Illustration by Brokenstraw Co.
A is for Appetite
(app•e•tite) n.
When you venture to the Near Southside, it’s best to come with your belly grumbling for food. Otherwise, you’ll be missing out on some of Fort Worth’s best fare. Whether your taste buds are screaming for barbecue (Heim), Vietnamese (Four Sisters), pizza (Black Cat), Mexican (Salsa Limón), or even Egyptian (King Tut), there are plenty of options to fill your gullet. Being “full” is never an excuse to pass on all this deliciousness.
B is for Boutique
(bo•tique) n.
A trip to Near Southside is incomplete without shopping in its many boutiques. From handmade ceramics and crafted jewelry to vintage home goods, plants and vinyl, the Near Southside has it all.
Clothing: Fort Worth Locals 1455 W. Magnolia Ave., Ste. 121; 817 Vintage Hype 1208 W. Magnolia
Fine Jewelry & Accessories: Megan Thorne Atelier 1517 W. Magnolia Ave.; Everlasting Joy Jewelry 440 S. Main St., Ste. A; Winton and Waits 411 South Main St., Ste. 121
Plants: Ephemera Terrariums 1208 W. Magnolia Ave., Ste. 106; Grow Plant Shop 1250 W. Magnolia Ave.; The Greenhouse 817 411 South Main St.
Home Goods: LTO 411 South Main St., Ste. 117; Modern Maison 1301 Hurley Ave.; Park + Eighth 1612 Park Place Ave.
Music and Art: Panther City Vinyl 1455 W. Magnolia Ave., Ste. 113; Kendall Davis Clay 1208 W. Magnolia, Ste. 110
C is for Caffeine
(caff•eine) n.
They say, “The more coffee you drink, the longer you’ll live.” With coffee shops on nearly every block, the Near Southside will keep you living forever. Order a cold brew and grab a snack to go with it. Any pick is the best pick, whether it’s Arcadia Coffee, Avoca Coffee Roasters, Craftwork Coffee Co., CRUDE Craft Coffee Bar, Paris Coffee Shop, Roots Coffehouse, or Summer Moon.
Pro-tip: During a visit to Arcadia, reward yourself with a Midnight Waffle — an all-vegan charcoal-infused waffle, dusted with cinnamon sugar and topped with a dollop of whipped cream.
Illustration by Brokenstraw Co.
D is for Distilleries and Breweries
(distilleries•and•breweries) n.
Home to many of Fort Worth’s distilleries and breweries Near Southside offers a hangout for all. Locust Cider specializes in modern ciders; while HopFusion Ale Works, Rahr & Sons Brewing, and Pouring Glory boast their fresh craft beers; and the BlackEyed Distilling Co. creates its signature farm-to-bottle vodka — the first vodka refined with black-eyed peas. The Boardroom Whisky and Cigar Lounge is a favorite for Old Fashioneds and sidecars, while Kent & Co. Wines serves the city’s top wine bar.
E is for Evening
(eve•ning) n.
Whether you’ve chosen to eat supper at a fine dining spot on Magnolia, enjoy live music in a venue off Vickery, watch a production at a theater on Main Street, or buy your favorite piece from a local fine arts gallery, an evening in the Near Southside is an evening well spent.
F is for Farm-to-Table
(farm•to•table) adj.
Ellerbe Fine Foods serves the most upscale farm-to-table cuisine in the city, partnering with local farmers and purveyors to use the freshest ingredients. Currently in season is its roasted butternut squash soup, pan-seared day-boat scallops, grilled Muscovy duck breast, and Battlefield Ranch water-buffalo dolmas.
G is for Grand Opening
(grand•o•pen•ing) n.
Look away for a brief moment and things might change when your gaze returns to the Near Southside. That’s part of the charm of this ever-evolving district, where businesses flock as if it were an oasis (though Fort Worth itself is far from a desert). This year, the neighborhood is welcoming Tinie’s Mexican Rotisserie, Wishbone & Flynt (to open Jan. 20), Amber Room (a speakeasy set to open at Wishbone & Flynt), Quarry Coffee Pop-Up, The Merch, art gallery Studio Cufflink, hotel Fire Station No. 5, Rancho Loma Tasting Room, and whatever the heck is going to take the place of La Zona on Magnolia. Seems residents always have something to look forward to.
H is for Historic Roots
(historic•roots) n.
The city’s relationship with the Near Southside has gone from solid to shaky to mutually beneficial to deep love and admiration. The neighborhood began as the city’s first streetcar suburb — yes, we used to have streetcars in the Fort — and became a hotbed of activity. But following World War II, this hustle and bustle gave way to dead air and abandonment. Historical buildings lay vacant for decades until a new zoning ordinance in the early 2000s created a vibrant, livable, mixed-use district. The Near Southside continues to grow, but it always gives a tip of the hat to its humble beginnings.
I is for Innovation in the Medical District
(innovation•in•the•medical•district) n.
While restaurants and boutiques abound, the Near Southside is also known (perhaps less colloquially) as the Medical District. With Medical City, JPS, Cook Children’s, Baylor Scott & White All Saints, Texas Health Harris Methodist, and two UT Southwestern campuses, it’s the medical industry that employs the most number of people in the Near Southside — Fort Worth’s second-largest employment center. But these hospitals do far more than standard care and have become leaders in innovation. The area’s achievements have led to iter8 Health Innovation Community, the city’s new consortium of medical minds. Fueled by the medical industry and the district’s entrepreneurial spirit, the distinction of becoming an innovation district will attract even even more entrepreneurs, startups, and business incubators.
Illustration by Brokenstraw Co.
J is for Jams
(jams) n. The Near Southside is known for great music. Each village is lined with entertainment venues and bars with live performers.
Main at South Side — MASS — hosts a different event nearly each night, including indie, rock, and hip-hop shows. Many of its musical artists are independent and from the area. And though concerts are frequent at Shipping and Receiving Bar, you can become your own favorite musician and sing in the karaoke competition or perform on Open Mic Night.
Note: MASS also has stand-up comedy shows.
K is for Knead
(knead) v. Great Harvest Bread Co. and Stir Crazy Baked Goods are there for all your “kneads.”
The baking schedule for both is the same each week. Great Harvest bakes Honey Whole Wheat, Cinnamon Chip, Farmhouse White, and Sourdough breads every day. Stop by to try some fresh-from-the-oven potato cheddar chive on Mondays and Wednesdays, gluten-free and high-fiber breads on Tuesdays, and cinnamon-sugar monkey bread on Thursdays and Fridays. Each day, Stir Crazy serves cheddar and sausage rolls, fruit muffins and scones, and a signature beer bread, made with crafts from the nearby Rahr & Son’s company.
L is for Locally Owned
(locally•owned) adj.
You won’t find any Chili’s, California Pizza Kitchens, or Kohl’s in this neighborhood. In the stead of chain restaurants are one-of-a-kind, locally owned boutiques, bars, barbecue joints, and more. Want a coffee? You’ll likely have to forego a Starbucks drive-thru in favor of a coffee shop with organic fair-trade beans. Nationally recognized brands have tried their hand in the Near Southside — Smoothie King once occupied a space on Magnolia for a short stint — but their short lifespans have only fueled the notion that this district prefers to keep it local.
M is for Mural
(mur•al) n.
The Near Southside might soon be in danger of running out of walls to paint. With murals by renowned artists like Sean Starr, Katie Murray, Jeremy Joel, and Kristen Soble — and one recently painted by Brooklyn-based artist Eric Inkala — the buildings that line Magnolia are slowly turning into an outdoor art museum.
N is for Neighborhood
(neigh•bor•hood) n.
Southside is made up of six villages — or neighborhoods — each with its own distinct taste.
Magnolia Village: On Magnolia Avenue, historic buildings meet today’s cultural favorites. This work-live neighborhood stimulates cultural diffusion through ethnic fare, mixed arts, and independent music. Though the most diverse village of all, Magnolia still embraces the Southern heritage of Fort Worth — serving as the home to Heim Barbecue and Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken.
South Main Village: Located on South Main Street, many historic buildings have been transformed into multi-family residential units. The newest transformative project of the six villages, South Main Village continues to develop the area to include more entertainment venues, bars, art galleries, and restaurants.
Evans & Rosedale Village: This village prioritizes the accessibility in education. The newest construction of the village is Van Zandt-Guinn Elementary School, which was previously an underground building. This development follows the Ella Mae Shamblee Branch Library and the Hazel Harvey Peace Center.
Park Place Village: Along Eighth Avenue and Park Place Avenue, Park Place Village is the hub for various types of ethnic food and drinks. All in one block is the Mediterranean Chadra Mezza & Grill, German WineHaus, Esperanza’s Mexican Bakery and Café, Joe’s Italian Restaurant, and the Finn MacCool’s Irish Pub.
Vickery Village: On Vickery Boulevard, Vickery Village is where Fort Worth’s music scene has boomed. Home to Stage West Theatre, Twilite Lounge, Firestone & Robertson Distillery, Near South Studios, and 809 at Vickery, entertainment venues continue to emerge here, while residential buildings are starting to catch up.
Medical District: Fort Worth’s Medical District is home to all of Tarrant County’s major hospitals — including Cook Children’s, Medical City, and Texas Health Harris Methodist hospitals — and dozens of medical clinics. Just across the street, but outside the neighborhood, is Baylor Scott & White.
O is for Open Streets
(open•streets) n.
Public art and live music crowd the streets on Magnolia Avenue year-round, but twice a year, Open Streets and ArtsGoggle close off the avenue from vehicle traffic, allowing pedestrians, cyclists, and passersby to get up close and personal with DFW-based businesses and artists.
Open Streets welcomes businesses of every kind to fill them. From pet adoptions to bike safety courses and public art projects to yoga classes, Open Streets is an innovative way to bring the community together for a day. ArtsGoggle can be seen from a mile away — literally — with more than 1,000 visual artists and 50 musicians and bands filling the streets each fall.
P is for Pride
(pride) n.
Having pride in who you are, what you believe, and where you’re from is an integral part of being a Near Southsider, and it’s also an integral part of visiting the neighborhood. Whether wearing a MAGA hat or carrying a Beto sign, the Near Southside embraces and even expects a diversity of people and opinions. The one thing people won’t accept? Any insult to their city or their neighborhood. Near Southsiders have a shared culture and identity that gives them the confidence to express love for where they live.
Q is for Quench
(quench) v.
A drink is a must after strolling through Southside, especially in the summer’s 100-degree heat. Stop by BREWED for its signature Cowboy Coffee — a cold brew mixed with whiskey, half-and-half cream, and simple syrup — a beer flight, or a Bacon Bloody Mary to pair with its duck-fat sweet potato fries.
Illustration by Brokenstraw Co.
R is for Ride
(ride) v.
Four bike sharing stations along Magnolia Avenue and two along South Main Street make the Near Southside one of Fort Worth’s most bike-friendly areas. And, considering the neighborhood’s roots as a streetcar suburb, riding — whether it be on bike, bus, train, or car — is part of the very fabric of this district.
S is for Sweet Tooth
(sweet•tooth) n.
The Near Southside has a cure for any sweet tooth there is, serving artisan pops, vegan desserts, “happy ice cream,” and handmade doughnuts.
Spiral Diner & Bakery: A haven for vegans, Spiral Diner has all-vegan brownies, I-Scream, and cakes. A mix of them all is the chocolate mountain mudslide — a chocolate pecan brownie with your choice of flavored I-Scream, topped with chocolate syrup, chocolate chips, whipped cream, peanuts, and a cherry.
Melt Ice Creams: Serving ice cream to make the city happy, Melt Ice Creams has specialty flavors each season and six flavors that are sold year-round. The current seasonal flavors include Rudolph’s Dream — a velvet vegan dark chocolate ice cream with coconut and cranberry jam — and the Sometimes Sammie — made of Merry Marshmallow.
Alchemy Pops: Fruity or creamy, Alchemy Pops serves handcrafted frozen pops of many different flavors. Specialty pops include Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk, Honey Cream Lavender, Vanilla Blueberry, and Orange Dreams — a pop layered with vanilla, orange, and an orange-cream blend.
FunkyTown Donuts: Rotating flavors each week, doughnuts vary from Crème Brulee, Berry Bomb, Horchata, Darkside of the Mousse, and German Chocolate Cake. Their everyday flavors are vanilla, chocolate, classic sprinkle, and maple bacon.
T is for Thespian
(thes•pi•an) n.
Just a few blocks from one another, Amphibian Stage and Stage West Theatre aren’t just two of the best local theater troupes in the city; they’re two of the best local theater troupes in the nation. Consistently pushing the envelope and staging performances throughout the year, the companies have received national attention from the likes of Stephen Colbert. You can always go to Bass Hall and catch “Phantom of the Opera” for the umpteenth time, but if you fancy a play that might spark an hours-long conversation, these are the theaters you want to hit up.
U is for Up and Comers
(up•and•comers) n.
While the neighborhood itself is no longer up and coming — it’s already risen, and it’s here — some of the city’s most promising people work and play in the Near Southside. A creative boom struck Fort Worth a few years ago, which unearthed local talent that previously lay dormant. Now, artists like Kristen Soble, Choke, Laura Mayberry, and Sarah Ayala are starting to garner attention beyond the city walls. And entrepreneurs like Zonk Burger’s Erin Hahn and The Dusty Biscuit’s Trey Smith are also making big waves.
V is for Vision
(vi•sion) n.
Near Southside Inc., a flagship community organization if community organizations had one, serves as the ship that steers the progress of the neighborhood; these are the people who go to bat to make the Near Southside a unique and inspiring community. Bike lanes, parks, projects, restaurants, multi-purpose spaces, anything with a “coming soon” sign, the Near Southside collaborates with the residents to usher progress within the neighborhood.
W is for Walking
(wal•king) v.
One foot in front of the other, that’s the best way to get around the Near Southside. With wide sidewalks, an abundance of crosswalks, and cars traveling at a speed akin to a tortoise, there’s no place in Fort Worth more stroll-friendly; you’ll even find cars stopping at intersections where no stop light or sign exists. It’s an understanding automobile travelers have in the Near Southside; they sacrifice their haste for the good of the community and the safety others.
X is for Xpansion
(x•pan•sion) n.
While new places seemingly open on a weekly basis, current businesses also see growth — often outgrowing their spaces. So, remodeling and renovations are par for the course in the Near Southside. Some places that might look a little different the next time you visit include Paco’s Mexican Cuisine, Kendall Davis Clay, and Hopfusion.
Y is for Youth Movement
(youth•movement) n.
The excitement of the Near Southside has caused an influx of young people now calling this neighborhood home. Urban-style apartment complexes like Monarch and Mag & May are filled with 20-somethings who consistently hit up Proper, The Usual, and dive bars like The Boiled Owl and Upper 90. While this has caused the neighborhood’s demographics to change, respect and admiration for the neighborhood’s history and unique culture remain.
Z is for Zoning
(zo•ning) v.
Standards and guidelines are different for the Near Southside zoning district than much of the city. The code values accessibility for pedestrians, mixed-used planning, and urban development and upgrades, making it one of the most pedestrian-friendly, eco-efficient areas in Fort Worth — all while preserving the area’s history.
Illustrations by Brokenstraw Co.
