Fort Worth Stockyards

Twice a day sixteen long horn cattle saunter down Exchange Street in the old stockyard district of Fort Worth, accommpanied by cowboys. These cattle are living the high life; their only job to entertain the thousands of Texans that visit the 80+ acres of a former meat packing operation. The stockyards themselves have now been given over to Texas souveneir shops (which occupy the former stalls where cattle, sheep and pigs were housed), and saloons and BBQ joints, and Billy Bob's honky tonk (with live bull riding).

We stopped in at Luchesse's on Mule Alley to goggle the cowboy boots. Prices rang from $300 to $3000. The shop, established by an Italian family who immigrated to Texas in the 1800s, has boots you will consider buying, even if you have never considered buying cowboy boots.

We also stopped at The Biscuit Bar, which serves biscuits served a dozens ways, and some drinks Texas style. Here Steven is having a little whiskey with his lemonade.

And at 2 pm every Sunday, the CowTown Opry performs, playing old timey country hits from Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, and one tuneful rendition of Home on the Range, on a harmonica. The saxophonist and lead vocalist are outstanding.

Dallas - Ferris Wheelers' BBQ and Backyard

When our son Benjamin first moved to Dallas a few months back, he looked up the closest and highest rated BBQ and found Ferris Wheelers' BBQ and backyard. The backyard is big, maybe like yours, but unlike yours, it contains a ferris wheel. Hence the name of the joint. (Next door is Goat Rodeo, which serves burgers, and has a large fake goat with a saddle on it, perched on the roof. Hence the name of that joint. Are you sensing a pattern here?) Masks are now optional in the great state of Texas and we sat at our picnic table "in the backyard" with a lot of other maskless hungry folk, enjoying this little bit of normalcy of interacting without masks. (Not to worry, the Chesslers are now vaccinated.)

Our waitress wore a t-shirt that said "If we don't have it, you don't need it" and greeted us with a "how y'all doing" while country music played loudly around us, accompanied by the loud chirps of Texas birds. (Benjamin assured us, the birds are LOUD in Texas). We ordered up fried pickles for an appetizer and hyrdated with local beers. Then I had some brisket that was like buttah. The flimsy plastic knife they gave me cut right through that brisket, like buttah. For dessert, Steven had banana pudding. Also the best. So check it out when in Dallas, Ferris Wheelers. Maybe the ferris wheel will be running when you visit.