Urbanspace Favs | Top 5 ATX November Events

October 26, 2021 by robbie

Top 5 ATX November Events 2021

November is here which means Thanksgiving and cooler weather is right around the corner! There are several events in Austin that you won’t want to miss out on. Check out below our Top 5 Austin events happening in November!

Austin Food + Wine Festival: Celebrate Austin Food + Wine Festival’s 10th anniversary November 5-7, 2021. The festival is a three-day event with top chef talent and winemakers from across the nation. Enjoy signature bites from top-rated restaurants along with sampling wine, beer, and spirits exhibitors. Sip, savor, mix and mingle all weekend long with live musical performances. You can purchase tickets here. (Auditorium Shores and Republic Square Park)

ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot: Join one of Austin’s most beloved Thanksgiving traditions, the 31st annual ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot on November 25, 2021. It is the largest 5 mile run in Texas and is a great way to kick off Thanksgiving day. If you aren’t into running, you can also do a one mile walk/jog. The event also donates 100% of the proceeds to Caritas of Austin, a non-profit that works to prevent and end homelessness in Austin. Purchase tickets here. (The Long Center for the Performing Arts & Virtual)

Wurstfest: This year’s Wurstfest will take place from November 5-14, 2021. Enjoy good food, music, dancing, carnival rides, games, German/Texas/Domestic beer, special events, and Bavarian Style Entertainment. The annual event is a unique celebration rich in German culture and full of Texas fun! Buy tickets here. (120 Landa Street, New Braunfels, TX 78130)

A Christmas Affair: This year’s Christmas Affair will be held from November 17-21, 2021. A Christmas Affair is a five-day holiday market benefiting the Junior League of Austin. The annual event hosts 200+ retail merchants from across the country. Purchase tickets here. (Palmer Event Center)

The Rolling Stones Concert : The Rolling Stone’s will perform at the Circuit of The Americas Super Stage on November 20, 2021. The newly scheduled date in Austin will mark the last tour date of the NO FILTER tour and the rock ‘n’ roll legends’ first time reuniting following last year’s postponement. You can purchase tickets here. (Circuit of the Americas)

Urbanspace Favs | Top 5 ATX October Events

September 27, 2021 by robbie

Top 5 ATX October Events 2021

The month of October is packed full of fun, once-a-year, events in Austin, Texas. Be sure to check out our Top 5 ATX October events below.

Austin City Limits Music Festival: After a year of no ACL we are so excited that the Austin City Limits music festival is back. The 2021 ACL Music Festival takes place October 1-3 & 8-10, 2021 at Zilker Park, in the heart of Austin, Texas. If you are looking for a place to grab a drink and relax before or after the festival, be sure to check out Codependent, which was featured in Thrilliest’s Ultimate 2021 Austin City Limits Dining Guide. (Zilker Park)

Formula 1 Race: The Formula 1 Aramco United States Grand Prix will be held in Austin, TX at the Circuit of the Americas from October 22-24, 2021. There will be performances from Twenty One Pilots on Friday night and Billy Joel on Saturday night. The United States Grand Prix is traditionally placed towards the end of the season on the calendar and has previously been pivotal in deciding the hotly-contested drivers’ championship. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of history! (9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd, Austin, TX 78617)

TX/OU Football Game: The greatest interstate rivalry in college football is returning to Dallas on October 9th, when the Texas Longhorns square off against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl Stadium. Even though the game won’t be held in Austin there are still plenty of great places to watch the game, a few places include, Little Woodrow’s (west 6th), Bufords, Bouldin Acres, The Tavern, Parlor and Yard, Haymaker, or even from ACL under the beer tent. (Multiple Venues)

Halloween: It’s finally October which means Halloween! Below are a few festive activities for a range of different ages. The House of Torment is a much-loved spot that’s been in business for over 12 years. The haunted house runs from September 11 – November 13. Book your tickets to the House of Torment here. The Flower Studio is hosting a Monster Mayhem Pumpkin Painting Class on Saturday October 23rd from 10:30am – 3:30pm. This is the perfect laid back event for little ones to create some fun Halloween decorations. Costumes are encouraged! Make your reservation here. For those who are 21+ the W Austin Hotel is having a Haunted Halloween and Costume Party on October 30th at 9:00pm. Dress up in your favorite costumes for a night of cocktails, dancing, and spooky times! You can purchase tickets here. (Multiple Venues).

Party for the Parks: Join Austin Parks Foundation at Party for the Parks to help raise critical funds for the city of Austin parks. The party will be held on October 6, 2021 at Zilker Park under the stars at ACL Music Festival. There will be amazing live music along with local food and drinks to raise funds to improve these important spaces, all while exclusively having the festival grounds to celebrate Austin’s parks, trails, and green spaces. You can purchase tickets here. (Zilker Park)

Urbanspace Favs | Top 5 ATX Labor Day Events 2021

December 10, 2021August 27, 2021 by robbie

Top 5 ATX Labor Day Events 2021

Looking to mix up your Labor Day plans? Check out these weekend plans you won’t want to miss.

Free Yoga at Waterloo Greenway: Castle Hill Fitness is hosting free yoga classes in the park at Waterloo Greenway on Monday September 6, 2021. The classes are open to members and non-members but you must bring your own mat and water bottle. Located at Moody Amphitheater the classes are 9:00am-10:00am, 10:00am-10:30am, and 6:30pm-7:30pm CDT. Registration is required for capacity purposes. You can sign up here. (1401 Trinity St, Austin, TX 78701)

Austin Live Music Revival: Austin Live Music Revival is a multi-genre event featuring 50+ performances across five venues and three days! The event is taking place on Labor day Weekend starting on Friday September 3rd at 3:00 pm through Sunday September 5th at 11:00 pm CDT. A few of the venues include Antone’s, Swan Dive, Barbarella, Cedar Street Courtyard, and more. Check out the lineup and more information on the event here. (Multiple Venues)

Bob Schneider’s Labor of Love Fest: Bob Schneider is a family friendly event open to all ages. There will be a full bar and food available at the venue. The Labor of Love Fest will be on September 4, 2021 at 6:00pm at Nutty Brown Amphitheater. No outside chairs, food, drinks, containers, or blankets allowed. All minors will be charged an additional $5 at the door. (12225 Hwy 290 W, Austin, TX 78738)

Drive Thru Labor Day Weekend Fish Fry: Hosted by Austin Central Labor Council is the Labor Day Fish Fry. This year’s fish fry has been moved to a drive-thru only event. The event is scheduled for Friday, September 3rd at the NALC Hall (601 Williams Street, Austin, TX 78752).

Rooftop Night Party Labor Day Weekend: Enjoy some good music by Jamie Dred at a Rooftop Party hosted by Encore. Located at Speakeasy, the event will be held from September 5, 2021 from 9:00pm – 2:00am. Tickets are $10 and you can purchase them here. (412 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701)

The Modern Austin Residences | Development

January 11, 2022August 3, 2021 by cassie

Kevin Burns Reveals New Details About Rainey Street Skyscraper, Including Name and Project Team

The tower formerly known as 9092 Rainey, which has been in the works for several years, officially has a new name and new project specifications.

The Modern Austin Residences will have 56 stories featuring 346 market-rate residences and 21 affordable housing units. Austin’s Urbanspace Real Estate + Interiors is developing the project.

The affordable housing units will be available to people earning 80% of median family income, which is $98,900 in the Austin metro. The market rate units will start in the $400,000 range for a one-bedroom unit. Three-bedroom units will go for $1.6 million and above.

These updates, provided by Urbanspace CEO Kevin Burns, come just a few months after Austin City Council approved a density bonus for the project, allowing the building to go higher than typically allowed. At the time, the tower was planned to be 51 stories high and to contain 400 total units.

Burns said some of the extra stories were added to improve the look of the crown of the building by hiding water cooling towers and other mechanical features. He said they ended up reducing the number of market rate residences but maintaining the same number of affordable ones.

Many have wondered about the fate of Container Bar, the popular bar made of shipping containers that sits on the project site. Burns said the bar will close just before crews break ground on The Modern, which is set for late March 2022.

However, Bridget Dunlap — who owns Container Bar as well as Clive Bar and Lustre Pearl — has signed on to run an entertainment space in the basement of the building.

“Container Bar had a good run, but I’m excited for what’s next,” Dunlap said in a statement. “This next concept will fill a niche that Austin is missing in the music/hospitality scene, and I’m glad to have the opportunity to stay in our spot.”

Nelsen Partners will be the design architect for the tower, Flintco will be the general contractor and Page will be the architect of record. Urbanspace will handle sales and interior design for the tower.

Sales are expected to begin at the start of next year. Burns said it will likely take two and a half years to complete construction. He projects they’ll finish in the second half of 2024.

Original plans for the tower included hotel space and permanent residences, but Covid-19 forced the developer to rethink the plan.

“The fact of the matter is what my company knows inside and out, backwards and forwards is high-rise condominiums,” Burns said. “So it allowed us to really focus on what we do best.”

Urbanspace has been tapped to sell the condos for other high-profile Austin towers, including The Independent, which has an onsite coffee and cocktail bar on the ground floor, similar to what is planned for The Modern. But The Modern Austin Residences represents Burns’ first foray into high-rise development.

Calls for denser housing within the city limits have grown louder amid the city of Austin’s persistent housing shortage. In June, the Austin Board of Realtors reported that the city had only 0.7 months of housing inventory on the market. That means if no new houses were listed, the city would be completely out of available housing in less than a month.

“We couldn’t beat the timing as far as the current market demands for products in Central Austin,” Burns said.

Rainey Street, in particular, has transformed considerably in recent the years. In the mid-2000s, the neighborhood received Central Business District zoning, making it easier to build big in what was once a residential area. The street is now known in large part for its bars, which largely occupy former single-family homes.

“Rainey street is evolving for families from all different walks of life, for those that want to ditch the car and be able to walk to everything,” Burns said. “I’m excited to see not just my project but the other projects that are going up in the area that are really going to create an incredible experience, not just for those that live there, but for the entire city.”

Article from: Austin Business Journal

Urbanspace Favs | Top 5 Ways To Wind Down Your Summer

July 20, 2021 by robbie

Top 5 Ways To Wind Down Your Summer

With the end of summer approaching, we have a list of must-do ATX activities for August. Check out our Urbanspace Top 5 Ways to Wind Down Your Summer below!

Austin FC Home Games: Go cheer on Austin’s first professional soccer team, Austin FC! The team has four home games in August where they will play at the new Q2 Stadium. August 4th at 8:00pm the team will play Houston. August 18th at 8:00pm they will host Vancouver. Then on August 21st at 8:00pm they will play Portland. On August 29th at 7:00pm the team will play Dallas. You can purchase single-match tickets here. (10414 McKalla Pl, Austin, TX 78758)

16th Annual Bat Fest: The biggest bat-viewing party of the year will be held on the Congress Avenue Bridge on August 28, 2021. Enjoy live music, local food and drink, a bat costume contest, children activities, and more than 50 arts and crafts vendors. The event will run from 4:00pm to 11:59pm. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 cash at the gate. Kids 8 and under are free with an adult. You can purchase tickets here. (100 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78704)

Blues on the Green: Blues on the Green is back and will take place on August 10th and 11th at Zilker Park. Gather friends and family, pack a blanket, and enjoy the free concert series with performances by local artists. (2207 Lou Neff Rd, Austin, TX 78746)

Donut Boat Rentals: Donut Boat rentals is exclusive to Lady Bird Lake and provides small groups an electric boat adventure. The Donut Boat’s unique design allows up to ten people to sit around a center table with a center post umbrella for shade. Never driven a boat? No problem, you’ll receive an orientation. Feel free to bring your own food and snacks, or choose from one of the plated options Capital Cruises offers from the Hyatt Regency Austin. Rental pricing is $100/hour with a 2 hour minimum for all reservations. (208 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704)

Lake Travis Zipline Adventures: Enjoy the Austin Hill country with five thrilling Ziplines over Lake Travis! Includes all needed equipment, boat transportation, and bottled water. You can also enjoy access to their private lakefront property where you are able to swim, picnic, play beach games, or relax in hammocks. Reservations are required and can be made here. (14529 Pocohontas Trail, Leander, TX 78641)

Live the Lifestyle, Love the Lifestyle | Austin Food Delivery

December 10, 2021October 1, 2020 by Em Scott

Austin Food Delivery + Take-Out Services

Austin’s flourishing restaurant community is being forced to switch gears in another direction. As the Coronavirus outbreak has now reached Austin, Mayor Steve Adler ordered that all bars and restaurant dining room to be shut through at least May 1st to slow the spread of COVID-19. This major change as impacted many individuals, fortunately restaurants have not been shut down entirely as take-out, drive-through and delivery food service is permitted.

Below we’ve listed the best places to get delivered or take-out from by food category. Make sure to check the restaurants website for more details before placing an order.

Italian + Pizza

Homeslice – Offering order or call ahead take out
Salvation Pizza – Order online for delivery or pick-up, also offered by Favor on the Favor Delivery app.
Via 313 – Place a no contact pick-up order by calling or ordering online.
East Side Pies – All locations are open for pick-up or delivery, order online or over the phone.
Hoboken Pie – Offering orders on their mobile app, over the phone and online for pick-up or delivery.
Brick Oven on 35th – Call or order online to get food to-go.

Austin Water Lantern Festival

March 7, 2020 | Muller Lake Park

Water Lantern Festival is filled with fun, happiness, hope, and great memories that you’ll cherish for a lifetime. This is a family friendly event that can be shared by everyone where you can come together to create a peaceful, memorable experience.

Texas Film Awards

March 12, 2020 | Austin Film Society

Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of the biggest event in Texas film. The Awards return to the grand stage at Austin Studios in 2020, where we’ll celebrate the newest members of the Texas Film Hall of Fame.

South by Southwest

March 13 – 22, 2020 | Various locations throughout Austin

Join artists, innovators, and thought leaders from around the world and turn your ideas into reality this March. Experience 10 days of unparalleled discovery, learning, and networking with creatives across tech, film, and music industries at the 2020 SXSW Conference & Festivals

Austin Rodeo

March 14 – 28, 2020 | Travis County Exposition Center

Tap into your true Texan for some traditional Western rodeo entertainment. Rodeo Austin remains home to one of America’s Top 10 pro rodeos, exhibiting top-ranked athletes competing tournament-style in events like bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, and more. Meanwhile, Rodeo Austin’s daily three-stage lineup caters to both the young and old with varied genres. In addition to the music, livestock exhibition, and rodeo itself, there’s the annual sprawl of Austin’s biggest carnival, silly with rides and game booths.

St. Patrick’s Day Festival

March 15, 2020 | Jourdan – Bachman Pioneer Festival

This annual family-friendly festival celebrates all things Irish. Come enjoy authentic Celtic music and dancers, Irish language workshops, the finest Irish imports and plenty of good craic!

Dell Technologies Match Play

March 25 – 29, 2020 | Austin Country Club

With a rare, match-play format consisting of the top 64 players in the Official World Golf Rankings, the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play field consists of the very best players from around the world and is one of the most elite and exciting tournaments on golf’s calendar.

Austin Urban Music Fest

March 27 – 28, 2020 | Auditorium Shores

Austin Urban Music Festival is a two-day event featuring a family-friendly lineup of live musical entertainment. The festival showcases gospel, hip hop, R&B, soul and neo-soul and is a platform for talented local African-American artists to reach a diverse audience.

Mighty Texas Dog Walk

March 28, 2020 | Austin American – Statesman

Don’t miss The Doggiest Day in Austin! In addition to the walk, you can find free samples of the best dog foods and treats; free advice from top veterinarians and trainers; raffle; artisan and food vendors.

ABC Zilker Kite Festival

March 29, 2020| Zilker Park

ABC Zilker Kite Festival invites the public every year to a free wonderful and colorful celebration, where colorful kites fill the sky above the green spaces of Zilker Park in the heart of downtown Austin. This spring event is aimed for the whole family whether as spectators or as participants. In addition to the kite’s event, there will be local food stands as well as various children activities take place through the park!

Behind the Design | The Camaleonda Comeback

July 2, 2020June 3, 2020 by Em Scott

Camaleonda

The Camaleonda system, originally designed by Mario Bellini in 1970, makes its comeback 50 years later. Speaking a contemporary language, between structural solutions and sustainable choices.

THE HISTORY: 50 YEARS THAT HAVE NOT GONE BY

Presented to the public in 1970, Camaleonda has passed through 5 decades of design history as a true icon. Designed by Mario Bellini, this modular sofa has designed the aesthetics of an entire era of interior design, thanks to its great success both in terms of the public and critics. It is constantly featured in most international design museums and in film-sets that have defined the collective imagination. An Object that is loved by design affectionates, antique dealers and interior designers alike is finally back in production after a careful design process that involved the close collaboration between B&B Italia’s Research & Development Centre and Mario Bellini.

Mario Bellini’s work is characterized by bringing together design and architecture and Camaleonda testifies to his unique ability to move confidently between diverse design languages, between macro and micro, geometry and curves, artificial and natural materials. As Bellini himself says, Camaleonda was created to fill a void: “At the beginning of the 1970s, upholstered furniture for the home stagnated into the tired traditional stereotypes and radical-proactive elitist forays into the future that, although stimulating, rarely challenged the relationship between the evolution of new patterns of behavior in the home and the types of furniture available on the market at the time.”

With Camaleonda we find ourselves in the presence of a sofa intended as an architectural element, capable of transforming the landscape of the interior space that inhabits. A landscape that is neither immobile nor permanent, as its chameleon-like nature involves change and transformation. A promise that is clear from the name itself, as Bellini recalls: “Camaleonda is a name that I invented 1970 by mixing two words: the first is the name of an extraordinary animal, the chameleon (camaleonte in Italian), that can adapt to the environment around it and the word ‘onda, wave, that indicates the curve of the sea and the desert. Both these words describe the shape and function of this sofa.”

Camaleonda continues to live on thanks to an identity that has become an evergreen iconic vintage, current for each generation precisely because of its timeless qualities.

THE PRESENT: A CONTEMPORARY REISSUE

In its reissue, Camaleonda preserves the elements that have made it a contemporary classic. By mutual agreement, Mario Bellini and B&B Italia have decided to keep with the 90×90 cm seat module, together with the backrest and the armrest, faithful to the original project, whose original cutting pattern was used for the new edition.

The generous polyurethane padding that forms the characteristic capitonné design remains unchanged, still manufactured with the innovative system of cables, hooks and rings created by Bellini in 1970, which defines the characteristics look and modularity. Thanks to the tie-rods and the rings, the modules can be unhooked and recombined at will, allowing the sofa to adapt to an evolving taste and the dynamic needs of those using it.

The fundamental characteristics of Camaleonda is its unlimited modularity, a geometric pattern that allows each element to become a sort of enormous pixel through which to define your home environment. By hooking and unhooking seats, backrests and armrests, you can enjoy the luxury of changing your mind as many times as you desire, moving and redesigning the space. A concept which is dead to Mario Bellini: “Of all objects, I have designed, Camaleonda is perhaps the best in terms of its sense of freedom. There are infinite number of possible configurations.”

The padding has been thoroughly updated by the B&B Italia Research & Development Centre, making it even more comfortable than the original version. Thus the magical balance between the rigorous geometry of the square and the welcoming of the roundness of the padding is confirmed, further underlining the elasticity and tactile ergonomics that characterize many of Mario Bellini’s design projects. Camaleonda can be upholstered with B&B Italia’s entire textile and leather collection, allowing for another variable in the multitude of possible combinations.

Camaleonda is a dynamic, alive and sincere object, not at all enigmatic, that allows for an infinite number of configurations while still maintaining its peculiar and unique identity.

THE FUTURE: SUSTAINABILITY AND CIRCULARITY

The re-edition of the Camaleonda does not look back at the past, but on the contrary, it aims to rewrite an indisputable classic in a contemporary perspective.

Aesthetics, dimensions, proportions, and the way it is configured remain unchanged, while the composition of the interior has been completely redesigned with no room for nostalgia. “When I was asked to update Camaleonda, it was immediately clear to me that I should never or would never be able to do anything. Change the shape? No, the way it was intended is as good today as it was then. Change the materials? Yes, and that’s why I had a conversation with a company that is a leader in terms of its ability to transform a piece of furniture into a sustainable product.”

The “sandwich” structure of the Camaleonda is made up of recycled or recyclable materials that can easily be disassembled. The seat, backrest, armrests and bases are made of wooden panels. The sofa rests on the floor on a series of spherical feet made of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified beech wood.

The padding of the seat, the backrest and the armrests are made of polyurethane in various levels of density and firmness. The highest degree of complexity lies in the seat, where elements are shaped and assembled to allow every layer to interact, at the same time guaranteeing a high level of comfort. The various layers generate empty spaces or pockets designed to create a comfortable spring effect.

The engineering and composition of the seat allow the interior elements of the sofa to be disassembled and therefore easily recyclable. The padding is protected by a removable cover made of dacron, a synthetic fabric that is entirely made of recycled PET, the same material used to manufacture plastic water bottles.

THE DESIGNER: BEHIND THE DESIGN

Mario Bellini is an architect and designer internationally renowned. He received the Golden Compass Award eight times (one assigned to B&B Italia Le Bambolein 1979) and 25 of his works are in the permanent design collection of the New York MoMA, which dedicated to him a personal retrospective in 1987.

He has designed countless art, design and architecture exhibitions over the years, both in Italy and abroad: among the latest those at Palazzo Reale with Giotto’s masterpieces (2016) and – at the Milanese Museo del ‘900 – the one dedicated to Margherita Sarfatti (2018-2019).

In 2015 the Milan Triennale awarded him a Gold Medal for his career in architecture. Since 1991 he has been named as the Royal Honorary Designer of RDI.

Bellini has dedicated himself to almost entirely architecture since the 1980s. Projects currently underway are the New Polytechnic School of Genoa (2006-2020), a vast hotel and residential development on Virgin Gorda Island in the British Virgin Island (2018-2020). He also has various projects within the design stages.

ENDLESS COMPOSITIONS: GLI SCACCHI

Mario Bellini has also designed Gli Scacchi, which uses a combinatorial nature of Camaleonda to create the chess pieces. These series of accessories can be utilized to become extra tables or seats.

The three pieces that make up the series are inspired by the game of chess, in particular the queen, the knight and the rook (hence the Italian names Regina, Cavallo, and Torre), light and easy to move like on a chessboard. “They are among the most playful pieces of furniture I have ever designed”, Bellini states.

In 1971, the original version of Gli Scacchi represented a remarkable technical innovation as they were produced in self-skinning polyurethane foam, a solution which was initially used only by the automotive industry and was introduced for the first time in furniture. The 2020 reissue offers soft covers made of think leather and calf hide with visible stitching.

A classic is reborn 50 years after its introduction, maintaining all of its original character with a new dedication to a sustainable future.

Infinitely configurable, infinitely versatile, available now for order at Urbanspace.

Behind the Design | Nanimarquina Silhouette

July 2, 2020April 8, 2020 by Em Scott

Nanimarquina Silhouette

After success of the first collaboration with designer Jaime Hayón in 2017, Nanimarquina presents Silhouette, a collection of rugs for indoor and outdoor use that highlights the acclaimed casual style of the Valencian based designer and artist.

Depicted with a delicate stroke, the illustration defines the silhouettes of several imaginary characters that intertwine and coexist in a beautiful composition.

Hayón subtly introduces color through small elements brimming with personality that help to interpret each of the images.

Nine faces are distributed at different angles so that the rug can be viewed from any perspective, fitting perfectly in any space.

Through this new collaboration with Jamie Hayón, Nanimarquina introduces the embroidery on kilim techniques for the first time. A laborious process handmade in Pakistan, the chain stitch embroidery adds texture and a soft volume that emphasizes the sinuousness of the illustration.

Despite its delicate appearance, it is a sturdy technique suitable for both residential and commercial use.

Nanimarquina also presents, for the first time, an outdoor hand-tufted rug, developed with 100% recycled PET fiber and produced in India. This combination provides great utility while transferring a sense of well-being that is needed for an outdoor space.

Born in Madrid in 1974, Jamie Hayón enjoys an illustrious career in the recent history of contemporary design.

His exhibition entitled “Mediterranean Digital Baroque” at the David Gill Gallery in London, and the collections of bathrooms he designed for ArtQuitect marked the beginning of his meteoric international rise, which was then established with the BD Showtime collection and his subsequent work with companies such as Camper, Llandró, Bisazza, Swarovsky, and Moooi.

Learn more about Spanish designer, Jamie Hayón and his collaboration with Nanimarquina design inspiration behind the Silhouette:

Did you specifically create the illustration thinking that it would be a rug? And if not, what made you feel it would work well as a rug?

It’s a freehand drawing, similar to the work in my sketchbooks. I consider the disposition, which was interesting from different angles; in other words, it would work for a rug.

You are a compulsive illustrator, where do your characters come from? Specifically, what is the story behind the figures in this drawing, and their personality?

There are infinite characters that are part of my imaginary. They change and evolve, according to my current interests. There are characters that are endearing, others are more ironic, and some even provoke fear on occasion. In the case of characters, what I am most interested in is the ability to transmit emotions.

From the sketch to the product, what happens when one of your personal drawings becomes an object? Something to be shared and interpreted by others?

This happens in very exceptional cases in which the format, material, and use are ideal to portray emotivism through the figurative. Rugs for Nanimarquina are the perfect example; the format is ideal to be able to work with absolute freedom, similar to a painting or tapestry.

Compared to the first collaboration, we could say that this proposal is less busy, depicting fewer strokes, less characters, and more restrained use of colour. How has your work evolved? Is this style a common feature in your current projects?

I wanted to contribute a different stylistic language able to integrate with other facets of character, more serene. Above and beyond the evolution of my work, I wanted to complement our collaboration and expand the range of use.

This is the second time you have worked with Nanimarquina. What would you highlight about the collaboration with Nanimarquina?

Working with Nanimarquina is a pleasure. Collaborators are able to work surrounded by respect and mutual admiration. The knowledge regarding each fibre and material, the variety of techniques, and the close work with artisans is palpable in the result of Nanimarquina rugs.

You design different types of objects, what attracts you to specifically design rugs?

I am attracted by the possibility of working with an object from a purely artistic perspective, witnessing the translation of artistic expression onto a vary different surface than that of paper or canvas.

The Austin Proper Introduces Four New Dining Concepts

October 8, 2020March 10, 2020 by Em Scott

The Austin Proper Hotel & Residences
600 W 2nd Street

Since the grand opening of the Los Angeles based hotel & residences in downtown Austin in fall of 2019, the Proper has since introduced four new dining concepts to add to the captivating Austin cuisine.

Located in the Second Street District of Downtown Austin, it is in close proximity to the Google building, Facebook HQ, 360 Condos, The Independent, The Bank of America offices, Urbanspace Real Estate + Interiors and Seaholm Residences. Being so close to the center of the downtown these new dining concepts give a grand dining experience for many to enjoy.
.

Celebrity interior designer, Kelly Wearstler was the master-mind behind the lavish and urban design of The Proper and its four lush dining experiences. While local McGuire Moorman Hospitality, the team behind Austin hotspots like Elizabeth Street Cafe, Clark’s and Jeffery’s, exclusively partnered with The Proper to create these Four dining concepts.

The Mockingbird

The mockingbird offers mediterranean grab and go options in a sidewalk café. Here you can order morning pastries and coffees at the counter, savor contemporary takes on falafal in the afternoon or grab a rotisserie chicken with sides in the evening for a simple and smooth weeknight dinner.

The Peacock

Inspired by foods and flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean, such as North Africa, Greece, Israel , and Lebanon — The Peacock gives a new twist to the worldly decadent cuisine. Mezze and wood-grilled flare is colorful and loosely plated, healthy and wholesome. Natural wines, light mixed spirits with lots of fresh herbs, fruits and citrus add to the menu.

Goldie’s

Inspired by a little old-fashioned back room, with whispers of a Turkish bar translated with a touch of Austin’s cool, laid-back vibe. Seating at the actual sunken bar inspires in-depth conversations for guests to linger over boutique wines, supercall sips, and garden-fresh cocktails.

La Piscina

A vivacious poolside restaurant and bar serving Texas-inspired Mexican Cuisine for dinner, with lunch and brunch to come soon. The vibrant open space on the 5th floor, overlooks the downtown Austin bustle serving family-style platters, ceviches and table-top fajitas, with fresh seafood grilled over a wood fire and house-made tortillas from an open comal. The bar offers an accompanying selection of native spirts, frozen margaritas, and small batch tequilas and mezcals.

www.properhotel.com/austin

Live the Lifestyle, Love the Lifestyle | Top March 2020 Events

December 10, 2021March 10, 2020 by Em Scott

Live the Lifestyle, Love the Lifestyle |
Top March Events

GT World Challenge America

March 6 – 8, 2020| Circuit of The Americas

The GT World Challenge America will return to COTA on March 6-8 to open their 2020 season. The 90-minute SprintX style format provides racing fans with some of the most exhilarating competition in the motorsports world. For the sixth time at COTA, GT World Challenge America will bring an action-packed weekend with roaring engines from seven different manufacturers as drivers go door to door in a highly competitive series.

Austin Water Lantern Festival

March 7, 2020 | Muller Lake Park

Texas Film Awards

March 12, 2020 | Austin Film Society

South by Southwest

March 13 – 22, 2020 | Various locations throughout Austin

Austin Rodeo

March 14 – 28, 2020 | Travis County Exposition Center

St. Patrick’s Day Festival

March 15, 2020 | Jourdan – Bachman Pioneer Festival

This annual family-friendly festival celebrates all things Irish. Come enjoy authentic Celtic music and dancers, Irish language workshops, the finest Irish imports and plenty of good craic!

Dell Technologies Match Play

March 25 – 29, 2020 | Austin Country Club

Austin Urban Music Fest

March 27 – 28, 2020 | Auditorium Shores

Mighty Texas Dog Walk

March 28, 2020 | Austin American – Statesman

ABC Zilker Kite Festival

March 29, 2020| Zilker Park

Live the Lifestyle | Top February 2020 Events

October 7, 2020February 9, 2020 by urbanrealtors

Rodeo Austin Gala

February 8th, 2020 | Palmer Events Center

The Rodeo Austin Gala & Youth Art Auction is one of Austin’s favorite charity events! This Texas-sized fundraiser is sure to entertain friends, family, employees or top clients. Gala purchases support Rodeo Austin and educational opportunities for Texas kids. The evening includes cocktail hour, a gourmet dinner, one-of-a-kind silent and live auctions, and boot-tapping live music entertainment!

14th Annual Chili Cook-Off

February 9th, 2020 | Jo’s Coffee South Congress

Since 2005, Jo’s has hosted an annual Chili Cook-Off and benefit each winter. The event supports non-profit groups addressing hunger issues locally and draws amateur and professional culinary talent into a fierce battle for the prized trophy chili pot and other goodies. Entry is free, so enjoy the day and listen to some great live music!

Austin Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K

February 16th, 2020 | Downtown Austin, Congress and 2nd Ave

The 2020 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5K presented by Under Armour will fill Austin’s streets with more than 20,000 runners! If you missed the unveiling of their new marathon course in 2019, then 2020 is your year! Participants are treated to experience Austin’s finest! Runners will race along open roads that pass iconic landmarks like UT Tower, The I Love You Mural and the Austin Power Plant. Enjoy miles of Austin unique neighborhoods such as SOCO district and Hyde Park and get greeted by cheering crowds as you close in on the finish line in front of the Texas State Capitol on historic Congress Ave!

The 2020 Modern Home Tour

February 22nd, 2020 | Multiple Locations, Austin, TX

The Austin Modern Home Tour celebrates over a decade of collaborative exchange between architects, developers, designers, and real estate professionals, and invites every Austinite to join the Modern Movement! Founded by Krisstina Wise of Goodlife Luxury and produced and developed by co-owner James Leasure and his Modern Architecture + Design Society (MA+DS).

Carnaval Brasileiro

February 22nd, 2020 | Emo’s

Carnaval in Austin is one of the biggest Brazilian Carnaval celebrations outside Brazil. Brasileiro-style samba, costumes and wild abandon can all be seen in the heart of Texas.

Mardi Gras Bar Crawl

February 22nd, 2020 | 6th Street

The Mardi Gras Bar Crawl is coming to Austin Saturday, February 22nd, 2020! Bar Crawl Austin is turning 6th Street into Bourbon Street for the biggest Mardi Gras celebration and party! Collect thousands of beads and drink SoCo Hurricanes! It’s an incredible day of green, purple, and gold New Orleans style fun!

VEGANCHILL Fest

February 23rd, 2020 |Springdale Station, 979 Springdale Rd Suite #160, 78702

Come out for Veganchill Fest, the biggest Adult Vegan Party in Texas on Sunday, February 23rd! There will be Slow-flow yoga at 11 am for VIP ticket holders. Live DJ and entertainment throughout the whole event and live drag queen performances. Not to mention live art painting, games, raffles, and gifts! There will be 40+ vegan vendors and AC inside the venue. Four bars will be serving the coldest drinks you can find in TX!

2nd Annual Fat Tuesday Crawfish Boil

February 25th, 2020 | Scholz Garten

Historic Scholz Garten‘s Fat Tuesday Crawfish Boil is back! Live set from Charles Thibodeaux & the Austin Cajun Aces 5:30pm-7pm. DJ Island Time 7pm-10pm. Hot Crawfish until it runs out! Abita Beer and Hurricane Specials all night.

Harlem Globetrotters

February 27th-28th, 2020 | Frank Erwin Center

The Original Harlem Globetrotters all-new Pushing the Limits World Tour is headed your way. This is more than a basketball game. It is more than a show. It is the one and only Harlem Globetrotters in an all-new, larger-than-life world tour. You’ll be on your feet, out of your seat, laughing until it hurts and loving every moment!

Austin Oyster Festival

February 29th, 2020 | Republic Square, 422 Guadalupe St, 78701

Austin Oyster Festival presents a variety of Gulf and East Coast oysters prepared in nearly every way imaginable; on the half shell, grilled, roasted, fried, in gumbo, and more! With other offerings, including Creole BBQ shrimp, Shrimp Po’Boys, and Crispy Spiced Pommes Frites, the beautiful bivalves will be enjoyed with perfect accompaniments. Also, Bloody Mary Bars featuring Bloody Revolution, mineral water by Topo Chico, specialty cocktails by Deep Eddy Vodka, premium wine selections from favorite brands, and craft beers will round out the extensive beverage menu!

Live the Lifestyle | Top January 2020 Events

October 7, 2020January 15, 2020 by Morgan Baker

Live the Lifestyle, Love the Lifestyle |
Top January Events

Fortlandia

January 15th-26th, 2020 | Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

During Fortlandia, guests can explore a new exhibition of 10 forts custom designed and built by local architects, designers, and artists for the Mollie Steves Zachry Texas Arboretum. These creative spaces will transport guests to imaginary worlds and spark an appreciation for art and nature and the curious, wonderful ways in which they intersect.

Gallery Exhibit Opening: The Art of a Vintage Ride

January 16th, 2020 | Texas Folklife Gallery

Join Texas Folklife at the Texas Folklife Gallery as we celebrate the opening of Exhibit: The Art of Vintage Cars. Tim Higgins will be in attendance to speak about his experiences and creating the exhibit. Refreshments and great company will be provided.

Snow Day at the Science Mill

January 18th, 2020 | Science Mill, 101 S. Ladybird Ln, 78736

The Science Mill will host a family-friendly Snow Day with real snow creating a winter wonderland full of science. Visitors are encouraged to bring mittens or gloves to keep their hands warm while playing in the snow.

3M Half Marathon

January 19th, 2020 | Stonelake Blvd, just South of Cap of Texas Hwy (Loop 360)

3M Half boasts one of the fastest half marathon courses in the country. Enjoy a mostly downhill course that takes you past some of Austin’s finest locations and finishes downtown near the Texas State Capitol.

Hello, Dolly!

January 21st-26th, 2020 | Bass Concert Hall

Broadway comes to Austin, with “Hello, Dolly!” live on stage at the Bass Concert Hall. Winner of four Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival, “Hello, Dolly!” is the universally acclaimed smash that NPR calls “the best show of the year!”

BYOD Austin Bark in Zilker Park Pawty

January 25th, 2020 | Zilker Park

This is a responsible dog owner meet up! During the pawty, you’ll be able to sniff out and play with the humans and pups behind BYOD (Bring Your Own Dog). Please note, this is a laid back dog meet up for belly scratches and puppy kisses.

Big 12/ SEC Challenge- LSU Tigers at Texas Longhorns in Austin

January 25th, 2020 | Frank C. Erwin Special Events Center

Kick off your Saturday afternoon at the Frank Erwin Center watching the Texas Longhorns Basketball team compete against the LSU Tigers in the Big 12 SEC Challenge. Tickets are available on Stubhub & Vividseats.

Austin Margarita Crawl

January 25th, 2020 | The Venue ATX

Join in on the margarita crawl that takes place at multiple venues throughout the City. Bring your friends and make memories that will last a lifetime! There will be discounted drinks at all venues and limited quantities of free take-home giveaways.

A Night with Janis Joplin

January 29th-March 8th, 2020 | The ZACH Theatre

The legendary queen of rock-n-roll, Janis Joplin, explodes onto the stage in a concert experience that celebrates the Texas musical marvel, and shines a spotlight on the trailblazing female blues and soul vocalists who influenced her.

Austin 2040: Our Business Future

January 31st, 2020 | JW Marriott Austin

How will Austinites live, work and play in 20 years when the regions population is about twice the size it is today? Led by futurist Nancy Giordano, well dive into a futuristic Austin so business leaders can prepare their business plans. Well explore the biggest economic threats to the region in the coming years, plus hear from an esteemed panel of future-minded experts from a variety of business sectors.