Wander Austin

Wander Austin

Local Food Trucks pg. 8 Trail of Lights Map pg. 14 Murals pg. 26 Dessert Quiz pg. 32 Photo by Amanda Li

Fall 2018 / Wander Austin / 3

8 10 14 16 20 22 Food on Wheels Some of Austin’s Best Food Trucks

Austin: Live

The Trail of Lights

A Bite of Austin

The Music Capital of the World

A Bright Christmas Attraction

The Smaller Insider Locations in Austin

what’s 4 / Wander Austin / Fall 2018

Austin’s Must Eats

Get Lost in Natural Austin

Some of The Best The Natural Side Restaurants in to Austin and It’s Austin Beauty

inside

Photo by John Rogers

26 28 32 34 38 Austin Street A Street Desperate for Artistic Austin Art Desert Straight Through Austin

Letter From the Editors

Iconic Austin Murals Downtown

Meet Team Who Created The Magazine

The Hub of Sixth Street and It’s Unique Attractions

The Best Desert Places For Certain Moods

The Street Art Culture in Austin

Fall 2018 / Wander Austin / 5

Food On Wheels

Food Trucks & Their Importance In Austin

by Lila Wilson

Austin’s Must See Food Trucks Kebabalicious brings the amazing flavors of Europe and Turkey to Austin! Using natural, locally-sourced ingredients to make their kebabs and wraps, Kebabalicious serves as a great alternative to all of the Texas BBQ. Gourdough’s Donuts and their massive sweets have drawn in people from all over Austin.

They make many crazy flavor combinations, like the Flying Pig with its bacon strips and maple glaze. Gourdough’s is a must visit for your stay in Austin.

Chi’lantro is one of the best examples of the fusion cuisine that defines Austin. Their food is perfect for any time of the day. The kimchi fries have long been one of the most popular menu items, with caramelized kimchi and a “mystery sauce.”

In 2008, today’s food truck craze started, but the idea of having a restaurant in a moving vehicle has been around for over 100 years.

Torchy’s Tacos have spread statewide, but before it became a on South 1st at Bouldin Creek. Torchy’s Tacos takes a new stan incorporates the classics, like with their Potato, Egg, & Cheese.

Hey Cupcake! is a food truck that has been an Austin icon sinc delicious frosting. Their perfect cakes and the iconic swirling cu Austin favorite for many years.

The food truck industry is growing fast with an estimated revenue of $2 billion dollars and a growth rate of 5.4%.

Most consumers love food trucks because of their price, quality, convenience and speed.

sensation, Torchy’s was just a small taco truck nce on tacos with its Trailer Park taco, but still .

On average, it costs $50K-$60K to start a food truck.

ce 2007. They bake a multitude of cupcakes with upcake on top of their trucks have made this an

Sources: https://www.huffingtonpost.com https://www.searchaustinhomes.com https://www.foodtrailersaustin.com https://torchystacos.com

Marianthe Perce sings at a benefit for a former teacher. (Photo by Jason Christian)

8 / Wander Austin / Fall 2018

Austin: Live Story by Barrett Ruth

I

It is Oct 5, 2018. More importantly, It’s Austin City Limits (ACL) Weekend One, and everyone is eagerly waiting for the living legend Paul McCartney’s show to start.

It’s absolutely packed, but you’ve arrived 45 minutes early to get a good spot. He starts, and his voice fills the universe, and you sway with the crowd as the lyrics of “Blackbird” are sung out into the starry night.

Suddenly, he transitions to “Live or let Die” and pyrotechnics shoot into the air and break the peaceful silence that was left behind to a whole, new blissful chaos. It truly is a once in a lifetime experience.

Its fascinating past started from the classic country music of Nashville, Tennessee.

This genre exploded in Austin, and later morphed into a new, undiscovered version of country. Major (although not so much then) artists were drawn to the city, such as Willie Nelson and other non conformists. A spark had been formed, and the fire is still spreading to this day.

“Austin is the fastest growing city in the United States” -Gary Dinges

Nearly 150 people move to Austin a day. That makes Austin the fastest growing city in the entire United States. With a population of nearly 1 million, the food truck heaven and affordable living makes it a prime site for all. Additionally, music has been an essential and intriguing element of Austin’s culture from the beginning. Although upcoming artists experience even more challenges than they would in a normal city, these defining qualities and the “Keep Austin Weird” environment bring the best out of musicians. Over the years, it has evolved to have hundreds of live and free locations 24/7, including Austin City Limits, South By Southwest (SXSW) and many more famous hubs that draw thousands of people to Austin.

Often, artists come to Austin because they cannot fit in or be there true creative selves anywhere else. Although life as a musician is become increasingly more difficult, the city still nurtures upcoming skilled musicians to exceed expectations.

In 1978, a punk “wave” struck Austin. Bands such as the Skunks, Violators, Scratch Acid, and the Big Boys bravely pioneered hard punk to Austin.

Although the effects this made on the musical culture is more or less obvious, they were also a major source of inspiration for other artists, or even people who were interested in music and its impact on our daily lives.

Marianthe Perce, a song-writer and artist, said, “Playing in a band is like having a boyfriend. It’s a relationship that takes commitment and trust. You make promises to do your best no matter what and you have to be in a safe space where everyone involved feels that their input is heard and Fall 2018 / Wander Austin / 9

The Black Angels play at Austin City Limits. (Photo by Philip Ruth)

respected.” Growing up, she made friends with several musicians, and inevitably became involved in the music scene. It was this that inspired her to create her own band, Lick Lick and write music as well.

Many musical artists in Austin became legends, the work is not as easy as it seems. According to Perce, writing music was “an emotional endeavor. To perform in front of other people — some whom you know well and others who are complete strangers — makes one feel very vulnerable.

There’s an undeniable commitment between the audience, one that takes courage on the behalf of the artist themselves and one that requires the willingness to listen and observe.”

The many venues and “weird” side of Austin are a great foundation, but many challenges lay ahead as well. Not only do they need skill, tenaciousness, courage and luck, but the prospect of even finding a right group of artists to play with is daunting as well. “I am still writing songs and I’m looking for just the right group of folks to start playing with again,” Perce says. “It is a chance to form relationships built on ideas and not just on common 10 / Wander Austin / Fall 2018

experience.”

While Austin does have an almost innumerable amount of live entertainment locations, it is most famous for ACL and South

by Southwest (commonly referred to as SXSW). Nearly half of the population, about 450,000 people, attend Austin City Limits at Zilker Park every year.

The festival consists of two consecutive weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), starting at about 12 p.m. and ending at 10 p.m. Every year’s roster is packed full of instantly recognizable names such as Paul McCartney,

Metallica, Arctic Monkeys, and Travis Scott that perform in midOctober. Initially a one weekend long event, the Austin City Council

Paul McCartney makes one last trip to Austin City Limits in 2018. (Photo by Philip Ruth)

voted for another weekend to be added since 2013. Since then, ACL has on been on the rise seeing a 275 percent increase of impact on the economy. According to Gary Dinges, from “ACL Fest’s Economic Impact: $255 Million”, it also pumped nearly $255 million into the economy in 2017.

Other notable names that have performed there include Jay-Z, Willie Nelson, Kanye West, Chance the Rapper and many more.

Japanese-Mexican “kimchi fries” to the staple Torchy’s Tacos, the wide array of selections is certain to find a food to fit your every need.

SXSW and ACL are both popular live events, but SXSW easily fits a wider appeal. It is can annual conglomerate of music, film, conferences, and interactive media that not only out classes ACL with 2,000 live musical acts as of 2014, but the rest of the world as well.

SXSW started in 1987, and joined the trend of shooting up in popularity soon after. The variety of platforms is simply stunning and not only provides ample space for big names to show up, but smaller ones as well. It takes place in mid-March and brings in nearly 51,000 new registrants every year to Austin solely from its musical scene.

“Playing in a band is like having a boyfriend” -Marianthe Perce

However, music is not the only alluring thing about Austin City Limits. One thing that leaves attendees hungry even a year later is the stunning food. Dubbed “Austin Eats”, a collection of food stands, benches and hang-out areas are present to the side of the stages. It is here one realizes Austin is not only the melting pot of peoples and art, but food as well. From Chi’Lantro BBQ

Another marvel of the event is the sheer effect it has on Austin in its entirety. According to Dinges, it is one of the highest revenue-

Marianthe Perce performs at SXSW, 2015. (Photo by Jens Hellman)

The OC’s perform at an Austin venue. (Photo

by Philip Ruth)

producing events in the city, racking in an impressive 351 million dollars in 2018. Although this is great for the city, other downsides such as violence and a nearly 60 percent increase in room rate are hard to ignore and prevent.

At the end of the line, whichever venue, tavern, or bar one attends in Austin doesn’t matter. However, the idea and experience of a moment with tens to thousands of peopleand a single artist, coming together and sharing life, sharing what was worked toward since the first day, everyone sharing a little piece of themselves-does. The Live Music Capital of the world will forever welcome and cherish those with a passion for music, no matter who.

Fall 2018 / Wander Austin / 11

Trail

OF

By Megan Marostica

Lights

Stra

Visiting Austin? Already live here?

Either way, this colorful, helpful map will guide you through austin’s biggest winter Attraction! Food trucks to facts, its all here!

. d dr tfor

lighting of the zilker tree has been a tradition since

1967

115 feet tall

zilker tree The Zilker Tree is one of the most famous attractions at The Trail of Lights. Visitor like to spin around underneith the center of the tree which makes you dizzy.

Sources: 12 / Wander Austin / Fall 2018 - https://austinot.com/trail-of-lights-2017 - https://austintrailoflights.org - https://h2hfashionblog.wordpress.com/2013/12/13/trail-of-lights/

40 displays

T Trail

d tfor Stra

52 Years

dr.

Marostica ZilkerBy Megan Village

Famous Food Trucks

.

Trail intrance

north pole

lighting of the zilker tree has been a tradition since

1967

Lou Neff rd.

- Amy’s ice cream - moojo - crepe crazy - lucky lab coffee

Artic Point gathering in 1965 known as the “Yule

zilke

. s rd

g rin

p on S

Bart

candy CAne LAne

The Zilker Tree is one of at The Trail of Lights. Sou Vi - ht ht derneith the center of -- th ht

Sources: - https://austinot.com/trail-of-lights-2017 - https://austintrailoflights.org - https://h2hfashionblog.wordpress.com/2013/12/13/trail-of-lights/

A Bite of Austin Story by Amanda Li raffic can be aggravating and the constant buzz of the city can too, but Austin is a super fun, interesting, and weird city to stay in. There are many places that someone in town should visit. Being someone that is visiting Austin for a short time, they should stop at some of the more native locations for a true Austinite experience.

T

Coco’s Cafe has been in Austin since 2000. In those 18 years, Coco’s Cafe has remained one of the most authentic Taiwanese restaurants around. Located on Research Boulevard and on the campus of UT Austin, people of all ages can come and order pearl drinks and Taiwanese cuisine.

“We try to keep it as authentic as possible” -Enrique Garza

Culture plays a large role in these locations. Jane Ko, also known as Koko from A Taste of Koko, describes the vibe of Austin as casual. “I think when I say casual it’s very much like you don’t need to wear like a nice super expensive dress and high heels to go to a restaurant,” said Ko. “You probably don’t wear flip flops but I think the restaurants in town are casual enough where you don’t have to dress up super nice to be able to eat there and the cuisine is not super overdone.”

Many tourists, students that are in school, and even current residents of Austin should take the time to visit the Austin Central Library and Coco’s Cafe. Both are great to sit down and hang out for some quiet time or to chat with friends.

14 / Wander Austin / Fall 2018

On a typical weekend afternoon, Coco’s serves around 350 customers a day with around 16 college-aged staff members. Some students come to eat a meal and pull out their laptops to get some work done, while families with small children come to hang out.

Garza describes the demographic of ages in the restaurant around 2 p.m. on a Sunday, “We have an elderly couple, families over there with kids, and behind is a group of college kids.”

Some dessert and drink options include a large bowl of shaved ice with your choice of toppings, condensed milk, and brown sugar and their honeydew or taro smoothie with pearls.

Popular dishes consist of the spicy beef noodle soup or the

peppercorn chicken. “We consult with Taiwanese chefs and we try to keep it as authentic as possible but we still have a variety of options. So we have seafood options, we have vegetarian options, we have vegan options, we try to be very accommodating,” said general manager of Coco’s Cafe, Enrique Garza. There really is something for everyone.

Another place that can be for everyone is the Austin Central Library. Placed in the heart of

General Manager of Coco’s, Enrique Garza, smiles for a picture at the Research location. (Photo by Amanda Li)

downtown, the Central Library is a six-story building, a great place for students to meet up with their classmates to work on projects or to hold study groups, especially when they all live on opposite sides of Austin.

Sixteen year old student at Austin Peace Academy, Ameera Mo-

The sign of Coco’s Cafe hangs above their restaurant entrance. (Photo by Amanda Li)

hammed, vouches for this: “I’m usually at the Central Library to work on school projects with my peers. I go to a private school, so we’re all spread out across the city. The Central Library branch is a convenient meeting place.”

Typically, someone would want to spend a couple of hours or more at the library as there are

perfect locations in the library itself for anything. They have a room called the reading room that is completely silent for anyone who needs to get work done in a reticent place; a teen room just for people ages 13-18; and a children’s room with tons of books, games, and balcony reading spots for younger children.

Customers wait in line to order their food and drinks. (Photo by Amanda Li)

This children’s space is the perfect stop for families with toddler children and older because children are able to stay engaged and entertain themselves while the adults can sit by and enjoy a book. Anybody can spend multiple visits discovering new corners of the library.

On the rooftop of the library, there

A popular vegetarian dish, the peppercorn tofu. (Photo by Amanda Li)

Fall 2018 / Wander Austin / 15

Picture of the huge staircases inside the Central Library. (Courtesy of Megan Marostica)

View of bridge and new construction from the top floor of the Central Library.

(Photo by Amanda Li)

is a garden with lots of greenery that creates a peaceful environment and can overlook the Austin downtown skyline. A cafeteria-like area is located on the second floor with tables, vending machines and a cafe.

Austin restaurant specialist and successful creator of the food blog atasteofkoko.com, Jane Ko, poses with some food. (Courtesy of Jane Ko)

16 / Wander Austin / Fall 2018

The library system has grown to expand to more than just books.

Guests at the library can borrow a board game or a deck of cards for the day. Anyone can reserve a small private conference room

free of charge and they have laptops, iPads, and other electronic devices to use, or check out at a maximum of two hours at a time.

With so many resources provided for public use, anyone will be able to get their work done and enjoy a well facilitated venue.

Mohammed has volunteered at different Austin Public Library branches. “The Central Library has many more resources than my local branch, mainly because it has

a lot more space,” she compares other libraries to the Central one.

“The laptops and sharing rooms are also unique to the Central Library; it’s much more useful to me as a high school student than my local branch.”

Parking around the Central Library can get tricky. The library has a parking garage with a fee per hour parked there, but gets full often on a Saturday afternoon. Getting dropped off is ideal or taking public transportation is

encouraged so there isn’t a hassle to find parking in an often full parking garage.

The bridge located right next to the library is a perfect location for any Instagram-worthy photos. A short two-minute walk will get to a small turf covered area with an ice cream shop and Trader Joe’s.

Some other suggestions for places to visit are praised by Ko. She recommends to get desserts at Cow Tipping Creamery for ice cream, and Sugar Mama’s for

cupcakes. Her favorite place to hang out with friends is Fresha’s.

More suggestions can be found on her blog, atasteofkoko.com.

This city is unique and full of areas to discover. Whether someone is hungry for good food, needs an entertaining place to be, or a tranquil place to study, Austin is very hospitable and suitable. It’s looking like the city will continue to grow diversely and develop greatly, just like its people.

Outside the children’s area on the 3rd floor of the Central Library. (Courtesy of Megan Marostica)

Fall 2018 / Wander Austin / 17

Austin Must-Eats

by Barrett Ruth

Goat Biryani

photo by hungryforever.com

Spice up your day with this delectable delicacy. Made from basmati rice, spices, and goat, this classic dish is almost perfect. But Sangam Chettinad is here to make it even more perfect for you-adding an almost unprecedented and incomparable amount of heat to the dish.

SANGAM CHETTINAD Spinach & Shrimp

Presented hot and ready, this plate will certainly satisfy your tastebuds’ desire if the biryani wasn’t enough. Served with the deep complex of ubiquitous indian spices and textures, it ironically provides a great cool down from the other meals.

Overall, this is the perfect dish for one unaccustomed to the signature heat of Sangam Chettinad.

photo by jamieoliver.com

Chicken Masala

The first dish that comes to mind when one thinks of Indian food is masala, from chole to sambhar, and Sangam Chettinad certainly delivers. Mostly composed of yogurt, cream, tomato, and chicken, this spiced curry dish will satisfy your every need. Even if you aren’t one for meat, there are more vegetarian options than you can imagine. photo by Lara Ferroni

Sake & Shochu

Beer, shochu, sake, or any type of alcohol are a Ramen Tatsu-ya must. Alcoholic items are usually consumed in the beginning of the meal, starting with beer and moving to shochu (Japanese spirit), etc. Additionally, the second home nature of the pub is perfect to connect and drink, and also a way for co-workers to know their peer’s “real self.” photo by blogTO.com

Brisket Ramen

Perhaps the most infamous dish of this Ramen Tatsu-ya is the heavily Texan brisket style ramen. It is usually ordered as finisher and leaves you both full and warm as you leave. It comes with a soft boiled egg and the obligatory brisket that can never disappoint. It it s perfect addition to the atmosphere that the owner, Shion Aikawa, emphasizes to be self paced, and comfortable.

photo by Shion Aikawa

K E M U R I TAT S U -YA Shishito Peppers

•

photo by Judy Heinrich

Shareable and interactive plates are a staple at Kemuri Tatsu-ya. These japanese-styled vegetables may seem like you are being served jalapenos whole, but they actually combine sweet and salty in an unimaginably stunning way. This side is one of Kemuri Tatsu-ya’s most delicious, and is perfect from its deep flavor to its dash of crunchiness.

•

Sources: Kemuri Tatsu-Ya - a Full Service, Full Bar Texas Izakaya in East Austin.” Kemuri-Tatsuya, kemuri-tatsuya.com/.

• Karina. “Chicken Tikka Masala.” Cafe Delites, 14 Aug. 2018, cafedelites.com/chicken-tikka-masala/.

• “Charred Shishito Peppers.” MyRecipes, www.myrecipes. com/recipe/charred-shishito-peppers.www

Get Lost in the Natural Austin

Austin’s Most Beautiful Natural Locations Story by Lila Wilson

Tree over the water of Barton Springs. (Photo by Lila Wilson)

20 / Wander Austin / Fall 2018

Historical Fire Truck at the Zilker Park playground. (Photo by Lila Wilson)

T

The wind blows, rustling the leaves on the trees and breathing life into the bustling city.

A huge field of grass continues on beyond the horizon. Birds sing a sweet song that extends beyond the lofty branches upon which they perch. Frisbees fly through the air and slobbery tennis balls are in every dog’s mouth. Laughing children hide and play with their friends on huge boulders. The sun shines on the crystalline water, reflecting off the ripples and splashes in a thousand different directions. This is Zilker Park. This is the natural Austin.

Zilker Park is a must visit location in Austin. It’s open landscaping and amenities have made it a hot spot for anyone in Austin, residents and tourists alike. Now, Zilker Park is more popular than ever. People love its open landscape and community. Both Austinites and tourists hang out at Barton Springs to cool off. Water sports and activities on Lady Bird Lake are great weekend activities. Children

of all ages will enjoy learning at the Austin Nature and Science Center.

The Zilker Botanical Gardens have a lovely environment in which one can enjoy the natural beauty of Austin.

According to KVUE News, in Austin, Texas, the Zilker Park land, which is 350 acres, was bought

by Andrew Zilker in the early 20th century. He then sold the city the land in a series of sales throughout 1917, 1923 and 1931 under the condition that all of the money from the sale would go to Austin’s school district. Thanks to his land, hundreds of thousands of people can enjoy Austin’s gorgeous flora and fauna.

When in Austin, Barton Springs is a perfect place to experience the culture of Austin. Barton Springs, with its freezing water, is one of Austin’s crown jewels. Its year-round temperature of 68 to 70 degrees makes it perfect for swimming.

Bird statue in the koi pond at the Zilker Botanical Gardens. (Photo by Lila Wilson)

Fall 2018 / Wander Austin / 21

Flower bed at the Zilker Botanical Gardens. (Photo by Lila Wilson)

According to AustinTexas.org, the pool itself measures three acres in size, and is fed from underground springs. Barton Springs is the only home for the endangered species the Barton Springs Salamander, so to keep the species safe, the pool is closed to the public from 9 a.m. through 7 p.m. every Thursday to allow for cleaning.

visitors actually help out with pollution.

“When it rains, all of the trash that is in the spillways gets flooded into the lake and actually a lot of the people go around and pick up the trash in the lake when they are out in the paddle boards and bring it

back to throw it out,” said Donald Jenson, Coach of the High School and the University of Texas Rowing Teams at the Texas Rowing Center.

“It is quite common for people to come back in a kayak with a bag full of trash that they found floating in the lake.”

“Barton Springs pool is unique. I think it’s an urban park that has beautiful views to downtown.

It has large open spaces to for recreation, to have a picnic, and feel like you’re not necessarily right in the middle of the city,” said Ricardo Soliz, Head of Park Planning for the City of Austin Department of Parks and Recreation.

One of Austin’s long time favorites is Lady Bird Lake. Its clear water and the luscious vegetation surrounding it attract all types of people. Many visitors like to partake in water activities on the lake. Unlike Barton Springs, the 22 / Wander Austin / Fall 2018

Dog park downriver from Barton Springs. (Photo by Lila Wilson)

The Texas Rowing Center is a popular place to go to for water activities, and even the employees like it. “The people I work with are just phenomenal. We also have access to really good equipment and the facilities themselves are just wonderful for rowing,” Jenson said.

Another great place for children to play and learn about nature is the Austin Nature and Science Center (ASNC). The Dino Pit is an explorative paleontology exhibit that kids of all ages enjoy.

Children love to learn about animals in the ANSC’s interactive wildlife exhibits and demonstrations. The Trade Counter allows for people to bring in any clean shells, rocks, leaves, etc, that they find and learn about the natural importance of each item.

The Nature Center is a great place to take children. Soliz said that the center has wonderful programs for learning about the different creatures and plants that inhabit Austin.

The Zilker Botanical Garden is a nonprofit working to spread the knowledge and joy of gardening to all visitors. They have perfectly blended Japanese and traditional rose gardens with gorgeous waterfalls and koi ponds.

The Hartman Prehistoric Garden recreates the environments that dinosaurs lived in. “The Botanical Center is beautiful. So you can spend all day there and feel like you saw a piece of Austin for sure,” Soliz said.

Koi fish at the Zilker Botanical Gardens. (Photo by Lila Wilson)

Festivals are a huge Zilker attraction. Over 450,000 people visit Austin just for ACL. The Zilker Park Kite Festival is great for all Austinites and tourists who want to experience the city’s culture. Children and adults can partake in day full of kite themed activities. Austin’s largest holiday tradition, the Trail of Lights, takes place on the Zilker grounds as well. There, one can find over 40 holiday light displays, with more than 2 million lights, and some of the best food trucks in Austin.

“You can spend

all day there and feel like you saw a piece of Austin for sure” - Ricardo Soliz

There are also many different trails that people can hike on in Zilker. According to Soliz, Austin has trails that stretch for miles

and go from Hays County all the way to Zilker Park and some trails go downtown along Walnut Creek.

There are a lot of outdoor activities that lead you to Zilker Park from all parts of the city.

Zilker is a beautiful park that is important to Austin. Its many amenities and beautiful scenery make it a hub for everyone in Austin. “The park is totally naturebased, you have cliffs and nature trails and creeks and you’re totally away from a city that’s over a million people. You can’t even believe that you are. There’s tons of stuff that you can do outdoors that lead you to Zilker Park from all parts of the city,” Soliz said. Zilker Park connects all of the different parts of Austin and allows all types of people, citizens and visitors, to learn about the different sides of their city.

Fall 2018 / Wander Austin / 23

Austin

by Aidan Mitchelson

Street Art

The unique stories and locations of Austin’s most iconic murals.

1 3

6 6

4

5 2

24 / Wander Austin / Fall 2018

Sources: http://hopecampaign.org https://austinot.com https://do512.com http://www.6thstreetmural.com

Photo from https://www.mymilestone.com

Photo By Carol H. Highsmith

2

1 The “Hi, How Are You” mural, also known as “Jeremiah the Innocent” first appeared on the cover of Daniel Johnston’s 1983 album Hi How Are You: The Unfinished Album. 10 years later, Johnston got commissioned to make a mural of his music at the Sound Exchange record store at W. 21st Street & Guadalupe Street.

This mural rendition of the “Greetings From Austin postcard is located on the exterior of the local Austin business Roadhouse Relics at 1720 S. 1st Street. It was originally painted by artist Todd Sanders and his friend Roy Skagen in 1998, and was intended to add color to a neighborhood that was facing a turn for the worst at the time.

Photo By Kristy Owens

Photo from http://www.6thstreetmural.com

3

4

This vibrant mural was made by local designer John Rockwell and the Creative Suitcase team in 2012 for United Way of Greater Austin, an organization that has been leading the effort against poverty since 1924. The mural is located at the United Way property at 2000 E. MLK Jr. Blvd.

The “Historic Sixth Street” mural shows off the iconic and weird parts about Austin. It was designed and painted by the staff at Sanctuary Printshop in 2012 to cover their exterior wall. It is located on 6th Street and I-35.

Photo By ms.akr via flckr

5 The “I love you so much” mural is one of Austin’s most iconic attractions, and is located on the side of Jo’s Hot Coffee at 1300 S. Congress Avenue. The loving message was written in 2010 by Amy Cook, a local musician, to her girlfriend Liz Lambert, the owner of the shop, during a fight they were having.

Photo from https://www.atlasobscura.com

6 The HOPE Outdoor Gallery is an abandoned construction site form the 1980s that has turned into a graffiti park after the HOPE organization refurbished it in 2011. The gallery, located at 11th and Baylor Street, is open for artists all over the city to come and paint whatever they want.

Fall 2018 / Wander Austin / 25

A Street Straight Through Austin Story by Megan Marostica

Photo by Megan Marostica

T

Take the plunge into the deep end and visit the best place to experience the weird and wacky side of Austin, South Congress. South Congress, SoCo, is the street in Austin where locals and tourists come to do everything from shopping to taking a picture in front of the iconic, “I love you so much” mural at Jo’s coffee. Austin is known for its small businesses, and South Congress is a hot spot for them. SoCo has everything from a shop devoted to gag gifts, like Monkey See Monkey Do, to Amy’s Ice Cream, a specialty ice cream treat shop found only in Austin. Everything is on South Congress and its all on one street.

People from all over make the trip to Austin’s coolest street for just about everything. South Congress

Photo by Megan Marostica A barista making soda for a customer in Big Top Candy Shop

has been an important location for musicians and artists since the 1970s, but it has recently become a great place for a Friday night.

Some shops have been there long enough to watch the street grow and change while other places are new and upcoming. There are some great food trucks and restaurants from fancy to casual like the ever popular Hopdoddy Burger Bar. South Congress is known for its

Photo by Megan Marostica

Photo by Megan Marostica

A handmade chocolate shake with marshmallow fluff from Big Top Candy Shop

funky shops that “Keep Austin Weird.” The stores and employees of South Congress have embraced the unique culture of South Congress. “The culture is very eclectic.

There are just so many different types of shops that really represent the unique experience of Austin.

And South Congress reflects that,” said Kenny Malone, general manager at Big Top Candy Shop.

Big Top Candy Shop is a small candy shop and one of the main hotspots on SoCo. Big Top has all sorts of items, from bulk candy to homemade sodas. Movie fans can find themed candy, comedy lovers can find funny treats and those

lops of ice cream. The walls are covered with antique circus signs which fit right in with the store’s circus theme. Big Top Candy Shop is uniquely South Congress as it is the original and only location in the world. It was founded by Brandon Hodge a little over 10 years ago when South Congress was starting to gain public popularity.

Even in a small shop one can get a taste of the fantastic culture of South Congress that helps make up Austin. “The thing I love so much is we get people from all around the world. There are so many nationalities that come through our doors it is just such a great way for me to experience the world in a small way,” Malone said.

Even in a shop as small as Big Top, you get to experience a part of the

A wall full of candy in Big Top Candy Shop

The Culture is very eclectic!

- Kenny Malone who love a good malt can find the best in Austin with scooped dol-

world.

Stepping into a SoCo shop is like stepping into another world. You are instantly immersed in a different kind of environment. Sean Murray, a US history teacher at Fulmore Middle School which is located on South Congress, said that the culture on South Congress, “Is different than anywhere else even in the city of Austin. When we walk down the street, the people that you meet are super friendly and Fall 2018 / Wander Austin / 27

Photo by Megan Marostica

really kind of laid back and willing to talk to you. It is just a different feel than anywhere else.”

Murray has taught at Fulmore Middle School for the past six years and every year his eighth grade class goes out to South Congress and asks strangers US history questions. It lets students practice talking to people and an insight into the culture of one of Austin’s main streets. The students and teachers have learned to embrace the culture of their location by encouraging individualism and equality.

Lots of students and staff at Fulmore take a walk down South Congress after school to get some food or hang out with friends. The street is a break from school or work for many locals, and is just a place for people to relax and have some fun in a fun, bizarre environment. Murray said, “Most of the shops that are down South Congress you would not see anywhere else in town, especially now because everywhere else in town is these trendy, kind of upscale places, these are still kind of Mom and Pop small, silly places.”

28 / Wander Austin / Fall 2018

Photo by Megan Marostica

Store front of Big Top Candy Shop on South Congress

They have something for everyone from Kiss lunch tins to “The Breakfast Club” original posters. Every item is unique and one of a kind, sort of like the store itself. Antique and oldies lovers can find heaven in this little store that has been on South Congress for the past 27 years. That seems like a long time for most people but Uncommon Objects is constantly working to keep their items different.

Owner of Uncommon Objects, Steve Wiman, said “It’s always new and interesting and we put a lot of energy into keeping fresh, new merchandise in the shop and make sure that it is interestingly displayed so it is a constant change.

People respond to being new and

The entrance to Fulmore Middle School

Uncommon Objects is a store from another planet with its exclusive collectors items from the last century. A collector’s store might sound boring, but once those who step inside will want to collect it all.

different all the time.” Many of the shops and restaurants on South Congress try to keep it different while incorporating an antique theme.

SoCo is a hub of culture, different

stores and old-time vibes. The funky culture matches the “Keep Austin Weird” motto that the locals live by. South Congress contributes to Austin’s small business feel with its old stores but new vibe.

A mixture of upscale and antique themed stores make the street a unique place to visit. From new modern restaurants to family run businesses that have been on South Congress for over three decades, entire shops devoted to gag gifts, and the famous Big Top Candy shop, SoCo has so much to offer everyone. Welcome to the center of Austin’s culture.

Fulmore Middle School’s lush entrance Photos by Megan Marostica The store front of Uncommon Objects

Fall 2018 / Wander Austin / 29

e p t r D s e ae for DESSERT?

Take this quiz to find out where you should satisfy your sweet tooth locally.

by Amanda Li

Are you craving...? something cold?

eat

something to

drink

something cold? no

no

yes

cake?

yes

yes

something with boba? no Get some HOT COCOA or TEA at The Steeping Room

no

yes

Make your BOBA DRI Fruitealic

Have a SLUSHIE drink at Coco’s Cafe or

Have a SMOOTHIE from SnoMo

Get a CUP or CONE from Cow Tippings Creamery

Have a SCOOP (or three...) at Amy’s Ice Cream

ice cream?

r own INK at cious

or

yes

no

Get some GELATO at Dolce Neve

Get a dozen of CUPCAKES at Sugar Mama’s

or

Have a CHURRO from Churro’s Co.

or Have a sip of ORIGINAL MILK TEA from 101 Teahaus

Get a cup of FLAVORED ICE at SnoBeach

or

Buy a single serving of PIE at Tiny Pies

Sources: - www.atasteofkoko.com - https://austin.eater.com/maps/ best-desserts-austin - https://www.tripsavvy.com/top-dessert-spots-in-austin-255205

Artistic Austin The Artistic Culture of Austin Story By Aidan Mitchelson

A mural in downtown Austin depicting a heart made of musical instruments, labeled “Let’s Band Together.” (Photo by Jim Nix)

he crisp smell of paint overwhelms the man as the scenery envelops him. All around him are vivid paintings, so beautiful that he can’t take his eyes off them. But most important are the artists; a dozen or so experts busy in their work, painting over the thousands of pictures that once were. The breeze is rushing by, causing spray paint cans to fly everywhere. But this doesn’t stop the artists, as they are masters of their craft, making shapes within an inch of perfection. This is the

T

HOPE Outdoor Gallery, and it is one of the many unique street art locations in Austin.

this saying, Austin has a grand art community that creates masterpieces for the everyday Austinite. The exquisite art and structures provide a sense of home that makes Austin a special place. There is some of the most incredible art in the more unknown places in Austin. The city is home to a wide variety of street art and other unique sculptures that make Austin distinctly what it is today. Austin’s street art community has continued to grow throughout time and does not show signs of stopping. From extravagant sculptures to murals

“If you’re trying to make art and something beautiful out of it then it doesn’t matter what you use” - J Muzacz

32 / Wander Austin / Fall 2018

Keep Austin Weird — the saying that defines Austin and all of its unique culture. To live up to

A mural in East Austin made by J Muzacz depicting an underwater coral reef with a very large sea turtle in the center. (Photo Donated by J Muzacz)

from numerous artists and graffiti parks, Austin has it all.

According to local street artist and teacher J Muzacz, the Austin community has been growing more acceptive of street art over the years, and is growing to be an even more artistic city than it is now. Muzacz has been all over the world creating street art, and has contributed countless murals to the Austin street art scene. One of his most recent murals is the one at the Dougherty Arts Center of a Grackle in an acrylic pattern.

Muzacz says that Austin still has a ways to go to catch up to places like Melbourne, Australia, which has an entire alley in the middle of downtown dedicated to street art that stretches multiple stories high.

“What we do see a lot here, which is encouraging to a degree, are businesses supporting the artists. A private business saying hey, I want to

paint my wall, calling up an artist they like, and giving them some paid work. But I wouldn’t say Austin is cutting edge on the forefront, we’re kind of in the middle,” Muzacz said. Although the Austin mural scene isn’t the best in the world, it has certainly been growing by a steady amount since its introduction.

Muzacz says that one of the reasons for the unpopularity of street art in general is its public view as being vandalism, which it has come far from. “I’m using spray paint, which has this negative connotation in terms of graffiti, vandalism, illegal tags and street art. People don’t think it’s art, people just think it’s vandalism,” Muzacz said. “I think in the 80s, that may have been the case, but now we should all be a little more aware that just because you’re using spray paint doesn’t mean you’re a vandal.

If you’re trying to make art and something beautiful out of it then it doesn’t matter what you use.”

One great hub for muralists in Austin that is helping to bring street art into the main culture is the HOPE Outdoor Gallery.

A mosaic mural in downtown Austin made by J Muzacz for the Dougherty Arts Center depicting a grackle to represent the Austin culture. (Photo Donated by J Muzacz)

Fall 2018 / Wander Austin / 33

connects creative people with various social causes, expressed interest in the site after graffiti artists started marking their tags on it.

With the permission of the property owners, they removed decades of weeds and debris, and refurbished the area. They opened the area to the public for spraying and mural-painting in 2011.

J Muzacz standing next to his finished mural, “The Old Man,” which depicts a man integrated with a field of crops. (Photo Donated by J Muzacz)

The site is an abandoned construction project turned into a public art gallery for all to use. Tucked away in downtown Austin, the bare walls and foundation have been spray painted thousands of times, with new exotic and beautiful pictures every time it’s visited.

Another incredibly unique and sought-after location in Austin is none other than The Cathedral of Junk. The cathedral, which doubles as Vince Hannemann’s backyard, is a colossal structure made out “junk” collected over dozens of years. Hannemann started building the cathedral in 1989 when he first moved to Austin, and it has grown ever since. What started out as a group of small sculptures in a lawn become a multi-hundred ton piece of art.

“I just did it because it was kinda cool,” Hannemann said.

“I’d been building sculptures in the backyard ever since I was a kid. It was kind of nothing new to me. When I moved here in 89, there was nothing in the backyard, it was just a big lawn and the oak tree

“I just did it because it was kinda cool” - Vince Hannemann

Vince Hannemann, the creator the Cathedral of Junk. (Photo by Aidan Mitchelson)

34 / Wander Austin / Fall 2018

“The gallery was designed to be a place that people are able to express their creative freedoms without any restrictions placed on them,” said Miles Starkey, director of projects at the HOPE organization. HOPE, a nonprofit production group that

out back. And I just started with a little grouping of sculptures.

Over time though they kind of tended to grow together.”

The Cathedral of Junk, located at 4422 Lareina Dr., is now visited by hundreds of people every week by appointment. It is a rare occasion to come by on a Saturday and not see groups of people exploring the multifloored structure made of tools, toys, toilets, signs, baskets, tires, and any other random object one can think of.

“I think that the littlest kids just see it as a giant playground and they just run around. The older you get the more kind of nostalgic people get about stuff,” Hannemann said. “It kind of makes them happy to see that at least somebody in the world is doing something like this.

That not everybody’s normal. It

The Cathedral of Junk, a huge backyard sculpture made by scrap materials. (Photo by Aidan Mitchelson)

gives them some sort of hope or something.”

Austin is also home to many other famous murals such as the “I Love You So Much” mural, or the “Historic Sixth Street” mural. They provide a photo worthy stop for anyone looking to explore Austin. But as a whole, all of these murals and structures come together to form the fabric that holds up the Austin art scene, and is what makes the city so iconic.

Every mural has a story behind it, and those stories show off the Austin culture, one small bit at a time. There is no better way to see Austin’s unique culture than through its extensive street art all over the city.

The HOPE Outdoor Gallery, a graffiti park open to anyone who wants to create murals with no restrictions. (Photo from Atlas Obscura)

Fall 2018 / Wander Austin / 35

Letter from the

The Team

Editors

Dear reader,

We hope you enjoyed reading our magazine. We had a lot of fun designing our pages and learning all about the Adobe applications. Writing and researching for our feature articles has been challenging but we are glad to see it all come together. This class hasn’t been easy, but it has been a nice break from all the crazy with the rest of school. Yes, we are that group. Not the unproductive one, that goes to Sports, Courts, and Shorts, but the one that has mental break downs about biology quizzes the next period, arguing about color schemes, photos, and basically everything else that needed to be decided. We often got annoyed at Amanda for talking about band too much, Barrett for eating his wholewheat raisin bread turkey sandwich, Megan for punching our arms to get our attention, Lila for being a perfectionist, and Aidan just sat basically listening to us argue. Special thanks to our interviewees for the inspiration and information. Thank you for reading our magazine!

Sincerely, Aidan, Amanda, Barrett, Lila, and Megan

Aidan

Aidan Mitchelson is a freshman at LASA High School, and has lived in Austin his whole life. He loves the Austin culture, with its unique music, art, and nature that the city has to offer. Aidan loves music, and along with listening to music constantly, he also plays percussion in the LBJ Jaguar Band. His other interests also include sleeping and playing games. He spends his time trying to maximize sleep and minimize work, but going to LASA doesn’t help with that. Aidan chose the topic of street art because he thinks that Austin murals are pretty cool, and also because it would be easy to get interviews.

Amanda

Amanda Li is, yet again, a freshman at LASA and participates in Science Olympiad and plays trumpet in the LBJ Band. Being a band enthusiast, you can often find her and her other nerdy band friends quoting random people and laughing at lots of memes. Amanda loves to talk about her terrible eyesight and how she is literally blind without her contacts. Having lived in Austin her entire life, she feels like she has seen the city’s culture grow into what it is today. She was excited to write about some popular, local hangouts that she often uses to study for the ten thousand tests she has to take every day. She is a very analytical person which made writing this bio very hard. Special shoutout to Lila Wilson who wrote 98% of this.

Barrett

Barrett Ruth has lived in Austin Texas for all of his life. From the year he was born, Barrett went to ACL and other concerts, quickly becoming familiar with the musical culture. In fact, these concerts were the main attraction for his parents; so much so that they were lured to the city forever. Because of this, travel and music were enticing topics for Barrett, and he was quick to pick them up. Barrett currently spends half of every class opening the classroom door, an extremely pleasurable experience. He also wants to become fluent in Spanish and take multi-variable calculus, and pursue math in his future LASA career.

Lila

Lila Wilson is, you guessed it, a freshman at LASA. She likes to spend time with her friends, procrastinate homework, and stay up way too late watching TV. Her favorite dessert is cheesecake and she absolutely adores her dog, Coco, who Lila tries to incorporate into anything (hence that one US History presentation in 8th grade). She and her group members were all interested in writing about a variety of topics, so they chose to write about the city of Austin and its vibrant culture.

Lila decided to write about the natural wonders in Austin, specifically Zilker Park and the surrounding areas. She has always appreciated the beauty of nature and thought that it would be fun to write about it.

Megan

Megan Marostica has a last name that nobody can pronounce and has lived in this really strange city for 12 years. She went to Fulmore Middle School--which is far superior to Kealing--on South Congress which prompted her to choose Soco for her feature article. As a Freshman, Megan has taken a part in too many school activities and sports such as JV volleyball, softball, and theater. Megan has no time for homework. She doesn’t want to go to SciTech, but the universe is forcing her to. She was constantly “bullied” by her group members. Actually just one. Who shall remain nameless. But his initials are Barrett Ruth.

Fall 2018 / Wander Austin / 37

go wander..

Photo by Amanda Li