Fort Worth - The 817 is Worth All the Hype

At one time, Fort Worth had the nickname of "Panther City" due to a story dating back to 1875.  It was rumored that the town had become such a drowsy place, that a panther (mountain lion) had been spotted sleeping on the steps of the courthouse.  In 1876 when the economy boomed due to the Texas and Pacific Railway coming to town, the city embraced the nickname of Panther City.

Things have changed since those days back in 1876.  Fort Worth has recently been named the #1 best downtown in the country to live in by Livability.com.  Fort Worth or as I grew up calling it, "Funky Town" has the true sense of culture that many Texas towns lack.  It has a very artistic side that can be found in the Kimble Art Museum.  It has one of the top Zoos in the state and a fantastic western culture in the Stock Yards.  The people of Fort Worth are friendly and posses a true "good 'ole boy spirit.

Here is a list of just a few things that make Fort Worth great:
  • Bass Performance Hall
  • Stockyard
  • Kimbell Art Museum
  • Fort Worth Zoo
  • Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
  • Omni Theatre
  • Amon Carter Museum of American Art
  • Billy Bob's Texas
  • Cowtown Coliseum
  • Fort Worth Botanic Gardens
  • Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
  • Casa Manana
  • Colonial Country Club
  • Sundance Square
  • And More...
Check out these two videos:


Married entrepreneurs behind Dallas-based Hari Mari flip-flops make a perfect pair





Published: 28 June 2014 06:13 PM
Brad Loper/Staff Photographer
Business partners often joke that they’re married to one another.
What happens when you actually are married to your business partner?
Consider husband and wife Jeremy and Lila Stewart, who launched flip-flop brand Hari Mari in Dallas two years ago.
They knew that combining home life and work life can be fraught with landmines. But just as there are horror stories, there are also successful couples who have built household brands together.
Through some missteps, the Stewarts learned to navigate the challenges of working as husband-and-wife entrepreneurs and find balance between their personal and professional lives.
“You have to work on it, and it’s a continual process,” said Jeremy, 35. “We’re at a really good stage right now.”
Along the way, they’ve nurtured Hari Mari into a premium flip-flop brand that is carried in 270 stores across 39 states. Hari Mari recently celebrated a milestone: It got picked up by national brands Jack Spade and Urban Outfitters. And sales are growing rapidly: Hari Mari sold more flip-flops in the first three months of 2014 than it had for all of last year.
“It’s been an absolute blast working with my husband. I can’t imagine doing it with anyone else,” said Lila, 33.
The transition from husband and wife to business partners wasn’t always easy, though, the couple say.
The simple part was knowing that they would work together to launch Hari Mari after the couple saw a void in the flip-flop market: a lack of color, character and comfort.
The brand also has a social mission, giving $3 for every pair purchased to a pediatrics cancer fund at Cook Children’s Health Care System in Fort Worth.
“Jeremy is the genius behind Hari Mari. I jumped on board the second I saw the flip-flops. He didn’t have a decision. I told him I would handle sales,” said Lila, who previously worked as a sales executive for AEG Live.
Lila handles sales and marketing while Jeremy oversees design and manufacturing. The couple says their complementary skills help run the company’s day-to-day operations.
In the early days, though, the couple struggled with resolving office conflicts. They first tried to handle business disagreements like they did personal ones. That meant having unfiltered, unvarnished conversations, which don’t always translate well in a professional setting, the couple acknowledged.
“We were talking in the office like we would talk to each other at home,” Jeremy said. “And it’s surprising and off-putting to everyone else, outside of us.”
Through those early disagreements, they learned not to give unsolicited advice. They also work hard to defer to the other’s expertise or focus.
Recently, the team was choosing color combinations for the brand’s 2015 line. As the creative one, Jeremy wanted wild and bright colors, such as a black and pink combination for men.
Lila leaned more conservative because she has to sell the line to customers.
“I tried to nix it, and he strongly disagreed,” Lila said.
In the end, the two agreed that Lila would make decisions for women’s colors and Jeremy for men’s colors.
It also helps the business to have a third partner, John Veatch, who provides an independent opinion and at times acts as a mediator.
Veatch said he uses humor to defuse tension between Jeremy and Lila.
“It’s a tough position that they’re in, and I’ve definitely noticed a marked improvement in the way they maintain the professionalism and not blur the line,” said Veatch, who handles advertising, marketing and other creative decisions.
The line between professional and personal issues is clear. While it took time, the couple has made a concerted effort not to let personal squabbles affect their work life.
“There are times where we go back home and it resumes, but again, it’s beneficial to everyone and to ourselves to not bring the extra baggage to the office,” Jeremy said.
The challenges of working with a spouse have been minimal compared with the upside of bringing up their professional “baby” together. The experience also has been good for the marriage, the couple say.
“You see your spouse in a totally different light, and it’s attractive,” Lila said recently from their new Deep Ellum headquarters.
Jeremy added: “I think so, too.”
Follow Hanah Cho on Twitter at @hanahcho.
Lila and Jeremy Stewart’s tips on working together:
Keep communications professional: Maintain business-related talks and emails, preserving a consistent style of communication across all work relationships.
Help each other: Divide the labor and be understanding about the amount of work the other is doing and help out when you can.
Strike a balance: It may vary from couple to couple. For some, it may mean working at home or discussing work at home in moderation. For us, rigid rules haven’t worked. Instead, we’ve adopted a flexible approach to work at home on an “as-needed” basis. Find what works for you.
Remember to compliment: Not unlike marriage, it’s important to let your co-workers know when they’re doing a great job. It’s no different when that co-worker is a spouse.
Celebrate successes: It’s important to balance the daily grind with wins and successes when they arise. It serves as a good reminder of what you’re working together toward.
Leave personal problems at home: Doing otherwise is a productivity killer. There’s plenty of time to settle those differences later at home.

Thrilla in Brazilla - Peticolas Brewing

Thrilla in Brazilla
Rating:
Star
Star
Star
Star
Star
By: http://www.examiner.com/review/peticolas-gives-us-a-thrilla-for-the-world-cup
In sports, it's World Cup time again as Brazil plays host to the 2014 soccer championship this summer. Media everywhere are attempting to be current and topical as they tie content to this event, the athletic competition or to thehost nation in general. Unfortunately, for craft beer this usually means some stale coverage of Brazil's Xingu dark lager, a decent but unremarkable import now found almost anywhere in Texas.
However, Peticolas Brewing has saved us from this fate by brewing a new beer specifically for the World Cup, the Thrilla in Brazilla. It was officially released on the first day of the contest for the Brazil vs. Croatia game, and early access was heavily tied to pubs showing and celebrating the opening match. This should surprise nobody as Michael Peticolas personally oozes soccer fandom from his pores.
The Thrilla in Brazilla is a light blonde/gold American-styleIPA with a thin head but good lacing down the glass. The aroma provides some preview of the taste with dry, floral hops, and the flavor follows suit with light blonde malt and more earthy, grassy hops on top of the more familiar citrus. As usual for Peticolas, the not unpleasant bitterness is very well-balanced with a tiny malt sweetness and a more dry, lingering floral finish.
At a more traditional 7.5% ABV and 75 IBUs, Thrilla is a much more approachable and sessionable beer than his potent Sit Down or I'll Sit You Down. This is the IPA Peticolas should be making year-round, not just to round out his standard portfolio of beers but because it would fit well into the developing landscape of Dallas IPAs. Thrilla contrasts well with Deep Ellum's full, robust IPA and Community's fruity, citrusy Mosaic, showcasing the more bitter and dry side of the hops spectrum.
With its bitter balance, Thrilla would pair well with heavy foods like steaks, burgers or anything from the grill to cut through those rich flavors. It's almost light enough to be called a summer beer, and should be enjoyed long past World Cup season.

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