Tribeza Winter 2020 Issue by TRIBEZA Austin Curated

19 YEARS

ambienti collection available at copenhagen

The Ambienti collection of decorative sculptures is a whimsical interpretation of the female form displayed in playful poses. Accented in bright colors, these unique pieces are sure to bring life to any environment. Creativity born in Italy, each piece is hand-painted, so no two are exactly alike. Several styles and sizes available. Main image: Relaxed Girl 21” x 14” x 21” tall $565 Top to bottom: Yoga Girl 22” x 13” x 21” tall $619 The Nap 14” x 11” x 18” tall $545, Pop Girl 17” x 10”x 21” tall $585, Fashion Girl 13” x 8” x 14” tall $435,

furniture and accessories for your modern lifestyle Austin 2236 West Braker Lane 512.451.1233

San Antonio 18603 Blanco Road 210.545.4366

www.copenhagenliving.com

G O T T E S M A N R E S I D E N T I A L R E A L E S TAT E

Silver Sponsor

2020 Sponsors

Contributing & in Kind

AUSTIN CURATED

F I N E J E W E L L E RY B Y O L E LY N G G A A R D

2727 Exposition Blvd #110, Austin, TX 78703

www

.OLE

LY N G G A A R D

. com

SHOP, DINE AND EXPERIENCE NORTHSIDE 7 FOR ALL MANKIND AMAZON BOOKS AWAY BAKERY LORRAINE BONOBOS CB2 CASPER CULINARY DROPOUT DOC B’S FRESH KITCHEN DRYBAR ERIN CONDREN FLOWER CHILD FREE PEOPLE JENI’S SPLENDID ICE CREAMS LIVELY MARINE LAYER MEJURI MIZZEN + MAIN NORDSTROM PAIGE RAY-BAN SCOTCH & SODA SOULCYCLE SUITSUPPLY SUR LA TABLE TECOVAS THEORY WARBY PARKER YETI AND MANY MORE

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

@DomainNORTHSIDE

DOMAINNORTHSIDE.COM

For those seeking the exceptional thefourseasonspenthouse.com

Kumara Wilcoxon, Global Real Estate Advisor 512.423.5035 | kumara@sothebysrealty.com kumarawilcoxon.com

NEW HOMES â&#x20AC;&#x201C; REMODELS - POOLS

o d c us to mho m e s . co m

CONTENTS

WINTER DEPARTMENTS

Social Hour p. 28 Kristin’s Column p. 34 Tribeza Talk p. 36 Arts & Nonprofits Guide p. 38 Karen’s Pick p. 80 Dining Guide p. 84 A Look Behind p. 88 Gift Guide p. 41 FEATURES

People of the Year p. 47 Hidden Gem p. 62 The Artful Healers p. 66

Leah Chyma holds one of her unique custom helmet designs.

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

ON THE COVER Artist Isra Sharnez is one of four artists using their work to invite and promote healing. PHOTOGRAPH BY RILEY BLANKS

P H OTO G R A P H : R I L E Y B L A N K S

Listening In p. 72

TRENDING ON

TRIBEZA.COM

AUSTIN IN A POCKET: GAN BEI GALS

Three friends who met at UT wanted to share AsianAmerican culture through food and storytelling. The result is a pop-up model with delicious creations. tribeza.com/gan-bei-gals

HOTEL MAGDALENA

A breath of fresh air near the South Congress strip, the new Bunkhouse property is on historic land and feels like a tree house by the lake. tribeza.com/ hotel-magdalena

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

STAYING CLOSE TO HOME

There’s plenty to enjoy outside during Austin’s cooler seasons. Alex Reichek, whose food and travel adventures are documented on her Instagram @ChekmarkEats, shares her nearby discoveries. tribeza.com/ austin-day-trips

G A N B E I G A L S : M AC K E N Z I E S M I T H K E L L E Y; H OT E L M AG DA L E N A LO B B Y: N I C K S I M O N I T E ; S TAY I N G C LO S E TO H O M E : A L E X R E I C H E K

Stories from this issue are available at tribeza.com, in addition to fresh content daily. Keep up by subscribing to our Tribeza Talk newsletter. tribeza.com/sign-up-newsletter

compass.com

A Fall Market Unlike Any Other

This season in Real Estate typically means it’s time to slow down and prep your home for a busy spring market. But in a year that is anything but typical, we have record inventory lows here in Austin. Now is the perfect time to sell your home at its highest value.

List your home with Chris King or Amy Stubbs!

Chris King, Realtor® 440.708.3381 | chris.king@compass.com

Amy Stubbs, Realtor® 937.371.7893 | amy.stubbs@compass.com ChrisKingATX.com 2500 Bee Caves Rd, Bldg 3 Ste 200 Austin, TX 78746

All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. Compass is a licensed real estate broker. Equal Housing Opportunity.

PUBLISHER'S LETTER

A S I WRITE THIS IN MID - OCTOBER,

we are finally enjoying a break from the extreme August heat. And this cooler weather is a nice distraction from what I know many of us are wondering: What are the holidays going to look like? Will we be able to safely gather with family, friends and colleagues? Sadly, I suspect the traditional gatherings, parties and celebrations will be greatly curtailed, if they happen at all. ARGH. I know you all join me in wishing for a speedy end to the COVID-19 crisis and a return to something more normal. Thankfully, I do believe we are making some progress. Fingers crossed! Fortunately, there are some parts of Austin that are open and people who are working hard on the frontlines and beyond to enable us to have some pieces of our pre-COVID-19 joy and comfort, even if we have to pick them up or have them delivered. And team Tribeza has been working hard from home to survey the community and share uplifting stories that I hope you will enjoy. I am very pleased to announce that in an effort to put Tribeza in the hands of more readers, we are shifting 5,000 copies from destination delivery to direct mail to homes across Austin. The zip codes included are 78701, 78702, 78703, 78704, 78705, 78731, 78732, 78735, 78737, 78738 and 78746. I hope you are one of the ones on the list and look forward to your feedback. If you don’t find one in your mailbox, know that many of your favorite locations will continue to have copies, including 34th Street Cafe, Fonda San Miguel, Gusto Italian Kitchen, Birds Barbershops, By George,

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

Estilo, Hearth & Soul, Julian Gold, Urban Betty, Westlake Dermatology, Whole Foods and Central Market. Furthermore, there are some exciting things in the works at Tribeza. During the past few months, we’ve been hard at work on a pair of projects that we can’t wait to share with our readers, followers and partners. This holiday season, we want to highlight the products we know and use, love and trust. Tribeza will be proud to launch two upcoming initiatives, Tribeza Trusted and Tribeza Shop, with beloved local and national brands like Kammok, CrateJoy, Yeti, Kendra Scott, Dry Farm Wines and more. Stay tuned for much more on these exciting new ventures. All of this great content—plus more exclusive digital stories—will be on Tribeza.com. To keep up with what is new, please sign up for the Tribeza newsletter (tribeza.com/newsletter) and follow us on social media @tribeza on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. As always, thanks for reading and supporting Tribeza. I wish you the very best of holidays. Best regards,

George T. Elliman CEO + Publisher

JOE LONGTON PRESIDENTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CLUB

JOELONGTON@SOTHEBYSREALTY.COM | 512.633.5186

SOLD | REPRESENTED BUYER

3516 BU N N Y RUN | $4,995,0 0 0 1 .9 AC RES O F BE AUTI F UL LY L A NDSCA PED YAR D

280 4 R IV ERC R EST |$ 3,395,000 L AKE AUST I N WAT ER F RO NT

FOR SALE | EXCLUSIVE

SOLD | REPRESENTED BUYER 350 4 MT. BO N NE L L | $3,45 0,0 0 0 OVER LO O K I N G L A K E AUST I N

3 8 17 WESTL AKE DR IV E | $5,2 50,000 L AKE AUST I N WAT ER F RO NT

EDITOR’S LETTER

2020 HA S NOT BEEN OVERLY KIND TO SMALL businesses, and local magazines are no exception. At Tribeza, we’re both grateful and humbled to sustain our mission to inform, inspire and surprise our readers by providing a curated look into Austin’s most innovative citizens. This is no small task in a good year; 2020 rendered it almost Herculean. On top of the operational pressures facing every profession, 2020 also added to the writers’ already intense internal burden to beautifully and accurately share the stories that shape our community. As both writer and editor, I can’t recall a single article in my career where I haven’t faced some level of anxiety over the best way to embody the essence of a story—whether highlighting the work of an artist, restaurant or the enormous societal and cultural shifts we’ve witnessed in this unsettling season. Externally, that pressure now manifests itself in the higher standards readers are rightfully demanding of media outlets. Where the individual writer has to ask, Can I phrase this differently, or does this quote illustrate this person’s journey? magazines must examine whose story we are telling in the first place. And more importantly, whose voice are we missing. With that in mind, curating a list of People of the Year for this issue meant ensuring that the lens through which we ref lected on 2020 was wider than our own. On top of the change-makers already on our radar, we put out a call to our community asking the simple question: Who inspires you? The resulting list is an incredible snapshot of Austin’s enduring spirit of entrepreneurship and service—curated not just by our writers and editorial team, but by our readers. Knowing this issue will hit stands at the tail end of an intense election season, we hope it demonstrates that while national politics are important, real change starts with amazing individuals like those showcased here. Combining this feature with our annual Arts issue, I saw that same theme highlighted in the creators who invite healing by helping us process what it means to be human. Our cover photographer, Riley Blanks, captures this call to restoration—whether individual or communal—in her vibrant visual and verbal roundup of four artists working in different mediums toward the same end goal (“The Artful Healers,” p. 66).

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

Likewise, Kahron Spearman’s conversation with artists Moyo Oyelola and Aimée M. Everett (“Listening In,” p. 72) shares a glimpse of how this year has transformed their perspectives as creatives while they in turn seek to transform ours through their work. Summarizing one of the collective experiences of 2020, Oyelola says the year has tested all of our hows and whys: “The whys are deeper questions that a lot of people are still figuring out.” As we ref lect on the people and artists impacting our city in this momentous year, our wish is that each story helps you examine your own why with a renewed sense of hope for the future—for yourself, for Austin and beyond.

Hannah J. Phillips Managing Editor

WOMEN’S — Dries Van Noten, The Row, Bernadette, Cecilie Bahnsen, Loewe, Jil Sander, Dosa, Ganni, Raquel Allegra, Staud, Vada, Zero + Maria Cornejo, Jeanerica, Co, Nili Lotan, Plan C MEN’S — Barena, Saturdays, Brunello Cucinelli, Dries Van Noten, Jeanerica, Golden Goose, Rag & Bone, Mykita, Maison Martin Margiela, Elder Statesman, Stone Island, The Row Lamar ⋅ The Men’s Shop ⋅ South Congress

BYGEORGEAUSTIN.COM

Photography by Dagny Piasecki

TRIBEZ A AUSTIN CUR ATED

W I N T E R 2 02 0

19 YEARS

N O. 2 2 7

CEO + PUBLISHER

George Elliman

MANAGING EDITOR

Hannah J. Phillips

ART DIRECTOR

Alexander Wolf

DIGITAL DIRECTOR

Aaron Parsley

DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER

Holly Cowart

COLUMNISTS

Kristin Armstrong Karen O. Spezia

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Krissy Hearn

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Paul Krushin

ACCOUNTING MANAGER

Joe Layton

PRINCIPALS

George Elliman Chuck Sack Vance Sack Michael Torres

WRITERS

Riley Blanks Graham Cumberbatch Alexis Green Lauren Jones Regine Malibiran Laurel Miller Hannah J. Phillips Kahon Spearman Courtney Runn COPY EDITOR

Stacy Hollister

PHOTOGR APHERS

Riley Blanks Holly Cowart Chelsa King Mackenzie Smith Kelley Moyo Oyelola CONTRIBUTING ARTIST

Shaylin Wallace

706A West 34th Street Austin, Texas 78705 ph (512) 474 4711 | fax (512) 474 4715 tribeza.com Founded in March 2001, TRIBEZA is Austin's leading locally-owned arts and culture magazine. Printed by CSI Printing and Mailing Copyright @ 2020 by TRIBEZA. All rights reserved. Reproduction, in whole or in part, without the express written permission of the publisher, is prohibited. TRIBEZA is a proud member of the Austin Chamber of Commerce. S U B SC R I B E TO TR I B EZ A VISIT TRIB EZ A .COM FOR DE TAIL S

INSIDER

SPREAD CHEER

CO U R T E S Y O F T H E K I N D N E S S C A M PA I G N

Andra Liemandt is on a mission to spread kindness, p 36.

tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

FIT2VOTE MEDIA DAY Local nonpartisan voting campaign Fit2Vote united fitness lovers and instructors from across Austin on September 19 to get active for the election season. With voter registration tables open all day, guests were invited to spread encouragement by sharing their vote-themed photos on social media. Created by Jennie Bender, Fit2Vote hosted several community initiatives throughout the year and continues to invite Austinites to reconsider how they view their right to vote.

4 5

ROSE GOLD WINE RELEASE On October 1, Rose Gold celebrated the release of its 2019 vintage with an intimate wine tasting at the W Hotel’s TRACE. Owner Casey Barber met with guests over light hors d’oeuvres to share the classic dry Provence rosé, bottled in the South of France and found in 250 locations throughout Texas.

IMAGINE A WAY GALA 2020: 1. Margaret Naumann, Tricia Ghiselli, Erin Jordan & Jacqueline Joseph 2. Kayla Gonzalez, Lauren Lewis & Amy Hamand 3. Alyssa Sherry, Nikki Maples, Donna Blair, Tamara Carlisle & Keith Maples

FIT2VOTE MEDIA DAY: 4. Marissa Patton 5. Ramona Von Leden, Jessica Mims & Jennie Bender 6. John Chriss 7. Kaila Parkie ROSE GOLD WINE RELEASE: 8. Donna Tryba & Casey Barber 9. Nicolette Abruzino & Opi Abeysekera 10. Vanessa Halls & Natasha Wilson 11. Brooklyn Barney & Gabby Goduco 12. Brandy Archer, Denise Bell & Brooke Wilbratte

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

P H OTO G R A P H S B Y B E N P O R T E R , J E S S I C A M I M S A N D E R I N R E A S

IMAGINE A WAY GALA 2020 Imagine A Way hosted its ninth annual gala virtually on September 17. A handful of friends held small watch parties in their homes to share in the celebratory event and live auction. Throughout the course of the evening, IAW raised over $200,000, which will directly benefit children with autism in Central Texas.

me Home o c t el

THE ADDIE AT WESTLAKE

OPPORTUNITY HAS ARRIVED. NEW LUXURY HOMES IN WESTLAKE FROM $1.1M

This exclusive collection of new homes is over 50% SOLD OUT. Opportunity is knocking behind the gates of The Addie at Westlake boasting Modern-European inspired architecture within a low-maintenance, luxury community. Each residence comes with an array of options to tailor-make your home to your lifestyle.

Join us onsite to discover this land of opportunity.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO VIEW A VIRTUAL TOUR - ADDIEWESTLAKE.COM (512) 360-0112 | 800 N. CAPITAL OF TEXAS HWY. AUSTIN, TX 78746 *Exclusive Sales & Marketing by Highlands Realty. Obtain the Property Report required by federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal Agency has judged the merits of value, if any, of this property. See Sales Executive for details. Broker XL Highlands Realty LLC, License #9001784

21 years building custom homes in Austin. Every home built has been on time and on budget.

Perfect homes. Even better experience. We only build 1-3 homes each year because we are committed to building the best home and providing the best building experience for you.

512-916-8700 Gary@UrbanHomeBuilders.com

This year weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned that home is more important than ever.

Lisa Matulis-Thomajan 512.739.2460 lisa@thomajanladnergroup.com

LE T U S H E LP YO U F I N D YO U R P L AC E I N AU S TI N .

Jennifer Ladner thomajanladnergroup.com

512.827.9255 jennifer@thomajanladnergroup.com

KRISTINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COLUMN

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

we going to leave behind, and what will we choose to carry forward? What will we weed out, what will we nourish and what will we plant? What are we cultivating? One thing is rather clear if we are even halfway awake: We cannot cultivate by default anymore. Some people (myself included) choose a word to represent themselves in the new year. In years past, I have chosen words like Love, Abundant, Open, Freedom, Adventure, even Balls (sorry, I needed courage that year). I was listening to a podcast recently that was discussing the power of choosing a word as a theme, or even as the basis for how we frame our identity or tell our story. The hosts cautioned listeners about how careful we really need to be. By Kristin Armstrong The example they used was the word Resilient. At first glance, it seems like Artwork by Shaylin Wallace a pretty great word to use to define ourselves, the ability to adjust or recover from adversity or challenge. Someone adaptable, strong, flexible, persistent. And yet, by the very nature of the incorporaPLAYED SOCCER IN HIGH SCHOOL. NOT SAYING I PLAYED WELL, tion or assignment of this word to our identity, but I suited up and have two abiding memories: AC/DC blasting from a we necessitate and perpetuate struggle. If we jam box during our pregame warmups, and a teammate named Steph view ourselves as resilient, we consciously or who was a killer on the field. She would get a certain look on her face subconsciously must find (or create) something when a ball was coming into her strike zone, and if you were nearby you to overcome. So if we choose a word like this, and could hear her—every time: if we also deeply desire things like success, abun“Sayo-F$%#in’-nara,” she would grunt, booting the ball to kingdom dance, satisfaction, ease, harmony, flow, comfort, come. Gone. connection and peace—we are effectively cancelSayonara is the collective, pervasive sentiment for the end of 2020. Good ing ourselves out with conflicting energy. It’s like riddance. Adios. Au revoir. Buh-bye. praying for patience and then being surprised It is absolutely time for a new year, and it finally is coming, just around that you are getting tested and thwarted and the bend. But before we bid adieu to this epic, unprecedented year, we provoked at every turn. We get what we ask for, better be damn sure we wring every last lesson from it so we don’t have to we find what we seek, we harvest what we sow. repeat this grade. When we choose our word, we must look at In a year disfigured by shock, loss, change, grief, anger, fear and confuthe energy that surrounds it and the implications sion, there are also fresh telltale scars of healing, adaptability, endurance, embedded in it, being very clear that it is what we patience, growth, recalibration, intention and unconditional love. We have really mean, what we really want, who we really had separation from some beloved family members and friends, as well as are or are wanting to become. Some might say we the gift of time with others—connection that would never have happened got blindsided by 2020, but we cannot say that in any other way. We have adjusted our schedules, our careers, our habits, the same way about 2021. Blinders are off. The our worship, our finances, our travel plans, our hobbies, our education, our unexpected is more expected. We move forward exercise, our routines, our traditions, our holidays and our relationships (ideally together) with eyes, ears, hearts, hands to meet the ever-evolving concept of new normal. We have forfeited and and minds wide-open. filtered so many aspects of our lives that our sacred priorities remain, Inherent in any end is a beginning. sparkling and radiant like sea glass scattered after high tide recedes. Welcome. And hopefully, like sea glass, some of our sharper edges have been worn smooth by the pummeling waves of 2020, turning ordinary broken glass into treasure. If we choose to participate fully and consciously in the soul curriculum of our lives, we can choose to compost 2020 into our garden of 2021. What are

tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

T R I B E Z A TA L K

A lot has changed lately, including the ways we celebrate. As we enter the year’s final months, the holidays still feel like a warm, familiar respite among the unpredictable. While there’s no wrong way to give, why not make a little extra impact with your gifts this season? Normally generating donations through annual galas and fundraisers, nonprofit organizations have also had to rethink the ways in which they connect with supporters. However, these local establishments have hit the nail on the head, making it easy to spread some cheer while uplifting the community as a whole. –HOLLY COWART

TEXAS FOOD AND WINE ALLIANCE

A U S T I N PA R K S F O U N D AT I O N

H O L I DA Y S W E A T E R , $50

Investing in Austin’s green spaces since 1992, the Austin Parks Foundation is one of the reasons we get to brag about our city’s natural beauty. But some may be surprised to find that the nonprofit also has a pretty sweet selection of merch, from YETI tumbler collabs to embroidered beach towels. A favorite is the detailed holiday sweater, which matches the comfy People + Parks-themed socks, available online after November 16. A standout at any sweaterfriendly party, these looks will keep nature lovers cozy while helping our parks and trails thrive for years to come. shop.austinparks.org

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

What if you could bring the flavors of Texas’ best chefs home for the holidays? Whether gifting your favorite foodie or feeding the mouths around your own table, these deliveries from Assembly Kitchen can’t be experienced anywhere else. Forget a stocking—each box is stuffed with locally made, chef-curated treats that will delight any and all taste buds. Find all things sweet and savory, from a heavenly pairing of tamales and smoked Fresno salsa by Comedor’s Gabe Erales and Philip Speer to seasonal macarons crafted by Chefs Anne Ng and Jeremy Mandrell of Bakery Lorraine—just for starters. Those looking to step up their game with the Ultimate Texas Treats set can expect an epic finale of flavors thanks to a decadent rice cereal bar from Chef Rebecca Masson of Fluff Bake Bar, a biscuit cinnamon roll prepared by Chef Michael Fojtasek from Olamaie and an impressive 16 ounces of pecan-smoked bacon sausage courtesy of Underbelly Hospitality’s Chris Shepherd. The price of each gift set will also ensure a $5 donation to the Texas Food and Wine Alliance, contributing to the group’s mission of supporting Texas food communities through valuable culinary grants and educational programs. Orders can be placed for delivery throughout Texas until Monday, December 21. texasfoodandwinealliance.org/texas-treats

P H OTO G R A P H S CO U RT E S Y O F AU S T I N PA R K S FO U N DAT I O N A N D T E X A S F O O D & W I N E A L L I A N C E

T E X A S T R E A T S G I F T B OX , $59 U LT I M A T E T E X A S T R E A T S G I F T B OX , $99

“Savannah Sun” by Hugh Miles

TH E KIN DN E S S C A M PA IG N B U I L D Y O U R K I N D K I T, $20

ART FROM THE STREETS

A RT F RO M T H E S T R EE T S : P H OTO G R A P H BY K EN N Y T R I C E ; CO U RT E S Y O F B OS S B A B E S AT X ; CO U RT E S Y O F T H E K I N D N E S S C A M PA I G N

F I N E A R T P R I N T S , From $25

Established in 1991, Art From the Streets provides artists who experience or have experienced homelessness an encouraging space to create and sell their work. Throughout the pandemic, their makers have been busy keeping the online marketplace stocked with beautiful artwork and apparel. Although unable to host its Annual Show and Sale at the Austin Convention Center this winter, the event will take place virtually on December 5 and 6, providing opportunities for holiday shoppers to snag original pieces, with artists receiving 95 percent of the proceeds. Prints and merchandise for the newly released items will become available online the following day. The nonprofit is also in the process of raising funds to publish a collection of work titled Through Our Eyes: Art From the Pandemic, from which future exhibitions both online and in person will arise. artfromthestreets.org

This year, everyone could benefit from a little extra kindness and support, especially our kiddos. Founder Andra Liemandt created The Kindness Campaign with the goal to normalize emotional health and instill confidence in the next generation of leaders. Its customizable Kind Kits, perfect for pre-K through fourth grade, bring the TKC curriculum home, starting with the four pillars of emotional learning: self-image, emotional awareness, empathy and community. Choose from different adventures to find the bundle that best fits your child’s needs. The organization has also had to change plans for its annual gala, moving the evening of fundraising to a virtual format. From November 12 through November 24, Art of Kindness 2020: Feed Your Soul will give

supporters the opportunity to purchase an elegant dinner party in a box—feeding up to 12 guests for a celebratory evening in. Even better, the act will provide holiday meals to Central Texas families in need and further spread kindness to students through TKC’s mission. family.tkckindness.org

B B AT X (# B O S S B A B E S AT X ) C R A F T H E R B OX : S T A Y W E L L E D I T I O N , $50

Founded by Jane Claire Hervey, bbatx is a nonprofit providing community for women and nonbinary artists in Texas through creative programs and networking events. Quick to pivot to virtual endeavors during the early days of the pandemic, the group has come up with inventive ways to empower local makers. Commemorating its first-ever craftHER Market Week, which took place in October, the craftHER box is still available to order throughout the rest of the year and is filled with goodies made to enrich the soul. Hand-selected from small-business owners in Texas, the gift includes a mini-face planter from Howdy Studios, a golden butter salve from Flowers & Moondust, a selection of teas from Basic Ass Tea and more. Also make sure to look out for Creative Medicine, the new series featuring virtual film showcases and openair sound medicine sessions at the LINE hotel, launching November 6 and 7. bossbabes.org/thebox

tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

HAPPENINGS

DIEDRICK BRACKENS: DARLING DIVINED Through May 16 Blanton Museum of Art ADREON HENRY: INTERSECTING STORIES Through Nov. 21 CAMIBAart Gallery ELA 25: INTERSECCIÓN: CHOQUE & ALIVIO, INTERSECTION: SHOCK & RELIEF EXHIBITION Through Nov. 22 Mexic-Arte Museum EVIDENCE OF THE SEARCH: NEW WORK BY LAUREL DANIEL Through Nov. 25 Davis Gallery JON LANGFORD ART Through Nov. 28 Yard Dog Art Gallery THIS IS MESMERIZE: THE EXPERIENCE Through Dec. 4 Native Hostel FEDERICO ARCHULETA: ADIÓS, AMÉN, HASTA LUEGO Through Dec. 5 Big Medium Gallery BRIANNA MCINTYRE Through Dec. 12 Women & Their Work Gallery DARKENING WARMTH: ELIZABETH SCHWAIGER Through Dec. 31 Co-Lab Projects GABRIEL GARCÍA MÁRQUEZ: THE MAKING OF A GLOBAL WRITER Through Jan. 3 Harry Ransom Center EXPANDING ABSTRACTION: PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF PAINTING IN THE AMERICAS, 1958 – 1983 Through Jan. 10 Blanton Museum of Art

CONCRETE TO CANVAS Nov. 1 – Dec. 31 West Chelsea Contemporary BABES FEST 2020 Nov. 6 & 7 bbatx A BRIEF INTERRUPTION: A GROUP EXHIBITION Nov. 7 – 22 Contracommon WILL KLEMM: NINE STORIES Nov. 7 – 29 Wally Workman Gallery OFF THE WALLS: GIFTS FROM PROFESSOR JOHN A. ROBERTSON Nov. 8 – March 14 Blanton Museum of Art AUSTIN DESIGN WEEK 2020 Nov. 9 – 13 Virtual BLUE GENIE ART BAZA AR Nov. 13 – Dec. 24 Blue Genie Art Bazaar OPEN-AIR ART MARKET Nov. 14 Contracommon AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR Nov. 14 – 22 Big Medium CELEBRATING AN INTERVAL OF TIME: A VIRTUAL Q&A WITH MONIKA BRAVO Nov. 18 Landmarks DESIGN SHINE 2020 Nov. 18 – March 7 UMLAUF Sculpture Garden & Museum THROUGH OUR EYES: PERSPECTIVE OF 2020 FROM CAMIBAART ARTISTS Nov. 28 – Dec. 26 CAMIBAart Gallery

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

GIVING BACK IN INCREDIBLE W A Y S F O R O U R C I T Y.

HUMAN SERVICES AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 4315 Guadalupe St. #300 (512) 472 4483 austincf.org AUSTIN DISASTER RELIEF NETWORK 1122 E. 51st St. A (512) 428 6322 adrn.org AUSTIN GAY & LESBIAN PRIDE FOUNDATION P.O. Box 162924 austinpride.org AUSTIN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY 500 W. Ben White Blvd. (512) 472 8788 austinhabitat.org AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION 1603 E. 38th 1/2 St. (512) 576 5848 austinjustice.org CARITAS OF AUSTIN 611 Neches St. (512) 479 4610 caritasofaustin.org CASA MARIANELLA 821 Gunter St. (512) 385 5571 casamarianella.org EASTERSEALS 8505 Cross Park Dr., Ste. 120 (512) 478 2581 easterseals.com/centraltx EQUALITY TEXAS 1502 West Ave., Ste. A (512) 474 5475 equalitytexas.org FLATWATER FOUNDATION 3575 Far West Blvd. (512) 553 2010 flatwaterfoundation.org

FOUNDATION FOR THE HOMELESS (512) 615 6897 foundationhomeless.org FOSTER VILLAGE AUSTIN 15400 Fitzhugh Rd. (512) 599 4144 fostervillageaustin.org HI, HOW ARE YOU PROJECT PO BOX 49845 hihowareyou.org I LIVE HERE I GIVE HERE 1310 S. 1st St., Ste. 210 (512) 717 4190 ilivehereigivehere.org INTEGRAL CARE FOUNDATION

1430 Collier St. (512) 440 4055 integralcarefoundation.org INTERFAITH ACTION OF CENTRAL TEXAS 2921 E. 17th St. (512) 386 9145 interfaithtexas.org MAGDALENE HOUSE ATX 3112 Windsor Rd., Ste. A (512) 766 6583 magdaleneaustin.org

THE SALVATION ARMY AUSTIN

4700 Manor Rd. (512) 634 5955 salvationarmyaustin.org SETON FOUNDATIONS 1345 Philomena St., Ste. 400 (512) 324 5900 supportseton.org ST. DAVID’S FOUNDATION 1303 San Antonio St., Ste. 500 (512) 879 6600 stdavidsfoundation.org SWAN SONGS 706A W. Ben White Blvd., Ste. 236A (512) 416 7926 swansongs.org UNITED WAY FOR GREATER AUSTIN

2000 E. MLK Jr. Blvd. (512) 472 6267 unitedwayaustin.org WE ARE BLOOD 4300 N. Lamar Blvd. 3100 W. Slaughter Ln. (512) 206 1266 weareblood.org

weareblood.org

FAMILY

MOBILE LOAVES & FISHES 9301 Hog Eye Rd., Ste. 950 (512) 328 7299 mlf.org

AUSTIN ED FUND 4000 S. IH-35 Frontage Rd. (512) 414 4851 austinedfund.org

RAICES 2101 S. IH-35 Frontage Rd., Ste. 300 (512) 994 2199 raicestexas.org

ANDY RODDICK FOUNDATION 8509 FM 969 Bldg. 509 (512) 298 1960 arfoundation.org

REFUGEE SERVICES OF TEXAS

500 E. St. Johns Ave. (512) 472 9472 rstx.org

ANN RICHARDS SCHOOL FOUNDATION 2206 Prather Ln. (512) 414 3236 annrichardsschool.org/foundation

AUSTIN DIAPER BANK 8711 Burnet Rd., Ste. b34 (512) 710 7232 austindiapers.org

THE KINDNESS CAMPAIGN tkc@tkckindness.org tkckindness.org

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CENTRAL TEXAS 4800 Manor Rd., Bldg. K (512) 472 5437 bigmentoring.org

LATINITAS 1023 Springdale Rd., Bldg. 9E (512) 900 0304 latinitasmagazine.org

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AUSTIN

6648 Ed Bluestein Blvd. (512) 444 7199 bgcaustin.org

CASA OF TRAVIS COUNTY 7600 Chevy Chase Dr., Ste. 200 (512) 459 2272 casatravis.org CENTER FOR CHILD PROTECTION

8509 FM 969 #2 (512) 472 1164 centerforchildprotection.org CREATIVE ACTION 1023 Springdale Rd., Bldg. 3 (512) 442 8773 creativeaction.org FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN 1023 Springdale Rd., Ste. 13C (512) 717 6701 friendsaustin.org HEARTGIFT 7951 Shoal Creek Blvd., Ste. 301 (512) 330 4988 heartgift.org HELPING HAND HOME FOR CHILDREN 3804 Avenue B (512) 459 3353 helpinghandhome.org IMAGINE A WAY 206 N. West Dr. (512) 220 4324 imagineaway.org KIDS IN A NEW GROOVE 3737 Executive Center Dr. #154 (512) 596 5441 kidsinanewgroove.org

LIFEWORKS AUSTIN 3700 S. 1st St. (512) 735 2400 lifeworksaustin.org

ENVIRONMENT AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION 1023 Springdale Rd. #4B (512) 477 1566 austinparks.org BARTON SPRINGS CONSERVANCY 603 W. 13th St. (512) 934 7079 bartonspringsconservancy.org

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF CENTRAL TEXAS 1315 Barbara Jordan Blvd. (512) 472 9844 rmhc-ctx.org

KEEP AUSTIN BEAUTIFUL 55 N. IH-35, Ste. 215 (512) 391 0617 keepaustinbeautiful.org

THE SAFE ALLIANCE 1515 Grove Blvd. (512) 267 7233 safeaustin.org

5524 Bee Caves Rd. (512) 328 2481 hillcountryconservancy.org

safeaustin.org

ANIMALS

AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER 7201 Levander Loop, Bldg. A (512) 974 2000 austintexas.gov/content/austinanimal-center AUSTIN BAT REFUGE (512) 695 4116 austinbatrefuge.org AUSTIN HUMANE SOCIETY 124 W. Anderson Ln. (512) 646 7387 austinhumanesociety.org AUSTIN PETS ALIVE! 1156 W. Cesar Chavez St. (512) 961 6519 austinpetsalive.org

HILL COUNTRY CONSERVANCY

PEASE PARK CONSERVANCY

1609 Shoal Creek Blvd., Ste. 305 (512) 777 1632 peasepark.org TEXAS LAND CONSERVANCY 6626 Silvermine Dr. #300 (512) 301 6363 texaslandconservancy.org THE TRAIL FOUNDATION 800 W. Cesar Chavez St. (855) 448 7245 thetrailfoundation.org WATERLOO GREENWAY 1111 Red River St. (512) 541-3520 waterloogreenway.org

waterloogreenway.org

FOOD + BEVERAGE

FARMSHARE AUSTIN 3608 River Rd. (512) 337 2211 farmshareaustin.org

AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL 1801 Salina St. (512) 478 4795 austinfilmfestival.com

KEEP AUSTIN FED 3903 S. Congress Ave. (512) 831 3654 keepaustinfed.org

AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER ASSOCIATION 810 Guadalupe St. (512) 270 0132 austinhistory.net

MEALS ON WHEELS CENTRAL TEXAS 3227 E. 5th St. (512) 476 6325 mealsonwheelscentraltexas.org SUSTAINABLE FOOD CENTER 2921 E. 17th St., Bldg. C (512) 236 0074 sustainablefoodcenter.org TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION 3300 N. IH-35, Ste. 610 (512) 457 4100 txrestaurant.org URBAN ROOTS 4900 Gonzales St. (512) 750 8019 urbanrootsatx.org THE WINE & FOOD FOUNDATION OF TEXAS

2121 E. 6th St., Ste. 102 (512) 327 7555 winefoodfoundation.org

AUSTIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 1101 Red River St. (512) 476 6064 austinsymphony.org BALLET AUSTIN 501 W. 3rd St. (512) 476 9151 balletaustin.org BLACK FRET PO Box 29628 sustain@blackfret.org blackfret.org HEALTH ALLIANCE FOR AUSTIN MUSICIANS

3010 S. Lamar Blvd. (512) 541 4226 myhaam.org

ARTS ART ALLIANCE AUSTIN 5811 Berkman Dr., Ste. 140 (512) 609 8587 artallianceaustin.org

HOPE CAMPAIGN 2407 S. Congress Ave., Ste. E 106 hopecampaign.org

ART FROM THE STREETS 304 E. 7th St. (512) 695 9977 artfromthestreets.org

THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT PO Box 16601 (512) 587 2369 redriverculturaldistrict.org

AUSTIN WILDLIFE RESCUE 5401 E. MLK Jr. Blvd. (512) 472 9453 austinwildliferescue.org

AUSTIN FOOD & WINE ALLIANCE 2525 Wallingwood Dr. #801 austinfoodwinealliance.org

ART SPARK TEXAS 3710 Cedar St. (512) 454 9912 artsparktx.org

EMANCIPET 7010 Easy Wind Dr. #260 (866) 441 9248 emancipet.org

CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK

AUSTIN CREATIVE ALLIANCE 81 San Marcos St. (512) 247 2531 austincreativealliance.org

6500 Metropolis Dr. (512) 282 2111 centraltexasfoodbank.org

AUSTIN MUSIC FOUNDATION 1333 Shore District Dr., Ste. 600 (512) 542 0077 austinmusicfoundation.org

tribeza.com

TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL 1023 Springdale Rd., Bldg. 14, Unit B (512) 477 4055 texasbookfestival.org

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; Tis the

Season

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never been a better year to think local when it comes to gift giving. From handcrafted boots to delicious chocolates, let us help keep your holiday shopping list both locally-minded and stress free.

Tuft & Needle

Tuft & Needle pioneered the modern mattress shopping experience by selling mattresses online that deliver right to your door in a small box. In-store shoppers can browse mattresses, sheet sets, duvets, blankets, pillows and even dog beds. If you're looking for inspiration for what to gift friends and family this holiday season, check out the T&N Throw Blanket made of 100% recycled yarn and their luxurious linen bedding. Visit Tuft & Needle at 1011 South Congress Avenue. tn.com/austin @tuftandneedle tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Hearth & Soul

Hearth and Soul is more than a store! Laid out like a home, with simple, modern and classic women's and men's clothing, accessories, furniture, kitchen and bar provisions, library goods, and more. Hearth and Soul is a gathering space, curated to feed your soul. We believe that gift giving is so much more than just a gift, and is truly an act from the heart. Visit us in store or online for all of your holiday gifting needs this holiday season. hearthandsoul.com @hearthsoulatx

Chisos

Chisos boots delighted cowboy boot owners statewide with their update on traditionally made, quality cowboy boots. Founder and Austin native Will Roman delivers a traditionally made cowboy boot that just might be the most comfortable pair in your closet. Each Chisos boot is painstakingly handcrafted from heritage leathersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;no calfskin here. Combined with their firstof-its-kind comfort insole, the fit is like an old leather glove right out of the box. Proudly supporting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, Chisos boots are the sustainable, durable and comfortable choice for the Texans on your list. chisos.com @chisos

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

L. Majors

Vacheron Constantin’s new women’s timepiece collection, Égérie, marries two worlds, haute horlogerie and haute couture, through the lens of craftsmanship, precision, excellence and beauty. The elegantly audacious Fantina collection takes Pomellato to new frontiers of excellence, boasting a flexible open-ended design and exuding a classic elegance. Additionally, with natural grace through rare hues and exuding femininity, the Lotus collection is poetically expressed in Olé Lynggaard’s design, to be worn in single splendor or in a bouquet of contrasting tones. Lastly, as a nautical sports watch, the IWC Portugieser Yacht Club rounds out our four pieces by combining timeless style with ruggedness. The “Moon & Tide” is the first watch from IWC to feature the newly developed tide indication. With a design that is as crisp as it is timeless, this timepiece is an icon of watchmaking. lmajorsaustin.com

tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

YETI

Kendra Scott

Founded in 2006, YETI had a simple mission: build an every day cooler for the serious outdoor enthusiast that could take the abuse in the field, and on water, and simply wouldn’t break. With their flagship store in Austin, YETI products perform when it matters most. Stay cool all year round! yeti.com @yeti

Through beautiful jewelry that gives back, Kendra Scott connects customers to the causes you care about most. They push the boundaries of design and innovation while staying true to their principles: color, shape, material and value. With customizable earrings, rings and bracelets, find the perfect gift for that someone special. kendrascott.com @kendrascott

Kammok

Kammok’s outdoor gear elevates your time outside with technical and functional designs—from basecamp to backcountry to backyard. Their vision is to become a platform to encourage more time outside, from the gear and apparel they create, to the stories and people they celebrate. Give the gift of outdoor lounging! kammok.com @kammok

Purse & Clutch

Designed in Austin and handcrafted in Chiapas, Mexico, Purse & Clutch believes that good fashion is as much about the maker as it is about the finished product. Every purchase supports long-term employment for artisans in Mexico & Ethiopia with fair job opportunities. purseandclutch.com @purseandclutch

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

Rose Gold Wine

Looking for the perfect gift for a friend, family member, co-worker or neighbor? Look no further. We think Rose Gold rosé makes the perfect hostess or holiday gift! Texan Casey Barber (pictured) fell in love with rosé on her first trip to Provence, France. She has since created her own label with the grapes grown and wine made in Provence in the true French traditional method from 50/50 cinsault grapes and grenache grapes. This is the brand’s third vintage, and the wine is available at over 250 stores and restaurants across the state, including Randall’s. rosegoldwine.com @rose.gold.wine

Delysia Chocolatier

Named 2020 Best Chocolatier in the Americas, Delysia Chocolatier’s Chef-Owner Nicole Patel handcrafts their chocolate creations with the care and attention that you will savor in every flavorful bite. They use only the finest quality chocolate from sustainable sources and the freshest ingredients to create something unique, memorable and remarkable. From their chocolate gift boxes to our newly released movie-themed Advent Calendar, we have something for everyone on your list this holiday season. delysia.com @delysia_choc tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

BAN VILL

A E

Condo living. Neighborhood feel.

Frank. FI SO UTH

visit us online:

or follow along:

People Year

of the

2020

Eleven exceptional people leading Austin through extraordinary times.

tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

PEOPLE OF THE YEAR 2020

Austin Public Health Team BY COURTNEY RUNN

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHELSA KING

HEN REPORTS OF A NOVEL CORONAVIRUS IN CHINA

first started trickling through U.S. news outlets in early January, Austin’s three most senior public health officials were preparing for a pandemic. For Stephanie Hayden, Janet Pichette and Dr. Mark E. Escott, the threat of a pandemic has always loomed and a virus of this magnitude was—according to Escott—“probably long overdue.” As the director of Austin Public Health, the city’s chief epidemiologist and the interim medical director and health authority, respectively, their joint challenge was preparing the city without sparking panic. When the trio first heard about COVID-19, the course of the new virus was still unknown, but their backgrounds in infectious disease and emergency preparedness equipped them to realize the potential for crisis. The first significant obstacle was South by Southwest. In late February, Austin didn’t have any recorded COVID-19 cases, but in talks with other jurisdictions, the health team kept hearing the same message: We waited too long; don’t make the same mistake. So without local data or positive cases to back up their recommendation, Hayden, Pichette and Escott asked Mayor Steve Adler to trust them that canceling the festival was the right call. Seven days after the SXSW cancelation rocked the city, Governor Greg Abbott declared a statewide emergency. As the nation slowed to a stop, Hayden, Pichette and Escott started working around the clock. While less publicly recognized than first responders, the three have led the city’s COVID response for the past 11 months, advising on mask policies, school reopenings, football seasons and everything in between. “I always say we’re the invisible guardian of the community,” Pichette says. “If we’re doing our job, everything’s OK, but if something goes wrong, they’re knocking on our door, hounding us.” Self-dubbed “the Three Amigos,” the team has worked together nonstop since January, usually working seven days a week. The three represent hundreds of employees at Austin Public Health, who work alongside them to monitor the virus, collect data and advise local leaders. The trio’s diverse medical backgrounds uniquely equip them for this moment. One of Pichette’s specialities is respiratory diseases, and she has been in public health for several decades, working in epidemiology at the state level before becoming Austin’s chief epidemiologist. Hayden’s background in social work and her previous experience heading APH’s

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

health-equity department informs their care for communities of color disproportionately affected by COVID-19. The newest member of the team, Escott took on the role of interim medical director and health authority in October 2019. “When [Hayden] asked me to take this interim job, she never mentioned anything about a pandemic,” he jokes. Escott also serves as the EMS system medical director, and his background in emergency and disaster management allows him to quickly make decisions with limited information—a valuable skill Pichette and Hayden say complements their methodical thinking. In preparation for a pandemic, they consistently ran drills and studied past health crises like H1N1 and Ebola. A lack of funding and outdated equipment have been frustrating (but expected) barriers to fighting COVID-19, but a surprising obstacle has been the increased politicization of the virus and the spread of misinformation. During one of their weekly press conferences, Escott candidly shared that he’s a Republican doctor working alongside a Democrat-led government, reiterating that “this is not a political issue. This is science.” He said he was nervous to include something personal about his own political leaning, but hoped it helped anyone who believes COVID-19 is a “Democrat-led conspiracy.” “Let’s choose something else to be polar about, but it can’t be this. This is too important,” Escott says. “Now we’ve got more than 200,000 Americans dead, with many more projected by the end of the year.” Like many Austinites right now, the work-life balance is nonexistent for Hayden, Pichette and Escott, but after close to a year of nonstop work, they’re finding ways to manage stress. Pichette finds her weekly Saturday meetings with other epidemiologists cathartic and, for the first time since January, spent a recent weekend cleaning her house; Hayden has a strict boundary of no phone in the bedroom and starts each day with a morning walk to clear her mind; and Escott is still navigating how time off factors into a crisis-driven work schedule, but he’s making time for normal family life. Case in point, he was up until 1:30 a.m. recently helping his child with algebra homework. Hayden has taken on the role of team cheerleader, encouraging her colleagues to take breaks. Their fight against COVID-19 is a “marathon,” she says. “We know we’re going to be headed into another six months, and we’ve got to build [self-care] in.” “I just feel fortunate to be part of this Three Amigo team that really represents hundreds and hundreds of people working behind the scenes to get the job done,” Escott adds.

From Left to Right: Janet Pichette, Dr. Mark E. Escott and Stephanie Hayden. tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

PEOPLE OF THE YEAR 2020

Pamela Benson Owens BY REGINE MALIBIRAN

PHOTOGRAPH BY MOYO OYELOLA

AMEL A BENSON OWENS HA S THREE NAMES AND SHE

wants you to use all of them. As a longtime Black Austinite (at a time when gentrification drives Black people out of their original neighborhoods), entrepreneur and nonprofit leader Benson Owens leverages her unapologetic spirit to uplift her community and fight tenaciously for some of the most disenfranchised in Austin. Mention any major local brand (Huston-Tillotson University, Kendra Scott, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, to name a few) and Benson Owens has likely consulted on leadership development or diversity education. Recently, her fight for diversity, equity and inclusion has manifested more directly in her position as the interim executive director at Six Square—Austin’s Black Cultural District. In the midst of what she calls “the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and racism,” Benson Owens has navigated unpredictable challenges to provide her community with what they need: compassionate leadership and decisive action. In just six months, she raised over two-thirds of Six Square’s yearly operating budget, focusing on paying her staff—who are all BIPOC and 80 percent female—as well as keeping up the nonprofit’s momentum when it is most crucial. “If [a pandemic] can’t help you course-correct your priority list, I don’t know what will,” Benson Owens reflects. “You are either going to roll up in a fetal position and act like it’s not happening, or you’re going to lean into it and extend heaping doses of grace and bandwidth around humanity.” Under Benson Owens’ leadership this year, Six Square focused on providing direct support to Black creatives and entrepreneurs in Austin, particularly those economically affected by COVID-19. The nonprofit has directly disbursed over $46,000 to Black artists and business owners affected by

the loss of work opportunities due to the pandemic. Six Square also provides restorative spaces for those traumatized by this year’s events through Black Minds Matter, a program that invites Black therapists and healing practitioners to help community members navigate trying times. 2020 has been nothing short of a leadership boot camp for Benson Owens. Through this year’s challenges, she’s learned not just how to be a boss in a pandemic, but also how to take care of herself and others to ensure longevity in the fight. Ultimately, her leadership style prioritizes a “people first” mentality; if the most disenfranchised aren’t thriving, then neither is she. Amid the challenges, an unforeseen effect of the pandemic has been the opportunity to reflect on the lessons she’ll take with her. “You need to be vulnerable enough to get in the ring with yourself. You have to be willing to apologize to people—genuine apology around behaviors that you know aren’t aligned with who you want to be,” she shares. “If you’re Black and female, you always have to be beautifully articulate. But I have leaned into saying I don’t have all the answers.” With racial justice at the forefront of our nation’s dialogue and with Benson Owens’ understanding of how oppression intersects, she intends to enter 2021 with a dogged focus on what’s important—as well as patience for the progress she has already set in motion. “I’m excited about the next rendition of Six Square—where we’ll be housed, making that space truly our own, manifesting epic work and watching those that I work and do life with flourish beyond their wildest dreams,” she says. Despite the challenges she’s faced individually and watched others confront, she remains optimistic for the future. After all, she knows firsthand that hope is powerful resistance. tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

PEOPLE OF THE YEAR 2020

Shelby Blessing & Sarah Satterlee BY LAUREN JONES

PHOTOGRAPH BY LEO SMITH

OMELESSNESS IS AN EVER-PRESENT REALITY IN AUSTIN,

and according to numbers from the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO), 2020 marks a decade high. As a leader in serving those who experience chronic homelessness, Mobile Loaves & Fishes’ Community First! Village helps its residents find both shelter and community. On a 51-acre master-planned community in East Austin, the village is the first of its kind in the country, and architects Shelby Blessing and Sarah Satterlee are two of the key figures behind its innovative solution. As staff architect for Mobile Loaves & Fishes, Satterlee helps coordinate pro bono services from local firms like Jobe Corral Architects, Michael Hsu and more. Blessing is a senior associate at Page Architects and the previous co-chair of the Design Voice committee for AIA, which facilitates opportunities for design professionals to serve the community. Designed in two phases as part of an ongoing partnership between the nonprofit and AIA, the 130 micro-homes in phase one are complete and phase two is now underway. For Satterlee and Blessing, their passion for giving back and public interest design is what makes the collaboration so powerful. “Some architects work for community design centers, but I decided to work for a big firm knowing big firms influence the projects that make communities better,” says Blessing. Fresh out of grad school in 2014, she participated in Tiny Victories 1.0, the design competition that led to the layout of the phase one homes. At the time, there was no client; no one lived in Community First! Village yet. “We were off building homes for the chronically homeless without even talking to the homeless,” Blessing adds. But a post-occupancy study with 20 residents, completed in 2018 through volunteer hours, gave them all the insight they needed to go above and beyond for phase two. Satterlee, who is from New Orleans and got her degree from Tulane, came to Texas with the goal of “doing research on unconventional housing, specifically for folks that typical housing doesn’t serve,” she says. She lived

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

in the village for three months and was later hired as the community’s staff architect. Now, she and Blessing have implemented those takeaways for an even more resident-focused experience. “These folks are used to having no choice about things that happen to them,” Satterlee says. Here, residents get to choose their floor plan. From the survey, Blessing and Satterlee learned that many residents wanted more storage, while others felt the desire for more enclosed, secluded spaces where they could withdraw and engage with the rest of the community by choice. Private outdoor space like screened porches and back porches were also a priority. “For designers and architects, views and natural light are always a good thing, but for our people, privacy is a big deal, as they have always been on display,” adds Satterlee. When designing for the chronically homeless, different criteria come to mind, but at the end of the day, it’s about comfort, autonomy, safety, privacy and community. Phase two, which will be completed by the fall of 2022, will sit on 24 acres and have 310 units on-site. Like phase one, there are communal restrooms and kitchen facilities, plus a clinic, art house and market. The latest planning addition, which they hope will be a place residents can connect after work, is called the Living Room. Featuring a game room and pool table, the addition is a direct solution to the request for more informal hangout areas and will also create room for classes and additional office space for staff. As Community First! Village continues to scale, Blessing, Satterlee and all of those involved in its planning are excited to develop even more ways to help. “I think the whole saying is probably apt—home is where the heart is—but they do a good job out here in how they promote community and interpersonal relationships,” a resident shares. “It’s not just a place to live but a community to live in.”

Shelby Blessing (left) stands with Sarah Satterlee (right) at the Community First! Village.

tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

PEOPLE OF THE YEAR 2020

Rubén Cantú BY ALEXIS GREEN

PHOTOGRAPH BY MOYO OYELOLA

T A YOUNG AGE, RUBÉN CANTÚ WATCHED HIS FATHER

come home late from mopping floors during graveyard shifts at the University of Texas. Nearly 30 years later, Cantú now leads several initiatives on campus to ensure students of color have access to better opportunities. As executive director of the Office of Inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UT, he oversees the education of students in entrepreneurship and a fellowship program guiding women of color into corporate leadership roles within 10 years of graduating. He also leads the Texas 2030 Inclusion Challenge, whose mission is to increase diversity in Austin’s top industries and tech companies. “We revolutionize the way higher education works,” Cantú says. “If you grew up in the wrong zip code, you don’t get access to particular education and it limits your ability to get into institutions.” This lack of access in turn leads to an inability to provide for a family, which perpetuates the poverty cycle. Hoping to break this chain, Cantú is striving to provide education opportunities that create generational wealth. He proves to students that despite your past, you can have a future. Outside the Forty Acres, Cantú supports socially conscious brands and uplifts voices within his community as the CEO of the LevelUp Institute, SocialGood.us and CORE Media Strategies. Prior to bringing his startup experience to the university, he devoted his life to ensuring Black and Brown kids don’t just have a seat at the table—they can create a new “round table” where they are valued. Cantú is a testament to this sentiment. Growing up in the Givens Park area of East Austin, he learned to hustle for what he wanted from a young age. At 10, he spent the summer slinging snow cones in the brutal Texas heat to afford school clothes. By 14, he’d started a radio show, adding a magazine and promotional company to his résumé within a few years. “I was trying to prove that I wasn’t just the kid that grew up in the hood in public housing,” says Cantú. “I was going to be somebody.”

When people tried to tell him what he could not do, he reminded himself that he is Rubén Cantú, refusing to listen to the doubters. Pursuing a passion for music, he was on the path to become the next Diddy, but his heart was not in the industry. “It was at that time where I was forced to start considering who I was as a person [and] reinvent myself,” says Cantú. As a first-generation college student and the second Mexican American to go through the master’s program at the McCombs School of Business, Cantú grappled with feeling like a “fish out of water” and considered dropping out of UT after struggling with grades his first semester. He admits that without supporters like his dad reminding him of his potential, he wouldn’t be where he is today. Now, Cantú wants to be that motivator for others. While “diversity” has become a buzzword over the years, Cantú equates true change to a school dance. “Diversity is being asked to the dance, while inclusivity is being asked to dance. Inclusive innovation is being part of the committee choosing the playlist,” he says. “We need to talk about equity and belonging. That’s where the conversation needs to be shifting.” Above all else, he considers confidence the key to success for his students. “I don’t need to train them how to code,” says Cantú. “I need to train them how to lead people.” With students graduating to own their own businesses and work at Fortune 500 companies, Cantú has achieved that goal. And while he appreciates adding Entrepreneur of the Year for Austin Under 40 to other numerous awards on his mantel, this impact on people’s lives is his true prize, which in turn extends far beyond the university. Cantú is currently developing a podcast and forming the Community Resilience Trust, a nonprofit addressing systemic issues such as homelessness and food shortages in communities. “If I can be one of the voices of change in our community and beyond, then I know what I’m here to do,” he says. “I’m going to try to do it with honor and integrity every step of the way.” tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

PEOPLE OF THE YEAR 2020

Ashley Cheng

BY HANNAH J. PHILLIPS

PHOTOGRAPH BY MOYO OYELOLA

SHLEY CHENG ISN’T HERE TO TEACH YOU HOW TO LIVE

your best life: She wants to learn alongside you. Whether through political activism, community engagement with local nonprofits, teaching yoga or researching the opioid epidemic for her master’s in social work, the unifying thread in her seemingly divergent pursuits is a mission to empower people to meet their full potential. As co-founder of Rouser, a creative civic engagement platform; co-host of The Rabble podcast; vice president of Asian Democrats Central Texas; and the recently elected Texas AAPI caucus representative to the Democratic National Committee, Cheng’s political endeavors appear at first glance to be her primary passion. Prior to the 2016 election, however, she never envisioned any personal political involvement. Like many, the 2016 election results changed everything. “I realized I had not been doing my part for democracy,” says Cheng. “I was reaping the benefits of democracy without actually giving back in a meaningful way. Being a child of immigrants, I took for granted what I was born into by nature of my parents coming here in the 1960s.” Cheng’s family moved to Austin from Taiwan around 1969, and her parents later started the Chinatown chain of restaurants in 1983—one of the city’s longest-running Chinese food establishments. Cheng recalls playing with old restaurant equipment in her grandma’s backyard, taking food orders from her siblings on carbon paper notepads. “My parents worked hard so we could have an education,” she reflects. “My mom always said she wanted us to have options: a job at a big corporation and health insurance.” After graduating from Boston University, that’s exactly what Cheng pursued, working for large PR and marketing agencies in Boston and New York. When corporate burnout threatened her physical and mental health, she turned to yoga, gaining certification as an instructor and yoga therapist. Moving back to Austin in 2012 while her dad was in the hospital, Cheng brought those skills home with her, co-founding the Austin School of Yoga at Castle Hill Fitness.

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

“I want to get as much out of life as possible every day, which can be wonderful but exhausting,” says Cheng. “Yoga really came into my life out of necessity, but those self-care practices are so much stronger when you have to teach, not just practice.” She puts her volunteer work for Hospice Austin in the same category, noting how the need to show up fully for someone else forces you to nourish your own ability to be present. She first started volunteering for the group in 2015, now working with them to research the opioid epidemic for her master’s in social work at the University of Texas at Austin. Somehow, she also finds time to co-host her podcast, provide what she calls “marketing for the movement” at Rouser, serve on boards at local nonprofits like Asian Family Support Services of Austin (AFSSA) and Fusebox Festival, and—as of summer 2020— represent the Texas AAPI caucus for the Democratic National Committee. “I get a lot of satisfaction and joy in helping people learn how to live their lives the way they should and the way they want to,” she says, tying it all together as a passion for “emboldening people to learn how to lead their own lives.” This mission extends to everyone, but as a child of immigrants, Cheng is most passionate about uplifting voices in the Asian community. “Asians don’t typically feel like they have permission to be Asian out loud,” she says, “so my whole mission is figuring out ways to give more people permission to be really visible.” For Cheng, that mission will continue in 2021 regardless of election results. Reflecting on this past year, she refers to 2020 as “an unveiling of what our reality already was, with so many disparities in our very own city—both in racial justice and health care.” While that sense of unveiling can be overwhelming, Cheng also appreciates the moment—this drawing back of the curtain—as a call to hope. “Seeing that truth and reality, the optimist in me has to believe that people will remain motivated to right these disparities. How do you ignore it after this year? With so many people finally tackling these issues, I have a lot of hope that we won’t tire of doing the work.”

tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

PEOPLE OF THE YEAR 2020

Joi Chevalier

BY GRAHAM CUMBERBATCH

OOKING AT JOI CHEVALIER’S SMILING FACE, YOU’D NEVER

know that in the throes of a global meltdown, her small startup is spearheading a revolutionary food distribution program responsible for providing 3,000 daily meals to those who need it most. But behind the relaxed veneer hums the mind of one of Austin’s leading voices on the future of food. Chevalier’s journey from tech veteran to food disruptor has seen the Houston native and University of Texas graduate traverse myriad professional landscapes, from politics—a field for which she still harbors aspirations after a narrow loss in her 2018 bid for Texas comptroller—to academia. In fact, it was her gift for education that won the attention of tech recruiters during her grad school years. She spent 10 years at Dell as a senior product manager and strategist, but sensed she could do more. Reevaluating her career aspirations, Chevalier revisited the cultural staples of her Kashmere Gardens upbringing—marked by Creole migrant traditions and centered around the fellowship of feeding one another. Her decision to pivot to culinary school at Auguste Escoffier in Austin may have seemed like a sudden left turn, but Chevalier’s passion for food and her knack for innovative problem-solving were a natural fit. After a year of culinary soul-searching, still holding down her full-time gig at Dell, something clicked when she got the idea for a startup incubator exclusively for the food business. In Cook’s Nook, all of Chevalier’s interests and experiences converge under a single mission: to give small food businesses the right tools to thrive. In just a few short years, Cook’s Nook has brought national giants like Dietz & Watson, Quaker Oats and Coca-Cola to its doorstep and helped more than 30 local businesses test products, learn best business practices and turn their ideas into fully realized products ready for market. At the root of the company’s approach is what Chevalier calls the “golden triangle” of “people, process and technology.” Fostered during her work in the tech arena, this concept undergirds everything Cook’s Nook provides for its clients. “Technology at the end of the day is about relating to people, tools and a process,” she explains. “When I decided to leave corporate technology work, it was because I thought that relationship really needed to exist in the food ecosystem because there’s something that is created, generated, manufactured—in this case, food, right?” The leap from a business world in which new ideas are their own currency to one in which the majority of practices haven’t changed in over a century

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHELSA KING came with unique frustrations—”Until COVID made some people change,” she quips. Indeed, the pandemic and its interminably indefinite time frame is no longer the elephant in the room; it is the room. For all its devastation, the virus holding the world captive has, in some ways, freed workers to call out inequities and failing systems across all industries—especially food and hospitality. The current climate represents a reckoning for outmoded and exploitative practices that have ignored the industry’s hardest-working and most vulnerable. Chevalier agrees, but in assessing the root cause, she adds another word: entitlement. “There is a quiet entitlement … restaurants have gone and worked a certain way for 150 years,” she states. “That includes how you pay and 'tip' staff, and we know where that came from, right?” (Hint: Type “slavery + Reconstruction + origins of tipping” into your favorite search engine). Chevalier puts it this way: “You know, restaurants are often about product and process and sometimes forget the people around them. [We have these] quiet entitlements because I think we have devalued food.” What’s at stake, then, is the potential decimation of the industry’s workforce. People who feel increasingly left out, devalued and disenchanted with the way things work are likely to leave (and currently are leaving) the food industry—unlikely to return. So, where do we go from here? Proving that she’s the right person to answer this question, Chevalier didn't wait for Travis County to approach her during the pandemic. Before the end of April—back when the real threat of coronavirus was still up for debate—she had already developed the plan for Keep Austin Together. As the gravity of the situation sank in for restaurants and food kitchens, Chevalier had already projected the problem areas for the summer ahead. As for her own future plans, she aims to redouble her efforts on food security and promoting food entrepreneurship among people of color. Earlier this year, affiliate partner Naturally Austin announced the Chevalier Fellowship in partnership with the Cook’s Nook, extending more opportunities to Black and Brown entrepreneurs in the consumer packaged goods industry. Slated for January 2021, the Cook’s Nook will also host the virtual Conference on Food Resilience, Access, and Equity. Personally, Chevalier’s excited for the potential return of the Greater Austin Black Chamber’s Taste of Black Austin next year. Whatever Joi Chevalier decides to do next, rest assured it will probably involve something she thought of before everyone else did. Any city with someone like that on the case is in good hands. tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

PEOPLE OF THE YEAR 2020

Kevin Fink & Tavel Bristol-Joseph BY LAUREL MILLER

PHOTOGRAPH BY MACKENZIE SMITH KELLEY

Y FEBRUARY, 2020 WAS SHAPING UP TO BE THE YEAR FOR

best friends Kevin Fink and Tavel Bristol-Joseph, co-owners and chefs of 3-month-old Hestia. Fink was nominated by the James Beard Foundation for Best Chef: Texas, and Food & Wine listed Bristol-Joseph as a Best New Chef (one of only a few pastry chefs to earn the accolade). Then, all of Austin’s restaurants closed due to COVID-19. Ironically, their profession is the very thing that helped Fink and BristolJoseph navigate the unenviable challenge of keeping five eateries afloat, all while continuing to provide for the 120 furloughed employees they consider extended family. “Running a kitchen really prepares you for constant change and stress,” says Fink. “It gives you the ability to realize that tomorrow is a chance for a fresh start.” Bristol-Joseph, who grew up under challenging circumstances in Guyana, one of South America’s most impoverished countries, was prepared in other ways for this year’s challenges: “I’ve learned to adapt quickly to adversity,” he says. “When you start to accept a situation, you can make better decisions.” During the pandemic, the partners, which include Fink’s wife, Alicynn, and Rand Egbert, converted Hestia and Emmer & Rye to curbside takeout and delivery. The pivot enabled the group to keep 30 salaried employees employed while providing ongoing health coverage to all staff. They were also able to funnel partial proceeds into an employee emergency fund and continue supporting their local farmer network by selling dry goods and produce. “We made a lot of decisions about how to best be there for people, and there was never any question that our team’s welfare was our priority along with our businesses,” says Fink. “I’m proud of that.” By April, the restaurateurs were able to refocus on their other core value—community. Investing their own money, they launched an initiative to prepare, package and deliver meals to thousands of Austin health care workers. Donations kept the program running through the worst of the crisis; in May, they partnered with the Austin Independent School District to provide lunches to parents and caregivers teaching their children from home. “Our mission has never been to just get past a challenge,” says BristolJoseph. “We want to effect change by pushing hard and making an impact—within our industry and community.” In 2019, for example, the

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

group raised $250,000 for various charities, including AISD and Austin Parks Foundation. Pre-pandemic, they were working to create a board to help expand philanthropic programming and scholarships for all staff to intern abroad. “We’re very goal-oriented and big on investing in our team,” says Fink. “You can’t hold people back because you’re afraid of losing them.” After the killing of George Floyd and subsequent protests, Bristol-Joseph found himself thrust into the national spotlight as journalists clamored for his opinion on everything from racial inequality within the industry to his experiences as a Black man in America. His response to the attention is characteristically candid. “I’m a strong believer that everything happens for a reason. I’ve always felt an obligation to be an example for Caribbean and African American kids, but if this had been a normal year, I’d have prioritized ways to capitalize on my award,” he says. “But now it’s about using this much larger platform I’ve been given. Restaurants are the number-one minority-owned business sector in the U.S., and I’m thinking, ‘How do I start scholarships, give back?’ I have a less selfish perspective and I’m more focused on helping young chefs.” As the industry continues to struggle through the effects of the pandemic, Fink and Bristol-Joseph have led the charge to help restaurants get back on their feet. In July, the pair made national headlines for their efforts on behalf of the $120 billion RESTAURANTS Act, a bipartisan federal grant program proposed to Congress this summer. Fink was part of the leadership team for Texas: “We’ve been on calls with senators and state and federal representatives, championing our industry to give them a better idea of what independent restaurants are going through right now,” he says. “We plan to remain engaged on a national level. Sometimes, it’s hard to be compassionate without hearing someone’s story.” The two men, who both say their relationship is more akin to a brotherhood, have also served as a sounding board and inspiration to national restaurateurs, sharing their struggles and the enterprises that have helped them weather months of uncertainty. “While things aren’t back to normal, we’ve bucked the stage where we’re wallowing and grieving every day,” says Fink. “Now we’re focused on moving forward. I want to be able to look back at 2020 and say it was the impetus for great things.”

Tavel BristolJoseph (left) at Hestia with Kevin Fink (right).

tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

H I DDE N

ZOLTAN DAVID CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF CRAFTING FINE JEWELRY BY COURTNEY RUNN PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHELSA KING

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

LEFT:

The “Golden Blue” Bracelet features cobalt blue steel and 24K gold. ABOVE:

The pendant of the “Le Mystere” necklace is a 17.32 ct. Ethiopian opal encased in purple zirconium. BELOW:

The Ruby Flight ring from David’s Duchess Collection.

ucked between Milk + Honey Spa and All Star Burger at the Hill Country Galleria, the Zoltan David gallery is easy to miss—but that’s by design. It’s a luxury destination—like a Ferrari showroom, David suggests—the casual shopper stopping for a quick bite won’t likely wander into. The gallery’s owner and namesake is confident his showroom of fine art jewelry, spanning four decades and surviving recessions and cross-country moves, will outlive COVID-19; in fact, he thinks this year might end up being one of its most lucrative. A small sign by the locked door reads, “Please ring bell to enter,” a preCOVID feature that seemed destined for social distancing. The space is intimate, with fossil slabs lining the dimly lit walls, a humble backdrop to the cases of glittering jewels underneath. Unlike chain store jewelers, the designer and goldsmith is always in residence and available for consultation. David designs, crafts and sells each

piece. Alongside his wife, Patti—also a goldsmith—he produces his jewelry in an intimate and innovative studio at the back of the shop. New and old collide here, with traditional tools and a 3D printer working side by side. When COVID-19 shuttered businesses in the spring, David continued to work alone on commissions while his shop remained closed. In May, he welcomed customers back again with masks, and it’s now business as usual. Despite its twists and turns, 2020 marks a milestone for David. In four decades, he’s established himself as a prominent name in the industry and collected many an accolade, from patenting his own inlay technique of combining multiple metals to showcasing a moonstone necklace at the Smithsonian. Throughout his career, he has continually looked for the “next mountain to climb,” always afraid of losing his drive to innovate. Along the way, he discovered the key to his longevity in business: “I’m my biggest challenge.”

LEFT:

David uses both traditional techniques and modern technology to forge his unique designs. BELOW:

The ‘Stick Cross’ earrings from his Knightsteel collection.

Growing up, David recalls how constant curiosity compelled him, whether uprooting his mother’s house plant for examination or dismantling a clock to understand how it worked. By the age of 16, he was certain of his life’s purpose: While carving a piece of stone in his backyard, David was struck with a call to creativity. He started business school to appease his father’s hopes to one day take over the family trucking business, but soon dropped out to pursue his own dreams. Drawn to working with metals and stones, he explored goldsmithing and pursued an apprenticeship with a renowned goldsmith in Vancouver, enamored with the craft. His childhood drive to not only create but understand and manipulate his creation lent itself naturally to a career in goldsmithing. After winning a De Beers award, David branched out on his own; he opened Zoltan David Precious Metal Art in 1980 and soon transferred the growing business to Laguna Beach, California. After marrying a sixth-generation Texan and falling in love with Lake Travis on a visit to Austin, he moved the business to the Lone Star State in 1994. Though he’s moved his storefront from the Arboretum to the Galleria, he stayed in the Hill Country, content to carve out his reputation away from the coasts. “Usually someone like me isn’t in Austin,” David says. “Usually someone like me is in New York or L.A. I don’t like concrete … I know it well enough

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

WHEN YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO, IT JUST GETS BETTER.”

At work in his studio, David shares a glimpse of his goldsmithing craft.

to know if I lived in New York, my single goal would be to get the hell out of New York.” This mindset of blazing his own path has guided his business for the past 40 years. Before selling directly to consumers, David sold his jewelry wholesale. After years of competing with other designers, he found a new competitor in himself. His storefront allows him to interact directly with customers and customization now drives his innovation, instead of the demands of other stores. Just as he’s resisted moving, he’s intentionally refused to expand. “My growth has to be in my art, not in my volume,” he says. “My growth has to be in my skill set, in my creativity, not in the size. I do what I’ve always done. I follow my instincts because they serve me well.” His intuition and persistence have fueled each defining achievement.

Besides being known for his patented shaped inlay technique, he also helped develop an erosion-resistant black steel. Nonexistent in nature, black metal is usually produced with a plating prone to deterioration. David’s process took more than a year to develop, leading to a line of inkyblack jewelry with a variety of inlaid precious metals, from platinum and gold to mother of pearl. Each time he develops a new technique or takes on a challenging commission, his next goal is to surpass himself. A surface glance at his jewelry and success might make it all seem easy, but David points to one bracelet in his showcase. While it took two weeks to make, he explains, the piece represents 40 years of knowledge and craft. With his eyes set on outperforming himself, he’s confident his passion and drive won’t fizzle: “When you love what you do, it just gets better.” tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY RILEY BLANKS

FOUR ARTISTS SOOTHE SOCIETAL PAIN POINTS WITH VIBRANT MEDIUMS Soulful bodies of work have the capacity to expand humanity’s horizons, moving us to applaud the selfless artists who create them. In this year of unprecedented grief and division, we spoke with four artists who dutifully treat their tool—be it carbon, canvas or camera—with thoughtfulness and respect. is a portrait photographer resisting tokenism and oppression through her spontaneous, hopeful, vibrant imagery. As a Muslim woman of color filling a role often occupied by the majority, she offers space to BIPOC individuals with colorful, grandiose backdrops and warm, bright lights. She denies the traditional portrayal of Brown people as dramatic or exceptional by instead showing them in their most authentic, vulnerable state—whether at a lively bar or in an otherworldly forest. Sharnez artfully modifies elements such as atmosphere and postproduction editing, but when it comes to her subjects, she invites them to arrive just as they are, liberated and empowered.

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

DIVINITY

For this project, Sharnez worked with local painter Rex Hamilton, who hand-painted the backdrop. Based on her own experience learning to embrace (rather than avoid) the sun, Sharnez invited her subjects to step up, take up space and be seen.

tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

is an infectious mixed media artist and mental health advocate on a mission to literally protect the human mind. Two years ago, she had a traumatic scooter accident that caused three brain bleeds, three skull fractures and a giant epiphany: “Painting can alleviate the heaviness of life.” Chyma survived, adapted and embraced her new reality. “You feel pain every day when you break your brain,” she says. “It’s so internalized that it becomes a part of your identity.” But she also embraced healing through her art; birthing Knockin’ Noggins, she created a movement that changes how the world sees helmets through education, awareness and intricate custom designs painted by hand.

Chyma’s hand painted helmets are also certified by CPSC and ASTM safety standards.

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

Learn more about Burnside’s process online at Big Medium’s The Line Residency.

’s meditative architectural drawings and ceramics have unexpectedly led to a deep passion for printmaking as she further studies her race and its position in the world. She often feels as though she has little control over her positioning in society and responds accordingly in her art. Burnside’s figure drawings of women’s braided hair explore space, perception and attachment. She poses the question, How do I deal with my hair in a way that is liberating? Her intricate, textured pieces utilize linoleum in an attempt to carry the notion of hair beyond scalp pores to better crystalize what it truly means to be an actualized Black woman. tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

OPPOSITE:

A series of San Juan’s watercolors. LEFT:

San Juan poses outside his home studio.

is a painter, curator and community builder from the Philippines who finds fulfillment in Southern hospitality, adventurous road trips and overcoming detachment. Though blue is his favorite color, he acknowledges that its presence in his work is in fact enhanced by its absence. He finds the color deeply personal in the eyes of his inviting, intimate and lifelike portraits “of the other: Blue-eyed men with white skin, sunburned pink in Yeti hats with sleeveless tees.” San Juan seeks to overcome prejudice, begging the viewer to practice humility—to take in only the essence of the humans displayed. Accepting that invitation, the viewer finds an incredible visual representation of what it means to listen, silently, without pretense.

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

LISTENING IN HOW THESE ARTISTS USE THEIR WORK TO EXPLORE THE LANGUAGE OF HOPE AND RESILIENCE BY KAHRON SPEARMAN PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHELSA KING

RTISTS AIMÈE M. EVERETT AND MOYO OYELOLA MAY

work in different mediums, but they are cut from similar cloth, stitched from the cascading joys and elevations of Blackness. Arriving at the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center, which—like many of Austin’s public spaces—remains closed to the public amid an ongoing pandemic, the pair met to discuss perspectives and hope in the middle of COVID-19 and transformative social change. Oyelola is a photographer, multimedia artist and activist whose work has been featured in brand films, advertising, editorial, music videos and environmental and public art installations. A “product of two worlds,” the Nigerian-born Austinite’s work forges intimacy into purposeful interactions touching all ends of the African diaspora, from Pan-African to the modern West. In January, he assisted in the creative direction of a Carver exhibit cut short by the pandemic: The African American Presence in 19th Century Texas. As part of the core exhibit, lead curator Carre Adams commissioned Everett’s piece, “The Blood Stained Ship.” With each project, Everett holds a single question to the light: What lingers in the silences we hold between each spoken word? In examining these occasions of acute, often generational noiselessness, she attempts to discover and maneuver through genuine emotions while also investigating women’s conditioning. With

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

specifically Black women in mind, the New Orleans native seeks to interpret these silences’ compounding and intersectional natures while extending beyond misog yny. Her Carvercommissioned piece speaks to this silence, using various colors to tell the presumably chained soon-to-be slaves’ stories as individuals, remembering that each would arrive with unique pasts and narratives. In October, the Carver Museum marked its 40th anniversary and will soon undergo a much needed expansion, a project in the making since 1998. With growth and transformation on the agenda, the pair allowed Tribeza to listen in to their thoughts about our collective future and their perspectives on Black tragedy and language in art. K AHRON SPEARMAN: Given the unsettled state of the world, how do you maintain the hunger or inner compulsion to create? MOYO OYELOLA: You’re always kind of wondering [why you create] as you take on challenges and evaluate what’s happening on a day-to-day basis in obviously interesting times in our country. I think when you’re Black, you can’t afford not to be conscious about what’s going on, right? From adolescence, you realize that art, whether it’s music or painting or whatever, is a form of language. It’s a form of cataloging your experiences and [a broader] past, things that happened decades or hundreds of years ago. So the ability to put that to paper and pencil, or in some physical form, or even in dance form, kind of honors that lineage of people that came before you and their sacrifice.

Oyelola and Everett chatted in the lobby of the Carver Museum, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

Then there’s a bit of a future-setting aspect to it as well. It’s like, What can we aspire to be as a group, as a culture? AIMÈE M. EVERETT: I think art is asking questions that maybe people wouldn’t ask, that they don’t even know need to be asked. As an artist, I am first an observer. It makes me ask, Why do we behave that way? My work is about language and how language and words are just abstractions. And after we’ve spoken, we still have so many

leftover things that we haven’t said because we don’t know how to say them. We don’t have any way to define them. And so I asked the questions of, OK, so what do those emotions look like? What do those unsaid things look like? KS: How have your personal and artistic perspectives shifted in the midst of this, a wildly transformative year on numerous fronts? AE: It’s pushed me in a way to create more, in a more poignant way, more specific, more

Oyelola and Everett discuss Everett’s piece, “The Blood Stained Ship.”

pointedly. Before, I was creating in this abstract way and asking these questions. Now I feel like I need to question my existence more as a Black woman—not question it, like, Why am I here? But questioning it in the way of, Why is it that I have to know how Black men move, how white women move, how white men move and maneuver around every single one of you guys? I’m also questioning and realizing the power in interpreting all of these other people in a way that has to keep me safe. So now I recognize I’m talking to Black women and little Black girls. I was creating in that same vein, but I wanted to show people who look like me that they could do it. Now there’s more ferocity to it, in realizing that it has to be done. MO: Which is kind of good, I think, in the sense that these times tested every individual, based on two things: how and why. The how is easy for most people, like, How do you make money? Did you go to work? You got a 9-to-5, and you go to brunch on the weekend, so you do this and that [to make money]. The whys are deeper questions that a lot of people are still figuring out. Naturally, as artists, you’re continually evolving through your why and running that through your art. So everything’s shut down, the how changed, but I wasn’t shaken, because my why was still strong. I still needed to represent, you know, Black stories, and “do it for the culture” all the way through. Maybe I can’t do it in Chicago or anything like that. And I’m limited to Austin, but it was still just as important, right? At the same time, this time has given me space to dream even bigger. And that was how I was entering the year, with love as a mantra. I don’t want to say this is fitting, but one of the unintended benefits has given me time to focus on those, and also, What does bigger actually mean? Then how do you make that tangible? AE: It also tests you as a creative, if you’re a true artist or musician, because it’s hard to create now. With all this happening, are you still able to create? Do you still have a need and a want to create? I’ve never really painted Black pain; I’ve just painted about myself. And so I made sure even if I was feeling this thing, I balanced it out with other

LEFT:

This year, Saatchi Arts included Everett in their Rising Stars roundup of 35 artists under 35. RIGHT:

Oyelola’s work to capture the African diaspora with fellow photographer Hakeem Adewumi was featured in an episode of Home on PBS Arts in Context.

“I WON’T PAINT BLACK PAIN BECAUSE IT’S ALREADY THERE AND IT’S ALREADY PALPABLE. WHAT YOU NEED ON YOUR WALL IS WORK REPRESENTING [BLACK PEOPLE] AS HUMAN.”

human emotions because I didn’t want my pain to be bought. Right now, I won’t paint, like, pictures of Breonna Taylor, [because] that was never my course. I was commissioned in 2018 to do a piece for Terrence Roberts, who was part of the Little Rock Nine, who integrated Little Rock [Central] High School. That painting sold, and someone reached out to me to re-create it. And I was like, “I'm not re-creating that because that was based upon this other person’s experience.” I won’t paint Black pain because it’s already there and it’s already palpable. What you need on your wall is work representing [Black people] as human, just like you have a Van Gogh or a Picasso or whoever else you have in your walls with beautiful water lilies, and all that other stuff. You need to allow me to paint some flowers, too. tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

BENEFITING TEXAS ADVOCACY PROJECT

SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS WHO MADE OUR VIRTUAL BALL A SUCCESS!

BECKY & BORAN BUTUROVIC

KRISTI & JORGE ELIZONDO

KELLY THORSTAD, MD & TREVOR TURNER, MD

SHELIA & LEWIS NICHOLS

MARY & FELIX GONZALES

ERIKA & PATRICK BERGER

SUZANNE & PAT PIERSON LETA L. DORSETT

MARLA BROADDUS & ENOCH KEVER PLLC

SARAH & JAMES SHREWSBURY

ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN THESE LEADERS IN SUPPORTING OUR WORK TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.

TexasAdvocacyProject.org

Subscribe TODAY

is available for delivery

Garden vibes and pitch-perfect plates at Verbena, p. 80.

P H OTO G R A P H B Y H O L LY CO WA R T

FOOD + DRINK

VENTURING OUT

tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

KAREN'S PICK

Located in downtown’s new Canopy hotel, Verbena offers a stylish yet relaxed return to Austin’s sociallydistanced dining scene.

Safe & Savory OUR RESTAUR ANT CRITIC CAREFULLY RETURNS TO AUSTIN’S DINING SCENE AND FINDS A VERDANT OASIS AT VERBENA By Karen O. Spezia Photographs by Holly Cowart

T WAS INEVITABLE. ONE DAY I’D RETURN TO RESTAURANTS. IT IS MY

job, after all. So after seven months of quarantine-imposed abstinence, I finally went out to eat. Not takeout. Not delivery. But a proper sit-down meal. And it was momentous. I waited a long time to reenter Austin’s dining scene. With a household member who’s at high risk for COVID, I couldn’t take the chance. But as the virus started slowing and restaurants started reopening, my antennae went up. Still, I waited, giving restaurants time to fine-tune their COVID procedures. Finally, the time felt right. Hibernation was over. Options for my first outing were thoughtfully considered and prerequisites were stringent: There had to be outdoor dining and strict adherence to COVID protocol. Of course, it had to be delicious, but I also wanted someplace new. After months of ordering takeout from my old standbys— Home Slice, TLV, Pool Burger, Nixta Taqueria, Upper Crust, Wu Chow, Tiny Boxwoods, et al.—I wanted something different. My favorites had done me right during quarantine and I was grateful, but now I craved new scenery and stimulation.

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

Chef Nic Yanes is behind the delectable menu, which highlights vegetable-forward dishes, regionally sourced ingredients and a full bar of creative cocktails.

I chose Verbena, located in downtown’s chic new Canopy hotel. Talk about chutzpah. The restaurant and hotel debuted in July, smack-dab in the middle of the pandemic. Verbena ticked all my boxes: It was new and fresh and offered socially distanced courtyard dining. And I knew it’d be delicious with chef Nic Yanes (Juniper, Uncle Nicky’s) at the helm. On the night of my maiden voyage, I was giddy with excitement and jittery with nerves. Would I feel safe? What would I wear? After seven months of sweatpants, I was thrilled to dress up again, although I’d almost forgotten how to apply mascara. As we approached Verbena, any fears of safety were quickly assuaged. The staff offered warm greetings behind their masks and directed us to a spotless, appropriately spaced table in the restaurant’s airy courtyard. Thanks to the brilliant architectural work of Lake Flato, the patio is an urban oasis: Towering trees wrapped in twinkle lights soar above a Zen waterfall and cozy outdoor fireplace; walls of glass frame views of the indoor dining room and cocktail lounge, resplendent with vibrant art. Located on the street level of bustling West Sixth Street, it all feels perfectly Austin: stylish yet relaxed and inviting. Once seated, we were provided QR codes for downloading the menu to our phones, a clever alternative to unsanitary traditional menus. Chef Yanes and his talented chef de cuisine, Matt Marcheselli (who hails from NYC and worked with noted chefs Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller), have crafted vegetable-forward dishes that highlight regionally sourced meat, fish and poultry. The result is creative, delectable food that’s fresh and light yet still familiar and comforting. tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

KAREN'S PICK

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

An urban oasis: The expansive, nature-filled outdoor patio showcases the beautiful architectural work of Lake Flato.

We began with the potato rosti, a dish that’s destined to become a signature item. A disk of crisp shredded potato is topped with sweet blue crab, avocado, corn, jalapeño, cilantro and sumac. The effect is a crazy potato minipizza that’s savory and salty yet bright like sunshine. We gobbled it down in minutes. Next came beef tartare, a sly spin on a classic served as finger food and nestled into cups of baby gem lettuce. Served atop a bowl of crushed ice, it was both elegant and approachable. Big enough to share, the 8 Lettuce Tossed Salad was a colorful composition of garden-fresh greens, radishes, cucumbers and seeds tossed in a lip-smacking roasted-lemon vinaigrette. We moved on to grilled arctic char, the sweet pink fish resting on a mound of aromatic jasmine rice, garnished with green olives and cherry tomatoes, then gilded with green zhug, a Mediterranean cousin of chimichurri that’s spiked with herbs and lemon. Verbena elevates pedestrian chicken thighs to new heights—roasting them until the skin is crisp and golden and the meat succulent—but its side dish almost stole the show. Potato pave, an upscale version of scalloped potatoes, looked like a piece of art and tasted even better.

Someone in Verbena’s kitchen really knows their way around potatoes. Our evening ended with the dark-chocolate crunch bar, a sweet and salty confection of white coffee cream enrobed in dark chocolate, then dusted with a Marcona almond crumble and sea salt—a light yet decadent finale to a delightful meal. Verbena offers a full bar of creative cocktails and a beer and wine list featuring both domestic and global selections, including international finds like the Olianas Vermentino from Sardinia, an Italian white that complemented everything we sampled. I couldn’t have picked a better spot for my restaurant homecoming. Verbena was lovely and delicious and, best of all, made me feel safe and nurtured. We call it the “hospitality industry” for a reason, and I’d almost forgotten how extraordinary it is to be taken care of. For a brief time, my husband and I almost forgot about the difficult times we’ve endured and continue to navigate. We almost felt normal again. And Verbena helped remind us there’s still a big, joyful, delicious world out there waiting to be savored. tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

24 DINER

BLUE DAHLIA BISTRO

EASY TIGER

600 N. Lamar Blvd. | (512) 472 5400

3663 Bee Cave Rd. | (512) 306 1668

6406 N I-35 Frontage Road, Suite 1100 | (512) 614 4972

Chef Andrew Curren’s casual eatery promises

A cozy French bistro serving up breakfast, lunch,

Easy Tiger lures in both drink and food enthusiasts

delicious plates 24/7 and a menu featuring

and dinner in a casual setting. Pop in for the

with a delicious bakeshop upstairs and a casual

nostalgic diner favorites. Order up the classics,

happy hour to share a bottle of your favorite wine

beer garden downstairs. Sip on some local brew and

including roasted chicken, burgers, all-day

and a charcuterie board.

grab a hot, fresh pretzel. Complete your snack

breakfast and decadent milkshakes.

BUFALINA & BUFALINA DUE

with beer, cheese and an array of dipping sauces.

34TH STREET CAFE

1519 E. Cesar Chavez St.,

EL ALMA

1005 W. 34th St. | (512) 371 3400

6555 Burnet Rd. | (512) 215 8662

1025 Barton Springs Rd. | (512) 609 8923

This neighborhood spot in North Campus serves

These intimate restaurants serve up mouthwatering

This chef-driven, authentic Mexican restaurant with

up soups, salads, pizzas and pastas — but don’t

pizzas, consistently baked with crispy edges and soft

unmatched outdoor patio dining stands out as

miss the chicken piccata. The low-key setting

centers. The famous Neapolitan technique is executed by

an Austin dining gem. The chic yet relaxed setting is

makes it great for weeknight dinners and weekend

the Stefano Ferrara wood-burning ovens, which

perfect for enjoying delicious specialized drinks

indulgences.

runs at more than 900 degrees. Lactose-intolerants

outside for the everyday 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. happy hour!

beware, there is no shortage of cheese on this menu!

ASTI TRATTORIA 408 E. 43rd St. | (512) 451 1218

CAFÉ NO SÉ

The chic little Hyde Park trattoria offers essential

1603 S. Congress Ave. | (512) 942 2061

Italian dishes along with a variety of wines

South Congress Hotel’s Café No Sé balances rustic

to pair them with. Finish off your meal with the

décor and a range of seasonal foods to make it the

honey-and-goat-cheese panna cotta.

best place for weekend brunching. The restaurant’s spin on the classic avocado toast is a must-try.

BAR CHI SUSHI 206 Colorado St. | (512) 382 5557

CLARK'S OYSTER BAR

A great place to stop before or after a night on

1200 W. 6th St. | (512) 297 2525

the town, this sushi and bar hot spot stays open

Small and always buzzing, Clark's extensive caviar

until 2 a.m. on the weekends. Bar Chi’s happy

and oyster menu, sharp aesthetics and excellent service

hour menu features $2 sake bombs and a variety

make it a refreshing indulgence on West Sixth Street.

of sushi rolls under $10.

Chef Larry McGuire brings East Coast-inspired vibes to this seafood restaurant.

BARLEY SWINE 6555 Burnet Rd., Ste. 400 | (512) 394 8150 James Beard Award–nominated chef Bryce Gilmore encourages sharing with small plates made from locally sourced ingredients, served at communal tables. Try the parsley croissants with bone marrow or Gilmore’s unique take on fried chicken.

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

ELIZABETH STREET CAFÉ 1501 S. 1st St. | (512) 291 2881 We love this charming French-Vietnamese eatery with a colorful menu of pho, banh mi and sweet treats. Both the indoor seating and outdoor patio bring comfort and vibrancy to this South Austin neighborhood favorite.

ÉPICERIE 2307 Hancock Dr. | (512) 371 6840 A café and grocery with both Louisiana and French sensibilities by Thomas Keller–trained chef Sarah McIntosh. Lovers of brunch are encouraged to stop in here for a bite on Sundays.

COMEDOR

FONDA SAN MIGUEL

501 Colorado St. | (512) 499 0977

2330 W. N Loop Blvd. | (512) 459 4121

Hiding in plain sight on one of downtown’s busiest

At Fonda San Miguel, authentic Interior Mexican

street corners, Comedor is a restaurant full

food is lovingly served inside a colorful hacienda-style

of surprises. Lauded chefs Philip Speer and Gabe

restaurant. The art-adorned walls and indoor, plant-

Erales deliver a menu that is equally clever

filled courtyard provide a pleasant escape in North

and unexpected, with contemporary cuisine riffs

Austin. Visit the Sunday brunch for a new menu with

on Mexican culinary traditions.

the most delicious interior Mexican brunch cuisine.

AS R E S TAU R A N TS R EO P E N, B E S U R E TO C H EC K T H E I R W E BS I T ES FO R U P DAT E D H O U R S , S A F ET Y P R OTO CO L S A N D TO-GO/DELIVERY OPTIONS.

GOODALL’S KITCHEN AND BAR

JOSEPHINE HOUSE

1900 Rio Grande St. | (512) 495 1800

1601 Waterston Ave. | (512) 477 5584

Housed in the beautiful Hotel Ella, Goodall’s

Rustic Continental fare with an emphasis on fresh,

provides modern spins on American classics.

local and organic ingredients. Like its sister restaurant,

Dig into a fried-mortadella egg sandwich and

Jeffrey’s, Josephine House is another one of

pair it a with cranberry-thyme cocktail.

Bon Appétit’s “10 Best New Restaurants in America.” Find a shady spot on the patio and indulge in fresh

GRIZZELDA’S

baked pastries and a coffee.

105 Tillery St. | (512) 366 5908

JUNE’S ALL DAY

This charming East Austin spot lies somewhere

1722 S. Congress Ave. | (512) 416 1722

between traditional Tex-Mex and regional Mexican recipes, each fused with a range of f lavors and styles. The attention to detail in each dish shines

This wine-focused restaurant is complemented by

GUSTO ITALIAN KITCHEN + WINE BAR

serious cocktails and a menu of approachable bistro

and the tortillas are made in-house daily.

4800 Burnet Road | (512) 458 1100 gustoitaliankitchen.com

favorites. Inspired by Paris cafes, Spanish tapas

HANK’S

Nestled in the Rosedale neighborhood of north-

sipping, noshing and lingering.

bodegas and urban wine bars, June’s encourages

5811 Berkman Dr. | (512) 609 8077

central Austin, Gusto captures the warm, comforting,

Delicious food and drinks, an easygoing waitstaff

every-day flavors of Italian cuisine. Dishes range from

and a kid-friendly patio all work together to make

house-made antipasti to hand-formed pizzas, salads,

2400 E Cesar Chavez St #304 | (512) 220 9421

Hank’s a favorite neighborhood joint. With happy hour

panini, fresh pasta, entrees featuring Texas farm

Uchi Alumni Chef Nicholas Yanes fuses central Texas

every day from 3-6:30, the hardest task will be

raised meats, and scratch desserts. Craft cocktails,

inf luences and local farm produce with Italian

choosing between their frosé and frozen paloma.

beer on tap, and boutique wines.

fare. Start with puffy potatoes and the Chef ’s Brand

HILLSIDE FARMACY

JUNIPER

New Cadillac Negroni.

1209 E. 11th St. | (512) 628 0168

HOPFIELDS

JUSTINE’S BRASSERIE 4710 E. 5th St. | (512) 385 2900

Hillside Farmacy is located in a beautifully

3110 Guadalupe St. | (512) 537 0467

Justine’s is a quaint French brasserie deep in East

restored 1950s-style pharmacy with a lovely porch

A gastropub with French inclinations, offering a

Austin. Don’t let the short drive deter you — the

on the East Side. Oysters, cheese plates and nightly

beautiful patio and unique cocktails. The beer, wine and

experience of eating traditional French plates among

dinner specials are whipped up by chef Sonya Cote.

cocktail options are plentiful and the perfect pairing

exquisite works of art and decorative string lights

for the restaurant’s famed steak frites and moules frites.

makes for one idyllic evening with a significant other.

1415 S. Congress Ave. | (512) 444 7437

JEFFREY’S

501 E. 53rd St. | (512) 707 7437

1204 W. Lynn St. | (512) 477 5584

For pizza cravings head to Home Slice. Open

Named one of Bon Appétit’s “10 Best New Restaurants

until 3 a.m. on weekends for your post-bar-hopping

in America,” this historic Clarksville favorite has

convenience and stocked with classics like

maintained the execution, top-notch service,

the Margherita as well as innovative pies like the

and luxurious but welcoming atmosphere that makes

White Clam.

it an Austin staple.

KEMURI TATSU-YA 2713 E. 2nd St. | (512) 893 5561 Kemuri Tatsu-Ya is a Japanese-Texan mash-up that injects seriously good food with a sense of humor. The East Austin joint features Asian-inspired smoked meats and seafood, along with yakitori, ramen, and izakaya classics meant for sharing. Drinks are also an integral part of the meal, so come thirsty.

HOME SLICE PIZZA

tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

LA BARBECUE 2027 E. Cesar Chavez St. | (512) 605 9696 Though it may not be as famous as that other Austin barbecue joint, La Barbecue is arguably just as delicious. This trailer, which is owned by the legendary Mueller family, serves up classic barbecue with free beer and live music.

LAS PALOMAS 3201 Bee Caves Rd., #122 | (512) 327 9889 One of the hidden jewels in Westlake, this unique restaurant and bar offers authentic interior

LICHA’S CANTINA 1306 E. 6th St. | (512) 480 5960 Located in the heart of East 6th, Licha’s is a quick trip to the interior of Mexico. With masa made fresh in house and a large range of tequilas and mezcal, Licha’s Cantina is a celebration of authentic Mexican cuisine. The music, food and ambiance will get you ready for a night out on the town. LORO 2115 S. Lamar Blvd. | (512) 916 4858 Created by James Beard Award winners Tyson

Mexican cuisine in a sophisticated yet relaxed

Cole and Aaron Franklin, this Asian smokehouse

setting. Enjoy family recipes made with fresh

is a welcome addition to South Lamar. The

ingredients. Don’t miss the margaritas.

expansive indoor-outdoor space, designed by

LENOIR

and open, and unsurprisingly the food does not disappoint. Don’t miss out on the sweet corn

A gorgeous spot to enjoy a luxurious French-inspired

fritters, smoked beef brisket, thai green curry or

prix fixe meal. Almost every ingredient served at

those potent boozy slushies.

making the unique, seasonal specialties even more enjoyable. Sit in the wine garden for happy hour and enjoy bottles from the top wine-producing regions in the world.

LIN ASIAN BAR + DIM SUM 1203 W. 6th St. | (512) 474 5107 Located in a vintage West Sixth Street bungalow, Chef Ling and her team create sophisticated Chinese dishes that draw enthusiastic crowds day and night. Make sure to stop by during weekend brunch to taste the full mouthwatering dim sum menu.

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

PARKSIDE 301 E. 6th St. | (512) 474 9898 Patrons f lock to this downtown hideaway for its wide selection of oysters and other modernAmerican specialties. The 6th Street locale is filled with industrial details and plenty of natural light, so it’s no wonder that reservations are often necessary to get a table in the inviting space.

Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, is welcoming

1807 S. 1st St. | (512) 215 9778

Lenoir comes locally sourced from Central Texas,

ODD DUCK 1201 S Lamar Blvd | (512) 433 6521 Famed food trailer turned brick-and-mortar, Odd Duck is the first venture from acclaimed chef Bryce Gilmore. Expect seasonal fare and drinks with a strong Texas inf luence sourced locally whenever possible.

MATTIE’S 811 W. Live Oak St. | (512) 444 1888 Mattie’s is a glorious urban paradise offering upscale American classics. While the cocktails are top-notch and the cuisine is nothing short of outstanding, Mattie’s ambiance and atmosphere are unmatched. OLAMAIE 1610 San Antonio St. | (512) 474 2796 Food+Wine magazine’s best new chef Michael Fojtasek creates a menu that will leave any Southerner drooling with delight over the restaurant’s contemporary culinary concepts. The dessert menu offers a classic apple pie or a more trendy goat cheese-caramel ice cream. Also, do yourself a favor and order the biscuits.

THE PEACHED TORTILLA 5520 Burnet Rd., #100 | (512) 330 4439 This cheerful spot is sure to clear your weekly blues with friendly staff, fun food and a playful atmosphere. Affordably priced, you’ll find culinary influences from around the world with a healthy dose of Asian and Southern options. PICNIK 4801 Burnet Rd. | (737) 226 0644 1700 S. Lamar Blvd. | (512) 293-6118 A perfect place to find wholesome food for any type of dietary restriction in a bright and airy setting. This place truly lives out the “good and good for you” concept with paleo-friendly options and thoughtfully sourced ingredients. POOL BURGER 2315 Lake Austin Blvd. | (512) 334 9747 Tiki meets Texas in this neighborhood burger bar. Located behind Deep Eddy Cabaret, crunchy crinkle-cut fries and juicy burgers are served from the window of a 1968 Airstream Land Yacht.

AS R E S TAU R A N TS R EO P E N, B E S U R E TO C H EC K T H E I R W E BS I T ES FO R U P DAT E D H O U R S , S A F ET Y P R OTO CO L S A N D TO-GO/DELIVERY OPTIONS.

RED ASH ITALIA

VERBENA

303 Colorado St. | (512) 379 2906

612 W. 6th St. | (512) 991 3019

Red Ash Italia strikes the perfect balance between

Located in downtown’s chic new Canopy hotel

high-quality food and enticing ambiance.

and designed by Lake Flato Architects, Verbena

This Italian steakhouse is led by an all-star team,

offers vegetable-forward dishes that highlight

including executive chef John Carver. Sit back,

regionally sourced meat, fish and poultry. Chef

relax and enjoy an exceptional evening.

Nic Yanes (Juniper, Uncle Nicky’s) is at the helm.

ROSEWOOD GULF COAST CHOP HOUSE

VINAIGRETTE

1209 Rosewood Ave. | (512) 838 6205

2201 College Ave. | (512) 852 8791

Housed in a historic East Side cottage, this spot is

This salad-centric restaurant off South Congress

quickly becoming a staple. Chef Jesse DeLeon pays outstanding homage to his South Texas roots with seasonal offerings from Gulf Coast fishermen

has one of the prettiest patios in town. Along with an

JULIET ITALIAN KITCHEN

and Hill Country farmers and ranchers.

1500 Barton Springs Rd. | (512) 479 1800 juliet-austin.com

SUERTE

The greatest stories are told with family over

1800 E. 6th St. | (512) 953 0092

food and wine. Juliet Italian Kitchen embodies

Helmed by executive chef Fermín Núñez, Suerte

just that, bringing nostalgic and classic Italian

was inspired by extensive travels through

American cuisine to the heart of Austin on Barton

Central Mexico. Artisanal masa is the highlight,

Springs. From family-style dinners, to weekend

made from local heirloom corn and used in

brunch al fresco, to neighborhood happy

distinctive dishes rarely found on Austin menus. Order the delectable Suadero Tacos, perfect

hours, Juliet Italian Kitchen is yours to call home.

for sharing with friends.

THAI FRESH 909 W. Mary St. | (512) 494 6436 A restaurant, cooking school and market all in one place. When you’re done dining on traditional Thai favorites, stop by the adjoining coffee bar for freshly brewed joe, homemade ice cream and an array of baked goods.

TINY BOXWOODS 1503 W. 35th St. | (512) 220 0698

TRUE FOOD KITCHEN 222 West Ave. | (512) 777 2430 11410 Century Oaks Terrace, Suite 100 | (512) 992-0685 Inspired by Dr. Andrew Weil’s anti-inflammatory diet, True Food Kitchen combines decadent favorites with health-conscious eating. The restaurant, located in downtown’s Seaholm district, offers a full range of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. UCHIKO

This Houston-based brand now serves its

4200 N. Lamar Blvd., Ste. 140 | (512) 916 4808

simple and delicious food in Austin’s Bryker Woods

The sensational sister creation of Uchi and former home

neighborhood. Favorites include house-ground

of Top Chef Paul Qui and renowned chefs Page Presley

burgers, salmon Provencal salad and their chocolate

and Nicholas Yanes, Uchiko is an Austin icon that

chip cookies.

everyone should visit at least once. Try the bacon tataki.

inviting ambiance, the salads are fresh, creative, bold and most importantly delicious, with nearly two dozen options to choose from.

VIXEN’S WEDDING 1813 E. 6th St. | (737) 242 7555 Vixen’s Wedding is a charming space creating something truly unique. Helmed by culinary supercouple Todd Duplechan and Jessica Maher, the restaurant specializes in Goan cuisine, a cultural mash-up of bright and complex f lavors.

WALTON’S FANCY AND STAPLE 609 W. 6th St. | (512) 542 3380 Owned by actress and Austin resident Sandra Bullock, Walton’s is a dreamy brick-walled bakery, deli and floral shop. Take some pastries home after indulging in gourmet sandwiches and fresh salads for lunch, or stay for the rotating dinner menu. Most importantly, make it before 2 p.m. to order the legendary biscuit sandwich served only during breakfast!

tribeza.com

| NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020

A LOOK BEHIND

JAM SANITCHAT Thai Fresh Moving to Austin from Thailand at the age of 30, chef Jam Sanitchat opened Thai Fresh in 2008 to serve seasonallyinspired Thai food. During the pandemic, Sanitchat retained most of her staff—even with the restaurant closed. This year, she self-published a cookbook and opened a new East Austin coffee/ ice cream shop, Gati.

Ones to Watch THESE FOUR COMMUNIT Y-NOMINATED AUSTINITES ARE FORGING NEW PATHS AND FIGHTING FOR CHANGE By Hannah J. Phillips WE NORMALLY CALL THIS SECTION “A LOOK BEHIND,”

but this issue, we’re also looking ahead. In addition to the profiles in our main feature, here are four more community-nominated change-makers who have left an indelible mark on Austin in 2020. We expect their imprint will only expand in 2021.

reFIND shopping Aiming to cultivate inclusivity and sustainability in shopping, Ibarra plans to launch a new app, reFIND Shopping, in early 2021. With a vision to hold

the fashion industry accountable for both practices, her unique platform puts the focus back on intentional shopping.

THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION TEAM Founded in 2015 by Chas Moore, the Austin Justice Coalition focuses on improving the quality of life for people who are Black, Brown and poor. In the wake of George Floyd’s death, Moore’s team mobilized thousands of Austinites in a peaceful protest that centered Black voices and Black stories. Their ongoing work for racial justice extends far beyond one rally, with four areas of advocacy including education, policing, civic engagement and community-building.

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2020 | tribeza.com

CHARLIE BONNER MOVE Texas As the communications director for MOVE Texas, Bonner and his team helped register over 50,000 young Texans—despite a global pandemic that kept countless students off campus—by mailing thousands of registration forms to voters across the state. According to data from Circle, a research organization focused on youth civic engagement, more than 3 million young people (aged 18-29) had already voted early or absentee by October 21—with Texas leading the charge.

A U S T I N J U S T I C E COA LT I O N : M O N T I N I Q U E M O N R O E ; LO R I Z A I B A R R A : C H R I S T I A N N A B E T T I S ; J A M S A N I TC H AT: J O DY H O R TO N ; C H A R L I E B O N N E R : CO U R T E S Y O F M OV E T E X A S

LORIZA IBARRA

For your next level.

Your home is more than a building or an address. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where you experience life, family, connection, growth. Your home should be as exceptional as you are, and as you are going to be. Only Kuper Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Realty offers a lifestyle inspired by your potential.

3612 Pearce Road, Austin, TX | Represented by Stephanie Nick For more infomation visit: villaartique.com