EATS
& DRINKS
Let Drew’s Place do the soul-food cooking for you this holiday season. BY E.R.
BILLS
STUFF
Appropriate that a blunder ends the Cowboys’ season. BY
PATRICK HIGGINS
KRAMPUS CLAUS
Pagan beliefs have a home this season, and they’re all over town.
MUSIC
O’Shea’s in Hurst hosts a benefit for a local bassist. BY JENNIFER
BOVEE
STORY BY JENNIFER BOVEE
PHOTOS BY JUAN R. GOVEA
INSIDE
Muffed
Fellow Cowboys fans, time to turn our eyes to the 2025 draft.
By Patrick Higgins
A Krampusnacht Miracle
Pagans
By Jennifer Bovee
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
Drew’s Groove
The legendary Westside soul-food joint is still going strong.
By E.R. Bills
Benefit Gig
The
By Jennifer Bovee
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
Cover photo by Juan R. Govea
METROPOLIS
Hormonal Range
Going through The Change, pregnant, just have questions? The current health care system is no help.
BY T.C. TAYLOR
I am getting older, spicy, more seasoned, whatever you want to call it. Every day you wake up is another day older. I have lived a very interesting 45 years of life so far and hope for 45 or so more. Over these last 45 years, I have heard from women that you will eventually go through The Change. The dreaded M word — menopause. Or now the P word — perimenopause, the first part of the transition. This word is often discussed in hushed tones or not at all. Like it is not natural to have these life transitions. I am happy to see that there are more and more open conversations these day about these natural occurrences among women. Such as the actually scientific name for hot flashes vasomotor symptoms.
Unfortunately, those conversations don’t always happen in doctors’ offices like we would hope. We are told to go and consult with them about what to expect during these transitions, especially perimenopause and menopause, and often get little to no feedback in return. Women’s health, as it appears, is still very taboo and political for that fact.
I recently made an appointment to consult with an OB/GYN due to suspecting that I may be starting to go through perimenopause. I did my research to find what I thought would be the best fit for me by reading reviews on Google. Side note: I tried two years before with another OB/GYN, but my concerns were dismissed, so I decided not to return to that doctor. But again, I keep trying to find a doctor who will listen. I called and set up what is called a “problem visit”
instead of a “wellness visit” to be able to have time to discuss my issues. Apparently, you can’t bring up problems/issues during your well-woman visit. They would like you to make another appointment for your problems. Makes no sense at all, but that is because medical care is set up for profit and not for care. I waited for two months to see this doctor. In that time, I gathered all my past records, labs, and diagnostics/X-rays from other doctor appointments. I also compiled questions and a list of symptoms, everything that most vetted articles say to have to make sure you have a productive visit with your doctor. On the day of the appointment, the doctor walked in with an air of dismissiveness and arrogance. Instead of introducing herself, she sat down and said, “So, what is the problem?”
Well, “Hey, doctor, how is your day?” is what I wanted to say but didn’t. I kind of shrunk into myself, stunned. It seemed that once she saw that I was ready for the visit with information and paperwork she clearly did not want to look at, she just started firing off questions that really did not have anything to do with what I was there for. She ordered some labs and other diagnostics, then breezed back out of the exam room door. Leaving the door wide open. The appointment lasted five minutes exactly. I have heard similar stories from several other women seeking any kind of help.
What I have come to understand as a licensed counselor is the first part of the healing process is hearing someone’s story, having them become comfortable with you without you coming off as arrogant or condescending. Validating the client regarding their concerns and not firing off a bunch of questions even if the session is the intake. If I truly listen, most of my intake questions will be answered by letting them speak. I also may be able to see the bigger picture to the issues they are presenting by simply listening. So many medical mistakes happen, including drug reactions or misdiagnoses, because health-care professionals are not listening. Also, a patient will become more comfortable and open up enough to tell you some critical information that can also help you not make medical errors. Topped with having their own burnout, medical professionals are not being allowed to listen to their patients.
Since medical care in this country is
What I have come to understand as a licensed counselor is the first part of the healing process is hearing someone’s story.
profit-driven, once a doctor has finished medical school, they are saddled with so much debt that it is easy to make them believe and train them to think about profit over care. They have to pay those student loans. So, the patient-consult model is to see patients every 15 minutes in one hour. That’s four or more patients per every 60 minutes. This medical profit-driven model is why I believe the mortality rate in the country is so high and care is so low. Yes, other countries have higher mortality rates, but this is America, where we boast about having the best of everything. Poor medical care, as we have seen in the news in recent years, does not care about your race, gender, or socioeconomic status, although mortality rates are historically higher among BIPOC and people in lower socioeconomic status than any other demographic. And Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than other races. I have insurance and a well-paying job, but I still got poor treatment. This just goes to show that even choosing the same gender and race does not even help you obtain good medical care. It seems as if doctors are trained now to have no empathy for patients.
The other monster in women’s health or health care in general is social media and the internet. This is a beast the medical community has created. Medical pros complain about TikTok Docs and TikTok Therapists, but the reason they exist is that we don’t get the care or education we need and deserve when we go to an actual doctor. We get dismissed and medically gaslit. We are made to feel like we are crazy because the doctor did not read your exact medical symptoms in some journal.
We have too many one-track-mind doctors. We are still in pain or trying to
figure out our symptoms with no help. In comes Dr. Google to the rescue, sometimes a help and sometimes a danger. Or Dr. TikTok, Dr. YouTube, the list goes on. These pseudo-doctors and therapists were born out of necessity due to people looking for help any help — and not getting it. If doctors were doing such a great job in taking the time to listen and help a patient, then these charlatans might not even exist. I know you can’t stop every conman from making a webpage, but there may be fewer of them if we had true medical help.
No one wants to admit this. Instead, actual medical professionals try to make more TikToks to try to dissuade misinformation, but at this point, people don’t know who to believe because they tried the right way first most times and came up with nothing. Now, people are taking all kinds of pills, potions, and advice trying to get better. Then, they end up in the hospital, and medical professionals shake their head at a patient doing something “stupid.” The truth is the patient had been to a doctor, and that doctor did not help, so the patient took matters into their own hands.
The rising costs of health insurance and health care are also to blame for people turning to social media for medical advice. Let’s do some quick math. Say you need a procedure that costs $1,500, and you find
someone on social media who can give you something for your ailment for $50. Who do you think desperate people are going to go with?
The other ugly monster in the room is politics. I did not know my lady parts could be so political. Way to go me and my lady parts! It seems like in today’s crazy and scary but highly entertaining political environment, women’s health is a top issue. To me, it is really not, because it is my body, not yours. There are buzz words and catchphrases used to justify why politicians need to control the most precious part of me. If you want to control me, then take it all. I mean, all the hot flashes, night sweats, menstrual
cramps, bloating, gas, water weight, weight gain, and hormonal rage. Nope, that is not going to happen.
If women’s health actually mattered, then politicians would not be trying to push such restrictive policies and laws. Especially in Texas. This has in turn scared health-care practitioners from helping women for fear of jail. Some health-care professionals are leaving women’s health period or leaving states where laws are restrictive. More women are choosing not to have kids for fear of poor or no treatment. This is one of the many factors contributing to the low birth rate.
Politicians think they are helping, but they are not. They don’t even know basic anatomy. Everyone is red-faced as soon as you say the V word — vagina. No one stops and thinks if we don’t truly have healthy women, where does that leave the human race, a.k.a. your future workers? Forcing a woman to have a child even unto death is not a great way to go about things. You may have a live child but a dead mother. Not just physically but mentally, too. You have forced someone to have a child that they know they can’t care for, so they become severely depressed, and the child also loses out. How about invest more in health care for women that includes education on their bodies?
As I sat there in the exam room waiting for that doctor, fanning myself due to hot flashes/private summer, I noticed all the advertisements on the walls and in brochure holders telling us to ask our doctor about this procedure or that medication. Again, profit-driven. I did not see nor was I given anything about perimenopause or other
changes my body could be going through. No educational material at all. I did get some of the diagnostic testing done with no real results — everything was “normal.” Really? What is “normal” if I am still having the same symptoms? I decided not to continue with this doctor, either. I was not heard or listened to. I felt anxious about returning, to be honest, and not because something bad was going to be found but because I now knew that office was not where I was going to find help.
I know there are some truly great doctors out there, but they are too few. I will keep searching. I think I will try to find a D.O. for OB/GYN or GYN because I feel that they are more holistic in their medical approach. If anyone knows one, let me know. I am also thinking about trying acupuncture. So, I have not given up, and I would encourage any woman out there reading this not to give up. I am going to use my hormonal rage to push through. Advocate for yourself and your body. It is your body, and no one knows it better than you. l
T.C. Taylor is a holistic Licensed Professional Counselor with more than 17 years of experience in the mental health/behavioral health field. She lives in Arlington with her bubbly, happy family.
This column reflects the opinions and fact-gathering of the author(s) and only the author(s) 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.
STUFF
Now, It’s Really Over
A special teams blunder near the end of Monday night extinguishes the Cowboys’ faint playoff hopes.
BY PATRICK HIGGINS
Welp. It was fun while it lasted. After the surprise win against the upstart Washington Commanders two weeks ago, followed by another victory over the Giants (appropriate to the occasion, a little dry and flavorless), the Cowboys suddenly found themselves riding an actual win streak, and a little flame of “What if …?” had sparked into being. Despite a shot at a repeat division championship long gone, with a mostly weak schedule remaining, a Wild Card berth in the postseason was still technically within reach. With the ’Boys suddenly showing renewed signs of life, many fans had jumped from Team Tank to Team Why-the-Hell-Not?
Whether their chances were legitimate or simply more of us suckers buying Jerry snake oil hinged mostly upon the outcome of the Monday Night Extravaganza against the Cincinnati Bengals. Win, and we continue the ride. Lose, and our attention likely transitions to the 2025 draft class. Turns out, I now have plenty more serpentine
petroleum to add to my already copious stocks. Dallas fell to the Batmobile-owning Joe Burrow and company 27-20, and any hopes of relevant football for the rest of the season went down with them.
In the most Cowboys way possible, defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory after a disastrous botched punt block in the game’s waning minutes, quickly swapping a potential game-winning field goal for a game-losing Cincy TD.
I have to admit, it was nice watching a game with a little juice again. After resigning myself to a lost season and more than a month of stoic, emotionless game-viewing experiences, I found myself happily swept up in the emotional swings of the play unfolding. It felt good to have something to root for. Even if it was simply delusion. My heartbreak after the epic reversal of fortune from “Oh, my god, this is going to happen!” to “Oh, my god, WTF just happened?!” was mirrored on the sideline perfectly by an exasperated Micah Parsons, who threw up his hands in disbelief and despair. Some may have been turned off by his body language, seeing it as defeatist and whiney. I saw it as passion, something that has been sorely
lacking from the majority of the team the majority of the season. His defense had done their job, forcing a stop and giving his offense the ball back with a chance to win, and all in a matter of seconds, he was forced back onto the field to watch his secondary picked apart with surgical precision and the elation of victory inexplicably replaced with the agony of a season ending. Worse, the Cowboys lost more than just the game and playoff contention. One of the few bright spots in an otherwise chaotic mess of a season has been the play of linebacker DeMarvion Overshown. He has been a heat-seeking missile behind the D-line, providing some much-needed spark to a largely lackluster defense — delivering hard hits, clean tackles, and the occasional blitz sack. Paired with rookie Marist Liufau and the beast that is Parsons, there was some promise for the future of the backing corps. Horribly, however, after the former Longhorn missed his entire rookie year recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee he suffered in training camp, he will now miss the remainder of his standout sophomore campaign with a “major” injury to his other knee. Severe structural damage is
said to be a concern. It’s an enormous blow to an already despondent organization. It’s an added personal dagger as a No. 13 jersey sits secretly on my Christmas list. When adding this loss to that of Zach Martin, who has maybe played his last down for Dallas and, if that, likely the last in his Hall of Fame career, and QB Dak Prescott not to mention the dozens of others — it’s enough to cleave the old blood pumper in even the biggest Cowboys hater’s chest.
If there is one argent undercarriage to be found with the final nail being driven home on the Cowboys’ season, it’s that the ridiculous Cooper Rush stans should finally be able to accept that he isn’t better than Dallas’ $60M QB1. Dak is far from perfect, but at least he can throw the ball more than 10 yards downfield.
It was nice watching meaningful football again for a bit. I suppose it could be back to stoic, unemotional game-viewing, but there’s another silver-and-blue team out there that looks worthy of rooting for. Wonder if Detroit has room on the bandwagon. l
Though he plays like it at times, Micah Parsons can’t do it all by himself. His frustration is valid and shared by fans.
Courtesy DallasCowboys.com
Adding injury to the insult. Breakout linebacker DeMarvion Overshown is now lost for the remainder of the year and likely a big chunk of the next one, too.
NIGHT & DAY
Krampus Claus
Pagan beliefs have a home this season, and they’re all over town.
STORY BY JENNIFER BOVEE
PHOTOS BY JUAN R. GOVEA
In the 817, the pagan vibes flow strong. The area overflows with metaphysical shops, including Aura, Emboddi, Enchanted Forest, Hearth Wisdom, Hemlock, Higher Purpose, and Maven’s Moon, all of them seemingly doing well, and the DFW Witchy Shit community won Best Facebook Group in Best Of 2024.
With pagan beliefs come a few seasonal themes. And wintry creatures, starting with one particular horned child abuser. In Central and Eastern Alpine folkloric tradition, Krampus reportedly accompanies St. Nicholas on visits to children on the night of Dec 5, right before the Feast of St. Nicholas the next day. While the origin is unclear, folklorists and anthropologists have
postulated that the idea has pre-Christian roots. (Apparently, Christians joined the party much later.) As the tradition goes, while the original St. Nicholas, a.k.a. Santa Claus, rewards well-behaved kids with gifts, Krampus kidnaps the bad ones or even strikes them with birch rods. Yikes.
Since all old folk tales are kind of gory and totally non-P.C., Western culture has softened Krampus over the decades into a sort of hairy, horned monster who’s more threatening-looking and spooky than actually violent. In South Main Village last week, The Cicada celebrated the beast and
the season with Krampusnacht. Guests were transported into a “wicked world of smoke, drums, bells, and birch twigs that Krampus himself would be proud to call home.”
Costumes were encouraged, and, boy, did Fort Worth deliver. The rhythms were provided by the Skin & Bones Drum Cult, a self-described “gathering of the wild-eyed malcontent,” with members of Spoonfed Tribe, KatsüK, and more.
Yule is also part of the pagan holiday tradition. This winter festival was its own thing, observed by the Germanic people for generations, before it was rolled into Christmas during the region’s Christianization because, of course, it was. Anyway, Yule is here, and there are some local happenings to check out.
Make simmer brew and Yule logs 6pm-8pm Thu at Maven’s Moon (8341 White Settlement Rd, White Settlement, 817-367-9235). The simmer brew blend will create a “lovely aroma and good vibes, plus clear any toxins out of the air to promote good health.” You’ll leave with four batches, leaving you plenty to give as gifts.
As for the Yule log, your special takehome piece of wood is meant to be burned over multiple nights, symbolizing “divine light” during Winter Solstices, a practice rooted in Scandinavian paganism and popular here and in the U.K. during Yuletide season. The class is BYOB and costs $35 per person. Call to RSVP.
At 5:30pm Sun, Hearth Wisdom (2899 W Pioneer Pkwy, Pantego, 682-323-5085) hosts the Public Sabbat Yule Ceremony. The
event is non-path specific. All traditions are welcome to the festival to help lighten the darkness. Tickets are $22 at Square. link/u/Y8fcDDls and include all ceremony supplies and food served afterward.
Tyler at The Cicada (1002 S Main St, Fort Worth, @The_Cicada_FTW) is playing host to another pagan-esque event. Her DIY Yule Ornament Workshop is 8pm-11pm Mon, Dec 16. Tickets are $30 on Eventbrite. com and include all the materials needed for the project as well as one drink ticket for you to try a complimentary seasonal cocktail or mocktail. l
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.
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.
At The Cicada during Krampusnacht, Krampus Claus led the Skin & Bones Drum Cult with his skin-clad war drum, keeping the beat for the night’s festivities.
Daisy Pardo danced throughout The Cicada as Krampusnacht’s wicked ballerina.
SHOPPING LOCAL
The Ultimate Fort Worth Holiday Fair: Rock ‘n’ Roll Rummage Sale Expands
for YearEnd Celebration
Fort Worth’s beloved Rock ‘n’ Roll Rummage Sale is cranking up the volume for its final market of the year, taking over South Main Micro Park and surrounding blocks for a Holiday Fair that’s bigger, bolder, and more exciting than ever. On Sunday, December 15th, from 12 PM to 5 PM, this iconic openair event, produced by Honeysuckle Rose Events, will unite the city’s top musicians, vintage curators, artists, and small businesses in a celebration of Fort Worth’s vibrant cultural scene.
For the first time, the event will spill over into adjoining parking lots and shut down an entire block of E. Daggett Ave, transforming the area into a playground of retro finds and live performances. Music fans will groove to an exciting lineup featuring Luther / Parish at 12 PM, Robert Sieben at 2:15 PM, and Midnight Thirty at 4:00 PM, all hitting the Volt Cowtown Micro Park Stage, while DJ Hayden Miller keeps the vibes flowing in the South Alleyway from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM.
Beyond the beats, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Rummage Sale brings over 130 vendors, each offering an eclectic mix of vintage treasures, original artwork, quirky antiques, and hand-crafted artisanal goods. And when hunger and thirst strike, Fort Worth’s favorite food trucks and stands have you covered: think Tinie’s Mexican Cuisine and Bar, Southside Cellars, Café x Jose, Mama Lu’s Tamales, Leo’s Churro Bar, Delicias De Guerrero, Lazernade, and Sabar BBQ. It’s a feast for the senses.
For families, the event has even more fun in store, from pictures with Santa (1 PM-3 PM, free—don’t forget your camera) to live screen printing by Printed Threads,
on-site recording demos from Blackstone Recording Studio, permanent jewelry, face painting, and build-your-own terrariums.
Event Details:
Date: Sunday, December 15th
Time: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: South Main Micro Park, 105 S. Main St., Fort Worth, TX 76104
Admission: Free
All Ages Welcome Pet-Friendly
A kids’ play area complete with a sandbox ensures little ones stay entertained while parents browse.
Whether you’re a music lover, a vintage collector, or just looking for a fun, family-friendly outing, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Rummage Sale delivers on all fronts. With free admission and a pet-friendly vibe, it’s
an event you won’t want to miss.
Free and paid parking options are available, and carpooling is encouraged. For those traveling by train, the event is just one block southeast of the TRE & T&P Station.
A special thanks to this year’s sponsors: Blackstone Recording Studio (Live Music Sponsor), Felicia Barber of Redfin Realty (Presenting Sponsor), Volt Cowtown (Stage Sponsor), and Community Partners: Printed Threads, Lightbridge Academy, South Main District Salon, Topo Chico, and Arrt Dept.
For more info, visit: linktree.com/honeysuckleroseevents and follow the Rock ‘n’ Roll Rummage Sale on Instagram and Facebook for updates!
EATS & drinks
ATE DAY8 of December Dining
After all the home-cooked meals over Thanksgiving weekend, are you ready to let someone else handle Christmas? Here are some chef’d-up ideas for your consideration.
1.) All Fish City Grill locations in North Texas, including Burleson and Mansfield, will offer “chalkboard specials” throughout December, including a horseradish Arctic char (with Creole mustard cream, buttermilk mashed potatoes, and sugar snap peas) for $24.99; chimichurri shrimp tacos (avocado crema, pico de gallo, cheddar jack cheese, and cilantro, served with Cuban black beans and rice) for $16.49; or the FishWich (beer-battered haddock, cheddar cheese, dill tartar, and lettuce for $14.99).
“Any of these would be great paired with the Mystic Mermaid oysters,” Chef Molly Winkler says, referring to a new proprietary East Coast variety only available at Fish City Grill and its sister Half Shells concept. They’re served with a “perfect” cucumber-citrus mignonette. Other specials are unique to each restaurant and will change twice daily. You can see them via live chalkboard cameras at FishCityGrill. com/Locations. Choose your location and click “daily specials” to see what is available now.
2.) Blue Mesa Grill (612 Carroll St, Fort Worth, 817-332-6372) is serving a festive ChristmasThemed Buffet Brunch 9am-4pm Sun, Dec 22, featuring cook-to-order stations and an array of Southwest-inspired dishes like adobe pie (in chicken and black bean varieties), blue corn cheese enchiladas, and a street taco station, plus beef tenderloin, red chile-glazed ham, redskin mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and Southwest stuffing. If breakfast is what you seek, enjoy made-to-order omelets, huevos rancheros, Belgian waffles with fresh berries and whipped cream, or crispy fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, and more. The dessert station has chocolate fudge brownies, Christmas cookies, mini flans, banana pudding, fruit cobblers, and sopapilla cheesecake with cajeta. The price is $40 for adults (includes mimosas), $12 for kids ages 6–11, and no cost for children 5 and younger. (Keep an eye out for surprise appearances by Santa Claus throughout the day.) For reservations, call the restaurant or book a time slot via OpenTable.com.
3.) The Central Market locations in Fort Worth (4651 W Fwy, 817-989-4700) and Southlake (1425 E Southlake Blvd, 817-3105600) have chef-made meals with all the fixings for in-store pickup all month. From fresh ham and turkey to traditional sides like cornbread dressing, whipped potatoes, mac ’n’ cheese, and more, plus scratch-made pies like pumpkin chiffon, pumpkin cream cheese swirl, or the famous Four Seasons pie, CM has you covered.
For pricing and details on ordering, visit CentralMarket.com/Holiday-Meals.
4.) From Friday thru Tue, Dec 24, Hotel Drover presents the 12 Days of Drover. When you stay at the hotel on any date now thru Christmas Eve, you will receive guest-only access to memorable holiday experiences at the resort. The VIP package includes complimentary pictures with Santa and live reindeer; holiday carolers; spirited cocktails, coffee, and hot cocoa; and a s’mores roasting experience for four.
5.) For any upcoming potlucks or parties where you’d like to provide the meats, Sammie’s BBQ (3801 E Belknap St, Fort Worth, 817-834-1822) has you covered. Christmas meat choices include whole briskets, smoked beef tenderloin, smoked turkey, spiral ham, and ribs. For pricing or to order, call the restaurant 10:30am-6pm Tue-Thu or 10:30am-9pm Fri. They are open on Saturdays, too, from 10:30am until they sell out.
6.) If you’re catching up with friends and family a little east of here for the holidays, consider a Take-and-Bake Bundle from Barrel & Bones in Carrollton, The Colony, or Dallas. For $129.99, enjoy your choice of a whole smoked turkey or spiral smoked ham with two half-pan sides, a Caesar salad, and 20 dinner rolls with housemade cinnamon butter. Side options include cornbread dressing, glazed carrots, coleslaw, green beans, mac ’n’ cheese, and twice-baked potato salad. All of these items, including a decadent bourbon pecan cake, are also available a la carte. Orders must be made at least three days prior to pickup at BarrelandBonesTX.com/HolidayCatering.
7.) While passing through Dallas, there is also a foodie-oriented gift item you should check out. Gorji Restaurant (5100 Belt Line Rd, Ste 402, 972-503-7080) is offering Pick Up & Go Holiday Gift Pacs throughout December for $85. There’s a selection of two Gorji gourmet products, including arrabbiata, dipping oil, pomodoro, pomegranate dressing, or puttanesca — each chosen in celebration of the winning awards in various blind judging food competitions — plus a specialty Italian pasta and a bottle of Bouchard Aine & Fils Pinot Noir 2022. For an additional $30, you can add a copy of the international award-winning book Hidden Gems of America. Call the restaurant to order. For more info, visit ChefGorji.com.
8.) As for NYE, we’ll get to that next week. Instead, let’s skip right over to crawfish season. While typically not available until January or February, crawfish are available now if you know where to look. As of last week, diners can order mudbugs at The Cajun Market at Bourbon Street Bar & Grill (1833 Airport Fwy, Bedford, 682-254-6500) starting at noon on Thursdays until they run out for the day. Traditional Louisiana boiled crawfish will be sold by the pound for both dine-in and takeout at market price, which is currently $9.99 a pound, plus 30-pound bags are available at a discount for those who want to do a boil at home.
“As we approach the end of football season, it’s the perfect time to begin planning bowl game and Super Bowl parties,” owner Derek Pope says.
“We’re so happy to be able to share our take on mudbugs, corn, and potatoes with our guests at a competitive price.”
By Elaine Wilder
EATS & drinks
Gotta Be Drew’s
The
Westside soul food joint still hits all the right notes.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY E.R. BILLS
I can’t remember how long ago it was now but close to 20 years. An acquaintance asked me to meet them for lunch at an eatery they highly recommended on the West Side, and I obliged, though somewhat skeptically. I was a Westside guy, and I’d never heard of the place. Turns out, it was a soul food restaurant right off Camp Bowie. Drew’s Place.
It was around this time of year, and the acquaintance recommended the smothered
pork chops. I’d never had smothered pork chops, so I gave them a try.
I was shocked. My tastebuds did a Snoopy dance!
The chops were insanely good. The meat fell away from the bones, and the flavor was down-South dreamy. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard of Drew’s before.
A creature of habit, I turned to Drew’s smothered pork chops for years. But then I discovered the fried chicken. Soaked in brine and fried with peanut oil, the bird was just as spectacular. (Makes my mouth water just thinking about it as I write.)
Andrew (Drew) and Stephanie Thomas opened Drew’s Place in 1987. Drew had been
continued on page 17
Once Drew and Stephanie opened their soul food eatery, its reputation grew year after year.
Digging into Drew’s smothered pork chops, your tastebuds may do a Snoopy dance.
Eats & Drinks
a star football player at Arlington Heights High School (just a little over a mile away from the restaurant as the Yellow Jacket flies) and played college ball at Texas Tech. Once Drew and Stephanie opened their soul food eatery, its reputation grew year after year. A consummate Black-owned momand-pop diner, it brought customers who got to know Drew and Stephanie a little. By far a latecomer, even I developed a friendship with them. Their inimitably savory food and wholesome demeanor have become staples of Fort Worth cuisine, and there’s no telling who you might run into there. Dallas Cowboys, Paulie Ayala, former mayor Mike Moncrief, Will Smith — Drew’s is a virtual who’s who of “soul” foodies in the know. And it should be for a while.
The menu mainstays are fried chicken, fried catfish, fried pork chops, and smothered pork chops, though you can also order baked chicken, fried buffalo wings, and chicken-fried steak. Drew’s Place is open 11am-3pm Tue-Fri, offering smothered chicken on Wednesdays. The sides are a cornucopia of culinary comforts, including green beans, collard greens, mashed potatoes with gravy, cabbage, fried corn on the cob, candied yams, and more. And, of course, every dish is served with homemade yeast rolls or cornbread. The desserts are also scrumptious and don’t last long.
If you have friends or family in town
and don’t feel like cooking, Drew’s 10-piece fried chicken box is a delectable treat for all and will afford you no small amount of
culinary cred. But Drew’s also caters, and my acquaintance has hired them for parties of 500-plus with universal thumbs-up ratings.
Drew and Stephanie even catered on a local airport tarmac for Oprah Winfrey once! When the Reedy Prees contracted me to write 100 Things to Do in Texas Before You Die, Drew’s Place made the list. It was a no-brainer. And it was no friendly gimme. It’s rare I don’t eat there once a month, but I can hardly even make it that long. Those smothered pork chops and that fried chicken really are that good, and if you get sucked in, you may — like me — become a member of Drew’s Crew.
Drew and Stephanie are fine folks, and their eatery is a Cowtown treasure. If you’ve already been, go again. If you haven’t been, get there soon. l
Soaked in brine and fried with peanut oil, Drew’s chicken is just as spectacular as the smothered pork chops.
Drew’s mainstays are fried chicken, fried catfish, smothered pork chops, and fried pork chops like these.
MUSIC
A Night for Chelsea & Evan
Tribute bands and fans are rallying to help a local musician in need.
BY JENNIFER BOVEE
Like many suburban bars, the calendar at O’Shea’s is sprinkled with karaoke nights, trivia events, seasonal parties, and tribute shows. The Dick Beldings, the local ’90s tribute band named for the principal of the high school in Saved by the Bell, played the bar’s annual Halloween party on Sat, Oct 26. Afterward, the band posted a heartbreaking message.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the devastating news impacting our musical family. At 3:30am on Sunday, after a performance on Saturday night, Evan Ranallo, and his fiancée, Chelsea Cook, were struck by a wrong-way driver on the highway while returning home. Tragically, Chelsea did not survive the accident, and Evan remains in the hospital with injuries leading to a long recovery. We mourn the loss of the beautiful soul of Chelsea, whose laughter and humor will continue to ring and make us smile. We remain by the side of Evan and his family as they navigate their journey ahead. We ask for your support and patience during this difficult time for the families involved. Let’s come together to honor their memory and offer strength to those who need it most.”
Evan and Chelsea had been engaged only a few short weeks before the fatal accident. The statement was made jointly by the five bands under the Echo Play Media umbrella, all of which Renallo is a member in different positions. The bands have also
rallied together to host a big benefit show this Saturday to help him financially.
You would think that simply googling “wrong-way accident on 820” would suffice, but when you do that, you’ll find that another wrong-way fatality happened over the Thanksgiving holiday on the same road.
WFAA said the Halloween incident involving Ranallo happened near Marine Creek Reservoir in Fort Worth: “Police said Johanna Newsome drove the wrong way onto the highway, colliding head-on with Ranallo’s pickup truck. The crash ignited a fire that tragically killed Newsome, her husband David, their two children, and Chelsea Cook.”
While there have been no updates as to how/why the Ford Focus was traveling the wrong way, TxDOT added large “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs to the 820 ramp in question following Cook and Ranallo’s accident.
WFAA said Chelsea Cook’s family is thankful for the changes. Still, more measures to prevent wrong-way crashes, including enhanced enforcement, advanced technology, and physical barriers, are needed.
“We’re grateful that new signs have been put up, but there’s still much to be done,” Chelsea’s mother said in a statement. “TxDOT has had the End the Streak campaign for some time now. For over 24 years — since November 7, 2000 — there has not been a single day without a traffic fatality in the state of Texas. We would like to see TxDOT educate the public more effectively on the End the Streak effort.”
Not unlike the metal scene, the local players who do cover shows and participate in tribute bands are a close-knit community. They play in one another’s bands and join forces in times of crises to help however they can. In this case, it’s taking the shape of hosting a benefit show.
A Night for Chelsea & Evan is two events in one day, starting at 3pm on Saturday. You can attend the matinee/kid-friendly show from 3pm to 7pm, the main event from 8pm to 1am for those 21 and up, or both if you like, as the tickets cover the entire day. Both
the matinee and evening shows will feature performances by The Dick Beldings and all the other Echo Play bands, including Arms of Sorrow, Elite: A Texas Deftones Tribute, So Long Goodnight, and The Tools. Arms of Sorrow guitarist Kevin Scott, who also plays bass in the other three bands, will sub for Ranallo in The Dick Beldings until the latter is ready to get onstage again.
As for those auction and raffle items, the benefit team will have all of them organized and can tell you which ones are which on the day of the event. But I can already tell you, it’s pretty epic. If you are able to attend, it’s a great value, considering all the holiday gifts you could walk away with by participating. The main items include electronics, like Apple AirPods and an LG Projector/RCA screen combo; gaming items, including a God of War: Ragnarok collector’s edition PS5 and a Seagate FireCuda Thunderbolt 3 gaming dock; gift cards/vouchers from Black Rose Tattoo Studio, Blue 13 Productions,
Boneyard Studio, Buzzkill Pest Control, Hair by Karson Cutshall, Panther Island Brewing, Photography by Zack Burns, StretchLab, and Zahasky Tattoo; and musical instruments like a Bunny Brunel Carvin bass, a Dingwall bass, a Fender Telecaster, an Ibanez guitar, two Les Pauls (an Adam Jones and an Epiphone), and a Vox Astro bass; sports memorabilia, including a Dallas Cowboys helmet signed by Zack Martin, a Jordan Spieth-autographed Masters flag, an A’ja Wilson-autographed Las Vegas Acres jersey, and an MLB “The Immortal 8” Leaf Pearl card. Miscellaneous items are among the haul and just keep rolling in. So far, there is a Rosefield “The Ace” XS silver watch, a smokeless fire pit by Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0, a Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Legacy lightsaber, and a Yeti cooler.
There will also be a Mario Cart double-elimination tournament starting at 3pm indoors, so you can still enjoy the show. There’s a $10 cash buy-in, with the winner getting half of the pool and the other half going to Ranallo. All ages are welcome to participate.
Admission is $40 at the door or via Eventbrite.com, with 100% of the proceeds going to Ranallo. The Dick Beldings are also accepting contributions via Venmo (@ TheDickBeldings90) for those who cannot attend but want to donate to the cause.
The photo at the top of this article shows the love that Evan and Chelsea shared, but if you could magically see the back-view of that moment, you’d find that his backward baseball cap has the logo of a movie he loves on the front: Jurassic Park. As this cap is standard stage wear for Ranallo, the film has become a motif for the benefit show flyer and includes a take on the iconic logo.
I, too, love Jurassic Park — and dinosaurs in general — because I’m “this many” years old. In fact, the film series, in its entirety, is viewed during the summer at my house, which makes me feel better about my grown ass not going to summer camp. (As they say, youth is wasted on the young.) For their next benefit event, I’d love to see the guys do a movie night with a bit of local help. (Looking at you, Movie Mutant. Got an open #WeirdWednesday coming up?) l
This photo shows the love that Evan and Chelsea shared, but if you could magically see the back-view of this moment, you’d find that his backward baseball cap has the logo of a movie he loves on the front: Jurassic Park. As this cap is standard stage wear for Ranallo, the film has become a motif for the benefit show flyer and includes a take on the iconic logo.
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