Sundance Square and the West 7th District

Visit Downtown Fort Worth!

For my last feature in digital storytelling, we decided to go to Fort Worth to see what new things were going on.  I have read about the progress and eventual reopening of the iconic Sundance Square, but didn't know what to expect.  First, 8.0s, the legendary bar and live music venue was changed to a Flying Saucer and the patio was remodeled to mimic Fremont Street in Las Vegas.  The decorations were the same as the previous place, but the slender space of 8.0s transferred to the new Flying Saucer.  We planned to interview one of the bartenders and managers that we heard had worked for Flying Saucer previously and was familiar with the rich history of Fort Worth.  Our plans were complicated when the establishment refused to participate in our feature.  We were able to find many people willing to discuss their experience at this local brew house. 

We ventured through the city and wandered by the Dallas Cowboys' Pro Shop, The Texas Rangers store and the old Riscky's Barbecue.  Downtown Fort Worth is small enough to walk from one end to the other without much trouble.  Dozens of hotels line the streets to accommodate tourists and stay-cation-ers alike.  The proximity makes it easy to visit various landmarks and historical sites as well as participate in the local hangouts.

We weren't able to include Pete's Dueling Piano Bar or the Water Gardens, but both are high on the list of attractions for people in the city.  The recently renovated Sundance Square was bustling with people.  Kids ran around and were mesmerized by the new fountain that lines the north side of the square.  The western edge contained dancing fountains that children dodged in and out of, frantically as their mothers yelled at them.

 

 

After we left downtown, we headed to the West 7th District, via the new West 7th Bridge.  We entered Montgomery Plaza and wandered into a few of the surrounding boutiques.  Chimy's was busy during the worst cold front of 2013.  It is a counter service restaurant that serves a famous margarita and their spin on Tex-Mix favorites. The staff knew the names of most of the customers and it had a small town feel.

Later we ventured to the Medical District and The Bearded Lady.  This small craft beer and food kitchen had an impressive and original food and drink menu.  Their owner greeted us with smiles and was more than willing to open his place up to help us make our video.

Fort Worth is where I was born and raised and it was nice to come back and do my last story there.  I love the humble hospitality and look forward to visiting some of the new establishments that were missed on this trip. 

When is the last time you tried something new in your city?  Is there an area that you know, but maybe haven't visited in a while?  Take a trip and re-experience something you think you already know!

Follow me on Twitter @JQueppet and this story at #FWsFinest

Trinity Groves

Trinity Groves

My Recent Visit...

I recently was hired to be a bartender at a new restaurant opening in West Dallas called Resto Gastro Bistro.  The owner and general manager Linda Mezzei was so excited to tell me about this new area that is being built.  She told me about the application process and the key financial players that were working tirelessly to create the next big thing in Dallas dining.  Restaurateurs have to create a business plan with an exciting and new concept and approach the financiers for approval.  Once approved, they will back the owners of the restaurant 100 percent.  This financial support includes all the  construction expenses, inventory, salary, and supplies.

The new area is located at the first light after exiting the Margaret Hunt Hill bridge on the west side.  This area was known as "Oak Cliff," and was an industrial and less desirable area to visit.  The building that houses these restaurants was an old trucking company and many of the restaurants sit in the old loading docks that belonged to this company.

With the opening of the Bishop Arts District, many people began traveling to this undeveloped area for a new experience in food and beverage.  Prominent restaurateurs and "mixologists" brainstormed and decided to help spark innovation and capitalize on this growing area.

Trinity Groves consists of an outdoor mall styled shopping strip that is lined with restaurants.  Each has it's own patio with signature awnings and patio furniture.  The top of the strip mall has each restaurant's logo in neon lights.  The front of the complex has an ornate tower with cascading water and a torch flame coming out the top.  It has bright, multi-colored lights that illuminate it at night.  There are also saplings with white market lights that provide landscaping aesthetics.

Many people that I spoke to actually live close to the Trinity Groves complex.  They go for happy hour or dinner a few times a week because most of them are single or in young relationships without children.  Many of them are also interested in the local beer craze that is extremely popular across the country.  Four Corners Brewing is within walking distance of LUCK and most of the people I spoke to at this beer kitchen have toured most of the North Texas breweries.

I can't wait to see what else is planned for Trinity Groves.  I love trying new things and having options for dining.  The chefs that are working at these concepts have worked really hard to change up classic menu items and bring something new to the table.

Follow me on Twitter!  @JQueppet

Revolver Brewery

Revolver Brewing

As a bartender, you see many trends that come and go.  For a while everyone ordered Irish Car Bombs, then it was Jager Bombs, then Fireball whiskey.  Usually it is always a shot or a twist on a shot that gets the drinkers out and spending their money.  Now?  It is Revolver's Blood and Honey. 

The Blood and Honey beer is their take on an unfiltered wheat-ish beer.  It resembles Blue Moon, barely, but packs almost twice the punch.  At seven percent alcohol by volume, it is stronger than most of the popular beers.  My new found favorite beer made me curious to see the Brewery it came from.

I had a birthday coming up, so it seemed like a great time to ask friends and family to make the drive to Granbury, home of Revolver Brewery.  We parked in a field and walked up to a block party with picnic tables and a stage.  There was a pasture right next to the picnic area with friendly horses that attracted the kids.  The seating area also had a bean bag toss game and a giant Jenga set. 

We walked up to the garage style door and paid our $10.  We got a wrist band and a glass with their logo.  We walked up to the taps and ordered our first beer.  The woman who was working the tour used a Sharpie to make a tally on my wristband.  She told us, "You get four.  You can order four of the same or try all four flavors!"

We played games and listened to the band and before we knew it, it was last call. The people we talked to said they come out a couple of times a month and time always sneaks up on them too.  As I scrambled around the brewery looking for the tour guide, who had promised an exclusive, I ran into a man carrying a mini keg.  He stopped and said he wanted to give me a little history about the company.  We chatted for a few minutes and when he said goodbye, he said, "It was nice to meet you, I'm Rhett the owner."

I heard that the employees at Revolver were easy to work with and cared about their product, but I didn't realize how nice they would be.  They are celebrating their one-year-anniversary and I hope I can make it back out to Granbury.

See more coverage of Revolver at #RevolverBrew1113 and follow me on Twitter @JQueppet

State Fair of Texas

The State Fair of Texas is famous, famous at least for North Texans.  We pride ourselves in this annual event because it provides scary rides, beastly livestock and an awesome car show.

Most North Texans Do no think think it is convenient to go to the fair.  I was one of them.  I have many friends who are excited every fall and make plans to visit.  I always rolled my eyes at them because there was no way I was parking miles away, walking and paying to do so.

I didn't realize that in 2010 the Dallas Area Rapid Transit opened its Fair Park location that drops passengers off right at the gate.  I didn't realize that almost every single day there is a special on admission, whether it be a Dr. Pepper can or wearing Dickie's.  I didn't realize that most natives feel the same way as I do, so if you actually decide to go, there isn't really anyone there!

I entered on the western edge of the Fair, almost directly to the Midway.  Smells of fried meats and sugar filled the air and blue and white coupon stands greet entering fairgoers.  It is magical to hear kids running around and experiencing the fair with their parents, transitioning from farm animals to nauseating rides.


I will never again recommend that people avoid this attraction because it exemplifies Texas.  Everything is bigger, everything is overdone and everything feels like Texas

White Rock Dog Park

White Rock Dog Park

The dog park is an unusual place to meet people, but it is one of the best.  People that own animals are more open to conversation and camaraderie.  I spoke with Caitlyn, who just moved to Dallas from Ohio and loves it.  She is an oncologist who works with children and has many difficult days at work. She loved the area and was excited to explore the city.

 

When I spoke to Phil, he was excited about the nightlife.  He was interested in concerts and poker and just getting out and meeting people.

 

Kristina said that her reason for going to the dog park was to get away.  That was the only reason she went.  That is relatable.  Many of the people I spoke with were just getting off work and needed their dogs to decompress and wanted to decompress themselves.  

 

People have strong bonds with their pet friends.  It is something that the city has tried to capitalize on.  The new dog park, Mutt’s Canine Cantina is a dog park with a bar.  Pet friendly is an upcoming trend that caters to people over many industries. 

 

When I spoke to people at the dog park, they spent a lot of time working with their animals on behavior and manners and took pride in tricks.  It seems that these people need a break from corporate America to bond with creatures that are more simple and easier to please.

 

White Rock Dog Park is located east on Northwest Highway and Highway 75.  It is next to the Arboretum and the L Streets, a nice subdivision that is in high demand.  People from all walks of life congregate here to release their dogs energy and release their own.

 

I choose to go as much as possible because my dogs act better the more socialization they get.  I spend at least an hour here every time I go and I feel better when they get their time with their friends.  I always thought people who catered to their dogs were weird, but now I get it.  It is almost necessary to have this type of release living in a high population area.  Dogs are a nice escape from corporate America and other stresses of being in a top ten media market.

 follow my experience at the dog park on Twitter @JQueppet and #whiterockdogpark1016

 

Destination Dallas: Walking Tour of the City

Walking Through Downtown

Being from Dallas-Fort Worth, the tourist attractions are not places that I immediately think to visit.  I have taken for granted that they exist and that people from all over the world take the time to visit them.  When I began my walking tour, I realized that these were places I drove by and never stopped to explore.  I had never set foot on the sidewalk that Abraham Zapruder shot the famous film that captured the assassination of JFK.  I had never walked inside the JFK Memorial.  I had never walked the streets to the Aquarium or the House of Blues.



We first drove up Interstate 35 to Commerce Street, passing Dealey Plaza.  We parked in The Old Red Museum's parking garage and walked over to the plaza.  When we crossed the street toward "The Grassy Knoll," tour guides with fake, vintage newspapers approached us and began telling the facts of November 22, 1963 in great detail.  We walked down the sidewalk and up to the fence that is shrouded with conspiracy theories and saw many special notes to JFK written on the fence pickets. 


We walked over Commerce street to Reunion Tower.  Reunion Tower is next to Union Station.  Union Station was built in 1914 for commerce and is still used for business and leisure travelers as a convenient option to arrive in downtown. 

The City of Dallas launched a publicity campaign that embraced the "everything is bigger in Texas" concept.  They created large, three-dimensional letters B and G, hid them in the city and asked people to pose as the letter I and tweet their photos to a designated outlet.  We found these letters at  local bar and made our own "B-I-G" photograph.

We found our way to the Dallas World Aquarium, the Perot Museum
and the legendary House of Blues, then began walking back to the parking garage.  We passed the JFK Memorial again, but this time it was lit with classic white lights that made it stand out in the middle of the hustle and bustle.  Behind the memorial, the skyline also illuminated with Reunion Tower's iconic white globe.  Would the Dallas skyline be the same without it?

House of Blues: Alt-J

Alt-J at the House of Blues Dallas

       

The House of Blues Dallas location was built in 2007 in the historic White Swan Building on the borders of the West End District and the Victory Plaza Development.  The building is rich in history that dates back to the 1920s.  It is a legend that there is a metal box of Mississippi Delta mud under the stage of every House of Blues location.  Who knew there was such rich history surrounding this venue?

This venue is close to many attractions in the city like The Perot Museum, Dallas World Aquarium and American Airlines Center.  It is also very close to the West End stop for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART).  We chose to ride DART in from North Dallas for the concert.  The stop is about 10 minutes from the House of Blues entrance, making it an alternative option to expensive parking and traffic after the show.  We arrived early, but since the venue is standing room only, we were unable to get close to the stage.  When we arrived, I ran into a familiar face, Milton.  He was a bartender that worked every event since the venue opened.  He has since been promoted to management and runs around checking on people like they are his customers.  They are in a sense, but he went around to the concert goers asking them, "How are you doing?"  "How is everything?"  I have never seen a venue manager personally check on people.  Milton noticed that I was taking pictures and escorted me to the sound crew's equipment and let me get the shot below.








This venue has three different rooms, the Cambridge Room, the Voodoo Room, and the Main Stage that hold concerts all week.  They host everything from local cover bands to intimate options for international superstars.  There is also a full service restaurant that operates nightly.  When many bands are just starting out, they begin their relationship with Dallas at the House of Blues.  Imagine Dragons performed here and gave fans an up close and personal experience, they have since hit it big and will most likely play at a larger venue when they return.

Destination Dallas: Dealey Plaza

Traveling to Dallas?

  

       Traveling and having a new experience in an unfamiliar place doesn't have to be on the beach or does it require a passport.  There are so many adventures waiting to happen in sometimes unexpected places.  Whether it is family vacation to visit family, a busy professional's weekday destination or a "staycation" for the family who can't afford to travel farther, Dallas is home to many world class restaurants, museums, and sports.  There is something here for everyone.

The History

One location that is often forgotten about is Dealey Plaza.  Dealey Plaza is located in downtown Dallas less than a mile east of I-35 E.  Dealey Plaza is a monument that commemorates the President and has an amazing history that Americans are taught about in school.  Sadly it was the place where one of the most beloved presidents was murdered.  President John F. Kennedy was traveling through the city in a convertible limousine and was hit by gunshots allegedly fired by Lee Harvey Oswald.  The assassin was in the Texas School Book Depository adjacent to Dealey Plaza.  The President was hit in front of the Grassy Knoll, a sloping hill that is most recognizable by the Bryan pergola.  After the shooting, Oswald fled to The Texas Theater in Oak Cliff, where he was arrested.

 Dealey Plaza Today

When visiting Dealey Plaza, there is only a small plaque that exists in the Plaza, reminding visitors of the horrible event that occurred there.  Visitors come to the Plaza on a daily basis to see the places our history books described on that day.  The Sixth Floor Museum was built in the same building that Oswald fired his rifle and has exhibits that celebrate the life of JFK, as well as educate patrons of the events that unfolded.  

The Legacy

When talking to residents about their opinions of the area, older residents remember everything that happened.  They remember what the anchors said, they remember their parents crying, they remember being scared, and they remember being glued to the television, craving more information.  The only thing they can compare the experience to is 9/11.  They said the country was at a standstill as they worried about the condition of JFK, then later, mourned the loss.  

I went to the newly renovated Bishop Arts District after visiting Dealey Plaza and sat at bar that was an old house renovated house on Beckley Ave.  I told one of the regulars what I was doing and he said, "Do you know, that house right there, that was the house that Lee Harvey Oswald lived in, he lived right there!"

Little has changed since the assassination, but that is on purpose.  The city voted on expenditures to restore Dealey Plaza to its condition in 1963. What makes this a place that must be visited in Dallas is the fact that so many people have stories to tell about that day and actually love sharing that history.

Follow this event on Twitter at #DealeyPlaza917

Costa Rica

Lately, I have run into many friends who are talking about Costa Rica.  I don't know if I'm hypersensitive to the country because I have been there or if people are going there because they know it is safe because I went there for an extended period of time.  I feel like it is the latter.  I don't know Spanish fluently, but I made it.  People in this area think they know Spanish enough to make it in a Latin country.

Language
First of all, there is a language barrier.  I have studied Spanish for years and I could not do day to day things because I could not communicate my ideas.  I caught a bacterial bug on the third day of my program and I couldn't eat or sleep.  I had to try to tell a pharmacist what was wrong and used various translators.  They gave me an over the counter remedy and sent me on the way.  Needless to say, I was sick until my last week.  My housemate got saltwater in her phone on the first weekend we were there and tried to have a technician fix it.  Needless to say, she didn't have a phone almost the entire time we were there.  I played charades with my house mom just to make day to day conversation.  When we tried to go out in the city, it ended up being too much of a hassle to tell her where we were going and when we would be back.  Scheduling taxis to take us and drop us off was also another challenge.

Tourism

Another big misconception is that Costa Rica is all jungle and tropical.  I lived in a dirty city and had to take 6-8 hour bus rides to get to the beach.  Everything is Americanized and not cheap, like people think.  It is like going to any other travel destination, you will spend your money because they know you're American and you have it!

I promote my experience in this beautiful county. Traveling abroad deserves respect and consideration.  Costa Rica is a less wealthy country than America and many people live very differently than we do.