Love Classical Music and Want to Learn More?

Yesterday, we asked you the "save the date" for the Trappings of Texas exhibition put on by our friends at the Museum of the Big Bend on the campus of Sul Ross State University in Alpine.  Today, it is our pleasure to share one of their extended learning opportunities, an opportunities for Classical Music lovers!

CLASSICAL MUSIC FOR MUSIC LOVERS II

THURSDAY EVENINGS – 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

January 16 – February 20, 2014

Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas

Fine Arts Building, Room 200

Sponsored by the Museum of the Big Bend, this six-week course taught by Mr. David Oesper, students will listen to and explore orchestral and chamber music from 1900 to the present.  This course is especially well suited to anyone who loves music but has not had much exposure to classical music.  This introductory course is designed to enhance listening enjoyment and ability, and to provide interesting insights into the lives and times of a number of extraordinarily talented composers.  No previous musical study or knowledge required.  For adults and high school students.

$50/ Person.

A portion of your registration fee supports the museum’s dynamic program of exhibitions and public outreach.

Contact Noemi Acosta at 432.837.8143 or nacosta@sulross.edu for more information and to register!

Save the Date!

February 21 and 22nd....for the opening of Alpine's Trappings of Texas and the 28th Annual Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering on the campus of Sul Ross State University!

Guy and Pip Gillette at the
Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering
The daytime sessions of the Poetry Gathering are free (with the exception of the occasional special event), and are held in classrooms. Three to four performers share these 50 minute sessions, with nine to ten sessions running concurrently.

At 7pm on Friday and Saturday, two hour performances are held in Marshall Auditorium, showcasing featured performers. There is a $12.50 charge for these events. Attendees may also support the gathering by becoming a sponsor or co-sponsor of a performer, or simply by purchasing an event pin for $10.

The Gathering kicks off each morning at 7:30am, with a Chuckwagon Breakfast ($5) held at Poet’s Grove in the Kokernot Park. More specific information on when and where performers will appear each day can be found in the Official Program, available in several locations for $1.00 each. Beginning Thursday at noon, night show tickets and programs may be purchased at the University Center on the Sul Ross campus, the official headquarters and information center during the gathering.

Visit the Gathering's website for more information! 

“Sky High on Glass Eye Under Two Sky”
© Buckeye Blake 2011

Trappings of Texas at the Museum of the Big Bend

The same weekend, the Museum of the Big Bend opens their wonderful Custom Gear / Western Art Exhibit & Sale! 

For the past 28 years, the Museum of the Big Bend has exhibited some of the very best cowboy gear and fine Western Art in the longest running event of its kind in the country. That weekend, there's a Preview Party on Friday; and a Sale, Reception and Dance on Saturday.

Museum admission is free, although some events that weekend will have an admission fee.  Stay tuned to the Museum's website for more information!  

The Trappings of Texas exhibition will remain on display at the Museum of the Big Bend through April 13th...don't miss it!

Custom Gear / Western Art Exhibit & Sale. For the past 28 years, the Museum of the Big Bend has exhibited some of the very best cowboy gear and fine Western Art in the longest running event of its kind in the country. Opening Weekend, Feb 21-22, features a Preview Party on Friday, and a Sale, Reception and Dance on Saturday. - See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/alpine-28th-annual-trappings-texas#sthash.NArNl25L.dpuf

Alpine: Mural City!

On a busy corner along Holland in downtown Alpine, there's something new for visitors to see.  Alpine, with its ArtWalk and many gallery spaces is showing the town's culture and history front and center.  Stand at the flashing red stoplight and you'll see Alpine's murals...three of them right there for visitors and residents to enjoy!  The newest one appeared during November's ArtWalk!

Spend a few minutes there, and enjoy a glimpse at Alpine's history!

On the Road on the Van Horn Advocate

Each week, our Texas Mountain Trail Executive Director sends the Van Horn Advocate--our home community's local newspaper--a photo and/or information about fun places to visit in Far West Texas.  As a non-profit organization charged with promoting heritage tourism and visitor-ready communities, sharing great places with folks IN the region is as important as sharing great places with folks from far away.

Pick up a copy of the Advocate when you're passing through...the newspaper's office is on Broadway, the main street in town, north of the freeway just two blocks.

Van Horn is an important stop on I-10, and has always been a crossroads.  Not only is it THE crossroads for the historic 1960s original Texas Mountain Trail scenic driving route, but also the Butterfield Overland Stage Route (southern route), the Old Spanish Trail and the Bankhead Highway.

Van Horn's Clark Hotel Museum, photo by Dan Baeza

Van Horn's beautifully
restored 1930s cattlemans
hotel, the El Capitan still
welcomes travelers

Texas Mountain Trail also covers local events like the
wonderful annual Lighted Christmas Parade in Van Horn

Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest in February

The terrific folks at Desert Sports and Big Bend Ranch State Park are once again holding a GREAT mountain biking festival for beginners through expert riders, the Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest.  February 13-15, the trails in Big Bend Ranch State Park, Lajitas and Big Bend National Park will be explored with patient and skilled guides.  The event is a benefit for the Big Bend Trails Alliance, which does important development and maintenance work on the region's trails, so the modest festival fees are going to a good cause!

This year's ride menu is HERE.  The list includes kid's rides, rides on the state park's EPIC trail, short rides and long 2-day rides....there's something for everyone!

Want to sign up?  Sure you do!  Links to registration are on THIS page.

Last year, we enjoyed the interpretive ride (easy!) through the state park to the ruins of a modest ranching enterprise from the early part of the last century.

TPWD interpreter explains the significance of the homesite ruin
at Big Bend Ranch State Park along the ride route

Marfa's Art: Chinati Foundation Self-Guided Visits

The Chinati Foundation is now listing some self-guided visit options to some collections in Marfa.  Last weekend, on a rare icy and foggy day, we took advantage of this opportunity to visit the Donald Judd 15 Untitled Works in Concrete.

Chinati's website says this about visiting the boxes:

"Visitors may walk the kilometer long outdoor path and view Judd's 15 works in concrete free of charge, Wednesday-Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm.  The work is located on the main Chinati campus.  Access to the work is on a rocky, uneven path approximately 1.5 miles in length, round trip.  Please check in at the front office before visiting these works."

There are two other self-guided visit opportunities, the Donald Judd 100 Works in Mill Aluminum (fee) and a special exhibition, Zoe Leonard 100 North Neville.  Check this page for details.

The main Chinati Foundation campus is the site of the former Fort D.A. Russell, and the architecture still evokes the feeling of being on an old military base.

Click HERE to read a short history of Fort D.A. Russell.

Hello to 2014!

Dawn at the Clark Hotel Museum in Van Horn

Hello to our friends at the start of a new year, a new beginning, and hopefully...new days of adventure, discovery and understanding of our Texas Mountain Trail region.

We'll continue to share the places and experiences that make our region special all through 2014, but keep your eyes out for a "new look" for this blog in the days to come! 

In the meantime, do you know we can be found all over the social media landscape?

In addition to our website and events calendar (www.texasmountaintrail.com) we are on:

Facebook  www.facebook.com/TexasMountainTrail
Twitter  www.twitter.com/trailgirl
Instagram  www.instagram.com/texastrailgirl