John Wayne is an American icon, going beyond his on-screen presence and extending to the values and ideals he symbolized and communicated throughout his life. His legend is celebrated on John Wayne Day, which takes place each year on Duke’s birthday, May 26. This year, John Wayne: An American Experience in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards will celebrate the 118^th anniversary of Wayne’s birth all weekend long.

From left, John Wayne’s son Ethan Wayne, granddaughter Anita LaCava Swift, daughter Marissa Wayne and son Patrick Wayne.

On Saturday, May 24, guests can play games including corn hole and dummy roping, have chain-stitching done on items purchased at John Wayne Stock & Supply, and enjoy samples from Gold Handle Coffee and Duke Spirits. Regular museum admission applies to those visiting the exhibits; ticket purchases come with a 15% discount at John Wayne Stock & Supply. The fun runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

At 4 p.m., a special VIP event will take place. Guests can join the Wayne family for a birthday celebration featuring hat branding, chain-stitching, Gold Handle Coffee and Duke Spirits tastings, book signings and photo opportunities with members of the Wayne family. When purchasing tickets, select May 24 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to attend. Tickets are $69.95 for adults, $22.95 for kids, include museum admission.

On Sunday, May 25, join Wayne family members for a John Wayne Family Estates Wine Dinner at Los Vaqueros. Come to the museum before dinner and tour the exhibits beginning at 4:30 p.m. At 6, head over to Los Vaqueros to meet the Wayne family and enjoy live entertainment by Moses and a special art exhibit by Buck Taylor. Los Vaqueros has thoughtfully created a Duke-inspired menu to pair with the John Wayne Family Estates wine collection. Dessert will be served with freshly brewed Gold Handle Coffee. Tickets are $150, include the museum tour, wine dinner and 15% off your purchase at John Wayne Stock & Supply.

On John Wayne’s actual birthday, May 26, which this year falls on Memorial Day, have Coffee with the Waynes from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Start your Memorial Day with an intimate morning where members of the Wayne family will share personal stories, behind-the-scenes insights about John Wayne’s life. Ask questions over freshly brewed Gold Handle Coffee and pastries. This session is a heartfelt tribute to the Duke’s legacy. Tickets, $49.95 for adults and $19.95 for kids, include museum admission and 15% off your purchase at John Wayne Stock & Supply.

Tickets to all of the above events can be purchased at johnwayneae.com.

For those who want to get a head start on John Wayne Day celebrations, The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is hosting a 95^th anniversary screening of The Big Trail on Thursday, May 22. This is the movie that introduced Marion Robert Morrison to the world as a movie star named John Wayne. The Big Trail paints a larger-than-life portrait of the trek across the Oregon Trail on an early widescreen format using 70mm film, decades before similar formats became the norm. Patrick Wayne will be in attendance, courtesy of the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. The screening, hosted by Ryan Bijan Jeri, creative director of Cowtown Movie Classics, takes place at 6:30 p.m. Tickets to the event are $5.

John Wayne: An American Experience is structured to give guests an intimate tour of the life of John Wayne. Starting with his early childhood and career, each room highlights an aspect of Duke’s legacy. Museum patrons have exclusive access to never-before-seen family photos and correspondences that have been thoughtfully curated by the Wayne family to give guests a holistic view of the icon, whose values translate both on and off the silver screen.

Donations to the John Wayne Cancer Foundation can be made at John Wayne Stock & Supply and at johnwayne.org.

WHAT:                John Wayne Day Events

WHEN:               

• Daytime Museum Visit & Celebration Activations: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 24
• Evening VIP Experience: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. May 24
• Wayne Family Estates Wine Dinner: 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. May 25 (museum tour begins at        4:30 p.m.)
• Memorial Day Coffee with the Waynes: 9 to 11:30 a.m. May 26
• The Big Trail 95^th Anniversary Celebration, Museum of Modern Art, Fort Worth: 6:30 p.m. May 22  

WHERE:             

John Wayne: An American Experience

                             Fort Worth Stockyards

                             Historic Exhibits Building

                             2501 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth, TX 76164

                             Wayne Family Estates Wine Dinner

Los Vaqueros

                             2513 Rodeo Plaza

                             Fort Worth, TX 76164

                             The Big Trail 95^th Anniversary Screening

Museum of Modern Art, Fort Worth

                             3200 Darnell St.,

                             Fort Worth, TX 76107    

TICKETS:            

• Daytime Museum Visit & Celebration Activations: $22.95 for adults, $20.95 for seniors 65+, students with college ID and military with ID, and $17.95 for kids 6-12
• Evening VIP Experience: $69.95 adults, $22.95 kids
• Wayne Family Estates Wine Dinner: $150 (adults only)
• Memorial Day Coffee with the Waynes: $49.95 adults, $19.95 kids
• The Big Trail 95^th Anniversary Celebration, Museum of Modern Art, Fort Worth: $5, Tickets can be purchased here. 

INFO AND TICKET PURCHASES: johnwayneae.com

About John Wayne Enterprises:

John Wayne Enterprises’ mission is to preserve and protect the name, image and likeness of John Wayne by associating the John Wayne brand with quality and timeless products and experiences that embody the spirit of John Wayne and give back to the community. To further its mission, John Wayne Enterprises enters into selective licensing or partnership agreements in merchandising, cancer research, treatment and education as well as public facilities, institutions and agencies. For more information, please visit www.johnwayne.com.

The British Emporium is once again summoning fans of wizardry and wonder for a spellbinding evening of cosplay, contests, and Harry Potter-inspired fun ahead of FAN EXPO Dallas 2025. In partnership with FAN EXPO Dallas, the beloved British goods retailer will host a magical pre-convention celebration on Thursday, May 22 at its flagship store in Grapevine.

Open to witches, wizards, and muggles of all ages, the Harry Potter-themed cosplay night will feature a costume contest where winners will earn a chance to compete for tickets to FAN EXPO Dallas, the largest pop culture convention in Texas.

The event will include enchanting experiences such as:

• Photo ops on the red carpet with a FAN EXPO Dallas step-and-repeat banner
• Emcee Jeff Herndon donning wizard attire and leading the festivities
• Live Harry Potter trivia, magical characters including Newt Scamander and Dumbledore
• A tea leaf reader and other wizardly entertainment adding to the mystical atmosphere
• Free butterbeer samples and a storefront transformed into the whimsical world of Honeyduke’s

Guests are also encouraged to visit the newly opened Wizard-themed escape room at the Grapevine Escape Room next door, open until 8 p.m. that evening.

FAN EXPO Dallas will take place May 30-June 1, 2025 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, where cosplay, comics, fandom, and fantasy come to life.

Join the fun, dress to impress, and be ready for a magical night at the British Emporium! The event will start at 6 pm and will run until 8 pm.

For more information, follow @BritishEmporiumTX on Instagram and @FANEXPODallas..

ABOUT THE BRITISH EMPORIUM: The British Emporium has provided British groceries and gifts and hosted community-related events such as royal celebrations, Doctor Who parties, and meet-and-greets with VIP visitors from Great Britain for more than 30 years. More information about The British Emporium can be found at www.british-emporium.com.

Recommended by D Magazine

“Best of British Award” – UK Telegraph Newspaper

2021 Dallas Morning News Best in DFW Best Multicultural Grocery Store

2021 Dallas Observer Best of Dallas Best British Store

ABOUT FAN EXPO DALLAS :  FAN EXPO Dallas is the ultimate fan destination for everyone looking to celebrate everything big in pop culture! As the largest fan gathering in Texas, this three-day event at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center from May 30 to June 1, 2025, offers a citywide extravaganza featuring family-friendly attractions, world-renowned celebrities, and an ultimate playground for Comics, Sci-Fi, Horror, Anime, and Gaming enthusiasts. Don't miss out on the epic experience – secure your tickets now at www.fanexpodallas.com!

Lyric Stage presented the 16^th annual Schmidt & Jones Awards on May 6 at Moody Performance Hall with students giving riveting performances.

Scott Guenther, Lyric Stage’s managing and co-artistic director, said, “Developed in 2010, this award is named after renowned composer Harvey Schmidt and lyricist Tom Jones to honor excellence in high school musical theatre across Dallas-Fort Worth. These students are exceptionally talented.”

The winners:

Best Actor in a Lead Role

Grapevine High School, Sweeney Todd – Maxwell Nelson as Sweeney Todd

Best Actress in a Lead Role

Grapevine High School, Sweeney Todd – Roslyn Ackermann as Mrs. Lovett

Supporting Actor

Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, The Addams Family – Matthew Grand as Fester Addams

Supporting Actress

Grapevine Faith Christian School, Newsies – Sienna Dudding as Medda Larkin

Actor in a Minor Role

Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, The Addams Family – Brett Martin as Lurch

Actress in a Minor Role

Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, The Addams Family – Kimora Caldwell as Grandma Addams

Male Ensemble Performer

Lakeview Centennial High School, Little Shop – Manny Gonzalez as Multiple Characters

Female Ensemble Performer

Liberty Christian School, Oliver – Avery Graham as Rose Seller, Orphan, Dancer

Best Stage Manager

Denton Guyer High School – Hadestown – Emmerson Biddick

Best Choreography

Liberty Christian School – Oliver – Presley Anderson & Gigi Plisga

Best Lighting Design

Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, The Addams Family – Olivia Assay, Anissa Campos

Parish Episcopal School, Chicago – Cooper Hardeman

Best Scenic Design

Coppell High School, Matilda – Ashrrita Sathish, Tsering Sherpa

Best Costume Design

Cedar Hill High School, Something Rotten – Morgan Akins, Nyilah McDaniel, Jaden Devezin

Best Orchestra

Rockwall Heath High School, Les Miserables

Best Ensemble

Denton Guyer High School – Hadestown

Best Show

Grapevine High School, Sweeney Todd

A panel of judges, consisting of theatre educators and professional theatre artists, viewed dozens of productions of the accepted applicants from schools in Dallas, Tarrant and Collin counties. The panel made nominations and then voted to determine winners. The directors of participating schools also received written production evaluations.

The judging panel, adjudicating and awards are organized and led by the director of the Schmidt and Jones Awards, Amy Stevenson, who is well-known in Dallas-Fort Worth as both an artist and educator.

About Lyric Stage: Lyric Stage, a Dallas-based 501c3 not-for-profit professional musical theatre company, was established in 1993 with the mission of the development and preservation of the musical, a unique art form. In its thirty-year history, Lyric Stage has produced over 125 productions, which include 21 world-premiere musicals and 2 Off-Broadway shows. For more information, visit www.lyricstage.org

We love a good salad, and since May is National Salad Month, we leaned into a local favorite, Mendocino Farms. Mendocino Farms will be highlighting their crave-worthy salads and offering a special online only promo for 10% off.

Here’s what’s coming up and the exclusive codes you’ll need to snag the deal:

 5/12-5/18 Modern Caesar   Code: CAESAR10

• Everyone loves a classic Caesar salad, but here's Mendocino Farms' modern twist. Packed with fresh ingredients, it features curly kale, chopped romaine, housemade superfood krunchies, shaved parmesan cheese, red onions, grape tomatoes, avocado, a squeeze of lemon, and is topped with a classic Caesar dressing.

5/19-5/25 Baja Green Goddess    Code: GODDESS10

• The Baja Green Goddess salad combines chicken adobado, roasted corn, hatch chiles, black beans, jicama, avocado, grape tomatoes, red onions, Monterey jack, romaine, arugula, cabbage and cilantro tossed with their Baja goddess dressing and topped with taco crunch for a crunchy finish.

5/26-5/31 Winter Citrus   Code: CITRUS10

• My personal favorite -- it's bright with a sweet and savory edge. The Winter Citrus Salad brings together tender chicken, marinated goat cheese, fresh navel oranges, hot citrus honey, honey roasted almonds, pickled red onions, shaved fennel, mixed greens, kale, romaine, dressed in a delicious farmhouse vinaigrette.

We also love that any salad can be made vegetarian by swapping the animal proteins for marinated, baked tofu or Impossible chorizo.

To find your local Mendocino Farms, visit here.

To Shield the Queen

Ursula Blanchard, #1

by

Fiona Buckley

Engaging main character thrust headlong into the political machinations of Elizabeth I’s court.

To Shield the Queen is the first book in author Fiona Buckley’s (pen name of Valeria Anand) long-running historical mystery series featuring Ursula Blanchard, a widowed mother of one and a lady in service to Queen Elizabeth I. Set in 1560, early in Elizabeth’s long reign, Ursula is summoned to court after the death of her husband, Gerald (a love match), to serve as a lady-in-waiting to the young queen. The court is awash with rumors of Elizabeth’s relationship with her Master of Horse, Sir Robin Dudley, a married man with a critically ill wife whom he keeps sequestered in the country. When speculation escalates, hinting that Dudley may be trying to hurry his wife’s imminent death along so he can pursue a marriage with the queen, he and Elizabeth send Ursula to attend the ailing Amy Dudley and safeguard her from any such evil assistance and hopefully quell the rumors. However, on her arrival at the country estate, Ursula finds there may actually be some truth behind the rumors. Still, it’s unclear to her whether Sir Robin is aware of what may be underway on his behalf, but she’s suspicious. 

This first book in the series is a riveting tale once all the heavy lifting of establishing the time, place, and characters is complete. It feels like it had to have been a massive task, with so much known or speculated regarding the intrigue during Elizabeth’s reign, all the historical figures involved, and the intersection of factual and fictional storylines. Halfway through the book, I was still wondering when the mystery would start, but it definitely does, and the action never lets up from that point on. 

Ursula is a likable character, and her personal story is a tragic one, beginning with her illegitimate origins, a cruel childhood at the hands of self-righteous relatives, a runaway marriage, and the sudden death of her beloved young husband. But she is a survivor, strong and determined not to be a victim ever again. An astute observer of human nature, Queen Elizabeth recognizes Ursula’s potential value and her deep loyalty to the crown and puts her to good use. 

A romantic relationship evolves with Matthew de la Roche, a newcomer to the court, who aggressively presses his suit with the young widow, even following her, uninvited, to Amy Dudley’s bedside several days’ ride into the country. While it felt like their feelings for each other were a bit rushed, their courtship really extended over a couple of months. I’m anxious to see how this all plays out, considering what occurs between the two as the story unfolds. The descriptions of the settings and life in 1560 are vivid and really put me in the story. A number of secondary storylines develop along the way and are left unresolved, but they are mentioned in the resolution as the basis for Ursula’s next moves in future books in the series. 

I enjoyed listening to the Hoopla Digital 2005 Blackstone Audiobook edition narrated by Nadia May but it took me a good length of time to sync my understanding with her fast pacing, pronunciation, and accent. As the characters who are speaking change, she does a good job of altering her voice to add some discrimination. However, her speaking voice is just enough different from my region that I had to readjust to her voice every time I began listening. While I wouldn’t search out additional titles this narrator voiced, I wouldn’t not listen to her again, and it doesn’t appear she narrates any more of the books in this series. 

I recommend TO SHIELD THE QUEEN to readers of historical cozy mysteries.

For this and other book reviews, visit Boys' Mom Reads!