THE NEIGHBORHOOD

The Center of Attention

If you haven’t checked out the Como Community Center on Horne Street, take the time to visit the new $12 million facility, which opened in February. The original center, also on Horne Street, was built in 1970 and was long past its prime. The 25,000-square-foot facility, the work of design-architectural firms HKS, includes a full gymnasium, fitness area, multiple lounges and gaming areas for youth and seniors. There also is a library, a full-size teaching kitchen and multipurpose areas used for the center’s after-school program. A dedicated wing for senior citizens thoughtfully features a separate entrance close to the spacious parking lot. They enjoy their own kitchenette, game and activity rooms and restrooms. The word “community” is key to the design of the building. There’s a large covered porch with ceiling fans near an outdoor play area. Hanging above the porch are glass panels by artist Adam Neese, who used text from the now-defunct Lake Como Weekly along with silhouettes of current residents and familiar landmarks in Como. The building itself sits on a hilltop with amazing views of Fort Worth. Inside, the rooms are filled with light and welcoming public spaces. In the lobby is artwork of a lion, once the mascot of the old Como High School. Interested in volunteering? Check out the website for opportunities. 4660 Horne St., 817-392-5300, fortworthtexas.gov/comocc

Hotel Dryce Developers Allen Mederos and Jonathan Morris are full steam ahead on their Arlington Heights boutique hotel. Both men are familiar faces in the neighborhood; Morris also owns Fort Worth Barber Shop and The Lathery in the 107. Working with the city and the neighborhood on zoning issues, they’ve tweaked their design, but did settle on a name for the project. Hotel Dryce pays homage to the building that formerly sold dry ice; the hotel will retain some of its unusual features and memorabilia. The 19-room boutique hotel sits across from Dickies Arena and above Fort Works Art at 3621 Byers Ave. The architect is Bennett Benner Partners; completion is expected at the end of 2020.

Wild Acre Brewing Co. The downtown brewery is working hard on its second location in west Fort Worth that includes a full-service restaurant with on-site brewing operation. Look for a late March opening with a daily lunch and dinner menu from chef David Hollister, 6473 Camp Bowie Blvd., wildacrebrewing.com.

Tinie’s Mexican Rotisserie At long last, Sarah Castillo launches her second chapter. The Fort Worth native and Taco Heads owner has long wished to honor her mother’s cooking on a broader scale — and now does so at a bistro bearing mom Christina Castillo’s nickname. Tinie’s offers an elevated version of Mexican home cooking from the kitchen of co-owner/chef Christian Lehrmann, starting with rotisserie chicken and crispy whole fish, among several dishes meant for sharing family-style. Trips to Mexico City helped the Castillo women and Lehrmann focus the menu, which includes empanadas as well as lighter options such as ceviche, tuna tostada and seafood cocktail. The century-old building, whose brick walls and wood ceilings impart warmth to the two-story space, now have a vintage-yet-contemporary feel thanks to elevated design elements, from marbled wallpaper to modern light fixtures. The rooftop bar offers a menu of custom cocktails — such as the Ocho Uno Siete, a blend of mezcal, avocado, vanilla liqueur, lime juice and agave nectar — from business partner and noted local mixologist Glen Keely. Open from 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at 113 S. Main St., facebook.com/tiniesfw.

Planting makes us hungry Archie’s Gardenland is lush with plants right now, but they’ve also lined up quite a roster of food trucks for Saturday shoppers. Look for The Beignet Bus and Bad Spanish Tacos in March; Za’tar Truck with Mediterranean food, Heim Barbecue and Big Kat Burgers in April; and Salsa Limón in May and June (they are also preparing to open a new restaurant on University Avenue soon). Follow Archie’s on social media @archiesgardenland for updates. 6700 Z Boaz Place, 817-737-6614.

Cameron Silver | March 24-25 It’s only fitting that Christina Phillips, Fort Worth’s vintage furniture queen, hosts LA boutique owner Cameron Silver at Park + Eighth, her treasure-filled furniture and accessories store, in March. Silver is the founder of Decades, the iconic shop on Melrose Avenue, and is a huge proponent of “pre-loved” fashion, be it classic Chanel or early designs from style rebels such as Jean Paul Gaultier. At Decades, shopping is a special experience for those looking to add unique pieces to their wardrobe. He’s also a stylist, bestselling author, reality show veteran and lover of good design, be it couture or architecture. Talk fashion with Silver at a book signing (limited copies available) and trunk show 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days.
4804 Camp Bowie Blvd., 682-708-3838, parkandeighth.com.

Jewelry store Ylang 23 closed its doors at The Shops at Clearfork in Fort Worth mid-February. The Teichman family continues to operate the Dallas store, open since 1985, at The Plaza at Preston Center, 8300 Preston Road, ylang23.com. New retailers opening at Clearfork include CH Carolina Herrera, scheduled to open late spring on Monahans Avenue between Louis Vuitton and Tory Burch. The boutique will offer ready-to-wear and accessories for men, women and children.
Fort Worth retailer Wrare has move from University Park Village to Clearfork. The new space, near Joy Macarons on Marathon Avenue, is big enough for Wrare to bring back some of its furniture lines in addition to the unique home accessories.

Foto Fest | May 1-9 Fort Worth Camera’s annual event celebrates photography, whether you’re a pro or an amateur. Now in its sixth year, events allow shutterbugs of all skill levels to experience and learn from professionals and other creatives. Even better, instead of rote classroom lessons, they offer hands-on work, whether it’s a field trip to the Fort Worth Zoo, aerial photography on a WWII-era C-47 cargo plane, a private evening at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth to hone architectural skills or a photo session with exotic automobiles. One of our favorite local fashion photographers, Dixie Dixon, teaches a workshop devoted to “The Art of Sensuality.” There’s also a field trip with a naturalist to photograph birds and other wildlife and a seminar on light painting at Airfield Falls. Events are priced individually; check out the website, fortworthfotofest.com, for detailed information and a complete schedule.

The Cowtown 5K-9: Run for a cause Organizers of the Cowtown Marathon are offering a virtual run for dogs and their owners. Sign up and walk/run a 5K (3.1 miles) at your own pace and anywhere you choose, as long as it’s completed before April 11, National Pet Day. Proceeds from the $35 registration benefit the Humane Society of North Texas as well as the Cowtown’s C.A.L.F. (Children’s Activities for Life & Fitness) Program. For a medal with a detachable dog tag and a branded bandana, send proof of participation (a screenshot of Runkeeper or a photograph of a watch with distance markers) to virtual@cowtownmarathon.org. Learn more at cowtownmarathon.org. Early birds, take note: Online registration for the 2021 Cowtown opens April 1.

Save the dates This year’s Hidden Gardens of Fort Worth Tour unlocks the secrets of green spaces gracing five homes in the Westover Hills neighborhood. Tickets go on sale April 1 for the May 17 event. Go to historicfw.org for more information. This year’s AIA Fort Worth Homes Tour includes a Craftsman bungalow in the 107 along with six other residences. The self-guided two-day event is May 16-17. Tickets, $25, are on sale now at aiafwhomestour.eventbrite.com.