If you were in the middle of planning your next vacation, you'd probably not include Fort Worth, Texas on your short list. Now, I could lilst a dozen or so reasons why you should (including: you could see me!), but my bias might show as it's never going to be as cool as Chicago or have as much to offer as Boston. But it's my closest big city, and I really do love it.
I've already decided 2011 is going to be the year I do a few big things -- relax more, try to save a significant amount of money, run a half-marathon, and, well, become well-versed in my city.
I'm adding a lot of things to my list next year to do around the area -- things I would recommend to you if you ever did come visit but, also, things I've never actually done myself. Lame, right?
One thing I never knew I wanted to do and will now recommend to anyone with ears is to go to the Scat Jazz Lounge in downtown Fort Worth.
We went over the weekend because it was my mother-in-law's birthday and she had always wanted to go to a jazz lounge. I found the place by just poking around the internet -- how I usually find things for good or bad -- and I was so delighted because it was just the kind of place I wanted to take her.
I made reservations, although you don't need them. It did get us a front-row table, though, which was really nice, especially for my mother-in-law.
You get to Scat by walking down an alley and then taking an elevator down to the club. It felt very speak easy-ish, which was fun and also made me wish I had worn something other than a plain old sweater and jeans.
I also wish I had ordered a dirty martini or a sidecar instead of a champagne cocktail. Next time.
It was just great, and I'm glad we went and I'm also glad couple at the next table went, the ones who got up multiple times to swing dance in front of us. They inspired me to add "take a swing dance class" to my list, too.