Hostile Makeover

Mary Kay Ash and Jinger Heath have made fortunes getting women to buy and sell their beauty proucts. But no lipstick or powder can conceal the ugliness between these Dallas cosmetics queens.

by Skip Hollandsworth

Crazy for Brew

With 31 new brewpubs across the state, deciding which bar to belly up to has never been more difficult—or fun. Our guide to the craft-beer craze.

by Gary Cartwright

Smelling Like a Rose

Critics complain about Houston’s rising debt, but Mayor Bob Lanier’s reputation is blooming, which is why he’ll win a third term this month.

by Helen Thorpe

Crude Awakening

There’s black gold in the South American rain forest—lots of it. Can the oil companies get it out without ruining the jungle and the way of life of the Indians who live there? The perils of drilling in the heart of darkness.

by Jan Reid

Twelve Yards and a Cloud of Dust

The Tiny town of Mullin adopted its high school football heroes in more ways than one. These foster children and native sons had the time of their lives playing in the Super Bowl of six-man football.

by Jan Reid

Mrs. & Mrs. Bridge

Tobi Sokolow and Mildred Breed, two of the world’s expert cardplayers, have little in common—except a killer instinct.

by Paul Burka

Behind the Lines

Prince “Tex” Charles

Donald Trump is one. So are Boris Yeltsin and John Gotti. So was Emily Dickinson. What are they? Texans of course.

by Gregory Curtis

Texana

Time Marches On

Computer-aided choreography, professional composers to score the music, mammoth budgets: At high schools and colleges across Texas these days, marking bands are playing for keeps.

by Carol Flake Chapman

Health

The Real Medical Crisis

For reformers of the nations health-care system, ground zero may be Dallas’ Parkland Memorial Hospital, where the crush of uninsured patients with non-urgent complaints is affecting everyone’s care.

by Jim Atkinson

Music

Asleeping Beauty

More than two decades after he arrived in Austin, Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson still reigns as the king of swing.

by Gary Cartwright

Design

Seeing Red

The contrversial color of ASan Antonio’s new public library is only the latest indication that architect Ricardo Legorreta isn’t afraid to buck convention.

by Jan Jarboe Russell

Low Talk

Ross Perot defends his wife.

by Evan Smith

Reporter

Hype or Hero?

He’s won the support o Mexican Americans in El Paso; now he wants to win a seat in Congress. Is Silvestre Reyes’ attack on illegal immigration heroism or hype?

by Helen Thorpe

Reporter

Alternative Weakly

Texas newspapers go to war.

by John Ashby Wilburn

Reporter

Nerdysomething

Lisa Loeb eyes stardom.

by Jason Cohen

Reporter

An Udder Shame

Even Cowgirl Hall of Famers get the blues.

by Joe Holley

Roar of the Crowd

Roaring Twenties

An Armey of opposition to the House majority leader; a spirited response to a Christian’s plea for understanding.

State Secrets

Cop Crisis

Are Texas cops as bad as Mark Huhrman? Ples: Why your cara rental rates are being driven up.

by Paul Burka

Grilled Pork in Cascabel Cream Sauce

Chiles Rellenos

Wilted Red Chard

State Fare

In the hands of chefs Raymond Taum and Robert Mayberry at Austin’s Brio, pork is more than just the other white meat.

by Patricia Sharpe