April Inside 2012

April 2012

Next Stop: Shinjuku Station

Fort Worth Pride

The Import Store embraces local artists and artisans.

Hittin’ the road:

Off to driftwood

Also Inside

tips from a pro:

Get Primed for Car Shopping

April 2012

Serving Fort Worth since 1919

817-332-2265 or 817-738-9287 1220 Pennsylvania Ave, FW | 6200 Camp Bowie Blvd, FW | www.gordonboswell.com

3

4

14

8

F E AT U R E S 3 Import or Export?

4 10

Thriving Flowers Hittin’ the Road: Driftwood

Voted Best Florist in Tarrant County

COLUMNS 6 Tips from a Pro 8-9 The Foodie Pages 12 Kidding Around 14-15 Arts & Entertainment

ON THE

COVER

Matt Kirkham and some of his artists are all in the same boat at The Import Store.

Cover photo by Karyn Kelbaugh.

INSIDE Fort Worth is a free monthly publication distributed in the Fort Worth center city. The entire contents of INSIDE Fort Worth are copyright 2005 JSW Publishing. NO portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the publication.

Advertising Director Rebecca Harris   817-321-9724

Business/Operations Trish Bermejo Art Director Bonnie Mays

rebecca@insidefortworthnow.com

Managing Editor Dana Crumbliss danac@insidefortworthnow.com 2

INSIDE fort worth

Recline in Style

Production Designers Betsy Lewis, Matt Mabe

April 2012

2160 N. Collins, Arlington, TX 817.261.2800 bydesigntexas.com

Import or Export?

Downtown’s legendary Import Store reaches out for continued growth.

D

on’t worry. The Import Store isn’t going anywhere. The shelves are being emptied for a good reason.

Owner Matt Kirkham recently spent a week in Las Vegas at one of the biggest art shows/conventions in the country. Over the past 15 years –– The Import Store has been in business twice as long –– Kirkham has made the Vegas trip twice a year. From his most recent excursion, he returned home with a massive bounty to stuff into the shelves of his 10,000-squarefoot building downtown.

But if all of this out-of-town art has you thinking that Kirkham is some sort of Pier 1 wannabe, think again.

The married father of a teenage boy, Kirkham may be one of the most locally crazed business owners you’d ever meet. In January, after hearing of the massive layoffs at one of Fort Worth’s largest employers, American Airlines, Kirkham vowed to stop selling to customers and to bring customers into part of the beautifying-through-art process. The food trucks in his parking lot almost daily are one part of his go-local plan. Another element involved putting out a call for local artists via Facebook –– dozens of hopefuls responded. Most of their work is now available for sale at The Import Store, with Kirkham making only a nominal commission. “I was fascinated by what came in,” he said. “As a buyer, you learn to do your best to have good judgment, but you also learn that customers vote with their money.”

Everything from skeleton-head necklaces to “gorgeous jewelry like in Neiman Marcus” and in a price range from $3 to $50 has been selling, Kirkham said.

Kirkham also has created a relationship-marketing business much like Avon, Mary Kay, or Scentsy. Long ago he learned that a large chunk of profits for home-décor enterprises mainly comes from one item: home fragrances. “For women, home fragrances is kind of like guys and beer,” he said.

Photos by Karyn Kelbaugh

Eight years ago, he joined a company making the best fragrance lamps that he’d ever seen. Kirkham said he’s sold $4 million of iScentU products and “has kept every penny.”

And he’d like to get his customers involved in selling the next $4 million, he said. “Rather than just selling a product to somebody, they join you in the business,” he said. “I cut them a check. They keep selling it. They don’t refer people to The Import Store. They refer them to themselves.”

When you sell a product with people instead of to people, he said, everyone wins. “People get to share in the profit and can start their own business,” he said. “At the worst they get a great discount.”

Kirkham is excited about the iScentU future. “We think [iScentU] is part of the answer, part of the problem-solving,” he said. “That’s the segue to the food trucks and the local artists –– that’s all part of the answer.”

All of that Las Vegas art that Kirkham has brought home was the result of “surgical buying,” he said.

“I didn’t buy stuff that I knew I could get in Fort Worth.”

With a handful of employees and offering everything from bags and purses to greeting cards, seasonal décor gifts, jewelry, lotions, paintings, and more, The Import Store is uniquely primed for success –– especially with Kirkham at the helm. “I get to talk to my customers every day and test what I’m thinking and feeling,” he said. “Everyone gets the message that we’re not victims anymore. We’re going to buy stuff. Our money’s going to circulate around here and support each other. All of us are feeling the pressure. It may sound tacky, but I think a united stand is sincere and true. We’re not victims. We’re going to stick around and really support each other.”

Above are just some of the beautiful items available at The Import Store.

April 2012

INSIDE fort worth

3

Thriving Flowers

By Celestina Blok

Now in its 70th year, Darrell Whitsel’s floral shop still emphasizes customer service.

In

a decade dominated

by World War II, one Fort Worth man wanted to help others to stop and smell the roses.

His name was Darrell Whitsel, and he opened a flower shop in his home at 1506 West Magnolia Ave. in 1942. Over the decades, he continually added onto the space. This year, Darrell Whitsel Florist & Greenhouse is celebrating its 70th year of business. Still located in Whitsel’s former home, this Near Southside shop is still used by a large base of customers looking to commemorate life’s biggest moments.

“A lot of our customers have been our customers for years,” said Jennifer Yates, who now owns the shop along with her husband Stephen Yates. “A lot of

4

INSIDE fort worth

April 2012

them were around when Darrell was here. I have customers who had the Whitsel family do their weddings, and now we’re doing their children’s weddings.”

The Yates bought the shop in 2009 from Whitsel’s daughter, who ran it with her husband for 35 years after her father retired. The Yates were in the wholesale floral business and sold flowers to the shop for years before buying it.

Jennifer says carrying on Whitsel’s traditions and philosophies are important.

“One thing Mr. Whitsel always said, which he passed to his daughter and his daughter passed it to me, is that you can buy flowers anywhere these day, but you don’t get the customer service you get here,” she said.

“We understand how important

it is to find the right flowers.

Ninety-nine percent of the time, customers are buying flowers to express their love in some form or fashion. It starts off with a child being born, then birthdays, prom, weddings, anniversaries, then ultimately funerals. We’re there all throughout life.”

Each of Darrell Whitsel’s designers has at least 20 years of experience in the business, Jennifer said. All have served as managers at some point in their careers; some have even owned their own flower shops.

“Some people don’t even realize Darrell’s daughter is not here anymore,” Jennifer said, “because we’re doing things the same way, and we will continue to.”

Fort Worth South, Inc. presents

Friday on the green

Have a seat and take a stand on air pollution.

Ride The T this Earth Week, April 14-22, and help improve Fort Worth’s air quality. That’s because our entire fleet is powered with clean burning, compressed natural gas, which significantly

Friday, April 13 • 7pm

Mon Julien (Ex-members of Black Tie Dynasty)

with The Cush

reduces airborne pollutants. So taking the bus, even just once, helps us all breathe a little easier.

The-T.com • 817.215.8600

ARTHOUSE at SO7

FWTAGENL2050_IFW_ED_3.75x4.75_MAR.indd 1

3/26/12 6:00 PM

condos & gallery homes

TUCKED AWAY IN THE HEART OF SO7 IS THE FANTASTIC ARTHOUSE. URBAN LIVING AT ITS BEST, NEIGHBORING THE BEAUTIFUL TRINITY PARK. TRENDY. CONVENIENT. EXCITING.

Taking donations of pet food for PET FOOD BANK

AFFORDABLE. DON’T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A PIECE OF THE HOTTEST REAL ESTATE IN TOWN! CONDOMINIUMS - 1 & 2 Bedroom units available with multiple floorplans to choose from.

2 bedroom units starting at $245,000.

1100 Block of Lipscomb Between Rosedale & Magnolia Blankets, chairs and pets allowed.

No coolers. No outside food & drink.

Food & beverages provided by

Brought to you by

GALLERY HOMES - a unique opportunity in the West 7th corridor! Only TWO left!

Move-in ready for only $325,000.

SALES OFFICE OPEN 1-5 PM TUES - SUN 2608 MUSEUM WAY JOSEPH BERKES - JENNY PRICE - MAGGIE MOORE - SPENCER PERRY

WILLIAMS TREW REAL ESTATE 817-332-7772 www.williamstrew.com www.so7arthouse.com

April 2012

INSIDE fort worth

5

TipsFromAPro

David Emmitte, Sales Manager Don Davis Toyota 1661 Wet N’ Wild Way, Arlington 1-877-432-9132

Here’s what to do — and look for — when you’re

on the hunt for

a new ride.

1

Go inside. A professional sales person will be able to save you time and frustration by getting to know you and your needs to be able to narrow down your search to the most appropriate units. He or she also will be able to answer all of your questions and keep you from spending hours searching the lot.

2

Be present. Everyone who’s going to be affected by the decision on a new vehicle purchase should come to the dealership, allowing each person (driver or passenger) to voice his or her opinions and be heard –– and get questions answered.

Also, if your trip results in a purchase, everyone can be walked through the demonstration on how to use the features, which is very beneficial –– most new automobiles today come with very helpful technology that you will most likely need a little instruction on how to use.

3

Be patient. If you are able to look and purchase cars during normal work hours, then you probably won’t have to wait very long. But if you’re like most of us, you’ll have to visit dealerships in the evenings after work or on Saturdays. After you’ve found your next car, you’ll be taken care of by a professional salesperson, who will check on you periodically while you wait to sign your papers and pick up your car, all freshly cleaned and prepped. Buying a car is a big purchase, and each step in the process needs time for explanation to keep you fully informed and able to make the right decision.

6

INSIDE fort worth

April 2012

You are in Good Hands when in the Hands of

Dr. Marie Holliday Commited to Excellence in Dentistry

I’ll be there.

JUDY SAMUEL State Far m Agent www.JudySamuel.com

817.810.0143

• Cosmetic Dentistry inclusive of porcelain veneers, all ceramic crowns and bridges • Family dentistry (children from 3 and up) • Implants • Digital X-Ray • Traditional Orthodontics & Invisalign • Personal Injury & Workman’s Comp • TMD Diagnosis & Treatment • Emergency Dental Care including root canals and oral surgery • Lumineers (the prepless veneer)

817.877.1872 115 W. 2nd St, Ste 200 Across from the Renaissance Worthington Hotel, above Cabo’s sundancesquaredentist@gmail.com

dochollidayfw.com AUTO

|

HOME

|

LIFE

|

HEALTH

Darrell Whitsel Florist Proud to be of service to Tarrant County

Sometimes, you just need to be one of the guys.

New Layout | New Smoke Eaters New Patio | New Lounge Furniture

Bon Ton Roulé Premium Cigars

Premier Southside Florist 1506 W. Magnolia Ave. | 817-335-9363 | www.darrellwhitselflorist.com

6500 Camp Bowie Blvd. FW, TX | 817-763-0002 www.bontonroule.com Follow us on Facebook April 2012

INSIDE fort worth

7

FoodiePicks Shinjuku Sparkle This Near Southside culinary concept isn’t your everyday sushi joint.

I

t’s hard to call any critically acclaimed restaurant in one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods a hidden gem, but that might be the case for Shinjuku Station, a fiercely independent, authentic Japanese restaurant at 711 West Magnolia Ave. on the Near South Side. The concept behind Shinjuku is truly unique and has fast become a beacon for dinners who are craving something different and delicious.

Shinjuku station is the brainchild of the husband-and-wife team of Jarry and Marry Ho, who own and operate the popular Westside sushi restaurant Tokyo Café. The two had been looking to open a new, more authentic Japanese restaurant in the fast-growing Near South Side for several years. The culinary concept came to them after a recent trip to Japan, where the couple fell in love with the muted elegance of the cuisine.

“People [in Fort Worth] weren’t appreciating real Japanese food,” Jarry said. “We experienced the classic simplicity of [Japanese] food, and that’s what appealed to us.”

The concept of Shinjuku is mirrored after the gastro pubs the couple visited in Japan, called izakayas, where people get together in a relaxed environment and often share food while enjoying drinks.

“In Japan, after work, people go to izakayas,” he said. “It’s

comfortable, casual, and serves great food. Our restaurant is based on the izakaya concept.

Everything is simple, relaxed, and everything is shared. We want everything to be family-style.

People in Japan don’t typically order just for themselves.”

Part of what has made Shinjuku so successful is that it’s going against trends in Japanese restaurants. Ho and his wife have eaten at numerous other Japanese restaurants stateside and didn’t want to open another cookie-cutter sushi bar.

“The idea of the restaurant is to go the opposite direction of where everyone else is going,” he said. “All of these new restaurants opening up were just duplicates of each other. They’re just trying to one-up each other on atmosphere.”

The couple partnered with Casey Kha, Marry’s brother-inlaw, who left a successful but unfulfilling career as a financial planner to pursue his dream of co-owning a restaurant. “It was the perfect opportunity,” Kha said. “The hardest part about finding a partner is finding someone you can trust, and you can always trust family.”

Shinjuku Station was recently recognized as one of Texas’ best restaurants by Texas Monthly and one of Fort Worth’s by Fort Worth Weekly.

Jarry Ho (left) and Casey Kha bring Japan’s izakaya spirit to Fort Worth.

Photos by Karyn Kelbaugh

8

INSIDE fort worth

April 2012

BeatTheClock

Brownstone Time in: 12:30pm Time out: 1:05pm The Setting: Brownstone’s 5,000-squarefoot restaurant features an open-air patio, an expansive dining room of tables and brown leather booths, a private dining room, and a corner library perfect to watch the game that sits next to the semisectioned off bar. The earth-toned room is filled with natural light from the windows that wall the restaurant from the busy streets in the West 7th corridor.

The Menu: Brownstone offers an executive lunch 11am-2pm Tuesdays through Fridays that’ll have you in and out in 30 minutes. For $10 you get a choice of six delicious meals that won’t have you panicking about getting back to the office in time –– this is Beat the Clock, after all –– plus a drink. The Stone Select features the decadent yet light Asian chicken salad, vegetarian buffalo-style hummus, a bacon-spinach-artichoke spread, crostini bread, and house greens.

Though Brownstone makes a killer beet hummus, the buffalo-style is excellent:

spicy but not overbearing, with that undeniable hot-wing flavor. It should easily satisfy any vegetarian’s hankering for chicken wings (a real craving). There’s also a soup/salad/sandwich combo and a trifecta of street tacos –– one pork, one grilled shrimp, and one skirt steak, on fluffy white-corn tortillas. All of them melt in your mouth. If you want a little comfort, go for the homemade bacon meatloaf.

The ground filet is mixed with bacon, sweet brown sugar, roasted tomatoes, and house herbs. The delicate blend of seasonings makes this choice earthy and sweet, and the accompanying creamed potatoes are the perfect complement.

Brownstone’s buffalo-style hummus should satisfy any vegetarian’s craving for hot wings.

The Verdict: In a hurry and hungry for real food, not some over-priced mystery meat served through a drive-thru window?

Head to Brownstone for an executive lunch. It’ll save you time, fill you up, and make your tastebuds celebrate, and it won’t break the bank.

Brownstone 840 Currie St, W 7th corridor, 817-332-1555 Sun 10:30am-8pm, closed Mon, Tue-Wed 11am-10pm, Thu 11am11pm, 11am-2am Fri, 4pm-2am Sat

Spring in for $ 8Flights Every Thursday 5-9pm

A themed flight of 3-5 wines at the special price of only $8.

Themes change weekly.

5500 Overton Ridge Blvd, #222, | Fort Worth TX | 817-361-9999 grandcruwineshop.com M-Sat 11am-9pm, Fri 11am-10pm, Sun 1pm-6pm

It’s that Cajun favorite time of year when tasty little mudbugs are boiled along the Bowie.

Nowing!

Serv April 2012

INSIDE fort worth

9

Hittin’TheRoad

Photos by John Grubbs

Drift on over to Driftwood F

or being just an unincorporated area rather than a legitimate city or even town, Driftwood, Texas has more than a couple things that make it nationally famous. A mere 24 miles southwest of Austin, Driftwood serves up award-winning barbecue and hill country wine, plus an Americana music festival.

The cash only, BYOB barbecue haven, The Salt Lick (18300 FM 1826, 512-858-4959), has been serving delicious family recipes for more than 40 years. It’s barbecue has been enjoyed and praised by the likes of Sandra Bullock, David Letterman, Lance Armstrong, Willie Nelson, and U2 and to name a few. Professional chefs and eaters like Bobby Flay, Duff Goldman, and Rachael Ray have given their stamp of approval (and even expressed love) for the ‘que at The Salt Lick. Dine family style, enjoy a hot plate, bite on a sandwich, or even order by the pound.

Two award-winning wineries call the tiny little spot of Driftwood

10

INSIDE fort worth

April 2012

home. Driftwood Estate Winery (4001 Elder Hill Rd, 512-692-6229) sprawls 20 acres of beautiful hill country with seven grape varieties. Enjoy wine tastings and special dining events on their large deck that overhangs the bluff for a breathtaking view of the vineyard below. Just down the road is another venture of The Salt Lick family -- Salt Lick Cellars (1800-C FM 1826, 512-8294013). Having fun with the family business, the winery offers many fine wines BBQ Red and BBQ White wines as well as blends, Syrah, sparkling wines and many more.

The tasty food and exquisite wines of Driftwood will whet your appetite to discover more about this special place and once you stumble upon Old Settler’s Music Festival, you’ll make it an annual outing for the entire family. Since 1987, Camp Ben McColloch (18301 FM 1826, 512-858-2084) and Salt Lick Pavilion have

hosted a music event featuring Grammy winning Americana, arts and crafts, camping, food, craft beers, children’s activities, performance workshops and so much more. This year, from Thu, April 19-Sun, April 22, more than 30 acts will perform on four stages including James McMurtry, Iron & Wine, and Bob Schneider in a festive campground setting. Day passes, three-day passes, and four-day passes are available and range from $25-$500 depending on whether you camp (how you camp – primitive or RV) and how many days of the festival you attend. Old Settler’s Music Festival is complete with “pickin’ and prayin’” gospel on Sunday and morning yoga on Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit www.oldsettlersmusicfest.org.

Patty Griffin (left) and The Infamous Stringdusters play the annual Old Settler’s Music Festival.

ScatLounge Jazz

Live Music in April

Tue, 4/3 Pete Gallio Thu, 4/5 Chris Milyo Band Fri, 4/6 Brannen Temple Sat, 4/7 Victor Cager Tue, 4/10 Brian Clancy Quartet Thu, 4/12 Zach Heffley Fri, 4/13 Ricki Derek & The Vegas Six Sat, 4/14 Melissa McMillan Thu, 4/19 Shelley Carrol Fri, 4/20 Red Young & Brannen Temple Sat, 4/21 Inner City All-Stars Tue, 4/24 Flipside Thu, 4/26 Michael Palma Trio Fri, 4/27 Sheran Keyton Sat, 4/28 The Royal Rhythmaires *For complete concert calendar please visit www.scatjazzlounge.com

Weekly Shows – NO COVER Wednesdays – Nawlins’ Nights Sundays – Black Dog Revisited – A Jazz Jam

Sophisticated Living is the Address for Le Bijou...

ng

ini a em it!

R t n as U

Top 100 Jazz Clubs

(in the world) -Downbeat Magazine

Best Cocktail Lounge

L

• Spacious Living Area • Gourmet Kitchen • Personal Entry • Elevator & Attached Garage • Incredible View from Rooftop Terrace

- FW Weekly ‘09

HAPPY HOUR • 5-7pm Tues-Fri

For further information please visit www.williamstrew.com For an appointment please contact

111 W. 4th, Suite 11 • 817-870-9100 Downstairs - Sundance Square • www.scatjazzlounge.com

Jenny Price at 817-602-7817

Hours: Tues-Fri 5pm-2am • Sat 6pm-2am • Sunday 7pm-1am • Closed Mondays

Dozens of Sty les!

ALL DRESSES

$19.99

Visit Historic Fort Worth’s Cattle Baron Mansions Both properties are Texas Historic Landmarks listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

SUPPORT LOCAL ART & ARTISANS TO FIND OUT MORE VISIT THEIMPORTSTORE.COM

Thistle Hill 1509 Pennsylvania Avenue (1904)

Ball-Eddleman-McFarland House 1110 Penn Street (1899)

DOCENT-GUIDED TOURS – (817) 332-5875 Tours are subject to availability; please call to verify your tour in advance.

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: 11:00, 12:00, 1:00 & 2:00 Sundays: 1:00, 2:00 & 3:00 Admission: $15.00 Adults (includes a tour of both mansions) $7.50 Ages 12 and younger

the import store W A R E H O U S E

O U T L E T

915 West Belknap St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

817-885-8590 • www.theimportstoreonline.com

Special thanks to the BBVA Compass Foundation for their support.

1110 Penn Street • Fort Worth, TX 76102 • www.historicfortworth.org

Present this ad for a $2.00 discount for two individuals to tour both houses.

April 2012

INSIDE fort worth

11

KiddingAround

f all the wonderful things we could celebrate in April (Arbor Day, Earth Day, Cambodian New Year, National Record Store Day, and even the fact that April is National Sex Month here in the good old U.S. of A.), let’s take time to get out and celebrate the children in our lives. Sure, most people feel they celebrate their kids every second of the day, but do something official, not just the chauffeuring to and from soccer games, art classes, play dates, and more everyday tasks.

Honoring children and childhood is something that Mexico has been officially doing in April since 1925 with Dia de los Ninos, and Artes de la Rosa (1440 N Main St, North Side, 817-6248333) is hosting a free festival on Sat, Apr 28, filled with interactive activities designed to stimulate creativity. Performances, crafts, face painters, food, and more

12

INSIDE fort worth

April 2012

will celebrate the child in all of us from noon to 3pm.

Something that is sure to be fun for the entire family (even the adults) is Doktor Kaboom! coming to Bass Hall (525 Commerce St, downtown, 817-212-4280) on Sun, Apr 29, at 4pm. The creation of actor/comedian David Epley, Doktor Kaboom! merges theatre arts and the wonders of scientific exploration with an interactive one-man science variety show complete with demonstrations and experiments live onstage.

Are you and the fam ready for a good old-fashioned whodunit? starring as crime solvers and perpetrators the wacky animals at Fort Worth Zoo (1989 Colonial Pkwy, 817-759-7500). If you’re a Zoo member, you and a guest get the chance to preview the Zoo’s new stage show, Lone Star Mystery, running Thu, Apr 26, thru Sun, Apr 29. Not a member?

You can join or wait until Sun,

May 6, when the show opens to the public. Log on to www. fortworthzoo.org to reserve your seats today.

On Sat, Apr 21, the Kimbell Art Museum (3333 Camp Bowie Blvd, Cultural District, 817-3328451) celebrates Adventures in Impressionism, the latest in the museum’s monthly Family Festival series of events inspired by current Kimbell exhibits.

Featuring creative activities and live performances, Adventures in Impressionism explores the techniques used by the greatest Impressionist painters. The afternoon also includes a special performance by dancers from the Texas Ballet Theater School.

Adventures in Impressionism is free and from 1 to 4pm.

April brings art, mystery, science, and more to Fort Worth as we as celebrate the children in our lives and the child within us all.

Grooming, Boarding & Daycare

5-Star Accomodations for Your FourLegged Friends

naturally beautiful

1801 Bomar Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76103 DFW Metro: 817-698-WOOF (9663)

riverside-kennel.com

simple . natural . lovely Call Rebecca Harris for rates and information.

817-321-9724 rebecca@insidefortworthnow.com

Salon Purple Fort Worth | 817-834-4400 Salon Purple Fossil Creek | 817-847-5900 www.salonpurple.com

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A DULL MOMENT

ASK ABOUT OUR NEW

BabyDays PLAN NOW SEEKING A LIMITED NUMBER OF MODELS FOR OUR BABYDAYS LOOKBOOK. EXPECTING PARENTS CALL FOR DETAILS.

Find us on Facebook

817-717-7242 | www.karynkelbaugh.com April 2012

INSIDE fort worth

13

Arts&Entertainment

The summer fun begins … now.

S

eems like just last week, we were stowing away the ol’ Christmas tree –– before we know it, we’ll be sweatin’ to the oldies at the pool, La Grave Field, or on vacation somewhere tropical (Aledo). To take advantage of the perfect weather, get out of the house, why don’t ya?

There’s a ton to do in Fort Worth this spring, and some of it isn’t even in smoky bars.

For fans of unadulterated portraiture in high early-Modern style, a small exhibit at Amon Carter Museum of American Art (3501 Camp Bowie Blvd, Cultural District, 817-738-1933) is

can’t-miss. Sargent’s Youthful Genius: Paintings from the Clark focuses on four deliriously beautiful paintings

by John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) completed in his 20s, including his monumental “Fumée d’Ambre Gris,” a mostly white-and-cream portrait of a veiled standing lady. The pieces are part of the renowned collection of the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Mass.

Admission is always free. Youthful Genius hangs through Sun, Jun 17.

Visit www.cartermuseum.org.

After an excruciatingly long road trip, one that consumed pretty much the entire month of March, the TCU baseball team is back home, playing all but three games at Lupton Stadium in April. At the time of this writing, the Frogs were ranked No. 19 in the country and battling for the top of the Mountain West Conference. Notable opponents this month include UTA (Wed, Apr 11, 6:30pm), Air Force (Fri, Apr 13, 6:30pm; Sat, Apr 14, 4pm; Sun, Apr 15, 1pm), and Texas A&M (Tue, Apr 24, at 6:30pm). Tickets are $6-12.

To most of us, celebrities are simply two-dimensional punching bags, not real people with thoughts and feelings. To gossip columnists Mr. and Mrs. Fitch, celebrities may be nothing more than two-dimensional creations. In Fort Worth/New York City’s Amphibian Stage Productions’ production of Mr. & Mrs. Fitch, gossip mongering reaches new

Sargent’s signature “Fumée d’Ambre Gris” is one of several of his portraits on display at the Carter thru June 17.

14

INSIDE fort worth

April 2012

levels of surreality when the titular couple runs out of fresh scandal in an age whose insatiability for dirt on famous people has reached insurmountable highs. The couple’s next move is outlandish but oddly logical. Amphibian’s production of Douglas Carter Beane’s delicious comedy runs Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm beginning Fri, Apr 13, at Sanders Theater (1300 Gendy St, Fort Worth Community Arts Center, 817-9233012). Tickets are $15-25. Visit www. amphibianproductions.org.

The auto-racing world converges on one of the premier tracks on the planet, Texas Motor Speedway (3545 Lone Star Cir, Fort Worth, 817-2158593), three times a year: during the AAA Texas 500 in November, the Firestone 500 in June, and the Samsung Mobile 500 in April. This year, the Samsung race is Sat, Apr 14. The day before, racing hottie Danica Patrick will come to town to race in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300, and on Mon, Apr 9, racing festivities will kick off at 7pm at the new Flying Saucer (formerly 8.0, 111 E 3rd St, downtown) when the classic-rock band Foreigner performs acoustic. Tickets to the Samsung Mobile 500 are $26.23-150.29, to the O’Reilly race $32.23-78.39, and to the Foreigner show $60-150 (ticket price includes a copy of the band’s Acoustique CD and entry into a contest to win an autographed Foreigner guitar). All proceeds

Classic-rockers Foreigner kick off race weekend at Texas Motor Speedway by playing acoustic at The Flying Saucer on Mon, Apr 9.

from the concert will go toward Speedway Children’s Charities: Texas Chapter.

From 4:30 to 8:30pm on Sun, Apr 29, at The Omni (1300 Houston St, downtown), enjoy the annual Barrett Havran Memorial Big Taste of Fort Worth benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters. Featuring gourmet cuisine from some of Tarrant County’s premier restaurants, premium wines, live entertainment, and an auction, Big Taste of Fort Worth has been a delight for foodie philanthropists for more than 30 years. Tickets are $100-175.

(Sponsorships available.) Visit www.bbbstx.org/taste.

the company’s Ol’ Vic Theater, 821 W Vickery Blvd, in Fort Worth.

(No performance on Easter Sunday.) For ticket information and more, call Stage West at 817-784-9378.

Gerald Albright, Texas Tornados, and Del Castillo are just some of the artists who will perform as part of the annual Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival, Thu, Apr 19, through Sun, Apr 22, on Main Street downtown. There’ll also be some great arts and crafts; food from Reata, Thai Tina’s, Riscky’s, Cantina Laredo; and, of course, adult beverages. And giant turkey legs. Admission is free.

Dana Schultes and Chuck Huber star in Stage West’s production of Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing.

Classic rock, love, art, sex, and life go into The Real Thing, Tom Stoppard’s 1984 play that’s being produced by Stage West Thursdays through Sundays running through Sun, Apr 29, at

April 2012

INSIDE fort worth

15