Table of Contents

December 2006

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Features

The Greatest Tacos Ever Sold

Sixty-three of them, to be exact: from picadillo in Dallas and brisket tinga in Houston to carne asada gringa in San Antonio and chorizo-and-jalapeño in McAllen. Be sure you don’t leave this earth without trying each and every one.

Eating A Dead Horse

Even if you’ve never dined on the delicious remains of a noble steed, you probably have an opinion on whether the state’s two slaughterhouses should remain open. Boone Pickens does. And Charlie Stenholm. And Bo Derek. Not to mention the many traders and “killer buyers” for whom business is business.

Ron White Gets the Last Laugh

Thanks to the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, he’s richer than all get-out, and you’re not.

“You Don’t Want to Know What We Do After Dark”

The young, tattooed men who are members of the Southwest Cholos, La Primera, La Tercera Crips, Somos Pocos Pero Locos, Mara Salvatrucha, and other Houston gangs are vicious career criminals who regularly rob innocent people in some of the city’s most dangerous neighborhoods. They steal cars and break into businesses. They deal drugs on street corners. And they constantly wage war with one another.

Spurs of the Moment

These practical accessories of the cowboy lifestyle are some of the world’s most-sought-after Western collectibles—and every pair has a story.

Pasó por Aquí

José Cisneros, the legendary illustrator of the Spanish Southwest, is 96, almost blind, and nearly deaf. And, of course, he has no plans to put down his pen.

The Best Public Schools

A ranking of 574 elementary, middle, and high schools that really make the grade.

Columns

Behind the Lines

His Way or the Highway

Rick Perry’s Trans-Texas conundrum.

Virginia Postrel

As Plano Goes…

How the booming Dallas suburb became the new Peoria, sort of.

Letter From Houston

Physician, Heal Thyself

When Sam Hassenbusch was diagnosed with a deadly form of brain cancer, the only saving grace was his own history of treating the very same affliction.

Sarah Bird

Snakes on a Brain

The day I slithered from movie theater to movie theater.

Reporter

Topic A

Squeaker of the House

The Democrats and the Speaker.

The Horse’s Mouth

Being a Rockette

How a Rockette gets her kicks.

FAQ

Air Power

Alternative energy, my friend, is blowing in the wind.

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

She’s here!

A calf is born.

Faith Bases

CityFest Houston

William Martin Reviews our places of worship.

Minister of Health

The Big D

The unsweetened truth about diabetes.

Cojones

Beverly Kearney

An amazing recovery on track.

Hollywood, TX

Immaculate Misconception

Catherine Hardwicke’s bad faith.

Buy This Now

He Peds, She Peds

A bicycle built for you.

Street Smarts

West Nineteenth, Houston

West Nineteenth, Houston.

Texas Monthly Talks

Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker brings Idi Amin to life.

Previews+Reviews

Books

The best new books from Texas.

Previews+Reviews

Music

The best new music from Texas.

The Filter

Pat's Pick

Central 214

Miscellaneous

Web Extra

Taco Heaven

Senior editor Patricia Sharpe on eating and ranking tacos.

Editor’s Letter

Now Serving

Web Extra

Horse Sense

Senior editor Karen Olsson talks about horse slaughter—watching the deed, talking to advocates, and writing about the contentious issue.

Roar of the Crowd

Walk This Way

Web Extra

The Good Doctor

Writer-at-large Jan Reid on interviewing neurosurgeon Sam Hassenbusch, who was diagnosed with the same kind of cancer he had been treating for years.

Web Extra

Funny Guy

Senior editor John Spong on spending time with comedian Ron White.

Web Extra

Freddy Boy

Friends, admirers, and Texas musicians such as Augie Meyers and Ray Benson say good-bye to music legend and San Benito’s favorite son, Freddy Fender, who died October 14, 2006.

Books That Cook

60 Years of Home Cooking

Recipe

Crab Cakes