Gas Drilling Downtown?

It looks like downtown gas drilling might actually be happening. A public notices in the August 22 Star-Telegram announced a drilling permit applied for Chesapeake Operating, Inc. / T&P 1H at the end of Lamar on East Lancaster Avenue. Kevin at Fort Worthology has a lot more on the site.

Ah, yes. Chesapeake Energy. Doing Fort Worth a world of good. When I read about this well, this is the first thing I thought about:


This is a picture from the explosion at a gas-related facility in Dallas in July. Even though this facility wasn't a drilling facility, it shows how devastating a flammable-materials explosion can be in an urban area. If there was an accident like the explosion at the gas drilling site in Hood County, imagine the devastation. It's within a 100 yards of I30, and few hundred yards of the Post Office and the T&P Building -- two of Cowtown's architectural treasures. I'm sure that just what those loft dwellers want -- explosion debris floating in their lattes.

Crestwood Place Apartments, R.I.P.

Kevin, you ruined my morning.

Fort Worthology reports that the Crestwood Place Apartments on White Settlement Road will be demolished to make way for single-family homes. That was my first apartment in Fort Worth, to the left of the door on the right in that picture. When I lived there, it was still very much like it was when it was built in the 1940s. Some of my neighbors were original residents. Boy, I loved that place. I hate to see it go. Just another example of a change not-for-the-better in Fort Worth.

UPDATE: I really didn't get in all I wanted to say about my old apartment. My wife and I have talked a lot about the old place. I lived there when we first met. The first time I kissed her was on the lawn in front of that door on the right. For both of us, the Crestwood Place Apartments are special because that's where we were when we fell in love.

We both held the same thought in our minds -- this was the place we would go back to if everything went to hell. This was basecamp. This would be the place where we would go where everything would always be OK. Other things could come and go, but we would always have each other and we would always have that place to go back to. Stupid thought, maybe, but a critical part of the mythology that holds two people together.

The other night, I saw a documentary about Tony Bennett and someone asked him about the success of his song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." He explained that the reason that song is so beloved is that it really isn't about San Francisco, it's about wherever your heart is. San Francisco can be anywhere. Paris, Manhattan or an old apartment on White Settlement Road in Fort Worth, Texas.

I guess the Crestwood Place Apartments is San Francisco to us. A little bit of our hearts will always be there, and a little bit of that place will always be in our hearts. They can build million-dollar homes on that land, but they will be unable to build a more beautiful building to me.

Podcast: Light Rail in Fort Worth

Pete from Cowtown Chronicles, your next City Council member from District 9 Bernie Scheffler, Kevin from Fort Worthology and yours truly have combined our blogging powers to bring you another podcast on life in the Fort. This week's topic is mass transit and light rail.

 

 Standard Podcast [36:54m]

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Going Postal

Kevin had this cool photo of the new Arlington Heights Post Office the other day -- and I'm digging the architecture and the way they are incorporating the tornado-damaged billboard posts. But Pete knocked off a great one-liner about this: "I particularly like the 2 dimensional postal truck. I guess it would be good for carrying Flat Stanley, and the occasional post card." Good one, Pete.

Around Fort Worth

Smoking Ban Vote: After 18 months of debate, the Fort Worth City Council is scheduled to vote today on whether to extend the ban on public smoking. The council first discussed the changes in February 2006 and appointed a committee of business owners and public-health groups to come up with a recommendation. The committee suggested a widespread ban, including all restaurants and bars. City Council members balked at that, and City Manager Charles Boswell recommended allowing smoking in bars to avoid driving business out of Fort Worth. UPDATE: Council votes 7-2 to ban smoking in restaurants beginning in January, but the ordinance approved Tuesday still allows smoking in bars and bingo halls.

Vote Bernie Moment: Bernie posted this comment from a recent J.R. Labbe column in the Startlegram: "The last tear from Davis' emotional speech in front of the council hadn't dried upon her cheek before bicycle shop owner Bernie Scheffler, who ran against her just three months ago, had "elect me" signs in his yard." In the words of Fat Tony, it's funny because it's true."

Don't Sign: Pete had this post today: "If you live in any of the 10 neighborhoods in or around Ryan Place, PLEASE do yourself a favor and don’t sign anything you get from a drilling company until you check with your neighborhood association! I know that Ryan Place has an excellent team of concerned citizens working very hard to ensure that we get the best deal financially and the one that least impacts our quality of life." I know there was a Ryan Place neighborhood meeting regarding the leases last night. If someone has an update, please let me know.

Streetcar! Kevin at FortWorthology makes a (convincing) pitch for a downtown streetcar system.

On The Lighter Side: I'm glad to see I'm not the only one challenged by the siren song of the taqueria -- but I do not know this Taqueria San Luis. I must investigate -- after September 15.

Fort Worth News Items

Check out the Stash Dauber for the schedule of event before the Wreck Room rides off into history. Someone needs to get a camera crew together. There's a documentary in this a la Last Night at the Alamo

Ken also reminds us that Fred's is now open on Sunday and closed on Monday and Tuesday. So adjust your schedule accordingly.

A couple of things from the Panther City Boys: 1) A Labor Day Bike Ride is on the board so air up your tires. 2) There is a community meeting scheduled for Sept. 6 to discuss the impact of Barnett Shale drilling on the Trinity Trail. City staff and Chesapeake Energy reps will be there. And so should you.

Kevin reminds us that Lili's is still delicious.

The Fort Worthian points out that Texadelphia by TCU is no more. And Cafe Express is also no more.

Tammy Gomez got blurbed in the D(a)MN.

The Startlegram lists the contenders for Anna Mowery's old state house seat.

Random Thoughts

I've been a little busy at the office and haven't had time to get my blog on. So please bear with me while I take care of a little housekeeping:

Church of the Sub Genius (right): As if there wasn't enough conspicuous consumption to make me feel small and inadequate, the new must-have transportation gizmo for the ultrarich is a private submarine. Kind of makes your iPhone look like a piece of crap, doesn't it? For example, one sub maker's midsize model is the $25 million Seattle 1000, a three-story-tall vessel with five staterooms, five bathrooms, two kitchens, a gym, a wine cellar and a 30-foot-long by 15-foot-wide observation portal. It has a range of 3,000 nautical miles. Sheesh, where is a depth charge when you really need one?

But I have a plan: I will find and sink the secretive submarines of these wealthy fops the same way the Allies did it in WWII -- with my very own Enigma machine! There's one for sale now on eBay for a mere 10 large. Can someone write me a check?

Show Me The Money: This big project in the Startlegram today looked a little familiar. I wonder why.... Oh, yeah, now I remember - I wrote the same damn thing three months ago! That map kicks ass, though. I'll give you that.

Lili's Bistro: Kevin reminded me of a dining destination on Magnolia I had not yet experienced. Yes, you had me at Gorgonzola. Dropped in late Saturday night. Had the Asian crab cakes, grilled halloumi and mini cristos. Dessert was the Italian cream cake and chocolate almond torte. Not exactly health food, but plenty of yum. A little spensive (Entrees are $16-$18) but good food and a great vibe. Steve says check it.

Dutch's Burgers N Beer: Grady Spears' newest venture occupies the old Jon's Grille space on the TCU drag. Bernie's already given his take, so once again, I'm playing catch-up (no pun intended). Grady makes a mean burger -- a big fat patty and a fresh baked bun. The onion rings are awesome but the fries had an unexpected fishy taste. WTF? The frito pie made me care a little less about the fries -- it's a little more upscale than the heartburn-inducing versions I usually prefer, but plenty good and I'll be back for it again. As for the vibe -- well, no one will confuse it with Fred's. It's a little more tassled-loafer than I would prefer. I like a little raunch with my burger -- my inner redneck, I guess. And spensive yes. Terry Chandler, you don't got nuthin to worry bout, Brutha. Still, can Grady make it? My wife and her co-workers were wondering the same thing. Their conclusion -- nope. My conclusion -- as long as you can drag the TCU kids and their fat wallets in -- you'll be fine.

Not Wrecked: Stash reminds us that the Wreck Room is not closed. Brian ... that fella can hang on.

Birthday Greetings: Speaking of Stash, as we discussed on Sunday, July is a good month to get older. Ken wrote this touching birthday greeting to his oldest daughter and reminded me of two things: 1) Daughters are awesome. 2) Ken really isn't a blogger, he's a poet. Good on ya.

Cindy has left the building: Miss Cindy from the Fine Line now calls San Antone home. Wahh!

Good news / bad news for newspapers: Good news: The Audit Bureau is adding "audience engagement" (read: Web site visitors) to its measurements which will make dismal circulation numbers a little less dismal. Bad news: It's earnings report week for the industry. Let the bloodletting begin ... er, continue.

PSA from our robot overlords Bret and Jemaine: "The humans are dead!"

Fort Worthology Update

Couple of interesting notes from Kevin:

Ricki Derek's Scat Jazz Lounge appears to have had a change of location. Originally supposed to open in the basement of the Burk Burnett Building, will now be opening in the basement of the Woolworth Building (left) next door. This will put the jazz lounge under the Joseph A. Bank store and the Milan Gallery.

Confirmed: The Knights of Pythias Hall is saved and will be redeveloped.

A Reprieve for the Knights of Pythias?

Kevin at Fort Worthology reports that the Knights of Pythias Hall, which appeared to be headed for a date with the wrecking ball, may in fact be saved. Good job, Kevin, for being all over this story!

Um ... Wow

If you've been wondering what's going to happen to the area east of the Modern Art Museum, get a load of this. For the skinny on this, check out Kevin's report at Fort Worthology. Doesn't look so good for Fred's, does it?

That being said, there are a couple of other posts over Kevin's way that are worth your attention: his firm support of the TCC Campus downtown (which I would like to throw in a hearty "me too!") and his look at the proposed Trinity Uptown project and throwing around possible names for the development. Name two-cents -- Isla Los Panteras.

Turn Out The Lights

So much for the tower of light. Kevin at Fort Worthology points out that the lights have been out at the Pier One Building. "No more giant lit up crown or shaft of light shooting deep into the night sky above Panther City - in fact, without the night lighting the building looks rather dead at night now." Yes, it does look dead. Are they really just trying to save money on the electric bill?

Wrecking More of Our Heritage

Kevin at Fort Worthology reports that the historic Knights of Pythias building from 1925 in the Hillside neighborhood faces demolition. Can anything be done to save it? Not unless you happen to have $300k laying around.

Cowtown Moderne

I love this picture! It's the Kress Building and the Sinclair Building downtown, two of Cowtown's finest examples of art deco architecture. This Fort Worth Art Deco Moment is brought to you by Kevin at FortWorthology. Swing by his site for a bigger version of this pic and check out his site redesign. If you have even a passing interest in Fort Worth architecture, you'll find you can learn a few things there.

Piling On

Kevin started it and Bernie kept it going and I am sad to say, I agree with 'em -- the Startlegram election coverage was pretty piss poor. Not just on Sunday, but leading up to the election as well. As another Friend of Bernie said: “The Star-Telegram used to be a really bad newspaper… I’m not sure you could even call it a newspaper anymore.” Ouch!

The Time Is Now For Light Rail in FW

So sez Fort Worthology. And I agree with him.

Cowtown: The Week That Was

There are plenty of odds and ends around Cowtown that I've been meaning to catch up on from fellow bloggers in the Panther City:

Bernie over at Cowtown Chronicles got us up to speed on the doings at the Rahr Brewery and their new German-style IPA, “Stormcloud.” Also, Rahr's got its own blog that's pretty good, so check it out.

Over at Stash Dauber-land, Ken's got an update about WRECK ROOM STORIES: True Tales from the Home of Rock 'n' Roll in Fort Worth As Told By the People Who Were There, which will be for sale at the Woodeye/Daddy's Soul Donut show this Saturday (4.21.2007) at the Wreck. And, just for you Paul, there is a cool post on Japanese Rock that you need to check out.

At Fort Worthology, I think we need to give a nod to Kevin's general excellence keeping us posted on all the new development going on. I'm quite shocked by just how much new stuff is getting built. In five years' time, the downtown skyline is going to be radically different. Hell, the 7th Street corridor and the whole Fort Worth South area will be different.

General Rumor-mongering: I heard that the old Black Dog was going to be re-born at the old 7th Haven space on West 7th. ... Also, during the latest round of layoffs at Radio Shack, supposedly someone had a heart attack when they got their pink slip. (Ouch!) Don't forget to pay you're COBRA premiums.

FRED'S UPDATE: I went to Fred's Thursday night and did not have a positive dining experience. I ordered my all-time favorite Fred's meal, the Chipotle-butter ribeye, and to make a long story short, I left an hour later with an empty stomach, a refund and a surly attitude. So I sent an e-mail to Terry Chandler and this is the response I got: "Friend Steve, Terry Chandler from Freds here. I am flabbergasted to say the least. Please do not let this affect your opinion about Freds Cafe. I know its hard to swallow but if you would come back I'll buy you a steak." THAT is customer service. All is forgiven. You had me at 'Friend.'