The Promised Land

Two wetbacks from Mexico inherit the legacy of all immigrants—grueling labor, low pay, and a bleak existence on the edge of the American dream.

by John Davidson

Easy Money

Faster than a speeding Master Charge, funkier than a garage sale, able to leap bad credit ratings in a single bound. Look, up at the sign! It’s a bank! It’s a store! It’s Super Pawn!

by Mike Hicks

Honey, You’re Still Driving Me Crazy

Wise up: that insipid supermarket sugar-water you’ve been putting on your toast isn’t honey. The real stuff—Texas honey—is as full-bodied and distinctive as the nectars that go into it.

by Richard West

Why Teachers Can’t Teach

Our system of training teachers is a crime that robs taxpayers of millions of dollars, robs potential teachers of competence and self-respect, and robs our kids of a decent education.

by Gene Lyons

Football Heroes

The best part of Texas high school football is that it’s the biggest thing in town—and still only a game.

by Al Reinert and Geoff Winningham

Behind the Lines

Waltzing across Texas.

by William Broyles, Jr and Richard West

Stepping Out

The Beautiful and the Damned

Town and Country magazine came to Texas to record our sophistication, wealth, and savoir faire—and all hell broke loose.

Michael Ennis

Sports

Hooping It Up

Pickup basketball is not a pastime for the lily-livered or the lackadaisical.

by Michael Haggerty

Politics

Up the Creek

Everyone in Austin loves sparkling Barton Creek—especially the developers.

by Nicholas Lemann

Church

Hearts and Minds

Welcome to Dallas’ first Baptist, the largest Baptist church in the world, with a pastor and a service to match; a more modest path to religious enlightenment leads you to Houston’s Emerson Unitarian.

by William Martin

Film

The Truth Hurts

North Dallas Forty scores but misses the extra point, Dracula bites off more than it can chew, and Peppermint Soda recalls with accuracy the bittersweet days of adolescence.

by Gregory Curtis and George Morris

Popular Music

Dust Off Your Blue Suede Shoes

Then grab your platters and step into the golden era of rock ën’ roll.

by Joe Nick Patoski

Jazz

Requiem for a Heavyweight

Charles Mingus was a great jazz musician with a sharp mind, an impeccable sense of rhythm, and a mighty powerful fist.

by Doug Ramsey

Dance

Unfancy Dancer

Some have said that life is a dance, and Deborah Hay makes you believe it.

Suzanne Shelton

Books

Mexican Mystery Tour

Charles Portis’ new novel belongs to the tradition of great frontier yarns, but this time the young man goes south.

by Gregory Curtis

Art

Another Roadside Attraction

Houston National Bank’s ìLarger Canvas Twoî takes it to the streets.

by Michael Ennis

Reporter

Texas Monthly Reporter

B-a-a-d government meddling irks Texas goat and sheep raisers; something’s rotten in Rotterdam, and it’s driving up oil prices; and the world’s best gymnasts are coming to Cowtown.

by John Bloom

The Inside Story

Photo jock; teacher’s pest.

by Gregory Curtis

Roar of the Crowd

Touts

To bid or not to bid; aye, there’s the rub.

Patricia Sharpe

State Secrets

Not-so-little leaguer finds fountain of youth; schools have to test and tell whether Johnny can’t read; Houston’s new shingle ordinance tries to lock the barn door.

Edited by Paul Burka