October 2000 Cover

Illustration by Mark Zingarelli.

October 2000

Table of Contents

Features

Take one of the nation's wealthiest men, the enigmatic, Egyptian-born Fayez Sarofim. Add his socialite first wife and her brassy successor. Stir in River Oaks mansions and greedy lawyers, boatloads of money and oceans of booze. Mix it all together and what do you get? A hell of a mess that's the talk of Houston.

Thirty years ago J. David Bamberger bought "the worst piece of land in Blanco County," then cleared the cedar and planted native trees and grasses. Today his ranch is a haven for birders, environmentalists, and students— and he is a revered guru of land stewardship.

In this excerpt from her just-published memoir, Natural Blonde, syndicated gossip columnist Liz Smith remembers her Fort Worth childhood and life with father.

Two-four-six-eight, who do we appreciate? San Antonio businessman Jack DeVere, whose collection of Texas football memorabilia evokes a simpler, more innocent time.

Sophisticated, likable politician? Arrogant, not-ready- for-prime-time player? Rick Perry is both—as well as the presumptive next governor of Texas.

Want to get up close and personal with kudus and kangaroos, tigers and toucans, okapi and orangutans? We're especially fauna these zoos, the ten best in the state.

Columns

Travel

Rising high above the floor of the Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico's Museo Maderas del Carmen nature reserve is like a whole other country. Plus: information on how to visit the park.

Books

The problem with Mary Karr's latest confessional memoir, Cherry, is that she won't stop confessing.

Behind the Lines

Ross Perot's lost legacy.

Profile

Woodville's Lucas Babin may be this year's model, but when he left for L.A. to make it big, he had no idea that he'd have such a smooth landing on the runway.

Music

On the record with Chris Strachwitz, whose Arhoolie label has quietly built the world's best collection of indigenous Texas music.

Food and Drink

For nearly 25 years the state's wineries have struggled to mature. Will Texas wines ever go well with anything?

Reporter

Music Review

Music Review

Music Review

Music Review

Book Review

Miscellany

Texas Classics

Alpaca

The Ex Files

Lee Ann Womack's radio days.

Face

Juan Miró builds his legacy in Austin.

Texas Primer

How many monkeys did Frank Buck capture?

Reporter

Archer City brings up the lights on the Royal theater.

State Secrets

Justice for Medicaid?

The Inside Story

Web Exclusives

Senior editor Skip Hollandsworth tells the story behind this month's cover story, "Can't Buy Me Love." How he got his sources to talk, what he did when they wouldn't, and other secrets of his reporting.

"Why do zoos keep animals in cages?" Tips on answering this and other questions.

Test assistant editor Jordan Mackay's knowledge of Texas wine—his piece, "Sour Grapes," about the state of the Texas wine industry, ran in this issue.

Recipes

Houston’s Tony Ruppe’s has got your goat cheese.

Biz

Wayne Reaud's hard drive against Compaq.

The Internet faces the music.

Bush's fat cats hit the bottom line.

The Texas stock to buy right now.

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