If you think your knowledge of musical arcana is peerless, spending some time with the compilations from Chicago’s Numero Group label might take you down a notch. To put together LOCAL CUSTOMS: LONE STAR LOWLANDS, obsessed collectors wore face masks to ward off the toxic fumes emanating from the mold-encrusted
Few bands embody the incongruities of the Austin music scene like the Gourds. They sound rootsy, but their lyrics are surreal and their influences are all over the place. Kevin Russell is considered the more straightforward of the band’s two primary songwriters, but even his tunes range from crowd-pleasing name-droppers
Admit it. At their worst, this new wave of young folksingers, with their listless strumming and earnest delivery of high school poetry, can be hard to swallow, especially since not even the best of them—think Joanna Newsom and Devendra Banhart—has produced a classic song. Though not entirely innocent of these
Since publishing his first novel, in 1976, the prolific author has won five Spur Awards in the western genre and four Shamus Awards for his mysteries. His sixty-fifth book zeroes in on the real-life obsession of Judge Roy Bean—one of nineteenth-century Texas’s most colorful jurists—with the British actress Lillie Langtry.
Austinite DOUG DORST follows up his darkly comic 2008 debut novel, Alive in Necropolis, with THE SURF GURU, a freewheeling fiction collection that ranges from a story about the neuroses of an Austin baker to a portrait of Vincent van Gogh’s bitterly jealous physician. Dorst draws inspiration from odd sources.
LET’S TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME, a shimmeringly lovely second memoir from former Boston Globe books editor GAIL CALDWELL, opens with this brutally heartbreaking sentence: “It’s an old, old story: I had a friend and we shared everything, and then she died and we shared that too.” Caldwell, an Amarillo
Galveston Island means much more than crab shacks and sunshine to ex-con Roy Cady, the narrator of NIC PIZZOLATTO’s gritty noir debut, GALVESTON. In the year 2008, Galveston is where the former mob goon—now a hunched-over, patch-eyed, dried-out drunk—takes twelve-step meetings at the local Finest Donuts. Twenty years earlier, it
Update your wardrobe, slurp down oysters, and nab novel curios along the Capital City’s hippest byway.
The Art Guys, also known as Jack Massing and Michael Galbreth, have been creating conceptual art together exclusively since 1983. They have done everything from leasing ad space on Todd Oldham–designed business suits (which they wore for a year) to offering up bronze busts of themselves—for $1 million—to be
When Theodore Roosevelt visited Texas in 1892, he insisted on booking a six-day javelina hunt. He shot two but later opined that the best way to dispatch the animal would be by spear. Teddy was on to something. “Because of their poor eyesight, it’s easy to close in on javelinas,”
Lister, who grew up in Boerne and lives near Welfare, is a third-generation firearm and knife engraver. He makes his designs in steel, gold, silver, and bronze using a hammer and chisel.My dad taught me how to engrave when I was seventeen years old. I started on six-by-twelve practice plates
Vladimir Guerrero on batting DH.
Marc Ambinder, politics editor and blogger for The Atlantic, writes that the Democratic message for the fall elections is shaping up to be, “We may be incompetent but they’re crazy.” Good party messages are organic, and they are not announced. Fortunately for Democrats, theirs just sort of came
They say that true Austinites describe places by what used to be there, not by what’s there now (Liberty Lunch, anyone?). Well, it’s been four years, and I still haven’t forgiven Mojo’s for closing its doors. It was replaced by the Kasbah, which used to make mediocre Moroccan
The outcome of the Arizona immigration lawsuit was inevitable. The Arizona statute is preempted by federal law and by the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. From the Court's opinion: "The United States asserts that mandatory determination of immigration status for all arrestees “conflicts with federal law because it necessarily
The Massachusetts Legislature passed a law yesterday that attempts an end run around the Electoral College. The law stipulates that all of the state's electoral votes would be awarded not to the candidate who gets the most votes in Massachusetts, but to the candidate who receives the most votes nationally.
The integrity of the Texas Forensic Science Commission has been compromised ever since Rick Perry reorganized the commission, installed his longtime politically ally, Williamson County D.A. John Bradley, as chairman, and replaced other members of the commission investigating the Cameron Todd Willingham case. Willingham’s three children died in a fire
America could have two governors who favor secession after the November elections. The other would be congressman Zach Wamp of Tennessee, who is trailing Bill Haslam by 36% to 25% in the latest Mason-Dixon poll. The Hotline quotes Wamp as saying that Tennessee and other states “may have
You have to hand it to the far-right faction on the State Board of Education. They never seem to run out of bad ideas. This one is really terrible — a $100 million loan program for facilities for charter schools. The constitution vests in the SBOE the responsibility for managing
Joshua Green, who writes and blogs about politics for the Atlantic and the Boston Globe, proposes that Jeb Bush should run for the Republican nomination: Jeb Bush is the candidate hiding in plain sight. The brother and son of presidents stepped back from elected politics after his
It’s a little ironic that the best part about Me So Hungry, situated in the parking lot of all-vegan Cheer Up Charlie’s, is the meat. The Asian-style barbecue chicken in my Zen Salad was delicious, and it was a great surprise to find heaps of fresh baby romaine,
Gallup describes the Democrats’ 49%-43% edge as “the first statistically significant lead” since Gallup began polling the question in March. Gallup further says that the reason for the Democrats’ resurgence is a shift in independent voters. 39% favor D’s, up from 34%, but still less than 43% of
I don’t get it. White has been criticizing Perry for taking more stimulus funding than any state except California and New York. Is this a bad thing? White is a Democrat. Democrats want to use government to help people. Money helps people. Had White been governor, would he have told
This time of year, when my mother calls me and says, “Honey, I have veggies for you, whenever you’re ready to come pick them up!”, it never just means she has a couple of cukes and maybe one zuke and a handful of figs. Ohhhh no, it means so much
The two Texans who chair the Republican campaign committees in their respective houses — Senator John Cornyn and congressman Pete Sessions — appeared on “Meet the Press” yesterday along with their Democratic counterparts to discuss their party’s strategy for the November elections. [For a full report on the discussion from
This list of Texas House members based on partisanship appeared earlier this week on the Texas Tribune Web site. It was compiled by Rice University political science professor Mark Jones. To link to the list, click HERE. The list ranks all 150 members from the most liberal to
The previous poll was 48-40, so very little change. Curiously, Rasmussen describes Perry’s lead as “modest.” Since the MOE is +/- 4./5%, Perry’s nine-point edge is the largest possible advantage that is still within the margin of error. Perhaps Rasmussen is downplaying Perry’s lead as a reaction to recent criticism
Vegan ice cream? Let me say what you’re thinking: Hmmm. But there’s something special going on at ¡Hola Aloha!, a South Austin snow cone and sweet treat stand. Their vegan ice cream, made with coconut milk, was just that—creamy, cold, milky, and delicious. I tried it in an Aloha
Another defendant in the Mineola child sex ring crimes is found guilty.
My copy of the federal government’s complaint plainly says that the lawsuit is brought in the District Court for the District of Arizona. But will it stay there? Article 3, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution reads: In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in
Things to watch for: Perry vs. White: The fundraising battle Hutchison: Is she running for reelection in 2012? Her fundraising totals will be a clue to her intentions. Contested legislative races: Who’s ahead? Will Straus raise enough money to fight off a potential challenge? The talk is that he will
In its lawsuit against the state of Arizona that objects to S.B. 1070, the new Arizona immigration law, the U.S. Department of Justice [quoting from the complaint] "seeks to declare invalid and preliminarily and permanently enjoin the enforcement of S.B. 1070," because "S.B. 1070 is preempted by federal law and
Update: This joint had a fire on 03/11/11, but they have reopened and are back in business. BBQ Snob: “Who is your hot link supplier?” Virgie: “That’s my secret. Are you folks food critics or something?” BBQ Snob: “That’s our secret.”This is how my experience at Virgie’s began
London’s bus route 19 might be where all the beautiful people are seen, but East Austin’s new double-decker #19 is where you’ll find absolutely gorgeous cheesesteaks and burgers. I unsuspectingly ambled into the trailer park they share with Lucky J’s and Cafe Racer on Saturday evening (or was
Hailing from a long line of beer- and brat-loving Germans, it should come as no surprise that my tastebuds are quite attuned to things like saurkraut (the presence of which always caused an uproar at the dinner table when we were kids, as my younger brother referred to it as
Unless you’ve been living under a rock (make that a hot rock with some Kobe beef on it), you are probably aware that Uchi–Austin’s nonpareil avant-garde sushi and Japanese fusion restaurant–has replicated itself on the north side of town, specifically at 4200 N. Lamar (916-4808). In a smart move, chef-owner
This report is from the Washington-based National Journal magazine, dated July 3. FREMONT, Calif. -- From a nondescript office park here, Solaria, a solar energy company founded in 2000, is planning its move this fall to a much larger facility nearby as it progresses from research and design
Dr. Richard Murray, the University of Houston political scientist and TV commentator, recently posted on the Channel 13 Web site some numbers about population trends in Harris County. The latest estimates show most of the growth in Texas and the Houston metro area is driven by the increasing
As I have said previously, the most important statistic in this election cycle is voter intensity and enthusiasm. Here is the latest poll from Pew: Fully 56% of Republican voters say they are more enthusiastic about voting this year than in previous elections – the highest percentage of
I thought my ship had come in when I received in the mail yesterday a notice from the Missouri Circuit Court, 22nd Judicial District, City of St. Louis, informing me that I may be a class member in a class action lawsuit against A. G. Edwards brokerage. "You may be
This was the text of the governor’s statement regarding EPA’s decision to reject Texas’s State Implementation Program for the Clean Air Act. “The EPA’s irresponsible and heavy-handed action not only undermines Texas’ successful clean air programs, but threatens thousands of Texas jobs, families, businesses and communities throughout our state. It
You gotta give Andy Zubik props. Not only does he create fabulous breakfast and lunch items at his trailer, Zubik House, he’s also unbelievably friendly and kind. Take this recent interaction, which I witnessed at the downtown farmer’s market on Saturday: Grumpy lady with two toddlers: Gimme two kolaches. Andy:
When my sixth-grade “little sister” asked me some tough questions, I had some of my own: How do you talk to teenagers about sex?
Recipe from La Gloria Ice House, San Antonio4 ounces Black Refried Beans (see recipe) 1 Tlayuda Shell (see recipe) or use chalupa shells if fresh masa is not available 3 ounces shredded Oaxaca cheese 2 ounces shredded lettuce 3 slices Roma tomatoes 3 slices fresh avocadoSpread black beans onto crispy
Recipe from Chef Josh Watkins, Carillon, Austin
Recipe from Chef Josh Watkins, Carillon, Austin
Frrom mixologist Michael Malone, Edge Wine Bar, Boomba Night Club & Lounge, Galveston
From mixologist Michael Malone, Edge Wine Bar, Boomba Night Club & Lounge, Galveston
A prayer for the beach. A prayer for courage. A prayer for the perfect crab cake.
We can almost smell the aroma of warm sweet treats wafting from the pages of Classic Southern Desserts. Lemon Tea Bread, Spiced Caramel-Apple Pudding, Sand Dollar Cookies, Four-Layer Coconut Cake, Key Lime Pie—these timeless favorites and many, many more have been fine-tuned in the Southern Living test kitchens over the
