A Day in the District, Fort Worth

If it's simply too gorgeous outside for you to stay at home this weekend, Fort Worth has got a great Saturday outing for you. Enjoy the Botanic Gardens, the science and art museums and staged entertainment for free.
 

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame

9 destinations. 1 day. Free admission.
September 22, 2012,  10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fort Worth, Texas is a city where culture and heritage thrive together. Known for its legendary western roots, this city embraces the arts and is home to some of the most beautifully designed museums in the world, with outstanding collections and a vibrant performing arts scene.

On Saturday, September 22, nine cultural destinations will offer free admission and many of Fort Worth's cultural organizations will offer free performances in and around each destination. We welcome you to enjoy the rich cultural experiences that Fort Worth has to offer during the seventh annual Day in the District, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free transportation within the Cultural District will be provided by The Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T).

Bring your family out to the celebrated Cultural District and enjoy free admission to a variety of art and cultural exhibitions, family-friendly activities and live performances by some of Fort Worth’s favorite arts groups.

Participating Destinations:

Free admission to all of the following on September 22, 2012. Many of Fort Worth’s cultural organizations will offer free performances in and around the museums. We welcome you to enjoy the rich cultural experiences that Fort Worth has to offer.

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Amon Carter Museum of American Art
3501 Camp Bowie Blvd. 817.738.1933
Ruth Asawa: Organic Meditations
Industrial Monuments: Photographs and Works on Paper from the Machine Age

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Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT)
1700 University Drive 817.332.4441
From Field to Page: The Art and Science of Botany

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Fort Worth Botanic Garden
3220 Botanic Garden Blvd. 817.871.7686
(Admission to Japanese Gardens is an additional fee.)

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Fort Worth Community Arts Center
1300 Gendy St. 817.738.1938
Texas Artist Coalition Featured Artist: David Gappa

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Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
1600 Gendy St. 817.255.9300
Science and history exhibitions
(Omni Theater and Noble Planetarium are an additional charge.)

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Kimbell Art Museum
3333 Camp Bowie Blvd. 817.332.8451
Selections from the permanent collection

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Log Cabin Village
2100 Log Cabin Village Lane 817.392.5881
Nineteenth century living history demonstrations.

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Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
3200 Darnell St. 817.738.9215
Lucian Freud: Portraits

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National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
1720 Gendy St. 817.336.4475
Hard Twist: Western Ranch Women – Photographs by Barbara Van Cleve

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Source: http://www.fwdayinthedistrict.org/

 

Turning Dog Days to School Days

We've definitely arrived at the dog days of summer.  The kids may be getting a little antsy by now--too hot to play out of doors and not much new to do indoors. This is a great time to start building anticipation for the first day of school. 

This is also the perfect time to start sharpening the disciplines your child needs to perform well once school begins. Here's a few tips you can use during the dog days of summer to turn your child's attention toward the coming changes. 

• Use the last few weeks of summer break to ease into earlier bedtime schedules, rather than waiting until school begins. This will help your child be fully adjusted to handle the changes that come with moving from the freedom of summer back to school activities.  
• Remind them that they will soon have a new teacher, a new classroom and classmates to learn with. Taking the kids shopping for new school supplies, shoes and school clothes helps build the excitement for returning to familiar school year routines.
• Arrange a few play dates with friends from school that your child may not have seen over the summer. 
• Start engaging in educational fun activities. Take trips to the library or science museum. Play educational games and give your child fun challenges to encourage learning activities, especially as it relates to math and reading. 

Children living at Cumberland on Granbury are invited to participate in the reading challenge at Oakmont Elementary. Here's the details: 

Summer Reading Incentive!
All students, even newly enrolled students for the 2012-2013 school year, can participate.  Simply print out this form, and read, read read!  Click here for a list of suggested books for each grade level.  Please remember, these are only suggestions.  

Read books that you are interested in and that are on your reading level or a little harder.  All students that return their completed reading log at the beginning of school in August get to attend a jump house party!

   The last few weeks of summer can be just as fun and exciting for your child as the first few were as you build excitement around of the start of new school year.

A Peachy Weekend Ahead

Parker County Peach Festival

If you are native to this area then you know that the Parker County Peach Festival is everything we love about summer in Texas. Although Weatherford, Texas has grown considerably, it still has that small town ambiance making it a great venue for this daylong fun-fest that celebrates the homegrown goodness of Parker County peaches. If you can imagine anything peach flavored, you’ll find it this weekend in downtown Weatherford. From homemade peach jam, preserves and ice cream to peaches by the bushel and the peck.

This year’s one day festival kicks off Saturday, July 14^th with the Peach Pedal Bike Ride at 7:30 a.m.  with proceeds benefiting the Weatherford College Fund. Festival gates are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the stages heating up for Diaper Derbies followed by plenty of free entertainment, festival food, vendors and artisan exhibits. It’s a day trip worth making if you’re looking for some “best of summer” entertainment but other folks make the trip to get the first pick of this season’s Parker County peach crop before they hit the local produce markets.  Last year’s crowd was estimated at 30,000 festival goers, so it’s a nice size event especially when you throw in Weatherford’s quaint shopping district and 19th century courthouse built in 1886.

How to Get There:

Take I-20 West to exits 403, 406, 409 A or B, 410 or 413.
Due to construction on Hwy 51/ 171 we recommend avoiding exit 4

Take advantage of one of the convenient FREE shuttle parking lots at:

• Hall Middle School – 902 Charles Street
• 9th Grade Center (The Old Weatherford High School) – 1007 South Main Street
• Weatherford College 225 College Park Drive
• First Monday Trade Days Grounds (PARKING ONLY, NO SHUTTLE)
  Santa Fe Drive/Hwy 180
• *Sheriff's Posse Grounds – 2251 Mineral Wells Hwy (Hwy 180)
• Handicap parking/shuttle is available at the Ninth Grade Center, or at City Hall, right outside the Palo Pinto Street Festival entrance.
  *Get directions to this new parking location HERE!

Fort Worth's 4th of July

Address for parking: 1098 West Peach Street, FW Texas 76102

Fort Worth will be celebrating big along the banks of the Trinity River this 4th of July.  You'll have a full blown festival beginning at 4:30 p.m., where kid's areas, tubing in the river (or paddle boards), music, food and other attractions will keep the fun moving. Did I mention free ice cold water melon? Nothing says 4th of July in Texas like ice cold watermelon! 

Take advantage of shuttle parking and by all means bring your cooler--just leave the alcohol at home. No alcoholic beverages can be taken into the festival, but you will find plenty of beer and soda stands and a hydration station providing free water. Bring blankets and lawn chairs for the super fantastic fireworks show at 9:30 p.m., but the Panther Island Pavilion will start rocking at 6:00 p.m. with Fire in the Sky and Back in Black at 8:00 p.m. Additional information is available here. 


If Honkey-tonkin' is more your style, our dear friend Willie brings his 4th of July Picnic to the Stockyards.

July 4: Fort Worth - Willie Nelson's Picnic

What: Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic is coming back to the Fort Worth Stockyards. Willie takes the Main Stage at 11 p.m. Randy Rogers Band at 10:30 p.m. on the Honky Tonk Stage. Stoney LaRue takes the Outdoor Stage at 9:30 p.m. Jamey Johnson takes the Main Stage at 8:30 p.m.

When: July 4, 2012.

Where: Fort Worth Stockyards.

Tickets: Advance tickets are $35 at Billy Bob's. This is an indoor / outdoor event located on Rodeo Plaza in the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards. 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. No chairs - No umbrellas - No pets - No Coolers.

Whatever your plans are, Happy Independence Day! 

Biking with the Mayor

If urban biking is your passion, you'll be pleased to know that Mayor Betsy Price is committed to making Ft. Worth a "bike friendly" city. An avid cyclist herself, she and other town hall figures, fire and police officers join the ride with bike enthusiasts to see the city from a different perspective. 

Although it's more about the ride than the politics, Mayor Price says when she rides the city, people are more open to talk about what is important to them. From pet shelters to city services, she's getting lots of input on the streets about how to continue making Fort Worth a great place to live. 

Tour De Forth Worth is open to all cyclists and it's a great way to explore areas of the city you might not be familiar with. The next ride is Wednesday, June 6th from 6:00-7:30 pm. beginning at the Police and Fire Memorial on Seventh Street and although Mayor Price won't make this week's bike tour, there are plenty of dates still ahead. 

Bicycles, Inc. located at 5125 Granbury Road, is another great place to locate group rides and join other bike enthusiasts. If you plan to enjoy the summer biking Cowtown or if you are a bike commuter, share your pictures with us on Facebook. We'd love to see our residents tearing up the town on two wheels.   

Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue

Take time out from your cookout or party, or daily chores today to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. ~Memorial Day 2012

Keep Your Car Safe!

With summer just around to corner, we are asking residents to be observant and to lock car doors and check to be sure items of value are not visible to thieves. Crime doesn't always stop with the car burglary. Often, confidential information is left in vehicles setting an ideal stage for identity theft or fraud. We want to remind you that there are steps you can take to help protect yourself and your vehicle:

• Hide your valuables from plain sight
• Lock your car and take your keys
• If you have a garage, use it to park your vehicle
• Never leave your car running – leaving your key in an unattended vehicle is a Class C Misdemeanor in Texas

Play it safe!