National Tequila Day 2025 // Fort Worth Weekly

Ate Days of Benefit Eats

While July is almost over and the Central Texas floods occurred nearly a month ago, recovery efforts are still ongoing, and much help will continue to be needed for quite some time. Restaurants in the Stockyards, a rehearsal space in North Richland Hills, and a visual artist in town all (still) have heart.

Fort Worth

A little something called a Labubu is having a moment — if you don’t know what that is, make Google your friend, friend — and Jack Daw is here for it. The Fort Worth artist is selling his version of the fictional character as a 24K-gold-on-paper print. His Labewhews, as he’s calling them, are $100 each, with 100% of the proceeds going to Austin Pets Alive, a nonprofit taking care of displaced pets from the Hill Country floods. “I thought this would be a fun way to help pitch in,” Jack said. “Use your dumb for good.” To see one that Tyler Stevens purchased and framed for her venue, The Cicada (1002 S Main St, Fort Worth, @The_Cicada_FTW), pop in for a drink and a show. If you hate Labubus, but still want to help, donate at AustinPetsAlive.org. To order, visit @ JackDawFolkArt on Instagram.

Stockyards

Thru Thu, Jul 31, essential supplies like canned pet food, diapers, and first-aid kits are being collected in the Stockyards at 97 West Kitchen & Bar at Hotel Drover, H3 Ranch at the Stockyards Hotel, and Hyatt Place

97 West Kitchen & Bar (200 Mule Alley, Fort Worth, 682-255-6497) serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, as well as brunch 8am-2pm on weekends. The new brunch menu features sweet

and savory à la carte shareable dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. Reservations are recommended via OpenTable.com.

The Hunter Brothers’ H3 Ranch at the Stockyards Hotel (109 E Exchange Av, Fort Worth, 817-624-1246) grills with hickory wood and offers a wide variety of proteins. Beyond steaks, there’s also chicken, spit-roasted pig, rainbow trout, ribs, and more. H3 is open 11am-10pm daily for lunch and “supper.” Reservations aren’t required, but if

you’d like to secure your spot, call the restaurant or use OpenTable.com.

Before or after your meal at H3, mosey on into adjoining Booger Red’s Saloon, named in honor of the legendary Texas bronc-busting champion Samuel Thomas Privett (1858-1926). With National Tequila Day upon us, consider Booger Red’s signature Anita-Rita Margarita, named for a Hunter brother’s daughter. Made with premium tequilas, lime juice, and secret ingredients, including extract from select Serrano peppers, Anita-Ritas are prepared by the batch and aged in an authentic still atop the bar. They’re served on the rocks in a frosted 18-oz schooner (with or without a salted rim). Or be a tourist in your own town and try the popular Buffalo Butt Beer. Crafted in small batches, this slightly hazy brew is named after a common prairie sight that William Hunter believed could only be forgotten after an ice-cold beer. At Booger Red’s, Buffalo Butt Beer is served in an iced bucket of 12-oz bottles.

If a staycation is on your mind, Hyatt Place (132 E Exchange Av, Fort Worth, 817-626-6000) offers a breakfast bar, an espresso bar 24 hours a day, and bistro-style burgers, sandwiches, salads, and shareable appetizers that can be ordered from room service.

North Richland Hills

Platinum Music Complex NRH (7301 NE Loop 820, North Richland Hills, 682-540-3019) is hosting its Flood Disaster Relief Benefit noon-11pm Sat, Aug 2, and 11:30am-7pm Sun, Aug 3, with live music hourly by nearly 20 bands over the two days. Plus, meet special guest Austin Berber from Lioness and Yellowstone. Food trucks and vendors like Springtown’s Smoking with Papa BBQ (@ SmokingwithPapa) will be on-site, and a portion of their proceeds will benefit the flood victims. Admission is proof of a donation of any amount to the GoFundMe account 564ccf24. For the complete list of bands and food truck info, visit Facebook.com/PlatinumMusicComplex/events as the date approaches.

Note: It’s recommended to contact the businesses directly or check their social media and websites for the most current information on their involvement in flood relief efforts as some initiatives may have already concluded or may be ending soon.

By Elaine Wilder

National Tequila Day

We’ve found some hot spots for quenching your salty, limey thirst.

BY JUAN R. GOVEA

METROPOLIS

The city’s anti-panhandling road signs appear to stifle giving, not panhandling.

BY MARK HENRICKS

STATIC

Pro-democracy rally set for 6-8pm Thu at Burk Burnett Park downtown. BY ANTHONY MARIANI

EATS & DRINKS

As this writer’s backyard garden proves, center-cut squash is delicious and filling.

BY JESS DELAROSA

MUSIC

Runaway Sky, $2 Tuesdays at Tulips, and a $20,000 venue grant are here. BY STEVE STEWARD

Ate Days of National Tequila Day

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JUAN R. GOVEA

National Tequila Day is Thu, Jul 24, and for some of the tastiest agave-fueled concoctions in town, the Weekly’s got you covered. The day honors the history of a spirit deeply rooted in Mexican tradition. It’s a great time to hit some local gatherings, like the Tejaraza Tequila Happy Hour at FW Thunderbird (306 Houston St, Fort Worth, @FWThunderbird) 7:30pm-9pm Fri with drinks by the Texas-based brand of the same name, or you can just celebrate with friends and family at your leisure.

1.) Mixed drinks, infused spirits, and tasty bites have made the gothic retreat Atlas (314 S Main St, Ste 100, Fort Worth, 682-348-5386) a destination. Their Guadalajara is a favorite. With Hornitos silver tequila, Boomsma Cloosterbitter, pineapple, lime, agave, and Peychaud’s bitters, the drink is tangy, fruity, and oh-so cosmopolitan.

2.) Made with Espolòn silver tequila, pink grapefruit juice, and Squirt plus a salt rim, the Pink

Panther Paloma at The Cicada (1002 S Main St, Fort Worth, @The_Cicada_FTW) is a colorful treat. Along with great libations, The Cicada is also a primo spot for live, original, mostly local music.

3.) If you’d like some juicy meat to go with your tequila, there’s always Del Frisco’s Grille (812 Main St, Fort Worth, 817-877-3999). Their signature Double Eagle Margarita is made with Don Julio silver tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and agave, and the Premium Paloma features Milagro silver tequila, Casamigos Mezcal Joven, Combier Crème de Pamplemousse Rose, Aperol, lime juice, and San Pellegrino Pompelmo.

4.) El Gabacho Tex-Mex Grill (2408 W Abram St, Arlington, 817-276-8160) has been around for nearly 20 and just keeps getting better. Festive theme nights on weekends always bring a crowd. Along with the full food menu of enchiladas, fiery fajitas, and quesadillas, El Gabacho offers 12 different tequila-inspired mixed drinks, including the spicy Hondo margarita with Mi Campo silver tequila, Ancho Reyes Chile Liqueur, muddled jalapeno and cucumber, lime, and agave with a Tajin rim.

5.) If you follow the alleyway next to indie-music venue Tulips FTW, you’ll end up at Low Doubt Bar (112 St. Louis Av, Fort Worth, @ LowDoubtBar). Tulips’ sister speakeasy offers DJ nights and a chill vibe for drinks between shows, plus several tequila concoctions. The All God Does Is Watch Us and Kill Us When We Get Boring is made with silver tequila, dry vermouth, a lime cordial, cherry juice, and cherry bitters. The Faux Malone is silver tequila, watermelon juice, lime, and ginger beer. Low Doubt also serves Zodiac Cocktails, and for the current Cancer season, it’s a silver tequila with coconut cream, Licor 43, and orange juice. As for Tulips, try the Resonant Head with reposado tequila, Amaretto, honey, lime, and grapefruit juice.

6.) Another tequila-friendly Near Southside spot is Nickel City (212 S Main St, Ste 100, Fort Worth @NickelCityFWTX). This bar and cocktail lounge boasts more than 100 agave spirits. The Regal Paloma, made with Espolòn silver tequila, Giffard grapefruit liqueur, grapefruit oleo-saccharum, lime, and Lady Bird grapefruit soda, has a nice punchy flavor.

7.) It’s always Island Time at Tarantula Tiki Lounge (117 S Main St, Fort Worth, @Tarantula_ Tiki), where the Cheap Sunglasses starring reposado tequila comes with a pair of sunglasses, tiki figurines, and drink umbrellas. It’s a fun, fruity treat. There’s also The Floor Is Guava, with Código 1530 reposado tequila, Stoli vanilla vodka, Cointreau Noir, guava lime, and passion fruit.

8.) A fan fave since 2020, Tinies Mexican Restaurant (113 S Main St, Fort Worth, 682-2555425) offers a wide selection of tequila and tequila-incorporated cocktails. The Devil’s Margarita is bold and fruity, with Código 1530 reposado tequila, Grand Marnier, spicy simple syrup, and lime with a red wine float. Tinies also serves the Oaxacan Flower, a classic Casita Margarita, and a refreshing Paloma. The chicken tacos and pork tamales may make a great bite to go along with Tinies’ other Spanish-style cocktails like the Recuerdame, made with Fort Worth’s own La Pulga Tequila.

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