Is Luckenbach, Texas, the Center of the Universe?
Author and artist Becky Crouch Patterson, the daughter of onetime Luckenbach owner Hondo Crouch, is touring the state to promote her third book, Luckenbach, Texas–The Center of the Universe. Read More »
Neill-Cochran House Museum Keeps History Alive in Changing Times
The 26-foot pine-wood columns that bolster the front porch of the Neill-Cochran House Museum in central Austin stand out not only for their visual grandeur. Their history is equally compelling: When building the home in 1856, 17 years after Austin’s founding as the Texas capital, famed builder Abner Cook ordered the pine from Bastrop, and a barge boated the lumber 30 miles up the Colorado River to Austin. Read More »
Mardi Gras Cocktail Recipe from Galveston’s Tremont House
The historic Galveston Tremont House bar mixes up the perfect cocktail to accompany Mardi Gras festivities. When Galveston held its first Mardi Gras celebration in 1867, no one recorded the libations served. But modern-day revelers can hoist a signature Mardi Gras Punch (see below for recipe) at the Tremont House hotel, which shares the island’s long history with the raucous holiday. Read More »
Terry Allen Dishes on Lubbock (And Everything)
Terry Allen wears many hats, not that you’ll catch him in a Stetson. Twangy as all get out, the pioneering Texas country singer still enjoys a cult following for his first two albums. Read More »
Q&A with The Iron Orchard Screenwriter Gerry de Leon
Set and filmed in West Texas, the oil boom period piece starts screening Feb. 22. West Texas wildcatters have long been mythologized on screen in classic films like Giant and There Will Be Blood. This month, The Iron Orchard follows in those footsteps with its dramatic tale of greed, lust, and hunger during the oil boom of the 1930s through ’50s. The Iron Orchard is based off a novel of the same name written by Tom Pendleton (a nom de plume of Fort Worth writer and oil producer Edmund Van Zandt). The book caused a stir when it was published in 1966 and has since become a beloved classic for many in the Texas oil industry—in fact, a group of oilmen subsidized the independent film, directed by Midland native Ty Roberts. Read More »
In Ennis, Wildflowers Beckon Weekenders in Pursuit of Small-Town Charm
Founded in 1872 by the Houston and Texas Central Railway, Ennis is a product of two pillars of Texas’ 19th-century economy: cotton and the railroad. While Ellis County is no longer a top cotton producer, the railroad still plays a role in connecting Ennis’ thriving manufacturing industry with the world. Read More »
Escape the Urban Freeway with a Motorcycle Jaunt Through the Hill Country
After a rainy spell, a sunny Sunday morning window opens up: a perfect day for a Hill Country ride. My motorcycle, a silver BMW sport-touring machine, is ready to roll. Jacket, gloves, and helmet on, I hit the ignition. The engine rumbles to life and warms up. I shift into first gear and ease through Austin’s Zilker Park. Read More »
5 Texas Restaurants That Will Change Your Mind About Vegan Food
If the thought of vegan food conjures images of a giant plate of alfalfa sprouts, it’s time to revisit the concept. These days, vegan restaurants in Texas tend more toward soul food than rabbit food, and they use creative stand-ins for beef (protein-rich seitan, made from vital wheat gluten), cheese (soaked and pureed nuts), and pork (the shredded flesh of the giant Asian jackfruit) that can satisfy even die-hard carnivores. While Austin has long been considered the capital of Texas’ vegan scene, other cities now offer stiff competition in the way of veggie-forward, animal-free fare. Read More »
Photographer Sean Fitzgerald on the Secrets of Capturing Big Bend’s Majesty
Photographer Sean Fitzgerald shares Big Bend photography tips and a time-lapse video documenting his hike to shoot the Window pour-off Read More »
Paddling and Floating the Llano River Just Got Easier
The popular Llano River is a state-owned, navigable waterway over 100 miles long, but much of its riverfront property remains in private hands, creating accessibility challenges for anglers and paddlers who want to tackle its meandering course. Texas Parks and Wildlife has made getting onto the river a little easier by introducing four new public access points, with a fifth on the way, all available for fishing, floating, canoeing and kayaking. Read More »
The Science Mill in Johnson City Celebrates its 4th Birthday With a New Exhibit
The Science Mill, Johnson City’s flagship science museum and education center, is debuting a 1,000-square-foot Aquaponics Greenhouse, which explores how fish and plants growing together in a symbiotic relationship can create healthy food that doesn’t deplete the environment. Read More »
Big Squeeze Contest Shines Spotlight on Young Texas Accordionists
Texas Folklife's annual contest seeks young players in the genres of conjunto, zydeco, Cajun, and polka. You’re sure to encounter a few in the halls of any Texas high school: shaggy-haired teens with rock ‘n’ roll dreams, a guitar case or drum sticks in hand. But an accordion? Those might be a little harder to find. Read More »
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