Fort Worth sunsets always show up in style. | Photo by @jrh79_
Today at noon, we’ll be exactly between the start and end of 2025. And that got us thinking: How can we make the second 182.5 days better than the first?
Make friends | Whether you’re a born-and-bred Fort Worthian or a transplant to our beautiful city, there are plenty of ways to make friends here. Our guide offers classes and clubs for bookworms, volunteers, aspiring chefs, artists, and sneakerheads.
Get active | Speaking of sneakers, Fort Worth’s Ampersand hosts Ampersand Run Club every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, which could be the perfect challenge for the latter half of 2025. If running isn’t your thing, there are 30+ gyms in our city.
Explore your city | Last but certainly not least, we all love finding a new spot around town to refresh our routine + add some variation to our weekends. Luckily for you, our Restaurant Roundup is updated monthly with the buzziest new eateries in FTW.
Events
Events
Wednesday, July 2
Art Tales: Red, White, and Blue | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Amon Carter Museum of American Art | Free | Reserve a spot for Independence Day at the Carter — a morning full of stories, gallery games, art making, and a special guest performance from storyteller Maricela and Friends.
Thursday, July 3
Jigsaw Dating: Dallas Singles Pickleball Ages 25-45+ | 7-9 p.m. | Chicken N Pickle, Grapevine | $31 | Singles ages 25-45+ can enjoy mixer-style mingling, free game play, pickleball-themed bingo + a complimentary beverage for Jigsaw app members.
Friday, July 4
21st Burleson Independence Day Parade | 9-11 a.m. | Old Town, Burleson | Free | Attend the patriotic, family-friendly event to celebrate America’s birthday.
Saturday, July 5
Oktoberfest 5K | 8-11:30 a.m. | Flying Saucer Fort Worth | $35 | Run, or walk, in festive Fourth of July gear to celebrate freedom, plus get three free Rahr Brewing draft beers, a branded pint glass, and a hot Texas tamale breakfast.
Sunday, July 6
Make & Take: Czech Kolaches | 5-7 p.m. | Central Market | $90 | Explore the tradition of Texas Czech culture — shape and fill pillow-y kolache dough and finish them with fruit filling, cheese filling, and sausage filling.
The Fort Worth journalist Betty Bob Buckley died at 99 on Friday, June 27. Buckley is known for co-founding the annual scholarship fundraiser The Celebrity Breakfast + serving as director of public relations for Casa Mañana Theatre. She was the mother of actress Betty Lynn Buckley + director Norman Buckley. (CultureMap Fort Worth)
Open
The largest indoor theme park in Texas is now open for business. The 137,000-sqft Malibu Jack’s opened in North Richland Hills last week + features an indoor roller coaster, go-karts, laser tag, and two miniature golf courses. Check online for pricing. (WFAA)
Sports
The Dallas Stars have named a new head coach, and the name might ring a bell. Glen Gulutzan, former assistant to the Edmonton Oilers + head coach of the Stars from 2011 to 2013, succeeds Pete DeBoer. His contract with the Oilers expired Monday. (Dallas Morning News)
Civic
Yesterday, Fort Worth’s EMS system officially merged with the fire department. More than 600 EMTs and paramedics now live under one entity. Hear Mayor Mattie Parker’s thoughts on how this transition impacts public safety.
State
So long, paper license plates. A bill that was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2023 went into effect yesterday. Going forward, drivers who purchase a vehicle will leave the lot with metal plates already installed. WFAA reporter Paul Livengood shared the story on X. (WFAA)
Edu
Fort Worth ISD will adopt a $1 million state phonics program to strengthen foundational reading skills for elementary students. Bluebonnet Learning — an initiative that brings schools the tools and materials needed for student advancement — is funded by the state and will begin this fall semester. (Fort Worth Report)
Film
There is more Taylor Sheridan news. Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch Productions just secured 450,000 sqft of AllianceTexas for a new production hub. Two buildings on Spirit Drive will be repurposed to serve as sets for various film projects — one currently includes a makeshift kitchen for the hit show “Landman.” (Fort Worth Inc.)
Quoted
This week, Gov. Abbott congratulated Fort Worth for being a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community — a certification that was launched at the beginning of this year. Travel Texas Director Tim Fennell says the designation is “a testament to Fort Worth’s enduring appeal and commitment to hospitality.”
Listen
After her loss against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, Paige Bueckers is named one of 10 starters for the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis on Saturday, July 19. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of women’s professional basketball with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Number
1 million. That’s how many working professionals subscribe to Superhuman AI to learn the latest AI skills, tools, and news. Sign up for free.*
The Buy
Save up to 70% at local restaurants, spas, museums, gyms, and more with curated deals from Groupon. New deals appear every day so you can discover your next “why-didn’t-we-do-this-sooner” at the click of a button.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
62.7% of readers agree that a hot dog is neither a sandwich nor a taco. It’s its own thing.
Just 21.7% ofreaders got the number of hot dogs eaten on the Fourth of July correct. It’s 150 million, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.
31.2% of readers knew how many Texans are projected to travel at least 50 miles from home — 5.7 million.
I have a feeling that somewhere there’s a nice, fresh Guinness thinking of me too. Hi — it’s me again with another throwback from my recent Ireland trip. One month ago today was my last day on the Emerald Isle. I toured the historic Guinness Storehouse, which is the most popular tourist attraction in Ireland — before Cliffs of Moher at No. 2. In 1759, Arthur Guinness signed the iconic 9,000-year lease on the same brew site where it sits today for an annual rent of €45. What a steal! When I read that, I almost dropped my pint. Enough Guinness history, how about some local brewing history?
Editor Elizabeth enjoys 360° views of Dublin while sipping a cold one at the Guinness Storehouse.
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