August September 2016

THE BRIGHT

side

OF AUSTIN

A QUICK GUIDE TO

ACL like a L ocal

Education The Changes , the History, the Options

Art From the Streets Paintings with Purpose

Wilhelmina Delco Talks on the Value of Education & the Face of the East Side

TODAY’S TODAY’S READERS READERS are are

TOMORROW’S TOMORROW’S LEADERS. LEADERS.

FREE

We We provide provide free free tutorial tutorial services services to to help help children children in in academic academic subjects subjects such such as as reading and mathematics.

Our mission is to help eliminate illiteracy in our reading and mathematics. Our mission is to help eliminate illiteracy in our community community and and to to enhance enhance our our children's children's abilities abilities to to obtain obtain the the academic, academic, social and life skills needed for their future success. social and life skills needed for their future success.

TUTORIAL SERVICES

BUILDING BUILDING LITERACY LITERACY WORKING WORKING TO TO REACH REACH

AT-RISK YOUTH

INCREASING INCREASING ACADEMIC ACADEMIC & SOCIAL CONFIDENCE & SOCIAL CONFIDENCE

M O T I V AT I N G

THE FUTURE

LOOKING TO EXPAND FROM SUMMER TO YEAR-ROUND SERVICES

including Saturday tutoring and a Youth Employment Program For For more more information information on on how how to to donate donate time time or or money, money, please please visit visit LearningAndTutoringCenter.org LearningAndTutoringCenter.org

online online » »

LearningAndTutoringCenter.org LearningAndTutoringCenter.org

location Austin, [the bright side of austin] eastsideatx.com location » » 4613-A 4613-A East East 12th 12th Street Street Austin, TX TX 378721 78721

EAST THE BRIGHT

side

OF AUSTIN

1801 East 51st Street, Suite 365-501 Austin, Texas 78722 512.809.9804 eastsideatx.com Publisher Nillo Studios Creative Director Will Bowling Managing Editor Ashley Bowling Business Development Todd Meador Photo Editor Eric Morales Copy Editor Pam Bowen Culinary Photographer Ashley Haguewood Contributing Photographers Whitney Runyon, Kenny Trice, Aaron Rimbey, Matt Bradford Contributing Writers Jess Hagemann, Rick McGee, Camille Smith, Blakely Kneisley, Ben Haguewood, Xander Peters, Jessica Devenyns, Mary Bryce Stylist Afsaneh Taki Distribution Lindsey Bell Submissions info@eastsideatx.com Advertising sales@eastsideatx.com Copyright Š 2016 Nillo Studios, LLC. EASTside Magazine is published by Nillo Studios, LLC. No portion may be reproduced without express written consent. Editorial or advertising does not constitute advice, but is rather considered informative. Expressed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ownership.

CONNECT WITH US www.eastsideatx.com eastsideatx eastsideatxmag eastsideatxmag

ALHWEDDINGS.COM INFO@ALHWEDDINGS.COM 512.431.4161 4 EASTside | August/September 2016

find more at eastsideatx.com

eastside / editor’s note

Future Generations Soon the fun days of summer will come to a close, staying up late, chasing fireflies, and sleeping in "just because we can" will turn into distant memories until next year. Moms, dads, and children everywhere will be forced to get ready for school to be back in session. As the new school year begins, it can feel as if it's the first day of school all over again—no matter if you're 5 years old or 55. Children can become anxious in the anticipation of a new school, new teachers, and new friends. Admittedly, as a parent of two kiddos starting pre-k this year, I am anxious myself.

The concept of this issue started a while back—scouting stories and talking to local parents.

Our whole issue got turned up side down as we quickly found this to be a hot topic. There are a choir of concerned voices in this ever-changing learning environment and an increasing amount of excited ones too, with the options expanding each year. In this issue, we look at the history which cannot be ignored while simultaneously looking toward the future as we invest in the next generation.

Wilhelmina Delco was gracious enough to invite us into her home to talk over the extreme changes that have taken place in education, in politics, and in this lovely community she has called home for nearly 60 years. As I sat there listening to Mrs. Delco, I was reminded that change is inevitable, it's what you do with it that counts. In Mrs. Delco's words: "Life brings so many opportunities, and you have to be ready to take advantage of them.”

LET US SHOWCASE WHAT'S Great ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS

Regardless of where our children go to elementary school or even college, it’s up to us as parents, teachers, mentors, and employers to invest in and inspire the next generation. We see this happening all over the east side, as we tell the stories of community leaders such as Wilhelmina Delco, Laura Donnelly at Latinitas, and the countless others who are investing in the bright future of our youth.

With hope,

For More Information contact us at

Will & Ashley Bowling info@eastsideatx.com

On the Cover The cover photo was shot on the beautiful grounds of the Allan Professional Development Center. The photogenic models for this issue's cover story are Renata and Sophia Harris. As always, Eric Morales did an excellent job in capturing the feeling of the first day of school which is fast approaching for many parents, students, and administrators. In the cover story, a local mother explores the many views of the changing face of local public schools and calls natives and newcomers alike to get involved. The content of the cover story does not necessarily reflect the views of the models, photographer, or the Allan Professional Development Center.

[the bright side of austin]

sales@ eastsideatx.com Get all that is in this issue and more every day at EASTSIDEATX.COM eastsideatx.com

5

contents

46 features

Editor’s Note 05 Art+Entertainment 09 Style+Beauty 16

22 Get Schooled 44

24 Wilhelmina Delco

Go+Do 33

Wilhelmina Delco was the first black legislator from District 50 who moved to Austin in 1957. She’s lived in the same well-kept home just south of East MLK for nearly six decades. While she wouldn’t live anywhere else in Austin today, initially she didn’t have a choice.

Home+Away 39

28 Bridging the Gap in Education

Sip+Taste 43 EASTside Local 50 6 EASTside | August/September 2016

Teri Sperry, educational consultant and founder of Alt Ed Austin, shares how thoughtful but busy parents can sort through all the options, narrow them down, and confidently enroll their kids in a place where they will truly thrive.

24

How can we stay mindful of the many perspectives that affect our places of learning and create environments that are inviting and receptive to the chorus of concerned voices?

As educators, parents, caregivers, and administrators, we share the role of advocate in the struggle to keep our public schools enriching places where all are welcome.

find more at eastsideatx.com

An Entire Neighborhood Devoted to Modern Design THE REBIRTH OF AN INCREDIBLE CONCEPT IN EAST AUSTIN.

CONTACT:

Ann Rayborn (512) 318-9567 annr@intown-homes.com 3-4 BEDROOMS STARTING AT 372K 6 mi. east of Downtown on MLK ange without notice. Square footage is approximate. No representation or warranties either expressed or implied This tocommunity as much about the people ofasany property hereinModel n herein or with respect the suitability, is usability, merchantability or conditions described.

Home: it is about the architecture. Come discover Agave.

5805 Pinon Vista Drive

O U R FAV E E V E N T S

Pick 9

FOR THE EAST SIDE

&

AUGUST SEPTEMBER Disparate Mythos: Women of Sculpture

August 6-21, Sat. & Sun. only, 12-6pm During the month of August, the Dimension Gallery will host an exhibition featuring women sculptors and the personal folklore that has influenced their creations. Elements differ, motifs diverge and reconvene, but the common thread of the female experience holds these works together. dimensiongallery.org | 979 Springdale, Ste. 99

Hot Sauce Festival

August 21 11am-5pm In case the Austin weather isn’t hot enough for you, come see if you can heat it up at the 26th Annual Hot Sauce Festival. Bring your family and friends to one of the world’s largest celebrations of spice at Fiesta Gardens by Festival Beach. Admission is free with a donation of three nonperishable food items. facebook.com/HotSauceFestival | 2100 Jesse E. Segovia

Lovestream

September 3, 11am–10pm Are you curious about the rich cultural tapestry that makes up international diversity? The Lovestream festival at Pan Am Park is designed to stimulate the senses and celebrate human diversity. Lovestream will link people physically and virtually through several artistic shows in strategic points around the world. Tickets run $20-$50. lovestreamfestival.com | 2100 East 3rd Street 8 EASTside | August/September 2016

Free Day of Yoga

September 5 If you need something to do this Labor Day, good news! Yoga studios in Austin will be offering free classes for the community all day long. Whether you’re curious about a new style of yoga or just want to try out a new studio, the Austin Free Day of Yoga is the perfect excuse to stretch yourself and try something new. freedayofyoga.com | Various Locations

Eastside Kings Festival

September 12-13 Do you love that unique Austin sound that you hear in bars all over the city? Then come get your fill at the Eastside Kings Festival. Filled with jazz, blues, and gospel music, this festival explores the foundations of Austin’s claim as the “live music capital of the world.” With 2016 marking his 4th festival, Eddie Stout continues to remind attendees about Austin’s musical roots that run deep in the Afro American clubs and juke houses of the east side. facebook.com/EastsideKingsFestival

Austin Museum Day

September 18 Every year on the second to last Sunday in September, museums in Austin open their doors to the public for free. Take advantage of the exhibitions and artwork all over the east side. If you plan well, perhaps you’ll even catch an appearance of the famed taco cannon at the O. Henry and Susanna Dickinson Museums. Check their website for a full list of participating museums. austinmuseums.org/museumday find more at eastsideatx.com

East Side Yoga Seminar

September 23-25 Lighthouse Yoga School teacher, Aviad Sasi, will be in Austin to lead an asana workshop at Bikram Yoga. The workshop is open to anyone and will cost the general public $60 and yoga teachers $40. yogaeastaustin.com | 3801 Berkman Dr. #B

Underwear to Outerwear: The Shape of Fashion, 1860-1880 On exhibit until September 26

Presented by the Susanna Dickinson Museum, this exhibition showcases the fashionable female silhouette of the mid to late 1800s. Stop by and have a glimpse into history and listen as docents vividly describe what you could have been wearing during a Texas summer 200 years ago. All clothing on display comes from the museum’s collection as well as the private collections of Judy Richey and Buffy Manners. austintexas.gov | 411 East 5th Street

Party for the Parks

September 30 Austin Parks Foundation kicks off ACL Music Festival with food, fun, games, and live music.

Join in the fun at Brazos Hall for a night of celebrating all things that make Austin so great— especially our parks! Bring a guest and support community parks. Buy tickets Aug. 1-Sept. 18 at only $80 a ticket before prices go up. party.austinparks.org | 204 East 4th Street CALENDAR BY JESSICA DEVENYNS

Arts + entertainment

August + September 2016

10 enter-

tainment SELF PROCLAIMED DREAMER, CHINA SMITH, TALKS ABOUT HER HOME GROWN ASPIRATION OF DANCE.

12 art with purpose A NON-PROFIT IS GIVING A WHOLE NEW MEANING TO ART BY TAKING IT TO THE STREETS

eastside / entertainment

From China to East Austin

where the culture of African diaspora meets classical ballet

WORDS BY XANDER PETERS PHOTOS BY ERIC MORALES

China Smith speaks with her hands as much as she does with her heart. When she gets excited, when the perfect topic hits the surface of the conversation just right, the tone of her voice rises, anticipating a point to be made, as if each word is a downbeat she’s dancing to. Which, in the least, is to say—the woman has rhythm.

But it takes more than rhythm to run this house. It takes a homegrown aspiration, the need to go above and beyond for your community. It takes a self-proclaimed dreamer, a person who truly believes what they see in their head. It takes someone like China, the founding executive director of Ballet Afrique Contemporary Dance Company, an east Austin native.

10 EASTside | August/September 2016

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the house that china built

Since the studio first opened its doors in 2008, the progress as an organization is evident: a 11-fold increase in student enrollment (from 10 to 112), providing the need to add more instructors and classes taught along the way.

A new and improved studio, although China admits it’s time to up the ante once again as more pupils continue to enroll. And, this year, every one of the company’s graduating seniors will be entering college in the fall.

On paper, it’s a success. Though, in the circumstance of Ballet Afrique, success is only a measurement of those who have not yet been reached. In China’s mind, to be active in the arts implies more than how to grow up and become a dancer. It teaches children—young adults to-be—resourcefulness, how to make something out of nothing. It’s a way to shorten the gap to opportunity. “I think art—it lends itself to other things,” she explains.

“I’m in [east Austin] because I’m from this community, I grew up in this community, and I wanted to provide something I didn’t have access to when I was growing up.”

capturing culture

The concept behind Ballet Afrique began with China’s internal dialogue, her sense of

questioning what’s around her, both past and present. As a black woman in Austin, what does that mean for her cultural identity?

Where does African American culture begin?

Did it start with the end of slavery or the arrival of enslaved Africans to the Americas several centuries prior?

To study dance within the African diaspora is to acknowledge how enslaved Africans were dispersed throughout the world, creating an almost incalculable amount of interpretations of traditional West African dance (a key note in Ballet Afrique’s style). Be that the case, China chose to narrow the lens. “I wanted to look at how black dance looks here, here in America,” she adds. “Why does it look this way? What’s the history behind it? So that’s what Ballet Afrique is. It’s a way for me and my students, and anybody really. You don’t have to be African American to appreciate the beauty of the culture.”

a community’s desire, a need

China grew up in the 2-3, (the 78723 zip code). Early on, she noticed the disparities between her east Austin neighborhood and what was available to other children in the more affluent areas. But she also noticed the livelihood of what was around her—the way her family danced and sang and laughed while [the bright side of austin]

they cooked, how happiness intertwined with culture to some extent.

There are times when a former high school classmate will see what she’s done with Ballet Afrique on social media, and as always, that person will say something to the tune of “You’ve made it.” Still though, even as the dance company continues to strive towards further improvement, and the world continues to learn just a little more about traditional West African dance through their organization, it’s not a measure of gain for China. It’s a matter of necessity for her community.

One day she hopes to have a part in building an arts center in east Austin, one with at least three different dance rooms and a working theater. Being an artist in Austin has forced her to become an activist, especially for children. She has a daughter of her own as well.

“Because I have a child, because I have a little girl, that’s why I felt I had to do this… Music and dancing, it’s one thing that can take you to another place,” China smiles. “It makes you want to look beyond where you are.”

contact:

512.766.8442 8011 Cameron Rd Suite 500 balletafriqueaustin.org info@balletafriqueaustin.org BalletAfrique

BalletAfrique

eastsideatx.com

11

Art from the Streets Artwork Photos by Kenny Trice WORDS BY CAMILLE SMITH PORTRAITS BY ERIC MORALES 12 EASTside | August/September 2016

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hree days a week a group gathers at St. David's Trinity Center to indulge in the creative process. Volunteers busy themselves with providing supplies, washing brushes, and gathering provisions, while the artists are given free reign of the materials and the opportunity to let the creative process consume them. Some are serial attendees (regulars) who tend to their works in progress; others are new to the group, easing in to their surroundings or hashing out ideas, and some just come for the snacks.

The art produced at these weekly meetings is as varied as the artists themselves, ranging from caricatures, to portraits, to landscapes, but the artists share a single commonality: they are all either homeless or have only recently acquired housing.

For 20 years, Art From the Streets (AFTS) has offered people in transitional living an opportunity to share a creative space. What began as a simple desire to do something “more” for Austin’s growing homeless population has blossomed into a highly respectable and organized artist cooperative. AFTS now holds yearly exhibits at the Austin Convention Center and features over 50 artists. Their weekly gatherings provide a temporary haven from the world at large: a respite from the often stifling heat of Austin’s streets in summer and a chance, however brief, to

be something other than what their current station attempts to define them as. The word holds many connotations, but the art speaks for itself. “Homeless” artists cannot be reduced to a single label; like the art they create, their stories are varied and vibrant.

Bright, an army vet with a shy smile and an easygoing demeanor, came to Austin from Libya, via New Jersey in 2011. He received a catholic education and was renowned amongst the sisters for his artistic ability.

“Whatever sister Margaret wanted, I did.” He has dabbled in watercolor and charcoal but mostly enjoys using acrylics. As the AFTS web presence has grown, so too has Bright’s audience, and he has been able to reinvest money from his sales back into supplies. When asked about what inspires his work, Bright replies, “Well, if it’s a rainy day, I try to paint something sunny and fun,” which is befitting, given his name. He says his work has been called “ethereal” and has dubbed his method “intuitive painting.” “I put a lot of thought into it & take time to explore my environment. It’s a process.”

[the bright side of austin]

eastsideatx.com

13

eastside / art

Jeremiah was born and raised in Austin, “…at Brackenridge Hospital in 1955” to be exact. He grew up on Colgate Lane. “My dad sold the house to the first African American family in the neighborhood,” he says with pride. He has always been interested in art and attended Anderson High School, where he was president of the art club. He tells me he missed the Vietnam draft by “one number,” and when he decided to voluntarily enlist, they wouldn’t have him. Jeremiah was awarded a scholarship by mistake, and he took the opportunity to attend UT medical school in Galveston, where he was exposed to the work of leading heart specialist Michael Debakey. He eventually had to give up the scholarship but went on to participate in cancer research at Scott and White in Temple. He tried his hand in investment banking, real estate, dabbled in journalism, and did a brief stint on the carnival circuit.

He regaled me with a story of barely escaping a tornado during a storm and riding from the Astrodome to Texas City on a broken bicycle. He always loved pen and ink collage, and after completing one particularly special piece, he tells me, “I was so proud of my work I took it up to 14 EASTside | August/September 2016

Woodland and I-35 and sold it at the intersection.” Jeremiah suffered a stroke, and at one point feared he might have to abandon his art, but after securing stable housing, he was able to recover and now spends his days “creating masterpieces.” Jeremiah uses iconic imagery in his caricatures and names Daniel Johnston as one of his inspirators. He does not limit himself in his work however and moves freely between genres.

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Crystal told me snippets of her story so softly I had to strain to hear them. She was born in Louisiana and spent much of her life in Houston, where she was involved in magazine production, design, and advertising. She later studied psychology at Huston-Tillotson University and attended ITT Tech. Crystal was seriously injured in an accident which limited her ability to continue working and hindered her financially. As a result, she lost her apartment, and she and her son ended up in a homeless shelter in Austin. It was at the shelter that Crystal heard about AFTS and began revisiting her old love of the arts.

She even got enough money together to start her own gallery on Cameron Road called Crystal’s Artworks in Austin. While she has had her fair share of struggles, today Crystal has stable housing, a relationship with her son Terrance, of whom she is unabashedly proud, and seems to gain tremendous satisfaction from creating art and her involvement with AFTS. “People are into the community and the positive human interaction,” says Art from the Streets executive director Kelley Worden. The money the artists make from sales is just an added bonus. Kelley has been with the organization for four years and is the only paid staff member.

AFTS is operated by volunteers and funded in part by city grants and private donations. She and her team of dedicated volunteers work hard at cultivating a space of acceptance and inclusion. “Sometimes there are people that are beyond the scope of the program’s help and that’s hard

on the volunteers…but [the volunteers] focus on providing a safe space to join in the community.” Kelley has witnessed first-hand how impactful the program can be. Kelley views AFTS as a stepping stone for many on the road to long-term stability and self-sufficiency. Adept at making people feel welcome, Kelley and her team of committed volunteers invite its artists to engage with the world in ways society often does not. AFTS empowers them to regain control over certain aspects of their lives by giving them the rare opportunity so many of us seek: to earn a living doing something they love.

GET INVOLVED! These artists and others can be found on the Art From the Streets website and social media pages. Visit artfromthestreets. org to find volunteer opportunities, view upcoming events, and purchase one-of-akind pieces of art.

contact:

artfromthestreets.org artfromthestreets AFTS artfromthestreetsaustin

[the bright side of austin]

eastsideatx.com

15

Tribute Dress in Natural Bull Denim

by Miranda Bennett Model: Nikisha Brunson @nikishabrunson

Style + beauty

August + September 2016

Easygoing Elegance WORDS BY MARY BRYCE PHOTO BY ERIC MORALES

Walking into fashion designer Miranda Bennett’s studio and storefront is an experience in remembering what calm feels like. A ceramic mobile sways peacefully in the window, while Bennett’s dog lounges on a beautiful woven rug. It’s a quiet oasis of calm and beauty in a nondescript office center in northeast Austin.

“Austin is an incredible incubation for starting something,” says Bennett. Originally from Austin, Bennett moved to New York City at the age of 17 to pursue a career in fashion. In 2013, creatively drained from the pressures of the city, she moved back to Austin, unsure if she even wanted to continue pursuing design.

Upon returning to Texas, Bennett realized that she wanted to relearn how to make things, “stripped away from all commercial motivations.” In a small studio off Bolm Road, she spent months learning about natural, plant-based dyes and slowly returning to a more playful process of designing and creating clothes.

Though different from the immediacy of everything in New York, in Austin she’s found an incredibly supportive community of women and artists. “Rather than resources being fixed and finite, Austinites share with their neighbors, and in turn, everyone’s work is enhanced by that attitude,” Bennett says with delight. Indeed, Bennett was encouraged by a friend to apply to the first FELIZ sale, a one-day fair where hand-picked designers and makers showcase their wares. By the end of the day, she had sold out of her main prototype, the Everyday Dress, which ultimately became the foundation for her current line.

16 everyday

fashion IN THE STUDIO WITH MIRANDA BENNETT

20 beauty

expert

TALKS ABOUT THE EASE OF LOVELY LASHES.

Everyday Top, Cropped in Indigo Silk Noil paired with the Paper Bag Skirt in Natural Silk Charmeuse

by Miranda Bennett

18 EASTside | August/September 2016

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Everyday Dress, Oversized in Camel Silk Noil

by Miranda Bennett

Miranda Bennett

Not long after FELIZ, Bennett opened her first storefront and studio off Rosewood in east Austin.

However, the continual development and bustle, as well as foot traffic in the area, ultimately lead her to seek a different space, hence her new studio.

“Being away from the fray and less distracted” has been a profound setting for both Bennett’s creative growth and as well as her quality of life. Though she still works 8 to 12 hour days, Bennett finds comfort and solace in the natural spaces that Austin affords, including in her home, which is located in east Austin. “It’s a gentler environment, a great place to start something new,” she reiterates.

Bennett’s line is all designed, dyed and sewn in house, meaning that she and her small team are completely engaged in the entire process. “Having control with the team gives immediate control and customization. We don’t do late deliveries,” Bennett says. Bennett’s dedication to making graceful, timeless pieces has been received with great success. Her designs now have a customer base that ranges as far as Paris, Tokyo, New York and Austin, where her line is carried at both KickPleat on 12th Street and Olive on East 11th.

contact:

mirandabennettstudio.com mirandabennettstudio

[the bright side of austin]

eastsideatx.com

19

eastside / beauty

Lash Extension Myths:

1

Beauty is in the eye of the...

Beauty Expert, Gloria Fuentes, talks about the beauty, simplicity, and ease of lash extensions.

WORDS BY GLORIA FUENTES & BROOKE ALEXANDER PHOTOS BY ASHLEY HAGUEWOOD

W

hen Blink Beauty opened up its doors 8 years ago, lash extensions were a relatively new procedure in Austin.

They've since become more than a trend, extending beyond a beauty practice, morphing into a necessity—especially for those who maintain busy lifestyles. The routine of applying mascara throughout the day is no longer needed. Without mascara, there are no concerns of black smudges running down the face while in the heat, swimming, or during any activity that may make one sweat. For Blink Beauty, it has been a delight to hear the encouraging feedback from clients about how enhanced and stunning lash extensions have made them feel and how vigorous makeup regimens have been reduced because of them. To wake up and already feel done-up and ready for the day is the ultimate confidence booster and time saver. We can all afford to wor-

ry about one less thing in the morning!

With the increase of lash stylists in town, it's important for clients to have the knowledge to differentiate proper practices as opposed to hurried procedures. Extensions should be done by an individual or a licensed cosmetologist/ esthetician who has gone through proper lash training. The lash application is done by attaching one synthetic lash to each natural lash and NOT IN CLUSTERS! Clusters are terrible for natural lashes and are painful when lashes run their natural course of growing out and shedding. If you go to a studio and a full set of lashes takes 30 minutes, RUN! Different from clusters, some studios are offering volume lashes, which is applying several lashes to one natural lash. This procedure is an exception, as the lashes used for volume are extremely lightweight and applied properly in a specific & safe manner.

Downtown Location 1601 East 5th Street #105 512.474.7676

Mueller Location 5802 Berkman Unit B 512.291.6976

Owned By Gloria Fuentes

Owned by Gloria Fuentes & Brooke Alexander

20 EASTside | August/September 2016

blinkbeautyatx.com BlinkBeauty Blinkbeautyatx

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Getting lash extensions is painful.

When lash extensions are applied correctly by a licensed stylist, it is a painfree process. The adhesive will not touch your skin or eyes, and the extensions are applied to an individual natural lash so there is no discomfort when the natural lashes begin to grow.

They make your lashes fall out. Just like the hair on our head, we shed our eyelashes on a daily basis. With extensions, when you shed a natural lash, you also shed the extension that is on it. You are just more aware of the natural shedding process because the extensions make your lashes more noticeable. This process would continue to happen with or without extensions.

2

3

Lash extensions cause permanent damage to your natural lashes.

Your lashes will continue to grow as usual after extensions are removed. They may seem finer or thinner because you have gotten used to waking up with a full, thick set of lashes every day when you had extensions, but it is simply a matter of readjusting to what your lashes looked like before extensions.

4

You must take breaks from lash extensions. This is a personal choice.

As stated before, your lashes will always continue to grow and shed with their natural growth cycle. A break from extensions simply means your lashes would continue along that cycle extension free, but breaks are not necessary.

Join Blink Beauty for Happy Hour at Weather Up, Aug. 10, 5-8pm, raising funds for “For the Children,” a local charity who gets school supplies to children in need.

MIDWIFERY CARE

HEART-CENTERED & HEART CENTERED, EVIDENCE BASED EVIDENCE BASED MIDWIFERY CARE FOR THE FOR THE CHILD CHILD BEARING YEAR. BEARING YEAR. 2324 E. Cesar Chavez www.tandemmidwifery.com tandemmidwifery@gmail.com

3317 Manor Road/Dharma-Yoga.net

EAST SIDE

QUALITY + NATURAL + HEALTHY

PET FOOD + SUPPLIES 2505 E. 6th St. Unit D (512) 482-8219 TUESDAYS - SATURDAYS 10AM - 7PM SUNDAYS 12PM - 6PM

primepetaustin.com | primepetaustin

[the bright side of austin]

eastsideatx.com

21

Schooled WORDS BY TERI SPERRY, EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT, ALT ED AUSTIN PHOTO BY ERIC MORALES

Over the past decade, Austin has developed an international reputation for educational innovation, offering a remarkably diverse array of choices. Some of the most exciting of these options happen to be on the east side. We have public, charter, and private programs that offer learning environments ranging from “micro-schools” of a dozen kids to sprawling high schools with enrollment in the thousands.

Families can find their best fit at schools that approach education in ways that range from traditional to cutting-edge to downright revolutionary.

How can thoughtful but busy parents sort through all the options, narrow them down, and confidently enroll their kids in a place where they will truly thrive?

That’s the question that ultimately led me to create Alt Ed Austin, an educational consulting service and online resource center for parents feeling overwhelmed by the important decisions around their children’s schooling. I work with families throughout the Austin area, but as someone who both lives and works in the Holly neighborhood, I’m happiest when I can help people feel at home in east side schools.

When parents come to me for guidance, they first fill out an in-depth questionnaire about their family’s educational values, priorities, and goals; their children’s needs and interests; and other factors that are important in choosing schools. Then we meet to discuss all the issues and options. They walk away with a short list of recommended programs to visit and some tips for making the most of those visits.

22 EASTside | August/September 2016

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Why visit?

Most people have no idea how much schools have changed since they were students or how vastly certain models differ from one another. It can be an eye-opening experience (and a great family discussion starter) to tour a few different kinds of schools, attend open houses, and talk with educators and school community members. In this era of school choice, when you have alternatives even within AISD, there’s no reason not to visit and compare.

And if you want to get a feel for what a school is really like, consider volunteering in a classroom or joining a Campus Advisory Council as a community representative, even if your child is still years away from kindergarten. It’s never too soon to start researching.

But where to begin?

Unless parents already know that they’re looking for a specific type of school (Montessori, for example), I usually advise them to start with their neighborhood public schools. Although it won’t work well for everyone, the school you’re zoned for offers some real advantages. First and most obvious, it’s free! Enough said. There’s also the ease of getting there. Often students can walk or bike to their nearby school or get there on the school bus.

An often-overlooked benefit is the community of neighbors. Knowing that your child is likely to make friends with classmates who live within a few blocks of your home and that you won’t have to drive across town to birthday parties can be very freeing.

If you don’t find the right fit for your kid in your immediate neighborhood, you might be eligible to transfer to another public school in the area. While it’s true that some of AISD’s east side schools have struggled, often due to underfunding, many of them offer excellent and innovative programs. At the elementary level, Blackshear’s recently established Fine Arts Academy is a great example, and it’s open to transfers. The magnet program at Kealing Middle School is known as one of the finest (and most competitive) in the country, as is the Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) at LBJ High. Teenagers have the opportunity to earn free college credit and even a full associate’s degree through ACC’s Early College High School programs at both LBJ and Reagan High.

dardized testing, and have room in their budgets for tuition, a number of private schools have opened up on the east side in recent years.

Radicle Roots, a “micro-school” on East MLK, is inspired by the well-known Albany Free School in New York and incorporates place-based education, where students learn deeply through experiencing their community’s ecology, history, arts, and culture.

A few blocks away, Acton Academy teaches young people to be entrepreneurs and to forge their own “hero’s journey.” And at the democratic Clearview Sudbury School just south of the Mueller neighborhood, students of all ages take responsibility for their own education, resolve conflicts by participating in the school’s judicial system, and vote about major school policies on an equal footing with adult staff members. While very different from one another, all of these programs, to varying degrees, let individual students’ interests drive the learning process.

As someone who observes schools all over the metro area, this is a great time to raise and educate children in our community. With so many creative, dedicated educators joining forces with those who’ve been here fighting for educational quality and equality for decades, chances are better than ever that families will find the happy, healthy learning environments their east side kids deserve.

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Charter schools, which receive funds from the state but usually not from the local school district, are abundant in east Austin. Privately run, with charters that give them more flexibility than regular public schools, they are all different in philosophy, practices, and overall “feel.” Some are part of regional or national networks, like KIPP Austin Public Schools and Austin Can Academy (profiled in EASTside Magazine’s summer issue). Popular homegrown charter schools on the east side include Austin Discovery School, Magnolia Montessori for All, and the University of Texas Elementary School.

If you’re interested in learning more about schools in east Austin and beyond, visit altedaustin.com to set up a consultation or take advantage of our free online resources.

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[the bright side of austin]

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23

Delco

“All of Austin’s diversity is right here.”

WORDS BY JESS HAGEMANN PHOTOS BY ERIC MORALES

Wilhelmina Delco, the first black legislator from District 50, moved to Austin in 1957. She’s lived in the same well-kept home just south of MLK Boulevard for 59 years. While she wouldn’t live anywhere else in Austin today, initially she didn’t have a choice. It used to be that no African American was allowed to buy a house or live anywhere west of I-35. If they tried and were caught, the city shut off the property’s utilities, forcing black Austinites to seek a better quality of life on the east side.

“Education is valuable.”

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East Austin Then And that’s just what they built for themselves: a green and shaded parkland full of respectable banks, community swimming pools, maintained lawns with leafy trees, and enviable houses. As Delco notes, “People who come [to the east side] for the first time are, without exception, surprised at what they see.” There is not the kind of crime portrayed in the media in the east Austin black communities. “There simply is not a black ghetto in east Austin,” Delco says, adding, “Downtown 6th Street is worse than East 12th Street.”

"Life brings so many opportunities, and you have to be ready to take advantage of them.”

She remembers when Austin’s so-called “Colored Parent Teacher Association” operated independently of the whites-only PTA. As chair of the Colored PTA, Delco was invited to a meeting at Austin High School on West Cesar Chavez Street. Afterward, she offered to return the favor by hosting a meeting at the old Anderson High School, originally located at 900 Thompson Street. The members declined to attend, citing rumors of taverns and prostitution.

East Austin Now Flash forward fifty years, and now a frustrated Delco fears with so many new people flooding into the area that “one day we might wake up and never know black people were here.” A neighbor’s house just sold for an inflated $357,000. “We could have bought all of east Austin for that [amount] back in the day,” she claims, and it’s become harder and harder to recognize the city she fell in love with. “[East Austin] is all kids from UT now. I've never seen so many dogs and bicycles in my life,” Delco says. Even her granddaughter occasionally shows up with “kale chips and carrot juice” from her favorite local deli on Manor Road. The local businesses “are now catering to the crowd that patronizes them,” Delco says. East Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, once a quiet country highway, has become a major traffic artery with vehicles backed up to 183. “People have discovered that MLK goes straight from here to downtown, to the capitol and university,” and in Delco’s opinion, it’s changing the east side’s mobility patterns for the worse.

Delco remembers, “I was called once by an African American woman whose husband had just accepted a job with IBM. The company had found them a house and a church [west of I-35].” Seeing Delco, then a state representative, speaking on TV, the woman phoned Delco and asked, “Where are the black people? Where are we?” For those who find themselves asking that same question today, Delco suggests attending the annual Juneteenth celebration at Emancipation Park. “It’s incredible,” she says. “The parade goes on and on forever, not just for two blocks.” It showcases the stories, people, places, and events of east Austin’s early inhabitants.

26 EASTside | August/September 2016

The Community We Need to Save East Austin’s sense of community is extremely important to Delco and the main thing that she doesn’t want it to lose. Long before moving to Texas, Wilhelmina Delco grew up on the east side of Chicago. A portion of that time her family lived in a housing project, a giant apartment complex with little sense of real community. “I was used to Chicago,” she says, “so nothing seemed strange to me there.

What seemed strange was the contrast first to Nashville [at Fisk, where she went to college], and then to Austin.” That contrast included much stronger evidence of racial segregation in the South, but also more robust human interaction. “Chicago wasn’t a neighborhood concept, like we have in Texas. People here come up and say ‘hi’...like I’m some kind of celebrity—you didn’t have that in the projects [of Chicago].”

Of the difference between where she grew up and where she lives now, Delco says, “It’s not bad or good, it’s just different.” People’s attitudes and priorities are different in Austin: we spend more time outside, and there’s a tendency to be more fit and active, to go to the gym. (Delco herself still swims laps daily at the local YMCA.) In Chicago, it was common for both parents to work and for the kids to be home alone, unable to invite their friends over unsupervised. Here, Delco’s grandkids regularly stay overnight with their friends, and everybody looks out for everybody else.

find more at eastsideatx.com

Why Education Will Save Us Part of Delco’s concern over east Austin’s future stems, of course, from how heavily she has invested her own time and talents into the community. At Fisk University, she majored in sociology because she wanted to be a social worker. It seemed to her even then that people ended up in poor situations because they were being fed the wrong information. She felt she could be a vehicle for disseminating the right information. Delco picked education as the sector she wished to champion because when you’re educated, “you’re not missing out on opportunities. Life brings so many opportunities, and you have to be ready to take advantage of them.”

That said, she recognizes not everyone learns in the same way. It’s why she thinks so highly of community colleges, and why she helped ACC as a founding trustee. “[Community college] is the one place you can change your mind as many times as you want,” Delco says. “If, for example, you don't finish your degree in four years at UT, and then take a high-paying job in that field, the perception is that you've failed.” Students at community colleges, on the other hand, range in age from 18 to 80. The diversity of offerings, from commercial to collegiate, gives more people more options and a better chance to be successful.

“The problem we’re seeing today is absenteeism,” explains Delco, “not the students’ inability.” She points out that many parents can’t wait for their children to be done with high school so they can get a job and start contributing to the family income. ACC helps to show parents that a college education pays off more in the long run than a lifetime spent bagging groceries. It’s the reason that ACC offers dual credit to students pursuing their Associate degrees while still in high school: to give them a leg up. “Under slavery, blacks were killed if they could read,” Delco reminds us. “So you know education is valuable.”

As a young student herself, Delco once came home and presented her mother with a report card showing straight As. She announced that as her friend’s mother gave her daughter a dollar for every A and asked if she could be entitled to a reward, too. Dryly, Delco’s mother told her that’s the reason she went to school was to make all As, “and you don’t get rewarded for doing what you’re supposed to do.” Given that mindset, Delco has a “real beef ’” with both teachers who stereotype their students and with parents who don’t take an active role in their children’s education. “When you pigeonhole kids as dumb or smart, you cost some the opportunity to move up before they even try.”

Austin doesn’t have to be like that. There’s room for all its diversity.

A Little History • Elected to AISD Board of Trustees, 1968 (first African American elected to public office in Austin)

"One day we might wake up and never know black people were here.”

• Texas House of Representatives (first African American official elected in Travis County)—served 10 terms (20 years) on 20+ committees • Founding member, Austin Community College Board • Appointed chair, House Higher Education Committee, 1979-1991

[the bright side of austin]

• Appointed speaker pro tempore, House Higher Education Committee, 1991-1995 (first woman and the second African American to hold the second highest position in the Texas House of Representatives) • Chair, Board of Trustees at HustonTillotson University • Adjunct professor of education at the University of Texas at Austin with the Community College Leadership Program

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Bridging the Gap in Education In the Face of Change When I moved to the east side in 1989, people still grimaced at the notion. We didn't lock our doors, we knew our neighbors, and as kids, we played in the street until dark. Times have changed, as have the perceptions from within, and the east side today has a different connotation than it once did. When my eldest child became school age, I was excited by the prospect of sending her to the same schools I attended, where some of the same teachers taught, and the same custodians greeted me each morning as they did 25 years prior. Yet, this time there were differences I found worrisome. As a mother and a local, a desire was born to explore how the community's changing demographics are effecting the children in their learning environments and how experience has shaped east Austin family’s involvement in our local public schools. How can we stay mindful of the many perspectives that affect our places of learning and create environments that are inviting and receptive to the chorus of concerned voices? As educators, parents, caregivers, and administrators, we share the role of advocate in the struggle to keep our public schools enriching places where all are welcome.

Words by Camille Smith Photos by Eric Morales

“People need to be willing to step outside their comfort zone, to make an effort to reach out, to make connections.�

-Ursula Banks

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THE CHANGING FACE OF EAST SIDE SCHOOLS Maplewood Elementary is currently flourishing as one of Austin’s most diverse public schools despite their changing demographics and having their Title I funding cut. Rachel Robinson, retired pre-k teacher at Maplewood, recalls the days before funding was cut. “Maplewood used their Title 1 money to offer free classes after school, [such as] bird watching, knitting, soccer, skateboarding, and teachers were paid for their time.” Currently, Maplewood still offers after school activities, but they can be cost prohibitive to some families.

“We should look to replicate [Blackshear Elementary's] success to other schools to meet the increasing demand for its excellent academic results and enrichment.”

-Kendall Pace

Under Texas’ “Robin Hood Plan,” a portion of property taxes are recaptured and then disbursed to less advantaged districts throughout Texas. This means even when money makes its way into impoverished neighborhoods, it doesn’t always end up in the community schools, leaving them struggling to work with a dwindling budget. Additionally, as families are priced out, local schools may lose their Title 1 funding, which is allotted to schools with a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students.

However, “Maplewood is an anomaly for the east side. Many families on the east side are transferring their kids out to different areas,” says Heather Salaz, an AISD teacher mentor who has spent 13 years in various Austin schools. It seems more and more families are choosing reputable schools over local ones by opting to transfer to higher-ranking public or private schools. “Enrollment numbers at Winn [Elementary] hover around 50%,” according to Andy Sams, recent east side transplant and mentor at Winn. “Ultimately this is an outward symptom of challenges at the school,” he adds. Many families are drawn in by the appeal of charter schools. “They sell a great product,” says Constanza Hill who has worked in east Austin schools for over 13 years. According to AISD, charter school transfers in the 2014-2015 school year accounted for about 25% of non-returning students; many families who leave name a lack of affordable housing as the reason.

“Most families, regardless of race and socioeconomic status in east Austin,… just want quality schools in their neighborhoods,” says

30 EASTside | August/September 2016

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AISD Board of Trustees member Kendall Pace. She ships with those parents.” And for others, “School adds that strong schools should be the first priority. knows best. Schools have to understand their pow“We should not wait until the er, not take advantage of those neighborhoods are gentrified parents and make sure they have “It can be done, but to have quality schools in every all the information they need to neighborhood, whether they advocate for their kids.” Then it will take very are filled with students of one there are remaining families who strategic, thoughtful predominate race or a highly seek to work in tandem with the outreach. Everyone diverse campus.” Many east school. These parents “want to needs to be validated side schools have been working get all the information they can for what they bring diligently to create and implement to ensure their child gets the best more enriching models for their education,” adds Smith. Each to the table, no matter students as they weather the individual family has a unique how big or small.” many challenges under-funded relationship with institutions of -Rachel Robinson and under-enrolled schools face. learning, for which the reasons Blackshear Elementary is one are varied and multi-faceted. “I such school. “We should look to replicate its success would say the biggest difference between folks in to other schools to meet the increasing demand for higher income brackets and lower income brackets its excellent academic results and enrichment,” says is access to information and knowledge of deciPace. sion-making processes in schools,” Smith notes.

WHAT’S LIMITING FAMILY PARTICIPATION?

FOSTERING GROWTH & CREATING INCLUSION

Andy Sams recently purchased a home in east Austin after renting there for several years. “When I moved to University Hills in early 2013, I immediately wanted to get involved in the community.”

So Sams began to volunteer in the neighborhood elementary school as an Austin Partners in Education mentor. “I was surprised to hear that very few mentors volunteered at the school. I also began to observe practices throughout the school that concerned me.” His list of concerns include what he calls “a lack of community outreach, a non-functioning PTA, and little to no parent involvement” among others.

School administrators are tasked with the delicate role of meeting the needs of diverse demographics and creating inclusive and culturally relevant environments. Additionally, parent organizations should be sensitive to the myriad reasons for historically low parent involvement and advocate for collaboration and communication from all families.

Sams is one example of an east side transplant who is working towards positive change in his community school, but for many families, that kind of commitment just isn’t an option. “When it comes to being involved, attending meetings, helping with fundraising, doing things to make the school better, it gets tough. Our parents may be working 12 hour days…or night shifts. We may have single moms who are taking care of their children and other people's children, or grandparents who have taken on the role of parents again,“ says Stacie Smith, parent and board member as well as librarian at Govalle Elementary. “What usually happens is the concerns of the parents who have more time, money, and a larger social network overshadow the concerns of the parents with less,” adds Candace Hunter, long time educator and east Austin parent. “The children with more involved parents have safety nets that the other children don’t have,” suggests Robinson, “and that’s the tragedy of it.”

Govalle Elementary opened its doors 85 years ago, and the same families have been attending for generations. “Govalle, like all U.S. schools, bears the historic burden of systemic racism and classicism,” says Smith. “We have parents and grandparents who experienced the institutional inequities present in nearly all U.S. schools serving primarily African American and Latino children. For some parents, Smith says, “school is not a place to be trusted, and the school has to work really hard to build relation-

turally-relevant curriculum and recruiting diverse, parent leadership.” When it comes to welcoming people who have historically not participated in their public schools, educators and parent organizations have to work harder to encourage participation. Ursula Banks, former Maplewood PTA president and east side mom, suggests that PTA and other parent organizations remain mindful of the student body they serve. If the PTA doesn’t reflect the student body, they need to reassess if they’re doing enough. “Why aren’t more people coming out?

It could be because they don’t feel welcome…” she suggests. “People need to be willing to step outside their comfort zone, to make an effort to reach out, to make connections,” Banks adds.

Studies show that children gain a multitude of benefits from family involvement like higher student achievement, better attitudes toward school, lower dropout rates, and countless more, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, or their family’s education level. Fostering participation from all families requires having not just casual conversations but uncomfortable ones. “Honest conversations that build trust between the individuals,” suggests Robinson. “It can be done, but it will take very strategic, thoughtful outreach. Everyone needs to be validated for what they bring to the table, no matter how big or small,” she adds.

In Smith's experience, she's seen that “Many lower income parents are savvy and passionate; [they] advocate for kids at the Board of Trustees meetings and have access to different kinds of fundraising.

We have low income parents who are on District-level committees, like the English Language Learners Parent Advisory Committee. We have a PTA that has won awards this year for increased membership… When you have people of different races and income brackets, there can be tension… but the way to handle that is to be intentional and explicit about how we will treat each other, and that all ideas, contributions, and experiences are valuable. No one person or group has advantage over the other."

“One thing I’ve learned is that having a strong administration at a school is vital to success,” says Sams. “The teachers and staff in east Austin, by default, have to work harder in order to serve their student base. A highly capable, innovative leader at a school, who can motivate and support their staff, is a critical requirement for success,” he says. When faced with an influx of families and their unique needs, the needs of the preexisting families cannot go ignored. “The ideal administrator would come in and say, ‘This is the culture of our school, we welcome you and we need to develop a relationship of trust, where I see that you value what we have Schools that have succeeded in creating inclusive and what we’ve been and understand the history and culture of this community and you become part environments focus on building trust and collaboration. They acknowledge and address varying class of it, not that you’re going to come in and save it, and cultural differences, and not that you are somehow better.’ they embrace a philosophy of But to be able to develop trust… shared power and responsibility. which comes from bold honesty,” “We just have to put According to Smith, “Sometimes says Robinson. Additionally, our guards down and shared power means your idea “having teachers who are trained [say] ‘I’m going to do doesn't get heard or you don't in facilitating courageous converget to stretch your wings as far, the best I can, and sations about race,” is invaluable but if the goal is that we create a says Pace.

I’m going to accept school where we all get to stretch the fact that you are our wings, then we feel good Dusty Harshman, an east Austin going to do the best about helping each other out and parent and school volunteer you can.’ " seeing other people's ideas take and a previous Maplewood PTA -Rachel Robinson flight. And if ideas fail, they fail, president, is a firm believer in and we don't blame each other.” the positive effects that racial and Robinson agrees, “We just have economic integration can have to put our guards down and [say] ‘I’m going to do on public education. However, he stresses the need the best I can, and I’m going to accept the fact that for inclusion adding, "Even well-integrated schools you are going to do the best you can.’ That’s where can struggle with being inclusive.” Harshman thinks you have to come from…somehow we are going to staff, teachers, and parent groups should mirror the meet in the middle because it’s about what is best diverse community they serve. “This often requires making intentional hiring choices, supporting culfor the kids.”

[the bright side of austin]

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ESTA ES PARA LAS CHICAS

{THIS ONE’S FOR THE GIRLS}

empowering latina youth through tech and media WORDS BY JESS HAGEMANN PHOTOS BY ASHLEY HAGUEWOOD

Latinitas serves the largest community in Austin’s community-at-large—Latinas, specifically young girls— by rooting them in today’s fastest growing industries: media and technology.

34 EASTside | August/September 2016

find more at eastsideatx.com

The fifteen-year-old initiative of two then-journalism students at UT, Latinitas Magazine began as a digital publication made for and by Latinas ranging from fourth to eighth grade, and now their monthly reach is over 20,000 unique users up to age 25. Offering comprehensive instruction in writing, photography, desktop publishing, filmmaking, audio production, and web design, the program soon expanded beyond just magazine-making. Today, Latinitas also tackles app development, video game design and production, coding, and programming. Through tech and media literacy, the nonprofit hopes to inform, entertain, and inspire Latina girls to become healthy, confident, and successful women of color.

With operations in Austin and El Paso and events in Round Rock, Corpus Christi, San Marcos, San Antonio and cities in New Mexico, Latinitas signature program is Club

Latinitas, an after-school program. Each club consists of 10-25 girls recruited from local schools at no cost to the student and her family. Supplementing the clubs are extended camps, weekend “Chica” conferences, and oneoff workshops aimed at reaching the widest slice of Latina youth possible. Not only does Latinitas hope to close the gap between young Latinas, a traditionally underserved population, and their representation in the tech and media industries, but they make the leap possible by providing access to new devices and platforms. “The assumption,” explains co-founder Laura Donnelly, “is that kids are inundated with tech,” but among Austin’s young Latina population, less than 50% own or have access to a device, and of those who do, only a small fraction have WiFi or a network to which to connect. For those girls “east of east [Austin],” technology is still largely cost-prohibitive.

They’re tech-starved and tech-savvy at the same time.

In addition to preparing girls for the future, Latinitas also situates them within their own historical context and focuses on their own heroes. "Where other programs might be referencing Taylor Swift or Miley Cyrus as icons, we are all about Selena and Quintanilla,” says Laura, “but we also address revolutionaries like Frida Kahlo.” One month, the girls will research historical figures, dress up like them, perform a runway show, then shoot, edit, and distribute PSAs or mini-documentaries on who these change-makers were. The next month, they’ll meet Austin’s contemporary street artist Federico Archuleta or specialists working in fields as diverse as tech, photography, and event planning. The speakers share what they’re currently working on and their experiences with diversity in their respective industries.

The club members themselves are likewise encouraged to share the knowledge and skills that they already bring to the table. “At this point of programming, we are involving the girls’ input on curriculum more. They know the newest apps. They are cutting edge.” Laura admits, “Sometimes the girls have even more to offer than us old people,” since they’ve grown up navigating the cybersphere. While each Latinitas girl receives a thorough introduction to all aspects of tech and media, she is given the freedom to Latinitas just won a 2016 Google RISE Award for its efforts to increase access to computer science education for youth.

The Austin-based program is the only nonprofit organization from Texas (and one of only 13 in the United States) to receive the annual award. Latinitas plans to use the grant to expand its existing after-school, summer camp, and conference programming to create a more definitive pipeline between young Latinas and jobs in the tech sector.

incorporate whatever theme she wants in her radio show, webisode or app—from growing up undocumented to her love of "Takis" to animal advocacy. Through it all, however, the overarching theme remains personal growth and development. When discussing body image, for example, Latinitas addresses societal pressures on tween girls to worry about their weight, but also the more common issue of food deprivation and its attendant problems, like binging and hoarding. Identity is a similarly hot-button topic, with girls questioning what it means to be Latina, who ‘counts’ as Latina, and how to combat racist messages in the media or at school.

Just as a Club Latinitas girl who has recently been dumped by her boyfriend might write a telenovela about relationships that can then be staged, filmed, and screened, another girl might wish to highlight culturally-specific legends that have been excluded from the larger cultural narrative.

A Mexican folktale known as La Llorona tells the story of a ghost who lost her children and cries while looking for them by the river. One group of girls made a video game about La Llorona. If the player completes the journey and finds the lost children, she is released from the curse. Such freedom of self-expression allows the girls to mine from the personal, the cultural, and the socially-relevant when curating new content, to share what’s important to them and how they see the world. No matter the specific topic, the outcome is always invention, and often, innovation.

The girls learn that they matter, that their opinions matter.

For the last decade and a half, Latinitas has been the primary agency in Austin to facilitate tech education in a bilingual format and continues to publish the only magazine made for and by young Latinas. In that time, they’ve seen a significant portion of their ~25,000 mentees graduate into the role of mentors for the next class—the girls just love the program that much. “We look at the metrics,” says Laura, to track the program’s success. “Are we producing coders? Are we producing journalists?” But the girls have also taught her to define success in a more holistic way.

“Sometimes,” she adds, “the takeaway is making good girlfriends,” and that’s real empowerment, too.

contact:

512.900.0304 austin@latinitasmagazine.org 4926 E. Cesar Chavez St. latinitasmagazine.org

[the bright side of austin]

latinitasmag latinitasaustin laslatinitas latinitas

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eastside / do

ACL LIKE A LOCAL

Quick Facts

top stops, spots, and sites

Getting Around: Although Uber and Lyft have pulled out of the city, there are still innovative ride share options available like Fasten, Get Me, Fare, and Z Trip. Austin also has the Austin Metro Rail, plenty of bus lines, pedicabs and a bike share service called BCycle.

WORDS BY JESSICA DEVENYNS

What you need to know about getting around during Austin City Limits Festival from an East-sider’s perspective.

Essentials: No weekend festival is complete without sunscreen, a large hat, and plenty of refreshments. Check out The Bee Grocery, in.gredients, or East 1st Grocery to quickly stock up or replenish your stores.

Forecast: October in Austin is still summertime. Expect temperatures in the 80s with lots of sun.

Weathering Austin City Limits is a feat, often curated through years of practice.

Know exactly where and when to go for a break during ACL. Here are some places on the east side where you can escape and recharge to do ACL like a local.

Friday If you have company in town or you are the company, we recommend Heywood Hotel, a boutique hotel with a classic modern aesthetic. Jolt yourself into the action-packed weekend with a cup of hand-crafted coffee at Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors. Once you have your coffee in hand, stroll down the 11th Street district where you can admire the unique shops that give east

Austin its quirky vibe.

While you’re there, grab some food at the Quickie Pickie so that you don’t get stuck spending your beer budget on food at the festival.

Once you’ve filled up, drop a pin for your rideshare driver and head over to Zilker Park for the first day of ACL.

Saturday Saturday starts early with a quick stop at Vintage Heart Coffee where you can pick up caffeine and tacos to start your day off right like a true Austinite. Tacos are a breakfast staple here. If you aren’t eager to be the first in line at a show, check out Mijos or Don Juan for some tacos authenticos that will leave you fully fueled until lunch. From there, pick up the Austin Metro Rail

36 EASTside | August/September 2016

at Plaza Saltillo, which will deliver you within pedicab distance of Zilker Park.

On your way home from the festival, you will likely need to stop for a late night snack. Thankfully, East Side Kings Thai Kun is open late and is a popular spot to take a break as you make your way back to your crash pad. Serving up the Asian-fusion food is their hallmark, and this food will energize you to complete that last leg of your journey into your bed.

Sunday A late morning and a hearty brunch are the best cures to get you ready for the last day of ACL. A favorite of the ultra-late night crowd and morning risers alike, Hillside Farmacy serves find more at eastsideatx.com

up curative concoctions that will have you revived in no time. Often festival goers arrive later on Sunday, instead preferring to spend the morning sitting on the shores of Festival Beach absorbing some serenity before heading back into the crowd.

When you’re ready, from Festival Beach you can rent an Austin BCycle and take an easy ride to Zilker Park where they have BCycle parking.

When the music stops, the show isn’t over. Sunday night is a perfect time for a leisure walk through Austin. On your way down Riverside Drive, enjoy the Austin skyline’s reflection in Lady Bird Lake and get to know the people you’re walking along with. After all, the people are what make Austin so wonderfully weird.

DO wear shoes. Flipflops may be cooler, but you want to keep your toes protected from dancing feet.

DON’T bring credit cards. Cash is always better because your things will have a way of losing themselves.

DO bring several empty water bottles. ACL is full of stands to fill up your bottles; however, lines are long, so it’s better to fill up multiple containers at once.

DON’T bring a chair. It may seem like a good idea, but you will never be able to find any space to set it down comfortably and relax.

DO bring sunscreen.

It’s hot! You will be under the blazing Texas sun all day for three days so sunburn prevention is key to having a good time.

eastside / do

BRAZOS HALL | SEPTEMBER 28

Tickets

PA R T Y. A U S T I N PA R K S.O R G B E N E f I T T I N G AU S T I N PA R K S f O U N dAT I O N SPONSOREd BY

[the bright side of austin]

eastsideatx.com

37

eastside / go

5

best

1

Haymaker

2310 Manor Road Haymaker is east Austin’s undisputed heavy-weight champion of sports watching, this title owing to its expansive beer list, weighty sandwiches, and sheer square inches of television screens. They have dozens of beers on tap and a list of cans and bottles that stretches into the hundreds. Add to that a line-up of hefty plates of poutine, “comfort” sandwiches, and other elevated bar food. With some sort of daily special, you’re bound to find a day (or two) to make it in to cheer on your hero or your country.

2

Casa Colombia

2409 E 7th Street The South American restaurant’s new building has a separate front bar with four large screen televisions reserved where you’ll find a soccer game playing most days of the year. Their Central and South American beers and cocktails, appetizers, and beverages pair perfectly with Rio’s football tournament. A plate of 38 EASTside | August/September 2016

East Austin Spots to Watch the Olympics WORDS BY BEN HAGUEWOOD

The next best thing to being in Rio de Janeiro this season is to be at a local hot spot cheering on the good ol' red, white, and blue as they compete in the Summer Olympics.

empanadas, arepas, or plantain patacones with a Cusquena beer or a Acai Berry Licuado will make you feel like you’re there in Rio with the crowds. Just don’t call it soccer.

3

Dog and Duck Pub

2400 Webberville Road Austin’s standard for English Pub food and atmosphere has relocated to the east side. In its reincarnation, the same great food persists–bangers, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie–but the digs get an upgrade.

With TV screens inside and out, the bartenders are as responsive to your viewing needs as your appetites. During half time, you can play pinball, pool, throw darts, feed the juke box, or get a refill from one of the 33 taps that line the walls with a beer from around the corner or a pint of bitter from across the pond.

4

Draft Pick American Grill

1620 E. Riverside Drive #1618 Olympic contests go all week and so do

find more at eastsideatx.com

Draft Pick’s specials. Monday through Sunday you’ll find some sort of food and drink special to munch on while you watch the events on one of the many screens, including the biggest HD screen in the state of Texas. The happy hour runs from 4 to 7pm and then picks back up from 9 to 11pm, with half price starters and their signature Burnt Orange Wings are perfect for a group of sports fans.

5

Silo on Seventh

1300 East 7th Street Silo’s porch and dining room overlooking East Seventh Street is a great meeting spot to huddle with your sports fanatic friends in front of one of their many screens and sample one of their gourmet takes on your favorite burger or try one of their zesty appetizers like deep fried deviled eggs, chorizo and cheese stuffed jalapeños, or fried green tomatillos. Their liberal happy hour extends until seven, so it’s an ideal place to linger for dinner or launch onto Sixth to celebrate a victory or drown your sorrows.

View Seattle's Space Needle from the Chihuly Garden & Glass exhibit. Then head to Olympic National Park for a breathtaking escape.

Page 42

Home + away August + September 2016

40 home

MODERN ARCHITECTURE, EXPANSIVE LIVING, AND A CLOSE COMMUNITY ALL WITHIN 6 MILES OF DOWNTOWN

42 away

ESCAPE THE HEAT AND THE CITY IN MAJESTIC OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK

eastside / home

THE AGAVE NECTAR

Is it a neighborhood or is it an art installation, or both?

WORDS BY XANDER PETERS PHOTOS BY ASHLEY HAGUEWOOD

Have an idea to design a different kind of neighborhood and build an assortment of sophisticated homes. Check. Minus the white-picket fences and add an alternative Austin-ish appeal. Check. Provide a lively communal aspect. Check. Let the community flourish in itself, allowing the city’s lure do the rest of the work. Check, check.

Creative, different, original, unique. Whereas most residential areas throughout Texas are built around a sort of homogeneous master plan, the Agave neighborhood falls within the contrary. For the passerby, the gaudy look of the east Austin community is of a picturesque appearance, as if it’s akin to a form of geometric expressionism: a series of multicolored homes neatly sprinkled throughout an even more neatly trimmed neighborhood.

“We really have a lot of very creative folks here, and I think there’s something about the architecture itself that really draws you in.”

Of course, that’s all just a fun way of saying—this place is aesthetically pleasing. Six miles from downtown, off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, the Agave neighborhood, an ultra-modern residential community, is a type of haven for today’s east Austinite. But it didn’t start out that way.

Working with what began as an affordable housing project in 1996, the neighborhood was bought out and two phases of homes were constructed in 2006 and 2008. However, the company went out of business soon after. With the original premise still in mind, In-Town Homes bought the land several years later, with construction on the latest series of homes beginning last year. Only this time, though, the idea was to lean more towards a modernist style edge with an artistic sensibility: build smaller but simple—clean lines in the design, lots of natural light in each home, and build each unit to stay green and efficient, while providing a revitalized way of living.

“Our neighborhood really does attract a certain type of person,” says Erin Knox, president of the Agave Neighborhood Association. “We really have a lot of very creative folks here, and I think there’s something about the architecture itself that really draws you in.”

New Agave Home by In-Town Homes

40 EASTside | August/September 2016

find more at eastsideatx.com

Beyond that, however, the neighborhood itself is a sort of socioeconomic melting pot. It’s the opposite of cookie cutter. While some residential areas consist of two adults 35-years or older and 2.5 kids, Agave bases itself around diversity.

“We have people who are young and single.

We have people who are married with kids.

Original Agave Home

We have people who are middle aged with no kids. We have some retirees. We have gays, straights, black, white, Hispanic…

Everyone has a really different age range, a different ethnicity, a different income level,” says Jason Hargraves, who with his husband moved into their home in Agave earlier this year. “Nothing really surprises me to hear where somebody in Agave works,” says Jason. “They might be a soap maker, they might be a musician, or they might be a restaurateur. It’s part of the diversity.”

One of Agave’s more unique qualities is the “house crawl” event. Once a month, neighborhood volunteers will take turns hosting a crowd of residential locals that bounce around from house to house, enjoying wine and snacks while taking in the creativity of

each other’s homes. It’s not only a way to get to know people but to also see all the types of architecture that go into different homes “and just kind of enjoy it,” Erin says.

“We’re an extremely friendly community,” smiles Erin as she thinks about the friendships she’s made. “A lot of our really good friends and people we actually hang out with are right here in the neighborhood, and I think that’s really rare these days to find, where people actually know their neighbors.”

It’s an eclectic little group, true. But like how office jobs evolved with the nuances of start-up culture, is it time for the neighborhood to evolve as well? Perhaps the concept behind Agave proves so.

[the bright side of austin]

contact:

intown-homes.com/Austin/Agave

eastsideatx.com

41

PHOTO COURTESY OF LOCHAERIE RESORT

eastside / away

A Weekend In

&

SEATTLE OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK

the evergreen state

TAKE A BREAK FROM THE TEXAS SUMMER HEAT AND COOL OFF IN THE SHADE AND SPLENDOR OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. WORDS & PHOTOS BY BLAKELY KNEISLEY

Friday View the works of Washington-born and world-renowned glass blower, Dale Chihuly, at Chihuly Garden and Glass. The collection includes eight galleries, the Glasshouse conservatory and a whimsical garden path featuring colorful

ground and chandelier sculptures. Spring for a package admission ticket, as this gets you a ride to the top of the Space Needle. Take in the ultimate view of the Seattle area from the observation deck. On a clear day, the peak of Mount Rainier is visible and truly breathtaking.

if you go Where to Stay:

Lochaerie Resort. Private, rustic cabins on the banks of Lake Quinault.

42 EASTside | August/September 2016

Don’t skip Pike Place Market! Have lunch in one of the counter restaurants inside or try Matt’s in the Market, which gives you a view of the famous sign and a menu sourced with fresh Pacific Northwest ingredients purchased from the iconic marketplace daily. You can’t visit Seattle without getting a great cup of coffee, so grab one at Storyville Coffee Company and take a walk through the vendor stalls.

If you plan on doing any cooking during your trip, make sure to pick up your fresh seafood, vegetables and flowers for your table while you are at the marketplace!

Saturday Drive a scenic 2 ½ hours to the southern part of Olympic National

Getting Around:

Seattle has adequate public transportation, but a rental car is recommended to fully experience the national park.

find more at eastsideatx.com

Forest for some of the most diverse ecosystems the country has to offer.

Temperate rainforests surround Lake Quinault and a short hike out of your car can take you that much further into the wonders of this wilderness. The Rainforest Loop Trail lets you meander around the rainforest while you relish the botanical mosses, gigantic Douglas firs and rushing waterfalls.

Eat lunch at Lake Quinault Lodge where FDR himself made a stop in 1937, before signing a bill creating Olympic National Park. Then check out the world’s largest Sitka spruce tree right down the road.

Spend the evening at your cabin and bask in the glory of solitude. Cook

dinner, listen to the rain and look at the stars.

Board games and puzzles make an excellent substitution for your cell phone, especially after you’ve lit the in-room fireplace.

Sunday From Amanda Park, drive west through the Quinault Indian Reservation to the coastline, then head north. There are multiple trailheads off the road where you can walk down to take in the panoramic views. Arrive at the town of Forks. It’s a small town, but if you're a Twilight fan, this is the setting for the popular novels and films.

Or opt for Swanny’s Guided Fishing in Olympia. They offer some of the best salmon fishing in the Pacific Northwest.

Forecast:

Summer is warmer and drier on the Peninsula, with highs in the mid60s. Since rain is typically in the forecast, bring waterproof hiking shoes and a rain jacket.

Sip + taste

August + September 2016

44 taste

expert SHARING THE

SCIENCE BEHIND CRAFTING TASTY VINAIGRETTES

46 taste

feature MEDITERRANEANINFLECTED EUROPEAN MENU WITH MEAL-WORTHY SALADS AND FRESH TARTINES

48 sip

feature

A SWEET AND SAVORY SMOOTHIE SURE TO COOL YOU OFF AND FILL YOU UP

eastside / chef de cuisine

Vinaigrettes with Taylor Chambers

T

WORDS BY ASHLEY BOWLING PHOTOS BY ERIC MORALES

aylor had to forgo contributing to the summer issue of EASTside because he was busy getting promoted to Executive Chef! In four short, hard-working years, Taylor went from the position of dishwasher at Justine’s Brasserie to head chef. We are proud of his accomplishments, but if you taste his food, it’s easy to see why this guy has gone so far in such a short time. Justine’s boasts, “He’s a hardworking badass with a big heart, and he is taking over where Casey [former Executive Chef] is leaving off.” Taylor’s response is, “I am truly honored and humbled to be picked for this position,” and adds, “I have a simplified vision for food that resembles the ingredients and really letting the ingredients play their part in the dish. I'm also a sucker for the classics so we’ll be seeing plenty of that around here—while still staying true to the rock-n-roll style of Justine's.”

Taylor also acknowledges, “It’s not just me—it’s a team that makes things happen.” They have four chefs on the line during busy nights, making sure all 400 or so guests are in a happy indulgence. Go check out for yourself the beautiful things Taylor is cooking up.

emulsified vinaigrettes

BY TAYLOR CHAMBERS

Vinaigrettes consist of 3 things: fat, acid, and herbs (or fresh garlic). The secret is to keep it simple. I typically like to use a neutral-flavored oil like Canola or grape seed. If you're wanting to achieve an olive flavor on your food, then I suggest olive oil. I find the best ratio with fat to acid is 3 to 1, that is three ounces of oil for every ounce of acid.

sherry basil vinaigrette

(loose or minimum emulsification) 2 oz.

1 1 4 1 t.

2 t.

6 oz.

Sherry Vinegar Small Shallot (chopped) Garlic Clove (chopped) Basil Leaves (chopped) Salt Pepper Olive Oil

Mix vinegar, shallot, garlic, basil, oil, salt, and pepper together in a mixing bowl. Then stir all ingredients together. Store in container and shake to remix. This minimum emulsification vinaigrette tastes great with cold seafood, such as octopus or shrimp. Store in container and shake when ready to use again.

balsamic vinaigrette

(semi-emulsified) 2 oz.

1 t.

2 t.

1 6 oz.

Balsamic Vinegar Salt Pepper Fresh Thyme Sprig (chopped) 60/40 Canola Oil Blend

44 EASTside | August/September 2016

Mix vinegar, salt, pepper and thyme together in a mixing bowl. Stream in oil while stirring vigorously. Store in container and shake when ready to use.

dijon lemon vinaigrette (fully emulsified)

2 oz.

Good Dijon Mustard

(worth the investment) 1 t.

Salt 2 t.

Pepper 6 oz.

60/40 Canola Oil Blend Juice of 1 Lemon Use hand mixer or food processor to more easily achieve full emulsification. Mix Dijon, lemon juice, salt, and pepper together in a mixing bowl or processor. Pour oil in very slowly while mixing to achieve a creamy finish. Store in container and shake when ready to use.

contact:

512.385.2900 4710 E. 5th Street justines1937.com

find more at eastsideatx.com

Commercial Real Estate News for East Austin

location on 94 Rainey Street. The bar features plenty of cocktails, beer and food.

Hours: M-Tue: 4pm - 12am, Wed-Sun: 11am-12am

on the move: live oak brewing company

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FOR EAST AUSTIN We approach each client’s real estate needs with a methodology that analyzes the financial, cultural, operational and strategic impacts of their real estate strategies as they relate to their business operations.

• Tenant Representation • Landlord Representation

About Newmark Grubb Knight Frank - Austin • Investment Sales

Newmark Grubb Knight Frank's Austin, TX office covers Central Texas, with an emphasis on the nation's fastest growing metropolitan area. With a full • Property Management range of integrated services including leasing advisory, investment sales and nancial services, consulting services, project management and facilities management, we are optimally positioned to meet the diverse needs of our clients, locally and globally. Our professionals approach each client's real estate needs with a methodology that analyzes the nancial, cultural, operational and strategic impacts of their real estate strategies as they relate to their business operations.

Jacob Hernandez Eastside Austin Specialist D: 512.329.2783 M: 936.648.8813 jahernandez@ngkf.com www.ngkf.com [the bright side of austin]

eastsideatx.com

45

eastside / taste

MINT LEMONADE

HIBISCUS MINT TEA

SALAD NIÇOISE

PROSCIUTTO AND MOZZARELLA TARTINE 46 EASTside | August/September 2016

find more at eastsideatx.com

your dogs have plans today.

A Bistro for All Weather blue dahlia is a perfect place to start or end a summer day.

WORDS BY BEN HAGUEWOOD PHOTOS BY ASHLEY HAGUEWOOD

What do you want when you’re hungry and it’s 100 degrees outside? One of the best antidotes to Austin’s endless-feeling summer doldrums is fresh, uncomplicated food and a soothing beverage.

B

lue Dahlia Bistro offers ideal summer fare from its Mediterranean-inflected European menu with meal-worthy salads, fresh tartines (open-faced sandwiches dressed with meat, cheeses, and local produce atop fresh-baked bread), and an inspired rotating cast of seasonal gazpachos.

eastsidedogwalkers.com

glasses of wine are the perfect companion to the generously discounted tartines and the exceptional, and exceptionally shareable, house specialty plates–cheese, charcuterie, hummus, and smoked trout – all accompanied with fresh bread, olives, and spreads.

Patio, porch, or dining room, Blue Dahlia is a welcome escape to something satisfying and familiar.

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE:

While many east Austin eateries strive to give diners something they could never imagine, some things should be left alone or at least altered with subtlety, to not risk losing its essence. Blue Dahlia offers satisfying French bistro standards like the ham and gruyere tartine and some with a subtle addition like the Salad Niçoise (pictured) topped with seared Ahi tuna. Tucked among other well-executed classics are other surprises like inventive daily organic egg frittatas and chilled gazpachos ranging from cucumber to mango to watermelon jalapeño.

While Blue Dahlia does offer the best of classic French breakfast (crepes, croissants, soft-boiled eggs with a baguette), it has one of the best happy hours in east Austin for the hungry office fugitive. There are $2 Lonestars if that suits you and a break on the local draft beers, but the selection of $5

Steamed Chickpea Breakfast Salad

professional, insured, dog walkers, housesitters

Telling your Story

SEE PAGE 50 FOR FULL RECIPE

BLUE DAHLIA'S HAPPY HOUR EXTENDS TO 6:30 FOR ONE MORE GLASS BEFORE DINNER OR HEADING HOME.

contact:

512.542.9542 1115 E. 11th Street bluedahliabistro.com bluedahliabistro bluedahliaATX blue_dahlia_bistro_austin

[the bright side of austin]

READ ONLINE AT

eastsideatx.com eastsideatxmag CONNECT WITH US AT

eastsideatx.com

47

eastside / sip

Cherrywood Coffeehouse

CHOCOLATE CITY SMOOTHIE WORDS BY ASHLEY BOWLING PHOTOS BY ASHLEY HAGUEWOOD

C

herrywood Coffeehouse is doing something right! Co-owners Ryan and Jen Marks have striven to create -Issey Miyake Ruched a community-centric atmosphere where evBodycon Knit Dress eryone feels welcome, even the furry friends.

-Tom listened Ford for They’ve toYves the community and have Saint Laurent 90’svibe with delicious truly created an Austin Swarovski Crystal food, free live music, and friendly service.

Ball Black Satin Mules Ryan moved to the neighborhood in the late 1990s andClear had his eye on the place for some -Wilardy Lucite time before making it his own in early 2009.

Deco Clasp Clutch It’s easy see with the quality of food and bytoRecollect Vintage enthusiastic neighborhood support, things just haven't been the same ever since.

Jen describes the menu as all-American with a southern flair, but if you ask Ryan, he’d say it’s “real food.” Ryan’s New Orlean’s roots are easy to see and taste as you graze the menu. Their juicy burgers are by far the most popular menu item and a must try if you haven't already. Since they serve breakfast all day long, you can’t go wrong with the Terra Taco, complete with fried eggs, crispy potato strings, fried tofu, cheddar cheese, avocado, 48 EASTside | August/September 2016

and green onions. We highly recommend the Sweet Potato Hash on the brunch menu, complete with grilled onions, bell peppers, and jalapeños, topped with two poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. Another excellent choice is the Crawfish Eggs Benedict. You really can’t go wrong with any of the locally sourced pastries either.

Cherrywood Coffeehouse also offers a wide variety of drinks. They have a great selection of beers on tap and offer an excellent selection of coffee beverages too. The Chocolate City Smoothie was inspired from the Peanut Power Smoothie. Ryan did a spin on the Peanut Power and created this one for the chocolate lovers, inspired after Ryan’s home town of New Orleans, Louisiana. Ingredients include frozen bananas, peanut butter, Ghirardelli chocolate syrup, and creamy almond milk.

Next time you're in the mood for a chill atmosphere, some southern savory food, or a tasty cup of Joe, stop by Cherrywood’s neighborhood gem. find more at eastsideatx.com

NATIVE KNOWLEDGE: Cherrywood Coffeehouse offers free yoga Monday-Friday, 8am.

Breakfast is served all day long, with a special brunch menu on the weekends 10am to 3pm with live kid’s music every Sunday at 10am.

Need Coffee? Try the Cuban con Leche, Espresso married with condensed milk for the perfect combination of smooth and sweet to start your morning off right.

contact:

512.538.1991 1400 E. 38 1/2 Street cherrywoodcoffeehouse.com Cherrywood-Coffeehouse CWCoffeeHouse

FOR A BETTER

EAST AUSTIN Serve Your Community

-Become a Board Member -Be a Program Volunteer -Coach a Sports Team -Help at Events We have programs tailored to your talents.

Make a Difference EAST COMMUNITIES YMCA

5315 Ed Bluestein Blvd., Austin, TX 78723 (512) 933-YMCA • AustinYMCA.org

is proud to announce our EASTLINE community 2000 E 7th St Austin, TX 78702

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49

eastside / local

Nomad Players: Travel & Truth Salvage Vanguard Theater

Upcoming Projects

WORDS BY WALKER LYLE PHOTOS COURTESY OF SALVAGE VANGUARD THEATER

Fraught with growing audiences and rising cost for space, a theater forged in nomadic beginnings, one that rose to hold a decade long reign on the Manor strip, is now returning to those beginnings renewed, re-envisioned, and re-birthed.

C

ircumstance is proving a solid, yet rocky ground for Jenny Larson, artistic director for the Salvage Vanguard Theater.

Working with the theater since 2001 and leading in her current position since 2008, she was able to shed some light on her theater's recent loss of their Manor location and the path ahead.

"It's a mixed bag, because part of you wants these sort of opportunities in your neighborhood. But where's the balance?" Larson asks.

"I don't think it's 'old vs. new,' and I don't think it's 'us vs. them.' I think it's really about economics. It's really about this balance between capitalist interests and our city government watching out for those who don't

50 EASTside | August/September 2016

have as much as the rest. Affordability is the key issue,” says Larson.

When faced with notice of eviction in the fall of 2015, the theater knew drastic changes would come, and hard choices of what it meant to do art their way would have to be made. Solely existing to exhibit and foster art as a non-profit, charging more to customers would have been both antithetical and uneconomical towards the very community it supports. “[The Salvage Vangaurd Theater] is 'homeless' right now—‘officing’ from home. For the performances that we're doing in the coming year, we actually have a piece we'll be using the [Susanna Dickinson] Museum for in August. In October and November, we have a

find more at eastsideatx.com

• CUADROS DE CASTA (working title) by Adrienne Dawes and Consetta Rubel August 27 • EVERY 28 HOURS Festival Oct 22 • WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY ALICE SITS

By Hannah Kenah Oct 27 - Nov 20 • THR3E ZISTERS

By Lola Pierson and Yury Urnov Feb 2 – 18, 2017

THE FOX DEN PLANTS | HOME | LIFESTYLE NEW SHOP

NOW OPEN 1105 CHICON STREET

show at the Off Center. We have a piece we're doing at Huston-Tillotson University in October, and then sporadic readings throughout the year which we haven't found homes for yet,” Larson adds. They are still trying to figure out where it all will happen.

Highlights of the season include Adrienne Dawes and Consetta Rubel bringing Cuadros de Casta to the table, tackling race relations exemplified in visual representations from 18th century Nueva Espana. Resident producers / artists / mentees The Viceroys (Matt Frazier and Jarrett King) will host 3 reading series over the next year with works centered around the African American community, while leading the Austin branch of 28 Hours Festival, holding readings and conversations on race and discrimination in Austin.

the.fox.den

shop.the.fox.den

Despite such a loss, the meaning is still there. Despite space or designated meeting place, the meaning behind our endless treks into the night for entertainment, our hopeful actions towards one another, our crying prayers to remember history and build anew, still pushes us forward. "Many have come forward articulating that they see a problem and want to help. But we haven't found any clear pathways towards solutions or answers just yet,” Larson smiles.

"I see Austin on this cusp where it can go either way. Either the DIY energy that its music and creative scene was built on takes over, and the scene survives and changes and morphs—and that's exciting, what will it bring? or... artists will move. And the creative industry will collapse on itself,” says Larson.

For those of us who wish to be involved in the perseverance of this aesthetic, it appears we're in for a multi-faceted endeavor, as are all inspirations that move us to action. We must keep going to shows and demand art be worth something. Awareness alone may be a good first step—awareness of the value and true wealth we stand to lose. "It feeds the city in the right way,” says Larson.

contact:

salvagevanguard.org info@salvagevanguard.org salvagevanguard salvagevanguard

[the bright side of austin]

eastsideatx.com

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