Music
October 31, 2009
From the Hip
Fun Fun Fun Fest and its post-punk indie sound.
Austin
Web Exclusive
October 31, 2009
Finding Texas at the Film Festival
Texas doesn’t get a whole lot of screen time. But at this year’s Austin Film Festival, two smaller films seemed to capture the spirit of the Lone Star State.
Health
October 31, 2009
Brain Storm
The role of the cerebellum and underlying brain abnormalities in autism.
The Culture
September 30, 2009
Last Rights
The tragic case of Lloyd and Kim Yarbrough raises an old question: Why doesn’t the decision to die belong to the person who is dying?
Eat My Words
September 22, 2009
Asti’s Perfect Panino
Stopped in at Asti for a quick lunch, got the daily panino, expecting a good basic sammy. Wow! Homemade focaccia, toasty, slathered with house mozzarella & thin-sliced salami with a tart-sweet rosemary balsamic reduction. What a treat! They don’t have it every day but I’ll bet if you begged, they
Eat My Words
September 21, 2009
This Just In: Mark Schmidt has left Annie’s
Austin diners will be devastated: Mark Schmidt (formerly of Cafe 909 in Marble Falls), has left his gig at Annie’s (formerly Apple Annie’s). Man, that didn’t last long. And it seemed like such a perfect match. I’ve asked what the deal is, haven’t had time to hear back yet.
The Culture
August 31, 2009
Exchange Rate
One Lebanese student’s experience in Austin, Texas.
Street Smarts
August 31, 2009
Marfa
1. The Thunderbird HotelSpare but chic sums up this refurbished motor court. A cowhide rug, a wood-and-metal table, and a single framed art poster is the extent of the interior decor, but you never feel deprived of accoutrements. After a day of sightseeing, take a splash in the pool or
Music
July 31, 2009
G-L-O-R-I-A
When the legendary Liberty Lunch club closed in July 1999, senior editor and musician Michael Hall came up with a way to say goodbye to an era—play “Gloria” for 24 hours straight.
Food & Drink
July 31, 2009
How to Brew Sweet Tea
It seems simple enough—make tea, add sugar—but brewing a high-class glass of Southern champagne is “all about time, temperature, and quality,” according to Clayton Christopher, the founder of Austin-based Sweet Leaf Tea Company. He should know: In just over ten years, he’s gone from making batches of the stuff at
Web Exclusive
June 30, 2009
This Film Is Not Yet Rated
Bob Hudgins, director of the Texas Film Commission, talks to Katy Vine about the “Waco” controversy, tax incentives, and how to get your movie made in Texas.
Web Exclusive
June 30, 2009
Sweater Weather
Yes, it’s summer in Texas. It’s the summer to end all summers (please, God), with record-breaking heat, triple-digit temperatures, and the uncontrollable urge to sit in your freezer, atop the Häagen-Dazs bars.
Eat My Words
June 29, 2009
Spirits of the Times
My good friends at Fino, Lisa and Emmett Fox, have fully embraced the cocktail craze. They’ve persuaded their chef at Fino, Jason Donoho,and mixologist Bill Norris to whip up a four-course dinner with courses matched to cocktails. Throughout the meal, Jason and Bill will discuss the philosophy behind the pairings.
Eat My Words
June 8, 2009
First Look at Garrido’s, Austin
Yes! Yes indeedy. Had a light dinner at David Garrido’s casual new interior Mexican/taco/small-plate venue Sunday night, and I will be checking it out again soon. Oyster nachos (almost identical version to the one chef-owner David Garrido made famous at Jeffrey’s)–yum! Crabmeat guacamole, lush, lavish, and delish. Lamb “pops” in
Eat My Words
June 2, 2009
First Look at Walton’s on W. Sixth
Everybody’s been stopping me in the hall and asking if I’ve been to Walton’s Fancy & Staple at 609 W. 6th. Well, no, not until today. Lunch. Verdict: Cute place, great candles & flowers (it’s a florist, too), nice displays, feels good inside to sit at a
Feature
May 31, 2009
Making The Scene
Location: Austin What You’ll Need: Ironic T-shirt, bed head
Eat My Words
May 20, 2009
I (heart) food carts.
There’s nothing I love better than eating off the street. Once in Mexico City during an interminable traffic jam, I got out of the car to buy a taco that came off a grill sitting 6 inches above the curb (okay, gutter.) In a ten block walk along Central Park
Eat My Words
May 11, 2009
Baby Uchi Announces New Location
It won’t be open for a year, but the son of Uchi (“Uchiko”) is going to be at 4200 Lamar. Hooray–close to my house, or sorta close. It will be in an existing building on the west side of the street (the old Seton Hospital office building) that is being
Music
April 30, 2009
Mad to Play
Famed Texas-based guitarist Stephen Bruton was a man who knew how to count his blessings.
Object Lesson
April 30, 2009
Dan Branch’s Bookcase
State representative Dan Branch’s bookcase.
Web Exclusive
March 31, 2009
Kindergarten Cop-Out
The full-time pre-K bill seems like a slam dunk. The price tag: $300 million.
Object Lesson
March 31, 2009
Tyson Cole’s Kitchen Cabinet
Tyson Cole’s kitchen cabinet.
Eat My Words
March 13, 2009
Attention Coneheads
Just got an announcement: The Mighty Cone food trailer is having its opening day this Saturday all day (from 11 to 11) at 1603 S. Congress, that’s the southeast corner of Congress & Monroe. TMC is a food truck from Hudson’s on the Bend, selling Hudson’s signature hot ‘n’ crunchy
Web Exclusive
March 1, 2009
Let’s Talk About Sex
Ninety-four percent of Texas high school students receive abstinence-only education. More than half of these teens are losing their virginity. So what do the majority of Texans really want their kids to know about sex?
Art
March 1, 2009
Art in a Bottle
Yes, Virginia, there is some art in Austin.
In the Chute
March 1, 2009
Golden Oldies
Afghan artifacts in Houston; Texas Biennial.
Web Exclusive
February 1, 2009
Entrapped
How a high-profile member of Austin′s radical progressive community became an FBI informant.
Music
February 1, 2009
How to Two-step
Watching couples coast around at the honky-tonk may intimidate the double-left-footed, but heck, if a cowboy can dance, how tough is it, really? “Two-stepping is just walking to a beat,” says Austin-based Rowdy DuFrene, a two-time United Country Western Dance Council World Champion. “While many variations exist, the true
In the Chute
February 1, 2009
Dancing Queen
The Houston Ballet; a Marcia Gygli King retrospective; Philip Glass.
Eat My Words
January 22, 2009
Dive In
Friends began to email back in August, saying, you gotta try this place in Austin named the Good Knight, it’s almost ready for prime time, some things are so good, yada yada yada (is that how you spell yada?). Finally, I went. Yes! First, lower your decor expectations (their ain’t
Eat My Words
January 21, 2009
Earthquake: Jeffrey’s Chef Leaving!
Jeffrey’s owner Ron Weiss is letting the news media know that Alma Alcocer-Thomas is leaving the Austin restaurant, where she has cooked, most recently as exeucutive chef, for sixteen years. The new man at the range will be Deegan McClung, who is now executive chef at Cissi’s Market on South
BBQ Joint Reviews
January 8, 2009
Mann’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que
A spot in Texas Monthly‘s Top 50 brings high expectations, so my mouth was watering after the disappointment at Texas Rib Kings down the street. Tuesday-Friday 11-3 were the temporary hours posted at the door, but there was no indication of the timeline for these hours. Upon ordering
BBQ Joint Reviews
January 1, 2009
Lamberts Downtown Barbecue
Downtown Austin is home to many new structures, many of them modern. In the midst of the building boom sits Lamberts, which is located in a historic two-story brick building with lofty ceilings and an open kitchen. On a Wednesday afternoon, there were no open tables during lunchtime,
Politics & Policy
January 1, 2009
Governor Perry Chooses License Plates
Proving his conservative credentials, Gov. Perry held a press conference with the Texas Alliance for Life to express his support for specialized “Choose Life” license plates.
Politics & Policy
January 1, 2009
Working on a Presidential Campaign
Kenny Thompson on planning Obama’s campaign events.
Web Exclusive
December 1, 2008
What’s in Your Wallet?
If you decided that 2008 was the year for you to cut yourself off from society, shed all material belongings, live off the land, and grow your own food, then you’ve got a pretty good head start.
Letter From Austin
December 1, 2008
The Unusual Suspects
The arson of the Governor’s Mansion in June was as mystifying as it was heartbreaking. Could Austin anarchists have been to blame?
Politics & Policy
October 31, 2008
Speaker Up
Candidates for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives tell us why they think they should hold the highly coveted gavel.
Politics & Policy
October 31, 2008
The Day After
Journalists and other notables to give us their reactions to the long campaign and the election of Barack Obama.
In the Chute
October 31, 2008
Suggested Reading
Texas Book Festival; Latin Grammy Awards; San Antonio Opera.
Feature
September 30, 2008
How Well Do You Know Your State Board of Education?
Find out by taking our quiz.
Street Smarts
July 31, 2008
East Austin
Where hip meets history.
In the Chute
June 30, 2008
Dallas, Our Dallas
Dallas in Austin; base ball in Buffalo Gap; gorging in Canyon Lake.
Web Exclusive
May 31, 2008
Interview with Sam Gosling
A decade of research by this University of Texas at Austin psychology prof has led to new ways of understanding the relationship between individuals and the spaces they inhabit, as he now reveals with Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You.Snoop posits that our things open a window onto
Music Review
May 31, 2008
Sonidos Gold
As big years go, Grupo Fantasma has had one of the biggest: Austin’s eleven-piece combo played festivals across the country, appeared on national TV, and even struck up an alliance with Prince. Now comes a fourth CD, Sonidos Gold (Aire Sol/High Wire). Though the album scores appearances from
Music Review
May 31, 2008
Beautiful World
Her lilting voice is a half whisper, her words evocative. At the top of her game, Austinite Eliza Gilkyson adds to her remarkable string of successes with Beautiful World (Red House). Musically, Gilkyson is expanding her palate beyond the usual singer-songwriter fare, leading musicians Mike Hardwick, Cindy Cashdollar,
BBQ Joint Reviews
May 21, 2008
Lamberts Downtown Barbecue
Can a place that cooks its meat in a gas-burning rotisserie make really great ’cue? Well, the brown-sugar-and-coffee-rubbed brisket was delicious, the maple-and-coriander-encrusted pork ribs were tender, the pulled pork was perfect, and the chorizo-ish jalapeño hot links were unforgettable. Sides and desserts were extraordinary. A jícama-and-carrot slaw, in particular,
BBQ Joint Reviews
May 21, 2008
Mann’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que
Owner Jim Mann and his jovial staff served us fatty brisket, pork ribs, and pulled pork that offered a surplus of smokiness and juice. (The salty sauce worked well with the loin.) Jim’s wife, Sallie, makes sides from Southern family recipes. Her black-eyed peas, lima beans, and cornbread perfectly accompanied
Books
April 30, 2008
Bill Bishop
In The Big Sort, the Austin political blogger and Pulitzer finalist addresses America’s tendency to segment itself into tiny, like-minded groups (a phenomenon he calls clustering).How did the “big sort” notion come to be, and what does it signify?[Sociologist] Robert Cushing and I began exploring why some places
Business
April 30, 2008
Abby McAfee Daigle, Wedding Planner
Born and raised in Austin, Daigle has helped pour champagne, choose flowers, taste cake, and pick color schemes for more than one hundred brides. Her family owns and runs a wedding and event facility in Austin.I’ve been working at Barr Mansion since they would let me. I started when I