The Texanist
November 15, 2022
The Texanist: How Do You Become an Honorary Texan?
A Plano man wonders how the likes of Bob Dylan, Sarah Palin, and John Wayne qualified for this prestigious designation.
The Texanist
Since July 2007, the Texanist has taught many a well-intentioned Texan how to properly conduct him- or herself. Is it ever okay to ask somebody how many acres he has? Is it acceptable to spit tobacco juice at the office? Can one have too many Texas-themed tattoos? Why is Big Red so good? Who knows? Wait, the Texanist does!
The Texanist
October 18, 2022
The Texanist: Do We Really Want Texas to Be “Wine Country”?
A Lubbock woman isn’t sure the state’s wildly successful vineyards fit with our Wild West image.
The Texanist
September 13, 2022
The Texanist: Why Have the Six Flags Disappeared?
An Amarillo man is unhappy that the iconic banners no longer fly in front of the Texas Travel Information Centers.
The Texanist
August 16, 2022
The Texanist: Does a Texas Musician Need Three Names to Succeed?
A Fredericksburg man wonders how Willie Nelson ever prevailed in a state that brought us Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Jimmie Dale Gilmore.
The Texanist
July 29, 2022
The Texanist: Why Do Texans Call a Pig in a Blanket a Kolache?
A Lone Star State native living in Chicago insists that only small pastry squares filled with cooked fruit deserve that name.
The Texanist
July 19, 2022
The Texanist: Would a Real Man Wear a Pink Guayabera?
A Houston woman is miffed by her boyfriend’s reaction to a thoughtful gift.
The Texanist
June 21, 2022
The Texanist: How Much Should You Tip at a Barbecue Joint?
An Austin man wonders if the people who stand behind a counter and take our orders deserve the same remuneration as the waiters and waitresses of the world.
The Texanist
June 6, 2022
The Texanist: Would There Be a ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Without Texas?
Moviegoers have returned to theaters in droves to see the long-awaited sequel—and we have Texas to thank.
The Texanist
May 17, 2022
The Texanist: Will Fancy Italian Cowboy Boots Hurt My Texan Bona Fides?
An Austinite living in Washington, D.C., worries about the consequences of sporting pricey designer footwear.
The Texanist
April 12, 2022
The Texanist: Why Is El Paso Known as El Chuco?
A San Antonio man wonders how Sun City got its other nickname and learns about the nicknames of many other Texas cities.
The Texanist
March 16, 2022
The Texanist: What’s the Difference Between a Ranch and a Farm?
A New Braunfels man isn’t quite sure that he has a firm grasp on this fundamental aspect of Texas rural life.
The Texanist
February 16, 2022
The Texanist: What Movies Get Texas Really, Really Wrong?
As it turns out, even the best films and TV shows about the Lone Star State have their share of gaffes. (Yes, even ‘Lonesome Dove.’)
The Texanist
January 18, 2022
The Texanist: What’s the Difference Between Tex-Mex and Mexican Food?
A transplant from California wades into an age-old culinary debate.
The Texanist
January 6, 2022
The Texanist: Why Doesn’t Texas Have an Official State Pastry?
A Fort Worth woman wants to know why we honor the bluebonnet and the pecan tree, but not the strudel or the sopaipilla.
The Texanist
December 6, 2021
The Texanist: What’s the Best Texas Christmas Song?
An El Paso woman is looking for the finest example of Lone Star holiday musical jollity. But can there only be one?
The Texanist
November 4, 2021
The Texanist: Where Did All These Bright Green Parrots Come From?
A longtime San Antonio resident is thrilled—but puzzled—by the presence of monk parakeets in her hometown.
The Texanist
October 15, 2021
The Texanist: Is Freezing Brisket a Mortal Sin?
An Arlington man wonders if his penny-wise buddy is being barbecue-foolish.
The Texanist
September 17, 2021
The Texanist: If You’re Not a Fan of Fruitcake and Canned Chili, What’s So Great About Corsicana?
A man now living in Fredericksburg wonders if his hometown really has anything to brag about.
The Texanist
September 7, 2021
The Texanist: Now That the Longhorn-Aggie Rivalry Is Back, Can UT and A&M Alums Stay Friends?
Two Texas buddies stationed at an Air Force base in Qatar wonder if their bond can survive the SEC’s recent expansion.
The Texanist
August 12, 2021
The Texanist: Is It Okay to Wear Cowboy Boots With Cuffed Trousers?
A Eulogy man wants to make sure that his footwear and pants-wear choices are compatible.
The Texanist
July 28, 2021
The Texanist: Is It OK to Bring a Gun to a Dinner Party?
A Plano woman doesn't think pistol-packing goes with pasta primavera.
The Texanist
July 14, 2021
The Texanist: How Do You Pronounce All Those Weird Texas Town Names?
A Dallas man is flummoxed by Quitaque. And Danevang, and Jiba, and Study Butte, and Zuehl . . .
The Texanist
July 6, 2021
The Texanist: Am I the Only Person Seeing a Lot More Bugs This Summer?
A very wet spring has a San Antonio woman looking for some relief from an arthropod invasion.
The Texanist
June 14, 2021
The Texanist: Is There a Formula for Picking Out a Cowboy Hat That Doesn’t Make You Look Like a Fool?
A Houston man wants to get the width of his brim just right.
The Texanist
May 26, 2021
The Texanist: What Should I Do About My Rain-Hating Boyfriend?
A Brady woman isn't sure her new relationship will survive a fundamental disagreement about the weather.
The Texanist
May 12, 2021
The Texanist: Why Do I Get So Many Robocalls From Small Texas Towns?
A Houston woman wants to know why the fine folks in Granger just won't leave her alone.
The Texanist
April 26, 2021
The Texanist: Might I Be Related to One of the Most Famous Figures in Texas History?
A Fort Worth resident wants to know if the stepson of a descendant of Moses Austin can call himself the great-great-great-great-great-step-grandson of the Father of the Father of Texas.
The Texanist
April 12, 2021
The Texanist: Do You Miss the Texas County That Is Now Part of Oklahoma?
A man from the Sooner State has a question about the other Red River Rivalry.
The Texanist
March 28, 2021
The Texanist: Is Wichita Falls the Only Place Where People Put Tomato Juice in Their Beer?
A Waxahachie man is trying to gauge the popularity of the "red draw."
The Texanist
March 15, 2021
The Texanist: Wait, Is Tennessee Suddenly More Popular Than Texas?
A Kansas woman is puzzled by some recent data about the Volunteer State and the Lone Star State.
The Texanist
March 8, 2021
The Texanist: Why Are Mexican Restaurants in San Antonio Charging for Chips and Salsa?
A River City man isn’t happy about paying for what used to be free.
The Texanist
March 1, 2021
The Texanist: Can We Put El Paso Back in the Central Time Zone?
A West Texas man seems to be tired of living on Mountain Standard Time.
The Texanist
January 17, 2021
The Texanist: Has There Ever Been Any Violence at the Texas Capitol?
The recent, terrifying events in Washington have an Austin man wondering about mayhem closer to home.
The Texanist
January 7, 2021
The Texanist: My Daughter Moved to Texas More Than a Year Ago. Why Hasn’t She Visited the Alamo Already?
A Maryland man is worried that his progeny may never become a true Texan.
The Texanist
December 28, 2020
The Texanist: Words of Wisdom for Ringing in 2021
All the Fine Advice you'll need to make sure the new year is much, much, much better than the last.
The Texanist
December 18, 2020
The Texanist: How Can Whataburger Say That It’s Still “Family Owned and Operated”?
An Austin man is skeptical that a company held by a Chicago investment firm can claim that distinction.
The Texanist
December 7, 2020
The Texanist: Is There Really Only One Place to Go Trout Fishing in Texas?
An Oregon transplant is hoping he can find a few places to cast a line in his adopted state.
The Texanist
November 16, 2020
The Texanist: I Love Tamales. But I Live in Northern Ireland. Help!
A Belfast woman is looking for a few good corn husks.
The Texanist
October 26, 2020
The Texanist: Bears Are Making a Comeback in Texas. How Scared Should I Be?
A Midland woman wonders what to do if she meets a member of the family Ursidae in the wild.
The Texanist
October 8, 2020
The Texanist: What Would the World Be Like if Willie Nelson Had Never Happened?
An Austin man ponders the unthinkable.
The Texanist
October 5, 2020
The Texanist: What Old Texas Games Can I Get My Screen-Addicted Kids to Play?
A Houston mom has had it with Minecraft.
The Texanist
September 12, 2020
The Texanist: Do Texans Have a Beef With Alberta, Canada?
A resident of “The Texas of Canada” is having second thoughts about retiring to the Lone Star State.
The Texanist
August 17, 2020
The Texanist: Why Are People Putting Cilantro in Everything?
A Texas transplant to California is unhappy about the ubiquity of the “nasty and repugnant weed."
The Texanist
August 10, 2020
The Texanist: Can an Alabamian Be the Voice of Big Tex?
A Sugar Land man wants to know if his friend from out of state could be the official greeter at the State Fair of Texas.
The Texanist
July 17, 2020
The Texanist: What’s the Strangest Thing You’ve Eaten in Texas?
A Texan deployed overseas wants to know if there’s any foodstuff weirder than armadillo tail with gravy. (There is.)
The Texanist
July 2, 2020
The Texanist: Is It a Good Idea to Visit West Texas in the Middle of a Pandemic?
A Houston man would like to maintain an annual summer tradition.
The Texanist
May 16, 2020
The Texanist: Will the Pandemic Let Texas Be Texas Once Again?
A sad and anxious time may offer a silver lining.
The Texanist
March 8, 2020
The Texanist: Why Do Two Different Hotels Profess to Be the Oldest in Texas?
A Portland man is confused by the Menger Hotel's and Excelsior House Hotel's dueling claims. The Texanist is, too.
The Texanist
March 1, 2020
The Texanist: What in Tarnation Would I Do on a 38,000-Acre Ranch?
A Michigander with dreams of owning a massive piece of Texas land isn't sure how he would occupy himself on his $32.5 million spread.
The Texanist
February 15, 2020
The Texanist: Isn’t It Time for a ‘Hamilton’-Style Musical About the Texas Revolution?
A McKinney man wants to see William Travis singing and dancing his way across the Alamo Plaza.