TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
What is your favorite Texarkana memory? When I was in high school, I was part of an indie band that would regularly play shows at the Darkslide Skatepark as well as an all-ages venue called The Living Room. These were definitely some of the most formative experiences for me in performing and creating a community through live original music. Where was your favorite place to eat in Texarkana? My go-to has been and always will be Zapata’s. There is nothing like the sound and smell of the sizzling fajitas coming out of the kitchen to the table. Oh, also, margaritas. What was the teen hangout when you lived here?
In my younger years, I could usually be found in McAlister’s Deli on cold and chilly days and Spring Lake Park on warmer days.
TXK ROOTS Alex Kidd
Where was your favorite place to shop in Texarkana? I’m not too much of a shopper, but I would regularly do a lot of window shopping at Loveall’s Music, Mic’d Music, or The Country Music Store, eyeing instruments I most likely could not afford at the time. What do you think makes Texarkana famous? My favorite song, “East Bound and Down” by Jerry Reed. “The boys are thirsty in Atlanta, and there’s beer in Texarkana. And we’ll bring it back no matter what it takes.” How do you describe Texarkana to your friends? I always say it was a great place to grow up. There is a balance of both city and rural life, and you can choose your own adventure in that way. I also comment on how centrally located it is to larger cities which offers a decently diverse array of things to do. Two to four hours in any direction and you can be in quite a few great southern cities. What would you change about Texarkana? I’ve always wanted the downtown scene to thrive. My hat goes off to the folks who continue to operate businesses downtown that keep it alive, Zapata’s, Hopkins, Joe’s, etc. It was also great to come home over Thanksgiving and see that a couple new things are happening down there with respect to restaurants and nightlife. What words do you live by?
Alex Kidd grew up in the Ark-La-Tex and remained here through community college at Texarkana College. He later relocated to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to complete his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at the University of Arkansas. In his early 20s, Alex lived in Arizona and California, working as an engineer for both an aerospace and defense contractor and a medical device manufacturer. His work included electronics design, testing, and conducting user studies with surgeons in both laboratory and operating room settings. Today, Alex Kidd is a pedal steel and utility musician known for adding depth, texture, and unmistakable character to every performance. With a versatile skill set and an instinct for what a song truly needs, he brings a steady, professional presence to both the stage and the studio. Whether supporting an artist live, filling out a full-band sound, or delivering the perfect signature steel line, Alex’s musicianship is rooted in adaptability, precision, and feel. Now based in Nashville, Tennessee, Alex primarily tours as a steel guitar player with Ella Langley. In his spare time, he enjoys being outdoors, flying his ’59 Cessna, and cooking.
I received this popular quote from a really close friend of mine that has really stuck with me, “Good judgement comes from experience. Experience typically comes from poor judgement.”
TXK Roots is Texarkana Magazine ’s forum to highlight and honor Texarkana natives who have accomplished big things in the world. These folks may have relocated, but they took the values, education, work ethic, and creativity instilled in them by growing up in this unique border city and used these qualities to blaze extraordinary trails. We asked them to share their thoughts about growing up here. No matter how far from Texarkana they may find themselves, we will always consider them our neighbors and we are proud to claim them as forever members of our extended Texarkana community. After all, “everyone is famous in their hometown!”
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TXK ROOTS
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