Illustrations by James Olstein
A guide to some of the friendliest places, faces, and customs in Texas
Texans should feel obligated to play nice with others—even if they’re from New York City.
Friendliness is in our DNA. Our state motto is “Friendship.” We promote “Drive Friendly – The Texas Way.” And our very name, Texas, is derived from the Caddo word “taysha,” which means “friend.” A lot of people have moved here recently for the barbecue and lack of state income tax, but our character must have something to do with it, too. For Texans new and old, and folks just passing through, here’s a primer on some of our friendliest tour guides, shops, artworks, animals, traditions, and more.
That’s Entertainment
Camera Ready
How Film Friendly Texas has lured productions by Taylor Sheridan and others
By Ian Dille
When Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan and 101 Studios started moving their projects to Cowtown a couple of years ago, the Fort Worth Film Commission was prepared. “We quickly identified a need for crew positions like grip and electric, set building, and hair and makeup,” says Jessica Hill, the longtime film commissioner. Since collaborating with Tarrant County College to train students for those roles, up to eight graduates have landed jobs on Sheridan productions like Landman and Lioness, as well as local film projects.
All of this comes as a result of the state Legislature approving $200 million in statewide film industry incentives in 2023. This 400% funding increase from the previous session is aimed at boosting local TV and movie production. Beneficiaries include the more than 175 communities in the Film Friendly Texas program, an initiative facilitated by the Texas Film Commission to help cities across the state capitalize on the entertainment industry. “We try to be a ‘yes’ town,” Hill says. “Instead of saying, ‘That’s going to be difficult,’ we’ll respond, ‘Let’s figure out how to do this as a team.’”
In Fort Worth, one of the program cities, the film commission is helping its own, too. In 2018, the nonprofit created the Film Fort Worth badge, providing crews with discounts and freebies at local shops and restaurants. There are also quarterly mixers, peer workshops, and actors’ panels. Even the public benefits from Film Friendly Texas through offerings like self-guided tours, including the Richard Linklater Trail dedicated to locations from the director’s movies Dazed and Confused and Boyhood. gov.texas.gov/film/page/fftx_overview
Campaign
Keep It Clean
Seriously, don’t mess with Texas
By Dina Gachman
Ever seen a crumpled bag blowing in the wind along a country road like a tumbleweed? It’s not a pretty sight. Neither are the cigarette butts, candy wrappers, and half-eaten apples that litter our highways. Since 1986, when the first “Don’t mess with Texas” PSA aired on TV, with Stevie Ray Vaughan on his Fender Strat, the slogan has become embedded in our culture.
Some Texans take seriously this oath to be environmentally friendly. And for those who don’t, you might get slapped with a $500 fine for your affront. Consider the damage done by littering: A single soda can take about 250 years to decompose. And if you’re throwing food scraps out your window, thinking it’s fine because an animal will eat them, all you’re doing is luring animals to busy roads—and we all know what a deadly combination that is.
Our intentions are good, but how well are we doing? According to Norma A. Rios, DMWT’s campaign coordinator, litter has dropped by over 50% since 1995.
“The best way to keep our roads and highways litter-free is to not litter in the first place,” Rios says. “That includes keeping your truck bed free of trash and securing all items in your truck before driving. Through programs like Adopt-A-Highway and events like April’s Trash-Off, Texans can pitch in and help keep litter off our roads.” It’s the little things. dontmesswithtexas.org
A Final Embrace
Hold Me
In Texas, there’s a hug for that
By Dina Gachman
During the pandemic lockdowns, when merely walking past a neighbor felt dangerous, I wondered what would become of the big ole Texas hug. Turns out, it has endured as a symbol of our affability. Of course, this is a vast and diverse state, so not every Texan likes affection, but for the most part, we’re as apt to hug a stranger—in some shape or form—as we are our own kin. “Hugs are a universal way of showing care and support,” says Houston-based etiquette coach Monica Lewis. “In Texas, we’re no strangers to generosity and a willingness to help others.”
Hugs aren’t just a gesture of affection; they’re beneficial for our mental and physical health. A 2021 article in Discover magazine entitled “Hugging Is an Evolutionary Tool for Survival” reveals how scientific studies have shown that a welcome embrace releases the bonding hormone oxytocin, as well as serotonin and endorphins. Bonobo chimpanzees put their arms around each other when they’re in distress, while young orangutans are known to hug when they see a snake. In 2007, archeologists in Italy discovered the “Lovers of Valdaro,” a pair of human skeletons locked in an eternal embrace that began 6,000 years ago. All these millennia later, we’re still hugging it out. And in Texas, we have a hug for every occasion.