Brian D. Sweany
Brian D. Sweany is a senior executive editor at Texas Monthly, where he began his career in journalism as an intern in 1996. Born in Richardson and raised in Plano, Sweany earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of North Texas, in Denton, and a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Sweany has also worked as an assistant professor in the journalism department at Ithaca College, in New York, and as a senior editor at D Magazine, in Dallas. He is active in a number of civic and volunteer organizations, including serving on the board of the Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism at UNT and being named a Next Generation Fellow by the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law at UT-Austin. He lives in Austin with his wife, two children, and an ever-growing manuscript for The Kingdom of the Saddle, a biography of Charles Goodnight to be published by Penguin in the fall of 2014.
Features
A Capital Time
Midland's Tom Craddick shares a few memories from his forty-plus years in the Legislature.
The Kay Place
Kay Bailey Hutchison, the state’s senior senator and the first woman from Texas to hold that office, opens up about the changes in her party, why she decided to retire, and the governor’s race that got away.
The Cattle Trail Drive
Miles and Miles of Texas
The Hill Country Drive, the BBQ Market Drive, the Backwoods Drive, and thirteen other summer trips, from the mountains to the coast, that will take you down some of the prettiest, most picturesque, most wide-open stretches of asphalt Texas has to offer. Buckle up!
Debating Robert Caro
The fourth volume of an epic LBJ biography stirs more controversy.
R.I.P. DP, 1891-2012
Dublin Dr Pepper, Beverage Beloved By Many, Dies at 120
Because Mack Brown Has Something to Prove
Admit it, non-orangebloods. You took some pleasure in the collapse of the vaunted UT program last season. Well, guess what? Now it’s time for the empire to strike back.
Hall of Fame
Outdoors 101
Nothing marks an expert camper more than a mastery of the essential skills, so study up on these backwoods tricks before your next expedition.
The Great Terquasquicentennial Road Trip
Some people call it a quartoseptcentennial, or a septaquintaquinquecentennial (seriously), but you’d better save your breath. You’ll need it on this wide-ranging 6,000-mile voyage commemorating Texas’s 175th birthday. It starts in Glen Rose, ends in Austin, and stops along the way at 175 places that tell the story of the state, from the grassy field in La Porte where independence was won to the parking garage in Dallas where the Super Bowl was dreamed up; from the Austin dorm room where Dell Inc. was born to the college hall in Houston where Barbara Jordan learned to debate; from the hotel in San Antonio where Lydia Mendoza recorded “Mal Hombre” to the—well, you get the idea. And you’d better get started. The road awaits . . .
In Our Backyard
The faces—and voices—of eighteen Texans who are living the debate over illegal immigration.
West Toward Home
The Permian Basin is a place of pump jacks, big sky, generous neighbors, stinging sandstorms, and lonesome highways. For former first lady Laura Bush, it was the scene of an idyllic childhood—and a tragic accident that changed her life forever.
The Bucket List
Driving the River Road, in far West Texas; having a drink at the Mansion on Turtle Creek, in Dallas; fishing for bass in Caddo Lake; eating a chicken-fried steak in Strawn; searching for a lightning whelk along the coast; and 58 other things that all Texans must do before they die.
Post-Office
Has it only been one year since George W. Bush left the White House? A snapshot of the forty-third president and his inner circle at the height of their power.
People We’ll Miss—2009
A fond look back at 22 Texans who died in 2009, from Farrah Fawcett and Walter Cronkite to Brandon Lara and Joe Bowman.
The 50 Greatest Hamburgers In Texas
On our first-ever quest for the state’s best burgers, we covered more than 12,000 miles, ate at more than 250 restaurants, and gained, collectively, more than 40 pounds. Our dauntless determination (and fearless fat intake) was rewarded with a list of 50 transcendent burgers—and you’ll never guess which one ended up on top. Check out our Best Burger section.
Art of the Weekend
Court Order
Styles and Styles of Texas
The thirty Texans with the most iconic, unforgettable, eye-popping looks, from Davy Crockett to Beyoncé.
The 40 Best Small-Town Cafes
Our exhaustive, exhausting, strictly scientific (and lamentably fattening) survey of the finest home cooking around, from Maxine’s on Main, in Bastrop, to El Paraiso, in Zapata.
The Republic of Chad
Eight years ago, the closest presidential election ever was settled in a political street fight. In this oral history of the Florida recount, the victors recall the unbelievable twists and turns that put George W. Bush in the White House.
BBQ08
Eighteen hungry reviewers. 14,773 miles driven/flown. 341 joints visited. Countless bites of brisket, sausage, chicken, pork, white bread, potato salad, and slaw—and vats of sauce—ingested. There are only fifty slots on our quinquennial list of the best places to eat barbecue in Texas. Only five of those got high honors. And only one (you’ll never guess which one in a million years) is the best of the best.
Child’s Play
Summer vacation is right around the corner, but that doesn’t mean you should panic. We’ve rounded up 68 of our favorite things to do with your toddlers, teens, and every kid in between. Dance the hokey pokey. Rope a horse. Eat way too many hot dogs. Zip down a waterslide. And yes, feed the animals.
The Permanent Campaign
Elections disappear into the history books, but the buttons and matchbooks and posters that exhorted us to vote for one candidate or another live on in our memories—and in the personal collection of the state’s biggest political junkie.
Thank God It’s Friday
And Saturday. And Sunday. The arrival of fall means weekends spent watching football, up close and on-screen, and yet another opportunity to love the greatest game on earth for all the usual reasons. Forty-nine of them, in fact.
Water, Water Everywhere
From kayaking on Town Lake to mountain biking around Joe Pool Lake, from bass fishing on Lake Fork to horseback riding on the shores of Lake Whitney, here are some of our favorite things to do in, on, and around Texas lakes.
Game Boys
Staubach and Aikman, together at last. A Bum Phillips belly laugh. Jerry Levias, first and always. These and other heroes of Texas football, past and present, pose for a pigskin portfolio.
Horns Aplenty
Will this be the year that the University of Texas Longhorns—the most talented college football team in the country—win their first national title since 1970? Yes. Hook ’em.
Education • Rod Paige
Passing the test.
LBJ’s Living Legacy
Members of LBJ's inner circle share their remembrances of a man whose powers of persuasion were truly awe-inspiring.
Over Time
Eleven years later, the Permian High School Panthers remember Friday Night Lights, the book that put them—and Odessa—on the map.
Full Nelson
Where Are They Now?
Whatever happened to the 1971 Super Bowl–champion Cowboys?
Columns | Miscellany
Scout’s Dishonor
An Eagle Scout wrestles with what’s happened to the organization he loved.
Mappily Ever After
Once again, redistricting has devolved into a bitter, partisan, confusing, chaotic mess. But take heart, voters! There is a better way.
Big D-Vide
Another South Dallas politician is under investigation for corruption. Why can’t the city seem to change its script?
Time Will Tell
I saw my first historical marker as a Cub Scout in Pack 291. Nearly thirty years later, I’m still hooked on the story of Texas.
Brittney Griner
Houston
T. Boone Pickens
Amarillo
Leppert Colony
In the ninth-largest city in America, boring is the new exciting.
Hartbroken
When general manager John Hart arrived in Arlington last November, he promised to turn the Texas Rangers into winners. Then the team got off to its worst start in history. Some things never change.
The Franchise
Is the Dallas Mavericks' Mark Cuban a pushy billionaire with a lust for publicity, or is he an energetic owner who has saved the team? Do we have to choose?
Green With Envy
The University of North Texas Mean Green Eagles had one of their most exciting football seasons ever last year. Too bad everyone was talking about UT.
Centered
When David Robinson opened a school for poor kids in September, he proved once again that he was San Antonio's most valuable player.
Less Is Moore
For almost four decades, G. A. Moore, Jr. has quietly gone about becoming the greatest high school football coach in Texas history.
The Ex-Mayors
Dirty Thirty
Nancy Lieberman-Cline
Ken Hall
Ronnie Dugger
Craig Washington
The “Sugarland Express” Gang
The Dallas Cowboys' Ex-Quarterbacks
Third and Long
R. C. Slocum is the winningest football coach in A&M history. So why are some Aggies hoping he gets sacked?
The Cash Machine
Texas Tech didn't hire Bobby Knight to win games—it hired him to make money. He should score big as long as he doesn't choke.
The Better Deal
Forget A-Rod's $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers. Jeff Bagwell of the Houston Astros has more important numbers to brag about.
Seeing the Light
An old cemetery. A deserted crossroads. A ghostly reflection—or a figment of our imagination? On the trail of a West Texas mystery.
Voting Rites
LBJ, George Wallace, Selma: Eavesdropping on the making of history 35 years ago this month.
Sports
Satellite Rides
We Remember: Tom Landry
A tip of the hat to Tom Landry.
Reporter
Being a Lawyer
Lisa M. Tatum on being a lawyer
Being a River Walk Tour Guide
Elizabeth Taylor on being a River Walk tour guide.
Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, Dallas
Performing Sketch Comedy
Shannon Sedwick on using the F-word, playing Ann Richards, and pulling things out of her dress like pipe wrenches and saws.
Being a Navy SEAL Sniper
Chris Kyle on using his first gun to shoot birds and squirrels, wondering if he would be able to kill someone, and feeling like a secret agent.
Being a Hollywood Extra
Jesse Heiman on signing up at Central Casting, working with Leonardo DiCaprio, and still not paying his own phone bill.
Anchoring the CBS Evening News
Scott Pelley on anchoring the CBS Evening News.
Downtown Denton
Plenty of college students frequent this historic area, but they’re not the only ones who avail themselves of the culinary, sartorial, and vintage offerings on hand.
Hosting a Children’s Show
Michele Lepe on hosting a children's show.
Making Dr Pepper
David Thomas on making Dr Pepper.
Batting DH
Vladimir Guerrero on batting DH.
Playing No-Limit Texas Hold ’Em
Doyle Brunson on playing No-Limit Texas Hold ’Em.
Covering Football
Dave Campbell on covering football.
Real Estate
Ebby Halliday, real estate agent.
Being Mayor
Hilmar G. Moore on being mayor.
Downtown Plano
A not-so-sleepy suburban haven.
Sprinting
Jeremy Wariner on being an Olympic sprinter.
Fed Up
The pall over Dallas City Hall.
Make That A Double
Send in the clones.
Wall of Confusion
So much for the border fence.
We Beg His Pardon
Beg the president’s pardon?
Air Power
Alternative energy, my friend, is blowing in the wind.
Red All Over
A fix for political junkies.
Being a Character Actor
G.W. Bailey on being a character actor.
Pay as You Grow
Does incentive pay for teachers make the grade?
Being a Cable TV Pundit
Mouth Paul Begala talks about … talking.
Crude Awakening
Is it okay to hate Exxon Mobil?
Hoop Dreams
The Spurs versus the Mavs.
Pitching in The Majors
Everything I could ever tell you about Huston Street on pitching in the bigs.
Saved by the Bell
Ann Wolfe pulls no punches.
Cat Osterman
Cat Osterman turns on the heat.
Todd Hays
Olympian Todd Hays puts his opponents on ice.
Charlie Rose
Charlie Rose blooms in Dallas–Fort Worth.
Hannah Storm
Elliott Smith
Anntastic!
Ann Richards ads it up.
Stephen Tobolowsky
Unjustice
A widower’s search for justice
Brad Maule
James Lee Burke
Jaclyn Smith
Greg Germann
Hoop Scoop
A slam dunk for San Antonio’s economy.
Robert Benton
Mean Joe Greene
Tommy Tune
Patricia Richardson
Jimmy King
Web Exclusives
The Paul Sadler Interview
As the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate prepares for his final debate against Ted Cruz, he discusses why he thinks he can win, the state of the Democratic party, and what the word "troll" really means.
Snap Decisions
Your unofficial playbook for watching college football in Texas during the weekend of October 23.
Snap Decisions
Your unofficial playbook for watching college football in Texas during the weekend of October 16.
Snap Decisions
Your unofficial playbook for watching college football in Texas during the weekend of October 9.
Snap Decisions
Your unofficial playbook for watching college football in Texas this weekend.
Star Writer
Contributing editor Stephen Harrigan talks about his new book, Challenger Park, which was excerpted in this month’s issue.
Texas History 101
LBJ’s most important election wasn’t the presidential race he won. It was the Senate campaign he lost.
Who's That Girl?
Texas Monthly writer-at-large Kinky Friedman dresses up the January 2002 cover.
Cheers to Salman Rushdie
Novelist Salman Rushdie, whose new book, Fury, will be published by Random House in September, kicks off the twenty-first annual Margarett Root Brown Houston Reading Series on September 10 at the Alley Theatre.
Happy Trails
Plano isn't just a plain ol' suburb of Dallas. It has parks, history, and much more. Honest.
Best of Texas: Dallas Arts
Thanks to the vision of the Dallas Arts District, the city has finally created a masterpiece in the heart of downtown.
Best of Texas: Dallas
Roger Staubach, on business, the Cowboys, and the joys of eating out.
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