The Telegraph

The Premier Blog of the West

May 2011

Touching Home

05/30/11

Touching Home

The Tribal College Journal recently announced the digital publication of Touching Home, an e-book that portrays contemporary Native American life through the raw and honest creative writing of tribal college students. Weaving culture and tradition into modern-day reservation life, these moving poems and stories will make you laugh, cry, and fill your heart with hope for today’s Native people who are working toward a better future for the generations to come. You can buy the digital e-book edition by clicking here, or get the Kindle edition by clicking here.

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05/29/11

World-Record Ride Rescheduled

The the World Record Ride for the Mustangs event sponsored by the ACTHA, originally scheduled for June 4th, has been rescheduled for September 10th 2011 due to the Rhino EHV-1 Equine Virus outbreak that was first spotted earlier this month in Utah. The World Record Ride is the latest equine event to be rescheduled or cancelled. EHV-1 has high fatality rates, affecting the brain and spinal cord. Confirmed cases have been documented in Utah, Colorado, California, Idaho and Washington. The National Cutting Horse Association has cancelled all shows until June 5. More information about EHV-1 and how to protect your stock can be found through the American Horse Council or your local DVM.

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A New Way to Write Cherokee

05/28/11

A New Way to Write Cherokee

Thornton Media recently announced the first-ever App in the iTunes store to teach the Cherokee syllabary. Created by Sequoyah, a crippled, poor, and uneducated half-blood Cherokee, the syllabary has been used for 150 years for the two main dialects of the Cherokee language and is known for its versatility and longevity. Now, you can watch an individual character being drawn on the screen, and hear it being spoken by a fluent speaker. Quiz yourself, or write the character with your finger on the iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. Thornton Media has also created a teaching tool for kids on the Nintendo DS, and in 2007 worked to produce a pilot version of a 3-D video language game called RezWorld™, which has been adapted to dozens of Native languages and become one more exciting way for...

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Women On Target

05/28/11

Women On Target

Women On Target is an NRA sponsored program helping women learn shooting and hunting skills in a safe and supportive women-only environment. In addition to women-only hunts, Women On Target also sponsors a series of instructional shoots and introductions to the sport of trap-shooting. Women learn to shoot, handle and store firearms safely, and learn a sport they can enjoy for a lifetime. If you’re an experience shooter, you’ll have the chance to help other women build confidence by sharing your skills, mentor new students, and be a role model for a shooting partner. There are also leagues and competitive teams for those interested in working on sport shooting. Click here for more information, or visit www.nrahq.org/women/isc/benefits.asp for details on finding a clinic...

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05/27/11

Craftsmen in Wood

Apart from lofty ceilings and lots of windows, my favorite home features are grand entryways and gorgeous woodwork. Adding custom doors and cabinetry is one of the best ways to set your home apart. If you are currently rebuilding or remodeling, I suggest you get acquainted with Craftsmen in Wood. Crafted the Old World way, their installations are stunning. Plus an assortment of designs, woods, and custom finishes — and accessory options like ironwork and designer hardware — allows for you to personalize your home with woodwork that perfectly matches your aesthetic.

Posted at 04:13 PM | Permalink

Heart of the Home

05/27/11

Heart of the Home

Starting May 27, you can get a glimpse at life in the last century, and what it was like for women who trying to civilize the wildest part of the American West: the family home. Visitors to the New Mexico History Museum will get a glimpse of household antiques and more this summer with Heart of the Home, celebrating the home and recognizing the hard work and innovation that was required to keep a home. On exhibit in the museum’s main lobby from May 27 to Nov. 27, Heart of the Home joins the museum’s Women of the West summer celebration, highlighted by the exhibition Home Lands: How Women Made the West. Just for a treat, here’s one example: To keep their skirts looking spiffy, the fashionable woman of 1866 had to head up a two-piece fluting iron (right) on top of the...

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Time to Get Low

05/26/11

Time to Get Low

It’s been several months since the DVD and Blu-Ray release of Get Low, the highly underrated dark comedy starring Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek and Bill Murray. This is a must-see for any Robert Duvall fan: in our July 2010 issue, Duvall says his work in Get Low ranks among the most complex and demanding roles he’s ever played. The film was nominated for a slew of critics awards, but saw limited release and flew under the radar for a lot of folks. It’s no spoiler to say that the film invites us all to explore our own mortality — the plot revolves around Duvall’s character and his effort to put on a living memorial for himself — so, if you’re of a mind to follow up on those kind of impulses, might as well go ahead and pick out a casket. Lucky...

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Own An Old West Town

05/26/11

Own An Old West Town

At 5,300 feet, near Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area, is a unique old west Montana mountain town. Built for and operated as a B&B / Guest Ranch facility, the whole town has a life of its own in a little Montana mountain valley. There are 10 total lodging structures, in addition to a livery, laundry facility, mercantile, saloon, church building and more. Times being what they are, who wouldn’t want to hide out in this old western town and leave the modern world behind? This totally unique property will be offered at auction on July 16, 2011 by United Country Guardian Real Estate. Located in a region full of all-season outdoor recreational opportunities, the area is renowned for trophy big game hunting, blue ribbon trout fishing, and much more. Now you can bring your own...

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Pie Contest in a Box

05/25/11

Pie Contest in a Box

The tradition of pie in the United States goes back to the Pilgrims, who brought it with them to the New World in 1620 and adapted their family recipes to the local environment. They used the berries and fruits (most famously, pumpkin) that the Native Americans showed them and incorporated new ingredients, such as eggs and molasses. Pioneer women in the 1700s often served pie for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, thus establishing the pastry as the sentimental heart of American family gatherings. George Washington was known to be especially fond of Sweetbreads Pie. Pie-baking and pie-eating contests, along with pie-throwing games, became the focal point of contests at county fairs, picnics, and other community celebrations and these traditions continue to this day. Gina Hyam’s Pie...

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Wopila Weaving Show

05/25/11

Wopila Weaving Show

On June 15, 2011, Toadlena Trading Post will host the opening of Honoring Weavers with Canvas and Bronze. This show celebrates the Navajo weavers of Toadlena through a special painting and sculpture exhibit by several renowned artists. “We throw a great party here every two years during our summer show,” says post manager Linda Larouche, “Actor Wes Studi’s band performs, we have tons of food, and all the weavers and local families come out to have a good time.” Wopila Artist Guild is an informal artist association organized in 2010 to promote pre-eminent Western art while also giving back to the art world. Wopila is a Lakota Sioux word which means “thank you.” For more information on the show, the artists, or the Wopila Artist Guild, please...

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05/25/11

Wednesday Western: <i>Pharaoh's Army</i>

   Free for you to view on Hulu.com: Pharaoh’s Army, writer-director Robby Henson’s 1995 Civil War drama, starring Academy Award winner Chris Cooper as Captain John Hull Abston, a Union officer who leads a small group of soldiers on a hunt for provisions in a remote corner of Kentucky. Forced by circumstance to spend time on the farm of a woman (Patricia Clarkson) whose husband is fighting with the Confederates in Tennessee, Abston is reminded of the life he enjoyed before becoming a soldier. Kris Kristofferson co-stars as Preacher, a Rebel sympathizer who may encourage a violent end to the captain’s temporary respite from the bloody business of warfare.

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Honoring Johnny Gimble

05/24/11

Honoring Johnny Gimble

Fans of Western Swing should know about this year’s Texas Swing Festival in the East Texas town of Athens. This year five bands will play as the Festival honors fiddler Johnny Gimble, regarded by millions as the greatest fiddler to ever rosin up the bow. Music starts at noon on Saturday, May 28th, with the Marshall Ford Band and “a Case of the Gimbles” with Johnny Gimble, his son Dick on bass, and his granddaughter, Emily, on piano and vocals. For festival information, call 903.677.4247 or visit www.athenstexasswingfestival.com.

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Elmer Kelton Memorial

05/23/11

Elmer Kelton Memorial

It was in 2009 that we lost Elmer Kelton, seven-time Spur Award winner and the “Best Western Writer of all Time,” according to his peers in the Western Writers Association of America. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to literature, supporters commissioned a life-sized bronze statue of Kelton to stand in the new Stephens Central Library in Tom Green County, Texas. Created by artists Raul Ruiz (pictured, right), the bronze statue of Kelton stands 6 feet 4 inches. Over $120,000 was donated towards the project, but new gifts recieved will now go towards a schoalrship fund in memory of Kelton. If you would like to support this scholarship fund in memory of Mr. Kelton, your donation is a great way to express a memorial gift for one of America’s greatest...

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Calgary Folk Festival

05/22/11

Calgary Folk Festival

This summer the Calgary Folk Music Festival (July 21-24, 2011), turns the wooded expanse of downtown Calgary’s Prince’s Island into a funky musical melee. The Folk Music Festival has become a jumping off point for regional, national, and international artists—as well as a beloved venue for established icons. There’s greenery and scenery as the distant peaks of the Rockies rise above the trees. Past headliners include greats like Emmylou Harris and Kris Kristofferson, but audiences are always ready to find their next favorite at the outdoor festival that draws international crowds to Calgary. This year’s event features Buffy Sainte-Marie, as she performs her vivid, moving anthems that have spanned genres, continents and generations with her hot 5-piece...

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05/21/11

Calling Young Cowboy Poets

If you are a young Baxter Black or Red Steagall living in Central Montana, you can take part in the ‘Young Cowboy Poet Search’ sponsored by KXLO-KLCM. Every young cowboy poet entering their original poem will receive two passes for all the day activities for the 26th Annual Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering at The Yogo Inn from August 12-14 this summer. Passes include admission to 52 hourly sessions of cowboy poetry and western music, the Western Art & Gear Show, the Friday night Jam ‘n Dance, the workshops, the living history exhibit of an 1895 Moline Chuck Wagon and Sunday morning Cowboy Church. A complete schedule of activities is online at montanacowboypoetrygathering.com. Young Cowboy Poetry entries must be received at KXLO, 620 NE Main St., Lewistown, 59457,...

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Bella Rose

05/20/11

Bella Rose

The legendary Rue de Rêves, a Dallas boutique famed for carrying the most coveted fashions straight off the runways in Europe, closed its doors more than 15 years ago. But now Tami Morris, who managed the store for 10 years before marrying the son of owner Margaret Morris and leaving to start a family, is bringing back the spirit and style of Rue de Rêves. With the help of her business savvy sister Katy Palermo, Tami has launched Bella Rose, a high-end jewelry line that blends the refinement of Rue de Rêves with her own bold Texas style. You must check out this handcrafted collection (named for Morris’ two daughters). It’s eye-catching yet elegant, contemporary yet classic. And it’s fashioned with antique European coins and medals. I love the idea of...

Posted at 04:05 PM | Permalink

Tootie Pies

05/19/11

Tootie Pies

Sometimes it is a good thing to stand corrected. A very good thing, indeed. As the entire Cowboys & Indians staff will attest. Because today, we received a cardboard box containing a pie. A pie that took issue with its exclusion from our June Best of the West issue. A pie with a sugar-dusted, heartbreakingly flaky crust that could barely contain the heaps of golden apple slices contained inside. Not only was it delicious, but it made an incredibly impressive presentation, arriving perfectly chilled and in pristine condition. What better gift could there be? Founded by Ruby Lorraine “Tootie” Feagan in Medina, Texas, the Tootie Pie Company now operates out of Boerne, baking and serving pies made with Tootie’s original recipes. Chocolate pecan, lemon velvet,...

Posted at 04:41 PM | Permalink | Comments

05/18/11

Wednesday Western: <i>A Man Called Gannon</i>

   Free for you to view on Hulu.com: A Man Called Gannon, a 1968 remake of King Vidor’s 1955 Western Man Without a Star, with Tony Franciosa taking over for Kirk Douglas in the lead role of a saddle tramp who teaches a young Easterner (Michael Sarrazin) how to be a cowboy. Unfortunately, the two men find themselves on the opposite sides of a range war when an ambitious widow (Judi West) tries make herself wealthy in one season by bringing in 1,500 cattle and selling them before winter.

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Johnny Depp's Tonto has found his Kemo Sabe

05/17/11

Johnny Depp's Tonto has found his Kemo Sabe

   It’s official: Arnie Hammer — who, thanks to the miracle of modern movie magic, played both Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss in The Social Network — has signed on to say “Hi-yo, Silver!” in the upcoming reboot of The Lone Ranger. But wait, there’s more: The showbiz trade paper Variety reports that, contrary to recently published reports, the Jerry Bruckheimer production — which will reunite superstar Johnny Depp (as Tonto) with Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski — could reach theaters “as early as fall 2012.”

Posted at 05:03 PM | Permalink | Comments

Anthony Hopkins gets in touch with his inner cowboy

05/17/11

Anthony Hopkins gets in touch with his inner cowboy

   Sir Anthony Hopkins tells Damon Houx of ScreenCrave.com that, while portraying Odin, the mythical god of Asgard, in the summer blockbuster Thor, he sought inspiration from two of his favorite Westerns — Shane and Lawman — and, no kidding, from John Wayne himself. Maybe that’s why he’s so dadgum good in the movie?

Posted at 02:29 PM | Permalink | Comments

Sheridan French

05/13/11

Sheridan French

A Cowtown native who, after traveling the fashion world and working for the Prada Press Office in London, has moved back home and now serves as the fashion editor for Fort Worth, Texas Magazine — Sheridan French knows style. French has developed her own clothing collection that is more than just Southern chic; it’s versatile, wearable, and well crafted. The fabrics are all handmade in Bali, Indonesia, and the designs reflect an element of tribal influence. Plus the bright colors and bold prints of French’s flattering dresses, shorts, and tunics make them perfect for summer. I want every piece from the Sheridan French collection in every color, but my first purchases are sure to be the Holiday purple Anik short and the Neve dress in Fling blue. Both boast patterns that...

Posted at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments

05/11/11

Wednesday Western: <i>Battles of Chief Pontiac</i>

   Free for you to view on Hulu.com: Battles of Chief Pontiac, a 1952 historical drama starring Lex Barker as a Colonial officer who attempts to broker peace between settlers and his “blood brother” — Chief Pontiac (Lon Chaney Jr.), spiritual and tribal leader of the Ottawas. Barker — who also played Tarzan in no fewer than five action-adventure flicks — later appeared during the 1960s as Old Shatterhand in a series of German-produced Westerns based on the stories of Karl May.

Posted at 12:11 AM | Permalink | Comments

Austin City Limits Dining

05/09/11

Austin City Limits Dining

If you didn’t get your fill of music at SXSW, it’s not too early to start planning for Austin City Limits, which will be celebrating its 10th anniversary September 16 – 18. Wondering where to eat while you’re there? Here are a few standout restaurants to try. Olivia on South Lamar: Named Eater Austin’s “Restaurant of the Year,” Executive Chef James Holmes puts his solid spin on American classics with signature dishes like crispy sweetbreads, house made charcuterie, and fried chicken (which he will be serving again by the bucket at this year’s festival). Dine al fresco next to the Olivia garden or at the chef’s table with a view of the line. Barley Swine on South Lamar: Owner and executive chef Bryce Gilmore just received the honor of...

Posted at 09:23 AM | Permalink | Comments

Arnold Schwarzenegger rides again

05/05/11

Arnold Schwarzenegger rides again

   Gregg Kilday of The Hollywood Reporter reports that former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will return to acting as a downtrodden horse trainer who’s hired to kidnap a 9-year-old boy in Cry Macho, a drama based on a 1975 novel by the late N. Richard Nash (The Rainmaker). Once envisioned as a vehicle for Clint Eastwood, who intended to direct and star, the movie is a long-cherished project of veteran Hollywood producer Al Ruddy (The Godfather). “If it works, and I think it will,” Ruddy told Kilday, “this could be a classic. There’s an emotional line to the story that really works. At the end of the movie, I’m hoping audiences will be laughing and crying at the same time.” Filming is set to begin in September. 

Posted at 01:09 PM | Permalink | Comments

05/04/11

Wednesday Western: <i>Hell Bent for Leather</i>

   Free for you to view on Hulu.com: Hell Bent for Leather, a 1960 Western starring Audie Murphy as Clay Santell, a honest cowboy who stops in the small town of Sutterville after his horse is stolen. The bad news: Townspeople mistake him for fugitive killer named Travis. The worse news: Marshal Harry Deckett (Stephen McNally), who’s mighty dadgum tired of chasing the real Travis, thinks it might be a keen idea to kill Santell and claim justice has been served.

Posted at 12:02 AM | Permalink | Comments

Aspen's Food & Wine Classic

05/02/11

Aspen's Food & Wine Classic

Tickets are  now on sale for the 29th annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, one of the nation’s top culinary festivals, taking place June 17–19, 2011. The 3-day weekend includes cooking demonstrations and wine tastings with a top notch, Top Chef line-up, including such foodie celebs as Mario Batali, Bobby Flay, Tom Colicchio, Jose Andres, Danny Meyer, Tim Love, Michael Symon, and Ming Tsai. The Classic Quickfire challenge is back, pitting BRAVO’s Top Chef: D.C. winner Kevin Sbraga against the yet-unnamed winner of Top Chef: All-Stars. Tickets are $1,185 each, and Food & Wine donates 2 percent of the net proceeds from all Classic tickets sold to Grow for Good. To register, call 1-877-900-WINE or visit www.foodandwine.com/classic. Photography: Riccardo Savi

Posted at 01:02 PM | Permalink | Comments

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