Fort Worth Weekly // December 4-10, 2024

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ON THE COVER HOLIDAYS 2024

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and we really mean that. The holidays are for celebrating the old and ringing in the new. And here at the Weekly, we’re opting for positivity right now because the alternative is too terrible to bear, and that positive action takes

the shape of great gifts for the normies on your list (pg. 10) and the sports fans (pg. 6). We also have fantabulous cocktail recipes (pg. 37) and creative, traditionally tinged food recipes (pg. 31), plus the word on new holiday-themed local tunes and local shows by out-of-town acts (pg. 40)

and books (pg. 22) to really drive home the seasonal spirit. All that and a whole lot more, so step into Christmas with us, and we can watch the snow fall forever and ever. — Anthony Mariani, Editor

Cover photo by Julie Strehl

INSIDE

Screen

The holidays mean it’s Oscar

By Kristian Lin

Books

Browse this virtual bookstore for the readers on your shopping list.

By Reese Pierce

Music

The local scene abounds with new holiday tunes and shows. By Patrick Higgins, Steve Steward, and Juan R. Govea

Drinks

By Laurie James

STAFF

Anthony Mariani, Editor

Lee Newquist, Publisher

Bob Niehoff, General Manager

Michael Newquist, Regional Director

Ryan Burger, Art Director

Jennifer Bovee, Marketing Director

Clintastic, Brand Ambassador

Emmy Smith, Proofreader

Julie Strehl, Account Executive

Sarah Niehoff, Account Executive

Stacey Hammons, Senior Account Executive

Tony Diaz, District Manager

Wyatt Newquist, Account Executive

CONTRIBUTORS

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

EDITORIAL BOARD

Laurie James, Anthony Mariani, Emmy Smith, Steve Steward

DISTRIBUTION

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COPYRIGHT

The entire contents of Fort Worth Weekly are Copyright 2024 by Ft. Worth Weekly, LP. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the publisher. Please call the Fort Worth Weekly office for back-issue information. Fort Worth Weekly mailing address: 300 Bailey, Ste 205, Fort Worth TX 76107 Street address: 300 Bailey, Ste 205, Fort Worth TX 76107 For general information: 817-321-9700 For retail advertising: 817-321-9719 For classifieds: 817-987-7689 For national advertising: 817-243-2250 website: www.fwweekly.com email: question@fwweekly.com

SPORTS

The Holiday Rush

Get a little creative when buying for the sports lover on your Christmas list. Here’s how.

BY RUSH OLSON

So, you’ve got a sports fan in your life who made the nice list this year (clearly not a Commanders or Yankees fan), but

hockey sticks and goalposts are so hard to wrap. And tickets to sit in Taylor Swift’s suite at a Chiefs game are kind of tough to find. For you, we put together a few ideas Tarrant County gift givers can easily procure to elicit joy from their sports-obsessed family and friends.

Game Tickets

Well, duh, sports fans like to go to games. Maybe they’ll be so grateful for the gift, they’ll ask you to go with them (though clearly it’s not in the Christmas spirit to hint at that too strongly).

Charles Schwab Challenge

Tickets are on sale for the annual PGA tournament at the Colonial Country Club (3735 Country Club Cir, Fort Worth, 817927-4200). Tickets start at $50 per day at CharlesSchwabChallenge.com.

Dallas Stars Holiday Hat Trick

This deal provides you with two tickets to each of three Stars games in the New Year. The Holiday Hat Trick package, which starts at $165, also includes a Stars tumbler (that comes empty, but you don’t have to leave it that way). You can choose from three combinations of games featuring some pretty compelling opponents, including Carolina, Winnipeg, New Jersey, and Minnesota,

who all are lurking near the tops of their respective conference standings in the first third of the NHL season. And here’s an especially cool bonus — you’ll also receive two tickets to Team USA’s opening game in the International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 Men’s World Championship to be held in Frisco and Allen in April and May. You’ll

find this package under the Tickets tab at DallasStars.com.

Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

Your annual chance to see the best PRCA competitors in Dickies Arena (1911 Montgomery St, Fort Worth, 817-402continued on page 7

Big 12 individual game tickets for TCU Men’s Basketball go on sale Tue, Dec 9.

9000) begins in mid-January. You can buy tickets for the rodeo tournament at FWSSR.com or in person at the arena box office. Keep in mind some of the special competitions held in conjunction with the PRCA event, including the Cowboys of Color Rodeo and Mustang Magic. And cowboy culture provides some great wrapping options — maybe put the tix in the box with that new Stetson or pair of boots.

Harlem Globetrotters

If your kids (or you, for that matter) have never seen the Harlem Globetrotters live, you need to make sure that experience happens at some point. And guess what? Basketball’s entertaining “Ambassadors of Goodwill” play at Dickies Arena (1911 Montgomery St, Fort Worth, 817-4029000) on Tue, Feb 17. Ticketmaster has the ticket packages.

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

On Fri, Dec 27, Amon G. Carter Stadium at TCU (2850 Stadium Dr, Fort Worth, 817-257-3764) will stage a bowl game.

Teams get announced on Sun, Dec 8, at which point tickets go on sale. You can secure some for the game or the Kickoff Luncheon at ArmedForcesBowl. com. The pregame tailgate, by the way, features local musicians from different bands playing together as the Panther City All-Stars. We should also note that veterans, retired military, active-duty soldiers, and those serving in the guard and reserve are eligible for up to four complimentary tickets each.

North Texas SC

FC Dallas’s MLS NEXT Pro affiliate won their league championship this past season, and they play their home games at Choctaw Stadium (1000 Ballpark Way, Arlington, 817-533-1972). A lot of really good players come through this club on the way to Major League Soccer. Season tickets are available to watch them defend their title. Visit NTSCTickets. com to score yours.

TCU Basketball

Let’s talk hoops. The women’s team is a Top 20-caliber squad with some big wins on its résumé already and some serious star power. The men’s team is coming off an NCAA Tournament berth last season and plays in the stacked Big 12, with the likes of Kansas, Baylor, and BYU coming to Fort Worth this season. Purchase at

GoFrogs.com or visit the Parrish Family Athletics Ticket Office in person at Schollmaier Arena (3000 Stadium Dr, Fort Worth, 817-257-3764) 8am-5pm Mon-Fri. Do note that men’s basketball Big 12 individual game tickets go on sale Tue, Dec 9.

Texas Rangers 20-Game Plans

These get you into 20 games during the 2025 season at Globe Life Field (734 Stadium Dr, Arlington, 817-533-1972). You can choose from two pre-selected continued on page 16

Help support needy families with kids in the care of Children’s Health Hospital at the annual Isner Cup tasting event in January.

Gov. Grinch

Greg

Abbott continues to scapegoat immigrants with his recent executive order.

BY MADELYN EDWARDS

To kick off the holiday season, Greg Abbott gave all Texans a crappy gift that, unfortunately, we can’t return.

The governor recently issued an executive order that compels staff at Texas public hospitals to ask every patient what their citizenship status is, which goes against the state’s previous guidance that discourages health-care workers from inquiring about that. The cost of treating people who are undocumented will also be tracked.

What. A. Dick.

The good news is that, though this question must be asked, patients can decline to answer it, and the quality of health care isn’t dependent on the citizenship question. But just because it shouldn’t influence the level of care received doesn’t mean it won’t. Abbott’s order ensures that those who need care in Texas — whether they’re immigrants or

METROPOLIS

just look the part — may delay getting it. People of color are sometimes wary of visiting doctor’s offices because they worry about being discriminated against or insulted by health-care workers because of their race. Those who are undocumented in Texas may forgo care if they are fearful of being harassed or facing legal troubles because of their citizenship status.

Abbott’s reasoning for the order has to do with his ongoing dispute with the Biden administration over border policies, which in some cases were better or similar to Biden’s predecessor (and now

Plus, if Abbott is really concerned about cost of care, he would make sure that the uninsured and Medicaid users have as much access as possible to preventative care.

successor), Donald Trump. As usual, immigrants without documentation are used as scapegoats by Abbott.

“Due to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ open border policies, Texas has had to foot the bill for medical costs for individuals illegally in the state,” Abbott said in a press release. “Texans should not have to shoulder the burden of financially supporting medical care for illegal immigrants.”

What Abbott is leaving out here is that The Texas Tribune says immigrants without documentation who don’t have health insurance use hospitals less than American citizens who are uninsured. And if Abbott wants more money from the federal government, he could already have that by expanding Medicaid across our state and insuring more than a million Texans.

Plus, if Abbott is really concerned about cost of care, he would make sure that the uninsured and Medicaid users have as much access as possible to preventative care, which is typically cheaper than treating advanced conditions. Abbott’s order may mean that

immigrants will seek care less often and focus solely on treating conditions as they arise, not working to prevent them.

The Republican platform has emphasized “protection” during this last election cycle — protecting women from transgender people in bathrooms, protecting children from gay teachers, and protecting white Americans from the scary immigrants who want to eat their cats and dogs for dinner. When they use this verbiage, ask yourself — which people do they want to protect? Certainly not undocumented women and children seeking care at hospitals.

Basically, Abbott’s order sends a clear message to those without citizenship: “You are not welcome here.”

Wonder what he would have said to a certain refugee and immigrant born in a barn in Bethlehem. 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.

Art by Ryan Burger

GIFT GUIDE

The Department Store

Here are some gift ideas from several sections of the Weekly.

BY FORT WORTH WEEKLY

Every Wednesday for the last 30 years or so, the Fort Worth Weekly has published a print product with informative articles on eight main topics and more, including news, music, food, sports, and art. Here are some gift ideas from each department.

Night & Day: Calendars for the New Year. Literally. While many of you use your smartphone for everything these days, not unlike reading this fabulous publication in print each week, nothing replaces the experience of using an actual, physical, honest-to-God calendar.

One excellent resource for this is Half Price Books (several area locations).

Along with artsy, clever pop cultureoriented calendars (Batman, Bob Ross, Friends, Seinfeld, and more), local manufacturer Daybook Publishing stocks their Fort Worth City Date Book there for $19.95. These 6-by-7-inch size booklets

fit nicely into a messenger bag or purse and include handy local info in the front, lots of pages for notes in the back, and a very recognizable red metallic longhorn embossed on the black cover (#classy). They are also available at Datebook.com.

Anderson Design Group out of Nashville specializes in “continuing the grand tradition of the Golden Age of Poster Art for a whole new generation” by making epic annual calendars. Their bestseller is Legends of the National Parks with imagery and info on Sasquatch, Bruja, Cave Sloth, Grassman, Hushtaka, Mo’o, and more for $34.99 at AndersonDesignGroupStore.com.

Oh, was this not what you were expecting? For leads on actual events, some ticketed and therefore great as gifts, check out our expanded Night & Day section a few pages over.

Eats & Drinks: Foodie Finds

From food-themed art to actual food and booze, we have some creative gifts to choose from.

With the corporate offices and main manufacturing plant for Best Maid Pickles located right here in Fort Worth, we are also one of the lucky cities to have a Best Maid Pickle Emporium (829 W Vickery Av, 817-876-1980). For all things pickle-oriented, make a stop here.

From breakfast to late-night food, Ol’ South Pancake House (two locations)

continued on page 11

Speaking of calendars, our 2024 Music Awards are in January. Stay tuned for more info!

we head into the New Year, calendars make excellent gifts.

Throughout October, KXT 91.7FM gave away copies of Homegrown Bites at a series of live remotes at the burger joint’s area locations. The album features many Music Awards favorites, including The Toadies, Phantomelo, Robert Ellis, the Squeezebox Bandits, and more on orange vinyl. Those events were fire! If you missed out on the freebies, you can purchase a copy on Discogs.com starting at $57.88.

While Robert Ellis has a more recent album to his name, 2023’s Yesterday’s News, it’s two tracks from 2019’s Texas Piano Man — “Topo Chico” and “When You’re Away” — that are in heavy

Gift Guide

is an annual Best Of favorite with our critics and readers alike. For an athome experience, you can give the gift of coffee, coffee cups, pancakes, syrup, or all of the above. Pop into the locations in Fort Worth (1509 S University Dr, 817-336-0311) or Burleson (225 E Renfro St, 817-989-9090) in person or at OlSouthPancakeHouse.com/Store.

Mmm, what a burger! Even though the Texas chain was sold to a company outside the state a while back, Texans still love this fast-food mecca and flock there after shutting down bars all over town. Local folk artist Jack Daw is clearly a fan. He uses his what-a-garbage to create art. You can find his online shop at Etsy.com/shop/JackDawFolkArt and the man himself at various pop-up markets around town.

Music: Gifts of Sound & Vision

While we’re on the subject of Whataburger, let’s talk about this incredible album project they’ve done with a local radio station.

rotation. You can purchase a signed copy of Yesterday’s News on black vinyl with 12-inch insert artwork at https:// RobertEllis.website. He does also have a 2024 single called “Here We Are,” which you can see live this month at Gruene Hall. (Read more in this week’s Music section.)

And if you didn’t buy tickets to The Toadies’ upcoming annual show at Billy Bob’s Texas on Sat, Dec 28, for the hardcore fan in your life, you still have time. Or, you could get them the new limited edition “I Burn” candle that just dropped at … oh, crap. It’s sold out. A potential

continued on page 13

continued from page 10

Give the gift of an at-home Ol’ South experience this season.

Pete had his act together and picked up a free copy of Homegrown Bites. If you did not and now need to buy one, head to Discogs.

You must burn this candle!

substitute provided by Metallica might suffice. The guys want you to “catch a fire and burn all the misery” with a custom, special edition “You Must Burn” candle for $34.99 at Metallica.com.

Arts & Culture: Creepy Books for a Long Winter’s Night

Besides tickets to any number of exhibits and productions put on by various arts organizations around town (see: Stage this week), this category includes many gift choice items, including some exciting books.

Titan Books just published a new Winter Solstice anthology called Christmas and Other Horrors. Edited by Ellen Datlow, these tales from 17 authors were inspired by the long winter nights that summon a dark tradition of ghouls, ghost tales, and horror. It’s available on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble for $18.99. If crime fiction is your thing, pick up a copy of Eight Very Bad Nights: A Collection of Hanukkah Noir. Curated by New York Times bestselling author Tod Goldberg, this collection of 11 delightful and twisted capers will entertain you through all eight nights of the Festival of Lights. This hardbound title is available

on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, or on Bookshop.org for $ 27.95.

Local adventurer/author/musician/ podcaster Lyle Blackburn has an online store called MonstroBizarro.com, where you can purchase his cryptology books, including his recent Lake Worth Monster: The True Story of the Greer Island Goatman ($18), or his hot sauce ($8) and music on CD from his band, Ghoultown ($10).

Metropolis: In Other News

There are several metaphysical shops in our area, including Aura, Emboddi, Enchanted Forest, Hearth Wisdom, and the new Hemlock, but Higher Purpose Emporium (505 W Northside Dr, Fort Worth, 682-207-5351) has been in our news section a lot. That’s because not only was owner Ivy Aranaught possibly discriminated against by her insurance

carrier, but she also has been the target of right-wing protests since opening three years ago. Starting at $13, you can help her ward off all the evil eyes upon her with an evil-eye tray that would make a great, witchy stocking stuffer. Or you can go bigger and spend $36 at a wreathmaking class and come away with a hand-made gift this Saturday — more info at HigherPurposeEmporium.com.

Local creators Andrew Calvert and Scott Prather have recently published a

YA comic book aimed at helping readers navigate the stages of grief. Physical copies of the first issue of Hiraeth, the Untimely Adventures of Bevel and Logan are now available via Kickstarter.com with options starting at $10. For $70, you will receive two physical copies (one with a cover by Scott Prather, the other by Martin Simmonds), a three-sticker pack, one enamel pin, and copies of each version of the variant art in play. Heavy content? For sure. But for the right person, this would be a highly collectible and deeply appreciated gift.

continued on page 15

Physical copies of the first issue of Hiraeth, the Untimely Adventures of Bevel and Logan are now available.

Screen: Ghouls on Film

For those on a budget, area discount stores and thrift shops have great stuff you can use to DIY some gift bags and baskets with movie themes.

Taking inspiration from last year’s Holidays Issue with its Christmas Vacation homage cover, how about a holiday movie basket? Use a popcorn bucket as a base ($3 at Michaels) and stuff it with holiday movies (four for $20 at Movie Trading Company), popcorn, and other movie-night snacks from Town Talk Foods, and then bundle in a cello basket bag and tie up with a ribbon ($1.25 apiece at Dollar Tree). You can keep it under $20, we swear, but it will look like you went all out.

With this being the 30th anniversary of The Nightmare Before Christmas, the stuff is everywhere, including discount retail locations. If there’s a cinephile in your realm, grab some Nightmare gift bags from the new goods section of your local Goodwill ($1.50) and stuff them with themed items from Temu, Walgreens, or Walmart. You could also pick up a mystery bag of DVDs at Movie Trading

Company for $12. A true fan, like one of our staffers, might even decorate for the holidays with all of the above.

Stuff: Go, Sports!

Sports contributor Rush Olson has a lot to say this week about sports tickets as gifts, but did he find a fabulous TCU bracelet? No. He did not.

But I did. Along with the Horned Frogs, fans can wear higher-end fashion jewelry on game day to cheer on the Razorbacks, Tarheels, Volunteers, and

more, thanks to Steele Sloan Designs. This TCU bangle bracelet, for example, is tarnish-resistant stainless steel that comes in a gold or silver color for $48. See it all at SteeleSloanDesigns.com.

Professional and college sports teams, beer brands, national bands, and novelty designs all grace the fronts of the T-shirts in your closet and on the racks of thrift stores, retail outlets, and band merch tables, and Zombie Killer Designs is here to upcycle every stitch

of it. During the warmer months, you’ll find a lot of cropped shirts embellished and bejeweled and sleeves replaced with ruffles. Right now, it’s all about the flannels with the rescued images gracing the backs as large patches. Shop from the stock of already completed projects at any number of local pop-up markets, or bring owner Sarah something of your own to customize. Get updates on where she’ll be next by following her at Facebook.com/ZombieKillerDesigns. l

Take your inspiration for affordable giftgiving from holiday movies like we did last year.

Art by Ryan Burger and Wyatt Newquist

Perfect for the TCU fangirl on your list. Courtesy Steele Sloan Designs

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Nightmare Before Christmas this season.

Photo by Jennifer Bovee

plans (known as Gold Glove or Silver Slugger plans), or put together your own Fan’s Choice plan of games similar but not all identical to the other plans. The former range from a per-ticket price of $460 for upper reserved seats to $1,960 for Select Infield Mezzanine, the latter starting at $500 per seat. Check them out at TexasRangers.com.

Charitable Endeavors

Giving someone a ticket or entry to a sports-themed charity event just might get you on the nice list — enjoy that added bit of good karma in your own stocking. Here are a couple of possibilities:

Josh Jung’s Backyard Battle by MLW

You can play in a wiffle ball tournament fronted by Rangers third baseman Josh Jung at Globe Life Field (734 Stadium Dr, Arlington, 817-533-1972) benefiting the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation & Miracle League. It’s Sun, Jan 12, and costs $145 for a team of 3-4 players. Age divisions include 10-12, 13-15, and 16-and-up. You’re guaranteed at least two games per team. Get info at MLWWiffleball.com.

Isner Cup

The recently retired John Isner was a top-ranked tennis player for more than a decade. He and his wife created the Isner Family Foundation to support indigent families with kids in the care of Children’s Health Hospital in Dallas. The annual Isner Cup is an exclusive benefit event featuring fare from some of North Texas’ top restaurants and a chance to mingle with tennis pros at the Sub-Zero Wolf & Cove Showroom (3707 Lemmon Av, Dallas) 6:30pm-9pm Thu, Jan 30. Find details at JohnIsner.com.

Merchandise & More

Book Recommendations

We received a couple of recommendations for literary sports gifts from the proprietors of The Dock Bookshop (6637 Meadowbrook Dr, Fort Worth, 817-4575700). They said Elevate and Dominate: 21 Ways to Win On and Off the Field by Colorado coach and former Dallas Cowboy Deion Sanders has been popular. Sanders also visited the store earlier this year after the book came out. For young adult fiction, The Dock suggests The Crossover by Kwame Alexander. Written in verse, it won both the Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award Honor and Disney+ also turned it into a TV series.

The Bull Riding Hall of Fame

Help your significant other feel like a bad dude with a T-shirt from The Bull Riding Hall of Fame (121 E Exchange Av, Fort Worth, 512-400-9078). Check out the gifts page at TheBullRidingHOF.com.

Dallas Wings

Did you realize you can get a Dallas Wings Christmas sweatshirt or crewneck? Of course, they also have authentic jerseys, T-shirts, and plush toys of their Pegasus mascot, Lightning. Check out the assortment at ShopDallasWings.com.

Pickleball + Partaking

Courtside Kitchen (1615 Rogers Rd, Fort Worth, 682-255-5751) offers a combination of pickleball courts and craft cocktails. The order in which you indulge in them is up to you. Order a gift card at CourtsideKitchen.com or in person.

TCU Purple

Yeah, we listed the Horned Frogs twice. If you buy some game tickets as noted above, you may want to have some purple in your wardrobe to wear to the game. If you order online (just click “Shop” at GoFrogs.com) in a timely

fashion, the TCU bookstore offers free ground shipping on orders of $75 or more. But if you’re not on the ball, you’re still covered. The physical store at the corner of University and West Berry in Fort Worth is open until 2pm on Christmas Eve to save you from your own procrastination.

UT Arlington

How about some UTA gear under the tree? Pick some up online at UTAGear. com or visit the UTA Bookstore (400 Spaniolo Dr, Arlington, 817-2722785) in person. You can also acquire some at the merchandise shop at any of their three remaining December home basketball games at College Park Center (600 S Center St, Arlington, 817-272-5584), including Sat, Dec 14 (men’s team vs. Louisiana Monroe); Mon, Dec 16 (women’s team vs. Florida International); or Wed, Dec 18 (men’s team vs. Evansville). l

The Dock recommends Elevate and Dominate: 21 Ways to Win On and Off the Field by Colorado coach and former Dallas Cowboy Deion Sanders this holiday season.

Season’s Swishes from the Wings!

SCREEN

Holiday Movie Preview

Hot new presents arrive at our multiplexes for the season.

BY KRISTIAN LIN

It’s that time of year again, when movies jockeying for awards-buzz and places on critics’ Top 10 lists crowd our multiplexes. To guide you, I’m going in chronological order this December. This week brings The Return, which is based on the last portion of Homer’s The Odyssey, when Odysseus (Ralph Fiennes) comes back home to his wife (Juliette Binoche). The Order stars Jude Law as an FBI agent tracking white supremacists in the 1980s. As counterprogramming, Y2K is a teen horror-comedy that imagines machines rising up against humans when the calendar switches from 1999 to 2000, so expect late-’90s nostalgia to be out in force. The most anticipated offering of this week figures to be Nightbitch, adapted from Rachel Yoder’s novel about a frustrated housewife (Amy Adams) who finds herself changing into a wild animal. I’ll post a review of it in our online edition.

The weekend of December 13 brings the relatively unheralded supervillain

origin story Kraven the Hunter, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson starring and J.C. Chandor (Margin Call, All Is Lost) directing. September 5 is a German-made thriller about the ABC sports reporters who covered the terrorist attack at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Of most interest is The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an animated prequel to J.R.R. Tolkien’s saga that uses the voices of actors from Peter Jackson’s trilogy but is drawn by Japanese animators. An anime treatment of Tolkien might be just what Middle Earth needs.

On December 20, we get the third Sonic the Hedgehog movie, but we’ll be much more interested in Mufasa: The Lion King. The prequel to the Disney saga is directed by Barry Jenkins in an abrupt turn from his films like Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk, and it features songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Jenkins is also the writer on The Fire Inside, a biography of gold medalwinning Olympic boxer Claressa Shields, which comes out on Christmas Day. The 25th also features Nosferatu, Robert

Eggers’ hotly anticipated remake of the 1922 silent vampire classic, which is set during the Christmas season. Nicole Kidman is drawing Oscar talk as a CEO who has a dangerous affair with a much younger man in Babygirl, and the same can be said for Timothée Chalamet in the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown. A much weirder music biopic will drop soon after the New Year. Better Man tells the life of Robbie Williams with a CGI monkey portraying the British singer as a “narcissistic, punchable, shit-eating twat.” (That is Williams’ description of himself, FYI.) Other 2024 specialty releases whose dates are to be confirmed include 2073, a time-travel docudrama by Asif Kapadia, who won an Oscar for Amy. There’s also Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl, which stars Pamela Anderson as a Vegas showgirl whose show abruptly closes after 30 years. That film has a packed supporting cast, and so does Brady Corbet’s monumental The Brutalist, with Adrien Brody as a Hungarian Jewish architect who emigrates to Philadelphia after World War II.

Luca Guadagnino’s second feature film of the year is his William Burroughs adaptation Queer, with Daniel Craig as a gay man who finds love in South America in the 1950s. Actor Jack Huston makes his directing debut with Day of the Fight, a black-and-white drama about a boxer (Michael Pitt) who prepares for his first bout after serving a prison sentence. Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig was the talk of the Cannes Film Festival this past summer, and RaMell Ross’ Nickel Boys is a stunning drama (adapted from Colson Whitehead’s novel) about a group of Black kids who are tortured at a Florida reform school in the 1960s. Finally, Pedro Almodóvar makes his very first English-language feature with The Room Next Door, with Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton as women who reunite decades after working together at the same magazine. Many of these titles figure to be players in the Oscar race this coming March, so you can get a step on awards season at your multiplex. l

A CGI chimpanzee with Robbie Williams’ singing voice stars in the unconventional biopic Better Man.

Courtesy Paramount Pictures

NIGHT & DAY

It’s December, y’all. So, there’s really only time for crafting and shopping for presents and streaming holiday content. Am I right? Let’s unpack all of that right here, shall we?

Getting Crafty

If ALDI is a mecca for grocery finds, the ALDI Aisle of Shame Community is a cult, and I might need to be deprogrammed. This Facebook group rejoices in finding the oddities and discounted items in the center aisle, where gift items and home decor live. Followers shout out “caw-caw” upon arrival in the hopes of a fellow member echoing the sentiment. Online, they — OK, “we” — share how the items are incorporated into our worlds, like the wine sweater that ended up on a 9-week-old kitten. The latest craze is turning the $10-ish (price varies by location) ALDI wooden snowmen and Santas into something else. A crafty fan noticed an uncanny resemblance in shape to South Park’s Mr. Hanky, and, well, you know. Now, if I could only get Board & Brush involved, as I will need some guidance in this endeavor. If I find one of my own, that is.

Speaking of Board & Brush, there’s something to do every Saturday this month at the Arlington location (500 E Front St, Ste 150, 682-238-4537), including this one. At 2pm, enjoy a Family Make-and-Take all-ages workshop ($20) with a variety of wood and paint projects to choose from. Then, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm this Saturday, plus Saturdays Dec 14, 21, and 28, attend a Pick-Your-Project event ($73) for ages 14 and up, with the 21st being the Jingle & Mingle Party. All events are BYOB. For more info, go to BoardandBrush.com/Arlington.

Known for her inventive arts-andcraft nights, Tyler at The Cicada (1002

S Main St, Fort Worth, @The_Cicada_ FTW) is hosting a DIY Yule Ornament Workshop. From 8pm to 11pm on Mon, Dec 16, you are invited to step into the enchanting world of Yule with a night of intentional crafting, where you will create your own ornament using a specially curated selection of mystical botanicals, magical ingredients, and spices. Workshop leaders @ArtioArtisanals says, “Whether you’re warding off winter spirits, inviting good fortune, or simply celebrating the season, your ornament will be a unique keepsake to treasure.” Tickets are $30 on Eventbrite.com and include all the materials needed for the project, as well as one drink ticket so that you can try a complimentary seasonal cocktail or mocktail.

Pop-Up Shopping

You can do your part for #ShoppingLocal by visiting mom-and-pop storefronts, but you can also meet your maker at a variety of upcoming free pop-up events around Fort Worth.

The Rabbit Hole Pub (3237 White Settlement Rd, Fort Worth,

817-744-7160) is hosting its monthly Rabbit Hole Roundup from noon to 5pm on Sunday, with 50 local businesses, several food trucks, and many drink specials. (Normally, their vendor market is the first weekend of the month, but they pushed it to the second weekend to take Thanksgiving off.)

NTX Vintage Markets is hosting its annual Indoor Holiday Market at Panther Island Brewing (501 N Main St, Fort Worth, 817-882-8121) 1pm-5pm Sun, Dec 8, featuring local vendors, a permanent jewelry pop-up, live music, football on the big screen, brunch specials, and $2 mimosas.

The next Rock ’n’ Roll Rummage Sale at South Main MicroPark (105 S Main St, Fort Worth, @ RockNRollRummageSale) is from noon to 5pm on Sun, Dec 15, with 130 vendors, photo ops with Santa Claus, and live music by Luther & Parish, Robert Sieben, and Midnight Thirty. Read about this and other Honeysuckle Rose events on FWWeekly.com in Blotch.

Doc’s Records & Vintage (2628 Weisenberger St, Fort Worth, 817-7325455) hosts a Vintage Flea Market on the third Saturday of each month with live music from local musicians and free beer provided by Manhattan Project Beer Co. Having just done a big event for Record Store Day on Black Friday, it’s unclear as of press time as to whether Sat, Dec 21, is a go or not. However, Doc’s always has great vintage finds in their permanent booth area and killer tunes blasting overhead, so it would still be a great day to shop sans beer. Maybe shotgun some in the parking lot Wee Beasties-style. No? You’re right. No. Follow Doc’s on Instagram for updates.

At halftime during the Texans/Ravens game on Christmas Day, H-town/Get-down native Beyonce will perform.

Where do you find a sweater for a 9-weekold kitten? The ALDI Aisle of Shame, of course.

Santa, meet Mr. Hankey.

Meet Bear and Wendy, the makers behind Artio Artisinals, at the Yule Ornament Workshop at The Cicada next Monday.

There are lots of gift-worthy projects available throughout December at Board & Brush.

Sunday, the Rabbit Hole Roundup offers pop-up shopping and drink specials.

Screenings & Streamings

Elf, Four Christmases, Love Actually, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, The Night Before, and The Santa Clause are part of the list of screenings available in December as part of the Fireside Films series at Rooftop Cinema Club on the roof of The Worthington Renaissance (235 Throckmorton St, Fort Worth, 817-8701000). Loveseats are available for optimal snuggling, and tickets include a personal heater and complimentary gourmet warm drinks, including hot chocolate, cider, coffee, or tea. Tickets are $21-30 at RoofTopCinemaClub.com/fort-worth/, where you can also find info about future events in the series.

recently restored version of Bob Clark’s immortal holiday slasher film Black Christmas (1974).

Something magical is happening on Christmas Day. Because we don’t have enough football to satisfy our Texas appetites with high school games on Friday, college games on Saturdays, and pro games on Sunday and Monday … and Thursday … and Thanksgiving, the NFL is hosting its inaugural Christmas Day Game. At NRG Stadium, the Houston Texans will take on the Baltimore Ravens with a halftime show by Houston native Beyonce. And because Netflix isn’t satisfied with just ruining boxing for the masses, they have decided to take football down with them. Yes, this game will be streaming (or buffering) on Netflix at 3:30pm on Wed, Dec 25. (Seriously, Netflix, get it together. Do you really want to piss off #TheBeyHive?)

By Jennifer Bovee

Enjoy a family film night at Burnett Park (501 W 7th St, Fort Worth, 817870-1692) with a special screening of Elf under the stars this Friday at 7pm. Free parking is provided on the upper floor of the First on 7th Garage (625 Burnett St, Fort Worth, 682-747-6991). There is no cost to attend. Just bring your own blanket. Arrive early for free photos with Santa Claus from 5pm to 7pm under the Singing Trees.

Alamo is back! Along with new first-run features, the theater is screening some classic holiday movies, too, at our area location, Alamo Drafthouse Denton (3220 Town Center Tr, 940-441-4233). This Sunday at 11am, it’s “all aboard!” with an interactive family adventure at The Polar Express Movie Party. Then, at 6:30pm on Dec 12, there’s an Elf Movie Party with themed games, props, and singing loud for all to hear. Also, as part of its Time Capsule series, you can see a

Elf screens Friday under the stars at Burnett Park or at an Elf Party Night on Wed, Dec 12, at Alamo Drafthouse Denton.

Bring the kids to a Polar Express Party at Alamo Drafthouse Denton this Saturday morning.

The Night Before is a more modern film than the rest of the classics in the Fireside Series at Rooftop Cinema Club this month.

BOOKS

Holiday Book Guide

With a new year on the way, it’s time to load up on new books.

BY REESE PIERCE

For us Black Friday holdouts and for the last-minute shoppers, choosing the right gift for the Holidays can be daunting as we draw closer to the end of the year. You might consider a gift card, but that is truly phoning it in. Don’t worry. All is not lost. As long as we have the written word, we have options. How long has it been since you’ve wandered around a bookstore looking at titles? Whatever your answer is, it’s been too long. I know there aren’t bookstores on the corner of every street, but Fort Worth has plenty of options. And if you’re a serious procrastinator, Amazon can get you a title in a day, but at least try to give that money to one of our awesome local spots. To get you moving in the right direction and make it easy, I have done some legwork for you, starting with some key nonfiction choices (in no particular order).

you in The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. Backed by research and statistics, he delves into the roles that the smartphone and social media have played on rewiring the brains of Gen Z. This is a great book for anyone with kids or for that person in your family who never puts down their phone.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, Dr. Judson Brewer previously tackled anxiety in his 2021 book, Unwinding Anxiety, and he has explored the nature of our minds and addiction in his 2017 title, The Craving Mind. This time, he is back to lend his expertise as an addiction psychiatrist and neuroscientist to help people control their eating and end the cycle of dieting. This is perfect for those who love a good self-help book or want to understand our psychology around food.

Did you look around during family Thanksgiving and think to yourself, “Why the hell is everyone on their phone, and what is wrong with these damn kids?” Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt is here to answer that question for

With the never-ending cycle of violence and war in the Middle East and the constant talking heads in the media trying to give us our opinions, it is easy to lose the story. While this book won’t solve any crisis, it will provide an objective look at the rich history of the Abrahamic Religions and the Middle East. This title is perfect for any religious person, history buff, or avid nonfiction reader on your list.

Klosterman is probably best-known for his pop-culture essays, and in this book that he wrote to keep himself busy during the pandemic, he focuses exclusively on one decade. He not only defines the ’90s via life-changing historical events (according to him, it’s not as simple as January 1 to January 1), but he is also able to bring some insight into what distinguished this point in time. Touching on grunge, politics, art, and entertainment, he never strays too far from pop culture and its wake.

In fiction, there are too many options to list, but here are a few to get you started.

The first of two books that keep popping up on many notable lists this year is Percival Everett’s reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The journey here is seen through the eyes of Jim (James, in this case), Huck’s Black adult sidekick.

The second novel to make many yearend lists is Long Island Compromise. It follows a fictionalized account of a real kidnapping involving a rich American family and the trauma that ensues from that devastating event.

If weird ecohorror fiction is your thing, or if you love a great science-fiction

Diaries of Home

mystery, then the Southern Reach series by Jeff VanderMeer is for you. This unexpected fourth installment of the original Southern Reach Trilogy picks up some of the dangling threads and handles some of the unanswered questions from Annihilation, Authority, and Acceptance If Annihilation sounds familiar, that’s because writer/director Alex Garland adapted it to film in 2018 starring Natalie Portman and Oscar Issac.

With nuclear tensions rising around the world thanks to Russia, it’s always a good idea to have a handy field guide for the forthcoming wasteland of cannibals, Mad Max-esque freaks, and a dying planet. The Road also happens to be a beautiful work of literary fiction with just enough

hope to keep you going. This is perfect for your doomsday preppers and serious lovers of fiction alike.

• 4th Annual Merry & Bright Drone Shows, Mondays, December 2 & 7

• 45th Annual Parade of Lights, Thursday, December 5

• Shop & Dine at Grapevine Mills & Historic Main Street

• Enormous Christmas Displays & Decorations

• Peace Plaza Ice Rink

STAGE

Santa’s Stages

Local boards light up with festive song and dance this season.

BY ANTHONY MARIANI

There may be no better time to put your butts in some seats than the holidays. This time of year normally offers a great mix of classics we all know and love and original works that may be set in the weeks between Thanksgiving and late December but don’t get all caught up in the festive hoopla. Fort Worth theater is here to fill your cup to the

brim, starting with The Nutcracker. Texas Ballet Theater’s production of the 1892 Tchaikovsky classic has become an annual tradition in North Texas, and this year’s Fort Worth performances are Thu-Sun at Bass Performance Hall (525 Commerce St, Fort Worth, 817212-4280). During matinee shows, the

lobby of the glorious downtown venue will be transformed into the Kingdom of Sweets. One hour before showtime, kids will be able to meet and take a photo with a real ballerina, write a letter to the dancers, see costumes up close, and learn about ballet training. There’s also an Ugly Sweater Night Thursday. Wear

your ugliest sweater, and enter in the lobby to win prizes in a contest.

Featuring holiday parodies of today’s most popular songs, ’Twas the Night Before Christmas follows a little girl who can’t find her holiday spirit, so her mom

continued on page 27

Come break the rules and say “yes!” to new art experiences at the Carter’s Second Thursdays! Every Second Thursday is different than the last — mingle with fellow art lovers, make art, and meet visiting artists, sometimes with live music and always with themed cocktails. You’ll never think of museums in the same way again.

THURSDAY DEC 12 | 5–8 P.M. JAZZ & JINGLES

We’re celebrating the holiday season with a night of smooth sounds by Stockton Helbing and Jeffrey Todd while celebrating the art of Stuart Davis.

Kick up your heels. Texas Ballet Theater’s Nutcracker is here.

Dutch Art IN A GLOBAL AGE

Masterpieces from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

NOVEMBER 10–FEBRUARY 9

Dutch Art in a Global Age: Masterpieces from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is supported in part by Frost, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the Fort Worth Tourism Public Improvement District. Organized by Promotional support provided by

Jacob van Ruisdael, Rough Sea (detail), c. 1670, oil on canvas. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. William Francis Warden Fund, 57.4. Photograph ©️ Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

takes her on a magical treasure hunt all through New York City, with stops at Radio City Music Hall and Macy’s, among others. (CBGB on the itinerary?)

Casa Manana (3101 W Lancaster Av, Fort Worth, 817-332-2272) will be the site of this timeless tale thru Mon, Dec 23. There’ll be a sensory-friendly performance 11am Sun, Dec 8, with a more relaxed environment, including muted production elements such as lights and sound, and a quiet room.

Commissioned by NBC and first performed by the NBC Opera Theatre on December 24, 1951, Amahl and the Night Visitors is an opera in one act by Gian Carlo Menotti with an original English libretto by the composer and has become a holiday staple across the world. The first opera specifically composed for television in the United States is kind of like the story of the Little Drummer Boy, so you know it’s a crowd pleaser. Fort Worth Opera knows it is, which is why the troupe is performing Amahl 11am and 3pm Fri-Sat, Dec 20-21, at the Fort

continued on page 28 ’Twas the Night … to have gone on a magical journey through Casa Manana.

Courtesy Casa Manana

Worth Botanic Garden (3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-4634160). Proceeds from this event benefit the Botanic Garden. Tickets are $15-25.

FWO will also present a special afternoon of music at 2pm Sat, Dec 14, at Fort Worth Presbyterian Church (6251 Oakmont Tr, Fort Worth, 817-731-3300). The FWO’s Hattie Mae Lesley Resident Artists will perform an hour of holiday favorites as part of the show Wintersong.

North Texas’ most esteemed Black troupe, Jubilee Theatre brings the sounds of the season and some good old-fashioned elder wisdom to W.E. Scott Theatre at Arts Fort Worth (1300 Gendy St, Fort Worth, 817-738-1938) Friday thru Sun, Dec 15. In the heartwarming Auntie Explains Christmas, her friends and family learn the true meaning of the season while singing and dancing the night away.

Will Rogers Auditorium (330 E 4th St, Ste 200, Fort Worth, 817-665-6000) will turn into Arendelle when the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra performs the music of Frozen 7:30pm Fri, Dec

13, and 2pm Sat, Dec 14. The FWSO will perform “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?,” “First Time in Forever,” and more, including the showstopper “Let It Go,” as the film plays on the big screen behind the musicians. Tickets are $46-121.

At Haversham Manor, “things are quickly going from bad to horrible,” and as Stage West’s production of The Play That Goes Wrong proves, that disaster gets those butts (maybe yours?) in the seats. With an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors

who keep tripping over everything, including their lines, The Play That Goes Wrong runs through Sun, Dec 22, at 821/823 W Vickery Blvd (Fort Worth, 817-784-9378). l

There’s murder, there’s mayhem, there’s a Play That Goes Wrong.

EATS & drinks

ATE DAY8 of Easy Holiday Stuff(ing) to Make for Gatherings

BY ELAINE WILDER

If you had terrible dressing or awful sausage balls over Thanksgiving, whoever made them either isn’t from here or just can’t cook. Keep reading. I’ve got this. Once we rectify those situations, I’ve got some easy items that will be great for entertaining this month and give you a chance at a Thanksgiving redemption meal.

1.) Oh, Balls

If you hate the sausage balls you’ve had before, give mine a chance. My recipe is a

variation of the traditional Bisquick one but done better. Way better. Premium meat is the key.

Ingredients: You will need 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 3 cups baking mix, 1 pound mild Italian sausage, 1 pound hot Italian sausage, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 cup milk, 1 tablespoon dried Parsley flakes, and 1 tablespoon crushed rosemary leaves. Directions: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Smoosh (technical term) the two types of sausage together in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, combine your two cheeses and herbs

with your meat in the big bowl. Add the baking mix a cup at a time, squishing (more technical jargon) with your hands to combine. Add the milk and knead it all together. Roll into balls and bake for 20 minutes. Serve with ranch dip.

Tips: The sausage will only absorb so much of the baking mix, and that’s OK. You’ll know when they look right. Don’t force in the extra mix. That’s how you end up with hockey pucks. For a more decadent version, substitute the milk for heavy cream or undiluted evaporated milk. As for rolling the balls, honestly, you can just use an ice cream scoop. Done and done.

2.) Say Cheese

This festive Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball by Timeless Recipes is definitely not your Grandma’s cheese ball. This one is “bursting with the flavors of tangy cranberries, creamy cheese, and crunchy pecans — perfect for your holiday table!”

Main Ingredients: Gather 8 ounces softened cream cheese, 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup finely chopped dried cranberries, 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper.

Coating Ingredients: The final items needed are 1/3 cup chopped dried cranberries, 1/3 cup chopped pecans, and 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley.

Directions: Mix both cheeses, the chopped cranberries, parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl until well combined. Transfer the mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap, shape it into a ball, leave it wrapped, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up. For the coating, combine chopped cranberries, pecans, and parsley and roll the chilled ball in the mixture until evenly coated.

Serving Tips: Place the cheese ball on a serving platter and surround it with crackers, crostini, or vegetable slices. Garnish with extra pecans and parsley for a festive touch.

3.) Let’s Talk Turkey

Butterball recently debuted a Cookfrom-Frozen Whole Turkey. It’s prebrined and effortless, “giving you a delicious centerpiece without any hard work in the kitchen.” This product avoids the whole when-to-thaw-the-turkey debate. It’s already ready already.

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove the frozen turkey from the outer bag. Loosen the inner wrapping by running under cold water for a minute and massage. Use grip and tear to remove the turkey. Place the bird in a 3-inch deep roasting pan with breast side up on a rack, coil, or foil. Do not cover or continued on page 33

This cheese ball is nothing like Grandma’s.

Timeless Recipes

add water. Brush or spray turkey with oil. Position in the center of the oven. Roast until fully cooked. Roasting time will vary by oven. After 4 hours, loosely tent the breast with foil to avoid overcooking. It’s done cooking when the internal temperature reaches 170 degrees in the breast and thigh. Remove from oven. Be careful of hot juices. Rest 20-30 minutes in pan. Carve and serve.

Tips: Do NOT thaw. Do NOT deep fry. Do NOT pass go. Do NOT collect $200.

4.) Stuffing Your Face

Unless you put it up the turkey’s bum, you’ve got dressing, not stuffing. Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, here’s how to do a great Southern dressing. My recipe is a modification of a Southern Living favorite.

Ingredients: You will need 3.5 cups of chicken or turkey broth, 3 cups of crumbled cornbread muffins, 3 cups of crumbled biscuits, 1.5 cups of diced onions, 1 cup of chopped celery, 1.5 tablespoons dried sage, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 stick of butter, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and a dash of garlic powder.

Directions: Preheat your oven to

385 degrees. Melt the butter in a saucepan on medium heat. Add the celery and onions and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, sage, thyme, and pepper and sauté for 2 more minutes. Let cool. Whisk the eggs in a large baking pan, then add your sauteed mixture and the broth and mix well. Dump in your breading and combine it with your hands. Bake for 40 minutes. Check halfway through cooking, and if it’s already browning, pour a little more broth/stock around the edges so it doesn’t dry out too much.

Tips: Green’s Produce stocks prechopped onions and celery around the holidays, and Town Talk always has turkey broth at a discount. Layer the flavors by sprinkling some ground sage and

thyme into the cornbread batter when baking them. Speaking of cornbread, the muffin/cupcake format gives you more golden edges and, therefore, texture. As for the biscuits, canned ones are fine, but avoid the ones with “flakey layers.” You just want good old plain biscuits for this. If you are cooking for a big crowd, double the recipe but still cook it in two pans. Apartment dwellers, if you don’t have large baking pans, you can also use the crock from your crock pot in the oven.

5.) Dangle that Carrot

Like many of you, along with general doomscrolling and hunting down new cat videos, social media offers an array of recipe choices supplied by influencers, home cooks, and your mom ’n’ ’em. Facebook is where I found these very beautiful, delicious-sounding MapleGlazed Bacon-Wrapped Carrots. I mean, just look at them!

Directions: Ingredients: All you will need is 2 pounds small, peeled carrots, 1 pound thinly sliced bacon, and 1/4 cup maple syrup.

Instructions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Wrap each carrot with one slice of bacon, starting at the thicker end. Place the wrapped carrots on a wire rack on a baking sheet to allow for even cooking. Bake for about 25 minutes until the bacon is crispy and the carrots are

These maple-glazed bacon-wrapped carrots would also be good with some local honey instead.

tender. Remove from the oven and brush each wrapped carrot with maple syrup on all sides. Return to the oven for an additional 8-10 minutes, allowing the glaze to caramelize.

Tips: Ensure the bacon layers do not overlap too much for even cooking. If you prefer to keep the maple flavor for breakfast time, substitute honey, which can be sourced locally (#KeepItLocal) and is available in various infused flavors.

6.) Potayto, Potahto

I have a very specific morning routine. The cat wakes me up at about 5am. continued on page 35

Turkey couldn’t be any easier this holiday season.

I roll downstairs, make some coffee, watch Good Day on Fox 4 until they run out of fresh content, then hop into my YouTubeTV library to watch recent LIVE with Kelly & Mark episodes. (Watching in real time is no longer an option, as they now come on at 11am. Sigh.) Every day last week, a different cast member demonstrated a favorite recipe as part of their pre-Thanksgiving coverage. When it was Kelly Ripa’s turn, she made an effortless but decadent dish called Kelly’s French Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients: You will need 4 pounds of medium-sized Yukon gold potatoes, 4 cups heavy cream, 2 cups butter, 1 tablespoon kosher salt, and pepper (plus more salt) to taste.

Directions: Peel and quarter the potatoes and put them in a large pot. Add enough water to cover them and add the kosher salt. Bring to a boil and cook for 12-14 minutes or until fork-tender. While the potatoes are cooking, heat the heavy cream in a medium pot to a near boil, then add butter until it’s melted. Drain the cooked potatoes and blend with an electric hand mixer. Add to the cream/ butter mixture and whisk together, then

season with salt and pepper to taste.

Tips: Since two medium potatoes usually weigh about a pound and two cups of prepared instant mashed potatoes are roughly the same as two medium fresh potatoes, you could cheat the system and add 8 cups of dehydrated potato flakes directly to the cream/butter goodness instead of cooking fresh potatoes. As for the butter measurement, 2 cups equals 1 pound or four sticks. Yes, four sticks, so save the dieting for the New Year.

7.) Oh, Christmas Tree

What’s that appliance you use for smoothies and margaritas? Oh, yes, a blender. Armed with one of those and

a few ingredients, you can make some simple but impressive Christmas Tree Cakes Milkshakes.

Ingredients: All you need are 2 cartons of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes, 3 cups vanilla ice cream, 1 cup milk, 1 can spray whipped topping, and some holiday sprinkles.

Directions: In the aforementioned blender, add 4 of the Christmas Tree Cakes, milk, and ice cream. Blend until smooth. Add additional ice cream or cake until it’s the thickness you prefer. Pulse until chopped up and smooth. Pour into glasses and top with a spray of whipped cream, holiday sprinkles, and a whole Christmas Tree Cake as a garnish.

Tip: For a thicker shake, add more ice cream and keep blending until it’s the consistency you like. For a better time altogether, add some booze.

8.) Smells Like Holiday Spirit

Before any food prep, you’ll probably do some housekeeping If you’re serving takeout and passing it off as your own by hiding the containers from your unwitting guests, you’d best do something to make your home smell like you’ve been up to something all day. The folks in the Meal Ideas & Recipe Swap group on Facebook have great suggestions for finding your nirvana, such as this Christmas

Make this Christmas Simmer, and your home will smell like the holidays.

Simmer Pot from Old Fashioned Recipes submitted by member Lisa Beauregard.

Ingredients: You will need 6 cloves, 4 pieces of star anise, 2 cinnamon sticks, 2 oranges, 1 bag of frozen cranberries, 1 lemon, 1 sprig of rosemary, and a pot of water.

Directions: Cut the lemon and oranges into halves or quarters. Combine all of the ingredients in a pot. Cover with water. Bring to a boil. Turn on low and keep it simmering all evening.

Tips: Frozen cherries would also work. Once this gets to the simmer stage, pour some into small mason jars and place on candle warmers in other rooms to spread the holiday smell. l

These cute and festive milkshakes made with Christmas Tree Cakes are supereasy.

Hot Deals At Cool Prices

EATS & drinks

Sleighing Holiday Cheer

Now that the calendar’s just one page, it’s quite possible you could use a drink.

BY LAURIE JAMES

With massive apologies to the Waitresses and their seminal end-of-year ode “Christmas Wrapping,” this is the time of year that’s a busy blur. You may be stuck in your drinking rut, drinking more because of parties, or drinking less for your health. Whatever the reason, here are some options from the boozy to the sublimely seasonal.

For nonalcoholic starters, ’tis the season for festive coffee beverages.

The Elevated Elixir’s Cherry Bombe is a zero-proof cocktail that gives espresso martini vibes

Ostara Coffee (208 E Broadway Av, Fort Worth, 817-678-7922) recently launched a holiday collaboration with Santitos (SantitosMX.com), an Oak Cliff-based small business specializing in Horchata, Café de Olla, and Michelada concentrates. At Ostara’s Holiday Market last weekend, I sampled the Santitos Horchata, a recipe steeped in their family history. The flavor of Mexican cinnamon floods your tastebuds with confusing messages. Is this cinnamon and nutmeg? Cinnamon and allspice? Most of the

Cherry Bombe (courtesy Elevated Elixir)

4 oz Lyre’s Zero Proof Coffee Originale (Lyres.com)

2 oz cherry, brown sugar, cinnamon simple syrup

Dash of All the Bitter New Orleans Bitters Cherry (AlltheBitter.com) to garnish 1/2 cup of ice

In a shaker, combine the coffee zero-proof liqueur and the simple, shake well with the ice, strain into a martini glass and finish with a dash of the cherry bitters. Garnish with a cherry if you’re in the mood.

cinnamon in grocery stores is Indonesian cinnamon, essentially cassia tree bark that barely tastes like the original. Mexican cinnamon packs a floral punch of warmth. Ostara is one of the few local places you can try the Santitos Horchata concentrate in a latte or as a frothy cold foam topper to any of the coffee options. Actually, horchata may be the secret spice for coffee in 2024. Cup O’Vibes (800 E Sublett Rd, Ste 170, Arlington, 817-706-1451) offers a pumpkin horchata latte and several other treats with seasonal flavors like blackberry and maple. And the Hola Jefe! horchata-caramel cold brew combo at Hustle Blendz (120 St. Louis Av, Ste 101, 682-417-2110) might oust the shop’s Million Dollar White Mocha as your favorite cold brew. In other seasonal flavor opportunities, Crue Craft Coffee Bar (804 S Main St, Fort Worth, 682-224-5541) has a

Santitos Horchata Latte (courtesy SantitosMX.com)

2 oz Santitos Horchata

2 oz espresso (or Trinity River’s Silver Star Ranch Style Coffee or Acre’s Java Shine if you want a Double Dirty Horchata)

6 oz milk, half and half, or oat milk

Mix well, serve warm or over ice, and try not to slurp.

Santitos Horchata is the perfect addition to Ostara coffee, and you can get any beverage with horchata cold foam this month.

non-coffee take on the season. The Grinch Matcha is a matcha latte with house-made peppermint syrup, and the green concoction is topped with a little crushed candy cane. Harvest Coffee (2725 Heritage Trace Pkwy, Fort

continued on page 39

Eats & Drinks

Worth, 817-953-4080) has every seasonal taste you could want in lattes, including gingerbread, egg nog, and Christmas cookie, along with a peppermint mocha. And Inclusion Coffee (101 E Abram St, Ste 110, Arlington, 817-629-2224) ups the seasonal flavor with their Dirty Gingerbread Chai; a coffee-free S’mores Drinking Chocolate with a torched marshmallow topping; and a Christmas Crème Brûlée with caramel, vanilla, and a brûléed sugar top.

If you want a beautiful zero-proof cocktail, Beth Hutson at The Elevated Elixir (ElevatedContent.com) has a site full of festive, gorgeously photographed, alcohol-free options. She has a great

1.5

Trudie’s Signature Lavender Prosecco

recipe for a Cherry Bombe that will give you espresso martini vibes with no headaches, and all the recipes come with links to purchase the ingredients. Earlier this year, my friend Trudie reminded me about the potent magic of making your own simple syrups by heating water and your choice of sugar (white, brown, coconut, monkfruit — whatever you have) in a one-to-one ratio until the sugar is well-dissolved. You can infuse the syrup with mint, cinnamon, vanilla bean, or botanicals to create a low-cost, high-punch pop of flavor to improve any recipe. Trudie’s secret sauce is a lavender syrup that she makes with dried lavender. I have an embarrassment of lavender still growing in my garden, along with one single, very tall sprig of rosemary.

A lavender simple elevates prosecco to new heights, and it’s now my go-to for brunch when I want something that feels more festive than a mimosa. If you love the Honey Lavender latte at Black Coffee (1417 Vaughn Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-782-9867), then you can create a fairly convincing copy by making your own syrup. The rosemary simple makes

Whiskey Rosemary Sunset

a surprisingly tasty substitute for gin if you want a zero-proof option or if you want to liven up some Topo Chico. Just remember that dried botanicals are more potent than fresh, and too much lavender may have a laxative effect.

If you’re looking to upgrade your boozy options, we have an abundance of riches at our local distilleries. Although shopping at one of them isn’t as easy as running over to your local big box liquor store, visiting Blackland Distillery (2616 Weisenberger, Fort Worth, 817-2685333), Trinity River Distillery (1734 E El Paso, Fort Worth, 817-841-2837), Acre Distilling (1309 Calhoun St, Fort Worth,

817-632-7722), or TX Whiskey Ranch (2601 Whiskey Ranch Rd, Fort Worth, 817-840-9140) creates a ripple effect for other businesses in our community. Trinity River Distilling sources most of their ingredients locally, from the North Texas-farmed grains to the honey and coffee sourced in Burleson and Fort Worth, respectively. Your purchase also creates happiness for you or those you gift the bottles to. Taking out-of-town family to a tasting is also an impressive trick if you’re looking to get out of your house. Acre’s $7 Happy Hour (3-8pm Tue-Fri) is enough to make the Grinch’s heart grow three sizes with a sampling of all of their spirits, any way you want them. And TX Whiskey Ranch has trivia nights, Friday festivities, and the odd karaoke evening, along with other episodic events.

Whether you’re enjoying Christmas by yourself this year or you’re making completions and connections from 2024, deck those halls, trim those trees, and raise up a cup of seasonal cheer. l

MUSIC

Our Musical Wish List

Though definitely naughty, we have some music wants from Santa.

BY PATRICK HIGGINS, STEVE STEWARD, AND JUAN R. GOVEA

Let’s be honest. At this point, we’re all just trying to run out the clock. The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s tend to blur into a delirious wash of indistinguishable days with approximately four and a half hours of sunlight and 40-degree temperature swings. We trudge along, fueled on high-calorie potluck casseroles and gingerbread-flavored beers as we’re ushered, seemingly on autopilot, between ceaseless work parties, school performances, and trips to shopping malls on the climb toward the Big Day. If you can make room around Mariah Carey’s ubiquitous holiday war cry in your ear holes, there’s plenty of great tuneage around to soundtrack the malaise. There’s nothing like music to help you get through that last onerous page on the calendar. Here’s some new holiday-themed tunes we’re adding to our playlists and shows that we’re hoping Santa brings tickets for.

Reindeer Tracks

Though he released it before Halloween, singer-songwriter Cameron Smith was the first to set the tone for the season with his latest single. “By Next Christmas” is a tender lament about children growing up and moving on with their own lives and the desire to have them home for the holidays, and its plaintive longing is an appropriately homey feeling for the holidays.

Conversely, if the season wears you out, you need to hear Jessi England’s new

Singer-songwriter Jessi England gets in the holiday spirit with the anti-holiday anthem “Christmas Eyes.”

single. In the rolling, synth-driven pop number “Christmas Eyes,” a character living in Boulder dismissively refers to Christmas as just “the end of summer in a ski town.” With the way England sings the hook, you’ll feel seen whenever your exasperation with Christmas cheer flickers hot like an old string of lights. It’s another great earworm from a great singer-songwriter. We’ll have “Christmas Eyes” in your head well into June. Kendi Jean & The Velvet Smokeshow has a new single out. “Broken Stars” is a throwback country waltz with dreamy vibes. The feel is as approachable as the innocence of a children’s book. Jean asks, “What if the stars in the sky were all broken? / How will my wishes come true?” The secondary melodies that come in with the guitar solos and the “oohs” and “aahs” that pad the bridge section create an orchestral mood that builds the dream-state and buttresses the imagery in the lyrics with the feeling of hope. While it isn’t directly a Christmas song, Jean said that maybe the broken stars are like a string of Christmas lights, “one just needs twistin’, then they’ll all come back on.”

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

The Fort has many opportunities for folks who like to experience music in three-dimensional reality as much as they like it beamed directly into their cerebral cortex through tinny, wax-encrusted EarPods. Festivities kick off this weekend when progressive indie-rockers Spring Palace headline a show at The Cicada (1002 S Main St, Fort Worth, 817-882-9504) on Saturday. Though not an official release show, they’ll be performing songs from

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Photo by Zach Moffatt

their recently released full-length Rodeo Fortune. They’ll be joined by the dreamy folk of Sleepy Atlantis and the haunting twang of The Cush’s Burette Douglas’ new classic country group Ghost Roper.

Roots rocker Matthew McNeal is headlining a party at Tulips FTW (112 St. Louis Av, Fort Worth, 817-367-9798) on Fri, Dec 13, which also features soulful singer-songwriter Brandon Marcel, plus DJ Asa Ace and a tattoo pop-up — if you want to get someone an early Christmas present, a flash tattoo at local show is pretty rad. The classic pantherwith-claws-in-skin might make for a particularly fun city-centric design.

While not exactly holiday-themed, the next weekend at The Cicada, Fort Worth Rock Assembly 8 goes down. A two-day concert of local bands covering national greats, FWRA is also one of the best seasonal parties you’ll run across. Starting at 6pm Fri, Dec 13, Hotel Satellite will tackle Radiohead, The Bikini Whales will (naturally) do the B-52s, and The Nancys have Travis, plus Royal Sons’ Blake Parish will front a Black Sabbath set (#BlakeSabbath), Flickerstick’s Brandin Lea will lead a Smashing Pumpkins tribute, Black

Market Garden will handle Tears for Fears, and a supergroup of North Texas faves like Jordan Richardson, Mike Doty, and “Big Mike” Richardson, plus the great Ginny Mac, will bring the sweet, sweet yacht-rocking heat of Steely Dan and more. The best part? You don’t need to bring a dish, just yo’self!

However, for a show you might actually need to dust off Grandma’s fruitcake recipe for, Fort Worth Roots podcast presents A Very Itchy Christmas 3: Shitter’s Full at Fort Worth’s newest beer lab Hoppin’ (2616 Wiesenberger St, Fort Worth, 682224-0621). From 2 to 6pm on Sat, Dec

14, the free event includes a community potluck. Punk band Itchy Richie & The Burnin’ Sensations will be using the occasion as a release show for the new 100 Monkeys and a Broken Clock and will be performing songs from the album. Indie singer-songwriter Jeff Zero & His Own Private Universe will also play at an after-party at McFly’s Pub (6104 LTjg Barnett Rd, Fort Worth, 817-744-8272).

The following week, rising country superstar Cody Jinks returns home to headline Billy Bob’s Texas (2520 Rodeo Plz, Fort Worth, 817-624-7117) on Thu, Dec 19. Now one of the largest independent country artists in the world, Jinks is supporting his latest single, a duet with Ward Davis called “Same Kind of Crazy as Me.” Speaking of homegrown artists that hit it big nationally returning to Billy Bob’s, beloved rubberneckers The Toadies make their push to the end of the year on Sat, Dec 28.

What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?

To help put the nail in 2024, pretty much every local stage will be filled with performances on New Year’s Eve (Tue, Dec 31), and we’ll be challenged to choose which one(s) to grace with our presence. The shindig at Magnolia Motor Lounge (3803 Southwest Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-332-3344) sounds pretty

cool. Texarkana-born troubadour David Tribble is hosting a songwriters night, and, better yet, there’s no cover.

Over at Tannahill’s Tavern and Music Hall (122 E Exchange Av, Fort Worth, 817900-9300), The Wilder Blue headline with their country-leaning rock songs and rockleaning country tunes. Their signature five-part harmonies will remind you of the Eagles, and they’ll send you into 2025 with a peaceful, easy feeling.

If you’re looking for more of a rager, psychedelic garage rockers Mean Motor Scooter are the main event at the Boiled Owl Tavern’s bash, with punk ’n’ roll stalwarts Joe Gorgeous opening at 10pm. Don your best pearl snap, throw your yellow American Spirits in the front pocket, and shove some TP in your ears. This one will get loud. l

Folk troubadour Cameron Smith sings about nostalgia for family at home for the holidays on “By Next Christmas.”

One of the biggest bands ever to hail from North Texas, The Toadies take the stage at Billy Bob’s on Dec 28.

CrossTown Sounds

Crosstown Sounds Goes Cross-Country: Music & Magic Await in Gruene

BY JENNIFER BOVEE

This holiday season, the historic town of Gruene is transforming into a winter wonderland with an exciting lineup of events and activities for all ages, including a brand-new ice-skating rink. Nestled above the scenic banks of the Guadalupe River, Gruene will be aglow with more Christmas lights and festive decorations than ever, creating a perfect backdrop for holiday memories.

“Holidays in Gruene are always a special time,” said Ryan Weinbrandt, CEO of Molak Corporation, owner of several local businesses, including Gruene Hall. “This year, we’ve added even more to the experience with new decorations and attractions, like the iceskating rink. We hope folks will come out to enjoy everything Gruene has to offer— great food and drinks, shopping, and live music — all while embracing the holiday spirit.”

Gruene for a Texas Holiday Experience the season’s magic with ice skating, twinkling lights, and classic Gruene charm. Below are some of the happenings this holiday season. For more details, visit GrueneTexas.com or follow them on social media.

Amid holiday lights and other timeless traditions, the town is hosting its inaugural Ice Skating in Gruene. New this year, the 100-by-40 feet Gruene Ice Rink opened in late November and will operate daily 10am-10pm thru Sun, Jan 5. With skate rentals starting at $18, there’s

If you visit Gruene this weekend, stop by the Friday Afternoon Club with KNBI 92.1FM Radio New Braunfels.

also hot cocoa, cookies, and Gruene merchandise for purchase. Ticket reservations are strongly encouraged and can be purchased at GrueneTexas.com/Rink.

This Saturday, it’s time for the 23rd Annual Pony Express Ride, which kicks off the season at 10am. Later in the day, enjoy the annual town lighting ceremony, with live music, festive refreshments, and a special appearance by Gruene’s iconic Cowboy Kringle on horseback to officially illuminate the town. During select dates, you can capture holiday memories and take advantage of Instaworthy photo ops with him, which include Dec 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, and 22.

You can also shop local crafts, art, and unique gifts at Old Gruene Market Days Sat-Sun. On Sat, Dec 14, the 32nd Annual Jingle Bell Run — a family-friendly 5K run, walk, and kids’ K event — includes a holiday costume contest and will benefit St. Jude’s Ranch for Children.

Gruene for Texas Music

Usually a summertime favorite, rockabilly masters Two Tons of Steel will be back in Gruene on Tue, Dec 17, to play at the Two-Ton Tuesday Holiday Show, closing the holiday season at Gruene Hall (1281 Gruene Rd, New Braunfels, 830-606-128). Grab your dancing partner and get ready for a rockin’ night with swing dance lessons 6pm-7pm and the band taking the stage at 8:30pm. Tickets are $12 at the door. Before and after, the hall is hosting a variety of concerts to enjoy during your visit.

Austin Americana band Jamestown Revival is hosting its inaugural Tiki Christmas Show at the hall this Thursday at 8pm. The band will perform holiday classics from their 2022 album Songs That Sleigh, including “O Christmas Tree” with the full band plus Nick Bearden, Ed Benrock, Fort Worth’s own Robert Ellis, and Will Van Horn. (Ellis has his own new album that he’s promoting, by the way. Read all about it in our Gift Guide.)

On Friday from 4pm to 7pm, the hall hosts its final date of the 26th Annual free

Friday Afternoon Club, where “hipsters, oldsters, suits, locals, and drifters mix it up to start their weekend off rite (pun intended)!” The event features great beer prices, prize giveaways, and Texas tunes broadcast live by KNBT 92.1-FM Radio New Braunfels. Every week, special guests stop by for interviews. Delbert McClinton, Steve Earle, Hayes Carll, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Radney Foster, and Ray Benson have been known to stop by. Afterward, stick around for alt-country favorites American Aquarium (who were just at Tannahill’s) with opener Lou Hazel starting at 8pm. If you can find tickets, that is. This show is almost sold out! You can always go back on Saturday for An Evening of Jerry Jeff Walker music featuring Django Walker & the Jerry Jeff Walker Band. Those tickets are aplenty and are $37.50 at GrueneHall.com.

Along with the other amazing December shows that include Kaitlin Butts (Thu, Dec 12), Wade Bowen (FriSat, Dec 13-14), Paul Cauthen (Thu-Fri, Dec 19-20), Carson Jeffrey (Sat, Dec 21), Asleep at the Wheel (Sun, Dec 22), Hudson Westbrook (Sat, Dec 28), Cory Morrow (Fri, Dec 27), and Max Stalling (Sat, Dec 28), there will be two New Year’s Eve Shows with Pat Green on Tue, Dec 31. That’s a lot of Texas music! l

Pat Green is doing two shows at Gruene Hall.

Radio personalities Rachel, Tiffany & Paige recently tried out the new ice rink in the Gruene Historic District.

CLASSIFIEDS

BUY / SELL / TRADE

CAR DONATIONS

Donate your car, truck, or SUV to assist the blind and visually impaired. Arrange a swift, no-cost vehicle pickup and secure a generous tax credit for 2025. Call Heritage for the Blind Today today! 1-855-503-1501

CATTLE BARN FLEA MARKET

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EMPLOYMENT

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HEALTH TRAVEL ACCOMMODATIONS

According to the New York Times, the following companies have said they would cover travel expenses for employees who need reproductive health services not available in Texas: 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)

HAVE A LITTLE FAITH

CELEBRATION

COMMUNITY CHURCH

Located at 908 Pennsylvania Av (817-335-3222), CCC has services on Sundays at 10am. Want to check out a nonjudgmental, inclusive church at home before attending in person? All services can also be viewed on YouTube (@CelebrationCommunityChurch130).

POTTER’S HOUSE

Join the Potter’s House of Fort Worth (1270 Woodhaven Blvd, 817-446-1999) for Sunday Service at 8am and Wednesday Bible Study at 7pm. For more info, visit us online: www.TPHFW.org

HEALTH & WELLNESS

DENTAL

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LIFE LINE SCREENINGS

According to the American Heart Association, stroke and Cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening. Special offer: 5 screenings for just $149. Call today!

1-833-636-1757

PET HEALTH

Need a FREE Spay/Neuter? Texas Coalition for Animal Protection has clinics near you. Schedule an appointment today.

TexasForThem.org Call 1-833-636-1757

HOME RESOURCES

BATHROOMS

The bathroom of your dreams in as little as 1 day. Limited Time Offer - $1000 off or No Payments and No Interest for 18 months for customers who qualify. BCI Bath & Shower. Many options are available. Quality materials & professional installation. Senior & Military Discounts Available. Call Today!

1-866-913-0581

GENERATORS

Prepare for power outages today with a home standby generator. There is no money down and low monthly payment options are available. Call for a FREE quote before the next power outage. 1-844-887-3143

LEAF FILTER

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

METAL ROOFS

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HANNA in HURST

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MARCELLA’S TOUCH

Marcella offers alternative healing therapy Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm. by appointment 10am-6pm. “Call me to schedule your session!” 817-657-4290

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

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.

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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 our listing sections, including Ate Day8 a Week, Bulletin Board, Big Ticket, Crosstown Sounds, or Night & Day, email the details to Marketing@fwweekly.com.

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HEAR YE, HEAR YE

CATTLE BARN FLEA MARKET

4445 River Oaks Blvd

Every Sat & Sun 9a-5p

All your favorite vendors and friends will be there. Juanita, Billy, Earl, Chris, Jon & The Back 40! Come out and find treasures!

EMPLOYMENT

North Tarrant Infrastructure, LLC seeks Senior Project Managers (multiple positions) to work in Fort Worth, Texas. Reporting to the Construction Manager, developing, implementing, managing, maintaining, and administering all processes related to construction of his Sub-segment. Controlling all construction activities for his Subsegment. Coordinate supplies, subcontractors, Superintendents and Project Managers that may report to this position. Represent the Company and Project in front of the Client, Owner, and other entities. Partner with Human Resources and other departments to manage staff through the employment life-cycle. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: 5% domestic travel in Texas/Central regions for business meetings, trainings, and client and local engagement. Apply online at: https://ferrovial.Wd3. myworkdayjobs.com/ Ferrovial_Career_Site/job/USA---FCUS---NTI--Fort-Worth-TX0126/Senior-Project-Managers-multiple-positions-_JR09842

HANNAH in HURST

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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

LOCAL HANDYMAN

Available for projects in Tarrant and Parker Counties. Household repairs, painting, yard work etc, I CAN HELP! Providing honest, dependable work at a fair price! Call or Text today for a FREE estimate. Chris 817-495-3017

More books than, WOW!

The Published Page Bookstop (10 E Chambers St, Cleburne, 817-349-6366) is open 10am-6pm Wed-Sat and 1pm-6pm Sun. An authentic “Old School” bookstore on the courthouse square of Historic Downtown Cleburne, TX, just 20 minutes south of FW, it’s a true Texas treasure. For more info, visit PublishedPage.com or find us on Facebook (@BiblioTreasures).

NEED A FRIEND?

Ronnie D. Long Bail Bonds

Immediate Jail Release 24 Hour Service. City, County, State and Federal Bonds. Located Minutes from Courts. 6004 Airport Freeway. 817-834-9894

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Our Fire-Glazed Hams will be the star of the show! Sold fresh, ready to heat, and spiral-sliced for easy serving. We fire-glaze each ham by hand over an open flame with spices and sugar or honey to create a signature crackly finish that adds the perfect sweet touch.