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Word from the CVBs The Vaquero Project Fort Worth's prominent western and cowboy traditions make it unique among other major American cities. This is evident throughout the city's museums, the Stock Show, weekly rodeos, cattle drives, horse shows and numerous statues, or public artworks, related to the West. One of the lesser known facts about western heritage in Fort Worth is the degree to which these traditions evolved from the vaquero history of Mexico. The Vaquero Project of the Latin Arts Association, led by Judge Manuel Valdez and the City of Fort Worth Public Art Program, is an effort to bring a magnificent vaquero bronze to a prominent location on North Main Street near the Historic Stockyards. It is most appropriate that the vaquero be recognized and honored here in "Cowtown." The Spanish first introduced cattle to North America, and soon it became the responsibility of workers of both Spanish and Indian backgrounds to handle these growing herds of cattle in New Spain. Spanish horsemanship and agricultural skills were adapted to the open lands of present day Mexico and Texas. This connection with Spain is reflected in the cowboy terminology used across the United States. In fact, most of the cowboy terms we know and use today come from the Spanish language, including chaps, rodeo, dally, mustang, and lariat, among others. The great cattle drives following the Civil War demonstrated the skills and techniques developed by vaqueros and passed on to the Anglos that came to Texas in the 1800s. Fort Worth already displays some extraordinary equestrian bronzes, including Will Rogers and Soapsuds in front of the Will Rogers Memorial Center and Midnight in front of the Amon G. Carter Exhibit Hall. In a few months, the new vaquero bronze will join these other great pieces of equestrian art that commemorates our community's legendary past. Anyone wishing to contribute to the Vaquero Bronze Project may contact the Latin Arts Association at 817-624-8333. New FUNtastic Family Packages Here! Ready to put some pep in your step and have some FUN in the sun? Plan your next great family vacation with the new FUNtastic Family Packages from FUN CENTRAL™ Arlington, Texas! Easier than ever to use, the new packaging features dynamic pricing which means you can compare prices while adding or changing options such as hotels, attractions and add-on activities. In addition, vacation planners can change all the package components at anytime without having to start over or losing information. Choose the Six Flags Spring Breakout package. Select your hotel and your-also-included Six Flags one-day or two-day admission options. Then, add optional tickets to attractions such as Louis Tussaud's Palace of Wax/Ripley's Believe It or Not!, Ice at the Parks, Legends of the Game Baseball Museum, Putt-Putt or the Planetarium at UTA opening March 4. The Education Vacation and Shopping In Fun Central Packages are hot opportunities too! Change your mind about something? Want to upgrade your hotel or play an extra day at Six Flags? Don't worry – you're using dynamic pricing where you can always change your mind and your package! And remember, FUN CENTRAL always offers your family a fun, affordable summer vacation. Currently, our web site is featuring our spring packages. New packages will be available soon for the summer months. To purchase your FUNtastic Family Package today, visit www.arlington.org and click on the green box in the upper right hand corner or call 1-866-656-FUNN (3866). Romantic Valentine Options in Grapevine Grapevine is the ideal setting for Valentine's Day in North Texas. Like a classic love story, romantics, young and old, will find a reason to sweep that "special someone" off their feet or rekindle a flickering romance. Opportunities abound for every budget. 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, and strolling violinists, followed by dinner and dancing in the Fort Worth Stockyards. During the return trip from the Stockyards to Grapevine, passengers will 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 $120.00 per couple and may be purchased in advance at www.gvrr.com or by calling 817-410-3123. Several hotels in Grapevine are offering romantic Valentine's Day specials, also. Package items include amenities ranging from in-room dinner served by a personal butler and violinist to a candlelit dinner and complimentary breakfast. For a complete listing of Valentine's Day packages in Grapevine, visit www.grapevinetexasusa.com or call 817-410-3185. Grand Prairie, Right in the Middle of Dallas/Fort Worth With year-round attractions, Grand Prairie always has something for Metroplex visitors to do, even in the heart of winter. Louis Tussaud's Palace of Wax is in the midst of preparing a new section, a "Talk Show Host" gallery that will include Oprah, Jay Leno, Dr. Phil, and David Letterman. Guests can even pose for photos with the likenesses. Ripley's Believe It or Not! galleries showcase authentic displays with beautiful, bizarre and fascinating oddities. On Main Street in downtown Grand Prairie, stop by for a cup of coffee or specialty tea at the Brass Bean. If it's an old-fashion soda you desire, visit Miller Drug, a retro 50s soda shop. Then step next door and shop for antiques at the Main Street Antique Mall or just down the street visit Ellen Carroll for antiques and estate jewelry. Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie offers live racing via simulcast daily from tracks around the world in the Post Time Pavilion. Grand Prairie hotels, restaurants, and attractions join together at The Ruthe Jackson Center for the 5th Annual Taste and Tour of Grand Prairie on February 28. NOKIA Theatre has an exciting lineup for all ages. February 2, Disturbed with Bloodsimple appears on stage followed by The Beach Boys on the 3rd. Fans will rock on February 17 to Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, on February 18 with Juanes, and on the 20th to Taste of Chaos/Deftones. The pace will change February 23-26, when Sesame Street Live! presents Super Grover Ready for Action! For more information, log on to www.gptexas.com or call 972-263-9588. Prove You Were Cool Family Friday Nights–Granbury Live backs up its Mission Statement, providing professional family entertainment within the traditional guidelines of Christian values, with an unbeatable, family-oriented value pack called FAMILY FRIDAY NIGHTS (two Youth tickets, 17 and under, are FREE with the purchase of one adult ticket). Co-owner Sandi McRae adds, "My late husband, Tom, always loved to say Family Friday Night gave parents and grandparents the chance to prove they were cool before the kids were Rockin' the 50s – Remember those romantic nights at the drive-in? Rockin' the 50s runs through Feb. 25th with Farley Farkel and the gang taking you back to the era of bobby socks, drive-ins, ducktails, and Prom Night 1956. This hit Nostalgia Concert put Granbury Live on the map back in 2000 and closes Feb. 25th. Old Glory & Grace–This original patriotic and gospel music showcase scheduled for twelve performances from March 17th - May 27th , is a roller coaster ride from raucous laughter (Mo & Bro are back as IRS agents) to filling hearts with a wave of patriotism in a 1940s USO show to a spiritual journey to the mountain top. The Flame of Freedom–This original patriotic anthem to the American soldier, featured in the theater's closing the past four years, was recently chosen by the Air Force Band of the West for their nationwide concert performances. This year The Flame of Freedom has been selected by AmpliVox, Inc., of Northbrook, IL, as a premium gift for customers purchasing their portable sound systems. Russ Hearn and Kerry Brown wrote the song "as a thank you to those who have kept the light in the Flame of Freedom burning bright and we are grateful to have more exposure for this much needed thank-you to our heroes in uniform."Granbury Live is open 50 weeks of the year with performances on Fridays and Saturdays featuring a professional cast performing costumed and choreographed live music productions from the golden age of rock ‘n roll. For reservations or information, call 1-800-989-8240 or check out www.granburylive.com. Granbury is located 35 miles southwest of Fort Worth. For additional information on accommodations, attractions, shopping, dining, or events, please call the Granbury Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-950-2212 or log on to www.granburytx.com. Tractors Pull Into Glen Rose The ever popular Glen Rose Winter Tractor Pull and show is about to roll into Glen Rose for the fifth year. Scheduled for February 10 and 11, the show will take place at the Somervell County Expo Center. Featured activities and exhibits will include antique tractors, engines, machinery, model tractors, tractor games and the popular kiddie tractor pull. There will also be commercial vendors on hand. The featured tractor this year will be John Deere and there will be a variety of John Deere tractors, implements, and machinery on display. Activities for all ages have been planned. For more information, contact Lloyd Wirt at 254-897-4393. Also coming to Glen Rose is the 12th annual Glen Rose Pro Rodeo March 2, 3 and 4. Cowboys and cowgirls from all across the country will be competing for thousands of dollars in prize money. More information on the rodeo can be obtained at www.glenroserodeo.com. For other events at the Somervell County Expo Center call 254-897-4509 or www.glenroseexpo.org. For more information on Glen Rose and the surrounding area, contact the Glen Rose Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-888-346-6282 or check out their web site at www.glenrosetexas.net. Come see why Glen Rose was named America's Dream Town in 2004. Denton's Texas Storytelling Festival-Fun for the Family Come to Denton March 31st through April 2nd, 2006 for the 21st annual Texas Storytelling Festival. Held in Civic Center Park just a few blocks away from Denton's historic Courthouse Square, the storytelling festival is a one-of-a-kind event, featuring great family entertainment, including stories and music from the greatest storytellers in the world in a variety of telling traditions. You'll hear spine-tingling ghost tales, Texas legends, Spanish cuentos, Irish yarns, war stories, toe-taping music and much more. Under large circus-style tents, our audience members sit in folding chairs as they relax under the spell of traditional storytelling, laugh at shaggy dog stories, thrill at tall tales, learn urban legends, and reminisce about times gone by. You can shop in the festival's gift shop and conveniently grab a great meal on site or in nearby restaurants. Annual favorites like the Tiny Tales for Tiny Tots and expertly told Ghost Tales are presented along side totally new, unique and exciting features such as "From Our Mothers' Hands" focusing on storytelling with a musical bent including bluegrass, folk, jazz, blues, and even drumming presentations. Kids' Tales, Sacred Tales, tales full of laughter, tales full of tears…and this is just a sampling! The Texas Storytelling Festival in Denton, Texas March 31-April 2, 2006, "…you have to hear it to believe it!" Denton offers quality hotels, over 100 great dining options, specialty shopping, rich history, dynamic and thriving downtown, museums, and year round fun. We are Denton…and all that Jazz! For more information, call 940-382-7895 or visit www.discoverdenton.com. Car Crazy in Waxabachie Find the car of your dreams in Waxahachie the weekend of February 18-19. Whether it is a new car you desire or a model from days gone by, you will be able to find it at either the Waxahachie Auto Show or the Sweethearts & Orphans Car Show. The Waxahachie Auto Show will take place at the Waxahachie Civic Center Saturday, February 18 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, February 19 from noon-4 p.m. Admission is FREE. Learn about the features and new models of vehicles being sold by Chevrolet, Cadillac, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Buick, GMC, Pontiac and Ford. If classic cars are more your speed, then head down to the historic courthouse square in downtown Waxahachie for the Sweethearts & Orphans Car Show presented by the North Texas Chapter of the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club. From 9 a.m.-3 p.m., there will be more than 100 orphan model cars on display around the Ellis County Courthouse. The term "orphan" refers to a model of car that is no longer manufactured. Visitors can also enjoy guided tours of the Ellis County Courthouse, one of the top 100 photographed structures in the state of Texas, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The courthouse square is also home to many antique shops, galleries, boutiques, restaurants and taverns. There are also some craft shops offering "hands on" seminars in mosaics and quilting. For a complete list of events, visit www.waxahachiechamber.com or call Current
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