Thai Terrace expands with a “ghost” kitchen

In addition to all your Thai favorites from this favorite neighborhood spot, you can now order Chinese and Laotian dishes from the Tiger Bros Chinese Food and Laos Bistro menu offerings (we’ve only ordered online). Our favorites, so far, have been the Fried Pork & Veg Pot Stickers, the not-too-sweet Tangerine Chicken, the very tender Chinese Braised Pork served with hard-boiled eggs and the Spicy Mapo Tofu. All dishes come with rice and steamed veggies. On the Laotian side, you can’t go wrong with the Spicy Drunken Basil Noodles or Laos Fried Rice. While we’ll always be fans of TT’s Tom Kha soup and curries, it’s nice to have options..

4220 W. Vickery Blvd., 817-377-2652, thaiterracecuisine.com

The Fitzgerald: Lunch is served

While dinnertime typically means the hustle and bustle that comes with a full house, Ridglea’s newest restaurant offers a place to linger at lunch. Midday service started in early March (weekend brunch will roll out at some point) with chef/owner Ben Merritt’s seafood-centric menu offering a few of the dinner items, including the Grilled Shrimp Pasta. Or opt for a feast of appetizers: the Lobster Corn Dog, Grilled Gulf Oysters and The Best Hush Puppies with a zesty remoulade for dipping. Soups, sandwiches and salads are big enough to share. The Crab Cake Salad doesn’t skimp on the seafood or greens and is topped with a Creole honey mustard dressing. Our Louisiana Crawfish Roll was stuffed with the little crustaceans and topped with tangy lemon aioli. Sided with a wedge salad, it made for a substantial lunch. For dessert, you can’t miss with either the mountainous wedge of Hummingbird Cake or a Bread Pudding topped with bourbon caramel sauce and Henry’s decadent butter pecan ice cream.

6115 Camp Bowie Blvd., 817-349-9245, eatatfitz.com

R+R Co-Op seeks members

Restore + Revive, a wellness center in the 107, is partnering with local regenerative farmers in offering organically grown produce, pasture-raised and grass-fed meats (everything from sausage to steak), eggs and more. R+R supports sustainable farmers and ranchers who rely on best practices to raise healthy crops and animals. Your $89 annual membership gives you access to all the goods plus a selection of pantry items such as jams and salsas. Pickup will be at Restore + Revive; a calendar, FAQ section, application and more about the farms and ranches are on the co-op website.

5001 Byers Ave., 817-720-6220, restoreandrevive.com and therrfarmcoop.com

Gustos burgers a smash at Hotel Dryce

While the Dryce has become a local destination for conversation, music and craft cocktails in The Lobby Bar, don’t miss out on one of the best flat-patty burgers in town. Head to the back of the patio (or follow your nose) to where Gustos is frying up the meat, buttering the buns and gussying up the tots. Is it healthy? No. Delicious? Yes. Dine in, hang out on the patio or hurry home to eat every bite. And, yes, napkins are a must. They’re open 5 p.m. to bar closing time at the Dryce, Tuesday through Saturday, 3621 Byers Ave. Check the website for menu and social media for updates. gustos.fun or https://www.instagram.com/___gustos/

Closing time There have been several farewells in the restaurant world of late. Longtime Crockett Row resident Fireside Pies closed its doors in late February after 12 years as a go-to spot for wood-fired pizzas and cocktails. Other recent exits include the food hall and The Blue Fish sushi spot (no relation to Blue Sushi Sake Grill, which is still going strong in the Museum Place district). Nearby, Austin City Taco Co. on University Drive also is closed, with the property now up for lease. An early tenant of the West 7th entertainment district (before it was known as such), Pop’s Safari Room closed its humidors. The pioneering bar was at one time a funky spot filled with unusual memorabilia and decor and served as a hot spot for not only cigars, but wine and live entertainment on weekends.

Coffee talk Dutch Bros continues its push into Tarrant County, with the Locke Avenue drive-thru location opening in early March. Fans love the Oregon company’s Nitro cold brew, fruit smoothies, blended coffees, Rebel energy drinks and iced brews. And if you ride with pups, note that they have canine-friendly whipped treats, too. A bonus for early birds: It opens at 5 a.m.

3501 Locke Ave. (between Vickery Boulevard and the I-30 access road just east of Montgomery Street).

Gifted says, “Shop online and see you later”

Days into March, retailer Esther Miller turned off the lights at the well-curated little Carroll Street gift shop that she opened in The Foundry District in 2018. A video post on Facebook directed fans of the always intriguingly stocked shop to visit the website for now to find sustainable, ethically produced, independently designed or artisan-made wares, from jewelry to home goods. As she locked the door, Miller promised, “We’ll be around.” We’re hopeful there is a brick-and-mortar store with greater visibility and more parking in Gifted’s future. giftedftw.com

The Welman Project gets a face-lift

While in-the-know creatives and educators have no problem finding this nonprofit, its new look makes it easier for everyone to spot it. And if you thought Barb, the Welman’s bus, was colorful, check out the new mural from Caya Crum. The Paschal High School student was commissioned last fall to create a 55-foot mural for the building, and Crum came through with flying colors. Her work also can be seen across the street, on the exterior wall of the Swiss Pastry Shop’s building. Recently, she snagged another commission, repurposing the old Massey’s Restaurant sign into an art installation for The Pool Near Southside, a new art gallery on 8th Avenue. The Welman Project promotes creative reuse by collecting donated goods and excess inventory to give to teachers.

Find them at 3950 W. Vickery Blvd. thewelmanproject.org

The Fitzgerald: Lunch is served

While dinnertime typically means the hustle and bustle that comes with a full house, Ridglea’s newest restaurant offers a place to linger at lunch. Midday service started in early March (weekend brunch will roll out at some point) with chef/owner Ben Merritt’s seafood-centric menu offering a few of the dinner items, including the Grilled Shrimp Pasta. Or opt for a feast of appetizers: the Lobster Corn Dog, Grilled Gulf Oysters and The Best Hush Puppies with a zesty remoulade for dipping. Soups, sandwiches and salads are big enough to share. The Crab Cake Salad doesn’t skimp on the seafood or greens and is topped with a Creole honey mustard dressing. Our Louisiana Crawfish Roll was stuffed with the little crustaceans and topped with tangy lemon aioli. Sided with a wedge salad, it made for a substantial lunch. For dessert, you can’t miss with either the mountainous wedge of Hummingbird Cake or a Bread Pudding topped with bourbon caramel sauce and Henry’s decadent butter pecan ice cream.

6115 Camp Bowie Blvd., 817-349-9245, eatatfitz.com

When bad things happen to interesting buildings

Historic Fort Worth is accepting nominations for its annual Most Endangered Places list, a tool the preservation group uses to raise awareness about landmark homes and businesses in danger of being demolished or falling victim to neglect. Among the properties needing a local designation are Farrington Field and Arts Fort Worth (the recently renamed Fort Worth Community Arts Center), both still used on a regular basis and endowed with rich histories. Once the designation has been established, owners benefit from public awareness and help from HFW in dealing with the problems. The May 8 announcement of the nominations is being made in conjunction with National Preservation Month. Find the nomination form on the website. historicfortworth.org/events-tours/most-endangered-places

The Bluebird gets a new look and a new purpose

While Como’s Bluebird opened on Horne Street in the late ’30s, many music fans have fond memories of when bluesman Robert Ealey co-owned it from 1977 to 1989. (At some point, it was renamed the New Blue Bird Nite Club.) For over a decade, the Bluebird provided a stage for Texas talent. The club sat vacant for a number of years until lawyer Gaylen Groce and restaurateur Donatella Trotti, both longtime Fort Worthians, purchased the building. The business partners engaged local resident Osborne Mack, known to his friends as “Bubba,” to breathe new life into the building and reopen it as The Bluebird, Como Alumni Sports Bar. The updated sign and new blue paint job already are raising interest, and the goal is to soon welcome a new generation of patrons. “I used to come here as a kid in the ’70s, and I want to bring the blues back to my neighborhood. I hope to make it happen as the flowers start to bloom,” Mack says. The 62-year-old is a 1978 graduate of Arlington Heights High School and has lived his entire life within a couple of blocks of the club. Current plans are to offer sports on television during the week and live bands on the weekends. A small cover will be charged on weekends, and drinks will be “bring your own.” Outside seating will be available under inviting canopies. The Bluebird will also be rentable for small events, with food catered by a patron’s choice or from Nonna Tata, Trotti’s Italian restaurant on Magnolia Avenue.

3515 Horne St.