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.

by Brian D. Sweany

 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.

by Leslie Baldwin, Caleb Bennett, Sarah Bourbon, Jordan Breal, Paul Burka, Amber Byfield, Marilyn Carter, Cathy Casey, David Courtney, Libby Farris, Megan Giller, Freddy Gottesman, Ross Green, Lisa J. Grissom, Melissa Guerra, Michael Hall, Steve Harmon, Stacy Hollister, Irene Kosela, Stacey Van Landingham, Patricia Busa McConnico, Missy Colbert Nichols, Brad Perkins, Tony Privett, Ronn Reeger, Katharyn Rodemann, Emily Rosenthal, Patricia Sharpe, Sandy Sheehy, Jake Silverstein, Eileen Smith, Alison Sterken, Brian D. Sweany, Kim Todd, Amanda M. Trimble, Andrea Valdez, Reese Vaughn, Katy Vine and Lois Wischkaemper

 The Fugitive

Friends and family knew Deborah Murphey as a mild-mannered nurse and a loving wife and mother. Then a U.S. marshal knocked on her door.

by Skip Hollandsworth

 He Saw the Light

Wyman Meinzer takes the most amazing pictures of Texas skies you’ve ever seen. Here are seven unforgettable shots from his new book.

Before and After

For some residents of Mount Pleasant, the April 16 immigration raid on the local chicken plant was no more than a segment on the evening news. For others, including many legal residents of the tiny East Texas town, it was the moment everything changed.

by Karen Olsson

Behind the Lines

Two-Party Animal

Why November 4 was a good day for everyone.

by Paul Burka

Letter From Austin

The Unusual Suspects

The arson of the Governor’s Mansion in June was as mystifying as it was heartbreaking. Could Austin anarchists have been to blame?

by Pamela Colloff

Oscar Casares

Grass Roots

My father was passionate about lawn care. Me? Not so much.

Sarah Bird

The Goodbye Boy

My only son is leaving for college, and I’m weeping through Mamma Mia! Lord help me.

In the Chute

The Show Goes On

The Texas Ballet Theater; Olafur Eliasson; Art Guys in Abilene.

by Jordan Breal

Texquisite Corpse

Twin Wells

The final chapter of “Twin Wells,” by Elmer Kelton.

by Elmer Kelton

Street Smarts

Downtown Boerne

Downtown Boerne.

by Andrea Valdez

Hollywood, TX

Marley and Him

Owen Wilson’s new movie is no dog.

by Christopher Kelly

The Texanist

Offering fine advice since 2007

Should men get pedicures?

by David Courtney

Green Guinea Pig

This Is for Wheel

The hybrid of my dreams.

by Jim Atkinson

The Working Life

Anthony Mack

Letter Carrier.

As told to Katy Vine

The Cheap Seats

Bowl-O-Rama

Remember the Alamo Bowl!

by Jason Cohen

The Horse’s Mouth

Our Economy

Dallas Fed chair Richard Fisher on our lame economy.

by Pamela Colloff

Texas Monthly Talks

Mark Seliger

Mark Seliger on how to take a photograph.

by Evan Smith

Previews+Reviews

Books

The best new books from Texas.

Reviewed by Mike Shea

Previews+Reviews

Music

The best new music from Texas.

Reviewed by Jeff McCord

Pat’s Pick

Textile

Textile, Houston.

by Patricia Sharpe

The Filter: Dining

New and Noteworthy

Tresca, San Antonio, and Sala, Dallas.

by Patricia Sharpe

Multimedia

Behind the Lines: Podcast

Multimedia

Twelve Chapters of “Twin Wells.”

Listen to each author read a chapter.

Multimedia

Ann Dickenson, Regular

Multimedia

The Goodbye Boy: Podcast

Multimedia

Twin Wells: Podcast

Elmer Kelton reads “The box.”

Multimedia

Grady and Lorine Glass, Regulars

Multimedia

Allen and Pat Knight, Owner and Piemaker

Multimedia

Easy as Pie

Pie Happy Hour every weekday at the Blue Bonnet Cafe.

Multimedia

Fried Green Pickles

Good eats at the Texan Cafe.

Multimedia

Comfort Food

A slide show of images from the state’s best small-town cafes.

Roar of the Crowd

Dazed and Confused

Editor’s Letter

In With the New

by Evan Smith

Multimedia

Wide Open Spaces

Photographer Wyman Meinzer captures the majesty of the Texas horizon.

Contributors

Patricia Sharpe, Oscar Casares, and Adam Wiseman

Web Extra

Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis

An extended interview with Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis.

by Jeff McCord

Web Extra

Jeff  Guinn

An extended interview with Jef Guinn, author of The Christmas Chronichles.

by Mike Shea

Web Extra

Whither the Republicans?

Eileen talks with Paul Burka about double digits, John Cornyn, Rick Perry, KBH, and Sarah Palin’s dynamite wardrobe

by Eileen Smith

Recipe

Pecan Pie

Recipe

Pumpkin Custard Pie

by Patricia Sharpe

Recipe

Delicious Pecan Pie

by Kit McConnico

Recipe

Hydro Bibb Salad

Web Extra

Remembering Jim Mattox

by Paul Burka

Web Extra

She Gets It

by Eileen Smith

Web Extra

Slow to Evolve

by Katy Vine