EMERGING EAST: Evolving in the Ever-Changing Art Scene of East Austin
THE CREATIVE
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MAKERS STRANGE MIRACLES, DARK ART, AND HAPPY ACCIDENTS BECKON FROM WONDERLAND
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1801 East 51st Street, Suite 365-501 Austin, Texas 78722 (512) 331-0406 eastsideatx.com Publisher Nillo Studios Creative Director Will Bowling Managing Editor Ashley Bowling
Business Development Todd Meador, Jessi Devenyns Photo Editor Eric Morales Copy Editor Pam Bowen Lead Photographer Ashley Haguewood
NEC24.COM MUELLER 512.322.5104 1801 E. 51st St., Bldg. H Austin, TX 78723
Contributing Photographers Tamica McCook, Fernando Flores, Rachel Benavides, Leonid Fermansky, Parker Thornton, Jen Rachid Contributing Writers Jess Hagemann, Jennifer Simonson, Sommer Brugal, Jessi Devenyns, Fernando Flores, Sam Lauron, Amanda Covo, Justin & Kayla Butts Web & Audience Development Erin McWilliams, Savannah Whitmer Social Events Marie Vargas Distribution info@eastsideatx.com Submissions info@eastsideatx.com Advertising advertise@eastsideatx.com Copyright Š 2016 Nillo Studios, LLC. EASTside Magazine is published by Nillo Studios, LLC. No portion may be reproduced without express written consent. Editorial or advertising does not constitute advice, but is rather considered informative. Expressed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ownership.
CONNECT WITH US www.eastsideatx.com eastsideatx eastsideatxmag eastsideatxmag 4 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2017
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eastside / publisher's letter
Fueling Austin The fuel for Austin is creativity: the crazy, the outlandish, the grand ideas, the passions. Over the last 10 years or so, we have seen Austin grow and change and possibly even lose some of that passion that made Austin so beloved to us. However, if you look hard enough, mingle with the Eastside creatives and small business owners, that fuel is still here and thriving. Though it often gets overlooked by the big businesses that have decided to call our beloved land home, the creativity has not gone anywhere. In fact, it is as strong as ever. The artistic fuel of Austin is mainly found on Austin's Eastside. This is where ideas have been birthed for years – out of old warehouses, filling stations, backyards, and garages. So much so, that East Austin is where you'll find some of the best street art (see 6 Best Murals on page 36) in Austin. For our second annual edition of “The Makers Issue,” we dive into a wondrous rabbit hole and pull some very unique and crazy talented artists out of the hat. These five makers have made it: made it crazy, made it new, made it bigger, and did what some would deem impossible. As you read through this issue, you will see that inspiration comes from submerging oneself in this community and in nature: from honey bees and flowers, to candy and colors, to found objects and unconventional materials, or to even the detail of a single stitch of thread. These makers have taken their inspiration and followed through to inspire others and to create something unique. I hope you are inspired by this issue. Go out, push the limits to follow your dreams, use your skills, and continue to make Austin the fueling mecca of creativity that it is. Don't be afraid to make something new! Yours truly, Will Bowling EMERGING EAST: Evolving in the Ever-Changing Art Scene of East Austin
On the Cover
We had a unique opportunity to do something totally different with this cover! Warbach Lighting & Design was in the final stages of fabricating huge lights going up in a local building. With a little testing and adjusting, we were able to play around enough to capture some amazing images using Buck and Nathan's larger than life decorative lighting solutions. This particular cover shot best depicts the Wonderland approach we took throughout the feature story illustrating the leap of faith taken to chase the White Rabbit and discover something new. Photo by Eric Morales
THE CREATIVE
side
OF AUSTIN
ESCAPING REALITY
JEWELRY AND OTHER OBJECTS
STAR IN YOUR OWN REAL LIFE VIDEO GAME
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MAKERS
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STRANGE MIRACLES, DARK ART, AND HAPPY ACCIDENTS BECKON FROM WONDERLAND
[the creative side of austin]
eastsideatx.com
5
contents
24 44 features 24 Through the Looking Glass
Editor’s Note 05 Local+History 08
We take a trip to Wonderland to see the slow fashion, uncommon arrangements, speciallycurated auras, the candy-striped ceramics, and artful activism that sets these makers apart from other emerging artists. In a city bursting with fresh talent and innovation, these Eastside master makers showcase their strange miracles, dark art, and happy accidents as they take imaginations down the rabbit hole.
Art+Entertainment 11 Style+Beauty 19 Go+Do 33
34 Escaping Reality
Home+Away 37 Sip+Taste 43 6 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2017
34 find more at eastsideatx.com
Even the liveliest city needs an extra adventure every now and then, and that's just what Mind Spark brought to an inconspicuous warehouse in Northeast Austin. Inside, escape rooms merge video games and reality with heart-stopping ease – an unsurprising feat considering the creators of Mind Spark also direct the best haunted house in the nation.
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eastside / local
Stroll Through East Austin’s History WORDS BY JESSICA DEVENYNS PHOTOS BY SIX SQUARE
A dilapidated house where Justice Thurgood Marshall used to reside. Hidden statues that were meant for the state capitol’s lawn. An unobtrusive university that pre-dates all the other higher education institutions in the city. They are all out in the open, yet these landmarks remain at the edge of the public eye.
I
n 1928, when the Koch and Fowler consulting engineer firm out of Dallas presented the city of Austin with a masterplan designed to address the “Negro Problem,” suddenly Freedman’s communities were blotted off the map and unceremoniously relocated east of what is now I-35. Despite the upheaval of decades of development, Austin’s African-Americans cobbled together a vibrant district composed of six square miles. Within these arbitrarily drawn borders, churches were erected, families gained descendants, and public policy was enacted. However, as borders change, people move, and life continues, these places are at risk of becoming lost to time. Recognizing the inevitable reshaping of the community, Austin non-profit Six Square has stepped in to help preserve, as well as reanimate, the spaces that have been used by generations of African-American residents. Nefertitti Jackmon, the executive director of Six Square, said that the question has become, “How can we still bring a sense of
8 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2017
community here as the district is changing?” Despite the metamorphosis, there are those who remember what the neighborhood was and are working in tandem with Six Square to introduce their memories to a new generation. “There are a lot of things I remember, there are a lot of things my folks have told me, and there are a lot of things I read about,” says 62-year-old Harrison Eppright, the tour guide for District Days Celebration. He says that Six Square is working towards maintaining those memories of families whose lives were shaped by the constraints and opportunities of the original Eastside African-American community. Jackmon confirmed Mr. Eppright’s view saying, “We hope to raise awareness of where the district boundaries are and raise awareness of where the historical and cultural assets are so that [Austinites] can become familiar and become engaged and experience the variety of African-American culture.” To help bring more attention to this historically African-American district and preserve the stories
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of central-east Austin, Jackmon dreamt up the first East Austin Stroll to highlight a curated collection of historic sites and reanimate the spaces. Through food, dance, music, and history, attendees who made their way through the hot earlySeptember haze were greeted at each of the six individually-selected sites by faces ready to tell the story of Austin’s segregated history from the perspective of those who endured the ramifications of isolation. Through these stories, visitors were reminded of the resilience and creativity of those who took the six square miles they were allotted and, despite the odds stacked against them, flourished to produce some of the most influential and respected members of the city at large. Six Square District Days Celebration was held on September 2 & 3 this year and is set to be held annually to help continuously engage and educate Austinites about African-American culture on the Eastside. For more information, visit sixsquare.org.
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Arts + entertainment October+ November 2017
12 animal art VIBRANT PAINTS
AND ANIMAL MOTIFS COLOR AN EAST AUSTIN ARTIST'S FRESH GALLERY
14 event calendar
OUR FAVORITE EASTSIDE EVENTS HAPPENING IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER
16 enter-
tainment
EXPLORE THE STUDIOS OF SOME OF THE BEST LOCAL ARTISTS WITH A BEHIND-THE-SCENES
After 15 years of painting professionally, local artist Eli Halpin will open The Eli Halpin Gallery & Art Studio to display her original works at Springdale General. p.12
GALLERY TOUR ON ITS SIXTEENTH YEAR IN THE MAKING.
eastside / art
Nature at Play Paintings Come to Life
WORDS BY JESSICA DEVENYNS PHOTOS BY ASHLEY HAGUEWOOD
In a small, whitewashed auto garage, the glare of fluorescent lights creates an unusually flattering background for dozens of canvases propped haphazardly along the walls. Rabbits pose languidly alongside smiling foxes, and narwhals float along six feet of canvas, their horns glittering with metallic applications. A pile of fused glass waits patiently to be applied to a series of half-finished birch trees that occupy the majority of the floor space. 12 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2017
A
mid all the color sits the artist, Eli Halpin, in a magenta velvet, wing-backed chair. “I’m just on top of myself in here, and things are in piles,” she sighs as she sets her water glass on an unpainted portion of canvas. Halpin, however, explains that arriving at a juncture where her works in progress double as coasters was a very gradual “brick by brick” process. For 15 years, Halpin has painted full-time, often packing up and moving in intervals. It is only now as she approaches her 40th birthday that the catalyst of time has begun to make its presence felt. “Everything has just become more pressing. Now is the time to do things, there is no more 'someday,'" she explains. In light of her newfound carpe diem mindset, Halpin has leased a ground floor space at Springdale General. Twice the size of her current workshop, she will create a gallery space where people can come see her original paintings while leaving herself room to work. The space will be expansive with tall storefront windows and called The Eli Halpin Gallery & Art Studio. After all, for Halpin, painting is her lifeblood. “I just kind of do the same thing all the time – I paint and paint and paint,” she says to describe her method as an artist. Rare-
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ly, however, does she paint figures. Mostly, Halpin’s canvases are filled with animals depicted in a rainbow of brushstrokes that celebrates nature’s inherent dichotomy between beauty and savagery. Growing up in Anchorage, Alaska, Halpin was surrounded by the majesty of untamed nature, and she learned to live by its rules. “I’ve killed a lot of salmon with my parents with a knife and club because that’s what had to be done,” she remembers. Although this proximity to nature can appear primal, it is through this unedited approach to life that the young creative was able to ply nature into an artistic subject. “I’ve looked at them up close with their beautiful scales and their eyeballs, and they’re really amazing. Salmon are beautiful,” she adds as she gestures to a likeness of the fish. Nevertheless, even in a more urban setting, there is always something inspiring. Whether it’s goats by the side of the road or a pot of paint, the colorful pallet that makes up life is Halpin’s constant font of ideas. In fact, she says that the art supplies she uses can be just as inspiring as the subject itself. “It’s almost like the more colors I give it, the better,” she smiles. The results of her fascination with pigments are images that are as noteworthy for their stained waves
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of texture and playful use of objects as they are for their color. However, she does admit that creativity is not always sunshine and rainbows as her paintings would suggest. “I need to learn how to take it down a notch because I’ve burnt out a few times in my life.” As a result, her newest fixation is taking care of herself. To do so, she has chosen to let her creativity flow freely by expanding her workspace and stopping commissions. No longer does she “paint her heart out” as she describes her early works, but now, Halpin merely paints with her heart.
Gallery Opening Come January, Eli Halpin will be moving into the 10-acre, affordable maker studio complex, Springdale General, where her ground floor studio will double as gallery space. With floor to ceiling windows to bring ample natural light and plenty of parking, the new studio is ideally situated at the heart of East Austin’s growing art scene and primed to help Halpin accomplish her dream of opening her studio to the public.
contact:
elihalpin.com eli@elihalpin.com @elihalpin
springdalegeneral.com 1023 Springdale Road 512.273.3744
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13
O U R FAV E E V E N T S
Pick 12
FOR THE EASTSIDE
&
OCTOBER NOVEMBER East Riverside Music & Distilleries Festival
Oktoberfest
October 14, 11am-7pm Want to experience an authentic German Oktoberfest without making the trip over seas? Then come on down to the German-Texan Heritage Society for an Oktoberfest celebration right in the heart of Texas. This family-oriented event will feature a Biergarten, German food, live music, and children’s entertainment. Don’t forget to bring your Lederhosen and Dirndel! 507 E. 10th St. | germantexans.org
October 21, 2-9pm On the grounds of South Shore District Apartments overlooking Lady Bird Lake, visit distillery booths and sip on spirits while listening to Ulrich Ellison & Tribe, Jake Andrews Band, and Tye Austin (plus more). Each performance will feature a fresh cocktail in appreciation of harmonizing styles in music and taste. Tickets range from $15-$40 on eventbrite. 1333 Shore District Dr.
Fall Cocktail Workshop
October 20, 5-7pm Join local event studio, REVELRY, for a fall cocktail workshop that will cover cocktail basics and techniques, like how to prepare, measure, and mix autumn-themed sips. Guests will also take home recipes and a shopping list that will cover everything you need to be your own inhouse bartender during the upcoming holiday season. Tickets are $45 a person, or $80 for two; 21+ only. 908 E 5th St., Unit 106 | thisisrevelry.com
Tejano Trails Walking Tour
October 21, 10-11:30am Put on your walking shoes and celebrate East Austin’s history, culture, and diversity through a free walking tour presented by the Tejano Trails Project. The project aims to preserve East Austin’s historic buildings and homes as well as educate the community about the cultural heritage and the transition East Austin neighborhoods are currently experiencing. 211 Comal St. | tejanotrails.com 14 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2017
East Austin Community Festival
November 4, 12-6pm Come out and get to know your neighbors at the 4th annual East Austin Community Festival. The party will be held at Space12 and will include shopping, food, and plenty of socializing! The event will also be taking donations for the Central Texas Food Bank. 3121 E. 12th St. | facebook.com/EastinAustinCommunityFestival
Texas Book Festival
Family Night: Halloween Hootenanny
October 27, 6-9pm Grab the kiddos and head to Thinkery for a night of spooky, gross, and freaky Halloween festivities. Children can experience hands-on experiments involving foods, sounds and other Halloween-themed activity stations. In the spirit of the holiday, costumes are encouraged! 1830 Simond Ave. | thinkeryaustin.org
Texas Fireworks: Dia De Los Muertos Celebration
Oct 31, 9:30pm Spend Halloween at the Krieg Baseball Field watching fireworks light up the sky. Each year, Planet K celebrates Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos by putting on a spectacular pyrotechnics show that leaves viewers in awe. 517 S. Pleasant Valley Rd. | planetktexasfireworks.com
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November 4-5, 11am-5pm One of the longest running and most prestigious book festivals in the country, Texas Book Festival celebrates and showcases more than 250 authors from around the world. Join other literary lovers at the grounds of the State Capitol building for this free event where you can meet authors, watch exhibitors, and enjoy vendors and live music. Texasbookfestival.org
POP Austin
November 9-12, 11am-7pm Austin’s premier international art event is back for its fourth year. POP Austin showcases multimedia work from a variety of artists around the world, which includes six Austin locals this year. Guests have the opportunity to check out pieces that range from sculptures to lights-based art, as well as have access to POPTalks, an educational and engagement series. Tickets start at $20. Fair Market, 1100 E. 5th St. | popaustin.com WORDS BY SAM LAURON
E.A.S.T.
November 11-12 & 18-19, 11am-6pm This free, self-guided tour of over 500 East Austin studios is a favorite among the community. For two weekends in November, get a glimpse into the creative process, inspirations, and work spaces of local artists and makers. The event also includes art-based events, workshops and galleries. Take advantage of this chance to get to know the artisans in your neighborhood! various locations | east.bigmedium.org
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Renegade Craft Fair
November 25-26, 11am-6pm Renegade Craft Fair is back for their bi-annual market. The event will take over Fair Market for two days of shopping, DIY workshops, food, and festive music. Bonus: November 25 is Small Business Saturday, making this the perfect opportunity to support local makers while also getting started on your holiday shopping. 1100 E. 5th St. | renegadecraft.com
Blue Genie Art Bazaar
Nov. 24 - Dec. 24, 10am-10pm Celebrating 17 years in Austin, BGAB features live music, activities, and bar, all while shopping handmade artwork and gifts from regional and local artists. This is a family-friendly experience where shoppers can browse in a hassle-free environment with centralized checkout. Shop on Mondays and 10% of profits are donated to Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central Texas. Parking and admission are free. 6100 Airport Blvd. | bluegenieartbazaar.com
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15
eastside / entertainment
Shea Little, Executive Director of Big Medium bigmedium.org Tito's Prize exhibition will be held in Big Medium's gallery at Canopy. 916 Springdale Rd., Bldg 2, Suite 101 Zack Ingram's 2017 EAST Tour stop is at Bolm Studios. 5305 Bolm Rd., Suite 12
Emerging EAST More Than Art WORDS & PHOTOS BY FERNANDO FLORES
East Austin Studio Tour is expanding knowledge and inviting patrons to see the concept and explore the studios of local artists.
E
ast Austin Studio Tour, commonly referred to as E.A.S.T., is running on its sixteenth year, and it goes without saying it has become an essential cultural institution of this city. Eastsiders watch and wait as the number markers appear around the neighborhood. It’s a clear sign summer is long gone, and now is the perfect time for inspiration and to admire our community’s art. During November 11-12 and 18-19, the Studio Tour is free and open to the public. At any of their marked locations, one can take in mediums from collage and photography to sculpture, painting and design. Shea Little, co-founder of the arts non-profit Big Medium and E.A.S.T., says, “Right now we are looking at five hundred artists participating in the event: artists from all over the spectrum [including] familiar names like Federico Archuleta, and new artists like Claudia Zapata.” This year there’s a lot more coordinated pop-ups with out-of-town artists as well, but Little re-iterates the convictions that have been there since the 16 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2017
founding of E.A.S.T.. “We want to preserve a sense of community, where anybody can walk into an artist’s studio, and they’ll get to know not only the artist’s work, but their process of creation as well, within their own city here in Austin.” For the second year in a row, Big Medium announces Tito’s Prize, which comes with $15,000 cash and a solo exhibition at the Big Medium Gallery for an Austin-based artist. Zack Ingram, originally from rural Mississippi, is this year’s winner and also one of the artists featured in E.A.S.T.. Zack’s work infuses themes of masculinity and race with imagery from the American South using a variety of approaches. His studio has two small fans going and it can get sticky on a hot day. From the middle of the room hangs what looks like a sheer-white thick chain, and Zack goes on to explain how he wanted to reproduce a chain he’d seen back home in his dad’s workshop using the mediums that are familiar to him as an artist such as porcelain and wax. Indeed, one of the great things about E.A.S.T. is that one can walk into the gallery space of an artist like Zack Ingram. It removes the sense of commerce that a formal gallery space carries, and you feel a deeper sense of familiarity with the artists and their work. E.A.S.T., along with Big Medium and Tito’s Prize, helps foster the idea that Austin artists don’t have to move to New York City or Los Angeles to get recognition and exposure. If you see a marker for E.A.S.T. in your neighborhood, or spot one riding by, remember that anybody can stop in. The fall season has arrived; it’s inevitable, it surrounds us like a cozy jacket on a cool day. So get out and explore art in this community. The art here is inevitable, and it’s everywhere.
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Style + beauty October+ November 2017
Structured Style
A New Take on Modern Beauty WORDS BY SAM LAURON PHOTOS BY JEN RACHID MODELED BY ZOE GRAHAM
Pascal NU’s innovative approach to design brings a fresh perspective to the fashion and beauty worlds, and it’s just getting started.
D
evon Stonebrook, the designer behind Pascal NU, uses her background in architecture along with her lasercutting skillset to craft structured, luxury handbags built with an unconventional pairing of materials: acrylic and leather. “Exploring new things is important to me: important because they don’t exist yet,” says Stonebrook. The artist made her move to Austin after attending the University of Michigan where she studied architecture. Having worked with laser cutters building models, she knew that after school she wanted to continue honing her skills and values when it comes to design. “After trying things out and figuring out what works and what doesn’t work, I’ve definitely refined the process,” says Stonebrook. “And when I figured out what staples I wanted in a handbag brand, that’s when I started Pascal NU.”
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eastside / style
Inspired by modern materials, Pascal NU is a balance between “figuring out how to incorporate hard and soft in the right way,” as the designer puts it. Her designs combine acrylic pieces with leather straps and lacing to perfectly merge modern and traditional form. The structured bags are meant to serve as functioning accessories, while still highlighting the innovative design and mix of materials. As for inspiration, Stonebrook has let her love of fashion and design lead the way. “I’ve always been interested in fashion more than architecture. When something appeals to me, I want to wear it. And I selfishly want to make this for myself to wear.” After participating in E.A.S.T. in previous years and recently taking part in a trunk show at Stanley Korshak, Pascal NU has seen major milestones in just two years since its beginning. What’s next for the handbag collection? “Special collaborations is the direction I want to go in, keeping it small and special.” As for the artist herself, she wants to explore new materials and expand her design toolkit, so she can continue to craft original, high-quality designs made with intention.
contact:
info@pascalnu.com pascalnu.com @pascal_nu
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eastside / beauty
Rekha Panda,
founder of Raeka Beauty, has been nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year for the 2017 Extraordinary Women’s Awards, by The Texas Women in Business. Raeka Beauty has been featured on KXAN (NBC’s affiliate in Austin) and KSAT12 (ABC’s affiliate in San 22 EASTside | Oct/NovAntonio). 2017
From Super Spice to Superb Skincare Get ready to #peelhappy with the natural benefits of turmeric. find more at eastsideatx.com
Words by Judy Tsuei Photos by Kala Media Films & Photography
W
hen it comes to modern wellness, there’s more to consider than simply your physical body — it’s more essential than ever to keep your emotional, mental, and spiritual states in optimal condition. That’s why ancient practices have found a resurgence in everything from fitness to skincare, as we seek ways to thrive. The good news? Raeka Beauty is bringing you New Generation Ayurveda Technology to deliver the world’s FIRST and ONLY turmeric in peel form, which started right here in ATX. Two of the world’s most ancient medical practices are Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine — and they’re still around for one key reason: they work. Raeka Beauty, founded by Austin entrepreneur Rekha Panda, now brings the best in Ayurveda directly to your skin. “Ayurveda has been proven through the ages,” Rekha shares. “Due to its close relation to earth and nature, our bodies are more adept to taking in the benefits of Ayurveda. In fact, science has even proven that our skin experiences less problems, such as fewer allergies, sensitivities, and reactions, when using Ayurvedic ingredients.” If you’ve ever experienced acne, dry or oily skin, or any number of skin conditions, you’ve likely invested substantial amounts of money in products that simply do not work. Despite the greatest advances in science and technology, the best remedies often prove to be the ones that have worked for millennia. “I grew up with an Indian cultural background, which in my family, meant that my mother would always instruct me to keep any remedy for my skin simple,” Rekha adds. “She gave me natural remedies that my grandmother taught her, these fresh, madeat-home solutions that my great-grandmother before her shared. Above all else, these remedies worked!” From there, she’s built a New Generation Ayurveda Technology that proves the adage: It’s the simplest things in life that are the most extraordinary. Her all-natural, plant-based line is built upon the highest of global skincare standards, which are more
Special Promotion
stringent than the minimum requirements in the U.S., to ensure that her products are rooted in safety by not including any ingredients on the banned list. Best of all, she’s created the world’s first and only turmeric peel. While most brands use alcohol to cause peels to dry quickly upon contact, the science of Ayurveda shows that this can cause damage to your skin. With Raeka Beauty’s line of turmeric peels made for both women and men, you can see and feel the difference with routine use. “We chose turmeric as our main ingredient, because its abundance of benefits,” Rekha says. “As a super spice, turmeric has the power to prevent skin issues, heal, and repair.” Turmeric has proven to have an array of benefits for your body inwardly and outwardly. When it comes to skincare specifically, turmeric is a natural antibiotic, has anti-inflammatory capabilities, and prevents against sunburns, as well as acne. Designed for all skin types, Raeka Beauty’s line of peels come in the original Turmeric, Turmeric Sandalwood, Turmeric Orange, Turmeric Lemon, and Turmeric Cucumber. All peels are free of parabens, synthetic fragrances GMO’s, sulphates, and are also vegan and cruelty-free. Ultimately, Rekha hopes to provide safer skincare products for everyone, by using the purest and highest quality ingredients on the planet. “We’re currently working on face washes, and hope to expand into everything from acne treatment systems and healing treatments to moisturizers and eye creams.” As an online company, Rekha appreciates that her products can be easily available to people around the world. In the near future, she plans to move into beauty subscription boxes, because she believes that life may be complicated, but your skincare doesn’t have to be.
What is a “dosha”? According to Ayurvedic medicine, a “dosha” refers to your unique physical and mental constitution, which influences your overall well-being. Each person is usually made up of a dominant dosha or a combination of these elemental forces, based on earth, water, fire, air, and ether. The three doshas are: Pitta: Fiery, strong, intense Vata: Airy, imaginative, active
contact:
info@raekabeauty.com raekabeauty.com @raekabeauty
[the creative side of austin]
Kapha: Earthy, stable, compassionate, loyal
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23
theLooking GLASS
STRANGE MIRACLES, DARK ART, AND HAPPY ACCIDENTS BECKON FROM WONDERLAND.
WA R B A C H
Lighting & Design
THROUGH
THE FIVE MAKERS featured on the following pages all have one thing in common: they’ve taken a traditional art form and somehow subverted it in the quest to stay relevant, cutting-edge, and one-of-a-kind in their quest to follow the White Rabbit. Elias Howe invented the sewing machine in 1846, but no one’s used it to tell a story quite like local chainstitch company Ft. Lonesome. Jewelry artist Anna Gieselman’s concern over Honey Bee colony collapse inspires her hexagonal
adornments. It’s the eco-activism, as much as the bling, that fuels her creative passion. Lighting designers Nathan Warner and Buck Hubach and florist Antonio Bond use reclaimed or found objects to accent home and event spaces, while Eliana Bernard’s candy-striped ceramics take a note from Mad Hatter's tea party. If you think all custom embroidery, earrings, light fixtures, flower arrangements, and plates are created equal, you’re in for a dizzying slip down Alice's rabbit hole. A technicolor dream world awaits the adventurous aficionado of fine art.
WORDS BY JESSICA HAGEMANN & SOMMER BRUGAL PHOTOS BY ERIC MORALES
BEAUTY TO LIGHT Victor Hugo said that “To love beauty is to see light,” and innovative lighting designers Nathan Warner and Buck Hubach couldn’t agree more. The friends and business partners met five years ago when they both worked at an Austin woodworking shop. Nathan had just moved from Round Top, Texas—home of the Round Top Antiques Fair—where he’d learned to create, wire, and sell unique lighting fixtures from reclaimed materials. At the time, Buck was in charge of the woodshop’s mill and looking for an opportunity to continue to flex his creative muscles. It felt like fate when Nathan ran into Austin design icon Joel Mozersky at a holiday party. After the two men hit it off, Mozerky commissioned what would become Warbach’s first official piece: a 180-foot-long snake light with no less than 210 light bulbs. Six months later, Nathan and Buck combined their last names to co-found Warbach Lighting & Design. Complementing one
another and blending together their strengths of engineering and artistry, Nathan designs each piece and handles “the business side of things,” while Buck specializes in fabrication and installation. Both talents become an integral part of the collaboration to come up with one-of-a-kind pieces for a wide variety of clients. “We’ve now worked with so many of the premier architects, designers, and business owners in town,” reflects Nathan. “I never would have guessed the type and level of projects that Warbach would rise to in that time.” This year, Warbach completed lighting installations for Fareground at One Eleven (arguably the most distinctive building in Austin’s skyline), as well as coast-to-coast Shake Shack locations, taking Warbach’s name national. Whether they’re outfitting a condo lobby or a residential kitchen, says Buck: “It’s challenging in all the best ways to create a sculpture that ‘fits’ the space and feel for which it’s designed.” Truly, adds Nathan, lighting design “is about creating something no one has seen before. Lighting sets the mood for a space … [it can] be bold or calming,” but it is always beautiful. 5007 E Cesar Chavez Street, warbach.com
Up Next! Warbach will collaborate with the UT School of Architecture on an immersive Eileen Gray exhibit.
SLOW FASHION
F T . LO N E S O M E Custom Stitched
It's jean jackets and the perfect West Texas sunset. It's slow fashion creating beautiful chainstitch designs. It's Patsy, Pearl, Dolly, and Fancy; each name depicts a different personality and character. Yet, Patsy isn’t a person or individual. She’s a sewing machine that dates back more than one hundred years and hums loudly while at work in the Ft. Lonesome studio. “All of us will tell you that when you get used to your machine, [stitching] on someone else’s is very disorienting.” Amrit Khalsa is a lead designer and stitcher at Ft. Lonesome, a custom design and chainstitch shop in East Austin. She stitches on Pearl, a slow but detail-oriented machine. Despite the personal bond each stitcher has with her machine, Ft. Lonesome is a collective effort. “When we first started out, we would drive cross-country to California and stay there for two weeks. We’d drive to Marfa and be there for a week,” remembers Amrit. “We had this pseudo band feel about our work. We were road warriors.” Kathie Sever is the founder of Ft. Lonesome, and much of her design history is seen in the stitch work that comes out of the studio. Kathie’s Americana and western wear influences play a big role in the brand’s preferred aesthetic of West Texas landscapes, night skies, and deserts. “Kathie’s business has evolved from a western-wear standpoint,” says Amrit, “but our capacity to invent new techniques that lend themselves to these landscapes has evolved.” Ft. Lonesome was among the first brands to successfully blend colors using chainstitch machines. The main mission behind Ft. Lonesome is to take items of clothing that already possess a certain relevance to the owner and make it that much more meaningful. Part of the brand’s general motivation is to slow fashion down. The Ft. Lonesome team focuses on four styles of patchwork and embroidery: custom patch work; full jacket backs; custom shirts, where designers build the shirt and then add the design and embroidered elements; and full suits, with custom western-wear inspired designs constructed in-house. From the smallest patch to a tailored suit, a special relationship is fostered between the designer and a customer. While many people come for the trend or the simple beauty of chainstitch designs, Amrit says others come to create art that represents something in their lives. “Because we do this every day, it’s hard to imagine that someone would be that moved by our work,” Amrit humbly admits. “[But] when people are receptive and want to make a connection with us for making them something…we always love that.” ftlonesome.com Common Misconceptions: Chainstitch work is physically demanding, but surprising to some, it’s not the most challenging aspect of the job. Khalsa says relaying the value of their time and designs is often the largest wall between a project and potential customers. In a sense, it’s a double-edged sword. Though more people have become interested in handmade chainstitch products, many more don’t fully understand the work that it entails and the costs incurred in producing the final product.
BEE ART
In 2015, Anna partnered with Austin's Milk & Honey Spa to create an urban apiary for the sole purpose of raising healthy bees and teaching the craft of beekeeping to spa employees. The apprentices learn to care for bees and their hives, and in exchange, Milk & Honey sells the honey harvested by Anna and her team. Presently, Anna maintains 15 rooftop and backyard hives around Austin. When she’s not protecting pollinators or casting their combs, Anna volunteers with the Chula League, which pairs elemen-
tary school students with practicing artists. “It’s so rewarding,” she says, to see kids sawing and soldering metal, and learning “what it takes and what you have to do to be an artist.”
To find Anna’s jewelry and support her efforts to save the bees, shop her unique pieces online or in-person on the East Austin Studio Tour, or locally at Parts & Labour and the Blanton Museum gift shop. On December 2, she will also be hosting her first solo art show, featuring an installation of cast bronze bees swarming the walls of Cloud Tree Gallery. 3411 E 5th Street, beeamour.com
BEE AMOUR
The end result was a line of perfectly-imperfect hexagonal clusters, made chiefly of bronze or sterling silver, that Anna could transform into earrings, necklaces, cuffs, pendants, and more. She named the company Bee Amour and describes its mission as part environmental activism, part eye-catching design. “The jewelry is beautiful, but it also has a message,” says Anna. “My hope is that it leads people to feel connected to honey bees and inspired to make choices that help them, such as planting more flowers and not using pesticides.”
Anna Gieselman
It all started when jewelry artist Anna Gieselman read an article about colony collapse disorder: the phenomenon currently decimating western Honey Bee populations. Disheartened but inspired, she took a beekeeping workshop at Round Rock Honey, where she learned how to start and maintain an apiary (or beehive). After then taking a Lost Wax Casting class at South Austin’s Creative Side Jewelry Academy, she combined her two new loves and started casting metal jewelry from actual honeycomb cells.
Antonio Bond
T R A N S P L A N T S F LO R A L
Fighting Time Unlike other artists, a florist’s creation has a predetermined lifespan. While it’s the one aspect about his medium Bond visibly dislikes, he’s working on projects that can make his work eternal. He began experimenting with photography and recently released a limited edition series of prints. He also just wrapped up a coffee table book, which features images of Bond’s arrangements and photos from inside his studio. The book is scheduled for release this November.
ASSEMBLY REQUIRED Austin native Antonio Bond finds beauty in combining found objects and Earth’s natural décor.
to pick sides. Because if you’re not pushing somebody’s buttons, what are you doing?”
It’s not too often you’ll find a floral arrangement laced with bones, wasp hives, or animal skulls. When you do, you might question its beauty; you might even think it strange. But for Antonio, founder of and florist at Transplants Floral, combining weird, uncommon objects with something delicate (like flowers) seems obvious. Doing so, he says, allows him to tell a story.
To evoke that emotion, Antonio strays away from modern day props, like glass vases. Instead, he opts for an antique welding face shield or an animal’s skull to hold his flowers. Sometimes, he doesn’t use flowers at all but arranges random trinkets he’s collected over time.
“I’ve always liked dark things,” says Antonio. “There’s something to the dark floral I like. It’s more emotional, and a little more moody.” Antonio’s edginess was apparent from the start, when he began creating floral arrangements for friends’ weddings. At first, working with limited budgets, Antonio simply turned to natural elements like coral to fill gaps in his arrangements. As he became more confident, he began to push boundaries by including manmade objects in arrangements. He wanted to inspire a certain reaction in people. “I don’t want to do safe art. I don’t want to do art that everyone likes,” Antonio admits bluntly. “I want people
Bond’s design process differs from most other florists. He says he never begins assembling flowers with a preconceived plan in mind. Instead, he lets the flowers speak to him. “I like the spontaneity of each arrangement being different, but still looking like they belong,” smiles Antonio. “That’s why you’ll never see the same arrangement twice. Each one of [my designs] is different from the others.” From his dark floral combinations to the eclectic collection of knickknacks he pairs with them, Antonio is anything but your typical florist. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t consider himself one. Instead, he sees himself as an artist and his arrangements as sculptures.
LET US SHOWCASE WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS.
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29
ELIANA BERNARD
Ceramics
SWEET AS CANDY Candy-striping isn’t only for Christmas candy-canes anymore. Mango, blue raspberry, and bubblegum-pink swirls decorate ceramicist Eliana Bernard’s latest collection of slip-cast vases, plates, and serving trays. They’re sweet enough to stand alone or accent any designer’s dream space, and she makes pieces that fit every budget, too. Setting Eliana’s work apart from other potters’ pieces is her unusual method. Instead of throwing clay on the wheel, she works from pre-formed plaster molds, which she says create “a more uniform product.” Each vase or plate is then slip-cast in liquid clay and marbled in different-colored porcelains. The final touch is a hand-painted gold trim, brushed on between the second and third firings. “My marbling patterns, which can’t be replicated, make every piece one-of-akind,” explains Eliana. Combined with the gold trim, they also make every piece feel delicate, clean, and elegant: a minimalist aesthetic that appeals to many wedding planners. “Lately I’ve been lending out dinnerware for wedding photo shoots and getting lots of requests for wedding gifts, like large serving trays … so that market will be my focus going forward.” Eliana earned her BFA in Studio Art from UT-Austin four years ago. Since then, she’s completed several internships and apprenticeships with other local ceramicists, managing their studios and continuing to learn the craft. Near the end of 2016, Eliana finally amassed enough wholesale orders to take her business full-time, and 2017 has been a banner year for the 27-year-old, whose work now stocks the shelves of 15 retailers in four states. Studio at Canopy, elianabernard.com This winter, Eliana Bernard Ceramics will participate in the East Austin Studio Tour at Canopy, where the artist plans to debut a brand new limited edition color release. Watch her website (maintained by Eliana’s sister and fellow graphic artist) for a first look at upcoming collections.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO
Zero-Energy Capable Homes
CULTIVATE A
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Community Organic Farm 600-Acre Whisper Valley Public Park Hike & Bike Trails Fitness Center Geothermal Heated Resort-Style Pool Planned Events and Community Activities
The community of tomorrow is here today in East Austin! At Whisper Valley, you can grow food right here on our organic farm and have it delivered to your doorstep for dinner. And with endless trails and beautiful parks throughout the community, there are lots of opportunities to stay fit. You might say living healthy here is second nature. Come out for a tour today or visit us online to explore all the benefits of Whisper Valley living.
WhisperValleyAustin.com
CERTIFIED HOMES
Zero-Energy Capable Homes From The Low $200s to $400s
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AVI HOM ES • PACESETT E R H O M E S A Taurus Master-Planned Community www.tiholdings.com
DOWNTOWN LOCATION | 1601 E CESAR CHAVEZ ST, #106 SUN - THURS, 12PM - 8PM | FRI & SAT, 12PM - 10PM SHAMANMODIFICATIONS.COM
32 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2017
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Godo+
October+ November 2017
34 go
solve it
DEFEAT ZOMBIES, SOLVE MYSTERIES, AND SAVE THE WORLD IN AN ADRENALINEPUMPING THRILLER OF AN ESCAPE ROOM.
36 go&do
murals
EXPERIENCE
EXCITING, LARGESCALE STREET ART IN AUSTIN'S MOST CREATIVE COMMUNITY
Search for clues inside an abandoned New York City subway labyrinth right from the heart of Austin in a real-life video game. p.34
eastside / go&do
Escaping Reality Star in Your Own Real Life Video Game WORDS BY JENNIFER SIMONSON PHOTOS BY ERIC MORALES
I
magine you and your six friends are locked in an abandoned New York City subway station. You have one hour to find clues, solve a mystery and save the world from a madman. Your first order of business is to escape a shaking subway car. Once you do, you find yourself in an abandoned station. At the beginning of the adventure, you were told anything could be a clue to advance you to the next stage, so you and your friends scour the punk rock flyers taped to the walls, the trash discarded on the floor, and the graffiti spraypainted on the walls for clues. Once a few clues have been found and puzzles have been solved, you stumble upon a hidden room. Inside is a ratty cot, a few locked filing cabinets, and a locked dresser. Newspaper articles about mind-control, diagrams mapping out the human soul, and global population maps cover the walls. Spray-painted near a drawing of a human eye are the words, "The Walls Are Listening." As the red digital clock on the wall ticks down, a frenzy sets in. You have to work with your teammates to unlock cabinets, dressers, and suitcases to solve questions like: Who's behind it? What are they trying to accomplish? Why are they doing this? 34 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2017
This virtual scenario is one of Austin’s newest escape rooms: the latest craze sweeping the nation for those wanting a physical group-gaming experience. Each escape room combines detail-oriented set designs, elaborate storytelling and adrenaline pumping themes to challenge gamers to find clues and solve puzzles needed to get out of the room in a limited amount of time. Beating the game could require the team to break out of jail, fight zombies or escape from a mad scientist’s lab. Dubbed as a real life video game, escape rooms provide a popular company team-building activity, birthday party fun, or a good time for a family get-together. Escaping the subway station to save the world is Mind Spark’s Terminal, or the conspiracy room. It is one of four rooms located in an innocuous Northeast Austin warehouse. The creators of Mind Spark are the same guys behind Austin’s infamous, haunted House of Torment. The owners along with their creative team designed the escape rooms with the same realistic set-design, signature psychological thrills, and costumed actors who made House of Torment the number one haunted attraction in the country. Terminal is the most complicated of the four escape rooms with a success rate of near 16 percent.
find more at eastsideatx.com
Top: Erica Nix, Middle & Bottom: Rachael Hall
Book your event
at East Austin’s
best new venue!
In the Houdini Room, the world famous magician’s widow needs help contacting her husband from beyond the grave. Gamers solve puzzles in attempt to make contact with the Houdini’s spirit before he's gone forever. Participants locked in the Zombie Room must uncover clues and decipher riddles with a Zombie chained to the wall of the room with them. Every ten minutes the bloodthirsty Zombie’s chain is loosened, allowing him to stagger closer and closer to gamers. The ghost room, Geist Manor, is Austin’s only virtual-reality escape room. The ten-minute solo experience allows one to compete against a friend to see who can escape the haunted room first.
contact:
512.213.4222 2632 Ridgepoint Drive mindsparkescape.com houseoftorment.com
Just Released!
MindSpark's newest room, Naughty List, challenges families to break into an elf's workshop and erase their names from Santa's naughty list before he returns. The kid-friendly game is opening sometime in October.
Call 512.947.8772
[the creative side of austin]
info@springdalestation.com www.springdalestation.com eastsideatx.com
35
6
eastside / go&do
best
Murals A Community Conversation Through Art
WORDS BY JESSICA DEVENYNS PHOTO COURTESY OF AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY
VOYAGE OF SOULSVILLE
Due to the continuous creation of new works of wall art, cataloguing the public artscapes that pop up in the nooks and crannies of the eastside’s individual neighborhoods could take a lifetime. Listing a few of the most prominent murals, however, is an achievable goal. This handful-sized selection is only a sampling of the work that is proudly displayed across bricks, stones, and slats in our community.
1
La Lotería
In the summer of 1989, a group of young local artists undertook a city-sponsored art project where they covered an East Austin wall with imagery of the Mexican bingo-like game of lotería. Several years ago, South by Southwest unthinkingly sponsored an artist to paint a temporary exhibition over the long-standing mural. Robbed of their familiar landmark, the neighborhood residents pressured the music festival to apologize for its misstep and amend the damage. SXSW donated $12,000 toward the mural’s restoration which was completed by a group of artists including four who worked on the original mural in the 1980s.
1619 E Cesar Chavez St.
2
Las Cruxes Juneteenth
The corner of 12th and Chicon received its artistic christening by Chris Rogers in 2014 when he painted a mural showcasing artists such as James Brown, Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, and Stevie 36 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2017
Ray Vaughan. For three years, this colorful piece captured the imagination of those who strolled by until it was whitewashed in May 2017. After a negative reaction and a collaboration between Six Square and Las Cruxes who rents the space, Rogers, the original artist, re-painted the space with a Justice Thurgood quote in white over a black wall.
Corner of 12th and Chicon
3
Cesar Chavez Mural
On the side wall of a used car lot, Cesar Chavez proudly displays his basket of produce while his unforgettable “Si Se Puede!” slogan is prominently overlaid across a bucolic background. At the heart of one of the oldest majority-Latino communities in Austin, this iconic mural derives its power from context. Powerful as well as colorful, to those who cross his path, Cesar Chavez’s cry to the United Farm Workers is just as resonant today as it was half a century ago.
1200 E Cesar Chavez St.
4
Voyage to Soulsville
5
Hillside Miracle
In 1986, John Fisher transformed the south wall of the George Washington Carver Branch library into Soulsville. This vibrant mural “expresses a voyage through the discovery of black identity—depicting a community upon a vessel that embraces the African diaspora from pre-Columbian to present times," according to the library. A landmark for some, a reminder of our past to others, this mural is nevertheless a stalwart in the east Austin street art scene. 1161 Angelina St.
Raul Valdez applied his first brushstrokes onto the theater at the A.B. Cantu Pan-American Recreation Center in 1978. Three thousand square feet later, the bold backdrop was completed with references to both Mexican American contemporary culture and ancient history. Thirty-five years later, the faded and vandalized mural was restored by Valdez himself and today remains a spirited depiction of the cultural history in the neighborhood. 2100 E 3rd St.
6
You’re My Butter Half
Though not fraught with historical significance or tumultuous tales of surviving a changing landscape, “You’re My Butter Half” mural is noteworthy for its role in bringing attention to the public works of art that are scattered east of I-35. This brightly colored creation is located on the wall of the United Way of Greater Austin building and draws a continuous stream of friends, couples, and families to click camera shutters and immortalize the moment. Doing so brings awareness and interaction with the works of art throughout the rest of the city.
2000 E Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
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“Our house is a good example of sustainable living, through the design, size of it, the systems that we’ve used, and learning to live within your space." p.38
Home + away October+ November 2017
38 family
home
AN ECLECTIC HOME PERCHED IN THE TREES MAKES A COZY NEST FOR FOUR.
40 away
HOLLAND'S HIDDEN CITY, ROTTERDAM, IS THE PERFECT, LESSER-KNOWN LOCALE FOR A WEEKEND GETAWAY.
eastside / home
Designed for
TWO Built for 4 WORDS BY JESSI DEVENYNS PHOTOS BY LEONID FERMANSKY
Obscured in the backyard of an unassuming east Austin home is a novel structure. Built on a limited footprint with a thoughtful combination of materials, this 850-square foot home was constructed to be something more of an eco backyard treehouse for adults. But as with all well-laid plans, things change.
F
or four years, architect Trinity White and carpenter Jesse Mischel lived in their property’s original dwelling as they collaborated to construct their experimental and ecologically sustainable dream home. With more time than money on their hands, the construction progressed in a piecemeal fashion with the design continuously evolving as their family grew. “Can I say you didn’t design this for a first-time home builder?” Mischel asked his wife playfully. A nod of her head prompted him to continue, “She had a lot of confidence in my problem-solving abilities,” he said through a grin. That trust, he says, is what helped their marriage outlast the stress of the project. Construction on this sustainable structure began just four months into the couple’s marriage. Although experienced in their fields, the newlyweds were nervous about committing to a project that would play such an integral part in their lives; every board, every nail, and every angle that buttressed their home would become part of the scaffolding of their memories. They wondered whether they could live in a structure that they had poured so many years’ unadulterated emotions into. White explained, “We said at the beginning of this project, we’ll try it out, we’ll work together on this, but in the end, we’ll pick the marriage over the project.” Ultimately, an Austin Energy 5-star rated green building stands on what used to be the back lawn. With tri-fold doors that open onto wide, welcoming steps, the home is deceptively more compact than it appears. Mischel explained that incorporating cathedral ceilings and no corridors create a visual illusion of expansiveness. White elaborates on her design technique saying, “We tried to use the outdoor space as much as we could. The screened-in porch is a whole other living room space.” Not only did White and Mischel design outdoor living on the ground floor, but upstairs, cloistered between the eaves of re-
claimed wood, is a sleeping porch. Already plumbed for an outdoor shower and electricity, this third bedroom remains a bastion for creativity: its boards still a blank canvas on which the couple can construct their outdoor oasis. Currently, however, the pair is content with enjoying living life within their bubble-wrap insulated walls. “The more we live in it, the more I love it,” White gushed. Indeed, despite being a family of four in such a small abode, the couple says they don’t feel restricted. “Our house is a good example of sustainable living, through the design, size of it, the systems that we’ve used, and learning to live within your space,” says White. She explains that they are successfully able to do so because they ascribe to a lifestyle of mindful acquisitions. However, she insists, “I hesitate to say that because I don’t want it to sound unattainable. You don’t have to change your lifestyle to live in a house like this.”
contact:
401.662.1367 trinitywhite.com tw@trinitywhite.com
[the creative side of austin]
Austin Energy Green Rating Austin Energy rates homes on their sustainability with a 1-5 rating system; 5 being the highest you can attain at 100 points. To learn more about the specifics of the program, visit greenbuilding. austinenergy.com.
eastsideatx.com
39
eastside / away
A Weekend In
Rotterdam
Holland’s Coolest City WORDS & PHOTOS BY JENNIFER SIMONSON
WITH ITS EYE-CATCHING MODERN ARCHITECTURE, FLOURISHING ART, DINING SCENE, AND PICTURESQUE VIEWS, ROTTERDAM IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW A COUNTRY’S LESSER-KNOWN CITY IS ALWAYS WORTH EXPLORING.
Friday If you are arriving by train, walk across the street and drop your bags at the Rotterdam Marriott. The 31-story glass and steel building sits in the middle of the city center, making it the perfect starting point to explore this vibrant city. Take a ten minute walk to the Witte de Withstraat, known as the heart of Rotterdam’s art scene. Trendy crowds flock to the area’s
outdoor cafés, bohemian shopping boutiques and chic restaurants. Grab dinner at the Bazar, a colorful North African and Middle Eastern restaurant. Gin lovers should not miss the Ballroom, a minimalistic bar offering 52 varieties of gin for an after dinner G&T.
Saturday Start the day at the Markthal Rotterdam, the country’s
if you go... Where to stay: The Marriott Rotterdam is centrally located and 40 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2017
perfect for those arriving by train. The city is full of Airbnbs for those wanting more of a home away from home.
inaugural indoor food market. Glass-walled apartments arch over 96 artisan fresh food stalls. The luminescent LED art covering the inside ceiling is the world’s largest piece of art spanning 13,000 square yards. The nearby Cube Houses are 45-degree-tilted, cube-shaped apartments designed to solve the town’s dilemma of how to build private residences on top of a pedestrian bridge. The result is a series of bright yellow, tilted houses that leave people wondering how one actually lives inside. Spend the afternoon at the Maritime Museum Rotterdam or the contemporary art museum Kunsthal Rotterdam before heading to the Hofplein Station, a former train station that transformed its abandoned industrial space into open air bars and restaurants, vintage clothing shops and jazz clubs. If you can find a
Getting Around: It is said in Holland there are more bikes than people. If you want to get around in typical Dutch fashion, rent a bike.
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table at Restaurant De Jong, take it. The Frenchinfluenced Rotterdam-born chef uses vegetables, edible flowers and herbs from the kitchen garden ensuring each plate not only explodes with flavor but is also Instagram-worthy.
Sunday The historic Delfshaven neighborhood was the city’s only neighborhood to survive the heavy bombing during World War II. Walk
Events: If you are there during the last weekend of October, check out the International Jazz Festival.
along the canal-lined narrow cobblestoned street to the wooden windmill, and it is easy to picture a time when American-bound Pilgrims held their last service at the Oude Kerk (old church) before sailing to America. Take a water taxi across the bay to the Katebdrecgt Peninsula. Once a hotspot for lonely sailors and streetwalkers, the area has recently shed its seedy nature. Stop by the Fenix Food Factory, a converted warehouse full of freshly baked bread, homemade sausage and cider and stinky cheese plates, before strolling the length of the peninsula to the SS Rotterdam. Take a free tour of the restored 1960s-era luxury cruise liner before ending your evening at Nhow, Rotterdam’s seventh floor bar terrace overlooking the bridge and Rotterdam skyline.
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“We want people to sit down for three hours, drink a whole bunch, yell, talk with their hands. We want people to have a meal and not just food.” -Nic Patrizi p.44
Sip + taste October+ November 2017 44 taste feature
FINE DINING MEETS CASUAL CURB APPEAL AT AN INTERACTIVE HOMESTYLE ITALIAN EATERY.
46 taste expert
RECIPES FOR WHOLESOME TRICKS AND DELICIOUS TREATS JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN
48 dining
guide
A CURATED GUIDE TO SOME OF EAST AUSTIN'S BEST RESTAURANTS
50 sip
feature
THE AUSTIN SHAKER SHARES AN INNOVATIVE, APPLE COCKTAIL RECIPE TO WARM YOU UP THIS AUTUMN.
eastside / taste expert eastside / taste
First We Eat
At Patrizi’s, eating is an interactive experience. WORDS BY JESSICA DEVENYNS PHOTOS BY TAMICA MCCOOK
With a consistent ranking as one of the best Italian restaurants in the city, Patrizi’s is conscious of the reputation it must uphold. Nevertheless, first visits to this neighborhood haunt can be divisive. Why would one painstakingly plate fine dining fare onto paper plates served out of a mobile kitchen?
O
ne hundred and ninety seats sit exposed to the Austin’s capricious weather as food drifts in and out from a tiny kitchen inside of an unassuming food truck. Yet despite the near certainty a steaming plate of pasta under Austin’s eternal sunshine, a line meanders out the gate into the parking lot as hosts glide around offering an amuse bouche to the waiting customers who occasionally drift over to the Butterfly Bar to alleviate their weary feet and order a drink. Over everything looms the Vortex theater that started it all. Thanks to a TD301 theater class he took at the 44 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2017
University of Texas, Patrizi’s owner, Nic Patrizi, knew, despite its lack of conventional curb appeal, the courtyard of the Vortex was precisely the place to serve up the meals and the experiences that he, himself, wanted to have in East Austin. “This felt like the last bastion of Austin weirdness place,” he explains. Being surrounded by a mecca of creativity has inspired Patrizi to throw conventional AmericanItalian cuisine to the wind in favor of a richer, slower, more hands-on preparation that is reminiscent of the Italy his grandparents knew. “I wanted this place to be a local spot and turn into an Austin sta-
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ple. And you can’t really do that playing the creative game or the trend game,” Patrizi says. As a result, “We do more work on our food than most of the Italian restaurants in Austin – I mean in terms of scratch preparation – by a lot.” However, despite the hours required in the kitchen to manually prepare each dish, the price is pleasantly palatable. Surprisingly, simmering sauces for hours, curesmoking their own bacon, and pulling pasta through brass dyes for the sake of a ribbed texture help this neighborhood favorite shave off costs. The resulting savings are then fed back through the pasta machine by allowing the team to purchase produce and meats from Texas farms to create dishes that are unsurpassed in color and flavor. But why put so much effort into a dish that most people would simply call spaghetti and meatballs? “Well,” says head chef Patrick Shaw, “it’s because it’s important to know what is on your plate and be excited about it.” Patrizi adds, “We want them engaged and excited first, not just inundate them with adjectives.” He continued his thought saying, “I think it helps, in general, when people are more active in their meal. They appreciate it more.” Indeed, customers do appreciate Patrizi’s approach to fine dining. Not only is each meal painstakingly prepared, but it is carefully set atop a neutral-colored, compostable plate leaving customers feeling confident that stewardship and care of the environment is at the core of everything Patrizi’s offers. In fact, this appreciation of a delicious meal is exactly what has been created in this gravel courtyard on the corner of Manor Road and Chestnut Avenue. “We want people to sit down for three hours, drink a whole bunch, yell, talk with their hands. We want people to have a meal and not just food.”
Did You Know? At Patrizi’s the ricotta, bacon, pickles, and noodles are all made in house. In fact, Shaw says, “We make almost everything except for our Grana Padano.”
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contact:
2307 Manor Rd. patrizis.com @PatrizisAustin
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Halloween Popcorn Balls with Hauntingly Healthy Butternut Bisque
WORDS BY KAYLA & JUSTIN BUTTS OF FOUR STRING FARM PHOTOS BY RACHEL BENAVIDES
Play a trick of your own this season by giving your kids sweet healthy treats.
O
n Halloween, we give our children a sweet wholesome snack to start the night with ghoulishly good fun and minimize the candy binge that will haunt them later.
balls. On our farm, we grow colorful varieties of heirloom Indian corn specifically for popping. You can tailor these treats to your own taste by adding seeds, nuts, dried fruit, or even cayenne pepper for a kick.
Homemade popcorn balls are the perfect dish to begin the quest for candy. These treats are fun, sweet, and incredibly delicious. In fact, this may be the healthiest sweet the little ones enjoy all night. The best part is that they are easy to make.
Dressing up the popcorn balls with tulle, construction paper, and stickers turns this wholegrain snack into an adorable decoration. Decorated popcorn balls are one of the oldest treats in America. Native Americans made popcorn balls into statues during religious ceremonies. Pioneer settlers in the wilds of America decorated sweetened popcorn balls during holidays and festivals.
Simply fill a bowl with high-quality popcorn, add honey and melted butter, and press the popcorn into balls. It’s that simple. Then dress them up for Halloween! H-E-B sells organic popcorn under the Central Market label that is perfect for making popcorn 46 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2017
Another fun “trick” we play on the kids is “treating” them to a healthy dish of butternut bisque before trick-or-treating. The bisque will give the kids energy while collecting candy. It is served
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in a goblet and called A Witch’s Brew, fittingly so, when the steam rises like a bubbling cauldron. This bisque recipe calls for butternut squash, but you can use any heirloom winter squash you find at the farmer’s market: striped green cushaw, Japanese red kuri, tatume, acorn, or buttercup. The butternut bisque is rich in fiber and vitamins A and C, and the healthy popcorn balls call for local honey, not the high-fructose corn syrup suggested in most recipes. Best of all, these treats are not just for kids. These recipes are perfect for adults, too. So whether you are kid, or a kid at heart, start your Halloween with a healthy treat that tastes so good, you may not even want your candy!
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Add butter, honey, and salt (along with additional spices, as desired) to small sauté pan over medium heat. Whisk mixture until a rolling boil is reached. Remove from heat and pour mixture over popped corn (add in any additional seeds, nuts, or dried fruit at this time). Let sit for ten minutes, or until cool enough to handle. Using an 8"x8" piece of plastic wrap, form one cup of popcorn honey mixture into a ball using your hands. This process will require force to get the balls to stay intact. Insert the lollipop stick into the ball. Wrap the formed ball in tulle, secure with raffia, and decorate as desired. Decorations: lollipop sticks, ¾ yard each of colored tulle, eye and mouth stickers, construction paper (for noses), miniature witch hats, small feathers, raffia, pipe cleaners, and glue gun.
Butternut Bisque
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Makes: 4-6 servings Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 40 minutes
Popcorn Balls Makes: 12 treats Cook time: 7 minutes Prep time: 10 minutes 8 c. popcorn, unsalted/without butter (see below for details) 2 T. butter 1/2 c. local honey 3/4 t. salt Optional add-ins: 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper, 1/2 cup roasted pumpkin seeds, 1/3 cup pistachios, or 1 cup dried fruit Directions: If using microwave popcorn, follow package directions and prepare two bags of popped corn. Place prepared corn into a large heatproof bowl. If using a gas stovetop method and corn kernels, add 1 tablespoon coconut butter to large pot over medium heat. Add enough kernels to cover the bottom of the pot (1 kernel deep). Once kernels begin to pop, cover with lid, and continually move pot in a circular motion over the burner until corn stops popping, about 3 minutes. Place prepared corn into a large heatproof bowl.
2 T. unsalted butter 1 large sweet onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 3 lbs. butternut squash, peeled and cubed 4 c. chicken stock 1 T. brown sugar 2 t. salt 1/4 t. poultry seasoning 1/8 t. ground ginger 2 whole bay leaves Pinch nutmeg 3/4 c. organic whipping cream Directions: Heat butter over medium heat in a large pot. Add onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes, until fragrant and beginning to turn translucent. Add garlic and sauté one additional minute, stirring frequently. Add butternut squash, stock, and seasonings. Bring to a vigorous boil and reduce to low-medium heat. Cook for 25-35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until squash is fork tender. Remove soup from heat and add cream. Allow soup to cool slightly, then puree with an immersion blender or food processor until well blended. Serve in cocktail or shot glasses.
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O U R FAV E R E S TA U R A N T S
Pick 27
FOR THE EASTSIDE
eastside dining guide Hillside Farmacy
Austin Daily Press
Austin Daily Press has spent the last five years honing their craft, and it shows! The ADP team, led by Chef Reed Faitak and coowners Dustin Knef and Chase Rushing, have found their voice through creating incredibly flavorful experiences sandwiched between locally baked telera. 1900 E MLK Jr. Blvd. | E Cesar Chavez location opening soon | austindailypress.com
Li’l Nonna’s
Vegan pizza that surpasses expectations is where Li’l Nonna’s shines. Even the staunchest supporters of animal products will have to appreciate the beeteroni and vegan mozzarella. 1505 Town Creek Dr. | lilnonnas.com
Something about Hillside Farmacy’s oysters, weekend brunches, and cocktails just make you feel better. Perhaps that's due to its historical location in the lovingly renovated 1950s Hillside Drugstore. Or perhaps it’s because the fresh, carefully selected seasonal food that comes from local farms and onto your plate is just good medicine. 1209 E 11th St. | hillsidefarmacy.com
El Sunzal
El Sunzal is a quintessential hole-in-the-wall that makes up for its bare-bones appearance with its exceptional El Salvadorian fare. Make sure to sample the fried yucca, seafood soup, and the pupusas. 642 Calles St.
Juan in a Million
Made famous by the Don Juan, this no-frills establishment has more to offer than insurmountable breakfast tacos. Try the migas or the huevos rancheros for starters. 2300 E Cesar Chavez St. | juaninamillion.com
Buenos Aires Café
Flyrite Chicken
Disrupting the fast food industry one sandwich at a time, Flyrite is a drive-thru with all-natural, antibiotic-free chicken as well as gluten-free and vegetarian options. 2129 E 7th St. | flyritechicken.com
American cocktails and Argentinian fare make their home side by side at Buenos Aires Café. The locally inspired menu offers Argentinian mainstays like empanadas as well as seasonal favorites. Don’t be surprised to find yourself falling in love with the live Latin music and flavors that come out of this restaurant. 1201 E 6th St. | buenosairescafe.com
The Doughminican
Find Caribbean beats, happy people, and soul-filled food at this trailer. Try the legendary empanadas that are rolled out fresh for everyone, the quipes, and the sweet bean dessert. 1403 E 7th St. | thedoughminican.com
Kyoten Sushiko Artessano
The fresh tropical fruit juice and the arepas are why you need to visit Artessano. As a food trailer specializing in Colombian food, expect dance music and lots of friendly conversation when you visit. 1211 E 6th St.
At Kyōten, Chef Otto Phan’s attention to detail makes for an impeccable dining experience. With such measured preparation and presentation, you can trust that you will be dazzled with each visit. 4600 Mueller Blvd., Ste.1035 | kyotensushiko.com
Micklethwait Craft Meats
Although known for their beef ribs, brisket, and craft meats, if you’re headed to Micklethwait’s, you can’t forget about the sides. Your meal won’t be the same without a scoop of the jalapeño cheese grits or lemon poppy seed coleslaw. 1309 Rosewood Ave. | craftmeatsaustin.com
Daruma Ramen
Enjoy a bowl of ramen in an intimate setting. Unusual for ramen bars in the area, Daruma specializes in chicken broths whose light flavors pair sublimely with an addition of a softboiled egg. 612-B E 6th St. | darumaramen.com 48 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2017
Patrizi’s
Mouths water when plates head out of Patrizi’s tiny kitchen in the Manor Restaurant District. Plus, one Wednesday a month is extra special when the chefs have the opportunity to be creative with traditional Italian fare. 2307 Manor Rd. | patrizis.com
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WORDS BY JESSICA DEVENYNS
eastside / dining guide
Yellow Jacket Social Club
Come for brunch, come for happy hour, come for a good time. Whether you’re on the shaded patio or inside at the bar, the food is always good and the drinks are always cold at Yellow Jacket Social Club. Plus, this is a pet-friendly establishment. 1704 E 5th St. | yellowjacketsocialclub.com
S-H Donuts
This unassuming store front houses an outstanding array of donuts, kolaches, and breakfast croissants. Even if the food wasn’t enough, owners Socea and Sarorn make the trip to S-H worth it every time. 5313 Manor Rd.
Taco Mex
Rockstar Bagels
Go for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Joe’s ingenuity has produced some of the best bagels on the block. Made in an authentic New York fashion, you won’t be disappointed as you consider the texture of every chewy bite. 1900 Rosewood Ave. | rockstarbagels.com
J. Leonardi’s Barbecue
This little barbecue truck produces a mountain of smoky flavor. With large portions and an affordable menu, you’ll be tempted into ordering the ribs and the turkey just because. 1149 1/2 Airport Blvd. | jleonardibbq.com
Justine's Brasserie
A tiny kitchen with a walk-up window, Taco Mex nevertheless manages to serve up healthy-sized & fairly-priced breakfast tacos and chicken quesadillas with Tex-Mex flavors. 2611 Manor Rd. | tacomexorders.com
Known for late-night dining and artistic flare, Justine’s should be on the radar of anyone who is craving French fare. Sit on the patio, enjoy a cocktail, and revel in the experience. 4710 E 5th St. | justines1937.com
The Dog & Duck Pub
Dee Dee
Since this Austin classic moved east, not much has changed. Still serving up fish and chips alongside dozens of draft beers, this pub is a little English village in the middle of East Austin. 2400 Webberville Rd. | dogandduckpub.com
Komé Sushi Kitchen
Seat yourself among wood-paneled walls and select from an expansive saké list featuring local and imported options as well as a menu full of inventive variations of flavorful Japanese classics. 4917 Airport Blvd. (new location opening soon: 5301 Airport Blvd.) | kome-austin.com
Vintage Heart Coffee
Eden East
Under the wizened oak trees of Springdale Farm is an unmarked trailer whose plain façade belies hyper-seasonal, farm-to-table dishes. Whether it’s a farm-fresh breakfast on market days or a sit-down prix fixe dinner under the stars, Eden East reinvents the idea of eating local. Keep an eye out for their a-lacarte nights one Thursday a month. 755 Springdale Rd. | edeneastaustin.com
Today you can choose from lavender lattés, cold brew coffee or lemonade served with house-made simple syrup flavors. But soon you’ll select from an array of food trucks and an extensive beer and wine list, too. 1405 E 7th St. | vintageheartcoffee.com
Tso Chinese Delivery
Raised in Thailand, Lakana brings the region’s flavors to East Austin. With a name that means “good good,” no one can argue that this food truck has set itself up for success. 1906 E Cesar Chavez St. | deedeeatx.com
Mongers Market + Kitchen
Fish doesn’t get much fresher. Check out the catch of the day blackboard for stellar raw bar creations, or order Gulf-inspired dishes from the curated menu. 2401 E Cesar Chavez St. | mongersaustin.com
Tamale House
The Valera family built their East 6th location decades back, but as their residence. Now, the bungalow poses as their restaurant where TexMex is served up with East Austin flair. 1707 E 6th St. | tamalehousetogo.com
Tso is one of the newest additions to East Austin. Unlike most eateries around, Tso is carryout and delivery only, but that doesn’t mean that the cuisine suffers. Each meal is made fresh to order, delivery is free, and tipping is discouraged. (512) 774-4876 | tsodelivery.com
For more information about the dining guide contact Jessi@eastsideatx.com.
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eastside / sip expert
Happy Hour
Monday-Friday 5:30pm-7pm
$4.50 Shumai, Daruma Wings, & Tatsuta Age (fried chicken) $2 Onigiri Rice Balls $1.50 Potato Croquette Plus Discounted Austin Beer Works and Infinite Monkey Wines!
612 E 6th St.
512.369.3897
3317 Manor Road/Dharma-Yoga.net
APPLE OF MY EYE the austin shaker
WORDS BY SAM LAURON PHOTOS BY PARKER THORNTON
Head into crisper weather with a drink that will warm you up from the inside.
3317 Manor Road/Dharma-Yoga.net
3317 Manor Road/Dharma-Yoga.net
C
o-owners of the The Austin Shaker, David Maguire and Kirstyn Litchfield, have crafted a concoction that pairs equally well with chilly, fall evenings as it does with festive holiday parties.
Apple of My Eye Recipe Ingredients: 1.5 oz. Copper & Kings Floodwall Apple Brandy 1 oz. Lustau East India Solera Sherry .75 oz. Amaro Meletti .75 oz. Schonauer Apfel 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters Directions: Measure and pour ingredients into a mixer beaker then add ice. Stir thoroughly until well chilled. Strain into a coupe cocktail glass and enjoy!
The brandy-based apple cocktail combines bold flavors that result in a dark, earthy taste with subtle apple tones. “The Angostura adds more of a spicy apple [flavor],” says Litchfield, “like a spiced baked apple dessert, but not sweet.” When deciding which liquor would be the base of this fall-themed drink, Maguire adds that brandy and cognacs were appealing as they’re less ventured when it comes to cocktail experimenting. “We wanted to give life to something that wasn’t in everybody’s repertoire and showcase a way that you can use it in something that’s not just brandy or a replacement for whiskey.” 50 EASTside | Oct/Nov 2017
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contact:
512-524-0754 1199 Airport Blvd. theaustinshaker.com @theaustinshaker
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