W.T. Waggoner holding a silver dollar, no date. | Photo courtesy of UTA Libraries
History buffs, this one’s for you. More than one year since a gas explosion shook the streets of downtown, the Sandman Signature Hotel remains temporarily closed with plans to reopen later this year.
While we wait for the official reopening of the hotel, let’s brush up on our knowledge of the structure itself. The W. T. Waggoner building — located on Houston Street — holds a century’s worth of history, so grab a cup of coffee and settle in.
The building was built by William Thomas (W. T.) Waggoner in 1920 for $1.5 million. It officially opened on March 8, making this Saturday its 105th birthday. It was one of the tallest buildings in Texas at the time, before 714 Main came along, which is now home to the Kimpton Harper Hotel.
TCU Baseball | 6 p.m. | Williams-Reilly Field | $26 | Get a little ballpark therapy and watch the Horned Frogs tee up against the Air Force Academy Falcons.
“Sideways” | 2 p.m. | The Modern | $5 | Tickets are free for The Modern members to see this 127-minute film featuring Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church.
Free Wine Tasting | 5:30-7 p.m. | Hush Sushi Kitchen & Bar, Keller | Free | Reserve your spot for a wine-filled evening with fellow wine enthusiasts.
Thursday, March 6
“Ain’t Misbehavin’” | Thursday, March 6-Saturday, March 22 | Times vary | Circle Theatre | $45+ | Tap your toes along to the Harlem Renaissance jazz of Fats Waller in this 1929 show.
Davy Mooney | 6-9 p.m. | Sundance Square Plaza | Free | Swing and sway to the sounds of the jazz guitarist from New Orleans in the heart of downtown.
Make history as you celebrate the first 760 FEST at The District At Willow Park. | Photos provided by Wilks Development; GIF created by FTWtoday
If you’re anything like us, new experiences are a priority this year — starting with the inaugural 760 FEST Music and Arts Festival on Saturday, April 26.
Held at The District, Willow Park’s brand-new outdoor venue, this family-friendly event promises a day packed with art, music + community. Highlights include:
You may want to double-check your daily commute before leaving home. Yesterday, Fort Worth began the two-year-long process of replacing its outdated water mains, seeing that the existing pipes are nearly a century old. West Lancaster, Summit, and Henderson are just a few of several roads that will be affected by the project. (WFAA)
Sports
There’s a new mural devoted to Luka Dončić in Trinity Groves of Dallas. “Luka Magic” was unveiled last Friday — the day of the former Dallas Maverick’s 26th birthday. The mural artist is none other than Fort Worth’s Juan Velazquez. For more of Velazquez’s works, check out our guide to 30+ murals around Cowtown. (WFAA)
Outdoors
Join us in congratulating Dr. Jared Wood as the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge’s newest manager. Having joined the city in August 2023, Wood has 15+ years of knowledge in natural resource management, conservation, and education. Learn how you can spend a day at the nature center.
Award
Bloomberg Philanthropies has awarded Fort Worth a silver What Works Cities certification. Cowtown is one of 21 new cities to receive this honor for its excellence in using real-time data in city water management. The achievement led to a 90% reduction in field investigation + $1 million in savings.
Announced
M2G Ventures, the Fort Worth real estate investment company, has acquired the Inwood Design Center in Dallas. The center is a 14-building, 740,000-sqft structure whose major tenants include Crate & Barrel, Community Coffee + Neiman Marcus. M2G’s planned enhancements include upgraded building exteriors, enhanced parking, and new signage. (Fort Worth Business Press)
Trending
Dallas Mavericks fans can now renew their season tickets for this year. WFAA lead sports anchor Joe Trahan shares why you might see an 8%+ surge in prices.
Listen
No. 10 TCU Horned Frogs just got its first Big 12 championship win over the No. 17 Baylor Bears on Sunday, making the women’s basketball team the first program in TCU history to take the title. Get the biggest stories on the TCU Horned Frogs with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Small Biz
Calling all small biz owners. We’re gearing up for Small Business Week powered by Sponsor, a celebration of local enterprises from Sunday, May 4 to Saturday, May 10. If you own a local small business, let us highlight you by filling out this form by Sunday, March 16.
Ranked
Forbes just ranked Panther City as one of the top cities for entrepreneurs. Fort Worth is No. 5 out of 10 on the list, beating Houston and San Antonio. With fewer regulatory burdens and no state income tax, 209 companies have relocated to Texas in the last seven years.
Eat
Tony Ramadani, co-founder of the recently-closed Mamma Mia, is bringing Smokey Beards Q to town. Six years ago, Ramadani left to open up the barbecue joint in Saudi Arabia which attracted some well-known patrons like Mike Tyson and Macklemore. This summer, the restaurant will serve brisket, beef ribs, and skin-on fries. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Biz
Small business owners, employers, and hiring managers — if you’re struggling to find the right candidates, it’s time to try FTWtoday Job Board. Post your first job listing for free + get connected with top-quality local talent.
Job
Do you have a passion for all things Northern Virginia, a knack for storytelling, and a drive to engage readers? We’re hiring over at our newest market. We are looking for a creative and dynamic Newsletter Editor to join our team at the NOVAtoday and lead the charge in crafting daily, hyper-local content. We’ve got the perks just for you: competitive salary, 401K with company match of 4%, and so much more. Apply now.
The Buy
The Buy
A cast-iron smash burger press. Made from high-quality cast iron, this grill press uses pressure to improve flavor and texture, get restaurant-quality sear marks, and speed up cooking time of fish, burgers, sandwiches, and more.
In case you missed the Oscars on Sunday evening, I like to use NPR’s full list of winners to stay in the loop. While Fort Worthians Greg Kwedar and Abraham Alexander left empty-handed, we’re still proud that the two artists represented Cowtown with such grace and class.
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