Fort Worth Weekly // July 20-26, 2022

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This new weed-themed sandwich chain on the Near Southside is open late, has a bar, and — at a leisurely pace — concocts quite a tasty sub.

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FEATURE Former sex trafficking survivors allege Mercy Culture Church stunted their recovery.

BY EDWARD BROWN

SCREEN What are your Top 5 football movies of all time? Peek inside for ours.

BY BUCK D. ELLIOTT

ATE DAY8 A WEEK MUSIC The Post, Lottie’s, and Chuy’s are Americana singer-songwriter Jon among a bevy of local spots celebrating Ruhl enlisted the help of Niles National Tequila Day Sunday.

City Sound for his debut album.

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BY EDWARD BROWN

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STAFF

J u l y 20 -26, 2022

Anthony Mariani, Editor

INSIDE

Lee Newquist, Publisher Bob Niehoff, General Manager Ryan Burger, Art Director Jim Erickson, Circulation Director Edward Brown, Staff Writer

Post Route

Mercy, Mercy Me

Summer sports blahs bummin’ you out? Let our listicle of the Top 5 football movies of all time cool you down.

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By Edward Brown Cour tesy Paramount Pictures

City in Crisis

In Part 1 of our series on public misdeeds, Sheriff Bill Waybourn has aligned himself with militant right wingers looking to overthrow the government.

By Edward Brown

Michael Newquist, Regional Sales Director

The Northside megachurch may have set back at least two sex trafficking survivors in their recovery by using them for fundraising purposes.

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By Buck D. Elliott

Emmy Smith, Proofreader

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No One Out-Subs the Hut

Cover image by Steve Steward

Stacey Hammons, Senior Account Executive Julie Strehl, Account Executive Tony Diaz, Account Executive Wyatt Newquist, Digital Coordinator Clintastic, Brand Ambassador

CONTRIBUTORS Megan Ables, Christina Berger,

It’s not mind-altering, but this pot-themed sandwich shop on the Near Southside is way better than the fellow chain competition.

By Steve Steward

Jennifer Bovee, Marketing Director

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E.R. Bills, Jason Brimmer, Sue Chefington, Buck D. Elliott, Juan R. Govea, Patrick Higgins, Bo Jacksboro, Laurie James, Kristian Lin, Vishal Malhotra, Cody Neathery, Wyatt Newquist, Linda Blackwell Simmons, Madison Simmons, Teri Webster, Ken Wheatcroft-

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20 Music

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Pardue, Cole Williams EDITORIAL

Anthony Mariani, Edward Brown, Emmy Smith

23 Classifieds

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Far-Right Local Sheriff Threatens Democracy Though he took an oath to serve the U.S. Constitution and its citizens, Sheriff Bill Waybourn is closely affiliated with players seeking to overthrow the government.

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Cour tesy of Facebook

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Just weeks before the 2020 presidential election, John Eastman co-drafted the 70 Days Report for the Claremont Institute, a farright research group that officials with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) have tied to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol which left seven dead and hundreds of rioters facing federal criminal charges.

The purpose of the report by Donald Trump’s former legal advisor was to roleplay scenarios that could lead to the election of Trump even as national polling at the time suggested a lead by Joe Biden. In many of the scenarios, Eastman and his co-authors envisioned riots and violence by leftist groups before, during, and after the election.

To combat the imagined foes, the co-authors saw an important role for right-wing sheriffs across the country.

“There are rumors that several sheriffs in conservative counties throughout the country are hinting that they may depu-

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We won’t know until late 2024 whether or not Sheriff Bill Waybourn’s affiliations with rightwing militias and extremist groups actively being arrested and prosecuted by federal agents will result in political blowback for him.

tize regular citizens into posses should the lawlessness come to their counties,” reads the report that erroneously tied lawlessness to pro-Biden supporters. “Social media is ablaze with volunteers from Proud Boys, Three Percenters, Oath Keepers, and other groups to form posses.”

One year after outlining the potential role of Trump-supporting sheriffs in helping to overthrow a democratically elected government, the Claremont Institute launched

the Sheriffs Fellowship. Tarrant County’s Sheriff Bill Waybourn, himself a vocal and longtime supporter of the former president who inflamed violence during the insurrection, was among eight inaugural graduates in November.

Waybourn and the seven other fellows, based on Claremont’s website, spent one week in November at the institute’s campus in Orange County, California, where they learned about the “radical left.” The self-de-

scribed mission of the Claremont Institute Sheriffs Fellowship is to study the evolution of “militant progressivism and multiculturalism with particular emphasis on the role of law enforcement in maintaining liberty.”

The recent seizure of Eastman’s phone

by FBI agents has direct implications for Waybourn and anyone with direct ties to groups that may have planned and implemented the insurrection. Eastman, founder of the Claremont’s Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence, is frequently described by experts who follow anti-government groups as one of the architects of the failed coup.

The seizure of Eastman’s phone is part of a far-reaching effort by DOJ prosecutors to expand their criminal investigation into supporters of Trump and his failed efforts to cling to power after Biden’s landslide victory. The federal effort is focused on Trump’s advisors and supporters, who face charges of obstruction of justice, sedition, and fraud, among other charges that could lead to lifetime prison sentences.

Earlier this year and as part of a court order to hand over hundreds of Trump-related emails to Congress’ Jan. 6 Select Committee, U.S. District Court Judge David Carter wrote that there is credible evidence that Eastman and Trump conspired to obstruct Congress on Jan. 6.

“If Dr. Eastman and President Trump’s plan had worked, it would have permanently ended the peaceful transition of power, undermining American democracy and the Constitution,” Carter wrote. “If the country does not commit to investigating and pursuing accountability for those responsible, the Court fears January 6 will repeat itself.”

Waybourn was one of six Claremont fellowship attendees affiliated with the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA), a group labeled as anti-government extremists by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center. CSPOA wants to place regular military troops along the southern border, fight efforts to mandate background checks for firearm sales, and reduce or eliminate federal control of state land, among other conservative initiatives.

“Bill Waybourn, Constitutional Candidate for Sheriff of Tarrant County, is officially endorsed by CSPOA founder and presicontinued on page 5

This story is part of City in Crisis, an ongoing series of reports on unethical behavior and worse by local public leaders, featuring original reporting. The next one, on Tarrant County family courts, will appear in the July 27 issue.

fwweekly.com

dent Sheriff Richard Mack,” reads a 2016 CSPOA Facebook post.

Mack, who founded CSPOA in 2011, is also a founding board member of the farright militia the Oath Keepers that federal prosecutors believe spearheaded the assault on the Capitol on Jan. 6. Oath Keepers founder and Granbury resident Stewart Rhodes remains incarcerated while awaiting trial on seditious conspiracy charges for his role in the far right’s attempted coup.

Uniting the ideologies of right-wing militias is the false belief that the United States is a solely Christian nation that should be ruled by fundamentalist Christian politicians. The most outspoken proponents of Christian Nationalism in Fort Worth can be found at Mercy Culture Church, the charismatic megachurch at the center of this week’s cover story.

Waybourn is a frequent visitor and speaker at Mercy Culture events that promote Republican candidates, despite federal laws that ban churches, which are tax-exempt, from endorsing political candidates.

By making human trafficking a major focus of his administration, Waybourn is again aligning himself with far-right groups that include Mercy Culture Church. Without any evidence, QAnon followers and other rightwing fanatics maintain that Democrats and Hollywood elites manage large rings of human trafficking, the umbrella term that encompasses forced sex and labor.

Pastors Landon and Heather Schott, who co-founded Mercy Culture Church a few years ago, recently withdrew plans to build a 100-bed shelter for sex trafficking victims after facing overwhelming backlash from area residents, who saw the project as dangerous to the victims and poorly planned.

When speaking at Mercy Culture events, Sheriff Waybourn often invokes Biblical language to describe his efforts to address human trafficking. Based on our open records requests, his four-year-old Human Trafficking Unit has failed to deliver significant trafficking-related arrests and prosecutions despite the availability of various federal grants, three investigators, and one supervisor.

Since 2019, Waybourn’s unit has obtained only five human trafficking prosecutions from the district attorney’s office out of 546 investigations, which is about 1%.

The vast majority of charges are for prostitution offenses that may have resulted from entrapment, based on his well-documented use of professional actors posing as prostitutes.

Affiliations with right-wing militias and lackluster use of tax dollars through his

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trafficking unit have not translated to political setbacks for the sheriff, who maintains staunch support from local conservatives.

Waybourn defeated his Democratic opponent, former Fort Worth cop Vance Keyes, by six percentage points in 2020.

Waybourn’s tenure has been plagued by record numbers of deaths at the Tarrant County Jail, which he manages as sheriff. At least 39 people have died in custody since 2019, based on data from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. Our magazine was recently awarded a First Amendment Award from the regional Society of Professional Journalists for publishing around a dozen accounts from men and women detained at the jail in 2020 (“Treated ‘Like Animals,’ ” Aug. 2021). The sworn complaints are full of horror stories, including one of a man who repeatedly slit his wrists to escape alleged daily sexual abuse by jailers.

Civil rights attorney Jarrett Adams and his colleagues are using the documented pattern of mistreatment of prisoners who languish and die in custody as legal grounds for an ambitious lawsuit currently playing out in Tarrant Count’s civil courts. Three national civil rights law firms, with Adams as the lead plaintiff, are combining resources to sue Fort Worth and Tarrant County law enforcement for the wrongful death of Chasity Congious’ newborn while the mother was in jail in 2020.

In his complaint, Adams alleges that medical staff at the jail had notified jailers that Congious did not have the mental capacity to know when she went into contractions. When she did go into labor, the complaint reads, she did so alone in an isolation cell. Adams said the idea that jailers didn’t hear Congious’ tormented screams as she delivered a newborn defies belief.

“Sheriff Bill Waybourn is a showman,” Adams told us earlier this year, referring to the sheriff ’s love of grandstanding during press conferences with Trump or while speaking on right-wing radio shows.

The attorney alleges that Waybourn has made misleading public generalizations about the Congious case that he will have to answer for in front of a jury, likely later this year.

“If you put this in front of a jury, and you have a jury made up of parents, I don’t think [the defendants in this case] want to see that judgment,” Adams said.

Up next in our series will be Tarrant County’s family courts, followed by the district attorney’s office and the Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD). l

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Agustin Gonzalez

Masters of Manipulation Survivors of sex trafficking allege they were exploited by Mercy Culture Church leaders for financial gain.

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Two former trafficking victims allege they are part of a larger group of survivors being used to raise money for Mercy Culture Church leaders.

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ooking back, it was the prophecies that worried Sam the most.

The former survivor of sex trafficking — along with forced labor, the term falls under the umbrella of human trafficking — told me she now

regrets the years she spent under the care of the husband-and-wife team of Heather and Landon Schott. The leaders and co-founders of Mercy Culture Church, a charismatic nondenominational organization that’s part of a broader Christian Nationalism movement, essentially and allegedly told Sam she was going to do great things — for God, for herself, and, perhaps most importantly, for Mercy Culture.

Sam said she was one of more than a dozen sex trafficking survivors to come into the Schotts’ care. She’s also one of two who came to me to tell me what’s really going on at the Northside church that draws a few thousand worshipers every Sunday. We are concealing her real name to protect her privacy and shield her from retaliation.

Landon Schott, Sam recalled, “prophesized speaking events and volunteer opportunities” for the sex trafficking survivors.

Almost every prophecy was going to give [the Schotts] gain in some sort of fashion.

As survivors, our identity and worth are ensnared in what we can give to someone because we were [conditioned] to be on our trafficker’s good side. When someone is prophesizing that God, who you now have a relationship with, is saying you should be doing this and that, you are going to do it.

It was definitely a power play.”

The Schotts have not returned my repeated attempts to reach them for comment.

The lead pastors at Mercy Culture, she said, would regularly prophesize that young women who escaped violence, rape,

and abuse at the hands of sex traffickers would give testimonials at fundraisers for a 100-bed sex trafficking shelter to be built near Oakhurst on the North Side. Church leaders recently withdrew their bid to build the shelter, which required zoning variances from the city, amid overwhelming repudiation by Oakhurst residents, who told me the Justice Residences were ill-conceived and likely a moneymaking scam by the Schotts.

The other sex trafficking victim I spoke to, Jess, told me the Schotts created a toxic environment at church, where trafficking survivors are allegedly pressured

by Heather to compete for her attention and affection. The darker and grittier the public recounting of abuse during services continued on page 7

Feature

and fundraising events, the more favorably those survivors are allegedly treated

by Mercy Culture leaders, who show little interest in actually helping the trafficking victims, Jess alleges.

“They cultivated relationships with all of us initially,” Jess said. “It happened slowly. I felt like once they had gotten my story, it was time to move on. All of a sudden, they are on to the next survivor who will give her testimony. They pitted competition among us.”

Jess alleges that one girl was mortified to be called the “superstar” of the group.

“She didn’t want to be the star of sex trafficking,” Jess said.

The recounting of emotional and spiritual abuse at the hands of Mercy Culture leaders follow recent reporting by our magazine of similar horror stories by students at Mercy Culture Preparatory, the private school on the church’s Northside campus. One former Mercy Prep student told me that children and teens are frequently targeted by church leaders for not exhibiting uncompromising devotion to Mercy Culture directives or for questioning church doctrine that sees all other Christian denominations as somehow

Edward Brown

continued from page 6

The testimonies of two sex trafficking survivors follow similar allegations of emotional and spiritual abuse at the hands of Mercy Culture staff at nearby Mercy Culture Preparatory.

non-Christian (“Grooming Christian Nationalists?,” June 8).

Even with the constant stream of accusations of abuse by church leadership,

Mercy Culture Church enjoys the staunch support of Christian Nationalist public figures like Sheriff Bill Waybourn and county judge candidate Tim O’Hare, both

Republicans who make regular appearances at Mercy Culture services and events.

Sam said she worries for her fellow continued on page 8

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survivor friends who have not realized that Mercy Culture may be exploiting sex trafficking victims for purely financial reasons.

“A lot of us had a weird feeling in our stomachs when we first went,” Sam said.

“We weren’t sure at first if it was because we had been through a lot. It took me over a year to realize what was happening.

[Mercy Culture leaders] are masters of manipulation.”

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Pam said several trafficking victims she works with began displaying unsettling changes just months after attending Mercy Culture Church. We are concealing the trafficking advocate’s identity to protect her privacy.

“There was a shift, where they withdrew” from their former support group, Pam said, referring to her advocacy work.

“We encourage [survivors] to have outside support. The church leaders isolated them. They were cutting everyone off who wasn’t part of Mercy Culture. That’s a red flag. The [survivors] were really nervous to talk.”

Pam learned from trafficking victims who attended Mercy Culture that Heather Schott was allegedly telling the girls and young women that gossip is a sin and not to discuss what they saw inside the church with others. It took weeks and even months at a time to deprogram the trafficking victims, Pam said.

“We had to talk through what gossip really means,” Pam said. “Are you slandering people, or are you telling people that your experience wasn’t good? I did that with multiple [current and former Mercy Culture women]. They have been told not to talk. Once they were comfortable talking, that’s when they found their voice again. When they started coming out, they were so deeply hurt. They had a relationship with God [before attending Mercy Culture], and this has set them so far back.”

The trauma of allegedly being manipulated and exploited by a church caused one young woman to return to sex work, Pam said.

The trafficking-victim advocate said faith-based solutions to healing are important, but Mercy Culture leaders appear willfully ignorant of the complexity of the psychological and emotional damage that trafficking survivors endure. Pam said Heather’s alleged mistreatment of the girls and young women who went to Mercy Culture for help is widely known in the

broader network of nonprofits and faithbased groups which supports trafficking victims.

The Justice Residences have become a local example of how not to help trafficking victims. Jess said Mercy Culture’s proposed shelter concerned her from the get-go.

“It reminded me of a jail,” Jess said.

“They are going to put 100 girls in one building and then pray? I believe in the power of prayer, but there has to be other forms of support.”

In April, members of the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association overwhelmingly voted against the Justice Residences. During an early April presentation, Heather made a last-ditch effort to appeal to area residents by recounting her past addiction to drugs.

“Around the age of 17, I went out and was mixing drugs and alcohol all night long,” Heather told the group. “A dealer dropped a bag of ecstasy and drove over it. We snorted line after line for hours. I blacked out. I was driven to an abandoned apartment.”

One resident who heard Heather’s presentation that day later told me via Instagram Messenger that the pastor’s “Reefer Madness” story of suffering did nothing to address concerns about what qualified the pastor and her husband to head a 100-bed shelter for sex trafficking victims.

Sam said Heather would often recount her drug addiction when saying she understood the plight of sex trafficking victims.

She “knew zero of what I’ve lived through,” Sam said. “Sure, start with drug addiction. Then add being raped every day. Add being manipulated, then add Stockholm syndrome and molestation.

Her ignorance and lack of trauma-informed insight were astounding.”

Sam said she has since found reputable nonprofits that have helped her heal.

She knows that many of those charities run on tight budgets. The former trafficking victim said she is appalled by how much money she believes the Schotts have raised for the Justice Residences through fundraising events. Sam estimates the amount to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“It is disgusting how much money the Schotts have raised,” Sam said. “I wanted to warn people, ‘Stop giving these people your money. They are hurting people.’

Use your donations for supporting organizations that have evidence that they have helped people. It is insane how these organizations that are radically changing survivors’ lives are struggling. Then you have the [proposed shelter] that is serving no one, and they are getting money.” continued on page 9

Edward Brown

Since 2007, the national nonprofit Polaris has managed the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888) to connect victims of sex and labor trafficking to resources and service providers. According to data collected by Polaris, hotline directors have said 64,718 likely victims of human trafficking have called the hotline since 2007. Through its website (HumanTraffickingHotline.org), the nonprofit describes common misconceptions about human trafficking.

“By far, the most pervasive myth about human trafficking is that it always or often involves kidnapping or otherwise physically forcing someone into a situation,” the website reads. “In reality, most human traffickers use psychological means such as tricking, defrauding, manipulating, or threatening victims into providing commercial sex or exploitative labor.”

continued on page 10

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Sgt. Brian Johnson, head of the Fort Worth police department’s Human Trafficking Unit, said his police department’s first dedicated human trafficking detective was hired in 2006, and the program has slowly grown to include two detectives, two officers, one sergeant, and a civilian coordinator.

Investigations into human trafficking are inherently complicated, Johnson told me in a phone interview.

“Investigations can last six to 12 months,” he said. “They often lead to identifying more victims and suspects. We may talk to one girl, and she may describe another girl who may be a minor. The trafficker may only go by a street name. We have to figure out who that is. The victims usually don’t have enough information to identify their [trafficker]. Once they are identified, warrants are issued, and interviews are conducted.”

The unit relies on tips and active operations that target online ads and forums that sex traffickers use to attract business. Finding a possible trafficking victim

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Chanin Scanlon (shown here) is one of dozens of Oakhurst residents who recently signed a petition to prevent construction of Mercy Culture’s proposed 100-bed sex trafficking shelter.

The homeowners’ efforts were successful.

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Pam said she works with many churches that do great work providing funding to and resources for sex trafficking victims in Tarrant County.

“They are not trying to be the heroes,” Pam said. “They are supporting the organizations that know how to do the work

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doesn’t always lead the women or girls to disclose any alleged crimes that may have occurred, Johnson said, due to the psychological stranglehold the traffickers usually have over their victims.

“Usually, they don’t want anything to do with us,” Johnson said. “We will often encounter the same victim multiple times before they outcry that something happened or they provide information about what is happening to them. It is very rare with an initial encounter with a victim that they disclose what is happening.

These girls are taught to hate the police.

They are told we will take them away from family and friends. They are manipulated by their trafficker to believe that the police are bad. We have to break that and explain we are here to help them.”

Often complicating matters, Johnson continued, is traffickers’ use of controlled substances to make their victims more compliant and docile. For the unit to be able to pursue traffickers on criminal charges, there has to be evidence of force, fraud, or coercion while any solicitation of a commercial sex act involving a minor is automatically investigated, Johnson said.

Johnson said his unit could use more personnel and resources. Having additional resources would allow his team to be more proactive in the hunt for traffickers, he said. The sergeant said he welcomes tips, but anyone who witnesses a crime in progress — such as a woman being dragged into a car or building or a minor offering commercial sex acts — needs to call 911 immediately. For non-urgent tips, call 817-392-4553.

“Depending on the nature of the tip, they may be asked to complete a report with our Data Reporting Unit,” Johnson said.

Jess said that young girls can be forced into sex work in the nicest of neighborhoods.

“It could literally be happening at your next-door neighbor’s home,” she said. “I was trafficked out of a suburb.

The house was a $250,000 home in a nice neighborhood, somewhere you would let your kids walk. There are so many different ways this happens.”

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and not saying they are going to do this thing in our own way.”

Survivors, especially if they have been free for only a relatively short time, are incredibly vulnerable to manipulation and coercion, Pam said.

“They came from a place of abuse, manipulation, and control,” Pam said. “Many were sexually abused as children. A lot of their abuse goes way back. Going to [Mercy Culture] took many of these women so far back.”

Being an advocate is tough work, Pam continued, because part of her job involves letting survivors have their own journey, even ones who have setbacks. With her years of experience guiding and supporting trafficking survivors, Pam has learned that churches play an important but discreet role in helping minors and women recover from abuse and rape.

“It takes a village,” she said. “It’s not just one program or one person. They need to be supported with therapy, mentoring, support groups, and career counseling. It’s retraining their brain. We offer individual counseling and mentoring. It’s a long list.”

Fort Worth offers adequate resources for trafficking victims, Pam said, but there is a need for housing units that can serve six to eight women at a time.

Sam said she has learned that her time and story have value. Reputable organizations would never ask survivors to recount their traumatic stories for no compensation, and she hopes Mercy Culture’s leaders stop asking trafficking victims to speak for free and volunteer their time for causes that raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the megachurch and its elders.

“There are a lot of survivors who had relationships given and taken from them” prior to coming to Mercy Culture, Sam said, adding that Heather’s alleged manipulation retraumatized many women who sought healing at the megachurch. “One thing that was so difficult to see were survivors being invited to give input and then being silenced.”

Despite her serious concerns about the alleged mistreatment of trafficking victims at Mercy Culture Church, Pam said she never wants to see any church fail.

“We want to see them change for the better,” Pam said. “My purpose is to be an advocate for survivors, and as a believer, I want to see change happen. [Mercy Culture’s] leadership believes they are doing everything right. I don’t know how to change that mindset. My hope would be that they change and people aren’t hurt.

My fear is that more and more people are going to be sucked in, be hurt, leave with deep wounds, and that the spiritual abuse continues.” l

SCREEN Blockbusters

E L L I O T T

Watching Varsity Blues now will be a shot of pure nostalgia for most Texas football ex-players and fans.

If you’re a lifelong Texas resident, like myself, do you remember being a kid? It seems like I do, but this absolutely soul-crushing heat doesn’t ring a bell. It’s to the point that every morning when I ask Alexa about the forecast, she just replies, “Eff you!,” in a raspy smoker’s voice. So, if we’re all going to be inside, we should at least be entertained while anticipating other people flirting with heatstroke enveloped in pads for our spectating delight. Here in no particular order is my should-watch Power 5 of football-themed movies to prepare you for Texas’ upcoming second summer that will inevitably masquerade as fall.

there actually was a Texas State) field a team entirely from a legitimate student body, and it is a pretty good representation of what would happen at a Division I college playing without scholarships: They’re awful. The movie contains some genuine football action paired with familiar surroundings and thoughtful acting, including a very young Jason Bateman, Sinbad, and Kathy Ireland. The cameos during the convict scrimmage are golden, and if you’re quick, you’ll catch a glimpse of hopefully-not-to-be-a-senator Herschel Walker. It would be difficult to find more than one degree of separation from an extra in this film if you lived in Denton County in the late ’80s/early ’90s and are in your 40s.

Necessary Roughness (1991) This gridiron masterpiece is essentially the story of the SMU Mustangs’ fall from grace transposed into a feel-good story starring Scott Bakula as a mid-30s high-school sensation who never attended college but is drawn back by a defensive coordinator (Robert Loggia). The film was mostly shot in and around Denton, primarily on the campus of UNT. The Fightin’ Armadillos of the fictitious Texas State (before

Cour tesy Paramount Pictures

Wildcats (1986) A good old-fashioned rich-versus-poor flick featuring Goldie Hawn as an aspiring coach in a male-dominated sport. Hawn, spurned from a freshman-football slot at an uppity Chicago-area school, takes the head varsity position at a crumbling inner-city program. Aside from the ’80s-era socioeconomic stereotypes, this is required watching for film and football fans alike. The depth of the story won’t win any awards, but Hawn, combined with the likes of a pre-felon Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson with a full head of hair, give the picture a fun feel as the coach fights her way through a divorce, custody battle, and skepticism from everyone about her ability to function as a woman in football. Despite being light on actual football action compared with others on this list, an awesome soundtrack and lots of feel-good dialogue will leave you primed for pigskin afterward.

Necessary Roughness features plenty of good football action with some pretty decent comedic acting performances.

Rudy (1993) I’ll be honest. It pains me to add Rudy to this list, but it’s valid, and the acclaim it’s received and the more prestigious lists it’s included in are deserved. Based on the true story of an eventual walk-on to the Notre Dame football team, Rudy covers the early and college life of the film’s namesake character, played by Sean Astin, as he makes his way from undersized high-school football contributor to junior-college student and eventually to a member of the Fighting Irish. This is really a movie about the fortitude of the human spirit as it faces seemingly insurmountable odds. Rudy overcomes tragedy, financial hardship, and expectations to

reach a goal that no one cared about but him. The movie itself is shot well and seems spot-on in the early ’70s. It is a serious story while ending happily and being appropriate for the entire family. I’ll personally Venmo any reader $10 who doesn’t get goosebumps from the final scene. Actually, scratch that, because you’re either lying or dead inside, and I don’t associate with either of you kinds of people.

Varsity Blues (1999) A watch-after-the-kids-go-to-bed classic, Varsity Blues represents the cultural zeitgeist of the late ’90s for high school football in Texas, at least to the rest of the world, and it isn’t too far from reality. The dynamic collision of Fast and Furious and Dawson’s Creek erupt when Paul Walker, who plays a heralded senior quarterback prospect, is injured and his GPA-prioritizing backup, James Van Der Beek, replaces him and experiences immediate success. Jon Voight plays the repugnant but believable win-at-all-costs coach who essentially runs the fictitious small town. Most of the filming occurred at Elgin High School, east of Austin. The game progressions aren’t the most realistic, and the characters are very “charactery,” but if you’re a Gen-Xer or Xennial, it’ll bring back a lot of high school nostalgia, for better or worse. Just remember to plug your ears when Van Der Beek says, “I don’t want your life” — or really anything else in his gag-worthy attempt at a Texan drawl.

12 Mighty Orphans (2021) Based on a post-Depression football team from an orphanage in Fort Worth, 12 Mighty Orphans sports a star-studded cast, including local son Luke Wilson, who is flanked by Robert Duvall and Martin Sheen. Viewer reviews love the bootstrapping story of boys from a local Masonic home setting Texas football on fire in the 1940s. Adapted from the book Twelve Mighty Orphans: The Inspiring True Story of the Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football by Jim Dent, this one rounds out my Power 5 out of pure homerism, the way the football gods intended.

Also receiving votes: Remember the Titans, The Waterboy, We Are Marshall, Little Giants, The Program, Any Given Sunday, The Blind Side, The Longest Yard. l

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Here are some classic football movies, which were mostly available on VHS, to watch until ERCOT pulls the plug.

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Head to 1851 Club (931 W Division St, Arlington, 817642-5554) at 8:30pm for Thursday comedy and a drag show with the Claws Out troupe, featuring Monna with Bridget Tooley, Danny McGough, Dulce Strutts, Lady Monroe, Latrice Wilkerson, Nia Courtland, and Yo Yo Yo Yo. Tickets are $15 in advance at Evite.com or $20 at the door. It is suggested that you bring your dollar bills to make it rain on your favorite queens.

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Tatiana “LadyMay” Mayfield will perform at the Modern Tuesday. Courtesy Facebook

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As part of Hall of Fame Weekend sponsored by the National Multicultural Friday Western Heritage Museum (2029 N Main St, 817-534-8801), attend a special presentation by the Texas Buffalo Soldiers, followed by a concert by KC the 4th Son at the Radisson Hotel (2540 Meacham Blvd, 817-769-4023). Tickets are $75 for VIP or $25 for general admission at JimAustinOnline.com. VIP tickets include complimentary food, drink set-ups, and beer or wine. (See the museum’s new permanent Buffalo Soldiers exhibit noon-4pm Wed-Fri or noon-5pm Sat. Admission is $10.)

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Nice kicks! If you’ve ever uttered those words, do I have an event for you. PBR continued on page 13

Cour tesy Facebook

NIGHT&DAY

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Night & Day

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Texas at Texas Live (1650 E Randol Mill Rd, Arlington, 817-769-1749) hosts KIXPO Summer 2022, a convention and swap meet featuring sneakers, collectibles, streetwear, and vintage items 1pm-7pm Sat. Tickets are $15 thru Fri at Bit.ly/KIXPO or $20 the day of the show.

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At 2pm, hear Erick Willis with Allison Cook, Good Latimer, The Herald, Jack Sunday Mason, ProjectDXFF, and more at the North Texas Laryngectomy Society’s Voices for Voices: Tour of the Decades, a concert event benefitting those affected by head and neck cancer. Tickets start at $30 at ArlingtonMusicHall.net.

Carter BloodCare (@ CarterBloodCare, 800-3662834) is encouraging people Monday to stock the shelves (yours and theirs). From 8am to 5pm Mon-Tue, each donor will receive a $25 gift card for groceries or gas while supplies last. Appointments are highly encouraged. Schedule a time at the nearest location via Carter’s website.

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It’s Punk Rock Movie Night at Texas Theater (231 W Wednesday Jefferson St, Dallas, 214-948-1546). At 9pm, see Nightclubbing: The Birth of Punk Rock in NYC, an 80-minute documentary about the punk scene at the legendary Max’s Kansas City nightclub, followed by Sid: The Final Curtain, a short film of rare live footage of Sid Vicious’ final Sex Pistols show.

Then, Clint Phillips will close out the night with a DJ set. Tickets are $11 at TheTexasTheatre.com.

Erick Willis and friends will perform as part of Voices for Voices at Arlington Music Hall Sunday.

By Jennifer Bovee

No matter who you are or where you’re headed, saving time and money by ridesharing on Trinity Metro ZIPZONE is a really good look! Ready to find a ride you’ll love now?

Get your first two ZIPZONE rides free at RIDETRINITYMETRO.org/ZIPZONE.

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TRIMMED MUSTACHES

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In celebration of the Women Painting Women exhibition, Tuesday the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (3200 Darnell St, 817-738-9215) is partnering with Amplify 817 (@Amplify817) to host Women with Soul, a concert featuring soul/R&B musicians Elise Amara and Tatiana “LadyMay” Mayfield, at 7:30pm at the museum. Admission is free, but there is limited seating.

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EATS & drinks Mex-ing It Up

Tex-Mex meets Mediterranean cuisine with delicious results at Westside newcomer Cairo Mex Food.

Cairo Mex Food, 4307 Camp Bowie Blvd, FW. 817-381-8883. 11am-9pm Mon-Sat. All major credit cards accepted.

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The food gods must have ordained that the humble building formerly occupied by Samson’s Market and Bistro will never house run-of-the-mill concepts. Married owners Samson and Jenber Yosef were delightful

APPROVED THAI RESTAURANTS IN FW!

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FIRST BLUE ZONES

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ambassadors of Ethiopian cuisine for the seven years Samson’s remained open. The Camp Bowie Boulevard restaurant’s sole social media post before shuttering did not offer an explanation, but the date in late 2021 suggests that COVID may have played a role.

“To all of our valued customers and friends, we will be putting Samson’s Market and Bistro up for sale,” the Facebook message reads.

In the months following the closing, I noticed the building soon had a new occupant — Cairo Mex Food. A bright red, yellow, and blue sign with boldly printed “Cairo Mex” welcomes diners to another wholly new experience, one where distant cousins gyros and tacos are served under one banner.

The windows are decorated with alternating stickers that show kabobs, tacos, and falafel.

I arrived a little before lunchtime recently to find the space to be largely empty. A lone employee took my order before heading to the kitchen to prepare the dishes.

Amid the sounds of frying fish and grilling meat nearby, the smell of fiery sauces whetted my appetite.

The hamburger was a monstrously heavy opener. The double-patty, topped and layered with slices of American cheese, was savory and juicy. Thickly sliced red onion added a pungent bite while thinly sliced cucumbers stood in as a crunchier alternative for pickles. Accompanying the massive burger, thick fries generously coated with chile powder and pepper really sang.

The three-taco special didn’t disappoint. Single corn tortillas held together cheddar cheese, diced cucumbers, tomatoes, continued on page 15

The beef kabobs were perfectly cooked and delicious when mixed with the rice and tahini sauce.

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and red onions. The fajita steak version was dense and flavorful while the pork was aggressively spiced.

Every bite of the beef kabob was a treat.

The waiter/cook had mercifully not overcooked the steak, which was served medium rare with just the right amount of char on the tips. I pulled the juicy cuts off the skewer and mixed them with the accompanying rice and minced veggies. The side of tahini sauce added a lovely creaminess to the experience.

Cairo Mex Food introduced me to Hawawshi. The Egyptian street food is basically a pita pocket filled with ground beef, onion, garlic, and spices. Cinnamon and coriander were prominent in the dense sandwich that Cairo Mex Food Beef kabob ................................................. $14 Fish dish ..................................................... $15 Three-taco special ..................................... $8 Burger ......................................................... $8 Hawawshi ................................................... $9 Rice pudding .............................................. $3.25

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had been grilled until the pita had become a hard shell. Lightening the dish was a side of pickled carrots and celery accompanied by another mound of crispy fries.

The restaurant didn’t disclose what type of fish was in the seafood dish. The thickly battered fish was golden-fried, and the white, flaky flesh was delicious even if it was a bit boney. The cooks had stuffed the center of the filet with a curry heavy on the cumin.

Accompanying the mystery fish was a large side of diced veggies (tomato, red onion, cucumber) and a heaping serving of basmati rice. The dish benefited from a lathering of tahini sauce that also came on the side.

The rice pudding was nuanced and not overly sweet. The creamy dessert was packed with soft rice and topped with cinnamon and shaved bits of coconut. Several small squares of a sweet bread that had the consistency of cornbread nicely filled out the dish that didn’t leave me feeling weighed down.

Cairo Mex Food does a respectable job churning out tacos and quesadillas, but their standout dishes are the Middle Eastern options. Samson’s may be gone, but its replacement offers locals something equally nontraditional and memorable to explore. l

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Fans of Samson’s will quickly recognize Cairo Mex Food’s new home.

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GARAGE SALE July 23 9am

(Formerly The Tin Panther)

937 Woodward St. 76107

EATS & drinks

Got Any Cheba?

This new weed-themed sandwich chain on the Near Southside is open late, has a bar, and — at a leisurely pace — concocts quite a tasty sub.

Cheba Hut “Toasted” Subs, 1217 8th Av, FW. 682224-0021. 10am-midnight daily.

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I am not embarrassed to admit this, because it’s not as if Cheba Hut is the first business to nail my psychographic tastes and preferences with near-perfect accuracy — to suggest so would discount the quickened effect on my purchasing habits of Amazon ads for glow-in-the-dark polyhedral dice — but I am indeed in the bullseye of their target market, spitted on a conceptual arrow somehow specifically fletched for my per-

sonal preferences in philosophy, lifestyle, and entertainment. Cheba Hut’s concept, if you are unfamiliar with this chain from Fort Collins, Colorado, is based on a very simple idea: Stoners love sandwiches. As a stoner who does indeed love sandwiches, I was drawn to this place like a 311 sticker to the side of an acrylic bong.

Now, if you have ever worked in a sandwich shop, you might argue that every sandwich shop benefits from stoners loving sandwiches, and you would certainly be correct. But not every sandwich shop benefits from that concept the same way Cheba Hut does. As anyone who has ever been to a Mellow Mushroom location knows, these counterculture-copping restaurants lay on the druggy puns and psychedelically suggestive decor pretty thickly. I wouldn’t say that Cheba Hut gives you a heroic dose of weed culture, but a little bit goes a long way. It’s not like the place looks like a head shop, but the menu items are named after cannabis strains such as A-Train, Chronic, and Pakalolo. There are subtle touches of weed-leaf iconography. Friday-era Ice Cube’s picture is on the ice dispenser, and Ice-T’s mug decorates the teas.

The pièce de resistance, however, is on the north wall, a floor-to-ceiling mural of a cartoon rodeo, its bleachers busy with a cavalcade of cartoon characters from all parts of the recognizability spectrum: Toy Story’s Woody and Hank and Bobby Hill, as well as deep-cut characters like Marshal Bravestarr and Twinkie the Kid, most of them baked and blazed to hilarious proportions, puffing on equally cartoonish-sized joints.

It’s a fun thing to stare at, and it’s also a lot. Like last fall at a music festival in Sacramento, I was offered a joint made of one gram of Superglue and one gram of Mendo Breath, and all that ground-up, locally grown grass came wrapped in hash oil-cured paper, which was itself dusted in a layer

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BEST RAMEN WINNER - Fort Worth Weekly Best Of 2021 The subs might come out slowly, but they sure are worth the wait.

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of kief and then wrapped again in another sheet of hash oil-cured paper. “That’s an absurd amount of weed things,” I said as I exhaled. The same could be said about Cheba Hut’s mural.

If that sounds off-putting to you — and if the anecdote above reads like it was written in a foreign language — Cheba Hut will probably annoy you, and I concede that there are, like, 700 other options if you’re craving a club sandwich. And to be honest, for all the weedy whimsy abounding on its menu and walls, Cheba Hut makes a pretty good sandwich, but it probably won’t leave you in a state of stupefied amazement.

I had a turkey/roast beef sandwich called a G-13 that came topped with provolone, bacon, chipotle mayo, lettuce, onion, pickle, tomato, and the chain’s signature “Shake & House Dressing,” (oregano and oil), served toasted — another signature Cheba Hut move — on a garlic bread roll. And, yeah, it was good. By comparison, it was far superior to anything from Subway and better than something similar from Jimmy John’s, Quiznos, or Jason’s Deli. My girlfriend, who is not a stoner herself but likes sandwiches as much as the rest of the world, ordered the portobello-based veggie sandwich called the Magic Mushroom, for which I offer the same assessment. Pretty good sandwiches, better than most chains, priced about the same as the others: 4-inchers for $6.49, 8-inchers for $10.39, and footlongs for $13.69. This being Cheba Hut, though, the sandwich lengths are measured as “nugs,” “pinners,” and “blunts.”

Cheba Hut “Toasted” Subs G-13 pinner (8-inch) ................................... $10.39 Magic Mushroom pinner (8-inch) ............. $10.39 Krispy Bar ................................................... $2.99

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Other “pinners” that sounded good to me include the barbecue-chicken Acapulco Gold, a chicken-bacon-ranch delight named after quintessential 1990s weed strain White Widow, and the 5-0, about which the menu boasts, “ALL THE PIG, BABY!!” The sandwiches are also available in salad form, and other munchies include chips, cookies, Krispy Bars (made of various marshmallow-goo-ified breakfast cereals), pretzel bites, and cheesy garlic bread. But beyond those standard sandwich-shop options, Cheba Hut also offers a full bar that’s open ’til midnight and a daily happy hour between 4:20 and 7:10 p.m.

I had to ask what the 7:10 referred to, and, luckily, a friend of mine (also a stoner) happened to be there. “Punch it into a calculator, and turn it upside down — you get ‘oil,’ ” as in the stuff that goes in vape pens. At the time, we were gazing at the mural, trying to identify the characters, and I was surprised not to find Shaggy or Scooby — the two most famous stoner cartoon characters of all — among them. But I also realized that when you go to Cheba Hut, whether you’re there to sit down or carry out, you’ll probably see someone you know, and that person is probably someone you’ve ripped a bowl with. Given Cheba Hut’s bar and late-night hours, it is the rare sandwich shop where people might actually hang out.

To be honest, hanging out is what you’re going to do there anyway, because if Cheba Hut has one quirk that may hit you in a bad way if you don’t have the tolerance for it, it’s that the sandwiches take a while to appear. There’s a sign posted alerting customers to this leisurely approach to sandwich construction that says something to the effect of, “If you get your sandwich in five minutes, it’s a miracle,” so I assume that the longer-than-usual ticket times seem to be by design. But unless you are some prohibitionist lunatic who despises marijuana and marijuana culture, there’s lots to like at Cheba Hut, even if you’ve never inhaled. And if you identify with their branding, it’s a nice, kush-y spot. l

Retail Location OPENING SOON In River East!

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Even if you’ve never inhaled, Cheba Hut is a tasty destination.

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N at i o n a l T e q u i l a D ay July 24

1.) All tequilas have (at least) one thing in common. It is a product of Mexica exclusively, or it is not tequila. Even so, American distillers often make great spirits using the agave plant. Mainly known for bourbons, local outfit BENDT Distilling Co. (225 S Charles St, Lewisville, 214-8140545) has an Old Town Spirits line that includes an agave spirit, along with an aged rum, silver rum, and premium vodka. Stop by for a single, neat pour of Old Town Spirits’ Craft Agave 2pm-9pm MonThu or noon-10pm Fri-Sat for $7.

2.) On Sunday, Chuy’s is serving up Dollar Tequila Floaters and $5 top-shelf tequila shots. You can also order a Super Grande ’Rita, a 22-oz fresh-squeezed margarita in a color-changing cup that you can keep.

If you prefer to party at home, Chuy’s has Tex-Mex meal kits at OrderChuys.com.

With locations in Fort Worth (2401 W 7th St, Ste 110, 817-332-2489 and 9700 N

Fwy, 817-741-6090), Arlington (4001 Bagpiper Way, Ste 199, 817-557-2489), Denton (3300 Wind River Ln, 940-228-0555), and Southlake (1221 E Hwy 114, Ste 100, 817-421-2489), you can visit your nearest Chuy’s 11am-9pm Sun. 3.) In honor of this special drinking holiday, Lottie’s (2800 Bledsoe St, Ste 300, @LottiesFW) hosts a National Tequila Day Fiesta at 1pm Sun, featuring chips and queso, games, a pinata, photo ops, and specialty frozen margaritas. Fiesta attire is encouraged.

4.) From 11am to closing time Sun, Lucky Lou’s (1207 W Hickory St, Denton, 940484-5550) is celebrating National Tequila Day with some all-day drink specials, including $6 palomas, $5 Tequila Sunrises, $3.50 tequila shots, and $3 margaritas (frozen or on the rocks).

5.) For its second-anniversary party, Mexican Sugar Las Colinas (3215 Regent Blvd, Irving, 469-313-1300) invites you to “go on a blind date with tequila.” At 4pm Sun, participate in blind tastings with agave flights ($18-100) that you can customize by aroma, taste, and finish at the Agave Library Pop-Up. Enjoy tropical fruit popsicles from a traditional Mexican

Cour tesy Facebook

Sunday is National Tequila Day. How can you celebrate? Let us count the ways.

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Celebrate National Tequila Day with Mexican Sugar Sunday.

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6.) Free live music and tequila specials are on the menu 11am-11:30pm Sat at The Post at River East (2925 Race St, 817945-8890). Along with mezcal and tequila flights available for purchase, there will be a special $5 margarita menu. Other specials include $6 pozole and $3 Bloody Marys and micheladas. For updates on the musical guests, keep an eye on Facebook. com/ThePostFW. Cour tesy Etsy

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paleta cart as a sweet treat or as a stirrer for your margarita. There will also be complimentary tequila tastings. Reserve a table at MexicanSugarCocina.com.

Purchase tequila flight boards from Sand Rayz Studios of Arlington on Etsy.

7.) If you are celebrating National Tequila Day at your place, local artisans Sand Rayz Studios of Arlington has just the thing you need. For $45, you can pur-

chase a tequila flight board with a removable slate coaster like the acacia-wood one pictured. “One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor” indeed! New products are added daily, plus you can do custom orders. With promo code FBFOLLOW, you’ll receive 25% off thru Sun, Jul 31, at Etsy.com/Shop/SandRayzStudio.

8.) With 71 varieties of tequila on the drink menu, The Yucatan Tequila Bar & Grill (909 W Magnolia Av, 682-385-9395) is a sure bet for celebrating this Sunday.

Yucatan offers $5 house and flavored margaritas, giveaways, and samplings all day, plus happy hour food and drinks 3pm7pm Sun. DJ Tom Loris will provide the tunes from 3pm-8pm.

By Jennifer Bovee

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MUSIC

Mississippi Calling

With help from the folks at Niles City Sound, Jon Ruhl’s first album speaks to his childhood in the Deep South and the restlessness that defined his years after.

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For a singer-songwriter who is still relatively new to the local music scene, Jon Ruhl’s career is off to an auspicious start. The Mississippi native recently released a self-titled 11-track album with the help of musician/producer Robert Ellis that was recorded at Niles City Sound, the famed

Fort Worth studio of choice for Leon Bridges, Quaker City Nighthawks, and Vincent Neil Emerson, among others.

Ruhl’s first major release at age 33 belies the fact that he has been an active songwriter since his teen years in Mississippi. As a child, he said he was endlessly conflicted about the small rural town where he grew up.

“My parents split up when I was really young,” Ruhl said. “Growing up in Mississippi wasn’t a great experience. I didn’t identify with any of the people.”

While locals were content to marry their high school sweethearts and work at their father or father-in-law’s business, Ruhl enlisted in the Navy at 17. As a medic, Ruhl said he served alongside Marines in Afghanistan in 2010 before being deployed off the coast of Libya the following year. After fulfilling his three-year commitment, he left the military and spent the past decade working as a commercial diver on the East and West coasts.

“I was playing music the entire time,” Ruhl said.

While crisscrossing the country — and busking where he could while living out of his van — Ruhl became an avid fan of Ellis, a.k.a. the Texas Piano Man, whose influences pull from country, pop, and jazz.

“I’ve been a fan of Robert for years,” Ruhl recalled. “The first time we shook hands was in Nashville. I think it was right around Christmastime, and he was offering lessons.”

A few months later, in May 2020, Ruhl asked Ellis over a Zoom songwriting lesson if Ellis would help him write an album. Ellis, who had just been brought on to the Niles City Sound team by studio co-founder Josh Block, said he was impressed by the first demos he heard.

“I think the songwriting is cool,” Ellis said. “Jon has lived a very different life than most people. You hear that in his attention to detail. That’s how the whole process started.”

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Ellis and Ruhl storyboarded the album, picking songs from dozens of tunes Ruhl had written over the past decade.

Around that time, Ruhl visited Fort Worth to record songs for a group he is no longer working with. Ellis hired Ruhl to help around the studio as a handyman. Ruhl said he immediately fell in love with Fort Worth and its community of creatives and decided to stay. In early 2021, Ellis and Ruhl began recording at Niles City.

“The recording process was great,” Ruhl recalled. “We had fun with the songs. It was amazing to watch them grow past how far I was able to go.”

Producer Ellis said part of his goal was to showcase the wide range of styles and sounds that Ruhl’s musicianship is capable of.

“At the core, the goal was to put on a performance,” Ellis said. “What we are trying to do at Niles is performance-oriented music, not building something and sequencing it all and building a perfect vocal. All the stuff we love from the ’60s and ’70s was performed.”

To achieve that sound, he continued, the recording musicians have to be confident enough to not want to retake or edit every little blemish.

“With the technology that exists today, it’s easy to record 100 vocal takes and take one word from each take that is perfect,” Ellis said. “Then, you can tune and time-correct it.

I think music suffers because of that. We want to make stuff that we would listen to, stuff that we would like. During a recording session, we might say ‘Man, that vocal line was good. We could fix it. But why? It sounds great.’ ” The results of the studio time are an odyssey that touches on universal themes of love, loss, and restlessness that tie to Ruhl’s life journey. continued on page 21

Cour tesy Brooks Burris

“Highway 51” is an up-tempo country song set to drumbeats that churn like a train that has no final destination. Ruhl’s baritone is effortlessly penetrating, and it’s his story that fuels the music.

“Highway 51,” he croons during the chorus. “I swear that I’ll come back again / You can get me home / Highway 51, get me home.”

The heavy opener is followed by the highly danceable, beach-country “Cosmic Trick,” which puts a positive spin on heartbreak and breakups. “Burlap Jacket” is a folksy tune that packs plainspoken lyrics in a song in which assorted instruments build layer upon layer into a crescendo while Ruhl continually returns to the central theme of an old burlap jacket, a metaphor for Mississippi, Ruhl told me. “Thorn,” recorded in one take, opens with fingerpicked guitars and deep, sporadic piano baselines.

“Sometimes the thing you love the most is a thorn in your side,” Ruhl mournfully

sings. “It will go in the coffin with you, no matter how big it grew.”

Ruhl’s first album can be divided into songs that are deep and light. Equally, they can be divided into literal and metaphorical songs. The songwriter is equally at home in both worlds, providing entertaining radio-friendly tunes and more poetic works that may be best enjoyed in the comfort of one’s home, where waves of nostalgia and tearful reminiscences can be felt without distraction.

The album, which is available on all major streaming platforms, will soon be followed by live performances by a band Ruhl is putting together with the help of his girlfriend, Claire Hinkle, herself an accomplished singer-songwriter and the daughter of famed bluesman James Hinkle.

The yet-to-be-named ensemble will perform originals by Claire and Ruhl plus the occasional cover, Ruhl said.

“My take on music is that it is entertainment, but it can be more profound than that,” he said. l

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Music

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With his first album now available on all major streaming platforms, Jon Ruhl is focusing on putting together a band to play out more frequently.

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Hearsay RIDGLE A THE ATER

BFF MUSIC AND LAUGHTER: SAT 7/30 K BROSAS & POKWANG FRI 8/12 RAW ARTISTS DALLAS FRI 9/2 P O LY P H I A WITH UNPROCESSED & DEATH TOUR

FUZZ KING RADIO ALLEGIANCE, FLASH MOB, EDGE OF INSANITY NEAR MIRROR, ATLAS PERSONALITY, MOTHER GNOME GIFTED SUMMER FEST 2022 THIRD STRING ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS: BORN A NEW, FALISFIER, CELL

TORCHFEST DAY 1

RIDGLE A LOUNGE

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RIDGLE A ROOM

FRI 7/22 SAT 7/23 SAT 7/30 SUN 7/31 FRI 8/5

Fort Worth singer-songwriter Van Darien brings her moody brand of mod-rock to The Post at River East (2925 Race St, 817-945-8890) 8pm-10pm Thu. No cover. All ages welcome. $5 classic cocktails will be featured.

SOLUTIONS PRESENTS: FRI 7/29 INSTRUMUSIC WONDERLAND, BEYOND DESTINY & MORE! FRI 8/5 TORCHFEST DAY 1 SAT 8/6 TORCHFEST DAY 2 ROCK NIGHT FT. FLASH MOB,

SAT 8/13 BEYOND DESTINY, MATT AND THE DIRTY SOULS & MORE! EMOTIONAL XAN RELEASE PARTY

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Before Magnolia Motor Lounge (3005 Morton St, 817-332-3344) goes the way of Lola’s Trailer Park and Saloon, there’s still a wealth of top-notch live music to catch there. On Saturday, 40 Acre Mull, Brave Little Howl, and Cameron Smith & The Slings will be slinging some groove-oriented blues, soul, and roots-rock. Tickets are $12-100.

Admission: I’ve never really been quite sure what’s post-rock and what’s just “rock created recently.” It still won’t stop me from plugging what sounds like a pretty good rock-created-recently show at Tulips FTW (112 St. Louis Av, 817367-9798) 7pm-midnight Sat. For Texas Post Rock & Friends, the bill features Mount Oso, Driving Slow Motion, Zealand the North, Panther City Riots, and Greybloom. If I had to hazard a guess, I guess I could say “post-rock” features the kind of propulsive beats and angular guitarwork that’s usually associated with proto-punk. (Don’t ask me what that is, either.) Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. — Anthony Mariani Contact HearSay at Anthony@FWWeekly.com.

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WED 7/20 FT. BLEED, STINK, PANCHO PYRO, DEEP INCISION

J&J Oyster Bar Work where you are appreciated.

612 University FWTX. Call today!

817-367-9791 EMPLOYMENT NOTICES Companies Offering Travel Accommodations: According to the New York Times, the following companies have said they would cover travel expenses for employees who need abortions: Airbnb, DoorDash, JP Morgan Chase, Levi Strauss & Co, Netflix, Patagonia, Reddit, Starbucks, Tesla, and Yelp. Additionally, NowThis has listed the following companies also offering the same assistance to employees: Amazon, Apple, BuzzFeed, Citigroup, Comcast, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lyft, Mastercard, Meta, Microsoft, Paramount, Sony, Tesla, Walt Disney Co, Vox Media, and Zillow. (JMB, FWW) HEALTH & WELLNESS Cardiovascular Disease & Stroke These are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection!

Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening.

Special Offer: 5 Screenings for $149!

Call today! 1-833-636-1757 DENTAL INSURANCE 1-888-361-7095 Physicians Mutual Insurance Company covers 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details!

Call or visit Dental50plus.com/fortworth (#6258).

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

OREGON From Mt Hood to the Oregon Coast, Explore Oregon with the official tourism at: TravelOregon.com

Hannah in Hurst 817.590.2257 Massage Therapy for pain relief, deep relaxation, and better sleep.

Professional office in Mid-Cities for over 25 years. “I am accepting new clients now and happy to return your call.” -Hannah, MT#4797.

MasseuseToTheStars.com

MARYLAND If you thought Maryland was just battlefields and Old Bay, think again!

VisitMaryland.org

MUSIC XCHANGE Music Junkie Studios 1617 Park Place #106, FWTX www.MusicJunkieStudios.com We offer lessons on voice, piano, guitar, bass, ukulele, violin, viola, drums, recording, and music for littles!

MINNESOTA MN is the place for extraordinary, eye-opening adventures likr camping under the stars in a Dark Sky Sanctuary. More at: ExploreMinnesota.com

PUBLIC NOTICES TDLR Complaints Any Texans who may be concerned that an unlicensed massage business may be in operation near them, or believe nail salon employees may be human trafficking victims, may now report those concerns directly to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) by emailing ReportHT@TDLR.Texas.gov.

SUBMISSIONS We’d Like To Hear From You! Do you have thoughts and feelings, or questions, comments or concerns about something you read in the Weekly? Please email Question@ fwweekly.com. Do you have an upcoming event? For potential coverage in Night & Day, Big Ticket, Ate Day8 A Week, or CrosstownSounds, email the details to Marketing@fwweekly.com TOURISM CALIFORNIA From its celebrated coastline to its broad heartland and granite Sierra peaks, CA offers a lifetime of vacations in one Golden State.

CaliforniaTouristGuide.com CONNECTICUT Great shopping, dining, casinos, Mystic maritime fun in CT, the southernmost New England state.

More at: VisitConnecticut.com DELAWARE Explore the Great Outdoors with DE’s Scenic Drives, State Parks and More. Find Trip Ideas at: VisitDelaware.com ILLINOIS Places to go, things to do, the best places to eat and drink, must-see Chicago, trip ideas and inspiration for your travels at: EnjoyIllinois.com

GARAGE SALE J u ly 2 3 9am

MAINE Take the Guesswork Out of Planning Your Getaway at: VisitMaine.com

MASSACHUSETTS Find countless fun things to do from Boston to The Berkshires at: VisitMA.com

NEW HAMPSHIRE NH is the perfect outdoor playground.

Roll the windows down and explore scenic routes, walk around vibrant small towns and make unforgettable memories. VisitNH.gov

( F o r m e r ly T h e T i n Pa n t h e r )

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EMPLOYMENT Men's and Women's Assistant Tennis Coach at The University of Texas at Arlington in Arlington, TX needed to: organize and conduct tennis practices for both men's and women's tennis teams and assist with decision on match ups and doubles pairings. Organize and conduct one-on-one practices with individual players to develop and improve targeted tennis skills. Recruit highlevel national and/or international tennis players for the organization including scouting players, interfacing with their coaches and families, and watching film. Coach on court during dual matches. Actively promote and increase the competitiveness of the tennis program and develop public relations strategies. Assist in monitoring and maintaining athletic facilities and equipment.

Related experience required. Must travel to other universities within the U.S. for tennis matches monthly approximately 40% of the time during the collegiate tennis season during January through May. Criminal Background Check required. UTA is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. Minorities, women, veterans & persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The University prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation.

UT A is a tobacco-free campus. Apply online or email application to austin.darnell@uta.edu"

NEW JERSEY NJ wows with 130 miles of shorelines and cities that pulse with exciting entertainment and culinary pleasures. Discover the Garden State. VisitNJ.org NEW MEXICO Visit New Mexico for a unique family vacation filled with exciting activities like skiing, hiking, shopping and sight seeing. NewMexico.org NEW YORK Explore all the state of New York has to offer including fun things to do, year-round events, festivals, and more. ILoveNY.com NEVADA Outdoor recreation, exciting events, and stories for days. Plan your next trip to Nevada. TravelNevada.com RHODE ISLAND RI is 400 miles of New England coastline, with beaches and freshfrom-the-ocean seafood. It’s also public art, charming villages, and more. VisitRhodeIsland.com VERMONT Our cities and towns welcome visitors with their rich history, eclectic shops, farm-to-table dining establishments, and recreation areas. VermontVacation.com WASHINGTON Emerge yourself with things to do in Washington from fishing, tours, volcanoes and more.

StateOfWATourism.com

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EMPLOYMENT Hysen’s Nizza Pizza is Now Hiring!

Nizza is seeking a counter person, delivery drivers, and wait staff. Apply in person at 401 University Drive, FWTX, 817-877-3900. (Open SunThu 11am-10pm and Fri-Sat 10:30am-11pm.)

HysensNizzaPizza.com

MIND / BODY / SPIRIT Gateway Church Church time is the BEST time! Join us for online church each weekend.

Online services start at 4 pm on Saturdays and are available to watch any time after at https://gway. ch/GatewayPeople.

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HISTORIC RIDGLEA THEATER

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If you need to hire staff or promote your business, let us help you online and/or in print. For more info, call 817987-7689 or email stacey@fwweekly.com today.

BEST OF 2022

About the voting phase...

Voting for Best Of is all write-in and the ballot will be live from August 1st to September 11th. However, July is when we decide on the categories. To see last year’s categories, go to FWWeekly.com and look for Best Of Edition in the Magazines drop-down. Have a suggestion about a category? Want to tell us about something unique that needs our attention? Email Marketing@ FWWeekly.com by July 31st.

Speak now or forever hold your peace!

COWTOWN ROVER

Inspection Almost Due? Are You Road-Trip Ready? With our handy pick-up and drop-off services, having your car checked out could not be easier. Get ready for the holidays. Call today!

3958 Vickery | 817.731.3223 www.CowtownRover.com

EMPLOYMENT CDL Drivers needed, Hazmat tanker preferred, Laborers and Equipment Operators.

Health Insurance and other benefits.

Per Diem Paid. EOE

830-833-4547

EMPLOYMENT

Nationstar Mortgage, LLC d/b/a Mr. Cooper in Bedford, TX is seeking a Senior Software Developer responsible for utilizing minimum requirements to modify and manage the full lifecycle software development process.

Teleworking is permitted within reasonable commuting distance of the Bedford, TX office. Send resume to JENNIFER.FISHER@ mrcooper.com or apply online at https://careers.mrcooper.com/.

Please reference job code 019306 on resume.

THE RIDGLEA is three great venues within one historic Fort Worth landmark. RIDGLEA THEATER has been restored to its authentic allure, recovering unique SpanishMediterranean 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

Notice to Creditors

Notice is given that Letters Testamentary for the Estate of David Bailey Wilbur were issued on July 18, 2022, in docket number 2022-PR01744-1, in the Probate Court Number One of Tarrant County, Texas, to Patricia Lynn Wilbur. All persons having claims against the estate, which is presently being administered, are required to submit them, within the time and manner prescribed by law, and before the estate is closed, addressed as follows: Representative Estate of David Bailey Wilbur c/o Matthew Hancock 1908 Sutter Street Fort Worth TX 76107

Notice to Creditors

Notice is given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Paul Thomas Mead, Jr. were issued on July 14, 2022, in docket number 2022-PR01515-1, pending in the Statutory Probate Court Number One of Tarrant County, Texas, to Judith Loretta Mead. All persons having claims against the estate, which is presently being administered, are required to submit them, within the time and manner prescribed by law, and before the estate is closed, addressed as follows: Representative Estate of Paul Thomas Mead, Jr. c/o Matthew Hancock 1908 Sutter Street Fort Worth TX 76107

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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20% ANY SINGLE OFF ITEM

EXP 7/20

817-420-6440 On The Corner of Camp Bowie And 7th • 3204 Camp Bowie Boulevard Ste 108, Fort Worth, Texas 76107

Hot Deals At Cool Prices

FALL SERVICES

all home repairs: painting, texture, fences, tile, doors, windows, decks, patios, shelves

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817-881-2408 Adrian

24

CalmWaters Massage

Stock your Kitchen at Mission!

For a great massage in a relaxing setting, try us.

Small wares, pots & pans, and all kitchen essentials available to the public.

Information or to make an Appointment

Come see our showrooms!

MON-FRI 8am-5:30pm

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You wont be disappointed!

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817-779-1276

NOW HIRING

Call 817-420-3017 to Apply 5138 Mansfield Hwy Fort Worth Tx 76119

MT#50903

SENIOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS (Fort Worth, TX): Participate in the development of new features, expand existing features and add support for new platforms to our existing product, and develop new products; develop and review designs, code, unit tests, system tests, and documentation; collaborate in root cause analysis (diagnose, isolate, and fix software problems); create applications using Java; demonstrate your work product to your team; identify and correct issues that impact performance, reliability and scalability; investigate and develop skills in new technologies; and mentor other developers. Remote work permitted in the U.S. Telecommuting work arrangement permitted: position may work in various unanticipated locations throughout the U.S. Mail resumes to Cyxtera Technologies, Inc., Attn: Ms. Kristie Winegar, Senior Recruiter, 2333 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Suite 900, Coral Gables, FL 33134 or email to kristie.winegar@cyxtera. com. Reference job number #HN647117.

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