March 2001 Cover

Photograph by Andrew Eccles. Styling by Trish Townsend, hair and makeup by Melissa Schleicher, hat courtesy of Buffalo Chips/New York, shirt by Sheri Bodell/ wearitall.com, pants by xoxo.

March 2001

Table of Contents

Features

Forty years after it was published, Billy Lee Brammer's novel about LBJ-era Austin is still one of the best ever written about American politics. Yet just as interesting is the story of Brammer himself.

Have you gotten lost in the Big Thicket? Attended a South Texas pachanga? Whether you’re a newcomer or a native, following these suggestions will give you a crash course in all things Texas—and one heck of a good time.

Who exactly was Cabeza de Vaca? Why did Texas revolutionaries shout, “Remember Goliad”? Sharpen your pencils for Part I of my four-part Texas literacy test.

After twenty years as a reporter who gave politicians a hard time, I decided to run for the Dallas City Council. Now I’m the one getting the hard time—from my fellow pols, who don’t trust me, and my former colleagues in the press, who’ve got me in their sights. And I’m enjoying every minute of it.

The next statewide elections are twenty months away, but a pack of would-be candidates—from a Laredo oilman to the mayor of Austin—are already running hard.

He's produced albums for the likes of Roy Orbison and Elvis Costello for years, but now Fort Worth's T Bone Burnett is writing songs again and composing music for movies and plays. At 53 he's on a creative roll and, as he says, "Never bored."

A passel of Texans invaded the nation’s capital in January, and the town may never be the same. A report from the inaugral front.

Columns

Behind the Lines

A tale of two Houstons.

Sports

What did Gregg Popovich learn after he coached the Spurs to their first NBA title two years ago? One is never enough.

Profile

A collection of the letters of influential sociologist C. Wright Mills shows that his radical ideas were grounded in his Texas upbringing.

Music

How are Texas' top two symphonies staying financially viable and relevant to young audiences? One concert at a time.

Religion

In today's stressful times, Buddhism's philosophy of peaceful detachment is resonating with more Texans than ever.

Miscellany

State Secrets

What Texas should learn from the California energy mess.

Reporter

How the Texas Seven will change the state's prisons.

The Ex Files

Valarie Rae Miller finds her better angels.

Texas Classics

. . . And the Earth Did Not Devour Him.

Texas Primer

How many people died in the New London school explosion of 1937?

Web Exclusives

Senior editors Anne Dingus and Joe Nick Patoski tell the story behind this month's cover story, "50 Things Every Texan Should Do."

So you think you know Texas? Take senior editor Anne Dingus' Web-only quiz and see if you know as much as you think you do.

You probably learned about the Texas State Bird and the Texas State Flag back in grade school, but just in case you've forgotten (or studied some other state or country), we've provided you with the following list of basics. Happy Texas Independence Day!

From revolution to independence.

A Big Weekend in Big D.

Recipes

In Port Aransas the roast of the town is at the Other Guy's Seafood Cafe.

Biz

Is Koch Industries the target of a dirty political attack—or is it just plain dirty?

Don Carty's vision for American Airlines takes off.

The Texas stock to buy right now

Why online life is slower in the country.

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