Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

TODAY -- the new Fort Worth Museum of Science and History got rave reviews from my daughter, her husband, and their children. "On a scale of 1 to 10, it's a 10 . . ."

From the museum "fact sheet":

 . . . located in the heart of Fort Worth’s Cultural District. The world-class, 166,000 square-foot facility features a collection of new, interactive exhibits and programs developed by the Museum’s staff and a team of nationally recognized designers in support of the Museum’s dedication to informal, discovery-based learning for all.

I can't wait to go. Has anyone else been since it has re-opened? They say the new planetarium is amazing.

http://www.fwmuseum.org/

Artisan Bakery. Aduro Bean Coffee.

Is there a better food/beverage combination than fresh baked goods and fresh coffee? (okay besides a cold beer and a bratwurst).

I have finally had a chance to visit Artisan Bakery and to try Aduro Bean coffee and am happy I did. My wife and I visited Artisan Bakery for the first time two days before Christmas and bought two loaves of sourdough bread for the family Christmas dinner. It was excellent. The next day we toasted some for breakfast and it was even better. In case you haven't been to Artisan, owner, Gwin Grogan Grimes took an old Dairy Queen and converted it into a bakery and store. Artisan is west of downtown a few miles on White Settlement road and worth frequenting often.

We bought a one pound bag of Aduro Bean coffee while we were there and tried it for over the holidays, as well. I have to say that I think the Aduro Bean coffee is as good as my favorite brand, La Colombe.  

The best part is that Aduro Bean and Artisan Bakery are based right here in good old Fort Worth. Websites and additional information:

http://www.artisan-baking-company.com/about.html

http://www.adurobean.com/

Feckless, for no particular reason.

The suffix, "less" is used in English to help us understand a thing or an idea in its absence. Hope/hopeless, care/careless, teeth/toothless, etc.  Sometimes the "less" suffix adds a more sinister connotation, as in, "my husband is a hopeless drunk," meaning the husband has not only lost hope but is an s.o.b. as well.

I got thinking about this because I came across the word "feckless," which means, without value, but I had to research it a little to find that "feck" is an obsolete word, meaning valuable. So the word with the suffix stayed even though we lost the original root word.

Makes your day, doesn't it?

M & O Station Grill.

Yesterday, I was introduced to what I think may be the best hamburger in town, which is kind of embarrassing for me, even given that I have been out of town for two years, because they have been in town for four years. I should have have known about it, and now thankfully, I do.

The fine establishment to which I refer is the  M & O Station Grill.

My son told me about it and that M&O had received the Fort Worth Weekly, Readers Choice award for best hamburger, 2009. I said, "let's go," and go we did, expecting good things and finding better than we expected.

I'll go this far: I could easily place M&O as my favorite hamburger in Fort Worth and will do so if, after returning a few times, it is as good as it was yesterday.

The reason takes a little explanation. My biggest beef (sorry) with the "premium" hamburger place is that in order to accommodate our American need for fast service, the burgers are pre-cooked, at least, partially. This is not a problem during the lunch rush because they are being served at the same rate as they are being cooked. But if the restaurant is not crowded, or if one arrives early, the burgers can be dry and overcooked, even though they are made from quality ground meat. Good food is not just the ingredients, but temperature, texture, and other less material things, as well.

M&O has a good solution. When we ordered I noticed, ball-shaped, slightly baked (?) hamburger meat dropped on the grill and then flattened to fry. Result: juicy, hot burgers, cooked through with slightly pink centers, and served in about 5 minutes. The bun was grill warmed and not too greasy. All together, I have to say, fantastic.

The french fries were whole cut potatoes and fried. Very tasty and not greasy, although I think they could be a little less stingy on them.

The staff is friendly and the service was excellent. The restaurant is small, about ten tables, but comfortable.

I loved it.

The M & O Grill is next door to Leonard's museum, just north of the Montgomery Plaza, Super Target on 7th.

From the M&O Grill website

The 7th Street Station Grill, a popular Fort Worth eatery for the past four years, has moved a few blocks north of their old location and been renamed M&O Station Grill. That's "M" for Marvin and "O" for Obie as in the Leonard brothers, well known for that Fort Worth icon, Leonard's Department Store. The restaurant adjoins the Leonard's Department Store Museum and M&O owner Rose and her husband Chef Danny Badillo wanted to show their appreciation for their good neighbor, Marty Leonard and also to building owner, Jimmy Jenkins for their part in helping make "M&O" happen.

The Badillo's are "hands on" restaurant owners with Chef Danny giving every recipe the very best flavor and assuring the highest quality, traits that were acquired during 24 years as sous-chef at Fort Worth's prestigious Petroleum Club. Rose is the smiling lady greeting all of her guests and making menu suggestions while taking their orders. The 50's style setting throughout makes the restaurant feel like home and outside you'll find umbrella shaded tables for dining on the patio.

http://www.fwscreen.com/fwscreen.com/M&O_Grill.html

Favorite News Picture of the Year, 2009.

The Star Telegram website has posted their "most-read stories of 2009".  Our favorite, and a surprise favorite worldwide, is their number seven, the story of  soldier and local boy, Zachary Boyd.

I was in Philadelphia at the time the picture and story first appeared and saw it on television news

Just in case someone hasn't read the story, here's a summary from the Star Telegram: "Spec. Zachary Boyd, a 2007 graduate of Keller Central High School, was in his sleeping quarters when the Taliban attacked in the rugged mountains of eastern Afghanistan. Boyd rushed to a defensive position clad in his helmet, vest and boxers -- the pink ones decorated with the "I Love NY" slogan."

You gotta love this guy.

http://www.star-telegram.com

(As a matter of interest, he is also wearing sandals -- obviously no time to don the boots, and is wearing a red t-shirt, which probably can be seen clearly from 5 miles away -- not exactly desert camo. The middle soldier looks to be wearing silver running shoes.)