Texas Bucket List

Texas Bucket List

Simmons Bank

The Texas Bucket List – Ruben’s Grocery in McAllen

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MCALLEN, Texas –Going to the grocery store can be a mundane, ordinary experience. It’s part of our everyday lives, checking off lists with riveting purchases like milk, bread, and eggs.

But when it comes to filling your basket in the border town of McAllen, Ruben’s Grocery has a radical assortment of off the wall items. But it’s not just the fun food selection that brings in curious shoppers, it’s also the over-the-top owner.

We meet Ruben, the man himself, and he is just a colorful as his store.

“I enjoy what I do,” said Ruben. “You ready for a glass of wine?”

Before we get to the vino, we learned a bit more about the store that got started back in 1973, when Ruben’s father, Ruben Sr. who opened this local market in the middle of la Navarro neighborhood.

“At the beginning it was just a neighborhood store,” Ruben said. “Necessities, tortillas weren’t around yet. We sold flour and lard and beans. I remember when tortillas were first sold, people looked around, they were like – you’re selling tortillas? Like flour tortillas? Who’s going to buy these? Because, you know, people made their own. Back then, nobody even thought to buy. It was just, I don’t know, unheard of. Kind of like when we started frozen pizza.”

Ready-made tortillas were just the beginning and it wasn’t long after leaving home to pursue a career in the computer business out in Cali before Ruben’s parents called him home.

“The manager quit, and my mom and dad said, ‘You can’t go to California, you’ve got to stay just for two months and help us out, just help us manage the store until we get a new manager.’ That was 22 years ago,” said Ruben. “I never left.”

Still wanting to see the world, Ruben made a deal with his parents but promised to have the best interests of the store on his mind.

“I said I’ll work for you three weeks out of the month, and the last week of the month I get to travel. I get to go somewhere. And every time I went somewhere, I came back with something. And every time I went somewhere I came back with something else, and I’m a foodie and I love collecting things and I love discovering new stuff and I love sharing it with my friends and the local chefs, share with my customers, and little by little we started getting a reputation of bringing weird or unusual foods,” Ruben said.

Now, you’ll never know what you’ll find at this mint green market in McAllen, from fancy Italian cherries to pottery and more.

“This is where most of our imported products are and we start off with Brazil, lot of Brazilian products here,” Ruben said. “Argentina, they’re very specialty cookies, and then we’ve got Peruvian cookies, Peruvian chocolates, we’ve got more Peruvian chilies, Peruvian grains, more Peruvian chili paste, Columbian candies, Columbian drinks, Columbian figs, and then we’ve got eastern European, Middle Eastern, Spanish, a couple of British products, and then up here, this is yerba mate. Yerba mate is the number one tea in South America, and this is yerba mate, and all of the top shelf is yerba mate. And it’s the largest collection of yerba mate in the world outside of Argentina.”

Yes, Ruben has got just about everything edible under the sun in his store. Jesus Manjarrez, a customer at Ruben’s, can speak as to the variety you’ll get when you enter this store.

“They should come and experience it because there’s a lot of things that you don’t even know that are out there, eatable, and so many unique stuff, not just food, but like any items you can cook in or mix in or any type of stuff,” said Manjarrez.

Does Ruben offer online shopping?  Sort of.

“Our inventory changes so often that we don’t have it on books, so when people request the items, what we do is we take a picture of the items, live picture of the aisle, because they’re so seasonal and they’re always changing, and then we just email them the pictures and then they just shop by sight. Yeah, it’s very old-school,” Ruben said.

Of course you’ll still find Ruben’s dad working every day at the store using his old-school pencil and paper to take inventory.

“He’s 78 and so is my mom and they don’t skip a day of work unless they go, unless my mom’s in Vegas because she loves to, or my dad goes fishing or hunting, which is his passion,” said Ruben. “My dad opens the show at 8am every day. The doors don’t open until nine, because, you know, the big act needs an opening act. That’s my dad.”

And now they make their hunt for uncommon eats together, taking escapades to Alaska for their annual snow crab season sale.  Yes, you can by snow crabs flown in straight from Alaska in the Valley.

“I do it mostly for my parents, because this is their passion and now it’s become mine,” Ruben said. “I mean, as a child I took it for granted. But now, you know older, being a foodie, to me it’s the most amazing job in the world because I don’t work a single day. The way I look at it is, I open the doors to my house every day and I see what company’s going to come over and take care of the guests that come over, and at the end of the day I let them out and close the doors and open a bottle of wine and go to sleep and wait for the next day and it’s another party. It is my house, and it’s your house, too.”

Ruben isn’t all about bringing the best to the people; it’s about bringing the best out of people with infectious service and a passion for everything food.

“Not only do we have things from all over the world, but you’re going to be pleasantly surprised that you are surrounded by people that really love what they’re doing,” said Ruben. “Every single employee is going to greet you with a smile, they’re going to be really happy when you’re here. It’s like the Disneyland of grocery stores.”

So if your grocery list is as eccentric as your bucket list, stop by Ruben’s for an amazing display of delightful delicacies.

“We have a philosophy as a family. It’s, we want to be good with the family, we want to be good with our employees, we want to be good with our customers, and we want to be good with God. And that’s it,” Ruben said.

The Texas Bucket List – The Extreme Sandbox

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POTTSBORO, Texas – Tanglewood Resort on the shores of Lake Texoma is a relaxing spot for Texans to take a load off.  A chance to get away from the hustle and bustle and constant construction of Big D – that is, until you run across what looks like the resort breaking ground on a new facility, or is it?

Randy Stenger doesn’t look like a typical construction worker and that’s because he’s not.

“Extreme Sandbox is a heavy equipment adventure company that lets clients play on construction equipment,” said Stenger. “Funny thing is that most people think I was a contractor by trade and I go no, I’m actually, I’m a big kid at heart.”

Who doesn’t remember playing with their big Tonka trucks as a kid – heck, some of us still do.  But here, you get to try the real thing. Stenger actually came up with this heavy lifting idea thanks to spark lit by his kids.

“I have three boys and years ago we were driving by a construction site and my oldest at the time – must have been eight or nine – he was like, Dad, wouldn’t it be fun to go play on that stuff? I’m like, heck yeah it would! And so that’s really where the idea came for Extreme Sandbox,” Stenger said.

Stenger opened his first Extreme Sandbox in a faraway land called Minnesota and tons of Texans were taking the trip all the way north just to toggle the controls of these tall order tools.  That’s when Stenger had an Texas -sized thought.

“Texas was our number one out-of-state market to Minnesota to come play on construction equipment. So, that was when the first light bulb went off. If people are actually going to fly across the country to do our thing, I’m like maybe we need to move down there,” said Stenger.

If such a monstrous idea, the whole concept had to be clearly constructed to those who didn’t know what exactly the Extreme Sandbox is, but Tanglewood didn’t get tongue-tied when it came to their enthusiasm for this unique tourist attraction.

“Tanglewood approached us,” Stenger said. “It’s a beautiful resort. They have a lot of area up here, so they’re looking to bring new attractions and things for their guests to do.”

First you choose between six full-time pieces of equipment. Visitors select between two excavators, two bulldozers, and two wheel loaders. After some training, Stenger guides you through some tasks and then lets you loose. Who knew construction equipment could be so captivating?

“We hear ‘Wow’ is probably the number one response,” said Stenger. “They have new appreciation for what these guys do for a living, because they drive by this stuff every day, so it’s really cool that we’re able to give that bucket list experience to our clients to see

So get your inner construction worker to work at a work site well worth punching the clock for – the Extreme Sandbox.

“Everyone’s got things,” Stenger said. “I don’t want things, I want experiences. So, a big piece with me – and I think it’s a common theme now – is people will try to travel more and will try to do things. The beauty of this being in Texas now, we’re able to give that opportunity to the masses here in Texas. They don’t have to fly across the country now, they can come here and operate this state-of-the-art Komatsu equipment and basically something they’d never get to experience, we give them that opportunity.”

The Texas Bucket List – La Gloria Bloodless Bullfight

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LA GLORIA, Texas – When it comes to seeing bulls in the arena here in the Lone Star State, chances are you’re heading to a rodeo. But down in south Texas, they’ve got something that’s a bit different.

Just a few miles from Mexico down a very desolate road in Starr County, the tradition of bullfighting is alive and well in the small town of La Gloria.  There’s no stop sign, no stores, and not too much traffic. But if you happen to hit this town on the right weekend, you’re in for Texas sized treat.

“Build it and they will come. I mean, it’s just always happened,” said Fred Renk, owner of the Santa Maria Bullring.

Renk has lived in this part of the state for 55 years, but the man who spent time in the priesthood and the Marines doesn’t forgive or fight anymore. Now he shares his passion for one of the most powerful animals on the planet with a more spiritual struggle between man and nature.

“Well, it goes back 2300 years, you know the first bulls that ever came into a ring, they were all in Crete and they were in Rome area, France. The bulls of the Moors, I mean, they were all there. They were wild, and there’s cave writings about it,” Renk said.

Down here near the border, you won’t find a gory battle between the bull and the matador. This is a bloodless bullfight that brings in curious visitors from all over the country.
“We’re the only bullring, actually a bullring, that’s dedicated to nothing but bullfighting in 49 of these states,” Renk said.

Only held a few times a year, a lot of work goes into preparing the arena for the fight, but the first step is one Renk never misses. Just about every corner of the arena is blessed, even the bulls.

The matadors take every open opportunity to pray, because even though the bullfight is bloodless, sometimes they aren’t as lucky.
“Fred McCaleb, in memoriam, Joe Palmas my compadre, in memoriam, Charlie Ward, 2011. And my son, my other son, 2006. It’s just part of it. You know, you get wounded, you go back. Brave blood flows first, we say as bullfighters,” said Renk.

In spite of the danger, the fights have all the flair you’d expect. The town of 17 residents grows by a few thousand to see the event and with the entrance of the bull, it begins.
What you’ll see is much different from what you’d find in other parts of the world. “In Mexico and Spain and the 13 countries that fight bulls it is, it is. You can’t defend it. It is bloody, but that’s life, and it’s not a sport – it’s an art form to those people,” Renk said.

Here in La Gloria, a bull enters the ring with flower on its back, and the matador has one goal.  “Go in and grab that flower off the bull’s hump, and that’s a symbol they’d kill,” Renk said.
Being spared gives the bull a fighting chance while the world renowned keepers of the cape must stay on their heels. “These bulls fight one time. They learn as much in 20 minutes as a matador’s learned in 20 years. That’s how quick they learn,” said Renk.

Isaac Leal Montalvo has made matador status at the age of 20. Being able to showcase his sport in the states is about as thrilling as the match.

“Here, you don’t have these traditions, and I feel very good to be one of the first ones, matadors, to come to bring the bullfight here in America. The people who call me to come to bullfight here, I have a lot of respect of them, and a lot of the audience to come here, and I train so hard, to this day,” said Montalvo.

It’s hard to put into words the beauty and marvel of seeing a bullfight in this part of the Lone Star State. It could be the remote location, the artistry of the bout, or simply the atmosphere.

Tommy Diaz Deleon, a spectator from Corpus Christi on his first visit, had much of the same opinion. “There’s nothing around here. There’s nothing around here for 60 miles, so it’s so desolate and it brings you back to the basics, and that’s what’s beautiful about it,” Deleon said.

The Texas Bucket List – Messina Hof Winery and Resort

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BRYAN – In the fertile soil of the Brazos Valley, you’ll find a field of vines with a Lenoir linage dedicated to a Lone Star State libation.

No matter what quarter of the state you go to, Texans are always willing to raise a glass to their favorite vino. But we wanted to get the whole process, so we went down to Bryan to the Messina Hof vineyard to harvest some of this heart-healthy concoction.

Paul Bonarrigo is the CEO of Messina Hof, a Texas wine tradition that was founded by another Paul Bonnarigo and his wife Merrill back before Paul was even born.  You could say the vineyard is his kind of an older sibling.

“Messina Hof was officially started in 1977. That’s when the vineyard went in the ground,” said Bonarrigo. “I was working in the vineyard since I was incredibly young, so I mean, my first official social security year was when I was 8 years old.”

Growing up around grapes was a constant learning experience for Paul, but before leading the family’s vineyard, he followed another calling and, like his father before him, served our country.  Paul joined the Marines and was deployed to Iraq twice.

“You know, it makes you appreciate everything. Life in general, the things that some people may consider to be big deals, I don’t, you know, it’s humbling, it modifies your viewpoint on life,” Bonnarigo said.

These days you’ll always find Paul raising a glass to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness while teaching thousands of visitors about the joy of winemaking at a special celebration they call, the harvest festival.

“Harvest Festival is when we get a chance to share what we do with the public,” Bonnarigo said. “To understand the process, to be a part of it, is a lot of fun and it’s something your memories will last a lifetime here because it’s so unique. You can’t do this very often.”

Every August, with the vines sagging from the full weight of the fine Texas fruit, folks line up to work the fields.

“We, as winemakers, get to do this on a daily basis and we experience the wine and we see the art and science involved with it. It’s a great opportunity to share knowledge, but there’s also our motto of ‘Join the family,’ that’s what it’s kind of all about,” said Bonnarigo.

Before the harvest begins, the vines are blessed.

“Being faith-based and focused on that is big for both our family and for the winery,” Bonnarigo said. “So, we always give it up to God.”

Well, water won’t turn into wine here, so the grapes have to be harvested. With a collection of clusters, it’s not hard to find the fortuitous fruit. You’ll even find the Paul senior with his trademark beret pulling his boisterous weight.

It’s not often you’ll see people smile while performing manual labor, but this is one of those exceptions. And that might be because in the end, you know there’s a payoff. Before uncorking a fine vintage, stomping on some grapes leaves a lasting impression.

“Most people are fine with it. You know, we have some people who get that little bit of the tippy toes when they start to get in there, like oh, this is a little bit different, but mostly everybody, they’ll jump in and just have a fun time,” Bonnarigo said.

This old school way of making spirits takes you back to European way of wine making, but all in the heart of Aggieland.

Then it was time to experience the wine. That’s when we met Michael Broussard, the man who knows his wine. After a few lessons, it was time to toast to Texas.

The evening is closed out with diner, drinks, and a chance to talk life with follow lovers of the vine.  To connect with something that’s been bringing people together long before the wedding in Cana.

“There’s something that just makes it so magical to know that when the next bottle when the crop comes up, like that could be your pick, what you picked off the vine,” said Jellica Thomassen, Bryan-College station resident.

Whether you’re here for a drink and relaxation or to be a part of the winemaking process, Messina Hof makes for a great stop on The Texas Bucket List.

“We think that letting people be involved not only gives you a new viewpoint, but also lets you experience something that you can’t experience anywhere else,” said Bonnarigo. “No matter where you go in the world, a Texan is proud of Texas. They still understand and appreciate the value of Texas Ag, and Texas wine.”

The Texas Bucket List – Blake’s Snow Shack

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SANGER, Texas – Just north of Dallas at a town in Denton County known for its salt-of-the-earth people, you’ll find Texas values, Texas pride, and a sincere love for one sweet sensation – snow cones.

What you’ll notice in this tiny town supported by the local community is a business that’s doing more than just skipping by, it’s lifting hearts thanks to a young, inspirational, and very popular entrepreneur. It seems the small snow cone shack simply known as Blake’s has taken the town by storm.

The secret to these special snow cones isn’t the extra ingredients or fancy umbrellas; it’s the local who decided to start up this brisk business: Blake.

“Blake loves snow cones, so we just went for it,” said Mary Ann Pyron, Blake’s mother.

Blake’s mom Mary Ann is his biggest supporter. The mother of two boys, she spends the majority of her time making sure Blake’s life is just like anyone else’s.

“We’ve always had high expectations for Blake. We’ve been blessed with wonderful people that support us and support him, and we think the sky is the limit for our son,” said Mary Ann.

This passion and drive for her son all started in February 1996.

“The day Blake was born, he was born that morning. Then, that evening they came in and started saying that they thought he had Down Syndrome, and I flat told my husband, ‘She’s crazy, he’s perfect,’ and also, we didn’t even really know what Down Syndrome was,” Mary Ann said.

Mary Ann and her husband Billy didn’t know what to expect.

“Whenever Blake was born, they didn’t give us a lot of hope. You know, it was, he might be able to walk, he might be able to talk. But they didn’t, they were just like, here’s your baby. There’s not a lot of hope,” said Mary Ann. “We decided to rise above, and we were, this is going to be okay. Blake’s going to be fine, and we’re going to make sure of that.”

It wasn’t just Blake’s family that supported their son throughout his life – so has the entire town of Sanger. From Friday night football to asking his girlfriend Sarah to prom, Sanger has been an even bigger rock in Blake’s life.

“He’s just brought a lot of hope to Sanger, and a lot of enthusiasm and excitement, and I know that for my kids, he’s just a real great role model,” said Carrie Bilyeu, local Sanger resident.

Blake didn’t receive any shortcuts or free passes when it came to opening his business.  The youngest entrepreneur in town, he helped make a business plan and brought his proposal to city council.  Councilman Gary Bilyeu remembers it well.

“I don’t thinking anybody’s making exceptions. You know, we didn’t on the city council. He went through the process just like anyone else, and my vote was just one vote, but it was a unanimous council. We were very supportive of him,” said Councilman Bilyeu.

Thanks to this unanimous vote, Blake was able to start up his business. The moment that Blake first laid eyes on his snow cone shack was a moment that Mary Ann won’t forget.

“Whenever he saw the trailer with his name on it, and he, it’s like his chest just, like, swells up. He just, there’s just so much pride and joy. And that’s probably my favorite part,” Mary Ann said.

Not only is Blake’s influence inspiring a whole city, he is also motivating his help. Tanner Maples helps Blake with his snow cone stand and is an incredible embodiment of what this town is all about.

“He defies the odds. I mean, people tell him that just because he’s got Down Syndrome he can’t do anything, but he just opened up his own business like it was nothing,” said Maples.

Blake’s joyful attitude and welcoming personality are key components of what makes his role in the snow cone shack so necessary.

“His enthusiasm and his heart, you can just see it, and it comes from within,” said Carrie Bilyeu.

So if you ever find yourself in Sanger, stop by Blake’s Snow Shack not just for a treat, but to rouse and fill your Lone Star State soul with the energy and enthusiasm of a bright young Texan and a town that defines the Spirit of Texas.

“Believe in your kid. You know, regardless of what experts tell you. Believe in your kid and support them,” said Mary Ann.

Advice that the whole town of Sanger didn’t need telling twice to follow.

“When you see the town rally behind Blake and his family, that’s what makes small town America, especially small town Texas, great,” said Councilman Bilyeu.

The Texas Bucket List – Oso’s Burgers

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We say everything is bigger in Texas, but Oso’s Burger in Cancun, Mexico serves up an Oso Pete burger that’ll give any burger from Texas a run for its money. Oso — which means bear — is perfect for describing the grizzly of an appetite you’ll need to conquer this burger! Stacked with four patties, an egg, assorted cheeses, and a poblano pepper, the Oso Pete Burger in Cancun is well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List!

The Texas Bucket List – Chichen Itza

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We send salutations to our neighbors in the south by visiting one of the seven wonders of the world. Chichen Itza, located in the Yucatan state of Mexico, is the remnants of an ancient Mayan city featuring ruins and architectural wonders that capture the culture and history of the people of the past. We explore the freshwater sinkholes, the shrines, and the city that once stood as a hub of Mayan civilization. For a cultural experience and a chance to glimpse a significant part of Mayan heritage, this trip is well worth the stop on The Texas Bucket List.

The Texas Bucket List – South Padre Island Sandcastle

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Sun, smiles, and sandcastles – staples at South Padre Island’s “Biggest Ever” Sandcastle! Sculptor Andy Hancock is just doing what he loves bringing cheer to the children and tourists of South Padre. Every inch of the towering castles is excruciatingly detailed and designed by hand. If you’re headed to the beach this spring or summer, be sure to stop and stand in awe of the permanent castles that stand guard over the sandy shores! Well worth a stop on The Texas Bucket List!