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My WordPress Story: Journalist Turned WordPress Developer

Jacob Martella is the PR and Social Media Wrangler for this year’s WordCamp DFW.

I never thought I would be a WordPress developer.

For the vast majority of my life, I wanted to be a journalist. A sports journalist to be more specific. I grew up loving to play sports — especially baseball — and I developed a love of writing in the fourth grade.

So in high school, I joined the school newspaper covering the sports teams. At the University of Texas at Austin, I joined The Daily Texan. There I covered both golf teams, women’s soccer, softball, volleyball, baseball and basketball. Then in my final semester, I became the sports editor for the paper. And in August 2016, I got to go to Rio de Janeiro to cover the summer Olympics.

I ended up graduating with a journalism degree, but that’s not what I’ve been doing professionally. Instead, during that time there was another thing that kept trying to get my attention: web development.

My introduction to WordPress came at my high school newspaper. Fascinated by the software and wanting to learn more, I started my own WordPress site — a blog that covered arena football. As my time in high school went on, I became more interested in how WordPress worked.

Finally, in the summer after my high school graduation, I took the time to teach myself web development. I learned HTML, CSS, PHP and JavaScript and how WordPress worked. It definitely wasn’t the best learning, looking back at it now, but it was a start. And by the end of the summer, I had a custom theme for my arena football blog.

Eventually, my interest in arena football faded, but not my interest in web development. In fact, it was quite the opposite. I only became more intrigued by WordPress and web development. I took programming classes at UT and ended up with an Elements of Computing Certificate. And I created a theme for the WordPress theme directory.

But in the summer of 2014, web development went from a hobby to a job. Through an interesting set of circumstances, Christopher Harris hired me to be a development intern at his company, Faith Growth. It was the much-needed next step, and I learned a lot about how to properly do things in WordPress and web programming.

I now have a couple of more themes in the directory and a few plugins in the repository plus a premium sports plugin. I’ve also created numerous websites for churches and ministries at Faith Growth. But through all of that work, I hadn’t quite unlocked the true power of WordPress — the community.

In September 2016, I attended my first WordCamp DFW. Although I listened to a lot great talks, my biggest lesson came with how big and how awesome the WordPress community is. With WordPress and web development, it’s easy to feel like a lone wolf. I know that there are obviously online communities for WordPress, but it can be tough to feel that personal interaction online, especially for those of us who are just starting out.

But that WordCamp DFW got me excited about web development. Seeing so many people using the software and being excited about it gave me energy to keep going with WordPress and opened my eyes to what I could do with it.

After that experience, I became an active member of the Fort Worth WordPress Users MeetUp. There my experience with the WordPress community has only become more positive. I’ve met people who are wanting to learn more about WordPress and people who are willing to teach. It’s undoubtedly the best community I’ve ever been a part of.

This year I’ll be attending WordCamp DFW as the PR and Social Media Wrangler, but I would still be attending the camp even if I wasn’t one of the organizers. It’s a great opportunity to see the WordPress community in action. If you’ve just started with WordPress or have never gotten involved in the community before, this is the perfect opportunity to do that. And of course, if you’re wanting to learn more about how to developer with WordPress, blog with WordPress or use the platform as a business, there’s no better place to go than WordCamp DFW.

I’ll be at WordCamp DFW this year. I hope to see you too!

Tickets are now on sale for this year’s WordCamp DFW held on Nov. 11-12. There are also plenty of opportunities to sponsor the event, speak at the event or help run it. We hope to see you there!

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Top Five Barbecue Places in Fort Worth

In Texas, barbecue isn’t something you eat every now and then; it’s a way of life. We love barbecue that’s slowly smoked and doesn’t need to covered in sauce to be eaten. Sausage, brisket and ribs should have their own food pyramid. And we love to debate our favorite barbecue places.

Fort Worth is no longer the end of the line for cattle drives, but it still has great places to chow down on you barbecue favorites. So, here’s our top five barbecue places on the Fort Worth side of town.

Angelo’s

2533 White Settlement Rd
Fort Worth, TX 76107

Established in 1958, Angelo’s consistently ranks among the best barbecue places in the DFW Metroplex. The family recipe passed down from generations features hickory wood and special dry rubs to give it the perfect taste.

Don’t just take our word for it. Nearly 70 local, national and international celebrities have stopped by to try out the barbecue here. And as an added bonus, it’s located just northeast of the UNT Health Science campus, making it the near perfect choice for a meal during your stay. And if you like it enough, you can even have it shipped right to you.

Heim Barbecue & Catering

1109 W Magnolia Ave
Fort Worth, TX 76104

Heim doesn’t have the history or tradition of Angelo’s. Instead, owner Travis started Heim just in 2014 selling barbeque out of a food truck. And in 2016, Heim traded his food truck for a more traditional brick-and-mortar restaurant south of downtown.

But what they lack in history, they make up for in great food and a great atmosphere. Heim serves up all of the traditional barbecue — brisket, sausage and ribs — but you’ll definitely have to try their bacon burnt ends. Make sure you get there early to be able to get a taste of this great start up restaurant.

Riscky’s Barbecue

140 E Exchange Ave
Fort Worth, TX 76164

Located in the heart of the Fort Worth stockyards, Riscky’s Barbecue is so much more than a “tourist trap”. For over 75 years, they’ve been cooking up ribs, chicken and barbecue sandwiches in their famous “Riscky Dust” dry rub.

Riscky’s also has locations in other parts of Fort Worth, including Sundance Square, but the Stockyards location is hands down the best place to chow down on barbeque. Aside from being steps away from the cultural heart of Fort Worth, you’re just steps away from great shopping and entertainments inside the Stockyards complex. It’s dinner and an adventure.

Billy’s Oak Acres BBQ

1700 N Las Vegas Trail
Fort Worth, TX 76108

Billy’s Oak Acres doesn’t have the notoriety that Heim, Angelo’s or Riscky’s have, but that doesn’t mean they don’t cook mean barbecue. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. They serve the typical barbecue, plus they’ve added chicken fried steak, for a more country home feel, and even Tex-Mex. Also, be sure to try the banana pudding before hitting the road. It’s a great place to eat and relax.

Cousin’s BBQ

6262 McCart Ave
Fort Worth, TX 76133

Opened in 1983, Cousin’s is one of the few top barbecue places where sausage is the top item on the menu. Of course, they serve the other barbecue favorites, but their hand made German sausage helps them stand out in the sea of other barbecue places in the DFW area. Located outside of the I-820 loop around Fort Worth, Cousin’s is a bit of a drive, especially for those staying near the UNT Health Science Center, but you’ll find that the sausage here more than makes up for the extended drive.

Tickets are now on sale for this year’s WordCamp DFW held on Nov. 11-12. There are also plenty of opportunities to sponsor the event, speak at the event or help run it. We hope to see you there!

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Five Things to do in the DFW Area

WordPress DFW is the reason you’ll be in Fort Worth in early November, but there’s a whole of places in this city that are worth checking out. From historic to new and relaxing to exciting, Cowtown offers it all. So when you’re not listening to one of our awesome speakers, here are five places you’ll want to check out when you’re in Fort Worth.

Fort Worth Stockyards

Fort Worth isn’t known as “Cowtown” for nothing. The historic stockyards located north of downtown no longer process cattle, but there’s still plenty to do. Numerous stores call this area home, selling practically everything western, Texas and Dallas-Fort Worth related. Or dine at any of the restaurants that dot the area that, you guessed it, serve barbecue. Want to have an adventure? Try the 5,400 square foot Cowtown Cattle Pen Maze or ride the mechanical bull. Looking to relax? Take in one of the two daily cattle drives right through the Stockyards. Or you can hop aboard the Grapevine Vintage Railroad for a leisurely trip down along the Trinity River. The Stockyards have basically anything you could want in Fort Worth.

Stockyards Website

Museum District

Fort Worth made it’s mark with the Stockyards, but that’s not all it has to offer. Just west of downtown marks the museum district with three outstanding museums. The Kimbell Art Museum has been bring outstanding works of art to Tarrant County since 1972. Or you can head over to the National Cowgirl Museum. Established in 2002 after 27 years of trying, the museum tells the story of the women who helped shape the American West and shares their often hidden accomplishments. Or you can check out the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and explore the history and science of the area in neat and interactive ways. And make sure to check out one of the shows in the planetarium or Omni IMAX theater.

Kimbell Art Museum Website

National Cowgirl Museum Website

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History Website

Sundance Square

Looking for a good place to spend the night having a good time? Sundance Square has you covered. Located right in the middle of downtown Fort Worth, Sundance Square features 21 stores, 34 restaurants and numerous entertainment venues. Sit outside on the plaza and take in the massive mural that celebrates the city’s history along the Chisholm Trail. Or cool off with the jetted fountains.

Sundance Square Website

Water Gardens

Wanting to take a break from stress? Looking for a place to find some peace and quiet? The Fort Worth Water Gardens has just what you need. Despite being located right in downtown, the water gardens’ underground design cancels out the city noise and replaces it with the smooth sound of rushing water. Venture down into the active pool and be surrounding by 38 feet of falling water. Climb up a terraced knoll for a great view of the entire gardens. Or find your inner peace at the blue meditation pool. A trip to the water gardens is definitely the way to take a break.

Fort Worth Water Gardens Website

Fort Worth water gardens

Coyote Drive-In Theater

Looking for a cool way to end the day? Pull on up to the Coyote Drive-In Theater. A throwback to a time when drive-in theaters were all the rage, the Coyote Drive-In features nightly double features for the whole family to enjoy. But it’s not just the movies that are great. The drive-in features a modern concession stands with plenty of places to sit and live music. Coupled with the crisp November nights, there might not be a better place to spend an evening.

Coyote Drive-In Website

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New Cowboy Wapuu to Make Debut at WordCamp DFW

cowboy wapuu riding a horse
Cowboy Wapuu will make its debut at this year’s WordCamp DFW.

This year’s WordCamp DFW will be the debut for cowboy Wapuu — the first official Wapuu to represent the state of Texas.

“This year our new organizer, Stefanie [Newton], who came in to handle design, saw that was a big problem that we had a Wapuu already, but we never used it,” said Marc Gratch, cowboy Wapuu designer and WordCamp DFW 2017 lead organizer. “So she took care of everything.”

Wapuu became the unofficial mascot of the WordPress project in February 2011. The cat-like mascot was unveiled at that year’s WordCamp Fukuoka in Japan after two years of work by Matt Mullenweg and the Japanese WordPress community.

Since its inception, others have taken Wapuu and made alterations to make it unique to their region or idea. For example, there’s a Wapuu dressed in French clothes and another that’s about to get into a Delorean. But there hasn’t been a Wapuu that represents Texas until now.

The idea for the cowboy Wapuu started in 2016. Gratch spoke at WordCamp DFW in previous years and received a Texas belt buckle as a speaker gift. He didn’t think much of it originally; however, as he travelled to other WordCamps around the country, others who received a belt buckle raved about how much they liked it.

Then the idea hit him.

“I don’t remember if I had started [working on] the Wappu or not, but at that point I realized where their imagination took them [when attendees thought of DFW],” Gratch said. “They really liked the uniqueness. When they got the belt buckles as speaker gifts, that was a very unique speaker gift. You knew you got that from a WordCamp in Texas. I loved that idea, so I ran with it.”

cowboy wapuu with Texas flag
Cowboy Wapuu is the first Wapuu to represent the state of Texas.

Gratch, with the help of Newton, came up with two designs for the cowboy Wapuu. The first featured Wapuu in a white shirt with a cowboy hat and a Texas belt buckle while riding a horse. The other one had Wapuu in the same clothes, but holding a red ball with the Texas flag.

“I tried to make it as obvious Texan as possible,” Gratch said. “It has the standard Wapuu shape but with the hat and sunglasses and things people think of when they think Texas.

Gratch finished the cowboy Wapuu designs in time for the 2016 WordCamp DFW, but a miscommunication kept the Wapuu from making its first appearance.

This year, however, cowboy Wapuu will feature prominently at WordCamp DFW. It’s already featured on the website and will be available as stickers. But Gratch said the team is looking at other ways to incorporate it.

“Other than that, it’s kind of up in the air where it will be used,” Gratch said. “I imagine any t-shirt or speaker gifts will feature it prominently. Other than that I really can’t say.”

And cowboy Wapuu won’t just be restrained to the DFW area. Gratch said he’s already reached out to WordCamp San Antonio about using it and is open to other WordCamps in the state using the new Wapuu.

“It’s definitely available for anyone to use,” Gratch said. “I would love for everyone to make use of it and add to the collection. Texas is a big place, so we can definitely have a few more Wapuus that represent us.”

Tickets are now on sale for this year’s WordCamp DFW held on Nov. 11-12. There are also plenty of opportunities to sponsor the event, speak at the event or help run it. We hope to see you there!

WordCamp DFW | November 11-12, 2017 is over. Check out the next edition!