Adventurist by LASA Ezine

Advent ur ist An Insiders' Guide to Austin Austin's Great Outdoors Biking in Austin Austin's Major Festivals and Events Exploring Austin's Art Scene A Taste of Austin

Fall 2020

Let t er f r om t he edit or s Dear Readers, We at Adventurist are excited to showcase the many charms that our city of Austin has to offer. From adventure-packed nature trails, to stimulating arts and music, and culinary delights at every turn, our city has an abundance of opportunities for locals and visitors alike. In our magazine, we highlight some of Austin?s most prized gems. We will take you through the city?s extensive network of hiking and biking trails, unique al fresco and restaurant dining experiences, and venues showcasing Austin?s creative and sporting culture. Through extensive interviews with local Austinites making a difference in our city?s culture, we provide an insider?s view of our vibrant city. As part of the process, we learned about some hidden gems that we are excited to share with you. We hope to inspire you to put Austin high on your travel bucket list, and our city welcomes you on your next adventure. Welcome to Austin!

The Aust in Texas mural is locat ed on Guadalupe st reet and is one of t he many murals t hat Aust in has t o offer. Photo by A Taste of Koko

Tabl e of Cont ent s 06 MEET THE EDITORS 08 SPOTLIGHTING AUSTIN'S OUTDOORS By Anika Patel 12 DISCOVERING AUSTIN'S TRAILS By Anika Patel 14 CYCLING IN AUSTIN By Owen Osborn 18 LOCAL CYCLING IN AUSTIN By Owen Osborn 19 CYCLING FACTS By Owen Osborn 20 AUSTIN'S 2020 EVENTS By Efrain Gorostieta-Jaimes 24 W HERE ARE YOU GOING TO JAM? By Efrain Gorostieta-Jaimes

26 EXPLORE AUSTIN ART By Bo Wang 30 10 AUSTIN INSTAGRAMMABLE MURALS By Bo Wang

31 W HAT THE KIND OF ART YOU LIKE SAYS ABOUT YOU By Bo Wang

32 AUSTIN'S FOOD SCENE By Jared Reyes 36 6 BEST RESTAURANTS IN AUSTIN By Jared Reyes 37 W HAT IS YOUR TASTE? By Jared Reyes Cover, Back Cover, and Inside Cover Graphics by Anika Patel

MEET t he edit or s Efrain Gorostieta-Jaimes is the layout editor for The Adventurist. He ensures that the magazine layout is correctly organized and laid out properly. He also ensures that all the pages go along as a whole body of work. Efrain currently attends the Liberal Arts and Science Academy located in Austin, Texas. Efrain enjoys indulging in music both modern and old school,Outside of these things though he enjoys going to things like music festivals and other large events in Austin and hopes you see the importance of these events to Austin as he does.

Bo Wang is the copy editor for The Adventurist: The Insider Guide to Austin. She ensures that there are no mistakes in the text and that it is near perfect. Bo currently attends the Liberal Arts and Science Academy based in Austin, Texas. In her spare time, Bo enjoys photography, listening to music of all genres, and can also be found doing various art projects. She also loves discovering new places in Austin and hopes everyone can see how beautiful Austin is like she does.

Anika Patel is a first-year student at LASA high school, and leads the creative process for the development of the design and layouts. She also is the fact check editor, ensuring that the content is accurate and factual. In her spare time, Anika enjoys swimming and running, and pursuing her passion for the violin. She is a member of the LASA swim team and orchestra. Outside of school, Anika enjoys spending time outdoors with her friends and family. She hopes you love the city of Austin as much as she does.

Jared Reyes is the content editor for The Adventurist: Insider to Austin. He is responsible for making sure all parts of the magazine match the style and theme and for rewriting or editing the magazine. Jared currently attends the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin, Texas. W hen he is not editing magazines or attending school, he enjoys playing Soccer and video games. He also enjoys walking his small dog through the neighborhood. He hopes you enjoy the beautiful city of Austin.

Owen Osborn is the ASF editor for The Adventurist: The Insider Guide to Austin. He checks that all ASF pieces in the magazine meet the quality standards he has set in place. He currently attends The Liberal Arts and Science Academy in Austin, TX. W hen Owen isn't working on The Adventurist, he enjoys spending his free time playing football and working on improving himself. He hopes you enjoy the magazine and his favorite spots in Austin!

spot l ight ing

Aust in's

Out door s

By Anika Patel

eep in the heart of Texas lies Austin, a bustling capital city known for its live D music, food trucks, and cultural scene, set against the backdrop of a captivating landscape. From panoramic views, native wildflowers, to diverse wildlife, Austin is truly an urban playground. Visitors will appreciate the abundant natural beauty that can be found at every twist and turn in Texas? lively capital city. W ith year-round sunshine and extensive natural landscape, Austin provides the perfect setting for outdoor fun. Visitors to Austin should have no trouble getting close to nature.

Mayfield Park Photo by Anika Patel

Nat ure Oases W it hin Easy Reach Something that makes Austin so unique is the extensive network of trails that crisscross its otherwise urban landscape. The centrally located Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail is a gem in the middle of the city. The trail stretches around Lady Bird Lake from Mopac all the way east past I- 35 to Pleasant Valley, with access points scattered around the downtown area. ?It offers lots of access and connectivity to our citizens, which is really cool. I think it is pretty spectacular that we have this 10- mile loop

trail, with this lake, right in the middle of our city. Everyone can get to it easily and enjoy it,? said Heidi Anderson, CEO of the Austin Trail Foundation. The trail offers activities to suit every interest, including hiking, biking, running, kayaking, and paddleboarding. The expansive trail network stretches to the northernmost and southernmost parts of Austin. Up north, the Walnut Creek Trail is another beautiful, well- constructed trail. At this spot, paved trails lead up to an unex-

pected waterfall, which offers an opportunity to cool off on a hot Austin day. Visitors with families will feel welcomed by the gentle, paved slopes, which are stroller and pet friendly. The Walnut Creek Trail is also an American Disabilities Association accessible location, making it a good option for visitors with disabilities. Stretching from central to south Austin, the Violet Crown Trail is a 3.8- mile trail that connects the lush greenbelt to the Lady Bird Johnson W ildflower Center. It is a more technical trail with

slopes leading down to ravines, making it suitable for more experienced hikers. For those seeking respite from the hustle and bustle of the city, one is never too far from a peaceful nature haven. Just a few minutes drive from downtown, yet worlds away, lies the state botanical garden and arboretum, Lady Bird Johnson W ildflower Center. Considered one of Austin?s crown jewels, the W ildflower Center spans five acres of native plants and landscapes, which provide opportunities for research into the cultivation and preservation of central Texas plants. According to Minnette Marr, a Conservation Botanist and Research Associate at the Lady Bird Johnson W ildflower Center, the gardens are owned by the University of Texas at Austin and provide sanctuary for more than 900 species of native plants. The plants are organized into various themed gardens.

Nat ive and Exot ic Flora and Fauna Nature enthusiasts visiting Austin?s outdoors will discover native Texas flora and fauna, and a few unexpected surprises. The Lady Bird Johnson W ildflower Center showcases plants that you are not likely to see in other places. ?We have an amazing collection of cacti from all over Texas. For instance, there is a plant called Anacacho Orchid Tree --it?s not an orchid-it only grows in one mountain range in Southwest Texas. We have it here on site and it is absolutely beautiful,? said Marr. On any given day, you are likely to see different things depending on the time of day. Marr said, ?Late in the afternoon, the woodland garden is one

of my favorite places to be. If you?re here during the day, you won?t see very many birds, butterflies, or snakes there. Late in the afternoon is really special. The wildlife just comes out. I?ve even seen bobcats there. It is really special.?

A monarch visits the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Photo by Anika Patel

If you?re lucky, you may see Athena, the W ildflower Center?s resident great horned owl. Athena has been raising her young owlets high above the park entrance for the past 10 years, and visitors delight in catching a glimpse of the elusive bird. Visitors to Austin?s trails are bound to run into some wildlife. ?You can see anything from coyotes and foxes to owls and ducks. There are also all kinds of smaller insects. Anything that is native to Austin is probably in this space. We have such a strong natural environment that you see a lot of wildlife in the areas,?said Anderson. In addition to helping to expand and beautify Austin?s trails, the Trail Foundation devotes time to preserving natural habitats. Staff at the Trail Foundation work tirelessly to replace invasive species with native plants such as yuccas, cacti, grasses, and cypress trees. Tree lovers can participate in a virtual scavenger hunt at the Hike and Bike Trail to identify and learn interesting facts about native Austin trees.

For those seeking more exotic wildlife, Austin?s Mayfield Park is sure to please. Though Austin isn?t the first place that comes to mind when you think of peacocks, a fortuitous gift to the owners of the Mayfield estate brought the exotic birds to Austin in 1930. Today, descendants of those birds reside at Mayfield Park. Visitors can stroll through the grounds, taking in the beautiful koi pond, unique flora, and of course, peacocks! The park brings a sense of serenity and calm, in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of Austin. ?It is very special to people, and they come from all over the world to see Mayfield Park. People have told me that they would come here and read a book and do all of those things that you can do when you?re out in nature,? said Karen Cannati, who served as Lead Council for Mayfield Park. Mayfield Park has a way of making people happy and is truly a labor of love. ?I love watching the children and the fact that people are very very respectful and that the people who come are very cognitive of the specialness of it, and they teach that to their children. It is a very special and peaceful place. It?s amazing to see the people who owned it and the love that they put into it,? said Cannati.

Nat ural Beaut y in Every Season Austin?s natural beauty is on display every season, which is why it makes a great yearround travel destination for people seeking the great outdoors. The hiking trails are accessible throughout the year. providing recreational opportunities to suit a range of interests and abilities. Anderson recom-

mends hitting the trails in spring, fall, or winter, and avoiding peak summer months that make long hikes too difficult. " We ar e ver y f or t unat e t o have such a beaut if ul l andscape. We have beaut if ul hil l s, t he beaut if ul w at er , amenit ies w it h Bar t on Spr ings, Lady Bir d Lake, and Lake Aust in. Our cit y or ganical l y l ends it sel f t o be an out door pl aygr ound." - Heidi Anderson, CEO of Austin Trail Foundation

To see Austin?s peacocks at their finest, Cannati recommends visiting Mayfield Park from February through May. That is the peacocks' mating season, and the males? feathers are on full display. At the Lady Bird Johnson W ildflower Center, different gardens Flowers in full bloom at the Lady Bird shine in Johnson Wildflower Center Photo by Anika Patel different seasons. Spring and summer are particularly wonderful seasons, and visitors come from miles to view the changing landscapes. ?In spring, my favorite place is in the formal gardens. Once we get good rains in late winter or early spring, that is when the bluebonnets will start to flower. In summer, my favorite is the family garden. It is really nice out there with the waterfall. I think that is really special,?said Marr.

Discover ing Aust in's Tr ail s

CYCLING IN AUSTIN

Highlight ing Aust in's Cycling Communit y By Owen Osborn

Phot o by Jim Daniels

Left to right with orange accents: Lydia Brough, Caitlin White, Chrissy OylerWomen's team at the 2019 Davy Crockett Classic, Crockett, TX. Photo by Jim Daniels

From our famous hike and

when the conditions are bike trail to being the home challenging. That said, when of Lance Armstrong, cycling I can, I will race stage races, is a huge part of Austin. which combine multiple There is a great culture events across disciplines surrounding cycling, which " Event ual l y my r oommat e and add a layer to the is intensified by the bought a r oad r acing bike and tactical side as you are amazing landscape of looking not only to win t al ked me int o giving t he Austin. spor t a pr oper go af t er t hat individual events but to build a lead in either it j ust st uck." Recently, cycling has been a hot topic in Austin, and - David Comer, Violet Crown President points or time across the series,?said Comer. David Comer the president of Violet Crown is all for it. Here he is talking about cycling in Austin. ?I started riding mountain bikes for fun while I was in grade school. In college, I started riding my bike to class and work.? Comer said. ?Eventually my roommate bought a road racing bike and talked me

into giving the sport a proper go after that it just stuck.? Comer proves that a great way to get started is to

join a club or team. The cycling community has open arms to everyone. ?I like competing in road races because the long distances and varied terrains usually call on a rider to be good at a diverse range of skills. I love it when the racing is especially hard or

W hen asked about how much practice it takes to compete for an event, Comer said, ?That depends a lot on the event, road cycling has a few common styles of competition which suit different abilities (road races, time trials, and criteriums being the

most popular). Every race also has different unique challenges. The best riders change the way they are practicing depending on the events they have ahead. A lot of people start competing when they are riding 5-10 hours a week while top-level amateurs often ride 10-20 hours/ wk. Professionals will generally ride 30+ hours/ wk.? ?W imberley (is my favorite cycling route.) It takes you west of Austin down to Dripping Springs where you can stop for a coffee or cake at Thyme and Dough before making your way down River Road to W imberly. Just outside the town, you'll climb the feared hill on Fulton Ranch Rd. (aka. "The Man

" A l ot of peopl e st ar t compet ing w hen t hey ar e r iding 5-10 hour s a w eek w hil e t op -l evel amat eur s of t en r ide 10-20 hour s/w k. Pr of essional s w il l gener al l y r ide 30+ hour s per w eek"

Jim Daniels at the Tour des Fjords. Photo by Violetcrowncycling instagram

Comer. However, if that feat seems too massive there for you right now there are always other places to cycle like Austin's famed Hike and Bike trail and many other trails in the city.

- David Comer, Violet Crown President

Maker") as you make your way over to San Marcos. There you can stop to cool down with a dip in the river on a hot day before you make your way back north to Austin. All in, it is a challenging but rewarding route. It was the first century (100 miles) ride I ever did, and I've even been able to race portions of the course over the years,? said

On the other side of cycling, you have your average non-competitive cyclist like David Arizmendi. He is an Austin local with a laid back personality and a chill attitude on life and

David Comer at the 2019 BS Brewing Series, Seguin, TX. Photo by Robert Jagitsch

the world around him. Arizmendi has lived in Austin for 16 years and has been cycling for six of those years. He considers himself a casual cyclist and he is a member of Bike Austin. ?I am a member of Bike Austin because they are a nonprofit organization that does a lot of work for the bicycling community. We are not going on any rides during COVID so I've been going on a couple of more casual social rides.? Arizmendi explained. W hen asked how he got into cycling, Arizmendi said, ? I was a runner and I injured myself so I needed to find a sport that was less weight-bearing on my knees. I like to exercise outside which is why I used to run so when I got injured it seemed like the most similar sport.?. Truly anyone of all shapes and sizes can start cycling and not worry about being judged in any way, the cycling community loves all people. ?Sometimes I wish I was on a professional team, but honestly I just want to keep it about

having fun,?he said. ?Like one time we rode for three days straight and camped at night... It was tough on the body but man, for the mind and spirit it was one of the best experiences of my life,?said Arizmendi. ?Through the Texas Hill country (is my favorite place to cycle). I normally just ride places from my house because I don't have a truck to tow my equipment, but on this ride, I joined a group that took our bikes up on a trailer. It was perfect spring weather, but you can't always count on that in Texas.? ?(My favorite memory from cycling was) one time on a group ride, we rode around to different tacos stands and trailers around Austin," said Arizmendi. "There were so many surprises that day- from the riders who wore costumes to the tacos spots I did not know about, but mostly the conversations with fellow riders- on and off the road.? Arizmendi truly found his love for cycling that day.

David Comer at the 2019 Tulsa Tough, Tulsa, OK. Photo by Jim Daniels

Local Cycl ing in Aust in Gr aph ics by Ow en Osbor n

Cycl ing Fact s

Aust in's 2020 Event s By Efrain Gorost iet a-Jaimes

2021 SXSW online poster. Photo by SXSW

A s the old saying goes,

reopen. Many had chal-

ers, as well as anyone in-

everything

lenges finding a new and

terested in the festivals

Texas, Austins events are

safe platform to hold their

offerings. I had the oppor-

Austins

events causing these clo-

tunity to talk to their Con-

grand selection includes

sures, devastating many

ference

music festivals, conven-

attendees.

Manager, Julia Shatilo, and

tions,

educational

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discuss the event as well

events as well. The city?s

the events have decided to

as its handlings of their

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switch their event from

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physical to a new fully on-

When inquiring about the

the ame message, to share

line experience for their

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a common interest.

attendees to have a great

expectation Shatilo said,

Due to COVID-19, many of

experience while staying at

?We're currently working

these events have had to

home. One of these events

on a more compact and

sadly close their doors and

is SXSW EDU, an educa-

focused program, moving

hope for the virus to slow

tional festival made for

from 4 days to 3 days,

down before it is safe to

educators, life long learn-

and featuring a smaller

bigger

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and

Programming

amount of sessions.? she

cess sessions, browse ex-

event buzz going around

added, ? We're excited to

hibitors, and connect

and give attendees a nice

reimagine the parts of our

new ways, all optimized for

and comfortable but still

event that make SXSW EDU

a digital environment.? This

very much enjoyable expe-

unique like our films, performances,

com petitions,

exhibitions,

and

networking- all for a virtual experience.? The event will run on an online platform and will enable the attendees to join in on the event fun as they would

a public

space. Shatilo added, ?Attendees will be able to ac-

rience from the com fort of

" w e'r e w or king har d t o br ing t he SXSW spir it t o individual s w hil e st il l connect ing and coming t oget her as a communit y. "

their own home.

- Julia Shatilo, Conference Programming Manager

sion is how we can recreate

is sure to still keep the

Nothing comes without a challenge or two and this event was no exception. Shatilo

mentioned,

?The

hardest thing about pivoting that to an online verthat magic in a unique and exciting

way,

especially

when we are spending so much of our time online and on devices right now.? This wasn?t the only challenge

overcome,

things like social interactions

between

people

wouldn?t be the same since the physical connection is lost. ?The most challenging thing about planning thus far has been thinking about how we ensure the spontaneous

connections

that

SXSW EDU is so well known for in session rooms, hallways, and social events,?

Julia Shatilo. Photo by Hannah Sager

said Shatilo. Through the many chal-

Launch Competiton, housed by the Walton Family Foundation, at SXSW EDU 2019. Photo by Holly Jee

lenges, the people behind

where people not only have

and that they had some

SXSW EDU did not let it hin-

the ability to meet one an-

fun, we'll be happy!? Shatilo

der their love for education

other

said.

and sharing it with the citi-

meetings are encouraged

zens in Austin. ?While noth-

and are fun experiences.?

ing will be able to fully re-

Austin might seem like just

place the in-person experi-

another city, but it?s truly

ence, we've been hard at

unique

work making sure that the

share their creativity and

event will be as im mersive

hobbies on a large scale.

as possible.? Shatilo said, ?A

?When it comes to events,

lot of people have been so

everyone

isolated

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unique way of experiencing

home this year, and it's re-

them and finding meaning,

ally important that we can

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create

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working

environment

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those

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Source : Austin Festivals Guide

Levitation - Levitation is a psychedelic rock festival. It includes concerts from many rock artists in a variety of styles. They pride themselves in creating a walkable, intimate and community- focused event and are hoping to be able to continue doing so.

SXSW - This local event showcases things like independent films, gaming and upcoming developers, and upcoming and established musicians.

Bod

Wher e ar e you going t o j am? Tr y our sel ect l ist f r om an Aust in l ocal 24

By Ef r ain Gor ost iet a-Jaimes

Rode Austin - This fun outdoors Austin event holds many things like animal entertainment, bull ridding competition's and so much more. Not to mention the fair that holds many delicious fair foods and spontaneous rides. .

ACL - The Austin city limits festival offers a full six day weekend of delicious food, groovy tunes, and sets of art, all against the beautiful Austin sky line.

EXPLORE AUSTIN ART By Bo Wang

n a city of ?weird,? it is not surprising to find a large array of arts. W hile Austin?s art scene is not as well-known as its music, film, and food offerings, the city does hold a fascinating showing of all sorts of art no matter where one looks.

Austin has seen a growth in popularity because of its variety of food, music venues, a wide array of parks, ever-growing tech opportunities, and an overall appealing culture. It is also home to a vibrant art community, serving as a haven for all sorts of artists, which is evident throughout the city.

Between the museums, galleries, studios, and art parks, Austin has well demonstrated its commitment to the arts. Kelly Rettig, owner of The Art Garage, has lived in Austin for as long as she can remember, and is no stranger to how artistic Austin is. ?People do associate art and music with Austin, as being somewhere that progresses, is interesting, and supportive of creative endeavors,? Rettig said. ?We are so fortunate to have a vibrant art community, and there is so much support for artists, which is super important.? Even people who have only lived in Austin for a couple of years, such as the Blanton Museum?s PR manager, Penny Snyder, can tell how big an impact Austin?s art community makes on the city. ?Austin?s definitely interesting because it's kind of known as being a creative city and especially associated with food, art, music, and film. The arts have kind of been growing for the last few years and are becoming more apparent and spread in the city; it's always existed but now it's growing in a new way alongside the other creative industries that Austin was known for in the twentieth century,? Snyder said. ?I think people are driven to Austin because it?s

Thomas Glassford, Siphonophora , 2016, rebar, polyurethane foam, base coat cement, and paint, 501 x 192 x 130 in., Blanton Museum of Art, The University of Texas at Austin, Purchase through the generosity of The Moody Foundation, 2017

Photo by the Blanton Museum

The Love From Austin mural is located on the side of Prima Dora and a cute place to take photos after shopping Photo by A Taste of Koko

creative and cool, maybe not thinking of visual arts first but there is so much to find here and a lot of great work happening. Museums such as the Blanton, the Mexic-Arte downtown, and Laguna Gloria, all contribute to that, and there are just a lot of amazing artists in town who are reaching really high levels of production and awareness.? The University of Texas at Austin houses the Blanton Museum of Art, one of the largest university art museums in the United States, with almost 190,000 square feet devoted to showcasing all sorts of art favorites from many time periods. ?We are the only collecting museum, so we?re the only place that?s thinking of how to preserve art long-term, and how to assemble a collection that?s diverse and represents history as well as our contemporary time.? Snyder explained. ?We have 20,000 works to pull from, probably fifty to a hundred of those are on view any one time, and they move around all time, so just being able to see that all that art at once, as well as we have traveling exhibitions, sometimes we curate using our own collections, sometimes we

galleries that come to mind when thinking of artistic locations here, but I also think of the sculptural parks we are lucky to have.? Rettig said. ? There is so much street art, and cool graffiti going on on the bridges over the river downtown. There are so many public art places that we have all over downtown and throughout Austin, and all of them contribute to Austin?s art community.?

" Ar t is par t of Aust in?s per sonal it y" -Rettig, owner of the Art Garage curate our own collections using other people?s collections, and then sometimes we accept traveling shows, which are organized by other museums and other places. A couple of examples of those are the Contemporary African Design Exhibition, Jeffery Gibson, as well as other multimedia works, and we also brought an Australian Aboriginal contemporary painting show; so it?s really the only place in town that you can see that breath of art. We have a pretty robust exhibition program which means there?s always something new to see. If you come every three months then you get to see an entirely new show.? Museums like the Blanton are not the only artistic thing that Austin has to offer. ?There are so many museums and

W hen outsiders think of important parts of Austin, art is often overlooked. But as people step foot into the city, it is obvious that art is a staple of Austin culture. ?For people to come here and see the vibrant mural culture, a lot of public outdoor sculpture gardens that we have like the Umlauf, as well as the City of Austin?s public art programs, and the East Austin?s Studio Tour, not forgetting other artists that exhibit smaller galleries, such as Icosa,?Snyder added. Even people who claim to not like art can find something enjoyable about the art in Austin. ?Anyone and everyone can absolutely enjoy art in some shape or fashion, whether it's seeing it, making it, or supporting it,? Rettig said firmly. Sometimes it?s harder to find art-related things if someone is pickier about what they like, or not sure what they are interested in. ?I think there?s a lot going on here that sometimes doesn?t get enough exposure if you?re not super tuned in to the

arts community, but I really love the work that places like art galleries at Black Studies are doing, Mexic-Arte, George Washington Carver Museum, and there are kind of culturally specific that are organizations that are doing some really cool work in town, so I think there is definitely something for everyone here, and I truly mean that, but you do have to look a little bit.?Snyder said. Austin?s art doesn?t just draw other people in from the outside. There are so many amazing connections within the community itself, always providing new and exciting experiences. ?[As an artist], there are so many opportunities, art itself is a great way to connect with other artists. I just did a collaboration with Gerardo Rodriguez, and I?m continuously looking for ways to connect and support other artists. One of my favorite parts of being an artist is the connections between the community, whether its people or schools that are near (the Art Garage) or preschoolers coming in and then they stay with us for years until they are in high school and bringing their friends in

The "HI, HOW ARE YOU?" frog mural by Daniel Johnston is one of America's most famous pieces of street art. It perfectly captures Austin's unique culture and music scene. Photo by A Taste of Koko

for art dates.?Rettig said. This year, it has been tougher for the art community to connect with COVID. ?It?s definitely different now that there?s COVID, the Blanton has been open since mid-August, but at a really lessened capacity and all of our programming is happening online, but we definitely did [connect] in the past where it was a place for the community to gather, especially with our programming, ranging from music

to artist talks to lectures by curators, art historians, and things like that, as well as just our exhibition openings, we have public opening celebrations for our shows, and so those really do function as places for people to run into each other, especially with artists that are interested in certain things going on; I really love the community feel to that,? Snyder said. ?And to some extent we?ve definitely gotten to replicate some of that with our online programming, we have a monthly

Installation view, Blanton Musuem of Art, The University of Texas at Austin Photo by The Blanton Museum

Installation view, Blanton Musuem of Art, The University of Texas at Austin

Photo by The Blanton Museum

series called ?Curated Conversations?on Zoom, which is a Q and A program with creators, artists, or other folks in the art world in Austin and beyond. I think that really we just really provide a space for people to see art, to talk about art, and to connect with other people that are interested in art.? Even with Austin being so artistic, being able to pinpoint the exact reason proves a lot harder than expected as everything weaves together beautifully.

in Austin is artistic in some fashion,? Snyder said. No matter the reason why Austin is so artistic, there is no denying that art is a big part of this multifaceted city. ?Art is part of Austin?s personality,? Rettig said. ?Some cities have art as part of their city too, but I think Austin does a great job of having a nice mix of fun and approachable art as well as more serious art, and everything in between.?

?It?s self-perpetuating, you have a city that supports the art and you create more creative artistic people, and the cycle continues,? Rettig said.

This COVID-19 themed mural can be seen from the Mexic-Arte Museum, which presents traditional and contemporary Mexican and Latino art and culture. Photo by A Taste of Koko

Apart from creative people, there are numerous places to fuel their passions. ?Even though I?m not really from here, UT has something to do with it, I think having the Ransom Center, the art galleries at Black Studies, the Blanton, alongside other things all on one campus is definitely important, and UT is definitely a powerhouse. A lot also happens off-campus, and I think everywhere

This 10 story mural, Tau Ceti, is by artist Josef Kristofoletti, and is the tallest artwork in Austin. It creates an incomparable experience Photo by A Taste of Koko

Installation view, Blanton Musuem of Art, The University of Texas at Austin Photo by The Blanton Museum

Aust in's Food Scene A l ook inside t he cul inar y w or l d of Aust in

Photo by Ryna Myers

By Jared Reyes

Ver acr uz Al l Nat ur al

Veracruz All Natural's famous Migas tacos

Food!

It is universally loved, and has

our country and shared their culture with

thousands of shapes and sizes! However

us! This merging of cultures has had the

one of the most popular types of food in

effect of introducing us to some amazing

the Austin area is Mexican cuisine. Since we

restaurants. One of which is very popular

share our border with our neighboring

here in Austin, Texas: Veracruz All Natural.

country, a lot of immigrants have come to

Veracruz All Natural's festive interior

Photos by: Ryan Myers

However, working for such a long time has not only made her a manager but has also helped shape her to be the person she is today ¨Working for Veracruz from a young age has shaped a lot who I am. I learned responsibility and work ethic. I learned things that I will be able to carry with me in the future.¨ said Mariscal. Be sure to visit this (not so) secret gem whenever you have the chance and order here famous migas tacos.

These locally famous food trucks are well known for having amazing breakfast tacos and great smoothies. Being known for having great food also comes with having lots of experience on the job. ¨I have been working for Veracruz All Natural for about ten years¨ said Lis Mariscal, the restaurant manager of one of the many Veracruz All Natural locations here in Austin.

¨being abl e t o l ead a t eam, and having a good ser vice t hat is smoot h sail ing is gr eat .¨ - Mariscal, Veracruz All Natural Manager

A ¨Veracruz All Natural¨ location in the Line Hotel Photo by Jared Reyes

Jo´s Cof f ee Everyone can appreciate a cup of a nice and warm cup of coffee. This is one of many items in Austin?s locally famous coffee shop ¨Jo´s Coffee¨s menu! Not only do they have great coffee they also have great breakfast tacos and also serve burgers. W hen interviewing Carolyn Garlock, a general manager for Jo´s Coffe who ¨started as a barista at Jo´s and through many, many years moved up to be the general manager¨ at their south congress location and Jo´s location at Saint Edward?s University. W hen asked why she had decided to work at Jo´s Garlock said ¨I Just recently moved to Austin and one of the best and easiest ways to get to settle into a new city is to work at a popular coffee shop¨.

After this question, we wondered what her favorite part of Austin was? She responded with ¨Its a beautiful city and there are a lot of things to do and enjoy, mostly like that it?s a big city with a small-town feel¨. After her telling us about Austin, we had asked her how this pandemic had affected her establishments. Garlock responded ¨Other than losing half our staff and adjusting to city guidelines we actually managed through the pandemic well since Jo´s is pretty much already set up as a grab and go café¨. This current pandemic has not really affecte Jo´s, however many other local restaurants and cafés were not so lucky. If you ever have a chance stop by at Jo´s Coffee and try one of their locally famous food, just remember to practice social distancing!

Photos by Jo´ s Coffee

6 best r est aur ant s in Aust in, Texas Tacos: Veracruz All Natural this food truck serves high quality food, does both breakfast and lunch, and is very well known in the Austin area. Barbecue: Franklin Barbecue Knows as one of the best barbecue places in Austin, which causes the lines to be insanely long, However it is definitely a must go. Every occasion: Jacoby?s Restaurant & Mercantile This restaurant is perfect for every occasion. the food is amazing and has an incredible ambiance Info by femalefoodie.com

Did You Know ? Here in Austin we have the largest urban bat company in north America! We still operate moonlight towers! We are one of the sunniest cities in America! Info by Culture Trip and KVUE(abc)

What is your t ast e? 1. Do you enjoy sweet over sour? 2. Do you enjoy a challenge? 3. Do you have a sweet tooth? 4. Are you adventurous? 5. Do you think you have a sweet personality? 6.Do you like to try new things out? 7. Do you consider yourself a social butterfly? 8. Do you consider yourself curious? 9. Do you enjoy volunteer? 10. Are you a thrill seeker? If you said YES to mostly EVEN # of questions than you might enjoy spicy foods! However if you said YES to more ODD # question you might like sweet foods better!

Graphics By Jared Reyes

come Visit Aust in, Y'Al l !