Things to Do in Fort Worth

Splitsville explores contemporary consumption by pairing its elegant eventide eats with the ambient roar of rolling balls and clattering pins. Designed by Tim Cushman—one of Food & Wine magazine's 2008 Best New Chefs—Splitsville’s menu stacks up and knocks down a cadre of culinary classics. After starting with spicy edamame, three-pepper calamari, or parmesan chicken tenders ($4–$12), move onto stomach-stuffing entrees ($13–$23), such as filet mignon and mahi-mahi served with voodoo shrimp. Classic-rock vibrations leak out of the restaurant's speakers and diners add the sounds of human happiness while diving into their lightly sauced steaks and generous pizzas ($8–$12). After 8 p.m., all guests under 21 turn into pumpkin-shaped bowling balls, and fine hobby-sport decorum requests an evening-casual dress code.

As the doors of Moxley Manor Haunted House creak open, guests may find themselves unsure of where truth ends and legend begins. Walking down foggy hallways and surrounded by disorienting strobe lights, they’re immersed in the haunting, real-life tale of the ill-fated Moxley family—all brutally murdered by a coldhearted mistress. These horrific events are brought to life by a cast of talented actors toting roaring chainsaws, severed heads, and the bodies of long-dead houseplants.

The charitable staffers at Moxley Manor Haunted House scare the dickens out of their guests for a good cause—the haunted house’s proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The Moxley Manor also opens its doors to murder and mayhem on a few of the less spooky holidays, including Christmas and Valentine's Day.

Whenever boredom creeps in to derail a training program, Core Fitness & Pilates’ team of instructors swoops in to the rescue with a contagious enthusiasm and 20 uplifting group fitness classes a week. As their name implies, they specialize in Pilates, showcasing the art with a range of classes that may incorporate floor mats, reformer machines, springboards, towers, chairs, and jump boards. With the addition of suspension bands and ballet barres, they now offer TRX suspension training and core booty-barre classes. Within a separate, non-judgmental space lined with 11-foot poles, mirrors, and bamboo floors, they inspire women and male comedians in convincing makeup to summon their inner vixens during pole-dancing and burlesque workshops.

When one thinks of the perfect location for a date night, one doesn’t typically think of a workshop lined with paints, brushes, and ready-to-decorate pottery pieces. Pepe le Potter hopes to change that notion. The contemporary studio helms daily drop-in sessions open to anybody, girls’ nights for ladies looking to spice up recreational outings, day camps for kids, and monthly classes for those looking to tackle a more intricate project under the tutelage of an accomplished painter. Brush novices need not worry, as instructors move around the room to provide pointers, tips, and techniques on how to make their masterpieces come to life. Once guests finish projects, staffers will fire and glaze them, preparing them for pick up in a few days. Pepe le Potter is also a sponsor of monthly Empty Bowls events, which benefit the Tarrant Area Food Bank.

The six-headed hydra of spontaneous comedy known as Four Day Weekend has been wreaking havoc on North Texas doldrums since 1997. Critically adored by the metroplex’s most prominent presses, the group squelches laughter droughts with their weekend bouts of unscripted hilarity. The professional troupe of cut-ups, many with film and Second City Conservatory of Chicago credentials, happily share the tricks of the trade in their four-level training center. Emphasizing “truth in comedy,” the curriculum covers fundamentals such as characterization and long-form improv, giving students the tools they need to extract their inner hilarity or survive an hour in a prop closet with Greg Proops.