5 Genuine Co-Op Moments Forget the stereotypes, read some truths, pgs. 16 through 17 The Sixth Street Cowboy The Man Behind the Media Narrative, pgs. 6 through 10 The Story of David Ash UT’s Quarterback is More Than UT’s Former Quarterback, pgs. 11 through 14 Queens of Texas A Photo Essay on Students in the Drag Commnity, pgs. 13 through 15
Flowers on the Fly The Woman Who Sells Succulents on Wheels, pgs. 18 through 19 The Boot Whisperer Video: Custom-made Boots by a Texas Business, pg. 20 Pathways A poem, pgs. 21 through 22
The History of Antone’s A Look Back at the Popular Nightclub’s Lifetime, pgs. 26 through 27 Studium Record Store Creates Community, pgs. 28 through 30
6 Emotional Stages of a UT Student All The Feels: From Freshmen to Graduates, pgs. 93 through 94 Our Favorite Spots Goodbye to ORANGE It’s Up to All of Us ORANGE’s Pickings, pgs. 69 Editor-in-Chief, Jane Claire, The Fight Against Domestic through 71 Opening a Food Truck: Gibroni’s Gives Her Farewell, pg. 95 Violence, pgs. 84 through 86 Video: The Texitalican TopLeading Ladies Best Creative Advice Dog of Street Food, pg. 73 South Dakota The (Wo)man’s World of RTF, ORANGE Executive Staff A Poem, pg. 72 East Side Compost pgs. 87 through 88 Divulges Sweet Secrets Pedal to the Decomp Metal, pgs. 74 through 76 Going Gold Small Town How to Eat For Free The Rise of E-sports, pgs. 89 A poem, pgs. 100 through 101 The Coupon Queens of PayPal, through 92 pgs. 77 through 79 Trial By Fire A poem, pgs. 80 through 81
All Facial Hair is Valid Austin’s Biggest Beardos, pgs. 54 through 57
An Interview with Claire Bogle The Lady of Scoremore, pgs. 31 through 33 5-1-Tunes: Thieves Austin Punk Band Continues to Rock, pgs. 34 through 35
The Best Fashion of 2014 This Year’s Stylish Highlight Reel, pgs. 40 through 41
Celebrity Encounters ORANGE Staff Shares Their Starstruck Moments, pg. 36
AirBnb Austin’s Most Creative Airstream Trailers, pgs. 42 through 47 You Are What You Eat A Tasty Food Truck Lookbook, pgs. 48 through 52
A Collection of Haikus Poems, pg. 37 All And None A poem, page 37
Moonlight A poem, pg. 53
Traveller Denim, Co. Small business tailor-makes blue jeans, pgs. 58 through 60 Goodbye to Style Style Editor Helen’s Farewell, pg. 61 Ornamental Things Jewelry Retailers Grows From Hobby, pgs. 62 through 63 Q&A: Joanna Wilkinson Style Blogger Fills ORANGE In, pgs. 64 through 65
Story by Tess Cagle
Most early evenings, you can catch Sam Olivo, “the Sixth Street Cowboy,” making his way down Riverside Drive, conveniently beating rush hour traffic while riding atop of one of his horses. Although we live in Texas, spying a cowboy riding a horse along I-35 is a rare occurrence. However, Olivo — country singer-songwriter, philanthropist and businessman — lives a unique and simple lifestyle that conducively maintains his traditional outlook on the world. In June 2010, Olivo says he died not just once, but twice. Olivo used to teach horses how to jump the track at a racing facility in South East Travis County. One day, a rider was missing for a race at the track, and Olivo was asked to fill in. “My mind wasn’t right,” Olivos explains. “I wasn’t ready to run. I wasn’t focused.” Olivo failed to tighten his saddle before the start of the race, and, after about 150 yards, it came loose. The saddle went to the side, and Olivo’s spur was stuck in the cinch. He fell underneath the horse and, the animal dragged him for 50 feet, face-down and trampled nearly to death. Olivo had two collapsed lungs, 12 broken ribs, a broken
back and severe head trauma. He flatlined in the helicopter on the way to surgery and again in the hospital. After three weeks in a coma, Olivo says he came back to life a different man. “I don’t remember much of the accident,” Olivo admits. “I know my Native American brothers tell me that guy died, and I’m the new guy.” While he was in a coma, his wife left him, and when he woke up he had to deal with the realization that he may never walk again. Despite all of this, Olivo says he remained positive. “For some reason, nothing seemed to bother me anymore. I was like ‘woah, I’m alive’,” Olivo explains. For Olivo, the road to recovery has been difficult, but spiritual. He says he went through physical therapy and was given medication for his head injuries. “I wasn’t going to get well that way,” Olivo says. Instead, his mother suggested he return to his Native American roots and “pray the old way.” So, he went to a Sun Dance (a traditional tribal gathering) in Nebraska and worked with his horses. He attributes his death experience as his way to finding the “red road,” which is the Native American concept of the right path of life. “The red road is the Indian way of protecting Mother
Earth,” Olivo explains. “Living off the universe. The red road is doing the right things for mankind and is very sacred.” With the help of friends, Olivo slowly gained his strength back by riding his mule, Mula. Six months after his accident, Olivo had defeated medical odds and was admitted into a surgical tech program at Virginia College. In Austin to celebrate, Olivo and a friend decided to ride his horses, Mula and Texas, downtown. Still in a lot of pain, Olivo took painkillers and had a few drinks throughout the evening. At the intersection of Sixth and Red River Streets, Olivo’s friend got down to take a picture with some onlookers marveling at the horses. “Right then, to my left, I see a bicycle police officer, and he asks if I can get off the horse,” Olivo says. “I looked my friend and said ‘dude, that’s it. I’m spinning.’” Olivo and his friend were charged with a DWI and arrested. Olivo’s horses were impounded. Later, when Olivo arrived to court, he was informed the DWI was now a public intoxication charge, since he had not been operating a motorized vehicle. Olivo says when he left court, he called his brother to tell him what happened. “He told me to turn on the TV to any local station,” Olivo says. “So I turn on the TV to Fox 7, KVUE, KXAN – and there I am. Bobbing and weaving with the cops all around me.” This was when the “Sixth Street Cowboy legend” began. Four years later, Olivo has turned to music to tell his story. “I write songs now about things I’ve been through in life, because I can’t remember much,” Olivo explains. “If I sing about things I’ve been through, I remember.” His songs include singles titled “Arrested on Horseback” and “Toksa Aka Kola.” Olivo plays with musicians from all over Austin, including Kurt McMahan, Warren Hood, Joe Beckham, Trevor Nealon, Mike Bernal and Bob Hoffnar. “I have a great band, and I like sharing my gift with the world. To me, that’s the beauty of it.”
Olivo uses his music to help others, as well. He sings for the disabled through different organizations and performs at charity functions around town. In addition, Olivo regularly makes trips to Zilker Park to allow kids to play with his horses and attends events at the Capitol. Olivo says the red road lifestyle has taught him not to “worry about the illusion of the machine” or focus too much on making money. “The reality of it is that you either got it or you don’t, moneywise,” Olivo explains. “People don’t understand that there’s a difference between being healthy and being rich.” This new outlook on life has led Olivo to dedicate much of his time to philanthropy and helping out his fellow Native American brothers on the reservation. “I don’t know what the task is I have, but I know there’s a task for me to do. Whether it be for the horses or helping the disabled.” Despite the cruel history his Native American tribe has experienced in Texas, Olivo remains positive toward the cowboy lifestyle. “The reality of it is there’s a bunch of Native Americans that have lost their culture, lost who they were, because history says it never happened. But it did happen. But I don’t hold a grudge,” Olivo explains. He says that when he visits reservations up North, he stresses to his brothers the
need to move forward. “It was inevitable, what happened, but you still gotta try to make things better and try to better ourselves, no matter what. Don’t blame somebody for the way things are, it’s just the way they are. Things happened and get off your butt and get to work.” For now, Olivo’s only stable source of income is a $500 disability check from the government, and he primarily lives in a tent on his Austin farm. Still, Olivo says he likes the simplicity of his life. “The truth is, I live a hard life. But, to me, as long as I’m walking and doing the right things — that’s the best. As long as you’re humble, things will happen to you.”
A tale of former UT quarterback David Ash’s optimism and his decision to stop playing football.
Story by Danielle Smith Graphics by Samantha Grasso
David Ash was a leader on the football field at the University of Texas at Austin. Ash played a total of four seasons with a career total of 4,728 passing yards, 31 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He also suffered three concussions during his career that forced him to make the decision to stop playing football in the 2014 season.
That said, this is not a story about football or football related concussions.
This is not a hopeless narrative about a young man who lost everything.
This is a story about a college student who had big dreams that drastically changed in a moment.
Can you relate? In a lot of ways, David Ash is a typical college student. He lives in a house with his best friends. He wakes up in the morning only after his alarm has gone off three times. He sits on the couch while he eats a bowl of cereal, and then he gets dressed and goes to class.“I thought I was just a regular person, but people did not perceive me that way and how you walk around perceived affects your life,” Ash says. Now that Ash has stepped off of the field, he hopes people will see him for who he truly is: A young man trying to figure out what to do with his life, just like the rest of us. “I just want to be known as David Ash, your friend,” Ash says. “In a way I feel like there’s a lot of catching up to do in that area — and I’m excited about it.” Since he no longer dedicates the majority of his time to football, Ash can spend more time doing things like studying, spending time with his friends and fishing or hunting. One of his roommates and closest friends, UT senior Andrew Gerrie, says that he totally supports David’s decision to stop playing even though it has been hard to watch him go through this transition. Ash’s decision stop playing was made with the support of his doctors, family and friends in the interest of his health. “He wants to be able to live a long healthy life, and I want to be able to fish with him when we’re 50 and have him be able to remember my name,” Gerrie says.
“I just want to be known as David Ash,
your friend.”
Moving forward Ash says having extra time to spend on things he enjoys outside of football has been an enjoyable change of pace, but he is also thankful for the opportunity to dedicate more time and effort to his schoolwork. “Textbooks are semiinteresting,” he says with a chuckle. He says he looks forward to completing his undergraduate degree in corporate communications while also pursuing a Masters of Science and Finance. Although he admits that he does not know what the far-off future holds, Ash says he is confident in who he belives holds it. “The best way to make God laugh is to make a plan,” Ash says. “I believe God holds my future, and I’m pumped to see what he has for me.” Over winter break, Ash will depart on a mission trip to Indonesia ‚ a move he has always wanted to make, but was never able to because of his dedication to football. When asked if he would ever consider a job in the football industry, Ash says that his main desire is to be in a position where he can help others. He would consider a job as a high school coach, because he wants to impact the lives of young men in a way that could possibly change the trajectories of their careers. “The last thing in the world I want to be is alone with my money,” Ash says. David Brewer, Ash’s coach from Belton High School, resonates with the former quarterback’s sentiments. “David wasn’t a big talker. He just did things right. He just worked hard,” he says. “He stayed true to his beliefs on the weekends and didn’t waver from it. I think that’s where he gained a lot of respect.” Ash says he hopes to continue to hold the respect of his teammates, friends and fans as he continues to figure out what life holds for him.
The obscure future Many college students are in this moment of their life where the future seems bright — but blurry. There is a certain excitement associated with knowing the world is at your fingertips, but the flip side of that is the fear, the fear that all of that potential could turn into nothing. David Ash is in that place right now, and for those young people who are there with him hanging in the balance while working hard and wondering if it will pay off, Ash has some advice. “Hold your dreams loosely,” he says. “It could all fall through, or it could work out. Who knows? All I know is I have right now.” Ash says he is at peace with the fact that he can no longer play football and that he believes there is more in store for him. There will always be a part of Ash that loves and misses the game of football. “I miss that feeling when as a team everyone did their job, and you made the play and the crowd goes wild,”Ash says. “I miss that, and I will always miss that.”
“I miss that feeling when...everyone did their job, and you made the play and the
crowd goes wild.”
Photos by Hannah Vickers
Miss Holly Woods performs on stage at the Queens of Texas Variety Show event on campus.
Leo Rodriguez, a senior at the University of Texas at Austin, is a member of Queens of Texas. Queens of Texas is an organization at the University of Texas at Austin that allows students to explore different gender identities through drag in a performance setting, as well as an introduction to drag culture and technique.
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A. Leo Rodriguez prepares to transform into Miss Holly Woods. B. Students apply makeup in the dressing room in anticipation for the show. C. Leo Rodriguez adds glitter to his eyes. D. Leo Rodriguez helps out a fellow student apply his makeup. E. Leo Rodriguez gets help applying his false eyelashes. F. Leo Rodriguez helps other students prepare for the show. G. Leo Rodriguez puts on his corset.
H. Leo Rodriguez helps others put on their wig caps. I. Leo Rodriguez puts on his wig. J. The final touches are made to finalize Leo’s transformation into Miss Holly Woods. K. Miss Holly Woods prepares to preform on stage. L. Miss Holly Woods dances and lip syncs for the audience in the SAC Ballroom on campus. M. Miss Holly Woods serenades the audience dressed as a mermaid for the Halloween “Night of the Living Drag” event.
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Story by Samantha Grasso The community, the affordability and the parties: A trifecta of advantages that come to mind when outliers consider the option of living in a cooperative residence, commonly known as a co-op. In a co-op, the house or building is owned and managed by its residents. Each resident invests four to five hours a week to an assigned labor to keep the co-op running, such as cooking or cleaning. In turn, they receive room and board at a rate significantly lower than other housing options in West Campus and in on-campus residence halls. The parties and events are a reflection of this community living — welcoming and pulsing with a laidback
attitude. Of the most popular of these events was the annual West by West Campus music and film festival held in the spring. The festival covered multiple co-ops, including Inter-Cooperative Council houses Eden House and French House, and the College Houses 21st Street Co-op. Beyond these outside notions of co-op living are the understandings and relationships fostered as a resident. It’s more than a few home-cooked meals and hard parties. The following shared moments aren’t anecdotes that define the “co-op experience,” but rather stories that punctuate life and manifest as personal changes of worldview.
Taos Co-op Mural — Photo by Samantha Grasso
Emily Smith and Collin Mclaughlin — Photo by Dahlia Dandashi
Emily Smith recalls the first time she set foot in Halstead Co-op. The sociology senior was a sophomore at the time, and having lived in an on-campus dorm for the last two years, she wanted to explore other housing options. Halstead is housed in the five-story College Houses Super Co-op building along with Nueces and Laurel Co-ops. “I remember stepping out of the elevator and looking at all the murals on the walls, the bikes propped up in the walkways, the little planters with succulents and flowers and the people hanging out...I remember distinctly, immediately noticing that this place felt more
like a home for me than the dorm I was living at at the time, and immediately being able to picture myself living there,” Smith says. “A member passing by me noticed that I was looking a little lost. When I told him I was thinking about moving into a co-op [the] next year, he enthusiastically offered me a tour and took some time out of his day to show me around, explain how the co-op worked and answer all of my questions. I don’t remember that guy’s name, but I am forever grateful to him.”
The parties at Pearl Street Co-op attract large crowds of people, but sometimes they bring in a few select personalities that kill the vibe. Kinesiology senior Bill Watts had just been released from his security labor during a party one night when he received an urgent text. There was a group causing trouble at the back of the house. “Sometimes you’re having hella fun and all of a sudden you get a text from the director like, ‘I need help.’... This kid is trying to fight one of our members...
The boyfriend of the member threw him down on the ground... I remove him from the situation and all of his friends are getting in our faces. They try and get mad, ‘We’re not doing anything, we’re not causing a problem,’ Watts recalls. “You may not be causing a problem to a party venue, but this is our house [to] everyone who lives here. Not only are we providing you entertainment, but we’re allowing you to be in our living space.”
The Kindness of Strangers
Protecting a Community
Photo by Dahlia Dandashi
Up All Night to Get Cooking
While students might live in co-ops as a means to pursue their education at the University of Texas at Austin, chemistry graduate first-year Sam Dunning found education to be his means to live in a co-op. A resident of Halstead, Dunning is originally from Middlesbrough, England and first stayed at the coop while studying abroad during the 2012-13 academic year. Dunning says that he came back to the states because of Halstead and that the sense of community made him feel like he had a real connection to Texas. That year, Dunning was head chef on Fridays and would prepare dinner for the 75 residents with two other cooks. “Usually by Friday the co-op is a desolate
place food-wise, so there wasn’t a lot for us to do, and as you can imagine we’d usually get quite bored. Some days we’d bake an extra cake if we could find the ingredients, sometimes we’d go all out on the salad. Most of the time we’d take naps. This particular Friday, the first snippet of ‘Get Lucky’ [by Daft Punk] had just leaked,” Dunning recalls the evening. “It was the start of summer, and we had around 30 minutes to wait until whatever we were cooking was ready, so instead of the usual mid-afternoon nap, we had a little dance party in the kitchen. It was [me] playing the pots and pans as drums while an Australian and an Italian had a danceoff to the same 30 seconds of Daft Punk on repeat.”
ChinLin Pan (left) and Sam Dunning (right) — Photos by Samantha Grasso
Trotting the Globe and Minding the Mess Located on the corner of Guadalupe Street and 27th Street, Taos Co-op is home to 117 residents, a third of them international students. Journalism senior ChinLin Pan says she enjoys making friends with others from around the world. “I’ll meet tons of people from all over Europe and Asia and the Middle East, as well. It’s just nice to be culturally aware,” Pan says. Living in close quarters with a group of people is bound to reveal some personal habits as well. Among habits that bother Pan after living at Taos for a year and a half are leftover messes. She notes how
Letting the Games Begin
There’s nothing like some good, clean fun between the College Houses co-ops — cue the “Motherfucker 100” event. Pearl Street Co-op resident In this bike race, all College Houses co-ops compete against each other to bike 100 laps around the 21st Street Coop first. Every few laps, bikers are stopped to complete “absurd but generally hilarious” obstacles before moving onto the next set of laps. Mason Waters says he thinks the MF100 is the best co-op event he’s attended. One obstacle Waters remembers vividly was the “Tinder Speed Date.” “Bike riders went on a ‘speed date’ with some 30-year-old that they actually found on [the dating app]
quickly dirty plates can stack up when living with 116 other residents and how plates and utensils are sometimes forgotten and left in bedrooms, leaving no time to be washed when dinner rolls around. “[Living in a co-op] makes you realize how dirty people can be... It makes you start to hate people when you’re constantly cleaning up after other people’s messes,” Pan says. “If you have a whole mess in the kitchen and you don’t clean up after yourselves [after a party], then that is pretty damn rude to the people who have to clean up after you Saturday morning... There’s rarely a moment when there’s no mess in the kitchen.”
Tinder, and she asked them a few dating questions and rated each contestant. Each team gets shortcuts, like cutting halfway through the path, and the way you get shortcuts is by your team doing a beer bong. So with the Tinder speed-dating, the person ranked highest won a few shortcuts, and the lowest rating lost a few,” Waters says. “It was a ton of fun and Pearl Street was killing it... The most fun part, though, was when we started chanting, ‘Pearl Street,’ which was followed by everyone else chanting, ‘Pearl is shit, shit is Pearl!’ so we chanted back even louder.”
on the fly
Story by Danielle Smith Photos by Hannah Vickers
S
hannon Donaldson always knew that she wanted to do something unconventional with her life. The idea of a nine-to-five desk job was out of the question and so was doing anything other than living out a trade she was passionate about. The challenge was figuring out exactly what that passion was. “I always wanted to be different, but I didn’t know exactly what to do with my differentness,” Donaldson says. With a degree in sculpture from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas and a background in flower arrangement in the wedding planning industry, Donaldson garnered a trained eye for making appealing arrangements. As she ventured to become a small business owner, Donaldson realized she needed a product that people wanted to purchase.
“[Succulents] are something that I’m passionate about and Ilove, and I just can’t stop making things with them, but the best part is that people actually want to buy them,” Donaldson says. In 2012, Donaldson started her own business that she calls “Flowers on the Fly,” which began with selling flower arrangements. Though she transitioned to mainly selling succulents, she decided to keep the catchy name. She dreams of having a storefront one day, but for now Donaldson aims to bring her product right to the people. Currently, her cart can be found at one of three locations: on campus at the southwest corner of 24th Street and Guadalupe Street, in downtown Austin at the corner of Sixth Street and Congress Street and on South Congress Street in front of Guero’s Taco Bar.
Donaldson is a self-proclaimed introvert and says she was initially terrified by the idea of standing in the middle of a crowded sidewalk and offering something she puts so much work into for other people to judge. She once struggled with this career choice — battling disapproving parents, hot Texas weather and disinterested customers — but says she believes in what she is doing and will continue to persevere through the challenges as her business grows. “When I first started doing the cart, I had to be really brave,” Donaldson says. When she sets up shop, Donaldson says she wants to present customers with an “experience,” so that customers feel like they’re shopping and not just stopped on the side of the street. Attached to the front of her bright purple bike is a white cart on which all of her succulents are displayed. This mobility has allowed Donaldson to seek out new spots and opportunities. Customers can stop and browse the selection she has already created but also have the option to order custom plants. If there is a container and a plant the customer particularly likes, Donaldson will put them together and arrange a pickup or delivery.
Donaldson typically rolls up to her locations during the weekends when there is more foot traffic. She spends her weekdays picking out containers at thrift stores and antique malls or restocking on succulent plants she picks out herself from a supplier in South Austin. To prepare for market, Donaldson chooses the containers, often modifies them by painting or sanding them and then chooses the succulent that goes inside. For Donaldson, rosettes are like the roses of the succulent world. These plants look a lot like a flower in bloom with their petal-like shape, but still maintain the vibrant green and rubbery texture of a succulent. She tends to give them center stage on her cart, but also likes to play around with unique plants and containers.
“Sometimes it looks really pretty when you just have one container and one plant as the focal point. Simple can be gorgeous,” Donaldson says. Although Donaldson typically sells out of her cart, Flowers on the Fly was showcased at the Langford Market store at the corner of Guadalupe Street and 32nd Street on Sunday, Nov. 2. Perhaps Donaldson’s dream of a storefront is not too far off. For more information on Flowers on the Fly, check out Donaldson’s Instagram: @flowersonthefly.
Video by Jenny Phillips and Mikaela Casas
I
n the small town of Wimberley, nestled in the Hill Country one hour southwest of Austin, dirt roads lead to a village filled with antique shops and charm. In the middle of town square resides one of Wimberly’s largest attractions, the Wild West Store. Hundreds of handmade and vintage boots line the shelves of this country cottage. ORANGE Magazine met with Uli Johnston, the store’s owner, who goes by “The Boot Whisperer” because she is able to match customers with the perfect boot just by looking at their feet. Johnston says she believes that finding the perfect boot at the Wild West Store is a matter of fate.
By Joshua Nguyen Invisible pathways wind across the earth, connecting everything mankind is here.� // And with it, and everyone // through time industry // Industry will move us forward! Industry will be the and space, between generations who paved the way for future way of progress, of civilization, of civilizations that stared at the same the future! // Nevermind if we too become machines in the constellations // do we not consist of the atoms of our ances- process // Slaves to the ticking clock, tors? Are we not all woven from the forever trapped in the gears of life, agents of a machine we do same threads of the eternal fabric that is the cosmos? do you not understand // mean to say, that there is no Trapped? universal struggle across mankind to which no person is imBy who? // Ourselves? Impossible! // But who better to demune? sign, and engineer a cage that the Maybe so. prisoner cannot escape from, than the prisoner themself ? // we have each reserved a corner of infinity to make our own // Shackled by desires that will never be maybe the stars that I see are the fulfilled: the poor man to be rich, the intelligent to be ignorant, stars that you see are the stars that He sees are the stars that the happy to be wise, the unloved everyone sees and the stars look at us to be loved and the loved to be free, with handcuffs of money, and laugh // not a happy laugh, but not a sad laugh either // fame, greed, success, and drugs, the knowing chuckle only an old wise bound by chains of poverty, disease, and violence! // Perhaps man can give to his grandson so frustrated with the broken ways our corner of infinity is just a of the world // we plunge into private prison. our private illusions until we are confident of the mechanisms If so, then of the universe // our own universe anyways//
Why do these prisoners seem so happy?// Do they not see the chains to which they are bound? //
But they know. Or is it I who is missing a piece of the puzzle? // Is it possible The stars know, I mean // holding hands and dancing together I have deceived myself into this across the night sky, they know twisted misunderstanding of my surroundings? // If one’s what cannot be known, and see the invisible // The plights of perception of the world sculpts reality, mankind of are so varied in nature, then the world must be a very a malleable thing, to conform to and yet identical // We have only separated ourselves through 8 billion perceptions the systems we have created // It is simultaneously! // This seems possible, as I find that my abilijust as we told Mother Nature and Father Earth // “Make way, ty to dive deeper into the confines
of my own mind improves with every new level of confusion that it reveals // Only here I find it possible to continuously shed light, simply to find greater darkness // And yet the journey does not stop. On the contrary, it gains momentum, hurtling deeper and further and faster for some semblance of truth // seeking what? // Answers? // None of these have been nor ever will be satisfactory, of this I am certain, for every answer is flawed and requires further investigation // What sort of answer could placate this relentless hunger for some significant amount of time? // The mysteries are beautiful during wake, but haunting in sleep // my truest thoughts have pervaded into my dreams so much so that it has become difficult to distinguish imagination from realization // maybe there is no difference at all, we simply choose to accept one over the other // Viable, but
manage to do so, for I do not think I can bring myself to such a place // Or maybe they have traversed the treacherous terrains of their mind, climbed the mountains of uncertainty, crossed through valleys of despair and discovered the treasure they searched for // Love maybe. Love for simplicity or nature or some other such thing that gently soothes the untamable beast of the human hunt for explanation // the ability to accept the minute role of one’s life, generation, and species in the grand enigma of the universe and so reserve and dedicate one’s energy to the projects of the prison we inhabit // a queer definition of love to many, but not inapplicable I don’t think // or perhaps the fervent hunger for creation takes hold // the need to synthesize and be responsible for some small segment of the world through which we may interact with the other
unsatisfactory as predicted // What good is an answer with no explanation?
inhabitants of this place //
None.
Restless.
Deeper into the recesses of my own mind, only accessible through continuous contemplation //
Never ending it seems // day dreamers and night walkers alike always searching, scouring the
These are where the unanswerable questions lay // Perhaps those who avoid grappling these
planet for any remnants of humanity in a machine world // locked away within walls of
forces do so out of fear, or could it be wisdom? // Fear of seeing what I see, and so they halt their
technology // the air itself mechanical in nature // if discontent breeds progression, contentedness
inward spiral into the workings of their mind and decide on contentedness // On the wiser hand
is the mother of regression // a return to a natural, organic state seems to be the dreams of
maybe they have already seen what I see now and concluded that to delve deeper be a fool’s
visionaries and lunatics tossed to the wayside by the constant destruction of construction //
errand // Whichever it may be, I must ask them how they
The paths never end.
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Antone’s, one of Austin’s most famed blues n some of city’s greatest musicians, among them nightclub’s future lays in the hands of producer ANGE takes a look back at the venue’s career
July 15, 1975 At the age of 25, Clifford Antone opens the original Antone’s location on Sixth Street. The first to play at the club was Clifton Chenier and His Red Hot Louisiana Band.
2006 Clifford Antone passes away at the age of 26.
1980 Antone’s moves to its second location on Anderson Lane.
1981 Antone’s moves to its third location on Guadalupe Street.
1997 Antone’s moves to its fourth location on West Fifth Street.
María Núñez Coutney James
nightclubs, has helped cultivate the careers of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Gary Clark Jr. As the r Will Bridges and Gary Clark Jr. himself, ORr and major footprints in Austin’s music scene. 2014 Grammy-winning Austinite Gary Clark Jr. and Lambert’s/Arlyn Studios dynamo Will Bridges begin to plan the rebuilding of Antone’s. They plan on bringing the club back to downtown, along with making the blues its main musical focus.
November 2013 Antone’s is sold to Spencer Wells, a National Geographic scientist, and J. Taylor Emery, a former member of the Dave Matthews Band. They planned on moving Antone’s from the East Side back to the downtown area. April 2013 After singing its swan song to the downtown location, Antone’s relocates to its fifth location on East Riverside.
February 2014 Antone’s plays its last show at the East Riverside location, leaving the future of the club uncertain.
One local entrepreneur is bucking the industry trends by bringing a new record store to Austin Story and photos by Bryan Rolli
D
an Rudmann opened Studium in November with the help of several other local businesses that operate out of the store’s East Fifth Street location. The shop primarily carries music released by Punctum Records, its counterpart label that Rudmann founded, but it also stocks select works from national artists that match its eclectic vibe. By showcasing local talent and fostering all types of creativity through concerts, readings and other events, Rudmann hopes Studium will achieve a significant community presence. Andrew Stevens, who buys all of the records for Studium, says he tries to strike a balance between style and profitability. “It’s not a grab bag,” he says. “It
is picked out by me and bought by me for retail.” Since Studium is a relatively small store that appeals to a niche audience, Stevens tries to buy records that will make it stick out from the myriad of other shops in Austin. “I try to avoid stuff that other people have,” he says. “Because I don’t have room to copy Waterloo or End of an Ear.” Rudmann says the emphasis on curating a cohesive record collection will also help customers and casual visitors connect with Studium more. “It’s supposed to tell a story,” he says of the shop’s inventory. “You have all of these objects organized in a way that there’s narrative between them, and that’s kind of our goal.”
“The big thing is fostering a community.”
Establishing a distinct identity is crucial for a record store like Studium — as well as a local label like Punctum — in a time where music is so readily available through other mediums, Rudmann says. “You can go on something like Spotify, and you can download the entire history of recorded music,” he says. “What a label can do, and I think why people get excited about something like K Records [another Austin record label] or us, is that we’ve helped identify things that match an aesthetic that we’re trying to build.”
Rudmann’s observations reflect a national trend. Newsweek reported in November that in the first half of 2014, vinyl record sales in the United States totaled 4 million, compared to the 2.9 million sold in the same period last year, and a 400 percent increase from the 900,000 moved in 2006. Newsweek also reported that the best-selling vinyl albums of 2014 so far are Jack White’s “Lazaretto” and the Arctic Monkeys’ “AM.” Both were released this year, demonstrating an increased demand for new records by a younger audience.
Studium invites customers to leisurely browse through its carefully picked selection of records, one of which the staff will often play throughout the store. If the weather is nice, they can mingle outside and enjoy a cold beer or hot cup of coffee from the neighboring Wright Bros. Brew & Brew, as well. “It’s like a clubhouse,” Stevens says of the atmosphere at Studium. “This place is turning into a cool hang spot.”
While 4 million albums might seem like an impressive figure, it’s a far cry from the 500 million vinyl albums and singles sold in 1978, as music magazine Spin reported in May. It also pales in comparison to the 70 billion songs streamed in the first half of 2014, according to Newsweek. Still, although vinyl’s glory days may be long gone, its recent sales hike suggests there is room is today’s musical climate for a niche store like Studium.
Although it’s too early to determine their biggest source of income, Rudmann says the store already sells a decent amount of vinyl. “People are buying records, and that’s very encouraging for somebody who runs a record label,” he says. “There’s always talk about that, you know, waxing and waning, but right now, people are psyched on it.”
Rudmann said he first started thinking about Studium after bringing several local bands to New York City for a series of shows in the spring. “It became more apparent, having these Austin bands in this context of New York and seeing it all together, that we have something very unique and special here in Austin,” he says. “And to have a more
permanent base for that in Austin became a priority.” Besides serving as a home base for Punctum Records, Studium also works with several other local businesses, including Attendance Records, a non-profit, student-run record label. Jenna Carrens, executive director of Attendance, says its goal is to “bring creativity back into the classroom” through a program called Schoolyard Birds, where a music therapist works with students ages 6 to 10 to help them write a song, which they perform onstage at Studium. Rudmann and Carrens first worked together during South By Southwest 2014 to create a two-day artist showcase. She said they both envisioned Studium as a community presence that supports all types of art. “We’ll do readings, we’ll do music shows, and we hope to do film stuff,” she says. “We want it to be a collaborative space for all of Austin’s creative minds.” Studium may have a firm grasp on its aesthetic, but the key to financial success is still elusive. As record buyer, Stevens
says it will be a while before he figures out what works best for the shop financially, whereas more established stores like Waterloo Records can predict consumer habits more accurately. “They can look at the linear curve of everything,” he says. “They’ve done it for so long that they have their own business concept, and since we’re only six weeks old*, that’s new for us. I probably won’t get a good beat on what the customer is really wanting in a more generalized sense till next year sometime. Bigger means better profits, but I’d rather be sitting at the computer eight hours a week doing orders, because we’re running out of stuff, than knowing that I bought enough to get us through.” For Rudmann, Studium is just as much a collaborative space for Austin artists as it is a budding business. “I think the big thing is fostering a community,” he says. “We all want the same things for each other, and we know that if one of the bands in Austin has a light shine on it, it helps everybody here.” *Studium has now been in business for 2.5 months.
ANSWERS
QUESTIONS
By Sarah Montgomery
Claire Bogle’s South Austin office is everything you would expect from someone deeply rooted in the music industry. Concert posters coat the walls, on the floor sits a note that says “these are from Wiz” — Wiz Khalifa that is — and the latest news from the industry is laid out, including a copy of FADER featuring DJ Kindness on the cover. Claire is a tall, smiley blond and co-founder of Scoremore, a music promotional company that organizes events in the hip-hop and dance music sphere in Austin. Bogle and her company have supported artists from their early days, including big-names like Kendrick Lamar, Macklemore and Wiz Khalifa. They curate talent, book shows and run events — the most famous is their annual festival JMBLYA. In a city where live music takes precedence over all other forms of entertainment, ORANGE chatted with Bogle to see how the business side of the industry lives.
ORANGE: What is your role in Scoremore? What are some of your day-to-day tasks? CLAIRE BOGLE: My role or roles in Scoremore are multifaceted, I am the talent buyer for the club shows, I am a curator and I am a manager of the company — or the mom, if you will. Day-to-day consists of a lot of creating, refining and submitting offers, negotiating, phone calls, emails and conversations. I’m constantly lurking about on the Internet, seeing what and whom people are talking about, and gratefully my day consists of a lot of listening — listening to new music, listening to my team, my friends, the community, you guys, the college community, trying to stay on top of what’s going on in music and how we can best serve our demographic.
O: What obstacles did you face going into your career? Do you feel like you faced hardships being a woman in the music industry?
CB: I faced a ton of obstacles, some related to my sex, but most related to the nature of the business. Promoting is very much gambling, so with that comes many obstacles but we hedged our bets on ourselves, and I think it turned pretty great but there were and are definite hardships due to me being a woman. At the end of the day, I’m about my business and I do good business, so that doesn’t leave much room for arguments, you know? I am also gratefully sober, so therein lay its own struggle in this business and trying to walk the line of spiritual and successful. Not saying you can’t be spiritual and successful, because that is O: What motivated you to get involved in the music industry? not the case, but we book rap and dance shows. Some of the content and activities associated with that is not exactly CB: I feel like I didn’t have much of a choice, to be honest. spiritually fit, but we do it with honesty and integrity and I am very much a believer in destiny or “right place, right genuine motives. time,” and through a series of inspired events it just happened, and happily I haven’t looked back. O: Who are you keeping up with right now? What are you listening to? O: What steps did you take to get involved in making your way in the Austin music scene? CB: Oh man, so much. I’m listening to Tory Lanez, Kali Uchis, DCtheKid, Dornik, Jay Prince, from London and CB: A ton of grind and hustle. Sascha* was actually really Daniel Ceasar, just to name a few. Oh, and Drake, I’m albrilliant in the way he spearheaded our break-in. He was ways listening to Drake. If you attended JMBLYA ’14 and offered a job as the talent buyer of a club downtown, now purchased a VIP package, you are very familiar with our called Recess but back then was called Aces, and his job was office’s love of Drake. to fill the calendar with great shows, and we did just that.
O: Outside of music, what do you do in your free time? What do you do to keep yourself fresh, creative, and prevent your- O: Who is your inspiration? Where do you get inspiration? self from getting burnt out? CB: I get inspiration from the music itself, honestly. Take CB: I do a ton of yoga, which is life-changer. This industry is JMBLYA, for example, that was inspired by the new wave very fast-paced, and yoga makes me stop, breathe and appreci- of “Internet music,” and now it’s a successful brand that lives and thrives on its own. Getting our start in the “Live ate everything for what it truly is in this moment and time. Music Capitol of the World” was very challenging, but we had some amazing people to look up to. C3 [the conglomerSascha and I launched a small clothing line in 2011 called ate behind Austin City Limits Music Festival] as a company “VintagefortheVain,” and I am working on some new stuff is very inspiring. They are always creating and expanding for that. I’m also managing an artist, which has proved very exciting. I hang out with my dogs and friends, just laugh. Hap- brands, curating cool events and all-around just producing piness is personally my greatest source of creativity, because amazing experiences. Amy Corbin who books all of ACL, among a million other things, is a true boss, and I really look when you are happy, anything is possible. up to her. O: What is the best part of your work? O: What is your advice for someone trying to get into the industry? CB: The best part of my work is sharing the joy of music with people, and facilitating the experience of connecting fans with their favorite artist and artist with their fans in a safe CB: Advice to someone getting in the music industry is intern somewhere credible and just say “yes” to whatever space where people can unwind and be themselves. Music someone throws at you even if you have no clue how to do changed my life — it was very much an outlet for emotions and soundtrack of memories, and we are privileged to create it or what they are talking about. Figure it out and see where that takes you. You’ll be amazed by the journey and excited that space. about where you end up. O: What are some events Scoremore is getting ready for or *Sascha Stone is the other founder of Scoremore. projects that you are excited about? CB: We are planning and expanding JMBLYA in ‘15. We are also looking to launch two new festivals next year, so stay tuned for those announcements. We just created a philanthropy division of our company, and so far we have been able to partner with artists and donate tickets to people that do community service or younger kids that make good grades and volunteer. Giving back to the Texas community has been amazingly fulfilling, and this is just the tip of the iceberg, so I’m very excited to see where that goes.
Story by Sam Limerick Photos by Tess Cagle Austin rockers Thieves are breaking all the rules. Whether they’re redrawing the boundaries of pop punk, or crawling across abandoned train tracks on government property in the dead of night while touring through Alabama, it’s clear that Thieves is well-positioned to steal the hearts and minds of everyone they encounter in 2015 and beyond.
Billy Canino, Nathan Helton and Chris Skiles from the band Thieves.
O
ne fateful day in 2009, Billy Canino (vocals/guitar), Chris Skiles (guitar/vocals), and Nathan Helton (bass) — all good friends from the local Austin music scene — were jamming pop punk records. It was punk rock providence; everyone’s bands were at stopping points, and Thieves was formed that same afternoon. The quartet wrote their first song the very next day, and the rest is history. But not really. That particular cliché doesn’t fit the untraditional approach Thieves has taken with regards to the development of both their sound, as well as their careers as musicians. The narrative of Thieves is a dynamic one: constantly evolving, always at work, forever in development. Thieves may have started out as just something fun to jam on with friends, but it’s grown into something much larger for its core trio.
In their five years together, Thieves has accomplished a great deal. They self-produced and released their first two EPs and full-length concept album from their closets, outsourcing only the recording of drums. As the band’s goals changed, they decided to up the professionalism for this year’s “Colorchange” EP, bringing in Saosin’s Beau Burchell to produce, engineer and mix the record. Along the way, they have gained quite a following, both in Austin and beyond, and have toured the US multiple times. Though the group has earned a great deal of critical acclaim and fans by stomping the stages and floors of the Austin punk scene, it’s quite clear that Thieves has grown on an even deeper level as friends and partners. Indeed, the band’s longevity owes a great debt to their incredibly tight friendship. “It’ll always be friends playing music, but if we could do this for a very, very long time, I
think we’d all be okay with that,” Helton says, explaining the interconnected nature of the trio’s friendship with their music. “I don’t ever see a day where us three are just like, ‘I really just don’t wanna go play a show with this guy,’” Canino adds. When I spoke to the band, the trio exhibited an unmatched devotion to both their music as In addition to this new output, fans can expect the well as each other, and I didn’t doubt Canino’s assertion. group to tour hard and fast, in as many places as possible. That phrase — “thick as thieves” — carries a variThe tour stories Thieves has brought back from the ety of connotations. It denotes a special bond between road are as unconventional as the music they play, and people. It derives its meaning from the concept of “partthese stories further hammer down Thieves’ unconven- ners in crime.” It is suggestive of a bond unbreakable tional modus operandi. The societal perception of punk by societal forces, because it exists outside the norms culture lends itself to preconceived notions that depict of society. It’s dark, it’s mischievous and it’s not traditouring bands as engaged in wildly deviant, hedonis- tional. It fits these three 20-something punks perfectly. tic behaviors. Alhough this is certainly true for some touring acts, Thieves is not your everyday punk band. For some bands, the name of the game is promiscuity and decadence, but for Thieves it’s ridiculous shenanigans and camaraderie. The trio just returned from recording their next full-length in California. Listeners can expect a release sometime in 2015 — and hopefully sooner rather than later, the group told ORANGE. The group has continued to evolve their sound since they released Colorchange, and their goals for the record set the bar even higher. Thieves has set out to break the mold on their own musical style, as well as their own lyrical themes, with this new record.
Billy Canino, vocalist and guitarist.
“I don’t ever see a day where us three are just like, ‘I really just don’t wanna go play a show with this guy.’”
Nathan Helton, vocalist and bassist.
-Billy Canino
Chris Skiles, vocalist and guitarist.
Jenna: Meeting Shaun White at SXSW 2014 Many people know Shaun White as the “flying tomato” that took home gold medals in men’s snowboard halfpipe event at the Winter Olympics in 2006 and 2010. He’s a decorated athlete in skateboarding and snowboarding, but few people know that he also plays guitar in a band called Bad Things. The band debuted their self-titled album in January 2014 and stopped at South By Southwest to play a few shows. I attended an unofficial showcase on the rooftop of Whole Foods to catch the Bad Things’ set. White isn’t some hot-headed athlete — he’s a down-to-earth guy. He helped set up and take down the band’s equipment and took the time to take pictures with fans in the audience. As it turns out, he’s just as good at shredding the guitar as he is the slopes.
Compiled by the ORANGE Music Staff Tess: Meeting Julian Casablancas at Waterloo Records From the moment I heard that Julian Casablancas and the Voidz were coming to Austin, I knew I was going to make my dream of meeting the lead singer of the Strokes come true. When I found out the band was going to be doing a signing at Waterloo Records, I waited anxiously in line for two hours with just a sheet of paper in my hand and my heart in my stomach. After the signing, and meeting Julian, I thought that would be the high point of the day, but I was wrong. Later that night when I arrived at Emo’s, I just so happened to walk by the band’s tour bus as Julian was coming out. WE locked eyes, and I instantly froze. He gave me the shyest smile and said, “Hope you have a good night.” That moment is still the highlight of my semester, and his autograph now hangs proudly on my wall. Bryan: Being pulled onstage by Philip Anselmo I am not a photographer. I’m learning to take photographs, but I am by no means a legitimate, well-versed, multitalented photographer. That was even more painfully obvious last October when I covered the inaugural Housecore Horror Film Festival at Emo’s, a weekend-long horror movie and heavy metal festival hosted by Philip Anselmo, former lead singer of Pantera. I somehow acquired a photo pass to the event, but I failed to acquire an actual camera to take said photos, leaving me with my trusty iPhone 4s. As I was weaving in and out of the hoard of scowling, middle-aged photographers, Anselmo ordered us all to climb onstage in the middle of his set and get a shot of the frenzied crowd. We locked eyes, and my heart lurched into my throat when he said, in his signature boozy growl, “You ain’t even got a fuckin’ camera!” But as he went in for a bro hug, the most masculine of all friendly gestures, it was clear that he didn’t care. Anselmo just wanted us all to share in his joy of performing onstage. It might not have meant much to him, but coming face-to-face with a heavy metal icon and actually having him not be a dick is a memory I’ll always cherish.
Quinton: Meeting Lil B at Mohawk Some people are celebrities for no reason at all, and we often question why people put certain figures up on pedestals. That could be the case with Brandon McCartney, also known as Lil B the Based God, also known as Ellen Degeneres, also known as Fabio, also known as Based God. So, if you still don’t understand Lil B, maybe it’s your own fault. Despite popular opinion, “Wonton Soup” is not his only song, and he is not an Internet meme. He is an incredible figure, and in the summer of 2013 I saw Based God in both Dallas and Austin in the same 24 hours. Not only did he deliver a spiritual two-hour performance on both occasions, he proceeded to step off of the stage and take a photo with every single soul in the building. I stuck around for about an hour after his Mohawk performance and met the activist, motivational speaker, rapper and author himself. He was small, sweaty and exhausted but his presence alone was calming and genuine. He really loved everyone in the building those nights, and he actually loves you, too, if you weren’t aware. We exchanged greetings and took a forever based photo that will hang up in a frame in my garage one day. Maybe y’all should give him his swag back. Maria: Viral Selfie with Justin Bieber I’m not going to lie. I’ve met my fair share of celebrities and musicians, mostly due to postshow meet-and-greets, volunteering at events or just planning accordingly. The only one I can truly call an encounter, because it was unplanned, unexpected and against my will, is Justin Bieber. On March 10, 2014, I walked into Bangers on Rainey Street hoping to catch a good Tori Kelly SXSW show, and I somehow walked out a mini Internet celebrity for just snapping and tweeting a selfie with Bieber in the background, my personal way of documenting what had happened. I never was and never will be a Bieber fan in the slightest, nor did I ever think I’d end up on Cosmo or Perez Hilton’s website, but hey, you never know what will happen at South By.
By Asa Johnson All of the lighters are empty All of the fires are spent All of the ash is a memory None of the air will forget All of the air is potential All of the water is rain All of the living essential None of the dead rise again All of the dead are nutrition All of the fungi are friends All of the flowers addiction No language can capture the scent All sense were lost at entry All of our lives are left All of the ash is a memory By Joshua Nguyen adopted oak tree has a midlife crisis, goes home to find its roots. Zach, I still have your aux cable, because I always need your input. oxymorons: jumbo shrimp, the only choice, Zimmerman acquitted
None of the air will forget
THE BEST FASHION MOMENTS OF 2014
This year’s mainstream fashion icons took on everything from
the red carpet to their own clothing lines. Artists, singers and actors alike have all come to be a part of a multi-billion dollar industry, placing themselves in the ranks of elite designers. While some contributions are groundbreaking and others highly questionable, they’ve all provided inspiration for future fashion endeavors. Here is a list of the most notable style moments in 2014 fashion: Story by Kyle Cavazos Illustrations by Nathan Burgess
YouTube Beauty Guru Michelle Phan launches makeup line
Ralph Lauren holds 4D fashion show
SEPTEMBER
AUGUST
Cara Delevingne announces collection with DKNY through Instagram Steven Meisel shoots Moschino AW 14/15
Joan Rivers, host of “Fashion Police” dies at 81
Oscar de la Renta dies, Oct. 20, 2014 Kendall Jenner becomes the new face of Estee Lauder
OCTOBER NOVEMBER
Hermès names Nadège VanheeCybulski as artistic director
JULY
MAY
MARCH
FEBRUARY
JANUARY
Lupita Nyong’o becomes queen of the red carpet
Jean Paul Gaultier receives first major exhibition devoted to his work
JUNE
Singer Lorde speaks out against photoshopped images
APRIL
Pharrell Williams wears signature tall hat to Grammy’s
Rihanna’s Instagram is taken down because of sheer Fashion clothing icons Kim Kardashian and Kanye West marry
From the outside of these silver bullets,
one would never guess the interior would be so magical. Austin is well-known for its constellation of food trucks, but it is also home to another wheeled community — converted airstream trailers. And for these transformed trailers, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.
Photos by Lauren Ussery, Hannah Vickers and Dahlia Dandashi
By Caroline Cook Real estate business partners Betsy Christian and Leyla Shams are a dynamic duo. When ORANGE met up with them, Christian and Shams were spending a rainy Friday morning in the open backyard of Christian’s property in East Austin’s Swedish Hill neighborhood. Christian, a mother of four, wears a red and white striped shirt. Her hair is twisted up in a chignon and secured by a white pencil. She is outgoing and expressive, and her southern accent peeks out when she chats with Shams, an architect and 2006 graduate of The University of Texas at Austin. The two appear to be starkly different from each other, but they are in sync: They banter back and forth with elastic energy, chiming in and finishing each other’s sentences.The two designers tell ORANGE about the renovation process and principles applied to achieve their airstream’s minimalist and functional design.
And we bought it, and then Leyla zipped all the stuff out of it, which was really fun because it was kind of junky. O: What’s your favorite piece within the airstream? C: God, that table. Just the long table on the side. And it was so satisfying to really look at the clean floor and the clean table. And it just made it look so much bigger. And then making the cozy bed. It has got good linens, and it has really just a cozy nook. It has nice books around the top, so you can just read a good book. O: What kind of advice to do you have for someone who wants to live a minimalist lifestyle?
SHAMS: Before [in kitchens], you would ORANGE: How did you acquire the trailer, have tons and tons of cabinets that you and how did you get started in real estate? could close and stuff them full of things, and now we do open shelving. It’s about CHRISTIAN: Um, I have no idea. I being more deliberate about what you have. can’t remember why we decided to get an When we are making kitchen plans, we will airstream. I don’t know, it just happened. write exactly how many plates we need, I thought of it one day, and then all of a here’s where they go, here’s where the cups sudden I found one on Craigslist. It was go. So, it’s deliberate, rather than just giving from the Dallas area, and the guy had been them all this storage and stuffing things in living in it full-time. He was young, with a there. new wife, and they were just saving money and living in the airstream for about a year.
In East Austin lives Deborah Ramaker, a massage therapist and musician. Ramaker’s airstream rests in the yard behind her home. Plants and flowers grow freely in every direction and curious objects peek out amongst the growth. A fully functional bathtub rests in the center of her yard, overlooking a valley. The ethereal nature of Ramaker’s home is reflected in the way she walks and talks. Ramaker tells ORANGE about how she cultivated her backyard nature retreat: ORANGE: How did you acquire the trailer? RAMAKER: I actually bought it. It didn’t have anything in here. It cost $3,000. And then I just looked online and got ideas. O: When did you buy it? R: Well, I got it a long time ago. My boyfriend used it as an office, but it was just stripped out and it was really ugly. He just put a desk in there. And then we broke up. and in our breakup I got this, because he owed me some money. And then I was like, “What am I going to do with this?” [laughs] O: What was the process like? R: I had somebody paint it, but I came up with a lot of ideas myself. And a lot of it was scrap I collected. Now the wood, when I wanted custom furniture, I had to pay for that. So it was kind of expensive. I spent four- or five-thousand dollars having this custom furniture made. O: What is your favorite thing about the interior design process? R: It’s very satisfying to go in and see something that was so ugly, and you come in, and it’s like really cozy and sexy… It’s just sweet and all curvy. And the way airstreams are done are nice, but they are concerned with people getting a lot of storage, so it’s not open. But yeah, it just makes me feel good to walk in there.
ORANGE also spoke with married couple René Geneva Renko and Thomas Renko. In the photo above, René wears her long, fiery red hair in cascading dreads, and a sheer white peasant top that revealed her pregnancy bump. Her husband, Thomas, stands next to her proudly — his beard full —and his right arm is covered in a colorful sleeve of tattoos. René and Thomas are the owners of Texas Indie Solar, a boutique solar-electric design firm in Austin. The couple shares the story behind their 1950s retro-inspired home on wheels with ORANGE. ORANGE: What are your design backgrounds? RENÉ: So, my background started off in photography then moved into graphic design. And then I was a professional fashion designer for 14 years. And after we closed that business, I started doing solar. Right away, my niche ended up being solar on RVs. That was sort of the first set of jobs that I got. From there, I was like, “Look at all these RVs that are… not cute.” THOMAS: I did fine arts. I did sculpture. But I’ve done construction since I was little.
R: I would say to start small. The first trailer that I did by myself before I met Thomas was very small. It was only four- by five-foot. It took me a whole year and took four prototypes to actually be able to go down the road and be stable. It can cost so much money. Start small, and then through time you will get an idea of what you want. O: What was your inspiration behind the interior design? R: We went to Pinballz Arcade with my son, and Thomas was showing me his love of all of the 50s pinball machines. Oh, and we went on a date to a pinball [arcade] in Lockhart when we did a motorcycle ride. I really had not paid attention to them before myself. But then he showed them to me, and I was like, “Oh that’s awesome!” And it was kind of a no-brainer after that, just with the lines and the playfulness. O: What is your favorite piece in the trailer? R: [looks around, whispers] Oh my goodness... T: I think the color blue.
O: What is your advice to someone who wants to convert their own trailer?
R: I think my favorite piece is the lighting. We knew we wanted to do a custom light fixture, but we were having a hard time... We were thinking about it for a couple of months like, “What do we want to do, what do we want to do?” and then we just woke up one day and said, “Oh, of course! This is what we want to do.”
“
Start small, and then through time you will get an idea of what you want.
“
Photos By Dahlia Dandashi
By Angela Love Vela I speak to the Moonlight and walk in forbidden paths past neon signs that read “keep out.” I read to the Sunset and kiss her goodnight as she tucks into the horizon for sleep. And amidst the darkness, I wander far, unafraid of night crawlers, the howls, or sounds of animal chewing on bone… I walk alone. And dance like stars who Pirouette in the mysterious purple. For I am one with the night; The wind that sways the branch is the rhythm of my breath. The rooftop is my throne
And the Moon my confidantlistening to every story, following each expression, Guarding every secret. But if I stay silent and close my eyes, I can hear the stories of others she shares in the light. Why should I be afraid of the night and keep my fingers poised on a key when I can speak Moonlight and I am free?
Austin’s Facial Hair Culture Grows Thick By Jane Claire Hervey,Olivia OliviaStarich, Starich, Alex Vickery and Elizabeth Williams By Jane Claire Hervey, Elizabeth Williams and Alex Vickery
For many American men, the onset of “No Shave No-
vember” marks a time of facial hair freedom. The annual cultural trend, which began as a cancer awareness movement by the American Cancer Society, calls for a divorce from the razor in acknowledgement of one’s hairiest self. But for Austin’s habitually bearded citizenry, “No Shave November” is just another month. For these men, facial hair is perennial — and it means business.
In September of this year, a study conducted by men’s grooming company Wahl Home Products found that Austin is the seventh most facial hair-friendly city in America. Using online tools, the company’s market research determined that Austin generally has a positive sentiment toward and a general interest in facial hair. But this love for all things bearded and mustached extends far beyond Internet facial hair forums, to local beard-oriented businesses and organizations that have been active for over a decade. One such organization, the Austin Facial Hair Club, was founded in 2007 by bearded Austinite Bryan Nelson and three friends. The hairy organization first served as a means to gather a team for that year’s World Beard and Mous-
tache Championships in Alaska. Later the club gained its own reality TV show, “Whisker Wars,” which ran for two seasons on one of AMC’s networks, IFC. Although the club’s stint on national television has since ended, Nelson still regularly hosts and participates in local and national beard and mustache competitions: in 2011, his full-bodied face-mane placed second at the U.S. Nationals for the “Full Beard Natural” category. “I haven’t shaved in about nine years,” Nelson says. And it’s obvious. Nelson’s beard extends down to his belt loops. Braided by his wife, the club leader’s facial hair is usually one of the longest at group gatherings. This past weekend at the Hi-Hat bar in East Austin, Nelson and other local beard enthusiasts met over smoked salmon bagels and beer for an Austin Facial Hair Club “Meat and Greet” over roasted salmon bagels and beer. Between bites, they brushed crumbs away from their whiskery mouths and exchanged stories and secrets of their trade — the conversation ranged from debating over the best mustache wax, their recent facial hair growth discoveries and their plans for the future.
“Austin’s going to host the World Beard and Mustache Championship in 2017, so we’re getting geared up for that,” Nelson says. “Most of [the championships] have about 300 competitors and 1,000 spectators, and ours is going to be about 1,000 competitors and 3,000 spectators or more.” While this won’t be Austin’s first foray into facial hair competition, it will be the largest. The club has been hosting annual beard and mustache competitions for several years, and local businesses have started to take part in the fun. In August of this year, downtown bar Cheer Up Charlie’s hosted its first Wet Beard Contest, which offered a spotlight for Austin beardos to flaunt their damp whiskers. On Saturday, Oct. 22, mustache-themed establishment The Handlebar plans to host its 3rd Annual Mustache Competition. Despite the competitive element, Austin Facial Hair Club member Jeff Raye says that the community supports a friendly environment for its bearded and mustached members. “When you walk down the street and you see a guy with a bigger beard, you just kind of give that nod and
that wink to him,” Raye says. “The bigger beard gets the right of way.” Austin’s thriving beard culture has also provided a way for beardgeared business. The Bearded Bastard, the grooming product brainchild of mustached Austinite Jeremiah Newton, began with homemade mustache waxes and beard oils in 2011. Brought on by demand from his bearded friends and local facial hair cultivators, Newton’s home project quickly grew into an online store, and he began marketing his products to a national audience. Now a facial hair authority for publications like The New York Times and Esquire, Newton travels the globe to spread his facial hair gospel. “I created my company because friends wanted to buy it, [and it] just kind of bloomed from there,” Newton says. “I am just a geeky kid who likes to make beautiful things.” When it comes to Newton and members of the Austin Facial Hair Club, beards are more than just a facial feature — they’re a full-time hobby (or in Newton’s case, a profession). But for other local beardos, grow-
ing a beard is simply a part of everyday life. Matty Reininger, bartender at The Mohawk Austin, Crow Bar and previously at mustache-themed Handlebar, says he sports a beard because his job does not require him to shave and he likes the look. “I think most guys, especially when it comes to the Austin Facial Hair Club guys, are just so dedicated. I don’t have that kind of dedication,” Reininger says. And Reininger is right: Growing a competition-ready beard, or even a “nice beard” by beard experts’ standards, takes some effort. To prepare for his beard battles, Austin Facial Hair Club member Dylan Powell says he has purchased special oils and customized beard combs to maintain his beard hair. As a seasoned competition judge beard expert himself, Newton says that he judges others’ facial hair by its cleanliness and shape. Websites like BeardBoard.com, a forum for facial hair diehards, provide how-to guides for beard-growing best practices. In Austin, barber shops like Shed on South First Street offer trims and cuts specifically for bearded men. One of Shed’s managers, Joseph Bellows, says that many bearded and mustached men come into the shop regularly for trims. “Sometimes, it’s a lot easier for them to come here than to trim it themselves at home,” Bellows says. “If you cut the beard the wrong way, you could ruin the entire style.”
Although Austin has developed a niche culture around facial hair over the last decade, Austin Facial Hair Club member and former East Coast native Jared Stotz says that the city is unique for other reasons. He has found that the non-bearded community’s acceptance of facial hair makes Austin’s culture all the more special. “Whereas in some cities where someone might kind of look down their noses at a guy who is not clean-shaven, that’s far less considered here. I go back East, I look like a freak,” Stotz says. “Going to central Maryland, either they think you’re on ‘Duck Dynasty’ or they think you’re some kind of degenerate.” With beard competitions, clubs and businesses, Austin’s facial hair community has surely carved out its own cultural space — but it is by no means restricted to those who take it seriously. “I support all facial hair,” Nelson says. “All facial hair is valid.”
TRAVEL LER DENIM CO.
By Sarah Montgomery
T
ucked within the neighborhoods of Austin’s East Side, a small, dark blue building sits, resembling the contents it contains. Traveller Denim Co. was founded in July of 2013 and since then has served hundreds in the creation of custom, raw denim jeans. Austin’s cultural environment has created a space for small businesses like Traveller Denim Co. to exist, and more than a year of successful sales shows that custom jeans are something that locals are interested in. “You know where it is being made. You know where the fabric is being sourced. You know where the money is going to, down to the thread,” co-founder Selenia Rios says. “You spend $300 on a pair of jeans that will last you five years.”
Traveller Denim Co. was created with the goal of creating a sustainable product. After working for years in the film industry, founders Erik Untersee and Selenia Rios decided to change fields. “We started talking about creating something that’s timeless. It was denim,” Rios says. “We were sick of buying things that were made and outsourced in other countries.”
Jeans sold in department stores often come prewashed and have added wear in order to add style to the jeans, which shortens their lifetime.
All the jeans are made on vintage Singer machines with fabric that is either American or Japanese. “What a lot of people don’t get is that 100 percent brand new cotton is not always the most comfortable thing, so you The company depends on a small team of eight, have to break them in,” Brooks says. “When you’ve who all take on a variety of tasks to keep their put them on, they’ve only ever been folded once.” business running. In addition to their small shop on Chestnut Avenue, they have a factory loca- Brian Takats comes to the shop on a Tuesday aftion off of Bolm Road where the jeans are made. ternoon to try on his new jeans and proceeds to do a series of silly squats and stretches across Robyn Brooks has been working at Traveller Den- the floor. Despite the initial discomfort, Takats im Co. for a little over a year and refers to herself is one of hundreds of customers that think puras a “jean doctor.” Brooks does almost every- chasing raw denim is worth every penny. “When thing from sewing to taking orders, but special- I have things either fitted or measured, I go from izes in making patterns for custom jeans. “With looking good to looking fantastic,” Takats says. every client we have a first fitting, and with that first fitting you get to choose all the details of Traveller Denim Co. plans to grow, but not exthe jeans, but we also have to get to know the ponentially. They will continue producing cusperson a little bit,” Brooks says. “We have to fig- tom jeans and their ready-made line, as well as inure out what style of jean they really want.” creasing their whole sale units to stores around the country. Still, Rios emphasizes the importance Jeans at Traveller Denim Co. are raw, san- of maintaining the small, handmade culture of forized and 100 percent cotton. Raw den- Traveller Denim. “We don’t want to be this huge im has never been washed and has no pre- company. We really want to maintain how spewear. Sanforized means the jeans don’t shrink. cial this is,” Rios says. “We just want to be happy.”
I’ll try to make this short. I remember joining ORANGE back when I was a freshman. Looking back on what seemed to be the demise of magazines at UT, I’m proud of what ORANGE evolved into. I’d like to thank Rebecca Chavoya and Jane Claire Hervey for being wonderful. ORANGE would not be where it is today if it weren’t for them. I always admired their tenacity and leadership skills. They made it look so easy. And I’ll forever be grateful that they allowed me to be style editor. I’ve learned so much in the span of four years. But it feels like just yesterday that I sat in on a Mag Club meeting, feeling anxious and excited as story pitches were being claimed. I could have never gotten through this semester without Kristen Hubby and Dahlia Dandashi. Thanks for the laughs and hilarious group messages, you two. I’m sure we’ll cross paths in the future. I can’t wait to see what the style section turns into with Dahlia as editor. All I know is that if Dahlia and this semester’s writers are involved, it will be grand. These past four years I’ve been surrounded by kind and immensely talented people. I don’t know what I did to deserve this. But it’s been fun. I hope future ORANGE writers, photographers, designers and videographers find as much joy in working for this publication as I did. I’ll try to make this short. I remember joining ORANGE back when I was a freshman. Looking back on what seemed to be the demise of magazines at UT, I’m proud of what ORANGE evolved into. I’d like to thank Rebecca Chavoya and Jane Claire Hervey for being wonderful. ORANGE would not be where it is today if it weren’t for them. I always admired their tenacity and leadership skills. They made it look so easy. And I’ll forever be grateful that they allowed me to be style editor. I’ve learned so much in the span of four years. But it feels like just yesterday that I sat in on a Mag Club meeting, feeling anxious and excited as story pitches were being claimed. I could have never gotten through this semester without Kristen Hubby and Dahlia Dandashi. Thanks for the laughs and hilarious group messages, you two. I’m sure we’ll cross paths in the future. I can’t wait to see what the style section turns into with Dahlia as editor. All I know is that if Dahlia and this semester’s writers are involved, it will be grand. These past four years I’ve been surrounded by kind and immensely talented people. I don’t know what I did to deserve this. But it’s been fun. I hope future ORANGE writers, photographers, designers and videographers find as much joy in working for this publication as I did.
By Elise Cardenas Photos by Theresa Callaway In the back room of an East Austin studio, a corkboard full of aged brass chains and charms hangs on the wall. Necklaces of different lengths wait to receive final touches before their Spring 2015 release. Fashion magazine cut-outs pinned to other corkboards in the room provide creative inspiration. This studio serves as the workspace for Natalie Tischler, owner and jewelry designer of Ornamental Things, an Austin-based jewelry brand. Ornamental Things consists of handmade necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings, all with a special vintage twist. Their pieces range from quirky necklaces, with pendants like golden compasses, mini harmonicas or brass hearts, to art deco dangle earrings and everything in between. The jewelry brand that started in 2004 can now be found in more than 200 retailers nationwide and makes appearances at music festivals across the country. But it took work and perseverance for the brand to have the following it has today.
After moving to Austin, Tischler’s desire to make jewelry only grew. “I was cleaning out my bedroom and I found all these loose beads everywhere, so I wanted to string all my random beads into a necklace,” Tischler says. Shortly after, Tischler enrolled in classes at Austin Community College to learn fabrication skills, like soldering, casting and carving waxes. These courses helped Tischler turn her hobby of 12 years into a successful business. “I went to school during that time, but I was always making jewelry, and I would have aunts and uncles or friends who would say, ‘You should sell your jewelry,’” the designer says.
And she did just that. When she graduated from The University of Texas with a degree in art history, she decided to start a jewelry business. “It seemed like a good business to have. It’s nice to combine Tischler grew up in the small Central Texas town of something that you enjoy doing,” Tischler says. May, where she graduated high school before moving to Austin. Her passion for creating things began early Tens years later, Tischler still continues to do what in her life and never subsided. “When I was in high- she enjoys. She pulls inspiration from nature, arschool I used to sew my own clothes. I would look chitecture, people at music festivals or by flipping at magazines and I would say, ‘I want that skirt,’ and through the latest trends in fashion magazines. then I would figure out how to make it. ” Tischler says.
Ornamental Things employs six people, including Tischler, who design, handcraft and distribute their products. One of the most stressful issues Tischler deals with as a business owner is “trying to strike a balance and hit a good price point that people can afford that also allows [her] to pay [her] workers a good wage.” Their jewelry starts at $18 and maxes out at $78. The result? Handmade jewelry, with gathered parts, from places like flea markets or vintage warehouses. Finding new pieces at flea markets often means making a cast of the piece or creating something similar to reproduce it. “We send things out to get certain processes done, like the enameling, soldering, casting, plating, but we bring everything back to the studio and do all the assembly by hand here,” Tischler says. “[Ornamental Things has] really grown naturally, because I’ve been with Natalie for five years and when we started it was the two of us, and then we started growing, and now we have the staff and the reps and stores all over the country,” Amanda George, assistant designer, says. The brand also sets up at music festivals like Austin City Limits, Pitchfork and Bumpershoot. During the holidays they can be found at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar or Blue Genie Art Bazaar in Austin.
Running a business is tricky, but Tischler has done it well. The success of the brand bookmarks its tenth year in business, and Tischler has big goals for the future. “Eventually Amanda and I want to write a business plan so that we can open an Ornamental Things store. That’s a far-off dream but that’s definitely something we’re working toward,” Tischler says.
JOANNA WILKINSON — A Q&A WITH “KEEP AUSTIN STYLISH” BLOGGER “Keep Austin Stylish” blogger, Joanna Wilkinson, gives ORANGE a look at her current projects and favorite hangout spots in Austin. By Helen Fernandez Images courtesy of Joanna Wilkinson ORANGE: When did you first realize you wanted to write about fashion? Wilkinson: I have never actually had a specific desire to write about fashion; I have just always had a desire to write. As a little kid I imagined one day I would be writing novels. I remember I used to write short stories and staple the pages together to make little books. O: What’s one thing you’ve learned since starting “Keep Austin Stylish”? W: I’ve learned so many things. The most important thing I have learned, though, is probably to be fearless. The first time I ever brought my camera out to an event, I remember being a little scared to go up to people I didn’t know and ask to take their photo. Now I have no shame and no fear to ask for anything I want. I’m also completely unafraid to speak my mind. I’ve learned that people really appreciate reading an opinion when they know it’s an honest one.
completely full time. O: What kind of advice do you have for people who want to start blogging in Austin? W: Not to sound like a Nike commercial or anything, but just do it! Blogging is easy. I think the thing that scares people off from it is the fear that it won’t be good enough or that no one will look at it. When I first started my blog it looked completely different than it does now, and the first few posts probably got lost in the Internet abyss and were never read by anyone. It takes time to get into the groove of blogging and to find your voice and to find your audience. You might never become successful as a blogger (who is, really?) but you’ll definitely never even come close to being successful at it if you don’t try. O: Tell me about Once Bitten, your online store. What inspired you to start the shop? What do you hope for it to become?
O: Do you prefer writing or taking photos? W: I ask myself this question sometimes, and I’m still not sure of the answer. I like both, but I think writing has probably always come more naturally to me. I think I’m a good photographer, but it’s not something I would ever feel comfortable doing
W: My blog, as well as the jobs I have had during the last several years, have all made me realize that I love building a brand. After building my own personal brand over the last few years, I decided it was time to build a brand that wasn’t based around me as a person. I have always
wanted to have my own store, but the timing just never felt right. At this point I feel completely confident in myself to build a brand, be a boss, and make some money doing something I love — which is bringing my style and vision to people who love getting dressed every day and who smile when they look in the mirror. Once Bitten will be a collection of brands of clothing and accessories that are classic and minimal with a fun playful edge. In the future I would love to work with local designers and other up and coming designers across the country to put out small batches of unique collections. O: Favorite piece of clothing in your closet right now? W: It’s getting a little too cold for it now, but I have a vintage 90s Guess jean jacket that I have been wearing nonstop for a while now. Next up I think will be the big oversized tartan plaid scarf I bought for winter. O: Favorite place for vintage finds? W: I love thrifting at really cheap places like Goodwill, but when I’m not in the mood to dig, Feathers is the ultimate place for vintage goodies. O: What are you currently reading? W: I still haven’t finished Lena Dunham’s “Not That Kind of Girl” yet. At any given time I’m always halfway through a handful of several different books. O: Favorite place to have coffee in Austin? W: I don’t drink coffee! But, regardless, I do like hanging out and getting work done at coffee shops and Austin has a ton of cool ones. My go-to spots are probably Jo’s, Cenote and Brew & Brew. O: Where do you see yourself in five years? W: In five years, I think I would love to still be rockin’ it with my online store, writing movie scripts on the side for fun and taking time off here and there to travel with some really cool guy I haven’t met yet.
Eating has transcended its role as mere sustenance to becoming an
exciting hobby. With award-winning restaurants scattered throughout the city, what better place to get your grub on than Austin? The Food + Drink team has created a list of their favorite restaurants. Keep these popular spots in mind for the next time you are faced with the toughest decision of your day: What to grab for lunch.
Photos by Kristen Hubby & Theresa Callaway
Josephine House
by Briana Zamora In historic Clarksville on Waterston Street, the Josephine House is an elegant blue house offering a casual yet sophisticated f ine-dining experience. Wes Anderson-esque in its attention to detail, the prime lunch spot offers intricate flower arrangements, monogrammed cocktail napkins and comfortable seating on its breezy patio or in its quaint, white-washed dining room. Featuring an eclectic daily menu, the restaurant serves interpretations of classic American dishes, like adding persimmon chutney and apple and kohlrabi sauce to a grilled cheese sandwich. Even the dessert menu features re-imagined classics, like the pear upside-down cake with with molasses and prune Armagnac ice cream.
Franklin Barbecue
by Elise Cardenas If you are lucky, the barbecue gods may grant you the opportunity to enter Franklin Barbecue. Located on East 11th Street, Franklin only serves barbecue from 11 a.m. until they sell out. Outside the aqua blue and white restaurant, long lines of people form hours before the restaurant opens in hopes of enjoying the famous brisket. Once inside, the decisions are simple. Classic by-the-pound barbecue options include brisket, ribs, pulled pork, turkey and sausage. The Tipsy Texan sandwich is an alternative for those who want to try a little bit of everything. Two buns filled with moist smoky brisket, slices of sausage, coleslaw and pickles can give taste buds a sense of real Texas barbecue for $8.
Home Slice
by Samantha Uzzell My favorite restaurant in Austin is probably the most Austin-like restaurant of all Austin restaurants. It comes with an atmosphere that would be great for a date with a special someone, a casual lunch with your best friends or dinner with visiting family. It’s Home Slice pizza, right in the middle of the iconic South Congress Street. I love this restaurant, not only for its welcoming vibe, but also for its delicious pizza. With all natural ingredients, any combination of cheese, toppings and sauce, the pizza does not disappoint. Also, if you don’t feel like sitting in the restaurant, there is a super efficient togo window right next door. And if pizza isn’t enough, try out their huge rice krispy treats for only $3.50. When you’re done gorging, you can enjoy the rest of the ultra-hip district on SoCo.
The Backspace
by Elena Mejia Behind the hectic environment of Sixth Street, there is a hidden gem from Southern Italy at 507 San Jacinto Street. This Neapolitan-style pizzeria, The Backspace, leaves behind the college bar scene in favor of a fancy, dim room. With candle-lit dinner tables and vintage red, long curtains covering the windows, a flavorsome smell of wood-fired pizza and fresh mozzarella takes over. A broad list of white and red wine from Italy’s prized vineyards offers a selection of rich flavors. The menu has antipasti and appetizers to share, followed by authentic Italian pizzas, including prosciutto or egg as an extra.
Juan in a Million
by Madeline Lincoln This Tex-Mex dive is right at home sandwiched between a food mart and a neighborhood church. The weathered bars on the windows are probably meant to keep the customers from crawling through them. As you pull open the door, a wave of sound washes over you: People laughing, servers taking orders, the cooks frantically slapping freshly made tortillas onto plates. The rectangular room is usually at maximum occupancy. Hungry customers stand by the entrance, salivating at the smell of authentic Mexican dishes coming from the kitchen. The lucky ones are sitting down, enjoying the delicious Don Juan, a gigantic breakfast taco with fresh eggs, crispy bacon, tender potatoes and velvety cheese, all embraced by a homemade tortilla. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s heaven on a plate.
Torchy’s
by Jenna Khakoo As a freshman without a car, eating somewhere other than the dining halls is a rare occurrence that must be enjoyed to the fullest. Torchy’s is my getaway. Each taco is a delightful combination made with fresh ingredients. Other components, like the Maine Root soda and chips and queso, take Torchy’s to the next level. It’s an accessible meal that is sure to satisfy.
Swift’s Attic
by Madison Hamilton Perched above the Elephant Room on Third Street and Congress Ave. lies a swanky gastropub. Unlike many trendy restaurants, Swift’s Attic delivers in both style and food. Intricate chandeliers made with buckets and bird cages mesmerize until the waiter brings out an ice ball cocktail and appetizer of strawberry and lardo. The entire menu is made up of unusual combinations, like squid fries that are meant to be shared among the table. Even the brunch menu, which offers $1 mimosas, has funky but delicious items such as foie gras peanut butter and jelly pancakes.
Kerbey Lane
by Faith Ruszkowski A list of favorite restaurants wouldn’t be complete without Kerbey Lane. Known for their delicious pancakes, the 24hour diner on Guadalupe has been the preferred setting for college students’ late night noms since 2000. It is practically mandatory to treat out-of-towners to the restaurant’s Kerbey queso and specialty pancakes. Next time you venture over to Kerbey Lane, break out of your pancakes and queso rut. Try their panini or one of several seasonal menu items, which often feature vegan options. These dishes deserve just as much praise as the incredible queso.
By Angela Love Vela My Spirit sings in South Dakota and echoes throughout the West. The Drum that beats near Arizona is the heart pounding in my chest. My body howls in land of Coyote But I know after its death, my ashes will scatter in these places for Earth to inhale in one breath. And I will be the red dirt roads where Earth and Sky meet! And I will be the scared grounds that kiss moccasin-feet! In the Black Hills of Bear Butte
I have tied my prayer ties and mourned for the language lost like the desolate Lone Wolf cries. It was my own reflection I saw trapped in a museum’s glass case that reminded me of my connections of which I can no longer trace. But my spirit song soars with the Eagle that crosses the Great Divide! And crescendos where I laid my head where the Four Corners collide. And until my ashes mingle with the legends I am always told, I’ll cherish them in memories and beware the glitter of gold.
: GIBRONI’S Story by Madison Hamilton Video by Mikaela Casas and Madison Hamilton There are more than 1,000 registered food trucks in Austin. Unlike restaurant chains, the majority of these mobile establishments were started by one person with a dream — and Gibroni’s Texitalican Kitchen is no exception. Growing up in Detroit, Michigan, Anthony (Tony) Gioutsos spent the majority of his childhood in his grandfather’s restaurant. After getting married and moving to Austin, Tony knew he wanted to continue working in the food industry. He began bar tending at Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden, with the goal of saving up enough money to open his own place. That day finally came on Nov. 13. With help from his wife Lindsey, as well as his best friend and chef, Maximiliano (Max) Berjes, Gibroni’s Texitalican Kitchen was born.
Much like the food, the truck is one of a kind. Parked outside of Bar2211 in the up-and-coming East Austin neighborhood, Gibroni’s dons a giant colorful sugar skull on the side of their deliberately torched wooden truck. Unlike most food trucks, Gibroni’s doesn’t take orders from a side window. Instead, you must walk around to the back porch where stairs lead up to the order window. The porch area is decked out with photos of Tony’s family, as well as Gibroni’s merchandise. While ordering, you can grab a Sharpie and make your mark on the ceiling of the food truck. Instead of receiving a number for your order, Tony Gibroni gives you an option of different celebrities to choose from (Frank Sinatra to Joe Pesci being two of many).
Unlike any other food truck, Gibroni’s combines After 30 years in the food industry, Tony’s dream Texas, Italian and Mexican style dishes — also has become a reality with a truck that reflects known as “Texitalican.” The menu ranges from both his upbringing and animated personality. a hefty $9 brisket pasta to $6 chorizo bruschetta.
Story by Briana Zamora Photos by Hannak Vickers
Their bins filled to the brim with banana peels, cat hair and coffee grounds, a fleet of retrofitted cargo bikes and trikes crisscross through east side neighborhoods collecting an odd array of waste and transporting it to local farms. The fleet belongs to East Side Compost Pedallers, a 100 percent bike-powered compost recycling program that collects organic waste from eastside neighborhoods. The Pedallers deliver the compost to urban farms and local gardening projects where the collected organics are returned to the soil and reinvested in the local economy. Since their first collection in December 2012, the program has provided 45,838 pounds of compost to local growers and kept 183,354 pounds of scrapple — compostable food scraps and other organic materials — out of landfills. Since its inception less than two years ago, East Side Compost Pedallers has received the Critic’s Choice and People’s Choice for Best Green Business, two Austin Chronicle Best of Austin Awards, and gained an identity as the embodiment of Austin’s sustainable food movement. Dustin Fedako, founder of East Side Compost Pedallers and UT alumnus, began the project to facilitate a constructive relationship between unnecessary food waste and local producers in need of compost. “A third of the stuff that you are hauling out of your house to the landfill is actually a valuable resource,” Fedako says. “We’re here to make sure you never have to put your resource in the trash again.” According to Fedako, composting provides a stronger sense of belonging and strengthens the relationship of the individual to the natural world. “Compost is a kind of magical, dare I say spiritual, process where you are taking lifeless materials to fertilize soil, to grow food, to create life,” Fedako says. “It directly connects you to the planet we live on, and it is truly
amazing how such a small action can bring you closer to the cycle of life and your role in it.” Roommates and UT students Lucia Alanis and Mikhaela Locklear began composting with East Side Compost Pedallers after realizing just how many things can be composted. “We decided to compost because we felt guilty throwing away leftover food,” Alanis says. “When we found out that coffee and coffee filters could be composted, we decided to do it. We drink plenty of coffee in our house, so might as well compost the remains.”
“Compost is a kind of magical, dare I say, spiritual, process.”
Because the program’s transportation method runs on fat and not fossil fuel, the entire process produces zero emissions. Additionally, the service contributes to a reduction in methane. The business has prevented 28.24 tons of methane from being released into the atmosphere. “We are in the business of turning waste into food,” Fedako says. “We are beyond zero waste. We are negative waste and the numbers loudly attest to that.” Fostering an educated and active community is crucial to The Pedallers idea of sustainability. Facilitating neighborly conversation it is so important to the project’s identity that they established their headquarters in East Austin. “We are a composting program, but above all we are a community,” Fedako adds. The Pedallers currently serve the area east of I35, with the Hwy 183 and the Colorado River as their upper and lower borders. While the Pedallers plan to expand to meet the demands of their growing following, the initiative is determined to maintain its core values: sustainability, community, simplicity, and creativity. “Everything we do is in coordination with our overall goal to preserve Austin’s unique culture and to enrich the local community by fostering meaningful relationships,” Fedako says.
Before the Austin Passbook, there was PayPal. To three struggling college girls who stay torn between spending our last 20 dollars on a new piece to hang in our closet and food to survive, PayPal was truly heaven-sent. Yes, PayPal is widely known as a method of payment, but it also has an “offers” feature that many people are not aware of. It was after we downloaded the PayPal app on our smart phones that we discovered new restaurants and food trucks around Austin. From well-known spots like Ramen Tatsuya to quaint gems like La Patisserie, PayPal’s coupons offer something for everyone’s palate. Aside from being semi-broke retail addicts, we are foodies. PayPal’s offers have led us to trying some of our now-favorite places in Austin. When we’re hungry — usually always — we check our PayPal app and decide what food adventure we will be embarking on from there. We’ve made a list of the top seven places our foodie souls love to indulge in.
Story by Ashley Lopez, Kristen Hubby & Dahlia Dandashi Photos by Kristen Hubby & Dahlia Dandashi
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Mellizoz Dahlia Dandashi You haven’t had real tacos until you’ve had Mellizoz tacos. For me, it was love at first sight. Whether you love chicken, shrimp, pork or simple fried avocado, Mellizoz caters to all you loco taco lovers. I’m not sure if it’s the cilantro lime aioli, the salsa fresca or the rest of the sauces that makes these tacos so damn good. On top of it all, their garlic fries are to die for and can be perfectly paired with a couple of delicious tacos. Ramen Tatsuya Kristen Hubby CAUTION: Just one spoonful of the broth can get you hooked on the magical world of Ramen Tatsuya. This restaurant does not serve you the cheap ramen you buy when you only have a dollar to your name. If it did, the line wouldn’t be out of the door everyday. Ramen Tatsuya brings you a bowl of life changing ramen with savory pork broth, wood-ear mushrooms, soy-braised pork belly (Chashu), marinated soft boiled egg (Ajitama) and scallions. My ideal meal is a bowl of their Sweet & Sour Yodas, which are fried brussel sprouts tossed in apricot vinegar and curry spice for an appetizer, and the Tonkotsu Sho-Yu ramen with an extra ajitama and spicy bomb to make things exciting. I cannot stop thinking of the delicious dishes they have to offer, and I would eat here every day of my life, if given the chance.
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Turf n’ Surf Dahlia Dandashi Surf your way on over to Turf n’ Surf, because this place is unreal. The cajun-style food is handcrafted, colorful and packed with irresistible goodness. Their buffalo chicken po-boy is a mouth-watering meal, and their famous shrimp po-boy steals the show with mind-blowing flavor. If you’re lucky, you can reach a level of Nirvana with their sliced brisket during big events, like SXSW or ACL. You have the choice to fry, grill or blacken your choice of meat, making it easy for foodies to customize their po-boy or taco. To top it all off, you can (and should) order a plate of the cilantro fries or jalapeño hush puppies to perfect your lunch or dinner. They complement every meal with their blue cheese, ranch and fresh veggies. Like me, you’ll find yourself needing more.
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Blenders and Bowls Ashley Lopez I first stumbled upon Blenders and Bowls my freshman year when their truck was located in the West Campus food park. It changed my life (but fuh-real). Their O.G. bowl is a medley of acai, hemp granola, bananas, strawberries and honey. If you’re like me, you’re probably wondering what in the world acai is, but here’s the best way to explain it: it’s some really good purple ish that’s really good for you. Go to Blenders and Bowls, order the O.G., and your life will also change.
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Texas Cuban Ashley Lopez Texas Cuban definitely speaks my Latina language. Their tostones, which are smashed and fried plantains, remind me of the ones my grandmother makes me back home — salty with just the right amount of sweet. If you’ve never tried plantains and are looking for a place to experiment, Texas Cuban makes them in a variety of authentic ways. The “El Cubano” sandwich is another must-try on their menu.
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Juice Austin Kristen Hubby Nestled on South Congress, Juice Austin offers smoothies and juices for every person. If the names aren’t cute enough, then the friendly service will help you with the tough decision on what to get. You can’t go wrong with their refreshing Sweet Pea juice made of pineapple, apple, lemon and kale. Or, if you’re craving a smoothie, the Coco Burning Love, with coconut meat, banana, dates, cinnamon, spinach, almond butter and coconut water, will surely leave you with a tear when it is over. The greatest thing about their smoothies is that every one is made fresh, with raw and local ingredients from Texas-based farms and co-ops, so you feel good inside and out. Burro Cheese Kitchen Kristen Hubby It is universally known that cheese is the best, and bread is practically its own food group, so if we add the two together we can all agree grilled cheese is a sandwhich sent from the gods. Located on South Congress, the yellow food truck can be easily spotted if your sense of smell doesn’t find it first. It is always hard to decide which one to get but the best one in my opinion is the Waylon & Willie, with sourdough, aged cheddar, gouda, caramelized onions, pepperoncinis and spicy maple bacon sauce. You can go ahead and wipe the drool off of your face and try one for yourself!
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Trial by fire is good for two things
Learning something quickly
Or dying really fast
1. I watched a video in which NYPD officers turn a grown man into a whisper
All that big all that black be too loud be charred edges be burnt food and a bad aftertaste 2. When we openly set fire to the cages you’ve built because our bodies have become a furnace You will shudder This Self immolation and asks If he could die quieter
Every time I see a Black man or Black child or
Black woman’s fire go out I loose a little shimmer
3. I watch a video in which a black boy lays slain on corner of Brute force and apathy I watch the concrete make a mortuary of his bones I watch the blood leave his body like it knew it was unwelcome here I watch a mother lose her tomorrow I watch a tomorrow become yesterday and soon enough yesterday will be forgotten 4. There is a place where lost boys go to lose their names They say never land be filled with Blacks boys choking on white flags They say black boys be nothing and nothing takes up a whole lot of space They say it ain’t enough to be nothing
They say you best be breathing a void to They say you best stop existing because we ain’t got time for a trial and you ain’t worth being seen Boy being seen as human is expensive and you are an economic burden. 5. Black folks taste good to a belly that don’t end. Black folks be fodder to something Black folks be something to a whole lot of nothing. 6. There is a fire beneath my feet and this is a purging This a me learning how black boys survive with their mouths shut gasping This is me unphased because none of this is actually news None of this is actually new Most of y’all forgot what you ate last night How you gon’ remember those who are still being digested See I been knowin this skin for a while been wearin it like a poorly whispered secret been knowin how white folks see a shooting gallery in my wake been barely By Chucky Black
7. There is a fire beneath my feet and it’s eating all the oxygen 8. My body is a church on fire My body is Alexandria burning My body is a boy catching fire I have no control over who is trying to put me out
Story by Rahul Naik Graphic by Courtney James
Ray Rice. Kendall Sanders. Montrel Meander. Each
man was a former high-profile football player. Each man committed an act of assault or abuse against a woman. Rice is currently out of a job after being released from his longtime team, the Baltimore Ravens. Sanders and Meander have been suspended from the University of Texas football team and are awaiting trial as well as a judicial review, which could result in their expulsion.
ple. Texas is one of many states that reflect this reality. “One in three adult Texans — a total of 5,353,434 adult Texans — have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime,” according to a report, titled “Statewide Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence in Texas,” conducted in June 2011 by UT’s School of Social Work. Each case is just as impactful as the next in bringing awareness to the domestic abuse issue. Each survivor represents the strength to eradicate this behavior rather than let it continue on a track of increasing occurrence.
However, football players are not the only perpetrators of sexual abuse and domestic violence. In fact, neither At UT, three varsity athletes were at the center of are athletes. Sexual abuse and domestic violence can vic- abuse cases in July and August 2014. They were timize everyone and anyone can be an abusive partner. not the only cases of violence and abuse to happen on the UT campus last year, but they were the only As sexual abuse and domestic violence rose to the fore- ones that most students and the general public heard front of public issues, the Obama administration passed about, given the high-profile status of each athlete. federal legislation, called “It’s On Us,” and appointed a task force to help end sexual abuse and violence on college “It’s important to recognize that this is an issue across campuses, indicating progress from the top. High-profile ethnicities, sexual orientations and college campuscases like that involving Ray Rice, that involving a basket- es nationwide,” says Dr. Jane Bost, director of Voicball player from the University of Texas and one involv- es Against Violence at UT. “It’s not a new probing two UT football players, were magnified and scruti- lem, but recent stories have brought it to light.” nized to a great degree. Despite all of the recent attention, sexual abuse and domestic violence, especially on college The frequency at which these atrocities occur on colcampuses, show no signs of slowing down. This has lege campuses is alarming. For teenage girls on their moved students into action. High-profile movements like own and fully independent for the first time, Amerthose at Stanford, Harvard and Columbia, have attempt- ican campuses are becoming dangerous places. ed to shine a brighter light on the issue. But the brightness of the spotlight may not be the problem. The great- “The college town of Missoula, Montana, saw at least 80 er problem may be that we are not really listening at all. reported rapes over three years, earning it the name ‘AmeriWhen allegations and video of domestic violence came out against Ray Rice in February, great uproar and a general hoopla surrounding the case ensued. What unfolded in that elevator in Atlantic City was examined under a public microscope and brought much-needed attention to the issue. Domestic violence is a rising problem within the NFL, and that was exposed by the Rice case.
ca’s Rape Capital.’ But the nickname has it wrong. Missoula isn’t special; it is fairly average,” TIME Magazine reported. “Recent research shows that 1 in 5 women is the victim of an attempted or completed sexual assault during college.”
The misinformation and insensitivity used in dealing with Missoula is indicative of how the media and general public view the topic of sexual assault on college campuses, which only contributes to a general disregard of the issue. According to ESPN statistics affiliate, FiveThir- Dubbing the town “America’s Rape Capital,” although tyEight, “domestic violence accounts for 48 per- its statistics are rather avrage, makes rape cases in other cent of arrests for violent crimes among NFL play- towns seem trivial. (Using rape as a general characteristic ers, compared to an estimated 21 percent nationally.” to distinguish a town is also an insult to survivors of rape.) At the same time, just because professional athletes are celebrities closely followed by media outlets does not mean that their cases are more important than the average domestic abuse cases that happen behind closed doors to seemingly average peo-
The sadly paradoxical part of the issue is that assault and abuse are pervasive across college campuses around the country, yet they are rarely reported. A large cause of this is concern about the potential damage a situation like rape can do to one’s reputation. This says a
lot about the status of culture in the United States to- dia rarely portrays a typical survivor of domestic or sexual day. This mindset tells us that social status trumps abuse as a male, so it can be easy for the public to ignore all, even when it could cost health and well-being. the fact that men can be just as victimized as women. “We live in a rape culture. In the U.S., this has been going on for many years. It’s endemic to the culture. Messages from our culture say that men and women are supposed to be a certain way,” Bost says. “If a girl dresses a certain way, then she’s ‘asking for it.’ This leads to an abuse in power and control.”
“We live in a rape culture.”
-Dr. Jane Bost, director of Voices Against Violence at UT
A recent article in Rolling Stone, documenting a rape at the University of Virginia, gives some context to the cultural problem America faces today. A sexual assault survivor, “Jackie,” recounts that she called some friends to pick her up from the fraternity house in which she was raped, minutes after it happened. A few minutes after friends came and picked her up, they began debating whether or not to ever tell anyone about the incident.
According to the June 2011 statewide Texas study, “26.8 percent of Texas men have experienced at least one type of abuse over the course of their lifetime.” “Male and homosexual survivors are very common as well and we’re here for them just as much as we’re here for our female survivors,” Bost adds. Consent is a topic that incurs more of a gray area and has been widely discussed and debated. The concept of consent is so important because it is often the ultimate factor in determining whether mutual sex or rape occurred. According to the Voices Against Violence website, consent to sexual activity is “an enthusiastic mutual agreement that can be revoked at any time for any reason; a conversation that requires consciousness and clarity; asking not assuming (a yes to one thing does not imply a yes to all things); and assent, meaning to agree to something after thoughtful consideration.” Factoring the rampant alcohol consumption that occurs across most college campuses into getting sexual consent by definition is a complex matter, and like most situations involving high amounts of alcohol consumption, must be dealt with using good judgment.
“‘She’s gonna be the girl who cried rape, and we’ll never be allowed into any frat party again,’ said Cindy, Jackie’s ‘friend.’” “The issue with alcohol is extremely important, and it’s very important to actually think before having sex with Many students do not go through with telling anyone another person. If someone does not have full clariabout the rape of their own friends for fear of social ty or consciousness, then they cannot give consent,” repercussions. And the recent unraveling of Jackie’s Bost says. “The responsibility sits on the shoulders story, in which Rolling Stone discovered some parts of the initiator, and conversation needs to happen.” of her accusations may be false, only further perpetuate these fears. Once the media has a survivor’s nar- Responsibility. There lies a key word in combating this rative, those who come forward risk public scrutiny. issue on campuses and in general. You, as a human being, should feel a respect or responsibility for the wellMedia and public portrayal of survivors of both sexual being of your fellow human beings. Your friends. and domestic abuse form a general image of what these Your family. You should contribute to this wellbeing people are supposed to look like. But it can be easy to for- in those you have relations with — not take it away. get that women are not, by any means, the only survivors of sexual and domestic abuse. For example, when the Multiple steps, such as the Title IX task force; the Get Rice case broke, there was a general outcry and increased Sexy, Get Consent program; and the BeVocal initiaawareness for violence against women. It was clear that tive, have been taken to combat sexual and domesRice was the aggressor and perpetrator during the inci- tic violence at UT. In the end, though, the success dent. When Solange Knowles assaulted Jay-Z in a New of these initiatives depends on how we use them. York City hotel in May, however, most wondered what Jay-Z had done to her. The media treated the survivors of Now, more than ever, combating sexual and domestic vithe incident with more ambiguity, despite the video evi- olence is on us. dence that shows Jay-Z being assaulted by Knowles. Me-
By Alexa Harrington
T
hursday afternoon, a smiling girl with long brown hair leads her 3D film class in a workshop. With an intense look of concentration and an unbreakable train of thought, she works with her camera. Like an artist creating a masterpiece, Hannah Whisenant’s focus cannot be broken, except, of course, when she laughs at something particularly amusing. Early Saturday evening, a typical student film crew shoots a class project in a hot, cramped West Campus apartment. The female leader of the crew lugs around a cumbersome 35mm camera, which is completely disproportionate to the size of the apartment and to the size of the woman carrying it. When she gives orders to the male technicians, this leader, the tall and slender Nikki Dengel embodies grace and femininity while asserting dominance. It wasn’t until she watched the University of Texas at Austin School of Communication graduation ceremony that Dengel realized the Radio-Television-Film (RTF) major is a fairly balanced major between men and women. “I’ve never had better than a 5:1 ratio [of men to women] in class, so I always kind of assumed that there are more men in RTF,” Dengel says.
In 2013, women accounted for only 16 percent of all directors, executive producers, producers, writers, cinematographers and editors, according to The Celluloid Ceiling, a study of women’s behind-the-scenes employment in film, conducted by The Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University. If the number of men and women in RTF is about even, then where are all of the women in film going after they graduate from college? “I think that sometimes girls are intimidated by the guys being more technical, so they feel less comfortable in [technical] classes, and then they don’t end up learning those skills, and then they don’t pursue it,” Whisenant says. “Guys typically get into production, camera and gripping and gaffing stuff, and there are a lot of opportunities for that.” It’s these technical jobs that act as a shoe-in to the industry. If women are not learning these technical skills in school, it is easy to see how making their way into the film industry would be difficult. At the same time, women are also more likely to forgo their careers in pursuit of a family. There are multiple factors that affect women’s involvement int he film industry.
connect with each other and work in positions they might not have normally been interested in. Through Women in Cinema, Whisenant was able to work on an all-female set, which she says was a nice change from the usual male-dominated nature of filmmaking. However, Dengel says, “There is nothing about UT that ever discourages women. No one has ever said to me ‘You should be doing producing rather than directing, or this rather than that,’ but I think that women are frequently taught to play it safe while men are taught to take risks and follow their dreams. It’s kind of cheesy — ‘follow their dreams’ — but it’s true.” UT employs several female film professors — Kat Candler, Ellen Spiro, Nancy Schiesari, for example — but men mostly teach the production classes, and those few women are the exceptions.
“I don’t know if that’s because she’s a woman or not, but I mean, it’s kind of nice to have a female role model to look up to,” Dengel says. Dengel’s role models include Farah Khan and Candler. “My one celebrity, big-name role model is Farah Khan. She works in Bollywood. She started out doing choreography, but she recently started writing and directing and has been a big success. I love her movies more than anything,” Denge says.. “When you listen to interviews with her, she’s very aware of her place in the film world… She’s Muslim whereas most [Bollywood] directors are Hindu, but she’s never antagonistic or bitter about her minority status, and she slowly works with the system to bring out better changes about the portrayal of women in film.”
“I have a guest female teacher for my 3D film class right now. I really like having her, and I like that she does stereography, which is a very technical job,” Whisenant says with excitement. “We really connected. I didn’t think having a female teacher would affect me until I had one.” Candler, aside from teaching at UT, is a writer and director. She Dengel has noticed that a lot of fe- also founded Women In Cinemale students choose to have a female ma, an official UT Student Orgaprofessor when they have the option. nization that provides mentoring For example, Schiesari’s narrative and workshops in camera, lighting production class has a better ratio of and sound for student filmmakers. men to women, according to Dengel. Women in Cinema helps women
“On set, sometimes it’s hard to feel comfortable when you’re one of the only girls,” Whisenant says. “I feel more pressure of not messing up or looking like I don’t know what I’m doing because I’m the odd man out.” Or
the
odd
woman
out.
On the other hand, Whisenant says finding a woman to fit every role for the all-female set was difficult. As one of the women interested in the more technical positions, Whisenant noticed that some women in RTF end up being competitive with the other women on set instead of working together to fill a wider variety of positions. “I think we feel like we have to prove something because we’re girls, and it keeps us from lifting each other up,” Whisenant says. “But I’m happy to see more girls in RTF, and I think we should really band together.” Dengel agrees that women in RTF and film in general should support each other. “I think that if you can’t trust your teammates, you’ve got no one,” Dengel says. “We’re all a team and we are all in this together.”
Story by Emily Gibson Graphic by Courtney James Art by Crystal Garcia
I
In South Korea, gaming isn’t a hobby. It’s a culture. Professional gaming teams live together alongside their coaches in luxurious apartments. They’re A-List celebrities – they sign autographs as they walk down the street and have six-figure incomes. And, usually, they’re recruited while they’re still in high school. For non-professional gamers, “PC Bangs” are a common social hangout. Inside these PC Bangs, or “PC room” in English, people can play online multiplayer games for an hourly fee. They serve drinks and snacks and allow players to smoke while they play, catering to people who spend 10 to 12 hours of their day inside. South Korea’s enthusiasm for professional gaming has begun to spread across the world. Worldwide competitions for games like League of Legends, StarCraft and DoTA 2 attract millions of viewers and give out thousands of dollars in prize money. On Oct. 19, a group of people huddled around a television in Austin’s Forte Lounge and Café to watch the World Championship of online battle-arena game, League of Legends. People around the globe streamed the event from their homes while over 40,000 people gathered in Seoul’s Sangam Stadium to watch the South Korean team, Samsung Galaxy White, defeat the Chinese team, Star Horn Royal Club, live. Tickets to attend the live event sold out.
[
This year’s opening ceremony featured alt-rock band Imagine Dragons performing the song they wrote for the game, “Warriors.” Commentators offered people streaming the event a live play-by-play, people dressed up to look like characters from the game and screamed in support of their favorite team. Confetti fell from the ceiling when the game was finished. After winning, Samsung Galaxy White took home $1 million in prize money and a 70-pound trophy called “The Summoner’s Cup.”
It was estimated that this year’s online streaming viewership of the Worlds would surpass last year’s 32 million. The final game of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which was hosted at Sangam Stadium just 12 years ago, averaged around 17 million viewers in the United States.
Over the past few years, video gaming has grown exponentially. According to the New York Times, the video gaming industry makes $20 billion more globally than the music industry and is catching up to the movie business. Professional gaming leagues — like Major League Gaming and the Electronic Sports League — have been founded in America and Europe, respectively, and host tournaments for a variety of games. The eSports Association (TeSPA), which was started at the University of Texas at Austin and has since expanded, is a competitive network between gaming teams on college campuses across the country. Despite the rising popularity of competitive video gaming, some are still reluctant to use the word “sport” in relation to the phenomenon. In a survey conducted in Austin, only 31 percent of people considered gamers athletes and video games sports. Juan Nevarez, the current president of the UT chapter of TeSPA, believes that competitive gamers should be considered athletes.
“I understand that it is kind of hard for most people to wrap their heads around the concept of eSports, but quite frankly I think the word athlete is the one that describes professional gamers the best,” Nevarez says. “These are people who are among the most skilled at the games they compete in. They are making a living out of what they are most proficient at, just like your average athlete.”
“These are people who are among the most skilled at the games they compete in. They are making a living out of what they are most proficient at, just like your average athlete.” —Juan Nevarez
Nevarez became interested in TeSPA when he started ings and performance during a tryout process. playing League of Legends. For him, it has been one of the best things about his college experience because it Here in Austin, only 35 percent of people surveyed was created “for and by people who have a passion for thought UT should start awarding a similar scholarship. gaming.” Greg Baker, associate director of Information TechMcVay Bennett, a competitive gamer living in Austin, nology services at UT, thinks that colleges should offer thinks that if gamers were considered athletes, people scholarships to gamers in the future, but not until there would begin to think differently of the word – being an is a more structured network of gaming programs. athlete is not just about physical skills, but also reflexes and mental processing. “Not yet,” Baker says. “Colleges should give scholarships to gamers when the gaming team is a professional colAccording to him, if other reflex and mental-based lege organization – when they have to show up for praccompetitors – like professional racecar drivers – are tice everyday like baseball or basketball, or any other going to be considered athletes, gamers should be, too. official sport.” “Neither have to run faster, longer, lift more or jump higher than anyone else – but they all have to have razor focus, incredibly fast reflexes and the ability to withstand long periods of times in tight conditions while maintaining that extreme focus,” Bennett says of drivers and gamers.
The world of competitive video gaming can seem daunting and vast, but Bennett urges newcomers and onlookers to ignore the negative stigmas surrounding video gamers. He recalls the people he played alongside at the 2003 Cyberathlete Professional League tournaments in Dallas, where he went by Thrash.
Although ESPN President John Skipper stated in September that eSports are not valid and should not be broadcast on the popular sports network, the League of Legends Worlds were aired on ESPN3, as was the championship of online battle-arena game DoTA 2 earlier in the year. Nevarez believes it won’t be long until video gaming competitions are a regular part of channel schedules.
“They were all average teenagers,” Bennett says. “Some were athletic, some a bit geeky — all of them were just people in a very normal sense. We had parties, drank, did stupid shit and happened to be very good at video games.”
They’ve already started making their way onto college campuses. This fall, Robert Morris University in Chicago became the first institution to offer an athletic scholarship to competitive video gamers. “Although eSports have long been a part of the culture of gaming, competitions have seen a large surge in popularity in recent years. Robert Morris University recognizes the value and legitimacy of eSports and is excited to add eSports to its already rich athletic program,” the school wrote on their athletics website. The cent and will
scholarship will cover up to 50 perof tuition and 50 percent of room board. To receive the money, gamers be ranked based on their rat-
We University of Texas at Austin students all come from different backgrounds. We have different names, different clothes and different accents. Despite these differences, we all share the label of UT student, and there are six stages of life all UT students can expect to go through.
You have endured it all — the angst of seventh grade, the transition of ninth grade, the senioritis of 12th grade — and finally you made it. Finally, you feel as if you truly belong. That night, you felt so small, hidden among rows of students, as you put your horns up and sang a reassuring song about Texas keeping its eyes on you. At the same time, you felt so big. As the tower lit up orange, you felt yourself on the precipice of a new chapter in your life, one titled “What starts here, changes the world.”
You will never lose that Longhorn pride, no matter how many games Texas loses to Brigham Young University, and a tailgate party is the perfect way to express that pride. To an outsider, it might all seem very empty. After all, on the surface, you do little more than grill burgers, drink beer and talk football. But you know that the tailgate represents something much grander. It represents the camaraderie you feel as you and your fellow Longhorns turn to the future, Texas pride painted on your faces.
Austin is sometimes called the blueberry in the tomato soup, and you plan to take full advantage of this fact. No pair of jeans is too tight; no band is too obscure. You will pierce and ink yourself into the delicate fabric that is Austin. During this stage, you find yourself pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a Texan. You explore different hairstyles, clothes and… music. Suddenly, you care about how many search results pop up when you Google the name of your favorite band. For you, less means more.
Maybe you are the student who plans for registration weeks in advance, drawing up potential schedules and potential back-up schedules (Myedu.com is your savior), calculating your GPA for a semester that has not even begun and reading professor reviews. The other type is the student who accepts the chaotic nature of life and doesn’t bother looking at course schedules until the morning of registration. Either way, you are pleased the Internet exists now. The idea of registration without it is horrifying.
It is a week of anticipation. Campus becomes eerily silent, and as students vacate the school to return to their hometowns, you feel more and more alone. The Perry-Castañeda Library is the only building where it still feels like there are any students left. In fact, the PCL seems to be more populated than ever before, and students must fight for the opportunity to sit in a chair. By the end of this stage, your fingers are dyed neon green from all your highlighting, empty coffee cups line your desk and your nose is smudged with ink. How did that even end up there?
Your time at UT ended in a blur of anxiety. Before, you had always been concerned with grades, extracurriculars and what cool parties you weren’t being invited to, but now you realize how childish all those concerns seemed. Now, you have real problems, adult problems. For instance, you have to get a job. You feel a distance growing between you and the Longhorns who are not graduating, and that orange tower feels like it’s fading in importance. Yet, on the inside, you know you’ll always hook ‘em.
I am not the Editor-in-Chief of this magazine. And it’s not because I graduated, and this is my final ORANGE issue. Let me explain. Every week, for the past year and a half, I’ve sat in a room with editors and an executive staff. Whether we have been in a coffee shop, a closet (remember our PDF, cross-legged pow-wow?) or an actual meeting room, Wednesday nights have been ours. Wednesday nights have meant conversations about creativity, my expletive-filled narratives, exciting story pitches, leftover pizza, airing our frustrations and inspiring each other to do more and be more. I have never seen more passion about life than I have in an ORANGE editorial staff meeting on a Wednesday night.
incredibly invigorated. I know I am not the only one who has stared at her ceiling late at night, worried about ORANGE. I know I am not the only one who has sat looking at a story, wondering if this shit even matters. I’m not the only one who has begun writing a story, only to have that story drive me verifiably insane. ORANGE has been our shared history, our shared movement, our shared endeavor. Together, we have defended and protected it, turning a staff of five into a staff of more than 80 people. I will never forget those incredible moments -— the time we threw a festival together in one week, the time we decided to create a digital issue within one month, the time we sat on the floor of my living room and laid down the foundation for ORANGE’s continued survival.
And I really mean that. I know I am not the only one who has left the Student Leadership Suite stressed about what needs to get done, but
Survival. I think that’s the key word here. The world may try to slash my staff to pieces, but you all have always made it. Discouragement isn’t really
our thing. I have received so many anxious, frantic emails from you, but you’re still here. THAT says something. Because being “successful” has nothing to do with turning your feelings off and doing whatever it takes to make it to the top, never showing any weakness. Being successful isn’t curating the best social media presence or landing a sweet ass journalism job the second you graduate. Being successful is sending an anxious, frantic email, recognizing your humanness and complete horror, then surviving and emailing me that everything turned out just fine. Being successful is looking at your worst self and remembering you are also your best self. Being successful is getting shit done. And this staff knows how to get shit done. Always be that type of successful. Always reject mediocrity. Always feel and love and discover and learn and
care. Always throw rocks, and always smile when someone picks one up. Always slide around the kitchen in your socks. Always see the stories no one else sees. Always send me emails. Please. I am so incredibly proud to have worked with such a supportive and invested group of people. This is supposed to be my farewell, but I’m not really keen on goodbyes. Consider this the literary equivalent of that awkward moment when you hug someone goodbye and he/she continues to walk in the same direction as you. Thanks to every Editor-in-Chief on this staff. You have all put in the effort and stood in my shoes at some point these past two years. ORANGE could not (and would not) survive without you. Over and out. #omagswag -J
BEST CREAT Take the stairs.
Jane Hervey Editor-in-Chief
Don’t be afraid to look stupid. Fear of potential embarrassment will only hold you back. It’s like when you see a cute guy or girl at the bar but won’t approach them because you are afraid of rejection — when in reality, the worst case scenario is usually the word “no” followed by a “thanks.” People are going to dislike your work, editors are going to flood your story with red ink —- you are going to be rejected. Don’t give up. One day your work will make a big impact, - and that person at the bar will be your Ryan Gosling. Madison Hamilton Food + Drink Editor
There is only so much you can achieve on your own. You have to put yourself - and your work - out there. Often, creating is a very personal process and it can be intimidating to show others what you’ve made, but how else will anyone see it? Allow yourself to vulnerable. Take the feedback you receive and use it to grow.
Catherine Alvarado Social Media Director
TIVE ADVICE Helen Fernandez Style Editor
Be nice to people. Work hard. Do this and you’re bound to get somewhere in life. College is the place to make lasting relationships with people because you never know who you’ll run into once you’re out in the real world. So don’t be mean to people. It’s simple, really. Don’t waste your energy hanging out with people who don’t understand you or restrict your creativity in some way. Creative minds think alike and that’s why most communication students have friends in the communication school. I realize I said “work hard” up above, but also don’t work too hard. Life is too short to spend every waking hour worrying about perfect attendance and perfect grades. Always carry a pen and paper on you. You’ll want this for those bursts of inspiration that happen when you’re on the bus heading home. Write it all down.
Creativity is a weird, abstract concept that comes easily to some people but is daunting to others. Honestly, I’ve never thought of myself as a creative, but I do think of myself as someone who has always had many opportunities. I would be amiss to not acknowledge that things don’t simply “happen,” and that parents, teachers, mentors, friends and significant others all play a role in those opportunities, but the hardest part is opening myself up to new things. So my advice is this: Learn how to filter the advice of others. Learn the distinction between your good ideas and your shitty ones. Usually your gut instinct is the right answer, but say “yes” as often as possible. Be honest. Strike a balance between hard work and play, because too much of either can be dangerous. Don’t be afraid to apply for that super competitive internship
Kris Severs Co-Managing Editor
Bryan Rolli Music Editor
Don’t rush anything. Creativity needs a certain environment to thrive, physically and mentally speaking. As a musician, I quickly found that the 15 minutes between classes where I would frantically whip out my guitar, get mostly in tune and bang out a few power chords before running out the door again was not the right environment for me. Instead of forcing myself to write half-baked songs that I know I’ll hate the next day, I just wait until I’m on break and back home with my band. The results speak for themselves: our two most recent and unquestionably best songs took about an hour apiece to write. The same applies to any creative field. Find a mindset and space that work for you, and wait until it’s feasible to put yourself there. You’ll find your creative juices flowing much more freely, and you’ll save yourself a lot of anxiety and self-doubt along the way. Producing nothing is better than producing crap. But producing something beautiful is best of all.
Never give up. Great things take time, so it’s okay to make mistakes. Practice, practice, practice. When you don’t know exactly how to do something, ask for help. Surround yourself with other creative people. Get feedback from them and collaborate. When creating, remember to stay true to your passion. Passion is everything. I honestly believe that the only way to do great work is to love what you do. Don’t beat yourself up with trying to be perfect. Have fun, try new things and always finish what you start. Darice Chavira Photo Director
Don’t limit yourself for fear of rejection. Creativity is completely subjective. Just because someone may not see your vision doesn’t mean it isn’t real. Be strict and persistent in expressing your creative abilities to the business world. They will love you. If you want to create something, but feel you lack the knowledge of skill, remember that practice makes perfect. I know that sounds cliche, but trust me, nothing is more rewarding than seeing your masterpiece and knowing you slaved away to make it exactly what you had envisioned. Courtney James Marketing Director
Go on an adventure. Some of the most beautiful things in life are found when you go outside of your comfort zone and find something new. Whether you go on a hike, explore a new part of your city or travel the world, there you will find inspiration that will jumpstart your creativity. Broadening your horizons not only educates you, but opens your eyes to new ideas and possibilities. I am always inspired by new experiences that get the gears spinning in my mind, and I feel like that is what fosters my creativity. Laziness is one of our worst enemies when it comes to creating something new, so get off your couch and explore! Kristen Hubby Associate Style Editor
Work to create something everyday. You may not feel inspired, your art may lack a motive and your poetry may not rhyme, but keep working. Though you may not feel creative one day, there is always something that you can put onto paper, paint onto a canvas or sing through a song. It doesn’t have to be artsy or aesthetic — it can be brainstorming, random thoughts, a sketch, or just you writing out ‘today, nothing interesting happened.’ The aim is to keep your brain working and your thoughts flowing. Good things can come of ordinary days. You don’t need to be in love or severely heartbroken to create the best work you ever have. Strive for progress. People will see your drive and dedication.
Samantha Grasso ATX Editor
Dahlia Dandashi Associate Style Editor
Don’t wait to start creating. If you have a vision and a plan, don’t wait on an expensive sheet of cardstock to arrive in the mail and tell you you’re licensed to practice the trade of your dreams. This advice isn’t radical, but sometimes when being in a scholarly environment, with project deadlines, exam dates and seemingly precious GPA points, we forget. We get caught up in the logistics of our degrees and mistake these words of encouragement and creative growth as an unrealistic cry to reject being a cog in “the machine.” However, these words of support serve as a reminder to take advantage of available resources and take control of your livelihood. Take a few moments to be less concerned with creating for the grades and start creating for yourself.
By Selah-Maya Zighelboim
Daniel Davis calls himself an “adventurer and lifestyle photographer.” The Austin-based artist has photographed people and places all over the world, such as Haiti, Uganda and India. With more than 31,000 followers on Instagram, Davis has a wealth of knowledge and experience of travel photography, which he shared with Orange.
O: Do you have any advice for aspiring photographers and Instagrammers? D: Be real. Don’t try to paint yourself in any certain light, just be who you are. One of my biggest philosophies in life is just finding, discovering what you care about, what you want to take a stand for, and just be real. That’s one of the most rewarding things in life, when you finally come to a place where you feel OK with yourself and being who you are and letting the world see you for who you are and not trying to copy anyone else.
Find him @danieldav_is on Instagram
ORANGE: How did you get into photography? DAVIS: I discovered my passion for photography on a trip to Africa. There are a lot of people who discover their knack through travel of some sort. There’s something about traveling that inspires you to tell stories. That’s really what it’s about for me — telling powerful stories that are real. I went to Uganda about 10 years ago. O: If you could photograph any person, place, or event, what would it be? D: My next travel goal is going to be Peru in 2015. Peru is a magical place. I think the people there have a different perspective on life. I would love to connect and learn from them. Anywhere you go, really, you’re going to come into contact with people who have a different perspective and that’s why travel is educational. One of my biggest soap boxes is to inspire people to travel and just go. Don’t question it; don’t be afraid. That’s one of the biggest and most beautiful ways to become a better person. O: What message, if any, do you hope to get across with your photography? D: I fully believe that love is the answer, as cheesy as that sounds. That’s what I am hoping to inspire. I think we spend too much time judging, criticizing, hating each other, and there’s so much beauty in the world and so much to see, to truly see, not just to witness. I like being able to recognize magical moments that are taking place around us at all times, and be appreciative, grateful for the relationships that you have. I think, for me, the friendships that I have with like-minded people are what I’m most grateful for in life. I hope to communicate that.
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By Asa Johnson
And on my twelfth birthday
I grew up in a small town
I had to stop seeing my ‘Mexican friend’
That had white in the name like a warning
Because he would be a bad influence later
And the only things you could do after midnight
Well he had a name mom
Were go to IHOP or
And his name was Cameron
Smoke crystal meth by the lakeside
And he didn’t even speak Spanish
And sex was spelled s-i-n
And he lived on the same street
And gay was spelled with a no in front of it
And we rode our bikes ‘til our muscles shook
And being Christian meant you paid
And our knees were black
Your taxes to the megachurch
And blue
To keep the liquor
And we played hide
And the Methodists out
And seek
At school there were parents in the PTA
And picked blackberries in the woods
And kids who took dance lessons together
And tried to sell them
And lived in flowery housing developments
So we could buy music we weren’t supposed to listen to
And had older brothers who played golf
And we listened to it anyway
And tennis on Saturdays
And we slept in the same bed
And thought little of people who didn’t
So he wouldn’t have to see his family
And we slept in the same bed How could you ever think he was so different from me? Then there were the deer on the road And the frogs when it rained And the squirrels And the wild pigs And the pigs that drive The pigs that give out tickets to meet quotas The pigs that arrest kids to feel big The pigs that kill kids to feel big The pigskin passer who killed a kid Driving And got off easy because he was a big deal To James, Santiago Who was walking west to get away From alcoholic parents And died on his camino Run down by alcoholic quarterback
To Isaac, When they found your body in the woods They thought it must have been your father’s sacrifice But worse it was his neglect When the pills slid down your neck Which song were you listening to And which one would have played next I grew up in a small town And most kids don’t make it out Sometimes I wonder Which of my friends’ names I’ll see in hurried texts Or hear in solemn phone calls Isaac, James The truth is I don’t remember your real names at all Because when a kid dies in a small town And nobody cares to say anything He doesn’t make a sound
To Joseph
To the one of many victims of a lack of gun control laws, Eli
Who might have been his father’s chosen son
When he shot you did he know
Had he not chosen to wear a rainbow coat of many colors
Your name means God
Editor-in-Chief Jane Claire Hervey Managing Editor Kris Seavers Creative Directors Jesus Acosta, Catherine Alvarado, Darice Chavira, Dahlia Dandashi, Helen Fernandez, Jane Claire Hervey, Kristen Hubby Ashley Lopez Design Team Jesus Acosta, Catherine Alvarado, Tess Cagle, Darice Chavira, Dahlia Dandashi, Helen Fernandez, Shea Garner, Sam Grasso, Jane Claire Hervey, Kristen Hubby, Courtney James, Ashley Lopez, Faith Ann Ruszkowski, Selah Maya Zighelboim Writers Catherine Alvarado, Chucky Black, Quinton Boudwin, Zachary Phillip Brailsford, Elise Cardenas, Kyle Cavazos, Darice Chavira, Caroline Cook, Dahlia Dandashi, Emily Gibson, Sam Grasso, Devon Grussmark, Alexa Harrington, Jane Claire Hervey, Kristen Hubby, Courtney James, Asa Johnson, Sam Limerick, Ashley Lopez, Jenna Million, Sarah Montgomery, Rahul Naik, Joshua Nguyen, María Núñez, Bryan Rolli, Kris Seavers, Danielle Smith, Olivia Starich, Angela Love Vela, Alex Vickery, Elizabeth Williams, Briana Zamora, Selah Maya Zighelboim Photographers Tess Cagle, Theresa Callaway, Darice Chavira, Dahlia Dandashi, Helen Fernandez, Sam Grasso, Madison Hamilton, Alexa Harrington, Kristen Hubby, Sarah Montgomery, , Bryan Rolli, Olivia Starich, Lauren Ussery, Hannah Vickers, Alex Vickery, Elizabeth Williams Videographer Mikaela Casas Cover Photographer Hannah Vickers Illustrators Jesus Acosta, Crystal Garcia, Courtney James Section Photo Spreads Jesus Acosta, Darice Chavira, Dahlia Dandashi