NYT May Poach One of Our Own

New York Times looks toward Austin in quest to fill coveted magazine editor role

The esteemed editor in chief position at The New York Times Magazine, whichhas been vacant since Hugo Lindgren was ousted last year, may be filled with a familiar face. According to Capital New York, New York Times' executive editor Jill Abramson met with Texas Monthly editor in chief Jake Silverstein last week while she was in town for SXSW Interactive, presumably to vet him for the role.

Silverstein, who was named editor of TM in 2008 at the age of 33 (no pressure, anyone!), has continued the magazine's legacy of impeccable journalism and thoughtful storytelling. Texas Monthly has won four National Magazine Awards under Silverstein's tenure, including two in 2013 for public interest and feature writing. Personally, Silverstein is known for his approachable — and perfectionist — style.

Though Capital says that Silverstein would bring a "bit of Southwestern swagger to a position that has traditionally been held by New York media insiders," it should be noted that the California-born editor previously lived in New York during a tenure at Harper's Magazine as a fact-checker. He came to Texas as a reporter for the Big Bend Sentinel and then to Austin as an MFA candidate at the prestigious Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas. Silverstein declined to comment to Capital on both his meeting with Abramson or the likelihood that he will be taking over the position.

Lest this begin to read like a Wikipedia entry for Jake Silverstein, Abramson also met with Evan Smith, CEO and editor in chief of the Texas Tribune. Smith was previously at Texas Monthly and hand-picked Silverstein as his successor before leaving to start the Trib. Smith isn't talking either, allowing us to wildly speculate (which we will do now).

However, Smith is probably not on the candidate list, as Capital would suggest. He seems much less likely leave his position at the Trib, a company he not only started but was integral in turning into a highly respected journalism outlet in less than five years. The Texas Tribune also has a relationship with The New York Times, providing most of the content for the Times' Texas edition, and making Smith a perfect sounding board for Abramson.

Silverstein isn't the only candidate to fill one of journalism's most coveted roles, but he seems to be the only one being seriously considered outside of the New York press corps. If he leaves, it will undoubtedly be a blow to Texas Monthly, but it will be nice to have such an enthusiastic Texas barbecue advocate steering The New York Times Magazine.

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Historic Austin museum will close for more than a year for restoration

Photo courtesy of the City of Austin

The Elisabet Ney Museum will close at the end of 2024 and reopen in mid-2026.

Every building needs some maintenance here or there, and the historic Elisabet Ney Museum needs some extra-special care. Formerly the art studio and residence of its namesake, it's been standing since 1892. It'll spend 2025 in relative solitude, as it undergoes renovation for a year and a half with no visitors allowed.

The museum will close to the public December 30, 2024, and open again in the summer of 2026 if all goes according to plan, a news release from the City of Austin shares. It'll be a quiet period compared to the 21,000 people visiting from around the world each year.

According to a museum overview on the city's website, Elisabet Ney, a European portrait sculptor, bought the property and called her new studio Formosa. She worked on sculptures depicting important Texans like Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, and collected works of European contemporaries.

The building at 304 East 44th St. includes 3,700 square feet of museum space, which was converted by Ney's friends after her death in 1907. It retains its unique look that juxtaposes a Neo-Classical main studio from 1892 with a later addition from 1902 including a tower for her husband, Edmund, to write in. It is also on 2.5 acres of land, which has largely been restored to its natural state with native species.

A press release lists these tasks (verbatim) within the scope of the new work, referred to as the Capital Improvement Project (CIP):

Restoration of original exterior wood doors and windows
Upgrades and replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
Replacement of the exhibit and general lighting systems
Repairs to the roof, masonry, plumbing, and interior finishes.

There will also be work to do outside of the building. Workers will replace the pedestrian bridge across Waller Creek, stabilize a 20,000-square-foot portion of the bank, and make the grounds more accessible by adding new pathways.

Funding comes from several sources, according to a release: "the 2012 Bond, Proposition 14, the Parkland Dedication Fund, the Historic Preservation Fund, Partners in Preservation through the National Trust, and contributions from the Friends of the Elisabet Ney Museum."

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