Sundance Square Stockyards Cultural District Near Southside
Y our P assport T o C enter C it y L ife
January 2009
From Suburban to Urban...
Whether it’s the food, entertainment or convenience, find out why these four people are living it up downtown.
Inside From Suburban to Urban You too can live it up downtown.............................
Focus on Foch Construction and business on Foch Street..............
Miracles at Museum Place A progress report on Museum Place.......................
FW South Experience the Near Southside...............................
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The Foodie Pages
Table Scout.................................................. 10 You Gotta Try This.......................................... 10 Beat the Clock............................................. 11
January Entertainment What’s going on around Cowtown.........................
Andy Taft, President 777 Taylor St., Suite 100 Fort Worth, Texas 76102 817-870-1692 • www.dfwi.org Editor Stacey Pierce Director of Marketing and Communications Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. stacey@dfwi.org Advertising Director Kristen Jenkins Marketing Director Dana Crumbliss-Mariani JSW Publishing 817-321-9724 Business/Operations Trish Bermejo Art Director/Layout Editor Amy Royer
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january • 2009 DOWNTOWN FW is a free monthly publication distributed in the Fort Worth center city, and supported by the downtown Public Improvement District. The entire contents of DOWNTOWN FW are copyright 2005 by DFWI and 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. DFWI Mission Statement To be the catalyst for transforming Downtown Fort Worth into a vibrant place to live, visit, enjoy and conduct business through aggressive leadership of
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programs, projects and partnerships.
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817-698-0422 www.gallery1701.com
Get a “Holliday” Smile!
Dental makeovers, implants, root canals, comprehensive and preventive care, invisible braces and many other services available at this convenient and professional Dental office located in Sundance Square. Evening Appointments available. Marie A. Holliday, DMD 115 Second Street, Suite 200 Fort Worth – 817-877-1872 www.dochollidayfw.com
Hunting for Western Gifts? Scentsational Spa and Gift Gallery for Men and Women
Detail from Buffalo Runners – Big Horn Basin, Frederic Remington, 1909
Shop our Museum Store in person or online for Western gifts such as prints on canvas (framed or unframed), bronzes, pottery, jewelry, books and posters. Enjoy paintings of the Old West by Frederic Remington, Charles M. Russell and other artists from the personal collection of legendary Texas oilman Sid W. Richardson (1891-1959). Open daily. Free admission. Visit www.sidrichardsonmuseum.org. 309 Main Street in Sundance Square | Fort Worth, Texas 76102 | 817.332.6554
101 W 2nd Street•Fort Worth•817-332-2888 Marieantoinettespa.com ja n ua ry 2 0 0 9
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From Suburban to Urban...
p h o t o b y Tr e y F r e e z e w / M o s a i c P h o t o M e d i a
Whether it’s the food, entertainment or convenience, find out why these four people are living it up downtown.
By Celestina Phillips
N
ow flourishing as one of America’s fastest-growing urban areas, downtown Fort Worth has attracted hundreds of residents from all walks of life, from young professionals and business owners to empty-nesters and retirees. Some moved downtown to be near the rapidly developing retail and entertainment scene, others simply to escape yard work. We took a closer look into the lives of four downtown dwellers to learn more about their urban lifestyle and what drove them to trade their suburban neighborhoods for the city sidewalks of downtown Fort Worth.
Many downtown residents drop their daily commute once moving to their new loft or condo. But Tuesdee Lynch loves her space at the Texas & Pacific Lofts so much that she doesn’t mind making the trek to Burleson to style hair while she finishes her last year of graduate school at Tarleton in Stephenville. Coming home to a vibrant urban neighborhood is worth it. “I love downtown and feel like it isn’t as pretentious as Dallas,” Lynch said. “I feel at home here.” The 25-year-old owned a house in Stephenville before deciding to exchange her rural scenery for one a little more metropolitan. She looked at several condos and apartments and decided on the historic Texas & Pacific Lofts, a 1930s rail terminal that has been restored and converted into luxury homes. “I felt like it was going to be a really good investment with the building being historical,” Lynch said. “And I love the fact that the train still runs by the building.” With the highly anticipated Omni Hotel Fort Worth opening in the coming weeks, Lynch also felt the growing activity around Lancaster Avenue would add tremendous value to her new home. Now that she’s living the downtown lifestyle, Lynch takes full advantage of the area’s thriving nightlife scene. Her favorite hot spots? “Bent, Aqua Lounge, Bar 9, and a lot of times we start out at the Library, but of course everyone does!” Lynch laughed. “I get to walk everywhere, which is really nice. I love the atmosphere of downtown Fort Worth.” 4
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photo by Vishal Malhotra
Tuesdee Lynch Occupation: Hair Stylist, Graduate Student Resides: Texas & Pacific Lofts
Tuesdee Lynch traded country life for city life at the historic T&P Lofts
When Sara Jacobi and her brother were rooming together in Arlington, they were always in awe of The Depot apartment building they passed every time they drove into downtown. “We were like, ‘That is just the coolest location!’” Jacobi said. “We just loved the building because you see it when you exit downtown.” But Jacobi says they weren’t quite sure if they could swing the downtown living prices. “We checked it out, and it really was a lot better than we thought it was going to be,” she said. “We came into this apartment with a full-size balcony and a great view of downtown ... and it’s within walking distance.” Jacobi loved her new digs so much that she left her teaching job to become a leasing agent with The Depot. She is able to live where she works, which saves her tons in gas money. “I don’t ever have to get in the car, which I love,” she said. Not only does Jacobi walk to work, she is able to walk to Bass Hall where she often sings with the Fort Worth Opera Chorus. As an aspiring opera singer, she is minutes away from Fort Worth’s premier performance hall. When she is not showing off The Depot or singing, Jacobi enjoys downtown’s restaurant and pub scene. “I go to Flying Saucer for Tuesday night trivia with my brother. I also like Paddy Red’s, Rick O’Shea’s, and Houston Street Pub. I like the laid-back environments with not too many people.” Sunday brunch at Taverna or Cantina Laredo is also another favorite of Jacobi’s. “Everything is within walking distance.”
photo by Vishal Malhotra
Sarah Jacobi Occupation: Leasing Agent, Aspiring Opera Singer Resides: The Depot
Jan Moncrief sets a new standard in style and taste with her So7 abode
said. “It’s so much fun! I wish I had done it 10 years ago.” Admitting she doesn’t cook, Moncrief enjoys the variety of restaurants right across 7th Street at Montgomery Plaza. She loves the outdoor dining at Gloria’s, Mac’s, Boomerjack’s, and Starbucks. “I lived at the opposite end of Camp Bowie, and now that seems so far,” Moncrief said. “I like it better down here. It’s the happening place as far as I’m concerned. It makes me feel young. For anybody my age or younger, it’s the perfect place to live.”
photo by Vishal Malhotra
Elizabeth Falconer Occupation: Developer Resides: Cassidy Corner
Sarah Jacobi loved her loft at The Depot so much she is now a leasing agent for the property
For husband and wife developer team Tom Struhs and Elizabeth Falconer, Downtown living began more than 10 years ago. They were one of downtown Fort Worth’s very first residents when they built Cassidy Corner, three-story residences located in Uptown. Today they have developed dozens of condos and townhomes for sale and lease, including the landmark Ville de Leon, luxury condominiums with majestic views of the Trinity River. When they are not reviewing floor plans and managing construction, the couple likes to take full advantage of downtown’s offerings. “We can walk to restaurants, live theatre, Barnes & Noble, even the movies ... and never involve a car,” Falconer said. “Tom goes hunting frequently, and I have friends that I can meet for drinks or dinner, walking to 8.0 or anywhere in Sundance, knowing that I am safe on the streets. If I was in suburbia, I would stay home by myself! There’s energy you can feel on the streets, and unlike the stagnation of suburbia, people feel connected to total strangers.” Struhs used to say of his former Colleyville home that he could hear the grass grow. Falconer says he wanted the freedom that the Downtown lifestyle allows. “It’s easier to ‘lock and leave,’ to travel, or to have interesting hobbies,” Falconer said. “I have more time to read and relax and I have a neighborhood of good friends.”
When Jan Moncrief’s husband passed away 12 years ago, she sold her house on the West Side of Fort Worth and says she didn’t know what she was going to do. Moncrief rented for a while before deciding to look downtown for a new place to call home. “I thought, you know, I’m single. I don’t want to have to take care of a yard. I want to be able to walk outside, not worry about a thing, and be gone for a month if I wanted,” she said. Moncrief noticed the luxury So7 townhomes coming up on 7th Street and was intrigued. She decided to purchase and designed her floor plan, taking full advantage of her downtown views. “I have four balconies and windows everywhere. I feel like I’m in a tree house!” she
photo by Vishal Malhotra
Jan Moncrief Occupation: Philanthropist Resides: So7
Pecan Place and neighboring Cassidy Corner offer the best in Urban Living ja n ua ry 2 0 0 9
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Focus on Foch Construction isn’t dampering the hopes for businesses on Foch Street F
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men’s and women’s fashion store), Bikram Yoga, and Esoterica Studios, a hair salon that serves alcohol while styling. Jana Morris moved her bakery to Foch about three months ago. J. Rae’s Bakery (Rae is Morris’ middle name) specializes in decadent cheesecakes, cookies and cupcakes, and Morris thinks her location is perfect. “It was a little bit difficult in November with all the construction going on, but the city finished with the water quickly, and our holiday sales have been very strong,” Morris said. “I love it on Foch Street,” Morris continued. “I love all the different styles of businesses being in close proximity. I love that this area is focusing on independent entrepreneurs instead of chains.” Asel Art Supply moved to Foch Street last spring, and manager Michelle Sifuentes said the construction “has pushed business back and forth. But we have had a really good Christmas season, so I think most of the problems are well behind us.” “We are in a prime location, and with all the development going on, we are very pleased to be here,” she said. “People just need to know we are open for business, and parking and access to the building is working itself out.” Keith Doeren, office manager of Anzea, a commercial textile firm, said the construction has not affected their business, given that they do not normally serve walk-in retail customers. But given their location on the street, Doeren said the construction “has been a carnival of sorts. “But I was impressed by how the city worked on this project and how the impact was not as big as you might imagine,” Doeren said. “They made sure only certain parts of the streets were closed off at a time, and the other side streets could be used for access to the parts of Foch that were open.” And Doeren said he has a favorite memory of all the road work. “I remember Al [Cavazos] running around in the street directing traffic,” he said. “He was just as friendly in the street as he is when you come in his restaurant and shakes your hand.” La Familia’s Cavazos said he was just working hard to keep his customers and to look forward to the future. “Any business owner knows they have to put up with nuisances so that everything gets better in the future,” he said. “But we kept our tables full. And I hope our patrons realize that we are open and that the construction will be done in the next few months.” And maybe when all the work is done, you might be able to eat your morning meal at La Familia. Cavazos ticks off what might be on the menu, but then gets a big smile on his face. “We’ll have blueberry pancakes, for sure,” he said. “I love blueberry pancakes. And I know how to make them pretty well.”
photo by Amy Royer
och Street on Fort Worth’s near West Side has always been something of an anomaly in this fair burg. Though occupying a prime spot in the Cultural District - near all the museums and Will Rogers Memorial Center - Foch Street has historically been home to manufacturing companies and warehouses. But locals always knew that Foch Street was important, even though they had no interest in manufacturing or warehousing. If you wanted to avoid the Camp Bowie/West 7th/University intersection, Foch was a good cut-through street to avoid delays. But in recent years, Foch Street has changed to make the locals stop. Developers have redone some industrial buildings to house restaurants and bars and eclectic boutiques. And as usual with this Fort Worth street, traffic is a big issue - and not just from using it as a cut-through. Construction on the street has frazzled some business owners, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. In September of 2008, the city began installing two new water lines under the pavement. That work has finished, but the city will again be carving up Foch this spring to repave the street. A concrete portion of Foch (from West 7th to Crockett) is scheduled to be completed by the end of February. An asphalt paving (from Crockett to Morton Streets.) will be finished in March. Adding to all this construction are the development projects going on nearby. Just to the east is the South of Seventh development, which is adding office and retail and housing to the corridor. Just to the west is the West Seventh project, which will also add a million square feet of mixed-use buildings. Montgomery Plaza is being converted to loft condominiums just to the south. And further west is the huge Museum Place development. For business owners on Foch Street, the build-up of the West 7th Street corridor has been a blessing and a curse. The problems have of course been the construction and the difficulty some of the businesses’ customers have had in navigating through the backhoes and trucks. But the blessing is that Foch Street will be in the middle of a new development that will bring in many more customers close by. And the main message the Foch Street businesses want to put out is that they are open for business and that the end of the street construction is just a few months away. “There is no doubt the construction has kept some of our business away,” said Al Cavazos, owner of the La Familia restaurant. “But we can all see that the development projects and the new infrastructure being put in is going to make this street an even better place for business in the future.” In fact, Cavazos said he is thinking of expanding his restaurant hours to include breakfast once the dust settles. “There are going to be so many people living very close to us, and there will be all those office workers moving in,” Cavazos said. “We couldn’t think of being in a better place.” Despite the construction, business owners have relished the uniqueness of the businesses on the street. There are still manufacturing businesses - like GST Manufacturing and Alamo Machine Works - but they are now mixed in with places like Milagros Frames and Gifts (a funky art gallery), Dean Kingston (a
Business owners like Al Cavasos of La Familia Restaurant can see the light at the end of the construction tunnel
Miracles at Museum Place O
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bscured by the dust and noise of the construction around West 7th Street and the Cultural District of Fort Worth is one part of a massive vision of a newer and dramatically different city. The landscape is so fluid right now all over the Fort that anyone who hasn’t seen it in a couple of years would think they were in the wrong city. And though many locals believe that the cranes and work crews are stripping areas of their identities, the reality is much less sinister. Think of it more as a much-needed face-lift that will also pump badly needed new blood - not to mention money - into this town. And once the bandages are peeled away and the Fort’s new face is revealed to skeptics, they will see that the character and identity of these-here parts hasn’t been stolen away, it’ll just have improved. They’ll also see scores of badly needed jobs become available in new retail spaces, offices, and restaurants around the area. A perfect example of a development that is sensitive to the unique character of Fort Worth is the Museum Place project. The 11-acre project in the heart of the Cultural District includes retail stores, restaurants, office spaces, luxury residences, and a boutique hotel and is just as much a revitalization project as it is a new development. The sprawling project has been built up around the historic cultural symbols of our fair burg, including the Kimbell Art Museum, The Amon Carter Museum, The Modern Art Museum, The Museum of Natural Science and History, The Scott Theater, The Will Rogers Memorial Center, and The Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. In a sense, the development will be supporting the arts, by bringing hundreds of people to the area every day. Rumors of which businesses will be occupying the Museum Place development have been a hot topic on the blogosphere. Business ranging from uber-chic clothing store Anthropologie, hotel giant Aloft Hotels by W, and restaurants such as Nola’s Tapas Bar and Ra Sushi have been mentioned in connection with the project. But according to Liz Heck of the Hondo Group - a Fort Worth-based marketing and communications firm - who handles the project’s public relations, the list of confirmed tenants are as follows: Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, the Arizona-based fine-dining restaurant that has won numerous awards including Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence
The Depot Lofts
555 Elm Street • 817-885-7600
www.thedepotapts.com • myspace.com/thedepotlofts Mon - Thurs: 10am - 6pm • Fri & Sat 10am - 5pm Closed Sunday
and Zagat’s Most Popular Restaurant. The restaurant plans to open this month. Joy Floral, family-owned and operated, offers flower delivery on the same day you order. Domain XCIV, an upscale gift and tableware shop that offers fine Italian china and a wide variety of soaps and fragrances. 7-Eleven Corner Store, just moved over a bit from its previous location on 7th Street. This location no longer has gas pumps and now looks more like a 7-Eleven boutique.
Rendering of retail & residential space
Legacy Texas Bank, based out of Plano, plans to open its 20th location in Museum Place. The company has been in the banking biz for more than 40 years. 7th Street Cleaners has been open for 16 years under the same owner. West 7th Street Barber Shop is one of a dying breed: an old-school barber shop, not a salon or a hair lab. They also specialize in shoe-shines and shaves. Norma Baker Antiques is owned and operated by its namesake, who opened the place over 30 years ago. She specializes in American cut glass and sterling silver, both flatware and hollowware. Aside from the shops and restaurants, Museum Place also offers a unique living environment. There will be 40 luxury condos and townhomes for purchase and more than 500 rental residences, many of which will be above the shops and offices. The first residences to pop up are all pretty swanky. Some of the amenities of the Residences of Museum Place, the lofts across from the Kimbell Art Museum, include elevator lobbies with video doorbell, 9 1/2 to 20-foot ceilings, oak and maple hardwood floors and Berber carpeting, gas fireplaces in every home, trash chutes in every corridor, huge terraces and balconies, covered parking, dry-cleaning pickup and delivery to your door, and of course, you get to live within walking distance of all the museums and the new shops and restaurants. The area also features a new post office designed by Venturi, Scott-Brown and Associates, a Philadelphia-based architecture firm. The 6,000-square-foot post office, according to the Museum Place website, acts as a gateway into the newly renovated area. Included in the designs is a mural of the West Texas sky on the outside wall. Steel billboard beams just outside the building were bent during the 2000 tornado. These serve as a public art piece - and another link to the area’s storied past.
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood is opening this month ja n ua ry 2 0 0 9
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Experience the Near Southside. . .
The best dining & entertainment Fort Worth has to offer
The Fairmount
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Remember to join us for Dinner and a Margarita!
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Tone Summer
Thu. 9-12am
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Fri. 9pm
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Fort Worth South, Inc. • www.fortworthsouth.org 8
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grilled salmon is brightened with Tina’s own avocado Panang sauce. At once bold and subtle, every dish shows off Tina’s amazing touch.
Thai Tina’s
703 N. Henderson St., 817-332-0088 11am - 9pm Mon-Sat Lunch specials $6.95-7.95 Dinner entrees $11.95-19.95 Early last year, Tina Vorachack and Jay Jennings relocated their popular Watauga restaurant to the edge of downtown Fort Worth - and almost immediately built a large and loyal lunch following for Tina’s creative Thai cuisine. Light, fresh, and fabulous, Tina’s fresh meals are a perfect midday pick-meup, with no resulting carb-overload nap required. Sparkling meal-in-a-bowl salads include the popular yum nur, sliced grilled beef with lemongrass, mint, cilantro, and other fresh herbs all tossed in spiced-up lime juice; and the piquant laab salad, lime-juice-tossed chicken (or beef or pork) with cilantro and just the right flash of dried chili pepper. Or warm up with a curry dish, from mild massaman to wow Panang, or a colorful “saut” of meat, shrimp, or tofu with Thai herbs and vegetables. Of the bargain lunch specials, our current
fave is the ginger-grilled pork chop with pineapple/cucumber salad, though on a cold day nothing beats a piping bowl of tom kha, the classic Thai coconut chicken soup. But what many regulars may not know is that this perfect little lunch spot also throws a great dinner party. “Tina’s Thai Steak” is a 14-ounce New York strip marinated in Thai spices; it can be ordered as a plate with jalape–o fried rice and Thai-style vegetables or sliced with cucumbers and spinach for a refreshing dinner salad. Other dinner salads feature boneless roasted duck with lime-chili dressing, seafood with glass noodles, and an authentic (spicy hot!) Thai green papaya salad. The hearty end of the menu includes massaman curry paired with lamb chops or oxtail; on the lighter side,
Appetizer ordering is simplified by the sampler platter: half a dozen crab rangoons, garden-fresh spring roll segments topped with shrimp, slim cilantro rolls, and a trio of fresh-fried wonton crisps, with two dipping sauces. Don’t fear the focus on fried; these bites go down light and easy, with no too-fullfor-the-main-course remorse. Dessertordering is also easy: You must, absolutely must, have the sliced ripe mango with purple sweet-sticky rice, vanilla ice cream, and a slick of coconut sauce. Don’t argue; just trust us. Or trust your server, who on slow nights is likely to be co-owner Jay Jennings, as knowledgeable about the menu and the unpretentious wine list as he is charming and friendly. He’ll tell you. If you’re a first-timer to Thai Tina’s, don’t be misled by its hole-in-the-wall exterior - this place is lovely inside. Jay and Tina have recently felled the wall between the main dining area and the bar, nearly doubling the open space but keeping the intimate feel. Tina’s talents extend beyond cooking to eclectic interior design - she made the glass mosaic tabletops herself, and somehow they fit in perfectly with the Thai curios, red velvet drapes, and sponged yellow walls. The cozy bar alcove, currently being retiled, will soon feature happy-hour drink specials and taste-testings. With that, we trust Thai Tina’s evolution from fabulous lunch spot to fabulous “anytime” destination will be complete.
YOU GOTTA TRY THIS
Wedding-cake martini
Overwhelmed by the vast selection of martinis at M Lounge? Enjoy the perfect
photo by Amy Royer
after dinner (or anytime) drink... the wedding-cake martini. Stoli Vanil, Triple Sec,
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cranberry and a splash of pineapple chilled and shaken make this a deliciously sweet treat. For an Italian twist, the friendly staff at M Lounge suggests substituting Tuaca for the Triple Sec. $7 at M Lounge, 835 Foch Street, 817-850-9900
Beat Clock the
Short lunch break? Grab a quick and tasty meal in under an hour!
8.0, 111 E. 3rd St., 817-336-0880 The restaurant: 8.0, 111 E. 3rd St., 817-336-0880 The setting: Now celebrating its 15th year in Sundance Square, 8.0 may be a relative old-timer, but its creative and frequently updated menu, mod-bohemian decor, and extroverted staff always keep it feeling fresh. Exposed ductwork, brick walls, and stunning murals (by some of Fort Worth’s finest artists) are the perfect backdrop for 8.0’s twists on homestyle-bistro cuisine. In warmer weather, 8.0’s huge tree-shaded patio is the place to hang; in winter, cozy up on a couch in the sunroom or snuggle into a half-circle booth in the Octopus Room. Wherever you land, you’ll have great food, attentive service, and something cool to look at. The menu: Sure, you can get a classic American burger here - but you could have a lot more fun with 8.0’s imaginative variations, like the Nanny Goat & Popeye burger (with goat cheese and vinaigrette-tossed baby spinach) or the Sloppy BBQ Burger, topped with an eye-opening tequila-habanero sauce. The half-pound burgers ($8.50) come with choice of fries, side salad, or vegetables. Salads, too, range from standards like the iceberg wedge (perked up with avocado-ranch dressing) to
the fusion-y citrus chicken, with its wild ride of flavors and textures ($8.50). Dinner entrees are available at lunch, including the signature (but ever-changing grab the chilled tiger shrimp while they’re available) North Plate, a low-fat dish named for local fitness guru Larry North. As delicious as the regular menu is, the star mid-day attraction is the lunch combo special. Choose two out of three: a cup of 8.0’s signature jalape–o soup; a house or Caesar salad; half of any specialty sandwich. If you’re having a bad day, the Peter Pan, Ban, and Boo (peanut butter, banana, and honey) is great comfort food. The service: Servers are relaxed, friendly, and fun - but also highly efficient, especially during lunch rush. The verdict: Not only is the lunch deal cheap ($6.99 including tea), quick, and very satisfying, it’s also available until 4 p.m., making 8.0 the perfect “missed lunch but can’t make it until dinner” quick-bite oasis.
Time in: 3:00 pm
Time out: 3:25 pm Come Drink to the ABC’s From Apple to Zen...
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Our premiere Martini Lounge has you covered.
The Woolworth Building, Sundance Square 111 West 4th Street Suite 15 • Fort Worth, Texas 76102 817.348.0633 • www.simplyfonduefortworth.com
Fort Worth’s premiere Martini Lounge Unbeatable Liquor Selection • Cigars 835 Foch Street • Fort Worth • 817.850.9900 • www.mfortworth.com ja n ua ry 2 0 0 9
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DOWNTOWN PARKING GUIDE www.fortworthparking.com
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Amon Carter Museum 3501 C B i Bl d 817 738 1933
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Kimbell Art Museum 3333 C B i Bl d 817 332 8451
12 Will Rogers Memorial Center
3401 W L
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817 871 8150
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Outdoor OUR Sculptures:
Billy Bob’s C Texas P ASSPORT T O C ENTER ITY L IFE 1
ON THE MOVE WITH THE T Join the thousands of North Texas residents who enjoy public transportation in Fort Worth. Whether your destination is home, work or play, one of the T's services is just right for you!
Enjoy The T Downtown Free Zone! Ride anywhere in downtown for free! The free zone extends east to Jones Street, north to Belknap, south to Lancaster and west to Henderson Street.
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Miss Molly’s Hotel Bed & Breakfast
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Stockyards Station
FREE PARKING DOWNTOWN Downtown’s vibrant nightlife, entertainment, retail and restaurant scene would be almost impossible without abundant, convenient parking. Established in 1995, the downtown TIF provides 2,830 free evening and weekend public parking spaces for downtown visitors. In addition, Sundance Square retailers provide validation at the Sundance Square Gateway and Chisholm Trail Lots listed to the right. Daytime patrons of Sundance restaurants and retailers receive 2.5 hours of free parking and AMC theatre patrons receive up to 4 hours validation in these two lots. Both the TIF sponsored and Sundance Square parking lots listed are free in the evenings after 5:00 p.m. and on weekends.
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TARRANT COUNTY FAMILY LAW GARAGE Calhoun between Weatherford & 1st Streets Evenings after 5pm & Weekends
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SUNDANCE GARAGE I
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SUNDANCE GARAGE II
Commerce between 1st & 2nd Streets
Calhoun between 3rd & 4th Streets
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CHISHOLM TRAIL LOT 3rd Street - Evenings after 5pm & weekends Merchant & AMC Theater Validations
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SUNDANCE GARAGE III
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SUNDANCE SQUARE GATEWAY LOT
3rd Street between Taylor & Throckmorton
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CRESCENT
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CITY PLACE GARAGE
Calhoun between 5th & 6th Streets Bass Performance Hall Patrons Only
Belknap Street between Throckmorton and Taylor
Base Maps Courtesy of
No Longer Available to the Public UNE 2008 j a nJ u a ry 2 0 0 9
DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH
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Entertainment N
ow that the Holidays are firmly behind us, we can concentrate on getting back into shape and - what else? - hitting the town, because before you know it, spring is going to be here: We need to take advantage of what little indoor time we now have, and you could do worse than check out one or all of the shows and events happening this month. At Bass Performance Hall, fans of early-1970s sitcoms and variety shows will be in heaven. On Mon., Jan. 12, TV legend and six-time Emmy winner Carol Burnett will take the stage to reminisce about her life and career. Part of the show will include a Q&A session. Ever wonder if Carol, Harvey Korman,
and the other two guys in the band - vibraphonist and keyboardist Joey Carter and guitarist Paul Metzger are all together, things can get hot. The Fort Worth Weekly said that Bertha’s last show, another reunion of sorts, was the best live performance by any band in all of 2008. For more information, www.myspace. com/berthacoolidge or www.scatjazzlounge.com. Down the street at Jubilee Theatre (506 Main St., 817-338-4411), Lydia R. Diamond’s adaptation of Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison’s novel The Bluest Eye will run from Fri., Jan. 30, ‘til midFebruary. Directed by Ed Smith, the drama concerns an 11-year-old girl who wants nothing more than
Jubilee Theatre presents The Bluest Eye
Carol Burnett performs at Bass Hall
and her other regular guests (notably Tim Conway and Vicki Lawrence) were having as much fun as they appeared to be? Now’s your time to find out! A couple of days later at the Bass, on Thurs., Jan. 15, another small-screen star from the ‘70s, two-time Emmy winner Sally Struthers, will star in Nunsense, the lovable musical comedy that’s celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Best known as Gloria Bunker from All in the Family, Struthers leads the touring cast that will be in Fort Worth for one night only. For more information on either show, visit www.basshall. com. On the 14th, Wednesday, easily Fort Worth’s greatest and most celebrated fusion bands, Bertha Coolidge, will perform at Scat Jazz Lounge (111 W. 4th St., in Sundance Square, 817-870-9100). Mark your calendars: Bertha shows are few and far between, considering that bassist Aden Bubeck plays in
Fusion Band Bertha Coolidge Performs at Scat Jazz
Nashville star Miranda Lambert’s full-time band and drummer Rich Stitzel lives in Chi-town. But when they 14
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to be loved by her friends and family but who gets from them only ridicule and abuse. She blames her problems on the dark color of her skin and believes that if she only had blue eyes, her life would be much brighter. Previews are Jan. Fri.-Sun. 23-25 and Thurs., Jan. 29, and showtimes are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. For more information, call the box office at 817338-4411 or stop by Tuesdays through Fridays from noon ‘til 6 p.m or visit www.jubileetheatre.org. At Arts Fifth Avenue (1628 5th Ave., 817-9239500), a collection of local jazzbos will gather to celebrate the life and music of legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt, a fleet-fingered Gypsy who made his name - and established his greatness - with his Hot Club of France Quintet in the ‘40s. Their 6th annual festival in his honor runs from Fri., Jan. 23, until Sun., Jan. 25, and will also feature film and “French ambiance.” For more information, visit www.artsfifthavenue.com. Fort Worth Botanic Garden presents Exploring Africa, an extensive exhibit of photographs of the continent by Fort Worth shutterbug Diane Simons Lovell, reportedly one of only a few photogs to take snaps on all seven continents. In addition to her pics, Lovell also will display some of her folk art and artifacts from her personal African collection. Exploring Africa opens on Fri., Jan. 30, and runs through Fri., March 27. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.fwbg.org. Ending on Sat., Jan. 11, is the Amon Carter Museum’s Sentimental Journey: The Art of Alfred Jacob Miller, an exhibit of the work of the first American artist to travel through the Rocky Mountains. Lakota, Shoshone, and Nez Perces and fur trappers and traders are just some of the peoples he encountered along his early-19th century journey. He depicts them in paint, ink, or graphite. For more information, swing by the museum at 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., call 817-738-1933, or visit www.cartermuseum.org.
Speaking of the Great American West, Fort Worth’s annual Stock Show & Rodeo is kicking off this month. From the middle of January ‘til early February, Cowtown will be doing what it does best: exhibiting livestock and partying. In addition to bull riding and other kinds of traditional rodeo activities, the event also will include great food, games, and live performances by three of Fort Worth’s most popular and beloved Red-Dirt outfits - the Josh Abbott Band, Kyle Bennett Band, and the Stephen Pointer Band and the hyper-traditional Quebe Sisters. Everything will take place at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in the Cultural District. For more information, visit www.fwssr.com. On Sat., Jan. 17, as part of the event, one of the oldest of its kind in the world, two North Texas nonprofit organizations - Score A Goal In The Classroom and the Fort Worth Cowtown Commission - will put on the Western Heritage Trail Drive Celebration, following the annual Stock Show & Rodeo Parade that begins at noon. For more information, visit www.scoreagoal.org. With all of cowboy Cowtown’s attention focused on Will Rogers, you’d think the Stockyards would be lying low - but you’d be wrong. Dead wrong, pa’dner. In fact, Billy Bob’s Texas will be hosting some of the biggest names in Texas Music throughout the rodeo, starting on Fri., Jan. 16, with Micky & The Motorcars, followed on Sat., Jan. 17, by Tracy Lawrence, Johnny Cooper (Fri., Jan. 23), Neal McCoy (Sat., Jan. 24), and The Casey Donahew Band (Fri., Jan. 30). For more information on any or all of the aforementioned gigs, visit www. billybobstexas.com, call 817-624-7117, or drop by the box office at 2520 Rodeo Plaza in the Stockyards. Have a great January and see you next month.
Open for Lunch
MON-FRI 11am-2pm WED-SAT 5pm-2am
$2 wells all the time
TAPAS CANTINA
Happy Hour 5-8pm
1010 Houston St. • Downtown Across From Convention Center Restaurant 817.336.3124 • www.parkcentralhotel.com
OPEN BLUES JAM THURSDAY LIVE MUSIC-FREE WiFi
Downtown FW, Inc.
LIVE MUSIC janUary Wed, Jan. 7th Dave Monsch Trio Thur, Jan. 8th johnny reno Fri, Jan. 9th ricki Derek and the Vegas Six Sat, Jan. 10th Tatiana Mayfield Quintet Sun, Jan 11th adonis rose Birthday Celebration No Cover Wed, Jan. 14th Bertha Coolidge Thur, Jan. 15th johnny reno Fri, Jan. 16 & Sat, Jan.17th Kimberly Gordon Every Tuesday in jan.
Pete Gallo
Sun, Jan. 18th Trio Cubano Wed, Jan. 21st josh Hanlon Thur, Jan. 22nd johnny reno Fri, Jan. 23rd Corner Pocket Sat, Jan. 24th ricki Derek & His Big Band CD ReleaSe Sun, jan. 25th Trio Cubano Wed, Jan. 28th Brad Williams Thu, Jan. 29th Frank Tiberi Fri, Jan. 30th Shelley Carrol Sun, Feb.1st Helen Sung Tickets available @ www.ticketstothecity.com Great Happy Hour Specials all month long. Tuesday – Friday 5pm – 7pm
Visit our website for details www.scatjazzlounge.com Hours: Tues-Fri 5pm-2am • Sat 6pm-2am • Sunday 7pm-1am • Closed Mondays
111 W. 4th, Suite 11 • 817-870-9100 • Downstairs - Sundance Square
A taste of the Mediterranean
525 Taylor Street (Corner of 4th & Taylor in The Tower)
Sundance Square ~ 817.348.9828 www.thevaultdfw.com executive chef, Gabriel Ochoa owner, Jean-Michel Sakouhi
The Vault DTFWInc Qtr 2.indd 1
The Vault is the hottest new dining destination in downtown Fort Worth. With its signature Mediterranean cuisine and hip V Lounge Wine & Martini Bar, The Vault is the place to go in downtown Fort Worth.
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