Attended the Austin Record Convention on Sunday. Terrific event for music lovers, particularly those who still appreciate vinyl LPs and 45s. Additionally, there were a considerable number of vendors from all over the U.S., Europe, and beyond, selling memorabilia like concert posters, T-shirts, banners, stage passes, ticket stubs, books, magazines, photos, autographs, and souvenir collectibles like a 20” talking/singing James Brown replica, Beatles bobbleheads, and miniature guitars. If you’re a fan of recorded music, including CDs, this is the place for you. The Austin Record Convention takes place on a weekend twice a year—once in the spring, and again in the fall. Lately, they’ve been held at the Crockett Center at 10601 N. Lamar. Admission is a bargain: $5—good for Saturday and Sunday. For more details, visit www.austinrecords.com; 512/288-7288.

The March issue of Bon Appetit features the best places for chili in the U.S. Writer Andrew Knowlton’s story includes Tolbert’s Restaurant in Grapevine as one of his top 10. “From the Chili Queens of San Antonio to the annual cookoffs, no state takes its chili as seriously as Texas. Halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth, Tolbert’s serves a classic bowl of Texas red, bean free and super-thick with beef chunks.” Makes me wanna have a bowl of chili right now. Let us know what your favorite is. Tolbert’s Restaurant is at 423 South Main Street; 817/421-4888; www.tolbertsrestaurant.com.

For a birthday present, I treated myself to a brief, midweek, College Station road trip. Destination: Olsen Field on campus at Texas A&M for NCAA baseball between the nationally ranked #3 Aggies and #6 Cal State Fullerton Titans. What a gorgeous (80 degree), breezy late winter day! Cal State Fullerton won, 15-5, but the score was secondary to spending a pleasant evening at the ballpark. En route, I enjoyed a fantastic combo platter of barbecue (ribs, brisket, and sausage) at Southside Market in Elgin. Ya gotta try some. It’s so good. And topping it off with a double dip cone of Blue Bell peach/vanilla ice cream was sublime. Barbecue, baseball, and the highway—terrific Texas traditions. And, by all means, check out the 2 splendid barbecue features (Texas BBQ: The Meat of the Matter by Wyatt McSpadden; and John DeMers’ Follow the Smoke: 14,783 Miles of Great Texas Barbecue) in the March issue of the magazine.

Spent a busy, fun Saturday in Dallas zipping past Reunion Tower, the American Airlines Center, and going to NorthPark Center; the Carter and Kimbell art museums in Fort Worth; and topping it off with college basketball between the Horned Frogs and Brigham Young at TCU’s Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.

Haven’t been to NorthPark in ages? Ya gotta go. It made me want to see the new Isla Fisher movie, Confessions of a Shopaholic. Captivating world-class modern art on display here (Warhol, Borofsky, Ad Astra, Oldenberg & van Bruggen, and others), because the upscale mall (Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Oscar de la Renta, Valentino, Cartier, Barneys New York, Giorgio Armani, Apple, Salvatore Ferragamo, De Beers, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, and many more deluxe retailers) was built in the ’60s by the late Dallas developer and devoted art collector Raymond Nasher. NorthPark also has a concierge, valet parking, a Prontowash Auto Spa, and host of other distinguished customer services.

Fabulous lunch at the NM Cafe in Neiman Marcus—delicious consomme, wonderfully warm-from-the-oven bakery rolls with a luscious, signature whipped-berry spread, terrific tea, perfect grilled salmon BLT, fresh fruit, and even the chips-on-the-side were impressive, as well as the impeccable service.

The people-watching at the department store, cafe, and throughout the NorthPark Center is documentary film-worthy. Valentine’s Day made it even more so—families, couples of all ages, Park Cities moms having a party for their daughters, balloons, chocolates, red hearts, window displays—all contributing to a love-is-in-the-air vibe.

Two great photography exhibits at the Amon Carter in Fort Worth—Barbara Crane’s Challenging Vision and the next-to-last day of Mary Lucier’s Plains of Sweet Regret.

And (as mentioned previously) an enjoyable evening on campus at TCU for a Mountain West Conference hoops game. Frogs improving. Visiting Cougars bound for NCAA tournament.

Final feast at the popular Czech Stop in West on the way home for sandwiches and kolaches/cookies that hit the spot.

In the latest November 2008 issue of Travel + Leisure, a lovely story by Karrie Jacobs titled New American Landmarks spotlights iconic, green, and sustainable wonders to visit and fully appreciate throughout the nation. Among the 10 featured is the new nature center (designed by Lake/Flato of San Antonio) at the World Birding Center Headquarters/Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. Indeed, here’s yet another reason to go to the Valley, and to go birding in Texas. The Center/Park is at 2800 S. Bentsen Palm Drive in Mission. Call 956/584-9156; www.worldbirdingcenter.org. By the way, Texas Highways published a fascinating birding piece by Kathleen Kaska on the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in October 2007; a very nice story by writer Eileen Mattei and photographer Larry Ditto on the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival in November 2007; Helen Bryant’s colorful overview of High Island in February 2008; and Gerald McLeod, Artie Limmer, and E. Dan Klepper’s coverage of the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge in March 2008. TH has run a number of other beautifully informative features on the popular topic of Texas birds over the last several decades. Just fyi, we have several birding stories in the works for 2009. Stay tuned.

Travel + Leisure magazine’s latest October issue features America’s 25 favorite urban destinations. Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin made the cut. Dallas stood out for affordability and luxury boutique shopping. San Antonio got high marks for food, family vacations, and affordability. In a separate piece, the magazine spotlighted San Antonio’s McNay Art Museum and their stunning new Stieren Center, designed by noted French architect Jean-Paul Viguier. Austin gained favor for its friendliness, outdoor athletic activities, environmental awareness, and live music. The survey, conducted by T+L and Headline News, asked travelers to rank 25 top U.S. cities in 45 different categories, ranging from food and shopping to people, culture, nightlife, and more. Over 155,000 votes were cast. Everyone has their own specific reasons for passionately picking a particular place. Personally, I’m kinda partial to Houston, Fort Worth, and El Paso, but I wasn’t polled. Regardless, whether it’s the great wide open, a state park, national park, river, forest, resort, beach, golf course, lake, theme park, museum, restaurant, b&b, small town, or big metropolis, there’s a lotta Texas out there to discover. Go for it, and find your own favorites!

In the latest October issue of Outside magazine, their cover story: 50 Great Escapes—American Getaways, features the Lone Star State’s Padre Island National Seashore. Check ‘em all out—Outside’s piece, Padre itself, and Texas Highways’ own September 2008 feature on this special Gulf Coast preserve. By the way, for further detail and coverage, Texas Highways also highlighted Padre Island National Seashore in the June 2007 issue (10 Great Places to Really Get Away From It All); in a June 2006 Texas Coast photo feature; and with a very nice Padre Island National Seashore cover story in May 2005. The island’s certainly a splendid, essential consideration for anyone’s Texas travel agenda. For more information, call 361/949-8068; www.nps.gov/pais.

Texas Highways has previously touted this welcoming Southwest escape and USA Today’s weekend edition travel section just gave it a spotlight in a recent feature titled 10 Great Places for Studied Relaxation (old schools creatively transformed into lodging). Sandy Soule of bedandbreakfast.com shared her list of national favorites with writer Tim Smight. “About 60 miles north of Big Bend National Park, this former small town schoolhouse was built in 1904. Now a comfortable inn situated in a pecan grove, the building sports 22-inch-thick adobe walls and ceiling-high windows. The inn’s three cozy guest rooms are aptly name Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmetic. Guests can digest their ample breakfasts while relaxing on a large, shady deck.” The Old Schoolhouse B&B is in the scenic West Texas town of Fort Davis. Turn west on 6th. Go 3 blocks. And the street dead ends into the Old Schoolhouse property on Front Street. Call 432/426-2050; www.schoolhousebnb.com.

In my neverending quest for the perfect Texas ice cream soda, I finally made my way to Miller’s Old Tyme Soda Fountain, in the old Miller’s Pharmacy building, 100 E. Dallas, in downtown Cooper, on the town square. Mabel Wheat has been creating soda fountain perfection for decades. My chocolate ice cream soda was superb. Mabel’s secret: Add a little vanilla flavoring to the mix. And of course, her masterful, experienced touch. I recommend that you go have one right now! And tell Mabel that Marty sent you. Between her gracious hospitality, words of wisdom, colorful Cooper anecdotes, and the old pharmacy/soda fountain’s atmospheric vibe, you’ll feel transported.

Enjoyed spending a recent Friday in the very nice northeast Texas town of Paris. Downtown plaza’s 1927 Culbertson Fountain. Dozens of beautiful historic homes, including the 1867 Sam Bell Maxey House (a state historic site). Santa Fe/Frisco Union Station Railroad Depot. Eiffel Tower replica at Love Civic Center. Walking the pleasant tree-lined Trail de Paris parkway. First United Methodist Church. And a traditional Friday night lights high school football game between Paris and Greenville at classic Noyes Stadium. If you’re in the neighborhood this weekend (Saturday, September 27), check out the Paris, Texas Air Show & Fly-In. And, the Red River Valley Fair runs from September 30-October 4. The Paris Visitors & Convention Council and Lamar County Chamber are at 1125 Bonham St.. Call 903/784-2501 or 800/727-4789; www.paristexas.com.