ORANGE Issue 06

What Brings Austin Together Undocumented students raise their voices Safe spaces created for LGBTQ+ students on campus Austin organizations work to combat food waste Female music producers take charge Two Austin drag queens meet on Tinder

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orange magazine

What Brings Austin Together

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a note from the editors.

Our journey with ORANGE Magazine started two years ago, during our freshman year. Starting as general staff writers, we never imagined that Kris Seavers and Sarah Montgomery, former ORANGE editors-in-chief, would pick us to replace them. Kris and Sarah helped realize the goal Jane Claire Hervey, the creator of ORANGE, had when she started the publication. It’s an honor to continue ORANGE Magazine’s traditions while establishing our own legacies as your editors-in-chief.

As ATX editors together, one thing that was important to us was diversity and inclusion in the content our section produced. Now, as editors-in-chief, we’ve kept the same goal in mind. As women of color, we’re proud to run a publication that tells the stories of a diverse student body and Austin as a whole. Our ORANGE team comes from different backgrounds and we each have different perspectives that contribute to the vibrant content we strive to produce.

From stories about gentrification in East Austin, to the history of LGBT+ rights on campus, this ORANGE Magazine’s sixth bi-annual issue offers a glimpse into the lives of students whose stories might have otherwise gone untold.

Of course, this issue would not have been possible without the help and dedication of our amazing staff. We’d like to thank our editors, writers, photographers, designers, and the University of Texas for helping us fund the printing of this publication.

We’d also like to thank you for taking the time to read and support ORANGE Magazine. We hope you enjoy our sixth digital issue as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Best,

orange magazine

more content at orangemag.co All rights reserved. Please ask us before reproducing any parts of this magazine. Views expressed are those of the respective contributors and are not necessarily shared by ORANGE.

table of contents

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The Life They Live

Creating Cultural Spaces

25

28

Understanding the Experiences and Struggles of Undocumented Students

Here

Six Square works to preserve the history of East Austin

Keeping Up with 2016

Queer Liberation and Development at UT

Do the women from popular reality television represent reality?

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Relevant AF

Walking on Eggshells

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59

Dirty Martin’s

Road Trip ‘Round Austin

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87

Capturing the Sound

Rap & Representation

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111

Lookbook

Of Drag and Dichotomy

Millenials and their problem with the Texas Legislature

Austin legend celebrates 90 years of service

Interviewing Austin’s most succesful concert photographers

The style of the seventies

Austin organizations work to combat food waste

The best vegan food trucks in Austin

The state of Hip-Hop in Austin

Two Austin drag queens meet on Tinder

Safety During the Graveyard Shift Words by Katarina Brown Photo by Laura Godinez

While the rest of the world sleeps, these students go to work.

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etween the hours of 11 p.m. and 8 a.m., more

In the Division of Housing and Food Service alone,

students than you might expect earn their

over 50 people are a part of the night operations

living. Though often fulfilling the same duties as day

team. Most of these employees are students. “The

staff, these graveyard shift student-employees experi-

majority of our students are liberal arts and natural

ence a different life from their daytime counterparts.

science majors,” says Gloria Allen, Director of Resi-

The large and diverse night staff at the University

dence Life Training and Development. “But, that’s not

of Texas at Austin doesn’t just face an altered sleep

exclusive by any means. We have students from all

schedule, but safety concerns as well.

different disciplines.”

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This is consistent with other places across campus.

students at night, such as limiting guests in the Union,

Claudette Campbell, assistant director of operations

implementing increased access to late-night trans-

and hospitality for University Unions, says that the

portation and beginning a new BE SAFE program, a

percentage of male to female workers is about equal,

program that reminds students to never walk alone

and that they have student-employees from every

at night, to be aware of their surroundings and to call

major.

911 in the case of an emergency.

Though student night workers are a diverse crowd,

Though a night job at requires an unnatural

the challenges remain the same—being able to stay

sleep schedule, the more pressing issue for

up all night, while also operating as the front line

students working is safety.

of security is no small feat. “When I started in September I had to learn how to take naps in order to

Due to changes like the Union’s new restrictions,

make it to 2 or 3 a.m,” says Diana Landa, a night staff

as well as a general mindfulness of employers, UT

employee at the Student Activity Center. “I also drink

student night workers overwhelmingly stated that

a lot more coffee.”

they feel safe at their jobs. Dylan Snoddy, another night staff employee at the Student Activities Center,

However, even with coffee, not everyone has the

says that the night shift is safer than the daytime

ability to work the night shift. “To be able to work

shift. “The crazier stuff happens during the day,

the shift and love it is very unique,” Allen says. “But it

because there are more people,” Snoddy says.

works for our staff— it’s very supportive of their passions and lives.”

Gabriel Acosta, A DHFS night employee agrees with Snoddy. “I definitely always feel safe,” Acosta says. “I

Campbell echoes this idea of a niche profession

have never felt personally threatened by a resident or

that stands to benefit its workers. “Most of the time

anyone else.”

people work third shift for a reason,” Campbell says.

“Whether they need another job or because it’s best

However, Acosta acknowledges the situation is differ-

for childcare arrangements, working at night gives

ent for female employees.“After what happened with

them that opportunity.”

Haruka, [women] still have worries, especially when they get off at 4 a.m. and have shifts at Creekside.”

Because night shifts grant flexibility, many workers are happy to stay in their positions for years. “My

Landa, however, does not have any worries working

boss has been doing it a long time,” says Amy Lara, a

as a woman at night. She has never felt threatened

night staff employee at the Union Underground. “This

by strangers at night, coming and going from work.

is only my third shift, but he’s been doing it for years

“My bosses are all really open to walking me home,”

and also works two other jobs, so I’ll get used to it.”

Landa says. “Everyone is concerned with me getting home safe.”

Though a night job at requires an unnatural sleep schedule, the more pressing issue for students

Even with this statement, Landa went on to echo an

working is safety. This is an issue that supervisors are

idea that was consistent with other night shift student

looking to have addressed. On August 22, the Union

employees: late night jobs work best when you live

decided to limit access to the building to UT-affili-

nearby. “I just do it because I live in Jester, which is a

ated customers only. “It was a big step,” Campbell

five-minute walk away,” Landa says.

says. “We thought enforcement of it would be difficult and that visitors might go down, but we’ve

The question of safety is ongoing. Allen says that

actually seen our traffic count increase by 2,000 to

students are strongly advised to pick up a Rape

4,000 people a day.”

Aggression Defense course, a course on self-defense tactics and techniques, to go along with their whistles

While it has impacted business positively, Campbell

and police-quality flashlight.

emphasizes that the change was made with students and workers’ safety in mind. After the murder of UT

Despite the apparent risks, student workers appear to

freshman Haruka Weiser on campus last spring, the

be happy. “For the people the job works for, it really

university took many steps to make campus safe for

works for them,” Allen says.

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THE LIFE THEY LIVE Understanding the Experiences and Struggles of Undocumented Students

Words by Allyson Waller Photos by Dorian McCradic

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hen Mayte Lara posted on Twitter the day

Even though some students have obtained deferred

of her high school graduation, she did not

action through DACA, it does not give them legal res-

expect her tweet to go viral. She did not expect her

idency, and it also cost around $465 to renew every

friend to call the following morning and tell her she

two years. There are other processes that make the

was on television. She did not expect to become one

path to citizenship arduous. To apply for citizenship,

of the faces of a nationwide conversation concerning

it is required that a person be a permanent resident

undocumented students, simply because she tweeted,

for at least five years. A green card is necessary to

“Valedictorian, 4.5 GPA, full tuition paid for at UT, 13

apply for permanent residency, but undocumented

cords/medals, nice legs, oh and I’m undocumented.”

individuals often don’t have anyone to sponsor them.

A sponsor is someone who petitions for a family

Although many admired Mayte Lara’s accomplish-

member to receive permanent residency. Sponsorship

ments, critics were vocal, dismissing her success

can also be supplied by receiving a permanent job

because of her undocumented status. The struggles

offer in the U.S.

and experiences that undocumented students endure are rarely acknowledged publicly.

Having a green card that grants permanent residency is different from citizenship. A green card is a

“I’ve never been afraid to say I’m undocumented,”

permit that gives a person the right to permanently

Lara says. “It made me stronger. I can defend my

reside and legally work in the U.S. while being pro-

standpoint and inform other people.”

tected under federal and national law. The difference between permanent residency and citizenship is that

In 2001, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill

permanent residency requires renewal. On the other

1403, which granted undocumented students the

hand, citizenship does not require citizens to renew

right to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and

any type of formal document, and there is no threat

universities. Undocumented students also have the

to their status if they go out of the country for a

option to apply for the 2012 Deferred Action for

period of time.

Childhood Arrivals program. The policy, introduced by the Obama Administration, grants deferred action that allows an individual to stay in the United States

“I’ve never been afraid to say I’m undocumented. It made me stronger.”

without the threat of deportation. Upon receiving DACA, individuals can apply for a social security

The process of applying for citizenship or permanent

number, be granted access to work in the United

residency is a financial strain for many undocu-

States, and obtain a driver's license. Although these

mented students. According to U.S. Citizenship and

policies have created positive change, undocumented

Immigration Services, the cost of applying for a green

students still face a unique struggle in comparison to

card can range from $635-$935. Applying for citizen-

other U.S. citizens or permanent residents, especially

ship costs about $680. “We pay so much money to be

when applying for school.

here, to try and become an American and we’re still left behind,” says Jamie Turcios-Villalta, an undocu-

The college application process for undocumented

mented public health and government freshman.

students is unique. Some institutions, such as the University of Texas at Austin, require them to apply

Even students who have a visa face hardships when

as international students. Since they are unable to

dealing with visa renewal during their college careers

receive federal financial aid, they cannot submit the

and applying for a new visa post-college. “I wake up

Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and instead

and there’s a chance that the tower I see every day,

must fill out alternative forms such as Texas Appli-

I won’t be able to see it, if I don’t get a job visa,”

cation for State Financial Aid to apply for financial

graphic design senior Fernanda Rodriguez says.

assistance.

Rodriguez currently has an F-1, or student visa, but In addition to financial concerns, the path to citizen-

as she begins to plan for her future after college,

ship is often a painstaking process. “It’s very stressful

she deals with the anxiety of finding a job that will

that people think it’s so easy to become a citizen,

sponsor her for a job visa. After graduating, she will

when in reality, it isn’t,” says Anayeli Marcos, an

enter a period of Optional Practical Training, where

undocumented graduate student.

she must find a job with employers willing to sponsor 4

her so she can obtain the right documentation for a

undocumented individuals who went to a four-year

job visa. “I have a great GPA, good personal skills, a

public university, 86 percent reported of having a

great work ethic, but I have a lower chance of getting

GPA of 3.0 and above.“It is very hard growing up and

hired just because people don’t want to deal with the

seeing all these people say things you know are not

paperwork,” Rodriguez says.

true,” undocumented freshman Vanessa Rodriguez says.

The future is full of uncertainty for undocumented students. In the aftermath of one of the most unconventional election cycles America has ever seen, the level of uncertainty has increased. There’s a threat to DACA’s longevity, and the possibility of deportation for undocumented individuals. Laws and reforms protecting undocumented students made by previous administrations are in danger of being eradicated by president-elect Donald Trump. “Being a student, you’re usually building up for your future life, you’re making plans,” says Tatiana Woldman, assistant director of Student Advising Services at UT’s International Office. “We tell our students to be goal oriented. That is something that undocumented students are often unable to do. It’s really hard to make long term plans

“I have a great GPA, good personal skills, a great work ethic, but I have a lower chance of getting hired just because people don’t want to deal with the paperwork.”

and long term investments.”

Despite enduring hardships and combating the political system, undocumented students are not afraid to bring their issues to light and fight for change. They

Normally, incoming college students have their

know change is possible, but in order for it to happen,

parents and school counselors for guidance through

dialogue must take place. Students part of the Uni-

this transition in their lives, but undocumented stu-

versity Leadership Initiative at UT have emphasized

dents do not have the same level of support. Even

how people and college institutions need to be open

though their counselors and parents provide help,

to hearing stories, even if it does not relate to their

they can only give a limited amount of guidance. Stu-

own life. “They can become better allies by starting

dents must deal with family issues while balancing

to get to know us,” Rodriguez says. “By taking an

school, jobs and internships once they are college

invitation from us to hear us talk. Leaders within the

students. The amount of pressure takes a toll on

university can become better allies if they could set

many undocumented students. According to a Uni-

more time to talk to these students that are a popula-

versity of California, Los Angeles study, 25 percent

tion of the school. Not just help them, but understand

of undocumented male students have moderate

their struggles.”

or severe anxiety, as well as 33 percent of undocumented female students. “Supporting your family,

Some undocumented students hold themselves

while being a student is a major difference,” Villalta

accountable for bringing issues to the forefront

says. “It can make your college process a little more

and encouraging other undocumented individuals

difficult. For a lot of undocumented students, they

about the possibilities the future holds. Because of

are the only ones in their family that can legally work.

one tweet, Mayte Lara discovered she can use her

You have the obligation of taking care of your family,

experiences to help others who are weary about the

while going to school, and maintaining a scholarship.”

educational opportunities available for undocumented students. “I never thought I was going to be

Misconceptions in society alter the perception of

some sort of advocate, but this summer, that is all I

undocumented individuals. Some often characterize

did,” Lara says. “I want do something, because I feel

them as lazy, but ultimately undocumented indi-

it is an obligation for me. When I see other undocu-

viduals are a hardworking population. The Institute

mented students struggling, I know what it feels like

for Immigration, Globalization, and Education at

and I want to help.”

UCLA conducted a research study and found that of 5

Timeline of Texas Laws Concerning Undocumented Individuals Words by Allyson Waller

1975 Texas Education Board Statute 21.031

Law denied enrollment to public schools to children who were not “legally admitted” in the United States (Grades K-12th) Plyler v. Doe (1982) In 1982 Texas law was deemed unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court Said law violated 14th Amendment (Equal Protection Clause)

Source: www.uscourts.gov

House Bill 1403

Enacted as Law in 2001 Grants students who are non-citizens of the United States pay the same tuition granted to in-state resident students at institutes of higher education Source: Texas Legislature Online (www.capitol.state.tx.us)

Senate Bill 1528

Enacted as Law in 2005 Clarified stipulations made in HB 1403 Source: Texas Legislature Online (www.capitol.state.tx.us)

House Bill 174

Enacted as Law in 2011 Cancellation of voter registration and eligibility to vote to noncitizens, persons are not able to vote if they do not provide proof of citizenship Source: Texas Legislature Online (www.capitol.state.tx.us)

Senate Bill 374

Enacted as Law in 2015 “Screens for undocumented workers by comparing the information that potential workers submit to an employer with records maintained by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration” (Texas Tribune) Source: Texas Legislature Online (www.capitol.state.tx.us)

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Story by Elise Barbin

Photos by Miranda Chiechi

Illustration by Jesus Acosta

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“It literally just sort of happened,” Jessica Beauvoir

would think is cool now, so I just had to make it up

says of the genesis and quick success of the Austin

as I went along, or really really seek out what I think

Witch Circle, a collective of people who practice

would be worthwhile,” Beauvoir says.

witchcraft, particularly those who utilize the craft as a business. When Beauvoir moved to Austin in Feb-

“I don’t think you have to be religious

ruary of 2015, she found herself struggling to find a

at all to practice witchcraft, which is an

consumer base for her apothecary business, which

important disctinction.”

sold natural remedies for sicknesses, an alternative to pharmaceuticals. Beauvoir decided to look to the

Currently, Beauvoir practices Paganism, which she

community of other “occultish and witchy” vendors.

describes as the absence of a traditional Patriarchal

She decided to start the Dark Moon Market, which

God. However, she also considers herself a secular

brought together witches and occultish vendors in

person. “One way I don’t personally identify with

Austin. Now, after almost a year and more than 700

Paganism is that it tends to imply religion,” Beauvoir

online community members later, the Circle has

says. “I don’t think you have to be religious or Pagan

certainly found a niche in Austin.

at all to practice witchcraft, which is an important distinction.”

“The market happened first— the Dark Moon market was in December of last year and 500 people came,”

Since the collective’s inception, it has grown into a

Beauvoir says. “As soon as we saw how many people

local business and support system for witchcrafters

were into it, instead of making separate markets, we

in the greater Austin area. Kristi Lewis, a silversmith

decided to just make the markets under a collective

and an organizer who works with Beauvoir, describes

heading.”

the method of operation of the Austin Witch Circle as “ethical capitalism,” where prices strike a balance

Coming of age in an Evangelical Christian commu-

between supportive for the vendor and reasonable

nity in North Carolina, Beauvoir says her interest in

for the consumer.

witchcraft began during her late teen years as an alternative to the fervent religiosity that surrounded

The community gathers several times a month to

her. “I didn’t really have exposure to anything I

celebrate both their craftwork and ideology, 8

The Circle is more than a group of vendors. It’s a community that seeks to empower others.

frequenting different locations around town, such as The Hard Luck Lounge and Vortex. The Circle’s hope for the future is to establish a shopfront to give the members a centralized, physical location, as well as a collective place for the vendors to sell their goods.

As of October, Beauvoir says she has started looking for open real estate in the North Loop area. But for now events’ locations can be found on the group’s public Facebook page.

The Circle is more than a group of vendors. It’s a community that seeks to empower others. This ties into the Circle’s goal of breaking down the stereotypical belief that witchcraft is tied to satanism, which is usually how it depicted in horror movies and certain religious beliefs. The Austin Witches also believe that there is no single way to identify as a witch.

In both the collective of vendors and the online community, the idea of the Circle is to is to build a safe space based on a philosophy of trans-inclusionary intersectional feminism. Member of the Circle Dawn Ambuehl-Sadek says this message of inclusion is why others feel welcome. “I cannot even count how many times I have met people at these events who tell me that they feel safe with us.”

Lewis says this boils down to self empowerment, a key belief that the witches hold. “You’re believing in yourself enough to put intention out there to make things happen, rather than relying on somebody else to do that for you,” Lewis says.

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SYRIAN Solidarity Group Looks at Future With Trump

Words and Photos by Aiden Park

NOUR AL GHRAOWI REMEMBERS enjoying the cool weather one November afternoon at Damascus University in Syria. She remembers how beautiful the sky was — a pristine blue. She remembers hearing about a protest on the other side of campus. She remembers the way she felt when she saw a fellow student, clad in white, being dragged out of campus by his hair. “I immediately started to cry,” Al Ghraowi says.

Al Ghraowi, a Syrian-born immigrant, lives in Austin and attends the University of Texas at Austin. This year marks her third year in the United States, but the scenes and experiences she endured in Syria still resonate with her today. When she sees protests at UT, she recalls the demonstration that was broken up by the Syrian government where students were arrested, tortured and killed. “Being arrested [in Syria] is not the same thing as being arrested [in the U.S.],” Al Ghraowi says. “Over there, you get arrested. You get all these kinds of torture. You get killed.”

During her time in the U.S., Al Ghraowi and her cousin Citrine Ghraowi formed The Syrian People Solidarity Group to raise awareness for the conflict in Syria, as well as the millions of refugees fleeing the country.

But, after Donald Trump’s victory in this year’s presidential election, Al Ghraowi says the group faces its biggest challenge yet: intolerance.

In October of 2015, Trump told a rally of supporters in New Hampshire that if he won, the Syrian refugees seeking asylum in the U.S. would be “going back” to the Middle East. In April of this year, Trump tweeted a picture depicting himself turning away a boat full of refugees fleeing war-torn Syria.

A civil war embroils Syria today. The conflict began in 2011 after protesters marched to the Syrian capital of Damascus, demanding democratic reforms. The Syrian government opened fire on the crowd and detained participants, hoping to squander any talks of “bringing down the regime.” Over the course of five years, the conflict evolved, with terrorist groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant exacerbating the war. According to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the death toll from the war surpasses 370,000 people, making it one of the bloodiest conflicts of the 21st century.

As the conflict heightened, Al Ghraowi received her student visa and arrived in America on New Year’s 12

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“WHENEVER THERE IS OPPRESSION AND EXPLOITATION, THERE IS RESISTANCE.”

Eve of 2012. She started school at Austin Community

Citrine says that more than a year after the group’s

College a week later. In Austin, Al Ghraowi joined her

protests on Abbott’s statements, Trump’s victory

cousin, Citrine Ghraowi, an American-born citizen

solidifies the U.S.’s anti-refugee and anti-immigrant

who helped Al Ghraowi adjust to the culture shock

climate. “Once Trump was elected, the amount of

of American life.

hate crimes skyrocketed,” Citrine says. “This racist rhetoric is now justified, and that’s what’s terrifying.”

While enrolled at ACC, Al Ghraowi and her cousin participated in activist movements such as Black

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, more

Lives Matter and the Palestine Solidarity Commit-

than 700 harassment reports were filed in the weeks

tee. Slowly, they realized Austin lacked an organized

after Trump’s victory. Sixty-five percent of those

group that offered solidarity for Syrians, as well

reports occurred in the first three days after the elec-

as awareness for the millions of Syrian refugees.

tion. According to the SPLC, however, anti-immigrant

According to the United Nations High Commis-

rhetoric continues to be the top reported type of

sioner for Refugees, nearly 11 million Syrians fled

harassment.

their country since the outbreak of the civil war. “No awareness was brought to the states as much as it

The Syrian People Solidarity Group’s next moves

should have been,” Citrine says. “The human lives

include unification, Citrine says. After discussing with

and the refugees that were in between all the chaos

their organization, Al Ghraowi and Citrine want to

is what we focus on. It felt a little strange [for there

host workshops that bring people from foreign coun-

not to be a group] because it’s been really tough for

tries together in an act of solidarity. “We know many

people.”

will receive some kind of hateful rhetoric,” Citrine says. “We have to be aware of what happens to these

Since forming their group, Al Ghraowi and her cousin

people next.”

lead protests, hold meetings for Syrian immigrants and students to foster a sense of community and

In the immediate future, however, Al Ghraowi says

raise money to donate to refugee camps. Al Ghraowi

the group will continue its normal activity. Currently,

said her group gained the most attention when she

the group plans to raise money for a paralyzed

spearheaded a demonstration protesting Texas Gov.

refugee who works at a refugee camp in Turkey as a

Greg Abbott’s letter to President Obama where he

translator. The money the group raises will help send

stated that Texas would not accept any Syrian ref-

her to Canada for a life-changing surgery.

ugees. After creating a Facebook event, Al Ghraowi said more than 500 poeple gathered at the governor’s

Although a Trump presidency may seem daunting, Al

mansion to protest in November of 2015. “Whenever

Ghraowi says the election ultimately motivates the

there is oppression and exploitation, there is resis-

group to work harder and to stick together. “We’re

tance,” says Joe Caterine, an Austin resident and

going to be faced with Trump supporters who want

a protester. “Protests expose newcomers to more

to shut us down, but we’ll also face a lot of love from

radical and critical perspectives that can lead them

those who want to help refugees,” Al Ghraowi says.

to get involved in political organizing. [It’s] how real

“We have to remain strong about it.”

social change happens.”

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CREATING

CULTURAL SPACES Story by Allyson Waller

Photos by Claire Schaper

Local non-profit, Six Square, works to preserve the history and culture of African Americans in Central East Austin As you drive through East Austin, it’s easy to forget

headquarters, a local nonprofit that aims to preserve

that you’re driving through a community with a rich

the black culture of Central East Austin. Formerly

culture and history. It’s easy to overlook Victory Grill,

known as the African American Cultural Heritage

a restaurant on East 11th Street that welcomed black

District, the organization started off as a community

servicemen home from World War II. Rosewood Park,

partner, and eventually became a full-fledged non-

one of the first public housing projects in the nation,

profit.

quietly passes by on your rear view mirror. But, the black residents of East Austin never forget the history

East Austin as we know it began as a re-zoning

that has shaped their city, and one local nonprofit is

restriction due to the 1928 Koch and Fowler proposal.

working to preserve it.

At the time, established freedmen communities, located in Wheatsville and Clarksville, obtained

On San Bernard Street, near the edge of East Austin,

highly admirable real-estate property. Under the 1928

a quaint off-yellow house is home to Six Square

city plan, city developers forced black land owners 14

to move by threatening to rid them of access to city resources, such as running water and electricity. “This is the way Austin managed to segregate legally,” native Austin docent Harrison Eppwright, says.

The name Six Square was chosen to symbolize the six-square miles the district encompasses. East Austin stretches as east as Airport Boulevard, as west as I-35, as north as Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and as south as East Seventh Street.

“It’s really important for us to know the history and legacy of black East Austin. I think a lot of it is being erased and forgotten, and it’s really sad.” intersections in East Austin, such as Chicon and East 11th Street. The moving exhibit lasted three days, with displays at the George Washington Carver Museum, the Austin Black Chamber of Commerce and Six Square headquarters.

“As an African American woman who has children, you want to have places where they can see themselves and recognize who they are,” interim director of Six Square Sharonda Robinson says. “To be able to bring emphasis to that is personally fulfilling. When we know where we came from it makes us more capable of setting a vision for what needs to happen next.”

In 2014, students from Kealing Middle School worked with Six Square to create an interactive virtual tour of East Austin for the non-profit’s website. The interactive map showcases historically significant places in the cultural district. The map highlights places such as the Victory Grill on East 11th Street, where black servicemen were welcomed home after World War

Six Square’s main goal is to create spaces in which African American culture can be presented to a changing demographic, so that the stories of the black population in East Austin can continue to thrive. “I think storytelling is such a huge part of community engagement and social advocacy,” secretary and founding member Virginia Cumberbatch says.

“I don’t think you can really have advocacy without understanding people’s stories or wanting to take part in making that story better. We’re helping tell stories. Stories that would otherwise be invisible or would be ignored.”

Six Square works to maintain its rich cultural spaces and create comprehensive dialogue, bringing awareness to the significant contributions made by Austin’s African American population. One of its first fundraisers involved building a new grandstand for Down’s Baseball Field. Negro Baseball League players who played on Down’s Field in the 1900s attended the event and shared their stories with the public. This past spring, Six Square also hosted an event titled “Invisible Intersections,” in which local artists were commissioned to create pieces that represented

15

II, and where legendary acts including Ella Fitzgerald and B.B. King performed. The map also depicts Down’s Field, which was home to the Negro Baseball League’s Black Senators and where Jackie Robinson coached the Huston-Tillotson University baseball team in 1944.

“It’s really important for us to know the history and legacy of black East Austin,” Six Square historical researcher Dr. Eshe Cole says. “I think a lot of it is being erased and forgotten, and it’s really sad.”

Six Square opposes any actions by the city that would contribute to cultural erasure of East Austin.

“We’re very visible and audible down at city council and people seek our advice on things,” Cumberbatch says. When it comes to protecting historical spaces the organization also works closely with Preservation Austin, another integral non-profit that deals with historic conservation.

A lot of the erasure stems from gentrification, which is one of the issues Six Square is working to resolve.

Gentrification is a system in which people come into communities in the hopes of revamping its social and

physical structure. In one instance, developers wanted to knock down buildings and build high rises on the only the spot in East Austin where people have a view of the capital. Six Square wrote a letter explaining why developers should deter the building of the highrise.“You’re seeing a shift in cultural dynamics, which isn’t inherently a bad thing, but when you displace that native population and they get less and less visible in the city, that becomes problematic,” Cumberbatch says. “The other part of that process is the loss of history and the loss of cultural context.”

East Austin natives feel connected to this history.

By addressing the issue of gentrification and many

It is the place where their family history was culti-

other issues, Six Square advocates for those who are

vated and their stories were birthed. While engaging

not normally heard, and showcases their stories to

in Six Square events, East Austinites often express

create a more socially conscious public. Currently,

their feelings concerning the changing dynamics of

Six Square is working to preserve “sacred spaces” in

the area. “My biggest problem with gentrification

Austin. They are shedding light on the neglected state

is people coming in with the mindset that they are

of black cemeteries and burial grounds around the

saving east Austin,” Six Square attendee Alicia Moore

city, specifically focusing on Bethany Cemetery and

says. “East Austin already has a rich history. ”The

Plummers Cemetery. By working with the community,

mindset that you’re saving us is problematic for me.”

Six Square is bringing awareness to how the memorials of African Americans are integral to preserving

With gentrification looming over East Austin, some

their history for those in the present day.

are concerned about the fluctuating prices in property due to new building projects. “I live in northeast

“Six Square exists so that African Americans can

Austin, but my parents and I originally lived in east

define their own stories,” Robinson says. “So they

Austin,” Six Square attendee Sue Spears says. “I am

can tell their own journey about what it means to

desperately trying to hold on to their property. Gen-

be black in Central East Austin and to contribute to

trification is almost making it impossible because

the culture, politics, the education, the history of this

taxes are so high.”

community.”

Preserving African-American Cemeteries Words by Allyson Waller

One of Six Square’s ongoing projects this year is working

saying that cemeteries serve as a language of memory to

with the community to preserve and protect Austin’s

those alive today.“Our sense of history has always been

historic African American cemeteries. The two main cem-

part of what memorials [are] about,” Blakey says. There

eteries of focus are Bethany Cemetery and Plummer’s

was also mention of how the descendent community has

Cemetery. Bethany Cemetery was created in the 1800s

an obligation to bring awareness to abandoned ceme-

as a resting place predominantly for African Americans.

teries. “A descendant community is not just a descended

Plummer’s Cemetery was acquired by the city of Austin

individual, it’s a community of people who are emotion-

in 1957 and was one of the first segregated cemeteries in

ally and socially descended,” Blakey says. Organizations

the city. Today, about half of the graves are unmarked. In

in Austin are working with citizens to identify family

early November, Six Square held part one of its “Home-

members, and distinguish unidentified plots. “Here in

coming,” a time for people in the community to come

Austin, one of the things we try to do is have an open

together. In the first symposium, influential archaeolo-

house and try to get the public to come out and tell us

gists and scholars from across the nation, and the Austin

where their families are buried,” president and founder of

community came to discuss the current state of neglected

Save Austin’s Cemeteries, Dale Flatt says. “The first key

cemeteries. Keynote speaker Dr. Michael Blakey dis-

point is to get the public to come back out to reengage

cussed how anthropology is the study of humankind,

with the cemetery.”

16

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN RoundHouse’s Brand of Young Female Improv Comedy

Words by Sophie Lidji Photos by Sarah Holdeman

ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON at ColdTowne Conservatory, the Austin improv troupe RoundHouse does a raucous hand-clapping, feet-stomping warm-up game called “Czechoslovakia” before their practice show. “Czechoslovakia, boom-sha-boom, you go Slavia, boom-sha-boom, let’s get the rhythm of the hands, we got the rhythm of the hands,” the troupe chants as they clap each other’s hands. After shouting and stomping for several minutes, their energy is sky-high and they segue into their 15-minute improv

muscles are strong and will flex when called on. That is something that most of us adults struggle with, but these teens have taken that to heart.”

Though the girls shine at trusting their comedic instincts, they still struggle with silence: the enemy of many improv comedians. “In improv time, 10 minutes is like an hour,” Emma says. With this logic, five seconds of silence feels more like five minutes.

show.

During a RoundHouse rehearsal one Sunday after-

It’s a standard rehearsal scene for improv comedi-

moments as the girls communally figure out where

ans—except this troupe is composed of eighth and ninth grade girls. Katherine Holmes, 13, Charlotte Evelyn, 14, Kallie Cifra, 14, and Emma Lowery, 13, started at RoundHouse early this year after taking improv classes at ColdTowne Theater. They are primarily coached by comedian Kim Lowery, but also learn from other teachers at ColdTowne and other comedy theaters. “These girls have been incredible from the start,” Kim Lowery says. “In practices, we talk a lot about how important it is to work hard when we’re learning, but then we do our best to let 17

all of that go when we’re on stage and trust that our

noon, the troupe experiences one of these quiet to take their scene.

As silence hangs in the air, the group makes decisions without saying anything at all. “Good patience, you’re doing great, feel that silence,” Kim says softly, as she scans the troupe. A few seconds later, Emma breaks through the quiet. “My 96th birthday has been a blast so far,” Emma says, making the improv scene at a waterpark into an elderly birthday celebration that ends by sliding on the park’s tallest waterslide.

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ColdTowne emphasizes the potential of young people

weren’t seeing me perform as a funny person, but just

with their youth program, Move Your Tale (soon to

seeing a 10 year old.”

rebrand as Excused Absence Youth Comedy). “ColdTowne and The Hideout are pretty much the only

Kallie is also a member of S’Nailed It, the lon-

places kids do comedy in Austin,” Charlotte says. “At

gest-running youth troupe at ColdTowne. “When I

ColdTowne, it’s become a big thing because of Move

tell people what I do, they’re sometimes like ‘that’s...

Your Tale. Without that program, I don’t think we

interesting,’” Kallie says.

would have a youth thing. Up until two years ago, I

While they listen to Lowery speak, the girls swing

don’t think there was ever a troupe of six year olds,

their arms and kick their legs around with a youthful

and there is now.”

openness. For some girls, the troupe has encouraged them to be themselves. For others, it has pushed

“After this, I’m seeing I could do

them to realize they can achieve their goals. “Before

things I thought I couldn’t.”

this, I would always hold back,” Katherine says. “In school, I wouldn’t want to raise my hand, or if I was

ColdTowne classes start as early as preschool, where

doing an audition for theater, I didn’t want to be too

kids can explore the basics of storytelling, improvi-

loud. But after this, I’m seeing I could do things I

sation and character building. Each week, Move Your

thought I couldn’t.”

Tale hosts an All Ages Night at ColdTowne, where kids

Kallie shares some similar sentiments. “At school,

and teens learn, perform and watch comedy from

I used to always want to work on my own, but from

their peers, as well as established adult comics. “All

this, I’ve become a much better team member,” Kallie

Ages Night is really cool,” Kallie says. “It’s very PG, but

says. “I work with people a lot better.”

we can still see professionals doing their thing.”

The best thing about RoundHouse is that this is just Though they came together as a group of comedians,

the beginning for these girls—they have so many years

the troupe is quickly connecting as a group of friends,

ahead of them. The girls’ future goals are varied:

which the girls say is imperative for a successful

Katherine wants to write a book, never wanting to

team. “You have to have fun on stage,” Emma says.

stop doing theater and improv. Emma doesn’t know

“I don’t think it can ever really suck if you’re having

if she wants to do comedy professionally, but she

fun.”

wants to continue doing it for as long as she can.

Kallie dreams of a spot on Saturday Night Live.

Their ages are their strength and their downfall.

Charlotte wants to direct her own comedy show and

Involved in the Austin comedy scene since she was

explore improv in other places in and outside of the

eight, Charlotte is fully aware of underestimation

country. These are young girls who have started on

from adults. “The way people would speak to me

their passion early, girls who are already fired up and

differently than the adults kind of made me feel like

shattering expectations.

a novelty for a long time, until more young people were there,” Charlotte says. “I always felt like people

18

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When Did You Know You Were an Austinite?

Words by ATX Staff Illustration by Sonia Margolin

For a lot of UT students, Austin is not their first home. A lot of us come here from other cities, other states and even other countries to find a place with an entirely new culture. Though it may take a bit to feel like an Austinite, eventually, we all find our home here. Whether we grew up in Austin or just moved here in August, these are the moments when ORANGE’s ATX staff realized we belong in this city.

Kassidy Curry

Stephanie Adeline

I moved around a lot growing up, and had a hard

In a few months, I will finally mark my first year of

time identifying any city as “home.” I moved to Austin

living in Austin. Home is thousands of miles away,

when I was 15 years old and spent a year there before

on the other side of the world in Indonesia. When I

moving up to Minneapolis. It was the first time I was

first came to Austin, I thought I could never make this

out on my own, and though it was scary, I learned

place home, because it’s so different from Jakarta.

how to be truly independent in the city. I moved up

During my first semester, I spent most of my Satur-

to Minneapolis to go to college but I always kept

days at home, cooking Indonesian food, watching

Austin in the back of my mind. In the dead cold of

movies and video-calling my parents. Then, I spent all

Minnesota winter, I was thinking about biking through

three months of summer in Indonesia. I realized that

Austin, going to my favorite coffee shops and restau-

whenever someone asked me about Austin, I did not

rants and festivals. Though I love Minneapolis too, it

remember my lonely Saturdays. I recalled the times

never felt like home to me the way Austin did. Now

my friends and I went coffee hopping every Sunday

I’m back here at the University of Texas at Austin, and

before church. I recalled going to the Domain for the

I only hate it during summer time.

first time. I recalled going to SoCo with my first group of friends on the night my mom went home to Jakarta

Jacqueline Ramos Although I have lived in Austin for the majority of

after helping me settle down here in Austin. When I returned to Austin, I found my place, and I see it as home now.

my life, it wasn’t until I was a junior in high school that I felt like a true Austinite. Growing up, my parents didn’t take my siblings and I out to eat at

Elise Barbin

iconic Austin restaurants or to fun Austin festivals

As an angsty Lindsay Weir-type in high school, Austin

very often. I knew I lived in Austin, but I didn’t know

seemed like the best of both worlds: a big city with

what was so special about it. In high school, when I

plenty of opportunities to see live music and films,

finally had the freedom to hang out with my friends

and more importantly, home to the college where

outside of home, I began to feel like a true Austinite.

my older sister attended. After visiting her during

Every weekend, my friends would ask me the same

my junior year of high school and experiencing her

question, “Pluckers or Southside Flying Pizza?” After

world, which included hikes at the Greenbelt, Tex Mex

eating at one of our favorite places, we would either

and rented movies from I Heart Video, I spent the rest

walk down South Congress Avenue or hang out at

of high school binge watching Linklater films and

Auditorium Shores. Our weekly routine helped me get

thinking about what my life would be like in Austin.

to know the city I call home.

I ultimately decided to attend a smaller liberal arts 20

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school for college, but after spending a year there,

few days before classes started. I went exploring one

I still couldn’t help feeling like I missed out by not

afternoon around SoCo. I was amazed by the bustling

attending UT. Now, after living here for a few months,

food trucks, people eating dinner with their dogs and

I’m not sure if I consider myself an Austinite yet, but I

unique stores. I found myself becoming a “foodie,”

sure am glad to be here.

on top of liking street art and music. One picture in front of the iconic “I love you so much” mural made me realize how lucky I am to be living in a city that

Katarina Brown

embraces its weirdness.

Last year, I studied abroad in England. Being in another place made me realize how much of Austin had seeped into me, and how much I missed the city

Sophie Lidji

when I was away from it. I started watching movies

The day I began embracing Topo Chico burps instead

that were set in Austin, just to get a glimpse of SoCo

of suppressing them— that was when I knew. Why

and campus through a screen. That’s when I realized

should the inevitable be a source of shame? Aus-

that the city and I definitely belonged to one another.

tinites would never feel this embarrassment. Legend has it that an Aztec princess was healed of a dreadful disease when she sipped the water from a mysterious

Danielle Ortiz

spring. Now, some very nice folks have bottled that

Even though I am only in the midst of my freshman

precious healing water to make Texans across the

year, I knew Austin was the place for me long before

state burp for several minutes after consumption—but

I moved here. It hit me that I was an Austinite the first

that’s nothing to be ashamed of.

QUIZ

WHAT AUSTIN BOOKSTORE ARE YOU?

SYRIAN

Malvern Solidarity Group Looks 5th Dimension at Future With Trump You only buy small press books and read poets who aren’t The first thing you check upon waking up is the countdown even dead yet. You probably have a Cymbal account and

on your phone for the new Star Wars film. You get teased for

refuse to smile in pictures. Some may find you pretentious or

loving fictional worlds, but it’s been happening for so long

weird, but at least you have your books to keep you company.

that it doesn’t bother you anymore.

Resistencia Bookstore

Book People

You weren’t afraid to call out your racist relatives during the

You frequent Torchy’s and Juiceland. Your profile picture is

Thanksgiving dinner that you were forced to attend and now

you on top of Mount Bonnell, and your cover photo is the

you’re organizing a trip to Standing Rock for winter break.

“I love you so much” mural. Though some may consider you

When you’re not busy reading about the injustices of the

“basic,” no one can deny your love for Austin.

world, you’re either attending a rally in front of the Tower or educating your friends on how to be a better ally.

21

QUESTIONS ON RIGHT PAGE

→

WHICH STICKERS DO YOU HAVE ON YOUR LAPTOP?

WHAT DO YOU ARGUE ABOUT THE MOST?

a) KVRX and Cherrywood Coffeehouse

a) The best site to find new music

b) Treasure City Thrift and a local nonprofit

b) Gentrification in East Austin

c) Star Trek,Tolkien and a Biohazard sticker

c) Which is better: Star Wars or Star Trek?

d) UT study abroad sticker and Juiceland sticker

d) Which Austin street art makes the best photo-op

WHAT DO YOU DRINK IN THE MORNING?

WHICH COLLEGE IS YOUR MAJOR IN?

a) A flat white. But not from Starbucks

a) Moody College of Communication

b) Fair trade coffee you make at home

b) College of Social Work

c) A Monster energy drink

c) College of Natural Sciences

d) A Starbucks frappucino

d) College of Liberal Arts

WHAT’S YOUR FAVE AUSTIN FESTIVAL?

WHERE ARE YOU LIVING AFTER GRADUATION?

a) Sound on Sound fest

a) Some room in some house in Portland

b) Texas Conference for Women

b) Anywhere your voice will be heard

c) Wizard World Comic Con

c) In a fantasy world

d) Austin City Limits

d) A condo downtown

WHAT’S YOUR FAVE UT STUDY SPOT?

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ONLINE SHOP?

a) The Union

a) Etsy

b) Multicultural Engagement Center

b) Shops that support marginalized groups

c) Gates Computer Science Complex

c) ThinkGeek

d) Perry–Castañeda Library

d) Amazon

YOUR GO-TO CASUAL OUTFIT FOR CLASS:

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA SITE?

a) Anything from a thrift shop

a) Instagram

b) Black Lives Matter T-Shirt

b) Twitter

c) World of Warcraft T-shirt

c) Reddit

d) A big comfy shirt and Nike shorts

d) Facebook 22

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Celebrity Superlatives

Words by Emma Whalen

23

Illustrations by Alex Guillen

Class Clowns Joanne The Scammer One day in late 2015, Branden Miller, an average Floridian (yes, that’s possible) went on Twitter to debut a video of a character he enjoyed playing. One post led to another and an internet star was born. His character, “Joanne the Scammer,” enjoys lying, scamming and cheating her way through life and provides thoughtful encouragement to those who wish to follow suit. In a world seemingly turned upside down, Jo-

Usain Bolt Usain Bolt is worth recognizing because he’s been around forever and is still beating everyone. It’s possible that the guys he ran against in the finals weren’t even born by the time he set his first world record.

That might be an exaggeration, but his medals don’t lie. Bolt is the first man to complete a “triple-triple,” with nine gold medals over the course of three Olympic Games. Hopefully Usain will be around to defend his title four years from now.

anne’s “every woman for herself” mentality becomes more appealing each day.

Biggest Flirt Zac Efron

DJ Khaled

Zac Efron took his flirting skills to another level in

In late 2015, famed music producer, elliptical machine

2016. When he heard that Simone Biles had an Olym-

enthusiast and amateur food critic DJ Khaled began

pic-sized crush on him, he flew to Rio just to meet her

documenting every detail of his life. From mundane

and surprise her with a kiss. Although the romance

tasks, like watering plants, to the extraordinary, like

was short-lived, Zimone was our favorite (almost)

getting lost on jet skis in dark hours of the night, DJ

couple of 2016. If “High School Musical” and his kiss

Khaled began to religiously document his life via

with Biles taught us anything, it’s that nothing can

Snapchat. He shared his “major keys” to success, in

stop Efron from pursuing his dream girl.

case you were interested in one day living in a house made entirely of white marble and gold foil with a chef named Diana. His Snapchats brought joy and laughter and perhaps too many copy-cat snaps from friends. It was fun while it lasted!

Kendall Jenner Who is Kendall Jenner dating? Who is she not dating?

Who is unsuccessfully trying to date her? All of these questions asked in 2016 are valid and unanswered.

But to be fair, the uncertainty is not Kendall’s fault.

Most Likely to Succeed Chance the Rapper Chance the Rapper released his much anticipated

Tabloids are desperate to name her and a potential bae the next celebrity “it” couple. She continues to be coy, so we may never know the truth.

sophomore album “Coloring Book,” without a record label’s help and he’s not going to let you forget that.

A beacon of hope in a city with troubles that are too often overlooked, Chance’s fans showed their appreciation at his Magnificent Coloring Day festival in Chicago which brought out almost 50,000 attendees.

The gospel-inspired album makes one feel like going to church. ORANGE can’t help but wonder how much it would cost to have Chance the Rapper officiate a wedding. How much do we think it would cost to have Kirk Franklin officiate my wedding?

Cutest Couple Eleven and Mike from Stranger Things Oops! Spoiler alert! If you care enough about Stranger Things to be upset about Mike and Eleven’s relationship status, but not enough to watch the whole series, you are missing out. They have a relationship we could all learn from. Make your bae Eggos, hide her in your basement, give her a makeover… okay, that sounds awful. I swear it was cute in the show…

Drama Queen/King

Best Athlete Simone Biles If it were possible for one person to win the entire Olympic games, gymnast Simone Biles would take the prize. When the internet came through with gifs of Biles doing a tumbling routine that launched her into space, no one was sure if it was real footage or not. Enough said.

Kim Kardashian If we learned anything from the #KimExposedTaylorParty, it’s that pettiness and drama reached peak levels in 2016. Kim not only exposed Taylor’s lyin, cheatin, stealin’ ways, but she also gave the snake emoji a new meaning. Thank you Kim, and let your petty flag fly.

24

Here Queer Liberation and Development at UT Words by Alex Puente

Many LGBTQ+ students at the University of Texas at Austin turn to the Gender and Sexuality Center for a place of acceptance. While the campus now has safe spaces available to students from different marginalized groups, this was not always the case. The LGBTQ+ Longhorn community has a long history of fighting for the resources they need.

In the past, there were few visible queer organizations

a discrimination lawsuit, which turned into a protest

or students, due to homophobia and the dangers of

once UT administrators and police officers attempted

being openly queer. The Gay Liberation Front was the

to shut down the event.

first gay student activist organization to form at UT in the early ‘70s. Homophobia on campus created a

However, the university atmosphere in the early

hostile environment and university policy prevented

‘90s was quite different from the beginning of the

the GLF from becoming an official student organiza-

LGBT movement in the ‘70s. The decade introduced

tion. However, this did not stop activists from working

casual hangouts and gatherings for queer students

towards rights for gay students.

on campus. Some attempted to continue what the GLF started by creating new organizations. These

The group held rallies, protests and filed dis-

groups became more inclusive over time, expanding

crimination lawsuits against the university to gain

their coalition of gay men and lesbian women to also

recognition. Initially, the GLF had a short-lived

include bisexual and transgender people.

victory in December of 1970, when the group was

25

allowed to become an official student organization.

One of of these newly-formed inclusive spaces was

This decision was later overturned by former UT Pres-

“The Gay Tree.” In a video with the UT Division of

ident Ad-Interim Bryce Jordan. In retaliation, the GLF

Diversity and Community Engagement Center, former

held a dance at the Student Union to raise money for

student Ron Bowdoin talks about “The Gay Tree,”

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which served as a safe space by West Mall, where gay

UT’s Queer & Trans Students Alliance is currently

students could meet up and discuss their work.

checking the accessibility of every single-stall restroom on campus. The investigation includes sin-

“The concept of a gay tree is cool to me, because

gle-stalls that are already gender-neutral, as well as

before we had official spaces, people had to find

men’s and women’s restrooms that could easily be

other ways to group together and create safe spaces

changed by removing the gendered bathroom sign.

for themselves,” economics senior Hannah Wiseman says.

“Commitment to a gender-inclusive campus involves more than just bathrooms.”

The movement transitioned from “The Gay Tree” to its own, official center. In 2004, the Gender and

The restrooms are checked for wheelchair accessi-

Sexuality Center was established. The center is now

bility, diaper changing tables and tampon dispensers

located on the second floor of the Student Activity

to assist multiple groups who are not having their

Center. The resources provided by the center have

needs met. The goal is to get all the information into

been beneficial to those who visit, but it took several

the “Inclusive U” app, which contains a map of the

years before the GSC was able to expand to where

current gender-neutral restrooms on campus. The

it is today. It was originally housed in a closet in the

app working group, which began in the UT Librar-

Student Services Building. “The irony was not lost on

ies, includes representatives from the Division of

that,” says Liz Elsen, Assistant Director for the Gender

Diversity and Community Engagement, the GSC and

and Sexuality Center.

Services for Students with Disabilities.

Today, the GSC and certain student organizations

Elsen emphasized that change should not revolve

offer spaces for students to meet others who may

around a single issue. “Commitment to a gender-in-

face similar issues. These groups include the Queer

clusive campus involves more than just bathrooms,”

& Trans Students Alliance, Queer People of Color and

Elsen says.

Allies, TransAction and others who represent various identities and intersectionality.

With this in mind, many organizations have started to form coalitions with one another. Intersectional

“I think what’s great about these various types of

groups, such as Queer People of Color, provide a

queer groups on campus is that they provide a space

voice for students whose identities overlap and create

for discussion,” says James Che, Queer & Trans

a unique experience for them. Groups including the

Students Alliance Co-Director. “It’s a way to foster

Feminist Action Project and the Palestine Solidarity

conversations for communities with issues that they

Committee have worked together with queer organi-

face, where students don’t have to be as worried

zations to discuss the issue of intersectionality, and

about running into blatant discrimination.”

what that means for one’s identity.

Aside from providing safe places, leaders of these

“A safe space doesn’t exist for those on the outside,

groups are also focused on improving conditions for

so having these intersectional groups provides more

queer students all over campus. One of the issues

inclusive spaces,” Che says. “We know that microag-

at the forefront is the creation of gender-neutral

gressions might not be deliberate, but they are very

restrooms.

real and have some serious impact. Providing a space allows us to foster more productive dialogue on

“Having gender-inclusive bathrooms allows folks who

issues that one might face.”

identify as gender-queer or trans a space to use the bathroom without fear of being attacked,” Che says.

“On top of that, it deconstructs the gender binary and serves to queer up spaces.”

26

Gender-Neutral Bathrooms on Campus

by Emily Nash

EAST CAMPUS East of Speedway

Liberal Arts Building — CLA 4.218 Student Activity Center — SAC 2.116, 2.404, 1.606 Gregory Gym — GRE 2.136A, 2.136B, 4.106, 4.108 Bernard and Audre Rapoport Building — BRB 4.106 Jackson Geological Sciences Building — JGB 4.16 Fine Arts Building — DFA 2.8 Performing Arts Center — PAC 2.234A, 2.230A Sid Richardson Hall — SRH 1.339

NORTH CAMPUS Near Dean Keaton Street

Student Services Building — SSB 1.404, 5.220 Chemical Petroleum Engineering — CPE 2.972 Division of Housing and Food Services — KIN 017C, 017D Carothers Dormitory — CRD 123B Walter Webb Hall — WWH 309 Robert Lee Moore Hall — RLM 2.104, 4.20 Cockrell School of Engineering — ECJ 8.5T1A

WEST CAMPUS West of Speedway

Flawn Academic Center — FAC 31 and 318 Mezes Hall — MEZ 1.302 Union Building — UNB 3.128 UT Tower — MAI 5.0 Battle Hall — BTL 112A McCombs School of Business — CBA 2.256 Music Building and Recital Hall — MRH 3.835

SOUTH CAMPUS South of 21st St

Perry-Castañeda Library — PCL 2.302, 2.304, 2.306, 2.308, 2.310 Recreational Sports Center — RSC 1.146 Jester Center — W0002B, W0103B, W0103C, W0201B, W0202B, M0102B Roberts Hall Dormitory — RHD H040B School of Social Work — SSW 3.206

27

Do the Women from Popular Reality Television Represent Reality?

KEEPING UP WITH 2016 Words by Nicole Farrell Illustration by Ryan Hicks

After the assault and robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris, the reality television show, “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” faced cancellation. Although cancellation does not seem likely at this point, questions arise with the possible cancellation of the show: Is it truly a reflection of our society, and how has reality television affected society in return?

Since the show’s premiere in 2007, the Kardashian

“I don’t do drugs, I hardly drink, I’ve never commit-

world has changed. The Kardashian patriarch rose

ted a crime—and yet I’m a bad role model for being

to fame after his defense of O.J. Simpson in the

proud of my body?” Kim wrote.

famous murder trial, and since then, his daughters have become brand ambassadors for others’ and

Mary Beltrán, a radio-television-film associate

their own ventures. Kim owns the spotlight, from

professor who studies celebrity culture, race rep-

fashion headlines to best-selling apps. Her younger

resentation in media and feminist film studies,

half-sister, Kylie Jenner, has become a style guru

describes Kim as “post-feminist,” meaning her focus

and captivates digital audiences with her Snapchat

is on on personal identity and empowerment. This

stories. Kendall Jenner, who is a prominent model,

brand of feminism is different than “third-wave fem-

partners with Kylie in clothing line collaborations.

inism,” which Beltrán explains as the more standard

Khloé Kardashian’s most recent venture is her

advocacy for broader legal and societal rights. “[A

size-inclusive, designer denim line, Good American.

post-feminist is] typically someone who feels very assertive and independent, but typically associates

Despite their successful businesses, some wonder

empowerment of women with individuals,” Beltrán

if they are “just famous for being famous.” In a

says. “[They say] ‘By working on my body and being

society that focuses on celebrity and controversy,

well-groomed and being confident, that means

Kardashian drama is often a small example of bigger

I means I am strong woman, and we don’t need to

issues. How does the Kardashian drama of the early

fight for feminism anymore.’”

2000s continue to fit into ever-evolving conversations about feminism, wealth and racial identity?

“Why can you not tell your daughter that it’s okay for a grown woman to be comfortable

FEMINISM

With continuing progress in intersectional feminism

with her own body and sexuality?”

and women’s rights, Kim Kardashian-West offers a

Beltrán further explains the label of post-feminist is

multi-faceted glimpse into an evolving public dis-

one placed on someone. Kim does not identify as a

course on feminism.

feminist. In a time when more and more celebrities are taking stances on feminist issues, Beltrán says

Kim’s stance on feminism was a hot topic this year,

this could impact how comfortable individuals feel

most notably when her nude Instagram selfie in

about the label, but it’s more personal than anything

March, captioned, “When you’re like I have nothing

else. When a prominent celebrity, such as a Kar-

to wear LOL,” went viral and garnered a variety of

dashian, renounces the label, it’s difficult to discern

responses, such as Chloe Grace Moretz’s lament of

the impact, according to Beltrán.

Kim’s hypersexualized example of womanhood to

29

young girls. Kim responded with her typical clap-

History sophomore Ashton Sauseda is a fan of the

back tweets, as well as an essay on her website.

Kardashians, but can separate her love for the drama

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from her concern about issues concerning the family.

as ethnic or do they see [them] as white?” Beltrán

When it comes to the term “feminist,” she doesn’t

says. “It does seem like the Kardashians, and now

judge celebrities for resisting the label. “I don’t think

the Jenners, seem to be looking for this appearance

people identify as ‘feminist’ in the industry, because

of ambiguity. They’re using plastic surgery in a way

it would put a target on their backs,” Sauseda says.

that’s probably increasing that appearance. Some-

“Misogyny is real. It’s nice and dandy to think we can

times it’s seen as a very attractive look. So it’s hard to

say this stuff, but people do get hell for saying that.”

say. Are they following Hollywood beauty standards?

Or are they deliberately trying to look ethnically

Sauseda recognizes the complex space in which

ambiguous?”

celebrities exist, and she says there is no way to “win” when it comes to celebrities representing

The Kardashians don’t fit into any

social issues, such as feminism or positive sexuality.

recognizable racial or ethnic identity, and

According to her, the public often expects celebrities

Sauseda believes this is part of what makes

to be role models, when the real responsibility falls on the parents to explain the actions of celebrities

their brand so “marketable.”

within moral frameworks they are comfortable with.

The Kardashians’ and Jenners’ plastic surgeries

“Why can you not tell your daughter that it’s okay for

and body enhancements contribute to this “ethnic

a grown woman to be comfortable with her own body

ambiguity,” but where the sisters are called “exotic,”

and her sexuality,” Sauseda asks. “It’s also not okay to

people of color are negatively stereotyped. The Kar-

be exploiting. Yes, it’s confusing, but there’s not clear

dashians don’t fit into any instantly recognizable

cut way to [deal with it]. People try to put women in a

racial or ethnic identity, and Sauseda believes this is

box all the time. Either you’re the Madonna or you’re

part of what makes their lifestyle brand so “market-

the whore.”

able.” Sauseda notes fuller lips are usually attributed to black and Latina women, and their presence is not

Allison Schaub, a civil engineering junior and fan of

often complimented. “[Kylie’s lips are] definitely not

“Keeping Up with the Kardashians” since its premiere,

a white feature,” Sauseda says. “That is Latina and

sees Kim as someone who emanates feminist ideals,

black. Straight up. But she still gets to have the rest of

even if she doesn’t claim the label. “I personally think

her Eurocentric features.”

that Kim is a feminist based on her business endeavors and the way she balances work life, family and an

Sauseda grew up in a predominantly white commu-

empire essentially,” Schaub says.

nity and recalls her and her classmates being mocked for their features, which are now praised in reference

RACIAL IDENTITIES

to the Kardashians and Jenners. “I remember in

The body type associated with the Kardashians, espe-

middle school and high school, boys saying to people

cially Kim and Khloé, versus the more traditional “tall

that were black from other schools, ‘That big lipped…’

model: super skinny and not really having a lot of

It’s not a compliment,” Sauseda says. “But she’s able

curves” body type of Kendall Jenner, was first nor-

to take it and reclaim it and make an empire off of

malized by Hollywood standards by Jennifer Lopez in

those lip kits? [She is able to] really commercialize

the 1990s, according to Beltrán, and the ability of the

this physical attribute that doesn’t belong to her.”

Kardashians to morph their appearance to fit trends, or perhaps create them, is part of their staying power.

Another issue that continues to rise in this evolving

“Typically this idea of a bigger butt has been related

identity of the Kardashians is their various hairstyles

to sexualizing women more and seeing them as sex

from the black community, such as cornrows and

objects than as talented performers,” Beltrán says.

bantu knots. The reactions to their Instagram photos are very different from when women of color sport

Beltrån knows audiences don’t view the Kardashians

these traditional hairstyles. Sauceda says that the

as African-American or Latina, but she knows “ethnic

Kardashians are on such a pedestal, that it seems like

ambiguity” plays a role in the appeal of the Kar-

a trend, when in reality, it’s been around for a long

dashian look. “Do [people] see [the Kardashians]

time.“ The cornrow

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KEEPING UP WITH 2016

thing, that frustrates me,” Sauceda says. “When Kylie

Simon acknowledges their business success but notes

does it, people are like ‘OMG, look at her cute braids!

that they had the initial resources that are often dif-

Here’s how to do it…’ They don’t acknowledge it at all.

ficult to obtain when beginning any venture. In this

It’s on E!, and I always think about Zendaya and the

way, their business success doesn’t seem as attain-

comments she received [when she wore dreads on

able and the women not as relatable. “Kendall and

the red carpet], that she looked like she smelled like

Kylie are the closest in age to us, and they’re not in

patchouli and all this bullshit. No one says anything

college,” Simon says. “They have a modeling career

when Kylie puts up a picture trying to imitate what

and a lipstick business. I wish I had a lipstick busi-

I think she has seen in her boyfriend Tyga’s videos.

ness.”

I think it’s fine to show off your body and use your Instagram for whatever you want it to be, but all this

Schaub believes that more often, this public display

credit being given to them on trends, I don’t think

of capital garners dislike. Additionally, older people

makes much sense.”

tend to look down on them because they are not accustomed to the openness the Kardashians and

Civil engineering senior Cara Simon thinks the Kar-

Jenners emanate. “Privacy and keeping their per-

dashians and Jenners do not have to deal with the

sonal life private is a very important value to a lot of

negative consequences of having these features as

people,” Schaub says. “I think it makes [some viewers]

part of a racial or ethnic identity. “They get all the

uncomfortable to see things so laid out and open and

praise for it, and none of the negative consequences,”

different from what they’re used to. There’s a certain

Simon says. “But I don’t think it’s their fault neces-

opulence that surrounds them.”

sarily. The same people who are born with theses traits are the same people who are praising the Kar-

This wealth creates distance from reality and the

dashians. Their life is just very different.”

stars of reality television. “Reality television is an oxymoron,” Sauseda says.

One of the common threads in the racially-focused discourse is that their fans don’t blame the

Despite the distance between audience and the

Kardashians and Jenners for the supposed appropri-

famous family who argue to make money, Beltrán

ation, even when they identify as women as color. “I

asserts the lasting place for similar programming in

don’t blame the Kardashians for a lot of the things

a shifting media landscape. “There are certainly avid

they do,” Sauseda says. “I think people get mad at

fan bases for reality shows still,” Beltrán says. “I think

them, instead of looking at the culture they reflect.”

it’s still seen as a fairly economical media form.”

In addition to financial stability, the story of the rich

EMPIRE

and glamorous isn’t a new phenomenon — it’s one

Beltrán says the fascination with the family, somtimes

that has persisted in all sorts of narratives. “I thought

culminating in dislike and accusations concerning

about it a lot when I read ‘The Great Gatsby’ in high

the legitimacy of their business success, are probably

school,” Sauseda says. “They really represent this

rooted in a dislike for a display of luxury. “I think the

nouveau riche — Americans love that.”

Kardashians seem to, in some ways, be especially fascinating to media consumers because they’re seen as

The Kardashians, at least on television, give the fans

conspicuously consuming and living what may seem

what they want, and that they may mean that reality

like a fantasy lifestyle,” Beltrán says.

television, well, may need to get more real. “Typically, they portray their best selves,” Simon says. “Reality TV

31

Simon thinks the initial interest in the show was a

shows have tried to get more real and focus on real

glimpse into a different lifestyle. “There was a fas-

issues, but especially when it first came out, it was all

cination with being around super wealthy people,”

about the perfection in their life and you don’t really

Simon says. “I grew up middle class. Everyone knows

see them having real issues and real people struggles.

rich people live a different life, but [the Kardashians

I think that’s the only time when they’re relatable…

are] really letting you in.”

but they’re growing more toward real issues.”

Favorite Kim Kardashian Moments of 2016 Words by Mia Uhunmwuangho

Nude Selfie

When Kim K posted a nude selfie on Twitter with the caption “nothing to wear LOL,” she broke the internet. While some interpreted the selfie as Kim expressing her sexualty and being body-positive, others weren’t so positive. The most notable negative comment came from actress Chloe Grace Moretz who chastised Kim for being a negative role model for young girls. Kim clapped back by pointing out that Chloe posed almost-nude in one of her recent Nylon covers.

Expose the Snake

I mean Taylor Swift. The long-time feud between Kanye West and Taylor Swift reached peak levels this year when the two celebrities fought over a line in Kanye’s song, “Famous.” He referred to Taylor Swift as a bitch, saying he made her famous and could probably still have sex with her. Taylor denied that she gave Kanye permission to include her in the song. After months of feuding, Kim K went on Snapchat to clear the air.

She posted videos of a phone conversation between Taylor and Kanye where Taylor approved the lyrics.

Kimojis

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “What would Kim do?” or “I wonder how Kim would feel about this,” your prayers have been answered. Kim released Kimojis, customized emojis of her and her family that capture all of your favorite Kardashian experiences. Now you have Kim K’s iconic crying face in the palm of your hand.

Black Lives Matter

Forbes Covergirl

After months of silence on police brutality, Kim finally spoke on the issue after the murders of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in June. She wrote a personal post on her website, where she publicly announced her support for Black Lives Matter.

Kim landed on the cover of Forbes Magazine for being one of 2016’s top earning moguls. According to Forbes, her video game app, “Kim Kardashian: Hollywood,” has been downloaded 45 million times, putting her earnings from the game at $160 million. Furthermore, when her Kimoji app was released, the mogul was making $1 million a minute.

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TOLERABLE

buzz

ANNOYING

WHY

The Types of Instagram Captions Ranked From Least to Most Annoying Words by Aiden Park Illustration by Ryan Hicks

Instagram can be a window into a friend’s vacation, innerlife and perhaps, their soul. The platform remains a staple in the ever-changing social media world. However, Instagram wouldn’t be its true self without eyeroll-inducing captions.

In this list, ORANGE ranked the eight types of Instagram captions from least to most annoying.

The Inside Joke

The inside joke is an effective way to be cute, cheeky and subtle at the same time. Inside jokes are often references to the person or people featured in the picture. As an outsider looking in, however, the inside joke can be forgettable and lack a meaningful impact. The caption only works for the people who understand the context. If you want to be sly, perhaps consider replacing the inside joke with the location towards the top of the picture.

The No-Show

What’s worse than an annoying caption? No caption.

While a picture may be worth a thousand words, some pictures require an explanation. For example, a captionless photo of a band performing would be ineffective. Who’s the band? Where were they performing? Your followers would love to know.

Captions are used to express what the image cannot.

Unless you’re Beyoncé, who notoriously posts pictures without captions, don’t leave your audience hanging.

Adding a hashtag or two can help your viewer know exactly what’s going on.

The Song Lyric

Song lyrics as Instagram captions are often as inescapable as the songs themselves. While the lyric caption may be common for teens everywhere, sometimes a song can say exactly what you’re feeling.

Occasionally, that perfect, angsty Lorde lyric sums up your entire photo in a few brilliantly-crafted lines.

The Emoji

Emojis can be cute, but not when used in excess.

When one uses a ton of emoticons, they start to lose meaning. There are only certain situations, like wishing someone a happy birthday, when more than two emojis are acceptable. For example, nothing is more perfect than a well-timed peach emoji.

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The Sub-Gram

It is totally acceptable to throw shade in the form of an avenging selfie with a sly, subtweet-like caption.

But when sub-grams take up the space of an entire feed, they become less interesting. Crafting a good sub-gram can be tricky. Whether your post is about a cheating ex, a falling-out with a friend or even a family member, be careful not to reveal too much.

Everyone likes a little dirty laundry, just not when it starts to stink.

The Dater

Adding a date to your Instagram caption is redundant.

Instagram already dates each picture for you, so there is no point in repeating it. Some may format their dates in different ways. For example, September 26, 2014 might look like 09262014, which requires your followers to think much more than needed when casually scrolling through the ‘Gram.

The Hungry for Hashtags

We get it. Hashtags are a way for strangers (or potential followers) to see your pictures. When used in excess, however, hashtags are unappealing. Be careful not to overdo it— one or two ironic hashtags is perfectly adequate. If you really want to use several hashtags, indent three to four times after your initial caption and place the hashtags there. Viewers will only be able to see the extension if they click the “view more” option.

The Trendy Slang

Being “shook” is a very valid emotion, but the word is already beginning to feel overused. “Shook” is not the first trendy word finding its place in Instagram vocabulary. The shortening of “very” to “v,” “lit” and “clutch” frequently appear in captions. Captions that include this kind of vocabulary are only received in two ways. On one hand, a trendy caption can either paint the person who posted the pic as effortlessly cool. On the other hand, it can add to the fatigue of 21st century lingo.

Words by Natalie Heineman Illustrations by Jesus Acosta

Mauricio Exiga will miss the biggest milestones of his little brother’s life— his first week of preschool, the terrible twos and his baptism. Each time Exiga sees his brother, the toddler grows taller and stronger.

EXIGA, A SECOND-YEAR computer science major, left his family home outside of Houston to attend the University of Texas at Austin, no easy feat for a first-generation college student. “My parents are excited about me being at college, but they’ve had trouble adapting,” Exiga says. “I’ve had to file my own FAFSA, send all my applications and now I’m taking care of anything important here.”

These are just some of the worries college students have to face each day. High tuition costs, complicated scholarship and housing applications and confusing health care systems, not to mention intrapersonal relationships, all top the list of issues millennials worry about, according to “The Guard-

House Speaker Joe Straus has expressed his desire to make college affordable, regardless of a family’s income, and many of the bills proposed also aim to reduce the price of higher education. S.B. 250 limits the rise of fees and tuition during any one academic year. H.B. 112 caps tuition costs. S.B. 32 aims to promote and restructure the Texas B-On-Time student loan program, which provides loans that students either may or may not have to pay back.

However, oil and gas tax revenue in the state has been down since the legislature met, which means less funding for public services. Bernard Weinstein, an economist at Southern Methodist University, estimates that the state will see a $5 billion decrease

ian.”

in revenue from what was predicted in the 2015

The last time the Texas State Legislature met, Exiga’s

cies to cut their budget requests by four percent.

brother was a baby, not able to walk or talk or even eat solid food. Two years later, in 2017, the state legislature will meet once again to discuss issues that

budget. Texas’ top elected officials asked state agenNot included in these four percent cuts, however, are agencies that aid Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s top priorities during the 85th Legislature. Patrick said in June

affect the state’s young people.

that he will push the state legislature to focus on

The Texas State Legislature meets once every two

welfare and mental health services.

funding for public education, border security, child

years for 140 days and last convened on June 1, 2015. The next session begins Jan. 13, 2017 and lasts until May 29, 2017. Bill filling began in mid-November and will continue until the start of the session.

It can be difficult to see how the 2017 Texas State Legislature will impact daily life, especially while sorting through bills that regulate live-streams of Texas Optometry board meetings or another bill that makes the Bowie knife the official knife of Texas.

However, many of the bills proposed will affect

in loans without fully knowing whether or not I’ll be able to pay it back.”

Other bills directly target women’s healthcare. H.B. 87 would make abortion illegal after 20 weeks, regardless of whether the fetus has a severe and irreversible defect. H.B. 410, sponsored by conservative republican Drew Springer, aims to ends the

young people for years to come.

tax on feminine hygiene products. The so-called

For most young people, the rising cost of higher

was vetoed by California’s democratic governor,

education and paying off student loans is a top priority. “I have to take out a good portion of money in loans without fully knowing whether or not I’ll be able to pay it back,” radio-television-film freshman James Treuthardt says. “Texas doesn’t really devote enough money to education.”

35

“I have to take out a good portion of money

“tampon tax” has been eliminated in New York, but creating uncertainty in the Texas State Legislature’s ability to pass the bill. “There shouldn’t be a tax on feminine hygiene products,” radio-television film sophomore Aishwarya Noubad says. “You can’t control your period, so these products aren’t a want.

They are a need.”

orange magazine

“In all honesty, Texas makes me feel like I’m constantly being judged or in some sort of danger.”

Like the bill to end the “tampon tax,” other bills will affect everyday life. Starting with safety, H.B. 391 alters the wording of the original campus carry bill, allowing public universities to establish rules limiting concealed carry. The original bill passed during the 2015 session allowed private universities to opt out of campus concealed carry, and this bill would allow public institutions of higher learning the same ability.

Since the last legislative session, same-sex marriage has been legalized in all 50 states. H.B. 96 would repeal the old anti-homosexual laws on the Texas books, which the Supreme Court of the United States found unconstitutional. This bill also removes all references to homosexuality as “not an acceptable lifestyle.” S.J.R. 16 repeals the Texas constitutional amendment that mandates marriage to be “the union of one man and one woman.” H.B. 225 would add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to anti-discrimination laws.

However, other bills are not as progressive. S.B. 242 mandates disciplinary action against any school district employee who does not disclose a student’s sexual or gender identity to the student’s parent. In October 2016, Gov. Greg Abbott pressured the Texas Supreme Court to prevent Houston city employee spousal benefits to same-sex spouses.

Exiga, who identifies as gay, is fearful that Texas will continue to oppress the LGBTQ+ community. “I have no doubt Texas will not repeal the amendment anytime soon,” Exiga says. “I lost most of my hope with this recent election. In all honesty, Texas makes me feel like I’m constantly being judged or in some

buzz

Religious freedom seems to worry some state legislators. H.B. 428 prevents a university from punishing a religious organization if they act in accordance with their values. This bill was filed a few weeks after the Young Conservatives of Texas chapter at UT held an “affirmative action bake sale” and UT President Gregory Fenves condemned the event. While the Young Conservatives of Texas are not a religious organization, the event garnered national news and sparked fear of religious or political persecution on campus.

Unless you are a political junkie, you might be tired of hearing about government elections. We voted for the president— can we stop talking about politics for a second?

The problem is, state legislatures are often ignored.

Voter turnout in the 2014 midterm election was at a historic low according to the United States Election Project. Just 36 percent of registered voters showed up at the polls to elect their representatives for the 84th Legislature. The 85th Legislature, however, occurs after a presidential election where voter turnout was at 46 percent, according to the Texas Tribune, meaning this session should more accurately reflect the wishes of the voters.

For young people, it is sometimes hard to see how the state legislature affects their lives. However, bills proposed during this legislative session influence tuition costs, healthcare, human rights and other topics that will affect lives for years to come. While bills making the Bowie Knife the official state knife may not have a personal impact, bills concerning LGBTQ rights and women’s health do. When the state legislature meets in January, be sure to keep up with all the changes taking place. One specific bill might affect you or your loved one.

sort of danger.”

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Illustration by Jesus Acosta

orange magazine

buzz

Sometimes, when you’re sitting on the couch sending the 35th snapchat of yourself using the toast filter, you start to wonder if there is a more constructive way to spend your time. Something more wholesome, something that harkens back to the days before sliding into DMs or memorializing Vine— something like cable television. However, much of it is geared towards an older generation, as they watch the screen with stickers on their remotes to indicate the most important buttons. So if you find yourself watching cable, whether it’s to “get back to your roots” or out of necessity in the doctor’s waiting room, ORANGE has rounded up a list of our favorite TV shows, often found on good old-fashioned cable networks.

Nicole Farrell — Any ’60s or ’70s re-runs

into the unknown and leaves viewers in awe. I will

transition from on-screen black-and-white to Tech-

remain astounded by the scientific mysteries it

Older people might watch these to remember the nicolor, but I grew up on these shows too. During my childhood summers, I would wake up early to watch shows like “I Dream of Jeannie,” “Bewitched,” “The Brady Bunch,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show,”

never tire of watching the show and will always explores. Viewers of all ages have enjoyed learning about the world through “NOVA.” Whatever topic is covered, I know I am in for a treat and an escape from normalcy when I sit down to watch the show.

“Green Acres,” “Bonanza” and “The Andy Griffith Show,” which only played on TV before 10 in the morning. I own all of the seasons of “Little House on the Prairie” in collector’s edition DVD packs. Watching these shows is like eating comfort food in your grandma’s house, wrapped in a tartan blanket.

Aiden Park — Antiques Roadshow

I admittedly get way too excited when I’m lucky enough to catch this precious gem on PBS. I’ve even forced my friends to watch an episode or two with me. Few things are better than watching the reaction of an old-timer learn their yellowed dishes are worth more than their car. The plush predictability of the series was always an after-school staple, and something I still hold very dear to my heart. I can’t help but wonder when the show will be available to stream on Netflix.

Natalie Heineman — Grace and Frankie

Two 70-year-old women divorce their husbands, room together in a beach house and start their own lube company? Sounds like my dream life. This Netflix show is a huge middle finger to Hollywood, where older female actresses are often tossed aside by age 40. “Grace and Frankie” stars Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda are some of the original queens of comedy, dating back to the 1980 comedy show “9 to 5” that started their friendship. Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston, made famous by two other shows old people like, “West Wing” and “Law & Order,” also star in this comedy that tackles real-life issues like gay relationships, ageism, racism, adoption, drug abuse and the modern family unit.

Guneez Ibrahim — Barefoot Contessa

Emma Whalen — Fixer Upper

Ina Garten is the epitome of the affluent upper class,

ment skills should not be underestimated. I will

cinematic gold. She spends her days cooking for

Chip and Joanna Gaine’s mystical home improvegraduate from college in a semester. Like many students, I have lofty ambitions of moving to New York, Australia, Los Angeles, Nashville or anywhere I want because I’m a young whipper-snapper like that.

After watching “Fixer Upper,” however, I suddenly have the urge to settle down with the husband and golden retriever I don’t have, and invest in some real estate with my imaginary money in a city I don’t like.

The show is that powerful.

Zoya Zia — NOVA

For decades, “NOVA” has showcased the brilliant and perhaps more troubling elements of the world we share. From volcanic eruptions and climate change to caves and dark holes, each episode delves

gracing the rest of us with droplets of culinary and the gay community of East Hampton, who, in turn, provide her with enough florals to fill 25 Michael Jackson funerals. In her free time, she drives to the local boulangerie for aged hazelnut wafers made from wheat plucked by Slovakian virgins during wartime. She is the one who worked as a White House staff member under Richard Nixon, and then created a multi-million dollar brand based on making the middle class feel bad about buying Tyson Chicken nuggets for their family. And how can we forget the fashion? Denim chambray? Side-swept bangs? Iconic. “Barefoot Contessa” is a timeless bottle of Italian vinaigrette, bringing together all demographics as they relate to the fact that none of them find her relatable.

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buzz

QUIZ

Which Cliché Austin Spot Are You?

MOSTLY A

Texas State Capitol The Capitol is a family-friendly zone that may feel stale at times, but remains charming nonetheless.

You are one scholarly, well-rounded individual who still likes to have a good time. While you may not

39

A B C D E

How would your friends describe you?

Studious Diva Reserved Unpredictable Instagram famous

A B C D E

What drink do you order with dinner?

Milk Margarita Water Iced Tea Craft beer made a local brewery

A B C D E

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

“You and Me” by Lifehouse “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child “Don’t Stop Believin” by Journey “Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance “The Great Escape” by Boys Like Girls

A B C D E

Pick the biggest snake: Those who do not believe in the US constitution Kylie Jenner An anaconda Taylor Swift Anyone who is not Bernie Sanders

A B C D E

What’s your favorite spot on campus?

The Tower Space 24 Twenty The Perry-Castañeda Library James Turrell’s Skyspace The Six Pack

A B C D E

The MVP of your grocery list: Fruits and Veggies Artisan Cheese Cold Cuts Pita Chips Quinoa

A B C D E

What’s your favorite album of 2016?

Teens of Denial by Car Seat Headrest Lemonade by Beyonce Purpose by Justin Bieber The Black by Asking Alexandria Blonde by Frank Ocean

be the most vocal or dramatic in your friend group, they will notice if you’re not there. At parties, you diplomatically discuss both Obamacare and the last season of the Bachelorette. Your current or future bae would be more than happy to bring you home to mom.

MOSTLY B

Irene’s

This brunch spot will fool everyone into thinking you live in a condo on South Congress, when in reality, that communal bathroom at Jester is home.

You are the definition of extra. When your friend asks you to take a photo of them on Sixth Street, you turn into a Vogue photographer. While some may find you a bit much, you try your best to keep everyone entertained.

MOSTLY C

I Love You So Much Wall Ah, the most photographed wall in Austin, where tourists pose to impress their Instagram followers.

However, don’t be surprised if a follower comments “basic” beneath your photo. Jokes aside, you are definitely a go-with-the-flow, down-to-earth type of individual. While some may see you as a people pleaser, a kind heart is what you value most. No one will ever complain about your company.

MOSTLY D

Graffiti Park Once-rebellious teens can exercise their desires at this Baylor Street attraction to still feel like a delinquent. In middle school, your biggest dream was going to Warp Tour. While you may have thrown away the studded Hot Topic belt you begged your mom to buy, the emo in you has blossomed into a thriving young individual who still knows all the words to that one Motion City Soundtrack song.

MOSTLY E

Austin City Limits At some point, we’ve all bragged to our high school friends about this popular festival during our first winter break home. You try your best to follow the trends. Free yoga at Whole Foods? Already in the planner. Bey Day at Barbarella? RSVP’ed on Facebook three months ago. Camel spotted on Interstate 35 again? Your Instagram post already has 28 likes. You are not vain. You just try to keep yourself entertained, and it does not hurt if everyone knows.

orange magazine

food + drink

Tag Yourself: Pastries Edition Go through this list of characteristics of our favorite Austin desserts to see what dessert matches your personality.

Almond Croissant

Triple Berry Pie

Sprinkle-Covered Banana

EASY TIGER BAKERY- 709 E. 6TH ST.

SWEET MAMA’S BAKERY- 1905 S. 1ST ST.

BANANARCHY-701 E 53RD ST.

• Seems mature, but secretly a kid

• Full of themselves

• Probably bites into Kit Kats instead

• Messy

• Sarcastic

• Doesn’t care about their looks

• Can reinvent themselves every day

• Shy at first, but becomes your best

• Put together in most aspects of

friend once you get to know them

their life

of breaking them apart • Will drag you go across town in the middle of the night to get snacks • Just wants to have fun • Is there for you in your time of need

Cinnamon Roll

Chocolate Orange Peel Gelato

Baklava

BRIBERY BAKERY - 1900 SIMOND AVE. #300

DOLCE NEVE - 1713 S 1ST ST.

SARAH’S GRILL - 5222 BURNET RD. #500

• Gives the best hugs

• Sexy

• Soft

• Holds you accountable for those 3 a.m.

• Goes against the norms, trendsetter

• Cries easily

• Extra

• Wants to live in the countryside with

online shopping sprees • Would fight but ends up crying

• Too cool for you

• Too pure and good, you wonder how

• Will lead you to do crazy things

you are lucky enough to know them

some sheep and own a small cottage • Always smells divine and comforting • Twinkling laughter

• Loves puns

40

Austin Organizations Work to Combat Food Waste Words by London Gibson Illustration by Ryan Hicks

orange magazine

TWO HATCHBACKS back up to the loading dock.

A few people, wrapped in warm clothing in the crisp morning air, knock on the door to the loading dock and say something to the people inside. The large metal overhead door opens up at a crawling place and the people enter, emerging with cardboard boxes. They line up the boxes, organize them into two sections and then start filling up the backs of their cars, making space to cram the boxes. Once the cars are loaded and all the boxes are taken care of, they

food + drink

the population— about 150,000 people — is still food insecure. Those that are food insecure depend on groups like Keep Austin Fed to reallocate would-be wasted food from landfills to hungry stomachs.

Emlea Chanslor, a public information officer for Austin Resource Recovery, says the city will be taking additional steps in the next few years to prevent food waste. The Universal Recycling Ordinance was put into action by the city this year and will require large

close the doors to their hatchbacks and drive away.

food businesses to limit their food waste by either

If you were to look closer at this scene, you’d be able

Oct. 1 for some businesses and will expand over the

to see that each and every box is filled to the brim with food.

composting it or donating it. This program started on next two years.

“There is no reason for people to

Keep Austin Fed is a local volunteer organization

be hungry or to be limited to processed,

that takes food that would otherwise be thrown out

convenience store food. I think good nutrition

by grocery stores or other food businesses and trans-

is a basic human right.”

ports it to food shelters and food banks throughout the city. According to volunteer and trainer Julie Webb, the purpose of Keep Austin Fed is “to get good

In addition to the Universal Recycling Ordinance, the Austin City Council also approved a program for

nutrition to the people who need it.”

curbside composting collection, which would allow

Webb has volunteered with Keep Austin Fed for over

for pickup along with their garbage and recycling.

two years. She became interested in the organization after she read about it in a newspaper article. Immediately after, she joined as a volunteer. “I’d long felt

Austin citizens to put composting out on the street “For [single-family homes] we did a study, and we learned that about 46 percent of what’s going into the landfill could have been composted,” Chanslor

that food waste was absolutely immoral,” Webb says.

says. The pilot program for the curbside collection

Around 50 to 60 active volunteers work to “rescue”

mented city-wide.

40,000 pounds of food per month in the city. The rescued food goes directly to Austin citizens that need it. Webb said that one in seven people experience food insecurity, lack access to affordable food.

Keep Austin Fed solves one problem with another:

is already in place, and will expand until it is imple-

Even though preventative measures like those in Austin exist across the country, a serious food waste problem still exists in the United States.

using food waste to relieve food insecurity.

About 40 percent of the food produced in the U.S. is

“There is no reason for people to be hungry or to be

a report by the University of Arizona. This amounts

limited to processed, convenience store food,” Webb says. “I think good nutrition is a basic human right.”

According to a 2012 Food Policy report, the average American wastes about $390 worth of food annually.

The most recent census from 2015 estimates the population of Austin to be around 930,000.This means that Austin citizens, on average, waste roughly $360

thrown away before it reaches the table, according to to $165 billion a year — money that could be going towards feeding the 42.2 million Americans that remain food insecure.

The numbers are daunting, but it is possible for Austinites to make an impact. Average citizens can’t do anything about the waste accumulating in grocery stores or restaurants, but they do have the power to

million of food every year.

change the waste that happens in their own home.

Although the city of Austin loses millions of dollars in

One of the largest factors leading to wasted food is

uneaten food every year, the Austin government said in a Travis County report on hunger that 16 percent of

over-shopping. Grocery shoppers that pile their carts high with fruits and vegetables often end up buying

42

Although the issue will not be resolved soon, Austin is beginning to take hold of controlling food waste in the city. more than they will feasibly eat in a week. Produce is

Food banks like the Capital City Food Bank and

one of the foods with which grocery shoppers should

volunteer services like Keep Austin Fed are always

be the most careful with due to their shorter shelf

looking for extra donations and extra hands — as

lives - and with large packaging sizes, it’s easy for

well as extra awareness. Even if you can’t volunteer,

someone to bite off more than they can chew.

drawing attention to food waste is a step in the right direction. “Word of mouth is just the best way we

Jordan Figueiredo, the founder of the @Ugly-

have of getting the word out,” Webb says.

FoodAndVeg social media campaign, works to raise awareness of food waste in the home and across the

Although the issue will not be resolved soon, Austin

nation. One of the biggest causes of food waste, he

is beginning to take hold of controlling food waste

said, is ugly produce. Shoppers don’t want to buy

in the city. Organizations like Keep Austin Fed, indi-

produce that looks unappealing, and stores don’t

viduals like Figueiredo and new city policies are

want to display it, so it often goes to the landfill.

calling attention to food waste in the hopes that their

Figueiredo’s “fun activist” campaign encourages

impacts will make a difference in how the nation

buying supposedly ugly produce in proportional

treats its food.

amounts and storing it correctly.

The hatchbacks pull up behind another building, but The act of buying groceries can influence food waste,

this time, it’s just a plain door in an alleyway. The

but so can cooking a proportional amount. Cooking

people get out again, and they start to unload all of

an excess of food means that edible, healthy food is

the boxes, handing them off one by one to the people

thrown away that could have been saved and eaten

inside. Once all of the boxes are unloaded, the food

later. Sometimes leftovers get a little too old to eat,

is unpacked and distributed to the hungry, the food

but food that’s expired past salvation can always be

insecure and the down on their luck.

used for composting.

The people climb back in their hatchbacks and drive Storing food correctly is important to preventing it

away as if nothing has changed. But inside the build-

from expiring before it can be consumed. However,

ing, for the people receiving a full meal for the first

expired food does not necessarily mean unusable

time in a week, everything has changed.

food: some recipes incorporate old or expiring produce, and food past edibility can always be sent to the compost pile.

There are several composting options available for Austinites with leftover food including Compost Pedallers. Compost Pedallers is a bike-powered company that collects compost from homes and businesses and later transports it to urban farms and gardens around the city.

43

orange magazine

food + drink

FOOD WASTE RECIPE Crispy Sesame Brussels Sprouts and Broccoli Stalks

Have you ever noticed how many parts of veggies are usually tossed veggies? Carrot tops, avocado pits, cilantro stems, broccoli stalks - the list is endless. You may decide to throw produce away because it has gone slightly bad. Maybe your avocado is a little too brown for your liking, your spinach has wilted or your zucchini is too soft.

By salvaging typically discarded food scraps and nearly-gone-bad veggies, you can create some seriously mouth-watering recipes. This food waste recipe pairs broccoli stems and slightly soft Brussels sprouts to create a killer snack.

Ingredients

Directions

For the veggies

Preheat oven to 375ยบF and line a baking sheet with

1 cup broccoli stalks, peeled and sliced into coins

foil.

1.5 cups brussels sprouts, chopped into quarters

In a bowl, add broccoli stalks and brussels sprouts.

1 tablespoon sesame oil

Add sesame oil, soy sauce, olive oil, and lemon juice

2 tablespoons soy sauce

to the bowl, and stir until veggies are fully coated.

1.5 tablespoons olive oil

Spread broccoli stalks and brussel sprouts on a

1 tablespoon lemon juice

baking sheet and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Bake for 20-25 minutes, until stalks and sprouts are crispy.

For the dipping sauce

While veggies are baking, prepare the dipping sauce.

1/3 cup cashews, soaked in boiling water for 30

Combine all sauce ingredients in a food processor or

minutes

blender, and blend until fully combined and creamy,

2 tablespoons soy sauce

for about two minutes.

1 garlic clove

When veggies are cooked and sauce is blended com-

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

plete, dip crispy stalks and sprouts into sauce and

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

enjoy!

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food + drink

Rejuvinating Brunch Recipes You know that feeling you get when you realize your weekend is almost over? All you want to do is stay in bed or enjoy your morning coffee while catching up on your favorite TV show.

To have a rejuvenating morning that will fill your kitchen with a delicious aroma, here are a few breakfast recipes that will also let you make the most of your Sunday.

Recipes by Ali Garza Photos by Ashley Ephraim

Chocolate Cinnamon Quinoa Bowl Ingredients: 2 tablespoons cocoa powder 1 cup quinoa 1 banana 6 blueberries 1/4 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1/4 cup of milk 1 tablespoon maple syrup 1 pinch of sea salt

Instructions: For quinoa, follow instructions on package. Add cocoa powder to quinoa when put to boil. Mix in.

When quinoa is complete, add milk and stir. Reduce the temperature to a simmer. Mix in maple syrup and cinnamon and transfer to a bowl.

Top with bananas, blueberries, and a sprinkle of sea salt. Enjoy!

Stuffed Breakfast Sausage Bell Peppers Ingredients: Four cheese rice (the brand) 4 bell peppers 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese 8 links of breakfast sausage 2 cups of diced white onion 2 cups spinach 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 cups diced tomatoes

Instructions: Prepare rice according to package instructions. contd. →

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Stuffed Breakfast Sausage Bell Peppers contd. →

Place sausage links on medium skillet and cook for 15 minutes, until browned. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Boil water in a medium-sized pot. Cut off the tops of the bell peppers and remove the seeds and the core.

Place peppers in pot to boil for 5 minutes, making sure the bell peppers are fully submerged under the water. Drain bell peppers.

In a saucepan, add olive oil, chopped onion and cooked sausage.

Cook for 8 minutes, until onion is golden brown.

Turn off the heat, and add cooked rice to the saucepan. Mix until fully combined.

Place bell peppers in a baking dish and fill with the sausage rice mixture. Sprinkle with shredded cheese.

Place foil over peppers and bake for 30 minutes. Enjoy!

Two Ingredient Banana Pancakes Ingredients: 1 banana 2 eggs 1 tablespoon of baking powder 1 teaspoon of Vanilla extract 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips Bar of unsalted butter coconut oil spray

Instructions: Heat stovetop to medium heat.

Smash bananas in bowl. Mix in the eggs.

Add a pinch of baking powder. Add vanilla extract, if you want some sweetener. Spray coconut oil on pan then pour pancake batter. Add chocolate chips. Top with banana slices and butter. Enjoy!

Tomato Spinach Breakfast Skillet Ingredients:

Instructions:

8 small yellow potatoes 2 tablespoons of olive oil 2 eggs 1 tablespoon of green salsa 1 cup of diced tomatoes 1 cup of spinach A pinch of salt A pinch of black pepper 1 cup of goat cheese

For quinoa, follow instructions on package. Add cocoa powder to quinoa when put to boil. Mix in.

When quinoa is complete, add milk and stir. Reduce the temperature to a simmer. Mix in maple syrup and cinnamon and transfer to a bowl. Top with bananas, blueberries, and a sprinkle of sea salt. Enjoy!

DIRTY MARTIN’S

Austin Legend Celebrates 90 Years of Service Story By Collyn Burke

Photos by Ashley Herr

orange magazine

food + drink

THERE IS AN OLD WHITE BUILDING down on Guadalupe Street, worn down by age, dust, and the wear and tear of 90 years of customers. This is Dirty Martin’s Place. In 1926, John Martin opened Martin’s Kum-Bak, a simple burger joint which would later take on the iconic name “Dirty Martin’s Place.” A car hop drive-thru, eight proud barstools and the gravel “dirty” floors gave the restaurant its nickname, Dirty’s, and created an authentic and welcoming environment on Guadalupe Street close to the University of Texas at Austin.

This year, Dirty Martin’s will celebrate its 90th birthday. “It’s a really historic place,” Dirty Martin’s general manager Daniel Young says. “One of the oldest buildings [close to] campus.”

As Austin evolved over the years, so did Dirty’s. The restaurant replaced its “dirty” floors with concrete ones, indoor seating was created and eventually the quaint tavern next door turned into an extra seating area. The building evolved and the owners changed but the food stayed delicious and the restaurant remained a family. “There’s not another place like it in the world,” Young says. “It’s very much a family.”

Young, who has served as the general manager of Dirty Martin’s for the past 14 months, says a majority of the staff has been working at the restaurant for over a decade, and are a second family. The homey environment draws customers back time after time.“I talk to a lot of people everyday,” Young says. “A lot of them have been coming here with their families for years.”

The history of Dirty Martin’s is almost as impressive as the food. Dirty’s has been awarded a number of credits including “Hamburger America,” George Motz’s guide to America’s greatest hamburgers. In its 90 years of operation very few things about the menu have changed, except for a few additions like quesadillas, the turkey burger, chili, queso and the cheeseburger salad. With unique crowd-pleasers like the “O.T. Special,” a double-meat cheeseburger with mayo, lettuce and tomato, the food is sure to make you “Kum-Bak.” “It tastes homemade,” UT senior Jaime Villarreal says. “If you can give me food that tastes close to the food I’m used to at home,

Since Dirty Martin’s is in such close proximity to UT, the restaurant has made its own mark on the university and its students. Both the interior and exterior of the establishment are sprinkled with UT memorabilia and the beloved burnt orange color, documenting the long history between UT and Dirty Martin’s. As more students started flooding in, the building was extended and TVs were installed in the back rooms, making Dirty’s a prime location for football watch parties.

“Dirty’s is definitely a UT Austin staple,” Villarreal says. “You can always rely on it having great food, great service and great people around when stopping by.”

Dirty Martin’s has been a part of campus life for 90 of the university’s 135 years, and the restaurant is considered a focal point of West Campus living.

While Dirty’s has changed, the menu, warm environment, and overall quality has not. “The staff, from the servers to the cooks, care about your enjoyment of the food and always put their best food forward,” Villarreal says.

No one can for sure say where Dirty Martin’s will be in 90 years, but with good food, happy faces, and the love of students, faculty, and alumni alike, one could be pretty optimistic.

you can count on me going back.”

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The History of Dirty Martin’s

1926

John Martin opens Martin’s Kum-Bak

1930

Martin’s Kum-Bak officially changes its name to Dirty Martin’s Place

1940

John Martin sells the restaurant to Charles Nemir, who bought a majority of the land in the Guadalupe area

1951

The dirt floors that gave the restaurant its affectionate nickname are replaced with concrete ones

1954

Cecil Pickens buys the restaurant from Charles Nemir and goes on to own it for over thirty years Best-sellers like the “O.T. Special” and the “D.H. Special” are added to the menu

49

1957

The Friendly Tavern, which serves alcohol and other bar staples, moves into the building next door

1965

The walls are brought down: Dirty Martin’s acquires The Friendly Tavern, and conjoins the buildings to make more seating for customers

1989

Mark Nemir buys the restaurant from Cecil Pickens

1993

Dirty Martin’s is featured in the hit film “Dazed and Confused”

1998

Fan-favorite fry cook Will Colvin joins the staff. Although he only planned to work at the restaurant for 90 days, he goes on to work there for 18 years

2003

Beloved waitress Margie Braddock retires after nearly 30 years of service

2016

Dirty Martin’s celebrates 90 years of good food and Austin history

orange magazine

food + drink

KRAB Words by Ali Garza Photos courtesy of The Kileen Daily Herald

ORDER 18 ACCOMPANIED the smell of the deli-

cious meal I was about to enjoy. The meal included a never-ending box filled with two steamed crab legs.

Underneath were several boiled potatoes topped with basil. To add to this meal was a golden brown corn on the cob and a link of smoky sausage, everything lathered in butter. This is what I saw when I ordered one of the mouthwatering options on Krab Kingz’s food truck menu.

The founding owner of Krab Kingz is from Florida, where, according to Austin owner Jimmy Palmer, there are crab shacks everywhere. This sparked a unique idea for crab-to-go and provide something different to the Austin area. “It’s all barbecue, tacos and burgers, but no one has shrimp and crab,” Palmer says. Krab Kingz crawled its way to Austin in September of this year.

Kiara Smith, an Austin local, says she enjoyed her first bite of Krab Kingz’s special and wanted her whole family to try it as well. “This meal has everything from crab legs to shrimp, along with perfectly paired sides,” Smith says. “If you don’t want to decide between crab and shrimp you can basically try them both in one.”

Not only does this Austin food truck attract locals who enjoy seafood, but it also brings people from out of town. Jaime Garcia is from San Antonio and heard about Krab Kingz’s from a friend. “He knew I liked seafood so much he thought it would be the perfect place to try,” Garcia says.

The Southern-styled seafood truck gives you the choice of king crab, shrimp or both. The shrimp pasta plate is available on Fridays and Saturdays only.

Some of the bigger sides are a boiled egg, extra crab cluster, sausage or corn. Besides the typical butter, sauces include extra butter, cajun or spicy.

Don’t get too crabby if you can’t find the food truck right away. When you turn on Blackson Street, the bright red food truck is around the corner from the white store beside it. Traffic and parking isn’t much of a worry - the truck is stationed in an open area, with choices to park either in the store parking lot or on the side of the street. The only days that they are not stationed in this area are Monday, Tuesday, and Sunday.

Serving crab on the street is not a common sight.

Crab lovers are used to getting served their steamed and butter soaked crab at indoor restaurants. Having this option for a nice meal in the typical Austin styled food truck is unfamiliar. This unfamiliarity is what gives Austin its famous personality. It is nice to add this new and out of the ordinary food truck to our long list of Austin’s famously known food trucks.

50

Pizzageddon

GU AD AL UP

E ST

MO

PA C

A Map of Austin’s Pizza Battlefield

R T IN

LU T

HER

K IN

GJ R.

B LV

D

RED

ST

CO

NG

RES

S A VE

W 6 TH

R IV

ER

ST

N L A

MA

R B L

VD

MA

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UT

E 7 TH

Words by Nafisa Rumman Gazi Illustration by Ryan Hicks

ST

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WALK

COST

GLUTEN FREE

food + drink

VEGAN OPTIONS

ONLINE ORDERING

DELIVERY

1. Via 313 Pizza Seating: Limited outdoor seating next to sidewalk.

Atmosphere: Sophisticated grown-ups eating pizza on a casual evening.

Our Favorite: The Cadillac has gorgonzola, fig preserves, prosciutto di parma, parmesan and balsamic glaze. You’ll savor every bite with this dish as you explore each component of flavor.

2. Salvation Pizza Seating: Large shaded patio with space heaters.

Atmosphere: The place to chill as you catch your breath late night adventuring around town.

Our Favorite: The #7 is deservingly in the top ten list on their menu, and our go-to order. It has fresh basil, feta, artichoke hearts, black olives and red onion.

3. Conan’s Pizza Central Seating: Indoor booth seating only.

Atmosphere: The pizza hole you’d expect your parents to tell you college stories about.

Our Favorite: Eat your heart out without any regrets by getting The Supreme Veggie, topped

BIKE

with tomato, pineapple, green peppers, onion, mushroom black olive, jalapeno and garlic.

4. Frank and Angie’s Seating: Patio overlooking Shoal Creek.

Atmosphere: A laid-back diner run by your grandparents.

Our Favorite: The Longopelli has a beautiful color and tastes authentic with mozzarella, sal-

DISTAN CE FRO M UT C AM PUS

sa, pesto, tomatoes, red onion, green bell pepper, black olives and pecorino romano cheese.

5. Quattro Gatti Ristorante e Pizzeria Seating: Limited seating next to sidewalk.

Atmosphere: A replica of a romantic Italian restaurant where you’d want to get proposed to.

Our Favorite: Simple dishes like the Marinara Pizza are cooked to perfection with marinara sauce, organic oregano, and garlic.

6. Lucky’s Puccias Seating: Indoor only.

Atmosphere: The place where you meet your friends on a rainy day to people watch.

Our Favorite: The Rustica’s ingredients are so fresh, you’ll wonder if they grow their own garden of mixed greens, mozzarella, peppers, mushrooms, red onion and artichoke pesto.

7. Hoboken Pie Seating: Outdoor seating. Limited number of tables indoors.

Atmosphere: Full of young, thrifty yet money-conscious consumers.

Our Favorite: Get a taste for the mediterranean without hurting your wallet by ordering the

DRIVE

Mediterranean Pizza with spinach, artichoke hearts, feta and kalamata olive.

8. East Side Pies Seating: Limited indoor seating only.

Atmosphere: A hole in the wall you miraculously found while walking along the train tracks.

Our Favorite: Try a slice made with one of their many sauces like carrot or spinach curry.

You’ll be able to tell that the ingredients are bought fresh from local farmers.

9. Spartan Pizza Seating: Indoor bar-style seating.

Atmosphere: They know you’ll be a regular customer soon, so they treat you like one.

Our Favorite: The Apollo will make you sing hymns as you savor its rich herbed ricotta with kalamata olives, artichoke, roasted garlic spread, fresh spinach and mushroom.

10. Numero 28 Seating: Sidewalk patio.

Atmosphere: An upscale place where you can relax with your significant other.

Our Favorite: Get The Tartufo, an inexpensive truffle oil pizza with mozzarella, mushrooms and truffle oil.

52

THE FACTORY From the flashing light bulb on the outside sign to the swinging chairs that mesmerize your mind, it’s modernized feeling and their unique drink choices makes it something special.

WORDS BY ALI GARZA PHOTOS BY MALAYNA ELLIS

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food + drink

THE FACTORY is a coffee shop everyone must try. The Marymint Monroe, one of the coffee shop’s well-known drinks, is a mixture of refreshing mint and sweet coffee.

Another coffee delight, the matcha latte is the right drink for anyone wanting a different flavor profile. It’s significant, natural, sweet taste is one that will never make you feel guilty for more than one cup. So, what could make this gem better? Waffles! The cafe serves a variety of waffle creations, including the Go Nuts Waffle, a fluffy yet crispy waffle topped with smooth almond butter and slices of strawberries and bananas.

You can check out this coffee shop to focus or ease your stress away. It might not be the best place to study, but it provides an atmosphere for a good pick-me-up.

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food + drink

WINTERTIME DRINKS IN AUSTIN

Even though it barely reaches 45 degrees here in Texas during the winter months, Austin has no shortage of hand-warming, body-thawing drinks.

ORANGE’s Food + Drink staff has put together a roundup of our favorite hot drinks to stay cozy this winter season. So next time the temperatures hit “Texas freezing,” warm yourself up with any of these toasty drinks.

Illustrations by Bryant Ju

Alyssa Arnold Amy’s Ice Cream - Hot Chocolate Winters in Austin might be on the warmer side, but that is no reason to skip out on hot chocolate. Amy’s Ice Creams has an eclectic vibe that is quintessentially Austin. Each of the 13 locations has a retro style with the flavors written on a large chalkboard and the employees are always performing tricks with the ice cream scoops. Amy’s Ice Creams might be famous for their ice cream, but the hot chocolate is my favorite winter treat. Made with homemade hot chocolate mix and a giant homemade Mexican vanilla marshmallow, it is the perfect drink to wrap your hands around on a chilly Austin day.

Illustration by Jesus Acosta

55

Ali Garza Zhi Tea - Masala Chai Zhi Tea is a room full of relaxation. Take in the smell of brewing tea while you browse their selections.

The Masala Chai is perfect for crisp winter nights.

This special is different from the Chai we are used to. It includes a mixture of the traditional cinnamon chai taste with a surprise of ginger, cardamom and vanilla. This tea brings warmth to your body and your taste buds. It will also help keep your hands warm on those brisk drives home. Add a bit of honey for sweetness and you will have the best companion for relaxation.

Andrea Cos Lucky Lab - Bourbon Fig Latte Coffee, dogs and coffee shops are what makes the world go ‘round, and Lucky Lab Coffee has mastered this philosophy. Lucky for us, they understand that there is nothing better than the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the loyal love only a dog can offer. Their coffee truck, created in honor of their four labrador retrievers, offers a wide array of seasonal beverages and pastries. It’s a coffee lover’s dream come true, all boiled down and packaged in a small bundle of joy. This season, be adventurous and try one of their made-from-scratch featured creations- the bourbon fig latte. This classic is made with a delicious combination of locally sourced ingredients, including fresh sweet figs infused with bourbon.

Collyn Burke Mozart’s - Buttered Pecan and Dirty Chai Latte Mozart’s has gained fame in Austin over the past two decades for their stunning lakeview, special holiday light show, and coffee. The buttered pecan and dirty chai latte, one of many hot creations, combines all the best tastes of the holiday season.

Mixing the taste of pecan pie with the richness of espresso and the cinnamon spiciness of chai, the buttered pecan and dirty chai latte is basically pumpkin spice latte’s hotter older sister. The buttery taste of the pecan pie marries so sweetly with the

spicy chai flavors and breaking bite of espresso.

You’ll never want to think of another overrated holiday drink again. Bonus perk: if you grab your latte in December, you can stay and watch Mozart’s infamous light show.

London Gibson Halcyon - Caramel Hot Chocolate There’s nothing better than a cup of warm hot chocolate in between your hands on a cold wintery day.

We don’t get very many cold, wintery days in Austin, but that doesn’t stop hot chocolate from being my go-to winter drink. Halcyon, a coffeehouse/bar/ lounge on Fourth Street has some of the best, most creative hot chocolate in Austin. They have three main flavors: peanut butter, caramel and Mayan, a cinnamon and spice blend. I’m a sucker for all things caramel, so that’s my usual pick. Smooth, thick, creamy and just the right level of sweet, this hot chocolate is so good that it’s hard to stop myself from buying one whenever a cold front rolls into town.

Nafisa Gazi Easy Tiger - Chocolate Orange Truffle Tea Now that the holidays are coming up, I know I can find my favorite holiday edition chocolate-covered candied oranges. It’s a shame that they aren’t sold all year long but I’m glad Easy Tiger Bakery has a close substitute for me. Their Chocolate Orange Truffle Tea is just as decadent as the actual treat.

The bakery is widely known for the variety of breads and pastries served but the place also looks like it came straight out of a Charles Dickens book. The beer garden overlooks a small creek and while you sip on your coffee, you can listen to the peaceful sound of the nearby waterfall. Since I’m not a fan of coffee or tea, I usually opt for a hot chocolate.

However, the Chocolate Orange Truffle Tea turned out to be my replacement for hot chocolate. It’s a perfect blend of smooth chocolate with bursts of orange. The drink is sweet enough on its own to be considered a dessert. I recommend having this with a slice of breakfast bread from the bakery, like a cranberry walnut or a plain croissant.

56

Bee The Change A Look into the Importance of the Honey Bee

Words by Andrea Cos Photos courtesy of Anna Gieselman Illustration by Ryan Hicks

Where would we be without honey bees? For just one second, think about a world without them. A world without bees means a world without fruits, vegetables, coffee, cotton or denim. Imagine a world with diminishing landscapes, a grey world with no green. This world would be incomplete. We may not go extinct without our honey bees, but it would definitely sting.

For the past seven years, Anna Gieselman has kept

just the last six years, 30 percent of the national bee

beehives filled with swarming honey bees in the

population has disappeared and nearly one-third

backyard of her house— right in the middle of North

of all bee colonies in the United States have died

Austin. She is an urban beekeeper, dedicated to culti-

according to the Centre for Research on Globaliza-

vating healthy hives in the city as a way to save honey

tion. This collapse in the honey bee population is

bees.

known as Colony Collapse Disorder and has been declared an urgent crisis by the Department of Agri-

Honey bees are not officially considered an endan-

culture. “We are seeing an increase in colony collapse

gered species, but their numbers are decreasing. In

for a variety of reasons,” says Lance Wilson, area

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food + drink

wouldn’t be able to maintain the crops we have without them.”

Honeybees pollinate more than 100 crops in the United States, Gieselman says. They are responsible for pollinating 70 percent of the fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts we consume on a daily basis. director of the Texas Beekeepers Association. He says a combination of factors are resulting in honey bee colonies collapsing— among them a lack of adequate nutrition and an increased exposure to toxins and pesticides.

Saving the bees has become a global concern that has led to an increase in the number of urban beekeepers. These buzzworthy heroes have emerged to foster healthy hives in urban settings. Ultimately, an urban beekeeper’s purpose is to make the bee population more robust and healthy. “Urban beekeeping is great because it’s making the bee population stronger,” says Karl Arcuri, co-organizer of the Austin Area Beekeepers Association. “Small scale beekeepers are not seeing a lot of colony collapse because they’re able to give their hives more personal attention.”

Even beef and dairy products would suffer if bees disappeared because pollinators are essential to most of the crops that feed cattle. “Without bees, our diets would consist mostly of corn, wheat and rice,” Gieselman says.

Wilson says that if honeybees were to disappear, the main consequence would be a change in our agricultural system, and we would have to invest millions of dollars making up for their loss.

“Without the honeybee, we wouldn’t be able to meet the agricultural demand for almonds, blueberries, apples, cranberries or any crop dependent on their pollination,” Wilson says. “It would have an immediate effect on our diets.”

There’s a whole lot more to bees than just food: they pollinate 90 percent of our wild landscapes. “If you take away bees, most of our trees and our natural landscape plants — not just food but just regular plants — won’t have pollination,” Gieselman says.

“This would affect our environment in ways we probably couldn’t come back from.”

“Urban beekeeping is great because it’s making the bee population stronger.”

In addition, beekeepers raise awareness about the importance of bees. “The increase in the number of urban beekeepers has helped educate the community and bring home the impact we’d face if we lost them,” Arcuri says.

Gieselman, the urban beekeeper and local artist, began her quest to save the bees in 2009 as a way of improving her yields as a gardener. Now she manages an urban apiary in order to teach people about beekeeping and help save the bees. “As I started reading more about them, I learned that they were dying, and so then I just got more interested in saving them,” Gieselman says. “The implications are huge considering most of our fruits and vegetables need bees. We

Aside from being an urban beekeeper, Gieselman is also a local artist. She created her jewelry company, Bee Amour, as a tribute to her bees. Her pieces are inspired by bees and the shape, color and texture of her hives. Every purchase people make supports the local artist while helping her mission to save the bees.

In 2015, Bee Amour partnered with Milk + Honey Spa to open an urban apiary. They set up four hives atop Wright Bros. Brew and Brew and six more on Bee Cave Road. The apiary serves as a way to teach people about beekeeping and cultivate healthy hives.

“We’re doing our part to help save the bees,” Gieselman says. “In the end, things wouldn’t be very good for humans if we lost them.”

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orange magazine

food + drink

There is no shortage of killer vegan food in Austin. The vegan restaurant scene is booming, and the vegan food truck scene is no different. Vegan food trucks sprinkle Austin, catering to a plethora of taste preferences and diets. Check out these food trucks the next time you drive around Austin and crave delicious ethical food.

Story by Megan Prendergast Illustration by Jesus Acosta

Cool Beans

sides, pickles, onions and a slice of white bread.

Cool Beans offers mouth-watering vegan Tex-Mex

your choice of protein, pickles, onions, potato salad

Parked in the outdoor patio of Spiderhouse Cafe, dishes. The patio, blanketed with fairy lights and adorned with various antiques and art installations, is a unique romantic spot for customers to enjoy their food. The truck’s veganized Tex-Mex dishes

You can also try the loaded sandwich, a classic with and coleslaw all loaded between two thick slices of white bread. In addition, if you’re craving something sweet, try the gluten-free fried Twinkie, a deep fried pillowy pastry filled with a fluffy, rich cream.

include guacamole, queso, street corn, tamales and tacos. The Warrior Taco, a customer favorite, is packed with flavorful quinoa chorizo, or “Q-rizo,” potatoes, pickled red onion and cilantro, all tucked inside a house-made flour tortilla. Feel free to substitute the flour tortillas for the homemade corn tortillas, which are 100% gluten-free, or add a scoop

Doggie Style

Everyone loves hot dogs, but no one loves what’s actually in hotdogs. Thankfully this South First food truck offers Austinites not-gross hot dogs and other American favorites. Parked at the towards the back of the food truck park, Doggie Style caters to car-

of guacamole to your taco for extra flavor.

nivores and vegheads alike. The truck makes their

Arlo’s

a popular meat-substitute, and the typical spices

Street just outside Spiderhouse Ballroom, Arlo’s

inside a soft bun and are topped with a variety of

Perched on the corner of Guadalupe Street and 29th grills up some of the most meat-like vegan burgers ever. Arlo’s offers the perfect alternative to typical greasy meat burgers. Designed to satisfy hardcore vegans and serious carnivores, Arlo’s menu borders on criminal - bac’n and cheeze burgers, BBQ burgers, chick’n sandwiches, loaded tacos, and every version of fried potatoes you could dream of.

One of the truck’s most popular items, the bac’n and cheeze burger, is loaded with a house-made soy-

vegan hot dogs in house from vital wheat gluten, you find in meat sausages. The homemade dogs sit toppings. Their most popular hot dogs include the Chicago dog, a hot dog topped with mustard, pickle spear, sport peppers, relish, tomato, and celery salt, the Jon Stewart hot dog, which is topped with sauerkraut and Russian dressing, and the Walking Taco, a hot dog topped with Coney sauce, queso, Fritos, and green onions. Wash your ‘dog down with a beer.

If you go on a Sunday between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., you’ll score a free beer.

free and gluten-free patty, house-made seitan bac’n (plant-based bacon made from wheat gluten; trust us, it’s good), melted cheeze, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, tomatoes, onions, pickles and lettuce. Add a side of french fries, tater tots, or sweet potato fries to complete your order and satisfy those greasy food cravings.

Bistro Vonish

Docked in Hyde Park, Bistro Vonish aims to bring customers elevated vegan food — and it delivers.

After placing your order at the window, grab a seat at any of the shaded tables, and if you’re experiencing Texas heat, take a seat next to one of the huge fans. The ever-changing menu presents locally-sourced produce and fresh ingredients, bringing

BBQ Revolution

you seasonal flavors from Central Texas that truly

truck, you are greeted by the smell of of barbecue

made with a veganized mornay sauce, is one for the

As soon as you pull up to the East Austin food and fried food. Anchored in a small parking lot, the bright orange food truck draws in a crowd. Some of their beloved items include the mac and cheese, the potato salad and the smoky curls, a gluten-free soy-based protein. If you want to try as much of the plant-based barbecue as possible, order the BBQ Plate, which comes with your choice of protein, two

highlight the region. The pan-seared mac ‘n cheese, books. This creamy bowl of carbs is filled with a rich, white soy milk béchamel sauce, thickened with a mix of Daiya cheddar and mozzarella, and panseared to crispy perfection in organic shortening.

Bistro Vonish also dishes out Sunday brunch, too, serving their weekly french toast special, cinnamon rolls, tofu scramble with home fries, among others.

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music

Capturing the Sound Austin’s Music Photographers

Words by Elise Barbin Photo (left) by Roger Ho

Now that festival season in Austin has died before South by Southwest begins, ORANGE took a moment to examine the visual artists behind who capture the live music.

Snap-happy Austinites David Brendan Hall, Pooneh Ghana and Roger Ho are among the cream of the crop of the local photo community. The three keep busy in the capital city’s hectic live music scene, as well as on national tours and assignments. The photographers discussed their photographic beginnings, inspiration and some of their favorite shots.

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music

David Brendan Hall “As soon as I don’t enjoy this, I won’t do it anymore,” native Austinite David Brendan Hall says.

“My mindset right now is that I’ll be doing that until I can’t stand up anymore, and maybe even past that if I can figure out a way.” Hall has been a photographer since his high school days at McCallum, where he found the darkroom to be his “zen zone.” Since then, his career has grown into a hodge podge of freelance and commercial work including events, and private portraits in order to support his music photography passion. You can typically find him taking photos at the many venues around Austin and festivals across the country, or @dhallphoto on Instagram.

On being a music fan first “Music was just always my driving force,” Hall says.

“I think I went to my first supervised concert at [age] 13 and by the end of eighth grade, I was not eating lunch at school and saving my lunch money so I could buy one concert ticket a month.

I had a moment sometime in high school where I was making a photo essay using music photos.

I took it on a disposable camera at Stubb’s, but

The best thing about his job

I scanned the negatives, made a layout and put

“It still feels like a break from the daily grind of

captions. I thought, “This is something that I would

everything– from society, from politics, just the

love to do forever.”

stuff that weighs on you from day to day,” Hall says.

“When I get to be at that show or that festival, it takes me out of the world that might be bringing me down otherwise. I’m an optimist and I can find the good in most things, but there’s something cathartic about live music. I’m so lucky to experience that catharsis while I’m working.

It’s incredible.”

On his colleagues “Inspiration, for me, has come the most from my peers and the people that I met when I started shooting who were kind to me in the pits,” Hall says.

“Those who took the time to show me the ropes

How he captures “the moment” “I’m looking for the perfect intersection of quality

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and not look at me condescendingly like a noob gave me a chance.

of light, framing and the moment,” Hall says. “Of all

The best thing I can do is look at someone’s work

those elements, the moment trumps everything. It’s

that I think is better than mine, and instead of

easier to hunt the moments as a music

getting mad about it or mad at myself, I just say to

photographer if you’re a fan.”

myself that I need to learn to do that.”

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music

Pooneh Ghana You have probably seen Austin-based freelancer Pooneh Ghana’s photos somewhere in NME, Rolling Stone Magazine, Pitchfork or the myriad of other publications where her work has been featured. Ghana is most known for her portrait work, particularly with Polaroids with which her career began. Follow her life on tour from concert to concert on Instagram at @poonehghana.

The start of her photography career

Her approach to music photography

“I started by just picking up a camera in

“I want to capture the type of photos that I know

high school and shooting for fun when I started

I’d want to see of my favorite bands, especially with

traveling to Austin to go to shows from San

the intimate behind the scenes stuff,” Ghana says.

Antonio, where I grew up,” Ghana says.

“I want people to feel like they were there with us

“I started shooting a lot of Polaroids around that time of bands before or after their shows. I think

when they’re looking through a gallery. Keeping all this in mind helps while shooting.”

it was 2008 when Gorilla Vs. Bear, who also shoot band Polaroids for their site, saw a bunch of Polaroids that I snapped at Fun Fun Fun Fest on my old Flickr page. I started shooting for them, other people started seeing my work and the rest is history.”

Her inspirations “I’ve always loved Ryan Mcginley and Neil Krug’s work,” Ghana says. “My buddy Andrew Kendall is like a big brother to me and has helped me out alot with my career and growth. He has some incredible shots from his NME days in the early 2000s. There are too many photographers to list!”

Her craziest show experience “One I can recall right now is shooting The Libertines a few years ago in London,” Ghana says.

“It was a day-long festival, so there were a bunch of bands playing before their set. Sometime in the middle of the day, the fest sold out of beer and the floor at one of the stages collapsed because the crowd got so crazy.

When The Libertines came on, fans were literally just collapsing left and right and getting crushed in the crowd. I’ve seen intense crowds before, but this was something else. They ended up having to delay the show and the band had to come back and tell everyone to calm down or they wouldn’t play. They kicked the photographers out of the pit after one song too because it was too dangerous.

It was chaos.”

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Roger Ho Unfulfilled with his cubicle day job, Roger Ho bought a Canon Rebel in 2009. Ever since then, he’s carried his camera to shows, and it ultimately ended up a part of his career. He’s photographed all over Austin from ACL to SXSW, and most recently at Sound on Sound Fest. Currently, Ho is the head of photography at Do512. You can follow his work on Instagram @rohofoto.

How he became a photographer

His favorite band to shoot

“I was fortunate enough to save a decent buffer of

“LCD Soundsystem,” Hall says. “I was ecstatic when

money to finally quit my day job in 2011 to pursue

they reunited this year, because they are one of my

photography,” Ho says. “I didn’t make much money

favorite bands and have been on my photography

my first couple of years going full time, but just

bucket list.”

kept shooting. I got my name out there, built relationships and constantly updated my portfolio.”

His average workday “It is always different, and that is what makes it so interesting to me,” Ho says. “If I am not out shooting, then I am on my computer editing photos, checking up on my email and social media and making show requests.”

His craziest show experience “[It was the] secret Cage the Elephant house show at SXSW 2016,” Ho says. “It was completely packed and insane to see them perform in my friend’s living room, which she later got evicted from when the landlord found out.”

How he gets the right shot “I am a Nikon shooter and use a combination of zooms and primes, depending on the show or venue,” Ho says. ”I try to capture the essence of the performer and anticipate when something unique or epic is about to happen.”

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music

Female Producers of The

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Female musicians dominate the stage across as genres, but when it comes to producing music, women are often pushed behind the scenes.

Words by Jordan Steyer Illustration by Jesus Acosta Photos by Miranda Chiechi

IN 2014, the Department of Labor reported that women make up less than 10 percent of music producers and sound engineers in the music industry.

This is evident in the Grammy Awards— no female producer has ever won a Grammy for Producer of the Year.

However, this is slowly changing as more women enter the field.

Fourth year electrical engineering major Carly Stalder is the production manager for Local Live, a show on the student-run radio station for KVRX. She sets up mics, records live bands and edits the sound afterward with audio for the show.

Stalder also works with another female production manager, fourth-year music business student Olivia Bennett. Stalder says that, recently, more women have started working with production for Local Live. “It’s definitely a male dominated field,” Stalder says. “It’s really technical. Sometimes when you tell people that you’re doing anything technical as a girl, they’ll be surprised, but it’s just something we need to get over.”

She started off at KVRX with her own radio show but then decided to volunteer with production. Stalder became the most consistent volunteer and eventually took over as production manager when the previous manager left. “Learning production really influenced my major,” Stalder says. “I started out as a mechanical engineer, and then once I started here I switched [my major] to electrical engineering.

I loved the music and it was all electrical. They both complimented each other. I really like the engineering parts of it. It’s super technical, but there’s no right or wrong way to do it, it’s so creative.”

Having the freedom to be creative is something that inspired Sydney Wright’s interest in production. Learning different aspects of music from a young age, Wright is now a live sound engineer, mixing engineer and curated playlists creator for events. “I like to think I can do anything that needs to be done,” Wright says. “My passion is writing and playing with different sounds and instruments.”

Wright’s mom made her and her sisters take piano lessons before they could reach the pedal. From there, she began writing songs and learned how to play the guitar in high school. “I learned a lot about guitar and sound in college,” Wright says.

“When a friend wanted to start a Runaways cover band, I borrowed some drums and started banging on them.

When I needed a demo of my originals, I picked up an interface and learned to use Ableton [software]. Producing is kind of new to me.”

With more women entering the production field, Wright says that she has noticed a difference in the industry. “In an industry filled with dudes, most people are stoked to have a lady around,” Wright says. “Everyone wants a female musician in their band, and a few employers have told me they jump at the chance to hire lady engineers because we consistently work harder and complain less than most of the men.”

However, sometimes being a female in the industry causes unpleasant interactions. “When I’m running sound at a venue, someone might approach me and feel that it’s necessary to say something like, ‘oh, we have a sound girl,’” Wright says. “To which I would love to reply, ‘yeah, it’s crazy, I wear pants and drive a car as well.’ I don’t, but I’d love to do my 68

Sydney Wright’s love for music started when she was just a young girl and enjoys production, as well as playing instruments herself.

job without someone interrupting me to point out my gender.”

Alongside Stalder at KVRX, Bennett works on Local Live, a TV show broadcast that feature local bands, every Sunday night. “I’ve been involved with Beauchamp Artist Services, where I help them with publishing, booking, and website stuff for their artists. I also gig with my group Mamalrky, where I sing and play guitar.”

Knowing how to play instruments is helpful when it comes to producing. For Bennett, she learned how to play the piano and guitar at an early age. She started playing in bands throughout middle and high school. “It’s helped me have a good ear for the intentions of the artist and what parts of their songs they want highlighted,” Bennett says.

After discovering Cubase, a digital audio workstation, in the 7th grade, Bennett became more acquainted with editing. “Garageband is also one of those favorites to play around with,” Bennett says.

“I could record every part of a song so quickly and throw all their plugins over it until it sounded like something I could listen to. The past two years I’ve grown very close to Protools, and we’ve been best friends ever since.”

Mixing and producing for a full band can be a laborious process. There’s often up to 20 tracks that need to be mixed separately, in order to make sure each track sounds good together.

“What sounds

good alone has nothing to do with how it sits in the overall mix,” Bennett says. “If I’m recording for a non-live projects for a friend’s band or my own, there is a long process of obtaining the perfect take.

There’s more of a creative side to those things too because you can really lay on thick with some of the more experimental stuff. It lets yourself play a bigger part in the mood of the song.”

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Carly Stalder is a senior and production manager for Local Live at The University of Texas at Austin.

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music

“When I’m running sound at a venue, someone might approach me and feel that it’s necessary to say something like, ‘oh, we have a sound girl.”

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Top 5 Albums of All Time According to UT English Professors

Neil Nehring Associate Professor, English Department

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music

While sitting in class, a student may wonder what their lecturing professor jams to while grading papers or walking to class. ORANGE asked three professors at the University of Texas at Austin why they think music is great, and then challenged them to list their top five albums of all time. If we learned anything from this, it’s that English teachers don’t just read, but they rock out too.

Words by Sarah Bloodworth

Photos by Sarah Holdeman

Elizabeth Richmond-Garza Associate Professor, English Department “I like the way music affects the body and mind simultaneously,” Richmond-Garza says. “I like music that’s bass driven that creates a special harmonic melody, which affects me psychologically.”

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Never Mind The Bollocks

The Wall

Revolver

Lemonade

The Downward Spiral

Sex Pistols

Pink Floyd

The Beatles

Beyonce

Nine Inch Nails

Brian Doherty Senior Lecturer, English Department “Music gives you a sense of identity and a subculture,” Doherty says.

“To me, it’s relaxing, thoughtful, and when I really like it, it’s artistic.”

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Highway 61 Revisited

Rock of Ages

Sometimes I Sit and Think

Le Fil

Muswell Hillbillies

Bob Dylan

The Band

Courtney Barnett

Camille

The Kinks

Neil Nehring Associate Professor, English Department “I like punk rock because I like angry music,” Nehring says. “There’s a lot to be angry about. Beyond that, we value performers because they take public thoughts about everyday life that we don’t express.”

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Squeezing Out Sparks

Beggars Banquet

The Bride Stripped Bare

The Clash

Ramones

Graham Parker and the Rumour

The Rolling Stones

Bryan Ferry

The Clash

The Ramones

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Switching On Austin’s Synth Scene Words by Alejandro Diaz Photos by Laura Godinez

Since the release of Netflix’s smash hit, “Stranger Things” in July, its eerily nostalgic soundtrack composed by local dark wave wizards, Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein of the local band S U R V I V E, has caused an irrefutable buzz around Austin’s burgeoning synth scene.

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T

music

hough Austin’s music scene has historically

know what any of the gliders did. I just knew it was

been guitar-oriented, giving rise to blues,

supposed to make weird sounds, so I convinced the

psych and country legends since the mid-20th

AV teacher to let me take it home and try to get it

century, the astronomical rise in popularity of elec-

repaired because we couldn’t get a sound out of it,

tronic-inspired popular music along with the trend of

but that ended up just being because we had no idea

incorporating more modern instrumentation across

how to use it.”

all genres has led to increased prevalence of vintage analog keyboards and synthesizers.

Though still the ever-curious sonic adventurer, he was far from his days of struggling to get a sound out

One of the key players standing at the heart of

of his Roland when he relocated to Austin to pursue a

the changing musical landscape is Chad Allen,

degree at the University of Texas at Austin. Following

co-founder of Switched On, an electronic instrument

the move, Allen began laying the groundwork for his

boutique and repair spa that has been an oasis for

future business, buying and selling synths online. It

gear heads, hobbyists and world-renowned artists

was through this small enterprise that he struck up a

alike since its inception. For Allen, however, the

friendship with his would-be partner, French. “John

fascination with synthesizers started long before he

and I were always playing with synths and recording

and head technician, John French, started peddling

music, so we eventually decided that, since I was

and refurbishing musical gadgets out of their modest

buying and selling synths, and he had some retail

nook in the ultra-modern Bercy Chen building on

experience helping run Toy Joy back in the ‘90s, we

East 11th Street back in 2010.

wanted to create something like the Switched-On of today that was a nexus for our interests,” Allen says.

Though the synthesizer was all but inescapable in mainstream culture during the much of the ‘80s, the

“The more shows I started playing,

rise of grunge as the crux of alternative rock at the

the more involved with vintage and analog

end of the decade saw synthesizer dip significantly in

music gear I became.”

popularity. However, by the mid-90s, when a young Allen was diving head first into the vast expanse

Once the idea finally came to fruition, however, the

of the music scene in his hometown of Portland,

budding venture still faced an uphill battle as an

Oregon, the electronic instrument boom was catch-

unestablished small business in Austin’s rapidly cor-

ing its second wave on a national scale. “I started to

poratizing commercial landscape. Allen and other

notice these instruments I had never heard of before

business owners cite the unexpected growth of the

when they started coming back into the mainstream,

city from a moderately-sized college town to a major

championed by bands like the Beastie Boys and Beck

metropolitan area as a catalyst for the increased

and music videos like the Rentals ‘Friends With P,’”

demand for limited prime retail space, which has led

Allen says.

to skyrocketing rent prices that have created subpar conditions for these businesses to thrive in.

He was not alone in taking notice, as Allen found himself in dives and DIY spots surrounded by a

Despite these challenges, Allen, French and the rest

wealth of local talent such as Sone, Bugskull and

of the Switched On team managed to amass a cult

the Dandy Warhols who were experimenting with the

following for their vintage synth store—the only of its

sounds that were recapturing the imaginations of

kind in the city—almost entirely on word of mouth

upstart artists in the area.

alone.

This relentless exposure certainly piqued his interest,

Carlos Ramirez of local electronic act, Tocaio, is

but it wasn’t until he came across his first synthesiz-

one of an immeasurable number of local creatives

er—a Roland SH-09 monophonic keyboard—in the

that has gravitated toward Switched On’s unique

dusty, disheveled confines of West Linn High’s AV

aesthetic. “The more shows I started playing, the

room, drowning under a sea of old TV parts, that his

more involved with vintage and analog music gear I

passion began to take shape. “I came into it blind,”

became,” Ramirez says. “Eventually I went to go check

Allen says. “I didn’t have the Internet and didn’t

out Switched On after hearing so much about it from

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For Allen, much has changed since he got his start digging around in pawnshops and dusty classrooms for synths back in Portland.

other local producers. I thought it was cool that they

managed to keep things personal and Austin-centric,

let you record instruments that are available on the

with a friendly staff that is a great resource whether

floor for a flat rate, which can be a huge money saver

purchasing your first piece of gear or adding another

for independent artists working out of pocket. More

module to your ever more convoluted Eurorack

than half of the tracks on my next release feature

system, and are heavily involved in Austin’s synth

synths / keyboards that I recorded at Switched On.”

scene both as performers and supporters.

The hype eventually snowballed, allowing them relo-

For Allen, much has changed since he got his start

cate to their more spacious current location on East

digging around in pawnshops and dusty classrooms

Cesar Chavez while gradually growing into one of the

for synths back in Portland. The last few decades have

largest brick-and-mortar retailers of their kind in the

seen him living every young gear head’s dream—grow

region, and a destination for touring acts including

from a music fan and hobbyist to a synth guru that

superstars like Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin and,

can talk shop shop with the best of them. Not bad for

more recently to much fanfare, members of Radio-

a guy who couldn’t get a sound out of his SH-09.

head. However, even with the international spotlight drawing closer each day, Switched On has still

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Live Painting Drips its Way onto the Canvas of Austin’s Music Scene Words by Marilee Bodden

Just beginning to dip its toes into the vast ocean

Downtown Austin’s Empire Control Room and the

that is the Austin music scene, you’ll find live paint-

Parish frequently host live painters. You will find

ing. In the form of visual performance art, artists

live painters at electronic concerts or on desig-

complete a painting in a public space accompanied

nated nights such as Empire Control Room’s Create

by live music. With a bar or concert as their studio,

Culture, an event occurring on the first Wednesday

live painters use music as their muse.

of the every month that strives to bring cutting edge full spectrum psychedelic music and visual art from

Austin artists come to various events, set up a

all over the globe.

canvas, listen to the music that reverberates around them and create alluring, colorful images while

These venues, through the mixture of music and art,

they get down and groove. These creations may

seem to cultivate its own world. This world is full of

be improvised or planned beforehand. The col-

people, both old and young, wearing anything from

orful paintings are surreal and psychedelic, often

black, sparkly cat ears to long, flowy clothes straight

depicting dreamscapes, imaginative lands and crazy

out of the ‘70s.

creatures.

Not only are these events an amalgam of music and Chris Bohlin, one of Austin’s live painters, says that

art, they also give rise to a loving community of

he entered the painting scene by documenting other

people. Strangers hug each other upon first meeting

live painters in the city. After filming them for a

and smiles are plastered to faces taking in the mix-

documentary project, he decided live painting was

tures of visual and auditory art.

something he wanted to try for himself. “I work on the color palette first and the rest kind of comes,”

There appears to be much more here than what first

Bohlin says. “I read the painting, finger paint it,

meets the eye. By attending these events, artists

manipulate it and fold it until I find that it has the

participate not only in a concert, but an art exhibit,

story for me to read and tell.”

a creation of culture, a social gathering of diverse individuals— a unique experience in an equally unique place: Austin, Texas.

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Oldest Concert Venues in Austin Words by Hayli Rudolph Photos by Emily Nash

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From jazz and rock to country and blues, Austin has historically welcomed music from almost all genres, and with that, all types of music venues. In 1991, Austin was labeled the “Live Music Capital of the World” for housing the most concert venues of any city in the world. To see how some of the city’s original music halls are still standing up today, ORANGE sat down with a few of Austin’s oldest, still-running venues to discuss the history, talent and vision behind these creative, historic spaces.

The Continental Club In 1957, The Continental Club on South Congress opened its iconic doors to the public. Founder Morin Scott originally designed the club as a high-end supper club, which later evolved into a burlesque club in the 1960s.

The Continental Club has since further transformed from a cosmic cowboy venue to a new wave punk venue, finally settling into an old school-style music venue. The club now incorporates acts from country, rock, bluegrass, soul and R&B, as well as many other genres.

In 1987, the current owner, Steve Wertheimer, envisioned a place for musicians to do what they love and treat as their home. The Continental Club has welcomed several musicians and stars throughout the years, including Wanda Jackson, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Bruce Willis and Johnny Depp.

Dianne Scott, who handles the publicity and newsletter for the club, is full of star stories from her many years with the venue. Scott, who also acts as the Continental Club historian, remembers being greeted by Robert Plant, seeing Buck Owens at his annual birthday bash and casually seeing David Bowie watch his guitarist, Gail Ann Dorsey, play a gig.

Antone’s

Scott says that the retro, relaxed and unpretentious

Ray Charles, Etta James, James Brown, B.B. King and

atmosphere is what set the Continental Club apart

Gary Clark Jr., co-owner of Antone’s, are just a few of

from hundreds of other venues in Austin, along with

many names that have graced the stage at Antone’s

its famous happy hours. “Our Happy Hours are leg-

Nightclub. Today, the East Austin venue consistently

endary,” Scott says. “In fact, we were the first place to

hosts live music events. Most Tuesdays, you can find

offer consistent live music at happy hour.”

free shows from Antone’s Big Trio and various artists.

Since 1988, local band The Blues Specialists, have

In 1975, the first of six renovations of the club opened

been playing at Friday’s Happy Hour at the Continen-

in downtown Austin, hosting

tal Club. Other recurring artists and attendees who

blues bands. The newest take of Antone’s is bringing

show up week after week keep the magic running and

back the original vision for the venue that founder

will continue to do so for many more years to come.

Clifford Antone had— to focus on and celebrate blues

Chicago-influenced

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music. Antone wanted to create a space where young

embraced modern Austin blues musicians like Gary

musicians could play alongside their heroes like leg-

Clark Jr.

endary blues artists Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Zach Ernst, a music booker for Antone’s, says that the Many artists who perform at the nightclub today are

reopening of the venue would have touched Clifford

longtime veterans who have played regularly for over

Antone. “These artists meant the world to Clifford

four decades. Buddy Guy, a blues singer and guitarist,

[Antone] and the other people involved in the original

recently played for the first time in 20 years, joined

founding of the club,” Ernst says. “To have that kind

by James Cotton and Carl Weathersby. Additionally,

of Chicago blues magic happening onstage again was

with the newest revamp of Antone’s, the venue has

such a thrill.”

Scoot Inn Established in 1871, the historic Scoot Inn is one of

performances from all kinds of different artists like

the most famous venues in East Austin. The venue has

Wild Child, DNCE, Gwar and Spoon.

lasted for over 145 years, acting as a playground for artists and music festivals like SXSW. Over the years,

The Scoot Inn is not only known for its eclectic music

the venue has experienced several transformations.

scene, but also its food trucks and full-service bars.

This year marked the venue’s 145th birthday, and

The Scoot Inn was originally a grocery store, later

in honor of the venue’s former owners, Aubrey and

restored to a cafe, a restaurant, a saloon and finally,

Hattie Ivy, a new indoor bar called “The Ivy Room”

landing on the title of a live music venue.

was opened.

Previous owners of the inn, Sam and Nancy Wilson,

Whether it’s housing a concert or hosting a mac and

used the space for gambling, bootlegging and sales

cheese festival in the large outdoor area, the Scoot

of dubious legality. In 1955, Aubrey “Scoot” Ivy and

Inn certainly lives up to its rambunctious history and

wife Hattie Ivy bought the saloon, giving the building

always knows how to bring in a crowd.

its current name, the Scoot Inn. The venue has hosted 79

Births and Deaths: Austin Venues and Music Events Words by Jordan Steyer

Births and New Beginnings Barracuda

Opened in late 2015, Barracuda replaced Red 7.

There’s always a show happening at this new venue.

The Sidewinder

The Sidewinder is a multimedia dual-stage venue, event space and bar. It’s located in the Red River district of downtown. It’s one of the newest additions to the area.

3TEN at ACL Live

The latest addition to Austin City Limits Live. 3TEN, started in February, is home to a state-of-the-art showcase listening room presenting small “house” shows.

Sound on Sound Fest

SOS is a brand new festival in Central Texas, about an hour outside of Austin. They aim to transform the typical festival experience, focusing on unique locations and bookings of indie, punk, hip-hop, metal, dance, comedy and live panel discussions.

Deaths and Closures Red 7

The prominent Red River live music venue closed in late 2015 after almost 10 years of operations, making way for its new tenant — Barracuda.

Holy Mountain

This venue was closed due to rent increases in the Red River district. It’s capacity was just around 200, and they didn’t bring in huge touring shows. It provided local artists a place to develop their sounds.

Fun Fun Fun Fest

Earlier in the year, the organizers of FFF announced that there would be no fest this year. They’re taking a year off, and are expected to re-launch the fest in 2017 during Halloween weekend.

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A L Live Music Moments

A. Cage The Elephant by Jesus Acosta

B. Chairlift by Miranda Chiechi

C. Denzel Curry by Rachel Rascoe

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D. Purity Ring by Malayna Ellis

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E. Bleached by Rachel Rascoe

music

F. Gallant by Jesus Acosta

G. M83 by Miranda Chiechi

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, P PO

Genre

and

istor y H y r r u The Bl

Story By Henry Youtt Art by Jesus Acosta

orange magazine

IT’S 2016. A song has bright vocals, electric beats

music

achieve even greater expressive effects,” Hatten says.

and a catchy hook, so we call it pop music. Now, let’s

Breaking the mold can is still a difficult feat for both

say it’s 1960. A song has bluesy vocals, simple per-

small and mainstream artists. Local band The Eastern

cussions and an easy tempo, so we call it pop music.

Sea’s frontman Matt Hines is an avid fan of contem-

What happened?

porary pop music and takes the great genre divide in stride, suggesting that his desire to defy musical bar-

Of course, someone didn’t just come in and flip the

riers is something intrinsic. “I am always chasing some

script right at the end of the millennium. Yet, it still

kind of fresh sound,” Hines says. “I am not exactly one

seems rather odd that we continue to categorize

of those artists to stick to the things I know.”

both Marvin Gaye and Ke$ha into the same musical grouping. Even now, we somehow have Ed Sheeran

“I am always chasing some kind of fresh

and Miley Cyrus each vying for artistic validation in

sound. I am not exactly one of those artists

the same Grammy Award category.

to stick to the things I know.”

Although mainstream music likes to live by labels and

Along with Hines, it seems that artists on both the

radio station categories, pop music, along with the

mainstream and local scenes are not sticking to

genres, has an uncertain amount of fluidity. Robert

what they know. Austin-based duo Indoor Creature

Hatten, a music theory professor at the University of

managed to do its own fair share of artistic experi-

Texas at Austin’s Butler School of Music, explains just

mentation, which member Caleb Fleischer called “the

how blurry genre lines can be.

most interesting part” of making music.

From an academic standpoint, music is cataloged

Fleischer and his bandmate Travis Kitchen had dif-

by the common attributes and musical determi-

ficulty pinpointing Indoor Creature’s sound on the

nants within a song. These factors allow us to index

spectrum of genre. Ending up with a collection of

the diverse medley of sounds into a more sensical

labels ranging from “electronic” to “dream pop,”

and taxonomical structure, which we call genre.

they found that the variety did more to convey the

Ranging from general to specific and from formal to

spontaneity of their creative vision. “Just through

“expressive,” according to Hatten, genre is a form of

experimenting, whatever actually comes out ends up

sense-making. “Musical genre is a form of classifi-

being our sound,” Kitchen says. “Basically, it’s what-

cation,” Hatten says. “[Genres are] rather fuzzy sets

ever we think is entertaining, and feels good to listen

of features and processes that provide listeners, per-

to.”

formers and composers with expressive qualities and formal expectations.”

Ultimately, this does not mean that we should stop crediting genres or that we should disregard music

However, Hatten’s categorial explanation raises a

that comfortably fits into them. What this means is

question—if music is an art, why do we treat it like

that artists are becoming more and more aware of

a science? By creating particular classifications for

their capacity create new things for themselves and

such an expressive medium, some critics worry that

for the artistic community as a whole. This exper-

we run the risk of narrowing the artistic perspective

imentation with genres makes music more diverse

of potential musicians. These potentially stifling

and kaleidoscopic with every note sang and every

categories also create great opportunity for artists

key played. Each year, scientists discover tens of

who choose to experiment with untapped creative

thousands of new species and introduce them to the

avenues. As Hatten notes, deviating from the old is

world. Likewise, for artists, there is still so much more

nothing new. “Composers often play with, and or

to explore, discover and introduce to a world con-

against the constraints implied by genres in order to

stantly waiting for the next new thing.

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Rap & Representation The State of Hip-Hop in Austin Words by Onaje McDowelle Photos by Maya Coplin and Malayna Ellis

Soul-shaking bass, wavy outfits and bobbing heads under hypnotizing lights all make up the routine aesthetic of live hip hop.

Since its origin, hip-hop as we know it has taken on

down to resources. Omenihu says he understands

a totally different meaning. What was once a rigid

why hip-hop artists in Austin struggle to achieve

form of expression that relied heavily on other ele-

success. “Many artists never make it out of their bed-

ments of the craft such as breakdancing, traditional

rooms, because there aren’t a lot of places for those

disc jockeying and specific fashions, has become a

creatives to go develop and express themselves,”

culture of experimentation that flirts with the taboo

Omenihu says.

and glorifies diversity. Considering these facets, it is a well-known wonder that Austin has not quite bred

According to Omenihu, a lot of hip-hop artists feel

the hip-hop following an outsider might expect from

like they have to do it all. “They are trying to be their

the music and festival-centric city.

own engineer, their own producer and their own rapper, since there aren’t a lot of people or places to

To say that hip-hop in Austin is completely absent is,

go to if you’re trying to make certain sounds or get

of course, false. There is no shortage of individuals

your vocals recorded,” Omenihu says.

in the area creating, producing and marketing music along with venues that push hard for representation

In an effort to assist the other creatives around him,

of rap in an environment oversaturated by other

Omenihu says he wants to first maneuver the culture

musical niches. Spaces like Empire Control Room &

that’s already in place in Austin as a hip hop artist,

Garage and Emo’s consistently feature both touring

which is not always an easy task. “At the end of the

and local hip hop artists. However, while many Aus-

day, Austin has a diversity problem,” Omenihu says.

tin-based artists like The Bishops, Magna Carda and

To him, hip-hop consumption in the area is like that

Riders Against the Storm are actively perfecting their

of tacos. “After so many tacos, people stop caring

crafts in hopes of creating buzz around their names,

whether it comes from taco bell, or the mom-and-

there is still a disconnect between the music and

pop shop that specializes in taco making, and it’s the

people willing to lend local artists a listening ear.

same with hip-hop,” Omenihu says.

Alongside rap artists, other creatives involved in

Additionally, he feels that Austin prefers certain types

Austin’s hip-hop culture have suffered from the lack

of hip-hop genres over others. “People would prefer a

local of representation. Artists and music indus-

Chance The Rapper, Childish Gambino or Tyler, The

try professionals cite difficulties in booking studio

Creator type artist who is more multi-faceted than

time, collaborating with other artists and promoting

someone who is strictly rapping,” Omenihu says.

new work, while navigating the many disconnects throughout the politics of Austin hip-hop.

Eventually, he hopes to pass on the connections that he’s made by connecting budding creatives with

Christopher Omenihu, the mind behind creative col-

potential to people on the outside looking in, who

lective Human Influence, says that the problems boil

have access to larger opportunities through Human 88

Influence, which is designed to get artists supporting

One act in particular, local music producer and DJ

each other. “I built Human Influence to create my

Yung Wall Street, has amassed over 11,000 followers

own stage and share it with other artists,” Omenihu

on SoundCloud and is now booking festivals and

says. While striving to create a system that works for

tour dates across the nation. However, in terms of

himself and other artists around him, Omenihu says

rising Austin music acts, his name still remains off

that he also works to stay grounded and in tune with

the radar because of the lack of discussion about the

the people who are on the outside looking in. By

hip-hop scene. Popular duo Riders Against the Storm,

bridging the gap between locals and the resources

who were named the Austin Chronicle’s band of the

they need, Omenihu plays a part in growing the

year in both 2013 and 2014, have also surpassed the

culture as a whole from the inside out.

boundaries of Austin, opening nationally for dozens of acts in a multitude of cities. Both acts prove that

Regardless of the state of local hip hop, it’s not

success is indeed possible coming out of this city,

unusual for Austin’s big-name festivals to feature

leaving the question of how to spread the wealth of

more mainstream rap artists as headliners to help

opportunity to more creatives.

attract wider audiences. Austin City Limits Festival’s 2016 lineup hosted renowned hip hop artists includ-

Looking forward, things are on the rise for the Austin

ing Kendrick Lamar and Tory Lanez, among others.

hip-hop community. There is a strong core of individ-

Additionally, JMBLYA's 2016 well-rounded lineup,

uals continually carrying out new ways to bridge the

which made a stop in Austin just before the summer,

gap between local creatives and audiences, helping

boasted performances Future, Rae Sremmurd, Kevin

the underground culture emerge into something

Gates, Kehlani and Post Malone. Other festivals like

more mainstream and easily accessible.

South by Southwest, an event built to showcase local music, often bring many up-and-coming hip-hop

One of these outlets is the Austin Mic Exchange’s

artists to the city for a week of live performances and

weekly open mic nights at Spider House Cafe. The

appearances.

event serves as a place for artists, to network, test new material and develop their art, according to

It can be argued that hip-hop is being overshadowed

Spider House’s description of the event. Adam Pro-

by the rise of EDM, indie and other genre-blending

textor founded the event in 2012, and told ORANGE

projects in the pop vein that has taken a new genera-

in October that he created it as an outlet for hip-hop

tion of music listeners by storm. Yet, Austin's hip-hop

artists to grow in their craft. “We’re not curating to

community is still alive and thriving.

a specific type of rap,” Protextor says. “We welcome

The outside area of Cheer Up Charlies showcases artwork and fashion created by women.

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Cara Bishop, lead-singer of The Bishops, performs at Cheer Up Charlie’s.

all genres. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first time or

hip-hop acts to various cities in Texas. Through those

if you’ve been performing for 10 years. There’s no

experiences, she has gained enough knowledge about

favoritism. Everyone is welcome.”

the scene to manage the hip-hop group, and remembers stumbling upon a performance by Cara Bishop

Now, AMX has exploded into a phenomenally cohe-

at an event she attended, calling it love at first sight.

sive and supportive group of frequent attendees.

Four years later, AMX now has the reputation of

In her eyes, a common crutch for artists coming out

being the place in Austin where hip-hop artists can

of Austin is the audience. “They’re not always willing

jumpstart their careers. “When I first started coming,

to show out and support local artists,” Montgomery

I was living in San Antonio,” says Brandon Nate, who

says. “People are just not buying tickets and support-

has been working as an open-mic host since 2013. “I

ing local acts like they need to be. I want to see a

was driving an hour and a half to be here every week.

really supportive, cohesive group [of artists].” She

This is the place for rappers and producers to come

also wants to see a venue dedicated specifically to

together. It’s like a family. People have grown so

local hip-hop in the future.

much here. I feel like a proud dad.”

As creatives join together to take Austin hip-hop to AMX and many other people are creating change to

the next level, it can only be expected that the scene

help Austin grow into the hip-hop hub that it has

will blossom into its full potential. In many ways the

the potential to be. *Sarah Jasmine Montgomery,

success of this community thrives on the ideas and

manager of family hip-hop group The Bishops, feels

attitudes of individuals within it. Fortunately, with

that the culture of creativity in Austin may be a little

the optimism and ambition that has been collectively

bit too independent, and collaboration and support

adopted by many within the community, the scene’s

from one artist to the next is lacking. She has worked

future is in good hands. “I feel like if I do my part,

under Empire Control Room, a venue in Austin that

it’s gonna open up doors for other people as well,”

commonly features hip hop acts, and ScoreMore

Omenihu says.

Shows, another heavyweight business that brings *Editor’s note: Sarah Jasmine Montgomery is a former co-editor-in-chief of ORANGE Magazine.

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In a scene often preoccupied with festival lineups and the next big tour coming to town, local album releases can easily slip through the cracks of our Facebook timelines. To highlight the tunes we’ve been streaming after the concerts are over, the ORANGE music staff is rounding up our favorite local albums of the year so far. From nationally-recognized Austinites to self-recorded debuts, catch up on these local artists to groove along with them at their next show.

Onaje McDowelle “Cirqlation” — Magna Carda Having rounded off the year with electrifying performances at ACL and Sound on Sound Fest, among other live shows across the nation, Magna Carda stands tall as one of the most prominent and eclectic musical acts currently coming out of Austin. This February, the hip-hop instrumentation group added another installment to their discography with “Cirqlation.” The album features

vocals and Jake Miles’s sensual croon has never sounded better, with their massive range, melodic genius and quirky lyricism on full display on standouts such as “Spent the Day Lying in Bed” and “Used To Have To Be Too (Wanted).” However, it is the interlocking guitar work, most notable on “Spent the Day,” and an impressive rhythm section with enough groove to make even the stiffest square get out of their seat that make this release one of the best of the year.

previously released single “Angela Bassett,” as well as other favorites like “Southern Ether” and “The Root.” The project continues to build upon the jazz, rap and alternative elements previously used by Magna Carda on earlier works. However, this time around, the group has mastered their smooth, unique sound. With “Cirqlation,” Magna Carda is truly solidifying their spot as a heavyweight act in the scope of nationwide hip-hop.

Elise Barbin “Winter Tour Tape” — Tamarron/dryspell Perched Split album “Winter Tour Tape,” released in early 2016, includes three songs each from local boys Tamarron and dryspell. Between the two bands, there’s an overlap in both members and sound. Yet, Tamarron certainly leans towards a darker psych-rock disposition, while dryspell shows a more classic rock influence. dryspell’s

Rachel Rascoe “Taster” — Hovvdy Released in April on Sports Day Records, Hovvdy’s debut full-length album, “Taster,” is Austin’s own slice of 2016’s love for fuzzy, bedroom tunes.

With quiet power and thoughtful lyrics delivered by members Charlie Martin and Will Taylor, “Taster” fits right into your moody Mitski, LVL UP and Alex G rotation. Jammy standouts, “Meg” and “Friend,” emphasize the group’s positive outlook throughout their lonely, murmury tunes. Following a previous split release with local band Loafer, “Taster” provides an excellent first taste of the lo-fi-loving group’s relatable update to what “sad rock” can be. Bassist Sam Jacobson joins Martin and Taylor on select album tracks and at Hovvdy’s live shows.

nostalgic “Can’t Wait” echoes this influence with wistful vocals and guitar lines reminiscent of the nostalgic ‘70s band Big Star. With its distorted melodies and long solos, “Panama” by Tamarron

Sarah Bloodworth “The Wilderness”—Explosions in the Sky Explosions in the Sky’s sound has a tranquil, yet

is the kind of song that will leave you with swirly,

upbeat instrumental quality not only perfect for

hypnotized cartoon eyes.

early morning yoga, but for late night studying as well. Their sixth album, “The Wilderness,” delivers

Alejandro Diaz “Loose Tooth” — Dreamboat A Dreamboat’s raucous brand of energetic twee-pop tinged with alt-country and Americana sensibilities has been making waves in the local music scene over the last couple of years. Their latest, “Loose Tooth,” takes everything that made their first release so special, to new heights. The one-two pairing of Mary Bryce’s effortless, lilting

a range of discordant sounds that recover with folky guitar riffs. The album ends with “Landing Cliffs,” which showcases drummer Christopher Hrasky’s vibrant drum beats. Many of the songs will grab your emotions, particularly “Logic of a Dream,” which runs over six minutes long and takes the listener on a journey of juxtaposing melodies. Overall, the album delivers a serene sound perfect for a stressed out America.

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Henry Youtt “Fools” — Wild Child On the Austin-based indie-pop group’s third LP, Wild Child continues to do what it does so well: making the soft-spoken hard-hitting. Through the sweet medley of songs on “Fools,” lead singer Kelsey Wilson’s folksy twang softens the edges of her spirited pop vocals. Title track “Fools” puts Wilson’s charm center stage, with her melodic runs laced into her violin’s silvery sound. On the follow-up single “Break Bones,” Wilson goes further and deeper as she targets a soul more raw

Walker Lukens. The fresh album slightly differs in sound from “Devoted,” Luken’s previous album released in 2013. Lukens swayed away from his usual soft, heartfelt sound, transitioning to a more vibrant and uplifting take. The album art of “Never Understood” is as colorful and spirited as the songs, made with a glazed yellow background and a portrait of Lukens staring straight into your soul. Lukens is joined by his backing band, Sidearm, in the third track “Lifted.” The title track “Never Understood” is swayable, relatable and a perfectly satisfying final song for the EP.

and exposed. However, don’t be fooled. “Fools” is no understatement. Its bold, brash and bright in all its modest, acoustic nature. Wild Child illustrates that sometimes the loudest words are whispered.

Marilee Bodden Don’t Wake the Riot — Black Pistol Fire Austin-based rockers Black Pistol Fire blew a shot right through 2016 with the release of their latest album “Don’t Wake the Riot.” Woven within the album is a mixture of R&B, blues and sounds reminiscent of classic rock gods Led Zeppelin and Fleetwood Mac. With song titles such as “Bad Blood” and “Storm Cussin” as well as lines like “waging heavy war, picking up a heavy storm,” the album takes on a more serious, meaningful tone.

Perhaps, they want to wake the riot after all.

Jordan Steyer “Reality Rap” — Dominican Jay In late September, Dominican Jay released his freshman album “Reality Rap.” Its two themes are apparent from the start. The cover art makes you face the stereotypes of a suburban, white family contrasted with an urban, black neighborhood.

This is street rap that makes you look at the truths of what it’s like to live in certain situations.

The second theme present throughout is “keep it real,” even claiming a song title on the album.

Jay talks about his friends or family being put in jail or ending up dead because the system works against them. “Reality Rap” has a great message with great lyrics to go along with it.

Hayli Rudolph “Never Understood” — Walker Lukens Released in October, “Never Understood” is made up of four soulful, energetic songs performed by

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Mainstream to Local Austin’s up-and-coming artists are making music that’s ready to jump right into the national scene, each with their own local flavor and experimental twist. To take the work out of keeping up, ORANGE is connecting the dots between your favorite big-name headliners and savvy Austin groups in the same vein.

IF YOU LIKE KENDRICK LAMAR, YOU MIGHT LIKE

Magna Carda Similar to Lamar, the eclectic group delivers original lyrics laced around hard hitting beats and traditional jazz instrumentation.

Recommended Song: “Angela Bassett” The Bishops These three Austin siblings are perfectly riding the wave of genre-bending, while introducing diverse sounds into hip-hop.

Recommended Song: “Blood Ring” IF YOU LIKE SBTRKT, YOU MIGHT LIKE…

Capyac The duo’s debut project “Headlunge” is the perfect leap into today’s electronic realm, mixing perfect melodies with fun dance tunes.

Recommended Song: “Speedracer” NÄM NÄM is an indie-electronic duo exploring the gentler side of electronic with a smooth, chilling sound.

Recommended Song: “Shaken Tight” IF YOU LIKE PORCHES, YOU MIGHT LIKE…

Bayonne With his third studio album “Primitives,” Bayonne’s “Roger Sellers” seems to have found his own lane in creating unconventional electronic sounds that keep you listening.

Recommended Song: “Spectrolite” Orthy Between “Listen to Her Heart” and “E.M.I.L.Y.,” Orthy has successfully integrated into the niche of combining ‘80s electronic vibes with more modern, alternative sounds.

Recommended Song: “Listen To Her Heart”

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POP ART: AN INFLUENCE ON FASHION Story by Brooke Lynn Decker Photos by Kristin Evans

The pop-art movement of the 1960s influenced the fashion world and has continued to hold its reign. Appealing color palettes, bold geometric shapes and daring patterns are elements introduced by pop art that are still prevalent in today’s designs. The artwork that followed the direction of this movement was mostly produced by the most talented New York artists of the time: Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, James Rosenquist and Andy Warhol. These creatives produced prolific works based on popular culture and mainstream media.

In Warhol’s pieces, he revealed feelings of criticism and admiration for politics, advertising

and

Hollywood

glamour.

These three elements that heavily influenced the ‘60s era are translated through Warhol’s paintings, sketches and sentiments that he created through various mediums — including fashion.

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This fall, the Blanton Museum, located at the Univer-

as an enlarged red diamond shape contrasting the

sity of Texas at Austin, received a curation of works

blue hue of a sweater. Many high fashion geniuses

from the Andy Warhol museum, located in Pitts-

continue to find inspiration in Warhol’s ideas and

burgh, Pennsylvania. All pieces are on display until

preserve the relevancy of his works by doing so.

Jan. 29. The “Warhol: By the Book” exhibit boasts a colorful collection of timeless works created

Warhol’s most familiar painting elements include

by the pop-art genius, such as paintings, screen

bright color palettes, bold details and compelling

prints, authentic sketchbooks, photographs, films

representations of various celebrities and brands.

and his written works. The exhibition reveals that

The artist’s obsession with famous public figures

Warhol created a significant amount of art that the

and the consumer culture of his time are translated

mainstream audiences tended to overlook, unlike

into his creations. Upon entrance of the exhibit,

his canvas impressions of Marilyn Monroe, John

Warhol’s globally recognized 1972 acrylic and silk-

F. Kennedy and the Campbell’s tomato soup can

screen ink of Mao Zedong hangs on linen. As one

that claim the most popularity. The most notable

makes their way past an enthralling depiction of

of Warhol’s creations that engraved his name in

the controversial political figure, a single portrait of

the fashion world is “Interview,” a print publication

Dolly Parton and a double of Truman Capote adorn

that he founded in 1969. The magazine’s content

the off-white background. Toward the back of the

consisted of art, fashion, and celebrity culture. By

exhibit, a romanticized black-and-white transitional

featuring highly regarded designers such as Yves

slide-show visual of various unidentified muses are

Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld, it is suggested

projected onto the wall. When exploring the room to

that his relationship with prominent figures in the

the left of the exhibit, images inspired by the adver-

fashion industry were close knit, and his influence

tising industry appear.

upon the industry itself prevailed.

However, the unique findings of many journals, Warhol’s art was introduced in ‘60s era, but his

letters and illustrations that were greatly overlooked

legacy continues to inspire modern fashion houses.

in Warhol’s career were meant to be the most

In 2008, Diane Von Furstenberg collaborated with

intriguing part of the collection. The artist viewed

The Andy Warhol Foundation and utilized prints

the ability to write effectively as an impressive

inspired by the late artist’s work to create a dazzling

talent, for he has “always been fascinated by people

swimwear collection. Prada’s SS13 Ready-to-Wear

who can put things down on paper, and I liked to

Collection graced the runway with a white fur coat

listen for new ways to say old things and old ways to

embellished by red pop art daisies that were origi-

say new things.”

nally introduced in Warhol’s paintings. In 2015, Peter

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Jensen’s Resort 2014 collection tapped into War-

In regard to pop-art culture and its influence on

hol’s artistic concept by incorporating garments that

fashion, it is essential to recognize Andy War-

boasted statement shapes with vibrant colors such

hol’s contribution. In the 1950s, Warhol practiced

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his artistic capabilities by working as a commercial

One specific collaboration caught the eye of art and

fashion illustrator for I. Miller. From 1955 to 1957, the

fashion connoisseurs at home and abroad in 1974.

creative genius submitted sketches of accented high

The highly sought-after designer and creative genius,

heels and jeweled pumps to The New York Times to

Yves St. Laurent, was admired as the subject of yet

be published each week. Underneath each shoe illus-

another one of Warhol’s pop-art-esque portraits. In

tration lies a short caption written by American poet,

fact, a letter from the Saint Laurent to Andy Warhol

Ralph Pomeroy, which Warhol would then have his

recently surfaced. Harper’s Bazaar released a hand-

mother transcribe in calligraphy to be copied onto

written letter on Nov. 15, 2016 that Saint Laurent

each piece. The offset, hand-colored lithographs

composed, which debunked old gossip that assumed

on paper revealed the feminine aesthetic that high-

the designer wasn’t fond of Warhol’s multi-col-

lighted women’s wear during this era.

ored representation. Saint Laurent kindly mailed a message from Paris on July 31, 1974 that read “I love

The artist took a new approach to his work when he

them; I admire you; I am your friend.” This particular

recognized the celebration of consumerist goods

relationship between the two symbolizes the everlast-

in American society. He introduced that approach

ing intimacy between fashion and art.

through his display of “Campbell’s Soup Cans” in 1962. The work introduces 32 canvas paintings of

Fashion and art may be viewed in a contrast of ways.

Campbell’s soup cans, with the individual pieces

In one sense, fashion appropriates art and arguably

depicting each flavor of soup that was available at

commercializes it. In another, art perpetuates con-

the time. The installment was originally arranged by

structive ideas in fashion in regard to both design

Warhol to resemble products assembled on a grocery

sketches and couture pieces for the runway. In par-

store shelf. When explaining why he chose to create

ticular, Andy Warhol was a jack of all trades. As a

labels inspired by Campbell’s soup company and

fashion illustrator and graphic designer, the artist

display them in the style that he did, the artist says, “I

recognized and created pieces of art in both ideals

used to drink it. I used to have the same lunch every

and managed to find a connection between the two.

day, for 20 years, I guess, the same thing over and

Warhol gained global recognition for his contribu-

over again.”

tion to pop-art culture and influence in the realm of fashion. Through his fascination with celebrities, con-

Warhol’s portrayal of consumer culture influenced

sumer culture and fashion design, the artist ironically

his creation of the 1968 “Souper Dress.” The paper

became an American icon himself.

dress served as a graphic motif that resembled the convenience of the disposable soup can. Therefore, Warhol translated an era of mass consumption into a work that also stressed the prevalence of pop-art’s influence in fashion design.

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Putting Her Neck on the Line An Insight on a UT-Based Necklace Designer

Words by Jasmine Valencia Photos by Ley Herr

What was once a small wardrobe component has turned into an essential fashion item.

Inspired by Austin’s art and street culture, Michelle Akhtarzad, senior textiles and apparel major at the University of Texas at Austin, created her own jewelry business.

Transforming her name into a brand, the Michelle Zad collection was born.

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Akhtarzad started creating her handmade necklaces

accessorizes with delicate chains and layering. She

with the desire to have unique staples of her own. “I

considers jewelry an essential for everyday wear, but

really wanted to start making things I saw and liked,”

she also saves some pieces for special occasions.

Akhtarzad says. “I thought I could just make [necklaces], instead of paying so much for something.”

Her business was first marketed to University of Texas at Austin students and concentrated on gameday

“My major definitely helped in creating business models, product developing and creating an aesthetic.”

pieces, which included long necklaces with tassels and beading in orange and white colors. A year and

Rather than selling her jewelry through a retailer,

half later, the line has expanded to include more

Akhtarzad found it easier to start the business by

refined and polished jewelry such as chokers, long

selling on her own Etsy shop and Instagram. “I think

pendants and intricate lariats (or ropes) to keep up

it’s a good starting place,” Akhtarzad says.This busi-

with the industry’s demands.

ness has taught me a lot about branding products in my aesthetic.” With over 600 Instagram followers, her

Learning to make jewelry involved a lot of trial and

social media account, @michellezadjewelry is a big

error, according to Akhtarzad. The jewelry-mak-

asset to her business. When editing Instagram photos,

ing process varies depending on each product and

Akhtarzad tends to stay away from close-up shots.

its materials. Her variety of jewelry pieces includes

Instead, she incorporates the jewelry into scenes that

leather piercing and braiding, intricate chains and

encompasses each piece’s individual vibe.

beading. She describes beading as one of the most challenging processes when creating jewelry, since

When it comes to the future of her business, Akhtar-

it takes more time and meticulous detail. “It’s the

zad has considered venturing into new territory with

hardest but most rewarding,” Akhtarzad says.

handbags or expanding her jewelry line into pop-up shops around Austin. “My major definitely helped in

The details of her jewelry include vintage charms

creating business models, product developing and

and unique additions that make the necklaces more

creating an aesthetic,” she says. “It helped me learn to

distinctive. Her pricier items include details such

brand products from every point of view. This jewelry

as diamonds. “The person I want wearing jewelry is

line is just the beginning for me.”

someone who appreciates fine items, not [only] in their nice jewelry, but also in their trendy jewelry,” Akhtarzad says. “Someone who can follow trends but also keep their own signature style is my ideal customer.”

Akhtarzad incorporates her personal style into her latest online collection. She describes her fashion sense as an eclectic mix of sophisticated and tomboy looks. On the one hand, her collection consists of bohemian pieces, but also features leather chokers.

“I try to have different themes that are made from the same materials,” Akhtarzad says.

Much of the inspiration for her necklace designs arise from popular Instagram accounts that appeal to her aesthetic. Additionally, fashion icons such as Jane Birkin, an English actress and namesake for the Hermès Birkin bag, and the French-girl style of Francoise Hardy, a French pop singer and actress, heavily influence her designs. Personally, Akhtarzad

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Ten New Shops to Experience at The Domain Words by Ethan Elkins Photo by Sarah Holdeman

Nordstrom

The worldwide retailer’s new location requires hours to properly explore.

Free People

The bohemian brand’s newest addition offers a larger selection than its Sixth Street location.

Kelly Wynne

The handbag designer claims her products are for the “Accessory Queen.”

Restoration Hardware

With a chandelier-filled showroom, this furniture store defines high-class.

Diptyque Paris

A candle shop with pizzaz, Diptyque offers personal fragrances and beauty products.

Golden Bones Boutique

“Witchy” is the first word that comes to mind when customers explore this boutique’s dark garments and knick-knacks.

LUSH

The popular all-natural beauty brand has now opened a shop in North Austin.

Planet Blue

The new shop brings beach vibes to Austin’s plain city scene.

Warby Parker

The glasses-maker has stepped out of the school bus and opened a full-size shop.

STAG - Provisions for Men

The South Congress haberdashery will soon open its newest location at the Domain.

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Gab Soong styles a tan colored corduroy skirt and dark high socks.

Photos by Miranda Chiechi

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Alicja Zapalska wears a vintage button down, eclectic necklaces and a headband of her mother’s.

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Maddie Keist’s striped wide-leg pants and penny loafers scream the Seventies.

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Tatiana Roberts models a vintage band t-shirt with a signature 70s inspired vest.

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Roberts and Zapalska strike a pose in the Texas sun.

QUIZ

How much energy do you have to dress for class?

Words by Jasmine Valencia Illustration by Sonia Margolin

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

A I am a creature of the night. May no one disturb me when the sun rises.

B I am constantly sleep deprived, but try not to let anyone know.

C I would describe myself as a midday kind of person. My sleep schedule fluctuates weekly.

D Early bird gets the worm!

How many alarms do you have set for the next day?

A I don’t sleep– I hibernate. No alarm can wake me.

B About five to six alarms, but I’m usually up by the fourth one.

C I have one, but I depend on that snooze button.

D I am used to a schedule. My alarm starts off my day just right.

What are the contents of your college wardrobe?

A I live in pajamas or sweats. There’s no in-between.

B My closet contains athletic tops and Comfort Colors T-shirts. If there is a free shirt, I run for it.

C It ranges from leggings to jeans and graphic tees to fancy shirts. I have a large variety.

D I like to wear cool, trendy clothes, so I don’t ever fall into the trap of not wanting to get dressed for the day.

How long is your commute to class?

A I live on campus, so no time at all. I’m not usually in a rush to get to lectures.

B I’m coming from West Campus so I can make it to class in about five minutes.

C I have to make time to catch the bus.

D I usually make it to class with plenty of time to spare and even some extra time to buy a cup of coffee.

How do people describe your style?

A Extra-laid back. Clothes are meant to just cover up.

B I’ve been told my large, comfortable clothes look like I’ve reverted to my elementary school days.

C

Effortlessly put together. I’m neither a slob, nor do I look like I should walk the red carpet.

D They call me a fashion fanatic — always over-dressed and prepared for any situation.

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MOSTLY A

Rolled Out of Bed You are constantly running to class with unruly hair and yesterday’s T-shirt. You consider yourself lucky enough to be awake for school because you feel like a walking zombie. It’s totally understandable — it’s college!

MOSTLY B

Lazy, but Awake With a coffee in hand and the threat of a mid-morning nap, you try to do the minimum and at least change into clean clothes each day. Extremely large tees and comfy bottoms are your uniform and you are perfectly okay with that, as long as you feel relaxed and cozy.

MOSTLY C

Not your Average Joe With the mob of big tees and athletic gear on campus, you stand out, yet you aren’t dressed completely over the top.

You’re the type of person who always gets a good night’s rest, but there are times those days just seem impossible.

Your effortless and chic daily look consisting of nice jeans and a trendy top keeps you upbeat and ready for anything.

MOSTLY D

Queen on the Quad Most of your peers assume you are balancing school and life pretty well. Ready to strut your way to class, you stand out in a crowd of sleepless students on campus. Makeup on fleek or prancing around in some new boots, there is always a special addition that makes you distinctive from a crowd.

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Everyday Outfits as Cartoon Characters STYLE COLLAB

Itohan Osagie

Jenna Meltzer

Since my style follows a dark color palette and

Comfort is the main focus of my cartoon

incorporates more casual pieces, my cartoon

character’s outfit. After all, I would be wear-

character would only be true to herself if her

ing the same ensemble every single day! To

everyday outfit included gray denim overalls

maintain a stylish flair, I would wear my Lu-

with black booties, loosely inspired by Kim

lulemon Athletica leggings and matching tank

Possible’s go-to, villain-fighting ensemble. Al-

top. To add versatility, I would pair the outfit

though these items are usually hidden in the

with a pullover sweater so that I am prepared

depths of my closet, my character would need

for any temperature change. The outfit would

to be ready for whatever adventures come her

be completed with my hot pink Nike sneakers

way, while maintaining chicness and comfort

because they are the most comfortable shoes

with a no nonsense, take-the-world-as-it-

I own that are also acceptable to wear outside

comes attitude.

of my house. Sorry, fuzzy slippers.

Ethan Elkins

Brooke Lynn Decker

Similar to my Bitmoji emoticon, my cartoon

If I had the ability to attend class, clock-in at

character would wear a striped sweater with

work and travel the world with my friends all

deep blue jeans and white sneakers. A car-

at the same time, I would dress in my favor-

toon character’s look needs to be distinguish-

ite combination: my high-waisted blue, vel-

able, so a wacky and one-of-a-kind wool-knit

vet, drawstring joggers paired with a slouchy,

sweater does the trick. The sweater itself

long-sleeved boyfriend tee. I would throw

would be from Urban Outfitters, the jeans

on my gray Vera Wang loafers, adorned with

from Zara and the shoes would be Cole Haan.

black beaded tassels, and voilà! Unfortunately,

Also, I am always cold, so it serves as a mod-

only a cartoon character is capable of being in

erator between Mother Nature and me. As said

three different places at the same time.

by Spongebob Squarepants, “The best time to wear a striped sweater is all the time.”

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Samantha Favela

Alexis Green

Ibrahim Tanis

If I were a cartoon character,

My character would be an edgy

Comfort is the main focus of my

I would wear my black wrap

city girl who is always on the

outfit. For my perpetual charac-

dress underneath a vintage jean

go and off to new adventures.

ter image, I would wear a black

jacket because it showcases

This everyday outfit is the per-

hoodie jacket and black Nike

my love for dresses while al-

fect balance of comfiness with

slimline joggers. I would add

lowing me to look casual with

style. I wear black and white

a simple white shirt under the

a polished twist. Paired with

almost everyday because it’s

black jacket to make the overall

slip-on tennis shoes, my must-

an easy way to look chic with-

look easy on the eye and tidy.

have pendant necklace, pearl

out actually trying, especially in

The final touch, the black dress

earrings and beaded bracelet, I

this long t-shirt. As for shoes,

boots, would add a signature

would be stylish and prepared

these boots were literally made

look as well as convenience for

to take on whatever plot twist

for walking because knee highs

rainy days on the set.

awaits. As a cartoon character

are comfortable and a nice fin-

feeling chic and confident are

ishing touch to my character’s

my two priorities.

“cool girl” status.

Kristina Nguyen

Hunter Tanem

Jasmine Valencia

I imagine myself living in a mix

One outfit. One series. One leg-

Cartoon characters are usually

of a My Scene and Barbie uni-

acy. What would my cartoon

restricted to wearing one outfit

verse where I have freakishly

outfit be you may ask? That’s

throughout their entire exis-

long legs, lots of friends and

simple: black skinny jeans, an

tence. My cartoon outfit would

would star in movies with Lind-

oversized sweater, my NASA

include my staple denim skirt,

say Lohan. The drop-hoop ear-

cap, boots and a coffee. Wher-

a grey cropped sweater and my

rings and translucent heels are

ever I go, I’ll have a soy latte in

trusty Adidas Superstars. This

already an everyday staple for

hand and be the urban artist

outfit is charming, and best of

me, and I figure they’ll fit nicely

that solves the episode’s co-

all, it’s super comfortable. With

into this fashionable universe. I

nundrum.

some winged eyeliner and a

chose this pair of bell bottoms

smug look on my face, I’m your

that I made from scratch (be-

typical confused and sassy ‘90s

cause of course, my cartoon

cartoon.

character can sew clothes) to add some flare to the outfit.

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Of Drag and Dichotomy Ruby Knight and Bambi PVC Words by Kristina Nguyen Photos by Sarah Holdeman

“It’s Barbie meets intergalactic diva meets Ariana

stage, singing to the audience and catering to their

Grande,” Ruby Knight says, looking at me through her

cheers and cash tips, before settling in front of Ruby.

fluttery lashes. Tonight, she’s basketball Barbie. Her hot pink, sharply-flicked eyebrows match her furry

“And when my mum asks where we met, I’ll say it’s

coat and shiny leotard. Giant silver hoops glimmer

just this girl I met on the Internet,” Bambi lipsyncs

against her dark, curly hair. Her eggplant-colored lips

musician GIRLI through the speakers as she pulls her

smile at me before she’s whisked away by friends and

best friend onto the stage in front of the captivated

fans, disappearing into the crowd in a pink, feathery

crowd, the two lipsyncing and twirling together in a

blur.

cloud of glittery pink and snow-white hair.

The club, Oil Can Harry’s, is dimly lit, illuminated

Although the coupling of a Pisces “crybaby” (Bambi)

mostly by music videos playing on every wall. The

and Virgo “perfectionist” (Ruby), as they describe

pre-show music is pounding with the sound of pop

themselves, seems unlikely, the pair share many

princesses filling the crowded stage. It’s a stark con-

similar interests and reference points, complement-

trast to the South Congress coffeeshop where I first

ing each other in often unexpected ways. While

met Ruby and Bambi PVC on a Saturday afternoon.

Bambi prefers experimenting with styling and clothing, Ruby pushes the boundaries of makeup. They’ve

“Okay, now I can tell you the real tea,” Bambi tells

intentionally dressed the same way a few times, and

me a week prior to her performance. “For my per-

their looks have a tendency to ride the same wave-

formance, she thinks I’m doing something highly

length. “It’s always kind of comical to see how, even

conceptual, but a week ago, I decided to completely

though it’s not planned at all, we still hit the same

change it. It’ll be a homage to our friendship. I’m

marks a lot,” Bambi says. “It’s cute.”

hoping she cries, but she probably won’t because she’s a Virgo.”

At 18, Bambi started experimenting with drag in her dorm room at St. Edward’s University, incorporating

The two Austin drag queens met on Tinder two years

the looks into her daily life. Citing Raja, a famous

ago, where their first date at a drag show cemented

drag queen from the competition show

what would become an inseparable bond.

Their

Drag Race” as her inspiration and YouTube as her

friendship, along with their strong sense of individu-

drag mother, her beginnings in makeup started with

ality, allowed them to take the local scene by storm.

video tutorials, where she gathered techniques from

Their highly stylized looks and conceptual club per-

those who shared her face shape. Ruby also credits

formances earn them both disdain and admiration.

the Internet for her drag origins, but it took both of

“RuPaul’s

them a year to settle into their own sense of style.

An uptempo electronic-synth beat fills the empty stage before Bambi emerges from behind a black

“For me, it was this long period of recreating drag

curtain and struts into the spotlight in chunky leather

queens’ makeup that I liked and adored, and applying

heels, her glittery pink eyeshadow twinkling in the

it to my own face,” Ruby says.

dark room. Through the mirror on the opposite side

“That was a long period,” Bambi says.

of the wall, I catch a glimpse of Ruby, who is watch-

“Shut up,” Ruby says, laughing.

ing Bambi’s performance. Bambi prances around the 112

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By day, Bambi puts her graphic design skills to use at

Vengeance] helps lift me up, go through reality and

an internship for an independent film while attend-

just keep going,” Bambi says. “And Zenon is like, I’m

ing St. Edward’s and working at Starbucks, the only

not always laying in bed, sad. Sometimes I am very

place where she is known by her birth name. Ruby

happy and I do experience joy, and that’s where I feel

attended the San Francisco Art Institute, but returned

boppy and fun and cute.”

to Austin due to high tuition and living costs. She now utilizes her makeup expertise working at Sephora, but

Ruby started out as a name for an illustrative model

would like to return to school one day for art. Their

in a sketchbook. Her paper girl wore “neon flapper”

creative capabilities often bleed into producing their

looks, pairing 20s silhouettes with 80s color palettes.

fantastical looks, which they often incorporate into

After going out in drag in San Francisco, she decided

their everyday lives. “There’s not really a disconnect

to take on her drawing’s name. As the muse became

between who I am in the daytime and who I am at

the model, Ruby inherited her illustration’s contradic-

night,” Bambi says. “It’s all just one continuation,

tory and complementary styles, mixing vintage and

really.”

modern elements. Ruby’s name also reflects the two sides to her. “Ruby” is a “red, classic, cherry, very girly, fun, kind of girl” and “Knight” plays up her spookier, grimy side. “In drag, you’re generally perceived as a man playing a woman, so you have those opposites meeting and I think that’s where a little bit of it comes from,” Ruby says.

“There’s not really a disconnect between who I am in the daytime and who I am at night.

It’s all just one continuation, really.”

Identifying as nonbinary, Bambi’s views on gender inspired her first extended play, “BP1.” Songs such as “Gender’s Been Cancelled,” an anti-gender anthem that features Ruby, came at a time when she was trying to figure out her identity and the implications

In college, she decided to take on a drag name and

of gender labels. “From there, I learned that you can

settled on Bambi after a long week of thinking. “I also

identify as female and do very masculine things and

found it comical because a year after I came up with

still have your gender identity be perfectly valid,”

the name Bambi, I figured out that Bambi the deer

Bambi says. “When I started to see all of that, and all

is actually a boy,” Bambi says, adding that she likes

of the fakeness behind ‘nail polishes are for girls, and

the gender-bending undertone of her name. Her

hot wheels are for boys,’ I felt lifted, like all of this is

surname, “PVC,” references a Warhol quote about

very stupid and very fake.”

being plastic and integrates her predilection for paradox. “I also liked the dichotomy of Bambi being

In spite of all the glitz and glamour, the two face

in nature and PVC being artificial and plastic.”

adversities in the drag world and at home. “I’m in an environment where I’m constantly having to fight and

113

Like her name, Bambi’s style and personality also

prove that [even though] what I want to do is not nec-

operate in two oppositional binaries. Sometimes,

essarily accepted, it’s just what I want to do,” Bambi

she is Lady Vengeance, a character from the movie

says. Although her parents are financially supportive,

“Sympathy For Lady Vengeance,” who seeks deadly

they don’t accept her drag career. Her father once

revenge after being wrongfully accused of murder.

burned all 25 of her wigs. “It was really traumatic,”

Other times, she is the namesake character of “Zenon:

Bambi says. “It’s one thing to tell someone you don’t

Girl of the 21st Century,” a teenage cyber cadet who

approve of their lifestyle, but it’s another to literally

lives between Earth and space. Her struggle with

destroy things that are worth hundreds of dollars.”

depression manifests through these two sides. “[Lady

Ruby lives with her single mother, who was initially

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confused and concerned about her ventures into

showing through their makeup, why does it matter?”

drag. However, after seeing the happiness it brought

They often try to remain positive and encouraging,

Ruby, she is now more accepting and has even

much like the queens who helped them when they

offered Bambi support from time to time.

were starting out, such as Farrah Moan who secured their first gig.

In addition to their familial struggles, the queens learned that the drag community, which is known for

From their “low-key busted” beginnings to their

promoting tolerance and sisterhood, does not always

struggles within their personal and performance

practice what they preach. When the pair competed

lives, the queens are enthusiastic about their future

at Drag Survivor, a local competition for upcoming

endeavors. Along with wanting to be “the first drag

queens, they found out what others truly thought

queen in space,” Bambi hopes to create music videos,

about them. “Once you go, you realize they were just

grow her following and eventually release mer-

keeping their mouths shut the whole time,” Ruby says.

chandise. She plans for her new music to be more

“Now that they get a chance to actually judge you,

lighthearted, teasing at tracks that are expected to

you realize that they have no desire to accept what

be “fun and boppy.” Her performances will continue

you’re doing, and they just want you to do what they

to encompass a wide range of themes, which have

want.”

varied from celebrity culture to climate change.

Their resistance to a “pageant queen” aesthetic has

Ruby wants to be involved in some kind of pub-

fostered animosity from those who stick to more

lication, and thinks about improv in her makeup

traditional forms of drag. They often sense a lack of

skills. Additionally, she plans to produce more

respect from the community, particularly in the per-

“visual vomit,” and play creatively with videos and

formance scene, where they feel many view them as

photographs, possibly including makeup tutorials

“baby queens,” despite their two years of experience.

geared toward trans women. She intends to build her fan base and continue performing at clubs with

Although they have pledged to maintain their unique

shows that flirt with burlesque elements and mix

sense of self and stick together through the toxic-

thought-provoking concepts with entertainment.

ity, they reflect on how they are affected by others’ opinions. “I think sometimes I still am hindered by

“We have not only become so close through drag, but

what they think of me, whether I like to admit it or

as actual friends, and we’ve seen each other grow

not,” Ruby says. “Deep down, I still sort of want to be

and change and become considerably better people.”

accepted.”

Although their future is bright, the queens make sure Nevertheless, with a combined total of 3,000 Insta-

to acknowledge their humble beginnings and the

gram followers, social media has allowed them to

ways that their friendship and strong sense of self

reach a wider audience who encourages their indi-

have helped them along the way. “Had I never met

viduality and reminds them that being a drag queen

Bambi, I do not think I would be where I am, drag-

is more than just floor-length gowns and big hair.

wise, or in any other way,” Ruby says. “We have not

“There’s a greater world out there that supports that

only become so close through drag, but as actual

concept of being different, artistic and actually cele-

friends, and we’ve seen each other grow and change

brating it,” Bambi says.

and become considerably better people.”

Facing judgment has made them more supportive

With bigger and better things ahead, the pair hopes

of other drag queens, especially those who are just

to continue breaking down barriers and grow their art

starting out. Criticizing the “high school politics” of

in spite of the obstacles that may come. Referencing

the drag community, they want to put an end to the

a quote from Bob the Drag Queen, Bambi explains, “if

competitive atmosphere that comes with being a

it’s not working out, then it’s not the end.”

queen. “You have to take a step back and realize that all of this is fake,” Bambi says. “If somebody doesn’t have the sharpest eyeliner or if someone’s beard is

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Men’s street style focus:

FALL

ISAIAH GARCIA, 18 Textiles and Apparel Major Garcia is representing his patched denim jacket, something more expressive than the classic denim jacket. Basic jeans, a solid tee, and neutral shoes allow the intricate jacket to be the most outstanding part of his outfit.

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FOCUSING ON MEN’S FASHION AROUND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS CAMPUS, INSPIRATION IS DRAWN FROM MULTIPLE STUDENTS WHO BOASTED A CONSISTENT TREND: THE DENIM JACKET.

ETHAN ELKINS, 19 Journalism Major Clothed in a black tee and denim pants, the blue denim jacket is highlighted as the primary fashion statement of Elkins’ outfit. The black provides a base for the blue of the jacket to pop.

BILLY YUAN, 26 Masters in Business Analytics Dressing the jacket down, Yuan wears wider leg chinos, a sneaker, a basic tee and beanie to showcase that a denim jacket is very much versatile. Yuan shows that a denim jacket does not have to be overly dressy.

Photos by Hunter Tanem

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Top 10 Black Girl Moments of 2016 Words by Jasmine Valencia

Illustration by Jesus Acosta

1. During the Rio summer Olympics, United States

4. Michelle Obama graced the covers of this year’s

team member Simone Biles received gold medals in

Time, Vogue and ESSENCE magazines. “I think our

the all-around, vault and floor gymnastics competi-

democracy has it exactly right: two terms, eight

tions. This created back-to-back gold medal wins for

years,” Mrs. Obama says in Vogue. “It’s enough. Be-

black women as Gabby Douglas preceded her win at

cause it’s important to have one foot in reality when

the 2012 summer Olympics.

you have access to this kind of power.” Michelle Obama has been the only First Lady of color in his-

2. Ava DuVernay became the first African-American woman to direct a $100 million movie. Bringing a

tory, and the first to have received an undergraduate diploma from an Ivy League school.

literature classic to life, she will direct Disney’s “A Wrinkle In Time.”

5. At Glamour Magazine’s Women of the Year awards, the founders of Black Lives Matter—Alicia

3. A queen on the tennis courts, Serena Williams won her seventh Wimbledon title in July.

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Garza, Patrice Cullors and Opal Tometi—were all honored with the grand Women of the Year award.

During their acceptance speech, Cullors asked the audience to rise and recite a mantra to all minorities: “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.”

6. Beyonce and Solange Knowles became the first sisters to land No. 1 albums with “Lemonade” and “A Seat at the Table,” making history in the music industry.

8. America was put in formation with Beyonce’s Super Bowl performance. With her back-up dancers dressed in clothes reminiscent of the Black Panthers, Beyonce displayed her support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

9. Even while dealing with racism in the media, Leslie Jones starred in the new remake of “Ghostbusters.”

She became the target of online trolls, facing demeaning racial slurs and hateful memes. Jones took action to make a point of her solidarity in standing

7. Marvel Studios decided to make the new and

against these comments, bringing to light the hatred

upcoming Iron Man as a young black female, which

that actresses of color face on screen.

demonstrates the importance of media representation of marginalized groups. The character of Riri Williams, a 15 year old science genius at MIT will take over for Tony Stark in the upcoming comics.

10. After years of deliberation on whether or not to change the appearance of U.S. currency, Harriet Tubman was chosen as the new face of the twenty dollar bill in April.

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contributors EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

MANAGING EDITORS

Emily Nash

Hannah McMorris

Mia Uhunmwangho

Alejandra Martinez Zoya Zia

CREATIVE DIRECTION

Jesus Acosta Ryan Hicks

WRITERS

Stephanie Adeline Alyssa Arnold Elise Barbin

SECTION EDITORS

Sarah Bloodworth

Olivia Benton

Marilee Bodden

Angela Bonilla Miranda Chiechi Kassidy Curry Alejandro Diaz Ethan Elkins Malayna Ellis London Gibson Kathryn Guerra Jenna Meltze Itohan Osagie Megan Prendergast Jacqueline Ramos Rachel Rascoe Nicole Scallan Emma Whalen

Katarina Brown Collyn Burke Andrea Cos Kassidy Curry Brooke Lynn Decker Alejandro Diaz Ethan Elkins Nicole Farrell Samantha Favela Ali Garza Nafisa Rumman Gazi London Gibson Alexis Green Natalie Heineman Guneez Ibrahim Sophie Lidji Jenna Meltzer

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Miranda Chiechi Maya Coplin Malayna Ellis Kristin Evans Laura Godines Ashley Herr Sarah Holdeman Dorian McCradic Emily Nash Hunter Tanem

Onaje McDowelle Kristina Nguyen Itohan Osagie Aiden Park Megan Prendergast Alex Puente Jacqueline Ramos Rachel Rascoe Hayli Rudolph Nicole Scallan Jordan Steyer Hunter Tanem Ibrahim Tanis

ILLUSTRATORS

Jesus Acosta Jaclyn Alford Alex Guillen Ryan Hicks Bryant Ju Sonia Margolin

Jasmine Valencia Allyson Waller Emma Whalen Henry Youtt Zoya Zia

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