Supersize Me

Smithsonian thanks Texas for revolutionary Big Gulp

By Jonathan Rienstra

06.01.13 | 2:32 pm

The Big Gulp is one of those inherently American inventions that is both a source of pride for being a game changer and a source of global embarrassment for representing ...

Booze News

3 Texas watering holes rank among America's best bars

By Jonathan Rienstra

05.30.13 | 10:45 am

In a move that’s sure to ruffle a few Yankee feathers, Esquire’s 2013 list of the best bars in America eschews New York City in favor of the ...

These Ants Are Loco

Crazy ants drive out fire ants in Texas invasion

By Jonathan Rienstra

05.28.13 | 9:35 am

According to University of Texas at Austin science researchers, the common fire ant is at risk of being displaced by the Tawny crazy ant, which is not the same as ...

Drink Local

Grapefruit-infused vodkas enter the Texas market via Deep Eddy and Western Son

By Jonathan Rienstra

05.27.13 | 11:45 am

Deep Impact and Armageddon. Dante’s Peak and Volcano. Antz and A Bug’s Life. Sometimes two groups of people come up with really similar ideas mere months apart from ...

Innovation of the Mind

University of Texas at Arlington Physics professor unveils latest picklock to the brain

By Jonathan Rienstra

05.27.13 | 9:30 am

A UT Arlington assistant physics professor has published a paper about a new fiber-optic tool that would make it possible to show how neighboring regions of the brain react to ...

You Dirty Dogs

Americans long to cheat on their partners ... with TV shows

By Jonathan Rienstra

05.19.13 | 2:55 pm

According to a new survey, 28 million Americans have cheated on their significant others. Turns out, we’re pretty rotten. Of course, we’re talking about what New York Magazine ...

Best BBQ?

The Salt Lick listed as best BBQ in U.S. by Made Man, Franklin (and most of Texas) snubbed

By Jonathan Rienstra

05.08.13 | 10:32 am

Online men’s magazine Mademan.com has released a list of the “11 Best BBQ Joints in America” that has some, well, interesting results. The first thing any Texan is ...

Terminal Trysts

Dating site MeetAtTheAirport.com livens up layovers for lonely travelers

By Jonathan Rienstra

05.01.13 | 3:37 pm

It’s hard to meet Mr. or Ms. Right. But have you ever thought about looking at the airport? Someone has, apparently, because niche dating site MeetAtTheAirport.com is a ...

Growing by the Keg

Texas ranks among 10 best craft brew states in the country

By Jonathan Rienstra

04.28.13 | 10:30 am

Recently USA Today published its list of the “10 best craft brew states in America.” Not surprisingly, the West Coast owns it, but Texas sneaks in toward the back of ...

University of Texas Quidditch squad takes home World Cup title after beating Slyth... we mean, UCLA

By Jonathan Rienstra

04.19.13 | 1:11 pm

Make space in the University of Texas trophy room, the school’s Quidditch team won the Quidditch World Cup VI on April 14 to be crowned the best Muggle-centric squad ...

On Tap

Texas beer to the rescue: Shiner heads to New York City

By Jonathan Rienstra

04.14.13 | 1:35 pm

Previously unavailable in the Northeast, Shiner will relieve the cravings of desperate New Yorkers on April 15, when the Texas brewery finally rolls out bottles and taps in the five ...

Brew News

Pennsylvania brewery Sly Fox changes the world with 360 Lid

By Jonathan Rienstra

03.31.13 | 1:50 pm

You guys. Look at this can top. Take it in. Savor it. The whole f’ing top comes off. From the demigods at Sly Fox Beer in Pennsylvania comes the ...

Food Rankings

Silly survey says Texas has only 3 of the 100 hottest restaurants in America

By Jonathan Rienstra

03.31.13 | 10:00 am

If you believe OpenTable, Texas has only three of the top 100 “hot spot” restaurants in the country. According to its latest list, compiled from 5 million reviews submitted by ...

No More Frankenfood

Whole Foods to become first grocer to label all genetically modified products

By Jonathan Rienstra

03.22.13 | 9:20 am

Austin-based Whole Foods Market recently announced plans to label all genetically engineered foods in its stores by 2018. The upscale, earth-loving grocery chain has the most non-genetically engineered products of ...

Cravat Creativity

Netflix your neck with Tie Society, the menswear-on-demand website

By Jonathan Rienstra

03.18.13 | 9:30 am

The necktie is an easy way for a man to add a spark of style, but the shine can wear off quickly if you’re wearing the same three ties ...

Music Notes

10 Dallas-Fort Worth bands poised to take over SXSW

By Jonathan Rienstra, Teresa Gubbins

03.03.13 | 10:15 am

March 12-17, SXSW Music will host 1,300 musical acts in Austin. 10 Dallas-Fort Worth bands on the lineup are poised to take over the fest. The entertainers span from ...

Hometown Glory

Texas owns list of best cities in America for good jobs, and Austin ranks No. 3

By Jonathan Rienstra

02.28.13 | 9:10 am

According to a recent Forbes study, Texas is the best place in the country for jobs. Cities in the Lone Star State claim five of the first six slots. Dallas ...

Snack News

A totally scientific potato chip taste test to determine the best new $1 million flavor from Lay's

By Jonathan Rienstra

02.16.13 | 2:05 pm

Lay’s potato chips released three new flavors on February 12 as part of its “Do Us A Flavor” campaign to let the American public decide which one will join ...

Campus News

UT students take the Harlem Shake to a whole 'nother level with South Mall performance

By Jonathan Rienstra

02.13.13 | 3:10 pm

University of Texas at Austin students are part of one of the larger Harlem Shakes we've seen so far, performing the "dance" on the South Mall of the 40 ...

Love in the digital age

Think your ex is over you? Study finds scorned lovers unsuprisingly snoop on social media

By Jonathan Rienstra

02.10.13 | 11:58 am

Valentine’s Day is but a few days away, and with that comes all the love and flowers and romantic comedies you could ever want. But before all that, we ...