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44 Choose Your OwnAdventure Head outdoors this spring to explore scenic hiking trails, towering cascades, wildflower fields, floating sound baths, andepicviews across theHill Country.
60
Good Sport Sandlotbaseballhas takenoverAustin. More than just a recreational activity, it’s an entire state of mind
Read the fine printatthiship new magazine shop 21
ExploreSpace City at thesestylish hotels andeateries 22
Partyphotosfrom Austin Monthly’s “Lights, Camera,Austin!” issuerelease bash 24
Savorshort ribs bourguignon, doversole, andother French delights at this downtown dining destination 27
Sipinstyle at these five hotnew bars in town 28
MitchMazur createsaquatic wonders fortop restaurants 30
Thecapital city is ahot spot foranalogexperiences 33
With theirplayful billboards,YETItaps into Austin’s cultural zeitgeist 36
Alocal tastemaker’s newrecordlabel shakes up themusic biz 38
When agoldengoose namedHomer became thetoast of thetown 74
March/April2026| Vol. 34 |No. 2
GeneralManager RandiStevenson
Editor-in-Chief Madeline Hollern
Creative Director Mara Esquivel
EDITORIAL
Executive Editor BryanC.Parker
Contributing Writers
Darcie Duttweiler,RoseMcMackin, RosieNinesling
ART
Contributing Photographers JasmineAlley,DaveCreaney,BillSallans,NeerajSalvankar
Contributing Illustrators
StephanieElizabeth, Autumn Hutchins,Jon Wilcox
DIGITAL
DigitalManager AbigailStewart
ADVERTISING
Director of Sales JulieLee
Vice PresidentofMarketing andEvents Sara Bryant AccountExecutives
Dana Horner,Teddy Ivanova, Jenn Tully, KielyWhelan
EVENTS
Events Director Lauren Sposetta
CIRCULATION
CirculationManager KerriNolan
Corrections& Clarifications
Thefollowing doctorswereincorrectly omittedfromthe 2026 TopDoctors list in theJanuary/February2026issue:
Dr.SamuelE.Longpractices endocrinesurgery at UT Health Austin’s Surgical Oncology Clinic
Dr.ClaireSokas practicescolon andrectalsurgery at DigestiveHealth.
Dr.AlexHaynespractices surgical oncology at UT Health Austin’s Surgical Oncology Clinic
Dr.WesleyD.Foreman practicespainmanagementatAscension TexasSpine &Scoliosis
Thefollowing doctorsshouldhaveappearedunder theSurgicalOncologycategory, notSportsMedicineSurgery:Rob Alan Fuller,Shaun PatrickMcKenzie, ChristopherR.Oxner,Rebecca Lynn Wiatrek, KimBrown,and RichardY.Fleming
Correction:Dr. KimBrown wasincorrectly listedasDr. KimDeniseBrown
8000 Metropolis Drive, Bldg.A,Ste.100,Austin, TX 78744, 512-263-9133
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ICOULDN’TSTAND anothersecondofscrolling on my phone.AboutamonthintotheCOVID-19pandemicin2020, Igot into my carand drovealong 290insearchofnature andnormalcy—Ijustwanteda modicumofcalminthe maelstromofchaos.The open road called me like asiren song,thevibrantbluesandredsandburgundiesofthebucolic Willow City Loop beckoningmetoheadwestofour lockeddown metropolis
In springtime,the 13-milestretch near Fredericksburg blooms into averitable VincentVan Gogh painting filled with bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes,winecups, and firewheels.Aftergettingoutofmycartoseethewildflowers up close, Itracedmy fingersacrossthe tops of thepetals, breathinginthe Aprilair andfeeling thebreezeacrossmy shoulders. Seeing anothergroup walk amongthe blooms across thetwo-laneroad, Iwaved andtheyresponded in kind.Ina time so bereft of humaninteraction,the brief exchange felt like somethingtosavor
Although it’s been sixyears sincethe pandemic upended ourlives,manyofusfeeljustasaddictedtotechnologynow as we didthen: cyclingfromemail to Instagramtonews alerts,logging into yetanother Teamsmeeting,and doomscrollingourselves to sleep. Buta countermovement hasbegun to take shapeinAustin, whereindividuals are harkeningbacktosimplepleasuresandanalogexperiences In this issue, we’recelebrating places andactivitiesthat departfromdigitaloverload.Fromscenichikesandalfresco dining spotstospringfestivals andbreathtakingescapes, find 40 ways to getbacktonatureinAustinwithour cover story,“ChooseYourOwnAdventure”(page44).Discoverthe communal joyofthe city’s sandlotbaseballrevolutionwith BryanC.Parker’sengrossingfeature,“GoodSport”(page60). LearnaboutTOMOmags,adowntownindependentmagazine shopcelebratingallthingsprint(page21),orreadabouthow youngpeopleare ditching streamingservicesand smartphonesinfavor of film photographyand hands-on experiencesinRoseMcMackin’sarticle,“InRealLife”(page 33).Thisspring,youdon’tneedtospendalotoftimeoreven moneytotakea breakfromthe constancyoftechnology. Just getoutside andtouch grass.
MadelineHollern Editor-in-Chief madeline@austinmonthly.com @madelinehollern
@madelinehollern
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Downtownisn’texactlybuiltforanunhurried pace.But TOMO mags,anindependent magazineandartbookshoponBrazosStreet, aimstochangethecity’sfrenetictempo.Vico PuenteslaunchedTOMOmagsadecadeago in Houstoninsidea restored school bus—a mobile shop that stillroams Austin today. What beganasa missiontobring “cool magazinestopeople” hasevolved into a deeplyintentionalpursuit.“It’saboutcreating aspacewherepeoplecanslowdown,engage, andactuallydosomething with their inspiration,”saysPuentes,who helps shoppersdiscoveritemsthatalignwith their passions.Insidehis ultramarinebluestore, shelvesoverflowwithcurated titles, architecturejournals,rareSpanish-language publications,books,and stationery.To encouragelingering,Cielito LindoCafé, a family-owned Latincoffeeshop, serves horchatalatteswhilevisitorssketchandjot notes. “Peopleare realizingmagazines can actuallycalmthenoiseofdigitallife,”Puentes says.Bytrading thealgorithm forphysical paper, TOMO mags givesAustina placeto pause, flip pages, andleave with something unexpected in hand.—Darcie Duttweiler
Aworld-class culinary sceneand an abundanceofmuseums make this industrial southern city an underrated cultural powerhouse
ON FIRSTTHOUGHT, Houston mayconjure visionsofsprawling highways or evokeits reputation as ahubfortheoilandgasindustry.But thankstoitsstatusasthefourth-largestcityinthecountry,thissouthern metropolis teemswithculturalofferings,frommouthwateringcuisine andprestigious artcollections to majorleaguesportsandimpressively curatedgreenspaces.Space City maybejusta short, two-and-a-halfhour driveaway, butitopens up a worldofpossibilitiesfortravelers
BYBRYANC.PARKER
Recently,Houston hasstrayed from itspreferences forlarge-scale hotels in favorofmorecharming boutique accommodations—and theAustin-born Bunkhousecontributed to that shiftwithtwo new properties in 2025 HotelSaint Augustine boasts elegantrooms with bold colors andisnestled seamlessly into thebohemianenvironsofthe surroundingMontroseneighborhood. Just this past Decem-
ber, HotelDaphne arrivedinthe HoustonHeights bringing timeless design that emphasizes natural elements like warm wood andlushupholsteries. AlongBuffaloBayou Park Thompson Houston features astunningrooftop pool,gorgeousviews from floor-to-ceiling windows, andluxurious touches (likecustomfragrancesdeveloped forseparate spaces such as thelobby andguest rooms).For a more traditionalapproach, youcan’t go wrongat
thedowntown Marriott MarquisHouston,which dazzleswithaniconicTexas-shapedlazyriver,infinitypool, andbar at itsAltitudeRooftop hangout.
Elevated optionsfor dining abound in Houston, from Le Jardinier’s modern French fare to Musaafer’s Indian cuisine, whichstrives to incorporateelementsfromall 29 of thecountry’s states.And the collection of four eateries from chef AaronBludorn—his namesake barand restaurant,along with Navy Blue andthe refined new Perseid locatedat HotelSaint Augustine—arerightfullyrevered However, thecity’smoreapproachablefoodoptionsreflect itsworking-class spirit andoffer just as much delight:pibil tacosfrom Cochinita& co. or a savory smashburgerfrom Boo’sBurgers or Trill Burger,the latter courtesy of aresidentcultural icon andlegendary rapper BunB.Evenfoodcourts areenvogue,and youcan findvaried, affordable eats at spotslike POST Houston or TruckYard Forclassic Texasfare, CorkScrewBBQ recently snaggedthe covetedMichelinstar, butlocalsswear by TruthBBQ,which received aMichelinBib Gourmand andisknown notonlyfor itsdelectablebrisketbut also an impressive rangeofsides anddesserts(don’tmissthe tatertot casseroleand the banana pudding).Keepupthe carnivorelifestyle at Pappas Bros.Steakhouse,anOGstapleofthe city that hasbeenlaudedasone of thecountry’s finest steakhousesfor more than threedecades
No matter whereyou grab dinner,start theday with brunch at CasaEma,the HoustonHeights spot that makesbothexcellent Mexicanpastriesaswellas scrumptiousdisheslikechilaquiles topped with brisket.
Lose yourself in theimmersive,multisensoryexperience of Meow Wolf.Withcolorfuland surrealart installationsspreadout across myriad rooms, the site’s RadioTaveexhibit is like wanderingthrough a maze of dreams.While Meow Wolf beganinNew Mexico,the Houstonlocale(oneofjustfive in the country) features distinctly Texanflairslikethe CowboixHevvven honky-tonk,where youcan grab a snackand adrink,and amural that depictslocal heroes like DJ Screw, basketball legend Hakeem Olajuwon,and Astros greatJ.R.Richard
Speaking of sports,the city is home to fiveprofessionalfranchises, butnonemorebeloved than thetwo-timeWorld Series champion Astros.Cheer on thehometeamduringafamilyoutingat Daikin Park,and don’tsleep on thefamed (and incredibly strong)ElTiempomargaritas.
DespiteHouston’s reputation forscorching summers, itstemperate southern climes mean that you’ll findagreeable weatherninemonthsofthe year—ideal forstrolling expansiveoutdoor spaces like DiscoveryGreen BuffaloBayou Park,or McGovern Centennial Gardens
No matter thenumberonthe thermometer, you canalwaystakerespite in an arrayofquality museums that demand hoursofthoughtfulexploration TheMuseum of Fine Arts,Houston offersworld-class exhibits,but thecityalsoboastsone-of-a-kind treasures in the Rothko Chapel and Cy TwomblyGallery,both adjacent to theMenil Collection.Familieswillhavea blastwandering amongsthugedinosaurskeletons at the Houston Museum of NaturalScience or makingatriphalfanhoursouth to SpaceCenterHouston to learnabout thevital role that thecityplayedinthe country’sstoried spaceexploration history.
Beyond itsintrinsic wonders, theGulfCoast city is just 50 milesfromGalveston,a perfectpoint of departure forocean expeditionstothe Caribbean, MexicanRiviera,orCentral American destinations In November of last year,Galveston addedanentirely newterminaltoits cruise port,primarily to accommodatethe addition of MSCCruises,a new line that’s making amajor splash in theindustry. The MSCSeascape’s luxury YachtClubarea— sometimesreferredtoasa “shipwithinaship”—offers privatediningrooms,exclusive lounge areas, andaround-the-clockbutlerservice whilestill affordingeasyaccesstoall thestandardentertainment andamenities Bonvoyage!
“LIGHTS,CAMERA,AUSTIN!”
ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT! In earlyJanuary, cinemaloversandmagazinefansalikecameouttoAFS Cinematocelebratethereleaseofour“Lights,Camera, Austin!”issue,whichhighlightedtheburgeoningfilm andTVscene in thecapital city.The crowdenjoyed a screeningofclassicRichardLinklaterfilmDazedand Confused at themovie theateraswellasdrinksand munchie-inspiredhamachicroquettesfromnewlatenightsushi spot Konbini, helmed by MichelinrecognizedchefMichaelCarranza.
TheFrenchConnection
With asophisticated menu,romanticambience, andimpeccableservice, Restaurant François certainlyhas that je ne sais quoi.Located in downtown Austin,the latest conceptfromGuy +Larry Restaurants(RedAsh, ATXCocina, J. Carver’s)exudesa cosmopolitan vervethattransportsdinerstosomewhere magical. “Wewere looking[tocreate]ahipParisianrestaurantthatyou’dfindinNewYorkorChicagoorSanFrancisco,”sayschef/ proprietor Harold Marmulstein. Whilethe acclaimedculinary figure is best knowninAustinfor more casual concepts like SaltySow andTumble22, Marmulsteinworkedin fine dining earlyinhis career andhoned his skillsinthe’80sasasouschefunderaFrenchchefinAtlanta.Whetyourappetitewithcomtécheesepopovers or French onionsoupwhile preparingfor decadent entreeslikethe boneless wagyushort ribs bourguignon, madewithWagyu-Xbeefthat’sbeenmarinatedinburgundywinewithmirepoix,garlic,andherbsthenbraised inamulti-dayprocess.Besuretopre-orderrotatingsoufflésliketheamarettomid-mealtocapoffyourdinner withthetheatricaldessert:“Weserveitwitha[crème]anglaise,whichisavanillasaucethatweopenthesoufflé andpourin,soyougetthecoolandthehot,”hesays C’estsibon!—MadelineHollern
From laid-backlounges to historic hotels, here’s wheretodrink this spring
BYDARCIE DUTTWEILER
TH ES CO OP : HiddenbehindblackcurtainsacrossfromtheMuellergazebo, this sultry barisa sharpdeparture from theneighborhood’s family-friendlyspots.InspiredbyMexicoCitynightlife,the candlelitmezcaleríaisthick with thescent of palo santoand centeredaroundavibrantDíadelosMuertosaltar.
WH AT TO DR IN K:
Themenuspotlightssmall-batch agave, as libationsleaninto ceremony.TryLaFrida,whichbalancescoconutandlimewith theearthinessofmolebitters
PR OT IP: Don’tskipthestreettacos.
DE TA ILS : 1905AldrichSt.,Ste.125,lamezcaatx.com
TH ES CO OP:
InsidethehistoricDriskillHotel,TheVictorianblendsOld West saloon spirit with classicEnglish pubcharm.MML Hospitalityhas layeredthe room with rich textures: mahoganybars,deepleathercouches,hide-boundtrunks, andwhimsical taxidermyoffoxes andbirds.While the downstairs offersquiet intimacy,the upstairs,complete with pool tables,providesa theatrical vantagepoint over thebrass-accentedmain floor.
WH AT TO DR IN K:
Embracetheclassics:AperfectlyexecutedManhattansuits thesurroundingsbest.
PR OT IP: Themezzanine is thepremier perchfor live music nights;stakeoutarail-sideseatbeforethebandstarts
DE TA ILS : 604BrazosSt.,thevictorianbar.com
THE SCOOP:
TH ES CO OP:
Co-foundedbytheduobehindBarHaciendaandBarFino, this neighborhood jointtradestypical dive-bar grimefor chicsteel-grayleatherandamoody,red-litbar.It’sinspired bytheIrishconceptof“craic”—goodconversationandbetter company—whichplaysoutoverpooltables,televisedsports, androundsofsnacksfromthe attached Oseyo.
WH AT TO DR IN K:
CocktailsatParleyareplayfulandinventive,fromtheFish& ChipsMartini,asavorygin-and-vodkablendwithnoriand oliveoil,tothe Golden Brownwithmilkwhiskey and spentcoffee
TheLenoirteambringsOld Austin back to BouldinCreek with this restored 1934 bungalow.Familyheirlooms, reclaimedmaterials,and avintage pianomakethe space intenselypersonal.
WHA TT OD RI NK : Thecocktaillistincludesaclassicgin&tonic,asherry-and mezcal-basedmargarita,aPapaDoble,andaseasonalCarajillo
PRO TIP:
StopbyforappsbeforedinnernextdooratLenoir.Pairyour drinkswithsmallplateslikestewedporkmeatballsorsoftshell crawfishchips.
DET AI LS: 1805S.FirstSt.,@bonisbaratx
PR OT IP:
Orderroundsofshareables,includingtheaddictive krabrangoons,andhangoutforagame(ortwo)
DE TA IL S: 1628E.CesarChavezSt.,parleyatx.com
TH ES CO OP:
Skip thetrekdowntownfor this polished cocktail baron NorthBurnet. Curatedvinyl hums beneaththe glow of smoked mirrors, as velvet banquettes anddeepwalnut tonesanchorthe midcentury living-roomvibe. Thebar is asophisticated sanctuaryfor theNorth Austin set.
WHAT TO DR IN K:
Martinis lead theway at Foxtail, includingliquid trogen–chilled pours. Trystandouts like the caffeinatedRistrettoMartiniandthewhiskeyforwardKitsune
PR OT IP : Arrive earlytoclaim avelvet-lined corner beforetheafter-dinnercrowd
DE TA IL S: 7001BurnetRoad,Ste.1102, foxtailaustin.com
MitchMazur blends scienceand arttocreateelegant aquariumsfor some of thecity’stop restaurants.
BYROSE MCMACKIN
ENTERING PERLA’SSEAFOOD &OysterBar,there’s a largefreshwateraquariumstraightahead.Javaferns sprout alonga graceful twistofwood. Silver shoals of Congotetra flickinunisonastheyglide along—andthena gossamerfinnedalbinodantumangelfishdriftsintoview,largeenough to attractthe eyeand hold it
This miniaturefreshwateruniversewas curatedin2024 by Austin-based creatorMitch Mazur, whodesigns and maintainsaquariumsforAustin’shigh-profileMMLHospitality group, specifically theprominent installationsat Perla’sand Clark’sOysterBar.Sodelicateand carefully craftedarethesemarineworldsthatMazurvisitsthemtwice aweektomakesureeverythingisinperfect balance. The underwaterexpertlaunchedAfishionado’sAquariumDesign threeyears ago, building on more than adecadeinthe industry—thoughhis love forunderwaterworldsstretches all theway back to hischildhood
CallingMazur’s designs“aquariums” is abit like calling the Mona Lisa “content:” technicallytruebut incomplete Theyare“aquascapes,”craftedinthetraditionoflateJapanese designer TakashiAmano,whose nature-style aquariums balanceartandecology.Mazurworkswithsustainablysourced fish,coral,and plants on histransfixing creationsthatadd atouch of nature to offices, homes, andrestaurants
“It'sanecosystem,but it incorporates design elements,
likethegoldenratioandtheruleofthirds,”explainsMazur. “Therearethingsthatdrawyoureyevisuallytofocalpoints, whereasmovementcan carryyou elsewhere.”
He’s an earnestpresenceonInstagram (@afishionado), wherehehas amassedover62,000followers with whom he shares industry content, alternatingbetween technical details,nichehobbyistmemes,andhypnoticclipsofdrifting fish andswaying plantlife.
“You canhavea houseplant that adds greenery to your space, butitcould easily be an aquarium,” Mazursays. “It's more dynamic.”
Mazurhandles everystage of theaquascape—design, construction,and ongoingcare—andhelikes to joke that he’saplumber,electrician,chemist,manuallaborer,andvet rolledintoone.Butit’sclearthat,firstandforemost,he’san animal lover. In anytank, the firstthing he noticesishow healthythefishare,andhecreditsworkingwithaquaticlife formakinghim more empathetic
Thequiet,effortlessbeautyofhis aquascapes belies oceanic depths of time andknowledge.It’sthisinfinite opportunity forlearningthatkeeps Mazursoengaged with his work.“I’vebeendoingthisforalongtime,andtherearestill thingsthatarenew,”hesays.“Whetherthat’safishoraplant, newmethodologies,newequipment,newtestingpractices— it’s just endless.”
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Amid tech fatigueand AI anxiety, Austin is goingold school.
BYROSE MCMACKIN
FilmLab,24-year-oldGrace Arnoldrewindsarolloffilmandpopsopenthe back of thecameratoextract it.Insidethe cartridge,36moments arepreserved on theslick, translucentstrip.The images will come back aftera shortwait, shinyprintsdelivered from onehumantoanotherinafoldedpaperenvelope.
Once ubiquitous in drugstores andmalls, one-hour photolabsdeclinedby94% between 2000and2015.ThatmakesLagoVistaFilmLab, an Austin shop that stillturns around 35mm and120 film in roughlyanhour, somethingof an outlier. Here, film is notonlyaccessible, but it’s still relatively quick.
There-emergenceoffilmispartofabroader national shifttowardwhat’soften called “going analog”—abuzzytrendfueledbyexhaustionwith constantconnectivity.Thatimpulsemakessense inaworldwhereoneinfouremployeesfeartheir relianceonAIisdiminishingtheirprofessional skills.AdvertisingfordeviceslikeBrick,designed to interruptmindlessscrolling,iseverywhere, anddemandfor physical mediaisrising, too. Thevinyl industry hasbeenbooming foryears, butevenCDand DVDsales areup.
Theanalogmovementisfindingparticularly fertilegroundinAustin. It’s acitybrimming withrunclubs,pickleballcourts,part-timeDJs, andpeoplewho take allthree very seriously. With itsproximity to nature andproclivityfor thearts, fewplacesare better suited to those lookingtolog off—oratleast puttheir phone down fora minute.
“We’renowatthepointwhereiPhoneshave been around foralmost20years,” says Laura Bright,a professorofmedia analyticsatthe University of Texas, whostudies social media behaviorwithanemphasisondigitalwell-being. “Peoplehavestarted to notice theirattention spansdecreasing.They’venoticedtheirmindset shifting becauseofthatkindofechochamber environment,maybeshiftinginawaythatthey don’twantitto.”
Toomuchscreentimealsodamages social connections.Wescrollinsteadofcallingafamily member andget life updatesabout ourfriends fromsocialmediainsteadofinperson.Aquarter ofremoteemployeesreportinteractingwithAI Chatbots more than theircoworkers
Theresultisculture-widefatiguewithtechnology
“Collectively, we’vegottentothispoint of saying,‘OK,maybe we need to recalibrate,’” explains Bright.“People have more of adesire to feel in controloftheir technology,versus feelingtrapped andaddictedtoit.”
More andmore, individualsare seeking escape from theoverstimulation of thedigital world. ForBright, that’s knitting
“You go into atheta brainstate,which feels reallygoodandrelaxingbutalsoletsyourmind wander in away that’s virtuallyimpossibleon yourphonebecauseyou’regettingthisconstant stimulation,”she says
Vinylwas amongthe earliest analog resurgences,particularlyinAustin, wherevintage
Thenumbers don’tlie: Offlineentertainment is back in style.
80%
Portionofzoomers who feel they’retoo dependent on tech
18
Thenumberof consecutiveyears for growth in vinylrecord sales.
20 million Rollsoffilm sold globally in 2023
100+ Runclubs in Austin
10,000
Estimatednumberof regularpickleballplayers in thegreater Austin area
$19.99
Pricefor thenew Taylor Swiftalbum on cassette
musicisespeciallyrevered.VenueslikeMohawk andAustinBeerGardenBrewingCo.hostbringyour-own-vinyl nights,and theannualAustin RecordConventionisthelargestmusicswapin thecountry
Researching,sourcing,andhaulingphysical records—ratherthanusingstreamingordigital DJservices—isamuchslower,morethoughtful process. Pierre Genard,a vinylDJand theorganizerofthe recurringall-vinyl Rendezvous danceparties,describes it as “low dopamine” music:ameasuredalternativetotheoverwhelmingglutavailable on digitalplatforms
“Typically,ifyou’remixingvinyl,you have a muchdeeperconnection—literallyphysically—to themusic that you’ve chosen to play forpeople, andthatresonates,andittranslates,”Genardsays
Relyingonanalogformats reintroduces much of thefrictionthatthe last fewdecades oftechnologicaldevelopmenthavebeenstriving toerase.But,formany,thatfrictionistheappeal. It’s thephysicalactionoflugging acrate of recordsorwinding arollof film that thebody ultimatelylogsasmemory.Shiftingbacktoward analog represents amovetomoreembodied experiencesthat, in turn,createmeaning
Filmandvinylhavebeensteadilyre-entering thezeitgeist fora decade,but otherthrowback technologyispopularagain,too.Manualtransmissions,for instance,add complexity back to theincreasinglyautomated processofdriving
Sixty-sevenpercent of driversbetween 18 and 34 yearsold report an interest in learning to drivestick,according to Autoweek.These are thedrivers whogrewupwithautomatic transmissions,ride-shareapps,andadvanceddriver assistance systems, nowcurious aboutwhatit feelsliketobefully in control.
To do so,they’re turningtoschools like the StickShiftDrivingAcademy,anationwidenetwork of drivinginstructors that wascreated by Austin-basedentrepreneurGiuseppeFrustaci
It’s partiallynostalgia.But,morethanthat, goinganalogisaboutlivingintentionally.Rather thanprioritizingconvenience,doingthingsthe more difficult, old-fashionedway is oftena slower,moreintentional experience.“Going analog”islessaboutanyparticulartechnology thanitisaboutmakingitharderfortheinternet toreachus,whichhelpsexplainwhyiPodsand flipphonesaretrendingagain,despitenotbeing, strictly speaking,analogatall Forsome, it meansgetting hands-on.ProgramsliketheEarthNativeWildernessSchool andthe Lumber SocietyatBuzzMill aredemocratizingsurvivalskills, teaching Austiniteshow to start fires, read maps,and touch more than just metaphorical grass. There’sa longingtoregainlargely forgottenskillsthat wereoncecommonplace.Atthedonation-based DIYschoolCRAFT,thatimpulse canlead people to aworkshopfor somethinglikesoapmaking,sleeves rolled up to pour andblend At theend of theclass,they’ll take home the colorful,handcrafted bars—tangibleresults of theirtimeand effort.
They mightnot even post aboutitafter.
When didYETI’sboldbillboard campaignsstart saying what we’reall thinking?
BYROSE MCMACKIN
THECITYOFAUSTINisaconstellationoflandmarks.The clear,improbablycoldwateratBartonSprings.Thelooping redletters of the“ILoveYou So Much”mural.The buzzing neonlightsofDirtySixth.Amidthoseiconicsymbolsofthe city,the gleaming YETI billboardperched atop thebrand’s SouthCongressAvenueheadquartershas enteredthe chat ItoverlooksoneofAustin’smosttouristeddistricts,walking thelinebetween corporatemarketing andpublicart
Thesignagetypicallyfeaturesstunningsportsandnature photography. It cycles rapidly(by billboardstandards), displayingnewartmultipletimesayear.Onsomeoccasions,it’s socialcommentary—likeaphotoofmigratingmallardsbeneath thewords,“They’reprobablyfromCalifornia,too.”Othertimes, it’spopculturesavvy,likewhenitrankedaYETIcooleragainst
the relative temperatureofBartonSprings and FridayNight Lights’hottestrunningback,TimRiggins.It’salsobeenoutrightsincere,likethe inauguraltwo-sided displayshowing an enormous cooler plasteredwithstickersfrombeloved businesses likeFranklinBarbecueand AlamoDrafthouse.
Inseveralinstances,thesnarky,minimalisticdepictions havemeritedlocalnewscoverage,anditsmoreside-eyeingly politicalads have even made national headlines. Butthe centralcharm of theYETIbillboard is itsdistinctlyAustin point-of-view:anarrowtargetaudienceofallthosedenizens whowould rather be paddling on that body of waterthey refuse to call Lady Bird Lake.Somehow,inthe language of ad copy,withpunsand topicalgags, theYETIbillboard startedsayingwhatwe’re allthinking.
Whilethisregionallycoded billboarddidn’thangoverthe YETI flagship storeitself, it announcedthe brand’sSouth Congress openingand playfulmarketing voice. Thebikini-clad bear is ariff on thecity’subiquitousmed spabillboard ads, andthe realWestlake Dermatologygaveits blessing to thebit
Love or hate TheDomain, at leastAustinitescan agree that it’s faraway. Even when it’s notgeographicallyfar,it’s spirituallyfar.Onceagain,the billboardspeaksAustin fluently.It’ssohyper-regionalthatitwouldn’tevenmake senseinRound Rock
YETI poked notjust one buttwo bearswith aplayfuladabout theprivatespace race. Between Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, which has launch sites near Van Horn,and recentAustin transplant ElonMusk’s SpaceX, off-planet exploration suddenly fell within avery Texas purview.Bycasting asideways glance at such renowned personalities, YETI enticed severalnational outlets who reported on this subtlebarb. Perhaps moreimpressively, the Austin-born company waspoking fun at the absurdity of billionaire ambition beforethe city hadever seena Cybertruck.
As companies like Waymo, GM,and Tesla rolled outearly self-drivingvehicle programs across town, YETI weighed in with an image of asaddle broncrider being bucked fromhis horse. Thejuxtaposition of rustic heritagewithtech buzzwordswas thebillboard at itsfinest: thecutting edge of innovation meeting that self-sufficient Texas spirit. An image wortha thousand thinkpieces.
IF YOU’VE EVER foundyou aweatabreathtakingphotoo itebandfromACLFest,there chanceitwastakenbyPooneh TheAustin-basedcamerawhi alsoworkedonthein-housep toteamforothermajorfestiva likeLollapaloozaandCoache la,alongwithlandingstintsa thetourphotographerfor huge artistssuchasNoah Kahanand Olivia Rodrigo. Overtheyears,herconnectionswithartists andpassionformusicledtobookingshows on aregular basiswithmassivebillsfor specialeventsatRadio EastorMohawk.Inshort, Ghanahas become a householdnameinthe capitalcityasa revered andtrusted tastemaker
Thatreputationsetthe stagefor afortuitouscall fromGhana’sagent,Meesh Halliday,inthefallof2024. Meesh’slifeand business partner,SimonHalliday,spent 16yearsasthepresidentof4AD Records, home to renowned artistslikeThe Pixies,The Na tional,andBonIver.Afterhiswo withoneofthemostesteemed labelsintheworld,Simonwasi fora newendeavor.
“Iwaslookingforsomething altruistic than runninga bigl ButSimonalsoapproachedtheprojectwithkeen business insight. “There’s arealgap in themarketfor labels belowthose grandindies,”heexplains. “There’s help needed forstarter bandsorbands whoare in astopgap and only want to do onealbum.”
eadysignedtoTODO,includelle Chairlegs, BigBill,Tear andPorcelain,which areall nAustin.Whiletherosterisn’t ivelycomprisedoftalentfrom ,itleans heavilyintothe live siccapital scene.
“Austinhasitsebbsandflows, butgenerallytherearesomany greatbands in town allthe time,and they getstuck at, ‘What’sthenextstep?’”Ghanasays.“Asaphotographer, youget excitedtoshoot thesebands,and youwant theworldtoseethem—now, it’s exciting to take it to anotherlevel.”
It’s no secret that today’smusicindustryfaces unprecedentedchallenges. Evencasualmusiclisteners have hearddebates about the financialhardships of artistsintheeraofSpotify’s strangleholdonstreaming. Andtheworld’smostfamous popstar, Taylor Swift, made headlineswithahighlypublicizeddispute over themaster cordingsofheralbums.
TODO takesa decidedlydifnt approach from most labels ering50% profitsharing,not gartistsintomulti-recorddeals, ingthe master recordings to emusicianafterfiveyears,even ’trecouped.Forcontext,most majorlabelstakeasmuchas90% of profits and wouldalmostneverreturnmusicrightstoartistsunless they were purchased.
Now, thepairjustneededa collaborator—a trendsetter whohad their finger on thepulse of exciting newtalent. Meeshknewjustthe person,and shehappenedtoliveina city with oneofthe best musicscenesinthe world. Ghana jumped at theopportunity,and TODO Recordswas born.
“Poonehsenta list of about20things, andwewerelike, ‘OK, well,all of that’s brilliant,’” Simonremembers
Thelabelreleasedfourfull-lengthalbumsinitsfirstyear andhas even more ambitiousplans for2026. In total, 11
Whilenoneofthose policies areintendedtomaximize revenue,itdoesmakeTODOanattractiveoptionforartists exhaustedwiththe harsh, dollars-and-centslogic of the musicbusiness. Thelabel’s decision to zigwhere everyone else zags mayactuallygivethema competitiveadvantage Reflectingonmorethantwodecadesintheindustry,Simon realizesthatnothingismorerewardingthanbeingadisciple fora greatartistthathasn’tgottenthe proper renown.“It’s quitefrustrating at thetimebecause you’re like,‘Whydon’t peoplegetthis?’”hemuses.“Butthenyoulookbackonitand you’relike,‘Yeah,that’stheplacetobe.’”
in the
BYBRYAN C. PARKER
With an artist-first mindset, TODO Records is s up the status
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READYTOTAKE IT OUTSIDE? Explore theHillCountry this season with verdantgreenspaces, full moon rituals, hotsprings,coldplunges, and towering cascades. Here are40waystoget outdoors inAustinthisspring.
BY MADELINEHOLLERN
Itdoesn’tgetmuchmorejoyfulthangrabbingaropeswingandleaping into thecoolingwatersofKrauseSprings on asunny day. Listed on theNationalRegistryofHistoricSites,thisHillCountry hideaway in Spicewoodfeatures32springs on property that feed both manmade andnaturalpools.Thewaterstaysarefreshing68degreesallyear(the park is open mid-February throughearly November). When yougo, stayondrylandlongenoughtoexplorethemajesticbutterflygarden. krausesprings.net
Capoff your weekendwithdownward-facing dog, mountain pose,and plenty of sunsalutations as yourelishafreeoutdooryogaclass.SwiftFitSocial’s longest-runningfitnessserieshappenseverySunday morningat10a.m.downtownwitha guided vinyasa flow at the Fareground’s courtyard. Afterthe class, refuel with coffee and bitesatthe on-sitefoodhall. RSVP required. swiftfitevents .com/swift-fit-social
PerhapsthehardesthikingtrailaroundAustin,this Jonestown-areaattractionhasbeenplayfullyreferred to as a“naturalStairMaster.” Thepopular climb includes more than 2,700woodensteps to the summit,makingita nearly 6-mile round-trip hike. Whileyourcalveswillsurelyburnfor aday or two after,theeffortisworthitforagreataerobicworkout amongHillCountry creeks anda hidden waterfall. Shouldyouprefertostophikingonceyoureachthe topofRiver PlaceNatureTrail,planahead:There’s aparking lotonthe summit availablefor pick-ups riverplacelimiteddistrict.org/trails
Unlessyou’vebeenlivingundera,well,rock,you’ve probably heardofthismagical dome.Located in theheart of theHillCountry,the awe-inspiring pink granitebatholith is estimatedtobe1 billion yearsold andwas formed when hotmagma rose throughexistingmetamorphicrock.Inaddition to climbing or hiking to the425-footsummit, EnchantedRockState NaturalAreaoffersstellar campingandfishingaswellasbirding,withmore
than 60 avianspecies in thepark. Head to the Fredericksburg-areaattractioninspringtimeto seevibrant wildflowersand escape thebrutal temperatures of thesummermonths. Whilethe naturalwonderdraws guests near andfar during thedaytime,don’tsleeponitsstar-gazingpotential: TheInternationalDarkSkyParkisalsoadazzling placetosoakincelestial magicatnight tpwd .texas.gov/state-parks/enchanted-rock
Travel influencer @jasminealley soaksinthe views at EnchantedRock.
Forthose wholovespendinga weekendinnaturebut areless excitedabout,say,sleepingonthe ground,the LowerColorado RiverAuthority(LCRA)hasashinynewsolution.LocatedatLake BastropSouth ShorePark, itsÖÖD Mirror Houses aretwo new glamping domicilesthatdebuted last summer.The luxe 221-square-footstructuresoperatedbyCameronRanchGlamping includea queenmemoryfoambed,fullbathroom, dining table, kitchenette,andrecordplayer.Cookonthecharcoalgrillorcozy up by your own fire pitunder thestars.Witha unique floor-toceilingmirroreddesignonthe exterior,you’llfeelasthough you’re sleeping in thetrees.And don’tforgetFido: The accommodations arepet friendly lcraparks.com/parks/ lake-bastrop-south-shore-park
Picturethis:You’refloatingonthelakeundertheglowofthemoonlightasthehumofvibrationssoothes youintoa peaceful lull.DuringRowingDock’sspellbindingsound bathsled by ATXYogaGirlfounder CynthiaAguillónBernard,guestslie down on theirown paddleboardasBernard uses Quartz bowlsto create amelodic masterpiece. Becausevibrationstravelfasteronwater than airand thegentlerocking on thewaves underthe boardcreates afeeling of weightlessness,the sensoryexperiencebecomes unforgettable—andoftentherapeutic.Forthosewhocan’tmakethefullmoonsoundbaths,RowingDock andBernard also offer privateclasses forgroupsupto12people. rowingdock.com/floating-soundbath
HarkenbacktoasimplertimeatthischerishedMarble Fallsfarm,whereyoucantakethelittleonestopluck icyfruitinthespringtime.Buyabasketandtraverse thestrawberryfields(forever!)asyoupickthesweet fruitfromleafyplants.Whileyou’rethere,takean adorable ride on thebarreltrain or buya cupof food to feed theon-site goats. Thefarmalsosells homemadeicecreamandpopsiclesmadewithits ownsignaturestrawberries.sweetberryfarm.com
Joggersmightbeinspiredtogo theextramileifthere’safrosty brew at the end of their run
Join this community group, which meets onWednesdaysat6:30p.m.(oftenatCentral Machine Works Brewery) and on Sundays at various locations for trail runs The workout usually covers about 3 to 5 miles andthenfinishesoverabeer.Thiscallsfor a toast! Check Instagram for up-to-date details instagram.com/esbrunnersatx
AsAustinitesrelishtemperatedaysbeforetriple-digitheat takesover,thecitybecomeschockfullofspectacularoutdoorgatheringsduringthemonthofApril.Localsdescend upon Zilker Park to hang outunderneaththousands of colorful flying kitesduring ABCKiteFest (April 11), the nation’slongest-runningfestivalofitskind(est.1929).Don your finest floral frockorseersuckersuitasyou stroll throughtheverdantsculpturegardenattheannualUmlauf GardenParty(April16).Duringthealfrescosoiree,guests cansipwineandtrybitesfromthecity’sbestrestaurants.
Forthosewhowanttobreakasweatalongsidemorethan 20,000 otherrunners,laceupyourtennisshoes forthe StatesmanCap10K (April 12)—or watchall theactionas athletesrun6.2milestothesoundsofcheeringspectators andlivebands peppered alongthe course.Looking for splendor in thegrass?Signupfor Waterloo Greenway’s Pop-UpPicnic(April18),whereyoucanorderagourmet picnic basket from area restaurantstoenjoy on ablanket in Waterloo Park. abckitefest.org; umlaufsculpture.org; cap10k.com;waterloogreenway.org
Eventhemostin-the-knowlocalwilloccasionallyfindahiddengem andthink“Ican’tbelievethisisinAustin!”That’showyou’llfeelwhile traversing Westcave OutdoorDiscovery Center.Visitorswalkfrom anaridsavannahthroughalimestonecreviceintoalushworldthat feelsstraightoutofFernGully.Heartheroaringsoundsofthe40-foot waterfallasyougobehindthecascadeintoacave.The1-mileguided hikeisbyreservationonlyandcanbebookedonwestcave.org.
Afan-favoritegraffitiartparkfrom2010to2019, HopeOutdoorGalleryhasrisenfromtheashes andemerged anew in farEastAustin. Now locatedinamassive8-acreopen-airspacenear theairportthatdebutedinNovember,thegallery features vibrantlarge-scale murals from more than30professionalartistsaswellasopenwalls forcreatives of alllevelstomaketheir mark Follow Hope OutdoorGallery on social media forinformation on upcoming arteducation classes, dynamiccommunity events,and electronic musicshows instagram.com/ hopeoutdoorgallery
As the late Tom Petty once sang, “You belong among the wildflowers ” Feastyoureyesonaseaofbluebonnets,Indianpaintbrushes,Mexican poppies,winecups,andfirewheelswhiledrivingthroughthisgorgeous stretchinMarchthroughearlyMay.Thetwo-laneranchroadmeanders through13milesofstunningbloomsalongbucolicrollinghills Toget there from Fredericksburg, head north on State Route 16 for approximately13milestoWillowCity,goeastonRanchRoad1323fornearly3 miles,thenturnleftontoWillowCityLoop Trustus,it’sworththetrek fredericksburgtexas-online.com/plan-your-trip/willow-city-loop/
Brimminginiridescenthuesofcobaltandteal, thestunningpeacocksthatmeander through MayfieldParkare reason enough to visitthis tucked-awayescapeoff35thStreet.Traversethe hiking trailand walk past thelilyponds of the 23-acrepreserveinspringtimewhenthe wildflowersbloom across thegrounds.The peafowlwillletyougetjustcloseenoughtosnap apicture—but then resign yourself to leavethe finelyfeatheredspecimensalonetoroaminall theirmajesticbeauty.mayfieldpark.org
Nothingshort of awe-inspiring, Hamilton Pool Preserve is abona fide naturaltreasure. Formed when the dome of an undergroundriver collapseddue to erosion, thepooland grotto featurea stunning 50-foot waterfall.Wearsturdyshoesfortherocky,quarter-milehikepastbaldcypresstreesasyouheadtothepool. (Takenotethatswimmingisonlyavailable on select days dependingonwater quality.)Makea reservation foramorningorafternoontimeslotbeforedrivingtotheDrippingSpringsdelight,whichisabout30miles west of Austin. parks.traviscountytx.gov/parks/hamilton-pool-preserve
Referredtobybothitspropername,LadyBirdLake, andpopularformername,TownLake,thedowntown waterway formed by ariver-likereservoir on the Colorado Riverisa go-tospotfor locals to exercise Andnow,there’s anew reason to visitthe beloved AnnandRoyButlerHikeandBikeTrail.ThisFebruary, thecityunveileda bridge andunderpass alongthe trailcalledtheWishboneBridgeandUnityUnderpass. Nearly half amilelong, thenew Y-shaped structure connects threekey destinations alongthe trail: Longhorn Shores,Canturbury, andthe Holly PeninsulainTownLakeMetropolitanPark. Check outthepublicartalongtheunderpass,whichfeatures contributionsfrommorethan200 locals.Onthe 10-miletrail,runners, pedestrians, andbikerscan soak in breathtaking skylineviews whilebreakinga sweat. austintexas.gov/page/lady-bird-lake
Sure,it’sfuntosipabeerinthesunshinewithyourcrewatJesterKing. ButarguablythebiggestdrawtotheWestAustinbreweryisitsadorable hooved residents. Home to 74 Nigerian dwarfgoats,JesterKinghosts regularguidedgoatwalks andevenoffersrecurring doom metalgoat yoga featuringanhourlongclass with thebabyfarmanimals and“the sludgiestofriffs.”Bleatsand beats? Youbet! jesterkingbrewery.com
Awashwithbudding treesand blooming wildflowers, there’snobetter season than spring to enjoya meal outdoors in Austin.Watch peacocks roam past youasyou sitbeneath live oaksanddineatoneoftherestaurants at GreenPastures,a treasured6-acre BouldinCreekdestinationthatrecently debutedaninn designed by Clayton Korte. Savorinternational bitesfrom DEEDEE,VeracruzAll Natural, and BunBun Burger at LeonaBotanical Café&Bar,where youcan settle in an Adirondackchairandlistentothewater flowingand leaves rustling in the outdooroasis.For an unforgettable sushiexperience, discover Foodie + Tina’s 14-coursepop-upomakase featuringsustainablysourcedfishand producepluckedon-siteattheirSouth Austin market garden.Inadditionto their10-seat pop-up experience,the owners (farmerBecca Seiler andchef SpencerBrown)plantoopenalimitedservicelunchconceptonSouthLamar in March. greenpasturesaustin.com; leonacafebar.com;instagram.com/ foodieytina
An essentialitemonany Austin bucket list,the monthly fullmoonswimatBartonSpringsPoolisasacredritualfor locals.Jumpintothecrisp68-degreewatersandfloatunder theglowofthemoonlightasfellowswimmersliterallyhowl toward thenight sky. Protip:Arriveat9 p.m. or afterfor free entry(just don’tbetoo late—the pool closes at 10)! austintexas.gov/department/barton-springs-pool
Getyourstepsin,socialize,orjustenjoythe safety of agroup activity during thesefree weekly strollsindowntownAustin. The nonprofithosts awalkevery Wednesdayat 6:30 p.m. that meetsatMañanaCoffee. Althoughparticipantsarewelcometobring theirpals, many womencomealone and canmeetnew friendsalong theway.Dogs andstrollers arewelcome.Ages18and up; RSVP required nogirlwalksalone.com
Though it’s locatedlessthan60miles from Austin,OttineMineral Springs feelsa worldawayfromthe hustle andbustleofthe capitalcity. Soothe your sensesasyousubmergeintofivepoolsofvaryingtemperaturesatthewellness space, whichisfamed forits thermalmineral-richsoaks from theCarrizoWilcox Aquifer. Theoutdoor oasisboastsa cozy on-sitespa,plusa drysauna andrefreshingcoldplungeforcontrasttherapy.Afteralongdayoflounging, recharge with wood-fired pizzas andcheeseplatesatthe alfresco cafe ottinemineralsprings.com
Readytohavea partyonwheels? Straponsomerollerbladesorgrab your bike to explorethis3.1-mile tractinSouthwestAustin.Located at Circle CRanch Metropolitan ParknexttotheLadyBirdJohnson Wildflower Center,the paved5K loop is specifically designed to accommodatecyclistsand inline skaters,withnofoottrafficordogs allowed. Look fordeerand even roadrunnersasyouglidealongthe undulatingVeloway,whichisopen dailyfromdawntodusk. austin texas.gov/department/veloway
Bow,wow!Openedlastsummer, this privateoff-leash dogparkin East Austin features afull-servicebar andon-site food truckfor humans,plusplentyofeatsforyourfurrybestfriend(thinkgoatmilk doggyicecream).Socializeduringregulareventslikepaintyourown pettarotcards,trivianights,andbreed-specificmeetups,orjustsoak inthesunshineasyourpoochgetsthezoomiesatthe1-acreturfdog park.Whilemembershipsareencouraged,BARkHousedoesprovide daypasses.Dogsmustbevaccinated,spayedorneutered,andatleast four months oldtoenter. barkhouseatx.com
LocatedabouttwohoursnorthwestofAustin, Colorado Bend StateParkisa bitofa drive fromthecapitalcity,butitstillbeckonsurban dwellers with itsmesmerizing cascades Invigorate your senses as youbrave a challenginghikethrough rockyterrain and asteep descentthatleads to Gorman Falls, a towering70-footspring-fedwaterfall.Sturdy shoesand awater bottle area must forthe trek—but just like thehike, thefalls will take yourbreathaway.tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/ colorado-bend
Feel theneedfor speed?Sailabove thetreetops on thelongest andfastest ziplineinthe state! At the finale of athree-hour, five-zipline experience overLakeTravis,participantscanracetheirfriends on aside-by-side, 2,800-foot-longdoublebarrel shotgunlinethatreaches 65 mph. Fora nighttime twist, glideunder theglowofthe skyduringthe eveningfullmoontourthathappensonceamonth ziplaketravis.com
There’snoshortageofactivitiesatMcKinneyFalls.From birdwatchingandboulderingtohikingandroadbikingon nearly9milesoftrails,thestateparkencouragesexploration Cool off by taking adip into OnionCreek before youhead home—it’slocated within Austin city limits—orbetteryet, stay thenight:McKinneyFalls has81campsites with water andelectrichookups,plussixnewlyremodeledcabins tpwd .texas.gov/state-parks/mckinney-falls
With alldue respecttoZilker, Austin deserved more than onemajesticparkinthe heartofthecity.Therevitalizationof11-acre Waterloo Park hasmadethe greenspace an essentiallocalefor picnics, playdates, and livemusic.KidsloveexploringitsKittyKing Powell Lawn,which includes sproutsof imaginativelylarge blades of grassand a hillsidestoneslidemadeofgranitethatstays cooleveninthesummerheat.Catchincredible concerts this spring at on-siteMoody Amphitheater,suchasBillboard Presents TheStage at SXSW (March 13-15),Rainbow Kitten Surprise (March 25), BobMoses & Cannons(April3),andAustinBluesFestival (April 25-26).While thecompletionofWaterlooParkwaspartofphaseoneofWaterloo Greenway,theprojectwilleventuallyfeature 35acresofconnectedgreenspacefrom15th Street allthe waytoLadyBirdLake. Mark your calendar forthe openingofThe Confluence, thesecondphase of Waterloo Greenway, on June 6. waterloogreenway.org
Everything’s bigger in theLoneStarState, includingthegrandvisionfortheVioletCrown Trail(VCT).Alreadytwodecadesinthemaking,theambitious Hill CountryConservancy endeavor beganin2006witha goal to create the firstregionaltrail system in CentralTexas Currently, VCTis13miles long andrunsfromZilkerParkto theLadyBirdJohnson Wildflower Center.But thegrowth continuesasthepathwaywilltraversea30-mileexpansethat passesthroughtheBartonCreekWildernessParkandcityof SunsetValleyallthewayintoHaysCounty.Hike,run,orcycle throughthe pathway; foravidmountainbikers, the290 Trailheadfeaturestechnical switchbacksand steepclimbs thathaveevengarneredtheNationalInterscholasticCycling Association'ssealofapproval.Justtakenote:Becausethearea issolarge,trailgoersshouldcheckthemapbeforetheyarrive tofindlocationsofwaterfountainsanddesignatedrestrooms forwhennaturecalls (sotospeak). violetcrowntrail.com
Channelyourinner cowboy or cowgirlasyou saddle up fora memorableequinerideinManor.Passbyoak trees, creeks, andcowsatopanAmericanQuarterHorseasyouroamacross the120-acreranch that wasoncea filminglocationfor Lonesome Dove.Forma core memory forkidsaged10and underbysigning up forthe hourlong Little Dude Ride experience,featuring 20 minutesofbrushingfollowedbya lesson andtrail ride.The companyalsohas aCanyonLake outpostthatridesthroughthe“Devil’sBackbone”limestone ridge. Yeehaw! southerntrailrides.com
Ahaven forsport climbing,thisonce-private ranchfilledwithworld-classlimestonecliffshas beenafavoriteplacetoreachnewheightssince becomingapublicparkspaceinthemid-aughts. ReimersRanch in Dripping Springsfeatures hundredsofroutes,frombeginner-friendly5.4 coursesontheYosemiteDecimalSystemupto 5.14-ratedroutes.Theparkalsoluresinfishing enthusiaststocatchwhitebassinthePedernales River,aswellasastrophysicsfans,whocanlearn aboutthe universe from astronomyeducators andviewthegalaxythroughtwolargetelescopes at ReimersObservatory parks.traviscountytx .gov/parks/reimers-ranch
Whetheryou’velivedinAustinfordecadesorjustvisited forACL Fest,you’relikelyfamiliarwiththe city’s most iconicmetropolitangreenspace,ZilkerPark.But didyou realizethatjustwestofthe park is atranquilhideawayfilledwithbutterfl gardens,bonsaitrees,andwaterfalls?
Zilker BotanicalGardenfeaturesa lush 28-acredestination shaded by live oaktrees with twisting pathways that undulate past thousandsofnativeandcultivated plants.Explore thekoi-filled pondsand peer alittlecloserin theTaniguchiJapaneseGarden, whereseveraloftheserenepools areshapedtospell outthe word “AUSTIN.” zilkergarden.org
Equalparts calmingand invigorating,the San Marcos Riverisknown forits dazzling clearwaters. Spenda weekendbythe spring-fed riverfromthe comfortofyourown stylishcabin or casita at this newboutiquehotel.Located on 12 acres, Melrose RiverClubfeaturesriverbankwalkingtrails,yogaby thewater,inviting fire pits,and cozy cabanasnext totheresort-stylepool.Timeyourstayforitsmonthly supperclub,analfrescomealservedinthepoolside pavilion featuringlocal chefslikeColterPeck (Elementary),ChefDiego (PaellaATX), andKelyn Egbuka (Kelyn’s). Fora celebration—or just a staycation treat—swingbythe lobbytobuy amini bottleofbubblyfromitsretro-inspiredChampagne vendingmachine melroseriverclub.com
Oneofthe most beloved naturespotsinthecity,Barton CreekGreenbelt needsno introduction.Here, locals can splash around itsspring-fed swimming holes, hike thescenic trails,bikealongside therugged cliffs, androckclimb on thelimestone crag.TheSouthAustingreenbeltishometoseveral endangered species, from theBartonSprings salamandertotheGolden-cheekedWarbler.Blast KateBush’s“RunningUpThatHill”attheTrail’s Endaccesspoint,whereyoucanhoofituptheHill of Life’s infamous 300-foot climb. austintexas .gov/department/barton-creek-greenbelt
Atthreeofthecity’stopspadestinations,guestscan domorethanjustluxuriatewithfacialsandmassages. Thecalming shorelines next to Lake Austin Spa Resortaretheperfectsettingforscenicboatscruises, paddleboardyoga, andplayful scavengerhunts on thewater viakayak or Hydrobike. Hitthe linksat oneof Omni Barton CreekResort& Spa’s four golfcourses,fromthenewlyrenovatedpar-72Fazio Canyonstothe scenic Coore& Crenshaw course co-designedbyMasterschampBenCrenshaw,then cool offinits trio of pools. Nestledamong 220 verdantacresoftheBalconesCanyonlandsNational Wildlife Refuge, MiravalAustinResort& Spa beckonsadventure seekerswithhatchet throwing, horsebackriding, andmoonlight meditations. Of course,ifyou’d prefer to just admire viewsofLake Travis from thehilltop infinity pools, we’d hardly blameyou lakeaustin.com;omnihotels.com/hotels/ austin-barton-creek;miravalresorts.com/austin
SANDLOTBASEBALLISTHE CULTURAL REVOLUTION WE NEED,AND AUSTIN IS LEADINGTHE CHARGE.
n October sun hangs low in the sky, casting a longshadowofthepitcheracrossthedustygrass of the sandlot field. He leans forward to stare at thebatter,whotwitcheswithanticipationathome plate Spectatorssprawloutonblankets,sipping beers in koozies as dogs doze lazily at their feet Kidsofallagesdartaround,tumblinginthegrass or playing tag, and a few sit atop haybales past the outfield fence Hot dogs sizzle on a flat top grill Beneaththeshadeofahugeoaktree,house band The Tender Things provides a live soundtrackforthekaleidoscopeofhappenings. The scene feels borrowed from a bit of lifestyle marketing so idyllic it hardly feels real
This is The Long Time, a sandlot baseball complexinEastAustin,aboutamilepastthecity limits,whereresidentialdevelopmentsdissolve
intofields,farms,andruggedranchland Imagined into existence in 2017 by Jack Sanders, the site is the home field for his team, the Texas Playboys, which he founded in 2006 as one of the earliest sandlot squads in the city
It’sasanctuaryforeasygoinggamesbetween players decked out in denim jerseys and stylish wool caps Some wear Texas-sized belt buckles, and many of the uniforms are decorated with custom embellishments Usually, copious cans ofbeerareconsumed,andpetcaninesroamthe dugoutatliberty.It’sacocoonofgoodvibesthat feels a world away from the nearby burgeoning metropolis,yetalsoquintessentiallyoff-kilterin a way only Austin can be
“If I am asked to sum up: What is sandlot?” Sandersmuses Sproutsofdarkbrownhairpeek
outfrombeneathanivorybaseballcapemblazoned withabrightorangeP,asheleansbackinhischair andgrins.“Ithinkit’smakingyourownfun.”
The Long Time is the epicenter of a larger sandlotbaseballmovementthathasskyrocketed in popularity in Austin and gained traction across the country, especially in recent years Prior to 2020, excitement around the field and the Texas Playboys had spawned a handful of rivals, but the total number of squads still hoveredaroundadozeninAustin Today,thereare nearly30teamsinthecapitalcityandhundreds scattered across the continent
Inanygivenyear,groupstravelfromNashville, St Louis, or Baltimore to face off against Austin-basedopponentsliketheGrackles,CapCity Cobras,Jardineros,orBeermakers Someofthose
and arrived at this moment by convergence,butagreatnumberwereinspired by Sanders and the Playboys The team and its magnetic creator have been featured in SportsIllustrated, GQ, and evenTheNewYorkTimes.Andnotable personalitieslikepoliticianBetoO’Rourke and musician Jack White (who belted a home run off Sanders) have turnedupatTheLongTimetoplayball “Therearesomanygoodpartsacross a Long Time game that we ’ re trying to createfortheviewer,butwhatweloveis thatbaseball’sabackdrop,”saysSanders, whowasformallyeducatedasanarchitect Asheseesit,themaineventisjust a conduitforhumanconnection “Atmoments, I’m paying attention to the game; at others, I’m just in a really engaging conversation with the person next to me; sometimes, I’m listening to the band,” he explains YoumaynotknowSanders’name,butyou’re almostcertainlyfamiliarwithhiswork Through his company, Design Build Adventure, he fabricated a lighting installation at ACL Live and constructed a massive bottle chandelier for the Tito’s Love storefront in downtown Austin SandersalsoworkedonthedesignofElCosmico in Marfa and helped conceive the first pools andsunshadesinstalledatbuzzworthywellness destination Ottine Mineral Springs
TheLongTime’shomedugoutisarepurposed chicken coop, and perched atop it, a pair of izations might ha n ti
wisecracking announcers overlook the field Manyofthestructuresarecobbledtogetherwith scrapsofmetalandreclaimedwood butdespite the Spartan nature of the facilities, they’re accomplishedwithanunmistakablesenseofstyle
The architecture of a baseball complex may notseemremarkableatfirstblush,butmakeno mistake:Sandershasbuiltsomethingspecialin East Austin And it’s not just in the physical construction, but also in the masterful orchestration of community
“The best thing that happens out here, we refer to as pure joy,” Sanders says As he sees it, that could be something big like butitalsoincludesanymomentwh in a “flow state” taking infield withgroundballs,thehypnoticrh playingcatch,orplayersrunning the crowd of spectators to dole o fives after a game (a Long Time t Everything melts away and time exist,asyougetadoseoflifewitho distraction
grade-schooler if he’d ever considered architecture And that’s how Sanders wound up at Auburn as an (admittedly under-enthused) architecture student
“When I got to school, there was something missing,” he remembers, upon arriving at the Alabama university as a freshman in the fall of 1997. He lamented not doing something more daring like art or film school, and the prospect ofsittingatadeskusingacomputerprogramto draft lines seemed like spiritual death
But in his second year, Sanders enrolled in Rural Studio, an innovative new program that ve students real-world experience by minnearbycommunitiesandtasking designing and building functional eprogramwasrunbySamuelMockwhoreceiveda“GeniusGrant”ofhalf million dollars from the John D and CatherineT MacArthurFoundation
The organization described the proessoras “anarchitectwhoerasedthe boundary between experimental designandsocialconsciousness”
Containedwithinthisplaceis an implicit argument that acts as a cultural counterweight to th impendingtechnocraticdystopia spiritual yield sign from the uni thatsaysslowdown,takenotice,b deeply. It’s Walden Pond in the baseball diamond Far from just ational activity, it’s an entire stat
Baseball may be merely a me here,butit’salsoanaptvessel.On greatestassetsisitsdowntime in the pitcher considers his next , umpire sweeps home plate as the next batter gets situated in the box The game ’ s leisurely pace parallels Sanders’ fundamental aims of getting people to get lost in the moment
After being sent off to Newbern, la,aone-stoplighttownwitharound 00 people, Sanders stumbled upon ommunity baseball game on a serpitous Saturday The field was unhefencingwasfallingapart,andthe re farfrom impressive,buttoSandagic Like a larger version of those hecutintothegrassadecadeprior s just a kid with a dream.
Hehasapreternaturalabilitytocultivatesuch opportunities At 10 years old, when he was just a baseball-obsessed kid in Cleburne, Texas, Sanders took his family’s riding lawnmower to an unused lot across the street and lowered the bladestocutbasepathsintothegrass Although he had no idea at the time, that makeshift field was the first iteration of many more to come
Iwanttobeanartist,”a17-year-oldSanderstold his high school guidance counselor Undoubtedly driven by good intentions and plagued by visions of proverbial starving painters, the advisorponderedforamomentbeforeaskingthe
Heath McMurtry poseswith Sanders’ dog, Ebby,inthe dugout.
bern Baseball Club, which had exarly a century, played almost every weekend forfun,buttheorganizationalsohad aservicecomponent Aportionofthegatemoneywasusedtoassistinfuneralcostsforcitizens ofNewbern,oneofthepooresttownsinAlabama (the median household income today hovers around $36,000) Sometimes the team even helpeddiggravesbyhand.Baseballwaswhatthe tiny community did to entertain themselves, socialize, and support each other
The club was 100% Black, and as a scruffy white guy from the outskirts of Fort Worth, Sandersstuckoutlikeasorethumb,buthedidn’t let it stop him from hanging around during games Soon enough, on one weekend when a squad was a man short to field nine players, someone pointed at Sanders: “You’re in, kid”
From that moment on, he spent most of his weekends playing for the Newbern Tigers, and he began to think of a way to merge this new world with his educational work. He ultimately designedandinstalledanewbackstopanddugout system, an elegant arrangement of cantilevered poles, sections of chain link, and wires donated from Alabama Power, the local energy company Everythingthatfeltabsentfromalife m
in architecture began to click into place for Sanders
“I realized that it didn’t really matter what the degree was, ” he says “I was designing andbuildingandengagingwith realpeopleinthatcommunity, andIhonestlyforgotthatIwas in school ” It was everything Mockbee envisioned when he implementedtheRuralStudio
ThebaseballplayedinNewbernandthatSanderseventually brought to Austin echoes the sport’s origins With roots that stretch back to the 1700s, the game was conceived as a casua engagement from average folk in whatever fields or open area couldbefound Itwascommuna anditwasplayedbywomen,men families, and people of all age Earlywomen’scollegeslikeVassa and Wellesley had teams th participated against other men universityteams Putsimply,bas ball was for everyone
It’seasytoseeNewbern’sinflu “IhaveadiagramIusedtodoonmychalkboard: hyperlocal, community-based, service-driven,” he says, enumerating a mental list of what constitutessandlotphilosophy ThroughtheirSteppin’ Up to the Plate initiative, the Texas Playboys haveraisedaround$200,000forlocalnonprofits, and there’s usually a table set up at games for variousAustin-basedserviceorganizations
Sanders has introduced a sustainability component to the formula, harkening back to theprinciplesofhismentorattheRuralStudio
Essentially every structure or element at The Long Time has been built using salvaged materials,andthesitehasbecomeincreasinglyserious about waste management.
“We have trash stations, which is the first attempt,peopleself-sorting,”explainsMattOrr, whohelpsmanagethefacilitiesatTheLongTime “And then our green team hand sorts every singlepieceonthebackend”Orralsointroduced a reusable cups program, where drinkware is collected and shipped off to a company to be washed and returned Thanks largely to Orr’s dedicated efforts, The Long Time comes very close to producing zero waste each season
forming the Texas Playboys, ofthefirstthingsSandersdid ake the team to Newbern for me. It was a way to visit old nds and to show other team mberstheplaceitallbegan a ofpilgrimagetothePlayboys’ estral home.
Travel eventually became a ditionforthebaseballteam,as y’dpickonenewcityeachyear aroadgameadventure Often, ose locales didn’t even have ms but were just places the oup wanted to visit Sanders uld reach out to friends in ose cities ahead of time to couragethemtoformamakeift team now, so they’d be in ghtingshapeoncethePlayboys rived months down the line.
evenmadeatript C
Recently,theTexasPlayboys oSanQuentinStatePrisonin for the people incarcerated there The warning track of the baseball field had inmates that were walking it for exercise while we were playing,” Sanders recalls “So, if a ballwashittothewallandyouwereanoutfielder, you had to navigate inmates ”
From the very beginning, Sanders referred tothesetripsas“barnstorming”Thewordderives from roving theater troupes who gallivanted from one rural area to another, making use of ramshackle barns as venues, hence the name
ThetermcastseverythingthePlayboysdoin arevealingnewlight Insomanyways,asandlot baseballgameisn’tsodifferentfromatheatrical production Eventhespectatorsarecastinroles, andtheyplaytheirpartincompletingthespectacle Sandersiscertainlyinonthatperspective, and he likes to give each season a name, “The Immaculate Season” or “A Perfect Game,” for example.Butthe2026seasonmayhavethemost apropos title yet: “A Great Play”
In April, Sanders will be part of the Fusebox Festival, a biennial art event that highlights creatorsfromacrossawiderangeofdisciplines,including visual art, theater, dance, design, and more TheexhibitioneventwilltakeplaceatThe
“I ’s al os li e Jac ’s ar prac ice is gi i g o er people ario s s ages o ich o per or . ” onSanders
Wishing Well, a new facility outsideofLockhartthatismaintained and operated by the staff of The LongTime WhiletheEastAustin fieldsitsonjust5acres,theWishingWellpropertyboastsfivetimes that, and Sanders sees a world in which it could become the new centerofoperations
“It’salmostlikeJack’sartpracticeisgivingotherpeoplevarious stages on which to perform,” says BenSteinbauer,aTexasPlayboyand documentaryfilmmaker,“whether you want to be a player or an announcer or make art or play in a bandorevenjustcomeandwatch andjustparticipatethatway”
Viewingsandlotbaseballlike this immediately helps make a few distinctions First, this isn’t a rec league which is rife with energy and usually serves the ultimate goal of awarding a league winner with a trophy at the end of each season. But in Austin’s sandlot universe,therearenoleaguesandnochampions Infact,mostsquadshavestoppedpostingscores on social media at the end of games Instead, the caption simply says something like “The Playboys enjoyed a great game against the An-
competitive i i i h y e t p f d a t it a r s it e
good timing rh
mals this afternoon ”
It’snotthatplayersaren’tgivng100 ,it’sjustthatalltheeffort sfocusedonadifferentgoal the igherpurposeofenjoyment
“Victorydoesnotmatter,and ourskilldoesnotmatter,”Sandrssays “Andifyou’renotwilling o adjust your level of play, keep eople safe, and maybe even go urthertogivesomebodythebest ay of their life, then you ’ re not sandlot ball player”
Players from twoteams huddle in camaraderie before agame.
Sanders has a favorite pitch hathe’sdubbed“PurpleRain” ’ s a high, arcing lob that drops lmost vertically by the time it eachestheplate It’saslowpitch, onovicehittershaveachanceat , but that also makes it hard for xperienced batters to get into a ythm It’s a version of the rare eephus pitch, and it’s a great equalizer Consider itametaphorforeverythingsandlotrepresents A level playing field is essential, since teams have such a wide range of abilities, from people who’ve never played to former professionals (That’s no exaggeration: 2011 World Series MVP andformerSt.LouisCardinalDavidFreeselives in Austin and plays on a team )
Not every sandlot squad understands this at first, especially out-of-towners who show up in Austin thinking they have something to prove “Theycomeoutreallyfocusedonhowwellthey’re playing baseball,” Steinbauer says “And you slowly watch them,overthe course of the game, start to realize, ‘Oh, this is about the hang’” Often,playersarehavingsomuchfundrinkingbeerandcuttingupthattheylosetrackofthe scoreanyway,whichseemslikeavictoryofawhole different persuasion In that case, someone usuallyjustasksanyonewhocrossedtheplatetoraise ahand.Theappendagesforeachsidearetallied, thescoreisnoted,andplayresumes Ifitsounds like kids in a backyard rather than semi-professionaladults,you’restartingtogetthepoint
Keep in mind that the focus of these casual sportingeventsistopasstimewithfriends The lowerthebarriertoentry,thegreaterthechance that any friend who wants to join will be able to Team construction is also about forming a group of people with diverse skills but similar mindsets Someonetodesignuniforms,someone tosnapphotos,someonetohelprepairthedugout Orrsaystheteamwillsometimesgetanemail fromsomewell-intentionedfather theirsonhas just graduated from college and wants to keep
playingbaseball;hecanthrow 90milesperhour canhebe ontheTexasPlayboys?
“He has a better chance joining the team,” Orr says “by coming out here with a paintbrush and offering to paint some outfield wall signs than bringing his baseball glove”
onvincing, and Linklater became a atronsaintoftheTexasPlayboys
Back in the early 2000s, shortly after Sanders first moved to Austin, filmmake RichardLinklateraskedhim onhisfamilyranchoutnea ofconstructiontransitionedintoagameofcatch towinddownasthesunset
“Didyouplayball?”askedLinklater,whospent some of his college days patrolling the outfield on Sam Houston State’s squad
Even though the director never dedupplayingontheteam,itsrosr is still packed with creatives, and ere ’snoshortageoffilmmakers One theearliestmembers,BradleyBees, has worked on several videos for minaryexperimentalrockbandThe ming Lips, including the seminal 05documentaryTheFearlessFreaks Membership has been a rotating tovertheyears,andSanderssayshe around80peopleontheemaillist, ugh only about 35 might be active f today Playboys, current and past, ude musicians Ben Kweller and azMcGarrigle,TexasMonthlywrithnSpong,filmmakerandsongwritcott Ballew, and Light in the Attic ords owner Matt Sullivan, to name
he Playboys have leaned into local , her teams are rooted in workplaces or common interests. For example, Meanwhile Brewing’s staff and their friends play on the Beermakers,andtheAustinDragBaseballClub is a queer-centric collective
“Thatwasanawesomemoment,becauseIwas like,‘OhmyGod,IgettotellRickLinklaterabout the Rural Studio,’” Sanders remembers AfterhearingaboutNewbern’sbaseballteam, the filmmaker remarked that he’d love to see somethinglikethat Sandersdidn’tneedanymore
Spectators lounginginthe grassenjoyan easygoing pace of lifeatThe
For some entities, it’s a perfect extension of the identity they’ve already developed, like Lone StarBeer,whosebrandmarketingmanagerMark Champion is a lifelong baseball fan He played sandlotfortheHoustonGamblersbeforemoving toSanAntonioandstartingtheTexasOilDawgs, which includes members from across the state and has been sponsored by Lone Star since its inceptionin2017 Championhasseenthepopularityofthesportspreadinrecentyears
“Ithinkit’swordofmouthwhereoneperson tellsanotherfriendandthatpersontellsanoth-
Sandlotapparel hasbecomea stylephenomenon.
On thegrounds of TheLongTime, visitors canshopfor merchatthe recently added ShortPorch Superette. Here,you’llfind vibeyapparel like wool baseball caps,work shirts,and felt pennants.You canalsoperusestylish blankets,jackets,robes,craft soaps, andreading material.It’saperfectly pastiche blendofretro sports aesthetic andhigh-enddesignvision. Outfront on theporch,KathieSever of chain-stitching companyFortLonesome(fabricator of thePlayboys’ denimjerseys)isoften onhand to providea custom design on ahandkerchief.
Thestore is managedand curatedbyTexas Playboys member TippiClark who, like everyone on theroster, boasts an impressive resume.After befriendingJackSanders at Auburn,Clark landed in NewYorkCity, whereshe worked for brands like Coach, Kate Spade, andMarcJacobs
Thesedays, it’s notuncommontosee Playboys apparelwornbynotable personalities: WilcofrontmanJeff Tweedy is fond of donningateamballcap,and PedroPascal wasspotted sporting thesameone during SXSW last year.Ultimately, fashionisone more expression of theartistrysurrounding sandlotbaseball.
When Clarkisn’t seeing to theSuperette’s operations,she likestoput in afew inningswiththe team.“As afemalecomingintomylateforties,ifyou'd have told me that Iwas goingtohavethismuchfun playingbaseball, I'mlike, ‘Why didI not startdoing this sooner?’”she says.“It's been themostwelcoming,encouraging, joyful experience that I've ever had.”
er friend, he says They see on Instagram this really cool place where you ’ re hanging out with a picnic blanket and you ’ re watching a game ”
ThecrazeevenensnaredtheattentionofNike president and CEO Elliott Hill, who was born and raised in Austin If sandlot baseball can attracttheheadofoneofthebiggestsportsbrands ontheplanet,itmustbedoingsomethingright Hill’ssquad,TheMoontowers,istrulyastaggering roster of notable names that includes C3 Presents co-founder Charles Attal, UT Athletic DirectorChrisDelConte,TecovasfounderPaul Hedrick,CameronDuddyofthebandMidland, artist Will Bryant, Huckberry brand officer Ben O’Meara,andformerNewEnglandPatriotMarshall Newhouse
But the core of the team began with some of Hill’s oldest friends “The Moontowers became a way of creating community,” he says “There weresixofusthatgrewuptogetherwhoalsohave our sons, and that was the nucleus of how we tarted the team”
JustlikethePlayboys,TheMoontowershave lso included a charitable element for the oranization by raising funds for RBI Austin, a nonprofitthatmakessportsmoreaccessibleto nner-city youth These efforts trace a direct ine back to the service-minded work of the Newbern Tigers and underscore that small ommunity’s outsized impact from just a few hundred people to the greater Austin commu-
nitytothepurviewofsomeonewithe
generous sponsorship from P F Flyers, months ofplanningisfinallycomingtogether,andCarey beams with pride there might even be a glimmerofatearperchedontherimofhiseyes
“Everybody came together and realized that they are part of something big,” he says
AftertheCEO’sfour-yearretirementinAustin, Nike decided it couldn’t do without Hill’s institutional knowledge and asked him back to Beaverton,Ore Hebroughtsandlotwithhimby inviting the Moontowers up to the company campus to play an employee squad called the NikeKnights Hillsplithistimeplayingforboth teams,amovethatmayseemunusualforasporting contest, but that’s the thing about sandlot baseball: There’s no wrong way to do it.
On a balmy Saturday in mid-May 2025, Scholz Garten buzzes with conversation. Representatives from more than 70 different sandlot baseball teams have gathered in Austin for the first-everSandlotRevolutionSummit Howard Carey co-manager,battingcoach,andoriginal member of the Texas Playboys greets guests and begins to issue instructions with decisive energy Square-jawedwithshortcurlsofdisheveledsilverhair,Careyhasapresencethatcommands the room.
A topic is assigned for the room to discuss, from inclusivity and culture building to the meritsofleaguesvs independentteams Aftera round-tablediscussioninsmallgroups,aspokesperson shares out key takeaways Thanks to a
A dogged documentarian, Carey maintains a website called Sandlot Revolution, which includes a database of any sandlot team he finds AthishomeinEastAustin,healsorunsabatting cage facility called the Meantime, where many of the crews meet up to get in some practice swings Arguably,Careyhasalreadydoneasmuch ormorethananyonetofosterthephilosophyof sandlotbaseballacrossthecountry,andthatwas before his landmark seminar concept.
According to Carey, some of the teams in competitiveleagueswerereluctanttocome,but they may have learned more than anyone He remembers getting an email from one squad a week after the summit asking if he could send notesfromthediscussionsessions
Someofthose leagues suffer from high turnover and overly competitive squabbling Investment is easier to maintain when you ’ re promising a good time instead of teasing a trophy
Carey’sroleasasandlotevangelisthasaclearcutorigin Standingnearakidof7or9yearsold atagameoneweekend,thePlayboywatchedthe youngster stare out at the field in wonder for a longtimebeforeturningtohisfatherandsaying,
“I didn’t know adults could have fun like this ”
As Carey sees it, we owe it to the next generation to do better What he, Sanders, and the TexasPlayboyshavebuiltatTheLongTimefeels like a promise that it’s possible
Rememberingwhena charismaticgoose namedHomer became achampion forthe rights of homeless Austinites
BY ROSIENINESLING
ONEWAY TO getcitycouncil’s attention? Threaten to kill, cook,andeatababygoose.In1988,morethan100unhoused locals organizedtoformthe Street People’s Associationof Austin(SPAA),whichpushedforbettertreatmentandaformal day-laborprogramforthecity’shomelesscommunity.When theirpleaswentunheard,theyhatchedaplan—specificallya baby goosenamed Homer,whichtheyboughtfor$16.87.Ata publicmeetinginZilkerPark,oneoftheorganization’smembers emergedfromTownLakewitha knifeinhis teethand a rotisseriechickeninhishands.PointingtoHomer,whothey hadondisplay,hethenrippedthecookedmeattoshredsand sworehe’ddothe same to thelittlegosling unless thecity addressedtheir demands.
Homernever became dinner.Instead,heemerged as a belovedmascot. Wearinga bowtie anddiaper, he wasa regular at town hall meetings,where hisdisruptivesquawking oftenmeanttheSPAA’sagendaswereaddressedfirst.Homer ledparades andgarnerednationalattention,including airtimeonGoodMorningAmerica,andwhenaskedtoattend
the1988DemocraticConvention, thegoose happilylefthis home (a floating raft on Town Lake called theS.S.Homer) and flew firstclass to Atlanta. Even Willie Nelson honored thebird’s raison d’être;atone of hisshows,hereleaseda cagedgoose on stagetosymbolize hissolidarity.
Laterthatyear, Homersadly suffered acaseofheatexhaustion.That’swhencommunity activist Lori Renteria became hisself-proclaimed godmother, housinghim for hisremaining days.The averagelifespanofa gooseis10to 20 years, butHomer livedtobe27—andhis impact continuedevenpasthis extended expiration.Shortly afterhis funeralin2015(whichwas attended by then-mayor Steve Adler),Renteriahad himtaxidermizedand putina glass displaycase. Stillwearing hisiconicbowtie, thestuffed Homerwas wheeledaroundAustinfor severalmoreyears, visiting schoolsand librariestoincreaseawareness around homelessness.“He wasthe best ambassador thehomeless had,”saidRenteriaonFox 7Austin. “Hereallydid change hearts andminds.”
Volume 34/Number2,March/April 2026,Austin Monthly(Publication No.001-163), is published bimonthly,six timesa year,byHearstNewspapers.Subscriptions are$14.95per year forsix issues.For customer serviceinquiries or to changeyour address, contact: Austin Monthly,POBox 2127, SanAntonio,TX78297-2127, 512-387-6234,orsubscriptions@austinmonthly.com.Periodicalspostagepaid at Denver,CO, andatadditionalmailing offices. Copyright2026 by Hearst Newspapers, LLC. No part of this publicationmay be reproducedwithoutwritten permission from thepublisher.DISCLAIMER:Advertisementsinthe publication do notconstituteanoffer forsale in states whereprohibited or restricted by law.
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