I desperately wanted gorgeous, crazy expensive cowboy boots, but already have a fancy pair from Montana. Here are the five trinkets I really brought home from Fort Worth, Tex.
Consolation cowboy: Almost as good as the real thing, these roper cowboy and Texas longhorn figurines scream Texas. They’re $4.99 and $7.99 (U.S.) respectively from the General Store (101 West Exchange Ave. in the Stockyards).
Consolation boots: While I save up for leather boots, I’ve got this $5.95 boot pen holder on my desk from Fincher’s White Front Western Wear (115 East Exchange Ave. in the Stockyards).
Musical memories: I probably dropped $200 on Americana and outlaw country music CDs from Chief Records in Stockyards Station (Suite 135, 140 East Exchange Ave.), while getting tips on what bands were in town.
Speedway memories: I was out of place in the Texas Motor Speedway gift shop, but scored these NASCAR Cheerios and Budweiser action racing collectible cars for $8 a piece for my little guy.
Locavore treat: Texas grows pecans but it took some doing to find $9.99 bags of local nuts — jalapeno roasted and Texas mesquite barbecue pecans — at the General Store (101 West Exchange Ave.)