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McAllen and all of Hidalgo County is a different
kind of Texas. It's filled with subtropical beauty and
natural attractions but in recent years it has developed into a
vibrant sophisticated city.
In fact, the city is one of the fastest growing in the United
States. McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley area is the number one
destination for birders from all over the world. It draws over a
hundred thousand retired Winter Texan to the balmy climate when
the first snowstorms begin to blanket the Midwest.
It is also one of the
top shopping destinations for well-to-do Mexican visitors. It
has a strong cosmopolitan flair. Almost everywhere you go things
are posted in both English and Spanish.
How do these seemingly so different activities blend to make
McAllen a very special place? (When I speak of McAllen, it's the
metropolitan area not the strict city limits.) I visited it for
the second time on a recent press trip and found four reasons
McAllen should be on everyone's bucket list, It scores tops in
history, nature, art and culture and wonderful food.
1. History
McAllen is rather new as cities go. It traces its beginnings to
an immigrant from Londonderry, Ireland, John McAllen. McAllen
had first settled in Matamoras, Mexico then he met John Young,
who employed him as a clerk in his store in Brownsville.
When Young died, McAllen married his widow, Salome Ball�
Young, the heir to half of the vast Santa Anita Ranch which was
part of an old Spanish land grant.
McAllen and Young's son, John J. Young, joined forces and ran
the ranch together. By 1904, it had attracted a few settlers and
became known as West McAllen. The railroad arrived a year later.
By 1907, another group had started a town called West McAllen.
By 1911, the two settlements had joined together as the town of
"McAllen." At its founding, the town had a population of 150 but
by 1920 it had jumped to 5,300 residents.
The need for a hotel was apparent. The city had a parcel of land
that they were using as a city park. The hotel builder purchased
that land and built a fifty-seven room red tilled Spanish style
building with twenty-four inch thick walls and an outer patio
enclosing a twin towered building.
The hotel was named Casa de Palmas and a row of stately palms
graced the front entrance. Today McAllen is known as the City of
Palms and the hotel has grown to three floors, 141 rooms,
twenty-four suites with eight meeting rooms, 6,500 sq ft of
total meeting space. It's Spanish Room offers a fine dining
experience for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the Cantina
Lomax, a bar located in the lobby, is the perfect spot to unwind
after a long trip. It still retains the original charm that made
it a focal point in the early days of the city.
The best place to get a feel for McAllen's history and heritage
is the McAllen Heritage
Center. It's a young museum, founded in 2006 to preserve the
town's heritage. Spud Brown, one of the McAllen Heritage Center
organizers, showed us around. The Center, located in the old
Spanish Colonial Revival post office, is filled with far more
artifacts than you
would expect for its age. From the railroad's beginnings to the
music style of the city, it brings McAllen's past to life for
you. There is so
much to see and learn here. It is more than bare bones history
it showcases the heritage of the people of McAllen.
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| Spud relates some of McAllen's history |
Spud showed us photos the first Black school in McAllen, the
Booker T. Washington School and told us about and old murals
depicting it which got my attention. When we left, we decided to
track down that mural and a few others.
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Mural at Rex Cafe depicting life in McAllen |
We drove to the Entertainment District. It's comprised of around
36 restaurants, lounges, bars and a fantastic 1940s theater, El
Rey, that has been restored and offers films, comedy, and live
theater. The district is mainly on 17th Street, but extends to
some of the cross streets. We
found a great old mural there at
Rex Cafe on its inside
wall depicting life in McAllen in past times. While at the Rex,
we met Carlos Cantu who told us about a mural honoring Narciso
Delgado. Narciso, who lived in a small house just across the
street from the mural, was a pioneer in Tejano and Frontera
Music.
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| Mural of
Narciso Delgado |
The old Bethel Missionary Baptist Church on the corner of N.
McColl and W. Pecan has in interesting old
depicting the old Booker
T. Washington School and the contributions of African Americans
to McAllen history. There is one on musical history just across
the street from the International Museum of Arts and Sciences.
Guess I just blended a bit of art into the history section but
that's McAllen, a beautiful mixture.
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Bethel Missionary Baptist Church mural of Booker T.
Washington School |
2. Nature
One of the few remaining hacienda adobe homes in Texas,
Quinta Mazatlan
combines history, culture and nature. It is part of the World
Birding Center network but visitors will experience so much in
the history, culture and art category as well.
Built in 1835 by Jason Chilton Matthews and his wife,
Marcia, the home has had only two owners before coming into the
hands of the city of McAllen. This is why so much natural
acreage still exist in the heart of the city.
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| Interior of Quinta Mazatlan |
Jason Mathews led a pretty colorful life. He traveled the globe
collecting artifacts and stories during World War I. He visited
at least 11 countries and fought alongside Lawrence of Arabia.
When he picked a spot to settle for the rest of his life, you
know it would not be ordinary. Oh no! Mathews and his wife
decided to live at the "Crossroads of the Western Hemisphere."
They settled in McAllen in 1935 and built Quinta Mazatlan.
Literally, Matthews personally built much of his new home. He
perched it on the highest knoll in McAllen and began working
with adobe blocks using an ancient recipe from the Bible. For a
temporary dwelling , he built the cottage and hootch. The hootch
was his personal hide-away. One of his more interesting
experiments was an adobe
block bathing pool. Using no drainage, he simply drained and
refilled whenever the water became dirty by means of a
freshwater well with a six-inch diameter pipe attached to an
airplane engine. He was able to fill the pool less than thirty
minutes.
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| Brides often use the fantastic
Quinta Mazatlan doors in their wedding photos |
He spared no expense when building his home. For the front
doors, he hired famed Swiss woodcarver, Peter Mansbendel, to
recreate the front doors of the Spanish Governors Palace in San
Antonio, Texas. Along the back of the hacienda is a stately hall
known as the Cedar Hall. The exposed ceiling beams of this
impressive room are made of rough-cut Lebanese cedar trees
presented to Mathews by the King of Lebanon in appreciation of
his fight alongside Lawrence of Arabia in Lebanon's War of
Independence from the Turks. Another interesting item is the
rosewood piano, which belonged to Jefferson Davis. In his spare
time, Mathews published a magazine,
American Mercury Magazine.
Art is all over Quinta Mazatlan but one of the most interesting
exhibits is Folk Art through the eyes of Ann Maddox Moore.
Carol Goolsby, Environmental Education Supervisor,
confessed, "When I first looked at it I had a negative reaction
to it but one of her staff. Sandy, who is a art history major
took me in for twenty minutes . She pointed out, 'What does it
tell you about the people of Mexico. There are four themes
running through this room. First is color. This color is an
international recognized symbol of happiness. Second thing is
the death theme. The Mexican's number one celebration is
D�a de Muertos, Day
of the Dead. It's meant to remember that the loved one was here,
They mattered and they are still here. Third is the religious
theme, It is a Christian and Catholic country. Fourth is nature
and animals.' Now, every time
I walk into this room that has been here for over a year
and I see something I missed before."
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Quinta Mazatlan exhibitsof Folk Art through the
eyes of Ann Maddox Moore |
Art and nature cross in their
Forest Sculpture Trail, 25 amazingly lifelike bronze
sculptures aranged around the grounds.
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| Horned Lizard on
Forest Sculpture Trail |
In 1985, the Texas Historical Commission had recognized Quinta
Mazatlan as a Historical Marker now it combines that history
with a nature sanctuary to become part of the World Birding
Center.
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Bunny poses at Quinta Mazatlan |
I was amazed by the quantity and variety of birds I saw in just
the short time I was there. Almost everywhere I looked there was
a bird, butterfly or other wildlife. Right in front of the
hacienda, there were a family of baby doves just sitting on a
post as if mama had said "Now you birdies wait here and don't
dare move until I come back."
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Baby doves at Quinta Mazatlan |
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Another spot where you will see not only birds but butterflies
is National Butterfly
Center in Mission,
which abuts McAllen. This 100-acre preserve is the largest
native plant botanical garden in the United States. It's a
modern day Garden of Eden. Besides the butterflies, there are
great bird watching spots and trails. The Rio Grande Valley
boasts 525 documented species of birds based on World Birding
Center figures. You
will find a good portion here. Gaze up into any tree and you
will most likely spot a unusual bird. Look in the groves of
wildflowers and there will be a fluttering butterfly. You may
find around 150 species of North American butterflies here.
That's about 40% of the species found throughout the entire
United States. Inside there is a museum and gift shop of all
things related to butterflies.
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| Butterfly at National Butterfly
Center |
You'll find one rather unusual species of wild life here. Spike.
a giant African Spurred Tortoise, came to the center after his
owner left for college and abandoned him. He helps teach the
need for caring for local creatures like the endangered Texas
Tortoise as well as the butterflies. He has come to be such a
part of the center, Marianna Trevino Wright, executive director
of the National Butterfly Center, told us, "Spike thinks he is a
butterfly."
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| Butterfly at National Butterfly
Center |
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Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
is another place you may catch a glimpse of a plain chachalaca,
green jay, great kiskadee or least grebe. These rare birds are
called "valley
specialties" because they are found nowhere else in the United
States but deepest South Texas. Here, spotting a "Mexican
vagrant" is not reason to call INS. These are birds from across
the Rio Grande that often flies over to the American side
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| A great kiskadee in McAllen |
The park also has a tram and four nature trails ranging from 1/4
mile to 2 miles. It has a two-story high Hawk Observation Tower
with a 210-foot-long handicapped access ramp, two observation
decks and
two handicapped accessible bird blinds.
Nearby Lower Rio Grande
Valley Wildlife Refuge is one more spot where you will find
great birding.
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| This owl is real but blends
perfectly with the tree he is in |
It all proves McAllen rocks when it comes to nature.
3. Art and culture
Opened in 1969‚ the
International Museum of Arts and Science is a
Smithsonian-affiliated museum that covers both art and science.
It begins before you even enter with a exhibit of Artist in
Resident. The current exhibit created by Marcel Pinas from
Suriname is several totem pole like art raised in front of the
museum and covered with symbols representing his Maroon culture.
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Totem pole exhibit created by Marcel Pinas from Suriname |
Inside you come face to face with their other artist in
residence 's work. Intricately woven strands of insulation
pinned to a wall create art by Ran Hwang. Sadly part of the art
is the destruction of the works when she returns later in the
year.
The science ranges from a interactive sphere that takes data
from NASA and other satellite feed and can show live events as
well as world weather and conditions as well as geological
conditions. Gaby Jones, Director of Visitor Experience, is quite
proud of the exhibit and noted,
"in June we are going to update even more."
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| Exhibit in the children's
section of the International Arts and Science Musuem |
The museum varies from live animals like a snake and a bearded
dragon lizard named Magellan to a rock climbing wall. The art
ranges from actual demonstrations to a beautiful Tiffany stained
glass room. There are five galleries and one just for the kids‚
Discovery Pavilion‚ filled with hands-on exhibits.
Their outside area‚
RioScape is a playground themed to the journey of the Rio Grande
River from the mountains to McAllen.
"It's a fun time to be in McAllen," says Nancy Millar, vice
president and director of the McAllen Convention and Visitors
Bureau."There is so much going on in the arts these days."
Much of what "is going on" is happening in McAllen's
Art District. It's
located right along Main Street
and is
home to more than two dozen galleries and the First Friday
Art Walk from September through May.
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| Mural across from the
International Arts and Science Musuem |
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I got to visit one gallery, Nuevo Santander Gallery. This
gallery has the feel of an old Spanish Mission.
The entrance to the gallery makes you feel as if you
stepped back in time to the days of the Spanish Grandees. It's
no accident, the doors
and ironwork around them is over 150 years and imported
from Mexico. The gallery is filled with more than artwork. There
are jewelry pieces, old Western collectables, guns, furniture,
even an ornamental confessional that must have graced an old
mission once.
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|
Nuevo Santander Gallery |
McAllen took a big step to foster art with a
project called
Creative
Incubator began in
2013 to support local artists. They took the old library and
turned it into a brand new set of galleries, studios,
classrooms, and office spaces that rent to local artists at a
extremely low rate. Writers and computer programmers are
included as well as the more traditional artists and sculptors.
If you are creative, this is for you. The Incubator holds
classes, gives exhibits, hosts festivals and all around promotes
the city's creative side.
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| Sample of some of the art at
Creative Incubator |
Across the street from the Incubator,
Art Village is
filled with galleries, retail stores, creative businesses and
event spaces. We stopped in form an afternoon snack at one new
cafe, The Village Cafe offers breakfast and lunch specials, lots
of creative soups and salads, and some delicious and nutritious
desserts. Rather than sodas, they offer a fruit bar and healthy
frozen concoctions made with fruit and veggies. I had the
Reese's Chocolate Cake and can attest to it being one of the
best ever.
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The Village Cafe for a nutritious snack |
Normally, you wouldn't think of the public library as being an
integral part of the art district but in McAllen it really is.
McAllen's Library is
the largest single floored library in the U.S. As the winner of
2012 Library Interior Design Awards for best interior design
from International Interior Design Association, it's a work of
art in itself. Even as you drive into the parking lot it's hard
to believe this was once an abandoned Wal-Mart. There is a
graceful arch over a circular pond. (It's the title image)
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| Mural in McAllen Library
Courtyard |
Pricilla Suarez and Sara Montoya, Marketing events coordinators,
met us inside to give a tour. As you walk about there are
gallery quality art displayed. IMAS and McAllen arts council
take turns putting up displays.
Pricilla said, "Here, you see families that usually
wouldn't go into an art gallery they will stop by and try to
learn more about the art work."
When they opened about three years ago, there were 3,000 people
on opening day. There is a meeting center, and auditorium,
conference rooms, and a prep kitchen. They are able to host
weddings and other events. There is even a cafe that gives the
library a big box bookstore feeling. They have even hosted a
Bollywood premier. Where other libraries have a shelf of books
for sale, they have a bookstore. I found two books I had to
have.
One thing that stand our is the spaciousness of the place. There
is a children's section, a teen section and an adult section.
There is art throughout the library and in each section it is
designed for the age that will occupy that section.
The courtyard has three
murals. With WIFI out there it is a perfect place to just relax
and check your email.
Veterans War Memorial
is an ongoing outdoor memorial dedicated to the wars this
country had experienced. It's a combination of sculptures wall
plaques and garden area.
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| Sculpture at Veterans Memorial |
4. Food
There are so many great dining establishments in McAllen you
will have a lot of choices. Two of my favorites are owned by one
award winning chef, Larry Delgado and his wife, Jessica. Salt
-New American Table and House Wine & Bistro are both unique but
equally enjoyable.
Salt -New American Table
is located in the Art District. The kitchen is flanked by a
Chef's Table offering front row seats to the cooking excitement.
Naturally we sat there. The young sous-chef directly in front of
us was a show worth watching. Her hands were never still. She
was either preparing one of the many salads or an interesting
dessert.
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| Salad at Salt |
I asked our waiter about the name and he explained that since
salt was such an important factor in food preparation, and at
one time had been worth more than gold, Chef Larry chose that
name. The restaurant is very innovative with various infused
salts in its menu.
Himalayan salt, lava rock salt, hibiscus salt, smoked salts, and
porcini salts are all used and several are set out for you to
use as seasoning in your dishes. There are several house drinks
called Salt Sips you can order either by the pitcher or glass. I
sampled the Texas Peach composed of Texas whiskey, raspberry
peach Grand Marnier, Absolut wild tea, Meyer lemon, peach, agave
nectar and peach salt. The glass was rimmed with salt and it
tasted delicious.
I ordered the Chicken and Shrimp Ravioli with a farmhouse salad
of fresh spinach, Granny Smith apples slices, Gorgonzola,
walnut, and crisp rabbit belly dressed with a pomegranate bacon
vinaigrette.
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| Chefs at work at Salt's open
kitchen |
Well stuffed, I chose truffles for dessert as I knew I would
have to bring some to my room to nibble on later. They were the
best truffles I ever tasted. The chocolate was rich and dark.
One of my favorites was a chili flavored treat where the heat of
the chili mingles with the sweetness of the chocolate made you
feel like you were tasting Heaven.
The second night in McAllen, we dined at
House Wine & Bistro,
Chef Larry's original restaurant opened in 2008. It was every
bit as enjoyable as Salt but had a whole different personality.
Here there are wine racks all around and the atmosphere is more
bistro style. There is a full bar which mixed an excellent
coconut rum and pineapple.
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| Chef Larry Delgado |
For an appetizer, my companion and I shared a Artisan Meat and
Cheese Platter. For my entree,
I ordered the Bee Sting Flatbread, a type of artisan
pizza with marinara sauce, capicola, and local habanera honey
topped with chicken along with a Yahweh Salad, local greens
tossed with caprino, dried cranberries, fresh strawberries,
walnuts and drizzled with a strawberry vinaigrette dressing.
I didn't really have room for dessert but I made the sacrifice
so I could tell you about their Earl Grey Br�lee with a lavender
sugar crust. What a way to finish off a meal!
Chef Larry won second place in the Great American Seafood
Cook-Off in New Orleans with his Texas Two Step Shrimp Tacos.
The ingredients are all Texas ingredients, wild Texas Gulf
shrimp, pecans, ruby red
grapefruit, and
nopalitos, a type of prickly pear cactus. The masa used to make
the tortillas was huitlacoche, an unique corn fungus common in
Mexico. He even used the shrimp shells to make stock for Bloody
Marys which he served with the tacos.
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Bee Sting Flatbread |
I spoke with Chef Larry and his wife Jessica about their
commitment to local grown produce .Jessica used the greens for
my salad as an example. They come from Yahweh's, a nearby Texas
non-certified but completely organic farm, "They're all natural,
no pesticides. The only pesticides they use are ladybugs. It's
handpicked by Saul, (the farmer) and washed here on the premise.
One minute it's on the land next it's here on the table."
Since McAllen is closer to Mexico than much of Texas, I asked
Chef Larry about getting Mexican produce. He told me, "That was
the topic of discussion at the Texas International Association
Expo in Austin. There are quite a few agricultural producers in
South Texas that do have land and grow in Mexico but they are
Texas companies. So yes, we do have access to quite a bit."
I asked about framers not owned by Americans and he said "The
things we cannot get are seeds, larva of any kind. There's quite
a bit of produce that comes in from Mexico."
He is very committed to local produce but explained "At one time
I was challenged to find valley grown citrus.
When it became tedious to get it, I ordered from San
Antonio. When the produce arrived, the box said 'Mission
.Texas.' ( right next to McAllen.) Now there
are more accessible farmers market. Lots of good food…
That's one thing about the Valley, I don't want anybody to
come in here and go home hungry"
That's not going to happen at either Salt or House Wine & Bistro.
It's great to dine where you know the chef is so committed to
providing fresh healthy food.
For lunches I sampled two other great restaurants.
Republic of the Rio Grande
has great atmosphere as well as great lunches and
dinners. When you enter through a courtyard with a
fountain, you feel you have stepped into an old Mexico mission.
The walls are white with dark wooden arches and
tall stone columns stretching to the ceiling way
overhead,
I decided on a light lunch of House Salad and Stuffed Chili
Fritos that were hand-breaded Anaheim peppers stuffed with goat
cheese, cream cheese, chorizo, and fried to a golden brown.
Served with red and green salsa. Very different and very good.
My companion had one of their specialty Hawaiian
Pizzas. I sampled a bite and it was equally delicious.
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| Chili Fritos at Republic of the
Rio Grande |
They have a huge variety of freshly made desserts.
They have a full bar as
well as wine and beer.
Costa Messa
also has the feeling of old Mexico.
They serve classic
Mexican cuisine or Tex-Mex style. You choose. We shared an
interesting platter for two delicious platter called a
botana with lots of yummies on it.
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| The
botana had a little of everything needed for a delicious
meal |
The atmosphere is very family friendly and open.
There you have four great reasons to visit McAllen so head south
until you are almost over the border. You'll have a great time.
For more info:
http://mcallencvb.com/
http://www.mcallenheritagecenter.com
http://www.quintamazatlan.com/
http://nationalbutterflycenter.org/
http://renaissance-hotels.marriott.com/casa-de-palmas-renaissance-mcallen-hotel
http://imasonline.org
http://www.exploremcallen.com
http://www.therepublicoftheriogrande.com/
http://saltnewamericantable.com/
http://www.housewineandbistro.com/
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