With stimulus monies in hand, shoppers flooded retail outlets last weekend. Easter baskets this Sunday will be teeming with goodies. I experienced this firsthand on my quest for kids’ swimwear for the nieces and nephews. (The Easter Bunny brings the first swimsuit of the season hidden under the grass in the Easter baskets. If you have an Aunt Jenn, she is involved. Tell the others.)
If you haven’t done your shopping yet, you should do it before the weekend. Many businesses — like Central Market in Fort Worth (4651 W Fwy, 817-989-4700) and Southlake (1425 E Southlake Blvd, 817-310-5600) — will be closed on Sunday anyway. Once you knock out your shopping, there are lots of activities to consider. Here are my favorites.
On the Hunt
For a unique way for your kids to look for Easter eggs, head to 7 City Church (2900 W Lancaster Av, 817-744-8366) for its Black Light Egg Hunt on Sat at 5pm and Sun at 9:15am and 6pm. There is no cost to attend. For more info, visit 7CityEaster.com.
Alliance Church (8400 Park Vista Blvd, 817-427-4375) is having an Easter Egg Hunt at 11am immediately following Easter Sunday service. For those still keeping their distance, there is an Easter Basket Drive-Thru Giveaway on Sat at 10:30am, and you can learn about virtual Church-Where-You-Are services at AllianceLife.Church/Plan-a-Visit. There is no cost to attend any of the above.
Tarrant County families can get by with a little help from Rail Club Live (3101 Joyce Dr, 817-386-4309) this Easter. The club offers free plastic Easter eggs — pre-stuffed with candy and goodies — and will deliver them at no cost to parents sometime over Easter weekend for creating Stay-at-Home Egg Hunts. Register in advance on the event page at Facebook.com/TheRailClubLive/Events.
Some Bunny, Stop Me!
Want your picture taken with the Easter Bunny? On Fri and Sat from noon to 5pm, you can also head to Tanger Outlets Fort Worth for Easter Bunny photo sessions at the Shopper Services office near Tommy Hilfiger (15853 N Fwy, Ste 990, 817-464-5400). A single 5-by-7 photo print is $20, and high-resolution digital-only packages are $45. Walk-ups are welcome, but you can also schedule a session at LavenderPathways.com.
You, your kids, your dogs, and your turtles can also head to The Parks Mall Arlington (3811 S Cooper St, 817-467-6496) for photo sessions on the lower level in front of Dick’s Sporting Goods. Sessions run $34.99-44.99. Reserve a time slot online at http://spr.ly/6183Hqzsf.
Andrea Miller Group is hosting an Easter party at Arrowhead Park & Trail (2435 E Hebron Pkwy, Carrollton, 214-982-1755) with giveaways and complimentary party favors while supplies last from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday. Professional photos with the Easter Bunny are free for kids and pets. There is no cost to attend, but registration is requested at CognitoForms.com/LEADS5/EasterBunnyPhotos.
The Easter Brunch Bunch
After (or instead of) church, many people like to go to Easter Brunch. For a selection of brunch locations for this weekend, go to FWWeekly.com and read last week’s ATE DAY8 column under the Calendar drop-down. If you like a show with your brunch, here are two more ideas and one for the future.
Sunday will be insanity, with or without reservations, so instead consider attending a drag brunch on Saturday at Red Goose Saloon (306 N Houston St, 817-332-4745). The Drag With Me event hosted by MyOhMy starts at noon with seating at 11am. Tickets are $28 per person at MyOhMyTheShow.com. Drinks are extra but include bottomless mimosas.
At Pinstripes (5001 Trailhead Bend Way, 682-352-0808) — one of the area’s newest Italian-American eateries — you can also play a game of bocce or classic bowling before or after you dine. This weekend, Easter Brunch on Fri and Sat from 10am to 3pm features a la carte classics and special dishes, including slow-roasted prime rib and smoked salmon flatbread, plus bunny-shaped waffles for the kids. From 11am to 1pm on both days, there will be live music by Carlos Ramos.
Before the pandemic, every Sunday at Crossroads — the award-winning restaurant at House of Blues (2200 N Lamar St, Dallas, 214-978-2583) — you could attend Gospel Brunch. While it won’t be up and going by Easter Sunday, it’s coming soon. The restaurant and bar are back open, and Gospel Brunch will soon follow. Sign up to receive a notification email once tickets are back on sale at HouseofBlues.com/Gospel-Brunch-Updates.
Speaking of gospel, those interested in attending Easter Services this weekend should check out our Easter Worship Ideas listing on the back cover of this week’s print edition.
