April 16, 2023
Tribeza is thrilled to announce the return of NOURISH, a wellness retreat for the mind, body and soul. Join us on April 16th as we gather for yoga, wellness workshops, delicious food and great community at Hummingbird House in South Austin.
150 ACRES - 6 MINUTES FROM ROUND TOP
TREE TOPS IS A DESIGN-FORWARD COMMUNITY THAT EMBRACES A LESS TRADITIONAL ATTITUDE, WHILE PRESERVING NATURE AND EVOKING MODERN COUNTRY LIVING. A DIVERSITY OF SCALES, USES, AND CAREFULLY CONSIDERED SITE PLANS MAKE THE PARCELS FEEL MORE ORGANIC.
DEPARTMENTS
Social Hour p. 10
Kristin’s Column p. 14
Tribeza Talk p. 16
Karen’s Pick p. 62
Dining Guide p. 64
Arts & Entertainment
Calendars p. 70
FEATURES
New Kid in Town p. 20
Iconic Austin p. 28
Local Exposure p. 34
From Reality TV to Reality p. 46
Music Makers p. 54
THERE’S A NEW KID IN TOWN, AND HE’S ONE OF THE HOTTEST comedians in the country. Matt Rife is putting down roots right here in Austin, where he filmed his most recent stand-up special “Matthew Steven Rife.” Don’t let his boyish good looks fool you — this guy is hysterical! He is, admittedly, charming in a way that makes even offensive jokes feel innocent. In our feature, Matt talks about how he fell in love with comedy at an early age in Columbus, Ohio, where he frequently watched comedians on “Comedy Central Presents” and even attended a live Dane Cook show with his mom. At just 15, he convinced the owner of The Funny Bone to let him perform. With his recent success, Matt hopes to use this momentum to step into bigger opportunities in comedy, acting and production. Now in Austin, he’s definitely one to watch, and with his love of horses, you might just find him on a ranch near you.
Switching gears from stand-up to film, our “Iconic Austin” roundup includes nine locations in and around Austin where famous movies and TV shows were filmed. Illustrated by Bryan Spear, the piece is a walk down memory lane highlighting recognizable landmarks from “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Dazed and Confused,” “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” “Office Space,” “Miss Congeniality,” “Spy Kids 2,” “True Grit, “Friday Night Lights” and “Boyhood.” Austin has a rich production history and is constantly evolving — both on and off screen.
Also featured in our Entertainment issue is well-known photographer David Brendan Hall. In “Local Exposure,” David explains how he combined his two lifelong passions — photojournalism and music — to create the career of his dreams. David has photographed some of the most famous in the business including Radiohead at Frank Erwin Center, MUSE at ACL, Jane’s Addiction at FFF Fest, Taylor Swift at COTA, Lil Nas X at ACL Fest, The Rolling Stones at COTA and Lizzo at Stubb’s.
“One of the most fulfilling things about my music photography career in Austin is the way in which it’s formed connections with people in the Austin music industry,” David says. “By photographing artists multiple times over the years, my relationships with them have transformed from purely professional to some of my strongest friendships.”
The nine local bands featured in this month’s Music Makers series are frequent headliners in popular local music venues. We shine a spotlight on Primo the Alien, Pleasure Venom, Abhi the Nomad, Ley Line, Urban Heat, Tony Kamel, Chief Cleopatra and Daydream Twins. With various genres, these emerging artists are just some of the many talented performers that are paving the way for the future music scene in Austin. If you haven’t already seen them live, you should soon.
Keep Austin Entertained!
Carrie Crowe Executive Editor
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Carrie Crowe
ART DIRECTION
October Custom Publishing
DIRECTOR DIGITAL STRATEGY
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Holly Cowart
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DIGITAL MARKETING COORDINATOR
Jenna Belle Fuhrmann
DIGITAL EDITORIAL INTERN
Meadow Chase
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
David Clough
COLUMNISTS
Kristin Armstrong
Karen O. Spezia
WRITERS
Katerina Cotroneo
Darcie Duttweiler
Liz Harroun
Lauren Jones
Meher Qazilbash
Britni Rachal
Sarah Wittenbraker
COPY EDITOR
Ashley Brown
EDITORIAL INTERN
Carolynn Solorio
PHOTOGRAPHERS
David Brendan
Weston Carls
Holly Cowart
Noah Schutz
Juan Valdes
CONTRIBUTING
ARTIST
Anna Kamburis
PRESIDENT
Chad Miller
PUBLISHER
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ACCOUNTING MANAGER
Melanie Rognerud
TRIBEZA MEDIA, LLC
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George Elliman
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General Motors showcased its newest electric vehicles education tool, EV Live, on Jan. 10 at South Congress Hotel. The event demonstrated how EV Live introduces cutting-edge technology while remaining environmentally conscious, with consumers engaging in real-time with EV experts. Industry professionals joined members of the GM team in a festive gathering to discuss the vision of an inclusive and accessible, all-electric future supported by accelerating consumer and commercial EV adoption.
Tribeza welcomed the in-person return of its beloved 8th annual Interiors Tour with a kick off party on Jan. 19. Held at décor haven Hearth & Soul, tour-goers picked up swag bags while snacking on tasty dishes from Flavor Co. Catering by Gusto and refreshing drinks from Richard’s Rainwater, Landry Distillery and BOXT.
More than a thousand Austinites attended the stunning, self-paced tour on Jan. 22, which was sponsored by SWBC Mortgage - The Breed Team and Heritage Title Co., before gathering at West Chelsea Contemporary to mix and mingle with the incredible designers from each home. The event was commemorated with snaps by Say Cheese Photo Booth, spirited drinks and gorgeous works
On Jan. 22, design-lovers enjoyed a pop-up shopping experience in South Austin featuring rows of curated new and vintage goods. Co-hosted by design experts Audrey Scheck and Claire Brody, along with IDCO Studios’ Anastasia Casey, shoppers were able to bring pictures of their space and get onsite styling advice while snagging complimentary drinks and high-quality décor from artwork to furniture and more.
Austin coffee staple Jo’s hosted their 16th annual Chili Cook-Off on Feb. 5, which featured a heated competition between past winners, amateur chefs and top culinary talent from local restaurants. Benefitting nonprofit Free Lunch, guests grooved to live music from Jeff Hughes & Chaparral and the Jo’s House Band and bid on fun raffle prizes before the Farm to Chili Goals crew took home first place.
Mike Mogavero, a luxury specialist with The Agency Austin, hosted a launch party for his private listing at 601 Riley Road in Rollingwood. The stunning property is dubbed “The House of the Rising Sun” due to its majestic morning sky and downtown views. The event featured local artists Court Lurie, Vy Ngo and Karen Maness, as well as exotic vehicles from Hi Tech Motorcars. The estate was built by CapTex Construction with interiors by Arterberry Cooke.
AUSTIN POP-UP SHOP 1. Corinne Coggin, Claire Brody & Jenna McElroy 2. Anastasia Casey, Audrey Scheck & Claire Brody 3. Rachelle Altman, Kim Weatherby, Audrey Scheck & Allison Kopp 4. Curated Goods 5. Shoppers JO’S CHILI COOK-OFF 6. Evan & Tess 7. Nick & Laura 8. Chad & Christina Wadsworth 9. Jordan Swartz & Clash 10. Julissa & Nevaeh HOUSE OF RISING SUN 11. Briley Maher, Meghan Hughes, Noa Levy, Ana Ruelas & Ava Haney 12. House of the Rising Sun 13. Tami Schroeder & Vy Ngo 14. Mike Schroeder, Mike Mogavero & Noa Levy 15. Myles & Jo Fox
T I C K E T S
Thanks to...
L E A R N M O R E
a t t h e U M L A U F S c u l p t u r e G a r d e n + M u s e u m
D e c a d e n t b i t e s a n d m u s i c a l d e l i g h t s o n t h e m e n u f o r t h e c o v e t e d U M L A U F G a r d e n P a r t y .
J o i n u s f o r a n e v e n i n g i n t h e G a r d e n w i t h w i n e , c o c k t a i l s , a n d a c u l i n a r y j o u r n e y w i t h o v e r 2 0 i c o n i c c h e f s !
B u y y o u r t i c k e t s t o d a y a n d c o m e j o i n t h e f u n !
Serving you at the Garden Party
S t e p h e n & D a p h n e P y h r r | R u s s e l l M a r t i n A u s t i n P o r t f o l i o R e a l E s t a t e K W | D a l e & M a r y H u g g i n s | W a r r e n C r o s s F o u n d a t i o n
D a v i e s C o l l a b o r a t i v e | M c B e e F a m i l y F o un d a t i o n | L i n d a & N i c k V a n B a v e l | H o l l y M a c e M a s s i n g i l l | D a n e l l e a n d M i c h a e l O ' N e i l l
WHETHER IT’S A FILM, A NOVEL OR A NETFLIX BINGE, WE love to entertain ourselves with a good story. It can be a reprieve from pain or monotony to immerse ourselves in a story about someone else.
As a writer and author, I deeply love a good story. I like a protagonist that captures my heart, that has just enough messiness or edge to feel real — someone I want to root for. I love a plot with a solid arc, that builds in depth or intensity. There needs to be some conflict sprinkled in, either interpersonal or intra. There needs to be a challenge, something that causes the lead character to rise, to be brave, to transcend, to go beyond themselves. If the story is fiction, it needs to be so believable that I fall all the way in. If the story is non-fiction, it needs to be as well-crafted as good fiction, so it awakens and includes my imagination.
And since love is at the core of courage (cœur is French for heart) and the thing that carries us beyond ourselves, there has to be love. I have said it before and I will say it many times again:
A life story without a love story is no story at all.
My love of story is probably part of why I love my work with clients so much. I love learning their stories, the plotlines and plot twists, all the supporting characters, the conflicts, the suffering and sorrows, and the healing, redemption and triumphs. I get the honor of listening to stories of the past, as well as helping to craft the meaning of the present story, and how that impacts the future. After all, the way we tell our story becomes our story. I have always known that words matter; it’s just in recent years that I realize how much.
I love the tension between the questions: Am I settling or do I just want too much? Or perhaps better said, Is this enough, or am I worthy or capable of more?
These questions arise from desire — from wanting more out of life, out of work, out of relationships, out of family, out of romance, out of ourselves.
I lived in that tension between those questions for many years. Over time, I felt peace and presence and satisfaction in every area of my life, except for one — my love life. When I was alone, I wanted a partner. When I had a partner, I had a vague sense that I was settling, playing small. It always felt off,
like I was either trying too hard, not trying hard enough, wanting too much, or pretending to be satisfied with too little. It’s an interesting conundrum to be a capable, independent woman who can take care of herself, her people and her business, and not feel compelled to shrink in order to feel taken care of sometimes. It takes a partner with a large heart and an open mind to step into a fully expressed life and expand it and share it.
A message for longing lovers of all ages; listen carefully:
You don’t want too much — if what you want you are also willing to bring.
You don’t have to be perfect to be loved — loving and being loved is what perfects us.
If you feel like you are settling, you probably are.
If you are settling, don’t shrink in the vain attempt to make it enough. It isn’t.
You are not too much. You are not too little. You are wonderfully enough. If you want more, offer more and see if you are met with willingness and reciprocity.
If you are not met, keep rising anyway, and what doesn’t match will fall away.
What is meant for you is yours. Trust this.
It’s 2023 and I have been divorced for twenty years. (If someone told me back in 2003 I would wait 20 years to find my person, I would have punched them, FYI.) I raised my children, expanded my education, built my career, cultivated and authenticated my Self and feathered a beautiful nest. On the first day of this new year, the love of my life dropped to his knees on the sand of our favorite beach and asked me to be his wife.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’d love to say I had the perfect words in that moment, but this word girl had none. I was speechless, crying and laughing at the same time (possibly the best feeling ever). I fell to my knees beside Mark, collapsing under the awesome weight of our joy.
Twenty years of wondering disappeared into the waves.
The new year sun sparkled across the ocean, so bright I had to close my eyes. We finally stood, his arms around me, breathing it all in. When we were ready to leave that moment and consider the next, we turned and walked into the rest of our lives.
Sarah Wittenbraker shares some chic accents to turn any home gathering into a stylish soiree
When Sarah Wittenbraker isn’t running her residential and commercial design studio, Sarah Wittenbraker Design, or chasing her three kids, she loves to fill her house with family and friends. Hosting is her love language, and she’s gathered some pieces of inspiration to raise your next soiree to the next level. IG Handle: @sarahwittenbraker Website: sarahwittenbraker.com
I have zero talent and patience for baking, so I typically outsource dessert. The macaroons from Elizabeth Street are always a hit (and so darn cute), and add the perfect touch of color to the table.
($3 each) elizabethstreetcafe.com
Friends should feel comfortable helping themselves, which is why I have chilled drinks in easy reach. This luxury, pewter tub can handle many bottles of bubbly or sparkling water for guests to top off as they please.
($2,300) hearthandsoul.com
June’s All Day is one of our favorite places to park on a sunny afternoon. Their crisp rosé always hits the spot, and is the perfect wine to offer at home.
($56) junesallday.com
We tend to cover all surface space when entertaining, with a makeshift bar, grazing boards, dessert tray and dinner. I’m obsessed with this antique French buffet from Jean Marc Fray, and want to give it a proper home in our dining room.
($8,900) jeanmarcfray.com
I love some drama in decór. Statement lighting is a must for gathering around a dinner table or kitchen island. This standout chandelier acts as elegantly draped jewelry for the room.
($6,400) visualcomfort.com
Guests always need a cocktail table within reach. The colors and stackable brilliance put this side table in first place at the top of my most wanted list. ($712) scottcooner.com
Charcuterie boards are all the rage, and I don’t see the trend fading anytime soon. The team at Spread & Co. are true artisans and can make magic with their gorgeous and graze-worthy creations.
($17) spreadandco.com
Whether you’re in jeans or sequins, greeting friends with a glass of bubbles sets the tone for a festive night. A traditional crystal coup (especially in this fabulous amethyst!) brings Gatsby vibes and kickstarts any party.
($415) themenagerie.com
If you want guests to stay long into the night, comfy and functional seating is key for a dinner party. Friends can settle into this cush dining chair for a late night of laughter, and the casters make it easy to maneuver and squeeze around a table.
($2,120) shabbyslipsaustin.com
Adding more ‘jewelry’ and sparkle to a dinner party, these pearl napkin rings act as gorgeous cocktail rings to your place settings.
($64) themenagerie.com
When my week is too busy to pull together a centerpiece, I call in the experts at House of Margot Blair. Their unusual floral compositions and color pairings not only add beauty to any table but also become conversation pieces.
(From $35) @margotblair
Thinking through floral is my favorite part of party prep. Ditch the generic glass florist vase, and use offbeat and interesting vessels for your colorful arrangements.
($3,900) jeanmarcfray.com
Entertaining is about setting the mood and engaging the senses. The Cire Trudon line of French candles will intrigue your guests and add another layer of beauty to your home.
($125) wildflowerorganics.com
Matt Rife, one of the hottest comedians in the country, is putting down roots in Austin, where he recently filmed his latest stand-up special
By Liz Harroun
AS I PREPARED FOR MY INTERVIEW WITH MATT RIFE
by watching clips of his stand-up comedy, I was a little skeptical. I wondered if he was gaining popularity more for his boyish good looks than for his jokes. But the more I watched clips of his shows on social media, the more I found myself laughing, sometimes hysterically. He was, admittedly, charming in a way that made the offensive feel innocent, in a way that reminded me of the frat boys I wanted to hate but couldn’t — because they were undeniably cute and funny.
He reinforced this likable stereotype when we hopped on a Zoom interview later that week, and he cheerfully explained that he was in New Zealand with
Portrait photo by Noah Schutz / Show photos by Brittany Hallbergfriends who run an adventure YouTube channel. His favorite activity of the trip so far had been zorbing, or rolling down a hill in a giant plastic ball.
His peppiness was a small relief considering I was interrupting his vacation — and became even more impressive when I later learned that he averages only about three hours of sleep each night. He emanated gratitude for all the opportunities that are suddenly coming his way — on and off stage.
Much of this success is thanks to the social media clips I had been binging of late. He had been unsure about this outlet at first, at least initially.
“TikTok has completely changed my life, which is so ironic, because for years I hated it,” says Matt. “I find social media to be far more negative than positive in most people’s lives. I tried
to do things my own way and stay off of it, and it wasn’t working. So I was like f*ck it — let’s just see what happens.”
If you’re a new fan of Matt Rife, it might seem like his overnight success came easy. But it’s been over a decade in the making, starting from his growing up in a small town an hour west of Columbus, Ohio. As a kid, Matt was an avid fan of stand-up comedy, constantly watching comedians on Comedy Central Presents and even going to a live Dane Cook show that his mom won tickets to. As early as seventh grade, he recalls telling friends that he wanted to be a comedian when he grew up.
Not really knowing where to start, he looked up the closest open mic, which was at the Columbus Funny Bone — the most prominent comedy club in the area. The club was 21 and up, but
15-year-old Matt somehow convinced the owner to let him perform. He was already spending weekends and breaks in Columbus with his grandfather. Matt’s father had passed away when he was just a baby, so his grandpa, named Steven (Matt’s middle name), stepped in to help raise Matt and support him in his comedic endeavors.
When Matt started performing at the open mics, Steven drove him to the club after school every Wednesday. Being his biggest fan, and because all of Matt’s friends were also underage at the time, Steven would also buy all five tickets that were required for performers to sell, even though four seats were left empty. Those open mics, which Matt continued throughout high school, gave him the experience and appreciation he needed to keep his dream alive.
Matt graduated high school early, at 17, and
moved to Hollywood to pursue acting and comedy. It wasn’t all glamorous, staying on his friend Erik Griffin’s couch for a few months, and then another couch for a couple of years. But he loved it.
“Especially at that time, Hollywood still felt like Hollywood,” he says. “There was a mystique, and it was this beautiful dream place.”
No one in his family had been to college, and there was no pressure for Matt to be doing anything specific after high school. Matt relished those years, couch surfing and bus hopping. But there were also hard times: when he had nothing to do and felt hopeless about his career.
Eventually, he landed more gigs — and his own apartment on Hollywood Boulevard. While he still appreciates the charm that initially lured him to California, it hasn’t been the same since the pandemic.
“I think COVID really killed Los Angeles,” Matt says. “So many people left, the energy left. So there’s no reason to have to pay all that rent and live in a city with a bunch of shallow people and travel from East Coast to West Coast for tour dates every single weekend.”
Auditions and interviews have moved from taking place in Hollywood studios to primarily being virtual, al-
lowing entertainers more freedom in where they live. Meanwhile, the comedy scene in Austin has blown up over the past couple of years. With famous comedian Joe Rogan making the move from L.A. to Austin in 2020, many big-name comedians have followed. The reasons differ from person to person but include: easier travel, more affordable cost of living and more welcoming crowds.
“They’re not as sensitive and PC about material,” says Matt of Austinites. “So you can do a little bit truer, more open comedy, and not have to worry about getting canceled by an audience member writing a bad tweet about your show. It just opened its doors when we really needed a place to go and work out things.”
Matt just filmed his second comedy special this past December at Austin’s popular venue Vulcan Gas Company. Now available online, the special is named “Matthew Steven Rife.” Including his middle name is a tribute to his grandfather, whose support was so instrumental in Matt’s early years of pursuing comedy, and who recently passed away in November.
Fortunately, his grandfather got to see Matt’s recent success before he passed, which he was obviously proud of. Just last June, Matt was doing small shows for small wages, sometimes just
breaking even. Less than a year later, he has millions of loyal followers and is selling out huge venues around the world. Matt is enjoying every minute of it.
“For years, I was sick to my stomach and miserable, waking up each day with nothing to do thinking, ‘Do I have to go back to Ohio, because nothing’s happening for me?’” he says. “That’s why I love taking every meeting. That’s why I love scheduling all these different shows. Because, you know, God forbid, if it doesn’t stick around, at least I made the most of it in that moment.”
With the newfound attention from the general public and entertainment industry, he hopes to use this momentum to step into bigger opportunities in comedy, acting and production. As far as what he’s looking forward to now that he’ll be spending more time in Austin, Rife wants to embrace the Texas ranch lifestyle. He’s looking forward to the more down-to-earth lifestyle after hustling in L.A. for so many years.
Matt’s sense of gratitude for his current lifestyle, success and all the opportunities coming his way was refreshing. Needless to say, Matt Rife won me over, and I have no doubt he’ll do the same with the Austin community. Check out his new special or a live show if you’re lucky enough to find tickets.
mattrifeofficial.com
UNLIKE ANY OTHER NIGHTCLUB IN AUSTIN, SUPERSTITION IS TRANSFORMing evening entertainment. Partnered with C3 entertainment, the club books top musical talent for live performances that bring a certain level of sophistication.
Founder Charles Ferraro hopes these measures establish a venue that reflects the changing nature of Austin as the city becomes larger and more metropolitan, while retaining a sense of “old Austin soul” and tradition.
Ferraro is very fixated on the 1970s, which is apparent as soon as you walk into Superstition. Shiny disco balls line the ceiling along with reflective mirrors on the walls, including what the club owners have dubbed as the “Big Room” with sleek, metallic surfaces throughout in what’s also now Austin’s largest dance floor.
“I kind of like doing everything in a retro vain,” explains Ferraro. “The 70s decade is very attractive to me. I love the culture, the music, the design.” Superstition’s location is also very significant as it sits in a once partially vacant building — right where South Congress and Riverside intersect.
“It has a bit of an allure to it,” says Ferraro. “It’s an extension to South Congress, and we added a few elements to kind of give a nod to its musical history.”
By design, Superstition is half music venue, half nightclub,
and offers something for everyone. An upstairs VIP room pays tribute to South Congress by modeling a 1970s recording studio, complete with records. You can also go downstairs and hit the dance floor, or you can venture into the six-day-a-week cocktail lounge, the Gold Room, described as a little more mid-century modern. This is a room with more earth tones, casual and relaxed, where you can sit and sip one of Superstition’s signature cocktails, which are a craft take on the decade.
“The 70s are considered the ‘dark ages’ of the cocktail,” explains Ferraro, who bases his claim on less enthusiasm for mixology back then. “So we reimagined craft versions of the cocktails to challenge that idea.” The venue’s Harvey Wallbanger is an excellent example of that. A milk wash with gelato and orange juice creates a flavorful profile that’s clean with a delicious take on a traditional cocktail.
The VIP area upstairs also includes a mezzanine where patrons can sit and enjoy live musical acts or a live DJ with a variety of musical influences, depending on the time of night.
“It does have a very succinct nightclub element to it, which I think is a huge part of what sets Superstition apart from other spaces in town,” says Ferraro. “There are a lot of great venues, but we think this is a really unique addition to the live music landscape. Our partnership with C3 is really valuable in their ability to bring in extraordinary artists on a weekly basis. That’s something that kind of puts us over the top.”
Since Superstition opened in December, 2022, musical acts including Chromeo, James Hype, Afrojack, Poolside, Neil Francis and Matoma have graced the stage.
“Chromeo is one of the experiences that was probably my favorite so far,” says Ferraro. “I love the music, but the space is very visual too. We have the huge screen behind the DJ and the light system. Chromeo’s video package was unbelievable, so that night I felt that both visually and musically, it was something that was really special.”
Of course, if Ferraro could have any musical artist grace his stage, that’s an easy decision. The club is named after Stevie Wonder’s famed song, “Superstition.”
“The song is how the name kind of popped in my head. Beyond that, it’s a word that kind of personifies the 70s to me,” says Ferraro. “It was a transformative decade where people started thinking in different ways, so the name is kind of layered and works on a few different levels.”
Superstition plans to have a packed lineup for Austin’s upcoming SXSW festival.
“It’s going to be insane. We’re going to have fantastic acts, huge crowds, very cool parties,” says Ferraro.
“Depending on what experience you want on a big night, come early. The gold room opens at five p.m. so there’s an opportunity to come and have a cocktail and have a more intimate experience in there. Then, as a show gets going in the Big Room, move over and dance and enjoy the energy of that.”
superstitionatx.com
By Lauren Jones Photos by Weston Carls
EPIC GAMES, CRAFT COCKTAILS AND GREAT VIBES. That is what Electric Shuffle, the second U.S. outpost of the London-based bar, promises to offer. Instead of solely delivering delicious drinks in a fun, well-designed environment, it’s the engaging high-tech gaming, available for groups from four to 20, that keeps people coming back for more (not to mention the surprisingly good food).
CEO Gene Ball, who previously worked in emerging concepts and business development at TopGolf, began speaking with Red Engine, the team behind Fight Club, a social darts bar, and Electric Shuffle right before the pandemic in 2020.
“I took a last-minute flight to London for fourty-eight hours and we hit it off,” Ball says. “They were looking for a partner to bring the concept to the U.S.” The main ask? How do we transform traditional bar games and the American-style bar for the next century?”
Ball pinpointed Dallas and Austin for the first locations — exciting, vibrant markets with entertainment districts close to downtown.
“We wanted to be a place that would balance weekends out with friends but also be great for corporate events and weekday happy hours,” he says. The Dallas location, a two-story, 15,000-squarefoot restored 1920s fire station in Deep Ellum, opened in November 2021 and features two bars, 17 shuffleboard tables, and event space for groups up to 500. Talk about electric.
When it came to Austin, Ball and the team felt that Rainey Street’s atmosphere was most akin to the Electric Shuffle brand. The bright, colorful aesthetic, proximity to Hotel Van Zandt to draw in out-of-towners and conference-goers, and opportunity to honor both the new and old Austin was perfect. Plus, “Rainey doesn’t really have a place for bar games,” he says.
Electric Shuffle opened at the Quincy, a luxury apartment building with both vast office and retail space, overtaking 7,000
square feet with room for large events, themed brunches, bachelorette parties and more. In lieu of competing with neighboring bars like Unbelievable, think of Electric Shuffle as the place to stay a while, relax and refuel.
“We don’t want to be so crowded where you can’t move or hear,” he adds. As the site mentions, Electric Shuffle is on a mission to reimagine shuffleboard with custom-built tables, impressive camera vision tech to track scores and interactive elements. Take a selfie, dine, booze and battle for the win.
When it came to the design, Electric Shuffle did it all inhouse with its team of 15 London-based designers, but don’t let that make you think the bar doesn’t feel American-made.
“We customize each to the city and district we are going to,” Ball says. “We took so many walks up and down Rainey, taking photos, and trying to pay homage to Austin itself.” The blues of Town Lake; green of the Greenbelt; and oranges, pinks and yellows of the city sunsets are integral to the final design, while the district’s history is also highlighted. “The back bar has quirky shapes, inspired by the different homes which originally stood on Rainey,” he says.
Overall, the Austin energy is palpable with a design that emotes happiness and joy though its custom millwork and light and refreshing color palette. There are even globe pendant lights that can change color at night for party mode. “We spent a lot of time on wallpaper and paint colors,” Ball adds.
The final piece of the puzzle? Crafting a food and beverage program
that goes above and beyond basic bar food. The Austin menu includes favorites like the Salted Caramel Espresso Martini and Bold Fashioned with rosemary-infused syrup. For those ready to up their game, Electric Shuffle even has sharing cocktails served in a trophy, drink buckets, and classic frozen margaritas. The easy-to-eat and even easier-to-share food menu, which consists of truffle parmesan fries, a boneless wing platter and hot honey pepperoni pizza is the ideal fuel for all those rounds of shuffleboard.
As Electric Shuffle continues to score on Rainey, look out for upcoming themed events, as well as weekend social brunches with live music. What was once a basic bar game has set the stage for an immersive, exciting and international concept.
electricshuffleusa.com/austin
Austin has a rich production history, with hundreds of movies and television shows filmed in the area over the decades. The growth and evolution of Austin throughout the years is documented in these productions, whether the locations are representing themselves or another city entirely. The friendly people and varied locations continue to attract filmmakers, and Austin continues to evolve — both on and off screen.
By Liz Harroun / Illustrations by Bryan SpearAAn ingenious commentary of the 1970s political landscape, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” inspired a new wave within the horror film genre at that time. Made with a budget of only $140,000, the film ended up grossing over $30 million. And the filming locations around Austin continue to be frequented by fans to this day. One such location is a gas station in Bastrop, where the characters in the movie stop after a chilling run-in with a hitchhiker. The gas station has been converted into a gift shop and popular barbeque joint called We Slaughter Barbeque. texasgasstation.com
OOne of the most famous debuts in the history of film was made at Austin’s very own Top Notch Burgers when Matthew McConaughey, as Wooderson in “Dazed in Confused,” utters his first-ever words on the big screen: “Alright, alright, alright.” From his Chevy Chevelle — with long blonde hair and a cigarette in hand — he coolly hits on a younger girl still in high school, setting the stage for Wooderson’s notorious character. To this day, the retro drive-in on Burnet Road remains a mainstay for carhop service and good food. And, luckily for us, McConaughey has decided that Austin is an “alright” place to put down roots: he moved back to Austin in 2011, this time with his family, and has been a professor at the University of Texas since 2019. topnotchaustin.com
EEven though it flopped in theaters when it was released in 1999, “Office Space” went on to become one of the most successful home video releases of all time and gained a cult following. Most of it was filmed in Austin, including scenes at Chotchkie’s, a sports bar frequented by the main character Peter (played by Ron Livingston). This is where he meets his new love interest, a waitress played by the one-and-only Jennifer Aniston. The interior shots were set in what’s now Baker Street Bar & Grill on South Lamar. bakerstreetpub.com
M“Miss Congeniality” is an action comedy released in 2000, starring Sandra Bullock as Gracie Hart, a tomboy FBI agent who is asked to go undercover as a beauty pageant contestant. While the story was set in New York City and San Antonio, most of this cult classic was actually filmed in Austin. The Miss United States Pageant scenes were shot at the Bass Concert Hall at the University of Texas. texasperformingarts.org
WWhile the 1993 film “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” is set in a fictional town in Iowa, most of the filming was done in Manor — just northeast of Austin. Starring Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio, this coming-ofage story tugs at the heartstrings in all directions. Young DiCaprio plays an autistic boy named Arnie who is fascinated by Endora’s water tower, which is really the Manor Water Tower that’s located in the center of town. When his older brother Gilbert (Depp) sees someone scaling the tower from afar, he immediately knows who it is and rushes to save Gilbert.
TThe majority of scenes in box-office family hits “Spy Kids” and sequel “Spy Kids 2” were shot in Austin. In the sequel, a new mission brings the Spy Kids — Carmen (Alexa Vega) and Juni (Daryl Sabara) Cortez — back for another adventure, this time on a distant island. While some shots for this one were done in Costa Rica (and Lake Travis!), as the adventure moves inland, scenes were shot at McKinney Falls State Park to replicate a rocky beach.
AAn American Western film at its finest, “True Grit” has an all-star cast including Matt Damon and Josh Brolin. Some of the movie was filmed on downtown Austin’s Ninth Street, set to resemble an early-1900s Memphis, Tennessee. Modern details like streetlights and road paint were replaced by horse and buggies. The centerpiece is a historic building called the Millett Opera House, currently used by The Austin Club. millettoperahouse.com
TThe award-winning network drama television series “Friday Night Lights” centers around high school football. Scenes set at the Panther Field House and Practice Field — both of which were central locations throughout the five-season series — were filmed at the former Del Valle High School athletic facility near the Austin Bergstrom International Airport.
TThe highly acclaimed “Boyhood” was filmed over 12 years — from 2002 to 2013 — and tells the story of Mason Jr. (played by Ellar Coltrane) from early childhood to his first year in college. Shot from Mason’s point of view, yearly vignettes portray the ups and downs of a boy growing up in Texas with divorced parents. The Continental Club, a bustling landmark on South Congress, is the venue where Mason and his girlfriend see a country band with their friends while they’re visiting Austin together. continentalclub.com
There’s something about our teenage years, that coming of age, that sticks with us for the rest of our lives. How we spend our time, our first car, often our first love — all these things finally feel like our own — and not just something of our parents or of movies. And we never forget those teenage preferences and experiences; they become a part of us in a way that those that come before and after do not. When David Brendan Hall was a teenager growing up here in Austin, he was obsessed with music — so much so that he’d forgo eating in middle school to instead save up his lunch money, stockpiling it until he’d have enough to buy concert tickets. This usually got him to one or two shows a month, well worth waiting to eat until he got home.
As a sophomore at McCallum High School, in the North Loop neighborhood of Austin, David was introduced to the darkroom and world of photojournalism. He started spending countless hours in the darkroom by himself, mostly outside of class time, developing film and printing photos.
In the spring of 2004, he was assigned to create a photo essay using film scans of any subject, and he of course chose live music, specifically a show at Stubb’s by The Darkness (whose song “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” was blowing up at the time). It was purely by chance that in April of that year, he found a ticket to the sold-out show on eBay and brought a disposable camera. As David was laying out the images on the page and writing captions for each, he realized that music photojournalism was not just a teenage pastime he was going to let fade into a formative memory.
“This is something I would love to do as a career,” he remembers thinking during that time. “Marry these two passions that I have — photojournalism and music.”
It took the better part of five years to make that happen. He graduated high school a year early and took that time to apply to colleges. While he always thought he’d stay in Austin and attend the
Photos by David BrendanDAVID BRENDAN HALL COMBINES HIS TWO LIFELONG PASSIONS — PHOTOJOURNALISM AND MUSIC — TO CREATE THE CAREER OF HIS DREAMSFOXYGEN AT FUN FUN FUN FEST, NOV. 9, 2014
University of Texas, he suddenly felt a calling to move away — and so only applied to schools outside of Texas.
Thanks largely to a generous scholarship, he went on to study journalism at Chapman University, a private college in Orange County, California. He wanted to minor in photojournalism, but because it didn’t exist at Chapman, he had to create the curriculum himself. While he continued to study and practice photography, especially when Chapman eventually brought back a photojournalism class, writing took center stage for a while.
During his sophomore year, David started an internship at a newspaper called the “Orange County Register,” where he started out writing local news. During his senior year, he got the chance
to move to the entertainment department to write about music. This move gave him a chance to ask his new editor, Ben Wener, if he could also take photos. When he was given the green light to do so, it felt like his dream was coming true.
After he graduated in 2010, he accepted a contract role with the Register to continue to cover music. During that time, with social media like Instagram on the rise, David recognized that people’s attention spans were waning, and that, more and more, they preferred compelling images over writing, especially long-form print stories. And unfortunately, while he loved journalism for which he’d gone to school to study, writing could often be a tough gig with low pay and stressful deadlines.
When he moved back to Austin in 2013, photography had become an even bigger focus. He started working for the Austin Chronicle, mostly taking photos. While they were a huge client, David was doing contract work for a variety of other publications at the same time, working tirelessly to build his career.
“I had a goal in my mind, a pipe dream in the back of my head, and I followed it all the way to California and back,” he says. “And you know, and it’s been a wild ride, a lifetime’s worth of experiences in a short amount of time.”
Many of those most formidable experiences were here in Austin, including at Austin City Limits. He attended the second-ever ACL fest in 2003 when he was just 15 and has only missed a couple since then. And that was just one of the dozens of festivals he would attend annually during those freelancing years of his 20s. Because he’d pay for his own travel and lodging, and with meager wages for his photo work, he’d often end up just breaking even.
“And so for a while, the goal was, starting with me saving my lunch money, how do I get to the next concert? And then it also became: how do I get to the next concert but also make this a living?”
David became a full-time staff member of the “Chronical” in 2015, where he mostly took photos but did some writing as well. He even had his own weekly column for
a couple of years, called Snapshot, which was a photo-heavy conversational piece about whatever local topic he chose.
In 2021, he went back to being a freelancer — but this time in a different way. Because so many people want to do it, music photography (much like writing) often doesn’t pay well.
“Publications can almost always find someone cheaper, or to do it for free,” says David, “because people are really excited to do it, and they’re really hungry.” David had admittedly been one of those eager photographers in his former years, willing to take any
gig even if it meant struggling financially. But these days, he has set up reliable, foundational work that pays him well. A lot of his income now comes from sponsorship photography, which has a branding focus at music events but also includes shooting music. For example, at SXSW, he shoots activations and lifestyle photography focused around the beverage sponsors along with the music headliners.
“I feel really lucky that I’ve had outlets that, ethically speaking, have to pay me right,” says David. “So I have been able to make money from it, allowing me to do the stuff that might pay less, like music, that I really love doing.”
It’s been almost 20 years since The Darkness show, where he first really discovered his love for photographing music. Currently, he averages about 160 days of live music a year, an award-winning photographer living the life his 15-year-old self dreamt up. He’s gotten to photograph some
of the most iconic artists of all time, including Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones.
Often on the road traveling to shows and festivals, where he’s in the photo pit with other photographers, life can feel chaotic. And getting the best images requires both luck and skill. Sometimes there are specific rules the artists have photographers adhere to, and oftentimes you only get three songs to be in the pit. But it’s always a thrill, and David has never lost that pure music fandom.
“Interacting with the fans is part of what keeps me going. Keeps me in it. Because music is so powerful. It changed my life. It changes people’s lives. It continues to heal me and get me through some of the hardest times.”
When he sees and shoots the fans, David recognizes himself in their emotions. And sometimes those images are even more captivating than those of the artist. Similarly, he feels connected and inspired by the other people who work in Austin’s music industry, the folks who make it all possible.
“One of the most fulfilling things about my music photography career in Austin is the way in which it’s formed connections with people in the Austin music industry,” David says. “By photographing local artists multiple times over the years, my relationships with them have transformed from purely professional to some of my strongest friendships.”
In his free time at home, David loves playing the guitar and making music himself. From writing to photography to music, he’s a modern renaissance man. And even over all the years, all the assignments and shoots, he doesn’t lose sight of how special it is to cover subjects that are so inspirational to him. David’s authenticity and gratitude are as palpable as his photos. Austin is lucky to have him. davidhallphotog.com
By Britni Rachal
IT’S A THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE WHERE SOME SCENES ARE LARGELY SILENT WITH American Sign Language (ASL) and captions on a backdrop screen telling the story. Fully collaborative, in other scenes you’ll hear a combination of speaking, singing and ASL. Then, at the end of the performance, rather than clapping, half of the audience waves their hands in the air, a sign that’s made in support and appreciation of a very diverse and talented stage of actresses and actors.
When local theatres partner with Deaf Austin Theatre (DAT), they enable an accessible stage experience for all artists. This immersive experience pro vides entertainment that is educational and eye-opening for all au diences to enjoy. With inclusivity in mind, the performances help promote thoughtfulness and consideration of struggles faced by millions of Americans. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, two to three of every 1,000 children in the U.S. are born with a detectable
hearing loss in one or both ears. On top of that, around 15% of American adults, or 37.5 million, currently report having some trouble hearing.
“Theatre saved my life,” says Dr. Brian Cheslik, Artistic Director for DAT. “In middle school I was a shy, closeted gay deaf kid in a small, closed-minded town, where I was bullied daily and had no friends.” Cheslik said his family later moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he joined a drama club and made friends. “I was able to find my people, my tribe, my support system … my friends.”
Officially forming in 2017, after five years of ideas and action by Russell Harvard, Bellamie Bachleda, Flash Oltalora and Michelle Schaffer, the Deaf Austin Theatre program is one of the most unique in the country and serves a very much needed purpose — one that is ingrained in the core of its participants.
“Forming Deaf Theatre in Austin was a no-brainer because there is a large deaf community in Austin, and the multi-communities here in Austin are familiar with deaf culture and people using ASL,” says Sandra Mae Frank, Production Manager for DAT. “We knew that having a theatre company here would make a huge impact and bring so much noise to theatre communities in Austin by saying: hire us, work with us, produce with us.”
To date, DAT has put on six in-person shows and four virtual shows, with the most recent being Cinderella in partnership with ZACH Theatre. The shows are incredibly immersive — and great for any audience. Even younger children, who can’t read the captions, can be seen in the theatre with their parents quietly whispering the captions to them, almost in a storybook reading style. Each production also includes hearing actors to make sure all shows are accessible for everyone.
“The magic happens when both worlds work together and ensure there are equal voices on the production team,” says Frank. “When you come in to watch a production knowing there are deaf actors involved using ASL, don’t set your mind to, ‘Oh, this is something special to witness, something extraordinary and inspirational to witness as actors with disabilities perform,’” advises Frank. “Just come to watch a show as
if you would with any other production. Have an open mind and allow yourself to be in that world and trust you will not be lost. Instead, embrace what you see on the stage, and know that everything is intentional. You’ll leave gaining new experiences and awareness. It’s something you’ll continue to talk about the next day.”
One theatrical challenge is that there are so few deaf actors and actresses in Austin that organizers must bring in talent from outside of Austin — something that can really consume much of a production’s budget, along with the cost of interpreters. However, through these extra measures, the deaf theatre is meeting a need and expanding talent reach for those who previously wouldn’t have an opportunity.
“I cannot imagine my life not being in a creative career. Not only am I an actor, but I’m also a director,” says Frank. “I love working in different aspects — theatre, film and TV. I get to create stories for a living and play characters that both challenge and teach me. Every lesson I learn through my characters, I also carry with me in life.”
To help offset costs and fully operate, DAT relies on donations, sponsorships, fundraisers and volunteers. In the future, the organization hopes to further expand its reach, and start working with theatres beyond Central Texas.
deafaustintheatre.org
By Meher Qazilbash
AUSTIN IS
FOR LIVE MUSIC, WITH PLENTY of it to go around. And for those nights when you’re ready to be the one behind the mic for a change, it’s also a popular haven for karaoke. So get together a group of friends — or venture out solo if you’re brave — to check out these local karaoke venues.
With late-night Korean comfort food and a soju dive bar, make sure you try Seoulju’s award-winning food and drinks along with your karaoke session. The private karaoke room fits up to 20 people, and guests can order food and drinks while they sing. It’s only $30 per hour to rent the whole room, so bring all your friends for an incredible time. seouljuatx.com
The self-proclaimed “only bar in Texas,” Outer Heaven has earned a cult-like customer base who believe in their mission to keep the real Austin alive amid the influx of unwitting transplants. Located on East 12th Street, it’s certainly one-of-a-kind and worth checking out. Weekend nights are for dancing, and Tuesday through Thursday the space is all about karaoke. With disco balls and colorful lights throughout, you’re sure to have a good time singing your heart out. outerheavendiscoclubatx.com
Perfect for gluten-free folks and cider aficionados, Fairweather Cider serves an array of their house ciders along with wines and seasonal drinks. Their private karaoke rooms hold up to 12 people; you can rent for as short as 30 minutes if you want a quick (and affordable, at only $10) session. fairweathercider.com
Established in 1979, Ego’s is perhaps the most iconic karaoke spot in town. Tucked away on South Congress, you’re always sure to find an interesting crowd (including some entertaining regulars on the mic) and unbeatable drink specials. With karaoke every night from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m., stop in any night for a lively session. egos-karaoke-bar.business.site
A legendary live music venue founded in 1974, the Hole in the Wall sits on Guadalupe Street right across the street from the University of Texas campus. With a rich music history that includes the likes of Spoon and Shakey Graves, you can harness the energy of local music icons when you sing in the very same space! They offer karaoke from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday. holeinthewallaustin.com
With nightly karaoke in their northside location near the Domain, Canary Roost has wholesome vibes and fun, seasonal drink specials. The laid-back bar also has billiards and darts in case you need to pass time while you wait for your turn on the mic. canary-roost.business.site
Outer Heaven Disco Club
Fairweather Cider
Seoulju ATX
Hole in the Wall
Canary Roost Ego’s
PHOTO BY HONG NGA NGUYEN
PHOTO BY DREW SHELTON
PHOTO BY PATRICK DAIGLE
PHOTO BY BRIAN LEDDEN
By Lauren Jones
Hyland, one day would change his life forever. The teenager suffered a freak accident in 2014 that left him with a traumatic brain injury and a 50% chance of survival when placed in a medically-induced coma. Yet, like his impressive athletic career, he came out on top, beating the odds at a rate that not only impressed his doctors but inspired his community as a whole. It was Blake’s story that was the impetus for Magnolia Network’s heart-wrenching new show, “Hi, I’m,” an Emmy-nominated documentary anthology series showcasing individuals who’ve overcome extraordinary challenges.
Director Jon Michael Simpson, a family friend of the Hylands, and filmmaker Jeff McQuitty documented Blake’s progress over the course of six years, initially as part of a short film competition.
“The prompt was about featuring someone who had overcome incredible odds and inspired hope,” Simpson recalls. The documentary won a national competition, but they weren’t ready to be done. “We kept following Blake and his recovery,” he adds.
Now, nearly a decade later, Blake will graduate Magna Cum Laude from Texas Tech University and plans to become a motivational speaker. While the show has proven to be quite popular with viewers, Simpson and Mcquitty never expected the opportunity to share his story, plus the stories of others. Magnolia Network saw the film and approached the duo to produce more works.
“Chip and Joanna Gaines were looking for more content, and they felt it was the perfect type of thing they wanted to put out there,” Simpson says. “We couldn’t say yes fast enough.”
Since, Simpson and McQuitty have shared the day-to-day lives of 19-year-old Sevy Marie Eicher, an artist with Down Syndrome, and of Travis Mills, a quadruple amputee who sur-
vived an IED explosion. While the pair had six years to film, edit and explore Blake’s story, they had just two months to work with Sevy at her home in Houston, the first story explored for the “Hi, I’m” series.
“We were beyond thrilled to get to tell another incredible story,” McQuitty says. Yet they were apprehensive about how they would pull it off. “How could we go from making our first feature over the span of years to telling a story in just a few months?” he adds. “It was an incredible challenge, but the instincts are there; it’s just a new environment.”
Sevy was adopted from Bulgaria at 12, spending the formative years of her life in an institution because of her disability. Fast-forward, and Sevy, who is self-taught, is an internationally acclaimed artist, finding her voice through her colorful paintings.
The “Hi, I’m Sevy” episode asks its viewers if they can imagine being a person unable to express themselves like others. Sevy is nonverbal, yet her abstract art has not only changed the trajectory of her live but the lives of her family members as well.
“Hi, I’m Travis Mills” shares the harrowing story of a retired United States Army Staff Sergeant, who became a quadruple amputee while serving in Afghanistan, just one of five soldiers in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive such grievous injuries. He’s a “New Yorks Times” bestselling author and founder of the Travis Mills foundation — created to help raise funds to aid special-needs veterans and their families.
While Sevy’s and Travis’ stories are vastly different, there is a common thread. “They are all people who have overcome great adversity. These are stories of hope, love and family,” McQuitty says.
When Simpson and McQuitty were in Maine with Travis and his family, they learned of a very important upcoming anniversary just one week into filming.
“It was going to be the tenth anniversary of his alive day,” the date of a close escape from death for a veteran, Simpson explains. “Men he served with surprised him to celebrate. We could barely keep it together while filming. It was amazing to see it and be there with him.”
Where do we go when faced with adversity? Is it a chance to create change, to discover strength within ourselves? Those are just some of the things that those who watch the “Hi, I’m” series are asked to reflect on.
“This is the best job,” Simpson says. “I’m so grateful I get to make this series and do it with Jeff.” Simpson and McQuitty have been friends since their days at UT where they bonded over their love of film and sketch comedy.
And while working with real people in lieu of non-scripted actors has provided its own set of unique challenges,
they find it’s all about the intention you bring into each new project. Things don’t always go as planned, but that is just part of the job.
“You want to plan as much as you can, but you have to be flexible with how the story is told, and at the end, get to to the core of the story,” McQuitty says. “There are lots of spreadsheets,” Simpson says on the planning of each “Hi, I’m” episode.
So what’s next? While they are currently not filming more episodes, they are looking for heartwarming stories to tell.
“These stories are being told for a reason,” McQuitty says. “They are powerful and speak to the goodness of everyday people and the resilience of the human spirit. I hope people watch and are encouraged to go be better, be kind and give back to their communities,” he adds.
The “Hi, I’m” series is currently in its second season and has additionally shared the stories of Dawn Harper Nielsen, an Olympic track and field athlete who won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and silver at the 2012 London games, and Nancy Rubin, a Berkeley, California, teacher who had students write letters to their future selves, a multi-decade project before her retirement. To date, she’s sent 15,000 letters. “Hi, I’m” is available to watch on Magnolia Network, HBO and Amazon Prime. discoveryplus.com
WE KNOW WOMEN ARE POWERFUL. AND WHEN THEY JOIN forces, they are unstoppable. Two music industry veterans — Adrienne Lake and Charlie Faye — did just that to create an Austin-based creative services agency unlike any other. Why it’s different goes back to these two women’s varied experiences that naturally crossed paths along the way.
Adrienne has been in the music industry since she was 18 when she got her first job at a music venue in her hometown of Tucson, Arizona. Around the same time, she took a road trip with friends that passed through Austin and fell in love with the city. While she knew then and there that she’d move to Austin someday and even considered going to the University of Texas, Adrienne ended up staying in Tucson to study at the University of Arizona. After college, she gained a variety of experiences in the music industry including working in A&R (artists and repertoire) at major record labels and music journalism.
“The long-term plan was always to move to Austin,” says Adrienne. “I just got a little distracted.”
The sidetracks served her well as she became an expert in several arenas of the music business. Adrienne continued to visit regularly and, in 2011, finally put down roots in Austin. Since then, she has worked as a talent buyer for SXSW and many prominent venues including Parish and Empire Control Room & Garage. She’s also worked with many talented Austin-based artists — one of those being Charlie.
“Charlie and I had known each other for quite a few years,” says Adrienne. “I had booked her bands, and we have always been looking for that niche that needed to be filled here in the Austin music community.”
Charlie started out in the music industry as an artist, best known as the lead singer in Charlie Faye & The Fayettes, a retro soul-pop girl band. She’s a captivating singer, songwriter and musician who has not only self-managed her own career but has also been a consultant to many other Austin-based artists.
“I became known among my friends as somebody who was good at the business side of things,” Charlie says. “So I ended up just helping a lot of friends, and then eventually started doing consulting for artists on a more professional level.”
When the pandemic hit in 2021, Adrienne and Charlie knew it was time to join forces. They both were ready for a change. Adrienne had just worked tirelessly to put together extensive programming for SXSW, which got canceled, and then she — along with many others in the industry — got laid off. Austin Music Foundation, a nonprofit organization that both Adrienne and Charlie have worked with throughout the years, reached out to see if she could do artist consultations.
“These musicians who were used to a steady stream of live gigs suddenly had the rug pulled out from under them,” says Adrienne. “And they were very upset and lost. They needed to be reminded of what they were doing right.”
Meanwhile, Charlie was a newly single mom to a beautiful daughter, who she wanted to spend as much time as possible with. Since she knew she wouldn’t be performing as much with COVID and her young daughter, she was ready to focus more on her consulting.
So, in 2021, Daydream Believer Collective was born. Adrienne’s vast experience in the music industry coupled with Charlie’s unique experience of years as a self-managed artist come together synergistically for a consultancy that can provide holistic support to artists.
“I think having been an artist myself, I understand where artists are coming from,” says Charlie. “I understand what they’re up against and what it feels like to have a record finished, this thing that you’ve worked so hard on for so long. I do feel like it’s helpful to have that perspective.”
Meanwhile, Adrienne has that experience of working on the other side for over two decades: she understands what record labels, talent buyers and press are looking for from artists. While they have separate clients, Adrienne and Charlie collaborate often, especially with clients that require both of their perspectives.
“We provide the strategic support to keep our clients inspired, invigorated and in control of their professional goals,” says Adrienne. “We saw a demand in the Austin music ecosystem for our experience and skills. We want to be a combined voice for the many amazing creative projects coming out of this community.”
News has spread quickly, and all of Daydream Believer Collective’s clients have come from word of mouth. Both Adrienne and Charlie are reenergized as new business owners, getting to support so many artists and nonprofits they love on a deeper level. Needless to say, Daydream Believer Collective — and the dynamic duo behind it — is here to stay.
daydreambelievercreative.com
Connor Saeli — who was on season 15 of ABC’s “The Bachelorette,” which featured Hannah Brown, and later on “Bachelor in Paradise” season 16 — is unique. He used his fan following (399K) and business brain to form brand deals and other influencer-type, money-making deals. Then with partner Mike, they created a business called Waterboy — a hydration company with 5/5 reviews that started organically via TikTok and crowdfunding and became a viral sensation company that “cures your hangover” and “helps you stay hydrated post-workout.” Waterboy is projected to do over 20 million in sales in 2023. If you follow him on TikTok, you’ll quickly understand that Saeli is not your average 9-to-5er. As co-owner of the company, he documents all the hard work and fun so his followers can see how far he’s come. He frequently posts montages showcasing his time on “The Bachelor” to where he is now in Austin to keep up his social media presence. Though his passion is certainly business nowadays, Saeli says he had a great experience on the show and felt it made him come out of his shell.
Kimberly Cobb, who appeared on TLC’s “I Love a Mama’s Boy” and started a podcast called “My Lips Aren’t Sealed,” became a full-time influencer and started taking part in brand deals. With her follower count increase (92.3k+), she is finding her place in Austin. She sees others in her community as her “girlfriends” and still references the show to discuss boy drama or how far she has come since her time on TLC. She loves attending events, meeting new people and continuing to grow the community she formed post “Mama’s Boy.” She helps other women with relationship advice and showcases lifestyle content. Her podcast has featured additional TLC cast members, and she has lots of intriguing guests in store for the future. Cobb is grateful for the support she has received since her time on the show. “Everything I learned was a stepping stone to get to where I am today,” says Cobb. “I’m proud of how far I’ve come and excited for what’s in store ahead!”
Keauno Perez
Amber Diamond — who grew up in Austin and went to Westwood High School — appeared on MTV’S “Are You the One.” She found love on the show and has built a beautiful family from the opportunity AYTO gave her and her husband Ethan. She is an influencer, but her #1 priority is her children and family life. “Family is truly my passion,” shares Diamond. If she hadn’t done the show or had quit (which she almost did), she wouldn’t be where she is today. MTV even hosted her baby shower! She obviously wouldn’t change her experience for the world since she was part of the one in 35,000 who found real love on a reality show. Now she has a fantastic community with whom she loves to share her everyday lifestyle (206k). Diamond is authentic; what you see is what is really happening in her life, and that is why her followers love her.
Keauno Perez was on Netflix’s “Twenty Somethings,” which was filmed right here in the heart of Austin. “Twenty Somethings” is now an Austin-loved staple. Perez used the show as an opportunity to come out to his friends and family, and his first kiss was even filmed on the show. He stole the hearts of Austinites and, frankly, fans worldwide after his show aired.“The love I feel daily makes my day,” shares Perez. If you see him walking downtown, the odds of someone asking to take a picture with him, or telling him to “live your best life” (as he is famously quoted on the show) are high! He’s always collaborating on fun events and having the time of his life. He turned his up-ticking following (93.4K) into a career of influencing and hopes to partner with a company in the future and make his own line. He’s constantly partnering with Equality Alliance by promoting their events and attending as a TV personality. ATX is lucky to have “KEKE.”
It seems that once you’re on TV, you never truly go back to reality. If even a tiny fraction of the billions of people in the world “fall in love with you,” and then have the ability to follow you day-to-day as an influencer, podcaster or entrepreneur, they want that
glimpse into your life. Although there can be haters, most of the time these are good folks who want to support their favorite “character.” To them, you are the dream, the one that made it, someone that possibly inspires their wardrobe, workout routine, decor, dating life attitude or whatever it may be — in the same way some people may follow an athlete’s career. It used to be tabloids and BBC interviews, and now it’s candid Instagram stories and TikToks where beloved reality stars can share exactly what they choose to share when they want to share, all in real-time.
@consaelaway@kimberlycobb
@amberleediamond
@keaunoperez
AARON BERGMAN NEVER EXPECTED TO HAVE THE LIFE HE does. The Tacoma, Washington, native — who made his way down to Texas in 2010 — was in elementary school when he was first introduced to the sport. While his parents were never golfers, a key fact in his journey, he grew up just one mile from a public golf course with a great program for kids. What was initially a playground morphed into his first job, passion, and eventually, his career.
There are many barriers to entry when it comes to golf. It’s expensive and some may say elitist, yet Bergman wants to change the way the game is viewed, and also how people train for it. He received a degree in Professional Golf Management from New Mexico State University, and at 21, went to Bhutan where his love for coaching bloomed.
“I was essentially an ambassador, traveling to different villages and using golf to make connections,” he says. “I gave lessons to the royal family and was one of twelve foreigners living and working in the country at the time.” What was initially a six-month post-grad experience turned into a three-year international stay.
He then went to Nepal at a time of unrest — the royal family had been murdered by the crown prince, and Maoists occupied the country — and discovered Shiva Ram Shrestha. The teenager, who had been working as a caddy at a local club, showed incredible talent. Bergman trained him and he went on to become the first Nepalese to win on the Indian Tour. From there, Bergman hosted a golf television show in Thailand, and in 2010, came back to the States and founded Golf in Schools, an after-school program that now serves 85 schools in Central Texas.
“Golf is a vehicle to share valuable life lessons,” he says. “It has the power to transcend culture and class, and is a great tool for bringing people together.” Education has always been at the core of Bergman’s golf career, and his love for the sport has continued to grow. While he was serving Texas youth, he realized he was undeserving the community as a whole, and yearned for a space
where individuals and families could come learn, practice and improve their game.
“I never wanted to play golf indoors or use technology, but I was pushed into it out of necessity,” he says. By 2015, golf simulators became credible enough that they were no longer just for fun but excellent for providing data for coaches and students. And while this level of tech is typically only available to the pros, Bergman has made golf and the ever-evolving simulation programs available for all at a reasonable price point at Golfinity, with monthly memberships for both individuals and families.
Recently opened in Northwest Austin, Golfinity is the largest indoor golf performance club in the U.S. with 20 state-of-the-art golf simulators that provide real-time feedback with Trackman launch monitors and a virtual green with Puttview technology.
“We have a system that does 3-D mapping of people’s swings,” he adds. “It empowers students to understand when they make a shot and why the ball goes the way it does.” Golfinity’s premise is to increase access to the game, welcome the curious and help golfers improve their game faster than if they practiced on a traditional range.
“I’m really excited to be a part of this space. In 2023, there will actually be more off-course golf participation than on as the definition of a golf experience is changing,” he says. Plus, technology is moving so quickly that each year new information is available.
In addition to Golfinity’s impressive golf bays and emerging programming, visitors can enjoy food and drinks in between shots and lessons in the performance theater. Plus, it’s more than equipped to handle large groups and parties. Whether you grew up golfing, are a seasoned player or are new to the sport, Golfinity will help you improve your game in no time.
golfinity.com
THE ADRENALINE RUSH AND THE CLICKETY SOUND OF A SKATEboard sliding across the pavement, making moves and jumps … Director and creator Jasmine Quiñones can’t get enough of the challenge of skateboarding and the way it makes her feel. So much, that when imaging company FUJIFILM Corporation contacted the Austinite of almost four years and asked her to collaborate on a project of her choice, she immediately chose to create a short film on skateboarding, now titled “Push.”
“It’s very hard, but I love it, because it teaches you so much about life and resiliency,” explains Quiñones, who is currently working on mastering heelflips, a maneuver that involves flipping the skateboard in the air for a full rotation along the board’s nose-tail axis. “You really have to constantly face fear. Facing yourself and getting over it enough to try a new trick or ride down a scary ramp that you don’t want to ride down. When you succeed at doing what you were trying to practice for three hours, it’s the most exhilarating feeling that I’ve ever experienced.”
Quiñones has a life-long passion for skateboarding; though she did step back for 10 years to focus on oth er projects, including earning a bachelor’s degree in Communication from University of Massachusetts Amherst, which led her to an unpaid internship doing film and photography after graduation.
Fast forward almost seven years, and Quiñones is now becoming known for working not only with FUJIFILM, but other global brands, including REI, New Balance and Ferrari. The latest film, “Push,” is her favorite project, and already the winner of “Best Experimental Film” at the TopShorts film festival.
“It’s every creator’s dream to get a call from a big brand that says, ‘Hey, we are willing to put money behind an idea that you want to do,’” explains Quiñones. “This is one of the first projects I’ve done that was so personal to me. It was literally like I’m making a project for myself, and FUJIFILM is super gracious and generous enough to back this film for their camera campaigns.”
Quiñones describes the project, which wrapped up in April 2022, as one of the biggest steps in her career, because it is helping her transition toward directing. Exploring identity is also something she wanted to include in her work, which she did with “Push.” It tells the story of how she was comfortable with her identity and skateboarding as she was younger, but drifted away from the sport because she personally didn’t feel like she fit in with people around her. Most skateboarders in the early 2000s were not women. The resulting product is a very authentic piece, along with a genuine work style. “It’s really easy to listen to what everyone else has to say and what everyone else’s opinions are about who you are, who you were, what you should be. It’s really easy to get lost in that, so that’s why I love making work about being yourself,” says Quiñones. “No matter what age you are, I feel like sometimes people have problems being authentically themselves. There’s a lot of noise out there and a lot of influence. The film I made with FUJIFILM is a direct ode to finding out who you are.”
Mental well-being is an important aspect that Quiñones is trying to incorporate into more of her work. Being relatable and tapping into topics that don’t get talked about as much is important to the 28-year-old, who is hoping to make more sports and fitness content surrounding wellness, along with content to bring people together.
“It makes me feel good to know that work like that can hit people in a deeper spot,” says Quiñones.
“In some ways, I like to remind people that we are all living through similar things. Very similar experiences. Very similar emotions. It’s so easy to forget that.”
Future goals for this awardwinning creator, who was also named “Best Editor in Austin” by Under the Stars Film Festival, include focusing more on YouTube and checking off some new clients on a list of sports, fitness and automotive brands she’s hoping to work with. Better documenting her own story, in hopes of helping others, is a specific focus.
“I’m a big believer of trying not to gatekeep things about the industry and being on YouTube to share anything I’ve learned in hopes that more people like me will pick up a camera and use their voice to tell a story,” says Quiñones, who hopes that her work will empower and inspire the future generation of Austin creatives.
jasminequinones.com
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“I don’t think I ever ‘got interested’ in music. It’s just who I am,” says singer Primo the Alien, who prefers not to use her real name. “Music is like breathing. I cannot remember or imagine a time when it wasn’t the great love of my life.” Perhaps the East Texas native was always destined for a galaxy far, far away. While Primo admits she’s a big fan of divas, which isn’t surprising given how much of a wallop her vocals pack, when it comes to her music, lush synths and electropop beats are laced with 80s-inspired nostalgia, evoking visions of sensual interplanetary wastelands covered in glitter. She cites musical influences of electronic-based pop artists Charli XCX, Dua Lipa and Kim Petras, but when Primo is onstage in all her 5’11” glory,
she writhes around with colossal intensity and bravado, like a mixture of Meatloaf, David Bowie and Lady Gaga. Her most recent album, double EP “Heart on the Run / Rock Professor” plays perfectly on that duality with one side ultra-sleek, sparkly electropop, and the other side over-the-top 80s rock. This spring, catch Primo the Alien at South by Southwest, performing around town solo or with super-girl group KVN, and in the near future look for a new EP she claims will be a huge departure from her usual sound. “I’m constantly pushing myself to explore different genres and sonic landscapes, so 2023 will be chock full of unexpected music from me.”
primothealien.com
“Things move slow on the Gulf of Mexico,” Tony Kamel sings on his recent solo LP. Best known for the bluegrass, Grammy-nominated string band Wood & Wire, Kamel says he went solo mainly so he wouldn’t have to get a “real job.” But, really, the Americana singer-songwriter is happy to be exploring a new sound as a solo artist, what some call “Gulf Coast country.” His laid-back record “Back Down Home” was recorded at The Bunker, Bruce Robison’s all-analog studio in Lockhart, and conveys a down-home aural travelogue from Louisiana to Galveston, weaving country, bluegrass, folk and Cajun jazz throughout. “Many of my fondest memories growing up are from spending time with family and friends in Galveston, and
I still adore that little weird gem of an island. There are some good ol’ funky folks down there,” Kamel says. He and Robison, who Kamel calls a good friend and mentor, are currently hard at work on a follow-up album, which he says won’t be inspired by the Gulf, and Kamel hopes to tour more once it’s finished. It’s performing as a solo act he especially loves, as weaving in personal storytelling during a concert is one of his favorite aspects. “I’m influenced by John Hartford, Levon Helm and John Prine because I just love the way those guys had their sense of humor woven into the art.” Next month, catch Kamel at the Houston Folk, Blues, & Gospel Festival.
tonykamelmusic.com
By Darcie Duttweiler / Photo by Weston Carls
Born in Madras, India, Abhi Sridharan Vaidehi (aka Abhi the Nomad) has lived in Beijing, China; Hong Kong; New Delhi, India; Suva, Fiji; Los Angeles; Lille, France and most recently Austin, where he and his wife settled five years ago. Needless to say, his stage name is most apropos. In fact, the hip-hop singer, rapper and producer says that he actually got his start performing right here in the Live Music Capital of the World in 2017. “I played at Dozen Street to a small crowd of people, probably around 30 — of which maybe five people were my fans,” he says. ‘It grew very quickly from there.” Known for his indie alternative musicality, Abhi’s influences of Beck, Arctic Monkeys, Queens of the Stone Age, Phoenix, The Strokes and Spoon shine through his work, but his childhood love of Kayne is what propelled him into the world of hip-hop. His upcoming second EP with rapper Kato On The Track, “Abhi vs Kato
2,” scheduled to release this month and is a sequel to 2020’s “Abhi vs Kato,” will showcase more of his rapping talents with “elite rapping and god-tier beats at the highest level of lyricism [he] can produce.” Also on the docket is a follow-up to 2021’s genre-bending “Abhi vs the Universe,” which he claims was “the start of a musical journey.” He says, “It became a vessel for me to express what it felt like to experience a world that you want to change but seems impossible to alter without changing yourself.” When he’s not recording or performing with his band (Harrison Sands and Travis Brown), you can find Abhi playing PC shooter game “Apex Legends,” reading a book a month (his 2023 New Year’s resolution), feeding his cats, Archibald and Tom, or watching Guy Ritchie movies. abhithenomad.com
According to Wikipedia, ley lines are “straight alignments drawn between various historic structures and prominent landmarks.” For Lydia Froncek, the percussionist of female multilingual folk quartet Ley Line, the band’s name “speaks to a larger truth of how interconnected we are with each other and the planet. Our music is a ley line that connects us to the many people and places that have influenced our sound.” This is one of the many reasons the ladies of Ley Line — Lydia, her sister Madeleine Froncek, Emilie Basez and Kate Robberson — sing in different languages: Portuguese, Spanish, French and English. “It’s a special way to remember that even if the words aren’t understood by the whole audience, the feeling still comes through the music,” explains Basez. During a chance encounter at the Telluride Music Festival in 2013, the sisters met the two friends who knew each other from their time in Brazil. The
foursome instantly hit it off and formed a band when they all eventually made their way to Austin. Ley Line may have gotten its start performing at farmers’ markets and yoga studios, but in due course the band played at ACL, and in 2021 they produced their own visual album inspired by a three-month journey through Brazil to accompany their sophomore album “We Saw Blue,” which screened at Paramount Theatre. “Folk music comes from a long tradition of oral history and storytelling,” says Lydia. “It was important to us to honor the people and places that inspire our music, and we wanted our audience to be able to experience Brazil in a very visceral way. We felt that film would give our audience a deeper understanding of how the place influences the music.” You can see Ley Line at the Old Settlers Music Festival and Kerrville Folk Festival this spring. leylinesound.com
“It’s dance music for depressing times,” Urban Heat lead singer Jonathan Horstmann says to describe their music. It’s true, while clad mostly in black leather, mesh and studs, the live shows of the band — also comprising of Kevin Naquin and Paxel Foley — can seem like serious stuff. But with infectious synths, Horstmann’s throaty baritone growl and “Joy Division meets Depeche Mode” vibes, your body will be transported back to Elysium’s famous 80s Sunday-night dance parties. Horstmann says that although he’s drawn to retro tunes, the main influences on Urban Heat were “the machines used to make music,” like the LinnDrum LM2, a legendary drum machine used by Giorgio Moroder and John Carpenter; the Minimoog, the single-note synthesizer on records from Pink Floyd and Dr. Dre; and the powerful Prophet 5, a five-voice polyphonic synthesizer that changed music when it was re-
leased in 1978. But, mostly, Urban Heat’s sound was created out of necessity when Horstmann’s daughter was born, and he turned to synths to make music in headphones while she slept.
“I absolutely fell in love with sound design and the ability to use a sequencer to perform multiple synths at one time,” he says.
“I was able to create complex orchestrations as a single person, and it completely changed my approach to composition and performing.” You’ve most likely heard their single “Have You Ever?” dominating the local airwaves last year, or seen the band play during ACL, SXSW or on their national tour. In addition to this month’s SXSW show, later this year the band will tour internationally with Vision Video and play Cruel World Fest in California with Siouxsie and Iggy Pop.
urbanheatband.com
Although powerhouse lead singer Audrey Campbell technically formed raw, experimental punk band Pleasure Venom — named after both super villain She-Venom and Gandhi’s concept of “pleasure without conscience” — in 2014, the band in its current iteration, with Chase Dungan on guitar, Jordan Emmert on bass and Thomas Valles on drums, only released its first full-length LP “Rebirth/Return” this past December. Dungan explains that the new album “quite literally represents a new chapter for the band and a return to live performance,” which every band member says is an act of catharsis for both those on stage and the audience watching. While this may only be Pleasure Venom’s debut album, which is full of what Valles
calls “groove-heavy rock music with a punk energy and ethos,” the band has had the luxury of performing and touring with other rock heavy hitters, like Garbage, Bikini Kill, Against Me!, L7, The Spits, Osees, Ringo Deathstarr, A Giant Dog, and the list goes on and on. However, performing in their hometown is always the biggest highlight, with a spot at last year’s Austin City Limits Music Festival being especially exciting for longtime local Dungan. The band is looking forward to its official showcase at this year’s SXSW and an upcoming U.S. and Canada tour starting in May. pleasurevenom.com
Admittedly influenced by all types of music — from Led Zeppelin to Outkast — Jalesa Jessie (aka Chief Cleopatra) ideally wants to follow in Tina Turner’s footsteps and become the next black female rock star. Although, she admits she prefers not to label her music too much. “I try not to put myself in too much of a box because I’m influenced by all kinds of bands and artists, and I just want to express how I’m feeling at the moment,” she says. Growing up in Corsicana surrounded by gospel music, Jessie rebelled from playing the piano by picking up drumsticks and learning how to play music by ear. “I taught myself how to drum listening to John Bonham,” she says. Jessie eventually made her way to Austin in 2012 and in 2019 formed
her band with Leonard Martinez, Tre Pham, Emilio Mendez, Jackson Brooks and Barrett O’Donnell. Describing their sound as “fun and light with a giant helping of rock and soul and sultry vocals,” Chief Cleopatra released “Luna” last year, played SXSW two years in a row (with a third showcase this month), opened for Girl Talk and headlined Austin festival Hot Summer Nights. New LP “Weekend Warrior,” inspired by new beginnings, is set to be released this fall. “My music is for people with no limitations. People who want to mix all these genres together to make this universal sound, and that’s really what I’m trying to accomplish.”
chiefcleopatra.bandcamp.com
“‘Shoegaze” is about filling up space with noise and slight chaos mixed with melancholy,” explains Daydream Twins lead singer Jordan Terry to describe the band’s genre. Along with partner Aidan Babinski, as well as Chris Welvaert and Jimmy Mercado, Terry’s ethereal vocals pair with droning guitars to create vibey psychedelic tunes that are “very dreamy, cinematic, chaotic at times, yet all flowing gently through different moods.”
Hailing from Southern California, Terry met Austinite Babinski through mutual friends, and the two eventually ended up writing music together as a couple. With long, blonde mops, similar lanky builds, and very few creative differences, the socalled “twins” only had their first performance as a band in March 2022 and self-produced their first album in September
using a cheap preamp and an outdated version of GarageBand. “It is a perfect fourteen-track compilation of ourselves, pieced together to carry the listener through an emotional experience, as well as the essence of our relationship,” Terry says. The singer also notes that being in a relationship with your bandmate is easy when you’re so much alike, and the duo is able to constantly write and record music together. In addition to their Wednesday night residency at Hole in the Wall this month, they’re currently at work on a new record that incorporates more ambient music, which they love to listen to and include in their live shows.
daydreamtwins.com
BUTLER PITCH & PUTT’S FOOD INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM BISCUITS TO BURGERS
By Karen O. Spezia
Photos by Holly Cowart
MY FAVORITE NEW RESTAURANT IS … AN OLD GOLF course? Yep. Lately, I’ve had some terrific meals at the ol’ Butler Pitch & Putt concession stand. But if you’re thinking rubbery hotdogs and a bag of chips, think again. Butler has upped its culinary game to complement its snazzy renovated clubhouse. Now there are warm homemade biscuits, hot-off-the-grill smashburgers, first-rate sandwiches, fresh-baked cookies and an impressive selection of craft beer and seltzers. And best of all, you don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy a meal there. Whether you play a round or not, everyone’s welcome to grab a tasty al fresco bite while enjoying the sweeping views of Austin’s skyline rising above the manicured fairways. Come one, come all.
For the uninitiated, Butler Pitch & Putt is an Austin institution. Built in 1949, this nine-hole, par-three golf course sprawls across eight acres of downtown Austin, hugging the south shore of Lady Bird Lake. Over the past
75 years, Butler remained a constant as Austin mushroomed around it, encircling the course with glistening skyscrapers and luxury condos. Family owned and operated, the course didn’t change much over the years and was starting to show its age. But in 2019, the Pecan Grove Golf Partners, a team of mostly Austin natives, took over and gave Butler a much-needed freshening up, retaining the course’s unique charm while restoring its vintage mid-century luster. Another upgrade included Butler’s concessions: threetimes James Beard-finalist Michael Fojtasek was hired to handle the food. Fojtasek, the chef behind such lauded Austin restaurants as Olamaie, Maie Day and Little Ola’s, happens to be a Butler regular, and his MaieB Hospitality group now oversees two dining options at the golf course.
The Clubhouse offers drinks, snacks and fresh food items like biscuits, sandwiches and desserts sourced from Fojtasek’s casual café, Little Ola’s. Fojtasek’s buttermilk biscuits have achieved cult status around town, especially his sandwich-sized honey fried chicken biscuit stuffed with a crunchy, breaded chicken thigh and drizzled with Texas honey. There are several other biscuit sandwiches stuffed with fillings like eggs, sausage, tomato and cheese, plus a plain version simply served with butter and jam. They’re all baked and delivered fresh each morning, wrapped and kept warm near the register for easy grab-and-go.
For lunch, Little Ola’s provides ‘Master’s-style’ sandwiches, a nod to the celebrated concessions at Augusta’s renowned golf tournament. Similar to those offered at The Masters, Butler’s sandwiches are served on white bread and offered in classic flavors like pimento cheese, egg salad and chicken salad. But Little Ola’s elevates them with gourmet ingredients like artisan bread, roasted jalapeños and fresh tomato garnish. There’s also fresh-baked gourmet cookies that’ll give you a sugar buzz to last all nine holes. Tradition-
al snacks like chips and candy are also available, plus an impressive selection of cold beers, seltzers, wines and sodas. For five dollars, you can rent a Yeti cooler to cart around your bevvies, keeping them ice-cold.
Another dining option is Gimme Burger, a permanent food truck next to the clubhouse serving terrific burgers, hot dogs, French fries and … fried okra?! Not something found at most golf courses, but something you absolutely should order at Butler. These crunchy, tender nuggets of sliced okra are some of best I’ve ever had. The French fries are just as good, served piping hot and dusted with zippy spices. But the Gimme Burger is the star: a double smash patty on a sesame seed bun, topped with oozing melted cheese, shredded lettuce, onion, tomatoes, pickle and special sauce. It’s one of the best burgers in town and made with top-quality local beef from Ranger Cattle Ranch. For smaller appetites, there’s a single-patty Kiddie Burger, and if burgers aren’t your thing, there are also hotdogs and a vegetarian option.
Although you can take your food to go, I recommend enjoying it on one of the picnic tables or retro lounge chairs on Butler’s pleasant courtyard, overlooking the putting green, rolling fairways and dazzling Austin skyline. After your meal, work off the calories with one of the complimentary yard games like cornhole, fine-tune your stroke on the putting green or, of course, play a round of golf. Scattered throughout the grounds are big-screen TVs streaming major sporting events and, being Austin, speakers cranking out great tunes throughout the day.
Keep in mind that these aren’t your typical restaurants, and they don’t keep typical hours. If the weather’s bad, then the golf course closes and so do the concessions. So check before you go. And although Butler’s not your typical golf course, it’s typically Austin: fun, funky and friendly. There’s no country club attitude here; only genuine Texas hospitality and Austin inclusiveness. No membership is required, and a round of golf will cost you less than $15. If you don’t own gear, you can rent clubs and balls for a buck. There are no tee times: first come, first serve.
At Butler you’ll find a true cross-section of Austinites enjoying the scene: families, couples, bachelorette parties, business buddies, old geezers, dads with toddlers, grandmas with grandkids and bros with six-packs. So break out your best Caddyshack attire, channel your inner Bill Murray and bring your friends, date, kids or pet (on a leash) for Butler’s quirky vibe and great food. It’s your meal ticket to Keeping Austin Weird.
butlerpitchandputt.com
1417 South 1st Street (512)-551-2430
1417frenchbistro.com
Neighborly chic greets you and offers a French bistro comfort menu from steak frites to moody blue cheese beignets. A full bar serves up signature cocktails from a refreshing cucumber gimlet to a blood orange French Margarita with black volcanic salt. Don’t miss their gorgeous patio for al fresco dining at its best!
24 DINER
600 N. Lamar Blvd. | (512) 472 5400
Chef Andrew Curren’s casual eatery promises delicious plates 24/7 and a menu featuring nostalgic diner favorites. Order up the classics, including roasted chicken, burgers, all-day breakfast and decadent milkshakes.
34TH STREET CAFE
1005 W. 34th St. | (512) 371 3400
This neighborhood spot in North Campus serves up soups, salads, pizzas and pastas — but don’t miss the chicken piccata. The low-key setting makes it great for weeknight dinners and weekend indulgences.
ARLO GREY
111 E Cesar Chavez St. | (512) 478 2991
Arlo Grey is the debut restaurant from “Top Chef” 10 winner and “Fast Foodies’’ star Kristen Kish. Found inside the LINE Hotel, the picturesque lakeside spot has received praise for its intentional design and elegant, French-and-Italian-inflected take on Texas ingredients.
ASTI TRATTORIA
408 E. 43rd St. | (512) 451 1218
This chic little Hyde Park trattoria offers essential Italian dishes along with a variety of wines to pair them with. Finish off your meal with the honey-and-goat-cheese panna cotta.
BARLEY SWINE
6555 Burnet Rd., Ste. 400 | (512) 394 8150
James Beard Award–nominated chef Bryce Gilmore encourages sharing with small plates made from locally sourced ingredients, served at communal tables. Try the parsley croissants with bone marrow or Gilmore’s unique take on fried chicken.
BLUE DAHLIA BISTRO
3663 Bee Cave Rd. | (512) 306 1668
A cozy French bistro serving up breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a casual setting. Pop in for the happy hour to share a bottle of your favorite wine and a charcuterie board.
BUFALINA & BUFALINA DUE
6555 Burnet Rd. | (512) 215 8662
This intimate restaurant serves up mouth-watering pizzas, consistently baked with crispy edges and soft centers. The famous Neapolitan technique is executed by the Stefano Ferrara wood-burning ovens, which runs at more than 900 degrees. Lactose-intolerants beware, there is no shortage of cheese on this menu!
CAFÉ NO SÉ
1603 S. Congress Ave. | (512) 942 2061
South Congress Hotel’s Café No Sé balances rustic décor and a range of seasonal foods to make it the best place for weekend brunching. The restaurant’s spin on the classic avocado toast is a must-try.
CARVE AMERICAN GRILLE
7415 Southwest Pkwy. | (512) 792 4450
Whether it’s a date night dinner, a casual Friday lunch, or weekend family brunch, visit this amazingly modern-rustic dining room complete with a vibrant bar and patio with hill country views. Everything about CARVE is inspired by fresh and eclectic ingredients, with every dish reinventing the American grille experience.
98 San Jacinto Blvd. | (512) 685 8300
Ciclo is a modern Texas kitchen featuring locally inspired flavors and ingredients with a Latin influence, brought to life by world-renowned restaurateur, Richard Sandoval. Ciclo’s name reflects its focus on menu offerings that change seasonally from ceviches, crudos and grilled and smoked meats to inventive cocktails.
CLARK’S OYSTER BAR
1200 W. 6th St. | (512) 297 2413
Small and always buzzing, Clark’s extensive caviar and oyster menu, sharp aesthetics and excellent service make it a refreshing indulgence on West Sixth Street. Chef Larry McGuire brings East Coast-inspired vibes to this seafood restaurant.
501 Colorado St. | (512) 499 0977
Hiding in plain sight on one of downtown’s busiest street corners, Comedor is a restaurant full of surprises. Lauded chef Philip Speer delivers a menu that is equally clever and unexpected, with contemporary cuisine riffs on Mexican culinary traditions.
EASY TIGER
3508 S. Lamar Blvd. | (512) 964 8229
6406 N I-35 Frontage Rd., Ste. 1100 | (512) 494 4151 1501 E. 7th St. | (512) 839 8523
Easy Tiger lures in both drink and food enthusiasts with a delicious bakeshop upstairs and a casual beer garden downstairs. Sip on some local brew and grab a hot, fresh pretzel. Complete your snack with beer, cheese and an array of dipping sauces.
2307 Hancock Dr. | (512) 371 6840
A café and grocery with both Louisiana and French sensibilities by Thomas Keller–trained chef Sarah McIntosh. Lovers of brunch are encouraged to stop in here for a bite on Sundays.
FONDA SAN MIGUEL
2330 W. N Loop Blvd. | (512) 459 4121
At Fonda San Miguel, authentic interior Mexican food is lovingly served inside a colorful hacienda-style restaurant. The art-adorned walls and indoor, plant-filled courtyard provide a pleasant escape in North Austin.
3300 W. Anderson Ln. | (512) 420 2222 eldoradocafeatx.com
Eldorado Cafe exemplifies old school Austin, resonating the beat of the early 90’s, sending out hot plates of the most decadently delicious and sometimes healthy eating you will find in Austin. Mexican style comfort food with a deep honor towards the historical eateries that have made Austin great. Come see us.
FOREIGN & DOMESTIC
306 E. 53rd St. | (512) 459 1010
Small neighborhood restaurant in the North Loop area serving unique dishes. Chefs-owners Sarah Heard and Nathan Lemley serve thoughtful, locally sourced food with an international twist at reasonable prices. Go early on Tuesdays for $1 oysters.
GOODALL’S KITCHEN AND BAR
1900 Rio Grande St. | (512) 495 1800
Housed in the beautiful Hotel Ella, Goodall’s provides modern spins on American classics. Dig into a fried-mortadella egg sandwich and pair it a with cranberry-thyme cocktail.
GRIZZELDA’S
105 Tillery St. | (512) 366 5908
This charming East Austin spot lies somewhere between traditional Tex-Mex and regional Mexican recipes, each fused with a range of flavors and styles. The attention to detail in each dish shines and the tortillas are made inhouse daily.
HANK’S
5811 Berkman Dr. | (512) 609 8077
Delicious food and drinks, an easygoing waitstaff and a kid-friendly patio all work together to make Hank’s a favorite neighborhood joint. With happy hour every day from 3-6:30, the hardest task will be choosing between their frosé and frozen paloma.
HILLSIDE FARMACY
1209 E. 11th St. | (512) 628 0168
Hillside Farmacy is located in a beautifully restored 1950s-style pharmacy with a lovely porch on the East Side. Oysters, cheese plates and nightly dinner specials are whipped up by chef Sonya Cote.
HONEY MOON SPIRIT LOUNGE
624 W. 34th St. | (737) 209 0319
Vintage-chic hot spot with ample outdoor seating turning out imaginative cocktails and global mains.
HOPFIELDS
3110 Guadalupe St. | (512) 537 0467
A gastropub with French inclinations, offering a beautiful patio and unique cocktails. The beer, wine and cocktail options are plentiful and the perfect pairing for the restaurant’s famed steak frites and moules frites.
JEFFREY’S
1204 W. Lynn St. | (512) 477 5584
Named one of Bon Appétit’s “10 Best New Restaurants in America,” this historic Clarksville favorite has maintained the execution, top-notch service, and luxurious but welcoming atmosphere that makes it an Austin staple.
JOANN’S FINE FOODS
1224 S. Congress Ave. | (512) 358 6054
A South Congress neighborhood spot, a new take on the American diner, and a vacation for locals and tourists alike. Open early and late at the Austin Motel, Joann’s is a welcome respite for early birds and night owls, outlaws and in-laws, all ways always.
JOSEPHINE HOUSE
1601 Waterston Ave. | (512) 477 5584
Rustic Continental fare with an emphasis on fresh, local and organic ingredients. Like its sister restaurant, Jeffrey’s, Josephine House is another one of Bon Appétit’s “10 Best New Restaurants in America.” Find a shady spot on the patio and indulge in fresh baked pastries and a coffee.
1722 S. Congress Ave. | (512) 416 1722
This wine-focused restaurant is complemented by serious cocktails and a menu of approachable bistro favorites. Inspired by Paris cafes, Spanish tapas bodegas and urban wine bars, June’s encourages sipping, noshing and lingering.
JUNIPER
2400 E Cesar Chavez St. #304 | (512) 220 9421
Uchi Alumni Chef Nicholas Yanes fuses central Texas influences and local farm produce with Italian fare. Start with puffy potatoes and the Chef’s Brand New Cadillac Negroni.
JUSTINE’S BRASSERIE
4710 E. 5th St. | (512) 385 2900
Justine’s is a quaint French brasserie deep in East Austin. Don’t let the short drive deter you — the experience of eating traditional French plates among exquisite works of art and decorative string lights makes for one idyllic evening with a significant other.
KEMURI TATSU-YA
2713 E. 2nd St. | (512) 803 2224
Kemuri Tatsu-Ya is a Japanese-Texan mash-up that injects seriously good food with a sense of humor. The East Austin joint features Asian-inspired smoked meats and seafood, along with yakitori, ramen, and izakaya classics meant for sharing. Drinks are also an integral part of the meal, so come thirsty.
LA BARBECUE
22401 E Cesar Chavez St. | (512) 605 9696
Though it may not be as famous as that other Austin barbecue joint, La Barbecue is arguably just as delicious. This trailer, which is owned by the legendary Mueller family, serves up classic barbecue with free beer and live music.
LAS PALOMAS
3201 Bee Cave Rd. #122 | (512) 327 9889
One of the hidden jewels in Westlake, this unique restaurant and bar offers authentic interior Mexican cuisine in a sophisticated yet relaxed setting. Enjoy family recipes made with fresh ingredients. Don’t miss the margaritas.
3663 Bee Cave Rd. #4G (512) 327-5222 maryesgourmetpizza.com
Marye’s Gourmet Pizza, a West Lake Hills favorite for over 25 years, serves gourmet pizza, fresh salads, classic sandwiches and more all made from scratch in our kitchen using the best ingredients we can source. We offer a large selection of gf and vegan options. Enjoy crave-worthy food, craft beer and boutique wines in our casual and inviting dining room.
136 Drifting Wind Run, Suite 101, Dripping Springs, TX (512) 337 6977
Head chef Jacob Euler imparts a sense of culinary heritage with a creative twist, focusing on cuisine inspired by French technique and artfully prepared local ingredients. The scenic Dripping Springs landscape, a familial tiethat-binds, creates the perfect backdrop for an evening of fantastic food and revelry.
1807 S. 1st St. | (512) 215 9778
A gorgeous spot to enjoy a luxurious French-inspired prix fixe meal. Almost every ingredient served at Lenoir comes locally sourced from Central Texas, making the unique, seasonal specialties even more enjoyable. Sit in the wine garden for happy hour and enjoy bottles from the top wine-producing regions in the world.
1203 W. 6th St. | (512) 474 5107
Located in a vintage West Sixth Street bungalow, Chef Ling and her team create sophisticated Chinese dishes that draw enthusiastic crowds day and night. Make sure to stop by during weekend brunch to taste the full mouthwatering dim sum menu.
1306 E. 6th St. | (512) 480 5960
Located in the heart of East 6th, Licha’s is a quick trip to the interior of Mexico. With masa made fresh in house and a large range of tequilas and mezcal, Licha’s Cantina is a celebration of authentic Mexican cuisine. The music, food and ambiance will get you ready for a night out on the town.
LORO
2115 S. Lamar Blvd. | (512) 916 4858
Created by James Beard Award winners Tyson Cole and Aaron Franklin, this Asian smokehouse is a welcome addition to South Lamar. The expansive indoor-outdoor space, designed by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, is welcoming and open, and unsurprisingly the food does not disappoint. Don’t miss out on the sweet corn fritters, smoked beef brisket, thai green curry or those potent boozy slushies.
811 W. Live Oak St. | (512) 444 1888
Mattie’s is a glorious urban paradise offering upscale American classics. While the cocktails are top-notch and the cuisine is nothing short of outstanding, Mattie’s ambiance and atmosphere are unmatched.
2512 E. 12th St.
The brainchild of James Beard-nominated chef Edgar Rico and Sara Mardanbigi, this East Austin gem has garnered national acclaim and in 2020 was named one of the best new restaurants by Food & Wine magazine. Nixta’s artfully-crafted tacos are unlike any other and made with wildly creative ingredients — but the Mexican heritage corn tortillas are truly the star.
1201 S Lamar Blvd. | (512) 433 6521 Famed food trailer turned brick-and-mortar, Odd Duck is the first venture from acclaimed chef Bryce Gilmore. Expect seasonal fare and drinks with a strong Texas influence sourced locally whenever possible.
PARKSIDE
301 E. 6th St. | (512) 474 9898
Patrons flock to this downtown hideaway for its wide selection of oysters and other modern-American specialties. The 6th Street locale is filled with industrial details and plenty of natural light, so it’s no wonder that reservations are often necessary to get a table in the inviting space.
18300 FM 1826, Driftwood, TX (512) 858-4959
saltlickbbq.com
World-renowned barbecue with a side of Hill Country hospitality...the Roberts family recipes have roots back to the wagon trains in the mid-1800’s. Just a short 25-minute drive out of town, visit Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood to enjoy Texas-style BBQ in a relaxed, rustic setting. BYOB or visit Salt Lick Cellars next door for beer and wine to-go.
THE PEACHED TORTILLA
5520 Burnet Rd. #100 | (512) 330 4439
This cheerful spot is sure to clear your weekly blues with friendly staff, fun food and a playful atmosphere. Affordably priced, you’ll find culinary influences from around the world with a healthy dose of Asian and Southern options.
PICNIK
4801 Burnet Rd. | (737) 226 0644
1700 S. Lamar Blvd. | (512) 293-6118
A perfect place to find wholesome food for any type of dietary restriction in a bright and airy setting. This place truly lives out the “good and good for you” concept with paleo-friendly options and thoughtfully sourced ingredients.
POOL
2315 Lake Austin Blvd. | (512) 334 9747
Tiki meets Texas in this neighborhood burger bar. Located behind Deep Eddy Cabaret, crunchy crinkle-cut fries and juicy burgers are served from the window of a 1968 Airstream Land Yacht.
835 W 6th St. #114 | (512) 474 2777
Created by visionary chef Ling Qi Wu, also the owner of the esteemed Lin Asian Bar, Qi Austin dazzles with its top-notch Chinese cuisine and vibrant artwork. Located in Shoal Creek Walk, Qi Austin is a restaurant that pleases the eye as well as the stomach.
RED ASH ITALIA
303 Colorado St. #200 | (512) 379 2906
Red Ash Italia strikes the perfect balance between high-quality food and enticing ambiance. This Italian steakhouse is led by an all-star team, including executive chef John Carver. Sit back, relax and enjoy an exceptional evening.
1209 Rosewood Ave. | (512) 838 6205
Housed in a historic East Side cottage, this spot is quickly becoming a staple. Chef Jesse DeLeon pays outstanding homage to his South Texas roots with seasonal offerings from Gulf Coast fishermen and Hill Country farmers and ranchers.
SAMMIE’S ITALIAN
807 W. 6th St. | (512) 474 2054
A member of the MML Hospitality family, Sammie’s will not only transport you to another place — but also to another era. The ritzy joint features a throwback menu of Italian-American favorites, completely transforming the former Hut’s Hamburgers space. Start with a well-made cocktail as you nibble on the complimentary bread basket filled with homemade focaccia and bread sticks.
SUERTE
1800 E. 6th St. | (512) 953 0092
Helmed by executive chef Fermín Núñez, Suerte was inspired by extensive travels through Central Mexico. Artisanal masa is the highlight, made from local heirloom corn and used in distinctive dishes rarely found on Austin menus. Order the delectable Suadero Tacos, perfect for sharing with friends.
THAI FRESH
909 W. Mary St. | (512) 494 6436
A restaurant, cooking school and market all in one place. When you’re done dining on traditional Thai favorites, stop by the adjoining coffee bar for freshly brewed joe, homemade ice cream and an array of baked goods.
THE WELL
440 W. 2nd St. | (737) 742 1129
TILLIE’S
3509 Creek Rd. Dripping Springs, TX | (512) 894 2633
Through its breathtaking architecture and innovative menu, Tillie’s lives the American Nouveau concept. The restaurant’s building, a repurposed town hall from the Ninh Binh region of Vietnam, is the physical embodiment of a dining experience that takes inspiration from history and cultures. Tillie’s culinary journey is inspired by traditional American cuisine, but with an international flair.
TRUE FOOD KITCHEN
222 West Ave. | (512) 777 2430
11410 Century Oaks Terrace, Suite 100 | (512) 992-0685
Inspired by Dr. Andrew Weil’s anti-inflammatory diet, True Food Kitchen combines decadent favorites with health-conscious eating. The restaurant, located in downtown’s Seaholm district, offers a full range of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
UCHIKO
4200 N. Lamar Blvd. Ste. 140 | (512) 916 4808
The sensational sister creation of Uchi and former home of Top Chef Paul Qui and renowned chefs Page Presley and Nicholas Yanes, Uchiko is an Austin icon that everyone should visit at least once. Try the bacon tataki.
VIXEN’S WEDDING
1813 E. 6th St. Ste. A | (737) 242 7555
Vixen’s Wedding is a charming space creating something truly unique. Helmed by culinary super-couple Todd Duplechan and Jessica Maher, the restaurant specializes in Goan cuisine, a cultural mash-up of bright and complex flavors.
WU CHOW
500 W. 5th St., #168 | (512) 476 2469
9601 Bee Cave Road Austin Texas 78733 | (512) 520 9590
waybackaustin.com
The Wayback mingles with nature, inviting travelers to do the same. The cafè serves the freshest ingredients on a seasonal menu that balances southern staples with newfound favorites, and the patio and outdoor lawns are perfect for dining alfresco.
The Well blends top-tier nutrition, local and sustainable farming, and authentic flavors for a breakthrough culinary experience that redefines healthy food in Downtown Austin.
TINY BOXWOODS
1503 W. 35th St. | (512) 220 0698
This Houston-based brand now serves its simple and delicious food in Austin’s Bryker Woods neighborhood. Favorites include house-ground burgers, salmon Provencal salad and their chocolate chip cookies.
From the curators of Swift’s Attic, Wu Chow is expanding Austin’s cuisine offerings with traditional Chinese dishes sourced from local purveyors and farmers. Don’t miss the weekend dim sum menu.
SOUL MAN SAM 75TH BIRTHDAY BASH
March 4
Antone’s Nightclub
DVSN
March 5
Stubb’s Waller Creek
Amphitheater
BOBBY WEIR & WOLF
BROS
March 7 & 8
ACL Live at the Moody Theater
SZA
March 9
Moody Center
OUR PLANET: LIVE IN CONCERT
March 9
Long Center
SILVERSUN PICKUPS
March 9
Emo’s Austin
LOS TEMERARIOS
March 10
Moody Center
TOBYMAC
March 11
H-E-B Center at Cedar Park
PAUL VAN DYK
March 11
Superstition
LUCK REUNION 2023
March 16
Luck Ranch
STONER JAM
March 16
The Far Out Lounge & Stage
SPRING BREAK PARTY
March 17
ABGB
ANA GABRIEL
March 18
H-E-B Center at Cedar Park
LUCK ORIGINS: NEW ORLEANS TAKEOVER
March 18
Luck Ranch
VANCE JOY
March 20 & 21
ACL Live at the Moody Theater
YEAT
March 21
Stubb’s Waller Creek
Amphitheater
UNWRITTEN LAW
March 22
Parish
JOAN OSBORNE
March 23
The 04 Center
ELLE KING
March 23
ACL Live at the Moody Theater
VANESSA CARLTON
March 24
Antone’s Nightclub
SLAID CLEAVES
ALBUM RELEASE W/ BETTYSOO
March 24
The 04 Center
DRUSKI
March 24
ACL Live at the Moody Theater
HAYES CARLL
March 24
Scoot Inn
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS
March 24
Paramount Theatre
ASO: SONG OF THE NIGHT
March 24 & 25
Long Center
BLACK FLAG
March 25
Mohawk
PAUL VAL W/ THE PAST LIVES
March 25
Antone’s Nightclub
GRACIE ABRAMS
March 25
Emo’s Austin
SABRINA CARPENTER
March 26
ACL Live at the Moody Theater
MUSIC OF TAYLOR
SWIFT FOR KIDS
March 26
The Far Out Lounge & Stage
MEET ME @ THE ALTAR
March 27
Antone’s Nightclub
VANESSA COLLIER
March 29
Antone’s Nightclub
SPENCER SUTHERLAND
March 30
Antone’s Nightclub
BRYCE VINE
March 30
Emo’s Austin
HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS
March 31
Domain NORTHSIDE
JER
March 31
Mohawk
WEYES BLOOD
March 31
Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
MORGAN WADE
March 31 & April 2
Scoot Inn
DJ MEL DANCE PARTY AT DUSK
April 1
3TEN at ACL Live
ERIC JOHNSON
April 1
Paramount Theatre
MATT CORBY
April 1
Paramount Theater
CMT MUSIC AWARDS
April 2
Moody Center
KEVIN KAARL
April 2
Emo’s Austin
BELLA NOCHE DE MÚSICA
April 4
Moody Amphitheater
LUDOVICO EINAUDI
April 4
Bass Concert Hall
The 04 CenterFILM
TEXAS FILM AWARDS
March 3
AFS Cinema
ESSENTIAL CINEMA: NO BEARS
March 7
AFS Cinema
ATX SHORT FILM SHOWCASE
March 13
Ballroom at Spider House
ESSENTIAL CINEMA: CINEMA SABAYA
March 21
AFS Cinema
MURALING AUSTIN DOCU-SERIES
LAUNCH
March 24
PBS Austin (Virtual)
NAPOLEON DYNAMITE LIVE!
March 30
Paramount Theatre
I SEE YOU. YOU’RE SEEN.
Through March 11
The VORTEX
PIPPI LONGSTOCKING
Through March 12
Austin Scottish Rite Theater
AUSTIN SHAKESPEARE: THE REAL THING
March 2 – 5
Long Center
STEEL MAGNOLIAS
March 3 – 19
City Theatre Austin
NIGHTBIRD
March 3 – 26
Austin Playhouse
C.S. LEWIS ON STAGE: FURTHER UP & FURTHER IN
March 5
Long Center
VINCENT
March 23 – April 8
Ground Floor Theatre
THE DRAGONFLY PRINCESS
March 25 – April 15
The VORTEX
THE PEKING ACROBATS
March 26
Long Center
ACOUSTIC ROOSTER’S BARNYARD BOOGIE
March 26
Paramount Theatre
AIN’T TOO PROUD: THE LIFE & TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS
March 28 – April 2
Bass Concert Hall
LIGHT / THE HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY PROJECT
March 31 – April 2
Ballet Austin
CLUE: ON STAGE
March 31 – April 16
City Theatre Austin
COMEDY
DARREN FLEET
March 8
Cap City Comedy Club
BRAD UPTON
March 9
Cap City Comedy Club
JERRY SEINFELD
March 10
Bass Concert Hall
ROCKY DALE DAVIS
March 11
Vulcan Gas Company
MARY SANTORA
March 17 & 18
Cap City Comedy Club
DESI BANKS
March 17 – 19
Cap City Comedy Club
ADAM CONOVER
March 23 – 25
Cap City Comedy Club
SAMANTHA RUDDY
March 24
The Creek & the Cave
JASON CHENY
March 24 & 25
Vulcan Gas Company
CHRIS D’ELIA
March 25
ACL Live at the Moody Theater
HIT LIST COMEDY
March 25
Parish
TAYLOR TOMLINSON
March 25 & 26
Bass Concert Hall
DAVID CROSS
March 29
Paramount Theatre
ONE LOVE COMEDY SHOW
March 30
Pershing
BRANDON ROGERS
March 31
Parish
JOSH WOLF
March 31
Cap City Comedy Club
FRANCIS ELLIS
March 31 & April 1
Vulcan Gas Company
WILL BURKART
March 31 & April 1
Fallout Theater
OTHER
ATX CRAWFISH FESTIVAL
March 4
Republic Square
SXSW CONFERENCE & FESTIVALS
March 10 – 19
Multiple Locations
RODEO AUSTIN
March 10 – 25
9100 Decker Lake Rd.
FAMILY DAY
March 12
UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum
YOGA & SOUND BOWLS
March 12
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
LUCK ORIGINS:
POTLUCK 2023THREE SISTERS
March 15
Luck Ranch
DR. POOJA LAKSHMIN
March 22
BookPeople
WGC-DELL TECHNOLOGIES
MATCH PLAY
March 22 – 26
Austin Country Club
DEBORAH D.E.E.P.
MOUTON
March 24
BookPeople
NASCAR AT COTA
March 24 – 26
Circuit of the Americas
AUSTIN SPRING HOME & GARDEN SHOW
March 24 – 26
Palmer Events Center
WATER LANTERN FESTIVAL
March 25
Mueller Lake Park
MASTER CLASS
SERIES: HOME
BARTENDING 201
March 26
The Roosevelt Room
BIG RED BARN SPRING SHOW
March 27 – April 1
Round Top, TX
CLYDE LITTLEFIELD
TEXAS RELAYS
March 29 – April 1
Mike A. Myers Stadium
ABC KITE FEST
April 1
Zilker Park
SPRING MINI MARKET
April 2
Distribution Hall
SOCIAL FABRIC: ART AND ACTIVISM IN CONTEMPORARY BRAZIL
Through March 10
Visual Arts Center
MEAGAN HOFSTETTER: COSMIC GARDEN
Through March 11 Julia C. Butridge Gallery
CAROLINE WALKER: DREAMSCAPES
Through March 11
Julia C. Butridge Gallery
WALKING IN MY SHOES: THE ART OF ROBERT R. JONES
Through March 18
Old Bakery & Emporium
DANIEL & MARJORY
JOHNSTON: THE WHAT OF WHOM
Through March 19
Lydia Street Gallery
CELEBRATION
Through March 24
Art for the People Gallery
JANE REICHLE: EMBROIDERY
Through March 31 Yard Dog Art Gallery
BRIDGING THE SEAS
Through April 1
Asian American Resource Center
MIX ‘N’ MASH: ALIMENTO PARA EL ALMA / FOOD FOR THE SOUL
March 3 – March 19
Mexic-Arte Museum
EAMON ORE-GIRON: COMPETING WITH LIGHTNING
March 3 – August 20
The Contemporary AustinJones Center
HOST: CELESTE
March 3 – August 20
The Contemporary AustinJones Center
DIANA GREENBERG
March 4 – 26
Wally Workman Gallery
DISCARDS VESSELS FRAGMENTS
March 4 – April 15
Camiba Gallery
SHAWN SMITH: OMMATIDIUM
March 4 – April 16
grayDUCK Gallery
CELEBRATE PASTELS!
March 4 – May 6
Austin Art & Frame
CELEBRATING DR. SEUSS’S BIRTHDAY
March 10
Ao5 Gallery
JOHN SAGER
March 11 – April 15
Davis Gallery
MICHELLE MARCHESSEAULT: NEW PAINTINGS
March 11 – April 18
Northern-Southern BILL STEARN ARTIST’S RECEPTION
March 24
Ao5 Gallery
ATX: ICONS
Through March 26
West Chelsea Contemporary
LINDY CHAMBERS
March 25 – May 11
Women & Their Work
BE SURE TO CHECK WEBSITES FOR UPDATED INFORMATION AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS
MUSEUMS
BLANTON MUSEUM OF ART
200 E. MLK Jr. Blvd. (512) 471 5482
Hours: Tu–F 10–5, Sa 11–5, Su 1–5 blantonmuseum.org
THE BULLOCK TEXAS STATE HISTORY MUSEUM
1800 Congress Ave. ( 512) 936 8746
Hours: Tu- Su 10–5 thestoryoftexas.com
THE CONTEMPORARY AUSTIN–JONES CENTER
700 Congress Ave. ( 512) 453 5312
Hours: W 12–11, Th–Sa 12–9, Su 12–5 thecontemporaryaustin.org
THE CONTEMPORARY AUSTIN–LAGUNA GLORIA
3809 W. 35 th St. ( 512) 458 8191
Driscoll Villa hours: Tu–W 12– 4, Th–Su 10– 4 Grounds hours: M–Sa 9–5, Su 10–5 thecontemporaryaustin.org
ELISABET NEY MUSEUM
304 E. 44 th St. (512) 974 1625
Hours: W–Su 12–5 austintexas.gov/department/ elisabet-ney-museum
FRENCH LEGATION MUSEUM
802 San Marcos St. (512) 463 7948
Hours: Tu–Su 1–5 frenchlegationmuseum.org
GEORGE WASHINGTON
CARVER MUSEUM
1165 Angelina St.
( 512) 974 4926
Hours: M–W 10–6, Th 10–9, F 10–6, Sa 10–4 ci.austin.tx.us/carver
HARRY RANSOM CENTER
300 W. 21st St.
( 512) 471 8944
Hours: Tu–W 10–5, Th 10–7, F 10–5, Sa–Su 12–5 hrc.utexas.edu
LBJ LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
2313 Red River St. ( 512) 721 0200
Hours: M–Su 9–5 lbjlibrary.org
MEXIC–ARTE MUSEUM
419 Congress Ave. ( 512) 480 9373
Hours: M–Th 10– 6, F–Sat 10–5, Su 12–5 mexic–artemuseum.org
O. HENRY MUSEUM
409 E. 5th St. (512) 974 1398
Hours: W–Su 12–5
THINKERY AUSTIN
1830 Simond Ave. (512) 469 6200
Hours: Tu–F 10–5, Sa–Su 10– 6 thinkeryaustin.org
UMLAUF SCULPTURE GARDEN & MUSEUM
605 Azie Morton Rd. ( 512) 445 5582
Hours: Tu–F 10–4, Sa–Su 12–4 umlaufsculpture.org
ADAMS GALLERIES OF AUSTIN
1310 RR 620 S. Ste C4 (512) 243 7429
Hours: M–F 10–6, Su 10-2 adamsgalleriesaustin.com
AO5 GALLERY
10000 Research Blvd., Ste. 118 ( 512) 481 1111
Hours: M–Sa 10– 6 ao5gallery.com
ART FOR THE PEOPLE
1711 S. 1st St. ( 512) 761 4708
Hours: Tu–Th 11– 6, F-S u 11–7 artforthepeoplegallery.com
ARTUS CO.
10000 Research Blvd., Ste. 141 (512) 761 6484
Hours: M–Su 12–6 artusco.com
ARTWORKS GALLERY
1214 W. 6 th St. ( 512) 472 1550
Hours: M–F 10–5, S a 10–4 artworksaustin.com
ATELIER 1205
1205 E. Cesar Chavez St. (512) 434 9046
Hours: Tu-F 11-4 atelier1205.com
AUSTIN ART GARAGE
2200 S. Lamar Blvd., Ste. J (512) 351 5934
Hours: Tu–Su 11–6 austinartgarage.com
AUSTIN ARTSPACE
7739 Northcross Dr., Ste. Q (512) 763 0646
Hours: F-Sa 11–5 austinartspace.com
AUSTIN GALLERIES
5804 Lookout Mountain Dr. ( 512) 495 9363 By appointment only austingalleries.com
BIG MEDIUM GALLERY
916 Springdale Rd., Bldg. 2 (512) 939 6665
Hours: Tu–Sa 12– 6 bigmedium.org
CAMIBA GALLERY
6448 Hwy 290 East, Ste. A102 (512) 937 5921
Hours: F-Sa 12–6 camibaart.com
CENTRAL LIBRARY GALLERY
710 W. Cesar Chavez St. (512) 974 7400
Hours: M-Th 10-9, F-Sa 10-6, Su 12-6 library.austintexas.gov/ central/gallery
CHRISTIAN-GREEN GALLERY
201 E. 21st St. (512) 471 0254
Hours: W- F 12-5, S a 11-2 galleriesatut.org
CLOUD TREE STUDIOS & GALLERY
3411 E. 5th St. (512) 797 8852
Hours: M-F 12-6, Sa-Su 12-5 cloudtreestudiosandgallery.com
CO-LAB PROJECTS
5419 Glissman Rd. ( 512) 300 8217 By event and appointment only co-labprojects.org
CONTRACOMMON
12912 Hill Country Blvd. #F-140
Hours: M–F By appointment only Sa–Su 12-6 contracommon.org
DAVIS GALLERY
837 W. 12th St. ( 512) 477 4929
Hours: M–F 10–6, Sa 10–4 davisgalleryaustin.com
DIMENSION GALLERY SCULPTURE AND 3D ART
979 Springdale Rd., Ste. 99 ( 512) 479 9941
Hours: Th-Sa 10–6 dimensiongallery.org
DOUGHERTY ARTS CENTER
1110 Barton Springs Rd. ( 512) 974 4000
Hours: M-Th 10–10, F 10–6, Sa 10–4 austintexas.gov/department/ dougherty-arts-center
FLATBED CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY PRINTMAKING
3701 D rossett Dr. ( 512) 477 9328
Hours: W–F 10–5, S a 12–5 flatbedpress.com
FLUENT COLLABORATIVE
502 W. 33rd St. ( 512) 453 3199 By appointment only fluentcollab.org
GRAYDUCK GALLERY
2213 E. Cesar Chavez St. ( 512) 826 5334
Hours: Th–Sa 11– 6, Su 12–5 grayduckgallery.com
ICOSA COLLECTIVE
916 Springdale Rd. #102 ( 512) 920 2062
Hours: F–Sa 12–6 icosacollective.com
IVESTER CONTEMPORARY
916 Springdale Rd. Bldg 2, ste. 107 (737) 209 0379
Hours: Tu–F 10-6, Sa 10-4 ivestercontemporary.com
1009 W 6TH ST AUSTIN TX 78703
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