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METROPOLIS

Saving Hope

The local animal rescue should be your first stop when considering a furry friend this holiday season.

BY TERI WEBSTER

Palmer was a “foster failure.” Although the term sounds negative, the Australian shepherd mix with rich tan fur and soulful brown eyes landed in a best-case scenario. In the world of animal rescue, a “foster failure” is when a pet’s temporary caregiver becomes its permanent owner. That’s exactly how Palmer found his forever home.

“He just made me want to keep him,” said Avery Frederick, a coordinator at Saving Hope Animal Rescue in Fort Worth, where Palmer was born. “He’s very loving. He just loves to be right next to me.”

Frederick said she initially viewed Palmer as a foster, but that changed as the two became inseparable. Over the past year or so, Palmer has grown into a silly, happy dog who loves toys, watching cartoons, and playing with Sophia, Frederick’s other rescue dog.

Unlike Palmer, not every pet will have a happy ending at this time of year.

Given the overwhelming number of pets already in shelters, rescue advocates urge the public to first “adopt, not shop.” Adopting a pet can turn a seasonal trend into a lifesaving action.

“The overpopulation in Tarrant County alone is crazy,” Frederick said.

Volunteers with the nonprofit constantly monitor area shelters, gathering pets whose time is about to run out to save them from euthanasia. Despite these heroic efforts, Frederick said it isn’t always enough.

Beyond deciding to adopt, careful consideration is needed for whether a specific pet is the right fit for a household’s lifestyle. A dog’s temperament and required activity level, for example, can vary dramatically, even within the same breed. One person’s mellow West Highland terrier can be another’s whirling dervish.

more than 1,500 dogs and cats were spayed and neutered.

“As we enter a new year at Saving Hope Animal Rescue, we’re excited for the progress ahead and the impact we hope to make for animals in our community,” said Lauren Anton, executive director and founder of Saving Hope Animal Rescue. “Our mission — to rescue, rehabilitate, and find loving homes for abandoned, neglected, and abused animals across DFW — remains our driving force.”

Being unprepared for the demands of pet ownership is a primary reason dogs are surrendered to groups like Saving Hope or land in overcrowded shelters, where space and time are limited. Some of the most energetic breeds can also be more than people are prepared to handle. Take French bulldogs, for example. Adorable? Absolutely. A project? They can be.

“Some people don’t know what they’re getting into,” Frederick said. “People end up not wanting them because they can’t handle the high energy levels.”

A dog is likely going to be a 10-to15-year commitment, and considering the breed’s energy level, size, and temperament is essential to ensure the right match. Costs associated with the possibility of chronic health conditions and general health care are

other important considerations that many first-time owners often overlook.

Size matters, too.

“There are so many large dogs that get adopted, and once they get big, some people will say they need more space to run,” Frederick said.

To help ease the cost of care and promote responsible ownership, Saving Hope offers adopters an entire first year of required shots and free spaying or neutering.

Overall, Saving Hope’s impact includes saving a total of more than 12,000 dogs and cats since its formation in March 2018. In 2024 alone, Saving Hope invested approximately $1.4 million in veterinary expenses to ensure animals in their care receive the medical attention they need, according to stats provided by the nonprofit. Additionally,

Among the plans for 2026 are expanding Saving Hope’s foster network, increasing awareness about low-cost veterinary care, and strengthening partnerships with local shelters and the community.

“These efforts will help us bring more animals out of crisis and into safe, loving homes,” Anton said. “Our vision for Tarrant County is simple: Save more animals, help more families, and continue building a community where every pet has the chance at a safe, happy life.”

For Frederick, pet ownership comes down to a simple, profound truth. “Any dog, any animal, is going to be a commitment. It’s your part to train the dog and work through their issues, and it’s your responsibility to make them a better dog and make sure they’re getting everything they need to be the best version of themselves. You can’t give up on them.” l

STUFF

Goodies for Footies

With the FIFA Men’s World Cup coming to North Texas, stocking up on gear now is paramount for optimal soccer watching.

BY RUSH OLSON

So, you’re shopping for the striker, goalkeeper, or hooligan on your list. That soccer fan might be especially fired up about the sport because the FIFA Men’s World Cup will visit the region next year. We have thoughts on how to use the impending December gift-giving season to set up your loved ones for the big event like Messi setting up a winger making a run.

North Texas will have a substantial role to play next summer as Tarrant County hosts nine matches, the most of any metropolitan area. The first thing you may be thinking is, “I should get them tickets to a game!” Individual game tickets won’t go on sale until next year, but you can purchase multi-game hospitality packages at this stage. Official hospitality

provider On Location sells them online. Find the purchase link at the local host committee’s website, DallasFWC26.com.

Keep in mind, these are premium experiences in stadium clubs and suites, so expect to spend four figures and up. You can buy them for any of the host stadia across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. When booking,

don’t be confused when FIFA calls the local venue “Dallas Stadium.” Yes, that designation is approximately as made-up as “Santa Claus Stadium,” since it reflects neither the actual name nor the location of Arlington-based AT&T Stadium. It’s a global sponsorship thing.

Since sports tickets are pretty much exclusively virtual these days, maybe you’d prefer a FWC present you can wrap. You can, once again, start with the host city website and pick up hoodies, shirts, posters, and caps branded with the local FWC imagery. Once again, it’s Dallas-branded, and I do recognize that some Fort Worthians would have to lose a large wager to agree to be seen in something reading, “We Are Dallas.” Perhaps you’d prefer to wear your favorite team’s jersey? Well, there’s nuance to the shirt situation. Not all the official designs that viewers will see in competition on the pitches in 2026 have been released, nor will they be before the end of the year. But if you’re buying for a fan of one of the top nations, you’ll have no problem finding something representative of their team.

In particular, Mexico and USA gear abounds in a number of locations. At Soccer City in Arlington, they told me they generally stock the Top 10 or so countries, with the likes of Spain, Germany, and Brazil on the shelves. Soccer Post (previously the Soccer Corner) in the Arlington Highlands has the kits that adidas has released so far. They’ve also got the official FIFA World Cup caps. The nearby Academy Sports + Outdoors has a big World Cup display right in the front of the store, even

A number of locations, including Arlington’s Soccer Post, Soccer City, and Soccer Planet, offer replica FWC trophies of varying sizes.

in the middle of (gridiron) football season, with prominent Messi/Argentina branding and other countries represented as well.

If you have a rooting interest in a team outside the best-known squads, it gets trickier. The likes of WorldSoccerShop.com can help with a small selection from mid-tier nations like Japan and Morocco, but if you’ve decided to get under the mistletoe with unexpected qualifiers like Uzbekistan or Curaçao, you’re continued on page 10

going to have to search harder online. You might even have to have them shipped from abroad, which means you might want to get that order placed well before Santa starts his run. Unfortunately, the North Pole didn’t qualify this cycle. Elves are apparently better at building toys than building out of the back. Something else to consider: There are no guarantees that your favorite team will play in Arlington. We know for sure that none of the host nations will play here before the knockout rounds, so what if you do end up with tickets to a game but didn’t think to have purchased a kit from either of the participants, like, say,

for a Ghana vs. New Zealand or Cape Verde vs. Paraguay matchup? Well, why not rep the local team? The Fort Worth Vaqueros/ Vaqueras have jerseys and season tickets on sale at FortWorthVaqueros.com. They recommend you order by Mon, Dec 15, to ensure delivery before Christmas.

Certainly, you don’t have to go with wearables. A number of locations, including Arlington’s Soccer Post, Soccer City, and Soccer Planet, offer replica FWC trophies of varying sizes. And, of course, there’s the adidas TRIONDA Pro Official Match Ball. You can acquire one in a number of sizes, including the jumbo version that’s more than 2.5 feet in diameter. Soccer Post has one of those for sale for $320 plus tax. Yeah, it won’t really fit under a tree. And if you buy it, make sure you pick it up in Mom’s SUV, not that cute Fiat you bought when Italy won the Men’s World Cup in 2006. Speaking of history, there’s a boxed collection of mini-balls from every World Cup since 1970 at several of these outlets.

On the smaller end of the sizing spectrum, DICK’S Sporting Goods offers the ball in the form of a hacky sack — a super soccer stocking stuffer. (Say that three times fast.) In addition to selling general World Cup merchandise instore, they have a special online contest about to begin. DICK’S got Dominic Chambrone and his company, The Surgeon, to create a custom pair of sneakers by cutting up the official ball and adding panels from it to adidas Sambas. Each shoe has a different tongue, with one showcasing the TRIONDA ball graphic and the other bearing the 2026 FWC logo. Called the adidas Samba x TRIONDA, the limited-edition kicks are not for sale at retail, but you can try to win a pair for your special footy fan on the DICK’S App starting on Thu, Dec 4, at 9am.

One more note: The North Texas FWC Organizing Committee will host its official draw party at Billy Bob’s in the Stockyards on Fri, Dec 5, from 10am to 2pm. Admission is $10, and the information you gather might provide some clarity on exactly which obscure jersey you need to source in an XXL before Thu, Dec 25. l

The Department Store

Here are some gift ideas from several sections of the Weekly.

Every Wednesday for the last 30 years or so, the Fort Worth Weekly has published a print newspaper with informative articles spanning several sections, including art, books, calendar, eats and drinks, music, news, screen, and sports. Check out these gift ideas from each department.

Art: Ornamental

One local artist got some unexpected attention last week when one of the large handmade ornaments she’d created for the massive tree in Sundance Square was stolen. This is why we can’t have nice things. Sigh. Arely Morales’ painted piñata in the shape of her late cat Gris was taken by a lady Grinch on Sunday but was safely returned and rehung by Wednesday. If you’re looking to get your hands on a piece of Morales’ art by legitimate means, her works can

be purchased primarily through Talley Dunn Gallery (5020 Tracy St, Dallas, 214-521-9898).

Books: A Tall Texas ‘Tail’

Since all we have to go on is the dust jacket copy, Jeff Guinn’s new novel, A Texas Tail (TCU Press), may be a great gift for the conservative in your life who reads something other than Breitbart and The Daily Stormer. (Does that kind

of conservative even exist?) The story centers on Plunk Landy, whose dreams are the same as most other middle-aged male Texans. He imagines owning a top-end Ford 150, watching the Dallas Cowboys finally end their Super Bowl drought, and finding some way to become important. Instead, Plunk’s life consists of a dead-end job, an addiction to televised sports and Fox News (what he thinks of as “dates” with himself), and no fame at all beyond a lingering reputation as an oddball in the Fort Worth suburb where he grew up and still lives. But when Plunk stumbles across a unique Halloween costume in a local shop, he suddenly finds himself on a path to obtaining everything he has ever yearned for — and maybe more. As “Tail Man,” he intends to conquer his home state, first, then blaze a proud Texas path across the rest of the country, especially through “woke snake pits” like Los Angeles and New

York City. Will Plunk’s dreams come true, or will he learn, as have many before him, that the worst fate in life is almost getting everything you’ve always wanted? The hardcover is $35.99 at TCUPress.TCU.edu.

Eats & Drinks: Fruit Is ‘Magickal’

Certain members of your family may love the traditional holiday gift of fruits and nuts. Two local businesses specialize in these sorts of provisions: Green’s Produce & Plant (3001 W Arkansas Ln, Arlington, 682-564-0786) and Vending Nut Company (2222 Montgomery St, Fort Worth, 817-737-3071). From readymade gift baskets to plenty of fodder for continued on page 13

assembling your own, these stores have it going on. As for online retailers, there’s always the Hale Select Deluxe Gift Box for $49.99, which brings citrus fruit and snacks straight to your loved one’s door. Receive 37% off by ordering at HaleGrove.com/H6YG89.

As apples symbolize love, healing, health, wisdom, and divination, and a quick online search tells me that the “magickal” community has many ceremonial uses for stone fruits like apricots, peaches, and plums, your metaphysically minded folks might appreciate the Hale Groves Dried Fruit Wicker Gift Tray. Also priced at $49.99, it includes four colorful pounds of dried Angelino plums, apple rings, apricots, dates, kiwi, peaches, pears, and pitted prunes.

Music: Caress Me Down

If your favorite band shirt has seen better days, local crafters Zombie Killer Designs (@ ZombieKillerDesigns) can help. Upcycling T-shirts into epic jackets and tops through applique with thrifted long-sleeved shirts, camo jackets, flannels, and such is kind of her thing. Case in point: the Sublime project pictured here. For local band merch and product ideas, check out this week’s Music feature.

Speaking of Sublime, they just made a big announcement. The Sublime Me Gusta Festival will make its debut in Fort Worth on Sat, May 9, at Panther Island Pavilion (395 Purcey St, Fort Worth, 817-335-2491). This new event marks the beginning of a national

festival series built around the band. Taking its name from the iconic lyric “Me gusta mi reggae, me gusta punk rock,” the festival embodies everything Sublime stands for: sun-soaked vibes, rebellious spirit, and a love for music without boundaries. Tickets would make a great present for, well, me. General admission starts at $89.99 at MeGustaFest.com.

News: This Just In

Beyond our own Metropolis section, I prefer to consume my hard-hitting news the traditional way: via late-night television on Comedy Central. But that’s me. As the famous line in Steel Magnolias goes, “Spoken like a true smart ass.” I also really love The Onion. While I mostly follow their stories on social media and their website, I was excited to learn recently that they are still doing a print product. (Like we keep telling you, print is not dead!) Subscriptions are normally $99 per year, but

for a limited time, it’s $75 total or $7 per month at Membership.TheOnion.com.

The Onion website will remain freely available to “every callous reader who refuses to surrender their credit card information,” but if you’d like to make a donation, they will gladly run your card for any number you can imagine.

Screen: Gifts for Film Lovers

Texas-based cinema company Alamo Drafthouse, with its closest location at Rayzor Ranch Town Center (3220 Town Center Tr, Denton, 940-441-4233), just launched a gift site for film lovers. Along with sections for apparel, accessories, curated collections, and items for your home and office, AlamoMart.com also includes a Gift Guide to help you with your choices. Things are broken down by options for beer lovers, kids, movie lovers, and stocking

stuffers, plus search options for under $20, $30, and $50. They even sell wrapping paper. Under home and office, I found this hand-poured Cinema Lens Candle by Film Society in Brooklyn for $35. This 100% vegan soy wax candle has notes of firewood, sage, and sandalwood and will burn for up to 35 hours.

Sports: Skating in the Stockyards

From now thru Sun, Jan 9, it’s time to head to the Stockyards as the annual Stockyards Rodeo Rink (121 E Exchange Av, Fort Worth, 817-625-1025) is up and running. Stop by for a 90-minute ice-skating session. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or FortWorthStockyards.com. The cost is $25 per adult and $20 per child. Family four-packs are available for $80. Skate rental is included. Passes would be a great way to be the #Funcle this year at Christmastime.

By Elaine Wilder

STUFF

Holiday Game Guide A wealth of choices to help satisfy the gamer in your life awaits.

BY COLE WILLIAMS

The weather’s getting colder, the Game Awards are near, and websites are listing their top games of the year. That means it’s time to give you a guide of what to get the gamer in your life for the holidays.

Let’s start with the big addition to the gaming sphere this year. The Nintendo Switch 2 plays on your TV and in handheld mode just like the original Switch. It also has backward compatibility for almost all the first Switch’s games and a few killer apps to help sell it. Mario Kart World spices up the classic racing game to include an open world to explore between heats. Donkey Kong Bananza gives the titular gaming gorilla a giant underground world to explore and destroy. And for both systems, there’s Pokemon Legends Z-A, featuring more open-world creature catching, and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, bringing back bounty hunter Samus for more first-person action and exploration.

Now, other game companies weren’t content to let Nintendo make all the money. Sony added some nice, new exclusives to the PS5’s library, with Ghosts of Yotei filling gamers’ samurai open-world craving, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach for more open-world trekking and combat in a post-death world. And the remake wave continues with Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater, letting you relive the third entry in the estimable series.

And still trudging along is the ol’ Xbox series X and S. Times have been hard for Microsoft’s console, but it still has a few mustplays. Doom: The Dark Ages continues the demonslaying FPS fun, while South of Midnight offers a mythical adventure in the Deep South. Finally, Avowed gave players a unique fantasy realm to roam.

Outside the realm of console exclusives, 2025 offered plenty of games for everyone. Open-world gamers had a wide array to choose from. Monster Hunter Wilds (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) served up large areas to cooperatively hunt its titular creatures. Atomfall (PS4/5, Xbox One, Series X/S, PC) gave a Fallout fix with its post-apocalyptic Britain. The Outer Worlds 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) launched with a wry take on space exploration. Meanwhile for historical gamers, Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Now, other game companies weren’t content to let Nintendo make all the money.

II (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) set forth in 1400s Bohemia, while Assassin’s Creed Shadows (Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, macOS, iPadOS) sneaked along in 16th-century Japan. And mixing open world with FPS, Dying Light: The Beast (PS4, 5, Xbox One, Series X/S, PC) gave players a new open world to parkour through and kill zombies in.

And speaking of the FPS player in your life, there’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (PS4/5, Xbox One, Series X/S, PC), which saw more praise for its multiplayer modes, less so for its campaign, as well as Battlefield 6 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), bringing its massive player battles to a more serious modern world. And Borderlands 4 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) delivered more looter-shooter fun to the planet Kairos.

Those wanting more straightforward challenges had a lot to look forward to. Ninja

Gaiden 4 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) brought the hardcore hack ’n’ slash series back after 13 years, and co-op gamers got Split Fiction, a scifi/fantasy two-player game from the makers of It Takes Two. Horror fans got Silent Hill F, (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), delivering otherworldly frights in 1960s Japan.

This was also another year when indie games proved they can hit as hard as AAA titles. Blue Prince (macOS, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) built acclaim with its roguelite mansion-building and exploration. Stretching what could be considered an indie game was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), an RPG with unique turn-based combat and a fantastic story that may sweep the Game Awards this year. Hollow Knight: Silksong, the hotly anticipated sequel to 2017’s bug-themed metroidvania, finally launched this year on everything from macOS and Linux to the Switch 2 to great acclaim and fan hype. Hades 2 (macOS, Switch, Switch 2, PC) came with more hardcore, Greek myth-filled roguelite action.

And all these titles are just the start of what 2025 offered. Basically, if there’s a gamer in your life, there’s a game out there ready to light up their holidays. l

MUSIC

For Music Lovers

Here are some things that the audiophile in your life might hope to find under the tree.

BY PATRICK HIGGINS, STEVE STEWARD, AND JUAN R. GOVEA

Now that the last of the leftover stuffing we’ve been surviving on for the past week has made its way into the disposal, and the more punctilious of our neighbors have the requisite HOA-approved C9 LEDs lining their eaves, it’s time to turn toward the real meaning of the season: helping multinational corporations get into the black in Q4.

If you have a musician and/or music lover on your gift-buying list, you might, even this very minute, be overcome with decision paralysis. There’s always the worry that your recipient won’t like your gift, despite what amount of thought is or isn’t put into it — especially if you feel like you don’t necessarily know what is “cool” or are able to maintain some baseline awareness of what’s popular these days.

For example, every grandmother is probably aware of Taylor Swift. Therefore, because Swift is a musician, and your recipient likes music, it is very possible that Granny might think, “Surely anyone would want a vinyl copy of The Life of the Showgirl.” No shade at Tay (Swifties, don’t come for us), but while they might appreciate the effort, having to force the exact pitch and volume in our voice to feign enthusiasm for such a near miss of a present is a dreary prospect. I still have flashbacks to Christmas 1989. After unwrapping a Sony Walkman — a reveal that sent me into orbit — I prepared to see Appetite for Destruction or Poison’s Flesh and Blood. Instead, the accompanying cassettes turned out to be Wilson Phillips’ self-titled debut and Hangin’ Tough by New Kids on the Block. The chorus of every other sixth grader mercilessly picking on me still rings in my ears.

Whether you plan on doing your shopping via your index finger and a 4-inch touchscreen or by actually setting foot in a brick-and-mortar retail establishment, we music writers have compiled a list of gift ideas for the music lover in your life that’ll blow that child labor-crafted “I’m a Harley rider born in the ’80s who watches Game of Thrones and loves his wife” T-shirt that your boomer in-law would buy from a targeted

ad on their socials (or that orange vinyl deluxe Showgirl record) right out of the water.

Gift Cards (Duh)

There are tons of local spots to pick up tuneage, including Chief Records, Doc’s Records & Vintage, CD Warehouse, Growl Records, Panther City Vinyl, Record Town, and Saint Marie Records. All offer huge selections of cassettes, CDs, and vinyl. For the musicians on your list, try to avoid the big-box retailers that have dominated the market for decades. We recommend the Tone Shop, an awesome instrument retailer with a boutique feel minus the intimidation. Some form of store credit toward one of these establishments is a great way to support local businesses while giving your person the freedom of choice.

Concert Tickets

If you ask us, listening to a great song is second only to seeing it performed live. In addition to frequenting our local rooms like The Post, The Cicada, and Tulips FTW, we occasionally like to splurge on the big national acts. You’d be a hero to many a music lover if you could help lighten that heavy financial load. Dickies Arena has some massive tours coming in 2026. Though you probably would have needed to jump on the tickets yesterday, queen of pop Lady Gaga is doing back-to-back shows at Dickies on day Sat, Feb 28, and Sun, Mar 1. Surely, even the most anti-pop, anti-mainstream-music curmudgeon would appreciate the production that goes into a Gaga concert, even if just for the spectacle. Along with Gaga, continued on page 27

Florence + The Machine plays in May, and legendary prog-rock pioneers Rush are coming to Dickies for four shows at the end of June. Then, ’80s-excess hard-rock icons Guns N’ Roses will welcome you to the jungle of Globe Life Field in September. You might want to look into a small loan to secure your music lover’s seat.

Music Zines

They say print is dead, and while perhaps not quite yet, the ol’ Fourth Estate is certainly on life support. You could do your part to man the crash cart while offering your loved one a way to stay occupied on the john that isn’t doomscrolling. Believe it or not, magazines like Rolling Stone, Spin, and Creem are still in publication and make for good stocking stuffers. If further lining the pockets of corporate publishers isn’t necessarily your thing, a subscription to a punk zine like Razorcake or the indie-forward New Noise might be easier on a budget and on your conscience.

Music Books

When it comes to longform reading material, there’s a host of music-centric fare for the audiophile/bibliophile. Whether it’s a must-have oral history like Michael Azzeraad’s Our Band Could Be Your Life or a great rockstar memoir like Nick Cave’s beautiful musings on creativity, aspiration, and grief (with writer Seán O’Hagan), Faith, Hope, and Carnage, there’s plenty to add to your shelves.

Music Movies

For those who never cared to learn to read or learned to care to read, the audio-visual medium also has plenty to offer. Perhaps just as surprising as magazines still in print, the Machine also still presses Blu Rays! Be advised. Documentaries like the sultry love letter to the early 2000s New York indie scene Meet Me in the Bathroom and concert films like Nirvana Live at The Paramount tend to be the safe bet over the recent rash of cringe Hollywoodized biopics like Bohemian Rhapsody, but the freaky fake-biopic-inside-a-real-documentary Pavements about the scintillating ’90s slackrock band of the same (singular version) name is at the top of our list.

Simply Music

Perhaps as obvious as why they haven’t released the Epstein Files is that a music lover’s favorite thing is … well … music. While colored-vinyl special anniversary editions of indie-rock classics like Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots or American Football’s genre-defining LP1 are certainly rad, we, of course, like to steer our readers toward supporting the wealth of lovely local talent. It just might help your favorite homegrown acts pay their rent. Most North Texas artists have records, CDs, cassettes, or even digital downloads available for purchase via their own websites or Bandcamp. A good idea is to check out the pages of record labels like Idol, State Fair, and Dreamy Life to view the wares of artists like Denton punk collective the Wee-Beasties and Dallas cowpunks The Vandoliers. A few of our personal favorites to

highlight include singer-songwriter Cameron Smith and his band the Slings’ debut, Gold & Rust, and Denver Williams & The Gas Money’s new record, Let It Ride.

Headphone Guitar Amp

Whether your music lover is a weekend warrior having to cram for Saturday’s two-hour set or an attorney with a PRS wanting to work out their John Mayer chops between briefings and two-martini power lunches, a headphone amp is a must-have. Our top pick is the Fender Micro Mustang. For $100, the guitar hero in your life will have access to 25 amp models and 25 effects, plus access to Fender’s fully customizable Tone iOS software. Because it plugs directly into the guitar and the sound runs through headphones, it’s as much a gift for you as it is for them, because it means you won’t have to listen while they painfully try to work out the solo to “Time” for seven hours straight.

Vintage HiFi Gear

The vinyl resurgence over the last decade has not only saved the record industry. It’s also spawned another burgeoning adjacent industry, that of vintage HiFi equipment. If you suspect your intended gift recipient might use an aforementioned gift card on cassette tapes or LPs, they’ll likely need something to play them. Onetime relics collecting dust on Goodwill shelves or your mullet-sporting uncle’s storage shed, the vintage receiver or cassette player is now the audiophile equivalent of the Princess Di Beanie Baby. Receivers from the consumer HiFi peak of the 1970s like the Marantz 2215 or the Pioneer SX-680 are once again the crown jewel in any home stereo system. Despite sought after models beginning to fetch north of $1K, the boon in hipster vinyl-snob cred is worth the expense. Maybe you get lucky and that uncle still has one in his 8-by-10.

Modern HiFi Gear

Modern (also, more modestly priced) alternatives to the costly vintage pieces certainly exist. In lieu of a ’70s silverface Fostex, your hypothetical tape aficionado might appreciate a cassette player from Rewind. This French company makes new-tech/old-aesthetic cassette players (found at WeAreRewind.com). Their personal player is very Walkman-like, comes in three colors, and is updated with a rechargeable lithium ion battery — 10-12 hours of life doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s still better than having to feed the player a steady diet of AA batteries. In addition to stereo recording capability via a 3.5 mm RCA jack, its most modern feature is its 5.1 Bluetooth connection, compatible with most wireless headphones and speakers.

Vinyl Care Kit

An opportunity for the vinyl enthusiast in your life that you won’t have to sell a lung for or endure a shady Facebook Marketplace meetup with is a vinyl care kit. Usually coming with a brush, some cleaning fluid, and/or needle lubricant, these kits will help maintain their new pressing’s VG+ condition and even help revitalize the Foghat and Barbara Streisand LPs they’ve inherited from relatives. With a typical price point under $40 and a compact size, they make great stocking stuffers, too. l

NIGHT & DAY

Jingle All the Way

The holidays are here, all of them, and we’re here for it.

Tanstaafl Pub (409 N Bowen Rd, Arlington, 817-460-9506) is continuing its pre-Thanksgiving tradition of hosting a jam session where local musicians cover songs from The Last Waltz, the legendary concert film directed by Martin Scorsese about The Band’s final performance on Thanksgiving in 1978. This will be the 13th annual There’s No Such Thing as a Last Waltz. Admission is free, and the music starts at 10pm.

Every Thanksgiving, high school marching bands from around the country journey to New York City to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC (and the Peacock app) starting at 8:30am. The invitations are very exclusive, so it’s a big honor to be included. This year, the only band from Texas chosen to participate is the L.D. Bell Blue Raider Band from Hurst, who will be performing two songs: “Deep in the Heart of Texas” and Dua Lipa’s “Houdini.”

The newly reunited local thrash outfit Gammacide, whose members are a who’s-who of metal awesomeness — Varnam Ponville of Cauldron, and Alan Bovee, Joey Gonzales, Rick Perry, and Scott Shelby of WARBEAST (all oldschool members except for Joey) — will be opening for Dirty Rotten Imbeciles (or D.R.I.) at the Turkey Throwdown at Haltom Theater (5601 E Belknap St, Haltom City, 682-250-5678) along with Arkhon, Chemicaust, Scattered Guts, Skull Archer, TowerHigh, and Warhog. Tickets are $20 in advance at TicketStorm.com or $25 at the door. With today being part of a four-day weekend for many, the festivities start early: 5:30pm.

This weekend marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Along with Black Friday, we now have Small Business Saturday, Museum Gift Shop Sunday, Second-Hand Sunday, and Cyber Monday.

While you’re seeking out the best deals possible, don’t forget to #KeepItLocal. To that end, be sure to check out this week’s Shop Local section in the center spread of this very paper.

Speaking of seasonal shopping, our Dec 3 issue is a special edition called Holidays 2026 This full-color, glossy-covered magazine will be filled from cover to cover with the best places for eats, drinks, entertainment, and shopping now thru the end of the year. For maximum awesomeness, we’ll be sending this thing to the printer on Monday instead of our usual Tuesday. Want in? Speak up now. Email marketing@fwweekly.com with your event listings, ideas, and space-reservation requests. Happy Holidays from the Weekly!

Depending on how yesterday’s early deadline went, I’ll be seeing one of my favorite bands, Shinedown, at tonight’s iHeartRadio Jingle Ball at Dickies Arena (1911 Montgomery St, Fort Worth, 817-402-9000). They’ll be joined by Alex Warren, Jessie Murph, JO1, mgk, Nelly, Renee Rapp, Rachel Chinouriri, Zara Larsson, and The KPop Demon Hunters. This lineup sounds like a hot mess but also a hell of a time. Tickets start at $40 at Ticketmaster.com.

By Elaine Wilder

LIVING LOCAL

Shop Local This Holiday Season

By Jeff Burdett

Before the trick-or-treaters even make it back home, big-box stores flood mailboxes and inboxes with Black Friday ads. But the big box stores aren’t the only place to find a good bargain.

Small Business Saturday, the day after Black Friday, offers shoppers an opportunity to find high-quality items at competitive prices and to invest in their community. It has become a great way to kick off the holiday season. What began 15 years ago as a way to promote small businesses recovering from the Great Recession has blossomed into one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Last year, shoppers spent roughly $22 billion at their local businesses.

Between rising prices, a tight labor market, and a decline in sales, small businesses across the country are heading into this holiday season with

a little less cheer. But, back in July, Congress made the 20% Small Business Tax Deduction permanent, averting a major tax hike at the end of the year. Then, in November, voters overwhelmingly supported Prop 9 to raise the inventory tax exemption, resulting in annual combined tax savings of over $500 million. These federal and state tax victories will help our Texas small business owners navigate an uncertain economic environment.

On Small Business Saturday and every day of the year, shopping small plays a big role in supporting our communities. In Texas, small businesses are the beating heart of our economy, accounting for more than 99 percent of businesses in the state and employing 5.1 million working Texans, according to the Small Business Administration.

When you stop in at your favorite coffee shop, locally-owned boutique, or family-run hardware store, your dollars go further. Nearly 68 cents of every dollar spent at a small business stays within the community where it’s spent and creates another 50 cents in local business activity.

This holiday season, don’t forget to shop small. Our local businesses keep our communities strong and our economy growing. When Main Street prospers, we all prosper.

About NFIB

Jeff Burdett is the State Director of the National Federation of Independent Business, the “Voice of Small Business” in Texas. NFIB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, member-driven organization that advocates on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington D.C. and in all 50 state capitals. For more promotional information from this nonprofit, go to NFIB.com.

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Volunteer with our 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 role that fits your schedule.