Arts & Culture

Scenes from Austin’s Día de los Muertos Parade

Frida Kahlo look-alikes, Aztec dancers and marchers in sugar skull makeup paraded down Sixth Street as part of Austin’s 36th annual Viva la Vida Parade and Festival on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019.

Civil War Battle Rises Again in East Texas

byAndrea Tinning

The annual Battle of Blackjack Grove, a mock Civil War battle, started in 2017 in the East Texas town of Groveton and has attracted more and more attendees each year.

Fighting Addiction, One Dank Meme at a Time

bySahar Chmais

An addict turned recovery counselor uses dark humor and social media to help users clean up.

Austinite Aims to Foster Discussion of Sexual Abuse Through Musical

byAlyx Wilson

Anna Westbrook says her musical and an accompanying workshop have a simple goal — to make people more comfortable discussing sexual abuse.

Apr 07, 2019

Poet Javier Zamora to Speak During Summit on Race

byJack Keyes

On April 10, New York-based poet and immigration activist Javier Zamora will join a panel discussion at the LBJ Presidential Library.

Feb 28, 2019

Texas Plays Its Role in America’s Board-Game Comeback

byKatherine Corley

A renewed interest in board games has spawned an increase in amateur board game developers, particularly in Lone Star hotspots Dallas and Austin.

Jan 14, 2019

A Voice in the Night, Marfa Radio Host Broadcasts for Himself and the World

byHayli Rudolph

David Beebe, the host of the weekly Night Train Express on public-radio KRTS, keeps Motown sound alive in West Texas.

Jan 14, 2019

On Her Day to Shine (and Sing), Gabbi Wears the Crown

byLauren DeFilippo

Gabbi Huerte, 17, has Down Syndrome. The annual Miss Sweetheart Special Needs Pageant gave her a moment to remember.

Jan 02, 2019

Keeping Up with the Gaineses: In Waco, Entrepreneurs Build on the Success of Magnolia Market to revitalize downtown

byKate Groetzinger

A flood of tourists drawn by the TV stars has triggered a development wave.

Dec 16, 2018

Painting a Picture of San Antonio’s Old Highway 90

byMichael MInasi

In a world of seemingly ubiquitous chain stores and expanding online shopping, Old Highway 90 in San Antonio has remained home to mom-and-pop businesses.

Dec 13, 2018

Disappearing Black Cemetery in Bastrop County Provides Link to Past

byBrandon Mulder

The Bastrop cemetery is another instance of black grave sites being unearthed across the state as developers bulldoze land along the edges of expanding cities.

Nov 08, 2018

What’s in a Selfie? At the FOMO Factory, Balloons, Bubbles and a Birthday Party

byLauren DeFilippo

Its creators call it an “immersive art pop-up,” but the FOMO Factory in downtown Austin is whatever visitors want it to be — with pictures to prove it.

May 06, 2018

As Crowds Grow, State Parks Plan to Add Day-Pass Reservations

byCarlos Anchondo

Park visits are growing along with the population, especially in the Austin-San Antonio area. Enchanted Rock sometimes closes to more cars as early as 9 a.m.

Apr 27, 2018

Acroyoga Enthusiasts Find Health and Wellness in Letting Go

byLauren DeFilippo

Acroyoga bundles acrobatics, yoga, gymnastics, dance and Thai massage. Participants use it to fly.

Apr 26, 2018

‘In a Small Town Like This,’ Prom Draws East Texas LGBT Students

byVicky Camarillo

High schoolers in Nacogdoches, an East Texas town of about 33,000, attended the Lavender Prom, an event held in April for LGBT students.

Apr 19, 2018

Austin’s Dirtiest Job: Cleaning Up ‘Dirty Sixth’ in the Dark of the Night

byLucy White

When the bars close, a team of city employees gets to work, scrubbing away the half-eaten pizza, the puddles of vomit other refuse and making the downtown bar district as clean as they can.

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