Austin Monthly July/August 2025

Modern spirit,American soul.

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2020, 2021, 2022

FIRSTPLACE: BESTDENTIST

2018, 2020, 2022,2023

FIRSTPLACE: BESTCOSMETICDENTISTRY

“change your smile, change your life.”

Mark Sweeney,DDS

Founder; Cosmetic &General Dentist

Favorite quote: “Better well done than well said.”

—Benjamin Franklin LovesAustin’s cool vibe&laid-back atmosphere. Mexican martinisand breakfast tacos! Enjoys two-stepping atthe Broken Spoke! Hanging at III Forks &Trulucks downtown. Cycling on the Hike &Biketrail. Hitting tennisballs anywhere.

THEPLACE TO BEMOREYOU.

BOREDOMISNOT YOUR STYLE, ANDIT’SNOT OURS EITHER.

That’s whyour vibrantcommunity is such an invigorating environmenttocallhome. It’sall here.A wealth of distinctiveexperiences.Fascinating connections. Exquisite cuisine. Attentiveservice.Personalizedwellnessprograms. Plus, healthcare supportshouldthe need arise.

Booka tour andfind everything youneed to live your life your way. Visit MaravillaAtTheDomain.com andcall (512)575-3839 forapersonaltour. RETIREMENT LIVING,REDEFINED.

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Old Vs.New Austin

Ouroncesmalltownhas transformedinto ahugecity. We examinethe most impactfulchanges, hardestlosses, andbiggest wins of ourevolving metropolis.

62

Devil MayCare

From itshumble rootsasa food truck in 2006,Torchy’s Tacoshas turned into anational phenomenon thanks to visionary founderMikeRypka

68

Austin’sTop

Attorneys

Tackle anylegal issuewithhundreds of thecity’smost trustedlawyers in dozens of fields

Editor’s Letter 16

Scout

Form followsfunctionwithBoyd’s stylish, self-wateringplanters 19

Thecity’s firstromance-centric bookstoreisgivingusbutterflies 20

Nowopentothe public,guestscan cool off at revamped Ottine Mineral Springs 22

Partyphotosfrom AustinMonthly’s thirdannualBurgerBash 26

Feast

Thesisters behind Veracruz All Naturaldebut amuch-anticipated newmezcalbar 29

Savorbites from around theworld with thesegloballyinspiredspots 30

Beat theheatwithclassic frozen treats around town 33

Beat

Wildfireshaveraged everywhere from BastroptoSteiner Ranchinthe past Is CentralAustinnext? 35

IllustratorTaylorRushing makeshis mark on thecapital city 38

With thereturnofUTfootball season,ArchManning gets readyto become QB 1 40

WeirdHistory 98

July/August2025|Vol.33|No. 4

BEAUTIFUL ONYOU.

We work to makesureourpatients who undergo anyprocedure gain confidence anda sense of well-being.from looking,feeling and functioning at their best.

Cosmetic &ReconstructivePlasticSurgery lnjectables&SkinCare Text Us: 512-686-4368

SCHEDULE ACONSULTATION 512.450.1077 /DRTRUSSLER.COM @trusslermd

General Manager RandiStevenson

Editor-in-Chief Madeline Hollern

Creative Director Mara Esquivel

EDITORIAL

Executive Editor BryanC.Parker

Contributing Writers

Alex Baia,RuvanideSilva,RoseMcMackin

ART

Contributing Photographers

Dave Creaney, Marshall Tidrick, Chad Wadsworth

Contributing Illustrators

StephanieElizabeth, LaurentHrybyk, RandyMora, JonWilcox

DIGITAL

DigitalManager

AbigailStewart

ADVERTISING

ChiefRevenue Officer Kate Weber

Senior MarketingDirector Sara Bryant

Account Director Dana Horner

Senior Account Executives Teddy Ivanova, Jenn Tully

Account Executive KielyWhelan

EVENTS

Events Director Lauren Sposetta

CIRCULATION

Audience DevelopmentDirector TomNork

CONTACTUS

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The garcias hit the flavor jackpotinLakeCharles –digging intoperfect gumbo, heartypo’boys,and the freshestseafood. This is howtheypackfor joyinLakeCharles. Howwill you?

Editor’sLetter

NEVERMINDGATHERING at Barton Springsorbonding over barbecue:The most popularpastime in thecapital city,I wouldargue,iscomplainingthatAustinisn’twhatitusedtobe. IrememberhearingthesegrumbleswhenIfirstmovedherefor school in 2004—and they have only grownlouderevery year since. In my mind,“OldAustin” washow it wasduringmyUT days,whenIwouldrentDVDsatVulcanVideo,strolldownthe Drag afterclass to orderProtein 2000 at Veggie Heaven,and capoff anight outonDirty Sixthwitha photonexttoLeslie, thecity’sbelovedcross-dressingicon

Mynostalgicnotionofourfamouslyweirdtownisnotthe same as someoneelse’swho movedhereinthe ’70s—or, alternatively,in2017.WeallhaveourownimageofwhatOldAustin means.Butnomatterwhenyougothere,everyonecanacknowledgethatouronce-smallandfunkytownhasburgeonedinto amightymetropoliswithsky-highbuildings,Michelin-starred cuisine,andinternationalfestivals.

Thequestionis:Isthatagoodthing?

Inourcoverfeature,“OldVs.NewAustin”(page42),welook at ourchangingcitywithbotha critical andcurious eye. We grieve thelossesofclassic spotslikeLucyinDisguisewith Diamonds andDartBowlin“OldAustinCemetery,”while heraldingsomeofthegreatnewadvancementsin“ButHey,It’s NotAll Bad!”Executive editor BryanC.Parkerexploreshow thecity’sfamousiconoclasts have shiftedfromthe likesof Willie Nelson andRichard LinklatertoElonMuskand Joe Roganin“What’sWeirdGottoDoWithIt?”Andelsewherein theissue,wecelebrate thelocal people andbrandswho have madeitbig,includingMikeRypka,whocreatedanationaltaco empirewithhisbrand,Torchy’s(“DevilMayCare,”page62) Certainly,somechangesinAustinhavebeenfortheworse: Affordability hasgoneout thewindow, trafficseems to multiplyannually, andmanyofthe artiststhatmadethe city a creative hubhavebeendisplaced.But throughitall,a funky spirit still enduresinAustin. There’ssomething cool about knowingyou canplaya roundofPeter PanMiniGolforbelt itoutatEgo’sBarbeforegettingaJamesBeardAward–winning meal.MyhonesttakeonOld vs.New Austin?I loveditthen, andI love it now.

MadelineHollern Editor-in-Chief madeline@austinmonthly.com @madelinehollern

@madelinehollern

LocalRoots

With theirshimmering, almost psychedelic aesthetic,Boyd’sCustomFabrication’splanters arecertainly easy on theeyes. Butthese vibrant home goodsaren’tjustmadefor looks—Bryan andKelly Boyd crafttheir 3D-printed vesselsto be highly functional.Madewitheco-friendly, corn-based plasticstrands that aremeltedand layeredintomodels,thePflugerville-basedcouple createsbud vasesthatallow userstopropagate greenery andself-watering pots that take the guessworkout of planthydration.“Youjustpour

waterintothebottom,andthentheyhaveacotton wick that soaksitupintothe soil so youcan just waterthemevery twoweeks or so,” Bryansaysof thelatter. “The plantkindoftakes care of itself that way.”Inadditiontotheir pots,Boyd’smakes stackablecoasters, jewelry, andmagnets,plus clever plantmarkers with sloganslike“Feeling Cute,MightDieLater.”Shopthelineatlocalstores such as SucculentNative, Clover + Maven, and TilleryStreetPlantCo.oratboydscustomfab.com. —MadelineHollern

SomeLikeItHot

Austin’s first romance-only bookstore,Flutter is part of anationwideriseinindependent shopsdevoted to literature’s hottestgenre

BYROSE McMACKIN

BEHIND ITSCHEERY pink door,the shelvesatFlutter are packedwithtalesbothtitillatingandscandalous.Here,you’ll find storiesofstar-crosseddragonriders, cowboy harems, andtentacledsuitorswithsensuoustouches(andsurprisingly goodcommunicationskills).Thecapitalcity’sfirstbookstore devotedtothe romancegenre opened in February in West Austinandhasbeenaninstantsensation.Mainstream crossoverslikeOnyxStormandACourtofThorns andRoses—two titles that brokeout of genretohitTheNewYorkTimes’bestselle list—sit beside self-published gems Brightly wrapped“blindbooks”invite readerstotakehomea mysterytitle basedonbooksellernoteslike“enemies to lovers”or“forbiddenlove.”

As criticsbemoanthe declineof smallbookstores—andevenofreading itself—Flutter is part of awaveof romance-dedicatedshopspoppingup across thecountry.The rise of digital literarycommunitieslike#BookTokhas helpedlegitimizeagenrethat’slongbeen dismissedasunseriousor“justforwomen. Butthe romancecategoryhas always been literary powerhouse.Romance novels earn over $1.44billion in revenueper year,and demand forthe genreisonlygrowing.Overthepastdecade,theinternethas loosened NewYork’sgriponthe publishing world. Authors cannow connectdirectlywithreaders,givingthemmore freedom to writebeyondtraditional boundaries

In an ageofalgorithmic recommendaons,Paigeprefersmatchingreaderstobooks eold-fashioned way. Thinkofitasyourbest friendsettingyouupwiththeperfectdate.AtFlutter, novelsareshelvedbysubgenre,likeHistoricalorFantasy, andcertain booksare tagged with popularthemesortropes to help readers find exactlywhatthey’re craving.

“Wedidn’thavepolyamorous romanceormonster romance—we wouldn’t have anyofthiswithout thegatekeepersgoing away,” says ownerLaurelinPaige (pictured).“Unfortunately,alongwiththat,wealsohavereallyterriblebooks. Butnow we actually canhavedragonromances. We have more sapphicand queerbooks…and that’s allbeendriven by indiepublishing.”

“Peoplewanttoknow,‘DoesithavetheingredientsIlike?’” explainsPaige.Withsomanyindependentandself-published bookstochoosefrom,readersaremoredependentthanever onbooksellerswhocancuratethebestpicksfromthemassive romancemarket.

Theshopowner herselfisa bestsellingauthorwithmore than four dozentitlestoher name.Opening Flutter, which sheoperateswithher twodaughters andstaff,offered away to buildonher 12-yearromance career butalsopresented a newchallenge.Her books, featuring 50Shades–style power dynamicsandsleekblackcovers,occupytheirowndedicated bookshelfwithinthe shop.But Paigehas tiredofthe trope. “That’snot hotlikeitwas in 2000,” shesays. “Wedon’t want to read aboutbillionairesright now. ”

Assheseesit,runningagreatromancebookstoremeans rejectingindustryconventions,makingitaninescapably subversive act. “Owninga romancebookstore rightnow is verypolitical,”shesays.“Bookshavealwaysbeenpolitical.But also,it’saspacedesignedforwomen.Wedon’thaveverymany women-designed spaces.”

Around her, theshopbuzzeswithreaders ignoring the narrativeabout thedeath of indiebookstores. Onewoman picksupa blindbookwrapped in blue paperand headsfor theregister. Shedoesn’t know what’s inside—but shetrusts thematchmaker. flutterbookstore.com

RippleEffect

TOTHETOUCH,thewaterof thenewly opened Palmetto PoolatOttineMineralSprings isjustafewdegreesabovebody temperature. Warm butstill inviting on abreezysummer afternooninCentralTexas.At thecenter, waterrushesupfroma rock arrangementand spillsintothe shallowpool, hazy andpalewithminerals. A womanletsthewaterholdher,buoyant,inabackfloat,arms flungwide, face up toward thepartially cloudy sky.

Cult favorite Ottine MineralSprings just expanded itshealing waters to thepublic.

BYROSE McMACKIN

Humans have been “takingthe waters”since ancientdays. From hotsoaks to cold plungestomineral-richpools, balneotherapyhas been used to treateverythingfrom arthritistotuberculosisoverthecenturies.Butdespite Austin’s boomingwellnessscene—withi kombuchataprooms,breathworkclasses,and infrared saunas—it’sstill surprisingly hard tofindaproperplacetosoak.OttineMineral Springsisreadytochangethat

On June 1, this wellness destination nearGonzalescuttheribbononamajor expansion, openingtheir doorstothe public andaddingthree largesoaking pools.ThePalmetto,Sage,andCypress pools,alongwitharosterofotheramenitiesincludingacoldplunge,drysauna, andspa services,havegrown theresort’s capacityfrom20to200people.Daypasses startat$65,givingvisitorsaccesstopoolsof varyingtemperatures—plus drinks,che

plates,and wood-firedpizza from thenew on-siterestaurant.Those cravingdeeper releasecanindulgeinmassage therapistTamiDanysh’sexclusiveOttineSignatureMassage justforthesetting.

Foryears,Ottinewas aword-of-mouth secret.Two small soakingpoolswereavailablebyreservationonly—andonlyto membersofits Go Soak Club,which swelledtonearly8,000 in just four years. To join,you typicallyneededtobeinvited byanexistingmember.Evenafteryou’dbeentapped,scoring aspotcouldfeellikewinningthemineralbathlottery.Healingwatermaybeaglobaltradition,butinCentralTexas, it wasa rarefied,sought-afterexperience.

“Thisisn’t apoolparty,” says RazziPistler, Ottine’smanagerofguestservices.“It’sabout relaxing.It’saboutreconnecting.”

Unliketheground-fedwatersofBarton Springs, whichveertowardrowdy at the heightofsummer,Ottineoffersanatmosphere of intentionalrejuvenation. It’s more sparetreat than city swim hole, more“onsen”thanDeepEddy.

In part,that’sthankstothe unique mineralcontent of theOttinesprings, analkalineblendincludingbicarbonate, magnesium, sulfate, andsodiumwith purportedhealingbenefits rangingfrom lowerbloodpressuretomusclerelaxationto tterrespiratoryhealth.

Ottine’swaterisdrawnfromtheCarrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, amassive groundwaterreservoir that stretchesacrossTexas andintoArkansasand Louisiana.Itwasaccidentallytappedin1909bya wildcatterlookingforoil.At106degrees,thewater temperaturefallsjustshortofqualifyingasa“hot spring.”Butitswarm,mineral-richwatersoffera uniquely soothing experience.Bythe 1930s, the site hadbecomea recovery hospital forchildren duringthepolioepidemic,thenexpandedtotreat patientsofallageswithphysicaldisabilitiesfrom illnessortrauma. Today, themission is more open-endedbutstillrootedinwellness.

Whilethe touted benefits of mineralwaters remain anecdotal, what’s notupfor debate is theirpower forrelaxation—andsomething else gloriously ineffable

Pistlerrecalls howearly guests wouldleave sayingthesamething:“Thisplaceisjustmagical Ican’t explainit.”Whenthe resort rebranded thisyear,theircatchphrasewasinspiredbytheir otherworldlyreputation:TexasMagicWater.It’s fittingforaplaceshapednotjustbygeologyand architects,but by itsdevoted fanbase.

In2023,OttinesurveyeditsGoSoakmembers, askingwhatdevelopmenttheywantedtosee.The answers? Better amenities. Flexible optionsfor singlesand couples. More activities.Moreways tostaylonger.Theexpansioninprogressreflects allofit—fromthenewsoakingpoolsandrestau-

rant to plannedwellnessclasses,hikingtrails, privatesoakingrooms,hotelsuites,amerchshop, andadditionalspa services

Still,forallthenewpolish,Ottinehasn’tlost itssenseofplace.There’sadistinctlyTexasenergy here,fromthe native oaktrees that shadethe patiotothe bloody marysmadewithDripping Springsvodka.Ona warm dayinearly June,a cardinalflitsdownandlandsonaloungechair, nearamuralofacowgirlonapoolfloatie,painted by Austin artist JasonArcher.

Natureiscloseby—andOttinehasawayofconnectingCentralTexastotheworldinallitsgrandiosity.Becausethiscouldonlyexisthere,wherethe watersrisethroughthelimestonetofillthepools, then rush onward to meet theSan Marcos River andbeyond.ottinemineralsprings.com

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BYMADELINEHOLLERN

BURGER BASH

AUSTINMONTHLY’S THIRD annual Burger Bash wasa smashing success! More than 1,250 guests came to oursold-outfestivalatCentral MachineWorksonJune14tosampleburgerbites frommorethan20localrestaurants.Inaddition toallthebeef,attendeesenjoyedcomplimentary perkslikefries from JABS,ice creamfromLick Honest IceCreams, wine tastings from Priest RanchWinery, beveragesfromTopoChico and BloomNutrition,and beardlineups andcold towelfacialsfromScruff’sBarbershop.Theycould alsocrafttheirownbarbecuespicerubattheBeef LovingTexansboothandlearnhowtolinedance withCountryFriedDance.Tobeattheheat,guests hung outinthe coveredWhole EarthProvision Co.loungeanddippedtheirfeetintoapoolfrom CowboyPools.Attheendofthefestival,JABStook homenotonebuttwoGoldenHamburgerawards, winning both thejudges’ pick andthe people’s choice award. Specialthankstoour presenting sponsor, Beef Loving Texans,and ouradditional sponsors:PriestRanch Winery,CowboyPools, Topo Chico, WholeEarth ProvisionCo.,Covert Cadillac of Austin,Scruff’s Barbershop,Figment CreativeLabs,andWonderbelly.

In Good Spirits

Across thediverse,ruggedterrain of Oaxaca,generations of maestromezcalerospracticetheir craftwith innatecare,producingsmall-batchmezcalsofthehighestquality.AtLaMezca,thenewestventurefromthe sistersbehindVeracruzAll Natural, guests aretransported into adarklybroodingspace that embraces the drink’srootsasaritualisticlibation.InspiredbychefReynaVazquez’stravelssouthoftheborder,theconcept focusesonthe popularMexican spirit made from agaveplants. Barmanager SebastianCajas’rotatingmenu showcasessustainable brands presentedwitheducation-forward hospitality. “Eachbottletells adifferent story—alifestory of themaestro,” Reynasays. “Tome, that is magical.”Inadditiontomezcal flights, diners cansavorsmokycocktailsandstreet-stylebotanasattheintimateMuellerbar.Licktheearthy,umamiworm salt from thesideofyourLuz delDesiertoglass before sipping, andthe tensionbetween thedrink’s subtle guavaanddelicatesmokereleasesadelectabletang.ThensinkyourteethintoReyna’stenderbarbacoatacos, oozing savory juices with everybite. La Mezcaisa Oaxacanexcursion foryourtaste buds.—RuvanideSilva

ThinkGlobally, DineLocally

From GangnamKoreanbarbecue spotstoGreek-inspiredtaverns, here are5local restaurantswith international appeal.

BYMADELINE HOLLERN

ASWEENTERthetimeofyearwhensomelucky locals abscondtoEuropeand beyond,it’seasyto feelwanderlustifinternationaltravelisn’tpartof your vacation plans. Butfearnot:The capitalcity is bursting with stellarnew optionsthatoffer a tasteofglobaldining—nopassportneeded!

ELECTRIC GRAVY

SpicethingsupwithsomeIndianstreetfoodatthis East Side canteen, whichishelmedbythe team behind OldThousandaswellasMumbainativePeter D’Souza(UnionSquareHospitality,New Waterloo). IncorporatingTexas-inspiredelementsintothe dishes,the eatery features curryversionsofqueso and fried chickenalong with Rice Krispie-esque treats made with bhel.Washitall down with apudinapani margaritafor aNew Austin-meets-New Dehlitreat

1050E.11thSt., Ste. 100, electricgravyatx.com

NoneedtoflytoSantoriniforspanakopitaandouzo:This SouthAustintreasureimbuesthe spirit of aGrecian tavern. Guestscan enjoyclassic dishes such as braisedoctopus, lamb chops, andsaganaki(friedcheese) as well assousvideporkbellyandlahanosalata(cabbagesalad) attheeatery,whichisfilledwithphotosofco-ownerDimitri Karabinis’ Greekfamilyonthe walls. Everything they serveiswhipped up from scratch, like thehouse-made tzatziki andpitabaked freshdaily.Ifyou suddenly break into songsfromthe MammaMia soundtrack,we’dunderstand.Honey,honey!

534E.OltorfSt., thegreekbar.com

Readytoelevate date night? Take your better halfto this ultra-stylishClarksville spot helmed by chef Hai Avnaim.While youcan’t go wrongwiththe dry-aged steakorMoroccantiger shrimp foryourmaincourse, it’s themouthwatering appetizers that stealthe show here.Indulge in octopusservedwithmashwiya, cilantrosoy glaze, andcrème fraiche, anddon’t miss the “cigars,”memorable rollsofgroundbeefand sweetbreads dipped into creamy cardamom hummus.Even thebread plate, featuringolive oilmarmalade and confittomato, is athing of beauty

1111W.SixthSt., arisrestaurant.us

Bringyourappetitetothisall-you-can-eat delightin Austin,which features unlimitedGangnam Korean–stylebarbecuefor averyreasonableflat fee(around $30for dinner and$50 forpremium meats).Bond with your dining companions as yougrill together at your owntable andloaduponprotein,frombulgogi and briskettoanarray of samgyubsal and Korean friedchicken.Withdiverse appetizerssuchasjapchae (stir-friedglass noodlesand vegetables) and hotteok (Koreansweet pancake),yourdesirefor varietywillbe satisfied—justbesuretowearstretchypants

6406N.I-35, genkoreanbbq.com

Forget thewatered-downacaibowls you’ve ordered afteryogaclasses.BrazilnativeAna Jansen offersan authentictakewithberries straight from theAmazon. Jansen andher wife, Mari,blend theantioxidant-richfruit in athick andcreamysorbetmixture with cane sugarand guaranaextract,makingitthe best acai in thecity. Thevegan,gluten-free confection canbetoppedwithingredients like shredded coconut, powdered milk,chiaseeds,and bananas. CatchSamba Sips on weekends at TheDomainand Wolf Ranchfarmers marketsororder it through weekly delivery sambasips.com

FROZEN ASSETS

ColdCase

Have you tried these classic frozen treats around town? You’d be a lot cooler if you did

BYMADELINE HOLLERN

Though it’s knownfor tried-and-true flavors like itsfamed Mexicanvanilla, varietyisthe spiceoflife at Amy’s. Thebrand serves veganice cream, frozen spiked scoops,and more than 350rotating recipes, includingunique ones like honeyhabanero or ubecheesecake.

Abit more velvetythan traditional Italianice,the titularslushyisafavorite in Philadelphia.(Owner JimMoy hailsfromthe Keystone State.)Beyond itsmainofferingcrafted with pureed fruit, the conceptalsosells soft serveand handmade icecream

Less crunchythan traditional cones, these shaved iceconfections areasfluffyasfresh snow.Featuring more than 50 flavors,Casey’s uses 100% cane sugar andofferstoppingslike soft serveand cheesecake.Don’t miss creamy varietiessuchasBoston CreamPie or theOrchid CreamVanilla,which tastes like themarshmallows in LuckyCharms.

Theperfect waytocool down afteraday at Zilker Park,thisSouth Austin staple hasa devoted followingfor itscreamy custardservedinregular or chocolate-rimmed wafflecones.The throwbackspotalsosells sundae flavors like butterscotch andhot fudge.

FounderAmy Simmons is awoman of many talents: In additionto building an icecream empire,the pugilistwas also Texas’ first professional female boxer.

Moyand hiswife, Rachel,wakeupat4a.m to crankout the200 gallonsofwater ice necessaryfor theirdaily output in thesummer.

14 locationsacrossthe greaterAustinarea. Jim-Jim’shas a storefront at 615E.Sixth St., butthe brandalso sellsatthe concession standatDeepEddyPool andfromacartinfront of Barton SpringsPool.

With acommitmentto sustainability,Casey’s uses compostablecups, andlastyeartheydebuted azero-emissionfood truckfor catering—the first of itskindinAustin.

808E.51st. St.Lookout fortheir freshrenovation debuting this summer

In 2014,after TexasGov Rick Perryturnedhimself into theTravisCounty Criminal JusticeCenter forfelonycharges,he immediatelywentto Sandy’sfor icecream and posted thephoto on Twitter. Ayearlater,he went back to theeatery foracelebratory cone afterhis indictment was dismissed.

603BartonSprings Road

BurningQuestions

Amid droughtand record heat in CentralTexas,experts saythe region is at seriousriskfor wildfires. CanAustinavoid a catastrophic inferno?

BYBRYANC.PARKER

ONMARCH15,thousandsoflocalsandtourists revelingindowntownAustinduringSXSW lookeduptofindathickblanketofsmokecreepingacrosstheskyandblottingoutthesun.Eighty mileswest, agrassfire northofFredericksburg wasragingacrosstheparchedterrainandwould eventuallyburnnearly10,000acresbeforebeing contained. Despitethe sprawlingscope of the CrabappleFire, damage from theblaze—nine residences destroyedand oneminor injury to a firefighter—wasminimal as faraswildfiresgo. Still,theproximityofthedisasteranddoomsday visualsitgenerated were apotentreminderof thelooming danger facing thecapital city.

Intheaftermath,arenewedsenseofurgency to addresswildfirepreparednesshas surged throughCentralTexas.InApril,theAustinCity Councilapprovedanupdated mapthatplaces over half of thecity’shabitable land in adesignatedfireriskzone. Anda recent report by property research companyCoreLogic ranked theTexas capital fifthinthe nation (and first outsideofCalifornia)intermsofthenumberof homesatrisk. TheCrabapple Fire—along with harrowingscenesofdestructionfromtheEaton fire in Altadena,California, this past January— haveheightenedconcerns,butlocalexpertshave been clamoringfor action foryears

“We’regoingtohavethatinAustin,”cautions RandyDenzer, aformerbattalion chieffor the Austin Fire Department.“The firsttimeithappens,peopleare notgoing to be mentally preparedfor what’s happening.”Withoverthree decadesofexperienceworking with wildland fires, Denzer is no stranger to issuingwarnings like these.

On themorning of Sept.3,2011, Denzer sat downtopenanemailtohiscolleaguestoexpress fearsabout thehighwinds from anearbytropicalstorm increasing thelikelihoodofa fire spreading. “The winds[have]beenour missing ingredientfromthe‘Thiscouldhappentomorrow’scenariowehaveavertedsincethedrought started. Starting this afternoon, they arehere,” he wrote. “I foreseea bad fire weekendahead.” Thenextday,the BastropCountyComplex fire ignitedandeventuallybecamethemostdestructivewildfireinstatehistory.Itburnedfor55days across32,000acres,destroyingmorethan1,600 homesalong theway.

AccordingtoDenzer,oneofthegreatestissues with battling wildland firesisa lack of communication andtraining. There’sa disconnect betweenurban andwildlandfirefightingthat posesagrowingproblemasthosepracticescease to be distinct.Increasingly, thesparselypopulatedareas around majorcitiesare becoming more denselydeveloped with neighborhoods andbusinesses.Thetransitionalzonesbetween ruralareasandcitiesareknownastheWoodland UrbanInterface (WUI), andthe procedures for whorespondsand howaren’tformallycodified at thelocal,state,orfederal levels.

Denzer is part of ateamthatdeveloped a trainingcalledResponsetoInterfacethatcounselslocalgovernmentsandemergencyrespondersonhow to address firesinWUI areas. As of last summer,every firefighterinAustinhas received thetraining—whichisgoodnews, since there’snowherethatsuchdangerzonesaremore apparent than West Austin,withcommunities like West Lake Hills, BeeCave, andDripping

UNDER FIRE

5,374

HomesinTexas destroyedbywildfiresin thepasttwo decades.

$37 billion

Estimatedminimum cost duetodamagefrom Texaswildfireseachyear.

21+

Wildfires in CentralTexas this year as of earlyMay

94,000

Estimatednumberof homesatriskfor wildfire in Austin

2,200°F

Temperaturethat wildfires canreach in extremeconditions.

Springsaddingsprawling newneighborhoods. It’s notjustthe increaseddensity that’s a problem. Thesebrushylandscapesonthe outskirtsoftowntypicallycontainplentyofnatural fuelforwildfires:overgrowngrassesandabundant ashe junipers.Plus, theeffects of Winter Storm Uriin2021stilllinger,asdownedlimbsandtrees that died in thefreezelitterthe ground.InJanuary,AustinCityCouncilapproved$7.5million in fundingtomitigate“hazardouswildfire fuel conditions,” butDenzerbelievesthatamount fallsfar shortofwhat’sneeded.

There’salsothe concernofWestAustin’s topography.Theidyllicrollinghillsresemblethe Californianphysicalgeographythathasbeenso problematicforfires.Theissueresultsfromthe fundamentalphysics of thesituation,explains BobNicks,president of theAustinFirefighters Associationand former fire chief.

“With fires, heat pretty much goes straight up,”hesays.“Whenthegroundistilted,nowit’s notgoingintotheair,butintootherfuels.”Timberand brushlocated uphill from the fire are heatedbeforethefireevenarrives,primingthem to combustquickly.The veteran firstresponder addsthattheuneventerrainalsomakesbattling blazesmoredifficultduetothelogisticsofmovingaroundpeopleand vehicles

WhileAustinfaces adauntingnumberof factorsthatindicate fire danger,the onesaving gracehasbeenthatitdoesn’thavethesustained high-speed windsendemic to California.But thatmaybechanging.Sixofthetop10strongest wind gustsinAustinsince 1998 happened in March, accordingtoa recent storybyKUT.It’s possible that shifts in global weatherpatterns will bringwindeventstoCentral Texasmore regularly. “Ifthat’sgoing to be arecurring natural wind patternduringcertain timesofthe year,our risk hasgoneup,”Nicks says OnarecentTuesdaynightinMay,theformer firechiefwenttosharesomeofhisexpertisewith theOak Hill AssociationofNeighborhoods, whichrepresentsa wide swathofSouthwest Austin.Inadditiontovegetationmaintenance and firefightertraining, this kind of outreach helpscitizensunderstandhow to safeguard homesteads against fire danger.The organization’s president, CynthiaWilcox, haslived in SouthwestAustinfor decadesand says thecity isn’tdoing enough to mitigate naturalfuels in thearea,whichhasresidentsworried.“Theyare much more nervousabout it than they were 10 or15yearsago,”shesays.“Andnowwhenpeople smellsmoke that mightbeblowing in from anotherarea, they’llcall911.”

ButWilcoxhasanotherfearaboutthesouthwesternfringesofAustinthataresoatrisk:“They arejustcrammingdensity on topofroads that were sizedfor the1970s,” shesays. “There’s very little possibilityofevacuation.”

Theterrifyingfeelingofbeingtrappedwhile awaiting an impendingdisastermirrors the tensionfacingAustinasawhole.Ifwe’reheeding thewarningsofexperts,the question is not whetheritwillhappen,buthowpreparedAustin is to addressthe disaster when it arrives. Second Location Coming Soon

TaylorRushing

Illustrator

Although he wasborn2,000 milesfromAustininTacoma, Wash., artist Taylor Rushinghas emergedasa prominentculturalambassadorfor theTexas capital.Ifyou spottedanyone carryingaroundthisyear’sSXSWtotebag sporting an armadillo giving apeace sign,thenyou’veseenRushing’s work,which also includes artfor WillieNelson, BobDylan,The Rolling Stones,and Austin City Limits.Defying thosewho mightpigeonhole NewAustin, Rushingprovesthatthe city still has fearless championsofanethos that stretchesbacktothe cosmiccowboyera InterviewbyBryan C. Parker

Whoweresomeofthe earliest adults that encouraged your art?

Myparentsarebothcreative,soIwas really lucky. My mom, when Iwas a kid, builtbirdhouses. They really encouraged making stuff in every form,whether it washunkofwood oronapieceofpaper.Makingsomethingout of nothingwas abig part of my learning.I grew up in Puget Soundinthe ’90s,soitwas avery peaktimetobefunky.Mymomalso sold antiques during that time,so we wouldgotoestatesales every weekend, andjunkdealing people arethe greatest,mostfascinating semi-criminalcharactersyou’llever meet.I sawa lotofindependent entrepreneursandcreativesfunction successfullyinscrappykindofways. Iwasneverafraidtohaveahustle

Does Austin have aparticularly rich poster culturecomparedto othermajorcities?

PostercultureinAustincomesfrom theconnectionofAustinand San Francisco.ChetHelms,whowasBig BrotherandtheHoldingCompany’s manager,startedTheFamilyDogin SanFrancisco,oneofthefirstvenues to have psychedelicposters.Chet [whowasoriginallyfromTexasand attended UT]turnedonall these Texashippies to thesegreat poster artists.Jim[Franklin]livedupstairs attheVulcanGasCompany,andJim spentalotoftimeinSanFrancisco.

What were your first impressionsofAustin?

WedrovedownSouthCongress,and an armadilloran across thestreet. We went to theold St.Vincent de Paul that wasnexttoContinental Club,and it wasfilled with reject Willie tour shirts andpearl snaps andStetsonhats.Iremembergoing to theWhite Horseand gettingmy mindexploded.Andwewenttothe Spokeand sawDaleWatson. Iremember Dale standing at thedoor shakingeverybody’s hand on the wayoutandjustthinking:Thisisit Thisisaspureitasitgets.

Howinfluentialwas poster artist JimFranklin’sworkfor you? He is agoldenlight forme. Ilookat Jim’sworkprobablyevery day. His dedicationtohiscraftisundeniable, especiallybackthen,wheneverything washand-drawnandlaidout.Ittook alotmoretomakeaposterinthe’70s thanitdoesnow.

What arethe hallmarksofan Austin poster?

AgreatAustinposterisathoughtful handlettering,adenseillustration, andusually oneortwo colors.The Austin postersdon’t have aton of colorbecause they just didn’t have thebudgets.Peoplepoint to the portraitureasamajorAustinthing Youdon’t seea lotofportraitwork inpsychedelicposterart.

Your artfits in abroader culture that incorporates musicand apparel andageneral lifestyle. What arethe invisiblethreads that tiethese things together?

We’retalking abouta culturethat grewoutofcounterculture,ultimately.A culturethatgrewout of selfreliance,individualism,creative identity.Thosethreadsarestillvery apparentinAustin.Thereisabeauty in counterculture in theSouth, becauseitwas an extraact of resiliencetohavelonghairortosmoke potortodrawpicturesorplayguitar. It wasnot nearly thesafeplace that SanFrancisco andNew York were Youhadtobeextratoughdownhere tobeahippie.

What hasitmeant to youto work on artfor AustinCity Limits,aninstitution that’s so integral to thecity’sidentity?

Toworkfortheshowisanunbelievableprivilege.ThefirstoneIdidwas ChrisStapleton,whichwasfreaking sick.Chrisstandsforeverythingthat countrymusic hasleftinit. It was just totallya no brainerwhenthey reachedout.

What aresomeofthe challenges facing artiststoday,especially with regard to technology? Thebiggest challengeisAIgenerated“art.”I’m puttingthatin quotationmarkshere.Itisderivative ofrealart.Inmyeyes,it’stheft.And IthinkthatanyonewhousesAIfor financialpurposesisstealing. I thinkit’scriminal. AI is supposed tobethethingthatallowsusmore time to enjoythe funparts of life. Andtome, thefun partsoflifeare sittingdownanddrawingpictures.

Where’sthe coolest placeyour arthas ever takenyou?

LuckReunionisaspecial,thoughtfulexperience. Last year,I was standingrighttherewhenWilliegot histintype takenwithKermitthe Frog,and that will be burned into mymemoryholeforever.I’llprobablygettogotoNewport[FolkFestival]thisyear,andthatisunbelievably cool.Ididallthemainartthisyear, allthe lettering. Igot to go to Ojai, California,onatripforaclientthat Iabsolutelyloved.Plus, just getting to seesomeofmydream artistsas partoftheinnercircle

Thisinterviewhasbeeneditedfor clarityandlength.

ArchMadness

Aftertwo yearswaiting in thewings,ArchManning is poised to lead theLonghorns amid sky-high expectations.Here, we breakdownsomekey numberssurrounding theyoung quarterback.

BYBRYANC.PARKER

Thanks to NILdeals with entities li Bull,Uber, andVuori,Manning hast highest projectedvaluation of allc athletes,leading thenextplayerbym than $2 million. Andthatnumberc continue to climbasthe season go This enormous payday whilestill as avoids pressure on Manningtodec theNFL draft—andincreases thel he’llbeaLonghornfor longer

$6.8 $6.8 s YARDSGAMES million

Touchdown

eer eby ses a the ball Coach other d .How ensive atch.

ESLOSS

During last year’s tilt againstUTSA, Manning uncorked an arcing pass to Ryan Wingofor a picture-perfecttouchdown andhis longest completion of theyear. That couldbea sign of things to come forthe adeptpasser, whohas developedanaffinity forthe deep ball

same number whileplaying lballatIsidore ew Orleans, it’s unclePeyton sportedduringhis collegedays as aTennessee Volunteer. 1

16 16

Notonlyisth that Mann n hi Ne

WhileManning hasrelievedQuinn Ewersinseveral games, he’s only been thestarter twice, both of which resulted in wins.Thatstreakwillsee a stiff challengewhenthe ’Horns open theseasononthe road againstthe Ohio State, theveryteamthey couldn’t best in last year’s College FootballPlayoff semifinal.While the Buckeyes have lost some keyplayers it will likely be afirst-week matchup betweenapairoftop 10 squads

On about30% of Manning’scar scores,hehas foundthe endzon runningthe ball.The QB posses dual-threatskillset, butkeeping openshim up to injury risk—and SteveSarkisian doesn’thavean stud waitinginthe wingsashedi when ManningbackedupEwers Sarkisianschemes up thoseoff weaponswillbeinterestingtow 13 13 % %

Passes Completed

Sure,it’sasmall sample size,but Manning’s accuracy haslookedgreat so far—on parwiththe best playersincollege football andafew points better than predecessorEwers’stats last year

12 12 75 75

With allthe fanfaresurrounding theyoung signal caller,it’shardtobelieve that Manninghas played in just adozen college/UT games. Butthose brief flashes have yieldedglimpsesataplayerthat warrants thehypeand potentialtoleadTexas to a greatseason.

AS OUR FUNKYSMALL TOWN TRANSFORMS INTOAFLASHY INTERNATIONAL JUGGERNAUT, WE EXAMINE,BEMOAN, AND CELEBRATEOUR EVOLVING CITY.

AFEARLESS QUEST INTOTHE SOUL OF OLDAUSTIN.

By BryanC.Parker

We were halfwayoverthe Congress Avenue bridgewhenthecaseofLoneStarbeerbegan totakehold.Irecallmutteringsomethinglike “I’m abit lightheaded; maybeyou should drive....''Andsuddenlytherewasaterribleroar ofcranesandjackhammersallaroundus,and theskywasfullofwhatlookedlikehugebats, spiralingupfromthe Colorado Riverbelow thecar,whichwasgoingaboutahundredmiles an hour with thetop down toward South Austin.Andavoicewasscreaming:“Holycow! Wheredidallthesecondoscomefrom?'

My editor sawthe hitchhiker long before Idid."Let'sgivethatwoman alift,"she said, swerving toward thesidewalkwhere some poor touristfromLAhad fallen off herLime scooterandwasdesperateforassistance.She hoppedinthebackofthecarandstammered somethingabout beinglatetomeetupwith herfriendsatabacheloretteparty

Howlongcan we keep quiet? Iwondered. Howlongbeforeone of us starts raving and jabberingabout howbreakfast tacosusedto costadollar,parkingwasfreedowntownafter 5p.m., andanunhousedcross-dresser was ourcity’smostesteemedicon.Howlongbefore oneofusjustblurtsoutsometiredtropelike “It’sjustnotwhatitusedtobe”or“Youshould havebeenhere”?

"Bythe way,"I said.“We'reonour wayto find OldAustin."I forced asmile at ournew

compatriot in thebackseat. Shenodded pleasantly,buthereyeswerenervous “Isthatsomekindofmusicclub?”sheasked Ididn’thavethehearttotellthepoorladythat OldAustincouldn’tjustbefoundbywanderingintoanydivebar.

We pulled up at astoplight anda manon horsebackcladinaSantasuitappearedalongsidethecar.Henoddedtomeinthepassenger seat,andsomethingabouthimsuggestedhe mightknowthe way. He introduced himself asSamuel

"We’relookingforOldAustin,andwewere tolditwassomewhereinthisarea,”Isaid.“We weresentoutherebyamagazinetocoverit.”He stared forwhatfeltlikea long while, butthe stoplightneverchanged,andIrealizedwemust havebeensuspendedinsomesortoftimevortex.

“We’re on themainnerve of it rightnow,” hesaidinalowvoice.“Iwasherethroughitall,” he went on,“when thewhole town wasbrimmingwithenergy,whenthecosmicessenceof allthose free thinkers collidedina waythat seemsalmostimpossibletoexplainnow.”

He lifted hisarm andpointed back down theroadwheretheCapitolbuildingstood.“If youlookfromuphere, gaze throughthe high-rises,you canalmostsee theshape of whatitusedtobe—justafainthintofthepast, like alineetchedona seawallwhere salty waterscrestedandthenfadedaway.”

WHAT’S WEIRD GOT TO DO WITH IT?

SOMEHOW, APLACE RENOWNED FOREASYGOING, POT-SMOKING SLACKERS MORPHED INTOAHOTBED FORBIG-MONEYFUTURISTS AND RIGHT-LEANING INFLUENCERS.

By BryanC.Parker

Askany Austinite, andthey’ll tell youwithcertitude that the city hastransformed at a dizzying pace.But identifying theexact moment we crossed theRubicon is amurkier endeavor—everyoneseemsto have apersonalanswer. Beyond thevisible changesofnew skyscrapersand urbansprawl, asubtler shifthas transpired with thecastofcharactersthat shapethe city’s identity

It’s fair to wonder: Howthe helldidwegethere?

AthreadconnectingWillie Nelson to Elon Musk mayseem initiallypreposterous, but perhapsit’snot.The influx of moneyhas madeAustinan unmistakably differentplace, butithas alwaysbeen acultural outpost, ahaven fornonconformists.Maybe itsidentity hasn’t shiftedsomuchas everything else around it.In recent years, fringe thinking hasbecomemoremainstream, andAustin’sgrowth(especially in thetechsector) gave it a louder voiceinthe national conversation. In retrospect,it seemsclear that thecity’s ethosstemmed more from beingiconoclastic than politicallyliberal.Inother words, thetypeofstrange mightchange, butAustin remainsunequivocally weird.

WILLIE NELSON

It’s notanexaggerationto saythatifWillieNelson’s Tennesseeranch hadn’t burned down in 1969,Austin wouldn’t be theplace it is today. Fedupwiththe slick sheenofbusinessin Nashville, themusician movedtoTexas with achip on hisshoulderthatinspired outlaw country. Everycore facetofthe city’s identity owes somethingtothe Red Headed Stranger:lovinglive music, thumbing your nose at thegovernment, smoking pot, having onefootin traditionwiththe otherin progressivism, and generallyembracing laid-backvibes.Through legendaryperformancesat theArmadillo World Headquarters,the Austin Opry House(whichhe owned),and on AustinCity Limits,Nelsongenerated an enormous cultural wave that pulled an entire community alonginits wake

No onecapturedthe spirit of Austin in the’90smore accurately than this acclaimeddirector. His iconic 1991 film Slackeris ambling, aimless, and defiant of convention.But there’smoretoglean here: In onescene,acharacter shockingly praisesUTtower assassin CharlesWhitman before proclaiming, “This town hasalwayshad its shareofcrazies.Iwouldn’t want to live anywhere else.” Farfromthe talk of some carefree stoner,thiskindof trulyfringethinkinghas certainlycoursed through Austin foryears.But back then,these garden-variety conspiracy theoristsand anarchists sataroundat coffee shopsand diners yappingatpassersby rather than spreading misinformation across everysocialmedia platform anddarkchatroomcorner of theinternet.

RICHARD LINKLATER LESLIE COCHRAN

Thecelebrity status of this cross-dressing unhoused guysaysaton aboutOld Austin’s values.It’smore than just emblematic of a time before some of our most vulnerable citizens were routinelyvilified— therewas an appreciation foreverydaypeople, andan acceptance that we were all peculiar in ourown way. Leslie ranfor mayor multiple timesand even placed second to Kirk Watson in 2000.Itwas always exciting to spot him on SixthStreet, andhewas always willingtosnapa photowitha fan. Despite thecapital city’s emphasis on being weird,there was somethingfundamentally commonplaceabout Leslie, whodiedin2012. He made strollingdowntowninjusta thongand high heelsseem normal—andthat’swhat turned himintoanicon.

"THIS TOWN HAS ALWAYS HADITS SHARE

LIZ LAMBERT JOE ROGAN

There maynot be aperson more responsiblefor shaping theaesthetic of modern Austin than LizLambert.She pioneeredSouth Congress as ahot spot by transforming arundown lodgeintothe ultra-chic HotelSan José and continues to definethe city throughMcGuire Moorman LambertHospitality.Every projecthas itsown flavor, but thecorevibefeels like a desert-dwellingcowboyhad apeyotefever dreamand decidedtoransack Chateau Marmont. Lambert’sstyle wassocaptivating that it piqued theinterestofhotel juggernauts, andmostofher properties were recently purchasedbyHyatt.She embodiesanentirecategory of Austiniteentrepreneur— alongwithAlamo Drafthouse’sTim League,Tito Beveridgeofvodka fame, andthe founders of C3—who forced therestofthe country to take notice in theaughts.

ALEX JONES ELON MUSK

If youfind yourself perplexed by Austin’s growing reputation as astronghold forbombastic politics,just remember that thecityisthe placewhere Alex Jonesgot hisstart.Whenthe radiohost andcommentator’s popularity begantosoarin the2000s,there wasstill somethingfunny andkitschy abouthis conspiracy-addled rantsabout lizardpeopleand faking themoonlanding Plenty of people tunedinfor laughs as much as anything else.But that took amuch darker turn when Jones’ focusshifted to SandyHook andPizzagate. In other words, it felt like Austin kitsch when he wasjustan entertainer, butwenever expected himtofind favor with theAmericanpresident Foraguy whousedtobe relentlessly skepticalofthe government,Jones sure has founda lottolikeabout the currentadministration.

WOULDN'T

Thepodcast king hasmade asizable impact by changing thecalculus for whypeoplevisit Austin Travelershavealwayscome to thecapital city forlive music, barbecue,drinking, andoccasionally history— butRogan’s Comedy Mothership is nowa very real magnet fortourists, especiallythose whose senseofhumor aligns with allthingssociallytaboo The one-time FearFactor host hasput thecity’s comedy sceneonthe map, andhe’sdonesowithan admittedlyAustin-esque playbook:tap into acultural movement by breaking social norms. In atownrife with people chronically underestimated,heproved that ashowpredicated solely on theconcept of “justaskingquestions, bro” cannot only succeed, butit canbecomethe No.1 podcastinthe world.

Youmight notexpectthe richestman on theplanet to live in what wasoncea sleepy little collegetown full of cowboysand hippies. Afterall,the Tesla andSpaceXCEO has distinct LexLuthorvibes andseems like he came off thesameassemblylineas HenryFord—recallingthe famedautomaker for more reasonsthanone Surely,hebelongs among theinventors of Silicon Valley or theindustriousness of an old-school Midwestern city or some yet-to-be-created dystopia called Megalomaniopolis ButlookatMuskanother way: adreamer andan immigrantwho loves electric cars andwants to buildacompoundonthe outskirtsofthe city to househis cadreofwives and14children. That sounds more like weird Austin,right?

LET’S VENT

OURFUNKY,FREE-SPIRITED TOWN HAS TURNED INTOABONA FIDECOSMOPOLITAN CITY. HEREARE 4GRIPES AND4UPSIDES ABOUT LIFEINOUR NEWMETROPOLIS.

TRAFFIC

DINING PRICES

Austin officialsspecifically designed thehighway system to inhibitgrowthand keep thecitya smalltown. Tell us, howdid that work out? Now, we’d rather sitthrough endlessneighborhood stoplights than braveI-35, a thoroughfare that’s perpetually underconstructionyet somehownever more efficient. Weathering gridlock hasbecomeour dailynorm, andit’sonlygoing to getworse as companiesreturntooffice Thesedays, an invite to The Domain at rush hour mightas well be aroadtriptoDallas.

AFFORDABILIT Y

Just 20 yearsago,there wasa golden erainAustininwhich onecould work at ThundercloudSubsorVulcanVideo andstill afforda decent one-bedroomapartment for $400 amonth.Now,good luck findinga shoeboxwith enough spacefor atwinbed andseveral irritating roommatesfor underfour figures each—thatis, unless youwant to hightail it to Hutto.

Remember thejokein The 40-Year-OldVirginwherethe barispackedbecause it’s “$9 Beer Night?”The hyperbole hasbecomea realityin Austin,asquality brew prices oftenspill over $10and a martiniwill easily setyou back $25. Nevermindthe fact that goingout to eatatan averagerestauranthas evolved into shelling outhundredsof dollarsfor afew flimsy appetizers anda couple rounds of uninspired drinks Special-occasion prices withoutthe special treatment? Countus out

OLD CL ASSIC

TECH BROS

Amutantstrainofvestwearing, Cybertruckdriving, emotionally unavailableboneheads have takenoverthe capitalcity like aplague. Sure,they make six figures, butafter infiltrating Bumble chat boxeswithquestionable comments andbragging abouttheir crypto portfolio, theseentitled bros have us nostalgicfor thesimpleslackerswho uldcommittoyou (if to be able to live on rcouch fora while)

This renowned musicvenue on SouthCongressAvenuejust mightrepresent thespiritofAustinmorethanany other establishmentthankstothe hard work of ownerSteve Wertheimer.Celebrating its70thanniversary this year,the club hashostedstalwartartists like Stevie RayVaughan andDale Watson,the latter of whom stillholds down aweeklyresidency

DINING CALIBER

Lest we forget,there used to be only twotypes of cuisinein Austin:Tex-Mex and barbecue.Now,localscan enjoya host of incredible restaurantsthathave garnered Michelin Starsand JamesBeard Awards Hospitalitygroupslike McGuireMoorman Lambert, Hai, andEmmer &Rye have completely elevated the culinary scene, andeventhe local’cuehas hada glow-up here,asfamed spotslike Franklin andLeRoy and Lewisput us on the gastronomicmap

BUTHEY, IT’S NOTALLBAD!

SHOPPING

STAR-STUDDED CONCERTS

Fora long time,jorts and flip-flopswerethe de rigueuruniform in Austin.Backthen, you’d have to trek to Dallas or Houstontobuy anykind of couturelabel,but now, we actually have worldclassshoppingspots here.HeadtoThe Domain or MusicLaneonSouth Congress to experience high-end stores such as Balenciaga,Hermès, Gucci, or ChristianDior. Whetheryou’relooking to splurgeorjustwindowshop, it’s nice to feel like we’reina bigcity. (Because we are!)

ENTERTAINMENT

Austin hasbeenconsidered theLiveMusic Capitalofthe Worldfor decades, butdoyou remember when big-name artists neverplayed here?In thelast15years,new venues have givenour fair city both thespace andcachetfor marqueeacts, includingACL Live at theMoody Theaterand MoodyAmphitheater. The biggestchangemaker wasthe arrivalofMoody Center in 2022,without whichwewould havenever hosted thelikes of Harry Styles andBruce Springsteen.

In atownrifewithhistorichonky-tonks,thisEastSide countrymusic baropenedin2012and hasmanaged to establishitselfasa must-visit Austin landmark.But it’s notjustwide-eyed weekenderswho frequent the club—it’salsoahub fora vibrantscene of localtwo-step enthusiasts, especially on weeknights

WhileAustinhas always had greatcollege sports and stellarlivemusic,ithas lacked thesortofamenities that come with majorculture centers. Butthat’schangingas thecityswellsfrommid-sized town to sprawlingmetropolis. ThearrivalofAustinFCquite terallychanged thegamefor Austin sports,and upgrades to thegrounds and programming at theBlanton Museum have heightened the city’s fine arts credentials. We’reevengetting aslewof SixFlags–worthyrides at COTAland laterthisyear.

NE WC LA SSI C

E CKTAIL UNGES VS.

AUSTIN IS STILL PACKED WITH BEER-SOAKED DIVES, BUTTHE ARRIVALOFELEGANT COCKTAIL LOUNGES HAS TRANSFORMED THE CAPITALCITY’SREPUTATION.

By Rose McMackin

THE LITTLEDARLIN’

Drinkacoldone on ahot dayatthisexpansive South Austin bar that blends honky-tonk andbiker bar.There are afew indoor seats, butthe real draw is thebackyard: a sprawl of picnic tables,astage,and horseshoepits.

CLOAKROOM

Sincethe 1970s, this windowless hideaway near theCapitol hasbeenpopular with legislators, judges,and even the occasional Hollywoodicon, whocomefor itsdistinct“what happenshere, stayshere” energy

HOLE IN THE WALL

With twostagesand threebars, this scrappylivemusic barnearthe University of Texascampusissoiconicthat BobDylan immortalized it in a2020painting. Here,you’ll findcoldbeer, shuffleboard,and probablykaraoke

CAROUSEL LOUNGE

It’s hard to saywhat’squirkiest at this circus-themed bar—thedecor orthe bring-your-own-liquorpolicy. The venuesells beer andwine, andmixersfor anything harder that youbring.Trigger warning: Expect lots of clowns

BOOMERZ

This unassuming spot hasall theessentials: 70 feet of bar top, pool tables,and aTouchTunesjukebox.It’snot flashy butthat’sthe charm(andwhy it’s lasted in SouthAustin sincethe ’80s).

CROWN& ANCHOR

There’ssomething surrealabout howgoodthe cheeseburger is here,especiallygiven itsprice point. Enjoyitwithabrewunder aglowing canopy of TV screens broadcasting everysport imaginable.

KICK BACK OUTSIDE

DISAPPEARFOR THENIGHT

TUNE IN WHILE YOUTIPPLE

SURROUNDYOURSELF IN SPECTACLE

HUNT FORTHE STRIP MALLGEM

GRAB ABITEWHILE YOUIMBIBE

LOLO’S

Everything’s elegant at this trendy East Austin wine bar— includingits take on thecity’ssignature gravel backyard You’ll findcelebrity DJ sets andchess meetupshere, where “KeepAustinWeird”translatestofunky naturalwine.

POWDER ROOM

Patronsmustditch phones at thedoorofthisvelvet-draped speakeasy. Whichmeans youcan’t make TikToksofthe 1980sArt Deco interior or tablesidecocktailservice—but no onecan filmyou beingsilly afterthree rounds,either.

EQUIPMENT ROOM

TheJapanese-stylelistening bar,tuckedbeneath Hotel Magdelena, callsitselfa “vinyl sanctuary.”Here, records spin with absolute clarity, andthe cocktail list is splitinto A-sides(classichits) andB-sides (house originals)

HERENOR THERE

From vine-likebranchesoverheadtoawalladorned with metalplatters, this lounge embraces design-forward extravagance.Explore aconceptualcocktailmenubuilt around colorand narrative—notjusttaste andtexture

DAISYLOUNGE

This three-storyspeakeasytuckedbehindasignlessdoor paintedwithdaisies shares aparking lotwiththe Slaughter Lane AlamoDrafthouse—making itshigh-design interior andcaviarservice feel like asuburbanmirage.

TIKI TATSU-YA

Hidden behind amisdirectingsignfor Aikawa Travel Agency findover-the-toprum cocktailsthatlandedthistwo-level speakeasyonseveral “BestBarsofAmerica”lists.Comefor thedrinks, stay forthe reimagined crab rangoon.

HOPE SPRINGSETERNAL

By BryanC.Parker

Nestledrightintheheartofourcity,thecoolwatersofBartonSpringsformacommunal sanctuary. There’sa sort of primal egalitarianism in strippingdowntoa swimsuit (or occasionally less)and baskinginthe sun’swarmraysona grassy hill—itofferssomething allAustinitescan agreeon, regardless of age, race,gender, or politicalpersuasion. While BartonSpringsremainsessentiallyunchangedsincepeoplebeganvisitingthesitethousands of yearsago,the waters that bubble up outofthe EdwardsAquifer, flow into theColorado River,andrambledowntotheGulfofMexicoareconstantlyreplenished,meaningit’salso somethingentirelynew each day—theperfect embodiment of ourever-changing city.

HOTTOPIC

HOWGLENPOWELLTOOK APAGEOUT OF MATTHEWMCCONAUGHEY’SPLAYBOOK TO BECOME AUSTIN’S GOLDEN BOY.

By Madeline Hollern

Withhismegawattsmile, chiseledtorso, and Hollywoodheartthrobstatus,youmight thinkthisAustinA-listerisjustaprettyface But turnsout, hecanactuallyact!”

Twenty yearsago,thatdescription wouldhave suited MatthewMcConaughey,the Adonis-bodied actorwho wasdiscoveredinAustinand gothis startwithRichard Linklaterin DazedandConfused.But as theyears have gone by,the iconic star haspassedthe torchtoanother breakout localwho fits that same bill—AustinnativeGlenPowell.

Afterroles in HiddenFiguresand Everybody WantsSome!!(Linklater’s spiritualsequelto Dazed), Powell hitthe bigtimewith TopGun:

Maverickin 2022 andhas sincestarred in blockbustersand indiedarlingslike Twisters, Anyone ButYou,and HitMan.But histalentsupersedes hissix-packabs:JustasMcConaughey evolved from arom-com king to an Oscar-winningactor, Powell hasthe chopstonab hisown golden statuetteinthe future

Whilethese twoTexansshouldbecommended fortheir internationalacclaim,perhaps thebest thingabout them is nottheir fame,but theirdeep love of Austin:fromeschewing LA by puttingdown rootshereand attendingUTgames to collaborating with Linklater, whohelpedbothascendtoonscreen greatness. Alright, alright, alright!

Love it or hate it,the impact of JoeRogan on Austin’s comedy sceneisundeniable. Thepodcaster shookupDirty Sixthin2023 when hisclubopenedinthe former AlamoDrafthouseRitz space. Seal your phoneand enterabawdy worldofhumor,from raunchyliverecordingsofthe KillTonypodcasttobrazenacts like TimDillonand Dave Chappelle.

ARE OU A REAL AUSTINITE?

0- 5POINTS

6- 10 POINTS

GIVE YOURSELFONE POINT IF YOU’VE EVER...

Jumpedoff the diving board at Barton Springs

AttendedACLFest when it wasstill in September

Rented fromVulcan or ILuvVideo

Eaten FranklinBarbecue

SpottedLeslie Cochran on Sixth Street (+1extrapointif youtookaphotowithhim)

Sawa movie at the originalAlamoDrafthouse on ColoradoStreet

Watched the bats fly out from underthe CongressAvenue Bridge

HeardDaleWatsondoaLoneStar beer commercial at the Continental Club

Visited Hippie Hollow,Austin’sclothing-optionalbeach

GotaMexican martini fromTrudy’s

Caught ashowatArmadilloWorld Headquarters

Placed abet at ChickenSh*tBingo

Snapped a pictureinfront of the ILoveYouSoMuchwall

Attended an AustinCityLimitstaping (+1extrapointifitwasatstudio6AontheUTcampus)

Drank on Dirty Sixth

Chowed down on BobArmstrong Dip on Matt’sElRancho’s patio

Bought vinylatWaterloo Records

Went to Unplugged at theGrove at Shady Grove

Attended FunFun FunFest

Partied at Eeyore’sBirthday

Cheeredonthe Longhorns at Darrell KRoyal Memorial Stadium

AteatTexas ChiliParlor (+1extrapointifyouhadaMadDogMargarita)

Two-stepped at the Broken Spoke

Smoked weed withWillie Nelson

TheTourist

TheFresh Transplant

Whichmodel Tesladoyou drive? Go back to California!

You’ve beenblamedfor ruiningthe city—and also blamed others 11 -15POINTS

TheResident

You’ve beenaroundthe block, andthatblock is nowa high-rise. 16 -23POINTS

TheArmadillo Wrangler

You’re oneofthe cosmic weirdoswho forged this city’s identity 24+POINTS

Thequirky’70svibes of theoddball decorations—asuit-wearing pig, aConverseshoe, agiant T-Rex—embody thekitschy charm of OldAustin. Butjustascentral to that spirit is thelaid-back BYOB policy.Throw some Lone Star tallboys in acooler, and transportyourselftoasimpler time when youweren’t thinking aboutsnaggingreservationsatsometrendyspeakeasy

BOOT WARS!

SEVERALOFTHE BEST

BOOTMAKERSINBUSINESSOCCUPYTHE SAME TURF IN SOUTH AUSTIN.

By BryanC.Parker

Fromhonky-tonkmusicianstostatelegislators,anyTexan worththeir salt hasa pair of cowboy bootsintheir wardrobe.AndforanyoneshoppinginAustin,there’sonegreat placetobuythem—oronecityblock,anyway,a100-yardstretch of SouthCongressAvenuethatboaststhree of themost lauded bootmakers west of theMississippi SteveAllenGreenbergopenedAllensBootsatthecornerof SouthCongressand Monroe in 1977,and it hasbeena staple of thecapital city ever since. Nowadays,Greenberg runs the business alongsideTeddy Boxbergerand BlakeAbbott, who joke that theirjobsare simply head janitors

“Wedon’treallydotitles,”Abbottsays.“Hecleansintheback, andI cleanupthe front.”That’sthe sort of unassuming ethos that makesAllenstick.

Here,you’llfindanexpansiveselectionarrangedforatraditional boot-shoppingexperiencewithrowsofthe Western footwearliningshelves,open-stockstyle.“Wehavemoreexoticsand high-end,uniqueboots than anywhere I’ve seen with open stock,”Abbottsaysbeforerattlingoff alonglistofrare leathers.“Stingray,pirarucu,kangaroo,buffalo,Nilecrocodile, American alligator, snapping turtle.”

Though theshopcarries avariety of brands,mostoftheinventoryiscomprised of Allens’proprietary boots, whichare handcraftedinLeón,Mexico.“Wehave all-leathercomponents, steelshanks, andlemonwoodpegs,”Abbottsays.“One thingthatwepride ourselvesonisour bootsshouldlasta lifetime.”

Twodoors down at Lucchese,a very differentexperienceawaits.Thepristinely designedstoredisplaysacarefullycurated selectionofhigh-endboots.But that doesn’tmeanthe luxury brandisall show—foundedin1883inSanAntonio, Lucchesehasbeenmakingsomeofthe best Westernboots in theworld for

generations.They’retheofficialbootofboththeUniversityof TexasandTexasA&Mathleticsprogramsandhavebeenworn by everyone from John WaynetoLyndonB.Johnson.Even with that impressive resume,the historic brandisa relative newcomer to thecapital city,astheyopeneda storeatThe Domainin2021andtheSouthCongresslocationjustlastyear.

“It’sreallyimportantforustohonorthetimelesscraftsmanship of what we’vealwaysbeenabletobring forthe past 142 years,andtoalsointeractwiththatbrand-newconsumerthat’s justmeetingLucchesefortheveryfirsttime,”saysAngelaHahn, vice presidentofretailoperationsfor thecompany AtthefarendoftheblocksitsTecovas—ahomegrownbrand that launched in 2015 anddisrupted theindustrybyselling directlytoconsumersonline.ThecompanyarrivedonSouth Congress in 2019 andoffersstyleswitha more modern feel Behind theregisters at thebrick-and-mortarstore,a large artworkcreated by localtextile designer Kyle Buntinguses animalhidestodepictadesertlandscapeofacowboyandhis horse. By filmingcommercials at Austin honky-tonksand workingwithhomegrown musicians, Tecovashas been thoughtful aboutauthenticitywithits expertly targeted lifestylebranding. In just adecade, theAustin-basedbootmakersexpandedrapidlytomorethan 40 locationsacross21stateswithadditional stores openingsoon.

"OUR BOOTS SHOULD LAST ALIFETIME"

Whilethisparticularblockistheboot nexus,evenmoreoptionsliejustupthe street.HeritageBoots hasbeenopen since2005andisrunbyAlieandSteve Twiggerand Kimber Breaux,who specializeinstockingextremely limited runs of traditionalWestern boots. TexasCustomBoots is just around the corner,where Jesus“Chuy”Soberon hand-fashionsfootweartoyourexact specifications.And LeeMiller, are-

nowned master whohas supplied bootsfor Willie Nelson,lives andworks nearby.All told,SouthCongresshasafairclaimatbeing thecowboybootcapital of theworld

Sharingturfhas prompted healthycompetitionandgood-naturedribbingbetween brands.BeforeLuccheseopenedstoresin Austin,its main outlet wassellingthrough Allens,whichacquiredabout5,000pairsof deadstockLuccheseClassics(acovetedline of boot thecompany no longer produces).

Lastfall,Allensputasignoutonthesidewalk with awry messagetouting the“largestselectionofLucchesebootsonCongress”—and they hadthe inventorytobackitup.

Rivalriesaside,therobustpresenceofboot brands here underscoresa unifying arc throughAustinculture.Itstretches back throughWillieNelson’scosmiccowboyera to theOld West andbackuptothe present day. Even ourrecentCaliforniatransplants want somethingtosignify theirallegiance to thefree-spirited Texanidealsthatdrew themtothecapitalcity.TheseWesternwear brands areaware that theniche attire is surginginpopularitywiththe successof television showslike Yellowstoneandculturalbeacons as diverseasElonMuskand Beyoncédonning cowboy bootsand hats In theend,these Austin stores sharethe sentimentthata centralizedhub renowned forboots is greatfor business.“Themore bootsonfeet,thebetter,”saysSamFodrowski,VPofmarketing forTecovas.“Here in Austin,weknowthatfolks whoneeda new pairofbootsareheadingdowntothisblock on SouthCongress.”

With areputationfor servingupthe capitalcity’smost sought-after smoked meats, it feelslikethisfamed jointdates back furtherthanits founding in 2009.But let’sfaceit, lines formingat7a.m.tograblunch areanunmistakablehallmarkof NewAustin—even if pitmasterAaron Franklin’sjuicy briskets andbeefribsjustify thedrovesofpatrons

ART OF THEDILLO

IN

THE 1960s,LOCAL

ARTIST JIM FRANKLIN MADE THIS CURIOUS CREATURE ASTATEWIDE ICON.

By Madeline Hollern

It’s emblazoned on beer ads, albumcovers, and concertposters.But have youeverstopped to think abouthow armadillos became asymbolofTexas?

In largepart, themovementhappeneddue to the intrigueofoneAustincreative.IllustratorJimFranklin became fascinated with theshelled critters after first encountering them as ateenagerona huntingtripin Bellville, Texas. Yearslater,hereceiveda requestto createaflyerforaconcertfundraiserin1968.Theartist hadrecentlyfoundapocketmanualforNorthAmerican animals,whichfeaturedanimageofanarmadillo,and itconjuredupthememoryfromhisyouth.Hedecided to draw a'dillothathad stumbled across amatchbox ofpotandrollingpapersandstartedpuffingonajoint

“Overnight,itbecamea mascot forTexas beatniks,” Franklinremembered

Around that time,his visionarygroup of friends createdtheVulcanGasCompany,apsychedelicmusic venuewhere Franklin livedon-site andcreated postersforbandslikeShiva’sHeadbandandThe13thFloor Elevators. He continuedtofeature hisshelled muse on musicalpromotionsaswellasartwork forLone Star Beer ads. Notlongafter,Eddie Wilson became themanagerofShiva’sHeadbandandusedthemoneyhereceivedfromthegrouptoopenhisownvenue. UndoubtedlyinspiredbyFranklin, he namedit ArmadilloWorldHeadquarters,cementingthecritter’s legacy in Austin

Forget thename—this karaokebar tucked behind aparking garage eschewsall pretension.Likeacat with nine lives, thefunky South Austin spacehas survived everything from broken pipestoglobal pandemicssince 1979.Beltout classics like “BohemianRhapsody” or “Sweet Caroline”tothe roar of thecrowd.Goodtimes neverfelt so good.(So good!Sogood! So good!)

! AS AUSTIN FOUND ITSELF AS APLAYER ON THE WORLD STAGE, THESE LOCALLY GROWNENTERPRISES SKYROCKETED TO FAME ALONGSIDEIT.

HO ME TOW NH EROES

By MadelineHollern

BUMBLE

Followingacontentious departurefrom Tinder amid asexualharassmentlawsuit againsther ex,Whitney WolfeHerdflipped thescript: Shemoved to Austin andcreated adatingapp wherewomen made thefirst move.Seven yearslater,Herdbecamethe world’syoungestfemalebillionaire in 2021

DELL TECHNOLOGIES

Afterdroppingout of UT at age19, MichaelDell developedhis eponymouspersonalcomputer companyinthe early’80s. Thegamblepaidoff: He is nowthe 13th richestpersoninthe world with anet worthof$115billion

YETI

Alifestyle brandwithacult-like following, this localfavoritechanged theworld with its coolers, drinkware, andoutdoor gear.Now theirproductsare availableeverywhere from Academy Sports andOutdoorsand Bass ProShops to Dick’s Sporting Goods. (Honorable mention: They have thebest billboardads in thecity.)

WHOLE FOODS MARKET

Believingthatnatural andorganic foods deservedthe supermarkettreatment,John Mackey grew hishealth-centricconcept from ahumblestore on Ninthand Lamarin1980to an internationaljuggernautthatsoldto Amazon for$13.8 billion in 2017

KENDRASCOTT

Sincedesigning herfirstcollectionwithjust $500 from hersparebedroom in 2002 Kendra Scotthas become ahousehold name with hergemstonejewelry line.Since then theentrepreneurhas opened more than 100 stores,appearedasaguest sharkon Shark Tank,and createdher ownwomen’s leadershipinstitute at UT

Nowadays,Austinis synonymous with outstandingfood, butwhen chef TysonColeopenedhis Japanese conceptinanunassumingred bungalow on SouthLamar in 2003,itcompletelytransformed the city’s dining scene. This godfatherofmodernAustinstandsalone as therestaurantthatprecipitatedawaveofinnovativeeateries, includingspinoff concepts Uchiko andUchiba.

TITO’S HANDMADE VODKA

With anamelikeTitoBeveridge,thisAustin entrepreneur wasborntolaunchhis own libation company. In thelate’90s, he produced vodkaasahobby,using apot stillat home.By2021, Tito’s hadbecomethe most populardistilled spirit brandinthe country.

TORCHY’S TACOS

With itskillerqueso andclevertaconames like theDemocrat, Republican,and Trailer Park,MikeRypka transformedhis smallbut mighty food truckintoa Tex-Mexempirewith more than 125locations across theUS. (Turn to page 62 to read more aboutthe company’sepicrise.)

By BryanC.Parker

WH ’S OLD IS NEW

OVER THE LAST TWODECADES,PARTS OF AUSTIN HAVE UNDERGONE MAJOR GLOW-UPS—WITH PLANSFOR MORE CHANGE ON THE HORIZON.

TheopeningofTheDead RabbitandComedyMothershiparejustthebeginningof amassivereimaginingof downtownAustinifStream Realty’splancomesto fruition.Thedevelopment grouphasamassedmore than30parcelsalonghistoric SixthStreetandhasalready begunfaçaderenovationson someofthestorefronts.Their visionincludesadding residentialunits,officespace, retail,anddininglocaleswith along-termaimofturning DirtySixthintoahipper districtthatstillhasAustin’s kitschycharm

6 T H 6T S T ST 2 N D 2ND S T ST

What wasoncemostlyempty warehouses became oneof thecity’smostvibrant areas in thelateaughtsthanksin largeparttothe arrivalofthe WHotel andrestaurants like Lambert’s, La Condesa, and an outpostofclassic coffee shop Jo’s.The area has continuedtoevolve, even in recent years, with greatnew eateries like Bill’s Oyster and Uchiba in 2023.And just recently,Block 21 gota complete overhaul that included anew restaurant, Serenade,and aredesignof allthe W’srooms,including thelargest suiteinAustin.

AtSXSW2011, KanyeWest broughtanepicshowcase with asurpriseappearance by Jay-Ztothe hollowed-out shellofthe SeaholmPower Plant. Just afew yearslater,a team of developers launched an extensiveproject to revitalize theinteriorofthe building andsurrounding area,bringinginrestaurants like Emberand beloved grocerystore Trader Joe’s. TheCityofAustinstill has plansinthe workstodevelop thesite’shistoricwater intake facility,a gorgeous Art Deco façade that sits directly on theColoradoRiver

A I N E Y

S E A H O L M SEAHOLM R A I N E Y RAI NEY

RBetween2005and 2015,this bustling neighborhood southofCesar Chavez Street morphedfromrun-down houses into oneofthe most popularnightlife hubs.But soon thoseold cottages that were housingbarsgaveway to condominiumtowersand mixed-usehigh-rises, includingthe 74-story Waterline, whichwill be the tallestbuildinginTexas upon completion at 1,022 feet.Nextup, Waterloo Conservancywillbuild an expansivegreen spacethat connects thedistricttothe waterfront at Lady Bird Lake

When abstract sculptor VinceHannemann startedamassinghis towering pile of junk in 1989,itwas just apersonalhobby.But itsgrowing size paralleled itspopularity, anditsoonbecamerenownedamong notonly Austinites butalsoawider audience,landing mentions in Timeand The WallStreetJournal.Justmakesuretocallahead to visitthisbyappointment-only monument nestledina SouthAustinneighborhood.

OLD CL AS SI C

THEWRITING ON THEWALL

By BryanC.Parker

Over thepastfive decades, thecityofAustinhas actedasareal-life exampleofthe mythological ship of Theseus. Accordingtothe story, thewoodenvesselwould periodically getdamaged,sopiecesofitwerereplacedovertimeuntil no original part remained,begging the question—was it really stillthe same ship?

This thought experiment hastaken physical form at thecornerof21stStreetand Guadalupe, wheremusicianDanielJohnston’siconic Hi,How AreYou muralclingstolife. Metalbracespropupthe smallsquareofwhite brickwallcontainingthe artwork, offeringanalmosttoo-perfectvisualmetaphorfor theway we’vecut outour cultureand pasted it onto newer, shinierversionsofthe city

Gone is thebuildingthatoncehousedSound Exchange,the record storethatwas immortalized by Spooninasongand whereI bought my first Daniel Johnstontape. TheadjacentGoodall Wooten dormitoryand theshops beneathithaveall been demolished.The first haircut Ievergot in Austin wasatthe Wooten barbershop,which hasvanished—andsohas my hair

Thescene inspires an acuteambivalence forme: On onehand, it feelslikelip servicetoAustin’sweird ethos—does keepingthe mural matter if we’rereplacing everything around it?Conversely, Ican’t ignore theconcerted efforttopreservethe artwork.

Amid sweeping change,Austinstill sendsout themessage that it’s aplace forweirdos andcreativethinkers. Even if it’s pure rhetoric, that signal attracts newcomersseeking aplace that welcomes outliers.I’m reminded of my favorite Vonnegut novel, MotherNight,which IreadasafreshmanstudyingEnglish at UT.“We arewhatwepretend to be,” theauthorwritesinthe introduction

As thecitybecomes less affordablefor artistsand thepolitical wallstoo oftenfeellikethey’re closingin, it’s harder formetoholdonto that belief.But fornow,I’m clinging to my conviction that even on itsworst day, Austin is stillthe best city in thecountry

HOWTORCHY’SFOUNDER

MIKE RYPKA TOOK AUSTIN’S TACO OBSESSIONNATIONAL.

BY ROSE MCMACKIN

WhenMikeRypkawalksintotheMuellerlocation ofTorchy’sTacos,thecashiersgreethimbyname. It’s just down theroadfromcorporate HQ,but thefounder’s vibe is much friendlier than an executivelunchrun.Broad-shoulderedandclad in apoloshirt,Rypka readsmorerock-‘n’-roll linebackerthanmostTexasstereotypes.Theway he chatswithemployees hasa small-town feel to it,asifAustinhasn’tgrown into amajor metropolitanhub sinceRypka launched hisexperimentaltacosoutofatrailerin2006.Onanother recent visittoa differentstore location,he stoppedtochatwithayoungwomanwhointroducedherself to sayshe wasvoted “MostLikely toKeepTorchy’sinBusiness”atLouisianaState University—proofofthecultstatusandreachthe brandhas attained over thepast19years

This is my firstvisit to Torchy’s,and Rypka is brimming with suggestionsasweapproach thecounter.I orderthe “Trailer Park”onhis guidance.“Flourtortilla,”hedirectsme.There’s an option to make it “trashy,”swappingthe lettuceforqueso,but,forafirstencounter,Iopt forthe purest form.Whenitlands,the jumbo-sized taco is a flavor mash-up. Crispy fried chicken, crunchylettuce,zingy greenchiles, anda swipeofpoblano sauce. With itsunconventionalingredients,thisfanfavoriteisclassic Torchy’s:bold, layered, maximalist.

Ourfoodhaslotsofdifferentingredients.Lotsof textures, flavors, differentstuff,” Rypkasays. “So, callingsomething a‘friedchicken taco’doesn't do it justice. You've probably hadfried chicken somewhereelse. Butyou'venever hada Trailer Park.”Heplungesachipintoabowlofquesothat’s sprinkledwithcotijacheeseand spiked with Diablo sauce—even thedip hasbeencarefully curated.Rypkahastheeasyconfidenceofaman whooncewon the AustinChronicle’s Best Hot SauceCompetitiontwoyearsinarow OriginalityisthenameofthegameatTorchy’s, theAustin-borntacochainthathassinceexpanded tomorethan100locationsacross16states.Itsrise mirrorsAustin’sowntransformation—fromquirky outsidertowntonationalcultureandtechhub—and hasearnedita spot alongsideother hometown breakoutbrandslikeYETIandKendraScott

In February,Torchy’sbrought anew CEO onboard, allowing RypkatotransitiontoChief InnovationOfficer.“Thatfreeshimuptodowhat he does best,and that’s engineeringnew food items,”saysJayWald,thebrand’slongtimeChief OperatingOfficer.

From thebeginning, Torchy’s wasdefined by experimentation. When Rypkalaunchedhisunconventionaltacos outofa traileratthe corner of SouthFirst andBouldin nearlytwodecadesago,the Virginia native hadspent yearsincorporatekitchens He cooked forcompanies likeMTVandEnronbefore DellbroughthimtoAustin Thechefsharpened hisskillsinthose high-pressureenvironments, masteringtechniqueandarangeofcuisines—thekindoffoundationoneneeds to eventually breakthe ruleswithpurpose.Bythattime, he dreamedof owninghisownrestaurant.But,whenhisthen-businesspartnerfloatedthe ideaofanewkindoftacotruck,Rypkawasn’tsold.

“At first, Ithought he waskindofnuts,”saysthe entrepreneur.“We're in Austin,Texas.There aretacos everywhere.”

ButafteratacotouracrosstheLoneStarStateandintoMexico,Rypka sawa gap. “There area lotofgreat tacosout there, buttheywereall very authentic, street-style Mexicantacos,” he says.“Iwantedtodosomething differentand fun—kind of gourmet.”

Torchy’shasbeencriticizedforAmericanizingthetaco,butofferingbona fide Mexicancuisine wasnever theaim forRypka.Asa classicallytrained chef,hewasn’tlooking to competewithtraditional taco stands.Instead, Torchy’s’unconventionalapproachisadirectoutgrowthofRypka’spassion forcreativeexpression.Inatownfullofartists,thefounderfitsrightin,and tortillasarehisblankcanvases

By thetimehestarted cookinguporiginaltacos forTorchy’s, Rypka hadbeeninAustinfor four years. He’d livedinplentyofcities, butthe Texascapitalfeltlike home.Likesomanynewcomers,he’dbeenwonover bythetrails,themusicvenues,andthelaid-backattitude.Today,heremains avocal fanofthe localfoodscene,rattlingoff favorites—Rockmancroissants,Uchisushi,CosmicCoffee.Likeatruelocal,helovesBartonSprings andobsessesoverthe ACLFestlineup. He putdownroots,soaking up the city’s quirky cultureand lettingitinspire hisfood.

Forhim,recipedevelopment is less aboutformulasand food trends

That meansyou won’tsee ashishitopeppertacoatTorchy’sjustbecause theJapanesechilisare having abig moment.Instead,the sparkusually comesfromsomewheremorepersonal,liketheCaribbean-feelingScallywagtacothatgot itsnamefromhis son’spirateT-shirt

Travel is amajor muse.Inspiration canstrikeanywhereand anytime, like alunch stop at Hattie B’sHot Chickenona business trip to Nashville. When that happens, Rypkaisdoggedabout chasingthe idea down

“Wewereheadedtothe airportand actually changedour flight so we couldgobackand have Hattie B’sagain becausehewas so inspired by it,” says Wald.Thatspark of excitement became theTexas Hottie,a taco of the monthfeaturing layers of sweetand spicy, includinga hotchicken tender, cayennesauce,cabbageslaw,honey,andcotijacheese

ForRypka,thebestcreationscamequicklyandeasily—oftenonthefirst try.Toomanyrevisionsusuallymeanstheahamomenthaspassed.“Whenever he'd getinspired, he made sure to gettoworkand trytothrow down thatrecipewhileitwasfresh,”Waldnotes

TACO DISRUPTER

ThefirstTorchy’strailersatsomewherebetweenOldandNewAustin.Food truckswereemergingasastapleofthelocaldiningscene.Fromthebeginning,the distinctivered traileroffered aglimpse of what Torchy’s would become,fromthe flamemotif menu to themischievous,diapereddevil mascotandrestaurantnamesake.

Atfirst,themenuwassmall,necessitatedbytheconfinesofthetrailer,and classic:carnitas,barbacoa,greenchilepork.ButRypkaiteratedfast.

Somecustomershadn’tencounteredfillingslikebarbacoabefore.And forthose whohad?“I’mnever goingtowin that battle,” he explains.“You probably haditfroma street vendor in Mexico,oryourgrandma made it, andI’m nevergoing to competewiththatexperience.”

That realizationfreed himup. He beganreimaginingitems like thebarbacoataco. “We changedtherecipealittlebit,addedsomeavocado,andcalleditthe‘Democrat,’”heexplains.That's thekindofevolutionarydivergencethatpavesthe wayfor taco variants like theTokyo Drifter(teriyaki-glazedporkdrizzledwithsesamesriracha mayo)ortheScallywag(coconut-batteredshrimp andpeachhabanerojam)

Wherefusioncuisine hadoncebelongedto fine-diningchefs walkinga tightropeoftechniqueand seriousness, Rypkareimagineditas unpretentiouscomfort food:over-the-topand fun, like alate-nightfridgeraid.

Inasense,theseriffswereemblematicofacity constantlyreinventingitself.“Austinhasdefinitely changed,”Rypka says.“Sometimesit’sweird seeingsomeoftheoldspotsnowsurroundedby bighigh-rises.Butthat’spartofgrowth.We’resort ofthismishmashofinsidersandoutsiders.”

Thatsamespiritofevolutionshowsuponthe Torchy’smenu.Rypkalovescreativityforitsown sake.Aself-proclaimed“artguy,”Rypkasurrounds himselfwithinspiration:aDaleMathisartpiece featuringPepéLePewhangsinhisofficeneara Metropolitan Museum coffee tablebookon AlexanderMcQueen.Hecollectssneakers.He’s seenMetallicamoretimesthanhecancount.It tracks,then,thathelaunchedarotatingmonthly specialearly on,a chance to experiment with newflavorsorbringbackfanfavorites.Thatidea evolvedintothe Taco of theMonth program—a wayforTorchy’stokeeppushingboundaries,one wild taco at atime.

“Torchy’shasreallyexpandedthewhimsical sideoftacos,”saysJoséR.Ralat,theTexasMonthlytaco editor andauthorof AmericanTacos:A HistoryandGuide

Thelow overhead costsoflaunching from a trailerlet Rypkaplaywiththe rapid-fire experimentationthathas come to define theTorchy’s brand—andwhich is rooted,Ralat points out, in Rypka’sclassicallytrainedbackground.Asataco subjectmatterexpert, he appreciatesthe Turkey MoleTacooftheMonth,whichblendsTexas-fried bird with aOaxacan-style mole sauce, Mexican rice,andheapsofquesofresco

“Thatone mightseema little pedestrian for Torchy’s,butit’salsoextremelytraditionalbecause mole wasoriginallyservedwithturkey,”Ralat explains.“Iappreciatethattheyknowtheirbackground.Theyhavea knowledgeoftradition and flavorprofiles,whichissomethingthatdifferentiates them from businesses that will puta $40 entrée in a$4taco.”Instead of just slappingnew,fancyfoodinatortilla on awhim, Rypka’sbackground meanshisinventionsaregrounded inhard-earnedfoodexpertise Austininthelate2000s,pre-tech broinflux,grantedpermissiontobe different.LeslieCochranstillstrutteddowntownwithhisfeatherboa, andAlamoDrafthousehadjustthree locations.Localswereprotectiveof regionalcreations.

“Backthen,totalkpoorlyabout anyAustinbrand wastohavethe wagons circledagainst you,”says Ralat.Torchy’swasbuoyedbyhometown pride.

Meanwhile, the2008recession drovedemandforaffordabledining. Tacos—casual,inexpensive,endless-

ly variable fitthe bill remarkably well.Inmany ways,Torchy’swastheperfectideaforthemoment, poisedtorideAustin’swaveofculturalgrowth Still,behindthescenes,Rypkaandhisteam hustledhardtomakeendsmeet. Restaurant marginsare slim undermostcircumstances Wald recallsa time when Rypkawentout to restockspoons.

“Hecamebackwithasleeveofjust24spoons,” Wald says.“Becausethat’sall themoney we had made that day, that’s allwecould really afford. We’d go buymorespoonsthe next days.Itwas reallythatgranular.”

By 2008,Torchy’sexpandedtobrick-andmortarlocations,includingtheGuadalupeand SouthFirstStreetoutposts.Rypkawaspassionateaboutthecookingside,butanexcellenttaco wasn’tenoughonitsown.Launchingarestaurant meantfiguringoutwaystoscalethebusinesson ashoestringbudget.In2013,thefirstyearTorchy’s appeared as avendoratACL,Rypka createda tentedoutdoorkitchentoprepenoughfoodfor thefestivalwhile normal operations continued attherestaurants.Bythen,Torchy’shadexpanded to locationsinDallasand Houston, andRypka wasstill on theground slinging tacosdirectlytocustomers

“He'sjusta real passionate guyfor whatever he does,” Wald says.“No matter what,whereveryou'reatinlife, youcould always give Mike acall andhe'll answer.”

CATCHING FIRE

Walk into anyTorchy’slocation, andyou’reimmersedindecor that evokes heat.Takethe storeatMueller,for example, with itscherryred wallsand a curtainofheavy chains dangling from theceiling,industrialenoughto belonginanironsmeltingfactory.Flamegraphicslickatthemenu.By2016, thanks to both that fierybrandingand spicy flavor profiles, therestaurant chainhad amasseda devotedbaseoffanswho were beggingfor Torchy’s extravaganttacosinotherstates.

Afteryearsofhustle,theTexaslocationswereturningthekindofprofit that attracts privateinvestors.That financialbacking allowedTorchy’s tocapitalizeonthecult-likeenthusiasmthatwasblazingacrossthecountrybyopening newrestaurantlocations, firstinColorado, then in Oklahoma.Torchy’swas belovedinAustin, butthe tacoswereanevenbigger hitoutside thecityand beyond thestate—unusual fora Tex-Mexchain “It'skindofunheard of to start inalittletrailerandthenbewhere we'reat,”Rypka says

In just thethree yearsbetween 2018and2021,Torchy’smorethan doubleditsfootprint,growingto96 restaurantsinTexas,Oklahoma, Colorado,Louisiana,Kansas, Tennessee,Arkansas,Indiana,Missouri,NorthCarolina,andVirginia.In 2019,thecompanyrampeduptheir take-outoperationandfinalizedan exclusivepartnership with DoorDash,and,thefollowingyear,Rypka’s proprietaryDiabloSauce hit theshelves at Austin-bornbrand WholeFoods Market

Expandedcurbsidepickupand even some creative drive-thru operationshelpedkeepthecompany

afloatduringthe COVID-19 pandemic—evenwhenfanscouldn’tdinein, theycravedthosesignatureTorchy’sflavors.Thoughmuchoftherestaurant industrywasfaltering,Torchy’skeptgrowing,opening26newlocationsin 2020 and2021. Today, Rypka’shumblelittletacooperationhasswelled to 125locations across 16 states with more on theway Scalingtheoperationmeantnewchallengesbutalsofunopportunities

“WegotaccesstobetteringredientsthanIhadstartingout,”saysRypka. “Weweremakinghomemadetortillas in ourstores, whichI didn't used to do.I didn’t have room in thetrailer.” Rypkahad dreamedofserving up freshlypressed,still-steamingtortillas,and nowitwas areality—a central valueproposition.

Despiteitsgrowth,Torchy’shasremainedthoughtfulaboutitsrootsand thespecificcommunitieswhereithasplacedstores.Alongsideitsdistinctive branding,manyofthelocationsreflectthebuilding’shistory,balancingthe playfulfeelwithsomething more like reverence. TheHouston HeightslocationwasoncethefamoussuitshopHarold’s.Here,inadditiontoawindow display,theTorchymascothasupgradedhisdiapertoatux.Butthisappreciationfor thepastisparticularlyevident at theSouth Congress location, whichopenedin2016inwhatwasoncetheiconicFran’sHamburgers.The low-slung, retro-styled building features slantedmetal beamsand color-blockedredandwhite.

“Wewantedtopayhomagetothatkindof'50s-styleburgerjointarchitecture,”Rypka says.The blazingneon“Damn Good”signthatreflects a collision of Austin’s bygone andmoderneras.

ThatsensitivitytospaceandhistorymirrorsRypka’sapproachoverall: buildsomethingnew,buthonorwhatcamebefore.It’stheethosofatransplantwhodeeplyloveshisadoptedhome.Here,somethingnewisimagined fromhistoricalfoundations.Themoretimepasses,theharderitbecomes to saywhatis“real.”

“I wouldchallenge anyone to define authenticity.I believeit’sa myth!” saysRalat,whocallstacos“completelyunknowable,”afooditemtoocomplex andstoried to ever be fullyunderstood. He describesunusual,hyper-regionaltacosthatmayseemnoveltooutsiders—untilyouunderstand thelonglocal historybehindthem.

“Torchy’sbegantocodifywhatAustintacosare,”heexplains.Hepointsto thebreakfasttaco—notaTorchy’soriginal,butanAustinstaplenonetheless “As[Torchy’s]hasexpandedreallyquickly,they’veintroducedbreakfasttacos tothecountry,andthat’saweirdandwonderfulthing.”

Growingasingletrailerintoanationalbrand, Torchy’s hasbecomerecognizablebynameand vibeacrossmostoftheU.S.Intheprocess,RypkahassuccessfullyexportedwhatmanyAustinitestakefor granted. Breakfasttacos,ofcourse, butalsoa casual-meets-gourmet dining that reflects Austin’s blendoflaid-back cool and culinary creativity

If he needed proofthathe’dbuilt an iconic institution,hegotitin2016whenthen-President Barack Obamastopped in fora Democrat,a Republican,and an Independenttaco—awinkinglybipartisanorder

ForRypka,thefocushasalwaysbeenoncreatingaspacethatfeelslikeitbelongstoeveryone. “Inmymind, Torchy’s is this placewhere everybody’swelcome.Comeletyourf***inghairdown Haveagoodtaco.Enjoyyourself,”Rypkasays.It’s anethosthathasalltheendearinghedonismof aRichard Linklatermonologue

“LittleTorchykindofgives youpermissionto dothat,”headds.“We’veallgotthelittleangelon ourshouldersaying,‘Ishouldeatthekalesalad.I needtoworkout.I’vegottobeontime.’AndTorchy islike,‘Youcanbealittlelate.Eatsomequeso.’”

Eventheslogancamefromthepeople.“‘Damn Good’wasn’tinour original logo,” Rypkasays. “But afterthe firstmonth or two, we addedit. That came from ourcustomers.” There’ssomethingwildlynostalgic aboutthatkindofwordof-mouth cult following.

Dependingonwhoyouask,Torchy’siseither ahallmarkofNewAustinorarelicoftheoldone. At nearly 20 yearsin, it somehowmanages to be both.Whenthe original redtrailer opened on SouthFirst in 2006,foodtruckswerejust becomingafixtureofthecity’sculinaryidentity. That stretchofroadstill felt scrappyand weird, andTorchy’smatchedthemoodwith itsflame-coveredchalkboardmenu, picnic tables underthe trees, and queso-fiending devilmascot. Even afteritexpandedintostorefronts andsuburbanstrip malls, people kept coming back to that trailer, hungryfortacosandnostalgia,too. When it closed in 2016,itmarked theendofoneTorchy’schapterand thebeginningofanother.

Butwhile Torchy’s mighthave gotten acorporate glow-up, that signatureAustinattitudelives on in thetacos

TheTrailer Park is aperfect example. It isn’t“authentic” in the traditionalsense—andit’snottrying tobe.There’stheearthyheatofthe poblano, of course,but thefried chickenisalmostsweet.Thesortof indulgenceIdidn’tknowIwascravinguntil Itastedit. It’s theperfect callbacktoTorchy’sfirsthomeatthe SouthAustinTrailerParkandEatery, whereRypkalaunchedatacochain butalsoa pieceofthe city’s food identity:playful,ever-evolving,and asRypkaandhislegionsoffanslike tosay,“Damngood.”

Adoption

Meghan Alexander GottfriedAlexander LawFirm 1505 W. 6thSt. 512-494-1481

ChristineHenry Andresen CHALaw Group, P.C. 4103 Menchaca Road 512-394-4230

Antitrust

Mark B. Tobey

HuschBlackwell, LLP

111CongressAve Ste. 1400 512-479-9740

Appellate

Doug Alexander AlexanderDubose&Jefferson, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1450 512-482-9301

Adam Aston JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2056

ElizabethG.Bloch GreenbergTraurig,LLP

300W.6th St., Ste. 2050 512-320-7228

Marshall AyresBowen Shield Ranch 3103 BeeCaves Road,Ste.203 512-476-4816

Anne Derrig JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve Ste. 1100 512-236-2279

JamesMatthew Dow JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2230

Jennifer Foster Terrazas,PLLC 1001 S. Capital of TexasHwy Bldg.L,Ste.250 773-910-8804

Sean F. Gallagher JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2014

MarcyHogan Greer AlexanderDubose&Jefferson, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1450 512-716-8310

Kendyl T. Hanks GreenbergTraurig,LLP 300W.6th St Ste. 2050 512-320-7225

PeterC.Hansen JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2319

Steven Haspel

National TrialLaw 1114 Lost CreekBlvd.,Ste.410 833-913-1885

Lisa Hobbs

Kuhn Hobbs, PLLC 7000 N. MopacExpy.,Ste.315 512-476-6003

LindsayKilleen JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2370

MelissaA.Lorber

Butler Snow,LLP 1400 Lavaca St., Ste. 1000 512-615-1205

Danica L. Milios JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2346

Shelby L. O’Brien

Butler Snow,LLP

1400 Lavaca St Ste. 1000 512-615-1225

Gracie Wood Shepherd Friday Milner LambertTurner, PLLC 3401 Glenview Ave. 512-472-9291

D. Todd Smith

TexasAppellate Counsel,PLLC 3201 BeeCaves Road,Ste.120 737-313-8556

Amanda G. Taylor

Butler Snow,LLP 1400 Lavaca St., Ste. 1000 737-802-1811

ClintTwaddell BranscombLaw 114W 7thSt.,Ste.725 512-735-7809

Cody Vaughn JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2222

Arbitration andMediation

Amanda Andrae Andrae Law, PLLC 1301 S. CapitalofTexas Hwy., Ste. C-120 512-668-7133

ScottBaker ScottBaker Mediation, LLC PO Box5121 512-988-3065

Karl Bayer 6010 Long ChampDrive, Ste. 115 214-891-4505

NadiaBettac

Bettac Advocacy and Mediation, PLLC 3571 FarWestBlvd.,Ste.3714 512-200-2794

Greg Bourgeois Lakeside MediationCenter 3825 Lake Austin Blvd., Ste. 403 512-477-9300

Martin Cirkiel CirkielLaw Group, P.C. 1005 W. 41st St., Ste. 201 512-244-6658

BruceClark ClarkADR,PLLC 3571 FarWestBlvd.,PMB 260 512-917-7294

Deborah Clark ClarkADR,PLLC 3571 FarWestBlvd.,PMB 260 512-917-5732

Kathleen Coble CobleFamilyLaw and Mediation, PLLC 1301 S. CapitalofTexas Hwy. Ste. C-120 512-477-4700

BenJ.Cunningham Lakeside MediationCenter 3825 Lake Austin Blvd., Ste. 403 512-477-9300

Connie Ditto

BecksteadTerry Ditto, PLLC 9442 CapitalofTexas Hwy., Ste. 500 512-827-3575

Todd Fine Redbud Mediation 4200 N. HillsDrive 512-666-3935

Jonathan P. Friday

Friday Milner LambertTurner, PLLC 3401 Glenview Ave. 512-472-9291

Eric Galton Lakeside MediationCenter 3825 Lake Austin Blvd., Ste. 403 512-477-9300

Mark Hawkins Armbrust &Brown,PLLC 100CongressAve., Ste. 1300 512-435-2300

NikkiHudman LawOffice of NikkiHudman 1301 S. CapitalofTexas Hwy., Ste. C-120 512-827-8529

Jeff Jury Lakeside MediationCenter 3825 Lake Austin Blvd., Ste. 403 512-477-9300

PatrickKeel PatrickKeel, Mediator-Arbitrator 2814 Glenview Ave. 512-293-0300

AmyLambert

Friday Milner LambertTurner, PLLC 3401 Glenview Ave. 512-420-0555

Bert Pluymen Pluymen Law, PLLC 219VailcoLane 512-415-9111

Daniel Richards Richards Rodriguez&Skeith, LLP 611W.15thSt. 512-476-0005

Jeff Rose Rose Resolution Group 3701 BeeCaves Road,Ste.103 512-637-0931

John S. Rubin RubinLaw Firm,PLLC 901S.Mopac Expy Bldg.1 Ste. 300 512-439-2299

Samuel Solodar LawOffice of Samuel Solodar, PLLC 507W.7th St 512-375-0321

Paul J. VanOsselaer VanOsselaerDispute Resolution, PLLC 2305 Cheswick Ct 512-593-5104

Attorneys ForNonprofits

Mollie Cullinane CullinaneLaw Group, PLLC 1122 Colorado St., Ste. 301 512-298-2898

Albert Y. Lin HuschBlackwell,LLP 111CongressAve., Ste. 1400 512-703-5726

Tara A. Potts JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2396

Aviation

Andres C. Pereira Andres PereiraLaw Firm,P.C 14709CusterCt. 512-920-2425

DAVID MINTON

FAMILY LAW

In August 1987, David Minton joined MBFC as alitigator.Licensed in state and federal courts, he hasrepresented clients beforevirtually every state agency and tried numerous complex civil, family, and criminalcases all over Texas. Litigating for 38 years now,David has maintained an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbellfor 27 consecutive years, 19 consecutive years listed in the BestLawyers in America, including Lawyer of the Year in Austin in 2021, and hasbeen named aSuper Lawyer in Texas each of the past 13 years as well as Best of the Best TopTen Texas for both family and criminal cases. David canbereached at any timeat dminton@mbfc.com

SAM BASSETT

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

Samgraduated from the University of TexasLaw School in 1988. He has been boardcertified in criminal lawsince 1994. He is licensed in state and federal courts. SamisapastPresident of the TexasCriminalDefenseLawyers Association. He has been recognized five times by Best Lawyers in America as ‘Lawyer of the Year’ for criminal defense in Austin. He is a 16-yearTexasSuper Lawyer and is aFormer Chair of the TexasForensic Science Commission. Sam tries cases throughout Texasand haspracticed in Federal Court in multiple states. Sam can be reached anytime at sbassett@mbfc.com

PERRYQ.MINTON

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

Perry Q. Minton, 2025 Austin Monthly TopAttorney,tries criminal defenseand family law cases to judges and juries all over Central Texas. Managing high-profile, complex litigation over the years has given Perry awell-deserved reputation as apassionate and aggressiveadvocate for his clients. Perry graduated from the University of Texasand the University of TexasSchool of Law and is licensed in both state and federal court. Perry is recognized in Best Lawyers in America for both criminal defense and family law. Youcan reachPerry anytimeat pminton@mbfc.com

RICK R. FLORES

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

Rick Floreshas been with Minton,Bassett, Flores &Carsey for 15 years now and focusesonfelony, misdemeanor, andjuvenile cases. Rick is adouble Longhorn with two degreesfromThe University ofTexas -a B.B.A. from the McCombs School of Business and aJ.D. from the Law School. He is a former Travis County prosecutor,the past Chair of the Austin Bar Association Criminal Law Section, a BoardMember of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association,a BoardMemberofthe Austin CriminalDefense Lawyers Association,a Texas Monthly Rising Star,and aTexas Monthly Super Lawyer.This is his fifth year to make Austin Monthly’sTop Attorney list. He can be reached anytime at rflores@mbfc.com

ANDREW ROBERTSON

FAMILY LAW

Three-time Austin Monthly TopAttorney,Andrew Robertson recently joined Minton,Bassett, Flores & Carsey in 2020 after runninghis own law office for 7years. His practice is focusedonhelping people in family law mattersand criminal defense.Andrew was born and raised in Austin (Westlake High School) and graduated from Louisiana State University and South Texas College of Law.Hecan be reached anytime at arobertson@mbfc.com

Mark Pierce DJCLaw 5717 S. IH-35 512-900-4872

DerekQuick

SlackDavis Sanger,LLP 6001 Bold RulerWay,Ste.100 512-795-8686

Mike L. Slack

SlackDavis Sanger,LLP 6001 Bold RulerWay,Ste.100 512-795-8686

Bankingand Financial

Sarah Christian JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2271

KathrynNordick JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve Ste. 1100 512-236-2371

JamesL.Pledger JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2243

Bankruptcy andWorkout

CleveBurke

Vela Wood Staley Young, P.C. 1211 E. 4thSt.,Ste.210 512-813-7300

Lynn Hamilton Butler HuschBlackwell, LLP 111CongressAve., Ste. 1400 512-479-9758

Beau Butler JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2256

BrianT.Cumings

Graves DoughertyHearon &Moody 401CongressAve Ste. 2700 512-480-5626

DorothyLawrence DorothyButlerLaw Firm 151E.MercerSt.,Ste.E Dripping Springs 737-329-4649

Denise True Denise True Law 108WildBasin Road,Ste.250 512-768-0604

JamesonJ.Watts HuschBlackwell, LLP 111CongressAve., Ste. 1400 512-479-1179

Jennifer F. Wertz JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2247

Business

AmyDuvanich Scale, LLP 415-735-5933

John D. Jacks

Gray Becker,P.C 900WestAve 512-641-0661

Dee Dee C. McKee

LawOffice of DeeDee C. Mckee, PLLC 9901 Brodie Lane,Ste.160 512-668-9733

DavidReiter

Reiter,Brunel&Dunn, PLLC 6805 N. Capital of TexasHwy Ste. 318 512-779-3341

Lauren Schoenbaum TheSchoenbaumFirm, PLLC 3005 S. LamarBlvd.,Ste.D-109 737-304-7502

Jana Terry BecksteadTerry Ditto, PLLC 9442 CapitalofTexas Hwy. Ste. 500 512-827-3575

DanielaPeinado Welsh Graves DoughertyHearon &Moody

401CongressAve Ste. 2700 512-480-5607

Mitchell F. Zoll Zoll Firm,PLLC 5114 Balcones WoodsDrive, Ste. 307-282 512-991-1096

CivilLitigation

BelindaArambula Terrazas,PLLC 1001 S. CapitalofTexas Hwy. Bldg.L,Ste.250 915-256-8292

KarenC.Burgess BurgessLaw,P.C 404W.13thSt. 512-482-8808

MaríaAmeliaCalaf Botkin ChiarelloCalaf,PLLC 1209 Nueces St 512-213-6094

W. LanceCawthon SnellLaw,PLLC 404W.13thSt. 512-477-5291

HeidiA.Coughlin Wright &Greenhill,P.C 4700 MuellerBlvd.,Ste.200 512-309-1117

FrancescaA.DiTroia Barron &Newburger,P.C 7320 N. MopacExpy.,Ste.400 512-649-4079

LorindaG.Holloway HuschBlackwell,LLP 111 Congress Ave.,Ste.1400 512-479-1149

RandyHowry HowryBreen &Herman, LLP 1900 PearlSt. 512-751-8237

Rachel McKenna Almanza, Blackburn, Dickie &Mitchell, LLP 2301 S. CapitalofTexas Hwy. Bldg.H 512-474-9486

Eric J.R. Nichols Butler Snow,LLP 1400 Lavaca St., Ste. 1000 737-802-1807

DavidAustinR.Nimocks PeeleNimocks Toth 206WildBasin Road S.,Bldg. A, Ste. 206 512-522-4893

Marianne W. Nitsch Graves DoughertyHearon &Moody 401CongressAve Ste. 2700 512-480-5757

EleanorRuffner RuffnerHerron, PLLC 508W.12thSt. 512-275-6277

Pete Rutter DJCLaw 1012 W. Anderson Lane 512-900-4872

Jack A. Simms, Jr. Wittliff Cutter,PLLC 510BaylorSt. 512-960-4777

JasonW.Snell SnellLaw 404W.13thSt. 512-477-5291

KevinTerrazas Terrazas,PLLC 1001 S. CapitalofTexas Hwy., Bldg.L,Ste.250 512-680-3257

Kennon L. Wooten ScottDouglass& McConnico, LLP 303ColoradoSt.,Ste.2400 512-495-6341

Commercial

Litigation

Trey Arbuckle Terrazas,PLLC

1001 S. CapitalofTexas Hwy. Bldg.L,Ste.250 303-618-7246

Ryan Botkin Botkin ChiarelloCalaf,PLLC 1209 Nueces St 512-960-4730

MarilynBrown JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve Ste. 1100 512-236-2379

KatherineChiarello Botkin ChiarelloCalaf,PLLC 1209 Nueces St 512-960-4524

Katie A. Fillmore

MichaelBest& Friedrich, LLP 515CongressAve., Ste. 2500 512-409-2329

Danielle A. Gilbert HuschBlackwell,LLP 111CongressAve., Ste. 1400 512-479-9708

Lessie C. Gilstrap Gilstrap LawGroup,P.C 1100 West Ave. 512-813-2061

BreckHarrison JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve Ste. 1100 512-236-2315

Eric A. Hudson Terrazas,PLLC

1001 S. CapitalofTexas Hwy., Bldg.L,Ste.250 512-294-9891

Eric A. Johnston

MichaelBest& Friedrich, LLP 515CongressAve Ste. 2500 512-320-0601

ChristopherR.Mugica JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2016

TimothyP.Ribelin HuschBlackwell,LLP 111CongressAve., Ste. 1400 512-479-1153

Joshua A. Romero JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2035

CindySaiter ScottDouglass&McConnico, LLP 303ColoradoSt.,Ste.2400 512-495-6306

It’sanhonor to be recognized as one of Austin Monthly’sTop Attorneys.I’veenjoyed serving the Austin Community as aprosecutor and as acriminal defense attorney for the last 20 years.AtGBA Firm, we pride ourselves on our level of service and communication provided to our clients and their families.Fighting for our clients’ rights and working towards justice is apassion for everyone at my firm. Our results show it. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. It’sour job to make it right. Doing so isn’tanine-to-five job nor is it aone-man show. I wouldn’tbehereifitwasn’tfor the team of professionals that work alongside me. If you need us we’rehere; use the QR code to save our contactinformation.

Thank you!

Dan Christensen Personal Injury

DJC Law is proud to be recognized once again by Austin Monthly as one of the city’sTop Attorneys—marking our sixth consecutive year on the list. This year,eight of our attorneys earned the honor

Recognition is meaningful, but it’snot the reason we do this work. What matters most is helping real people recover what they’ve lost after an injury—whether it’smedical bills, lost income, or the ability to live life without pain.

Led by Dan Christensen—BoardCertified in Texas and nationally— our team brings over 30 years of experience fighting for injured Texans. With over 1,000 five-star reviews and four offices across Austin and San Marcos, we’realways close by and ready to help.

Injured? Choose DJC Law and work with ateam that’sbuilt on experience, compassion, and arelentless drive for justice.

ScottW.Weatherford JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2073

Construction

Will W. Allensworth

Allensworthand Porter 303ColoradoSt.,Ste.2800 512-708-1250

KendallBryant

Padfield &Stout,LLP 2630 Exposition Blvd., Ste. 106 512-537-9677

AmyM.Emerson

Allensworthand Porter 303ColoradoSt.,Ste.2800 512-708-1250

R. CarsonFisk

AndrewsMyers,P.C 919CongressAve Ste. 1050 512-900-3032

Dennis Grebe

Terrazas,PLLC

1001 S. Capital of TexasHwy., Bldg.L,Ste.250 979-557-1775

JerryNegrete

TheChapman Firm

3410 FarWestBlvd.,Ste.210 512-872-3840

PrestonRandall

Graves DoughertyHearon &Moody

401CongressAve Ste. 2700 512-480-5731

RekhaRoarty

TheRoartyLaw Firm,PLLC 1301 S. Capital of TexasHwy., Ste. B-202 512-692-6870

MichaelRoberts JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve Ste. 1100 512-236-2251

MatthewC.Ryan

Allensworthand Porter 303ColoradoSt.,Ste.2800 512-708-1250

Hailey L. Suggs

Graves DoughertyHearon &Moody 401CongressAve., Ste. 2700 512-480-5615

ChristopherH.Trickey

Graves DoughertyHearon &Moody

401CongressAve Ste. 2700 512-480-5620

Consumer Debt

DavidBizar

DJCLaw

5717 S. IH-35 512-900-4872

CorporateCounsel

AaronW. Barker

MichaelBest&Friedrich,LLP

515CongressAve., Ste. 2500 512-409-2326

JessicaBlacklock

PottsBlacklock Senterfitt, PLLC

4800 BeeCaves Road,Ste.100 512-614-4108

SandyGarciaHoy

TexasApartment Association 1011 SanJacinto Blvd., Ste. 600 512-479-6252

CorporateFinance Mergersand Acquisitions

Remy P. Fesquet

HuschBlackwell, LLP

111CongressAve., Ste. 1400 512-479-9745

BradleyS.Knippa JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve Ste. 1100 512-236-2284

MichaelF.Meskill

JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2253

Lee Potts

PottsBlacklock Senterfitt, PLLC

4800 BeeCaves Road,Ste.100 512-614-4105

Rachel E. RatcliffePayne

Latham &Watkins,LLP 300ColoradoSt.,Ste.2400 737-910-7323

J. WilliamWilson

Reiter,Brunel&Dunn, PLLC 6805 N. Capital of TexasHwy., Ste. 318 512-632-9330

Criminal Defense

GeneAnthes Gunter,Bennett &Anthes, P.C. 600W.9th St 512-476-2494

Samuel E. Bassett Minton,Bassett,Flores &Carsey, P.C. 1100 GuadalupeSt. 512-476-4873

Paul A. Batrice BatriceLaw Firm 8030 N. MopacExpy.,Ste.300 512-817-1740

Leslie J. Boykin TheLaw Office of Leslie J. Boykin 609 W. 9thSt. 512-912-9977

Claire Carter Claire CarterLegal 910WestAve., Ste. 12 512-375-6257

Rick Cofer Cofer&Connelly,PLLC 602W.11thSt. 512-991-0576

KevinD.Collins Bracewell, LLP 111 Congress Ave.,Ste.2300 512-494-3640

Rick R. Flores Minton,Bassett,Flores& Carsey, P.C. 1100 GuadalupeSt. 512-476-4873

Jennifer Freel JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve Ste. 1100 512-236-2330

RichardGentry LawOffice of RichardGentry 1107 Nueces St 512-499-0007

DavidGonzalez Sumpter&Gonzalez, LLP 3011 N. LamarBlvd.,Ste.200 512-381-9955

Virginia W. Greenway TheLaw Office of Virginia W. Greenway 811NuecesSt. 512-478-1900

Robert Kiesling RRK LawOffice 13785ResearchBlvd.,Ste.125 512-436-2779

TychaKimbrough Kimbrough Legal, PLLC 1515 S. CapitalofTexas Hwy. Ste. 203 833-553-4251

BrianMcConnell TheMcConnell LawFirm, PLLC 1114LostCreek Blvd., Ste. 440 512-477-7776

PerryQ.Minton Minton,Bassett,Flores &Carsey, P.C. 1100 GuadalupeSt. 512-476-4873

ChrisPeele PeeleNimocks Toth 206WildBasin Road S.,Bldg. A, Ste. 206 512-417-0334

BrianRoark Botsford &Roark 1307 West Ave.,UnitA 512-714-2280

AllisonTisdale

TheHullFirm 1004 West Ave. 512-599-9999

AmberVazquez VazquezLaw Firm,PLLC 608W.12thSt. 512-309-8736

Tayrin Cardenas Wittenstein Cardenas Witt Law 603W.12thSt. 737-257-5592

Education

GozOdediran Odediran LawFirm, PLLC 13809ResearchBlvd.,Ste.500 512-886-5069

Elder

LindseyDrake DrakeLaw,PLLC 1213 W. SlaughterLane, Ste. 100 512-524-3697

EminentDomain

W. Brad Anderson JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2043

SusanAyers HutchesonBowers, LLLP 1301 S. MopacExpy.,Ste.430 512-777-4447

Luke Ellis

MarrsEllis &Hodge,LLP 809W.12thSt. 512-215-4078

Noah M. Galton JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2026

Nicholas P. Laurent

Barron,Adler Clough &Oddo, PLLC 808NuecesSt. 512-478-4995

ChristopherJ.Oddo

Barron,Adler Clough &Oddo, PLLC 808NuecesSt. 512-478-4995

DavidTodd Todd LawFirm 3800 N. LamarBlvd.,Ste.200 512-472-7799

AshleyWilder

MarrsEllis &Hodge,LLP 809W.12thSt. 512-215-4078

Energy Oiland Gas

BeckyH.Diffen

Norton Rose FulbrightUS, LLP 98 SanJacinto Blvd., Ste. 1100 512-536-4581

Meghan E. Griffiths JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2363

EleanorChote Jewart HuschBlackwell, LLP 111CongressAve Ste. 1400 512-479-9718

Olga Kobzar ScottDouglass&McConnico, LLP

303ColoradoSt.,Ste.2400 512-495-6354

John B. McFarland

Graves DoughertyHearon &Moody

401CongressAve., Ste. 2700 512-480-5618

Family

Thomas L. Ausley

Goranson Bain Ausley,PLLC 3307 NorthlandDrive,Ste.420 512-879-1893

Hannah HembreeBell HembreeBellLaw Firm,PLLC 5806 Mesa Drive, Ste. 360 512-645-2450

Leslie J. Bollier

BollierCiccone Stinson, LLP 1101 S. CapitalofTexas Hwy. Bldg.G,Ste.200 512-477-5796

CharlesF.Bowes Coldwell Bowes, LLP 2801 ViaFortuna,Terr. 7, Ste. 530 512-472-2040

MichaelBurnett BurnettTurner, PLLC 6034 W. CourtyardDrive, Ste. 140 512-472-5060

Lisa Bustos Bustos Family Law, PLLC 1101 S. CapitalofTexas Hwy. Bldg.G-150 512-766-2768

KristianaButler

Goranson Bain Ausley,PLLC 3307 NorthlandDrive,Ste.420 512-879-1893

SamD.Colletti

Noelke Maples St.Leger Bryant LLP 2600 ViaFortuna,Terr. 1, Ste. 440 512-480-9777

Angelica Rolong Cormier

Goranson Bain Ausley,PLLC 3307 NorthlandDrive,Ste.420 512-879-1893

HollyR.Davis

Kirker Davis, LLP

8310-1 N. CapitalofTexas Hwy., Ste. 350 512-572-1911

Patricia J. Dixon

Gray Becker,P.C 900WestAve 512-482-0061

Alyse F. Donnelly

Kirker Davis, LLP

8310-1 N. CapitalofTexas Hwy., Ste. 350 512-572-1911

Kacy Dudley Dudley Law, PLLC 2300 Coronado St 512-617-3975

BryanE.Eggleston

TheEggleston LawFirm 12400State Hwy. 71 W., Ste. 350-322 512-980-9975

Janice M. Eggleston

TheEggleston LawFirm 12400State Hwy. 71 W., Ste. 350-322 512-980-9975

Mary Escamilla

TheLaw Office of Mary Escamilla, PLLC 505W.14thSt. 512-501-6077

AlysonFalk

Falk Family Law 806W.10thSt.,Ste.A 512-409-2703

LydiaFearing

LawOffice of BeckyBeaver 3500 JeffersonSt.,Ste.210 512-474-5791

KellyCapertonFischer

Goranson Bain Ausley,PLLC 3307 NorthlandDrive,Ste.420 512-596-5190

JillianFrench

TheEggleston LawFirm 13740ResearchBlvd.,Ste.B4 512-980-9975

GregoryHitt

GregoryHitt, Attorney &Mediator 7000 N. MopacExpy.,2nd Fl 512-322-0118

Jodi Lazar Lazar Law 500W.2nd St Ste. 1900 512-477-1600

Erin Leake

Vaught LawFirm, P.C. 5929 Balcones Drive, Ste. 201 737-258-3237

Lisa Londergan

Thompson SalinasLondergan LLP 8911 N. CapitalofTexas Hwy., Bldg.4,Ste.4260 512-647-2936

NikkiMaples

Maples Jones,PLLC 3101 BeeCaves Road,Ste.260 512-617-3952

Aishah McCoy

TheLaw Office of Aishah McCoy 7500 Rialto Blvd., Bldg.1, Ste. 250 214-507-0892

MarieMcGrath

Cordell& Cordell 901S.Mopac Expy., Ste. 480 512-691-1001

Mary Evelyn McNamara Rivers McNamara,PLLC 1209 W. 5thSt.,Ste.200 512-439-7000

CarlyGallagher Murray LawOffice of CarlyGallagher Murray 13785ResearchBlvd.,Ste.125 512-633-2204

Cheryl Powell TheCarlson LawFirm 559S.I-35FrontageRoad, Ste. 250, RoundRock 512-671-7277

Kayvon Rashidi Powers Kerr &Rashidi,PLLC 6034 W. CourtyardDrive, Ste. 100 512-610-6199

D. MicahRoyerIII

Coldwell Bowes, LLP 2801 ViaFortuna,Terr. 7, Ste. 530 512-472-2040

Carlos G. Salinas

Thompson SalinasLondergan LLP 8911 N. CapitalofTexas Hwy., Bldg.4,Ste.4260 512-647-2936

Raul Sandoval,Jr. Sandoval Family Law, P.C. 611S.CongressAve., Ste. 225 512-580-2449

EmilySpjut

TheCarlson LawFirm 559S.I-35FrontageRoad, Ste. 250, RoundRock 512-671-7277

Susannah A. Stinson BollierCiccone Stinson, LLP 1101 S. CapitalofTexas Hwy. Bldg.G,Ste.200 512-477-5796

Marshall A. Thompson

Thompson SalinasLondergan, LLP 8911 N. Capital of TexasHwy., Bldg.4,Ste.4260 512-647-2936

Travis L. Turner BurnettTurner, PLLC 6034 W. CourtyardDrive,Ste.140 512-472-5060

Jami Milner Turner Friday Milner LambertTurner, PLLC 3401 Glenview Ave. 512-420-0555

Katie Valle

TheLaw Office of JasonWright, PLLC 3600 W. Parmer Lane,Ste.160 512-706-9662

TimWhitten

TheLaw Office of TimWhitten P.C.

7500 Rialto Blvd., Bldg.1,Ste.250 512-478-1011

JasonWright

TheLaw Office of JasonWright, PLLC

3600 W. Parmer Lane,Ste.160 512-706-9662

Government and Administrative

Kimberly Buser StateBar of Texas 1414 Colorado St 512-427-1463

Efrain De La Fuente

Travis County District Attorney 416W.11thSt. 512-854-9400

Rudy K. Metayer Graves DoughertyHearon &Moody 401CongressAve Ste. 2700 512-480-5657

Meet Our 2025Austin Monthly TopAttorneys

NINTH ROW: W. Brad Anderson, SeanF.Gallagher

EIGHTH ROW: Meghan E. Griffiths, Joshua A. Romero

SEVENTH ROW: Denise Rose, AliAndrews, Beau Butler

SIXTH ROW: Jennifer S.Freel,Michael C. Roberts, TimothyC.Taylor

FIFTH ROW: Cody A. Vaughn, LindsayKilleen, BrianK.Prewitt

FOURTH ROW: JackE.Skaggs, Michael J. Baldwin

THIRD ROW: Jennifer F. Wertz, Scott W. Weatherford, Michael F. Meskill

SECOND ROW: Emilio B. Nicolas,DanicaL.Milios, Noah M. Galton, Bradley S. Knippa

FIRSTROW: Steven D. Moore, Tara A. Potts, Cassie Ross,ErinN.Tuggle

NOTPICTURED: Adam Aston, MarilynM.Brown, Aron R. Burnett,Sarah Christian, Anne Derrig, Matt Dow, Alicia R. Duleba, Tyson Ehlinger,Peter C. Hansen, BreckHarrison, Sam K. Hildebrand,PamelaMadere, Christopher R. Mugica, AmandaL.Neinast, Kathryn Nordick, JamesL.Pledger,Michelle MooreSmith

CONGRATULATES

minal

rover 25 years, e tenacity and

For over worked with integrity to defendthose accused of crimes.Through it all, Itreatmyclients with understanding,respect,and genuinecare. Iamhonored to be included in this year’s list of Austin’s topattorneysin criminal defense.

“You trulyare araritynot only in your profession,but in life as well.Peoplewho contribute to society likeyou makelife better foreveryone. Keep doingwhatyou do.You’re thebest.” Client R.M.

se Attorney

Denise Rose JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2075

Deborah C. Trejo

Kemp Smith, LLP 2905 SanGabrielSt.,Ste.205 512-320-5466

Health Care

Fletcher H. Brown Phelps Dunbar,LLP 3600 N. Capital of TexasHwy., Ste. B300 737-220-8741

ElleeCochran HuschBlackwell, LLP 111 Congress Ave.,Ste.1400 512-479-1136

JoeV.Geraci HuschBlackwell, LLP 111 Congress Ave.,Ste.1400 512-703-5774

Amanda Hill Hill Health LawGroup 12600HillCountry Blvd., Ste. R-275 512-329-2620

HalKatz HuschBlackwell, LLP 111 Congress Ave.,Ste.1400 512-703-5715

RebeccaJones McKnight Reed Smith, LLP

401CongressAve., Ste. 1800 512-623-1849

ShannonPhillipsMeroney MeroneyPublicAffairs,LLC 1402 Nueces St 512-499-8880

Jack E. Skaggs JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve Ste. 1100 512-236-2343

Immigration

Iris Albizu Albizu LawFirm 8500 ShoalCreek Blvd., Bldg.4,Ste.208 512-883-9534

Mehron P. Azarmehr Azarmehr LawGroup 2720 BeeCaveRoad 512-732-0555

CarolynGutierrezBartelli Boulette Golden &Marin,LLP 2700 ViaFortuna,Ste.250 512-732-8907

Bernadette Dela Cruz De La GarzaLaw,PLLC

8133 Mesa Drive, Ste. 100 512-956-4036

JasonFinkelman

JasonFinkelman Attorney at Law, PLLC

100CongressAve., Ste. 2000 512-348-8855

Kalani HawksVillafranca

HawksVillafranca Law, PLLC 2500 W. WilliamCannonDrive, Ste. 205-B 512-675-2945

Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch

Lincoln-Goldfinch Law 1005 E. 40th St 855-502-0555

Eliana Maruri

Maruri LawGroup

4009 Banister Lane,Ste.235 512-595-0242

Paul Parsons

Paul Parsons, P.C. 704Rio Grande St 512-477-7887

Griselda Ponce PonceLaw Firm,P.C 1212 E. Braker Lane 512-454-7700

Insurance

JaymeBomben

Moore&Bomben, PLLC 2901 BeeCaveRoad 512-477-1663

BlairDancy Cain &Skarnulis,PLLC 303ColoradoSt.,Ste.2850 512-474-5040

Mary-Ellen King

LucoskyBrookman, LLP 1250 S. CapitalofTexas Hwy. Bldg.3,Ste.400 512-298-1182

HenryMoore

Moore&Bomben, PLLC 2901 BeeCaveRoad 512-477-1663

StephenG.Nagle

StephenG.Nagle &Associates 1501 W. 6thSt.,E-1 512-480-0505

NancyG.Scates

Thompson,Coe,Cousins &Irons, LLP

2801 ViaFortuna,Ste.300 512-827-2343

Andrew P. VanOsselaer Haynes andBoone,LLP 98 SanJacinto Blvd., Ste. 1500 512-867-8414

Intellectual Property Rights

Lauren S. Aldredge Cokinos|Young 900S.Capital Of TexasHwy Ste. 425 512-615-1148

AndréBrunel

Reiter,Brunel& Dunn,PLLC 6805 N. CapitalofTexas Hwy., Ste. 318 512-646-1107

Emilio B. Nicolas JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2304

BrianK.Prewitt JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2265

EmilyPyclik BakerBotts,LLP 401S.1st St., Ste. 1300 512-322-2615

International VanessaAlejandra Suarez Holland&Knight, LLP 98 SanJacinto Blvd Ste. 1900 512-647-4395

Laborand Employment

AmyBeckstead BecksteadTerry Ditto, PLLC 9442 N. CapitalofTexas Hwy., Ste. 500 512-827-3575

JasonBoulette Boulette Golden &Marin,LLP 2700 ViaFortuna,Ste.250 512-732-8901

Andrew J. Broadaway CornellSmith MierlBrutocao Burton,LLP 1607 West Ave. 512-328-1540

ScottBrutocao CornellSmith MierlBrutocao Burton,LLP 1607 West Ave. 512-328-1540

Alicia R. Duleba JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve Ste. 1100 512-236-2224

EmilyFrost LawOffice of RussellFrost,PLLC 711W.7th St 512-225-5590

KelliC.Fuqua LittlerMendelson,P.C 100CongressAve., Ste. 1400 512-982-7260

Sarah T. Glaser LloydGosselink Rochelle & Townsend,P.C 816CongressAve., Ste. 1900 512-322-5800

VanessaA.Gonzalez Bickerstaff HeathDelgado Acosta,LLP 1601 S. MopacExpy. Ste. C400 512-404-7742

Meredith Gregston Hunton AndrewsKurth,LLP 500W.5th St., Ste. 1350 512-542-5014

MelissaR.Holman

TheHolmanFirm, PLLC 1005 Congress Ave.,Ste.925 512-287-5091

Austin Kaplan Kaplan LawFirm 2901 BeeCaveRoad, Ste. G 512-814-8522

KevinKoronka HuschBlackwell, LLP 111CongressAve., Ste. 1400 512-479-1162

BlairJ.Leake Wright &Greenhill, PC 4700 MuellerBlvd.,Ste.200 512-866-4946

Nicole S. LeFave LittlerMendelson,P.C 100CongressAve., Ste. 1400 512-982-7261

KaynaStavast Levy Botkin ChiarelloCalaf,PLLC 1209 Nueces St 512-615-2478

NatalieR.Lynch

Treaty OakEmployers LawGroup 4408 SpicewoodSprings Road, Ste. 412 512-298-2346

LauraM.Merritt

Boulette Golden &Marin,LLP 2700 ViaFortuna,Ste.250 512-732-8903

TomNesbitt NesbittLegal,PLLC 809WestAve 512-617-5562

Adam H. Sencenbaugh Haynes andBoone,LLP 98 SanJacinto Blvd., Ste. 1500 512-867-8489

AMBERVAZQUEZ

BoardCertified Criminal Defense Attorney

AmberVazquezhas been Fighting theHardest Casesin theToughestPlacesfor Over 20 Years. A fifth-generation Texanreferredtoasthe “Queen of Acquittals”in TexasMonthly Magazine.

AmberVazquezisa BoardCertified criminaldefense attorney whohas wontrialsfor Murder,Attempted CapitalMurder, Aggravated Assault, Sexual Assaultofa Child, Burglary of aHabitation, Thefts, AssaultFamily Violence,DrugPossession, andmanyDUI cases.

Amber’s success rate acrossthe boardmakes herone of themostsought-after defense attorneysinthe state. In addition to winning aCriminal Justice Awardfrom Travis County Women’sBar,Amber hasbeennamed aSuper Lawyer in TexasLawyer, highlighted as TopCriminal DefenseAttorney2019 by the Austin BarAssociation, andnamed oneofTexas’Top 20 “Winning Women”. Amber teachescriminal defenseattorneys as well as servingon thePoliceOversight andJudicialCommittee forthe City of Austin.

Amber Vazquez LawFirm, PLLC

608 W. 12th St. Austin Texas 78701

512-220-8507

amber@criminallawaustin.com www.criminallawaustin.com

Dedicated to Excellence in TexasFamily Law

Ashared valueofevery lawyer andevery office, from Austintoall of ourTexas locations

OUR AU ST IN AT TO RN EY S [ LtoR]

ThomasAusley*†,KellyCaperton Fischer†,Rob Frazer*,Kelly Ausley-Flores*, LindleyBain*,Eric Robertson*, Angelica Rolong Cormier*†,KristenAlgert*, Kristiana Butler†*, Emily Ogden, Carlos Gracia

*BoardCertified in FamilyLaw by theTexas BoardofLegal Specialization † Named TopAttorneys

If you’re goingthroughdivorce or anotherfamily lawmatter, younaturally want thebestfor your family Achievingyourobjectives starts with choosinga lawyer who’s right foryou. At Goranson Bain Ausley,wehavebeen practicingfamily lawexclusively formore than 45years.Our lawyers are recognized fordelivering deep experience,exceptional value, and constructiveresolutions.Every dayweaspire to the highest standards, because nothing less willdofor the families of Texas.

TedSmith CornellSmith MierlBrutocao Burton,LLP 1607 West Ave. 512-328-1540

Jennifer D. Ward LawOffice of Jennifer D. Ward PLLC

2499 S. CapitalofTexas Hwy., Ste. B203 512-344-9367

Land UseEnvironment

SamiaR.Broadaway BakerBotts,LLP

401S.1st St Ste. 1300 512-322-2676

Pamela Madere JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2048

NatashaJ.Martin Graves DoughertyHearon &Moody 401CongressAve., Ste. 2700 512-480-5639

NikelleMeade HuschBlackwell, LLP 111 Congress Ave.,Ste.1400 512-992-6001

PaulinaWilliams BakerBotts,LLP

401S.1st St., Ste. 1300 512-322-2543

Medical MalpracticeDefense

TashaL.Barnes Thompson,Coe,Cousins &Irons LLP

2801 ViaFortuna,Ste.300 512-703-5038

Medical MalpracticePlaintiff

JamalK.Alsaffar National TrialLaw 1114LostCreek Blvd Ste. 410 833-913-1885

SandyBayne LOAR PLLC 6101 W. CourtyardDrive, Bldg.1,Ste.150 512-777-3135

Michelle M. Cheng National TrialLaw 1114LostCreek Blvd., Ste. 410 833-913-1885

CharlesDunn DJCLaw 5717 S. IH-35 512-900-4872

Laurie Higginbotham National TrialLaw 1114 Lost CreekBlvd.,Ste.410 833-913-1885

TomJacob National TrialLaw 1114 Lost CreekBlvd.,Ste.410 833-913-1885

Personal Injury

CaseyArcher DJCLaw 5717 S. IH-35 512-900-4872

Sean Breen Howry, Breen&Herman, LLP 1900 PearlSt. 512-439-4100

Hayden Briggle Briggle&Polan,PLLC 1609 ShoalCreek Blvd Ste. 304 512-400-3278

Elecia Byrd NixPatterson,LLP 8701 BeeCaveRoad, Bldg.1, Ste. 500 512-957-6689

DanChristensen DJCLaw 1012 W. Anderson Ln 512-900-4872

Jeff Edwards EdwardsLaw 603W.17thSt. 512-623-7727

RobertoFlores

TheCarlson LawFirm 559S.I-35FrontageRoad, Ste. 250, RoundRock 512-671-7277

Rick Freeman

Rick Freeman, P.C. 3660 Stoneridge Road,Ste.B-102 512-477-6111

Cristina García-Chappell Garcia Injury Law 305N.HeatherwildeBlvd., Ste. 240, Pflugerville 512-474-4487

KennethGober Lee, Gober&Reyna,PLLC 11940JollyvilleRoad, Ste. 220-S 737-252-8904

LauraRamos James

RamosJames Law, PLLC 2800 S. I-35 Frontage Road Ste. 265 512-537-3369

L. Todd Kelly KellyLaw Firm,P.C 205E.UniversityAve., Ste. 402, Georgetown 737-356-7827

Nathan Kennedy TheCarlson LawFirm 11606N.I-35 512-346-5688

Judy Kostura SorrelsLaw 2901 BeeCaveRoad, Ste. L 713-496-1100

Adam Loewy LoewyLaw Firm 7000 N. MopacExpy.,Ste.200 512-779-3547

ChristineLondergan DJCLaw 1012 W. Anderson Lane 512-900-4872

MichaelLovins Lovins Law 1301 S. CapitalofTexas Hwy., Bldg.A,Ste.136 512-548-8368

JaimeM.Lynn TheCarlson LawFirm 559S.I-35FrontageRoad, Ste. 250, RoundRock 512-671-7277

Robert Melendez Melendez LawFirm 4100 DuvalRoad, Bldg.4,Ste.104 512-467-0600

Parker Polan Briggle&Polan,PLLC 1609 ShoalCreek Blvd., Ste. 304 512-400-3278

Stan M. Putman,Jr. TheStewart LawFirm, PLLC 4303 RussellDrive 512-326-3200

AmberRussell LOAR,PLLC 6101 W. CourtyardDrive,Bldg. 1, Ste. 150 512-777-3135

Bethbiriah G. Sanchez SanchezLaw

4360 S. Congress Ave.,Ste.111 512-400-2420

Greg Siemankowski DJCLaw 5717 S. IH-35 512-900-4872

Veronica Valenzuela V. Valenzuela LawFirm, PLLC 1105 Nueces St., Ste. D 512-400-4406

Professional MalpracticeNonMedicalDefense

April Lucas

McGinnis Lochridge 1111 W. 6thSt.,Bldg. B, Ste. 400 512-495-6156

JasonM.Panzer

Herring& Panzer,LLP 1411 West Ave.,Ste.100 512-320-0665

Lauren Ross

Wright &Greenhill, P.C. 4700 MuellerBlvd.,Ste.200 512-866-4946

Real Estate

Aron R. Burnett

JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve Ste. 1100 512-236-2375

PeterJ.Cesaro

Graves DoughertyHearon &Moody 401CongressAve., Ste. 2700 512-480-5728

Sara Foskitt

FloydRealEstate 911Josephine St 512-917-2939

JennyRoanForgey JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2206

Adam Kruger Kruger Carson, PLLC 1717 W. 6thSt.,Ste.112 512-410-7400

Jill G. Murphy

DickinsonWright, PLLC 607W.3rd St., Ste. 2500 512-770-4229

Cassie Ross

JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2260

Farren Sheehan SheehanLaw,PLLC 1601 E. Pfennig Lane Pflugerville 512-355-0155

Michelle MooreSmith JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2017

TimothyC.Taylor

JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve Ste. 1100 512-236-2390

eli

om ts ta You’llneverbejustacasefile.You’llhaveourfullattention, ha ve

AtBriggle&Polan,webelievethebestoutcomescomefrom trulyknowingourclients. Becausehere,you’renotanumber.You’refamily. You’llneverbejustacasefile.You’llhaveourfullattention,our besteffort,andateamthatfightsforthejusticeyoudeserve.

Robert J. Werner HuschBlackwell, LLP

111CongressAve., Ste. 1400 512-479-9766

Taylor C. Wood HuschBlackwell, LLP 111CongressAve Ste. 1400 512-479-1159

Sports and Entertainment

AmyE.Mitchell

AmyE.Mitchell, PLLC 4408 SpicewoodSprings Road 512-505-0845

Tax

Danielle Ahlrich Ryan Law 1301 S. MopacExpy.,Ste.430 512-459-6606

AliAndrews JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve Ste. 1100 512-236-2066

Doug Jones HuschBlackwell, LLP 111CongressAve., Ste. 1400 512-479-1178

WinstonKrause Krause &Associates 504W.13thSt. 512-477-6707

Steven D. Moore JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2074

JamesonE.Sauseda HuschBlackwell, LLP 111CongressAve., Ste. 1400 512-479-9724

Technology Virtual

SladeCutter

Wittliff Cutter,PLLC 510BaylorSt. 512-825-0544

Jennifer M. McGrew Wilson SonsiniGoodrich &Rosati

900S.Capital of TexasHwy., 5thFl. 512-338-5438

WillsEstates andProbate

RileyAlcozer

Hardie Alcozer 1501 S. MopacExpy.,Ste.150 512-374-4922

MichaelJ.Baldwin JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2355

Mercedes Campirano

Clayton, Ramirez& Null Law 4807 SpicewoodSprings Road Bldg.3,Ste.250 512-687-0744

John W. Conner

Graves DoughertyHearon &Moody

401CongressAve Ste. 2700 512-480-5612

ElizabethDaniel

ElizabethDanielLaw,PLLC 1403 W. 6thSt. 512-815-3549

Claire D. East

Thompson East Law, PLLC 1301 S. CapitalofTexas Hwy. Ste. C-120 737-301-6375

WendiLester Efflandt

Heritage Law 1625 Williams Drive, Bldg.1, Georgetown 512-930-0529

TysonEhlinger JacksonWalker, LLP

100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2041

EmilyFranco McGinnis Lochridge 1111 W. 6thSt.,Bldg. B, Ste. 400 512-495-6072

JulieRyder Frey GriffinFrey, PLLC 509W.18thSt. 512-271-3802

Gabriel G. Gallas

Gallas Law, PLLC 1403 W. 6thSt. 512-981-7606

Caitlin HaneyJohnston

TheHaney LawFirm 808W.10thSt.,Ste.100 512-476-2212

Brooke Hardie

Hardie Alcozer 1501 S. MopacExpy.,Ste.150 512-374-4922

Elissa I. Henry HomesteadLegal 1000 Heritage Center Cir., RoundRock 512-766-4529

SamK.Hildebrand JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2064

TracyKasparek Kasparek LawFirm PO Box161371 512-215-3407

Amanda L. Neinast JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve Ste. 1100 512-236-2356

LizNielsen NielsenLaw,PLLC 8705 ShoalCreek Blvd., Ste. 105 512-522-2890

JuliaElizabeth Null

Clayton, Ramirez& Null Law 4807 SpicewoodSprings Road, Bldg.3,Ste.250 512-687-0744

DouglasJ.Paul McGinnis Lochridge 1111 W. 6thSt.,Bldg. B, Ste. 400 512-495-6170

Neha Paymaster Eccles &McIntosh, P.C. 506W.16thSt. 512-617-1974

Michelle Rosenblatt GreenbergTraurig,LLP 300W.6th St Ste. 2050 512-320-7200

BrianT.Thompson Thompson East Law, PLLC 1301 S. Capital of TexasHwy., Ste. C-120 737-301-6375

Erin N. Tuggle JacksonWalker, LLP 100CongressAve., Ste. 1100 512-236-2065

Broc White Heritage Law 1625 Williams Drive, Bldg.1 Georgetown 512-930-0529

ElizabethZiegler

NielsenLaw,PLLC 8705 ShoalCreek Blvd., Ste. 150 512-522-2890

WorkersCompensation

Chadwick Lee

TheChadwickLee LawFirm 1000 Heritage Center Cir., RoundRock 512-419-1234

Richard Pena

LawOfficesofRichard Pena,P.C 2211 S. IH-35, Ste. 300 512-327-6884

HOWTHE LIST IS MADE

Usinganonlinesurvey, Austin Monthlysolicited peer nominationsfromattorneys in theAustinarea, asking them to nominate up to threeattorneys perpracticeareawho they would trustwiththe legalcareof themselves or theirfamily. To ensure thenominationprocess is peer-based,fullcontact informationwas requestedbefore nominating,and attorneyswere askedtolimit theirnominations to lawyerswhose work they’ve personally witnessed. Austin Monthlythen talliedthe results, selectingthe toppercentageof vote recipients in each practice area before submitting thefinal list to ourfact-checking process, whichincludesareviewofgood standing with thestate bar association.

Attorneysdonot andcannot paytobeapartofthe list.We recognizethatmanygood attorneysare notincludedonthe list;thisisonlyasampling of the huge arrayoftalented professionalswithinthe region We encourageall consumersto do theirown research before selecting alawyer.

AustinMonthly uses best practicesand exercisesgreat care in assembling contentfor this list.Itdoesnot warrantthat thedatacontained within thelist arecompleteoraccurate. Austin Monthly does notassume, and hereby disclaims, anyliability to anypersonfor anylossor damage caused by errors or omissionshereinwhether such errors or omissionsresultfrom negligence,accident, or any othercause.All rights reserved No commercial useofthe informationinthislistmay be made withoutwritten permission from AustinMonthly. If yousee an errorinthe informationlisted, please contactinfo@ austinmonthly.com.

ATTORNEYS:

Congratulations! If you’dliketo displaythisaccomplishment with aplaque, please visitour official storeataustinmonthly com/plaques.

WINSTONKRAUSE

WinstonKrauseisone of only twoattorneys in Central Texascertified by theTexas BoardofLegal Specialization as “SpecialistinTax Law” as well as a“Specialist in Estate Planning andProbate Law.”

Krause andAssociatesisa client-driven firm guided by thephilosophythatenlightensthe client as to what is possible. Theway to work with atax lawyer is to hire him earlyenoughsohecan properly position theclientahead of time forthe best possible taxresult. Andclients are frequently andpleasantlysurprised what is availablethat accomplishes theirgoals.

477-6707

https://krause-assoc.com/

ScottDouglass& McConnicoearnedits reputation as oneofthe finest trialfirms anywhere throughdecadesofrealcourtroom experience in high-stakesdisputes.

Ourwomen attorneys have hada palpable presence in thelegal industry sincethe firm wasfounded in 1976,and continue to be in thetop tier of practicing lawyers.

We congratulate our outstanding Partners on beingincludedinthe Austin Monthly’slistof TopAttorneys.

scottdoug.com

WeirdHistory RunawaySuccess

GoingtheDistance

Fueled by an on-air dare,radio personalityLunchboxdecided to runanimpromptu marathon throughout Austin withoutany training

BYMADELINE HOLLERN

“IFYOU’REJUST tuning in to theshow, this mightbethe greatest moment in sports history,”Bobby Bonessaidintothe miconaFridaymorninginFebruary2012.Almostoneyearto thedaybeforehisnow-syndicatedshowmovedtoNashville,the hostbroadcastedhishumbleradioprograminAustinalongside afewhappy-go-luckysidekicks.

Themostloud-mouthedofhis cohorts, DanChappell (betterknownasLunchbox),hadgonetotheAustinMarathon thepreviousweekend andcomplainedthathesaw “old people andfat people” finishingthe endurancerace. Ifthey coulddoit,hereasoned, Icould do it—withnotraining. Bonescalledhis bluff,and Lunchbox vowedtonot only run 26.2 miles, butalsojog an extramileasa victorylap—all for bragging rights

Propelledbylittlemorethanarrogance andsomehigh school experience on thecross countryteam, theradio personality took off on foot to provehis pointonFeb.24, 2012 He wore awhite T-shirtwithcut-off sleevesand blue shorts, joggingthrough thehike-and-bike trailand alongiconic

thoroughfares. Listenerscalledthe radiostation in droves, andhebegan to trendnationwideonTwitter as followers voiced both theirsupport and(more often) dissention.

Whileaveragingapaceofabout10minutespermile,the radiohostslowlyquietedhisdetractorsashehoofeditacross thecapital city.Amazingly,hedidn’tseemtoshowsigns of wearandtearuntilaroundmile17,pantingandlosingsome of thecolor from hisface. “It’shurting alittlebit,but I’m finishingthisrace,”heavowed.

RunningdownSouth Congress past throngsofscreamingfans,highfivingthemashetrottedalong,theradiohost beamed as listenersshotconfettiintothe airand sprayed himwithChampagne.Ashestunnedthenationandachieved hismarathonwitha respectabletimeoffourhours and23 minutes,Lunchboxcompletedhisvictorylapandranstraight into an EMStruck fora medicalassessment.

“Mycalvesfeellikerocks,myhamstringsare tight,” Lunchbox told aKXANreporter. “But Ihad abeertoget the carbohydratesinthere,and I’mfeeling good.”

Your home hasevolved. Nowits onlinepresence can, too. Update your home’s profile—photos, descriptions, and more—all on your terms, especiallywhen your home isn’t forsale.

NATURE vs.NURTURE?

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