Madeworthy Jul/Aug 2023

The Fort Worth Zoo’s newest habitat is now open. Home to some of the world’s top hunters, Predators of Asia & Africa offers a closer look at lions, tigers, cheetahs and more of the fiercest animals on the planet. Featuring lush landscapes, opportunities for enrichment, and several new species to the Fort Worth Zoo, the reimagined habitat promises more roar than ever before!

Contributors Questions

QWhat club would you start to fill a niche in FW?

Issue 36 | Join the Club! July/August 2023

Publisher Victoria Wise Editor Lee Virden Geurkink

Associate Publisher Jennifer Kieta

Contributing Writers

Sarah Angle

Angela Clifton

Hannah Bush

William Wise

Contributing Photographer

Brad Frace Illustrator

Trish Wise

Lead Design

Conor Dardis

Cover Design

Victoria Wise

Madeworthy Magazine is an extension of Tanglewood Moms, LLC., and serves to tell community stories for a family audience. For website and magazine advertising opportunities, please contact: Victoria@MadeworthyMedia.com

Looking for more copies Madeworthy Magazine? You can subscribe at TanglewoodMoms.com for free or pick up copies at Central Market in Fort Worth or Tom Thumb on Hulen Street.

A Combination of the Gifts of Nature and of Art

by Angela Clifton

If you appreciate all things funky and cool, you will realize very quickly upon meeting Summer George that you have met a kindred spirit.

Originally from California, Summer claims she got to Fort Worth just as fast as she could and has never looked back. She’s the type of person who oozes with spunk and uses her considerable artistic talents to brighten the lives of everyone around her. From her creative first day of school chalk art masterpieces on her friends’ driveways to the vibrant artwork scattered around her house to her unique and beautifully crafted jewelry, her influence is all over our city.

So it was no surprise to me when my longtime friend Summer found herself becoming a “ladysmith.” A term new to me, a ladysmith is a female silversmith, and Summer uses her silversmithing skills to create incredibly cool and funky jewelry.

Summer started crafting her own jewelry out of precious metals and gemstones in 2016 when one of her friends invited her to a class at the Fort Worth Gem and Mineral Club. Her father had recently passed away, and Summer said that she “kind of found herself” in the class. She found the process of designing and creating to be extremely therapeutic. Summer was hooked, and she couldn’t wait to learn more about the art of silversmithing.

The Fort Worth Gem and Mineral Club is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1950. Their purpose is, according to their website, to “delve into the study of geology, mineralogy, and the lapidary arts.” The Fort Worth Gem and Mineral Club is affiliated with the Arlington Gem

A neighborhood progressive dinner club sounds like fun!

How about a casual hula-hooping club for adults?

An open art studio/club with models.

A travel club for 40-somethings.

A club for book lovers who needlepoint and cook and and love Shakespeare and medieval history and trivia and weird BBC shows and calligraphy and nerdy podcasts and… What? Too niche?

and Mineral Club, and it was in the classes at the Arlington Gem and Mineral Club that Summer found a community of like-minded artists, both young and old, who wanted to share their talents and teach others how to craft beautiful pieces of jewelry.

In the weekly classes offered by the Club, Summer learned to “cab” gemstones. (“Cabbing” is the process of shaping and polishing a gemstone into a cabochon, which is a rounded gemstone as opposed to a faceted one.) Summer then delved into silversmithing, learning how to apply silversmithing techniques to making jewelry. She teaches metal stamping, a method perfected by Native American silversmiths. Her beautiful pieces range from custom-stamped bracelets to unique and funky necklace pendants to colorfully chunky turquoise rings. Her latest undertaking is a line that includes her interpretation of traditional squash blossom necklaces. We Texans do love a squash blossom necklace, and I’ve put myself on the list for one of her squash blossom creations!

How can you learn to create jewelry of your own or become a silversmith? According to Summer, the answer is to join The Arlington Gem and Mineral Club (AGMC). The Club was founded in 1957 as a non-profit volunteer organization that spans over four generations of custom jewelry makers. It is one of the largest and most active gem and mineral clubs in Texas. According to their website, the AGMC is “dedicated to retaining our current talent of seasoned individuals while attracting and developing the next generation of scientists, engineers, rockhounds, silversmiths and jewelers.”

Members enjoy casual potluck meetings on

Sarah

A fancy dinner club that pairs fine wine with fine food. Members could alternate hosting each month. Who's with me?!?

the first Tuesday of every month which feature guest lecturers, nationally recognized silversmiths, and even a TCU professor who spoke about the meteors and gemstones stemming from space.

For a nominal annual fee and a mere $4 an hour to use the facilities, the AGMC offers not only the workspace and the tools you need, but also knowledgeable teachers to take your skills to the next level. Classes offered include silversmithing, glass and beading, wire wrapping, enameling, metal stamping, and many other jewelry-making techniques. Classes are offered for adults and youth, so there is truly something for anyone willing to learn.

The AGMC encourages kids to bring the rocks they found on vacation to turn them into actual treasures. Using their workspace and tools, children learn to clean, smooth, and cut those rocks that manage to find their way into pockets and suitcases into something they can take pride in and keep forever.

If you are looking for a new hobby, are interested in learning how to create wearable art, or simply are interested in meeting like-minded artists, join Summer and her friends in the Arlington Gem and Mineral Club. And be ready for your friends to want you to create a wearable piece of art for them!

William A Fort Worth fight club. Shhhhh…

Lee

Hannah

Trish

Angela

Victoria

Fort Worth Events

Through July 9

Emancipation: The Unfinished Project of Liberation: Amon Carter Museum of American Art cartermuseum.org

Through July 30

July 11

Arts Fort Worth Crit Night: FWCAC artsfortworth.org

July 11

Trivia Night: Flying Saucer dfwi.org

July 12

Women Aging in Spirit: First United Methodist Church fumcfw.org

Aug 11 – Nov 26

LAURA SOBEN GONZALES

First Vice President, Wealth Management

817 720 1311 | laura gonzales@raymondjames com

We are pleased to announce the affiliation of with our West Fort Worth Office.

TRAVIS R KIRBY

Senior Registered Client Service Associate 817 720 1310 | travis kirby@raymondjames com

6060 Bryant Irvin Road | Fort Worth, TX 76132

TF 833 941 8090 | F 866 751 4670 | sobengonzaleswealth com

© 2023 Raymond James & Associates, Inc , member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC

Success Starts Here

K-12 EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS WHO LEARN DIFFERENTLY.

You want your child to succeed, and we’re here to help. For 50 years, Hill School has been fostering a learning environment that helps every student grow socially, emotionally and physically so they have the skills to reach their full potential.

SCHEDULE A TOUR AT HILLSCHOOL.ORG

Courtesy of Fort Worth Botanic Garden

ZimSculpt: Fort Worth Botanic Garden fwbg.org

Through Aug 11 Zoo Camp: Fort Worth Zoo fortworthzoo.org

Through-Sep 30

July 14

Jammie Holmes, Living in the Shadows, 2021 Acrylic and oil pastel on canvas, 89 5/8 × 78 3/8 inches

Private Collection; © Jammie Holmes

Photograph by Chad Redmon; Courtesy the Artist and Marianne Boesky Gallery, New York and Aspen

Wajaat Na Chahk and a collaborator (Maya sculptors, active 8th century) Panel 3 Piedras Negras, Petén, Guatemala ca. 782–95 A.D., Courtesy of Kimbell Art Museum

Lives of the Gods, Divinity in Maya Art: Kimbell Art Museum kimbellart.org

July 1

Sara Hickman: The Post thepostatrivereast.com

July 1

Sonidos del Summer: Northside Fort Worth facebook.com/ historicnorthsidedistrict

July 3 and August 7

Literacy Days: Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge| fwnaturecenter.org

July 4

Fort Worth’s Fourth pantherislandpavilion.com

July 8

Courtesy of Meow Wolf

The Real Unreal Opening Day: Meow Wolf | meowwolf.com/visit/ grapevine#gbp

July 14

Mountain Natives with

Remy Reilly: Lola's Fort Worth lolasfw.com

July 19

Sip & Paint Acrylic Painting Workshop: Martin House Brewing Company martinhousebrewing.com

July 21- Aug 13

Miss Molly by Christin Carmela: Amphibian Stage amphibianstage.com

July 27

Jammie Holmes: Make the Revolution Irresistible: The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth themodern.org

Aug 12

Dog Days: Fort Worth Botanic Garden fwbg.org

Aug 13

NTX Vintage Markets: Panther Island Brewing pantherislandbrewing.com

Aug 18

Parker County Peach Festival: Weatherford Texas parkercountypeachfestival.org

July 8

Meet Author Chris Barton: Monkey & Dog Books monkeyanddogbooks.com

July 9

Lola’s Community Market: Lola’s Fort Worth lolasfw.com

waiting for photo credit

Greta Van Fleet: Dickies Arena dickiesarena.com

July 30

Dude Perfect: Dickies Arena | dickiesarena.com

Aug 5

Clint Black: Billy Bob’s Texas billybobstexas.com

Aug 7

Prefuturity and Horse Show: John Justin Arena srcha.org

Aug 10 Chad Cooke Band: Rockin' the River pantherislandpavilion.com

Aug 11-20

Courtesy of Game On Parents Night Out: Game On Sports Complex gameonfw.com

Aug 21

BRIT Read Book Club: Fort Worth Botanic Garden fwbg.org

Aug 23 & 26

Best of Enemies, National Theatre Live: Amphibian Stage amphibianstage.com

Aug 24-25

Book of Mormon: Bass Performance Hall basshall.com

Aug 24-25

Victor Trevino as Elvis: Downtown Cowtown Theater downtowncowtown.com

Aug 24 – Sep 16

Courtesy of Downtown Fort Worth, Inc.

The Other Josh Cohen: Circle Theater circletheatre.com

Aug 31 – Oct 1

The Color Purple: The Musical: Jubilee Theatre jubileetheatre.org

Grand Horizons: Stage West stagewest.org

Fresh Family Recipes

Chef Scotty Scott just keeps on racking up the hits. After the success of his cookbook, Fix Me a Plate, the Instagram star, caterer, and Today Show darling has opened a food truck for his alter ego, Abe Fromage, specializing in the most amazing grilled cheese sandwiches you will ever taste. The truck is located next to The Holly Natural Wine Bar & Shop.

Peach Cobbler Pickled Shrimp Po Boy

From Chef Scott himself: “Is this a cobbler or a pie? When I was researching cobblers, ‘a biscuity crumbled topping’ kept popping up [as a definition]. However, when I was growing up, my momma called this a cobbler. Are y’all calling my momma a liar? Welp, all I know is my momma called it cobbler, Ima call it cobbler.”

For the peaches:

6 cups (1.5 kg) fresh peaches, peeled and sliced

1/4 cup (60 g) unsalted butter

½ cup (125 g) granulated sugar

½ cup (125 g) brown sugar

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

½ tsp orange zest

¼ tsp salt

1 tablespoon (20 ml) pure vanilla extract

Directions

For the crust

For the crust

2 ½ cups (750 g) all-purpose flour

2 egg yolks

½ cup (125 g) sugar

¼ tsp. salt

2 sticks (1 cup (125 g) cold salted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 ½ teaspoons (7.5 ml) vanilla extract

4 tablespoons (80 ml) cold water

1 egg beaten with two teaspoons of water to brush the top of the crust

In a medium-sized bowl, add the flour, sugar, and salt and whisk together to combine.

Cut the butter into the flour using a fork or pastry cutter until various-sized crumbs appear. [Editor’s Note: it should look like coarsely cut oatmeal.] Slowly add the cold water into the flour, and form into a ball then quickly knead the dough to bring it together. Remove the dough from the bowl, cut into 2 sections, and round into balls. Flatten each ball into a disk, wrap tightly with plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator for at least 35 minutes.

For the peaches

Place the peaches, butter, sugar, and brown sugar in a large pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure the sugar is melted, and the ingredients are combined. Turn off the heat, and add the cinnamon, nutmeg, orange zest, salt, and vanilla. Stir once again to combine then set aside.

Chef Scott has become quite the favorite of The Today Show. He’s appeared several times, cooking and chatting with Hoda and Jenna with panache. This recipe is one from his appearance in June. He said, “I love this dish because it can be made ahead of time and is great for entertaining. The shrimp is so flavorful and versatile – I’ve served it on tostadas or on avocado toast.”

Ingredients

For the shrimp

½ onion, thinly sliced

1 lemon, thinly sliced

4 bay leaves

¾ cup (150 ml) cider vinegar

½ cup (100 ml) olive oil

2 Fresno peppers, sliced [Editor’s Note: You can substitute jalapeños]

½ habanero pepper, sliced

¼ cup (50 ml) pickled capers with their brine

½ teaspoon celery seeds

½ teaspoon sugar

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon (5 g) fresh dill, chopped

1 ½ pounds shrimp, cooked and peeled [Editor’s Note: I used large (21-25 count) shrimp for this and cook them in boiling water seasoned with Old Bay seasoning and a lemon for only a couple of minutes.]

For the po boy

3 10-inch New Orleansstyle French bread rolls or hoagie rolls, halved lengthwise

1 English cucumber, sliced crosswise

1 large ripe tomato, thinly sliced

2 cups shredded

iceberg lettuce

Mayonnaise

Salt to taste

Directions

For the shrimp

To assemble

Preheat the oven to 375 F. Add some flour to a work surface and remove the dough from the fridge. Unwrap one of the disks, and using a rolling pin, quickly roll dough out to about 1/3 inch thickness. Place the dough on the bottom and up sides of a 9x13-inch baking pan.

Carefully pour or spoon the peaches on top of the dough.

Roll out the second disk as you did the first. Using a pastry scraper or knife cut the dough into 2-inch strips. Carefully remove the strips from the countertop and place them on top of the cobbler. [Editor’s Note: You can make a lattice if you like; I, however, am not a baker, and I simply laid the strips across the top of the cobber, and it looked beautiful!]

Brush the top of the dough with egg wash, and place in the preheated oven.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack for at least two hours. Of course, you have to serve this with a big ol’ scoop of the best vanilla ice cream you can get your hands on! Serves about 6. [Editor’s Note: My family of four took this down in a single sitting. Of course, I have teenagers, so you might not go through it as quickly.]

Add the cooked shrimp to a zippered plastic bag. Add the onion, lemon, Fresno, and habanero peppers to the bag. Add the capers, celery seeds, sugar, salt, and fresh dill to the bag and gently massage to combine and really get the marinade all over the shrimp. [Editor’s Note: Be sure the bag is closed. Trust me on this one…]

Refrigerate the shrimp for 24 hours to allow the ingredients to meld.

To assemble

Remove the shrimp from the refrigerator and drain, reserving the marinade.

Spread the mayonnaise on both sides of the halved rolls. Place the shrimp on the bottom slices and season lightly with salt. Top the shrimp with the cucumbers and drizzle with about 2 tablespoons of the reserved marinade.

Top with the tomato slices and lettuce and the top half of the rolls. Grab a cold beer, some napkins, and enjoy! Serves 4 to 6 people, depending on if any are teenagers or ravenous wolverines.

Illustrations by Trish Wise

Running the Fort

by Brad Nowlin

For this issue of Madeworthy, we wanted to spotlight some clubs for athletes. Our longtime friend Brad Nowlin is a runner, he graciously agreed to write about his passion.

Running along the trails by the Trinity River can be very enjoyable, especially with friends. It’s a free and fun family activity that’s open all year and is a great way to connect and spend time together outside with fresh air and sunshine. For me, it’s good for my mental and physical health to get away from the office.

A great way to start your running journey is to find a running club, which is not unlike a golf or bowling league; people form a community based on their passion. In Fort Worth, the running community is helpful, encouraging, and fun.

I started running cross country and track at Fort Worth Country Day. When I moved back to Fort Worth, I reached out to people in the running community. One of the first people I connected with was local chef and runner Jon Bonnell; we did a stair climb fundraiser for cystic fibrosis at the Pier One Building.

I then discovered the Fort Worth Runners Club, which has 5K races monthly throughout the year. It was there that I met people like dairy farmer Robert Grantham, who picks up trash in the park after races because he’s that type of person. The racers are friendly,

and the 5Ks are a good way to make running friends. I love Cox Racing Services, which puts on many runs throughout Tarrant County. Ricky Cox won the Cowtown Marathon three times in the 1980s and is a local legend. He and his son Demery conduct family-friendly events throughout the year. For example, the Trinity 5000 is a 5K that’s run on Thursday evenings in the summer for 40 years. Yes, it’s hot, but with an evening breeze, it’s doable. People bring chairs, food, and drinks and stay after to chat and bond. My next Fort Worth running discovery was the Fort Worth Running Company (also known as The Herd). Amy and Jon Clark pushed me to try longer runs, and they’re very rewarding. Runs of 10plus miles at an easy, “talkable” pace are the basis for much of the training for marathons or half marathons, and it’s been through these Saturday morning runs that I’ve made friends as we stop for water and Gatorade regularly.

Our pace group in The Herd trains together with a coach, and around 20 of us ran the Jack and Jill Downhill Marathon and Half Marathon last summer near Seattle. It was exhilarating to run in the Cascade Mountains and very rewarding to see my friend, Irma Allen, qualify for the Boston Marathon, which she recently completed, setting a personal record.

I am so proud of her.

Of course, Fort Worth’s biggest running event is The Cowtown Marathon, which is held every February.

Heidi Swartz has been leading the organization as it grows in stature and reputation. Initially, I ran the 5K, but for the last two years, I’ve run the 10K and the half

marathon. The combination of the two races is called the Cowtown Challenge.

The C.A.L.F (Children’s Activities For Life and Fitness) program is a cool community outreach program affiliated with The Cowtown Marathon to promote a lifelong love of fitness. It donates shoes to children in need at area schools. The Cowtown C.A.L.F. program serves about 100 schools annually, and they partner with the Tarrant County Food Bank to provide boxes of food for those students.

If you’re interested in finding a running club, Tamara Ogle and Gary Anderson lead the Cowtown Trailblazers, which is a training group like The Herd that often runs through Tanglewood (where the shade helps during the summer).

Other running groups include the Ranch View Gang led by Carla Storey, which tackles that hill in Tanglewood. Running Familia is led by Bernie Gonzalez and runs the trails at Sansom Park. There are many more in Fort Worth.

For running gear, we have some great running stores: Luke’s Locker, Fleet Feet, and Fort Worth Running Company, which offers a fun run on Monday evenings.

I’ll leave you with the lyrics of a band called Riverside off of their latest album, ID.Entity:

I don’t have to be the best Feel pressure all the time “The winner takes it all” is not my thing Stop comparing me

To someone else’s dreams Let me stay in the place where I belong.

Move over, bridge. There’s a new game in town. And it’s actually been here for a while.

But if you live under a rock like I do, the odds are good that you have only just learned about mahjong. Perhaps you recently watched “Crazy Rich Asians” on a long-distance flight, or maybe you took note of the game after living and breathing “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Since the early 2020s, mahjong seems to be everywhere in Fort Worth. From embroidered tea towels at charming Camp Bowie boutiques to hearing about a coworker’s weekly “mahj” group, this tile-based parlor game has hooked yet another generation, over 7,000 miles away from where the tiles first click-click-clicked.

Before you jump in, however, there are a few things worth noting. Consider this your unofficial guide to taking a seat at the table.

History faster than you can yell, “MAHJ!”

What began as a game of strategy and luck born in cosmopolitan China in the 1800s eventually became the “it” game in American culture during the Roaring Twenties (the 1920s, that is). The game has an interesting and not-alwayspleasant history in the States, as its popularity soared during a dark period where Asian peoples were persecuted by social and political forces. At its best, though, mahjong was a game that brought people together. Its prominence in Jewish American and Asian American cultures remained long after the initial craze died down. Fast forward to today, and the cyclical nature of trends combined with the power of the internet has mahjong back in vogue.

Get Your Mahj On

by Hannah Bush

middle-of-the-road brand.

Get carded.

The National Mah Jongg League is the governing body of American mahjong and has remained so since the 1930s. Every spring, the League issues a new card to its members which features that year’s winning hand combinations. Unlike Chinese mah-jongg, this changes annually. Cards are available in standard ($14) and large ($15) sizes.

Rules are rules.

Remember, it’s all fun and games until someone gets frustrated because they don’t fully understand the rules and the next thing you know, tiles are flying and friends aren’t speaking. My advice? Don’t wing it. Learn how to play. The internet is filled with tutorials, but the best way to learn is through playing.

Is it mah-jongg or mahjong? Both are correct, with the former being the more traditional spelling. There are two versions of mahjong, Chinese and American, and each varies in tile count, allowed hands, and the exchange of tiles at the start of the game, among other distinctions. While you might assume Chinese mah-jongg is not as common in the States as American mahjong, it will hardly be difficult to find a group that plays in the conventional style. The game uses tiles like dominos and involves the drawing and discarding of those tiles in a manner similar to rummy games, although rummy uses cards.

Shop for a set.

It won’t come as a surprise, but one

needs the proper equipment. But you won’t always use your set. Each game, which involves four players, requires one set. How a group determines which set to use is unique to that group.

A basic set includes tiles and racks, and the list of optional accessories (like dice, table mats and pushers) is endless. Depending on your budget, you can find a set for as little as $50 on Amazon or as much as $500. With mahjong on the rise again, highend brands like The Mahjong Line have emerged, targeting a younger demographic and creating quite a stir in the playing community. If you wish to avoid any unnecessary gossip, Where the Wind Blows is a tried-and-true,

If you don’t know anyone who plays, there is hope. A great way to learn while giving back is through Tarrant Area Food Bank’s Mahj4Meals. Led by a volunteer committee, Mahj4Meals offers inexpensive lessons and hosts tournaments with all proceeds donated to the TAFB.

Know thyself and find your people. Before you join a group, take a beat to consider who you are as a player. Is this a casual and fun way to exercise your brain and social skills or is this the Olympics? Chances are you will not enjoy this game to the fullest if you find yourself at a table with competitors of the opposite ilk. Once that introspection is complete, recruit three of your favorite friends or take to the internet to find a local group, and go get your mahj on.

What to know

D r S t e e l e t a k e s g r e a t p r i d e i n h e l p i n g h i s b r e a s t a u g p a t i e n t s a c h i e v e t h e i r d e s i r e d a e s t h e t i c g o a l s a n d i m e s t e e m H e p r o v i d e s a n u n h u r r i e d , c o m f o r t a b l e s e t t i n g b r e a s t a u g m e n t a t i o n c o n s u l t a t i o n D r S t e e l e u t i l i z e s t e c h n o l o g y t o s i m u l a t e d i f f e r e n t s i z e s a n d o p t i o n s t c o n v e n i e n t l y v i e w e d d u r i n g t h e c o n s u l t a n d a t h

Learn more!

Not Your Mama's Woman's Club: e Woman's Club of Fort Worth Celebrates 100 Years

by Lee Virden Geurkink

One of the most highly anticipated events in the Fort Worth year is Concerts in the Garden. Who doesn’t love listening to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) play selections from Star Wars or classics by Queen or Led Zeppelin while picnicking with family and friends in our beautiful Botanic Garden? It’s a yearly tradition that is beloved by so many in our city, but it was almost lost before it began.

During the Great Depression, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, like many civic and artistic organizations across the country, teetered on the verge of bankruptcy. In 1931, Mr. O.K. Shannon, honorary president of the FWSO, appealed to the community for help. And who stepped in to save the Symphony? The Woman’s Club of Fort Worth. (Remember this. It’s important.)

2023 marks the centennial of The Woman’s Club of Fort Worth (TWCFW). While the idea of clubs for women dates back to the 19th century, rest assured that this is not your mother’s Woman’s Club.

The woman’s club movement started in America in the early 1800s. Many grew out of church social circles. Intelligent women wanted to find a way to improve their minds and participate in social opportunities outside the home. These clubs allowed women to share their ideas as equals, and members realized that they could effect change in their communities. Many clubs were instrumental in leading the fight against slavery and for women’s suffrage. During the Progressive Era at the turn of the last century, these clubs championed literacy, denounced lynching, and led efforts to conserve public lands.

As the 20th century progressed, membership in woman’s clubs declined. More and more women were going into the workforce, and woman’s clubs were seen as relics of a bygone era. After spending an afternoon at TWCFW, I can tell you that there is nothing antiquated about it.

I recently sat down with Club President Jody Kneer Smith and Sunnae Hiler, Executive Director of TWCFW, in the beautiful William G. Newby Memorial Building located on Pennsylvania Avenue. The campus consists of four historic, triple-landmarked buildings on a 2.2-acre campus right in the heart of the Hospital District. The campus, surrounded by a

lovely wrought iron fence, is full of beautiful, mature trees and gardens. It is cool and green and inviting, even in the hottest months of the year.

Jody Smith has been a member of The Woman’s Club for 53 years. “I started in the Junior Woman’s Club (JWC) when I didn’t know anyone in Fort Worth. I didn’t grow up here. I didn’t go to college here… the relationships I formed have lasted from the JWC to the present. I see these women every time they come in for a meeting or lecture or luncheon.”

“I wanted a sisterhood,” Jody continued. “But I also wanted to learn something when I came. We study history, Shakespeare… we have art classes, we play mahjong… we learn something every time we come.”

In the early years of the last century, Fort Worth businesswoman and civic leader Anna Shelton spearheaded an effort to unite local woman’s clubs under one umbrella organization in one central location. In 1923, 11 charter clubs formed The Woman’s Club of Fort Worth. The club first met at the First Christian Church on Throckmorton until Etta Newby donated a house on Pennsylvania Avenue in the Quality Hill neighborhood to the Woman’s Club in memory of her late husband.

In 1931, The Woman’s Club stepped in and took over management of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. (Remember what I said?) The Club continued to manage the FWSO until 1938, when the organization was back on its feet. During the Depression, the Club helped to keep local businesses open with their “manufacturer’s luncheons.” The Club also supported the Fort Worth Public Library, what eventually became Cook Children’s Medical Center, and other local organizations. Members of The Woman’s Club were instrumental in having street signs placed in Fort Worth. This year, the Club has raised funds and goods for She Supply and for the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Pantry.

These are not little old ladies wearing white gloves, sipping tea from bone china teacups.

Sunnae said, “When I was young, my mom stayed home with me. Her career was taking care of her family, taking care of her home… And then we saw a gigantic shift when more and more women decided, ‘I want to be part of something bigger than being just a mom/wife/household manager.’ Membership

dropped as more women entered the workforce.” “But what we’re starting to see now,” Sunnae continued, “And it just fills my heart to the heaping top, is that women are wanting to belong to something again that’s not career oriented. They want to belong to a sisterhood and have a place where they can come and be surrounded by an incredibly diverse group of women… We have members who lived through the Great Depression. We have a member who is 105 years old and members who just turned 41.” [Membership is limited to women 41 and over. The Junior Woman’s Club, one of TWCFW’s daughter clubs, is open to women under the age of 40.]

The Club now has 38 clubs and 15 departments to appeal to almost everyone. What’s the difference between a club and a department, I hear you ask? Don’t worry, I asked the same question.

“The clubs are autonomous,” Jody said. “They come under the umbrella of TWCFW, but they operate independently. You do have to be a member of The Woman’s Club to be a member of a specialty club. The departments are open to any member of The Woman’s Club at any time. A club is usually restricted to 40 members, but a department is open to everyone.”

Some of the clubs under TWCFW’s umbrella include The Creative Arts Club, All About the Vine, The Junior Woman’s Club, Sorosis Club, History Club, and The Woman’s Shakespeare Club. The departments include the Art Department, Mahjong, Creative Writing, Yoga, and Needlework.

The Art Department runs an art studio on the campus. They offer classes and have studio times. “The Art Department also offers workshops for the public,” Sunnae said. “You’re allowed to take one without being a member of The Woman’s Club. If you want to take more than one workshop, you need to become a member, but then it’s unlimited. And they bring in nationally-known artists to teach [the workshops].”

Another department is called CHHiKs to Lunch, which according to Sunnae, is dedicated to trying new places to eat. “They literally sit around a table and eat and talk. How much more glorious could that be?”

Photo of Club President Jody Smith by Brad Frace

The Junior Woman’s Club of Fort Worth is, as mentioned before, a club under the umbrella of The Woman’s Club. When a JWC member turns 41, she is invited to join TWCFW. Jody smiled, “We have a beautiful tradition called Crossing the Garden for those members. The new members leave the Margaret Meacham building and walk across the garden to our building… They are each given a flower by a current member and welcomed into the sisterhood.”

All members of TWCFW are automatically members of the Etta Newby Club and its extension, the Night Newbys. The Etta Newby Club presents programs with topics ranging from lectures on history to cooking demonstrations to opportunities to meet local and national authors. These presentations always include a luncheon. The Night Newbys also presents a diverse range of programs. While they don’t serve dinner, according to Sunnae, “they do serve heavy, delicious snacks.”

When I asked about the Club’s longevity, Sunnae was quick to point out that they are constantly adapting to fill their members’ needs. “We recognize that people are working, so we’re developing a Night Department for those who can’t come to events and meeting during the day…

We recognized that a person who is new to town might not know two people to sponsor them [a requirement for club membership], so we changed it so that your employer can be your sponsor. We’re very open to changing as we need to while still keeping our traditions and preserving the respect that we have for our foremothers.”

remember what the Woman’s Club has done for our city, and maybe they’ll step in to help. We don’t expect it. We don’t demand it. But we hope.”

Every club needs new members to continue. I asked how a woman goes about becoming a member of The Woman’s Club. “A lot of our new members are people who have noticed us on the web and said, ‘I need a place to meet other women and make friends,’” Jody said. Sunnae said that there’s an inquiry form on the website, but Jody urged, “Come down to see us. We will give you a tour. We will tell you our history. We will help sponsor you. We will welcome you.”

Isn’t that what everyone wants? To be welcomed?

As we closed the interview, I was, as I tend to be, blunt. I asked, “What does The Woman’s Club of Fort Worth have to offer women in the 21st century?” Both Sunnae and Jody chuckled.

Sunnae said, “Don’t assume that this is your mama’s Woman’s Club. We’re not a bunch of blue-haired old ladies. We’re women who have had amazing professional careers. The club is full of women who can mentor, who can guide, women who are willing to share their experiences in business and in life. What’s better than belonging to a sisterhood with

–The Woman's Club of Fort Worth, The First 25 Years, 1923-1948

by Elizabeth

women you may not have ever met if you didn’t join this organization.”

The Club is on the web and on social media. There are separate Facebook and Instagram accounts for the Club and for the Club’s events and venue rentals. (The campus is a beautiful location for weddings, while the historic buildings are perfect for meetings and luncheons.) The Club is even on TikTok. If you want to take a virtual tour of the beautiful campus, check out the Club’s TikTok account.

Unfortunately, the Club’s historic buildings and campus are on Historic Fort Worth’s 2023 list of most endangered places in our city. They are the last remnants of what used to be called Silk Stocking Row. Sunnae said, “We’re really hopeful that someone will remember, ‘I had my recital in Anna Sheldon Hall.’ Or, ‘I used to have lunch with my grandmother in the tearoom.’ Or ‘I had my wedding reception in the garden.’ There are so many people who have a connection to the Woman’s Club. We’re hopeful that the Fort Worth community will

She continued, “We provide Fort Worth women with an opportunity to come to a place and be engaged in something that truly interests them and be surrounded by fascinating people. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that? It’s belonging to something that is bigger than you, something that connects you to your community.”

Sunnae is right. There is a need in our lives for more than colleagues, neighbors, and family members. We may appreciate our colleagues, enjoy our neighbors, and love our family members, but forming friendships based on shared interests is incredibly important. “These are strong bonds we form in The Woman’s Club,” Jody said. “These are friends who will help you throughout your life.”

Sunnae nodded. “There are so many people in our city who have a connection with The Woman’s Club, whether it’s through recitals or weddings or visiting with a loved one in the tearoom. We want the community to know that we’re still here, and the buildings are still just as lovely. Come back home again.”

But its [The Club's] most valuable asset was the very remarkable spirit of its membership which had been manifest throughout its existence, and which had seen it through every crisis that had arisen, including a worldwide depression.

Miller

Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. Woman's Club antique show. (1941). Retrieved from https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery/ img/20038025

Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries. The Junior Woman's Club - Past Achievements. (1952). Retrieved from https://library.uta.edu/ digitalgallery/img/20139508

Photo by Portraits by Polly

Photo by Portraits by Polly

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Forget Groucho, Join a Club!

by Lee Virden Geurkink

Groucho Marx famously said that he would never join a club that would have him as a member. Boy, he was missing out! Membership in a club or group of like-minded people is a wonderful way to expand your mind, make new friends, and have a great time.

This issue of Madeworthy is all about clubs and groups for every member of the family. We have spotlighted some great organizations in the articles, but there are so many in our city that we couldn’t fit them all into these pages. So we decided to include some of our favorites here.

Ladies Improv Club

Meets on the first, third, and fourth Thursday of every month at the Pilates & Yoga Training Center on White Settlement Road.

Children learn by playing. Unfortunately, our society frowns upon adults playing. Except for improv.

You probably know improv from television shows like “Who’s Line Is It Anyway” and comedy troupes like Four Day Weekend. Participants create spontaneous scenes from prompts given by other players or by the audience. Improv games are designed to make you think on your feet, expand your comfort zones, and force you to play. The Ladies Improv Club invites you to re-discover your playful side as you open yourself to all sorts of zany situations. You will laugh while discovering your unedited, creative side. All you have to do is say, “Yes!”

Plot Twist

Meets at various locations around Fort Worth on Sunday afternoons at 2 pm

Do you love reading? There are thousands of book clubs that cater to every genre of book and every kind of reader.

Plot Twist is a book club open to all ages and genders that is dedicated to reading contemporary fiction, including domestic suspense, thrillers, mysteries, and upmarket fiction. With meetings at coffee shops, breweries, restaurants, and bars around town, you’ll be sure to have a great time!

Culture, Cuisine, and Conversations

Meets at locations around town

Are you interested in exploring the arts, music, and amazing dining locations that Tarrant County offer but haven't found anyone who shares the same interests?

Culture, Cuisine & Conversations explores diverse types of cultural events, the joy of fine food, and seeks to create a sense of belonging. Types of events can range from art, cooking classes, history, science, education, performance, film, etc.

DFW eatre Devotees, Film Fanatics, and Movie Maniacs

Meets at locations around town

Do you love theatre? Do your friends actively avoid talking about the movies they’ve seen because they know that you’ll have an opinion about them? Do you know all the lyrics to every show at Bass Hall?

The members of DFW Theatre Devotees, Film Fanatics, and Movie Maniacs get it. They’re just like you. They understand that enthusiasm breeds opinions, and they want to know yours. All they ask is that you are as respectful of their opinions as they are of yours!

Fort Worth Bootstrappers’ Breakfast Meetup

Meets at Ol’ South Pancake House

Being an entrepreneur is difficult. There’s so much to know about growing your business from an idea to a viable company.

Part of a global network, Fort Worth Bootstrappers’ Breakfast Meetups are for founders of new businesses to compare notes, share ideas, and meet others who are serious about growing their business. All served with an order of delicious pancakes!

e Inner Gamer DFW

Meets at Maple Branch Craft Brewery

Gamers can be hardcore. In fact, they can be so hardcore that they scare off casual gamers who play not to win, but simply because they love the game.

If you fit this description, no matter what your game is, you can find your place with The Inner Gamer. Casual gamers from around Fort Worth meet at Maple Branch Craft Brewery to share a love of games. Everyone from RPG players to card sharks to board gamer lovers are welcome.

e Sacred Life Meditation Group

Meets locations around town

Meditation is practiced in many religious traditions around the world. The practice of meditation has been shown to significantly reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and even physical pain.

The Sacred Life Meditation Group is dedicated to creating a sacred space where people can enjoy meditation practice, while sharing their practice with others. The purpose of the group is to create higher awakening and awareness with others who are on the same journey.

Cowtown JS

Meets at Common Desk Fort Worth

If you’re a coder, this is the group for you!

The aim of CowtownJS is to bring together new and experienced javascript developers from around the Fort Worth area. If you are a javascript developer who wants to meet your people, this is the group for you!

Fort Worth Creative Writers

Meets at various locations around town

Stephen King makes it look easy. He churns out 28 books a year without breaking a sweat. In reality, writing is hard work.

The mission of Fort Worth Creative Writers is to foster and nurture local writers. The members gather to celebrate and encourage each other’s gifts and support authors on the road to publication. There is a creative inside us all, and Fort Worth Creative Writers stand ready to help your inner writer flourish.

Fort Worth Adult Soccer Association

Meets at various fields around town

Soccer’s popularity around the globe is undisputed and only continues to grow. While you may not have the skills needed to play in the World Cup in Dallas in 2026, the Fort Worth Adult Soccer Association (FWASA) is happy to have you.

FWASA has men’s teams, women’s teams, and co-ed 11 v 11 teams. They play in two seasons (August through November and February through May). It’s a great way to meet new people, enjoy the outdoors, and get some exercise. [Editor’s Note: My sister actually met her husband in a similar league, so if you’re single, you never know…]

Sister Cities International Leadership Academy

Held at TCU

The International Leadership Academy (ILA) brings together Fort Worth high schoolers with high school students from around the world to foster leadership and communications skills.

Each summer, ILA selects a theme for the program. 2023’s theme is “Peace Builders,” which encourages students to explore how we see other cultures and how other cultures see us while using youth leadership skills to promote world peace through service to their communities.

e Junior Optimist Club of Fort Worth

Schools in Fort Worth ISD

The Optimist Club of Fort Worth, a service club dedicated to fostering the development of young people, sponsors Junior Optimist Clubs at elementary schools around Fort Worth. Students participate in football, soccer, and softball. Over 1000 students in third, fourth, and fifth grade participate every year, and the Outstanding Junior Optimist of the Year is awarded a beautiful trophy.

Free inkers of Fort Worth

Meets at various locations around town

The only requirement for this group is that you have an open mind and an appreciation for dinner and drinks. The members love to have fun while engaging in the great social traditions of scintillating conversation while enjoying delicious dinners with likeminded people in the secular community.

Healthy Living –Fit Mind, Fit Body (Fort Worth)

Meets at locations around town

This group, dedicated to inspiring people to live healthier, more active lives, is designed for everyone, no matter what age.

The group plans a minimum of one adventure a month. Adventures include hiking, cooking classes, laser tag, yoga, fun runs, wine classes, money/financial classes, meditation groups, bubble soccer, bowling, and more. It’s all about stretching your comfort zone!

Traveling Texans 50+

Trips include state, national, and international travel

Who says fun ends at 50? If you’re over 50, and you’re ready to explore the world, this is the group for you.

This group curates global adventures for members to get out of the house and see the world. Whether you’re married, have a partner, or are traveling solo, you are welcome to join this group of silver foxes as they explore and learn about other cultures as a group.

T.O.W.N. Fort Worth

Meets at locations around North Texas

An organization affiliated with Texas Parks and Wildlife, T.O.W.N. (Texas Outdoors-Women’s Network) was created to provide all women the opportunity to experience the outdoors and outdoor activities in a safe, non-threatening, supportive environment.

If you’re a camper, a kayaker, a bird watcher, a fisher, or simply love being outdoors, T.O.W.N.’s members are waiting for you.

Knit Night at West 7th Wool

Meets at 3612 West 7th Street

Are you a knitter? A crocheter? Do you needlepoint? If so, you’re welcome to join the fun at West 7th Wool’s monthly Knit Night on the first Thursday of every month. Any fiber craft is welcome. Don’t know how to knit or crochet? The lovely folks at West 7th Wool have got you covered. They offer classes throughout the month!

North Texas River Runners

Meets at locations around town

We in Fort Worth are fortunate to have a river that is navigable (for most of the year). If you’re interested in learning to kayak while discovering the joy of outdoor water adventures, North Texas River Runners is waiting for you.

The group welcomes everyone from beginning paddlers to advanced whitewater daredevils. It hosts rolling and rescue skills in local pools and partners with local organizations to host regular water clean-up events. The focus of the group is promoting safe fun while preserving our beautiful waterways.

Fort Worth Audubon Society

Meets at locations around town

Birders are a special kind of people. (I should know, I’m married to one.) They stop in the middle of a busy street to identify a bird in a tree. They will interrupt a conversation if they hear an interesting call or song. They’re special.

The Fort Worth Audubon Society is full of these special people. They sponsor birding field trips. They promote birding education at their monthly meetings. And, most importantly, they are actively engaged in preserving bird and wildlife habitats for future generations. Pretty special, if you ask me.

Fort Worth French Language Group

Meets at locations around town

Did you take French in school and want to keep your skills sharp? Look no further!

This group is open to all lovers of the French language. They meet twice a month to practice speaking. It’s a diverse group with members ranging from native speakers to those who are just learning the language. It’s a fun and supportive group, so don’t be shy! Vous savez vraiment parler français!

Books with Beer

Meets at locations around the area

Do you know what’s wrong with a lot of book clubs? No beer! Books with Beer is dedicated to the bibliophilic hop heads, the people who love nothing more than matching a book with a craft beer. The group meets monthly at locations around town to discuss a diverse range of books, voted on by the members, while enjoying a pint (or two!) of quality local craft beer.

Fort Worth Women’s Biology Club

Typically meets at WineHaus

If you’re a woman with a love of science podcasts like TED Talks, RadioLab, and Hidden Brain, this is your group.

Each month, this group of intelligent, engaging women meet to discuss an episode from a science-related podcast. No question, idea, or quandary is too abstract for these women. If you have a passion for critical thinking and love of expanding your mind, you are welcome to join and bond over the complexities of life.

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I Must Go Down to the Seas Again: Sailing in Cowtown

by William Wise

Since the dawn of time, humans have sought to broaden their horizons, metaphorically and physically. There is a wanderlust built into all of us. For most, it is just a flicker that sparks once or twice a year, and we go on a vacation to feed that need. For others, it is the driving force of their lives. From this group come the explorers and adventurers of our history books: Francis Drake facing the Spanish Armada in The Golden Hind, Leif Erikson’s discovery of North America , Ferdinand Magellan attempt to circumnavigate the globe that ended in his death…

For millennia the most expedient method of travel for the explorer seeking far-flung adventure was a sailing vessel. As soon as humans learned to sail, we were no longer tied to the land; we became global travelers. Gone are the days of discovering new lands, safe trading routes, and previously unknown peoples. Even if those opportunities still existed, we could just hop on a plane and be there in a few hours. Still, sailing is part of our collective psyche.

The airplane and the car make travel much simpler and, let’s face it, much less interesting. If we choose to cruise, most choose a diesel-powered cruise ship that is closer to a floating city than Captain Cook’s three-masted bark HMS Endeavour. While the sailing vessel became obsolete as a viable means of trade and transport, sailing has refused to die. Sailors have continued harnessing the wind for adventure and diversion.

In 1967, Sir Francis Chichester became the first person to sail solo around the world, using the clipper trade routes. It took him almost 9 months in his ketch (a double-masted sailboat). In 1968, the first non-stop, solo circumnavigation Golden Globe race was held. A British sailor, Robin Knox-Johnson, the only entrant of nine who completed the race, was announced the winner, although his competitor Bernard Moitessier simply kept going round a second time, scuttling his chance to win.

These sailors, and many others, captured the imagination of an entire generation of would-be adventurers, but even before Knox-Johnson and Chichester became household names, yacht clubs and sailing clubs were a mainstay of American lakes and shores. Even in landlocked Fort Worth, we have several sailing clubs that strive to continue the rich tradition of sailing and regatta racing. Cowtown isn’t only for cowboys!

Founded in 1929, the Fort Worth Boat Club has been teaching generations of Fort Worthians to sail. Located on Eagle Mountain Lake, the Fort Worth Boat Club is far more than a sailing club.

With a social calendar jampacked with events throughout the year, club

Brooks Atkinson

Although most of us are probably not sailors, there is something about a sailing vessel, be it large or small, that speaks to that thing inside of all our souls that needs to know what’s over the next horizon. Sailing is romance.

members can do many things other than sailing. However, at its core, the Fort Worth Boat Club is all about sailing and maintains a racing calendar as full as its social calendar. From weekly Wednesday evening club races to monthly moonlight events, club members have myriad opportunities to sail. The junior sailing team competes in local, regional, and national regattas from Florida to California. You don’t have to know how to sail or own a sailboat to be a club member. However, if you harbor a deep desire to follow in the wake of those seafaring explorers, the club has sailing programs for all ages and abilities and a fleet of boats to learn in.

Like its Eagle Mountain counterpart, the Lake Worth Sailing Club has also been around a very long time. Founded in 1935, the Lake Worth Sailing Club is made up of sailing enthusiasts from all over North Texas. The familyoriented club hosts social events throughout the year as well as numerous special events. As with every sailing club, the Lake Worth Sailing Club has racing in its veins and hosts weekly races on just about every Sunday of the year. Members also compete in local, regional, and national regattas. If you have an interest in becoming a member, a great way to meet current members is to turn up on Sunday and offer to crew for one of the boats. Sailors are always on the lookout for good crew!

Cowtown Mariners is a sailing club of a slightly different stripe. Specifically for singles, Cowtown Mariners offers its members sailing opportunities, sailing lessons, and a robust social calendar. The club meets weekly at several locations around Fort Worth including Eagle Mountain Lake and Lake Grapevine for Happy Hour socials and sailing time.

The club also hosts a series of parties throughout the year. By all accounts, the Cowtown Mariners appear to have a great time. Sailing experience is not a prerequisite and neither is boat ownership.

It took Robin Knox-Johnson 312 days to encircle the globe in the first Golden Globe race. In 2017 Francois Gabart sailed around the world in 42 days, 16 hours, 40 minutes, and 35 seconds. It only takes about 20 to 30 minutes to drive from most parts of Fort Worth out to Lake Worth or Eagle Mountain Lake for a morning sail or an afternoon regatta. Clearly, it is easier than ever before to broaden your metaphorical and physical horizons and experience the romance of the waves.

Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit.

—

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Jungle Animals Juunngglle e A Anniimmaalls s

Work ON Your Business, Not IN It

- by Hana Laurenzo

Fort Worth has become nationally known as an incubator for entrepreneurs. We nurture those visionaries who want to think outside the box and blaze a new trail for themselves. Similarly, the Fort Worth chapter of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs by offering the support of local and global experts.

EO member Hana Laurenzo, owner of Teneo Linguistics Company, tells her story as a

member of the EO club.

Honestly, I did not know much about the financial side of my business for the first few years. What’s worse is that I didn’t have much interest in learning more.

I was so uncomfortable with financials and financial planning that I plain avoided them. Beyond figuring out revenue and gross margins, I could not be bothered with learning more.

I’m a translator by background, and like others who easily engage the right side of their brains, I have skillfully worked in abstract matters like language, creativity, and intuition throughout my career. As a business owner, however, I was not comfortable engaging the analytical, organizational, and systematic left side of my brain.

I handed over most of my books to an accountant and CPA and focused on those aspects of the business I knew best and felt most comfortable with. But if you don’t have a financial plan, your business can’t thrive.

Then I learned about EO’s Accelerator program for business owners.

I joined the Accelerator program in 2016, and what I learned about cash was life-altering for me and “businessaltering” for my company, Teneo Linguistics Company, an international translation and linguistics company.

The program, from which I graduated in about a year and a half, is designed to help entrepreneurs get to the $1 million revenue mark and keep growing.

Here are some of the things I learned in EO’s Accelerator program:

• The sheer volume of information one learns about their business from just watching numbers is mind-boggling. And extremely useful.

• When it comes to money, ignorance is NOT bliss.

• Revenue in and of itself does not mean much if profit margins are slim.

• My 12-month rolling indicators spreadsheet makes me feel good. I can clearly see we are trending up, even if we have just had a bad month.

• The Labor Efficiency Ratio [the measurement of direct productivity of employees within a business] is now one of my most important numbers to watch.

• Creating my own customized financial reports beats anything that’s in QuickBooks any day of the week.

• I thought my customers would never go for a shorter payment cycle – turns out, all I had to do was ask.

• The decision to practice open book management has revolutionized my business. Everyone in the

company knows our numbers and how they contribute to meeting our goals. And they love it.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Accelerator learning process. I still use the principles I learned. However, what made the biggest difference for me and for my business was not just the information taught in the program.

For me, the EO spirit of sharing has and continues to play a pivotal role in my personal and business growth and motivation.

Throughout my participation in the Accelerator program, I met EO members who are willing to share their experiences, successes, and failures without reservation. They trusted us enough to share the results of months or perhaps years of their own efforts –their business plans, financial reports, and data.

Does your business need a template for a good KPI dashboard? Here it is.

Do you want a rolling indicators Excel spreadsheet, so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel? Use mine.

Do you want to know exactly how I did it? No problem, I’ll show you.

This is what EO is all about. The altruism, the extended helping hands, the ears that listen, and the generous, selfless hearts of my fellow members are the wind in my sails every day.

When I graduated from the Accelerator program and someone asked me how I did it, I told them it had taken a village. The EO village.

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Smarter by the Sip

by Sarah Angle

A dozen wine glasses wait on a long wooden table. Soft jazz music plays in the background. A forest green velour couch on top of stained concrete floors takes center stage against partially exposed brick walls dotted with local art. The space feels like a photoshoot out of Vogue. Luckily, it’s the scene of our neighborhood wine bar.

Soma, which opened last year, stands for its location off South Main. But this winery isn’t just for drinking; it’s for learning what we’re drinking.

The learning is what we’ve come here for today, and it’s why a table full of empty glasses awaits. As a self-proclaimed wine snob, this once-monthly “Soma Wine 101” class is just my style.

“Wine tasting is a sensory experience,” Brian Virk says. Brian, 40, is co-owner of the bar with his mother, Laddie Virk. The family is from Southern California and brings sommelier-level training to this posh venue in the Near Southside.

Our mission today: Explore the sight, smell, and taste of the four reds on the table. (For the purposes of this article, we’re focusing on red wines.)

Brian brings out a sheet of white paper for us to examine the first one. We tilt a full glass of red against the sheet, almost spilling it, to see the color. Every grape varietal (for example, pinot noir or cabernet sauvignon) creates a different shade of red. In the light, there’s a “rim” and a “heart” that shows ruby, purple, true red, or garnet shades.

Like fine dining, wine tasting is a progression, starting with lighter wines before graduating to heavier, more tannic varietals. That’s why we started with an Italian nebbiolo, which tasted somewhat like a pinot noir. It was bright and less tannic than the other wines on the table. The sun shimmered through the light ruby in our glasses. The next sense we employ is smell. After swirling the glass on the table to aerate it, my untrained nose picked up a hard spice. Brian said it smelled like plum. Brian is right.

As any foodie will tell you, the first bite of a beautifully prepared piece of dish provides

the brain with incredibly complex information about the food; we can pick up the delicate details. After the tenth bite, our palette is happy but less inclined to notice the herbs, the cheeses, or the mixture of oils.

It is the same with tasting wine.

The next sense is taste, which is also known as “mouthfeel” in fancy winespeak, and it’s a measure of the wine’s acidity and tannins. Here’s how to test it: Hold the first sip of a new wine in your mouth for a few seconds. Swallow it (yay!) and notice how much your mouth salivates. If your mouth is salivating a lot, you might be drinking a pinot noir or a sangiovese. Cabernet sauvignons are typically less acidic.

wineries and tasting rooms. It’s also home to my favorite Texas-bottled (but not sourced) pinot noir from the Ferris & Fletch family winery.

Restaurants for Intelligent Food + Wine Pairings

Grace

If you’re just beginning to drink wine, this might be overwhelming. Not to worry, novice wine lovers! Education does not equal intimidation, and Soma has an easy-drinking vibe. In fact, Laddie, Brian’s mom, started her wine education with boxed Franzia, which is exactly the type of wine I had at my wedding many years ago. Whoo.

Ellerbe Fine Foods

Piola Italian Restaurant and Garden

As for the tannins, after holding that wine on your tongue for a few seconds, you can feel the tannins as a rough feeling on the tongue. Tannins bind with proteins, which is why a full-bodied cabernet sauvignon or malbec pairs so beautifully with a perfectly rare steak.

“Food impacts how wine tastes,” says Brian. “Not the other way around.” This is why fine restaurants have a sommelier on staff to curate their wine list and make recommendations. Food and wine pairings are a beautifully precise, scientific process. The sommelier and the chef work together to create a memorable culinary experience.

I’ve been to Sonoma County twice. (I haven’t been to Napa County yet, but I’m working on changing that!) I’ve always leaned heavily into pinot noirs from Sonoma County — a region with the abundant sunlight and mild winters needed to make the pinot noir grapes shine.

Sarah’s Favorite Wine Clubs in the Fort

WineHaus (includes private member-only tastings)

Brian says that Texas is coming up as a premier wine-making state, but we’re still about 20 years off from really competing with California or Oregon. A good place to see our state’s progress is Fredericksburg, which is now home to over 50

CRU Food + Wine Bar (gets you 40 percent off retail price)

Soma (high-end education in a swanky space)

The palette, just like the mind, can grow.

Soma’s wine club costs $65 a month and includes two bottles of wine and a tasting. To sign up for the Soma Wine 101 class, just visit the website. The winery also does a yoga and wine class and is working on creating a “Bottles and Books” club for literature lovers.

For dorky wine lovers like me, wine storage can become problematic. All wines need to be stored at around 55 degrees to prevent the wine from aging too quickly. There are lots of wine bars in Fort Worth that have clubs to join, but only one place I’ve found for storage: Classic Wine off Riverglen Drive, near Bellaire and Trader Joe’s. If you’re really into wine but short of space, they will help you keep your wines cool and safe.

So if you want to seem cooler the next time you’re at a fancy work dinner, Fort Worth fundraiser, or just on a hot date, join a wine club. Intelligence is sexy, and a wine education looks, smells, and tastes great no matter how you swirl it.

Photo by Kelsey Shoemaker

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o b e r t S o r o k o l i t g r e w u p i n T a n g e w o o d , w e n t t o T r i n i t y V a l l e y S c h o o l , a n d c o m e s f r o m a l a r g e f a m i l y o f d e n t a l p r o f