In our September cover story, “Barbecue Without Borders,” we explore decades of Texas barbecue evolution that’s led to places that break the mold, like Yearby’s Barbecue & Waterice in Allen and Mum Foods Smokehouse and Delicatessen in Austin. Altogether, we feature 25 restaurants, smokehouses, and venerated pits redefining the story of Texas barbecue. We also traveled to the Rio Grande Valley to visit an expanded bird sanctuary that’s populated with avian friends amid a landscape of vibrant color. Writer Alexis Wray and photographer Montinique Monroe offer a close-up look at the storied, fan-filled world of the Prairie View A&M University Marching Storm band. And we plan a getaway in Dripping Springs, where you don’t have to be a wedding guest (despite the town’s reputation as the “Wedding Capital of Texas”) to have a good time.