• Home
  • popular
  • Events
  • Submit New Event
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • News
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Home + Design
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • Innovation
  • Sports
  • Charity Guide
  • children
  • education
  • health
  • veterans
  • SOCIAL SERVICES
  • ARTS + CULTURE
  • animals
  • lgbtq
  • New Charity
  • Series
  • Delivery Limited
  • DTX Giveaway 2012
  • DTX Ski Magic
  • dtx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Your Home in the Sky
  • DTX Best of 2013
  • DTX Trailblazers
  • Tastemakers Dallas 2017
  • Healthy Perspectives
  • Neighborhood Eats 2015
  • The Art of Making Whiskey
  • DTX International Film Festival
  • DTX Tatum Brown
  • Tastemaker Awards 2016 Dallas
  • DTX McCurley 2014
  • DTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • DTX Beyond presents Party Perfect
  • DTX Texas Health Resources
  • DART 2018
  • Alexan Central
  • State Fair 2018
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Zatar
  • CityLine
  • Vision Veritas
  • Okay to Say
  • Hearts on the Trinity
  • DFW Auto Show 2015
  • Northpark 50
  • Anteks Curated
  • Red Bull Cliff Diving
  • Maggie Louise Confections Dallas
  • Gaia
  • Red Bull Global Rally Cross
  • NorthPark Holiday 2015
  • Ethan's View Dallas
  • DTX City Centre 2013
  • Galleria Dallas
  • Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty Luxury Homes in Dallas Texas
  • DTX Island Time
  • Simpson Property Group SkyHouse
  • DIFFA
  • Lotus Shop
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Dallas
  • Clothes Circuit
  • DTX Tastemakers 2014
  • Elite Dental
  • Elan City Lights
  • Dallas Charity Guide
  • DTX Music Scene 2013
  • One Arts Party at the Plaza
  • J.R. Ewing
  • AMLI Design District Vibrant Living
  • Crest at Oak Park
  • Braun Enterprises Dallas
  • NorthPark
  • Victory Park
  • DTX Common Desk
  • DTX Osborne Advisors
  • DTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • DFW Showcase Tour of Homes
  • DTX Neighborhood Eats
  • DTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • DTX Auto Awards
  • Cottonwood Art Festival 2017
  • Nasher Store
  • Guardian of The Glenlivet
  • Zyn22
  • Dallas Rx
  • Yellow Rose Gala
  • Opendoor
  • DTX Sun and Ski
  • Crow Collection
  • DTX Tastes of the Season
  • Skye of Turtle Creek Dallas
  • Cottonwood Art Festival
  • DTX Charity Challenge
  • DTX Culture Motive
  • DTX Good Eats 2012
  • DTX_15Winks
  • St. Bernard Sports
  • Jose
  • DTX SMU 2014
  • DTX Up to Speed
  • st bernard
  • Ardan West Village
  • DTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Taste the Difference
  • Parktoberfest 2016
  • Bob's Steak and Chop House
  • DTX Smart Luxury
  • DTX Earth Day
  • DTX_Gaylord_Promoted_Series
  • IIDA Lavish
  • Huffhines Art Trails 2017
  • Red Bull Flying Bach Dallas
  • Y+A Real Estate
  • Beauty Basics
  • DTX Pet of the Week
  • Long Cove
  • Charity Challenge 2014
  • Legacy West
  • Wildflower
  • Stillwater Capital
  • Tulum
  • DTX Texas Traveler
  • Dallas DART
  • Soldiers' Angels
  • Alexan Riveredge
  • Ebby Halliday Realtors
  • Zephyr Gin
  • Sixty Five Hundred Scene
  • Christy Berry
  • Entertainment Destination
  • Dallas Art Fair 2015
  • St. Bernard Sports Duck Head
  • Jameson DTX
  • Alara Uptown Dallas
  • Cottonwood Art Festival fall 2017
  • DTX Tastemakers 2015
  • Cottonwood Arts Festival
  • The Taylor
  • Decks in the Park
  • Alexan Henderson
  • Gallery at Turtle Creek
  • Omni Hotel DTX
  • Red on the Runway
  • Whole Foods Dallas 2018
  • Artizone Essential Eats
  • Galleria Dallas Runway Revue
  • State Fair 2016 Promoted
  • Trigger's Toys Ultimate Cocktail Experience
  • Dean's Texas Cuisine
  • Real Weddings Dallas
  • Real Housewives of Dallas
  • Jan Barboglio
  • Wildflower Arts and Music Festival
  • Hearts for Hounds
  • Okay to Say Dallas
  • Indochino Dallas
  • Old Forester Dallas
  • Dallas Apartment Locators
  • Dallas Summer Musicals
  • PSW Real Estate Dallas
  • Paintzen
  • DTX Dave Perry-Miller
  • DTX Reliant
  • Get in the Spirit
  • Bachendorf's
  • Holiday Wonder
  • Village on the Parkway
  • City Lifestyle
  • opportunity knox villa-o restaurant
  • Nasher Summer Sale
  • Simpson Property Group
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2017 Dallas
  • Carlisle & Vine
  • DTX New Beginnings
  • Get in the Game
  • Red Bull Air Race
  • Dallas DanceFest
  • 2015 Dallas Stylemaker
  • Youth With Faces
  • Energy Ogre
  • DTX Renewable You
  • Galleria Dallas Decadence
  • Bella MD
  • Tractorbeam
  • Young Texans Against Cancer
  • Fresh Start Dallas
  • Dallas Farmers Market
  • Soldier's Angels Dallas
  • Shipt
  • Elite Dental
  • Texas Restaurant Association 2017
  • State Fair 2017
  • Scottish Rite
  • Brooklyn Brewery
  • DTX_Stylemakers
  • Alexan Crossings
  • Ascent Victory Park
  • Top Texans Under 30 Dallas
  • Discover Downtown Dallas
  • San Luis Resort Dallas
  • Greystar The Collection
  • FIG Finale
  • Greystar M Line Tower
  • Lincoln Motor Company
  • The Shelby
  • Jonathan Goldwater Events
  • Windrose Tower
  • Gift Guide 2016
  • State Fair of Texas 2016
  • Choctaw Dallas
  • TodayTix Dallas promoted
  • Whole Foods
  • Unbranded 2014
  • Frisco Square
  • Unbranded 2016
  • Circuit of the Americas 2018
  • The Katy
  • Snap Kitchen
  • Partners Card
  • Omni Hotels Dallas
  • Landmark on Lovers
  • Harwood Herd
  • Galveston.com Dallas
  • Holiday Happenings Dallas 2018
  • TenantBase
  • Cottonwood Art Festival 2018
  • Hawkins-Welwood Homes
  • The Inner Circle Dallas
  • Eating in Season Dallas
  • ATTPAC Behind the Curtain
  • TodayTix Dallas
  • The Alexan
  • Toyota Music Factory
  • Nosh Box Eatery
  • Wildflower 2018
  • Society Style Dallas 2018
  • Texas Scottish Rite Hospital 2018
  • 5 Mockingbird
  • 4110 Fairmount
  • Visit Taos
  • Allegro Addison
  • Dallas Tastemakers 2018
  • The Village apartments
  • City of Burleson Dallas

    West Texas Wonder

    Marfa secures its spot as most fashionable destination in Texas

    Kendall Morgan
    Jan 10, 2014 | 12:24 pm

    Remote yet refined, the tiny West Texas town of Marfa (pop. 1,899) has become a surprising center of art and culture — and the fashionistas current location du jour.

    It’s all Donald Judd’s fault. Without his colonization of Presidio County in the mid-1970s, Marfa might just be known in cinematic footnotes as the location of the 1956 Elizabeth Taylor/Rock Hudson/James Dean film Giant.

    But it was Judd’s move to Marfa in 1973 and subsequent establishment of the Chinati Foundation on the 340-acre grounds of the former U.S. Army Fort D.A. Russell that put this tiny Texan town on the map. Today, Chinati is just a small part of Marfa’s artistic focus.

    “You really have to work to get there, but I love shooting there,” says Dallas photographer Thom Jackson. “The isolation is wonderful, and it gives you room to create.”

    The Judd Foundation also maintains tours of its Architecture Studio, Art Studio, and Cobb and Whyte Houses, and galleries — from the cutting-edge nonprofit Ballroom Marfa to the emerging artist-focused Galleri Urbane — show a wide range of work, including painting, photography, film and sculpture.

    Where the artists go, the adventurers follow, and last year’s 60 Minutes expose of Marfa as “The Capital of Quirkiness” only confirmed the town’s reputation. You might as well not be on Instagram unless you’ve got a shot leaping in front of the Prada Marfa installation in nearby Valentine, Texas. The place has most definitely reached critical hipster mass.

    They may descend during October’s Chinati weekend, or for the annual Trans-Pecos Festival of Music & Love at El Cosmico, but on an average weekend you could still spot the likes of Natalie Portman dining in the environs of the foodie haven that is Cochineal.

    These days, you’re also likely to see crews from Nordstrom, GQ or British Vogue shooting on the dusty streets. Local location manager and producer Ginger Griffice (who mans the Marfa Soap Company on the side) helped put these — and other — projects together. She says that the town’s perfect storm of light and location make it a photographer’s dream.

    “In 2006, There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men were both shot here, and a lot of creative directors got interested [in Marfa],” she says. “The light and the landscape can’t be understated; at different times of the year, the light is different, the grass changes.

    “Also, everyone has a great time here. There’s an independent spirit the West is known for that you can pretend you’re part of for a second.”

    For the images (originally for Models.com) shot on a ranch outside the city limits, Swedish model Julia Hafstrom, Dallas-based photographer Thom Jackson and New York casting agent Andrew Weir channeled that same pioneering spirit, resulting in the rustic yet enchanting shots you see in the slideshow above.

    Jackson, who has shot in Marfa for multiple clients, says the town and its environs are “getting a lot of play because of the remoteness. You really have to work to get there, but I love shooting there.

    “It’s wide-open spaces, and the arts community exists alongside ranchers and cattle people. The isolation is wonderful, and it gives you room to create.”

    Hafstrom (who has previously worked with brands such as Dior, Tommy Hilfiger and Prada and photographers like Steven Meisel, Craig McDean and Mario Testino) found her West Texas sojourn an inspiring experience, especially the chance to climb on rocks and up cattle chutes in ultra-high St. Laurent heels.

    “I’ve always loved location shooting, because you can get a feel of the pictures,” she explains. “It’s more emotional, and you challenge yourself. And Marfa is very cool. The town is so special and trendy; it’s a different place in the middle of nowhere.”

    Here’s more of what makes Marfa a must-see destination:

    TO SEE

    Ballroom Marfa, 108 E. San Antonio St.
    Visual art, film and music collide at this avant-garde space right in the center of town.

    Chinati Foundation, One Cavalry Row
    The epic contemporary art museum featuring permanent installations by Donald Judd, John Chamberlain and Dan Flavin, among others, can be viewed through self and guided private and group tours.

    Eugene Binder Gallery, 218 Highland St.
    A can’t-miss modernist gallery with painting, installation and performance on view.

    The Ice Plant, 100 N. Nevill St.
    The Chinati Foundation is unveiling the newest work of internationally acclaimed New York artist Zoe Leonard, on view through December 2014.

    Judd Foundation, 104 Highland Ave.
    For a deeper look at Judd’s private living and working spaces, visitors can tour Judd’s multiple properties around downtown Marfa.

    Prada Marfa
    A permanent sculpture by artists Elmgreen and Gragset (at least until the Texas Department of Transportation has its way), Prada Marfa is a must-see photo op for all visitors. To save the installation until you get there, visit Save Prada Marfa.

    TO STAY

    El Cosmico, 802 S. Highland Ave.
    Not quite glamping, hotelier Liz Lambert’s mix of teepees, tents and trailers is nonetheless a bohemian rhapsody for adventurous travelers.

    Hotel Paisano, 207 Highland St.
    The headquarters for the cast and crew of Giant, the hotel still features Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor suites, plus an onsite gallery, gift shop and restaurant.

    Marfa House on the Hill, 201 S. Aparejo St.
    This stylish turn-of-the-century adobe home was refurbed by Dallas landscape designer Robert Bellamy. It is available to rent to Marfa visitors.

    Thunderbird Marfa, 601 W. San Antonio St.
    A classic ’50s motel, updated for the modern age with industrial interiors that mix wood and concrete to aesthetic perfection.

    TO EAT

    Cochineal, 107 W. San Antonio St.
    Fresh ingredients are hard to come by in Marfa, but you wouldn’t know it dining at Cochineal. Opened by two ex-pat New York restaurateurs, everything on the menu is effortlessly delicious — especially the legendary date pudding.

    Fat Lyle’s, 719 S. Highland Ave.
    Daily specials and sandwiches abound, but Tuesday-night tacos are what the locals love.

    Future Shark, 120 N. Highland Ave.
    Marfa’s beloved Food Shark trailer’s brick-and-mortar offshoot serves up healthy cuisine for breakfast and lunch in a modern cafeteria environment.

    Maiya’s Restaurant, 103 Highland St.
    A Marfa institution since 2002, Maiya’s offers tasty (if slightly overpriced) Italian.

    Pizza Foundation, 102 U.S. 90
    Even East Coast pizza snobs admit the Pizza Foundation knows its dough. Go early, as these thin-crust pies have a tendency to sell out.

    TO DRINK

    Lost Horse Saloon, 306 E. San Antonio St.
    Marfa’s dive bar deluxe run by an eye-patch-wearing cowboy, the Lost Horse offers cold beer and live tunes.

    Padres, 209 W. El Paso St.
    National touring bands, pool tables, decent burgers, funky décor and a cool patio make this Austin-esque spot a nightlife must.

    TO SHOP

    Cast + Crew, 203 E. San Antonio St.
    This Etsy shop has expanded to a physical location, offering revamped 20 century modern furniture.

    Cobra Rock Boot Company, 107 S. Dean St.
    Its first style — the perfectly designed unisex South Highland Boots — is a fashion blogger must-have. Now the dynamic shoemaking duo has introduced a second style worth adding yourself to wait list.

    Freda, 207 S. Highland Ave.
    A Lilliputian lifestyle store, Freda has a little bit of everything — from Pamela Love jewelry to vintage LPs.

    Garza Furniture, 103 Nevill St.
    Garza’s designers created the furniture for Austin’s beloved Hotel San Jose, and the saddle leather designs only get better with age. Call ahead: The showroom is only open by appointment.

    Marfa Book Co., 105 S. Highland Ave.
    A expansive selection of Texan authors, plus poetry readings and a backroom gallery, make this downtown bookshop a cultural destination.

    Tienda M, 108 S. Highland Ave.
    Tienda M offers the simply styled, luxe Dosa clothing line along with accessories and gifts.

    Wrong, 110 W. Dallas St.
    Housed in a former church, Camp Bosworth and Buck Johnson’s shop and gallery features quirky gifts and ongoing guest art exhibits along with Bosworth’s jaw-dropping hand-carved works in wood.

    An image from recent photo shoot for Models.com shot on location in Marfa

    Models.com photo shoot in Marfa, Texas
      
    Photo by Thom Jackson
    An image from recent photo shoot for Models.com shot on location in Marfa
    unspecified
    news/travel

    most read posts

    Dark comedy Friendship covers male bonding with copious cringing

    Dallas farm-to-table champion Profound Farms closes produce operation

    Greyhound bus finds new location to replace downtown Dallas terminal

    Texas traditions

    5 essential tips for tubing on Texas Hill Country rivers this summer

    Jef Rouner
    May 20, 2025 | 7:31 pm
    Floating the Guadalupe River is a quintessential Texas summertime activity.
    Floating the Guadalupe River is a quintessential Texas summertime activity.
    undefined

    Tubing is one of the ultimate summer activities in Texas. Floating down the Guadalupe or Comal rivers while enjoying the scenery and the cool water is a perfect way to spend a hot afternoon. Thousands of people travel to New Braunfels, San Marcos, and the San Antonio area every year to tube, but it's not without dangers, rules, and guidelines that should be observed by regular tubers and newcomers alike. Here are five essential tips to heed before you set off down the river this summer.

    Disposable food and beverage containers are illegal
    The image of a Texan bobbing down the river with a six-pack of beer in a floating cooler might be emblematic of the state, but it's also no longer legal in New Braunfels. The city's Disposable Container Ordinance is in full effect, and those who break it risk a $500 fine. The ban includes aluminum cans, plastic water bottles, fast food containers, napkins, and anything designed to be thrown away after a single use. Instead, tubers should use insulated bottles, reusable food containers with snap-on lids, and canteens. Keeping the rivers clean from trash is how future generations will get to enjoy tubing.

    A reminder: beer bongs do not count as reusable drinking devices.

    Do not bridge jump
    Yes, we know Steve-O jumped off a River Walk bridge in 2014 and was more or less physically fine, but he was very lucky. The rivers are only a few feet deep in some places, and may have sharp rocks lurking just below the surface. It's illegal to bridge jump, and it can cost another $500 fine if you do it. Steve-o faced several criminal charges for his stunt. Only enter the river at safe docking points.

    Consider a professional tubing company
    Legally, you can tube down any river and launch from all public access points. That said, tubing can be dangerous for weak swimmers or the inebriated. The best way to ensure your safety is in numbers and with good equipment provided by professional tubing companies. Several are around Central Texas rivers, including Texas Tubes, 444 Tubing Company, and Texas State Tubes. Better yet, they offer shuttles to get you back to your car after the tubing is done.

    Make sure sunscreen's waterproof
    River water is colder than a Winter Olympic judge's heart, but that doesn't mean the sun is not still something you need to be wary of. Climate change means hotter summers and brighter days in Texas, and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) reports sunburn and other sun damage to skin is on the rise, particularly in younger populations. Unprotected skin and eyes can result in painful burns and even skin cancer. Make sure you bring sunglasses, hats, and waterproof sunscreen.

    Waterproof your electronics
    It's an age of social media clout, and what looks better on Instagram than an idyllic float down a river? Capturing that perfect video is not worth losing your devices and polluting the river. Invest in floating, waterproof cases, and get a lanyard so they can tube on down the river themselves if you drop them. Just as many theme park accidents happen when guests wander into dangerous areas looking for dropped items, splashing after a device in a panic is a good way to make potentially deadly mistakes. Plan ahead, and a trip on the river can be much safer and more fun.

    guadalupe rivercomal riverwatersportssummer activitiesnew braunfelstubing
    news/travel
    Loading...