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Austinites Heal With Kermit the Therapy Dog

March 14, 2018 by Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

Kermit the Therapy Dog

Guest article by Jesselyn Parks

“We were sitting underneath a tree and looking out over the field”, Melissa Unfred said, with a palpable, reflective calm in her voice. She’s telling this story over a speakerphone, with the roar of the highway audible on the line.

Unfred is 1,100 miles into a 1,300-mile journey. She’s returning to Austin from Parkland, Fla., the site of one of America’s most deadly school shootings. The faint panting of her certified Therapy Dog, Kermit, is not far off in the distance, coloring the phone call with a repetitive beat.

Kermit loves car rides. “Kids and parents would come and sit down next to us, and just quietly stroke his fur.” During the trip, Kermit’s working vest displayed in large, bold font: Therapy Dog. Please Pet Me. [Read more…]

Street Lamps Are Now Recording and Replaying Your Shadow in Austin

February 12, 2018 by Amanda Gagnon Leave a Comment

Experience Shadowing through March 18, 2018 (Credit: Chomko and Rosier)

Austin is a unique city, with a vibrant culture that can be directly attributed to our embrace of the arts. So it should come as no surprise that an interactive art exhibit has chosen Austin as home for the next five weeks. In the tradition of keeping it weird, Austin Cultural Arts Division is hosting “Shadowing,” an interactive art installation, through March 18, 2018.

This fun art exhibit will be incorporated into several locations across the city. Shadowing is sure to be a crowd pleaser and conversation starter for residents and attendees of SXSW this year. [Read more…]

Austin Hip Hop Artist SaulPaul Moves From Prison to Positive Thinking

January 15, 2018 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

SaulPaul in his element (Credit: SaulPaul)

When I met SaulPaul at Bennu Coffee on South Congress at Riverside, it was the tail end of a hectic day. Forty-five minutes later, a perma-smile was plastered to my face. When you spend time with genuinely positive people, that’s just what happens.

Not only is this master of the mic making major waves in the music scene locally and nationally, but he’s doing it with a spirit of generosity and positive thinking. A man with a fascinating story reflected beautifully in his craft, SaulPaul is an artist worth emulating. [Read more…]

Black Ball Awards $230,000 to Austin Musicians at Paramount Theatre

December 10, 2017 by Brittany Highland Leave a Comment

Sixteen bands performed on the iconic Paramount Theatre stage Saturday night, as Austin nonprofit Black Fret awarded $230,000 in grants to 19 local bands at its annual Black Ball. For all the gowns and tuxedos in the audience, the atmosphere was informal and upbeat. Excited whoops and friendly heckling were directed towards the stage, and the few technical delays were shrugged off with a sense of humor.

We were there to celebrate. The first award winner of the night, Jackie Venson, told attendees she wasn’t going anywhere because of Austin’s vibrant support system for musicians. “There’s no HAAM in New York. There’s no SIMS [Foundation] in Chicago.”

With a fair amount of negativity directed towards Austin’s growth and subsequent affordability issues, one might assume the ecosystem for musicians is in decline. While we have work to do as a city, Black Ball showcased a vibrant community of musicians being propelled toward success through Black Fret grants. [Read more…]

Rethink Holiday Gifting With Shop Zero Waste Program in Austin

December 8, 2017 by Vi Chetan Leave a Comment

The people of Austin love supporting the local community and culture with gusto! It’s a trait many of us hold near to our hearts, and try to abide by every day. Love for local artists and makers is evident all year round, at markets and pop-ups. Let’s continue to show support this holiday season by being part of The City of Austin’s Shop Zero Waste program. [Read more…]

10 Instagram Accounts Every Austinite Should Follow

October 17, 2017 by Yulia Dyukova 23 Comments

I’m reluctant to admit how many hours I spent on Instagram to prepare this article. But I’ll tell you this: for once in my life, no one can accuse me of procrastinating. No, I wasn’t mindlessly scrolling through pictures on my phone; I was doing research!

As you check out these awesome, Austin-based Instagrammers, no one should dare accuse you of procrastinating, either. Just say you’re supporting local artists. [Read more…]

Austinite Kendra Wright’s Year of Fear Encourages Others to Leap

September 20, 2017 by Irvianne Torremoro 1 Comment

Kendra Wright found her passion after moving to Austin from the Midwest (Credit: Kendra Wright)

“I was the least likely person to be adventurous or outgoing,” Kendra Wright pointed out. She grew up in the Midwest and was born with Cerebral Palsy. Most of her childhood was spent in and out of doctor’s offices and learning how to walk, which made her wary of adventure and stepping out of her comfort zone. Her childhood experiences prompted her Year of Fear project and semi-nomadic lifestyle today.

[Read more…]

Look for Katie and Her Snack Cart at Your Austin Office Building

September 11, 2017 by Vi Chetan Leave a Comment

Meet Katie, queen of the cart

Austin is amazing, fun, and special because of its people. Yes, there are a lot of transplants, including me, but y’all made this city too lovable for us to stay away. I officially blame you, the locals, for making me fall in love with this city. Speaking of locals, I recently had a chance to meet a young lady named Katie. I learned about her from my office manager, who had circulated a flyer about her wonderful service, Katie’s Snack Cart. [Read more…]

Cumberbatch Ladies Cultivate Community Through Faith and Family

September 4, 2017 by Irvianne Torremoro Leave a Comment

Jen, the matriarch of the Cumberbatch family, credits tradition and storytelling as inspiration for Cumberbatch’s Sweet Tater Tortes. (Credit: Hakeem Adewumi)

Jen Cumberbatch has been a crucial part of the Austin community since she moved here after college with her husband, Ashton. She’s an actress, activist, pastor, and amazing storyteller. But her focus has always been faith, family, and building community. These passions laid a foundation for the next generation, including her daughters and their own endeavors.

[Read more…]

Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts and Events in Austin

August 30, 2017 by Joleen Jernigan 25 Comments

Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts in Austin

Flood waters continue to rise in the Houston area (Credit: Arlene Nowak)

“How can I help?” Hurricane Harvey is wreaking havoc on Texas and parts of Louisiana right now. Harvey arrived in Texas as a Category 4 hurricane, with deadly force and several months’ worth of rainfall. The rain has concentrated along the Texas coastline in and near Corpus Christi, Rockport, Aransas Pass, and Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States. It’s hard to watch, yet difficult to look away. More than anything, Austinites want to know how to help. [Read more…]

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