It’s hot out there in more ways than one, so we’re here to help you cool down. Fluff? Definitely, but with so much nonsense going on in this country, consider our annual summer extravaganza a petite respite. And it’s fortifying af. Need help calming your nerves? Our Eats & Drinks section is full of delightful, refreshing libation recipes (pg. 27) and the names of local spots serving, in our humble opinion, the most delectable margaritas in town (pg. 30). Wanna get in shape for Civil War II? Check out pg. TK, where we take a look at every West-o-plex-local park for excellent mountain biking. Wanna be more enlightened? To better yourself, get a date, or go down to our fascist regime with the knowledge that you’re better than they are in your heart? Our Arts section’s got you covered (pg. 22), with the lowdown on all the premier plays, musicals, and exhibitions lighting up local stages and gallery walls this May and beyond. And that’s just the half of it, so step inside and cool down. You’re gonna need it. We all are. — Anthony Mariani, Editor
Stuff // Camping Out
Fort Worth has a lot of sporty summer camps. North Texas does, too. Parents face the reality that the school year will soon come to a close. Children will burst from the confines of their educational institutions to embark on a summer full of energetic mischief and bereft of edification — unless parents intervene. There’s a way for the young ones to continue learning something while also channeling activity levels into something more worthwhile than annoying their siblings: sports camps. With that in mind, click here to read our rundown of options for helping your kiddos become more accomplished athletes over the break.
Stuff // Top of the Heap
There are (at least) five great local mountain bike rides to tackle this summer. Fort Worth-area mountain biking trails serve up full-body workouts seasoned with natural beauty and nourished with adventure and challenge. And whether you are east, south, north, or west, you can likely find a nearby free-to-use system of public and well-maintained trails that will amply satisfy your biking urge. Read about five of them here.
Screen // I Know What You Did This Summer
The horror movie series from the 1980s are in no small part responsible for the franchise-driven mentality of Hollywood today, so it’s appropriate that this summer brings us the likes of M3GAN 2.0, in which the killer robot is brought back to stop another killer robot with the same design. I Know What You Did Last Summer is a sequel to the similarly named 1997 slasher film that brings back Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. (whose characters survived the first two movies) to counsel another group of teenagers being hunted over bad deeds. Read about more upcoming films in our Summer Movie Preview.
Night & Day // Summer Holidays
With the kids out of school and the pools open, you really don’t need extra reasons to celebrate life over the summer. But we’ve got ’em. Now through the beginning of September, there’s Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Pride Month, Independence Day, and Labor Day as the touchpoints of the season. Read about the best events and activities this summer in North Texas here.
Getaways // Be Your Real (ID) Self
If the recent appointment of the new American pope from Chicago has you dreaming of authentic hot dogs and a tour or Wrigley Field, be sure and have the right ID on your before you head to the airport. Read about how your state ID can affect domestic flights here.
Stage // Summertime Arts & Stage
Summertime used to be when theaters, museums, and galleries took a break, but in this never-ending maelstrom of information we’re all trapped in (thanks, iPhones; thanks, Zuck), well, our theaters, museums, and galleries have got to keep up. And they do. From Stage West to the Modern, Fort Worth is giddy with new work. Read all about it here.
Eats & Drinks // Ate Days of Mermaid Sightings
If you have core memories of visiting the now-shuttered Aquarina Springs near San Marcos and watching the mermaids and swimming pigs, it wasn’t just a fever dream. It. Was. Real. But where did they go? We have thoughts. You may think that North Texas is too far inland for mermaid sightings. You’d be wrong. Here are eight — excuse me, nine — places to search.
Eats & Drinks // Margaritaville
Memorial Day weekend officially kicks off the arrival of sunshine and pool time, so we compiled a list of our favorite margaritas to help erase any heat-index sadness. We found them served spicy with tajin, while others leaned sour and sweet. There’s the simple shaken on the rocks and the truth of a frozen classic rimmed with salt. So, don your arm floaties and swim trunks before diving into these local joints where the margs are sure to give Jimmy Buffett’s ghost a head rush. Fort Worth is alive with so many varieties, it’s hard to choose our faves, but we have. Read about them here.
Eats & Drinks // You Gots to Chill
With triple-digit temps already here, staying cool with citrus and botanicals seems like a necessity. Summer officially starts June 20, but Texas weather never pays attention to rules. This warm, humid season cries out for citrus, icy/salty rims, stone fruits in season, and fresh botanicals like mint and lavender. Whether you want summer tastes in coffee or a cocktail, here are some suggestions, options, and recipes.
Music // Summer Sounds
Let us count the ways in which music weaves its way through our pasts and presents. Read about hot new tunes and shows, and summer musical moments here.
Crosstown Sounds // Summer in the Cities
Summer is prime time for city concerts. Most of the options we covered are outdoors and, oddly, none are at water parks. With the large round ball of fire burning brightly above, I’m not quite sure why municipalities want their citizens out in the Texas heat. But they do. Read about the summer’s best city shows around North Texas here.
The End
Did you miss your chance to pick up Summertime 2025 in the stands? No worries. We’ve got you covered. To see our annual summer edition in a flipbook, cover-to-cover format, click here.
