Gotta be positive. Even with things the way they are, so much overflows our cups. We must remain hopeful. And grateful. Since we’ve been covering Fort Worth for 30-plus years, we have never run out of good things to say about this city and environs, a.k.a. the Great 817. This year is no different.
About the Issue
We counted your votes, all thousands of them, and have tabulated all your Readers’ Choices while adding our own critic’s picks, just for that personal touch. Editing this issue is always a pleasure, because while I edit all 52 issues per year, I learn so much from our critics/writers during Best Of, stuff they may have experienced in real life but never had the chance to write about for us or at all.
Did you know Jesús Family Restaurant on the Near Southside does a killer chicken-fried steak along with Mex-Mex favorites and more? Have you ever watched Rico Copeland (@RicoTV_817) and his reporting on Fort Worth gang culture? Did you know (and you probably did, but …) that The Down ’n Out Bar on Rosedale turns into a high-energy dance party every Saturday night? All this stuff and more is news to me, and I consider myself “really up on things” (h/t Cheap Trick).
The Fort Worth Weekly’s 31st annual Best Of issue is a celebration of all that’s best, tasty, courageous, distinctive, and, most of all, fun in the Great 817. We hope you refer to this issue year-round.
If we have nothing to fight for, then we won’t fight. — Anthony Mariani, Editor
Art by Jennifer Bovee
About the Cover
Hit TV show Ted Lasso began as an advertising effort by NBC Sports, much like the messaging you see from our faithful advertisers throughout this special issue. It launched during the pandemic, just when we needed a boost of positivity, then it became a real show on Apple TV. Now in its fourth season, it’s still a shining light of hope and resilience, just like Fort Worth.
The World Cup was the biggest Tarrant County event this year, and after seeing Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) “subbing in” Justin Bieber after giving him a pep talk during the World Cup’s inaugural final halftime show this summer, we thought, Well, that’s pretty cool. Ted Lasso has often been described as a warm hug, and we tend to agree. So, in the very positive spirit of everyone’s favorite American football coach-turned-British futbol coach, we give you one final soccer-inspired moment with our own cast of characters.
As for the cover models “subbing in” for the show poster you see here, we have Fort Worth comedian Ian Mac as Ted, plus (clockwise from left) Ivy Aranaught of Higher Purpose Emporium as Keeley, photographer Ontario Mireles of the viral Instagram page Fort Worth People as Roy, Weekly contributor and musician Kena Sosa as Rebecca, visual artist and bassist Jack “Jackdaw” Russell as Coach Beard, and the Fort Worth Vaqueros as themselves. Thanks for playing! And a special thanks to Mireles for taking the pics and Art Director Ryan Burger for the epic finished product.
A final note for all you Ted Lasso fanatics out there. Want to win your own copy of this poster art that inspired us? To enter the contest, email Marketing@FWWeekly.com with the subject BELIEVE, a nod to a meme-worthy moment of positivity on Ted Lasso. We will then add you to our newsletter database, so that you can receive emails about other contests and goings-on in the Great 817. We will notify the lucky winner the first week of October. — Jennifer Bovee, Director of Marketing
Art by Ryan Burger
About the Music Awards
Fort Worth is home to some of the best musicians in North Texas, so much so that you (yes, you) are worthy of your very own, super-special awards season. That’s why we did not include music categories in this year’s Best Of edition. Instead, your time to shine will be in November and December.
Nomination Phase: For the full month of November, loyal Weekly readers can nominate their favorite local bands and musicians via a write-in ballot. The format will be like the Best Of ballot. You’ll be able to write in your choices from our select group of categories, plus there will be a Wildcard field for writing in what you think we’ve overlooked. We’re only human.
Voting Phase: The bands and musicians with the most votes, along with additional selections from our small-but-mighty band of music writers, will move on to the Voting Phase. For the full month of December, Weekly readers will pick their favorites from the final list. During both the Nomination Phase and the Voting Phase, this is limited to one ballot per person. (Don’t try to cheat. We always catch you.)
Music Awards Ceremony: Sometime in the first quarter of 2027, we will have a fabulous awards event announcing and celebrating the 2026 winners, honoring those we have lost, and inducting a few luminaries into our Hall of Fame.
Musicians, we will have free graphics for you to #PromoteTheVote sometime in late October. In the meantime, email Jennifer@FWWeekly.com with questions, comments, concerns, compliments, thoughts, and prayers. — Jennifer Bovee, Director of Marketing
