Cat Cardenas

April 7, 2021

Demi Lovato’s New Album Confronts Her Demons and Looks to the Future

The singer sheds her painful past on ‘Dancing with the Devil . . . the Art of Starting Over.’

March 19, 2021

‘Language Lessons’ Nails the Art of Zoom-Era Filmmaking

In this feature-length series of video calls, Natalie Morales and Mark Duplass manage to create a relationship with lightness and heart.

March 19, 2021

Por décadas, latinas jóvenes como yo hemos visto a Selena como un ícono. Tal vez es hora de que la quitemos del pedestal.

Si vamos a honrar a la verdadera Selena, necesitamos imaginar lo que pudo haber hecho si hubiera tenido una vida completa.

March 19, 2021

For Decades, Countless Young Latinas Like Me Have Regarded Selena as an Icon. Maybe It’s Time We Took Her off the Pedestal.

If we’re going to honor the real Selena—and find a way to carry her with us—we need to imagine what she might have done if she had lived a full life.

March 17, 2021

Demi Lovato’s ‘Dancing With the Devil’ Is a Brutal, Stunning Portrait of Addiction and Recovery

In her latest documentary, the Dallas-raised singer bravely confronts her demons.

March 16, 2021

Selena Gomez Shines on Her First Spanish-Language EP

‘Revelación’ is a lush, dance-infused fantasy that features a singer brimming with confidence.

Arts & Entertainment|

March 9, 2021

A Dallas Piñata Shop Artfully Renders Viral Memes and Politicians in Papier-mâché

“Sometimes I think the adults get more fun out of hitting piñatas than the kids do,” one of the owners says.

Art|

March 1, 2021

A New Photo Studio Revives the Beloved Latino ’90s Glamour Shots Trend

The San Marcos venture has the airbrushed, colorful backgrounds and kitschy props that I've studied in my family's albums.

Arts & Entertainment|

February 10, 2021

How the Country’s First Latino Homicide Squad Transformed Houston Policing—At Least for a While

A new podcast explores the history of the “Chicano Squad” as part of a Houston police department effort to repair its broken relationship with the Latino community.

Texas History|

January 20, 2021

How Manny Guerra Shaped the Tejano Music Scene

The San Antonio producer created a style that would endure for decades—and he helped Selena get her start.

Being Texan|

January 15, 2021

Why Droves of Pilgrims Trek to This Tree in South Texas Every Year

Two decades ago, a woman bought a cutting from a nursery in the Rio Grande Valley. What grew was much bigger than a tree.

Arts & Entertainment|

January 12, 2021

On Texas Time: Laci Mosley, Comedian and Host of the Popular ‘Scam Goddess’ Podcast

The podcaster on her affinity for scammers and her Texas roots.

January 4, 2021

A Definitive Ranking of the Heroes in Robert Rodriguez’s Cinematic Universe

We rank the most memorable protagonists in the Texas director’s film catalog, from ‘El Mariachi’ to ‘Machete.’

December 14, 2020

Asylum Seekers in Matamoros Celebrated Joe Biden’s Victory. But the Final Weeks of the Trump Administration Are Bringing Fresh Anxiety.

Following the election, many migrants were hopeful the incoming president would quickly ease the U.S. immigration process, but he has to unravel new restrictions imposed by his predecessor.

Style & Design|

December 14, 2020

Meet the Businesswoman Behind Kacey Musgraves’s Viral Light-Up Cowboy Hats

With a combination of fashion ingenuity and electrical engineering, Neon Cowboys founder Asia Hall rigs cowboy hats that glow.

December 10, 2020

We Need to Talk About Selena

In the 25 years since her death, the singer’s memory has been flattened and commodified. Selena—and her fans—deserve more.

Christian Serratos as Selena Quintanilla performing on stage in Selena: The Series.

December 2, 2020

Why Netflix’s Selena Series Ultimately Misses Its Mark

The initial installment of the two-part television show details the first 20 years of Selena’s life—yet it feels like we’ve hardly gotten to know the person the series is about.

Food & Drink|

November 27, 2020

Texas First: Baking Conchas and Remembering My Grandma

She spent decades feeding our family and bringing us together. Making her favorite treat was a small, sweet way for me to celebrate her and reconnect with my culture.

San Antonio Spurs guard Keldon Johnson in the Fiesta jersey.

Sports|

November 14, 2020

The San Antonio Spurs Finally Unveil a Longtime Fan Favorite: The Fiesta Jersey

For years, Spurs diehards have been begging for the classic colorway to come back. Now, the franchise is delivering.

November 11, 2020

Why Did Joe Biden Lose Ground With Latinos in South Texas?

Democrats have taken voters in the region for granted. This year, many were receptive to Donald Trump’s messaging on jobs, opportunity, and law enforcement.

November 6, 2020

Every Year, Hundreds of Migrants Die or Go Missing in Brooks County. A New Documentary Tells Two Families’ Stories.

The film follows Texans who are waiting, hoping, and fighting for news of their missing sons.

Books|

October 28, 2020

Matthew McConaughey’s Memoir Doesn’t Dispel His Own Mythology—But Does Challenge It

In his recently released memoir, the Texan actor spins tall tales that just so happen to be true.

October 8, 2020

In the Shadow of the Border Wall, Rio Grande Valley ‘Dragtivists’ Fight for Equality

South Texas queens who put on a wig, makeup, and heels are rebelling against a culture that has long been steeped in machismo.

September 23, 2020

How Danny Trejo Built a Decades-Long Film Career After Prison

After years of playing ex-cons and bodyguards, the prolific actor became an iconic leading man in Robert Rodriguez’s Machete series.

'Wishbone' star Soccer the dog who plays Wishbone.

The Culture|

September 16, 2020

Top Dog: An Oral History of ‘Wishbone’

The kids’ television program, helmed by a crop of Texan theatrical talents, landed on PBS 25 years ago.

By and

Child holding a cardboard sign that reads

Being Texan|

June 29, 2020

How Latino Texans Are Addressing Antiblack Racism

Recent protests have sparked conversations about colorism, Eurocentric beauty standards, and how black Latinos are underrepresented in both English- and Spanish-language media.

News & Politics|

June 26, 2020

In a New Podcast, Two Journalists Seek Justice for the Missing Women of Juárez

The podcast dives into the mysteries surrounding the decades-long string of murders in the border city.

June 19, 2020

“It Felt Like We Could Finally Take a Deep Breath”: A DACA Recipient on Thursday’s Supreme Court Ruling

Greisa Martinez Rosas tells Texas Monthly about her feelings on the decision, and the future of the immigrant rights movement.

News & Politics|

June 8, 2020

The Best Thing in Texas: A Black Trail-Riding Club Joined a Houston Protest on Horseback

Videos and photos of the Non-Stop Riderz at last week's Black Lives Matter march went viral.

May 22, 2020

Recently Released Asylum Seekers Talk About Detention During the COVID-19 Pandemic

As the coronavirus first spread throughout the Texas's ICE facilities, migrants grew increasingly desperate for release.

Domestic violence in rural counties illustration

News & Politics|

May 19, 2020

Domestic Violence Calls Spike in Texas Cities, While Falling in Rural Areas

"When you're in a rural community, it's difficult to receive services and be very discreet about it. … Those complexities are amplified at this time."

By Arielle Avila and

May 11, 2020

Shangela, the Texan Drag Superstar, Draws From Her Paris Upbringing in a New HBO Series

The ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ alum stars in ‘We’re Here,’ which documents one-night-only drag shows in small towns.

Immigration-court-proceedings-during-covid

Border & Immigration|

April 21, 2020

Children Grappling With Remote Asylum Hearings? With COVID-19, That’s Now the Norm.

Many immigration attorneys have called for hearings to be delayed, but cases are nonetheless proceeding by phone and video.

Art|

April 20, 2020

A San Antonio Artist Is Attempting to Lift People’s Spirits With “Pandemic Lotería”

Rafael Gonzales Jr. has developed a version of the classic game for the age of the coronavirus.

April 10, 2020

Still Fearing Violence, Migrants Subject to Trump’s Remain in Mexico Policy Are Now Bracing for a Pandemic

With nearly 2,500 asylum seekers living in close quarters in a Matamoros migrant camp, doctors say the conditions are ripe for an outbreak.

Best-things-in-texas-grandmas-80-birthday

Best Thing In Texas|

April 10, 2020

The Best Thing in Texas: A Parade for Mami in San Antonio

When the coronavirus forced 83-year-old Herminia Valdez to quarantine, her family found a creative and safe way to lift her spirits.

Nathian Shae Rodriguez smiles with a Selena impersonator.

March 31, 2020

Meet the Professor Teaching a College Course on Selena and Her Legacy

Nathian Shae Rodriguez's class examines how the Tejano star influenced Latinx representation.

Immigrants walk to U.S. Homeland Security busses to be transferred to a U.S. Border Patrol facility in McAllen after crossing from Mexico on July 2, 2019.

Border & Immigration|

March 21, 2020

“There’s Been Absolutely No Change in Procedure”: ICE Detention Facilities Are Not Prepared for the Coronavirus

In Texas’s ICE facilities, immigrants remain in close quarters and sanitizer is running short. Advocates worry a COVID-19 outbreak could be severe.

Being Texan|

March 18, 2020

The Lion Tamer

Remembering my grandpa, who soothed wild beasts—and played poker with the devil.

Business|

March 13, 2020

Fiesta San Antonio Postponed Amid Coronavirus Concerns

The annual festival, which brings millions of dollars to the city’s economy, has been postponed to early November.

March 6, 2020

Everything We Know About the Boat in ‘Gaslighter,’ the New Dixie Chicks Song

Yes, *that* boat.

March 5, 2020

Breaking Down the Dixie Chicks’ First New Single in 14 Years, ‘Gaslighter’

The beloved band released a song and an accompanying video this week.

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Best Thing In Texas|

March 4, 2020

The Best Thing in Texas: Tim Duncan Is Undefeated as Head Coach of the Spurs

The former player racked up his first win temporarily coaching the San Antonio team.