THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Grow Plant Shop

After two years of serving plant lovers out of an Airstream parked on an empty lot off Magnolia Avenue, Bobby and Emily Lynge have moved to the Camp Bowie District. With more home dwellers expanding their interior plant repertoire, the Lynges have tapped into a receptive market offering living plants big and small, along with handmade ceramics, planters and other gardening accessories. (The couple and staffers also are knowledgeable about their green babies.) At the new shop, they’ll be able to carry a bigger inventory.

4800 Camp Bowie Blvd., growplantshop.com

Market by Macy’s

The Fort Worth location, a former grocery in the WestBend shopping center, is the second specialty boutique from the department store giant (the first opened in Southlake last year). At 20,000 square feet, it’s not small but feels more intimate; gone are overcrowded clothing racks and overwhelming amounts of merchandise. Everything is easily accessible, and while the basics are here, notable cosmetics lines such as Bobbi Brown and Dior are represented. We love Macy’s house brand (the Hotel Collection) of bed linens, so we’re glad to see it make the cut. There is an option for self-checkout as well as curbside pickup and delivery.

WestBend, 1751 River Run, 817-258-5200, macys.com

Studio 74 Vintage

Laura Simmons, owner of Studio 74 Vintage, is drawing fans with her thoughtfully sourced collection of denim, separates, dresses and accessories from the 1950s to the ’90s. She has transformed what was half of Dough Boy Donuts into a cool boutique (yes, she kept the fireplace) and is rotating inventory quickly. (Simmons also is accepting consignment.) Having honed her eye at countless estate sales, she can quickly spot treasures such as killer caftans, Italian handbags and beautifully crafted knits. Intrigued by the past, she loves to know the history of her wares, which she happily shares with customers. Simmons’ own backstory is intriguing: She’s a retired police officer who fell in love with vintage when she did pinup photography (Simmons was behind the camera), and she’s a huge Prince fan. No stranger to retail, she started out with a booth in a local antique mall before opening a space on the bricks. She and her husband also own Simmons Estate Jewelry at 5800 Camp Bowie Blvd., which stoked her passion for the past.

4908 Camp Bowie Blvd., 817-343-3013, facebook.com/Studio74Vintage

The Welman Project

The nonprofit opened in its new Vickery Boulevard location (next door to Swiss Pastry Shop) just before Christmas and already has caught the attention of the neighborhood. The Welman Project, founded by Taylor Willis and Vanessa Barker, collects donated goods from businesses, nonprofits and individuals to redistribute for creative reuse in schools and other nonprofits; it has served more than 3,000 educators, distributing $2,490,000 worth of materials to 515 local schools since launching in late 2015. Teachers look to The Welman Project for free materials — paper, pencils, art supplies — but sometimes the need is a greater one. Meeting such needs during the pandemic has been a challenge but Barker and Willis manage to make things happen. Want to help? Volunteers and donations are always welcome.

3950 W. Vickery Blvd., 817-924-4000, thewelmanproject.org

Stickwork

Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., 817-463-4160, fwbg.org

This unusual exhibit features sculptor Patrick Dougherty working “live” through the month of February to create one of his fantastical structures in the Fuller Garden. Using his hands and simple tools, Dougherty, who’s in his 70s, and a team of local volunteers weave, twist and shape tree saplings into something unique. Dougherty’s past works have included large-scale tunnels, huts, cocoons, animal and human figures, mazes and more. They’re designed for interaction thanks to entryways and windows being part of each structure. Kids love the work, but so do adults. Dougherty, who hails from North Carolina, combines his background in art history and sculpture with carpentry skills and a love of nature. He has worked around the world — sticks are beloved universally — has won numerous awards and has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning. The finished piece will remain in the garden for as long as nature allows, typically a year. Viewing is included with the price of general admission; check the website for details.

Kintaro Ramen

Chef Jesus Garcia returns to Crockett Row at West 7th to turn Oni Ramen into Kintaro Ramen. Kintaro, which means “golden boy,” opened last April in downtown Arlington and later as a ghost kitchen, which offers takeout only, in Fort Worth. Crockett Row Kintaro offers the same menu as in Arlington: half a dozen noodle soups, including a vegetarian version that also will be available in vegan form; several appetizers including gyoza; a la carte dishes including braised pork belly and bamboo shoots; and a few specials, which will change monthly instead of weekly. Look for dishes such as lamb birria or gumbo-style ramen. The soups feature temomi noodles, which are hand-pressed before cooking, creating a flatter, more undulating style similar to fettuccine. The bar offers beer and sake only. Dining in is an option, as is takeout.

Crockett Row at West 7th, 2801 W. 7th St., 817-887-9013, kintaroramen.com

Olivella’s

The pizza-pasta restaurant moved east on Camp Bowie Boulevard, took a smaller space and moved to delivery and takeout only. But the pizza is still solid; we like the veggie Neapolitan, pictured, and the meatballs are good for a couple of meals. You can also purchase wine (for takeout or delivery) along with beer, pasta, wings and salads.

4901 Camp Bowie Blvd., 817-439-7676, olivellas.com/fort-worth 

Bowie House Hotel ready to break ground

Prominent horse breeder Jo Ellard lives in Dallas, but the former president of the National Cutting Horse Association has spent more than a little time at Will Rogers Equestrian Center. And she has long felt the horse crowd and other tourists would support a personable boutique inn on the bricks. Her answer: Bowie House Hotel, a four-story, 120-room, high-end accommodation on the former site of The Ginger Man on Camp Bowie Boulevard. Aiming for a late 2022 opening, the hotel’s amenities will include a restaurant, lobby bar, pool, spa and fitness center. Eleven luxury town homes will sit on the property lines adjoining the North Hi Mount neighborhood. Ellard expects to break ground before the end of February. She notes that a weekly meeting with “the team” — including Dunaway Associates, Bennett Benner Partners and BOKA Powell — has answered some concerns in an online petition (signed by almost 200 residents) spearheaded by Arlington Heights resident Julie Hunter. Concerns about traffic and Bowie House maintaining “the neighborhood commercial scale and character of the historic section” were joined by a request for a parking plan. Ellard says a traffic study has been favorable and that an arrival porte-cochere has been enlarged to hold more vehicles. As for scale, Wade Chappell, executive director of Camp Bowie District, is optimistic: “We expect the Bowie House to reflect the unique history and culture of not only the businesses but also the surrounding neighborhoods.” Ellard says there are no significant changes in the footprint presented to the City Council, but the design has been tweaked. “I don’t want to give away all of the surprises, so I will just say it is going to be a very handsome building.” — Babs Rodriguez