Fort Worth Date Night: A"Smokin" Date Night

by Michael Bloomberg
May 20, 2010

Their motto is "You've tried the rest, now try the best!" O.K., don't mind if I do. With bold words like that, they better be able to back it up. I'm pretty sure every restaurant doesn't open up thinking they are just fair or mediocre. Although, and it's not a restaurant, but, I always get a kick out of an alteration place on the west side of Fort Worth called, "OK Tailor." Seriously? A business with low self-esteem?

So, I was happy to find a barbeque joint who was proud of their product and eager to stand behind their motto. I have heard about Hickory Stick BBQ for years. My parents and their friends have been several times recently and couldn't sing their praises enough. As a lifelong Fort Worthian and lover of the smoked brisket, it was time to head to Forest Hill to see what all the fuss was about.

Apparently, the fuss has been going on a while. Hickory Stick has been in existence for over 34 years. A feat that is not often seen when it comes to a business, much less, a restaurant. Now I'm understanding their confidence. Hickory Stick is actually in Everman(900 E. Enon Ave., Everman, TX 76140). Not a far drive from the southwest part of Fort Worth. I love that when I pulled up to the parking lot, it looked and smelled like "this place has some serious BBQ."

You'll find your typical BBQ selections on the menu. Some in our party went with the chopped beef and kept saying it was the best they had eaten. I opted for the sliced beef and will say that it was very, very good. I also didn't leave hungry. The portions are huge.

We inquired about dessert. Everything sounded great. But, something at the order counter caught my eye. This was homemade peanut brittle. While they don't make it there, it is made locally and can honestly say as a peanut brittle officianado, could be the best peanut brittle ever.

It's getting to be that time of year. The weather is heating up, the outdoor activities are increasing and your grill starts to get used a bit more. Don't feel like cooking? Need to fulfill your BBQ fix? Hickory Stick would make the perfect place for you two to hit up when looking for that casual, hole-in-the-wall, "can I go like this?" kind-of-place.

http://www.hickory-stick.com/

Fort Worth Date Night: A "Sweet" Date Night

by Michael Bloomberg

May 14, 2010

Do you remember how simple desserts were when we were kids? The ice cream truckmusic could be heard for blocks away and we couldn't get there fast enough. Or, maybe it was Dairy Queen. Some of our options were a Blizzard, a Dilly Bar and, if you were feeling daring, the Peanut Buster Parfait. I can still taste my sweet grandmother's homemade chocolate milk shake. It had particular meaning when I got one when I was sick. And, now that she is no longer with us, it is even that much more tastier in my head and special in my heart (and belly).

But, something has happened to dessert. It's gotten...oh, what's the word....frou-frou. Frou-frou meaning "something fancy, elaborate, and showy." Just watch the Food Network or the umpteen cooking shows on any given weekend. One of the popular trends is spicy seasoning mixed in with chocolate. LEAVE MY CHOCOLATE ALONE! The chocolate was fine before you chefs had to come along and "Pimp my Brownie." Nuts are o.k. Chile powder is not.

Which is why I love a new addition to Fort Worth so much. Sweet Sammies is about the greatest thing to hit Fort Worth since the Chisholm Trail. Great in several aspects. First and foremost, it's scrumptious! Next, the prices are really reasonable. And, finally, it's easy and simple...like when we were kids. Let me explain.

Sweet Sammies offers up fresh baked cookies, scoops of ice cream or both. Both? Stay with me. It's brilliant. If you are opting for the ice cream sandwich, you pick out two cookies you'd like. One chocolate chip with nuts and one without. Done. Two oatmeal raisin. Done. One chocolate chip and one Oatmeal Toffee. You get the idea. Then, it's down to your choices of the fresh Blue Bell ice cream. On my first visit, I went very conservative. Twochocolate chip cookies and a scoop of vanilla. Before I knew it, I'm the proud owner of one of the best ice cream sandwiches I've ever eaten.

Are you sitting down? This "Sweet Sammie" is only $1.75. That means two of you can each get your own dessert (sharing is optional) for well under 5 bucks. Sweet Sammies is surrounded by all the new "goings on" down on the University/7th Street corner. It's located at 825 Currie St., just down from the Movie Tavern.

You could easily hit up Sweet Sammies after lunch or dinner. Even better, you could simply have a Date Night, Date Day, Date Morning or Date "whatever" centered around it. There is seating inside, but, plenty of tables and benches located up and down the street should the weather be nice. And, did I mention that the cookies are usually out-of-the-oven fresh? Alone, they would be fantastic. But, isn't it the ice cream that is somewhat the star of most dessert shows. After all, it was Voltaire who said, "Ice cream is exquisite - what a pity it isn't illegal."

http://www.sweetsammies.com

Fort Worth Date Night: Simply D'Vine

by Michael Bloomberg
May 7, 2010

It's no secret that I am a planner. This is true in my professional life, as well as, in my personal life. I'm not sure why. I just feel more comfortable when I know what I am going to be doing. That's not to say that I can't be sporadic, too.

In reality, some of the best outings are the times that aren't planned and you just see where the night takes you. This actually happened to me recently. A good friend called and asked, "Want to run an errand with me?" Me: "Sure." Little did I know this errand would take me toGrapevine. But, not to worry. This just gave me another excuse to hit my favorite pizzeria inLas Colinas, Cavalli Pizza.

After a quick stroll through the ski store and an exchange, we decided that since we are nearMain Street in Grapevine, it was worth a visit to see what was going on. It was bustling onthis Saturday afternoon. One of the first places we walk upon was D'Vine Wine on Main Street.

An hour and half later, we found ourselves still parked at a table inside. What a great place! Here's out it played out. We walked through the store and quickly checked out the wines. Great choices and reasonable prices. As we were heading back out the door, we stopped at an empty table to read the menu on the table. This was the tasting menu and the "by the glass" menu." It was also the reason for our extended stay.

D'vine Wine offers tastings of some of their popular wines. You can pick 3 wines in a particular category for $5 dollars. I believe we went went with 3 from Reds, 3 from Whites, 3 from Sparkling and 3 from dessert wines. These are generous pours. Should you find one you like, you are more than welcome to order another glass or a bottle. We weren't that brave. There was one that stood out. It was an almond sparkling wine. So good that we both bought a bottle. At under 15 dollars a bottle, it was a bargain.

D'Vine Wine also hosts monthly events. I'd suggest signing up for their e-mail newsletter for updates. Recently, they hosted a Paella Night. Some upcoming events are Barrel Tasting Night, Wine & Cheese 101 and Flight Night. They are also available for private parties. Even more impressive is that if you choose, you can actually make a batch of your own wine. This is not done in a day. But, you can create your own private label. How cool would that make you? Their website has all the details.

I'm quickly realizing that errands aren't always bad. If all future ones end like this one, I'll be the first to volunteer for being a Plus One on your trips to wherever. That is the beauty of wine. It brings people together. After all, it was James Joyce who asked, "What is better than to sit at the table at the end of the day and drink wine with friends, or substitutes for friends?"

There are several D'vine Wines throughout the DFW area. For complete details, please visit: http://www.dvinewineusa.com/

Fort Worth Date Night: Heaven in a Basket

by Michael Bloomberg
April 30, 2010

It would be great if I could write every week about chocolate. Much like the shrimp speech from Forrest Gump, I prefer chocolate cake, chocolate pie, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, peanut butter and chocolate, chocolate martinis, and so on and so on. You get the idea. Which is why I'm switching things up this week. I'm turning over a new leaf; no mention of chocolate (except for what you just read).

You see, I may have found a new dessert obsession. We'll get to that in a minute. The issue is that I'm still trying to figure out if it falls in the dessert category, the vegetable category or simply the "best comfort food ever" category. It's so good that a Date Night should be centered around this basket of deliciousness.

In the location formerly housed by Deuce and, then, Fuego, now resides Jake's Hamburgers. I'm probably much like you. Born in Fort Worth and very loyal to my Cowtown favorites, I've always been partial to Kincaid's, Tommy's and Fred's. I know there are others, but, go with me here for a minute. So, when a new burger joint comes to town, I'm very apprehensive.

Ironically, it wasn't even the burger that got me there in the beginning. Which is where my new obsession comes into play. I kept hearing about Jake's Sweet Potato Fries. When not deep fried, a regular sweet potato is not my tator of choice. However, I had to suck it up and do my research like any good journalist would do. It only took one bite.

What came out was the following. A basket of crinkle cut sweet potato fries. But, that wasn't all. There was a sweet, subtle smell to them. Not to mention, a side of some "white stuff" that apparently accompanies said fries. Upon further inspection, it's a sugary, cinnamony concoction sprinkled on these bad boys right out of the fryer. And, the white stuff? That would be marshmallow for dipping. Somewhat reminiscent of Thanksgiving and sweet potato pie. Only way better and you can get them all year long.

Jake's has a great selection of burgers, but, that's not all. Chicken, sandwich classics and salads are also an option. I love the Chicken Tender Salad. I'm also a huge fan of their appetizers. Besides the sweet potato fries (which can be ordered first or as a side), the fried pickle chips are great, as well as, the jalapeno bottle caps. These are "coins of jalapenos, battered and served with a side of Ranch to cool off your taste buds." Feeling brave? You might opt for the Jalapeno Bottle Cap burger. Another fav if you like spicy and are not trying to watch your girlish figure.

Besides several in Dallas and the Camp Bowie location in Fort Worth, Jake's can also be found in downtown Fort Worth on Main Street. As I mentioned before, I'm very loyal. And, now I'm loyal to those sweet potato fries. The sweet coating, the golden fried potato and the absolute icing on the cake, the marshmallow sauce for dipping just keeps playing over and over in mind. And, when I get down to my last fry, a sense of sadness usually comes over me. But, then, I think of Mason Cooley's brilliant advice, "Cure for an obsession; get another one."

Fort Worth Date Night: A Star-filled Party

BY MIKE BLOOMBERG

April 22, 2010

It was Edward Young who said, "Those who build beneath the stars build too low." This is very similar to famous radio personality, Casey Kasem's famous sign-off, "Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars." These quotes and many more are simply little quips to remind us to think bigger for ourselves and our dreams.

What is it about these sparkly, little mysteries in the sky that we find so fascinating? I've been on a beach at midnight, looked up and the universe was literally putting on a show for me. All the constellations were right above as if they were being presented in hi-def. Or, maybe you have been on a ranch or out of the city limits late at night to experience the same view. Often seeing shooting stars like they are showing off.

Have you been to the new Fort Worth Museum of Science and History? This massive undertaking is now complete. The Omni Theater is still there, but, contains a whole new everything else after their recent renovation. Not to mention, one of the world's finest planetariums, the Noble Planetarium. But, it's not the stars inside that will draw you to the FWMSH this weekend. It's what is outside. Which leads us back to the stars.

The FWMSH continues on Saturday, April 24, with the popular, entertaining and highly educational Star Parties. These free monthly parties are hosted by the Noble Planetarium staff and by members of the Fort Worth Astronomical Society. After you enjoy a nice dinner at any of the numerous restaurant options in the Montgomery/7th Street/Camp Bowie area, head over to the FWMSH.

The monthly Star Parties are held in the parking lot, just south of the Museum (corner of Montgomery Street and Harley Avenue). There will be no need to bring your own Hubble telescope or astronomical equipment or software. Everything is provided. You can just show up. The parties begin at dusk, weather permitting, and last until approximately 10:30 p.m.

When you think about it, a "Date Night" doesn't get much better when it includes nature, stars and is free. This week you can have all that without flying to a beach or driving to the country. Vincent Van Gogh obviously had a fascination with stars. One of his most famous works isStarry Night. He once stated, "For my part, I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream." As the Spring season morphs into Summer, perhaps, this week's outing will cause you two to start dreaming about what your next few months of "Date Nights" are going to look like.

Fort Worth Date Night: Good Grief: A "Wild" Date Night

BY MIKE BLOOMBERG

April 15, 2010

Margaret Mead once wrote, "When a person is born we rejoice, and when they're married we jubilate, but when they die, we try to pretend nothing has happened." There is a place in Fort Worth, that for more than 20 years, has faced grief head on.

Of course, I'm referring to The Warm Place. Perhaps, one of my favorite organizations in the whole world. The work they do and the lives they touch are indescribable. Often times, The Warm Place flies under the radar and without anyone knowing the angelic feats they achieve.

According to their website, "The WARM Place was founded in 1989 and now, more than twenty years later, we continue our mission of providing grief support services to children ages 3-18 and their families, as well as young adults ages 19-25, who are trying to find a new way of living after the death of someone they love."

So you may be asking, "What in the world does this have to do with "Date Night?" Everything! On, Friday, April 23, The Warm Place is holding the 8th Annual "Friday Night at the Zoo." While this event at the Fort Worth Zoo is kid-friendly, it's also one of those dates that will bring out the kid in the both of you.

Some of the events planned are: Treasure hunt, party games, hair painting, face painting, Wild Wonder animal show, carousel rides, Texas weather barn and the train ride. You can expect a silent auction, a live auction, a taco bar dinner and a cash bar. And, perhaps, the coolest of the cool, for the 3rd year, the classic rock band, King Creole, will be playing your favorites from the 60's, 70's and 80's. There's also a rumor they will throw in some chart-toppers from the 50's and 90's, as well. So, there is something to enjoy for everyone.

Friday Night at the Zoo is offering up some very sweet raffle items. Three different packages will be offered. First up, an instant wine cellar! This is 50 bottles of fine wine including Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Syrah, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and much more.

Package #2 is from Cowboy Cuisine Chef, Grady Spears. Grady will come to your home and prepare dinner for you and 10 of your closest friends. How cool is that? Can you think of a better "Date Night?" Oh yeah, all the is food is included and the package also consists of several bottles of wine.

Package #3 is an amazing weekend at Possum Kingdom Lake. Enjoy two nights for a family of four at the Harbor on Possum Kingdom Lake's 18-room boutique hotel. Included in this package is a Continental breakfast, lunch and dinner for four at The Grille. Horseback rides for two should make your stay complete.

Rarely do you find a "Date Night" that is o.k. to include the kids. This one is one of those rare occasions. But, by all means, if you are kidless, you guys will also have a blast. Great food, great entertainment and great people. But, the biggest reason to go is because of The Warm Place. The word "great" doesn't even come close to describe the importance of this organization. Mother Teresa once wrote, ""There are no great things, only small things with great love. Happy are those." And, happy are those who have attended The Warm Place, worked at The Warm Place or volunteered at The Warm Place.

For complete information on Friday Night at the Zoo and The Warm Place, please visit: www.thewarmplace.org

Fort Worth Date Night: Appreciating the grape

BY MIKE BLOOMBERG

April 08, 2010

One reason couples don’t often succeed is that it becomes too easy to take each other for granted. Life either becomes too simple or the difficulties become bigger than a relationship. Sometimes this wisdom comes with age, experience, a death, a birth or a life-changing event.

As I’ve matured, I’ve started to realize the importance of simply being grateful. To not focus on what I don’t have, but, rather, how rich my life truly is. This may be one of the keys to a successful relationship. Willie Nelson, who is known to have had an interesting life, really summed up this point best when he said, “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”

You can start with the easy ones. Family, loved ones, kids, a job, a house and so on. But, be creative. I’ll get you started. I am thankful for chocolate, especially, Peanut M&M’s. I’m grateful for Thai food. There’s something about eating that perfect dish of Pad Thai. I’m even thankful for wine. Wine? Yes, wine. And, apparently, I’m not the only one. Grapevine has devoted a whole weekend to the showing the city’s appreciation for the stuff.

Over the weekend of April 16 and 17, Grapevine will be celebrating its 18th annual Blessing of the Vines and New Vintage Wine & Gallery Trail. What does this all mean? A lot of sampling of wines! There are many activities going on during this annual celebration. Some of these include actual blessings at wineries, an actual Wine Trail, which involves a trip through historic Grapevine, wineries and several others events.

However, the most “date-rific” activity might be the New Vintage Jazz Wine Trains. Such a brilliant idea to combine food, wine and live jazz all while cruising along in a train. According to the Website, “The popular Jazz Wine Train will run on two evenings - April 16 and 17 - at the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, located at Grapevine’s historic Cotton Belt Depot at 705 S. Main Street. The captivating excursion features several Grapevine wines, delicious dinner and live jazz entertainment in each passenger car. The Jazz Wine Train boards both evenings at 6:40 p.m., departs at 7 p.m. and returns at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $55 per person.”

Often times in relationships, experts say that if you don’t want to lose your partner, you better “get on board.” Perhaps, this Jazz Wine Train is a metaphor for the ideal couple. For those in need of a night out and for those who still date regularly. Just remember that while you are blessing the wine, take a moment to also be thankful for who you are sharing this experience with. Salud!

For complete information on the Blessing of the Vines,

visit: www.grapevinetexasusa.com/newvintage

Fort Worth Date Night: A taxing date with a huge refund

BY MIKE BLOOMBERG

March 29, 2010

Benjamin Franklin once said, “The only sure thing in life is death and taxes.” In a couple of weeks, one of those two will rear is annual ugly head. The deadline to file your taxes is April 15. I’ve never been a big fan of Franklin’s saying. While it may be true, it’s somewhat of a downer. In fact, I think we need a paradigm shift in our thinking.

What if we could have a positive outlook on taxes? What is paying taxes could bring about the same excitement as that of birthdays? After all, they both come around once-a-year. But, I guess this needs more thought. One is sometimes about paying out. While birthdays are usually about receiving. What if we could combine the two? Or, at the least, celebrate the middle of April, rather than dread it.

Fortunately, for those in Fort Worth, our prayers may have been answered. On April 18, Tarrant County welcomes the 31st annual Big Taste of Fort Worth. By far, one of my most favorite events to attend each year. From a giving point-of-view, the event benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters’ youth mentoring programs. From a competitive angle, it has the best of the area’s finest restaurants battling for “Best of Big Taste” bragging rights. But, from a selfish approach, it is a “roll up my sleeves; no holds barred” Eat-a-Rama!

Each year, the list of dining establishments who participate just get better and better. This year is no exception. Fort Worth newcomers Eddie V’s and Cowtown Diner are joining in on the fun. Last year’s winner, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, along with the likes of Ferre, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Lambert’s, Michael’s, The Covey and Tokyo Steakhouse are just a few of the amazing eateries scheduled to share their tasty offerings at this year’s Big Taste of Fort Worth.

Once again, the super talented, Trey and the Tritones, will be the featured entertainment of the evening. Seeing these guys live would be, in itself, worth the price of admission. You can also count on a fantastic silent auction. Tickets can be purchased for just the main tasting or for the tasting along with the VIP Wine Tasting held just prior. For complete details on the Big Taste of Fort Worth, visit the official Web site at: www.bbbs.org/taste or contact 888-887-BIGS.

Can you think of a more efficient date? Where else can a couple pay one reasonable price, go to one location and have the Best of the Best food all under one roof? Actually, all in one room? More importantly, the cost of admission will be helping a great cause, Big Brothers Big Sisters. It will be like paying your taxes knowing that a refund is on the way. At the least, a gastronomical one.