KEY Magazine Fort Worth

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

Horace Greeley is remembered for his proclamation, “Go West, young man, go West.” The New York Tribune founder inspired hordes of early Americans to pack their belongings and carve out new lives in the nation’s western wilderness. Greeley’s advice can be aptly followed today by Fort Worth visitors looking for western-styled adventure, cultural attractions, and entertainment. They dominate the city’s west side, an area where modern would-be trailblazers can revisit western culture wrapped up in both period and modern garb. Here, the arts, fine dining, specialty shops, and nature all flourish to give the community its distinct Cowtown flavor. Some of the southwest’s finest museums and art galleries nestle here in a sprawling cultural complex. The fabled Land of Oz had its yellow-brick road but Fort Worth boasts its own enchanting thoroughfare. The aging red-brick pavement of Camp Bowie Boulevard lures visitors and natives alike to the city’s cultural district. 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. Modernizing has transformed the facility from its original “theatre-in-the-round” to a modified thrust proscenium design, enlarging the stage, and elevating seating to give playgoers a superior view.

Just to the north, are additional cultural landmarks, beginning with the spacious Amon Carter Museum, home to a premiere collection of American art and sculpture. Close by is the Kimbell, deemed by Newsweek as “... arguably the most beautiful museum in America.” The neighboring Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth claims title to the oldest art museum in Texas, and is now housed in a sleek new building, designed by world-renowned Japanese architect, Tadao Ando. The Fort Worth Museum of Science & History is home to over 100,000 artifacts, a planetarium and an Omnimax Theatre. Presently, the museum is undergoing major renovations and the primary building will be closed until the fall of 2009. In the meantime, however, many exhibits and programs have moved across the street to the lower level of the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame that celebrates over 150 notable women who have left indelible marks on history. After a four or five month upgrade, the Omni Theatre will reopen and remain open through the rest of the construction period.

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 reflecting pond. The Café’s full-service kitchen delivers superb cuisine for lunch, Sunday brunch, and scheduled seasonal dinners.

Neighboring the museum community is the city’s sprawling landmark Will Rogers Memorial Center, a multipurpose 85-acre entertainment complex, 45 acres of which, house the Will Rogers Coliseum and auditorium. The site is crowned with 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 complex also boasts an equestrian center and modern exhibit halls home to the annual Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. 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. Dow Art Galleries, have earned the title of Fort Worth’s oldest art venue, featuring Texas art created from 1935.

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 accessories, D’Vine Wine of Texas offers custom wines, wine tastings, and gifts. The Artful Hand, near Milano’s Italian Restaurant, is a specialty outlet featuring the largest selection of eclectic hand-made furniture and accessories in Fort Worth.

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. 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 in its 21 specialty gardens. The European-designed Rose Garden features more than 3,400 roses, and the 10,000-square-foot Conservatory houses tropical flowers and foliage from around the world. If hunger strikes again, satisfy appetites at the on-site Gardens Restaurant where light lunches or refreshments are available. The dining area overlooks the Garden and often displays the work of local artists.

A short distance farther south, one can visit the city’s illustrious zoo, nationally ranked as one of the nation’s 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, waterfall, or large viewing window. Various shaded rest spots and picnic tables are available with several on-site eateries featuring a variety of food offerings.

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. Period dressed interpreters greet visitors inside each cabin, offering a living history of the home and its origin.

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. Off University on White Settlement Road, a Texas dining tradition reigns. Angelo’s restaurant offers 49 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. South of the cultural district, along S. University Drive, University Park Village affords a delightful stroll through an open-air mall. The village is home to several shops and restaurants including the popular southwestern styled food offerings of Blue Mesa.

To the west, off Interstate 30 at Hulen St., Chapel Hill offers another outdoor complex with a pseudo-adobe southwestern decor. Rising just south of the complex stands 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. Travel a bit further along Camp Bowie to The Village at Camp Bowie which includes a collection of shops, boutiques, business offices, and restaurants. South and west of the village, on the Southwest Blvd. and 377 Traffic Circle, is a seasonal Farmers Market, featuring locally grown fruits, vegetables, handicrafts, and floral gifts. Farther west on Camp Bowie, just north of Interstate 30, lies Ridgmar mall, a massive indoor/outdoor shopping complex featuring 3 levels of over 100 stores. From Hwy. 820 N., exit at White Settlement Rd. where you can visit Cathy Mancuso’s Italian Ristorante. 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, follow Horace Greeley’s profound advice–Go West!

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