Fiesta!

Whether you drink champagne or beer, wear diamonds or rhinestones, one thing about Fiesta San Antonio is the same for everyone: it’s fun.

by Mike Greenberg

The Hot Pink Empire of Mary Kay Ash

She learned the truth about selling cosmetics. Her customers didn’t want to buy products, they wanted to buy dreams.

by Carol Edgar

Super Medicine

At the Texas Medical Center the best hospitals, doctors, researchers, and medical technology anywhere in the world have combined to transform doctors from healers into superstars.

by Nicholas Lemann

Are Psychiatrists Really Crazy?

All the usual stereotypes of doctors have one thing in common—for the most part, they’re true.

by Nicholas Lemann

What They Do All Day

Doctors are busy every minute. But what exactly are they up to?

by Nicholas Lemann

Behind the Lines

The medical miasma.

by Nicholas Lemann

Politics

The Firing Line

The first shot in Clements’ campaign to cut 25,000 state employees fells 68 casualties.

by Paul Burka

Dining Out

If You Knew Sushi

Good-bye, tacos. Hello, sukiyaki. A few restaurants are showing Texans the art of Japanese cooking.

by W. L. Taitte

Business

Sold American

China wants to drill for oil—and guess who knows how.

by Elizabeth Bailey

Film

Lonesome Cowboys

When You Comin’ Back, Red Ryder? was already a bad play before it became a terrible movie.

by George Morris

Theater

Artichoke Season

The Alley turns Artichoke into candy. Whorehouse comes to Texas, where it belongs. The audience talks back to Women and Men.

by W. L. Taitte

Art

The Dark at the End of the Tunnel

Houston’s Museum of Fine Art resurrects the genius of Mark Rothko. James Surls tries to answer the tricky question: what is Texas art? Amarillo hosts five pioneers of American photography.

by Michael Ennis and Suzanne Winckler

Classical Music

Pitched on Bach

J. S. Bach thrives in San Antonio and Fort Worth. Austin’s Dickran Atamian proves he’s a better pianist than entrepreneur.

by W. L. Taitte

Popular Music

Taking It to the Limits

Austin City Limits makes pop music on television worth watching-and listening to. Also, musings on the superiority of Metroplex radio.

by Joe Nick Patoski

Reporter

Texas Monthly Reporter

Striking the right chord with the Fort Worth Symphony and the wrong one with Mexico; grounding Wayland Baptist’s Flying Queens.

by John Bloom

The Inside Story

Out of production.

by Gregory Curtis

Roar of the Crowd

Flying men and super horses.

Touts

Doctors, dixieland, and double-deckers.

by Patricia Sharpe

Puzzle

There’s no character like a Chinese character.

State Secrets

The F-16 bombs out; John White drops one on the Democrats.

Edited by Paul Burka