Texas makes a buzz as the 4th best state for beekeeping

protect our pollinators

Photo by Bianca Ackermann on Unsplash

Have you heard the latest buzz about Texas? We're one of the best states for saving the bees. Pollinators are the key that allow us to enjoy many of our U.S.-grown crops, and without them, we would lose access to nearly a third of our food supply.

Texas came in fourth in Lawn Love's 2023 edition of "Best States for Beekeeping" with the third-highest honey production value, and the fifth-highest number of honey-producing colonies. The three states that ranked higher include North Dakota at No. 3, New York at No. 2, and California leading the way at No. 1. Rounding out the top five is Ohio.

Surprisingly, the so-called Beehive State of Utah was a let-down in the report with its poor beekeeper salaries, a lack of bee-friendly legislation, and a high amount of colony loss per year. It came in at the bottom of the list as the third worst state for beekeeping, with Arizona (No. 38) and Wyoming (No. 39) ranking even lower.

If you want to take a few steps to extend our classic Texan hospitality to our vital pollinators, Lawn Love suggests four tips: planting native plants, replacing your grass with clover, using organic pest control, and designing bee-friendly landscapes in your yards. Those looking to start beekeeping can look into their local beekeeper's association, which in our case is the Austin Area Beekeeper's Association.

Rachel Mallinger, an assistant professor at the University of Florida, explained in the report that one of the most common misconceptions about bees is that honey bees make up the most of the population. The truth is that honey bees only account for a "very, very small fraction" of the "thousands of species of bees around the world."

"Most bees are actually solitary, meaning each female or mom bee has her own baby bees in a small nest with no queens or workers," Mallinger said. "One consequence of this is that when you see an individual bee in your yard — if it is indeed a solitary species like most species — it means there is no large colony nearby. These bees are also usually very gentle and do not sting unless directly bothered."

The report can be found on lawnlove.com.

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Photo by Dan Winters

Award-winning photographer and beekeeper brings buzzy new art to Austin's Waterloo Park

BEE-AUTIFUL ART

If there’s one thing Austinites can agree on, it's our love for local art and honeybees. A local organization is combining both for a free, immersive experience at a cherished Austin park beginning April 23.

“Seeing Bees” is a new educational art installation at Waterloo Park that will display a series of anatomical, microscopic honey bee works by Dan Winters, a distinguished and award-winning photographer. Land conservation nonprofit Wild Spirit Wild Places (WSWP) is partnering with local honeymaker Round Rock Honey and Waterloo Greenway for the exhibit, with additional support from H-E-B and perfume designer Guerlain.

The installation will feature large format images of honey bees that were captured with a field emissions scanning electron microscope. Winters is best known for his celebrity portraits, so this latest project is entirely new territory for him. Luckily he is well-versed in the art of beekeeping; He started keeping his own bees at just nine-years-old.

Winters said in a press release that the images will provide attendees with a never-before-seen view of the insects.

“These images magnify bees to an unprecedented level with every hair in focus, allowing for a view into the complexity of the honeybee first hand,” said Winters.

“Seeing Bees” is free to the public, and there will be several free public programs and events in conjunction with the exhibit at Waterloo Park. Austinites of all ages will have the opportunity to get educated about the importance of conservation, biodiversity, and pollinators in our local communities.

WSWP and Round Rock Honey have joined forces before to raise awareness about native bees in Austin and Round Rock; In 2022 they helped pass resolutions to designate both cities as Bee City USA affiliates, joining the neighboring city of Bee Cave on the Central Texas roster.

WSWP CEO Dr. Karen Looby said in the release that her organization is proud to support the exhibit, calling it a “one-of-a-kind experience celebrating bees.”

“This exhibit provides an amazing look at the intricacies of our bees and provides insight on how they are uniquely equipped to support the health of our environment,” Dr. Looby said. “With the help of the community, we look forward to ensuring that our pollinators across Texas are supported for generations to come.”

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Getting into Austin's next immaculate speakeasy is actually a secret — for now

Shhhh

Speakeasies have an interesting reputation in Austin. Residents of this "weird" city love a secret. They want to avoid the crowds and the newcomers, but "they" includes the crowds and the newcomers. It's complicated.

There is yet another new speakeasy in Austin, and fans of mystery and exclusivity may be pleased to hear that this time, it's not just a dimly-lit bar in a nondescript building. Visitors will have to follow word of mouth (and perhaps the bar, on social media) to learn a secret phone number, which they can then text to make a reservation.

So-called Trona, after a desert town in Death Valley and the mineral that serves as the base for baking soda, is hidden in plain sight. The colorful graffiti marks the spot for people who know what to look for, making this speakeasy one of the more attention-grabbing secret locales in the city, yet obscuring it nonetheless. An alley entrance (1812 E. 12th St.) ensures that few will be spotted entering.

Although it looks small, it's not tiny: There's enough seating for 49 guests in the "former shotgun bar" renovated under the artsy gaze of Tatanka Guerrero, a Chilean Marfa transplant whose other local triumphs include El Tigre Coffee Roasters, Camp East, and Cork & Screw.

Details are (naturally) sparse, but a release describes what awaits as an "intimate multi-part mixological journey that can't be fully experienced in one visit." The journey will be made in five portions, merging modern Japanese and traditional Oaxacan styles. It seems like these are meant to be juxtaposed rather than seamlessly combined, for air or fantasy or at least a little mystique.

The full bar and cocktail menu will highlight tequilas, mezcals, rare Japanese whiskeys, and "a plethora of natural wines," which will be announced soon.

There is already a phone number on Trona's website, but it does not connect when called. Sending a text leads to an automatic reply that the number is a landline. (Hey, those are mysterious nowadays.)

Trona is the most recent effort of the newly formed Doers and Dreamers Hospitality Group, which includes Guerrero's achievements listed above, as well as Arbor Food Park, which hosts some of Austin's best food trucks including the acclaimed Cuantos Tacos. If Trona matches the tone of its sibling concepts, Austinites can expect meticulous curation behind a slightly punky facade.

Trona is set to open sometime in October. An opening party will be announced soon (and probably covered by CultureMap in that week's food news column).

Hold that beer stein all month at these 10 Austin-area Oktoberfest events

Prost!

It’s that wonderful time of the year when drinking German beer, eating brats, and shouting Prost with strangers is almost mandatory. Oktoberfest is back with its annual beer-filled festivities and Austin is ready for it.

Although the festival started in Munich, Germany, around 200 years ago, it has spread throughout the world as a way to celebrate German culture. Over the next few weeks, there will be Oktoberfest celebrations with all kinds of events for adults and kids alike with fun competitions, live music, and traditional German food and drinks.

Here’s a roundup of the best festivities in town, in October and beyond.

Banger’s Oktoberfest
September 28-30
Expect all-day fun at Banger's Sausage House and Beer Garden, for the famous German restaurant's Oktoberfest celebrations. There will be special Texan and German beers on tap, live music, ceremonial firkin tapping, and stein-hoisting competitions. Food specials will include Schweinebraten (pork roast), warm German potato salad, Schnitzel sausage, and German potato cake. No reservations needed.

Easy Tiger's Oktoberfest (Weekend Two)
September 29 - October 1
Easy Tiger is offering a weekend full of celebrations with Oktoberfest-themed food, and limited-edition beers from Real Ale Brewing Company, Live Oak Brewing Company, and St. Elmo Brewing Co., among others. Each location will feature special events like a pretzel-eating contest (the winner gets free pretzels for one year!) plus stein-hoisting contest, polka bands, face painting, trivia, screen printing, and live music. No reservations needed.

Oktoberfest at Celis Brewery
September 30
For folks in North Austin, Celis Brewery will be celebrating Oktoberfest with beer and food specials — including German sausages and pretzels — face-painting, and stein-holding contests. The live music lineup starts with a DJ at 1 pm, followed by Polka band, The Hot Peppers, from 4-7 pm. No reservations needed.

Meanwhile Brewing
September 29 - October 1
Meanwhile Brewing has a packed weekend schedule with fun activities for all ages. There will be live music, Oktoberfest lager on draft all weekend, and exciting limited-edition food pairings such Bratwurst & Sauerkraut Pizza, pretzel ice cream, and Koji-brined pork schnitzel, among others. On Sunday, kids can enjoy their own stein-hoisting contest with prizes. Reserve on Eventbrite.

Loro's Oktoberfest pop-up
October 1
Loro is turning things up a notch by hosting an Oktoberfest pop-up on its patio featuring local breweries such as 512 Brewing Company, Vacancy Brewing, Meanwhile Brewing Co., and Live Oak Brewing Company. Attendees can expect Oktoberfest-inspired bites in addition to Loro’s regular Asian-inspired barbecue. Reserve on Eventbrite.

Locktoberfest (Downtown Lockhart)
October 6-8
The city of Lockhart is having an exciting Oktoberfest celebration with the launch of its first annual Locktobertfest. The weekend-long events will take place in participating shops, bars, and restaurants in the downtown area with live music, authentic German cuisine, and crafted drinks among other activities for those looking to explore the town. No reservations needed.

Austin Oktoberfest 2023
October 14
The German Texan Heritage Society is back with what the Austin Chronicle calls the “most authentic Oktoberfest in town.” The family-friendly event will feature fun activities such as pumpkin painting and bounce houses, plus live music all day at the historic German Free School. Tickets ($15, free for kids under 12) are available via Eventbrite.

Scholz Garten's Old World Wednesday series
Every Wednesday, October 25 - November 15
Another historic German spot since 1866, Scholz Garten, will have its own kind of celebration with Old World Wednesdays. Every Wednesday, patrons can expect live music from polka bands starting at 5:30 pm, plus German food and drink specials. No reservation needed.

The Loren's Oktoberfest BBQ with Brad Davis of Moody Tongue
October 26
For those who want a more upscale culinary experience, The Loren at Lady Bird Lake is hosting an Oktoberfest barbecue with renowned brewer Brad Davis of Moody Tongue as part of the hotel's ongoing Chef Series. Davis will be bringing a taste of the Michelin-starred Chicago brewery to the luxe rooftop restaurant. Reserve ($85, pre-paid) on OpenTable.

Wurstfest (New Braunfels)
November 3-12
Wurstfest will be closing the festivities with a bang — or many oom-pahs. This unique festival in New Braunfels will be honoring German culture all week long with music, carnival rides, German Texan beer, and of course, all the wurst you can eat! Admission (starting at $18) and drink tickets will be sold at the gates, but can also be purchased on Etix.

'90s country icon Tim McGraw adds Austin as only Texas tour stop in 2024

Standing Room Only

In case there were any doubt that Austin is a country music destination, superstar Tim McGraw has blessed the Texas capital with his only appearance in the state during his "Standing Room Only" tour. He'll perform at Moody Center on April 11, 2024.

Austin was one of 11 cities that saw new tour dates on McGraw's touring calendar, which is good news since Texas was about to miss out entirely. McGraw will be visiting at least 40 other cities in other states.

McGraw is touring in support of his very recent album, Standing Room Only, released on August 25, 2023. Newer country singer-songwriter Carly Pearce will open the show. He has previously toured Texas with his wife, fellow country superstar Faith Hill; but it does not appear that Hill will be joining the tour this time around.

There's much more on McGraw's plate, though, than new music. The '90s trailblazer just received the ACM Icon Award at the 16th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors, and on September 26, the Nashville Songwriters Association International will honor him with the President’s Keystone Award.

Fans know McGraw for slick, bright instrumentals and a contemporary take on country without abandoning the more traditional elements like twangy vocals, fiddle, and honky-tonk piano. A release promises a high-energy live show with a "huge production" value and plenty of old and new hits.

It's not surprising that McGraw has a strong stage presence, given his acting in films like The Blind Side and the iconic Austin-filmed TV series Friday Night Lights.

Ticket sales begin Friday, September 29, at 10 am on Ticketmaster.

The 11 new dates on the tour are as follows:

March 22, 2024 – St. Louis, MO — Enterprise Center
March 23, 2024 – Columbus, OH — Nationwide Arena
April 11, 2024 – Austin, TX — Moody Center
April 27, 2024 – Pittsburgh, PA — PPG Paints Arena
May 2, 2024– Montreal, QC — Bell Centre
May 3, 2024 – Ottawa, ON — Canadian Tire Centre
May 4, 2024 – Buffalo, NY — KeyBank Center
May 10, 2024 – Boston, MA — TD Garden
June 14, 2024 – Atlanta, GA — State Farm Arena
June 28, 2024 – Los Angeles, CA — The Kia Forum
June 29, 2024 – Sacramento, CA — Golden 1 Center

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