Goodbye to a River?
In May of 2014 I returned to Austin for one last research trip before finally sitting down and completing my book on Austin’s history. Having been gone from Texas for … Continue reading
Alright Alright Alright: We Get Older, Dazed Stays the Same Age
Dazed and Confused (1993) turned 21 last year. Yes, the film that follows a longhaired teenager and his friends as they attempt to avoid being hazed, the film in which … Continue reading
Zombie Jesus in Hyde Park
Zombie Jesus was inspired by a conversation I had with my son Dylan after we drove past a group of door to door evangelists and laughed about the absurd way … Continue reading
Atomic Austin
Although our editorial board has mostly been concerned with changes confronting the Austin of the 21st century, a most violent end to Austin was anticipated half a century ago. During the height of the … Continue reading
The Rail in Austin: A Conversation with Niran Babalola
When asked what the biggest issue facing Austin is, we typically hear a smattering of answers, but the most common refrain involves traffic, sprawl, and public transportation. No surprise, then, that Austin … Continue reading
A Well Attended Disappointment
In this transient metropolis, some traditions won’t die gracefully. Through hearsay and unaccountable publicity in local holiday event guides, the 37th St. Christmas light display has been eking out a … Continue reading
Boomerang Days: Drag King
The University of Texas’s alumni publication, The Alcalde Magazine, has recently featured some incredible and poignant essays exploring how the city has changed since many of our alumni were students here. We reprint this … Continue reading
Noteworthy
A fellow graduate student recently found a handwritten note on her car, which has a California license plate and was parked in Austin’s Hyde Park neighborhood. It reads (spelling errors … Continue reading
Chicken Shit Bingo
Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon is an Austin institution drawing people from all over the world for Chicken Shit Bingo, cheap beer, friendly atmosphere, and a taste of Texas culture. Ginny’s … Continue reading
Plaza Saltillo
On Sundays, Plaza Saltillo is transformed from a silent concrete station into the lively HOPE community farmers’ market. In the small gazebo at the west end of the plaza, a … Continue reading
Saint Elmo Afternoon
http://vimeo.com/96341993 Saint Elmo Afternoon was made in a vacant lot where South Congress meets West Saint Elmo Road. Saint Elmo is shorthand for Saint Erasmus of Formia, the patron saint … Continue reading
From Suburban to Urban
If one were to visit Austin for the first time, one might see a bustling and busy town, expanding and growing beyond its transportation capacity. A closer look at specific neighborhoods … Continue reading
The End of Austin 