January 2001 Cover

January 2001

Table of Contents

Features

A year of alarming art, befuddled bus drivers, crustacean confiscators, demanding donors, entomological eats, feckless felons, garbled George W., hideous headgear, inspirational ice cream, juiced journalists, KKK kiss-offs, Lubbock lampooners, mucho manure, nada nudity, oafish officials, P.O.'d policemen, quirky queens, raunchy Republicans, shapely sideburns, thanatological toys, used uniforms, vampire vanquishers, witless waiters, x-pert x-terminators, yeoman Yankees, and zany zealots.

Ornette Coleman's radical theory of harmolodics helped redefine jazz. His relationship with the music business has always been troubled, however, and today the Fort Worth native suffers from benign neglect. But his tenor sax still packs an emotional wallop.

Nine years after the brutal murder of four teenage girls in a yogurt shop rocked the city of Austin, the police say they have finally caught the killers. But they have no evidence and no witnesses—only two confessions that the defendants say were coerced. Which is why, when the case goes to trial in February, the cops will be on trial too.

For years my relatives have claimed that they were robbed of oil and gas royalties on Padre Island. Last May a Brownsville jury agreed, vindicating—for now—the family's proud heritage and proving that, sometimes, the little guy does win.

Although Texans from Scott Joplin to Jack Teagarden have made noteworthy contributions to the history of jazz, a music form that may be our country's greatest artistic achievement, they are all but forgotten now. It's high time Texas did something about that.

Columns

Behind the Lines

And the campaign goes on—into the legislative session.

Profile

When San Antonio restaurateur Mario Cantú died last November, he left behind a legacy of political activism along with fine Mexican fare.

Profile

Artist Frank Kozik has been called a "rock-poster genius," creating jarring, macabre images for bands like the Butthole Surfers and Sonic Youth. So why did he leave Austin for San Francisco seven years ago? He had his designs.

Crime

Rick Sikes and the Rhythm Rebels could have been bigger than Willie Nelson—if only bank robbery hadn't been on the playlist.

Reporter

Face

David Gordon Greene gets the big picture.

The Ex Files

Fess Parker's brush with the law.

Reporter

Why Troy Aikman shouldn't retire.

Texas Classics

A Prince of a Fellow

Previews+Reviews

The best new books from Texas.

Previews+Reviews

The best new music from Texas.

Miscellany

State Secrets

Inside the election's numbers.

We Remember

The life and accomplishments of Henry B. Gonzalez.

Web Exclusives

Read the first chapter of Shelby Hearon's A Prince of a Fellow, the subject of Don Graham's Texas Classics.

An excerpt from Jon Kalb's new book about "science adventurism."

Executive editor Paul Burka and senior editor Anne Dingus tell the story behind January's cover story, "The 2001 Bum Steer Awards".

Twenty essential recordings by Texas' best jazz musicians.

Ever driven through a place and wondered how in the heck you pronounce it? Here's some help.

South Padre in the winter.

The story behind Frost Bank's rise.

Recipes

From James Wagner, pastry chef at The Mansion on Turtle Creek.

Pudding a new twist on shrimp at Houston’s Amazón Grill.

Experience fine food done Texas style with Caroline Stuart's The Food of Texas: Authentic Recipes From the Lonestar State.

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