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YOUR COMMENTS

    Andrew Suber on Sound Off! : I’ll have to go in there and have a virgin pina colada one of these days. “Uh, can I have a colada and milk?”

    Andrew Suber on Sound Off! : Thank you, Paula. Say hi to Tony, Maria and the rugrats for me when you get the chance.

    Andrew Suber on Sound Off! : I give newspapers their due… classified ads are still useful in small geographic markets because everyone reads them. People expect online classifieds to...

    Anonymous on Sound Off! : Thank God we finally have a real bar in Alpine. The Saddle Club ROCKS!!

    PAULA on Photography Contest: VOTING CLOSED : I VOTE FOR NUMBER 8 GREAT SHOTS .

    PAULA on Sound Off! : THANKS ANDREW FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK . I LOVE ALL THE INTRESTING INFO YOU POST AND PEOPLES LIKES AND DISLIKE. MY MY HOW LUCKY WE ALL ARE JUST TO BE ABLE TO DISAGREE...

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    Andrew Suber on ADVERTISING : The average wage here is low.

    Andrew Suber on Sound Off! : Thank you for the feedback.

    Yamnonamous on Sound Off! : West Texas Weekly should have a Calendar of events going on in West Texas at all times! I don’t have any central place to find out what’s going on,...

THANK YOU!!!

ABOUT WTW

It's 1/2 Wikipedia, 1/2 Whole Earth Catalog and 1/2 Reader's Digest. Our mission is to disprove Chomsky's statement: "Any dictator would admire the uniformity and obedience of American media."

We can do it together! We can use this new technology to create a better community.

--Do your part, comment on something if it piques your interest.

--Write an article and submit it on a subject you love.

--Take a picture and submit it.

--Plan a party and invite the community.

CREDITS

Andrew Suber: Publisher and Editor

(432) 294-2549

andrewsuber@hotmail.com

Amanda Mayo: Contributing Editor Marfa

Matt Hodges: Contributing Editor Music

Mark Glover: Contributing Editor Alpine

--West Texas Weekly is looking for:

  • Contributing Editor Terlingua
  • Contributing Editor Events
  • Contributing Editor Food and Dining
    • --This blog is wholly locally produced on a MacBook Pro using the WordPress blogging platform. I use a Kodak Zi6 for video.

      --West Texas Weekly appears in DMOZ, Yahoo, Google and Best of the Web directories. It appears in every major search engine.

      --Thank you to all sponsors and advertisers.

West Texas Web: TXDoT Tracker

[Recommend a West Texas web resource by emailing the editor at andrewsuber@hotmail.com or commenting on this post.]

The TXDoT tracker can show you all of the progress for TXDoT projects going on in your county. Below is the information for re-surfacing project going on in Alpine now, for instance. Here are the projects in Presidio County. Use this to plan road trips or see how efficaciously your tax dollars are being used by private contractors.

Bad news, Alpine residents, that infernal construction downtown on the sidewalks is only %15 done.

Current TxDOT Projects: Brewster County

Data updated on: 7/07/2010 12:59PM
Project Summary
Project ID 002011046 TxDOT District El Paso County Name Brewster Funding Status Funded
Highway US 67 Project Length 7.921 Miles Project Type Economic Stimulus Bid Date 2009-May
Work From MOSLEY LANE Low Bid Amount $2,377,158.87
Work To 7.921 MI W OF MOSLEY_LANE
Description RESURFACE ROADWAY
spacer West Texas Web: TXDoT Tracker
Contact Information
TxDOT Contact Mark Longenbaugh, P.E. Phone: (915) 790-4240
Construction Company JONES BROS. DIRT & PAVING CONTRACTORS, INC.
spacer West Texas Web: TXDoT Tracker
Project Development Milestones
Start Design Design Submittal Receive Environmental Clearance Utility Coordination Right of Way Coordination Project Ready to Bid
30% Complete 60% Complete 100% Complete
Target Date 02/2009 03/2009 03/2009 03/2009 04/2009 04/2009
Actual Date 02/2009 02/2009 02/2009 02/2009 02/2009 03/2009
spacer West Texas Web: TXDoT Tracker
Project Construction Information
Notice to Proceed Date Work Begin Date Total Project Days Total Days Charged Percentage of Time Used Percentage of Project Complete
06/23/2009 08/03/2009 60 49 81.67 % 100.06 %
spacer West Texas Web: TXDoT Tracker
Budget Information
Project Cost Original Budget Current Estimate Amount Paid to Date
Project Engineering $0.00 $116,480.78 $8,020.74
Construction $0.00 $3,169,263.19 $2,129,076.23
Construction Engineering $0.00 $142,629.53 $58,786.97
Contingency $0.00 $166,401.12
Indirect $0.00 $182,090.37
Total Cost $0.00 $3,776,864.99 $2,195,883.94
- Construction cost is the amount on this project that is either completely or partially paid through Economic Stimulus funding

Sound Off!

Complain, rant, praise, needle, wonder, instigate, accuse and criticize anonymously! What’s on your mind, people?

I will collect your musings for the world to see.loud mouth 300x210 Sound Off!

The easiest way to sound off:

  • Comment on this post anonymously. Also, your comments appear on the front page as soon as you make them.
  • Scribble your thoughts on a cocktail napkin with some candyapple red lipstick or an orange Crayola and send it to West Texas Weekly PO Box 1400 Alpine, Texas, 79831.
  • If you are really hard up, call me at (432) 294 2549 and leave a message on my voicemail.

Sorry, defamatory or X-rated comments will be omitted or edited.

West Texas Web: Handbook of Texas Online

Bloys Camp Meeting

[Recommend a West Texas web resource by emailing the editor at andrewsuber@hotmail.com or commenting on this post.]

The Handbook of Texas Online is an excellent resource for the budding historian. Here is a well-written introduction into a Fort Davis, Texas event going on right now, the Bloys Camp Meeting:

“The camp meetings were begun in 1890 by William Benjamin Bloys, a Presbyterian home missionary serving in Fort Davis. Because the ranches of the region were widely separated by vast, uninhabited areas, it was virtually impossible for frontier families to worship with their neighbors and friends. Bloys rode to many of the outlying ranches from Fort Davis, but he was rarely able to minister to the whole community at one time. In October 1890, while visiting the family of John Z. Means, Bloys devised a plan to bring local families together annually for religious services. An old-style camp meeting was organized, and on October 10, 1890, forty-three people gathered in Skillman’s Grove for the first time. The two-day meeting included Bible instruction and sermons as well as a great deal of socializing. The meetings were first held under a brush arbor and then for many years in a canvas tent. A permanent tabernacle was built in 1912 and expanded as attendance grew. It still serves as the central meeting place. As more people attended the camp meetings, the camp was divided into six areas where families gathered and ate. These evolved into the six eating sheds that now feed the entire camp. Cooking is still done ranch-style on open fires. The average number attending was more than 3,000 by 1988.”

Elsewhere on the same site, I especially like:

Big Bend Events 8/6/10

[Email your event announcements in plain text format to the Editor at andrewsuber@hotmail.com. If I missed your event, just comment on this post with your event.]

Warnock Center offers bird watching talk

bird woodcut Big Bend Events 8/6/10
LAJITAS — If you’ve ever wanted to get involved in bird watching but didn’t know where to start, the Barton Warnock Visitor Center is offering a talk on the basics at 7 p.m. Aug. 11. Mark Klym of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department in Austin will discuss tips, ethics and identification. The talk will be at the center, one mile east of Lajitas on FM170. This free talk is sponsored by Texas Parks & Wildlife and Big Bend Ranch State Park. For more information, contact David Long at 432-424-3327 or david.long@tpwd.state.tx.us.

Garden, greenhouse tour Sunday

Transition Alpine’s 1000 Gardens program welcomes community members to a free edible garden and greenhouse tour at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 8, at the garden of Bob and Polly Mastin. Participants will observe irrigating with drip lines and effective ways to decrease weeding, as well as how to grow microgreens indoors. Call the Mastins at 432-837-3601 for directions.

Marfa Book Company

Saturday, August 7th, 6 PM
Reading : Michael Dickman, Lannan Writer in Residence, and damn fine poet, will be reading
from his work. You don’t want to miss this one. Plus, it’s (FREE)

First Saturday Flea Market Fort Davis

At Old Fort Country, directly across the street from the Fort Davis National Historic Site and right beside The Caboose. Address:1250 North State Street Fort Davis, Texas. Ice cream, a moonbounce and some folks selling stuff out of the back of their truck.

Big Bend Live Music August 6th, 2010

[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]

This is Matt Hodges yo’ Ayatollah of Rock a Rollah for the Trans-Pecos Far West Texas type area. I’m bringing a blast from the past for all the homies out there who remember HEAVY METAL AND SHOCK ROCK from the good ol’ days:

Shows this coming week:

Friday, August 6th

Saturday,August 10th


- – -

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

Apply for Leadership Big Bend!

[Submit your press releases for non-commercial events to andrewsuber@hotmail.com. I also want to sincerely thank Kathy Bork for her tireless efforts in promoting this important project.]

August 14 is the deadline for applications for the 2011 class of Leadership Big Bend.

The mission of Leadership Big Bend is to develop leaders for the tri-county region. We do that by identifying those persons who want to be involved in the economic and community development of this area.

Read More on Leadership Big Bend after the Jump

Texas Representative Pete P. Gallego Honored with Texas Access to Justice Legislative Hero Award

[Submit your press releases for non-commercial events to andrewsuber@hotmail.com. ]

ALPINE, Texas – The Texas Access to Justice Commission and Foundation honored the first recipient of the Texas Access to Justice Legislative Hero Award, Texas House Representative Pete P. Gallego, for his contributions to improving access to justice in Texas during a special presentation at the Texas RioGrande Legal Aid office in Alpine, Texas, on Sat., July 17.
Hall, Tate, Gallego, Hankinson
As a leader in the House of Representatives on access to justice issues, including last session’s general appropriation of more than $20 million for civil legal services, Gallego has been an advocate for underserved areas throughout the state including those with vulnerable populations and remote locations. Gallego’s efforts helped ensure that basic legal services are available in rural and remote areas of the state, including Alpine, where people would otherwise have to travel great distances to access those services.

Read More after the Jump

High Desert Sketches: How You Know You’re Getting Old In The Big Bend

[George Covington is a local photographer, columnist and celebrity whom people from all walks of life treasure as an inspiration. Born legally blind, with less than ten percent of normal vision, George first achieved national attention for using photography as a seeing tool. Read more of his thoughts at the Alpine Avalanche.]

There comes a time in everyone’s life when they begin to discuss “aging”. It generally occurs late in life during a period called (among other things) The Golden Years where people are described as “Silver Seniors” and their music is described as “Golden Oldies”. I frankly would have tried to avoid this period in my life but unfortunately it seems unavoidable. It evokes a question that goes back to the dawn of time… “How do you know when you’re getting old?”

Un Viejo

Un Viejo, J. J. Burro

This question was asked while I was sipping my daily free gourmet coffee at Ivey’s Emporium. This perk, one of many for us among the Alpine media elite (and anybody else who wanders through the front door), helps me contemplate both the universe the validity of vegetarianism and my next column.

The question was asked by June Cobb a mover and shaker in Alpine’s vast art community. “I guess I must be getting old because I’ve just discovered my earlobes have wrinkles,” she told me. Later, Chuck, her husband of 55 years assured me that he has always been turned on by earlobe wrinkles.

I decided to probe this eternal question with some of the leading luminaries of the last frontier, some of whom got here when it was the first frontier. Chet Sample, former Dean of Professional Studies at Sul Ross State University has been at the citadel of learning so long he can remember waving at the Comanches on their raids into Mexico.
More on Growing Old in the Big Bend

Big Bend Live Music May 13, 2010

[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]

Shows this weekend:

Thursday, May 13th

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

Friday, May 14th

Saturday, May 15th

  • Brown Betty at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.
  • Folkadelic at Starlight Theatre in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.
  • The Lavens at La Kiva in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.

Tuesday, May 17th

Wednesday, May 18th

  • Open Mic Night at La Kiva in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.

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


Big Bend Live Music May 5, 2010

[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]

Shows this weekend:

Wednesday, May 5th

Thursday, May 6th

Friday, May 7th

Saturday, May 8th

  • Dustin Welch Band at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.
  • The Doodlin’ Hogwallops at Starlight Theatre in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.
  • Sunset, Silent Land Time Machine and Amasa Gana at Padres in Marfa, 10:00 pm.

Monday, May 10th

  • Trevor Hickle at Starlight Theatre in Terlingua, 10:00 PM.

Tuesday, May 11th

[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:

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

Big Bend Live Music April 29, 2010

[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]

Shows this weekend:

Friday, April 30th

  • Groupo Exito on Murphy St. in Alpine, 9:00 PM
  • Open Mic Night at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.
  • Kevin Dean at La Trattoria in Alpine, 6:30 PM.
  • Liquid Skin at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.
  • Doug Scharnberg at Starlight Theatre in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.
  • Paul Graybeal and Wendy Wright at Hotel Paisano in Marfa, 7:00 PM.

Saturday, May 1st

  • Los Pinche Gringos at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.
  • The Doodlin’ Hogwallops at Starlight Theatre in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.
  • South County Jam Project and Low Budget at La Kiva in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.

Sunday, May 2nd

  • The Dry Creek Diggers at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.
  • Mariachi Angels Dorados and The Resonators on Murphy St. in Alpine, 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM.

Monday, May 3rd

  • Ted Arbogast at Starlight Theatre in Terlingua, 10:00 PM.

Tuesday, May 4th

[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:

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

Ask the Editor: Can I Pick Bluebonnets in the Big Bend?


Elbert Twiford of St. Paul, Minnesota sent me the following question:

Andrew,
Love the site. Best info on the Big Bend area I have seen bar none.

On trip to the Big Bend last year the bluebonnets were in bloom. They were absolutely glorious and covered the side of the road near Study Butte.

I got out and took a couple of pictures. They literally covered the ground. I stooped to pick a couple and my wife descends upon me like a demon of Hades. “What are you doing?! It’s illegal to pick the state flower here in Texas.”

A long time ago I made an internal vow to never contradict my wife (the results were too disastrous to mention). However, I feel she is wrong on this issue.

I want to know if I can pick these flowers in the upcoming season. Who is right? Me or my charming wife? Help a retired gentleman find the truth.

Thank you (in advance) for your thoroughly researched answer,
Elbert Twiford

Elbert, your wife is mostly incorrect. It is a common urban legend that picking wild bluebonnets is illegal in Texas.

Don’t trespass when you do it. Don’t damage land by leaving ruts or digging up the flowers. If its a state wildflower area, it’s considered a garden and flower picking is verboten (these areas have clear signage). Otherwise, pick to your heart’s contentment.

That’s the legal advice… my personal advice is to not bring this up to the charming Mrs. Twiford unless you are willing to face the repurcussions. No one likes a know-it-all!

[Send in your questions on the Big Bend to andrewsuber@hotmail.com, andrew suber [at] hotmail [dot] com.]

Rules for the Porch (you can bring your dog and beer)

Dear Reader,
Dog has a beer
Thank you so much for visiting my website. I try hard to make it entertaining and informative.

As members of my audience, YOU are the people that make it fun and exciting each morning to open up my e-mail inbox or check my tweets.

A hundred years ago, here in the Big Bend, people met up at the general store or the village well to exchange opinions, debate, gossip and ideas. When I was a child growing up in Terlingua 20 years ago, the Study Butte Porch served this purpose.

West Texas Weekly is simply a technological evolution of that community space. Kick back, pretend you’re at the Study Butte Porch. Then open up a cold one and listen to a fanciful yarn or a political debate. Don’t feel self-conscious– if you have a pair of lungs, chime in with your opinion.

Like any community space, there are little, thoughtful things you can do to make it a more inviting space.

The un-stated rule at the Study Butte Porch was you bought your beer there at the store. I want to let you know how you can buy a beer from my porch.

  1. Comment. The easiest thing you can do is take the extra time and comment on a post with your opinion. All of your comments will show here on the home page in the left sidebar. Answer another reader’s question or explain a little bit about life out here in the Big Bend. Don’t worry about which post you leave the comment on… don’t worry about the details… just start expressing yourself.

    Ask questions… list events… article ideas… reminscinces… tell about some good service that surprised you… tell about some bad service that surprised you… disagree, agree. It all goes on the front page for the world to see and react to.

  2. Visit my sponsors and underwriters. You can find them in the sidebar to the left, on the LINKS page or scattered throughout the site. They believe in local independent media and put their money where their mouth is. Thank you!
  3. Subscribe to my RSS feed. It doesn’t cost a penny… You get continual updates from the website delivered to your RSS reader. It’s easier to keep up and search through the websites you enjoy when you use RSS.Click here for free updates by RSS.

Do you want to make sure that West Texas Weekly continues to provide new, fun and informative content? Follow the rules of the porch and you will leave this website better than when you found it (and yes, you can drink on the porch and dogs are allowed.) [A.S.]

Big Bend Live Music March 9, 2010

[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 A Few Too Many! 

Shows this weekend:

Thursday, March 11th

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

Friday, March 12th

  • Open Mic Night at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.
  • Kevin Dean at La Trattoria in Alpine, 6:30 PM.
  • Marathon Manhorse and Donkey Parade at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.
  • Maria Moss and John Hogan at Starlight Theater in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.
  • South City Jam at La Kiva in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.

Saturday, March 13th

  • A Few Too Many at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.
  • Folkadelic at Starlight Theater in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.

Sunday, March 14th

Tuesday, March 16th

[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:

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

Big Bend Live Music February 10, 2010

[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 Random Video This Week is:

“With A Spirit” by Sound System 009.  I know, this is the stupid song everyone puts on their “People Falling Down Funny” or “Best Party Pics” photo and video compilations on You-Tube.  It’s 9 minutes long (or longer in the original version) fairly repetitive trance/techno;  However, I find this song to be full of variations through each section.  There are comprehensive lyrics, several verses in fact, with a refrain/chorus and layer upon layer of ambient instrumentation.  I can’t get enough of it.  I somehow feel like this song is a link to the future of music.  I know, I may be way off base and consider it possible that no souls share my opinion of said work, but there are deeper psyche triggers, I find, in the soothing melodic tones that strike me as rather nostalgic – of what I’m not sure, but nostalgic nonetheless.  I hope you enjoy.  If not, let me know.  Leave a comment, I’d love to hear your opinion!

Shows this up-coming weekend:

Thursday, February 11th

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

Friday, February 12th

Saturday, February 13th

Sunday, February 14th

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

Monday, February 15th

  • Lonesome Cowboy at the Starlight Theater in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.

Tuesday, February 16th

  • 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.]

- – -

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

Big Bend Hotel Notes

Cactus Hotel

Cactus Hotel


I’d like to recap some of my favorite hotels in Terlingua, Marfa, Marathon and Alpine, Texas. I’ve been doing a series on historic hotels of the Big Bend. Check out the following articles on Big Bend hotels:

tulip Big Bend Hotel Notes
If you have a hotel that you would like to see profiled in this fashion, click here to contact me. I’m always happy to highlight the great hotels of the Big Bend.

If you’d like to be included in my lodging guide, then click here to see my rate sheet for advertising.

Stay tuned for a new installment that covers the Holland Hotel of Alpine, Texas and its new re-modeled interior.

Big Bend Snips, October 1st 2009

Truck Sign Painted by Evi Quaid Burnt By Unknown Arsonist

Truck Sign Painted by Evi Quaid Burnt By Unknown Arsonist

–One last note on the Randi and Evi Quaid mess occurring here in Marfa… it looks as if someone has attacked the famous sign with fire. To paraphrase Jim Morrison: “weird scenes in the gold mine”.

I am not going to comment or speculate too much on this. However, the rest of the Internet has. Click here to see dozens of news articles on this subject. Initially, I heard that the Big Bend Sentinel and Alpine Avalanche chose not to cover this story. However, both of these fine journals ended up featuring coverage that extensively cribbed from TMZ.com.

–Do you have some built-up aches and pains that a little alternative healing could help with? Don’t think about driving to Austin or Santa Fe… check out the Texas Snake Oil Tour coming to Marfa, Texas. Click here to see a schedule of events on facebook.


–I shot and edited this video for the Stormhoek wine label. It’s location is the Terlingua Trading Company porch there at the Terlingua Ghosttown. A big thank you to Hugh MacLeod and Jeffro Cowell. Uh-Clem (both infamous and famous) discusses flashlights and Jeff plays some ukelele.

Click Here and Subscribe to West Texas News

NEWS LINKS FOR THE BIG BEND:

4th El Cosmico Poster

4th El Cosmico Poster


–If you are one of my many readers in Austin who wants to attend the upcoming Chinati Open House Weekend, try and hook-up with The Marfa Bullet. It connects Austinites with the awesome 4th Annual Trans-Pecos Festival of Music and Love El Cosmico. Click here to learn more about this luxury bus trip to Marfa Texas for a wonderful weekend of partying. Amy Cook, Ben Kweller, Patty Griffin,Hotel Brotherhood, Tift Merritt, and the Heartless Bastards will all be playing. Buy your tickets now before its too late!

–CHEER UP WITH A RANDOM DOLLY PARTON VIDEO:

–Thank you to Andrew Nelson for linking to me from this Intelligent Travel blog post on Alpine, Texas.
Best of the Web!
–Also I would like to give a big thank you to Best of the Web. I have received traffic, readership and all important backlinks from Best of the Web (one of the oldest directories on the Web). If you are trying to promote a website, I cannot recommend their services strongly enough. Click this logo to see how BOTW can help you.

In Need of Oxygen

Untitled 1 In Need of Oxygen

[West Texas Weekly brings you the best in Big Bend issues and viewpoints. Alpine writer Mark Glover weighs in with a personal experience on health care.]

In Need of Oxygen
by Mark Glover

When the pipe fell on my nose, I knew it was broke. Blood oozed down my face. I stumbled through the skunk gourd then lay down near the driveway. I pulled at a deflated football and pillowed it between my head and the earth.

Strange sky I kept thinking as Mesa and Reef gathered around, curious about daddy.

Oil field pipe is a little overkill for a swing set.
Click for more…

Big Bend Live Music September 30th, 2009

[Big Bend Live Music is a new 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 Blast from the Past this week is a live version of the Misfits doing Halloween:

Wednesday, September 30th

  • Open Mic Night at La Kiva in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.
  • Joe Green and Merry Agape at The Antelope Lodge in Alpine, 7:00 PM.
     

Thursday, October 1st

  • Kevin Dean at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.
  • Ted Arbogast at The Starlight Theatre in Terlingua, 8:00 PM.
  • A Few Too Many at Reata’s Patio in Alpine, 8:00 PM.  For more information, Click Here
  • Charles Maxwell at Talgar’s in Alpine, 6:00 PM. For more information, Click Here
  • Bon Iver and Megafaun at Ballroom Marfa in Marfa, 9:00.

Friday, October 2nd

  • Mister Happy Band at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.
  • The Dry Creek Diggers at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.
  • Kevin Dean at La Trattoria in Alpine, 6:30 PM.
  • Rick and Jimmy at Alexander’s Grill in Alpine, 6:00 PM. for more information, Click Here
  • Trevor Reichman & Friends at The Starlight Theatre in Terlingua, 8:00 PM. 
  • Paul Graybeal and Wendy Wright at Hotel Paisano in Marfa, 7:00 PM.

 
star Big Bend Live Music September 30th, 2009
Saturday, October 3rd

  • Zach Edwards Band at The Railroad Blues in Alpine, 10:00 PM.
  • Open Mic Night at Harry’s Tinaja in Alpine, 8:00 PM.

Monday, October 5th

  • Ted Arbogast at The Starlight Theatre in Terlingua, 8:00 PM. 

Tuesday, October 6th

 

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

Big Bend Snips, September 24th 2009


Update: Kudos to Ballroom Marfa for bringing in Bon Iver for a jaw-droppingly affordable $2 as a kickoff to the weekend before Chinati Open House Weekend. The show is October 1st, click here to pre-order tickets. I will be there with my camera in one hand, and a Long Island Ice Tea in the other.
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Update: President George W. Bush visited Marathon and made a brief stop-over at the Alpine Christian School. Click here to read a description of that visit from Alicia Haynes, proprietor of the Alpine Christian School. My sources say that he had a relaxed vacation at the Gage Hotel and did a little quail hunting at J. P. and Mary Jon Bryan’s ranch.

To me, Ms. Haynes is a bit misleading about how easy it is to get a former president to pop in: “The visit occurred through a request made to President Bush’s staff asking if he could make a quick stop by the school on his way to a private function in Marathon.” I doubt that the local public schools could have made the same request and had it honored.


Boyd Elder will be my partner in crime for a new feature here at West Texas Weekly: “Ask Boyd”, an advice column for life in West Texas. In my mind, Boyd has a certain practical wisdom accumulated from years in the art world of LA and NYC tempered by his time out here in West Texas. E-mail me at andrewsuber@hotmail.com with your questions on life, love and art for Boyd.

Also, click here to see his beautiful line of leather jackets and accessories. They are also available at Barnett Harley in El Paso.


The Pinche Gringos are one of my favorite local bands. Here they play “Riders on the Storm”. I apologize for the relatively bad sound quality from my portable camera, it doesn’t do justice to the high-grade jam they were pumping out for the packed dance floor at Padre’s Marfa.

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iron Big Bend Snips, September 24th 2009
–The Terlingua Ghosttown was recently featured in Atlas Obscura, an online atlas of bizarre and interesting destinations. Click here to read that article. Atlas Obscura is a wiki; feel free to edit the article and add your photos.

– The Shooting West Texas photo seminar starts at 8 am this Friday at Sul Ross. The two day seminar will help amateur photographers sharpen their skills. Click here for a schedule of events.

–A big congratulations to Theresa and Lane “Huckleberry” Williams for re-opening the Longhorn Steakhouse here in Alpine. Maria Curry said this about her experience at opening night: “Best steaks in town! LONGHORN!!! Don’t miss the superb food! Terriffic!” Carrie Branum had this to say: “My tenderloin was perfectly medium rare. Best-priced Prime Choice steak in town.”

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–One of my sources tells me that Details magazine has listed Marfa as number 51 in a list of “63 Things That Make You a Pretentious Tool”. I find this needlessly insulting to the wonderful people who make Marfa their home. Personally, I would place taking cultural cues from men’s magazines at two or three on that list.

RANDOM VIDEO OF THE WEEK: Japanese television explores a fellow whose hair looks like a hat:

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