Joleen Jernigan, Author at The Austinot

Austin’s Gazelle Foundation Gives Clean Water to Thousands in Burundi

April 27, 2017 by Joleen Jernigan Leave a Comment

Gazelle Foundation Drinking Water for Burundi

Child in Burundi drinks clean water from a tap stand (Credit: Gazelle Foundation/Spencer Selvedge)

Gilbert Tuhabonye is Gazelle Foundation’s inspiration and strong, joyful leader

Water, air, food, shelter, clothing. These are basic needs all humans have. Austin-based Gazelle Foundation has a singular goal: provide clean water to people in Burundi, one of the poorest countries in the world. Our city’s link to Burundi is a remarkable survivor, and proponent of joy and helping others, Gilbert Tuhabonye.

An Inspired Life

Gilbert Tuhabonye has survived horrors most of us cannot imagine. As a young child, he escaped a brutal attack by Hutu tribesman at his school, where the marauders beat the Tutsi children with machetes and set them on fire. Tuhabonye managed to escape through a window and literally run to freedom, despite being on fire. Today he exudes hope, and practices forgiveness and faith. He now works to save his people through Gazelle Foundation. [Read more…]

Experience a (Texas) Flood of Memories at Bullock Museum’s Stevie Ray Vaughan Exhibit

March 15, 2017 by Joleen Jernigan Leave a Comment

Stevie Ray Vaughan Exhibit at Bullock Museum in Austin

Pride & Joy: The Texas Blues of Stevie Ray Vaughan is open now through July 23, 2017
(Credit: Bullock Texas State History Museum)

Growing up Texan, loving Stevie Ray Vaughan was never optional. Something deep inside us stirs when we hear his bluesy, wailing chords. We stop whatever we’re doing to listen with due reverence. His music speaks directly to the heart.

Jimmie Vaughan and The Grammy Museum are bringing a one-of-a-kind exhibit of Stevie Ray Vaughan memorabilia to the Bullock Texas State History Museum for music buffs to enjoy. Pride & Joy: The Texas Blues of Stevie Ray Vaughan opened on March 10, 2017 and will be open through July 23, 2017. The exhibit includes several items that haven’t been on display since the musician’s tragic early death in 1990. Austin, long-time home for Stevie Ray Vaughan and his older brother, Jimmie, is the fourth and final stop of the tour. [Read more…]

Austin’s Favorite Music Artists Sing to Your Loved Ones With MuZicCardZ

February 27, 2017 by Joleen Jernigan Leave a Comment

Ray Benson Asleep at the Wheel MuZicCardZ eCard

Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel sings a birthday tune for your loved one (Credit: MuZicCardZ)

Forget cake! Why not send a slice of local music to celebrate a special occasion? You can email anyone a video music card for holidays, as a love song or even an apology through Austin-based MuZicCardZ. For a few dollars, you go online, choose a favorite local musician and have their song sent straight to your loved one’s inbox.

[Read more…]

Bajillion Nights of Fun at The North Door With Austin-Weird Events

February 10, 2017 by Joleen Jernigan Leave a Comment

moveitmonday at The North Door in Austin

Melody DanceFit’s #MoveItMonday helps kick-start your week (Credit: The North Door)

What is your favorite thing to do indoors at night? Astronomy? The North Door has a night for that! Literature? Heck yes! Dancercize? Check. Math? Uh huh. Nerdcore? You know it. Quiet Clubbing? Oh yeah. Comedy? Yes!

Owners Michelle Patronella and Mark Bradford have a unique talent for hosting Austin’s funky, interesting and even odd events. The North Door is a plucky if-you-build-it-they-will-come type of Austin success story. This is the kind of tale we Austinites embrace. [Read more…]

4 Austin Escape Rooms to Tickle Your Fancy and Your Brain

February 2, 2017 by Joleen Jernigan Leave a Comment

What would a hotel-based escape room be without a Wes Anderson-esque bellhop? (Credit: The Seventh Room)

Are you looking for a way to summon your powers of logic, observation and deduction? Do you need an affordable place to take out of town guests, especially those with kids? Want a fun way to blow off steam after exams? Look no further than one of these Austin escape rooms.

Every escape room has a similar overarching purpose: get a group of people together to solve a series of clues embedded in nearly every object in a room (or rooms). The following are four of the finest Austin escape rooms and what makes each one unique. They change out their themes to keep things fresh, but the standbys include some heist operation, some physical escape as from a prison or a sinking or hijacked ship, and some save-the-world spy mission. Whichever scenario you choose, you can count on having fun. [Read more…]

Old Austin Alive and Kicking at The Hole in the Wall Dive Bar

January 11, 2017 by Joleen Jernigan 2 Comments

The Hole in the Wall’s sign summons Austin residents and visitors to this iconic watering hole

Like a perfectly worn-in pair of cowboy boots, slipping into a classic dive bar to down a cold one provides true comfort. The Hole in the Wall is as divey as they come. I’m grinning from ear to ear as I order my tequila. [Read more…]

11 Uniquely Austin Gifts to Level Up Your Local Shopping Game

December 13, 2016 by Joleen Jernigan 2 Comments

Drazah Texas State Capitol Night Photograph

Local photographer Drazah’s close-up night shot of the Texas State Capitol would delight a history buff or devoted Austinite (Credit: Drazah Photography)

Scratching your head looking for that perfect gift? Searching for a memorable souvenir for out-of-town guests? Our guide to the city’s creative minds will help you find the Austin gifts you need to keep it local. [Read more…]

Kick Your Lady Mojo Into High Gear With #bossbabesATX

November 16, 2016 by Joleen Jernigan Leave a Comment

#bossbabesATX team L-R: Lauren Murray, Leslie Lozano, Jasmine Brooks, Jane Claire Hervey, Ashlee Jordan Pryor (Credit: Tess Cagle/#bossbabesATX)

Keep your ear to the ground in Austin and you’ll hear the rumblings of #bossbabesATX. This group’s near-viral momentum over the past year and a half shows no signs of slowing down. [Read more…]

Eat Like Italian Royalty at Vespaio Ristorante, Enoteca Vespaio in Austin

November 7, 2016 by Joleen Jernigan 2 Comments

Vespaio Ristorante and Enoteca Vespaio are co-located on South Congress Avenue (Credit: Joleen Jernigan)

Do you want freshly-made, locally-grown food served with a warm South Austin attitude? Vespaio Ristorante and Enoteca Vespaio bring both–with Italian passion–to the heart of South Congress Avenue.

These culinary cornerstones of the SoCo strip have been setting the standard for Italian food in Austin for decades. The kitchen staff at both restaurants is up and at it early, making pasta, bread, desserts and charcuterie, and prepping all of the daily specials in-house. Much of the food is made using ingredients from the on-site garden, Tecolote Farm in Manor and other local vendors. [Read more…]

TMBBQ Fest Brings the Heat and the Meat to Austin

November 1, 2016 by Joleen Jernigan 2 Comments

Table full of samples at TMBBQ Fest

Texas Monthly invited 27 BBQ purveyors to participate in the 7th annual TMBBQ Fest at the Long Center on Oct. 30, 2016. Austin pitmasters represented our city well, claiming five of the coveted spots at the festival and sharing the stage with others from among the top 50 pitmasters in Texas.

The pitmasters, crews and volunteers brought in their smokers early to set up for the meat-tasting extravaganza of the year. A hungry horde of roughly 3,500 eaters put on their game faces and lined up for grub. Some families planned their tasting strategy ahead of time, employing a divide and conquer strategy. Others meandered about, going where the day and their noses led them.

The five Austin participants included Franklin Barbecue, La Barbecue, Freedmen’s, Stiles Switch and Lambert’s. Here’s what you missed. [Read more…]