These 5 major arts organizations are packing Austin's summer calendar

Summer Calendar

Courtesy of the Long Center

As the days get longer and Austinites' schedules start looking a lot more fun, our premier arts organizations start kicking off their summer programs. Whether you're a regular visitor looking for something new, or completely clueless but ready to jump in, there are plenty of opportunities this summer to break the mold. Take a class or see a movie with friends; it's as involved as you want it to be.

The following five arts organizations offer year-round programming in Austin, often at little or no cost. The summer schedules generally run through the end of May to August or even September. Most require RSVPs.

ACL Radio and The Long Center: The Drop In concert series
Thursdays, May 25 to August 10
It's hard to keep track of all these events, especially a month or more out. The Drop In, a free outdoor concert series held annually by ACL Radio and the Long Center, addresses this calendar fatigue with a timed-release schedule. On Fridays, the organizers announce the artist, and members get to RSVP; on Mondays, RSVPs open up to everyone, and the concert is held that Thursday. This process happens weekly, and will include 21 artists over the course of the series, including some Austin names like Urban Heat, Moody Bank$, and Thebrosfresh.

Announcements will be made weekly by email and on social media. Sign up at thelongcenter.org.

The Contemporary Austin — Laguna Gloria: Art school classes
Starting May 27, dates vary by class
We don't all have the time or funds for an art degree, but art school at the Contemporary Austin — Laguna Gloria can make an artist out of any Austinite. Classes cover pottery, drawing, sound art, even smartphone photography, and more, for a well-rounded course list. Artists who are just starting out might consider "Intro to Art: 2-D," which invites artists to try several different media over seven classes, while some classes like "Advanced Watercolor Techniques" could be good for people who actually did go to art school. There are more than 100 in-person classes for adults and children of various ages in the summer programming, and seven adult classes are available online.

Classes are open to members only, but annual memberships ($50) can be bought at a 20 percent discount using the code ARTSCHOOL. Visit thecontemporaryaustin.org to browse classes.

Paramount Theatre: "Summer Classics"
May 27 to September 2
Summer feels like a good time to catch up on all those film classics you haven't seen, but it's not a time for planning. The Paramount Theatre is doing the work with more than 90 titles slated through the first few days of September, with creative scheduling blocks like "I’m Sure ChatGPT Will Turn Out Just Fine," featuring The Terminator and Robocop on June 11. Partner organizations are helping with curation, including Hyperreal Film Club, We Luv Video, and UMLAUF Sculpture Garden. Some of the screenings will celebrate anniversaries, Pride Month, and more, and some will invite special guests.

Visit austintheatre.org to see the full schedule of films, join the fan club, and more.

Waterloo Greenway: Free community events
June 5 to August 18
The Greenway is undergoing some changes this summer, but throughout the longterm projects, it's still offering lots of free programming for diverse audiences. The first several events for summer celebrate Pride Month, with workout classes, a discussion on identity, performances, and more. Then, the rest of the schedule through August is more varied, addressing different topics pertaining to conservation for kids and adults in different ways. There will also be two outdoor movie screenings, with more fun included like live music and themed snacks.

These free classes are open to everyone. Visit waterloogreenway.org to see the schedule.

Texas Performing Arts
June 10 to August 6
Texas Performing Arts recently announced a new season starting on September 7 with a staging of The Book of Life, but there are a few more events to fill up the summer before it kicks off. A few iconic shows including the long-awaited Hairspray and a rare joint concert by soul singers Gladys Knight & Patti LaBelle will sweep Austinites off their feet. Most of the programming would happen in any season, but two shows are made in collaboration with Summer Stock Austin, a student theater collective: The Wizard of Oz and Grease.

Check texasperformingarts.org for event listings, which vary in type, price, and venue.

From Your Site Articles

Totally Cool Totally Art/Instagram

Totally cool downtown museum displays student art from Austin teens, with more classes to come

after school art

We all know someone who goes to museums and says, “I don’t get it; I could do that.” What if we started reframing that as, “I should do that”?

The Mexic-Arte Museum, one of Austin’s best-loved art museums, is bridging that gap for teens, showing their mentor-facilitated works in an exhibit called Totally Cool Totally Art (TCTA), named for the City of Austin outreach program that has been connecting youth artists with professionals annually since 1996. The 2023 installment is open to the public until February 28.

The City of Austin and Parks and Recreation Department have organized a long-form art program for students from 7th to 12th grade, who contribute paintings, sculptures, digital art, film, and more, to be shown at the museum. Social media records show that in addition to producing serious works that would look at home in any art gallery, the program also has a sense of humor, especially in its many forays into film.

Although a finished piece is one end goal, TCTA declares a mission to use mentorship to enrich teens beyond the art skills, emphasizing “new experiences … respect and trust,” and giving them something engaging to dedicate time to after school.
There’s plenty of other programming for kids at the Mexic-Arte, which offers a similar program, amArte, that sends artists to local schools for monthly workshops requiring less of a time commitment to engage students.

TCTA is in the middle of its 2022-2023 season, with more classes coming on March 2 and 6, and April 18. Past years have included a summer camp after the regular season, which has not been announced yet. Late registrations are welcome.

Classes are taught at the following locations:

Dittmar Recreation Center
AB Oswaldo Pan Am Recreation Center
Northwest Recreation Center
Rudolfo "Rudy" Mendez Recreation Center
Gus Garcia Recreation Center

Visit the exhibit at The Mexic-Arte Museum for inspiration until February 28, or find more information, including registration links, at austintexas.gov.

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Upscale Greek restaurant brings coastal cooking to a stunning interior in West Austin

All Greek to Me

Austin and Greece don't have tons in common, but that's why husband and wife team Hristos and Roxie Nikolakos wanted to bring a slice of the islands over with them. Yamas (stylized YAMAS) brings the "Aegean blue" to the Lone Star State (5308 Balcones Dr.) this June 23, carrying with it traditional Greek cooking and an upscale coastal interior.

Hristos Nikolakos is chasing a big dream: He wants to "own the only authentic Greek restaurant that [is] up to par with the food from back home." Since this venture came out of hosting at home, it sounds like he has a shot. Although Austin does have more homey Greek restaurants than glittering modern eateries in our downtown acropolis, there is certainly a gap in upscale Greek food after the sudden disappearance of Simi Estiatorio, whose owner allegedly skipped town.

Ingredients come first in this plan, either locally sourced or imported from the homeland. The menu promises a "culinary journey across Greece's diverse regions," all prepared with traditional techniques by Chef Dimitrios Kelesoglou. The third-generation chef previously headed culinary efforts at Nisi, the Mediterranean restaurant at the Hilton Long Island in Huntington, New York.

Diners will enjoy this meticulousness in a variety of distinctly Greek dishes, like fried feta with sesame, honey, and walnuts; a grilled octopus salad with lentils, tomatoes, scallions, and dill; and several meat dishes featuring lamb, cod, and lobster. These things paired with orzo, horta, and lemon sound light and refreshing, although the full menu has not been finalized yet. Pair them with wines from Greece and America, plus beer and craft cocktails. Be sure to say "Yamas" — cheers in Greek — before sipping.

Even if the food turns out to be excellent, visitors will likely remember the space first. Like any great Greek restaurant, Yamas is almost entirely white with cerulean accents, and made unique from surrounding buildings with its wall niches housing Greek art and artefacts. Everything was designed by the couple and executed by Greek TX, Hristos' building company.

The cozy bench seating encircling the dining space gives it the air of a beach resort, even though the West-Central neighborhood is decidedly landlocked. Murals by Cabo-based artist Aurora Covarrubias include a giant octopus and Medusa, bringing a living Greek spirit to the space, which could otherwise appear museum-like.

"At Yamas, we aim to transport our guests to the coasts of Greece through rich flavors, warm hospitality, and cherished traditions," said Roxie Nikolakos in a press release. "We want to create an inviting space where everyone feels like family and can forge lasting connections over Greek cuisine that is so close to our hearts and heritage.”

Yamas is starting operation with limited hours from 4 pm to midnight every day of the week. Soon it will expand to brunch service on the weekends, and lunch service from 11 am to 3 pm. A soft launch on June 10 invites a limited number of guests for a preview during the two weeks before the official public opening. Call 512-243-7499 to reserve.

More information about Yamas is available at yamasatx.com. The restaurant is hiring "front and back of house professionals" with career days on May 30 and 31, from noon to 5 pm. Apply in-person at Yamas for an interview "on the spot."

Photo courtesy of Yamas

Yamas opens in West-Central Austin on June 23.

UT Austin's Texas Exes awards 43 of the fastest growing, Longhorn-run businesses in Austin

WE LOVE LOCAL BIZ

Maybe it's not as much of a surprise given how big our city is, but did you know dozens of our favorite local businesses are run by University of Texas at Austin grads? Now, 43 of Austin's fastest growing, Longhorn-run businesses are receiving the recognition they deserve by their alma mater.

UT Austin's alumni association, the Texas Exes, celebrated 100 nationwide companies who were founded, owned, or led by Longhorns over the past five years with the inaugural Longhorn 100 Gala on May 18. Award recipients must have held a minimum annual revenue of $250,000 since 2019 to qualify, in addition to their Longhorn status.

Of course, Austin-area businesses took home the most awards, whose winners include popular restaurants, beverage brands, real estate groups, and more.

The five Austin-area shopping and retail businesses that were recognized include:

Poncho Outdoors
BURLEBO (Dripping Springs)
Korman
Texas Standard(not to be confused with KUT's statewide radio program)
Home Trends and Design, Ltd

Seven Austin-area restaurants, breweries, and beverages were also awarded:

El Arroyo
Rambler Sparkling Water
Beatbox Beverages
Desert Door (Driftwood)
Garrison Brothers Distillery (Hye)
Zilker Brewing Company
Independence Brewing Co., Inc.

Real estate groups, construction and architecture firms, and home improvement providers that won awards include:

OJO
Watters International Realty
Maestro Integrations
Amazing Exteriors
RiverCity Cabinets
Freedom Solar Power
The Steam Team
Austin Deck Company
Michael Hsu Office of Architecture

The five Austin science and technology companies that were celebrated are:

AlertMedia
Fractilia, LLC
E & Co Tech
Pushnami, LLC
Blacklake Security

Business and legal services providers that won awards include:

AffiniPay
Daito Design
Palisades Group
SOAL Technologies, LLC
Willi Law Firm, P.C.
Potts Blacklock Senterfitt, PLLC

Other Austin businesses that won awards include:

Carbon Better
Tower Rock Oil & Gas
Cypress Industries
Roots Behavioral Health
College Inroads
A Taste of Koko
365 Things Austin
Third Rail Creative
Giant Noise
GSD&M
Stems

The full list of Longhorn 100 winners from around the state can be found on texasexes.org.

14 Austin icons star in new Texas Monthly book documenting most influential Texans of last 50 years

LONE STARS RISING

Texas Monthly's editors have released the next book for reading list queues. To commemorate the publication's 50th anniversary, they've collected and bound the stories and photographs of 50 iconic Texans that have shaped our great state and the country over the past 50 years. And 14 Austin megastars have made it on the roster.

Lone Stars Risingis Texas Monthly's third book, created in collaboration with Harper Wave Books. Among the book's 256 pages are not just the rich histories and commentaries about our most recognizable Texas legends, but a few "lesser-known individuals who have been toiling on the sidelines, quietly and intentionally shaping" our perception of our vast and great state.

The 14 Austin idols that made it into the book include state political figures, business magnates, legendary musicians, inspirational writers, and more.

Willie Nelson, because, Willie Nelson
Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Johnson, wife of former president Lyndon B. Johnson
Américo Paredes, author and founder of the University of Texas at Austin's Center for Folklore Studies
Richard Linklater, film director and mastermind behind Dazed and Confused andSchool of Rock
Louis Black, co-founder of the Austin Chronicle and South by Southwest
Molly Ivins, Texas newspaper columnist
Ann Richards, former Texas Governor
Karl Rove, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff
Bob Bullock, former Lieutenant Governor of Texas
Rick Perry, former Texas Governor
Aaron Franklin, founder of Franklin Barbecue
Liz Lambert, owner of hotel empire MML Hospitality
Dan Patrick, current Texas Lieutenant Governor
Michael Dell, founder of Dell Technologies

Lone Stars Rising will be available for purchase on June 6. More information about the book can be found on texasmonthly.com.

Photo by Pamela Springsteen

Willie Nelson leads the list of Austinites.

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