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Word from the CVBs Changes in Fort Worth Over the Last 22 Years I first came to Fort Worth as City Manager in 1985 and several years later became head of the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau. It is exciting to compare today’s city to the one that was here in 1985. Fort Worth has long had a special charm because of Sundance Square, the Rodeo, the Stockyards, the Zoo and the great museums. However, the past twenty years has seen dramatic improvements in each of these areas and in many areas not then part of the city. In 1985, Sundance Square was in its early years, and at night, the downtown was “dead” with few people on the streets. The Will Rogers Memorial Center still relied upon old deteriorating barns and had only one good arena. The Stockyards were still struggling to preserve key buildings. The Zoo was just worn out and in need of substantial improvements. The museum scene was vastly different then with the Amon Carter at a much smaller size and the Modern in its old quarters. It was a charming city, but the community had many deficiencies from the perspective of both visitor and quality of life features. What a difference there is today! The downtown is vibrant with dramatic new growth throughout all of the central business area. The Will Rogers Complex has gone through major expansions and more are on the horizon. Billy Bob’s has worldwide fame, and the twice-daily cattle drive on Exchange Avenue has made the Historic Stockyards known around the world. The Zoo is now recognized as one of the best in the nation. The museums have seen major expansions, new buildings and great additions to permanent collections as well as significant special exhibitions. The gardens have also expanded and have once again become a great feature of our city. The Texas Motor Speedway has changed how we think about what is “North Fort Worth.” Cities do not change over night, but Fort Worth has experienced levels of change and improvement seldom seen anywhere else in the United States. Many people and institutions deserve great thanks and praise for these many changes, which have made Fort Worth a great destination and place to live. Hit a Home Run in FUN CENTRAL this January Take a swing at 2007 with FUN times at Legends of the Game Baseball Museum. This January, the Museum is offering two special events that will be great fun for your family. January 12th and 26th experience The Ballpark After Dark: Sleepovers at Ameriquest Field, one of the most popular overnight programs in the Metroplex. Participants hit and pitch in the Rangers’ batting cages, learn about teamwork, sportsmanship, proper stretching, and complete a baseball-related craft, have a light snack and watch a baseball movie. In the morning, overnighters are treated to a ballpark tour and a walk around the warming track. The program is designed for children in grades 1-5 and is great for scouts, church youth groups, ball teams, or any group! Reservations required. If your little one isn’t quite ready for a sleepover but would still like to have fun at Ameriquest Field, Little Legends Storytime is for you! Bring your 3-5 year old to Legends of the Game Baseball Museum and Learning Center for a fun-filled journey into the magical world of baseball! The event includes a baseball-related story and discussion, craft activity, and time in the Learning Center and Museum. Reservations required. Please call 817-273-5087 for more information on both events. FUN CENTRAL vacation packages are now available. Our packages are a great “Steamy” Train Ride Provides Romantic Valentine’s Day Excursion from Grapevine Grapevine is the ideal setting for Valentine’s Day in North Texas. Like a classic love story, romantics young and old can find a reason to sweep that “special someone” off their feet or to rekindle a flickering romance. Couples will experience the ultimate romantic experience aboard the “Sweetheart Express,” beginning at 6:30 p.m. on February 14 at the Cotton Belt Depot in Grapevine, located at 705 S. Main Street. The magic begins before the ride even starts, as strolling violinists play music for passengers on the platform. The Sweetheart Express includes hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar offering beverages, followed by dinner and dancing at the Fort Worth Stockyards. During the return trip from the Stockyards to Grapevine, passengers can enjoy a champagne toast, served in complimentary commemorative glasses. The “Sweetheart Express” departs the Cotton Belt Depot at 6:30 p.m. and returns at 11:45 p.m. Tickets are $150 per couple and may be purchased in advance at www.gvrr.com or by calling 817-410-3123. Grand Prairie's January Events January 2-31-- Simulcast Racing, Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie. Simulcast racing is available seven days a week in the Post Time Pavilion, the Las Vegas-style racebook and sportsbar. Smoke-free simulcast available on Saturdays and Sundays on the second level of the Grand Stand. (Call for exact dates) Admission fee. Call 972.263.RACE. January 3 -- Cheetah Girls, NOKIA Theatre at Grand Prairie. For tickets, call 214.373.8000 or 972.647.5700 or www.Ticketmaster.com. For information visit www.NOKIAtheatreDFW.com. January 5 -- Paramount's Laser Spectacular featuring the music or Pink Floyd, NOKIA Theatre at Grand Prairie. For tickets, call 214.373.8000 or 972.647.5700 or www.Ticketmaster.com. For information visitwww.NOKIAtheatreDFW.com. January 15 -- Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade, Grand Prairie. The NAACP sponsors a parade beginning at David Daniels Elementary and followed by a program in Grand Prairie High School gymnasium. Call 469-556-1955 or email owdailey@msn.com. January 20 -- Doodlebops LIVE!, NOKIA Theatre at Grand Prairie. For tickets, call 214.373.8000 or 972.647.5700 or or www.Ticketmaster.com. For information visit www.NOKIAtheatreDFW.com. January 30 -- Taste and Tour of Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie. Grand Prairie hotels, restaurants and attractions join together to provide information and cuisine at the 5th annual event held at the Ruthe Jackson Center. Admission fee. Call 972.264.1558. Please note: All dates, times and events are subject to change. Get Away to Granbury- Your Secret Valentine’s Day Retreat Your perfect secret retreat lies a mere 35 miles southwest of Fort Worth, nestled in the heart of the Brazos River valley. Imagine a leisurely stroll around a 19th Century courthouse square, followed by a romantic dinner in a special restaurant, topped off by decadent luxury in one of Granbury’s quaint bed & breakfasts or hotels. Choose from a variety of unique accommodations including cozy cottages, private guesthouses, new Victorian inns or historic homes. Make shopping for the perfect gift to say “Be My Valentine” fun as you browse through more than 40 unique boutiques and gift shops on the historic downtown square and then treat that special someone to lunch in a quaint tearoom, 50s style soda shop or historic sandwich shop. Wine tasting, historical sites and art exhibits complete the experience. Enjoy a heart warming evening performance at any one of Granbury’s fascinating entertainment venues - Granbury Live, the historic Granbury Opera House or Warm Country Heart Theatre - all the fun of Branson without the drive! If you prefer a romantic midnight cruise - the Granbury Riverboat has just the ticket on the sparkling waters of Lake Granbury. Fifties nostalgia lovers may opt for a romantic evening at the Brazos Drive-In for a “blast from the past” or a stroll under the lights on the Moments in Time trail at Shanley Park. Granbury has the perfect Valentine’s Day waiting - just for you. Call the Granbury Convention & Visitors Bureau for “Get Away” information at 1-800-950-2212 or log on to www.granburytx.com. Visitors Bureau for additional information or other holiday ideas at 800-950-2212 ext. 56 or www.granburytx.com. Sixth Annual Winter Show and Pull While most of the world is going high tech, the folks in Glen Rose like to step back to a simpler time. That simpler time will be on display at the 6th annual Winter Tractor Show and Pull on February 9 and 10 at the Somervell County Expo Center in Glen Rose. It seems the older we get and the more technical the world becomes, the more we look to get back to our roots and remember the good old days. The evolution of tractors and farm machinery will be on display in Glen Rose. A great opportunity to touch, feel and even smell the past as diesel fumes and smoke will fill the air. This show features a wide variety of tractors and machinery that led to the high tech world we live in today. Antique tractors, engines, and machinery will not only be on display, but will also feature competitions such as the antique tractor pull and tractor games. There will also be fun and games for the children with a kiddie pedal tractor pull and model tractors. There will also be several vendors selling everything from tractor parts and memorabilia, to arts and crafts. The event is held inside the Somervell County Expo Center, so in either rain or snow, participants and visitors will be snug and warm. The event is presented by the Somervell County Antique Tractor and Machinery Club. When visiting the Tractor Show and Pull, be sure and allow plenty of time to visit historic downtown Glen Rose, as well as Fossil Rim Wildlife Center and Dinosaur Valley State Park. There is a wide selection of hotels, cabins, and bed & breakfasts, so plan on spending the weekend. Glen Rose is best known as the “Dinosaur Capital of Texas,” and was also named America’s Dream Town for 2004. For a visitor packet or more information, call the Glen Rose Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-888-346-6282 or visit their website at www.glenrosetexas.net. Denton County Courthouse When visitors come to downtown Denton, they experience true nostalgia as they stroll the streets of the historic square with its beautifully restored, century-old Denton County Courthouse sitting at the heart of the community. But memories of a time past are not the only treasures to be found in this authentic downtown. Surrounding the beautifully manicured lawns of the Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square, the historic downtown area offers eclectic and funky gift shops, fashion boutiques, art galleries, antiques, a live-performance theater, numerous restaurants, and promotional events making Denton a great place to spend the day or a weekend. Downtown Denton is truly a unique shopping, dining and entertainment experience for visitors of all ages to enjoy year-round. Some free entertainment options throughout the year include: Thursday Twilight Tunes Concert Series in May and June featuring talented, local musicians playing on the courthouse lawn every Thursday evening; Acoustic Lawn Jam every Saturday morning from May to October (weather permitting); Dog Days of Summer, a festival for people and their pooches, the first Saturday in June; Arts, Antiques & Autos Extravaganza featuring a car show, juried art show, antique appraisals, Chalk Fest and great live entertainment on the second Saturday in September; and Wassail Fest during the Holiday Lighting Festival on the first Thursday after Thanksgiving. For more information on Denton Main Street, call 940-349-8529 or visit www.dentonmainstreet.org. Current
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