October DowntownFW

Sundance Square Stockyards Cultural District Near Southside

Y our P assport T o C enter C it y L ife

October 2009

Fort Worth's Fall Festivities Take You to the Botanic Garden & Beyond

In this issue All of the Right Ingredients: Tarrant Area Food Bank’s Community Kitchen One Museum Place Lone Star International Film Festival October Entertainment

Inside october • 2009 2

All of the Right Ingredients Tarrant Area Food Bank’s Community Kitchen.........................................

Museum Place The Views are Breathtaking..................................................................

Lone Star International Film Festival It’s Fall. It’s Film. It’s Fort Worth................................................................

4 8 10

The Foodie Pages Table Scout..................................................................... 14 You Gotta Try This.............................................................. 14 Beat the Clock................................................................. 15

October 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 Managing Editor: Dana Crumbliss-Mariani JSW Publishing: 817-321-9724 Business/Operations: Trish Bermejo Art Director/Layout Editor: Amy Royer

downtown fort worth

OCTOBER 2009

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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 programs, projects and partnerships.

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SEPTEMBER 2009

downtown fort worth

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ALL of the right

Ingredients I

n a hot kitchen on a weekday afternoon, a handful of men and women in black aprons sprinted up and down the narrow space between two rows of burners and ovens. The smell of sautéed fresh vegetables wafted through the hot, thick air, to a soundtrack of clanging pots and pans and sizzling food.

Larry Andrews, who is no stranger to a kitchen, has worked food service jobs before, and has had a passion for food all of his life.

But, the kitchen he and eight other culinary students are cooking in now is a little different.

At the Tarrant Area Food Bank’s community kitchen, he and his fellow classmates are learning more than just how to cook - they’re learning life skills such as how to budget their time, how to behave in a work environment, and, for students like Andrews, how to re-enter society.

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downtown fort worth

Andrews, like some of his classmates, spent some time in prison, and was connected to the program by his case-manager from the Texas reentry program - a program that provides ex-offenders an opportunity to be productive members of society.

“For a lot of them it will be the first thing in their life they’ve ever completed.”

OCTOBER 2009

“There’s a lot of [information] coming at you,” he said. One of the most challenging aspects of the program, he continued, is “the mental and psychological part - keeping your thoughts together, learning life-skills, and how to conduct yourself at work.”

The Tarrant Area Food Bank has been fighting hunger around North Texas since 1981. The non-profit agency collects surplus food and distributes it to the13-county area surrounding Tarrant, through 300 hungerrelief agencies. The Food Bank also provides nutrition training, different feeding programs

Executive Chef Vedat Lika instructs his students, who listen and observe intently. for children, and assistance to individual families.

The culinary job training program utilizes the surplus food donated from grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, and convention centers, and uses it to teach culinary skills to low-income unemployed and under-employed adults who are looking to find jobs as cooks and chefs.

bank. “They learn the basic terminology and basic skills, so when a chef tells them to do something, they know what to do.”

According to Lylette Phar, the community kitchen administrator, the 16-week program has graduated 59 people. There are currently 15 students enrolled in the program, which only accepts people who have their GED or are

industry, and hopes to get a job as a cook after completing the program.

“It’s definitely not for the faint of heart,” she said. “There’s a lot more to it than just trying to make the food look good.”

During the time that Downtown FW Magazine visited the kitchen, the students were working on how to cut and prepare vegetables.

Andrews said that he had never considered some of the finer points of being a cook.

“I’m learning the cuts of food and which knifes you use,” he said. “You need to get all of the vegetables the same size so they cook [evenly].”

Both Andrews and Emily said they have benefited from the life-skills classes.

Phar and a counselor from the Women’s Center of Tarrant County - a charity that helps people deal with crisis, and build life-strategies - counsel the students from everything from how to behave at work or during a job interview, to some of the deeper psychological issues that led them down the paths their lives have taken.

“We all make mistakes,” she said. “Some have addiction issues, some have been to jail or prison. I try to get them to have greater selfawareness as to why they made these choices.”

“It’s definitely not for the faint of heart...

There’s a lot more to it than just trying to make the food look good.”

When the program began in 2007, the participants cooked at the East Fort Worth Montessori School, preparing meals for students. Now, the culinary job-training program works out of a 2,500 square-foot kitchen in the warehouse of the Food Bank, and they prepare food for thousands of needy north Texans. By August, the program had turned out more than 5,500 meals. They hope to distribute 10 thousand by the end of the year.

These hard-working students and their instructor have a lot to smile about and be proud of.

“We’re able to use food that would have otherwise gone to the dumpster,” said Andrea Helms, communications director of the food

working on one. The food bank, she said, treats the training process like a job. There is even a time clock the students have to punch.

After the students complete the curriculum, food bank administrators try to find restaurant internships for the graduates.

Often times, she said, the graduates are hired on at the restaurants after the course of their internship.

Some of the area restaurants that have hired the community kitchen alumni include: Colonial Country Club, Café Nutt, Buttons, the Gaylord, and Aventino’s.

So far, Phar said, the program boasts a 79 percent employment rate after graduation.

The food bank follows the progress of their graduates for one year, providing support and helping them retain their jobs.

“Even in today’s economy, [the restaurant business] is a type of employment that hasn’t tapered off,” she said.

Emily, who asked to keep her last name anonymous, is a 26-year-old mother of two struggling to pay bills. She connected with the program through the Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County, a Christian charity designed to help the homeless, among others.

Unlike Andrews, Emily has not had much experience in the culinary arts. She said she has a much greater understanding of the restaurant

The culinary job training program has a 79% employment rate for its graduates.

After 16 weeks, the students have a graduation ceremony. Helms said that the ceremonies are an often tearful and happy occasion for the students and their families.

“For a lot of them, it will be the first thing in their life they’ve ever completed,” she said.

OCTOBER 2009

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downtown fort worth

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The Views are Breathtaking...

T

he balconies are large and accommodating. The designs are modern yet comforting. And as with all real estate value, the location is very important, and these condominiums are close to downtown and within Fort Worth’s prized Cultural District.

The first residential units in the Museum Place development are now on the market. The 39 condos are impressive and priced very competitively within the urban infill market that Fort Worth is embracing. At the bustling Camp Bowie Blvd./University Dr./W. 7th St. intersection, 34 units reside on the top three floors of the eight-story One Museum Place building. A block to the west, five units are available at the 3300 W. 7th development.

“The condos we have range from $300,000 to one million dollars, giving prospective buyers a wide range of options,” said Reece Pettigrew, chief financial officer of Museum Place Development Group, Ltd. “Our mantra all along has been that this is the premier location in Fort Worth, near a great older neighborhood, close to shopping and the museums, and a stone’s throw from downtown.”

One of the best features of the units at both buildings is their balcony, all very private and some as large as 600 square feet. Some of the outdoor areas at One Museum Place have a south-facing view of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and its reflecting pool; others face west and have a spectacular view of downtown. Some even have a 12-foot-high glass window arrangement in the master bedroom that faces west, allowing residents to see the skylights of downtown buildings floor to ceiling while lying in bed at night.

The first residential units at Museum Place are now on the market.

What the Museum Places developers are offering is an urban experience that is appealing to empty nesters, young professionals, and transplants from other cities. “The key selling point is that this offers a low maintenance lifestyle that allows a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood and all the convenience that urban living affords,” said Michael Yarrito, regional vice president and broker for Garrison Partners, which is handling the sales for the Museum Place condominiums.

The spacious yet affordable condominiums in the 3300 W. 7th project each boast its own one or two-car garage, Viking stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and custom cabinetry. There is also a fitness center for residents.

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OCTOBER 2009

Beautiful views & custom-style kitchens are Museum Place Specialties

Prices range from $299,000 to $499,000 for the two one-bedroom and the three two-bedroom condos.

The One Museum Place units range from about $300,000 for an 885-square foot condo to $989,000 for the penthouse suites. Hahns Grohe faucets and bath fixtures complement spacious bathrooms with 12-foot ceilings in many condos.

These are the first housing units available in the ambitious Museum Place project. Within 60 to 90 days, according to Pettigrew, dirt will be turned on the second phase of the project. This development, just west of the One Museum Place building, will have 215 rental apartments and ground floor retail featuring shopping, restaurants, and nightclubs.

When complete, the Museum Place development will be a pedestrianfriendly urban oasis, with public plazas, open spaces, abundant on-street parking, and wide tree-lined sidewalks. Other developments in the W. 7th St. corridor will be within walking distance, creating a part of the city where work, living, entertainment, and culture all intermingle.

“We feel this is a premier place to live right now, but within the next few years, more and more will be added,” Pettigrew said. “Because of that, buying now is a really good investment, we think. There is going to be a critical mass of businesses and entertainment venues that is going to allow residents so many choices that they can walk to.”

The sales office for the two condominium projects is at 3300 W. 7th St. in unit 206 on the second floor. The office is open Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m.

For more information or to make an appointment to tour the units, call Michael Yarrito or sales associate Marilyn Hysell at 817-332-4447 or visit the website at www.museumplaceliving.com.

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.

L L A F S ’ T I .

M L I F IT'S T R O F S IT' .

H T R WO

W

ith its annual International Film Festival, the Lone Star Film Society has revealed Fort Worth to be a hot bed of cinema. Red carpets here during the festival have been trod upon by A-listers such as Martin Sheen, Sidney Lumet, T Bone Burnett, Robert Rodriguez, native son Bill Paxton, Fort Worthian Janine Turner, and more.

The city has garnered national accolades for its cultural district over the years and actually has the third largest cultural district in the nation. An international film festival seems more than appropriate for a city that seems to be shedding its “Cowtown” image for a culturally diverse, artistically respected one.

With museums like the Amon Carter, the Kimbell, the Modern, and the newly redesigned Museum of Science and History (not to mention the many independent art galleries peppered throughout the city), it is no surprise that Fort Worth gets thousands upon thousands of visitors to its cultural district each year. Add to that an actual international film festival, and the city has the recipe for being acknowledged for great art of all genres.

On opening night, Wednesday, November 11, the 10

downtown fort worth

OCTOBER 2009

Lone Star International Film Festival (LSIFF) will bring the bright lights, big stars, and all manner of movie fanatics to downtown for a five-day celebration of cinema featuring more than 100 screenings at six venues (including Four Day Weekend, AMC Palace Theatre, Scott Theatre, Norris Conference Center, and both the Modern and Kimbell art museums). Films will range from feature-length narratives and documentaries to animated and short films from all over the world representing the best talent in international cinema. As a feature of international focus, the 2009 LSIFF will highlight films from Germany and will also add new winners to its list of recipients for the Life Achievement and Rising Star awards.

Now in its third year, LSIFF is not just a film festival but also a year-round series of programs. For the rest of 2009, LSIFF will continue to present a series of educational and inspirational films as a portion of its community outreach program, Focus Fort Worth.

This film series provides select Fort Worth organizations whose focus is handicapped children and adults or at-risk and disadvantaged children with the opportunity to have a truly unique experience with film. The events will bring films and filmmakers to members of these organizations that provide artistic and educational enrichment. The Fort Worth Community Arts Center is the host site for the 2009 Focus Fort Worth events, which will allow these individuals to experience the art galleries as well.

The 2009 LSIFF program will be announced on October 10 in conjunction with the launch of this year’s website. Tickets and passes are now on sale via the website, so to be a part of Fort Worth’s very own red carpet event, log on now and get your opening night tickets.

For these tickets and more information, visit www.lsiff.com.

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DOWNTOWN PARKING GUIDE www.fortworthparking.com

CULTURAL DISTRICT

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ON THE MOVE WITH THE T FREE PARKING DOWNTOWN 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.

8

12

DOWNTOWN FORT WORT

JUNE 2008

downtown fort worth

SEPTEMBER 2009

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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A

TARRANT COUNTY FAMILY LAW GARAGE Calhoun between Weatherford & 1st Streets Evenings after 5pm & Weekends

B

SUNDANCE GARAGE I

C

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

E

SUNDANCE GARAGE III

F

SUNDANCE SQUARE GATEWAY LOT

3rd Street between Taylor & Throckmorton

G

CRESCENT

H

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 JUNE 2008

SEPTEMBER 2009

DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH

downtown fort worth

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13

Piranha Killer Sushi

335 W. Third St., 817-348-0200 Mon-Wed 11am-10pm; Thur 11am-11pm; Fri 11am-1am; Sat 12pm-1am; Sun 12am-10pm Dinner entrées $11 and up; Sushi Boat for Two, $44.95; signature rolls $8-$14; most lunch entrées $10-$12 At the hippest, happiest sushi bar in town, a diner is first welcomed

by Piranha’s cute Ikea-blue-andyellow cartoon mascot adorning the building front and awnings. It’s a fun and apt metaphor: anime-huge eyes for Piranha’s smart, modern décor; a mouthful of sharp teeth ready for marvelous creations from owners/ chefs Kenzo Tran and Tommy Le. The second thing a hopeful diner may notice is a long line at the hostess stand. Particularly on weekend nights, expect to wait for a table even with a reservation.

A five-chef sushi bar takes center stage in the room, leaving narrow aisles for the servers to dance around small tables and the orangesherbet-colored banquettes that line

the restaurant’s walls. Seafoam and bamboo complete the color palette, for a blend of 1950s tiki lounge with Japanese sleekness and a spark of mod iridescence from the drinks bar in the rear. Bright-smiled servers set the happy mood of the room, making everyone feel warmly welcome.

The servers also know the menu inside and out and will help you match your taste to the many options. Not so crazy about raw fish? Piranha’s full kitchen prepares wonderful Asian-inspired hot dishes (grilled salmon with wok vegetables; pad thai; beef tenderloin) that will delight the most squeamish stomachs. Want nothing but raw fish? Set sail on the Boat for Two, the chef’s pick of best-in-the-house tuna, salmon, red

snapper, hamachi, eel, and so much more — a must for sushi purists.

Want a bit of everything? Appetizer offerings like tuna tataki, crab cakes, seaweed salad, and salmon ceviche make it easy to create a full meal out of small plates. Ready to have your socks knocked off? Head to Piranha’s two dozen signature rolls for brilliant combinations of flavors and textures, like the beguiling Marry Me Roll, which weds shrimp tempura and ginger cream under a canopy of luscious avocado, silky red tuna, and heart-shaped strawberry slices. The perfect accompaniment: one of Piranha’s specialty martinis or go traditional with a flask of hot house sake.

For the same stunning cuisine without the nighttime bustle, check out Piranha at lunch, when the line is much shorter and the soundtrack is more ambient.

Bento boxes feature sushi or sashimi (chef’s choice, usually tuna, salmon, shrimp, and the like) with a tuna or California roll and two side salads — one a crisp cucumber, the other chopped seared tuna and greens in a spicy cocktail sauce.

Light, fresh lunch entrées include salmon teriyaki, savory ginger beef, and tangy lemongrass shrimp, sided with tempura-fried vegetables.

Picture-perfect desserts range from refreshing green tea ice cream to the aptly named Tower of Chocolate.

YOU GOTTA TRY THIS Capital Bar is the new kid on the block in the Cultural District, and it’s making itself known by serving up some very tasty signature libations. The Refresher is one not to be missed. As its name suggests, the light citrus concoction is very refreshing indeed. It’s made with Bacardi Superior, Bacardi Limon, and Contreau and blended with fresh citrus juice. It’s then chilled, shaken, and is served up in a martini glass. It goes down smooth and is slightly sweet, but the twang of the citrus makes this drink reminiscent of a tequila-less margarita and will leave you with that warm, fuzzy feeling inside ... and totally refreshed.

The Refresher • $7 @ Capital Bar • 3012 Morton Street • 8117-820-0049 14

downtown fort worth

OCTOBER 2009

Beat Clock the

By Celestina Phillips

Short lunch break? Grab a quick and tasty meal in under an hour!

Pei Wei Asian Diner, 2600 W. 7th St., 817-806-9950 The setting: A national chain and spin-off of big brother P.F. Chang’s, Pei Wei offers a contemporary, Asian-inspired atmosphere with casual, order-at-the-counter service. The Montgomery Plaza location draws a sizable lunch-time crowd, with lines often overflowing past the doorway. Seating is usually plentiful, though cozy with neighboring tables. Dining outside is also an option.

The menu: Guests can view the virtual floor-to-ceiling menu along the wall while waiting in line to order. Starters feature spring rolls and crab wontons and entrées offer a variety of salads, noodle bowls and stir fry dishes. Try the new Japanese Chile Beef Ramen noodle bowl ($6.75), a dish that promises to upgrade your usual Ramen noodle experience. With thick and fluffy egg noodles served piping hot and tossed with sautéed flank steak, sliced carrots, bean sprouts, red chili

Time in: 11:45 am

peppers, cilantro, and lime, this Ramen bowl demolishes the image of the dehydrated noodle bricks - a staple from college.

The beef can be substituted with chicken, shrimp or tofu.

The service: No matter what time you arrive around lunch (or dinner for that matter), expect crowds, but the line moves very fast. Most of the time hostesses will also direct you to a table and food arrives within five minutes. Drinks are serve-yourself, as is the silverware. Don’t forget to grab a fortune cookie before you leave.

The verdict: Pei Wei is consistently flavorful and filling, and the Montgomery Plaza location will get you in and out quickly for lunch. For those interested in branching out past their usual Chinese buffet, Pei Wei is the perfect place to begin.

Time out: 12:20 pm

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817-336-2476

ScatLounge Jazz Live Music in October

7th - Pete Gallio Trio 9th - Kat Edmonson 10th - Red Young and his Organ Trio 13th - Ricki Derek & his Big Band 14th - Pete Gallio Trio 16th - Victor Cager 17th - Adonis Rose 20th - Dave Monsch 21st - Pete Gallio 23rd - Ricki Derek and the Vegas Six 24th - Paul Unger with Los Noviembres 27th - Pete Gallio 28th - Greg Waits Group 30th - Tatiana Mayfield Quintet 31st - Shawn Pickler Trio featuring Melissa McMillan Every Thursday in October Johnny Reno

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s Presents

TNL

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Free Concerts

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Every Thursday on the Patio at

Show Begins @ 6:00pm Get There Early!

This Thursday

10/8

Top 100 Jazz Clubs Every Sunday (in the world) in October Mi Son, Mi Son, Mi Son -Downbeat Magazine

HAPPY HOUR • 5-7pm Tues-Fri

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

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

The Burning Hotels w/ odis NEXT WEEK

10/15 FINAL SHOW WITH A VERY SPECIAL GUEST!

4651 West Freeway s Fort Worth, TX s 817.989.4700 SEPTEMBER 2009

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E N T E R TA I N M E N T

ctober typically means the start of the arts season, the end of baseball season, and Halloween parties.

Not too sure there’ll be much baseball action around here (sorry, Cats; sorry, Rangers), but for arts and Halloween events, Fort Worth will be the place to be.

Start at Billy Bob’s Texas (2520 Rodeo Plaza in the Stockyards, 817-624-7117), the world’s largest honkytonk.

Perhaps the two biggest shows of the month will be honkytonkin’ singer-songwriter Clint Black on Sat., Oct. 17, and the legendary Tanya Tucker on Sat., Oct. 24. Tickets are $15-35. Visit www.billybobstexas.com for more information.

Music of a much different though no less exciting stripe will be pumping throughout Scat Jazz Lounge (111 W. 4th St. in Sundance Square, 817-870-9100) throughout the month.

The house acts, who all perform at least once a week, won’t disappoint. On most Wednesdays, you’ve got straight-ahead saxman Pete Gallio. On most Thursdays, it’s “Jumpin’” Johnny Reno and his Bitchin’ Camaros. Most Friday nights belong to crooner Ricki D e r e k .

Sundays are coverfree and feature the Cubano stylings of Mi Son. Special guests in October include smooth Dallas vocalist Victor Cager (Fri., Oct. 16); Fort Worthian-by-way-ofNew Orleans drummer and bandleader Adonis Rose (Sat., Oct. 19); assistant principal bassist of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Paul Unger and friends (Sat., Oct. 24); unique trombonist Greg Waits (Wed., Oct. 28); local chanteuse Tatiana Mayfield and her quintet (Fri., Oct. 30); and on Halloween night, Sat., Oct. 31, it’s the groovin’ Shawn Pickler Trio featuring vocalist Melissa McMillan.

For ticket info and more, visit www.scatjazzlounge. com.

A couple of blocks away at 8.0 Restaurant and Bar (111 E. 3rd St., 817-200-7986), one of the town’s best happy hours will take place every Wednesdaythroughout

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Celebrate

OCTOBER 2009

The Burning Hotels headline Thursday Night Live at Central Market, Oct. 8.

October: $2 well drinks, $2 bottles of domestic beer, $3 glasses of house wine, and $3 “blue things.” Get your happy hour on at “Eight-O” from 3 to 7 p.m.

October also means Oktoberfests, and while what’s going on at Flying Saucer Draught Emporium (111 E. 4th St. in Sundance Square, 817-336-PINT) on Sat., Oct. 17, isn’t called an Oktoberfest, it involves live music, great food, and lots of beer.

From 2 to 10 p.m., the Saucer’s Fourth Annual Beer Festival will feature more than 20 brews, five beer tents, and music by the clown princes of pop, Poo Live Crew. Perhaps the best part? Admission is free. For more info, visit www.beerknurd. com/stores/fortworth.

The Fort Worth Zoo is a veritable bounty of meandering trails, perfect for the zoo’s 18th Annual Boo at the Zoo, when they’re turned into paths of spookiness. Pumpkin patches -and, of course, treats -- will abound. Bring the family any time between Thu., Oct. 22, and Tue., Oct. 27. Tickets range in price from $7-10 (kids under two years of age get in free) and can be purchased online at www.fortworthzoo.org, over the phone at 817-759-7373, or in person at the guest relations office between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily. And don’t worry. The atmosphere won’t be nearly as creepy as the snakes.

On the lighter, less spooky side is Thursday Night Live, the free live original music series put on by Fort Worth Weekly and Central Market (4651 W. Fwy., 817-989-4700). The season began back in March and will be winding down this month. On tap to perform out on CM’s spacious patio are some of Fort Worth’s most esteemed indie bands, including The Burning Hotels with Odis on Oct. 8. Fresh off their c a m e o in the

summer blockbuster movie Bandslam (starring Friends ’ Lisa Kudrow and High School Musical ’s Vanessa Hudgens), the Hotels are preparing to release their third recording and second full-length album, Novels. Keep your ears peeled for the soon-to-be hit single, “Austin’s Birthday.” The last TNL show will be on Oct. 15 by a band yet to be determined. Pick up a copy of the Weekly or visit www.fwweekly.com regularly for an update.

Texas Ballet Theater kicks off its 2009-2010 season on Fri., Oct. 2, at Bass Performance Hall (525 Commerce St. in Sundance Square), performing The Russian Masters, featuring George Balanchine’s Serenade set to Tchaikovsky’s score and Michel Fokine’s “ Polovtsian Dance” from Alexander Borodin’s Prince Igor. “One breathtaking pas de deux after another,” according to the company, will comprise the evening. Performances will run through Sun., Oct. 4. Tickets are $19-99 and may be ordered by visiting www.texasballettheater.org.

From Thu., Oct. 1, to Sat., Oct. 3, at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in the Cultural District the Junior League of Fort Worth will hold its Third Annual Christmas in Cowtown, a holiday gift market featuring home décor, jewelry, seasonal items, clothing, children’s products, gourmet food, and much more. Shop more than The Blue Angels will roar 130 merchants from across the country all day long. into Alliance Airport as General admission tickets are available at the door and part of the Aliance Air are $10-15.

Show, Oct. 24-25.

Aerobatic maneuvers, static displays (including Warbirds, helicopters, and jets), flight simulators, children’s activities, food, and, of course, lots of noise will all be part of the Fort Worth Alliance Air Show. The stars will be the U.S. Walkers/donors will show their support by carrying balloons. A white Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Army Golden Knights. Admission is free, and one represents friends and family members affected by cancer, red balloons for parking is $20 per vehicle. Gates will be open from 9 a.m. ‘til 5 p.m. The same supporters, and gold balloons represent the life of a loved one who has lost his airshow will be seen on both days of the event: Sat., Oct. 24, and Sun., Oct. 25. or her battle with cancer. “Funds raised will support the Society’s mission to The Alliance Air Show at Alliance Airport is a nonprofit event to raise funds cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma,” according to the for beneficiaries in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. For more information, visit society, “and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.” The event is family- and pet-friendly, and people of all fitness levels are welcome. Register www.allianceairshow.com.

Get out your walking shoes. It’s time once again for Light The Night, individually or as part of a team. The society also is looking for volunteers. The an annual fundraising event and evening walk sponsored by The Leukemia & evening will end with a concert by Texas Music singer-songwriter Miranda Lymphoma Society. Register by making a donation of select amounts at www. Lambert. Visit www.lightthenight.org. lightthenight.org. All proceeds will help fund cancer research. For the Fort Worth event -- there are walks all over the country -- walkers/donors will gather at 5 p.m. on Sun., Oct. 11, in Sundance Square at the Chisholm Trail Parking Lot at 4th and Main streets for the walk that kicks off at 7 p.m. In addition to raising money, the walk is also intended to commemorate friends and relatives who have passed away from or been diagnosed with some form of blood cancer.

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The Imperial Carp, or Koi fish, are part of what makes the Japanese Garden at Fort Worth Botanic Garden so special.

And what better time than during the beginning of autumn to visit the Fort Worth Botanic Garden? Be sure not to miss the Japanese Garden, a 7-acre symphony of stone, earth, water, and, of course, leaves. The Imperial Carp, or Koi fish, are not to be missed. The Botanic Garden will let you feed them particular treats. There won’t be any tricks, though.

The fall, of course, is also a good time to head indoors and explore your contemplative, intellectual, cosmopolitan side. Good thing Fort Worth is home to three world-class art museums, all in the Cultural District. And the Kimbell Art Museum (3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., 817-332-8451) won’t just be a spot for great art -- the legendary institution’s current, mind-melting film installation exhibit, Butchers, Dragons, Gods & Skeletons, by filmmaker Philip Haas, will be up throughout the month. The Kimbell also will be the site of some swingin’ partying. From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 10, After Hours at the Kimbell invites you to enjoy some live music (by the Tom Reynolds Trio), docent tours, gift giveaways, hors d’oeuvres, and a cash bar that will feature a signature cocktail, the Red Apple martini. The event is free for museum members and $10 for non-members. No reservations are required. See you there.

OCTOBER 2009

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WALK to great music and shows. “ Hi, it’s The Walking Guy. I’ve been checking out the cool entertainment spots in

Sundance Square. There’s so much here…from live theatre to comedy to Bass Performance Hall. I even sat in with Ricki Derek at Scat Jazz Lounge for ‘Steppin’ Out With My Baby.’ You should step out more often, too. Until then, keep on walking.”

Downtown Fort worth’s EntErtainmEnt & shopping District

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downtown fort worth

SEPTEMBER 2009