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May 2012

Books|
May 31, 2012

It’s Not About the Guv

There’s more to Texas politics than Rick Perry. Gail Collins's new book demonstrates that the Northeastern media establishment doesn't understand that.

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Roar of the Crowd|
May 31, 2012

Roar of the Crowd

“And with that I threw in a big dip of Copenhagen, cracked open a cold Lone Star, and knew I was home.”

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Food & Drink|
May 31, 2012

Uchi

FIRST COMES THE ARCHED eyebrow. Then the significant pause. Then the question: “Well, how was it?” This is the reaction of my Austin friends when they hear I’ve been to the Houston location of Uchi, Texas’s restaurant of the moment. Yes, Austin is eaten up with curiosity and jealousy, poor

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The Culture|
May 31, 2012

Jennifer Walden, Plastic Surgeon

Walden, who grew up in Austin, was the salutatorian of her class 
at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. After 
completing an aesthetic surgery fellowship at the Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, she built a successful practice in New York City, 
then returned to her hometown in

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Politics & Policy|
May 30, 2012

When in doubt, produce an internal poll

I can’t believe the Dewhurst campaign resorted to the old internal poll gimmick. Accrording to the Statesman, Mike Baselice has written a memo indicating why Dewhurst will defeat Ted Cruz in the runoff for U.S. senator: Recent internal campaign polling found that Dewhurst has a 65 percent favorable

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Politics & Policy|
May 30, 2012

Dewhurst falls short of the magic number

If there was one refrain I heard from the Dewhurst camp, it was that they wanted to win without a runoff. But they didn’t make it. From the start of the evening, it was pretty clear that Dewhurst was going to fall short. The closest he got was 47.3%. Hours

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Politics & Policy|
May 30, 2012

Straus posts solid win but chairs struggle

Straus’s margin of victory was of landslide proportions. Despite having more than $100,000 spent against him, and a blizzard of negative mailers, he cruised to a decisive victory over Matt Beebe. But the big story of the election is the carnage that befell Straus’s chairs. Vicki Truitt, Tuffy Hamilton, and

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Politics & Policy|
May 30, 2012

Ames Jones misses runoff

Now what? Texans for Lawsuit Reform invested a ton of money in Elizabeth Ames Jones, their handpicked candidate to defeat state senator Jeff Wentworth of San Antonio. But Ames Jones failed to make the runoff, leaving physician Donna Campbell to oppose Wentworth. Jones is well known in San Antonio, in

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Eat My Words|
May 30, 2012

P. Terry’s Unveils Two New Menu Items

Calling all bacon-burger lovers: P. Terry’s is about to make your dreams come true. The megapopular Austin burger joint is introducing applewood-smoked bacon on its menu at its new location in The Village at Westlake shopping center. This

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Politics & Policy|
May 29, 2012

Quorum Report: Bryan Hughes will run for speaker

Couldn’t Hughes wait until the election was over before the speaker’s race began? The July 31 runoffs now loom large, as they will be battles between the Straus- and anti-Straus factions of the Republican party in the House. The party is undergoing a purification, driven by Perry’s endorsements and alliances,

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Politics & Policy|
May 29, 2012

Endangered species list

These are the House incumbents whom I believe are in trouble as election day approaches: Sid Miller — He blew a huge lead and now appears to be headed for a runoff. Incumbents seldom fare well in runoffs. Jim Landtroop — Same story, second verse. An incumbent in a runoff.

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Politics & Policy|
May 28, 2012

Expect close races

Close races are the norm in redistricting years because candidates must communicate with large numbers of people they have never represented before. They don’t know their constituents and vice versa. The most effective campaign tool is direct mail, and candidates may not know what their opponents are saying about them

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Politics & Policy|
May 25, 2012

Public Policy Polling on the Senate race

The Tribune has the numbers: Dewhurst 46% Cruz 29% Leppert 15% James 3% I was not a believer in the recent UT/Tribune poll that showed Dewhurst’s lead down to single digits (40% to 31%). I don’t believe that the race has ever been this close. The PPP numbers seem much

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Politics & Policy|
May 24, 2012

Turnout could reach 1.4-1.5 million

This number comes from pollster Mike Baselice, based on high turnouts in Harris County. I’m surprised, because I thought there would be a lot of apathy in the absence of a presidential race. This level of participation would be good for David Dewhurst, because it would indicate that a lot

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Eat My Words|
May 24, 2012

East Side King & Jarro Cafe

Yesterday, we introduced you to John T. Edge’s newest book, The Truck Food Cookbook. The culinary author traveled across the country to dine at some of the nation’s most beloved mobile food establishments, including East Side King of Austin and Jarro Cafe in Houston, to

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May 23, 2012

Juárez Back on the Map. Literally.

Juárez, which had been scrubbed from the free tourist maps distributed in El Paso, will be included on the 2013 set of maps put out by the El Paso Business Region Chamber of Commerce.

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Eat My Words|
May 23, 2012

Eat St. Filming in Houston

Listen up Houston foodies: Eat St. will be filming at a number of mobile food trailers, trucks, and carts in the city from May 24-29. Some of the trucks and trailers involved include The Modular,

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Books|
May 23, 2012

Who’s Kinkier? Dallas or Houston?

There are 1,101 Houstonians on the waiting list to read one of the 38 library copies of 50 Shades of Grey. But the libraries of North Texas have stocked 148 copies and still have 829 people on hold.

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Politics & Policy|
May 23, 2012

UT regents post notice for meeting tomorrow

Patricia Kilday Hart reported the development in the Houston Chronicle blog about two hours ago. She writes: Remember those rumors that the University of Texas Board of Regents were considering firing UT-Austin President Bill Powers for “insubordination” after he mildly complained that they rejected a proposed tuition increase? 

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Eat My Words|
May 23, 2012

The Truck Food Cookbook

For the past few years, food trailers, trucks, and carts have rivaled the traditional brick-and-mortar building as primary sources of delicious, affordable modern cuisine. In fact, take a look around the state of Texas and you’ll see cities like Houston, Austin, and even Dallas jumping on the mobile food wagon

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Politics & Policy|
May 22, 2012

Perry goes on TV to tout Dewhurst

Here’s what he has to say: Texas Republicans have an important election on May the 29th.  We have a lot to be proud of.  That’s why I’m proud to endorse David Dewhurst,” Perry says in the 30-second TV spot. “David Dewhurst repeatedly cut spending. David strongly opposes a

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