TEXAS FORT WORTH Get a taste of Fort Worth’s finest cuisine. What’s Online A River Runs Through It Trinity’s renewal makes big splash IT TAKES A VILLAGE Urban revitalization gains momentum STREET SMARTS College campuses enliven downtown PRESENTED BY THE FORT WORTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2011 | IMAGESFORTWORTH.COM
The days as an army outpost are over, but Fort Worth's frontier spirit continues to thrive. A city of cowboys and culture, Fort Worth is where Texas' storied history meets its busy present, where cowboys and ranchers are as likely to be in business with high-tech entrepreneurs as they are to be seatmates at a Cats game. Here you'll find a rich tapestry of affordable neighborhoods, an enviable cultural scene and a world-class educational system.In 1849, Fort Worth was established as an outpost, looking forward into the future. Today it's still that, and much more.
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texasfort worth
Get a taste of Fort Worth’s finest cuisine.
What’s Online
a River Runs through ItTrinity’s renewal makes big splash
It takes a vIllaGeUrban revitalization gains momentum
Don’t just take our word for it – see for yourself how great Fort Worth is in our quick videos at imagesfortworth.com, highlighting a little bit of everything that Fort Worth has to offer.
Just the facts, please.Many factors will determine your move, and now you’re just a click away from all the basic facts you’ll need. Visit imagesfortworth.com for our enhanced Facts & Stats section, now rich with quick, pertinent details about the community.
Share With a Friendeasily share an interesting article, stunning photo or advertisement of your business on Facebook, twitter or via e-mail.
haVe a BLoG or WeBSite?embed the digital magazine in your site to add compelling, local information.
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IMAGESFORTWORTH.COM 19
Not long ago, the Trinity River was little more than a neglected ditch, the victim of well-intended flood control measures. But today, thanks to the efforts of concerned citizens,
local, state and federal governments, the Trinity is the beating heart of the city and a promise of great things to come.
The tragedy of the Trinity came after disastrous floods had periodically swamped Fort Worth’s downtown for decades. Rerouting the river and building huge levees eased floods but left the river little more than an eyesore.
Rescuing a RiverThen, in 1971 a group of concerned community members,
Streams and Valleys, launched a campaign to restore the river they loved, a groundswell that grew for three decades. In 2003, after hundreds of public meetings, citywide discussion and planning, The Trinity River Vision plan was adopted by the city.
An ambitious re-imagining of 88 miles of the river, its tributaries and a large blighted area of downtown, it aims to
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Fort Worth magazine is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses. For advertising information or to direct
questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080
on both Southern Living and Dog Fancy’s lists of best dog parks.
Its biggest event is the annual
Barktoberfest, which features
performing dogs, Bark for Life
walk for cancer and a Howl-o-
ween dog costume contest. For
the pampered pet, specialty stores
such as Glamour Paws and the
Grand Pet Resort & Salon are
sure to satisfy.
Almanac
10 forT worTh imagesforTworTh.Com 11
Welcome to Fort WorthaN iNTrodUCTioN To The area’s PeoPLe, PLaCes aNd eveNTs
City Within a CityRoss Perot, Jr. and his Hillwood company are behind AllianceTexas,
a 17,000-acre, master-planned, mixed-use community located in north
Fort Worth. The development is home to 240 companies, 28,000
employees and 7,300 single-family homes. There are a variety of
commercial real estate options, including new industrial, office and
retail. Hillwood is a company known for taking on large projects, with
previous developments such as sports arenas, high-rise
condominiums, golf courses, airports, rail yards and regional malls.
For more information, visit www.alliancetexas.com.
Bravo, EncoreFamed cellist Yo-Yo Ma once remarked that Bass
Performance Hall is a rare venue where the music heard by
the audience is the same as that heard by the performer. Singer
Tony Bennett said Bass Performance Hall tops every excellent
concert hall in Europe in which he has performed. The hall, named
by Travel + Leisure Magazine as one of the top 10 best opera houses
in the world, is the permanent home to many of the major performing
arts organizations in Fort Worth, and is also well-known for its arts
education classes. Some of its most unique architectural features are
the 48-foot limestone angels gracing the front of the building.
Colorful LegacyHistory buffs and curiosity seekers can rejoice.
Take a walk through downtown along the Fort
Worth Heritage Trails to learn about the people
and events that shaped the city’s rich history. The
trails celebrate the community’s early history on
engraved markers that detail the colorful legacy
of Fort Worth’s founders. Heritage Trails walking
maps are available at Downtown Fort Worth Inc.,
Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau,
Intermodal Transportation Center and the
Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel.
JFk Was Herefort worth holds a special place in history – it’s
where President John f. Kennedy spent his last night and gave his last speech on Nov. 22, 1963. That morning, Kennedy addressed thousands after a fort worth Chamber breakfast at the hotel Texas, where he and wife Jackie had spent the night. President Kennedy
then headed to dallas, where he met his untimely death. To commemorate
Kennedy’s fort worth visit, plans are in place to erect an 8-foot-tall, cast-
bronze sculpture of him in the downtown general worth
square. The statue, by artist Lawrence m. Ludtke, is
already completed and was funded by private
contributions. The statue is tentatively scheduled
to be officially unveiled to the
public in 2011.
10 forT worTh imagesforTworTh.Com 11
Fast Factsn The nonprofit Partners for Livable Communities named fort worth one of america’s most Livable Communities.
n a 2009 U.S. News & World Report list called the city one of the Best affordable Places to retire.
n Fortune Small Business ranked fort worth the ninth-best place in the nation to Live and Launch a Business.
n sixty percent of america’s paper money is printed at the U.s. Bureau of engraving and Printing western Currency facility in fort worth.
n The modern art museum in fort worth is the second-largest museum gallery space for modern art in america, next to moma New York.
n fort worth ranked No. 4 on CNBC’s 2010 list of Best Cities to relocate To in america.
Taking StockThis is no bull: One of the city’s most interesting
entertainment destinations is the Fort Worth Stockyards.
Once home to a thriving livestock industry, Fort Worth
became known as “Cowtown” because of the 4 million
head of cattle that passed through the city from 1866-
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Known as the “city of cowboys and culture,” Fort Worth offers all that and plenty more. With a bustling downtown, a sophisticated arts scene and a helping or two of Old West culture, Fort Worth has a wildly diverse mix for any traveler – not to mention that famous Tex-Mex cuisine, among other culinary highlights. Here’s our itinerary to discover some of Fort Worth’s best bets, all in a weekend visit.
Fort Worth in a WeekendaN iTiNerarY highLighTiNg The BesT of forT worTh
aN
To
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ier
imagesforTworTh.Com 17
day 1: dOWntOWn FOrt WOrth 7 pm: Classic texas Cuisine at Reata
Start your weekend by taking in the warm Texas
weather at Reata, a downtown Fort Worth favorite.
The four-story eatery, decked out cowboy-style,
has a seat for everyone – but the rooftop bar and
dining patio is the place to see and be seen during
Cowtown’s long warm season. Cuisine here is
Southwestern eclectic, with everything from
steaks to Creole and Southern dishes. Locals
swear by the fish tacos.
9 pm: sundance square and Four-day Weekend Spend some time window-shopping or grabbing
a post-dinner cocktail as you walk your way through
Sundance Square, Fort Worth’s downtown hub full
of bars, cafes and boutiques. Catch some laughs at
local improv comedy troupe Four-Day Weekend’s 10
p.m. show. The all-male group has been entertaining
the city for more than a decade. (Too late for you?
Early birds can catch the 7 p.m. show instead.) Wind
up your night at The Ashton Hotel in downtown
Fort Worth, a boutique hotel renovated from
two buildings listed on the National Register of
Historic Places.
day 2: sOuthside, cultural district, stOcKyards district 8 am: breakfast at paris Coffee shop
Smack in the middle of the hipster Near Southside
neighborhood is your breakfast destination – the
old-school diner Paris Coffee Shop, known for its
cheese grits and biscuits and gravy. The no-frills
atmosphere belies the diner’s pedigree: Bon Appetit magazine named Paris one of the top 10 places in
the U.S. for pie. (No, it’s not too early for a top-
heavy meringue chocolate or coconut slice.)
9 am: Cultural district museumsSpend the morning exploring the Cultural District,
where you’ll have your pick of five museums, Art
Deco jewels and kids’ activities all in the lushly
landscaped, urbane middle of the city.
If art is what you’re after, The Modern Art Museum
of Fort Worth boasts a provocative collection, as
well as renowned architecture, and the kimbell Art
Museum has been called one of the country’s best
small collections. For western art, the Amon Carter
Museum’s Remington and Russell collection is a
good option. kids will love the Museum of Science
and History.
1 pm: joe t. Garcia’s mexican lunch and patioFor a little south of the border, drive a bit north to
local favorite Joe T. Garcia’s, known for its handmade
tortillas, legendary margaritas and perfect patio.
(Tip: If you’re not ready to leave the Cultural District
yet, Cafe Modern within The Modern Art Museum
provides upscale fare with a dramatic view).
3 pm: stockyards district and Cattle driveReady to see why Fort Worth is affectionately
known as Cowtown? A walk around the Stockyards
District will explain it all. The areas once housed one
of the largest cattle markets in the world. Today
it’s filled with Western-themed shops, saloons and
attractions like the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Stick
around until 4 p.m. to see a real-life cattle drive.
Not long ago, the Trinity River was little more than a neglected ditch, the victim of well-intended flood control measures. But today, thanks to the efforts of concerned citizens,
local, state and federal governments, the Trinity is the beating heart of the city and a promise of great things to come.
The tragedy of the Trinity came after disastrous floods had periodically swamped parts of the city for decades. Re-routing the river and building huge levees eased floods, but left the river little more than an eyesore.
Rescuing a RiverThen, in 1971, a group of concerned community members,
Streams and Valleys, launched a campaign to restore the river they loved, a groundswell that grew for three decades. In 2003, after hundreds of public meetings, citywide discussion and planning, The Trinity River Vision plan was adopted by the city.
An ambitious re-imagining of 88 miles of the river, its tributaries and an area of downtown, it aims to protect the
FoRt WoRth’s ReneWed tRInIty RIveR makes a splash
A River Runs
STORY BY lauRa hIll
Through It
Trinity river Trails left: The view of downtown fort worth from the Trinity river Trails.
river and make it more accessible to the entire community.“We don’t want to see just skinny, sweaty people running
along the river trails,” says J.D. Granger, executive director of Trinity River Vision Authority. “We want a river available to everybody.”
Recreation on the RiverbanksWhile the project moves toward its 2021 completion, Fort
Worth is already enjoying its renewed river, from quiet walks along its banks to wet and wild water sports. Trinity River Trails, a 40-mile riverside greenway system of walking, biking, horseback and hiking trails connects 21 parks, the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, the Fort Worth Zoo, the Historic Stockyards and downtown. Stops offer launch sites for kayaks and canoes, picnic areas, water fountains, parking and misters. You can even cross the river by train, courtesy of the Forest Park Miniature Railroad.
One of the most anticipated amenities is the Cowtown Wakepark, set to open in spring 2011 near Northside Drive. Only the eighth park in the country devoted to wakeboarding, a hybrid of surfing and waterskiing, the riverside facility will replicate wave movement with cables.
Fishermen love the banks of the Trinity for catch-and-release sport. The fishing pier at Trinity Park is a popular spot; each spring hundreds of trout are released into the river, affording anglers a field day.
summer of splashIncreasingly, outdoor-lovers find themselves not just next
to the river or on it, but in it. Trinity River Vision Authority launched three wildly popular tubing events in 2010, f loating hundreds of people down river in inner tubes, and plans more in summer 2011. The river also boasts a water-ski slalom course.
For those who prefer sprawling on the sofa to splashing, Colonial Park apartment homes offer “tranquil views” of the river, while River Park lures renters with its proximity to Trinity Trails. As the city’s vision emerges, more riverfront housing and commercial space will turn a once-blighted area, Trinity Uptown, into a vibrant new Fort Worth – inspired by the river that runs through it.
“From 2000 to 2007 we grew from 530,000 people to 708,000,” Granger says. “Lots of young people who moved here have no memory of an industrial riverfront – they just see a beautiful river.”
Clockwise from top left: downtown fort worth; forest Park miniature railroad; Biking on the Trinity river Trails; a man walks his dog on the Trinity river Trails.
not one, not two, not three – but 16 individual urban villages are now located throughout Fort Worth,
and the city is working with developers, business groups and neighborhood associations to revitalize all 16.
Urban villages are small geographic areas, usually one square mile, that are zoned for multiple-use development, and are mass-transit and pedestrian friendly. An ideal urban village is one where parks, businesses, entertainment, residences and stores are all within walking distance of one another, resulting in a virtual city within a city.
magnolia, West seventh lead the Way
All 16 villages are in what is called the Central City portion of Fort Worth. The village names are Berry/Riverside, Berry Stalcup, Berry/University, Bluebonnet Circle, Evans & Rosedale,
uRban RevItalIzatIon pRoGRam GaIns momentum
It Takes a
STORY BY kevIn lItWInPHOTOGRAPHY BY antony boshIeR
The Usual is a trendy bar in the Near southside district. Right: montgomery Plaza on west seventh features stores, restaurants and residences.
Hemphill/Berry, Historic Handley, Historic Marine, Magnolia, Near East Side, Oakland Corners, Polytechnic/Wesleyan, Ridglea, Six Points, South Main and West Seventh.
Perhaps the most successful and well-publicized villages to date are Magnolia and West Seventh.
“Magnolia has experienced extensive transformation along Magnolia Avenue and the surrounding area, and has actually become a regional attraction thanks to what is being called Restaurant Row,” says Mike Brennan, planner with Fort Worth South Inc., which oversees Magnolia Village, as well as the South Main and Evans & Rosedale villages. “In fact, one of the Magnolia restaurants is Ellerbe Fine Foods, which was named one of the Top 10 New Restaurants in America for 2010 by Bon Appetit magazine.”
24-hour destinationsBrennan says one of the main
goals in the Fort Worth Urban Village
Program is to create a better balance between housing and jobs, therefore turning nine-to-five areas into 24-hour destinations. For example, Magnolia has been adding several loft apartments over storefronts.
“Magnolia is already home to 30,000 jobs, so now the goal is to make it more livable and pedestrian friendly,” he says. “That included reconfiguring the four-lane Magnolia Avenue into one lane of travel in both directions, with a middle turning lane. There is also a roomy bike lane running along each perimeter.”
As for West Seventh Village, it has been renovated from a warehouse district of a decade ago into a walkable, live/work environment that has become an important link between downtown and the Cultural District. Businesses that moved into West Seventh in 2010 are Fidelity Investments, Hacienda San Miguel Restaurant, MK’s Sushi, MODA Salon & Spa, Reads Jewelers, VLK Architects and In-N-Out Burger.
“When searching for the ideal site for In-N-Out Burger, we do our due diligence to find primary corridors of activity and vibrancy,” says Carl Van Fleet, vice president. “West Seventh fits that requirement nicely.”
just starting the processMeanwhile, some villages are just
starting their redevelopment process. For example, both Historic Marine and Oakland Corners villages were awarded $50,000 grants in 2010 to undertake a community-driven planning process that will address various issues, including development opportunities, transportation needs and an overall vision.
“More livable villages means wider sidewalks, trees, new buildings set back from the road, traffic being slowed down, and residential additions,” Brennan says. “It’s an exciting time to be involved with the Fort Worth Urban Village Program.”
Condos in oleander Plaza in the Near southside district, just south of downtown fort worth. The Near southside community dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, when it was developed as the city’s first streetcar suburb. Today the neighborhood is a diverse and eclectic mixed-use community with plenty to offer diners, shoppers and dwellers.
establishments like City Streets, The Aardvark, Billy
Bob’s Texas, Flying Saucer Draught Emporium,
Sardines, and 8.0 Restaurant and Bar are well known
around the Fort Worth music scene.
They are just some of the numerous live entertainment
venues that grace and enrich the city’s nightlife. Live rock
spots include The Moon, Rockstar Sports Bar, 1919
Hemphill and Lola’s Saloon, which hosts popular local
bands such as Brutal Juice, Obituary and Moistboys.
Capital Bar in the Cultural District is a popular
rooftop bar featuring the Backyard, the bar’s “stage
under the stars” for live music and more. Plans are in
the works to expand Capital Bar with the addition of
the Back House, a smoking section with a more laid-
back pub feel. The Back House will offer pool tables,
darts and video games, and will open up to the
Backyard area through garage doors.
There are also several live country music
destinations in Fort Worth, specifically in the Historic
Stockyards District. Some hot spots include White
Elephant Saloon, Stagecoach Ballroom, Rodeo
Exchange, Stockyard Saloon and Pearl’s Dance Hall
and Saloon, which has performances every Tuesday,
Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.
The city is also home to a number of good blues
and jazz venues, including Embargo, 7th Heaven,
J&J Blues Bar, Buttons, and Scat Jazz Lounge.
– Kevin Litwin
listen upFoRt WoRth hosts a WIde vaRIety oF lIve musIC venues
Fort Worth has 200,000 college students enrolled at any given time, and it graduates 35,000 students a
year. Much of the learning is going on right in the center of the city’s vibrant downtown district.
The district’s college scene is about to get even bigger in the fall of 2011 with the opening of Tarrant County College’s Trinity River East Campus. Tarrant County College is already the sixth-largest college or university in Texas
in terms of enrollment, and the 2011 opening will become its sixth campus.
“Approximately one in every 19 Tarrant County residents takes a class at TCC each year,” says Erma Johnson Hadley, chancellor. “We expect our new campus to be a main part of the downtown landscape.”
state-of-the-art FutureThe Trinity River East Campus will
focus primarily on health-care training, with students studying course
programs in nursing, radiology, sonography and respiratory care. Classrooms will feature 21st-century technology and will resemble hospitals complete with lifelike mannequins, so students can gain a full spectrum of clinical skills.
The Tarrant County College nursing program is currently headquartered at the TCC South Campus, and all allied health programs will move to Trinity River East once that campus opens in time for the 2011-2012 school year.
ColleGe Campuses enlIven doWntoWn FoRt WoRth
STREET
STORY BY kevIn lItWIn
SmarTS
The University of Texas arlington fort worth Center offers graduate classes and continuing education programs in the renovated historic santa fe freight Building downtown.
letter of the lawDowntown Fort Worth is also home to the Texas Wesleyan
School of Law, which bills itself as providing a private school education at virtually a public school cost.
“In today’s economic climate, providing a quality educational experience at a reasonable cost is a rare thing indeed,” says Frederic White, dean of Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. “Here, our focus is on the student.”
The law school offers f lexible scheduling so students can choose between full-time or part-time course loads on a day or evening basis, and the faculty is highly accessible. The Texas Wesleyan law library is also regarded as one of the best in all of Texas.
In the santa Fe depotMeanwhile, the district is also where the University of
Texas at Arlington-Fort Worth Center holds classes. The campus has been in existence since 2007 and offers a variety of graduate classes and continuing education programs.
The campus is located in the historic Santa Fe freight depot. The transformed building now features eight classrooms for UT Arlington students, as well as meeting and conference space, a resource library and a public art space called Gallery 76102.
Green CampusUT Arlington-Fort Worth Center has also been making
news for its recycling and sustainability efforts.“We’re doing what we can on a local level,” says Megan
Topham, operations director. “We use recycled paper with the highest post-consumer waste content available. We use soy ink. We have fluorescent, energy-saving light bulbs and a comprehensive recycling program.”
Tarrant County College’s downtown campus lights up the banks of the Trinity river. The state-of-the-art campus adds to downtown’s features and offers students a unique view as they walk to and from classes. its central location also adds convenience for downtown workers who want to pick up evening classes.
College students aren’t the only
ones who love Fort Worth.
ESPN will use Sundance Square,
a shopping and entertainment
district in the heart of the city,
as its headquarters for pre-game
and post-game coverage of Super
Bowl xLV. The game will occur
Feb. 6, 2011 at Cowboys Stadium
in Arlington, but the cable sports
network will host ESPN Game
Day programs from Feb. 1-7 in
Sundance Square. Fort Worth
officials courted ESPN for several
months prior to the network
selecting Fort Worth in late 2010.
City officials estimate $4.5
million in overall Super Bowl
promotions and marketing will be
spent during the special week. The
more than 80 hours of ESPN’s live
radio and TV broadcasts are likely
to bring in thousands of people
to Fort Worth’s downtown. The
actual broadcasts are expected
to showcase Fort Worth to tens of
millions of people throughout the
world, and the National Football
League estimates that as many as
150,000 visitors will come to North
Texas for the big game.
Besides ESPN, one of the other
highlights at Sundance Square in
downtown Fort Worth will be Lone
Star Live, a 21,000-square-foot
multi-themed bar that will combine
music and live entertainment.
And, if location rules, Fort
Worth is only a half-hour drive
from Cowboys Stadium.
For more information about
Super Bowl xLV and the role North
Texas will play by hosting the big
event, visit the North Texas Super
Bowl xLV Host Committee website
at www.northtexassuperbowl.com.
– kevin Litwin
hello, espnFoRt WoRth to host supeR boWl xlv Game day CoveRaGe
Biz BriefsBUsiNesses – BoTh Large aNd smaLL – ThaT heLP defiNe
forT worTh’s eCoNomiC CLimaTe
motheR RuCkeR’s sWeetsBiz: Cookies and candyBuzz: Mother Rucker’s Sweets is a gourmet sweets and gift company that makes fresh-baked cookies, brownies, handmade chocolate bars and confections from its Fort Worth headquarters. The company was founded in 2003 by Karel Rucker, who brought 25 years of professional baking experience to her operation. Many of the company’s sales nowadays are via the Internet, and their phone number is fittingly appropriate at (866) 73-YUMMY.www.motherruckers.com
scorecardbusIness at
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$5.8 billionannual retail sales
$10,190Retail sales
per capita
$855 millionannual hotel
and food sales
40,813total number
of firms
Source: U.S. Census Quickfacts
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Offering Two Locations:
Arlington CampusEarly Childhood-12th Grade
2201 W. Park Row Arlington, TX 76013
(817) 460-3315
Mansfield CampusThree Years-5th Grade 2351 Country Club Dr.
Mansfield, TX 76063 (817) 522-5900
Accredited by ACSI, SACS-casi
www.pantego.com
… Let us run with perseverance the
race marked out for us. ~ Hebrews 12:1
Est. 1963
34 forT worTh imagesforTworTh.Com 35
justIn bRandsBiz: Boot manufacturerBuzz: H.J. Justin and Sons was formed in 1908, and by 1910 Justin boots were sold in 26 states, Canada, Mexico and Cuba for $11 a pair. The company became headquartered in Fort Worth in 1925, and today Justin Boots is owned by Berkshire Hathaway. All boots are handmade and manufactured for men, women and children.www.justinboots.com
pIeR 1 ImpoRtsBiz: Home furnishingsBuzz: Pier 1 Imports started in 1962 with a single store, and today has more than 1,000 locations nationwide. The company bills itself as North America’s largest specialty retailer of imported home furnishings and décor, and is headquartered in Fort Worth. Merchandise ranges from home accessories such as candles, vases and picture frames to full-sized upholstered furniture, hand-carved armoires, large-scale vases and wall art.www.pier1.com
GoRdon bosWell FloWeRsBiz: FloristBuzz: This company has been serving Fort Worth since 1919, and numerous times has been voted Best Florist in Tarrant County. Most of the sales at Gordon Boswell Flowers are for traditional events such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. However, the business also features f lowers for categories such as For Him, School Colors, High Style and In the Doghouse?www.gordonboswell.com
the dannon Company Biz: Yogurt makerBuzz: This well-known company sells and produces 6 million cups of yogurt a day in nearly 100 flavors, styles, and sizes. Dannon’s plant on the Near Southside is one of Fort Worth’s industrial landmarks, employing hundreds of people in making and distributing the world’s top-selling brand of yogurt.www.dannon.com
Joe H. Crain, D.D.S., M.S.Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics
orthodontics for Children & adults
Give your smile a signature – a promise of a healthy, beautiful, long-lasting smile! With Dr. Crain’s signature smile, you will receive
the benefit of his attention to detail, his clinical excellence and his experience. Dr. Crain and his team are committed to helping you
achieve the smile you deserve in a warm and caring atmosphere.
Two locations to serve you:4375 S. Hulen St. • Fort Worth, TX 76109 • (817) 926-9777
134 El Chico Trl. • Willow Park, TX 76087 • (817) 441-2122
www.crainortho.com
Skillfully creating beautiful smiles for more than 30 years.
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the eyes have itvisioN forT worTh reCrUiTs YoUNg ProfessioNaLs
there are 200,000 students currently attending colleges and
universities in Fort Worth, and there is potential for them to leave the city once they graduate. The Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce wants them to want to stay.
The chamber has established an organization called Vision Fort Worth and is inviting all local young
professionals to join, even if they aren’t chamber members. Young professionals in Vision Fort Worth are considered to be between the ages of 21 and 40.
“We’ve already signed up 300 people,” says Brianna Broussard, Vision Fort Worth manager. “This is an organization that gives young professionals a connection with one another – it’s a great networking
opportunity. We also have 20 mentors on the chamber board who are older, well-established, successful business leaders in Fort Worth who can provide one-on-one career mentoring to young professionals at any time.”
perhaps public office?Vision Fort Worth also allows
members to get involved in community service projects and even think about perhaps getting into public office .
“Two of the city’s current council members are under 40 years old,” says Andra Bennett, senior director of communications with the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. “We also want to help our young professionals get onto nonprofit boards around town, so they can get board experience and help a cause.”
Fort Worth, Circa 2036Vision Fort Worth presents
annual 20/20 Awards to Fort Worth companies that attract and retain young professionals. In addition young professionals are involved in a Visioning Process initiative getting under way now.
The group is working with TCU Neely School of Business Associate Marketing Professor Dr. Stacy Grau and her colleague Dr. Susan Kleiser. Together, they will survey and conduct research analysis that will culminate in a town hall meeting in the spring of 2011.
Competing for young Workers
Broussard says studies show that 23 million baby boomers will retire by 2012, but only 10 million Gen Xs and Gen Ys will enter the workforce.
“That means companies and communities will need to compete for those younger workers,” she says. “We need Fort Worth young people to stay in Fort Worth, which is what Vision Fort Worth is all about.”
For more, call Brianna Broussard at (817) 338-3311 or visit the website at www.visionfw.com.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing, located in Fort Worth, Texas, produces over half of the nation’s paper currency. Come experience the Tour and Visitor Center to see billions of dollars and learn about the production and history of United States paper currency.
• Two floors of interactive exhibits and displays
• 45-minute tour on an elevated walkway
• 75-seat theater showing a 15-minute high-definition movie
• Moneyfactory Gift Shop
FREE ADMISSION
Western Currency Facility 9000 Blue Mound Rd. • Fort Worth, Texas 76131
For tour information, call (817) 231-4000 or toll-free (866) 865-1194 and press “2”.
www.moneyfactory.gov
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dream locationBUsiNess CommUNiTY BeNefiTs from diversiTY, frieNdLY CLimaTe
Fort Worth business leaders are hard pressed to list all the
positives about running a company in this town, and they couldn’t be more pleased to have this difficulty.
high-tech hubWhether large or small, an oil
or cattle operation or a new high-tech entrepreneurial startup, Fort Worth’s business climate is tailor made for success. The city has become Texas’ high-tech hub, boasting such corporations as Lockheed Martin, Bell Helicopter and Motorola. It’s also the international headquarters for the likes of American Airlines, BNSF Railway, Pier 1 Imports and RadioShack. Want more? Justin Brands, FedEx, Ben E. Keith and Williamson Dickie also have settled into Fort Worth and are growing their presence all the time. Matter of fact, the city is now home to the fourth highest concentration of Fortune 500 company headquarters in the United States.
diverse Commercial CenterIn addition to these major players,
Fort Worth is also a commercial center for equally well-known players in health care, finance, telecommunications, education, tourism, retail trade and services, all of which combine to create a diversified local economy that not only is withstanding the current economic slowdown, but is poised to go full
throttle as the national and international climates improve.
Sometimes those numbers are hard to measure, but the hard facts are that employment here is growing at the fourth strongest rate of the country’s top 25 largest metro areas, and Fort Worth has the third largest percentage increase in employment among metropolitan divisions.
multiple airports, transportation links
And this kind of success gets noticed, too: Forbes magazine ranked Fort Worth fifth in its Best Cities for Jobs list in 2008, calling special attention to the city’s central location and central transportation system, which is highlighted by four area airports – DFW International, Alliance, Meacham and Spinks. Between them,
these international hubs serve more than 57 million travelers a year.
The city and its economic development officials are well aware of their assets, and are investing in both new development and infrastructure improvements to keep businesses moving into, and expanding within, the region. Nearly $6.5 billion in public and private funds have been invested in the 17,000-acre Alliance Airport and Alliance Corridor Industrial Area, creating more than 28,000 new jobs, and a host of other public and private projects are now underway to accommodate current and future growth.
Now add in a low tax structure and business-friendly climate that makes it easy to set up shop and expand, and it’s easy to see why Fort Worth is literally growing up, and out, in every direction.
it’s not hard to believe that a place known as Cowtown might have a barbecue joint or three (Ok, maybe more like three dozen), but pigeonhole Fort Worth’s food scene at your peril.
BeeF, BarBecue are Big players
True, beef rules the scene here, but it comes in
all shapes and sizes. Southwestern, Tex-Mex and
Mexican are the largest players as far as types go,
and for the best of these try Railhead Smokehouse,
where the fork-tender beef brisket is so good they
ship it (along with ribs, sausage and their famous
sauce) nationwide. There’s also Angelo’s, where
three generations of the George family have put
out barbecue so good that city officials take them
on the road to promote Fort Worth.
tex-mex staKes its claim tOO For a little south of the border flair, try local
favorite Joe T. Garcia’s, known for its legendary
margaritas and perfect patio. In the Stockyards
district, those in the know swear by Los Vaqueros’
Local Flavor
cowtown chowdownBarBeCUe, Tex-mex rULe forT worTh’s diverse food sCeNe
Joe T. garcia’s
For more informationangelo’s www.angelosbbq.com
bonnell’s www.bonnellstexas.com
byblos www.byblostx.com
cacharel www.cacharel.net
cattlemen’s fort worth steak house www.cattlemenssteakhouse.com
if a community can be judged by its medical facilities, then Fort Worth scores high marks. Several general care and specialty hospitals and clinics are located all around the city, as well as outpatient facilities and dozens of satellite operations such as drop-in clinics.
majOr hOspitals, satellite clinics BOth FOund here
A major provider of care is Baylor All Saints
Medical Center, which has been taking care of
medical issues both major and minor for more than
100 years. The 537-bed hospital has spent more than
$300 million on upgraded facilities and services,
including research and community service programs
in education and screenings.
Within Baylor All Saints is Andrews Women’s
Hospital, a 110-bed facility just for women that
includes innovative programs like the Survivor Gals
Salon, featuring stylish wigs, fun scarves and hats for
cancer patients. The Joan katz Center at Baylor All
Saints works specifically with breast cancer patients,
providing patient navigation services to help
patients find community resources, support
and help coordinating medical appointments.
Plaza Medical Center of Fort Worth is another
core provider in the city’s Medical District. The
320-bed facility offers comprehensive diagnostic
and treatment services, and has undergone a $105
million expansion project to add and/or renovate
more than 70,000 square feet of space for a new
day-surgery center, private patient rooms, outpatient
chemotherapy and more.
Accidents happen, and JPS Health Network
stands ready to treat them regardless of severity.
The facility has been verified as a Level I Trauma
Center by the American College of Surgeons, which
is big news for an area where more than 20 percent
of deaths are attributable to some form of trauma,
according to public health data.
Huguley Memorial Medical Center shoulders its
share of the community care duties around here as
well, with more than 350 primary care and specialty
physicians offering a full range of in- and outpatient
services. The center also includes a 213-bed acute
care hospital and a 24-hour emergency room.
At Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort
Worth, the latest accolades are for the treatment of
hip fractures. The hospital is only the fourth in the
United States and the first in Texas to receive the
high-tech healingforT worTh offers advaNCed, sPeCiaLized heaLTh Care
Health & Wellness
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gold seal of approval in the treatment of hip
fractures in the elderly. The designation, which
comes from the Joint Commission, recognizes only
those hospitals that have proven to have excellent
outcomes for patients and also a strong
multidisciplinary program.
North Hills Hospital also makes the grade and
then some, having achieved all three levels of Chest
Pain Accreditation, and also became the first Center
of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery in Tarrant County.
North Hills’ rehab center is one of the top 10 percent
nationwide, and its nurses have received the
Pathway to Excellence Award.
Fort Worth’s littlest patients get top-flight care
at Cook Children’s Medical Center, which has spent
millions on renovations and expansions to its
facilities, including adding a fracture clinic, urgent
care center and heliport in recent years. Cook
Children’s has been recognized as a Nurse Magnet-
designated organization in honor of its quality
patient and nursing excellence, and in 2007 opened
like texas itself, Fort Worth’s cultural scene is big enough to offer just about everything. The city’s arts communities have, over time, settled into three distinct areas: the Cultural District, Stockyards National Historic District and the Downtown District, crowned by Sundance Square. Each offers up a vibrant selection of music, dance, theater and art, and stands as a community within itself while staying plugged into the entire region’s artistic tapestry.
cultural districtFollow tree-lined boulevards away
from downtown for a few minutes and
you’ll find yourself in the Cultural District.
With its brick paving and manicured
grounds, the district is a jewel dropped
into the metropolitan area.
Art offerings range from Western
to avant-garde at The Modern Art
Museum of Fort Worth, the kimbell and
Amon Carter, with each well-regarded
collection housed in distinct structures
renowned for their architectural styles.
The region’s collection of attractions,
including the Art Deco wonder Will
Rogers Memorial Center, draw in more
than 2 million visitors a year.
stockyard to symphonyforT worTh’s LiveLY CULTUraL sCeNe emBraCes oLd aNd New
Whether you’re into athletics as a player or avid watcher, Fort Worth’s got the place for you. More than 200 places, actually. Fort Worth is second in the U.S. only to Chicago in total park acreage within the city limits, with literally hundreds of parks – large and small.
BOtanic garden, zOO celeBrate nature
Another natural highlight is the
Fort Worth Botanic Garden, the
oldest botanical garden in Texas,
with more than 2,500 species of
native and exotic plants. For a walk
on the wilder side, the Fort Worth
zoo, the first zoo in Texas, is still
one of the nation’s most innovative
wildlife centers. It has been named
a top zoo in the nation by USA
Travel Guide and regularly earns
conservation kudos. To see
animals in a little more historic
context, check out the twice-daily
Fort Worth Cattle Drive in the
Stockyard District, where visitors
relive the city’s cattle-driving past.
Sports & Recreation
park it hereCiTY’s oUTdoor veNUes, sPorTs Teams have aLL Bases Covered
the Fort Worth club scene is always in full swing with more than 20 golf courses located within the city itself. Here is some interesting background on five of them:
in the swing of thingsgoLf iN forT worTh is waY aBove Par
education is a priority in Fort Worth, where advanced learning programs begin at the earliest grade levels and continue throughout high school and into some of the country’s best-known colleges and universities.
head of the class forT worTh sChooLs Lead sTaTe, NaTioNaL raNKiNgs
Education
Tarrant County College
Texas wesleyan University cOlleges, universities suppOrt FOrt WOrth’s grOWth
Local high school graduates don’t have too
far to go to pursue a quality degree either. Fort
Worth’s mix of colleges and universities means
there are more than 250,000 students enrolled
in higher education at any given time in the city,
with more than 35,000 degrees awarded
annually. They include such notable names as
Tarrant County College, Texas Wesleyan
University, Texas Christian University,
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary,
Tarleton State University - Southwest Metroplex
Center, University of North Texas Health Science
Center and Everest College. Each of these
institutions regularly adds to both core courses
and degree programs, and partners with local
municipal and economic development officials
to ensure that graduates have a direct pipeline
into the local and regional workforce.
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FOrt WOrth isd leads the WayThe Fort Worth Independent School District is the largest
district in Tarrant County, which has 20 other school districts
within its borders. The Fort Worth ISD has around 80,000
students in 144 schools for grades k-12, including 27 special
campuses. Its awards and honors include the “What Parents
Want” designation from SchoolMatch, a private firm that assists
companies with relocation. The honor has come for seven years
in a row, and only goes to 14 percent of the nation’s schools.
It’s no surprise that the Fort Worth ISD scores this well,
considering it had an 83 percent increase in high-performing
schools in recent years, and continues to rise at all levels of the
Texas Assessment of knowledge and Skills standards.
There also are more than 200 private schools here, giving
parents of different faiths and backgrounds multiple options
for their children’s education.
Businesses BeneFit FrOm develOpment centers
There also are multiple smaller centers of learning devoted to
specific job-related training and education, such as the Small
Business Development Centers operated by the city of Fort
Worth, as well as Tarrant County College, so whether it’s a
graduate degree or just some brushing up on skill sets, the Fort
Worth area educational and community support system’s got
just the right program, just down the street. – Joe Morris
more Online See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at www.throughthelensjci.com/.
Fort Worth zoo sunset in Fort Worth, texas
now that you’ve experienced Fort Worth through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. Visit imagesfortworth.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went into capturing those perfect moments.