Plus, Sickies Garage opens today in north Fort Worth.
 
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Fort Worth Botanic Garden

Today’s Forecast

96º | Sunny | 0% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:01 a.m. | Sunset 7:59 p.m.
 

It’s story time, Fort Worth

The little engine that could: Forest Park Miniature Train memories from our readers
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Forest Park Rides Inc. has been a Fort Worth staple since 1958. | Photo courtesy of Forest Park Miniature Railroad
When we wrote about the comeback of the Forest Park Miniature Railroad earlier this month, we asked for your favorite memory on board the iconic mini train. And boy, did you deliver. Here’s what Fort Worthians had to say about the Forest Park staple.

“I’m so thrilled to hear the train is reopening. I don’t have any pictures but I started riding that little train over 55 years ago. I remember stopping for a treat at the little snack stand with my grandmother back in the mid-1960s then going back in the 1980s with my nephew before taking my daughter in the 1990s and 2000s. What a joy to so many kids.” — Sarah Gilmore

“Dad took us there in 1983 for the first time and hopefully it will open by September when I visit and take my youngest daughter. Great memories.” — @chuco_olivas

“Rode the train my whole childhood with my grandparents. Loved it. We always got to stop for a treat at the concession stand. Please bring it back. My kids loved it too.” — @borgster1

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The five-mile route should be ready to ride by the end of summer. | Photo courtesy of Forest Park Miniature Railroad

“I rode it as a child, took my sons when they were young (now 55, 51, 50); and their children have been on it several times (now 19,19, 18). As their Gamma, we had a tradition to buy a ring pop before we got on the train. I have several pictures of two of them with this treat riding and enjoying it so much. I have a new grandson age six and would love to do the ring pop/train tradition with him.” — @wilhelmpl

“I rode it all the time as a kid, my kids grew up riding it up until it closed, I took my grandkids often to ride. A true FTW gem.” — @kaylyn_springfield_cutchen

“We’d love to take our toddler son on this for his birthday in September. I’ve never been on it but he loves trains right now.“ — @michalthegirl
Thompson Bookstore
 
Events
Monday, Aug. 7
  • Esports Academy: STEM Drop-In Night | Monday, Aug. 7 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Grapevine Public Library, 1201 Municipal Way, Grapevine | Free | Stop by for a rotating catalog of STEM stations that ranges from robotics to augmented reality to 3D modeling.
Tuesday, Aug. 8
  • Make & Take: A Cheese & Charcuterie Board | Tuesday, Aug. 8 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Central Market Fort Worth, 4651 W. Fwy., Fort Worth | $80 | Sip on a glass of wine as experts provide insight on how to create your own edible masterpiece with cheese, salami, and condiments.
Wednesday, Aug. 9
Thursday, Aug. 10
  • Jaden Hamilton | Thursday, Aug. 10 | 7-10 p.m. | Fort Brewery and Pizza, 2737 Tillar St., Fort Worth | Cost of purchase | Bring your pup and enjoy a night out with live music, good food, and cold drinks.
Friday, Aug. 11
  • Summer Bash | Friday, Aug. 11 | 5-7 p.m. | Bicentennial Park, 3206 Smith Barry Rd., Pantego | Free | The annual summer celebration will have food, family-friendly activities, and school supplies.
Saturday, Aug. 12
  • Hatch Chile Fest | Saturday, Aug. 12 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Grand Prairie Farmers Market, 120 W. Main St., Grand Prairie | Free | The festival will feature both raw and roasted Hatch chiles sold by the pound, live music, food, drinks, and family-friendly fun.
Sunday, Aug. 13
  • Cookie Pop Up | Sunday, Aug. 13 | 10 a.m. | Café Momento, 1200 6th Ave., Fort Worth | Free | Stop by the newly opened cafe for the perfect cookie + coffee pairing with Blanco Coffee Gallery.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Cause

✏️ How to make a lifelong positive impact on a fourth grader
A student and their mentor playing Uno during Academy 4 Friday mentoring.
Academy 4 provides a mentor for every fourth grader in the schools they serve. | Photo by Academy 4
Did you know? Academy 4 volunteers come together one Friday per month to mentor fourth graders in economically disadvantaged schools in and around Forth Worth and Austin. For 90 minutes, students and mentors work through research-based leadership curriculum and enjoy games, crafts, and other activities. (See what it’s like.)

So, why mentor fourth graders? According to Academy 4, these students are at a stage between childhood and adolescence where they are becoming individuals, forming their morals and values, and listening to adults. Read: It’s the perfect time for these kids to develop leadership skills, all while building positive relationships with dependable adults.

...Also, fourth graders are a lot of fun to hang out with.

In the upcoming 2023-2024 school year, Academy 4 plans to grow its reach and serve 48 schools — and they’re looking for new volunteer mentors.

Ready to make a difference in the life of a fourth grader?
Learn more + sign up to mentor
News Notes
Open
  • North Dakota-based Sickies Garage Burgers & Brews opens today in north Fort Worth. The garage-themed burger concept will open at 11 a.m. at 6770 Fossil Bluff Dr. with 50 different burgers and 50 beers to wash it all down.
Community
  • Explore the historic Allen Chapel — the oldest African American church in Fort Worth — with a group-led tour on Thursday, Aug. 24. Constructed in 1914, the church was designed by William Pittman, who was the first Black architect to practice in Texas. Historic Fort Worth members can tour for free.
Sports
  • Globe Life Field in Arlington opened a new Sensory Room — located in the southwest corner of the stadium — with comfortable bean bags, activity panels, light-up bubble walls, and carpeted walls. Guests can visit the quiet area in 15-minute sessions by contacting a member of the Guest Services team.
Wellness
  • UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth launched a new lifestyle medicine course to encourage high schoolers to create science-backed healthy habits. The free, 20-hour, self-paced course includes concepts like plant-based diets, avoidance of risky substances, and stress management. Enroll today.
Show
  • A magical Disney experience will be at Bass Performance Hall this week. The Tony-nominated Best Musical “Frozen” will take the stage for a two-week premiere running from Thursday, Aug. 10 through Sunday, Aug. 20.
Weather
  • If you need some relief from the heat, the Farmers’ Almanac predicts that Texans will experience unseasonably cold weather this winter. It also predicts a possible major winter storm in mid-January. We’ll be taking in the warmth while we still can.
Announced
  • With an unbelievable inaugural season under its belt, the City of Arlington declared August 1 as Arlington Renegades Day. The minor league football team won the 2023 XFL Championship and the South Division Championships earlier this year. Season tickets for 2024 are now on sale.
Outdoors
  • Did you know that Fort Worth Botanic Garden members have the special perk of exclusive early access to the Garden? Starting at 7 a.m., members can beat the summer heat, soak in tranquility, and begin their day in the Garden’s wild, wonderful beauty. Learn more about membership.*
Eat
  • Haven’t been to brunch at Fat Daddy’s in Mansfield yet? Time to change that — they just launched a brand-new, mouth-watering brunch menu early this summer, available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.*
Finance
  • A Banksy got everyday investors 32% returns? You read that right. Thousands of investors are smiling all the way to the bank thanks to the fine-art investing platform Masterworks. Investors have benefited from 14 sales with returns including 17.8%, 21.5%, and 35%. FTWtoday readers can skip the waitlist and join.†*
† See important Masterworks disclosures.
Development

A vibrant waterfront entertainment hub

Will Panther Island ever be complete? See the project’s behind-the-scenes progress
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Picture this: A waterfront destination with outdoor activities and pedestrian-friendly spaces. | Rendering courtesy of TRWD
HR&A Advisors — the consulting firm hired by the city for the development of Panther Island — released preliminary findings last week for how the first phase of the project might come together.

Citing the city’s growing population, planners are moving away from the residential-focused plans and instead envision a vibrant entertainment hub with both residential and outdoor recreation that attracts talent and companies to Fort Worth.

Here are the key takeaways:
  • Connect the island with high-capacity transit to surrounding neighborhoods like downtown, Historic Southside, and the Northside
  • Develop a unified strategy for 500+ acres of public and privately owned land
  • Avoid displacing surrounding communities like the Historic Northside
  • Incorporate a diverse range of uses including waterfront development, retail, dining, office space, and entertainment venues
  • Redevelop historic sites like LaGrave Field and the Power Plant building
HR&A Advisors, along with other groups and community stakeholders, will work on updating the strategic vision for the project + create comprehensive real estate and economic development strategies for future development.
 
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The Wrap
 
Rebecca McRobbie

Today’s edition by:
Rebecca
From the editor
I know it’s only August, but I cannot wait for spooky season. My sisters and I grew up huge Harry Potter fans — I’m talking midnight premieres, special events at Barnes & Noble, Hermione Halloween costumes, and visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando.

As soon as I heard about Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience I had to snag some tickets for us. The immersive experience opens in Little Elm in October, and tickets are selling out quickly.
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