Community Blog

I think it’s safe to say most people appreciate a good deal! I know I’m always on the hunt for great deals and new ways to save money. I love sites that keep me up-to-date on sales and coupons for Fort Worth. So, I figured you might like these sites as well. Here are my four favorite saving sites:

1. Fort Worth on the Cheap is a blog site informing you of good deals, sales and discounts around our great city. They focus on restaurants, shopping and attractions.
   

   Make date night less expensive with one of these sites!

2. Groupon offers one big coupon each day with big savings around town. The coupons range from Fort Worth restaurant’s to tickets to the Texas Rangers. I have purchased a few coupons from this site and really enjoyed them!
3. LivingSocial is another coupon site, similar to Groupon, offering one discount daily. However, with LivingSocial you have the opportunity to share the deal with friends once you’ve purchased it. If 3 of your friends also buy, yours is free!
4. Restaurant.com has a variety of discounted gift certificates for local restaurants. The only catch with this site is that the gift cards have fine print limiting their use.

Have you tried any of these sites before? Do you know of any other good deal sites for Fort Worth that you would recommend to your River Ranch neighbors?

Summertime means you’re probably ditching your socks. I don’t know about you, but I think I would probably spontaneously combust if I wore socks in the Texas heat. While the interiors of buildings might be cool enough to warrant socks (and a sweater sometimes) it gets hot outside.

This, of course, can have some unfortunate side effects; like smelly shoes. Now, this obviously isn’t a problem if you tend towards flip-flops. That’s the great thing about flip-flops! However, for the loafer or boat shoe wearing populous this can be a problem.

There are a few ways to (try to) de-funk your well worn shoes:

• Wash them. That’s right, simply chuck them in the washer and let it do its thing. Just stuff with paper and set them outside to dry. This only works for the more durable shoes that can be submerged in water.
• Sprinkle the interior of the shoes with baking soda and allow them to sit over night.
• Place you shoes in a large Ziploc bag and place them in your freezer over night, or for at least 8 hours.

Do you have any good tricks for getting your shoes clean?

Do you enjoy gazing at the stars? Are you interested in finding out more about them, or having the chance to look at the starts through a telescope? If so, keep your Saturday open!

On Saturday, July 17th, the Noble Planetarium at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History will be hosting its monthly Star Party. The event will be in the south parking lot on the corner of Montgomery and Harley. This party kicks off at dusk and last until 10:30pm, assuming the weather complies. Plus, the party is free!

There will be telescopes for viewing and astronomy buffs to point you in the right direction and tell you all about what you’re seeing.

This is a wonderful opportunity to take in the stars. Bring your kids along and you can both learn about the stars above us.

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is just a 15 minute drive north of River Ranch. Have you been to one of the Planetarium’s star parties before? Are you thinking about going to this one?

We all have to wash clothes. I will be the first to admit that laundry is one of my least favorite chores. However, it is definitely a vital one. Laundry is also a great place to start going green in your home. It’s really amazing how some small changes can help you green your laundry routine.

Here are the four top ways to green your laundry:

• Wash your laundry with cold water. 90% of the energy used by a washing machine is used to heat the water. By washing with cold water you will reduce you energy consumption substantially.
• Use concentrated detergent. Concentrated detergents have less packaging and still give you a great clean.
• Use a drying rack for your clothes. Letting your clothes hang dry will reduce your energy consumption and help extend the life of your clothes. Plus, with the Texas summer heat you can put the drying rack on your patio and your clothes will be dry almost instantly.
• Only run full loads of laundry. Reducing the number of loads you wash will reduce your water and energy consumption.

These little changes will help you and your family reduce their carbon footprint. They aren’t even difficult! Planet Green has quite a few great articles about greening your laundry.  How often do you wash your laundry with hot water?

Summer in Texas is always hot but fun. For me it has always been about good friends, great music, long days and warm nights. I love heading out to enjoy live country music on a warm evening. That is definitely what I’m planning to do this weekend.

I was so excited to find out that Luke Bryan is coming to Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth this Saturday. He is one of my favorite country artists right now. If you haven’t heard of him, he is an up and coming Georgia artist who really came on the scene in 2007 with “All My Friends Say.” He is really a very talented singer/song writer and from what I hear he puts on a great show.

Some friends and I will definitely be at Billy Bob’s on Saturday, July 10th, to see the show. Tickets are just $15 for general admission. The concert should begin at 10:30pm. You can purchase tickets in advance or buy them at the door.

Here is one of my favorite song’s by him that you may not have heard before. Enjoy!

I love going to the movies. There have been some great movies released this summer. This only spurs my desire to head to the theater regularly! The only problem is movies can be expensive, so I have to limit the number I go to see. Thus, when I go see a movie I want it to be a really fun experience!

So, when I discovered the Movie Tavern the other day I was stoked. I had heard about it before and of course, I had seen it since its right next door. However, I had never been until a week ago. Admission was less expensive then a traditional movie theater and the whole experience was really quite fun! My companion and I shared a basket of fries and a few drinks.

They have a decent selection of food and drinks. They also have a weekend special on Saturday and Sunday mornings where they show a family movie and offer unlimited waffles for one price. It’s great for anyone with kids!

All in all, if you are looking for a fun setting to enjoy a movie over the rainy weekend I would definitely recommend the Movie Tavern!

One of my favorite childhood memories involves lying on a blanket looking up as the fireworks boomed over head. I have always loved fireworks, and thus loved the fourth of July. I already have a cookout planned for the holiday weekend as well as plan to enjoy some fireworks.

If you are looking for a good way to celebrate Independence Day then look no further:

The Old-Fashioned Family Fireworks Picnic at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens will have the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra playing and a wonderful fireworks display. There will be shows Friday, June 2nd through Sunday, July 4th, and will begin at 8:00 pm each night. Admission is $20 at the gate, children 10 and under are free. Advanced ticket purchase is advised.

Fort Worth’s Fourth will take place at Trinity River behind LaGrave Field on Sunday, July 4th. There will be food and drinks available for purchase, a jet ski show and a battle of the bands competition proceeding the fireworks. The Great Texas Hill Slide will start at 8:00 pm, so come early so you can participate! Fireworks should begin about 9:30 pm. This is a free event.

The Fort Worth Cats will have a Independence Day post-game show on Sunday, July 4th. A Beatles tribute band will perform before the fireworks show.

How do you prefer to celebrate the fourth of July?

The Amon Carter Museum is right in the heart of the Fort Worth cultural district. It is always free to park and admission is free as well. Visiting the museum is a wonderful way to spend a steamy Texas afternoon.

There is a wonderful Ansel Adams exhibit there, through November 7th. The Eloquent Light exhibit has forty of his photographs capturing some beautiful American landscapes.  There are both well known and more obscure images in the displayed collection.

You can make an afternoon of it and visit one of the great restaurants around the museum. Reta is right there and lunch is one of the best times to visit. You get to enjoy the amazing food at lunch prices and take in the amazing view.

Are you a fan of Ansel Adams’ work? What is your favorite image?

There is just something pleasant about walking the isles of the farmers market on a Saturday morning. I love to head over to the Cowtown Farmers Market early on a Saturday, grab a coffee and a bit of breakfast awesomeness to wonder the market with. The produce is all locally grown and sold by those who produced it. So if you have any question about what you’re buying, you can actually as the person who grew it. I love that about the market.

This is a wonderful time of year for fresh produce here in Texas. There are a variety of berries, melons, summer squash and tomatoes are starting to ripen as well! This is a wonderful way to enjoy great produce and support the local economy as well.

I got some blueberries from there last weekend and they were amazing. Plus I love getting to talk to the farmer who grew them!

Visit the Cowtown Farmers Market website for more information and to see what produce is available now.

It’s just 4 and ½ miles away on Southwest Blvd. Why not visit it this weekend?

On Monday, June 21, join Taverna Pizzeria and Risotteria for a wine pairing dinner! The restaurant will be hosting a food and wine pairing at 7 pm and will treat guests to a fabulous dinner prepared specifically to be paired with the fine wines of Italy.  A food and wine consultant will also be available to describe each wine.

For more information you can contact Taverna at 817-885-7502.  Seating is limited, so RSVP today.

Taverna is located in Sundance Square at 450 Throckmorton Street.  Visit them online at www.tavernafortworth.com.

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