Famous People From Austin

Posted by admin | Posted on 24-08-2010

Category : Region IV

Tags: , , ,

Famous People From Austin

The city of Austin, Texas was settled in the early 1800′s and for nearly 200 years been a magnate for talent and visionaries. Austin has earned its reputation making the cut on several “ten best” lists from recognition for its going green efforts to one of the fastest growing cities in the nation. In addition to Austin[‘s collective achievements, the capital of The Lone Star State has been home to many a famous face, whether they were born there or migrated in to the Austin lifestyle and society.

1. Sandra Bullock. Actress, entrepreneur, and owner of the Bess Bistro, Walton’s Fancy and Staple, a bakery and florists shop in Austin, Texas. Ms. Bullock also hold’s the coveted title of “America’s Sweetheart”, a legacy few have earned since Mary Pickford. Married to Jesse James (Jesse who?)

2. Mathew McConaughey. Film actor and graduate from the Texas University of Texas at Austin. Mr. McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas, has lived in Longview and was a communications major at the University of Texas at Austin. He may also be the most famous person arrested in Austin when he was nabbed in 1999 for marijuana possession and disturbing the peace.

3. Wes Anderson. Film director born in Houston, Texas but would move to Austin to attend the University of Texas with a major in philosophy. Mr. Anderson’s feature film credits span from 1996 to present to include Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou, and Darjeeling Limited.

4. Owen Wilson. Film actor. Mr. Wilson was born in Dallas, but would work with Austin resident, Wes Anderson, on several dramatic projects.

5. Jenna and Barbara Bush. Identical twin daughters of George W. and Laura Bush. Both girls graduated from the University of Texas at Austin.

6. Marcia Gay Harden. Film, television, stage and Academy Award winning actress who studied film production at the University of Texas at Austin. Ms. Harden has too many credits to list and is the recipient of multiple prestigious industry awards.

7. Andy Roddick. Andrew Stephen Roddick was born in Omaha, Nebraska, but lived in Austin during his early years. Roddick is a champion tennis player and holds the record for the fastest serve in the history of the sport.

8. Stevie Ray Vaughan. Born in Dallas, Mr. Vaughan was the recipient of more than a dozen Austin Music Awards and has been inducted into The Blues Hall of Fame. Tragically, Mr. Vaughan lost his life in a helicopter accident on August 27, 1990. He was just 35 years old.

9. Molly Ivins. Mary Tyler Ivins was born in Monterrey, Ca, but would later call Austin her home. Known for her sharp wit and political columns, Ms. Ivins led a distinguished career until her death from breast cancer in 2007. Ivins died in Austin at the age of 62.

10. Mike Judge. Funnyman, animator, screenwriter and director Mike Judge may be best known for creating Beavis and Butt-Head, Office Space and slew of additional credits in film and television. Mr. Judge lives in Austin and can be found playing guitar on the local circuit.

Austin Profiles : The Blanton Museum Of Art

Posted by admin | Posted on 02-08-2010

Category : Region IV

Tags: , , ,

Austin Profiles : The Blanton Museum Of Art

The Blanton Museum of Art is a part of the College of Fine arts in The University of Texas at Austin, with a permanent collection of substantial range and depth. It is the principal art museum in Austin, with collections and exhibits on a par with art museums throughout the country. Positioning itself as a gateway between the University community and the general public in Austin, the Blanton is committed to building the finest collections possible, being a vital resource for teaching in a broad variety of disciplines, and to making their offering available to art lovers of all ages.


Originally known as the University Art Museum, the Blanton dates back to 1963, when a new building for the art department designated some gallery space. The Blaton Museum began collecting in earnest throughout the 1960s and 1970s, and gained a large group of important paintings from a private donation from the acclaimed author James Michener. The Blanton took an early leadership role in the promotion and preservation of Latin American art, founded on the donation of some two hundred paintings and 1,200 drawings from the collection of John and Barbara Duncan. Other permanent holdings include the C. R. Smith Collection of Paintings of the American West, and nearly one thousand contemporary prints donated by Charles Clark of McAllen, Texas. Now, the museum has over 17,000 works in its permanent collection.


The museum also offers a great number of traveling exhibitions, with topics that range from cultural to political art. Whether featuring the sculpture of New York’s Park Place Gallery Cooperative, the performance-installation work of Michael Smith and Joshua White, woodcuts and engravings by Albrecht Drer, or Rembrandt’s etchings, the rotating exhibitions are world-class.


The public programs available at the Blanton are diverse and exciting. They offer public tours of the museum, guided by knowledgeable docents who can answer questions about the collections and exhibits. Each month, they host an art party known as “B-Scene,” featuring live music by Austin bands, gallery tours, art-making activities, light snacks, and a cash bar featuring their signature cocktail, the Blantini. The last Tuesday of the month brings the Bach Cantata project, a choral performance held in the majestic atrium of the museum. Hot Art Hip Kids is a program for children, and for adults, they also offer educational lectures on their exhibitions, as well as Third Thursday, a themed event held in the evenings. Classes and workshops on many different subjects are also available.


With the opening of the new Blanton in April 2006-following a 2 1/2 year building project the museum was for the first time able to house all of its collections under one roof, becoming the premier art museum in Central Texas. In its new home, with its rich and versatile collections, magnificent galleries, fun and diverse programming, and an enthusiastic and committed group of staff and volunteers, the museum continues its mission to promote the arts in Austin to the students attending the University of Texas of Austin and the general public.

The Drag in Austin Texas

Posted by admin | Posted on 31-07-2010

Category : Region IV

Tags: , ,

The Drag in Austin Texas

Austin, Texas is home to many different attractions with great food, shopping, and entertainment venues. Many think of Sixth Street as Austin’s premiere hotspot, but there are several other interesting yet relatively overlooked areas in town. One of the most popular and diverse places in Austin for great food and entertainment is a strip along Guadalupe Street affectionately referred to as the Drag. From around 34th Street at the northern edge to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, great food and shopping abound, along with a few curiosities.

Austin is renowned for its live music scene, but the clubs aren’t all downtown. The Hole in the Wall is one of the most renowned and stored venues in the history of Austin, with 25 years of experience bringing in both great local talent and road shows in many styles ranging from old-school country to rock and pop. With its dim lighting and homey atmosphere, the Showdown is a great bar in which you can kick back and observe the tides of burnt orange flocking to and from class. Spider House is one of Austin’s most eclectic places to share a pitcher of Lone Star, the National Beer of Texas with friends, with regular influxes of live music and DJs. The decor is based most obviously from vintage gliders, chairs and tables with dozens of Christmas lights to provide illumination and the odd sculpture of a naked child urinating in a bathtub. Such expression is much more commonplace in Austin in part because of its long connection with the University of Texas.

Since the University of Texas at Austin is located directly off Guadalupe, many businesses have taken advantage of the huge influx of students. As a result, there are many great stores to check out. As far as apparel, American Apparel has recently opened a store directly across from the West Mall of the University. Other stores include Whole Earth Provision Company and Tyler’s, the source for “Keep Austin Weird” shirts and assorted UT-related garb. Toy Joy on 29th and Guadalupe offers a plethora of creative gifts and eccentric toys for all types.

As far as food goes, the Drag offers more choices than many other areas in town, partially because of the diverse student body that frequents the area. Madam Mam’s makes great Thai and Chinese food, while just down the road lie several venerable Austin establishments such as Burger Tex, Dirty Martin’s (Home of the Kum-Bak Burger), and Veggie Heaven, a favorite for vegans and health-conscious people. Kerbey Lane Cafe is the place to go if you’re looking for late-night food ranging from enchiladas to classic American fare. Don’t forget to try the famous pancakes, which come is several delicious and fruity flavors. Tom’s Tabooleh offers great falafel and other various Middle Eastern fare, using locally grown and organic ingredients. They also have a wide selection of fresh hummus and Greek dolmas available every day. Wheatsville Co-op is a local grocery which sells local and organic produce as well as a variety of health foods and a great deli to boot. For those in search of a tasty ice cream treat, options abound: The famous Amy’s Ice Cream has many different and unusual types of creamy delights, including Guinness or Shiner Bock ice cream. So if Austin’s where you want to be, don’t forget to check out the Drag (it’s kind of hard to miss).

The University of Texas, Austin

Posted by admin | Posted on 30-07-2010

Category : Region IV

Tags: , ,

The University of Texas, Austin

The main campus is located less than a mile from the Texas State Capitol. The university was named one of the original eight Public Ivy institutions. Apart form the main campus, university operates various additional facilities aside from the main campus, most notably the J. J. Pickle Research Campus. UT Austin is a major center for academic research, annually exceeding 0 million in funding. In addition, the university’s athletic programs were recognized by Sports Illustrated as “America’s Best Sports College” in 2002.

Academic Profile:

The university was ranked as the top 12th among public schools (as per U.S. News and World Report, 2008), and is ranked as the top 19th nationally (The Washington Monthly, 2007), and #38 in an academic ranking of world universities (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2007). Seven doctoral programs of UT are ranked among the top 10 in the nation for 2008 and with 22 departments also in the top 25 departments.

Admission:

As a state public university, UT Austin is subject to Texas House Bill 588 (aka HB 588, the top ten percent law, or the percent plan), which guarantees graduating Texas high school seniors in the top 10% of their class admission to any public Texas university. Roughly 2/3 of admitted applicants are admitted in this manner. For others who go through the traditional application process, selectivity at UT Austin is deemed “more selective” according to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. In fall 2006, a total of 27,315 applications were received and 13,305 were admitted. In fall 2007, 27,232 applications and 13,781 students were admitted.

Student Life:

The university enrolls 37,377 undergraduate, 11,533 graduate and 1,467 law students. The student population includes students from all 50 states and more than 100 foreign countries, most notably, South Korea, followed by India, China and Mexico represented. The average SAT score for entering Fall 2004 freshmen was a 1230 out of 1600.

Students Accommodation:

Most of the students live in the university campus area, which encompasses an area from Interstate 35, which runs along the eastern perimeter, to Lamar Boulevard, which circles the western edge of the campus, including numerous fraternity and sorority houses. The campus also extends to Martin Luther King to the south and the campus itself is just a mile or so north of the State Capitol Building and the Capitol complex. The northern edge is roughly around 27th Street, and among these fours borders are some of the most interesting sights in the Austin area.

The Top Neighborhood for Austin Texas Real Estate is Steiner Ranch!

Posted by admin | Posted on 16-07-2010

Category : Region IV

Tags: , , , , , ,

The Top Neighborhood for Austin Texas Real Estate is Steiner Ranch!

Steiner Ranch, in MLS area RN, or zip code 78732, was named “Best Master-Planned Community” in the greater Austin area from the Austin Business Journal in 2004. And for good reason. This mega-community, bordered by RR 620 to the north, Lake Austin to the West and South, and neighboring River Place to the east encompasses a nature preserve-like atmosphere to complement its stellar location of rolling hills and the winding placidity of Lake Austin, which, moderated by the LCRA, retains a constant depth year round. 

With 819 acres set aside for preservation and 12 miles of trails, Steiner prides itself in fusing well with its environment. The 27,000-acre Balcones Canyonland Conservation Preserve surrounds the development, offering many homes and sites the backyard of a consistent greenbelt. The general area hosts 10 golf courses, eight boat launches, 19 marinas and 15 public parks. Water enthusiasts are within 5 minutes of either Fritz Hughes, Selma Hughes or Mary Quinlan Parks, all providing public access to Lake Austin.

Within Steiner, homeowners are required to respect the design standards and upkeep of the community by paying two installments totaling 0 in HOA dues. These dues not only include trash and recycling service, but also employ a full-time activities director who helps organize events such as summer camps and wine tastings. Gated areas within Steiner Ranch have additional fees to cover the gates and private street maintenance.

The University of Texas’ own Golf Club, a 71 – 7,225 yard championship course, sprawls over 275 acres in the middle of the neighborhood. Wincing and regrouping from a fire that downed the clubhouse at the beginning of 2008, the home course for the University’s Men’s and Women’s varsity golf programs offers very limited membership opportunity for local golfers.
Lake Austin Spa, the only destination health spa in the country with a waterfront location, is located at the southern tip of Steiner Ranch. Ranked #2 by Conde Nast Traveller as the best destination spa in North America, the spa has recently renovated its rooms with an eye on the top spot. Housing an intimate 40-room resort with a new 25,000 sq foot spa facility, their laid back approach on 19 acres continues to live up to its reputation.

Not surprisingly, schools get good marks at Steiner Ranch. Served by the Leander Independent School District, students attend Recognized Steiner Ranch Elementary, and both Exemplary Laura Welch Bush Elementary and Canyon Ridge Middle Schools, all located within the community. Nearby Cedar Park High is the destination for 9th-12th grade students.

With so much to offer, Steiner Ranch still manages to offer homes for many different types of buyers. Starting in the low 0’s (and heading well over million), homeowners enjoy larger homes ranging from 2,000-7,000 sq feet. 

Austin Texas Neighborhood Profiles : Clarksville

Posted by admin | Posted on 01-07-2010

Category : Region IV

Tags: , , , ,

Austin Texas Neighborhood Profiles : Clarksville

The West Austin area of Clarksville was originally a freedman’s colony for slaves freed after the Civil War. It now has a very diverse population, and this diversity is reflected in the various nationalities of the residents. There is an excellent public grade school in Clarksville, named Mathews Elementary.


Every fall, Mathews holds a carnival on the grounds, which includes the Clarksville Annual International Dinner and the Octoborama Festival, which is held at the end of October. During Octoberama, local musicians, many of whom are the parents or relatives of Mathews School students, perform at the carnival. Also, most of the kids bring large quantities of food to be sold at the International Dinner, to reflect the cuisine of the countries of their origin.


Since most of the University of Texas Division of Housing apartment complexes are located in the West Austin area, and the grade school children residing there with their parents attend Mathews, many ethnicities and heritages are represented at the dinner, including Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Mexican, and various African and other nationalities. While at the Octoberama Festival, you can hear local musicians, sample all kinds of homemade food, watch contests such as two-legged races and relay races, and enjoy juggling and face-painting, which all of the kids love.


Right down the street from the school is another Austin legend, Nau’s pharmacy, which has one of the oldest soda fountains in Austin. You can have eggs for breakfast or a shake after school at Nau’s, and then head down to the 9th Street dog park.


There are many good restaurants in the Clarksville area, and this area is a short bus ride or long walk to Lady Bird Lake, and the jogging trails, or you can go downtown by bus or on the sidewalk, just a mile or so in the other direction. There are also a number of historic homes in the area, including a home referred to by the children as “the Castle”, since it looks just like a medieval castle, but which was originally a military college building.


There is also a “Moonlight Tower”, another local landmark, in the area of the Castle. Austin and Clarksville are home to many local politicians and well-known Austinites. Ann Richards was a regular at the drug store soda fountain, and most Hollywood celebrities visit the restaurants when in Austin.


The Johnson Creek Hike and Bike Trail skirts the western edge of Clarksville, and winds along under the Loop One freeway, also called the MoPac for the Missouri Pacific rail line which runs directly alongside the freeway. You can walk, ride a bike, or jog up and down the hike and bike trail, which crosses Johnson Creek in one place and begins at Austin High School, on the northern shore of Lady Bird Lake.


From the Austin High School access point to the trails, You can cross the lake, which is actually the Colorado River, and hike through Zilker Park or swim in Barton Springs, or go north, and once past Clarksville, you eventually wind up in the Brykerwoods area, if you go south you can head down to the Barton Hills and Travis Heights.


Clarksville is also home to various arts and crafts establishments, and the yearly Eeyore’s Birthday Party Celebration, another fun local event, which is held in Pease Park, on the north-eastern perimeter of the Clarksville area. All in all, The Clarksviile area of Austin is truly a great place to live, whether you’re raising a family, a student, retired, or any one of the varied lifestyles which flourish in Austin. You will always feel at home in Clarksville.

Profile: The University of Texas at Austin

Posted by admin | Posted on 20-02-2009

Category : Region IV

Tags: , , ,

Profile: The University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas, with its flagship campus in Austin, is one of the original eight Public Ivys, according to Richard Moll.


Moll coined the phrase in his 1985 book, Public Ivys: A Guide to America’s Best Public Undergraduate Colleges and Universities. The phrase has since come to include many more universities who offer an Ivy League education at a public university price.


UT earned such a distinction by providing a quality education for undergraduates since it opened its doors in 1883. As far back as 1839, the government of Texas set aside 40 acres of real estate in Austin for the purpose of starting a public university. They named the area College Hill. Construction did not begin until 1881, when Austin was officially made the main campus for the new university. By this time, Texas A&M had already beaten it to being the first university in Texas.


Unfortunately, one of the most memorable points in the history of the University of Texas was when Charles Whitman barricaded himself and a rifle at the top of the Main Building Tower in 1966. He shot and killed 14 people. After this unfortunate incident the tower at the University of Texas was closed for a number of years. Only recently has the University allowed visitors back into the tower and extra security precautions have been put in place.


Today, UT is one of the largest universities in the U.S. Enrollment reaches nearly 50,000 each year and the sprawling campus covers 350 acres near downtown Austin. Students and the public have access to seven museums and 17 libraries with over eight million volumes. Among its collections, the university owns one of only 21 copies of the Gutenberg Bible and the first photograph ever taken, created by Nicephore Niepce.


UT also has many strong academic programs. Its Business School is consistently ranked as one of the top programs in the country. Additionally, the computer science program and the architecture school are nationally ranked programs.


The University of Texas along with the state capitol offers a steady economic base to the city of Austin that is able to stabilize Austin as other industries in Austin ebb and flow. For instance during the tech downturn in 2000/2001 which affected many cities in the United States part of the brunt of the economic downturn was mitigated by the employment base of University of Texas and the state capitol.


UT is an integral part of the city of Austin. Residents enjoy the atmosphere of prestigious athletics and academics that the school adds to their city.

The University of Texas Campus Area of Austin

Posted by admin | Posted on 01-02-2009

Category : Region IV

Tags: , , , ,

The University of Texas Campus Area of Austin

The University of Texas at Austin is one of the five largest universities in the country, and currently nearly fifty thousand students attend the university, which is home to the U.T. Longhorns. Most of the students live in the U. T. campus area, which encompasses an area from Interstate 35, which runs along the eastern perimeter, to Lamar Boulevard, which circles the western edge of the campus, including numerous fraternity and sorority houses.


The campus also extends to Martin Luther King to the south and the campus itself is just a mile or so north of the State Capitol Building and the Capitol complex. The northern edge is roughly around 27th Street, and among these fours borders are some of the most interesting sights in the Austin area.


There are many nice apartment buildings, condominium projects and single as well as multiple family dwellings in the campus area, with prices affordable enough for new students and nice enough for faculty, grad students and the more affluent. There are many “commune-style” homes in the area, which require the residents to share the chores, bills, meals and other expenditures and are very affordable due to the shared financial input of the inhabitants, but don’t offer quite as much privacy as a traditional apartment complex.


However, these residences do offer more of a home-like atmosphere, which appeals to the newer students. Many of the commune-style homes, apartments, condos, sororities and fraternities are situated within a block or two of “the Drag”, which is how the students refer to Guadalupe Street, the major thoroughfare through the campus area. North of the University of Texas is the neighborhood of Hyde Park which some students can on occasion find a house to rent.


But since Hyde Park has become a more desirable neighborhood over the last 10 years rents can be expensive. If students go a little farther north they find the North Loop neighborhood where rents are a little more affordable.


The east side of “the drag” skirts the western edge of campus proper, which includes the U.T. Tower, student union, various education halls, and the West Mall, where campus-related political gatherings are held outdoors. Many students can be found reading, walking to and from class, or eating on the steps and benches which are strategically located in the west campus area, or at many of the food kiosks and stands, which feature ethnic fast foods of all kinds, especially many oriental and Indian foods.


Students of all nationalities attend U.T., and all of them can find regional cuisine in the area, even on the campus itself, with the Texas Union offering a wide selection of meals, drinks and snacks. The other side of “the drag” encircles an area which is full of shopping boutiques, churches, student centers, restaurants, bookstores and one of the largest assortments of street vendors in the Austin area.


The street vendors sell a little bit of everything, but seem to specialize in silver jewelry and Indian clothing, as well as hats, shirts, other clothing items, music, posters and memorabilia. These items are usually quite inexpensive, and a vast selection of styles, colors, and regional favorites can be found in the numerous stalls full of merchandise which line the west side of Guadalupe Street. There are also ice cream shops, pinball parlors, and many clubs, some of which offer live music.

Take a Tour of the University of Texas at Austin

Posted by admin | Posted on 24-01-2009

Category : Region IV

Tags: , , , ,

Take a Tour of the University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin, with its main campus no more than a mile away from the State Capitol of Texas, is the famous research university at the heart of Texas. As part of the University of Texas System, UT Austin is consistently well attended since its founding in 1883. In 2007, it had the fifth largest fall-season enrolment in the nation. In Texas, it holds the record for the largest enrolment amongst all the local colleges.

The university is noted for the J. J. Pickle Research Campus, an academic research center. In addition, there are other auxiliary facilities and programs that the university operates. Interested parties, students meaning to enroll, or tourists can go on campus walking tours to see the UT Austin for themselves. Aside from the regular day tours there is the nighttime Moonlight Prowl guided tour. Also available is the Tower Observation Deck Tour, taking place at the observation deck of the Tower, the university’s landmark. It is a premium to see the architecture, the construction, the interiors, for yourself.

Public art is a main attraction at the University of Texas at Austin campus. Landmarks is a collection of the finest public art-works on campus. Sculpture is a feature in the online Campus Statues Tour highlighting the more notable statues and other landmark sculptures in the campus.

Go back in time when you take the historic Main Building Tour either online, to sample the architecture, the sights and sounds, the personalities behind the making of the Main Building, or on an actual day tour of the building itself. With the Victorian-Gothic style of old being retained as much as possible, the new Main Building with its modern day tower is one hallmark of the campus you cannot afford to miss.

University of Texas in Austin also plays host to seventeen libraries, 7 museums, a football stadium, a Student Activities Center, the Gregory Gym, the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, the Blanton Museum of the Arts. Art, history, activity, all rolled into one. There can never be an idle time for the intellectually and physically aroused in the campus. There is KUT, a public radio station operated by the university to provide internet streaming audio and regular FM radio broadcasts.

If you really want to see everything there is to discover in the University of Texas at Austin, time your visit for the biggest Texan open house: the Explore UT yearly open house. Every year the university plays host to Texans to discover for themselves the wonders of the UT Austin Campus. From guided tours to special performances, from lectures to demonstrations, from interactive and other do-it-yourself activities, the Explore UT is one event that bares them all about the university.

The UT Austin campus sits on 3.4 square kilometers of land inclusive of the main campus and the research center campus in North Austin housing the J. J. Pickle Research. To get there, Capitol Metro provides regular bus transport, both for students and tourists in-campus and all around Austin.

More University Of Texas At Austin Articles