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…]

The Dream of the Red Chamber offers a night of dancing, revelry and mystery (Photo credit: Garry Knight via Flickr CC)

Imagine a luxurious retreat into fantasy and wonder. The lanterns flicker as you descend into a realm of exotic music and sights. It is an empire of decadence and earthly delights.

Now imagine experiencing all this – the dancers winking at you, the food and laughter – here in Austin. Imagine that it is your chance to do a bit of good while exploring the cultures of far away lands.

On Wednesday, September 25th, Austin Influential Group is hosting The Dream of the Red Chamber. If you have never heard of the Austin Influential Group, you are really missing out. They are a team of Austin-loving individuals who do big things that make the ATX weird and wonderful.

The Dream of the Red Chamber event is a dive into the seductive world of opium dens and hedonism. More importantly, though, it is a benefit [Read more…]

Rita Prater’s “Frankenstein’s Monster” is all cross stitch!

This guest blog article is by Lizzy Newsome.

It’s been a pretty bizarre year for the folks at Toy Joy, but this month it looks like some things are returning to normal. If you can call the artistic antics of this eclectic toy store normal. Just a couple months after relocating to the heart of downtown Austin, Toy Joy is returning to tradition with the return of their annual art show.

Originally started as a way to encourage the artistically minded store employees to display their works, the Toy Joy Art Show is now in its fifth year of pop culture themed display. Contributing artists have expanded to include former employees, customers, and outside artists of all experience levels. The show strives to be as visually fun as possible [Read more…]

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…]