Dallas, episode 4. In which we go back to the future.

As a kid growing up in Tarrytown, New York, barbecue meant hot dogs and hamburgers.  Occasionally it meant grilled chicken or steak, bottled BBQ sauce on the side because Dad never let such things gunk up the grill.  Mom was always prepared with her foodie-before-foodie-was-cool version of compound butter which involved my going out to her herb garden and trying to figure out which of the multitudes was parsley. Today, living in Texas, barbecue has taken on a whole new temptalicious (still trying it out--I think I like it) interpretation.  In fact, the Texas citizenship test for those of us hailing from New York clearly identifies beef brisket as synonymous with barbecue, so pardon if I ever assume everyone is on the same delicious page.

While there is no official Texas Citizenship Exam, there is a rather embarrassing road test (parallel parking included) in addition to the written exam for those of us who let lapse their out-of-state driver's licenses.

After our meanderings with Monet, Mari and I had a chance to sample some of the local Fort Worth BBQ culture as well.  A quick search of the Food Network app gave me a few dining options in the area of the Kimbell Art Museum, but barbecue is never optional (it's required eating) so we happily set our sights and rumbly tummies on Angelo's BBQ, only about a mile away from the Kimbell.

Visit the Texas-friendly site to be temptaliciously (see, it's an adverb now) tantalized.

angelosbbq.com

Chalk up another episode of Bobby Flay's Food Nation for helping us find this local gem which has been in business nearly 60 years for good reason.  Mari and I ordered our "usual" which is sliced brisket and smoked sausage.  Usually we like to share sides so we can have a sampling of everything, but at Angelo's you get everything (beans, potato salad, slaw) with your BBQ plate.  Great concept, great service, great food, and great company (as usual, when I am breaking barbecue with Mari).

Angelo's brisket quickly replaced Austin's beloved Franklin BBQ as my favorite; a very close third belongs to the culinary smoky stylings of my brother-in-law, Aaron.

Itself only a few miles from our third and final Fort Worth stop for the day, the Fort Worth Water Gardens, Angelo's helped complete a perfect triangle of history, culture, and local nourishment on our travel map (it's actually more of a less-poetic rhombus if you take into account a few one-way streets, but you get the idea).

A longtime science-fiction fan(atic), my earliest film foray into those other (future) worlds was Logan's Run.  I am forever and eternally grateful that the non-creative imagination of current film studios has not ventured to ruin the memory of the 1976 film with a remake.  I'm all for a reboot, like the new Dallas series, and the new Bond and Star Trek film series, but don't remake a classic without a good reason (or script), okay?

The climax of Logan's Run occurs when Michael York's Logan finds sanctuary.  (Apologies, but I didn't think I needed a spoiler alert after 40 years.)  The futuristic sanctuary setting was filmed at the (then) newly completed (1974) Fort Worth Water Gardens.

Visit the site to plan your own futuristic visit.

fortworth.com/things-to-do/attractions/fort-worth-water-gardens

The imagery of that final scene with its symbolically freely-flowing fountains of water forever remained with me and has been on a mental travel list ever since.  Mari and I were happy to see so many families enjoying the beautiful afternoon together in such a special setting.  As I watched the kids wandering up and down those steps and throughout the park, I wondered how few of them had enjoyed (or even heard of) one of my favorite films.

It didn't really seem to matter (except perhaps to nostalgically sentimental tourists).

I hope you enjoyed this quick DFW visit.  I look forward to our next new-old journey together.

Programming note:  SecondhandTravels will be off air and off the grid next week while its host celebrates that great educational tradition called Spring Break.  A few updates and revisits to some old favorites next time.