June 2012

Beetle Kill Blitz

As pine beetles continue to ravage the West and the construction market continues to stall, entrepreneurs and environmentalists struggle to give new life to dead wood.

BY JASON BLEVINS

Gallery Tour: Artist And Printmaker Leon Loughridge

“The beauty of a sketch,” Loughridge explains, “is that there are unconscious distortions that happen, and those distortions, as minor as they are, contain the real expressive quality.”

BY AMY PALLAS

Home Interiors: Star Liana York

Inspired by the figures and wildlife of the American frontier, the acclaimed artist decorates galleries and homes throughout the West with her spirited sculptures.

BY ALLYN HULTENG

Campfire Songs

by Richard Ugland

Fly-Fishing Valhalla

There's no better place to cast your line than in the many rivers of the American West.

BY SKIP MORRIS

Best Of The West 2012: Complete List Of Honorees

Check out all the pieces on people, places and things celebrated by readers and editors in the June issue.

Best Of The West 2012: Centennial Silver State Stampede

The annual event honoring the Western heritage of Elko, Nevada, celebrates its centennial this July.

Best Of The West 2012: Montecristi Custom Hat Works

Some of the company's repeat customers include celebrities such as Liam Neeson, Tommy Lee Jones, and Tom Selleck.

Best Of The West 2012: Charles Loloma, Hopi Jeweler

By experimenting with modern lines and nontraditional materials such as gold, diamonds, lapis, pearls, and ivory, Loloma recast the turquoise-and-silver face of Native American jewelry.

Best Of The West 2012: 12 Books About The West

Find links to a dozen of our readers' favorite western tomes.

Best Of The West 2012: Weengushk Film Institute

Filmmaker starts program to help film-savvy students realize their dreams.

BY DAVID HOFSTEDE

Whispering Cowgirl

The best-kept secret in the East

by David Hofstede

Best Of The West 2012: Karl May

The German author found a huge fan base with his uniquely Euro view of the Old West.

BY FREDERICK J. CHIAVENTONE

Best Of The West 2012: Frederic Remington

Readers love his iconic art, but they might be surprised to know that the artist and friend of Roosevelt wasn't a natural frontiersman.

BY JENNINGS BROWN

Ghost Shadows

C&I's Poem of the Week for 5/2/2012

by Judy Worley

Best Of The West 2012: Top 12 Western Movie Soundtracks

What would the iconic movie genre be without the classic scores? We name some of the best.

Eric Stonestreet

There's a lot you might not know about the star of ABC's 'Modern Family.' For starters, he was raised on a farm. And he dreams of starring in a western.

BY WENDY WILKINSON

Best Of The West 2012: The Two-Step

Whether you’re in a ballroom or a barn, the two-step is a community affair, in which partners often switch and everything seems to flow naturally.

BY TOM TIBERIO

Best Of The West 2012: Will Leather Goods

Sales of the expertly crafted bags support fair trade and eco-conscious principles.

Best Of The West 2012: Billy The Kid, Million Dollar Mystery

“¿Quién es?” he uttered suspiciously in Spanish. In answer, Pat Garrett shot twice.

BY KAY GRANT

Best Of The West 2012: Bolo Ties

The bolo’s history has a lot to do with the craftiness of cowboys and the craftsmanship of Indians.

Best Of The West 2012: Tex-Mex

Why it's the most popular regional cuisine in the world, as well as the most divisive.

BY ROBB WALSH

Best Of The West 2012: Pistol Annies

Our readers connected with the throwback-country trio of Miranda Lambert, Angaleena Presley, and Ashley Monroe.

BY HUNTER HAUK

Best Of The West 2012: John Muir, National Park Visionary

For more than four decades and until his death in 1914, Muir would serve as a figurehead for the national park ideal and man’s essential connection to nature.

BY JORDAN RANE

Best Of The West 2012: Beauty Meets Function In Cary Schwarz Saddles

Schwarz has molded, carved, and hand-stitched American tanned leather to that nexus where functional and fine arts meet.

BY LAURA ZUCKERMAN

Hoppy and Topper

by Don Scarborough

Best Of The West 2012: Butcher's Crossing, The First Revisionist Western

In author John Williams' beloved book, the West is terrifying.

BY J.D. REID

Best Of The West 2012: The Lone Ranger And Tonto

The masked man and his "faithful Indian companion" are tops on our readers' list.

Western Storefront: Allens Boots

The big red boot emblazoned on the sign out front is the first of more than 4,000 on display inside the Austin, Texas, store.

BY DAVID HOFSTEDE

Best Of The West 2012: The Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial

A look at the annual New Mexico powwow, plus 12 more around the nation.

BY DAN GLEASON

Best Of The West 2012: Washington State, The Great Outdoors

The state named after George is the consummate outdoor playground.

Best Of The West 2012: F.M. Light & Sons

Iconic signs on Colorado's Route 40 point to a century-old family store that's become a mainstay in Steamboat Springs.

Best Of The West 2012: Carl Moon, Photographer With A Native Heart

The late photographer's images of tribal peoples were a lasting gift for students and scholars.

BY DANA JOSEPH

Best Of The West 2012: Suzanne Hudson's Ledger Quilt

The piece, which honors its maker's Native ancestors, took eight months to finish

BY DIEGO JAMES ROBLES

Best Of The West 2012: Try On These Pearl Snap Shirts

Our readers love them, and we've picked out the latest and greatest.

Best Of The West 2012: Western Craft Breweries Savor The Flavors

Welcome to the burgeoning world of craft beer, which takes pride in hands-on attention to detail, artsy labels, funky flavors, and small-batch production.

BY STEVEN PHELPS

Best Of The West 2012: Spaghetti Westerns Remixed On 'Rome'

Italian composer Daniele Luppi and American producer Danger Mouse took inspiration from Ennio Morricone to create a masterpiece of an album.

BY JENNINGS BROWN

Cattle Puncher Blues

by Laura Finlay

Best Of The West 2012: Petroglyphs

Two top destinations for the ancient rock art are in the American West.

Best Of The West 2012: The Waylon Fund Honors An Outlaw

Wife and son Jessi Colter and Shooter Jennings have established the charity for diabetes research.

BY DANA JOSEPH

Best Of The West 2012: Nike N7 Footwear

Nike combats Type 2 diabetes with a specially-designed shoe line for Native American and aboriginal communities.

BY M. JONAS GREENE

Best Of The West 2012: Annie Oakley

Readers chose Annie Oakley as a favorite Western icon. Read about the life of the sharpshooter born Phoebe Ann Moses.

Best Of The West 2012: Grand Canyon Luxury At Amangiri

The name of the Utah resort means "peaceful mountain," and a stay there certainly lives up to that description.

BY HOLLY HENDERSON

On The Horizon: Prints For Spring

Colorful designs inspired by the Old West — like gingham checks and retro rodeo scenes — are perfect for spring.

Angaleena Presley Talks Pistol Annies, Shares Songwriting Stories

An early look at our piece on Miranda Lambert's trio, named a favorite act by readers in the June 'Best of the West' issue.

BY HUNTER HAUK

Lincoln County Trail Guide

A dozen ways to walk in Billy the Kid's footsteps.

BY KAY GRANT

12 Western Craft Beer Festivals

Twelve prime opportunities to try some of the greatest craft brews in the country.

Beer Tasting Trips And Tips

Our editors offer up their opinions on some great craft brews and where to find them.

by Steven Phelps

Picturing Billy the Kid

Some insight from Brian Lebel's Old West Show & Auction about that famous tintype of the Wild West icon.

BY DANA JOSEPH

Up For Auction: Annie Oakley Gun And More Old West Prizes

Check out the rare collectibles on offer at Brian Lebel’s Old West Show & Auction.

BY DANA JOSEPH

Gifts (Another One For Waylon)

C&I's Poem of the Week for 4/11/2012

by Ron Wallace

Fly-Fishing Destinations Of The West

The North American West is an international fly-fishing Mecca. We list a few destinations worth checking out.

BY SKIP MORRIS

Q&A: Daniele Luppi Revisits Spaghetti Westerns

The Italian composer found inspiration for his critically acclaimed album 'Rome' in the classic soundtracks.

by Jennings Brown

Best Of The West 2012: Classic Cowboy Songs

Listen to 12 of the greatest campfire melodies and gear up for C&I's 'Best of the West' issue.

Readers' Picks

Recipe: 'Enchiladas Dan Jenkins'

Do it the real Tex-Mex way ... with Velveeta.

Full Gallup

What to see and do in this historic stop on New Mexico's Route 66

BY DAN GLEASON