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We live in atime whenwehavesomuchaccess to endless information.And while it’s greatthatweare more informed than ever,itcan be hardtodecipher between whatisreliable,science-based information and whatisn’t.Theseare themostcommonmisconceptionsI hearfrompatients everyday Myth:Imusthavebeenonbirth controltoo long Toooften, patientscomeineitheraskingiftheir birth controlisa contributing factor to theirinfertility or feelingthe need to sharewithmehow longthey’ve been on it.Thisisa perfect exampleofcorrelation,not causation -fertility difficultiesafterbirth controldonot mean birthcontrol causes infertility. Whileitmay take some timefor aperson’smenstrualcycle to return to normal after usinghormonalbirth control– includingIUDs, the pill, apatch,oran implant –there’s no evidence that contraceptivesaffect fertility over thelong term.Ifyou continuetoexperience irregularperiods,greater than 6months after discontinuing your birthcontrol, it is unlikely to be relatedtothe birth control, andIrecommend that youseekevaluation foranunderlyingissue.
Myth:Everyonetells me I’m notgetting pregnant becauseI’m toostressed
So,here’swhatwedoknow: infertility causes stress.While it is knownthat stress cancause cycles to become irregularand by doing so lead to infertility, thedatadoesnot show that stress causes infertility in womenwho otherwise have regularperiods.Itisalsoimportant to note that notall irregularperiods aredue to stress.
In my experience,women aren’t coming into fertility clinicsbecause of stress There’samedical factor causingtheir infertility,which absolutelyelevates stress levels andcan have an impactonyour fertility care. Managing stress throughfertility treatments is essential to overallhealth. Thephysicaldemands,uncertainties,costs,and emotionsofinfertility can significantly impactyour mental health.Stresscan also interferewithrational andwell-planneddecisions.Whenyou reduce stress,you canmakebetter decisionsabout theright treatmentcourse.
Myth:Age is only afactorinwomen
We mayhavemoved on from themyththatinfertility is only afemaleissue, but we haven’tentirely conqueredthe stigmaaroundage.The truth is,a man’s ageisa factor in reproductive health,justnot thesameway it is forwomen. Womenfaceagradual fertility declinethatbecomes more pronouncedaround age35, whereas, formen,their fertility isn’taffected until closer to age50. At that point,significantchanges in spermproduction canbegin,fromlower sperm countand qualitytothe shape,movement, andDNA of thesperm. Children borntodadsaged45and older also have an increasedriskofautism andschizophrenia. Andage isn’tthe only thingthatcan affectsperm health Lifestylefactors,likediet, canalsoimpactsperm quality. At theend of theday, it’s important forbothaspiringparents to be fully assessed
If youhavequestionsabout fertility health,Irecommend reliable resources that will give youscience-based insightinto reproductive health,likeRESOLVE.organd ASRM.org. If youwouldliketoschedulea consultation with AspireFertility Austin, please visithttps://www.aspirefertility.com/austintexasorcallusat512-479-7979
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44
The Best Breakfasts in Austin
Whetheryou love syrupy pancakes or savory omelets, themostimportant meal of theday starts with these standout spotsacrossthe capitalcity.
60
AWalk on the WeirdSide
Eeyore’s Birthday Partyisone of the original bastions of Austin’s funky identity.Thisyear, thespringtime gatheringhosts its60thcelebration
Editor’s Letter 24
Scout
Ahomegrown Westernwear brandgoeshighfashion 29
Themed danceparties areall therageinthe live music capital 30
Letthe good timesrollat thesemobilehot spots around town 32
What to do in Lockhart, from famous barbecue to vintageshopping 34
Subscriptions, Renewals,and AddressChanges:Austin Monthly, PO Box217,San Antonio, TX 78297-2127 512-387-6234,subscriptions@austinmonthly.com or online at austinmonthly.com/subscribe.
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Editor’sLetter
Rise andShine
ASLOCALS,WEallclingtoourownmemoryofOldAustin—a bygone(andslightlymythical)timewhenthecostoflivingwas affordable,thefoodscenewasunpretentious,andtheweirdness ofthecitywasneverindoubt.Forsome,thatperiodmighthave beeninthecosmiccowboyeraofthe1970sortheslackerdays ofthe’90s.Forme,itwasthemid-2000s,whenImovedtothe capitalcityasabright-eyedjournalismstudentatUT.Thestress of deadlines and finals couldbereliablyoffsetwitha stackof KerbeyLanepancakesatanyhour—usually2a.m.—andabusy weekendmeantrefuelingwiththeDonJuanplateatJuanina Million,arguablythebestbangforyourbuckinthecity.
Twenty yearslater,Austinhas evolvedintoa bustling metropoliswithhigh-risecondos,internationalfestivals,andeven itsownMichelin-starredrestaurants.Butsomehow,thebreakfastscenehereremainsrefreshinglynostalgic.Tried-and-true eaterieslikeJoe’sBakeryandTheOmelettryarejustaspopular as they were decadesago,while newhot spotslikeRockman BakeryandToastyBadgerfeelwarmandapproachable.Forour coverfeature,“TheBestBreakfastsinAustin” (page44),we chroniclethe city’s topbakeries, boulangeries,biscuit shops, andbelovedcafeswhereyoucanstartyourdayonahighnote. Meet acinnamonrollmaven who’sgoneviral forher sweet treats,learnwhythebreakfasttacoreignssupreme,andstock yourkitchenwithlocalstaples,fromchorizotocoffeetojam.
When imagininganevent that embodies thewonderand weirdnessofOldAustin,onegatheringimmediatelycomesto mind:Eeyore’sBirthday.Thequirkyspringtimefestivalsomehowdraws in drum circles, pot-smokinghippies,and young familiesaliketoPeasePark,andthisyear,thewhimsicalparty celebrates its60thiteration.Inhis latest feature, “A Walk on theWeird Side”(page 60), executiveeditorBryan C. Parker explores howthiscurious eventnamed aftera melancholy Winnie-the-Pooh characterbecamea joyful celebration—and stillmaintainsitscharmbyeschewingcorporatesponsorships In theend,authenticityisreallywhatwe’re seekinginAustin, andifyoulookaround,it’samazingwhereyoucanstillfindit acrossthecity.
Discoverunparalleled adventureand luxurywith TheBroadmoor’s exclusiveall-inclusiveWildernessretreats. Castyour line in pristine waters at the Orvis-endorsed FlyFishingCamp,set amidsttimbered canyons and meadows teeming with wild trout. Embracethe spirit of the West at TheRanch at Emerald Valley, whererolling lawns, shimmering lakes, and acascading waterfall inviteendlessexploration. Or rise above it all at Cloud Camp,perched high in the Colorado mountains, offering breathtaking vistas, dedicatedmeeting space at The Overlook, gourmetcuisine,and unforgettable adventures. Experienceanunrivaled, comprehensivegetaway,whereyourstay includes luxurious accommodations, gourmetmeals, unlimited beverages, exciting daily activities, and exclusiveamenities—at one exceptional rate.Whicheveryou choose,escape wherenature’sbeautyand timelessmemories await.
WHAT IGNITESYOUR CREATIVE SPARK?
WHEN MIND,BODY, SOUL ANDSENSESALL PLAY TOGETHER, YOU’RELIVINGTHE CREATIVE LIFE. AtMaravilla @The Domain,you’llencounter captivatingneighbors, stylishambiance, chef-crafted cuisineand atantalizing arrayof creative activities andclubs to embrace. If thedance of life hasa hub, this is it. Visit MaravillaAtTheDomain.com andcall(512) 575-3839 fora personal tour.
TexAppeal
Bonnie andBen Kennimerbuilt theirreputationonWestern wear, buttheyaren’tabouttoletthatfence them in.“We getput in aWestern categoryquiteabit,butit’sdefinitelynottheonlythingwedo,”Bonnie says.Theireponymousbrandmade itsNew York FashionWeekdebut in February—a case of Texasinfluence reaching thefashion capital rather than theother wayaround. It wasa huge milestonefor the husband-and-wifeduo,whofounded Kennimer in Houstonin2017 before relocating to Austin.While plentyofdesignerstrytowranglea cowboyaesthetic,thesenativeTexanshaveanauthenticitythatreflects theirheritagewhile introducing refinedsensibilities.The brand oftenturnstonatureforinspiration, incorporatingglitteringdetails suchasbirdsandTexaswildflowers. Theirnewestcollectionemphasizes Victorianinfluences andvelvet textures.In2021, Leon Bridges honoredhisLoneStarrootswitha custom whiteKennimerhat at the MetGala,whilemusicianSummer Deandonnedaredcowgirl-inspired ensemble forher GrandOle Opry debutthiswinter. “Withthe popularity of Westernfashion,it’snice to be able to work with people who arepicking that up andrealizing thatit’scool,”Bensays.Seethelooks at kennimer.co —RoseMcMackin
ShutUpandPlaytheHits
From Taylor SwiftNight to Charli XCXtribute events, artist-themeddance partiesare taking over Austin nightlife. Butare they drowning outclubculture?
BYBRYANC.PARKER
DANCERSSOAKEDINMAGENTALIGHTbounceinunison, anticipating thefamiliarchorusbreak as it approaches “PinkPonyClub! I’mgonna keep on dancing!”theyshout together.The houseispacked, butthisisn’t aChappellRoan show.It’sa themed danceparty wherea DJ playssongs by a particularfamedpopstarforadoringfans—andtheseevents arepopping up across thecapital city.TaylorSwift,One Direction,CharliXCX,LadyGaga,LCDSoundsystem,andmany morehavereceivedthetheme-nighttreatment,oftenaccompaniedbyacatchytitle:GoodLuckClub,ABrattyDanceNight, DanceYrselfClean
“Inthe past year to twoyears,ithas really become very popular,”saysBen Schechter, founderofWhatthe Dance, a companythatdesigns andpromotessuchthemedparties in citiesacrossthecountry,includingAustin.Agraphicposted tothebusiness’Instagramaccounttoutedhosting512events across87differentcitiesin2024.WhattheDancehascreated eventsaroundSabrinaCarpenter,OliviaRodrigo,andBritney Spears(amongmanyothers),andithasasisterbrand,Noche
de Verano SinTi, whichorganizes BadBunny themenights. Schechterstarted thebusinessin2021inSan Francisco, but he hasbranchedout to dozens of marketsasdemandfor the partieshasgrown.Now,theslateofdatesforhiseventslooks like apop star’s tour schedule,crisscrossing thecountry
What theDance is just oneofseveral like-mindedgroups that have rapidlytaken off in recent months,including Candi Pop, Orlove,and Taylor SwiftNight.Evenmajor concert promoterssuchasLiveNationhaveventuredintothe trend, partnering with aLos Angeles–basedcompany called Club 90sfor aJustinBieber–themed eventthispastJanuary at Emo’s. OtherAustinvenueslikethe Parish,Empire, and Volstead have also been earlyadoptersofthe movement
Schechter,amusicloverfromSeattlewhogothisstartorganizingconcertsforindiebands,saystheformatisahigh-interest, low-cost wayto fill datesonclubcalendars.Expensesfor promotersandvenuesaremuchlowerforasingleDJthanforseveralmulti-piecebands,andDJscanperformforlongerperiods oftime.Thatsavingsismagnifiedwhenacompanycantakethe
Thetrendarrivesatatimewhenconcertshave stumbled,andmusicianshavelamentedtheeconomichardships of touring. Even high-profile performerslikeTheBlackKeysandJenniferLopez havestruggledtofillvenues(bothartistscanceled tourslastyear).Schechter sawa shiftinnightlife in thepost-pandemic era. “I really felt like there wasthatneedformoreofacommunityatevents,” hesays.“Peoplewerecomingoutinpublicagain, andyou couldbedancing andbelting outyour favorite lyrics with your friends.”The experience instilleda more profound senseofconnection than thekindofshowwhere strangersstand in silenceandstareatabandperforming
Whilethe corporatizationand thehyperspecificnatureofthese partiesare new, themed events arenot.Local DJ Ezra Edwards(akaBoi Orbison)startedacountrymusicdancenightcalled NeonRainbowsatCheerUpCharlieswaybackin 2012.Infact,theRedRiverClubhasbeen on theforefront of this trendfor years, with arecurring Middle School DanceParty (also createdbyEdwards)and events like Madonnathemeddragshowsand sapphicpopnights
Edwardsisn’t the only Austinitewho wasthinkingahead:
Alex Chavez,a promoterknown in the sceneasDing, created EmoNight about adecadeago at Barbarella, andit’sstill goingstrongtoday. Ding’s foresightinthis arenaled himtostart a companycalledTexas Emo Club,whichpromotesaslewof othereventslikeBeyonce’sRoundup andBoysDon’t Cry, anew wave party. Although Ding’s companyfocuses on localor regional marketsratherthannationalcircuits, itsharessomesimilaritytothelargergroupsin this burgeoning market
“Theyhavetheirfingeronthepulsewiththe zeitgeistand understand thesethingsare in demand,” he says.But he stillfeels like he’s gotthe edgeovernewcomercompetitors.YearsofexperienceinAustinallowshimtobetterunderstand thenuances of itsparticulartastes, he explains Plus,hecanbemoreagile.TheweekBratdropped, hescrappedplansforaDisneyChannelpopnight
andpivoted to aCharliXCX theme, whichwas a huge hit. Meanwhile, larger companieswitha touringscheduleare obligatedtofulfill those scheduleddates
Despitethesuccessoftheevents,noteveryone is afan.“Thesetraveling themenightsmakea lotofmoney,buttheysuckthecultureoutofthe city,” lo lDJO Fr he spective, ealtoan ghtlifeor hecalls playlist complex stypical oclubs favorite ya says it failure. hintsat eatthe meparty eisbeer more d. We all lGadot’s agine” tdude anberry ateboard oFleetd Brat’s me green blelast ingthe ay.The andmore edhow tofGen nggiants memetous or
superfluous.Ata time when it’s more difficult than ever to motivate people to leavethe house andtospend hard-earneddollars,ithelps to have somethingrecognizabletodrive interest Somethingthatdoesn’t demand brainpower andthrives on an emotionalresponse. Don’t overthinkit, just hurryup, you’re hottogo!
Opposite page and above:Partygoersat Cheer Up Charlies during aChappell Roan–themed dance night. Inset: DJ Rvby Knight performsata sapphic pop event.
PartyonWheels
TravelersLounge
Youmight feel abit like Austin Powers as you boardthisdouble-decker Britishbus.Tucked betweenHolidayon7thandCabanaClub,theEast Sidevehicleishometoatwo-storyloungehelmed by hospitalitymavensGustavo Ortega Oyarzun andPaola Segovia(Visitant Social Club), who convertedthe busintoa retroyet futuristic speakeasyonwheels. Lounge on plushy modinspired furnitureasyou snackonhouse-made roastednutsand sipout-of-this-world cocktails like thebubblingand illuminatedAnti-Gravity. Thefirst-come, first-served barisopen Thursday throughSaturdaynightsand features kitschytouches like asilver mannequin“driver”andserversdressed inspacesuits.Whilethebusisstationary, itwilltransportyoutoadifferenttime. Yeah,baby!travelerslounge.vip
Getonboard with thesecoolmobileconceptsrolling around town BYMADELINE
HOLLERN
Austin Arcade Trolley
Ifyougrewupyelling“FinishHim!”inMortalKombatorchompingpellets inMs.Pac-Man,you’reboundtolovethisnewarcadeonwheels.TreyTschoepe renovatedanold trolleytobuild themobileconcept tailored forprivate partiesand events.Fitting up to 15 people comfortably, thetrolley boasts eightarcadefavorites from the’80sand ’90s (including NBAJam, The Simpsons,andStreetFighterII)aswellasacustomgametopwithmorethan 30,000 availablegames.While he hadinitially envisioned thearcadefor children’sbirthdays,Tschoepesaysitsnostalgicappealhasalsogarnereda mucholdercrowd:“Ihavea57-year-oldneighborwholikestositinthetrolley andplayAsteroids—maybemorethanmy8-year-oldneighborlikestositin thereandplayNFLBlitz.”austinarcadetrolley.com
LionessBooks
Whilebrick-and-mortarbookstoreshave always been gatheringspacesfor bibliophiles,Sarah Ambrus wanted to create a hubthatbeckonednon-readers,too OpenedlastJune,LionessBooksisamobile used bookstorethatpopsupeverywherefrombreweriesandcoffeeshopsto dogparks.Theformerhighschoolteacherretrofittedthe20-footcargotrailerinto acozyreading space filled with fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, andevencomic booksforadultsandkids.Ambrusnamed it “Lioness”tohonor theanimal’sability to connect: “The waythatthe lion takes care of thepride andmaintains theconnections—tome, that wasa really good symbol of both thepower of community, butalsoafemininesymbol,”Ambrussays Catchthetraileratrotatingspotssuchas Canopy,SlackersBrewing Co., and5th Element. lionessbookstx.com
WhattoDoinLockhart
Chow down on barbecue,enjoy FirstFridays on the historic square,and discover vintagetreasures in this burgeoning smalltown.
BYMADELINE HOLLERN
ALITTLEBIT COUNTRY anda little bitrock‘n’ roll,Lockharthas experiencedarenaissanceinthelastdecade.WhiletheBarbecueCapitalofTexasisbestknownforclassicjointslikeKreuzandSmitty’s,the growingtownlocated 35 milessoutheast of thecapital city recently earneda“musicfriendly”designationbytheTexasMusicOffice,driven in part by Austin artistswho arerelocatingthere forits affordability Whetheryou’relookingforadaytriporweekendjaunt,Lockharthasa laid-backvibethatattractscowboysandcreativesalike.
Eat
Meat lovers flockfromacrossthe statetotry the postoak–smokedporkribsatSmitty’sandoriginal sausageat KreuzMarket.Ifyou’reintown onaSaturdayorSunday,snagaspotinlineearly atBarbs-B-Q,whichrecentlynabbedaBibGourmandrecognitioninTexas’newMichelinGuide. AtLoop&Lil’s,sinkyourteethintothescratchmade,thincrustpizzaorordertheHondostromboli,stuffed with Italiansausage,meatballs, pepperoni, andham.Looking forsomething a littlelighter?Enjoyarainbowofveggieswiththe Gramma’sOrchardsaladatMarketStreetCafe
Drink
Austinites mightnoticesomefamiliar names behind thenightlife sceneinLockhart. Follow theneonsignpointingdownthestairstodiscover populardivebar Little Trouble,helmedby formerJustine’sexecutivechefCaseyWilcox,and sipaDrPepperOldFashionedorSmokeyFrozen MargaritaonthehistorictownsquareatOldPal (4),operatedbyTravisTober (NickelCity).Denis O’Donnellpioneered capitalcityfavorites such asTheWhiteHorseandSagebrushbeforeopen-
This page, clockwise from top left: The Leona; Mill Scale Metalworks; Magic Mirror.Opposite page:Old Pal.
Thoseonthehuntforvintagetreasureswilllove thumbingthroughthecuratedselectionatMagic Mirror (3) and Golden Hour Shop.Toadd a modelementtoyourhome,dropbyStampworthyGoods,whichsellscustom-tiledfurnitureas wellasmidcenturyrarefinds.(Theshopalsooffers free weekly delivery to Austin.) Peruse artfrom CentralTexas creativeslikePatrick Puckettand LandryMcMeansatCommerceGalleryandgrab gourmetgifts before indulginginthe famous bananapuddingatTheCulinaryRoom.Ifallthe barbecue in Lockhart inspires youtobecomea pitmaster, youcan purchase your ownperfect smokeratMillScaleMetalworks(2)
Expplore
On the FirstFriday of each month, businesses stay open until8 p.m.,beckoning locals andvisitorswithfreesnacks, beverages, anddiscounts. Just10milessoutheastofLockhart,OldSettler’s MusicFestivalbringstogethermusicloverswith itsannualspringtimefest.Thisyear,thefour-day gathering(April24-27)willincludeperformances by Watchhouse,the HeartlessBastards, and DevilMakesThree.Formorelivemusic,takethe wholefamilytoCourthouseNights,anoutdoor musicseriesevery thirdFridayfromApril to AugustattheCaldwellCountyCourthouseLawn.
Stay y
Revitalizedfromtheruinsofaformercementbatch plantalonganaquifer,TheLeona(1) featureseight stylishrentalcabinsdesignedbyAustin’sLake|Flato Architects.Savorboldwallpapersandmaximalist decorbySarahStaceyInteriorDesignandreconnect with nature by taking awalknexttothe rushing waterfallandwildflowersonproperty.
HumanResources
In Austin’s boomingtechsector, companiesare turninghighly educated gigworkers into humanfarms forAI.
BYROSE MCMACKIN
WHEN ARTHUR GOT hismaster’sdegreein literature,heneverdreameditwouldleadtoajob inartificialintelligence.Butinfact,anadvanced degreeispartofwhatqualifiedhimforhiscurrent occupation,wherehespendsdaystypingoutlocal businessdescriptionsusedtofinetuneAI.Itisn’t creative work;it’srepetitive, andhis team hasa strict styleguide.Arthur, whopreferred to usea pseudonymforthisstory,tookthegigafterbeing laidofffromamarketingcareerhelovedin2022. Now, he’s making alittleoverminimum wage as acontractor, with no benefits andlittlesecurity. Whilehehopedtherolewouldbetemporary,he’s struggledto find otherwork. An Austin native, Arthur is increasingly unsure wherehe fits into thecity’sshiftingeconomy.“Thisusedtofeellike aplacewherecreativepeoplecouldmakealiving,” hesays.“Now,I’mnotsure.”
Thecapital city’s AI sector is thriving,but its successhingesonagrowingforceofdataworkers. Thekindofdatatheseartificialintelligencesystems yearnforisn’tstatsandfigures—it’sorganichuman knowledge, things like grammaticfluency and regional nuances. Imaginelifelesszombies with an impulsetofeast on allthe juicycontentsof humanbrains. Themajor companiesare hiring subjectmatterexperts,including doctorsand lawyers, to labeland create proprietarydatathat canbeusedtorefineAImodels.Ascompaniesrace to buildthe best versions,accesstohigh-quality fodderhasbecomeadifferentiatingfactor.Butthe workresemblesmind-numbingdataentry,andthe payispaltry.
“InresponsibleAI,wethinkverymuchabout producinggoodoutputs forthe people whouse oursystems,” says MatthewLease,a professorin theSchoolofInformation at theUniversityof TexasatAustinandanexpertinfairAI.“Wedon’t talk nearly enough aboutthe people whohelp create thosesystems.” Leasehas spoken at con-
ferences like oneheldbythe TexasAcademy of Medicine EngineeringScience andTechnology (TAMEST)inAustinlastFebruary,wherehespoke passionatelyaboutresponsibleAIandthehuman costofthecurrentparadigm.However,Leaseand thosewhosharehisconcernsfaceanuphillbattle, as theconditionsfor employeesare dismal andhavefewguardrails
ConversationsaboutlimitsonAIdevelopment generallyfocusonhardwareandenergy,butdata isavaluableresource,too.Mostindustryplayers arescramblingtogetaholdofitatanycost,especially as it becomesscarcer.“Thebig models are trainedbyscrapingthe internet andpulling in allhuman-generated training data…and there’s just literallyonlysomuchofthat,”saidMarc Andreessen,co-founderoftheventurecapitalist firmAndreessenHorowitz,onaNovember2024 episodeofbusinesspodcasta16z
Whilesomecompanies have builtinternal teams, others turn to thirdparties like ScaleAI andInvisible Tech,which offerrobustdatagenerating squads.Bycontrolling thecreation ofthetrainingmaterials,AImodelscansidestep thebiasesand limitationsthatcomefrom, say, scrapingtheentiretyofReddit.Somedatawork isoutsourcedcheaplytoemergingeconomies butfinetuningalsoreliesonnicheskills,includingadvanceddegreesandspecializedknowledge. Dataworkisn’tnew.Evenbeforetheemergence ofgenerativeAI,machinelearningsystemsrelied on humanmoderation. Forexample,Google hiredsubject expertstoevaluatesearchresults to refine itsalgorithm.But generative AI has changedthe demand fordata, especially as billionsofdollarsgetfunneledintotheAIrace.So, people arepaidpoorlytotrain AI on theirexpertise, only forthe technology to scalethat knowledgeina waythatmakes theirworkeven less valuable.
UT professorMatthew Leasespeaksona panel about the ethicsand policyofAIatthe TAMEST conference.
GHOST IN THE MACHINE
Humans face a shifting landscape as they navigate a newrealm of AI
6in10
Ratioofjobsthatexist todaybut didnot in 1940
$379,000
Median annual compensation fora Meta employee in 2023,per a recent SECfiling
$4.5 billion
TotalVCfunding for Austin startups in 2024
10%
Portionofthe internet considered high-quality enough forAItraining.
$20
Hourly wage formany data labeling workers, dependingontask complexity.
Theworth of an AI modeldepends on the qualityoftheunderlyinginformationonwhichit wasbuilt,and there’sa lotofmoney on thetable AIstartups,includingsomeinAustin,arebooming with speculativeventure funding, focusedmore onvalueextractionthanonsustainableeconomicgrowth.Thecapitalcity’srapidlyexpandingtech sector doesn’tnecessarily translateintolucrative or stable jobcreation. Last year,Scale AI abruptly shuttereditsAustinoffice,layingoffdozensofdata workers. Even software engineeringisbecoming more vulnerable to automation,asAIcodingassistantsthreatentoreplacejuniordevelopers.
Techno-optimists comparegenerativeAIto theprintingpress or theIndustrialRevolution, arguingthatwhile thecutting-edgetechnology eliminates some careers, it createsnew ones in theirplace.Butnotallthosejobscarrythethrillingsheen of innovation—manyare hidden,grueling,anddangerouslyunderpaid.Jobgrowthis oftenconcentratedincustomerserviceanddata roles. From that perspective, AI appearstobe merelyshiftingworkersintolow-payingpositions thatexisttomanageitsshortcomings “Theworkisprecarious,it’scontingent.[These workers] don’thavea lotofthe social safety nets we’reusedto,”Leasesays.“Theextremeformofthis iscontentmoderation,whereit’snotjustthatyou’re doingroutineworkandnotgettingcompensated well forit. You’re doingsomething whereyou’re goingtoundergopsychologicalstressandpotential harm.” In January2024, Xreportedthe creation of 100new contentmoderationjobsatits Austin office.A year later, Meta announcedthatitwas shifting itscontent moderation to Texasaswell. Theseare jobs that the Wall Street Journal once describedas“theworst jobintechnology,”where employeesreviewcontentthatconfoundsAIalgorithms.Whatthose employeesare stuckwithis oftentraumatizing, includinganimalcruelty, hardcore pornography, andconspiracytheories. Increasingly,thosemoderatorsarewadingthrough thefloodofbotcontentonsiteslikeX.
Data workersare boundbystrictNDAs, and companiesare secretiveabout thesizeoftheir workforces.“TheNDAsassociatedwiththisstuff arenot just becauseofproprietary tradesecrets, butalsobecause of potentialethical concerns around thework,”explainsLease.There’s awideninggulfbetween theselow-paidcontractors andthelavishlycompensatedin-houseteamsat companieslikeMeta, X, andGoogle’sparentAlphabetInc.thattheyworkalongside—proofthat notalltechjobsarecreatedequal.
So,for alot of data workers, an AI-powered utopia is still outofsight.“I’mstill just thinking about findinga jobthatmatches my oldsalary,” says Arthur,who is readytojumpshipfromhis data jobassoonaspossible. He’s sendingout resumesandusingChatGPTtotweakcoverletters, butheisn’t sure he’llstayinthe capitalcity. He’s gotfourmonthsleftonhis SouthAustinlease, andthejobdoesn’tcoverhisrent.It’sasmallblue housewithplastic pink flamingosinthe yard From there, he cansee thefuturistichigh-rises of downtown Austin,brightwithpossibility yet somehowveryfaraway.
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FiveErasofSXSW
HowAustin’sspringtimeevent grew from asmall start-upfestival into an industryshapingjuggernautwithconferences on threecontinents.
BYBRYANC.PARKER
1987-1993
THINKING BIG
Almost40yearsago,enterprisingUTundergradRoland Swensonapproached Austin Chronicle co-founders LouisBlackandNickBarbarowithanideatobringmusic industryprofessionalstogetherinTexas’capitalcity.With some inputfromlocal promoter LouisJay Meyers (who becameoneoftheventure’sfirstdirectors),theinaugural SouthbySouthwest washeldinMarch 1987.The gatheringconsisted of panels,workshops,speeches, 177artists playingon15stages,and700registrants(morethanfour timesthe expected number). Even then,the festival’s bustling energy transformedthe collegetownintoa teemingepicenter of ideation andcommunication.
1994-2006
ALLTHE COOL KIDS
NotonlydidJohnnyCashprovideSXSW’slandmarkkeynote addressin1994, that year also marked thelaunchof thefestival’sinteractive and film components.Alongside homegrownheroeslikeRichardLinklaterandEthanHawke, rising talent flockedtothe fest in theensuing years, with directorslikeQuentin Tarantinoand Jonathan Demme andartistssuchasWilco,LizPhair,andLaurynHillmaking appearances.AustinbecametheplacetobeeachMarch.
Lefttoright: Julianna Margulies, Ethan Hawke, RichardLinklater,and MatthewMcConaughey hold aQ&A during the 1997 SXSW Film Festival.
In addition to delivering the keynote address in 2012, BruceSpringsteen performed an unforgettable setatACL Liveat the Moody Theater
2007-2015
APHENOMENON
Inthelateaughts,theeventbecameanincubatorforsome of thebiggest voices in tech as brandactivations proliferated.“ThelaunchofTwitterin2007servedasaturning point, as technology movedfroma side elementtothe maindriverofgrowth,”saysSXSWpresidentHughForrest, whohasbeenwiththecompanysince1989.Butitwasalso aperiodthatdrewstratosphericallypopularmusictalent: Prince,BruceSpringsteen,LadyGaga,JustinTimberlake, andKendrickLamar,tonamea few.
In 2016,President
2016-2024
SUIT ANDTIES
EverycomponentofSXSWbroachedanewlevelofindustryinthelate2010s:majoractivationsbyShowtime,HBO, Netflix,CapitalOne,andSpotify;redcarpetappearances by A-list celebs like Jordan Peele, Olivia Wilde, andJon Hamm;and akeynote addressfromPresident Barack Obama.AndthatwasallbeforethepandemicledtoSXSW sellingamajorityofitssharesin2021tothePenskeMedia Corporation, whichownsbrandslike RollingStone and TheHollywood Reporter.Corporate ties have also ledto controversy, andnot just thegeneral lament of abygone cool factor.In2024, bandsdropped outofthe festival en massetoprotestthefest’spartnershipswithmilitarydefense contractors. (SXSWlater released astatement saying it wouldnotretainthosesponsorsmovingforward.)
2025 andBeyond GOINGGLOBAL
In October2023, SXSW launched its firstconference outsideofAustinwithaneventinSydney,Australia,and will follow up with an installmentinLondoninJune 2025.Those spinoffswill accentuate each city’s unique qualities, accordingtoForrest,who says,“It’s less about trying to recreate what hasmadeAustinsuccessfuland more aboutforging theirown identities.” At this point, SXSW hasbecomelessa festival andmorea cultural movement builtarounda mindset—anditall started thanks to Austin’s love of music.
Barack Obama delivered SXSW’s keynote address,a powerful indicator of the upstart fest’s growth.
Popstar Lady Gaga performs at Stubb’sBBQ foranevent sponsored by Doritosduring SXSW’s2014 festival.
Ed Husic,Australian Minister forIndustryand Science, and Andromeda RoboticsCEO Grace Brownduring SXSW’s inaugural Sydneyevent
Lawnand Order
Can’tstopsneezing?
Alocal expert explains theallergies that plague CentralTexans allyearlong.
BYMADELINE HOLLERN
If youfind your car coveredingreenish-yellow dust around mid-March, it’s notaSt. Patrick’sDay prank—oakpollenisthe culprit. Virginia live oakand redoak release pollen in thespring, as do treesincluding American elm, pecan, andash.Althoughthisisa popularseasontoenjoy thebeautiful temperatures, Dr.Reshamwalasaysthatyou might rethinkthe timing of your alfresco workout: “You want to avoidexercisingoutdoorsin theearly morning,”she says.“That’s actually when pollen canbe themostelevated.”
ACHOO!Nevermindlivemusic—Austinalsohasareputation forbeing theAllergy Capitalofthe World. Whilecedar is notoriousfor terrorizinglocalsinthe winter,the city has ahostofplantsthatcan affectAustinitesthroughoutthe year,saysDr.NehaReshamwalaofFrontierAllergy,Asthma, andImmunology. “The structureofthe land here is what actually keepsthe allergensinthe area,” shesays. “We’re notnearany big body of wateraroundshoreline or anything that wouldlet theallergens blowaway.”WeaskedtheAustin-baseddoctortobreakdownwhichpesky allergiestoexpectineachseason—andhow youcan combat them
Whileit’sfun to listen to live musicatBlues on the Greenorwatch amovie in apark, grass is thetop offenderinthe warmestmonths. “Peoplewho have grassallergies respondvery strongly to theirallergens,” shesays. “They[get] hivesontheir bodyand immediatelystart feeling significant symptoms like itchyeyes, congestion, andsneezing.”Ifyou have agrass allergyand need to mowthe lawn,Dr. Reshamwala recommends poppinganantihistaminebeforehand wearingamask, andthenwashing your clothesand showeringright afteryou finish.
Autumn maybea season of mistsand mellow fruitfulness (to quoteKeats), butit’salso atimewhenragweed wreaks havocin CentralTexas.“Ragweed, alongwithother weeds, is thehighest at that time of year,” she says.Peoplewho have aragweed allergywill notice alot of symptoms of allergic rhinitis (“hayfever”) like runnynose, itchyeyes, and congestion.Although youmay be temptedasthe temperatures finally starttodrop, thedoctor advisesagainst keepingwindows open to mitigate theeffects of the allergens.
Themostinfamous of allthe seasonal allergies, cedarpollencomes just in time forthe holidays andnew year to create misery for locals.Whatmakes thesecedar (aka ashe juniper) treessopotentisthattheyare allover CentralTexas andhaveaveryhighpollenvolume, Dr.Reshamwalasays: “You’llsee in thewinter here,peoplewillthink that something’sonfire They’llsee smoke, andthatwillbecedar pollen beingreleasedintothe air.”While “cedar fever” canmimic acoldorthe flu,she says allergiesdo not causetruefevers.
I I
It’stimefor It’stimefor
From retrodinersand belovedcafes to cinnamon roll hotspots and pancakehouses, here arethe best breakfasts across Austin.
by AliKhan, Madeline Hollern, andBryan C. Parker
BIRD BIRD BISCUIT
BrianBatch dreamedofmaking biscuits whileworking hisway from baristatogeneral manager at ThunderbirdCoffee.In2018, he followed hispassion and finallylet Bird Bird take flight Craftedwithhigh-fatPlugrà European butter andspecialpatent King Arthur flour, his handmade biscuits have garnered adevoted followingacrosstown. Adda chickenbreastbrinedfor up to sevendaysthatgetsdredged in biscuitcrumbsand then fried, andyou’llunderstandwhy there areoften linesatbothlocations of this counter-servicedelight birdbirdbiscuit.com
ÉPICERIE
Bonappétit!A charming bistro andboulangerie in the Rosedaleneighborhood,Épiceriebeckonsdinersbright andearlywithitsstellarcroissantscraftedbychefSarah McIntosh.Thehamandcheeseisafanfavorite,featuring 22-month curedham sourcedfroma smallmountain town in Tennesseeand Comtécheeseaged18months fromEasternFrance.Butfeelfreetogoabsolutelyclassic with theplain croissant, whichincludes27layersof doughlaminated by hand. epicerieaustin.com
JOSEPHINEHOUSE
Brunch canbea spectacle, andlong waitsfor Instagram-worthy flapjacksis part of thegame. That’s what makes JosephineHouse’s decadent lemon ricottapancakesall thesweeter:You canget them daily, includingultrachillweekday mornings.Details make thecozyClarksville restaurant shine, like theimpressiverendition of Texas gulf shrimp andBartonSprings Mill gritsorcitrus-curedlox on hashbrowns.It’sthese little touches— from ripe persimmons andbee pollen in ayogurtbowltoabsurdlyfresh dill dancingona plate—that remind you whyMML Hospitalityhas theMidas touchonsplurge-worthyrestaurants in Austin josephineofaustin.com
Don’tlet hercompany’s name fool you —SianniDeanisneither grumpy nora grandmother. Theenterprising26-yearold conceptualized hercinnamonroll concept, CrankyGranny’sSweet Rolls, whiletakinganentrepreneurshipclass in high school.The NewJerseynativegrew up goingtoCinnabonatthe mall,and afterworking ajob at Rita’s ItalianIce,an idea took form.“They used to have a varietyofdifferentwater iceflavors. So, Ithought it wouldbesuper dope if there wasavariety of differentcinnamonroll flavors,” Dean says.“Irealizedpeople don’tknowwhattheywantsometimes untilyou presentitto’em.” Namedin honorofher grandma, CrankyGranny’s hasgarneredmillionsofviews on social mediawithits decadent,over-the-top rotating flavors,fromstuffed sweet potato pieand friedchicken to banana pudding. Unlike typicalcinnamonrolls that focus on water, yeast, andflour, the foundersaysher brioche-stylerolls are higher in fats like butter andeggs, making them especially delicious. Look forflavors like carrot cake andcrème brûlée at the Pflugervilleshopthisspring. —M.Hollern
ELDORADOCAFE
WhileEldoradoCafehas been around forlessthana decade,the restaurant hasthe soul of atried-and-trueAustinestablishment.Chefand ownerJoel Friedhoned hisskillsyears agoatTacodeli, andhis menu goes back further with nods to localbreakfast legendslikethe oldTamaleHouse,which was theinspirationforhismigaswitheggscookedtoorder.Lookingforsomething vegetarian?Build your ownbreakfast taco with distinctiveingredients like greenchile andonion rajas, nopales, andevenvegan house-made chorizo. eldoradocafeatx.com
EGGMAN
Rich Tavetian,aka TheEggman, grew up on NYCbodegabreakfast sandwiches,and he knew that’s exactlywhatAustinneeded.You can’tgowrong with thefoodtruck’s classicBEC,especiallywhen theB stands forcenter-cutapplewood smoked bacon. Slappedon aKaiserroll(as is customaryinthe city that neversleeps),this breakfastsammiewill addsomepep in your step alongwiththe strongly brewed java made with NewYorkcoffee grounds. Don’tbe surprisedifyou catchyourselfyelling “I Am theWalrus!” eggmanatx.com
Crunch cinnamon roll
Sausage,Egg,& Cheese Sandwich
Sausage, egg, andcheesesandwich
ROCKMANBAKERY
An East Side conceptinspiredby NewYorkbakeshops andParisian boulangeries,Amanda Rockman’seponymous bakery hasbagelsand croissants that wouldimpress anyone owning a MetroCardorMbappéjersey. The chef-owner of RockmanBakery utilizedher 20 yearsworking in pastry at Michelin-starred restaurantstopulloff aduetof carb magicthatmelds both concepts:the Everything Bagel Croissant, whichpairs cream cheese,green onion, andHerbs de Provence.“It’s aone-stopshop for flakygooeyness,” shesays. rockmanatx.com
THEOMELETTRY
Take atimemachine back to the goldeneraofAustin,whenslackers ruledthe city andsocialmedia hadn’t yetovertaken ourlives.At thisAirportBoulevardinstitution (est.1978),thetitulardishisthestar, withmorethan11omeletsincluding thespinach-and-bacon-stuffed Popeye’s Favorite.Opt fora short stackofgingerbread pancakes as your free side andenjoy endless poursofcoffeebeforeyoupayatthe counter. Sometimes, simplicity is bliss. theomelettry.com
JOE’SBAKERY
Oneofthebestplacestoexperience ataste of OldAustin, this James BeardAward–winning Tex-Mex dinerhasbeenacommunitystaple since1962.Whetherit’sthehumble weekdaycustomerwho’s been comingfordecadesorthenewloft dwellerswhojustlandedtheirdream tech jobdowntown, theinviting spot will make aregular outof anyonewhowalksthroughthedoor Whileyou can’tgowrong with the affordable breakfasttacos,carne guisadaisa go-tochoicefor those in theknow. joesbakery.com
PAPERBOY
Originally abuzzworthytrailer, Paperboy hasgrown into a belovedEastSidebrick-andmortar (withananticipated second location coming soon). Chef PatrickJackson’s menu teemswithheavyweight brekkie optionslikebiscuitsand gravy with friedchicken anda sunny egg, or thepopular TexasHash, adecadentsweet potato hash topped with braisedpork shoulder,a poachedegg,and a pecanmole. Want somethinga little lighter? Orderthe Paperboy pancake, aperfectly sizedstack of one. paperboyaustin.com
BattleWrBap a Wrap
Whythe breakfast taco reigns supreme over burritos in Austin.
Tryorderingabreakfast burritoinAustin, andpeoplewilllookatyou like you’re talkingsmack aboutWillieNelson. As ubiquitous to Texasasthe bagelistoNew York, thebreakfast taco is sacred here
Smallerand simplerthanburritos, breakfast tacosare typicallymadewithjusttwo or threeingredients:egg,cheese,and potato, or ameatlikechorizo or bacon. Burritos are pronetoadditions like veggies, beans, or rice.Tacos took hold as abreakfast food over ahundred yearsago in Northern Mexico.But theversion Austinites know and love—madewithfluffyscrambled eggs and melted cheese—ispureTex-Mex:ablend of Mexicanand Anglo-German ingredients that really caught on in Corpus Christiinthe 1950s. Despiteits perfection,the cuisine hasn’t takenoff outsidethe Lone Star State.
“The breakfasttacoismorelocalized to Texas,”explainsJeffreyPilcher,foodhistorian andauthorof Planet Taco: A Global History of Mexican Food.“By thetimepeoplestarted finding outabout it,the burrito hadalready filledthe Mexico breakfastcategoryfor most people in theU.S.” That dominancelikelystems from itsflourtortilla, whichismorereadily refrigerated and distributedthanits corn counterpart
WhileAustindidn’tinventbreakfast tacos, we have some knockout versions.Don’t trust us?Justask Michelin.Theyrecentlyawarded aBib Gourmand to four localspots:LaSanta Barbacha,Nixta Taqueria, CuantosTacos, andVeracruzFonda&Bar RoseMcMackin
OVENBIRD
With aLithuanianmeets Lone Star Stateinfluence,chefSarah Koslosky’s “Tex-Baltic” menu is unlike anything in thecapital city Savorthe most importantmealofthe daywiththe hoppel poppel,a hash made with smoked 44 Farmssirloin,orget adventurouswitha morning-approvedsaladfeaturingmassagedkaleandroastedapple yogurt.Evenbreakfasttacosliketheshakshuka,tvorog,andcilantro allowyou to trysomething new. Want to learnthe scratch-made techniques at home?Kosloskyhosts regularcooking classesatthe SouthAustineatery. ovenbirdatx.com
DAN’SHAMBURGERS
Thetruetestofa real-deallocal:Haveyou been to Dan’s Hamburgers forbreakfast?The old-school burger spot with aloyal followingworks magiconbreakfast sandwiches, tacos, omelets, andevenbiscuitsand gravy. Just make sure youset an alarm: Breakfastiscut off at 10:30a.m.daily except Sunday (a glorious extrahouruntil 11:30a.m.) And yes, if youcomebackfor lunchthe same day, you’ll have reachedpeakAustinite status.dans-hamburgers.com
TOASTY BADGER
Evokingthe spirit of a’70sdiner, ToastyBadgerburstontotheSouth Congressscenelastyearasagroovy spottoenjoybreakfastwellintothe afternoonhours.Chowdownon comfortfoodlikeoversizedgriddle cakesorbiscuitswithsmokyguajillo sausagegravy andtomatojam Kidsandtheyoungatheartwilllove theFrenchtoast sticks plus freshsqueezedorangeorpineapplejuice. Foranoptimal experience,snaga seat at thecounter andsip coffee outofa retromug.Comeon, get happy! loboshospitality.com/ venues/toastybadgeratx
Addalittle proteintoyour breakfastwiththis savory sausage. HudsonMeat Market Maple BlueberryBreakfast Links($6.50) at hudsonsmeatmarket.com
Startyourday right with this dreamy tea perfectfor breakfast. KinshipEnglish BreakfastMilk Tea($5.99) at Tiny Grocer
Skip corn or traditionalflour in favorofthese wraps. SieteFoods Grain-Free Almond FlourTortillas ($7.96)atCentral Market
Thesepasture-raisedeggsare everything they’recracked up to be. VitalFarms GradeAPasture Raised LargeEggs(pricevaries) at H-E-B
Channelnostalgia from your childhood—or collegeyears! —withKerbey’sclassic mix. Kerbey Lane Cafe Buttermilk PancakeMix ($4.97)atH-E-B
No dairy? No problem! Try this pecan-basedalternative in your morningbrew. Pecana PralinePecanMilk ($7.99)atpecanamilk.com
Make your ownbloodymarywith Stiles Switch co-owner CatherineStiles’ signaturemix. Barbecue Wife Bloody Mary Mix ($15)atStiles Switch BBQ& Brew
Topyour toastwiththis tastymix of strawberry, cherry,and rhubarb. Austin Jam CompanyThat’s My Jam($11.99) at CentralMarket Getyourcaffeine fix with this bold espresso blend. CuvéeCoffee Karmadillo Whole Bean Coffee ($15)at cuveecoffee.com
This famedsalsa made with jalapeños, garlic, andoil putTacodeli on themap Tacodeli Creamy Jalapeño (Doña Sauce) ($6.99)at WholeFoods Market
VERACRUZ ALLNATURAL
More than 15 yearsafter launchinga taco traileron East CesarChavezStreet, sistersReyna andMaritza Vazquezhavegrown Veracruz AllNatural into an Austin classicwithseven locations. In acityreplete with takesonmigas tacos, no versiontops Veracruz’s migaspoblanas. “Roastingthe poblana andgivingitthatsmoky flavor is what sets thetaco apart,”Reyna says.Completewithcrispyhomemade chipsand afreshly made corn tortilla, it’s oneofthe capitalcity’smostessential breakfastitems. veracruzallnatural.com
PHOEBE’S DINER
Back in 2017,while awaiting thearrivalofhis daughter,chef CamdenStuerzenbergeryearnedforawaytospendmoretime with family andlesstimerunning dinner shifts sixormore nights aweek. So,hehatched theconcept of Phoebe’s Diner, givingtherestaurantthenameofhisfirstborn.Theexpansive menurangesfromthecrispycrabcakebenedicttoasmoked brisketburrito,alongwithdishesinspiredbythechef’sloved ones—baked eggs with tomato andparmesanthankstohis wife’saffinityforshakshuka,decadentbananasfosterFrench toastnodding to hisson’s favorite fruit, and fluffypancakes adored by Phoebe herself. phoebesdiner.com
HAB NERO CAFE
The East Side isn’t the only neighborhood with legacy Tex-Mex for breakfast The Ibarra family has been slinging machacado and eggs in South Austin since 1998 The most important meal of the day is served all day, and it’s a bargain too: Breakfast tacos for $2 50? Feels like it’s still the ’90s Regulars, who run the gamut from oldschool musicians hooked on the chips and salsa to the City Hall suits, often opt for the migas, menudo, or the Patron plate, which pairs huevos rancheros with fajitas grilled over mesquite habanerocafe.com
Bananas foster French toastand CheekyMonkey
Furiosotacoand migastaco
Morning
3iconicdishesyou’vegot to tryinCentral Texas.
THETEXAS SIZEDDONUT AT ROUNDROCKDONUTS
Everything’s bigger in theLoneStar State, includingthisdelightfully over-the-top confection.Drive to Round Rock’s 99-year-olddoughnutshopto trythe 13-inchpastry, whichfillsupan entire boxwhere anormaldozen would go.Get it glazed or chocolatecovered andconsiderbringingafriendtopolish off thebreakfast behemoth roundrockdonuts.com
SWEDISHHILL
With everything from aNutella morningbuntoaham-and-gruyere croissant,thepastriesarealwaysa drawatthishotspot,whichrecently openedinWestlakeandwillexpand to SouthAustinthisspring. But here,there’sonemorningdishyou simply must order: thebreakfast sandwich.Stuffed with fluffy scrambledeggs, crispbacon,herb salad,andsalsaverde,thesandwich isbestenjoyedonSwedish’sstellar sourdough. Noticeably less tangy than thefamousSan Francisco version,thisbreadhastheperfect kickofsalt.swedishhillaustin.com
PANCAKES AT KERBEY LANE CAFE
If youwenttoUT, youlikelyscarfed down thesefamed flapjacks afterstudyingfor finalsat2 a.m. Butcollege students and families alikeadore thefluffystacksat Kerbey Lane (est.1980),which rangein flavors from classicbuttermilkand chocolatechiptospecialslikecarrot cake ands’mores kerbeylanecafe.com
CASPER FERMENTABLES
THEDON
JUAN AT JUAN IN AMILLION
At this East Side mainstay,there is only onecorrect order: theDon Juan El Grande Taco,a deliciousconcoctionof potato,bacon,egg,and cheese served in ahot tortilla.The giantbreakfast taco hasbecomethe stuff of legends—anda go-tohangovercurefor patronssince therestaurantopened45years ago. juaninamillion.com
Kombucha andbagelsmight soundlikeanunlikely pairing, butthe combination worksatthisSunsetValley spot.Departfromthe ordinary with an orderofthe sourdoughcinnamonroll andyauponkombucha, or shakeupyourmorning routinewitha Montrealinspired bageltoppedwith whitefish.Wordtothe wise: Go on weekdays,asthisSouth Austin gemtends to have a wait on weekends.(Onebite, andyou’llunderstandwhy.) casperfermentables.com
Smoked Salmon Lox
BOULDINCREEK CAFE
Nestledinone of thecity’smost iconic neighborhoods, this funky SouthAustinspothas been servingupall-vegetarian breakfaststaples since2000. Choose from asprawling menu of tacos, omelets, andbreakfast plates,orgosuper healthywitha localcold-pressedjuice anda bowl of house-made crunchy granolawithyogurt. From its cozy dining room to thebreezy patio, fewplacesevoke the feel-goodfree-spiritedness of OldAustinlikehere. bouldincreekcafe.com
SAWYER &CO.
Whosaysyoucan’tbrunchduringtheworkweek?ThisEast Side “finerdiner”featuresbiscuitsand gravy, chilaquiles, andfourkindsofbenedictsserveddailyuntil3p.m.Owner StephenShallcrossbet wisely that Austin needed Cajun Creole just as much as Tex-Mexfor breakfast, whichiswhy you’llfindNewOrleans–styleFrenchtoastandshrimpand gritswithmushroomCreolesauce.Welovethe Googie dinerarchitecturealmostasmuchasthesmokedbarbacoa benedict. sawyerand.co
CAFÉ NO SÉ
Although thenameplayfully translates to “I don’tknow,”this SouthAustindelight is more than sure of itself.The property designed by MichaelHsu dazzles with cozy blue-and-whiteinteriors, abakeryboastingapple almond muffins andkouignamannpastries, anda cafe with an elevated dailybreakfast menu Here,you cannoshonavocado toastwithcrème fraicheor kimchi hash with sunny-side-up eggs andporkbelly before you kick off your workday. Dropping by on aSaturday? Grab aspoton thepatio alongbustlingSouth Congress andorder theweekendonly seasonal French toast. cafenoseaustin.com
BREAKFASTHOUSE
It’snosecretthatNorthAustinhasbeenahubforadynamic Asianfoodscene,but this newcomer slipsintoa novel category:weekday Chinesebreakfast fix. This isn’tjustDim Sum, either.Inlieuofsoupdumplings,you’ll find other classics like turnip cake andsteamed rice noodle stuffed with beef or pork.The giantbowlofcongeeisa no brainer, butbring afriendbecause it caneasilyfeedtwo—and you don’twanttoskipthe Chinesedonut.(It’s literallythe size of asmall baguette.) 13450ResearchBlvd.,Ste.118
AWALK
THE
WEIRDSIDE
Oneofthe last vestiges of Austin’s trademarkoddity, Eeyore’s Birthday hosts its60thfestivalthisyear.
By BryanC.Parker
THESIREN CALL OF ADRUM circlebeckonscuriousexplorersdeeper intothetreegrovesofPeasePark.Adizzyingarray of color flutters amongthe vibrantspringtimegrass.There’sawomanwithfairywingsandglitterymakeup clad in only denimshortsand pasties, someoneinagiantfluffypandahead,and revelersadornedwitheveryshadeofbody paint.Jugglersandhulahoopersperform merrilyasdancers circle amaypole.It’s nota feverdream or some avant-garde circus:ThisisEeyore’sBirthdayParty,a capitalcitytraditionforoversixdecades.
AlwayscelebratedonthefinalSaturdayofApril(withatentativerainoutday oneweeklater),theiconiclocaleventhas technicallybeenaroundfor61years,but sincetheCOVID-19pandemicforcedthe cancellation of twoiterations, the2025 gatheringmarksits60thcelebration
AremnantofOldAustinoddity,the festivalembracesacosmicconnectedness andinvites free spiritsofall kindstolet loose. Theword bacchanalia comesto mind,but it’s notquite that sordid.Admissionisfree, andguestsrange from theveryold to theveryyoung—there’s evenchildren’sgamesandfacepainting Although,ithelps if you’re thekindof parentwho’smoreconcernedaboutyour kidseeingviolenceonthenewsthanthe humanforminallitsglory
ThinkofitasBurningManforfamiliesinthe middleofapublicpark.OramashupofarenaissancefairandMardiGras.Howeveryoudescribe Eeyore’s,thisquintessentiallocalexperiencewas keepingAustinweird long before theconcept became abit of snazzy branding.Scott Sexton,a longtimeboardtrusteeandformerpresidentfor thenonprofitthatsponsorstheevent,putsitthis
Ifyouwanttounderstandwhatthiscapitalcityinstitutionhas todowithamopeydonkeyfromachildren’sstory,youhaveto goallthewaybackto1964,whenaUniversityofTexasstudent namedLloydBirdwelldecidedheneededawaytorelaxbefore finalexams.Heand hisclassmateshad been studying A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh,and in onechapter,Eeyoreissad becausenoneofhis friendshaverememberedhis birthday.Birdwell decideditwasagoodenoughexcuseforfestivities anddecidedtohostapartyinEeyore’shonor.
Lady BirdJohnsonand daughter Lyndaattend Eeyore’s BirthdayParty in the 1970s.
Alongwithafewbuddies,theundergradused atypewritertowhipuparudimentaryinvitation, whichread:“Therewillbesuitablefreebeverage, such as beer,for thosewho thinkyoung.Also EEYORE’S Birthday Cake,music,special entertainment,andaMaypole!”AndonFriday,May8, 1964,thegroupheadeddowntoEastwoodsPark, whichsitsjustoffcampus,northofDeanKeeton Thatinauguraliterationfeaturedagianttrashcan full of spiked lemonadeand alivedonkey draped in flowers. Afterall,the free love ideology andflower powerculture of the
hippie movement were beginning to percolateinthe Americanzeitgeist.
By thesecondyear, ay EnglishprofessornamedJamesAyres gotinvolvedwithhelpingtostagetheparty.
Recipientsoffundsfromlastyear’seventincluded Emancipet, theAustinBat Refuge,and Hospice Austin,buttherearedozensofnonprofitsthathave been given financialsupport from theFriends of theForestFoundationovertheyears.
Sinceitshumbleinception,Eeyore’shasgrown to attractthousands of attendeeseachyear, and oneofthemostimportanttasksfororganizersis motivatingrevelerstoexittheparkwhentheevent ends at dusk.The all-volunteerstaff hasa long eveningofcleaningafter festivitieswrap. Drum circlescan be amongthe trickiesttobreak up, Carnes explains,but thoseenthusiasticparticipantsare thelifeblood of thefestival, andorganizersaren’tkeentoalienatethem
Attheendofoneeventsomeyearsago,aboard member at thetime, Doug Simmer,devised a perfectsolution:Hepickeduphisdrumandbegan marching from onecircletoanother,amassing followersashewent.“Heledthisgiantdrumline outofthe park,” Carnes remembers. “Itwas like thePiedPiper,and he just cleared eparkinonefellswoop.”
(Ayres went on to foundanother classicCentral Texasevent, ShakespeareatWinedale,aUTactingprogramthatalsostill exists today.)Overthe course of thenextdecade, underthe stewardshipoftheprofessor,Eeyore’sBirthdaydevelopedinto a fixturefor university students andthe greaterAustincommunity.EvenLadyBirdJohnson andher daughter Lynda visitedthe festival oneyear.
By 1974,ithad outgrown thesmall confinesofEastwoods ParkandmadeamovetothesprawlingacreageofPeasePark Itwasaroundthattimethattheeventmorphedfromsimplya communitygatheringtoanofficialfundraiser.Theuniversity’s YMCAchapteradoptedtheeventandisstillitsparentorganization today. However, theorganizationoperatesunder the nametheFriendsoftheForestFoundation.
Eachyear,thenonprofit’sboardvotesonwhichlocalorganizationswillbeits beneficiaries. “Wejustask that they area positive nonprofitthatisdoing somethingfor people in the Austincommunityandthattheamountofmoneythatwegive themisgoingtobenefitthem,”saysLesCarnes,aboardtrusteewhohasbeeninvolvedwithEeyore’sforover45years
Whilepeopleassociatethecapitalcity’sidentitywithitsfunky vibes,it’sworthnotingthatthespiritofcommunalbetterment centraltoEeyore’sis just as representative of Austin’s ethos.
Attendeesget achancetoshowoff theirelaborate looksat theannualcostumecontest.Andonemanhasbecomearepeat championthankstohisbelovedget-upsthatparodyiconiclocal establishments.Don Clinchystartsworking on hisensemble monthsinadvanceoftheparty.“Ijustkindofdrivearoundtown lookingfor somethingthatI canuse as abasis fora costume, a restaurantorabarorwhatever,”hesays.“ThenjustputmythinkingcaponforwhatkindofpunsIcando.”
Hisfirstattemptatthiscostumestylecamein2015,whenhe dressedas“PotNotchHashburgers,”aplayonTopNotch,with amarquee that read:“GetFried Like OurChicken”and below that,“Alright, Alright, Alright.”All of Clinchy’sparodieshave somesortofreferencetoweed.ClinchyhasspoofedMrs.Johnson’sBakery(Mrs.Jointson’sBakedery),QualitySeafood(QualitySeaweed),Matt’sElRancho(Matt’sElRoacho),andtheILove YouSoMuchmural (I SmokeYou So Much). He says thelatter washisfavorite,becausepeopleweresokeentoposewithhim forphotos,sincethat’swhateveryonedoeswiththeactualmural. Butperhaps hismostgeniusrendition washis take on Broken Spoke—asignfeaturing therecognizablewagon wheelwitha marijuanaleafatthecenterofitandthewords“Toke‘N’Smoke.”
Clinchymoved to Austin in 1991 andstarted attending Eeyore’s theverynextyear. Before that,helived in Dallas for severalyears,a move he calls“theworst decision of [his]life.” Inthecapitalcity,hefinallyfoundaplacewherehefeltrightat home.“I’mprettycountercultural—kindofa hippie at heart,” heexplains.Forhim,Eeyore’sBirthdayrepresentseverything that made himfallinlovewithAustinover30years ago, and it’sthereasonthefestivalhasbecomesoiconic.
“PeoplelikeitbecauseitembodieswhatAustinusedtobe:a town forcreatives andcountercultural people,musicians,all sortsofpeopleinthe arts,and people wish it wasstill that,” Clinchysays.“Austinhaschangeddrastically,butEeyore’shasn’t.”
Many HappyReturns
In 2007,the EastwoodsNeighborhood Associationinstalled astatueofthefestival’snamesakedonkeyintheparkwhereit allbegan.Itwas a fittinggesture foraninstitution that has stayed remarkably true to itsroots:“Just abunch of people goingouttotheparktohaveagoodtime,”asSextonputsit
Thefestival’sfoundermovedawayfromAustinlongbefore he passed away in 2014,but Birdwell made severalreturns to thegathering he dreamedup. During oneofthose visits,he
surveyedthegroundswithaweandturned to Sexton andasked,“Howdoyou do it, Scott? Theworld is adifferent place. Nothingisthesame,butEeyore’sBirthdayPartystillhasthesamefeelthatit hadwhenwestarted it.”
Sexton told himtotakeanother glance around andtakenoteofthe lack of sponsors.“We’veshunned all thebigmoneycorporations,andwe’ve stuckwiththe local,”hesays. “Every othereventintownissolelyfocusedon making money, butwekeptEeyore’sone hundredpercent nonprofit.”Fromlocal beer andfoodvendors on-sitetolocal beneariesfor thefunds raised,it’scompletely mmittedtotheAustincommunity.ForSexton, intentionality is rooted in hisworldview “ThisiswhatI want societytobelike, so being involved helpskeepthe vibe that Imoved to Austin for,”hesays.
In past interviews,Birdwellhad been clear aboutthefactthatthere’snodeepermeaningor symbolismbehindtheevent’sname.Truly,doing somethingjustforthesakeofdoingitexplainsa greatdealofwhatgetslabeled“weird”inAustin. ButthereisasectionofthatoriginalA.A.Milne storythatservesasanaptmeditationontheethos ofEeyore’s.
WhenPoohdiscoversit’sthedonkey’sbirthday, he tellshim,“Many happyreturns of theday, Eeyore.”Thephraseisabygoneexpressiontowish someoneahappybirthday.(Itmayhaveanastrologicalconnotation,markingthedayonwhicha planetreturnstothesameposition.)Inresponse, hisequinefriendsharesthesamesentiment:“And many happyreturns to you.”The famedbearremindshim that it’s nothis birthday,but Eeyore points outthatthere’s no reason hisbirthday shouldn’tbea happyoccasionfor Pooh as well Forvisitorsofthisclassic Austin celebration, sharingjoyiswhatit’sallabout.
NachoAverageParty
RememberingwhenDoritos builta 60-footvending machineatSXSWand put SnoopDogginsideit. BYBRYANC.PARKER
SINCEEMERGINGASA MECCA for brandactivations,SXSWhas been no stranger to spectacle, butone particular larger-than-life pop-up concertwas truly allthatand abag of chips. As amarketing ploy,Doritosconstructedaroughly60-foottallstageintheshapeofagiganticvending machineaimed at dispensing cool rather than Cool Ranch. Occupyinga parkinglot at FifthStreetand RedRiver,justnorth of theHilton, themakeshift venuehostedan all-star lineup—includingSnoop Dogg, Ludacris,and IceCube—during itsthreeyear tenure from 2012 to 2014.
Thestage’sfirstiterationcoincidedwith thereleaseofabrand-newproduct:“Doritos JackediseverythingfansloveaboutDoritos tortilla chips, only jacked up fora bigger experience,” said apress releaseahead of theevent.The chipsare 40%largerand thickerthantheregularvariety,hencetheir swolemoniker.In2013, thecompany toutedtheinstallationas“themostinteractive stageatSXSW”andliveduptothatpromise. Attendeescouldtweettoactivatepyrotechnics,smoke,and lights onstage, andan animationofa bagofchips fallingout of themachine wouldplaywitheachchoice. Fans even hadthe powertoselectwhich songLLCoolJwouldplayduringanencore (“Whaddup” wonout).
Perhapstoo glorious forthisworld,the stage’srun came to an endthankstotighteningcrowdcontrolrestrictionsbythecity ofAustin.In2014,LadyGagawasscheduled toheadlinetheeventbutwasforcedtomove theperformance to Stubb’safter Doritos wasunabletosecureapermitforthemegastar.Thechipbrandmayhavebeenon“The Edge of Glory” with this epic PR stunt, but it wasevidently time to endtheir “Bad Romance” with Austin’s favorite festival
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60
AWalk on the WeirdSide
Eeyore’s Birthday Partyisone of the original bastions of Austin’s funky identity.Thisyear, thespringtime gatheringhosts its60thcelebration
Editor’s Letter 24
Scout
Ahomegrown Westernwear brandgoeshighfashion 29
Themed danceparties areall therageinthe live music capital 30
Letthe good timesrollat thesemobilehot spots around town 32
What to do in Lockhart, from famous barbecue to vintageshopping 34
We live in atime whenwehavesomuchaccess to endless information.And while it’s greatthatweare more informed than ever,itcan be hardtodecipher between whatisreliable,science-based information and whatisn’t.Theseare themostcommonmisconceptionsI hearfrompatients everyday Myth:Imusthavebeenonbirth controltoo long Toooften, patientscomeineitheraskingiftheir birth controlisa contributing factor to theirinfertility or feelingthe need to sharewithmehow longthey’ve been on it.Thisisa perfect exampleofcorrelation,not causation -fertility difficultiesafterbirth controldonot mean birthcontrol causes infertility. Whileitmay take some timefor aperson’smenstrualcycle to return to normal after usinghormonalbirth control– includingIUDs, the pill, apatch,oran implant –there’s no evidence that contraceptivesaffect fertility over thelong term.Ifyou continuetoexperience irregularperiods,greater than 6months after discontinuing your birthcontrol, it is unlikely to be relatedtothe birth control, andIrecommend that youseekevaluation foranunderlyingissue.
Myth:Everyonetells me I’m notgetting pregnant becauseI’m toostressed
So,here’swhatwedoknow: infertility causes stress.While it is knownthat stress cancause cycles to become irregularand by doing so lead to infertility, thedatadoesnot show that stress causes infertility in womenwho otherwise have regularperiods.Itisalsoimportant to note that notall irregularperiods aredue to stress.
In my experience,women aren’t coming into fertility clinicsbecause of stress There’samedical factor causingtheir infertility,which absolutelyelevates stress levels andcan have an impactonyour fertility care. Managing stress throughfertility treatments is essential to overallhealth. Thephysicaldemands,uncertainties,costs,and emotionsofinfertility can significantly impactyour mental health.Stresscan also interferewithrational andwell-planneddecisions.Whenyou reduce stress,you canmakebetter decisionsabout theright treatmentcourse.
Myth:Age is only afactorinwomen
We mayhavemoved on from themyththatinfertility is only afemaleissue, but we haven’tentirely conqueredthe stigmaaroundage.The truth is,a man’s ageisa factor in reproductive health,justnot thesameway it is forwomen. Womenfaceagradual fertility declinethatbecomes more pronouncedaround age35, whereas, formen,their fertility isn’taffected until closer to age50. At that point,significantchanges in spermproduction canbegin,fromlower sperm countand qualitytothe shape,movement, andDNA of thesperm. Children borntodadsaged45and older also have an increasedriskofautism andschizophrenia. Andage isn’tthe only thingthatcan affectsperm health Lifestylefactors,likediet, canalsoimpactsperm quality. At theend of theday, it’s important forbothaspiringparents to be fully assessed
If youhavequestionsabout fertility health,Irecommend reliable resources that will give youscience-based insightinto reproductive health,likeRESOLVE.organd ASRM.org. If youwouldliketoschedulea consultation with AspireFertility Austin, please visithttps://www.aspirefertility.com/austintexasorcallusat512-479-7979
March/April2025|Vol.33|No. 2
THATLOOKS BEAUTIFUL ONYOU.
We work to makesureourpatients who undergo anyprocedure gain confidence anda sense of well-being.from looking,feeling and functioning at their best.
SCHEDULE
General Manager RandiStevenson
Editor-in-Chief Madeline Hollern
Creative Director Mara Esquivel
EDITORIAL
Executive Editor BryanC.Parker
Contributing Writers AliKhan, Rose McMackin
ART
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Subscriptions, Renewals,and AddressChanges:Austin Monthly, PO Box217,San Antonio, TX 78297-2127 512-387-6234,subscriptions@austinmonthly.com or online at austinmonthly.com/subscribe.
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Editor’sLetter
Rise andShine
ASLOCALS,WEallclingtoourownmemoryofOldAustin—a bygone(andslightlymythical)timewhenthecostoflivingwas affordable,thefoodscenewasunpretentious,andtheweirdness ofthecitywasneverindoubt.Forsome,thatperiodmighthave beeninthecosmiccowboyeraofthe1970sortheslackerdays ofthe’90s.Forme,itwasthemid-2000s,whenImovedtothe capitalcityasabright-eyedjournalismstudentatUT.Thestress of deadlines and finals couldbereliablyoffsetwitha stackof KerbeyLanepancakesatanyhour—usually2a.m.—andabusy weekendmeantrefuelingwiththeDonJuanplateatJuanina Million,arguablythebestbangforyourbuckinthecity.
Twenty yearslater,Austinhas evolvedintoa bustling metropoliswithhigh-risecondos,internationalfestivals,andeven itsownMichelin-starredrestaurants.Butsomehow,thebreakfastscenehereremainsrefreshinglynostalgic.Tried-and-true eaterieslikeJoe’sBakeryandTheOmelettryarejustaspopular as they were decadesago,while newhot spotslikeRockman BakeryandToastyBadgerfeelwarmandapproachable.Forour coverfeature,“TheBestBreakfastsinAustin” (page44),we chroniclethe city’s topbakeries, boulangeries,biscuit shops, andbelovedcafeswhereyoucanstartyourdayonahighnote. Meet acinnamonrollmaven who’sgoneviral forher sweet treats,learnwhythebreakfasttacoreignssupreme,andstock yourkitchenwithlocalstaples,fromchorizotocoffeetojam.
When imagininganevent that embodies thewonderand weirdnessofOldAustin,onegatheringimmediatelycomesto mind:Eeyore’sBirthday.Thequirkyspringtimefestivalsomehowdraws in drum circles, pot-smokinghippies,and young familiesaliketoPeasePark,andthisyear,thewhimsicalparty celebrates its60thiteration.Inhis latest feature, “A Walk on theWeird Side”(page 60), executiveeditorBryan C. Parker explores howthiscurious eventnamed aftera melancholy Winnie-the-Pooh characterbecamea joyful celebration—and stillmaintainsitscharmbyeschewingcorporatesponsorships In theend,authenticityisreallywhatwe’re seekinginAustin, andifyoulookaround,it’samazingwhereyoucanstillfindit acrossthecity.
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TexAppeal
Bonnie andBen Kennimerbuilt theirreputationonWestern wear, buttheyaren’tabouttoletthatfence them in.“We getput in aWestern categoryquiteabit,butit’sdefinitelynottheonlythingwedo,”Bonnie says.Theireponymousbrandmade itsNew York FashionWeekdebut in February—a case of Texasinfluence reaching thefashion capital rather than theother wayaround. It wasa huge milestonefor the husband-and-wifeduo,whofounded Kennimer in Houstonin2017 before relocating to Austin.While plentyofdesignerstrytowranglea cowboyaesthetic,thesenativeTexanshaveanauthenticitythatreflects theirheritagewhile introducing refinedsensibilities.The brand oftenturnstonatureforinspiration, incorporatingglitteringdetails suchasbirdsandTexaswildflowers. Theirnewestcollectionemphasizes Victorianinfluences andvelvet textures.In2021, Leon Bridges honoredhisLoneStarrootswitha custom whiteKennimerhat at the MetGala,whilemusicianSummer Deandonnedaredcowgirl-inspired ensemble forher GrandOle Opry debutthiswinter. “Withthe popularity of Westernfashion,it’snice to be able to work with people who arepicking that up andrealizing thatit’scool,”Bensays.Seethelooks at kennimer.co —RoseMcMackin
ShutUpandPlaytheHits
From Taylor SwiftNight to Charli XCXtribute events, artist-themeddance partiesare taking over Austin nightlife. Butare they drowning outclubculture?
BYBRYANC.PARKER
DANCERSSOAKEDINMAGENTALIGHTbounceinunison, anticipating thefamiliarchorusbreak as it approaches “PinkPonyClub! I’mgonna keep on dancing!”theyshout together.The houseispacked, butthisisn’t aChappellRoan show.It’sa themed danceparty wherea DJ playssongs by a particularfamedpopstarforadoringfans—andtheseevents arepopping up across thecapital city.TaylorSwift,One Direction,CharliXCX,LadyGaga,LCDSoundsystem,andmany morehavereceivedthetheme-nighttreatment,oftenaccompaniedbyacatchytitle:GoodLuckClub,ABrattyDanceNight, DanceYrselfClean
“Inthe past year to twoyears,ithas really become very popular,”saysBen Schechter, founderofWhatthe Dance, a companythatdesigns andpromotessuchthemedparties in citiesacrossthecountry,includingAustin.Agraphicposted tothebusiness’Instagramaccounttoutedhosting512events across87differentcitiesin2024.WhattheDancehascreated eventsaroundSabrinaCarpenter,OliviaRodrigo,andBritney Spears(amongmanyothers),andithasasisterbrand,Noche
de Verano SinTi, whichorganizes BadBunny themenights. Schechterstarted thebusinessin2021inSan Francisco, but he hasbranchedout to dozens of marketsasdemandfor the partieshasgrown.Now,theslateofdatesforhiseventslooks like apop star’s tour schedule,crisscrossing thecountry
What theDance is just oneofseveral like-mindedgroups that have rapidlytaken off in recent months,including Candi Pop, Orlove,and Taylor SwiftNight.Evenmajor concert promoterssuchasLiveNationhaveventuredintothe trend, partnering with aLos Angeles–basedcompany called Club 90sfor aJustinBieber–themed eventthispastJanuary at Emo’s. OtherAustinvenueslikethe Parish,Empire, and Volstead have also been earlyadoptersofthe movement
Schechter,amusicloverfromSeattlewhogothisstartorganizingconcertsforindiebands,saystheformatisahigh-interest, low-cost wayto fill datesonclubcalendars.Expensesfor promotersandvenuesaremuchlowerforasingleDJthanforseveralmulti-piecebands,andDJscanperformforlongerperiods oftime.Thatsavingsismagnifiedwhenacompanycantakethe
Thetrendarrivesatatimewhenconcertshave stumbled,andmusicianshavelamentedtheeconomichardships of touring. Even high-profile performerslikeTheBlackKeysandJenniferLopez havestruggledtofillvenues(bothartistscanceled tourslastyear).Schechter sawa shiftinnightlife in thepost-pandemic era. “I really felt like there wasthatneedformoreofacommunityatevents,” hesays.“Peoplewerecomingoutinpublicagain, andyou couldbedancing andbelting outyour favorite lyrics with your friends.”The experience instilleda more profound senseofconnection than thekindofshowwhere strangersstand in silenceandstareatabandperforming
Whilethe corporatizationand thehyperspecificnatureofthese partiesare new, themed events arenot.Local DJ Ezra Edwards(akaBoi Orbison)startedacountrymusicdancenightcalled NeonRainbowsatCheerUpCharlieswaybackin 2012.Infact,theRedRiverClubhasbeen on theforefront of this trendfor years, with arecurring Middle School DanceParty (also createdbyEdwards)and events like Madonnathemeddragshowsand sapphicpopnights
Edwardsisn’t the only Austinitewho wasthinkingahead:
Alex Chavez,a promoterknown in the sceneasDing, created EmoNight about adecadeago at Barbarella, andit’sstill goingstrongtoday. Ding’s foresightinthis arenaled himtostart a companycalledTexas Emo Club,whichpromotesaslewof othereventslikeBeyonce’sRoundup andBoysDon’t Cry, anew wave party. Although Ding’s companyfocuses on localor regional marketsratherthannationalcircuits, itsharessomesimilaritytothelargergroupsin this burgeoning market
“Theyhavetheirfingeronthepulsewiththe zeitgeistand understand thesethingsare in demand,” he says.But he stillfeels like he’s gotthe edgeovernewcomercompetitors.YearsofexperienceinAustinallowshimtobetterunderstand thenuances of itsparticulartastes, he explains Plus,hecanbemoreagile.TheweekBratdropped, hescrappedplansforaDisneyChannelpopnight
andpivoted to aCharliXCX theme, whichwas a huge hit. Meanwhile, larger companieswitha touringscheduleare obligatedtofulfill those scheduleddates
Despitethesuccessoftheevents,noteveryone is afan.“Thesetraveling themenightsmakea lotofmoney,buttheysuckthecultureoutofthe city,” lo lDJO Fr he spective, ealtoan ghtlifeor hecalls playlist complex stypical oclubs favorite ya says it failure. hintsat eatthe meparty eisbeer more d. We all lGadot’s agine” tdude anberry ateboard oFleetd Brat’s me green blelast ingthe ay.The andmore edhow tofGen nggiants memetous or
superfluous.Ata time when it’s more difficult than ever to motivate people to leavethe house andtospend hard-earneddollars,ithelps to have somethingrecognizabletodrive interest Somethingthatdoesn’t demand brainpower andthrives on an emotionalresponse. Don’t overthinkit, just hurryup, you’re hottogo!
Opposite page and above:Partygoersat Cheer Up Charlies during aChappell Roan–themed dance night. Inset: DJ Rvby Knight performsata sapphic pop event.
PartyonWheels
TravelersLounge
Youmight feel abit like Austin Powers as you boardthisdouble-decker Britishbus.Tucked betweenHolidayon7thandCabanaClub,theEast Sidevehicleishometoatwo-storyloungehelmed by hospitalitymavensGustavo Ortega Oyarzun andPaola Segovia(Visitant Social Club), who convertedthe busintoa retroyet futuristic speakeasyonwheels. Lounge on plushy modinspired furnitureasyou snackonhouse-made roastednutsand sipout-of-this-world cocktails like thebubblingand illuminatedAnti-Gravity. Thefirst-come, first-served barisopen Thursday throughSaturdaynightsand features kitschytouches like asilver mannequin“driver”andserversdressed inspacesuits.Whilethebusisstationary, itwilltransportyoutoadifferenttime. Yeah,baby!travelerslounge.vip
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Austin Arcade Trolley
Ifyougrewupyelling“FinishHim!”inMortalKombatorchompingpellets inMs.Pac-Man,you’reboundtolovethisnewarcadeonwheels.TreyTschoepe renovatedanold trolleytobuild themobileconcept tailored forprivate partiesand events.Fitting up to 15 people comfortably, thetrolley boasts eightarcadefavorites from the’80sand ’90s (including NBAJam, The Simpsons,andStreetFighterII)aswellasacustomgametopwithmorethan 30,000 availablegames.While he hadinitially envisioned thearcadefor children’sbirthdays,Tschoepesaysitsnostalgicappealhasalsogarnereda mucholdercrowd:“Ihavea57-year-oldneighborwholikestositinthetrolley andplayAsteroids—maybemorethanmy8-year-oldneighborlikestositin thereandplayNFLBlitz.”austinarcadetrolley.com
LionessBooks
Whilebrick-and-mortarbookstoreshave always been gatheringspacesfor bibliophiles,Sarah Ambrus wanted to create a hubthatbeckonednon-readers,too OpenedlastJune,LionessBooksisamobile used bookstorethatpopsupeverywherefrombreweriesandcoffeeshopsto dogparks.Theformerhighschoolteacherretrofittedthe20-footcargotrailerinto acozyreading space filled with fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, andevencomic booksforadultsandkids.Ambrusnamed it “Lioness”tohonor theanimal’sability to connect: “The waythatthe lion takes care of thepride andmaintains theconnections—tome, that wasa really good symbol of both thepower of community, butalsoafemininesymbol,”Ambrussays Catchthetraileratrotatingspotssuchas Canopy,SlackersBrewing Co., and5th Element. lionessbookstx.com
WhattoDoinLockhart
Chow down on barbecue,enjoy FirstFridays on the historic square,and discover vintagetreasures in this burgeoning smalltown.
BYMADELINE HOLLERN
ALITTLEBIT COUNTRY anda little bitrock‘n’ roll,Lockharthas experiencedarenaissanceinthelastdecade.WhiletheBarbecueCapitalofTexasisbestknownforclassicjointslikeKreuzandSmitty’s,the growingtownlocated 35 milessoutheast of thecapital city recently earneda“musicfriendly”designationbytheTexasMusicOffice,driven in part by Austin artistswho arerelocatingthere forits affordability Whetheryou’relookingforadaytriporweekendjaunt,Lockharthasa laid-backvibethatattractscowboysandcreativesalike.
Eat
Meat lovers flockfromacrossthe statetotry the postoak–smokedporkribsatSmitty’sandoriginal sausageat KreuzMarket.Ifyou’reintown onaSaturdayorSunday,snagaspotinlineearly atBarbs-B-Q,whichrecentlynabbedaBibGourmandrecognitioninTexas’newMichelinGuide. AtLoop&Lil’s,sinkyourteethintothescratchmade,thincrustpizzaorordertheHondostromboli,stuffed with Italiansausage,meatballs, pepperoni, andham.Looking forsomething a littlelighter?Enjoyarainbowofveggieswiththe Gramma’sOrchardsaladatMarketStreetCafe
Drink
Austinites mightnoticesomefamiliar names behind thenightlife sceneinLockhart. Follow theneonsignpointingdownthestairstodiscover populardivebar Little Trouble,helmedby formerJustine’sexecutivechefCaseyWilcox,and sipaDrPepperOldFashionedorSmokeyFrozen MargaritaonthehistorictownsquareatOldPal (4),operatedbyTravisTober (NickelCity).Denis O’Donnellpioneered capitalcityfavorites such asTheWhiteHorseandSagebrushbeforeopen-
This page, clockwise from top left: The Leona; Mill Scale Metalworks; Magic Mirror.Opposite page:Old Pal.
Thoseonthehuntforvintagetreasureswilllove thumbingthroughthecuratedselectionatMagic Mirror (3) and Golden Hour Shop.Toadd a modelementtoyourhome,dropbyStampworthyGoods,whichsellscustom-tiledfurnitureas wellasmidcenturyrarefinds.(Theshopalsooffers free weekly delivery to Austin.) Peruse artfrom CentralTexas creativeslikePatrick Puckettand LandryMcMeansatCommerceGalleryandgrab gourmetgifts before indulginginthe famous bananapuddingatTheCulinaryRoom.Ifallthe barbecue in Lockhart inspires youtobecomea pitmaster, youcan purchase your ownperfect smokeratMillScaleMetalworks(2)
Expplore
On the FirstFriday of each month, businesses stay open until8 p.m.,beckoning locals andvisitorswithfreesnacks, beverages, anddiscounts. Just10milessoutheastofLockhart,OldSettler’s MusicFestivalbringstogethermusicloverswith itsannualspringtimefest.Thisyear,thefour-day gathering(April24-27)willincludeperformances by Watchhouse,the HeartlessBastards, and DevilMakesThree.Formorelivemusic,takethe wholefamilytoCourthouseNights,anoutdoor musicseriesevery thirdFridayfromApril to AugustattheCaldwellCountyCourthouseLawn.
Stay y
Revitalizedfromtheruinsofaformercementbatch plantalonganaquifer,TheLeona(1) featureseight stylishrentalcabinsdesignedbyAustin’sLake|Flato Architects.Savorboldwallpapersandmaximalist decorbySarahStaceyInteriorDesignandreconnect with nature by taking awalknexttothe rushing waterfallandwildflowersonproperty.
HumanResources
In Austin’s boomingtechsector, companiesare turninghighly educated gigworkers into humanfarms forAI.
BYROSE MCMACKIN
WHEN ARTHUR GOT hismaster’sdegreein literature,heneverdreameditwouldleadtoajob inartificialintelligence.Butinfact,anadvanced degreeispartofwhatqualifiedhimforhiscurrent occupation,wherehespendsdaystypingoutlocal businessdescriptionsusedtofinetuneAI.Itisn’t creative work;it’srepetitive, andhis team hasa strict styleguide.Arthur, whopreferred to usea pseudonymforthisstory,tookthegigafterbeing laidofffromamarketingcareerhelovedin2022. Now, he’s making alittleoverminimum wage as acontractor, with no benefits andlittlesecurity. Whilehehopedtherolewouldbetemporary,he’s struggledto find otherwork. An Austin native, Arthur is increasingly unsure wherehe fits into thecity’sshiftingeconomy.“Thisusedtofeellike aplacewherecreativepeoplecouldmakealiving,” hesays.“Now,I’mnotsure.”
Thecapital city’s AI sector is thriving,but its successhingesonagrowingforceofdataworkers. Thekindofdatatheseartificialintelligencesystems yearnforisn’tstatsandfigures—it’sorganichuman knowledge, things like grammaticfluency and regional nuances. Imaginelifelesszombies with an impulsetofeast on allthe juicycontentsof humanbrains. Themajor companiesare hiring subjectmatterexperts,including doctorsand lawyers, to labeland create proprietarydatathat canbeusedtorefineAImodels.Ascompaniesrace to buildthe best versions,accesstohigh-quality fodderhasbecomeadifferentiatingfactor.Butthe workresemblesmind-numbingdataentry,andthe payispaltry.
“InresponsibleAI,wethinkverymuchabout producinggoodoutputs forthe people whouse oursystems,” says MatthewLease,a professorin theSchoolofInformation at theUniversityof TexasatAustinandanexpertinfairAI.“Wedon’t talk nearly enough aboutthe people whohelp create thosesystems.” Leasehas spoken at con-
ferences like oneheldbythe TexasAcademy of Medicine EngineeringScience andTechnology (TAMEST)inAustinlastFebruary,wherehespoke passionatelyaboutresponsibleAIandthehuman costofthecurrentparadigm.However,Leaseand thosewhosharehisconcernsfaceanuphillbattle, as theconditionsfor employeesare dismal andhavefewguardrails
ConversationsaboutlimitsonAIdevelopment generallyfocusonhardwareandenergy,butdata isavaluableresource,too.Mostindustryplayers arescramblingtogetaholdofitatanycost,especially as it becomesscarcer.“Thebig models are trainedbyscrapingthe internet andpulling in allhuman-generated training data…and there’s just literallyonlysomuchofthat,”saidMarc Andreessen,co-founderoftheventurecapitalist firmAndreessenHorowitz,onaNovember2024 episodeofbusinesspodcasta16z
Whilesomecompanies have builtinternal teams, others turn to thirdparties like ScaleAI andInvisible Tech,which offerrobustdatagenerating squads.Bycontrolling thecreation ofthetrainingmaterials,AImodelscansidestep thebiasesand limitationsthatcomefrom, say, scrapingtheentiretyofReddit.Somedatawork isoutsourcedcheaplytoemergingeconomies butfinetuningalsoreliesonnicheskills,includingadvanceddegreesandspecializedknowledge. Dataworkisn’tnew.Evenbeforetheemergence ofgenerativeAI,machinelearningsystemsrelied on humanmoderation. Forexample,Google hiredsubject expertstoevaluatesearchresults to refine itsalgorithm.But generative AI has changedthe demand fordata, especially as billionsofdollarsgetfunneledintotheAIrace.So, people arepaidpoorlytotrain AI on theirexpertise, only forthe technology to scalethat knowledgeina waythatmakes theirworkeven less valuable.
UT professorMatthew Leasespeaksona panel about the ethicsand policyofAIatthe TAMEST conference.
GHOST IN THE MACHINE
Humans face a shifting landscape as they navigate a newrealm of AI
6in10
Ratioofjobsthatexist todaybut didnot in 1940
$379,000
Median annual compensation fora Meta employee in 2023,per a recent SECfiling
$4.5 billion
TotalVCfunding for Austin startups in 2024
10%
Portionofthe internet considered high-quality enough forAItraining.
$20
Hourly wage formany data labeling workers, dependingontask complexity.
Theworth of an AI modeldepends on the qualityoftheunderlyinginformationonwhichit wasbuilt,and there’sa lotofmoney on thetable AIstartups,includingsomeinAustin,arebooming with speculativeventure funding, focusedmore onvalueextractionthanonsustainableeconomicgrowth.Thecapitalcity’srapidlyexpandingtech sector doesn’tnecessarily translateintolucrative or stable jobcreation. Last year,Scale AI abruptly shuttereditsAustinoffice,layingoffdozensofdata workers. Even software engineeringisbecoming more vulnerable to automation,asAIcodingassistantsthreatentoreplacejuniordevelopers.
Techno-optimists comparegenerativeAIto theprintingpress or theIndustrialRevolution, arguingthatwhile thecutting-edgetechnology eliminates some careers, it createsnew ones in theirplace.Butnotallthosejobscarrythethrillingsheen of innovation—manyare hidden,grueling,anddangerouslyunderpaid.Jobgrowthis oftenconcentratedincustomerserviceanddata roles. From that perspective, AI appearstobe merelyshiftingworkersintolow-payingpositions thatexisttomanageitsshortcomings “Theworkisprecarious,it’scontingent.[These workers] don’thavea lotofthe social safety nets we’reusedto,”Leasesays.“Theextremeformofthis iscontentmoderation,whereit’snotjustthatyou’re doingroutineworkandnotgettingcompensated well forit. You’re doingsomething whereyou’re goingtoundergopsychologicalstressandpotential harm.” In January2024, Xreportedthe creation of 100new contentmoderationjobsatits Austin office.A year later, Meta announcedthatitwas shifting itscontent moderation to Texasaswell. Theseare jobs that the Wall Street Journal once describedas“theworst jobintechnology,”where employeesreviewcontentthatconfoundsAIalgorithms.Whatthose employeesare stuckwithis oftentraumatizing, includinganimalcruelty, hardcore pornography, andconspiracytheories. Increasingly,thosemoderatorsarewadingthrough thefloodofbotcontentonsiteslikeX.
Data workersare boundbystrictNDAs, and companiesare secretiveabout thesizeoftheir workforces.“TheNDAsassociatedwiththisstuff arenot just becauseofproprietary tradesecrets, butalsobecause of potentialethical concerns around thework,”explainsLease.There’s awideninggulfbetween theselow-paidcontractors andthelavishlycompensatedin-houseteamsat companieslikeMeta, X, andGoogle’sparentAlphabetInc.thattheyworkalongside—proofthat notalltechjobsarecreatedequal.
So,for alot of data workers, an AI-powered utopia is still outofsight.“I’mstill just thinking about findinga jobthatmatches my oldsalary,” says Arthur,who is readytojumpshipfromhis data jobassoonaspossible. He’s sendingout resumesandusingChatGPTtotweakcoverletters, butheisn’t sure he’llstayinthe capitalcity. He’s gotfourmonthsleftonhis SouthAustinlease, andthejobdoesn’tcoverhisrent.It’sasmallblue housewithplastic pink flamingosinthe yard From there, he cansee thefuturistichigh-rises of downtown Austin,brightwithpossibility yet somehowveryfaraway.
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FiveErasofSXSW
HowAustin’sspringtimeevent grew from asmall start-upfestival into an industryshapingjuggernautwithconferences on threecontinents.
BYBRYANC.PARKER
1987-1993
THINKING BIG
Almost40yearsago,enterprisingUTundergradRoland Swensonapproached Austin Chronicle co-founders LouisBlackandNickBarbarowithanideatobringmusic industryprofessionalstogetherinTexas’capitalcity.With some inputfromlocal promoter LouisJay Meyers (who becameoneoftheventure’sfirstdirectors),theinaugural SouthbySouthwest washeldinMarch 1987.The gatheringconsisted of panels,workshops,speeches, 177artists playingon15stages,and700registrants(morethanfour timesthe expected number). Even then,the festival’s bustling energy transformedthe collegetownintoa teemingepicenter of ideation andcommunication.
1994-2006
ALLTHE COOL KIDS
NotonlydidJohnnyCashprovideSXSW’slandmarkkeynote addressin1994, that year also marked thelaunchof thefestival’sinteractive and film components.Alongside homegrownheroeslikeRichardLinklaterandEthanHawke, rising talent flockedtothe fest in theensuing years, with directorslikeQuentin Tarantinoand Jonathan Demme andartistssuchasWilco,LizPhair,andLaurynHillmaking appearances.AustinbecametheplacetobeeachMarch.
Lefttoright: Julianna Margulies, Ethan Hawke, RichardLinklater,and MatthewMcConaughey hold aQ&A during the 1997 SXSW Film Festival.
In addition to delivering the keynote address in 2012, BruceSpringsteen performed an unforgettable setatACL Liveat the Moody Theater
2007-2015
APHENOMENON
Inthelateaughts,theeventbecameanincubatorforsome of thebiggest voices in tech as brandactivations proliferated.“ThelaunchofTwitterin2007servedasaturning point, as technology movedfroma side elementtothe maindriverofgrowth,”saysSXSWpresidentHughForrest, whohasbeenwiththecompanysince1989.Butitwasalso aperiodthatdrewstratosphericallypopularmusictalent: Prince,BruceSpringsteen,LadyGaga,JustinTimberlake, andKendrickLamar,tonamea few.
In 2016,President
2016-2024
SUIT ANDTIES
EverycomponentofSXSWbroachedanewlevelofindustryinthelate2010s:majoractivationsbyShowtime,HBO, Netflix,CapitalOne,andSpotify;redcarpetappearances by A-list celebs like Jordan Peele, Olivia Wilde, andJon Hamm;and akeynote addressfromPresident Barack Obama.AndthatwasallbeforethepandemicledtoSXSW sellingamajorityofitssharesin2021tothePenskeMedia Corporation, whichownsbrandslike RollingStone and TheHollywood Reporter.Corporate ties have also ledto controversy, andnot just thegeneral lament of abygone cool factor.In2024, bandsdropped outofthe festival en massetoprotestthefest’spartnershipswithmilitarydefense contractors. (SXSWlater released astatement saying it wouldnotretainthosesponsorsmovingforward.)
2025 andBeyond GOINGGLOBAL
In October2023, SXSW launched its firstconference outsideofAustinwithaneventinSydney,Australia,and will follow up with an installmentinLondoninJune 2025.Those spinoffswill accentuate each city’s unique qualities, accordingtoForrest,who says,“It’s less about trying to recreate what hasmadeAustinsuccessfuland more aboutforging theirown identities.” At this point, SXSW hasbecomelessa festival andmorea cultural movement builtarounda mindset—anditall started thanks to Austin’s love of music.
Barack Obama delivered SXSW’s keynote address,a powerful indicator of the upstart fest’s growth.
Popstar Lady Gaga performs at Stubb’sBBQ foranevent sponsored by Doritosduring SXSW’s2014 festival.
Ed Husic,Australian Minister forIndustryand Science, and Andromeda RoboticsCEO Grace Brownduring SXSW’s inaugural Sydneyevent
Lawnand Order
Can’tstopsneezing?
Alocal expert explains theallergies that plague CentralTexans allyearlong.
BYMADELINE HOLLERN
If youfind your car coveredingreenish-yellow dust around mid-March, it’s notaSt. Patrick’sDay prank—oakpollenisthe culprit. Virginia live oakand redoak release pollen in thespring, as do treesincluding American elm, pecan, andash.Althoughthisisa popularseasontoenjoy thebeautiful temperatures, Dr.Reshamwalasaysthatyou might rethinkthe timing of your alfresco workout: “You want to avoidexercisingoutdoorsin theearly morning,”she says.“That’s actually when pollen canbe themostelevated.”
ACHOO!Nevermindlivemusic—Austinalsohasareputation forbeing theAllergy Capitalofthe World. Whilecedar is notoriousfor terrorizinglocalsinthe winter,the city has ahostofplantsthatcan affectAustinitesthroughoutthe year,saysDr.NehaReshamwalaofFrontierAllergy,Asthma, andImmunology. “The structureofthe land here is what actually keepsthe allergensinthe area,” shesays. “We’re notnearany big body of wateraroundshoreline or anything that wouldlet theallergens blowaway.”WeaskedtheAustin-baseddoctortobreakdownwhichpesky allergiestoexpectineachseason—andhow youcan combat them
Whileit’sfun to listen to live musicatBlues on the Greenorwatch amovie in apark, grass is thetop offenderinthe warmestmonths. “Peoplewho have grassallergies respondvery strongly to theirallergens,” shesays. “They[get] hivesontheir bodyand immediatelystart feeling significant symptoms like itchyeyes, congestion, andsneezing.”Ifyou have agrass allergyand need to mowthe lawn,Dr. Reshamwala recommends poppinganantihistaminebeforehand wearingamask, andthenwashing your clothesand showeringright afteryou finish.
Autumn maybea season of mistsand mellow fruitfulness (to quoteKeats), butit’salso atimewhenragweed wreaks havocin CentralTexas.“Ragweed, alongwithother weeds, is thehighest at that time of year,” she says.Peoplewho have aragweed allergywill notice alot of symptoms of allergic rhinitis (“hayfever”) like runnynose, itchyeyes, and congestion.Although youmay be temptedasthe temperatures finally starttodrop, thedoctor advisesagainst keepingwindows open to mitigate theeffects of the allergens.
Themostinfamous of allthe seasonal allergies, cedarpollencomes just in time forthe holidays andnew year to create misery for locals.Whatmakes thesecedar (aka ashe juniper) treessopotentisthattheyare allover CentralTexas andhaveaveryhighpollenvolume, Dr.Reshamwalasays: “You’llsee in thewinter here,peoplewillthink that something’sonfire They’llsee smoke, andthatwillbecedar pollen beingreleasedintothe air.”While “cedar fever” canmimic acoldorthe flu,she says allergiesdo not causetruefevers.
I I
It’stimefor It’stimefor
From retrodinersand belovedcafes to cinnamon roll hotspots and pancakehouses, here arethe best breakfasts across Austin.
by AliKhan, Madeline Hollern, andBryan C. Parker
BIRD BIRD BISCUIT
BrianBatch dreamedofmaking biscuits whileworking hisway from baristatogeneral manager at ThunderbirdCoffee.In2018, he followed hispassion and finallylet Bird Bird take flight Craftedwithhigh-fatPlugrà European butter andspecialpatent King Arthur flour, his handmade biscuits have garnered adevoted followingacrosstown. Adda chickenbreastbrinedfor up to sevendaysthatgetsdredged in biscuitcrumbsand then fried, andyou’llunderstandwhy there areoften linesatbothlocations of this counter-servicedelight birdbirdbiscuit.com
ÉPICERIE
Bonappétit!A charming bistro andboulangerie in the Rosedaleneighborhood,Épiceriebeckonsdinersbright andearlywithitsstellarcroissantscraftedbychefSarah McIntosh.Thehamandcheeseisafanfavorite,featuring 22-month curedham sourcedfroma smallmountain town in Tennesseeand Comtécheeseaged18months fromEasternFrance.Butfeelfreetogoabsolutelyclassic with theplain croissant, whichincludes27layersof doughlaminated by hand. epicerieaustin.com
JOSEPHINEHOUSE
Brunch canbea spectacle, andlong waitsfor Instagram-worthy flapjacksis part of thegame. That’s what makes JosephineHouse’s decadent lemon ricottapancakesall thesweeter:You canget them daily, includingultrachillweekday mornings.Details make thecozyClarksville restaurant shine, like theimpressiverendition of Texas gulf shrimp andBartonSprings Mill gritsorcitrus-curedlox on hashbrowns.It’sthese little touches— from ripe persimmons andbee pollen in ayogurtbowltoabsurdlyfresh dill dancingona plate—that remind you whyMML Hospitalityhas theMidas touchonsplurge-worthyrestaurants in Austin josephineofaustin.com
Don’tlet hercompany’s name fool you —SianniDeanisneither grumpy nora grandmother. Theenterprising26-yearold conceptualized hercinnamonroll concept, CrankyGranny’sSweet Rolls, whiletakinganentrepreneurshipclass in high school.The NewJerseynativegrew up goingtoCinnabonatthe mall,and afterworking ajob at Rita’s ItalianIce,an idea took form.“They used to have a varietyofdifferentwater iceflavors. So, Ithought it wouldbesuper dope if there wasavariety of differentcinnamonroll flavors,” Dean says.“Irealizedpeople don’tknowwhattheywantsometimes untilyou presentitto’em.” Namedin honorofher grandma, CrankyGranny’s hasgarneredmillionsofviews on social mediawithits decadent,over-the-top rotating flavors,fromstuffed sweet potato pieand friedchicken to banana pudding. Unlike typicalcinnamonrolls that focus on water, yeast, andflour, the foundersaysher brioche-stylerolls are higher in fats like butter andeggs, making them especially delicious. Look forflavors like carrot cake andcrème brûlée at the Pflugervilleshopthisspring. —M.Hollern
ELDORADOCAFE
WhileEldoradoCafehas been around forlessthana decade,the restaurant hasthe soul of atried-and-trueAustinestablishment.Chefand ownerJoel Friedhoned hisskillsyears agoatTacodeli, andhis menu goes back further with nods to localbreakfast legendslikethe oldTamaleHouse,which was theinspirationforhismigaswitheggscookedtoorder.Lookingforsomething vegetarian?Build your ownbreakfast taco with distinctiveingredients like greenchile andonion rajas, nopales, andevenvegan house-made chorizo. eldoradocafeatx.com
EGGMAN
Rich Tavetian,aka TheEggman, grew up on NYCbodegabreakfast sandwiches,and he knew that’s exactlywhatAustinneeded.You can’tgowrong with thefoodtruck’s classicBEC,especiallywhen theB stands forcenter-cutapplewood smoked bacon. Slappedon aKaiserroll(as is customaryinthe city that neversleeps),this breakfastsammiewill addsomepep in your step alongwiththe strongly brewed java made with NewYorkcoffee grounds. Don’tbe surprisedifyou catchyourselfyelling “I Am theWalrus!” eggmanatx.com
Crunch cinnamon roll
Sausage,Egg,& Cheese Sandwich
Sausage, egg, andcheesesandwich
ROCKMANBAKERY
An East Side conceptinspiredby NewYorkbakeshops andParisian boulangeries,Amanda Rockman’seponymous bakery hasbagelsand croissants that wouldimpress anyone owning a MetroCardorMbappéjersey. The chef-owner of RockmanBakery utilizedher 20 yearsworking in pastry at Michelin-starred restaurantstopulloff aduetof carb magicthatmelds both concepts:the Everything Bagel Croissant, whichpairs cream cheese,green onion, andHerbs de Provence.“It’s aone-stopshop for flakygooeyness,” shesays. rockmanatx.com
THEOMELETTRY
Take atimemachine back to the goldeneraofAustin,whenslackers ruledthe city andsocialmedia hadn’t yetovertaken ourlives.At thisAirportBoulevardinstitution (est.1978),thetitulardishisthestar, withmorethan11omeletsincluding thespinach-and-bacon-stuffed Popeye’s Favorite.Opt fora short stackofgingerbread pancakes as your free side andenjoy endless poursofcoffeebeforeyoupayatthe counter. Sometimes, simplicity is bliss. theomelettry.com
JOE’SBAKERY
Oneofthebestplacestoexperience ataste of OldAustin, this James BeardAward–winning Tex-Mex dinerhasbeenacommunitystaple since1962.Whetherit’sthehumble weekdaycustomerwho’s been comingfordecadesorthenewloft dwellerswhojustlandedtheirdream tech jobdowntown, theinviting spot will make aregular outof anyonewhowalksthroughthedoor Whileyou can’tgowrong with the affordable breakfasttacos,carne guisadaisa go-tochoicefor those in theknow. joesbakery.com
PAPERBOY
Originally abuzzworthytrailer, Paperboy hasgrown into a belovedEastSidebrick-andmortar (withananticipated second location coming soon). Chef PatrickJackson’s menu teemswithheavyweight brekkie optionslikebiscuitsand gravy with friedchicken anda sunny egg, or thepopular TexasHash, adecadentsweet potato hash topped with braisedpork shoulder,a poachedegg,and a pecanmole. Want somethinga little lighter? Orderthe Paperboy pancake, aperfectly sizedstack of one. paperboyaustin.com
BattleWrBap a Wrap
Whythe breakfast taco reigns supreme over burritos in Austin.
Tryorderingabreakfast burritoinAustin, andpeoplewilllookatyou like you’re talkingsmack aboutWillieNelson. As ubiquitous to Texasasthe bagelistoNew York, thebreakfast taco is sacred here
Smallerand simplerthanburritos, breakfast tacosare typicallymadewithjusttwo or threeingredients:egg,cheese,and potato, or ameatlikechorizo or bacon. Burritos are pronetoadditions like veggies, beans, or rice.Tacos took hold as abreakfast food over ahundred yearsago in Northern Mexico.But theversion Austinites know and love—madewithfluffyscrambled eggs and melted cheese—ispureTex-Mex:ablend of Mexicanand Anglo-German ingredients that really caught on in Corpus Christiinthe 1950s. Despiteits perfection,the cuisine hasn’t takenoff outsidethe Lone Star State.
“The breakfasttacoismorelocalized to Texas,”explainsJeffreyPilcher,foodhistorian andauthorof Planet Taco: A Global History of Mexican Food.“By thetimepeoplestarted finding outabout it,the burrito hadalready filledthe Mexico breakfastcategoryfor most people in theU.S.” That dominancelikelystems from itsflourtortilla, whichismorereadily refrigerated and distributedthanits corn counterpart
WhileAustindidn’tinventbreakfast tacos, we have some knockout versions.Don’t trust us?Justask Michelin.Theyrecentlyawarded aBib Gourmand to four localspots:LaSanta Barbacha,Nixta Taqueria, CuantosTacos, andVeracruzFonda&Bar RoseMcMackin
OVENBIRD
With aLithuanianmeets Lone Star Stateinfluence,chefSarah Koslosky’s “Tex-Baltic” menu is unlike anything in thecapital city Savorthe most importantmealofthe daywiththe hoppel poppel,a hash made with smoked 44 Farmssirloin,orget adventurouswitha morning-approvedsaladfeaturingmassagedkaleandroastedapple yogurt.Evenbreakfasttacosliketheshakshuka,tvorog,andcilantro allowyou to trysomething new. Want to learnthe scratch-made techniques at home?Kosloskyhosts regularcooking classesatthe SouthAustineatery. ovenbirdatx.com
DAN’SHAMBURGERS
Thetruetestofa real-deallocal:Haveyou been to Dan’s Hamburgers forbreakfast?The old-school burger spot with aloyal followingworks magiconbreakfast sandwiches, tacos, omelets, andevenbiscuitsand gravy. Just make sure youset an alarm: Breakfastiscut off at 10:30a.m.daily except Sunday (a glorious extrahouruntil 11:30a.m.) And yes, if youcomebackfor lunchthe same day, you’ll have reachedpeakAustinite status.dans-hamburgers.com
TOASTY BADGER
Evokingthe spirit of a’70sdiner, ToastyBadgerburstontotheSouth Congressscenelastyearasagroovy spottoenjoybreakfastwellintothe afternoonhours.Chowdownon comfortfoodlikeoversizedgriddle cakesorbiscuitswithsmokyguajillo sausagegravy andtomatojam Kidsandtheyoungatheartwilllove theFrenchtoast sticks plus freshsqueezedorangeorpineapplejuice. Foranoptimal experience,snaga seat at thecounter andsip coffee outofa retromug.Comeon, get happy! loboshospitality.com/ venues/toastybadgeratx
Addalittle proteintoyour breakfastwiththis savory sausage. HudsonMeat Market Maple BlueberryBreakfast Links($6.50) at hudsonsmeatmarket.com
Startyourday right with this dreamy tea perfectfor breakfast. KinshipEnglish BreakfastMilk Tea($5.99) at Tiny Grocer
Skip corn or traditionalflour in favorofthese wraps. SieteFoods Grain-Free Almond FlourTortillas ($7.96)atCentral Market
Thesepasture-raisedeggsare everything they’recracked up to be. VitalFarms GradeAPasture Raised LargeEggs(pricevaries) at H-E-B
Channelnostalgia from your childhood—or collegeyears! —withKerbey’sclassic mix. Kerbey Lane Cafe Buttermilk PancakeMix ($4.97)atH-E-B
No dairy? No problem! Try this pecan-basedalternative in your morningbrew. Pecana PralinePecanMilk ($7.99)atpecanamilk.com
Make your ownbloodymarywith Stiles Switch co-owner CatherineStiles’ signaturemix. Barbecue Wife Bloody Mary Mix ($15)atStiles Switch BBQ& Brew
Topyour toastwiththis tastymix of strawberry, cherry,and rhubarb. Austin Jam CompanyThat’s My Jam($11.99) at CentralMarket Getyourcaffeine fix with this bold espresso blend. CuvéeCoffee Karmadillo Whole Bean Coffee ($15)at cuveecoffee.com
This famedsalsa made with jalapeños, garlic, andoil putTacodeli on themap Tacodeli Creamy Jalapeño (Doña Sauce) ($6.99)at WholeFoods Market
VERACRUZ ALLNATURAL
More than 15 yearsafter launchinga taco traileron East CesarChavezStreet, sistersReyna andMaritza Vazquezhavegrown Veracruz AllNatural into an Austin classicwithseven locations. In acityreplete with takesonmigas tacos, no versiontops Veracruz’s migaspoblanas. “Roastingthe poblana andgivingitthatsmoky flavor is what sets thetaco apart,”Reyna says.Completewithcrispyhomemade chipsand afreshly made corn tortilla, it’s oneofthe capitalcity’smostessential breakfastitems. veracruzallnatural.com
PHOEBE’S DINER
Back in 2017,while awaiting thearrivalofhis daughter,chef CamdenStuerzenbergeryearnedforawaytospendmoretime with family andlesstimerunning dinner shifts sixormore nights aweek. So,hehatched theconcept of Phoebe’s Diner, givingtherestaurantthenameofhisfirstborn.Theexpansive menurangesfromthecrispycrabcakebenedicttoasmoked brisketburrito,alongwithdishesinspiredbythechef’sloved ones—baked eggs with tomato andparmesanthankstohis wife’saffinityforshakshuka,decadentbananasfosterFrench toastnodding to hisson’s favorite fruit, and fluffypancakes adored by Phoebe herself. phoebesdiner.com
HAB NERO CAFE
The East Side isn’t the only neighborhood with legacy Tex-Mex for breakfast The Ibarra family has been slinging machacado and eggs in South Austin since 1998 The most important meal of the day is served all day, and it’s a bargain too: Breakfast tacos for $2 50? Feels like it’s still the ’90s Regulars, who run the gamut from oldschool musicians hooked on the chips and salsa to the City Hall suits, often opt for the migas, menudo, or the Patron plate, which pairs huevos rancheros with fajitas grilled over mesquite habanerocafe.com
Bananas foster French toastand CheekyMonkey
Furiosotacoand migastaco
Morning
3iconicdishesyou’vegot to tryinCentral Texas.
THETEXAS SIZEDDONUT AT ROUNDROCKDONUTS
Everything’s bigger in theLoneStar State, includingthisdelightfully over-the-top confection.Drive to Round Rock’s 99-year-olddoughnutshopto trythe 13-inchpastry, whichfillsupan entire boxwhere anormaldozen would go.Get it glazed or chocolatecovered andconsiderbringingafriendtopolish off thebreakfast behemoth roundrockdonuts.com
SWEDISHHILL
With everything from aNutella morningbuntoaham-and-gruyere croissant,thepastriesarealwaysa drawatthishotspot,whichrecently openedinWestlakeandwillexpand to SouthAustinthisspring. But here,there’sonemorningdishyou simply must order: thebreakfast sandwich.Stuffed with fluffy scrambledeggs, crispbacon,herb salad,andsalsaverde,thesandwich isbestenjoyedonSwedish’sstellar sourdough. Noticeably less tangy than thefamousSan Francisco version,thisbreadhastheperfect kickofsalt.swedishhillaustin.com
PANCAKES AT KERBEY LANE CAFE
If youwenttoUT, youlikelyscarfed down thesefamed flapjacks afterstudyingfor finalsat2 a.m. Butcollege students and families alikeadore thefluffystacksat Kerbey Lane (est.1980),which rangein flavors from classicbuttermilkand chocolatechiptospecialslikecarrot cake ands’mores kerbeylanecafe.com
CASPER FERMENTABLES
THEDON
JUAN AT JUAN IN AMILLION
At this East Side mainstay,there is only onecorrect order: theDon Juan El Grande Taco,a deliciousconcoctionof potato,bacon,egg,and cheese served in ahot tortilla.The giantbreakfast taco hasbecomethe stuff of legends—anda go-tohangovercurefor patronssince therestaurantopened45years ago. juaninamillion.com
Kombucha andbagelsmight soundlikeanunlikely pairing, butthe combination worksatthisSunsetValley spot.Departfromthe ordinary with an orderofthe sourdoughcinnamonroll andyauponkombucha, or shakeupyourmorning routinewitha Montrealinspired bageltoppedwith whitefish.Wordtothe wise: Go on weekdays,asthisSouth Austin gemtends to have a wait on weekends.(Onebite, andyou’llunderstandwhy.) casperfermentables.com
Smoked Salmon Lox
BOULDINCREEK CAFE
Nestledinone of thecity’smost iconic neighborhoods, this funky SouthAustinspothas been servingupall-vegetarian breakfaststaples since2000. Choose from asprawling menu of tacos, omelets, andbreakfast plates,orgosuper healthywitha localcold-pressedjuice anda bowl of house-made crunchy granolawithyogurt. From its cozy dining room to thebreezy patio, fewplacesevoke the feel-goodfree-spiritedness of OldAustinlikehere. bouldincreekcafe.com
SAWYER &CO.
Whosaysyoucan’tbrunchduringtheworkweek?ThisEast Side “finerdiner”featuresbiscuitsand gravy, chilaquiles, andfourkindsofbenedictsserveddailyuntil3p.m.Owner StephenShallcrossbet wisely that Austin needed Cajun Creole just as much as Tex-Mexfor breakfast, whichiswhy you’llfindNewOrleans–styleFrenchtoastandshrimpand gritswithmushroomCreolesauce.Welovethe Googie dinerarchitecturealmostasmuchasthesmokedbarbacoa benedict. sawyerand.co
CAFÉ NO SÉ
Although thenameplayfully translates to “I don’tknow,”this SouthAustindelight is more than sure of itself.The property designed by MichaelHsu dazzles with cozy blue-and-whiteinteriors, abakeryboastingapple almond muffins andkouignamannpastries, anda cafe with an elevated dailybreakfast menu Here,you cannoshonavocado toastwithcrème fraicheor kimchi hash with sunny-side-up eggs andporkbelly before you kick off your workday. Dropping by on aSaturday? Grab aspoton thepatio alongbustlingSouth Congress andorder theweekendonly seasonal French toast. cafenoseaustin.com
BREAKFASTHOUSE
It’snosecretthatNorthAustinhasbeenahubforadynamic Asianfoodscene,but this newcomer slipsintoa novel category:weekday Chinesebreakfast fix. This isn’tjustDim Sum, either.Inlieuofsoupdumplings,you’ll find other classics like turnip cake andsteamed rice noodle stuffed with beef or pork.The giantbowlofcongeeisa no brainer, butbring afriendbecause it caneasilyfeedtwo—and you don’twanttoskipthe Chinesedonut.(It’s literallythe size of asmall baguette.) 13450ResearchBlvd.,Ste.118
AWALK
THE
WEIRDSIDE
Oneofthe last vestiges of Austin’s trademarkoddity, Eeyore’s Birthday hosts its60thfestivalthisyear.
By BryanC.Parker
THESIREN CALL OF ADRUM circlebeckonscuriousexplorersdeeper intothetreegrovesofPeasePark.Adizzyingarray of color flutters amongthe vibrantspringtimegrass.There’sawomanwithfairywingsandglitterymakeup clad in only denimshortsand pasties, someoneinagiantfluffypandahead,and revelersadornedwitheveryshadeofbody paint.Jugglersandhulahoopersperform merrilyasdancers circle amaypole.It’s nota feverdream or some avant-garde circus:ThisisEeyore’sBirthdayParty,a capitalcitytraditionforoversixdecades.
AlwayscelebratedonthefinalSaturdayofApril(withatentativerainoutday oneweeklater),theiconiclocaleventhas technicallybeenaroundfor61years,but sincetheCOVID-19pandemicforcedthe cancellation of twoiterations, the2025 gatheringmarksits60thcelebration
AremnantofOldAustinoddity,the festivalembracesacosmicconnectedness andinvites free spiritsofall kindstolet loose. Theword bacchanalia comesto mind,but it’s notquite that sordid.Admissionisfree, andguestsrange from theveryold to theveryyoung—there’s evenchildren’sgamesandfacepainting Although,ithelps if you’re thekindof parentwho’smoreconcernedaboutyour kidseeingviolenceonthenewsthanthe humanforminallitsglory
ThinkofitasBurningManforfamiliesinthe middleofapublicpark.OramashupofarenaissancefairandMardiGras.Howeveryoudescribe Eeyore’s,thisquintessentiallocalexperiencewas keepingAustinweird long before theconcept became abit of snazzy branding.Scott Sexton,a longtimeboardtrusteeandformerpresidentfor thenonprofitthatsponsorstheevent,putsitthis
Ifyouwanttounderstandwhatthiscapitalcityinstitutionhas todowithamopeydonkeyfromachildren’sstory,youhaveto goallthewaybackto1964,whenaUniversityofTexasstudent namedLloydBirdwelldecidedheneededawaytorelaxbefore finalexams.Heand hisclassmateshad been studying A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh,and in onechapter,Eeyoreissad becausenoneofhis friendshaverememberedhis birthday.Birdwell decideditwasagoodenoughexcuseforfestivities anddecidedtohostapartyinEeyore’shonor.
Lady BirdJohnsonand daughter Lyndaattend Eeyore’s BirthdayParty in the 1970s.
Alongwithafewbuddies,theundergradused atypewritertowhipuparudimentaryinvitation, whichread:“Therewillbesuitablefreebeverage, such as beer,for thosewho thinkyoung.Also EEYORE’S Birthday Cake,music,special entertainment,andaMaypole!”AndonFriday,May8, 1964,thegroupheadeddowntoEastwoodsPark, whichsitsjustoffcampus,northofDeanKeeton Thatinauguraliterationfeaturedagianttrashcan full of spiked lemonadeand alivedonkey draped in flowers. Afterall,the free love ideology andflower powerculture of the
hippie movement were beginning to percolateinthe Americanzeitgeist.
By thesecondyear, ay EnglishprofessornamedJamesAyres gotinvolvedwithhelpingtostagetheparty.
Recipientsoffundsfromlastyear’seventincluded Emancipet, theAustinBat Refuge,and Hospice Austin,buttherearedozensofnonprofitsthathave been given financialsupport from theFriends of theForestFoundationovertheyears.
Sinceitshumbleinception,Eeyore’shasgrown to attractthousands of attendeeseachyear, and oneofthemostimportanttasksfororganizersis motivatingrevelerstoexittheparkwhentheevent ends at dusk.The all-volunteerstaff hasa long eveningofcleaningafter festivitieswrap. Drum circlescan be amongthe trickiesttobreak up, Carnes explains,but thoseenthusiasticparticipantsare thelifeblood of thefestival, andorganizersaren’tkeentoalienatethem
Attheendofoneeventsomeyearsago,aboard member at thetime, Doug Simmer,devised a perfectsolution:Hepickeduphisdrumandbegan marching from onecircletoanother,amassing followersashewent.“Heledthisgiantdrumline outofthe park,” Carnes remembers. “Itwas like thePiedPiper,and he just cleared eparkinonefellswoop.”
(Ayres went on to foundanother classicCentral Texasevent, ShakespeareatWinedale,aUTactingprogramthatalsostill exists today.)Overthe course of thenextdecade, underthe stewardshipoftheprofessor,Eeyore’sBirthdaydevelopedinto a fixturefor university students andthe greaterAustincommunity.EvenLadyBirdJohnson andher daughter Lynda visitedthe festival oneyear.
By 1974,ithad outgrown thesmall confinesofEastwoods ParkandmadeamovetothesprawlingacreageofPeasePark Itwasaroundthattimethattheeventmorphedfromsimplya communitygatheringtoanofficialfundraiser.Theuniversity’s YMCAchapteradoptedtheeventandisstillitsparentorganization today. However, theorganizationoperatesunder the nametheFriendsoftheForestFoundation.
Eachyear,thenonprofit’sboardvotesonwhichlocalorganizationswillbeits beneficiaries. “Wejustask that they area positive nonprofitthatisdoing somethingfor people in the Austincommunityandthattheamountofmoneythatwegive themisgoingtobenefitthem,”saysLesCarnes,aboardtrusteewhohasbeeninvolvedwithEeyore’sforover45years
Whilepeopleassociatethecapitalcity’sidentitywithitsfunky vibes,it’sworthnotingthatthespiritofcommunalbetterment centraltoEeyore’sis just as representative of Austin’s ethos.
Attendeesget achancetoshowoff theirelaborate looksat theannualcostumecontest.Andonemanhasbecomearepeat championthankstohisbelovedget-upsthatparodyiconiclocal establishments.Don Clinchystartsworking on hisensemble monthsinadvanceoftheparty.“Ijustkindofdrivearoundtown lookingfor somethingthatI canuse as abasis fora costume, a restaurantorabarorwhatever,”hesays.“ThenjustputmythinkingcaponforwhatkindofpunsIcando.”
Hisfirstattemptatthiscostumestylecamein2015,whenhe dressedas“PotNotchHashburgers,”aplayonTopNotch,with amarquee that read:“GetFried Like OurChicken”and below that,“Alright, Alright, Alright.”All of Clinchy’sparodieshave somesortofreferencetoweed.ClinchyhasspoofedMrs.Johnson’sBakery(Mrs.Jointson’sBakedery),QualitySeafood(QualitySeaweed),Matt’sElRancho(Matt’sElRoacho),andtheILove YouSoMuchmural (I SmokeYou So Much). He says thelatter washisfavorite,becausepeopleweresokeentoposewithhim forphotos,sincethat’swhateveryonedoeswiththeactualmural. Butperhaps hismostgeniusrendition washis take on Broken Spoke—asignfeaturing therecognizablewagon wheelwitha marijuanaleafatthecenterofitandthewords“Toke‘N’Smoke.”
Clinchymoved to Austin in 1991 andstarted attending Eeyore’s theverynextyear. Before that,helived in Dallas for severalyears,a move he calls“theworst decision of [his]life.” Inthecapitalcity,hefinallyfoundaplacewherehefeltrightat home.“I’mprettycountercultural—kindofa hippie at heart,” heexplains.Forhim,Eeyore’sBirthdayrepresentseverything that made himfallinlovewithAustinover30years ago, and it’sthereasonthefestivalhasbecomesoiconic.
“PeoplelikeitbecauseitembodieswhatAustinusedtobe:a town forcreatives andcountercultural people,musicians,all sortsofpeopleinthe arts,and people wish it wasstill that,” Clinchysays.“Austinhaschangeddrastically,butEeyore’shasn’t.”
Many HappyReturns
In 2007,the EastwoodsNeighborhood Associationinstalled astatueofthefestival’snamesakedonkeyintheparkwhereit allbegan.Itwas a fittinggesture foraninstitution that has stayed remarkably true to itsroots:“Just abunch of people goingouttotheparktohaveagoodtime,”asSextonputsit
Thefestival’sfoundermovedawayfromAustinlongbefore he passed away in 2014,but Birdwell made severalreturns to thegathering he dreamedup. During oneofthose visits,he
surveyedthegroundswithaweandturned to Sexton andasked,“Howdoyou do it, Scott? Theworld is adifferent place. Nothingisthesame,butEeyore’sBirthdayPartystillhasthesamefeelthatit hadwhenwestarted it.”
Sexton told himtotakeanother glance around andtakenoteofthe lack of sponsors.“We’veshunned all thebigmoneycorporations,andwe’ve stuckwiththe local,”hesays. “Every othereventintownissolelyfocusedon making money, butwekeptEeyore’sone hundredpercent nonprofit.”Fromlocal beer andfoodvendors on-sitetolocal beneariesfor thefunds raised,it’scompletely mmittedtotheAustincommunity.ForSexton, intentionality is rooted in hisworldview “ThisiswhatI want societytobelike, so being involved helpskeepthe vibe that Imoved to Austin for,”hesays.
In past interviews,Birdwellhad been clear aboutthefactthatthere’snodeepermeaningor symbolismbehindtheevent’sname.Truly,doing somethingjustforthesakeofdoingitexplainsa greatdealofwhatgetslabeled“weird”inAustin. ButthereisasectionofthatoriginalA.A.Milne storythatservesasanaptmeditationontheethos ofEeyore’s.
WhenPoohdiscoversit’sthedonkey’sbirthday, he tellshim,“Many happyreturns of theday, Eeyore.”Thephraseisabygoneexpressiontowish someoneahappybirthday.(Itmayhaveanastrologicalconnotation,markingthedayonwhicha planetreturnstothesameposition.)Inresponse, hisequinefriendsharesthesamesentiment:“And many happyreturns to you.”The famedbearremindshim that it’s nothis birthday,but Eeyore points outthatthere’s no reason hisbirthday shouldn’tbea happyoccasionfor Pooh as well Forvisitorsofthisclassic Austin celebration, sharingjoyiswhatit’sallabout.
NachoAverageParty
RememberingwhenDoritos builta 60-footvending machineatSXSWand put SnoopDogginsideit. BYBRYANC.PARKER
SINCEEMERGINGASA MECCA for brandactivations,SXSWhas been no stranger to spectacle, butone particular larger-than-life pop-up concertwas truly allthatand abag of chips. As amarketing ploy,Doritosconstructedaroughly60-foottallstageintheshapeofagiganticvending machineaimed at dispensing cool rather than Cool Ranch. Occupyinga parkinglot at FifthStreetand RedRiver,justnorth of theHilton, themakeshift venuehostedan all-star lineup—includingSnoop Dogg, Ludacris,and IceCube—during itsthreeyear tenure from 2012 to 2014.
Thestage’sfirstiterationcoincidedwith thereleaseofabrand-newproduct:“Doritos JackediseverythingfansloveaboutDoritos tortilla chips, only jacked up fora bigger experience,” said apress releaseahead of theevent.The chipsare 40%largerand thickerthantheregularvariety,hencetheir swolemoniker.In2013, thecompany toutedtheinstallationas“themostinteractive stageatSXSW”andliveduptothatpromise. Attendeescouldtweettoactivatepyrotechnics,smoke,and lights onstage, andan animationofa bagofchips fallingout of themachine wouldplaywitheachchoice. Fans even hadthe powertoselectwhich songLLCoolJwouldplayduringanencore (“Whaddup” wonout).
Perhapstoo glorious forthisworld,the stage’srun came to an endthankstotighteningcrowdcontrolrestrictionsbythecity ofAustin.In2014,LadyGagawasscheduled toheadlinetheeventbutwasforcedtomove theperformance to Stubb’safter Doritos wasunabletosecureapermitforthemegastar.Thechipbrandmayhavebeenon“The Edge of Glory” with this epic PR stunt, but it wasevidently time to endtheir “Bad Romance” with Austin’s favorite festival
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44
The Best Breakfasts in Austin
Whetheryou love syrupy pancakes or savory omelets, themostimportant meal of theday starts with these standout spotsacrossthe capitalcity.
60
AWalk on the WeirdSide
Eeyore’s Birthday Partyisone of the original bastions of Austin’s funky identity.Thisyear, thespringtime gatheringhosts its60thcelebration
Editor’s Letter 24
Scout
Ahomegrown Westernwear brandgoeshighfashion 29
Themed danceparties areall therageinthe live music capital 30
Letthe good timesrollat thesemobilehot spots around town 32
What to do in Lockhart, from famous barbecue to vintageshopping 34
We live in atime whenwehavesomuchaccess to endless information.And while it’s greatthatweare more informed than ever,itcan be hardtodecipher between whatisreliable,science-based information and whatisn’t.Theseare themostcommonmisconceptionsI hearfrompatients everyday Myth:Imusthavebeenonbirth controltoo long Toooften, patientscomeineitheraskingiftheir birth controlisa contributing factor to theirinfertility or feelingthe need to sharewithmehow longthey’ve been on it.Thisisa perfect exampleofcorrelation,not causation -fertility difficultiesafterbirth controldonot mean birthcontrol causes infertility. Whileitmay take some timefor aperson’smenstrualcycle to return to normal after usinghormonalbirth control– includingIUDs, the pill, apatch,oran implant –there’s no evidence that contraceptivesaffect fertility over thelong term.Ifyou continuetoexperience irregularperiods,greater than 6months after discontinuing your birthcontrol, it is unlikely to be relatedtothe birth control, andIrecommend that youseekevaluation foranunderlyingissue.
Myth:Everyonetells me I’m notgetting pregnant becauseI’m toostressed
So,here’swhatwedoknow: infertility causes stress.While it is knownthat stress cancause cycles to become irregularand by doing so lead to infertility, thedatadoesnot show that stress causes infertility in womenwho otherwise have regularperiods.Itisalsoimportant to note that notall irregularperiods aredue to stress.
In my experience,women aren’t coming into fertility clinicsbecause of stress There’samedical factor causingtheir infertility,which absolutelyelevates stress levels andcan have an impactonyour fertility care. Managing stress throughfertility treatments is essential to overallhealth. Thephysicaldemands,uncertainties,costs,and emotionsofinfertility can significantly impactyour mental health.Stresscan also interferewithrational andwell-planneddecisions.Whenyou reduce stress,you canmakebetter decisionsabout theright treatmentcourse.
Myth:Age is only afactorinwomen
We mayhavemoved on from themyththatinfertility is only afemaleissue, but we haven’tentirely conqueredthe stigmaaroundage.The truth is,a man’s ageisa factor in reproductive health,justnot thesameway it is forwomen. Womenfaceagradual fertility declinethatbecomes more pronouncedaround age35, whereas, formen,their fertility isn’taffected until closer to age50. At that point,significantchanges in spermproduction canbegin,fromlower sperm countand qualitytothe shape,movement, andDNA of thesperm. Children borntodadsaged45and older also have an increasedriskofautism andschizophrenia. Andage isn’tthe only thingthatcan affectsperm health Lifestylefactors,likediet, canalsoimpactsperm quality. At theend of theday, it’s important forbothaspiringparents to be fully assessed
If youhavequestionsabout fertility health,Irecommend reliable resources that will give youscience-based insightinto reproductive health,likeRESOLVE.organd ASRM.org. If youwouldliketoschedulea consultation with AspireFertility Austin, please visithttps://www.aspirefertility.com/austintexasorcallusat512-479-7979
March/April2025|Vol.33|No. 2
THATLOOKS BEAUTIFUL ONYOU.
We work to makesureourpatients who undergo anyprocedure gain confidence anda sense of well-being.from looking,feeling and functioning at their best.
SCHEDULE
General Manager RandiStevenson
Editor-in-Chief Madeline Hollern
Creative Director Mara Esquivel
EDITORIAL
Executive Editor BryanC.Parker
Contributing Writers AliKhan, Rose McMackin
ART
Contributing Photographers
John Anderson,Craig Busch, Dave Creaney, MackenzieSmith
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Editor’sLetter
Rise andShine
ASLOCALS,WEallclingtoourownmemoryofOldAustin—a bygone(andslightlymythical)timewhenthecostoflivingwas affordable,thefoodscenewasunpretentious,andtheweirdness ofthecitywasneverindoubt.Forsome,thatperiodmighthave beeninthecosmiccowboyeraofthe1970sortheslackerdays ofthe’90s.Forme,itwasthemid-2000s,whenImovedtothe capitalcityasabright-eyedjournalismstudentatUT.Thestress of deadlines and finals couldbereliablyoffsetwitha stackof KerbeyLanepancakesatanyhour—usually2a.m.—andabusy weekendmeantrefuelingwiththeDonJuanplateatJuanina Million,arguablythebestbangforyourbuckinthecity.
Twenty yearslater,Austinhas evolvedintoa bustling metropoliswithhigh-risecondos,internationalfestivals,andeven itsownMichelin-starredrestaurants.Butsomehow,thebreakfastscenehereremainsrefreshinglynostalgic.Tried-and-true eaterieslikeJoe’sBakeryandTheOmelettryarejustaspopular as they were decadesago,while newhot spotslikeRockman BakeryandToastyBadgerfeelwarmandapproachable.Forour coverfeature,“TheBestBreakfastsinAustin” (page44),we chroniclethe city’s topbakeries, boulangeries,biscuit shops, andbelovedcafeswhereyoucanstartyourdayonahighnote. Meet acinnamonrollmaven who’sgoneviral forher sweet treats,learnwhythebreakfasttacoreignssupreme,andstock yourkitchenwithlocalstaples,fromchorizotocoffeetojam.
When imagininganevent that embodies thewonderand weirdnessofOldAustin,onegatheringimmediatelycomesto mind:Eeyore’sBirthday.Thequirkyspringtimefestivalsomehowdraws in drum circles, pot-smokinghippies,and young familiesaliketoPeasePark,andthisyear,thewhimsicalparty celebrates its60thiteration.Inhis latest feature, “A Walk on theWeird Side”(page 60), executiveeditorBryan C. Parker explores howthiscurious eventnamed aftera melancholy Winnie-the-Pooh characterbecamea joyful celebration—and stillmaintainsitscharmbyeschewingcorporatesponsorships In theend,authenticityisreallywhatwe’re seekinginAustin, andifyoulookaround,it’samazingwhereyoucanstillfindit acrossthecity.
Discoverunparalleled adventureand luxurywith TheBroadmoor’s exclusiveall-inclusiveWildernessretreats. Castyour line in pristine waters at the Orvis-endorsed FlyFishingCamp,set amidsttimbered canyons and meadows teeming with wild trout. Embracethe spirit of the West at TheRanch at Emerald Valley, whererolling lawns, shimmering lakes, and acascading waterfall inviteendlessexploration. Or rise above it all at Cloud Camp,perched high in the Colorado mountains, offering breathtaking vistas, dedicatedmeeting space at The Overlook, gourmetcuisine,and unforgettable adventures. Experienceanunrivaled, comprehensivegetaway,whereyourstay includes luxurious accommodations, gourmetmeals, unlimited beverages, exciting daily activities, and exclusiveamenities—at one exceptional rate.Whicheveryou choose,escape wherenature’sbeautyand timelessmemories await.
WHAT IGNITESYOUR CREATIVE SPARK?
WHEN MIND,BODY, SOUL ANDSENSESALL PLAY TOGETHER, YOU’RELIVINGTHE CREATIVE LIFE. AtMaravilla @The Domain,you’llencounter captivatingneighbors, stylishambiance, chef-crafted cuisineand atantalizing arrayof creative activities andclubs to embrace. If thedance of life hasa hub, this is it. Visit MaravillaAtTheDomain.com andcall(512) 575-3839 fora personal tour.
TexAppeal
Bonnie andBen Kennimerbuilt theirreputationonWestern wear, buttheyaren’tabouttoletthatfence them in.“We getput in aWestern categoryquiteabit,butit’sdefinitelynottheonlythingwedo,”Bonnie says.Theireponymousbrandmade itsNew York FashionWeekdebut in February—a case of Texasinfluence reaching thefashion capital rather than theother wayaround. It wasa huge milestonefor the husband-and-wifeduo,whofounded Kennimer in Houstonin2017 before relocating to Austin.While plentyofdesignerstrytowranglea cowboyaesthetic,thesenativeTexanshaveanauthenticitythatreflects theirheritagewhile introducing refinedsensibilities.The brand oftenturnstonatureforinspiration, incorporatingglitteringdetails suchasbirdsandTexaswildflowers. Theirnewestcollectionemphasizes Victorianinfluences andvelvet textures.In2021, Leon Bridges honoredhisLoneStarrootswitha custom whiteKennimerhat at the MetGala,whilemusicianSummer Deandonnedaredcowgirl-inspired ensemble forher GrandOle Opry debutthiswinter. “Withthe popularity of Westernfashion,it’snice to be able to work with people who arepicking that up andrealizing thatit’scool,”Bensays.Seethelooks at kennimer.co —RoseMcMackin
ShutUpandPlaytheHits
From Taylor SwiftNight to Charli XCXtribute events, artist-themeddance partiesare taking over Austin nightlife. Butare they drowning outclubculture?
BYBRYANC.PARKER
DANCERSSOAKEDINMAGENTALIGHTbounceinunison, anticipating thefamiliarchorusbreak as it approaches “PinkPonyClub! I’mgonna keep on dancing!”theyshout together.The houseispacked, butthisisn’t aChappellRoan show.It’sa themed danceparty wherea DJ playssongs by a particularfamedpopstarforadoringfans—andtheseevents arepopping up across thecapital city.TaylorSwift,One Direction,CharliXCX,LadyGaga,LCDSoundsystem,andmany morehavereceivedthetheme-nighttreatment,oftenaccompaniedbyacatchytitle:GoodLuckClub,ABrattyDanceNight, DanceYrselfClean
“Inthe past year to twoyears,ithas really become very popular,”saysBen Schechter, founderofWhatthe Dance, a companythatdesigns andpromotessuchthemedparties in citiesacrossthecountry,includingAustin.Agraphicposted tothebusiness’Instagramaccounttoutedhosting512events across87differentcitiesin2024.WhattheDancehascreated eventsaroundSabrinaCarpenter,OliviaRodrigo,andBritney Spears(amongmanyothers),andithasasisterbrand,Noche
de Verano SinTi, whichorganizes BadBunny themenights. Schechterstarted thebusinessin2021inSan Francisco, but he hasbranchedout to dozens of marketsasdemandfor the partieshasgrown.Now,theslateofdatesforhiseventslooks like apop star’s tour schedule,crisscrossing thecountry
What theDance is just oneofseveral like-mindedgroups that have rapidlytaken off in recent months,including Candi Pop, Orlove,and Taylor SwiftNight.Evenmajor concert promoterssuchasLiveNationhaveventuredintothe trend, partnering with aLos Angeles–basedcompany called Club 90sfor aJustinBieber–themed eventthispastJanuary at Emo’s. OtherAustinvenueslikethe Parish,Empire, and Volstead have also been earlyadoptersofthe movement
Schechter,amusicloverfromSeattlewhogothisstartorganizingconcertsforindiebands,saystheformatisahigh-interest, low-cost wayto fill datesonclubcalendars.Expensesfor promotersandvenuesaremuchlowerforasingleDJthanforseveralmulti-piecebands,andDJscanperformforlongerperiods oftime.Thatsavingsismagnifiedwhenacompanycantakethe
Thetrendarrivesatatimewhenconcertshave stumbled,andmusicianshavelamentedtheeconomichardships of touring. Even high-profile performerslikeTheBlackKeysandJenniferLopez havestruggledtofillvenues(bothartistscanceled tourslastyear).Schechter sawa shiftinnightlife in thepost-pandemic era. “I really felt like there wasthatneedformoreofacommunityatevents,” hesays.“Peoplewerecomingoutinpublicagain, andyou couldbedancing andbelting outyour favorite lyrics with your friends.”The experience instilleda more profound senseofconnection than thekindofshowwhere strangersstand in silenceandstareatabandperforming
Whilethe corporatizationand thehyperspecificnatureofthese partiesare new, themed events arenot.Local DJ Ezra Edwards(akaBoi Orbison)startedacountrymusicdancenightcalled NeonRainbowsatCheerUpCharlieswaybackin 2012.Infact,theRedRiverClubhasbeen on theforefront of this trendfor years, with arecurring Middle School DanceParty (also createdbyEdwards)and events like Madonnathemeddragshowsand sapphicpopnights
Edwardsisn’t the only Austinitewho wasthinkingahead:
Alex Chavez,a promoterknown in the sceneasDing, created EmoNight about adecadeago at Barbarella, andit’sstill goingstrongtoday. Ding’s foresightinthis arenaled himtostart a companycalledTexas Emo Club,whichpromotesaslewof othereventslikeBeyonce’sRoundup andBoysDon’t Cry, anew wave party. Although Ding’s companyfocuses on localor regional marketsratherthannationalcircuits, itsharessomesimilaritytothelargergroupsin this burgeoning market
“Theyhavetheirfingeronthepulsewiththe zeitgeistand understand thesethingsare in demand,” he says.But he stillfeels like he’s gotthe edgeovernewcomercompetitors.YearsofexperienceinAustinallowshimtobetterunderstand thenuances of itsparticulartastes, he explains Plus,hecanbemoreagile.TheweekBratdropped, hescrappedplansforaDisneyChannelpopnight
andpivoted to aCharliXCX theme, whichwas a huge hit. Meanwhile, larger companieswitha touringscheduleare obligatedtofulfill those scheduleddates
Despitethesuccessoftheevents,noteveryone is afan.“Thesetraveling themenightsmakea lotofmoney,buttheysuckthecultureoutofthe city,” lo lDJO Fr he spective, ealtoan ghtlifeor hecalls playlist complex stypical oclubs favorite ya says it failure. hintsat eatthe meparty eisbeer more d. We all lGadot’s agine” tdude anberry ateboard oFleetd Brat’s me green blelast ingthe ay.The andmore edhow tofGen nggiants memetous or
superfluous.Ata time when it’s more difficult than ever to motivate people to leavethe house andtospend hard-earneddollars,ithelps to have somethingrecognizabletodrive interest Somethingthatdoesn’t demand brainpower andthrives on an emotionalresponse. Don’t overthinkit, just hurryup, you’re hottogo!
Opposite page and above:Partygoersat Cheer Up Charlies during aChappell Roan–themed dance night. Inset: DJ Rvby Knight performsata sapphic pop event.
PartyonWheels
TravelersLounge
Youmight feel abit like Austin Powers as you boardthisdouble-decker Britishbus.Tucked betweenHolidayon7thandCabanaClub,theEast Sidevehicleishometoatwo-storyloungehelmed by hospitalitymavensGustavo Ortega Oyarzun andPaola Segovia(Visitant Social Club), who convertedthe busintoa retroyet futuristic speakeasyonwheels. Lounge on plushy modinspired furnitureasyou snackonhouse-made roastednutsand sipout-of-this-world cocktails like thebubblingand illuminatedAnti-Gravity. Thefirst-come, first-served barisopen Thursday throughSaturdaynightsand features kitschytouches like asilver mannequin“driver”andserversdressed inspacesuits.Whilethebusisstationary, itwilltransportyoutoadifferenttime. Yeah,baby!travelerslounge.vip
Getonboard with thesecoolmobileconceptsrolling around town BYMADELINE
HOLLERN
Austin Arcade Trolley
Ifyougrewupyelling“FinishHim!”inMortalKombatorchompingpellets inMs.Pac-Man,you’reboundtolovethisnewarcadeonwheels.TreyTschoepe renovatedanold trolleytobuild themobileconcept tailored forprivate partiesand events.Fitting up to 15 people comfortably, thetrolley boasts eightarcadefavorites from the’80sand ’90s (including NBAJam, The Simpsons,andStreetFighterII)aswellasacustomgametopwithmorethan 30,000 availablegames.While he hadinitially envisioned thearcadefor children’sbirthdays,Tschoepesaysitsnostalgicappealhasalsogarnereda mucholdercrowd:“Ihavea57-year-oldneighborwholikestositinthetrolley andplayAsteroids—maybemorethanmy8-year-oldneighborlikestositin thereandplayNFLBlitz.”austinarcadetrolley.com
LionessBooks
Whilebrick-and-mortarbookstoreshave always been gatheringspacesfor bibliophiles,Sarah Ambrus wanted to create a hubthatbeckonednon-readers,too OpenedlastJune,LionessBooksisamobile used bookstorethatpopsupeverywherefrombreweriesandcoffeeshopsto dogparks.Theformerhighschoolteacherretrofittedthe20-footcargotrailerinto acozyreading space filled with fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, andevencomic booksforadultsandkids.Ambrusnamed it “Lioness”tohonor theanimal’sability to connect: “The waythatthe lion takes care of thepride andmaintains theconnections—tome, that wasa really good symbol of both thepower of community, butalsoafemininesymbol,”Ambrussays Catchthetraileratrotatingspotssuchas Canopy,SlackersBrewing Co., and5th Element. lionessbookstx.com
WhattoDoinLockhart
Chow down on barbecue,enjoy FirstFridays on the historic square,and discover vintagetreasures in this burgeoning smalltown.
BYMADELINE HOLLERN
ALITTLEBIT COUNTRY anda little bitrock‘n’ roll,Lockharthas experiencedarenaissanceinthelastdecade.WhiletheBarbecueCapitalofTexasisbestknownforclassicjointslikeKreuzandSmitty’s,the growingtownlocated 35 milessoutheast of thecapital city recently earneda“musicfriendly”designationbytheTexasMusicOffice,driven in part by Austin artistswho arerelocatingthere forits affordability Whetheryou’relookingforadaytriporweekendjaunt,Lockharthasa laid-backvibethatattractscowboysandcreativesalike.
Eat
Meat lovers flockfromacrossthe statetotry the postoak–smokedporkribsatSmitty’sandoriginal sausageat KreuzMarket.Ifyou’reintown onaSaturdayorSunday,snagaspotinlineearly atBarbs-B-Q,whichrecentlynabbedaBibGourmandrecognitioninTexas’newMichelinGuide. AtLoop&Lil’s,sinkyourteethintothescratchmade,thincrustpizzaorordertheHondostromboli,stuffed with Italiansausage,meatballs, pepperoni, andham.Looking forsomething a littlelighter?Enjoyarainbowofveggieswiththe Gramma’sOrchardsaladatMarketStreetCafe
Drink
Austinites mightnoticesomefamiliar names behind thenightlife sceneinLockhart. Follow theneonsignpointingdownthestairstodiscover populardivebar Little Trouble,helmedby formerJustine’sexecutivechefCaseyWilcox,and sipaDrPepperOldFashionedorSmokeyFrozen MargaritaonthehistorictownsquareatOldPal (4),operatedbyTravisTober (NickelCity).Denis O’Donnellpioneered capitalcityfavorites such asTheWhiteHorseandSagebrushbeforeopen-
This page, clockwise from top left: The Leona; Mill Scale Metalworks; Magic Mirror.Opposite page:Old Pal.
Thoseonthehuntforvintagetreasureswilllove thumbingthroughthecuratedselectionatMagic Mirror (3) and Golden Hour Shop.Toadd a modelementtoyourhome,dropbyStampworthyGoods,whichsellscustom-tiledfurnitureas wellasmidcenturyrarefinds.(Theshopalsooffers free weekly delivery to Austin.) Peruse artfrom CentralTexas creativeslikePatrick Puckettand LandryMcMeansatCommerceGalleryandgrab gourmetgifts before indulginginthe famous bananapuddingatTheCulinaryRoom.Ifallthe barbecue in Lockhart inspires youtobecomea pitmaster, youcan purchase your ownperfect smokeratMillScaleMetalworks(2)
Expplore
On the FirstFriday of each month, businesses stay open until8 p.m.,beckoning locals andvisitorswithfreesnacks, beverages, anddiscounts. Just10milessoutheastofLockhart,OldSettler’s MusicFestivalbringstogethermusicloverswith itsannualspringtimefest.Thisyear,thefour-day gathering(April24-27)willincludeperformances by Watchhouse,the HeartlessBastards, and DevilMakesThree.Formorelivemusic,takethe wholefamilytoCourthouseNights,anoutdoor musicseriesevery thirdFridayfromApril to AugustattheCaldwellCountyCourthouseLawn.
Stay y
Revitalizedfromtheruinsofaformercementbatch plantalonganaquifer,TheLeona(1) featureseight stylishrentalcabinsdesignedbyAustin’sLake|Flato Architects.Savorboldwallpapersandmaximalist decorbySarahStaceyInteriorDesignandreconnect with nature by taking awalknexttothe rushing waterfallandwildflowersonproperty.
HumanResources
In Austin’s boomingtechsector, companiesare turninghighly educated gigworkers into humanfarms forAI.
BYROSE MCMACKIN
WHEN ARTHUR GOT hismaster’sdegreein literature,heneverdreameditwouldleadtoajob inartificialintelligence.Butinfact,anadvanced degreeispartofwhatqualifiedhimforhiscurrent occupation,wherehespendsdaystypingoutlocal businessdescriptionsusedtofinetuneAI.Itisn’t creative work;it’srepetitive, andhis team hasa strict styleguide.Arthur, whopreferred to usea pseudonymforthisstory,tookthegigafterbeing laidofffromamarketingcareerhelovedin2022. Now, he’s making alittleoverminimum wage as acontractor, with no benefits andlittlesecurity. Whilehehopedtherolewouldbetemporary,he’s struggledto find otherwork. An Austin native, Arthur is increasingly unsure wherehe fits into thecity’sshiftingeconomy.“Thisusedtofeellike aplacewherecreativepeoplecouldmakealiving,” hesays.“Now,I’mnotsure.”
Thecapital city’s AI sector is thriving,but its successhingesonagrowingforceofdataworkers. Thekindofdatatheseartificialintelligencesystems yearnforisn’tstatsandfigures—it’sorganichuman knowledge, things like grammaticfluency and regional nuances. Imaginelifelesszombies with an impulsetofeast on allthe juicycontentsof humanbrains. Themajor companiesare hiring subjectmatterexperts,including doctorsand lawyers, to labeland create proprietarydatathat canbeusedtorefineAImodels.Ascompaniesrace to buildthe best versions,accesstohigh-quality fodderhasbecomeadifferentiatingfactor.Butthe workresemblesmind-numbingdataentry,andthe payispaltry.
“InresponsibleAI,wethinkverymuchabout producinggoodoutputs forthe people whouse oursystems,” says MatthewLease,a professorin theSchoolofInformation at theUniversityof TexasatAustinandanexpertinfairAI.“Wedon’t talk nearly enough aboutthe people whohelp create thosesystems.” Leasehas spoken at con-
ferences like oneheldbythe TexasAcademy of Medicine EngineeringScience andTechnology (TAMEST)inAustinlastFebruary,wherehespoke passionatelyaboutresponsibleAIandthehuman costofthecurrentparadigm.However,Leaseand thosewhosharehisconcernsfaceanuphillbattle, as theconditionsfor employeesare dismal andhavefewguardrails
ConversationsaboutlimitsonAIdevelopment generallyfocusonhardwareandenergy,butdata isavaluableresource,too.Mostindustryplayers arescramblingtogetaholdofitatanycost,especially as it becomesscarcer.“Thebig models are trainedbyscrapingthe internet andpulling in allhuman-generated training data…and there’s just literallyonlysomuchofthat,”saidMarc Andreessen,co-founderoftheventurecapitalist firmAndreessenHorowitz,onaNovember2024 episodeofbusinesspodcasta16z
Whilesomecompanies have builtinternal teams, others turn to thirdparties like ScaleAI andInvisible Tech,which offerrobustdatagenerating squads.Bycontrolling thecreation ofthetrainingmaterials,AImodelscansidestep thebiasesand limitationsthatcomefrom, say, scrapingtheentiretyofReddit.Somedatawork isoutsourcedcheaplytoemergingeconomies butfinetuningalsoreliesonnicheskills,includingadvanceddegreesandspecializedknowledge. Dataworkisn’tnew.Evenbeforetheemergence ofgenerativeAI,machinelearningsystemsrelied on humanmoderation. Forexample,Google hiredsubject expertstoevaluatesearchresults to refine itsalgorithm.But generative AI has changedthe demand fordata, especially as billionsofdollarsgetfunneledintotheAIrace.So, people arepaidpoorlytotrain AI on theirexpertise, only forthe technology to scalethat knowledgeina waythatmakes theirworkeven less valuable.
UT professorMatthew Leasespeaksona panel about the ethicsand policyofAIatthe TAMEST conference.
GHOST IN THE MACHINE
Humans face a shifting landscape as they navigate a newrealm of AI
6in10
Ratioofjobsthatexist todaybut didnot in 1940
$379,000
Median annual compensation fora Meta employee in 2023,per a recent SECfiling
$4.5 billion
TotalVCfunding for Austin startups in 2024
10%
Portionofthe internet considered high-quality enough forAItraining.
$20
Hourly wage formany data labeling workers, dependingontask complexity.
Theworth of an AI modeldepends on the qualityoftheunderlyinginformationonwhichit wasbuilt,and there’sa lotofmoney on thetable AIstartups,includingsomeinAustin,arebooming with speculativeventure funding, focusedmore onvalueextractionthanonsustainableeconomicgrowth.Thecapitalcity’srapidlyexpandingtech sector doesn’tnecessarily translateintolucrative or stable jobcreation. Last year,Scale AI abruptly shuttereditsAustinoffice,layingoffdozensofdata workers. Even software engineeringisbecoming more vulnerable to automation,asAIcodingassistantsthreatentoreplacejuniordevelopers.
Techno-optimists comparegenerativeAIto theprintingpress or theIndustrialRevolution, arguingthatwhile thecutting-edgetechnology eliminates some careers, it createsnew ones in theirplace.Butnotallthosejobscarrythethrillingsheen of innovation—manyare hidden,grueling,anddangerouslyunderpaid.Jobgrowthis oftenconcentratedincustomerserviceanddata roles. From that perspective, AI appearstobe merelyshiftingworkersintolow-payingpositions thatexisttomanageitsshortcomings “Theworkisprecarious,it’scontingent.[These workers] don’thavea lotofthe social safety nets we’reusedto,”Leasesays.“Theextremeformofthis iscontentmoderation,whereit’snotjustthatyou’re doingroutineworkandnotgettingcompensated well forit. You’re doingsomething whereyou’re goingtoundergopsychologicalstressandpotential harm.” In January2024, Xreportedthe creation of 100new contentmoderationjobsatits Austin office.A year later, Meta announcedthatitwas shifting itscontent moderation to Texasaswell. Theseare jobs that the Wall Street Journal once describedas“theworst jobintechnology,”where employeesreviewcontentthatconfoundsAIalgorithms.Whatthose employeesare stuckwithis oftentraumatizing, includinganimalcruelty, hardcore pornography, andconspiracytheories. Increasingly,thosemoderatorsarewadingthrough thefloodofbotcontentonsiteslikeX.
Data workersare boundbystrictNDAs, and companiesare secretiveabout thesizeoftheir workforces.“TheNDAsassociatedwiththisstuff arenot just becauseofproprietary tradesecrets, butalsobecause of potentialethical concerns around thework,”explainsLease.There’s awideninggulfbetween theselow-paidcontractors andthelavishlycompensatedin-houseteamsat companieslikeMeta, X, andGoogle’sparentAlphabetInc.thattheyworkalongside—proofthat notalltechjobsarecreatedequal.
So,for alot of data workers, an AI-powered utopia is still outofsight.“I’mstill just thinking about findinga jobthatmatches my oldsalary,” says Arthur,who is readytojumpshipfromhis data jobassoonaspossible. He’s sendingout resumesandusingChatGPTtotweakcoverletters, butheisn’t sure he’llstayinthe capitalcity. He’s gotfourmonthsleftonhis SouthAustinlease, andthejobdoesn’tcoverhisrent.It’sasmallblue housewithplastic pink flamingosinthe yard From there, he cansee thefuturistichigh-rises of downtown Austin,brightwithpossibility yet somehowveryfaraway.
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FiveErasofSXSW
HowAustin’sspringtimeevent grew from asmall start-upfestival into an industryshapingjuggernautwithconferences on threecontinents.
BYBRYANC.PARKER
1987-1993
THINKING BIG
Almost40yearsago,enterprisingUTundergradRoland Swensonapproached Austin Chronicle co-founders LouisBlackandNickBarbarowithanideatobringmusic industryprofessionalstogetherinTexas’capitalcity.With some inputfromlocal promoter LouisJay Meyers (who becameoneoftheventure’sfirstdirectors),theinaugural SouthbySouthwest washeldinMarch 1987.The gatheringconsisted of panels,workshops,speeches, 177artists playingon15stages,and700registrants(morethanfour timesthe expected number). Even then,the festival’s bustling energy transformedthe collegetownintoa teemingepicenter of ideation andcommunication.
1994-2006
ALLTHE COOL KIDS
NotonlydidJohnnyCashprovideSXSW’slandmarkkeynote addressin1994, that year also marked thelaunchof thefestival’sinteractive and film components.Alongside homegrownheroeslikeRichardLinklaterandEthanHawke, rising talent flockedtothe fest in theensuing years, with directorslikeQuentin Tarantinoand Jonathan Demme andartistssuchasWilco,LizPhair,andLaurynHillmaking appearances.AustinbecametheplacetobeeachMarch.
Lefttoright: Julianna Margulies, Ethan Hawke, RichardLinklater,and MatthewMcConaughey hold aQ&A during the 1997 SXSW Film Festival.
In addition to delivering the keynote address in 2012, BruceSpringsteen performed an unforgettable setatACL Liveat the Moody Theater
2007-2015
APHENOMENON
Inthelateaughts,theeventbecameanincubatorforsome of thebiggest voices in tech as brandactivations proliferated.“ThelaunchofTwitterin2007servedasaturning point, as technology movedfroma side elementtothe maindriverofgrowth,”saysSXSWpresidentHughForrest, whohasbeenwiththecompanysince1989.Butitwasalso aperiodthatdrewstratosphericallypopularmusictalent: Prince,BruceSpringsteen,LadyGaga,JustinTimberlake, andKendrickLamar,tonamea few.
In 2016,President
2016-2024
SUIT ANDTIES
EverycomponentofSXSWbroachedanewlevelofindustryinthelate2010s:majoractivationsbyShowtime,HBO, Netflix,CapitalOne,andSpotify;redcarpetappearances by A-list celebs like Jordan Peele, Olivia Wilde, andJon Hamm;and akeynote addressfromPresident Barack Obama.AndthatwasallbeforethepandemicledtoSXSW sellingamajorityofitssharesin2021tothePenskeMedia Corporation, whichownsbrandslike RollingStone and TheHollywood Reporter.Corporate ties have also ledto controversy, andnot just thegeneral lament of abygone cool factor.In2024, bandsdropped outofthe festival en massetoprotestthefest’spartnershipswithmilitarydefense contractors. (SXSWlater released astatement saying it wouldnotretainthosesponsorsmovingforward.)
2025 andBeyond GOINGGLOBAL
In October2023, SXSW launched its firstconference outsideofAustinwithaneventinSydney,Australia,and will follow up with an installmentinLondoninJune 2025.Those spinoffswill accentuate each city’s unique qualities, accordingtoForrest,who says,“It’s less about trying to recreate what hasmadeAustinsuccessfuland more aboutforging theirown identities.” At this point, SXSW hasbecomelessa festival andmorea cultural movement builtarounda mindset—anditall started thanks to Austin’s love of music.
Barack Obama delivered SXSW’s keynote address,a powerful indicator of the upstart fest’s growth.
Popstar Lady Gaga performs at Stubb’sBBQ foranevent sponsored by Doritosduring SXSW’s2014 festival.
Ed Husic,Australian Minister forIndustryand Science, and Andromeda RoboticsCEO Grace Brownduring SXSW’s inaugural Sydneyevent
Lawnand Order
Can’tstopsneezing?
Alocal expert explains theallergies that plague CentralTexans allyearlong.
BYMADELINE HOLLERN
If youfind your car coveredingreenish-yellow dust around mid-March, it’s notaSt. Patrick’sDay prank—oakpollenisthe culprit. Virginia live oakand redoak release pollen in thespring, as do treesincluding American elm, pecan, andash.Althoughthisisa popularseasontoenjoy thebeautiful temperatures, Dr.Reshamwalasaysthatyou might rethinkthe timing of your alfresco workout: “You want to avoidexercisingoutdoorsin theearly morning,”she says.“That’s actually when pollen canbe themostelevated.”
ACHOO!Nevermindlivemusic—Austinalsohasareputation forbeing theAllergy Capitalofthe World. Whilecedar is notoriousfor terrorizinglocalsinthe winter,the city has ahostofplantsthatcan affectAustinitesthroughoutthe year,saysDr.NehaReshamwalaofFrontierAllergy,Asthma, andImmunology. “The structureofthe land here is what actually keepsthe allergensinthe area,” shesays. “We’re notnearany big body of wateraroundshoreline or anything that wouldlet theallergens blowaway.”WeaskedtheAustin-baseddoctortobreakdownwhichpesky allergiestoexpectineachseason—andhow youcan combat them
Whileit’sfun to listen to live musicatBlues on the Greenorwatch amovie in apark, grass is thetop offenderinthe warmestmonths. “Peoplewho have grassallergies respondvery strongly to theirallergens,” shesays. “They[get] hivesontheir bodyand immediatelystart feeling significant symptoms like itchyeyes, congestion, andsneezing.”Ifyou have agrass allergyand need to mowthe lawn,Dr. Reshamwala recommends poppinganantihistaminebeforehand wearingamask, andthenwashing your clothesand showeringright afteryou finish.
Autumn maybea season of mistsand mellow fruitfulness (to quoteKeats), butit’salso atimewhenragweed wreaks havocin CentralTexas.“Ragweed, alongwithother weeds, is thehighest at that time of year,” she says.Peoplewho have aragweed allergywill notice alot of symptoms of allergic rhinitis (“hayfever”) like runnynose, itchyeyes, and congestion.Although youmay be temptedasthe temperatures finally starttodrop, thedoctor advisesagainst keepingwindows open to mitigate theeffects of the allergens.
Themostinfamous of allthe seasonal allergies, cedarpollencomes just in time forthe holidays andnew year to create misery for locals.Whatmakes thesecedar (aka ashe juniper) treessopotentisthattheyare allover CentralTexas andhaveaveryhighpollenvolume, Dr.Reshamwalasays: “You’llsee in thewinter here,peoplewillthink that something’sonfire They’llsee smoke, andthatwillbecedar pollen beingreleasedintothe air.”While “cedar fever” canmimic acoldorthe flu,she says allergiesdo not causetruefevers.
I I
It’stimefor It’stimefor
From retrodinersand belovedcafes to cinnamon roll hotspots and pancakehouses, here arethe best breakfasts across Austin.
by AliKhan, Madeline Hollern, andBryan C. Parker
BIRD BIRD BISCUIT
BrianBatch dreamedofmaking biscuits whileworking hisway from baristatogeneral manager at ThunderbirdCoffee.In2018, he followed hispassion and finallylet Bird Bird take flight Craftedwithhigh-fatPlugrà European butter andspecialpatent King Arthur flour, his handmade biscuits have garnered adevoted followingacrosstown. Adda chickenbreastbrinedfor up to sevendaysthatgetsdredged in biscuitcrumbsand then fried, andyou’llunderstandwhy there areoften linesatbothlocations of this counter-servicedelight birdbirdbiscuit.com
ÉPICERIE
Bonappétit!A charming bistro andboulangerie in the Rosedaleneighborhood,Épiceriebeckonsdinersbright andearlywithitsstellarcroissantscraftedbychefSarah McIntosh.Thehamandcheeseisafanfavorite,featuring 22-month curedham sourcedfroma smallmountain town in Tennesseeand Comtécheeseaged18months fromEasternFrance.Butfeelfreetogoabsolutelyclassic with theplain croissant, whichincludes27layersof doughlaminated by hand. epicerieaustin.com
JOSEPHINEHOUSE
Brunch canbea spectacle, andlong waitsfor Instagram-worthy flapjacksis part of thegame. That’s what makes JosephineHouse’s decadent lemon ricottapancakesall thesweeter:You canget them daily, includingultrachillweekday mornings.Details make thecozyClarksville restaurant shine, like theimpressiverendition of Texas gulf shrimp andBartonSprings Mill gritsorcitrus-curedlox on hashbrowns.It’sthese little touches— from ripe persimmons andbee pollen in ayogurtbowltoabsurdlyfresh dill dancingona plate—that remind you whyMML Hospitalityhas theMidas touchonsplurge-worthyrestaurants in Austin josephineofaustin.com
Don’tlet hercompany’s name fool you —SianniDeanisneither grumpy nora grandmother. Theenterprising26-yearold conceptualized hercinnamonroll concept, CrankyGranny’sSweet Rolls, whiletakinganentrepreneurshipclass in high school.The NewJerseynativegrew up goingtoCinnabonatthe mall,and afterworking ajob at Rita’s ItalianIce,an idea took form.“They used to have a varietyofdifferentwater iceflavors. So, Ithought it wouldbesuper dope if there wasavariety of differentcinnamonroll flavors,” Dean says.“Irealizedpeople don’tknowwhattheywantsometimes untilyou presentitto’em.” Namedin honorofher grandma, CrankyGranny’s hasgarneredmillionsofviews on social mediawithits decadent,over-the-top rotating flavors,fromstuffed sweet potato pieand friedchicken to banana pudding. Unlike typicalcinnamonrolls that focus on water, yeast, andflour, the foundersaysher brioche-stylerolls are higher in fats like butter andeggs, making them especially delicious. Look forflavors like carrot cake andcrème brûlée at the Pflugervilleshopthisspring. —M.Hollern
ELDORADOCAFE
WhileEldoradoCafehas been around forlessthana decade,the restaurant hasthe soul of atried-and-trueAustinestablishment.Chefand ownerJoel Friedhoned hisskillsyears agoatTacodeli, andhis menu goes back further with nods to localbreakfast legendslikethe oldTamaleHouse,which was theinspirationforhismigaswitheggscookedtoorder.Lookingforsomething vegetarian?Build your ownbreakfast taco with distinctiveingredients like greenchile andonion rajas, nopales, andevenvegan house-made chorizo. eldoradocafeatx.com
EGGMAN
Rich Tavetian,aka TheEggman, grew up on NYCbodegabreakfast sandwiches,and he knew that’s exactlywhatAustinneeded.You can’tgowrong with thefoodtruck’s classicBEC,especiallywhen theB stands forcenter-cutapplewood smoked bacon. Slappedon aKaiserroll(as is customaryinthe city that neversleeps),this breakfastsammiewill addsomepep in your step alongwiththe strongly brewed java made with NewYorkcoffee grounds. Don’tbe surprisedifyou catchyourselfyelling “I Am theWalrus!” eggmanatx.com
Crunch cinnamon roll
Sausage,Egg,& Cheese Sandwich
Sausage, egg, andcheesesandwich
ROCKMANBAKERY
An East Side conceptinspiredby NewYorkbakeshops andParisian boulangeries,Amanda Rockman’seponymous bakery hasbagelsand croissants that wouldimpress anyone owning a MetroCardorMbappéjersey. The chef-owner of RockmanBakery utilizedher 20 yearsworking in pastry at Michelin-starred restaurantstopulloff aduetof carb magicthatmelds both concepts:the Everything Bagel Croissant, whichpairs cream cheese,green onion, andHerbs de Provence.“It’s aone-stopshop for flakygooeyness,” shesays. rockmanatx.com
THEOMELETTRY
Take atimemachine back to the goldeneraofAustin,whenslackers ruledthe city andsocialmedia hadn’t yetovertaken ourlives.At thisAirportBoulevardinstitution (est.1978),thetitulardishisthestar, withmorethan11omeletsincluding thespinach-and-bacon-stuffed Popeye’s Favorite.Opt fora short stackofgingerbread pancakes as your free side andenjoy endless poursofcoffeebeforeyoupayatthe counter. Sometimes, simplicity is bliss. theomelettry.com
JOE’SBAKERY
Oneofthebestplacestoexperience ataste of OldAustin, this James BeardAward–winning Tex-Mex dinerhasbeenacommunitystaple since1962.Whetherit’sthehumble weekdaycustomerwho’s been comingfordecadesorthenewloft dwellerswhojustlandedtheirdream tech jobdowntown, theinviting spot will make aregular outof anyonewhowalksthroughthedoor Whileyou can’tgowrong with the affordable breakfasttacos,carne guisadaisa go-tochoicefor those in theknow. joesbakery.com
PAPERBOY
Originally abuzzworthytrailer, Paperboy hasgrown into a belovedEastSidebrick-andmortar (withananticipated second location coming soon). Chef PatrickJackson’s menu teemswithheavyweight brekkie optionslikebiscuitsand gravy with friedchicken anda sunny egg, or thepopular TexasHash, adecadentsweet potato hash topped with braisedpork shoulder,a poachedegg,and a pecanmole. Want somethinga little lighter? Orderthe Paperboy pancake, aperfectly sizedstack of one. paperboyaustin.com
BattleWrBap a Wrap
Whythe breakfast taco reigns supreme over burritos in Austin.
Tryorderingabreakfast burritoinAustin, andpeoplewilllookatyou like you’re talkingsmack aboutWillieNelson. As ubiquitous to Texasasthe bagelistoNew York, thebreakfast taco is sacred here
Smallerand simplerthanburritos, breakfast tacosare typicallymadewithjusttwo or threeingredients:egg,cheese,and potato, or ameatlikechorizo or bacon. Burritos are pronetoadditions like veggies, beans, or rice.Tacos took hold as abreakfast food over ahundred yearsago in Northern Mexico.But theversion Austinites know and love—madewithfluffyscrambled eggs and melted cheese—ispureTex-Mex:ablend of Mexicanand Anglo-German ingredients that really caught on in Corpus Christiinthe 1950s. Despiteits perfection,the cuisine hasn’t takenoff outsidethe Lone Star State.
“The breakfasttacoismorelocalized to Texas,”explainsJeffreyPilcher,foodhistorian andauthorof Planet Taco: A Global History of Mexican Food.“By thetimepeoplestarted finding outabout it,the burrito hadalready filledthe Mexico breakfastcategoryfor most people in theU.S.” That dominancelikelystems from itsflourtortilla, whichismorereadily refrigerated and distributedthanits corn counterpart
WhileAustindidn’tinventbreakfast tacos, we have some knockout versions.Don’t trust us?Justask Michelin.Theyrecentlyawarded aBib Gourmand to four localspots:LaSanta Barbacha,Nixta Taqueria, CuantosTacos, andVeracruzFonda&Bar RoseMcMackin
OVENBIRD
With aLithuanianmeets Lone Star Stateinfluence,chefSarah Koslosky’s “Tex-Baltic” menu is unlike anything in thecapital city Savorthe most importantmealofthe daywiththe hoppel poppel,a hash made with smoked 44 Farmssirloin,orget adventurouswitha morning-approvedsaladfeaturingmassagedkaleandroastedapple yogurt.Evenbreakfasttacosliketheshakshuka,tvorog,andcilantro allowyou to trysomething new. Want to learnthe scratch-made techniques at home?Kosloskyhosts regularcooking classesatthe SouthAustineatery. ovenbirdatx.com
DAN’SHAMBURGERS
Thetruetestofa real-deallocal:Haveyou been to Dan’s Hamburgers forbreakfast?The old-school burger spot with aloyal followingworks magiconbreakfast sandwiches, tacos, omelets, andevenbiscuitsand gravy. Just make sure youset an alarm: Breakfastiscut off at 10:30a.m.daily except Sunday (a glorious extrahouruntil 11:30a.m.) And yes, if youcomebackfor lunchthe same day, you’ll have reachedpeakAustinite status.dans-hamburgers.com
TOASTY BADGER
Evokingthe spirit of a’70sdiner, ToastyBadgerburstontotheSouth Congressscenelastyearasagroovy spottoenjoybreakfastwellintothe afternoonhours.Chowdownon comfortfoodlikeoversizedgriddle cakesorbiscuitswithsmokyguajillo sausagegravy andtomatojam Kidsandtheyoungatheartwilllove theFrenchtoast sticks plus freshsqueezedorangeorpineapplejuice. Foranoptimal experience,snaga seat at thecounter andsip coffee outofa retromug.Comeon, get happy! loboshospitality.com/ venues/toastybadgeratx
Addalittle proteintoyour breakfastwiththis savory sausage. HudsonMeat Market Maple BlueberryBreakfast Links($6.50) at hudsonsmeatmarket.com
Startyourday right with this dreamy tea perfectfor breakfast. KinshipEnglish BreakfastMilk Tea($5.99) at Tiny Grocer
Skip corn or traditionalflour in favorofthese wraps. SieteFoods Grain-Free Almond FlourTortillas ($7.96)atCentral Market
Thesepasture-raisedeggsare everything they’recracked up to be. VitalFarms GradeAPasture Raised LargeEggs(pricevaries) at H-E-B
Channelnostalgia from your childhood—or collegeyears! —withKerbey’sclassic mix. Kerbey Lane Cafe Buttermilk PancakeMix ($4.97)atH-E-B
No dairy? No problem! Try this pecan-basedalternative in your morningbrew. Pecana PralinePecanMilk ($7.99)atpecanamilk.com
Make your ownbloodymarywith Stiles Switch co-owner CatherineStiles’ signaturemix. Barbecue Wife Bloody Mary Mix ($15)atStiles Switch BBQ& Brew
Topyour toastwiththis tastymix of strawberry, cherry,and rhubarb. Austin Jam CompanyThat’s My Jam($11.99) at CentralMarket Getyourcaffeine fix with this bold espresso blend. CuvéeCoffee Karmadillo Whole Bean Coffee ($15)at cuveecoffee.com
This famedsalsa made with jalapeños, garlic, andoil putTacodeli on themap Tacodeli Creamy Jalapeño (Doña Sauce) ($6.99)at WholeFoods Market
VERACRUZ ALLNATURAL
More than 15 yearsafter launchinga taco traileron East CesarChavezStreet, sistersReyna andMaritza Vazquezhavegrown Veracruz AllNatural into an Austin classicwithseven locations. In acityreplete with takesonmigas tacos, no versiontops Veracruz’s migaspoblanas. “Roastingthe poblana andgivingitthatsmoky flavor is what sets thetaco apart,”Reyna says.Completewithcrispyhomemade chipsand afreshly made corn tortilla, it’s oneofthe capitalcity’smostessential breakfastitems. veracruzallnatural.com
PHOEBE’S DINER
Back in 2017,while awaiting thearrivalofhis daughter,chef CamdenStuerzenbergeryearnedforawaytospendmoretime with family andlesstimerunning dinner shifts sixormore nights aweek. So,hehatched theconcept of Phoebe’s Diner, givingtherestaurantthenameofhisfirstborn.Theexpansive menurangesfromthecrispycrabcakebenedicttoasmoked brisketburrito,alongwithdishesinspiredbythechef’sloved ones—baked eggs with tomato andparmesanthankstohis wife’saffinityforshakshuka,decadentbananasfosterFrench toastnodding to hisson’s favorite fruit, and fluffypancakes adored by Phoebe herself. phoebesdiner.com
HAB NERO CAFE
The East Side isn’t the only neighborhood with legacy Tex-Mex for breakfast The Ibarra family has been slinging machacado and eggs in South Austin since 1998 The most important meal of the day is served all day, and it’s a bargain too: Breakfast tacos for $2 50? Feels like it’s still the ’90s Regulars, who run the gamut from oldschool musicians hooked on the chips and salsa to the City Hall suits, often opt for the migas, menudo, or the Patron plate, which pairs huevos rancheros with fajitas grilled over mesquite habanerocafe.com
Bananas foster French toastand CheekyMonkey
Furiosotacoand migastaco
Morning
3iconicdishesyou’vegot to tryinCentral Texas.
THETEXAS SIZEDDONUT AT ROUNDROCKDONUTS
Everything’s bigger in theLoneStar State, includingthisdelightfully over-the-top confection.Drive to Round Rock’s 99-year-olddoughnutshopto trythe 13-inchpastry, whichfillsupan entire boxwhere anormaldozen would go.Get it glazed or chocolatecovered andconsiderbringingafriendtopolish off thebreakfast behemoth roundrockdonuts.com
SWEDISHHILL
With everything from aNutella morningbuntoaham-and-gruyere croissant,thepastriesarealwaysa drawatthishotspot,whichrecently openedinWestlakeandwillexpand to SouthAustinthisspring. But here,there’sonemorningdishyou simply must order: thebreakfast sandwich.Stuffed with fluffy scrambledeggs, crispbacon,herb salad,andsalsaverde,thesandwich isbestenjoyedonSwedish’sstellar sourdough. Noticeably less tangy than thefamousSan Francisco version,thisbreadhastheperfect kickofsalt.swedishhillaustin.com
PANCAKES AT KERBEY LANE CAFE
If youwenttoUT, youlikelyscarfed down thesefamed flapjacks afterstudyingfor finalsat2 a.m. Butcollege students and families alikeadore thefluffystacksat Kerbey Lane (est.1980),which rangein flavors from classicbuttermilkand chocolatechiptospecialslikecarrot cake ands’mores kerbeylanecafe.com
CASPER FERMENTABLES
THEDON
JUAN AT JUAN IN AMILLION
At this East Side mainstay,there is only onecorrect order: theDon Juan El Grande Taco,a deliciousconcoctionof potato,bacon,egg,and cheese served in ahot tortilla.The giantbreakfast taco hasbecomethe stuff of legends—anda go-tohangovercurefor patronssince therestaurantopened45years ago. juaninamillion.com
Kombucha andbagelsmight soundlikeanunlikely pairing, butthe combination worksatthisSunsetValley spot.Departfromthe ordinary with an orderofthe sourdoughcinnamonroll andyauponkombucha, or shakeupyourmorning routinewitha Montrealinspired bageltoppedwith whitefish.Wordtothe wise: Go on weekdays,asthisSouth Austin gemtends to have a wait on weekends.(Onebite, andyou’llunderstandwhy.) casperfermentables.com
Smoked Salmon Lox
BOULDINCREEK CAFE
Nestledinone of thecity’smost iconic neighborhoods, this funky SouthAustinspothas been servingupall-vegetarian breakfaststaples since2000. Choose from asprawling menu of tacos, omelets, andbreakfast plates,orgosuper healthywitha localcold-pressedjuice anda bowl of house-made crunchy granolawithyogurt. From its cozy dining room to thebreezy patio, fewplacesevoke the feel-goodfree-spiritedness of OldAustinlikehere. bouldincreekcafe.com
SAWYER &CO.
Whosaysyoucan’tbrunchduringtheworkweek?ThisEast Side “finerdiner”featuresbiscuitsand gravy, chilaquiles, andfourkindsofbenedictsserveddailyuntil3p.m.Owner StephenShallcrossbet wisely that Austin needed Cajun Creole just as much as Tex-Mexfor breakfast, whichiswhy you’llfindNewOrleans–styleFrenchtoastandshrimpand gritswithmushroomCreolesauce.Welovethe Googie dinerarchitecturealmostasmuchasthesmokedbarbacoa benedict. sawyerand.co
CAFÉ NO SÉ
Although thenameplayfully translates to “I don’tknow,”this SouthAustindelight is more than sure of itself.The property designed by MichaelHsu dazzles with cozy blue-and-whiteinteriors, abakeryboastingapple almond muffins andkouignamannpastries, anda cafe with an elevated dailybreakfast menu Here,you cannoshonavocado toastwithcrème fraicheor kimchi hash with sunny-side-up eggs andporkbelly before you kick off your workday. Dropping by on aSaturday? Grab aspoton thepatio alongbustlingSouth Congress andorder theweekendonly seasonal French toast. cafenoseaustin.com
BREAKFASTHOUSE
It’snosecretthatNorthAustinhasbeenahubforadynamic Asianfoodscene,but this newcomer slipsintoa novel category:weekday Chinesebreakfast fix. This isn’tjustDim Sum, either.Inlieuofsoupdumplings,you’ll find other classics like turnip cake andsteamed rice noodle stuffed with beef or pork.The giantbowlofcongeeisa no brainer, butbring afriendbecause it caneasilyfeedtwo—and you don’twanttoskipthe Chinesedonut.(It’s literallythe size of asmall baguette.) 13450ResearchBlvd.,Ste.118
AWALK
THE
WEIRDSIDE
Oneofthe last vestiges of Austin’s trademarkoddity, Eeyore’s Birthday hosts its60thfestivalthisyear.
By BryanC.Parker
THESIREN CALL OF ADRUM circlebeckonscuriousexplorersdeeper intothetreegrovesofPeasePark.Adizzyingarray of color flutters amongthe vibrantspringtimegrass.There’sawomanwithfairywingsandglitterymakeup clad in only denimshortsand pasties, someoneinagiantfluffypandahead,and revelersadornedwitheveryshadeofbody paint.Jugglersandhulahoopersperform merrilyasdancers circle amaypole.It’s nota feverdream or some avant-garde circus:ThisisEeyore’sBirthdayParty,a capitalcitytraditionforoversixdecades.
AlwayscelebratedonthefinalSaturdayofApril(withatentativerainoutday oneweeklater),theiconiclocaleventhas technicallybeenaroundfor61years,but sincetheCOVID-19pandemicforcedthe cancellation of twoiterations, the2025 gatheringmarksits60thcelebration
AremnantofOldAustinoddity,the festivalembracesacosmicconnectedness andinvites free spiritsofall kindstolet loose. Theword bacchanalia comesto mind,but it’s notquite that sordid.Admissionisfree, andguestsrange from theveryold to theveryyoung—there’s evenchildren’sgamesandfacepainting Although,ithelps if you’re thekindof parentwho’smoreconcernedaboutyour kidseeingviolenceonthenewsthanthe humanforminallitsglory
ThinkofitasBurningManforfamiliesinthe middleofapublicpark.OramashupofarenaissancefairandMardiGras.Howeveryoudescribe Eeyore’s,thisquintessentiallocalexperiencewas keepingAustinweird long before theconcept became abit of snazzy branding.Scott Sexton,a longtimeboardtrusteeandformerpresidentfor thenonprofitthatsponsorstheevent,putsitthis
Ifyouwanttounderstandwhatthiscapitalcityinstitutionhas todowithamopeydonkeyfromachildren’sstory,youhaveto goallthewaybackto1964,whenaUniversityofTexasstudent namedLloydBirdwelldecidedheneededawaytorelaxbefore finalexams.Heand hisclassmateshad been studying A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh,and in onechapter,Eeyoreissad becausenoneofhis friendshaverememberedhis birthday.Birdwell decideditwasagoodenoughexcuseforfestivities anddecidedtohostapartyinEeyore’shonor.
Lady BirdJohnsonand daughter Lyndaattend Eeyore’s BirthdayParty in the 1970s.
Alongwithafewbuddies,theundergradused atypewritertowhipuparudimentaryinvitation, whichread:“Therewillbesuitablefreebeverage, such as beer,for thosewho thinkyoung.Also EEYORE’S Birthday Cake,music,special entertainment,andaMaypole!”AndonFriday,May8, 1964,thegroupheadeddowntoEastwoodsPark, whichsitsjustoffcampus,northofDeanKeeton Thatinauguraliterationfeaturedagianttrashcan full of spiked lemonadeand alivedonkey draped in flowers. Afterall,the free love ideology andflower powerculture of the
hippie movement were beginning to percolateinthe Americanzeitgeist.
By thesecondyear, ay EnglishprofessornamedJamesAyres gotinvolvedwithhelpingtostagetheparty.
Recipientsoffundsfromlastyear’seventincluded Emancipet, theAustinBat Refuge,and Hospice Austin,buttherearedozensofnonprofitsthathave been given financialsupport from theFriends of theForestFoundationovertheyears.
Sinceitshumbleinception,Eeyore’shasgrown to attractthousands of attendeeseachyear, and oneofthemostimportanttasksfororganizersis motivatingrevelerstoexittheparkwhentheevent ends at dusk.The all-volunteerstaff hasa long eveningofcleaningafter festivitieswrap. Drum circlescan be amongthe trickiesttobreak up, Carnes explains,but thoseenthusiasticparticipantsare thelifeblood of thefestival, andorganizersaren’tkeentoalienatethem
Attheendofoneeventsomeyearsago,aboard member at thetime, Doug Simmer,devised a perfectsolution:Hepickeduphisdrumandbegan marching from onecircletoanother,amassing followersashewent.“Heledthisgiantdrumline outofthe park,” Carnes remembers. “Itwas like thePiedPiper,and he just cleared eparkinonefellswoop.”
(Ayres went on to foundanother classicCentral Texasevent, ShakespeareatWinedale,aUTactingprogramthatalsostill exists today.)Overthe course of thenextdecade, underthe stewardshipoftheprofessor,Eeyore’sBirthdaydevelopedinto a fixturefor university students andthe greaterAustincommunity.EvenLadyBirdJohnson andher daughter Lynda visitedthe festival oneyear.
By 1974,ithad outgrown thesmall confinesofEastwoods ParkandmadeamovetothesprawlingacreageofPeasePark Itwasaroundthattimethattheeventmorphedfromsimplya communitygatheringtoanofficialfundraiser.Theuniversity’s YMCAchapteradoptedtheeventandisstillitsparentorganization today. However, theorganizationoperatesunder the nametheFriendsoftheForestFoundation.
Eachyear,thenonprofit’sboardvotesonwhichlocalorganizationswillbeits beneficiaries. “Wejustask that they area positive nonprofitthatisdoing somethingfor people in the Austincommunityandthattheamountofmoneythatwegive themisgoingtobenefitthem,”saysLesCarnes,aboardtrusteewhohasbeeninvolvedwithEeyore’sforover45years
Whilepeopleassociatethecapitalcity’sidentitywithitsfunky vibes,it’sworthnotingthatthespiritofcommunalbetterment centraltoEeyore’sis just as representative of Austin’s ethos.
Attendeesget achancetoshowoff theirelaborate looksat theannualcostumecontest.Andonemanhasbecomearepeat championthankstohisbelovedget-upsthatparodyiconiclocal establishments.Don Clinchystartsworking on hisensemble monthsinadvanceoftheparty.“Ijustkindofdrivearoundtown lookingfor somethingthatI canuse as abasis fora costume, a restaurantorabarorwhatever,”hesays.“ThenjustputmythinkingcaponforwhatkindofpunsIcando.”
Hisfirstattemptatthiscostumestylecamein2015,whenhe dressedas“PotNotchHashburgers,”aplayonTopNotch,with amarquee that read:“GetFried Like OurChicken”and below that,“Alright, Alright, Alright.”All of Clinchy’sparodieshave somesortofreferencetoweed.ClinchyhasspoofedMrs.Johnson’sBakery(Mrs.Jointson’sBakedery),QualitySeafood(QualitySeaweed),Matt’sElRancho(Matt’sElRoacho),andtheILove YouSoMuchmural (I SmokeYou So Much). He says thelatter washisfavorite,becausepeopleweresokeentoposewithhim forphotos,sincethat’swhateveryonedoeswiththeactualmural. Butperhaps hismostgeniusrendition washis take on Broken Spoke—asignfeaturing therecognizablewagon wheelwitha marijuanaleafatthecenterofitandthewords“Toke‘N’Smoke.”
Clinchymoved to Austin in 1991 andstarted attending Eeyore’s theverynextyear. Before that,helived in Dallas for severalyears,a move he calls“theworst decision of [his]life.” Inthecapitalcity,hefinallyfoundaplacewherehefeltrightat home.“I’mprettycountercultural—kindofa hippie at heart,” heexplains.Forhim,Eeyore’sBirthdayrepresentseverything that made himfallinlovewithAustinover30years ago, and it’sthereasonthefestivalhasbecomesoiconic.
“PeoplelikeitbecauseitembodieswhatAustinusedtobe:a town forcreatives andcountercultural people,musicians,all sortsofpeopleinthe arts,and people wish it wasstill that,” Clinchysays.“Austinhaschangeddrastically,butEeyore’shasn’t.”
Many HappyReturns
In 2007,the EastwoodsNeighborhood Associationinstalled astatueofthefestival’snamesakedonkeyintheparkwhereit allbegan.Itwas a fittinggesture foraninstitution that has stayed remarkably true to itsroots:“Just abunch of people goingouttotheparktohaveagoodtime,”asSextonputsit
Thefestival’sfoundermovedawayfromAustinlongbefore he passed away in 2014,but Birdwell made severalreturns to thegathering he dreamedup. During oneofthose visits,he
surveyedthegroundswithaweandturned to Sexton andasked,“Howdoyou do it, Scott? Theworld is adifferent place. Nothingisthesame,butEeyore’sBirthdayPartystillhasthesamefeelthatit hadwhenwestarted it.”
Sexton told himtotakeanother glance around andtakenoteofthe lack of sponsors.“We’veshunned all thebigmoneycorporations,andwe’ve stuckwiththe local,”hesays. “Every othereventintownissolelyfocusedon making money, butwekeptEeyore’sone hundredpercent nonprofit.”Fromlocal beer andfoodvendors on-sitetolocal beneariesfor thefunds raised,it’scompletely mmittedtotheAustincommunity.ForSexton, intentionality is rooted in hisworldview “ThisiswhatI want societytobelike, so being involved helpskeepthe vibe that Imoved to Austin for,”hesays.
In past interviews,Birdwellhad been clear aboutthefactthatthere’snodeepermeaningor symbolismbehindtheevent’sname.Truly,doing somethingjustforthesakeofdoingitexplainsa greatdealofwhatgetslabeled“weird”inAustin. ButthereisasectionofthatoriginalA.A.Milne storythatservesasanaptmeditationontheethos ofEeyore’s.
WhenPoohdiscoversit’sthedonkey’sbirthday, he tellshim,“Many happyreturns of theday, Eeyore.”Thephraseisabygoneexpressiontowish someoneahappybirthday.(Itmayhaveanastrologicalconnotation,markingthedayonwhicha planetreturnstothesameposition.)Inresponse, hisequinefriendsharesthesamesentiment:“And many happyreturns to you.”The famedbearremindshim that it’s nothis birthday,but Eeyore points outthatthere’s no reason hisbirthday shouldn’tbea happyoccasionfor Pooh as well Forvisitorsofthisclassic Austin celebration, sharingjoyiswhatit’sallabout.
NachoAverageParty
RememberingwhenDoritos builta 60-footvending machineatSXSWand put SnoopDogginsideit. BYBRYANC.PARKER
SINCEEMERGINGASA MECCA for brandactivations,SXSWhas been no stranger to spectacle, butone particular larger-than-life pop-up concertwas truly allthatand abag of chips. As amarketing ploy,Doritosconstructedaroughly60-foottallstageintheshapeofagiganticvending machineaimed at dispensing cool rather than Cool Ranch. Occupyinga parkinglot at FifthStreetand RedRiver,justnorth of theHilton, themakeshift venuehostedan all-star lineup—includingSnoop Dogg, Ludacris,and IceCube—during itsthreeyear tenure from 2012 to 2014.
Thestage’sfirstiterationcoincidedwith thereleaseofabrand-newproduct:“Doritos JackediseverythingfansloveaboutDoritos tortilla chips, only jacked up fora bigger experience,” said apress releaseahead of theevent.The chipsare 40%largerand thickerthantheregularvariety,hencetheir swolemoniker.In2013, thecompany toutedtheinstallationas“themostinteractive stageatSXSW”andliveduptothatpromise. Attendeescouldtweettoactivatepyrotechnics,smoke,and lights onstage, andan animationofa bagofchips fallingout of themachine wouldplaywitheachchoice. Fans even hadthe powertoselectwhich songLLCoolJwouldplayduringanencore (“Whaddup” wonout).
Perhapstoo glorious forthisworld,the stage’srun came to an endthankstotighteningcrowdcontrolrestrictionsbythecity ofAustin.In2014,LadyGagawasscheduled toheadlinetheeventbutwasforcedtomove theperformance to Stubb’safter Doritos wasunabletosecureapermitforthemegastar.Thechipbrandmayhavebeenon“The Edge of Glory” with this epic PR stunt, but it wasevidently time to endtheir “Bad Romance” with Austin’s favorite festival
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