Fort Worth Weekly // August 13-19, 2025

The former U.S. rep stopped by Ridglea Theater to rally the troops for the big push to midterms.

BY ANTHONY MARIANI WITH JADON

NIGHT & DAY

Check out James Heath, the Fort Worth Aviation Museum, 817 Day, and more this week. BY

JENNIFER BOVEE

Tasty, affordable MK’s Sushi demands a trip to North Fort Worth.

BY ANTHONY MARIANI

SCREEN

Corrupt politicians can’t hide from South Park. BY DANNY GALLAGHER

MUSIC

Amplify 817’s showcase rolls into Birdie’s and The Post Saturday. BY KENA SOSA

INSIDE

Right-Wing Watch

South Park is ready to roast all authoritah. By Danny Gallagher

Turning Out the Turnout

Beto O’Rourke is on the run in more ways than one.

By Anthony Mariani with Jadon Chesnutt

Weekend Plans

Peek inside for what’s what this week. By Jennifer Bovee

Final Boss

It’s fresh, it’s tasty, it’s inexpensive — make the trek north to MK’s Sushi. By Anthony Mariani

Anthony Mariani, Editor

Lee Newquist, Publisher

Bob Niehoff, General Manager

Michael Newquist, Regional Director

Ryan Burger, Art Director

Jennifer Bovee, Marketing Director

Clint “Ironman” Newquist, Brand Ambassador

Emmy Smith, Proofreader

Julie Strehl, Account Manager

Sarah Niehoff, Account Executive

Stacey Hammons, Senior Account Executive

Tony Diaz, District Manager

Wyatt Newquist, Account Executive

Wendy Maier, Account Executive

CONTRIBUTORS

E.R. Bills, Jason Brimmer, Stephen Cervantes, Jadon Chesnutt, Jess Delarosa, Buck D. Elliott, Juan R. Govea, Mark Henricks, Patrick Higgins, Kristian Lin, Cody Neathery, Emmy Smith, Steve Steward, Teri Webster, Ken Wheatcroft-Pardue, Elaine Wilder

EDITORIAL BOARD

Laurie James, Anthony Mariani, Emmy Smith, Steve Steward

COPYRIGHT

The entire contents of Fort Worth Weekly are Copyright 2025 by Ft. Worth Weekly, LP. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without the express written permission of the publisher. Please

METROPOLIS

Ridin’ with Beto?

The former U.S. rep stopped by Ridglea Theater to rally the troops for the big push to midterms.

BY ANTHONY MARIANI

For president, you have to admit that Gavin Newsom is looking pretty good right about now. California’s governor isn’t afraid to take on Republican politicians and bloviators in their mud (a sad tactic, but apparently those highly coveted independent voters understand only power plays and mean tweets). A guy who would make one fantastic Secretary of State in the next Democratic administration was in town recently as part of his seemingly nonstop cross-country voter-registration campaign. And we rational, non-bigoted Texans know — and love him — well.

Last Saturday, Ridglea Theater was filled to capacity (1,200-plus) for a fiery fireside chat with Beto O’Rourke. The former U.S. rep is touring the country right now registering voters and packing houses even in deep-red districts. Apparently, voters for the Face-Eating-Leopard Party are shocked absolutely gobsmacked — that their faces are now being eaten by leopards and would like a word with the manager. Enter: Beto. Politicians working for people instead of special interests and the 1% is apparently a pretty popular notion, one that the left, right, and center can agree on. Along with the release of the Epstein files, it’s probably our country’s only other unifying idea.

As O’Rourke stepped onto the stage at the Ridglea, he was greeted with immense applause and by one well-coiffed white woman, who forced herself up front.

“Hey, Beto,” she yelped as she ripped one of his campaign signs in half. “That’s what I think of your politics!”

She continued on unintelligibly as organizers and security bounced her fancy ass. Tough questions are encouraged. Just wait until the speaker opens the floor. Everyone came to see Beto, not you, lady. Play by the rules or get lost.

Along with registering voters, the occasion for the rally was to show support for the 54 Texas Democrats who broke quorum (“Unfair Fight,” Aug. 6) and to raise awareness of Republicans’ efforts to redistrict Tarrant County in their favor. O’Rourke was joined at the Ridglea by U.S. Congressmen Joaquin Castro and Marc Veasey and Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons.

Headliner O’Rourke was easily the most electric. Like Newsom, he’s not afraid to meet Republican politicians and talking heads at their low level.

“If you think about what has happened in the first six or seven months since Donald Trump has been sworn into office,” O’Rourke seethed, “he has defied the co-equal federal courts, absolutely disregarding their decisions. He’s dismantled congressionally chartered and mandated agencies and departments. He has colluded with corrupt public officials, and he has covered up the bribe that he is paying right now to Ghislaine Maxwell

to move her to Camp Fed to reduce her sentence, though she is a convicted sex trafficker of little girls and children in this country, and he seeks to dispense with every constitutional safeguard and protection that has kept us a nation of laws and not of kings for these last 249 years. But that’s not the worst. This is the worst. So many of our fellow Americans right now bend the knee to this would-be tyrant. They assume that he already has

the power to be a king, and it’s the most powerful among us. The big East Coast law firms will no longer defend his political opponents [and] will contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to his chosen causes. The big universities, whether it’s Columbia or Brown or maybe Harvard as well, with endowments that cumulatively measure in the tens of billions of dollars, are bending the knee. The big media companies like Paramount, which owns CBS — not only are they paying the fine. They’re canceling Stephen Colbert because he speaks the truth to Donald Trump. They’re bending the knee. Mark Zuckerberg bent the knee. Jeff Bezos bent the knee. They’re all bending the knee. And so this guy thinks that he’s absolutely unstoppable. He really believes that he’s the king that these knee-benders tell him that he is, and so he comes to our state to grab even more power in the form of these five congressional districts … . … He thinks that we are going to take it right here, but he doesn’t understand. In Texas, our knees do not bend.”

O’Rourke has lots of momentum, which he’s going to need for the battle ahead. A judge just ruled that O’Rourke’s PAC, Powered by People, can no longer help fund the quorum-blocking Dems’ stays in other states. The order came at the request of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is now crying to jail O’Rourke for supporting the far-flung Dems.

Gov. Greg Abbott and the rest of the Texas Republican apparatus are doing all they can to create a quorum to pass their illegal, undoubtedly racially gerrymandered voting maps. Abbott is trying to remove a top Dem from office, while Paxton filed complaints in Illinois and California to enforce arrest warrants against the missing Dems. In response, California’s Newsom and some other Democratic governors in other blue-leaning states are thinking about gerrymandering their own maps to create more Dem seats, effectively neutering or even overtaking Republican efforts here.

“That is why Greg Abbott is trying to remove these House Democrats from the caucus,” O’Rourke said Saturday at the Ridglea. “That’s why he’s threatening to charge them with second-degree felonies. That’s why he’s threatening to hunt them down with state troopers now with [FBI Director] Kash Patel, who was busy covering up for Donald Trump’s involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, to go try to find these folks in Illinois or wherever they may be. … [Trump] cannot steal these five seats. His policies are so deeply unpopular in America,” which is reflected in the president’s sagging poll numbers and the massive percentages of voters across the political spectrum who want what Trump promised on the campaign trail: the release of the Epstein files. (And Vice President J.D. Vance is not helping the coverup. On a Sunday talk show, he said Democrats’ names litter the files so now he and Trump and all their cronies are protecting Democrats? Make it make sense.)

“For the 249 years of America,” O’Rourke said Saturday, “we have come up against some mighty odds, and we’ve overcome them at each

and every turn. We defeated the British Empire, the most powerful force on the planet at the time, to secure our independence and freedom, so that we would never be ruled by kings. And we’re not about to start now, right? We defeated the armies of the Confederacy. 300,000 young Union men sacrificed their lives — they’re 17, 18, 19 years old — to establish that never again could one American own

another, and it wasn’t even 80 years later that men from this very community landed on those beaches in Normandy in June of 1944, willing to give their lives to defeat fascism halfway across the world, to protect this democracy here at home, and then the generation that followed them — right here in Fort Worth and cities throughout the country — peacefully and nonviolently went up against the elected and armed thugs of Jim Crow, and they won full civil rights and political rights for every single one of us regardless of the color of our skin, of our gender, of our country, of national origin, of

any other difference between us. We are the lucky heirs of all that service, all of that struggle, all of that sacrifice that has come before, and what we do with this great inheritance is going to define us in the eyes of history, and it is going to determine what is possible for this country going forward. We cannot be found wanting at this moment of truth, and we must not allow the moment to pass without a fight, so I ask you to do all you can with what you have, wherever you are today and every single day going forward. I promise you, if we do that, we will overcome this challenge as well. We

will win this country back, and we will make it one worth saving going forward. Thank you, Tarrant County. We love you guys.” l

Fort Worth Weekly photographer Jadon Chesnutt contributed reporting to this story.

This column reflects the opinions of the editorial board and not the Fort Worth Weekly. To submit a column, please email Editor Anthony Mariani at Anthony@FWWeekly.com. He will gently edit it for clarity and concision.

Please join artist David-Jeremiah and guest curator Christopher Blay for a community celebration of this immersive installation featuring towering, ten-foot assemblage paintings that envelop viewers in a visual and conceptual exploration of fire—as ritual, force, and metaphor.

Inspired light bites and beverage options will be available for purchase.

FRIDAY, AUG 15TH

BARRINGTON

FRIDAY, AUG 22ND

FRIDAY, AUG 29TH

FRIDAY, SEP 5TH

FRIDAY, SEPT 12TH

FRIDAY, SEPT 19TH

SCREEN

The Saddam Treatment

South Park is back with even less respect and more mockery for “authoritah.”

BY DANNY GALLAGHER

There’s a misnomer about South Park that’s followed the four foul-mouthed boys from Colorado since their debut in 1997: They go out of their way to offend people.

This is wrong. Like all great comedy and satire, the first priority is always to do what’s funny regardless of the subject or target. Issues in politics, religion, sports, and culture may springboard the ideas, but the people who say South Park just goes for crassness and offensiveness are almost always the “offendees.”

Take, for instance, the first two episodes of the Comedy Central cartoon’s 27th season, the first of which premiered on July 23 and the other last Wednesday. Both took direct aim at President Donald Trump, whose never-ending scandals, sound bites, and psychosis keep popping up in our feeds, thanks to the media circus that propped up his political chances. In both episodes, South Park finally took a clearer shot (metaphorically, for the context-intolerant) with a double-barreled bazooka.

Showrunners Trey Parker and Matt Stone and longtime producer Vernon Chatman, the creator of some of TV’s smartest dark comedies like Wonder Shozen and The Shivering Truth, tackled Trump during his first term, but they kind of backed off by transforming school teacher and fellow psychotic Mr. Garrison into an orange-faced tyrant who could do more outrageous things to the world than the first administration (if you don’t count firing

This and other events like Jesus’ literal presence at South Park Elementary and PC Principal changing his name from “Politically Correct” Principal to “Power Christian” Principal also drive Cartman, the show’s Archie Bunker but more heartless, down a dark hole of depression that promises to be the start of a great season-length thread for one of South Park’s most popular characters.

Second episode “Got a Nut” widens the scope of the show’s satire with a criticism of Trump’s signature immigration policy and the rapid expansion — and some say abuse — of the powers of ICE and Homeland Security. This time, the skewering extends to Kristy Noam, the former governor of South Dakota who not only runs Homeland Security but has become the Billy Mays of ICE’s low-standard recruitment campaign, leading untrained SWAT teams that include freshly fired school counselor Mr. Mackey into armed roundups of anyone who meets Noem’s criterion of “If it’s brown, it goes down!”

trans military members for no reason, separating families by housing children in cages, Trump’s many criminal and civil convictions, and too many other things we don’t have room to list here).

Parker had his reasons. He told Vanity Fair in 2016 that Trump’s ability to ooze into almost every news cycle made him “less fun” to mock, adding, “I don’t know what more we could possibly say about Trump.”

Well, here’s another chance, and now even the 24-hour news cycle can’t (mostly because of layoffs and the race to be first rather than right) cover all of Trump’s scandals and sweeping government changes. Now Trump and his cavalcade of wacky and scary characters in his cabinet and some of his most ardent supporters have become the big, orange elephant in the room that the show can no longer ignore. We’re only two episodes into the long-awaited new season of South Park, and they’ve more than made up for the time when they stopped doing a full-on Trump takedown.

First episode “Sermon on the ’Mount” caught the entire world’s attention by giving Trump the Saddam Hussein treatment. The visual technique Parker and Stone used in the first South Park movie to animate the Iraqi dictator now employs real photos of Trump’s leathery noggin. The show also gives Trump a crudely animated yellow body, a squeaky voice, and a cartoonishly miniscule penis. And like Saddam before him, Trump is also in a same-sex relationship with Satan. Hasn’t he suffered enough? I’m referring to Satan.

That’s just the head of the mockery. No pun intended.

South Park finds a new edge to push on even the limits of cable television by portraying Trump stark naked with a pencil eraser-sized penis that somehow made it on the air unblurred. This includes a live-action version of a fat, naked, deep-faked Trump, a new weapon for comedy that Parker and Stone first perfected with their Sassy Justice deep-fake YouTube series, with a pointer finger-sized penis that wears googly eyes and “approve[s] this message” for the president’s patronizing PSAs. Trump is also depicted in paintings as a bloated Jesus with a tiny penis, having carefully angled sex with a drone and a pig Black Mirrorstyle with his tiny penis, and something involving a public restroom and his tiny penis that I’d rather not think about right now.

Maybe some of these Trump jokes and sight gags go close to the level that South Park critics, who’ve never watched the show, go to in their heads. However, the balance of democratic power and the fabric of reality is in uncharted territory right now, and based on the episode’s viral response, such mockery is needed.

The South Park crew isn’t about making jokes. They care deeply about stringing together a good story in which actions have consequences and crossroads and chaos can raise the stakes and the humor grows out of them like wild vines. Trump’s character traits and consequences trickle down to the town of South Park in a number of ways. There’s a great opening story in which asshole child Eric Cartman gets mad that Trump cancels NPR funding because a radio show “where all the liberals bitch and whine about stuff” is entertaining as hell.

The flappy-headed Trump makes a short reappearance with a bloated-faced J.D. Vance in a brilliant Fantasy Island parody reimagined as Mar-a-Lago. Also, if you know anything about her backstory or her constant and obvious photo-ops in the horrid places where she sends arrestees without due process, the story covers as much ground as it can without spreading too thin. There’s also a great B-story about the rise of conservative mouthpieces like Charlie Kirk, the head of Turning Point USA who debates (or rather talks over) college students. The episode features a great crack about Kirk’s goofy haircut that looks like a colonial tricorn hat suddenly turned into a toupee.

Most of all, the new episodes are setting up perhaps the funniest running bit (or bait?) of them all that may last the season but is not something the show can control. It’s the responses Parker and Stone elicit from the real people they target. Both episodes prompted a response from a White House source, the latest of which came from Noem herself. She criticized South Park only for mocking her looks as “lazy” and “petty” on a right-wing talk show as if that was the episode’s only joke.

The targets of the satire think they are standing up for themselves or firing up their base by debasing any criticism but end up feeding into the narratives about them that their critics and the satire creates, basically confirming they have no thick skin or sense of humor.

South Park’s 27th season is only bound to get better as the showrunners go down the line of the current administration and whatever else creeps into the national discourse. I’m hoping for Stephen Miller, which is something no one has ever said. l

March 2–September 7

NIGHT & DAY

817 Day, Back to School, and Burger Week are All on the Horizon

Gay for Good, a nonprofit that mobilizes LGBTQ+ people and their allies to promote diversity and inclusion in the broader community, is hosting an event at Tarrant Area Food Bank (200 Cullen St, Fort Worth, 817-857-7100). From 9am to noon, volunteers will assist with quality control, food safety, and packing food. To participate, you must be 14+ (19 and under must be accompanied by an adult) and wear comfortable work clothes and close-toed shoes. Register now at GayforGood.org/volunteer.

Dallasite James Heath — a.k.a. the Reverend Horton Heat, a.k.a. the godfather of modern rockabilly and psychobilly — is

bringing his trio to Fort Worth for a rare appearance on our side of town. At Tulips FTW (112 St. Louis Av, Fort Worth, 817-367-9798), Parts Unknown will open at 7pm. Tickets start at $32.88 at TulipsFTW.com.

Celebrate National Aviation Day at — where else? — the Fort Worth Aviation Museum (3300 Ross Av, Fort Worth, 855-733-8627). From 10am to 2pm, enjoy open cockpits, WWII Jeep rides, flight simulators, games, crafts, and more. Kona Ice

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium (111 E 3rd St, Fort Worth, 817-336-7470). Starting at 6pm, this Sundance Square taproom is hosting live music by Crossfire Serenade, plus doing giveaways, raffles, and special beer releases from False Idol, Martin House, Rahr & Sons, and Turning Point breweries.

Turning Point Beer (@ TurningPointBeer) will serve its True Texan variety as part of the Back to School event at Social House (840 Currie St, Fort Worth, 817-820-110). This street festival from 11am to 5pm is a school-supplies drive benefiting the schools in Kerr County affected by the July floods. Steve Helms will perform 3pm5pm. Other vendors include Funnel of Love (@FunnelofLoveDFW), Salmark BBQ (@ SalmarkBBQ), Teatro Cafe (@TeatroCafe_), and Texas Best Ice (@Texas_Best_Ice). For more details, visit SocialHouseFortWorth.com in the coming days. ( You can also help Turning Point make a difference with their True Texan Light Lager promotion by donating on Venmo to @gwd-qfac.)

Tarrant Area Food Bank is having quite an August. Along with some volunteer help from Gay for Good, the nonprofit is the beneficiary of the Seventh Annual Fort Worth Burger Week. From Mon to Sun next week, participating eateries will offer $7 specialty burgers to raise funds for the TAFB. Visit WhatsUpFortWorth.com/FW-Burger-Week.

and Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee trucks will be on-site with snacks and drinks for purchase, plus there will be complimentary cake for Orville Wright’s birthday. There is no cost to attend.

I asked myself, “What is 817 Day?,” then whispered, “Duh.” Combine the “8” for August and the “1-7” from the 17th, and you have our most notable area code. 817 Day has become a community-driven celebration of the city of Fort Worth, its culture, and identity. One business embracing this is

At 8pm, Big Laugh Comedy Club (604 Main St, Ste 100, Fort Worth, 817-80-7998) presents Comedians Against Humanity, a “comedy show for horrible people.” Cover is $10. This event is in the Funky Room (downstairs), but there’s also an upstairs stage called the Panther Room, plus Big Laugh hosts some shows at Ridglea Theater. For the full scoop, check out FortWorth.BLComedy.com.

By Jennifer Bovee

BACK TO SCHOOL

Dance Your Way Back to School This Fall

Promotional Feature

With back-to-school season here, it’s time to contemplate extracurricular activities like dance lessons. You and your kids are invited to come discover, experience, and express yourselves at Arts Fifth Avenue (1628 5th Av, Fort Worth, 817-923-9500), an eclectic neighborhood visual and performing arts center where you’ll find that “the arts are alive!”

A5A is proud to offer a wide range and variety of classes, workshops, and private lessons to students of all ages. The primary focus of our dance education is the celebrated American art form of Tap Dance, but they are also proud to offer classes and workshops in Art, Intro to Dance, Instrumental Music, Swing Dance, Voice, and Yoga, with options for Homeschoolers as well. Fall classes in the performing and visual arts for ages 4 to adult begin the week of Monday, September 8th.

Fall Class Schedule

Classes run September 8 through December 20, 2025, with the exception of Thanksgiving Break . The annual $20 registration fee is $20 per student and is non-refundable. (Note: All classes must have a minimum of five students to run.) For details about the various courses, go to ArtsFifthAvenue.org/ Classes.html and click the name of the class you’re interested in.

Take Us For a FREE Spin!

If you’ve ever wanted to try tap dancing, here’s your chance! You’re invited to join us for a complimentary Beginner Tap Class available on four dates this fall. From 1pm to 2pm on Saturday, September 6, October 4, November 1, or December 6, people ages 8 to adult can enjoy a FREE lesson. No tap shoes, no problem! We have shoes to loan for the class. To attend, reserve a space at ArtsFifthAvenue.org or call 817-923-9500.

No talking. No food and drinks. No peeking.

Come break the rules and say “yes!” to new art experiences at the Carter’s Second Thursdays! Every Second Thursday is different than the last — mingle with fellow art lovers, make art, and meet visiting artists, sometimes with live music and always with themed cocktails. You’ll never think of museums in the same way again.

SECOND

THURSDAYS ARE ALWAYS FREE!

THURSDAY AUG 14 | 5–8 P.M.

Go behind-the-scenes and hear tales from Carter staff about the work that makes a museum run.

EATS & drinks

Still Rollin’

In North Fort Worth, longstanding MK’s Sushi offers high-end cuisine at great prices.

MK’s Sushi, 2901 Fair Dr, Ste 100, Fort Worth. 817-306-0003. 4:30pm-10pm Sun; 11am-2pm, 4:30pm-10pm Mon-Thu; 11am-10pm Fri-Sat.

BY ANTHONY MARIANI

The first thing to blast my taste buds was the sauce. Creamy, tangy, zesty — it not only held every bite together but somehow augmented each chopstickful. And that’s just how MK’s Sushi … rolls. Everything — from the sashimi to the iceberg lettuce in the salad — is fresh and done right. There’s a good reason this North Fort Worth operation is still hanging in there after a nearly 20-year run. Quality reigns.

When my wife and I first moved to North Fort Worth from Arlington Heights, MK’s was one of only a couple non-chain eateries within a 3- or maybe even 5-mile radius. Another was Flip’s Patio Grill (also still hanging in there — the Bleu Queso burger really kicks on all levels). Another, Los Molcajetes (and for good reason — fun atmosphere). The old me and her would not even recognize the neighborhood now. Over half a dozen similar big boxes have sprouted up around Flip’s, and there appears to be not one, not two, but three retail developments (Alliance, Presidio, and something called North Park or North View or something) just north of the intersection of Western-Center Boulevard and

I-35N. These expanses overflow with food options. There are so many.

I’m well aware that quality is not the only determining factor of a restaurant’s longevity. We seem to lose quality dining establishments every month in Fort Worth. What explains MK’s success? Do they advertise? I don’t follow every newspaper or TV/radio station, but I can’t say I’ve seen an MK’s ad, heard an MK’s radio spot, or seen an MK’s TV commercial recently. Does MK’s, also with a location in Bedford, just have deep pockets? We’ll never know. All that’s certain is that the place has pretty good online support. For my wife and me, and now our 13-year-old son, the nicely

appointed single room with a small patio, nestled in a mini strip mall behind a RaceTrac, is comforting in a slightly disorienting, nostalgia-inducing kind of way.

MK’s was one of the first places where my wife and I dined out all those years ago. And not much has changed — about us or MK’s. The dining room is almost evenly split between four-tops and a long sushi bar, with an intimate cocktail area with high-tops to one side. The décor is Tokyo chic. Strategic lighting illuminates the all-encompassing black furniture, accents, and interior. continued on page 17

WATERING YOUR LAWN IS

EASY AS

When it’s time to water your lawn, think 1, 2…zero. Once a week if it needs a little water. Twice a week if it’s dry and hot. Zero if it’s been raining. Make sure your sprinklers aren’t leaking or pointing the wrong way. And try drip irrigation for flowers and shrubs. Visit Water is Awesome.com for more tips.

IS AWESOME.COM

Deals At Cool Prices

Stock your Kitchen at Mission!

2524 White Settlement Road Fort Worth • 817-265-3973 Small wares, pots & pans, and all kitchen essentials available to the public.

Come see our showrooms! MON-FRI 8am-5:30pm

Eats & Drinks

As part of a phonebook of menus presented to diners upon first entering, the Chef’s Specials called to us. It’s four rolls long, all under $20. Our son is a pretty adventurous eater, and his Romance Roll lasted all of five seconds on his plate. The white tuna and red snapper came across as pleasantly salty, kicked up by some tuna and salmon topping, avocado, lemon juice, caviar, and four “flavorful” sauces, and indeed they were — piquant and the tiniest bit sweet.

Also drawing from the Chef’s Specials menu, I opted for the Fort Worth Sunshine roll: tempura-fried shrimp plus avocado topped with white tuna and spicy shredded crab stick, everything garnished with green onion, masago, and that sumptuous blend of eel and spicy-mayo sauces.

One of my favorite dishes not only at MK’s but anywhere on the planet, the spicy Korean chirashi (hwae dop bap) hits that mythical spot between super-healthy and decadent. The rice bowl with assorted sashimi plus fresh vegetables, jalapeño, garlic, and a spicy chile sauce might help you live longer than a month’s worth of CrossFit. Mixing it all together makes for a delightful explosion of salty, sweet, and umami flavors.

My wife, the vegetarian, went with the simple yet flavorful avocado roll plus the lightly tempura-fried

veggies: fresh, slightly firm carrot, onion, mushroom, all kinds of stuff. Dipped in the accompanying brown sauce, they’re a meal themselves.

Like most sushi restaurants, MK’s also offers other cuisines. There’s ramen, teriyaki, bulgogi, rice bowls, poke, and, for 36 smackers, the Lobster Heaven roll (lobster tail, avocado, and cucumber topped with a baked lobster sauce). For dessert, the tempura-fried banana with red bean ice cream

That’s hard to beat no matter which part of town you live in. l

Ate Days of Hatch Chili

Central Market marks 30 years of pure fire with its annual Hatch Celebration now thru August 19th.

Promotional Feature

In August 1995, a single pallet of Hatch peppers and one roaster arrived at Central Market in Austin. Within 10 minutes, customers were lining up for pounds and pounds of these green gems. Fast-forward 29 years, and Hatch chiles have become the most wanted (and most craved) peppers in the Southwest! Each August, they bring in more than 125 tons of peppers trucked in straight from Hatch, New Mexico. Their hot days and cool nights give this pepper a flavor all its own. This year, Central Market is honoring the milestone event with a Hatch Hall of Flame, filled with instore events, new products, recipes, and more.

Back-to-School Bites at Hatch Kids Stroll

Join Central Market in Fort Worth (4651 West Fwy, 817-989-4700) or Southlake (1425 E Southlake Blvd, 817-310-5600) for the Hatch Kids Stroll on Sat, Aug 16 from 11am to 3pm, where we will serve up gourmet hacks and lunchbox stacks — fun, back-to-school bites that will simplify the transition back into routine. This event is free and full of flavor!

New In Stores This Year

Central Market offers hundreds of Hatch-infused specialty products, from baked goods and cheeses to sauces, desserts, and more. Hatch peppers are only in stores for a few fiery weeks, so now’s the perfect time to pile up your favorites or try some of the new products available this year:

1.) In Bakery: Try a Hatch Apple Turnover (a buttery, flaky puff pastry filled with sweet Hatch apple pie filling and topped with crystal sugar. A golden, handheld treat with just the right touch of heat).

2.) In Beer & Wine: For 2025’s festivities, there are seven new drinks, including Glamati (a first-ofits-kind sparkling cocktail from Italy, combining black tea, wine, and Limone di Sorrento I.P.G. juice. With just 5% alcohol, this lightly fizzy drink from the Bosca family bursts with an extraordinary fusion of flavors); and Gruet, Le Spritz (new from the acclaimed New Mexico winery comes two

vibrant spritz creations—Le Fleuriste Lemon Elderflower and L’Orangerie Orange Botanical Light, botanical, and refreshing).

3.) In Chef-Prepared: Enjoy Hatch Chicken & Tomatillo Tamales (roasted chicken, Hatch chiles, tomatillo, cilantro, and lime stuffed in soft masa and wrapped in a corn husk, available in a 2-pack or 6-pack—perfect for sharing or savoring solo); Hatch Pepper & Chicken Empanadas (dark and white chicken meat blended with Hatch chile purée, Monterey Jack cheese, and lime juice, all wrapped in a golden crust. Just bake and serve—no prep needed); and other new dishes.

4.) In Dairy & Frozen: These two departments boast six new products this year, including frozen green chiles from J&D Foods: Family-owned since 1977 in Albuquerque, NM, J&D Foods uses genuine New Mexico hot Sandia Hatch chiles, roasted in-house at peak freshness. A go-to ingredient for chile relleno and other classic dishes. Sierra Nevada makes a Hatch chile Jack cheese that is handcrafted in micro batches using grass-fed milk from California. This creamy Jack cheese is blended with Hatch chiles for a spicy kick and can be found in the dairy section.

5.) In Deli & Cheese: Three new items to try include Spotted Trotter Uncured Hatch Chile Salami (pastured pork finished with dried Hatch chile, floral Mexican oregano, and Mexican lager, made by hand in Atlanta, Georgia by Chef Kevin Ouzts); Central Coast Creamery Hatch Chile Cheddar (handmade in Paso Robles, California from the best California milk and New Mexico peppers, this well-crafted, well-aged Cheddar reveals a quiet heat from the chiles); and Central

Market Oven-Roasted Hatch Turkey Breast (a new dry rub that combines the much-loved oak smoke, garlic and a little heat from dried Hatch chilies).

6.) In Floral: Hatch Pepper Ristras (gorgeous edible chile ristras double as décor, and come in 12, 18, and 24-inch bunches that are displayed near arches, doors, and windows all over New Mexico as a symbol of welcome); Hot Pepper Plants (8-inch plants to grow your own, and enjoy the results roasted, toasted, or diced in every dish); and Southwest-Inspired Succulents (plants inspired by the landscapes and canyons of the Southwest, incorporate a New Mexico aesthetic into your home).

7.) In Market: Stuffed Hatch and Cheese Chicken Breast (bacon-wrapped chicken breast stuffed with diced fresh Hatch peppers, cream cheese, cheddar, and a dusting of chipotle spice, made by Premier Custom Foods); and Stuffed Hatch and Cheese Mushroom (a Baby Bella mushroom stuffed with a savory blend of diced fresh Hatch peppers, cream cheese, cheddar, and lightly dusted with chipotle spice).

8.) In Specialty Grocery: Items from Caplansky’s Mustard (limited-edition ballpark-style Hatch mustard that brings a bold, tangy kick to burgers, hot dogs, and fries); and Terrapin Ridge (a flavorful range of Hatch-infused dips, jams, and aioli—ideal for pairing with pita, tortillas, burgers, or even chicken and waffles).

For three decades, Central Market has served as the Hatch headquarters – a one-stop destination for flavor, fire, and fan favorites. Visit CentralMarket. com/News/Hatch-30th-Anniversary for the full scoop on this momentous occasion.

About Central Market

A division of H-E-B, Central Market opened its doors in 1994 and now has ten store locations across North Texas, including Fort Worth (Chapel Hill Shopping Center) and Southlake (Shops of Southlake). A bountiful produce department with unmatched quality and variety, an 80-foot seafood case, hundreds of cheeses, 2,500 wine labels, and extensive specialty grocery aisles make the Central Market experience unique. For more information, follow us on Instagram (@ central_market), Twitter (@centralmarket), or visit us at CentralMarket.com. #CentralMarket #ReallyIntoFood.

LISTENING LOCAL ART

An Ode to the Westside

A good friend of mine asked Chat GPT to roast the “Westside” of Fort Worth. It did NOT disappoint. Below is her favorite version of this satirical take on that side of town. Enjoy!

“Welcome to West Side Fort Worth, where the bars are divey, the jukebox still plays Nickelback unironically, and the beer is

cold because the A/C sure as hell ain’t working. This ain’t the polished, craft-cocktail, avocado-toast side of town. No, sir — this is Maxine’s Cocktails (4020 Benbrook Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-420-9754), where the floors get sticky, the regulars are loud, and if you don’t know the bartender’s name, give it five minutes — she’ll be yelling it at you.

Then there’s The Home Plate Sports Bar (3137 Alta Mere Dr, Ste B, Fort Worth, 817-732-5190), where every wall is covered in dollar bills, neon signs, and broken dreams. It’s where you go to watch the Cowboys lose and somehow end up arm-wrestling a guy named Big Joe for a shot of Fireball and maybe something sketchy.

And right across the highway, looming like a drunk colossus, is The Rail Club (3101 Joyce Dr, Fort Worth, 682-224-3556) — Fort Worth’s answer to: What if a monster truck rally and a Slayer concert had a baby? You

haven’t truly experienced West Side until you’ve heard death metal echoing through the alley while a lady in a rhinestone jacket argues about pool table rules at Maxine’s.

This part of town? It’s rough. It’s loud. It’s got more tattoos than teeth and more stories than streetlights.

Sure, the Wi-Fi’s spotty, the landlords are ghosts, and your car alarm is basically just background noise — but these folks? They’re loyal. Ride-or-die loyal. They’ll fight you in the parking lot, and then buy you a beer afterward if you can take a punch.

This is a place where your best friend might have a criminal record, a pit bull named Baby Girl, and a heart of gold. Folks here may not trust the government, but they’ll trust Jamie Peña at Maxine’s with their deepest secrets and their last $5.

They don’t have much, but they’ve got honor, they’ve got grit, and if you mess

with one of theirs, you’re about to learn real quick that “bless your heart” is not always a compliment.

So here’s to the real West Side: where the drinks are cheap, the lives are hard, and the people are tougher than a two-dollar steak. Come for the beer, stay for the fight... or at least until your Uber shows up 45 minutes late and confused.”

In all seriousness, those who love metal music and the West-side scene are invited to celebrate the lives of two of its favorite folks: Ben Salaz and Homer Jimenez Jr. Please come to The Rail on Saturday for a benefit show and Celebration of Life for these two local metal legends that we’ve recently lost. RIP Ben and Homer, you will be missed!

Promotional space lovingly donated by Jennifer, former “Cruise Director” at The Rail.

MUSIC

Bragging Rights

The library’s Amplify 817 program celebrates the Fort with a minifestival Saturday.

BY KENA SOSA

88 Killa, Grady Spencer & The Work, Kendi Jean, Tipps and Obermiller, Asa Ace, and Cherry Mantis will perform Saturday at Birdie’s Social Club and the adjacent Post as part of a showcase by Amplify 817. The program launched by the Fort Worth Public Library in February 2020 licenses and streams tracks by Fort Worth musicians for free through the public library system. Amplify 817’s fourth annual showcase Saturday is another big statement: Fort Worth artists are legit worldclass talents and are here to stay.

“Music connects all of us,” said Library Director Midori Clark.

The performing Amplify 817 artists agree.

“My experience with Amplify 817 has been fun,” 88 Killa said, “because I like having a centralized collection of art from other artists throughout the city. With so many different genres, it can be difficult to keep up with who’s doing what, so a platform or resource like this allows me and other likeminded individuals to support creativity in ways that we typically haven’t been able to.”

Streaming this much music is great, but there is nothing like the amp buzz and cheering of live music.

Voted best hip-hop artist in the Weekly’s 2023 Music Awards, 88 Killa started out in the early aughts as part of the hip-hop collective Brain Gang. He established his solo career with his 2016 EP 88BPM. His 2020 EP, 81G: Inspired by the Hometown, can be streamed — along with the work of 127 other Fort Worth artists — at FWLibraryFoundation.org.

Among the openers is Grady Spencer & The Work, the rocking country outfit that can usually be found on stages all over the country but that is always psyched to play the Fort, particularly Birdie’s and The Post Saturday.

“I’m so honored to not only be playing the Amplify 817 showcase,” Spencer said, “but also to be part of such an incredible program that supports artists in Fort Worth. Rita and the whole library team have been so supportive of the city’s music for years, and I’m lucky to call them friends.”

Spencer will be preceded by the 2024 Josie Music Awards Americana female artist of the year. Kendi Jean’s 2024 album Smoke & Stardust spotlights her velvety rock with country flair. “Your Eyes Are Lyin’ ” spent two weeks on the Texas Country Music Chart and reached the top of the Texas Internet Radio Chart. Since her first record in 2020, she has had more than 10 songs chart in Texas Music. She’s excited for the showcase.

“Being embraced by your hometown is a pretty universal dream for artists, but Amplify’s ‘embrace’ is more like a bear hug,” Jean said. “It’s a family of the delicious diversity of our Funkytown, and they are dedicated to spotlighting each of us and helping us put our very best foot forward.”

Married since 2012, Hilary Tipps and Steve Obermiller embarked on an adventure just as

committed as their union when they chose to make music together. Their 2023 debut, the album Love (and Other Mysteries), was followed by MacGuffin the following year. It made perfect sense for the couple to join Amplify 817.

“We are huge fans of the Fort Worth Public Library, this town’s music community, and Amplify 817,” Tipps said, adding that “as a book nerd and lifelong Fort Worth resident, the library and its impact cannot be understated.”

Asa Ace describes herself as a sound healer, creating music with a positive flow, and Cherry Mantis has two recordings in the Amplify 817 collection, including their 2021 EP, Heatwave, and their 2023 album, Sweet & Familiar. The band was co-founded by Luis Martin Moreno and Justin King, who have been blending indie, pop, and jazz together for eight years.

Admission to this all-ages show is free. l

CLASSIFIEDS

Free Will Astrology

By Rob Brezsny

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19)

Everything may seem almost too vivid, too raw, too marvelous, and altogether too much. I advise you to welcome these surges and allow them to enhance your perceptions. Laugh hard. Cry freely. Invite goosebumps.

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20)

Something fragile and fine is ready to emerge, but it needs your gentle touch and natural methods. You are often grounded in the adept manipulation of raw material—what works, what holds, what can be relied on.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 20)

Use your natural gifts and stylish flair to serve the greater good. Look for opportunities to mentor, encourage, and advocate for those lacking your advantages.

CANCERIAN (Jun 21-Jul 22)

A slow, relentless, and ultimately magnificent process is afoot in your life. Others may not yet see the forward momentum. Even you may doubt it. But the shift is real and permanent. Trust the deep, inexorable push.

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22)

Be wisely discerning with your energy. Don’t mistake illumination for invincibility. Bask in the light, yes, but protect your rhythms.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22)

Release your unconscious mind from old fixations that subtly drain your power to fulfill your dreams. Please surrender trivial obsessions that distract you from your life’s key goals.

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 22)

Your ability to enhance and nurture your network

EMPOWERING YOUR FUTURE

is at a peak. You have extra power to weave together threads that have become frayed or unraveled. Given your potential potency as a social glue, I advise you to avoid gossip and instead favor wise, kind words that foster connection.

SCORPIO (Oct 23-Nov 21)

Allow yourself the sweet satisfaction of having just the right amount. What you have created may be more organically whole than you realize.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21)

Jettison your inessential desires and cherish the precious yearnings that are crucial. Dispose of outmoded goals so you can make expansive space for robust goals that steer you away from the past and guide you toward the future. The coming weeks can be a turning point in your quest to claim this birthright.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19)

Bow toward the mysteries from which your blessings flow. Honor the quiet sources that keep you fertile. Praise the treasures in the dark that fuel your intense activities.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20- Feb 18)

Shed the armor around your heart. Strip off your defense mechanisms and discard pride-spawned obstacles that impede your communions with those you love.

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20)

Be persistent. Tap into reserves of strength that have previously been unavailable. You will activate potentials that have been half-dormant.

EXPANDED HOROSCOPES

For unabridged versions of the horoscopes above by Rob Brezsny, go to FreeWillAstrology.com.

BULLETIN BOARD

For local and national products and services, flip to our back cover.

BULLETIN BOARD

ADVERTISE HERE!

Email Stacey@fwweekly.com today.

American Residential HVAC

As temps outside start to climb, the season for savings is now. $49 cooling or heating system tune up. Save up to $2000 on a new heating and cooling system (restrictions apply.) FREE estimates. Many payment options available. Licensed and insured professionals. Call 1-877-447-0546 today. (MB)

Are You Road-Trip Ready? www.CowtownRover.com

CELEBRATION

Located at 908 Pennsylvania Av (817-335-3222), Celebration Community Church has services on Sundays at 10am. Want to check out a nonjudgmental, inclusive church at home before attending in person? All services can also be viewed on YouTube! (@CelebrationCommunityChurch130)

DENTAL INSURANCE

from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 400 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-888361-7095 www.dental50plus.com/fortworth #6258 (MB)

EMPLOYMENT

Computer Professionals for TX based Firm: “Sr. Software Developer to Plan, dsgn, dvlp, test and modify computer software applications & specialized utility programs in complex computing environment on different O/S using latest tools & technologies. IT Manager to Dvlp, update & manage project plans for IT. Dvlp & direct software system testing & validation procedures, programming & documentation to ensure specifications are met. Provide technical dsgn assistance to ensure applications are integrated & adhere to stated design principles & standards. Software Developer to Dsgn, dvlp, test & modify software applications & specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs & dvlp software solutions. Travel and/or reloc to various unanticipated worksite loc’ns with frequency dependent on Project and/or Client requirement throughout the U.S. may be required.” Apply w/ 2 copies of resume to Galaxy3 Corp Inc, 3575 Lone Star Cir, Ste 309, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

EMPLOYMENT

Geospatial Analyst (Fort Worth, TX) Utilizes technlgy to determine precise measurements & boundaries. Prepare detailed maps, reports, & legal descriptions of surveyed areas. Analyze survey data & perform calculations to ensure accuracy & reliability. Conduct research & gather relevant data about land records, existing surveys, & property ownership. Prepare boundary, tree, topographical & imprvmnt surveys, prepare easement documents, prvd support for engg prjcts, review survey scope of services, fulfill survey work requests. Reqs a master’s degree in Geospatial Systems Engineering Please mail resumes Gorrondona & Associates, Inc. Hr, 2800 NE Loop 820, Ste 660, Fort Worth, TX, 76137

EMPLOYMENT

Kindergarten Teacher (Fort Worth, TX). Teach core content; manage classrm of approx. 30 students; implemt formal & informal assessmts; commun student progress to families on weekly basis. Bach, any field. Some solid exp in early childhood educ, incl a solid backgrnd with: RMSEK; SIGSK; Khan Academy for elem students; classroom mgmt. Excel commun skills. Must send CV & cvr ltr to maria.avila2@ideapublicschools. org or Illiana Avila, IDEA Public Schools, 7035 San Pedro Ave, San Antonio, TX 78216 w/in 30 days, ref Job #19569.

EMPLOYMENT

Long Haul Fiber Engineer needed at Rockwell Technology, Inc. (Fort Worth, TX): Conduct fiber optic detailed net des for middle mile & last mile fiber-based networks or Fiber to Home projs. Req: Bach Comp Sys Eng, Electronics Eng, Comp Sci or closely rel field; 1 yr exp in the job offered or rel occ.; valid US drivers’ license; & ability to work in all weather conds; lift/carry 50-75 lbs as needed; and work at 3 feet above ground level & in enclosed/tight spaces. Travel: At least 50% travel to var unanticip worksite locs, both dom & int’l. Apply at https://rockwell.tech/job_engineer/#contact-us.

EMPLOYMENT

Vice President – positions offered by Crestline Investors, Inc. (Fort Worth, TX). Originate across multiple asset classes inc., but not limited to, multifamily, industrial, & single family residential. Position reports to Fort Worth, TX office. Telecommuting permitted in accordance w/ company policy, but must live w/i commuting distance of stated office. Must be willing to travel up to 20% domestically & 5% internationally. If interested, please submit resume to recruitment@crestlineinc.com. Reference Job ID: 8911670.

HISTORIC RIDGLEA

THEATER

THE RIDGLEA is three great venues within one historic Fort Worth landmark. RIDGLEA THEATER has been restored to its authentic allure, recovering unique Spanish-Mediterranean elements. It is ideal for large audiences and special events. RIDGLEA ROOM and RIDGLEA LOUNGE have been making some of their own history, as connected adjuncts to RIDGLEA THEATER, or hosting their own smaller shows and gatherings. More at theRidglea.com

INSTANT SHADE!

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LIFE INSURANCE

Up to $15,000.00 of GUARANTEED Life Insurance! No medical exam or health questions. Cash to help pay funeral and other final expenses.Call Physicians Life Insurance Company- 844-782-2870 or visit www. Life55plus.info/ftworth (MB)

LIZ BUYS HOUSES

We Buy Houses for Cash AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-877-509-9772. (MB)

NEED A FRIEND?

Ronnie D. Long Bail Bonds

Immediate Jail Release 24 Hour Service. City, County, State and Federal Bonds. Located Minutes from Courts. 6004 Airport Freeway.

817-834-9894

RonnieDLongBailBonds.com

POTTER’S HOUSE

Join the Potter’s House of Fort Worth (1270 Woodhaven Blvd, 817-446-1999) for Sunday Service at 8am and Wednesday Bible Study at 7pm. For more info, visit us online at www.TPHFW.org.

PREPARED for OUTAGES?

be ready with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 817-752-957 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move. (MB).

SAFE STEP: North America’s #1 Walk-In Tub

Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-855-868-0192 (MB)

STUCK WITH A TIMESHARE?

Wesley Financial Group, the Timeshare Cancellation Experts has over 450 positive reviews and over done over $50 million in successful timeshare debt/fees cancellations. Get free consultation, free info package, and learn how to get rid of your timeshare today. (MB) Call 844-511-2581

WINDOW NATION

New windows from Window Nation. Special money-saving offer: zero down, zero payments, zero interest for TWO years AND buy 2 windows and get 2 FREE! The offer is valid for select models. Labor not included. Other restrictions apply. Call Window Nation today! 877-919-0521 (MB)