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The Lost Pyramids

For an adventurer in the Yucatán, suspicious bureaucrats and relentless pests stand in the way of tracking down a forgotten Mayan ruin.

Western Fling

With the cultural diversions of a big city and the country comforts of a small town, Fort Worth is the perfect place for a typically Texan weekend.

Animal Attractions

These seven creatures might be piggy-backed, whale-boned, dog-toothed, goat-eed, elephant-eared, turtle-necked, and bull-headed, but they’re stars just the same.

State Secrets

Hunting for hunting land in the Panhandle: hunting for new legal theories in the Supreme Court: hunting for a reason Bill Clements does what he does.

Roar of the Crowd

Recruiting for the environmental team: tackling Texas’ education crisis: seeking justice at the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Clean-Clothes Workout

Pumping iron at Austin’s laundro-gym.

A Ride On the Wild Side

Conquering Arlington’s Texas Giant.

Finding Mr. Goodbar

Author Don Diebel offers how-to tips for hungry gals in search of available guys like himself.

Go Directly to Jail. Do Not Pass Go. And While You’re At It, Don’t Light Up, Either

Kicking the habit in Randall County Jail.

Blood Brothers

Can Kids On Drugs Be Saved?

Drug treatment seldom works: at many centers, greedy entrepreneurs prey on frightened parents and troubled kids. But one teenager’s parents decided to take one last, desperate step: they sent their son to the toughest program in Texas.

One Tough Bird

After rescuing hundreds of birds from horrible deaths, a Midland woman has finally gained an ally in her war on open oil pits.

Behind the Lines

The big buyout.

Sacred Meets Profane

Benito Huerta reconciles the religious and the worldly in powerfuul new works at Houston’s Contemporary Arts Museum.

Faces of the Border

To those who live on Mexico’s side of the Rio Grande, posing for portraits is not an occasion for smiles.

Jeff Reynolds, Zillionaire

The mysterious Texan who tried to take over australia’s mighty Bond Corporation last January looked good on paper—but paper was about all he had.

The Way Out

A modest Catholic boys’ school in El Paso could teach public schools a lesson or two about how to provide a solid education on a limited budget and send 98 percent of their students off to college.

The Curse of the Black Lords

Terri Lee Hoffman was a New Age Aunt Bee whose gospel attracted many followers. But some of those believers ended up on a dark, twisted path that led to violent death—and the enrichment of their guru.

State Secrets

Just when one education lawsuit is over, along comes another; how Ross Perot became an issue in the lieutenant governor’s race; why Coke-Stevenson, that is-is hard to swallow.

Roar of the Crowd

Talking up Texas’ present and past.

Padre Hearty

Padre’s spring breakers just want to have fun.

Highway Robbery?

A warning to those who barrel through the wide-open spaces at full throttle: Untold danger lurks in that tiny town you missed on the last blink.

Money Changes Everything

A $10 million sweepstakes winner wants to run Denton.

Vive Le Tex-Mex!

Lone Star cuisine is all the rage in Paris—France, that is.

Driving Me Crazy

Now that my son is behind the wheel, I can’t decide whether it’s better to ride shotgun or steer clear of him completely.

Wouldn’t You Like To Be a Pepper Too?

A Dublin bottler is the only one in Texas who’s still sweet on traditional Dr. Pepper.

A Bridge Too Far?

Laredo initially hated Monterrey’s plan for a new border crossing but had second thoughts when it realized that there was money to be made.

Behind the Lines

Literary terrorists.

Shock Treatment

Three new books deliver sordid stories of drugged-up cops, kinky murderers, and a real-life drug kingpin.

Raspberry Half-Dips

Houston pastry chef and bakery owner Marilyn Descours suggests making her easy sandwich cookies for parent-child assembly-line fun: Dab your favorite seedless raspberry jam between wafers, and dip the sandwiches halfway in 6 to 8 ounces of melted semisweet chocolate. Chill on waxed paper until the chocolate sets.Marilyn Descours’ Raspberry

Sorrel-and-Watercress Vichyssoise

1 medium yellow onion, diced1 tablespoon each of butter and flour1 can (32 ounces) low-salt chicken stock1 small bunch leeks (green and white parts), washed, trimmed, and sliced2 medium baking potatoes, peeled and diced3/4 tablespoon dried thymeSalt and black pepper, to taste1 medium bunch fresh sorrel1 large bunch fresh watercress1/2

Chaplin’s Bloody Marys

2 quarts tomato juice (Sacramento) 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (Lea and Perrins) 6 tablespoons chopped horseradish, or to taste 2 tablespoons each of chopped fresh garlic, lemon juice, lime juice, and dried dill 2 teaspoons ground black pepper 1 teaspoon each of ground white pepper, celery salt, and garlic salt

Coconut Sweet

3 cups grated fresh coconut (from about 5-inch-diameter coconut) or unsweetened packaged coconut1 1/2 cups sugar1 cup milk1/4 cup peanut oil25 green cardamoms, peeled and seeds crushed, or 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamomMini-sized paper baking cupsIf using fresh coconut, break shell with hammer. Pry meat from shell with knife tip.

Cucumber-Peanut Relish

4 large cucumbers 6 tablespoons chopped cilantro 3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves 3 teaspoons sugar Juice of 2 lemons or limes 1 1/2 tablespoons peanut oil 1 teaspoon mustard seeds 3 or 4 serrano chiles (optional), seeded and slivered 1/2 cup raw peanuts, oven-roasted and coarsely chopped Salt,

Sautéed Spinach and Vegetables

4 tablespoons peanut oil 4 to 6 garlic cloves, minced 3 serrano chiles, minced 1 teaspoon cumin seed 2 small Japanese eggplants or 1 small purple eggplant; 2 medium red new potatoes; and 2 carrots – all cut into 1/2 -inch cubes 1 1/2 cups cauliflower florets, broken into 1/2

Four-Bean-and-Potato Salad

1 cup garbanzo beans1 cup black-eyed peas1 cup chana dal (split yellow peas may be substituted)1 cup mung beans5 medium red new potatoes8 scallions (with some green), finely sliced4 serrano chiles, seeded and minced 2 tablesppons chaat masala seasoning mix6 tablespoons chopped cilantroSalt, to tasteJuice of 2 large lemons or

Citrus Stars With Raspberry Purée

2 cups sifted flour plus 4 tablespoons flour 1 cup confectioners’ sugar, plus extra for dusting Zest of 3 lemons, 3 limes, and 2 oranges 1/2 pound butter, chilled 4 large eggs 3 cups granulated sugar 4 tablespoons each of lemon, lime, and orange juice 2 teaspoons baking powder 2

Roasted-Eggplant Salad

1 to 1 1/2 cups olive oil 2 cups each of diced red bell pepper, diced green bell pepper, and diced white onion 6 cups diced eggplant 1 cup canned diced tomato in juice 2 tablespoons capers 1/4 cup each of red wine vinegar and sugar 1/4 cup minced cilantro

Tortellini With Tomato Vinaigrette

1 cup sun-dried tomatoes 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon sugar 1/4 cup chopped garlic 1/2 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil, plus 1 1/4 cup cut in julienne 18 ounces fresh tricolored

Texas Bellinis

Recipe from executive chef Michael Thomson, of Epicure in the Park, Dallas.

Stilton Cheesecake With Walnut Crust

9 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped walnut pieces 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs 4 tablespoons plus 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 32 ounces cream cheese, softened 2 tablespoons flour 3 whole eggs, at room temperature 2 egg yolks, at room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla

Mango Lassis

64 ounces plain lowfat yogurt 2 cans (28 ounces each) mango pulp 12 cups crushed iceWhip half of ingredients at a time in blender until frothy. Pour into glasses. Serves 10 To 12.From Savoring Summer, featured in Domain, May 1990

Save Our Schools

In education, Texas ranks below (gasp) Mississippi. Here’s how to turn the public schools around without throwing billions of dollars down the rathole.

Grande Dames

In her golden years, a lady is free to be imperious, incorrigible, impertinent, and altogether indispensable.

Trouble, Trash, and Texas

Twenty years after the first Earth Day celebration, environmentalists are once again trying to get Texans interested in saving the planet. There are good reasons why they may once again fail.

The Man Who Never Stops

Robert A. Caro has spent fifteen years writing his monumental biography of Lyndon Johnson. He is halfway through.

Red Beans and Blue Notes

When in New Orleans for the Jazz and Heritage Festival, do as the locals do: Search out the neighborhood restaurants and clubs.

The battle over the best way to put the space station into orbit; how Oscar Wyatt plans to lower his electric bill (and raise yours); why we should control the lending, not the spending, in the governor’s race.

Roar of the Crowd

Too much of a beautiful thing; codependent once more.

Reporter

Robert Bass goes after a Florida newspaper’s charitable trust; hikers and bikers go after each other on the fitness trail; a Metroplex entrepreneur goes in for class reunions.