Austin Monthly March/April 2026

Do YETI Billboards Say What We’re All Thinking? PAGE36 Austin’s Sandlot Baseball Phenomenon PAGE 60

Take it Outside!

40

REFRESHING WAYS TO GET OUTDOORS IN THE HILL COUNTRY THIS SPRING

P H OTO C R E D I T

MARCH/APRIL 2026 • $5.95 AUSTINMONTHLY.COM

OWN

WITHOUT COMPROMISE

Open water at your doorstep. The beach within reach. Curated green spaces and resort-level amenities designed for those who value beauty and effortless living—for you and your family, for generations to come. This is a rare one-of-a-kind coastal enclave where nature and architecture exist in perfect balance from the Gulf to the Bay. Not merely where you live—but how you live.

FEW WILL CALL THIS PLACE HOME...MAKE SURE YOU’RE ONE OF THEM.

LUXURY HOMES From $1.5 Million HOMESITES From the mid $300s VISIT OUR SALES CENTER TODAY AND ASK ABOUT OUR WINTER SPECIAL 14353 Commodores Drive,

SCAN FOR MORE INFORMATION

Corpus Christi, TX 78418 (361) 600-7986 sales@whitecaplivingnpi.com

WhitecapLivingNPI.com

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY. Models do not reflect racial or ethnic preferences.

Not an offer or solicitation to sell real property. Whitecap NPI does not discriminate against any class of persons protected by federal, state or local law. ©Diamond Beach Holdings, LLC - All information and services are subject to change. Availability, prices, materials, and options may vary. All photographs, renderings and other depictions are for the sole purpose of illustration and are subject to change. Imagery is representational and does not depict specific buildings, views or future architecture, community, amenities or other details.

Marketing & Sales by Strategyst LLC. V31387-260126-HM-AM

Modern spirit, American soul.

BUILT FOR TODAY—AND EVERY TOMORROW. Experience contemporary furniture where exquisite design meets lasting quality—thoughtfully crafted in America using eco-friendly practices. Explore collections from American Leather, Copeland, and Stickley, all proudly made in the USA with responsibly sourced materials and expert craftsmanship. Each piece is designed to elevate your space while honoring the planet. Our expert Design Consultants are here to help!

Ask about our complimentary design services and start creating your perfect space.

SHOWROOM HOURS Monday–Saturday 10–7 | Sunday 11–6 www.skandinaviatexas.com | (512) 451-1868 4477 South Lamar Boulevard, next to Central Market

Krista DeCoursin, DDS Cosmetic & General Dentist

Kirsten Thouvenot, DDS Cosmetic & General Dentist

2025 Mark Sweeney, DDS Founder of Austin Dental Spa

Austin

2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025 FIRST PLACE: BEST COSMETIC DENTISTRY 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025 FIRST PLACE: BEST DENTIST 2025 FIRST PLACE: BEST DENTAL CLINIC

Cosmetic Dentistry | General Dentistry | Sedation Dentistry | Invisalign Pain-Free Laser Dentistry | Stringent Infection Control Protocols | Smile Makeovers Porcelain Veneers | Teeth Whitening | Dental Implants | Complimentary Hand or Foot Massage

www.austindentalspa.com

2023, 2024 FINALIST: BEST DENTIST 2024 FINALIST: BEST COSMETIC DENTISTRY 2019 FINALIST: BEST DENTIST &

512-452-9296

BEST COSMETIC DENTISTRY

The Standard d d in Austin New Development l Sales The Portfolio Edition sets the standard in Austin new development sales, uniting market intelligence, narrative strategy, and on-site expertise to deliver unmatched results for Pearlstone Partners’ collection of Austin developments.

1 Bedroom Starting from $799K

1 Bedroom Starting from $439K

Studios Starting from $399K

2 Bedroom Starting from $1.279M

1 Bedroom + Den Starting from $735K

1 Bedroom Starting from $529K

3 Bedroom Starting from $1.699M

2 Bedroom Starting from $649K

1 Bedroom + Den Starting from $675K

Penthouses Inquire for Pricing

Penthouses Starting from $1.249M

2 Bedroom Starting from $799K

During February, select buyers at The Belvedere can combine adjacent residences to create a customized Penthouse . Take advantage of preconstruction pricing, early design decisions, and the ability to think bigger before plans are finalized. Fall 2027 completion.

With newly positioned pricing, Vesper offers a timely ownership opportunity in downtown Austin. A limited release of move-in-ready residences is available now, set on Rainey Street as the district redefines itself as a destination for living, culture, and design.

Inquiries:

thepo ortfolioedition f n.com

The Code opens this March, with a limited February release of residences at pre-opening pricing. This hotel-condo concept combines private ownership with fully managed STR operations by AvantStay. Ideal as a second home, or a low-friction alternative to an ADU.

AUSTIN GRANITE DIRECT KITCHEN | FIREPLACES | SHOWER WALLS | VANITIES | BACKSPLASHES

Visit our showroom P. 512.825.5625

www.austingranitedirect.com 6600 Burleson Rd. Austin, TX 78744

G

Ausstin n Grraniite Dirrect

Excellence you can trust.

The only CARF-accredited rental community in Austin.

Quality, safety, and support—today and tomorrow.

Call to schedule a tour and discover SENIOR LIVING, redefined.

INDEPENDENT & ASSISTED LIVING, MEMORY CARE AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES

11001 Austin Lane, Austin | 512.575.3839 | maravilla AUSTIN.COM AN SRG SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

Facility ID: 110291

M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 2 6

44

Choose Your Own Adventure Head outdoors this spring to explore scenic hiking trails, towering cascades, wildflower fields, floating sound baths, and epic views across the Hill Country.

60 Good Sport

E N C H A N T E D R O C K BY P E T E R TSA I P H OTO G R A P H Y

Sandlot baseball has taken over Austin.

More than just a recreational activity, it’s an entire state of mind.

AUSTIN MONTHLY

13

M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 2 6

Contents Editor’s Letter 22

18

Scout Read the fine print at this hip new magazine shop 21 Explore Space City at these stylish hotels and eateries 22 Party photos from Austin Monthly’s “Lights, Camera, Austin!” issue release bash 24

Feast Savor short ribs bourguignon, dover sole, and other French delights at this downtown dining destination 27

Mitch Mazur creates aquatic wonders for top restaurants 30

Beat The capital city is a hot spot for analog experiences 33 With their playful billboards, YETI taps into Austin’s cultural zeitgeist 36 A local tastemaker’s new record label shakes up the music biz 38

Weird History

36

When a golden goose named Homer became the toast of the town 74

O N T H E C OV E R Krause Springs,

by Jasmine Alley.

14

MARCH / APRIL 2026

TO P TO B OT TO M : H OT E L DA P H N E , C O U RT E SY B U N K H O U S E ; M I TC H M A Z U R , DAV E C R E A N E Y; B I L L B OA R D, C O U R T E SY Y E T I

30

Sip in style at these five hot new bars in town 28

March/April 2026 | Vol. 34 | No. 2

General Manager Randi Stevenson Editor-in-Chief Madeline Hollern Creative Director Mara Esquivel EDITORIAL Executive Editor Bryan C. Parker Contributing Writers Darcie Duttweiler, Rose McMackin, Rosie Ninesling ART Contributing Photographers Jasmine Alley, Dave Creaney, Bill Sallans, Neeraj Salvankar

Contributing Illustrators Stephanie Elizabeth, Autumn Hutchins, Jon Wilcox DIGITAL Digital Manager Abigail Stewart ADVERTISING Director of Sales Julie Lee Vice President of Marketing and Events Sara Bryant Account Executives Dana Horner, Teddy Ivanova, Jenn Tully, Kiely Whelan EVENTS Events Director Lauren Sposetta CIRCULATION Circulation Manager Kerri Nolan Corrections & Clarifications

The following doctors were incorrectly omitted from the 2026 Top Doctors list in the January/February 2026 issue: Dr. Samuel E. Long practices endocrine surgery at UT Health Austin’s Surgical Oncology Clinic.

Dr. Claire Sokas practices colon and rectal surgery at Digestive Health.

Dr. Alex Haynes practices surgical oncology at UT Health Austin’s Surgical Oncology Clinic.

Dr. Wesley D. Foreman practices pain management at Ascension Texas Spine & Scoliosis.

The following doctors should have appeared under the Surgical Oncology category, not Sports Medicine Surgery: Rob Alan Fuller, Shaun Patrick McKenzie, Christopher R. Oxner, Rebecca Lynn Wiatrek, Kim Brown, and Richard Y. Fleming.

Correction: Dr. Kim Brown was incorrectly listed as Dr. Kim Denise Brown.

CONTACT US 8000 Metropolis Drive, Bldg. A, Ste. 100, Austin, TX 78744, 512-263-9133.

Advertising inquiries: advertising@austinmonthly.com. Letters to the Editor: info@austinmonthly.com. Subscriptions, Renewals, and Address Changes: Austin Monthly, 8000 Metropolis Drive, Bldg. A, Ste. 100, Austin, TX 78744, 512-387-6234, subscriptions@austinmonthly.com or online at austinmonthly.com/subscribe.

16

MARCH / APRIL 2026

WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA austinmonthly.com

APRIL 25, 2026 | ATX

Please join us at the Wonders & Worries Urban Scavenger Hunt. Teams (family, student, corporate) use an app to solve clues all around Austin, then meet back at the Zilker Lodge for an after-party, swag bags, and prizes.

SPONSORSHIPS STARTING AT $250 $20 ADULT TICKET $10 YOUTH AND STUDENT TICKET Please use the QR code to register, register become a sponsor, or make a donation.

WONDERS & WORRIES SUPPORTS CHILDREN & TEENAGERS WHEN THEIR PARENT IS SERIOUSLY ILL OR INJURED.

CONTACT US Learn more about accessing our services & how to refer yourself or others. www.wondersandworries.org We will, together.

Our child life experts guide children through virtual or in-person sessions that help them: • Understand what’s happening with mom or dad • Express their feelings • Build healthy ways to cope

PARENT RESOURCES Wonders & Worries Helpline 844-WE-WONDER (844-939-6633)

W&W2Go Parent Ap pp

WonderCast™ Podcast

WonderChat™ Parent Webinars

Editor’s Letter

Natural Selection

I COULDN’T STAND another second of scrolling on my phone. About a month into the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, I got into my car and drove along 290 in search of nature and normalcy—I just wanted a modicum of calm in the maelstrom of chaos. The open road called me like a siren song, the vibrant blues and reds and burgundies of the bucolic Willow City Loop beckoning me to head west of our lockeddown metropolis.

In springtime, the 13-mile stretch near Fredericksburg blooms into a veritable Vincent Van Gogh painting filled with bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes, winecups, and firewheels. After getting out of my car to see the wildflowers up close, I traced my fingers across the tops of the petals, breathing in the April air and feeling the breeze across my shoulders. Seeing another group walk among the blooms across the two-lane road, I waved and they responded in kind. In a time so bereft of human interaction, the brief exchange felt like something to savor.

Although it’s been six years since the pandemic upended our lives, many of us feel just as addicted to technology now as we did then: cycling from email to Instagram to news alerts, logging into yet another Teams meeting, and doomscrolling ourselves to sleep. But a countermovement has begun to take shape in Austin, where individuals are harkening back to simple pleasures and analog experiences.

In this issue, we’re celebrating places and activities that depart from digital overload. From scenic hikes and alfresco dining spots to spring festivals and breathtaking escapes, find 40 ways to get back to nature in Austin with our cover story, “Choose Your Own Adventure” (page 44). Discover the communal joy of the city’s sandlot baseball revolution with Bryan C. Parker’s engrossing feature, “Good Sport” (page 60).

Learn about TOMO mags, a downtown independent magazine shop celebrating all things print (page 21), or read about how young people a re ditching st rea ming ser v ices a nd smartphones in favor of film photography and hands-on experiences in Rose McMackin’s article, “In Real Life” (page 33). This spring, you don’t need to spend a lot of time or even money to take a break from the constancy of technology.

Just get outside and touch grass.

H AY D E N WA L K E R

Madeline Hollern Editor-in-Chief madeline@austinmonthly.com @madelinehollern @madelinehollern

18

MARCH / APRIL 2026

Two Iconic Texas resorts One UNFORGETTABLE Golf Escape.

OMNI PGA FRISCO RESORT & SPA

OMNI BARTON CREEK RESORT & SPA

At Omni PGA Frisco and Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, championship fairways, elevated hospitality, and unforgettable settings come together to define the ultimate golf getaway. Here, golf lives at the center of it all—paired with award-winning courses, world-class resort amenities, and exceptional culinary experiences that make every stay as memorable off the course as it is on it.

DISCOVER OUR EXCLUSIVE GOLF PACKAGES Visit omnihotels.com/texasgolfresorts to book

Fresh Prints Downtown isn’t exactly built for an unhurried pace. But TOMO mags, an independent magazine and art book shop on Brazos Street, aims to change the city’s frenetic tempo. Vico Puentes launched TOMO mags a decade ago in Houston inside a restored school bus—a mobile shop that still roams Austin today.

What began as a mission to bring “cool magazines to people” has evolved into a deeply intentional pursuit. “It’s about creating a space where people can slow down, engage, and actually do something with their inspiration,” says P uentes, who helps shoppers discover items that align with their passions. Inside his ultramarine blue store, shelves over f low w ith c urated titles, architecture journals, rare Spanish-language publications, books, and stationery. To encourage lingering, Cielito Lindo Café, a family-owned Latin coffee shop, serves horchata lattes while visitors sketch and jot notes. “People are realizing magazines can actually calm the noise of digital life,” Puentes says. By trading the algorithm for physical paper, TOMO mags gives Austin a place to pause, flip pages, and leave with something unexpected in hand. —Darcie Duttweiler

BILL SALLANS

AUSTIN MONTHLY

21

Scout Travel

What to Do in Houston A world-class culinary scene and an abundance of museums make this industrial southern city an underrated cultural powerhouse.

BY BRYAN C. PARKER

ON FIRST THOUGHT, Houston may conjure visions of sprawling highways or evoke its reputation as a hub for the oil and gas industry. But thanks to its status as the fourth-largest city in the country, this southern metropolis teems with cultural offerings, from mouthwatering cuisine and prestigious art collections to major league sports and impressively curated greenspaces. Space City may be just a short, two-and-a-halfhour drive away, but it opens up a world of possibilities for travelers.

Hotel Saint Augustine

Marriott Marquis Houston

STAY

Recently, Houston has strayed from its preferences for large-scale hotels in favor of more charming boutique accommodations—and the Austin-born Bunkhouse contributed to that shift with two new properties in 2025. Hotel Saint Augustine boasts elegant rooms with bold colors and is nestled seamlessly into the bohemian environs of the surrounding Montrose neighborhood. Just this past Decem-

22

MARCH / APRIL 2026

ber, Hotel Daphne arrived in the Houston Heights, bringing timeless design that emphasizes natural elements like warm wood and lush upholsteries.

Along Buffalo Bayou Park, Thompson Houston features a stunning rooftop pool, gorgeous views from floor-to-ceiling windows, and luxurious touches (like custom fragrances developed for separate spaces such as the lobby and guest rooms). For a more traditional approach, you can’t go wrong at

C O U R T E SY B R A N D S

Hotel Daphne

Le Jardinier

Meow Wolf

Tr u t h B B Q No matter where you grab dinner, start the day with brunch at CasaEma, the Houston Heights spot that makes both excellent Mexican pastries as well as scrumptious dishes like chilaquiles topped with brisket.

EXPLORE

CasaEma

the downtown Marriott Marquis Houston, which dazzles with an iconic Texas-shaped lazy river, infinity pool, and bar at its Altitude Rooftop hangout.

EAT

Elevated options for dining abound in Houston, from Le Jardinier’s modern French fare to Musaafer’s Indian cuisine, which strives to incorporate elements from all 29 of the country’s states. And the collection of four eateries from chef Aaron Bludorn—his namesake bar and restaurant, along with Navy Blue and the refined new Perseid located at Hotel Saint Augustine—are rightfully revered.

However, the city’s more approachable food options reflect its working-class spirit and offer just as much delight: pibil tacos from Cochinita & co. or a savory smashburger from Boo’s Burgers or Trill Burger, the latter courtesy of a resident cultural icon and legendary rapper Bun B. Even food courts are en vogue, and you can find varied, affordable eats at spots like POST Houston or Truck Yard.

For classic Texas fare, CorkScrew BBQ recently snagged the coveted Michelin star, but locals swear

by Truth BBQ, which received a Michelin Bib Gourmand and is known not only for its delectable brisket but also an impressive range of sides and desserts (don’t miss the tater tot casserole and the banana pudding). Keep up the carnivore lifestyle at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, an OG staple of the city that has been lauded as one of the country’s finest steakhouses for more than three decades.

Lose yourself in the immersive, multisensory experience of Meow Wolf. With colorful and surreal art installations spread out across myriad rooms, the site’s Radio Tave exhibit is like wandering through a maze of dreams. While Meow Wolf began in New Mexico, the Houston locale (one of just five in the country) features distinctly Texan flairs like the Cowboix Hevvven honky-tonk, where you can grab a snack and a drink, and a mural that depicts local heroes like DJ Screw, basketball legend Hakeem Olajuwon, and Astros great J.R. Richard.

Speaking of sports, the city is home to five professional franchises, but none more beloved than the two-time World Series champion Astros. Cheer on the home team during a family outing at Daikin Park, and don’t sleep on the famed (and incredibly strong) El Tiempo margaritas.

Despite Houston’s reputation for scorching summers, its temperate southern climes mean that you’ll find agreeable weather nine months of the year—ideal for strolling expansive outdoor spaces like Discovery Green, Buffalo Bayou Park, or McGovern Centennial Gardens.

No matter the number on the thermometer, you can always take respite in an array of quality museums that demand hours of thoughtful exploration. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston offers world-class exhibits, but the city also boasts one-of-a-kind treasures in the Rothko Chapel and Cy Twombly Gallery, both adjacent to the Menil Collection. Families will have a blast wandering amongst huge dinosaur skeletons at the Houston Museum of Natural Science or making a trip half an hour south to Space Center Houston to learn about the vital role that the city played in the country’s storied space exploration history.

CRUISE

Beyond its intrinsic wonders, the Gulf Coast city is just 50 miles from Galveston, a perfect point of departure for ocean expeditions to the Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, or Central American destinations.

In November of last year, Galveston added an entirely new terminal to its cruise port, primarily to accommodate the addition of MSC Cruises, a new line that’s making a major splash in the industry.

The MSC Seascape’s luxury Yacht Club area— sometimes referred to as a “ship within a ship”—offers private dining rooms, exclusive lounge areas, and around-the-clock butler service while still affording easy access to all the standard entertainment and amenities. Bon voyage!

MSC Seascape

Space Center Houston

AUSTIN MONTHLY

23

Scout Scene

Mix & Mingle

3

BY MADELINE HOLLERN

“LIGHTS, CAMERA, AUSTIN!” ISSUE RELEASE PARTY ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT! In early January, cinema lovers and magazine fans alike came out to AFS Cinema to celebrate the release of our “Lights, Camera, Austin!” issue, which highlighted the burgeoning film and TV scene in the capital city. The crowd enjoyed a screening of classic Richard Linklater film Dazed and Confused at the movie theater as well as drinks and munchie-inspired hamachi croquettes from new latenight sushi spot Konbini, helmed by Michelinrecognized chef Michael Carranza.

4

1

5

1. Will Stefanski and Maury Sullivan 2. Woody Harrelson on the cover of Austin Monthly 3. Caitlin McFarland, Bryan C. Parker, Grant Wood, and Chase Musslewhite 4. Jacqueline Cimino, Monica Aguilar, Susan McKinney, and Ashley Dunn 5. Partygoers in the AFS Cinema lobby 6. Nabil Remadna, Anne Nicholson, Sierra Waggoner, and Trevor Scott 7. Barry Rogers, Jae Head, and Michelle Cornell 8. Candace Kief and Ally Edelmann 9. Rhett O’Hara and Stef Shapira 10. Danyl and Lisa Magick 11. Kyle McCormick and Katie Fillmore 12. Gabriella Vangeli, Caitlyn McMahon, and Hannah Isanhart 13. Danielle York and Kennedy Sutton 14. Rakeda L. Ervin, Ghislaine “Qi Dada” Jean, and Marliza Mendez 15. Ricardo Gutierrez, Casey O’Neal, Michael Carranza, and Danielle Martinez

24

MARCH / APRIL 2026

P H OTO S BY N E E R A J SA LVA N K A R

2

6

7

8

11

14

9

10

12

13

15

AUSTIN MONTHLY

25

RONNY GALDÁMEZ

The French Connection With a sophisticated menu, romantic ambience, and impeccable service, Restaurant François certainly has that je ne sais quoi. Located in downtown Austin, the latest concept from Guy + Larry Restaurants (Red Ash, ATX Cocina, J. Carver’s) exudes a cosmopolitan verve that transports diners to somewhere magical. “We were looking [to create] a hip Parisian restaurant that you’d find in New York or Chicago or San Francisco,” says chef/ proprietor Harold Marmulstein. While the acclaimed culinary figure is best known in Austin for more casual concepts like Salty Sow and Tumble 22, Marmulstein worked in fine dining early in his career and honed his skills in the ’80s as a sous chef under a French chef in Atlanta. Whet your appetite with comté cheese popovers or French onion soup while preparing for decadent entrees like the boneless wagyu short ribs bourguignon, made with Wagyu-X beef that’s been marinated in burgundy wine with mirepoix, garlic, and herbs then braised in a multi-day process. Be sure to pre-order rotating soufflés like the amaretto mid-meal to cap off your dinner with the theatrical dessert: “We serve it with a [crème] anglaise, which is a vanilla sauce that we open the soufflé and pour in, so you get the cool and the hot,” he says. C’est si bon! —Madeline Hollern

AUSTIN MONTHLY

27

Feast Pour Things

Top Shelf From laid-back lounges to historic hotels, here’s where to drink this spring.

BY DARCIE DUTTWEILER

La Mezca THE SCOOP:

Hidden behind black curtains across from the Mueller gazebo, this sultry bar is a sharp departure from the neighborhood’s family-friendly spots. Inspired by Mexico City nightlife, the candlelit mezcalería is thick with the scent of palo santo and centered around a vibrant Día de los Muertos altar.

WHAT TO DRINK:

The menu spotlights small-batch agave, as libations lean into ceremony. Try La Frida, which balances coconut and lime with the earthiness of mole bitters.

PRO TIP:

Don’t skip the street tacos.

DETAILS:

1905 Aldrich St., Ste. 125, lamezcaatx.com

The Victorian THE SCOOP:

WHAT TO DRINK:

Embrace the classics: A perfectly executed Manhattan suits the surroundings best.

PRO TIP:

The mezzanine is the premier perch for live music nights; stake out a rail-side seat before the band starts.

DETAILS:

604 Brazos St., thevictorianbar.com 28

MARCH / APRIL 2026

CA M A L EO N A ST U D I O ; J U ST I N C O O K

Inside the historic Driskill Hotel, The Victorian blends Old West saloon spirit with classic English pub charm. MML Hospitality has layered the room with rich textures: mahogany bars, deep leather couches, hide-bound trunks, and whimsical taxidermy of foxes and birds. While the downstairs offers quiet intimacy, the upstairs, complete with pool tables, provides a theatrical vantage point over the brass-accented main floor.

Parley THE SCOOP:

Co-founded by the duo behind Bar Hacienda and Bar Fino, this neighborhood joint trades typical dive-bar grime for chic steel-gray leather and a moody, red-lit bar. It’s inspired by the Irish concept of “craic”—good conversation and better company—which plays out over pool tables, televised sports, and rounds of snacks from the attached Oseyo.

WHAT TO DRINK:

Cocktails at Parley are playful and inventive, from the Fish & Chips Martini, a savory gin-and-vodka blend with nori and olive oil, to the Golden Brown with milk whiskey and spent coffee.

PRO TIP:

Order rounds of shareables, including the addictive krab rangoons, and hang out for a game (or two).

DETAILS:

1628 E. Cesar Chavez St., parleyatx.com

Boni’s Bar Next Door THE SCOOP:

The Lenoir team brings Old Austin back to Bouldin Creek with this restored 1934 bungalow. Family heirlooms, reclaimed materials, and a vintage piano make the space intensely personal.

WHAT TO DRINK:

The cocktail list includes a classic gin & tonic, a sherry- and mezcal-based margarita, a Papa Doble, and a seasonal Carajillo.

PRO TIP:

P H OTO W E NCFRIETD ZG I TE R A L D ; J E S S I CA M A H E R ; B R I T TA N Y DAW N P H OTO G R A P H Y; M I CA M C C O O K .

Stop by for apps before dinner next door at Lenoir. Pair your drinks with small plates like stewed pork meatballs or softshell crawfish chips.

DETAILS:

1805 S. First St., @bonisbaratx

Foxtail THE SCOOP:

Skip the trek downtown for this polished cocktail bar on North Burnet. Curated vinyl hums beneath the glow of smoked mirrors, as velvet banquettes and deep walnut tones anchor the midcentury living-room vibe. The bar is a sophisticated sanctuary for the North Austin set.

WHAT TO DRINK:

Martinis lead the way at Foxtail, including liquid nitrogen–chilled pours. Try standouts like the caffeinated Ristretto Martini and the whiskeyforward Kitsune.

PRO TIP:

Arrive early to claim a velvet-lined corner before the after-dinner crowd.

DETAILS:

7001 Burnet Road, Ste. 1102, foxtailaustin.com AUSTIN MONTHLY

29

Feast Sea Suite

The Life Aquatic

Mitch Mazur blends science and art to create elegant aquariums for some of the city’s top restaurants.

BY ROSE MCMACKIN

ENTERING PERLA’S SEAFOOD & Oyster Bar, there’s a large freshwater aquarium straight ahead. Java ferns sprout along a graceful twist of wood. Silver shoals of Congo tetra flick in unison as they glide along—and then a gossamerfinned albino dantum angelfish drifts into view, large enough to attract the eye and hold it.

This miniature freshwater universe was curated in 2024

by Austin-based creator Mitch Mazur, who designs and maintains aquariums for Austin’s high-profile MML Hospitality group, specifically the prominent installations at Perla’s and Clark’s Oyster Bar. So delicate and carefully crafted are these marine worlds that Mazur visits them twice a week to make sure everything is in perfect balance. The underwater expert launched Afishionado’s Aquarium Design three years ago, building on more than a decade in the industry—though his love for underwater worlds stretches all the way back to his childhood.

Calling Mazur’s designs “aquariums” is a bit like calling the Mona Lisa “content:” technically true but incomplete.

They are “aquascapes,” crafted in the tradition of late Japanese designer Takashi Amano, whose nature-style aquariums balance art and ecology. Mazur works with sustainably sourced fish, coral, and plants on his transfixing creations that add a touch of nature to offices, homes, and restaurants.

“It's an ecosystem, but it incorporates design elements, 30

MARCH / APRIL 2026

like the golden ratio and the rule of thirds,” explains Mazur.

“There are things that draw your eye visually to focal points, whereas movement can carry you elsewhere.”

He’s an earnest presence on Instagram (@afishionado), where he has amassed over 62,000 followers with whom he shares industry content, alternating between technical details, niche hobbyist memes, and hypnotic clips of drifting fish and swaying plant life.

“You can have a house plant that adds greenery to your space, but it could easily be an aquarium,” Mazur says. “It's more dynamic.”

Mazur handles every stage of the aquascape—design, construction, and ongoing care—and he likes to joke that he’s a plumber, electrician, chemist, manual laborer, and vet rolled into one. But it’s clear that, first and foremost, he’s an animal lover. In any tank, the first thing he notices is how healthy the fish are, and he credits working with aquatic life for making him more empathetic.

The quiet, effortless beauty of his aquascapes belies oceanic depths of time and knowledge. It’s this infinite opportunity for learning that keeps Mazur so engaged with his work. “I’ve been doing this for a long time, and there are still things that are new,” he says. “Whether that’s a fish or a plant, new methodologies, new equipment, new testing practices— it’s just endless.”

DAV E C R E A N E Y

SHOP, DINE AND EXPERIENCE NORTHSIDE ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CHANEL

AWAY

CULINARY DROPOUT FLOWER CHILD

DIPTYQUE

GORJANA

LORO ASIAN SMOKEHOUSE & BAR RH THE GALLERY

SEPHORA

BLUE NILE

SKIMS

DOLCE VITA

HAYWIRE

MEJURI

BOSS

J.CREW

NORDSTROM

TAG HEUER

TECOVAS

BREITLING

BRILLIANT EARTH

DR. MARTENS JO MALONE OMEGA

DRYBAR JOYBIRD

PAIGE

THE NORTH FACE

EMA

CB2 FAHERTY

KIEHL’S

RAILS

REFORMATION

VUORI

WARBY PARKER

OVER 130 STORES AND RESTAURANTS, WITH MANY EXCLUSIVE TO AUSTIN.

FOLLOW US

@DomainNORTHSIDE

DOMAINNORTHSIDE.COM

In Real Life Amid tech fatigue and AI anxiety, Austin is going old school.

BY ROSE MCMACKIN

J O N W I LC OX

AUSTIN MONTHLY

33

Beat The City Hannah Moore of Moore Soap hosts a soapmaking workshop at CRAFT in East Austin.

PL AY I T AGAIN The numbers don’t lie: Offline entertainment is back in style.

80%

Portion of zoomers who feel they’re too dependent on tech.

34

MARCH / APRIL 2026

“We’re now at the point where iPhones have been around for almost 20 years,” says Laura Bright, a professor of media analytics at the University of Texas, who studies social media behavior with an emphasis on digital well-being.

“People have started to notice their attention spans decreasing. They’ve noticed their mindset shifting because of that kind of echo chamber environment, maybe shifting in a way that they don’t want it to.”

Too much screen time also damages social connections. We scroll instead of calling a family member and get life updates about our friends from social media instead of in person. A quarter of remote employees report interacting with AI Chatbots more than their coworkers.

The result is culture-wide fatigue with technology.

“Collectively, we’ve gotten to this point of saying, ‘OK, maybe we need to recalibrate,’” explains Bright. “People have more of a desire to feel in control of their technology, versus feeling trapped and addicted to it.”

More and more, individuals are seeking escape from the overstimulation of the digital world. For Bright, that’s knitting.

“You go into a theta brain state, which feels really good and relaxing but also lets your mind wander in a way that’s virtually impossible on your phone because you’re getting this constant stimulation,” she says.

Vinyl was among the earliest analog resurgences, particularly in Austin, where vintage

18

The number of consecutive years for growth in vinyl record sales.

20 million

Rolls of film sold globally in 2023.

100+

Run clubs in Austin.

10,000

Estimated number of regular pickleball players in the greater Austin area.

$19.99

Price for the new Taylor Swift album on cassette.

C O U R T E SY C R A F T

OUTSIDE 1 HOUR Film Lab, 24-year-old Grace Arnold rewinds a roll of film and pops open the back of the camera to extract it. Inside the cartridge, 36 moments are preserved on the slick, translucent strip. The images will come back after a short wait, shiny prints delivered from one human to another in a folded paper envelope.

Once ubiquitous in drugstores and malls, one-hour photo labs declined by 94% between 2000 and 2015. That makes Lago Vista Film Lab, an Austin shop that still turns around 35mm and 120 film in roughly an hour, something of an outlier. Here, film is not only accessible, but it’s still relatively quick.

The re-emergence of film is part of a broader national shift toward what’s often called “going analog”—a buzzy trend fueled by exhaustion with constant connectivity. That impulse makes sense in a world where one in four employees fear their reliance on AI is diminishing their professional skills. Advertising for devices like Brick, designed to interrupt mindless scrolling, is everywhere, and demand for physical media is rising, too.

The vinyl industry has been booming for years, but even CD and DVD sales are up.

The analog movement is finding particularly fertile ground in Austin. It’s a city brimming with run clubs, pickleball courts, part-time DJs, and people who take all three very seriously.

With its proximity to nature and proclivity for the arts, few places are better suited to those looking to log off—or at least put their phone down for a minute.

music is especially revered. Venues like Mohawk and Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. host bringyour-own-vinyl nights, and the annual Austin Record Convention is the largest music swap in the country.

Researching, sourcing, and hauling physical records—rather than using streaming or digital DJ services—is a much slower, more thoughtful process. Pierre Genard, a vinyl DJ and the organizer of the recurring all-vinyl Rendezvous dance parties, describes it as “low dopamine” music: a measured alternative to the overwhelming glut available on digital platforms.

“Typically, if you’re mixing vinyl, you have a much deeper connection—literally physically—to the music that you’ve chosen to play for people, and that resonates, and it translates,” Genard says.

Relying on analog formats reintroduces much of the friction that the last few decades of technological development have been striving to erase. But, for many, that friction is the appeal.

It’s the physical action of lugging a crate of records or winding a roll of film that the body ultimately logs as memory. Shifting back toward analog represents a move to more embodied experiences that, in turn, create meaning.

Film and vinyl have been steadily re-entering the zeitgeist for a decade, but other throwback technology is popular again, too. Manual transmissions, for instance, add complexity back to the increasingly automated process of driving.

Sixty-seven percent of drivers between 18 and 34 years old report an interest in learning to drive stick, according to Autoweek. These are the drivers who grew up with automatic transmissions, ride-share apps, and advanced driver assistance systems, now curious about what it feels like to be fully in control.

To do so, they’re turning to schools like the Stick Shift Driving Academy, a nationwide network of driving instructors that was created by Austin-based entrepreneur Giuseppe Frustaci.

It’s partially nostalgia. But, more than that, going analog is about living intentionally. Rather than prioritizing convenience, doing things the more difficult, old-fashioned way is often a slower, more intentional experience. “Going analog” is less about any particular technology than it is about making it harder for the internet to reach us, which helps explain why iPods and flip phones are trending again, despite not being, strictly speaking, analog at all.

For some, it means getting hands-on. Programs like the Earth Native Wilderness School and the Lumber Society at Buzz Mill are democratizing survival skills, teaching Austinites how to start fires, read maps, and touch more than just metaphorical grass. There’s a longing to regain largely forgotten skills that were once commonplace. At the donation-based DIY school CRAFT, that impulse can lead people to a workshop for something like soapmaking, sleeves rolled up to pour and blend.

At the end of the class, they’ll take home the colorful, handcrafted bars—tangible results of their time and effort.

They might not even post about it after.

Beautiful work.

THAT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL ON YOU. We work to make sure our patients who undergo any procedure gain confidence and a sense of well-being.from looking, feeling and functioning at their best.

E:::o andrewTRUSSLERmdp11c Cosmetic & Reconstructive Plastic Surgery lnjectables & Skin Care SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION 512.450.1077 / DRTRUSSLER.COM

Text Us: 512-686-4368

@trusslermd

Beat Funny Business

Sign of the Times When did YETI’s bold billboard campaigns start saying what we’re all thinking?

THE CITY OF AUSTIN is a constellation of landmarks. The clear, improbably cold water at Barton Springs. The looping red letters of the “I Love You So Much” mural. The buzzing neon lights of Dirty Sixth. Amid those iconic symbols of the city, the gleaming YETI billboard perched atop the brand’s South Congress Avenue headquarters has entered the chat.

It overlooks one of Austin’s most touristed districts, walking the line between corporate marketing and public art.

The signage typically features stunning sports and nature photography. It cycles rapidly (by billboard standards), displaying new art multiple times a year. On some occasions, it’s social commentary—like a photo of migrating mallards beneath the words, “They’re probably from California, too.” Other times, it’s pop culture savvy, like when it ranked a YETI cooler against 36

MARCH / APRIL 2026

the relative temperature of Barton Springs and Friday Night Lights’ hottest running back, Tim Riggins. It’s also been outright sincere, like the inaugural two-sided display showing an enormous cooler plastered with stickers from beloved businesses like Franklin Barbecue and Alamo Drafthouse.

In several instances, the snarky, minimalistic depictions have merited local news coverage, and its more side-eyeingly political ads have even made national headlines. But the central charm of the YETI billboard is its distinctly Austin point-of-view: a narrow target audience of all those denizens who would rather be paddling on that body of water they refuse to call Lady Bird Lake. Somehow, in the language of ad copy, with puns and topical gags, the YETI billboard started saying what we’re all thinking.

C O U R T E SY Y E T I

BY ROSE MCMACKIN

“Westlake Taxidermatology” (2017) While this regionally coded billboard didn’t hang over the YETI flagship store itself, it announced the brand’s South Congress opening and playful marketing voice. The bikini-clad bear is a riff on the city’s ubiquitous med spa billboard ads, and the real Westlake Dermatology gave its blessing to the bit.

“Meanwhile, Somewhere North of The Domain.” (2020) Love or hate The Domain, at least Austinites can agree that it’s far away. Even when it’s not geographically far, it’s spiritually far. Once again, the billboard speaks Austin fluently. It’s so hyper-regional that it wouldn’t even make sense in Round Rock.

“See Space. Save Billions.” (2021) YETI poked not just one but two bears with a playful ad about the private space race. Between Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, which has launch sites near Van Horn, and recent Austin transplant Elon Musk’s SpaceX, off-planet exploration suddenly fell within a very Texas purview. By casting a sideways glance at such renowned personalities, YETI enticed several national outlets who reported on this subtle barb. Perhaps more impressively, the Austin-born company was poking fun at the absurdity of billionaire ambition before the city had ever seen a Cybertruck.

“Driverless Vehicle” (2025) As companies like Waymo, GM, and Tesla rolled out early self-driving vehicle programs across town, YETI weighed in with an image of a saddle bronc rider being bucked from his horse. The juxtaposition of rustic heritage with tech buzzwords was the billboard at its finest: the cutting edge of innovation meeting that self-sufficient Texas spirit. An image worth a thousand thinkpieces.

AUSTIN MONTHLY

37

Beat Music IF YOU’VE EVER found yourself staring in awe at a breathtaking photo of your favorite band from ACL Fest, there’s a decent chance it was taken by Pooneh Ghana.

The Austin-based camera whiz has also worked on the in-house photo team for other major festivals like Lollapalooza and Coachella, along with landing stints as the tour photographer for huge artists such as Noah Kahan and Olivia Rodrigo.

Over the years, her connections with artists and passion for music led to booking shows on a regular basis with massive bills for special events at Radio East or Mohawk. In short, G h a n a h a s b e c ome a household name in the capital city as a revered and trusted tastemaker.

That reputation set the stage for a fortuitous call from Ghana’s agent, Meesh Halliday, in the fall of 2024.

Meesh’s life and business partner, Simon Halliday, spent 16 years as the president of 4AD Records, home to renowned artists like The Pixies, The National, and Bon Iver. After his work with one of the most esteemed indie labels in the world, Simon was itching for a new endeavor.

“I was looking for something a bit more altruistic than running a big label,” he says.

But Simon also approached the project with keen business insight. “There’s a real gap in the market for labels below those grand indies,” he explains. “There’s help needed for starter bands or bands who are in a stopgap and only want to do one album.”

Now, the pair just needed a collaborator—a trendsetter who had their finger on the pulse of exciting new talent.

Meesh knew just the person, and she happened to live in a city with one of the best music scenes in the world. Ghana jumped at the opportunity, and TODO Records was born.

“Pooneh sent a list of about 20 things, and we were like, ‘OK, well, all of that’s brilliant,’” Simon remembers.

The label released four full-length albums in its first year and has even more ambitious plans for 2026. In total, 11

artists have already signed to TODO, including Annabelle Chairlegs, Big Bill, Tear Dungeon, and Porcelain, which are all based in Austin. While the roster isn’t exclusively comprised of talent from here, it leans heavily into the live music capital scene.

“Austin has its ebbs and flows, but generally there are so many great bands in town all the time, and they get stuck at, ‘What’s the next step?’” Ghana says. “As a photographer, you get excited to shoot these bands, and you want theworldtoseethem—now, it’s exciting to take it to another level.”

It’s no secret that today’s music industry faces unprecedentedchallenges.

Even casual music listeners have heard debates about the financial hardships of artists in the era of Spotify’s stranglehold on streaming.

And the world’s most famous pop star, Taylor Swift, made headlines with a highly publicized dispute over the master recordings of her albums.

TODO takes a decidedly different approach from most labels by offering 50% profit sharing, not locking artists into multi-record deals, and allowing the master recordings to return to the musician after five years, even if expenses aren’t recouped. For context, most major labels take as much as 90% of profits and would almost never return music rights to artists unless they were purchased.

While none of those policies are intended to maximize revenue, it does make TODO an attractive option for artists exhausted with the harsh, dollars-and-cents logic of the music business. The label’s decision to zig where everyone else zags may actually give them a competitive advantage.

Reflecting on more than two decades in the industry, Simon realizes that nothing is more rewarding than being a disciple for a great artist that hasn’t gotten the proper renown. “It’s quite frustrating at the time because you’re like, ‘Why don’t people get this?’” he muses. “But then you look back on it and you’re like, ‘Yeah, that’s the place to be.’”

With an artist-first mindset, TODO Records is shaking s up the status quo in the music business s.

BY BRYAN C. PARKER

POONEH GHANA

A N TO N V I E R I E T I N

Turning the Tabless

Special Advertising Section

Austin has become synonymous with living well. From local brands carving out their niche in a bustling beauty product industry, to divine spas and treatments meant to sloooow you down, in this special advertising section, we’ve rounded up a few Austin staples that health-minded locals will love.

Chiki Buttah Local products made with love,

by Chiki Buttah Chiki Buttah is a woman-owned small business based in Austin. Their handcrafted pain relief, skin and body care products are organic and feature allnatural ingredients. The formulas are handmade with love and are designed to be clean, effective, and gentle enough for the whole family. You can find Chiki Buttah products at ChikiButtah.com, where they’re offering a special deal for Austin Monthly readers: Spend $95 or more and enjoy 20% off. Use code AUSTINFAMILY at checkout.

Peoples RX

Dr. Andrew Trussler

Advanced at-home testing at Peoples RX

Skin resurfacing with Dr. Andrew Trussler Choosing a plastic surgeon can be a difficult and confusing process. Wading through copious amounts of information, listening to friends and factoring in cost can make a very individual decision overwhelming. Dr. Trussler is real in the often not-so-real world of plastic surgery. His offerings range from breast augmentation and rhinoplasty to med spa services like injectables and resurfacing. Looking for a place to start?

Say goodbye to dull, tired skin and hello to a rejuvenated glow with UltraClear®, a groundbreaking advancement in laser resurfacing. This modern technology is designed to refresh your skin with minimal downtime and maximum results— perfect for busy lifestyles and all skin types.

Take control of your health with advanced at-home testing designed to give you real insight into how your body is functioning- right now. From stress and hormone balance to metabolic health and biological age, these easy, sciencebacked tests go beyond the basics to uncover what’s happening beneath the surface. Each kit provides clear, actionable results you can use to make smarter decisions about nutrition, lifestyle, and long-term wellness. What sets Peoples apart is its holistic, community-centered approach: A familyowned Austin staple with more than 150 wellness experts, pharmacists, and compounding specialists ready to guide you beyond one-size-fits-all solutions. With personalized care, vetted products, fresh gluten-free foods, and expert consultations across four convenient locations, Peoples doesn’t just sell wellness, it helps you live it. Stop by their Westlake location to learn more and take the next step toward a healthier, more informed you.

Elysian Head Spa Hair health (and beyond) at Elysian Head Spa

Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa Spring Renewal at Mokara Spa As the Texas Hill Country comes to life in spring, Mokara Spa at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa invites both locals and resort guests to unwind with the Barton Relaxation Massage, the spa’s most popular treatment.

Inspired by Swedish massage techniques, this restorative experience promotes relaxation, improves circulation, eases muscle tension, and boosts flexibility, leaving the body refreshed and renewed. Beyond the treatment room, guests are encouraged to extend their visit by enjoying Mokara Spa’s private amenities, including an indoor hot tub, cold plunge, steam room, sauna, relaxation lounges, and a rooftop pool overlooking the Hill Country, complemented by refreshing cuisine from Spa Creek Café. Open to both locals and resort guests with the purchase of a service or day pass, Mokara Spa offers a peaceful retreat just minutes from downtown Austin, making it an ideal spring reset without ever leaving the city.

This Austin-based destination is redefining hair and scalp wellness through a thoughtful blend of clinical expertise and restorative rituals. Specializing in functional hair and scalp care, Elysian offers personalized head spa treatments, FDAcleared FoLix hair restoration laser therapy, and elevated facial experiences for both men and women. Each service is intentionally designed to support the connection between scalp health, hair vitality, and overall wellbeing. Through expert-led consultations, advanced treatment modalities, and a serene, calming environment, Elysian delivers results that extend beyond the treatment room, empowering clients with long-term hair and scalp health.

FEATURED TEST KITS

(EACH KIT INCLUDES SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS + RETURN MAILER.)

Metabolic Health Panel

Uncover key indicators of metabolic function and energy balance.

Hormone Balance Kit

Track hormones that impact mood, sleep, and vitality.

Vitamin & Micronutrient Panel

See what your body needs to thrive – identify gaps and optimize nutrition.

VISIT PEOPLESRX.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit our new Westlake location at 2805 Bee Caves Rd., Suite 416, in the Mira Vista Shopping Center, near Trader Joe’s.

SUUBSCRIBE

CHOOSE YOUR OWN

READY TO TAKE IT OUTSIDE?

Explore the Hill Country this season with verdant greenspaces, full moon rituals, hot springs, cold plunges, and towering cascades. Here are 40 ways to get outdoors in Austin this spring.

ADVENTURE

C O U RT E SY M E L R O S E R I V E R C LU B .

Go fishing in the San Marcos River at waterfront property Melrose River Club.

BY MADELINE HOLLERN

Reach the Summit at River Place Nature Trail

Jump into Krause Springs It doesn’t get much more joyful than grabbing a rope swing and leaping into the cooling waters of Krause Springs on a sunny day. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Sites, this Hill Country hideaway in Spicewood features 32 springs on property that feed both manmade and natural pools. The water stays a refreshing 68 degrees all year (the park is open mid-February through early November). When you go, stay on dry land long enough to explore the majestic butterfly garden. krausesprings.net

Enjoy Sunday Free Flow

Cap off your weekend with downward-facing dog, mountain pose, and plenty of sun salutations as you relish a free outdoor yoga class. Swift Fit Social’s longest-running fitness series happens every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. downtown with a guided vinyasa flow at the Fareground’s courtyard. After the class, refuel with coffee and bites at the on-site food hall. RSVP required. swiftfitevents .com/swift-fit-social

46

MARCH / APRIL 2026

1: CHUCK UNDERWOOD; 2: FAREGROUNDAUSTIN.COM 3: RIVERPLACELIMITEDDISTRICT.ORG

Perhaps the hardest hiking trail around Austin, this Jonestown-area attraction has been playfully referred to as a “natural StairMaster.” The popular climb includes more than 2,700 wooden steps to the summit, making it a nearly 6-mile round-trip hike.

While your calves will surely burn for a day or two after, the effort is worth it for a great aerobic workout among Hill Country creeks and a hidden waterfall.

Should you prefer to stop hiking once you reach the top of River Place Nature Trail, plan ahead: There’s a parking lot on the summit available for pick-ups. riverplacelimiteddistrict.org/trails

Climb Enchanted Rock

4 : J AS M I N E A L L E Y.

Unless you’ve been living under a, well, rock, you’ve probably heard of this magical dome. Located in the heart of the Hill Country, the awe-inspiring pink granite batholith is estimated to be 1 billion years old and was formed when hot magma rose through existing metamorphic rock. In addition to climbing or hiking to the 425-foot summit, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area offers stellar camping and fishing as well as birding, with more

than 60 avian species in the park. Head to the Fredericksburg-area attraction in springtime to see vibrant wildflowers and escape the brutal temperatures of the summer months. While the natural wonder draws guests near and far during the daytime, don’t sleep on its star-gazing potential: The International Dark Sky Park is also a dazzling place to soak in celestial magic at night. tpwd .texas.gov/state-parks/enchanted-rock

Travel influencer @jasminealley soaks in the views at Enchanted Rock.

Go Glamping at Lake Bastrop South Shore Park

5 : LC R A PA R K S

For those who love spending a weekend in nature but are less excited about, say, sleeping on the ground, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) has a shiny new solution. Located at Lake Bastrop South Shore Park, its ÖÖD Mirror Houses are two new glamping domiciles that debuted last summer. The luxe 221-square-foot structures operated by Cameron Ranch Glamping include a queen memory foam bed, full bathroom, dining table, kitchenette, and record player. Cook on the charcoal grill or cozy up by your own fire pit under the stars. With a unique floor-toceiling mirrored design on the exterior, you’ll feel as though you’re sleeping in the trees. A nd don’t forget Fido: The accommodations are pet friendly. lcraparks.com/parks/ lake-bastrop-south-shore-park

48

MARCH / APRIL 2026

Get Zen at the Rowing Dock

6 : AT X YO G AG I R L .C O M ; 7: SW E E T B E R RY FA R M .C O M ; 8 : @ E S B RU N N E R SAT X .

Picture this: You’re floating on the lake under the glow of the moonlight as the hum of vibrations soothes you into a peaceful lull. During Rowing Dock’s spellbinding sound baths led by ATX Yoga Girl founder Cynthia Aguillón Bernard, guests lie down on their own paddleboard as Bernard uses Quartz bowls to create a melodic masterpiece. Because vibrations travel faster on water than air and the gentle rocking on the waves under the board creates a feeling of weightlessness, the sensory experience becomes unforgettable—and often therapeutic. For those who can’t make the full moon sound baths, Rowing Dock and Bernard also offer private classes for groups up to 12 people. rowingdock.com/floating-soundbath

Bond with East Side Beer Runners

Pick Strawberries at Sweet Berry Farm Harken back to a simpler time at this cherished Marble Falls farm, where you can take the little ones to pluck juicy fruit in the springtime. Buy a basket and traverse the strawberry fields (forever!) as you pick the sweet fruit from leafy plants. While you’re there, take an adorable ride on the barrel train or buy a cup of food to feed the on-site goats. The farm also sells homemade ice cream and popsicles made with its own signature strawberries. sweetberryfarm.com

Joggers might be inspired to go the extra mile if there’s a frosty brew at the end of their run.

Join this community group, which meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. (often at Central Machine Works Brewery) and on Sundays at various locations for trail runs. The workout usually covers about 3 to 5 miles and then finishes over a beer. This calls for a toast! Check Instagram for up-to-date details. instagram.com/esbrunnersatx

Attend a Spring Festival For those who want to break a sweat alongside more than 20,000 other runners, lace up your tennis shoes for the Statesman Cap10K (April 12)—or watch all the action as athletes run 6.2 miles to the sounds of cheering spectators and live bands peppered along the course. Looking for splendor in the grass? Sign up for Waterloo Greenway’s Pop-Up Picnic (April 18), where you can order a gourmet picnic basket from area restaurants to enjoy on a blanket in Waterloo Park. abckitefest.org; umlaufsculpture.org; cap10k.com; waterloogreenway.org

9 -1 2 : L A R S P LO U G M A N N ; 1 3 : W. D R E W S E N T E R ; 14 : SW E E T P E ATOA D ; 1 5 : H O P E ; 1 6 : DAV I D & M I C H A S H E L D O N .

As Austinites relish temperate days before triple-digit heat takes over, the city becomes chock full of spectacular outdoor gatherings during the month of April. Locals descend upon Zilker Park to hang out underneath thousands of colorful flying kites during ABC Kite Fest (April 11), the nation’s longest-running festival of its kind (est. 1929). Don your finest floral frock or seersucker suit as you stroll through the verdant sculpture garden at the annual Umlauf Garden Party (April 16). During the alfresco soiree, guests can sip wine and try bites from the city’s best restaurants.

Marvel the Murals at Hope Outdoor Gallery A fan-favorite graffiti art park from 2010 to 2019, Hope Outdoor Gallery has risen from the ashes and emerged anew in far East Austin. Now located in a massive 8-acre open-air space near the airport that debuted in November, the gallery features vibrant large-scale murals from more than 30 professional artists as well as open walls for creatives of all levels to make their mark.

Follow Hope Outdoor Gallery on social media for information on upcoming art education classes, dynamic community events, and electronic music shows. instagram.com/ hopeoutdoorgallery

15 Explore Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center Even the most in-the-know local will occasionally find a hidden gem and think “I can’t believe this is in Austin!” That’s how you’ll feel while traversing Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center. Visitors walk from an arid savannah through a limestone crevice into a lush world that feels straight out of FernGully. Hear the roaring sounds of the 40-foot waterfall as you go behind the cascade into a cave. The 1-mile guided hike is by reservation only and can be booked on westcave.org.

See the Bluebonnets at Willow City Loop As the late Tom Petty once sang, “You belong among the wildflowers.”

Feast your eyes on a sea of bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes, Mexican poppies, winecups, and firewheels while driving through this gorgeous stretch in March through early May. The two-lane ranch road meanders through 13 miles of stunning blooms along bucolic rolling hills. To get there from Fredericksburg, head north on State Route 16 for approximately 13 miles to Willow City, go east on Ranch Road 1323 for nearly 3 miles, then turn left onto Willow City Loop. Trust us, it’s worth the trek. fredericksburgtexas-online.com/plan-your-trip/willow-city-loop/

View the Peacocks at Mayfield Park Brimming in iridescent hues of cobalt and teal, the stunning peacocks that meander through Mayfield Park are reason enough to visit this tucked-away escape off 35th Street. Traverse the hiking trail and walk past the lily ponds of the 23-acre preser ve in springtime when the wildflowers bloom across the grounds. The peafowl will let you get just close enough to snap a picture—but then resign yourself to leave the finely feathered specimens alone to roam in all their majestic beauty. mayfieldpark.org AUSTIN MONTHLY

51

Admire Hamilton Pool Nothing short of awe-inspiring, Hamilton Pool Preserve is a bona fide natural treasure. Formed when the dome of an underground river collapsed due to erosion, the pool and grotto feature a stunning 50-foot waterfall. Wear sturdy shoes for the rocky, quarter-mile hike past bald cypress trees as you head to the pool.

(Take note that swimming is only available on select days depending on water quality.) Make a reservation for a morning or afternoon time slot before driving to the Dripping Springs delight, which is about 30 miles west of Austin. parks.traviscountytx.gov/parks/hamilton-pool-preserve

Walk on the New Wishbone Bridge Referred to by both its proper name, Lady Bird Lake, and popular former name, Town Lake, the downtown waterway formed by a river-like reservoir on the Colorado River is a go-to spot for locals to exercise.

And now, there’s a new reason to visit the beloved Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail. This February, the city unveiled a bridge and underpass along the trail called the Wishbone Bridge and Unity Underpass.

Nearly half a mile long, the new Y-shaped structure connects three key destinations along the trail: Longhorn Shores, Canturbury, and the Holly Peninsula in Town Lake Metropolitan Park. Check out the public art along the underpass, which features contributions from more than 200 locals. On the 10-mile trail, runners, pedestrians, and bikers can soak in breathtaking skyline views while breaking a sweat. austintexas.gov/page/lady-bird-lake 52

MARCH / APRIL 2026

Foodie + Tina

1 7: J A N N E K A ASA L A I N E N ; 1 8 : C I T Y O F AU ST I N ; 1 9 : J E ST E R K I N G B R E W E RY.C O M ; 2 0 - 2 2 : @ FO O D I E Y T I N A , D I A N A R OT H E RY; 2 3 : A R AS H SA B E R I

Dine Alfresco

Do Yoga with Goats at Jester King Brewery Sure, it’s fun to sip a beer in the sunshine with your crew at Jester King.

But arguably the biggest draw to the West Austin brewery is its adorable hooved residents. Home to 74 Nigerian dwarf goats, Jester King hosts regular guided goat walks and even offers recurring doom metal goat yoga featuring an hourlong class with the baby farm animals and “the sludgiest of riffs.” Bleats and beats? You bet! jesterkingbrewery.com

Awash with budding trees and blooming wildflowers, there’s no better season than spring to enjoy a meal outdoors in Austin. Watch peacocks roam past you as you sit beneath live oaks and dine at one of the restaurants at Green Pastures, a treasured 6-acre Bouldin Creek destination that recently debuted an inn designed by Clayton Korte. Savor international bites from DEE DEE, Veracruz All Natural, and Bun Bun Burger at Leona Botanical Café & Bar, where you can settle in an Adirondack chair and listen to the water flowing and leaves rustling in the outdoor oasis. For an unforgettable sushi experience, discover Foodie + Tina’s 14-course pop-up omakase featuring sustainably sourced fish and produce plucked on-site at their South Austin market garden. In addition to their 10-seat pop-up experience, the owners (farmer Becca Seiler and chef Spencer Brown) plan to open a limitedservice lunch concept on South Lamar in March. greenpasturesaustin.com; leonacafebar.com; instagram.com/ foodieytina

Leona Botanical Café & Bar

Howl at Full Moon Night Swim An essential item on any Austin bucket list, the monthly full moon swim at Barton Springs Pool is a sacred ritual for locals. Jump into the crisp 68-degree waters and float under the glow of the moonlight as fellow swimmers literally howl toward the night sky. Pro tip: Arrive at 9 p.m. or after for free entry (just don’t be too late—the pool closes at 10)! austintexas.gov/department/barton-springs-pool

AUSTIN MONTHLY

53

Soak at Ottine Mineral Springs Though it’s located less than 60 miles from Austin, Ottine Mineral Springs feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of the capital city. Soothe your senses as you submerge into five pools of varying temperatures at the wellness space, which is famed for its thermal mineral-rich soaks from the CarrizoWilcox Aquifer. The outdoor oasis boasts a cozy on-site spa, plus a dry sauna and refreshing cold plunge for contrast therapy. After a long day of lounging, recharge with wood-fired pizzas and cheese plates at the alfresco cafe. ottinemineralsprings.com

Get your steps in, socialize, or just enjoy the safety of a group activity during these free weekly strolls in downtown Austin. The nonprofit hosts a walk every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. that meets at Mañana Coffee.

Although participants are welcome to bring their pals, many women come alone and can meet new friends along the way. Dogs and strollers are welcome. Ages 18 and up; RSVP required. nogirlwalksalone.com

Glide Through the Veloway Ready to have a party on wheels?

Strap on some rollerblades or grab your bike to explore this 3.1-mile tract in Southwest Austin. Located at Circle C Ranch Metropolitan Park next to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the paved 5K loop is specifically designed to accommodate cyclists and inline skaters, with no foot traffic or dogs allowed. Look for deer and even road runners as you glide along the undulating Veloway, which is open daily from dawn to dusk. austin texas.gov/department/veloway

Have a Pint with Your Pooch at BARk House Social Bow, wow! Opened last summer, this private off-leash dog park in East Austin features a full-service bar and on-site food truck for humans, plus plenty of eats for your furry best friend (think goat milk doggy ice cream). Socialize during regular events like paint your own pet tarot cards, trivia nights, and breed-specific meetups, or just soak in the sunshine as your pooch gets the zoomies at the 1-acre turf dog park. While memberships are encouraged, BARk House does provide day passes. Dogs must be vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and at least four months old to enter. barkhouseatx.com 54

MARCH / APRIL 2026

24 : N O G I R LWA L K SA LO N E .C O M ; 2 5 : M AC K E N Z I E S M I T H ; 2 6 : V E LOWAY; 2 7: BA R K H O U S E AT X .C O M

Meet Friends at No Girl Walks Alone

Chase Waterfalls at Gorman Falls

28: JENNIFER M. RAMOS; 29: ZIPLAKETRAVIS.COM

Located about two hours northwest of Austin, Colorado Bend State Park is a bit of a drive from the capital city, but it still beckons urban dwellers with its mesmerizing cascades.

I nv i gorate you r s en s e s a s you brave a challenging hike through rocky terrain and a steep descent that leads to Gorman Falls, a towering 70-foot spring-fed waterfall. Sturdy shoes and a water bottle are a must for the trek—but just like the hike, the falls will take your breath away. tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/ colorado-bend

Take Flight with Lake Travis Zipline Adventures Feel the need for speed? Sail above the treetops on the longest and fastest zipline in the state! At the finale of a three-hour, five-zipline experience over Lake Travis, participants can race their friends on a side-by-side, 2,800-foot-long double barrel shotgun line that reaches 65 mph. For a nighttime twist, glide under the glow of the sky during the evening full moon tour that happens once a month. ziplaketravis.com AUSTIN MONTHLY

55

Camp at McKinney Falls State Park There’s no shortage of activities at McKinney Falls. From bird watching and bouldering to hiking and road biking on nearly 9 miles of trails, the state park encourages exploration.

Cool off by taking a dip into Onion Creek before you head home—it’s located within Austin city limits—or better yet, stay the night: McKinney Falls has 81 campsites with water and electric hookups, plus six newly remodeled cabins. tpwd .texas.gov/state-parks/mckinney-falls

See Miles and Miles of Texas on the Violet Crown Trail Everything’s bigger in the Lone Star State, including the grand vision for the Violet Crown Trail (VCT). Already two decades in the making, the ambitious Hill Country Conservancy endeavor began in 2006 with a goal to create the first regional trail system in Central Texas.

Currently, VCT is 13 miles long and runs from Zilker Park to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. But the growth continues as the pathway will traverse a 30-mile expanse that passes through the Barton Creek Wilderness Park and city of Sunset Valley all the way into Hays County. Hike, run, or cycle through the pathway; for avid mountain bikers, the 290 Trailhead features technical switchbacks and steep climbs that have even garnered the National Interscholastic Cycling Association's seal of approval. Just take note: Because the area is so large, trailgoers should check the map before they arrive to find locations of water fountains and designated restrooms for when nature calls (so to speak). violetcrowntrail.com 56

MARCH / APRIL 2026

Hang Out in Waterloo Park With all due respect to Zilker, Austin deserved more than one majestic park in the heart of the city. The revitalization of 11-acre Waterloo Park has made the greenspace an essential locale for picnics, playdates, and live music. Kids love exploring its Kitty King Powell Lawn, which includes sprouts of imaginatively large blades of grass and a hillside stone slide made of granite that stays cool even in the summer heat. Catch incredible concerts this spring at on-site Moody Amphitheater, such as Billboard Presents The Stage at SXSW (March 13-15), Rainbow Kitten Surprise (March 25), Bob Moses & Cannons (April 3), and Austin Blues Festival (April 25-26). While the completion of Waterloo Park was part of phase one of Waterloo Greenway, the project will eventually feature 35 acres of connected greenspace from 15th Street all the way to Lady Bird Lake. Mark your calendar for the opening of The Confluence, the second phase of Waterloo Greenway, on June 6. waterloogreenway.org

3 0 : G E T T Y I M A H E S / K E E W E E B OY; 3 1 : V I O L E T C R OW N T R A I L ; 3 2 : WAT E R LO O G R E E N WAY; 3 3 : S O U T H E R T R A I L R I D E S.C O M

Ride Horses at Southern Trail Rides Channel your inner cowboy or cowgirl as you saddle up for a memorable equine ride in Manor. Pass by oak trees, creeks, and cows atop an American Quarter Horse as you roam across the 120-acre ranch that was once a filming location for Lonesome Dove. Form a core memory for kids aged 10 and under by signing up for the hourlong Little Dude Ride experience, featuring 20 minutes of brushing followed by a lesson and trail ride. The company also has a Canyon Lake outpost that rides through the “Devil’s Backbone” limestone ridge. Yeehaw! southerntrailrides.com AUSTIN MONTHLY

57

Defy Gravity at Reimers Ranch Park

34: JOE KREIDEL

A haven for sport climbing, this once-private ranch filled with world-class limestone cliffs has been a favorite place to reach new heights since becoming a public park space in the mid-aughts.

Reimers Ranch in Dripping Springs features hundreds of routes, from beginner-friendly 5.4 courses on the Yosemite Decimal System up to 5.14-rated routes. The park also lures in fishing enthusiasts to catch white bass in the Pedernales River, as well as astrophysics fans, who can learn about the universe from astronomy educators and view the galaxy through two large telescopes at Reimers Observatory. parks.traviscountytx .gov/parks/reimers-ranch

Have a Staycation at Melrose River Club Equal parts calming and invigorating, the San Marcos River is known for its dazzling clear waters.

Spend a weekend by the spring-fed river from the comfort of your own stylish cabin or casita at this new boutique hotel. Located on 12 acres, Melrose River Club features riverbank walking trails, yoga by the water, inviting fire pits, and cozy cabanas next to the resort-style pool. Time your stay for its monthly supper club, an alfresco meal served in the poolside pavilion featuring local chefs like Colter Peck (Elementary), Chef Diego (Paella ATX), and Kelyn Egbuka (Kelyn’s). For a celebration—or just a staycation treat—swing by the lobby to buy a mini bottle of bubbly from its retro-inspired Champagne vending machine. melroseriverclub.com

3 5 : M E L R O S E R I V E R C LU B ; 3 6 : G E T T Y I M AG E S/G U M M Y B O N E : 37: Z I L K E R G A R D E N .C O M ; 3 8 - 4 0 : L A K E AU ST I N S PA R E S O R T

Stroll the Grounds at Zilker Botanical Garden Whether you’ve lived in Austin for decades or just visited for ACL Fest, you’re likely familiar with the city’s most iconic metropolitan greenspace, Zilker Park. But did you realize that just west of the park is a tranquil hideaway filled with butterfly gardens, bonsai trees, and waterfalls?

Zilker Botanical Garden features a lush 28-acre destination shaded by live oak trees with twisting pathways that undulate past thousands of native and cultivated plants. Explore the koi-filled ponds and peer a little closer in the Taniguchi Japanese Garden, where several of the serene pools are shaped to spell out the word “AUSTIN.” zilkergarden.org

Explore Barton Creek Greenbelt One of the most beloved naturespotsinthecity,Barton Creek Greenbelt needs no introduction. Here, locals can splash around its spring-fed swimming holes, hike the scenic trails, bike alongside the rugged cliffs, and rock climb on the limestone crag.TheSouthAustingreenbeltishometoseveral endangered species, from the Barton Springs salamander to the Golden-cheeked Warbler . Blast Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” at the Trail’s End access point, where you can hoof it up the Hill of Life’s infamous 300-foot climb. austintexas .gov/department/barton-creek-greenbelt

Unwind Outside at a Wellness Resort

Lake Austin Spa Resort

At three of the city’s top spa destinations, guests can do more than just luxuriate with facials and massages.

The calming shorelines next to Lake Austin Spa Resort are the perfect setting for scenic boats cruises, paddleboard yoga, and playful scavenger hunts on the water via kayak or Hydrobike. Hit the links at one of Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa’s four golf courses, from the newly renovated par-72 Fazio Canyons to the scenic Coore & Crenshaw course co-designed by Masters champ Ben Crenshaw, then cool off in its trio of pools. Nestled among 220 verdant acres of the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, Miraval Austin Resort & Spa beckons adventure seekers with hatchet throwing, horseback riding, and moonlight meditations. Of course, if you’d prefer to just admire views of Lake Travis from the hilltop infinity pools, we’d hardly blame you. lakeaustin.com; omnihotels.com/hotels/ austin-barton-creek; miravalresorts.com/austin AUSTIN MONTHLY

59

GOOD

Words and Photos by Bryan C. Parker SANDLOT BASEBALL IS THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION WE NEED, AND AUSTIN IS LEADING THE CHARGE.

Spectators watch the Texas Playboys from the bleachers at The Long Time, a sandlot baseball field in East Austin.

n October sun hangs low in the sky, casting a long shadow of the pitcher across the dusty grass of the sandlot field. He leans forward to stare at the batter, who twitches with anticipation at home plate. Spectators sprawl out on blankets, sipping beers in koozies as dogs doze lazily at their feet.

Kids of all ages dart around, tumbling in the grass or playing tag, and a few sit atop haybales past the outfield fence. Hot dogs sizzle on a flat top grill. Beneath the shade of a huge oak tree, house ba nd The Tender Things prov ides a live soundtrack for the kaleidoscope of happenings.

The scene feels borrowed from a bit of lifestyle marketing—so idyllic it hardly feels real.

This is The Long Time, a sandlot baseball complex in East Austin, about a mile past the city limits, where residential developments dissolve

62

MARCH / APRIL 2026

into fields, farms, and rugged ranch land. Imagined into existence in 2017 by Jack Sanders, the site is the home field for his team, the Texas Playboys, which he founded in 2006 as one of the earliest sandlot squads in the city.

It’s a sanctuary for easygoing games between players decked out in denim jerseys and stylish wool caps. Some wear Texas-sized belt buckles, and many of the uniforms are decorated with custom embellishments. Usually, copious cans of beer are consumed, and pet canines roam the dugout at liberty. It’s a cocoon of good vibes that feels a world away from the nearby burgeoning metropolis, yet also quintessentially off-kilter in a way only Austin can be.

“If I am asked to sum up: What is sandlot?”

Sanders muses. Sprouts of dark brown hair peek

BAS E BA L L CA R D D E S I G N : AU T U M N H U TC H I N S

outfrombeneathanivorybaseballcapemblazoned with a bright orange P, as he leans back in his chair and grins. “I think it’s making your own fun.”

The Long Time is the epicenter of a larger sandlot baseball movement that has skyrocketed in popularity in Austin and gained traction across the country, especially in recent years.

Prior to 2020, excitement around the field and the Texas Playboys had spawned a handful of rivals, but the total number of squads still hovered around a dozen in Austin. Today, there are nearly 30 teams in the capital city and hundreds scattered across the continent.

In any given year, groups travel from Nashville, St. Louis, or Baltimore to face off against Austin-based opponents like the Grackles, Cap City Cobras, Jardineros, or Beermakers. Some of those

far-flung organizations organ might havve discovered sandlot on their own ow tim me and arrived at this moment by convergence, but a great number were inspired

by Sanders and the Playboys. The team and its magnetic creator have been featured in Sports Illustrated, GQ, and even The New York Times. And notable personalities like politician Beto O’Rourke and musician Jack White (who belted a home run off Sanders) have turned up at The Long Time to play ball.

“There are so many good parts across a Long Time game that we’re trying to create for the viewer, but what we love is that baseball’s a backdrop,” says Sanders, who was formally educated as an architect. As he sees it, the main event is just a conduit for human connection. “At moments, I’m paying attention to the game; at others, I’m just in a really engaging conversation with the person next to me; sometimes, I’m listening to the band,” he explains.

You may not know Sanders’ name, but you’re almost certainly familiar with his work. Through his company, Design Build Adventure, he fabricated a lighting installation at ACL Live and constructed a massive bottle chandelier for the Tito’s Love storefront in downtown Austin.

Sanders also worked on the design of El Cosmico in Marfa and helped conceive the first pools and sunshades installed at buzzworthy wellness destination Ottine Mineral Springs.

The Long Time’s home dugout is a repurposed chicken coop, and perched atop it, a pair of

AUSTIN MONTHLY

63

64

MARCH / APRIL 2026

wisecracking announcers overlook the field.

Many of the structures are cobbled together with scraps of metal and reclaimed wood—but despite the Spartan nature of the facilities, they’re accomplished with an unmistakable sense of style.

The architecture of a baseball complex may not seem remarkable at first blush, but make no mistake: Sanders has built something special in East Austin. And it’s not just in the physical construction, but also in the masterful orchestration of community.

“The best thing that happens out here, we refer to as pure joy,” Sanders says. As he sees it, that could be something big like a home run, but it also includes any moment where e you you’re re in a “flow state”—taking infield pra practice acti with ground balls, the hypnotic rh hythm m of playing catch, or players running thr t rough the crowd of spectators to dole ou u highut fives after a game (a Long Time traad adition).

Everything melts away and time ce eases to ea exist, as you get a dose of life withoutt distraction.

Contained within this place is an implicit argument that acts as a cultural counterweight to the impending technocratic dystopia—aa spiritual yield sign from the univerrse e that says slow down, take notice, brea ath he deeply. It’s Walden Pond in the form m of a baseball diamond. Far from just som me e recreational activity, it’s an entire state off mind.

Baseball may be merely a meanss to an end here, but it’s also an apt vessel. One off the h sport’s ’ greatest assets is its down time—instancess wh where the pitcher considers his next move, or the umpire sweeps home plate as the next batter gets situated in the box. The game’s leisurely pace parallels Sanders’ fundamental aims of getting people to get lost in the moment.

He has a preternatural ability to cultivate such opportunities. At 10 years old, when he was just a baseball-obsessed kid in Cleburne, Texas, Sanders took his family’s riding lawnmower to an unused lot across the street and lowered the blades to cut base paths into the grass. Although he had no idea at the time, that makeshift field was the first iteration of many more to come.

A Diamond in the Rough I want to be an artist,” a 17-year-old Sanders told his high school guidance counselor. Undoubtedly driven by good intentions and plagued by visions of proverbial starving painters, the advisor pondered for a moment before asking the

Heath McMurtry poses with Sanders’ dog, Ebby, in the dugout.

grade-schooler if he’d ever considered architecture. And that’s how Sanders wound up at Auburn as an (admittedly under-enthused) architecture student.

“When I got to school, there was something missing,” he remembers, upon arriving at the Alabama university as a freshman in the fall of 1997. He lamented not doing something more daring like art or film school, and the prospect of sitting at a desk using a computer program to draft lines seemed like spiritual death.

But in his second year, Sanders enrolled in Rural Studio, an innovative new program that aimed i d to give students real-world experience by pllacing th placing them in nearby communities and tasking them w witth designing and building functional projecttss. The program was run by Samuel Mockbee, who received a “Genius Grant” of half b a million dollars from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

The organization described the professor as “an architect who erased the boundary between experimental design and social consciousness.”

After being sent off to Newbern, Ala., a one-stoplight town with around 200 people, Sanders stumbled upon 2 a ccommunity baseball game on a serendiipitous Saturday. The field was unkemp pt, the fencing was falling apart, and the athletess werre far from impressive, but to Sanders, it waas maagic. Like a larger version of those crude str trips he cut into the grass a decade prior when h h he was just a kid with a dream.

The Newbern Baseball Club, which had existed for nearly a century, played almost every weekend—for fun, but the organization also had a service component. A portion of the gate money was used to assist in funeral costs for citizens of Newbern, one of the poorest towns in Alabama (the median household income today hovers around $36,000). Sometimes the team even helped dig graves by hand. Baseball was what the tiny community did to entertain themselves, socialize, and support each other.

The club was 100% Black, and as a scruffy white guy from the outskirts of Fort Worth, Sanders stuck out like a sore thumb, but he didn’t let it stop him from hanging around during games. Soon enough, on one weekend when a squad was a man short to field nine players, someone pointed at Sanders: “You’re in, kid.”

From that moment on, he spent most of his weekends playing for the Newbern Tigers, and he began to think of a way to merge this new world with his educational work. He ultimately designed and installed a new backstop and dugout system, an elegant arrangement of cantilevered poles, sections of chain link, and wires donated from Alabama Power, the local energy company. Everything that felt absent from a life

AUSTIN MONTHLY

65

Play Ball P Affter forming the Texas Playboys, on ne of the first things Sanders did waas take the team to Newbern for ag game. It was a way to visit old fr iends and to show other team members the place it all began—a m so ort of pilgrimage to the Playboys’ an ncestral home.

Travel eventually became a traadition for the baseball team, as th hey’d pick one new city each year fo or a road game adventure. Often, th hose locales didn’t even have te ams but were just places the grroup wanted to visit. Sanders wo ould reach out to friends in th hose cities ahead of time to en ncourage them to form a makesh hift team now, so they’d be in fig ghting shape once the Playboys arrrived months down the line.

Recently, the Texas Playboys even made a trip to o San Quentin State Prison in California alifornia to play for the people incarcerated there. “The warning track of the baseball field had inmates that were walking it for exercise while we were playing,” Sanders recalls. “So, if a ball was hit to the wall and you were an outfielder, you had to navigate inmates.”

From the very beginning, Sanders referred to these trips as “barnstorming.” The word derives from roving theater troupes who gallivanted from one rural area to another, making use of ramshackle barns as venues, hence the name.

The term casts everything the Playboys do in a revealing new light. In so many ways, a sandlot baseball game isn’t so different from a theatrical production. Even the spectators are cast in roles, and they play their part in completing the spectacle. Sanders is certainly in on that perspective, and he likes to give each season a name, “The Immaculate Season” or “A Perfect Game,” for example. But the 2026 season may have the most apropos title yet: “A Great Play.”

In April, Sanders will be part of the Fusebox Festival, a biennial art event that highlights creators from across a wide range of disciplines, including visual art, theater, dance, design, and more. The exhibition event will take place at The

“It’s almost like Jack’s art practice is givi ving i other people various stages on which to perform.”

66

MARCH / APRIL 2026

ORR: SHANNON SOUTHERLAND

in architecture began to click into place for Sanders.

“I realized that it didn’t really matter what the degree was,” he says. “I was designing and building and engaging with real people in that community, and I honestly forgot that I was in school.” It was everything Mockbee envisioned when he implemented the Rural Studio.

The baseball played in Newbern and that Sanders eventually brought to Austin echoes the sport’s origins. With roots that stretch back to the 1700s, the game was conceived as a casual engagement from average folks in whatever fields or open areas could be found. It was communal, and it was played by women, men, families, and people of all ages.

Early women’s colleges like Vassar and Wellesley had teams that participated against other men’s university teams. Put simply, baseball was for everyone.

It’s easy to see Newbern’s influence e on Sanders.

“I have a diagram I used to do on my chalkboard: hyperlocal, community-based, service-driven,” he says, enumerating a mental list of what constitutes sandlot philosophy. Through their Steppin’ Up to the Plate initiative, the Texas Playboys have raised around $200,000 for local nonprofits, and there’s usually a table set up at games for various Austin-based service organizations.

Sanders has introduced a sustainability component to the formula, harkening back to the principles of his mentor at the Rural Studio.

Essentially every structure or element at The Long Time has been built using salvaged materials, and the site has become increasingly serious about waste management.

“We have trash stations, which is the first attempt, people self-sorting,” explains Matt Orr, who helps manage the facilities at The Long Time.

“And then our green team hand sorts every single piece on the back end.” Orr also introduced a reusable cups program, where drinkware is collected and shipped off to a company to be washed and returned. Thanks largely to Orr’s dedicated efforts, The Long Time comes very close to producing zero waste each season.

ST E I N BAU E R : S H A N N O N S O U T H E R L A N D

Wishing Well, a new facility outsideofLockhartthatismaintained and operated by the staff of The Long Time. While the East Austin field sits on just 5 acres, the Wishing Well property boasts five times that, and Sanders sees a world in which it could become the new center of operations.

“It’s almost like Jack’s art practice is giving other people various stages on which to perform,” says BenSteinbauer,aTexasPlayboyand documentaryfilmmaker,“whether you want to be a player or an announcer or make art or play in a band or even just come and watch and just participate that way.”

Viewing sandlot baseball like this immediately helps make a few distinctions. First, this isn’t a rec league—which is rife with competitive energy and usually serves the ultimate goall off awarding a league winner with a trophy at the end of each season. But in Austin’s sandlot universe, there are no leagues and no champions.

In fact, most squads have stopped posting scores on social media at the end of games. Instead, the caption simply says something like “The Playboys enjoyed a great game against the An-

Players from two teams huddle in camaraderie before a game.

im mals this afternoon.”

It’s not that players aren’t givin ng 100%, it’s just that all the effort iss focused on a different goal—the higher purpose of enjoyment.

“Victory does not matter, and yo our skill does not matter,” Sanderrs says. “And if you’re not willing to o adjust your level of play, keep pe eople safe, and maybe even go fu urther to give somebody the best daay of their life, then you’re not a sandlot ball player.”

Sanders has a favorite pitch th hat he’s dubbed “Purple Rain”— it’s a high, arcing lob that drops allmost vertically by the time it re eaches the plate. It’s a slow pitch, so o novice hitters have a chance at it, but that also makes it hard for exxperienced batters to get into a good timing rhyythm. It’s a version of the rare eephus h pitch, h and it’s a great equalizer. Consider it a metaphor for everything sandlot represents.

A level playing field is essential, since teams have such a wide range of abilities, from people who’ve never played to former professionals.

(That’s no exaggeration: 2011 World Series MVP and former St. Louis Cardinal David Freese lives in Austin and plays on a team.)

AUSTIN MONTHLY

67

From top: Libby and the Loveless perform during a game at The Long Time; Sanders, Orr, and Brian Orapallo hang in the dugout.

68

MARCH / APRIL 2026

Not every sandlot squad understands this at first, especially out-of-towners who show up in Austin thinking they have something to prove.

“They come out really focused on how well they’re playing baseball,” Steinbauer says. “And you slowly watch them, over the course of the game, start to realize, ‘Oh, this is about the hang.’”

Often, players are having so much fun drinking beer and cutting up that they lose track of the score anyway, which seems like a victory of a whole different persuasion. In that case, someone usually just asks anyone who crossed the plate to raise a hand. The appendages for each side are tallied, the score is noted, and play resumes. If it sounds like kids in a backyard rather than semi-professional adults, you’re starting to get the point.

Keep in mind that the focus of these casual sporting events is to pass time with friends. The lower the barrier to entry, the greater the chance that any friend who wants to join will be able to.

Team construction is also about forming a group of people with diverse skills but similar mindsets. Someone to design uniforms, someone to snap photos, someone to help repair the dugout.

Orr says the team will sometimes get an email from some well-intentioned father—their son has just graduated from college and wants to keep

playing baseball; he can throw 90 miles per hour—can he be on the Texas Playboys?

“He has a better chance joining the team,” Orr says, “by coming out here with a paintbrush and offering to paint some outfield wall signs than bringing his baseball glove.”

Who’s on First?

Back in the early 2000s, shortly after Sanders first moved to Austin, filmmake er Richard Linklater asked him m to build a treehouse on his family ranch out near Bastrop. A long day of construction transitioned into a game of catch to wind down as the sun set.

“Did you play ball?” asked Linklater, who spent some of his college days patrolling the outfield on Sam Houston State’s squad.

“That was an awesome moment, because I was like, ‘Oh my God, I get to tell Rick Linklater about the Rural Studio,’” Sanders remembers.

After hearing about Newbern’s baseball team, the filmmaker remarked that he’d love to see something like that. Sanders didn’t need any more

CHAMPION: JOMANDO CRUZ

Spectators lounging in the grass enjoy an easygoing pace of life at The Long Time.

co onvincing, and Linklater became a paatron saint of the Texas Playboys.

Even though the director never en nded up playing on the team, its roste er is still packed with creatives, and th here’s no shortage of filmmakers. One off the earliest members, Bradley Beesle ey, has worked on several videos for lu uminary experimental rock band The Fllaming Lips, including the seminal 20 005 documentary The Fearless Freaks.

Membership has been a rotating caast over the years, and Sanders says he haas around 80 people on the email list, th hough only about 35 might be active ass of today. Playboys, current and past, in nclude musicians Ben Kweller and To opaz McGarrigle, Texas Monthly writerr John Spong, filmmaker and songwriterr Scott Ballew, and Light in the Attic Records owner Matt Sullivan, to name R a ffew.

Where e the Playboys have leaned into local creative , other teams are rooted in workplaces creatives, or common interests. For example, Meanwhile Brewing’s staff and their friends play on the Beermakers, and the Austin Drag Baseball Club is a queer-centric collective.

For some entities, it’s a perfect extension of the identity they’ve already developed, like Lone Star Beer, whose brand marketing manager Mark Champion is a lifelong baseball fan. He played sandlot for the Houston Gamblers before moving to San Antonio and starting the Texas Oil Dawgs, which includes members from across the state and has been sponsored by Lone Star since its inception in 2017. Champion has seen the popularity of the sport spread in recent years.

“I think it’s word of mouth where one person tells another friend and that person tells anoth-

AUSTIN MONTHLY

69

Batter Up On the grounds of The Long Time, visitors can shop for merch at the recently added Short Porch Superette. Here, you’ll find vibey apparel like wool baseball caps, work shirts, and felt pennants. You can also peruse stylish blankets, jackets, robes, craft soaps, and reading material. It’s a perfectly pastiche blend of retro sports aesthetic and high-end design vision. Out front on the porch, Kathie Sever of chain-stitching company Fort Lonesome (fabricator of the Playboys’ denim jerseys) is often onhand to provide a custom design on a handkerchief.

The store is managed and curated by Texas Playboys member Tippi Clark, who, like everyone on the roster, boasts an impressive resume. After befriending Jack Sanders at Auburn, Clark landed in New York City, where she worked for brands like Coach, Kate Spade, and Marc Jacobs.

These days, it’s not uncommon to see Playboys apparel worn by notable personalities: Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy is fond of donning a team ballcap, and Pedro Pascal was spotted sporting the same one during SXSW last year. Ultimately, fashion is one more expression of the artistry surrounding sandlot baseball.

When Clark isn’t seeing to the Superette’s operations, she likes to put in a few innings with the team. “As a female coming into my late forties, if you'd have told me that I was going to have this much fun playing baseball, I'm like, ‘Why did I not start doing this sooner?’” she says. “It's been the most welcoming, encouraging, joyful experience that I've ever had.”

70

MARCH / APRIL 2026

er friend,” he says. “They see on Instagram this really cool place where you’re hanging out with a picnic blanket and you’re watching a game.”

The craze even ensnared the attention of Nike president and CEO Elliott Hill, who was born and raised in Austin. If sandlot baseball can attract the head of one of the biggest sports brands on the planet, it must be doing something right.

Hill’s squad, The Moontowers, is truly a staggering roster of notable names that includes C3 Presents co-founder Charles Attal, UT Athletic Director Chris Del Conte, Tecovas founder Paul Hedrick, Cameron Duddy of the band Midland, artist Will Bryant, Huckberry brand officer Ben O’Meara, and former New England Patriot Marshall Newhouse.

But the core of the team began with some of Hill’s oldest friends. “The Moontowers became a way of creating community,” he says. “There were six of us that grew up together who also have four sons, and that was the nucleus of how we started the team.”

Just like the Playboys, The Moontowers have also included a charitable element for the organization by raising funds for RBI Austin, a nonprofit that makes sports more accessible to inner-city youth. These efforts trace a direct line back to the service-minded work of the Newbern Tigers and underscore that small community’s outsized impact—from just a few hundred people to the greater Austin commu-

C L A R K : B E N C H R I ST E N S E N ; H I L L : K E R R I M E I G S

Sandlot apparel has become a style phenomenon.

nity to the purview of someone with enormous normous reach like the Nik Nike exec.

After the CEO’s four-year retirement in Austin, Nike decided it couldn’t do without Hill’s institutional knowledge and asked him back to Beaverton, Ore. He brought sandlot with him by inviting the Moontowers up to the company campus to play an employee squad called the Nike Knights. Hill split his time playing for both teams, a move that may seem unusual for a sporting contest, but that’s the thing about sandlot baseball: There’s no wrong way to do it.

Joining the Revolution On a balmy Saturday in mid-May 2025, Scholz Garten buzzes with conversation. Representatives from more than 70 different sandlot baseball teams have gathered in Austin for the first-ever Sandlot Revolution Summit. Howard Carey—co-manager, batting coach, and original member of the Texas Playboys—greets guests and begins to issue instructions with decisive energy. Square-jawed with short curls of disheveled silver hair, Carey has a presence that commands the room.

A topic is assigned for the room to discuss, from inclusivity and culture building to the merits of leagues vs. independent teams. After a round-table discussion in small groups, a spokesperson shares out key takeaways. Thanks to a

Fans find shade in front of the Short Porch Superette at The Long Time.

generous sponsorship from P. F. Flyers, months of planning is finally coming together, and Carey beams with pride—there might even be a glimmer of a tear perched on the rim of his eyes.

“Everybody came together and realized that they are part of something big,” he says.

A dogged documentarian, Carey maintains a website called Sandlot Revolution, which includes a database of any sandlot team he finds.

At his home in East Austin, he also runs a batting cage facility called the Meantime, where many of the crews meet up to get in some practice swings. Arguably, Carey has already done as much or more than anyone to foster the philosophy of sandlot baseball across the country, and that was before his landmark seminar concept.

According to Carey, some of the teams in competitive leagues were reluctant to come, but they may have learned more than anyone. He remembers getting an email from one squad a week after the summit asking if he could send notes from the discussion sessions. Some of those leagues suffer from high turnover and overly competitive squabbling. Investment is easier to maintain when you’re promising a good time instead of teasing a trophy.

Carey’s role as a sandlot evangelist has a clearcut origin. Standing near a kid of 7 or 9 years old at a game one weekend, the Playboy watched the youngster stare out at the field in wonder for a long time before turning to his father and saying, “I didn’t know adults could have fun like this.”

As Carey sees it, we owe it to the next generation to do better. What he, Sanders, and the Texas Playboys have built at The Long Time feels like a promise that it’s possible.

AUSTIN MONTHLY

71

A first-of-its-kind summit of design talks, parties, and a taste of Austin’s design best.

Visit AustinHomeMag.com for more details.

Weird History Fowl Play

Quack to the Future Remembering when a charismatic goose named Homer became a champion for the rights of homeless Austinites. .

BY ROSIE NINESLING ONE WAY TO get city council’s attention? Threaten to kill, cook, and eat a baby goose. In 1988, more than 100 unhoused locals organized to form the Street People’s Association of Austin (SPAA), which pushed for better treatment and a formal day-labor program for the city’s homeless community. When their pleas went unheard, they hatched a plan—specifically a baby goose named Homer, which they bought for $16.87. At a public meeting in Zilker Park, one of the organization’s members emerged from Town Lake with a knife in his teeth and a rotisserie chicken in his hands. Pointing to Homer, who they had on display, he then ripped the cooked meat to shreds and swore he’d do the same to the little gosling unless the city addressed their demands.

Homer never became dinner. Instead, he emerged as a beloved mascot. Wearing a bowtie and diaper, he was a regular at town hall meetings, where his disruptive squawking often meant the SPAA’s agendas were addressed first. Homer led parades and garnered national attention, including airtime on Good Morning America, and when asked to attend

the 1988 Democratic Convention, the goose happily left his home (a floating raft on Town Lake called the S.S. Homer) and flew first class to Atlanta. Even Willie Nelson honored the bird’s raison d’être; at one of his shows, he released a caged goose on stage to symbolize his solidarity.

Later that year, Homer sadly suffered a case of heat exhaustion. That’s when community activist Lori Renteria became his self-proclaimed godmother, housing him for his remaining days. The average lifespan of a goose is 10 to 20 years, but Homer lived to be 27—and his impact continued even past his extended expiration. Shortly after his funeral in 2015 (which was attended by then-mayor Steve Adler), Renteria had him taxidermized and put in a glass display case. Still wearing his iconic bowtie, the stuffed Homer was wheeled around Austin for several more years, visiting schools and libraries to increase awareness around homelessness. “He was the best ambassador the homeless had,” said Renteria on Fox 7 Austin. “He really did change hearts and minds.”

Volume 34/Number 2, March/April 2026, Austin Monthly (Publication No. 001-163), is published bimonthly, six times a year, by Hearst Newspapers. Subscriptions are $14.95 per year for six issues. For customer service inquiries or to change your address, contact: Austin Monthly, PO Box 2127, San Antonio, TX 78297-2127, 512-387-6234, or subscriptions@austinmonthly.com. Periodicals postage paid at Denver, CO, and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 2026

by Hearst Newspapers, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. DISCLAIMER: Advertisements in the publication do not constitute an offer for sale in states where prohibited or restricted by law.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Austin Monthly, PO Box 2127, San Antonio, TX 78297-2127

74

MARCH / APRIL 2026

STEPHANIE ELIZABETH

run, walk, Race. .

get there how you get there.

$5 OFF registration: AustinMonthly$5 | VISIT CAP10K.COM TO REGISTER NOW FOR 2026!

A RT AD V IS OR Y | C U S T OM F RA MIN G | WH I T E G L OV E S E R VIC E VI SIT US AT 1 00 9 W 6 T H ST RE E T A U S TIN, TX W CC . A R T | @ WC C . AR T