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New Movement in Austin: BAM Academy Offers Unique Classes and Open Gym

Posted on October 2, 2013 by David Thomas

Tracy Barksdale and Matthew Wills at BAM Academy

BAM Academy co-owners, Tracy Barksdale and Matthew Willis

Editor’s Note: As of June 2016, BAM Academy has two locations at 8222 N. Lamar Blvd. Suite F51-54 and 113 Industrial Blvd. Suite C-1.

The humidity rolled through BAM Academy and settled over us like the thick crocheted blanket that used to adorn my grandmother’s plastic covered couch. A series of shop fans stoically performed their intended task.

I took in my surroundings. There were four or five lanes of springboard floor butted against a large gymnastics foam pit with five foot walls. Off to the side were a couple of pipe structures reminiscent of construction scaffolding or, perhaps, incomplete jungle gyms.

On the far side of BAM Academy were three walls that varied in height: six, eight and ten feet tall. Next to them was a narrower version of American Ninja Warrior’s warped wall. I was surprised by the spaciousness of the space as a whole. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Archives

Museum of the Weird on 6th St. Draws National Attention with Oddities

Posted on September 18, 2013 by David Thomas

Steve Busti Owner of Museum of the Weird

Hanging out with Steve Busti, enthusiastic owner of Museum of the Weird

Austin is weird, right? It’s how we’ve branded the city.

We’ve all seen the tie-dye shirts, but how weird is Austin really? Is it mermaid mummy weird? Is it shrunken head weird? The Museum of the Weird on 6th St. is that weird.

The Iceman Cometh

When Steve Busti was just a young lad, he went with his aunt to a K-Mart. In the parking lot was a man with a truck, taking money from a line of people as they peeked into the back of it.

Steve’s aunt paid the man and lifted Steve up so he could see into the back of the truck. He came face to face with the world famous Minnesota Iceman – an ape-man frozen in ice, of controversial origin, which has attracted the attention of the FBI, Smithsonian Museum, U.S. Customs and Vice President Walter Mondale. The world famous moniker is not hype. The Iceman has attracted the attention of international paleontologists and scientists. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Activities, Culture, Discoveries, Museums

23rd St. Artists’ Market: For the People, By the People

Posted on September 4, 2013 by David Thomas

23rd St Artists Market Austin

23rd St. Artists’ Market draws a lot of foot traffic from the Drag, especially when UT classes are in session

A couple of years ago when my fiancé and I were first dating, I took her to the Drag. We ate at Dirty Martin’s and went for a walk. Coming across the 23rd St. Artists’ Market, we perused the booths and went about our day’s adventures. Little did I know, we had actually come across an Austin institution as time honored as Eeyore’s Birthday and Barton Springs Pool.

The Market

23rd St. Artists’ Market was founded way back in 1972 after a citywide vote in 1971 led to a referendum establishing the market. In 1976, vendors were restricted to selling only handmade crafts by local artists, and the market hasn’t been moved or changed since.

This past weekend, my fiancé and I returned to 23rd St. Artists’ Market to check things out. The market is [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Culture, Entertainment, Events

Get AMPed at United We Jam Music Fest This Weekend

Posted on August 21, 2013 by David Thomas

The Mohawk Club will participate in United We Jam.

The Mohawk Club, a staple on Red River St., will host several acts during United We Jam (Photo credit: MohawkAustin.com)

Is Austin the Live Music Capital of the World? Yes, but one thing people don’t often consider is how the city earned this moniker: by creating a friendly atmosphere towards musicians and venues.

Why AMP Is Important

As Bob Dylan once famously wrote, “The times, they are a changing.” Austin isn’t the same city that it was in the 70’s and 80’s. The influx of people has brought with it an influx of development, political views and philosophies. Those not represented are often swept to the side and replaced by those with louder voices.

This is why Austin Music People (AMP) is important. AMP is a voice for musicians and venues at City Hall, serving as a middleman between venues, developers and local [Read more…]

Filed Under: Archives

Longhorn Bikes Will Steer You Straight

Posted on August 6, 2013 by David Thomas

Bike with Longhorn Handlebars

Bull horns for handlebars is one of the things that makes Longhorn Bikes unique

We all know that Austin is a cycling city. We’ve all seen the pedicabs downtown, the fixed gear riders slicing through traffic and that one dude riding his daughter’s pink mountain bike back from the corner store in the wrong gear, with lotto tickets hanging out of his back pocket. So far, I’ve written two articles centered on the cycling culture in Austin and, to some folks, it may seem that there’s a bicycle shop on every corner. But how many shops can boast that they replace handlebars with bull horns?

The Shop

When Rene Martinez opened Longhorn Bikes in 2007 in the Plaza Juan Raul shopping center on E. Cesar Chavez, he decided that he needed something to set him apart from the competition. So he started to replace bicycle handlebars with a set of bull horns for a paltry $150.00 (that includes the cost of the horns). According to [Read more…]

Filed Under: Discoveries, Local Business Tagged With: biking, cesar chavez, eastside

A Concert That Will Leave You Without Regrets

Posted on July 24, 2013 by David Thomas

Soldier Thread Without Regrets Foundation Benefit Concert

Soldier Thread jams to a packed Threadgill’s

On August 10th, the sweet sound of music will drift north across Ladybird Lake as Threadgill’s and KLBJ FM help the Without Regrets Foundation throw their second annual benefit concert.

The Charity

Without Regrets was founded in Dripping Springs, Texas in June, 2011. Four months later in October, they officially gained their non-profit status. Co-founders Tara Ballard and Che Heinroth saw a need to help families with terminally ill parents to have one last moment of reprieve from the emotional and financial stresses that burden their lives. “This gives them something to look forward to other than doctor visits and treatment plans,” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Et Cetera, Non-Profits

Buckle Up for Turtle Racing at Little Woodrow’s

Posted on July 10, 2013 by David Thomas

At turtle racing, the first turtle to reach the checkered border wins the heat.

The turtles scramble for the finish line

I mopped my brow as the stiff summer breeze did little to alleviate the sweltering heat on the porch of Little Woodrow’s 6th St. location. I bit my lower lip and placed my ticket stub in bucket two. Standing next to a bucket in the middle of a small area with a checkered circle, BDOE started the count, “One…two…THREE!” His assistant lifted the bucket and six turtles scrambled to the checkered outer ring.

I clenched my ticket in anticipation of victory, but it was not to be. I bet on #2, a turtle named Soup. Soup decided it wasn’t worth his while to even move in any direction. The folks who placed their tickets in #3’s bucket were stoked, since that little guy beat feet to the checkered finish line. I hung my head, resolved to win the next race. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Events Tagged With: bars

Up & Down Tour Pleases Beer Drinkers and Coffee Fanatics Alike

Posted on June 26, 2013 by David Thomas

Up and Down Tour attendees

Attendees sip coffee and listen as Joel Shuler presents during the Up & Down Tour

If there is anything I can say about my fellow Austinites, it’s that they surely love two things: coffee and beer. This is why I was stoked about participating in the Up & Down Tour, hosted by Casa Brasil and South Austin Brewing Company.  After all, what better way to kill two birds with one stone on a Saturday?

The two tour hosts happen to be neighbors in a small business park at 415 E. St. Elmo, just off of S. Congress Ave, south of Ben White. Joel Shuler, co-owner/sourcing/quality control of Casa Brasil, got together with Jordan Weeks, founder/brew master/managing partner of South Austin Brewing Company.

Together, they decided that creating a tour featuring two of the best ingredients for a relaxing Saturday – coffee and beer – would be a good idea. The small number of guests (15 to be exact) for the aptly named Up & Down Tour creates an intimate atmosphere where participants can comfortably chit chat about what they learn and experience during the tour. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Drink, Food & Drink

Hot Lava Obstacle Course: New Place in Austin to Hang Around

Posted on June 13, 2013 by David Thomas

Gymnastics at Hot Lava Obstacle Course

Ben Broussard shows off his gymnastic talents (Credit: Jessica Teseny)

Editor’s Note: Hot Lava Obstacle Course has permanently closed.

When I was five years old, we lived in a small house with a detached garage. This garage had a tree growing next to it. It was my goal to climb this tree and get on the garage roof. What really ended up happening was that I climbed most of the way up the tree, decided to climb down, got scared and had my little brother get my mommy.

Later on, I joined the Army against my dad’s advice because I thought they had a cooler obstacle course than the Air Force (true story bro). I then missed the obstacle course because I had kitchen duty scrubbing pots and pans. Both stories came up in a conversation I had with Ben Broussard at Bennu Coffee. You see, Ben and his wife, Kate, are the co-owners of the new Hot Lava Obstacle Course. That’s right, I said “obstacle course!” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Archives Tagged With: burnet

Bikers Set to Party During 19th Annual ROT Rally

Posted on May 30, 2013 by David Thomas

Bikes line Congress Avenue in front of the Capitol during ROT Rally

Motorcycles line Congress Ave. in front of the Texas State Capitol (Credit: High Voltage via Flickr CC)

There’s always something going on in our humble town. Usually it comes in the form of some festival or another. Sometimes it’s a concert series or a cartoon character’s birthday. Still, there are other events that cater to a different type of crowd. The type of crowd that will party until the sun comes up.

The 19th Annual Republic of Texas Biker Rally (ROT Rally) is one of the latter events. This year it takes place June 13–16, 2013. And if last year is any indication, somewhere around 50,000 bikers will descend on Austin and its Central Texas neighbors. The event is ticketed, so that means you have to pay to play…at least if you want to actually get inside the gates of the Travis County Expo Center. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Events

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