January 14-20, 2026 FREE fwweekly.com
Thousand-Plus Downtown Protest ICE After an agent fatally shot an unarmed mother, citizens flooded the streets, including in Fort Worth. S T O R Y A N D P H O T O S B Y S T E P H E N C E R V A N T E S
FEATURE International artists will pack Fort Worth this weekend for the Guitar Studio International Festival and Competition and its $15,000 cash prize. BY MARK HENRICKS
EATS & DRINKS Here’s what food fads are in and out (according to us). BY C O DY N E AT H E RY
SCREEN The new CBS Evening News is even worse than a train wreck.
BY DANNY GALLAGHER
MUSIC When February rolls around, it’s time to Jambaloo. BY STEVE STEWARD
NIGHT & DAY Mid-January to mid-February, the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo takes over town, adding a decidedly Western flair to our calendar. BY ELAINE WILDER
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1/16 THE DAMN QUAILS 1/17 RONNIE & THE REDWOODS 1/18 SOL DE LA KUMBIA 1/19 THE BEDZIN PROJECT 1/20 BRI BAGWELL Full lineup on pg. 18
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Sit back, relax, and watch the clouds go by as you cruise past airport construction on Trinity Metro TEXRail! Skip the stress of parking and ride traffic-free right to DFW Airport Terminal B. It’s how the pros do it! Plan your trip now at RIDETRINITYMETRO.org/TEXRAIL.
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INSIDE
Jambaloo’ing It This February marks the return of the week-long annual North Texas music festival. By Steve Steward
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Ghosts of Football Present It’s a shame the Cowboys wasted a premier offense at a time when the Super Bowl path looks so easy. By Patrick Higgins
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COPYRIGHT The entire contents of Fort Worth Weekly are Copyright 2025 by Ft. Worth Weekly, LP. No portion may be reproduced in
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Stuff
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Eats & Drinks
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Screen CBS News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 No Other Choice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
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Music
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Night & Day
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ATE Days a Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Classifieds
Bulletin Board. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Ate Days a Week
Upcoming foodie holidays aside, there are many other food and beverage events happening soon. By Elaine Wilder
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Comings and Goings We’re here to talk food trends. By Cody Neathery
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DISTRIBUTION Fort Worth Weekly is available free of charge in the Metroplex, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies of Fort Worth Weekly may be purchased for $1.00 each, payable at the Fort Worth Weekly office in advance. Fort Worth Weekly may be distributed only by Fort Worth Weekly’s authorized independent contractors or Fort Worth Weekly’s authorized distributors. No person may, without prior written permission of Fort Worth Weekly, take more than one copy of any Fort Worth Weekly issue. If you’re interested in being a distribution point for Fort Worth Weekly, please contact Will Turner at 817-321-9788.
Editor: Anthony Mariani Publisher: Lee Newquist General Manager: Bob Niehoff Art Director: Ryan Burger Marketing Director: Jennifer Bovee Regional Director: Michael Newquist Sr. Account Executive: Stacey Hammons Account Manager: Julie Strehl Account Executives: Tony Diaz, Wendy Maier, Wyatt Newquist, Sarah Niehoff, Biz Thames Proofreader: Emmy Smith Brand Ambassador: Clint “Ironman” Newquist CONTRIBUTORS E.R. Bills, Jennifer Bovee, Jason Brimmer, Jess Delarosa, Buck D. Elliott, Danny Gallagher, Juan R. Govea, Mark Henricks, Patrick Higgins, Kristian Lin, Cody Neatherly, Rush Olson, Emmy Smith, Kena Sosa, Steve Steward, Teri Webster, Ken Wheatcroft-Pardue, Elaine Wilder, Cole Williams EDITORIAL
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Laurie James, Anthony Mariani, Emmy Smith, Steve Steward
Job Hunt
Park Chan-wook’s tasty Korean satire No Other Choice comes to Tarrant County this weekend. By Kristian Lin
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Number 38
World-Class Classical Guitar
Concerts • Competition • Masterclasses
January 16–18, 2026
Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU
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METROPOLIS ThousandPlus Downtown Protest ICE
After an agent fatally shot an unarmed mother, citizens flooded the streets, Good is one of several involved in recent ICE and disappeared by ICE but to send the message cities throughout the country, gathered in soliincluding in Fort Worth. darity to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs shootings. On New Year’s Eve, Keith Porter Jr. was that they want ICE out of Fort Worth for good. S T O R Y A N D P H O T O S B Y S T E P H E N C E R V A N T E S
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On Saturday, over a thousand peaceful protesters in Fort Worth, and countless more in
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Enforcement (ICE) after an ICE agent fatally shot an unarmed 37-year-old mother in Minneapolis. Renee Nicole Good’s death on Jan 7 came only one week after the end of 2025, the deadliest year ICE has had in over two decades, with the deaths of 32 detainees.
fatally shot in Los Angeles, and Luis David Nico Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth ZambranoContreras were both shot in Portland just one day after Good. Those who gathered in General Worth Square showed up not only to mourn those killed
Picket signs calling for ICE to be abolished, demanding justice for Renee Good, and reminding everyone of Donald Trump’s ties to Jeffery Epstein filled Main Street as the crowd provided a steady chant of “Fuck ICE.”
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LOWER COSTS. LOWER TAXES. FUND SCHOOLS.
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Protest organizers from progressive groups such as Indivisible12 and the DFW branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation emphasized the importance of community action now more than ever, sharing the story of Maher Tarabishi, an Arlington resident recently abducted by ICE. “This is one of our community members who has been terrorized by ICE,” said one community leader from the Party for Socialism and Liberation, “and we demand that he come home and he can be with his family because families belong together.” Maher Tarabishi, a 62-year-old Jordanian father and the primary caretaker for his disabled son, is currently being held in the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Dallas, leaving his son without the caretaking he desperately needs. For information on helping the Tarabishi family, visit @freemahertarabishi. l
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Fretting for Dollars
Fort Worth hosts classical guitar’s biggest cash-prize competition, the inaugural Guitar Studio International Festival and Competition. H E N R I C K S
ome of the planet’s best classical guitarists are coming to Fort Worth this weekend to compete for the field’s biggest cash prize in a new contest. The inaugural Guitar Studio International Festival and Competition happens Fri-Sun, Jan 16-18, in the home of the iconic Van Cliburn piano challenge on the TCU campus. If you’re unfamiliar with classical guitar or other classical music competitions, imagine a sort of battle of the bands. Scratch any image of groups of leather-clad rockers flailing on Fender Strats in front of monster stacks. This one features elegantly groomed soloists playing nylon-string instruments before a panel of sharp-eyed judges. Another difference is the $15,000 check, plus other goodies, that goes to the musician judged best. This is a first for Fort Worth. It’s the brainchild of local guitarist, teacher, and Guitar Studio owner Will Douglas and Chinese instrument maker Altamira Guitars. Other co-sponsors include a foundation connected to the Guitar Studio, French string maker Savarez, and TCU, which is contributing its world-class musical performance facilities. Numerous guitar competitions happen every year all over the state, the country, and the world. This one stands out because of the size of the cash payoff. The $15,000 first prize is more cash than any other current classical guitar competition. Some contests have awards like concert tours that are valued more highly, and a handful in the past have featured bigger cash prizes, but many contests have yet to return from pandemic suspensions. And none of the active ones hand bigger checks to the winner. The money is just one of a spectrum of awards going to artists in youth and professional divisions. Other prizes range from a $10,000 Altamira guitar and international concert gig for the top pro to $250 for the third-place youth. And it’s more than a contest. Along with semifinal and final competition rounds, the festival schedule includes full-length concerts every night by major classical guitarists. Featured performers include Cuban-born Rene Izquierdo, an acknowledged virtuoso who plays concerts all over the world, and China’s Tengyue Zheng, 2017 winner of the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America competition. In addition to listening to others play, guitar students can take advantage of a slate of master classes taught over the three-day festival by local and imported maestros.
Guitar competitions like this help young artists (30 is the top age for this one) achieve recognition and meet artistic colleagues. From a broader standpoint, the idea is to do for Fort Worth’s classical guitar and overall musical community what the best-known local classical competition — the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition — did for Cowtown. That is, make the community synonymous with top-shelf musical performance and appreciation. It’s a stretch goal, to be sure. For starters, the Cliburn pays a sizzling $125,000 to the firstplace pianist. The quadrennial Cliburn is on any list of top keyboard competitions worldwide. It is famed for launching winners into rewarding musical careers. “To ever be compared to the Van Cliburn competition I would consider to be a deep compliment,”
said Douglas, whose Guitar Studio on Camp Bowie Boulevard has taught generations of Fort Worth guitarists. But you have to start somewhere, and the inaugural Guitar Studio competition and festival may be getting off to a good beginning. The initial idea for the contest came from Altamira Guitars, a Chinese maker of Spanish-style classical and jazz guitars, including some high-dollar models used by prominent soloists. Douglas became owner of The Guitar Studio following the 2021 COVID death of founder and local guitar luminary Michael Dailey. Soon after, Douglas began selling Altamira instruments. The manufacturer, noticing the pace at which Fort Worthians and other North Americans were buying its guitars, suggested Douglas organize
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Bokyung Byun
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Eduardo Lopez, an El Paso native studying for a doctorate in musical arts at UNT: “A win in this competition would be huge.”
a competition like those it already sponsored in China, Australia, and Italy. Douglas liked the idea. The nonprofit Guitar Studio Foundation he’d set up could serve as a co-sponsor. He started recruiting others. Early on, he met with Marc Reed, head of TCU’s music department, in search of physical facilities. Reed was receptive. “It’s in the same vein as the Cliburn,” Reed said. By that, he means it’s great for the local music community. In particular, it helps the university’s guitar and other music students. That was enough, Reed decided. He made a key decision to offer the famed acoustics and artist-friendly classroom and practice facilities of the $53 million Van Cliburn Concert Hall. The dream becomes reality on Friday with the initial rounds of the youth competition, which include 14- to 17-year-olds and another group of under-14-year-olds. French-born Gabriel Bianco, winner of numerous major competitions and featured player on eight recordings, will teach a master class in the afternoon. The evening features a concert by Korean-born Bokyung Byun, who has also won several major competitions and now teaches at UNT. Saturday brings the youth semifinals. Workshops and classes include one on musicians’ health by the UNT Health Science Center’s performing arts medicine program. In the afternoon, there’s a Zheng concert before the professional contestants go through their semifinal round. Bianco performs in the evening. Sunday is the last day, with the pro finals in the afternoon open to ticketholders and Izquierdo concertizing in the evening to an audience that, Douglas said, will include Mayor Mattie Parker. Although all youth events are open to the public, the pros’ semis are closed, and the pro finals, like the featured concerts, are for ticketholders only. The festival sells individual concert tickets for $30 as well as day passes and two levels of all-weekend continued on page 7
Chase Hampton For t Wor th Chamber of Commerce
passes. For $120, passive passes let you watch all classes, workshops, and performances. A $200 active passholder can bring their guitar and join in the workshops. The competitors, who are coming from several foreign countries and many states, get to do all this, plus take a city tour arranged with the help of the Fort Worth Stockyards. The tour, Douglas hopes, will remind competitors of the importance of knowing and connecting with the community. “This is a competition that’s internationally minded but locally facing,” Douglas said. “We want to invite everyone to come here and be a part of the Fort Worth and Texas and DFW music community and see how a community lives and breathes and operates.”
Competition co-founder Douglas: “To ever be compared to the Van Cliburn competition I would consider to be a deep compliment.”
People, as much as instruments and notes, represent a common theme expressed by those connected with the Guitar Studio contest and festival. That’s by design. “You can win a $15,000 prize, but at the end of the day, what’s going to carry you through your career and your life are the people that care about you,” Douglas said. Douglas, a Fort Worth native with bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral music degrees from UNT, got to know Van Cliburn through the pianist’s friendship with Douglas’ oil-industry-executive father. “I grew up around him as a kid,” Douglas said. “Van Cliburn himself was someone who, if you were talking to him, you were the most important person in the room, whoever you were. He wasn’t looking over your shoulder to see who was standing behind you. He was a gentleman to everyone.” Gentlemanly behavior standards don’t disguise the fact that this is a high-stakes competition. Each contestant has paid a fee — $120 for pros and $80 for the youngsters — and practiced many hours to get here. Some have also traveled from overseas. As a potential payoff, in addition to cash and a high-end guitar, the winner will get a concert at one of Altamira’s other contests in Melbourne or Shanghai, as well as a return show at the planned 2027 edition of the Guitar Studio festival. For contestants, taking home the top award could be life-changing. “A win in this competition would be huge,” said Eduardo Lopez, an El Paso native studying for a doctorate in musical arts at UNT. Lopez has medaled in smaller guitar challenges, but the Fort Worth event is something else. “It’s one of the biggest prize pools in the world for competitions,” he said. To reach the semifinals, Lopez and other contestants had to impress first with a 10-minute performance video. Now that he’s in the semis, he’ll play live for another 10 minutes in front of judges onstage in the 715-seat Cliburn. Contestants can’t repeat selections but choose their own performance pieces. Lopez has settled on the guitar transcription of the prelude to Bach’s “Cello Suite No. 6” and the 20th-century Frank Martin composition continued on page 9
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Semifinalist Audrey Oden, who grew up and began studying guitar in Oklahoma City, where she’s now pursuing a doctorate at the University of Oklahoma in addition to teaching, playing, and competing: “It’s good for name recognition and connection with other musicians.”
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Free family-friendly event. No registration required!
• Free tax prep assistance for households earning $69,000 or less • Free flu shots • Additional local services
Southside Community Center
959 E Rosedale St, Fort Worth, TX 76104
HELPFUL SERVICES AND SUPPORT TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE www.unitedwaytarrant.org/VITAFair
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The purse has attracted entries from all over the world as youthful artists hope for their big breakthrough. If all goes well, it could turn out to be as transformative as Van Cliburn’s fabled 1958 win at the initial International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. That triumph launched one of the
most storied careers of any pianist. It also put his adopted hometown on the global musical map, seemingly for good. The most recent Cliburn competition, the first held in the new namesake hall at TCU, was the 16th since it started in 1962. The Guitar Studio International Festival and Competition doesn’t have anyone with Cliburn’s incandescent star power. That’s not surprising, since the charismatic Texan remains one of the most recognizable names in classical music even 13 years after his death. However, at least for this weekend, the event seems likely to establish Fort Worth as a classical-guitar destination. And no matter which individual guitarist tops the field, the real winner may be the city itself. That will be even more likely should it turn out to be a regular occurrence. That’s certainly the plan Douglas has. He
makes no secret of the fact that they’re hoping this event will turn out to be as durable, if not as dominant, as the classical music event for which Fort Worth is best known. To that end, he’s tried to follow the better-established contest’s lead. That means more than just holding it at the Cliburn Hall. He’s also trying to imbue it with the kind of class and community-mindedness Van Cliburn himself evidenced throughout his life. “We feel that shaping the way we do things as close as possible to the Van Cliburn standard is a good way to go,” Douglas said. So, will this turn out to be another regular feature of the Fort Worth music scene? Key supporter Reed of TCU can see it. “That’s TBD, but I’m hopeful,” Reed said. “We’re always looking for great ways to support awesome things like this.” l
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“Quatre Pièces Brèves.” Should Lopez make the finals, when contestants play for 30 minutes, he has readied more modern pieces, ones by Mexican composer Manuel Ponce, the Cuban Leo Brouwer, and Spain’s Federico Torroba. Lopez has played some of these for years and typically has all contest selections memorized and performance-ready a month beforehand. For the next few weeks, he will focus on performing the selections onstage in front of people as much as possible. “Two weeks out, I start recording myself a lot,” Lopez said. “I want to gauge every note. That only happens listening to yourself.” The day of the contest, he’ll dial back practice and try to calm his nerves. Gameday breakfast will be a banana and a bowl of Mini-Wheats. “That’s all my stomach can afford,” he said. Win or lose, Lopez looks forward to showing his artistry before discerning audiences. That includes a panel of judges consisting of all the featured performers. Other judges are noted composers, players, and educators, including UNT professor emeritus Tom Johnson and German Gutierrez, head of TCU’s orchestra program. “You get to play for these amazing guitarists and get their feedback,” Lopez said. “Also, you’re competing against virtuosos and literal child prodigies.” Performers coming into town from elsewhere also get a chance to experience Fort Worth. Semifinalist Audrey Oden grew up and began studying guitar in Oklahoma City, where she’s now pursuing a doctorate at the University of Oklahoma in addition to teaching, playing, and competing. While she’s seen Fort Worth a time or two, she’s not overly familiar with the city. She’s certainly never played at the Cliburn. She’s looking forward to that, as well as getting better known and meeting fellow guitarists. “It’s good for name recognition and connection with other musicians,” Oden said of prior competitions she’s entered and sometimes won medals in. “I know so many people from across the country that I wouldn’t have known from just staying in Oklahoma all the time.” A win, Oden said, “would be really validating. Any prize would be good, just recognition for all the hard work I’ve put in.” Her semifinal plan is to play a transcription of a baroque keyboard sonata by Domenico Scarlatti as well as “Three Little Preludes,” which was written for her by an Indiana composer. She’s prepared modern guitar pieces by Brouwer and Japanese musician Toru Takemitsu as well as another keyboard transcription by the 19th-century German Romantic Clara Schumann. Judges will evaluate performers on the difficulty and appropriateness of their chosen repertoire in addition to skill, musicianship, and stage presence, Douglas said. “It’s important that they play well,” he said, “but also, how do they relate to the audience? Is it music people can relate to? How varied is the program? Would they make a good ambassador to the classical guitar world and to the public?” Three of the 15 semifinalists will satisfy these demands well enough to reach the finals. Of those, the best will take home the $15,000 in cash, the $10,000 concert double-top Altamira guitar, an invitation to play at next year’s festival, and a chance to perform internationally in either Melbourne or Sydney. Second place gets $5,000, and third
receives $2,000. There’s also a $500 audience favorite prize voted on by attendees. The $500 Michael Dailey award goes to the best performer of a piece drawn from Andres Segovia’s recordings. Each first-place winner in the two youth divisions qualifies for $1,000 cash and an Altamira guitar. Second- and third-place youths receive $500 and $250, respectively. Youth audience awards pay $250 for each division as well.
Jenny Saville The Anatomy of Painting October 12, 2025–January 18, 2026
MO DERN ART M USEU M O F FO RT WO RTH
3200 Darnell Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76107 • 817.738.9215
Jenny Saville, Oracle, 2019–23. Acrylic, oil, and pastel on canvas. 86 5/8 × 63 inches. © Jenny Saville. Private Collection Jenny Saville: The Anatomy of Painting is organized by the National Portrait Gallery, London, and presented by the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. This exhibition is made possible by generous support provided by Gagosian, as well as the Fort Worth Tourism Public Improvement District.
themodern.org
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STUFF The parity among this year’s playoff teams highlights just what a prime opportunity the Cowboys’ defensive woes caused them to miss.
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P A T R I C K
It’s debatable to what degree the Cowboys’ historically bad defense DC Matt Eberflus is responsible for, yet the Joneses are offering him up as the scapegoat that cost the Cowboys their best shot at their deepest playoff run in years.
H I G G I N S
Though capped by a pair of AFC snoozers, the NFL’s Wildcard Weekend began with four straight one-score thrillers, demonstrating just how close the teams are. At least in the NFC. On Saturday, Matthew Stafford engineered a late touchdown drive to vault the Rams over the upstart Panthers 34-31. The Bears managed another Caleb Williams-led miracle rally, overcoming an 18-point deficit in the second half to take down the Packers 31-27. The collapse was so bad for former Cowboys DB Travon Diggs’ new digs, there are rumors it could put Head Coach Matt LaFleur on the street. Then on Sunday, Josh Allen single-handedly (albeit assisted by a late pick thrown by opposing QB Trevor Lawrence) carried the Bills to a 27-24 victory over the Jags before the Niners did Cowboys fans everywhere a favor by ensuring the Eagles would not repeat, surviving the NFC slugfest 23-19. The SNF game with the Patriots hosting the Chargers was so boring I somehow let my kids convince me to switch over to the Golden Globes. Do you know how bad a football game has to be to entertain the idea of sitting through
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Wide-Open Wildcards
Nikki Glaser telling the same tired “DiCaprio dates girls half his age” jokes between people I’ve never heard of accepting little gold statues for their work on movies I’ve also never heard of ? Instead of the electric shootout between two of the leagues brightest young quarterbacks in Justing Herbert and MVP-frontrunner Drake Maye that we anticipated, viewers were treated to an uninspiring 16-3 slog, making a roomful of self-important Hollywood bubble-dwellers sniffing one another’s farts for three hours the actual better viewing option. Somehow, despite doubling the offensive output, the Texans’ 30-6 win over the Steelers on Monday was even worse. Despite the Wildcard round ending with a whimper, the majority of the slate provided some damn good football. One thought, however, kept worming its way into my brain while watching. Though (most of ) the games were entertaining, no team appeared to be particularly dominant. The play, for the most part, was pretty even. Aside from the Steelers late in the game, no one was getting trucked. Each game looked like it was there for the taking by either
team. There seems to be as much parity among this year’s playoff teams as I’ve ever seen. I suppose it’s possible that the potentially dominant teams this weekend were enjoying the first-round bye they earned by having their respective conference’s best record. Seattle and Denver each look formidable, but I don’t see either necessarily as a lock to make the Super Bowl. Wouldn’t surprise me to see either (or both) bounced in the Divisional — the remaining teams are so close. The evenness of the competition wasn’t just an observation. It was a lament. I couldn’t shake the thought of what a wasted opportunity this Cowboys season has been. Had they even a middling defense, they could absolutely hang with any of the teams that played this past weekend. The path to this year’s Super Bowl appears as “easy” as it’s ever been. Of the teams considered among the league’s best over the last five or six years, only two remain: the Bills and the 49ers, and each looks as beatable as ever. There’s no Lions, no Mahomes and the Chiefs, no Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, no Joe Burrow and
the Bengals. The defending champion Eagles had dropped off so steeply they fell (at home) to an injury-depleted San Francisco. Hell, even the post-Micah-trade Packers, the odds favorites to make the Super Bowl in Week 1, let a second-year QB and rookie head coach, each in their first playoff game ever, come back and send them to the links for the offseason. This, the same team that managed to pull out only a tie against the lowly Cowboys, likely sporting the worst defense in the history of the league. What this tells me is if the Cowboys’ 32ndranked defense could have even been Top 20, their league-best offense would have easily carried them to the playoffs and Dallas could just as easily be prepping for the Divisional Round as any of these other teams. Poor talent and an even worse scheme wasted an MVP-caliber performance by Dak Prescott and cost the franchise its best shot at breaking its 30-year NFC Championship-game drought. Now DC Matt Eberflus is the latest scapegoat for the Joneses’ roster-building deficiencies. Not that the former Chicago bench boss is blameless. His confounding dedication to zone coverage despite decidedly man-suited personnel and his devotion to playing linebackers Jack Sanborn and Kenneth Murray, though both consistently scored at the very bottom of their position in every metric, should have gotten him run out alone. The season isn’t his fault, but when you give up a franchise record 511 points, someone has to fall on the proverbial sword. If Jerry is to be believed, he recognizes the situation the Cowboys are in and what it will take to improve it, even going so far as to intimate he’s willing to “bust the budget” in free agency this offseason to ensure they don’t waste another year of Prescott’s prime (and his own life) middling around trying to just stay in the mix. Could this offseason see the real “all-in” approach Jones tried to deceive us into believing they were taking after the Wildcard loss to Green Bay in 2024? Will it be enough to finally get over the hump? Time will tell. I do believe that they will improve the defense from last year. How could they not? Only one way to go when you’re dead last. However, I’m afraid many of these other teams that played this past weekend that all looked so beatable are going to improve, too. History says in the face of the Joneses’ relentlessly reactionary philosophy that regardless of their best efforts, the rest of the league will adjust and neutralize any progress made by the Joneses, who will end up having done just enough to keep the Cowboys right where they are. l
The exhibition is co-organized by the Art Institute of Chicago and Fondazione Torlonia, in collaboration with the Kimbell Art Museum, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and the Museum Box.
This exhibition is supported in part by Frost. Promotional support provided by American Airlines, NBC 5/Telemundo 39, and the Fort Worth Report.
Portrait of Hadrian (detail), Roman, Imperial Period (c. 130 AD), marble. Torlonia Collection, Rome. ©️ Fondazione Torlonia. Photos by Lorenzo De Masi
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Closing January 25
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Dry January, Valentine’s Day, and Mardi Gras aside (we’ll get to those later), there are many other food and beverage events happening soon. Get out there and partake!
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From 6pm to 9pm, TX Whiskey Ranch (2601 Whiskey Ranch Wednesday Rd, Fort Worth, 817-840-9140) hosts Whiskey Wednesday at the distillery featuring barbecue by Jason Wilson of Meat Therapy and live music by the Squeezebox Bandits. Tickets are $11.99 at TXWhiskey.com and include admission and your first cocktail. Barbecue is sold separately. 21+ only.
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Chef Kelly Burton is holding a special Italian-themed cheese and charcuterie board-building class at Thursday Crystal Springs Hideaway (113 Roberts Cut Off Rd, Fort Worth, 682-224-2583) 6pm-8:30pm. The $100 per-person rate includes
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Four distinct styles of the pasta favorite will be paired with four craft beers this weekend at Maple Branch.
the bespoke board, which you take home at the end, plus a signature Italian cocktail (with a demo) and an Italian wine tasting. Call to reserve a space. weekend, Maple Branch 15-18 This Craft Brewery (2628 Whitmore
St, Fort Worth, 817-862-7007) is celebrating comfort with a Gourmet Mac ’n’ Cheese Flight for $24. Four distinct styles of the pasta favorite will be paired with four craft beers: Four Cheese Mac topped with breadcrumbs and truffle oil paired with My Main Squeeze blood-orange hazy IPA; Hatch Green Chile Mac paired with Monkey Business hefeweizen; Nashville Hot Chicken Mac paired with Czech Ya Later Czech pilsner; and BBQ Mac with roasted pulled pork paired with Sir James Bock. Also, Rockfish Seafood Grill has some anniversary deals for you. In honor of their 28th Thu - Sun
Saturday is apparently for tying one on. Start at 10am with the 10th annual Bloody Mary Saturday Brunch & All-Western Parade Viewing Party at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse (812 Main St, Fort Worth, 817-8773999) 10am-1pm. Tickets are $200 at WishWing. eJoinMe.org with the proceeds benefiting Wish with Wings, a nonprofit that makes dreams come true for young Texans with life-threatening medical conditions. From noon to 5pm, Martin House Brewing (220 S Sylvania Av, Ste 209, Fort Worth, 817-2220177) hosts Winter Fest, its first party of the year, where bright neon retro clothing is encouraged. Think: ’80s ski-lodge hot-tub shindig. There will be a hot chocolate bar for the kids and adults, live music by Whiskey Boys, and there’s talk of burning down the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. A new version of Our Pet’s Heads Are Falling Off (8% Hazy IPA) is dropping, too. A $20 wristband at the door gets you one souvenir glass and four 12-oz pours off the wall. Did you know that Fort Worth has its own Mardi Gras krew? Nor did I. Meet other members of the social group Mardi Gras Near Southside at 5pm at Liberty Lounge (1501 E El Paso St, Fort Worth, 817-569-4650) and join them for the annual Queer Crawl Bar Crawl from Liberty to neighboring Jackie O’s and Reflections. There is no cost to attend. Outrageous carnivale-themed attire is encouraged.
Cour tesy Cr ystal Springs Hideaway
Cour tesy Maple Branch Brewing
Food & Booze Events This Month
birthday, they are offering $6 volcano shrimp, $4 small Rock-a-ritas, and $3 cups of gumbo, plus receive $5 off the Fish Market menu items Thu-Sun. Rockfish locations near us include Fort Worth (6333 Camp Bowie Blvd, Ste 240, 972-685-4327) and Arlington (3785 S Cooper St, 817-419-9988).
Chef Kelly Burton is holding a special Italianthemed cheese and charcuterie boardbuilding class on Thursday.
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Are you drinking or not drinking right now? I have something Wednesday for you either way. Cuisine for Healing (1614 Mistletoe Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-921-2377), a local nonprofit dedicated to making nutritious, delicious food readily available to people combating disease, has a fundraising event coming up. Cocktails for a Cause will be at Atlas Cocktail Bar (314 S Main St, Ste 100, Fort Worth) from 5pm to 8pm. If attending, a small donation at CuisineForHealing. org/Donate is appreciated. For those laying off the booze, pick up a copy of next week’s Alive & Kicking issue and read about some Dry January options in the Last Call column.
By Elaine Wilder
EATS & drinks
As we bid adieu to 2025, there are certain food trends we would prefer to see exit stage left as well. Inflation and a lack of disposable income continue to be driving factors in a shaky, albeit resilient, hospitality industry, and that doesn’t necessarily equate to an overall negative outlook for 2026. There are plenty of encouraging trends to look forward to that are set to debut on the national stage or make respected returns, as fads have a way of circling back like that lingering situationship. There’s also a few we would personally like to see
Do not try this at home. Or anywhere, for that matter. Bowie House is one hotel bar worth visiting for its ambiance and people-watching … and -meeting.
happen, even if we’re being a little tongue-in-cheek about it.
Out! Caviar Bumps — First, fish roe is impossible to bump, as it is not a powder. The closest it should get to your nasal cavity is the scent of brininess. When Pizza Hut announced they were adding caviar to their pies, the end was nigh. It’s time to retire this circa-2022 trend that overflowed on menus in 2025.
In! Dining Alone — There’s been a decline in happy hour crowds and socializing outside of social media, but we want to see a return to solo dates. You discover a lot about yourself when doing so, and it provides the opportunity to meet others when perched at a bar. Partaking in passing conversation with a bartender or guests can bridge human connection, helping us realize we have more in common than our current national climate
might indicate. As the late Anthony Bourdain said, “Open your mind, get up off the couch, move.”
In! Hotel Bars — Piggybacking off our dining-alone wishful prediction, hotel bars are suitable places for doing so. Most you will find at lobby bars or hotel restaurants are travelers who might be in town for business or exploration and willing to strike a conversation. The bars at Bowie House and Hotel Drover are busy during the week and a continued on page 14
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Let’s chat about what needs to go and what needs to go down.
Cody Neathery
Food Trends: In or Out?
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scene on the weekends, while The Nobleman’s bar is intimate yet classy and Hotel Dryce offers a hip, low-key vibe more akin to Austin.
In! AYCE Sushi — Don’t let the acronym trip you up. It stands for a good thing, especially in this economy. All-You-Can-Eat sushi started surfacing last year and doesn’t appear to be slowing down. Though not a new trend — Ninja Sushi and Japan House have followed this business model for years — newcomers Sushi Soho in Bedford and Crowley’s Ocean Buffet have recently opened. Who doesn’t like to pay a fixed rate to gorge on endless deliciousness? If you don’t enjoy eternal sushi, there’s a Pancho’s on Jacksboro with a flag to raise.
In! Be Ready to Order — For the love of all good things, have your order ready by the time you reach the cashier at the counter. After you’ve braved a line for 15 minutes, selfied more than enough, and snapped all the cutesy pics your little heart desires, out of respect for those waiting behind you, at bare minimum of adult responsibility, have a clue of what you want to order. In 2026, save the self-absorption for after.
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Out! Small Plates — As a nation, we have small-plated ourselves to death. Shareables have squeezed any remaining oxygen from the rest of the menu. No one really liked Brussels sprouts until they landed on every menu a decade ago, and braised short ribs aren’t meant for year-round
Hot Deals At Cool Prices
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Stock your Kitchen at Mission!
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Small wares, pots & pans, and all kitchen essentials available to the public. Come see our showrooms! MON-FRI 8am-5:30pm
2524 White Settlement Road Fort Worth • 817-265-3973
dishes. Yet here we are, and it is past time we move on from it all.
Out! Truffle Fries — Can we not? Might as well serve me caviar on a potato chip. Does it sound homey with a slice of luxury? Sure. But let’s be real. They’re still just potatoes from Idaho, and the reality is, they’re still just fries from Sysco. Actually, it’s time for crinkle-cut to make a comeback. Just leave the truffle off. Out! Jungle Walls — They certainly offer an escape from the real world, even when you can’t fly to Tulum, but they’ve become so passé. Not every bar and restaurant needs to remind us of a tropical getaway, especially with cheesy neon slogans placed among the greenery behind swings and egg chairs for those unforgettable and often regrettable Instagram nights.
In! Monkey Bread — Is it breakfast? Dessert? Or Grandma’s excuse to serve dessert for breakfast? These baked balls of bread covered in melted butter, cinnamon, sugar, and sometimes icing are closely related to cinnamon rolls but far more fun to eat, as you must tear chunks apart from other gooey pieces. As a toast to childhood nostalgia, we are proclaiming 2026 to be the Year of the Monkey Bread.
In! Dirty Martinis — Three-martini lunches. Bring. Them. Back. There’s something about an ice-cold gin or vodka martini with bleu cheesestuffed olives that helps us glide through the rest of the sunshiny day. Unfortunately, the espresso martini doesn’t count. With our bold prediction, the espresso martini’s days are numbered, and we give them one more year of relevance. l
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When Pour Decisions opened in 2021, this decor was novel. It’s not really anymore.
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See B.S.
Calling former morning host Tony Dokoupil’s first week as lead anchor a failure is inaccurate because at least failing teaches important lessons.
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The original plan was to watch an entire week of the brand-new CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil. It turns out that it’s next to impossible with this morning show chuckler-turned-hard news amateur trying to deliver information to a nation that needs to be more informed. Sitting through a week of the broadcast that’s being encroached upon by people with obvious biases that lean away from creating an effective and efficient newsroom is like asking someone to sit through Cats a second time. If you’ve seen it once, you know you won’t endure it. I’d call Dokoupil’s first week a train wreck, but at least train wrecks can be entertaining to watch on a visceral, Gomez Addams level. The anchor teased his first week by promising on social media to be “more accountable and more transparent” than legendary CBS anchor Walter Cronkite. This is Trump-grade bragging, and we get enough of that from him. Dokoupil’s hire is part of the new rebrand of the CBS news franchise since it’s been taken over by right-leaning news editor Bari Weiss, who showed her political priorities over her duty to delivering
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news when she personally shelved a well-vetted 60 Minutes piece about Venezuelan men being deported to a brutal El Salvadorian prison by the Trump administration. She was hired to run CBS’s entire news division by Trump-supporting Skydance owner Larry Ellison. It’s perhaps the most ambitious attempt to course-correct a major and once-respected news outlet in our lifetime. Before he had even delivered a single broadcast, Dokoupil characterized this new vision for delivering national news in promos as its own story, which was flub No. 1. He even went on Entertainment Tonight to gloat about how he and his team put off their grand opening “Monsters of Modern News” tour (my title, not theirs) to cover the Trump administration’s Venezuela takeover. The purpose of a news show tour to celebrate a new vision of national news coverage escapes me unless you’re going somewhere to cover a breaking story at the epicenter. Canceling a tour to cover one of the most concerning political moments of our lifetime also isn’t a grand accomplishment to be humblebragging about on another news show. It’s the job. Dokoupil also interviews notable names, but “interviews” implies a two-way conversation. Dokoupil seems to think his job is to ask powerful people questions and let them say pretty much whatever they want without any meaningful follow-up. His weekend interview with Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the raid of Nicolas Maduro was so bland and unquestioning, he should have just given Pete a bullhorn and a full glass of Dewar’s because we would’ve gotten something more meaningful out of him then. Then on Monday, Dokoupil tried to throw to a story about Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s surprising announcement that he would not seek an additional term. Instead, the broadcast booth went to an image of Sen. Mark Kelly referring to Hegseth’s sadistic and unnecessary censure and military demotion. Dokoupil said on air, “Big problems here, big problems here.” Based on this and several other flubs during the week of shows, Dokoupil rolls with mistakes the way a guy who trips on a rock rolls down a steep hill until gravity and friction stop him. Mistakes happen. I’m sure even Walter Cronkite once stood up behind his news desk before forgetting that he wasn’t wearing pants during a broadcast or two. However, the first official broadcast kicked off with a major-league on-air flub that conveniently didn’t make it to the show’s YouTube
CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil’s first week in the host chair was a cavalcade of missteps, flubs, mistakes, and outright ignorance about the basic tenets of journalism.
page and was not rebroadcast on Paramount+. So, everyone involved knows he screwed up but won’t face or own up to it. This pretty much set the tone for the rest of Dokoupil’s week. Some of the biggest mistakes and flubs weren’t caused by a video miscue or a technical mishap. They were purposeful course corrections to make up for some perceived political bias that skews against those in power because we’re ruled by thin-skinned babies who can’t even endure the mildest forms of satire. For his Jan 6 broadcast, Dokoupil dedicated 11 minutes of airtime to the Maduro raid and the violent fallout in the region that included reactions from Miami citizens; three minutes for updates on ICE raids, including another sycophantic and uncurious interview with Homeland Security Chief Kristi Noem; and a whole minute to a “lighter side” piece about Secretary of State Marco Rubio becoming the target of an AI photo meme that ended with Dokoupil offering the smirky, spine-collapsing compliment, “We salute you. You’re the ultimate Florida man.” Dokoupil devoted 16 seconds of airtime (not even a minute) to the January 6 anniversary with coverage of a march staged in Washington by the people whom Trump blanket-pardoned and a pair of “he said/he said” quotes from both sides of the aisle about the true cause of the attack. A story about Marco Rubio memes received more coverage than a story about eight people whose deaths have yet to find justice and an event that continues to define the
heated nature of our political rhetoric. By the time Wednesday rolled around and with it the horrific story of Renee Good’s needless death at the hands of a murderous ICE agent with obvious ill will toward the people he’s allegedly supposed to protect, the tone of Dokoupil’s broadcast went from amateur cute to just plain ignorant and inept. He brought in White House Border Czar Tom Homan to watch the video the world has seen and let Homan off the hook when he whined about how he can’t be responsible for every incident involving his officers. Dokoupil went easy on Homan like he did with every high-ranking official he interviewed this week. Does anyone in this scene know how to do their jobs to even the most basic requirements? Correspondent Nancy Cordes did perhaps the most laudable job of the week on camera. She held to account Health and Human Services Secretary (in name only) Robert Kennedy Jr. and his new lopsided food pyramid that treats trans fats with the same love as healthy fruits and vegetables. Perhaps she should be leading the news since she seems to understand how the job works. Thursday night was all I could take. That’s when Dokoupil tried to wrap up the horrible news of the day with an “aw shucks, we need to get along and everyone needs to take responsibility for Good’s death” editorial. Lead anchors are not supposed to do editorials. They’re supposed to deliver the news without bias, something that Weiss made a career of complaining about, whether it’s accurate or not. When President John F. Kennedy was killed and Cronkite famously delivered the horrible news to a shocked nation, he didn’t launch into an allsides-are-guilty screed. He removed his glasses and held back tears that were obviously genuine while stoically trying to deliver the news to the nation. If Dokoupil and Weiss want to deliver the news better than one of the greatest TV newspeople of any generation, they should start by just delivering the news. Somehow, though, I get the feeling that won’t happen. They both treat the industry with this unfounded disdain that makes them believe they need to be the story for fixing the wrong problem with today’s news consumption. Well, if there’s anyone running CBS with any sense, they probably won’t like how this story ends. It makes you wonder just how far they are going to “shape” the news from their headquarters in Washington down to the many local affiliates they control, including the one in our backyard. l
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Ask most people to name a film by Park Chan-wook, and they’ll say Oldboy. That movie came out more than 20 years ago, a sign that Park has yet to gain the same worldwide stature as his film-school buddy Bong Joon-ho. This, even though Park’s filmmaking, if anything, has improved since he made that revenge epic. His No Other Choice made some other critics’ year-end Top 10 lists, and it landed at No. 1 on mine. This weekend, the film opens at Tarrant County theaters, and you can see how this astonishing craftsman has progressed. Or, if that doesn’t excite you, you can see a gleefully wicked thriller about how the global economy makes killers of us all. Our antihero is Yoo Man-su (Lee Byung-hun), a line manager who has worked for 25 years at a Seoul paper company. The movie starts on a glorious summer evening, as he hugs his wife Mi-ri (Son Ye-jin), two children, and two golden retrievers in front of his home and declares, “I’ve got it all!” You can sense what’s coming. The eel that he’s barbecuing on his grill isn’t a thank-you from his employer but rather a parting gift from the American corporation that has just acquired it and will shortly fire him. There follows one of Park’s great, sinuous tracking shots. Man-su tails his counterpart (Park Heesoon) at the country’s biggest paper company and resolves to take his job by sneaking onto somebody’s terrace and dropping a large potted plant on the man’s head as he walks by. Man-su backs off, not because he doesn’t have it in him or because he suddenly realizes that murder is wrong, but because he remembers that his entire industry is contracting, so there’s no guarantee that he’ll replace the dead man. Cleverly, Man-su takes out an ad in a trade publication touting a new startup company so that other unemployed papermakers will send him their resumés and he can start stalking and getting rid of everyone who’s more qualified than he is. The story is based on Donald E. Westlake’s novel The Ax, and the density of detail is just incredible. Bits play into the main plot in all kinds of unexpected ways, such as Man-su’s love of gardening, his dead father’s souvenir from his service in the Vietnam War, and his piggish neighbor (Kim Hyung-mook) No Other Choice Starring Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin. Directed by Park Chan-wook. Written by Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don McKellar, and Lee Ja-hye, based on Donald E. Westlake’s novel. Rated R.
offering to buy his ancestral home. Straining his finances further, Man-su’s autistic 10-year-old daughter (Choi So-yeul) is a cello prodigy who needs private lessons at a university to become a financially independent musician. Man-su’s spying on the candidates inevitably bleeds into his personal life — when he finds out that a rival named Gu Beum-mo (Lee Sung-min) has a wife who’s screwing a younger man, Man-su starts casting sideways glances at Mi-ri and the handsome dentist (Yoo Yeon-seok) whom she’s working for as a hygienist. Meanwhile, she thinks he has another woman because of his unexplained absences from home. This whole movie works as a film about marital infidelity, since almost all the men here are either cheating or being cheated on. It also works as an alcoholism drama, as Man-su discovers that Gu is a fellow recovering alcoholic and witnesses him falling off the wagon after catching his wife in the act. (Before he starts drinking again, the sight of Gu rolling around on his driveway immediately after seeing her infidelity is pathetically funny.) Man-su’s own nine years of sobriety will become a casualty of his quest later on. Park’s scene transitions are as neat and tidy as ever, with a strobe-lit dance party becoming a thunderstorm that Man-su waits in for one of his victims, and Mi-ri rolling out of bed is juxtaposed with her husband rolling a man’s body into a hole that he’s dug. As always in Park’s movies, the violence and comedy reinforce each other, as in a farcical three-way struggle over a gun among Man-su, Gu, and Gu’s wife (Yeom Hye-rah), who is very conflicted about which man she wants to use the gun on. Navigating all this expertly is Lee, who plays the ridiculousness of Man-su’s situations but also delivers a rending speech when Man-su resolves to buy a proper pair of shoes for his daughter’s first recital, since he can’t buy her a $50,000 cello. The man listening to this (Cha Seung-won) is another rival papermaker who’s working as a shoe salesman, and he’s moved to pity, which only makes it more horrifying when Man-su later kills him. Man-su begins No Other Choice by standing up for the solidarity of his workers and the feeling of family fostered by their shared history. It’s the movie’s best joke, then, that it ends with him jumping for joy in a sterile AI-controlled factory where he’s the only human working. Where Bong’s Parasite showed us how capitalism turns poor people against one another, this film demonstrates how the prosperous can just as easily become so desperate. These Korean filmmakers point out our society’s flaws and what they do to us better than just about any other country’s. Like this film’s achievement, that’s stupendous. l
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Lee Byung-hun is blinded by the light during a job interview in No Other Choice.
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The Korean satire No Other Choice is pulp fiction at its finest.
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As part of the regional festival, Fort Worth will see a ton of great gigs and related programming.
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As I mentioned in last week’s column (“Music News,” Jan 7), Jambaloo, the free week-long festival that debuted in February 2024, is back, bringing another week of free shows, symposiums, and other live-music-related programming across North Texas. Jambaloo 2026 kicks off on Sat, Feb 7, at Tulips FTW with a symposium led by Cole Cuchna, host of the popular music criticism podcast Dissect, and concludes on Sun, Feb 15, at Dallas’ Granada Theater with a showcase of the city’s storied Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. This year’s festival, presented by Dallas-based law firm Mullen & Mullen, the firm’s Mullen & Mullen Music Project, and 91.7 KXT, will bring around 70 bands, solo artists, DJs, and rappers to nearly 20 venues in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Grand Prairie. Did I mention all the shows are free? This being the Fort Worth Weekly and all, you’ll probably want to know about the shows in the Fort. Jambaloo’s biggest name is Tripping Daisy, who will headline Tulips on Fri, Feb 13, with Cut Throat Finches and Denver Williams in the opening slots. But the other shows in Fort Worth are nothing to
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Jambaloo Is ROADHOUSE Back
Angel White headlines FireHouse Gastro Park in Grand Prairie on Fri, Feb 13, as part of Jambaloo’s 2026 lineup.
shrug at either. The Cicada’s show on Tue, Feb 10, features power-pop band Meach Pango, party rockers Son of Stan, and Sam Cormier, an up-and-coming songwriter from Dallas. At Tulips on Wed, Feb 11, the Quaker City Night Hawks anchor a night with openers Jackson Scribner, Matthew McNeal, and Garrett T Capps. Dallas-based Amplified Minds, a nonprofit offering free mental health services to adults, focusing on those in the creative community, will start the night with a panel. On Thu, Feb 12, Jeni Rose, frontwoman for Dallas cowpunks the Vandoliers, headlines The Post, with psych-punks Labels in the direct support slot and electro-pop artist Dev Lee Miller opening the night. And on Fri, Feb 13, Low Doubt will host DJ Splendor, whose sound builds a funky, Day-Glo sonic theme park on top of a foundation of bumping house grooves. Now, I get that the long-standing position of Fort Worthians is unfortunately too often “Dallas = bad,” but I exhort you to put that attitude in the trash, because you’ll otherwise miss out on all the Jambaloo shows in our neighboring burg.
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Dissect podcast host Cole Cuchna will chop it up during a Jambaloo symposium at Tulips FTW on Sat, Feb 7.
Dallas Jambaloo events of note (to me, anyway) include: the hip-hop dance battle at Ruins and the show at Deep Ellum Art Co. by piano-lugging, boogie-woogie rock ’n’ rollers Low Cut Connie on Wed, Feb 11; country singer-songwriter Angel White, genre-bending soul singer Dezi 5, and local Americana artist Christian Carlos Carvajal at FireHouse Gastro Park in Grand Prairie on Fri, Feb 13, when dance music legend Mark Farina’s Mushroom Jazz and producer Adrian Quesada’s Assenio Trio have some really cool, secret shit planned for Josey Records. As always for any music festival, consult the website for the full schedule and plan your week accordingly. In addition to the diverse, cross-genre lineups —in a phone interview, Jambaloo co-founder Corey Pond said that Paris, Texas-based Tejano band Los Del North Texas who are playing FiresHouse Gastro Park on Wed, Feb 12, are a must-see — what is also really cool about Jambaloo is the attention it brings to the artist-adjacent parts of the DFW music scene. There’s the aforementioned symposium from Cole Cuchna and the Amplified Minds panel, as well as the Women in Music panel at Dallas’ Spinster Records on Wed, Feb 12, and the festival sponsors themselves showcase how many other entities contribute to the North Texas music scene. Besides Mullen & Mullen and KXT, additional support comes from Josey Records, Luminous Sounds, Prekindle, Do214.com, WFAA, the Texas Music Office, the Dallas Music Office, Hear Fort Worth, and Amplified Minds. Co-founder Pond said the ultimate point of Jambaloo is to bring a ton of people out to celebrate the DFW music community by showcasing our scene’s best and brightest for the low-low cost of free. “If you live anywhere within 30 minutes of I-30, there’s a free show for you during [ Jambaloo] week. You’re within 30 minutes of multiple free concerts, and in most cases, you’re going to be, like, 10 minutes away from them, right? Most genres are represented, and some of them are fairly well represented, and it’s free.” In short, Jambaloo has something for everyone. All the festival’s organizers and sponsors need from you is to get out of the house and have fun. l
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Marching bands (go, TCU!) and riding groups take their place among colorful floats at Saturday the free All-Western Parade, which starts at 11am near the Tarrant County Courthouse on North Main Street. While attendance is free, there are some reserved seating options starting at $15 at FWSSR.com.
Not Our First Rodeo 15
Curated Texas at Artspace111 (111 Hampton St, Fort Worth, 817-692-3228) promises to be an Thursday evening of art, style, and Texas flair. From 5pm to 7pm, curated Texas art will be joined by the iconic boot collection of Austin-based legacy goods purveyor Lauren Owen of Texas and the jewelry of Fort Worth artisan brand Gather Goods. Curated Texas runs now thru Sun, Mar 22. The gallery is open 11am-5pm Tue-Fri and 11am2pm Sat, and there is no cost to view this exhibit.
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The Fort Worth Museum of Science & History is celebrating rodeo season with a limited run of the brand-new film Horse Power at its Omni Theater now thru Feb 18.
abilities of horses and their profound bond with humanity worldwide. Tickets are $15 and include admission to the museum’s general exhibits. Wild West Rodeo Concert 16-17 The by the Fort Worth Symphony
Orchestra is happening at Bass Performance Hall (525 Commerce St, Fort Worth, 817-212-4280). At 7:30pm Fri-Sat, the FWSO will play famous Western film hits like John Williams’ thrilling overture to The Cowboys, Elmer Bernstein’s The Magnificent Seven, Ennio Morricone’s The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, and much more. Rounding out the program are a range of familiar classical cowboy tunes
Today is your final chance to visit Koda’s Adventure to the Magical Ocean at the Tianyu Sunday Lights Festival on the grounds of the Texas Trust CU Theatre (1001 Texas Trust Wy, Grand Prairie, 972-854-5050). Koda’s dreams are seen through this luminous, immersive art installation, where every lantern tells a story. Tickets start at $23.65 at TianyuCulture.us. Dock Bookshop (6637 19-20 The Meadowbrook Dr, Fort Worth,
817-457-5700) is celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day with two days of events. On Monday at 3pm, there’s a Mon - Tue
Wizop? Wednesday open-mic night at Big Laugh Comedy Club, that’s what’s up!
Family Story Time with activities, arts and crafts, and refreshments, followed by Where Do We Go from Here: Community Conversation at 5pm. Then, on Tuesday, Mike Guinn hosts the 2026 MLK Spoken Word Contest & Open Mic, with cash prizes and a trophy, from 7:30pm to 10pm.
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Still think you’re funny? Test that theory at Big Laugh Comedy Club (604 Main St, Ste 100, 512Wednesday 817-9535) this week at 7:30pm as part of the Wizop Wednesdays Open Mic, formerly on Mondays. The cover is only $2.
By Elaine Wilder
Fri - Sat
Cour tesy Ar tspace111
LOOKING FOR CAREER MINDED PERSONS FOR DISTRICT MANAGER POSITIONS. COMPETITIVE SALARY, MONTHLY BONUS, PTO & FREE MEALS. FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES WITH NO LATE NIGHTS OR EARLY MORNINGS. READY TO TRAIN MOTIVATED CANDIDATES.
A Western-themed exhibit and event, Curated Texas begins Thursday.
START YOUR CAREER WITH DQ TODAY! Come grow with us – Be the leader at DQ! APPLY ONLINE: WWW.RICHESONDQ.COM
FO R T WO R T H W E E K LY
BE THE LEADER WITH RICHESON DQ!
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fwweekly.com
The Fort Worth Museum of Science & History (1600 Gendy St, Fort Worth, 817Friday 255-9300) is celebrating rodeo season with a limited run of the brand-new film Horse Power at the Jane & John Justin Foundation Omni Theater hourly every day thru Wed, Feb 18. This 42-minute film explores the extraordinary
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Cour tesy SK Films
It’s that time again, y’all. Every year from mid-January to mid-February, the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo takes over town, adding a decidedly Western flair to some of the month’s events.
Cour tesy Big Laugh
like Copland’s “Hoe Down” from Rodeo, Grofé’s “On the Trail” from the Grand Canyon Suite, and Rossini’s William Tell overture. Stunning images of Western art from the Sid Richardson Museum will be projected during the concert to bring the music to life. Tickets start at $83.70 at FWSymphony.org.
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BULLETIN BOARD
ADVERTISE HERE! Email Stacey@fwweekly.com today. Are You Road-Trip Ready? CALL COWTOWN ROVER!
With our handy pick-up and drop-off services, having your car checked out could not be easier.
www.CowtownRover.com 3958 Vickery | 817.731.3223 BCI BATH SHOWER
The bathroom of your dreams in as little as 1 day. Limited Time Offer: $1000 off or No Payments/No Interest for 18 months for customers who qualify. Many options available. Quality materials, professional installation. Senior and military discounts available. Call 1-855-659-5784 today!
DENTAL INSURANCE
Coverage for 400 plus procedures available from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Real dental insurance, NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now and get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! Call 1-888-361-7095 or visit Dental50plus. com/fortworth. #6258
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.
JACUZZI BATH REMODEL
We can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day. For a limited time, waiving ALL installation costs! (Additional terms apply. Subject to change and vary by dealer. Offer ends 12/27/26.) Call 1-877-5930683. (MB)
LIFE INSURANCE
MAKE A REAL IMPACT THIS TAX SEASON
Volunteer with the United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program just five hours a week and help bring vital resources back into our community. No math skills required. Join a team of dedicated volunteers in roles that include greeting clients, providing translation services, or completing tax returns. Training is provided, and we’ll match you with a rold that fits your schedule. Learn more and sign up at:
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fwweekly.com
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 at 844-782-2870 or visit Life55plus. info/ftworth. (MB)
UnitedWayTarrant.org/VITA-Volunteer MYTH & MARBLE
See ancient Roman sculpture from the Torlonia Collection thru January 25th at the Kimbell Art Museum.
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 OLSHAN Foundation Solutions
Your trusted foundation repair experts since 1933, offereing foundation repair, crawl space recovery, basement waterproofing, water management, and more. For a limited time, receive up to $250 off foundation repair. Call Olshan today for a FREE evaluation at 1-855824-7345. (MB)
PUBLIC NOTICE
The following vehicles have been impounded with fees due to date by Texas Towing Wrecker, 205 S Commercial St, Fort Worth TX 76107, 817-877-0206 (VSF0000964): APOLLO, 2021, STREET BIKE, VIN L08YGJGC1M1003424, $2,141.87; ISUZU, 2018, NPR XD, VIN JALC4W168J7K01479, $3,862.78; PASSPORT, 2022, PASSPORT, VIN 4YDTPPN26ND415574, $1,062.78; and TRAILER-LIFT LTD, 1998, TRAILERLIFT LTD, NO VIN, $1,534.02.
VETERAN CAR DONATIONS
Donate your car, truck, boat, RV and more to support our veterans! Schedule a FAST, FREE vehicle pickup and receive a top tax deduction. Call 1-844-450-1590 today!
WINE by OMAHA STEAKS!
Receive 12 world class wines (and bonus gifts) for ONLY $79.99 (plus s/h) and save $160! That’s 12 new wine selections plus a FREE $25 Omaha Steaks E-reward card every three months. Cancel anytime. 100% guarantee! Call 1-855-275-7565 and mention code AGJF002 or visit GetOSWine.com/sip275. (MB)
YMT VACATIONS
Over 50 guided tours available. Affordable, social and stress-free travel designed for mature travelers. Our tours include accommodations, transportation, baggage handling, sightseeing, entrance fees, a professional Tour Director and select meals. For a limited time, SAVE $250 on all tours. Call 1-833-984-4155 today! (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! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-855-868-0192 today!
STRUGGLING?
The holiday season can intensify feelings of pressure— especially for those navigating substance use challenges. These feelings are more common than many realize. Visit samhsa.gov/find-help to learn how to support yourself or a loved one who may be struggling. To reach the 988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline, dial 988 or go to 988Lifeline.org.
STUCK WITH A TIMESHARE?
Wesley Financial Group, the Timeshare Cancellation Experts has over 450 positive reviews and has 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. Call 833-665-3513 today. (MB)
VENDOR SPACES AVAILABLE
The Vintage Shops on Lamar has expanded and we are on the hunt for fabulous vendors. Stop in and check us out. Our unique space is fresh, clean, modern and If you can make your booth “tell a story” we want want you!
747 W. Lamar Blvd., Arlington Tue- Sat 10:30 to 5:30 Sun 12-5
PROFESSIONAL
ROOFING SERVICES Our skilled roofing team provides top-notch services to keep your home or business safe, secure, and looking its best.
FO R T WO R T H W E E K LY
KimbellArt.org/Myth-and-Marble
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PROUDLY SERVING THE FORT WORTH AREA SINCE 1964
60
YEARS IN BUSINESS
Contact Us Call for a free estimate
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817-738-1756
www.cityroofing.net
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