Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem by LASA Ezine

AUSTIN

A NOT SO HIDDEN GEM Exploring the contributions to Austin’s charm

What makes Austin special? Follow these 5 LASA Highschool freshmen as they learn more about their city

TABLE OF

Guide to Austin’s Best Music Festivals

Austin Muscians Push For Change During a Time of Uncertainty

Closed While Distanced , Local Businesses Push Through

South Central Austin Scavenger Hunt

Letters From the Editors

44Austin, Austin,AANot NotSo SoHidden HiddenGem Gem

14 8

CONTENTS

32 30

26 24

Top 4 Dessert Locations in Austin

Amy’s Ice Cream, a Local Business’s Rise

Q2, Breakdown of Austin’s New Soccer Stadium

The Vitality of Sports in Austin

Murals In Austin Guide

The Hidden Background of Austin’s Murals

Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem 5

Letters From The Editors Emma Steinert Hi, my name is Emma Steinert and I am a freshman at LASA. I was not born in Austin, but I moved when I was 5 months old. Outside of school I do martial arts. I have been at the same martial arts school since I was 8. Honestly, I just joined my group’s Zoom breakout room and then it was already decided that we would do a magazine about Austin. My article is about local/small businesses. Throughout COVID-19, different businesses have had to take a break or even close down. Most people have lost connections with their friends or the community. I have been pretty lucky. I was able to continue to do martial arts for the whole past year. We had to adjust to different platforms, literally, but it all worked out in the end. I even got my half-brown half-black belt. Have fun reading.

Ella Lilly Hey! I’m Ella Lilly, and I’m a freshman at LASA. I lived in the suburbs for most of my life but three years ago moved into town. You could say I’m a local; I love riding my bike, going on runs down on the hike and bike trail, playing fetch with my labradoodle, and rowing on Lady Bird Lake. I’m a foodie and have tried many of the great restaurants around Austin, and specifically, I’m a big taco fan. I was excited to focus on Austin as a whole for our magazine. I focused on the music industry which has taken a large hit this year due to COVID-19, so I wanted to look at Austin’s incredible festivals as well as looking at COVID-19 and the changes that have come this past year.

6 Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem

Elliott Sorensen Hello my name is Elliott Sorensen, and I am a freshman at LASA. I was born in Asheville, North Carolina, though when I was 5 we moved to Austin. I have a very cute, black puppy who my family got in the summer. The reason we chose to create our magazine about Austin is that it has so many unique aspects that make it stand out, like sports, music, small businesses, etc. The main reason why I did my section on art is because my first choice, food, was taken by Mariam. However, art is my second favorite thing in Austin, especially the bustling Mural scene. I hope you like our magazine and I’m glad to have made it.

Ian Irving Hi! My name is Ian Irving, and I am currently a freshman at LASA. I am born and raised in Austin, and I enjoy all the unique aspects of the city that I get to call home. For extracurricular activities outside of school, I enjoy hanging out with my friends, and I play club soccer. Our magazine focuses on the whole of our city, with each person individually writing about one topic that interests them, or is important to them. With having sports being a major part of my life, naturally I thought this would be a good part to incorporate into our magazine. Inside my section I wanted to focus on some of the old aspects of sports in our town, along with the new changes that are coming in the future.

Mariam Taha Hi! I’m Mariam Taha, and I am a freshman at LASA. Although I moved to Austin two years ago, this city already feels like home. I really like to read, cook, watch Netflix, and travel. My group and I chose our topic about Austin because we all wanted to do things like food, sports, music, art, and small businesses and these categories all perfectly define Austin. My part of the magazine talked about desserts and the famous local ice cream place, Amy’s Ice Creams. I decided on those topics because I really like desserts, specifically ice cream. Also, you’ll probably find my part of the magazine in the end because you gotta save the dessert for last.

Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem 7

Close While Distanced By: Emma Steinert

How These Three Local Austin Businesses Survived COVID-19’s Obstacles

hen people hear that Austin is the capital of Texas, some might imagine an old cowboy town, or maybe it’s just another big city in their eyes. However, if they take the time to look into the individual aspects that make up Austin, then they might change their image of it.

Are you open?

Yes!

8 Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem

Make it Funky— This piece of art was photographed at Habibis Hutch and can be found right outside of the small parking lot. (Photo by Emma Steinert 2021)

BookPeople was founded in 1970. They’re an independent bookseller. There are two main departments, kids/teens and adults. The kids/teens team works hard to encourage the young community to read and love doing it. The adults team works hard to show how important bookstores, even small ones, are to the community. “We’re fortunate enough to have several people working together on the marketing and events team and we’re able to go after multiple goals, chief among them being: building our community of readers and introducing them to the very best voices in fiction, nonfiction, and everything in between!” said Uriel Perez, the event logistics manager.

Perez works with the events and marketing manager, Cristina Lebrón, along with other workers, to schedule and complete author events, signings, and different kinds of promotional campaigns. In the past, BookPeople has gotten visits from former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Now, some people might argue that they could just order a book online from Amazon, so why would they spend the time to drive to BookPeople just to buy a book and then leave? “You may walk into the bookstore thinking you’re goin g to be in-and-out,

but most folks do a little shopping for themselves, find a fun gift or two for a loved one , and top off the visit with a toasty beverage. And in the days when we hosted in-store author events, you might even stay an extra hour to take in a talk and get a book signed!” Perez said.

Right now, they’re holding off on in person events but hope to have some planned by Fall of 2021.

“Overall, though, I think COVID has inspired us to think more broadly about how to reach our reading community outside of Austin and how to take a more active role in it,” Perez said. COVID-19 has helped BookPeople spread their name. Like many businesses, they’ve had to alter how they approach the problem of how many people can be in the building. They’ve implemented the rule that masks have to be on and there is hand sanitizer in different places, but what’s really changed for them is their online presence. By moving events to online, they can now allow people from across the country to join.

“Whether it be in the role of providing access to great books, as activist[s] or [a] platform for others, community center, you name it! Our bookstore is for everyone!” Perez said.

Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem 9

Speaking enjoying a of businesses being drink or some food. for everyone, another inclusive Austin Regretfully, COVID-19 has limited business is Radio Coffee and Beer. the customers abilities to do some of Radio is a coffee shop with a very these activities. welcoming atmosphere. They allow families, which Radio has been includes chilfollowing all of “I knew it would remain dren and pets the standard too, to come and grow [into] that kind COVID-19 and hang out. of [welcoming] place and it procedures and are only has. That vision is our Everyone sits doing Trivia mission: to welcome at their own and everyone into our coffee tables and Bluegrass minds their bar and to share a great music as own busievents. experience,” said Andrew ness, but They used Hilbert, the General just being to have Manager. near people concerts who are every there to night relax is enough to make the though. They only allow customers feel comfortable. outdoor seating for now. There are many things to do at Radio including work, study, art, socialize, attend the flea market and so much more, all while 10 Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem

Just down the street from Radio is another local business called Habibis Hutch. Habibis Hutch is a day care. It has a truly artistic community where both the teachers and the children get to experiment with different mediums of art. There’s clay, paint, drawing, sculpting, and much more despite what the first sight might provide. Every surface is covered with sculptures and paintings. The teachers said that children learn better from engaging and doing as opposed to listening to instructions. Habibis has its own philosophy, to play and play first, which is what it’s known for. This happens to be a large reason as to why parents want their children to be enrolled. Another reason is that they’ve had the same teachers for a long time.

“There’s a real pressure for parents and teachers you know, ‘you [have to] learn this by this age,’ and it’s just- we just don’t believe that’s true. I don’t think it’s a race really,” said Andrew Urbanus, the owner.

The teachers work together to take care of all the children, and because they’re all together, they also have to share all of the responsibilities.

“Everyone has to pitch in, everyone has to change diapers, everyone has to sometimes be the good cop and the bad cop, everyone has to be a part of it,” Urbanus said. Children don’t have to wear masks but adults do. They do temperature checks and more handwashing. They were an outside school way before COVID-19, so they haven’t had to transition that much. They’ve had no COVID-19 cases and the teachers are really good about telling parents when any child has shown symptoms of COVID-19. Everyone is taking it very seriously. Habibis was able to expand during

COVID-19. They now own a house next to the South Austin Senior Center, which they use for children, five years old and up, who have started school. Busy parents can drop their child(ren) off with their school devices, and the adults managing the center will be there to help with any of the children’s questions. This makes the transition from preschool to regular school a bit easier because they have the same

chaperones, but are working on regular school curriculum. Regarding playground equipment, Urbanus goes to department stores sometimes to buy new materials and structures. He bases what he buys off it’s texture and sometimes movement. They keep the fundamental activities like their wood houses, bikes and car tires, but other things they switch out. This provides the children with a

sense of familiarity while also introducing something foreign and new. Of course, not everything is bought from the store. Some of their objects are found in nature too.

“[I’ll take things] that are not necessarily toys, but things that they’ll find out in the world and bring them here and help them to use them safely,” Urbanus said.

This past year has undoubtedly been difficult and has challenged everyone to think and behave in different ways. There’s been a lot of death, fear, rumors, shocking news and plenty more horrible things to add to the list. At the same time though, the past year has brought some good things, and has taught powerful lessons. Overall, Austin’s close, but inclusive, communities are what make Austin so intriguing. Even though COVID-19 prevents everyone from being “close,” these businesses have thought of other ways to navigate around COVID-19 and its onslaught of obstacles.

Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem 11

South-Central Austin 12 Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem

Locations

Roads

Highways

Water

Sources Google Maps

Scavenger Hunt By Emma Steinert Here are some local/small businesses in the south-central area of Austin. There are some addresses and pictures. Each addresses and picture correspond to a pink dot. The pictures show one thing you’ll find on the outside. Run around South-Central Austin and locate which picture goes with which address!

Rules •

• •

To avoid cheating, please try to avoid using apps like Google Maps which will show you pictures of the place. If you need to use a map then the best way to play would be to let one person use a map so they could direct the other(s) to the right place. You can use any form of transportation If you want an extra challenge then you can try and retake the pictures or make them your own!

Pictures for the scavenger hunt Photo by: Emma Steinert 2021

3103 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

1816 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

2004 Bert Ave, Austin, TX 78704

4205 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78704

4204 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78704

1120 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

2613 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

4304 Clawson Rd, Austin, TX 78704

1704 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

3201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

603 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

1602 Fortview Rd, Austin, TX 78704

2801 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

2108 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem 13

Austin Musicians Push for Change During A Time of Uncertainty How Have Austin and It’s Musicians Been Affected by COVID-19? And What’s Next?

ustin is known worldwide for being the “Live Music Capital of the World.” Huge concerts, enormous crowds, and packed houses which happen to be some of the most taboo phrases these days.

There’s no doubt that Austin musicians, venues, and economy have been hit hard this past year from COVID-19 and with everything shutting down and coming to a standstill. Most artists haven’t been able to perform live for an entire year now. Some have had to give up their passion for a more realistic career that will put food on the table, many wonder why they are still playing

By: Ella Lilly music at all, and all have had to make serious changes and rethink their career. From live streams to socially distanced concerts, musicians and their audiences have gotten creative to make the best out of a seriously traumatic and hard time this past year during COVID-19. But even with getting creative, it has been hard for musicians to bring in income, like before COVID-19, because creative solutions and live streams have their limits. The effects of COVID-19 have been serious and won’t go away overnight, but hope blossoms with springtime and the new vaccine. As businesses start to open back up, musicians and venues have more opportunities for socially distant, outdoor music events. However, COVID-19 has affected more than economic problems. As Austin evolves during this time, activists bring awareness to lesser talked about issues like musician’s mental health, musicians who have been at disadvantages (race, sex or sexuality), fair wages and treatment from venues, and the lack of money going to Austin’s musicians from City Hall. These powerful conversations are part of what makes Austin a unique place and music, the heartbeat and soul of the city.

Austin’s soul, made of music, gives it the famous nickname “the live music capital of the world.” (Graphic by Marin Maycotte, 2021.) 14 Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem

Haiku Hands performing at the bar, Barcuda, at SXSW. SXSW is an annual event, a series of festivals, especially for rising musicians (Photo by Roger Ho, 2019).

Hi, How Are You day at the Moody Theatre, a popular live music venue hold 2,750 people and hosting about 100 concerts a year (Photo by Roger Ho, 2019).

Austin Kiddie Limits, free for ages under 10, makes the huge festival great for families (Photo by Roger Ho, 2015).

Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem 15

“You’ve got people who are you know BlueGrass Musicians, hip hop artists, punk, reggae, like every genre you can imagine and...it’s an environment that breeds a music culture,” Jimmy Stewart, Co-founder of Do512 said. Austin is loved for having a range of genres, especially at Austin City Limits (ACL) where you can find something for everyone, and this trait is part of what makes Austin so special. Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan are part of what put Austin on the map as a music city like Nashville or New Orleans, but now the genres expand way beyond country and blues. Except these days, the selection is much more limited

“Here we are almost a year now since the shutdown and thousands of musicians haven’t played a single gig,” Nakia Reynoldso (known professionally as Nakia), Austin musician and activist, said. with COVID-19. Musicians haven’t played live since March of last year, hitting them hard, let alone the economy. Many of the larger name artists are hunkering down and taking time to write their own music, but the smaller musicians, venues, and businesses affected don’t all have the economic leeway to take extreme pay cuts. “Music is vital because if you just take

Nakia singing on the first season of the Voice 10 years ago. He made it to the semifinals on CeeLo Green’s team. (Photo courtesy of Nakia, 2011) 16 Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem

the two big festivals, Austin City Limits and South By Southwest (SXSW), the amount of money that it brings into the industry, to the hotels, to the restaurants, to all the AirBnBs and individual owners of properties, to the parking lots, so everyone benefits from [the revenue those festivals bring],” said Stewart. Looking at the economy overall, major events like ACL and SXSW that are being canceled have a ripple effect. The income and revenue of tourists, that business owners rely on, is suddenly gone, so not only do you have the obvious victims, like musicians who can no longer play, but everyone else depending on that money. “And so, the real scary part is thousands of musicians going into this pandemic, having regular gigs and high dreams of [playing music] professionally for the rest of their lives, are probably reconsidering that now,” Nakia said. The morale has also dropped significantly. Musicians, in an already hard and competitive line of work, are reconsidering their choice of career and are forced to make hard decisions between passion and money. In 2019, Nakia founded Austin Texas Musicians to give musicians a voice, which have historically been neglected in the face of lawmakers at City Hall. Now, he’s helping other musicians, like himself,

“We have rights as well so we wanted to make sure that these music venues are still here when the lights come back on so we have places to play,” Nakia explained.

get through this time. At the end of 2020, Austin Texas Musicians have been almost solely responsible for creating a $10 million live music preservation fund to help Austin venues stay open and not be forced to close, giving musicians a light

at the end of the tunnel and somewhere to play when it’s safe. During this time of uncertainty and trouble, Nakia does what he can to spark powerful conversations to challenge the “normal” starting with the types of music that have always been played.

“That ability to say ‘Hey, we realize a majority of the city has been thriving on white boy guitar rock for so long.’ We’re [in] the 21[st] century, and the majority of people in their mid-20s are not listening to guys playing guitars as much as they are hip-hop.” Through this time of forced change, Nakia also brings up conversations like the way race, gender and sexuality play in opportunities, pay and treatment from venues. “That starts with helping our Black and Brown musicians who have had it way worse. As far as with helping our female musicians who have had it maybe worse than that and our queer musicians who haven’t had a space,” Nakia said. And through the COVID-19 Pandemic, Austin wonders; what’s next? What’s next for the city of live music who was hit hard both economically and socially this past year? What’s next for the musicians and venues working toward a better future?

“I think being that music is at the heartbeat, the soul, of this place, I think it will continue to be here in some form or another. It just may be a bit different from how we’ve known it in the past.” Stewart said.

Austin Texas Musicians works to help local musicians to get the rights and pay they deserve. (Graphic by Marin Maycotte, 2021.)

Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem 17

The Live Music Austin Music Festival Highlights By:Ella Lilly

Austin City Limits Austin City Limits is THE music festival: two weekends full of massive crowds, huge headliners, and the best food. From music lovers to Austin locals to people traveling across the country to be there, ACL is a huge hit located downtown at Zilker Park.

450k

attend each year

Blues on the Green Hosted by ACL Radio and also located at Zilker Park, Blues on the Green features weekly, free, and family friendly concerts. Sit on a blanket, enjoy a cold drink, and socialize and listen to great music.

attend each year 18 Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem

Summer

F R E E

Early October

$$$

Capital of the World Austin, Texas lives up to its nickname and hosts a variety of music festivals with a ranging variety of genres from country to pop. Many stars have exploded here, most popularly Willie Nelson. From family friendly to concerts of the year, this guide highlights the most notable to enjoy.

Old Settler's Old Settler’s Music Festival, located in Tilmon, Texas (right outside of Austin), highlights americana, folk, roots, acoustic jazz and blues, bluegrass, and local favorites. You can even camp on the grounds of this casual but lively three day festival.

16k

attend each year

April

SXSW SXSW Music Festival weekend is a variety of music events around downtown Austin for mainly fresh, new talent. While most of the events require a purchased badge, the weekend of the festival is filled with unofficial concerts and events for everyone.

41 7 k

March

Depends of the pass you buy

attend each year Sources:: Sources https://www.oldsettlersmusicfest.org/ https://unofficialsxguide.com/what-is-sxsw https://www.austin360.com/entertainmentlife/20190424/freeblues-on-green-concert-series-returns-to-zilker-park

Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem 19

The Unseen Background of Austin’s Murals By: Elliott Sorensen

hen thinking about Austin, people might think of creativity and the slogan of the city, “Keep Austin Weird.” There is no better way to combine those two concepts than murals: the fun, surreal and unique art. As Austin grows so does its art and creative prospects, bringing creatives in to make music, paint, and a variety of other things. Many people, either as tourists or as people looking to settle down, are drawn here by the massive communities of artists and creative types in the area. This can be seen in the famous “I love you so much” mural, an iconic show of love by Amy Cook, a local musician to her partner, Liz Lambert. This story isn’t about Amy Cook’s quintessential love letter, but about what murals do for the people, whether a tourist or a local. When thinking first about murals, you may think of the grand and beautiful displays on the sides of buildings, or the small yet creative paintings you would find in an art classroom or the office of an overly cheery employee. It makes every blank space on your wall have the ability to become a mural, starting 20 Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem

as a boring flat wall becoming an interesting and creative piece of art. They make any space unique, having meaning and feelings, rather than another wall. The power of murals is impressive, having the ability to have a whole wall as your canvas, in the process being as complex or simple as you like while also having organic borders that shape the “canvas” itself. It can also be used to get a message out, like the mural created by Diana Ventura and Ethan Azarian showcasing what gentrification is doing to black communities. Instead of thinking about murals as just a cool painting, think of them as an expressive piece of art that can shape the communities around them.

brainstorm, come up with concepts, ideas and I always do three mural designs for them,” She continued, “Then we’ll go through rounds of editing to refine it to be exactly where we want to be...And then to actually get the mural onto the wall, sometimes I just freehand it, if its something thats pretty organic...But the easiest and fastest method available is I just use a projector right onto the wall.” This easy method helps Avery to create murals efficiently and accurately to

While murals are important in creating a unique culture and feeling, there is a lot of background and work that goes into creating a completed mural. Avery Orendorf, a professional muralist and artist in Austin’s communities, says, explaining the process, “So first we just [kind of] Top: Residential Doodle Mural by Avery O. (Avery O.), Bottom: Hill Country Galleria Mural by Avery O. (Avery O.)

the digital version. It’s hard to tell, but a lot of the murals around Austin are created either by professionals or someone involved in the building it is painted upon. An example of the former is the previously mentioned middle school art teacher, Diana Ventura, who has a background in art, but not necessarily in murals. When the muralist Ethan Azarian asked Ventura if he could make a mural on the side of the school, she said yes, chose the theme and started brainstorming with her students. Ventura said, “They got to brainstorm and go on Google and come up with ideas and iconic things about East

“They got to brainstorm and go on Google and come up with ideas and iconic things about East Austin. They got to sketch out ideas, and then we all went through it together,”

I Love You So Much, May 2021, Austin TX, by Amy Cook (Photo: Elliott Sorensen)

big mouth,” Ventura said. This caused friction between the artists, however eventually the mural was finished, and presented to the PTA. The mural is loved by students and makes the school more artistic and creative in the process. Now at this point the reader might be wondering “How can I make my own mural?” Orendorf has some tips for you. “Start bold and simple. Don’t overthink it too much, but sometimes the simple and bold designs can be the best

sometimes. Choose just regular latex house paint, either interior or exterior, so there’s no reason to go out and spend a lot of money. Use a dropcloth, tape off your edges and be confident in yourself.” Orendorf said. The strangest thing about Austin’s mural scene is that most of them exist in one

Ventura said. Austin. They got to sketch out ideas, and then we all went through it together,” Ventura said. When painting the mural, there was a difference of opinion between Azarian and Ventura, and in Ventura’s words, “I have a very expressive, bold, Voyage to Soulsvile, May 2021, G. W. Carver Library, by: John Fisher (photo by: Elliott Sorensen

Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem 21

area, in the South/Central area right below Austin’s bustling metro center. Another aspect that Orendorf says is one of the reasons she mostly focuses on mural making is that, “[There is] less competition, murals because of their size, because of the intensity of actual installation or painting them,

“Murals are made in order to reach viewers. It would not make sense to make a mural in the middle of nowhere. Therefore, you will see them where there is constant human traffic. Not only residents of Austin are continually in this area, but out-of-town visitors come to tour central/south Austin,” Ventura says. the physical aspect, that we are able

22 Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem

to value it a lot higher than, I think, other pieces of art,” Orendorf said. This means that people can easily make a living off just mural making, instead of having art as more of a side job. One last aspect of murals is their badboy brother, street art (graffiti). Now according to Orendorf the difference between murals is “just kind of a difference in mindset, difference of how they approach things, but my belief is that there is some beautiful street art out there.” According to Orendorf, certain individuals of the street artist community have a sort of resentment for muralists, Orendorf said, “whether you are doing it to make money and get paid for your work or to kind of ‘stick it to the man.’” However the majority of individuals in the street art community don’t think like this, respecting the muralist’s work. In the end, Austin’s murals provide a voice for communities to speak about issues relating toward the human experience, making the world better through art. Murals also give struggling artists a safe and highly

visible space to enter, unlike other, highly competitive mediums. While some murals are professional works, murals can be made by anyone with paint, a paintbrush and a dream.

Middle 3: Kealing Middle School mural, by multiple artists (Elliott Sorensen), Top right: residential poolside mural, by Avery O. (Avery O.) Bottom left: the shops at Arbor Walk mural, by Avery O. (Avery O.)

Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem 23

AUSTIN’S MURALS I Love You So Much By: Amy Cook

This Iconic Austin Mural was create by musician Amy Cook for her partner Liz Lampert, the majority owner of the building it is painted on, Jo’s hot coffee. Located at 1300 S. Congress Ave.

360 3

Greetings From Austin By: Todd Sanders

This Austin mural looks at Austin’s other attractions, such as barton springs, the UT tower, the bat bridge, and various other icons. Located at 1720 S 1st St.

1 Girl With Camera

By: Unknown

This creative mural embodies Austin’s creative spark with it’s bold colors, and comic book style. Located at 401 E 53rd St #201

24 Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem

Sources:do512.com/iloveyousomuch, sillyamerica/greetingsfromaustin, atasteofkoko/austinmurals,thestatesman/ goseethebigmuralonwoodhollowdrive,austin.com/guidetothebeststreetart, https://365project.org/louannwarren/365/2020-10-21

By: Elliott Sorensen

Wildflower Meadow By: Bill Travis

This huge mural illustrates a wildflower meadow, something that in the spring time pops up all around Texas and Texas. Located on Wood Hollow Drive

1 183 5

Welcome to Austin - Do it the Texas Way By: Unknown

This mural depicts the get rich quick lifestyle that prevailed Texas’ early economy.

Earth Mural By: Unknown

This Austin mural show the diverse ecosystems that exist all around the world from tropical fish to wooded mountains. Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem 25

The Vitality of Sports in Austin The Economic and Social Reasons for Promoting a Healthy Sports Industry By: Ian Irving

here’s no doubt that the sports industry brings in millions of dollars annually, but exactly how much does the industry generate? According to a Forbes article, the North American sports industry was estimated to be valued at $73.5 billion in 2019. “The business of Texas athletics is a 220 million dollar operation annually. That’s about the size of a mid sized company in the s&p-500,” said Brian Davis, a sports columnist, and University of Texas athletics writer for the Austin American Statesman. Some might say that money makes the world go round, and in sports, that is definitely the case. Although athletic departments bring in millions of dollars annually, some of that money also has to be spent by the program to create a winning season.

practice, train, and work like crazy to get to the top. The effort and dedication that players and coaches put into a winning season is overlooked. With the preseason, games, practice, and individual training, all being key components to a successful season. Davis’ outlook as a sports writer was, “What you’re doing as a B writer is you are telling the story of the season. The games are sort of like mile markers on the road. You are writing one book, and that book is the season.” This ‘book’ starts with the first practice and ends with whatever bowl game a team might go to. This year, a new book will be created in Austin. The third Major League Soccer (MLS) team in Texas will be

Money has brought up some ethical questions during this historical pandemic season. Some wonder if leagues are taking the proper precautions, and if they’re doing enough, while others question if the season should even be happening in the first place. At the end of the day, Davis and countless others recognize, “The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) is going to put 68 teams in a bubble so they can show CBS, and TNT, ‘hey we put on a tournament, now where’s our money?’” Regardless of the current world situation. Whatever the circumstances, athletes are going to continue to 26 Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem

Photo of Brian Davis, sports columnist for the Austin American Statesman. (Photo courtesy of The Austin American Statesman).

in Austin, becoming the first Major League sports team in the city. The inaugural season begins on Saturday, April 17th, with Austin playing at Los Angeles FC. Despite mainly covering basketball and football, Davis recognizes the benefits of having a new team come into town, especially at the upper level, “I think it is a good thing that Austin is going to be getting a soccer team. I think that the University of Texas is going to need some competition for attention in this town. I genuinely hope that Austin FC comes in and they do great and kind of take the town by storm when the MLS comes” Davis said. The potential for Austin FC is there. It’s a major league team (Austin’s

“Well, I think playing the games has brought about a series of ethical questions, that people are going to have to answer, mostly for themselves.” Brian Davis said. First) playing the world’s most popular sport, in a place where there are no competitors. With a null of professional teams in the area, many are hoping that Austin FC will raise the level of competition for the other teams in Austin. One vital part of sports teams, that is often overlooked, is the youth development portion of the teams. Youth development is used to scout potential up and coming young talent

for the team, but is also a way to give back and connect to the community. Sports provide a way to introduce necessary social skills to people. This is often a reason why many people place their children in sports at young ages, not only in the hope of giving a child a fun hobby to pursue, but to build fundamental skills that better a person.

Soccer ball on corner, ready for a corner kick. (Image by S.Hermann & F. Richter.)

Upper 90. Upper 90 focused on the development of youth through soccer. Overtime, Upper 90 became a part of 4ATX (now Verde Leaders) which is the nonprofit wing of Austin FC.

For Johnson, being able to connect with the community Jordan Johnson, the current director and give back all the necessary of youth development at Austin FC, skills that they need to know is a has backgrounds in youth work. highlight of her job. “I am really Johnson went to Harvard Graduate focused on any youth that we School of Education for Prevention work with… I don’t want to just Science and Practice, with the focus give them a soccer ball and call it of figuring out how to proactively a day,” Johnson said. set up the youth of communities to go out on a safe path to become It becomes clear that there is successful. more going on behind the scenes then one may think. Johnson Her first taste of combining her stated “ I want to teach them a youth work with soccer began in way to be the next generation 2017 when she moved to Austin, of leaders, good citizens, good and co launched a program called siblings and good teammates,” all

Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem 27

Soccer practice at Verde Leaders (Photo courtesy of Jordan Johnson)

“I love figuring out who they are and where they’re coming from, and whether it’s what language they speak, or what country they came from. I love just being able to meet them”. - Jordan Johnson of which are vital skills both on and off the field. Both Johnson and Davis are drawn in by the human interaction of their work and the ability to listen to and share other’s stories. One of Johnson’s Values is human connection, “If we don’t have that human 28 Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem

connection, I don’t think there’s a whole lot else. There’s not much else to life than meeting new people, having relationships with people, having friendships, it’s [all] just so important,” Johnson said.

“I don’t want to just give them a soccer ball and call it a day. I want to teach them a way to be the next generation of leaders, good citizens, good siblings and a good teammate, somebody who can work in groups, and talk about their emotions, and someone who can communicate with someone and feel empathy for others”.

Johnson - Jordan Johnson implements her values and morals that. It’s a great way to work with into her work to students 1 on 1 or in a group provide memorable experiences for those she works with. “Verde Leaders because of that natural feeling”. [are] being able to connect with Sports provide entertainment others, meet new people, and hear value and are irreplaceably other stories,” Johnson said. located in the hearts and minds Her outlook on the social skills and of the youth. It’s important to experiences created by sports was, provide the access of sports to all “I think sports give you all those that desire them in order for a different types of experiences, and functional society. it’s just a natural vehicle for all of

Jordan Johnson supervising one of the Verde Leaders outside practices. (Photo courtesy of Jordan Johnson.)

Johnson at a Verde Leaders practice juggling a soccerball. (Photo courtsey of Jordan Johnson.)

Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem 29

Q2 Breakdown

Everything you need to know about Austin FC’s new stadium By Ian Irving

Metrics For The Stadium Of the New Team On The Block 30 Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem

METRICS

Estimated Cost

Total Capacity

$260 million

Estimated time of completion Spring 2021

25,000 + 27th

Stadium in the league

Broke Ground September 9, 2019 Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem 31

I Scream, You Scream, Everybody Screams For Ice Cream! By: Mariam Taha

Mexican Vanilla and Belgian Chocolate ice cream cups from Amy’s Ice Creams. (Photo by Mirna Taha, 2021.)

How one of Austin’s local ice cream stores, Amy’s Ice Creams, came to be.

32 Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem

hile walking down the street, the ice cream shop in the corner, Amy’s Ice Creams, catches your eye. You rush to the store, and the variety of flavors make your mouth water, but one flavor in particular catches your eye. Mexican Vanilla, a classic. As you take the first bite, and as it melts in your mouth, you realize that this is the definition of perfect.

Amy’s Ice Creams was founded in 1984 by Amy Simmons. Simmons went through many struggles along the way, and she originally had an undergraduate degree in biology and psychology from Tufts University. She was planning on going to Med School, but while she was working at an ice cream store in her university, she fell in love with ice cream, and how it played a role in people’s lives. “Ice cream is there when you’re depressed, or maybe when you’re celebrating something, or when somebody is in town. So it’s so many different moments of your life that people go out and get ice cream,” Simmons said.

Simmons, at age 23, started out her “ice-cream journey” while she was in college. She worked part-time at Steve’s Ice Cream while also doing research at medical centers. “The ice cream store was such a blast. It was so much fun. And, you know, I made money, and I had a great time with my co-workers and with the customers,” Simmons said.

Our mission statement is to make people’s day. — Amy Simmons

When the time came for Simmons to go to medical school, she decided to take a little time off since she had gotten the opportunity to open an ice cream store in Manhattan for the company she

worked for. They gave her a lot of freedom with what she could do. “It was really exciting. It was like opening my own small business. And because I got to help fund the location, hire the people, fund the suppliers and set up the store,” Simmons said. Simmons then moved down to Miami with the rest of the company, Steve’s Ice Cream. The owners decided to sell their company, and it was completely different with the new owners. All of the culture the previous company had was gone. Simmons decided to write a business plan, and open her own ice cream store. “Later on, I realized I made a great choice. It turned out to be a great one,” Simmons said. At first, it was scary for Simmons to own her own ice cream store because she didn’t really understand financial statements and everything in the back end of the business. She knew how to make tasty ice cream and how to care for customers in a difficult situation, but she didn’t know how to make a profit.

According to Forbes, an American business magazine, not only did Simmons fall in love with ice cream, but Austin too since it reminded her of the place she grew up, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ann Arbor, just like Austin, was filled with University students and, of course, ice-creamloving people. So, from Pre-Med student to the founder of one of the most local places in Austin, this is where Simmons’ journey began:

Amy Simmons holds two ice cream cones at an Amy’s Ice Creams. Amy Simmons is the founder of Amy’s Ice Creams. (Photo courtsey of Amy’s Ice Creams.) Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem 33

“I’d written a business plan. And I researched first, but I wasn’t fluent in it. So it did take me a little while to get fluent in the finance business,” Simmons said. In the beginning, Amy’s Ice Creams had to make $350 in sales a day to stay afloat, and to do that, they had to be working the whole time and not just during business hours.

our decisions are kind of around doing that. And so I think that’s remained consistent,” Simmons said. The slow growth company, Amy’s, is also trying to stay relevant to the current market by really making an impact on its community instead of its national growth.

“Our goal is “The hardest thing really to impact about being open the people that Amy’s Ice Creams spring menu board. (Photo courtsey of the whole time, was work with us, Amy’s Ice Creams, 2016.) really learning on the job and being and then also our customers in a renew their lease. So, they had to worry there 24 hours a day, which was just really meaningful way, ” Simmons said. about their payroll. kind of exhausting,” Simmons said. Speaking of people that work with them, “And so all of that happened at once, Once Amy’s Ice Cream continued and so it had a really to grow, they opened two stores big financial impact. in Houston. Unfortunately, the And we had to just construction costs were over what buckle down and try Simmons had predicted and the stores and figure out how weren’t doing well either. To make to make it through matters worse, they weren’t doing so that time,” Simmons well within Austin in Highland Mall said. (which is gone now). The store there was doing well at sales, but they didn’t The 36 year old company has also changed a lot; it got bigger, but it still stayed — Alli Thomas consciously small to keep the feeling Amy’s Ice Creams also does of locality which is their a lot of training for its new hope. All the employees and employees with a program called catering department have also MBAmy’s. They teach the employees contributed and helped evolve everything from how to scoop the ice who Amy’s is. cream and clean the store to the finance of the company. “So [Amy’s is] constantly evolving and changing. But I “Ideally, we would like to birth other think at its core it’s been the same. Our mission statement is entrepreneurs that can go out and start to make people’s day. And all of their own business,” Simmons said.

It’s unique in the sense that it is kind of like a franchise.

34 Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem

Photo of Amy’s Ice Creams store in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Paul Joseph, Flickr, 2010.)

Alli Thomas, a manager at Amy’s Ice Creams in Austin, believes that at its core, Amy’s Ice Creams has stayed local, and that’s what makes it unique. People that grew up in Austin and tourists coming to visit the city would rather eat at a local business.

Amy’s Ice Creams also gives out free ice cream from around 4 to 8 p.m. once a year to give back to the community and show their appreciation. It happens sometime in January, but it didn’t happen this year because of COVID-19.

Harry Potter ice cream flavors at Amy’s Ice Creams. (Photo courtsey of Amy’s Ice Creams.)

“So when someone comes from out of state, I think we have a leg up on them. Because, you know, we’re from Austin,” Thomas said. Thomas says that working for Amy’s isn’t like working for Olive Garden or a non-local place. She loves that it’s local and supports the community and Austin as a whole. Scoopers at Amy’s doing tricks with the ice cream. (Photo courtsey of Amy’s Ice Creams.)

People are still going to be able to see more of Amy’s in the future, maybe not outside of Texas, but they will still be able to see this special product evolving.

Large ice cream cone turned into a graphic. (Photo courtsey of Pixabay.)

“So that’s always really fun to kind of give back to the community and show our customers that we appreciate them as much as they appreciate us,” Thomas said.

Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem 35

Get Dessert (Y) Top 4 dessert places in Austin with descriptions, graphics, and price ranges. Get ready for the sweet ride!

By: Mariam Taha

Dessert Place 1: Gourdough’s Big. Fat. Donuts. With its famous unique donuts, Gourdough’s has three locations in Austin. Gourdough’s Big. Fat. Donuts. has a food truck location which offers a smaller variety of donuts, and some brick and mortar locations that offer many different kinds of savory and sweet donuts, like doughnut burgers, sandwiches, and entrees on top of doughnuts, as well as plain appetizers and salads. If you’re looking for a crazy doughnut place with true Austin culture, you need to visit Gourdough’s Big. Fat. Donuts. Best dessert there: “Blackout” donut which is served with chocolate icing, brownie batter, brownie bites, and chocolate chips.

Dessert Place 2: Lick Honest Ice Creams Founded by Anthony and Chad, Lick Honest Ice Creams has the most “honest ice creams” in Austin. The ice creams are made with a twist, with its ingredients coming from diary farms in central Texas, and all of the syrups to waffle cones are made fresh in the Lick kitchen. The menu consists of traditional flavors like vanilla and chocolate, but also has mixes of a variety of different flavors from coffee with cream to cilantro lime to roasted beets and fresh mint; there are also many vegan and dairy free options available. Whether it’s summer or winter, Lick Honest Ice Creams is the place to go. Best dessert there: “Texas Sheet Cake” which combines a swirl of decadent chocolate-pecan icing with delicate chocolate ice cream.

36 Austin, A Not So Hidden Gem

“Blackout”

Photo Courtsey of Mirna Taha 2021.

Dessert Place 3: Churro Co. One of the number one Mexican Churro places in Austin is Churro Co. which was founded by two friends from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, in 2013. The menu at Churro Co. offers a different variety of churros from traditional ones to ones with a crazy twist. Churro Co. doesn’t only offer churros, but many amazing Mexican drinks, like Mexican hot chocolate. So if you’re looking for a taste of Mexican Churros with a twist, Churro Co. is the place to go! Best dessert there: “Campfire Churros” which are tossed in graham cracker crumbs and topped with Mexican chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and toasted marshamallows.

“Texas Comfort” Churro on a bench infront of Churro Co. food truck.

Dessert Place 4: Tiny Pies Having just three locations in Austin, Tiny Pies is a mother-daughter duo restaurant that makes some of the most scrumptious pies. The pies aren’t the usual pies you would see, but miniature ones that you can hold and eat while just walking down the street. The menu ranges from savory to sweet pies, and breakfast pies to take and bake pies. They also offer awesome drinks, and standard sized pies. Homesick for grandma’s pies? Just go to Tiny Pies, and they offer them to you the exact same way, but miniature. Best dessert there: The best pies are the miniature pies, and some of the favorites are Sweet Potatoe Pecan, Sweet Texas Pecan, Apple, and Key Lime Pie.

Sources:

- “The Most Outrageous Dessert Shops in Austin, Texas,” theculturetrip.com, Emma Fleming, 9 February 2017. - “Best Dessert Places in Asutin, Tx,” Yelp.com. - “Gourdough’s 9 Most Instagrammable Donuts: Ranked,” Kxan.com, Kate Salkowitz, 14 June 2019. - “20 Best Desserts in Austin,” FemaleFoodie.com, Brooke Eliason. - “About Tiny Pies,” Tinypies.com, Amanda and Kit.

A ANot Gem 37 37Austin, ll Austin, NotSo SoHidden Hidden Gem