living legends

Most turkey eaten in 10 minutes: World record-setting at Bookpeople withRecordsetter.com tonight

Record Setter Live!
Dan Rollman (left) and Corey Henderson (right)
Photo by Jenna Bascom

Recordsetters.com is coming Bookpeople tonight, where website founders Dan Rollman and Corey Henderson will will be signing their new book, The Recordsetter Book of World Records. And while in town, they’ll also make sure some new records are broken. I had a quick chat with Dan to get some tips on record breaking and to hear about some of the more legendary attempts he’s seen in his seven years in the industry.

What are your top tips for those who want to set a world record?

To create new world records, embrace your unique talents and push them as far as you can. I'm a fast whistler, so I created a world record for Most Times Whistling "Happy Birthday" In One Minute (16). I'm also tall (6'7"), so I also created a world record for Most Bananas Fit In A Pair of Pants While Wearing Them (60). Sadly, both of these records have since been broken.

(The Alamo Drafthouse's Henri Mazza actually holds the current record for banana stuffing)

How many records have you set?

I've set 12, but they've all been broken by others. Since I'm the president of the company, I'm a big target. People in our community seem to enjoy crushing my records.

What is the hardest record you've ever seen broken?

Two guys in Canada set a RecordSetter World Record for the Longest High Five. They rose up their arms and ran toward each other for 2.05 miles. That record was then beaten by a duo in Australia, who raised the bar to 2.6 miles. Recently, the record was beaten again by two guys in Illinois who ran a combined 4.0 miles. I have a hunch we'll see this category in the Olympics someday soon.

What's your dream record to break?

Most Consecutive Hours Playing Pinball

What record has most stunned a crowd?

We recently officiated an event with Takeru Kobayashi, the Japanese competitive eater most known for his hot dog eating abilities. He set a RecordSetter World Record for Most Turkey Eaten in 10 Minutes, wowing the crowd by consuming an awesome 7.5 pounds of meat.

It's 2111 and RecordSetter.com is still going strong. What record is on the front page?

Fastest Teleportation from Mars to Jupiter While Wearing a Gorilla Suit

The event begins at 6 p.m. at Bookpeople. You can see attempts at Most Friendships in a Minute and Most Joke Set-Ups in a One Minute Stand-Up Set along with a very special Austin-based record that the whole crowd will be a part of (and everyone gets a patch to prove it). You can also submit your own record breaking video or watch over 10,000 world records on their website www.recordsetter.com.

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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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living legends

Most turkey eaten in 10 minutes: World record-setting at Bookpeople withRecordsetter.com tonight

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

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