Kelli McDonald - The Austinot

Jurassic Car Wash: Animatronic Dinos, Scented Foam and Photo Ops

December 21, 2016 by Kelli McDonald Leave a Comment

Borek loves that this business brings smiles to people’s faces as they drive in, as opposed to the body shop he ran before where people were driving in upset with their dysfunctional vehicles. (Photo courtesy of Jurassic Car Wash)

Borek loves that his business brings smiles to people’s faces as they drive in, as opposed to the body shop he ran before where people arrived upset with their dysfunctional vehicles (Credit: Jurassic Car Wash)

“He goes off every hour,” Jurassic Car Wash owner John Borek told me as we watched an animatronic pterodactyl raise its wings while cawing toward the traffic on South Congress. Underneath the dinosaur, a line of customers wash their cars with soap that smells like piña colada. It’s these unique details that make Jurassic Car Wash a successful and quintessential South Austin small business. [Read more…]

Foundation Communities Constructs Affordable Housing in Austin

December 20, 2016 by Kelli McDonald Leave a Comment

The new Lakeline Station Apartments (Credit: Foundation Communities)

It may seem like every beautiful apartment complex in Austin is financially out of reach. With rent continuing to soar, how do we keep some sense of balance in our city? Even though working toward affordable housing solutions in Austin may feel impossibly weighty, Foundation Communities has been tackling this issue with unwavering persistence. [Read more…]

Chorus Austin Shows Us What 50 Years of Harmony Sounds Like

November 22, 2016 by Kelli McDonald 1 Comment

Chorus Austin’s upcoming “On a Winter’s Eve” concert will be held on Dec. 17 at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church (Credit: Chorus Austin)

Austinites pride themselves on the “Live Music Capital of the World” tagline, but the local love for big festivals, loud bars and coffee shop jams can overshadow classical forms of music. Those who want to experience the full spectrum of incredible musical happenings in our city need to add Chorus Austin to the top of their list. [Read more…]

Trail of Lights Celebrates 50 Years of Spinning Under the Zilker Tree

November 8, 2016 by Kelli McDonald 1 Comment

The Ferris wheel is a new favorite at Trail of Lights (Credit: Dear Wesleyann Photography)

For 52 years, Austinites have walked Trail of Lights as part of their holiday tradition. And for 50 years, the moon tower located off Barton Springs Road has been transformed into a glowing tree–dubbed the Zilker Tree–where visitors stand under the lights and look up while spinning around for a wonderfully disorienting effect.

Five years ago, Trail of Lights was privatized to take the monetary obligation away from taxpayers. The future of the holiday extravaganza seemed rocky at first, but now the event is arguably better than ever with a giant Ferris wheel, charitable events and Austin vendors helping to make the event memorable. [Read more…]

Umlauf Prize Honors UT Students and Charles Umlauf’s Innovation

October 25, 2016 by Kelli McDonald Leave a Comment

Credit: Rebecca Belcher Photography

Near Zilker Park sits the iconic Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum, a tranquil space dedicated to exhibiting Charles Umlauf’s dramatic bronze and stone pieces that combine themes of family, religion, beauty and Austin itself. While this charming piece of the city maintains a sense of old, historical Austin, Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum also embraces contemporary art.

The Umlauf Prize is one of the ways this local institution fosters the creation of artwork that is reminiscent of the thoughtfulness and skill that Umlauf employed. The idea for the prize originated in 2005 when former Umlauf Board Member Damian Priour and his wife, Paula, wanted to develop a way for the nonprofit organization to encourage new artists.

As Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum Executive Director Nina Seely explained in a press release, “The Umlauf Prize represents the future of emerging artists in our community and their work honors the legacy of Charles Umlauf.” [Read more…]

Zach Theatre Energetically Presents Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

October 11, 2016 by Kelli McDonald Leave a Comment

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Dance Number

A look at the signature crazy costumes worn by the cast of “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” (Credit: Kirk Tuck)

When ZACH opened up the Topfer Theatre in 2012, the Austin theater scene jumped up a few notches. ZACH has presented quality musicals and plays since 1932, but once they built a beautiful contemporary theater to house their productions, the whole experience was elevated.

A perfect example of this creative boost is the newly opened “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.” With booty shaking music and enough costume changes to boggle the mind, this musical will have audiences grinning from ear to ear for over two hours. [Read more…]

John Aielli Has Been Keeping Austin Radio Weird for 50 Years

September 20, 2016 by Kelli McDonald Leave a Comment

Aielli in the KUT music library (Credit: KUT)

For 50 years, John Aielli has brought a mixture of musings, music and even a bit of dead air to The University of Texas at Austin’s radio station, KUT. He’s a unique host who loves to present his passion for music and local talent to the ears of listening Austinites, along with some bizarre conversations with himself that have made him an Austin icon. [Read more…]

Yates Winery Growing Grapes and New Business in Hill Country

September 6, 2016 by Kelli McDonald Leave a Comment

Guests walk past wine barrels at Yates before entering the much-anticipated tasting area

If you look to the right side of the road past Johnson City, heading to Hye on US-290, you’ll spot a new winery. It’s from the same family that owns Spicewood Vineyards and it bears the family name, Yates. Starting off with nine releases, Yates wants Central Texans to know there’s a new destination they should add to their Hill Country winery tour list. [Read more…]

Did You Know UT’s Collections Contain More Objects Than the Smithsonian?

August 23, 2016 by Kelli McDonald Leave a Comment

The Collections Book University of Texas

Over 700 pages of fascinating information in “The Collections”
Credit: The University of Texas at Austin

The huge educational institution that sits in the middle of our city, The University of Texas at Austin, contains millions of objects that reflect human history. In January 2016, The University of Texas Press published a book called “The Collections,” which details some of the items on campus that exemplify history and culture across more than 700 pages.

As Austinites, we either feel a kinship with The University of Texas campus or we feel detached from it. By learning about UT’s collections, this institution can become more accessible to us and deepen our appreciation for the university. [Read more…]

MusicTechandFood.org Unites Creative Forces to Feed Austin

August 9, 2016 by Kelli McDonald Leave a Comment

Help end hunger in Austin (Credit: MusicTechandFood.org)

There’s a new nonprofit in town that smartly combines three things Austin is known for: the music scene, the tech world and delicious food. Aptly called MusicTechandFood.org, this organization brings music lovers and tech gurus together to help fight hunger in Austin.

One in seven Americans must make tough choices everyday when it comes to food. They skip meals, eat cheap, non-nutritious foods and live with food insecurity. In the United States, it’s estimated that 15.3 million children feel the weight of food insecurity, as well. To find out how MusicTechandFood.org battles these appalling statistics, I spoke with co-founder, Jake Sussman. [Read more…]

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