Arrowhead Films: Give Us a Shot A profile of one of Austin’s little known filmmakers
Texas Basketball Player Profiles
Profiles of the Texas Basketball players on the roster this year
Au Naturale: Whole Foods
Interviews with some of the Austin based store’s customers
Farmer’s Market
A day at Austin’s Barton Creek Farmer’s Market
Camille
Jacob
Camille is a crazy curious chameleon hyped up on caffeine. She enjoys spending time listening to music and getting off task after finishing work. This class has taught her that reading journalistic writing is much easier than writing it.
Lucy
Lucy likes to draw and speak japanese during e-zine. Her hobbies include drawing, horseback riding, reading, and archery. When asked which story she enjoyed writing about she said The Emerald.
Brett
Brett is a person who loves to be outside and play sports. He is an avid soccer and frisbee player. He also plays the sax in the LBJ band. He enjoys many types of music, his favorite being rap and R&B.
Cover and Photos by Brett G.
Jacob bleeds burnt orange. He is a die hard Longhorn football fan and a follower of the Texas basketball team. His favorite sport is football. He likes to play it and watch it on the weekends. His favorite subject is World Geography.
T H E AU STO N I A N TABLE OF CONTENTS
4: Letter to the Editor Section 1: Food 5-6: Your Favorite Local Sandwich Shop by Brett G. 7-8: Lean on Me by Camille F. 9-10: The Emerald by Lucy R. 11-12: Restaraunt Reviews by Brett G. Section 2: Culture 14-16: Food Carts by Lucy R. 17-18: Au Naturale by Camille F. 19-20: Arrowhead Films: Give us a Shot by Brett G. 21-24: Photo Essay by Lucy R. Section 3: Sports 30: Running with the Gazelles by Camille F. 31: Glen McNiel: Teacher, Parent. Coach by Jacob H. 32-33: The BCS National Championship by Jacob H. 34-35: 2010-11 Men’s Texas Basketball Profiles by Jacob H.
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Letter from the Editor Dear Readers, Welcome to the first issue of The Austonian. We are a source of elightenment and introduction to Austin and it’s amazing culture, foods, and sports. We hope that you enjoy this issue. This magazine is totally Austin and completely unique.
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Photos by Brett G. and Flicker
FOOD Page 5
Favorite Austin By: Brett G.
Music, talking and sandwich making floods every Thundercloud Subs. There is a certain hustle and bustle of a big city smushed into a quaint sandwich shop. The next time you run out to grab your favorite sub you might run into this the Austin feel of Thundercloud Subs. But sadly that scene might not last much longer because of chain sandwich shops moving in and putting the local businesses out of business. Local businesses in Austin beat out any chain restaurant in my book any day.
Thundercloud all 35 years it has been open and that is why it has been so successful for such a long period of time.
Thundercloud has been a local Austin sub-sandwich shop for over 30 years, so it must be good and good for you, right? The employees at Thundercloud slice, mix, and chop all of their ingredients daily, they also have their bread made and shipped to the stores daily as well. By making everything daily and using the freshest and finest ingredients from local farmers and grocers Thundercloud keeps their business completely local. As well as being a great local hot-spot for lunch, Thundercloud is also very healthy for you. If you are looking to see how many calories your favorite sub has you can visit their website. Having been so local, for so long in such a great city like Austin means that people must really like the sandwiches made at Thundercloud. Austin is a growing city with new restaurants and businesses opening everyday, which means competition is growing as well. As Austin keeps growing at the astounding rate it is people need to keep supporting their local favorites like Thundercloud or they will be put out of business. People have loved
Subway is a sandwich chain with 33,546 in 92 countries. It became a national franchise in 1974. Subway is the world’s largest sandwich chain. Everywhere you go you can get Subway. It is a worldwide chain restaurant that puts local sandwich shops out of business. When most people think of a place to go and grab a quick sub sandwich they think of Subway. People in Austin will start thinking more and more of Subway instead of Thundercloud because Subway is a gigantic company that spans thousands of miles and Thundercloud only has ten locations in central Austin. Compared to the number of locations Subway has in central Austin (50) Thundercloud seems like a little lemonade stand trying to compete with an HEB on a hot summers day. With Subway expanding on a massive scale people are finding it easier to go and just get a foot-long there and not care about the ingredients that go into their sandwich.
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Sandwich Shop Quiznos opened in 1987 and a mere 10 years later it was the third largest sandwich shop in the world behind Subway. The fact that there are two major sandwich chains that have many locations in Austin means more competition for the local shops. With subways and Quiznos all over the world the local sandwich shops are getting muscled out of their business and customers on the local scene. Having to compete against the worlds largest sandwich shop, that is Subway, Quiznos is rising in the ranks and expanding even more. By having so many locations in Austin along with Subway, they are competing not only with the local businesses but with other world wide chains. I acknowledge the fact that some people might say it is easier to just go out to a Subway or Quiznos and get lunch there than to go out of your way to go to a Thundercloud. This may be true for people who have a short lunch, but for all of those people who have time to drive to a Thundercloud location they should. Don’t let Subway and Quiznos take over lunch time. Buy your sandwiches locally and keep Austin weird and unique by supporting your local businesses.
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“lean on me” the case for weight loss lifestyle changes Camille F.
J
ennifer Hudson sits on a stool, showing off her new size. “I am winning at losing with Weight Watchers,” she says. Now many people will make a point on their to- do list to go and begin their “new life” with Weight Watchers. Sadly, most people will end up being unsuccessful, they will lose weight for a couple of weeks, then it all comes back. Here’s the truth, Ms. Hudson, and other successful weight-losers have supporters and take the initiative to exercise. So what? This is “what”, it’s not about the food, or the amount that you eat, it’s about surrounding
your life with the goal to lose weight and to keep it off. Yes, that’s right, a lifestyle change. When you live a world of constant weight watching and dieting it’s hard not to give into the all the diets and schemes that people claim to lose weight from. No matter how much food you eliminate from your diet you won’t be able to lose and keep off the weight. What are you to do if the diets are not working on their own? Mr. Joseph K. Murphy has the answer. During a study that involved couples in a weight loss support group couples that attended
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with their spouses kept the weight off longer than the people that came alone. This comes to show that having aid, whether its familial or just close friends can you eliminate from your diet you won’t be able to lose and keep off the weight. Why? Here’s my thoughts, when you can have someone that wants the best for you and will hold you accountable for your goals you feel like you have an obligation to go and exercise, or not eat dessert. Also, if you can talk to people about what you are doing and can rely on them to give you encouragement your esteem will be boosted, making your overall outlook on life a hundred times happier. Have you ever been in a position where you were really excited to do something, but after a while the feeling just wore off? Well, first of all, that’s procrastination, but really it can apply to weight loss significantly. At first you will be really excited to start losing weight and exercise, but after a while you’ll give in. The little voice in your head will whisper, “just this one time it will be okay” but that’s not true. A way to supersede these feelings is to find people who will keep you accountable for your goals and will make sure to stick to them. According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine “medical doctors, dietitians, and other allied health professionals” are ready to help you stick with your goals and to give you support. So there is now way that you will “stray far from the trail”. Isn’t that comforting? Now this brings up the fact that places like Weight Watchers actually do offer assistance and accountability while you use their products, but the main problem with this is the fact that the people who
give you support are getting paid to basically advertise and support their product. The most effective support will come from people who are with you all the time, that you can’t hide your indulging from. Ms. Hudson, as well as other successful weight losers have also taken part in daily exercise routines that also help them lose weight. The Journal of Pediatrics tested obese teenage girls that were currently dieting. They found that girls that exercised and dieted lost more weight than girls who just dieted. So? If you really want to lose weight exercise is going to help you 100%. Not only will you physically look better you will feel rejuvenated and emotionally healthier. After a while you will learn that you have more energy because of the exercise and just the weight that you’ve lost. So, if your ready, get set, and go! Weight loss is all about you! Feel inspired and get out there and be proud of who you are. With support and exercise you are guaranteed to lose more weight and to keep it off for a longer period of time. Change your lifestyle and you’re on your way to being the best you can be. In my view the best way for you to lose weight, do what I’ve repeated over and over again: change your lifestyle, change the way you view yourself and how other view you, find friends who will support you all the way, and finally, find the best exercise plan for you! If people believe in you, you are more likely to keep off the weight you lose from exercising, which will make you feel great. This is what Ms. Hudson did, yes, Weight Watchers is going to help get on track with your diet, but take the initiative to do other things to benefit you!
“The little voice in your head will whisper,” just this one time it will be okay”.
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The Emerald Story
& phot Lucy R o by .
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Y
ou’re in 1984, near the then nationally unknown city of Austin, Texas. You’re on a lonely, two lane road in Bee Caves, only a few cars going past every night. The only places around are a tamale restaurant, a hair-cutting, knife-sharpening tinker working out of a trailer, and a small, old cottage with walls made of dynamite cases. Now flash forward 26 years. It’s 2010, Austin is a major city, the road is a paved, four-lained highway, about 60 restaurants within a 1/2 mile radius, and the little cottage is now a fine-dinning Irish restaurant. This is The Emerald Restaurant, a fine dining establishment that has been serving the Austin, Bee Caves, and surrounding area for years. Over time it has made a name for itself, but it’s probably not what you would expect. The building is the same little old cottage, though granted it’s refurbished, with outside walls of stone, green trim around the roof, and red window panes in front of Irish lace curtains. Even though all it’s rooms have been converted to serve the purpose of the restaurant, it still holds onto it’s homey air. The owners, Paul Kinsella and his children, waste no space in the building. The living room and dinning room have been converted into the dining area, and the old kitchen is still use the way it’s builders intended, but the part that’s most fascinating is the one that doesn’t seem to serve a direct purpose to the restaurant-ly functions of the food itself. As you enter the restaurant, you pass through the front section. You stop in the wide, little room, and are greeted by Irish memorabilia from all sides. Hanging on the wall directly in front of you is a picture
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of Saint Patrick, with a very unique story behind it. Margret Kinsella (who began the restaurant), brought it on a trip back to her home in Ireland. She was just walking down a street, when she saw the picture hanging in a mans window, and knocked on the door to inquire if he would sell it. The man, thinking this was just some “yank” he could easily get a little extra cash from, told sure, if she had eighty five pounds. Being a true Irish-woman who found mementos of Good Ol’ St. Paddy lacking in the U.S., Marge left the house with a considerably lighter pocket and a fairly large portrait under her arm, despite the ridiculous price. But either the mans wife or a neighbor must have thought he was crazy. The same night, at the late hour of 10:00 pm, the he came to her house, wanting the picture back, full refund to her of course. But unfortunately for him, Marge owned the picture now, and it would take a lot more than 85 pounds to get it back from her. The story brings out some of the hidden character of the restaurant. It really helps to open up how the personalities of all the people behind the restaurant seeped into it, giving the Emerald Restaurant an air and feel sets it apart from many other restaurants of it’s class. All of the items in this room, from a copy of The Book of Kells on a pedestal to you’re left to, a large drawing of Ireland mapping out all the counties and the families that came from them on the back left wall, characterize how Margret loved her home and family, as well as continue to further elaborate on the restaurants story.
Photo by: Lucy Ryan
Photo By: Lucy Ryan
Margret Kinsella started the restaurant in 1984 with her husband Paul. The couple met in 1956, in Paul’s home of the Bronx, New York. Margret, who lived in Co. Mayo, Ireland at the time, was there on vacation with her family. By the time her family went back, Margret had fallen in love with Paul, and stayed behind with him. The two moved to near by New Jersey, were Paul got a job laying brick. But eventually the construction business went down, and when happens it tends to stay down for 2 to 3 years. Not being able to wait around, Paul and Margret decided to move to Florida. Before they made the trip, though, one of their daughters got a full scholarship to Lady of the Lake University, so they decided to see how Texas suited them. When they found out that the university had a branch in Austin, they came here. They settled down, Paul finding another construction job, and Margret taking her first job since their marriage managing the World of Tennis Diner, then the Santa Rita Diner at the UT student Union Center. The Emerald Restaurant was a still a fine dining restaurant before it changed hands, and the couple
used to eat there. One day, Paul heard that the lady who owned it wanted to sell. He told Marge, who’s reaction was a definite “lets buy it”. Paul, who had been in the restaurant business before as a dishwasher at City Island, said no at first, knowing it was an extremely tough business. But Marge was stubborn, and in 1981 they had purchased the land and house. The house itself started in 1933, and by then it was a fairly rundown old place. It took them three years to get money from the bank to fix it up because, as Paul Kinsella put it:
“. . . they look at you and they’re like ‘well ya got two heads’ and you’re out the next door.’”
“When you go into a bank and say ‘Hey, I wanna borrow money, I want to open a restaurant’ they look at you and they’re like ‘well ya got two heads’ and you’re out the next door.’” Paul’s experiences show how the restaurant business was (and still is today) a hard one, and that it’s difficult to make it unless you belong to a big chain. The bankers knew that, and didn’t want to invest for that reason. But eventually Paul and Margret got the money, and they got to work. The old wallpaper was replaced with sheet rock under new paper, the wiring was redone, the roof replaced, and they got new plumbing, a second bathroom, and new furniture.
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the wiring was redone, the roof replaced, and they dining wear and candle holders. The impeccably kind got new plumbing, a second bathroom, and new waitresses bring you complementary Irish soda bread furniture. They whole renovation took a total of four and trickle bread with butter, and you get a new months and twenty grand. Back then Austin wasn’t basket each time you finish the old one. The food is the big, thriving city it was today. The Emerald was heavy but delicious, and if it’s weight with the amazburied a little ways off an unpaved, two lained highingly generous portions weirds you out a bit, don’t way, Rosie’s Tamale House and a handy man working worry! any leftovers you have will not be boxed, on out of a trailer the only places anywhere close by. But no, but wrapped in a tinfoil swan! for you to take despite the odds and many ups and downs over the home. There’s even a live harpist on the weekends, years, the restaurant pulled through. Now the scene and great Celtic music playing during the week! The has changed dramatiatmosphere, the setting, the people, cally: Austin becoming well “She was the spark the food- the whole experience of known, restaurants springdining at the Emerald is well worth plug of this place, and ing up all over the place, the trip. and large shopping center she was well known . Unfortunately, Margret Kinsella is close by. passed away six years ago. . . she just had a way “If we were on the other “She was the spark plug of this side of 620, I would probplace, and she was well known . . . with people.” ably be a millionaire today.” she just had a way with people.” The sons cooked, the But even with Margret’s passing, her daughters waitress-ed, and through a conjoined children and husband continue on. The restaurant family effort the Emerald Restaurant is now a suchasn’t dimmed at all in it’s quality, the personality cessful fine dinning establishment, serving Irish and that seeped into it all those years staying strong, in European cuisine. The prices are high (but it’s “fine the walls, the tables, the pictures in front, and the dinning”, so what else would you expect?), so I won’t people who run it, keeping the Emerald Restaurant an recommend it for people with a tight budget. But utterly wonderful dinning experience. if you can, I definitely recommend you stop by! The cottage is adorable, and the interior makes you forget you’re still in Texas, with Irish lase covering the tables and soft lighting glinting off the shamrock-coated
n i t s u A BBQ in By: Brett G. Green Mesquite is Austin’s own local BBQ and bluegrass headquarters. They feature local bluegrass and country rock names and also some national stars. The Green Mesquite is located on Barton Springs road right next to P. Terry’s, another great Austin restaurant.When the people think of the Green Mesquite they think of Sholtz’s Garden, Hogan’s Heroes, dogs and kats, live music, great food, and great brewing. The County Line is known for having a pristine location on the lake out in the Hill Country. Everyday The County Line throws a couple racks of ribs on the smoker in preparation for the lunch and dinner crowds. The County Line is known for
their BBQ, while the Green Mesquite is known for their Bluegrass music and artists. When Jacob and I visited the Green Mesquite around lunch time the UT fans were getting their fill of great Texas BBQ before heading to the game. When we walked in we immediately felt the bluegrass and country rock feel with the wooden floors and oak tables. We ordered and got the 2 meat plate with sausage and ribs along with corn, pickles, beans, and bread. I would give the Green Mesquite an A- and the County Line an A+. Jacob would give the Green Mesquite an A-.
Poll Results: Green Mesquite 2(2%) The County Line 18(25%) Artz’s Rib House 9(12%) Rudy’s 5(7%) Stubb’s 1(1%)
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The Salt Lick
36(50%)
Culture Au Naturale p. 21-22 Pat Fries p. 23-24 Austin Food Carts p. 18-20 Farmers Market p. 2528
Photos by Flicker
Page 17
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Austin Food Carts By: By: Lucy Ryan Ryan Lucy
I
and trailers start to sound like a pretty nice idea.
know how good most of them are. But did you know that
and won’t have any reason to want to know how to start
if you wanted to go into the food business, it’s maybe
a food business. But don’t despair! There are many,
$100,000 cheaper to start with a trailer instead of a
many other things the food carts provide us with. Well,
building? In recent years, these food carts have been
besides the obvious- great food.
cropping up around Austin, benefiting their owners as
One remarkable thing about food carts in Austin is how
well their many grateful customers.
convenient they are. It’s not just the fact that for the
f you’ve ever been to a food cart in Austin, you already
As Mick Vann of The Austin Chronicle pointed out in his article, “Mobile Foods”, while starting with a food trailer can cost maybe 30K, it can be ten times as much to open a ‘real’ restaurant. Sure you have to get a licence and be inspected, but you’d have to do the
I know most (or all) of our readers will be kids, though,
“If you go to the trailer map provided by AustinFoodCarts. com . . . “
most part you can get your food faster than if you stopped at a cafe, it’s the location of most of them. If you go to the trailer map provided by AustinFoodCarts.com, you can see that the bulk of the food carts are stationed in downtown/central Austin, where many people go for either shopping or just hanging out. And the trailers aren’t’ just good for the Austinite: They’re great if you
same thing with a restaurant, and with a food trailer
have a tourist with you. If you want to show someone
the rules aren’t as strict, plus inspection takes less time.
the great sites around downtown-ish Austin, you could
Another plus for the carts is that you can change your
spend a whole day there and just stop at a food cart for a
location if necessary; they are mobile, after all. If you’re
brief lunch, then just go along with your tour.
not getting enough customers, you can just pack up and
Another great trait of the trailers is that they help keep
move a few streets down until business picks up. Add
the Austin spirit alive. Just get our tourist from the last
that to the fact that you don’t need as many employees,
obsentiae dentilia re am prorimis.
Photos by Flicker
paragraph, take them down do SoCo for the for an afternoon, and stuff ‘em full of cupcakes, crepes and BBQ. Or if that’s to hard, just read some tourist’s blog posts, such as the AAA Travel View one on “The Austin Food Cart Scene”. Right off the bat, the author starts with saying touring Austin food carts is “stepping away from the normal activities of reviewing hotels, restaurants, campgrounds, and attractions”, and when you have that followed by descriptions of tacos-in-cone and seventy flavors of shaved ice, you know the subject is out of the ordinary. Their uniqueness is also a good thing because Austin is a huge college town. Yes, most college kids will enjoy the fun places around town, so it would make sense to have cool eateries, but unfortunately there is a drawback to all the college kids; their visiting parents. No, I’m not saying parents are a bad bad thing themselves, it’s just that a lot of college towns have suffered from their presence. Okay, that still sounds pretty bad, so let me explain. When most parents come to visit their kids, all they want to do is, well, visit their kids. They aren’t going to care if they’re eating at a fun, out-there place, as long as they get to sit down and talk to they’re precious little Billy. As a result, the restaurant owners in many college towns will just cook food they think the parents will enjoy, and
“stepping away from the normal activities . . .”
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not spend their time on giving the place a fun vibe. Take College Station, for instance. Even though it’s the only vet school in the state, attracting many students, it seems to have zero fun places to eat. Sure, there is this really good Vietnamese place, but it’s not exactly fun. It’s the same with Ithaca, the home of Cornell University. Granted, I have only been there once, but when there I went around the street that was supposed to be “the main hangout” for the students; there was hardly anything to differentiate Ithaca from any other small town. But in Austin, among many other unusual spots, we have the food carts. Yes, we have amazing “regular” restaurants, Amy’s Ice Cream, Home Slice, Texas Chile Parlor, etc., but what’s great about the food carts is that there isn’t anything like them anywhere outside of the city (at least to my knowledge). So commonly thought of as messy, trashy places inhabited by sad bums who eat bad TV dinners and should avoided at all costs, trailers are generally looked upon with disdain, right? But after finishing this article, you should know better: In Austin just the opposite is true. Oh so sweetly, deliciously true.
A U N A T U A L Photos by Flicker
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Whole Foods has embraced the austin culture by making their store a great place to go and feel enlightened. by camille f. The dreadlocks are pulled up, the coffee is brewed, and the search for the best organic food is on. The sweaty runners, diehard hippies, and general Austinites are all engulfed into the Whole Foods culture. They are ready to explore the fascinating foods that are hard to find anywhere else. When you stand in the middle of this bustling store, you can’t help but notice people smiling and feeling uplifted. The local produce, fresh baked bread, grass- fed beef, and anything else a foodie might need is here. Whole Foods is obsessed with quality and bringing real, natural foods to their customers. After being in business for over 30 years and opening more than 270 stores nationwide, they must be doing something right. They will be opening 3 new stores in Austin and six more across US, Canada, and the UK contributing even more to the arising health food culture. Nearly all products are organic and natural, in fact they say that their “ mission [is] to be a grocery store featuring good, wholesome food” to the United States and the world. On the balcony of the flagship store, Lee and Skye are watching their little son play on the playground. They said that natural and organic foods help you “get sick less”, allowing you to have “better energy” and “mental clarity”, as well as leaving a “better footprint on the environment”. The couple were typical Whole Foods customers, conscious about what they eat and concerned about how they are affecting the environment. Whole Foods has created a culture where people like Lee and Skye can meet their goals of good health. The products at Whole Foods range from beans to sea vegetables, there is a constant assortment of just- picked, in- season produce that doesn’t contain pesticides or other harmful chemicals. The meats are fresh and grass fed. The cheeses and bread are for the true foodies. The incredible aromas that come from them are intoxicating. To top it off, they have a chocolatier and an assortment of small café areas to try some of Whole Foods’ specialties. Let’s talk about the foods that Whole Foods carries. Jade, a freshman at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School
(LASA), said that some foods that she couldn’t find anywhere else like “some Korean foods found such as a type of beans” are available at Whole Foods. Luxy, another LASA freshman said that “some specialty products [are found] there that aren’t anywhere” else. So not only does Whole Foods carry organic foods, they also carry unusual products. This variety of products leads to a diverse culture and atmosphere at Whole Foods. Jess, also a LASA freshman said that the culture at Whole Foods feels “relaxed, and free. It seems more like a community place than generic grocery stores.” Whole Foods strives to promote wholesome foods in a casual and creative atmosphere. Jason, a loyal customer, told me that he thought the culture of Whole Foods is “laid back and promotes environmental issues and overall awareness”. Jason was sitting outside with his dog and enjoying the beautiful weather, a good representation of the customers at Whole Foods. Though some people like the qualities that Whole Foods brings to Austin, others don’t. It’s “not convenient”, Scotty, a LASA freshman said, and for some that is true. You can get “healthy food from Central Market” he said. Central Market is Whole Foods’ main competition and allows you to experience healthy foods at a lower price, and offers free live music. When students were asked about whether the price of Whole Foods’ food reflects the quality many people felt like Jess, “the cost does tend to be a bit high, but the quality is also better”she said. “Our motto — Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet — emphasizes that our vision reaches beyond food retailing. In fact, our deepest purpose as an organization is helping support the health, well-being, and healing of both people — customers, team members, and business organizations in general — and the planet.” With Whole Foods’ specialty foods, diverse people, and casual culture, they reflect the feeling of Austin. These qualities will be carried through when Whole Foods opens new stores at the Hill Country Galleria, southwest Austin, and the Domain in Austin and across the US. All are scheduled to open in the next three years. Whole Foods is trying to make this truly Austin culture accessible to everyone.
“get sick less, better energy, mental clarity, better footprint on the environment”
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Arrowhead Films: Give us a Shot
By: Brett G.
Arrowhead films in South Austin is modern and compact. Their office is unlike the normal cubicles and closed doors, the space is filled to the brim with the “necessary” items to conduct a film business. The cameras and tripods along with other equipment is stacked and hung from the ceiling. There is a basketball hoop that sits at one end of the hallway back to the editing room. Their PS3 is in the editing room with the two big monitors and flat-screen T.V . If an average person were thinking of an office they would think of cubicles and not something like this. Pat Fries, director and the owner of Arrowhead films, is the model for a successful Austin business and also a successful film business. Pat has been all over the world filming for many different companies. He has also had some very life changing experiences that he couldn’t have had if he hadn’t been in the film business. He talked about how filming has changed his life in so many ways along with stories about the the people he has met. This was when Pat started working at NBC and ABC broadcasting as a reporter. He had graduated college with a journalism degree. He hated how he couldn’t put any input into the final product. “After I stopped working at the big corporations I found myself becoming really interested about the news and things I saw. That is probably how I find out about the majority of my stories and films, by being curious. After he said that he widened the picture and described how in every entrepreneur’s life or a person who may work for a big cooperation, there comes a time when what you want to do and what your employer wants are two completely separate things. “I had a dream to do programs that were uniquely mine, ones that reflected what I believed in and things I wanted. I couldn’t do those things when I was working for someone else.” After realizing that, Pat started Arrowhead films 25 years after branching off from LCRA (Lower Colorado River Authority). He started Arrowhead because he wanted to express himself and he couldn’t do that. After starting Arrowhead he was scared to death because he had obligations to his employees and his
clients, along with paying income. As Pat was growing up he made short little family movies with his dad’s camera. His dad had supported him and helped him grow as a writer and filmer. Pat had a quote framed up on the wall of his office that read, “If you can make your vocation [your job or how you make money] your vacation, isn’t that a perfect way to live your life?” As he talked about the quote on the wall he said it was his father who had said it. “I get paid to do what I love, tell me that you wouldn’t love that?” Pat feels like he has reached the perfect balance of his vocation and his vacation. Pat’s business motto was never to be big, but be successful. Pat liked using funny comparisons to describe his film company, this was one of them, which just happened to be another part of his business motto, “In my opinion we have been the little red engine that could. We have had good revenue, good projects, and that’s how we’ve been able to stay in business.” Pat feels that he has been able to stay in business because he has made films and little clips and he has always been open to clients coming and asking him for help. After getting a little background Pat start talking about some of the movies he has made. He has made everything from commercials for Wal-Mart to Universal Pictures, Disney Movies, and films for Discovery. Pat talked about the movie he made called In the Shadow of the Blade, “In my opinion it is the one that I put the most energy and the most of myself into. I also think it is the one that changed the most lives. I see that as the mark of success in this business. If you can make a documentary that makes someone say ‘WOW’ then I feel like I’ve done my job.” When Pat made In the Shadow of the Blade he and his crew restored a Vietnam Huey Helicopter and flew it around the country to meet and get the veteran’s stories. The helicopters had a dark green tint to them along with the classic United States Army written on the tail in stencil letters. They usually had the logos from the Army regiments painted or drawn on the door, along with the Air Force squad that flew that helicopter. You can go to the Smithsonian in Washington D.C and look at the restored helicopter along with clips from the movie in the gunner’s well. At the time the Smithsonian was doing an exhibit on the Vietnam War and how controversial it was. “The fact that we did something that was so important that the Smithsonian wanted it, was great.” “The country was so divided during that time. It was great to know that our film brought people together. It was part of the healing and reconciliation. That is the one that has the most part of my soul in it”
“If you can make your vocaton [how you make your money] your vacation, itsn’t that the perfect way to live your life”
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Pat’s film was able to bring people together because he got first hand accounts of what veterans had seen and experienced during the war. Having put so much of himself into In the Shadow of the Blade, Pat felt like he had hit a major milestone in his film making career. His next milestone would come with his next movie. Pat made a documentary called Pointless Pollution a film about global warming and how much countries pollute and how it affects them. Pat was lucky enough to have Walter Cronkite narrate the movie for him. “It was awesome. Just absolutely incredible to have Walter Cronkite narrate our movie.” After that question was posed Pat got this boyish 4 year old smile on his face. Then as he kept telling me about his experience, its like memories came flooding back to him. “Just to spend a day with him was awesome. It was right after he retired so just being able to talk and visit with him about his career then to be able to work with him was a real privilege. We were practically buying the most trusted man in America and one of the most recognizable voices for a day. The cost to have Walter Cronkite narrate and appear in Pat’s film was $25,000 and that was in the 1980s”. After Pat had finished working with Walter Cronkite in Pointless Pollution he got an idea for his next film right away. After Pat had filmed In the Shadow of the Blade and Pointless Pollution is when he saw Donald Matocha’s story in the newspaper. “It was a couple short little paragraphs with the title ‘Missing Marines remains Located in Vietnam’. Pat saw the story on the bottom of the front page in September 2004, then flipped to the continuation farther into the paper. “We sent the family a copy of In the Shadow of the Blade and they were open to us come and talk with them. The amazing thing was when I asked them ‘If we could go with you to Hawaii and film you going to
get your brothers remains’ they agreed to it. Then after they had recovered the remains in Hawaii the sisters said they wanted to go to Vietnam and meet the soldier who buried their brother. After Pat had pitched the Discovery he was already in contact with Nguyen Van Loc [the Vietnamese soldier]. Pat traveled to Vietnam with the family and his crew and had his plan laid out. “I purposely didn’t want the family or the Marines to see him or have any contact with him until I was ready for it up on top of the mountain.” Pat told me about the little plan he had put together for when they met the Vietnamese soldier on top of the mountain. The trick was to allow the sisters and Marines a couple of hours up on the mountain where they could relive where the firefight had taken place. “I had a quick moment with my camera crew, we had 3 cameras, and everybody got into position, then quietly I said ‘everybody roll cameras’. Van Loc came up the mountain and I just got out of the way and let the moment happen. After that I looked around and saw that all of the cameramen had tears rolling down their cheeks, everybody was sobbin’. It was very emotional, but I didn’t really cry because I was worried we would miss something. But in my perspective I had created this moment.” The only thing Pat could say about that is: “ You can’t but just be touched by something like that.” After Pat came back from Vietnam he had the editors come in and start going through all of the footage they had taken. “The gateway to success in the film business is through writing” Many young film makers will take that advice to heart and work twice as hard to to improve their writing if it’s not great already. Pat seemed to relive everything he had done that had had such a big effect on so many people. He had a glint in his eye almost like he was just thinking about the family he had helped and everything he went through to accomplish his goals.
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By Lucy Ryan Reasons To Visit The Barton Creek Farmers Market
This location had one of the largest selection of produce, from jalapenos, to squash, to basil, to tangarines- and so much more
Fresh Produce Photo by: Lucy Ryan and Flicker
Various stalls at the Famers Market sport an abundance of delicious leafy, green veggietables & herbs. The Austonian Fall 2010 Pg.25
Many market goers stop at the jewelry stalls located in the center row of vendors. This woman is admiring some glass bookmarks and earings
Artisan Crafts Foreground: A family run print store, selling unique bags and shirts Background: A stall selling glass fungi and fuzzy winter hats The Austonian Fall 2010 Pg.26
Looking to make your yard more exciting? Search no further! At this stall, you’ll find rose bushes, orange trees, lime trees, etc.
Quality Plants
Photo by: Lucy Ryan
Want to start an herb garden? This Market boasts many vendors selling basil, mint, rosmery, and so much more, all ready to be planted (at the right time of year, as they will tell you)
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Many costumers stop for a cup of local Austin coffe (with free refills untill it runs out!), right next to a stall selling hot empanadas and other breakfast foods
Miscellaneous
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Photo by: Lucy Ryan
Last but not least, my favorite stall! You may smell the lavander products before you notice them. Lavander soap, lotion, massage oil, and plenty of free smaples!
SPORTS
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Running with the Gazelles
Q&A With Gilbert Tuhabonye by camille f.
Q. Can you describe how your childhood in Burundi influenced your running? A. I love and miss Burundi, but Austin sometimes reminds me of my home. When I was young, it was my job to go get the water every day, so I had to run there and back to fetch water for my family. I had to do this before school, so I had hurry! Q.What emotions do you feel when you think about your homeland? A. As I said, I miss it and I am saddened by the fact that people still do not live in peace and without violence. People still have so much hatred for each other – as human beings, we all need to learn to forgive. Q. Have you gone back to Burundi since your experience? If so, what did you do there? A. I went back one time since the 1993 and, honestly, it was too dangerous for me still Q.After reading your book I got the impression that your faith contributed to your courage and perseverance when you were under attack. Can you tell me what you were thinking during this time and how you faith contributed to it?
A.It is true, I really believe that my faith pulled me through that horrible day and even after when I was hospitalized and recovering. There was a powerful strong voice that kept coming to me that day telling me that I would be all right; that I would make it. It was so strong, I could not ignore it. I listened and acted and felt in my heart that I would be protected. My faith has carried me through so many things in life; it is essential to who I am and who I want to be to others. Q. When you run, what do you feel emotionally? A. I feel so happy and joyful Q. Why did you choose to start Gilbert’s Gazelles after you have beenthrough so much strife (why you choose to help people instead of feeling sorry for yourself) A. The Gazelle’s really started by people coming to me asking me to help them meet a goal. Then, it just grew and grew as more people joined. But, for me, running is my ministry. Truly. It is a way for me to connect with so many people in so many ways. It’s true, that, on the surface, people join the Gazelle’s to run better or to achieve a running goal. But, for me, it’s always about what people feel. People have issues they need to work out – running helps them; and, I hope they know that I am there for them when and if they need me. I tell my team, always, Run with Joy!
Left: Gilbert’s book This Voice in my Heart. Top: Gilbert’s running organizaiton, where he trains people. Right: Gilbert running in The Texas Relay.
Glenn McNiel: Teacher, Parent, Coach
by jacob h.
Photos by Flicker
“I’m either sleeping or working.” Those are the words that Coach Glenn McNiel used to describe his jam packed life. Coach McNiel is the Offensive Line at coach at LBJ High School. He is a multi-faceted person, as he also teaches geometry, coaches girls soccer and coaches boys track. He has to work hard to balance school work, sports and home life. His story is one of success from challenge during college years. Glen is a big man, with brownishgray hair and a big, bushy beard to match. He is usually wearing a LBJ polo shirt with khaki pants. He’s almost always in his room, at his desk or up at the long, white dry-erase board, writing notes for the students to copy into their notebook. A lot of people that have had him say he is his favorite teacher. “Coach reminds me of a viking, Santa and a football player all rolled into one,” says LASA freshman Brett G. Almost everyone at LASA, whether or not they have had him before, knows him. He has a very long history at LBJ. Glen played football for the school when he went to LBJ. He played here before he played at the Naval Academy and he went to the UT Austin to get his degree in engineering. He got a letter from the dean that he was no longer enrolled there. “When I got kicked out of the school of engineering it was a very sad day. My parents were very upset with me. That summer was tough.” Glen consulted with his guidance counselor and decided to teach geometry, because he enjoyed math, and coach football, because he liked the sport. Coach McNiel spent the first 13 years of his teaching career as an LBJ geometry teacher. The assistant principal at the time got rid of all the male coaches, including him. He spent a year at Connally and a year at Lanier, coaching football. Dr. Gold who was the administrator of LASA at that time then asked Glen to come back and he decided to do that. He moved upstairs and became a LASA geometry teacher. “Ironically the head coach that tried to replace me twice had to hire me back.” That was 12 years ago in 1998. Glen started coaching football and continued to teach geometry. Before he knew it, he was the busiest he had ever been. With such a busy life, Glen must balance home, practice and school. “Fortunately I have an understanding wife whose into it.” Glen says that his wife
mainly likes football because their son plays for LBJ and she supports him. “The hardest part of such a busy schedule is that my wife and don’t get much of a chance to talk and just hang out together.” Glen doesn’t have a lot of time for going out with his friends either, during the football season. He gets to school around 7:15 and if he has football practice, he doesn’t usually leave school until 8:00. That’s more than twelve hours at school. If the football team has a game, he doesn’t get home until about 11:00. “ I don’t do a lot of going out and hanging out with my buddies, it just doesn’t happen.” Glen’s wife is a school teacher as well, so between school, home and football, they are both extremely busy during the fall semester. “But when football ends, it’ll get easier.” But even after football, he teaches girl’s soccer and boy’s track. Although Glen coaches all of these sports, he also teaches geometry. “ I like trying to predict answers before they come out. [Then] working them out and seeing if I was anywhere close,” says Glen. “I like the idea of helping people understand something they think is hard but is actually easy.” Glen stands at the front of the room, writing notes for the kids to copy. Sometimes he will misspell a word and a student will jokingly correct him. He messes with his geometry students saying things like “Would you believe that is not the answer?” He also messes with kids that text or eat food in his class. “ I can see sneaking a cookie, but a whole [thermos] of soup?” he says to one student. But his main reason for being there is to teach the kids the concept of geometry. At the football games, Glen stands apart from the main cluster of purple and white clad players. He stares intently at the field. His job is to watch the defensive front during the game and sometimes suggest a play or two. “When we are on defense, I’m in charge of making sure the other players don’t do dumb things.” Glen takes his football seriously, he also enjoys it. When I asked Glen what is favorite part of football was, he answered simply: “The game. The game is fun. The best part of coaching is the game day.”
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The BCS National Championship: Who Will Win? By Jacob H.
Alabama reloaded this year. They have their Heisman running back returning and their efficient quarterback/receiver combo back. They are pretty much a lock for the National Championship in Glendale. But there is another team waiting in the shadows that have the best chance to take down Alabama: Ohio State University. Both teams have all of the pieces to win the big game but Ohio State will win because of great quarterback play from Terrel Pryor and the experience of their coach Jim Tressel. Having a versatile quarterback is an important piece in any really great team. Terrel Pryor, the Ohio State quarterback is
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very versatile. According to ESPN.com, as of September 27th, Pryor led the team in rushing yards and passing yards. He was second in rushing touchdowns wth 3 and first in passing touchdowns with 10. He even caught a 20 yard touchdown pass from running back Jordan Hall in the team’s 73-20 win over Eastern Michigan. The quarterback is most often the leader of the football team on offense. Having a quarterback that can lead the team and make plays both through the air and on the ground is extremely important. When the pocket breaks down, a quarterback has to be able to scramble and gain yardage on the play. It is evident by the statistics that
Terrel Pryor can do this. As years before show, it is extremely difficult to repeat as a champion of your conference or as a national champion, both of which Alabama did last year. In the past 40 years, only two teams have repeated as national Ohio State coach Jim Tressel
Photos by Flicker
champions: Nebraska in 1994-1995 and also Nebraska in 1970-1971. There have been no repeat champions of the Southeastern Conference in 10 years, Alabama’s conference. Ohio State won their conference, the Big 10, last year but their schedule provides for them to go undefeated both with in the conference and out of conference games. Their only true tests will be playing at Wisconsin and against Michigan, their arch rivals, in Columbus. When a team is ranked as high as Ohio State is (they are currently #2 in the nation) and they go undefeated, then their are usually a lock for the national championship game. Alabama also has a pretty easy schedule based on their ability. Their only real tests are at home against Auburn, and going to play LSU. Possibly the most important parts of a great championship caliber team is a great coach. Nick Saban coaches at Alabama and Jim Tressel coaches at Ohio State. Both coaches have great resumes. Tressel has been with Ohio State his whole career in the FBS while Saban has coached at Toledo, Michigan State, Louisiana State and now Alabama. Tressel has been at Ohio State for 9 years and has taken his team to a bowl 9 times. Saban has coached in the FBS for 14 years and been to 11 bowl games. Tressel has taken Ohio State to 7 BCS bowls compared to Saban’s 4 BCS bowls. Saban has a 2-4 record while Tressel stands at 4-3. Tressel two losses came in back to back National Championships in 2006 and 2007 and also in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl. This will have given Tressel the experience to learn from his mistakes and win a National Ohio State QB Terrel Pryor
Championship this year. This statistics clearly show that Tressel is a better coach. He has been more succesful in a shorter period of time at Ohio State than Saban has been at his 4 different schools. Taken a team to a BCS bowl likely points to the fact that you won your conference and are one of the top 10 teams in the nation. Both of these men are great coaches but Tressel has more experience in the game we are talking about: The National Championship. Despite the overwhelming evidence, some still insist to believe that another team can win the national championship. Some top contenders also include TCU, Oregon, Boise State and Florida. All of these teams have serious flaws that impede them from hitting it big this year. TCU and Boise State just have schedules that are too easy. Their only real tests this year are teams from the Pac-10 and the ACC. To truly be contenders for the national championship, they have to play teams from the Big 12 and SEC Alabama RB and win to truly Mark Ingram be considered BCS busters. As for Florida, they have already lost to Alabama. The fact that they have lost a game seriously hurts their championship caliber. If they make it to the SEC championship game, they will most likely have to play Alabama and they have already proven that they can’t win. Oregon is the only real contender this year. They have only 2 true tests: Oregon State and USC. They are probably the top contender to win the Pac-10. Since the Pac-10 is such a weak conference this year, they are not likely to get a nod for the big game. There are not really any other teams that can challenge the power of Alabama and Ohio State. After all of the rankings, after all of the bowl games, after all of that, there is one game left to be played: the National Championship. It is college football’s most sought after and prestigious trophy. It shows that you are the best in the country. You have conquered the landscape. You are indisputably the best around. Ohio State is the best around. They have a great team and a schedule that allows for some great games but also for them to go undefeated. Alabama is a great team as well, but Ohio state has all the pieces to march out of the tunnel and three hours later, return with the trophy that every college football player strives for: the National Championship Trophy.
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2010-2011 Texas Men’s B a s k e t b a l l P l ay e r P r o f i l e s Dogus Balbay will be a senior leader this year. The guard’s main strength is as a defensive player. Quick Facts Class: Senior Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey Position: Guard Height/Weight: 6’1”/ 175
Clint Chapman should be a senior leader this year on the team. Quick Facts Class: Senior Hometown: Canby, Oregon Position: Center Height/Weight: 6’10”/ 239
Dogus Balbay J’Covan Brown had a great freshman year and will look to serve as a leader this year. Quick Facts Class: Sophmore Hometown: Port Arthur, TX Position: Guard Height/Weight: 6’1”/195
J’Covan Brown Matt Hill didn’t play a lot last year but should play a role as a starting forward on this year’s team. Quick Facts Class: Senior Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska Position: Forward/Center Height/Weight: 6’10”/ 245
Matt Hill
Clint Chapman
Gary Johnson will look to be the “Damion James” of this year’s team and be a senior leader. Quick Facts Class: Senior Hometown: Houston Position: Forward Height/Weight: 6’6”/ 238
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Hamilton is a great shooter and will look to be a team leader this year after a good freshman year. Quick Facts Class: Sophmore Hometown: Los Angeles Position: Guard/ Forward Height/Weight: 6’7”/ 220
Jordan Hamilton Gary Johnson
Andrew Dick & Dean Melchionni Andrew and Dean got very little playing time last year as freshman but should get to play a little more this year as they move into a backup role for Jai Lucas and J’Covan Brown.
Jai Lucas was arguably last year’s best three point shooter and he will look to continue that success this year. Quick Facts Class: Senior Hometown: Houston Position: Guard Height/Weight: 5’10”/160 Thompson played his high school ball with Corey Joseph at Findlay Prep. He helped lead the team to back-to-back championships. He has a reputation as a good rebounder as well and will look to make an immediate impact on the team. Class: Freshman Hometown: Brampton, Ontario Position: Forward Height/Weight: 6’8”/225
Alexis Wangmene
Dean Melchionni Class: Sophmore Hometown: Lancaster, Pennsylvania Position: Guard Height/Weight: 6’4”/185
Wangmene got decent playing time last year and will probably only get limited time this year behind Matt Hill and Gary Johnson. Quick Facts Class: Junior Hometown: Maroua, Cameroon Position: Forward/Center Height/Weight: 6’7”/240
Photo by Flickr
Jai Lucas
Andrew Dick Class: Sophmore Hometown: Sherman, Texas Position: Guard Height/Weight: 6’2”/ 180
The Freshman: Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph
Cory Joseph spent the last two years of high school at Findlay Prep in Nevada. He was a Jordan and McDonald’s All American and won the 3 point contest at the McDonald’s All American Game. He should look to make an impact this year in the back court. Class: Freshman Hometown: Toronto, Ontario Position: Guard Height/Weight: 6’3”/185
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