Top O’Hill Terrace

TOP O’ HILL TERRACE

Arlington Baptist College

3001 W. Division

Tours by appointment only; Call to schedule:  (817) 461 8741, ext. 109

Cost:  $5 donation per person

E-mail:  vbryant@abconline.org

Vickie Bryant conducts the tour. She’s done an amazing job of researching the landmark’s history.

The garden is the site of the old terrace and tea room.

The landmark sign welcomes visitors to Top O’ Hill.

Top O’Hill Terrace is the hidden gem of Arlington tourism.  It’s the best kept secret in town.  I’m trying to spread the word so others can learn the colorful background of a little hilltop that went from illegal gambling hall to a Baptist college. 

 

Already a Texas Historic Landmark, the Top O’ Hill brochure rightfully proclaims “From Pokers to Preachers, sermons and hymns now ring across the terraced hills which once hummed with the playing of slot machines and roulette wheels.”

 

Before Las Vegas became the gambling mecca of America, a hilltop in Arlington was the destination point for some of the biggest names in show business and sports after The Top O’ Hill tea room opened in 1926.  Over the next 20 years, the visiting luminaries included the likes of:  Howard Hughes, boxer Joe Louis, Bonnie & Clyde, Jack Dempsey, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Buster Keaton, W.C. Fields, Gene Autry, Will Rogers, Hedy Lamarr, Lana Turner, Bugsy Siegel, Tommy Dorsey & his orchestra, Mae West, Walter Winchell, Amarillo Slim, Tom Mix….and some guy called John Wayne.  Ginger Rogers, a local girl, used to dance here.   Jack Ruby used to gamble here (that’s right, the guy who shot Oswald).

 

What would bring the crème-de-la-crème to a little tea room in west Arlington?  How about an illegal gambling hall in the basement…complete with hidden tunnels so that patrons could scramble to safety when the Texas Rangers law enforcement agents would raid the hill!  Roulette wheels were behind hidden walls – turn the wall and you couldn’t find the gambling equipment.

 

Oh yeah, a little thing called Prohibition made it illegal to sell alcohol, but you can bet the alcohol was even more plentiful as the poker chips.  Bootleggers used to run whiskey to the hill. 

 

The hidden tunnels were dug by Chinese workers.  The tunnels led towards the tea room.  By the time the Rangers would make it to the basement, the patrons had already scrambled up to the team room – acting as though they were simply in town to enjoy some tea and a good meal.  Security was tight.  At least 20 guards were on the look-out (some hidden in tree tops) to keep an eye open for police and Texas Rangers.

 

A gambler named Benny Binion won some money here and took it to Vegas to open a little place called the Horseshoe Casino (I told you Arlington was Vegas before Vegas!).

 

The location was perfect.  The hill is 1,000 feet high, the highest point in Tarrant County.  It’s located on W. Division which used to be the old Bankhead Hwy, the main highway between Dallas and Ft Worth.

 

But the Top O’ Hill Terrace wouldn’t survive much longer following the final law enforcement raid which took place in 1947. 

 

For years, a local Baptist preacher named J. Frank Norris tried to shut down this den of iniquity.  He once vowed, “One of these days we are going to own the place!”   Lo and behold, in 1956 the Bible Baptist Seminary purchased the property and converted Top O’Hill from a casino to a seminary.  Now it’s called Arlington Baptist College and boasted an enrollment of 170 students in spring ’09.

 

The basement which was the gambling hall?  Now it’s the cafeteria’s kitchen.  The on-site bordello became a women’s dormitory. 

The wife of the current college president is the driving force behind the historical research and tours.  Her name is Vickie Bryant.  She schedules and conducts the tours by appointment only.  E-mail her at vbryant@abconline.org  or call her at (817) 461 8741.

 

Our entire tour took about 1 ¼ hours.  You meet in the visitors’ center of Arlington Baptist College.  Vickie does an excellent power-point presentation/slide-show and explains the history…this takes about 45 minutes.  Then you walk down to the cafeteria/kitchen and look at the “hidden tunnels”.  You do NOT go in the tunnels…you only look.  Then you take a walk to the outdoor terrace, and then walk over to a little horse stable which is now a little museum.

I highly recommend this tour.  It’s great for Sunday School classes, church groups, Red Hat ladies’ clubs…and anyone who enjoys history and a fun story.

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BRUSTER’S REAL ICE CREAM

Step right up! Walk-Up or Drive-Thru and choose from large variety of flavors.

BRUSTER’S REAL ICE CREAM

6301 S. Cooper (2 miles south of I-20)

Hours:  11am – 10pm

 

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream is a great (and delicious) way to beat the heat.  Located in south Arlington on S. Cooper just a couple miles south of I-20, you can try dozens of flavors or indulge in a banana split, parfait or brownie fudge sundae.

 

The variety of ice cream flavors is terrific.  I was there in March (that’s when Girl Scout Cookies are available) so I had to try Bruster’s “Girl Scout Thin Mint”.  I also recommend “Coconut Chip”, but the “White Turtle” is great, too.  My friend likes “Key Lime Pie” ice cream the best, but my dad prefers some concoction called “Heavenly Hash”.  There are standards like “Cherry Vanilla” and “Chocolate Marshmallow”, of course.

 

When I was there, a grandma was there with her little granddaughter who ordered a pink colored flavor called “Cotton Candy Explosion”.  The grandma got a cake cone of “New York Cheesecake”.

 

Bruster’s is like the old fashioned walk-up ice cream stores.  There is no inside dining.  Yes, you can drive thru, too.  But why not park your car, order from the walk-up counter, and relax on the outdoor benches?  And if there are tempting flavors that you can’t fit on your cone, Take Home Pints are available ($4.54).  You can also buy Take Home Quarts ($6.71) or Half-Gallons ($9.21).

 

Ice Cream Pies are available and range in price from $18.24 to $22.96.  For bigger groups, you can buy a ¼ Sheet Cake of ice cream ($30.28, serves 20-24 people).

 

Bruster’s also serves cups of “Blasts” which is like a shake with mix-ins of candies like Reeses or M&M’s, etc.

 

As for prices, the sugar cone/cake cone/dish is $2.73 for a single, or $3.52 for a double scoop, or $3.09 for a triple.  Waffle cones are $3.61 for a single, $4.49 for a double, or $4.91 for a triple.  Parfaits are $3.61 and banana splits are $4.86.

There was also something called an “apple dumpling” which included apple and pumpkin flavored ice creams.  Next time, I’m going to try that.  You can also order sorbets or Italian ices, but the variety of flavors is more limited than the varieties of ice cream.

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MAJESTIC GRAND SLAM GIFT SHOP @ RANGERS BALLPARK

MAJESTIC GRAND SLAM GIFT SHOP @ RANGERS BALLPARK

1000 Ballpark Way (inside Rangers Ballpark, faces Randol Mill Road)

10am-5pm, non-game day; 10am to end-of-game during Rangers game day

(817) 273-5001

 

Anything-and-everything Rangers can be found here.

A large selection of women’s apparel is available.

Hamilton, Kinsler and Young jerseys are hot sellers.

My nephew loves decorating his room with baseball memorabilia. There’s a big selection here.

 

 

Located inside Rangers Ballpark and open year-round, this is the best place to buy Rangers and other major league team’s collectibles in North Texas.  If you need a new Josh Hamilton jersey or Ian Kinsler t-shirt — maybe a new red Texas cap to wear during “Rangers Red Outs” — here’s where you can get outfitted for the baseball season.  And if there’s a baseball fan in your life, you’ve found the #1 shopping spot to find the perfect gift for him/her.  If it’s anything Texas Rangers or baseball, you’ll find it here.

 

A really unique gift idea is a customized Louisville slugger or customized jersey. 

 

There is an on-site machine with a laser engraver to customize bats.  The full-size customized bat is $60 and can be made within an hour of purchase.  The store promises a ‘same-hour turnaround’. You can also customize a mini-bat for $22.

 

Grand Slam Gift Shop also has a heat press machine to customize authentic jerseys.  You can also customize replica jerseys.  Prices start around $65 and go up from there.

 

I talked with one of the store managers, Randy, about the variety of merchandise and memorabilia available.   Apparently it’s not just Rangers fans looking for a souvenir to take home after a game.  Many out-of-town fans visit the shop throughout the year.

 

“We get a number of fans from other cities and a number of fans touring the Ballpark,” said Randy.  “We sell much more than Rangers merchandise.  Of the collectible memorabilia from former players, the Nolan Ryan items are the most popular.  We also sell a lot of women’s and children’s apparel.  For the families, we sell lots of foam fingers and lots of baseballs and bobbleheads”.

 

I was surprised by the huge selection for women & kids.  There’s a whole wall with nothing but pink Rangers shirts/shorts/sweats.  The children’s apparel section is huge; even sizes for infants are available (and too cute!!!).

 

For the bigger boys & girls, prices range from $20 for a Josh Hamilton youth t-shirt to $72 for a Michael Young youth replica jersey.  I have a feeling my nephew will soon be begging for an Elvis Andrus jersey (he’s the rookie shortstop and the new popular guy on the team).

 

But you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to satisfy the kids.  Player pennants are $6; mini-bats are $8; Josh Hamilton decals are $10; Rangers Mardi Gras beads are $9. 

 

Of course if you’re looking for something bigger and of greater value, the adult-size Nolan Ryan autographed jersey will set you back $600.

 

So whether you’re looking to spend a couple of bucks on a Rangers bumper sticker or set of trading cards….or a hundred bucks on a new Rangers jersey of your favorite player…you’ll find it here.

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ARLINGTON MUSEUM OF ART

ARLINGTON MUSEUM OF ART

201 W. Main Street, downtown Arlington

Hours:  Wed thru Fri 1-5; Sat 10-5; Sun 12-5; closed Mon & Tues

Admission:  Free (donations are welcome)

(817) 275 4600

arlingtonmuseum.org

Light pours into the museum through the storefront windows.

A student shows-off her self-portrait to family members. Artwork from local school was on display in February and March.

Adjacent to City Hall, the downtown museum is the old JC Penney building.

 

Located on west Main Street in old downtown Arlington, The Arlington Museum of Art is housed in a 1950’s former JC Penney store art moderne building.  With a two-story expansive open gallery, the AMA is the anchor of a revitalizing downtown Arlington. The oldest art organization in Arlington, it began 45 years ago as an art association and fulfilled its dream to become a museum in 1989.  The AMA exists to champion creativity and provide access to art for the cultural enrichment and economic development of our community.

“DARIEN RAINFOREST BASKETS OF PANAMA” is the exhibit which runs April 18^th through July 3rd.  The exhibition explores the history and artistry of the Wounaan and Embera Indians.  The Darien Gap is where the Pan American Highway is interrupted on its way to South America. Their basket weaving is some of the finest ever woven in the world.

The Wounaan and Embera Indians inhabit the most lush and unique neo-tropical rainforest in the western hemisphere outside the Amazon basin. Three hundred inches of rain fall in the area per year. Virtually all travel is accomplished by bush plane or dug-out canoe. The waterways take the place of roads. The most remote villages could be lifted right out of the prehistoric times. Except for a few outboard motors, plastic containers, aluminum utensils, and an occasional visit by an outsider, the people of this region’s entire lives revolve around fishing, hunting, singing, dancing and making baskets or carvings.

Basket making has helped these people build an economic base to secure their family’s welfare and protect the valuable rainforest resources. All of the materials for the baskets are native to the area and gathered by hand. The Chunga palm tree is the primary source of material, along with the Nahuala Palm, also known as the “Panama Hat Palm.” Almost all the dye colors are extracted from natural sources found in the rainforest such as leaves, fruits, soils, etc.

The baskets are woven into various styles ­ black and white geometrics, colored geometrics and pictographic. They can range in size from very large (3 ft in diameter) to tiny miniatures (one-half inch across). A typical basket contains approximately 35 stitches to the linear inch. The square inch count is about 200-250 stitches per square inch. Some exceptional baskets are woven with stitch counts of 80 stitches per linear inch or 1200 stitches per square inch. This stitch count is finer than silk. All the work is done by hand, in a thatched hut with no running water or electricity, literally a place with no sensitivity to the passage of time. Many authorities credit these baskets as being the finest woven in the world.

MORE INFO ON THE ARLINGTON MUSEUM OF ART:

The AMA offers a variety of tours. Most tours are free. Visitors can take a self-guided tours via the handouts available at the reception desk. Self-guided tours are available in both children and adult formats. Guided tours are available with AMA staff for groups of five or larger. Call the AMA’s Education office at 817.275.4600 to schedule a guided tour.

 

As for kids, the AMA offers a variety of free and tuition-based programs for children and families throughout the year. Programs include “Art Around the Corner”; “Youth Art Encounters”, “Summer Art Camp”, “Summer Art Around the Corner”, and adult and children art classes on evenings and weekends during the school year.

 

Note:  Closed major holidays including Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day.  The museum closes at 2pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

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ASHER’S GOURMET SHOPPE

ASHER’S GOURMET SHOPPE

3114  S. Cooper St. (between Arkansas & Mayfield)

Mon-Fri 10am-6:30pm; Sat 10am-5:30pm; Closed Sundays

(817) 468-9411

Located on the west side of Cooper Street, between Arkansas and Mayfield

All sorts of dishes and serving pieces, fancy or casual, is available.

A great place to shop for gifts for the hard-to-buy-for person.

 

Every gadget you could ever want for your kitchen…every set of plates or serving sets or glasses you could ever need for your dining room or kitchen….I think we’ve found it all in one place at Asher’s Gourmet Shoppe on S. Cooper Street.  This is a panacea for anybody who loves to cook or just wants to freshen-up the dining room/kitchen area. 

 

Cookware, bakeware, cutlery, tea sets, small appliances, kitchen accessories…you’ll find them here.

 

Whether you’re into cake decorating or outdoor grilling; if fondue or margarita machines are your preference; shoot, maybe you are into the wood-fired oven….you can find it here at Asher’s.

 

As for the dinnerware, Asher’s is an authorized dealer of Royal Worcester and Spode.  There is Royal Patrician from Staffordshire, England.  And if you prefer casual rather than formal, there’s a whole row of dinner ware/kitchen ware with Texas/Southwestern themes.

 

There is also a section for gourmet foods including soup mixes, cake mixes, preserves, margarita mixes, coffees and teas, extra virgin olive oil, etc.    A large selection of wine racks and wine openers are available.  Heck, the back wall is covered with a selection of aprons. 

 

What I especially love are the sets/appliances that I can use with my kids.  The little ice cream makers and sno-cone makers are perfect for them.  My husband was more interested in the grill accessories.

 

This is a great place to shop for gifts, and I don’t just mean gifts for wedding showers or house-warmings.  Eating is something each one of us does at least three times a day (not counting all the fun little snacks in-between meals). 

 

You know how it’s hard to buy something for “the person who has everything”?  Well, I thought I knew my way around the kitchen, but there were gizmos in here that I hadn’t seen before.  Now I have some fun ideas for gifts (not only for myself) but for family/friends who enjoy cooking or grilling (or just eating!!!).

 

You don’t have to be a gourmet chef to enjoy browsing through Asher’s.  There’s something for everyone who has to muddle their way through the kitchen.  I’m not a gourmet chef by any stretch of the imagination (anyone who continually burns microwave popcorn can’t claim prowess in the kitchen), but I really enjoyed this store.  And there are great gift ideas, too.

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