Discover the Best Things to Do in Austin, Food & Drink deals and more!
Squirrels. Some love them or hate them; some find them entertaining or annoying. For many of us city dwellers, squirrels are little more than a minute detail among the bustling backdrop of cars, crowds, and skyscrapers.
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The Carillon dining room faces the exhibition-style kitchen, so you can witness all of the action
It’s rare to describe a fine dining restaurant as “uncomplicated,” but The Carillon achieves this feat with ease. The restaurant is located on The University of Texas at Austin campus in the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, where standards are high.
So what makes The Carillon so special? For a fine dining restaurant, it’s surprisingly fitting for any occasion, such as Sunday brunch, quick lunch, or date night. You name it, and The Carillon is ready for the occasion.
José Parlá in residence at Landmarks, the public art program of The University of Texas at Austin, 2017 (Credit: Rey Parlá)
When I think of The University of Texas at Austin, images of football, Burnt Orange, and passionate fans come to mind. After this week, I’ll have another image in my mind whenever UT is mentioned: José Parlá’s gorgeous and inspiring mural, “Amistad América,” created for the newest building on campus. [Read more…]
backYARD at Waller Creek is a favorite place to tailgate with Austin locals (Credit: Monika Pawlak)
In Texas, football is a way of life. If you aren’t from here or just arrived, I’m sure it’s been a culture shock. But for native Texans, the obsession typically begins before middle school and swells until it’s all-consuming in high school. Depictions on screen, like “Friday Night Lights” and “Varsity Blues,” have even been created to capture the obsessive cultural phenomenon which gave birth to game day battle cries like “Texas Forever” and “Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can’t Lose.”
On any given fall Saturday in Austin, you can witness the phenomenon first-hand. Observing it is how you know fall has officially arrived because, let’s face it, it’s still 90 degrees in September around here. Take note when the cooling waters of Barton Springs become less crowded, and South Congress and Lady Bird Lake become so much like a ghost town that you have to stop and ask yourself, “Where is everybody?” The answer is: watching college football. In fact, local restaurants, bars, and The University of Texas football stadium pack to capacity every Saturday to cheer on the beloved Longhorns.
So, if you are new to Texas football culture or want insider tips on how to tailgate like a local in Austin, then here’s an expert guide. [Read more…]
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…]
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…]
The night is just getting started at Blanton Museum of Art
Blanton Museum of Art’s quarterly event, B Scene, offers open art galleries, crafts, food, drinks, dancing and live music. At this unique party, visitors get an exclusive experience of The University of Texas at Austin’s beautiful art museum. [Read more…]
A quiet morning on campus at The University of Texas at Austin (Credit: Megan Ann via Flickr CC )
If you live in Austin, chances are you have a soft spot for The University of Texas. The massive college at the heart of our city has helped shape Austin into what it is today, impacting our town’s culture, economy and population shifts with the rhythm of the academic calendar. We may be a big city, but in many ways, we’re still a college town.
Whether you love UT, love to hate it or indulge in nostalgia for the Forty Acres, these eight campus outings and activities will remind you how amazing this one-of-a-kind university is, and how lucky we are to share a city with The University of Texas at Austin. [Read more…]
Nancy Rubins, Monochrome for Austin, 2015. Photo by Paul Bardagjy. Courtesy of Landmarks, the public art program of The University of Texas at Austin.
The University of Texas campus contains a large community. For those who don’t have a direct connection to this part of town, it can be daunting to navigate or even considered an area to avoid. For art lovers, this is a huge mistake.
UT features a wonderful art museum along with recognizable sculptures and incredible contemporary public art to engage students and the public. UT’s public art program, Landmarks, is to thank for curating James Turrell’s Skyspace and numerous other pieces that provide distinguishable visual markers on the large campus.
Though Landmarks provides an accessible map and monthly tours, I asked their External Affairs Coordinator, Nick Nobel, to introduce the Austinot community to six of UT’s notable landmarks. [Read more…]
Editor’s Note: The Food Lab was renamed Food+City in mid-2015.
You’ve embraced farm to table, but have you considered the path of your food in a scientific and cultural manner? That may sound like a lot to take in. But in my food loving reality, I can honestly say I don’t spend nearly enough time acknowledging this aspect of my cooking, nourishing and noshing enjoyment.
The Food Lab based at The University of Texas at Austin (UT) is awakening the exploration, experimentation and innovation that forms the underlying map of our global food system. [Read more…]