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🦁 Take a walk on the wild side

It’s a boy! The Fort Worth Zoo welcomes new lion cub
FTW-Fort Worth Zoo
Moja is spending time behind the scenes with his mom. | Photo by Fort Worth Zoo
It’s a boy — the Fort Worth Zoo welcomed arguably the cutest little addition to its lion pride.

Moja — which is Swahili for “one” — was born at the zoo on October 20, 2023, to first-time mom Saba and dad Jabulani.

FTW-Fort Worth Zoo

Moja was born at the zoo on October 20, 2023. | Video by Fort Worth Zoo

The zoo said Saba and Moja have spent a lot of time together behind the scenes as the cub grows and is closely watched by its keepers. Moja is still nursing but has been introduced to a meat diet, and he now tips the scales at just 16 lbs.

Moja is the first cub born in the new Predators of Asia & Africa lion exhibit, and zookeepers want to make sure he is big and strong enough to navigate the new space before his grand appearance.

The zoo said Moja hasn’t met Jabulani or the other female adult Abagabe yet, but introductions will be planned soon as the cub continues to grow.

The zoo’s three adult lions came from a wildlife facility in South Africa in 2012, introducing a new bloodline of lions into North America and varying the gene pool. The zoo said, “With this birth, we are proud to continue to contribute to the conservation of this vulnerable species.”

FTW-Fort Worth Zoo

Travis was born in February 2023. | Photo by FTWtoday

Moja joins the growing list of babies at the Fort Worth Zoo. In case you need more reasons to visit, here are some of the other new additions:

November 2023
Black-and-white Colobus monkey Corey — named after World Series-winning Texas Rangers player Corey Seager — was born. She can be seen in the World of Primates exhibit.

February 2023
Travis became the fifth male Asian elephant calf at the zoo and was born to first-time mom, Belle, and dad Romeo. Travis can be seen in Elephant Springs.

November 2022
Bruno is the second western lowland gorilla to be born at the zoo. He was born to parents Gracie and Elmo and can be seen in the World of Primates exhibit.
 
Events
Friday, Jan. 12
  • Sammy Kershaw | Friday, Jan. 12 | 7:30 p.m. | Will Rogers Memorial Center, 3401 W. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth | $25.95-$95.94 | The country artist will kick off the Auditorium Concert Series with hit songs like “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful” and “I Can’t Reach Her Anymore.”
Saturday, Jan. 13
  • All-Western Parade | Saturday, Jan. 13 | 11 a.m. | Main + Commerce Streets, Downtown, Fort Worth | $12-$20 | The parade will pay tribute to Texas law enforcement agencies and feature 3,000 horses, stagecoaches, the TCU marching band, and the Fort Worth Police Department’s mounted unit.
  • Ranch Rodeo Round Up Party | Saturday, Jan. 13 | 5-7 p.m. | Dickies Arena, 1911 Montgomery St., Fort Worth | $55.20 | Join the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association for live music, food, and more at the Budlight Roadhouse.
  • Robert Earl Keen | Saturday, Jan. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Bass Performance Hall, 525 Commerce St., Fort Worth | $66 | A member of the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame, Keen has written songs for music superstars like George Strait, The Chicks, and The Highwaymen.
Sunday, Jan. 14
  • All About Bagels | Sunday, Jan. 14 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Indulge, 425 W. 3rd St., Fort Worth | $89 | In this class, you’ll learn how to create chewy bagels from scratch with various toppings and spreads.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Traffic
  • West 7th Street going eastbound between Throckmorton and Houston Streets downtown has reopened to traffic. Following Monday’s tragic gas leak explosion at the Sandman Signature Fort Worth Hotel, police asked the public to avoid the area as crews cleaned up debris.
Announced
  • Thompson’s Bookstore will reopen today at 3 p.m. The speakeasy cocktail lounge is located across the street from the Sandman Hotel and was forced to close Monday evening. The lounge said the windows will remain boarded up until construction repairs are complete.
Edu
  • Earlier this week, Northwest ISD trustees approved new attendance boundaries for the 2024-2025 school year. The district will move 350 students from Clara Love to Perrin Elementary School. Some students at Justin and Hatfield Elementary Schools will also be shifted around the district.
Open
  • Vegans rejoice — A new plant-based barbecue concept called VBQ Smokehouse is open inside Mariachi’s Dine-In located off Camp Bowie Boulevard. Chef Hank Storm is behind the idea and he’s dishing out vegan brisket, sides, and dessert. Stop by 5724 Locke Ave. Thursday-Saturday.
Kids
  • The Emmy Award-winning children’s television series “Bluey” will hit the stage at Bass Performance Hall this spring. Bluey’s Big Play will be in Fort Worth on Saturday, March 23 + Sunday, March 24 and tickets start at $22.
Ranked
  • All Star Home ranked the South Hills neighborhood No. 11 for the friendliest neighborhoods in America. The study analyzed business reviews in 10 categories including banks, beauty salons, coffee shops, dry cleaners, and grocery stores, among other things.
Eat
  • Fast-casual Mexican restaurant Buena Vida is now open in the SoMa District at 314 S. Main St. Chef Alex Line — who also heads Pour Decisions in West 7th — serves specialty tacos, Latin entrees, and street food.
Real Estate
  • A sprawling 2,300-acre ranch along the Red River is on the market for $24.9 million. The 5R Ranch — located ~1.5 hours north in Cook County — is a “recreational ranch retreat” with private river beaches, 250 acres of agricultural land surrounded by timber forests, and a home suited for family or events. Take a look inside.
Tech
  • Walmart is expanding its drone delivery services in North Texas. The company currently offers drone deliveries in Frisco + Lewisville and plans to expand to 30 towns and municipalities in DFW by the end of the year. Walmart said customers will be able to get items delivered within 30 minutes.
Finance
  • 2024’s “it card” is here. Not only does it offer a $200 bonus, but also unlimited 1.5% cash back and 0% intro APR until 2025. (Oh, and did we mention the annual fee? No — because there isn’t one.) Learn more + apply.*
Health
  • Anxiety can make every day a challenge. Connect with a therapist on BetterHelp + take the first step towards a calmer mind. Save 25% with BetterHelp’s New Year offer.*
Events

A day on, not a day off

Where to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Fort Worth
FTW-mlk-parade-fort-worth-1986
Opal Lee and Brenda Polk carried the banner at the MLK memorial walk along Rosedale Street in 1986. | Photo courtesy of the UTA Libraries.
Each year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed as a federal holiday on the third Monday of January. This year, that is Monday, Jan. 20. Most municipal buildings, public libraries, schools, and community centers will be closed but there won’t be changes to residential waste collection or emergency services. Trinity Metro will operate on a modified schedule.

This year’s theme is “Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence365,” according to The King Center — a nonprofit founded by civil rights activist and MLK’s late wife, Coretta Scott King, to continue Dr. King’s legacy.

Aside from lending a hand, you can also commemorate MLK Day at these local events:

40th Annual MLK Parade and Rally | Monday, Jan. 20 | Downtown Fort Worth | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | See floats, classic cars, and walking groups as they commemorate Dr. King’s dream and celebrate unity.

Cowboys of Color Rodeo and After Party | Monday, Jan. 20 | Dickies Arena + The Warehouse FW | 2-4 p.m. | The top Black, Hispanic, and Native American cowboys and cowgirls compete in traditional rodeo events like bull riding, steer wrestling, and tie-down roping.
The Buy

The Buy 1.12.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
Workout gear from Aesthetic Built’s collection, which features durable, cutting-edge fabric technologies without compromising aesthetic appeal. We love this scuba oversized hoodie.
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The Wrap
 
Rebecca McRobbie

Today’s edition by:
Rebecca
From the editor
Melt Ice Creams has baby fever — in honor of the Fort Worth Zoo welcoming Moja to its lion pride, the local ice cream shop is hosting a giveaway + bringing back the fan-favorite flavor The Lucky Lion.

The giveaway includes a family four-pack of tickets to the zoo — follow these steps to enter.
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