill featuring Rainbow 2.0 are ready for their grand opening Fri, Jul 21.

BY JENNIFER BOVEE

EATS & DRINKS

Pantry on Magnolia specializes in dumplings of all kinds.

BY CHRISTINA BERGER

MUSIC

Joe Savage goes for a big sound on his new country album.

BY PATRICK HIGGINS

INSIDE

O’Harebrained

Our county judge’s reign of ineptitude and malevolence reaches new lows.

By Static

Fluid Forms

It’s not great, but Nimona’s mere existence shows progress.

By Kristian Lin

Hello, Dumplings

11

These spicy bad boys are inventive and plentiful at the

Disappearing Act

With a modest outlook and big-time sound, country boy

Joe Savage is peaking.

By Patrick Higgins

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

Southlaking Fort Worth

METROPOLIS

sional-end users put their weapon systems through.”

O’Hare never explained why his Republican compadre Waybourn, who runs the county jail and his mouth, and that’s pretty much it, needs 50 assault rifles, but the county judge sure was ready to pop off about menial purchases like furniture and equipment. And wasteful weapon acquisitions appear to be increasing. In February, O’Hare voted in favor of buying a $345,000 Lenco BearCart G3 armored personnel carrier, clearly so when the drag queens are sashaying and lip-syncing into our homes to groom our children, Tarrant County will be ready to dispatch them with extreme prejudice. The drag queens, that is. The children will be dispatched by incels wielding AR-15s.

BY STATIC

During a recent commissioners court meeting, County Judge Tim O’Hare railed against wasteful spending.

“I’m just reading the information we get in our packet,” said the top elected official in Tarrant County, trying to catch up. The commissioners were discussing inmate calls at the Tarrant County Jail.

Per common practice pretty much everywhere, prisons and jails allow population members to make collect calls. After multiple county officials tried to explain to O’Hare that the county does not cover outgoing inmate communications, the county judge remained befuddled. He might as well have been twisting his index finger up his nose.

“So who ends up paying this?” O’Hare asked the county purchasing director.

The woman paused.

“The person receiving the call,” she replied evenly.

Southlake personal injury lawyer O’Hare may be best known around here for stirring up lies about Critical Race Theory. (Remember that Republican boogeyman? So 2021, right?) Now, he’s seven months into office.

The word “shitshow” comes readily to mind.

Short in stature and big on double-talk, the county head uses the commissioners’ twice-monthly meetings to question every dollar the county spends even as he pushes through military-grade weaponry for fellow right-wing nut Sheriff Bill Waybourn. The same June 20 meeting where O’Hare appears to have discovered how collect calls work (finger, nose) also saw the commissioners court vote to order 50 assault rifles at $1,876 apiece.

The manufacturer says the AR-15styled long gun is “the perfect duty weapon for those looking for a quality firearm to handle the hard, everyday use that profes -

For some right-wing voters, O’Hare’s already embarrassing tenure is just dandy. Government dysfunction makes life easy for corporate crooks and Christian Nationalists enacting self-serving plans. One county insider who asked not to be named said the reduction in commissioners meetings from weekly to twice monthly was for O’Hare to be able to spend more time managing his fucking law firm.

Unlike, say, Fort Worth’s mayor, who earns a paltry $29,000 annually, the county judge position pays a cool $212,000 per year, and the people who have held the position of top elected official locally have historically and rightfully viewed the role as a full-time job. Former county judge Glen Whitley co-founded the accounting firm Whitley Penn in 1983 but largely set aside his legal leadership duties in 2007 when he was elected county judge.

For a county of more than 2 million residents, twice-a-month meetings create a backlog that leaves vendors unpaid for weeks at a time, the insider told us. Much of O’Hare’s grandstanding appears to pander solely to his freedumb-loving base.

“I believe we can do a better job purchasing furniture,” O’Hare ranted during another commissioners court meeting.

“This is not a Wall Street hedge fund office.” #somuchtough #wow

County officials have had to remind O’Hare publicly on several occasions that purchases made by the previous administration must be honored — by law — by the current court. Rather than keeping up to date on county projects, O’Hare allegedly reads agendas the day of meetings while complaining that it’s the county’s fault he doesn’t know what the hell’s going on.

“I would like to see a briefing on how the county goes about new construction projects,” he recently whined to the court. “My concern is somebody identifies the project. The court doesn’t know it, and then it is so far down the track that by the time it gets to

us, there have been studies and plans and all sorts of things that this group up here hasn’t decided we want to move forward with.”

O’Hare in office is like me saying that since I’ve had a root canal before, I’m basically a dentist.

O’Hare’s trainwreck of a tenure so far has led two top county officials to quit. In April, Tarrant County elections director Heider Garcia resigned amid O’Hare’s baseless complaints about the “integrity” of elections. Garcia said he would not compromise

his values and that the main reason he was leaving was O’Hare’s fixation on election-integrity bullshit.

Last month, the commissioners court voted to replace Garcia with Clinton Ludwig even though Tarrant County’s chief deputy clerk has zero experience running elections. Based on reporting by The Texas Tribune, the county received 35 applicants, the majority of whom had no election administration experience. Two of the three

Halfway through Year 1, County Judge Tim O’Hare is great at nothing except blowing taxpayer money, forcing top leaders to flee, and fighting CulTuRE wArS.

Through his campaign posts, County Judge Tim O’Hare has made clear his intention to further Fox Nation nonsense through public office.

Courtesy Facebook

finalists included a Republican donor (surprise!) and a former CFO for Trinity Metro.

In a public statement, Allison Campolo condemned O’Hare’s bullying tactics.

O’Hare, said the former chairperson of the Tarrant County Democratic Party, has fostered “an environment of misinformation and distrust in our electoral process. Under Garcia’s leadership, our county has demonstrated fairness and accuracy in our voting systems, as verified by numerous audits and citizen recounts. We are concerned that O’Hare will seek to appoint an election denier to replace Garcia who will remove transparency and disenfranchise voters. We ask all Tarrant County voters to remain vigilant on whom Judge O’Hare is interested in for Tarrant County’s next election administrator and to make your voices heard at the commissioners court.”

Election-integrity frenzy remains a potent scare tactic for backward-ass white voters, who see every lost Republican race as somehow stolen through fraud. In February, O’Hare pushed through the creation of an “election integrity” unit even as evidence of local meddling is scarce. Heading this plucky band of crackerjack detectives is assistant district attorney McGinty Glynis, the Black trial lawyer who unsuccessfully ran for county criminal court judge last year. Based on open records, Glynis earns $163,000 per year for the position that has yet to produce a single

piece of evidence of local voter fraud. Welcome to the swamp, mfers!

The loss of County Clerk Renee Tidwell adds to the exodus of qualified staffers taking their talents elsewhere. Speaking to the Star-Telegram recently, Tidwell cited the hyper-partisan environment in Tarrant County and Texas as her main reason for leaving. First assistant auditor Kimberly Buchanan will fill the vacant role, a position that Tidwell said now requires “good stress relief.”

And administrator G.K. Maenius publicly announced he will retire in September after 35 years of service as the top county staffer.

Were O’Hare simply an incompetent, willfully misinformed elected official, he’d be in good company in Texas and maybe deserving of only sporadic ink in our magazine, but the county judge is using his public position

and resources to further causes that target vulnerable members of our community. In the months before O’Hare was elected, one of our reporters asked him if trans children would enjoy the same protections as cis youths. Timmy replied with a Bible verse, both dodging the question and hiding his bigotry behind organized religion. Indeed, O’Hare enjoys staunch support from Mercy Culture Church, including Pastor Landon Shott, who uses his pulpit to tell his sheep who to vote for while simultaneously coercing them into buying property through the church’s Realtor elders.

Since Republicans have no ideas for improving the economy or stopping gun violence, they fight ridiculous culture wars. The latest group to draw GOP attention are trans youths and drag queens, and you can bet that O’Hare is tilting against that fabulous windmill. In a letter to the head of the Texas comptroller’s office, O’Hare alleged — without evidence — that unnamed drag queens recently exposed themselves to minors. O’Hare requested the comptroller to investigate the matter and consider reclassifying the venue, Tulips FTW on the Near Southside, as a sexually oriented business, one subject to taxes reserved for strip clubs. Drag queens wearing several layers of Spanx and undergarments are generally physically incapable of showing their junk to anyone, and, despite O’Hare’s assertion of “media reports,” no credible witness from that night has come forward backing O’Hare’s allegation. By misusing his office for his own perverted witch hunt, O’Hare has, um, exposed the county to a lawsuit for defamation, either by the performers that night or the popular music venue’s owners.

Blowing taxpayer funds while bringing shame and disgrace to his office is probably O’Hare’s greatest skill. As the self-described founder of Southlake Families, O’Hare forced Carroll ISD to squander hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting a baseless lawsuit bankrolled by O’Hare’s PAC. The DA recently dropped the charges stemming from the civil suit — misdemeanor indictments against two school board members for alleged violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act. In his self-serving push to portray the school board as CRT lovers, O’Hare defrauded Southlake taxpayers just to bolster his political career.

The man’s history of using lies and deception to embolden his white, wealthy base of supporters may not be the biggest threat to his political career, especially given the Republican stranglehold on Tarrant County politics and the way Republican lawmakers keep failing up, but the exodus of top county leaders and O’Hare’s willful failure to keep up with county business are showing his greatest weakness — an inability to lead.

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. 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.

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Tarrant County recently bought 50 highpowered assault rifles to no objections from County Judge Tim O’Hare.

METRO

News Roundup

There’s a new local Dem head, more crooked judges, and a group trying to stop guns killing kids.

BY STATIC

New Face, (Likely) Same Ol’ Dems

Tarrant County Republicans have long out-fundraised, out-organized, and out-politicked Democrats while local Dems have done what their national brethren have: nothing, act shocked when they’re outmaneuvered (again), then get on their knees and beg for votes. More votes. As if this time, something different will actually happen. Nope. Just more nada, more sackless bluster, and more “vote harder” bullsh. Feh. The local GOP’s BDE (Big Dollar Energy) was on display in November, when Tim O’Hare celebrated his county judge win at the Ashton Depot, a luxe refurbished whistlestop downtown. A cursory glance at the Ashton’s website indicates that Tarrant County Republicans dropped easily $10,000 on food and drinks for a few hundred guests for a few hours — the Democratic Party met at a no-frills Eastside restaurant, where attendees had to pay out of pocket for Bud Light and mozzarella sticks.

Based on campaign finance reports, O’Hare raised $1.2 million in the judge race while Dem Deborah Peoples put up a paltry $377,391, and the disparity may account for Peoples’ whoopin’ at the tiny hands of then-unknown O’Hare.

For the Dems, there’s more than a lot of work to do, which may be part of the reason why the Tarrant County Democratic Party just elected a new leader. Crystal Gayden will need to pump up her limp base while unifying the disparate interests of moderate and progressive voters living under a Christian caliphate whose small-minded, small-membered leaders love loading up on big guns, hating on the LGBTQ community, and portraying peaceful Black protesters as rioters.

The former Dem party head recently announced her resignation without saying why she’s stepping down from the volunteer position she held for seven years. In a press release, Allison Campolo said she is proud to have expanded the party’s staff from four to seven. Cue: pull-string confetti popper.

Through a vote by precinct chairs, Gayden was elected to the open position with 86% of all ballots cast.

Campolo added that it is a “joy to know all of the hard work we have put in and accomplishments we have achieved over the past years will be continued and built on by [Gayden’s] vision and experience as a candidate and community organizer. This party continues to grow as Democrats increase their margins year over year in this great county, and we are ready to elect our next countywide Democrat. We look forward to [Gayden’s] leadership as she guides us into this critical 2024 presidential cycle.”

Gayden, who unsuccessfully ran for Tarrant County family court judge last year, is a respected attorney, active community volunteer, and staunch supporter of progressive values. While Republicans miscast Tarrant County as red even though a majority of us voted for President Joe Biden and senator candidate Beto O’Rourke, our densely packed region is primed for Democrat leadership. The antics of inept, evil County Judge O’Hare (see: pg. 4), our anti-government militia-loving sheriff, and our backdoor-dealing DA — all Republicans, all Trumptards — are wearing on our electorate, and the proper leader who can forge a future free of Christian Nationalist nonsense could galvanize voters who have so far been uninspired to perform at the polls.

Refusing to Recuse

People seeking justice through our county courts reasonably expect to have their cases heard by elected judges. While there are scarce resources to report judicial misconduct — the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct disciplines only about 3% of all judges facing sworn complaints — the most incompetent black-robed ghouls can at least be voted out every four years.

Dallas attorney Stephanie Rhima recently discovered Tarrant County’s lawless system for appointing visiting retired judges, many of whom routinely fail to file the two-part oath of office because doing so would prevent them from earning $750 a day on top of their lucrative retirement.

Rhima expected elected Judge Cynthia Terry in April when retired judge William Harris appeared unannounced in the 323rd District Court and proceeded to jail Rhima’s defendant for alleged child support arrears.

Attorneys rarely question the authority of judges, especially in Tyrant County, but

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continued from page 7

Rhima filed a request for copies of court assignments through what’s known as Rule 12. Harris, as she learned, was not assigned to the April 26 hearing. State government code mandates visiting judges have a valid Order of Assignment from the presiding judge of the administrative region for each assignment.

Rhima filed a Motion to Disqualify Harris in late June, and the motion was heard last week by visiting retired judge R.H. Wallace. One of our reporters who monitors judicial misconduct was present as Rhima made her case — that the elected judge (Terry) was available and should not have requested a visiting retired judge (Harris) and that Harris had no order of assignment, meaning he had no lawful jurisdiction over the April 26 hearing.

Rhima is waiting to hear back from the Secretary of State about her request for copies of Harris’ recently filed oaths of office, she told us. The rulings of any judge who does not have a current oath on file are absolutely void, based on Article 16 of the Texas Constitution and numerous rulings by the Court of Criminal Appeals that have overturned any judicial orders by unconstitutionally qualified judges.

In true Tarrant County form, Wallace denied the motion to disqualify retired judge Harris, who went on and signed an order exonerating himself from wrongdoing. Rhima plans to file complaints and publish articles in Texas law journals to describe how visiting retired judges get away with depriving residents of due process.

For two years, the Weekly has chronicled how Administrative Judge David Evans falsifies government documents so his retired buddies can defraud taxpayers of millions of dollars a year. To see an attorney take up the cause of holding judges accountable when they break the law is as refreshing as it is rare in our often lawless backwater.

More Guns = More Dead Kids

Firearms recently topped vehicular accidents and disease to become the top killer of children and teenagers in this country, based on findings by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

“We find that the United States is alone among peer nations in the number of child and teen firearm deaths,” Kaiser found, based on CDC data. “In no other similarly large or wealthy country are firearm deaths in the Top 4 causes of mortality let alone the No. 1 cause of death among children and teens.”

One in five deaths of minors results from firearms, the report found, compared to an average of 2% in similarly wealthy, large nations.

The prevalence of guns in a state where most households own a firearm is well known, and it’s little surprise that a disproportionate portion of some of the most horrific nonwartime mass shootings in the entire history of the world have happened here in Texas.

United Way of Tarrant County recent-

ly launched an initiative aimed at curbing youth gun violence. The nonprofit says the One Second Collaborative is an “evidence-based approach to addressing youth violence” that connects community-based organizations to support young people and their families. Major stakeholders include the Fort Worth police department, City of Fort Worth, and Tarrant County with the latter two groups providing financial support.

Conducting an assessment of the scope of youth gang violence through a partnership with TCU, establishing a steering committee to identify problems and set goals, mobilizing intervention teams, reporting data, and modifying approaches as needed are the initiative’s main tenets.

Surprise!

is

Mayor Mattie Parker said the effort is “vital to addressing the gun violence impacting Fort Worth youth right now. The

One Second Collaborative is just that — a unified, proven collaborative approach to address the youth gun violence in our community.”

Recent reporting by the Star-Telegram found that gun violence has claimed at least 101 young lives in Tarrant County since 2016. 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.

Gun violence

now the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States.

Courtesy Kaiser Family Foundation

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND PARTIES:

Synagro of Texas-CDR, Inc., has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for an amendment to Air Quality Permit Number 159900, which would authorize modification to the Biosolids Management Facility located at 2501 Greenbelt Road, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas 76118. This application was processed in an expedited manner, as allowed by the commission’s rules in 30 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 101, Subchapter J. Additional information concerning this application is contained in the public notice section of this newspaper.

SCREEN

Ch-ChChanges

This is the gayest animated movie I’ve ever seen.

BY KRISTIAN LIN

There was a mild foofaraw last fall when Pixar included an openly gay teen couple in Strange World, but that movie is hopelessly tame next to another animated film, one that dropped on Netflix a couple of weeks ago. Does this make Nimona good? Not exactly — there are myriad storytelling issues at play here. Yet it’s truly unlike anything else that’s out there, which is why I’m mentioning it here.

Based on a graphic novel by ND Stevenson, the movie takes place in a feudal monarchy that also has smartphones and flying cars. Here, Ballister Boldheart (voiced by Riz Ahmed) is set to be the first-ever commoner in a millennium to become a knight. Not everybody likes this, but he has allies in the queen (voiced by Lorraine Toussaint) and Ambrosius Goldenloin (voiced by Eugene Lee Yang), his ridiculously named boyfriend who is knighted with him.

Yet Ballister’s moment of triumph literally blows up in his face as his sword explodes moments after he’s knighted and kills the queen before Ambrosius cuts off his arm. With his boyfriend now leading the manhunt for him, Ballister is approached by Nimona (voiced by Chloë Grace Moretz), a teenage girl who can shapeshift into any an-

imal or human form she wants. The fugitive amputee knight has never heard of anyone who can do this and thinks she’s a monster, but he can use someone who can turn into a mouse and sneak into heavily guarded places or become a gorilla and swat enemies away.

We’ve seen people like Nimona in fantasy entertainment before, but it hits differently when you know about her creator. Stevenson was born Noelle Diana Stevenson but has had top surgery and identifies as transmasculine and bigender. (He also uses any gender pronouns. Since most sources seem to be using the male ones, I’m going with those.) He started working on Nimona while still an art student and turned the comic into his thesis project, publishing it on Tumblr before it hit print. It’s hard not to see the author’s trans-ness coming through when Nimona changes into a little kid to entrap someone in the assassination plot. Ballister notes that she’s now a boy, and she says craftily, “I am today.”

The film brings numerous changes to the comic: The relationship between Bal-

lister and Ambrosius (who’s much more sympathetic here than in the book) becomes a full-blown romance instead of being implied. The backstory of Ballister (whose name is Blackheart rather than Boldheart in the book) is fleshed out considerably, too. There’s also a squire (voiced by Julio Torres) who possesses information about the assassination plot and who doubles this movie’s gay quotient all on his own. The animation gives the film a unique look, especially when Nimona relates how she got her powers while traveling in the subway, and the flashback plays out in the mosaic tiles in the train station. These changes are good and maybe even necessary for the adaptation.

It’s the little things that trip up this movie. The tin-eared contemporary script (with the knights addressing each other as “dude” and “bro”) jars with the medieval/futuristic look of the society around it. Co-directors Nick Bruno and Troy Quane have problems managing the tone, too, as when someone appears to stab Ambrosius and the scene is played too much for laughs. The

ending is rushed, too, as the filmmakers aim for a big emotional impact and miss.

What saves this is the extensive working out of the title character. Nimona is a ball of anarchy who has internalized society’s hate (including, as a different flashback reveals, from the girl she once loved) and expresses that by breaking stuff. Moretz brings terrific energy to the part, but the movie works because the filmmakers keep their eye on where the destructiveness comes from. When Ballister asks Nimona why she doesn’t pick one body and stay with it, she describes the feeling of not shifting as “like the second before you sneeze.”

For the moment at least, it seems like fantasy films and TV are doing better than anything else to help cisgender society come to grips with trans people. Look at the way The Umbrella Academy accommodated Elliot Page’s gender transition and just kicked on with the story. Across the Spider-Verse possibly has a trans lead character, too, though it would really be radical if Gwen is trans and Miles falls in love with her. Nimona deserves its place alongside these entertainments at a time when trans people can certainly use them. l

Ballister Boldheart reluctantly accepts help from the human form of Nimona.

Nimona

Voices by Chloë Grace Moretz and Riz Ahmed.

Directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane. Written by Robert L. Baird, Lloyd Taylor, and Pamela Ribon, based on ND Stevenson’s graphic novel. Rated PG.

The Dog Days of Summer: Is It Hot Enough for Ya?

BY FWW MARKETING

The Dog (Cat/Lizard) Days of Summer have arrived! Says animal correspondent Rufus, “Whether you’re a big cat, a meerkat, or merely a house cat (see what I did there), all creatures great and small are looking for summer fun.” Well said, Rufus. What a good boy you are!

Now that it’s officially summer, there is so much to do and see in the upcoming weeks. What to do, what to do? The Weekly can help you sort it all out.

Here are some special editions and sections headed your way in the near future. Click the title to check out last year’s edition for each:

Special Upcoming Dates at FWW:

July 19: National Tequila Day Section

*July 26: Creature Comforts Edition

August 9: Back-to-School Section

August 30: Labor Day Section

Along with the special dates above, each week, we highlight one event for each day of the week in our Night & Day column and feature food and booze events in Ate Day8 a Week. What’s going on in your world? Please email your event information to marketing@fwweekly.com for our consideration.

As for reserving space, our final deadlines are Tuesdays for all of the above. Business owners, if you need to get the word out about anything happening now through the end of

August, this is the perfect time.

*Yes. It’s time for CREATURE COMFORTS 2023!

In honor of the dog days of summer and National Dog Month, which is right around the bend, The Weekly presents our second annual Creature Comforts Edition.

From head to tail, this issue will cover various animal-related topics and resources, including animal adoptions, creature features, pet-friendly patios, tail-wagging events, zoological wonders, and more.

Show off your animal magnetism and reach our readers right in the furry feels by advertising in this issue! If you’re interested in reserving space, please contact your FWW representative ASAP or click here to submit an inquiry. We’d like to hear from you by Friday, July 21 or sooner.

Woof!

FWW’s annual Creature Comforts Edition hits the stands on Wed, July 26. Reserve space now.

Who’s a good boy? Rufus. Rufus is.

EATS & drinks

Party in the Pantry on Magnolia

Can you take the heat?

Get wrapped up in this multicultural dumpling house’s spicy, flavorful fare.

Pantry on Magnolia, 713 W Magnolia Av, FW. 682-224-2381. 11am-10pm Sun, 11am-midnight Fri-Sat.

STORY AND PHOTOS

BY CHRISTINA BERGER

I’m embroiled in a quasi-abusive relationship.

I know what you’re thinking. “Dump ’em and don’t look back!” Truly, I wish I could, but when it comes to spicy food — especially my best friend’s mom’s famous mole, laced with what I can only assume is every chili pepper on the planet — I just. can’t. stop. And, oh, my god, is it worth the pain! The same goes for the dumplings and

fried rice at Pantry on Magnolia. My body may have rejected the heat of the housemade chili oil from every last pore, but the rest of me embodied a red-faced Adam Driver in Star Wars screaming, “More, more!”

My good friend and former neighbor who was in town visiting requested we go somewhere new for a late lunch. From her response to the first bite of the black garlic mushroom dumpling — “That’s one of the more intense umami experiences of my life”

— I’d say the Pantry was the right choice. Nestled into the sliver of a spot between Shinjuku Station and Grandma’s on West Magnolia Avenue, the multicultural dumpling house incorporates regional foods from all over the globe into their menu on a rotating basis.

The restaurant’s interior feels cozy in that particular way older buildings do. Though the space appears small from the outside, it doesn’t seem so inside, with its

high ceilings, exposed brick, and vibrant, colorful decor. Cobalt walls are accented with Big Bird-yellow trim — a funky mix when you notice the off-white vintage ceiling tiles outlined in a scarlet red.

On one side hangs a gallery of different-sized mirrors with intricate gold frames. Floating shelves and nearly every other surface are filled with a festive, homey clutter of eclectic knick-knacks, from smiling ceramic dumplings to a Hamsa hand and several pieces of Asian-influenced art. Four long tables provide seating in the main area, along with a couple of bright bistro ones on the patio out front, and, beyond the curtained doorway marked “KiTcHeN” in mismatched letters, a series of two-top high tables face the bustling kitchen. In that back, more intimate area, life-size versions of the parasols you’d find floating in fruity cocktails dangle from the rafters among twinkly lights for a more whimsical, enchanting touch.

On the day my friend and I visited, Natasha Bruton, the establishment’s pastry queen — her “2023 Fort Worth Pastry Chef of the Year” certificate is prominently displayed at the register — greeted everyone with a “Thanks for braving the heat to be here.” What she meant, of course, was the sauna outside. What Natasha didn’t intend or know was that my revenant companion and I were about to brave a different kind of heat altogether. Good thing we can take it.

The dumpling flight offered seven unique flavors: Jamaican jerk chicken, Indian butter chicken, garlic ground beef, smoked barbacoa beef cheek, loaded baked potato, pork shiitake, and black garlic mushroom. A laminated page with photos to identify the various dumplings accompanied our order, which was a helpful guide as a couple of them were similarly shaped. Once you bit into the pillow of dough and continued on page 17

Not a single dumpling in the flight of seven disappointed. In fact, quite the opposite. As it emerged from the kitchen, the fried rice with housemade kimchi and savory sausage had billows of steam rolling off it.

filling, though, you could fairly quickly pick out which was which.

I tried, y’all. I intended to take diligent notes on each dumpling, but I got lost in the experience and the reverie of seeing an old friend. What I can tell you — and I can’t stress this enough — is that they were the best damn dumplings I’ve ever had. Each took you on a culinary journey, whether it was the spicy hot Indian butter chicken that lived up to its buttery name or the hearty, meaty filling of the well-balanced garlic ground beef. Not a single dumpling disappointed. In fact, quite the opposite. I mean, you know the food is good when conversation is abruptly interrupted after each bite as your crew exchanges animated “Oh, wow” faces.

Even the spring roll appetizers were exceptional. With crunchy veggies and delectably fresh shrimp tightly wrapped within, the roll packed a strong mint flavor that paired well with the ultra-smooth, not-toosweet peanut sauce. I’m pretty picky about peanut sauce, but I’d bathe in the Pantry’s.

After scarfing down the dumplings and spring rolls, my fellow reveler and I weren’t quite ready to call it a day. While Natasha suggested several mouthwatering options, our eyes grew big and stomachs gurgled, mouths still ablaze from the earlier onslaught. I can’t be entirely sure which fried rice dish we ended up choosing — the house

special, perhaps? Either way, it constituted the second-best decision we’d made that afternoon.

As it emerged from the kitchen, the fried rice with housemade kimchi and savory sausage had billows of steam rolling off it. The mix of tender meat, including succulent, semisweet pork, was topped with a perfectly fried egg and green onions. We barely made a dent in the mound we were served, and, this

time, the chili oil was served on the side.

The experience came to a close like any good meal should: with a warm, gooey-centered dessert. The Everything in the Pantry cookie contained pretzels and white, dark, and semisweet chocolate drizzled with more chocolate and caramel sauces and topped with sea salt. Need I say more?

Despite inevitably panting in between bites, I’d brave the fire-breathing, sweat-

My good friend in town visiting requested we go somewhere new. From her response to the first bite of the black garlic mushroom dumpling, the Pantry was the right choice.

ing, nose running, and then some again and again for what’s in the Pantry — dignity, be damned. l

Nestled into the sliver of a spot between Shinjuku Station and Grandma’s, the multicultural dumpling house incorporates foods from all over the globe.

1.) North Texas is finally getting its own Meow Wolf, and opening day is Friday. There are two ways to tour this art installation. First, you can embrace the craziness, open every door and every drawer, and enjoy the art for art’s sake, as we did on preview day. Or you can participate in solving a mystery. If that’s the route you’d like to take, stop reading now. Jared opened the refrigerator door and walked through into another dimension. Yes, the refrigerator in what I’m calling an art funhouse leads to another dimension, and it’s awesome! Tickets to Meow Wolf Grapevine: The Real Unreal (3000 Grapevine Mills Pkwy, Ste 253, Grapevine, 866-636-9969) are $45 at MeowWolf. com/Grapevine.

2.) Speaking of refrigerators, Funky Town Fridge (682-207-7436) just had theirs stolen. This is why we can’t have nice things. This nonprofit is trying to combat hunger and empower impoverished people in food deserts. By press time, a generous donor had replaced the group’s refrigerator. Since they are top of mind right now, take a look at FunkyTownFridge.org and see how you can help #FeedtheFunk.

3.) Speaking of food deserts, the North Texas Food Bank is hosting a day camp to teach kids about this very thing and how to make a difference in their own neighborhoods. This Monday and next, children ages 8 to 11 will get a behind-the-scenes look at the food bank

and engage in activities related to hunger, gardening, and nutrition from 9:30am to 2:30pm at the NTFB Perot Family Campus (3577 Mapleshade Ln, Plano, 214-330-1396). Registration is $30 at NTFG.org/events/kids-camp.

4.) On Saturday from 5pm to 7pm, Race Street Coffee (3021 Race St, Fort Worth, 817-330-9270) presents Art Night. There will be a meet-and-greet with photographer Savannah Vasquez, who will have portraits and prints available for purchase. Beer will also be available from neighboring Neutral Ground Brewing Co. There is no cost to attend.

5.) At 4pm Saturday, celebrate the fifth anniversary of 4 Kahunas Tiki Lounge (506 E Division St, Ste 160, Arlington, 682-2766097). There will be a DJ, drink specials, prizes, and more. For other great upcoming happenings in Arlington, find Downtown Arlington in July in the “Magazines” dropdown at FWWeekly.com.

6.) On the third Monday of the month, the Tarrant Area Food Bank hosts a Food Distribution Day from 8am to noon at the Fort Worth Veterans Affairs Clinic (2201 SE Loop 820, 817-730-0000). Bring your own bags or boxes and take home groceries from the walkup area.

7.) One of the largest culinary charity efforts in North Texas is returning for its 27th year. DFW Restaurant Week benefiting the North Texas Food Bank and Lena Pope is a week-long celebration from Mon, Aug 7, to Sun, Sep 3. Reserve your prix-fixe meals at DFWRestaurantWeek.com.

Beat the heat and find new pieces for your home at Race Street Coffee Art Night on Saturday.

8.) AS SEEN ON THE COVER: The city’s newest gay entertainment venue opens 5pm2am on Fri, Jul 21. Halo’s Bar & Grill featuring Rainbow 2.0 (3500 Alta Mere Dr, Fort Worth, 817-819-5277) pays homage to the colorful bygone nightclub. Halo’s was built by the original owners of Rainbow Lounge, which burned down a while back. The new club is in the space formerly occupied by Jorges Taqueria II.

By Jennifer Bovee

CHICHIS

Courtesy Facebook Courtesy Jennifer Bovee

What’s inside that refrigerator? Find out at Meow Wolf in Grapevine starting Friday.

CREATED

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

MUSIC

Letting His Worries Disappear

BY PATRICK HIGGINS

When country singer-songwriter Joe Savage first hit the scene in the middle of the last decade, he made the usual go of things. Solo shows at first, then putting a band together and recording and releasing records on a budget. Though he had some successes, that process never really gained him the kind of traction he was looking for. He felt the lack of “quality” content was a barrier between potential fans and their ability to find him. Two years ago, he shifted gears to elevate his fortunes with a renewed focus: simply great-sounding records.

“What I’ve found over the years is that by having lower production, less expensive albums out, when I did get fans, or a little hype at a show, when they would go listen to my music, the quality just wasn’t there,” Savage said. “I’ve spent the last couple of years trying to reverse that so that now when people go to look me up, they’re surprised at the production value of the content that’s out there.”

His latest effort in this regard is The Disappearing Blues, an album available exclusively through Bandcamp. Recorded with Taylor Tatsch at his recently relocated AudioStyles studio in Fredericksburg, it’s the third successive record Savage has tracked with the producer of Cut Throat Finches, Phantomelo, Shadows of Jets, and others, and the working relationship has provided exactly the production value he’s been looking for to add the legitimacy he felt he formerly lacked.

The working pair have set into a comfortable routine when it comes to making records. Savage will come down and track acoustic guitar to a click track with a scratch vocal. Tatsch will then add all the other instrumentation except drums — Austin’s Chris Mead (Peterson Brothers Band) pro-

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vides the beats on this one. Once the instrumental arrangements are finalized, Savage returns to cut the main vocal.

Tatsch, Savage said, is “a great guy and really great at what he does. We’ve developed a great relationship. That’s why I’ve been giving him all my money for years,” he added with a laugh.

Tatsch is given co-writing credits on the album for his efforts. In addition, fellow Fort Worth singer-songwriter John Stevens is credited with a handful of tracks that he, Tatsch, and Savage fleshed out at a songwriter’s circle. Lyrically, Savage tackles themes of spirituality, fallen men, his relationship with his father, and redemption, while musically the album bridges Americana and gospel folk. It’s an aesthetic that sees Savage drift further from his classic country reputation, one often attributed to him that he never really felt comfortable having.

“It didn’t work,” he said flatly of being labeled a classic country revivalist. “That pressure builds — being pushed to dress a certain way or go for some outlaw country image, but it didn’t work for me. I definitely feel the pressure, and I want that kind of success [that seems to come along with it], and at times I’ve been willing to compromise thoroughly to achieve it, but now it feels nice to have just, like, a regular-guy look again.”

In addition to focusing more on good-sounding recordings, he’s changed the means in which he pays for them. Two years ago, he quit his day job, focusing exclusively on playing music, mostly at restaurants, bistros, and residencies. While not exactly taking his own music to legions across the nation, it helps him continue to hone his skillset as well as pay his bills.

“I just try to treat it like a job,” he said. “I could still be teaching. I used to teach grade school. I did that for six years. I used to work at Taco Casa, Burger King, and then be trying

to write songs at night. Those all sucked and never made any money. It also takes all my energy away from the creative process, which my job right now still informs my creative process. It still makes me better.”

Though the six or seven three-hour sets a week can be a grind, he’s found it rewarding in ways other than just financial.

“I’ve just gotten so much better at everything,” he said. “I get better at singing still. My ear gets better. I’m a better businessman. I’m a better human being. The music works on you, too — the songs you chose to sing. Just like they can be healing to others, they can be self-healing.”

As well as helping pay for quality records like Disappearing, he was actually recently able to completely pay off his mortgage.

“I just paid off my land,” he beamed. “I’m not exactly living without any expenses, but I’m pretty damn close. To think that I was able to do that with music, that just makes it mean so much more to me.”

It’s one way in which his definition of success has perhaps shifted. Though he’s not hitting local venue stages as hard of late, he feels his methods are more methodical and calculated and will eventually provide more of a return on his energies and investments.

“I really do feel like I’m successful,” he said. “Am I successful in the way some guys like Charley Crockett or Vincent Neil Emerson are? Well, obviously no, but I honestly don’t know if I’d be happy [doing that]. Being responsible for grown men out on the road, making sure they eat and get home safe to their families with enough money to make it worth it? It’s a lot of sacrifice and responsibility that I haven’t had to take on, and I’m happier for it. Do I want to be doing the party shows, selling beer? Or am I fine just releasing music that I’m proud of and slowly building my fanbase with just me and my guitar, singing my songs and telling my stories?” l

SAT 7/22 HIGH TIDE, ORANGUTAN SUPERLOVE, THE INFINITE COSMOS, MKN COFFEE

WED 7/26 PAPER STREET OREJA / ROBOT ARMS DEPOT

A simpler life with simpler goals doesn’t mean Joe Savage has lost ambition. The country singer’s just changed his definition of success.

Savage: “The music works on you. … Just like [it] can be healing to others, [it] can be self-healing.”

Randle Bond

BUY/SELL/TRADE

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EMPLOYMENT NOTICES

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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 Find

CLASSIFIEDS

Texas Commission on environmenTal QualiTy

Consolidated Notice of Receipt of Application and Intent to Obtain Permit and Notice of Application and Preliminary Decision

Air Quality Standard Permit for Concrete Batch Plants Proposed Registration No. 131982 APPLICATION. True Grit Redi Mix, Ltd., has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for the amendment of Air Quality Standard Permit, Registration No. 131982. This application would authorize modification of a Concrete Batch Plant located at 12150 Business Highway 287 N, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas 76179. This application is being processed in an expedited manner, as allowed by the commission’s rules in 30 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 101, Subchapter J. 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=-97.419076,32.948581&level=13. The proposed facility will emit the following air contaminants: particulate matter including (but not limited to) aggregate, cement, road dust, and particulate matter with diameters of 10 microns or less and 2.5 microns or less.

This application was submitted to the TCEQ on May 1, 2023. The executive director has completed the administrative and technical reviews of the application and determined that the application meets all of the requirements of a standard permit authorized by 30 TAC § 116.611, which would establish the conditions under which the plant must operate. The executive director has made a preliminary decision to issue the registration because it meets all applicable rules. The application, executive director’s preliminary decision, and standard permit will be available for viewing and copying at the TCEQ central office, the TCEQ Dallas/Fort Worth regional office, and at Haslet Public Library, 100 Gammill Street, Haslet, Tarrant County, Texas 76052, beginning the first day of publication of this notice. The facility’s compliance file, if any exists, is available for public review at the TCEQ Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Office, 2309 Gravel Dr, Fort Worth, Texas. Visit www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/cbp to review the standard permit.

Public Comment/Public Meeting. You may submit public comments or request a public meeting. See Contacts section. The TCEQ will consider all public comments in developing a final decision on the application. The deadline to submit public comments or meeting requests is 30 days after newspaper notice is published. Issues such as property values, noise, traffic safety, and zoning are outside of the TCEQ’s jurisdiction to consider in the permit process.

The purpose of a public meeting is to provide the opportunity to submit comments or ask questions about the application. A public meeting about the application will be held if the executive director determines that there is a significant degree of public interest in the application or if requested by a local legislator. A public meeting is not a contested case hearing. If a public meeting is held, the deadline to submit public comments is extended to the end of the public meeting.

Contested Case Hearing. You may request a contested case hearing. A contested case hearing is a legal proceeding similar to a civil trial in state district court. Unless a written request for a contested case hearing is filed within 30 days from this notice, the executive director may approve the application.

A person who may be affected by emissions of air contaminants from the facility is entitled to request a hearing. To request a hearing, a person must actually reside in a permanent residence within 440 yards of the proposed plant. 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 registration 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 which the group or association seeks to protect must be identified. You may submit your proposed adjustments to the application which would satisfy your concerns. See Contacts section.

TCEQ Action. After the deadline for public comments, the executive director will consider the comments and prepare a response to all relevant and material, or significant public comments. The executive director’s decision on the application, and any response to comments, will be mailed to all persons on the mailing list. If no timely contested case hearing requests are received, or if all hearing requests are withdrawn, the executive director may issue final approval of the application. If all timely hearing requests are not withdrawn, the executive director will not issue final approval of the permit and will forward the application and requests to the Commissioners for their consideration at a scheduled commission meeting. 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. You may ask to be placed on a mailing list to receive additional information on this specific application by sending a written request to the Office of the Chief Clerk. See Contacts section.

INFORMATION AVAILABLE ONLINE. For details about the status of the application, visit the Commissioners’ Integrated Database (CID) at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/cid. Once you have access to the CID using the link, enter the permit number at the top of this notice.

CONTACTS. 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 787113087. 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 application or the permitting process, please call the TCEQ Public Education Program toll free at 1800687-4040 or visit their website at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/pep. Si desea información en Español, puede llamar al 1-800-687-4040.

Further information may also be obtained from True Grit Redi Mix, Ltd., 12150 Business Hwy 287 N, Fort Worth, TX 76179-5505 or by calling Mr. Josh Butler, Principal Consultant, Elm Creek Environmental, LLC at (469) 946-8195.

Notice Issuance Date: June 28, 2023

Texas Commission on environmenTal QualiTy

NOTICE OF APPLICATION AND PRELIMINARY DECISION FOR AN AIR QUALITY PERMIT

PERMIT NUMBER: 159900

APPLICATION AND PRELIMINARY DECISION. Synagro of Texas-CDR, Inc., 2501 Greenbelt Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76118-7606, has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for an amendment to Air Quality Permit Number 159900, which would authorize modification to the Biosolids Management Facility located at 2501 Greenbelt Road, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas 76118. This application was processed in an expedited manner, as allowed by the commission’s rules in 30 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 101, Subchapter J. 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 application was submitted to the TCEQ on January 31, 2023. The existing facility will emit the following contaminants: ammonia, carbon monoxide, hazardous air pollutants, lead, nitrogen oxides, organic compounds, metals, particulate matter including particulate matter with diameters of 10 microns or less and 2.5 microns or less and sulfur dioxide.

The executive director has completed the technical review of the application and prepared a draft permit which, if approved, would establish the conditions under which the facility must operate. The executive director has made a preliminary decision to issue the permit because it meets all rules and regulations. The permit application, executive director’s preliminary decision, and draft permit will be available for viewing and copying at the TCEQ central office, the TCEQ Dallas/Fort Worth regional office, and the Fort Worth Public Library - East Regional Library, 6301 Bridge 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 at the TCEQ Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Office, 2309 Gravel Drive, Fort Worth, Texas.

PUBLIC COMMENT/PUBLIC MEETING. You may submit public comments or request a public meeting about this application. The purpose of a public meeting is to provide the opportunity to submit comment or to ask questions about the application. The TCEQ will hold a public meeting if the executive director determines that there is a significant degree of public interest in the application or if requested by a local legislator. A public meeting is not a contested case hearing. You may submit additional written public comments within 30 days of the date of newspaper publication of this notice in the manner set forth in the AGENCY CONTACTS AND INFORMATION paragraph below.

RESPONSE TO COMMENTS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ACTION. After the deadline for public comments, the executive director will consider the comments and prepare a response to all relevant and material or significant public comments. Because no timely hearing requests have been received, after preparing the response to comments, the executive director may then issue final approval of the application. The response to comments, along with the executive director’s decision on the application will be mailed to everyone who submitted public comments or is on a mailing list for this application, and will be posted electronically to the Commissioners’ Integrated Database (CID).

INFORMATION AVAILABLE ONLINE. When they become available, the executive director’s response to comments and the final decision on this application will be accessible through the Commission’s Web site at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/cid. Once you have access to the CID using the above link, enter the permit number for this application which is provided at the top of this notice. 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=-97.141111,32.791666&level=13.

MAILING LIST. You may ask to be placed on a mailing list to obtain additional information on this application by sending a request to the Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below.

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 Synagro of Texas-CDR, Inc. at the address stated above or by calling Mr. Bala Vairavan, Director, Capital Projects at (443) 442-4213.

Notice Issuance Date: June 29, 2023

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EMPLOYMENT

Thales DIS USA, Inc. seeks a Program Manager in Fort Worth, TX responsible for reviewing and managing programs focused on aligning business goals with IT programs. Domestic travel required 10%. Telecommuting is permitted. Apply at https://www.jobpostingtoday. com/ Ref #37854.

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

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

RECYCLED BOOKS & RECORDS is celebrating 40 years in Denton TX.

Anniversary Sale 7/28-7/30

Everything is 20% OFF!

200 N. Locust St., Denton, TX 940.566.5688