Thursday Explorations

Wifey began her Thursday explorations with a google map destination of a nail salon a bit south of our hotel.  Along the way, she enjoyed a beautiful running/walking trail.  Sadly, just before reaching these beautiful trails, she ended up wandering through some wet grass resulting in slightly soggy and grassy tennis shoes.

Bridge over non-troubled waters

 After arriving at Aria Nail Bar, she gratefully accepted a plastic bag to keep her shoes contained and enjoyed a pedicure and nail repair.  Thankfully, she had carried alternate shoes in her camera bag and didn't have to suffer the annoyance of soggy shoes the rest of the day :) Aria is a new nail bar (about 3 months old) and offers a 20% discount on services before 3 pm.  Check it out if you're in south Fort Worth. 

After her pedicure, Wifey continued wondering around and stumbled across the following Keller ISD school bus!  She graduated from a Keller ISD HS a ... er ... a few years back!

A quick pit stop to quench her thirst with Creme Brule boba tea.  Have a tea reffic day! 

After a running lunch date with hubby at Chick-fil-a, 

wifey spent the afternoon at Whistle and Sway salon having her roots resolved.  Le Sigh! 

Panoramic view of the walking trails along her walk home!

By the time her color was finished, the day was mostly past and wifey returned 'home', finished some laundry (walking several miles in a day yields pretty icky clothes :)) and got cleaned up awaiting dinner date with Hubby! 

Wifey voted for Mexican and Hubby voted for "authentic".  An hour of googling later, we decided to try out Benito's on Magnolia Avenue.  It had the benefit of being highly ranked in various lists of Authentic Mexican food in Fort Worth and also being within 1.5 miles of our hotel!  #win 

Quick Spanish Lesson

roasted Jalapenos

Jalapeno something or another - ask Hubby :)

Tamales

Quesidillas

We enjoyed our dinner date and would cautiously recommend Benito's to someone visiting south Fort Worth.  Cautiously ... because you have to order your own chips/salsa/queso ... which we didn't. 

#DateNight

Heim BBQ

Heim BBQ is a new-ish destination for BBQ in Fort Worth.  For us, it was conveniently located about a mile from our hotel.  We actually chose this dinner destination after reading an article on Eater Dallas.  Wifey narrowed the choices to Heim BBQ (#8) or Angelos (#1).  Of the top 20 DFW BBQ restaurants, only 4 are in Fort Worth.  Hubby chose Heim and the plans were made!

On the day we planned to head out for some Texas BBQ, Wifey was walking around Magnolia Avenue and stumbled across none other than... Heim BBQ!  She couldn't wait to come back that evening.  Hubby had made an excellent choice. 

Condiment Options - Wifey opted "none of the above"

View from our table!

Wifey's pulled pork sandwich

Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage, CAB Brisket, Emmas Pinto Beans, and Green Chili Mac'n'cheese

Magnolia Avenue

This is just a roundup of a few pictures from Magnolia Avenue, Fort Worth, TX. Because somethings require documentation!

I met a new friend while exploring! Shout out to the random strangers I asked to take the below picture ... I'm pretty sure they thought I was a JW or was going to hit them up for money when I approached them on the street.

Bikes for rent $8 a day ... worth it if we ever come back to town! 

I love me some tamales! ... although later discovered this place is already out of business :(  TEAR!

pardon the french

Money Money Money

While in Fort Worth, we had the opportunity to visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.  Due to security concerns, no cameras or cell phones were allowed on the tour, or candidly anywhere near the Money factory.  We parked by this small security building and left our trusty smartphones behind.  TEAR! Inside, we went through a metal detector, and then boarded a golf-cart-like vehicle on the other side to be transported to the *actual* factory building.

Inside, we walked an elevated pathway overlooking the factory floor.  We learned about the ink, paper, multi-step printing process, quality and security measures involved in the manufacture of legal tender.  We saw literally MILLIONS of dollars, just sitting around on forklifts waiting to be distributed.  Due to time constraints, we were unable to fully explore the museum-like exhibits also available.  We may try to revisit this location depending on how the rest of our trip works out.  

Here are some fun facts about Money that we learned today:

Fru-Fru Coffee

After two days mostly cooped up in a hotel room working remotely, Wifey decided she was getting out and about!  She'd googled previously and believed the closest destination was a QT about 1 mile down the road, so she put on her non-matching tennis shoes and set out for some icy coffee!

About a third of the way (10 measly minutes) into her walk she stumbled upon... Starbucks. Technically, a Starbucks/Firehouse Subs mashup.  She returned later in the evening for a Pink drink.  

Seriously, there's a Starbucks a 10-minute walk from the hotel?  Note to self - Day one in a new hotel ... wake up and start walking!  

Not wanting to stop her adventure this short, Wifey determined to continue her walk to the QT, where she would probably skip icy coffee and pick up a Pink Drink at the Starbucks on her way back to the hotel.  She was successful!

pardon the hair - it's humid here! 

Wanting to avoid traversing the intersection just yet, wifey ventured one block south from QT, and just as she was about to turn around and begin her trip home ... saw... Paris Coffee Shop!

Upon entering ... greatly excited ... she found herself in line to be seated at a classic old-school diner.  The sheer confusion she felt was written all over her face, as the seating attendant (older gentleman, exactly as you'd expect in a DINER) asked if he could help her out.  

Wifey:  I saw the sign - "Paris Coffee Shop" - I was looking for Coffee.

Attendant: Well we're more of a restaurant ... but we serve coffee.

Wifey: Black?

Attendant:  Yeah.  Are you looking for some of that fru fru coffee?

Wifey: yes, yes I am. 

Attendant: You want to go across the street to "Brewed".

Wifey: Ok, thank you :D 

Yeah ... It was a fantastic exchange.  

After exiting Paris Coffee Shop, wifey found Brewed and walked over ... it was everything a coffee shop should be and more.  Fancy Smancy expresso and brewed coffee machines.  Modern signage, and fru fru drinks that don't resemble black coffee.  

Wifey ordered a Cafe Freddo and waited.  Once served, it did not disappoint.  Milky, sweet, non-coffey coffee.   Only thing could have made it better ... if it were blended instead of iced.  A return trip may well be in order ... or not ... wifey passed at least 3 more quirky coffee shops as she walked home via a different route along Magnolia Avenue.  

Later in the evening, hubby was a bit tired ... so we made one more coffee stop at Craftwork Coffee.  He enjoyed a Vanilla Latte which helped to fuel the remainder of our evening.  

Buca di Beppo

Wifey spent 10 years living in the DFW metroplex once upon a time.  One of her favorite special occasion restaurants was Buca di Beppo.  Highlights include the best tiramisu she's ever tried and the fact that each Buca di Beppo includes a table located inside the kitchen.  It is meant to invoke the traditional Italian style of in-kitchen eating.  (It should be noted hubby and another of our companions do not share Wifey's love of the kitchen table). 

Our view!

For the uninitiated, Buca di Peppo is family style Italian.  Their food comes in one of two portion sizes - "small" which serves 2-3 people and "large" which serves 5. Our table enjoyed a selection of lasagna, pizza, spaghetti, and Prosciutto Stuffed Chicken.  Everything we tried was excellent! 

For dessert - wifey could not wait for her tiramisu.  Hubby ordered Chocolate Chip Cannolis. 

Suprise - the tiramisu was 'good'.  But not the same.  The cream-ladyfinger ration was wrong, and the flavors much less strong than before.  Alas.  

To make up for the disappointment of sub-memory tiramisu, we'll focus our memories of this outing on new friends and delightful company!