On the West Texas Frontier, Judge Roy Bean Doled Out Justice as the ‘Law West of the Pecos’
Perched on a dusty ridge overlooking the Rio Grande, the tiny town of Langtry lies in the thick of the Lower Pecos Canyonlands, about 60 miles west of Del Rio. Langtry sprang up in 1882 as a railroad camp during the construction of the Southern Pacific line. Among the profiteers following the railroad was Roy Bean, a tent-saloon operator who became Langtry’s justice of the peace. Read More »
2018 F1 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas Photo Essay
When F1 first announced it was coming to Austin, many were surprised. Since its first run in 2012, the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas has swiftly become one of the drivers' favorite tracks on the calendar because the U.S. Grand Prix tests their technical driving abilities throughout, and it provides more opportunities to overtake—or pass—other cars than most other races throughout the world. This also makes Austin's race one of the more entertaining races on the tour because—much like the Texas weather on display for the 2018 USGP—if you don't like it, stick around and it'll change. Read More »
How Phoenix Restaurant and Bar in Port Aransas Got its Caribbean Flair
The Worsham clan’s enthusiasm for Mouttet’s food motivated Worsham to start her culinary apprenticeships as soon as she graduated from high school. It also influenced her preference for piquant dishes and reinforced her choice in hiring Omar Brown, the Phoenix’s current sous chef who grew up in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Read More »
No Longer in Utopia, Utopiafest to Host Its Intimate Festival with Big Lineup in Burnet
Utopiafest is leaving behind the land of perfection for what it hopes are greener pastures. For its 10th iteration, taking place Nov. 1-3, the family-friendly, camping music festival is moving from a private ranch in Utopia, in the vicinity of Uvalde, to an outdoor event space in Burnet, near lakes Buchanan and Inks. This comes with several advantages organizers believe are integral to the long-term preservation of the festival, chief among them it will cut down the drive time by two-thirds for fest-goers from Austin, where 75 percent of past attendees have hailed. Read More »
Beaumont R&B Legend Barbara Lynn Named a National Heritage Fellow
The National Heritage Fellowships are the United States’ highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. Lynn earned the recognition for her pioneering rhythm and blues career, which has garnered acclaim with her distinctive guitar play, soulful singing, and songwriting. From nightclubs in her native Beaumont—where her mother chaperoned her gigs when she was a teenager—Lynn’s career has taken her to the Apollo Theater in Harlem, American Bandstand, and other venues around the world. Read More »
Fredericksburg Was a Tiny House Haven Long Before HGTV
Spanning 3.5 acres along West Main Street in downtown Fredericksburg, the Pioneer Museum chronicles the history of Sunday houses (among other vernacular architecture) and serves as an ideal launching point for a self-guided walking tour of the tiny historic homes, most of them within a few blocks of one another. For a broader overview, the museum offers a guided historical and architectural walking tour of the town on select Wednesday evenings. Read More »
Austin Piano Great Marcia Ball is Still Tickling Them Ivories
When Marcia Ball gets to rocking—her long fingers pounding out barrelhouse keyboard rhythms, knees bouncing to the beat, the band locked into the groove—it can be downright difficult to sit still. The Austin piano player has been getting people to their feet for decades with her joyful take on rhythm and blues and a voice steeped in Gulf Coast soul. Read More »
National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature
The National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature opened in 2000 to showcase the work of storybook artists in a fine-art setting. The light and airy gallery curates about three shows per year, including a summer exhibition of the artist featured during the annual Children's Art and Literacy Festival. “Our mission is to instill the love of art as young as we possibly can, because if you think about it, the first art that children see is in the books they’re reading,” Director Trish Dressen says. “If we can instill that in them young, then we can preserve the love of art for the ages.” Entry is always free. Read More »
Explore History at Frontier Texas! Museum in Abilene
At Frontier Texas!, interactive exhibits explore the century (1780-1880) when the Rolling Plains transformed from ... Read More »
Help Yourself to Sausage, Biscuits, and a Side of History at the King Ranch
My kids know I’m happy to travel for a meal, particularly when huevos are involved, but in their minds, this was pushing it. The night before, we’d driven more than three hours across the dark, South Texas landscape to Kingsville. Now, on a Saturday morning, they were back in the car just before dawn. “But look at the light, it’s beautiful!” I told them, pointing to the horizon. “Besides, this is not just any breakfast,” I promised. “It’s a chance to experience Texas history on one of the most famous ranches in the world.” Read More »
Explore Frontier Life in San Antonio at the Yturri-Edmunds Home
Before the first railroad line reached San Antonio in 1877, the villa was known as “the city of adobes,” according to an 1887 article in the San Antonio Daily Express. Along with rock, adobe was cited as the most common construction material. Another report in the Express noted that local adobe buildings would “endure forever almost.” Read More »
Any Day Above Ground Is a Good One at the Quirky National Museum of Funeral History
For the past eight years, the treasury of exhibits about the cultural practices and traditions surrounding death has hosted a haunted maze during the month of October. The president and curator of the museum, Genevieve Keeney, says it takes great pains to make sure the event is a good time for all ages. Read More »