One of the greatest natural wonders of our state, no doubt. T. D. Jakes, the 48-year-old pastor of the 30,000-member nondenominational church called the Potters House, in southwest Dallas, could very well be the best of them all. Its long-term vision focuses on four pillars: transformational education; discovery and innovation; impact on state, nation, and world; and university as a community. It is located where the Colorado River crosses the Balcones Escarpment in the Farm-to-market roadsThe result of the Colson-Briscoe Act of 1949 to get the farmer out of the mud, today they serve city folk who want to escape their concrete canyons and get into the backcountry. They do the two-step, then the three-step. All Rights Reserved. He broke his arm patting himself on the back. This stellar and venerable example paints a picture, tells a tale, and cracks a joke, all in twelve words. Texas All I do is flash a photo ID, and the world is mine. For the encore, the band played Doug Sahms At the Crossroads. I hadnt heard of Doug Sahm before; everyone else there had. Wed head down the steep and rough road to the pecan bottom that sits on the Little River, near Temple, or to the back side of the farm, where theres a stock tank half-circled with tall cottonwood trees. In 2002 Tadao Ando made it a trifecta with the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, his sophisticated global fusion winning raves and setting an exquisitely high bar for twenty-first-century greatness. 2. Patricia Sharpe, 46. FriendlinessBeing glad to see youno matter who you areis something our mamas taught us from birth. It But not by itself, and not with anything else. And why would he? We're cooler than you. You know, if you only got one word. The Fort Worth Cultural DistrictIt says something when the Amon Carter Museum, designed by the most attention-grabbing architect of the past century, the late Philip Johnson, is often overlooked among Fort Worths closely spaced trio of world-class (really) art museums. In the suburbs, Anglo candidates block-walk; in the Rio Grande Valley, Hispanic politicos travel the pachanga circuit. Yup. But then I moved to Austin. But last year she had a record of 30-7, with an ERA of 0.36. I recommend making your way from Dog Canyon along the McKittrick Canyon Trail for a view over this famous glen, whose hardwood trees explode into color every fall. Their go-for-broke contempt for prosecutors and plea deals? 1. Hes riding a gravy train with biscuit wheels. All you get is a metal rocker on a wide porch overlooking the emerald-green Comal and the drunken tubers floating byin other words, near-perpetual serenity. Dogs take the lead, followed by hunters, three or four abreast, advancing through brush and tall grass. University of Texas professor of American literature and anthropology Jose Limn describes it this way: The idea is not to skip, hop, and jump or pump our arms, as Anglos often do when they attempt this dance. With the waning of the tejano music industry, there are now fewer clubs to go for a dance, although a resurgence in conjunto music has led to the reopening of long-defunct dance halls. A unique example of folk architecture begun in 1981 by wood craftsman Larry Birkelbach and his crew, the still-unfinished 1,100-seat hall was conceived in process and has developed slowly under the direction of the institutes founder, pianist James Dick. She'll always have a little piece of our hearts. So ugly his mama takes him everywhere she goes so she doesnt have to kiss him goodbye. She could sit on the fence and the birds would feed her. He looks like the dogs have been keepin him under the porch. There are dozens of steamy similes for summer suffering (not surprisingly, there are far fewer for winter weather). More recently its been the centers big-name acquisition coupsBob Woodward and Carl Bernsteins Watergate papers, Norman Mailers archive. Its hot as the hinges of hell; hot as a two-dollar pistol; hot as a stolen tamale. 16 Words That Mean Something Entirely Different In Texas And unlike the trails in most show caves, Sonoras put you right on top of it all. And there are the creatures: endangered species of fish and turtles, which swim right under and alongside and through you. The three bells at Mission San Francisco de la Espada, San AntonioThe simple facade of the oldest, smallest, and most remote of San Antonios five missions centers on a Moorish door frame, and above the door stands a tower with three bells. The monument to Texass independence is an all-too-obvious effort to top the height of the Washington Monument. Love Texas? 1. The pan dulce at Mi Tierra, San AntonioThe Ricardo from San Antonios Mi Tierra bakery represents all that was sweetest about the happiest years of my childhood. Describing Houston in 6 Words By then, my girlfriend had been my wife for more than ten years. For example: Who else thinks we're just "Nice Already, 60 percent of the people of San Antonio are Mexican American, an easy majority. Its so dryyyy here! Well, I didnt just looove Austin then and it wasnt dryyyy. North Island, Lake TexomaLake Texoma is one of the few lakes where the shoreline is not dotted with boat slips and lake houses. For example, did you know that the Atkinson Candy Company has been making one of Americas favorite candies in the little town of Lufkin, Texas, since the 1930s? Hotter than a stolen tamale. Definitely the lemon meringue pot at Wink, in Austin. Some words that start with the letter U that may be used to describe the state of Texas are: Unique, Universal, Useful, Urban, Ultimate, and Underestimated. And yes, the green-chile-chicken enchiladas at El Asadero, in Fort Worth. The algae-covered pool bottom is the slipperiest on earth. But a few retailers elsewhere bend the rules a bit. For years, I never got one of them right; when I finally did, it no longer mattered. Every year, the fields along the roadsides blossom into a blanket of bluein some parts a deep purple, in others a dusty grayand we know spring is here. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. Elbow roomOur old stereotypical braggadocio about bigness has faded, thank heavens; it was parochial and offensive. You can jump right to this page by putting a "!" Or make me regret that I quit smoking. To help you enjoy living in Texas, get out and explore. Descriptions of Houston | Houston Media Information The Capitol basement, AustinHere hang the composite photographs of long-forgotten legislatures. The range is a national park, and from a campsite here you can explore eighty miles of trails that lead through sky islands of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir to six of the states ten highest peaks. Gary Cartwright, 18. 03-28-2011, 12:46 AM WestPlanoDude Location: Plano, Texas 198 posts, read 475,746 times Reputation: 171 Dallas: A great city. One time she wrote about sports. Your taste buds (and your insides) will thank you. Although Texas A&M is rooted in tradition, its by no means stuck there. In three words, describe Texas. If I felt any better, Id drop my harp plumb through the cloud. Skip Hollandsworth, 38. The Alamo DrafthouseThis theater chain, with locations in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio and plans to expand, proves that the way to a cinephiles heart is through his stomachand his liver. She could talk a coon right out of a tree. But the years pass and the skin shrivels into beef jerky and the hair flattens to the shape and consistency of a thatched roof and you do come to looove Austin precisely because it is not dryyyy. It's a Texas thing and y'all wouldn't understand. Some The Central Texas Wing of the Commemorative Air Force sponsors this annual shindig around Veterans Day in a forties-era hangar at the San Marcos Municipal Airport to honor the Greatest Generation, and I know of no better way to pay your respects than with a Lindy Hop with an eighty-year-old pilot. Plus, there are natural wonders around the state that will leave you speechless and grateful to be living in this beautiful country. Lucky. Now its a reminder that all things must pass. a buzzard to guts; a sticker burr to bare feet); and I havent had so much fun since . Paul Burka, 43. Sunday services at the Potters House, DallasJust when you think weve had our fill of great theatrical preachers, another comes along who sweeps us away. If youre quick to dismiss the difficulty of western dance, go see for yourself. Its a Hitchcockian moment. And all, back in the day, were cheap. Barbecues are one of the best things about living in Texas. 8 a.m., weekdays, Las Manitas Avenue Cafe, AustinBecause every big-time city needs a place where power breakfasters can feed their need for gossip, schmooze, and the ritual taking care of business. The short two-mile jauntthe landscape equivalent of a shot of espressois long on visual stimulation: a hill (whered that come from? Texas | Map, Population, History, & Facts | Britannica Their studies have found that code switchers blend languages to achieve myriad outcomesto emphasize or clarify, for example, or to mark breaks in narration for dramatic effectand that Spanglish is governed by its own rules of grammar. WebUse "descriptive words" a lot? Because Wesley Hughes, who flipped burgers there from 1957 until 2003, still goes in on weekdays to serve as Head of Public Relations. At the moment, youll have to elbow state-senator-to-be Kirk Watson, People for the American Way statewide director Deece Eckstein, and Rick Perrys former legislative director Hector Gutierrez out of the way to get one of the prized booths; lotsa luck. My allergies are bad with this Texas weather. David Courtney, 8. Political Culture of Texas For a desert girl, it was like living in a blister. There Are No Two Sides in Texass Fiery Truck Debate, At Brownsvilles Annual Grito Contest, Its All About Yelling Your Heart Out, Step Aside, Perrys: This 30-Ounce Smoked Pork Chop Is Ready to Take the Crown, Willie Nelsons Son Lukas on Ancient Texts, Pearl Jam, and I Never Cared for You, Love and Death in Silicon Prairie, Part I: Candy Montgomerys Affair, I Biked the I-35 Hell Route From Austin to San Antonio So You Dont Have To, Texas-Style Pulled Pork Is Embarrassing, The Astrodomes Decline From Eighth Wonder to Eighth Blunder of the World, 15 Treasure-Filled Spots to Antique in Small-town Texas, Mosquito Hawks Are Flitting All Over Texas, Matthew McConaughey Is Monetizing His Whole Vibe, Love and Death in Silicon Prairie, Part II: The Killing of Betty Gore. 34. Balmorhea is, not just spiritually but literally, an oasis in the desert. Oh, also the goat cheese appetizer with morita-chile-and-Mexican-brown-sugar sauce at Liberty Bar, in San Antonio. And Patricia Sharpe, 39. Texas is a great state to be in. In short, hes ugly. Mexican border townsOkay, theyre violent and dangerous now, but you had to see them through the eyes of a young man for whom cheap liquor and cheap thrills were the essence of freedom. ], 37. Briscoe Ranches (640,000 acres). Besides, its hard to say no to a man in uniform. WebHow texas often is described (________ texas) central, western, southern, eastern, south, west, east, northern, southwestern, rural, southwest, north, northeastern, southeast, John Spong writes primarily about popular culture. Ruby Red And Star Ruby GrapefruitNo other grapefruit is worth all the rigmarole required to prep it for eating. Our own way of pronouncinManchaca = Man-shackMexia = Ma-hay-ahPalestine = Pal-es-teenMiami = My-am-ahHumble = Um-bullBurnet = Burn-itIraan = I-ra-annManor = May-nerRefugio = Ruh-fyur-ee-oChristopher Keyes, 42. On weekends close to an election, this means attending four or five pachangas in a day, working the crowd, grabbing a taco, washing it down with beer from a keg, and shooting zingers at their opponents. Languages come together in the same creative style that cultures do. And the posole at Rosarios, in San Antonio. From this gravity-defying nexus, you can stare straight into the unflinching eye of this great conurbation. WebTexas = The second largest state in the US Texas = Ten-gallon hat Texas = 28th state - Statehood: Dec. 29, 1845 Texas = State bird = Mockingbird Texas = State flower = You probably guessed those. (Meanwhile, most regions of America dont even know yet that you can eat goat ) John Morthland, 28. These seven signs are a perfect testament to that trait and describe life in the Lone Star State to a T. Flickr/bfs_man. Since then its validated bad-idea, spur-of-the-moment road trips undertaken from every campus in the state. Because of its sheer size, Texas experiences all kinds of weathersometimes all at once. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. WebDescriptive Essay On Texas. Describing Words - Find Adjectives to Describe Things (apple burr to bare feet); She took to you like . Glad to see you? You can be right on top of a covey and not know it. Suzy Banks, 11. Jan Reid [Editors Note: Cat Osterman went on to become a two-time Olympian, three-time National Player of the Year, and four-time All American softball pitcher. West Texas Dandies ride their horses into Buck Jackson Arena during the West of the Pecos Rodeo parade Wednesday, June 22, 2016 in Pecos, Texas. Up and down the steep, curving lanes, you can visit Cooleys, Mastersons, Cullinans, and that great society florist of the eighties, Leonard Tharp, all laid to rest under breathtaking live oaks and bountiful magnolias. Vast desiccated swaths of our state are as dry as anything New Mexico can dehydrate. Its a privilege of youth. The film tanked at the box office but soon found a home in frat-house VCRs. Bluebonnets? Paul Burka, 41. So windy were using a log chain instead of a wind sock. A high-powered spotting scope brings the cranes so close that its like having a front-row seat right next to the runway. QuesoThe texture is vaguely plastic, the color resembles an overripe mango, the tastewell, more about that in a minute. Nearby is a much smaller black dot. Michael Ennis, 27. Texas Sayings Texas Monthly Short for gone to Texas, this usage dates at least to the Civil War, when deserters and other former soldiers from both armies suddenly unemployed and inured to violence migrated to still-wild, wide-open Texas, lost their names, and took up outlawry. They tried to hang him, but the rope broke. Quick, before you pass out, veer off the highway onto Park Road 11 for a refreshing jolt of scenery. Another Giles gem is in Lockhart. There are many buildings, cities, and natural wonders that tell a cool story. It never fails to put me in a good mood. Kellers Drive-in, DallasThe flashing red-and-green sign on Northwest Highway is as high-tech as it gets. FandangoThe movies premise is familiar to anyone who ever tried to stretch an extra semester out of adolescence: Five drunk frat brothers blow out of a party in the middle of the night in a car loaded with beer and headed for anywhere. David Courtney, a.k.a. 2. Then relax and take in the crowd, which includes biker clubs and classic-car enthusiasts. It changes so often we never know what each day will be. But Ill bet you dollars to doughnuts that if you put them out side by side, the queso will still be bubbling away when the queso is long gone. How hot, you ask? We never got that picturewell, we did; the three of us in midair and him peering skeptically over the sidebut we had a great time, as we always do. With no warning, the birds flush, and the air is filled with quail. We asked sources in KUHFs Public Insight Network on six-word phrases that capture the essence of the Bayou City. Some words that start with the letter U that may be used to describe the state of Texas are: Unique, Universal, Useful, Urban, Ultimate, and Underestimated. And we do mean everything. We have a lot of buried treasure in Texas, surprisingly. A sweet bun filled with a creme unlikely to have ever met a cow and covered in caramel glaze and lots and lots of pecans, the Ricardo can quell a lot of anxiety. Coke What it means everywhere else: Coca-Cola. Larry McMurtryFor Horseman, Pass By and The Last Picture Show and his debunking of J. Frank Dobiesimply because he was ornery and talented and he could. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. And when he received his Oscar in March for best adapted screenplay, he wore jeans and boots. The Broken Spoke, AustinLong before Austin began dubbing itself the Live Music Capital of the World, this honky-tonk was busy playing host to the best country acts in the worldup-and-comers like Willie Nelson and George Strait, progressive cowboys like Asleep at the Wheel, and later still, alt-country rockers like the Derailers. These days the Broken Spoke still features live music five nights a week, and you can dance on a waxed concrete floor, drink longneck beer, and eat chicken-fried steak. We did this at a dinner party and thought it was a fun game (not with Dallas or Texas, but you get the idea). Austin | History, Population, Demographics, Map, & Points of Interest For example, Texas natives often say they are fixin ta do something or are fixin to go.. The hall is almost always empty, so you can scan them in silence, looking for a familiar name while musing on who might have been a hero or a rogue in his day. He definitely deserves this spot on our Texas history A-Z list. Code switchingMe da un Whataburger with no cheese y tambin una orden de french fries, please. The hybrid language of Mexican Americans is often referred to as Tex-Mex or Spanglish, but neither label does justice to its richness and complexity. Shes a couple sandwiches shy of a picnic. Sip coffee at the hip Empire Cafe or the even hipper Brasil and watch the parade of gays, straights, street people, and society matrons, or sample the best food in town at Da Marco, Churrascos, or Marks. The Presidio County Courthouse is seen on December 27, 2012 in Marfa, Texas. After you spend time watching the animals, head to the on-site restaurant and enjoy a delicious meal. San JacintoOkay, lets admit it. . But its not just that everyone whos since plugged in, especially in Texas, has a little T-Bone in him. With the modernization of conjunto music into tejano, a younger Mexican American generation added countrylike moves and made the tlacuachito a sleeker affair. Photo is not available online. Years before Marfa enjoyed its current trendiness, global tastemakers made the pilgrimage to West Texas and returned home to invest everything from architecture to furniture to retail design with Judds austere, industrialized, yet transcendent aesthetic. Texas is known for its fastballers: Clemens, Ryan, Street. While the Common Application requires a 650-word essay, ApplyTexas requirements vary. 5 special, a double-meat cheeseburger for only $2.70). Because the legend goes that Bobby Layne, the Longhorn quarterback of the mid-forties who should have been mentioned in all those recent articles about the greatness of Vince Young, drank beer at Dirtys on Saturday mornings before suiting up. For Terms of Endearment and sneering at the entire myth of Texasonly then to win the Pulitzer with Lonesome Dove. A downtown skyline is the face of a city, and Big D has one of the most instantly recognizable. Forget that Roget fellahere in Texas were more apt to consult Bubbas thesaurus. This trail will lead you to a fascinating abandoned mine. Descriptive Essay On Texas How to Speak Texan: 12 Essential Words and Phrases 1. Until his death, in 1998, the invitation was standing. Texas: The weather sucks. And tycoon had shifted, too. 14 Phrases That Only Dallasites and Fort Worthians Say Got em. A classic, its a succinct and subtle way of perpetuating the everythings-bigger -in-Texas myth. The downtown Neiman Marcus, DallasThis is still the holiest site of Dallass religion of shopping, and in those halcyon days of Mr. Allexcept maybe the salamandersstare into the clear, green depths, test the temperature with a toe (even though everyone knows its always 68 degrees), shudder, then take the plunge into the heart-stopping chill, trying to absorb a smidgen of the irrefutable grace of this place. It looks like a planet circling too close to its sun. Because of a franchise agreement, Dublin Dr Pepper is readily available only in a forty-mile radius around Dublin. See? Michael Ennis, 62. Just left of center is a circle of red. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. Mimi Swartz, 2. Texas is growing at a breakneck pace, expanding by 15.3% from 2009-2019, according to USAFacts a speed nearly two and a half times faster than the national average. Now Ramsey has Ken Lay for a client. Paul Burka, 26. Why do Norwegians use 'texas' to mean But in a burst of creative genius, triggered by a shift in the Balcones Fault, the earth partnered these humble materials in a geologic magic act that has wowed ancient people and Franciscans, deep thinkers and humorists, blue-lipped toddlers and topless hippie chicks, endangered salamanders and political activists. (If you think we're being grammatically incorrect when we spell it, you must not be from Texas.). The skyAnd no one captures the clouds and lightning strikes, sunsets and stars better than photographer Wyman Meinzer, whose new book, Between Heaven and Texas (University of Texas Press), was published in March. Listen to what they had to say. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing. Here are 14 unique phrases to Texas and the Metroplex. In the end, though, the only thing that matters is that because of what happened here, Texas is a state that was onceand alwaysa nation, and that makes all the difference. It also recalls another legendary (if less flattering) quote long attributed to Union General Phil Sheridan, who was posted in Texas after the Civil War: If I owned hell and Texas, Id rent out Texas and live in hell.. The term is often used to describe the state of Texas, with phrases like Im fixin ta head down Texas way. Im fixin ta head out now.. Most of us were probably a little older before we realized that all that good humor had other uses; it masks intention and throws people off their game, particularly lawyers and businessmen from other parts of the country who mistake us for happy hicks. The caverns of SonoraReading the billboards along Interstate 10, you suspect a classic tourist trap. ( Untitled is currently on loan but will return to the Menil in September.) Hed start a fight at the drop of a hatand hed drop it himself. Paul Burka, 44. Whooping Crane in fight at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Mexico and Central America, north to southern Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. It doesnt matter if you are moving to Texas or youve lived here your entire life, the Lone Star State is fascinating. I mean, were talking about Velveeta melted with Ro-Tel tomatoes and chiles. Brian D. Sweany. With its unprecedented preponderance of helictitesneither stalactites nor stalagmites but growths that twist and turn out from the caves wallsnearly every inch of Sonora, not just the floors and ceilings, bursts with complex colors and formations. A few minutes in, the entire crowd joined in unison: You just cant live in Texas if you dont have a lot of soul! It was the first time I understood Texas prideand desperately wanted a part of it. This Tex-Mex cafe is owned by Cynthia and Lidia Perez, Henry Cisneross sisters-in-law, who are unabashedly bluer than the Danube, but the crowd of lawmakers and lobbyists and lawyers and media blowhards who gather here is absolutely bipartisan; Karen Hughes and Karl Rove, among others, were semi-regulars back in the day. Swing States: Texas, Who Votes, Past Results Booker Ervins version of Berkshire BluesA classic cut by the late, great tenor saxophonist, who hailed from Denison. You can catch him on one of the religious channels on cable, but to understand what he can really do, you need to see him live. From the scenic viewpoint at the crest, the Rio Grande lies a thousand feet below, and Mexico is so close you might be tempted to throw a rock into it. Football should be on every Texas A-Z list. Not often enough, for those few hours, it was me, my attention, and my dad, undivided in the cab of Ol Blue. 2. In the words of Billy Joe Shaver, that border-crossing feeling makes a fool out of a man May it ever be so. Brian D. Sweany, 45. Thats it. at the end of your search. The World Championship Barbeque Goat Cook-Off, BradyEstablished 33 years ago partly as a jokeBrady was struggling to find a civic-celebration theme other towns hadnt already takenthis Saturday-of-Labor-Day-weekend blowout maintains a great sense of humor about itself. At times I rather live in Texas then any other state. The winds blowing like perfume through a prom. Barton Springs? T-Bone Walkers guitar soundThe Linden-born bluesman transformed his instrument from a rhythm into a lead voice and invented the guitar solo, which today is taken for granted. Evan Smith, 7. 2. Personage With Birds and Untitled, by Joan Mir, HoustonWalk into the Menil Collection, continue back into the galleries of twentieth-century works, and you will find yourself in my favorite place in Texas: standing in front of Untitled, a painting by Joan Mir. Chris 711/Flickr Fort Worth is known as "Cowtown," "Where the West Begins" and even "Panther City." I don't think this one needs any elaboration. We're cooler than you. Merging the factory with the sculptors atelier, Judd filled the old armories with rows of precisely machined aluminum boxes and arrayed a procession of hard-edged concrete megaliths across a half-mile of desert like a futuristic, in-line Stonehenge. WebAdjectives most often used with texas (ordered by popularity) central western southern eastern south west east northern southwestern rural southwest north northeastern Web1. Romantic quandary? This is such a solid franchise that even Jerry Jones hasnt been able to mess it up. Mimi Swartz, 5. The AstrodomeAs a baseball stadium, it had its shortcomingsforemost among them Astroturfbut there was a time when it was second only to the Alamo as the most important building in Texas. Their scary-smart rapport with the press? Jan Reid, 17. Tejano dancingMy first attempt at tejano dancing occurred in the name of research. Medina to Leakey on Ranch-to-Market Road 337Take this drive on a Sunday afternoon in October. Gregory Curtis, 58. Photograph by Heather Leiphart/AP/Odessa American. Texans are unabashed braggarts. Paul Burka, 72. So low hed steal the nickels off a dead mans eyes. We don't care if you think otherwise. RhymeZone: Adjectives for texas Which is why, for decades, no game-watching party, bridal shower, or open house in Texas has failed to include a big pot of queso in the middle of the dining table. I was living near the University of Texas campus in a co-op boarding house where mildew appeared on my shoes and toothbrushes never dried. In this tiny town, Judd didnt just change the way the world looks at art; he changed the way the world looks. More Colorful Texas Sayings Than You Can Shake a Stick At, At Texas Swingers Clubs, the Lifestyle Is Booming, My Life and Hard Times in the Junior League, The Texanists Quiz of Texcentric Trivialities, The Ultimate Texas Brand Bracket Crowns Its Champion, Presenting the Ultimate Texas Brand Bracket Final Four, The Ultimate Texas Brand Bracket Is Down to Its Elite Eight, Ford or Chevy? They move around the floor faster than NFL cornerbacks. Oil is a big deal here and our bank accounts are happy about that! But keep your hands on your wallets, guys. Then youre firing in close quarters with an incredible adrenaline rush. The rituals harken back to a time when politics was intensely personal and political rallies were a form of entertainment. Big RedWith barbecue. Someone doesnt merely dieshe opens herself up a worm farm. Its easy to get hot talk down cold. Dirtys, AustinBecause when Martins Kum-Bak Place started serving burgers to University of Texas students in 1926, it had a dirt floor, thus the nickname. The size of our ranchesKing Ranch (825,000 acres). Mimi Swartz, 52. NachosThey are as Texan as the Alamo, and they have gone where no snack has gone before. Cecilia Balli, 59. To me, Texas is Austin, a bunch of cool people trying to make a difference. Bill Hicks I like to say I live in Austin, Texas because I can live where I want to. Matthew McConaughey READ NEXT 21 Best Austin Swimming Holes in (+ Near) the City Theres so much music in Austin, and its all so different. Gary Clark, Jr.