Brad Stuver, Austin FC

AUSTIN FC FAN FAVORITE, BRAD STUVER

THE GOALIE WHO STOPS SOCCER BALLS, AND STARTS CONVERSATIONS

By Tolly Moseley Photos courtesy of Austin FC

or fans of Austin FC, goalie Brad Stuver is something of a darling. “We are a tight-knit group of people who look out for one another,” he wrote recently, in an open letter to supporters. “We stand by each other regardless of the circumstances and we rally behind each other in the good times and the bad.”

The letter was a collaboration between Stuver, his teammates and Austin FC staff. But still, it says something that he put his name on it, that he had the impulse to speak directly to fans, and that he wanted to lift up his community. A community, by the way, that he’s relatively new in: he got to Austin at the tail end of 2020, after three seasons with New York City FC, and five seasons before that with Columbus Crew SC. But Stuver and his wife, Ashley, didn’t waste any time jumping into Austin, and learning how they could make a difference.

Several years ago, the two got involved with The Laundry Project, a nonprofit-backed movement with a simple mission: to wash clothes and linens for low-income families.

“Working with a group like that makes you realize that for a lot of people, having clean clothes isn’t a part of everyday life,” Stuver explains. “Peo-

ple budget their money for the month, and if they need a little more gas or a little more groceries, their clean clothes money goes away. But if volunteers come to the laundromat and help, that’s huge,” he says.

“A child can have clean clothes when they go to school. And maybe they feel more confident, they pay more attention. They don’t run the risk of having other kids mock them,” Stuver tells me.

In essence: a laundromat becomes a place of community care. Loads are getting washed, kids are entertained, volunteers and beneficiaries hang out and talk. It’s the kind of thing that makes you understand Stuver and his priorities, which include doing a killer job on the field (he made a whopping nine saves in a single game last June against Sporting Kansas City). But they also include giving back to a city that’s embraced him.

Born in a small town in Ohio, Stuver is the son of a veteran and a nurse, who modeled community service to him and passed down that practice to Stuver and his brother.

“My mom worked in a nursing home, and both my father and my grandfather were in the military, so we were very much raised with the expectation of, ‘how do you give back?’” It’s an ethos that not only explains Stuver’s heart, but also his sense of discipline. Which is precisely the ingredient Austin FC was looking for, as a fledgling team that built its lineup from scratch.

“Historically new teams do struggle, as you’re still building a style of play, a locker room culture, how you go about day to day work,” says Stuver. “All first year teams go through these same things. But the ones who weather it well, go on to perform well, and ultimately, the way our club will be remembered is by how we operate. Starting with, do we take care of the community that allows us to do this?”

It’s a reflection that makes me stop and pause, because in true “Ted Lasso” fashion, Stuver isn’t just talking about winning when he talks about “weathering it well.” He’s talking about something slightly less tangible, something more along the lines of individual growth and leadership, not to mention gratitude.

“The support here is something I haven’t seen anywhere before,” says Stuver, remarking at the gorgeous Q2 stadium, the fans all too ready to bust out jerseys and paint themselves green and black. Which is a testament to Austin, a quickly growing city that craved this: our own professional sports team. As a boomtown that doesn’t always

know how to handle its popularity (see: infamous traffic), we clearly wanted a place where we could come together, natives and newcomers alike. We wanted to root for someone, but not just bruisers. We wanted cool people. We’ve got high standards, y’all.

Which makes Stuver a natural choice for 4ATX Foundation’s 2021 Legend of the Year Award, an honor he earned alongside Central Texas Food Bank President and CEO, Derrick Chubbs. Stuver has been a leader on the field, and is passionate about The Laundry Project, but three years ago, during his stint with NYC FC, he also became an Athlete Ally, advocating for inclusion in sports. It’s an organization that strives to “educate athletic communities at all levels — sport governing bodies, teams, and individual athletes — to understand obstacles to inclusion for LGBTQ people in sports and how they can build inclusive communities on their teams or within their organizations.”

It’s a little remarkable to think back to 2018, right around the time Stuver was getting involved with Athlete Ally, and also right around the time gay male players were starting to publicly come out. In fact, 2021 marks the first year that pro baseball, basketball, football, hockey and soccer all have an openly out gay male player. Naturally, Stuver seized the opportunity to join the Playing for Pride initiative, a fundraising effort spearheaded by pro soccer player Austin da Luz several years ago. For every save or shutout made, you as the player agree to put a little bit of money away, and ask folks to match you.

“It’s not a grand gesture, it’s more grassroots. But we raised a lot of money this year!” Stuver says happily, who explains that the money went to organizations like Equality Texas, who have been fighting for months at the capitol to shut down anti-trans bills.

I ask Stuver about the team culture that’s starting to emerge at Austin FC, and how he feels about the 4ATX Award. “I’m honored to receive it, and I was a little surprised too, because the truth is, there are so many guys on our team who do charitable actions, who help this community,” says Stuver, who tells me in the same breath about a GoFundMe Matt Besler (Austin FC defender) started in the wake of the deadly winter storm, to help people pay for damaged homes and businesses.

“And that’s what I’m seeing, really. A team that doesn’t just benefit from this community. But a team that wants to be part of the community as a whole.” austinfc.com

Asahi Imports: More Than a Grocery Store

SALLY MATSUMAE CARRIES ON HER FAMILY’S LEGACY WITH A NEW LOCATION ON SOUTH LAMAR

By Meher Qazilbash Photos by Holly Cowart

SALLY MASTUMAE’S FONDEST CHILDHOOD MEMOries take place in the unconventional setting of a grocery store. Asahi Imports, the only Japanese market in Austin that sells exclusively Japanese products, was a paradise to young Sally. She stared at the mesmerizing wall of colorful candies and indulged in the large stock of Japanese confections. When the excitement of the store’s goodies finally left Sally exhausted, she would take naps on the plump sacks of rice.

Sally’s grandmother, Shigeko Burnie, first started the business in 1967 in North Loop as an immigrant from Japan who wanted to share the delicacies from her homeland with Austin. Later on Sally’s father took over and taught Sally the trade as she helped her family run the show after school every day. Once she graduated college she was working full time and eventually became the sole owner. Running the business herself came naturally, and now she is taking it to new heights.

Since 2003 Asahi has sat happily on Burnet, but due to high demand a second location opened on South Lamar this fall. The expansion marks exciting times not just for the store itself, but for the Austinites in the area who don’t have any of these special products nearby.

Both locations feature a wide variety of Japanese pantry delights from 30 types of rice to 100 kinds of sake and beer, all different from what you’d find on your typical grocery run. The real treasure and specialty of Asahi Imports, however, is their fresh onigiri, or rice balls, and bento boxes that sell out daily. The Onigiri Counter is a more recent addition created by Sally, with all of the different recipes developed by Sally herself and handmade with love.

“I really enjoy making people happy,” Sally expresses. “To have shoppers come into our store and find fun, interesting and unique products, seeing customers excited about having visited us, and really just making someone’s day, gives me the drive to keep going.”

Those who are unfamiliar with Japanese foods and products, don’t be afraid. The employees will gladly walk through the store with you and help you navigate the over 30,000 products that fill the store. I experienced it firsthand.

“We like to think of Asahi as being a cultural ambassador from Japan,” says Sally. “When customers shop here, we like to not only help them find specific ingredients, we also love to educate them so that they understand how to use those different ingredients. We’re empowering our customers to feel confident when shopping at ethnic markets.”

Asahi comes from people. You feel that constantly when you go, with the food from family recipes, the employees and customers that have been a part of the shop for generations, and the jazz music that plays in the shop as a commemoration to Sally’s father who loved traditional jazz. Asahi Imports is bringing the wonders of the world right here to Austin with its own personal touch. asahiimports.com

MAKING THEIR

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE

“The One You’re With” offers a satirical spin on quarantine, Austin-style

By Laurel Miller Photos by Brittany Dawn Short

“A movie about the pandemic was made possible by the pandemic.” The events of the past 21 months have been such a blur, Chad Werner needs to take a moment and say these words aloud, mid-interview. “Disaster films always show everyone running and hiding in crevices, but I think most people would just be happy they don’t have to go to work.”

Werner is one-third of the team behind the new absurdist satire, “The One You’re With,” which began streaming on Apple TV and Amazon in September, followed by premiers at Fort Worth’s Lone Star Film Festival and the Austin Film Festival. Werner’s cohorts, Jon Michael Simpson and Jeff McQuitty, produced “TOYW,” while Werner wrote, directed and starred in the film, which follows 34 days in the life of two virtual strangers stuck together during quarantine due to a mysterious new virus.

“Obviously, this was inspired by recent events,” says Werner. “But it’s not autobiographical, other than the fact that my wife and I got married in December 2019, and relocated back to Austin from Los Angeles in March 2020, before our home was finished. Because of the lockdown, we ended up couch hopping for months. It was a stressful time.”

Werner wrote the screenplay “as a coping mechanism” in April 2020. “It’s about a girl running from her past who moves to Austin and has a one-night stand with a lovelorn guy,” he says. “The next morning, the nation goes into lockdown, and these two complete opposites are forced to come together.”

Werner, Simpson and McQuitty met in the fall of 2011, while enrolled in film school at UT. Friendships cultivated while working on a documentary project quickly evolved into a “hive mind mentality” that led to the formation of their sketch group, “The Cuddle Squad,” says Werner. Over the years, the three men have collaborated on six feature films, several documentaries that have premiered on Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network and various television shows.

Werner eventually moved to L.A. but returned to Austin frequently for work.

“We’ve always believed in the city’s film scene,” says McQuitty. “It’s enabled to us to continue working in the industry, and we’ve had fun making cool stuff together. There’s not a lot of ego here, and tax incentives from City Council and the Austin Film Commission have made it much easier to make movies and television here. There are also a lot of skilled technicians.”

“We love the community here,” adds Simpson. “When we made our first film, ‘A Perfect Host,’ we had no budget, and businesses like coffee houses would allow us to film for free, as long as our crew bought beverages. People made meals for us. Austin is the perfect city for that kind of support.”

Filming for “TOYW” commenced in July, with six crew members (including Simpson on camera and McQuitty handling sound) and a small cast including leads Koko Marshall and Werner. “Once Chad gets an idea, it comes together quickly and competently,” says McQuitty. “It’s a testament to his skills and ability.”

“There’s a purity to this kind of stripped-down filmmaking,” says Simpson. “It’s like we’re going back 10 years.”

Prior to the 17-day shoot, the principals talked to other productions, the city and the Centers for Disease Control about protocol, but COVID-19 safety measures came down to “complete trust in the cast and crew,” says Werner. As for the collaboration, “It was really fun,” he says. “We have this shorthand when we work together — there are very few questions, and we all kind of had the same brain and hands on this one. I couldn’t have done it without Jon and Jeff.”

The community stepped up to assist with filming. Local businesses, including Central Standard restaurant and Tillery Street Plant Company, offered their locations for scenes, and “people opened up their homes to us and loaned us gear,” says Simpson.

McQuitty describes the shoot as, “cathartic for everyone involved. It gave us all something to look forward to and brought levity to an otherwise scary global situation. Shooting when we did, we really needed to be able to laugh.”

While the film is at times biting (the scenes depicting a paint thinner-as-curative endorsing President comes to mind), Werner says, “I wrote the ending before the current reality was even in place. I think the film shows that people are generally kind and caring, but that’s easy to forget when looking at the media. On a macrolevel, the film is a reminder that relationships we have are important and worth nurturing.” threehairproductions.com

MAKING THEIR

COMMITTED TO THE CAUSE

Emancipet is paving the way for affordable veterinary care for all, and leading the organization for more than a decade is CEO, Amy Mills

By Sam Lauron Photos by Brittany Dawn Short Photo Shoot at Emancipet

What began in 1999 as a single mobile-only clinic that served families with pets in Austin, Emancipet has grown its network to include seven walk-in clinics across Central Texas, Houston and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mills, who joined the non-profit as CEO in 2006, is largely responsible for taking the organization to new heights by expanding its reach to a national level. But the immense growth the non-profit has experienced in recent years certainly didn’t cultivate overnight — and neither did Mills’ unmatched non-profit expertise.

Mills, who just celebrated her 15th anniversary with Emancipet, has committed her entire career to the world of non-profits.

“I’ve never worked at a for-profit company,” she admits. “My whole career has been [working in] non-profits. I’ve just always wanted to be a community servant.”

Before joining Emancipet, Mills worked with non-profits that focused on helping youth and families. As an animal lover, however, she spent her weekends volunteering at the Austin Humane Society. It was through these overlapping experiences that she noticed the intersection between families and animals and was naturally drawn to Emancipet’s mission.

“There are over 50 million dogs and cats in the United States that live with families who cannot afford veterinary care at a traditional for-profit clinic,” says Mills. “When I think about my own [pets] and the role they’ve played in my life, I don’t know who I would be without my animals. And so, when I think about the many millions of animals who are loved just as much and who play that same role for all of those millions of families, and those families don’t have the ability to take care of them if something goes wrong, it’s a gripping mission for me.”

Though Emancipet is not a full-service veterinary clinic, the organization offers crucial preventative care for animals including vaccines, microchips, check-ups and spay and neuter services. Services like these are integral to the longtime health of a pet, yet Mills emphasizes that many families aren’t able to afford these essential services, which is what drives Emancipet to make veterinary care accessible to underserved communities.

“This is an equity issue. We have to make sure that pet ownership isn’t just for wealthy people. It matters a lot that everybody, no matter how much money they have, is able to create the kind of love [with a pet] that I know firsthand has been really life changing for me.”

With affordability and access at the forefront of the organization’s values, Emancipet never turns anyone away from a clinic. Instead, they rely on donations to operate their vet services; a $1 donation can be used toward $5 of

vet services. And after the pandemic, the demand for Emancipet’s affordable pet care is greater than ever. In 2020 alone, Emancipet cared for more than 200,000 pets at their clinics.

Since 2013, the non-profit has expanded at a rate of one clinic per year, but with the significant increase in demand they experienced last year, Mills knows they’ll need to expand faster — and soon.

“Pre-pandemic, we set this bold goal that by the year 2028, everyone in the United States would have access to veterinary care they can afford,” she says.

And, thanks to Mills’ 15-year dedication to the organization, the tireless work of her staff — which has grown from 15 to 200 under Mills’ lead — and a long-term partnership, that bold goal may not be too far out of reach. Emancipet recently received a grant from longtime supporter PetSmart Charities, the largest non-profit organization dedicated to animal welfare. The monumental funding will help Emancipet build a team that’s solely dedicated to opening new clinics, allowing them to increase their rate of clinic openings and grow their national presence. Additionally, PetSmart Inc. (it’s important to note that these are separate entities) plans to donate veterinary clinic spaces inside a couple PetSmart stores for Emancipet to operate starting next year.

Achieving this incredible feat has only fueled Mills’ fire. She describes her work as “addictive” and credits the non-profit’s growth as a reason she remains motivated to continue.

“A new clinic is this incredibly beautiful thing in a community,” she says. “We go into neighborhoods where there has never been a veterinary clinic before, and on day one, the people who show up are just so excited because they’ve never been able to have access to veterinary care before. The difference that you know you’re making in their life is just so incredibly fulfilling. And I can’t wait for the next clinic. I want to keep going and going.” emancipet.org

MAKING THEIR

TRANSFORMING AUSTIN INTO A HUB FOR VIDEO GAME DEVELOPERS

Dallas Dickinson brings decades of experience to

Crystal Dynamics’ new studio

By Bryan C. Parker Photos by Brittany Dawn Short Photo Shoot at Cidercade

Boasting an impressive resume with his work on “Star Wars Galaxies” and “Star Wars: The Old Republic” as well as the launch of his own gaming company, Dallas Dickinson was recently tapped by Crystal Dynamics to head the gaming company’s new studio in Austin, which launched in June.

“The opportunity to work on arguably the best cinematic storytelling games in the world was the thing that got me excited and got me here,” he says, citing Crystal Dynamics’ long track record of success.

Dickinson grew up in North Texas, but it wasn’t until Sony Online Entertainment offered him a job in Austin in the early 2000s that the producer returned to the state. After leaving Texas to attend Princeton back in 1992, he was surprised to return to a booming Austin, “where the cutting edge stuff is going on.” Dickinson, who studied literature and theatre in college and began his career working on location for Disney productions, has always been drawn to narrative storytelling. He says his new role at Crystal Dynamics allows him to work on both “high quality interactive gameplay as well as the cinematic character-driven elements of game play.”

One focal point for Dickinson and Crystal Dynamics is the wildly popular “Marvel’s Avengers,” a game which has seen four story expansions, including the most recent, “War for Wakanda,” released in August. The studio will also work on a reboot of the beloved first-person shooter game “Perfect Dark,” which currently has no set release date. Additionally, Dickinson himself serves as the executive producer for the Tomb Raider franchise, a role that includes overseeing any video game development and managing relationships with MGM, who is working on a motion picture, and Netflix, who is developing an animated series.

“I’m pretty good at context switching,” says Dickinson, who may find himself jumping from a press interview to a design conversation to a budgetary conversation within the span of a few hours. That versatile skill set and quick thinking makes him a crucial part of Crystal Dynamics’ expansion.

The quality of life Austin affords has helped Dickinson stay sharp in his new role. An avid runner, he usually logs six miles around Town Lake each morning.

“I have an hour when I’m either alone with my thoughts or have music on in the background,” he says. “It really clears my head space and makes me feel truly prepared for the challenges of the day and the 1,001 hats I need to swap through.” From his home in East Austin, he loves stopping by neighborhood haunts like Quickie Pickie on East 11th, which he says has great cold brew and migas tacos. The spacious patio at farm-fresh restaurant Contigo is a favorite dinner spot for Dickinson, who calls himself “an Austin foodie guy.” He adds, “The kind of games we make have always come from a place that culturally vibes with Austin.”

Such lifestyle perks also help Crystal Dynamics hire top talent in Austin.

“We are looking to have better quality of life for our developers, and Austin is a city that offers that,” Dickinson says. Improved technology and the pandemic have given companies opportunities to rethink approaches to their structure and location. According to Dickinson, distributed development — in other words, working across multiple sites and locations — is just part of the industry culture now. To staff their new studio, Crystal Dynamics has both hired new personnel as well as relocated employees from their offices in the Bay Area and Seattle.

While Austin’s cost of living has risen, it remains more affordable than those West Coast cities that are among the nation’s most cost-prohibitive.

“Many other studios over time have been putting nexus here in Austin, and I think that attracts people and keeps people here in Austin,” Dickinson says. In the past, finishing a major project in Austin might have necessitated a move to L.A. or the Bay Area, but the growing video game development ecosystem in Austin allows the city to preserve its talent.

He sees the city as a tremendous place for business to expand and says Crystal Dynamics’ new studio broadens the company’s footprint and allows them to offer opportunities to a wider swath of developers. Akin to assembling a team of Avengers, Dickinson and Crystal Dynamics are focused on building a cooperative team with elite talent. He says, “It’s all about Crystal creating more spaces for people to join us.” tombraider.com

MAKING THEIR

LEADING WITH PURPOSE

The president and CEO of Huston-Tillotson University has made significant strides, and she’s just getting started

By Sam Lauron Photos by Brittany Dawn Short Photo Shoot at Huston-Tillotson University

Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette may carry the esteemed title of being the first female president of Huston-Tillotson University, but she’s quick to acknowledge those that came before her.

As she reflects on her past six years at the helm of Austin’s oldest higher education institution, she points to a portrait hanging in her office. The woman in the portrait is Mary Elizabeth Branch, the first female president of Tillotson College (which later merged with Samuel Huston College to become Huston-Tillotson University) and the first female to lead an accredited college in Texas.

Branch held this position back in the 1930s and 40s, and, though it took some time for another female to step into this leadership role, Burnette is proud to follow in Branch’s footsteps.

“I often say that it took the university 70 years to get it right again, to hire another woman,” she says.

Burnette’s career didn’t begin in education. The Ohio native went to school for engineering and spent the first 20 years of her career working as a computer engineer for companies like Procter & Gamble and the Washington Post. At one point, she even pursued entrepreneurship and ran her own computer consultancy firm called CompuMent. Looking back, Burnette is grateful that her career and personal life — her husband is a retired Lieutenant Colonel, and their family spent a lot of time traveling for the military — took her to many places outside of the familiar place she calls home.

“All the magic happens outside of our comfort zones,” she says. “And I’ve lived a life outside of mine.”

Burnette made the shift toward higher education when she took a faculty position at a community college teaching computer science. As a first-generation college student herself, Burnette firmly believes that “education is the great equalizer” and is passionate about serving the traditionally marginalized through greater education opportunities.

“Oftentimes, we mistakenly equate poverty with how smart you are, but really what’s missing is the lack of opportunity or exposure to opportunity,” she says. “It has been a passion of mine to bring those opportunities to young people of color, such as myself, because my opportunity came when people really cared about me.” The second half of her career has been spent committed to this mission, and in 2015, Burnette began her current role as president and CEO of Huston-Tillotson University. As she hadn’t even visited Austin prior to interviewing for the position, she needed time to get familiar with her new city. But once here, it didn’t take her long to come to the disappointing realization that not everyone was aware of the university’s deeply rooted history, let alone its presence in Austin.

She recalls taking rideshares to work during her first couple of weeks here.

“Out of my first 10 rides, the Uber [drivers] did not know that there was even a university here. It made me sad that the city of Austin did not recognize the beauty of having a historically Black college in the center of the city.”

But Burnette didn’t let this discourage her. Instead, she used it as fuel for everything she does on both an institutional and personal level. As a co-chair of Mayor Adler’s Task Force on Institutional Racism and Systemic Inequities, as well as a member of numerous boards around the city, Burnette uses her voice to advocate not only for the university but for people of color.

“There’s a purpose for me being at this university at this point in history here in Austin,” she says. “And I own that fully.”

Another testament to the lasting impact Burnette seeks to make not only at the school, but in the education system entirely, she created the African-American Male Teacher Initiative at Huston-Tillotson, a program that encourages male students to pursue a career in education in an effort to increase the number of Black male teachers in the country. The program provides scholarships to the students, which are funded by the program’s partner, Apple Inc.

Burnette admits that leading an HBCU and strengthening its brand within the city — not to mention, during a global pandemic — doesn’t always come with consistent “wins.” But when things get tough, she reflects on the portrait of Mary Branch that hangs in her office to remind herself of her power to make change in this place in time.

“If [Mary] could do it in the ’40s, I can do it in 2021.” htu.edu/faculty-directory/dr-pierce-burnette

MAKING THEIR

THE SECRETS OF MASA

Suerte’s Fermín Núñez is thrilling diners on Austin’s

East Side

By Amanda Eyre Ward Photos by Brittany Dawn Short Photo Shoot at Suerte

When Chef Fermín Núñez was 28 years old, he decided to gamble on himself. A native of Torreon, Mexico, Núñez had lived in Austin since 2009, working at local hotspot La Condesa.

“I climbed my way through the ranks, from cook to management,” he says. He went on to create magic at Launderette and Uchiko. But Núñez was considering a move to New York City, ready for something new, when restaurateur Samuel Hellman-Mass proposed they open a restaurant on Austin’s East Side that would celebrate masa, the maize dough that comes from ground corn.

“Well, if I fail, I can still make it to New York by the time I turn thirty,” Fermin thought.

Long story short: he did not fail. Masa at Suerte is made inhouse daily from Texas-grown heirloom corn. And once you’ve tried a tortilla at Suerte, I can attest, it’s very hard to go home and eat tortillas from the grocery store. And the masa made at Suerte is also used for tamales, tostadas, tlayudas, tlacoyos, tacos ... the list goes on. Each item is beautifully prepared and

presented. Standouts on my recent visit included “Suadero Tacos” with confit brisket and “black magic oil” and “Tamal En Mole Blanco” made with pine nut-almond tamal, goat queso fresco, pineapple gremolata and the decadent mole blanco.

“I’m inspired by Mexican cooking techniques rather than a certain dish or flavors. Mexican cooking, to me, is more about the techniques that are used to create those layers of flavors and dishes that we all love,” Núñez explains.

“With traditional mole,” he says, “you take all these different chilies, a recipe that has sometimes between twenty to thirty ingredients. And it takes, you know, three days of making it. And then, on the third day, you add chocolate. Because if you were to add it at the beginning, the chocolate would sink to the bottom and the sugar would burn, and you’d have a bitter taste. Instead, it’s delicious and complex, with acidity from tomatoes and a little bit of sweetness from chocolate.”

My mouth is watering as I type. And I haven’t even mentioned the desserts, like the “Chocotaco,” with a chocolate-masa shell, peanut caramel and cinnamon semifreddo.

“I have so many local favorite restaurants,” Núñez says. “Birdy’s, they’re doing amazing stuff. Nixta Taqueria, Discada taco truck ... hopefully they’re going to reopen soon so I can get my taco cravings filled!” Núñez also mentions Canje, helmed by Guyanese chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph, who is exploring techniques from Guyana to Jamaica to Puerto Rico.

What’s is Núñez’s favorite thing on the Suerte menu? The chef has a hard time deciding.

“Well,” he says, “we’ve perfected our way of cooking barbacoa, so that’s been really exciting ... and the butternut squash, oak-grilled with a pumpkin mole.”

Núñez was named among Food & Wine’s Best Chefs of 2021, and when he recently went to New York, it was for a weekend visit, he laughs, not to pursue a life. “This is a dream come true,” he says. suerteatx.com

MAKING THEIR

OUR WRINKLES TELL A STORY

Lindsey Sokol wants to make wellness and community engagement an ongoing dialogue

By Laurel Miller Photos by Brittany Dawn Short Photo Shoot at Comedor

Culturally, we don’t embrace wrinkles. In our clothing or on our faces, creasing and crinkling are viewed as signs of age and neglect. When events coordinator Lindsey Sokol and C3 talent buyer Margaret Galton named their membership-based women’s organization, however, “Guaranteed to Wrinkle” was the only moniker they considered.

“The name came from a New York Times article that discussed the counterintuitive value of wrinkled clothing,” says Sokol. “Since the 1970s, the labels of linen suits designed by Ralph Lauren included the phrase, implying that the more creased, the more classy. We’re all guaranteed to wrinkle, just like those suits. As women, our wrinkles tell stories.”

Sokol, who is originally from Plano, has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry. As the former festival director for C3 Presents, she’s produced ACL, Lollapalooza and the 57th Presidential Inauguration; as founder and current CEO of Blue Norther Live, she’s the force behind Austin’s New Year and events like Beto for America and the 59th Presidential Inauguration.

When Sokol and Galton conceived GTW in 2018, their goal was to create an organization that “aligns passion for wellness and community involvement with connecting like-minded female leaders.” Today, GTW has 120 members in Austin, who unite for events including panels on health and wellness and community volunteerism to salon dinners focused on education. Previous topics have included mushrooms, women in the arts and sourcing food locally.

“The culture of GTW is built around the members, board and team,” says Sokol. “I want to empower everyone to be able to take a step forward to shape it into what they see is needed for the community.” The concept was born over coffee, and scribbled on a napkin. “It was about creating an authentic connection with other women and focusing on causes that we cared about so that the conversations and membership would be rooted in purpose.”

Over the past year, mental health and wellness have been one of the main focuses for GTW. Members have participated in panels on women’s relationship with stress and talks on clean beauty to expert-led meditations and a monthly Walk Club.

“We’ve made a conscious effort to encourage our membership to take care of themselves and help them understand that self-care if more than a luxury. It’s a necessity,” says Sokol.

Blue Norther Live also jumped into the health arena, running a mass vaccine drive-through at Circuit of the Americas and Travis County EXPO Center. Sokol also used 2021 to focus on a new passion put into sharp focus because of the pandemic: local food security. Her Field Guide Festival debuted in late October; it was a twoday event that included farm tours, chef dinners, tastings and symposiums. “My partner in Field Guide, Trisha Bates, is such an inspiration in our local food community,” she says. “Her company, Urban American Farmer, has been engaging both growers and chefs to come together to build connection in the food community. With the festival, people can enjoy and appreciate our foodshed, not only through

meals and tastings, but through conversations with chefs and farmers on where and who their food comes from.”

Despite her hectic schedule, Sokol practices what she preaches. While it can be overwhelming to try and tackle the other challenges we currently face as a society, Sokol advises starting small.

“Pay attention to the issues and concerns of your community, and go from there,” she says. Taking time to decompress is also important. To unwind, Sokol walks away from the computer and phone for an hour each afternoon, often taking a Pilates class at her friend Brooke Bowerstock’s studio, ALIGN. Sokol also enjoys cooking for her family and friends and spends time with her dog, Winston.

“I’ve spent the last 14-plus years traveling event-to-event, and I loved it, but recently I’ve found a new love for Austin,” she says. “There’s joy in slowing down.” bluenortherlive.com fieldguidefest.com guaranteedtowrinkle.com

SPARKING JOY

Meet Elly Abels, a young designer her teachers call “a ray of fashionable sunshine”

By Amanda Eyre Ward / Photos by Jenna McElroy Photo Shoot at The Art Institute of Austin

ELIANA ABELS (who goes by “Elly”) defines her fashion sense with three words: bright, retro and colorful. Her work is inspired by Betsy Johnson.

“I love her use of color,” says Elly. “It’s always so unique.”

“I immediately noticed Elly’s voice in her work,” says Elly’s professor at the Art Institute of Austin, Karen Abels. “As you can tell from her style, she has a very fun, positive, upbeat, bright personality, which she translates into her fashion.”

Elly grew up in the Greater Austin area. “Living in such a creative and free environment allowed me to have so many opportunities to learn and grow in my artistic passions,” says Elly. She taught herself to quilt with the help of YouTube and her grandmother, whom she calls Nana.

“I would experiment with different sewing techniques through my quilts. And then I was like, I wonder if I can do that in a skirt ... or I wonder if I can do that in a dress,” Elly explains. Now, she says, “I donate my quilts to local pregnancy centers and use my fashion skills to create chic outfits for my friends.”

Elly’s personal style is inspired by vintage fashion from the 60s and 70s, as well as Japanese streetwear.

“I love to wear bright colors, vivid prints and layered textures. In my own designs, I incorporate various colors and prints to create garments that are bright, happy and fun,” she notes.

She’s also an advocate for slow fashion, which prioritizes sustainability and ethically made clothes.

“Many clothes are made in such a rapid way that it damages the environment and the people that make those clothes.” Instead, Elly’s designs are “small batch.” She explains, “I want to be sure that everyone, everything involved in one of my garments is, you know, okay, in terms of taking care of the planet, taking care of the people. And in order to do that, I make small batches of clothes, kind of like a limited edition, one of a kind.”

When we speak, Elly is wearing one of her own designs, a shirt with tiny rainbows and a square neckline paired with an embroidered denim vest. She’s working on her winter collection, which she dreams of showing at Austin Fashion Week. She shows me the designs for a rainbow-colored, faux fur coat.

“The big buzzword for my winter collection is rainbow fur,” she says. “A lot of texture.” She also adores a splash of color, despite the current trend of using a natural palette. Elly likes to “throw in a little bit of pink, a little bit of blue, you know, lighten that up and bring a little flash.”

And each Elly Designs creation includes a tiny tag that says, “Handmade with Love.” She wants people to be happy when they’re wearing her creations. “I want to make things out of love ... out of joy.” ellyabels.wixsite.com/my-site-1

THE UNITED STATES OF MIKE WIEBE

This multi-hyphenate performer continues to make his mark on Austin

By Darcie Duttweiler / Photos by Jenna McElroy Photo Shoot at Buzzmill

When MIKE WIEBE met Bruce Springsteen in 2007 while touring with punk band Against Me!, The Boss told him that between the two of them and James Brown, they were the hardest working front men in show business.

For anyone who has seen the Riverboat Gamblers or Drakulas, both bands Wiebe fronts, you’ll definitely know what New Jersey’s favorite son is talking about. Wiebe is a ball of adrenaline bouncing around the stage, performing all the way for the “cheap seats” in the back.

But, for Wiebe, a self-deprecating jack-of-all-trades, he calls it a “Make-AWish moment” and refuses to admit that Springsteen would actually mean it. The musician-slash-stand-up-comic-slash-actor, of course, has a more hilarious anecdote to share, in which he drunkenly got Springsteen to say “pickle” instead of “cheese” while taking a photo, something Wiebe’s mom would get him to say as a child.

“I guess you could say we’re good friends — we’re pickle buds,” Wiebe laughs.

It’s an understatement to say Wiebe is a hard-working front man. He literally bleeds for his art, having broken his ribs and collapsed his lungs during a stage dive gone awry during a Riverboat Gamblers concert at a South by Southwest showcase in 2016. While he’s no longer flinging himself about on stage with reckless abandon — he is now 46 years old after all — the consummate showman is prancing around as Savage Lord Mic, the arrogant, often salacious front man of the Drakulas, which he describes as a “Warriors-esque concept band.” He dons spiked sunglasses and sings tunes about a seedy 1970s New York in an act that even he admits some people don’t quite get.

“To be mediocre is way worse. Extreme like is the best, but a visceral dislike has something behind it. It shook them,” Wiebe explains.

Riverboat Gamblers formed in the late 1990s and released the band’s first album in 2001, which means the band is now, as Wiebe puts it “legally able to rent a car.” The band members have all grown and evolved with the band, getting married, buying houses and having kids. While Wiebe says it could be easy to claim that the band has broken up, it’s simply on a hiatus, as “Jupiter has to align with Mars to get everyone together in the same room,” but that everyone still really loves making music together.

During downtime with Riverboat Gamblers, Wiebe formed Drakulas in 2015 in order to flex his creative muscles. He also records songs solo for various comedy specials, theme songs and films, but he admits he loves to collaborate with his talented friends way too much to fully concentrate on recording songs on his own. In fact, it was an industry friend who first got him on stage as a stand-up, and the naturally comedic Wiebe has been seriously pursuing comedy projects ever since that first stand-up act 10 years ago. He jokes he enjoys comedy because he doesn’t have to “carry gear” like when he tours with his bands.

In addition to weekly shows at Buzzmill East called “Excelsior! With Mike Wiebe and Doug Mellard,” he also performs with Avery Moore as married childless fundamentalist youth ministers called the McCuewans, and he most recently opened up as a stand-up for Kyle Kinane. In addition (seriously, when does this guy ever sleep?), Wiebe can also be found on several podcasts, including “International News Service” and “Zach and Mike Make 3” with Zach Blair from Rise Against, as well as Drakulas.

Wiebe cites his “horrible ADD” as the reason he experiments with so many different types of projects and muses that he’s really “committed to making [his] parents mad” with his career choices, but hearing him talk about his work and seeing him on stage, whether at a stand-up show or in concert, it’s easy to see why he continues to write and perform. Wiebe practically oozes stage presence, which isn’t surprising considering his lanky, Iggy Pop-esque 6’3” frame, long dark hair, and (sometimes) mustache — plus his insane amount of energy. All of his projects seem to reveal little pieces of his personality and creative aspects, and Austin is the better for it.

When asked what else he could possibly want to try his hand in next or strive toward, Wiebe deadpans, “I’m pretty sure I’m going to get named People Magazine’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive,’ but we’ll see — that stuff can be so political.” linktr.ee/mikewiebe

DRAMA QUEEN

Actress Stefanie Scott is ready to live her best life in Austin

By Laurel Miller / Photos by Jenna McElroy

At 25, STEFANIE SCOTT has a resume that would make even veteran actors envious. The newly Austin-based multihyphenate (the actress also sings and writes her own songs, plays a mean ukulele, dances and does her own stunts) has worked with Oscar winners Gary Oldman and Octavia Spencer, as well as Emily Mortimer and Steve Carrel. From her early work playing a youthful version of Natalie Portman’s character in 2011’s “No Strings Attached,” a turn as Timothée Chalamet’s girlfriend in “Beautiful Boy” and a co-starring role that also featured her own music in “Jem and the Holograms,” Scott hasn’t slowed down since she began auditioning for commercials as a child.

Born in Chicago and raised in Florida, Scott relocated to Austin in 2021.

“I love Austin so much, but moving here sooner wasn’t an option because of work,” she says. “Now, with Austin’s film scene, it’s realistic to live here if you don’t want to do the L.A. thing — you just get on a plane. At this point, I’m more about having a real life. I value my relationships with people more than chasing my career all the time.”

That career has earned Scott raves, most recently for her starring role in Lifetime’s “Girl in the Basement,” in which she delivers a harrowing portrayal of an 18-year-old held hostage by her domineering, narcissistic father, played by Judd Nelson. The film is based on the true story of Elizabeth Fritzl, whose father, Joseph, kept her imprisoned in their basement and sexually abused her for 24 years, during which time she gave birth to three children. As Sara, Scott is both heartbreakingly vulnerable and indomitable, morphing from teen naïf to a 38-year-old mother of three hellbent on liberating herself and her children from her father’s abuse.

Of playing such a challenging character, Scott says, “You have to be as present as possible — it can’t be performative, especially with a true story like this one. The movie wasn’t even as intense as the reality, and I wanted to be cautious and respectful. This actually happened to someone who now leads a very private life.”

Scott’s newest show is Peacock’s “Girl in the Woods,” an edgy supernatural series that debuted in late October. She laughs when asked if she’s drawn to dark roles. “In real life, I try to be quite lighthearted, but sometimes the right opportunity just comes along — a lot of the interesting roles for women today are more complex characters. I’m attracted to projects based on the director, and their vison for the story, as opposed to the role itself,” she says.

Scott participated in theater as a child, eventually landing an agent and some local commercials. Her first television and film roles came in 2008, when she was subsequently cast as Katie in “Beethoven’s Big Break,” and appeared on an episode of the comedic spy series “Chuck” on NBC. Scott also had a recurring role as Lexi on Disney’s “A.N.T. Farm.”

“I’ve always loved performing, making home videos,” she says. “As a kid, I bonded with my grandma watching old movies, like ‘The Sound of Music.’” Small wonder that some of Scott’s greatest mentors have been older women. “I’ve had strong connections with some of my co-stars. They’ve taken me under their wing,” she says.

Her passion for films from other eras hasn’t diminished with time or success, either.

“There are definitely many roles for women now that are new and exciting,” she says. “But I also think we should celebrate earlier work. Some of the women in film from the 70s, 80s and 90s were taking the risks that brought us to this point. They were so ahead of their time.” When asked for an example, she mentions Helen Slater in 1985’s “The Legend of Billie Jean,” in which the actress plays a do-good outlaw on the lam. “The girl is crazy badass in that movie; she shaves her head on camera ... women like [Slater] paved the way for [modern roles] featuring strong female leads.”

While Scott’s passion for film is evident, she felt 2021 was the year to make a major change and step away from Los Angeles, despite her love of the city.

“I really enjoy the energy in Austin,” she says. “People are very kind here, and always down to have a great time.”

As for future roles, Scott hopes to do more comedy and a musical, but she’s wise beyond her years when it comes to the big picture.

“I want to keep making great movies, but I also want to spend more time with my family and people I love. I feel good in my reality right now.” instagram.com/stefaniescott/?hl=en twitter.com/stefaniescott

MAKING ORGANIC EASY

From Austin to Harvard and back again, Heather Emerson’s story is inspirational … and her meals are delicious!

By Amanda Eyre Ward / Photos by Jenna McElroy

HEATHER EMERSON, co-founder of food delivery company Prep to Your Door, is recognized by “Austin Under 40” and even “Forbes Next 1000.” She and her co-founder (and fiancé) Faiez Rana met in class at Harvard University and have become leaders with a passion for sustainability, food systems and education. But this gleaming resume doesn’t tell the whole story.

Emerson’s story, in fact, began far from Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 2005, Emerson was hired at the Whole Foods flagship store in Austin.

“I was in a really bad place, and I needed stability and they offered, you know, $10 an hour with benefits,” she says. Emerson recounts her first day at work, when her new boss, Joy, showed her around. “She treated me with such dignity.” Joy was the first vegan Heather had ever met. Her first station was the Smoothie Bar, next to the Raw Vegan Bar. “The guy who worked at the Raw Vegan Bar was so alive and so present,” Emerson remembers. “I was like, I want what you have. He told me, you should go vegetarian!”

Emerson gave it a try. “My life changed,” she marvels. “I could see better, hear better and I didn’t feel bogged down. I lost a bunch of weight, and I was on a big bag of psychotropic meds and all of that went away. I realized the power of food. I realized that I have control over how I feel and how I show up. Not only was I learning the power of food for me personally, but I was learning the power of food for our planet and for our future.”

Emerson became an evangelist for the plant-based lifestyle and says, “a bunch of my friends went vegetarian. They felt great.” Upon moving to New York after graduating from UT, Emerson made organic meals and stored them in glass jars.

“I could throw them in my bag, and they wouldn’t leak in my purse all day.” When she posted her meal prep on Facebook, she recalls, “People were like, what are you doing? Can you make it for me? What’s the recipe? This looks amazing! And I remember thinking, I really want to start this business.”

At Harvard for graduate school, she met Faiez Rana.

“We had similar interests, but my wealth of knowledge was about food and sustainability, and his wealth of knowledge was about entrepreneurship and business.” The two started “Prep to Your Door” and moved to Austin, where they are enjoying success and planning a wedding.

To research this story, I had a week of “Prep to Your Door” delivered to my house. The meals arrive in a recyclable bag in jars — zero-waste. They are plant-based, organic, gluten-free and ready to eat. And from Kung Pao Brussels to the most delicious Caesar salad I’ve ever tasted, I was stunned by each delicious meal. So even though we’ve always been a “Pizza or P. Terry’s?” kind of family, Emerson’s flavorful dishes and inspiring path to success may just make me the newest plant-based eater in Austin. preptoyourdoor.com

Pickleball Craze In Austin

HOW THE PANDEMIC BIRTHED OUR CITY’S FAVORITE NEW PASTIME

By Meher Qazilbash

Pickleball is suddenly all the rage right now. The sport that we all vaguely remember from childhood is now the number one growing sport in the U.S., with major celebrities like the Kardashians, Bill Gates and George and Amal Clooney participating in the game. For those who aren’t entirely familiar, pickleball is an amalgamation of tennis and ping-pong. It’s played with a wiffle ball and a lightweight plastic paddle on a court that’s slightly smaller than a tennis court. When it comes to the skills necessary to play, no extensive training is required. The trick is to master placement and pace.

It’s not exactly revolutionary, so what’s the explanation for pickleball’s sudden popularity? Perhaps the friendliness of it. When the pandemic struck we were all starved for a sense of community as well as the ability to make memories. Physical and mental health was also at an all time low, increasing our search for hobbies that encouraged us to get moving and involve ourselves in a communal experience. Voila! Pickleball offered it all in an outdoor, socially distanced setting.

Opportunities for your own perfect pickleball experience are emerging more and more right here in Austin. One must-see destination for players is Dreamland, the huge outdoor playground in Dripping Springs. Along with its many other fun features, Dreamland offers pickleball courts, equipment and lessons from professional players. They also recently launched Major League Pickleball (MLP), a four-day pickleball festival featuring amateur tournaments for all skill levels, professional clinics and a team competition where 32 of the top male and female professionals in the world have been drafted into eight teams of four players (two men and two women) to compete in a round-robin event against one another.

“The league has full gender equity with the same court time and same prize money,” says Dreamland Creative Director Gareth Maguire.

Another exciting venue is Austin Pickle Ranch, an estate that will feature over 30 pickleball courts and additional spaces for other outdoor amusements like sand volleyball, pilates and yoga. Austinites can expect to see Austin Pickle Ranch and all it has to offer in 2022. Equally important as it is to find wonderful establishments to play in, Austinites need brands that help them play in style. Recess Pickleball is a women-owned local company that’s adding more playfulness to the pickleball world by offering paddles with unique patterns and pastel colors. A response to the seriousness that typically is associated with sports and sport equipment, founders Maggie Brown and Grace Moore decided to approach the sport from a recreational standpoint. With its lighthearted athletic accessories, Recess shares the message that pickleball is meant for everyone to enjoy. “We say it takes about five minutes to get a hang of hitting the ball and 15 minutes to really love the sport,” says Brown on the accessibility of the game. It makes a lot of sense that pickleball is so ardently loved here in Austin. A game that’s centered around community, amusement and the outdoors is the perfect activity for the people of our city. dreamlanddstx.com/pickleball austinpickleranch.com recesspickleball.com

Kelly Framel Gallery

SEE THE EVER-EVOLVING MASTERPIECES THAT EVOKE AN EXTRAORDINARY SENSE OF POSSIBILITY

By Meher Qazilbash

KELLY FRAMEL IS AN AUSTIN-BORN MULTIDISCIPLINARY artist whose enigmatic works display both masterful skill and unrestrained experimentation. A creator who’s lived a colorful life with a diverse background in a number of fields, Framel uses her many influences to create layered and profound pieces. Her adventure-seeking attitude led to years of traveling and residencies in Los Angeles, New York and an extremely remote area near Oaxaca. After 17 years away, Framel is back in Austin and is bringing her rich life experiences with her to cultivate creativity and community in her hometown.

Kelly Framel Gallery opened on the East Side this October. The gorgeous creations that fill the environment are all vibrant and worldly with a touching display of innocence.

The space shows the stunning evolution in Kelly’s work after her return to Texas where she’s found clarity as an artist. “This plant grows fastest in its native dirt,” she explains. Framel’s collection of work shows her journey to mastering her craft and finding her voice as an artist that is more primitivistic and freer than before. Her glorious art space displays a determination to pay tribute to the weird little place that made her. Framel’s gallery and the unconfined nature of her work exists to remind fellow Austinites to be in touch with their instincts and let their inner child free to create.

Visit Kelly Framel Gallery at 2000 E 6th St Suite 3. kellyframel.world

Entertainment

MUSIC

SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE

December 6 ACL Live at the Moody Theater

ASO: HANDEL’S MESSIAH

December 7 Riverbend Centre

LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM

December 8 Paramount Theatre

TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA

December 9 Frank Erwin Center

NEIL MCCOY

December 9 Haute Spot

BLACKBERRY SMOKE

December 10 ACL Live at the Moody Theater

HAYES CARLL December 10 – 12 Antone’s Nightclub

NINE MILE RECORDS 15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

December 10 – 13 Empire Control Room

BRUCE & KELLY’S HOLIDAY SHINDIG

December 11 Paramount Theatre

IAN MOORE FAMILY CHRISTMAS

December 11 Stateside at the Paramount

DAWES

December 11 Stubb’s Amphitheater

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

December 12 Stateside at the Paramount

LOVELYTHEBAND

December 13 Emo’s Austin

PINK SWEAT$

December 14 Emo’s Austin

MOTOWN CHRISTMAS: TJE AUSTIN

December 15 Geraldine’s

WINE DOWN WEDNESDAYS

December 15 Republic Square

MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY’S COWBOY CHRISTMAS

December 18 Paramount Theatre

PAUL WALL & FRIENDS

December 18 Empire Control Room

THE GLITCH MOB

December 18 Emo’s Austin

ROBERT EARL KEEN’S CHRISTMAS SHOW

December 18 & 19 ACL Live at the Moody Theater

MIDLAND

December 22 & 23 ACL Live at the Moody Theater

THE JUNGLE SHOW

December 28 & 29 Antone’s Nightclub

TOADIES December 29 Emo’s Austin

AKINA ADDERLEY

December 29 Geraldine’s

CHARLEY CROCKETT

December 29 ACL Live at the Moody Theater

ASO: PAUL SIMON SONGBOOK

December 29 & 30 Palmer Events Center

GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY

December 31 Emo’s Austin

SPOON

December 31 ACL Live at the Moody Theater

BOB SCHNEIDER’S NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY

December 31 Paramount Theatre

FILM

OTHER WORLDS FILM FESTIVAL

December 2 – 12 Galaxy Highland

CAPITAL CITY BLACK FILM FESTIVAL

December 3 – 5 Various Locations + Virtual

ALL IS BRIGHT HOLIDAY SCREENINGS

December 7 – 19 Paramount Theatre

LOU’S MOVIE NIGHT

December 7 – 28 Lou’s Austin

ELF MOVIE PARTY

December 8 & 12 Alamo Drafthouse - Village

AGFA’S SPECIAL CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

December 13 Alamo Drafthouse - South Lamar

MOVIE NIGHT: DIE HARD

December 15 Central Machine Works

DARK STAR W/ SPACEFLIGHT RECORDS

December 17 AFS Cinema

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

December 20 – 26 AFS Cinema

MOVIE NIGHT: THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

December 22 Central Machine Works

A CHRISTMAS STORY

December 25 Alamo Drafthouse - Village

MOVIE NIGHT: MAD MAX

December 29 Central Machine Works

THEATER

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Through January 2 ZACH Theatre

UNEXPECTED JOY

December 2 – 19 Ground Floor Theatre

STRANGE, BUT PERFECT

December 2 – 19 Hyde Park Theatre

BALLET AUSTIN: THE NUTCRACKER

December 4 –23 Long Center

HAMILTON

December 7 – 19 Bass Concert Hall

THE PRECIOUS PRESENT - IN LOVE & LIGHT

December 9 – 12 Long Center

A MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET CLASSIC RADIOCAST

December 9 – 19 Penfold Theatre Company

THE ELF ON THE SHELF: A CHRISTMAS MUSICAL

December 10 H-E-B Center at Cedar Park

A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS

December 13 ACL Live at the Moody Theater

LIGHTWIRE THEATER’S A VERY ELECTRIC CHRISTMAS

December 24 H-E-B Center at Cedar Park

CIRQUE MUSICA HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR

December 27 H-E-B Center at Cedar Park

COMEDY

A JOHN WATERS CHRISTMAS

December 6 Paramount Theatre

CHELSEA HANDLER

December 9 ACL Live at the Moody Theater

KRAIG SMITH

December 10 & 11 Vulcan Gas Company

BENDELACREME & JINKX MONSOON

December 12 Paramount Theatre

ROSEBUD BAKER

December 13 The Creek and the Cave

STEPH TOLEV

December 15 – 17 The Creek and the Cave

THE CAPITAL CITY TAKEOVER - NYE COMEDY KICK-OFF EDITION

December 29 Bass Concert Hall

OTHER

THE FRONT MARKET POP UP

Through December 12 Ani’s Day and Night

GROUNDED BY FAREGROUND

Through December 21 Fareground Austin

CHRISTMAS WINE AFFAIR

Through December 24 Texas Hill Country Wineries

BLUE GENIE ART BAZAAR

Through December 24 Blue Genie Art Bazaar + Virtual

THE HOLIDAY MARKET

Through December 24 Hill Country Galleria

DECEMBER IN THE DISTRICT

Through December 26 2ND Street District

PEPPERMINT PARKWAY

Through December 26 Circuit of the Americas

MIRACLE ON 5TH STREET

Through December 28 The Eleanor

GINGERBREAD VILLAGE

Through December 28 Four Seasons Hotel Austin

AUSTIN TRAIL OF LIGHTS

Through December 30 Zilker Park

SIPPIN’ SANTA

Through December 31 Nickel City

MOZART’S 2021 HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW

Through January 6 Mozart’s Coffee

AUSTIN FASHION WEEK

December 2 – 5 The Domain

LUMINATIONS

December 2 – January 30 Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

SCREAM HOLLOW TWISTED CHRISTMAS

December 3 – 18 149 Split Rail Ln.

WINTER IGLOOS

December 3 – 25 Geraldine’s

CHERRYWOOD ART FAIR

December 7 & 8 Maplewood Elementary

FLOURISH: JEWELRY SHOW

December 8 – February 4 The Hive Gallery at Bee Cave

THE MOTH MAINSTAGE

December 10 Paramount Theatre

SANTA LOUNGE

December 11 3TEN ACL Live

ATXGALS HOLIDAY POP-UP

December 11 The Cathedral

AUSTIN JINGLE BELL 5K

December 12 – 19 The Domain + Virtual

STARS ON ICE

December 15 H-E-B Center at Cedar Park

JONATHAN VAN NESS

December 16 ACL Live at the Moody Theater

ARMADILLO CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

December 17 – 19 Palmer Events Center

KWANZAA UJAMAA MARKETPLACE

December 29 George Washington Carver Museum

2022 AUSTIN NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY - GATSBY’S HOUSE

December 31 Hilton Austin

AUSTIN’S NEW YEAR

December 31 Virtual