Fuck Yeah, Austin!

It’s Electric Photo by Craig Allen

Thu, 12 May 2011 13:27:18 -0500

It’s Electric

Photo by Craig Allen

Today. Rain. Finally. Photo by Fernando Muñoz

Thu, 12 May 2011 13:16:15 -0500

Today. Rain. Finally.

Photo by Fernando Muñoz

Fit and you know it.

Thu, 12 May 2011 13:10:22 -0500

Austin tops Financially Fit’s list for “The Best Cities for Jobs”

Financially Fit awarded Austin with the top honor while three other Texas cities (Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas) were also named, all within the top five.

Full article can be found HERE.

Amazing Mustaches in History - Doug Henning As seen on the kids...

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 14:14:49 -0500

Amazing Mustaches in History - Doug Henning

As seen on the kids menu at Home Slice Pizza

Photo by djmark1972 @ Flickr

Mustache Ride Seesaw Photo by Don Mason

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 14:07:00 -0500

Mustache ~~Ride~~ Seesaw

Photo by Don Mason

The Paramount Theater Photo by John Rogers

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 13:53:18 -0500

The Paramount Theater

Photo by John Rogers

Waterloo Records Photo by Mary Rehak

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 13:44:34 -0500

Waterloo Records

Photo by Mary Rehak

Austin Postcards from the 1940’s Photos provided by Gregg...

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 22:15:00 -0500

Austin Postcards from the 1940’s

Photos provided by Gregg Klar

Zilker Kite Festival 2010 Photo by Sara Iden

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 22:10:31 -0500

Zilker Kite Festival 2010

Photo by Sara Iden

Austin’s 1st “Kite Tournament” in 1929 at...

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 22:09:06 -0500

Austin’s 1st “Kite Tournament” in 1929 at Lamar Park

Photo provided by Exchange Club of Austin

The Daniel Johnston “Worried Shoes” design for...

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 21:17:00 -0500

Photo by MonsterFresh.com

Photo by MonsterFresh.com

Photo by Mandane Brasseur

Photo by Mandane Brasseur

The reaction - Photo by Dick Johnston

The Daniel Johnston “Worried Shoes” design for Converse that never was.

From MonsterFresh.com — “Clearly, someone from Converse took an interest in Daniel and thought that it would be a great idea to produce the shoe. We agree that it was, however, let’s not forget that Nike purchased Converse back in 2003 and, by definition, a corporation is all about making money. They clearly didn’t see the appeal or value in producing them but, much like when there was a bidding war over Johnston‘s music during his days in the mental ward, I believe that Dick is probably right about his feelings that more offers will be pouring in once Daniel proves that he may be marketable on a larger scale.”

A pretty interesting story, feel free to read it in full HERE.

Austin circa the 1800’s The estimated date on this...

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 01:32:00 -0500

Austin circa the 1800’s

The estimated date on this photograph is 1890 (give or take) and it looks to be taken from the Capital Building, looking south down Congress Avenue.

Two other retro photos of the city can be found HERE.

I passed by four pianos today while walking around town and each...

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 01:04:00 -0500

I passed by four pianos today while walking around town and each one had a talented pianist (or in some cases two or three) at the keys, totally in their element. I loved it. Here’s KXAN’s story explaining the art project:

Pianos Play Into Texas Capital Scenery

“If you walk around Downtown Austin, you might see a strange sight in various parts of the city — pianos.

For the next month, 17 upright pianos will be placed in random spots around town.

“Museums and galleries are great, but there is something about bringing art into the streets that changes it, makes it a little more democratic in a way,” said Austin artist Johnny Walker.

Walker is in charge of installing the art project that has become an international sensation, called Play Me I’m Yours.”

Read the rest of the article HERE.

Story by Kate Weidaw for KXAN Austin News

Photo by poofterorg @ Flickr

All these items can be found on Etsy: The Leslie print can be...

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:25:56 -0500

Leslie Print

Don't Mess With Texans Necklace

Reclaimed Skateboard Belt Buckle

Letterpress Postcards - Austin Bats

Austin Map Necklace

Austin Skyline Notecards

All these items can be found on Etsy:

The Leslie print can be found HERE.

The Texas necklace can be found HERE.

The belt buckle can be found HERE.

The letterpress bat postcards can be found HERE.

The map necklace can be found HERE.

The Austin skyline notecards can be found HERE.

A Profile: Amelia Simmons of Amy’s Ice Cream HOME:...

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:48:52 -0500

A Profile: Amelia Simmons of Amy’s Ice Cream

HOME: Austin, Texas

AGE: 47

PROFESSION: Empress of ice cream (the business she founded in 1984, Amy’s Ice Creams, now has 14 stores in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio)

RECENT VENTURE: Phil’s Ice House, a burger joint she and her husband opened in 2005 as a tribute to her former business partner, Phil Clay, who died in a motorcycle accident

SIDELINE: Mayor pro tem of West Lake Hills, a small city (pop. 3,116) on the outskirts of Austin

FORMER SIDELINE: Boxing. “I was the first professional female boxer in the state of Texas.”

ROOTS FOR: The Houston Astros (baseball), the Texas Longhorns (basketball), and the Red Hot Chili Peppers (her daughter’s soccer team)

WACKIEST AMY’S ICE CREAM FLAVOR: Guinness. “I made it as a joke. But people loved it, so we now make five other beer flavors.”

WHY YOU HARDLY EVER SEE AN AMY’S AD: “Instead of having a traditional advertising budget, we use our money to sponsor community events and make donations to local charities.”

AMY’S ANSWER TO THE OFFICE PARTY: An annual prom, complete with a king and queen

HOW TO GET A JOB AT AMY’S: “We give folks a plain white paper bag and ask them to be as creative as possible.”

MOST MEMORABLE APPLICATION: A helium balloon floated into the store attached to a bag made to resemble a hot air balloon basket. Inside were items like the applicant’s report card, her Girl Scout badges, and photos of her with her friends and with her dog.

DEFINING TRAITS: Empathy, enthusiasm, pride in her work. Loves Austin, “the friendliest, most creative, artistic, smart, fitness-focused, and accepting community I have lived in.” Loves running a small business, which “allows you to work and grow in so many disciplines.” Loves ice cream for “the way it makes people happy.”

CURRENT FAVORITE READ: Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert’s account of her post-divorce travels in Italy, India, and Indonesia

ICE CREAM OF CHOICE: Belgian chocolate with Reese’s peanut butter cups crushed in

HER ALMA MATER: Tufts (biology, psychology)

Image and info via Tufts Alumni Profiles

SXSW 2011 - A Retrospective Video by Neko Neko Films Part two...

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:38:44 -0500

SXSW 2011 - A Retrospective

Video by Neko Neko Films

Part two can be found HERE.

The Blanton Museum of Art Photo by Bill Oriani

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:20:03 -0500

The Blanton Museum of Art

Photo by Bill Oriani

Battle Hall @ UT Photo by Brandon Burns

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:15:20 -0500

Battle Hall @ UT

Photo by Brandon Burns

The UT Tower Photo by Jay Janner

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:07:53 -0500

The UT Tower

Photo by Jay Janner

Permanent Love Photo by Matthias

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:05:47 -0500

Permanent Love

Photo by Matthias