Sometimes you see them flitting by in the wind on a city street like a brightly colored bird. Sometimes you see them posted on telephone poles. You see others on walls inside clubs. I’m talking about music posters. While they are silent in sound, their designs portend grand audio and visual experiences to come, as bands perform at […]
14 Facts Before Your Visit: Austin’s French Legation Museum
The oldest wooden frame home in Austin sits alone on a hill with an unobstructed view of the State Capitol. It dates back to the Republic of Texas, when France seized an opportunity to grab a piece of the new country and its wealth. But the French sent the wrong man for the job.
Bonjour, Austin! Exploring and Celebrating Austin’s French Culture
Guest article by Kristella Montiegel. Within the hip and diverse city of Austin, you’ll find an alluring presence of French culture and community. Fittingly so, since French colonization of Texas dates back to the the 1600’s. Traces of French influence – especially in historical locations, food and art – can be found throughout the Austin area. While […]
Top 14 Famous Statues in Austin
Statues become mental landmarks of people, animals, fantastic beings from creative minds…and legends. Observing a statue can be a zen like or aesthetic experience. Or for those who love to do statue art, it’s a convivial fun fest of reactions and poses for statue photos. Here are 14 famous statues in Austin you should include on your next public […]
7 Things You Must See at the LBJ Library
You eavesdrop on a phone conversation. You realize the voices are President Lyndon Baines Johnson and former First Lady and now widow Jackie Kennedy on the line. It’s an emotional discussion. Even though the phone call happened more than 50 years ago, you feel like a kid sneaking on the extension. Your ear’s glued to […]
Elisabet Ney Museum: Meet a Woman Ahead of Her Time
You don’t know it, but you know Elisabet Ney. Her sculptures are part of your mental landscape. She’s credited by many for making Austin the Austin it is today – a center of culture. For anyone interested in the arts or Texas history, visiting the quiet little museum in the midst of a wildlife habitat […]
Battle of the Brunches Round 3: Moonshine Patio Bar and Grill
If there’s one thing all real Texans love, it’s comfort food. Give us fried chicken, grits, and basically anything with melted cheese, and we’re a happy bunch. Combine our appreciation for comfort food with our pride in Texas history, southern hospitality, and a good Bloody Mary, and we are in love. For these very reasons, […]
Rattletree School of Marimba Imports Happy Music from Zimbabwe
Have you ever been so inspired by something, you stopped what you were doing and began a quest to learn everything you could about it? Joel Laviolette has. How It Started Almost 20 years ago, Joel was traveling through New Mexico when he heard the music of the mbira. The instrument is indigenous to Africa […]
Reflections on 2013 Veterans Day Ceremony at the Texas State Capitol
I’m proud to live in a state that takes care of its veterans. From property tax exemptions to complimentary state park admission, from vocational rehabilitation to specialty license plates, Texas has numerous policies in place to support veterans and ease the visible and invisible burdens they bring home after armed conflict. I attended the 2013 […]
Lorenzo de Zavala Building Houses 40,000 Cubic Feet of State Archives
Through this Thursday, William Travis’ 1836 “victory or death” letter is on display at the Alamo in San Antonio. Returned for the first time to the site where it was penned, the Travis letter is protected by a $20,000 display case, black curtains and temporary AC units. But these measures aren’t enough to protect a […]