Magazine Fall 2019

Texana Magazine Fall 2019

Cover.indd 2 10/29/19 12:19 AM Letter From the EditorS

The Lone Star State is a vast territory full of many different subcultures. To represent all of them in a single 24-page magazine would be nearly impossible. That is why we created Texana Magazine, a magazine dedicated to all things Texas. In this inaugural edition of Texana Magazine, the editors and contributors highlight North Texas. From the best honky-tonks in the region to the best nature parks, this edition provides a slice of North Texas life. Texana Magazine was created by the award-winning staff that produces The Brookhaven Courier, Brookhaven College’s student newspaper, and The Windmill, the college’s literary magazine. The editors hope that as readers flip through Texana’s pages, they will grow increasingly proud to be Texan. In these pages you will find features and articles pertaining to arts, entertainment and food. Of course, we have to thank all of the contributors for the first edition of Texana Magazine. We appreciate their efforts and wish them the best for the future. Lastly, the editors thank our readers for picking up this edition of Texana Magazine. This one’s for you, North Texas.

TexanaMagazine p0 -- Letter from the Editor.indd 1 10/30/19 5:59 PM CONTENTS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF TrainTopia Jacob Vaughn 2 By Jacob Vaughn

COPY EDITOR Cue the Barbecue Matthew Brown 5 By Rosa Poetschke

ART DIRECTOR Wild West Jubenal Aguilar 8 By Matthew Brown

CONTRIBUTORS Honky-Tonk Haven Malen Blackmon 10 By John C. McClanahan Kweisi Brown Beth Delagi The Zebra’s Head Brandon Donner 12 By Malen Blackmon Susan Edgley Xochitl Gonzalez Wear the West John C. McClanahan 13 By Rosa Poetschke Rosa Poetschke Eriana Ruiz Cowboy Caffeine 14 By Jacob Vaughn ADVISER

Daniel Rodrigue Texas sized 16 Stadiums EDITORIAL CONSULTANT By Kweisi Brown Rori Harrington Robert E. Howard 18 Day s By Jubenal Aguilar

Bell Avenue 21 Beatdown By Jacob Vaughn 24 Bluebonnet Facts By Susan Edgley 25 CROSSWORD

DISCLAIMER: This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the editor. Texana Magazine’s editorial and design positions are held by students enrolled in the journalism, photography and visual communications courses offered by the Communications Division at Brookhaven College. Any thoughts, opinions or ideas, either expressed or implied, in this publication, are those of the individual writers or artists and do not necessarily represent or reflect those of the administration, faculty or student body of Brookhaven College or the staff of The Brookhaven Courier. Correspondence to the editors should be sent to The Brookhaven Courier, Brookhaven College, 3939 Valley View Lane, Farmers Branch, TX, 75244, or e-mailed to [email protected]. All rights revert to authors or artists upon publication.

On the Cover: Photo illustration by Jubenal Aguilar Photo by Rosa Poetschke

p1 -- TOC.indd 1 10/29/19 1:02 AM TrainTopia Feature and photos by Jacob Vaughn

A North Dallas man’s decades-long model railroading hobby lives on in an elaborate $1 million layout at the Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco.

eep in Frisco’s Discovery Center, a man’s life is above the garage in the Sanders’ home off Royal Lane in laid out in model train tracks in the 3,000-square- Dallas. The layout contains 200 cars and locomotives, and D foot room that makes up TrainTopia, a model offers a view of 1950s downtown Dallas, West Texas oil train exhibit in North Texas. When no one is around, refineries, the Palo Duro Drive-In Theater, sawmills and the room is quiet and dark. But in operation, TrainTopia mountains of Colorado, and Dallas Union Station. booms with sound and color. “This layout is Steve’s life. It’s a history lesson, a geog- This one-of-a-kind, $1 million model train exhibit is a raphy lesson, and it’s all about the trains,” Jane Sanders reflection of the life of Steve Sanders, Bob LePrelle, CEO said according to Lifestyle Frisco. “Steve would be thrilled of the Museum of the American Railroad, said. The mas- because he wanted a lot of people to see his trains.” sive collection of trains began when Steve and his wife, The trains snaked along an intricate design throughout Jane Sanders, owned a hobby shop in North Dallas. the room and eventually make their way to a hidden loop As the years went by, Steve’s model train layout got big- track into the attic. They climbed 14 feet before descend- ger and bigger. Steve originally constructed it in a room ing from the attic through the other side out of the ceiling,

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p2-4 -- TrainTopia.indd 1 10/29/19 12:16 AM LePrelle said. “It gave it the effect that the train was going off some- where, and then all of a sudden, the train was back going the opposite direction,” he said. LePrelle says Steve only lived about a year after his layout was complete, so he really did not get to enjoy it. One day, LePrelle received a call from Jane, who said she wanted to donate the layout to the Museum of the American Railroad. At the time, however, there was not a space for the collection at the museum. Jane was persistent and got LePrelle out to the family’s home to see the layout in person. LePrelle was in awe. He was sold. He went back to his board to say the museum had to have it.

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p2-4 -- TrainTopia.indd 2 10/29/19 12:17 AM This layout is Steve’s life. It’s a history lesson, a geography lesson, and it’s all about the trains. “ —Jane Sanders

“I met with some of the city officials here in Frisco, and we set up another meeting in her home,” LePrelle” said. “We took the mayor and the deputy city manager. They beat us there. When we got there, they were down on their knees with their phones, taking pictures.” Several months later, the model railroad found space for a new home at Frisco’s Discovery Center. Steve had built nearly all of his model train model train layouts to be permanent. But now that they had a place to put it, LePrelle and his board needed to find a way to disassemble and reassemble the massive collection. This was only the beginning of the line for what would become of TrainTopia. Several funders were approached to help pay for this project. Amanda and Brint Ryan of Dallas were among them. Brint agreed to fund the whole project, throwing in $300,000. A company out of Cincinnati that specializes in model railroads was brought in to deconstruct the new addition to the railroad museum. The structure had to be strategi- cally cut into 37 modules before it could be moved. Once it was taken apart, it was stored at the Discovery Center for several months before the painstaking process of reas- sembling it began. The whole process took more than 1,060 hours, according to Lifestyle Frisco, and was still not complete. The remainder of the job consisted of plastering and repaint- ing where some of the cuts were made, expanding the downtown scene and finalizing the operating system. This system allows the trains to run on their own and was de- signed to help preserve the individual railroad cars. “It is part of the Museum of the American Railroad, but we’ve kind of branded it as its own attraction, TrainTopia,” LePrelle said. “[Some days], you can buy a combination ticket in conjunction with seeing the real trains outside.”

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p2-4 -- TrainTopia.indd 3 10/29/19 12:23 AM Cue the Barbecue

Article and photos by Rosa Poetschke

North Texas is home to some of the top barbecue joints in the Lone Star State. While the variety of food choices in the area is vast, no one has experienced North Texas cuisine until they have sunk their teeth into smoked brisket, juicy sausage or tender ribs. Though everyone does it a little differently, barbecue is the process of cooking meat slow and low over indirect heat. In the late 1800s, big, public barbecues were held in Texas to promote political debates or celebrate holidays, Daniel Vaughn, Texas Monthly Barbecue Editor, wrote in 2013. Today, barbecue continues to appear at both large-scale events and informal backyard gatherings. Fortunately, some of the best barbecue in Texas can be found a short distance from Brookhaven College. Five of the best barbecue restaurants in the state are within a 15 mile radius.

p5-7 -- Barbecue.indd 1 10/29/19 12:23 AM Cattleack Barbeque Lockhart Smokehouse

13628 Gamma Road 400 West Davis Street Dallas, TX 75244 Dallas, TX 75208

Cattleack Barbecue, a catering-business-turned-lunch-spot, Located in the eclectic Bishop Arts District in Oak Cliff, Lock- is nestled among metal fabricators in a nondescript strip mall a hart Smokehouse is the southernmost barbecue joint on this list. mile east of campus. Lockhart Smokehouse is steeped in Texas barbecue history. Its In 2018, Texas Monthly ranked Cattleack the No. 3 barbecue roots begin over 200 miles away from Brookhaven in Lockhart, restaurant in Texas. In its hometown of Dallas, Cattleack Bar- Texas, proclaimed the Barbecue Capital of Texas by Food & Wine, becue ranks No. 14, according to D Magazine’s Top 50 Restau- a travel magazine. In 2011, it partnered with the family-owned rants in 2019. Kreuz Market and settled in Dallas to provide the city with much- In addition to the melt-in-your-mouth barbeque, the loaded needed Texas-style barbecue. baked beans are nothing to miss. The restaurant has multiple locations in the metroplex, and is Plan ahead – Cattleack is open 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thurs- open for lunch and dinner. The smokehouse is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. days and Fridays, as well as the first Saturday of each month. Monday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Sunday. It also of- The combination of great food and limited hours often means fers online ordering from its website, which can come in handy for long lines and quick sell-outs. party-throwing. Lockhart Smokehouse is the only place in the metroplex you can find the famed Kreuz Market sausage.

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p5-7 -- Barbecue.indd 2 10/29/19 12:23 AM The Slow Bone Pecan Lodge

2234 Irving Blvd. 2702 Main Street Dallas, TX 75207 Dallas, TX 75226

As you begin to head south, your first barbecue stop should After Texas Monthly featured Pecan Lodge in its list of the 50 be The Slow Bone, a large, faded red building painted with best barbecue joints in the world, some customers waited in two- the name in an otherwise restaurant-light area. hour-long lines for a taste at the Dallas Farmers Market. In March, Texas Monthly featured The Slow Bone for its Their reputation continued to grow as news of them reached three-week-process pork chop. However, their standard se- more hungry ears. Pecan Lodge was the place to be for barbecue. lection of smoked meats and traditional sides is popular with In 2014, they moved into a more permanent location in Deep El- the Dallas crowd too. In 2018, Eater Dallas ranked The Slow lum on Main Street. Bone as the No. 7 best barbecue restaurant in the Dallas- The spot is open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, Fort Worth area. and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Pecan Lodge’s popularity Their Two-Meat Plate meal cannot be beat. The dish and limited lunch hours mean it sells out quickly, and the line is still comes with two meats, two sides and a piece of corn bread just as long as it was at the old Farmers Market location. The best for $14.99. way to skip the line and try all the meats they have to offer is to The Slow Bone is open daily 11 a.m.-3 p.m., with meat spe- grab four or five friends and order The Trough. It comes with one cials every day. Like many of the places on this list, hours are beef rib, one pound of pork ribs, one pound of brisket, half a pound limited, and so are the meats. Get there early to leave satisfied. of pork and three sausage links.

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p5-7 -- Barbecue.indd 3 10/29/19 12:24 AM Photos by Eriana Ruiz wild west

Article by Matthew Brown

The urban sprawl of Dallas-Fort Worth can seem endless. The parts of the Trinity River visible from downtown Dallas are a flat, barren expanse of hardly more than mowed grass. But in a few places, the natural environment that shaped North Texas’ economy and history remains relatively untouched. Residents out for a weekend getaway and amateur naturalists alike just have to know where to look. Here are some of the biggest and best nature parks around Dallas.

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p8-9 -- Nature Parks.indd 1 10/29/19 12:24 AM GREAT TRINITY FOREST The Great Trinity Forest is the nation’s largest urban hardwood forest, covering 6,000 acres and beginning less than 4 miles from downtown Dallas. It offers visitors a glimpse of what the Trinity River looked like before parts of it were straightened in the 1920s. The forest contains a number of different parks, including the McCommas Bluff Preserve, William Blair Park and the Trinity River Audubon Center. Many paved and dirt trails, totaling dozens of miles in length, run through bottomland forest and wet- lands. The Audubon Center also has a museum dedicated to ornithology – the scientific study of birds – and the Trinity River ecosystem. The forest borders more than half a dozen non-forested city parks, making access easy. The parks do not charge admission. Admission to the Audubon Center museum is $6 for adults, $3 for children ages 3-12, $4 for seniors age 60 or older and free for members, children under 2 and residents of ZIP code 75217. Source: dallasparks.org, trinityrivercorridor.com, trinityriver.audubon.org

LEWISVILLE LAKE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING AREA When Lewisville Lake was built in 1955, 2,000 acres below it were set aside to act as a flood- way. It was not until the ’90s that LLELA was created on the otherwise useless land. Today, LLELA showcases all three of the ecoregions the Dallas area straddles: blackland prairie, bottomland hardwood forests and a sliver of the Cross Timbers Piney Woods. Visitors can hike or off-road-bike on its 7.85 miles of dirt trails, kayak or canoe on the Elm Fork of the Trinity and explore a garden of blackland prairie plants. Park admission is $5 per vehicle. Source: llela.com

CEDAR HILL GREENBELT The 3,000-acre Cedar Hill greenbelt, tucked up against Joe Pool Lake in the southwest cor- ner of Dallas County, includes Cedar Hill State Park, the Audubon Dallas-run Cedar Ridge Preserve and the Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center. The greenbelt sits at the border of two ecoregions: upland hardwood forest and blackland prairie. Together, the three parks boast over 33 miles of hiking and off-road bike trails. The state park has 350 developed camping sites and a gravel lake beach, and the Audubon Center hosts various guided hiking and kayak tours. The state park charges $7 per adult for day-only admission or $5 for overnight admission and is free for kids under 12. Cedar Ridge Preserve charges $3 per vehicle in admission and is closed on Mondays. Sources: dallasparks.org, tpwd.texas.gov, audubondallas.org, dogwood.audubon.org

KATIE JACKSON PARK Katie Jackson Park hugs White Rock Creek from George Bush Turnpike to Frankford Road. Despite its being the smallest park on the list, at just under 50 acres, the Dallas Off-Road Bike Association managed to cram over 4 miles of dirt hike and bike trails within its borders. Source: dallasparks.org

HARRY S. MOSS PARK Harry S. Moss Park is a 200-acre slice of blackland prairie and bottomland hardwood forest a few miles north of White Rock Lake, right in the middle of Northeast Dallas. Like Katie Jackson Park, it is crisscrossed by over 5 miles of dirt hike and bike trails. Source: dallasparks.org, Lake Highlands Advocate

p8-9 -- Nature Parks.indd 2 10/29/19 12:24 AM

Article by John C. McClanahan

Photos by Brandon Donner

Dallas-Fort Worth is officially where the West begins. Once a place chock-full of bloody gun- fights, boozy watering holes and rowdy cowfolk, North Texas pre- serves the quintessential history of the Wild West in historic sa- loons that still stand. Here’s a list of D-FW’s oldest, most famous honky-tonks, tawdry nightclubs or dance halls that feature country music. Honky-Tonk Haven

ADAIR’S SALOON 2624 Commerce Street Dallas, TX 75226

One of Deep Ellum’s most popular spots, Adair’s Sa- loon is a Western-centric place folks can stroll into during a visit to Dallas’ main music hub. The honky-tonk’s walls are covered in graffiti, memories left by the thousands of visitors who have stepped their boots inside this little saloon, which sits next door to The Free Man Cajun Café & Lounge on Commerce Street. Since Adair’s doors opened in 1963, the bar has featured live music seven days a week. Local country acts such as the Dixie Chicks and Wade Bowen have graced Adair’s stage. When no one is playing live music, patrons can dial in tunes on the joint’s old-fashioned jukebox. Source: adairssaloon.com

p10-11 -- Honky Tonks.indd 1 10/29/19 12:25 AM WHITE ELEPHANT SALOON 106 E. Exchange Avenue Fort Worth, TX 76102

First opened in the 1880s, the White Elephant Saloon is one of Fort Worth’s most infamous watering holes. Originally located in the Hell’s Half Acre, Cowtown’s now-demolished red-light district, the bar is the site of Cowtown’s last gunfight – a showdown between White Elephant owner Luke Short and the nefarious Sheriff Jim “Longhair” Courtright. Both men drew their guns, but only Short walked away. Short died in 1983, but legend has it his ghost still roams The White Elephant. The bar moved to the Fort Worth Stockyards on Exchange Avenue in the 1970s. Today, the White Elephant is still a popular drinking spot with live music and a Texas-sized chili bar. Sources: Austin Chronicle, whiteelephantsaloon.com

BILLY BOB’S TEXAS 2520 Rodeo Plaza Fort Worth, TX 76164

Once used as an open-air barn to house prize cattle for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, Billy Bob’s Texas is the world’s largest honky-tonk. With nearly a million square feet of space, a 100,000-square-foot dance floor, a pro bull riding ring and a ginormous stage, the venue has featured hundreds of country-western musicians since the establishment’s foun- dation in 1910. Almost every big name, from Willie Nelson to Garth Brooks, has played Billy Bob’s. The Academy of Coun- try Music and the Country Music Association named the bar Country Music Club of the Year several times. Source: billybobstexas.com

STAGECOACH BALLROOM 2516 E. Belknap Street Fort Worth, TX 76111

The Stagecoach Ballroom has been family owned since 1961. Cowfolk have huddled on the Stagecoach’s 3,500-square foot dance floor for nights of country western music and two-step- ping for decades. The ballroom has featured both local and touring country artists, including singers Ray Price, Gene Watson and Johnny Lee. The site was used to shoot the 1987 film “Square Dance” featuring Rob Lowe and Winona Ryder. On Sundays, folks show up for two-step and swing les- sons. In 2014, USA Today named The Stagecoach Ballroom one of the best dance halls in Texas. Source: stagecoachballroom.com

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p10-11 -- Honky Tonks.indd 2 10/29/19 1:27 AM Perfectly positioned off the at the shop’s carpet to symbol- University of North Texas is ize the importance of the shop an unregistered historical Texas we stood in. landmark. The Zebra’s Head is Wright said, “We’ve had boutique-style smoke shop – multi-generations show up. the oldest smoke shop in the We’ve had grandparents come state and the third oldest in the in with their grandkids and say, U.S. ‘Hey, I used to shop here.’” The black-and-white zebra When you visit mom and stripes that zig zag across the pop shops, you want to feel shop catch the eye of everyone welcome and be treated like a who walks by. Smooth sounds friend or family. That is kind from saxophones and trumpets of the energy that flows from bounce off the walls as custom- The Zebra’s Head like incense. ers roll in and out of the leg- Wright said, “It’s our commit- endary establishment. ment to our customers. We ac- The inviting hole in the wall tually do a lot of work to help building has been standing on you all out. I feel like we are Denton’s Fry Street since the Sherpas. We are going to help 1940s where the first owners of you get up the mountain and the property ran a beauty salon. get you where you need to be.” In 1967, under new owner- Wright said the shop has ship, the earliest version of The evolved over time and learned Zebra’s Head was established to keep up. They offer local- he and first operated as the Bir- made glass from artists in the T mingham Balloon Company. Dallas-Fort Worth area, as well It was a lifestyle store selling as CBD products. When the tapestries, artwork and records, U.S. Farm Bill was approved in addition to smoking devices by the Texas Senate, carrying ebra’s like glass or wooden pipes. CBC was logical next step for Z In 1969, the owners took The Zebra’s Head. “We got a out an ad in the Denton High green light and so we’re like, School yearbook where they ‘OK, we’ll get it.’ They’ve been coined the phrase “Things for very popular,” Wright said. the head.” Texans label their Now The Zebra’s Head car- ead smoke shops as head shops ries everything from small pipes H – they supply things for your to huge 5-foot bongs. They head. “Some people say that carry cigars and other smoking this is where the term head gadgets as well. Wright said, shop came from,” general man- “We are constantly innovat- ager Tyson Wright said proudly ing and constantly getting new Feature and photos Malen Blackmon as he pointed both index fingers things in.”

p12 -- The Zebras Head.indd 1 10/29/19 12:26 AM WEAR THE WEST

Article and photos by Rosa Poetschke

When planning a night out in North Texas, dressing the part is essential. A cowboy hat, boots and an oversized shiny buckle will pull together the getup. These may not be everyday accessories, but are plentiful at honky-tonks, where you will see cowboy hats bobbing on top of the crowd, boots kicking up sawdust and buckles reflecting every light in the building.

he cowboy hat may be the most The big, shiny belt buckle is the finishing recognizable accessory. It comes touch that compliments the cowboy hat and in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors boots. Dallas is home to the Bohlin Com- andT materials. It is both a practical accessory pany, whose founder Ed Bohlin is credited as and a fashion statement. Whether it is the a major influence on the evolution of the belt material used or the embellishments added, buckle, according to True Western Maga- the cowboy hat can speak volumes about the zine. Bohlin’s elaborate designs were made wearer. popular by Western stars such as the Lone Cowboy boots are no different: basic de- Ranger, according to the company’s web- signs, intricately stitched patterns or even a site. Soon, elaborate buckles became coveted favorite saint can grace this special footwear. trophies awarded at rodeos. The bigger and According to the Lucchese Boot Company, shinier the buckle, the better. a Texas bootmaker since 1883, today’s cow- However, Texans need not ride horses, boy boot evolved from European boots such wrangle cattle or participate in rodeos to don as the Wellington and Hessian. These styles western wear. In North Texas, a cowboy hat, were affordable and practical, worn by ranch pair of boots and a big buckle are all always hands who later became known as cowboys. an on-trend fashion statement. Fall 2019 13

p13 -- Western Wear.indd 1 10/29/19 1:25 AM Photos by Jacob Vaughn and Beth Delagi Cowboy Caffeine

Article by Jacob Vaughn

One in three Americans does not get enough sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Why get more sleep when you can send not-so-healthy amounts of caffeine coursing through your veins? The Dallas-Fort Worth coffee scene is well equipped to accommodate. If you find yourself in need of a boost, stop by one of these coffee shops and order its strongest drink.

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p14-15 -- Coffee.indd 1 10/29/19 12:28 AM Dunn Brothers’ Large Espresso One Dunn Brothers barista says she has only served this drink a handful of times since she started working to one of her regular patrons. He does not come in any more, she says. Did he die of a heart attack? Probably. Just kidding. Dunn Brothers’ large espresso contains three double-shots of its concentrated espresso blend, according to owner Alan Geddie. That is six shots, in case the Doki Doki is hitting you so hard you can’t count. The U.S. Department of Agriculture value for one shot of espresso is about 64 milligrams of caffeine, according to caffei- neinformer.com. This drink will send your taste buds to the moon with its not- so-smooth bitterness and muddiness. Make sure you are good and grounded when sipping on this java rocket ship because its approximately 384 milligrams of caffeine could probably send you to the moon as well.

Opening Bell’s Black Eye You might need a pair of boxing gloves for this one. Opening Bell Coffee’s Black Eye packs a punch that might knock you off your feet. This cup of joe is a 16-ounce drip coffee mixed with two shots of espresso just for fun. Austin Hawkins, an Opening Bell barista, says the Black Eye contains approximately 160 to 175 milligrams of caffeine. That is equivalent to drinking a Red Bull and washing it down with a bold shot of espresso. You might as well throw in the towel, because you are not going to win this one. Ascension Coffee’s Doki Doki Generally, cold brew coffees are the most caffeinated bever- age at a coffee shop. This is because the coffee is extracted over a longer period, says Eric Madison, Ascension Coffee’s director of retail. In the case of Ascension’s Doki Doki, a Japanese iced drip coffee, the brewing process involves a contraption called a Kyoto tower. The Doki Doki is brewed for 12 hours through a ceramic filter, so it has a smooth, crisp flavor. It is also infused with nitro- gen, which gives the coffee an added creaminess, similar to a stout beer. Ascension’s Doki Doki will hit you like a stampede.

Sip Stir Cafe’s Light roast If you are looking for a soft but still caffeine-spiked drink, this 12-ounce light roast will help thrust you into your day. A standard 8-ounce cup of joe has approximately 145 milligrams of caffeine, but this hot pour-over contains about 217 milligrams. While the pour- over method used at Sip Stir makes its beverages easy to put down the hatch, it might not be the preferred brewing process. This coffee, which also features hints of cherry, lemon and milk chocolate, will give you the caffeine jitters you seek. Fall 2019 15

p14-15 -- Coffee.indd 2 10/29/19 12:28 AM TEXAS-Sized FOOTBALL Stadiums By Kweisi Brown Illustrations by Xochitl Gonzalez

Location:: Location: Arlington, Texas AT&T Dallas, Texas COtton Bowl Stadium Stadium Home Team(s): Home Team(s): Dallas Cowboys (2009-present) SMU Mustangs (1932-1978, 1995-1999) Seating Capacity: Dallas Cowboys (1960-1971) 80,000 (expandable to 105,000) Seating Capacity: Building Cost: 92,100 $ 1.3 billion Building Cost: Year Completed: $328,200 2009 Notable Sports Events: Year Completed: Cotton Bowl Classic 2010-present 1930 NBA All-Star Game 2010 Notable Sports Events: Super Bowl XLV 2011 Red River Showdown 1924-present NCAA College Basketball Final Four 2014 Cotton Bowl Classic 1937-2009 NCAA College Football National Championship 2015 First Responder Bowl 2011-present Big 12 Championship Game 1997, 1999, 2007 State Fair Classic 1925-present

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p16-17 -- Football Stadiums.indd 1 10/29/19 12:30 AM TEXAS-Sized FOOTBALL Stadiums

Location: Location: San Antonio, Texas Alamodome Houston, Texas NRG Home Team(s): Home Team(s): Astrodome San Antonio Spurs (1993-2002) Houston Astros (1965-1999) University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners University of Houston Cougars (1965-1997) (2011-present) Houston Oilers (1968-1996) Seating Capacity: Seating Capacity: 72,000-77,000 67,925 Building Cost: Building Cost: $186 million $35 million Year Completed: Year Completed: 1993 1965 Notable Sports Events: Notable Sports Events: Alamo Bowl 1993-present “The Battles of Sexes” 1973 Training Exhibition Big 12 Championship Game 1997,1999 and 2007 College Basketball “The Game of the Century” 1968 NCAA Men’s College Basketball Final Four 1998, NBA All-Star Game 1989 2004, 2008 and 2018 NCAA Women’s College Basketball Final Four 2002 and 2010

Source: stadiumsofprofootball.com

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p16-17 -- Football Stadiums.indd 2 10/29/19 12:31 AM Robert E. HowarD Days

Celebrating the father of sword & sorcery

Photo essay by Jubenal Aguilar

18 Texana Magazine ach year, over a hundred pulp fictions fans descend upon the West Texas town of E Cross Plains, filling its one hotel to capacity. They arrive from all corners of the world with one purpose – to celebrate the life and work of Rob- ert E. Howard. Howard is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery genre. His work was some of the most notable pulp fiction writing and would eventually influence the work of writers including George R. R. Martin and Stephen King. Howard fans gathered on June 7-8 in what was once the writer’s home for panel discussions, reading and tours. The writer’s home, a small, white house, was turned into a museum for Howard’s work. The house sits along Texas Highway 36 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of Interior. loner, Howard spent the majority of his time writing on his typewriter. A With each stroke of the keys, he created unimaginable worlds filled with heroes and monsters combating for the supremacy of strange lands. He also dedicated his life to caring for his mother, Hester Howard, who suffered from tu- berculosis. Their rooms were connected by a small window from where she could call for his help. He sold his first story, “Spear and Fang,” to Weird Tales, a pulp fiction magazine. From his 6-by-10-foot room, he published over 160 stories and 700 poems. Feature and photos by Jacob Vaughn b ell A venue b eatdown Texas wrestling legends, brothers Ross and Marshall Von Erich, return to Denton to defend their family’s legacy.

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p21-23 -- Wrestling.indd 1 10/29/19 12:33 AM The smell of cigarettes, barbecue and sweat filled the air as peo- Notable Bouts ple trickled into a temporary backyard wrestling arena in Denton, The order of matches consisted of six bouts that lead up to the Texas. There they would meet some of the best pro wrestlers in Von Erichs’ return to Denton. Texas. Superstars including “The Outlaw” Randy Wayne and Big “The Outlaw” Randy Wayne and his opponent, Jay “Mr. Wob- Sed would face off in a Bell Avenue Beatdown Aug. 4, 2018 in the ble” Strong faced off to start the night. The two came at each other BackYard on Bell, a venue generally used for live music. hot right out of the gate. “The Outlaw” got a hold of Mr. Wobble Denton’s own Ross and Marshall Von Erich – arguably one of and began to choke him before being separated by the referee. Dallas-Fort Worth’s most famous families in the sport – were the There was an exchange of blows, but “Outlaw” was able to pin main attraction of the night. The third generation of the Von Mr. Wobble to the ground and the ref counted to three naming Erich wrestling dynasty were pinned up against The Vet Club’s “Outlaw” the winner. Kristopher Haiden and Adam “The Lonestar Apocalypse” Asher. The third group of fighters danced around each other like a The fight marked the Von Erichs’ return to their home- couple of capoeira practitioners at the top of the round. “Double town of Denton. D,” who the crowd was more than reluctant to cheer on, made “Ross and Marshall, your dad and your uncles and your the first move by getting Lou Gotti Sterrett into an armlock. But grandfather were great wrestling legends, but I don’t think Sterrett eventually pinned Double D and got the count from the you’ve quite lived up to the expectation,” Asher said. “After referee, sealing his win. tonight, you will all know that we are the new Texas leg- Alejandra Lion, the first ever female graduate of the Dallas- ends.” Fort Worth All-Pro Wrestling Academy, took on VIP’s Erica But The Vets would have to wait for six bouts before they Torres. From the bell, it was clear Lion would come out on top. could have their shot at the Von Erichs. Nearly every round of hits Erica took resulted in her leaping out All of the fights were a showcase of pro wrestling’s acro- of the ring. batic feats. Torres began to make a comeback, but was met with sever- 22 Texana Magazine

p21-23 -- Wrestling.indd 2 10/29/19 12:34 AM Ross (left) and Marshall Von Erich great attendees of the Bell Avenue Beatdown Aug. 4, 2018.

From far right: Lou Gotti Sterrett pulls Double A Family Curse D back into the ring as he reaches for help As happy as these two Von Erich brothers seemed to return during the Bell Avenue Beatdown wrestling to Denton, the family has been plagued with tragedy over the event Aug. 4, 2018 at BackYard On Bell in decades – so much so, there is a myth of a family curse. Denton, Texas; Marshall Von Erich kicks the The Von Erich legacy began with the family patriarch, Fritz Vet Club’s Adam Asher while referee Rick Von Erich, born Jack Adkisson. Throughout his career, Fritz Manning watches; Jonathan Gresham puts became a star in many wrestling promotions, including bouts heavyweight champion Shane Taylor in a in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and World Class leg lock as the referee gives the fighters the Championship Wrestling (WCCW), according to wwe.com. count; “The Outlaw” Randy Wayne chokes his Fritz also played a major role in Japanese wrestling. opponent Jay “Mr. Wobble” Strong. Thirteen years earlier, Fritz married his wife Doris, according to D Magazine. The couple had six sons, Jack, Kevin, Da- vid, Kerry, Mike and Chris, before getting a divorce in 1992. al strikes to the face from Lion before being tripped and Of the six second-generation Von Erichs, only Kevin is alive pinned to the ground. It was close, but Lion made the whole today – accidents and suicide took the lives of the rest. crowd happy by defeating Erica. Kevin spent his career in the WCCW and was known as “The Golden Warrior.” He had several wrestling feuds with Wrestling royalty the likes of The Fabulous Freebirds and Ric Flair, according Finally, the Von Erichs hopped into the ring to faceoff to D Magazine. He was known for using trademarked moves with The Vets. People of all ages lined up to meet Ross and such as the body scissors and the iron claw. Marshall as they climbed into the ring. His 19-year career ended in 1995. Just years before his re- This fight was rough for the Von Erichs. They had ev- tirement, Kevin and his wife Pamela J. May had their sons erything on their side – an age advantage against the older Ross and Marshall. Vet Club and greater support from the crowd. However, The third generation Von Erich brothers made their wres- a few bad calls by the referee left both Von Erichs alone tling debut in 2012, according to The Dallas Morning News. in the ring being tag teamed by The Vets on several oc- They made their television debut two years later as part of casions. the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling’s Slammiversary XII pay per Although everyone was undoubtedly there to see the view. In 2017, the brothers wrestled at the Rage Megashow Von Erichs, The Vets won the right to call themselves the in Israel. new Texas legends. If there is a Von Erich family curse, it hasn’t shown itself The closing of the night was straight out of a movie. in Ross and Marshall’s career. This May, the brothers signed a As The Vets continued to talk smack, Stranglehold by Ted multi-year contract with Major League Wrestling. A decade Nugent began playing over the speakers. The two Von Er- before, the Von Erich family was entered into the Class of ichs continued to beat on The Vets, amping up the crowd 2009 of WWE’s Hall of Fame. for their next VIP appearance. Fall 2019 23

p21-23 -- Wrestling.indd 3 10/29/19 12:34 AM blueBoNnet By Susan Edgley Watercolor and colored pencil art by Susan Edgley facTs

The Texas Legislature designates the bluebonnet, Lupinus subcarnosus, bufFaLo CLover 1901 as the official state flower. is one of the names for bluebonnets. Other names include the wolf flower and el conejo, Spanish for rabbit.

to pick from toXic noT public places. Bluebonnets are part of legume family but are toxic if ingested. iLLegaL

bluebonnets species are found across the state. In 1971, the state legislature updated the state flower to include all SIX of them as the state flower.

Source: takecareoftexas.org

24 Texana Magazine

p24 -- Bluebonnets.indd 1 10/29/19 12:35 AM TExana Crossword Puzzle

Complete the crossword puzzle. You can find all the answers to the clues throughout the magazine.

Across: Down: 2. Texas’ state flower 1. Covers 6,000 acres 3. Completed in 1930 4. One of Texas Monthly’s top 50 BBQ joints in the world 5. Covers one of Texas’ oldest head shops 6. Fictional warrior character created by Robert E. Howard 7. Ascension Coffee’s strongest brews 8. A Denton pro wrestling family dynasty 9. A man’s life laid out in model train tracks

Answers: TrainTopia 9. Erich; Von 8. Doki; Doki 7. Conan; 6. Stripes; Zebra 5. Lodge; Pecan 4. Bowl; Cotton 3. Bluebonnet; 2. Forest; Trinity Great 1.

p25 -- Crossword.indd 1 10/29/19 1:16 AM Cover.indd 1 10/29/19 12:13 AM