David Courtney

Dec 17, 2024 | texasmonthly.com | David Courtney

Q: Two pickup trucks approach a short, one-lane low-water crossing from opposite directions. They reach the ends of the bridge at the same time, and the drivers make eye contact. What should happen now? John Stanford, CastrovilleA: Texas is blessed with an abundance of rivers, creeks, streams, canals, bayous, bogs, and brooks. We are also very rich in roads, with more paved thoroughfares than any other state in the union.

Nov 22, 2024 | texasmonthly.com | David Courtney

The Texas–Texas A&M football game is back this week, after a thirteen-year hiatus. Texas Monthly, which has long covered the rivalry, rejoices in its return with a full collection of stories about the game’s history, off-the-field antics, major players, and more. Read everything here. Across the whole century-plus-long span since Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin’s first gridiron get-together, the football rivalry has produced too many memorable moments to count.

Nov 18, 2024 | texasmonthly.com | David Courtney

Q:  A friend and I like to visit national parks around the country. He says the best one in Texas is Guadalupe Mountains National Park. I think it’s Big Bend National Park. Can you settle this argument? Ryan Lahurd, ChicagoA: The Texanist, himself a man who enjoys ambling about in the great outdoors, has never paused to ponder which of these two wondrous West Texas sanctuaries is superior.

Nov 15, 2024 | texasmonthly.com | David Courtney |Rose Cahalan

Q: I recently participated in a “hot dice” tournament, which is basically a five-die version of farkle. I even wanted to yell “Farkle!” a few times but restrained myself. All of this makes me wonder: Where does farkle come from? The interwebs suggest it may come from Iceland—or Texas. Is farkle a Texas thing? Rolling in Austin (a.k.a. Texas Monthly distinguished writer Russell Gold)A: The Texanist has, over the years, enjoyed partaking in all sorts of games.

Nov 13, 2024 | texasmonthly.com | David Courtney

The name David Zychek is likely not a familiar one to the world at large. For denizens of the Central Texas music scene, however—especially those who were around from the seventies to the nineties and even beyond—Zychek is synonymous with raucous electric guitar. And though the rock and roll hero died a mostly unsung legend of the genre eight years ago at the age of 64, a new documentary film by two fellow Wacoans aims to ensure that his legacy will live on.