April 1986 Issue

Solace in the Desert

With dogged independence, amazing endurance, and a rugged romantic vision, photographer Laura Gilpin helped create the way we see the West today.

Eighteen Minutes

Unlike the Alamo, which can seem as remote and mysterious as Stonehenge, the San Jacinto battlefield has few secrets. Its history lies close at hand.

Taco Capital, U.S.A.

You want tacos with carnitas or cactus pads? Beef barbecue or bacon and eggs Come to San Antonio, where tacos aren’t just an afterthought on a Tex-Mex munue—they’re a way of life.

Swamp Gas

When Jimmy Lee, an unrepentant troublemaker, felt he had taken one insult too many from the powerful Fredeman family, he called in the law. The results of that action have exposed decades of larceny and corruption in Port Arthur and threaten a Gulf Coast empire.

Texas Primer: The Rig Count

At first, Hughes Tool used the count to plan its own future. Now an entire industry uses it to plan theirs.

Western Art

This story is from Texas Monthly’s archives. We have left the text as it was originally published to maintain a clear historical record. Read more here about our archive digitization project. From 1983 to 1986, Texas Monthly’s regular feature, “Western Art,” highlighted artists’ takes on the classic

Of Things Miraculous and Marvelous

Three unknown Texas writers tackle three different genres and prove the novel is alive and well.

Behind the Lines

Calling His Own Tune

On San Antonio’s Riverwalk the Jim Cullum Jazz Band plays jazz the way it was meant to be played.

Upper West Side Story

Hannah and Her Sisters is Woody gone schmaltzy; F/X is implausible but entertaining; 9 1/2 Weeks is an eternity; Power is oppressively didactic.

Manchild in Musicland

Charlie Sexton. Austin’s guitar-playing boy wonder, is now dream fodder for the masses; Eric Johnson is our latest contender for guitar hero.

Hot Springs Eternal

Going to Hot Springs was once a Texas rite of passage steeped in the ways of old sin. Today this Arkansas resort is still worth the trip.

Texas Monthly Reporter

Will Shelby Coffey lead the Dallas Times-Herald to victory? Will Muse aficionados ever find happiness aloft again? Will Tommy Pierce keep real-estating and a-rocking?

On the Menu: Rosario’s

Rosario’s has always been a colorful spot to dine, and not just because the food is an energetic and enthusiastic version of authentic Mexican cuisine. This neighborhood bar on the edge of the historic King William district is bright with vivid shades of the rainbow—purple ceilings and purple ceiling

Rosario’s Award Winning Salsa

Recipe from Rosario’s, San Antonio

Downtown

The DA in El Paso may do a lot of things, but there’s one thing he doesn’t do—plea-bargain.

Post-Modern Times

Want to unload your business? With Stan Hazelwood, it’s not much harder than getting a date.

Puzzle

Roar of the Crowd

Shopping

A Houston boutique enjoys the high cost of growing up.

State Secrets

Southwest and Continental make war, knot Love; make way for natural gas on the commodities market; a taxing situation for Speaker Gib.

Touts

On the road again—accoutrements for savvy traveling.