FORT WORTH _ Tickets are still available for Empty Bowls Fort Worth and its 10-year anniversary celebration Feb. 17 for patrons to delight their artistic fancies and tickle their taste buds at an event that attracts more than 1,500 guests. 

Empty Bowls Fort Worth is open  from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Texas Hall, inside the Amon G. Carter Exhibit Hall at Will Rogers Memorial Center, 3401 W. Lancaster.

General admission tickets are $45. and individual sponsor tickets allowing early entry to the event are $125. Tickets may be purchased by credit card either online at www.tafb.org/register-emptybowls.html or by calling Tarrant Area Food Bank at 817-332-9177, ext. 110. Checks for tickets may be mailed to: Empty Bowls, Tarrant Area Food Bank, 2600 Cullen St., Fort Worth, TX 76107.

With admission to Empty Bowls, individuals may select a handmade bowl by area artists. Then patrons fill those bowls, sampling soup created by some of Fort Worth’s top chefs, including pork hatch chili by Tim Love, cream of jalapeno soup by Jerrett Joslin and vocka gazpacho with smoked shrimp by Jon Bonnell. 

New this year will be bowls and platters, signed by 13 celebrities, that will be offered in a live auction. Among the celebrities participating are LeAnn Rimes, Lyle Lovett and Betty Lynn Buckley. Live music will entertain guests, and attendees also will get to watch art demonstrations. 

The event benefits Tarrant Area Food Bank, which serves 13 counties. Tarrant Area Food Bank is a primary source of donated food for more than 300 major hunger-relief programs including pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers and emergency shelters.

For more information on Tarrant Area Food Bank, visit www.tafb.org.

Valerie Holloway Skinner, vice president of The Graham and Carolyn Holloway Family Foundation, accepted the award at the 31st annual Philanthropy Day luncheon in Fort Worth.

The Graham and Carolyn Holloway Family Foundation was named the Outstanding Philanthropists at Fort Worth’s 31st Annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon, held this year at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel.

Accepting the award was Valerie Holloway Skinner, the foundation’s vice president and the daughter of the foundation’s founders.

Also honored were Cleve Lancaster of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas as the Outstanding Professional Fundraising Executive and Heather and Elliot Goldman of The Greatest Gift Catalog Ever as Oustanding Volunteer Fundraisers. Recognized as the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy was Will Lourcey of Friends Reaching Our Goals and as the Outstanding Philanthropic Organization was Speedway Children’s Charities.

Special recognition was given to Valleau Wilkie, who retired this year after 38 years as executive director of the Sid Richardson Foundation.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals Fort Worth Metro Chapter (www.afpfortworth.com) hosts the annual luncheon. The chapter, established in 1980, is one of 227 chapters worldwide.

FORT WORTH _ Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to sharpen your pencils, crayons and design skills.

Mayfest has announced a logo design competition for the 2012 anniversary design to be used for the 2012 festival.  The competition will select the design for the 40^th anniversary logo to be used on the Mayfest website, festival t-shirts, posters, cups and billboards.

 Mayfest, Fort Worth’s annual festival spanning 33 acres along the banks of the Trinity River, will be held May 3 through 6, 2012.

Each artist may submit a maximum of three designs.  All submissions should represent “the feel and flavor of Mayfest,” according to organizers, and reference the 40^th anniversary.  Additionally, each entry must have an element of the park and river, and be appropriate for all ages. Wording, color, file format, and submission aspects are required as well.  Complete requirements and guidelines may be found at www.mayfest.org.

Entry deadline is Aug. 5, and entriesshould be mailed to Mayfest, Inc., 6115 Camp Bowie Blvd., Suite 160, Fort Worth, Texas 76116. 

Mayfest, presented by Mayfest, Inc., is a four-day family festival attracting more than 200,000 people annually.  All profits from Mayfest, $6 million to date, are distributed to its founding organizations that support the greater Fort Worth area through the beautification and recreational development of the Trinity River and local parks, as well as various community programs.

Mayfest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Historic homes will be open to the public during the Fairmount Tour of Homes May 7 through 8.

FORT WORTH _  The  Fairmount Tour of Homes, set for May 7 through 8, will highlight the history of one of the Southwest’s largest historic districts.

Festivities for this Mother’s Day weekend event will include the Fairmount neighborhood tour, which will take palce from noon to 6 p.m. both days, and a neighborhood parade will kick-off the activities at 10 a.m. May 7. The event will feature an expanded artist fair with local artists and craftspeople showcasing their goods at the Welcome Pavilion, located at Zio Carlo – Magnolia Brew Pub.

Located in the heart of Fort Worth and covering nearly a square mile, the Fairmount Southside Historic District contains s collection of turn-of-the-century houses. Fairmount, comprised of 20 subdivisions platted between 1883 and 1907, was a fashionable and thriving neighborhood in the 1920s. Today, through the efforts of many residents, the area is being revitalized and restored. Fairmount was recently featured in the January 2010 issue of Southern Living as one of “The South’s Best Comeback Neighborhoods.” For more information, visit www.historicfairmount.com.

This year’s tour will showcase multiple restored homes, plus a renovated commercial property and new construction built in a historic style. Also featured will be a “work in progress” home to give visitors a behind-the-scenes look at home restoration.

“We’re featuring a wide variety of properties this year,” said Chelsie Thornton, co-director of the event. “It’s such a treat to see inside these places and learn about their architectural history.” 

Fairmount Bike Taxi will provide complimentary pedi-cab service between tour stops. Those hoping to grab a quick bite during the event can either visit one of Magnolia Avenue’s many restaurants or the food truck rally that will take up temporary residence in the parking lot of SiNiCa Glass Studios. 

“Our goal is for visitors to leave with a sense of what makes Fairmount such a great place to live,” said Ashley Paz, event co-director. “Part of its appeal is that it’s become such a walkable, urban neighborhood while maintaining its historical roots.”

Proceeds of the tour benefit the Fairmount Neighborhood Association, a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to preserve, restore and maintain the Fairmount neighborhood and surrounding historic district.

Tickets are available in advance for $12 at Old Neighborhood Grill, Old Home Supply House, Montgomery Street Antique Mall, Butler’s Antiques and online at www.historicfairmount.com. Tickets may be purchased for $18 on event days at the Welcome Pavilion located at Zio Carlo – Magnolia Brew Pub on Magnolia Avenue.

Amy Adkins has been chosen to lead the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

FORT WORTH _ Mrs. Sid R. Bass, chairman of the board of directors of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Association,  announced the appointment of Amy Adkins as president-elect of the association.

Adkins has devoted the past 16 years of her career to arts administration and fundraising. Since 2002, she has served as vice president of development for the FWSO. Previously, Adkins served as education coordinator at the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in the mid-90s. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in education with a specialization in music from Texas Tech University. Adkins’ husband of 18 years, Alton Adkins, has performed as co-associate principal horn with the FWSO since 1993.

Koonsman, longtime president and CEO of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Association, announced her retirement in January, effective July 31. Koonsman cited wishes to spend more time with family and to pursue other interests.

The Teal Dress can be a healthy shopping choice.

Shopping, as many of us know, can be healthy. who lost her battle to ovarian cancer in 2004. In 2010, Gypsy & Co. founded Cindy’s Foundation, an official partner of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC).

Gypsy & Co.,  (www.gypsyandco.com) a national traveling and online boutique based out of Fort Worth has launched a ’70s-inspired collection for spring. One cute dress in the collection is a particular favorite of  Courtney Robbins, founder of the boutique.

Her stylish Teal Dress was designed in honor of her mother, Cindy L. Tyson,

Because of the partnership, ³The Teal Dress Campaign² was created to support NOCC¹s mission to raise awareness and education of ovarian cancer by contributing 50 percent of the proceeds from the Teal Dress Campaign directly to the NOCC.

Betting you’d look pretty cute in a Teal Dress. Want to know more? Here’s the number to call: 800-385-4229.

This week is the week of the taco.

Eating a taco will help fight hunger, too. That’s the idea behind Fort Worth Taco Week, Sunday through Thursday, a United Way-sponsored fundraiser planned and implemented by students in Texas Christian University’s performance marketing class.

Ordering tacos at participating Fort Worth restaurants on designated days will result in 25 cents per taco being donated to help with local hunger relief.

Participating restaurants include:

Sunday: Los Vaqueros in the Stockyards

Monday: Red Cactus and Yucatan Taco Stand

Tuesday: Chimy’s Cerveceria on Seventh Street

Wednesday: Old Rip’s Tex-Mex Restaurant and Pulido’s Mexican Restaurant

Thursday: Salsa Limon on Berry Street

For more information, check http://www.fortworthtacoweek.org, on Facebook (search Fort-Worth-Taco-Week) and Twitter (@FWTacoWeek).

DALLAS – Shovels will be moving in Super Bowl style Saturday, and the athletic efforts won’t stop until Super Bowl XLV is almost here.

Volunteers will play on the same team with a common goal – a massive tree-planting event with 219 trees added to two neighborhoods starting at 8 a.m. Saturday at Mattie Nash-Myrtle Davis Recreation Center, 3710 N. Hampton Road.

 The project is a result of teamwork between the Texas Trees Foundation, the City of Dallas Housing/Community Services, Dallas Park & Recreation Department, Alliance for Community Trees, the Texas Forest Service and other Super Grow XLV partners.

 The planting project will improve the health and livability of Lake West and La Bajada neighborhoods bordered by Hampton Road, Singleton Boulevard and Canada Drive.  The planting is made possible by a $10,000 National NeighborWoods grant from the Alliance for Community Trees, as well as the Super Grow XLV program.

Texas Trees Foundation (www.texastreesfoundation.org) is partnering with the National Football League Environmental Program, the Texas Forest Service, the North Texas Super Bowl Host Committee and other sponsors to create Super Grow XLV, an environmentally-friendly project to offset the impact of an event as large as a Super Bowl.  This program is an important opportunity to improve our community, air quality and environment through tree planting and education. The trees will help reduce high summer energy use by providing shade, improving Dallas’ air quality, providing erosion control and more. All tree plantings will be open to the public and will involve community volunteers planting the trees.

The planting is the beginning of Super Grow XLV, which involves the 12 Super Bowl XLV host communities trees before Super Bowl  XLV, set for Feb. 6, 2011 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.  Super Grow XLV will end with a celebration Jan. 24 in Arlington with Super Bowl CEO Bill Lively joining the cities’ mayors and NFL representatives at Touchdown for Trees.

Touchdown for Trees, Super Grow XLV’s Touchdown for Trees, will be open to the public. Ticket information will be available at www.texastreesfoundation.org.

Additional Planting Dates:

• October 23, 2010
  • City of Dallas
• October 30, 2010
  • City of Richardson
  • City of Lewisville
  • November 5, 2010
  • City of Farmers Branch
• November 6, 2010
  • City of Addison
  • City of Denton
• November 13, 2010
  • City of Plano
  • City of Frisco
• November 19, 2010
  • City of Fort Worth
• November 20, 2010
  • City of Grapevine
  • City of Irving
• January 21, 2011
  • City of Arlington
• January 24, 2011
  • Touchdown for Trees – Grand Finale Event