KEY Magazine Fort Worth

Best of the West – A Treasure Trove of Attractions
Awaiting Discovery in West Fort Worth
by Don Patterson

Horace Greeley wasn't kidding when he uttered his famed proclamation, "Go West, young man, go West."The New York Tribune founder and social reformer inspired hordes of early Americans to pack up their belongings and carve out new lives in the nation's untamed western wilderness. Greeley's pronouncement can be aptly followed today by Fort Worth visitors looking for western-styled adventure, cultural attractions and entertainment. It is all to be found on the west side of the city, an area where modern would-be trailblazers can begin an expedition to revisit western culture. Expansion and development has transformed the area into a tourist Mecca. Here, the arts, fine dining, specialty shops, and nature in all its splendor flourish to give the community its distinct Cowtown flavor. Some of the southwest's finest museums and art galleries are nestled here in a sprawling cultural complex that refuses to stop growing. The fabled Land of Oz had its yellow-brick road but Fort Worth boasts its own enchanting thoroughfare that leads wayfarers to both the old west and the new.

The aged red-bricked pavement of Camp Bowie Boulevard lures visitors and natives alike to the city's cultural district. You won't find any Munchkins here but if you're hungry for art, entertainment, great food, or a shopping spree, your hankerings can be easily satisfied. Lining the roadway is an ever-expanding collection of art galleries, auditoriums, boutiques, museums, restaurants, shopping malls, and theaters. At the doorway to the cultural district, Fort Worth's famed Casa Mañana theatre commands the view. Popular live stage productions can be enjoyed under the theatre's distinctive golden geodesic dome. Recent modernizing has transformed the facility from its original "theatre-in-the-round"to a modified thrust proscenium design, enlarging the stage while expanding and elevating seating to give playgoers a superior view.

Just to the north, additional cultural landmarks hold court, beginning with the spacious Amon Carter Museum, home to a premiere collection of American art and sculpture. Close by is the Kimbell, widely regarded as one of America's finest small art museums. The neighboring Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth claims the title of the oldest art museum in Texas, and is now housed in a sleek new building, designed by world-renowned Japanese architect, Tadao Ando. The futuristic architectural style mimics the extraordinary contemporary exhibits contained therein. The Fort Worth Museum of Science & History is home to over 100,000 artifacts, a planetarium and an Omnimax Theatre with its giant 3-story wraparound viewing screen. Outstanding feature films change frequently, offering visitors an omnipresent viewing experience embellished with spectacular high fidelity stereo surround sound.

A scant block away, the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame celebrates over 150 notable women who left indelible marks on history through grit, grace, and gumption. This interactive museum pays homage to leading ladies like Dale Evans, famed rodeo riders like Flores Ladue, equestrian trailblazer Carol Rose, sharpshooter and wild west show performer, Annie Oakley, and many others. The list perpetuates itself as new honorees are inducted yearly. Might this serve as a message for cowboys of every era? You bet! So, tip your hats boys, and respectfully salute these famous ladies. Plans are also in motion to erect another historic centerpiece right next door to the Cowgirl Museum. The site will become the new home for the Cattle Raisers' Museum, currently located near downtown. This unique venue will house countless artifacts and automated dioramas showcasing the cattle industry, from its infancy to the present day.

If lengthy museum meanderings leave you with hunger pangs, they can be eased via two charming in-house dining establishments. The Kimbell Buffet Restaurant offers indoor or patio lunch and a light evening dinner where diners can relax in the ambiance of one of the most beautiful modern buildings in America. The nearby Modern Art Museum offers similar amenities from its 250-seat Café Modern and outdoor dining terrace that overlooks a serene and restful reflecting pond. The Café's full-service kitchen delivers superb cuisine for lunch, Sunday brunch, and scheduled seasonal dinners.

Neighboring the museum community is a sprawling attraction that shouts "Howdy"aloud in truly western language. The city's landmark Will Rogers Memorial Center is a multipurpose 85-acre entertainment complex, 45 acres of which, house the Will Rogers Coliseum and auditorium. The site is landmarked by a majestic Pioneer Tower entryway erected in 1936, the year of the Texas Centennial. Largest of all the buildings, the coliseum became the first domed structure of its kind in the world. The 2,856-seat auditorium has hosted a montage of famous old and new entertainers including Benny Goodman, Jack Benny, Glen Miller, The Vienna Boys Choir, and the Rolling Stones. The complex also boasts an equestrian center and modern exhibit halls home to several annual horse shows, trade fairs, and other special events. Each year almost a million people attend the three-week long Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, featuring the Lone Star State's largest and longest running championship rodeo. Another annual treat is the International Zesty Food show that draws crowds of professional chefs, food industry representatives, and other devotees of hot, spicy, zesty flavored cuisine.

Small art galleries compliment the cultural district, allowing visitors a more intimate view of past and present artworks. Galerie Kornye West features 19th and 20th century masterworks while William Campbell Contemporary Art spotlights artists of today whose works reflect the passage of time. The Alpine Art and Edmund Craig galleries offer a mix of styles and the Monticello Fine Arts Gallery features local, national and international artists offering works in oil, acrylics, watercolor, pottery, ceramics, sculpture and glass. The Dow Art Galleries, have earned the title of Fort Worth's oldest art venue, featuring Texas art created from 1935. Many galleries offer special services including art appraisals, picture framing, and art restoration.

Avid shoppers can whet their appetites with a broad selection of merchandise available in cultural district specialty shops. European antiques and upholstery can be found at Domain XCIV. Strings, whose motto is "changing the ordinary into the extraordinary"features unique gifts and furnishings, House of Tuscany offers lighting accents and unique accessories, D'Vine Wine of Texas offers custom wines, wine tastings, and gifts. The Backwoods Outlet offers sports clothing and equipment. You can browse for antiques and enjoy a delicious meal at the Montgomery Street Antique Mall. Its Secret Garden Tea Room serves delightful sandwiches, soups, and salads in an intimate garden-like setting. The cultural district also features regular shopping and service outlets from grocery stores to print shops that readily serve both tourists and residents. If you're a visitor and have left medication at home, you can have a prescription filled at Daniel Drug, a community-based independently owned pharmacy. They will deliver prescriptions to nearby residences or downtown hotels.

Southward off University Drive, visitors can experience nature in all its grandeur at Trinity Park, a pristine oasis bordered by a fork of the placid Trinity River. Here, picnic fans, joggers, and visitors looking for a rest break can explore its meandering pathways and even board a miniature train for a less taxing view. The park hosts several favorite local festivals, including the annual Mayfest celebration. Opposite the park, across University Drive, Fort Worth's Botanic Garden, beckons. This peaceful haven is heralded as the oldest botanic garden in Texas, a lush 109-acre tapestry of dappled shade accented by vibrant splashes of color. The Garden is home to over 2,500 species of native and exotic plants that flourish in its 21 specialty gardens. The European-designed Rose Garden features more than 3,400 roses, and the 10,000-square foot.

Conservatory houses lush tropical flowers and foliage from around the world. If hunger strikes again while exploring this beautiful indoor/outdoor complex, satisfy appetites at the on-site Gardens Restaurant where light lunches or refreshments are available. Tables outside under the trees invite lingering during mild weather. The indoor dining area overlooks the Garden and often displays the work of local artists. Satisfy a shopping urge at the gift shop where Asian-styled figurines, teapots, sake sets, parasols and fans wait patiently to go home with visitors. Browse through a host of other treasures, including floral stationary, hummingbird feeders, wind chimes, and gardening books.

A short distance farther south, one can visit the city's illustrious zoo, nationally ranked as one of the finest. The Zoo is home to thousands of animals, both native and exotic. Viewing facilities and natural habitat exhibits are set up for optimal spectator closeness with the animals, often being separated by only a river or waterfall, or a large viewing window. Located throughout the facility are various shaded rest spots and picnic tables where visitors can unwind. On-site eateries include Burger King, Pizza Hut, Dickey's Barbeque, and an ice cream parlor. Seasonal food stands feature pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, and soft drinks.

Across from the zoo, Log Cabin Village offers inquisitive visitors another view of the city's rich frontier history. The village consists of seven authentic log homes dating from the mid-to-late 1800s. Each is decorated with museum quality antiques and artifacts, some of which belonged to the homes' early residents. Period dressed interpreters greet visitors inside each cabin, offering a living history of the home and its origin.

Cultural addicts and nature fans won't go hungry anywhere on the city's west side. Appetites can be appeased via an ethnic mix of nearby restaurants featuring cuisines ranging from American to Asian, continental, and eclectic. Sardine's restaurant on University Drive continues its family owned tradition in offering consistently fine Italian cuisine. The eatery has earned an additional reputation as Fort Worth's most popular late-night jazz spot, where stellar pianist Johnny Case performs with his trio. Off University on White Settlement Road, a Texas dining tradition reigns. Angelo's restaurant offers 47 years of first class BBQ know-how in a casual setting and boasts the coldest beer in town. Cafe Aspen serves elegant preparations scoring high on appearance and flavor. Hui Chuan asks diners to experience superior Asian food. Simpler fare like soup, sandwiches and subs can be found at the nearby Great Outdoors eatery. And when you're hungry for Mexican food, drop by Dos Gringos for some Nachos, enchilada dishes or sizzling fajitas. If seafood is on your mind, visit Shrimpers down the street from Sardines. It features New Orleans style fried ocean fare with corresponding Crescent City decor. South of the cultural district, along S. University Drive more shopping, dining and entertainment beckons. University Park Village affords a delightful stroll through an open-air mall. The village is home to Uncommon Angles, Barnes & Noble, Bath & Body Works, Starbucks, Victoria's Secret, Blue Mesa, Chili's, and La Piazza Restaurants. Blue Mesa is famed for its zesty southwestern cuisine and is a favorite Happy Hour spot. Chili's is part of the popular restaurant chain, featuring zesty soups, sandwiches, and entrees. La Piazza caters to the Italian food gourmet. Across the street, Romano's Macaroni Grill, a barn-like eatery that lets diners view the kitchen, Just outside the village, along University Drive, more dining choices abound, including the Hoffbrau famed for hearty steaks and Panera bread, a popular bakery and coffee shop.

To the west, off Interstate 30 at Hulen St., Chapel Hill offers another outdoor complex with a pseudo-adobe southwestern decor. Restaurants include the delights of Mi Cocina's Mexican fare, and a homey diner labeled The Purple Cow. Specialty shops include World Market, an abundance of imported furnishings, wine, gourmet coffee, international foods, and unique gifts of every description. Next-door is Central Market, a grocery superstore that swallows visitors in a maze of display cases. The store includes an outdoor cafe, cooking lessons, and a huge variety of foods and condiments. Shops include a "Whatchamcallit"designer boutique, Borders and Books Music Café, and a Men'sWarehouse clothing outlet. Rising just south of the complex lies Chapel Hill's namesake, the eye-catching Marty Leonard Community Chapel designed by E. Fay Jones. Westward on Camp Bowie, hamburger purists can enjoy the traditional beef and bun at Kincaid's Burgers. The Camp Bowie thoroughfare offers another taste of BBQ and steak at Risky's, a family owned chain offering fine food and elite service. Nearby, El Fenix promises "Mexican and Tex-Mex food so good, "if it were any better, it would be against the law."If you're looking for baked goods or a deli feast visit the Blue Bonnet Bakery at 3905 Camp Bowie Blvd. The eatery has been serving families in Fort Worth since 1934 with excellent cakes, cookies, pies, and breads. Deli meats, cheeses, and tasty sandwiches are also on the menu. Travel a bit further along Camp Bowie to Ridglea Village, a sprawling strip shopping center that boasts another favorite Mexican restaurant popular with locals. La Playa Maya offers traditional Mexican cuisine in a cozy pink adobe and brick interior. Weekday lunch and dinner specials offer an array of Tex-Mex and south-of-the-border treats. A Monday through Friday, 3 to 7 p.m. happy hour attracts leisure-seeking natives and visitors alike. Ridglea Village also includes a collection of shops, boutiques, business offices, and a popular open air Farmer's Market that features an abundance of fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. If old-fashioned home cooking is what you're craving, visit The West Side Café, further west where Camp Bowie becomes Highway 80 West. This bustling eatery is housed in what was once a pizzeria but simple homespun fare now steals the show. A superb breakfast burrito, chicken-fried steak, meatloaf, and a wide range of super sandwiches prevail. The cafe is a favorite of locals who storm the premises for hearty breakfasts, and weekday lunch and dinner specials.

Farther west, and just north of Interstate 30, lies Ridgmar mall, a massive indoor/outdoor shopping complex featuring 3 levels of over 100 stores connected by escalators, paved brick walkways and tiled boulevards. South of the mall on Highway West, more eateries and shops beckon. West Side Marketplace at the junction of I-30 and Hwy. 820 N. features a Kroger grocery outlet, specialty shops, Skillman Wok, a popular Chinese eatery and a soon-to-open East Indian restaurant aptly named Bombay Bistro. Turn right on Hwy. 820 N. and exit at White Settlement Rd. where you can visit Cathy Mancuso's Italian Ristorante. This west side landmark was the first Wilderness Baptist Church in the town of White Settlement. As a restaurant it has served cadres of famous guests, including singer icon Tony Bennett. Mancuso's delivers superb Yankee-styled Italian fare in a romantic New York deli atmosphere.

So whether you're in the mood for art, casual or elegant dining, dedicated shopping, surveying nature's beauty, or just looking for leisurely exploration, do what Fort Worth savvy natives and visitors do, hitch up your wagon, and follow Horace Greeley's profound advice–Go West!

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