October 2007

Table of Contents

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Features

River Deep, Mountain High

There are any number of fun, adventurous, and unexpected things to do in the Big Bend region of far West Texas. Here are fifteen of my favorites, including scuba diving in Balmorhea, gliding over Marfa, drinking a microbrew in Alpine, horseback riding in Fort Davis, and floating through the Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande.

The Evolver

“All you’ve got is a famous name,” a Republican operative told George W. Bush. But six years later he was governor, and six years after that he was president. And six years after that, his place in history—not to mention the fate of the world—is a little uncertain.

The Unbankables

All over Dallas are working-class dreamers with more will than wallet, would-be entrepreneurs who’d start their own businesses if only they had savings, good credit, home equity. That’s what brings them to the PLAN Fund.

Plus:

American Dreamers

These six entrepreneurs are members of a unique Dallas program that is bringing the promise of microcredit to the Untied States: one small business at a time.

Horsemen, Pass By

In Bill Wittliff’s Lonesome Dove photos, make-believe has never seemed so real.

Number One With a Bullet

Miranda Lambert likes guns, but there’s more to her than that, just as the sultry pouts on her album covers don’t tell the whole story of an East Texas girl who always wanted to be Merle Haggard.

Plus:

Number One With a Bullet: Podcast

Listen to John Spong read his feature story on Miranda Lambert.

Columns

Behind the Lines

Requiem for a Heavyweight

Karl Rove’s mixed legacy.

Plus:

Requiem for a Heavyweight: Podcast

Listen to Paul Burka read his column.

Oscar Casares

The Waiting Game

I was a server at Pappasito’s for a week. It felt like a lifetime.

Letter From Marfa

One Hundred Boxes

Space, time, and Donald Judd reconsidered.

Gary Cartwright

Endless Summerall

What the double-breasted buffoons in today’s broadcast booths can learn from a legend of the game.

Prudence Mackintosh

Twice as Nice

The effortless goodwill of my high school reunion weekend.

Plus:

Twice as Nice: Podcast

Listen to Prudence Mackintosh read her column.

Reporter

Topic A

Loyalty Oaf

Going, going, Gonzales.

The Horse’s Mouth

Making Wine

Richard and Bunny Becker on making Texas wine.

FAQ

The Natural

Why all the fuss about Craig Biggio?

The Working Life

Laurens Fish III

Funeral director.

Faith Bases

Marathon Baptist Church

Marathon

Minister of Health

Take Heart

Let’s have a heart-to-heart.

Hollywood, TX

Fatally Hip

Hip-checking Wes Anderson.

Street Smarts

Downtown Bastrop

A Quickie Guide.

The Manual

Corny Dogs

Every corny dog has its day.

Texas Monthly Talks

Ray Benson

Ray Benson on Wills, weed, and the Wheel.

Plus:

Texas Monthly Talks: Video Extra

Watch Asleep at the Wheel front man Ray Benson on making a play about country great Bob Wills.

Previews+Reviews

Books

The best new books from Texas.

Previews+Reviews

Music

The best new music from Texas.

The Filter

Pat's Pick

Fearing’s

The Filter: Dining

New and Noteworthy

Brasserie Max And Julie, Houston and Soleil Bistro and Wine Bar, San Antonio

Jordan's Pick

Big State Festival

The Filter: Events

Museum With a View

Miscellaneous

State of the Art

Lions and Tigers and Bears!

A menagerie of team mascots at work—and play.

Multimedia

Eat! Sleep! Terlingua!

Tour two of Suzy Banks’ top picks: the Phat Café and La Posada Milagro Guesthouse.

Roar of the Crowd

All the King’s Men

Multimedia

Number One With a Bullet: Video Extra

Watch Miranda Lambert at the Academy of Country Music awards show.

Editor’s Letter

The Ones That Got Away