June 2007

Table of Contents

Features

Shore ’Nuff

The best beaches in Texas for—among other summertime pursuits—shelling, strolling, birding, fishing, treasure hunting, turtle herding, solitude, and surfing, dude.

Plus:

Head to the Coast

Writer-at-large Suzy Banks on writing about traveling and hanging out at the beach.

Being There: Beaches

A slide show of images from Texas beaches shows just what the Third Coast (and a few other spots) has to offer. Narrator Suzy Banks talks about what to do, from building sand castles at South Padre Island to searching for lightning whelks and wentletraps along the shore of San Jose Island.

Human Mate Selection Is a Many-Splendored Thing

David Buss understands how Stone Age hookups made us who we are—but can that help me get a date?

Sounds Like Teen Spirit

Each year, some 55,000 talented high school musicians try out for 1,500 chairs at the Super Bowl of band geekery: the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention in San Antonio. Once upon a time, I made the cut.

Let There Be Lightnin’

Twenty-five years after his death, Sam Hopkins is still one of the most influential bluesmen in history—that much we know. But we don’t know nearly enough about who he was.

The Music Man

How Dirk Fowler became the state’s latest, greatest poster artist.

Columns

Behind the Lines

Road Warrior

How Ric Williamson became public enemy number one.

Gary Cartwright

The Iconoclast

A liberal newspaperman in George W. Bush’s backyard.

Antonya Nelson

Inimitable Ink

Why I have James Salter—and Andypants—to thank for my new tattoo.

Letter from Dallas

“The President Is Dead, You Know”

What the late LBJ confidant Jack Valenti remembered about the longest day of his life.

Sarah Bird

No Ifs, Abs, Or Butts

My instructor is a Flabbo Nazi, and other tales from the aerobics wars.

Reporter

Faith Bases

Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle, San Juan.

William Martin reviews our places of worship.

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

He braided whips.

Where have all the cowboys gone?

Minister of Health

Getting Antsy

Fire ants forever. (sigh.)

Street Smarts

Bishop Arts District, Dallas.

A historic neighborhood reemerges with a new edge.

Texas Monthly Talks

Bill Paxton

Bill Paxton on JFK and HBO.

The Horse’s Mouth

Shopping for A Wedding Gown

Lela Rose on buying a wedding dress.

The Sports Authorities

The Pro Life

Free advice for Devin Durant.

Topic A

State of Innocents

The DA and the DNA.

Buy This Now

Shirt Tales

The shirt off your back.

Hollywood, TX

We’ll Always Love You

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at 25.

Previews+Reviews

Books

The best new books from Texas.

Previews+Reviews

Music

The best new music from Texas.

The Filter

Pat’s Pick

Armandos

Miscellaneous

Web Extra

Head to the Coast

Writer-at-large Suzy Banks on writing about traveling and hanging out at the beach.

Multimedia

Being There: Beaches

A slide show of images from Texas beaches shows just what the Third Coast (and a few other spots) has to offer. Narrator Suzy Banks talks about what to do, from building sand castles at South Padre Island to searching for lightning whelks and wentletraps along the shore of San Jose Island.

Editor’s Letter

Dealey or No Dealey

Web Extra

Blues on My Mind

Senior editor Michael Hall on researching blues legend Lightnin’ Hopkins.

Roar of the Crowd

Badge Boys

Contributors

(Li’l Contributors)

Books That Cook

Fiddlesticks: Johnson Family Cookbook