Austin City Limits Music Festival Attracts Business

By: Gineen Pospisil

According to vendors and entrepreneurs who lined Barton Springs road Sunday at the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival, businesses this year are more focused on having fun marketing instead of pulling a large profit.

Student Sells Homemade Hoops

Julie Ann Haley, a student of the University of Texas, set up a stand of homemade hula-hoops on the corner of Barton Springs and South Lamar Sunday afternoon.

$20 Buys A Hoop

"This has been my first year selling at ACL. I charge $20 or best offer for one of my hula-hoops. I’m really only interested in having fun and getting the word out about hula-hooping, but the extra cash doesn't hurt," said Haley.

Haley said she plans on attending other special events in the Austin area like Fun Fun Fun Fest in hopes of expanding her business.

Groovy Tricks on Youtube

"All you really need to be a great hula-hooper is one of my hula-hoops and access to Youtube
for some really groovy tricks," said Haley.

Local Restaurants attend ACL

Local restaurants were among those who took advantage of the large crowds attracted by the festivities.

Annie Dunckel, a UT graduate, said she works special events around the Austin area as an extra source of income. Dunckel said she worked for Amy's Ice Cream at ACL last year, but chose to work for Mmmpanadas, a local business on the rise, this year for a change of atmosphere.

"I think the business has been good this year regardless of the lineup. We have sold out of product every day. People will come out to ACL no matter what," said Dunckel.

Setting Up at ACL Gets the Word Out

Dunckel said that if anything, setting up a stand at ACL gets the word out about future business endeavors.

"The owners of Mmmpanadas have set up a website for the business and also tweet out where
they'll be around town selling their mmmpanadas," said Dunckel.

"Super Mario" Gives Rides

"Today is slow, but for the most part ACL is big fat cash," said Super Mario an Austinite who has been driving a bike taxi for about a year and goes by “Super Mario” to attract customers."I have learned that I attract more people because everyone already knows my name if I dress up as a well-known character," he said.

Mario said it's crazy how much people will pay to avoid traffic and walking. "I think Saturday was the best day, but I increased my price to $20 per person today because everyone is tired out from the weekend," he said.

Business Is Slow

"Business has been slow, slower than normal, but still a lot of positive vibes even if people aren't buying a lot," said Nathan Tod owner of Tantra Coffeehouse in San Marcos, Texas.Tod said he has been selling merchandise at ACL for five years, but 2008 has been his best year for business thus far.

"We got pinched this year because last year we got 18 vending spots for $5,000 and this year,with only one year’s difference, we could only get five spots for $6,000; that's a big blow,” he said. “Funny enough, though, we are going to do about the same this year because no one wanted to put up with all the rain last year.”

Evolve Industries Soon to Open

Tod said he plans on opening a wholesale warehouse called Evolve Industries in San Marcos.He said the company will start off doing business through the internet and will eventually open to the public. Tod said anyone interested in learning more about Evolve Industries can check out the companie's current website online.

Survival of the Fittest

By: Kaneesha Skinner

The sorority Delta Sigma Theta hosted their 12th annual women’s retreat this past weekend on Oct. 9 in the LBJ Student Center ballroom. The theme this year was Survival of the fittest: Find the Jane In You.

The retreat consisted of yoga, helpful workshops for women, performances and food. The three workshops included Time Management, A Thin Line Between Love & Abuse and Crafting Your Career. Along with RAD a self defense program.

Texas State students gave their thoughts on the outcome of the event.

DST member Amani Baha described the retreat as a place where women could learn how to survive and keep a level head during a work or school day. She also told how they were taught survival tips for the everyday life.

“I feel it was a great experience for the women that attended because they left with an appetite to approach things head on,” said Baha. She hopes next year will be an even more exciting event.

“I didn’t really know what to expect because this was my first retreat, but I ended up having fun,” said sophomore Latasha Maxwell.

She explained how the overall outcome was well and how much fun she had meeting new people. Maxwell has hopes of attending next year’s retreat as well.

Junior Ileecia Hunter attended her second retreat. Hunter talked about how the overall outcome was OK.

“I think I learned a lot from the workshops, but I wasn’t crazy about the performance,” said Hunter. “I also learned a little self defense that I really didn’t expect.”

Shara Francis also expressed her ideas on the retreat.

“It was nice. My favorite workshop was ‘A Thin Line Between Love & Abuse.’ I also liked the yoga because it was a good way to start off,” said Francis. She said a lot of people showed up and stated she would like to go again next year.

DEAGLE HEADWEAR MAKES A BIG IMPACT WITH LOW-IMPACT

By Danielle Verhaeghe

SALT LAKE CITY -- Two college students awaken the green movement in board culture by utilizing their passion for the shred and entrepreneurship with the up–and-coming Deagle Headwear Company.

“The social aspects of our business will set a standard for the industry as well as help set us apart,” said Brady Farr, Deagle Headwear Co. co-founder.

What is Deagle?Deagle Headwear Co. is an all-organic apparel and accessory company that presents an understanding for, what they say to be, the necessity of environmentally low-impact production.

“I feel the responsibility to raise awareness regardless of company affiliation, but it’s a huge plus that Deagle is on the same page,” said Tucker Mead, Deagle Headwear Co.sponsored skier.

A driving force behind the company is the co-founders’, Brady Farr and Robert Mrdutt,

love and respect for the mountains. The riders that represent Deagle Headwear are competitive riders and mountain enthusiasts that understand the importance of Deagle Headwear’s ideals.

“Local people are rooted with the landscape and environment, and end up giving back to it,” said Robert Mrdutt, Deagle Headwear Co. co-founder.

How Deagle began and where Deagle is now
The company began at Wasatch Academy, a boarding school in Utah, and today has spread onto the University of Utah campus.

This season Deagle Headwear has received an order for 480 hats for the University of Utah’s Snowboard Team.

“The thing I like most about Deagle is how grass-roots it is and how it is a growing company on the scene,” said Tyler Plane, a University of Utah student. Plane is a Deagle Headwear customer, and will continue to purchase from the company to support a good local cause.

Promise of Deagle
As their mission statement Deagle Headwear Co. promises to provide customers with environmentally conscious products, which have the quality Deagle Headwear Co. is proud of and style the customer is proud to wear on or off the mountains.

Photograph by Danielle Verhaeghe (from left: Robert Mrdutt, Brady Farr).

Local Champions of the Arts Champion Arts Education

by: Kathryn Crider

Training in some form of the arts is not only an important part of a child’s education, but one which yields long-term benefits in the lives of those who study it, according to a public discussion held Sunday as part of the Common Experience.

The forum drew four faculty members from Texas State, as well as a number of arts supporters from the San Marcos community, to the San Marcos Public Library to discuss the necessity of an arts education.

Practice Makes Everything Perfect

“When you focus just on the basic fundamentals of education, [the students’ development] just doesn’t seem to get better,” said John Lopez, coordinator of multicultural music and associate professor of music. “The totality of including arts education with all the other subjects will make things better.”

Grady Hillman, coordinator for the center of community arts, facilitated the discussion. He said in his work he has personally seen the growth of students of every age as a direct result of their training in some form of the arts.

“You bring music in there and they feel hope and joy and they feel smart,” said Kaitlin Hopkins, head of musical theatre at Texas State.

“Nothing is going to happen in the microwave for 10 seconds. It will take discipline,” said Dr. Lynn Brinckmeyer, director of choral music education and associate professor of music. That discipline, she said, is learned when studying music and arts.

Living Proof

The panel members’ own lives serve as evidence to the long-term benefit of growing up studying the arts and continuing that pursuit in adult life.

Hopkins, the daughter of actress Shirley Knight and producer Gene Persson, said her musical origins came from being surrounded by it throughout her childhood. When Hopkins was 3, her father was simultaneously producing both the musicals “Hair” and “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.”

“I eventually knew the music so well that I was very upset I wasn’t cast in one of those shows,” Hopkins said.

Her career spans over 25 years with experience in acting, directing and teaching. Her work includes appearances both on and off Broadway, in 11 feature films, over 50 TV shows and in national tours. Additionally, Hopkins has received numerous awards for her work.

Lopez said both of his parents grew up in Mexico, where they developed the love for music that they imparted to their children. After his father died in a tragic fire, the music was gone from his household for about 10 years, said Lopez. He said he rediscovered it through percussion around the age of 14 or 15 and has been pursuing it consistently ever since.

Lopez now serves as ensemble director of Texas State’s Salsa del Rio, Mariachi Nueva Generacion, Orquesta del Rio, and the youth group Mariachi Infantil.

Brinckmeyer’s start was “home grown,” she said, since her parents were not professional musicians, unlike Lopez and Hopkins. From the time she could read music until she moved away from home, Brinckmeyer said she would sing at the piano for hours while her cousin played.

She has since gone on to perform in 11 countries and 47 states, receive a Ph.D. in music education, publish several books for choral educators, conduct many award-winning choirs nationwide and currently directs the Texas State Women’s Choir and Hill Country Youth Choir.

With the support of three such examples for the importance of art in education, the discussion concluded with an audience of art enthusiasts armed to spread their love for the arts further into San Marcos and the surrounding area.

Career Opportunities in Disney

by: Tina Hernandez

Tuesday evening Erica Nowak, a Disney presentation recruiter, spoke to a room full of Texas State students on campus about the Disney College Program and its power to help students network and build a career.

Nowak spoke to students about the possibility of becoming apart of “the magic of Disney.” The benefits she listed were endless:

• paid internship
• kick-start career
• credit availability
• volunteer opportunities

Most importantly it is “a way to get your foot in the door.” In other words networking!

Nowadays college grads seem to be finding it difficult to start a career straight-out of school, but listing the right names on your resume may help ease the worry.

“Having Disney on your resume says so much, so quickly,” Nowak said. “Working for Disney is all about opportunity and the college program is the first step.”

Texas State alumna, Cherain Smith, participated in the program in 1993, and after graduation she started to work for Radio Disney. She continued to move up in the company and still works for Disney.

“I went from working as a beverage cashier at Disneyland to working in their corporate offices,” Smith said.

The campus representative team, all current students, spoke about their experiences with the Disney College Program.

“Once you’ve done this program doors start to open up,”

said Kathleen Norris, Texas State senior.

“Even after I completed the college program I still worked seasonal and got to keep all the benefits from before,” said Abram Garcia, Texas State senior.

Smith encouraged students wanting to apply to take the program very seriously and it just might be the jumpstart your career needs.

To be apart of the Disney program you must apply online. Advisors are available at the Career Services office to help direct students on what to do.

Glorious Night for San Antonio Artists

By: Gabriel Itzcoatl Luera

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – San Antonio’s west side artists and their art were on display Saturday night, as many came out to the city’s 2nd annual Una Noche de Gloria.

“It’s a great opportunity to come out and see the visual art and artists of the community and for them to showcase their art,” said District 5 Councilman David Medina, Jr.

Una Noche de Gloria was organized by the Contemporary Art and Literature Organization and co-sponsored by City Council District 5.

“It brings the community together. It’s a feeling of empowerment that all these young artists, and artists that are already established, can be vocal through art,” said Deputy Sheriff Sylvia Teran-Espino.

“The idea is that the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is our theatre and all these cars out here are their own galleries,” said Jimmy James Canales, co-organizer of the Pop Yo Trunk exhibit at Una Noche de Gloria.

Pop Yo Trunk was an open-air gallery along Guadalupe Street organized by Canales and Monessa Esquivel. It showcased custom autos from local car club, Texas Pushrods, some with trunks filled with local art for sale.

“The west side doesn’t see stuff like this, and for us to be able to bring a block party into this area and bring people from the west side and showcase their art and people who work in the community, it highlights an area of town that’s underrated ,” said local photographer Mari Hernandez.

“Jesse Trevino is here and I just saw Edmund Hernandez. Those guys are the pillars of Chicano art and have been painting since the sixties, when Chicano art wasn’t well known. The new artists are inspired by those guys and look up to them. They use their colors, their ideas. It’s very positive,” said visual artist Raul Servin.

“If you want to give an artist an award, buy their work,” said Trevino, whose art has been featured in the Smithsonian. CALO director Gabriel Velasquez said that was the driving force behind Una Noche de Gloria. Some artists intend to use the money they raised to give back to their community.

“I’m attempting to kick-start a photography program for local youth,” said Hernandez. Hernandez said she had a goal of $5,000 so she can buy equipment and allow organizations to host her workshop for free.

“I think these kinds of events have a calming effect on the neighborhood,” Deputy Espino said. Servin said it’s the Chicano flavor that makes all the difference.

“This is more of a barrio thing. It’s like having a jamaica. People know the barrio and respect it. I think that’s why we don’t have problems,” Servin said.

“We don’t go past one or two in the morning. This isn’t a party, it’s an art event. We’re just trying to show the community the new art that’s out here,” said Canales.

Photos by Gabriel Itzcoatl Luera.

Austin’s Biggest Block Party

by: Jessica Schoenfeld

SOCO
Austin-ites beat on homemade instruments on the street corner, while a small pigtailed girl marvels at her Hey Cupcake. Shoppers, young and old, weave through the plethora of vendors on South Congress Street searching for unique treasures. First Thursday offers locals an opportunity to relish in Austin’s electric culture through art, food and music.

First Thursday is a popular monthly event that takes place the first Thursday of every month along South Congress Avenue. Stores along South Congress stay open late and vendors set up tents to display their work.


Art
Vendors such as Plaid Pigeon and Glassy Knoll presented various types of artwork ranging from blown glass, clothes, jewelry and plants.

“I love coming out to see all the cool art, there is always something new to see at First Thursday,” said Andy Boyle who is a student at Texas State University. Boyle enjoys coming to Austin for First Thursday every month and said he cannot wait to move to Austin so he can experience its culture on a day-to-day basis.


Food
First Thursday offers a smorgasbord of dining options. Sit down restaurants, such as Vespaio and food trucks, such as Hey Cupcake, are available to serve everyone’s culinary desires.

“I love coming to First Thursday because if I want a filet I can get a filet and if I want a corndog I can get a corndog,” said Clayton Hoover who is a student Southwestern University. Although Hoover traveled from out of town to experience First Thursday he said he “enjoys every bit of it.”


People
Many vendors that populate First Thursday bring out a variety of people to experience the Austin culture.

“I’ve been coming to First Thursday since I moved to Austin three years ago and my favorite part about it is the people,” said Blair Haralson a graduate from St. Edward’s University. Haralson said that Austin has a “unique culture that can be seen and experienced at First Thursday.”

First Thursday allows individuals to experience Austin’s culture through art, food and music every first Thursday of every month.