New Photography Book by Michael Cirlos Showcases the Diversity of the Alamo City
Humans of San Antonio features images of people from all walks of life—including street dancers, homeless men and women, and artists—and includes quotes that tell deeply personal stories. Michael Cirlos, the photographer behind the project as well as the book’s author, writes in the introduction that he always started the conversation with a simple question: “What is one memory you never want to forget?” Read More »
How an Austin Suburb Became a Literary Mecca
A little more than two decades ago, the novelist and professor Tom Grimes paid a visit to the childhood home of Katherine Anne Porter, one of Texas’ great writers. Porter had died in 1980 at the age of 90. Long before she found literary fortune and fame in New York, winning a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award for her collected short stories in 1966, she spent her formative years in her grandmother’s three-bedroom house in the dusty rail town of Kyle—now a fast-growing suburb between Austin and San Marcos with a population approaching 40,000. Read More »
El Paso Young-adult Author Benjamin Alire Sáenz Explores the Outliers
Don’t be surprised if you fall in love with the characters in Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s fiction. Be it with two high school friends taking on the world in his celebrated young-adult novels, or with people stumbling through loss in his short stories, or with the shining voice of his poetry, the El Paso-based writer expands your perspective and opens your heart. Read More »
Bill Wittliff, Lauded Texas Writer and Founder of Cultural Archives at Texas State, Has Died
In memory of Bill Wittliff, who died Sunday, we revisit our July 2018 profile of Wittliff and the cultural archives he founded and developed at Texas State University, the Wittliff Collections. Read More »
Who Wouldn’t Love a Buckarita in the Company of a Crossbred Longhorn-Buffalo?
The “Buckarita” at San Antonio’s Buckhorn Saloon serves up the kick you’d expect from a mix of Cuervo 1800 ... Read More »
The Blanco River May Very Well Inspire You to Take Home Local Art When Visiting Wimberley
“The river was just beautiful,” he says of that first visit. “After driving in through the cypress trees for just a few seconds, I was hooked.” In 2002, Smith began building a house. Now retired, he lives in Wimberley full-time and has turned his hobby of photography into a business. His beloved river is a frequent muse, and his photos teem with intricate lines and captivating use of light and color. Read More »
Exhibition Coming to the African American Museum in Dallas Will View Jefferson’s Monticello Through the Eyes of Slaves
An upcoming museum exhibit in Dallas will explore life on one of the nation’s most historic plantations—from the perspective of slaves who lived there. Dallas’ African American Museum will debut the newly updated Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello: Paradox of Liberty in mid-September, the museum announced this week. The exhibition will feature more than 300 works of art, documents, and artifacts. Read More »
Irish Storybook Creator Oliver Jeffers Talks Children’s Books in Abilene
The 40-year-old Jeffers was the featured artist at this year’s Children’s Art and Literacy Festival, Abilene’s ... Read More »
Kings and Queens of the Accordion Are Set to Play in Houston
Some of the best accordion players from across Texas and the region are set to perform at the 29th ... Read More »
W.F. Strong Tells Unbelievable Tales of Texas’ Past in His New Book
You might recognize W.F. Strong’s booming, theatrical voice from his Stories from Texas segment on public radio show Texas Standard. And as evidenced in his new book, Stories from Texas: Some of Them Are True, his signature storytelling style translates very well on paper. Read More »
Why Mattress Mack Means so Much to Houston
Jim McIngvale moved to Houston in 1981 with $5,000 and a dream to build a furniture empire. Within a few years, the founder of Gallery Furniture had become a local household name as “Mattress Mack,” the pitchman featured in the retailer’s zany low-budget commercials. Read More »
How Houston’s Art Scene Bounced Back from Harvey After the Storm Collided with Its Season Openings
Harvey struck when Houston’s world-class arts scene was gearing up for a new season, devastating venues and upending plans. But creativity and courage go hand in hand: “This city came together in a way I’ve never seen,” says Eileen J. Morris, artistic director of the Ensemble Theatre. Read More »