Not all Texans are like the former governor of Texas who currently serves as President of the United States (324 days left, and counting). I have to explain this difference when I meet some New Yorkers and they find out where I'm from. I, for one, prefer to think that the Texas Man, if we're talking gender, is better represented by Robert Rauschenberg, Freddy Fender, Terry Allen, Luis Jimenez, Tommy Lee Jones, Willie Nelson, Bill Moyers, Buddy Holly, Kinky Friedman, Tommy Tune, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rip Torn, and Alvin Ailey than by Dubya. Call it Texas pride. I, as Texas Woman, like to think that I follow in the kick-ass traditions of Ann Richards, Barbara Jordan and Molly Ivins, women who made some horse sense of politics.Today is March 2, Texas Independence Day, the day to commemorate the adoption of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836 in the town of Washington-on-the-Brazos. Here I am in New York City. Three Texas cities are in the top ten U.S. cities by population - Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas. That's an important fact, because it's not like all Texans wake up to look out on a vast plain of nothingness. I have to explain this, too. Many people have that image from watching movies.
View Larger MapAnyway, here's a map of some Texas "points of light" on the island of Manhattan. Most of the places on this map are bbq restaurants I like or ones recommended by friends. I threw in some corny places here, such as places to buy western wear and cowboy boots.
Let me tell you an amusing story. I sometimes dress like Johnny Cash, but so do many New Yorkers. One day, while I was living in South Carolina, I decided that I needed more black shirts of the western sort. I went into a vintage clothing store and found nine black western shirts. When I took them up to the cash register, the owner of the store and a friend of mine looked at me and said, "You do not need nine shirts that all basically look the same." So, she picked out three shirts and made me put the others back.
I don't know if I'll do anything in particular for Texas Independence Day, but I know for a fact that many flag-waving native Texans in the Big Apple will at some point today gravitate to Hill Country.
In the News:
Clinton Irks Texas Democrats by June Kronholz (WSJ)
In the Blogosphere:
I recently came across these hilarious Texas sisters and their videos. I urge all New York actors assigned to imitate a Texas accent to study these videos hard. Here's one I particularly enjoy.
Image: Beaumont, Texas. Women shipyard workers leaving the Pennsylvania shipyards. Vachon, John, 1914-1975, photographer. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA-OWI Collection, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-USF35-1326]
More Walking Off the Big Apple Maps
4 comments:
Brava! You did our state proud! I cited your post today in my Independence Day blogging. If you're ever in Austin, let me know. I'll buy you a beer. In addition to sharing a love of Texas and dismay at how Dubya reflects on our state, we like many of the same movies and musicians.
THANKS,KAY! I'VE NOW CHANGED THE SPELLING OF DUBYA - TAKIN' OUT THAT EXTRA B - TO CONFORM TO THE PREFERRED SPELLIN', LIKE YOU HAVE IT. I WOULD LOVE A BEER IN AUSTIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Oh my, these two are a hoot. I feel at home. And I even understood what they said! I also want the round glasses of the woman on the right.
Ha! Thanks for sharing.
I used to live in Houston, Texas and found the independent spirit alive and well.. I was accepted and welcomed even though I was a furrinner from California and did not speak like most Texans.
Eric
Energy Consultant
www.energyserviceprovider.info (free electricity rate comparison)
http://erics.ambitenergy.biz (Make an income by referring people who buy electricity)
Post a Comment