Weekender for Fri., Oct. 2, 2009

Tired of the same ol’ bars? Tired of seeing the same ol’ people and having the same ol’ convos? Well, tomorrow (Saturday) will be your chance –– daggum it! –– to do something different! From 3 to 10 p.m. on the near South Side, several dozen businesses –– 64 in all, including Panther City Bicycles, The Art Station, Magnolia Avenue Salon, and DMS Architects –– will be inviting you into their buildings to enjoy some free beer or wine (or water or pop), some art, and some live music, all as part of Arts Goggle 2009. (Participating bars and bar/restaurants such as Best Of ’09 winners Lili’s Bistro, Chat Room Pub, and Chadra Mezza & Grill will be open but not giving away drinks.)

Arts Goggle is like Gallery Night, but instead of taking place throughout the city, AG happens only on the near South Side, a part of town that, with its wide, tree-strewn sidewalks and quaint storefronts, physically resembles Mayberry. Participating in the event thus excites the humours and inspires a mass swelling of the breast area, that metaphoric locale where soft, hazy memories of Main Streets of yore and neighborly bonhomie reside. Sauntering down Magnolia and waving “Hi-ho!” to passersby or swirling cocktails at Mamma Mia or Spiral Diner while enthusiastically discussing a recent radio broadcast or next year’s crops –– it’s all very Mayberry-ian in the best sense of the term (Sheriff Andy would be beaming) and is something that we Fort Worthians could use a lot more of.

And like one of Aunt Bee’s blue-ribbon pies or Otis’ flask, Arts Goggle’s musical lineup is packed with flavor. Mostly Fort Worth flavor. Which is always a plus in my biased book. Performing on South Main Street will be alt-country rockers The Orbans, the Southern-fried Dan Family, and bluesy singer-songwriter Guthrie Kennard and his band. At Sundance Scooters, you’ll find the old-timey, Southern-gothic stylings of The Theater Fire and Texas Musician Casey James with his band. At TMA|CHL Architecture: sepia-toned rockers the Whiskey Folk Ramblers and folk/blues maestro Sam Anderson and his Thrift-Store Troubadours. At Park Place: the odd yet bright pop of The Matthew Show and twangers My Wooden Leg. At Chadra: Americana singer-songwriter Luke Wade. And a few more. I couldn’t find any info on any of the exhibiting artists. Weird for an event called Arts Goggle 😉

There’ll also be street performers, a children’s area, food, and, to help you get around, pedicabs and trolleys. Ah, just like Mayberry. The event is produced by one of our favorite nonprofit community organizations, Fort Worth South, Inc.

Tonight (Friday) on the South Side is First Friday on the Green, a monthly concert series put on by the busy bees of Fort Worth South and co-sponsored by the Weekly. Two of Fort Worth’s most popular bands –– The Burning Hotels and The Campaign –– will be performing, with Jimmy from Caroline’s Spine. Bring your lawn chairs, blankies, friends, pets, and donations for Fort Worth’s Ronald McDonald House but no coolers –– beer, wine, and other beverages will be for sale on the premises. You’ll also be able to buy some food. Show starts at 7 p.m. at Magnolia Green Park, at the 1100 block of Lipscomb Street at Rosedale Street and West Magnolia.

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