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FRONT RUNNER Splendor in the grass: President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson take in the wildflowers near their Stonewall ranch in 1968.
Field oF dreams
a HaLF-CENTURY aGO, LADY BIRD JOHNSON PLaNTED THE SEEDS OF aN ENVIRONMENTaL MOVEMENT THaT WOULD HaVE a LaSTING IMPaCT ON HOW WE ENJOY THE GREaT OUTDOORS. On March 9, 1965, in a Washington, DC, park, Lady Bird Johnson pulled on prim yellow gloves to match her dress and coat, kneeled down, and stuck her hands into the good earth. The first lady, wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson, planted gold and purple pansies as onlookers smiled at her passion to pitch in. But planting flowers was far from all that she accomplished. Road trips from Washington to Texas exposed Lady Bird to highway blight across the country, prompting her to actively lobby for the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 and, along the way, become an environmental pioneer. It’s been 50 years since Lady Bird, shown here with the president in 1968 among the wildflowers at their Stonewall ranch, first planted those pansies, but her efforts marked the beginning of an environmental legacy matched by few others in US history. Today, largely because of Lady Bird’s efforts, we are privileged to enjoy the blooming splendor of countless parks, roadsides awash in confetti-colored wildflowers, and native-plant
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landscapes thriving in harsh weather. A conservation magazine once dubbed her the unofficial “Secretary of the Exterior.” In Washington she planted trees and flowers, and installed benches in tourist spots and trash cans in impoverished areas. “The instinct for beauty is an instinct deep in the hearts of everyone,” she said. The post-White House years allowed Lady Bird to make contributions closer to home. In the 1970s, she helped create a 10-mile scenic trail around Austin’s downtown lake. She was as interested in botany as beauty, creating the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Southwest Austin, which draws 100,000 visitors per year. Today, Austin honors the late first lady with its beloved Lady Bird Lake. The stunning new boardwalk allows travel over the water in spots that were once off-limits. Now, when you take a walk on the boardwalk, you’ll be following the remarkable journey of a woman whose “flower power” will once again blossom across America this spring. AW
photography by frank wolfe
BY DENISE GAMINO
G O O D V I B R AT I O N S The New Bohemian Dress • Joie
AUSTIN THE DOMAIN, MOPAC AT BRAKER 512.719.1200 NEIMANMARCUS.COM/CUSP
contents
spring 2015
4 // front runner 18 // letter from the editor-in-Chief
20 // letter from the publisher
22 // ... Without Whom
this issue Would not have been possible
24 // the list 59 // invited
style 27 // retail therapy
30 // all lined up Stand out from the crowds in Austin with geometric patterns that take black and white one step beyond.
32 // style spotlight
88
Spring paves the way for fresh, floral-inspired fashion. Embroidered bomber jacket ($9,600), silk cadi pants ($1,650) Dior. dior.com
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The freshest collections and boutiques debuting in town.
34 // in vino veritastiC As Austin prepares to raise a toast at this year’s Food & Wine Festival, watchmakers are bringing bacchanalian beauty to the wrist.
photography by rené and radka; styling by Martina nilsson
Psychotherapist-turned-entrepreneur Stacey Smith fnds her true calling with her new boutique, Found.
FOR RESERVATIONS PLEASE CALL 800 606 6090 WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, 00 800 4969 1770 INTERNATIONAL, OR YOUR TRAVEL SPECIALIST OR VISIT MORGANSHOTELGROUP.COM 1685 COLLINS AVENUE MIAMI BEACH FL 33139
spring 2015
40
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Texas heritage prevails at Rodeo Austin, now in its 78th year.
27
Owner Stacey Smith draws patrons to her boutique, Found, with designer labels, striking interiors, and a pleasant shopping experience—complete with Champagne.
Lawdy Mama by Barkley L. Hendricks,1969, is just one of the works on view at the Blanton Museum’s exhibit focusing on the civil rights movement.
culture
people
37 // A Night Full
47 // A heAlthier AustiN
Jamie Foxx, Chandra Wilson, and Lawrence Wright are among those being honored at a lavish ceremony celebrating the best of the arts.
Dr. Clay Johnston’s vision for the new UT Dell Medical School combines innovation and partnerships, and encourages us all to make smarter choices.
40 // Where AustiN
50 // CAll oF the Wild
oF texAs stArs
gets its texAs oN
Rodeo Austin pays homage to our heritage with a world-class livestock show and country music stars.
42 // sigN oF the times The Blanton Museum looks at the 1960s civil rights movement through the hands and lenses of artists.
Local singer-songwriter Emily Wolfe is ready to pounce on SXSW with her own “dream rock” genre of music.
52 // CommuNity eNgAgemeNt
44 // Culture
Honored this month by the Human Rights Commission, Eugene Sepulveda and Steven Tomlinson have built a life balanced on friends, family, and the future.
Installations, exhibits, and shows not to miss this season.
54 // huNger: it’s persoNAl
spotlight
Philanthropist Joanna Linden leads the charge to create a new Capital Area Food Bank facility with a campaign to raise $10 million in 10 months.
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photography courtesy of rodeo austin (rodeo); © Barkley l. hendricks; courtesy of the artist and Jack shainman gallery, new york (Blanton); paige newton (found)
contents
BMW i3
THE ALL-ELECTRIC BMW i3. BUILT IN A WIND-POWERED FACTORY, WITH THE STRENGTH OF CARBON FIBER AND BMW PERFORMANCE. To create the first-ever all-electric BMW, we reinvented everything but the wheel. A body of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) — a revolutionary material half the weight of steel and just as strong — surrounds a striking interior made with natural, renewable resources like eucalyptus wood and plant fibers. And it all comes together in a factory powered by four onsite wind turbines. Best of all, beneath everything, the BMW i3’s 170-hp electric motor and 184 lb-ft of instant torque make it breathtakingly clear: this all-electric is all BMW. For special lease and finance offers available through BMW Financial Services, visit bmwusa.com.
BMW of Austin
7011 McNeil Drive
Austin, TX 78729
512-343-3500
©2015 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks.
bmwofaustin.com
contents taste 65 // Fine-Dining Oasis Parkside is a refuge for foodies amid the madness of Sixth Street.
68 // The hOT seaTs These six rockin’ restaurants are not to be missed during SXSW.
spring 2015
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Actress Connie Britton credits the Austin music scene with how she portrays country star Rayna Jaymes on Nashville. Dress, Max Mara ($1,695). Saks Fifth Ave., North Star Mall, San Antonio, 210-341-4111; saks.com. XL triangular stud earrings, Jennifer Fisher ($335). jenniferfisherjewelry.com. Mechanix statement cuff, Gemma Redux ($548). gemmaredux.com. Gold-embellished sandals, Giuseppe Zanotti Design ($845). Neiman Marcus, The Domain, 512-719-1200; neimanmarcus.com
70 // WhOle lOT OF lOve Chef Tim Love brings Lonesome Dove to Austin and exciting changes to the Austin Food & Wine Festival.
74// Qui TO The CiTy Foodies Paul Qui and Deana Saukum take a whirlwind tour of their picks of the best food trucks in town.
76 // TasTe spOTlighT Hot happenings on Austin’s food scene.
features 78// sOuTh by briTTOn With two big movie releases on the horizon, Emmy-nominated actress and Austin regular, Connie Britton celebrates in the city that inspires her. By Kathy Blackwell Photography by Paul Empson
82 // The DOminanCe OF inTeraCTive The SXSW Interactive conference has become a most talked-about event, and lifelong Austinite Hugh Forrest has been at the helm all along. By Tom Foster
88 // WilD FlOWer
96 // The lOne sTar A 2015 Texas Film Awards honoree, Tommy Lee Jones talks The Homesman, Harvard, and horses. By David Hochman Photography by Rainer Hosch
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PhotograPhy by Paul EmPson
Join the chorus in blossoming dresses, foral-inspired accessories, and botanical hues. Photography by René and Radka
REMARKABLE. REFINED. ONE-OF-A-KIND.
2900 WEST ANDERSON LN. | 512.452.6491 | BENOLDS.COM
contents
spring 2015
haute property 103 // Hill Country Havens
Sophisticated projects are drawing urbanites to the great wide open.
106 // time and PlaCe Top real estate experts discuss the changing face of Central Austin.
the guide 111 // Grand Central At 34 stories and with 1,012 guest rooms and three restaurants, the new JW Marriott has checked in.
112 // sliCe of life Top off the festival by indulging your pizza cravings at Austin’s best parlors.
114 // battery reCHarGe Reboot your body and relieve post-fest stress at downtown’s best juice joints.
and finally... 120 // diaGnosis: fomo
on tHe Cover:
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Properties like this Porch House in the Texas Hill Country, designed by Lake Flato Architects, are luring homeowners away from downtown for a peaceful respite.
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Connie Britton Photography by Paul Empson Styling by Robert Behar/Opus Beauty Hair by Creighton Bowman/Tracey Mattingly Makeup by Christy Coleman/The Wall Group for Beautycounter Nails by Emi Kudo/Opus Beauty Photography assistance by Steve Kay Video: Cameron Chin Dress, Michael Kors (price on request). Julian Gold, 1214 W. Sixth St., 512-473-2493; julian gold.com. Gold metal ring, Tod’s ($295). tods.com. Brass arm band, Jennifer Fisher ($835). jenniferfisherjewelry.com.
photography by Casey Dunn of Lake fLato arChiteCts
Curing the offcial syndrome of SXSW requires a special set of festival superpowers.
FASHIONABLY Announcing the grand opening of Late European, Austin’s one source for truly exceptional motor vehicles. Late European represents Aston Martin, Bentley, Lotus, and Rolls Royce Motorcars along with the fnest pre-owned vehicles in Austin. Extraordinary automobiles, unprecedented service – Tis is Late European.
12989 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78750 (512) 236-8539 | LateEuro.com
JOIN US ONLINE at austinway.com
We have the inside scoop on Austin’s best parties, pursuits, and more. pursuits
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SXSW Whom to see, what to wear, where to eat, and everything else you wanted to know about the famous music fest.
photos
SEE THE LATEST FROM LAST NIGHT’S EVENTS Couldn’t attend? Browse the newest photos from Austin’s most exclusive parties.
BOU BO U TIQUE
RAOUL ecru + Elliott Lauren + Tracy Reese + Yoana Baraschi + Three Dots + Sympli + Byron Lars for Beautymark + johnny was + Marisa Baratelli + more 1601 West 38th, Suite 5 | Austin, Texas 78731 512.458.5407 | www.gardenroomboutique.com Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook
SPRING DÉCOR TIPS FROM THE PROS Get your home ready for spring with tips and trends straight from the experts.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY GSPHOTOGRAPHY (PURSUITS); MARY KANG (BLACKWELL); BLINKA (HOME)
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KATHY BLACKWELL Editor-in-Chief Executive Editor DEBORAH L. MARTIN Deputy Editor JANE KELLOGG MURRAY Senior Managing Editor DANINE ALATI Senior Art Director FRYDA LIDOR Photo Editor KATHERINE HAUSENBAUER-KOSTER Fashion Editor FAYE POWER Copy Editor JOHANNA MATTSSON Research Editor JAMES BUSS
LOUIS F. DELONE Group Publisher Account Executive CATHERINE KUCHAR Account Executive JACKIE VAN METER Event Marketing Manager ASHLEY VEHSLAGE
NICHE MEDIA HOLDINGS, LLC Senior Vice President and Editorial Director MANDI NORWOOD Vice President of Creative and Fashion ANN SONG Creative Director NICOLE A. WOLFSON NADBOY Executive Fashion Director SAMANTHA YANKS ART AND PHOTO
Associate Art Directors ANASTASIA TSIOUTAS CASALIGGI, ALLISON FLEMING, JUAN PARRA, JESSICA SARRO Senior Designer NATALI SUASNAVAS Designers AARON BELANDRES, SARAH LITZ Photo Director LISA ROSENTHAL BADER Photo Editors JODIE LOVE, SETH OLENICK, JENNIFER PAGAN, REBECCA SAHN Senior Staff Photographer JEFFREY CRAWFORD Senior Digital Imaging Specialist JEFFREY SPITERY Digital Imaging Specialist JEREMY DEVERATURDA Digital Imaging Assistant HTET SAN FASHION
Fashion Assistants CONNOR CHILDERS, LISA FERRANDINO Entertainment and Bookings Editor JULIET IZON COPY AND RESEARCH
Copy and Research Manager WENDIE PECHARSKY Copy Editors DAVID FAIRHURST, JULIA STEINER Research Editors LESLIE ALEXANDER, JUDY DEYOUNG, AVA WILLIAMS EDITORIAL OPERATIONS
Director of Editorial Operations DEBORAH L. MARTIN Director of Editorial Relations MATTHEW STEWART Editorial Assistant CHRISTINA CLEMENTE Online Executive Editor CAITLIN ROHAN Online Editors ANNA BEN YEHUDA, TRICIA CARR Online Editorial Assistant CATHERINE PARK Senior Managing Editors KAREN ROSE, JILL SIERACKI Managing Editors JENNIFER DEMERITT, MURAT OZTASKIN, OUSSAMA ZAHR Shelter and Design Editor SUE HOSTETLER
Timepiece Editor ROBERTA NAAS
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Account Directors SUSAN ABRAMS, MICHELE ADDISON, GUY BROWN, CLAIRE CARLIN, MICHELLE CHALA, AKATHLEEN FLEMING, VICTORIA HENRY, KAREN LEVINE, MEREDITH MERRILL, NORMA MONTALVO, ELIZABETH MOORE, JEFFREY NICHOLSON, DEBORAH O’BRIEN, SHANNON PASTUSZAK, MIA PIERRE-JACQUES, VALERIE ROBLES, JIM SMITH, JESSICA ZIVKOVITCH
Account Executives SUSANA ARAGON, KRISTIN BARNES, LAUREN BROGNA, MORGAN CLIFFORD, JANELLE DRISCOLL, VINCE DUROCHER, IRENA HALL, SARAH HECKLER, JULIA MAZUR, FENDY MESY, MARY RUEGG, ERIN SALINS Advertising Business Manager RICHARD YONG Sales Support and Development EMMA BEHRINGER, ANA BLAGOJEVIC, BRITTANY CORBETT, DARA HIRSH, KARA KEARNS, KELSEY MARRUJO, MICHELLE MASS, NICHOLE MAURER, RUE MCBRIDE, STEPHEN OSTROWSKI, MICHELLE PETRILLO, ELENA SENDOLO, ALEXANDRA WINTER MARKETING, PROMOTIONS, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations LANA BERNSTEIN Senior Director of Brand Development ROBIN KEARSE Director of Brand Development JOANNA TUCKER Brand Development Managers CHRISTIAMILDA CORREA, JIMMY KONTOMANOLIS Director of Creative Services SCOTT ROBSON Promotions Art Designers KAITLYN RICHERT, CARLY RUSSELL Event Marketing Directors AMY FISCHER, HALEE HARCZYNSKI, LAURA MULLEN, KIMMY WILSON Event Marketing Managers ANTHONY ANGELICO, JUDSON BARDWELL, CRISTINA PARRA Event Marketing Coordinator BROOKE BIDDLE Event Marketing Assistant SHANA KAUFMAN ADVERTISING PRODUCTION
Director of Positioning and Planning SALLY LYON Positioning and Planning Manager TARA MCCRILLIS Assistant Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY Production Manager BLUE UYEDA Production Artists ALISHA DAVIS, MARISSA MAHERAS, DARA RICCI Distribution Manager MATT HEMMERLING Assistant Distribution Relations Manager JENNIFER PALMER Fulfillment Manager DORIS HOLLIFIELD Traffic Supervisor ESTEE WRIGHT Traffic Coordinators JEANNE GLEESON, MALLORIE SOMMERS Manufacturing Coordinator KIMBERLY CHANG Circulation Research Specialist CHAD HARWOOD FINANCE
Controller DANIELLE BIXLER Finance Directors AUDREY CADY, LISA VASSEUR-MODICA Director of Credit and Collections CHRISTOPHER BEST Senior Credit and Collections Analyst MYRNA ROSADO Senior Billing Coordinator CHARLES CAGLE Senior Accountant LILY WU Junior Accountants KATHY SABAROVA, NEIL SHAH, NATASHA WARREN Accounts Payable Coordinator NADINE DEODATT ADMINISTRATION, DIGITAL, AND OPERATIONS
Director of Operations MICHAEL CAPACE Director of Human Resources STEPHANIE MITCHELL Executive Assistant ARLENE GONZALEZ Digital Producer ANTHONY PEARSON Facilities Coordinator JOUBERT GUILLAUME Chief Technology Officer JESSE TAYLOR Desktop Administrators ZACHARY CUMMO, EDGAR ROCHE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF J.P. ANDERSON (Michigan Avenue), SPENCER BECK (Los Angeles Confidential), ANDREA BENNETT (Vegas), KRISTIN DETTERLINE (Philadelphia Style), LISA PIERPONT (Boston Common), CATHERINE SABINO (Gotham), JARED SHAPIRO (Ocean Drive), ELIZABETH E. THORP (Capitol File), DAMIEN WILLIAMSON (Executive Editor, Aspen Peak), SAMANTHA YANKS (Hamptons) PUBLISHERS JOHN M. COLABELLI (Philadelphia Style), DAWN DUBOIS (Gotham), ALEXANDRA HALPERIN (Aspen Peak), DEBRA HALPERT (Hamptons), SUZY JACOBS (Capitol File), GLEN KELLEY (Boston Common), COURTLAND LANTAFF (Ocean Drive), ALISON MILLER (Los Angeles Confidential), DAN USLAN (Michigan Avenue), JOSEF VANN (Vegas)
Managing Partner JANE GALE Chairman and Director of Photography JEFF GALE Chief Operating Officer MARIA BLONDEAUX Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer JOHN P. KUSHNIR Chief Executive Officer KATHERINE NICHOLLS Copyright 2015 by Niche Media Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved. Austin Way magazine is published six times per year. Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to Austin Way magazine’s right to edit. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs, and drawings. To order a subscription, please call 866-891-3144. For customer service, please inquire at austinway@pubservice.com. To distribute Austin Way at your business, please e-mail magazinerequest@nichemedia.net. Austin Way magazine is published by Niche Media Holdings, LLC., a division of Greengale Publishing, LLC. austin way: 106 E. s ixth strEEt, suitE 550, austin , tx 78701 T: 512-960-2167 F: 512-960-2510 nichE mEdia holdings: 100 Church Street, Seventh Floor, New York, NY 10007 T: 646-835-5200 F: 212-780-0003
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ASPEN PEAK | AUSTIN WAY | BOSTON COMMON | CAPITOL FILE | GOTHAM | HAMPTONS LOS ANGELES CONFIDENTIAL | MICHIGAN AVENUE | OCEAN DRIVE | PHILADELPHIA STYLE | VEGAS
LETTER from the Editor-in-Chief // spring 2015 //
ON MY RADAR
FROM LEFT: With Formula One driver
and former World Grand Prix champion Jenson Button at our cover party; with Freddy Fletcher of Arlyn Studios and ACL Live at our party celebrating “The List” at Hotel Ella.
NOTHING HAS PARALLELED AUSTIN’S GROWTH like the breathless expansion and maturation of South by Southwest since its beginnings 28 years ago. As an editor and writer, I’ve covered this three-part fest for more than a decade and have seen firsthand not only how it’s evolved, but how it continues to respond to and handle that growth in innovative ways each year. Austin is doing the same. Nowhere has SXSW’s growth been more obvious than with Interactive. It still attracts leaders in technology and innovation, but visionaries in fields from entertainment and sports to food, fashion, and health have extended its reach into more mainstream areas. How have the fest and its leader since the beginning, Hugh Forrest, responded to this evolution? He has created sub-tracks and given some of these areas their own mini spin-off conferences, making it easier for attendees to navigate the hundreds of options available on any given day. Writer Tom Foster, who has attended many SXSW Interactive conferences and was intrigued by how this massive and powerful event comes together, talked to Forrest about what to expect this year (page 82). I’m sure we’ll feel the effects of this conference all year long. I’ll be out there again, of course. One of my favorite parts of SXSW is meeting people from around the world (usually as we’re standing in a line, which I’ve gotten very good at over the years). I’m always fascinated by the many reasons people have for attending Austin’s version of March Madness. Sometimes they’ll go into their professional spiel and talk about their film projects, start-ups, or music dreams. But, more often than not, they’ll end up admitting they just wanted an excuse to come here. It never fails to make me feel proud to call Austin home.
KATHY BLACKWELL Stay up to date with all that’s going on in Austin at austinway.com. Follow me on Twitter @kathyblackwell and Instagram @mkblackwell.
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1. I love the variety of options at Wanderlust Yoga, from Candlelight Vinyasa to classes accompanied by live music. Wanderlust Yoga, 206 E. Fourth St., 512-502-5183; austin.wanderlustyoga.com 2. More than a decade ago, my husband, Steve, and I were married at the historic French Legation Museum (the oldest house in Austin). April, my anniversary month, is a great time to enjoy these beautiful grounds, just east of I-35. 802 San Marcos St., 512-472-8180; frenchlegationmuseum.org 3. I can’t wait to see what surprises the third iteration of the Pop-Up Picnic benefiting the Waller Creek Conservancy has in store. Pop-Up Picnic, April 18, Palm Park, 711 E. Third St.; wallercreek.org
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY MILLER (BUTTON); DAVID BRENDAN HALL (FLETCHER); WITOLD SKRYPCZAK/GETTY IMAGES (MUSEUM); NICOLE MLAKAR (PICNIC); COURTESY OF NIKE (YOGA)
To balance out the marathon of SXSW and the nonstop arts and social season, spring is all about taking care of your body, heart, and soul (oh, and stomach).
letter from the Publisher
from left: With family friend Ryley Caton, Alamo Drafthouse founder Tim League, and my son, Scott DeLone, at the League’s home for the Alamo Drafthouse/Fons PR holiday party;
Texas is an exciTing place To live. Let’s start with my wildlife encounters. Shortly after moving here, I was cornered in my car by a pack of what appeared to be opossums wearing body armor that looked ready to attack. I remained in my car and later learned they were baby armadillos that posed little threat. I recently returned home to find a rattlesnake sleeping on my front walk that did not appreciate almost being stepped on. Now that was an experience! On the much more pleasant side, I enjoy seeing all the dogs waiting for their owners outside the gym, in front of restaurants, in people’s offices, and at Whole Foods. You have to love a town that loves dogs. And I do love Austin. It is nice to get to the office early in the morning and see so many people running on the streets. I can cross the Colorado River and feel like I am living in Los Angeles (in a good way) when I get to Bee Cave and view the amazing homes perched on cliffs overlooking the water. I went to a meeting at John Hogg and David Garza’s home, and the view was spectacular. I can deal with the traffic; any popular city has traffic issues. And isn’t the fantastic weather worth it? I am learning when I can get by without
wearing a tie. Now I need to get a handle on when I can skip shaving. The last time I went to a big event without shaving, I ended up sitting with President George H.W. Bush and the former first lady. Barbara Bush informed me they had been married 63 years, and her husband never missed a day shaving. That was a little stressful. People in Austin are surprisingly friendly. If you bump into someone or mistakenly get on the elevator before the other gets off, nobody seems ready to fight. Everyone is busy; everyone is focused, but Austinites seem relaxed and happy. There are lots of changes happening in this city. Austin Way is one of them, but I hope things don’t change too much. As we publish this, our third issue, Austin has been wonderfully positive about the magazine as well as the work of our team and everyone at Niche Media. It’s not about keeping Austin weird; it’s just about keeping Austin, Austin. That sounds good to me.
lou delone
Stay up to date with all that’s going on in Austin at austinway.com.
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photography by alison narro (caton); david brendan hall (thomajan)
my wife, Meredith, and I with Stuart Thomajan, CEO of the Chameleon Group, and Lisa Matulis-Thomajan, owner of Delish, at our party celebrating “The List.”
MOSS Your favorite luxury labels at a fraction of the price.
705 South Lamar Blvd. www.mossaustin.com 512-916-9961
Karen Valby writer The author of Welcome to Utopia: Notes from a Small Town, Karen Valby has showcased her work in Entertainment Weekly, Time, Fast Company, and Real Simple. She lives in Austin with her husband and their two daughters, and she wrote this issue’s Hottest Ticket piece on the Texas Medal of Arts recipients (page 37). What’s the key to getting a really good interview with your subjects? Kindness and genuine curiosity go a long way in putting anyone at ease. What was it about talking with Chandra Wilson that resonated with you most? I’m always moved by Texans’ devotion to their home state’s food. Chandra said her first stop on any trip back home to Houston is her mother’s kitchen, because her mama always has a pot of her inimitable gumbo waiting for her on the stove. What has been the proudest moment of your career? Showing my young daughter my name on the BookPeople marquee in Austin when my book was first published [in 2010]. What do you love most about Austin? I’m just proud to call Austin my home.
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// spring 2015
Knoxy Knox photographer
Tom FosTer writer
Denise Gamino writer
When Austin food, product, and lifestyle photographer Knoxy Knox is not working, she can be found listening to music and playing with her dog, Little Edie. What sparked your interest in photography? It began as a child—mostly because I can’t paint or draw at all, but I still wanted a creative outlet. What made you specifically focus on food/drink photography? A little bit of serendipity, really: I was raised as a lover of food and have always thought of it as an incredible way to explore a culture. Once I started my photography business, taking photos of food was a natural fit. What makes a shoot most fulfilling for you? Like everything in my life, what matters most are relationships. Being a photographer opens up so many doors to developing relationships with different kinds of people whom I may not have encountered otherwise. Being able to get to know people and tell their stories through photography is an incredible honor—and a true joy.
After 15 years as an editor and writer for publications such as Fast Company and Men’s Journal, Tom Foster relocated to Austin a year ago and is editor-at-large of Inc. Magazine as well as a frequent contributor to Popular Science. What did you learn while interviewing Hugh Forrest for the SXSW feature (page 82)? Through my work, I meet a lot of high-profile tech people, and I’ve heard that Hugh Forrest is a remarkably influential guy. Upon finally meeting him, I was struck by how self-effacing and normal he is—your typical friendly Austin neighbor. What’s your preferred writing topic? I write mostly about entrepreneurs and innovators. Entrepreneurs are great subjects because they’re a lot like great adventurers—big characters chasing crazy dreams with very high stakes. What do you love most about Austin life? I left New York when I realized that the dream life I envisioned there was a mirage. I spent time in Austin in the ’90s, and I fell back in love with the city when I started coming again for SXSW. Austin appeals to me because of its many creative people and its inclusive, friendly culture.
An award-winning newspaper journalist with six years covering the federal government in DC and 27 years at the Austin American-Statesman, Denise Gamino is now a freelance writer and editor in Austin. She coauthored Around the World with LBJ: My Wild Ride as Air Force One Pilot, White House Aide, and Personal Confidant, and she wrote Front Runner (page 4). What is most impactful about the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center? People visit for landscaping ideas, but I wander through the heritage live oaks and prairie grasses to get a feel for what Austin looked like before all the development. The center preserves, protects, and propagates native plants and trees and has a lovely 16-acre arboretum. A lot of wildflowers grow there, and acorns from almost 30 historic Texas oak trees have been collected and will one day be trees in this arboretum. What are your favorite topics to write about? I gravitate toward underdogs, overlooked places, and odd things. If the journalism pack heads one way, I go the other.
photography by gordon mcgregor (valby); lumiere tintype (knoxy); ave bonar (gamino)
...wiThouT whom this issue would not have been possible
the list spring 2015
Jimmy Kimmel
Mark Updegrove
Scott Jensen
Karen Steakley
Scott Michaels
Caleb Campaigne
Gary Farmer
Rebecca Finell
Duff Stewart
Ernest Corder
Neil Goldman
Dr. Rocco Piazza
Kim Dowling
Asa Hursh
Michele Turnquist
Christy Pipkin
Suzanne Deal Booth
Shannon Moody
Bryan Cady
Zia Islam
Adam Moore
Bryan Hardeman
Susan Faykus
Alexis DeJoria
Riley Caton
Milton Verret
Vilma Mazaite
George “Kam” Kronenberg III
Teresa Windham
Jacob Wallace
Tom Moorman
Will Bridges
Matthew McConaughey
Bob Barnes
Camille Styles
Kate Perez
Mark Shilling
Bobbi Topfer
Mort Topfer
Gail Chovan
Princess Reema
Clayton Christopher
Marnie Duncan
Noel Bridges
Tito Beveridge
Jamie Foxx
Mack Brown
Dr. Alina Sholar
Andrew Zimmern
Sherri West
Travis West
Justine Gilcrease
Rebecca Feferman
Aaron Franklin
Sally Brown
Hector Perez Jr.
Joshua Bingaman
Bill West
Eric Copper
Margaret Jabour
Camila Alves
Kevin Hunt
Masha Poloskova
Charlotte Hill
24 AUSTINWAY.com
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An extraordinary gated lakeside community just 15 minutes past ordinary. If it’s fnally time to relax and enjoy a low-maintenance lifestyle, don’t miss your opportunity to own one of our exquisite lakeside villas or cottages, ready for immediate move-in. If your dream is to own a custom home from one of Austin’s fnest builders, stop by to view the seven homes under construction to be featured in Luxury Home Magazine’s 2015 Tour of Homes. Purchase now to participate in the building of your very own showcase home!
Villas from the $700s Cottages from the $600s One Acre Homesites from the $190s Custom Homes from $1m+
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STYLE Arbiter of Taste
Retail theRapy
PSYCHOTHERAPIST-TURNED-ENTREPRENEUR STACEY SMITH FINDS HER TRUE CALLING WITH HER NEW BOUTIQUE, FOUND.
photography by paige newton
by jane kellogg murray
Behind a bright magenta door, beyond racks of contemporary designer labels, past a wine fridge full of Champagne, and up a f light of wild leopard-print stairs lies Stacey Smith’s overf lowing stockroom. Surveying it, she says, “Y’all, I may have overdone it!” Overbuying was one of the few selfproclaimed “rookie mistakes” this Southernbelle entrepreneur made in the excitement of opening her new boutique, Found—housed in a renovated bungalow in downtown Austin. But based on the success the newly opened shop has had in its first few months of operation, the miscalculations end there. continued on page 28
With her newly opened boutique, Found, Stacey Smith brings designer labels to downtown Austin.
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STYLE Arbiter of Taste
“HeatHer Scott Home & deSign completely underStood me—lucite, molding, cHandelierS, Zebra Hide!”—stacey smith However, Smith’s life has not always been this rosy. Only a few years ago, she made her living as a mental health counselor. “I wanted to make a huge difference in the world,” she says. “I [worked with] women who were exiting the sex industry, and I did grief counseling and incest recovery—real intense work, ” she says. But Smith soon found that being a counselor was more stressful than she originally thought it would be. After only a year and a half, the side effects of such a career became too
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much. “I didn’t have strong boundaries,” she says. “To be a counselor, you need to be able to turn off your light at the end of the day and not think about the job anymore. But instead, [other people’s problems were] overtaking me. I became depressed. I had too much empathy for the women I worked with.” After giving up her dream of being a therapist, Smith, 31, decided to return to her previous career in retail, opening an Austin outpost of the Dallas-based shop The Impeccable Pig, a company
for which she’d worked for more than a decade. It was then that Smith fell in love with Austin and the idea of one day opening her own shop here. “It’s just such an accepting and supportive city,” she says. “This was the perfect place for me.” She set the wheels in motion for her own boutique in the summer of 2012, when she purchased an abandoned home on the corner of Fifth Street and Oakland Avenue. She enlisted architects Clayton & Little (whose past projects include Jeffrey’s,
Josephine House, and Clark’s Oyster Bar) to redo the exterior, and tapped Heather Scott Home & Design to create the store’s décor, which Smith describes as “Marie Antoinette gets tired of Versailles, finds herself in the Serengeti, and then ends up at Studio 54.” She says, “Heather Scott Home & Design completely understood me—Lucite, molding, chandeliers, zebra hide!” The interior design and location proved strong lures for customers, but it is the coveted labels—Milly, Nanette
Lepore, Zac Posen, which are hard to find in Austin—that really bring in the crowds. “You’re going to think I’m crazy,” Smith says, “but I don’t like shopping. It was definitely a source of anxiety for me—as it is for a lot of women.” Then, with a glint in her eye, she adds, “Trying to find something that works for every woman who walks in here, something they can go out in the world and feel confident in—that is my favorite part.” 501 oakland ave., 512-322-9494; found austin.com AW
photography by paIgE NEWtoN (doorbEll); courtEsy of rIta QuINN (chaIrs, dEsIgNEr products)
Found was designed to reflect owner Stacey Smith’s style. right, from top: By ringing a doorbell, shoppers may have Champagne delivered to them in the fitting room; the downtown boutique offers a host of high-end brands.
STYLE Accessories
All lined Up STAND OUT FROM THE CROWDS IN AUSTIN WITH GEOMETRIC PATTERNS THAT TAKE BLACK AND WHITE ONE STEP BEYOND. photography by jeff crawford styling by faye power
Graphic black and whites bring a bold edge. M Cabas tote, Balenciaga ($2,075). Neiman Marcus, The Domain, 512-719-1200; neimanmarcus.com. Black and white bracelet ($285), oblong bracelet ($280), and white outer bracelet ($275), Hermès. hermes.com. Agatha bootie, Vince ($450). vince.com
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prop styling by betim balaman
COOL CONTRASTS
2
1 SLEEK AND CHIC
CROSS CHECK
Small details like tassels and hardware add texture.
Simple lines keep neutrals in balance.
3
4
A LESSON IN GEOMETRY
GRAPHIC (AND) NOVEL
A simplicity of silhouette helps balance stark contrasts.
A play on proportion adds visual appeal.
1. Revere Belt, Sportmax ($425). Saks Fifth Avenue, North Star Mall, San Antonio, 210-341-4111; saks.com. Spectator sandal, Paul Andrew ($895). Neiman Marcus, The Domain, 512-719-1200; neimanmarcus.com. Clutch, Boss (price on request). The Shops at La Cantera, 15900 La Cantera Pkwy., San Antonio, 210-558-3188; hugoboss.com. 2. Ester wedge, Santoni ($805). Saks Fifth Avenue, see above. Ava resin minaudière, Serpui ($450). serpui.com.br. Lux mini white clutch, Kara Ross ($1,750). RSK, 5121 Bee Caves Road, West Lake Hills, 512-614-4684; kararossny.com. 3. Patent pointed gold-metal-detail pump, Lanvin ($850). Neiman Marcus, see above; lanvin.com. Striped leather handbag, Dolce & Gabbana ($2,495). Neiman Marcus, see above. Sabrina pump, Oscar de la Renta ($950). Neiman Marcus, see above; oscardelarenta.com. 4. Cutout medium clutch, Vince ($495). vince.com. Chevron pointed pump, Nicholas Kirkwood ($750). Nordstrom, Barton
Creek Square, 512-691-3500; nicholaskirkwood.com
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STYLE Spotlight wanted
FINELL’S PHASE TWO
Little Leathers
debut
Rebecca Finell’s lifestyle brand focuses on highquality craftsmanship and innovative designs. Launched in 2011 with housewares, Finell’s line now also offers structural leather handbags that defy convention and focus on the simple luxury of good design. Styles range from totes to clutches and echo the sleek, modern lines of the housewares collection. Finell’s foray into jewelry debuts this April with her Spring 2015 line. Bags are available at Garment (701-F S. Lamar Blvd., 512-462-4667) and Breed & Co. (718 W. 29th St., 512-474-6679). Jewelry will be sold at Anna Gray (6317 Bee Caves Road, 512-328-6600). finell.co
// CELEBRATIONS // 1
PRIDE ’EM COWBOY!
The storied Western-wear brand Steston—favored by the likes of Annie Oakley, Calamity Jane, and Will Rogers—turns 150 this year. A collection celebrating this milestone includes archival hat styles and commemorative belt buckles and boots. For the first time, the brand’s felt hat factory in Garland will begin offering tours later this month. Allens Boots, 1522 S. Congress Ave., 512-447-1413; stetson.com
2
TWIN SISTERS ELIZABETH AND KATHRYN FORTUNATO BRING SMALL LEATHER GOODS TO THEIR LIZZIE FORTUNATO COLLECTION.
// trending //
Vox tote in clay, Finell ($1,195)
Neiman Marcus returns to its house on Rainey Street during the SXSW Festival, and this year’s lineup will be even more exciting, starting with its new name: the Neiman Marcus #MakeSomeNoise House. It kicks off with a music-filled opening night VIP party, and for the next two days guests will experience bands from Atlantic Records, fashion panels by industry innovators, a showroom for online shopping, and a beauty bar with Bobbi Brown and Kevyn Aucoin products. RSVPs required. March 18–20, 78 Rainey St.; neimanmarcus.com
IN A CUFF Architectural cuffs incorporate a strong and edgy touch to the season.
Alexis Bittar ($295). Neiman Marcus, The Domain, 512-719-1200; alexisbittar.com
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ROCK OUT IN STYLE
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Swarovski ($599). Barton Creek Square, 512-732-8319; swarovski.com
Lanvin ($984). Neiman Marcus, The Domain, 512-719-1200; lanvin.com
Oscar de la Renta ($495). Neiman Marcus, The Domain, 512-7191200; oscardelarenta.com
Lizzie Fortunato ($368). Kick Pleat, 918 W. 12th St., 512-4454500; lizziefortunato.com
Hervé Van Der Straeten ($627). Neiman Marcus, The Domain, 512-719-1200; neimanmarcus.com
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON SAVAGE (FORTUNATO); NEIMAN MARCUS (SXSW)
Known for their travel-inspired accessories, twin sisters Elizabeth and Kathryn Fortunato have quickly become the favorite go-to designers in Austin. Their spring collection was inspired by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and by La Casa Azul, the home Kahlo shared with painter Diego Rivera. The collection incorporates Mexican-inspired craftwork and artisanal details in the form of small leather goods like zip pouches and sunglass cases. Emblazoned with motifs like palms, pyramids, geometric stones, Aztec-inspired ribbons, and cacti, both the leather goods and the signature jewelry are perfect for a south-of-the-border or South Lamar jaunt. Kick Pleat, 918 W. 12th St., 512-445-4500; lizziefortunato.com
pistachiocourt.com Robin Banister | Broker Associate | Elite 25 | 512.589.6090 Gottesman Residential Real Estate
STYLE Time Honored
In VIno VerItastIc
As Austin prepAres to rAise A toAst At this yeAr’s Food & Wine FestivAl, WAtchmAkers Are bringing bAcchAnAliAn beAuty to the Wrist. by roberta naas photography by jeff crawford
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clockwise from left: This
stainless steel Rolex Oyster Perpetual watch ($5,400) features a bordeaux-hued dial. It is powered by a mechanical self-winding movement and is a COSC-certified chronometer. Ben Bridge at The Domain, 512-491-8014; rolex.com From Piaget, this 38mm Altiplano watch ($26,000) is crafted in 18k white gold and
features a case with 78 diamonds. It is accented with a burgundy-colored lizard strap. Sam L. Majors, 2727 Exposition Blvd., 512-4730078; piaget.com This David Yurman Classic 30mm quartz watch ($4,600) is crafted in 18k rose gold and set with diamonds. It is accented with a glossy burgundy-toned
alligator strap. The Domain, 512-834-8700; davidyurman.com From Parmigiani Fleurier, this Tonda Metropolitaine watch ($11,500) is crafted in steel and set with diamonds. The cabernet-hued dial features a sunburst pattern. Jack Ryan Fine Jewelry, 3520 Bee Caves Road, West Lake Hills, 512-732-2408; parmigiani.ch
styling by terry lewis
The return of spring gives Austinites a reason to celebrate with a glass of fine wine at the Austin Food & Wine Festival (April 24–26). And some of the world’s leading watch brands have incorporated the rich hues of the vine into their designs, making wine-colored accents one of the hottest trends for spring. Pantone named “Marsala” 2015’s Color of the Year, and many watchmakers are embracing this shade and the deeper, richer hues of bordeaux, burgundy, and port. Whether as a strap or on a dial, a wine hue is on trend and in demand for its style and saveur. For information on the Food & Wine Festival, see “Food Fest” on page 70. For more watch features and expanded coverage, go to austinway.com/watches. AW
Culture Hottest ticket Jamie Foxx, shown here signing autographs for fans, will be among this year’s Texas Medal of Arts recipients.
photography by andreas rentz/getty images for sony pictures
A Night of texAs stArs
JAMIE FOXX, CHANDRA WILSON, and LAWRENCE WRIGHT are aMOnG THOSe BeInG HOnOred In a LaVISH CereMOnY CeLeBraTInG THe BeST OF THe arTS. by karen valby Chandra Wilson, the five-time Emmy-nominated Grey’s Anatomy actress, is looking forward to bringing some of her Houston family to Austin—and to finally meeting fellow Texan Jamie Foxx—for the February 25 gala honoring the 2015 Texas Medal of Arts recipients. “It’s an amazing honor to get to be in this company,” says Wilson, referring not only to Foxx, but also to the likes of Dan Rather, Lawrence Wright, T Bone Burnett, and Robert Schenkkan. Wilson swears that after all these years of continued on pAGe 38
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CULTURE Hottest Ticket Performers at the last Texas Medal of Arts awards show. right: Actress Chandra Wilson will be honored at this year’s event. below: Guests will celebrate this year’s honorees at an awards dinner and gala on February 25.
Hollywood success, she’s still very much a Texas girl. “That never goes anywhere,” says the Houston native, who first took to the stage at the Theatre Under The Stars when she was just 5 years old. “Somewhere around 9:35 every night my slang comes in real hard, so I have to watch my I’s and E’s because they can get real lazy.” Wilson should feel welcome to slip back into her native drawl at the biennial gala, which will be hosted at the Long Center and feature an awards show and dinner. The gala caps off two days of events, including a VIP Legislative Reception and a Stars of Texas Brunch. Award nominations are made by the Texas Cultural Trust, a nonprofit devoted to ensuring the vitality of arts and literacy in public education and the economy; past honorees include creative greats like Clint Black, Debbie Allen, and Willie Nelson. The award celebrates not only a spectacular history of achievement in entertainment, education, and the arts, but also an honoree’s commitment to inspiring future generations. Wilson, for instance, returns home to Houston every May to audition students from her alma mater, the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, for two scholarship grants she sponsors. She also supports a scholarship for the Young Performers Program at
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The Ensemble Theatre, the last venue Wilson performed at in her home state. “It’s important to me to stay connected to all the places that touched me and had a huge impact on keeping me motivated,” says Wilson. “All the skills that I use to this day come from those places, so I want to encourage the young folks coming up to enjoy that ride. Texas is where I got my foundation—you can get yours from here too.” Foxx, who just appeared in the remake of annie, also credits his Texas roots for his success, calling out a joyful “Yeehaw!” to his hometown of Terrell during his 2005 Golden Globe acceptance speech for ray. It was in Terrell, which is about 30 miles
east of Dallas, that Foxx first discovered his passion for music and comedy. Later, when accepting his Best Actor Oscar for ray, Foxx thanked his grandmother for instilling in him the old-school Texas values that have helped make him a star. “She was my first acting teacher,” he said. “She told me to ‘stand up straight; put your shoulders back.’ She told me: ‘Act like you have some sense. I want you to be a Southern gentleman.’” Besides Wilson and Foxx, other honorees at this year’s event will include journalism giant Lawrence Wright, the Austin-based Pulitzer Prize-winning author, screenwriter, and staff writer for The new yorker, along with legendary musician T Bone Burnett, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan, socialpractice artist Rick Lowe, philanthropist Ruth Altshuler, architect Charles Renfro, philanthropist Margaret McDermott, and the iconic Kilgore Rangerettes. Representatives from the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and the Dr Pepper Snapple Group will also accept awards. ViP Legislative reception, february 24, 6 pm, Brazos hall; stars of Texas Brunch, february 25, 11 am, governor’s mansion; Texas medal of arts red carpet reception, awards show, and gala, february 25, 5:30 pm, Long center for the Performing arts; texasmedalofarts.org AW
photography by allen berezovsky/getty Images (wIlson); bob straus (performers, guests)
“Texas is where i goT my foundaTion—you can geT yours from here Too.”—chandra wilson
CULTURE Out and About
Where Austin Gets Its Texas On
RODEO AUSTIN PAYS HOMAGE TO OUR HERITAGE WITH A WORLD-CLASS LIVESTOCK SHOW AND COUNTRY MUSIC STARS. BY WES EICHENWALD For many Central Texans, March doesn’t mean South by Southwest; it means Rodeo Austin, when even city folks—up to a quarter of a million each year—make a date with their inner cowboy or cowgirl to experience this exciting event. Tracing its origins to a 1938 stock show with 16 animals, Rodeo Austin has expanded into a twoweek extravaganza, March 14–28 at the Travis County Exposition Center. Besides this main event, Rodeo Austin works all year to raise money for its successful scholarship program. Last year, the organization awarded more than $500,000 to 45 students from around the state. With 15 livestock and horse shows in the Show Barn, visitors get a taste of everything related to raising animals like horses, goats, and chicken. The rodeo itself includes bareback- and saddle-bronc riding, tie-down calf roping, team steer roping, bull riding, and women-only barrel racing, along with the ever-popular sight of 6-year-olds fighting to stay atop sheep (also known as “mutton bustin’”). The riders come from towns all over Texas, including Azle, Vernon, Bartonville, and Waller, and from farther afield: Oklahoma, Wyoming, Iowa, and Alberta, Canada. All of them try to stay on the wildly bucking, rearing,
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twisting animals until the buzzer sounds. Riders call it eight seconds of eternity. The fairground offers over 60 carnival rides and games, shopping for that perfect cowboy hat or boots, and, of course, eating: Indulge in all your favorite treats, including funnel cake, cotton candy, corn dogs, and even fried Coke. With its pig races and scaled-down rides, the Rockin’ A Ranch offers children younger than 12 a rodeo experience created just for them, and infants and tots can spend time at the petting zoo in Kidstown. Although country music dominates the live music lineup, rock group Panic! at the Disco’s March 17 concert offers some variety. Among the bigger names set to perform are Dwight Yoakam (March 15) and Martina McBride (March 26). “We’re unique in Austin,” says Michele Golden, a former Rodeo Austin board member (and its first Rodeo Queen in 1982). Although the rodeo gets many repeat visitors, Golden thinks it’s a particular must for newcomers to town. “There are so many folks coming in from all over the country and all over the world who have never seen a rodeo before. Austin is a special town, and [the rodeo] is a great Texas experience.” Rodeo Austin, March 14–28, Travis County Exposition Center, 7311 Decker Lane, 512-477-6060; rodeoaustin.com AW
ANIMAL INSTINCTS Area veterinarian Dr. Gary D. Warner, a leading bucking-bull expert, shares insights on the animals behind the rodeo. Elgin-based veterinarian Dr. Gary D. Warner—who raises show cattle on his Bastrop County ranch—cares for the bucking-bull stars of the rodeo circuit, such as Bushwacker, a three-time Professional Bull Riders [PBR] world champion. Regarded as one of the best bovine vets in the country, Warner recommends rodeo spectators pay careful attention not just to the riders, but to the animals as well. “I love to watch those [bulls] perform [more than] the humans who are trying to ride them,” he says, equating the bull’s movements with those of a gymnast. “Watch the grace and agility the bucking bulls have. The same thing [is true of] the bareback and saddle broncs. How those horses move and kick can be quite graceful and fun to watch.” Warner maintains that these “animal athletes” are well treated. “There are not really any more health concerns than [for] any other athlete, be it the equine or even the human variety,” he says. “Both PBR and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association [PRCA] have rules that safeguard the animals. These organizations are very concerned about animal welfare.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT VAN OSDOL (GIRL ON HORSE); RODEO AUSTIN (INSET); SHUTTERSTOCK (BULL)
The two-week-long Rodeo Austin provides an authentic Texas experience for all ages. INSET: Rodeo Austin originated in 1938.
EstateSelmaHughesAustin.com
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Culture Art Full
Eldridge Cleaver and his wife, Kathleen, by Gordon Parks, 1970. right, clockwise from top: Unite, by Barbara Jones-Hogu, 1971; The Door (Admissions Office), by David Hammons, 1969; Wives of Shango, by Jeff Donaldson, 1969.
Sign of the timeS
The BlanTon MuseuM looks aT The 1960s Civil RighTs MoveMenT ThRough The hands and lenses of aRTisTs. by wes eichenwald
Turbulent, provocative times deserve equally turbulent and provocative art, whether we’re talking about the 1960s or the second decade of the 21st century. Through May, the Blanton Museum of Art hosts the touring exhibition
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“Witness: Art and Civil Rights in the Sixties,” which aims to examine how painters, photographers, sculptors, and other artists were affected by the civil rights movement and how they commented on it
through their various pieces of artwork. First organized by the Brooklyn Museum in 2014, the exhibit includes a half-century-old video of the late African American musician Nina Simone
singing “Mississippi Goddam,” her celebrated song about racially based murders and unrest in the South, as well as 100 works by 66 artists, including Romare Bearden, Barkley Hendricks, Gordon Parks, Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, Richard Avedon, and Edward Kienholz, among others. There’s a particular synergy with the exhibition coming to Austin, site of the LBJ Library: the scholarly home to the president during some of the movement’s most tempestuous years. On April 8, in conjunction with the Blanton show and the photo exhibit “March to Freedom,”
running February 21–April 12 at the LBJ Library, the library will host a panel discussion on the movement. The exhibit demonstrates that artists have always mirrored the events and social upheavals of their eras—many, indeed, would tell you it’s their obligation to do so. In the end, you might be left wondering what kinds of exhibits museums in the future will stage to showcase the artistic response to the equally traumatic events of our own time. Through May 10 at the Blanton Museum of Art, The University of Texas, 200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 512-471-7324; blantonmuseum.org AW
photography by brooklyn MuseuM © barbara Jones-hogu (unite); © the gordon parks Foundation (Cleaver); CaliFornia aFriCan aMeriCan MuseuM, los angeles © david haMMons (door); brooklyn MuseuM © JaMeela k. donaldson (Wives)
ThErE’s A pArTicULAr synErgy wiTh ThE ExhiBiTion coMing To AUsTin.
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CULTURE Spotlight
Incubation Art
must see
the biennial Cohen new works festival returns to ut this spring. Launched in 2001 to cultivate student art, the Cohen New Works Festival will take place at the University of Texas for five days this April, showcasing 38 works across all artistic genres. Named for David Mark Cohen, former head of playwriting at UT and a staunch promoter of student work before passing away in 1997, the “New Play Festival”—as it was originally called—was devised to celebrate young artists’ work in architecture, design, dance, film, music, theater, and visual arts. Presented by Broadway Bank and run by UT students and graduates, this largest collegiate festival of its kind features projects that include a collaborative live radio performance, an installation of artifacts illustrating North Korean propaganda, an interactive photo installation called “I Am My Selfie,” and a coming-of-age opera, among many other works. April 13–17, F. Loren Winship Drama Building, corner of E. 23rd St. and San Jacinto Blvd. on UT campus; newworksfestival.org
// from broadway //
around town
Mixed Media Austin’s beloved Fusebox Festival, which marks its 11th anniversary this year, explores unique contemporary art across all mediums, with events at multiple locations around the city. With Fusebox as a platform for diverse work that pushes the boundaries of traditional art, its annual multitrack festival aims to spark discussion among artists, advance the contemporary art movement, educate through panel discussions and workshops, support artists, and foster creative partnerships. April 1–12, various locations, 512-800-3066; fuseboxfestival.com
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for charity
Jimmy Kimmel Joins the macK, JacK & mcconaughey trio for its third annual benefit. Good things come in threes for Mack, Jack & McConaughey. The third annual fundraiser—a collaboration between actor Matthew McConaughey, country singer Jack Ingram, and ESPN analyst and former UT football coach Mack Brown—has invited late-night talk show comedian Jimmy Kimmel to the stage before a Jack & Friends concert on Friday, April 17, at ACL Live. The concert will cap a twoday event that starts with a gala and live auction on Thursday evening. On Friday morning the trio heads out on a celebrity golf tournament, while spouses Camila Alves, Amy Ingram, and Sally Brown host designer Michelle Smith for a Milly fashion show at the W Austin in conjunction with Neiman Marcus. “Sally and I are looking forward to another stellar event,” Brown says. “It’s great that we can shine the light on these worthy children’s organizations.” Benefciaries include The Rise School of Austin, McConaughey’s Just Keep Livin Foundation, HeartGift, CureDuchenne, and Dell Children’s Hospital. mackjackmcconaughey.org
The “Action Hero Act” at Fusebox in 2014.
ACCIDENTAL PRESIDENT
A pivotal year—November 1963 to November 1964—is covered in three hours in Robert Schenkkan’s political drama, All the Way, about President Lyndon B. Johnson’s efforts to pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act in the wake
44
Here’s Jimmy
of JFK’s assassination. A UT graduate who won the Pulitzer Prize for The Kentucky Cycle, Schenkkan writes a brilliant account of “the accidental president.” The drama earned a Tony Award last year for Best Play when it
Just a few weeks after his late-night talk show moves to the Long Center for SXSW, Jimmy Kimmel returns to Austin for Mack, Jack, & McConaughey.
a tony-winning play comes to the Zach.
debuted on Broadway with Bryan Cranston. Dave Steakley is directing the Austin production. April 8–May 10, Topfer Theatre at the Zach Theatre, 202 South Lamar Blvd., 512-4760541; zachtheatre.org
photography by CeCil Stoughton /lbj library (lbj); Kevin Mazur/getty iMageS for the Clara lionel foundation (KiMMel); CourteSy of eriCa nix (fuSebox); CourteSy of new worKS feStival (aSheS)
The Cohen New Works Festival is run and organized by students. Set designer Lisa Laratta’s Ashes, Ashes (shown here) was featured at the 2007 festival.
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people View from the Top
A HeAltHier Austin
DR. CLAY JOHNSTON’S VISION FOR THE NEW UT DELL MEDICAL SCHOOL COMbINES INNOVATION AND PARTNERSHIPS, AND ENCOURAGES US ALL TO MAKE SMARTER CHOICES. by fred zipp As the University of Texas Dell Medical School rises from its construction site on the east side of campus, its dean, Dr. Clay Johnston, is not far off. He’s rushing to his next meeting, walking down five stories from his temporary office, across university grounds, and up another four flights of stairs. Along the way, he shares his vision for not only the school, the first medical campus to be built at a major university in decades, but also for Austin’s healthcare in general (his “no-elevator” approach hints at his overall philosophy).
photography by ben sklar
continued on page 48
Dr. Clay Johnston is encouraged by the progress of his latest project: a first-class medical school at the University of Texas.
AUSTINWAY.com 47
PEOPLE View from the Top UT is the first top-tier research university in decades to build a medical school. left: Dr. Clay Johnston speaks at an American Medical Association meeting after being appointed dean of the UT Dell Medical School.
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everything remains on schedule, 50 students will begin studies in 2016. Johnston has carried heavy loads before. After undergraduate studies in physics at Amherst College and medical school at Harvard University, he completed his residency in neurology at UCSF and served on its faculty for 17 years while squeezing in time for a PhD in epidemiology at UC, Berkeley. He was also director of the Clinical Translational Science Institute at UCSF, a group dedicated to applying promising therapies to patient care and finding innovative approaches to healthcare. Eager to use what he learned at UT, he says, “This is a start-up; taking something from zero to something that’s worthy of the vision of the community is a different challenge.” Dr. Robert Messing, who has known Johnston since he was a resident at UCSF, is vice provost for biomedical sciences at UT and chaired the search committee that endorsed Johnston as dean. “Academically, he was more than acceptable because the guy has published a lot of very key papers” in his specialty, the treatment of stroke, Messing says. What set Johnston apart, though, was his “totally different mind-set [focused on more] than just treating diseases.” Johnston envisions an ecosystem—a favorite metaphor—designed “to provide better care that’s more efficient and more matched with what people really want out of the healthcare system.” Central Health, the taxpayer-supported healthcare district for Travis County, and the private Seton Healthcare Family of hospitals and clinics, which is building the teaching
hospital at the medical complex, are two other major components of the ecosystem. Equally important, Johnston says, are the healthier choices we make in a grassroots effort to create and continuously fine-tune that model healthy city. “If we want to be a smart city, what’s more important to a city than its health?” Johnston asks. That’s why he thinks it’s possible for the medical school, working with UT computer scientists, to craft the final piece of his imagined ecosystem: a vast repository of health information gathered from all the partners and big-data tools to create “a model not just for health, but for how to achieve it, because that’s really the key.” AW
INSIGHT
Dr. Clay Johnston’s best local healthy choices. To MarkeT: “I’m not a big fan of shopping,
but the folks at Central Market do a great job of making food really interesting and putting the healthy stuff out front.” 4001 N. Lamar Blvd., 512-206-1000; 4477 S. Lamar Blvd., 512-899-4300; centralmarket.com QuinTessenTially ausTin: “The 10mile Butler Trail around Lady Bird Lake offers an unbeatable setting for getting fresh air and exercise.” thetrailfoundation.org in The neighborhood: “Adams Hemphill Park is my neighborhood park, heavily and lovingly used by people, dogs, squirrels, and doves, and for good reason.” 201 W. 30th St.; 201 W. 30th St.; austinparks.org
photography by marsha miller
Appointed dean in January 2014, Johnston and his colleagues aim to go beyond creating a first-class school and innovative medical center. “We’re here to change healthcare in the community,” he says—a goal that lured him to Austin from San Francisco, where he was associate vice chancellor of research at the University of California, San Francisco. “We can think more broadly about what the health issues are for Austin and how we can best address them,” with the goal of forming a “model healthy community.” One way to do so, he explains, is as simple as encouraging healthier eating and exercise habits. Another is measuring how these changed habits—interventions, he calls them—affect lives. He believes the medical school must enable partners around the city to take on similar interventions. Johnston knows the medical school can’t do it alone, so he is speaking at the Health and MedTech Expo in March as part of South by Southwest Interactive. “To solve the health issues, we need the same entrepreneurial spirit that’s been brought to technology for solving consumer issues,” he says. Long the dream of many, including State Senator Kirk Watson, the school started to become a reality after voters approved a property tax increase in 2012 and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation made a $50 million investment. Last summer Austin’s Livestrong Foundation also donated $50 million to establish the Livestrong Cancer Institutes, a partnership with the medical school that’s focused on patient-centered care and innovative teaching techniques. After a year on the job, Johnston is encouraged by the school’s progress. Faculty appointments are on schedule, and the curriculum is under review by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the national accrediting authority. Construction is moving along on a nearly $650 million medical campus and hospital; Johnston jokes that the “center of gravity” of Austin’s building activity has shifted from downtown to just west of the Erwin Center. If
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PEOPLE Talent Patrol
Emily Wolfe credits her band’s passion and energy for its success.
Call of the Wild
remember. My mom listened to Motown, and my dad listened to classic rock. A self-taught musician, Emily Wolfe, 24, has released three EPs, most recently I’ve always wanted to see how I could combine those genres and put my own Roulette, which received rave reviews nationwide last fall. The St. Edward’s voice to them both. Hopefully that’s what we’ve done with Roulette. University graduate has shown her versatility by growing from intimate Roulette has been widely well received and described as more sultry acoustic sets to lighting stages aflame with a robust five-piece backing band. and haunting than your previous EPs. Would you agree? To what do On the eve of playing her second SXSW as a featured artist, Austin Way spoke you attribute that kind of evolution? to Wolfe about the groundwork she’s laid for the Every track on Roulette is about risk. All of my other year ahead, the darkness that drives her, and what it INSIGHT records, although they are greatly personal, could feels like to be on the brink of breakout stardom. Java fx: “Jo’s on South Congress is where the band and I be deemed as experiments. I had no idea what I was went to get coffee and breakfast tacos before our frst SXSW doing while recording them; I just knew I enjoyed How is 2015 shaping up to be different from last year. It’s full of friendly faces and has such an artistic playing the songs and seeing what could come from last year? vibe; it seems to bring out the creative side in everyone.” 1300 S. Congress Ave., 512-444-3800; joscoffee.com that process. As for Roulette, the record is a reflecIt feels like 2015 will be our year as a band; 2014 was tion of the direction I want to keep pushing toward all about preparing. We’ve been accomplishing a Live set: “I’ve seen some of my favorite shows at The Parish. musically. All of the songs were written from a dark lot and setting new goals for ourselves as a team, It seems like the energy cycle that goes on between the crowd and the artists who play there is really easy to be a part of. And and haunting place in my life. so 2015 will be proof of that. it has the best sound in town. Everyone who goes to The Parish What’s the mark of a successful SXSW? You’ve had a dream of creating a new genre of is there to hear the music the way it’s meant to be heard.” A successful festival is having amazing shows. Every music. What is it? When did you realize there 214 E. Sixth St.; theparishaustin.com crowd is different, and you never know what will was a musical void that you’d like to fill? happen. The best way to go about the festival is to I’ve always wanted to create a new genre of music— only expect one thing: the best from yourself. If we play as well as we can, with it’s definitely a lofty goal, but it’s my life’s goal as well: to leave my mark and as much energy and passion possible, that’s success. If we perform with heart be a legend of some kind. So far we’ve been trying to brand a genre and skill, things will fall into place. emilywolfemusic.com AW called “dream rock.” I’ve listened to different genres of music since I can
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photography by Stevan alcala
AUSTIN SINGER-SONGWRITER EMILY WOLFE IS READY TO POUNCE ON SXSW WITH HER OWN “DREAM ROCK’’ GENRE OF MUSIC. bY caItLIn M. rYan
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Community EngagEmEnt Honored tHis montH by tHe Human rigHts Commission, EugEnE SEpulvEda and StEvEn tomlinSon Have built a life balanCed on friends, family, and tHe future. by dan solomon
INSIGHT:
RECENT RECOGNITION Eugene Sepulveda was honored by the MexNet Alliance at the Authentic Mexico Gourmet Gala and was presented an award by Senator Judith Zaffarini for his contributions to Austin’s Hispanic community. On February 21, the couple received the Human Rights Commission’s Bettie Naylor Visibility Award. Two decades ago, the HRC gave Sepulveda its Lifetime Achievement Award, but he says: “This is even more special; it recognizes the work Steven and I do together.”
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Eugene Sepulveda (left) and Steven Tomlinson share a passion for community, family, and philanthropy.
Eugene Sepulveda and Steven Tomlinson are glad they gave each other a second chance—and undoubtedly so are the many Austinites they’ve inspired and worked with over the years. “We were set up on a bad date,” Tomlinson says. They were in their late 30s when they met, and their paths were already established: Sepulveda, the first technology banker in Austin, worked with a tech start-up in the semiconductor industry. In addition to being a professor at the University of Texas Acton School of Business, Tomlinson had a side gig as a playwright and performer. What they were both missing was someone with whom to share their mutual passion for community and family. So they tried again, met for a second date, and things took off. The couple celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary last year, and professionally, they’re engaged in work they believe in. Sepulveda is CEO of the Entrepreneurs Foundation, a director for Capital Factory, vice chair of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, and a senior advisor to Mayor Steve Adler. Tomlinson teaches in the Acton MBA program and serves as a consultant to Wall Street, and Fortune 500 and tech companies; he’s also an adjunct professor of pastoral ministry at the Seminary of the Southwest. “We got together with the ambition of making community and family the center of our lives,” Sepulveda says. “That’s what we’ve been working on ever since.” The two are godparents to 11 children and uncles to six, and their Central Austin home plays host to a variety of activities, such as the Young African Leadership Initiative, which pairs African entrepreneurs with American counterparts; a dinner for East Austin’s St. James Church, of which they are members; and a dinner for patrons of a Testsite Gallery exhibit featuring Tomlinson’s notebooks. If it were up to Sepulveda, he says, “This house would be full all the time.” The men balance their busy lives with trips to Santa Barbara, California, and London (where they’ll kick off the theater season in March). When in Austin, they focus on business and philanthropic pursuits, with the latter taking priority. They’ve also been involved in politics—Sepulveda helped introduce Julian Castro to President Obama—and the events at their home include fundraisers for the Castro brothers and Leticia Van De Putte during her candidacy for lieutenant governor. So how do they go from talking business to promoting philanthropy? According to Sepulveda, “It’s easy for me to ask people for money for something I think is really important for the community. If I know that you care about this city and you want something done differently, I don’t consider it a favor for you to invest in that. [It’s] a favor to [your] grandchildren, maybe.” AW
photography by randal ford
PEOPLE Dynamic Duo
Elephant’s Graveyard by George Brant; Photo: Mark Rutkowski
the Cohen new works Festival 30+ Shows. All New. All Free. Presented by
newworksfestival.org
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april 13–17, 2015
PEOPLE Spirit of Generosity
Hunger: It’s Personal
local philanthropist Joanna Linden leads the charge to create a new capital area food bank facility with a campaign to raise $10 million in 10 months.
Joanna Linden’s firsthand experience with poverty is one of the reasons she is so passionate about her goal of ending hunger in Central Texas.
“When I joined the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas as chief development officer almost five years ago, I felt a responsibility to help those who were just like I was in my early 20s. I’ve heard it’s easier to win the lottery than to escape poverty, and I feel like I have won the lottery in terms of earning a living and being able to give back. I have devoted my professional life to Austin’s nonprofits: first at Austin Opera and then at the Make-A-Wish Foundation. My primary initiative is now to expand the Food Bank with a new facility that will help feed Central Texans who are at risk of hunger—a percentage of the community growing at nearly double the rate of our population. In September, the Food Bank launched its 10x10 Campaign to raise the remaining $10 million of its goal to raise $20 million in 10 months. “The Food Bank is like a safety net, providing the emergency-food assistance that I got to experience firsthand. After getting married at a young age, my husband and I didn’t have much. I began my adulthood—and it sounds extreme—in poverty. Just about everything we had was handed down or given to us, and we struggled to put gas in the car and food on the table. It was during this time that I had my first daughter, Abigail. “Abigail was born with spina bifida, a birth defect that has left her paralyzed and wheelchairbound. Her first five years were full of doctor appointments, hospital stays, and surgeries; in order to take care of her, I dropped out of college and couldn’t work. “I was on food stamps for a long time and would camp out by the mailbox to wait for them to arrive so I could go to the grocery store and put food in our basket. During my 20s, I worked diligently to continued on page 56
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photography by jessica pages
as told to kathy blackwell
WELCOME TO THE CENTER OF IT ALL Everything you need in the heart of Austin. Award-winning cuisine in our 4-star restaurant, a Grand Ballroom for life’s celebrations, a high-tech conference center for effective learning and comfortable accommodations for business travelers, festival attendees, sightseers and football fans. You’ll appreciate the convenience — and you’ll love our Texas hospitality.
1900 University Avenue · Austin, Texas 78705 www.MeetAtTexas.com · Facebook/MeetAtTexas.com
PeOPLe spirit of generosity Charity register
The Capital Area Food Bank of Texas helps the one in four children in Austin who are hungry. right from top: The food bank distributed 29 million pounds of food in 2014; the new facility will have double the space of its current warehouse.
Opportunities to give.
WONDERS & WORRIES UNMASKED More than 400 guests will enjoy an Italian-themed masquerade ball, complete with opera singers, entertainers, music by DJ Hear No Evil, and a live auction and raffe. Proceeds will beneft children of parents with serious or life-threatening illnesses. Wonders & Worries is the only program to offer free professional Child-Life services and personalized coping support for children and their families. Sponsorship opportunities begin at $2,500. When: February 27 Where: JW Marriott Hotel, 110 E. Second St., 512-474-4777 Contact: Lindsey Boyd, lindsey@wondersandworries.org
HUSTON-TILLOTSON PRESIDENT’S MASKED SCHOLARSHIP GALA The 12th annual gala will feature dinner, dancing, music by Grammy-winning blues sensation Gary Clark Jr., a silent auction, and the popular Grand Parade of Masks Competition. Hosted by local corporate sponsors, the event benefts students at Huston-Tillotson University with scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $150,000. When: March 7, 6 pm
make a better life for myself and for Abigail, now 21, and my other daughter, Makenzie, now 17. “People would never guess I am one to have experienced poverty; they think they know who the hungry are. They think it’s the person on the street corner holding a sign; in reality, many working families are struggling to make ends meet without enough money to buy food. I often think about those in Dove Springs and other areas of Austin who don’t have easy access to produce. I’ll meet kids who don’t even know what a sweet potato is because they’ve never seen one. “Although Austin often tops the list as the fastest-growing city, with unemployment rates at an all-time low, the gap between the wealthy and the poor is widening. This divide could be the downfall of our city; we’re in a place of plenty, and hunger is absolutely unacceptable in a city like ours. I realize it’s a lofty goal to try to end all the hunger in the world, but ending hunger locally is absolutely possible. One in every four kids in Austin is hungry, and that statistic should
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bother us. A big part of my job is to educate those who are unaware of this growing problem in our community. “When the food bank’s facility was built 17 years ago, nobody ever predicted we would outgrow the space that is designed to hold 24 million pounds of food per year. Last year we distributed 29 million pounds of food and were still 30 percent short of the demand. We embarked on a $20 million capital campaign to build a 135,000 -square-foot facility that will include a commercial kitchen and double the current warehouse space. The Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in Central Texas; with proper infrastructure, we can turn every donated dollar into $6 worth of food. “Overcoming poverty was certainly a long road for me. My role with the Food Bank is the first job that allows me to be totally authentic, in the moment, and emotional. I’ve gotten hurt a lot of times in this job, but that’s okay because it feels real and genuine.” austinfoodbank.org AW
Contact: Linda Jackson, 512-505-3073; events@htu.edu
I AM WATERS SPRING SUPERMODEL LUNCHEON Join modeling legends Cheryl Tiegs, Jerry Hall, Kelly Emberg, and others as they honor Austinite Charmaine McGill during the I Am Waters Foundation’s frst Austin luncheon. The Houston-based charity hopes to raise awareness and funds to enrich the lives of America’s homeless by providing clean bottled water delivered with a daily message of hope, love, and a sense of belonging to a greater community. Tickets are $500; sponsorships range from $5,000 to $25,000. When: March 12, 11 am –2 pm Where: Four Seasons Hotel, 98 San Jacinto Blvd., 512-478-4500 Contact: Elena Davis, elena@iamwaters.com
RIDE, DRIVE, GIVE AT COTA Ride with a professional driver around the Circuit of the Americas track, and support the Center for Child Protection. Packages (from $1,995 to $3,595) include one-on-one instruction from a pro, photos, and a swag bag. Proceeds will beneft abused children in Travis County. When: March 30 Where: Circuit of the Americas, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd., 512-301-6600 Contact: Emma Hoyle, 512-472-1164; ehoyle@centerforchildprotection.org
photography courtesy of capital area food bank
“We’re in a place of plenty, and hunger is absolutely unacceptable in a city like ours.” —joanna linden
Where: JW Marriott Hotel, 110 E. Second St., 512-474-4777
AUSTIN CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER’s mission is to improve the mental health of children and their families through early intervention, diagnosis, and treatment to help them develop the emotional skills for meeting life’s challenges. Each year the agency provides quality mental health care to over 3,500 children and family members, regardless of their ability to pay. For over 64 years, the Center has improved the mental and emotional health of underserved children and families.
If you would like to learn more about Austin Child Guidance Center, get involved or donate please visit
AUSTINCHILDGUIDANCE.ORG
INVITED
Bogart’s gin Premiere
PhotograPhy by DaviD brenDan hall
Honoring late actor HumpHrey Bogart, cocreators Stephen Bogart and John paul DeJoria treated lucky guests to tHe inaugural sips of tHeir new spirit. by Ashley VehslAge
Stephen Bogart (left) and John Paul DeJoria
Louis Shanks hosted the world premiere of Bogart’s Real English gin, a brilliant collaboration between Humphrey Bogart’s son, Stephen Bogart, and acclaimed spirits entrepreneur John Paul DeJoria. Hundreds of invited guests gathered in the highend home décor store to snack on hors d’oeuvres continued on page 60
AUSTINWAY.com 59
INVITED // spotlight //
CASABLANCA COCKTAIL
“
Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine. —HUMPHREY BOGART
”
AS RICK IN CASABLANCA
GUESTS ENJOYED THE HUMPHREY BOGART REAL ENGLISH GIN SIGNATURE COCKTAIL, A DRINK INSPIRED BY THE TOUGH, SUAVE, AND
Dannye Donnell and Jeff Jacoy
Jessica Arnold, Mary Bourgeois, Mary Andrea Westerman, and Shelly Livingston
provided by The Capital Grille and to sip martinis—a rare opportunity to taste the gin before it is available in stores. The fine furniture design store displayed pieces from its Humphrey Bogart collection in celebration of the gin’s premiere.
SOPHISTICATED FILM LEGEND. The late Humphrey Bogart was honored at the event.
1 PART BOGART’S REAL 3 PARTS TONIC 1 SPLASH OF ST-GERMAIN 1 CUCUMBER SLICE Pete Girgis and Alexis Defiore Valerie and Harvey Bennett
Lee and Joanna Gibbs
Monica Shields with Colleen and Denise Forwood, Becky Skaggs, and Maricela Herrera
Jim Adams
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Carol and Mike Samouce
James and Linda Gregg with Marissa and Samon Kashani
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID BRENDAN HALL AND BONNIE OF BONNIE & LAUREN PHOTOGRAPHY; OPPOSITE PAGE: GARY MILLER/GETTY IMAGES (JENSON BUTTON)
ENGLISH GIN
Jenson Button signs the Join the Pact car, a pledge to not drink and drive.
Elaine Garza, Elise Lindstrand, and Jesse Herman
Valerie Ahrentzen, Ben Pearson, and Ava Late
JENSON BUTTON COVER PARTY
JOHNNIE WALKER TEAMED up with Austin Way to kick off the annual Formula One weekend in Austin with November/December cover star and former World Grand Prix champion Jenson Button. An elite group of Austin tastemakers gathered at East Austin’s Fair Market, which had been transformed into the House of Walker for the week. There was an overflowing selection of fine whiskey to be enjoyed— including a Johnnie Walker Blue Label open bar and specialty cocktails handcrafted by Austin’s finest barkeeps. The freely flowing spirits—a staple feature of all the weekend’s F1 parties—inspired Button to speak on behalf of Johnnie Walker’s designated-driver campaign, Join the Pact. Guests were asked to take a stand against driving under the influence and to join him in signing the Mercedes-Benz E350—by far the best looking pact we’ve seen to date.
Bartenders crafted Johnnie Walker specialty cocktails at six stations throughout Fair Market.
Marlene Goodfleisch, Madison Enloe, and Masha Poloskova
Alex Karlsson with Nicholas and Annabelle Frankl
Stephen Wilson
Ruben Reyes, Agata Clevenger, and Gustavo Roche
Mayra Del Bello, Lee Loya, and Rashanna Moss
Lisa Fletcher, Autumn Rich, Matt McGinnis, and Lisa Hickey
Barbara Kelso, Michael Torres, and Susan Faykus
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INVITED
Rebecca Hardeman, Lisa Parrish, and Beth Stabile
Caroline and Todd Harris
DINING FOR DIMES
A SEA OF Austin’s most recognizable faces gathered at First Texas
Greg and Keri Walling with Cord Shiflet
Downtown Location South Location (Salon) (Salon & Boutique) Hartland Plaza Lamar Union - Opening 2015
Victoria and Sofia Avila
Sherri West and Melody McCaig
Dara and Todd Allen
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIKA RICH (DIMES); OPPOSITE PAGE: DAVID BRENDAN HALL (THE LIST)
Honda for the March of Dimes Austin Signature Chefs Auction. The event is always a favorite among the town’s elite, and this one was no exception. Local chefs, including Congress’s David Bull and Trio’s Elmar Prambs, showcased their respective restaurants’ signature plates as guests perused the one-of-a-kind VIP auction items. Since the first Signature Chefs Auction in 1989, these annual events have raised more than $150 million for the March of Dimes. All proceeds from this event also benefited the organization that works to improve the healthcare of newborns.
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Tim Neece
Amanda Sprague and Samantha Davidson
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Chrissy Kleberg and Lisa Womack
Stacy and Michael Brick
CELEBRATING “THE LIST”
IN HONOR OF the powerful individuals included in the magazine’s
first two editions of “The List,” Austin Way hosted a lavish holiday party at Hotel Ella. Presented with a pink rose upon arrival, the men and women of “The List” were treated by the hotel’s restaurant, Goodall’s, with decadent canapés and oysters fit for royalty. The bubbles flowed freely in celebration of all the powerhouses’ achievements and contributions in 2014.
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SPECIAL THANKS TO CINDY CRAWFORD AND SONIA KASHUK FOR THEIR SUPPORT. A public service announcement. Show dates, times, offers, and availability subject to change without notice. ©2014 QVC, Inc. QVC, Q and the Q Ribbon Logo are registered service marks of ER Marks, Inc.
taste this Issue: Rock-star Restaurants
Fine-Dining Oasis
During SXSW, SHAWN CI IEL’S PArKSiDE iS A rEFugE FOr FOOD LOVErS nAVigATing THE MADnESS OF SiXTH STrEET. by tom thornton When Shawn Cirkiel brought Parkside’s upscale dining to Sixth Street in 2008, his enthusiasm wasn’t necessarily shared (it’s called “Dirty Sixth” for a reason). “People thought it was a crazy idea—even my friends,” says Cirkiel. After shunning advice to try the Warehouse District, Cirkiel enlisted veteran restaurant architect Michael Hsu to transform a nearly century-old former steakhouse into “a beacon of light on the corner.” Whether working a quiet weeknight or a crushing SXSW Saturday, Cirkiel always aims to make all his patrons feel important. And he says that simple mission “helps prepare us for SXSW.” Although Parkside was conceived as a spot for oysters, burgers, and downtown fun, its menu evolved as regulars of
photography by knoxy knox photography
continued on page 66
Parkside offers a dozen varieties of oysters, including a platter of Caraquets, Malpeques, and Shiny Seas. On Wednesdays guests can enjoy the luscious morsels at half price.
AUSTINWAY.com 65
taste Cirkiel’s empire Parkside was just the start for Shawn Cirkiel. Here, the other members of his restaurant family. The Backspace – Neapolitanstyle pizza and antipasti in a tiny room just behind Parkside. 507 San Jacinto Blvd., 512-474-9899; thebackspace austin.com
clockwise from left:
Parkside’s interior features classic and modern designs; the ever-popular macaroni, Gruyére, and cheddar side dish; chef Shawn Cirkiel, who opened the restaurant in 2008.
Cirkiel’s former restaurant, the beloved Jean Luc’s Bistro, turned up wanting more fine-dining options. “The menu became more complex,” Cirkiel says, “but the fun experience stuck.” The chef credits the restaurant’s longevity to this flexibility, which can accommodate the noisy bar-loving crowd as well as a couple desiring a special evening. The significant range of ingredients and flavors here reflects Cirkiel’s culinary background. Early work at Napa’s Domaine Chandon and New York’s Café Boulud shows in his takes on the classics, while elements of his Austin stint with Tyson Cole appear in the modern, artful seafood. At Uchi, Cirkiel mentored the young Paul Qui, who remains appreciative. “Shawn was a huge inspiration,”says Qui. “He taught me both how to cook and how to manage cooks in the classic sense.” Qui credits Cirkiel’s “great palate” and strong business acumen for his success in a nontraditional setting. While Cirkiel’s culinary approach at Parkside is rooted in classicism, it also targets the youngish crowd. The base of the steak tartare is diced tri-tip (bottom sirloin) and accented with shallots, capers, mustard, and
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gherkins—a mix that highlights the rich beef while layering in acidity, crunch, and spice. On the lighter side, the ceviche marries classic flavors of jalapeño, lime, avocado, and cilantro with a Mexican-spiced Bloody Mary mix and a quick-dressed portion of sashimi. Oysters are also popular, especially on Wednesdays, when they’re half price—as is Champagne. While a dozen varieties of oysters are available, a sampler of Caraquets, Malpeques, and Shiny Seas is Cirkiel’s favorite. During SXSW, look for early hints of the spring garden harvest. While vegetarian and vegan requests abound at the festival, expect asparagus with Parmesan, broccolini with chili oil and cherries, and fresh riffs on mushrooms and kale plates. For diners in search of comfort food, the mac and cheese seems ubiquitous on Parkside tables. The simple, creamy dish employs white cheddar and Gruyère, baked to order with a breadcrumb topping. For added decadence, sample delights of new pastry chef Erika Waksmunski (formerly of Congress). Cirkiel says Waksmunski “really hits home with core flavors like chocolate and malt. It’s not traditional in approach, but it
feels familiar.” And Parkside’s popular, ever-changing varieties of doughnuts offer a strong, sweet finish. Wine selections are thoughtful: Aficionados can find esoteric picks like Big Table Farm Pinot Gris, while Francophiles will spot coveted white wines from Vouvray’s Domaine Huet. Cocktails lean toward whiskey, gin, and vodka and are crafted with a busy bar in mind. Says Cirkiel: “Nobody wants to wait 15 minutes. We serve what we like, but we’re conscious of speed.” The bustling room of high tin ceilings and exposed brick is both reverent and casual. The lateVictorian architecture of East Sixth was an attraction for Cirkiel: “They don’t build [places like this] anymore.” But the massive black booths, industrial lights, and clean lines of wooden tables and metal chairs meld the classic space with the present. Parkside’s success is a testament to Cirkiel’s persona: Like him, the kitchen is skilled and confident with little pretense. Says Cirkiel: “You have to be comfortable with who you are. We do fine dining, but regulars have no problem asking me for a fried-egg sandwich.” 301 E. Sixth St., 512-4749898; parksideaustin.com AW
BullfighT – This year, Cirkiel left Chavez, the restaurant he opened in 2014, so that he can focus on launching a new restaurant based on Spanish cuisine. The 75-seat Airport Boulevard spot will serve shared plates like croquettes, fresh eel, monkfsh, and razor clams. While the chef admits that, “You don’t see many vegetables on vacation in Spain,” he will do a number of veggie dishes. A full cocktail program will feature drinks based on Spanish favorites like sherry, gin, and Kalimotxo (red wine and Coca-Cola), and an all-Spanish wine list is planned. “It’s an ode to fresh food treated simply,” says Cirkiel of this new venture.
The besT seaTs in The house during sXsW While snaring any table at Parkside is a victory during festivals, ask for corner booths 62 or 69 if you have a larger party. Others may request table 61, called “the window at the zoo,” for its proximity to Sixth-Street craziness. For last-minute bookings, Cirkiel recommends giving the host either a range of times or locations to improve your odds: “During SX, tables grow, shrink, and cancel. Be fexible, and we’ll sort you out.”
photography by knoxy knox photography (Chef and food); Courtesy of parkside (dining room)
Olive and June – Southern Italian in a beautiful Bryker Woods gem. 3411 Glenview Ave., 512-4679898; oliveandjune-austin.com
taste Cui-scene
The Hot Seats
Chef Bryce Gilmore specializes in goat, bacon, and quail dishes at Odd Duck.
Chefs Grae Nonas and Michael Fojtasek of Olamaie.
DON’T WORRY–THIS ISN’T THE NAME OF A SXSW BAND YOU SHOULD KNOW; RATHER, THESE ARE THE SIX RESTAURANTS YOU’LL WANT TO VISIT DURINg THE FESTIVAL. by tom thornton The Rock Legend: Uchi
Who’s involved: James Beard winner Tyson Cole, who elevated the level of modern Austin dining. Why go: Uchi opened in 2003, yet tables remain at a premium. The seafood sourcing is impeccable. Try: Get advice on sashimi selections, and don’t skip tastings like pork jowl or Uchiviche. Desserts here are savory, and their plating is a work of art. Ask for: Table 7 (perfect for people-watching) or seats at the sushi bar to observe the busy kitchen. 801 S. Lamar Blvd., 512-916-4808; uchiaustin.com
Chef Paul Qui offers an array of highly sought-after tasting menus at Qui.
The Scenester: LaV Guests can observe the kitchen from Uchi’s elegant sushi bar. The elegant dining room at LaV.
Dai Due sources only local products, including Texas-bred ribs.
The Hitmaker: Qui Who’s involved: Paul Qui, recipient of the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef, Esquire’s Best US Chef, and winner of Top Chef Season 9. Why go: Tom Colicchio recently called Qui “the most talented chef” in the show’s history. Try: Trust the kitchen; there’s no other way. The menu changes often, but regular and vegetarian tastings are available. Beverage pairings are a steal at $45. Ask for: The “Beyoncé booth,” a floating wooden marvel with a chandelier, tucked in near the bar. 1600 E. Sixth St., 512-436-9626; quiaustin.com
The Indie Breakout: Odd Duck Who’s involved: Food & Wine Best New Chef winner Bryce Gilmore, who started this concept as a food trailer in 2009. Why go: Eater recently named Odd Duck 2014’s National Restaurant of the Year.
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Try: The plates are small and meant for sharing, so order many. Gilmore is adept at goat, bacon, and quail—pounce if they’re available. Ask for: Groups of three to five should request “The 20s”: front tables that overlook South Lamar. 1201 S. Lamar Blvd., 512-433-6521; oddduckaustin.com
The Southern Rock Duo: Olamaie Who’s involved: Chefs Grae Nonas and Michael Fojtasek, who met working at Son of a Gun in Los Angeles. Why go: Southern food is back, but it isn’t fried. Try: The chefs have quite a way with seafood and vegetables. Try their Gulf blue crab salad or Kil’t white button mushrooms with warm country ham. Ask for: “The 20s,” the banquette in the main dining room. 1610 San Antonio St., 512-474-2796; olamaieaustin.com
Artist To Watch: Dai Due Who’s involved: Noted author and chef Jesse Griffiths. His Dai Due Supper Club achieved cult status and raves from Andrew Zimmern, food aficionado and host of the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods. Why go: Most Austin restaurants locally source some items, but Griffiths and his culinary crew (with few exceptions) cook only with products that originate in Texas. This is seasonal, locavore bliss. Take our word for it! Try: The ladies’ steak night on Tuesday is a huge hit, and so is the chili topped with cornbread and a fried duck egg. Ask for: The Table 10 booth offers kitchen views and natural light. 2406 Manor Road, 512-524-0688; daidue.com AW
photography by jody horton (odd duck, chefs, qui, ribs); paul bardagjy (uchi); buff strickland photography (lav)
Who’s involved: A trio of savvy women leads this elegant escape: Advanced sommelier Vilma Mazaite worked with Michael Mina, Mario Batali, and at The Little Nell in Aspen, Colorado, where she met future LaV Executive Chef Allison Jenkins. Pastry chef Janina O’Leary studied with Pichet Ong. Why go: LaV may be the fanciest room in town, and it boasts an impeccable wine list. Try: Chef Jenkins demonstrates a mastery of core flavors: She offers roast chicken and potatoes as a signature dish. Lamb tartare and grilled octopus are also highlights. Ask for: A banquette. Groups should inquire about the lovely wine-cellar table. 1501 E. Seventh St., 512-391-1888; lavaustin.com
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TasTe Food Fest
Tim Love, a cofounder of the Austin Food & Wine Festival, plans to open a new outpost of Lonesome Dove downtown. right: The crowd at last year’s Food & Wine Festival.
Whole Lot of Love
Things aren’t slowing down anytime soon for chef Tim Love. Best known in Texas circles for his slew of Fort Worth restaurants—Lonesome Dove, Western Bistro, and the Woodshed, among others— Love also costars on CNBC’s Restaurant Startup with Joe Bastianich and has a line of barbecue rubs and sauces. Now, his presence in Austin is growing: He’s a founder of the capital’s Food & Wine Festival, and he’s opening a Lonesome Dove downtown in the former Kenichi space. The menu will feature some of his signature game dishes like rabbit-rattlesnake sausage and wild boar ribs as well as a few only-in-A-Town surprises. We chatted with Love about the new space and what’s going to make this spring’s Food & Wine Festival, now in its fourth year, the best to date. You’re opening a second Lonesome Dove restaurant, this one in downtown Austin. Have you had Austin in your sights for a long time?
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FESTIVAL ESSENTIALS Dates: April 24–26. Events and tickets: The festival consists of two days of chef demonstrations and tastings at Auditorium Shores along with separate evening events at other locations. Some events can be purchased a la carte, such as the Lone Star State chef-focused Taste of Texas ($150) and the popular Rock Your Taco ($200) competition on Saturday night. The festival has changed its ticket structure; new this year is the $550 All-In ticket, which includes all Friday and Saturday events, including guaranteed seating at Tim Love’s Grilling Demo. The $250 Weekender pass gets you in to the festival both days, but doesn’t include evening events. Available for purchase separately are tickets to Thursday night’s Feast Under the Stars ($225), during which fve chefs cook fve courses, shared family style, for 150 lucky diners. austinfoodandwinefestival.com
I have. Since becoming a chef and cofounder of the Austin Food & Wine Festival, it’s been in the plan to eventually open a restaurant here. It was just a matter of finding the right space and the right time. I didn’t want to push it. I wanted to get more involved with the Austin community before I asked it to embrace me. All of the city’s chefs have been amazing and inviting, and hopefully I can complement what they’re doing. So how will this new Lonesome Dove differ from the original Fort Worth Stockyards location? We have a lot of surprises that I don’t want to share, but the spirit of the restaurant is going to be the same. I want it to fit the city’s personality. People in Austin like to see out to the street, so it’s a brighter restaurant with lots of windows. We’re also building a tremendous limestone wine room that will have a 14-top table. Since it will always be 55 degrees in there, we’ve designed beautiful cashmere ponchos and great suede vests for our diners to wear.
photography by rick kern/Wireimage (love); courtesy of taste of texas (croWd)
Food & Wine Festival coFounder TIM LOVE reveals this year’s exciting line-up—and his neW austin eatery. by stirling kelso
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TASTE Food Fest A STAR CHEF mAkES HiS FOOD & WiNE FEST DEBUT
“What I lIke about the austIn food & WIne festIval Is that It really feels lIke a texas event.... We expose local talent, WhIch Is What excItes me the most.” —tim love
How does the Austin Food & Wine Festival differ from others you’ve been involved with, like those in Aspen and South Beach? What I like about this festival is that it really feels like a Texas event. We have a fire-pit area where, every day, chefs cook over open flames from the morning on. People hang out, chat with the chef, and taste pieces of meat right off the spit, which really says “Texas.” My grilling demonstration has also become popular. Along with bringing in national talent from outside Austin, we expose local talent, which is what excites me the most. The Friday-night Taste of Texas event, for example, is a big hit. The other thing that makes this festival unique is the city of Austin itself. In other places, you go to a food and wine festival just for the event. Here, people also want to explore the city and its music and restaurant scenes.
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What new events can people look forward to this year? We’re adding new elements to our already very popular Thursday-night dinner, where five chefs create five courses, all served family style. Last year those tickets sold out in an hour and a half. We are adding more chefs to the fire pit and the Chef Showcase. On your next trip to Austin, are you looking forward to dining anywhere in particular? I love Odd Duck. I think it’s one of the great restaurants in the city. I want to go to Jacoby’s, and I’m looking forward to Gardner. I’ve heard great things about it, and they introduced the restaurant concept at the festival last year. How do you typically get here from Fort Worth? I drive, although I often take 281 instead of I-35. I like to stop off in Hico and get a piece of pie. AW
Big-name chefs from across the country will descend on Austin for this year’s Food & Wine Festival, including Hugh Acheson, who stars as a judge on Bravo’s Top Chef and has four restaurants in Georgia. He can’t wait to get back to the capital and, between events, hit up some new food trucks. You’re from Ottawa, Canada. How is it that Athens, Georgia, became your home? I’m married to an American from Athens, Georgia, and she wanted to return here to do her graduate work. Then we opened our frst restaurant, 5&10, here in 2000. You’ve been to Austin before for Top Chef, Season Nine. Is Austin a city you know well? We stayed for a long time when we were flming the show in Austin. While it was very, very hot that summer, I just loved it. It’s an amazing town from a food and music perspective. What restaurants are you looking forward to trying when you’re back in April? I’ve been to one of the East Side King trucks, but I haven’t been to Qui, and I’d love to go. Other than that, I like to go to the coffee shops and food trucks, just kind of lay low and eat a lot. That’s the good thing about Austin: People dine out more there than in any other city in North America because there are so many offerings at a fair price point. What events will you take part in during the Food & Wine festival? Rock Your Taco, for one. I’ve already been working on a guajillo-braised lamb taco with ramps and fava beans. I’ll also be doing a cooking demonstration and hosting a book signing. Tell us about your book that’s coming out in April. It’s called The Broad Fork. It answers the age-old question, “What the heck do I do with kohlrabi?” It looks at CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box contents over the year and provides recipes for each item in them. Do you ever think about opening a restaurant outside of Georgia—in Austin, for example? We’re really comfortable in what we’re doing in Georgia. We have four successful restaurants, so we’re going to concentrate on those. Austin just needs me to visit and contribute to its economy in that way. We think the city would welcome you with open arms. I’m just weird enough for it, I think.
photography courtesy of austin food & Wine (park, treats); charles sykes/bravo/nbcu photo bank via getty images (acheson)
Nighttime events at Republic Square Park keep the party going for attendees who purchase the All-In ticket. below: A sampling of delectable treats from top local eateries.
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taste On the town
Qui to the City
Foodies PAUL QUI ANd DEANA SAUKAM tAke A whirlwiNd tour oF their selectioNs oF the best Food trucks iN towN. By JANE KELLOGG MURRAy
Paul Qui and Deana Saukam meet for lunch at Las Trancas, a humble East Austin food truck they’ve been going to regularly since they opened Qui; for dinner the two head to Patrizi’s, a food truck that displays the work of local artists and where nearly every dish is made from scratch daily.
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[First stop: the modest Las Trancas food truck, where tacos start at $1.50 each.] Paul Qui: This whole part of East Austin is blowing up. We started coming here because it was on the way home from Qui and still open at midnight. No one used to come here, and now look at this lunch rush. [The window attendant calls Qui over to the truck to pick up their order: eight kinds of tacos—carne asada to lengua—the Hawaiiana torta, and a quesadilla trepas cooked extra crispy.] Deana Saukam: What are you doing this afternoon? PQ: I’m doing this thing for Matt Duckor at Epicurious. It’s a story about what chefs will spend their $50 on at a restaurant-supply place, so I’m going to Ace Mart to buy $50 worth of stuff. DS: Sounds good; just don’t forget to do your Austin Food & Wine Festival thing for me. I need to know by today which two recipes you want to demo. I’m going to head to Qui for a meeting and then jump on a couple of calls to figure things out for our trips to Dallas this weekend and New York next week. [A few hours later, Saukam and Qui merge at East Side King Thai Kun. The food truck—a collaboration between Qui, Thai Changthong, and Motoyasu Utsunomiya–relocated in early 2015 to East Austin cocktail haven Whisler’s. The duo orders one of everything on the menu.]
photography by knoxy knox photography; hair by ricky hodge and SpenSer o’Shaw of ricky hodge Salon; Styling by Sunroom; makeup by chriStie griffin of ricky hodge Salon
from above:
Paul Qui and Deana Saukam are accustomed to life in the fast lane. Including East Side King, Qui’s chain of Asian street food-inspired trucks, and his eponymous fine-dining establishment, the two Austinites have opened five eateries in just three years, and their popular Austin empire is still growing. Upcoming plans include a brick-and-mortar East Side King Thai Kun at The Domain, a new restaurant concept at South Congress Hotel, and pop-up restaurants around the world, including an East Side King in Singapore opening this April. As they continue to expand, the media devour their every move. Qui—who is a Top Chef champion, James Beard Award winner, and Esquire’s 2014 Chef of the Year —has done much to put Austin on the culinary map. But if there is a single person who has helped him do so, it’s Saukam. Currently serving as the restaurant group’s PR, media, and events director, she has been with Qui since his days in the kitchen at Uchi, and has provided a delicate balance of love and professional support for the better part of a decade. We followed the duo through a typical frenzied day on the town, the results of which were a gastronomic marathon—26 courses in all—spanning three food trucks.
clockwise from left:
Qui is set to demo a recipe at the Austin Food & Wine Festival in April; Saukam is currently filming a pitch reel for a reality TV series with director Christian Remde; they pair their East Side King orders with shots of mezcal from Whisler’s and its Eastside Queen cocktail, which the bar named in Saukam’s honor.
“ThiS wholE paRT of EaST auSTin iS blowing up.... no onE uSEd To CoME hERE, and now look aT ThiS lunCh RuSh.”—paul qui ds: People don’t think I can eat as much as I say I do, but I’m not making it up! PQ: Usually if I order from Thai Kun to go, I get two orders of khao man gai and two orders of chicken fat rice for myself. But I really need five orders of rice to get through it—it’s hot, even for me. [Saukam picks up a tray of some of their orders including the beef panang curry and the day’s special, issan sausage—grilled, fermented pork sausage served with cold raw cabbage, mixed herbs, fresh ginger, and raw fresh Thai chile.] ds: It burns! This one is my favorite—I like the back burn. PQ: Eat the sausage with a raw piece of basil and cabbage, and then a bite of chile. The reason why we started putting a fried egg on things like the panang is, one, because it’s traditional, but two, it cools down the curry. [after an informal meeting with the staff, they head to patrizi’s for dinner. Co-owner nic patrizi greets them outside his namesake food truck, which opened last year in homage to his family’s 50-year-old legendary italian restaurant of the same name in beaumont.] ds: I’m so excited to try your food—we’ve never been here,
but we’re already big fans. I signed up for your monthly dinners, but I had to cancel because our schedule changed. What you guys are doing here is so awesome. [a waiter brings out the dishes. fresh homemade pasta is cooked to order; the carbonara alexandra is made with coddled egg, bacon, onions, and grana.] nic Patrizi: We cook the pasta for about 20 seconds. We do almost everything from scratch—we make the ricotta in-house daily; we infuse our own oils with garden herbs from the back. How are the salt levels in the carbonara? PQ: Perfect. ds: It’s so good—it’s my favorite dish tonight, actually. It’s hard to find good homemade pasta in Texas. [Satiated, the two return to Qui, a $2 million project nearing its two-year anniversary in June. The chef repairs a broken ice machine while Saukam unwinds at the bar with friends over a bottle of Jansz sparkling brut rosé.] ds: I feel like we’re babies, trying to learn from everyone we meet, because it happened so fast for us. But I’ve always felt like Paul is a culinary genius. He’s got a gift. If there’s anything I can do to help him use it, then I’ll do it. AW
INSIGHT East sidE King thai Kun: 1816 E. Sixth St.,
512-480-0781; esk austin.com; whislersatx.com Las trancas:
1210 E. Cesar Chavez St. Patrizi’s: 2307 Manor Road, 512-522-4834; patrizis.com Qui: 1600 E. Sixth St., 512-436-9626; quiaustin.com
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TASTE Spotlight
Power Players
sneak peek
drink up
RUM DIARIES Pleasant Storage Room is gone, but fans of its rum drinks and island menu can take heart: The group behind Péché has taken over the space and is going with a similar concept with Isla, which opens in March. “The drinks are meant to capture the lively spirit of rum,” says Trey Jenkins, general manager, who is curating the bar program to complement the island menu by Executive Chef John Lichtenberger. The bar puts a personalized spin on classic tiki recipes, incorporating house-made ingredients such as spiced rum and blue curaçao. “We’re firm believers that if you have a rum drink in your hand, it should be both fresh and fun.” 208 W. Fourth St., Unit C; islaaustin.com
// BUZZWORTHY // 1
GRAPE EXPECTATIONS
This spring The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas toasts to 30 years of its black-tie Rare & Fine Wine Auction, which has raised nearly $2 million for local charities. Beneficiaries include the Dell Children’s Medical Center and scholarships and funding for vineyard research. Winemaker Anne Moller-Racke will host the weekend’s kick-off party on April 10 at Franklin BBQ. Saturday’s gala features table service and a spirited live auction as bidders fight over exceptionally rare vintages to add to their collections. April 11, 5:30 PM, Four Seasons Austin, 98 San Jacinto Blvd.; winefoodfoundation.org
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THE TEAM THAT RESTORED THE DRISKILL AND BROUGHT CONGRESS TO DOWNTOWN PREPARES TO OPEN BOILER NINE BAR + GRILL IN THE SEAHOLM POWER PLANT. Long a magnet for the majority of the city’s tower cranes, the historic Seaholm Power Plant’s restoration and redevelopment is nearing the finish line for its Boiler Nine Bar + Grill. On track to open in May, the 11,000-square-foot space will comprise three parts: the basement-level Boiler Room bar, ground-level Boiler Nine restaurant, and rooftop “cocktail garden” Deck Nine, which “has the feel of a beer garden but with a more developed cocktail program,” says Jeff Trigger, president of La Corsha Hospitality Group, the organization set to run the new establishment. Executive Chef Jason Stude has been developing all three menus with mentor and partner David Bull. “We’re incorporating concepts from the power plant into our menu items,” Stude says. The kitchen will focus on wood-fired grilling—a tribute to the Power Plant’s long-dormant smokestacks. La Corsha is also working on opening a second location of Second Bar + Kitchen at The Archer, a 171-room luxury hotel projected to open across from Whole Foods at The Domain in late Summer 2016. Once that project is complete, Trigger says the company will begin developing a new boutique hotel on East Sixth Street. 800 Cesar Chavez St., 512-827-2764; boilernine.com
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SHOW ME THE HONEY
Isla’s aged-rum Ankle Roller and Captain Kidd cocktails, and the light-rum Blue Hawaii.
Set on the Pedernales River, the newly opened Apis Restaurant and Apiary has the Hill Country buzzing over its world-class comfort food, such as its hamachi (SHOWN ABOVE). Chef-owner Taylor Hall culls honey for many of his dishes from the six-acre property’s 20 beehives. 23526 Hwy. 71 West, Spicewood, 512-436-8918; apisrestaurant.com
EATING WITH THE CHEF NEW MICRO-RESTAURANT COUNTER 3 FIVE VII opens this month. The intimate eatery offers 26 seats, all at a counter around the kitchen area, with an upscale selection of three-, five-, and seven-course meals. “We max out at [around] 72 covers per night—that’s nice as a chef,” says partner Lawrence Kocurek, formerly executive chef of Trace at the W Austin. “We don’t have service staff in the traditional sense; we spend time with the guests to explain the food.” The daily-rotating menu also incorporates microgreens grown in-house. 315 Congress Ave., Ste. 100; counter3fivevii.com
PHOTOGRAPHY BY TREY JENKINS (DRINKS); SHUTTERSTOCK (WINE BARRELS); MELISSA SKORPIL (APIS); COURTESY OF CASEY DUNN (CHEF)
Executive Chef Jason Stude sought inspiration from the power plant’s smokestacks for his menu at Boiler Nine.
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South by Britton With tWo big movie releases on the horizon, emmy-nominated actress and austin regular Connie Britton is in the mood to celebrate in the city that inspires her. BY KATHY BLACKWELL PHoTogrAPHY BY PAuL EmPson sTYLing BY roBErT BEHAr
W
hile living in Austin for five years as she filmed NBC’s Friday Night Lights, Connie Britton created one of the most memorable and beloved television characters in recent memory. Her performance as Tami Taylor—a grounded, small-town Texas woman of integrity, warmth, and humor—resonated with female viewers hungry for relatable characters on the small screen. In ABC’s Nashville, Britton plays yet another strong protagonist, country music star Rayna Jaymes. Britton, who received Lead Actress Emmy nominations for her roles on those two shows as well as in American Horror Story, will star in two movies set to be released this year: Me & Earl & The Dying Girl and American Ultra. Although she now lives in Nashville with her son, Yoby, Britton often returns to Austin to soak up the music scene. Here, she talks to Austin Way about why this city means so much to her and why she comes to South by Southwest, even as her local friends flee the crowds. You lived in Austin for fve years while shooting Friday Night Lights. What do you miss most about the city? Everything. I love Austin. I’m a huge Austin fan. I love that there’s music everywhere, and it’s so laid-back, nonchalant, and creative. It’s a great community. It feels very inclusive. The food is great…. I could go on. [Laughs] I get back here whenever I can—[especially] for music festivals. People love to compare/contrast Nashville and Austin because of their music scenes. Now that you’ve lived in both, what’s your opinion? It’s funny, because when I frst came to Nashville, people told me, “Oh, it’s just like Austin,” and I thought it would be. But I feel the two towns are very different. Certainly, in terms of the friendliness of the people, they are comparable; the people in Nashville have been as incredibly friendly and
welcoming as people were to us in Austin. But I do feel that Nashville is really much more spread out. Nashville is where the music business lives. In Austin, it feels less [about the music business] and more as though people are just playing live, writing songs, and making music. It feels much more immediate because it’s a lot more about the live music. How did all that exposure to live music in Austin infuence your role as country music star Rayna Jaymes on Nashville? I learned so much about music when I lived in Austin, and I think it shaped some of Rayna’s values. The musicians I met or have seen perform in Austin have a real honesty and pure love for the music they’re playing. There’s a lot of heart and soul in it; that’s where I’ve always imagined Rayna coming from. It’s like you can’t get away with anything because it’s all live. [Laughs] You go to the Continental Club, and you’re right there; everybody is in it with you. It feels like there’s very little separation between the audience listening and the performers playing. There’s something really unusual about that. What do you love about South by Southwest? I lived in Austin for fve years of SXSW, and I’ve gone to the festival several times since then. My friends who live in Austin are like, “Oh, it’s SXSW! We’ve got to get out of here!” and inevitably, I always want to come in for it. I know so many flmmakers and musicians who are coming into the city as Austin locals are pouring out. It’s so much fun to be here for SXSW; there’s always something to see, whether it’s a movie I’ve done or a movie a friend has done. I remember being blown away by an amazing documentary about the Dixie Chicks [Shut Up & Sing]. You just don’t know what you’re going to come across during the festival. You were a big supporter of Wendy Davis during her ill-fated bid to become Texas governor. What drew you to her? It started when she took that amazing stance during the [June 2013]
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flibuster…. I was just so impressed by her and awed by her stamina and fortitude. I was curious about who this woman is. She resonated with me because she’s a Texas woman: Obviously, I spent a lot of time in Texas and have grown to really love the place, and I played a Texas woman. To see this woman, who demonstrates so many of the qualities and values I admire about Southern, and in particular Texas, women—was really exciting. During that time there were a lot of parallels between Tami Taylor, the character I played on Friday Night Lights, and Wendy Davis. Even though she didn’t win this election, I think she’s going to be a powerful force in the world. It’s too bad that politics is so divisive, because as a woman and a role model, she’s exceptional. Why do you think women related so strongly and personally to the character of Tami? It’s astounding to me and incredibly humbling and fattering. It still blows me away when people tell me what that character meant to them. It’s a great reminder that we can create stories that can impact people and make them think about their lives. To be able to play a role that genuinely sinks into the core of the audience and leaves an impression is an honor. I couldn’t have done it without all the great people I worked with, including Kyle Chandler. I feel fortunate that I was able to play this character who, without hitting anybody over the head, became a role model. She did that by being human, making mistakes, and trying to live the best life she could while taking into account the world around her and never discounting her own femininity or humanity. Now on Nashville, you have another strong female character; did you have specifc goals of what you wanted to do with Rayna? We all have stars we look up to, so it is exciting to play a character who is a star like that and [expose] her humanity. I want to play the faws and the great, powerful moments and the weaknesses and the strengths. Being able to play a character who is a country music star is thrilling and a huge challenge because I had never played anything like that. I hadn’t sung since my early 20s in a real Off-Off-Broadway setting. Friday Night Lights was such a perfect and complete experience, so after that, I did go through a little bit of a crisis. I thought, What am I going to do now? How am I going to top that? And the answer was that whatever I did next, I wanted it to feel challenging, like I was stepping out of my comfort zone. American Horror Story, which I did in between FNL and Nashville, did that for me because it was such a different genre. When Nashville came along, I thought, I’m going to be stretching some new muscles; here we go. It’s scary to do that, and it’s been challenging and rewarding—that’s what happens when you take risks. It’s been really fun to explore the larger-than-life aspect of Rayna, but also to try fnding very subtle human aspects of her character. What’s next for you? It takes 10 months out of the year to shoot Nashville, so I only have a couple of free months over the summer. I have been cocreating and producing a show [for Showtime Networks] that I’m hoping to do as my next project. I’m also a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations. Since I majored in Chinese in college and studied in China for a while, people would say, “What are you doing with that? Are you going to be an ambassador?” [Laughs] So in many ways, it’s a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to parlay the work I’m doing into something that can be useful on a larger scale. AW
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BRITTON’S AUSTIN fAvORITeS Patty Griffin: “For Rayna Jaymes, I was inspired by performers like Patty Griffin. She’s obviously a different kind of artist, but I like to think Rayna tries to maintain Patty’s level of integrity in her music. That’s something that’s a priority for the musicians you find in Austin.” Gary Clark Jr.: “He used to perform each week at the Continental Club (1315 South Congress Ave., 512-441-2444; continentalclub.com); we would go every Wednesday night. Then he went off and became a big star! He was there, and then suddenly he was gone.” [Clark won a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Please Come Home.”] venues: “I love going to Red River Street; all along that road you can hear amazing music at places like Stubb’s BBQ (801 Red River St., 512-480-8341; stubbsaustin.com). [Last fall] we ended up going to see Spoon at Stubb’s. It was so amazing to watch this show—where else in the world can that happen? It was so awesome.” opposite page: Jacket ($1,725), sheer blouse
($1,495), and wool pants ($695), Dolce & Gabbana. saks.com. Ignite earrings, Jennifer Fisher ($525). jenniferfisher jewelry.com. Bootie, Christian Louboutin ($1,195). Neiman Marcus, The Domain, 512-719-1200; neimanmarcus.com this page: Dress, Max Mara ($1,695). Saks
Fifth Avenue, North Star Mall, 210-341-4111; saks.com. XL triangular stud earrings, Jennifer Fisher ($335). jenniferfisher jewelry.com. Mechanix statement cuff, Gemma Redux ($548). gemmaredux.com. Gold-embellished sandal, Giuseppe Zanotti Design ($845). Neiman Marcus, The Domain, see above Beauté: Beautycounter Tint Skin Complexion Coverage in Sand ($38), Touchup Skin Concealer Pen in Light ($28), Color Shade Eye Duo in Fawn/Night ($30), Color Outline Eye Pencil in Black ($20), Color Sweep Blush Duo in Flamingo/Apricot ($36), Color Contour Matte Bronzer in No. 01 ($36), Lip Sheer in Scarlet and Raisin ($28 each). beautycounter.com. René Furterer Volmea Volumizing Foam ($23), Fioravanti No Rinse Detangling Spray ($27). Amaz for Hair, 1509 Old W. 38th St., 512-302-5790; renefurtererusa.com. Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray ($27). Luxe Apothetique, 201 W. Second St., 512-215-0282; bumbleandbumble.com Styling by Robert Behar/Opus Beauty Photography Assistance by Steve Kay Video by Cameron Chin Hair by Creighton Bowman/Tracey Mattingly Makeup by Christy Coleman/The Wall Group for Beautycounter Nails by Emi Kudo/Opus Beauty
austin City limits musiC festival: “I always try to get back for ACL. I’ve marveled at the fact that the festival can be put on in that park. There are so many stages, so many people, and so much music, and it’s always peaceful. The quality of the music and the experience is always so high level. It’s just astounding to me.” ACL Music Festival, October 2–4 and October 9–11, Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road; aclfestival.com
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photography by bryan schutmaat
South by Southwest Interactive conference director Hugh Forrest surveys a quiet Austin Convention Center, which will be a much different scene when thousands of attendees descend upon the home base for the conference March 13-17, as well as for SXSW Film (March 13-21) and SXSW Music (March 17-March 22).
THE SXSW INTERACTIVE CONFERENCE HAS RISEN FROM SMALL SPIN-OFF TO ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST TALKED-ABOUT EVENTS, AND LIFELONG AUSTINITE HUGH FORREST HAS BEEN AT THE HELM ALL ALONG. HERE, HE SHARES WHAT’S NEXT. BY TOM FOSTER
WHY INTERACTIVE IS HOTTER THAN EVER A piece of paper taped to the window of Hugh Forrest’s office reads, in large type, 15 WEEKS. It is the official countdown clock to South by Southwest 2015. Inside the office, Forrest, the 52-year-old director of SXSW Interactive since its inception in 1994, absent-mindedly turns a bottle of 5-Hour Energy over and over in his hands. “I’m a reformed user,” he says. “It’s like in The Fault in Our Stars, where he has the cigarette he never smokes.” He pauses to look at the little bottle for a moment. “There will probably be a point between now and March when I get back on the stuff.” It’s a brisk December morning, and Forrest is at his desk at 8 AM, before anyone else has arrived at the conference’s downtown headquarters on Bowie and Fifth Streets. Most days, Forrest rises between 3:30 and 5 AM, works for a couple of hours at home and then gets his 4-year-old son ready for the
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SXSW Film
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Dates: March 13–21 Overview: The SXSW Film
Conference and Festival will feature more than 150 sessions at the Austin Convention Center and hundreds of screenings, including celebrity-flled premieres and documentaries, at various theaters around the city. KeynOtes: Among the most
popular sessions are the keynote addresses, which SXSW Film began last year. Keynote speakers include: •
Mark Duplass, the UT grad who created and stars in the new HBO show Togetherness. Duplass, along with his brother, Jay Duplass (also a UT alum), has written, directed, and produced flms like Cyrus and Jeff, Who Lives at Home. Duplass is also a television and flm actor, appearing in The Mindy Project, The League, and Your Sister’s Sister. Ava DuVernay (shown, above director of the critically acclaimed movie Selma as well as the Independent Spirit Award-winning flm Middle of Nowhere. She’s a founder of the African American Film Festival Releasing Movement, a collective that works on distribution for African American flms.
•
right),
• RZA (shown, above left),
founder of the Wu-Tang Clan and a Grammy-winning producer, has scored flms for directors like Ridley Scott and Quentin Tarantino and has also appeared in movies. Opening-night mOvie: Among
the world premieres at SXSW will be the kickoff flm, Brand: A Second Coming, a documentary from Ondi Timoner that traces actor and comedian Russell Brand’s journey from struggling with addiction to becoming an activist. sxsw.com/flm
In a great example of convergence at SXSW, comedian and actor Russell Brand will speak at Interactive as well as attend the world premiere of his documentary, Brand: A Second Coming, on the opening night of SXSW Film.
photography by jamil muhaisen (expo); lester cohen/getty images for wired (chang); gabriel olsen/getty images (rza)
day before heading to the office. “My great skill that I bring to this job is that I’m a grinder,” he says. “I’m willing to grind harder than most people are.” In the past four years or so, Forrest’s Interactive conference has officially become the king of SXSW, surpassing even the music festival that started it all. Interactive drew a little over 32,000 attendees last year and has essentially grown to full capacity. As anyone who lives in Austin knows, there’s not a hotel room or guest cottage vacant in town, nor a conference room or event space available to book. “We’ll have the new JW Marriott hotel this year, the largest hotel in Austin, and in two years we’ll have the Fairmont, so those will allow for a little growth…. But I think if you poll most attendees, they’d say they don’t want it to get any bigger. It’s big enough.” Limiting the size of the conference must come as somewhat of a relief to Forrest, whose relatively small staff of 25 is overwhelmed with work. This year, with an expected attendance roughly equal to that of 2014, a different kind of growth tops the team’s agenda: It will build three subject-area verticals focused on sports, fashion, and food (SXSports, SXStyle, and SouthBites; see sidebar). These subconferences aim to better serve those who have attended the Interactive festival in previous years and to draw in new headliners, like chef and publishing innovator David Chang of New York’s Momofuku empire, Andrew Zimmern of the Travel Channel, and Victor Cruz, wide receiver of the New York Giants. Forrest is most excited about a fourth new track that doesn’t have its own title, but parallels a big change in the city. “We’re doing more this year on health and med tech,” he says. “We’re going to have a two-day expo at the JW Marriott. It will be fun to see how that plays out, partly because it’s the result of a conscious decision to follow what Austin is doing with the new [University of Texas] med school (see “view from the top,” page 47) and with the Innovation Zone”—the city’s planned med-tech corridor along the east side of downtown.
The SXSW Interactive Trade Show at the Austin Convention Center was bustling in 2014 as the conference marked its 30th year. This year’s event features ways to help manage the explosive growth, including new sub-conferences.
SXSW SubconferenceS
Several programming areas have developed into their own focused tracks as part of SXSW Interactive. • SouthBites: What began as a pop-up food trailer park on Rainey Street has grown into a full line of programming focused on foodindustry innovators, including chef David Chang of New York’s Momofuku empire (shown above) and Travel Channel’s Andrew Zimmern. The trailers also return March 13 to 21; chef Paul Qui will curate the choices. March 14–16 at The Driskill Hotel, 604 Brazos St. • SXStyle: As trends like wearable
“The sTrengTh of InTeracTIve Is ThaT we have so many dIfferenT ThIngs goIng on; IT’s absoluTe sensory overload.” —hugh forrest
For the sixth year, SXSW will host the Music Gear Expo, which highlights the latest in music equipment and technology, on Level 1 of the Austin Convention Center from 11 am-6 pm March 19-21. It’s open to all attendees as well as the general public.
technology and three-dimensional printing (not to mention myriad new retail models) have begun to cross over to the mainstream, more fashion insiders have been coming to SXSW, hence the newest addition to the lineup: a packed track focused on design disruptors. Standouts: Jennifer Hyman of Rent the Runway, Deena Varshavskaya of the socialmedia shopping phenomenon Wanelo, and Intel’s Genevieve Bell, a celebrated social scientist who studies consumer behavior as it relates to technology. March 13–17, JW Marriott Hotel, 110 E. Second St. • SXSportS: Now in its second
year, SXSports explores the convergence of entertainment, technology, and human performance. Sessions will cover hot-button issues such as traumatic brain injuries in sports, performance-enhancing drugs, and the use of big data on the playing feld. Participants will include Charles Barkley, Bob Bowman of Major League Baseball’s Advanced Media group, Victor Cruz of the New York Giants, and Jason Gay of The Wall Street Journal. March 13–15, Four Seasons Hotel, 98 San Jacinto Blvd.
On top of this new focus is the mother ship: the overall SXSW Interactive conference. The event’s popularity is fueled by the attendees’ raging appetite for compelling and high-profile speakers, parties, and demos. With blockbuster talks in recent years by the likes of Chelsea Clinton and inventor Elon Musk, plus satellite appearances from fugitives Edward Snowden, Julian Assange, and Kim Dotcom, there’s a lot to live up to. For this year, Forrest anticipates great things from Walter Isaacson, head of the Aspen Institute and author of two of the most important tech-world books of the past five to 10 years: Steve Jobs, the biography of the Apple founder, and The Innovators, a history of the digital revolution. He’s also looking forward to the return to Austin of the influential business author Daniel Pink. And the venture capitalist Bill Gurley, who will appear with author Malcolm Gladwell, should make waves, Forrest says. “He’s never spoken at SXSW before. He was one of the people who came out with this proclamation in late summer that the [tech] bubble was really in danger of bursting, and that sent the start-up community into something of a tizzy.” It goes without saying that, for Forrest, sending people into another tizzy is exactly what he hopes Gurley will do here.
I
t’s notable that two of the speakers Forrest is most enthusiastic about are authors; he harbors dreams of one day becoming an author himself, he says— “when I grow up.” He’ll certainly have the material. SXSW, and the Interactive portion in particular, has been on a wild ride, as has Austin in the last 20 years, but Forrest is a man who has learned to roll with the punches and handle chaos with remarkable aplomb. If you’ve ever seen him walking the halls of the Convention Center during the conference, you’d be forgiven for mistaking him for just a local wandering through, not the power-broker mastermind of the whole event. At 6-feet-5, he has long legs and a relaxed stride. He favors jeans, comfortable shoes, and colorful dress shirts—today it’s a pearl-snap Western number with a faint yellow rose pattern and a sprawling, floppy collar—that make him look like your typical hip Central Austin dad. An Austin native who grew up in Tarrytown and now lives in Hyde Park, Forrest is aware of the changes the city has undergone and of SXSW’s role in the transformation. He’s deeply attached to many of the local institutions that make the city unique, and he’s equally optimistic about its prospects for remaining distinct, only in new ways. He offers an example: “From a conference organizer’s standpoint, I’m excited about the new JW Marriott (see “grand central ,” page 111) and all the new guest and meeting rooms,” he says. “And as an Austin native, I’m disappointed that Las Manitas, the taquería that used to be there, is gone. That place was the epitome of Austin—you’d see Karl Rove at one table and somebody ultraliberal at the next—and it was paved over to make way for this hotel. That’s a parable of what has happened to Austin. Yet I
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Some of the most popular events of SXSW are the free concerts, open to everyone, at Auditorium Shores. The shows feature bands like Bajofondo, shown here in 2013.
Band of Skulls performs at SXSW Music, which overlaps with SXSW Interactive for one day.
“I thInk If you poll most attendees, they’d say they don’t want It to get any bIgger. It’s bIg enough.” —hugh forrest
SXSW Interactive created SXnotes, a joint effort with ImageThink, to design a new way to share sketchnotes and visualizations from SXSW keynote speakers.
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think Austin is still a great place, a very creative place. And for every one of those quirky businesses that becomes a casualty of growth, there are two or three quirky businesses that pop up somewhere else with the new generation of Austin.” SXSW has experienced a remarkably similar dynamic. Listen to any longtime attendee, and there’s a good chance he or she will tell stories of the glory days and lament the conference’s size today and the influence of major corporations. Forrest is not blind to this, and as with the city’s development, he’s come to accept it as a necessary change. “There is a degree of churn to the event,” he says. “People who have been attending for two or three years, they’ll say, ‘I don’t need to go to Austin this year.’ And that’s always kind of a bummer to hear, but if it were the exact same people attending every year, it would be like a highschool reunion—it just gets boring after a while.” This is not to say that churn and change aren’t issues that require a lot of active management. “The strength of Interactive is that we have so many different things going on; it’s absolute sensory overload,” Forrest says. “At the same time, the weakness is that you have so many things going on that it’s absolute sensory overload, and that can make it hard for anyone to understand where they should be going, what they’re missing, and how it all works.” The new subject-area tracks are one strategy SXSW has used to help people navigate the chaos. At the same time, Forrest argues that getting the most out of the conference requires being open to serendipity and having a willingness to explore the unknown. “One of the things we encourage people not to do is to go to sessions they know a lot about. Go to something you don’t know anything about; make a new connection.” But besides managing the sheer scale of SXSW Interactive, the bigger issue is managing the growing cost of it. Not only has the price of a registration badge increased, but hotel rooms, Airbnb rentals, and airfares usually soar in early March. To some extent, that’s a function of one of the hallmarks of the conference’s success: the presence of larger brands, not just the Googles and Twitters of the world but also Subway and Oreo. “The irony is that these corporate people are coming here, and they can afford the higher prices, so they are essentially helping drive up the prices for everyone, and that can drive out the very people they want to connect with”—the young, upstart innovators. To continue drawing new faces and thinkers and the next wave of start-up founders, the conference is establishing scholarship programs with leading universities, including Stanford, MIT, and Carnegie Mellon. Similarly, there’s been a big push to sign up a more diverse crowd of speakers, including three keynotes by women this year, the most ever, in hopes of drawing more diverse attendees. Ultimately the goal of the conference is for people to find their own ideal mix of business and pleasure, drinking and learning, order and chaos. And that’s what keeps Forrest, in his 21st year on the job, motivated. “The most rewarding part of it all is hearing from people who have been to the event who say it had some kind of impact on them. They got a new job because of SXSW, married someone they met here, or started a business with someone. It’s neat to think you can have that kind of impact on people.” AW
all about the music Fresh faces and legends are among the dizzying and diverse lineup of acts.
photography by andri tambunan (bajofondo); nicole fara silver (band of skulls); nam chau (think sxsw); koury angelo photography (b.o.b.); shirlaine forrest/wireimage (white); scott legato/getty images (bruno); jean-francois monier/afp/getty images (barnett)
B.o.B on stage at SXSW. right from top: Katie White of The Ting Tings; Aaron Bruno of Awolnation; singer and guitarist Courtney Barnett; legendary British group Gang of Four.
Dates: March 17–22 Overview: The heart of SXSW, the music festival draws thousands of performers, industry executives, and fans from around the globe. What started as a modest event in 1987 has grown to be the largest music festival of its kind in the world, with 2,000-plus bands playing at more than 100 venues across town at all hours of the day. Badge holders get priority access to offcial showcases as well as to the conference, and locals who would just like to see some bands play can either buy wristbands or RSVP to the hundreds of free parties that take over the city. As a thank you to Austinites, SXSW offers three nights of free outdoor concerts on Auditorium Shores with performers such as The Flaming Lips, Cheap Trick, Foster the People, and Spoon; more than 50,000 people attend these shows each year. If the festival seems more manageable this year, it could
be because the city announced in January that it would issue 25 percent fewer permits for events during SXSW and set an early deadline for applications. Part of this increased control stems from concerns related to last year’s tragedy on the second night of the music festival, in which four people were killed and 20 injured when a driver plowed through traffc barriers while speeding away from a traffc stop. Expect to see more police offcers and other changes as festival organizers and the city work to ensure a safe experience for the 350,000 people who participate in SXSW, whether attending an Interactive panel or catching a free show. HigHligHts: Japan nite’s 20th anniversary Japanese artists hold a special place in the heart of SXSW, and this showcase has been one of the most popular and exciting events of the fest for two
decades. The 20th anniversary showcase on March 20 at the Elysium (705 red river st.) will include the US debut of J-pop duo Moumoon, all-girl rock trio TsuShiMaMiRe, Kyoto folk group Pirates Canoe, electronicrock quartet The fn., Tokyo rockers Quorom, and more. african and caribbean showcases The frst Sounds of Africa showcase (featuring D’banj, Wizkid, Ice Prince, and more) and the Sounds of the Caribbean showcase (Sean Paul, Gyptian, and Laza) will take over two stages on March 20 at Palm Door on Sixth (508 e. sixth st.). the best of the british BBC Introducing and the PRS for Music Foundation will copresent an evening at the British Music Embassy (Latitude 30 at 512 san Jacinto blvd.) on March 18 with up-andcomers such as Jack Garratt, rapper Little Simz, and indierockers Gengahr.
tom sachs instaLLation For the second year, The Contemporary Austin (700 congress ave.) will host an artistic component of SXSW with “Tom Sachs: Boombox Retrospective 1999-2015.” DJs will mix music alongside the interactive installation celebrating the boom box, a symbol of 1980s hip-hop. Musicians tO watcH: One of the most exciting aspects of SXSW is the constant wave of announcements of who’s coming, with huge acts being revealed right up until the very last minute and even during the festival. As of press time, more than half of the offcial acts had been released. Here are a few to watch out for: the ting tings: The British duo will use the festival to kick off their North American tour behind their latest album, super critical, produced by Andy Taylor of Duran Duran. gang of four: Original
member Andy Gill will bring the revolutionary post-punk band to town just a few weeks after the release of what happens next, the band’s frst record since the departure of Jon King a few years ago. courtney barnett: A few months after making her Austin debut at Fun Fun Fun Fest on the heels of her breakout success, avant gardener, this talented young Aussie rocker will certainly draw huge crowds, and deservedly so. awoLnation: The American electronic rock band releases its highly anticipated sophomore effort, run, on the frst day of SXSW Music. edward sharpe and the magnetic Zeros: The kings of indie folk, with talented front man Alex Ebert, return to the festival where they made an incredible splash in 2012. others to watch: Best Coast, Wild Child, Will Butler of Arcade Fire, Bleachers featuring Jack Antonoff of Fun, the Zombies, and Thee Oh Sees.
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wild Flower
AS THE HILL COUNTRY EXPLODES IN COLOR, JOIN THE CHORUS IN BLOSSOMING DRESSES, FLORAL-INSPIRED ACCESSORIES, AND BOTANICAL HUES. photography by rené & radka styling by martina nilsson
opposite page: Nude silk
organza beaded flower dress ($6,190) and Russian gold flower necklace ($695), Oscar de la Renta. Neiman Marcus, The Domain, 512-719-1200; neimanmarcus.com this page: Cotton seersucker
dress, Hermès ($1,925). hermes.com
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opposite page: Bellini dress
($7,900), resin drop earrings (price on request), and Firenze T-strap sandals ($995), Altuzarra. Neiman Marcus, The Domain, 512-719-1200; neimanmarcus.com this page: Double linen
embroidered-collar dress, Valentino ($4,390). Neiman Marcus, see above; neimanmarcus.com
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this page: Three-tiered
silk dress, Lanvin ($5,150). Neiman Marcus, The Domain, 512-719-1200; neimanmarcus.com. Gunmetal crystal flower necklace, Oscar de la Renta ($1,195). Neiman Marcus, see above. Flower power notte-blue sandals, Casadei ($895). casadei.com opposite page: Pale
banane embroidered cotton dress, Bottega Veneta ($10,000). bottegaveneta.com
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Embroidered black tulle gown, Dolce & Gabbana (price on request). Neiman Marcus, The Domain, 512-719-1200; neimanmarcus.com beauté: Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation ($62). Sephora, Barton Creek Square, 512-327-4600; sephora.com. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Eyebrow Pencil in Taupe ($21). Sephora, see above. Givenchy Ombré Couture Cream Eyeshadow in Prune Taffetas and Brun Cachemire ($23 each). Sephora, see above. Tom Ford Lip Color in Sable Smoke ($50). Neiman Marcus, The Domain, 512-719-1200; neimanmarcus.com. L’Oréal Paris EverStyle Smooth & Shine Crème ($7), Elnett Hairspray Extra Strong Hold ($15), EverStyle Texture Series Energizing Dry Shampoo ($7). lorealparisusa.com
Photography by Rene & Radka at Art Department Styling by Martina Nilsson at Opus Beauty Prop Styling by Jason McKnight at Exclusive Artists Hair by Dimitris Giannetos at Opus Beauty using L’Oréal Paris Makeup by Kathy Jeung at Forward Artists using Givenchy Production by Art Department Photo assistance by Adam Rondou Styling assistance by Jacquelyn Jones
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The Lone STar
Holed up on his 3,000-acre spread in San Saba, 2015 Texas Film Awards honoree tommy lee jones talks The Homesman, Harvard, and horses—not too bad for a reluctant legend. By David Hochman Photography by Rainer Hosch
H
e famously hates being interviewed, so why is Tommy Lee Jones, who will be honored by the Austin Film Society at the 15th annual Texas Film Awards on March 12, talking so animatedly about Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs? “Oh, it was my first adventure in show business, you see,” he says, and if you didn’t know better, you might actually think Jones was smiling. “I was playing Sneezy in an elementary school pageant in Rotan. We put on the play in a high school gym. A reporter came all the way from Abilene to report on it. I took the role very seriously.” Sneezy? “Sneezy. It was a big deal for me,” he recalls, “and I’ve been devoted to being a good actor ever since.”
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“As a director, I get to be everybody’s boss.... and do the things that interest me,” says Tommy Lee Jones, who began directing a decade ago and starred in/directed/produced the recent period drama, The Homesman.
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Say what you will about Jones—and people certainly do. The media love to brand the 68-year-old Oscar winner as “ornery,” “curt,” “difficult,” and a “curmudgeon.” But maybe he’s just someone who prefers working hard at working hard, and you can’t really fault a guy for that. Think about it. If you grew up in a certain type of unfussy West Texas environment—Jones’s dad was an oilfield roughneck, and his mom was a cop for a while—you, too, might find displeasure in the inane sideshow that goes along with a career in Hollywood: the red carpets, the junkets, the TMZishness of it all. Jones acts exactly like the rest of us would if the rest of us just wanted to focus on the job at hand. His latest job was a juggling act. “Correction,” Jones interrupts, and, okay, so he’s definitely direct. “I don’t look at it as juggling. I see it as filmmaking.” Either way, The Homesman meant tossing a lot of balls in the air. He directed, produced, helped write, and starred in the period drama set against the lonesome horizon of the Great Plains, circa 1855. Jones plays a grumbling schemer brought on to help a self-reliant frontierswoman (played by Hilary Swank) transport three mentally unstable women from Nebraska to Iowa. Put it this way: It’s not exactly a spring break road trip. The shoot was no breeze, either. The weather was so nasty in New Mexico, where part of the movie was filmed, that scenery paint froze in cans and the crew had to use protective gear to keep dust from destroying camera lenses in 60-mph winds. “We spent a lot of time shivering in the wooden box we used as a wagon and thinking the weather was like a character itself,” says Grace Gummer, who plays one of the madwomen. (Gummer’s mom, Meryl Streep, has a smaller role as a minister’s wife who offers to take the travelers in.) “When conditions are that rough, it really tests you and pushes you beyond where you’re comfortable, even as Tommy was telling us, ‘Go, go, go.’” Jones, predictably, was fine with the situation. He thrived on it. “It wasn’t miserable for me,” he says plainly. “I had a great time photographing whatever the world did around us. We’re moviemakers, and it’s not always the smoothest terrain, physically or emotionally. But cinema warriors are equipped with the engines and tires to get across it.”
J
ones was always a charge-up-the-mountain sort. Moving around Texas for his father’s work, young Jones stood out in football in a state where there’s no higher calling. He might have built a blue-collar career ( Jones worked on a garbage truck for a summer), but fortunes turned when he earned a scholarship to St. Mark’s, an elite all-boys prep school in Dallas; it’s where Jones started acting for real. His triple-threat status as actor/athlete/A-plus student took him all the way to Harvard. There, as every pop culture buff knows, he roomed with Al Gore and became a star offensive guard on Harvard’s football team. Jones’s standout moment was playing in the infamous Harvard-Yale game of 1968 that ended in a 29-29 tie. On the side, he managed to shine on stage in student productions of Shakespeare, O’Neill, and Pinter. From the outset of his professional career, Jones refused to put up with any bull. “When I was lucky enough to get a meeting with the casting director of Love Story, I walked into her office, and before I could say a word, she said, ‘You’re not right for this part,’” Jones says. You can still hear the incredulity in his voice. Jones was going out for the role of Ryan O’Neal’s Harvard roommate, but the casting agent clearly hadn’t read his résumé. “She told me, ‘You might be a football player, but these are special football players. These guys are from the Ivy League.’ And she kicked me out.” Jones wasn’t just any Ivy player; by then he was an all-Ivy, all-East, honorable mention all-American who had done 40 plays at Harvard. He handled the situation in typical Jones fashion. “What you do in an instance like that is you call whomever that person is most afraid of,” he says. “I called a Harvard guy who knew her boss’s boss’s boss, and next thing I knew, I had the role.” By no means was Jones a typical leading man. Even in Love Story, he had crinkles at the eyes and a dark, moody presence that would soon get
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him parts playing psychos, toughs, and cowboys. He won raves as Loretta Lynn’s domineering husband in Coal Miner’s Daughter, and an Oscar nod for Oliver Stone’s JFK as a gay Dallas businessman caught up in the plot to kill Kennedy. His taut performance as the US marshal who tracks down Harrison Ford in The Fugitive earned Jones an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 1994, putting him on Hollywood’s A-list. Jones jokes—at least it sounds like a joke—that he still felt uncertain about his future in a business that sometimes felt foreign to him. “The last day of shooting on The Fugitive, I was in the basement of a hotel shouting out my lines to about 30 laundry bags hanging from the ceiling,”—it’s the backdrop to the famous final scene when Jones’s character catches Ford’s in a hotel laundry—“and I thought, My God, this is so strange. I’m never gonna work again.” Now Jones is fully committed—it helps that he figured out a way to run the empire from his 3,000-acre cattle and polo estate in San Saba, about two hours northwest of Austin. To get from the headquarters of his ranch to the nearest airport that can accommodate his private airplane, it takes about 40 minutes.“And once I get there,” he says, “I can be in Los Angeles, with my plane parked at Santa Monica Airport, sitting at Ivy at the Shore having softshelled crab, in three hours.” Today he’s in the San Antonio offices of his company, Javelina Film Company. Jones is sitting at a desk designed by Donald Judd, set opposite a Josef Albers bookcase. (“A minimalist outlook is perfect,” he says. “I appreciate the emotions of geometry.”) Jones has five screenplays in front of him that he’s written or cowritten, and he intends to get every one made. In 2005 he directed his first feature, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, a neo-Western that won high praise from critics and top awards that year at Cannes. Directing flexes new muscles for Jones, and it’s a role that suits him perfectly. As he says, “I get to be everybody’s boss…. and do the things that interest me.” That’s how he is behind the scenes, too. In San Saba, he oversees a world-class polo program that breeds, raises, and sells polo Thoroughbreds, and also hosts elite players from around the world. It’s one of two polo facilities Jones owns (the other is in Argentina). Polo as a hobby was something the actor discovered almost by accident in Los Angeles, where he lived for seven years in the 1990s. He was leasing a house at the top of Bel-Air and driving out to Simi Valley to work on his roping skills. One of the horsemen gave Jones a polo mallet, another gave him a ball, and he began tapping it around the roping arena. “Next time I looked up I had a truck, a trailer, and six horses, and I was headed to Santa Barbara to play with some of the greats,” he says. Jones works closely with Harvard’s polo team, inviting them to both of his ranches for weeks-long practice sessions each year. An active donor at his alma maters, including St. Mark’s School, he is also honorary chairman for the annual Destination Fashion event to raise money for The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, which helps research treatments and cures for spinal cord injuries. “When you meet with success, it’s your responsibility to give back,” he says. Jones doesn’t give away much about his personal life. He is married to his third wife, Dawn Laurel, and has two adult children. He says he’s never seen Facebook or Twitter and doesn’t watch much on TV beyond CNN “for maybe five minutes a day.” He’s a regular at San Antonio Spurs basketball games, and he’s “quite impressed” by the Houston Texans football team. “I like their quarterback— product of the Harvard football program,” he says, referring to Ryan Fitzpatrick, who broke his leg at the end of this past season. With Jones’s replies growing ever more succinct, it’s clear he’s ready to move on. He recently finished filming a thriller called Criminal with Kevin Costner and Gary Oldman and has other projects in the works. Asked if he knows he can be intimidating, aloof, and, yes, occasionally ornery, Jones pauses for a minute. Is this the moment the interview takes a dire turn? Nope. Jones stays true to being Jones. “I’m sure there are people who concern themselves with such issues,” he says, “but I’m not one of them.” AW
THE TEXAS FILM AWARDS Director Mike Judge (HBO’s Silicon Valley, Office Space, King of the Hill) will be the master of ceremonies for the gala’s 15th anniversary. In addition to Tommy Lee Jones, the Austin Film Society is honoring actor Luke Wilson, director Guillermo Del Toro, and producer Bonnie Curtis, among others. Richard Linklater and key cast members will receive a special award in honor of Boyhood. The evening raises money for AFS’s programs that support filmmakers, promote film culture, and build a renowned film community. March 12, 6 PM, Austin Studios, Stage 7, 1901 E. 51st St. For tickets, which start at $500, call Gillian Coates at 512-322-0145, ext. 3222.
Photography assistance by Jared Clatworthy Grooming by Angelina Mata
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NOT TO BE MISSED EVENTS • HAPPENINGS • PROMOTIONS
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Tomorrow’s flames are already burning is an exhibition of works by emerging British artist Tom Jean Webb. Webb’s work is powerful in its simplistic expression. The gentle aesthetic symbols mixed in various mediums and color palettes combine to create an ephemeral and strong visual statement unique to the artist and his view of the world. His work has been featured in solo and group shows internationally.
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MUSIC BY PAT GREEN Saturday, April 25, 2015 6 p.m. Benefiting Seton Community Health Centers and the Sister Gertrude Levy Endowment for the Poor.
For more information, visit: setonfund.org/easb-live-2015
Stand Tall and make a
Ashley Amini • Elisabeth Anderson • Hilary Armstrong • Clary Auler • Brittany Bailey • Samantha Bernstein • Taylor Bowles • Nicole Brennig • Morgan Burnham • Jenny Butterworth • Kylie Calvert • Emily Cardwell • Melissa Castelluccio • Jamie Chandlee • Courtney Childers • Kim Cone • Laura Craddick • Holly Deshields • Shaun Dickerson • Anne Downing • Susan Dunaway • Beth Durrett • Martha Small Dyess • Carly Edgar • Leigh Edgar • Abby Ford • Emily Galatzan • Sarah Garrison • Xio Goss • Catherine Granger • Jordan Hale • Anna Hargrove • Katherine Harner • Taylor Harper • Anna Herd • Allyson Hertel • Megan Houser • Stephanie Jastrow • Cary Johl • Molly Jones • Lynn Jordan • Natalie Kinsel • Christy Levy • Lily Lloyd • Lindsey Majors • Hallie McDonald • Stefanie Moore • Hannah Nokes • Tina O’Jibway • Katie Ogden • Amanda Oudt • Valerie Parker • Jahnna Peeler • Elizabeth Pitts • Lesley Pitts • Emily Price • Margaret Rigby • Alison Ryan • Jenny Sappington • Emily Seiders • Ruthie Seiders • Meghan Slover • Caroline Smith • Hillarey Squires • Margo Tate • Ann Townsend • Katherine Wallin • Chandler Ware • Paige Winstanely • Leigh Wolfe • Tory Wortham
along with
Capitol Anesthesiology Association • The Chaparral Foundation • Heritage Title Company of Austin, Inc. Laura & Patrick Hotze • Janis & Doug Maund • Smith, Robertson, Elliott & Douglas, LLP
haute property
News and trends in real estate
Hill Country Havens
SOPHISTICATED PROJECTS ARE DRAWING URBANITES TO THE GREAT WIDE OPEN FOR SECOND HOMES, RETIREMENT, AND MORE.
photography by mell lawrence
by CAITLIN RyAN
Austin regularly tops city roundup lists as the fastest growing, most innovative, fittest, and friendliest. But with so much development, the urban core has become crowded, inspiring families to look beyond the city limits. With its convenient span between Austin and San Antonio, the Texas Hill Country serves as an ideal place for urbanites seeking a more peaceful lifestyle. “As Austin continues to grow, [the population] will inevitably move out to the Hill Country, as there is only so much land to build on within the city center. Dripping Springs, for example, is only 25 minutes away from downtown Austin continued on page 104
The Red Hawk Retreat features 12-foot-tall doors and windows that afford glimpses of the Hill Country.
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haute property News and trends in real estate House is a 2,200-square-foot, cross-shaped building designed with “refined simplicity.” Grable describes the company’s mantra as, “If it can’t be cleaned with a garden hose and leaf blower, then [the family] is not going to be able to relax on the weekends.” The resulting structure, constructed from lowmaintenance plywood and featuring concrete floors, centers around a main room that feels more like a community plaza than a traditional enclosed den. The home offers panoramic views over the native trees and grasses of Blanco County. Deep overhangs, sliding barn doors, and wide hallways offer control of sunlight and privacy.
and has much to offer: top-rated schools, lower purchase prices, and a small-town feel,” explains Mark Clausen of Realty Austin (4301 W. William Cannon Dr., Bldg. K 200, 512-853-0846; realtyaustin.com). In 2014, Clausen and his wife, France, sold more than $26 million in Hill Country properties. According to Jeannette Spinelli, a broker with Austin Portfolio Real Estate (1611 W. Fifth St. 100, 512-901-9600; austinportfoliorealestate.com), some people buy a second home as a way to enjoy the best of both worlds. “What I am seeing is a scaling back to a much smaller home in town to be complemented by a lake house or a ranch at which to enjoy long weekends,” she says. “The majority of those causing growth in Austin are still in the throes of building and maintaining their careers.
The floor-to-ceiling windows at the Brushytop House offer breathtaking views of the natural landscape below.
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Having primary homes away from the epicenter of commerce is not a game plan for everyone just yet; however, a second home is often their choice for a short respite.” But choosing a Hill Country home doesn’t mean giving up on the sophisticated accouterments of city life, as seen in homes designed by renowned architecture firms Lake Flato (311 Third St., 210227-3335; lakeflato.com), John Grable (222 Austin Hwy., San Antonio, 210-820-3332; johngrable.com), and Mell Lawrence (913 West Gibson St., 512-4414669; architecturalpolka.com).
Making Memories Designed as a getaway for a young couple with children, John Grable Architects’ Brushytop
Modern Modular Since 2008 Lake Flato has perfected the concept of prefabricated modular designs, which create unique indoor-outdoor living environments. This system, called The Porch House, is both cost-efficient and customizable. The 2001 Odyssey, a Porch House completed in 2013, is set on a Wimberley hillside overlooking the Blanco River. “The design for Odyssey represents a new way of conceptualizing, designing, and building residential homes,” says Bill Aylor, AIA, of Lake Flato. “The approach was an exploration of modular design facilitated by a library of factoryconstructed living and sleeping concepts that allow the owner to have a custom, site-specific house.” The compound comprises three modules connected by 1,780 square feet of decking. Within the modules are a kitchen and living-dining area, master bedroom and bath, and two additional bedrooms with private bathrooms. Surrounding the modules is a spacious outdoor deck that offers views of the river below.
Retirement Respite The Red Hawk Retreat, located southwest of Austin, is a 2,900-square-foot stone house constructed along rock ledges. Designed and built by Mell Lawrence Architects, the home is suited for a retired couple seeking a quiet respite. “We blurred the line between indoor and outdoor by using ganged 12-foot-tall doors and windows,” explains Lawrence. “Much of the home’s functions are tucked into cypress-clad boxes that are pulled away from the ceiling to allow natural light to filter throughout the entire house.” The home is constructed with local materials like limestone and has cypress ceiling boards. Anchoring what the firm calls the home’s “primal core” is a thick board-formed concrete wall, which harbors both an interior and an exterior fireplace. “Since this house was built for a couple who wanted to retire to the tranquility of the Texas Hill Country, we wanted to echo a sense of calm through the use of native materials.” AW
photography by mell lawrence (red hawk); dror baldinger photography (brushytop)
The interior of the Red Hawk Retreat, a 2,900-square-foot stone house, was designed by Mell Lawrence Architects.
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Time and Place
A pAnel of reAl estAte experts discusses the city’s skyrocketing Assets, Austin nostAlgiA, And the expAnsion And evolution of centrAl Austin neighborhoods. Produced by jane kellogg murray
Mark Sprague: How has Austin changed since you moved here and have been in the real estate business? Emily Moreland: I have seen a fantastic change in our downtown. It was dirty, it was vacant, and there were storefronts boarded up. You felt a sense of despair back in the ’80s and ’90s. And then we had two mayors who decided we were going to have a wonderful downtown, starting with Kirk Watson [now a state senator]. Developers got on board and stepped out of their comfort zones to build these condos, because it had never been done in Austin. To have a real neighborhood downtown is exciting. Pat Tate: I came [to Austin] in 1969, and Anderson Lane was the end of the world at that time; Burnet Road was one sign after another, and Northwest Hills was the new development. Will Steakley: I find we are having more diversity in more pockets. We’re creating more clusters and communities, so you don’t have to make the drive to downtown. Austin has been so location-centric, and around downtown was where the energy was. Now you’re seeing these little offshoots. Whether it’s The Domain or the Hill Country Galleria or some parts of the east side, we’re starting to find these areas that are coveted. Some [businesses] that were very successful downtown are now venturing off to those new markets because there’s opportunity there.
Where do you see Austin moving— where are the new places your clients want to look? Laura Gottesman: Obviously east. And once we have the medical school here and Waller Creek is redone, that’s going to be huge. There’s also a lot of opportunity north—not super far out, but if you look at it, there are opportunities to buy that haven’t hit the stride that the very close-in neighborhoods have. And areas north of 45th Street into Northwest Hills, Allandale, near the Triangle, north Burnet Road—have just become so vibrant. That has become the new hot place for restaurants, and it’s very family-oriented. There’s
The Panel
(shown below, from left)
GARY DOLCH, founder and CEO, Austin Luxury
Group, 512-656-5627; garyandmichelle.com EMILY MORELAND, owner/broker, Moreland Properties, 512-480-0848; moreland.com WILL STEAKLEY, cofounder, DEN Property
Group, 512-222-3364; denpg.com LAURA GOTTESMAN, owner/broker, Gottesman
Residential Real Estate, 512-451-2422; gottesmanresidential.com PAT TATE, owner/broker, Tate Property, 512-6330151; tateproperty.com MODERATOR: MARK SPRAGUE, state director
of information capital, Independence Title, 512454-4500; independencetitle.com
Economist Mark Sprague (far right) discusses real estate with local experts at the W Austin. above: A unit in the Four Seasons Residences, one of a handful of luxury condominiums in the highly coveted 78701 zip code downtown. right: The boat dock at this residence on Scenic Drive offers quick access to the river that runs through downtown Austin.
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photography by Zac Seewald photography (four SeaSonS); mary kang (roundtable); courteSy of tate property (boat dock)
haute property Brokers’ roundtable
tremendous opportunity there for the people who want to be close to downtown, who work downtown, and who don’t see Tarrytown, Pemberton, or Old Enfield as options. WS: They have these commercial corridors that run through these neighborhoods that pull the vibrancy from downtown out there—you see it in South Austin, where I live, and now you see it in East Austin. What I see when people come to Austin is they want to buy into that [vibrancy because] it’s convenient to them. And especially the people who are migrating between the West Coast, the East Coast, and Austin—Austin is their in-between path. When they’re here, they want to experience everything Austin has to offer, and that’s why our core has done so well. As Austin grows and we continue to see appreciation, one concern is that it will lose its character. Do you think Austin has changed? PT: Values are going up so quickly; it would be very hard for a normal young person to buy into this market. LG: [Austin is] growing up, but I believe people in Austin have and will work to preserve it. Things change, and things become more sophisticated, but they’re also very much embraced. WS: There’s an old soul to [Austin], and there’s an old guard who protects it. You see a lot of that in my generation, where we feel like we’re stewards of what Austin was, and we want to protect that. I have a lot of friends who are taking old venues
[like Antone’s] and repurposing them…. Sometimes it’s not financially based; it’s more philanthropic—“Let’s go save this piece of Austin that we don’t want to let go of”—because it is changing rapidly. A lot of people coming to Austin never got to experience what that was before. Gary Dolch: The people here all have to take a vested interest in remembering what old Austin was and push that forward. It takes business and city leaders to smartly plan where we’re going to grow, not restricting it too much, but allowing it to grow at a pace that Austin needs. We’re still a young city. Our city is so much smaller than most in Texas, so we’ve got a unique opportunity to grow it as efficiently as we can and still keep our vibrancy and culture. EM: We’ve had some great leaders [who are] going out and beating the bushes to find new businesses to bring in or to help enhance the businesses that are here, and that shows tremendous belief in what we have. I have to guard myself or else I’ll sound like some sort of rabble-rouser about Austin—and Texas in general—because I feel like so many people don’t understand how great it really is. But that’s what we all feel. PT: Our attitude for Austin, our feeling for Austin, and our love of Austin are contagious. I see that with my real estate clients. They come here and, by the time they leave, they are as in love with this city as I have always been. Watch more from the roundtable discussion at austinway.com/videos. AW
Austin by the numbers
Sprague sums up how downtown’s economy has appreciated in the past decade.
• Property values in downtown’s highly coveted 78701 zip code have more than doubled since 2005, from $240 per square foot to $509 in 2014—a 23 percent increase in the past year alone. On average, the entire city has seen an increase in price per square foot, but at a much steadier rate: from $109 in 2005 to $148 in 2014. • Planning and construction are already underway for more than 50 condominium, apartment, hotel, and office projects downtown. In the next two years, nearly 1,400 condos are expected to be added to the district from just five of those emerging towers—The Bowie (311 Bowie St., 512-650-2626; liveatbowie.com), Fifth & West (501 West Ave., 512-872-6616; 5thandwest.com), The Independent (301 West Ave.; independentaustin.com), Seaholm Residences (801 W. Fifth St., 512200-7440; seaholmresidences.com), and an as-yet-unnamed multiuse tower proposed for 70 Rainey Street, site of the Rainey Street Food Court. • The City of Austin demographics office estimates the population of the 78701 zip code will reach 13,369 this year—making it the fastest growing zip code in Austin, with more than double its population of 6,851 in 2010. The city forecasts the area’s population to hit 29,722 by 2040. • To offset downtown Austin’s rising housing prices for the city’s young and creative community, nonprofit Foundation Communities is constructing Capital Studios (309 E. 11th St., 512-610-7977; foundcom.org): a modern building with 135 furnished efficiency studio apartments that will be rented for $400 to $665 per month—utilities included—to single adults earning less than $26,400. At least 5 percent of the units are earmarked for artists and musicians.
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1400 WATERCLIFFE DRIVE, AUSTIN, TX 78645
3608 WINDSOR ROAD, AUSTIN, TX 78703
$1,199,500 | 4 Bedrooms |4 Bathrooms | 3,711 Square Feet
$2,225,000 | 4 Bedrooms | 5 Full, 2 Half Baths | 5,486 Square Feet
Incredible waterfront property with lake/hill country views. Foyer leads to spacious dining and living with high, tiered ceilings. Gourmet kitchen has a large center island, breakfast area, granite counters and walk in pantry. Huge luxurious master suite with 2 closets, dressing room, fireplace and jetted tub. The outdoor living with infinity pool/hot tub, firepit.
The timeless architecture, elegance, and refined character may cause you to believe it was built in years past! Meticulously built in 2006 with attention to quality and detail. Designed for entertaining and gracious living with a lock-n-go lifestyle. Wellproportioned bedrooms with ensuite baths. Upscale kitchen, butler’s pantry, office and elevator. Impressive foyer/grand staircase. Private Guest Suite with kitchenette.
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$6,950,000 | 5 Bedrooms | 7.5 Baths | 8,385 Sq. Ft.
5 Bedrooms | 5.5 Baths | 1.4 +/= Acres | 6,871 +/= Sq. Ft.
$3,300,000 | 4 Bedrooms | 4 Full, 2 Half Baths | 6,126 Sq. Ft.
1-acre on the Austin Country Club’s 17th fairway. Carved stone arches, herringbone oak, cherry and French limestone floors; burled walnut inlay, gold leaf accents, hand painted frescoes, mahogany windows and doors. Huge loggia, heated pool, masonry estate walls and gates. Enormous formal gardens with fountains, pergolas and towering oak trees.
Brilliantly designed contemporary, enveloped in verdant acreage in the rolling hills of Westlake. Dramatic fire features and running waterfalls set the mood for al fresco dining and entertaining. Generous windows bring in magical views with soaring ceilings to emphasize spaciousness. Complete with balconies, multiple game rooms and media area.
This stunning, custom built home in Barton Creek offers an expansive floor plan with 4 bedrooms, 4 full and 2 half baths. Enjoy the spacious master suite with fireplace and sitting area. Separate quarters provide the perfect guest retreat or bonus room. The large private lot boasts a pool and overlooks the golf course creating a beautiful, peaceful setting.
Agent: Carole Martin | Call 512.633.5154 Email carole@carole-martin.com
Agent: Jeannette Spinelli | Call 512.784.8022 Email Jeannette@JeannetteSpinelli.com.
Agent: Francie Little | Call 512.468.5753 Email francie@francielittlehomes.com
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 JW Marriott Hotel 10:30 am - Silent Auction Begins 11:30 am - Ballroom Doors Open 12:00 - Neiman Marcus Fashion Show 12:30 pm - Luncheon Program Honorary Co-Chairs Kendra Scott & Carla McDonald Event Co-Chairs Cynthia Harkness Tracy Brown Lisa Youngblood Sarah Mansour
Keynote speaker KVUE News Anchor, Terri Gruca
For more information visit: http://celebration.austin.zetataualpha.org/
THE GUIDE Festival Survival From the reception area and lobby to the conference spaces and guest rooms, the design of the new JW Marriott is full of Texas-inspired touches.
Grand Central
photography by Jessica pages
AT 34 STORIES, WITH 1,012 GUEST ROOMS, 700 EMPLOYEES, AND THREE RESTAURANTS, THE NEW JW MARRIOTT HAS CHECKED IN. BY KRISTEN O’BRIEN Talk about superlatives: The new JW Marriot is Austin’s largest hotel, the largest JW Marriott in the US, and the brand’s second-largest in the world. But the 34-story tower that opened downtown in February is far from a sterile behemoth. Starting with the lobby and continuing throughout the conference space, ballrooms, and 1,000-plus guest rooms, Texas-inspired touches abound: large columns built from Texas limestone, a ground-floor ceiling featuring a topographical map of Austin, artwork depicting local landmarks, and floor-to-ceiling windows boasting views of Lady Bird Lake. Dining options at the hotel should also appeal to locals. The hotel’s three restaurants, overseen by Executive Chef Juan Martinez, include Corner, featuring Texas cuisine; Northern Italian restaurant Osteria Pronto with alfresco dining; and Burger Bar on Congress, a walk-up sandwich shop that gives a nod to the food trucks that once occupied the space.
For those staying at the JW Marriott (room rates range from $249 to $1,199 per night), amenities include a concierge, 3,500-square-foot fitness center, 24-hour room service, executive lounge, 24-hour business center, and outdoor pool deck and bar. Reservations are being taken through 2021, and 470,000 guest rooms have already been booked. Many are excited to see a hotel of this magnitude open in Austin, but none more than Jay Spurr, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing, who has watched the property take shape from day one. “I was the first employee hired on this project in 2011,” he says. “Seeing the hard work that goes into opening a new hotel—especially one this size—is humbling. It’s also rewarding to see Austin have the chance to land large national conventions and meetings for which it couldn’t have otherwise competed in the past.” 110 E. Second St., 512-474-4777; jwmarriottaustin.com AW
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The guiDe Devour
St. Philip
Food truck favorite Via 313 opens its first brick-and-mortar pizza parlor in March.
Slice of Life
TOP OFF The FeSTIVAL eXPeRIeNCe BY INDULGING YOUR PIZZA CRAVINGS AT AUSTIN’S BeST PARLORS. by meredith bethune The Backspace The glowing oven is the focus at chef Shawn Cirkiel’s intimate downtown spot. Diners can watch pizzaiolos fire pies topped with sausage, salami, or mushrooms until kissed with singe marks. “We like the flavor and texture of a Neapolitan pizza, but slightly overbaked so it gets more flavor and texture from the high heat,” explains Cirkiel. 507 San Jacinto Blvd., 512-474-9899; theback space-austin.com
Bufalina The spartan décor at this always-crowded East Austin pizzeria belies its lavish pies topped with items like white truffle, ‘nduja sausage, or Taleggio cheese. Owner Steven Dilley typically finds pizza inspiration in the
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changing seasons and ingredient availability. “They can be seasonally inspired, a bit lighter in the summer, or a touch earthier as fall approaches,” he says. 1519 E. Cesar Chavez St., 512-524-2523; bufalinapizza.com
House Pizzeria Scott Talkington helped pioneer the city’s Neapolitan craze when he opened this easygoing pizza joint in 2009. “We believe that most of the greatest pizzas are made with very few ingredients,” he explains. The restaurant’s loyal patrons, who regularly come for the soft, bubbly pies topped with salami and white cheddar or goat cheese and thinly sliced potatoes, clearly agree. 5111 Airport Blvd., 512-6004999; housepizzeria.com
Home Slice This beloved South Congress spot—composed of a sit-down restaurant and separate takeout space— evokes a corner pizzeria in New York City. When co-owner Jen Strickland moved to Austin, she longed for the crisp yet chewy slices associated with her former hometown. “It’s de rigueur to fold them down the middle to eat,” she says of the large slices topped with classics like pepperoni, mushrooms, or eggplant. 1415 S. Congress Ave., 512-444-7437; homeslice pizza.com
Salvation Pizza “We strive to capture the flavors, the aromas, and the feel of an authentic East Coast pizzeria back here in Texas,” says owner Michael
Premium pies have arrived in Sunset Valley at this combination pizza parlor and bake shop. The latest endeavor from the Uchi Restaurant Group, St. Philip features high-end toppings like piquillo peppers, Idiazabal sheep’s milk cheese from Spain, and a sweet and savory bacon jam. Its crackly, crusted pizzas are served in a bright and modern space along with a full menu of entrées, sandwiches, and side dishes. 4715 S. Lamar Blvd., 512-358-7445; stpaustin.com
Via 313 Brothers and Michigan natives Zane and Brandon Hunt introduced Austinites to Detroit-style pizza. Baked to order in their food trucks, the square pies boast a crisp crust and supple interior. The brothers plan to showcase even more pizza styles at their much-anticipated brick-andmortar spot, which is opening in Oak Hill in March. Zane explains of their new venture, “Essentially we want the place to be a celebration of pizza of all kinds.” 1111 E. Sixth St. (Violet Crown Social Club) and 61 Rainey St. (Craft Pride), 512-939-1927; via313.com AW
The RighT emphasis Chef andrew Curran of 24 Diner, arro, and easy Tiger enters the pizza game with italic, a new italian restaurant in the historic starr Building. About the crust: “Our style is a thin pizza but not cracker-thin. It’s cooked over high heat to get big air bubbles that create that soft interior.” Toppings talk: “A salsa verde with capers, anchovies, herbs, and olive oil is one of my favorite toppings. Not every pizza starts with red sauce and mozzarella. I look at that combination sometimes as makeup covering a bad dough.” Pizza memories: “My mom always cooked, but every year when we decorated the Christmas tree, we ordered pizza. Pizza is also associated with birthday parties and celebrations. I love that emotional draw to it, and I’m excited to bring this style to Austin.” 123 W. Sixth St.; elmrg.com
photography by Knoxy Knox photography (Via 313); courtesy of italic (curran)
Dinsmore. The neighborhood pizzeria has served New Haven‚–pies from a Hyde Park bungalow for over eight years. This February, Dinsmore brought the pizzeria’s famous white clam pizza and other favorites to a second location on Rainey Street, complete with a full bar and outside patio. 624 W. 34th St., 512-5350076; 51 Rainey St., 512-499-0105; salvationpizza.com
PREMIER LUXURY HOME SPECIALIST
ANNA MORRISON LEE Member of the Realtors of Austin. Ranked by the ABJ as a Top 20 agent in Austin. Specialist with the Million-dollar guild designation.
(512) 248-8771 • info@CateringWithATwist.com www.CateringWithaTwist.com
KEEPING YOU HEALTHY ON THE GO CUST PERSO
CALL OR VISIT TODAY TO LEARN MORE!
856.375.4415 | gonutritionvending.com
REALTOR, TATE PROPERTY/PLR AUSTIN NATIVE ANNA@ANNAMLEE.COM | 512.968.6419
the guide health
Tacodeli
Tacodeli’s refreshing organic Aguas Frescas (meaning “fresh waters”) help energize the body and mind.
Battery Recharge
ConCert-hopping, film-watChing, and late-night partying Can feel like an extreme sport. reboot your body and relieve post-fest stress at downtown’s best juiCe (and smoothie) joints. by katy b. olson Daily Juice This health-nut haven offers the nutrient-replenishing Depth Charge, made from cucumber, celery, kale, spinach, parsley, and coconut water. Jennifer Pham, general manager of the Third Street outpost, says, “If you’re feeling like total death, the Mr. Resistor shot will fix you right up—recommended if you’re feeling sick, tired,” or battling festival exhaustion. 205 W. Third Street; 512-243-6532; daily juicecafe.com
Halcyon Austin natives may indulge in Halcyon’s inventive cocktails, but to hydrate, keep it simple with the cafe’s gold-standard smoothies. Choose from strawberry, mango, banana, or any combination of the three. General manager Lacey Aleman suggests
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spiking your to-go smoothie with a shot of rum to quell hangover symptoms. 218 W. Fourth St., 512-4729637; halcyonaustin.com
JuiceLand Pull through the morningafter mayhem with Recovery Punch: an electrolyte-packed blend of watermelon, pineapple, coconut water, beet, lime, and Himalayan sea salt. JuiceLand owner Matt Shook recommends ordering the Hangover Six Pack (with Recovery Punch, Playerade, and Golden Glow juices) online in advance, and then stashing it in your hotel fridge. 1625 Barton Springs Road, 480-9501; 2601 E. Cesar Chavez St., 512-351-8439; juicelandaustin.com
Skinny Limits Founder-owner Joanie Frieden suggests those “who had a hard night out” sip on
the Warrior juice: “fresh kale, pineapple, celery, Himalayan salt, and jalapeño. It’s awesome!” Hunger pangs? Try the Downward Dog smoothie. Filled with fruit, peanut butter, spirulina, and other goodies, it’s a healthy riff on the PB&J. 1720 Barton Springs Road, 512-350-6488; 2201 Lake Austin Blvd., 512-689-6269; skinnylimits.com
Soup Peddler The musically inspired smoothies, juices, and shots at the Soup Peddler are fittingly named and apropos for SXSW. Owner David Ansel recommends the Shot to the Heart, calling it “restorative, with almost all the superfoods”; the Seven Veggie Army juice; and the Nina Simone, a savory blend of beet, cashew, cardamom, yogurt,
End lingering headaches with the Aguas Frescas: a blend of fresh fruit, water, and precisely the right amount of organic evaporated cane juice concocted in-house. Flavors include watermelon, cantaloupe, and honey limeade. Chase your juice high with a variety of tacos made from local and organic ingredients. 1500 Spyglass Dr., 512-7320303; tacodeli.com
Wheatsville Food Co-Op Wheatsville’s smoothies are replete with organic apple juice, fresh orange juice, and your choice of rice or organic soy milk. Boost the benefits with power-loaded extras like chia seeds, flax meal, or Vitamineral Greens powder. Still feeling foggy? Specialty smoothies like the spinach pineapple, Beta Blast, or the pineapple basil help clear the mind. 3101 Guadalupe St., 512-478-2667; 4001 S. Lamar Blvd., 512-814-2888; wheatsville.coop
Whole Foods Katie Albers, healthyeating specialist at Whole Foods downtown, advocates a recharge with the Funky Monkey: a mix of rice milk, banana, peanut butter, raw cacao, and honey. “This is a [Whole Foods] Team Member and guest favorite in Austin,” she says. “It always fuels me up and is a go-to lunchtime smoothie!” 525 North Lamar Blvd., 512-476-1206; wholefoods market.com/stores/lamar AW
Beyond the Slice Due Forni offers palate-pleasing juices inspired by the seasons.
Come for the Neapolitanand Roman-style pizza; stay for the juice of the day. Try the Scarlet (starring red beets, kale, carrot, orange, turmeric, and ginger) or the Peter Rabbit (a reinvigorating concoction of carrot, orange, kale, turmeric, Fresno peppers, ginger, and lemon). Or sample seasonal specialty juices that owner Alex Taylor says feature “whatever is fresh.” Taylor suggests savvy SXSW attendees mind their mealtimes: “Take advantage of the off-hours to relax and eat,” he advises. “Get lunch at 3 pm or dinner at 4 pm. If you go during peak hours, you won’t get to enjoy SXSW as much.” Indulge in a late lunch or early dinner with Taylor’s own SXSW seasonal special: handmade tortellini with braised sirloin, black truffe cream, and buffalo ricotta. 106 E. Sixth St., 3919300; dueforni.com
photography courtesy of tacodeli (aguas frescas); due forni (dining room)
ginger, and banana. 501 W. Mary St.; 2801 S. Lamar Blvd.; 512-444SOUP; souppeddler.com
Krystle Copulos McCarley
Looking to Buy, Sell, or Lease? Contact me today! • Seller Representation • Buyer Representation • Lease Representation • Professional Marketing & Photography • Listings Advertised in Professional Publications
PlatinumRealtyAustin.com (512) 659-9329 Krystle@PlatinumRealtyAustin.com
LEARN. PLAY. MASTER. 1-800-879-2008 | www.golfdynamics.com 45 Club Estates Parkway | Austin, TX 78738
Buyer, Seller & Landlord Representation
Tucked away just one mile east of South Congress at 2090 Woodward Street. Exclusively in Austin. FOURHANDSHOME.COM
INVITED // spotlight //
AFTERPARTY INNOVATION THE AFTERPARTY WAS DONE IN ANOTHER DIMENSION— LITERALLY. NAK ARMSTRONG JEWELRY WAS ON DISPLAY IN HOLOGRAM FORM BY ZEBRA IMAGING, AND GUESTS WERE GIVEN 3-D GLASSES TO ENJOY A LIVE SHOW BY GOODBYE MOTEL, WHO ROCKED THE HOUSE BEHIND A 3-D VIDEO SCREEN.
Louis and Christine Messina
Meghan Slover, Mort and Bobbi Topfer, and Chris Slover
BEAUTY UNVEILED MORE THAN 100 guests attended an elegant dinner
at Brazos Hall for Hospice Austin’s Beauty Unveiled. Curated by chair and creative director Nak Armstrong, the evening was reflective of the jewelry designer’s vision, including florals from David Kurio Designs, a delectable menu catered by La Condesa, and wine pairings from Red Room Lounge sommelier Joelle Cousins. The event doubled in size as it continued in the chic lounge by Blanton Designs. Guests indulged in specialty cocktails and confections during a 3-D show by Australian rock band Goodbye Motel.
Leslie Timmerman, Britt Kelley, and Tracy Wehmeyer
Nak Armstrong, Erin Driscoll, Jenny Mason, Julie Jumonville, and Melody McCaig
Australian band Goodbye Motel performed behind a 3-D video screen.
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AUSTINWAY.COM
Katy Culmo and Suzanne McFayden
David Mendoza and Kelly Haselwood
Kevin and Crystal Kaylakie with Ronnie and Kathy Powell
Katherine Formby, Melissa Jackson, and Terry Matthews
PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICK KERN/GETTY IMAGES; OPPOSITE PAGE: ERIKA RICH (JAGUAR); MARY KANG (AFS)
Swava Pearl and Cameron Howitt
Bryan and Charlotte Sanders
Kristie Bates and Robin Reed
Dealership owner Jim Snell cuts the ribbon for the grand opening. Julie Frank and Rob Braziel
JAGUAR LAND ROVER GRAND OPENING
JAGUAR LAND ROVER celebrated its exciting expansion into the heart of downtown Austin with nothing less than a “British by birth, Texan by choice”-themed soirée. The luxury car brand treated its guests to premium Texas brews and spirits, local wild game and hors d’oeuvres as well as traditional British treats—English teas, crumpets,
and scones. Chris Marchand, Jaguar Land Rover’s executive vice president of operations, was in town to welcome revelers to the dealership that has been downtown since 1997. The state-of-the-art showroom was outfitted with a long line of classic Jaguar and Land Rover automobiles to celebrate the manufacturers’ long history.
Season Dionne and Angela Stewart
Chris Marchand with Nancy, Jim, and Jimmy Snell
AFS HONORS MICHAEL WILKINSON THE AUSTIN FILM SOCIETY hosted
Michael Wilkinson with the dress he designed for Amy Adams in American Hustle.
Pen Taylor, Tara Looper, Sharon Arteaga, Jaclyn Moffa, and Ellie Kotaphis
an intimate event in honor of the creative works of Oscar-nominated costume designer Michael Wilkinson. The evening began with a fabulously curated cocktail hour with the designer. Alongside freeze models dressed by Julian Gold, guests sipped on Tito’s Handmade vodka and noshed on bites from Olamaie. Attendees were given exclusive access to the Harry Ransom Center, where they viewed Wilkinson’s costumes from critically acclaimed film American Hustle. Bobi Garland then led a discussion with Wilkinson, during which he illuminated his creative process from the conceptualization to the realization of his designs.
Ana Defrates and Augustina Rodriguez
Rebecca Campbell and Bobi Garland
Ashley Garmon and Lisa Reile
Tim Martin and Joe Kucharski
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Exceeding Your Real Estate Expectations!
INVITED
LUXURY PROPERTIES | RANCHES | NEW CONSTRUCTION Whether you are buying or selling put Lynn Robin’s Experience, Passion and Integrity to work for you-for the results you seek!
Electra Avellan and John Fitch
Guests viewed pieces hanging in the gallery and browsed through prints available for purchase.
POP AUSTIN
TM
LynnRobin@LynnSellsAustin.com | 512.736.8822
Elegance
POP AUSTIN SURPASSED expectations with its first international art show held at East Austin’s Fair Market venue. Works for the show were shipped from Paris, New York, Los Angeles, and Miami; on display and for sale was contemporary art from worldrenowned artists including Andy Warhol, Takashi Murakami, the Gao Brothers, Gerard Rancinan, Mr. Brainwash, Shepard Fairey, and Austin’s own Bale Creek Allen and Jason Archer, among others. In addition to the exhibit, a series of lectures—“Pop Talks”— enlightened visitors throughout the weekend. Speakers included specialists (such as Asa Hursh and Greg Smith), artists (Arno Elias and Bale Creek Allen), and local business leaders who are also avid art collectors (Brian Sharples and Tito Beveridge).
Steven Carlson, Bale Creek Allen, Matt Randall, and Amanda Huras
Michaele Smith and Robby King
1601 W. 38th St. Suite 3, Austin, TX 78731 www.zcoutureaustin.com | 512.380.9884
Doug Guller and Oliver Belche
Leonie Weerakoon and Marcus Smith
Brooke Brown and Elizabeth Smitheal
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIKA RICH (POP AUSTIN); OPPOSITE PAGE: MARY KANG (LEXUS)
for every occasion
POSH P R O P E R T I E S
REAL ESTATE. THE DIFFERENCE.
Laura and Ryan Coaxum
Steve Walker, Ashley Cheng, and Max Vanderheyden
908 TERRACE MOUNTAIN
Cassie LaMere with Mike and Karen Shultz
Myste Snow and Marie Webb
2706 PEARCE
Derrick Rogers, William Jackson, Scott Thomas, and Paul Erickson
PEMBERTON HEIGHTS
Vicki Roberts Howard and Maxine Roberts
The Austin dealership celebrated the launch of the new 2015 Lexus RC and Lexus NX with a glitzy private party.
LEXUS PRIVATE LAUNCH PARTY
9100 FM 2325
LEXUS OF AUSTIN hosted a beautiful private party celebrating
the launch of the sleek new 2015 Lexus RC and Lexus NX. Guests dined on an imaginative menu by Kurant Events, enjoyed the musical stylings of Reuel and DJ Trey Water, and perused the on-site boutique’s exclusive jewelry collection by Peppina Jewelry.
5 North Peak Road, West Lake Hills, TX 78746 512.344.9183 | poshpropertiesaustin.com
And FinAlly... Spring 2015
Diagnosis: FoMo
Curing the offiCial syndrome of sXsW requires a speCial set of festival superpoWers. by KATHy bLACKWELL
purple with envy, because you’re not one of the 300 chosen ones. Last year, through some strategic planning and pew jumping, I ended up in the second row at Central Presbyterian Church for a 1 am showcase by Real Estate, a band I was excited to see. But just after they took the stage, my husband texted me to declare he was at one of the best shows of the Fest, hands down. Unable to help myself, I snuck out of the sanctuary and pedicabbed (“Sir, it’s an emergency!”) to the Speakeasy. I was able to find my husband in the throng—just as the singer wiped his brow and said, “Well, that’s it for us! See you next time, Austin!” And they were gone—as was my chance to see Real Estate in a church. With the thousands of bands, actors, and newsmakers who converge on the city for 10 days, however, the odds are in your favor that you’ll be at the right place at the right time more than just once during SXSW. You’ll breeze into the Austin Music Hall and walk up to the stage as an unannounced Bruce Springsteen joins Alejandro Escovedo for a cover of “Beast of Burden.” You’ll sneak out of work on a Thursday afternoon, pick a random club, and realize Sean Lennon, Peter Buck, Glen Hansard, or Emmylou Harris is playing a few feet away. You’ll take a break at your favorite watering hole only to find yourself sitting next to a movie star who is in a buoyant “I love Austin! Drinks are on me!” kind of mood. (We love those moods.) Enjoy those FOMO-free moments. Tweet, Instagram, Facebook, and take ill-advised selfies, if you must. And try not to think about what might be happening at the club around the corner. AW
illustration by daniel o’leary
It always starts before the holidays, as wave after wave of announcements build to the February crescendo of big-name keynote speakers, must-see bands, buzzed-about filmmakers, unexpected icons, and curiosities (looking at you, Grumpy Cat). Most people know it as FOMO (fear of missing out), but the anxiety caused by Festival FOMO can make SXSW veterans like myself (15 years, thank you) act in some really strange (some might call it maniacal) ways. At its most basic, FOMO happens when there’s a movie, panelist, or band you really want to see: You study the capacity of the venue, find out if there’s a Disney-like fast pass available, estimate traffic time (allowing approximately one hour per quarter mile by car), and figure out the nearest food truck you can eat from while in line. If all goes well, four hours later, you’ll be bragging to your friends (and people you don’t know but who enjoy your brunch photos on Instagram) that you were there to see the hot band they haven’t heard of. See? It’s all worth it. But the kind of FOMO that makes me most anxious—and I see it happening all around, so I know I’m not alone—is feeling that even though you’re having a great time, someone is having a better time somewhere else; you just made the wrong choice. You talked and finagled your way into the private Justin Timberlake show that thousands of people are trying to get into, but after two songs you realize, Wait, I don’t even really like Justin Timberlake. You look at your cell and find two friends tweeting about how they’re standing in line with your favorite musicians, waiting for the Prince show at La Zona Rosa; suddenly you’re
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