One musical director, 6 days of rehearsal,  3-hour concert, 60 artists, 38 songs and 3 reasons to celebrate. It’s a labor of love for Austin’s musical roots, Kris Kristofferson and the life of beloved musician Stephen Bruton.

Amid the hundreds of documentaries, dramas, comedies, and experimental films available for screening during South by Southwest’s film offerings this year, I chanced into a screening of YAKONA, an important and unusual film addressing one of Texas’ most imperiled resources: Water. 

One of the wild things about the South by Southwest conference is the number of celebrities who show up in Austin.  

Austin is once again abuzz with an international audience quenching their thirst for music, movies and technology, but the badgeless have plenty of opportunities to be sated by free offerings surrounding the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals. No Lady Gaga? No problem. There are plenty of ways to soak up SXSW energy.

Borger is turning 88! And to celebrate, the Hutchinson County Museum is hosting a birthday celebration with a panel of women who lived through the boomtown’s early years. The celebration will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the museum. 

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose has launched a fundraising campaign to rebuild its gift shop, which was recently destroyed by a fire. 

On March 2, 1836, 59 delegates gathered at Washington-on-the-Brazos to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence, setting in motion a series of battles that would lead to Texas’ independence from Mexico. Cities and towns throughout Texas will celebrate the occasion on March 2 (see “Events” at texashighways.com for a lengthy list), but two caught our eyes for their unusual nature.

The Alamo opens a new exhibit this weekend that examines the sometimes-overlooked history of Hispanic defenders of the Alamo. Standing Their Ground: Tejanos and the Alamo opens Saturday and runs through June 6.

Looking ahead to spring, the Austin FOOD & WINE Festival, which will take place April 25-27 in Austin’s Butler Park, is gearing up for a full slate of cooking demonstrations, interactive fire pits, live music, and wine-and-cocktail tastings featuring internationally known chefs, sommeliers, and culinary personalities. 

Looking for something tasty in Texas? The 2014 semifinalists in the James Beard Foundation's awards for best chefs and restaurants would be a good place to start. The newly released list is populated with Texas people and places throughout.

It’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow and maybe the pressure’s on. As Waylon Jennings himself put it so eloquently in his 1977 hit, let’s go to Luckenbach, Texas! 

The Aegean Islands; Baden, Germany; Mendoza, Argentina … and the Texas Hill Country? What do the humble oak-covered hills of Central Texas have in common with these exotic locales? A thriving wine industry, of course.