This Week in Alpine:

• March 22nd – The Railroad Blues will host folk rock artist Michael Fracasso this Thursday night. The show starts at 10 p.m. and there is no cover!

• March 23rd -24th – The Sul Ross Theater Department is proud to present their first production of the theater season, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” The first show will be Friday night in the Studio Theater in the Francois Fine Arts Building at 8:15 p.m. An encore performance will be held on Saturday night at the same time.

• March 24th – This Saturday, Kokernot Park is the place to be for great chili, a charity softball tournament and lots of fun. This wonderful event is being held in support of the West Texas Food Bank. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.

• March 24th – Head out to the Big Bend Thrift Store on the corner of 5th Street and Avenue A for Alpine’s weekly Farmer’s Market. This quaint event features fresh veggies from local growers, baked goods and homemade crafts.

This Week in Big Bend:

• March 23rd – Big Bend National Park offers daily ranger-led events. Join Volunteer Jim Allen at 9 a.m. for a walk on the Lost Mine Trail this Friday. Participants should meet at the Lost Mine Trailhead and bring water, a hat and good walking shoes. This breathtaking walk will take approximately two hours. For a list of other programs visit http://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/interp-programs.htm

This Week Fort Davis:

• March 20th and 23rd -24th – The McDonald Observatory hosts Star Parties for visitors every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. These educational programs start at 6 p.m. and are considered a “can’t miss” attraction in West Texas!

This Week in Marfa:

• March 20th – Padre’s Marfa will host Emperor X and Body Parts on Tuesday night. The show starts 9 p.m. and there is a $5 cover.

• March 17th – Located along the railroad tracks on South Highland, Farm Stand Marfa features locally grown produce, food to-go and arts and crafts every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

This Week in Terlingua:

• March 24th – The Starlight Theater and Restaurant will host a Funky Junk Art Show this Saturday night. Rocky Top Alien Breeding Experiment will provide the music and Diego and company will offer up some “white trash” treats. Sounds like a deliciously weird time! The party starts at 7 p.m.

• March 24th – The Terlingua Farmer’s Market is held every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Ghost Town. Local produce, artisan cheeses and breads, handmade crafts and local art are all available for purchase.

A Look at Next Week’s Events:

• March 30th – Brewster County 125th Anniversary Celebration

• March 30th – 31st – Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Sul Ross State University

This Week in Alpine:

• March 16th – The Railroad Blues will host The Reel Blues Band on Friday night. Straight from Chicago, this band will hit the stage at 10 p.m.

• March 17th – Head out to the Big Bend Thrift Store on the corner of 5th Street and Avenue A for Alpine’s weekly Farmer’s Market. This quaint event features fresh veggies from local growers, baked goods and homemade crafts.

This Week in Big Bend:

• Who needs formal events when you are surrounded by the picturesque scenery of Big Bend National Park? Big Bend does host a multitude of events during the year, but this week you will have to just take a load off and enjoy the fresh mountain air!

This Week Fort Davis:

• March 14th-17th – The Fort Davis Historical Site will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Volunteers and staff will be in living history attire and activities are planned each day.

• March 14th-17th – The McDonald Observatory will offer special viewing opportunities this week. Check out the schedule here.

• March 14th- 17th – The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center will host Cactus Frenzy all week. Guided hikes into Modesta Canyon, demonstrations and numerous other activities are planned this week.

• March 16th-18th – The Nature Conservancy’s Davis Mountain Preserve will host an open weekend. Contact Christopher Pipes at 432-426-2390 for more information.

This Week in Marfa:

• March 14th- 18th – The Chinati Foundation is offering free classes to area youth all week during spring break. Head over to www.chinati.org for class times and activity information.

• March 14th – 16th – The Big Bend Coffee Roasters will offer tours of their shop to visitors this week. See the equipment in action and walk away with a free pound of coffee. Tours run from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• March 14th -17th – Ever wanted to take a tour of one of Marfa’s most historically significant buildings? You are in luck! Building 98 will be open for tours this week at 4:30 p.m. every day. For more information contact the Marfa Chamber of Commerce.

• March 14th – The local Goat Creamery at Antelope Hills Gardens will offer a cheese making class on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is $25 for adults and $15 for kids.

• March 14th – The Marfa Book Company will present Private Tableaux by Berlin based artist, Rosa Barba. The exhibition will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• March 15th-16th – The Marfa Chamber of Commerce will lead a walking tour from the courtyard of the Paisano Hotel to numerous points of interest around Marfa on Thursday and Friday afternoon. The tour will last approximately 90 minutes and tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children.

• March 17th – A St. Patrick’s Day Fun Run will be held on Saturday morning. Registration opens at 8 a.m. in the Marfa Chamber of Commerce office in the bottom of the Hotel Paisano. The race will begin at 10 a.m. and participants are encouraged to dress in costumes.

• March 17th – The Marfa Book Company will host a book signing for “The O’Briens” by Marfa resident, Peter Behrens this Saturday at 6 p.m.

• March 17th – Located along the railroad tracks on South Highland, Farm Stand Marfa features locally grown produce, food to-go and arts and crafts every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

This Week in Terlingua:

• March 14th – The Starlight Theater and Restaurant is the perfect place to break up the monotony of the work week. The Whitmores will get you re-energized with a performance starting at 6 p.m.

• March 17th – Jobuk Johnson will entertain the patrons at the Starlight Theater and Restaurant with his smooth jazz sounds. Johnson refers to his unique mix of country and jazz guitar riffs as “Jackalope Jazz.” The show starts at around 7 p.m.

• March 17th – The Terlingua Farmer’s Market is held every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Ghost Town. Local produce, artisan cheeses and breads, handmade crafts and local art are all available for purchase.

A Look at Next Week’s Events:

• March 23rd – 24th – Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Sul Ross State University

• March 24th – Chili Cook-off and Softball Tournament at Kokernot Park in Alpine

This Week in Alpine:

• March 7th-9th – The 2012 Geological Society of America South Central Annual Meeting will be held at Sul Ross State University this weekend. The meeting is being sponsored by The Earth & Physical Sciences Department & the Rio Grande Research Center.

• March 10th – The Railroad Blues will host the Jeff Strahan Band on Saturday night at 10 p.m. Strahan is a killer guitarist and his unique sound is worth heading to Alpine to check out!

• March 10th – Head out to the Big Bend Thrift Store on the corner of 5th Street and Avenue A for Alpine’s weekly Farmer’s Market. This quaint event features fresh veggies from local growers, baked goods and homemade crafts.

This Week in Big Bend:

• March 10th – Bird watching enthusiasts shouldn’t miss “Big Bend’s Birds” on Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. Visitors will be led on a two hour bird watching adventure while a trained ranger offers tips on identifying some of the resident and migrant species found in the Big Bend. Meet at the Rio Grande Village Amphitheater parking lot for this relaxing and informative event.

This Week Fort Davis:

• March 6th and 9th -10th – The McDonald Observatory hosts Star Parties for visitors every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. These educational programs start at 6 p.m. and are considered a “can’t miss” attraction in West Texas!

This Week in Marfa:

• March 9th – Marfa artist and photographer Daniel Chamberlin will present his new works in his “Ecstatic Camouflage” series in coordination with Tonalism, an all-night music and film festival sponsored by El Cosmico and dublab. The exhibition will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• March 10th – The Marfa Book Company will welcome Edwin Frank, a poet and editor of the New York Review of Books Classics Series, on Saturday. He will be reading from his works from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• March 10th -11th – Dublab has created some of the most electrifying music events in the country. El Cosmico will host TONALISM: an all-night ambient music party from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Camping. live music, DJs, video projections and tea will all be part of the agenda. Sun Araw and JD Emmanuel are among the performers for the night.

• March 10th – Located along the railroad tracks on South Highland, Farm Stand Marfa features locally grown produce, food to-go and arts and crafts every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

This Week in Terlingua:

• March 7th – The Starlight Theater and Restaurant is the perfect place to break up the monotony of the work week. The Whitmores will get you re-energized with a performance starting at 6 p.m.

• March 10th – Hank Woji & Mark Lewis will open up at the Starlight Theater for the King George Goss CD Release Party. Drive down to the desert and follow the music for a good time!

A Look at Next Week’s Events:

• March 12th -16th – Free Spring Break Art Classes for Area Students at the Chinati Foundation

• March 10th -17th – The Fort Davis National Historical Society Spring Break Week

In mid-December, I traveled to Big Bend National Park to get away from the cold and wet East coast weather with my business Treks West Tours. With temps in the 60′s, it was a much nicer place to be than my home in Maryland. We flew into El Paso and made the 300 mile drive down to Terlingua Ghostown, which was our base for the trip. I think part of Big Bend’s allure is that it’s so remote and to get to it you really have to want to!

The first hike was the Hot Springs Trail, a six mile round trip hike that meanders along and above the Rio Grande. The prime destination for most people on this trail is Langford Hot Springs, which had about six people soaking in the 100 plus degree waters. Our goal was to keep on trekking and complete the trail. It’s a moderate hike with great views of the river and old Mexico. We came across several spots where Mexican craftsmen had crossed the river and left some of their creations out for sale (completely illegal). We passed on the trinkets but got a feel for what it means to be on the border with just a narrow river separating us from Mexico.

The Window Trail was next, combined with Oak Spring trail, about 9.5 miles total. This is one of the most popular trails in the park. It takes you to the Window, a pour-off which offers expansive views of the area. We met about a dozen other people along the way (mainly Texans) and engaged in pleasant conversation with them. We decided to combine the Oak Spring trail onto the Window trail which adds about 4 miles to the hike. If you like steep sided, narrow trails (I do!) then Oak Spring is one you’ll enjoy immensely. These trails start in the Basin, a depression in the very heart of the Chisos Mountains, the only mountain range entirely encompassed within a national park. Another great thing about hiking in the Basin is the probability of seeing wildlife. On our way back up to the trailhead, we saw high above on a hillside a large Black Bear, which was really cool! It was nearly perfect, the Bear was far enough away not to pose any danger, but close enough to really observe his or her movements!

Another trail we did was the Chimneys trail, a 5 mile desert hike. The hike wonders through the Chihuahuan desert to the Chimneys, a series of rock formations about 60-70 feet above the desert floor. If you explore around the Chimneys you’ll also find some ancient Indian petroglyphs and pictographs adding yet another layer to this amazing area. We also did the obligatory Santa Elena Canyon trail, 1.7 miles total right into the mouth of the Canyon looking up at 1,500 foot high shear walls on either side of you. Big Bend National Park is a fabulous place to explore!

The other aspect of this area that makes it so special is Terlingua Ghostown. No trip to the region is complete without spending at least a few nights in this former cinnabar mining town. Amidst the adobe and rock ruins you’ll find unique lodging, great places to eat, excellent music and the friendliest people you’d ever want to meet. The first couple of nights we stayed at Upstairs at the Mansion, which for the most part is a ruin and was once the mansion of the owner of the Chisos Mining Company. The Proprietress, Kaci Fullwood, has created a one-of-kind lodging experience for adventurous minded people undaunted by the word ruin. The wing that you stay in is not a ruin, but has been restored to its original early 1900′s condition. This place has awesome views over the Ghostown and of the Chisos Mountains. We had an impromptu songfest on the Mansion porch when a couple of talented musicians happened to stop by with their guitars and harmonicas.

Another Terlingua tradition is hanging out with the local folks on the porch of the Terlingua Trading Company and having a beer or glass of wine. This is just such a cool place! The other nights we spent down the hill at the El Dorado Hotel, which has within it the High Sierra Bar & Grill. The owners Herman and Deanna are super friendly and welcome you like you were old friends. They offer you comfortable rooms and the High Sierra has great food and really cold beer! If you’re lucky you’ll get to meet Dr. Doug, one of the nicest guys I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. Dr. Doug is Terlingua’s greatest ambassador and promoter. He’s a fountain of wisdom on how to simplify and enjoy life. It’s a must when visiting Terlingua to stop in and meet the Dr. and have a drink with him, he’ll make you laugh. Needless to say I’ve fallen in love with this region and have made it the feature destination of Treks West Tours. It just encompasses so much of what the West represents that you’ve got to come experience it!

About the Author:

Brian Wrabley is the owner of Treks West Tours. Treks West Tours provides a total vacation experience to some of the most mesmerizing national parks, monuments and wilderness areas in the nation!

This Week in Alpine:

• March 1st -3rd – The Texas Academy of Sciences will hold their 115th annual meeting at Sul Ross State University from Thursday through Saturday. Presentations, a screening of “The PHD Movie” and other events will be held throughout the meeting.

• March 2nd – The Railroad Blues will host No Refund Band on Thursday night at 1 p.m. This rhythm and blues band is sure to rock the house. Don’t miss out!

• March 2nd – 3rd – The Studio Theater of the Francois Fine Arts Building will be the location of the Micro Cinema: Independent Film Presentations. Performances will start at 7 p.m. both nights.

• March 3rd –Walt Wilkins and The Mystiqueros will hit the stage at the Railroad Blues at 10 p.m.

• March 3rd – Head out to the Big Bend Thrift Store on the corner of 5th Street and Avenue A for Alpine’s weekly Farmer’s Market. This quaint event features fresh veggies from local growers, baked goods and homemade crafts.

This Week in Big Bend:

• Head over the Starlight Theater and Restaurant and enjoy a full slate of events! Make sure you enjoy the natural beauty of the area on the drive over.

This Week Fort Davis:

• February 28th and March 1st and 3rd – The McDonald Observatory hosts Star Parties for visitors every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. These educational programs start at 6 p.m. and are considered a “can’t miss” attraction in West Texas!

This Week in Marfa:

• February 28th –The Marfa Chamber of Commerce will host the first installment of their 2012 Education Series. The program is entitled “So You Want to Start Your Own Business?” and it will be held at the Marfa Book Company. The event will run from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the discussion is free for members and $10 for non-members.

• March 2nd – 3rd – The spring visual arts exhibition, Data Deluge, will open at Ballroom Marfa this weekend. An opening reception will be held on Friday night at 6 p.m.

• March 4th – Located along the railroad tracks on South Highland, Farm Stand Marfa features locally grown produce, food to-go and arts and crafts every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

This Week in Terlingua:

• February 29th – The Starlight Theater and Restaurant is the perfect place to break up the monotony of the work week. The Whitmores will get you re-energized with a performance starting at 6 p.m.

• March 2nd – The Jigglewatts Burlesque Review from Austin will be at the Starlight Theater on Friday at 9 p.m. This cabaret show is meant for a mature audience, so leave the kids at home.

• March 3rd – The Terlingua Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Services will hold its’ 2nd annual Fireman’s Ball, featuring the Craig Carter and the Spur of the Moment Band. Tickets are $10 at the door and the party starts at 9 p.m.

A Look at Next Week’s Events:

• March 7th -9th – The 2012 Geological Society of America South Central Annual Meeting

• March 10th -17th – The Fort Davis National Historical Society Spring Break Week

This Week in Alpine:

• February 23rd – The Bleu Edmondson Band will take the stage at the Railroad Blues on Thursday night. This fierce band fuses rock, country and soul music to create a one-of-a-kind sound. They hit the stage at 10 p.m.

• February 24th -26th – The 26th Annual Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering will be held at Sul Ross State University this weekend. There is a full schedule of events planned and tickets are available starting at 1 p.m. on Thursday. Headliners include Mary Abbott, Apache Adams, Sally Bates, Bob Campbell, Craig Carter, John Davis, Jeff Gore, Chris Isaacs, Jill Jones, Glen Moreland, Rod Taylor, Washtub Jerry and many more!

• February 25th – Head out to the Big Bend Thrift Store on the corner of 5th Street and Avenue A for Alpine’s weekly Farmer’s Market. This quaint event features fresh veggies from local growers, baked goods and homemade crafts.

This Week in Big Bend:

• February 25th – Big Bend National Park offers daily ranger-led events. Join Volunteer Jim Allen at 10 a.m. for a walk this Saturday. Participants should meet at the Rio Grande Village Amphitheater parking lot and bring water, a hat and good walking shoes. This breathtaking bird walk will take approximately two hours. For a list of other programs visit http://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/interp-programs.htm.

This Week in Fort Davis:

• February 21st, 24th and 25th – The McDonald Observatory hosts Star Parties for visitors every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. These educational programs start at 6 p.m. and are considered a “can’t miss” attraction in West Texas!

This Week in Marfa:

• February 25th – Located along the railroad tracks on South Highland, Farm Stand Marfa features locally grown produce, food to-go and arts and crafts every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

• February 26th – The Chinati Foundation and Marfa Book Company will host a free bookbinding workshop Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Marfa Book Company.

This Week in Terlingua:

• February 21st – Jobuk Johnson will entertain the patrons at the Starlight Theater and Restaurant with his smooth jazz sounds. Johnson refers to his unique mix of country and jazz guitar riffs as “Jackalope Jazz.”

• February 25th – The Terribly Beautiful Art Show and Dance at the Starlight Theater is going to be one heck of a good time this Saturday. The restaurant will be full of art and Vapocrunch and Bowflexx will be rocking the house.

A Look at Next Week’s Events:

• March 2nd and 3rd – Micro Cinema: Independent Film Presentations at Sul Ross State University

• March 3rd – Walt Wilkins and The Mystiqueros at the Railroad Blues

This Week in Alpine:

• February 14th – The Amazing Amigos will sponsor a Valentine’s Day party at St. James Episcopal Church from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This event is being held for people with disabilities and their families. Amazing Amigos events can be found at the new Gathering Place at 105 N. 7th Street.

• February 16th – Big Bend Regional Sierra Club will hold a meeting in room 309 of Lawrence Hall from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Attendees will view a video of “Amphibians and Reptiles” from the BBC series called “Life.”

• February 18th – Super Sully Saturday will be held for prospective students and their families. Registration starts at 8:45 a.m. and events will include campus tours, a luncheon, social events and an academic fair. Registration is $18 for the prospective students and $10 for all others.

• February 18th – Head out to the Big Bend Thrift Store on the corner of 5th Street and Avenue A for Alpine’s weekly Farmer’s Market. This quaint event features fresh veggies from local growers, baked goods and homemade crafts.

This Week in Big Bend:

• February 16th -18th – The Chihuahuan Desert Dirt Fest will take place this weekend in Big Bend. A 54-mile epic ride in Big Bend Ranch State Park will be the festival’s featured route on Feb. 18th. Each day of the Dirt Fest there will be guided trips led by staff from Desert Sports, members of the Big Bend Trails Alliance and Big Bend Ranch State Park rangers. For more information about the event, call Desert Sports at (888) 989-6900.

This Week Fort Davis:

• February 14th, 17th and 18th – The McDonald Observatory hosts Star Parties for visitors every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. These educational programs start at 6 p.m. and are considered a “can’t miss” attraction in West Texas!

This Week in Marfa:

• February 15th – The Marfa Chamber of Commerce will hold their monthly meeting at 6 p.m. at the Hotel Paisano. Members of the community are invited to attend.

• February 17th – Lonn Taylor will be at the Marfa Book Company on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. to sign copies of his new book, “Texas My Texas: Musings of a Rambling Boy.” A new edition of his book on Texas Furniture will be available too!

• February 18th – Located along the railroad tracks on South Highland, Farm Stand Marfa features locally grown produce, food to-go and arts and crafts every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

This Week in Terlingua:

• February 14th – Jobuk Johnson will entertain the patrons at the Starlight Theater and Restaurant with his smooth jazz sounds. Johnson refers to his unique mix of country and jazz guitar riffs as “Jackalope Jazz.” Take your valentine out and enjoy great music, food and company!

A Look at Next Week’s Events:

• February 21st – Cajun Creole Buffet at Padre’s Marfa

• February 24th-25th- The Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering

This Week in Alpine:

• February 7th – The Sul Ross Black Student Association invites you to the grand opening of the Civil Rights Exhibit in the Espino Conference Center from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

• February 9th – The Lobo Basketball Teams will take on Shreiner in the Gallego Gym at 5:30 p.m.

• February 10th – The Alpine Country Club will host a Texas Hold’em Round Up Tournament from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Reserve your spot as soon as possible because this event is limited to 70 participants. Prizes will be given to those that make it to the final table.

• February 11th – Grupo de la Paz will hit the stage at the Railroad Blues at 10 p.m. A $6 cover will get you in to see this electric Latin band.

• February 11th – Head out to the Big Bend Thrift Store on the corner of 5th Street and Avenue A for Alpine’s weekly Farmer’s Market. This quaint event features fresh veggies from local growers, baked goods and homemade crafts.

This Week in Big Bend:

• Who needs scheduled events when you have soaring mountains, a roaring river and an abundance of wildlife? Enjoy the natural beauty of Big Bend this week!

This Week Fort Davis:

• February 7th, 10th and 11th – The McDonald Observatory hosts Star Parties for visitors every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. These educational programs start at 6 p.m. and are considered a “can’t miss” attraction in West Texas!

This Week in Marfa:

• February 10th – The Tontons, Laura Gibson and the Young Girls will take the stage on Friday night at Padre’s Marfa. The Tontons are one of Houston’s hottest new acts and they are bringing their indie sound to West Texas for the first time. The show starts at 9 p.m. and there is a $6 cover at the door.

• February 11th – If you just can’t get enough of songstress Laura Gibson, you should stop by the Marfa Book Company on Saturday night! She will be performing tunes from her new album “La Grande.”  Trevor Reichman and Breathe Owl Breathe will open the show at 8 p.m.

• February 11th – Located along the railroad tracks on South Highland, Farm Stand Marfa features locally grown produce, food to-go and arts and crafts every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

• February 11th – The final film in the AutoBody Film Collection presented at the Crowley Theater will be screened on Saturday night from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. This heart-wrenching documentary from Asif Kapadia follows the life and death of legendary Brazilian motor racing champion, Ayrton Senna.

This Week in Terlingua:

• February 11th – The Terlingua Farmer’s Market is held every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Ghost Town. Local produce, artisan cheeses and breads, handmade crafts and local art are all available for purchase.

• February 12th – Head to the Starlight Theater for their weekly Sunday Brunch. A bloody Mary bar and live music are just two reasons to get yourself out of bed and down to the Starlight. Brunch runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A Look at Next Week’s Events:

• February 13th – Big Bend Regional History Fair at Sul Ross State University

• February 16th – Chihuahuan Desert Dirt Fest in Big Bend National Park

• February 18th – Super Sully Saturday at Sul Ross State University

This Week in Alpine:

• February 3rd – The Railroad Blues will welcome The Texas Belairs to the stage this Friday night. This rocking Texas country band will start the show at 10 p.m.

• February 4th – Head out to the Big Bend Thrift Store on the corner of 5th Street and Avenue A for Alpine’s weekly Farmer’s Market. This quaint event features fresh veggies from local growers, baked goods and homemade crafts.

• February 5th – Head to the Railroad Blues and root for either the Patriots or the Giants in Super Bowl XLVI. Jambalaya, garlic soup, bratwurst, fun and football are on the menu. Happy hour starts at 2 p.m. and there is no cover.

This Week in Big Bend:

• February 4th – The Big Bend Natural History Association’s 23rd Annual Pioneer Reunion will take place in the San Vicente School gym in Panther Junction from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Guest speakers at the event include: singer Craig Carter, author Diane Garner, artist Maisie Lee, Maggie Smith and Don Sholly. Tickets for this event are $15 and reservations are required. For more info or to get your ticket to the event call 432-477-2236.

This Week Fort Davis:

• February 4th – The Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce Annual Social & J.C. Duncan Scholarship Fundraiser will be held at the Hotel Limpia from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be hosted by the Blue Mountain Bistro. Money raised through this event benefits one or more graduating seniors from Fort Davis High School each year.

This Week in Marfa:

• February 4th – Located along the railroad tracks on South Highland, Farm Stand Marfa features locally grown produce, food to-go and arts and crafts every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

• February 5th – Padre’s Marfa will host a Super Bowl party starting at 3 p.m. They will have the game projected onto the big screen indoors and on the TV out.

This Week in Terlingua:

• February 1st – Jobuk Johnson will entertain the patrons at the Starlight Theater and Restaurant with his smooth jazz sounds. Johnson refers to his unique mix of country and jazz guitar riffs as “Jackalope Jazz.” The show starts at around 7 p.m.

• February 4th – The Terlingua Farmer’s Market is held every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Ghost Town. Local produce, artisan cheeses and breads, handmade crafts and local art are all available for purchase.

A Look at Next Week’s Events:

• February 11th – Grupo de la Paz at the Railroad Blues

• February 5th  – The Tontons and Laura Gibson at Padre’s Marfa

This Week in Alpine:

• January 26th – The Railroad Blues will welcome The Ataris to the stage for a very special Thursday night show! This alternative rock group has garnered national attention for their two radio hits and five albums. The fun starts at 10 p.m. and S.H.I.L.O. will open the show.

• January 26th – The Sul Ross State University Fine Arts and Communications Department will host San Antonio vocalists Shannon Marie Earle and Keith Earle. The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Marshall Auditorium and will feature music by Mozart, Puccini, Lalo and Duke and other popular selections.

• January 28th – Head out to the Big Bend Thrift Store on the corner of 5th Street and Avenue A for Alpine’s weekly Farmer’s Market. This quaint event features fresh veggies from local growers, baked goods and homemade crafts.

This Week in Big Bend:

• January 28th – Big Bend National Park offers daily ranger-led events. Join Volunteer Jim Allen at 10 a.m. for a walk on the Lost Mine Trail this Saturday. Participants should meet at the Lost Mine Trailhead and bring water, a hat and good walking shoes. This breathtaking walk will take approximately two hours. For a list of other programs visit http://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/interp-programs.htm.

This Week Fort Davis:

• January 28th – The Texas Master Naturalists Board of Directors invite members and interested citizens to the Indian Lodge Conference Room on Saturday at 10 a.m. for its “Pounding Party.” Attendees are asked to bring either a pound of lard or peanut butter, which will be used to make homemade bird food. Other activities include lunch, a nature hike and presentations by special guests. Attendees should RSVP to Ellen Weinacht at 432-375-2325 or ellen@rionet.coop.

This Week in Marfa:

• January 26th – Padre’s Marfa will host Grupo Fantasma on Thursday night. This Grammy award winning band will play their Latin Cumba hits starting at 8:30 p.m. Advance tickets can be purchased at Padre’s.

• January 28th – Located along the railroad tracks on South Highland, Farm Stand Marfa features locally grown produce, food to-go and arts and crafts every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

• January 29th – The Marfa Chamber of Commerce will celebrate their 100th Birthday with a party at Building 98 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. This event will also serve as the official launch of the 2012 Membership Drive. Cake and cocktails will be served and new levels of membership will be unveiled by Chamber leadership.

This Week in Terlingua:

• January 28th – The Terlingua Farmer’s Market is held every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Ghost Town. Local produce, artisan cheeses and breads, handmade crafts and local art are all available for purchase.

• January 29th – The 11th Terlingua Area Home Tour will feature five unique homes that showcase a number of different construction techniques. A wine and cheese reception at Expresso y Poco Mas will follow each tour. Tour times are 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. This event benefits Last Minute Low Budget Production, a nonprofit group dedicated to the performing arts in South Brewster County.

A Look at Next Week’s Events:

• February 4th – Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce Annual Social & Scholarship Fundraiser

• February 5th  – Super Bowl Party at The Railroad Blues