I grew up in Austin, and I’ve spent most of my life living here, watching as the city has really grown around me over the past several years. To say I love Austin is an understatement—the possibilities the city has to offer are endless, and there are always unforgettable experiences to be had. Each day promises a different adventure, whether it is a new restaurant, clothing boutique or just a secret corner of town waiting to be discovered.
Ross and I own our clothing business, and I still work full-time as an assistant buyer for a beauty product distributor, so weekends tend to be when we get to hang out and do most of our exploring. We usually start our Saturdays off by waking up late and taking our time, making the most of our morning. After a hearty breakfast, you can usually find us strolling around town, most likely on one of our favorite streets in Austin: South Congress.

HandleBar
121 E. 5th St.
(512) 344 9571
handlebaraustin.com

My brothers and I were born and raised in Central Texas, just off I-35, where Brushy Creek ran through our backyard. Wheeler Brothers, though, has its roots during our high school days in Lake Travis, when we met one of our future guitarists, A.J., and would get together in my parents’ garage. On the weekends, we hacked through Phish covers and drank beer, though we never took it very seriously—it was just a few shows for fun and friends mostly. Eventually, we went our separate ways for college, which is where we met Danny. It wasn’t until we came back to Austin that we started writing our own material. Soon after, we recorded half of our first album, Portraits, and performed it live at whatever bar or venue would let us. It was then that we finally realized what we wanted to do for a living—and that Austin was the perfect place to do it.

 Making Waves—Meet five music industry insiders to watch.

PATRICK DENTLER

Digital Manager, C3

In an old photograph from 1953, I’m five years old and barefoot, one arm slung over a dusty, makeshift fort. Despite the planks of wood jutting out at odd angles and threatening to collapse, there’s a big grin on my face and a feeling of pride that lights up the photograph. Not much has changed since then: I may have traded in wooden forts for beautiful homes across the city, but some 50 years later, I’m still in love with architecture.

By George celebrates the First Ladies and their impact on American style.

From Eleanor Roosevelt to Michelle Obama, the history of the United States has been shaped by strong First Ladies who have defined their generation. With election season in full swing, By George pays tribute to these leading women in a vibrant fall window display, featuring portraits of each of the 46 First Ladies by acclaimed artist Mark Gagnon. A dynamic retrospective of great American women, the display is a visual testament to the old adage, “Behind every great man there is a great woman.” “While all eyes are on the male leaders of our country,” By George Marketing Director Kate Risinger says, “we are giving a nod to the females who back them up.”

Our homes reveal a lot about us, and anyone who’s added to or remodeled an old home knows that the changed elements speak volumes, charged with the task of straddling the old and new. Three recent remodels are notable for the healthy distance they establish between the original home and the new addition—the architects don’t disrespect the existing structures but aren’t beholden to their limitations either. We talked to the homes’ architects and owners to get their takes on the remodels.

A Simple Calm

Whether architect Matt Fajkus is designing a sculpture for President Obama or rebuilding a home lost to the Bastrop fires, he maintains a commitment to what he calls “the spirit of modernism.” It’s a dynamic philosophy uniting function, innovation and aesthetics that Fajkus has carried with him around the world, from his studies at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, to the renowned Foster + Partners firm in London and home to his native Austin. “I like to approach each project completely fresh,” he says of his work. “I let the site, the client and the function drive the project— my job is to coordinate these factors into a singular sustainable vision.” In 2011, Fajkus launched his award-winning independent practice, where he strives to develop creative design solutions with architectural designers Sarah Johnson and Audrey McKee.

Over the course of his four years in the Marines, Miguel Angel began a career as a combat photographer, chronicling his experiences around the world, from Japan to Iraq. Today, as he scopes out Austin’s nightlife scene, Angel’s approach to photography hasn’t changed much: “It’s different content,” he admits, “but it’s still about building relationships with people.” You won’t find Angel in the corner, snapping clandestine photographs of unsuspecting partygoers. Instead, he immerses himself in the crowd—one of the aspects he likes best about nightlife photography. “That’s why the photos come out the way they do,” he remarks.

My Austin story is a typical one. I first arrived as an eager UT freshman, then fell in love with the city and thought I’d stick around for a while after graduation. With that, my personal progression of nightlife revelry was quintessential as well: frequenting “Dirty 6th” while I could still stomach it, moving west as an enlightened upperclassman, then reaching what I consider to be true local status by heading out to the newest (or oldest) dives and hotspots, both in and out of downtown.

When my husband, Iba, and I moved to Austin from New York City, we didn’t know how long we would stay. I had been teaching Gyrotonic, acting and dancing while Iba was running the café inside the Bumble & Bumble hair salon. When we found out we were expecting our first child, we decided it was time to relocate to somewhere a bit slower paced and peaceful to start our family. As a University of Texas graduate and with one sister living in Austin and the other in Driftwood, Austin seemed the obvious choice. It has always held a special place in my heart with some of my favorite people as it's residents and being where some of my happiest memories were made.