AUSTIN
LOCALE
RELOCATION MAGAZINE
AWARD-WINNING ENTREPRENUER EXPLAINS WHY WEIRD IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS RUBY JANE ‘S FAVORITE AUSTIN HANGOUTS AUSTIN CHILDREN’S SHELTER 52 FESTIVALS IN 52 WEEKS 1
WINTER 2013
LETTER FROM
1507 Osprey Ridge Loop
7 Beds | 4 Full Baths + 1 Half Bath 6,584 SQFT | 1.73 Acres with LAKE ACCESS Offered at $1,299,000
SHANNON T. SCHMITZ
The city of Austin recently reported that over 158 people are moving to Austin, and it’s easy to see why. In the last year, this multi-faceted, vibrant city has been ranked one of the “best cities to live in” by several publications such as: #1 City for Job Growth (Forbes.com) #1 City for Job-Seekers (Nerdwallet.com) #1 Best City for Young Entreprenuers (Under30CEO.com) #1 Best City to Start Over (CreditDonkey.com) #17 Best City for Tech Start-Ups (Entreprenuer.com) In this issue, we talk to an award-winning, bearded Austin entreprenuer (on the cover) who shares his favorite local workspaces and the musical legend-in-the-making, Ruby Jane Smith, about her favorite Austin hangouts and, of course, her recent album release. If you are planning a trip to Austin, check out the La Vida LOCALE section, a guide with a festival for every week of the year. If you have any questions about the city, please drop us a line. Let us know when you’ll be here - we‘d love to show you around our city! SHANNON T. SCHMITZ
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12912 Hacienda Ridge
4 Beds | 4 Full Baths + 1 Half Bath 6,137 SQFT | 0.62 Acres Offered at $2,300,000
13005 Little Barton Lane 4 Beds |5 Full Baths + 1 Half Bath 4,100 SQFT | 0.61 Acres Offered at $1,400,000
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1209 Cometa
3 Beds | 2 Full Baths 1,534 SQFT | 0.195 Acres Offered at $319,000
1502 Canoe Brook 4 Beds |3 Full Baths 3,200+ SQFT Offered at $815,000
THE SHANNON SCHMITZ GROUP AT AUSTIIN PORTFOLIO REAL ESTATE 1611 W. FIFTH STREET, SUITE 100 | AUSTIN TEXAS 78703 3 WWW.SHANNONSCHMITZGROUP.COM | (512) 466-5224
CONTENTS WINTER ‘13
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RUBY JANE SMITH
AN AUSTIN LEGEND-IN -THE MAKING DISHES ABOUT HER FAVORITE AUSTIN SPOTS
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JEREMIAH NEWTON
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AUSTIN CHILDREN’S SHELTER EXPANDS
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LA VIDA LOCALE
THE MIND BEHIND THE MUSTACHIO
YEAR-ROUND EVENTS IN AUSTIN
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HOME SWEET HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
THE SHANNON SCHMITZ GROUP AT AUSTIN PORTFOLIO REAL ESTATE 1611 W. FIFTH STREET, SUITE 100 | AUSTIN TEXAS 78703 WWW.SHANNONSCHMITZGROUP.COM | (512) 466-5224 5
RUBY JANE
AN AUSTIN LEGEND IN THE MAKING
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Ruby Jane first picked up a fiddle at age two, and as she says, “the fiddle has been addicted to me ever since”. At age 10, she was the youngest fiddle player to ever play the Grand ‘Ole Opry, and at age 13 she returned home to Texas, setting down roots in the heart of the Lone Star State. With her new single hitting the web this month and shows all over town, the 18-year-old fiddle-playing prodigy is quickly becoming known for more than her astounding fiddle-playing skills. The Austin American Statesmen said of this legend in training, “Ruby Jane cut her teeth on the fiddle, but she’ll make her name with her voice”. Her first encounter with the Austin music scene is like a young starlet’s fairy tale. On an extended trip from her then-home Mississippi, Ruby Jane and her mother dropped in to see Dale Watson at the Continental Club. That night, Dale invited her onstage to play with him. That was the moment she decided Austin was her home. Since landing in the Live Music Capital of the World, Ruby Jane has been busy. She has toured
with Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel, played with Willie Nelson’s Grammy-nominated Willie and the Wheel, been an official performer at 2010 and 2011 ACL music festival, and just for good measure, she recently graduated from high school.
“I love Austin! I was welcomed with open arms. I love how family-oriented and active this city is.” Her latest project is a new single just released this month entitled “Ticket Out”. She traveled to L.A. to work on the track with Mario Marchetti, renowned for producing works with Black Eyed Peas, Jennifer Lopez, and The Pussycat Dolls. Even with all the jet-setting and record dropping, Ruby Jane is
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still at heart, a local girl that likes the easy life of an Austin local. Her favorite things to do include getting a piece of pie at Home Slice Pizza, swimming at Barton Springs, and though she is growing up fast, she has a lingering sweet spot for Big Top Candy Shop on South Congress. As you might expect, she loves the music scene in Austin. When she’s not gracing the stage, you might find her at a Shakey Graves show - they’re one of her favorite local bands. On her list of favorite venues are The Cactus Café, for the great acoustics, and The Parish on 6th for its lively vibe. She might be skyrocketing to new heights, but Ruby Jane plans on calling Austin home for a long time. “I love Austin. I was welcomed with open arms. I love how family oriented and active this city is.” Like so many residents of Austin, Ruby Jane is down to earth while at the same time bursting with genius. It’s no wonder that this wonderful city has taken to her like a bow to a fiddle .
INTERNATIONAL SIGNATURE
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W H Y A S I G N AT U R E H A S B E C O M E E S S E N T I A L IN THE LUXURY PROPERTY WORLD? JEAN LAURENT LEPEU MANAGES PRESTIGE MLS, THE FIRST SIGNATURE THAT BRINGS LUXURY AGENCIES TO COLLABORATE BEYOND BORDERS. TRUST, PRIVACY AND AN EXPECTATION OF EXCELLENCE. INSIGHT INTO THIS UNIQUE CONCEPT IN EUROPE. W H AT I S T H E H I S T O R Y BEHIND PRESTIGE MLS?
IS I T H A R D T O M A N A G E SUCH AN INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION?
HOW DO AGENCIES JOIN PRESTIGE MLS?
Prestige MLS was created in 2009, strong of our experience in our first company Imminence. We felt a real need for a new type of organization that would bring Luxury Real Estate to the next level. With the internationalization of luxury buyers, agencies need to rely on a strong network of partners to satisfy their clients. This is why we created the concept of a Luxury Real Estate Signature, named Prestige MLS. Thanks to the signature, we provide a strong support to all of our Members. Our Members are accomplished luxury property professionals,embracing the high demands that their industry dictates. Together, they represent an unrivalled international network and their customers enjoy all their combined expertise.
Back when we first started Prestige MLS a few years ago, we had only a few agencies, mostly located on the French Riviera, and highly-motivated to embark with us on this unique journey. It has taken a great deal of time and effort for our team to manage the international expansion of our signature. We have slowly expanded over the years, always taking a great care in accepting only the most demanding luxury real estate agencies. I am proud to say that today, the Prestige MLS Signature has just less than 100 selected Members in 20 countries! It has become a real guarantee for agencies. Our recent expansion has focused on the US and we are confident that new countries will join us in the future.
Agencies interested in joining Prestige MLS can go online to our website www.prestige-mls. com and fill in an application form to join us. Our team will analyze the proposal based on several criteria of excellence, and provide an answer within 7 days. Also, we recently launched our Affiliatesoffer to strengthen our network. The offer allows professionals linked to the real estate industry to apply to Prestige MLS as well. They include specialty lawyers, builders, finance specialists, architects and more. All of our Members, both agencies and Affiliates, respect the same rules and ethics by signing the Prestige MLS Charter. This is the foundation of our organization, and it allows us to hope for the best in the future.
For more information www.prestige-mls.com | info@prestige-mls.com
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Jeremiah Newton
THE MIND BEHIND THE MUSTACHIO BY ADRIENNE FOREMAN
Austin, Texas is known for many things: live music, bats, and breakfast tacos. Now, add startups and entrepreneurship to the list. Forbes recently listed Austin as one of the top ten up-and-coming cities for entrepreneurs, and we have the people and events to justify this label. In October, thousands of people came for the third annual Austin Startup week where people met to discuss new ideas, networking and the hottest in the emerging tech industry. Our talent also makes national and international news. Jeremiah Newton of Bearded Bastard fame is one such talent. Bearded Bastard is a popular new company that sells the Woodman line of grooming goods. The company was recently named one of the most innovative businesses in Austin and one of the coolest new businesses in America by Business Insider. Jeremiah and I met at Wright Bros. Brew and Brew, an excellent new drinkery in Austin specializing in fine coffee and craft beers, to talk beards, Austin and our awesome startup scene.
AF: How did your business start? JN: I had avoided growing a mustache for a number of years because my ex-wife hated them. She was fine with beards or chops but hated the look of a mustache. Admittedly, I had a terrible mustache. Patchy. Pubescent. So, four or five years ago, I was almost thirty, and I’d been growing my beard for six months in anticipation of Movember. When Movember came around, I shaved it down to a mustache. An itty bitty mustache, Victorian style. I usually dress very Victorian, cravats and all. I just did that and I had an itty bitty moustache.
PHOTO: bradley thomas | bradleythomas.net
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An Interview with Jeremiah Newton (Continued) [Movember is an annual monthlong event in November that raises awareness for prostate cancer and other male cancers and associated charities. Movember encourages men to be aware of family history, adopt a healthier lifestyle, and increase their knowledge about early cancer detection.] So, then I had to take care of the mustache. I tried a variety of products. Some kind of worked. Some dried out. None were spectacular. I tried everything. My friends recommended things. I tried Elmer’s Glue, I tried hemp oil… I tried vegan products that were way overpriced. Two years and fifty products later, I was tired of products that kind of worked. I thought, well I’ve studied herbalism and I’ve studied massage therapy… I almost went the Shaman route. I have all of this knowledge; why don’t I go through different forums and search for information to create my own? I found a recipe, and I made it. It was terrible. I did some research on
what each product actually does. This makes it harder. This makes it tackier. This makes it condition. It wasn’t hard enough or tacky enough, and it didn’t condition enough so I upped those ingredients and took others out. In my third attempt, I got the Woodsman. I’ve only changed it once in the two years that I’ve had it. What did you change? I made it a tiny bit softer. In Austin the product was perfect because it is hot, but in the North it wasn’t as great because it gets really hard. You have to use a hair dryer to soften the wax. Any hard wax is like that, but it did need to be a bit softer—just enough that it doesn’t mess with the southern states but makes the northern states happier. I sell a lot to the North, and I also ship overseas… Germany, Russia, Belgium, Netherlands… South Africa, Egypt, Thailand.
AF: Can you tell me about the Woodsman? JN: Did you ever go camping with your friends? The Woodsman smells
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like camping. Cedar. Sandalwood. I’ve worked on the scent for a long time. It reminds me of my childhood and the pine trees I grew up with. For the beard oil, when you get out of the shower use 5-10 drops depending on how hard your stubble is. Put it on and leave it for a minute or two. Throw more hot water on, add more oil if necessary and shave. Make sure you use a clean razor. You don’t need aftershave or facial moisturizer because it has pomegranate oil in it. Shaving is hard on your face. It causes premature aging so our oil helps with wrinkles and scars. You shouldn’t have ingrown hair or razor burn. Even women can use it.
AF: So… you must be in the know… What is the beard craze all about? JN: There has been this recent trend looking at feminine versus masculine, emasculation, and the art of manliness. Men’s clubs have come back in certain places. Clearly, men are investigating their masculinity. They are thinking about how they are viewed and what they can do about their own image. Many men want to look strong, be kind and be willing
to stand up for what they believe in. Well, we have these iconic images of the woodsman: flannel, cedar, camping, beards. Think lumberjacks, men working in the woods. We can have a bit of that. A beard is a very masculine thing, and it can also be a rebellious backlash against the clean shaven courteous societal image that has been demonstrated for so long. It’s something that men can share with each other. A masculine camaraderie. And so you see the beard coming back.
five or six years ago, we moved here.
AF: What do you love about this city? JN: Everything. I’m a weirdo. Austin has a lot of talent and a lot of great ideas. Quiet people who hustle. My best friend is a massive part of the startup scene here. My office is right down the street, Chicon Startup Collective. People there are doing really great things.
AF: What brought you to Austin? JN: When I was younger, I was a currency trader. My dad and I always watched the markets, and we realized there was a bubble that was about to occur. So a year or so before the bubble, I paid everything off and saved money. With the money I saved, I started a successful business driving a pilot car. I escorted oversized loads across the country. While I was escorting loads, I came through Austin a number of times. We would rent a cool place on AirBnB and have two or three days of down time. We fell in love. So about
Although it may be casual here, businesses are really open. I’ve met with really powerful people that I couldn’t have met in many other major cities. People like to share here. We’ve housed business people and in response, they’ve shared ideas, contacts, tips, and investments.
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AF: What do you love so much about the Startup Scene? Your collective? JN: Let me give you an example. This guy comes in with an idea for an Instagram project. He wants to be part of the collective, so he’s family. We welcomed him, treated him like family and started asking questions. “How are you going to start? What have you thought about manufacturing?” We spent three hours with him. Even after he left, we still kept thinking about his project. We hang out at each other’s houses a lot. We have family style meals together. Very supportive. So that night, we’re at Jack’s house for dinner and we have a massive powwow. Taylor, the founder of the collective asks everyone “What do you think of this idea? Where do you think it can go? Who is the market for?” We spent two hours hashing out his project so Taylor could give him feedback later. I get the same type of help. My website needs something or I have a task that needs to be done… I ask the collective and they give support. We support each other. People come in and out. We have
(Jeremiah Newton, Continued) open conversations. I’ve connected people, and my friends are my biggest brand evangelists. Since you make everything here in Austin, what resources do you use? I use Hackerspace. Techshop is too far away, so I hover between MakeATX and Hackerspace. [ATX Hackerspace is a collaborative industrial workshop for makers, hackers, engineers, designers and artists to collaborate and work. Similarly, MakeATX is a member-based design and fabrication workshop and custom laser-cutting studio. Lastly, Techshop is a fabrication and prototyping studio, a hackerspace and a learning center that provides classes and professional quality equipment and software for their members. They serve similar purposes, but they differ in size, equipment, location, and community.] Hackerspace is 24 hours and lets me work at 2 o’clock in the morning banging out labels. I like Hackerspace. It’s very low-key, and people are really doing things there. Austin is very casual, you don’t have to hustle to survive. That can be a downside, but everyone is so nice. I’d actually like to see a little bit more honest criticism. We are so supportive, and just need a little bit more honest criticism.
AF: What are some of the other awesome parts of your collective or great companies in Austin? JN: I like Pine Street Station. It’s an open collective that is run by an amazing woman. At our Collective, there are kickstarter projects that have done great
things. We’ve had gaming companies doing virtual reality work. First Cut Pro is doing really amazing work. They allow different people to work on a video project together. What advice do you have for people who need to network in Austin? Know what your passion is and pursue it. Go to Meetups and seek people out. Once you find your niche here, people pull you in and you become family quickly. You could also try out East Side Studio Tours here in Austin. I’ve shown my photography there, and the show was a wide variety of prices and qualities. My work got a lot of attention.
AF: What would you recommend people do when visiting Austin? JN: Visit the east side. Eat at Franklin’s BBQ. Watch the sunset from Mount Bonnell. Stay at St. Cecilia’s or Hotel San Jose. It’s expensive but totally worth it. Or don’t stay at a hotel and use AirBnB. Go on Austin360 and check out the Austinist. Our city is ever-evolving. There are so many things you can do here. You can drink and eat all the time.
AF: What can we look forward to with your company? JN: I’m hoping to release a women’s product in the next couple of months. 42% of my customers are women, so I’m thinking of a bath and body oil. I am also about to re-release another one of my scents called Opium Den. It’s a little smokier. We hope to be releasing a limited edition charity product soon. Jeremiah has a great combination of skills that are particularly well suited for Austin. He’s business oriented, has grand ideas, the networking capabilities to support them and he’s unique. From his well groomed mustache to his cravat, he is one of the new faces of Austin entrepreneurship.
References
ATX Hackerspace http://atxhs.org/wiki/Main_Page Email: ops@atxhs.org MakeATX http://makeatx.com/ Email: workshop@makeatx.com Phone: (512) 522-6253 Techshop Austin-Round Rock http://www.techshop.ws/austin_round_rock.html Email: info.arr@techshop.com Phone: (512) 900-4664 Pine Street Station http://www.pinestreetstation.com/ Email: pinestreetsation@gmail.com First Cut Pro https://firstcutpro.com/ Chicon Collective https://chicon.co Email: Jerome@chicon.co Phone: (404) 884-8380 Jeremiah Newton http://thebeardedbastard.com/ Email: mustachiowax@gmail.com Phone: (512) 492-5792 Movember http://us.movember.com/ AirBnB https://www.airbnb.com/s/Austin--TX
2600 KENMORE COURT 6 Beds | 5 Full + 2 Half Bath 9,729 SQFT | 5.047 Acres Offered at $14,500,000
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429 GRACE LANE
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Main house: 5 Beds | 4 Full Baths + 1 Half Bath Guest Quarters: 1 Bed | 1 Bath Detached Office w/ 1 bath Offered at $ 5,875,000 Susan Avant, Broker Associate (512) 917-9936 susan@SusanAvant.com SusanAvant.com
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PHOTO: DARCIE SLITERI
PHOTO: ERIK MOORE
PHOTO: MERRICK ALES
A U S T I N C H I L D R E N ’ S S H E LT E R E X PA N D S PROGRAMS TO FUTURE MISSION It has been an exciting, whirlwind period of expansion recently for Austin Children’s Shelter. From its relocation to a new, larger campus in 2009 to the addition of programs designed to meet several crucial needs for foster children and foster parents, changes have come quickly for the non-profit organization. And as Austin Children’s Shelter looks toward its 30th anniversary in the spring, the growth shows no signs of slowing down. Julie Burch, director of marketing and public relations for Austin Children’s Shelter, recalls the pivotal past few years.
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AUSTIN CHILDRENS SHELTER (CONT”D)
“For the first 25 years, we were strictly an emergency shelter, providing for children who had been abused or neglected. Children were brought to us after being removed from their home but were with us for a maximum of three months,” she said. That changed completely with ACS’ move to a new location. With more facilities on its campus, including five cottages, the organization finally had the ability to begin addressing more aspects of the child abuse and neglect issue.
adults,” Burch said. “Most of them have been in the foster care system for a long time and don’t have family they can turn to.” The transitional living program fills that gap by providing important life skills training, such as constructing a resume, how to look for work, interviewing skills and how to successfully maintain a career.
The first new program added was the teen parent program for young mothers in foster care, who are either pregnant or with children of their own. Here, ACS focuses on teaching good parenting skills that can help to break the cycle of abuse.
Another beneficial addition to Austin Children’s Shelter came with the arrival of Kelly White as chief executive officer in 2010. White has led the Shelter through tremendous growth, including partnering with SafePlace, an organization helping women who are survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, to form LIFT: An Alliance to End Abuse. The LIFT Alliance is a structured partnership between the two organizations with a goal to eliminate child, sexual, and domestic violence and abuse.
“We also started a transitional living program for older teens and young
Earlier this summer, Austin Children’s Shelter launched its two
newest programs. The first is Foster in Austin, a foster family services program that began recruiting families last summer and placed its first child with one of those families in September, Burch stated. Foster in Austin provides support and extensive training for foster parents, including respite care when foster families are having a difficult time and need a break. The other new program this year actually came about as result of a merger. StrongStart, a child abuse prevention program, is now a program of Austin Children’s Shelter. As the ACS website notes, StrongStart includes a number of support services, including a therapeutic early childhood program, in-home parent coaching, parenting classes, support groups, mental health support and basic needs assistance. The
program
growth
has
not
W A N T T O K N O W M O RE A B O U T AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS? C H E C K OUT O UR A UST IN ST R EET B EAT NEIGHB OR HOOD V ID EOS ON L IN E
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finished yet. In January, ACS will open a child development and family support center called Care Academy.
Statesman, White also sounded the call for community support in describing the goals of the LIFT Alliance.
“We will be able to provide fulltime, high-quality child care, and implement some of the StrongStart elements into our own program for children who need it,” Burch said, adding that parenting classes and in-home parent coaching also will be a part.
“We believe violence is preventable,” White stated. “We believe that by combining our voices and actions we can eliminate child, sexual and domestic violence and abuse. And we believe that it is past time to focus our time, attention and resources on creating safe communities for all our citizens.
PROGRAM SUCCESS NEEDS COMMUNITY SUPPORT While starting new programs is a step forward, keeping them running at top level is another matter and one that requires community involvement, Burch said. “ACS raises about 65 percent of its funding. We rely heavily on the Austin community to partner with us,” she said. In an opinion article published Oct. 30 in the Austin American
The Shannon Schmitz Group has been a shining example of community partnership. The real estate group sponsored a successful school supply drive to assist Austin Children’s Shelter in August and also sponsored a team for the golf tournament in October, which raised more than $122,000 for ACS. Shannon Schmitz herself is a cochair for the fourth consecutive year for ACS’ biggest fundraiser, the annual Austin Children’s Shelter
CaLl us today 512.466.5224 21
Gala. It was held Nov. 9 and sold out with 680 people attending the James Bond/Monte Carlo-themed event entitled, “A Night of Giving Dangerously.” “We are pleased to have LookThinkMake as our sponsor for our marketing, thus the very cool name…(The ticket sales were) the most ever. The energy will be amazing.” Continued community support will be important for Austin Children’s Shelter as it tries to build on what has been an exciting transformation in a short time, Burch explained. “There is no single solution to addressing child abuse and neglect. But If we can prevent children from being abused to begin with and teach parents how to nurture and care for children in a positive way, then we are making headway toward a solution,” she said.
LA VIDA LOCALE
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AUSTIN EVENTS JANUARY Austin New Year’s Eve Fireworks Come see the fireworks go off over downtown Austin at Auditorium Shores.
Barton Springs Polar Bear Plunge
January 1st come shake off your NYE hangover and dive in to the steamy waters of Barton Springs on New Year’s Day (or just come watch the spectacle). You should definitely get the T-Shirt.
Wildflower Center Free Admission Month
Wildflower.org For the entire month of January, enjoy free admission to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Hyde Park Theater Fronterafest
Fronterafest.com This month-long festival, now an institution, features three separate components: The Short Fringe which runs the entirety of the Festival, showcasing pieces 25 minutes or less, The Long Fringe, with longer pieces between 45-90 minutes and the most unique component, ‘Mi Casa es Su Teatro’ which consists of a day of performances hosted primarily at private homes.
FEBRUARY Carnival Brasileiro
sambaparty.com Carnival in Austin is one of the biggest Brazilian Carnival celebrations outside of Brazil – samba, costumes and wild abandon – Brasileiro style in the heart of Texas.
Austin Specialty Beer Fest
austinspecialtybeerfestival.com
This one-day beer festival specializes in rare, unique and exotic beers. Over 80 world-class beers from all around the world will be on hand, many from right here in Austin. Stroll around the beautiful park with a cold one as you listen to music play.
Austin Energy Regional Science Festival
sciencefest.org Billed as one of the largest regional science fairs with almost 3,000 students from third through 12th grade, this fest encourages and rewards innovative student research and provides scientists, engineers and other professionals a chance to volunteer in the community.
Austin Jugglefest
juggling.place.org/jugglefest/ Run away with the circus during this his three-day event, full of workshops, games, demonstrations and shows featuring juggling, uni-cycling and related circus arts.
S O U T H BY S O U T H WEST SXSW.com
Note: Reserve your hotel early or stay with friends. This event sells out Austin lodging every year.
SXSW Music
South By Southwest (SXSW) Music and Media Conference, the world’s leading music industry event, offers attendees the opportunity to explore the future of the music industry during the day at panels, talks, the Trade Show, Music Gear Expo and other conference activities at the Austin Convention Center. At night, the absolute best mix of musical performances from over 2,200 regional, national and international acts takes place at the Music Festival.
Mardi Gras on Sixth Street
Experience all of what 6th has to offer… with a Mardi Gras flair.
MA RCH Zilker Kite Festival
abckitefestival.com You are guaranteed to see some amazing kites at this festival and even learn a few things about the springtime hobby. At this festival people take their kite-flying seriously and you will be sure to enjoy the spectacle.
Rodeo Austin
http://www.rodeoaustin.com/ Features music, rides, food, fun, and of course, the RODEO. The event kicks off with a fantastic cowboy breakfast where you can behold the magic of chainsaw sculptors, drink cowboy coffee and enjoy some great live music.
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SXSW Film
Every March, creatives of all stripes gather in Austin to witness, inspire, and share the visions that will galvanize the filmmakers and ideas of tomorrow. The SXSW Film Conference & Festival champions the vitality, innovation and opportunity that drive entertainment and media, and boldly tackles the evolution of all aspects of “film” today, down to its very definition.
SXSW Interactive
An incubator of cutting-edge technologies and digital creativity, the 2014 event features five days of compelling presentations and panels from the brightest minds in emerging technology, scores of exciting networking events hosted by industry leaders and an unbeatable lineup of special programs
over 250 registered poets from the international, national, state, and local areas.
Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Fest
austinfoodandwinefestival.com Join Top Chef talent, sommeliers and winemakers from across the nation and be a part of a two-day epicurean adventure unlike any other featuring live musical performances.
Zilker Garden Festival
zilkergarden.org This festival in the 78704’s favorite park features a flower show, garden talks, kidcentered activities and food.
Austin Reggae Festival
APR I L KGSR Unplugged at Shady Grove
kgsr.com/unplugged April - September. This free concert series features both local and national favorites performed at The Shady Grove, Austin.
Eeyore’s Birthday
Eeyores.org This day-long festival has been taking place annually since 1963. It typically occurs on the last Saturday of April in Austin’s Pease Park and includes live music, food and drink vending, attendees in colorful costumes, and very large drum circles. The event is frequented by children and families, with specific events presented for them by the event organizers. Proceeds benefit local non-profit organizations.
Art City Austin 2014
artallianceaustin.org/art-city Think one part art festival, one part
block party. This iconic, weekend-long Austin arts festival transforms the streets of downtown in to a celebration of art, culture and creativity.
Austin Earth Day Festival
austinreggaefest.com “Get Irie” for a good cause! This fundraiser that benefits Capital Area Food Bank features three days of amazing reggae / world / dub talent on the Main Stage and Charlie’s Dub Corner.
Texas Burlesque Festival
Old Settlers Music Festival
texasburlesquefestival.com The Texas Burlesque Festival is a three-day hoedown and showdown celebrating the raucous revival of burlesque, vaudeville and the accompanying et cetera. Aimed at (but not exclusive to) the regional, national and international community of ecdysiasts, this weekend overflows with opportunities to refine your bump and grind including parties, a roundtable/brunch, workshops and performances.
Austin International Poetry Festival
Austin Fashion Week
earthdayaustin.com This earth day festival promises “live music to enjoy, presentations to engage and a kid’s zone to entertain”.
oldsettlersmusicfest.org Come be a part of Central Texas’ signature music event featuring Grammy winning Americana, arts & crafts, camping, food & libations.
aipf.org This four-day citywide, all-inclusive celebration of poetry and poets has grown to become “the largest non-juried poetry festival in the U.S.” API projects
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fashionweekaustin.com “Austin Fashion Week was started in 2009 as the brainchild of local event producer Matt Swinney and Launch787. Seeking to establish Austin as a credible capital for fashion industry talent, Swinney created
Matt Swinney and Launch787. Seeking to establish Austin as a credible capital for fashion industry talent, Swinney created an event that started as primarily a local retailer showcase”. Well done, Mr. Swinney.
Where disc golf is introduced to people around the world and played together in the spirit of spreading the love for the sport. If you’ve never tried it, come on out and play! Great for all ages!
Ballet Under the Stars
MAY Pecan Street Festival
oldpecanstreetfestival.com The show proudly features over 275 artisan vendors from all over the world who display and sell homemade art and craft work. Festival goers can find a variety of art mediums including paintings, sculpture, woodwork, mixed media, metalwork, photography, apparel, digital prints, glass art, stonework, pottery, knitting, ceramics, candles, fine art, one-off furniture, jewelry, home decor, leather goods, games, and other useful and whimsical household items.
Shakespeare in the Park
austintexas.gov/blog/free-theater-austintexas-shakespeare-park-zilker-hillsidetheater Check out these free Shakespearean plays, often with whimsical themes Austin at Zilker Hillside Theater.
Pachanga Latino Music Festival
pachangafest.com “Pachanga is a Latin-themed music, cultural arts and food festival dedicated to showcasing the vibrant blend of Latino-created music and art and the impact it has on American culture today. The Pachanga lineup includes rock, alternative, tejano, mariachi, cumbia, salsa, electronic, funk, hip-hop and indie rock”.
World’s Biggest Disc Golf Weekend
http://www.wbdgw.com/
KGSR Austin Radio and held in Austin’s Zilker Park. So, bring a blanket and the family for some live music from your favorite artists.
JUL Y
metamorphosisdance.org Austin Metamorphosis Dance Ensemble (AMDE) is a semi-professional dance company that’s mission is to provide masterful teaching, create fresh and challenging choreography, and produce high caliber performance experiences for aspiring and experienced dancers. The company performs dances that define and diversify multiple genres of dance.
SoCo First Thursday
J UN E
deepeddy.org Various dates in July and August. Familyfriendly movie nights at Deep Eddy Pool.
Keep Austin Weird Festival
keepaustinweirdfest.com/festival Think about one blowout party full of music, family activities and local vendors eager to reflect the creative nature of Austin… and there’s even a 5K billed as “the world’s slowest”! Be there and be costumed!
Republic of Texas Biker Rally
firstthursday.info This popular monthly event that takes place along South Congress Avenue the first Thursday of the month (year round), generally from Barton Springs Road to Elizabeth Street. It’s just one big block party and it is perfect for all ages.
Deep Eddy Pool Splash Movie Night
Austin Symphony July 4th Fireworks
July 4th. Features patriotic music and the ever-popular 1812 Overture and spectacular fireworks over Lady Bird Lake.
AUGUST
www.ROTrally.com The Republic of Texas Biker Rally (ROT Biker Rally) is the biggest motorcycle rally in Texas and one of largest motorcycle events in the U.S. Enthusiasts come enjoy the amazing motorcycles, the Austin nightlife and of course the beautiful Texas women.
Austin Ice Cream Festival
Galleries First Thursday
Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival
artaustin.org/westend.html This gallery-hopping event occurs on 5th and 6th streets every first Thursday of the month (year round).
Blues on the Green
(All summer) This series of free summertime concerts are hosted by
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http://www.icecreamfestival.org/ Bring yourself, your friends, your family and even your dog to the 7th Annual Austin Ice Cream Festival and come scream with us. This event will include lots of games, activities, contests and live entertainment.
www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/ Market/HotSauce Come sample the spiciest hot sauce you can handle and help end hunger. Free admission with the donation of three healthy food items.
Out of Bounds Comedy Festival
outofboundscomedy.com “The Out of Bounds Comedy Festival is a seven-day live performance festival that showcases the best in improv, sketch, and stand-up comedy from all over the country and across the globe”.
Go check out this community-focused, family-friendly celebration of art, music and community in East Austin on the fourth Friday of each month.
Austin Museum Day
Join in on the fun as 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from under the bridge at dusk, two stages filled with live music, more than 75 arts & crafts vendors, delicious food and drinks, fun children’s activities, a bat costume contest and other bat activities.
Dragon Boat Festival and Race
OCTOBER
givepulse.com/event/2414-AustinDragon-Boat-Festival-2013 This Asian-inspired festival featuring dragon boat races, food, music and more at the beautiful Lady Bird Lake. Don’t miss this fantastic culturally-inspired spectacle!
SE P TE M B E R Austin Free Day of Yoga
freedayofyoga.com/index.php Labor Day - Free day of yoga in Austin at hundreds of locations.
Fantastic Fest
fantasticfest.com Fantastic Fest is the largest genre film festival in the U.S., specializing in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, action and just plain fantastic movies from all around the world. It will be taking place again this year, after a one year hiatus, at the famous Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar location which fest promoters expect to be completely upgraded and ready for visitors by next year’s show.
East Fourth Fridays
https://www.facebook.com/ events/110379122324653/
NOV EMB ER Formula 1
austinmuseums.org/museumday Austin Museum Day is AMP’s premier event and represents a critical part of the vibrant cultural history of Central Texas. It provides families with a unique opportunity to access the dynamic museum community including local exhibits and activities at over 40 participating institutions at no charge!
Bat Fest
genuine Halloween mayhem.
Austin Film Festival
austinfilmfestival.com/aff/live Slackers beware! This competition is dedicated to recognizing the writer’s contribution to the motion picture industry.
ACL Fest
aclfestival.com This world-class event features performers from all over the world, drinks, food and a crazy good time. Reserve your hotel early or stay with friends. This event sells out Austin lodging every year.
Texas Book Festival
texasbookfestival.org Books, authors, and everything else book related gather on the Capitol grounds to celebrate one of the oldest known sources of entertainment known to man - reading.
Halloween on Sixth Street
https://www.facebook.com/ halloweenon6thstreet Ever seen an animatronic ton ton walking down the street next to a Muppet drinking a cocktail? An Austin must-do, Sixth street Austin is the place to be to
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formula1.com/races/in_detail/united_ states_911 “Formula One racing travels across five continents and draws global television audiences in the hundreds of millions. It is the pinnacle of motor racing, attracting the best drivers, engineers and designers, with teams - many backed by multinational corporations - spending vast sums and employing the latest technology to gain a competitive edge often measured in thousandths of a second”. Note: if you plan to attend, you must secure tickets and lodgings well in advance for this world-class event. The city sells out quickly for this one.
Fun Fun Fun Fest
funfunfunfest.com Last year’s headliners were Slayer, M.I.A, Snoop Dogg (AKA Snoop Lion), MGMT, ICE- T, Patton Oswalt, Sarah Silverman and Tenacious D. Yep, It’s going to be that kind of a party. “Recognized as one of the most relaxed, creative, and pioneering festivals in music today, Fun Fun Fun Fest is custom-booked for the most passionate, underground, and progressive musicians, comedians and fans around the world”.
Blue Genie Art Bazaar
bluegenieartbazaar.com This fixture of the Austin holiday shopping season is an annual arts show that features unique work from over 140 local and regional artisans, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish® foundations of Central & South Texas.
East Austin Studio Tour
eastaustinstudiotour.com This free, self-guided tour champions the abundance of talent within Austin’s large
and wildly diverse creative community. The public is invited to discover new artistic talent, see working studios, learn about artists’ tools, techniques, and inspirations, and support the arts community by building their collections and supporting local businesses.
Austin Comic Con
http://www.wizardworld.com/home-tx.html Stan Lee, Norman Reedus, WWE® Superstar John Cena®, William Shatner and Scott Bakula are among the hundreds of celebrities and industry professionals at the 2013 Wizard World Austin Comic Con, part of North America’s largest pop-culture touring expo, at the Austin Convention Center. Thousands of fans will be on hand to celebrate the best in pop culture: movies, comics, toys, video gaming, television, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more.
DE C E M B E R Zilker Trail of Lights
austintrailoflights.org This Austin original features an exciting trail of holiday lights that lead you to a light tree at the moon tower at Zilker Park. Locals of all ages spin under the tree for dizzying delights.
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar
armadillobazaar.com Hot music, fine art and cold beer make the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar the place where Austin shops in the giving season. At this art fair/ music festival with a vibrant community-driven vibe, visitors can explore an amazing array of handmade items from 160+ artists while enjoying live local music and sips from a full bar. Violet Crown Art Festival violetcrowncommunity.org Bring the family, friends & neighbors, pack a blanket and some lawn chairs, and plan to spend the day. Enjoy great quality art from unique local artists and shop for handmade gifts. This city park includes two Bocce courts ready for you to bring your own playing set and skill. Admission is free.
We hope you have enjoyed this issue of LOCALE magazine. If there is anything you would like us to cover in the next issue, please email us at Shannon@ShannonSchmitz.com and we’ll do our best to deliver. Until next time!
Shannon, Kimberly and Morgan The Shannon Schmitz Group