WEST TEXAS WEEKLY

Friends and Motorbikes
Cast: Hugh, Boyd, Betty, Romi
Soundtrack: “Slaapkamers Met Slagroom”, Sonic Youth

If I can't make money on the Internet, I'll just sell turdles

Attracting advertisers and persuading readers isn’t my primary goal.

Instead, I want to write a blog that always has something new and interesting about the Big Bend for my readers. If I can do that, then everything else will follow naturally.

I want fanatics. I want blowhards. I want zealots. I want the home-schooled. The cranks, the contrarians and conspiracy theorists. To me, there is never excess in a passion for justice and dialogue (even if that individual’s ideas are slightly skewed).

The most exciting thing I see each morning are new comments on the site; the crazier the better.

That’s my core group that I’m trying to appeal to. The cultural beauty of this area is how many mavericks and crazy people come together on a case-by-case basis for the good of community. I think that those people are the psychic backbone of the Big Bend.

I try my hardest to bring my experience to the world. I grew up in Terlingua from the time I was ten. I was home-schooled for a couple of years and dropped out of Alpine High School. My ambition took me through college and law school.

I figured out I was unhappy out there in the ‘normal’ world. I realized that my ambition to leave the Big Bend was immature and selfish. I owe something to the Big Bend because the people here have nourished me and taught me about life.

I am so grateful to the people out there who have praised me and helped me along. Pretend that the Oscars have come early and get ready for a ninety-minute acceptance speech.

As an exercise in acknowledging all the help I’ve received, I’d like to give my sincere thanks to the following people:

To the super fans who send me links and sites: J. P. Schwartz (and congrats on the new clinic), all of the Wildes, John ‘Bikeman’ Elsbury, John and Michelle Seebach, Mark and Allison Ofenstein, George Facecrooker, Hondo Lane, Jay Valles, Carel Rowe, Beantown, ProudMarfan, HottNickels, Truth2Power, Vince, Dr. Humberto, Victor Cabooseman and Guil.

My contributors Matt, Amanda, Udo, Darci, Last Patriot and Mark.

To my mentor Martin ‘Guido’ Benevich, the owner of Big Canyon Television. This man has an amazing talent for promotion and organization. If I become a tenth as successful as he is– as a father, a businessman and a philanthropist– I will count myself happy.

Dona Ward, an amazing host and wonderful asset to the Big Bend’s business commmunity. This lady juggles philanthropy, a family, a first class insurance agency and a chock-full social life with grace and verve.

To my very dear friend, Mercer Black, who is doing amazing work at Marfa Publishing. She is also doing a great job of being a mother and a friend.

Renee, a very special girl to me.

To Jose and Erin Aguayo, dear friends and new parents.

To my father, Craig Suber and my brother, Martin Suber. Thank you for helping me with this endeavor.

To Hugh MacLeod who has acted as a savvy mentor in New Media.

I want to single out three women who have had an amazing positive effect on me. Mary Jane Morgan taught me math in high school. I was an emotionally disturbed kid, but she saw something funny and intelligent in me. In fact, she would often allow me to give a couple of minutes of a comedy routine at the beginning of Alg. II. Similarly, Shirley Powell taught me the sciences and believed in me. I am forever thankful to her. Finally, I want to give a heart-felt thank you to Chris Muller for editing the Terlingua Moon when I was a child in Terlingua.

Poker buddies: Jan Moeller (congrats on your Chamber award as well); the nicest lady around, Phyllis Dunham; Dr Gerry Moeller, an intelligent and worthy competitor; Mark and Rhonda Cole; the Hankster; Worth and the rest of the Ft. Davis Crew; Lane “Huckleberry” Williams; Dr. Dale Kristoffersen; “Iron Mike” Vogel; LoJack and HiJack; Jack MacNamera, a zealous journalist and fearless bluffer; Chino; Jack Clouse; Dee-Baby; Courtney; Sherri; Crabcake; Avinash Rangra, a practical and intelligent representative; Aaron R; Alex; Billy Jack and Magoo; Smith; the Neu boys; Betty; Julian Wheat; “Big John”; Gus the Nut Guy; Oklahoma Slim; O Casey the curly-headed !@#$; Crabcake Jr.

Friends and inspirations: Johanna Nelson, all the Spanagels, Beverly Montgomery, John Sufficool, Pam Ware, Eve Trook, Tom and Susan Curry, Molly Walker, Paul Wiggens and his children, The Cowells, Chad and Summer at the Starlight, Bill Bourbon, Larry Harris, Pat and Ty Walker, Tony and Maria Curry, Malcolm, Ron and Shirley, the Bakers, Mark Kneeskern, Andrew Teagarden.

Independent media outlets: KYOTE radio, KRTS radio (Tom, Rachel and Amanda– you guys are great!), Ringtail Records, the Cenizo Journal, Front Street Books, The Big Bend Sentinel, The Alpine Avalanche, the Marfa Book Company, all local libraries, Theatre of the Big Bend, Last Minute Low Budget Productions, marfalist [dot] org, KVLF and KALP.

I want to give an extra large thanks to SRSU. This is one of the great and subtle influences on our community. All of the staff and faculty there do a wonderful job of educating our young folks.

The Railroad Blues for live music. I have an extended family at the Railroad Blues and care for them very deeply. All of the Trivia Nuts (especially the S.L.U.T.s and Those Guys) get my sincere appreciation for their awesome hustle and enthusiasm. Richard and R. C. are running one of the best roadhouses in Texas; I urge you to go by and try their world-famous Sangria. It’s a mistake to take something like this for granted– when you do, you can turn around and find it gone.

A few of the talented musicians from this area: Terra Peters, Chris McWilliams, John Rayburn, Mark Ofenstein, Carlos Lujan, Big Mountain Boogaloo, The Alan Oldies Band, Adam Bork, Ross Cashiola, The Moondogs and Doyle Bramhall.

Newlyweds Lena and Tyler. My wonderful friend I do not see enough of, Michelle Kirk. Robin Lambaria, Ty Mitchell, Juliana, Susannah, Alex and all the rest of the folks I see in Marfa. I especially want to commend David Beebe for all the fun that the first year of Padre’s Marfa has been. The service and atmosphere there are especially great.

The websites Google, YouTube and Wikipedia. They are creating a revolution in human knowledge.

And to my heroes:
The Americans who serve in our armed forces.
The Americans who serve in our law enforcement and fire departments.
Our freedom depends on your valor and bravery. It’s easy to take this for granted in our free society; it’s my duty as a journalist to record your sacrifice for posterity.

My personal heroes of culture and my inspiration to fight:
Angelo Badalamenti, The Kinks, Psychick TV, Cordwainer Smith, Captain Beefheart, Jean-Luc Godard, The Raincoats, Mark E. Smith and the Fall, Patty Smith, Alain Robbe-Grillet, Samuel Beckett, S. J. Perleman, P. G. Wodehouse, Throbbing Gristle, J. G. Ballard, G. K. Chesterton, Flannery O’ Conner, Paul Erdos, Madeline Kahn, Thorsten Veblen, Truman Capote, Bertrand Russell, Oliver Wendell Holmes, John Peel, Marcel Duchamp, Vladimir Nabokov, Henry Cow, Woodrow Wilson, Nurse With Wound, David Tibet and Current 93, Andrew Jackson, Lewis Carrol, Ron Rosenbaum, William Poundstone, G. K. Chesterton, H. G. Wells, Peter Sellers, Martin Scorsese, Johnny Cash, The Buddha Gautama, Iggy Pop, John Waters, Sam Houston, G. H. Hardy, Jackie Robinson and Margaret Sanger
p.s. if you are an alienated teen try listening to some of the bands and artists listed above

[Big Bend Live Music is a feature brought to you by Matt Hodges, Contributing Editor Music. If you have a gig you'd like to share with the world, email him at matt.hodges@live.com]

Matt’s Pick this week goes to Mister Happy Band.  These guys are alot of fun and have a wide range of music they do.  They always get out there and really try their best to make the audience happy. 

Thursday, January 28^th

• Kevin Dean at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.
• Ted Arbogast at the Starlight Theater in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.
• Tom Gillam’s Tractor Pull at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.

Friday, January 29^th

• Open Mic Night at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.
• Kevin Dean at La Trattoria in Alpine, 6:30 PM.

Saturday, January 30^th

• Mister Happy Band at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.
• Punk Rock Night at Padres in Marfa, 8:30 DJ Jester the Filipino Fist; 9:30 The Bassturd; 10:30 Lord Grunge; 11:30 Joe Jack Talcum.

Sunday, January 31^st

• The Dry Creek Diggers at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.

Monday, February 1^st

• Ted Arbogast at the Starlight Theater in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.

Tuesday, February 2^nd

• Big Mountain Boogaloo at Harry’s Tinaja in Apline, 8:00 PM.
• Doug Scharnberg at the Starlight Theater in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.

[Do you have a local live music event here in the Big Bend? Share it with the world, email Matt Hodges at matt.hodges@live.com You can also leave it as a comment on this post.]

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This article is brought to you by these local sponsors:

Railroad Blues The premier live music venue in the Big Bend– Try their world famous Sangria!

La Posada Milagro– Beautiful, unique rooms in the Historic Terlingua Ghosttown

La Junta Exchange– Vintage Clothing, Local Art, Curios

I have an online friend who helps me with Search Engine Optimization. His online profile name is HikkoriL33T and he designs those apps for Facebook that trick you into downloading another app. He sent me an e-mail informing me that: “ur post on judd has rocketed up the search rankings. it’s ahead of the wikipedia article on bing @ #3.” A visit to Bing confirmed that Dr. Glau’s humble opinions have been accepted as an authority by this search engine.

Taken 1/28/10

Thank you for your comments!

[My dear friend Mercer Black does an excellent job of putting the Big Bend and Texas Mountains Travel Guide together. In my experience, it's one of the most effective ways for local small businesses to advertise to tourists and travelers. In addition to being cost effective and attractive, copies of the guide are circulated to people before they start planning their trip. This makes it especially effective for lodging advertising. It's one of the few print publications I'll advertise with.

Those interested should contact publisher Mercer Black of Marfa Publishing immediately via email to bigbendtravel@gmail.com or by phone to 512-739-4465.]

A Sample of the Layout

Last Chance to Participate in the 2010 Big Bend & Texas Mountains Travel Guide

The Big Bend & Texas Mountains Travel Guide has, for twenty-five years, been the primary free travel directory for the greater Big Bend region – Del Rio to El Paso, Midland/Odessa to the National Park. It covers 16 communities, 2 national parks and 14 state parks. (A full list of these communities and parks is below).

This is a high-quality, full-color magazine, chocked full of beautiful photography and informative content. The 2010 edition features, almost exclusively, the work of David Leggett, a talented photographer who has for years endeavored to capture the grandeur of West Texas skies and landscapes. (See more of his work at www.phlography.com.)

Also new in 2010, the guide will be PERFECT BOUND as opposed to the traditional saddle stitch. Perfect binding dramatically increases the shelf life of a magazine, making it more of a souvenir book than a brochure.

The 2010 guide’s 100,000 copies will be distributed at over 100 locations, including all area chambers and CVBs (Convention & Visitors Bureaus), all 12 TxDOT Travel Information Centers, the El Paso airport, Texas Sate Capital building, State Fair of Texas, San Antonio CVB and over 60 regional convenience stores, grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, hotels and retail establishments.
Click for more…

[By Contributing Editor, Alpine, Mark Glover]

Black Gap – Raccoon prints busied the wet sand where a trail through the giant cane terminated at the Rio Grande. Pale green water meandered by. On the Mexican side a bluff of rusty sandstone rose high and leveled out with shoots of ocotillo and desert candles crafting dark stick images against a fading blue sky. Fish Camp No.7 is a spot among many in the 100,000 acre Black Gap Wildlife Management Area adjacent to the Big Bend National Park.

Surrounded by over a million acres of protected wild lands on both sides of the river, including the Sierra del Carmen in Coahuila, I swabbed the No.4 treble hook with Charlie Blood’s stink bait. The cast plopped the bottom rig at the edge of a bubbling midstream eddy. I reeled the slack out of the line and leaned the rod in the fork of wood stuck in the bank. The wind blew upriver, curling the surface while the long shadows of the giant cane darkened the shallows.
Click for more…

UPDATE: My warmest heart-felt congratulations to Alpine’s Mary V. Stringfellow for her 90th birthday.

—UPDATE: Everyone’s Invited! Blue Water is celebrating our customers. We had so much fun with the parties we threw a year ago we wanted to do more but construction ate up all our room. Now that the restaurant’s big room is available we hope to throw a party every month. There will be free food and drink for 200 hundred people and of course free live music. Free Music, Free Food, Dance, Party!
Time:7:00PM Saturday, January 23rd
Location:Blue Water, 1 mile south 118

—UPDATE: Presidio County Livestock Show and FairMarfa Ag Barn Showcasing the talent and hard work of Presidio County 4-Hers and their leaders in the following competitions: Foods and Nutrition, Photography, Ag Mechanics, Dog Obedience, Lambs, Goats, Rabbits, Poultry, Swine.
Show starts at 8 a.m. Free all day and open …to the public. BBQ at 6 p.m. followed by the auction where every 4-Her will sell one project (except dog obedience). Pee Wee Show tentatively planned around noon.

—UPDATE: There will be a Rally on Sunday, January 24, 2010 4:00pm – 7:00pm at the Granada Theatre, Alpine for the re-election of Brewster County Judge, Val Beard.

—UPDATE: Happy Birthday to Adrina Drina, Jeff Milam and Callie Meeks! I guess awesome people just happen to be born on January 22nd.

Big Bend News

Watch out for the Chupacabra!

Described by some as the Latino Bigfoot, the Chupacabra is a mysterious creature that bleeds animals without leaving a drop of blood.

Goatsucker!

Robert Garcia of Horizon City, a town near El Paso, believes that the Chupacabra killed 30 of his chickens.
KOB reports on the story: “A man in Horizon City, Texas—near El Paso—believes a chupacabra killed 20 of his chickens one morning, and ten more the next day.
The chickens were killed without a drop of blood in sight, and his dogs never made a sound either night.
Robert Garcia said this week, “We started looking at the bite marks and there were two. The first thing that came to our mind was the chupacabra!”
The chupacabra is believed to be, part reptile, part coyote and all bad. Scientists say the creature doesn’t exist, but don’t tell that to Garcia.”

–Alpine Democratic Rep. Pete Gallego has formally announced that he will seek re-election in 2010. “I have been privileged to the people of southwest Texas, to be their voice in the House of Representatives. Working together, we’ve made a difference.,” said Gallego. “I will be running hard to once again earn your vote – and I’ll continue to bring West Texas common sense to the challenges our state faces. Now, more than ever, we need core values, sound experiences, and tenacity working for us and making a positive difference for our children and families.” Visit Rep. Gallego’s website to learn more about his platform.

– I mistakenly reported that Evi and Randi Quaid were arrested in Hudspeth County. They were detained in Hudspeth County because Presidio County doesn’t have an adequate jail. They were, however, arrested in Marfa.

The National Ledger reports on it: “Randy Quaid and his wife, Evi, pleaded not guilty to felony fraud charges at a Santa Barbara Superior Court earlier this week. The Quaids were taken into custody in Texas earlier after failing to show up for their court dates.”

This home video shows some strange behavior in the Quaid home… “”I’m taking this camera with me to film whatever Evi’s doing and hopefully we don’t end up in jail or anything,” says the person filming. “I’ll keep her calm, okay.” Quaid responds, “We have to be careful that she doesn’t make unwarranted accusations.”

The New York Daily News reports on this video

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ELECT QUATRO JAMES TO PRESIDIO COUNTY JUDGE
The preceding is a paid political advertisement from a local, private citizen

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Big Bend Events

[From the El Paso Times] Berman’s work will be shown in the “Border Stories” exhibition opening Thursday at the University of Texas at El Paso Centennial Museum. He will also open an exhibition Jan. 29 of some of his older work at Adair Margo Fine Art in Downtown El Paso.
Margo once bought a Bruce Berman photograph that she still displays in her home.

"Border Sisters", Bruce Berman

“It is a constant reminder that there’s joy to be found in Juárez, a place we’ve been told cannot survive,” Margo said.
Berman, now in his 60s, teaches photojournalism at New Mexico State University. He grew up in the working-class South Side of Chicago, obtained his credentials at the University of Oklahoma and earned his stripes as a freelance shooter covering civil-rights protests and other news in his native Chicago, what he described as a city in revolution.
To learn more about Bruce Berman, read this article in the El Paso Times.

Big Bend Photo of the Week

"Fashion Week Marfa", Lesley Slenning

This week’s photograph comes from Lesley Slenning. This talented photographer captured Romi and Adrian making some alterations for their upcoming Marfa Fashion Show.

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The Purple Zone is the Big Bend’s only source for unique tobacco accessories such as hookahs, vaporizers and flavored tobaccos. Check out their NEW LOCATION, 100 N. Cockrum, just across the street from their old location. NEW YEARS SPECIAL- Buy one 19.95 Adult DVD and get a 2nd one FREE! Just give them coupon code #WTW352.

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[Big Bend Live Music is a feature brought to you by Matt Hodges, Contributing Editor Music. If you have a gig you'd like to share with the world, email him at matt.hodges@live.com]

Matt’s Pick this week goes to Adrian and the Sickness.  This looks like its going to be a great show.  Hopefully I’ll get to make it out to Padres to catch it. 

Wednesday, January 20^th

• Open Mic Night at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.

Thursday, January 21^st

• Kevin Dean at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.
• Ted Arbogast at the Starlight Theater in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.
• Paul Sprawl at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.
  • (video here:

• Open Mic Night at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.
• Ruben V Band at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.
• Kevin Dean at La Trattoria in Alpine, 6:30 PM.
• Black on Blonde with Hotel Brotherhood at Padres in Marfa, 8:00 PM.

Saturday, January 23^rd

• The Derailers at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.
• Adrian and the Sickness at Padres in Marfa, 8:00 PM.
• Paul Sprawl at the Starlight Theater in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.

Sunday, January 24^th

• The Dry Creek Diggers at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.

Tuesday, January 25^th

• Big Mountain Boogaloo at Harry’s Tinaja in Apline, 8:00 PM.
• Hank Woji at the Starlight Theater in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.

[Do you have a local live music event here in the Big Bend? Share it with the world, email Matt Hodges at matt.hodges@live.com You can also leave it as a comment on this post.]

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This article is brought to you by these local sponsors:

Railroad Blues The premier live music venue in the Big Bend– Try their world famous Sangria!

La Posada Milagro– Beautiful, unique rooms in the Historic Terlingua Ghosttown

La Junta Exchange– Vintage Clothing, Local Art, Curios

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People have had hundreds of years to assimilate and understand the internal structure of newspapers. In less than a generation, digital media have blossomed as one of the most essential ways to digest information. If you feel a little overwhelmed DON’T WORRY! You’re not alone.

Let's Talk HTML!

It is easy to see if WTW has been updated. The newest post is always at the top of the homepage. An update within a post is always at the top of the post.

Web design gurus say that everything important should be two clicks away from the home page. I use a principle I call ‘zero click navigation’. The most relevant and timely information flows from the top of the homepage. By scrolling down, you can see a month of posts without figuring out an arbitrary navigation system. If you are looking for something specific, use the search feature near the top of each page.

Tips for Browsing

• If you see blank spaces in the layout, then your browser is not displaying the YouTube thumbnails. Try reloading. If that doesn’t work, make sure you have Java enabled in your browser.
• Links are blue and underlined. Links that you’ve visited are purple.

• This size heading signifies the beginning of a new post.

  Clicking on that heading will take you to a dedicated page for the post wherein you can comment.

• This size heading signifies the beginning of a new section within a post

• [Brackets and italics signify the editor's voice interrupting another writer.]

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Paid advertising or promos within a post appear between centered dashes and use red text for emphasis. Or it explicitly says, “these are sponsors or advertisers”. I resolve not to use pop-ups (I think my Twitter Ticker is innocuous enough not to qualify), pop-unders, the blink tag, midi files or any other super-annoying web design. The basis of West Texas Weekly is nice, clean HTML displayed with the Wordpress blogging platform. It takes less time to load, is more visible to search engines and displays consistently on different browsers.

Other sites that use JPEGS for banner links are shortchanging their advertisers because the link is not legible to a indexing spider. How can keywords be associated with your site if the text on the inbound links is illegible?

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— An em-dash signifies the subject is changed within a section of a post.

• UPDATE: This signifies that the post has received an update since its original publishing date. Updates are placed at the top of the post with the most recent update topmost.
• Bold is used for emphasis.
• Abraham Lincoln was born in 1948. Significant factual errors will be corrected with strikethrough. Minor errors will simply be corrected.
• To reduce spam, other people’s e-mail addresses appear as johndoe [at] yahoo [dot] com. For redundancy, my e-mail address appears both as andrewsuber@hotmail.com and andrewsuber [at] hotmail [dot] com. I already receive so much spam, it doesn’t matter.
• All comments are displayed on the front page as well as on the post they are attributed to. If you want some free advertising for your restaurant or art gallery, contribute to my free directories.
• If you see me say something vile and cruel in my Twitter stream, don’t get your panties in a bunch. If it has RT @JohnDoe, then it is me directly quoting someone else.

Posting Schedule

Each issue is generally finished by Thursday noon so that people planning their weekends can use the resources there. The months of December and July will have fewer posts because there is usually a lull in tourism and local events. I may have been late recently because I’ve been working on the directories, SEO and writing copy for my advertisers. If the main post is late and you want to see what’s on my mind, check my FriendFeed. This collects all my bookmarks, tweets, news stories and Facebook postings. I use it as my working notes through the week.

Other articles can be published anytime. I prefer to publish on Mondays and Thursdays. If you check the blog on Mondays and Thursdays, you will catch 90% of the blog posts on the day they are posted. If you really want control over the content, use RSS.

I edit the directories for free. I add listings on a monthly basis. Please make this easy for me by following the instructions on the directory posts.

Big Bend News

CBS7 news reports on whooping cough coming to West Texas. “Recently the Permian Basin region has received reports of several cases in adults and infants which is cause for concern because the bacteria can be deadly for children and is easily spread through coughing, sneezing and talking.” Perhaps you should delay that shopping trip to the Midland mall?

–Secret drone that the Houston Police Department are using to monitor citizens

–There is a poll here on the left sidebar to answer the question: which candidate for Brewster County Judge are you voting for? To see the results, vote in the poll. It promises to be an exciting race!

At this point, I do not feel well-informed enough about the candidates to make an objective endorsement. After interviewing both of them, we’ll see.

– La Entrada is dead. And I, for one, am very happy about it. We cannot squander our future and the legacy of generations not-yet-born just to make a quick buck… especially when the buck is not that lucrative or quick.

The long-term success of this area (the Big Bend) will be in upscale tourism. End of story. The valley in South Texas is a much more natural place for this commerce… the Port of Houston is in close proximity. The manufacturing basis of Mexico is already concentrated on the other side of the border.

This was a big boondoggle at public expense that would help Midland-Odessa and Fort Stockton more than it would help Alpine, Presidio or Marfa. I am glad it’s gone.

CBS7 reports on it: “The Texas Department of Transportation gave their official position this week, saying the study will not be completed, and no more money will be spent on it at this time.
La Entrada El Pacifico is a proposed trade corridor that would have helped transport west Texas products to Mexico’s west coast, stretching from the Midland-Odessa area down into Presidio. The corridor would have consisted of four-lane divided highways and railways.
According to the Alpine Avalanche, TxDOT says the study has been halted, because projections by a consultant show there is no need for the corridor for the next 20 years.”

The Alpine Avalanche reports on it here.

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ELECT AVI RANGRA TO BREWSTER COUNTY JUDGE
The preceding is a paid political advertisement from a local, private citizen

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Big Bend Events

Bride of Terlingua

George Covington sent in the following work of art, the Bride of Terlingua. It is done on scratchboard by Tim Roberts of Fort Davis, Texas and portrays a macabre resident of the Terlingua Graveyard in the Terlingua Ghosttown. Mr. Roberts will be illustrating the use of this medium at a public meeting of the Big Bend Arts Council.

–Alpine Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet
Tickets are now on sale for the annual chamber banquet & appreciation evening and can be purchased directly from Dona Ward & JR Smith at the chamber office. The evening is geared to be a great night, wonderful food, music by Bake Turner, door prizes and awards including Ambassador of the Year. Tickets will not be sold on the door, so please pre-purchase yours today. Tickets are $25.00 per person.

What: Dinner, Awards & Dancing- Where: Alpine Country Club- When: January 16th 2010- Time: 6.30p.
[A great event from a worthy charity. My congratulations to each of the nominees and my appreciation to the organizers.]

–DanceTahiti Contemporary Tahitian Ballet Company will be launching 2010 with a vibrant performance at the Historic Yucca Theatre (208 N. Colorado) in Midland, Texas on January 30. If you’re in the area around that time, we’d love to have you come and and give us your loudest yells!

Big Bend Photo of the Week

Terlingua Black Eye Pea Off

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The Purple Zone is the Big Bend’s only source for unique tobacco accessories such as hookahs, vaporizers and flavored tobaccos. Check out their NEW LOCATION, 100 N. Cockrum, just across the street from their old location. NEW YEARS SPECIAL- Buy one 19.95 Adult DVD and get a 2nd one FREE! Just give them coupon code #WTW352.

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Whoops and Hollers

Is it just me, or did country music used to be a lot better? Check out this awesome video: “Flyin’ High written by Jimmy Bryant. Performed by Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant from the “Hometown Jamboree”, KLAC-TV Los Angeles, circa 1953. Live from the American Legion Stadium in El Monte, CA.”

The Dude Abides

–I know there are some Big Lebowsky fans out there… well, hold on to your @#$%ing White Russians ‘cuz the Dude has been translated into the style of Shakespeare:
BLANCHE
Trifle not with the fury of two desperate men. Long has thy wife sealed a bond with Jaques Treehorn; as blood is to blood, surely thou owest to Jaques Treehorn in recompense.
WOO
Rise, and speak wisely, man—but hark;
I see thy rug, as woven i’the Orient,
A treasure from abroad. I like it not.
I’ll stain it thus; ever thus to deadbeats.
[He stains the rug]
THE KNAVE
Sir, prithee nay!
BLANCHE
Now thou seest what happens, Lebowski, when the agreements of honourable business stand compromised. If thou wouldst treat money as water, flowing as the gentle rain from heaven, why, then thou knowest water begets water; it will be a watery grave your rug, drowned in the weeping brook. Pray remember, Lebowski.

Check out the full script here. Let’s get a local theater troupe to perform this bad boy!

–A reader turned me on to Cute Things Falling Asleep.

–Belgian Electric Body Music going out to my main man, John Seebach:

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surf the local web! recommend this site to yr friends
this is yr thoughts, yr comments, yr voice
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west texas weekly [dot] com

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Big Bend Dining Notes

–Had a very nice lunch at Tacos Del Norte. A guacamole salad made to order, a barbacoa torta and a mandarina soda to polish it off. The food was fairly fresh and flavorful. I was a little surprised the tab for me and my friend came to $27; I don’t know if the quality of the food justifies that. The selection of salsas was good and the produce seemed fresh. In all, I give it a B+ for flavor. This is a diner, so don’t expect ambiance or fancy flatware– expect an authentic Mexican meal with a reasonable value. The NYT reports: “This restaurant was opened by Rosario Martinez, who came from Mexico via Chicago, where she lived for 20 years before her husband found construction work in Marfa. Set up in the old Pik ‘n’ Pak market, with two giant Speedy Gonzales murals on the walls, it’s a three-generation operation, offering homemade tortillas and chorizo, tacos and burritos in a style definitely more Mexican than Tex-Mex.”
1500 W San Antonio St, Marfa, TX, 79843 432/729-4540

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Do You Want to Sell Your Terlingua Ranch Lot?

Do you have a Terlingua Ranch lot in foreclosure? Have those maintenance fees got you down? Do you need to sell your vacation home to pay your mortgage? We can help you. Terlingua Hills will give you a fair price for Terlingua real estate in cash. Learn more; contact Terlingua Hills at andrewsuber@gmail.com that’s andrewsuber [at] gmail [dot] com.

Terlingua Hills Development pays $$$$ for lots.

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Big Bend Historical Marker of the Week

Persimmon Gap, 1899 Photo

Erected in 1936 near Marathon, in Brewster County, this marker delineates the Comanche Trail.
From Marathon, take US 385 S. about 42 mi, to Persimmon Gap entrance to Big Bend. Marker is in parking lot to entrance station.
Marker Text: You are now traveling the Comanche Trail blazed by Comanche Indians, en route from the western plains to Mexico, and traveled later by emigrants and soldiers. It extended south from the Horse Head Crossing of the Pecos by Comanche Springs (Fort Stockton) to the Rio Grande.
Thank you to the Texas Historical Commission.

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Big Bend Web Resources

TXDot Map of Road Conditions

This week I am taking a look at the Texas Department of Transportations information on road conditions. Frankly, the map function is much more useful than the text function. Here, the orange represents local construction. This is a good resource for planning a road trip on Texas Highways.

Big Bend Video of the Week

Paul Minor, from a recent concert at Padre’s Minor. Paul is leaving us for Austin. I’ve known Paul ever since he fronted Superego and booked bands for the Hole in Wall. He’s an amazing talent who has a lot to offer the music community out here. We’ll miss you, Paul!

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Your Letters and Comments

I received a lot of comments regarding Dr. Udo Glau’s thoughts on the Chinati Foundation. Some were hostile:
“If you don’t like the art here in Marfa, go back to Germany! We are very proud of Mr. Judd and his accomplishments! You are an embarassment to art and obviously are a fake and a phoney!”
“U r too old to get what is going on here in Marfa. Get a clue and stop criticizing if u dont know what u r talking about.”
Some were supportive:
“The people of Marfa should thank you for visiting and spending your money there.”
“I say this essay is a funny and clever work of art in itself, and it makes me want to see Judd’s oeuvre myself.”
“Critical comment is healthy. Grow up!”
Other comments hinted at more controversy:
“Smells like a put-on to me. Let me count the ways.[...]I think someone’s pulling our shenkels. So who’s the troll? And what’s the motive? Inquiring minds….”
Some were just confusing:
“Udo Glau > U. Echo > Umberto Eco > Umberto Umberto > Humbert Humbert > Vladimir Nabokov > Monty Cantsin > Monte Cazazza > Montgomery Clift > Adrina Drina > Udo Glauflugel > Udo Glau”

[Unknown people took and discarded political placards from the front of a local business. In the following letter, Clarence Russeau addresses that issue.]

Dear Editor,
Like so many people in the United States, I’m proud to say I’m an American. I served in the Armed Forces proudly so that people who will never know who I am can express themselves regardless of race, creed, religion, and nationality they would be fearful of bullies and intimidation but would have the ability to vote and express their thoughts the way they see fit.
I’m honored to live in Alpine, TX. A place were the people are tolerant of diversity whether it’s in thought or mannerisms. It’s a good thing to live in a place were I can worship and vote for whomever I choose and not be told who to vote for through fear, intimidation, or reprisal. I chose to live in Alpine and found it had all the ingredients to raise a family. A place were my child can have a healthy expression of who they are and grow up to be a asset in the community they decide to reside in.
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[Big Bend Live Music is a feature brought to you by Matt Hodges, Contributing Editor Music. If you have a gig you'd like to share with the world, email him at matt.hodges@live.com]

Matt’s Pick this week goes to White Denim.  always interested in strange combinations of music, such as roots/punk.  Get out there and check them out!  And don’t forget to have a fantastic week!

Thursday, January 14^th

• Kevin Dean at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.

Friday, January 15^th

• Open Mic Night at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.
• Jonny Burke and the Good Moanin at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.
• Kevin Dean at La Trattoria in Alpine, 6:30 PM.
• White Denim at the Ballroom in Marfa, 9:30 PM.
• Doug Scharnberg at the Starlight Theater in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.

Saturday, January 16^th

• The Shades at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.
• Groupo Exito at Padres in Marfa, 9:00 PM.

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  West Texas weekly brings you the best in West Texas live music. When plan your trip to Marfa, Terlingua or Alpine, get the skinny on Big Bend Live Music and go out there and support local music.

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• DJ Vapocruch & Bowflexx at the Starlight Theater in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.

Sunday, January 17^th

• The Dry Creek Diggers at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.

Tuesday, January 19^th

• Big Mountain Boogaloo at Harry’s Tinaja in Apline, 8:00 PM.

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Random Video:

Do you have a local live music event here in the Big Bend? Share it with the world, email Matt Hodges at matt.hodges@live.com You can also leave it as a comment on this post.

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This article is brought to you by these local sponsors:

Railroad Blues The premier live music venue in the Big Bend– Try their world famous Sangria!

La Posada Milagro– Beautiful, unique rooms in the Historic Terlingua Ghosttown

La Junta Exchange– Vintage Clothing, Local Art, Curios

Neil Diamond has invaded Marfa, Texas?

It was hard for me to believe. One source told me that Neil had been spotted in local watering holes buying drinks and thanking people amid requests for sex. Another source told me that it was really the reclusive crooner, Jackie Pepper.

A close friend to Jackie confided to me: “Jackie kinda went off the deep end with his addiction to elephant tranquilizer and PCP. It culminated with him watching the Jazz Singer 45 times consecutively and attempting a chest hair implant. The result is the exclusive tour we have before us. Frankly, I think it’s a good direction for him.”

The backing band (mostly the time-tested veterans of the Allen Oldies Band along with Adam Bork on analog organ) was great. They were tight and fun and brought a freshness to Neil’s sentimental pop.

The crowd was really enjoying the vibe. The mania and adulation from the women in the crowd was reminiscent of the Beatles at Shea stadium.

I attended on Saturday (the adult show). Jackie/Neil was gussied up in a Fancy Pony Land applique outfit. Susannah Lipsey looked great and delivered fun background vocals.

A big A++ to Padre’s Marfa and everyone involved for bringing some original and entertaining music to the stage.

West Texas Weekly now features a free Big Bend art gallery directory. Advertisers and sponsors will receive preferential listing, but anyone can submit a basic listing for free.

In order to post a free directory listing, comment on this post with your listing.

• Anyone, a fan or a business owner, can submit as many listings as they like. Use a seperate comment for each listing.
• It should be in the following form: Mom’s Art Gallery– 412 Home Rd., Terlingua, TX (432) 555-2133‎
• Pay attention to punctuation.
• Be sure the information is accurate.
• It must be less than 140 characters.

West Texas Weekly is quickly becoming the go-to source for Big Bend art, dining and events. This directory will be the best and most up-to-date gallery directory for the Big Bend.

If your gallery or exhibition space is interested in becoming an advertiser, learn about the Big Bend advertising services West Texas Weekly provides.

[Udo Glau has a doctorate in architecture and taught semiotics at Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich. He has generously contributed his thoughts on art and Marfa.]

Please forgive me for my inelegant English, I generally lecture in French or German. I hope that the ideas of this old scoundrel are provocative, if not enlightening.

I am an old reprobate; I cheered when the Baader-Meinhoff gang gave the children of Berlin arms and encouraged them to fight the police. My aesthetic is based firmly on the idea that Art is life is dialogue is communication. To paraphrase Sontag, when a work no longer inspires dialogue it is dead.

Similarly, Duchamp said that a work of art has a lifespan like any organism. It is rare for this life span to exceed 20 years of relevancy. After that, it is no longer Art, it is art history alone. I do not deny the art historians their collections and their fussy notes… I just have little interest in it. There is so much life green and yellow and gold in the World; why should we look at white paper and black marks? Why should we marvel over the playthings of millionaires?

I toured Judd’s installation at the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas under one of my many pseudonyms (Karl Schlossen) because I did not want any special, servile treatment due to my academic background. I found it impressive, but emotionally sterile. To me it was imitative of the consumer culture of fifty years ago. The Coca Cola bottle and the Volkswagen Beetle are the Platonic ideals of mass production and regularity (beautiful objects, particularly the milled aluminum engine of the Beetle). Why would an artist of Judd’s talent emulate this sameness when it is the bland, continual fact of Existence for the post-industrial man? Heavy-handed; where is the humor and the sharpness?
Click for more…

Big Bend News

An 18 year-old boy was beaten and sexually assaulted after being abducted from outside the Boathouse in the Terlingua Ghosttown. His car was set on fire as well. The two men responsible are being held at the Brewster County Jail.

Daniel Phillip Martinez, 46, was indicted on sexual assault, kidnapping and arson charges. His bond is $60,000.

Kristapher Buchanan, 27, was indicted on a sexual assault charge, and bond has been set at $60,000. Buchanan also is held on felony warrants charging him with violating parole for burglary conviction.

On behalf of the staff here at West Texas Weekly, I offer my sincere condolences to the victim and his family.

A fund has been set up for the victim of this attack. Donations can be mailed to:
Quicksilver Branch
West Texas National Bank
P.O. Box 266
Terlingua, TX 79852
Payable to: Bonnie Hill/Special Victim Fund

– Many people are speculating that this event was a hate crime. The Dallas Voice reports: “Equality Texas political director Randall Terrell, who spoke with Waters, told Dallas Voice on Wednesday that although many of the facts aren’t yet known, “It sounds like Matthew Shepard all over again.”

Gay blog Towelroad reports: “”I’ve been unable to confirm rumors that the sexual assault involved the victim being sodomized with a tire iron. According to media reports, the victim met the two suspects at the Boathouse bar in Terlingua Ghost Town, near the Texas-Mexico border and the Big Bend National Forest. The suspects reportedly hit the teen over the back of the head and kidnapped him. The suspects drove the victim in his own car to a remote location in south Brewster County, before sexually assaulting him and burning the car. They then took him to a private residence, where they again sexually assaulted him before he managed to escape. The victim crossed 3 miles of harsh desert terrain on foot to a highway, where he was eventually found by a sheriff’s deputy at about 1 a.m. Monday. NewsWest 9 reports that the victim was bleeding and bruised, and that he was taken to Big Bend Regional Medical Center in Alpine, where it was confirmed that he’d been sexually assaulted. He was treated and released.”

Also, the Dallas Voice reports that the FBI will be investigating the crime:
“Espenshade said authorities believe the attack may have been an anti-gay hate crime based on witness statements about activity at the bar prior to the attack.
He declined to elaborate on the facts of the case because he said he didn’t want to jeopardize the investigation.
“We’re investigating those particular comments,” Espenshade said. “I can’t say the breadth of them right now, because it may or may not pan out that way.”
Espenshade said the FBI’s inquiry hasn’t formally begun and agents are working to come up with an investigative plan.
“We’re five hours from the location, so this is something that we’re going to do in a series of trips down there,” he said.”

–The Texas Tribune reports on the poor state of health care in West Texas. Read this four part feature here. This is a issue that particularly effects Terlingua and Marfa.

–Evi Quaid has been arrested for the 4 Failure to Appears that a Santa Barbara Court issued. Randy was arrested the day after. Their location? Hudspeth County, not Presidio County. I suppose they have abandoned their Marfa, Texas stronghold.

The Quaids’ attorney has refused to talk to me regarding this issue. Oddly enough, a California private eye has been contacting me for information. Evi and Randi have kept a low profile locally (according to my sources).

–According the Texas Workforce Commission, jobless rates are not as bad here in the Big Bend area compared to elsewhere. Brewster, Culberson and Jeff Davis counties continued to enjoy very low unemployment rates at, respectively, 4.6 percent, 3.9 percent and 4.7 percent. Hudspeth reported a jobless rate of 7.2 percent for the month and Presidio County remained very high at 18 percent unemployed.

–The Border Patrol has started an interesting method of deterring teens from using drugs. “Bloody bodies piled in a truck bed, charred corpses lying next to gas containers in the desert, teens getting shot in the head at point-blank range: As the gory images fill the screen, more than 100 high school students in hoodies and letter jackets sit in rapt attention.”
Read more of this article at the Texas Tribune.

Your Letters and Comments

The City of Alpine is currently considering an ordinance for “home occupations.” I appreciate the areas of the proposed ordinance changes that reduce existing restrictions. I believe that the goal of this ordinance should be to maintain the residential nature and character of neighborhoods. This could be accomplished by restricting specific actions which would be damaging to the neighborhood such as:
* workers and/or customers parking in front of a neighbor’s residence
* persistent and/or excessively loud noises
* noxious or hazardous odors
* creating a fire hazard
Flexibility regarding home-based occupations would be accomplished by adopting clear and concise language such as:
“Home occupations, including limited wholesale and/or retail sales, are permissible. Activities related to the home occupation that does not generate noticeably greater traffic, noise, or other nuisances, and/or hazardous conditions are permissible. The home occupation is acceptable as long as it does not affect the outward appearance of the residence or the character of the neighborhood.”
Contact the Mayor and the appropriate City Council person to voice your position regarding the changes to the home occupation ordinance.
Bernie Zelazny
Alpine, TX

Whoops and Hollers

Keep a lookout for t-shirts featuring this Hugh MacLoed comment on the magic of Marfa:

–Oy, NPR, step off my d@#k! Just because this is out in the country doesn’t mean it is “NOWHERE”. Presidio County was recently described as ‘nowhere’ in an NPR report. How can we be ‘nowhere’? We have KRTS, our own NPR affiliate.
Just kidding, guys. I love me some NPR.

–“TALK AT TEN”, the local interview show on 93.5 FM is broadcast weekdays at 10 AM, and replayed at 6:30 PM.
UPCOMING GUESTS AT 10 AM:
Thursday, January 7: Nightclub singer Jackie Pepper, performing in Marfa.
Friday, January 8: A look at EMS services in Marfa.
Monday, January 9: Archeologist Richard Walker, Center For Big Bend Studies.

–One of my favorite local bands, The Pinche Gringos, got a little press in Dallas. “The Gringos know their name raises eyebrows – “shock value,” they say – but they won’t have it any other way. They concede that their name and music may not sit well in cities like Dallas, San Antonio or even liberal-minded Austin.” Read the rest of the article here.

–A New Yorker gives his thoughts on Marfa, Texas:

–I received the following news from Leslye Waldock of Lajitas, Texas:
LAJITAS STABLES NOW OFFERING HORSEBACK RIDING ADVENTURES INTO BIG BEND RANCH STATE PARK
Recently opened areas of Big Bend Ranch State Park are now accessible for Lajitas Stables Multi-Day Trips, introductory rates now being offered for limited time. Click here to learn more.

–Great to see Marfa Interiors featured on DailyCandy.com.

–The Reata in Alpine, Texas got a great review from the San Marcos Record: “Whether you’re impressing guests with the tenderloin tamales or just dipping a bite of chicken fried steak into a bowl of cream gravy, it’s exciting to see such familiar dishes in such a refined state.”

–The Austin American Statesman reports on long-time area photographer James Evans of Marathon, Texas. “James Evans heads to work, a camera slung over his shoulder and a vast desert in his windshield.
His office? The Big Bend region of far West Texas, a sprawling, prickly landscape populated by spindly ocotillo, bristly javelina and a rugged, independent brand of human. Sometimes, he’s directed by the weather. Sometimes he moves with the clouds. He might notice a rock or formation he hasn’t seen before. Maybe the fall or summer light is just right.”
Read the rest of the article here.
Stop by James’s website here.

–Marfa Film Festival Promo: Rapture Drills

–The Sublime Joni Mitchell on the Johnny Cash Show (R.I.P. Johnny, you’re my motherf@#$ing heart)

[Big Bend Live Music is a feature brought to you by Matt Hodges, Contributing Editor Music. If you have a gig you'd like to share with the world, email him at matt.hodges@live.com]

Not a lot going on this week that I was able to get my hands on, but I never miss a chance to see Brown Betty so they will get my pick this week.  I Hope everyone had a happy New Years holiday and hope that the rest of the year is great for you all.

Thursday, January 7^th

• Kevin Dean at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.
• Ted Arbogast at the Starlight Theater in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.

Friday, January 8^th

• Open Mic Night at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.
• Kevin Dean at La Trattoria in Alpine, 6:30 PM.
• Jackie Pepper at Padres in Marfa, 8:30 PM.

Saturday, January 9^th

• Brown Betty at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.
• Jackie Pepper at Padres in Marfa, 8:30 PM.

Sunday, January 10^th

• The Dry Creek Diggers at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.

Tuesday, January 11^th

• Big Mountain Boogaloo at Harry’s Tinaja in Apline, 8:00 PM.

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Do you have a local live music event here in the Big Bend? Share it with the world, email Matt Hodges at matt.hodges@live.com You can also leave it as a comment on this post.

This article is brought to you by these local sponsors:
La Junta Exchange– Vintage Clothing, Local Art, Curios
The Purple Zone– The Big Bend’s only Smoke Shop: Tobacco, Tobacco Accessories and Adult Accessories
Rosa Lipsen– Private Spanish Lessons, Tutoring and Translation

By Contributing Editor, Alpine, Mark Glover

“Rain leads you there. Why? Why ask why? Hell, if the rain stops we’ll have something to talk about. In the meantime, however, though, whatever, we talk about diaphragms. Being a medical doctor, I usually explain how their fitted between the uterus and the fallopian. Anyway, it’s still raining and the wind is blowing. I like the smell. Whatever. Got a match? OK so you don’t believe I’m a medical doctor. What is it? My dialogue – too rough? You ever been to Chicago. ER. I worked at St John’s for five years. You see everything. Some mongrel next to a half eaten corpse wants to spoil the beans on what happened. I got to calm’em down. Whatever. Sometimes it aint nice. Where’s the match? OK- bueno, I love cigarettes. My dad smoked ‘til he was 85. Its DNA more than anything – resistant molecules. Big word but what it means is that I can smoke without dying of lung cancer, whereas you probably can’t. OK bueno – I’m flying in a Piper, low wing up in Alaska, over Deadman’s Glacier and the engine dies. The ceiling is 6000 feet, the peak is 5800 feet – not much room, comprendes? I see in the distance Cook’s Inlet – wide, white caps, but this aint a sea-plane. I need terra-firma to land, flat preferable. I check the gauges everything looks fine, except no fuel pressure. Solid white below, then I see it, halfway jammed in the cowling, a seagull – bird got sucked up.
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[Big Bend Live Music is a feature brought to you by Matt Hodges, Contributing Editor Music. If you have a gig you'd like to share with the world, email him at matt.hodges@live.com]

Wednesday, December 30^th

• Jim Keaveny and Shand at the Starlight Theater in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.

Thursday, December 31^st

• Kevin Dean at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.
• Liquid Skin at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.
  
• Doodlin’ Hogwallops with Tampiquena at the Starlight Theater in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.
• Holland K. Smith at Granada Theater in Alpine, 8:00 PM.  For more information, Click Here

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This article is brought to you by these local sponsors:
Murphy Street Raspa Company– Must visit landmark in Alpine that offers Raspas, Treats and Bike Rentals
La Loma Del Chivo Cool Renewable Energy Hostel
Nectar Computers– On-site Maintenance, System Repairs, System Upgrades

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Friday, January 1^st

• Open Mic Night at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.
• Kevin Dean at La Trattoria in Alpine, 6:30 PM.

Saturday, January 2^nd

• Freddy Steady and Friends at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.
• Bethany Poppenhagen with Vinnie and Dr. Fun at The Starlight Theatre in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.
• Holland K. Smith at Padres in Marfa, 8:00 PM.
• The Wind with Brian LeBarton at the Ballroom in Marfa, 8:00 PM.

Sunday, January 3^rd

• The Dry Creek Diggers at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.

Monday, January 4^th

• Ted Arbogast at the Starlight Theater in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.

Tuesday, December 15^th

• Big Mountain Boogaloo at Harry’s Tinaja in Apline, 8:00 PM.

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Do you have a local live music event here in the Big Bend? Share it with the world, email Matt Hodges at matt.hodges@live.com You can also leave it as a comment on this post.

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[Mark Glover is Contributing Editor, Alpine. Visit his blog on regional science at Trans Pecos Science Moment.]
The outside of Alpine City Limits looks like a Hollywood set for a western movie. Long wooden porch with cedar posts and weathered planks. Walk inside and there’s more: lariats, branding irons, old saddles and a photograph of John Wayne. But this aint no set – this is a west Texas restaurant.

We grabbed a table and although the restaurant was filling fast, within a minute we had a menu in our hands. Cheeseburger and fries for the kids, a brisket sandwich for myself and Lori order Chicken Cordon Bleu. Barbeque is the big pull on the menu but seafood including Shrimp Scampi ($12.50), steamed Orange Roughy ($ 13) , and grilled Swordfish and salmon are also available. The most expensive thing on the menu is a16oz Ribeye at $23.50.
Click for more…

By Contributing Editor, Alpine, Mark Glover

Harper – Harper, Texas is not everybody’s choice for a weekend destination. But the boss needed to deliver 6 head to Raz’s Livestock Auction and I was the man of the moment. Eight dollars an hour to drive wasn’t so bad and more importantly I was being pulled from the fence line. That’s like having Santa ask you to guide his sleigh tonight – anything to get away from the fire-breathing Bobcat with half a mile of barbed wire spinning through a cock-eyed reel at a 1000 RPM.

I’m not a cowboy but this is cowboy work – so I put on my boots and left at 6 am climbing forty mile hill with 3 tons of beef attached wondering if I should listen to Country and Western. I pushed in a CD of Iggy Pop instead.

Low clouds burned off in the distant flats but then I noticed a dark parallelogram cloud with a blurred top edge. Symbolic for sure, I thought. Something was up. Something weird.
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