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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 Lehrer—this 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 village—and 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 getaway—it 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 shopping—honest. 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 driving—both in the city and on the highway—here 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 offer—like the McDonald Observatory, the Davis Mountains State Park, and some peace and quiet. February 2002

Happy Trails

Soak in some South Texas history—without hanging your wallet out to dry—in Victoria and Port Lavaca. December 2001

Texas Tidbits

A good name means something—especially 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 Victoria—and 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 endowments—who gives, how much, and why. September 2000

Gerald Hines

September 2000

Nicole Miller

August 2000

Gordon Bethune

July 2000

Katherine Hammer

June 2000