Thursday's Best Bet: Area Museums

Ok, I'm back on line with Thursday's Best Bets.

Again, the reason I started doing this is to show that there really is a lot of quality entertainment and attractions in Amarillo.

So if I make a suggestion and you attend and don't like it, I'll give you your money back - in the form of a newspaper subscription credit!

There aren't a lot of events in the upcoming week, so I thought I would remind you that we have some tremendous museums in the area.

Many people are aware of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. It's the largest museum in the state devoted to Texas history. And it's first class. A friend of mine from Washington, D.C., recently visited and commented on the quality of the museum - and in case you didn't know, Washington has some pretty good museums as well.

Perhaps a lesser-known, but equally fun museum is the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame and Museum. The recent renovations include some great interactive exhibits for the children and the upstairs exhibit on the Hall of Fame members gives an excellent background not only on the quarter horse, but American history as well.

And although I haven't visited the Citadelle Art Foundation in Canadian, I hear that is worth the trip as well.

Here's a list of other museums in the area that comes from our weekly Get Out entertainment section published on Friday's and online.

Amarillo College Natural History Museum Ordway Hall, Room 116, 22nd Avenue and Washington Street. 9am-5pm Mon.-Thu. or by appointment. 806-371-5081.

Amarillo Museum of Art 2200 S. Van Buren St. 10am-5pm Tue.-Wed. and Fri., 10am-9pm Thu., 1-5pm Sat.-Sun. Free. 806-371-5050, 806-371-5392 weekends, www.amarilloart.org.

American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum 2601 E. Interstate 40. 9am-5pm Mon.-Sat. Admission fee, AQHA members free. 806-376-5181, www.aqha.com.

Amarillo Railroad Museum 13000 E. U.S. Highway 60, past the airport before Highland Park, First Thu. of month, 7:30pm, second and fourth Sat., 10am-3pm Appointments are available. 806-335-3333. www.amarillorailroadmuseum.com.

Buttel Railroad Museum One mile south of Amarillo city limits. Rail cars include a caboose, box car and ice box reefer. Call for an appointment. 806-670-1314.

Harrington House 1600 S. Polk St. Tours 10am-12:30pm Tue. and Thu., June-Dec. Free; reservations required. 806-374-5490.

Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian and Performance Center 9151 E. Interstate 40. Noon-5pm Thu.-Sat., 1-5pm Sun., open until 10pm show nights. $3 adults, $1.50 children. 806-335-3175. www.kwahadi.com.

Texas Pharmacy Museum 1300 S. Coulter St., inside Texas Tech University School of Pharmacy. Guided tours 1-4pm Mon.-Fri., or by appointment. Free. 806-356-4000, ext. 268.

Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum 2503 Fourth Ave., Canyon. 9am-5pm Mon.-Sat., 1-6pm Sun. $10 adults, $9 seniors, $5 children ages 4-12. 806-651-2244, www.panhandleplains.org.

Armstrong County Museum 120 N. Trice St., Claude. Noon-4pm Tue.-Sat. Free. 806-226-2187. Art gallery features works by local and area artists. www.armstrongcountymuseum.org.

Carson County Square House Museum Texas Highway 207 and Fifth Avenue, Panhandle. 9am-5pm Mon.-Sat., 1-5pm Sun. Free, donations accepted. 806-537-3524. www.squarehousemuseum.org.

The Citadelle Art Foundation 520 Nelson, Canadian. 11am-4pm Thurs.-Sat., 1-4pm Sun. $10 for adults, $5 for ages 65 and older, free for younger than 18. 806-323-8899. www.thecitadelle.org.

Collingsworth County Museum Art Center 824 East Ave., Wellington. 9am-5pm Mon.-Fri., or by appointment. 806-447-5327.

Coronado Museum 567 Cedar, Liberal, Kan. 9am-5pm Tue.-Sat., 1-5pm Sun. 620-624-7624.
Deaf Smith County HistoricalMuseum 400 Sampson St., Hereford. 10am-noon, 1-5pm Mon.-Sat. Free; donations accepted. 806-363-7070.

Devil’s Rope Museum 100 Kingsley St., McLean. 9am-5 p.m Mon.-Fri., 10am-4pm Sat. Closed Sun. Free; donations accepted. 806-779-2225, barbwiremuseum@centramedia.net.

Eastern New Mexico University Museums Blackwater Draw Museum, Roosevelt County Historical Museum, Natural History Museum, Miles Mineral Museum, Miles Anthropological Museum. Hours vary. ENMU campus in Portales, N.M. 575-562-2202, 575-562-2592, 575-562-2174, 575-562-2103, www.enmu.edu.

Floyd County Historical Museum 105 E. Missouri St., Floydada. 10am-5pm Mon.-Fri., or by appointment. Free. 806-983-2415.

Freedom Museum USA 600 N. Hobart St., Pampa. Noon-4pm Tue.-Sat. Free; donations accepted. 806-669-6066.

Herzstein Memorial Museum South Second and Walnut streets, Clayton, N.M. 10am-5pm Tue.-Sat. Free; donations accepted. 575-374-2977, 575-374-9639, www.herzsteinmuseum.org.

Hutchinson County Museum 618 N. Main St., Borger. 9am-5pm Mon.-Fri., 11am-4:30pm Sat. Free; donations accepted. 806-273-0130.

J.B. Buchanan Windmill Park Texas Highway 207, south of Spearman. Free. www.spearman.org/windmillhistory.html.

Julian Bivins Museum Old Tascosa Courthouse, Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch. 9am-5pm daily. Free. 806-534-2211.

Lake Meredith Aquatic & Wildlife Museum 104 N. Robey Ave., Fritch. Noon-5pm Mon.-Fri., 10am-5pm Sat., or by appointment. 806-857-2458.

McLean/Alanreed Area Museum 116 N. Main. 10am-noon, 1-4pm Tue.-Fri. Free; donations accepted. 806-779-2731.

Mesalands Dinosaur Museum 211 E. Laughlin St., Tucumcari, N.M. 10am-5pm Tue.-Sat. Admission fee. 575-461-3466, www.mesalands.edu.

Muleshoe Heritage Center West American Boulevard, Muleshoe. Mon.-Fri. Free guided tours. 806-272-5873, www.muleshoeheritagefoundation.org.

Museum of the Plains 1200 N. Main St., Perryton. 9am-5pm Mon.-Fri., 10am-5pm Sat., 1-5pm Sun. Free; donations accepted. 806-435-6400, www.museumoftheplains.com.

No Man’s Land Museum 207 W. Sewell St., Goodwell, Okla. 10am-4pm Tues.-Sat. Free. 806-580-349-2670, www.nmlhs.org.

Old Jailhouse Museum 415 Main St., Silverton. 9am-5pm Mon.-Fri. Free. 806-823-2123.
Old Mobeetie Jail Museum Courthouse Square, Mobeetie. 1-5pm daily, except Wed. Free; donations accepted. 806-845-2028, www.mobeetie.com.

Pioneer West Museum 204 N. Madden, Shamrock. 1-5pm Tue.-Sat., Sun. by appointment. Free; donations accepted. 806-256-2416.

River Valley Pioneer Museum 118 N. Second St., Canadian. 9am-noon and 1-4pm Tue.-Fri; 1-3pm Sat. 806-323-6548, www.rivervalleymuseum.org.

Roberts County Museum 120 E. Commercial St., Miami. 10am-noon, 1-5pm Tue-Fri. Sat.-Mon. by appointment at 806-868-5811. Free; donations accepted. 806-868-3291.

Saints’ Roost Museum 610 E. Harrington St., Clarendon. 1-5pm Wed.-Sun. Free; donations accepted. 806-874-2546, www.saintsroost.org.

Santa Fe Steam Locomotive No. 5000, The Madame Queen available for viewing at Southeast Second Avenue and Lincoln Street. Guided tours are available from the Railroad Artifact Preservation Society. A $25 donation is suggested. Call 806-674-0472.

Stationmaster’s House Museum 30 S. Townsend St., Spearman. 1-5pm Tue.-Sat., or by appointment. Free, donations accepted. 806-659-3008.

Swisher County Archives and Museum 127 S.W. Second St., Tulia. 10am-noon, 1-4pm Tue.-Sat. Free; donations accepted. 806-995-2819.

Tucumcari Historical Museum 416 S. Adams St., Tucumcari, N.M. 8am-5pm Mon.-Sat. Admission fee. 575-461-4201, museum@cityoftucumcari.com.

White Deer Land Museum 112 S. Cuyler St., Pampa. 1-4pm Tue.-Sat. New annex building open to public, featuring the Red River War & Settlement collection. BRA TALK exhibit through Oct. 15. Free; donations accepted. 806-669-8041, wdlmuseum@graycch.com.

Window on the Plains Museum 1820 S. Dumas Ave., Dumas. 10am-5pm Mon.-Sat. Free; donations accepted. 806-935-3113, www.dumasmuseumandartcenter.org.

Woody Guthrie Folk Museum Center of Pampa Jam sessions weekly 6:30-9:30pm Fri. 320 S. Cuyler St., Pampa. 1-4pm Thu.-Sat., or by appointment. Free, donations accepted. 806-669-3241, 806-665-1180, 806-206-2860, www.woodyguthrie-pampatx.org.

Wolf Creek Heritage Museum Texas Highway 305 and Main Street, Lipscomb. 10am-4pm Mon.-Fri., 2-4pm Sun. Free; donations accepted. 806-852-2123, www.wolfcreekheritagemuseum.com.

XIT Museum 108 E. Fifth St., Dalhart. 9am-5pm Tue.-Sat. Free; donations accepted. 806-244-5390, www.xitmuseum.com.

Thursday's Best Bet: WRCA World Championship Rodeo

There are quite a few horse events around the area, but one of the best starts next week.

The Working Ranch Cowboys Association will present their 14th annual World Championship Ranch Rodeo at the Amarillo Civic Center Thursday Nov. 12 through Sunday Nov. 15.

This is an event held for the working cowboys and cowgirls from ranches all around the country.

The WRCA has signed a contract to have the event in Amarillo until 2012.

The festivities start Wednesday as the WRCA brings to town Baxter Black, a cowboy humorist who also writes a column for the Amarillo Globe-News.

Tickets are available through Panhandle Tickets. Tickets range from $14 to $26 depending on which day you go.

Thursday's Best Bet: Pirates of the Canyon

The 2009 edition of the Pirates of the Canyon hot air balloon event will run three days this year beginning Friday night.

And the good news is this year, the event will be held both at Palo Duro Canyon and at John Stiff Park in Amarillo. If you haven't been able to make it to the canyon the last three years of the event, you won't have an excuse this year.

According to the event's web site, more than 30 ballons will be participating and include the regular shaped balloons, but also ones shaped like a Pepsi can and another like the space shuttle.

There are events all three mornings, including a balloon "chase" at John Stiff Park on Saturday morning and a festival on Saturday afternoon.

It's a spectacular event and it's closer than ever this year.

Thursday's Best Best: Texas Panhandle Volleyball

If you're looking for an area that the Texas Panhandle excels, you've got to look at women's volleyball.

From club to high school to home school and college, there's probably not too many areas in the country that rival the Panhandle.

So for this week's best bet, I suggest you take in a volleyball game this week. You can start with WTAMU's Lady Buffs, who play tonight at 7 at the WT Fieldhouse.

You can also catch Amarillo High vs. Odessa Permian Saturday at 2 p.m. at the AHS Activity Center or Tascosa vs. San Angelo Central at the THS Activity Center at 3 p.m.

And the area also has three defending state champions for the 2008 season: Bushland, Hereford and three-time defending state champion Amarillo High.

Both Randall and Dalhart are having great seasons as well.

So even if you're not a big sports fan, I think you'll still be impressed with the quality and effort of many of the local women's volleyball teams.

Thursday's Best Best: Lone Star Ballet's TimeSteps

The Lone Star Ballet of Amarillo is bringing back a favorite from last season and if you don't go see it this weekend, shame on you.

TimeSteps is a lesson on our country's history through the eyes of music with the ballet providing spectacular choreography to help tell the story.

As the saying goes: "This ain't your grandmother's ballet."

The performance features music from the 50s to the 80s, from Buddy Holly to Michael Jackson. I've got to tell you, it's the type of show that I think would be a hit anywhere.

It's also a tribute to David Simpson, one of the creative minds that helped develop the show. He died less than a month after last year's staging of TimeSteps.

Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts.

Tickets to the weekend productions range in price from $13 to $48, depending on seating. For tickets, call 806-378-3096 or visit http://www.panhandletickets.com/. Buy a ticket, go see it. And I’m so confident you’ll enjoy it, I’ll give you your money back if you give me a good reason why you didn’t like it (or at least a newspaper subscription of equal value).

ANOTHER BEST BET: The Amarillo Globe-News and Amarillo.com 2009 Best of Amarillo Party is tonight at Sunset Center, Plains and Western streets, from 5 to 8 p.m.

There will be 53 businesses at the event that you voted the best of Amarillo, including 26 restaurants serving samples. Tickets are $15 at the door.

Thursday's Best Best: Casting Crowns

Do you think Amarillo is a boring place with not much to do?

I'm sure some people do, but I'm not one of them. I would tell you there is a lot to do, especially for a town of this size.

With arts groups, concerts, sports, festivals and other events, there's not a week that goes by where there is not something really great going on.

So I've decided to issue a challenge to you. Each week on Thursday, I will pick a best bet of an event in the upcoming week.

I will guarantee if you go to the event, you will not disappointed and you will learn quickly that there is a lot of quality entertainment in Amarillo.

And if you attend the event and give me a good reason why you were disappointed, I'll give you your money back.

Well, not actually your money, but I will give you a newspaper subscription equivalent to the value of what you paid to get in the event. But you have to prove you attended the event and give me a good reason why you didn't like it.

OK, clear as mud?

Anyway, here is the week's guaranteed event: Casting Crowns will perform Saturday night at the Amarillo Civic Center. Tickets are available at Panhandle Tickets online and local outlets.

The group is led by Mark Hall, who still has his day job as a youth pastor at a church just south of Atlanta. They perform on the weekends, but the band is usually back in Atlanta on Sunday morning to participate in church activities.

The tour, called "Until the Whole World Hears," is leading up to the Nov. 17 release of an album of the same name. The lyrics of many of the group's songs cut right to the chase of issues the church and Christians face.

Matt Redman opens for the event which starts at 7 p.m. Here's a video preview: