THE NEIGHBORHOOD

GREEN SPACES

While Dickies Arena is the glam project along Montgomery Street, we also welcome the new green space and park across the street next to the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. The new project, located at the corner of Gendy Street and Harley Avenue, is called the Alice Walton Cowgirl Park. Named for the philanthropic supporter of the museum, the park features a beautiful mosaic mural resembling a tooled western saddle (thanks to tens of thousands of glass pieces crafted by Italian artisans), benches, a walking path, lighting and a monument to Walton’s dog, Good Friday. The park also is home to a bronze of Sergeant Reckless, a decorated war horse, by sculptor Jocelyn Russell. The Cowgirl last year created the inaugural Sergeant Reckless Award to honor Robin Hutton, a champion of war animals in general and the famed mare in particular. Sergeant’s military rank is official; she served in numerous combat positions in the Korean War, transporting everything from telephone wire to ammunition. She was awarded two Purple Hearts and eventually retired, taking up residence at Camp Pendleton in Southern California. When the hero horse passed away in 1968, she was buried with full military honors. We think she’s a more than worthy addition to Fort Worth’s collection of equine statuary. — Meda Kessler

The Meat Board Now open in the Ridglea neighborhood, The Meat Board is a butcher shop/lunch stop. Specializing in premium cuts of beef, lamb, veal, bison, pork, chicken and seafood, TMB also has an in-house butcher who can customize special orders. Packaged side dishes, charcuterie boards, a nice wine and beer selection, condiments, meat rubs, olive oils and cooking tools round out the inventory. The elevated quality of this store is no surprise, considering its pedigree: Leading the ownership are cattle rancher Don Rea and food microbiologist Ranzell “Nick” Nickelson, both members of the Southwest Meat Association Hall of Honor. The bonus is a lunchtime deli (seating is limited, but there’s a patio for good weather), open from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., offering a signature beef tenderloin sandwich topped with crumbled blue cheese on a kolache bun, a New York strip French dip, a double cheeseburger and a fancy 44 Farms hot dog topped with chili. Be on the lookout for brisket from Joe Riscky’s Barbeque. The Meat Board is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. 6314 Camp Bowie Blvd., 844-693-6328, themeatboard.com.

Thirty Eight & Vine This new wine bar in The Foundry District offers a self-serve twist. You’ll be greeted by helpful staff with a plastic card and a menu; peruse the lineup of bottles in the special glass dispensers (again, the staff will walk you through the 42-bottle selection and offer advice if needed). Insert the card in the slot, place your glass under the spout and press a button for a 1-ounce sip, a 3-ounce taste or a 5-ounce pour of your chosen libation. Owners Sam and Jennifer Demel, who brought the concept to Fort Worth, enjoyed similar wine bars on their travels. “Our goal is to be accessible. We want to eliminate all pretentiousness surrounding enjoying and discovering good wine,” says general manager Ryan Fussell. You also can buy wines by the bottle, as well as cellar selections not featured on the wine wall. Nibble on cheese and charcuterie boards from Meyer & Sage and desserts by Gold Ribbon Confections in Arlington. Prices range from $10 to $65 for a full pour; on Tuesdays, all bubbles are half price. The space is inviting, too, thanks to interior designer Jessica McIntyre. Settle into two-tops with leather chairs or a comfortable stretch of sofa or banquette. The intimate Bordeaux Room can be reserved for special events, and there’s also a wine club. 212 Carroll St., 682-703-1887, thirtyeightandvine.com.

TABLE TICKER We said farewell to the following establishments in the past few months: the Montgomery Street Dairy Queen, La Piazza, 85C Bakery in the Left Bank development (the space is now slated to become Akarii Revolving Sushi). In the works in the Ridglea neighborhood is Dimassi’s Mediterranean Buffet in the old Black-eyed Pea spot at 6357 Camp Bowie Blvd. The all-day buffet includes everything from appetizers, soups, salads and dips to veggies, meat dishes and desserts, with lots of vegetarian and gluten-free offerings. The nearest locations in this statewide chain are in Irving, Plano and Richardson.

Open in the Left Bank development across from Trinity Park is Crumbl, a Utah-based bakery offering really big cookies baked in-house for delivery or in-store pickup. Crumbl features a rotating menu that

introduces four new flavors each Monday to join sugar and chocolate chip cookies available every day. Left Bank,
2300 W. 7^th St. (next to Hopdoddy, enter from the parking lot), 682-285-2798. Learn more at crumblcookies.com or follow on social media @crumblcookies.

In December, we said farewell to two longtimers on the bricks. Samson Yosef sold the 7-Eleven (the Ethiopian restaurant next door is still run by Jenber Yosef). And Kay’s Hallmark closed after more than 30 years. Owner Kay Orth plans to spend more time with her grandchildren and pursue new opportunities.

EVENTS

New name, new owner, new dealers When Cowtown native Jan Orr-Harter announced the Fort Worth Show of Antiques & Art was for sale, we flinched a little. The long-running exhibition has been a harbinger of spring for 56 years—owned by Orr-Harter for nine years — drawing a mix of determined collectors, designers and the curious to shop wares of all stripes set up in ranks of intriguing and tidy vignettes at Will Rogers Memorial Center. Never fear, the circle remains unbroken with new management Luxe Events. This year the three-day show promises an elevated mix of offerings from more than 100 high-end art, antique and jewelry dealers. The tweaked name is more sparkly, too: The Fort Worth Show of Antiques, Art & Jewelry. New show manager/curator Andrea Canady has an eye to rebranding the event with a higher caliber of vendors and merchandise. Expect dozens of new exhibitors and mashups of midcentury modern furnishings, Persian carpets and decor with contemporary art and traditional antiques offerings. And jewels, lots of jewels. The shows runs March 6-8 with an opening-night preview March 5, $75. General admission, $10, good all three days, March 6-8. For tickets and more details, visit fortworthshow.com. Will Rogers Memorial Center, 3400 Burnett-Tandy Drive.

SPOTTED

CHROMA Modern Eyeware Eyecare takes shape Just south of the award-winning Fort Worth Camera is another commercial project from Ibañez Shaw Architecture, CHROMA Modern Eyewear Eyecare. The 5,500-square-foot modern structure composed of site-cast concrete panels will be the new home of Texas State Optical and owner/optometrist Matt Barber. Barber, who began his TSO career in 2001, exited the Texas State Optical network last June. He has rebranded and will be moving his operations from the current location in Ridglea (6224 Camp Bowie Blvd.) to the Cultural District hopefully by April. “With the location secured, we needed a rock star architect to pull off the ‘vision’ I had for CHROMA,” says Barber. “After I met [architect] Bart Shaw, I knew he was creative and bold enough to create the amazing building that we needed.” Natural light transfuses a glass box that makes up the retail portion of CHROMA. The transparency and openness of the space encourages customers to flow freely through the collections of frames, including a new private label. “We are still the same practice our patients have come to trust for over 50 years,” he says. 1700 Montgomery St.; the current location will remain open until then.

OPENINGS

Zen Hot Yoga Fort Worth With the Bikram yoga studio on Foch Street a distant memory, it was time for someone to step up and turn on the heat. Sue Cutler Christie, who grew up in Fort Worth, is that person. She was a star squash and lacrosse player in college, and injuries led her to try Bikram 17 years ago. It changed her life. Cutler has opened Zen Hot Yoga in the Ridglea neighborhood to fill the void with traditional Bikram, which is the core focus of Zen’s menu. (Look for hot Pilates in the future.) She promises a welcome atmosphere for experts and newbies. The space is new, featuring a large studio along with shower facilities and lockers for men and women. 6115 Camp Bowie Blvd., (enter between the Starbucks and Snappy Salads), 817-381-8885, zenhotyogafw.com.