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For those of you - like me - who were hoping the former Carnival on 8th Avenue at Allen and Park Place would be replaced with something neighborhood-oriented like, perhaps, another grocer (I’d been hoping for something like a Sprouts or Fresh & Easy), or had been hoping to see the old ’60s-vintage grocery building get demolished and replaced with something not situated behind a big barren parking lot, here’s a bit of disappointing news. The former Carnival (which began life as a Buddie’s supermarket when first built) has been purchased by Cook Children’s, who will renovate it for office space. Good to see the building being reoccupied, I suppose, but it’s still a bit of a letdown compared to a grocer or other similar type of business. Cook Children’s will renovate the buildings but keep the current big ‘ole parking lot, which also disappoints me and my nerdy architecture/urban design sensibilities. As a new resident of the Near Southside, I’d been hoping to see the return of a grocer that could be easily walked and biked to.

It may come in time, though - I’ve heard things about other efforts to bring a neighborhood-scaled grocer to the district. I’ve been sworn to secrecy for now, but I’m optimistic (as is my way). More to come as things develop.

In the last few weeks Fort Worth has played host to Main Street Arts Fest, PrairieFest, Fred’s Fest, and Mayfest.

So, if you’ve had your fill of the -fests, you should try something different this weekend: The Fairmount Home Tour. (Of course, if you’re not tired of -fests, then you should make your way over to the Fairmount Home Fest instead. It’s way cooler.)

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