Unfortunate departure

Southwest permanently grounds nonstop flights from Austin to New York City

Houston news, New York City skyline, November 2017

The Big Apple just got a little harder to get to.

Yearning to catch Hamilton on Broadway? Longing to take a stroll in Central Park? In Austin, you’ll soon have one fewer option to take in the sights and sounds of the Big Apple.

On July 25, Southwest said that effective November 3, it is discontinuing service at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey — one of the New York City area’s three major airports.

That means the loss of nonstop flights (usually two per day in each direction) between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Newark, in addition to the loss of several one- and two-stop flights between the pair of cities. Southwest launched its Austin-Newark service in March 2013.

Southwest’s departure from Newark leaves Austin travelers with four options for nonstop flights to the New York City area — United (Newark), and American, Delta, and JetBlue (John F. Kennedy International Airport).

Southwest blames the exit from Newark on poor financial performance. The airline — the No. 1 carrier in Austin based on passenger traffic — plans to consolidate its New York City presence at LaGuardia Airport. As of now, Southwest’s reservation system shows no new nonstops between Austin and LaGuardia, but it does indicate a number of one- and two-stop flights are available.

Southwest says it will offer refunds or rebooking for customers who purchased tickets on affected Newark flights.

vacation transportation

Movie Memorabilia News

Wicked movie costumes will be on display in a Texas museum this winter

Photo by Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

Glinda's pink bubble dress will be one of the items on display.

Fans of the movie adaptation of the musical Wickedwill soon be able to get up close and personal with the box office smash when the Arlington Museum of Art (right between Dallas and Fort Worth) debuts a collection of costumes and more from the film in 2025.

Running January 17 to April 27, "Wicked Threads: The Artistry of Costume in Oz" celebrates the artistry of the costume design and the 20+ year history of the beloved Broadway musical.

Curated by the Arlington Museum of Art (AMA), the exhibition will feature original costumes, props, and images from the film, provided by NBCUniversal Archives & Collections. Highlights from the exhibition will include Glinda’s “bubble” dress and Elphaba’s “Defying Gravity” costume.

The costumes were designed by Academy Award-nominated costume designer Paul Tazewell, who was no stranger to the world of Oz, having designed five productions of The Wiz.

“Costuming and filmmaking is an exciting form of visual art and storytelling," said AMA Director of Exhibitions Kendall Quirk in a statement. "The AMA is always excited to showcase the work of these artists, especially in our free community gallery spaces. We hope to see emerging designers, filmmakers, and other visual artists come to enjoy these costumes from such a universal story."

The film adaptation of Wicked, which earned over $110 million in its first weekend of release, is based on the musical stage play with music and lyrics by legendary Grammy and Oscar-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, and book by Tony nominee Winnie Holzman.

A prequel to The Wizard of Oz, it is the origin story of how Elphaba became the Wicked Witch of the West and Galinda Upland became Glinda the Good. It’s a story of an unlikely friendship between two young women — one ostracized, one adored — and how the untapped power of one will reshape their lives and Oz, forever.

"Wicked Threads: The Artistry of Costume in Oz" will be on display in the community art space at the Arlington Museum of Art, where all visitors can view the exhibition for free, with no tickets required for entry.

movies exhibitions-visual-arts