Anti-Cork Dorks

The Fort Worth Museum of Science sponsors a PUBlic Knowledge program designed for adults at a local venue (i.e. the Capital Bar on Morton Street - very cool patio). Kudos to them for an adult event. We met Tuesday, April 5, for a discussion by Brock Wagner, the founder of Saint Arnold Brewery Company (http://www.saintarnold.com/). They are based in Houston, and last year brewed 31,000 barrels of ales and lagers. Their maximum capacity in the new facility is 100,000 barrels. After that, Mr. Wagner said, "It wouldn't be fun. We'd have to have meetings and organization, and that would be boring." Mr.Wagner began as a home brewer in his dorm at Rice University. In 1994, he established Saint Arnold and is now one of the top fifty craft breweries in the United States. He discussed the history of beer, various components of beer, and the key to Moveable Yeast. The science of beer craftmanship offered a whole other language. Hence this post. He referred to wine afficionados as "Cork Dorks". I liked that terminology. There were a lot of question and answers. The world of home brewing is vast, and this writer was impressed by the attendance, the questions, and the passion for beer. Thanks to the Fort Worth Museum of Science for an enlightening evening on a local patio. The weather was spectacular. Alas, the beer was not free.

Heat is On

Day Six over 100 degrees. I recommend moving slowly and steadily into a cool building, like the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History. I talked about the Leonardo exhibit, but there's a lot more to do and see. The Fort Worth History Gallery features a streetcar journey through the past. Check out fashions and frolic from mid 1870s to the 1930s. Or mosey over to the Cattle Raisers Museum section, and gasp at all of the branding irons, spurs, barbed wire styles, ten gallon hats, and interesting ledgers on the business of cows, steers, bulls, and ranching.

This cool looking alphabet chair will sear your bottom, so I recommend sitting indoors at a bookstore and perusing material. Sadly, Legacy Books in Plano, a huge independent bookseller, is closing its doors August 14th. The heat is on in regards to brick and mortar. Hard to sustain a loyal following for an independent, and huge chains like Borders and Barnes & Noble are in dire straits. Half Price Books hangs tough - their market in used books stays steady.

A final suggestion for keeping cool - movies. Summer popcorn trashy fun can be found at my favorite theater, Cinemark Grapevine. Four dollar matinees before six. That can't be beat. So, here's my review (also published in The Little Paper of San Saba):

No pepper needed, Salt is enough. And that's Evelyn Salt as portrayed by Angelina Jolie in total kickass mode. I love Cold War Soviet spy thrillers and this movie is old school fun. It's short, fast paced, total blow 'em up hokum, but it works. Evelyn Salt looks like an ordinary worker bee at a company with a fake name. Sure, she's CIA, but still has to be a loyal American. Until ...

A Russian defector walks in the door (in Washington DC) and names her as the spy who plans to kill the Russian president in New York. What? Sure enough, she escapes from her workplace and looks very guilty. Bam - she's in NY and blowing up a church (and the Russian Prez) sky high. Or is she? I'm not going to give away more plot. Needless to say, she's an orphan and was raised in Russia with hordes of other youth.

Liev Shrieber plays her CIA partner and he's shocked by her actions and betrayal of all that he knows. There are other agents who question what is happening, and ultimately why is Orlov, the Russian defector now dead? The stunts and chases are exciting. The director, Phillip Noyce, has worked with Angelina before and the two make movie magic. She's larger than life on screen with those huge eyes, big lips, and lithe tall body. Apparently she did a lot of her own stunt work, and that makes the movie extra fun.

Russian bad guys are always awesome movie fodder. This is a great summer popcorn flick. Go for the large tub, extra butter, and yeah, a diet cola on the side. Maybe add some extra SALT.

Stay cool everyone - the heat is ON.

Roaring Genius

I treated my husband, Ray, to a Fort Worth birthday. Lunch at Lucille's (he had chicken fried steak & eggs brunch), then we greeted this T-Rex with a roar for a tour of the newly refurbished Fort Worth Museum of Science & History. Plus, Adrenaline Rush at the Omni Theater proved exhilarating. Museums are a fabulous source of information, plus people watching - all imperative for a writer of fiction, poetry, or non-fiction.

A dinosaur topiary is only one of many attractions welcoming you to a day of learning and plenty of wow.

Special exhibit on Leonardo da Vinci is exceptionally well done. When one looks at the time line of his life and what he did from 1452 to 1519 ...well, obviously my lazy butt hasn't done enough. Art - a little painting called the Mona Lisa is more than most artists could hope to achieve. But, wait there's more - how about drawings that show automobiles, cranes, pulley systems, arched bridges, and human flight?

Mad dreamer in his day? Perhaps, and yet this genius artist and inventor is relevant five hundred years later and inspires scientists and artists alike. It is amazing to watch children turn cranks and learn physics properties and ask for more.

Flight is the ultimate dream. In Adrenaline Rush, we see a group create a parachute based on a Leonardo design. It had never been tested before. Will the principle of seven yards of material work? I won't blow the plot line - go see for yourself. Treat yourself to a day of questions, learning, and insight into a genius. Fort Worth Cultural District is the place to be on a Saturday.