Austin Monthly September/October 2023

48

Best of ATX 2023

Be prepared to update your social calendar with the coolest cocktail bars, perfect patios, and all the breakout bands to catch this fall.

70

Turning the Corner

An ambitious effort to buy up Sixth Street real estate has Austin’s storied party district poised for a serious glow up.

Sergio (left) and Juan Trujillo of Best Coffee Shop, Desnudo.

Scout 25

Willie Nelson: Country outlaw or brand mascot? 26

Austin’s oldest haunted house attraction shares its spookiest secrets 28

Feast 31

Culinary royalty opens an exciting new bakery 32

Home Slice’s sub is the hero Bat City deserves 34

The future is bright in the new “disco” cocktail scene 36

Beat 39

Texas lege’s “death star” bill targets city oversight 40

The highs and lows of Zilker Park’s Vision Plan 42

Austin’s head librarian gets real about state censorship 44

An organic farm is giving refugees a cultural lifeline 46

Lucky Dog Tarot, by Annie Ray

Editor in Chief

Chris Hughes

Creative Director

Sara Marie D’Eugenio

EDITORIAL

Executive Editor

Madeline Hollern

Associate Editor

Bryan C. Parker

Contributing Writers

Ruvani de Silva, Omar L. Gallaga, Laurel Miller, Daniel Modlin

ART

Contributing Photographers

Jessica Attie, Nitya Jain, Annie Ray, Jordan Vonderhaar

Contributing Illustrators

Lincoln Agnew, David G. Loyola

DIGITAL

Digital Managers

Rosie Ninesling, Abigail Stewart

ADVERTISING

Sales Director

Molly Lochridge

Senior Account Executive

Tina Mullins

Account Director

Dana Horner

Account Executive

Annemarie Gist

Sales Operations Manager

Kiely Whelan

EVENTS

Events Director

Lauren Sposetta

CEO

Todd P. Paul

Editorial Director

Rebecca Fontenot Cord

Sales Director

Molly Lochridge

CIRCULATION

Audience Development Director

Kerri Nolan

Circulation Manager

Julie Becker

ACCOUNTING

Accounting Manager

Sabina Jukovic

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Editor’s Letter

Sixth Sense

Join the Party

To celebrate all the magnificent chefs, stores, and local celebs featured in our Best of ATX issue, we’re hosting a party featuring a number of our 2023 winners. Join us at Springdale Station on Sept. 14 to sip and shop your way through the city’s finest. Tickets can be purchased at austinmonthly.com/ boatxparty

WHEN MY GRADES began to slip in college, I didn’t have the heart to admit to myself (or my parents) that I was spending entirely too much time on Sixth Street. Sure, the late-night shifts at a restaurant job didn’t help my grasp of Spanish or Shakespearean sonnets, but I’m fairly confident it was those hours playing pool at Buffalo Billiards or catching shows at Emo’s and The Parish that really torpedoed my GPA.

That might sound like an embarrassing admission in the context of the street’s current social standing. But even in the early aughts, before the “Dirty Sixth” moniker really took off in the public consciousness, it was still a nightlife destination that didn’t require any tourist-shaming caveats. Granted, I wasn’t around in its heyday in the ’80s and ’90s when places like Steamboat and the Black Cat Lounge were at their peak. And, although I saw some great Spoon concerts, nothing that could measure up to the early Antone’s bills with Muddy Waters and Albert King.

Once nicknamed the “Street of Dreams,” and hailed for its diversity, Sixth Street has since fallen on hard times. With a rise in violent crimes and a number of closures that have yet to be replaced since the onset of the pandemic, the historic thoroughfare is all but avoided by any self-respecting local. But that could all change thanks to the efforts of one Texas-based developer.

In writer Omar L. Gallaga’s tirelessly reported feature, “Turning the Corner” (p. 70), he explores the efforts of Stream Realty, which has quietly gobbled up dozens of properties on the street since 2020. With the help from the Downtown Austin Alliance and a recent City Council vote to raise height restrictions on buildings, Stream is looking to draw a new class of hotels, mixed-use projects, and dining concepts, like New York’s Dead Rabbit, which is set to open early next year. With a lineage as extensive as that on Sixth Street (formerly Pecan Street), things aren’t always going to be sanguine. For instance, in the early ’70s, the city stretch was riddled with peep shows and the Ritz was a porno theater. There have been pronounced ups and downs in its history, but the nightlife corridor feels like it’s finally on the verge of change.

As we celebrate the very best of Austin (p. 48), you might notice a conspicuous absence among the wide geographic range represented in our annual list. For years, Sixth Street businesses west of I-35 have been persona non grata. A civic pariah. But for the first time in over a decade, I have faith— Dirty Sixth will finally clean up its act.

Chris Hughes Editor in Chief chughes@austinmonthly.com

@cmhughestx @chris_hughestx

Eye Candy

Want to give your plants a little personality? Look to these vibrant, hand-painted vessels by Karmita Creative. After relocating from Matamoros, Mexico, to Austin in 2019, graphic designer Karla Cabido staved off pandemic ennui by painting ceramic and terracotta planters at home. Inspired by Oaxacan art, Cabido takes hours to adorn her pieces using tiny brush strokes of acrylic paint in a rainbow of hues. One signature element to all the artist’s pieces is having a distinctive point of view (if you will): “Ever since I was little, I’ve really liked to draw eyes,” she says. In addition to planters and pots, the artist also paints autumnal pottery such as pumpkins and skulls that are ideal for Halloween and Día de los Muertos. Shop her colorful creations at The Cathedral, Clover + Maven, and Austin Gift Company or karmita creative.com. —Madeline Hollern

ON THE CORNER of South Congress Avenue and Elizabeth Street, a larger-than-life mural highlights an acoustic guitar, worn out and well-strummed. Look closely, and you’ll discover that it’s none other than Trigger, Willie Nelson’s famous sidekick and instrument. The eye-catching painting stretches across the brick wall with a Texas flag waving majestically behind it. But just below the homage, you’ll notice another curious sight: jewel-bedecked shoppers swinging Hermès and LoveShackFancy bags as they stroll toward their Teslas.

More than just a mural, this public piece of art is yet another installment of Austin’s burgeoning

Where There’s a

Willie, There’s a Way

Local shops are cashing in on the appeal of Austin’s most famous musician and turning the Red Headed Stranger into a mascot for everything he’s not. BY

DANIEL MODLIN

trend: Willie-Washing. (No, not that kind of willie.) Anyone residing here can tell you that in the last decade, the number of murals devoted to the city’s braided legend, Willie Nelson, has gone up approximately 900 percent. Now, a store slinging $400 direct-to-consumer cowboy boots is just one more brand to get in on the action.

Willie-Washing will one day be defined in the dictionary as (v): the act of using the unanimous adoration everyone has for the Red Headed Stranger to induce familiarity and boost sales. Here’s an example of its usage in a sentence: Damn, that SoCo boutique really Willie-Washed their storefront. Here’s another: The mural of Willie in an Astros tee is Willie-Washing in its purest form—especially since the store is from California.

It’s easy to imagine that many of these marketing decisions happened in rooms filled with suit-wearing executives sitting around drab conference room tables, throwing around buzzwords like “brand positioning” or “organic marketing.” It’s also reasonable to assume that the only Willie song these execs have ever actually heard is “On the Road Again”—if even that.

The trend started out innocently enough. One of the first murals to emerge was the “Willie for President” nod, painted in early 2016 on the side of a local menswear company on South Congress. Within the same year, another portrait of the musician popped up at the corner of Seventh and Neches. Soon, Willie was everywhere in the city.

Willie-Washing: the

act of using the unanimous adoration of the Red Headed

Stranger

to induce familiarity and boost sales.

In the last year alone, at least three more examples of public art bearing his likeness have popped up. And now, that same SoCo men’s shop sells a T-shirt version of the piece (in which Willie wears a ripped, vintage dollar-store tee) for more than $40.

In perhaps the most head-scratching example, a North Lamar boutique recently added a mural of him standing broad-chested in an Astros tee, telling the city to “Have a Willie Dope Day” (as if he would ever say that). Look a little closer, and you’ll notice he is wearing a hat with the brand’s logo on it. While we didn’t reach out to Mr. Nelson directly for comment, it’s safe to conclude that he has never heard of said brand. After all, this store specializes in kimonos, “fun stuff,” and “house vibes”—and by house vibes, they seem to mean an $85 French press that’s more decor than bean-brewing tool.

Of course, Willie doesn’t, and has never stood for $85 French presses. He probably doesn’t even like pour-overs. The man was a pioneer of counterculture, beloved by easygoing, granola types: the people who hauled coolers (ones that weren’t $400) filled with Lone Star to his annual Fourth of July picnic. The whole point of Nelson’s music was to redefine what country was and could be—namely outlaws and the other misfits who didn’t fit into the Texas establishment. Now, these downhome murals are being put up by the same folks who are making Austin unaffordable. Willie’s image is being used by the very people turning Austin into Dallas or— dare we say it—Los Angeles.

To be fair, there’s no city or state that loves a musician more than Austin loves Willie Nelson. The only one that comes close is New Jersey and The Boss, and even the Garden State exercises more restraint than we do, which is saying something. But the real reason I know enough is enough? I moved to Austin from California in 2021, and never once listened to the Red Headed Stranger before I arrived in town. Now I love his music and like to listen to it at home, on the couch, preferably next to my French bulldog. I named her Willie.

Fright Club

A behind-the-screams look at the scare tactics and secret hacks of Austin’s favorite haunt.

BY MADELINE HOLLERN

WHAT STARTED AS a backyard Halloween spectacle in 2001 has burgeoned into the city’s longest-running haunted attraction: House of Torment. The horror empire owned by Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group features yearlong activations such as “Krampus: A Haunted Christmas” and “Love Bites” around Valentine’s Day. But its signature autumn event is the star of the show with three spooky areas, a crew of more than 200 people, and 80 on-site actors every night. For this year’s fest (select dates from Sept. 15 to Nov. 11), we asked creative director and general manager Michael Faust to divulge secrets about costume tricks, common injuries, and which guests get terrorized the most.

Heart of Darkness

To bring their ghoulish cast of characters to life—er, death— the crew relies on a mix of assembled items from thrift stores, estate sales, and auctions as well as purchased costumes. Some of their go-to enhancements include Pale Night Studios’ Perma-Blood, demonic contact lenses from Primal and Solaris, and ultracreepy silicone Immortal Masks. For zombies, Faust loves to find suit-and-tie ensembles from Goodwill. He distresses them, adds fake moss, and sprays on Super 77 adhesive before throwing real dirt on the surface.

Monster’s Ball

Terrorizing crowds is tough work. Actors lose their voices, fall, and get scrapes, like when chainsaw-wielding performers slide across the asphalt and their knee pads slip. The staff has secret codes if guests vomit or urinate—but so far, no defecation situations: “If they did, it’s because they ate something bad, not because they got scared,” Faust says.

Boo Things

If you think you’re safe to walk in the middle of the group, guess again. The cast knows that the scaredy cats cower in the center, so they focus their attention there. Since the actors aren’t allowed to touch patrons, Faust encourages ping pong scares, where one performer jumps out and baits the crowd toward the next actor. “It isn’t just yelling dramatically while performing,” he says. “It’s being intense with your look and walk. I’m only 5-foot-7, but I’ll drop guys 6-foot or taller in here.”

Meat and Greet

Of all the crazy costumes at House of Torment, one of the most shocking is actually a... frankfurter? During off hours, Faust or other staff members like to randomly sprint through the space wearing a hot dog costume that the creative director bought for $5 at Party City. “It’s a morale booster,” he laughs. The goal of the wily wiener is to make it through all three haunted areas without getting tackled—but whoever takes him down wins a prize.

The Tin Crowd

During his childhood, Steve McHugh says his father could often be found snacking on pickled herring out of a jar—a “weird and disgusting” habit that turned the Luminaire chef off from the entire preserved seafood category. Then, in 2017, he found himself in Barcelona and stepped into the famed Quimet & Quimet, where artfully packaged tins of oysters, clams, and Chilean sea urchin were transformed into some of the most breathtaking tapas in Spain. Taking that experience back home, McHugh has become the state’s biggest advocate for tinned

seafood at his downtown bar, Las Bis. Boasting more than 50 different kinds of conservas, the Hyatt Centric spot on Congress Avenue presents them in a variety of ways, such as spiced mackerel tucked into tacos and a lobster roll with Scout-branded claw meat. And he’s not the only one, as new South Lamar wine bar Hopscotch has made the briny appetizer a focal point of its savory menu. “We’re finally doing tins well in this country, and it’s becoming a way of life,” says McHugh.

—Chris Hughes

All You Knead

The minds behind Pasta Bar are stretching the boundless capabilities of carbs and cream at their newest East Side venture.

BY CHRIS HUGHES

AFTER A 2014 pop-up during South by Southwest, LA-based chefs Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas-Lee had their eyes on Austin as a possible destination for their exclusive tasting menu restaurant, Sushi by Scratch. The couple finally made that leap from California during the pandemic and have since grown their mini-empire to include Pasta Bar, NADC Burger, and nationwide outlets (including Miami and Seattle) of its original sushi concept. For their latest act, they’re going more granular, as they hone in on Kallas-Lee’s penchant for pastry and desserts. At Wolf and Wheat on East Sixth, the self-taught baker takes an interactive approach to her craft, with bread and confections fabricated right in front of guests, such as these three standout items.

Sourdough Bread

Time is everything when it comes to Kallas-Lee’s signature bread. For instance, the 58-year-old sourdough starter came from the great-great grandmother of a guest at their first LA concept, Scratch Bar, in 2013. Shipped over from Italy and stored in a freezer for safe-keeping, it took the baker five years to reactivate, then another couple to achieve its alluring texture: a light crumb couched inside a crackly amber crust.

Tiramisu

Kallas-Lee describes a 2021 trip to Bangkok as “one of the happiest times of my life.” Traveling with her husband, Phillip, the couple often found themselves in the tea houses of Thailand’s capital city, falling in love with the taste of true oolong. To honor that memory, she transforms this typical espresso-based dessert with cream infused with the floral tea. Layered over house-made lady fingers soaked in creamy Junmai sake and sakura powder, it’s then given a final dusting of matcha that reinvents the dish into something more nuanced.

Ice Cream

Did you know that if you toast fig leaf, it brings out a coconut-y aroma? Or that drying peach leaves takes them from bitter to something closer to creamy nougat? It’s those kinds of revelations that drive Kallas-Lee’s ice cream program, which concentrates on more esoteric ingredients applied to the medium. Additionally, Wolf and Wheat is developing scoops and pints that can be topped with chic flourishes like white sturgeon caviar.

Unsung Hero

After almost two decades, word has finally gotten out: The Home Slice Italian sub is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

BY CHRIS HUGHES

MORE THAN 1,600 miles away—about 20 minutes outside of Rochester, New York—there’s a place called Aunt Cookies Sub Shop that, somehow, plays a key role in Austin’s culinary scene. This neighborhood staple in the town of Geneseo, where Home Slice Pizza co-owner Jen Scoville Strickland hails from, is still the first place she visits whenever she lands in her old hometown. When discussing its lasting allure, she points to Aunt Cookies’ slogan: “Warming Your Buns For 50+ Years.” But it’s the taste of those titular subs inside, particularly the Italian assorted, that she just can’t seem to shake.

First, there’s that aforementioned bun—actually a pillowy Italian bread that’s split and toasted on all sides. Unlike national chains such as Quizno’s that place a whole sandwich on an oven conveyor belt, focusing strictly on the outside (“that’s just lame,” says Strickland), both Aunt Cookies and Home Slice add a foundational layer to its interior toast to withstand piles of genoa and hard salami, ribbons of boiled ham, sharp provolone cheese,

tomatoes, and a not-too-fatty stratum of capicola. Most importantly, there’s a swipe of mayo to complement an Italian vinaigrette tossed into shaved iceberg lettuce (an Italian-American signature of Western New York) that melds into a marinade imbuing every meaty surface.

“It’s like Tex-Mex food,” the co-owner says. “Everyone who tries it, loves it. And I make a lot of people try it.”

Today, Strickland’s name might be better associated with New York–style pizza, but it’s her riff on that unforgettable sandwich that’s secretly become one of the most beloved dishes in the capital city. A favorite of chefs and influencers, the Home Slice sub traffics far better than the pizza on its Instagram page. Read the comments on any social media post, and you’ll see the overwhelming adoration that has turned a simple sub into a cult hero.

But this isn’t anything new. Former kitchen manager Phil Korshak, who played a key role in the sandwich’s conception, says the Italian assorted

was a hit right out of the gate. Now a renowned chef in Philadelphia, Korshak becomes almost meditative when considering the impact of that early achievement in his career.

“It is orchestral,” he panegyrizes. “You have this very basic ham, a middle-of-the-road capicola, and hard salami just added for texture. Take any one component out, and it’ll still be fine. But all those pieces working in tandem turns it into something absolutely brilliant.”

Despite its “proletarian” roots (Korshak’s words), it has a transportive quality. Just ask Sammie’s chef Nicholas Ford, who says the first bite brought back a flood of memories from his hometown of Hampden, Massachusetts, and a little shop called Village Food Mart. He became so enamored with the dish that he used it as his culinary lodestar when creating his own sandwich menu at Favorite Pizza. “Eating it was my first experience when I got here to town, and it became a Friday tradition at the MML [Hospitality] office.”

One can dissect and scrutinize the individual ingredients that make up the whole and dismiss the Home Slice offering as simplistic. Or a worthy guilty pleasure. But it is far more than that.

Strickland’s efforts to recreate the spirit of the Aunt Cookies original have been Sisyphean. For instance, when attempting to procure the right bread for her own version in 2005, she had to overnight rolls from the same purveyor in Rochester: Petrillo’s Bakery. The exorbitant cost of shipping far exceeded that of the actual product, and they were barely breaking even with each sandwich sold. After failed attempts to license the recipe from Petrillo’s, Home Slice hired former Blue Note Bakery owner Angie Jiles to reverse-engineer the Italian bread. With help from Korshak (not to mention a little Crisco and honey), they were able to achieve a respectable facsimile after three months of testing.

And that was only the beginning of the process.

Ignoring her guilty conscience, Strickland called Aunt Cookies one evening to try and pry the secrets behind the shop’s Italian vinaigrette, citing a litany of food allergies. “It was a lie,” she admits with a laugh. “But I found out it was just Good Seasons Italian, straight from the packet.”

Although they adopted that shortcut for a while, Home Slice now makes its own scratch-made iteration with olive oil, crushed red pepper, and red wine vinegar. Comparable cold cuts have been tracked down through national brands that Strickland is loath to divulge. Even the paper wrapper that shrouded the Aunt Cookies original has been secured through an Italian foods distributor based out of Dallas. But, as Korshak says, the appeal goes far beyond any well-sourced trade secret or carefully toasted carb. How did a neighborhood tradition from little-known Geneseo captivate a town better known for barbecue and tacos?

“Where Home Slice has really benefited is that Jen doesn’t hail from that dyed-in-the-wool, old school restaurant toxicity,” he says. “She comes at everything from the viewpoint of connection and joy. With the sandwich, she was just trying to recapture a feeling of something that made her happy. It’s wonderful because it’s made with love, and I think everyone can taste that.”

Life of the Party

Buttoned-up booze is being cut off, as bartenders go bolder and brasher than they have in decades. BY RUVANI DE SILVA

REMEMBER THE HEADY days of the late ’90s when Carrie Bradshaw kickstarted a Cosmo craze, Screaming Orgasms and Porn Star martinis were imbibing staples, and Spring Break meant neon fishbowl cocktails with a catalog of mystery ingredients? Well, along with a post-pandemic revival of low-rise jeans and baguette bags, the hospitality industry is embracing a nostalgia kick for the party cocktails that ushered in the millennium.

Like fashion, cocktail culture is cyclical. Consider, for instance, the revival of Prohibition-style drinks in the mid-2000s, followed by the surge in molecular innovations in the late 2010s—a fleeting epoch dealing in foams, liquid nitrogen, even cotton

candy machines. Now, across the capital city, a new breed of watering hole is highlighting fun and escapism with brightly colored, highly accessorized tipples that channel the “disco drinks” energy of the Y2K era. “A good drinking-culture city like Austin will support all styles of cocktail bar, but right now the scene has a more freewheeling, mischievous spirit,” says Saturn owner Steven Smith. At his newly opened spot on Congress Avenue, a typical offering is something like his The Most Ignorant Saturn, an ornate neon mash-up of gin, passionfruit, orgeat, lemon, and vanilla ice cream. “We’ve had enough of restrictions, and we want to make our own rules,” Smith says.

Over at Bosses Office on East Seventh, co-owner Kris Swift highlights the pandemic’s role in kickstarting a desire for transformative, experiential dining, including a renewed emphasis on mixology and presentation. “Each beverage is a separate experience on its own, and many are interactive to provide an increased level of engagement,” he says, pointing to additions of floating roses, cobra-shaped ice cubes, and miniature rubber ducks to a menu that dabbles in the theatrical. Perhaps his most ostentatious achievement (and one Swift is particularly proud of) is the Selena, a spicy Mexican martini that integrates salsa and house-made tortilla chips from sister restaurant Grizzelda’s.

When it comes to the popularity of these kinds of presentations, the role of social media can’t be ignored. At less than six months old, nearby LoveBirds is already a TikTok hit with its kitschy decor and glassware molded in the silhouette of mockingbirds. “People want to go places where they can share their experience online, which drives business owners to think outside the box,” says owner Christopher Baker.

The post-pandemic vibe of the party cocktail revival is inherently tied to apps like Instagram, which gleefully flaunts glowing neon goblets and videos of smoldering hand-smokers. Nowhere is that more apparent than at Mexico City import La Popular, where foggy tendrils pop out of the bubble atop its cerulean Oaxacan Jellyfish cocktail. Or at LoveBirds, which amassed over 5,000 feverish Instagram followers before ever opening its doors. These days, bartenders are harnessing the city’s creative spirit glass by glass. And their thirsty clientele? They’re filling feeds with drinks mixed for the clicks.

Bosses Office impresses with cocktail flourishes like the rubber ducks on its Bert and Ernie drink.

The

Eyes of Texas Are Upon You

After meddling in local governance for years, the state has delivered a devastating blow to Austin’s ability to self-regulate. BY BRYAN C. PARKER

FFOR AT LEAST a decade, Austin has looked over its shoulder as a succession of local legislation has been torpedoed by higher governing bodies. State politicians are seemingly so consumed with our town that it feels like they might have some Orwellian system of spy cameras in every nook and cranny of City Hall. Or maybe they’ve got informants eavesdropping from the shadows of the Cloak Room, the Capitol–adjacent bar popular among politicos.

Whenever Austin passes a piece of legislation, you can be sure Texas’ governor and Supreme Court have it in their crosshairs, ensuring it suffers a quick death. The battle over the state’s little blue dot has intensified recently, but the pattern stretches back for some time. For example, consider the city’s 2015 passage of local policies requiring ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft to adhere to many of the same regulations as the taxi industry. That move was ultimately undone with the 2017 passage of HB 100, which nullified not just the policy, but also the will of the voters.

Gov. Abbott and many of the Legislature’s most conservative members seem to derive a particular joy from this type of paternal finger-wagging, as each new session yields a fresh crop of bills that take direct aim at the city. This habit even goes beyond the governor’s penchant for interfering via legislation,

like his public statement in favor of pardoning Daniel Perry, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the murder of Black Lives Matter protester Garrett Foster. Or doubling down on having a surplus of state DPS officers patrolling Austin, even after Mayor Kirk Watson and the City Council moved to terminate the partnership in early July.

That longstanding pattern has led us to the recently passed HB 2127, which takes effect Sept. 1 and prevents municipalities or counties from creating an ordinance, order, rule, or policy in the domains of agriculture, finance, insurance, labor, natural resources, or occupations “unless explicitly authorized by statute.” The scope and severity of the law have led politicians to refer to it as the “Death Star bill.”

If that sweeping approach seems vague, that’s the point, according to Austin Councilwoman Vanessa Fuentes. The gray areas created by the bill allow individuals and companies to legally challenge any local legislation that poses an obstacle. HB 2127 even supplied language to that effect, stating that “any person, including a taxpayer, adversely affected by a municipal or county ordinance” can pursue legal action.

At its core, this tension is a battle between local control (a municipality’s ability to self-govern) and

HB 100 rolled back ride-hailing regulations, overturning an election

HB 1900 created financial penalties for cities that reduce police funding.

The Texas Supreme Court strikes down a local ordinance banning single use bags. If passed, HB 1350 would punish DAs not enforcing crimes like abortion.

SB 15 threatened a mandatory paid sick leave policy, which ultimately met its demise in the courts.

Executive Order 36 prohibited government entities from mandating masks in the pandemic.

HB 2127, the “Death Star bill,” takes effect, crippling cities’ self-governance.

“The elements don’t differentiate between Republican and Democrat.”

preemption (the state flexing its oversight muscles). Single-use plastic bags, mandatory sick leave for employees, and police funding are all issues that have seen the state wade into local affairs like some domineering sibling on an ego trip.

To fully contextualize this dynamic, you need to go all the way back to 1912 and an amendment to the Texas constitution, which grants any city with a population over 5,000 the ability to adopt a “home-rule charter.” While those localities can’t create rules that contradict the state law, anything else is fair game. In essence, HB 2127 stands in direct opposition to the Texas constitution, which could make it vulnerable to a lawsuit. In fact, the City of Houston has already filed one back on July 3.

Councilwoman Fuentes says that while our own city has no current plans to sue, they’ll offer legal support for Houston’s efforts. She adds that Austin aims to continue enforcing current ordinances and will defend them in court, saying: “This preemption bill undermines home rule authority.”

Among the local laws drawing the most attention is an Austin ordinance mandating shaded rest time and water breaks for construction workers every four hours, which is nullified by HB 2127. Such protections are vital, considering the death of Antelmo Ramirez, who suffered a heat stroke while working at the site of the then-incomplete Tesla Gigafactory outside of Austin in late September 2021. A 24-year-old San Antonio construction worker named Gabriel Infante met a similar fate last June. And those are just a few of the many examples.

“The elements don’t differentiate between Republican and Democrat. Bad policy will affect everyone,” says Austin City Councilman Zo Qadri. By prioritizing an agenda of attacking large cities, Gov. Abbott runs the risk of standing behind deeply unpopular policies, which could lead to a backlash. Eliminating water breaks amid triple-digit temperatures across the state is hard to spin as anything but cruel.

The passage of HB 2127 was predicated upon the idea that there’s a “patchwork of regulations across this state that provide inconsistency,” according to the bill’s author, Republican Dustin Burrow. But it makes sense that a vast area of 268,000 square miles with more than 30 million residents would have a variety of individualized needs.

For her part, Fuentes isn’t giving up on doing what’s best for Austinites. “It is important to me as a local policymaker to keep the faith that we will continue to fight for our communities despite all the barriers that the state Legislature wants to put on localities,” she says.

But it’s hard not to see this latest measure as the harrowing culmination of a series of actions that has resembled a decade-long legislative horror movie, with city policies picked off like unsuspecting victims in an eerie old mansion. To find the identity of that lethal stalker lurking in the shadows, local leaders need not look far—the call is coming from inside the house

Zilker Spark

Tensions flare as a new Vision Plan imagines extensive renovation for Austin’s most treasured outdoor space.

BY BRYAN C. PARKER

FEATURING VAST LAWNS, spring-fed pools, and a bounty of recreational facilities, Zilker Metropolitan Park is the beating heart of Austin. But with city growth, ecological degradation, accessibility stresses, and overuse, the Parks Department recently unveiled a plan for a major overhaul. While rumors of Zilker being sold to private interests like Live Nation have proved baseless, many citizens still harbor concerns about changes to a cherished green space. Even if the plan succeeds in reclaiming a proposed 90 acres of woodland, major construction amid a fragile ecosystem and endangered species does warrant scrutiny. Scheduled to unfold in phases over a period of several years, the renovation is set to cost somewhere around $200 million to complete. Here are a few of the recommended upgrades being considered.

1234

Land Bridge

While Barton Springs Road currently bisects Zilker, a proposed land bridge would unite the north and south sides of the park. Lined with flora and foliage, the walkway would maintain the natural setting and eschew the need to cross traffic. This item was among the most popular in planning surveys, with 74 percent of respondents favoring the idea.

Parking Garages

On busy weekends, the park’s grass lawns turn into unsightly overflow parking. A proposed solution would be an underground garage near the land bridge, and a second located under Mopac. As the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is still set to review these recommendations, it’s unclear if such a major undertaking would have an impact on the nearby Edwards Aquifer.

New Hillside Theater

The site of the existing Zilker Hillside Theater—currently just a slope of grass with a stage at the bottom—would be reclaimed as a natural area. Renderings depict a new iteration integrated with the land bridge and featuring tiers of stone and grass amphitheater-style seating.

Welcome Center

The plan suggests repurposing an existing structure such as the Caretakers Cottage or Quonset hut as a welcome center for visitors. The site could be used for educational programming with youth field trips and a general information hub for park visitors.

Roosevelt Weeks

Director of Libraries

In this politically fraught era, even libraries have emerged as a hot-button issue in Texas, where censorship bills have passed in the state Legislature. Despite that chaos, Roosevelt Weeks speaks with a calm resoluteness about his work, which has earned him recognition as Librarian of the Year statewide. In an office within the city’s breathtaking central branch, we talked with the director of Austin Public Libraries about what makes these community spaces so vital, the importance of access for all, and how his staff is weathering the storm of this emotionally charged climate.

INTERVIEW BY BRYAN C. PARKER

What made you fall in love with libraries?

What they can actually do to help people. I look at it as a people university. I grew up where we didn’t have access to libraries, in Mississippi. I was working for a private company, and a friend of mine at the Pasadena Public Library lost her computer training person and asked me to volunteer until she found someone. One particular lady was a receptionist and wanted to get a promotion, and she needed to learn Microsoft Word. For three weeks I worked with her. She came in one day and said, “I got the job.” And from that, I left my six-figure job and ended up working for them.

What are the key elements to making a library a welcoming space?

Having the right resources and having staff that understand who is walking in the door. It helps, when people come in, that they see people that look like them, have the same experiences. A lot of our customers are people of color, and libraries are made of about 85 percent white females. So, we try to be creative and get people in here to provide services without having a library degree. And that’s key.

You’ve pushed for eliminating all overdue fees. Why is that important?

We saw it as an equity issue. Our job is to cut down on as many roadblocks as possible. People don’t get library cards because they think their child is going to lose a book or forget to turn it in. We got rid of that barrier to make sure that everybody had access.

What’s the best book you’ve read in the last year.

Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. That book, which is banned for kids, talks about the caste system here in our country. What people don’t realize is it’s not about right, left. It’s all about power, money. That’s what drives this. And that’s what it talks about.

Are you surprised that in 2023 libraries are a hotly debated issue?

I think all public institutions and all the things that tie us to our democracy are under attack. That is because that’s where most of the people of color are. Low-to-moderate income folks use those institutions. They rely on them. And, in essence, when you tear those down, you’re tearing down those individuals. The crux of these culture wars is about votes. If you talk to any politicians off the record, they’ll talk about good times that they had in libraries. But that doesn’t get votes.

Do you have concerns that censorship legislation will

expand and affect public libraries?

They tried this last session. It depends on how the next election goes. People at the grassroots level have got to get out and vote with the same fervor as those who want to attack libraries. We sit back and scoff like, OK, that’s not going to pass. No, this kind of cultural stuff is not going to stop without someone stepping up and saying: Look, enough is enough. We could lose our democracy over this. And I think people are finally beginning to recognize that.

Are these increased restrictions dangerous?

Absolutely! In Utah, they banned books that had sexual content. They had to take the Bible off the shelf. That’s a slippery slope, and when you start going down that path of banning different genres, you’re going to realize: Wait a minute, I didn’t mean for you to take the medical books off the shelves. Right? Because they had a nude image of the human body. That’s what we’re headed toward. But they just want that sound bite of what would make people the most excited or mad.

Is there one idea in this recent discourse around libraries that you find particularly misguided? When people don’t want to talk about history. Or people think it’s indoctrinating. No, it’s very harmful when we don’t allow the teaching of what our history truly is about. If we can’t live in a diverse society with diverse thoughts, you’re not going to get anywhere. What’s been attacked in books now is people of color, the LGBTQ community, because these people have their own thoughts and own ideas of who they are.

What is something often overlooked about the library that you wish more people knew about? Libraries are free. Our buildings are open for everybody. And if there’s something that you think you may need, just ask us. For instance, we do a lot of helping with résumé writing. We had a staff member walk a gentleman through creating one for an interview at one of the local retail stores—and for us to do that for him, it was like magic. Seeing that and making a difference in people’s lives is key and crucial.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Home Is Where the Harvest Is

A

local organic farm is providing refugees and asylum seekers a little taste of their native cultures.

BY LAUREL MILLER

AFTER A DAY spent cultivating crops on her small, personally allocated plot of land at New Leaf Agriculture’s 20-acre organic farm just east of Austin, Doli Wikongo gathers some squash leaves to take home for her family’s dinner. She’ll strip the greens of their spiky outer layer, boil them, and serve them with rice and stewed vegetables—a nutritious dish called bishusha that serves as a cultural touchstone to her native Congo.

For much of the world outside of the U.S., farming is a subsistence endeavor rather than economic enterprise, a premise that prompted the establishment of New Leaf in 2017.

CREAM OF THE CROP

Standout Austin markets that carry New Leaf produce and other conscientious suppliers.

Mueller

The bustling Sunday market is an anchor for Austin’s 700-acre planned community. Since last year, it’s been housed in a permanent indoor/outdoor space and boasts some of the region’s best bites and freshest produce, including New Leaf’s specialty crops. texasfarmersmarket.org

Wikongo is part of an initiative launched in 2022, through which the farm provides 750-square-foot plots, organic fertilizers, tools, and other supplies to refugees and asylees from around the world. These farmers feed their own communities with culturally desired vegetables while earning supplemental income, says Matt Simon, New Leaf’s agricultural director. Growers keep what is needed for their families, and the farm purchases the remaining produce for distribution.

Currently, 18 community farmers work on-site, but that number will increase to 24 come fall. More impressively, each plot has become a family activity with up to three generations working together to harvest plants like red noodle beans, exotic eggplant varieties, and roselle hibiscus. The latter’s sweet-tart flowers are used by Burmese farmers for tea, the greens added to a refreshing summer soup of lemongrass and potatoes. Searingly hot Dalle Khursani peppers, meanwhile, are a favorite crop of Nepali growers, who use them in a pickle called gundruk.

In addition to its community farming program, New Leaf provides full-time livelihood opportunities for refugees and asylees from agrarian backgrounds. Representing Burma, Congo, Bhutan, Nepal, and Afghanistan, the farm’s six refugee employees cultivate heirloom peppers, squash, melons, and botanicals like Mexican Mint Marigold, prized for its natural dye and anise-like flavor. Some of these crops are used for produce boxes delivered weekly to subscribers of the farm’s CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program, but New Leaf also supplies ingredients for culinary accounts like the Emmer & Rye restaurant group, Lick Honest Ice Creams, and Lenoir.

“Our goal is to empower and equip our farmers with the skills and knowledge necessary for running their own businesses,” Simon says.

Lakeline

Every Saturday at the lively Lakeline Mall market, you’ll find over 90 vendors including pâté and pastureraised duck from Belle Vie Farm & Kitchen, flavored flans from Mesocano, Mum Foods’ legendary pastrami—and even venison-based dog kibble and antler chews from St. Hubertus Wild Game Stewards. texasfarmersmarkets.org

Pedernales

Shop beneath the canopy of giant oak trees at Spicewood’s only farmers market, located in a riverside field behind Apis Aviary. You’ll find produce and treats like pasture-raised Mangalitsa and Sichuan soup dumplings, plus plenty of picnic tables on which to enjoy them. texasrealfood.com

Navigate the city like never before with 132 unique ways to feast, get fit, and even find the most lively weather forecast.

By Madeline Hollern, Chris Hughes, and Bryan C. Parker

Night Shift

Start with a boozy bang and don’t stop until you try the ultimate late-night bites, with four spots guaranteed to make your evening one to remember.

8:00 P.M.

ICE CREAM

Merry Monarch Creamery

5:00 P.M.

PATIO Holiday

Transforming a former auto body shop in the Govalle neighborhood into a breezy, sun-bleached destination that looks like something plucked straight from Italy’s Amalfi Coast was certainly no small feat. But to really seize upon the escapist, vacation vibes they were aiming for, Erin Ashford (Olamaie) and John DiCicco (Kinda Tropical) knew they needed more than some cacti and xeriscaping. That’s why the hospitality duo pairs this laid-back environment with European-leaning bites like boquerones served with cultured butter to go along with a whole menu of martinis—including a chic frozen upgrade on Austin’s own Mexican iteration. holiday on7th.com

6:00 P.M.

SUSHI

Tsuke Edomae

After scaling and mounting his flag in the pantheon of top Texas sushi masters, chef Michael Che still wasn’t satisfied. Knowing much remained to learn in the way of the ancient Edo-era style, which involves aging and curing fish, he closed his Mueller restaurant for almost seven months this year to train under Hiroyuki Sato at Hakkoku in Tokyo. Now, he’s back with an even more impressive, 21-course omakase menu with ingredients he’s importing himself from the best rice and seafood producers in all of Japan. tsukeedo.com

Curation is crucial when separating yourself from every other pint in town. It’s something Greg Maze learned in the world of sushi when apprenticing under Philip Speer at Uchi. Utilizing only the highest-quality ingredients, Maze creates culinary-minded confections that balance savory and sweet, like Monarch’s popular white miso with crumbled Oreos. Putting his pastry prowess to good use, he also forges all of his ice cream components in-house, from the crème fraiche cheesecake in a bourbon banana flavor to the sesame wafer cookies in a Hong Kong tea riff. merrymonarchcreamery.com

9:00 P.M.

SPEAKEASY

The Treasury

To reach this dimly lit haven at Shangri-La, guests must head to the back of the property, walk toward a green light (how very Gatsby!), and ring a doorbell before descending a narrow stairwell. Reminiscent of a Lower Manhattan lounge or a hidden Ginza bar in Tokyo, the bank-themed speakeasy remains sleek while still having a sense of humor, as evidenced by its bathroom door marked “Deposit.” Ask for one of the off-menu cocktails or put smart money on its espresso martini, which is one of the very best in town. instagram.com/the_treasury_atx

Holiday Tsuke Edomae

Merry Monarch specializes in culinary-minded ice cream creations.

The Treasury

Bagels

David Doughie’s

Never mind if the David Bowie allusion slipped right past you. The only thing that matters is Devin Broder’s flawless technique when it comes to New York–inspired bagels. A protégé of famed chef Jose Andres in D.C., Broder hand-rolls and slow-ferments each of his chewy, bubbly crusted creations. Flavored with organic heirloom grains and water he hacked to mimic the pH levels of New York City, they’re worth every minute spent in the inevitable hours-long lines he commands at the Mueller Farmers Market. daviddoughies.com

Bakery

Casper Fermentables

Despite seven years of selling their remarkable kimchi and kombucha at area farmers markets, this destination bakery from Ben and Phoebe Hollander remains Sunset Valley’s greatest secret. Opened last summer, the couple takes their flair for fermentation to the carb side with miso-tinged cookies, wonderfully misshapen Montreal-style bagels balancing smoked whitefish salad, and a pillowy, kraut-laced focaccia that will completely upend your sandwich game. casperfermentables.com

Brunch

Veracruz Fonda & Bar

A fleet of some of the city’s most outstanding taco trucks couldn’t contain the ambitions of sisters Reyna and Maritza Vazquez, who are further exploring the cuisine of coastal Mexico at their latest brick-and-mortar in Mueller. Paying homage to their mother’s recipes—who once owned a fonda-style restaurant in Veracruz— the duo delves into the region’s lesser -known dishes: open-faced picadas crowned with marinated flank steak and licorice-y epazote-filled blue corn empanadas. veracruzfonda.com

Burger

Bar Toti

While the rest of the menu might lean Spanish and French, when it comes to the burger, chef Fermín Núñez takes his cues from his hometown of Torreón, Mexico. There, in the impromptu eateries that popped up in neighborhood garages, their approach to the dish always came with a signature slice of seared Fud-brand ham on top. At his new bar next to Este, he emulates that same practice, albeit with smashed 44 Farms beef patties, chipotle mayo, and a mound of chile-studded escabeche to cap it all off. bartoti.com

Cocktail Connoisseur

The ATX Drinker

Although Anthony Jones only moved here two years ago, the New Jersey native has stepped into Austin’s storied drinking scene with fresh eyes. Like an adventurer crashing upon uncharted shores, he’s brought a zealous perspective as he parses out the city’s buzziest lounges and neighborhood saloons. Often utilizing crowd-sourced drinking brackets and feedback, he’s accumulated more than 75,000 followers who now turn to him for all their imbibing input. Here, the social media star picks three of his current favorite watering holes. instagram.com/theatxdrinker

SPORTS BAR

Skinny’s Off Track Bar

“This is one of the best spots for big games because of their large patio and huge TV out back. But what I really love about this spot are the retro ’70s vibes that extend down to a menu of cheap hot dogs and Coors Banquet in compact ‘stubby’ bottles. They even have small TVs in each throwback booth!” skinnysotb.com

IRISH PUB

Kelly’s Irish Pub

“To be a true Irish pub, you not only have to have proper pours of Guinness, a wide whiskey selection from the Emerald Isle, and an amazing platter of fish and chips—you also need the type of amiable bartenders that make everyone feel like a regular. Kelly’s has all of the above.” instagram.com/ kellysirishpub_atx

COCKTAIL LOUNGE

Dumont’s Down Low

“Walk past whiskey barrels and down some steps into a gorgeous historical basement downtown. The dark, moody ambience is great for dates and deep conversations. Although they’re experts on any of the classics, I always suggest its whiskey sour with egg white and a floater of dry red wine on top.” dumontsaustin.com

Bar Toti’s Mexicaninspired burger features a slice of Fud ham on top.

A separate plate of condiments includes red and green schug, an herby tahini (parsley, mint, dill, and preserved lemon), and amba, the fermented mango sauce he’s been championing since his first Austin food truck, Hummus Among Us.

Mediterranean Ezov

Channeling the combined spirit of East Austin and the markets around Tel Aviv, this new restaurant from the Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group has the lyrics from Britney Spears’ “Toxic” graffitied around the interior in Hebrew. But for such serious food, the flights of fancy don’t end there. For one, pats of lamb butter shaped like the protective hand of Hamsa accompany za’atar-freckled frena bread. There’s also a DIY chicken shawarma experience whose origin story began years ago for chef Berty Richter, during an unforgettable meal spent 90 miles north of the Canadian border. ezovatx.com

Richter aims for something akin to a shareable taco spread, so he serves his shawarma with a large, tearable laffa, and bright embellishments like a red onion-sumac salad, green cabbage with a sharp caraway dressing, and Israelistyle pickles.

To create the necessary compressed cone, the chef layers organic, pastureraised chicken thighs with marinated oyster mushrooms and lamb fat. After roasting in the oven on low heat, he removes it from the mold and sears on the grill before serving.

Inspired by the famed canard en conserve (“duck confit in a can”) at Quebec’s Au Pied de Cochon, Richter began playing around with a personalized shawarma spit configured out of a cake mold.

Coffee Roaster

Sightseer Coffee Roasters

As veterans of the coffee industry, Kimberly Zash and Sara Gibson saw firsthand the gender inequalities that extended from the agricultural labor force in the field to the male-dominated ownership of your favorite java shop. Starting in 2022, the duo changed all that with their queerbased business that sources beans exclusively from women producers. In addition to supporting causes like Out Youth, and paying double the Fair Trade premium rate, its sustainable product overdelivers on quality. Being “feminist AF” never tasted so good. sightseercoffee.co

Coffee Shop

Desnudo

With a name that translates to “naked” in Spanish, it’s obvious this popular East Austin spot is eager to highlight coffee in its purest form. And boy, does it ever. Sourcing beans from the same area of Colombia where they grew up, co-founders Juan and Sergio Trujillo are forging some of the most unique drinks in town. Yes, there are weekend-only megahits like its latte with fermented blueberries, but even your basic black drip is enough motivation to get you rolling out of bed with a sense of urgency. desnudocoffee.com

Deli

Mum Foods

Geoffrey Ellis’ way with pastrami hasn’t exactly been a well-guarded secret (i.e., the “mum” in Mum Foods) in quite some time. Falling-apart tender and bursting with coriander -rich flavor from a 10-day brine, the smoked meat has been a major draw at farmers markets for years. But at his new deli in the Springdale neighborhood, Ellis is able to broaden his reach with improved-upon standards such as house-baked brioche softened with beef tallow and a robust matzo ball soup that doesn’t hold back on fresh dill sprigs and chicken schmaltz. mumfoodsatx.com

Doughnuts

Andy K’s

Back home in the D.C.-area, doughnut shops were the preferred rendezvous for any late-night gathering. So, imagine his surprise when Andy Krupinski moved to Austin in 2010 and only found a handful of Krispy Kremes. Since that disappointing revelation, Krupinski began tinkering with opening his own concept to fill the void. Launched as a home-delivery model in 2019, Andy K’s continues to add coffee shop clients around town, with its all-natural offerings like a mango-chamoy fritter and a yeasted doughnut slathered in a cold brew concentrate glaze. andyksdonuts.com

Fried Chicken

Underdog

With pricey, pasture-raised chickens at their disposal, Underdog owners Claudia Lee and Richard Hargreave didn’t want to hide their fried chicken behind a wall of buttermilk batter.

Consulting with Belles Hot Chicken founder Morgan McGlone, the duo was able to construct a proprietary crust that achieves the same shattery texture, while not disguising the juicy meat below. Flavored with a dusting of nori, the dish is an umami explosion that only becomes more beguiling when dunked into a ramekin of shiso ranch. underdog-atx.com

Happy Hour

La Popular

Ever since the pandemic, it’s become harder and harder to find the early evening deals that make dining out more financially feasible. But this Mexico City transplant brings us back to those halcyon days with cheap house margaritas (made from premium Monte Alban tequila) that clock in under 10 bucks. Signature carnitas tacos, nestled in house-made corn tortillas, are 40 percent off until 6 p.m. And standard guacamole can be embellished with ribeye trim that’s fried into elevated chicharrones. lapopular cdmx.com

Wine Shop • The Austin Wine Merchant

Undoubtedly, the first thing you’ll notice entering this three-plus-decade-old shop is the temperature: a chilly 62 degrees that wouldn’t feel out of place in some subterranean cobblestone cellar. Then, there’s the spectacular selection itself, more than 2,000 different labels (most organic and biodynamic). The whole tableau might be overwhelming, if it weren’t for co-owner John Roenigk and his team always ready to lend their expertise. As Austin’s resident oenophile, Roenigk says he’s “never lost sight of good old-fashioned hospitality,” and it shows, as he procures his shop with customers directly in mind. For instance, if you like the taste of French Sancerre but can no longer afford the escalating price, he’ll dig until he finds a comparable sauvignon blanc from Lebanon or South Africa or other far reaches of the globe in his relentless pursuit of the perfect retail experience. theaustinwinemerchant.com

La Popular Mum Foods

Place to Watch a Game

Lavaca Street Bar 54%

Readers' Poll Winners

DINING

Bagels

& NIGHTLIFE

Nervous Charlie’s 43%

Rockstar Bagels 30%

Rosen’s Bagel Co. 27%

Bakery

Quack’s 42%

Love & Cookies 30%

Little Ola’s Biscuits 28%

Bar

Roosevelt Room 55%

Lefty’s Brick Bar 23%

Zanzibar 22%

Barbecue

Terry Black’s 39%

Stiles Switch BBQ 37%

Micklethwait Craft Meats 25%

Breakfast Tacos

Veracruz All Natural 42%

Tacodeli 34%

OneTaco Taqueria 24%

Brewery

Frontyard Brewing 41%

Meanwhile Brewing 37%

Texas Beer Co. 22%

Brunch

Paperboy 58%

1417 French Bistro 24%

Vixen’s Wedding 18%

Burger

JewBoy Burgers 56%

Hopdoddy 35%

Gimme Burger 9%

Coffee Shop

Summer Moon Coffee 55%

Maaribu 25%

Simona’s Coffee + Cocktails

20%

Deli

Little Deli & Pizzeria 45%

FoodHeads 31%

Biderman’s Deli 24%

Distillery

Iron Wolf Ranch and Distillery 43%

Treaty Oak Distilling 29% Still Austin Whiskey Co. 28%

Doughnut

Round Rock Donuts 58% The Salty Donut 29% Crown Donut 13%

Happy Hour

El Alma 46% Lenoir 31%

Uncle Nicky’s Italian Specialties 23%

Hill Country Winery

William Chris Vineyards 37%

Spicewood Vineyards 33% 5 Soul Wine Co. 30%

Ice Cream/Frozen Treat

Amy’s Ice Creams 70%

Besame 19% Gati Ice Cream 11%

Italian Patrizi’s 51%

Sammie’s 26% Juniper 23%

Margarita Matt’s El Rancho 53% La Condesa 24% ATX Cocina 23%

New Restaurant Este 50% Dovetail Pizza & Bar 32% JewBoy Sliders 18%

Patio

Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden 54%

Aba Austin 40% Trace 6%

Pizza

Home Slice 46% Via 313 41%

Sammataro 13%

Champions Restaurant & Sports Bar 27%

The Dirdie Birdie 19%

Steakhouse

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille

46%

Dean’s Italian Steakhouse 30%

Maie Day 24%

Taco Nixta Taqueria 53%

Rosita’s Al Pastor 31%

Con Todo 16%

Queso

Torchy’s Tacos 56%

Matt’s El Rancho 33%

El Naranjo 11%

Vegetarian

Bouldin Creek Cafe 62%

Casa de Luz Village 21%

The Well 17%

Wine Bar

Wine for the People 38%

LoLo 37%

Aviary Wine & Kitchen 25%

SHOPPING & STYLE

Baby/Kid’s Boutique

Alexa James Baby 59%

Dearly 23%

Lemon Drop a Children’s Shop 18%

Bookstore

BookPeople 81%

Black Pearl Books 14%

Reverie Books 5%

Florist

Magpie Blossom Boutique 54%

Freytag’s Flourist 27%

King Florist of Austin 19%

Home Decor

Maaribu 45%

Golden Mean 39%

Urbanspace Real Estate + Interiors 16%

Jewelry Store

Korman Fine Jewelry 50%

Nina Berenato Jewelry 28%

Eliza Page 22%

Men’s Clothing Store

STAG Provisions for Men 55%

Soto & Co. 29%

Service Menswear 16%

Pet Store

Tomlinson’s Feed 85%

Healthy Pet 9%

512 Pet Supply 6%

Plant & Gardening Shop

The Natural Gardener 40%

The Great Outdoors 36%

Barton Springs Nursery 24%

Record Store

Waterloo Records 64%

End of an Ear 29%

Feels So Good 7%

Wine Shop

Cork & Screw 40%

The Austin Wine Merchant 38%

Neighborhood Vintner 22%

Women’s Clothing Store

Good Company 43%

Estilo 36%

Hearth & Soul 21%

Vintage Shop

Uncommon Objects 49%

Room Service Vintage 26%

American Drifter 25%

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Acupuncture

Elements Acupuncture 68%

Yi Guan Acupuncture and Chinese Herbalism 18%

PK Acupuncture & Wellness Center 14%

Barbershop

Birds Barbershop 53%

Ideal Fades 2.0 27%

Hot Dogs

Howards Bar and Club

Clarksville’s unofficial mayor, Larry McGuire, says the selection of hot dogs at his diminutive dance club is the perfect embodiment of everything “classic and nostalgic.” That’s what he’s aiming for with a throwback lounge boasting a sparkling disco ball, a thumping deejay booth, and the velvet rope out front. Keeping with the classic vibe, Howards utilizes reliable ol’ Ball Park Franks that are dolled up with Spanish guindilla peppers, charred sauerkraut, and poppy seed buns from its sister restaurant, Swedish Hill Bakery. howardsaustin.com

Jamaican

Mr. Pimento

Named after the tree that produces allspice berries, a key component to jerk seasoning, this East Riverside–area food truck nails everything associated with the aromatic West Indian fruit. Helmed by Jamaican-native Clay Spence, Mr. Pimento specializes in crispy, lightly charred chicken that’s marinated for 24 hours, slow smoked, and splashed in a tangy, tomato-based scotch bonnet sauce. There are even tempting vegetarian alternatives, with mushroom and jackfruit options, to go along with a showstopping cheddar-parm mac ‘n’ cheese. instagram.com/mrpimento

New Brewery

Fast Friends Beer Co.

Director of brewing operations Keith Shaw hails from San Diego’s vaunted Modern Times, so you know he’s got a firm grasp on everything hazy and hoppy. But founder David Childress, a veteran of the beer-making scene in LA and Louisville, has an overarching ethos of “inclusivity and creating something for every palate.” So, at this South Austin beer garden oasis just off I-35, you can happily sip far-rang-

ing styles like a crushable Mexican lager and a smoked grodziskie wheat ale to go along with chef Emily Rayburn’s vegan-friendly bar menu. instagram.com/fastfriendsbeer

New Taco Spot Ramen del Barrio

This new eatery inside Hana World Market is gaining deserved attention for its gluttonous ramen bowls that blur the line between Japanese and Mexican street food, but it’s the other part of chef Christopher Krinsky’s menu that are the sneaky star attraction. Grilled over the clean, open-fire smoke of binchotan Japanese charcoal, Krinsky creates fusion yakitori tacos, such as a pork belly al pastor and an achiote-marinated Spanish octopus skewered with fingerling potatoes. ramendelbarrio.com

Philly Cheesesteaks

Chilly’s Phillys

Alec Collins grew up three blocks from Philly cheesesteak mecca Pat’s King of Steaks, so he knows a thing or two about Pennsylvania’s most iconic sandwich. Using the same Amoroso rolls, shaved ribeye, and Kraft Cheez Whiz as those standard-bearers, he now recreates the magic of the dish in an ongoing pop-

The hot roast beef po’ boy at Uptown Sports boasts bits of Franklin’s famous brisket.

Chilly’s Phillys serves authentic Pennsylvania ingredients, right down to the Kraft Cheez Whiz.

up series in his new home. Even more important than the grilled onions and butter-seared beef? “You’ll hear me and my brother (Jesse) fighting and arguing,” he says. “It’s an experience that actually feels like you’re in Philly.” instagram.com/chillysphillys

Pizza

Allday Pizza

When Daniel Sorg and Townsend Smith were still operating out of their home garage, some local publications (*cough, cough) jumped the gun and declared Allday as one of the most important new restaurants in the city. Now operating out of a small walk-up counter at Flo’s in Tarrytown, we can say with confidence it’s still the most outstanding pizza in the city. A charred “New York–ish style,” these spectacular slices come adorned with toppings like homemade stracciatella and Calabrian honey. allday.pizza

Pop-Up

Jim Jam’s Biscuits

The inviting early morning aroma of Jimmy Dean sausage biscuits is one of James Durham’s fondest childhood food memories. So, it should come as no surprise that testing the boundaries of his buttermilk muse has become something of a career obsession. Popping up on weekends at places like Low Down Lounge and Fleet Coffee, the full-time Kinda Tropical chef stacks and smothers his titular biscuits with ingredients ranging from carda-

mom-cured pork belly to scratch-made crawfish etouffee. instagram.com/ jimjamsbiscuits

Ramen Daiboku

“Ramen can be whatever you want it to be,” says Daiboku’s Kris Hammond. To his point, the chef showcases two extremes of the liquid spectrum at his campus-area joint. One, a sophisticated smoked chicken shoyu that underscores restraint; the other, a gut-busting jirokei miso, true to its excessive Tokyo roots. The former boasts a crystalline broth with a French-like mushroom duxelles and butter-basted chicken thigh, while the porcine latter can be heaped with American cheese slices and crumbled Hot Cheetos. It’s that polarity that proves his bona fides

Po'’ Boys • Uptown Sports Club

After the Herculean, seven-year undertaking that was restoring Uptown Sports’ 19th-century building on East Sixth, it’s a small relief to know that Aaron Franklin’s most ambitious venture lives up to the historic effort. A paean to the type of quintessential dishes the pitmaster and his business partner, James Moody, grew up eating in Louisiana, it particularly captures everything stuffed into imported Leidenheimer loaves. For example, a roast beef version that’s treated more like a Sunday roast. Jammed full of whole garlic cloves, dry-brined for 24 hours, then braised in beef stock, the meat comes out tender and flaky—ideal for soaking up a dark roux debris flecked with chunks of fried garlic and Franklin’s famous smoked brisket. uptownsports.club

and versatility, even in a superb ramen town. daibokuramen.com

Vegetarian

Double Trouble

A mashup of a hip coffee hangout and the city’s most stalwart vegan taco truck, Double Trouble marks an important milestone in the concept of conjoined culinary greats. Unlike those fast-food combos serving Whoppers with your Crunchwrap Supreme, this North Loop spot offers Barrett’s Coffee nitro cold brew to chase down Vegan Nom’s outstanding potato flautas capped with crema, shredded iceberg, avocado, and a fiery jalapeño aioli. Who would’ve guessed, crossovers are now cool. instagram. com/double_trouble_atx

Wine Bar

Flo’s Wine Bar & Bottle Shop

Wine hospitality runs in Flo Clemens’ family (her father is the co-owner of Grove Wine Bar), so maybe the gastronome gene is just ingrained in her DNA. Regardless, the co-founder of this jam-packed Tarrytown watering hole has an intuitive understanding of what’s lacking when it comes to local libations: namely, something other than the natural wine bars sprouting faster than the fanwort engulfing Lady Bird Lake. Here, expect classic producers making varietally correct offerings, which all can be enjoyed in an environment that’s fun, never stuffy. floswinebar.com

Flo’s Wine Bar & Bottle Shop and Allday Pizza are a dynamic Tarrytown duo.

Bookstore

South Congress Books

After a recent exodus from its namesake avenue due to the soaring cost of rent, South Congress Books has relocated to a cottage on Kerbey Lane. At its charming new locale, browse the city’s best selection of vintage volumes (think copies of the Texas Almanac from the 1800s) and unusual pieces of art perfect for collectors or as oneof-a-kind gifts. For Austinites who live closer to the shop’s original digs, make sure to check out its southern outpost in a booth at Uncommon Objects. southcongressbooks.com

Boutique

InsideOut by LC

Lauren Collier just asks that you trust her. With a background styling for films and music videos, the sartorial guru has a knack for pulling perfectfor-you ensembles that you’d never imagine for yourself. Stroll through her East Sixth boutique to see vintage treasures, curated international pieces, and small-batch accessories from local designers like VINCA and Bykowski Tailor & Garb. Collier strategically takes the sizes off many of her selections, so you don’t get fixated on the number, just the fit—which, with her guidance, will be like a glove. instagram.com/insideout_by_lc

Couture

Nicó

Using dupioni, taffeta, and other sumptuous textiles, South Texas native Nicó Lee takes up to six months to hand-sew his custom evening wear and wedding gowns, which are inspired in large part by his Tejano roots. His wearable art has even caught the eye of reigning Miss Universe 2023 R’Bonney Nola, who donned a redand-black stunner by Lee made of 300 yards of tulle blended to an ombre finish. tejanico.com

Gardening Shop

Cosmic Plant Company

Worth the day trip to Gruene, this woman-owned plant shop has a commitment to bringing city-dwellers back to nature. In addition to its array of flora—including plenty of droughttolerant and arid plant specimens suitable for Central Texas—the new store has distinctive accessories such as handmade Ugandan grass fans and carved beeswax candles from local brand Buzz in the Hills. Don’t miss its community-building classes, where attendees can learn cool horticulture skills like staghorn fern mounting. cosmicplantco.com

Home Goods

Hello Housewares

While there’s no shortage of beautiful dishes on the market, many of them lack a little bit of, well, personality. This East Austin brand brings in its own pizazz with terrazzo-adorned valet trays, turquoise feather-shaped catchalls, and gingko leaf–fashioned dishes in hues of vibrant saffron and green moss. Made with an environmentally friendly material, the pieces are all hand cast, so each one is slightly different—and perfectly unique. hellohousewares.com

South Congress Books recently moved to a quaint cottage on Kerbey Lane.

Miss Universe R’Bonney Nola wears a custom Nicó dress.

Apparel

From ultra-flattering swimwear to Ironmanworthy sunglasses, these bold local pieces caught our eye this year.

1 ACCESSORIES

ProChoice Majority

Talk about statement jewelry! In 2022, local attorney Anna Near reached out to Austin social initiative Ubuntu Life to order bracelets for her close friends to show where they stand on a woman’s right to choose. Crafted by Kenyan artisans, the beaded “CHOICE” bands have a purpose: A portion of proceeds is donated to organizations such as National Network for Abortion Funds and Doctors for Fertility. prochoicemajority.org

2 LGBTQ APPAREL Flavnt Streetwear

With the tagline “Made by queers, for queers,” this empowering brand bolsters the LGBTQ community and its supporters with graphic tees and tanks that have phrases such as “Gender Roles are Dead” and “Fvck Transphobes.” And it’s not just catchy slogans, either, as the company has raised funds for initiatives such as Jane’s Due Process, Trans Santa, and the Marsha P. Johnson Institute. flavnt.com

3 SUNGLASSES ROKA

Created with athletes in mind, this brand makes shades with patented no-slip grips, sweat-resistant materials, and glare-blocking polarization for water sports. (It’s even the official performance eyewear partner of the Ironman Series.) But non-athletes can also get on board with the company’s stylish designs, which fit in just as easily on a sunny patio. roka.com

4 SWIMWEAR

93 Play Street

Disillusioned with unflattering swimsuits made from flimsy materials, Corpus Christi native Jessica Tello decided to create her own double-lined line. The Austinite’s waist-cinching shapes and high-cut designs manage to feel both retro -inspired and incredibly modern, while her upscale new spinoff brand, Ninety Third Avenue, features structured corset styles that are destined for resort wear. 93play street.com

Pet Photography

Vanity Fur

With a name that is picture perfect (literally), veteran fashion photographer Dagny Piasecki’s side hustle is akin to a Glamour Shots session for canines. The talented photographer works from her home studio in Clarksville to capture the personality of pooches that are clearly ready for their close-up, resulting in a series of magazine-worthy pet “pawtraits.” vanity furaustin.com

Progressive Act

BookPeople’s Banned Camp

As some national factions work to ban books across the country, BookPeople and the Austin Public Library have fought back with this cleverly named initiative. Encouraging readers of all ages to engage with works that have been censored or are under threat, this summer’s “Banned Camp” celebrated literary liberty via activities like book clubs, teen activist workshops, and author events with those in the crosshairs, such as George M. Johnson ( All Boys Aren’t Blue). book people.com/banned-camp

Record Store

Breakaway

You know your hippest friend who’s always spinning obscure soul tracks or spaced-out experimental jazz when you go over for dinner? This is where they shop. Breakaway owners Gabe Vaughn and Josh LaRue have put their meticulous vinyl-collecting prowess to use this year as partners in Equipment Room, a new bar that stocks thousands of records and provides an aurally stunning experience via highend audio gear in a pristine listening room. breakawayrecordshop.com

Rugs

Fuzz Lab

If you like to get crafty—or just spin a yarn—you’ll love this recently opened tufting workshop. Co-owned by UT student Hedy Zhang, the West Campus space teaches visitors to create their own decorative rug with a tufting gun. Choose from a plethora of playful templates or bring in your design of choice, from college mascots and trippy mushrooms to the Mario Bros.’ mustachioed protagonist. instagram.com/fuzzlab.co

Sustainable Meetup

Austin Swappin’

What started as a virtual clothing exchange by Casandra Luna during the pandemic has grown into a spirited monthly pop-up at Wanderlust

Wine Collective. The idea is simple: Clear out your closet, bring 10 gently used items, and score some fresh threads and decor at the swap. In addition to being beneficial for the environment, the gregarious gathering is a seamless way to meet a new friend or two. instagram.com/austin swappin

WomensWear

Lika Steel

Wallflowers, step aside! This bold handmade fashion line named after its Moldova-born designer stunned the crowd at the most recent iteration of Austin Fashion Week in April. A few highlights from her Not My First Rodeo collection? Eye-catching material combinations such as denim suits paired with leather bustiers and lace dresses under black fur vests. instagram.com/lika_steel

Fuzz Lab

Vanity Fur puts the “wow” in bow wow.

Menswear

Soto & Co.

Slow and steady wins the race is an apt motto for Rick Soto’s career. From crafting neckties starting in 2008 to now outfitting sports figures like Emmanuel Acho, Clint Dempsey, and Micah Parsons, the Austin designer has evolved into one of the country’s most sought-after suit makers. After creating apparel for Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud for both of his Heisman Award nomination ceremonies, Soto was entrusted to craft the perfect suit for the quarterback for the NFL Draft this past spring. Here’s a look at some of his custom elements. sotoandco.com

To give the outfit flair, LA-based artist Blue the Great added intricate markings with acrylic paint on selected spots like the pocket, upper thigh, and vest. “We wanted something that was apparent, but not over the top,” says Soto, adding, “We didn’t want it to look like somebody who paints and they [accidentally] got paint on their pants.”

Stroud gave creative license for the artist to use an array of hues on the splatters. He just had one request for the blue suit: cool it on the yellow. [Ohio State’s bitter rival has blue and maize as its colors.] “We couldn’t have that much Michigan in there,” Soto laughs.

Sticking with what he had done at both of his Heisman ceremonies, Stroud opted for another three-piece suit. “I almost felt like it was a staple,” Soto says. Since the quarterback had worn black and dark red for the other ceremonies, he and Soto chose a classic shade of blue for the lightweight wool suit with a single-breasted vest.

While traditionally you’ll see peak lapels (with a point at the top) on tuxedos, Soto used them on Stroud’s NFL Draft suit to make it a bit more formal. “It’s supposed to give a dominating presence,” he says. The designer also chose a classic flat pocket that was slanted to keep it symmetrical. “When you look at the peaks going this way and then the pockets going this way, it makes everything super uniform.”

Cannabusiness Calibrate

Looking to elevate the Delta-8 space, entrepreneur Janice Omadeke partnered with chef Nic Yanes (Juniper, Verbena) to create an edible company focused on gourmet goodies. The gluten-, dairy-, and preservative-free bites feature no-nonsense ingredients—think organic coconut and vegan fudge—as well as curated blends that promote everything from improved intimacy to sharpened focus. shopcalibrate.myshopify.com

Cuddly Calisthenics

Animal Yoga

Who better to experience downward dog and camel pose with than an array of furry friends? Austin has fully leaned into the animal yoga trend with a delightful selection of cuddly classes across the city, including Doom Metal Goat Yoga with baby goats at Jester King Brewery as well as Kitten Yoga and Puppy Yoga at Inner Diva Studios benefiting Austin Pets Alive! Aww. austinpetsalive.org

Facial

House of Preservation

One thing’s for sure: This ain’t your grandma’s facial. House of Preservation’s custom treatment includes ice therapy with stainless steel cooling globes and a high-frequency wand that beams a mild electric current into the skin, generating oxygen to kill acne-causing bacteria. Want to go to Mars? Soak in the glow of a bright red LED light, which promotes circulation and stimulates collagen production. houseofpreservation.com

Fitness Studio

Studio Three

As the city continues to adopt a more metropolitan personality, it needed a workout space with an equal amount of urban panache. Located in a modern downtown studio on Fifth and Brazos, Studio Three keeps it simple with a trio of class types (yoga, interval, and cycling). Light floods in through floor-to-ceiling windows in the yoga sessions, which puts the skyline on full display in the back-

Community Health Champions

Three Austinites working to improve wellness in the capital city.

ROGER PILNEY

Owner, Radix Coffee

Between CBD-imbued espresso drinks and jars of fruit-flavored Delta-8 gummies served at its bevy of food truck locales, Radix House is fostering a community conversation around mental health. Motivated by his own struggle with PTSD and depression, owner Roger Pilney spreads the word about the benefits of cannabis. The shop has partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, whose hotline is stamped onto the cardboard sleeve of every beverage. radixhouse.com

EM GRAY

Founder, The N.I.C.E. Project

Utilizing a decade of experience working with harm reduction organizations, Em Gray took combating Austin’s opioid crisis into her own hands. At places like Sunrise Church, she installed vending machines stocked with free Narcan, a lifesaving drug that reverses the effects of an overdose. Her distribution of over 5,000 doses in the first nine months is impressive considering the governor’s recent anti-fentanyl initiative allotted a mere 10,000 doses statewide. instagram.com/niceprojectatx

BRAD STUVER

Regional Director, The Laundry Project

Twice nominated for ESPN’s Humanitarian of the Year Award, Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver lends his platform to aiding lower-income families by providing fundamental needs. You’ll find Brad and his wife Ashley on-site at local laundromats handing out detergent and supplies, as well as paying for all loads of laundry at his frequent community outreach events. laundrybycurrent.org

Calibrate makes chef-quality Delta-8 edibles.

Mane Attraction

Behind the scenes of Austin FC’s game plan for pitch-perfect haircuts.

IF YOU’VE EVER wondered how the city’s pro soccer squad manages to sport flawlessly coiffed hairs on matchday, here’s the secret: The club’s North Austin practice facility contains a dedicated barbershop just outside the locker room. Players bump Spanish rap and scroll through soccer videos on Instagram as clippers buzz necklines. They sign up with a dry erase marker on the room’s glass front wall, which makes it feel like a fishbowl, ripe for banter from passersby. Captain Sebastián Driussi pulls rank to skip any waitlist, and former fan favorite Diego Fagúndez had an ongoing $500 bet that Julio Cascante wouldn’t shave his head completely. This kind of attention to grooming might seem superficial, but the barbershop energy keeps the mood upbeat and works as an incubator for team chemistry. Below, three players break down the components of their signature style.

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SEBASTIÁN DRIUSSI

The centerpiece of Austin FC’s offense, Driussi says he changes his hair frequently during the season, letting it grow long on top and sculpting it into a mini-pompadour like now, or cropping it shorter into an almost-buzz as it was in February. But one vital detail remains the same throughout his hirsute evolution: the perfect fade.

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GYASI ZARDES

For his first MLS matches ever back in 2013, Zardes’ grandparents wanted an easy way to spot him as they watched on TV. His solution? A bleach blond mohawk. It was supposed to last two weeks, but he’s still rocking it a decade later. Even when he isn’t getting the color touched up, he still makes sure his mustache and beard get a precision trim.

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BRAD STUVER

Shaved close on the sides but long on top, Stuver’s hair must stay in place so as not to fall in his eyes as he dives to save shots on goal, a problem from earlier in his career. Since then, he’s invented a method for keeping every strand perfectly slicked back—a carefully guarded secret that his teammates refer to as “Stu Glue.”

Barbers Luis (above) and Manny keep Austin FC players looking sharp.

Wellness

Practice self-care and experience sensory stimulation with this trio of healing modalities making waves in Austin.

Eashab

While studying traditional Chinese medicine in school, Dr. Baraah Attal became intrigued by the practice of ear seeding. Akin to reflexology for your feet, the ritual centers on affixing small, strategically placed beads to the ear as tiny acupressure devices, which can aid anything from headaches to hormonal imbalances. Bonus: The founder uses shiny beads that look like jewelry, so it’s a fun way to add a little bling. instagram.com/ eashab.wellness

As relaxing as taking deep breaths on a reflective oceanside jaunt, this South Austin hideout features a room with two tons of Himalayan salt as well as pharmaceutical-grade salt that is ground and aerated during its soothing 45-minute sessions. Sign up for yoga classes, meditations and sound baths, or just kick back in a chair as you inhale the cleansing air, which is said to aid with allergies, asthma, and eczema. austinsaltroom.com

Consider this the most restorative nap that you’ve ever taken. Using alchemy crystal, quartz singing bowls, and koshi chimes, Cynthia Bernard manifests the power of vibrational healing as guests lie down on mats to soak in the sonic goodness. The sound baths take place in serene locales around the city, including by the water at the Rowing Dock and among the blooms at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. atxyogagirl.com

Wellness

SALT CAVE

Austin Salt Room

SOUND BATHS

ATX Yoga Girl

ground, while the dark cycling studio space allows members to clip in and escape the daily grind with rhythmed choreography. studiothree.com/studio/ austin

Hair Guru

Tyler the Hairstylist

There’s a reason every “it” girl in the city is flocking to the styling chair of Tyler Cochran. The Hair House ATX co-founder worked with former Aveda creative director Denny Kemp in Minneapolis for years before relocating to Austin in 2014. Inspired by iconic actresses and supermodels— think Jane Birkin and Brigitte Bardot—Cochran gravitates toward classic styles that even caught the eye of the Fab Five (he was featured on an episode of Queer Eye in 2022). insta gram.com/tyler_the_hairstylist

Salon

Scissor Sisters Salon & Spa

Ever gotten a makeover in front of a live audience? Grab a seat on a platform at this playful barbershop and salon, where the stylists craft your coif and color your tresses onstage. (Friends can even watch the action from blue velvet theater seats in front of it.) If this setup weren’t already quirky enough, the queer-owned North Lamar salon also shares its space with Side Kitsch Vintage, should you want to purchase a pair of lamps after your rainbow balayage treatment. scissorsistersatx.com

Soulful Workout

Power Yoga TV

When navigating a cancer diagnosis in 2019, Cristo Burciaga found comfort through the practice of yoga. As he started to pair virtual classes with his own musical mix at home during the pandemic, an idea was born. Now, Burciaga partners with local yoga instructors to host pop-up classes called PYT Studios in which he live deejays. By combining the flow of the poses with corresponding beats, the sweat sessions transform beyond fitness into an almost spiritual practice. pytstudiosllc.com

Spa Experience Kuya

When feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders, sometimes the best escape is to go weightless. Relish

complete tranquility as you float in your own private, pitch-black pool at this new South Austin spa. The sensory deprivation tank is filled with tons of warm saltwater, creating the sensation that you’re floating in the womb again. Oh, baby! kuya.life

Sweat Session

Fitcidence

Anyone who’s ever watched the fullbody transformations of Dancing with the Stars contestants will attest that busting a move can be a killer workout. Shake it out during Fitcidence’s funfilled, high-intensity cardio sessions with choreographed steps. Ballin’ on a budget? Check out its free dance cardio workouts with Swift Fit Events on select Saturday mornings at Republic Square, or take the little ones to complimentary kids’ dance cardio on Sunday mornings at Mueller Lake Park. fitcidence.com

Animal Yoga

Fitcidence brings choreographed fun to the local fitness scene.

People & Culture b

Author

Gabino Iglesias

With its mixture of border horror, noir, and magical realism inside the world of the Mexican cartel, The Devil Takes You Home has earned Gabino Iglesias a place among genre greats like Stephen Graham Jones and Paul Tremblay. One of only two Latino writers to ever receive a Bram Stoker Award and Shirley Jackson Award, the scribe is having a massive year with his novel being optioned as a film, regular contributions to NPR and Esquire, and a highly anticipated new book set for release next summer.

Band

Urban Heat

It’s been a banner year for this breakout post-punk trio. Featuring a retro-inspired, synth-laden sound and the unmistakable charisma of frontman Jonathan Horstmann, the band recently embarked on its first national tour, performed to a spirited crowd at ACL Fest, and even nabbed Austin Music Awards’ Song of the Year prize for its infectious lead single, “Have You Ever?” urbanheatband.com

Community Hub

Origin Studio House

The only fast-growing city that’s actually losing Black residents, Austin has shown it’s in dire need of some self-reflection. Enter Origin Studio House, whose mission as an East Side community hub features gatherings that highlight Black excellence, such as a March 2022 event with Canje chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Juneteenth festivities with Black-owned businesses like Phoenix Grille and Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. originstudiohouse.org

Drag Queen

Brigitte Bandit

With drag shows under attack from the Texas Legislature, performer Brigitte Bandit delivered a blistering testimony to the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs this past March. In a screed that went viral, Bandit dissected the ludicrousness of a proposed law that would restrict performers who employ clothing and makeup to present as a different gender. While she presents like any other queen with fabulous makeup and a colorful wig, Bandit identifies as non-binary and was assigned female at birth. Joke’s on you, Texas Senate.

Game-Changing Music Venue Moody Center

Despite its Live Music Capital of the World moniker, Austin has always been a bit of an underdog when attracting marquee performers. But all of that changed with the arrival of the Moody Center in 2022. From nabbing a six-night stint with Harry Styles last fall to hosting a sold-out set with Bruce Springsteen in February, the $378 million, 15,000-plus-seat juggernaut has given international cachet to our concert scene. moodycenteratx.com

Moody Center has hosted megastars from Harry Styles to Janet Jackson.

Sports Savior

How coach Rodney Terry’s faith helped the Longhorns stay the course through catastrophe and net their best season in 15 years.

BY BRYAN C. PARKER

ON A WARM morning in late June, the squeal of basketball sneakers echoes in the Longhorns practice facility, as the UT men’s basketball program is already hard at work preparing for the upcoming season. Coach Rodney Terry blows his whistle, and the gym falls silent as he barks at one player for not correctly executing a play. Even with the next game a full five months out, his passion sends a clear signal that every moment matters.

Last season, Terry steered the Horns to the Elite 8 round of March’s NCAA tournament, its best finish in more than a decade. Yet just months prior, it was a program in peril. Terry—who had spent nine years as an assistant coach at Texas in the early aughts before returning in 2022—had awoken to a pre-dawn phone call on Dec. 12 telling him to get to campus right away. There, he would learn that head coach Chris Beard had been arrested for a domestic violence charge, and athletic director Chris Del Conte was anointing him the successor in a mid-morning meeting. “I’m going to give you the whistle. You go do the job,” the coach remembers him saying.

With a game later that night against Rice, the team had no time to lose—a reality that helped focus the group. “I would be remiss to say we weren’t shook,” Terry says, “but we still had a job to do.” In a pre-game pep talk, Terry emphasized the thing he knew would matter most moving forward: learning to lean on each other. That night, the Horns put up an 87-81 win, a stabilizing victory amid the tumult. But the season was far from over.

Although Beard wasn’t officially fired until January, Terry stepped into the role with a decade of head coaching experience. More importantly, he’s a man of unlimited faith. Not only that “God’s going to put us where we’re supposed to be,” as he’s fond of saying. But also, that if you grind hard daily, the future will take care of itself. There’s a calm power in his perspective that bleeds into everything he says.

For instance, last year’s squad had several key veterans, including junior point guard Marcus Carr, who admittedly liked to shoulder the burden in close

games. But Terry kept after him to show more trust—an attribute of successful floor generals. That mentorship became a lesson learned in mid-January when the Longhorns found themselves in a tight contest against Texas Tech. In the waning minutes, Carr drove into the lane, drew several defenders, and kicked it to Brock Cunningham at the top of the key, who drained a three-pointer to secure the win. That’s Rodney Terry basketball.

The best coaches don’t have all the answers. Instead, they know how to inspire their players to look within themselves. And to trust that others around them will do the same. Last season, unintentional though it was, Terry was the next man up. And when the moment came, he drilled the shot.

When the Longhorns take the court for their season opener, Terry will be at the helm, after his tournament run earned him a five-year contract worth $15.3 million. As for what the future holds, Terry says, “I think that there’s some unfinished business. We did everything here except winning the National Championship.”

UT men’s basketball coach Rodney Terry brought an experienced wisdom to a program in need of stability.

People & Culture b

Indie Band Good Looks

Reverb on clean guitar tones, singer Tyler Jordan’s gravelly twang, and world-weary lyrics have made Good Looks the city’s most exciting act since A Giant Dog. But don’t take our word for it. Just ask capital city indie-rock royalty Britt Daniel of Spoon, who got in touch with Jordan after the release of Good Looks’ latest album, Bummer Year, to fanboy out about one of the songs. goodlooksband.com

Innovator Icon

Whether it’s securing a $57.2 million contract from NASA to develop lunar construction systems or 3-D printing an entire resort and residential community in collaboration with Marfa’s El Cosmico, Icon continues to stretch the bounds of what’s possible. In March, the construction tech company announced Initiative 99, a global contest to design accessible and aesthetically stunning homes that cost less than $99,000 to build—which Icon has promised to produce at various sites around the country. icon build.com

Museum

The Blanton

Bolstering an outstanding art collection of over 21,000 historic objects, the Central Austin destination just got even more impressive with a massive revamp of its grounds. The majestic new art display consists of a grove of 12 towering petal structures that stretch three stories above the courtyard adjacent to its entrance. Functional as well as visually arresting, the installment provides shade and funnels rainwater to an underground collection system. blantonmuseum.org

Nightclub

Superstition

After it lay dormant for years, it seemed like a gamble for any company to overhaul the former La Bare space. But NoCo Hospitality (Higher Ground, Estelle’s) had the foresight to turn the SoCo-adjacent building into a posh ’70s-inspired nightclub reminiscent of Studio 54. Featuring a state-of-theart L’Acoustic sound system and shimmering disco balls, the venue has already hosted globally renowned artists such as Talib Kweli, Paul Van Dyk, and Dillon Francis since debuting in December. superstitionatx.com

Resilient Politician

For James Talarico, “heartbroken” is the only word that springs to mind when he reflects on the fallout of Sept. 27, 2021. That was the day the Texas House Representative found out (along with the rest of the state) that he’d be out of a job in a few months. Following a shady redistricting effort by a Republican majority, the district in which Talarico held office had vanished out of existence.

What put him in the crosshairs? The young legislator has a pretty good idea. In 2018, he successfully flipped a seat from red to blue in reliably crimson Williamson County. Then, the rising Democratic star and sharp-witted orator quickly displayed his skill at pushing his conservative counterparts on issues where they were most vulnerable, such as education and health care.

Yet after being dispatched, the primary source of his despair wasn’t his own loss, but the fate of his constituents, who found themselves gerrymandered into districts where their voting power was now diminished. Still, the former public school teacher wasn’t ready to concede. Talarico moved back to North Austin’s District 50—in which he grew up—to launch a bid for reelection. After winning 78.4 percent of the vote and retaking office, the 34-year-old upstart is fighting for the same bold policies that first made him a target: access to insulin, raises for teachers, and closing prisons for minors.

Despite his relocation, Talarico hasn’t given up on those within his former district. “Some call me personally when they want to voice their opinion or ask a question, and I’ve told my team to treat them just like any new constituents,” he says. “It’s a special relationship.”

James Talarico

Superstition features disco decor and world-renowned deejays.

Pet Project

Raising money for area animal shelters in need, this local soothsayer has turned dog divination into an art form.

A LIFELONG DOG mom and the founder of Good Party ATX, Sarah K. Wolf is used to combining her love for animals with do-good opportunities in the community. But when she showed up to a Yard Bar fundraising event dressed as a clairvoyant with canine-themed tarot cards in hand, she knew she was taking a risk. Thankfully, her commitment to learn the deck paid off:

Wolf’s shtick was a hit, prompting her to launch Lucky Dog Tarot in 2021. “It’s lighthearted,” she says, “just like the nature of dogs.” All readings benefit local animal shelters and are done at parks, events, or pop-ups around town, but recently she stopped by the Austin Monthly office to meet my 14-year-old rescue, Samson, and give insight into his storied life. Rosie Ninesling

PAST: THE PACK

Representing a dog’s need to feel a sense of belonging, this card taps into the years Samson spent on the street, in the shelter, and in foster groups, all while searching for a permanent home.

PRESENT: THE SHELTER

While he’s found his forever family, Samson continues to make security his top priority. His past made him resilient, but also—for a lack of a better word— needy.

FUTURE: THE MAGICIAN Samson knows what he wants and will spend the rest of his days figuring out how to get his way.

(Within minutes of drawing this card, it was proven true: The dog treats kept in Wolf’s bag “magically” disappeared while our backs were turned.)

FIND SARAH K. WOLF ON INSTAGRAM AT @LUCKYDOGTAROT.

People & Culture b

Digital Disrupter

Rachel Lately

Rachel Lately has just one question for Austin content creators: Why so serious? While most influencers are busy crafting flawless product photos for #sponsoredposts, this social media maven is in on the joke. Since creating @rachellately in 2010, the UT grad has garnered a massive following for her clever, tongue-incheek online presence. (She also runs the popular @512bites account, which she started in 2016.) Poking fun at everything from California transplants to crazy rent prices, she playfully roasts the city without ever being mean-spirited. “I treat Austin like my bestie, where you love them so much, but you’re going to tease them,” she says. Here, the content creator shares three of her favorite ATX targets. —Madeline Hollern

From Peter Pan types and Rainey Street regulars to Austin newcomers who ask you to be their “tour guide” on dating apps, Rachel finds plenty of humor in the local singles scene. “It just feels like for every 10 amazing women here in Austin, maybe there’s one great guy,” she says. The blogger especially loves to mock the city’s myriad tech sales bros: “I’ve dated them, and the stereotypes are so true.”

WEATHER

“Are you even Texan if you don’t love to complain about the weather?” she asks. “We complain when it’s cold, we complain when it’s hot.” Rachel parodies all-toocommon gripes, like when we all want to celebrate the first day of fall in Austin but we’re still sweating our asses off in late September. “Heat is a big one,” she says of her targets. “People love to say the same [cliché] things like, ‘Oh, it’s the humidity’ or ‘Texas is just preheating right now.’”

TRAFFIC

In the same way that Austinites get mad at all the people flocking here (even though they moved here, too), Rachel points to the irony of locals complaining about highway gridlock. “It’s something that we all hate, but we all have a car and partake in—but we’re not the problem, other drivers are the problem,” she laughs. Still, she admits, there are certain absurdities worth bonding over, like “Why is there traffic at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday on I-35?”

DATING

Offbeat Place to See Music

The Airport

Flight delayed at Austin-Bergstrom?

No sweat, as the airport is taking an on-brand approach to entertaining cranky travelers: nine stages throughout the main terminal that feature local artists playing live music five days a week. Asleep at the Wheel frontman Ray Benson doesn’t just have a namesake bar in the airport, the famed guitarist has actually played there. No pricey Ticketmaster fees for these free shows—just remember to tip the band.

Playful Predictions

Allison Miller

Not much could add levity to yet another February freeze or triple-digit forecast in June, but somehow Allison Miller found a lighthearted way to present the weather. The CBS morning anchor and meteorologist dances to new and old classics as she shares the local forecast on Instagram, shimmying to tunes like “Ice Ice Baby” and “Singin’ in the Rain” as she displays the upcoming temps. instagram.com/ allisonmillertv

Performer

Primo the Alien

Emerging from a landscape of artists striving to set themselves apart, Primo the Alien exudes an energy that truly seems beamed in from another planet. Last year, the Austin club mainstay graduated to the ACL stage, bringing along psychedelic backdrops and frontwoman Laura Lee Bishop’s supernatural dance moves. Come for the spacey, electronic dance-pop bangers; stay for the magnetic verve that makes her show one of the most memorable in the live music capital. primothealien.com

Podcast

Black Austin Matters

Conceived during the social upheaval following the murder of George Floyd, this conversational podcast with hosts Richard J. Reddick and Lisa B. Thompson (a UT dean and a professor of African diaspora studies,

respectively) brings a much-needed voice to Austin’s often marginalized Black populace. The show, which entered its second season this year, helps further explore issues of race and politics concerning Black identity in Central Texas with guests like Austin Justice Coalition director Chas Moore and veteran hip-hop group Riders Against the Storm.

Second Act

We Luv Video

Fed up with watching beloved institutions fall like dominoes, local residents Macy Cotton and Ryan Teel decided to reverse the trend. After brokering a deal with I Luv Video founder Conrad Bejarano, the duo acquired the video chain’s extensive

catalog and created a business plan to turn it all into a volunteer-run, nonprofit film library. Fittingly, the facility for movie buffs is located on North Loop—one of the last bastions of Old Austin. weluvvideo.org

SXSW Survival Guide

The Blueprint

Even the most seasoned South By attendee can get overwhelmed by the sheer vortex of parties that precede the annual event. Thankfully, the folks behind When Where What Austin sort through the chaos by curating an annual list of nearly 1,000 free happenings along with RSVP info. Because let’s face it: If you’re paying for food and drinks during the fest, you’re doing it wrong. theblprnt.com

Primo the Alien puts on out-of-thisworld performances.

Can a Dallas-based development group revitalize Sixth Street and give Austin’s once-prized entertainment district a new lease on life?

TURNINGTHE

PHOTOGRAPHS BY

CORNER

BY OMAR L. GALLAGA

The sidewalks along the historic, cobbled part of East Sixth Street between Brazos and Trinity are crackled, mottled, and grimy

from thousands of nights of spilled beer, vomit, and who knows what other bodily fluids. Aluminum-fronted takeout windows, like an Italianflag–colored one for a popular pizza stop, are bent and dirty. The bunting on awnings droop like carnations on a cheap boutonniere, and a collage of ripped handbills flapping in the wind adorn a shoddy wall in desperate need of a new coat of paint. Atop the cocktail bar Moonlight on Sixth, a sign reads, “THIS LIFE ISN’T EASY,” a slogan that comes off as more somber than ironic when the business is barred up in the daytime.

It might pain local boosters to admit it, but under the brightness of a downtown Austin sun, Sixth Street is embarrassingly ugly. Not Coyote Ugly, the spicy, dance-on-the-bar saloon on the 500 block. Just an eyesore—especially midday, when it looks every bit of its 184 hard-living years: sleepy, hungover, and gray.

If it were just unkempt and gritty, living up to the avenue’s “Dirty Sixth” nickname, this famed district could still be a star attraction, like New Orleans’ French Quarter. But in recent years, locals and visitors alike have come to see Sixth Street as actually dangerous, since high-profile shootings and other acts of violence have earned the area a bad reputation. In just one of many alarming incidents, a summer 2021 mass shooting left 14 injured and one person dead.

At its peak around 1995, about 50 bars and clubs formed a bustling nexus between Brazos and Red River Streets. Almost half of them hosted live music—a mix of raucous cover bands like Tom Petty tribute group The Damn Torpedoes, country crooners, and good-ol’ rock ‘n’ roll quartets that regularly served up blazing guitar solos to beer-buzzed barflys and passersby soaking in the scene through open windows. For Austinites, nostalgia seeps into the memories of Steamboat, the early years of Esther’s Follies, and Stevie Ray Vaughan performances at Antone’s—or even the days when MTV’s The Real World season transformed “Dirty Sixth” into Texas’ answer to Bourbon Street. But much of that magnetism has vanished.

Businesses like B.D. Riley’s Irish Pub, Dirty Dog Bar, and Easy Tiger closed their doors during the pandemic lockdown and never reopened. Dozens of buildings remain unoccupied, leaving vacant stretches of storefronts on both sides of what is supposed to be the city’s most vibrant area. Pedestrians navigate sidewalks cluttered with people lying in sleeping bags as the city has wrestled with growing homeless encampments for the last decade. (Austin has somewhere between 4,600 and 5,100 people experiencing homelessness, based on March 2023 data.)

But all of that could change. And fast. Stream Realty Partners, a Dallas-born developer with offices in Austin, began purchasing Sixth Street properties in 2020 and has amassed 41 parcels, a glut of real estate that comprises an estimated 60 percent of the properties between Brazos and I-35. With help from the city and a roster of as-yet-unannounced tenants, Stream hopes to return Sixth Street to its glory days of the 1980s and 1990s and help it reclaim its crown as the city’s most exciting nightlife hub.

In Stream’s vision, you walk down Old Pecan Street where sidewalk-style cafes line the thoroughfare; tables full of happy customers dine on brisket tacos and Neapolitan pizzas. Boutique

At its peak around 1995, about 50 bars and clubs formed a bustling nexus between Brazos and Red River Streets.

hotels handle the overflow of visitors who would rather be in the heart of Sixth instead of a few blocks away at the J.W. Marriott or the Hyatt Downtown. New venues for live music host indie sensations in residency before their breakouts at South by Southwest. Green spaces brighten the cobble and concrete, and additional parking is available so you don’t have to worry about getting towed overnight. They want to cultivate a vibe more in line with Old Austin.

But if all that comes to fruition, will it alter the magical formula that made the street a capital city fixture for so long: cheap shots, a deluge of live music, and weekend crowds of spirited university students?

Caitlyn Ryan, Stream’s senior vice president, recalls a thriving version of the district from the Austin she lived in almost two decades ago. “You would walk down Sixth Street and you would hear such eclectic versions of music from each and every location… everything was flowing through, everybody’s doors were open,” she muses. “It seems like we’ve lost that over the last 10 years.”

Ryan’s involvement in the project began about four years ago when Stream launched its real estate buying spree and began working with the city council on a land code amendment to allow for office/multifamily housing on the 600 block of Sixth Street and a boutique hotel on the 500 block.

After a City Council vote in July, building height limits went up from 45 feet to 140 feet for Stream’s multiuse and hotel projects (though development must preserve 15 feet of existing facades). The move means more residents and individual businesses can occupy each block and that hotels and clubs can offer multi-story service. Ultimately, that increases the value per-square-foot of a structure, making these buildings easier to sell at a profit and more lucrative to rent out.

Among Stream’s supporters is the Downtown Austin Alliance, which handles cleaning and hospitality services for area businesses, helps with city planning, and plays a role in the preservation of downtown. Its president and CEO, Dewitt Peart, said that what Stream is doing is in line with the Downtown Alliance’s fiveyear plan for 2023 to 2028.

Ryan, who also chairs the Sixth Street Ownership Association, said

Business mogul Bob Woody slings drinks at Blind Pig Pub, one of the many bars he owns.

F A C E S O F

2023

A

T X

What defines Austin? More than the innovative tech scene, the booming real estate development, or even the emanating music, it’s the free spirited, authentically cool people that make up the face of Austin. The most ambitious of those lead the business community in a variety of industries. Here, Austin Monthly gives them a spotlight to tell their stories in this special advertising section.

FACES

FACES OF ATX 2023

SPRINGDALE STATION

Once an iconic train station, Springdale Station is Austin’s go-to urban event venue known for its abundant indoor and outdoor space, ample parking, and stunning historic backdrops. Our local team consists of passionate event planners, coordinators, artists, and overall wedding and corporate party experts who fully understand how quality and ambiance can make or break your big day. Creativity is a driving force for our team. We firmly believe details make the experience so you can rely on us to turn your vision into reality and craft an experience that’s truly one-of-a-kind. We go the extra mile to provide the bar service, lighting, color palette, ethos, furniture, and any other element your celebration needs to thrill and inspire your guests.

FACES

The Face of LENDING

TYLER HUGHES

CMG HOME LOANS

Locally and Nationally recognized as a Top Mortgage Professional, Tyler’s dedicated to making what can feel like an overwhelming process as smooth and effortless as possible.

His commitment allows clients to remain focused on the excitement of securing their new home and away from the stresses of the financing process. While Tyler has a Team of talented assistants and professionals behind him at CMG, Tyler still devotes his time to being hands-on for every client and every loan, ensuring a perfect experience.

512-777-8518

THUGHES@CMGFI.COM

OWNINGAUSTIN.COM 9430 RESEARCH BLVD., BLDG. IV, STE. 200, AUSTIN, TX 78759

NMLS# 1025063 BRANCH NMLS# 1151668

The Face of COSMETIC DENTISTRY

MARK SWEENEY, DDS

AUSTIN DENTAL SPA

Born in Wharton, Texas, and a native Texan through and through, Dr. Mark Sweeney is one tall drink of water who is committed to making a difference in people’s lives. Owner and chief dentist of Austin Dental Spa and a University of Texas alum, Dr. Sweeney, or “Dr. Mark” to his patients, opened his first dental practice in Austin 44 years ago. And he’s been on the cutting edge of dentistry and dental technology ever since.

A cosmetic dentistry pioneer, Dr. Mark has won numerous national awards for his Smile Makeovers. Known for his calm, easygoing manner and trademark sense of humor, Dr. Mark helps patients relax and experience the best dentistry has to offer. Drs. Krista DeCoursin and Kirsten Thouvenot add their skills in not only cosmetic dental procedures, but also offer Invisalign and implant placements to round out the services offered. “Safety and the health, wellness, and comfort of our patients is always our top priority,” says Dr. Mark, “and even more so during these challenging times.” Come experience what everyone is talking about! “Change Your Smile, Change Your Life” with Dr. Mark Sweeney and Austin Dental Spa.

512-452-9296

AUSTINDENTALSPA.COM 3305 NORTHLAND DR, STE. 515, AUSTIN, TX 78731

The Face of CORRECTIVE MASSAGE

MANTIS MASSAGE

Mantis Massage is a woman-owned and-operated deep tissue clinic specializing in corrective therapeutic massage with two locations in Austin. There’s no cookie-cutter option with us: Every session is customized by our therapists who use a variety of modalities to best suit their individual client’s needs. We push off of walls to dig into knots, pin and stretch your limbs, and attend ongoing professional development in our never-ending quest to alleviate chronic pain and discomfort.

Our dedicated therapists are invested in your well-being so they give homework and self-care tips after sessions to make the effects longer lasting. We can do Swedish (AKA relaxation) massage with the best of ’em, but we pride ourselves in being part of our client’s healthcare routines. There’s no way to go through life without picking up some pain and tension, but you can trust us to always help you feel better than when you came in. Don’t just take our word for it; this is a recent addition to our hundreds of 5-star reviews: “I can finally walk around and sleep normally again! The pain I’ve been having for months is about 99% gone.” When it comes to corrective deep tissue in Austin, we’re the experts.

The Face of NIGHTLIFE

NOCO HOSPITALITY

NoCo, short for North Congress, is where NoCo Hospitality created its first concept, Higher Ground, in summer of 2021. Prior to its arrival, North Congress was a relatively ignored part of downtown for nightlife. NoCo’s founders believed in the area and ultimately revived it into a growing district, where many hospitality groups are now following, including new hotels and upcoming restaurants. The team is composed of both longtime Austinites and new residents who have a shared vision on executing the core value: keeping Austin authentic to its roots while developing new, immersive hospitality concepts that bridge old and new Austin.

Led by a team of talented directors, NoCo is the sum of all its parts: awarding-winning mixologists, hardworking bar backs, friendly waitstaff and bartenders, and a growing corporate team. With 140+ passionate individuals, NoCo fuels Austin nightlife with four diverse concepts: Higher Ground, Skinny’s Off Track Bar, Superstition, and Estelle’s, with more concepts on the way. What sets NoCo apart is its distinctive approach of fostering internal growth. You can start as a barback and work your way up to become an equity partner. Collective success is inevitable with this powerhouse team working towards its common goal: bringing old and new Austin together with immersive hospitality concepts.

HELLO@NOCOHOSPITALITYATX.COM

NOCOHOSPITALITYATX.COM

1000 E. CESAR CHAVEZ ST., STE. 100, AUSTIN, TX 78702

The Face of BANKING

BROADWAY BANK

For more than 83 years, Broadway Bank has been an integral part of Texas, evolving into one of the largest independently owned banks in the state with more than $5 billion in assets and $3 billion in wealth management assets. Broadway Bank offers a full range of financial services including personal, private, business, mortgage banking, and wealth management. With financial centers across Austin and the Lone Star State, Broadway Bank is proud to provide a modern banking experience that’s locally sourced and personally delivered.

From left: Jeremy Oliver, David Springer, Natasha Martin, EJ Munoz, Debbie Richardson, Hanna Contreras

The Face of FINE JEWELRY AND SWISS TIMEPIECES

KORMAN

In the ever-changing and rapidly growing city of Austin, a business celebrating 50 years is a rare feat. Passed from one family to another and locally owned since 1973, Korman is Austin’s place to experience luxury and celebrate. Founder Russell ‘Rusty’ Korman’s journey began selling African beads on the Drag while attending UT. His success led him to open his own storefront and through years of integrity, passion and exemplary customer service, Korman would evolve into Austin’s jewelry destination. In 2018, Rusty and his partners sold the business to Kat and Larry Stokes, who brought a wealth of jewelry expertise, shared values and a passion for community.

Today, Korman is an authorized Omega, Tudor, and Rolex Dealer and Service Center. Partnered with internationally acclaimed designers, Korman provides a hand-curated selection of the finest diamonds, fine jewelry and gemstones. With master watchmakers, in house jewelers and knowledgeable associates with a passion for style and celebrating every day, Korman continues to make Austin sparkle year after year.

512-451-9292

KORMANFINEJEWELRY.COM 5011 BURNET ROAD, AUSTIN, TX 78756

FACES

The Face of LUXURY REAL ESTATE

ALAINA MARTIN GOTTESMAN REAL ESTATE

Alaina Martin is a powerhouse luxury Realtor® who helps newcomers and seasoned Austinites alike navigate housing options, including premarket opportunities. Utilizing industry-specific knowledge, networking abilities, and a diligent work ethic, she shines as a member of Gottesman Residential’s unparalleled, highly collaborative team. Alaina’s unrivaled resources and connections give her clients the edge in Austin’s competitive market.

A Westlake resident and lake enthusiast, Martin stays deeply dialed into the local scene. “I’m passionate about the Austin lifestyle and all that comes with it. The food and live music scenes are just incredible, and it’s such an amazing place to raise a family,” she says. Native to Kansas but with extended family that hails from a small Texas town, she always pictured herself down south before she relocated to Austin by way of New York City in 2016.

When she isn’t guiding clients, Martin is a busy mom who still finds time to wake surf, travel, and serve her community through nonprofits including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas. “Austin isn’t just a city; it’s a community,” she says. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather live.”

512-777-8082

ALAINAMARTIN.COM

ALAINA@GOTTESMANRESIDENTIAL.COM 1501 ENFIELD ROAD, AUSTIN, TX 78703

The Face of BREAST CANCER

TEXAS BREAST SPECIALISTS

Texas Breast Specialists provides comprehensive breast care for women in Central Texas at eleven convenient locations throughout the Austin area. Our surgeons are highly experienced and trained in all areas of breast care, and many have completed a fellowship in breast surgical oncology. Our breast cancer patients benefit from experiencing truly integrated breast care. We have a multidisciplinary team of breast specialists comprised of our all-female surgical team working alongside medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, advanced practice providers and other healthcare team members dedicated to diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the breast, both cancerous and benign.

TEXASBREASTSPECIALISTS.COM

AUSTIN, BASTROP, CEDAR PARK, GEORGETOWN, LAKEWAY, ROUND ROCK AND SAN MARCOS

The Face of K-12 PRIVATE EDUCATION

AESA PREP ACADEMY

AESA Prep Academy is a cutting-edge, K-12 private college prep school situated on 10 pristine acres in Southwest Austin. For founder Barbara Garza, “The Future of Education” is not just a tagline but a dream turned reality. AESA stands for Academic Excellence for Scholars, Athletes & Artists.

In 2009, former Dean and longtime educator Barbara Garza, now Head of School and Superintendent of AESA International School System (AISS), created AESA Prep Academy of Austin. With her husband Rick Garza, CFO of AISS, they built an international system of world-class schools: AESA Prep Academy of Barcelona, AESA Prep International Online and Windsor School Bahamas, all Cognia/AdvancEd accredited. This system provides students with opportunities for specialized studies, such as Spanish immersion and coral reef restoration. Their small student-teacher ratios accelerated learning as needed, flexible schedules, rigorous academics, and inclusive culture allows students to cultivate their ambitions, resulting in acceptances and scholarships to elite universities.

512-426-4591

AESAPREPACADEMY.COM 14101 CANONADE DRIVE, AUSTIN, TX 78737

she’s been mindful of preserving the history of the district as she brokered deals to acquire Stream’s 41 parcels, sitting in living rooms with families who’d held on to Sixth Street real estate for generations. Alongside that effort, she’s been trying to enact enough change to counter its tarnished standing among locals.

Concurrent to bringing in new retail tenants, Stream is lobbying the city to widen sidewalks, reduce the street to three lanes of traffic, and upgrade outdated electrical, waste, and water services. They also plan to make use of recently amended city code in order to build taller (perhaps more than four or five stories). But Ryan stresses that the plan does not include the kinds of high rises in other parts of downtown. “If you walk down Rainey Street, you get kind of a claustrophobic effect… everything is property line to property line, these big towers. And that’s what we wanted to avoid.”

Ryan says that her conversations with owners finally ready to sell their Sixth Street properties included talks about what Stream planned to do with the district. And, more importantly, what it wasn’t going to do.

“I had to make a lot of promises that I was trying to bring Sixth Street back to what it was,” she says. “And we’re going to do it in a respectful way. The weight of all those promises isn’t lost on me.”

PECAN STREET’S DEEP ROOTS

ON A FRIDAY evening in May, a huge storm hammers downtown Austin as torrid gusts of wind and a

major downpour rips through Sixth Street. Amid torrential rain, seasoned industry vet Bob Woody checks in on his staff at Micheladas—one of 16 businesses he owns across Austin, Dallas, and other parts of Central Texas—to make sure they’re watching for water coming in and protecting the outside area from tumbling umbrellas or toppled tables.

Wearing tan shorts and a bright white Polo shirt that matches his head of silver hair, Woody is energetic and gregarious as he recounts the time he brokered a deal to have Kanye West and Jay-Z play Seaholm Power Plant during South by Southwest in 2011. The longtime owner of Shakespeare’s Pub, 311 Club, and a slew of other downtown fixtures, he still gets ecstatic about Sixth Street’s history as an entertainment district, often regaling guests about the ways the construction of the Austin Convention Center helped usher in some of the best years of his fiefdom. An area fixture since 1983, Woody has heard all the barbs thrown by locals, and he’s adapted to the street’s tourist-driven reality. The demise of smoking in bars didn’t faze him, nor did the trend of adding kitchens to dives for latenight food service.

But he’s skeptical about the city’s past commitments to safety in the area, citing its ongoing inability to handle issues around homelessness, as well as its flirtations with defunding the APD. Woody knows that the city wants to change Sixth Street, and he’s quick to assign blame for its downward trend. “Who caused it?” He fires off the rhetorical question like a nosesnapping jab. “The idiots that did away with the police, that’s who. The D.A.

New tenants like The Dead Rabbit are hoping to revitalize Sixth Street.

and the mayor, so thank God the [former mayor Steve Adler] is gone.”

Woody is on Sixth Street constantly and has watched as Stream’s dream project slowly evolves. Although he hasn’t had much conversation with Ryan, Woody believes many of the remaining entrenched owners are looking for a hefty payout from Stream that will probably never materialize. In fact, he admires the bargain package deal the realty company got for so many spaces just before the pandemic. But that can be credited to the high rate of unoccupied properties, which has persisted long past the Covid shutdowns—a sentiment previously echoed by former councilwoman Kathie Tovo.

“That’s not good for the entertainment district,” Woody says. “I say to my friends, ‘Why are you saying Stream’s so good? They’ve been here for three years, and they ain’t done nothing.’” He has an alternative, nofrills solution to finding tenants: “Just put your [for rent] signs up, people will call you,” he says. At least, as long as that sign doesn’t say “Black Lives Matter”—messaging that Woody took exception to when Stream put up signage representing a social-justice movement he calls a “fiasco.” It probably didn’t help that the posters went up at Buffalo Billiards, which Woody used to own before the pool hall and pub closed permanently in 2020.

While his political stances may seem out of sync with the typical perception of Austin’s cultural leanings, it also points to a schism in business philosophy: Woody sees a waste in empty buildings that don’t draw workers or customers to Sixth Street, while Stream appears to be biding its time, waiting for the right kind of tenants to reconstitute the district to its vision.

Woody’s broader skepticism of Stream’s approach has precedent, though. Previous efforts at revitalizing Sixth Street have tended to fizzle out after an initial burst of enthusiasm. News archives reveals headlines like “Who Owns Sixth Street: Austin’s Mecca for the Young and the Restless Considers an Upscale Makeover” ( Austin Chronicle, 2001), “Austin’s Sixth Street Slated for Revitalization” (Austin Business Journal, 2011), “Has Dirty Sixth Cleaned Up Its Act?” ( Austin Chronicle, May 2013). But those previous efforts didn’t have a major developer such as Stream driving the effort with this many owned properties at play.

Woody’s going to see how this unfolds—whether the fortunes of

TURNING THE CORNER

“I am confident that our entertainment district will thrive and come back.”

BOB WOODY

Sixth Street will rise with Stream’s master plan or not. The entrepreneur takes the long view and admits he has no intention to ever sell his chunk of the kingdom, especially if Sixth Street does bounce back and property prices soar.

Before it got a makeover and became an events center, The Copper Tank was a simple watering hole downtown. Early in its existence, Woody and one of his workers dragged in two young live oak trees and planted them in the interior courtyard, which sits between that bar and its neighbor, Micheladas. About 30 years later, the trees are fully grown, providing shade in the courtyard, still deeply rooted. If there’s one thing Woody has, it’s patience.

MIRACLE ON SIXTH STREET

A LINE OF tech bros who look like Libertarian lemmings that moved from California after making a fortune on Bitcoin stretches around the corner to Trinity Street. The snaking mass of people leads up to the entrance of Comedy Mothership, easily the most successful new business on Sixth Street in years. Every weekend (and even most weeknights) since it opened in March at the since-departed Alamo Drafthouse Ritz, there’s a comparable line waiting for the possibility of a surprise set from Dave Chappelle or a headlining act like Gabriel Iglesias. Joe Rogan, the popular podcaster and club’s owner, might be there to emcee. This is the kind of revitalization that Stream is imagining, but Comedy Mothership is still an exception for now. Woody and other Sixth Street owners (including Stream) say tackling Dirty Sixth’s notorious crime and safety issues is the biggest obstacle to attracting more visitors—not to mention new tenants willing to pay upwards of $45,000 a month in rent.

The homeless and violence issues present a kind of chicken-and-egg situation for Stream and for other businesses owners on Sixth Street. In order to lure in new tenants and leery tourists, there needs to be a rollout of more infrastructure improvements, a drop in crime, and fewer numbers of unhoused people in the area. But in order to achieve those goals, you need more foot traffic, which Peart and Ryan both believe will organically help deter that kind of activity.

“The more people you have visiting a street, that in and of itself brings a lot of safety,” Peart says. “If you improve infrastructure, if you improve lighting, if you bring more people to the street, that is inherently going to improve safety across the board.”

In March 2022, a Safer Sixth Street resolution shepherded by councilwoman Tovo, whose District 9 included Sixth Street, passed through Austin City Council. The resolution implemented key measures like adding lighting to private properties, reestablishing a gun buyback program, and cracking down on businesses in the area that have records of repeated violent incidents.

Jack McGarry, the managing partner of New York’s popular The Dead Rabbit, said safety was one of his chief concerns when he decided to open the first expansion of his Irish bar brand on 204 E. Sixth St. And while McGarry says the pub may be moving to the district “slightly early,” ahead of the revitalization plan, he’d rather assume that risk than find himself behind the curve.

Dead Rabbit is exactly the kind of business that Stream wants to rally its new tenants around. It’s a hip, New York–tested brand likely to go national while it attracts moneyed influencers and curious tourists to downtown. The bar is set to open in early 2024 in a building that carries an 1875 Austin Landmark designation. But even as

work progressed over the summer, reminders of the past clung to the structure: an old metal clock still protruded from its bracket against the limestone with the time frozen at 5:11, and an awning with the name of former resident B.D. Riley’s still jutted out atop the double doors, as if trying to bridge the past to the future.

The award-winning pub, which McGarry says works hard to break the stereotypes of a traditional Irish bar (“We’re not a culture defined by Dropkick Murphys”), is on the same block as Happy Chicks, Gnar Bar, and BlindSide Tattoo.

A lot of the decision to locate there was based on assurances about how the area will change with the Stream plan and the city’s efforts to improve safety and infrastructure. The street’s problems, he says, “are painfully evident,” but McGarry is taking a leap of faith, even if it takes two to five years to happen instead of one or two, as he hopes. “I think we’re going to be fine regardless, but it is going to make things a hell of a lot more difficult for us if things don’t change,” he warns.

That’s in line with what developers like Caitlyn Ryan and business owner Bob Woody believe: Give it some time and things will change. The entertainment district, Woody insists, is resilient enough to pull through and prosper, no matter who owns what.

“We are a multiplicity of owners here,” he says. “I am confident that our entertainment district will thrive and come back.”

The issues of safety, homelessness, and reworking crumbling infrastructure have been so at the forefront of Sixth Street discussions that bigger questions concerning the future of its overall culture remain unanswered. Will an upscale transformation make the district too pricey for locals to enjoy, and will beloved establishments get squeezed out as the cost of doing business rises? Consider what has happened on South Congress Avenue after it went ultra-bougie.

But a reimagined Sixth Street seems inevitable. As the district evolves into its next incarnation, Stream faces the delicate task of creating a modern vibe that lures downtown revelers while tapping into a bygone era of affordable booze and abundant live music. Thanks to a storied history and an outsized reputation, one thing is certain: Austinites will compare any change with fading mental snapshots of a Sixth Street that may be lost forever.

Weird History State of

Painting the Town Red

Hollywood star Lucille Ball received a Texas-sized welcome—and the keys to the city—when she visited Austin in the 1960s. BY

ROSIE NINESLING

WHEN LUCILLE BALL’S private jet descended upon the Austin Municipal Airport in February 1965, hundreds of fans swarmed the tarmac, eager to get a glimpse of her copper-colored hair. Ball had been invited to Headliner’s Club Weekend—an annual event honoring Texas media and journalism—but her red-carpet entrance started the moment she deboarded: “It looked for a minute as if the city might just love Lucy to death,” wrote one reporter for The Statesman. Along with an enthusiastic serenade from the Longhorn Band, Mayor Lester Palmer met her plane-side to present the keys to the city and anoint Lucy as Mayor for the Day.

The honor wasn’t the only gift Ball would receive that weekend. At the lavish Headliner’s Club gala the next day, she stood out among the 1,200 guests in a beaded amber gown. Although awarded “The Entertainment World’s Outstanding Personality 1964,” her true prize had come earlier that day when they bestowed a personalized branding iron at the event’s annual luncheon. Dillard’s of Austin had designed the symbol—a capital “L” with a baseball—and named it “The Bawlin’ L” as a nod to both her name and her trademark ability to sob on TV. While the cowboy-themed token gave the comedian another source of stage material, she took to the podium in a rare moment of seriousness. “This trip to Austin is special because you are special,” she said. After being declared an honorary Texan by Gov. John Connally, the crowd erupted in cheers, solidifying her Lone Star status.

Without any true ties to Texas, the city’s three-day obsession could appear excessive. But it really proved what most already knew: Everybody loves Lucy.

Lucille Ball accepts her gifted branding iron with her second husband, Gary Morton.