Ellerbe hung on and powered through the lockdown and is now considered one of the “old-guard” restaurants in Fort Worth. One of the first local restaurants founded on a farm-to-table ethos, Ellerbe has remained true to its roots. Each week, you can find chef and co-owner Molly McCook surveying that week’s offerings at the farmer’s market. Few restaurants tweak their menu weekly based on what’s fresh and available, but Ellerbe does. According to front-of-house manager and co-owner Richard King, “When we started Ellerbe, we picked a concept – farm-to-table – and we have stayed loyal to that.”

Sourcing as many of their ingredients as possible from local farmers and ranchers has yielded not only long-standing partnerships with their sources but a menu that, while ever-changing, has stood the test of time. However, record inflation, rising costs across every industry, and increased labor costs are once again creating a stress test for independent restauranteurs. Fine dining and farm-to-table concepts are suffering more than their chain brethren. Their costs are already high simply because they are sourcing the best ingredients they can find instead of purchasing in bulk.

Photo courtesy of Ellerbe Fine Foods

Rising costs are now a fact of life for Ellebre and other fine dining establishments. King says, “We don’t want to change our philosophy just to affect the bottom line. I think there’s a misperception that Ellerbe is expensive, but we have always been one of the best values in Fort Worth. We have tried to hold strong on our prices, and I think we’ve done pretty well. While we have had to increase [our prices], we feel like we’re still very competitive.”

While Ellerbe has remained staunchly loyal to its farm-to-table philosophy, they have made changes that have allowed them to expand their offerings. In 2020 and 2021, they undertook a major remodel that included the installation of a full bar. Heretofore, Ellerbe had been a mostly wine and beer establishment and was particularly well known for its expertly curated wine cellar. The new bar has opened new doors for Ellerbe and its patrons. Along with the possibility of a cocktail before dinner, Ellerbe has developed a seasonal craft mocktail menu that has been a smashing success.

Photo courtesy of Ellerbe Fine Foods

“People, especially younger people, are becoming more health conscious, which is great. That has helped foster our mocktail program,” said King. “Our customers have challenged us to get creative with it, and it’s really been a lot of fun.”  While outstanding wine events have been a staple at Ellerbe for years, they introduced a “summer sipping series” that is a master class in spirits education. Ellerbe brings in an expert who teaches attendees about a particular spirit. Whether it’s vodka or bourbon, scotch or gin, guests learn everything about how that spirit is made, its history, and what to mix or pair it with. The sipping series will resume in January.

Evolution is a must. The alternative is entropy and, ultimately, extinction. While Ellerbe has evolved, it has always remained true to itself. “The development is constant,” said King. “We have put a lot of money back into the restaurant by investing in strong leadership and top talent. The key has been staying loyal to our philosophy. In fact, we are more farm-to-table than we’ve ever been. Molly is often the only chef at the farmer’s market. She is dedicated to constantly bringing new ideas and fresh ingredients. Not a lot of restaurants can do that or even want to do that. We’re proud of that.”

Fifteen years is a long time for a successful restaurant to remain successful. Most don’t make it that long. What was true in 2010 when Bon Appetit made its proclamation is still true today. Through a tenacious dedication to hard work, a love of great food and wine, and a desire to provide a singular dining experience to its guests, Ellerbe Fine Foods remains one of the best restaurants in America.

Photo courtesy of Ellerbe Fine Foods

The post The Evolution of Ellerbe Fine Foods first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

I recently sat down to talk about the Summer Program with Leslie Vasquez, M.Ed, Key School’s Director of Education.

“The Summer Program is the foundation of Key School,” said Vasquez. “It’s how we got started.”  In 1966, Mary Ann Key and Mildred Garner began to tutor children with dyslexia over the summer using techniques they learned at the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children’s Language Therapy program. “The goal at both Key School and Key Summer Program is to continue the legacy of Mary Ann Key,” Vasquez said.

In this spirit, Key School offers three categories of summer classes: Hallmark, Enrichment, and Fun classes for kindergarten through 12th grade students. The Summer Program runs from June 10 through June 28.

Photo courtesy of Key School

The Hallmark classes are designed to help close learning gaps for children who learn differently. “Key Summer is best known for our Reading, Phonics, and Spelling class.  We use a curriculum designed by Mrs. Key and taught by Certified Academic Language Therapist. Both the Reading Phonics and Spelling Class as well as the Math Fundamentals class are ideal for students who struggle in Math or Reading or would benefit from an academic boost headed into the new school year.”

Enrichment classes provide more academic support over the summer to avoid the dreaded Summer Slide. Children who don’t engage their brains over the summer take longer to get back into the swing of school once vacation is over. These classes include a kindergarten readiness program for students getting ready to enter kindergarten who might need a little extra support before the school year starts, and a financial literacy program for middle and high school students that teaches kids how to budget, pay taxes, save money, purchase a vehicle, all while concentrating on math concepts and decision-making skills.

Photo courtesy of Key School

The Fun classes are, well, fun! From Connections, where kids work with the Key School counselor on social-emotional learning in a safe and fun environment, to art and coding, to a digital animation video production, these classes engage the imaginative side of kids’ brains.

Vasquez said, “All of our classes are very multi-sensory. We individualize. Yes, they’re academic, but we try to present the material in a way to make it fun for all types of learners.”

Photo courtesy of Key School

What makes Key School’s Summer Program so special is that most of the students are returning students from previous summers. “We do have some Key School students who attend our Summer Program, but the majority of Summer Program students come from surrounding public and private schools throughout Dallas/Fort Worth.” Vasquez said. “Families stick with us. They know and trust us. “I love knowing that each summer our new faces quickly become part of our Key family.”

Students can take individual Summer Program classes, or Key School is happy to help you and your student build a comprehensive summer program. New for Summer 2024, in-between-class care is available for all students. Also new is Sawyer, Key School’s registration partner. Sawyer partners with many children’s programs, so you can easily register for and schedule your family’s activities from one account. “It’s really easy,” said Vasquez. “It’s sort of like shopping on Amazon!”

Photo courtesy of Key School

Finally, Vasquez said, “Over the years, we have added new programs to meet the needs of our students, but we continue to keep hold of the legacy of the work started by Mrs. Key.”

To check out what Key School’s Summer Program can offer your student, follow this link or call 817-446-3738.

The post Continuing the Legacy of Mary Ann Key first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Activities and performances for this year’s festival include:

• Taiko Drummers at the Horseshoe Garden, both days at 10 a.m. & 4 p.m.
• Japanese Swordsmanship with GK Sugai, who will perform both days at the Shelter House at 1 p.m.
• Traditional Tea Ceremony demonstrations in the Oak Hall both days, four times each day (additional fee applies)
• Five food trucks, three dessert trucks, and traditional food that will be prepared by the Japanese Society and available for purchase at the Japanese Pavilion
• Origami and Calligraphy demonstrations

Today, the seven-and-a-half-acre garden is a far cry from its rustic beginnings as a gravel pit 50 years ago. The iconic oasis is a fan favorite with its combination of peaceful Koi-filled pools, Japanese and native plants and trees, and beautiful spaces that promote a feeling of relaxation and harmony for thousands of visitors each year.

Entrance to the festival is FREE with general admission. Tickets purchased online are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 65+, $6 for ages 6-15, and free for children 5 and under. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance for this very popular event.

The post Festival Marks 50th Anniversary of the Japanese Garden first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Maybe you dream of going on an African safari, or taking a dip in the Ganges, or kissing your significant other in front of the Eiffel Tower. Those are all wonderful ideas, but for most of us, far-flung adventures are relatively few and often too far between. Regardless of what’s on your bucket list, many items likely fall into the “Some Day” category, so we suggest you consider expanding that list to include some local list items that you may not have considered. You need is a local bucket list.

Author Celestina Blok

100 Things to Do in Fort Worth Before You Die is essentially that: a Fort Worth bucket list. Written by well-known local writer and third-generation Fort Worthian, Celestina Blok, and published by Reedy Press as part of a nationwide series, 100 Things To Do In Fort Worth Before You Die may just be the definitive guide to exploring our fair burg. At the very least, it is an enlightening collection of activities to satisfy your peripatetic longings. Of course, there are things in the book that you’ve already done. I mean who hasn’t had a margarita on Joe T’s patio? Many of us have done that this week, some of you twice. Or thrice.

While you will certainly recognize a good number of the Things, there will be several surprises and perhaps even a few headscratchers. For instance, did you know Fort Worth is home to the second-longest-burning light bulb on Earth? Now you do! (You’re welcome.) You’ll have to read the book to discover where to track down this marvel of not-so-modern science.

Did you know when you’re the first in line at the beautifully renovated Isis Theater in the Stockyards, you get to choose the movie everyone will watch? No pressure. When was the last time you took the family bowling at Cowtown Bowl on River Oaks Boulevard? Or spent a day swimming and picnicking at Burger’s Lake, home to the most professional roster of lifeguards west of the Pacific Ocean? Have you ever counted alligators at the Fort Worth Nature Center or taken a flight in a WWII-era warbird? You can do all that and about 93 other things without ever crossing I-820.

100 Things to Do in Fort Worth Before You Die crosses generations. It will entertain you, your parents, your kids, and your grandkids for years. When out-of-town guests begin to verge on wearing out their welcome, hand them the book and challenge them to spend a day knocking as many things off the list as they can while you go drink margaritas at Joe T’s. While you may not set out to do any or all of the things every week, month, or even year, you will be inspired to see, learn, and do things in our fascinating city you never even knew existed.

While you can find 100 Things to Do in Fort Worth Before You Die for purchase in the travel book section of that online retailer, we suggest buying locally at Monkey & Dog Books, Jabo’s Ace Hardware, or if you must, at Barnes & Nobel and Walgreen’s stores.

However, the best way to get your hands on one is to buy a signed copy directly from Celestina Blok on her Instagram page, @100thingsfortworth, and it won’t cost you a dime more. Be sure to follow Celestina on Instagram so she can remind you about recurring and time-sensitive items on the list, like Angelo’s annual anniversary celebration on St. Patrick’s Day. Green beer and barbecue, yeehaw!

Your bucket list doesn’t have to be a repository of only difficult-to-attain, “maybe one day” dreams. Keep it local and pursue some of those things that are easy to cross off the list. After all, isn’t that what lists are for? You’ll get a feeling of accomplishment and have a truckload of fun.

By the way, I take mine frozen with salt.

The post Fort Worth’s Ultimate Bucket List first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

The home where King slept in 1959 is one of few remaining on now mostly vacant Stewart Street.
Photo credit: Bud Kennedy, Star-Telegram

That same day in 1959, he was a coffee guest of seminary professors in a home on Bellaire Drive West.

The memory is fading now, but King is not some long-ago historical figure. He spoke downtown Oct. 22, 1959, at the long-gone Majestic Theater, 1101 Commerce St..

His topic: “A Great Time to Be Alive.”

This article, written by Bud Kennedy, can be read in its entirety here. It is shared with permission from and thanks to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 

The post Memories of Martin Luther King, Jr’s Visit Fading But Landmarks Remain first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

The Tower went dark in the late 1970s as structural damage mounted. Her signature lights were turned off. Shattered glass-block columns were shuttered for decades with metal panels.

Photo courtesy of Will Rogers Memorial Center

More than 40 years later, Pioneer Tower is gleaming again and even more stunning after completion of an extensive $4.7 million City of Fort Worth refurbishment project in 2019 – an achievement that recently earned Historic Fort Worth’s 2022 Preservation Project Award.

“Pioneer Tower is an irreplaceable, historic treasure,” said Mike Crum, director of the City of Fort Worth Public Events Department. “It’s an iconic landmark recognizable by generations of Fort Worthians and millions of visitors. The tower has been an inspiration in many ways, including the design of Dickies Arena. We applaud the vision and initiatives that have saved Pioneer Tower and we will continue to invest $52.8 million in planned capital improvements across the Will Rogers Memorial Center campus in the next few years.”

“Thanks to leadership from the City of Fort Worth that began with a successful National Register of Historic Places nomination in 2016, Pioneer Tower is once again restored and shining brightly,” said Jerre Tracy, Executive Director of Historic Fort Worth, Inc. (HFW).  “As the beacon for the Will Rogers complex, Pioneer Tower is a symbol of civic pride, and this project has rekindled that pride for current and future generations.”

Designed during the Great Depression by Fort Worth architects Wyatt C. Hedrick and Herman Koeppe, Pioneer Tower was art-deco sleek, chic and dazzling at night on all sides with bright columns of light shining through glass-block glazing and huge “lanterns” atop each corner. She became the developing Cultural District’s beacon, but natural forces began to pull her apart.

Photo courtesy of Will Rogers Memorial Center

John Roberts, AIA, past chairman of HFW, nominated Pioneer Tower for the award. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Roberts said the tower was damaged from shear movement and deflection, causing the structure to twist. There were no annual inspections back then as the City of Fort Worth will conduct from now on.

“The main challenge,” he wrote for the HFW award presentation, “was to stabilize the tower inside using a fiberglass reinforcement system at the walls where shear forces were highest by repairing and replacing several turnbuckles.”

Restoration project architects were Fort Worth-based firm Elements of Architecture. General contractor Muckleroy & Falls of Fort Worth carried out the renovations.

The team corrected a wide range of infrastructure issues, sandblasted the exterior brick and limestone and restored the clear glass-block columns that extend from the 13^th to the 27^th floors on all four sides of the tower. The columns required more than 6,210 pieces of 6x6x4 Argus glass blocks that were custom-manufactured in New Zealand to match the original glass blocks.

While great care was taken to assure architectural integrity and accuracy, one new 21^st-century internal feature tapped Pioneer Tower’s potential as a showstopper: a programmable LED lighting system that produces colorful light shows to mark holidays and special events.

The post Pioneer Tower Redo Wins Preservation Prize first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Photo courtesy of Cowtown Farmers Market

Cowtown Farmers Market has moved from Fort Worth’s Southwest Boulevard (due to a change in management) to Veterans Park in White Settlement, about 10 minutes away. To introduce the public to the new location, the market is hosting a festival during National Farmers Market Week—an opportunity to showcase the value of farmers markets in providing healthy, locally sourced foods.

The Cowtown Farmers Market festival will run from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Aug. 13, at Veterans Park, 8901 Clifford St., White Settlement.

Photo courtesy of Cowtown Farmers Market

The festival will feature an array of locally grown fruits and vegetables from more than 20 area vendors, plus meats (including chicken, pork, beef, and eggs) from local ranchers as well as artisan products—such as jams, jellies, seasonings, and even small-batch craft dog food. The event will also offer gardening information, activities for kids, and a cooking demo by urban farmers Steve and Ursula Nunez from Mind Your Garden.

Plus, just like every market day, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) shoppers can take advantage of Double Up Food Bucks, which allows them to double their buying power on fresh produce, up to $20 a day. They simply need to show their Lone Star Card at the market information booth and pick up their Double Up tokens.

Photo courtesy of Cowtown Farmers Market

Double Up Food Bucks is offered in partnership with Blue Zones Project, Fort Worth’s well-being improvement initiative, and North Texas Healthy Communities, which oversees Blue Zones Project as the nonprofit outreach arm of Texas Health Resources.

The post Fort Worth’s Oldest Farmers Market Celebrates New Digs first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Declared a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the law with Ms. Opal Lee by his side, Juneteenth, or, “the 19th of June” has sparked celebrations worldwide. The gravity of Juneteenth commemorates freedom for the enslaved via the abolition of slavery in the United States.

Opal Lee during the signing of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, June 17, 2021.

Ms. Lee is affectionately known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth” and has been leading the charge to see the National Juneteenth Museum become a reality. “To have lived long enough to see my walking and talking make an impact is one thing, but to know that a state-of-the-art museum that will house the actual pen that President Biden used to sign the bill and many other exhibits is coming to pass as well…I could do my holy dance again”! The National Juneteenth Museum will be erected on land that currently houses Lee’s Fort Worth Juneteenth Museum that has served the community for nearly two decades and was a production location in the feature film, Miss Juneteenth.

As the epicenter for the preservation of Juneteenth history and center for discussions about freedom, the Museum will host events and exhibits that foster continued conversation on the global significance of freedom and the celebration of Juneteenth worldwide. The Museum will also host seminars and lectures of renowned authorities on topics that uncover the truth of historical perspectives of freedom.

The Museum will be led by a collaboration of activists, researchers, historians, and everyday people that understand the influence of history on the trajectory of the human experience. Additionally, it will educate guests on the legacy and experiences of the enslaved and provide factual narratives about people that overcame the trials and hardships of oppression. Exploration of the richness of the American tapestry and global canvas is the ultimate goal of the museum’s directors.

Fort Worth Mayor, Mattie Parker, is excited to add this concept to an already-renowned collection of world class museums housed in the city. “For decades, Juneteenth has been part of the fabric of our city, and this museum is a welcome addition to its incredible legacy”.

Commemorative plaque at corner of Strand Street and 22nd Street in Galveston, Texas where General Order No. 3 was issued from Union Army headquarters at the since demolished Osterman building on Monday, June 19, 1865.

The post National Juneteenth Museum to Be Built in Fort Worth first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Twenty years later, Central Market has changed the way we think about and eat food, bringing us around the world with their country-specific Passport events, live music on the patio, and their renowned Hatch Chile Festival – which was started by them and has been imitated by countless others in the years since.

This past Friday, September 24th, Central Market celebrated 20 years in Cowtown with a party on their patio fit for the occasion with remarks by Central Market/H-E-B president Stephen Butt, Central Market Fort Worth general manager Austin Jourde, Mayor Mattie Parker and a dreamlike concert by Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel.

Central Market/ H-E-B president Stephen Butt, Mayor Mattie Parker and Central Market Fort Worth general manager Austin Jourde give remarks.

Did you know that Fort Worth was the first city in all of the Fort Worth / Dallas Metroplex to be graced with a Central Market? In addition to the store celebrating 20 years, there are 23 original employees from the Fort Worth location who are celebrating this milestone as well, including general manager Austin Jorde.

The food at the party was as good as you could imagine it would be for a Central Market shindig, featuring delicious bites from Molly McCook of Ellerbe Fine Foods, Jon Bonnell of Bonnell’s and Blaine Staniford of Grace and Little Red Wasp. Chef Molly McCook served a house-made Andouille meatball with creole slaw, Tabasco-spiked onions and pickled market okra that was perfectly piquant and had me wanting to go back for more. Chef Jon Bonnell served a crawfish roll, which was like a Texas-fied lobster roll – buttery and so delicious. Chef Blaine Staniford served Hawaiian swordfish with chermoula, labneh and a sweet and smoky Vadouvan curry that put some pep in my step. Local suds served included Rahr’s Oktoberfest, with Fritz Rahr in attendance, as well as the Best Maid + Martin House collaboration Sour Pickle Beer.

Here are some interesting facts from the first 20 years at Central Market:

• Sold over 1 million packages of Central Market tortillas
• Sold over 1 million pounds of salmon
• Sold over 6 million pounds of bananas
• Sold at least over 6 million pounds of beef

Central Market has also given back over $10 million to the local community since 2001 via partnerships with schools, military families, local police and fire departments, disaster relief services and nonprofit organizations like Tarrant Area Food Bank, Harris Methodist, Cook Children’s, and The Blue Zones Project. For over 8 years now, thousands of volunteers have banded together with Central Market to serve over 10,000 people per year through the Feast of Sharing event, where holiday meals are served to the less fortunate. With COVID last year and this year, the Feast of Sharing has been transitioned to an in-home program via food bank partnerships, and Central Market hopes to return to the in-person event next year.

Central Market/ H-E-B president Stephen Butt with Asleep at the Wheel’s front man Ray Benson

After the remarks, Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel put on one hell of a concert with hits like Route 66, Big Balls in Cowtown and a special tribute to the occasion to the tune of Deep in the Heart of Texas, singing “Being around for over 20 great years – clap clap clap clap – Here at the Central Market!” Miss the concert at Central Market but want to see Asleep at the Wheel and up for an overnighter? Ray will be celebrating 50 years of Asleep at the Wheel with a special concert event on October 15th in Austin.

What are some of your favorite memories over the last 20 years at Central Market Fort Worth? Let us know in the comments!

photo credit: Scott Ross

Justin Anderson is an entrepreneur raised in the swamps of Houston who, at the age of 18, was the youngest vendor in Central Market’s history when he launched his line of Anderson Trail Premium Soft Granola. After planting his stake in Fort Worth and attending TCU, he launched WOATS Oatsnack which was first sold at Central Market. Justin has reported on the Olympics for Madeworthy, is a longtime resident of downtown Fort Worth, and you can check out his YouTube channel for inspiration to cook easy fabulous recipes at justinanderson.tv.

The post Celebrating 20 Years of Central Market in Cowtown first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

To celebrate, the beloved museum is throwing itself one incredible birthday bash on Saturday, September 25, and you’re invited!

The new museum under construction, 1960. The building was clad with a cream-colored shellstone native to Texas; Johnson then appointed the interior spaces with granite, extruded bronze, and Burmese teak.

I recently talked to Madeleine Fitzgerald, the Carter’s Manager of Adult Programs, about what we can expect at the Birthday Bash.

“We’ve been working on it for almost a year,” Madeleine said. “We have a whole list of activities that celebrate our community.”

The Amon Carter Museum of American Art opened to the public in 1961. Since then, the Carter has been a cornerstone of the Cultural District and an ambassador of Fort Worth’s artistic heritage. Through programs like the Carter Community Artists and working with partners like Artes de la Rosa, the Girl Scouts of the Texas-Oklahoma Plains, the Onstead Institute of the University of North Texas, and the Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society, the museum brings all of Fort Worth opportunities to explore art.

The Birthday Bash promises fun for the whole family starting at 4 pm with Carter Community Artists past and present leading activities designed to inspire your creativity. Take a selfie and add it to a giant photo mural. Leave your birthday wishes and memories of the museum on a giant birthday card. Experiment with different photography lenses and physical filters with your camera phone at the #YesFilter booth. Most activities are outside so that you can explore and create in safety.

Of course, the museum will be open for self-guided tours. Grab a 60^th Birthday Art Discovery Guide and take a decade-themed tour through the museum. Additionally, Anila Quayyum Agha: A Beautiful Despair opens to the public on the day of the Bash, as does the long-awaited celebration of Fort Worth’s own Scott and Stuart Gentling, Imagined Realism: Scott and Stuart Gentling. Docents will be available to answer any question you might have. And don’t leave without browsing through the Museum Shop. They’re having a big sale!

At 6:30, Fort Worth’s own DJ Ronnie Heart starts spinning music to get you up on your feet. After all, you can’t have a party without dancing! Afterward, acclaimed Americana musician Shakey Graves takes the stage at 8 pm. And to finish an incredible day of celebrating, the fireworks show promises the biggest birthday candles our city has ever seen!

Photo courtesy of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art

Of course, you can’t have a birthday party without food, and the museum will have some of the best food trucks around to tempt you. Members can enjoy free tacos in the VIP section. (Not a member yet? Click here to learn more about all the amazing benefits that membership brings.) On the lower lawn, there will be a screen live streaming the concert for those who want to kick back and relax.

“We were looking for the ‘most Fort Worthian’ way of celebrating,” Madeleine said. “This [party] is a way to be good hosts and give back to our community for 60 years of support.”

The post The Most Fort Worthian Way of Celebrating first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.