Arts and Culture

Photos: The Three & a Half-Ton Stained Glass 'Austin Wall'

Héctor Iván Pérez — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Clifford Ross’ passion for art has led him down an unusual path. Painting, sculpting, photography and camera-design have all led him to today, the day that his latest piece is displayed to the community.

His three and a half ton stained glass mural adorns the lobby of the new United States Federal Courthouse in Downtown Austin. Ross was approached to execute the project six years ago. His original vision of it did not include a mural, let alone one of such stature.

A Preview of Top Chef Paul Qui's New Restaurant in East Austin

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:46:53 +0000

It’s been more than a year since Austinite Paul Qui cooked up a win on Bravo TV’s Top Chef. It was especially sweet because the season was shot in Texas, including here in Austin. Paul Qui took home $125,000, and he could have followed the path of some of his predecessors by opening a restaurant in New York City or something like that, but instead he doubled down on his East Side King food stands in Austin.

UT's Briscoe Center Aquires Letter From George Washington

Gefei Liu — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:20:37 +0000

The Dolph Briscoe Center at the University of Texas at Austin recently acquired a letter written by George Washington.

The letter was written to John Armstrong in 1769 – before the Revolutionary War. In it, Washington talks about his views of an incident resulting in the deaths of three Native Americans. Washington describes the killings as murders and calls them "villainy" and "mischief.”

A Tipsy Texan Watches Austin's Bar Scene Come of Age

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 00:18:59 +0000

Expert bartender David Alan was born and raised in Austin and remembers the years when bar patrons were perfectly comfortable with their margaritas and Lone Stars. Alan watched the city's drinking scene flourish over the past few years as craft cocktail bars opened and new distilleries took root.

Now, he's got a book to document the best of the best. Tipsy Texan: Spirits and Cocktails from the Lone Star State hit bookshelves Tuesday, and Alan came to KUT to talk about spirits of the Capitol City.

UT Grad Wins Student Academy Award for Father-Son Film (Update)

Laura Rice, KUT News — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:18:25 +0000

Update: Actor Jason Schwartzman presented UT RTF graduate Brian Schwarz with the gold Student Academy Award medal Saturday night.

He's only the second UT student to win 'gold' at the Student Academy Awards.

In his acceptance speech, Schwarz did take time to thank the RTF department. He called it a department with "great faculty" and "an enthusiastic student body." He also went on to talk about Austin's supportive film scene.

Comedian Bob Saget hosted the awards.

Television Festival Aims to Unite Stars and Fans

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 22:50:02 +0000

It's year two of the ATX Television Festival, which is happening in Austin this weekend with panel discussions, premiere screenings and even some free public events. We spoke with one of the co-founders, who told us she started the festival because there was no venue to unite TV fans with the actors and producers behind their favorite programs.

After SoCo Food Park Closes, No Shortage of Alternatives

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 22:06:59 +0000

The food trailer park on South Congress just closed down, and a lot of people were upset about it. But there is still a big food-truck scene here in Austin with a wide range of cuisines; you just have to know where to look.

Aquarium Coming to Austin in November

Emery Reifsnyder, Nathan Bernier, KUT News and Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:56:09 +0000

A 22,000-square-foot aquarium will come to North Austin near U.S. 183 and Anderson Mill Road, in what was once a Lack's Furniture store. It is expected to open later this year, in November.

Look: Psychotropic Photos Document Ceremonial Icons

John Burnett, NPR — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 18:26:54 +0000

I'm sitting in my neighborhood bakery, the Upper Crust in Austin, Texas, trying to read my newspaper and enjoy an oatmeal muffin, but I can't stop staring at the photographs on the wall. A native man, his face painted weirdly, holds a great scowling iguana on his head; a boy lies on palm fronds with a colony of giant silk moth caterpillars ornamenting his neck; small brown hands hold a luminous blue morpho butterfly up to the camera. Put down your Danish rolls, people! How can anyone finish breakfast under the spell of these bizarre tropical photos?

Long Live Tequila!

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Fri, 31 May 2013 21:53:25 +0000

Mexican culture is celebrated all over Austin, but none of it perhaps quite as exuberantly as tequila. To learn more about the popular spirit, we talked to Austin food writer Lucinda Hutson, whose new book ¡Viva Tequila! hit book stores this month.

Visit The NPR DC Headquarters; Daily Tours Begin In June

Thu, 30 May 2013 23:52:21 +0000

Just in time for your summer vacation, NPR is opening its doors to the public for daily tours of our new Washington, D.C. headquarters. Each weekday at 11 a.m., a one-hour, free guided tour will take you through the NPR Newsroom and studios, and tell you about our history, mission and give you a glimpse of daily life here.

Earlier this year, the NPR headquarters moved a few blocks to the Washington, D.C., neighborhood of NoMa (or north of Massachusetts Ave). We've now settled in and are ready for visitors.

Up-and-Coming Chefs Face Off

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Thu, 30 May 2013 21:46:25 +0000

There has been a cooking competition going on right under our noses in Austin, with some of the city’s best line cooks and sous-chefs.

We spoke with CultureMap food editor Jessica Dupuy about the culinary elimination event Citywide 86’d.

Daft Punk, Vampire Weekend and 'Hip' Albums Topping The Charts

Chris Molanphy — Wed, 29 May 2013 15:48:05 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX46e4GtlXM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NV6Rdv1a3I

Rare Twin Giraffes Born in New Braunfels

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Wed, 29 May 2013 00:49:29 +0000

Twin giraffes were born this month at a 400-acre wildlife refuge in New Braunfels. The Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch says Wasswa and Nakato are the second set of living twin giraffes in the United States.

Because twin giraffes are rare, the male calf is being fed by hand to ensure his mother has enough milk for the female twin.

Twinkies' Return Is Mostly Sweet News For Kansas Town

Frank Morris — Mon, 27 May 2013 13:08:26 +0000

The news of Hostess' return to Emporia, Kan., sparked an ecstatic response in this beleaguered town — even though there will be only half as many jobs.

The new company, formed when investors bought Hostess' snack cake business, has hired longtime snack cake production veterans Pat Chambers and her husband, Bob, to help get the bakery here running again. Pat lost her job at the Hostess plant when it closed last November. Now, she sits beaming on her front porch, wearing a dirty Hostess work shirt.

"We worked today! It's like going home," she says. "I'm so excited.