Chris is joined by Big Bend rock shop impresarios Judith Brueske, Paul Graybeal and Sue Franklin to discuss to Alpine Gem & Mineral Show, April 14-16, 2023 at the Alpine Civic Center. One of the finest small gem and mineral shows in the country, the vendors and displays combine science, art and much more!

Chris talks with Kerri Blackman and Krista Kirkland about the 2nd annual Spirits of the West Wine & Beef Festival, coming up April 21-22 in downtown Alpine. Visitors can taste and meet wineries, breweries, and distilleries from across Texas, paired with specialties from West Texas beef producers. Before April 5, 2023, go to visitalpinetx.com and enter to win two VIP wristbands for the event!

When you have one day – or four! – in the Big Bend, it's hard to decide what to do, there's so much to choose from! Heather and Chris lay out four different day trips from your home base in Alpine that can fill out a nice Spring Break visit, or you can pick just one or two if you have less time on your trip. This is definitely an episode to come back to each time you are thinking of coming out to Alpine and the Big Bend! 

Chris talks with Mary Bones, Director of the Museum of the Big Bend, about the completion of the new Emmet and Miriam McCoy building expansion and its Grand Opening on March 10, 2023. The new building, connected to the current historic structure, doubles the Museum's footprint with multiple areas for art exhibits and special events. 

Chris talks with Bill Sain, a long-time leader in the American Birding Association, and Maureen Frank, Associate Professor of Conservation Biology at Sul Ross State University about BIRDS! The Big Bend area hosts a tremendously rich diversity of bird species, and watching them is an endless source of pleasure for newbies and veteran birders alike. What are the easiest birds to find? What are the rarest birds in the area? What bird did Bill's dad want to be reincarnated as? Listen and find out!

As we look forward to Feb 17-18, 2023 and the next installment of the Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering, we look back to grammy-winning poet Joel Nelson's keynote address to the 2020 Gathering – which provides a history of the event – and then Chris visits with musician Jim Wilson about his history with the Gathering and we share a couple of tracks from Wilson's "Border Bravo" album.

One ill-timed corrupted audio file, and CONGRATULATIONS! We are rebroadcasting this great earlier episode: Chris talks with Alpine-based author J.J. Rusz about his ongoing series  of "Big Bend Country Mysteries" and with Front Street Books manager  Julie Green about Alpine's excellent downtown independent bookstore.

Chris and Heather talk about Alpine happenings for 2023 that we are all looking forward to. Have your calendar ready for this one!

What happened in Alpine in 2022? Chris and heather are joined by Alpine Radio's Martin Benevich (KVLF 98.7FM & KALP 92.7FM) to talk through the last year's highlights for visitors!

Chris and Heather talk with Alpine Police Chief Darrell Losoya about questions of public safety in Alpine and the Big Bend.