Country Notes
August 13, 2015
Greetings From Marfa
A taxonomy of West Texas waves.
The Culture
The Culture
July 23, 2015
The Cream of the Shop
Ah, NorthPark, how Dallas loves thee.
The Culture
July 23, 2015
The Descent of Man
Doin’ the Waco Slide.
Texas History
July 23, 2015
Old News: An Illustrated Look at Curious Headlines From a Bygone Era
From the Bryan Daily Eagle, July 7, 1910
Texas History
July 23, 2015
Mr. Bryan’s Magical History Tour
A trove of Texas memorabilia.
Texas History
July 23, 2015
Father Figure
Stephen F. Austin was a Texas pioneer—of image management.
The Culture
June 17, 2015
So About That “Texas Rising” Finale . . .
What this historical dramatization of the Texas Revolution could have been—and what it was.
The Culture
June 16, 2015
Gang Land
After the deadly shoot-out in Waco, what do the Bandidos want? To be left alone.
The Culture
June 16, 2015
Roar of the Crowd
Readers respond to the June 2015 issue.
Texas History
June 12, 2015
Out of the Box
Among other things, Charles Goodnight basically invented the food truck. (He called it the chuck wagon.)
Meanwhile, in Texas
June 11, 2015
Meanwhile, in Texas. . .
Some crazy stuff went down last month. Here are a handful of headlines you may have missed.
The Culture
June 11, 2015
The Checklist
What to read, hear, and watch this month to achieve maximum Texas cultural literacy.
Texas History
June 11, 2015
Old News: An Illustrated Look at Headlines From a Bygone Era
“Our water squirters again find employment by amusing themselves in sprinkling our streets.” —San Saba County News, April 7, 1893
The Culture
June 11, 2015
A River Ran Through It
Wimberley, after the deluge.
The Culture
June 11, 2015
“Odor! Odor in the Court!”
District judge Carter Tinsley Schildknecht, of Dawson County, was reprimanded by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct for, among other offenses, holding a fifteen-hour court session that ran until four in the morning, during which she allowed no formal meal or bathroom breaks.
The Texanist
June 11, 2015
The Texanist: Which Texas Beaches Rival the Old South Padre Island?
Our estimable advice columnist on washed-up beaches, chicken-fried whoppers, the etymology of “hindcatcher,” and tryin’ to love an Elantra-drivin’ man.
The Culture
June 10, 2015
The Basic Problem with “Texas Rising”? A Lack of Human Connection
If the death of a horse is the most touching scene in this production, what does that say about it?
The Culture
June 10, 2015
The Hit List
A playlist of late-seventies and early-eighties country pop made popular by Urban Cowboy.
The Culture
June 4, 2015
We Have Minutiae, But Where is the Nuance?
Usually the devil is in the details, but with “Texas Rising,” the broad brush strokes are more troubling.
The Culture
June 2, 2015
Are You Not Entertained?
If you don’t think about it too hard, Texas Rising is pretty enjoyable to watch.
The Culture
May 28, 2015
The Very Blurry Line Between Fact and Fiction
Texas Rising has taken historic liberties that have undermined rather than enhanced the narrative momentum of the story.
The Culture
May 27, 2015
Let’s Not Count Out “Texas Rising” Just Yet
A slouchy story. No narrative drive. Questionable history. But, sure, I’ll keep watching Texas Rising.
The Culture
May 13, 2015
Roar of the Crowd
Readers respond to the May 2015 issue.
The Texanist
May 13, 2015
The Texanist: Can You Explain Some Armadillo Lore?
Our estimable advice columnist on armadillo mortality, Dallas Cowboys etiquette, barbecue preferences, and a perfect Texas playlist.
Critters
May 13, 2015
Our Toad to Ruin
Can we save our beloved ant-eating, blood-spurting, quickly disappearing state reptile?
The Culture
May 13, 2015
My Summer of the Shark
When I was nine years old, I struggled to make a super 8 movie as my life unspooled around me.
Meanwhile, in Texas
May 8, 2015
Meanwhile, in Texas . . .
Some crazy stuff went down last month. Here are a handful of headlines you may have missed.
The Culture
May 8, 2015
Corps Values
Alyssa Michalke was recently named the first female commander of Texas A&M’s corps of cadets. It’s been a long time coming.
Texas History
May 7, 2015
Old News: An Illustrated Look at Headlines From a Bygone Era
“Lightning killed near Blossom, Tex., a mule and cow at the same time. They were a mile apart.”—Jefferson Jimplecute, May 1, 1908
The Culture
May 7, 2015
Fighting for Her Life
Iliza Shlesinger, whose comic style mates icy reserve with feverish belligerence, hits the road.
Texas History
May 7, 2015
A Mighty Wind
In drought-ravaged West Texas, cotton farmers find good omens in unlikely places.
The Culture
April 21, 2015
On Shaky Ground
So what’s with all those earthquakes in North Texas? Is fracking really to blame? Let us give you a visual.
The Culture
April 21, 2015
Roar of the Crowd
Readers respond to the April 2015 issue.
The Texanist
April 16, 2015
The Texanist: Do I Need to Update My Jeans Style?
Our estimable advice columnist on hat etiquette, delusions of ranchhood, reconnecting with your Texas roots, and staying loyal to your Wranglers.
Meanwhile, in Texas
April 15, 2015
Meanwhile, in Texas
Some crazy stuff went down last month. Here are a handful of headlines you may have missed.
The Culture
April 13, 2015
The Checklist
What to read, hear, and look at to achieve maximum Texas cultural literacy.
The Culture
April 13, 2015
Old News: An Illustrated Look at Headlines From a Bygone Era
“A large chair factory began operations in Tyler on Saturday.”—Abilene Reporter, May 2, 1890
Music
April 13, 2015
The Return of P. J. Proby
P.J. Proby is still here.
The Culture
April 13, 2015
Remember the Alamo Custodians!
The DRT and the Alamo: a look back.
The Culture
April 13, 2015
To Protect and to Serve Up Your ID on a Silver Platter
The Fort Bend County sheriff’s office issued a press release on its website seeking help in locating hundreds of people whose credit cards and driver’s licenses were sitting in the lost-and-found of a local movie theater. The press release, which pointed out that the theater’s carelessness put owners of the missing items at high risk for
The Culture
April 13, 2015
Keep UT-Austin Weird
An electoral travesty at UT.
Energy
April 13, 2015
Silica Alley
A funny thing happened on the way to the San Angelo fracking sand transloading facility.
The Culture
April 10, 2015
Spring Breaking Away
How a trip to South Padre Island, a grand theft auto, and an English folk singer forever changed my life’s course.
Sports
April 10, 2015
When Texans Play Quidditch
The magical game played by wizards in the Harry Potter series is now real sport. And a bunch of Texans are its best players.
Texas History
April 9, 2015
Sterling Success
A century ago, no battleship could do without a twelve-gallon silver punchbowl with matching cups and ladle.
The Culture
March 25, 2015
Where to Go First
Few things make Texans happier than a full tank of gas and an open highway. You’ve got a lot of ground to cover, but I propose you start with these four trips, each originating at Brady, the geographic center of Texas. You’ll be saying “y’all” and offering the hi sign
The Culture
March 25, 2015
How to Talk Like a Texan
You can spend your whole life trying, but this will do in a pinch.
The Culture
March 23, 2015
They Weren’t Born Here
But they did get to Texas as fast as they could (which is to say, within the past five years). Meet eighteen recent transplants to the state’s three fastest-growing cities.
The Culture
March 23, 2015
Where to Be a Tourist
A word about these four destinations: most native Texans visited them on their elementary school field trips. They are essential, so if you haven’t seen them yet, you’d better get cracking. Just remember, this is only the start.
The Culture
March 23, 2015
The Media Guide
To gain pop culture literacy, you could spend a long weekend taking in works produced for the big screen (Giant, Dazed and Confused) and the small box (Lonesome Dove, Friday Night Lights). But the quicker route would be an afternoon surfing YouTube. Search for the terms below, but don’t blame us if you end up falling down a