From Mule Alley to downtown and beyond, weekends are once again hoppin’ across Fort Worth. If you are looking to book your weekday dance card, keep these popular attractions that offer dance lessons, live shows and interactive tours during the week in mind.
Dance Lessons at Billy Bob’s Texas
Billy Bob’s Texas offers multiple dance class options throughout the week. Sundays are for couples. Through July 24, the $10-per-couple course includes Beginner Country Western Three Step (2 p.m.), Intermediate Country Western Three Step (3 p.m.) and Beginner West Coast Swing classes (4 p.m.). Leather-soled shoes are recommended.
Ladies Night on Wednesdays includes free entry for women, complimentary line dance lessons starting at 7 p.m. and prizes. Free line dance lessons are also offered Saturdays during lunchtime. Admission is required, but there’s a perk. Meals at Honky Tonk Kitchen are 20% off. If you haven’t been to the revamped kitchen, you’re missing out on some of the best barbecue, steaks and burgers in town.
Live Music at Second Rodeo
Restaurateur Jason Boso is an avid fan of Texas roots music. When he opened Second Rodeo Brewing in Mule Alley, he made sure that live music plays a central role in the space that holds a brewery, restaurant and plenty of open-air seatings. The music genres focus on Western Swing, Outlaw Country and Texas blues, and Boso books bands from 11 a.m. to midnight. With three live acts a day for every day that Second Rodeo is open, it’s a massive commitment to the local music scene and one that appears to be paying off.
Dance Lessons at Club Ritzy
Discerning locals on the lookout for a refined nightclub experience know that Club Ritzy has it all. With 20 VIP sections, friendly staff and vast food and cocktail menu, the Eastside venue checks all the entertainment boxes. On Throwdown Thursdays, guest instructors take guests through the rudiments of the dance style known as swingout, the American dance form born in the African-American communities in Harlem more than a century ago.
Kimbell Art Museum
Dine, shop and take in fun family-friendly events at the Kimbell Art Museum. The Kimbell boasts two architecturally renowned buildings. The original museum was designed by famed architect Louis Kahn while the new expansion was designed by Renzo Piano. Throughout the week, except on Mondays, visitors can view visiting exhibits and shows featuring works from the permanent collection. Visit the Kimbell’s online calendar for updates on events
Amon Carter Museum of American Art
Beyond showcasing the best in American Art, the Amon Carter Museum hosts fun family-friend events throughout the summer. Art Tales invites families to enjoy live performances, hear stories, and games and even create original artwork Amon Carter staffers and guest artists. In mid-July, catch a performance by musician and educator Brandi Waller-Pace. July 20th’s event features oral historian and storyteller Decee Cornish, who was inspired by artworks in Sargent, Whistler and Venetian Glass: American Artists and the Magic of Murano.
National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame
Conveniently located in the Cultural District, the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame is a 33,000-square-foot museum that features a traveling exhibit gallery, two theaters, gift shop, research library and a newly renovated second floor. The museum’s archives house more than 4,000 artifacts as well as information about more than 750 remarkable women.
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Did you know that the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is free on Fridays and half-price on Sundays? Whether you are interested in visiting exhibits or viewing collections from the Modern’s permanent collection, you can always expect world-class, thought-provoking artworks. Make a day of your visit by stopping by Café Modern. Executive Chef Jett Mora’s creative cuisine is rooted in Texas ingredients and global influences. The Modern Shop offers gifts for all ages, including many selections that are inspired by famous artists. Closed on Mondays.
Fort Worth Zoo
Throughout the week at Fort Worth Zoo, visitors can view around 7,000 animals in their natural environments. Elephant Springs is the zoo’s newest habitat and houses a three-generation Asian elephant herd. Weekday visitors can engage with the elephants by spraying water into the 500,000-gallon pool below. Other popular attractions include Giraffe Experience (where visitors can feed giraffes), Stingray Cove (where you can get up close to the sea rays) and Safari Splash (where visitors can cool off at the 14,000 square-foot splash area).
Amphibian Stage’s Neighborhood Leap
The Near Southside’s Amphibian Stage teamed up with Blue Zones Project to create an augmented walking tour of South Main Street. The smartphone-based app allows users to interact with public art and spaces. I recently tried the app out and found the experience to be thought-provoking and pure fun. The app provides a user-friendly map, and small green stickers on the sidewalks guide participants to more than a dozen destinations that become animated when viewed through the smartphone. It’s as addictively fun as Pokémon GO.