The Fort Worthian

Hey you! This is the old house... Come visit the new digs...

2008-02-05T17:11:00.000-06:00

Okay, so those of you still visiting are probably wondering where everybody's gone. You're no doubt also asking yourself if the rapture has hit Fort Worth first and only contributors to The Fort Worthian were holy enough to be taken. Well, we are, but that's beside the point...

Here's the deal: Darren messed up. If it was me, I probably wouldn't be trumpeting that fact, but since it's Darren, we'll just put it on the table. So Darren's messup resulted in many furrowed brows amongst us Fort Worthian types, and many anguished emails sent to the fine folks at Google, who now own Blogger. But alas, the Google gods did not deem our emails response-worthy. So as a last ditch effort, we've moved. We lost the "the" part of Fort Worthian, which was a little pretentious anyway.

So come visit the new, improved, less-pretentious Fort Worthian at http://fortworthian.blogspot.com/. See ya'll over there...

2007-12-10T20:12:00.001-06:00

Type your first three paragraphs here

I haven't posted any photos in a while but thats only because I havent had time to shoot anything really Fort Worth related since the TCU Pinkout Football game. Mainly because I'm moving my life overseas. Life = my car and my dog.
I'm going to be graduating and heading back over to Arabistan where I work the rest of the year when I'm not burning money at TCU. I guess this is the final post for me since I wont be able to make anything Fort Worth/Dallas related over in my corner of the world.
Hope whatever photos I posted were enjoyed by some if you.
Adios

Tuesdays are for awesomeness.

2007-12-05T11:41:00.000-06:00

Well, I'm graduating in ten days and I still don't have a job, so it looks like I'll be sticking around Fort Worth for a while. And that's perfectly fine with me, because now I don't have to come up with a new weekly schedule to keep me busy. Let me share my typical Tuesday (at least until I graduate) with you.

930- Package Design Class.
1130- Subway for lunch. Active military and dependents get 50% off their order (which my dependent ID is expired, but they don't know that. Just flash it and the deed is done.)
1200- Watch Jeopardy on the Game Show Network with my former neighbor.
1245- Back in the Graphic Design Lab working on various projects and getting my Fantasy Football team ready for the next bout.
300- Watch Mythbusters on the Discovery Channel because I'm a nerd.
400- A little more work on my projects
530- Swim at the TCU Rec Center.
645- Dutch's for dinner. Burgers are half off every Tuesday.
730- Get to the Flying Saucer to save a table for Trivia at 8. Fat Tire's are $2.50 a pop on Tuesdays.
1030ish- Home again, touch up whatever's due tomorrow and go to bed.

I think it's a pretty good system for me. It hasn't gotten me into any trouble, and it's fairly cheap. For two meals and a couple beers, I spend somewhere in the vacinity of 10 and 12 bucks, if I even do all those things. I like to mix it up sometimes and maybe make an omelet at home for lunch instead of go to Subway.

It's really handy to know what kind of specials there are at different places throughout the week. I like to base a lot of my plans off them if I do end up going out. So I encourage all of you fellow readers and contributors to share the wealth and tell us your favorite specials and discounts.

christmas time is here

2007-11-29T14:34:00.000-06:00

and man, this morgan blunk column has the world up in arms. thoughts?

i kind of laughed at the fact that people actually created a facebook group about her. man, celeb status. if celebrity death match were still around, i would half expect to see her claymation replica battling a swarm of angry tcu women folk via mtv boxing ring mayhem.

in other news, the tcu tree lighting was last night, and i didn't get a damn candle again this year. i did, however, consume a couple of rock hard cookies and hot chocolate... and that glass or two of wine that i'd had prior to the ceremony encouraged me to buy a t-shirt. oh tcu, you know how to rip me off when i'm vulnerable.

T-giving in the 'Worth

2007-11-19T20:50:00.000-06:00

I'm fortunate enough to have a few days off for Thanksgiving, so I'll be headed to see my parents (and eat their divine amalgamation of foods). However, I know many who won't be getting a home-cooked meal for Turkey Day. Therefore, as a public service, I'm asking The Fort Worthian's readers and writers to share their picks for Thanksgiving restaurants. Best turkey, best stuffing, best use of canned cranberry sauce or even best pumpkin pie-flavored cocktail: Let us know the best place to spend the holiday.

Buffalo Bros.

2007-11-08T17:39:00.000-06:00

My friend, Lake, and I headed down to TCU's Restaurant Row last night to check out Buffalo Bros. We used the walk-up window and ordered a slice of pizza each from a very nice, very cute waitress. Lake got chicken and onion, and I picked meatball. After that, she offered another slice each for free (great marketing). He picked cheese, and I picked pepperoni.

Full disclosure time: My favorite pizza is Perrotti's, and I'm a sucker for doughy dough, including deep-dish. Lake's a die-hard Mama's fan. Now you know where we're coming from.

For the review, click the jump.

Me: The meatball pie was good stuff. It tasted like a gyro pizza. The crust had good texture and thickness. As for the pepperoni, it was nothing too special, except that it had a ton of pepperonis on top. And lots of grease.

Lake: Chicken and onion was spicy and good, but Lake likes his pizza a little flatter. He tossed the crust into the storm drain. After that, he tried the cheese and threw half of it into the trash.

The verdict: If you're hungry while you're hanging out at the Pub, and Fuzzy's is booked solid, check it out, but don't make a special trip across town. Each slice is $3, which is a little high for my tastes, especially when Joe's sells cheaper, better 'za by the slice just a couple blocks away.

The inside of the place looks like a nicer version of Texadelphia, the storefront's previous inhabitant. TV's are prominently placed, and there's a bar with several beers on tap. It looks like a fun place to hang out.

If anybody tries anything other than pizza, post it!

TCU Vs. New Mexico

2007-11-04T23:32:00.000-06:00

TCU vs New Mexico Saturday 3, 2007 when TCU took the victory from New Mexico 37-0.
Go Frogs.

Red Cactus and The Ginger Man II

2007-11-02T15:45:00.000-05:00

Although Carla didn't find Red Cactus too inspiring, I'm a fan. I've been twice and although I forgot the name of the first thing I got, the quesadilla I had last night was awesome.

The place is owned by a couple from Mexico. They're about as friendly as can be, and they're hoping that their first restaurant is a success. I'd recommend that everyone check it out. It's on University near the Pub.

Oh, and they have free Wi-Fi Internet.

For my Ginger Man update, click the jump:

The Ginger Man is dog-friendly! Yup, as long as Fido's on a leash and has up-to-date shots, go ahead and bring him in. Now all your best friends can enjoy the G-Man's awesomeness.

Buffalo Bros opening Monday

2007-11-02T13:45:00.000-05:00

Just got an email from Bonnell's announcing the grand opening of Buffalo Bros on Monday. TCU's restaurant row is really taking shape!

Pizza By The Slice
Frozen Margaritas and Daiquiris
10 Beers on Tap
Open 7 Days a Week Until 11:00pm
Walk Up Window on University
5 Big Plasma Televisions

Doors open Monday, November 5^th

Saturday migas at Fuzzy's...

2007-10-30T09:35:00.000-05:00

Even though it was a gorgeous Saturday, I had exams to grade. I knew I wouldn't get it done at home (too many distractions!), so I trudged down to the office.

On the way, I started thinking about how to reward myself for such responsible, adult-like behavior... ...when I remembered that Red Cactus had opened just the day before! This would accomplish two things -- I'd be trying a new restaurant and presumably be getting yummy food out of the deal, and secondly, I could write about it on The Fort Worthian...

So I get a bunch of the grading done and it's been a fairly productive morning, so I start walking toward Red Cactus. When I arrive, there's a sign on the door, and they are closed for a private party.... Grrrrrrr... I ask you this: who has a grand opening on Friday and then closes for a private party on Saturday???? That's ridiculous!

Change of plan... What can I do? Oh yeah, Fuzzy's isn't too far away, so I'll walk over and have some migas there!

Fuzzy's serves migas all the time, but to me, it's especially tasty on Saturday mornings. It's not one of those power breakfast things, where you're going to have the energy needed to get things done for the rest of the day. It's more of a lazy Saturday breakfast, where you eat it and then decide a mid-morning nap would be nice... I dunno if that's really a favorable endorsement or not, but I certainly enjoy it!

So, to sum up:

It's stupid to be closed for a private party the day after your grand opening.
Migas are a yummy start to a lazy day!
Fuzzy's has good migas!

"Beer is proof ...

2007-10-26T20:06:00.000-05:00

... that God loves us and wants us to be happy."

When ol' Ben said this, he must just gotten back from the Ginger Man, the best little chain of pubs in the nation. The Ginger Man, located on Camp Bowie Boulevard (map below), boasts 67 on-tap beers and more than 100 in bottles. They also have a short wine and cigar list, and they serve food. Interested? Click the jump.

Why the Ginger Man? It's a clean and not-smoky (smokers usually sit outside on their awesome patio, and their indoor air-filtration system is state-of-the-art), and the staff — Mike, Matt, Heidi, Justin, Reed, Chuy and the rest — is friendly. And they know their stuff, to boot.

When to go? You can go any night of the week to relax with a specialty brew, but your best bet is Tuesday for pint night. If you buy that night's beer, you can keep the glass.

The only drawback is the price. Their cheapest beer — Coor's Light, the only generic domestic they have — is around $3, but you pay for the atmosphere. Paying a little more gets you a chill pub where you can play darts and hang with friends. Great for a post-date drink or something to do when the parents are visiting.

View Larger Map

Evil Eye: Rhett Miller and Murry Hammond in Dallas

2007-10-22T22:33:00.000-05:00

Rhett Miller is a pretty, pretty man. He's also the lead singer of the Old 97's. As you might be able to tell by the picture, they put on a high-energy show -- and one of the most fun and entertaining.

Half of the band -- Rhett and bassist Murry Hammond -- will be in Dallas at the Granada Theater on Saturday, November 17th. The concert is also a benefit for cystic fibrosis, so your money will be well-spent in more ways than one.

If you want to go all-out, you can spend $75 and get a ticket to the concert, a goodie bag, and admission to a cocktail hour, during which you get to mingle with Rhett and Murry.

Oh, and don't forget -- the night before, on November 16th, Nickel Creek will be at the House of Blues in Dallas. For a Fort Worth girl, I'll sure be in Dallas a lot that weekend...

2007-10-21T20:35:00.000-05:00

Little Frogs and big Frogs
TCU fans reach out to get a high five from the TCU Horned Frog Football team just before the TCU vs. University of Utah game Thursday.

Type rest of the post here

2007-10-21T19:45:00.000-05:00

The modern

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More Cat Powered Evil Eye

2007-10-18T11:08:00.000-05:00

The Matablog says that Cat Power's new live/covers record called Jukebox is coming out January 22. Which is cool since part of it was recorded in Dallas. I wrote up a short preview of that show a few months ago, and boy that was a great show. You can read my review of the show here.

Cover Art after the jump.

Modern Times: More St. Vincent

2007-10-17T11:52:00.000-05:00

A little more word on that Modern show with St. Vincent. It's $15 for non-members, and free for Modern Members, which in my eyes, is a steal. Also, Peter & the Wolf will be there, who we've also mentioned on here
before.

It should be good. Check it out, man.

Look! Up in the sky!

2007-10-16T10:47:00.000-05:00

This weekend, it's going to be sunny with highs in the 80s (upper 20s, if you speak metric). That's good, because it's time for the Fort Worth Alliance Air Show. The Blue Angels will be there, as will the Sky Soldiers and other performers. Check out the show's Web site.

The vitals
Oct. 20-21
Gates open 9 a.m., performances begin 9:30 a.m. and run until 5 p.m. Sunday is a repeat of Saturday.
Free of charge, with parking at $15 a car.

View Larger Map

The weather's going to be great this weekend. Don't spend your days inside! And if you go, tell us about (or show us, using photos and video) your experience.

Snacktime blues

2007-10-15T17:35:00.000-05:00

Homeless Fort Worthian in-residence Bob sits outside of the Moudy Communication building at TCU and sips his Starbucks coffee.

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Weekend Round-up

2007-10-15T10:39:00.000-05:00

Spent Saturday evening over at Fred's Texas Cafe listening to Sumter Bruton's band kick out a handful of really catchy rock 'n' roll, blues and R&B tunes under a beautiful, mild sky. Beer was consumed and stories were traded, but otherwise, it was just another easy-going evening in Fort Worth. What is the name of the group he's playing with these days? Looked like an incarnation of the Juke Jumpers

Good thing it wasn't today, or else we might have all floated off. Well, a few did anyway.

In other news, St. Vincent is hitting the Modern this weekend, which should make for a good show.

A little Fort Worth bootleg:

Creature of the Night

2007-10-12T21:47:00.000-05:00

This photo-free post...

2007-10-09T15:40:00.001-05:00

...is actually to announce something cool we're working on here at the FWorthian. Namely, in the coming weeks, we will be bringing some new photographers on to shoot some of the fun, cool, weird and otherwise neat stuff in the area. Some events, some art stuff, maybe just some quirky stuff. That last sentence could be our mission statement

I'm still recruiting other interested photographers, so if you're interested, send us an e-mail. Our e-mail address is thefortworthian@gmail.com.

I hear the train a'comin'...

2007-10-05T10:36:00.000-05:00

Another Fort Worth blog (A competitor, perhaps? Nah, we're all friends here.) is helping in the push to get F-Dub its own streetcar system. I, due to my unhealthy fascination with rapid transit, think it's a fine idea. They're calling for a street-level, overhead power streetcar system that would run on four lines around downtown, citing that we're beginning to have the population density that's necessary to warrant such a project.

Again, I'm a big fan of rapid transit, and although I'd prefer an underground or above-ground heavy-rail system (much, much faster), I know that they're too expensive for our little metropolis. I've always said that if they were to put a train down University from Granbury Road to the Stockyards and another from 820 down Camp Bowie and 7th to ITC, many of our traffic problems would be resolved. Here's the proposed map at Fort Worthology that I'll link, not post, for copyright reasons.

This is a start. Even if it doesn't go through, it gets minds churning. And it's the logical next step for a booming town. Soon, we'll have our Fort Worth-DFW connector line, and Arlington has committed to trying a commuter train for the SuperBowl. They're even working on a second rail for the TRE, which would make that trip much faster.

The answer to our transit needs lies in diversified transit options, including (better) bus service for versatile routing; highly localized transit in dense areas (streetcars or at-grade light-rail); fast mid-distance options (above- or below-grade light- and heavy-rail); high-capacity, fast long-distance options (TRE and DFW commuter lines); and super-fast, high-capacity inter-regional routes (high-speed trains, such as Amtrak's Acela, Germany's ICE or France's TGV). Portland, which is around the same size as Fort Worth, is a few steps ahead on this process.

Where's the money come from? Tax the hell out of cars and gas. Yup, I said it. It's the only way we'll ever go green.

Evil Eye: Rilo Kiley

2007-10-05T10:05:00.000-05:00

I'll be at Rilo Kiley this Saturday. The show is at the Palladium Ballroom in Dallas, and I'm expecting good things. You should check it out to.

Last year, Jenny Lewis came through Fort Worth on her solo tour. The gig was at the Ridglea, and in my estimation, it was pretty great. I can't find any videos, but, take my word for it.

Rilo Kiley plays at the Palladium Ballroom on October 6. Show time is 7:30 p.m.

A Little TV

2007-10-04T10:28:00.000-05:00

So, tonight, I'm going to watch 30 Rock. If you're not watching it, it's one of the best shows on TV. Even though I've read the lead episode is not as good as some of the others. Jerry Seinfeld will be guest-starring.

Thursday is a great day for TV, and I'm sure some of you are wrestling with the pain that was Cavemen. What better to cleanse your palette than 30 Rock?

When fish fly

2007-10-02T22:22:00.000-05:00

Anybody been to Flying Fish on Montgomery (just off 30, near Whataburger)? I'm looking for a review.

For the soft drink snob in your life...

2007-10-02T21:03:00.000-05:00

Do you stress out about wine pairing? Which wine would best accompany my grilled salmon this evening? Well, here's something else to stress about... I stopped in at a Burger King the other night, and this made me laugh: (feel free to click for more detail)

For those of you who are unsure about what goes well with that Sprite you were craving, you're in luck! Sprite goes well with BK Chicken Fries, a Tendercrisp, or The Angus. Actually, The Angus pairing is a little confusing to me... I always thought the fruitier soft drinks went with poultry and seafood, like white wine. Shows what I know about soft drink pairings...

Coke seems limited to just Whopper pairings... I thought it was more versatile than that! ...and raise your hand if you knew Burger King had a Veggie Burger (goes great with Diet Coke!). I learned that just by reading this handy dandy chart.

The most fascinating part is for the Dr. Pepper pairings. It turns out that Dr. Pepper is for gluttons! Who knew? It starts out with the Double Stacker and scales all the way up to the Quad Stacker.

Not only did they give me a soft drink pairing education, but I got a free FryPod too!

Thank you, Burger King, for amusing me during dinner... Gotta give you credit -- I can't remember the last time I found a fast food place so amusing...

Miley Cyrus, Jenny Lewis

2007-10-02T09:27:00.000-05:00

Any one go to the Wreck Room closing? I haven't really read any coverage anywhere yet.

If you're like me, you watch quite a bit of Hannah Montana. If you're not like me, you probably play sports.

OK, I don't watch near as much Hannah Montana as I watch High School Musical and High School Musical II, but I still thought I ought to mention she's coming here Nov. 14. If you have tickets, I'm assuming you've done something very unsettling to someone to get them. Weird.

On the other hand if former child actresses are your thing, I would suggest checking out the Rilo Kiley show at the House of Blues this Saturday. They're a fun band, and the first band this year to make a record that sounds like a Body Glove t-shirt from 1991 looks. It's called Under the Blacklight. A bunch of videos after the jump:

You were my Silver Lining

High School Musical 3 on SNL

This is still funny. You're in New York now baby:

Hannah Montana:

Eating good in the neighborhood

2007-09-30T21:43:00.000-05:00

My friend Jacob is a connoisseur of local, nonchain restaurants. He recently told me about Old Neighborhood Grill, located in what's being called SoDo, the area south of downtown. Old Neighborhood Grill, which opened in 1998, has the feel of a diner, and they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Jacob swears by their breakfast menu, and he claims you can get a full stomach for under $5. I went for lunch and had a great southwest grilled chicken sandwich, roasted apples and a drink for around $7.50.

Address
1633 Park Place Avenue (near the corner of Park Place and 8th avenues)
Fort Worth, TX 76110-1378

Hours
11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday - Friday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday

Update
I've just been notified that SoDo is the area south of Seventh Street, making ONG part of Fort Worth South (per the organization's Web site).

Teddy Ruxpin: Does He Sleep With The Fishes?

2007-09-28T09:21:00.000-05:00

When I was in college, my friend Brian's roommate was just about the messiest person I've ever seen. He was a very nice guy, but he was very, very messy.

He also liked a handful of bands that could only be classified as maybe lo-fi emo. Or homemade emo. Does any one have a legitimate term for this? Anyway, he was really into Fishboy. It was so... weird that Brian and I couldn't help but ...get into it? We became especially attached to a song called Teddy Ruxpin. He always got mad and insisted, "That's not even the best song!"

On some level, I'm afraid to admit I might sort of like Fishboy (which is essentially one guy named Eric Michener) and I think it's really funny, but, as music, it's...well, I'll post some stuff and let you be the judge. It is what it is, and if nothing else, it's definitely something that is in the world and exists.

Anyway, Fishboy and his marvelous band are playing an instore at Good Records on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. It's a record release party to celebrate their new disc, Albatross. Videos after the jump:

Hey, it's something to do:

I watched this at work yesterday:

[Edit: Listening to some newer Fishboy tracks on Myspace.com proves that the band has seriosuly, seriously improved.]

Roustabout Music

2007-09-27T12:53:00.000-05:00

I've previously posted about the Roustabouts. They're playing a CD Release show on October 1 at the Aardvark. I think think they're last in the line-up that night, so they'll be taking the stage around 10:30 or so. Come out and support the local music scene.

www.myspace.com/roustaboutmusic

Beer. Brought to you by the Flying Saucer.

2007-09-27T12:45:00.000-05:00

I don't know terribly much about the event, but I saw this poster when I was at trivia night at the Flying Saucer on Tuesday and thought it was worth sharing. I'll let it do the talking.

Thursday round-up: Red, Wreck, The Office

2007-09-27T09:21:00.000-05:00

So, the Wreck Room is closing. It's last day is Sunday. I guess that doesn't come as a surprise to anyone, since the place has been holding on by a thread since July.

Still, it was one of the few (arguably the only) smaller rock clubs in Fort Worth. I didn't spend too much time at the Wreck Room, but I always appreciated that it was there. Anyone have any particularly fond memories? A good photo of the place? I can't find one on the Web.

So, instead I submit to you Red Hunter, a Texas musician who records Holden Caufield-styled tunes under the name Peter & The Wolf. He has a new album out called The Ivori Palms. His last disc, Lightness, is a good, quiet CD.

As for tonight, Thursday is my TV watching night (as is every other day of the week), and I'm going to watch The Office. I thought the show started to get a little shaky with all the Pam and Jim "will-they-won't-they" episodes (I liked that show better when it was called Cheers), but nonetheless, I'd still rather watch ten so-so seasons of The Office than one season of Cavemen. I think also B.J. Novak is funny.

Peter & the Wolf video (directed by Bill Baird of the now-defunct Sound TEAM:

Fort Worth harvest moon, 09/26/07

2007-09-26T21:52:00.001-05:00

Waking up at 5ish this morning (don't ask...), it was actually hard to look outside while letting the dog out. The moon was fully illuminating my backyard.

The harvest moon tonight is positively gorgeous... Hope all of you get to do something fun in the bright moonlight.

Modern Times: Marry Me, St. Vincent

2007-09-26T09:23:00.002-05:00

Before I get to deep into this, I need to disclose that I have a little thing for St. Vincent. Her new disc, Marry Me is catchy, layered and easily one of the best debuts of the year. It's got something for electro-heads and guitar nuts. You know, both kinds of music fans.

Beyond her obvious talents in the studio and on the guit-fiddle, the 24-year-old Dallas native otherwise known as Annie Clark is funny, engaging and if her blog is to be believed, whip-smart.

So, when I read on Pollstar that she's going to play at The Modern Art Mueseum in Fort Worth on Oct. 19, I immediately thought, "Yes, I am going to that." I then debated whether or not to tell anyone else.

Well, now I've told you. Neither St. Vincent or the Modern have confirmed it [Since I posted this, I've been told it is on the Modern Web site, but hey, that thing is expansive!], but it's on Pollstar, and those guys are usually right on. Some videos after the jump:

I know this is supposed to be a cool concept, but playing in the back of a moving vehicle just strikes me as uncomfortable. Clark covering these Beatles:

The standard Jackson Browne cover. She has orginal stuff, too:

[Edit: This is our 100th post. We should celebrate!]

Modern Times: Out of the Past

2007-09-25T09:24:00.000-05:00

If you're into good, old film noir like I am, you might want to head by the Modern tomorrow to see Out of the Past, part of the museum's American Cinema: Film Noir and the Detective Film series.

If you're not, hey, stay home. Or just rent it from Blockbuster.

The whole deal is "taught" by Dr. David E. Whillock, professor and Associate Dean of the College of Communications at TCU. I did not take any classes from him, so I cannot comment on whether or not he is interesting. However Out of the Past is my favorite of the film noir genre, and definitely worth checking out. Plus...

The 1984 film Against All Odds is a remake of Out of the Past. This means it is totally relevant and newsworthy for me to post this:

For our hipster friends, take two and and call me in the morning:

Out of the Past plays tomorrow at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. The show starts at 6 p.m.

The Final Countdown:

2007-09-18T16:47:00.000-05:00

Wall of Sound is now only 4 days away. Grab your tickets now and save $5.

Here are a couple of other artists who are worth the price of admisison themselves:

Midlake
On the heels of last year's critically acclaimed The Trials of Van Occupanther, Midlake will make an appearance at this years incarnation of the festival. Their style is deeply rooted in 70's folk rock, but "not in a gimmicky way" says singer/songwriter Tim Smith. Jason Lee (My name is Earl, Almost Famous, Mallrats) is their #1 fan and even directed one of their videos.

Head to ther website to listen to songs and watch music videos.

Pleasant Grove
Pleasant Grove, named for the Southeast Dallas neighborhood, was formed by co-vocalists / guitarists Bret Egner and Marcus Striplin. They have been kicking around the local scene for about 10 years and have been to the brink of stardom and back. With new members and a solidified sound, Pleasant Grove is back for good and better than ever. They have been one of my favorite local bands for a long time and I can't wait to see them again.
Songs and video on their myspace page.

The lineup includes many other great acts from around the state and around the country. I hope to see you all out there rocking out as hard as I am.

Cheers!

The Evil Eye: Matt Nathanson at the House of Blues

2007-09-11T00:17:00.000-05:00

Matt Nathanson is coming to the House of Blues on Wednesday, October 24. Yes, this post may be a bit premature (it is over a month away, after all), but that just shows how excited I am about this concert. My ticket came in the mail last week, and I am pumped.

This will be the fourth time I've seen Matt. I saw him in March 2004 in Houston, in September 2006 at ACL Fest (that little gathering is coming up again, I hear), and in November 2006 at the now-defunct Gypsy Tea Room. He never disappoints. His shows are great not just because of his well-crafted melodies and lyrics, but also because he is hilarious. Seeing Matt Nathanson is like seeing a musical concert and a comedy show all in one.

So, go order your tickets to see him. It's worth the early excitement. Speaking of early excitement, I just saw that Nickel Creek will be at the House of Blues in mid-November...

here's to hoping ben kweller tamponizes his nose again...

2007-09-10T03:05:00.000-05:00

while i know this isn't ft worth related... at all...

who is attending the social event of the season?
and by this, i mean of course austin city limits and accordingly drinking downtown.

a bunch of us (ft worth/atx kids alike) are trekking down/meeting up in the best town in texas, so let me know if anyone wants to meet up. fun times guaranteed.

Back up and running...

2007-09-07T14:24:00.000-05:00

I've remedied the full post issue, so we're back up and running! We've got some great food posts today from Steve, and we're starting to get into a good time of the year for Fort Worthians!

Enjoy!

more Buffalo Bros. news

2007-09-07T13:12:00.000-05:00

Bud Kennedy's column in today's Star-T has a few interesting tidbits on the upcoming Buffalo Bros. Pizza Wings & Subs. First interesting tidbit (to me anyway), is the involvement of Jon Bonnell, of Bonnell's Restaurant fame. (Speaking of Jon, he's smiling out from the cover of this month's issue of Fort Worth magazine.)

Second interesting tidbit (and probably of greatest interest to the TCU crowd) can be found in this line from Bud's column:

The chefs promise New York pizza and take-out margaritas from a window on South University Drive.

Huh... Should be interesting to see some of the DUI police officers move from staking out Eskimo Hut on Vickery over to TCUland...

Zestfest 2007: Get your spice on!

2007-09-07T09:25:00.000-05:00

By now, you folks know that I love chiles and spicy stuff... It's Hatch chile time right now, and I'm in heaven.

Well, that ain't all... You chile-heads will also love ZestFest at the Will Rogers Center this weekend. My wife and I have gone the past several years, and it's always a lot of fun.

My recommendations for a good ZestFest experience:

Get there when it opens. Why? Several reasons...

It's not crowded yet (noon can be a mob scene)
The booth staff people aren't tired of seeing you yet, and they're still happy to give you samples
The smaller independent booths are excited to be selling their stuff, and may make you a deal if you're one of the early customers

As soon as you walk in, visit the concession stand and buy a bottle of water. Trust me on this, you will want water at some point, and your mouth will most likely be burning at some point.
Bring cash. Some of the vendors accept credit cards, but not all...

For you forward-thinking folks, this can be a good opportunity to buy small-batch hot sauces and salsas as gifts for spice-loving friends. We've even done Christmas shopping at ZestFest!

So visit ZestFest this weekend and get some good spice into your life...

Technical difficulties

2007-09-04T11:34:00.000-05:00

So, you may have noticed the "read more" function is not clicking--I too have noticed this. I will try to have it remedied by the end of the day, but in the meantime, I say ignore it.

What else do I got here? Not much off the top of my head--Hope everyone had a great Labor Day!

New Movie Tavern on Hulen opens this week

2007-09-02T16:50:00.000-05:00

According to the Movie Tavern website, the Hulen location opens September 7th...

Speaking of Hulen area theaters, I'd kinda stopped going to the AMC 10 that used to be on Hulen because the screens and sound systems had been so poorly maintained. Then when Starplex Cinemas bought that theater, I was surprised and disappointed that it didn't become a reduced price/late run type place. So imagine my surprise when visiting the Starplex Cinema, only to see stadium seating, nice screens and good sound systems! I didn't know they had remodeled...

The walls are still a bit thin, so you can occasionally hear loud noises coming from the next theater, but it's a lot nicer than in the AMC days... Also, if you don't mind a hot dog for dinner, they've got cheap dogs there...

Southern Playalistic

2007-08-31T12:33:00.000-05:00

Well, tomorrow is the first day of September. That means only 21 days until The Wall of Sound Festival takes place at La Grave Field. This is going be one of the best showcases of local, national, and international music that has ever graced our fair berg and I am already counting the days.

I wanted to take an opportunity to do a little familiarization exercise on some of the bands that are going to be there. I'm sure many of you are quite familiar with some of the acts, but here is a quick rundown of those acts about which I am most enthused:

Pinback

Pinback is an unlikely pairing of musical minds that create baritone heavy, verse trading, multi-layered rock music. Both Rob Crow and Armistead Burwell Smith IV (Zach Smith) have been front men in several bands, and Crow also has a fairly successful solo career, but when the two got together to do some "experimentation" the results were like nothing either of them had ever produced before.

From Nothing to Nowhere (via Spinner) Right click to download.

Their new album comes out September 11, view their website for more details.

Ghostland Observatory

Another unlikely musical duo. These Austin based electro-rockers define themselves as "not a band, but an agreement between two friends to create something that heals their beat driven hearts and pleases their rock 'n roll souls". They have also defined their sound as "A robot making love to a tree". One thing is certain, you will want to be up front when this perennial crowd pleaser takes the stage.

Sad, Sad, City Right click to download

More band profiles to follow, stay tuned...

hoagies and grinders, hoagies and grinders... navy beans, navy beans, navy beans, navy beans

2007-08-28T23:22:00.000-05:00

so, i hadn't traveled to dear einstein brother's since probably last spring. since the opening of which wich, i'd kind of neglected potbelly and einstein's. however, i decided to trek to the little bagel shop that once captured my heart with their pick 2 combination, and low and behold... my bagel life as i know it is in shambles.

not only have they completely eradicated the love of my life with the elimination of pick 2 (no more veg out + bistro salad goodness for me), but upon choosing one or the other, you get an ultra-lame side, like potato salad or fruit salad. no more fattening bread. no more bleu cheese crumbles on a high calorie salad. so really, between cafe express closing and einstein's changing, i need a little stability.

but on a side note, i was pleasantly surprised with what i'd ordered at dutch's... i wasn't able to try the mushroom burger due to my lame monster allergies, but their gazpacho is fantastic, and a mere $3.75. woo wooo

Mmm, tasty

2007-08-28T00:37:00.000-05:00

My search is over for inexpensive Asian cuisine. Yum Yum, a nice little restaurant near Rosa's and the Hulen Mall, boasts authentic curry and a $7 weekday lunch buffet.

A word of caution, though. On certain dishes, you can choose your level of spice, which ranges from 1 to 5. According to our waitress, 1 is nothing, 3 is pretty hot and 5, well, "no one gets the 5," she said.

But if you're in the mood for Italian, click the jump.

JOE'S PIZZA AND PASTA HAS A NEW(-ish) LOCATION ON BERRY! Why all-caps? Because Joe's is amazing, and if people don't start going to this new location, it'll face the same fate as every other restaurant that's been in that spot.

So next time you're craving Joe's New York-style pizza or fantastic baked pasta, head over to Joe's. It's across from King's on Berry right next to TCU.

Wall of Sound update

2007-08-27T11:33:00.000-05:00

So, does anyone have their Wall of Sound tickets?

Buffalo Brothers Pizza & Wing Co.

2007-08-25T09:25:00.000-05:00

Back in early August, I mentioned that the Texadelphia near TCU was no more, and that workers were doing heavy remodeling inside the space. Well there's a sign above the space now, and it looks like we're getting a Buffalo Brothers Pizza & Wing Co. A quick Google search didn't show many locations, and it seems to be a North Carolina thing so far...

The Evil Eye: Cat Powered

2007-08-15T14:18:00.000-05:00

I like Cat Power. There ya go.

Does that make me a total dork? I don't know, nor do I care. The point is, she's going to be in Dallas at the Granada this Friday, and I will be there reviewing the show for the Star-Telegram. You should go to. If you want to go, I can also sell you a reduced price ticket.

Who couldn't love a girl who got a Chanel contract while looking like this? (Photo after jump)

I forgot to title this...

2007-08-14T09:36:00.000-05:00

Some of you guys may remember Jeramy's post a few months ago on the subject of cupcakes. Well, in the midst of all his Seinfeld-ian struggle, the post was passed on to Sandra. Here's here reply:

Someone recently sent this post to me.

I sure hope you’ve not given up on a cupcake from The Cupcake Cottage. I assure you it was never our goal to turn our cupcakes into tiny quests! While you're busy sleeping-in I am busy baking and my husband follows in to frost our little treasures so they're ready at 10:00a.m. We are kicking out hundreds of these sweet treats each day!

You may have missed us due to our business goal which is a little different from most in that we ‘break for life’. Visit our website and Click on Taking Breaks for details: www.thecupcakecottage.com

Like Steve, we also encourage customers to trek over to Dallas for the Sprinkles experience, not to mention the increased volume of baking compared to our wee kitchen. What we didn't anticipate is having Dallas customers find their way to us, but we get them all the time! We've even had couriers sent to pick up as many as 12 dozen to be delivered to a large firm in Dallas!

If you've not been in yet, be sure to try again or call us, 817-732-5670. We hold cupcakes for late-coming customers all the time! You are even welcome to call a day or two ahead so you don’t interrupt your morning slumber! ;)

We deeply appreciate the patience and perseverance of each customer that finally finds us open and NOT sold out! They have caught on that we're serious about calling and having us hold cupcakes! (and) Many make that extra effort to get to our shop early…

Fort Worthians are quick learners and a smart lot!! We love ‘em!!

sandi =)

Now, I've spent a fair amount of time as a reporter, and I can generally sense when someone is not cool. Sandra, however, seems way cool. So, I am making an executive decision to throw all of my cupcake-lovin support behind this Cupcake Cottage.

Restaurant Week!

2007-08-11T09:44:00.000-05:00

In honor of my birthday, KRLD NewsRadio 1080 has Restaurant Week during August every year... Thanks KRLD, I'm honored beyond belief! Actually, Restaurant Week is a benefit for the North Texas Food Bank and the Lena Pope Home. The fact that it happens around my birthday every year is just a nice little bonus. (Restaurant week and Hatch chiles! August loves me!)

Here's the deal for those who haven't done this before. You make a Restaurant Week reservation at one of the participating restaurants (this ain't one of those "just show up places" like you're going to Applebees or something). For $35 per person, you get a 3 course meal (4 courses if you use the Central Market coupon). Now, $35 per can sound like a lot of money, but at some of these places, it's a bargain. And you get warm fuzzies for it too, because $7 of each dinner goes to one of the charities.

For my birthday last year, my wife and I made reservations at the Dallas Nobu location, and it was marvelous! They had the black cod with miso on their Restaurant week menu, and ladies and gentlemen, it is not just hype -- this dish is divinity on a plate!

I haven't decided where to go this year, but I'm leaning towards Dragonfly or Craft because I haven't tried either of those. Of course, there's also the possibility that I might be pulled back into the epicurean gravitational pull of Nobu once again...

The bulk of restaurant week happens August 13-19, with some restaurants extending through August 26 and September 2, so get on the KRLD site and make some reservations... It's a great way to visit an amazing restaurant or two while doing a good deed.

A ticket for stupidity

2007-08-09T13:53:00.000-05:00

The other day, I parked facing the wrong direction on McPherson Avenue over by TCU. I do this all the time at my house, but apparently Fort Worth cops don't patrol my neighborhood (makes me feel safe). Anyway, I got a $25 ticket, which I promptly paid.

Last week, my mom called. She received a letter from the city saying I hadn't paid. Because my payment was late, I owed $35. I called the city, complained like crazy and then stopped pursuing the issue once I realized my own stupidity.

I made two mistakes:
1. I mailed cash. Do what your mother says and never send cash in the mail.
2. I mailed cash from the post office in the Fort Worth federal building, which is one block from the place to which I mailed my cash. Had I bothered to look at the envelope, I would have seen that I was within spitting distance.

The moral of the story: Never mail cash, and never mail anything when you could just walk over and hand them a check. You get the free lesson. Mine cost me $60.

The mystery of the Hatch...

2007-08-08T08:17:00.000-05:00

Nope, this isn't a post about Lost or geekgirls who find Richard Hatch sexy... This is a post about my favorite food time of year here in Foat Wuth. I'm all excited because the Hatch chiles are in town! (and yeah, for the cynical out there, this does get me excited...)

For the uninitiated, Hatch chiles are from Hatch, New Mexico, and are a bit spicier than standard Anaheim peppers. Hatch chiles are so popular that there's a festival in Hatch every labor day weekend. So of course, the chile-heads here in Fort Worth have their own celebrations.

Central Market has received their shipment of Hatch chiles. I was there on Monday, and they had boxes and boxes of fresh, but none of the pre-roasted. So if you don't mind doing your own roasting, you're in luck. I imagine they'll have the roasted ones out soon.

After seeing the chiles at Central Market the other day, I was hopeful that Blue Mesa already had their annual Hatch chile menu up and running. You see, every year during Hatch chile season, Blue Mesa offers a special menu that's only available until they run out of chiles. I become a very frequent Blue Mesa customer during August...

So I was excited to see the Hatch chile menu cards on the table last night! I immediately ordered a bowl of Hatch chile Pozole. It's made from veal, veal stock, hominy and Hatch chiles, and it is this rich, thick soup that is so delicious... I really wish Blue Mesa offered this in the winter...

I also had the Hatch chile rellenos, which are also wonderful. The dish comes with one chicken and one cheese, and both are good for showing off the Hatch chile flavors. The chicken relleno shows off the spiciness and the way the spice builds, while the cheese relleno brings out the smokiness of the roasted pepper.

My other favorite Blue Mesa Hatch item is the steak relleno taco, but that will have to wait for the next visit.

Hatch season typically begins in early August and runs through early September. Roasted peppers freeze well, so put some up for the winter cooking.

Blue Mesa will feature a Hatch happy hour on August 14 from 5-7. They'll offer free tastings of some Hatch chile items, and they'll also have free tastings of Tezon tequilas.

If you're more inclined toward dinner than happy hour, Blue Mesa will have a Hatch dinner party on August 23. Reservations are recommended.

Movie Tavern, you done me wrong

2007-08-07T23:37:00.000-05:00

Well, I went to see Hot Rod at the Ridgmar Movie Tavern tonight, which used to be my favorite place to go see a movie. I was met with a few disappointments.
1) They took away the student/military discount. Now everyone pays $6. Still a reasonable price for a movie, but sad to see my $4 ticket disappear.
2) To purchase alcohol you must have a TEXAS State ID. Even a passport won't work (I tried). So, being from out of state, that sucks for me.

Then when I got into the movie, the lights came on after the previews and we could only hear the movie without picture. Then about fifteen minutes in they fixed that but the lights stayed on, and halfway through the movie when they fixed that the sound kept cutting out. Then they didn't apologize or anything. It was weird.

Still, you can see a movie for relatively cheap, drink while you watch a movie, and eat. Plus the seats are comfortable and there's lots of leg room. Plus you won't have to deal with high-maintenance 13-year-olds, who are promptly corralled by the police in the parking lot after 10 pm (Rave, anyone?). But ye be warned! The student discount is gone! And bring a Texas state ID if you want to drink.

More TCU area changes

2007-08-04T12:58:00.000-05:00

Texadelphia is gone... The sign is still up, but as we walked by on the way to Dutch's, there was a crew removing the brick from the bar. After we had lunch, the crew was gone but a Ft. Worth Water guy was waiting outside the door. I asked him what was going on and he said he was there to turn the water back on for the (de?)construction crew.

The Texadelphia website now says that a Ft. Worth location is coming soon...

So how was lunch, you ask? It was good... Dutch's has made some menu changes, and the portobello burger is most excellent for those who would like a more vegetarian-inclined offering... Next to try for me: the chicken with roasted green chile sandwich.

Foxy

2007-08-03T15:56:00.000-05:00

At some point, someone on this blog asked about barber shops. I can't find the post, but I figured I'd make a plug for Fox's, a 1960s anachronism on Sandage and Berry. They weren't cheap ($14 with tip), and they weren't fast, but they were friendly, and they're all Horned Frogs fans.

Beyond that, it's probably the best haircut I've ever had. Instead of using a trimmer to even out my neck, he used a straight-blade razor and hot shaving cream. It was amazingly relaxing.

Fox's is located in the one of the only blocks from Bellaire to McCart that TCU doesn't own, and I'm a firm supporter in the owner's refusal to sell. If TCU had its way, all of southwest Fort Worth would be a perfect little neighborhood with no character (I almost cried when Perrotti's sold out).

Spend a little more money and check out Fox's. Sure, they don't have sports on every HDTV (or a TV at all, for that matter), but they have Texas country music, Horned Frogs flags and the personal service that you can't find at ProCuts.

Oh, and bring cash or your checkbook. They don't take plastic.

Stores and restaurants on S. Hulen

2007-08-03T09:24:00.000-05:00

So, this is less of a post and more of a musing, but what's up with all the new stuff on S. Hulen? I don't hang out over there too much, but I was going by Half Price Books the other day when I noticed a new Burlington Coat Factory, the restaurant Steve reviewed, as well as a new sushi place. What gives? Is there more new stuff over there?

There are no good photos, and I haven't bought my camera yet...

The Roustabouts @ The Aardvark

2007-08-01T10:47:00.000-05:00

This summer, I lived in an apartment in Mansfield while in transition between the TCU on-campus apartments and my new house. I had four roommates in that two bedroom apartment: Dave Brower and I shared a room, Johnny Brower had his own room, and Jason and Josh Nix slept on the couch. The four of them also happen to be in a band together. With their drummer Andrew Suggs, they are the Roustabouts.

The reason I tell you all this is because on Friday August 3, they are playing a show at the Aardvark. I may be biased, but their music is pretty good and worth showing up for. I believe they are third in the line-up, so they'll hit the stage around 9:30 or so. Take a listen to their music on their MySpace page and come on out to the show.

www.myspace.com/roustaboutsmusic

Home Town Baseball.

2007-07-26T15:37:00.000-05:00

I don't know if anyone is familiar with the Uni Watch articles on the ESPN website. I read it occasionally because I'm a graphic design nerd and I'm always eager to see what's new in sports logos and uniforms.

There's been an ongoing discussion on the Uni Watch website about Minor League Baseball teams and they're promotional schedules. On very special occasions, teams will wear alternate uniforms in spirit of the theme of the night. Some of these include the Tie-Dye Night for the Everett Aquasox and Star Wars Night for the West Michigan Whitecaps. My personal favorite: Redneck Night for the Kansas City T-Bones.

That got me thinking, "what do the Fort Worth Cats have to offer?"

Unfortunately for all of us, I'm writing this post too late in the season. We've already missed the Cats' own rendition of Star Wars Night (July 5), Hogs & Hot Rods (June 17), and the ever so popular Mullet Night (July 8). But looking ahead, we still have Elvis & The Oldies Night (August 7) and the Las Vegas Suitcase Party (August 23) to look forward to.

Even if it's not a promotional night, Cats games are definitely worth going to. Only people that love baseball show up to Minor League games, and the Cats are exceptionally good. They are currently 14-5 this season, unlike our under 500 Rangers. Tickets are only 4 bucks for a game and it's in town. So grab your cracker jacks and head out to LaGrave Field for some baseball without the mega million contracts.

Modern Times: Waitress and Paris Je T'aime

2007-07-26T10:39:00.000-05:00

Two really neat movies coming to the Modern film series in the next two weeks: Waitress and Paris Je T'aime.

Trailers after the jump.

Waitress:

Paris Je T'Aime:

Waitress runs from July 27-29, and Paris Je T'aime runs August 3-5.

Aaarrrgh! Cafe Express gone...

2007-07-25T09:07:00.000-05:00

Some of my favorite lunch spots are dying like the dinosaurs! Last week it was Baja Fresh, this week it's Cafe Express... Places that I like, beware... I'm the kiss of death!

The Stage Names

2007-07-24T09:35:00.000-05:00

I first heard about Okkervil River about two-three years ago when they played SXSW. I am often totally unaware of new bands, and I don't spend too much time checking blogs for leaks. I'm usually the last to know, which is OK.

However, these guys are from Austin, and I enjoy them. I've seen them since three times. I saw them once at ACL, another time at Sons of Hermann Hall, and I also saw Will Sheff open for Jenny Lewis solo at the Ridglea.

They have yet to disappoint.

The new CD, The Stage Names is a good CD, too. I don't give just dozens of recommendations because I prefer to actually absorb and fall in love with a CD for weeks.

If you pre-order this CD, though, you get a whole host of stuff--demos from Sheff and the boys, a pre-download, and since it's an indie label, come one, you'll at least get a few stickers, too.

Shameless plug for the Queen City

2007-07-23T20:35:00.000-05:00

I spent years 2 through 15 of my life in Cincinnati, a city that has more in common with Fort Worth than one might think. They're roughly the same size, and they both have a good amount of hole-in-the-wall charm. I guess it's the small-town atmosphere that makes F-Dub feel like my beloved city to the north.

Downtown Cincy has a district of low-incoming housing called "Over the Rhine." In the last decade, high-rollers have bought many historic properties, and attempts have been made to rehab and preserve the neighborhood. The district is full of abandoned beauty and incredible history.

It's also home to one kick-ass band.

Over the Rhine, is a duo from, you guessed it, the namesake district in the Queen City. Their rock is reminiscent of 10,000 Maniacs with its female vocal lead, but there's a stronger element of folk rock, as well as a darker edge. The lyrics are passionate and real, with no hint of corporate influence. It's a nice thing to hear in a world full pointless rock that follows a calculated formula.

As for the Texas connection, I think they played a show in Texas once. Good enough for me.

Bruce Robison comes to 8.0

2007-07-23T07:44:00.000-05:00

Bruce Robison just seems like a nice guy.

Actually, a friend of mine who works at at the Bass says he's a really nice guy, the type who doesn't get too worked up about anything and just takes life as it comes.

So, if you're into some really well-written country tunes that don't suck, stop by 8.0's on Wednesday, July 25 and catch the little set he's doing downtown. And if you don't have his latest CD, it's a nice, mellow addition to your Fort Worthian-inspired collection.

Who couldn't like a guy whose PR picture is this? After the jump...

No FW love on MappyHour???

2007-07-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

This is a screenshot of Dallas on MappyHour, a utility that takes Google maps and guides users to places with happy hour drink and food specials. Fort Worth is not even listed on the map, though Lubbock and Andrews merit a mention...

So let's get busy, Fort Worthian readers! Start listing those happy hour specials on MappyHour so it looks like we have some semblance of civilization!

Baja Fresh no more...

2007-07-19T14:26:00.000-05:00

I stopped by one of my regular lunch spots today, only to find the manager and crew stacking tables and taking the place apart. Baja Fresh had some pretty good food, but my favorite was the grilled veggie burrito. Yeah, I enjoy a good Chipotle burrito and Freebirds is mucho fun, but for someone who needs to do some weight-watching, the Baja Fresh grilled veggie burrito was a more reasonable substitute. I'll miss it...

Oh yeah, and there was a note on the door inviting us to visit the Baja Fresh location in Irving... Yep, that's really convenient for lunch, thanks...

Been under the weather...

2007-07-18T10:29:00.000-05:00

But then again, haven't we all? Nice to see some sunshine in North Texas again.

So, I'm a book nerd. I read rock 'n' roll books, fiction, poetry, biography--you name it I read it. I also love the library. Of course, I owe the Fort Worth Public Library $10 for the copy of Love is a Mixtape I borrowed and neglected to return for, let's say, a while.

Well, now I perhaps can be truant and get books! The Startlegram had a good article about this last week I've been meaning to post.

Starting Aug. 1, Fort Worth residents with a library card can download audiobooks from the library Web site, said Deborah Duke, collection management administrator at the Fort Worth Public Library.

"Libraries are starting to do this," Duke said. "It's one of the ways to reach people. Audiobooks have long been one of our more popular formats.

"This is a logical progression."

Some critics say this type of new service doesn't help the millions of Americans who don't have computers, MP3 players and other devices that can download and store the information.

But in an era in which technology and convenience rule, librarians nationwide say this is the wave of the future.

And it might draw the interest of those who have never visited a library.

Indie Pop Rocks the Metroplex

2007-07-13T10:09:00.000-05:00

This has been a big week for two of my all-time favorite bands. This past Tuesday highly anticipated (an extreme understatement) albums were released by Spoon and Interpol to much critical acclaim.

Interpol then appeared on Letterman later that night and Spoon followed suit on Wednesday night. It didn't seem like either band was at their best during the performances, but I attribute that to my high expectation level, Dave's crappy soundstage, Britt's acoustic guitar, and Paul's ugly hat. I have, however, seen both of these bands in person over the past couple months and I can vouch that both put on a ginormous live show so I know they are capable of a little more than what was on display this week. Dave also mentioned that he was a big fan of both groups, and I'm still trying to figure out if that made me feel better or worse.

For those who want to see what these bands are really capable of: they have both announced upcoming shows here locally, and conveniently both went on sale this morning at 10 am. Interpol will be playing at The Palladium on September 27th and Spoon will be with The New Pornographers at House of Blues on November 2nd.

Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster. Both new albums are excellent and both bands put on an incredible live show. So buy your tickets now!

Represent!

2007-07-12T13:35:00.000-05:00

Eating lunch today at Spiral Diner (YUM!) and saw these on the way out the door... Sorry for the fuzzy cellphone camera image...

Might have to buy one sometime...

Home of the big buns...

2007-07-11T12:29:00.000-05:00

I'm finally back in the Fort, which is a good thing. And it's finally stopped raining so much, which is also a good thing.

I went to visit family in Alabama, where they were desperate for rain. There's a lake not far from my parent's home that is currently 5 feet below normal, and the city council is discussing water rationing. That made my Alabama visit feel a little too much like a normal summer in Texas.

So to celebrate my return to the Fort, I decided to give the new location of Dixie House Cafe a try. Though I had my share of home cooking in Alabama, I was eager to visit the self-proclaimed "Home of the big buns."

I went around lunchtime on Wednesday, and the parking lot around the restaurant area didn't have many empty spaces remaining and the inside of the place was fairly busy. There's not much going on decor-wise -- it's basically standard-issue chairs and tables. There's still some dark wood remaining from the days when the space housed a Harrigan's, but most of the Harrigan's decor got stripped out by the overrated BBQ place that lasted a couple of months...

This is the kind of place where they ask if you want sweet or unsweet tea and the waitresses call you "sugar" and "honey" and "handsome" without any trace of irony. In other words, it reminds me a lot of the small-town restaurants I grew up with in Alabama.

Several people near my table were discussing how wonderful the chicken fried steak was, but I wasn't really in the mood for that, so I got some meatloaf, along with okra and mashed potatoes. And what do you know? It really is some decent, down-home cooking... Don't go expecting an epicurean revelation from the heavens, but if you're missing your grandma's cooking, this could be a reasonable substitute. The dinner roll was very tasty, my okra was crisp, and the gravy on the mashed potatoes was very well done and not overly peppery like many Texas gravies.

They serve breakfast too, so I'm looking forward to trying that one weekend. If they use the same gravy from the mashed potatoes, I'd wager that their biscuit and gravy would be fantastic.

The desserts looked good, but I overindulged on the sweets during my Alabama trip, so that tasting will have to wait until I ride some more Tour de France miles...

My lunch was $7.50 and my tea was $1.50, so a good hot lunch was under 10 bucks. I didn't see anyone order a hamburger, so I cannot attest to the size of the alleged "big buns." I'll have to check those out later too...

I was impressed by the service and organization. This place just opened on Monday, and the service was handling a pretty good lunch crowd without breaking a sweat. I hope the Dixie House does well in this location.

Dixie House Cafe
5401 S. Hulen
817-361-8500
Open 6:30 am until 9 pm, Monday through Saturday

Clark and Michael

2007-07-10T08:17:00.001-05:00

OK, one last post for this morning, and I'll be off to shoot photos in Alvarado.

This is not a local thing per se, but then again, you have to use the internet somewhere, right?

Michael Cera, better known as George Michael from Arrested Development, has a set of "webisodes" about a couple of less-than-bright guys trying to get a TV series made. It's called Clark and Michael, and it's really pretty funny. The New York Times did a big article on it here, too. He brings in all of his Superbad buddies in, even Seth Rogen gets to watch a particularly dumb display by the two guys.

But, why should I explain it to you when you could be watching and laughing? And, as for keeping it local, make sure to watch it when the sky is mildly cloudy so that Charter's internet service is faulty. This should give you plenty to curse about. You'll feel right at home.

Drue's Clues?

2007-07-10T08:12:00.000-05:00

Oh, while you're browsing the Star-Telegram, check out the latest After Hours by yours truly.

I kind of forget I write these sometimes. I was getting a flat fixed at Sam's Club the other day when I struck up a conversation with a woman about the Star-Telegram. She asked me if I had written the piece on Drue, and for a moment, I forgot I had.

You can find it here, and it provides a quick guide to the blues, or at least, where to find them in Fort Worth.

The Death of a Department (store)

2007-07-10T08:05:00.000-05:00

So, if you live anywhere near Camp Bowie, you've seen men standing on streets corners with signs advertising Stripling & Cox's store closing. Truthfully, there might be a story in those guys alone.

The Star-Telegram wrote a small obituary for the store, which I've never been in:

The Dunlap Co., operator of several department-store chains including Stripling & Cox, announced Monday that it will close its 38 stores in eight states, ending a 114-year local mercantile legacy.

Every time I drive past this place, it reminds me of how these sort of stores really do not exist anyone. Luria's, Montgomery Ward, and even the occasional un-anchored Sears. We live in a different era now, and there's not much to do about it.

I'd even go as far as to say The Price is Right was one of the last refuge of this sort of department store culture.

Anyway, tomes aside, anyone got anything really cool for really cheap at S&C yet?

The Evil Eye: Roky at the Granada

2007-07-09T08:02:00.000-05:00

So, if you haven't heard, Roky Erickson is back.

OK, well, he's been back since about 2005, when he made his triumphant return at the Austin City Limits Festival. But before that, Erickson wasn't having the best go at life.

You can find a more revealing history of Erickson in this article, but here's a little back story: Erickson was the leader of 13th Floor Elevators, an Austin band that did much to invent psychedelic rock in the '60s.

The snag? Well, as you might have guessed from the photos, Roky spent too much time taking too much LSD, and before long, he had pretty much turned into a vegetable. It wasn't until his brother took over control of Roky's life a few years ago that things really turned around. These days, though, he's playing, he has a driver's license, and a rockin' new back-up band.

Now, Erickson is out playing again. In fact, he'll be playing a show at the Granada Theater Saturday, July 14.

If you show up at 8 p.m., you can also see the new Roky documentary You're Gonna Miss Me, which I hear is pretty good.

Roky rocks the Granada July 14. The Web site is here

Who'd a thunk?

2007-07-03T09:29:00.000-05:00

Well, if no one else is going to rave about the new White Stripes CD, I sure as hell will.

Icky Thump is the best record of the Stripes' year, and for what I'm concerned, it's the best record in their career as well. Yes, they've dumped off much of the old, strummy trappings. This is just a raw, loud, pounding record.

But it's rock with a brain, and not a pretentious one, either. Many of these songs have their roots in Celtic balladry, real country music, and a little garage rock as well.

So, how does this apply to the Fort Worthian? Well, they're going to be at ACL Festival. So, there's my hook. thjavascript:void(0)
Publish Postey'll probably play here directly before that. Actually, I'll keep my eye out for when that show happens and I'll post it right here!

Either way, go buy the White Stripes CD.

Red Cactus redux...

2007-07-02T08:34:00.000-05:00

Back in mid-June, I pondered a parking sign about a non-existent but coming soon place called Red Cactus. Well, I got my answer this weekend when I saw workers gutting the former dry cleaner next to Flash. There's a sign for "Red Cactus: Fresh Mexican Food." Looks like Fuzzy's is going to have some competition in the TCU area...

It's nice to see TCU getting more dining options within walking distance. Oh, and here's my idea for anyone who wants it, since I don't have enough money for franchise fees and the like: Someone needs to open a Buffalo Wild Wings on the first floor of the Grand Marc. A sports bar on the first floor of the Marc? That's printing your own money... Plus, that would become the de facto hangout before TCU games... Plus plus there are no wing places immediately around TCU and I could go there during lunch and play NTN trivia, which is like crack to me... So please, Mr. or Ms. Moneybags, open a BWW in the Marc. Pretty please?

At the 2500 Club

2007-07-02T07:33:00.000-05:00

So, my friend Drue Webber calls me at the end of last week. Now, I've mentioned on here before that Drue is a good friend and a very talnted guitar player, and I actually sat down and talked to him for this weeks After Hours feature in the Star-Telegram.

Well, during that interview, Drue waxed on about this gruff singer-songwriter named Guthrie Kennard. So, when Drue called to say he was going to see Kennard play and would want to tag along, I of course said yes.

Little did I know what I was in for.

The 2500 Club is located on Belknap, just north of downtown, and let me tell you, that place can be just about scarier than the finding an Adam's apple on your new girlfriend.

It's a place where bikers, biker gangs and other rough-around-the-edges guys hang out. To be honest, though, it's fairly peaceful, but, for example, the under dressed, mildly drunk 40-year-old behind the bar sets the tone. And that tone is the same one used in People Are Strange

But, Guthrie played his set. and I have to say, it was pretty good. I tend to be more in for the colder, more clean indie rock, but the guy definitely had a lot of heart. And he could have played longer if a drunk roughneck wouldn't have come in, walked up to the microphone and started howling at the top of his lungs before trying to pay the bartender 25 cents for a beer. Things were getting weird, I made it an early night.

So, check Guthrie out and see if it's your thing.

Wall of Sound Festival

2007-06-29T09:21:00.000-05:00

Wall of Sound Festival tix go on sale this morning at 10am at Spune.com.

The lineup includes
Explosions in the Sky
Spectrum featuring Sonic Boom (Spaceman 3, E.A.R)
Ghostland Observatory
Midlake
Pinback
The Books
Bobby Bare Jr.
Om (ex Sleep)
Peter and the Wolf
Lymbyc Systym
The Timeout Drawer
The Sword
The Baptist Generals
The Paper Chase
Ian Moore
Black Tie Dynasty
Eleven Hundred Springs
Pleasant Grove
Record Hop
Brothers and Sisters
Red Monroe
Doug Burr
Dove Hunter
Current Leaves
Ghosthustler
White Denim
Hogpig
Oliver Future
Spitfire Tumbleweeds
Lions

I didn't get to go last year due to heavy school commitments, so I'm looking forward to this year... Hopefully, the rain will have stopped by September...

Buggin' the people at the Bass

2007-06-27T17:25:00.000-05:00

So, I hope you guys aren't under water out there. I hear it's rainy.

Well, I just got an e-mail from my friend Maggie at the Bass Hall. Apparently, The Three Redneck Tenors are making a triumphant return.

God.

Now, anyone who knows me knows that I am a big supporter of all things Bass Hall. Many of my good friends work there, George Jones plays there, and Lyle Lovett sells out three nights there. It's a pretty cool place, really. So, with all that going for them, these Blue Collar Comedy Knock-Offs (I didn't know such a thing existed) seem beneath the stature of the place.

So, what do you think would put butts in the seats at the Bass?

Long Time No Binge

2007-06-26T20:28:00.000-05:00

Dear Pizza Hut P'Zone,
I must confess, once you left I didn't think I'd ever see you again. I tried to put you out of my mind because I knew it would hurt too much to think about you. But now that you're back I can say this: I've missed you. You are too delicious to stay away, and I love pizza and all pizza-related products too much to let you. Welcome back, P'Zone--it's been too long.

The Turmoil of Cupcakes

2007-06-26T09:54:00.000-05:00

I am, whether I am breaking the elastic on sweatpants or fighting against being blown away by my fan, a fat kid at heart. Food and I have carried out a torrid affair for as long as I can recall. I love fresh, over-sauced dishes arranged in ways that make me feel guilty about cutting into them. My mouth waters at sushi piled high and painstakingly assembled. I live for food that was never meant to be fried loafing about beside to a vat of ranch dressing. I’m alarmingly fond of brunch.

But our relationship is not without its turmoil, which brings me to the problem I present to you today: The Cupcake Cottage.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I adore cupcakes – it’s in my very nature to do so – but The Cupcake Cottage (http://www.thecupcakecottage.com/) stands off of Camp Bowie Boulevard mocking me as I drive by its darkened windows. Long have been the two months since I was first told of this palace, of the intoxicating scent of butter and self-rising flour drifting out of its doors. Their Web site boasts an impressive array of flavors, from cookies and cream to peanut butter cup, and even the exotic pink lemonade. Standard cupcakes are $2.25 each, which I am certainly happy to spend on the occasional mid-afternoon indulgence. In fact, often have been the times that I have set forth from my home with the hopes of finding myself in the presence of a baked masterpiece.

And this is where my love of food, this imagined romance with an iced treasure, turns sour. The Cupcake Cottage is open five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00am “until the last cupcake is sold!” I’m not a fan of exclamation points in general, feeling that most people should be limited to perhaps a dozen or so in their lifetime, or at least one, properly used, a month, but I stress to you that the punctuation at the end of this phrase is necessary: there is a sense of urgency that one must have when seeking to enter this cozy establishment before their doors close.

My first trip to The Cottage was, admittedly, a foolish one, as I did not realize that they were closed on Mondays and should have done my research beforehand. My second excursion revealed a sign saying “Sorry! The last cupcake has been sold!” This was close to three in the afternoon on a Saturday, which, in retrospect, was probably underestimating the public’s demand for cupcakes. But the last time I made the short trek to Camp Bowie it was scarcely after 1:00pm, and The Cupcake Cottage was once again a cloud on an otherwise sunny street. I love cupcakes, but I also love my sleep. With a full-time internship during the week, Saturday is really my only option when it comes to The Cupcake Cottage, but it is also my much-anticipated day of staying in bed until the afternoon sun forces me out. Are people really ravaging a day’s supply of baked goods in less than three hours? Is there a line at 10:00 am stretching down the length of Camp Bowie, back to the Enchanted Florist, full of citizens clamoring for a Mint Chocolate Chip delight?

The Cupcake Cottage bakers are currently on vacation, and will return to the operation a week from today. I tell myself that the following Friday is when I will stay in for the night, will turn off my phone, and then wake to my alarm the next morning, make myself presentable, and finally give myself over to the pleasure of buttercream icing.

But I’m not going to hold my breath.

I hope others have had more luck with The Cupcake Cottage than I have. If so, do let me know what I am missing out on; if it is worth my anxiety. And if you’ve never heard of the establishment, click on over to their Web site (which is newly redesigned, quelling my suspicion that they may have secretly gone out of business) and take a look around. Because, if you’re anything at all like me, this quaint, seemingly heart-warming little dessert shop will come to haunt your thoughts. The Cupcake Cottage is located at: 5015 El Campo Avenue (at Camp Bowie Boulevard) Fort Worth, Texas 76107

So, it goes.

2007-06-25T06:46:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday morning!

Anyone go to the Fort Worth Weekly Awards? It looked like some good stuff, I just couldn't make it down.

Was having lunch with my friend and FW Weekly nominee, Drue Webber. Drue's looking to start a White Stripes styled blues band. Sounds like good stuff.

Oh, well, just a post to get the morning started right, so, last question: Are there any barbers left in the world? Like where you sit in the chair an a man that looks like Max Fisher's dad cuts your hair? I wish there were, and I wish they were in Fort Worth.

Be the first Sicko on your block...

2007-06-21T17:00:00.000-05:00

You know there will be controversy, you know there will be in-your-face politics, and you know it will be one of the most talked about films of the summer...

So get in a sneak preview of Sicko this Saturday evening at the Angelika in Dallas.

Brian Williams is good-looking man

2007-06-21T09:54:00.000-05:00

And I'm man enough to admit that. I won't take it away from him.

So, if you want to see his dashing, striking features, or pull a Soy Bomb-like prank, head over to the Tarrant Regional Water District's administration building. I know, I'm there all the time already!

He'll be there at 5:30 p.m. Max Baker, one of favorites up at the Star-Telegram filed the brief here.

Long story short, Williams is broadcasting from there tonight. I like that guy. Possibly because he's so damn good-looking. When I became a journalist, I assumed they just made you look like this in school.

Damn.

The Fitted Shirt: Dirty Dillards

2007-06-21T09:25:00.000-05:00

OK, onto the next topic.

I'm also tagging in a new feature called "The Fitted Shirt."

Here's the deal. I like clothes, I like to look nice. Not preppy or anything, just nice. However, they just don't make properly fitting clothes in my budget anymore. I just enjoy a nice, clean, fit shirt. This feature is my (and maybe our other contributors as they see fit) place to talk about clothes, stores, shopping, whatnot.

And, maybe one day it'll take, and they'll start to make shirts that fit right (Thanks, Britt).

I'm sure by now all know about Dirty Dillard's, the Dillard's clearance store in the Six Flags Mall just off of Division Drive. This being said, I got a handful of $100 plus shirts for about $20. It was nice.

Sadly, the mall has seen better days. But, then again, haven't we all?

If you don't know about this place, it's like the nexus of clothes that didn't sell during their season. Everything in the store in 75 percent off, and because of Father's Day this weekend, an extra 40 percent was knocked off. Whoop-i-dee-do.

Part of me thinks this is the kind of place that your mom brought you to right before school started if you grew up here. Anyone have that experience?

Where you guys and gals buying your clothes?

Jerryworld: Where my girls at?

2007-06-21T09:15:00.000-05:00

Today we start a new feature here at Fort Worthian, one that will truly cover all the weird and wonderful things happening in that crazy little sandwich of a city, Arlington.

And since it's an inaugural idea, here we'll have two topics with two posts dealing with the little place. I'll lead with the most exciting one:

The Morning News has a very interesting article about strip clubs in Arlington being pushed out by Jerry Jones' new Cowboy's stadium in the city.

The strip clubs that operate less than two miles away don't fit into that picture, council member Mel LeBlanc said.

"When people see a strip club as a first entry into Arlington, it certainly gives a certain impression of the city," he said.

Know what's funny, when I think Arlington, my mind automatically gravitates to "porn shop," so these people are way off. Only kidding!

Anyway, interesting stuff. That stadium is going to change things from here to Dallas and back to Fort Worth. Thoughts?

Good morning, Good morning!

2007-06-21T09:11:00.000-05:00

Well, I see we've picked up some new readers in the last week. Thanks you guys for reading. If you have something to add, or want to even write for us, get in touch with me. Where? There's an e-mail on the bottom of the page.

I've been sick the last few days, and busy, but I'm back, boys.

So, in recognition of these folks, here's a video that Larry posted in our comments section. Not really Fort Worth, but remember, you can buy this sweet stuff at Central Market off of I-30 and Hulen.

Fort Worth Is Alive With the Sound of Music

2007-06-19T19:04:00.000-05:00

MacHenry's Pub on Magnolia has an open mic every Wednesday night. The website says that it starts at 8 pm, but only show up that early if you want to hang out with whoever you came with, the bartender, and the two or three other people in the place. That's how it was last week when I stopped by. By 9 pm, however, there were 20-25 people there to share and enjoy music.

There's a real Irishman who works at the bar, and most people there are pretty friendly. It's a good place to go try out a new song or just to hear some good music. I've been a few times, and every time there's a new bunch of musicians, although there are some regulars.

Also, here's a reminder about this Friday at Eurotazza: I (Megan) will be playing at 9 pm. Come out for some darn good coffee and gelato, and hopefully some good music. Here's my little Myspace page if you want a preview.

30 bands at 5 bars for free? Yes please!

2007-06-19T10:32:00.000-05:00

I'm not much of a concert goer anymore because too many stupid high school kids show up in force nowadays. The fact that I'm scrapping the bottom of my checking account doesn't help either. However, I found an event that solves both my live music woes that I'm willing to share.

Every year, Fort Worth Weekly gives awards in several categories from best barbeque place to best thrift store. This Sunday the 24th, they will be holding this year's music awards by lining up 30 different bands to play at 5 different bars downtown for free admission.

The participating venues are:
-The Pour House, 209 W 5th St.
-8.0, 111 3rd St.
-The Flying Saucer, 111 E 4th St.
-Embargo, 210 E 8th St.
-McDavid Studio, 301 E 5th St.

The whole shabang will take place 4-10 p.m. I'm pretty sure it's only for the 21+ crowd considering it's at bars, but I'm not entirely positive on that. For a full lineup and schedule, pick up a FW Weekly.

And as an added bonus for going out for free music, you can vote for your favorite bands and enter for a chance to win a Vespa!

You'll be the coolest kid around.

Modern Times: Ron Mueck

2007-06-18T11:25:00.000-05:00

On June 24, Ron Mueck brings his kind-of-creepy-but-kind-of-cool sculptures to the Modern here in Fort Worth.

Don't know much about the guy, which shows my lack of knowledge about modern art (it does make me want to rock out, though), however, this looks pretty neat. And isn't the Modern free on Wednesdays?

Hey, cool! I like art, but only free art. If you know something more knowledgeable about this guy, post a comment and let me know! And did anyone see Pretty Baby? I kind of wanted to, I think... part of me expected that a Vanessa Carlton song was playing through the whole exhibit.

The FW Weekly said it may be one of the biggest events to come to the Modern, and hey, I'd like to go see it. Nothing beats junkie chic, sculpture?

Photo after the jump.

concerts y delight

2007-06-17T17:24:00.000-05:00

if you were a hotdog, and you were starving, would ya eat yerself? i know i would.

hay!

anyways, my wallet is usually empty from concert-going and the like during summer, but i haven't seen anyone since the shins a couple of months ago. crime? yes. i should like to treat myself to overpriced, one-of-a-kind merch, standing in lines outside sweltering venues, and a $5 shiner asap. the following upcoming concerts are some of the highlights on pollstar...

Tuesday, June 19: The Rosebuds @ the Cavern [dallas]
The Black Keys @ Ridglea [ft worth]
Friday, June 22: Ben Folds @ Smirnoff [dallas]
Saturday, June 23: Polyphonic Spree @ Granada [dallas]
Wolfmother & Photo Atlas @ House of Blues [dallas]

Saturday, July 7: As Tall as Lions @ House of Blues [dallas]
Friday, July 13: Centro-matic @ Granada [dallas]
Tuesday, July 24: The Working Title @ the Door [dallas]
Wenesday, July 25: Travis @ House of Blues [dallas]
Saturday, July 28: Bishop Allen & Page France @ Hailey's [denton]
Tuesday, July 31: Jimmy Eat World @ Granada [dallas]
Tokyo Police Club @ House of Blues [dallas]

Friday, August 10: Rufus Wainwright & Neko Case @ Nokia [grand prairie/hell]
Saturday, August 11: Ween @ House of Blues [dallas]
Thursday, August 16: Ladybug Transistor & Papercuts @ Rubber Gloves [denton]
Saturday, August 18: Ben Kweller @ Hailey's [denton]
Thursday, August 23: As Tall As Lions @ the Door [dallas]
Saturday, August 29: Ethan Durelle @ the Door [dallas]

anyone interested? assuming i'm not working/interning/at the radio station, i am game. and.. let me know i've missed anything.

Pianos and free parking

2007-06-17T15:06:00.000-05:00

My best friend's 22nd birthday was yesterday, so per his request a bunch of us headed downtown to Pete's Dueling Piano Bar to celebrate. Now although I've been old enough to get in for a few years now, I'd never made it down to Pete's. It was awesome, but that's not why I'm writing this post.

As we were headed over, one of my friends tossed out the suggestion that we should eat and hang out downtown more. I guess I'd never really thought about it since I entered the Real World. Downtown is my working space, so often I don't want to go back at night. But I was reminded last night how sad that is.

The City of Fort Worth, along with the Bass family, has done a great job with our downtown. Parking is free after 6 p.m. and cheap enough before then. There are cops on every corner, so you always feel safe. We have street performers, two movie theaters, Bass Hall and countless restaurants and bars, and if you're up for an argument, you can run by Third Street to hear about why you're going to hell for watching "Harry Potter" films

The whole experience made me question why I use so much gas to drive to University Village or Hulen for dinner, Ridgmar for a movie (for $9) and Bryant Irvin or Eighth Avenue for a post-movie drink.

And one last thing: Those of you who miss Black Dog Tavern will be pleased to know that the owners are trying again, again, on Seventh Street, right next to Liberty Electric Tattooing. Go there and help keep the Dallas yuppies out of Cowtown.

A great way to wrap up a rainy Saturday (or, on following Darren's advice...)

2007-06-17T13:51:00.000-05:00

Blah... Another rainy Saturday, so we were inside most of the day. I was going to cook those chicken breasts in the fridge, but frankly, there's some cabin fever building just a bit... And I really don't handle cabin fever that well. So I made the executive decision that we would go out for some dinner. But to avoid the appearance of being a total dictator, I asked my wife if she'd like to go anywhere in particular. She responded with "sushi," and I happened to remember Darren's post about a new sushi place. I double-checked the post on this here blog and then we headed up Hulen to Sushi Axiom.

When we first walked in, we were concerned that we were underdressed in shorts and polo shirts, but then we saw other folks dressed casually. But the decor is really nice. Lots of dark surfaces with natural woods and water elements. The bar is gorgeous. My wife even commented that it looked a little like the decor of the Dallas Nobu.

We decided to sit at the sushi bar because I enjoy watching the sushi chefs do their work. But at Sushi Axiom, the stools aren't really tall enough to let you see well over the refrigerated cases lining the bar, so that was a little disappointing.

We didn't look much at the regular menu since we were there with sushi on our minds. We did pause long enough at the appetizers to see they had vegetable tempura, so we got an order of that. Looking at the signature rolls menu, we saw one called Scallop Dynamite that had scallops and crab and other good stuff, so I wrote it down. We also ordered the California, salmon skin, and shrimp tempura rolls. And as if that wasn't enough to feed a small army, I got a tamago (sweet egg) for myself...

The vegetable tempura came out first, and it was pretty standard tempura. While we were working on that, the sushi chefs passed over a plate with the California and shrimp tempura rolls, and they were good too. The California rolls didn't have the big glob of avocado that many places seem to go with -- I'm here for the crab, not the 'cado...

The Scallop Dynamite came next, and it was rich. The bottom layer was a roll made with crab and cream cheese. On top was a creamy sauce with scallops and roe. So it was a pretty messy proposition to eat this thing, especially if your chopstick skills are questionable. The flavor was good, with a sweet flavor at first, developing into a bit of heat at the end of the bite. While this was good, we were both tired of it by the end of the meal.

The salmon skin roll was good, but the skin wasn't as crispy as I would've liked. I've had this other places where the salmon skin was a bit crunchier and still had remnants of the salmon flesh attached. I don't know which is the proper method, but I vote for the crispy version.

So yeah, Darren was right, as I suspected he would be. Sushi Axiom is a good local spot, and it's a pretty romantic place for a date. For the record, we watched West Wing afterwards, rather than Veronica Mars, so we didn't follow Darren's advice entirely...

Red Cactus?

2007-06-16T14:37:00.000-05:00

Noticed this today behind the TCU bookstore... Anyone know what Red Cactus will be? My imagination says either a Tex-Mex place or a western-themed bar. If anyone knows for sure, let us know in the comments...

Da Dems in Dub

2007-06-15T08:54:00.000-05:00

I wanted to write this entire post like a rapper would lead a crowd in a sing-along, but I lost interest. I call this the Malkmus-syndrome.

Hillary Clinton will be at Joe T.'s tomorrow. She's running for president. She's a woman. Her husband was president. Wikipedia the rest.

I have no opinion on Hillary Clinton. If you're looking for hard-hitting political opinion, go to the Huffington Post. I'm planning on posting about George Jones in an hour or so. I will say this though, the internet is full of dorky pictures of Hill-ster.

But that being said, this is kind of cool. I think Tyler has had more presidential candidates visit than Fort Worth for some reason. I'd go, but, well, it would take Abe Lincoln giving a stump speech to surround myself with a bunch of partisan hacks on either side from either party.

Hillary Clinton will be at Joe T. Garcia's on Northside June 16 for a 12:30 p.m. brunch.

Happy birthday, Shiner!

2007-06-14T11:26:00.000-05:00

Shiner 98 is now available at the Central Market on Hulen. And yes, in case you haven't figured it out, this makes me very happy...

So what is Shiner 98? Glad you asked... Shiner is 2 years away from the big century mark, so from year 96 to 100, they are releasing special small-batch brews. This year's brew is a Bavarian Style Amber, and it's only available for a limited time, so pick some up.

I'm not sure if Shiner is just doing the beer this year or if there will be some other special item on the market as well. Shiner 96 had a cool wooden crate and Shiner 97 had some nice pint glasses. I hope Shiner does something else, because I'm kindof a freak about cool memorabilia...

Two news stories...

2007-06-14T09:36:00.001-05:00

caught my eye this morning, and I think both are from yesterday. The first is that the Flyers, who I forgot existed, are leaving Fort Worth. Second, the TCU professor who threatened to take out half the block is not mentally competent to stand trial.

I've no comments on either. Here is the link to the Bond story, and here, the Flyers.

Type rest of the post here

The evil eye: Who the f@$% is Tree Wave?

2007-06-14T07:34:00.000-05:00

When I think Dallas, I think electronic music.

No I don't.

Then who the fuck is Tree Wave?

OK, I'll give you this much. I'm terrible about missing the next big thing that's under my nose. While I was listening to Todosantos, everyone I knew was going to check out Midlake in Denton. But then again, I haven't heard much about this band.

A quick internet search tells me the band is Lauren Gray and Paul Slocum, and a picture tells me the Slocum is often out of focus. There music is cool, kind of electro-My Bloody Valentine, it would seem.

But, here's the rub, they're from Dallas, hence the "evil eye title." I don't know if they still play often in Dallas or not. I know they're in Austin a lot, and that Gorilla vs. Bear loves them.

So, what's the word, anybody seen these guys? Know them? When they gonna play Dub?

Rub-a-dub-dub, here's a music video!

North Texas Top Chefs...

2007-06-13T09:42:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I'm a fan of cooking shows, so shoot me... I've loved Iron Chef for years, though I'm not so big on Iron Chef America. I've watched Hell's Kitchen for a couple of seasons, but mainly for the purpose of hearing Gordon Ramsay rant and wondering why anyone would subject themselves to that...* But as for true culinary talent, Bravo's Top Chef seems to get it... Yeah, there's some gimmickry on there, but they seem to be truly capable cooks.

This season we've got a couple of north Texas folks to root for (or hate on, depending on how things go...)

Tre Wilcox is a chef at Abacus in Dallas, and today's Dallas Morning News reports that he is self-taught.

Casey Thompson is the executive chef at Shinsei.

Good luck to both contestants, and don't try to shave anyone's head... And hopefully Padma won't seem stoned this season... The new season starts tonight at 9 on Bravo.

*Actually Fort Worth does have someone from last season's Hell Kitchen. Next time you're at Central Market, ask Larry about his experiences on the show. He's got some fun stories...

Oldies but Goodies

2007-06-13T01:22:00.001-05:00

I'm looking for a local nursing home to volunteer at. Any suggestions?