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DFW.com's election-time 'endorsements' 2012

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By DFW.com staff

Posted 11:21am on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012

In 2012, when information is a Siri query away and expert opinions fly around the atmosphere at blinding speed, the notion of seeking advice on who to vote for in Tuesday's presidential election from the local paper seems almost quaint. And yet, we like the notion of endorsements, especially when they hit a little closer to home.

That's why we've compiled our own set of endorsements in areas where we are truly experts: eating, drinking and discovering great local sounds.
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Some candidates earn our stamp of approval because they've achieved a lot but don't always get the recognition they deserve. Others have proven themselves over time -- incumbents who have shown dedication to serving the public good. There are even a couple of newcomers whose talent and drive give us hope for the future.
Getty Images/iStockphoto
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So as Election Day draws near, we cast a vote of confidence for a dynamic dozen -- local people, places and things that deserve your attention. And because this is a democracy, we want to hear your local endorsements, too. Send them to us at dfw.com or on our Facebook page.
Getty Images/iStockphoto
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Keys Lounge
Tucked into a strip center in southwest Fort Worth, this funky blues bar has been around for more than 30 years. So it's safe to call it a stalwart of the city's live-music scene. But the Keys can still rock hard. Kinda like Joe Biden.
For sure, flashier spots have opened and closed in trendier areas of town, but Keys just keeps humming along with its eclectic mix of music, welcoming atmosphere and drink prices that don't break the bank. (When we were there recently, and the waitress said "that'll be $5.25" for a beer and well drink, we did a double take. We've gotten too used to $5 beers and $10 cocktails.)
dfw.com/Max Faulkner
Former American Idol contestant and North Texas native Casey James performs at Keys Lounge as part of his homecoming tour in 2010.
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But the prices are just one reason the place is packed on a Wednesday night. The other is the always energetic and uber-talented Josh Weathers, who takes the stage at the Keys several times a month, with bar owner Danny Ross at the keyboard. The crowd, ranging in age from 20-something to 70-something, fills up the parquet dance floor, getting lost in a mix of bluesy originals and great Motown covers. Every Thursday, local legend Bobby Counts leads a blues jam, and helps the weekend get here a little sooner. Which is really all we can ask from our local watering holes, right? The Keys isn't perfect, mind you -- the smoke can get thick sometimes and the location is a little Bermuda Triangle -- but it gets our vote for delivering on its promise of good music, good prices and good times. Rick Press 5677 Westcreek Drive, Fort Worth. 817-292-8627; keyslounge.com.
(DFW.com/Ron T. Ennis)
Josh Weathers at the Keys Lounge in Fort Worth with his trio in 2011.
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Lone Star Film Festival
For years, Big D had cornered the market on indie film cred in this area. Dallas has the Angelika and the Magnolia, and a healthy international film festival. So it's understandable if Fort Worth has had a bit of an inferiority complex. Sure, the Modern shows a selection of arthouse films on weekends, and the Citizen Theater is in the future along Magnolia Avenue. But Cowtown dwellers have often felt like second-class arthouse movie citizens.
(DFW.com/Ron T. Ennis)
Visitors to the Lone Star International Film Festival arrive at the Palace Theater on Wednesday November 9, 2011 for the premiere of the George Clooney film, The Descendants.
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The Lone Star Film Festival has quietly and steadily been changing that perception, cultivating a film community and attracting high-profile films and stars to its annual showcase in downtown Fort Worth. Two years ago, the buzz was deafening as LSFF attracted Jeff Bridges and T-Bone Burnett.
(Special to DFW.com/Mike Fuentes)
Actor Jeff Bridges performed with T-Bone Burnett at the Lone Star fest in Fort Worth, in 2010.
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Last year, nearly 10,000 festival-goers lined up for local premieres of eventual Oscar winners The Artist and The Descendants, or to see honoree Willie Nelson.
(Special to DFW.com/Rachel Parker)
Willie Nelson performed with T-Bone Burnett at the Lone Star International Film Festival last year.
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And this year's festival, Nov. 7-11, raises the bar again with a buzzy opening-night film ( Jayne Mansfield's Car) and an appearance by its director, Billy Bob Thornton.
(Courtesy Lone Star Film Festival)
Billy Bob Thornton in Jayne Mansifeld's Car
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Artistic director Alec Jhangiani seems to be programming a festival that strikes the just-right balance between star-studded affairs (Dustin Hoffman's Quartet, Bill Murray's Hyde Park on Hudson) and indie darlings, which should go a long way toward making Lone Star an essential part of Fort Worth's cultural identity. RP
Courtesy Lone Star Film Festival
Hyde Park on Hudson, starring Bill Murray, is part of the Lone Star lineup.
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The Sapphires will screen at this year's Lone Star film fest.
(Courtesy Lone Star Film Festival)
The Sapphires will screen at this year's Lone Star film fest.
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Kerry Gammill
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that one of the seminal comic-book artists of my misspent youth was living right here in Fort Worth. It began a few months ago, as I was walking downtown and noticed the vivid panels of art surrounding construction in Sundance Square, which will become a public plaza space. A little Google-fu turned up Kerry Gammill's name -- the 58-year-old artist has had a wide-ranging career beyond illustrating DC Comics' flagship title Superman (as he did from 1987 to 1990), including storyboard work and special-effects concept work.
(Courtesy Sundance Square)
From Kerry Gammill's mural 'A Glimpse of the Future,' in Fort Worth's Sundance Square.
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His 36 panels for the Sundance Square project (view and/or download it at sundancesquare.com/info/construction), which cover more than 4,000 square feet, tell the tale of the "Sundance Kid," who travels through time to modern-day downtown Fort Worth and is baffled by all the development he finds once he arrives. While the storyline isn't the most gripping, it's a clever tale and the eye can't help but be riveted by Gammill's strong lines, kinetic compositions and bold style -- traits befitting a heretofore hidden (to me, anyway) superhero, like Clark Kent himself, right in plain sight. We hope Gammill's involvement with this public project can become a model for tapping more of Fort Worth's arts communities to participate in other, similarly cross-pollinated endeavors. Preston Jones
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Terra Mediterranean Grill
A few times now, friends who live east of Cowtown have asked us something along these lines: "We're doing dinner this weekend in Fort Worth. We want really good food, a nice atmosphere, but we don't want to suck up the kids' college fund. Where should we go?" Both times, we mulled for a few minutes, and thought about the place we'd want to eat: Terra, in the West 7th district. Both times, our endorsement resulted in us winning the popular vote in a landslide.
(Courtesy Terra)
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Our friends loved it. But Terra has been one of our favorite candidates since shortly after it opened in 2010. We were lured in at first by the plush atmosphere: a cool, dynamic circular floor plan with great lighting, leather banquettes and an indoor-outdoor bar that pops out onto the sidewalk.
(Courtesy Terra)
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But Terra's appeal goes beyond the superficial, and into serious substance: succulent New Zealand lamb chops with saffron rice and grilled veggies; chicken kebabs, terrifically juicy and zinging with herbaceous flavor; and of course ...
dfw.com archives/Rodger Mallison
Lamb chops with saffron rice and grilled vegetables and an order of hummus at Terra Mediterranean Grill
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Terra's distinctive hummus, impossibly creamy, garlicky, dotted with whole chickpeas and highly addictive. The portions are so generous, we've often been able to share an order of the hummus and pita, split a platter of kebabs ($14) and ...
(DFW.com/Rodger Mallison)
Hummus at Terra Mediterranean Grill in Fort Worth
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... come away with change enough to snap up a few drinks from the restaurant's full bar.
Although Terra's Allen location is no longer, the Chanaa brothers, who also own several Ali Baba restaurants, are expanding Terra. Based on its success, they're converting all of their Ali Baba locations to the Terra brand and look; the Irving store is already complete; next to make the transition are Dallas and Richardson branches. Now that we've made our own mouths water, we'll be heading on over to Terra's lunch buffet, to cast a vote with our forks. 2973 Crockett St., Fort Worth. 817-744-7485; terramedgrill.com. Heather Svokos
(Courtesy Terra)
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Morris Claiborne
The Dallas Cowboys traded up in the first round to draft the rookie cornerback out of LSU, and some experts said owner/GM Jerry Jones was reaching -- again. But, hard as it might be to admit, Jerry got it right this time.
(DFW.com/Ron T. Ennis)
Cowboys top draft pick Morris Claiborne stands with Jason Garrett as he is introduced to the media at Valley Ranch on Friday Apr. 27, 2012.
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Claiborne is the real deal -- a shutdown corner who has helped transform the Cowboys' secondary (along with free agent corner Brandon Carr) into one of the best in the NFL. And on a team that's chock-full of overpaid underachievers (we can thank Jerry for that, too), Claiborne has done what most of them haven't: measure up to the lofty expectations of Cowboys fans and local media.
dfw.com/Paul Moseley
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Claiborne's airtight defense has been overshadowed somewhat by the Cowboys' familiar shenanigans: Tony Romo's 13 interceptions, Dez Bryant's missed assignments and Jason Garrett's general mismanagement of the clock and the team. But amid it all, Claiborne has quickly and quietly become one of the Cowboys' most dependable stars, right alongside Jason Witten and DeMarcus Ware. In fact, the rest of the Cowboys could learn a thing or three from this talented rookie. RP
(DFW.com/Ron Jenkins)
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne during the Sept. 5 game against the New York Giants
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Irving
It probably seems funny to be endorsing a town, especially one with an underdog reputation like Irving. With all of the attention on Dallas and Fort Worth, it's easy to dismiss Irving as a placeholder in between. But Irving's vitality and positive attitude is making it increasingly hard to overlook.
The city has a can-do spirit that has made it one of the most viable burgs in North Texas. Irvingites aren't afraid to think big, and they have something to show for that vision. For starters, there's the Irving Convention Center, clad in brilliant copper, with a daring two-tier design that makes it stand out from the same old boxy convention-center look.
Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Irving Convention Center stands out among city meeting places.
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The Irving Convention Center has already carved out a niche in the hospitality industry by luring the annual Savor Dallas wine and food festival out of Dallas; on Nov. 30, it'll host the Beaujolais and Beyond Wine Festival. That comes on the heels of the city's decision to get in step with modern attitudes by allowing the sale of alcohol in 2008.
Getty Images
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Irving has also shown bold courage in its support of light rail, making nonparticipating suburbs like Arlington and McKinney look like short-sighted wimps by comparison. The Orange Line of DART Rail began service from downtown Dallas to Las Colinas on July 30. By December, it'll be up and running all the way to Belt Line Road, and it's slated for operation to DFW Airport's Terminal A by 2014. This not only gives Irving residents a welcome commuting alternative, it provides Dallas residents with a convenient and affordable mode of transport to the airport. That's the kind of thing that makes the entire area feel more urban, more cosmopolitan. And for that, we can all thank Irving. Teresa Gubbins, Special to DFW.com
(Special to DFW.com/Brandon Wade)
A DART light rail train picks up passengers at the new Irving Convention Center Orange line station in Las Colinas, in July 2012.
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Stacy Smith
Animal lovers across North Texas got a kick to the gut in September when nearly 100 tiny purebred dogs -- 51 sweet little Maltese and 41 Cavalier King Charles spaniels -- were discovered dumped on the side of the road in Denton County, in horrific shape.
(Courtesy Humane Society of North Texas)
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Their teeth were rotting, their fur was matted with dried feces, and they'd had no contact with humans -- all telltale signs of a puppy mill. "If you've ever smelled a puppy mill dog, it's not anything that leaves your memory anytime soon," says animal advocate Stacy Smith.
(Courtesy Humane Society of North Texas)
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Smith, 45, of Flower Mound, was one of dozens of volunteers who sprang to action, bathing the dogs, cutting away their fur to reveal their vulnerable eyes, then finding foster homes able to train the pups on how to live a normal life.
(Courtesy Humane Society of Flower Mound)
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But Smith -- who jokes that her job with GMAC Mortgage supports her "dog habit" -- is the rare rescuer who is also involved in legislation. She's the North Texas coordinator for the Texas Humane Legislation Network, a statewide organization that works to pass bills that protect animals from abuse. This past session, THLN was able to get a puppy mill law passed requiring commercial breeders of dogs and cats to be inspected and licensed in Texas. "It was the hardest fight we ever fought," Smith says. "Breeders opposed it, and the American Kennel Club fought it really hard. They tried to say we already have cruelty laws. But this is preventative. It gets inspectors out there to catch the problems before they get to the point of cruelty." Authorities still haven't uncovered who dumped the Maltese and Cavaliers. "We don't know for sure who did it, but it was almost certainly the result of that law," Smith says. "I can spend months rehabilitating an abused animal. But in five minutes, I can talk to a legislator and save thousands of animals." We'll vote for that -- with all four paws. TG
Courtesy Stacy Smith
Stacy Smith with Hani, her 2 1/2-year-old English mastiff, who was a stray who Smith fostered and ultimately adopted.
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The old-fashioned at The Usual
At a glance, an old-fashioned doesn't look like much -- a twist of orange peel, a few ice cubes and a healthy splash of bourbon. But taste one that's perfectly made and you'll be hard-pressed to spend your nights sipping anything else. Dating back to the 1880s, the old-fashioned is a barroom staple, and a drink any bartender worth his swizzle stick should be able to knock out in short order. And yet, I've downed more disappointing old-fashioneds in North Texas and elsewhere (often heavily watered down, and in one egregious instance, fairly drowning in grenadine) to appreciate just how finely crafted The Usual's version is.
(Courtesy The Usual)
An Old-Fashioned at The Usual in Fort Worth
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No matter what day of the week or what time of night, the dead-simple old-fashioned -- a shot of bourbon, a sugar cube, and a few dashes of Angostura bitters and orange bitters -- served by Brad Hensarling and his crack crew of cocktail craftspeople is a thing of balanced beauty. Full of warmth that hits the stomach like a glowing ember, rich with hints of citrus and the sweet, smoky sting of bourbon, The Usual's old-fashioned is a candidate any beverage enthusiast can support without hesitation. 1408 W. Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth. theusualbar.com. PJ
dfw.com archives
Brad Hensarling, co-owner of The Usual on Magnolia Avenue in Fort Worth, lines up an old-fashioned and a French 75.
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The Demigs
"What's your favorite local band?" If I'm asked that question once, I'm asked it a hundred times in the course of a week. And while it sounds like a cop-out, my standard answer really is true: There's so much great music pumping out of Fort Worth, Dallas and Denton that it's tough to pick an outright favorite, a band above all others. But when I'm off the clock and sifting through my iTunes library, I often find myself returning to one, if not more, of the three albums produced by Denton's the Demigs.
(Courtesy the Demigs)
The Demigs
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Whether it's the band's latest LP, Cities Can Wait, or the record that first brought the group to my attention, 2007's Yardling, I'm endlessly captivated by Chris Demiglio's knack for synthesizing the stuff of a hundred half-baked albums -- namely, romantic entanglements and the way life rarely goes according to plan -- into brooding, briskly paced rock songs that always feel fresh. Making music in such a straightforward, unpretentious fashion is a lot harder to do than it seems, and I've always felt the Demigs don't quite get the kudos they deserve for being so consistently great. So consider this a ringing endorsement for one of the region's best bands you may not even know exists -- pick one or more Demigs albums, and you'll find yourself likewise hooked. Get a taste of the band's sound at thedemigs.bandcamp.com. PJ
Courtesy of the Demigs
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Trinity River Vision
A year ago, many people were up in arms about what they viewed as "another good ol' boy deal" in Fort Worth. This one involved public money being used to build the $970,000 structure along the Trinity River, which the Tarrant Regional Water District would lease to Tim Love for his then-yet-to-open restaurant, Woodshed Smokehouse. One of the big sticking points: When it came to deciding who would receive the lease, other restaurateurs were not happy about the process. The decision was made solely by Trinity River Vision Authority executive director J.D. Granger.
The ethical arguments may linger, and voices may still be raised in protest. But the din has become quieter, as this long-neglected section of the Trinity has blossomed into a vibrant, playful hub.
dfw.com archives/Rodger Mallison
Floaters stay cool at Rockin' the River -- Live on the Trinity last summer.
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It certainly didn't hurt that the Woodshed turned out to be an unqualified success, attracting a cross-section of urban dwellers, from foodies and hipsters to cyclists, joggers and hikers. (In August, the restaurant snagged a spot on Bon Appetit magazine's list of the 50 best new restaurants in the country.)
DFW.com/Khampha Bouaphanh
Tim Love at his restuarant, Woodshed Smokehouse, in Fort Worth.
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And other activity along the now-bustling Trinity River area has picked up at what feels like warp speed. The Rockin' the River tubing events turned into weekly summer happenings. In September, outdoors retailer Backwoods launched kayak and canoe rentals -- this on the heels of Aloha Paddle Boards opening a rental concession in May at the Panther Island Pavilion off the parking lot behind the Tarrant County College Trinity River campus. The list goes on: runs and rides, plus concerts and festivals, such as our city's first Solar Powered Music Festival, held in June near Panther Island and featuring local and national acts including Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights, the Romantics, and the English Beat.
(DFW.com/Rodger Mallison)
Rockin' the River
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On Halloween, Pat Green is playing a sold-out concert at the Woodshed. And already something to look forward to for next year: the Coyote Drive-In, a three-screen movie theater in the Trinity Uptown development just north of downtown. Billed as a modern twist on a '50s-era classic, the Coyote is set to open in spring 2013. Put all this hubbub together, and you've got a full-fledged multi-use urban space that keeps getting better. It's hard to argue with that kind of progress. HS
Pat Green will play live at the Woodshed Smokehouse in Fort Worth on Halloween night
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Fort Worth Contemporary Arts TCU affiliate gallery
An unequivocal endorsement is in order for Fort Worth Contemporary Arts, the gallery supported by TCU, where the mission is educational rather than commercial. Here, a revolving calendar of challenging exhibitions is mounted to stimulate discussion and inquiry, so vocalizations -- "like," "dislike," "don't get it," "love it without reservation" -- rather than retail sales are encouraged. Gallery attendants are there to engage, so don't hesitate to talk to them if you have questions or want more information. A gallery filled with ashramlike silence is not the point here.
(Kate Gilmore)
Kate Gilmore's Sudden as a Massacre is in the "under the table" exhibit at Fort Worth Contemporary
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The current exhibition "under the table" is a survey of artists who use clay in subversive ways. Guest curator Margaret Meehan found art practitioners who "use it as a base material that is dirty, abject or crude but they also have a sensitive and sometimes funny use of technique, context and content."
Kristen Morgin
Stickman With Upside Down Heart Pants, a clay work
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No drippy pots, lopsided mugs or animal kitsch in this show, but rather a collection of pieces that cross-reference other media and justify clay's inclusion in contemporary art. The gallery is open noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. 2900 W. Berry St., Fort Worth. www.theartgalleries.tcu.edu. Gaile Robinson
(Akio Takamori)
Akio Takamori's piece is in the "under the table" exhibit at Fort Worth Contemporary
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Amphibian Stage Productions
In 2010, we named Amphibian Stage Productions one of our under-the-radar gems: a small, edgy theater company that had maybe escaped your notice among some of the bigger-budget cultural forces in North Texas.
It seems you've noticed.
Affectionately known as the Phibs, the company founded in 2000 by three TCU theater department alumni has moved smartly and methodically, producing innovative, challenging works -- at first, just one or two shows each summer at TCU. The Phibs then moved into the Sanders Theatre at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center, expanding to three full productions, plus a slate of staged readings at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Amphibian's annual budget has grown from about $4,000 to a comparatively whopping $300,000 this year.
Daylon Walton
Amphibian's current production, The True History of the Tragic Life and Triumphant Death of Julia Pastrana, the Ugliest Woman in the World
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Their first show staged in the new space, Shaun Prendergast's The True History of the Tragic Life and Triumphant Death of Julia Pastrana, the Ugliest Woman in the World, is performed in complete darkness. (How's that for edgy?) The play, which runs through Nov. 18, is based on a true story about a Mexican woman who was a sideshow attraction.
Daylon Walton
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