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One Long Commute
| July 29, 2002 |
Fort Worth |
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Man With Briefcase, the distinctive, stencil-like sculpture reported earlier this year by Texas Twisted (Jan. 29, 2002), is on his way.
The enormous creation is the largest version ever made of a popular sculpture by Jonathan Borofsky — a 50-by-22-foot, brushed-aluminum monolith with a silhouette cutout of a suited man wearing a fedora and carrying a briefcase. The 24,000-pound nothing of a businessman left Los Angeles this morning, beginning a 1,400-mile road trip that should end before this weekend.
Once Man With Briefcase reaches Texas, his carefully planned route should take him through El Paso, Kermit, Seminole, Breckenridge and Jacksboro, avoiding major highways as much as possible. Traveling approximately 45 mph, he should reach his new home in downtown Fort Worth this Friday.
Make sure you check back here on Texas Twisted for possible updates and a final unveiling upon his arrival! |
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Who's the Boss?
| July 27, 2002 |
Fort Worth |
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What is billed as the world's only daily cattle drive has recently taken on its third trail boss in as many years. For the first time, however, cowboy may not be an appropriate reference; 25-year-old Kristin Liggett started Monday and holds the distinction of being the first woman to head the Fort Worth Herd.
Since its beginning in 1999, the Fort Worth Herd has suffered from continual staff problems due to personnel conflicts and infighting. As a result, the popular Fort Worth tourist draw has seen a number of cowhands come and go (Dec. 15, 2001). Liggett says she is confident those problems are in the past.
Not everyone supported her appointment, though. During a Tuesday meeting of the City Council, Councilman Clyde Picht openly questioned the authenticity of hiring a female trail boss for an attraction that is intended to represent a true-to-life city heritage. Minutes later, his own staff had retrieved the name of a woman who had led a cattle drive in the 1800s and Picht subsequently apologized.
"I have to eat my cow chips," Picht said. |
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Marsh on the March
| July 18, 2002 |
Amarillo |
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 Don't think for a minute that Stanley Marsh 3 stopped contributing to public art after bestowing his beloved Cadillac Ranch on the Texas Panhandle. He's got more up his sleeve.
Most Amarillo residents are familiar also with his creative road signs, placed around the city by himself and a group of young artists called the Dynamite Museum. More than 5,000 quirky, diamond-shaped traffic-style signs decorate Amarillo, the first of which still stands on Marsh's own property and reads "Road Does not End."
Others include a sign with the message "This Sign Is as American as Apple Pie" and another displaying the visage of Marilyn Monroe posted, of course, on Monroe Street. One of the simpler signs sports a playing-card spade with the lone word "Ace."
However, a new Marsh project has begun popping up around town. On the sides of buildings, fake doors are appearing, rust in color and bearing the words "Grief Relief." They're meant to make people stop and think, granting them, if only for a moment, a relief from their grief.
Of course, Marsh still distributes his unusual signs to Amarillo residents. Just call his office in downtown Amarillo's Bank One building and he'll be glad to install one for you free of charge.
Do you have a picture of a Dynamite Museum sign or a Grief Relief door? Let me know! |
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Free Slurpees!
| July 11, 2002 |
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Although not the official date of 7-Eleven's anniversary, the Dallas-based convenience giant has chosen 7/11, for obvious reasons, to celebrate its 75th year with a generous giveaway.
For decades, road warriors have made the abundant corner stores an essential stop for physical and spiritual refreshment on long, roadside adventures. A quick candy bar, a soda, a refill of coffee — anything you need to get you to the next "World's Largest," including 7-Eleven's signature treat, the Slurpee, thousands of which will be offered to customers today, free of charge.
Each participating 7-Eleven will give away 1,000 7.11-ounce Slurpees (seeing a theme here?) to mark 75 years since its humble beginnings as a string of Texas ice docks.
So, get off the computer, head out to that offbeat attraction early and start your day with a refreshing, flavored ice drink before they're all gone. |
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No Willie, No Waylon, No Boys
| July 3, 2002 |
Luckenbach |
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Due to legal circumstances, tomorrow's Fourth of July celebrations will not include the traditional Luckenbach picnic held by country-music legend Willie Nelson.
Nelson began his yearly picnics in 1972 in Dripping Springs as a way for musicians to get together, play music and celebrate. Since then, the gathering has evolved into a large event, drawing an average 12,000 attendants in recent years.
With the exception of a move to Austin in 2000 and a cancellation last year, the Fourth of July picnic has been held in Luckenbach since 1995. The town of Luckenbach, which is located about 80 miles north of San Antonio, was immortalized in the 1977 Willie Nelson-Waylon Jennings duet "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)."
Luckenbach's residents had hoped the celebration would return again this year, but the event's organizers were worried that a provision in state law could jeopardize their plans. The provision allows county officials to revoke their permit at any time, even up to the day of the picnic. The organizers felt that possibility was too much of a risk, considering the thousands of dollars they would have already spent, not to mention the difficulty they would have booking performers under such circumstances.
Nelson's promoter, Tim O'Conner, says he plans to do his best to have the law changed so they won't also have to cancel plans next year.
Luckenbach still plans to hold a Fourth of July celebration, but to their dismay, Willie Nelson won't be there.
Waylon Jennings, who passed away in February, will also be unable to attend. |
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