“The Kimbell’s audiences are fortunate to be able to experience this fall and into the new year one of Caravaggio’s most dramatic and famous paintings,” said Eric M. Lee, director of the Kimbell Art Museum. “A star of the recent, historic Caravaggio exhibition in Rome that attracted more than 450,000 visitors, Judith Beheading Holofernes joins the Kimbell’s own beloved painting by Caravaggio, The Cardsharps. These two works, along with our recent acquisitions of a moving Mary Magdalene by Artemisia Gentileschi and a striking still life by the artist known as the Pensionante del Saraceni, will offer a rare perspective on the revolution in art initiated by Caravaggio and his followers.”

Approximately six feet wide and five feet tall (195 x 145 cm), Judith Beheading Holofernes narrates a passage from the Book of Judith in the Old Testament Apocrypha. The protagonist is a beautiful young widow from a Jewish town that is under attack by the Assyrian army, led by the general Holofernes. She dresses in finery and visits the enemy camp with her maid under the pretense of helping Holofernes defeat the Israelites. After a banquet, the general falls into a drunken stupor, and Judith courageously decapitates him with his own sword, liberating her people.

Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi), Judith Beheading Holofernes, c. 1599–1600, oil on canvas. Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica, Palazzo Barberini, Roma (MiC) – Bibliotheca Hertziana, Istituto Max Planck per la storia dell’arte/Enrico Fontolan

Popular in art and literature since the Middle Ages, the story of Judith and Holofernes affirmed the triumph of virtue over vice, tyranny, or heresy. While most artists show Judith after the grisly deed, victoriously holding Holofernes’s severed head, Caravaggio depicts her at the critical moment, delivering the blow that will end the general’s life. Spotlit inside the tent, the actors appear to be shockingly within our reach. Resolute, Judith prays silently, as divine light courses through her arms to empower her heroic feat. She grips Holofernes’s hair as blood streams from his severed neck onto the white linen. His muscular body still roiling, Holofernes screams as he passes from life to death. Transfixed by this spectacle, Judith’s maid opens her sack to hide their trophy when they steal away from the camp.

Michelangelo Merisi was born in the town of Caravaggio in the north of Italy in 1571. Moving to Rome around 1595, the painter—who became known as Caravaggio—soon won the attention of the papal city’s elite and his fellow artists. Painted directly from live models with strong contrasts of light, his dramatic and innovative pictures—like the Kimbell’s iconic The Cardsharps (c. 1596–97)—were widely imitated. The Barberini painting’s first owner, the wealthy banker Ottavio Costa, treasured the masterpiece so highly that he covered it with a silk curtain and stipulated in his will that it should not be sold or removed from his family’s collection.

The exhibition of Caravaggio’s Judith Beheading Holofernes follows the Kimbell’s Focus Exhibition SLAY in 2022, which displayed both Italian Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi’s and American contemporary artist Kehinde Wiley’s Judith and Holofernes paintings in dialogue.

Eric Lee added, “The stunning loan of Caravaggio’s Judith Beheading Holofernes from the Palazzo Barberini concurrent with the special exhibition Myth and Marble: Ancient Roman Sculpture from the Torlonia Collection makes for an exciting Roman season at the Kimbell.”

Judith Beheading Holofernes goes on view at the same time as the landmark special exhibition Myth and Marble: Ancient Roman Sculpture from the Torlonia Collection. Fifty-eight masterpieces from the world’s most important private collection of ancient Roman sculptures, which before 2021 were unseen by the public for more than seventy years, are making their first-ever transatlantic voyage. Impressive figures of gods and goddesses, vivid portraits of emperors and their families, and masterfully carved funerary monuments highlight the artistic achievements of Rome’s High Imperial Period in the first to second centuries AD. Nearly half of the sculptures have been newly cleaned, conserved, and studied specifically for this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition.

The Kimbell periodically welcomes the long-term loan of works from fellow museums and private collections, displayed in the permanent collection galleries. These Guests of Honor are intended to complement the museum’s existing holdings, present the work of the Kimbell’s conservation program, and provide special opportunities for museum visitors. Other current Guests of Honor include Girolamo Romanino’s Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine (1540) and Anthony van Dyck’s Queen Henrietta Maria (1638), both on loan from the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art; and Thomas Couture’s The Duel After the Masked Ball (c. 1857), Lawrence Alma-Tadema’s Between Hope and Fear (1876), Claude Monet’s Sunset at Lavacourt (1880), Gustave Caillebotte’s Still Life with Oysters (1881), and Paul Gauguin’s Still Life with Ceramic Dish (1888), all from private collections.

Promotional support for the Kimbell Art Museum and its exhibitions is provided by American Airlines, the Fort Worth Report, and NBC 5. Additional support is provided by Arts Fort Worth and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

The post Kimbell to Present Caravaggio Gem first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

The series Art of the Baroque explores the grandeur and drama of the Italian Baroque through the work of some of the period’s most celebrated painters—-including the remarkable 17th-century professional female artist Artemisia Gentileschi. Three documentaries travel to major art destinations to recount the painters’ formative life experiences and showcase their career-defining masterpieces.

The Kimbell will also present Exploring Naples, featuring three films that pay homage to the glorious past and present-day traditions that help to make the ancient port city of Naples one of the most captivating sites along Italy’s southern coast. Each screening offers a different perspective—-from John Turturro’s tribute to the city’s rich musical heritage and Vittorio De Sica’s portrait of Neapolitan life at mid century, to a documentary that unearths 2,500 years of history hidden beneath the Bay of Naples and the city’s labyrinthine streets.

Art of the Baroque

• MARCH 8
  Michael Palin’s Quest for Artemisia(2015, 60 min.)
• APRIL 19
  Carracci: The Silent Revolution(2019, 52 min.)
• MAY 17
  Understanding Art: Baroque, Part One(2009, 60 min.)

Exploring Naples

• MARCH 29
  Passione(directed by John Turturro, 2010, 95 min.)
• MAY 3
  The Gold of Naples(directed by Vittorio De Sica, 1954, 138 min.)
• JUNE 7
  Italy’s Invisible Cities: Naples(2017, 52 min.)

View the schedule at kimbellart.org.

The post Italian Film Series at the Kimbell first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

photo credit: Reverie Photo Co.

This weekend is fwFLAVOR‘s new-fashioned ice cream social at FWBlackhouse! It promises to be a great opportunity to meet up with other Fort Worth families face to face. On Saturday, June 2nd, beginning at 1 pm there will be ice cream, popsicles, snow cones, activities, live music, and more. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children (2 and under are free!), and there is a VIP option: for $25, you can come at noon – first in line for ice cream, hair-painting, and more! Here is the link to purchase tickets for this great family-friendly event!

Mamma Mia! is being performed at Casa Mañana June 2nd to 10th. The music of ABBA is sung to tell the feel good story about love, laughter, and friendship. This show is suitable for most audiences and loved by over 60 million people worldwide. I’m so thankful we have the opportunity to see it here in Fort Worth. Tickets are still available.

Sunday, June 3rd is the Kimbell Art Museum Family Festival. Beginning at 12:00pm, there will be hands-on activities, story times, games, and lively performances by guest artists. This is a free family event, and no reservation is necessary. You will not be disappointed!

June 9th is Dairy Day at Nash Farm. Bring the family from 10 am to 12 pm and enjoy learning about the dairy process including milking, butter making, cheese making, and more. Tickets are $3.00 and can be purchased here!

Monday, June 11th, Central Market and Bass Hall are hosting a Pie-Baking Contest in celebration of the upcoming Broadway at the Bass run of Waitress later this month. Everyone is welcome to enter and there will be a team of pie-loving judges including our very own mayor, Betsy Price! It must be made from scratch and follow specific rules to win. Here is the link to all the details and to register. Good Luck!

On June 14th, go on a trail ride from Waterside to Westbend with Bike to the Bend. Meet at the REI store in Waterside from 5:30 to 6:15 pm. At 6:15 pm sharp, hit the Trinity Trail to Westbend where you can grab some drinks and snacks from HG Sply Co and Bartaco. Beginning around 7:45 pm, head back to Waterside for a cold beer from Rahr & Sons Brewing Company and post-ride treats. Sounds like an adventure not to miss! Tickets can be purchased here, and all proceeds will benefit the First Mile Program.

Did you know that the Botanical Research Institute of Texas at the Botanical Gardens has Family Exploration Saturdays? Every Saturday in June, anytime between 1 pm and 4 pm, bring the family to the backyard vegetable garden at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens for outdoor exploration that will teach your children about some amazing things found in nature!

Finally, Concerts in the Garden is here. Beginning June 1st and continuing throughout the summer, our Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will be performing at the Botanical Gardens. There are a variety of music genres on the calendar and something that will please everyone. TanglewoodMoms.com has at least 3 articles in the past on this amazing event: Star Wars Edition 2015, Fun in the Fort June 2016, and Fun in the Fort June 2017. Don’t miss your chance to go! Tickets can be purchased here.

There is plenty to do with your children, friends, and out-of-town guests this summer in Fort Worth. Have fun and stay safe everybody!

Tricia Schniederjan is a Fort Worth girl born and raised. Tricia is a runner, scuba diver, snow and water skier, hiker, and kayaker. Her love of exploring has taken her on many adventures with her 5 children which has led to her becoming an expert at traveling with children. She is a UT Austin graduate, an optimist, a peace keeper, and an enjoyer of life.

The post Fun in the Fort: June 2018 first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

October 7th is the beginning of the wonderful new exhibit at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, “Curious George: Let’s Get Curious”! There will be interactive activities that will invite children to learn like George – through direct experience and problem solving.

Calloway’s Nursery will be having their annual Fall Festival on October 7th, beginning at 9am. This is a great opportunity to get cute pumpkin pictures for the kids, plus they will have free pie, pumpkin decorating, activities, games, snacks, door prizes, and more.

You do not want to miss Kimbell Fest this year! “Casanova, A Celebration of Love” is happening October 14th from 5-10pm. Bring the whole family to see Casanova inspired performances, face painting, art making, and get your picture taken in the Casanova photo booth. Wild Belle and Henry the Archer will be providing amazing live music to enjoy. This event is free and open to all. A variety of food trucks and beverages will be available, and Central Market is providing picnics to order as well, just call 817-377-9307. Grab your family and friends, bring a blanket or two, and enjoy the evening celebration.

The first annual Rio Festival is taking place on October 14th from 5-11pm. Visit the revitalized River District and enjoy live music, Fort Worth craft beer and cider, pumpkin patch photos, food trucks, and homegrown artists, plus the Kids Zone featuring fall crafts and games, hay rides and more.

Arts Goggle is back on October 21st beginning at noon. They will have 500+ artists, 50 bands, and 5 main stages across 15 blocks of Near Southside. If you haven’t been yet, you need to check out this free and fun family event! It is unlike any other.

Frontier Fall Fest at the Log Cabin Village is October 21st from 1-4pm. It will be a fun afternoon featuring living history, music, crafts, artisans and more.

Perfect pumpkin patches in the area include Mainstay Farm, Country Critters, Hall’s Pumpkin Farm, and if you are willing to travel over to Dallas, the Dallas Arboretum has one of the best!

The State Fair of Texas is from September 29-October 22nd. We’ll meet you at Big Tex if we get separated!

Spend your Halloween at the Stockyards this year. They are hosting Treat Street 2017! On Halloween, October 31st, dress up and head down to the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards from 5-7pm. They will have costume contests, pumpkin decorating, games, hayrides, and trick or treating. Treat Street is a family-friendly event that is FREE. All Treat Street activities will occur in Stockyards Station Mall located at 140 East Exchange Avenue.
Schedule of Events:
5p-7p Trick or Treating
5p-7p Face Painting
5p-7p Half off Cowtown Cattlepen Maze – Kids 12 and under in costume only, $1 off parents who go in with kids
5p-7p Pumpkin decorating
6p Legends of Texas Present “Silver Bullet,” a special Halloween Show
6:30p Costume Contest
Don’t miss out of the fun! Treats are given to kids under 12 in costumes.

Fall is officially here and the perfect time to spend outside. Get out and about and enjoy these exciting activities with your family. Have fun and stay safe everybody!

Many thanks to the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards for sponsoring this post!

The post Fun in the Fort: October 2017 first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

That’s the vibe I got when I read about the Kimbell Art Museum’s upcoming State of the Arts program. The live discussion panel is a collaboration between KERA’s Art&Seek and the Kimbell. “Firing up the Spotlight” explores how three “Fort Worth-based performing arts groups are challenging industry traditions with dynamic stagings, innovative programming, and audience engagement.”

In the hot seats will be Kathleen Anderson Culebro (founding artistic director of Amphibian Stage Productions), Dana Schultes (executive producer at Stage West Theatre), and Ben Stevenson (artistic director of the Texas Ballet Theater).

Last April, I attended State of the Arts to hear my friends Christopher Blay, Dee Lara, and Megan Henderson speak about creating a ladder for artists in our community. Seeing arts directors, community leaders, and residents engaged in an insightful discussion on the arts was refreshing and uplifting. I also think it lead to positive change in our community.

As someone who teaches classical music and works with local performing arts groups, I can tell you that there has always been a tension between convention and innovation in the arts world. There is a reason Texas Ballet Theater presents The Nutcracker every December. Traditional programing is still very popular with audiences. But there is a danger in keeping one foot firmly planted in the 19th century. There are new fans of theater, opera, and ballet to be gained when newer works and concepts are staged. Former Fort Worth Opera director Darren Woods used contemporary works to bring in younger crowds with great success.

The evening will conclude with drinks and live music presented in the Piano Pavilion Lobby by Sofar Sounds.

State of the Arts is Friday, September 22, at 6 p.m. in the Kimbell Art Museum’s Piano Pavilion Auditorium.
It is free. For more information, visit here.

Edward Brown writes about music, arts, and news for a variety of publications. He’s an award-winning writer for the Fort Worth Weekly and volunteers for numerous Fort Worth nonprofits.

The post Fort Worth’s State of the Arts first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

The Modern Art Museum is brilliantly presenting Modern Kids-Summer Flicks: Selected Short Films from the New York International Children’s Film Festival.  Admission is free and open to the public.  Join them to see some of the award-winning animated short films.   August 1st and 2nd at 11am, these will be the geared toward ages 3-5, while the films at 2pm are for ages 5 and up.  On August 3^rd at 2pm, they will be showing Eleanor’s Secret, and it is perfect for all ages!  The air conditioning will be on and is so cold that you might even need a sweater!  Click here for more information!

On August 5^th head to the Kimbell Art Museum’s education studios to listen to cool tunes and create colorful and inventive mixed media art works inspired by Matisse, Klee, Kandinsky and other modern artists who also loved music.  They will be looking for you anytime from 10am-5pm!

Lost Oak Winery is holding their 9^th annual Harvest Fiesta & Grape Stomp on the evening of August 12^th.  Your family will enjoy Live Music, Food Trucks, Texas Wine and Stomping Grapes!  The fun will take place from 5pm-9pm.  Don’t miss it!

REEL Adventures: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is coming to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History on August 12 and 19 and September 9 and 15. Dress up and dabble in some tournament activities before the showing of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in the Omni Theater. Purchase tickets and get more information here. Members can call 817-255-9540 to receive their discount.

A Back to School Yoga class is being held at Urban Yoga for ages 11-14 on Saturday, August 12 from 3pm-5pm.  The class will teach meditation and stress relieving techniques for all levels of yoga students. Help your kids get ready to go back to school.  You can sign them up here!

Another way to stay cool this August is to block the sun with the moon!  The solar eclipse is coming on August 21^st at 11:40am.  The Downtown Fort Worth Public Library is hosting a Solar Eclipse Crafts event the day before.  On August 20^th, anytime between 1pm-3pm stop by and make your own eclipse viewer plus other solar themed crafts and fun.  Call (817-392-7745) for more information.

Any children interested in BMX Bike racing would like to know that Greg Hill is coming to town.  He is a five-time Pro World Champion with 250 Pro wins and 10 USA National Pro Titles. He will be holding a coaching/training session on August 19 and 20.  Children as young as 5 can take lessons to become a BMX racer, right here in Fort Worth.  The Texas State Championship will be here August 25^th. Cowtown BMX is located at 447 Haltom Rd., Fort Worth, Texas, 776117.  Call 817-834-0279 for more information.  The weather is hot, but it is so cool to have this BMX racer in town!

It’s August in Texas! Embrace the heat.  It’s not going anywhere, but your family can!  Fort Worth is prepared with cool fun options for y’all!  Have fun and stay safe everybody!

Tricia Schniederjan is a Fort Worth girl born and raised. Tricia is a runner, scuba diver, snow and water skier, hiker, and kayaker.  Her love of exploring has taken her on many adventures with her 5 children which has led to her becoming an expert at traveling with children. She is a UT Austin graduate, an optimist, a peace keeper, and an enjoyer of life.

The post Fun in the Fort: August 2017 first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

The Cultural District is my refuge from the banalities of everyday life. On a recent visit, I couldn’t help notice all the nearby construction. Serious construction. Fortunately, the grounds of the district are owned and managed by stewards who understand the importance of the museums’ mission — a mission that transcends the need for hotels, parking garages, and for-profit development.

There are several amazing exhibits currently at The Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the Kimbell Art Museum, and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Many of these programs are targeted toward families and children. Here’s a roundup.

Amon Carter Museum of American Art

The Amon Carter offers several family-friendly events, including the outdoor film series Sunset Cinema (July 13) and the book reading adventure Storytime (July 5 and 12).

We’ve all experienced the childlike joy of using a Polaroid camera. The device revolutionized photography when it was released in 1937. The Polaroid Project captures the breadth of the device’s influence on art and culture through images, artifacts, and descriptions. I didn’t realize how versatile polaroid images could be. Collages, still life images, and abstract impressionism were all genres used by modern photographers.

Walking through the show, I snapped digital images on my Samsung J7 Prime smartphone. The photographs were nearly instantly available for anyone to see on social media. So much has changed since Polaroid made the idea of an instant photograph a reality. The exhibit left me wondering what the next paradigm shift in photography will be. And how long it will take us to realize we have been irreparably changed by it.

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

The Modern’s Kid’s Film Festival runs August 1-3 and features selections from the New York International Children’s Film Festival. Admission is free but limited to the first 250 guests. August 2 spotlights Song of the Sea, a “breathtakingly gorgeous, hand-drawn masterpiece. Based on the Irish legend of the Selkies.” On August 3, your children can enjoy Eleanor’s Secret, a film about a “magic library where all the characters from classic children’s books come alive.”

Modern Art Museum, you’ve done it again. Fresh off the heels of he acclaimed KAWS exhibit, our lauded contemporary art museum presents Doug Aitken: Electric Earth. All I knew on a recent visit was that my friends all but had a conniption over how “great” it was. They were right.

I was greeted by a white, glowing telephone booth at the top of the Modern’s main staircase. Inside the first gallery to my right, a long movie screen enveloped a dozen viewers. The setup was something akin to the OMNI Theater with several projectors duplicating images every dozen feet or so. It was immersive. Aitken’s artist statement primed by experience: “We are experiencing time in a different way now in terms of information. In the moment when we stop and turn everything off, we find ourselves alone in an almost greater silence.

I won’t give away much about the video, but it was poignant, well-crafted, and a fitting commentary on how technology isolates us all. It was pretty cool to see kids of all ages enjoying the exhibition. The next room held three miniature billboards with short films projected on them. A little girl visitor was transfixed on the video of a horse in a motel room. Don’t hesitate to take the kiddos to this thought provoking show.

Kimbell Art Museum

The Kimbell’s Family Festival (August 5) is held in the museum’s education studios. “Groove with some lively tunes and create colorful mixed-media works inspired by Matisse, Klee, Kandinksy, and other modern artists who also loved music. This free program is offered in conjunction with the special exhibition A Modern Vision: European Masterworks from the Phillips Collection. Admission is required to visit the special exhibition; visit www.kimbellart.org for details.
Edward Brown writes about music, arts, and news for a variety of publications. He is an award-winning writer for the Fort Worth Weekly and volunteers for numerous Fort Worth nonprofits. 

The post Cultural District Gems Are a Treat at Any Age first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Yay! It’s officially springtime!  I’ve got news for y’all on a perfect location for bluebonnet pictures, some fun Easter Egg hunting opportunities andmore. Check out these family friendly events going on this month.

Let’s start with my latest find, the new section at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.  It’s open now and is so much fun.  One great thing about it right now is that there are TONS of bluebonnets.  You have to stay on the path, but you still can get some great pictures.  There are exciting bridges and waterfalls; your kids will be smiling from ear to ear and eager to explore it all.  The best part about it all is that it is FREE! So wonderful!

Did you know breweries were a great place to take children? On April 1^st Rahr & Sons will be hosting the DFW Lab Rescue Charity Event. Sit outside, enjoy some freshly brewed hometown beer, listen to live music, and let your kids enjoy the outside all for a good cause!  It’s from 1pm-3pm.  Here is more information.  They’d love to see you!

The Kimbell Art Museum is hosting their Family Festival April 2^nd from 12pm-5pm.  This free and fun event will celebrate architecture and buildings of all kinds in conjunction with the new exhibit, Louis Kahn: The Power of Architecture.  They will have hands-on projects, interactive story times, and live performances.  Here is the link for more information on this educational and fun opportunity.

April 3^rd is Opening Day for the Texas Rangers baseball season.  Head out to the ballpark with the family before the heat of the summer! Tickets can be found here.  I can’t wait!

If any of your children are like mine and enjoy YouTube Kids and Minecraft, then I am pretty sure you have heard of Dan TDM.  He’s the cute YouTuber from England that says, “Hello everyone, it’s Dan here from the Diamond Minecart” or something like that.  Well, he is on tour in the USA and will be in Dallas with 2 opportunities to see him. He’s here April 27^th and 28^th at the Music Hall at Fair Park.  Tickets and more information can be found here.  My 5 year old requested this for his birthday cake, so it’s a huge deal for us.

April 8^th at 11 am is the Easter Egg Hunt at Country Critters Farm.  It’s $10 a person, and kids under 2 are free.  They will have bounce houses, a tractor and train playground, pony rides, petting zoo, and more.  This will be guaranteed smiles and good times for all. Here is the link for directions and more information.

April 15^th is the Texas-Sized Easter Egg Hunt in the Fort Worth Stockyards!  This is a FREE event, and everyone is invited.  There will be pictures with the Easter Bunny, face painting, and caricature artists as well.  If the Easter bunny is as cute as the Santa they had at Christmas time, this will be the best opportunity for Easter bunny photos in town! The hunt begins at 12 noon and is for children 12 and under.  Here is the link for more information.  You do not want to miss this one!

April the 8^th, if you have a little princess lover, I’d like to let you know there will be a Royal Princess Ball in Dallas.   It’s an afternoon of fun and an opportunity to meet your favorite princesses.  From 1:15 pm-3:00 pm, there will be princess story time, sing-alongs, princess manners lessons, ballroom dance moves, games, and wishes.  It will be royally fun.  Here is the link for tickets and information.

April 21^st-May 14^th Disney’s The Little Mermaid will be live at Casa Manana.  Another fabulous show your children will enjoy! Tickets can be found here.

Finally, April 29^th is for the Nerf gun battle fans of the group!  The 2^nd annual Jared’s Epic Nerf Battle will take place at AT&T stadium on the field of the Dallas Cowboys.  They are looking to set the record as the largest Nerf gun battle in the world, so this will be huge!  This is for all ages, and 2-year-olds and younger are free with free parking as well.  You must bring your own Nerf weapon and ammo, and no strollers are allowed on the field.  Here is the link for more information and tickets.

There’s a lot going on this month, so mark your calendars and get out to enjoy this sunshine without the heat of the summer.  Happy springtime, have fun, and stay safe, everybody!

Many thanks to the Fort Worth Stockyards for sponsoring this post!

Tricia Schniederjan is a Fort Worth girl, born and raised. Tricia is a runner, scuba diver, snow and water skier, hiker, and kayaker.  Her love of exploring has taken her on many adventures with her 5 children, which has led to her becoming an expert at traveling with children. She is a UT Austin graduate, an optimist, a peace keeper, and an enjoyer of life.

The post Fun in the Fort: April 2017 Edition first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

I’m sure you heard about the latest Casa Manana production from the fabulous article written by Tanglewood moms writer, Jackie Hoermann-Elliot!  Now is your chance to see it as well.  Casa Manana is giving away tickets for 4 to see Santa Claus, A New Musical!  The tickets are for Wednesday, December 21^st, at 7 pm.  If you are available, these seats could be yours.  You don’t want to miss it; December 23^rd is the last opportunity to see the show.

Claude Monet
The Red Kerchief, c. 1869
Oil on canvas
Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of Leonard C. Hanna, Jr.

The Kimball Art Museum is featuring Monet: The Early Years.  This exhibition will be your chance to see the amazing paintings of Monet as a young painter just starting out.  It will be here until January 29, and tickets to this Kimball exhibit would be an original idea for that hard to buy for person who already has everything.  If you know someone that would love this, or if you yourself are interested, The Kimball Art Museum has provided one lucky reader 4 tickets to this show.  You can keep them for yourself or give them as a gift! Here is the link for more information Monet: The Early Years.

Shortly after the holidays, it will be time for the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo! Get your buckaroos ready with some cowboy boots from Tot to Teen.  I’ve never met a child who doesn’t love a new pair of cowboy boots.  Tot to Teen has a great selection and would love to provide a pair for your child!  Be sure to check out their Facebook page and follow them on Instagram to keep up with the entire Tot to Teen happenings and styles.  One lucky cowboy or cowgirl will get to pick out their very own pair of cowboy boots for free!

Well, It’s finally getting cold outside, like its supposed to be.  One of my favorite stores in town, the Covey House has all the sweaters, coats, vests and fleeces you will need to keep your children warm and stylish at the same time!  They have found the cutest options for you to choose from.  Some of the brands they carry include: True Grit, North Face, Columbia and Southern Tide. If you have a little one that is in need of some new threads to keep them warm, Covey House is giving away one of the above options!  The fortunate winner can go in and pick out the perfect fleece that works for them! Follow Covey House on Instagram to see all the other cute options that would be a fantastic present for all the lucky children of Fort Worth.

This next gift idea is universal.  Who doesn’t love a clean car?  If you are like me, my children love to bring something with them EVERY time we get in the car.  It might be a snack, a drink, toys… whatever! It’s always something! Tanglewood mom’s writer Christy Ortiz recently wrote an article here on a new service in town called On Demand Car Care.  This convenient service is perfect for this busy time of year (especially if you have family coming in town, and you want them to think that you’ve got it all together).  Let On Demand Car Care help you.  Whether it’s for yourself or someone else, you can’t go wrong with this one.  I guarantee it will be appreciated.  They are giving away an amazing wash and detail package! If you don’t get the win on this one, you can visit On Demand Car Care and book it yourself!

Here it is, in my opinion, the greatest item on the list!  If you are a friend of mine on Facebook, you know my new favorite spot in town is Zyn22.  After reading and hearing about this place, I finally decided to give it a try.  I was blown away! I can’t get enough and honestly look forward to my workouts here.  Our Tanglewood moms writer and rock star Zyn22 instructor, Jennifer Kieta wrote a fantastic article with all the details, and here is the link in case you missed it! Surprise a special person in your life with the gift of Zyn22! Customize a gift card here!  Zyn22 is giving one of our readers the chance to win a free 11-ride package!  This is huge!!!!

Don’t forget about the cute store located at 6323 Camp Bowie Blvd Ste 151, bKids Boutique!  They have some of the latest trends for babies up to tweens.  Here they can help you find a bunch of different ideas to surprise your special one.  I love these super popular emoji and fur puff keychains!  They would make a great stocking stuffer. Check out the Instagram for other fun gift ideas.  bKids boutique is giving away a fun keychain.  With bling like this, your kids will be too cool for school!

Finally folks, I’ve saved the best for last! I’m not sure if you read my article on Lush Resort at Possum Kingdom Lake, but here it is.  If you haven’t made it out to Possum Kingdom for a stay here, let me tell you it’s the perfect escape from the city.  It’s only an hour and a half away, and it feels like paradise.  You can get away from all the stress of the holidays by running off to Lush.  What a fabulous unexpected gift to yourself or loved ones!  Fishing, hiking, hunting and canoeing are just a few of the year round lake activities that can be enjoyed here.  If you’d like a chance to check it out, Lush is giving away a 2-night stay.  It must be used before the end of February, so if you need a quiet escape in the near future this is the prize for you!  Here is a link to their website for more information on Lush Resort.

Well, there you go! There are so many choices of wonderful stores and places in Fort Worth, let me know some of your favorites that you’d like to see on this list in the future!  Shop small and support the places that make our city unique!  TanglewoodMoms.com is happy to give away all of the great finds listed above.  Follow us on Instagram and tag a friend for a chance to win!  There will be a giveaway a day. Check each giveaway’s rules to learn how to win.  Happy Holidays everyone!

Tricia Schniederjan is a Fort Worth girl born and raised, Tricia is a runner, scuba diver, snow and water skier, hiker, and kayaker.  Her love of exploring has taken her on many adventures with her 5 children which has led to her becoming an expert at traveling with children. She is a UT Austin graduate, an optimist, a peace keeper, and an enjoyer of life.

The post Fabulous Fort Worth Finds AND Holiday Giveaways! first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

There’s something for everyone in Fort Worth’s Cultural District. The outdoor spaces, especially between the Kimbell’s Renzo Piano Pavilion and Louis Kahn Building, are exquisite, meditative spaces that every local should know about. Within walking distance of these cultural gems are several fine dining spots: Blue Sushi Sake Grill, Hanabi Ramen & Izakaya, and Cafe Modern. Keeping up with the newest exhibits can be a task, so here’s an overview.

Arguably one of the hottest contemporary art shows in the United States just opened at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.  KAWS: Where the End Starts, the first retrospective by Brooklyn-based artists Brian Donnelly (a.k.a. KAWS), runs through January 22. The exhibit has a high entertainment factor. Massive cartoonish statues embracing, references to popular cartoon characters of yesteryear, and artistically vandalized fashion posters from the mid-’90s are just a few of the colorful pieces on display. While it’s easy to get caught up in the macabre images of a deceased, dancing Snoopy or decapitated Homer Simpson, the artist himself said at a recent event that he’s not concerned with each cartoon’s history but rather with the shapes and colors cartoonists employ. The Calvin Klein and Gap posters in the rear of the museum are originals that Donnelly pulled, painted, and re-posted in Brooklyn nearly 20 years ago.

Nearby Kimbell Art Museum has a blockbuster of its own, albeit in a decidedly more Impressionistic vain. Monet: The Early Years, through January 29, is the first-ever exhibit devoted to the early years (1858 until 1872) of Claude Monet. The exhibit follows his development from a more traditional artist into the Impressionist force that he became.

The Amon Carter Museum of American Art pulls from photographer Richard Misrach and composer Guillermo Galindo to present Border Cantos through December 31. Translated to “Border Songs,” the title is an apt description of the Texas/Mexican border landscape that fills many of Misrach’s images and Galindo’s soundscapes. Galindo has built a reputation parsing together instruments from commonly-found items. For Border Cantos, many of the instrumental works played throughout the exhibit were recorded on discarded items found just north of the border. What struck me most about this exhibit was the neutral political stance the images and sounds created. Questions are posed but left unanswered.

Anyone who’s seen a Kids Who Care show is familiar with the Fort Worth Community Arts Center. Besides being home to W.E. Scott Theater, the center hosts dozens of (mostly free) art shows a year that feature local, regional, and national artists. Through December 22, visitors can see works by North Texas-native Lael Burns, whose works “contrasts imagery from nature with various man-made aspects of our contemporary world to express her interest with the tensions between spiritual and material aspects of life.”

Fort Worth is fortunate to have an astounding array of world-class culture all in concentrated a walkable area. It may take several trips, but make time for the other Cultural District destinations like the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, Will Rogers Memorial Center, and Casa Mañana.

Edward Brown writes about music, arts and news for a variety of publications. He’s an award-winning writer for the Fort Worth Weekly and blogger for Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau. He has published articles in Musical Opinion (U.K.), Canadian Music Educators Journal, and Clavier Companion,among others. When Brown isn’t writing about music, he’s actively involved in the local music scene as an educator, performer, lecturer, and judge for student music competitions. His professional affiliations include the Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth, where he volunteers as education director, and the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, where he serves on the board and artistic committee. Brown was born in Bowling Green, Ohio in 1982. He is a graduate of the University of North Texas and currently resides in Fort Worth. His favorite leisure time activities include local music concerts and perusing Fort Worth’s growing gastropub scene.

The post Cultural District Roundup first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.