Patricia Busa McConnico
Managing Editor Patricia Busa McConnico joined the staff of TEXAS MONTHLY as an editorial assistant in 1995. A native of Harlingen, Texas, McConnico holds a bachelor of arts degree in English, a bachelor of science degree in journalism, and a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin.
Features
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. June 2008
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. June 2006
Galveston to Corpus on FM 521, Texas Highway 35, and other roads
Snow geese, the Big Tree, sandy beaches and one gigantic chemical plant. May 2002
Old-Fashioned Texas
Texas is changing before our eyes, but fried pies, drive-in movie theaters, and other vestiges of earlier days are all around. To find these treasures, we risked life, limb, and cholesterol count-and had a blast from the past. August 2001
On the Water Front
Summer’s blast furnace is firing up. Luckily, Texas is a paradise of spring-fed pools, sparkling beaches, and more. Here are our picks for the best places to chill out, get wet, and go off the deep end. Plus extra web-only information! June 2001
Columns | Miscellany
Kim Dawson
September 2001
Albany
May 2004
COMEDY
April 2004
GET OUT
March 2004
SPORTS
February 2004
A GREAT WEEKEND IN FORT WORTH
January 2004
POP CULTURE
November 2003
Museums
September 2003
Nostalgia
August 2003
Restaurant Guide
August 2003
Restaurant Guide
July 2003
Restaurant Guide
June 2003
Restaurant Guide
April 2003
Restaurant Guide
January 2003
Restaurant Guide
December 2002
Restaurant Guide
November 2002
Restaurant Guide
October 2002
Restaurant Guide
September 2002
Restaurant Guide
August 2002
Restaurant Guide
July 2002
Restaurant Guide
June 2002
Restaurant Guide
April 2002
Restaurant Guide
March 2002
Restaurant Guide
February 2002
Restaurant Guide
January 2002
On Stage
December 2001
Restaurant Guide
November 2001
A Great Week
October 2001
Restaurant Guide
August 2001
Restaurant Guide
July 2001
Restaurant Guide
May 2001
Restaurant Guide
March 2001
Valarie Rae Miller
Valarie Rae Miller finds her better angels. March 2001
Restaurant Guide
February 2001
Thomas Haden Church
Thomas Haden Church goes natural. February 2001
Fess Parker
Fess Parker's brush with the law. January 2001
Bill Owens
Colorado governor Bill Owens joins the party. December 2000
Janine Turner
Janine Turner gets into character. November 2000
Lee Ann Womack
Lee Ann Womack's radio days. October 2000
Aaron Latham
The story about Aaron Latham. September 2000
Jim Lehrer
Jim Lehrerthis just in. August 2000
Ronnie Dunn
Ronnie Dunn was a good sport. July 2000
Larry Gatlin
Larry Gatlin's Odessa high note. May 2000
Charles Barsotti
April 2000
Willie Brown
Willie Brown March 2000
Dabney Coleman
The curtain rises on Dabney Coleman. February 2000
Judith Ivey
Judith Ivey's drawl recall. January 2000
Reporter
South Padre Island
South Padre for grown-ups. August 2006
Family Fun
An old-fashioned carousel, an authentic pioneer villageand starry, starry nights. September 2004
Reconnected
South Padre Island on the road to recovery. February 2002
Annette O’Toole
Dancing with Annette O’Toole June 2000
George Carlin
More than seven words—none of them dirty—about George Carlin’s Fort Worth days. December 1999
Michael Nesmith
November 1999
Barbara Mandrell
Barbara Mandrell’s Corpus Christi harmonies October 1999
William J. Bennett
William Bennett journeys to Junction. September 1999
Star Jones
McMemories from Star Jones. July 1999
Rip Torn
June 1999
Date Line
The world’s largest online love line. May 1999
Jason and Jeremy London
May 1999
Joe Morgan
April 1999
Lucinda Williams
March 1999
The Ex Files
February 1999
CompuSoap
An Austin soap opera goes online. January 1999
Michael Martin Murphey
January 1999
Phyllis George
December 1998
Joel Coen
October 1998
Day Careful
A Dallas company’s virtual child care. April 1998
Ship Shape
A South Texan adds a chapter to the Apollo 13 story. May 1997
Disc Golf
January 1997
Web extras
Love Story
Executive editor Skip Hollandsworth on interviewing writer Sandra Brown. August 2007
All the King’s Men
Executive editor S. C. Gwynne on going to the King Ranch. August 2007
A Time to Remember
Articles editor Brian D. Sweany on spending an afternoon with John Graves. October 2006
Football Fever
Articles editor Brian D. Sweany talks about this month’s cover story on football. September 2006
Across the Border
Senior editor John Spong talks about finding Immigrant X, listening to him talk about coming to America, and learning about how he lives his life here illegally. July 2006
Texas Tidbits
To get primed for the motion picture release of Dallas, here are a few nuggets of information about one of television’s most popular series. July 2006
Digital Underground
Executive editor Mimi Swartz talks about Houston’s Bellaire High School and a potent combination: teenagers, drugs, and the Internet. June 2006
Waiting for Butterflies
Creative director Scott Dadich talks about contributing photographer Dan Winters’s photo essay on lepidopterans. May 2006
By George
Senior editor Pamela Colloff on writing about Laredo debutantes. April 2006
Texas, Our Texas
Editorial director Christopher Keyes on developing this month’s cover story. April 2006
Into the Fire
Senior editor Katy Vine, who wrote this month’s story about the blaze that destroyed the North Texas town of Ringgold, talks about fire analysis, devastation, and rebuilding. April 2006
Speaking Out
Senior editor Pamela Colloff on spending a day in Crawford and talking to war protesters. March 2006
War Zone
Editorial director Christopher Keyes talks about this month’s special issue on the Iraq war. March 2006
Tough Times at Shoemaker High
Executive editor Mimi Swartz on talking to high schoolers in Killeen about losing a parent during wartime. March 2006
The Unseen Enemy
Executive editor Skip Hollandsworth talks about Master Sergeant James Coons and the soldier’s battle with post-traumatic stress disorder. March 2006
Home, Sweet Home
Senior editor Gary Cartwright on Austin and what he likes best about the liberal city he calls home. February 2006
Eating Out
Senior editor Patricia Sharpe on the state’s top restaurants. February 2006
Mr. Not-So-Nice Guy
Executive editor Skip Hollandsworth on his most difficult interview, actor Tommy Lee Jones February 2006
Murder, She Wrote
Senior editor Pamela Colloff on researching a 45-year-old murder case, tracking down sources, and using a ghost story to show how the crime still haunts Odessa. February 2006
Game Highlights
Editor Evan Smith talks about watching the Rose Bowl, text-messaging University of Texas athletics director DeLoss Dodds, and putting Vince Young on the cover. February 2006
Made in China
Brook Larmer, Newsweek’s Shanghai bureau chief and the author of Operation Yao Ming, on basketball sensation Yao Ming, sports in China, and writing his first book. November 2005
Welcome to the Dome
Associate editor John Spong talks about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, its survivors living in the Astrodome, and new beginnings. November 2005
Eating Around
Senior editor Patricia Sharpe on how she picked this year’s best new restaurants. February 2005
Split Personality
Executive editor S. C. Gwynne, who wrote this month’s cover story, talks about Speaker of the House Tom Craddick, his seemingly average-guy life in Midland, and his powerful persona in Austin. February 2005
Mrs. Feelgood
Executive editor Skip Hollandsworth on getting Burleson's Joanne Webb to talk about her sex-toy business. October 2004
Sleeping Around
Writer-at-large Suzy Banks on what she likes best about staying in a hotel. October 2004
Love Thy Neighbor
Writer-at-large Cecilia Balli on U.S. ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza and the two countries' post-9/11 relationship. October 2004
Keep on Truckin'
Associate editor John Spong on Toyota trucks, the SUV craze, and hybrid pickups. August 2004
Smooth Operator
Associate editor Katy Vine on Houston businessman Tilman Fertitta and his impact on Galveston's tourism revival. July 2004
Bon Vivant
Senior editor Patricia Sharpe on crème brûlée, eating out, and the best new restaurant in the state. February 2004
True Crime
Journalists around the nation wanted access to Todd Becker, the all-American dad who also ran a safe-stealing ring, but only executive editor Skip Hollandsworth got him to talk. February 2004
Tough Call
Senior editor Pamela Colloff discusses abortion, access, and what it's like to work on an emotionally charged story. July 2003
The Dude Is In
Associate editor John Spong talks about Owen Wilson and "The Story of O." June 2003
A Peach of a Story
Writer-at-large Suzy Banks talks about fuzz, a parade, and where to find the best Texas peaches. June 2003
Speech Lessons
Senior editor Pamela Colloff discusses accents and how her own has changed since she moved to Texas. June 2003
Country Reporter
Writer-at-large Suzy Banks talks about her feature story, "Head for the Hills." April 2003
Happy Trails
When playing tour guide, there's no place like home. December 2002
Happy Trails
The small East Texas town of Jefferson makes for a perfect weekend getawayit just takes a while to get there. November 2002
Happy Trails
For a quick taste of Mexico, head south to Nuevo Laredo, where you'll find colorful people, wonderful shops, and fine restaurants. October 2002
Happy Trails
For a great escape, head to Corpus Christi, the city on the bay that sparkles. August 2002
Training Camp
At the Mack Brown Women's Clinic on football, no men are allowed. Females ask tough questions, learn about offensive strategy, and have a ball. August 2002
Happy Trails
There's more to Fredericksburg than antiques shoppinghonest. July 2002
Happy Trails
The Marble Falls area not only offers numerous lakes but also good restaurants and loads of fun. June 2002
Happy Trails
Spend a great weekend sightseeing in San Antonio. May 2002
Road Rules
If you need a refresher course on the basic courtesies of drivingboth in the city and on the highwayhere are ten tips that will keep you in the fast lane. May 2002
Happy Trails
Rockport is a jewel. Not only does this coastal town offer quaint bed-and-breakfasts but it also offers good restaurants and lovely vistas. April 2002
Happy Trails
In Cowtown you can expect to find more than cowboys. In fact, Fort Worth has some of the best museums in the state. March 2002
Happy Trails
The Fort Davis area has a lot to offerlike the McDonald Observatory, the Davis Mountains State Park, and some peace and quiet. February 2002
Happy Trails
Soak in some South Texas historywithout hanging your wallet out to dryin Victoria and Port Lavaca. December 2001
Texas Tidbits
A good name means somethingespecially to football fans. October 2001
Happy Trails
Glen Rose and Granbury are fast becoming the weekend getaway spots. Find out why. September 2001
Happy Trails
Need a little R&R? Head to Port Aransas for a lazy weekend of shelling, sunning, and sea breezes. May 2001
Texas Tidbits
April showers bring wacky weather in May. We a look at Mother Nature's power. May 2001
Texas Tidbits
Travel From Athens to Victoriaand never cross the state line. April 2001
Texas Tidbits
Charro Days on the border. February 2001
Texas History 101
The story behind Frost Bank's rise. January 2001
Happy Trails
South Padre in the winter. January 2001
Texas Tidbits
Ever driven through a place and wondered how in the heck you pronounce it? Here's some help. January 2001
Texas Monthly Biz
Kim Dawson
Kim Dawson December 2000
Stephen Clark
Stephen Clark November 2000
Dennis Nixon
Dennis Nixon October 2000
Sweet Charity
The biggest university endowmentswho gives, how much, and why. September 2000
Gerald Hines
September 2000
Nicole Miller
August 2000
Gordon Bethune
July 2000
Katherine Hammer
June 2000

Chisum Trail (Sat Jul 5 at 12:13 PM)

Oh Big Brother, Where Art Thou (Fri Jul 4 at 9:30 AM)

Clay Felker (Tue Jul 1 at 11:15 AM)

Madam, I'm Adam (Sun Jun 22 at 4:34 PM)

Eating Vancouver (Mon Jun 30 at 10:04 PM)


