As we close out 2008, we're taking a moment to briefly revisit some of the articles that we published on Austinist this year. Whether poignant, sad, hilarious, or downright ludicrous, many of these stories probably affected your lives to some extent. Certainly, at the very least, they provided their own commentary on Austin's ongoing transformation.
Spring Storm Slams Central Texas
A ferocious thunderstorm ripped through Central Texas, dropping large chunks of hail, smashing up trees, and leaving thousands of Austinites without power. Near Zilker Park, the power seemed to go out even before the storm hit. Golf ball-sized hail left many of the cars on Kinney Avenue dented, though the damage wasn't as bad as in parts of town further north. A family in Clarksville found a tree resting on top of their car, but seemed to take it in good spirits.Necrochilliacs
Three Houston men were accused of exhuming a human body ... and smoking marijuana out of its decapitated head.
I Am So Popular: I Heart Boobs!
"Not long after I hooked up with Warren, my young hot boyfriend, he introduced me to the lovely, talented Audrey Maker. Audrey puts together burlesque shows around town. Which is how I wound up, last fall, as a volunteer at the Texas Burlesque Fest, a sold-out, over the topless, two-night celebration of boobs. I got to work the Undressing Room, hanging out with beautiful women (and some men) in various states of undress, asking them if they needed anything. Warren had the more exciting job of Panty Catcher. Outfitted in a Super Hero costume enhanced with a big, bright pink, crocheted cock, he served a function similar to that of the ball boys and girls at Wimbledon. Each time an act finished, Warren dashed onstage to retrieve thongs, gloves, corsets, fishnets, etc. to clear the way for the next act."Whole Foods "FEED"s the World
First Niece, model and Houston native Lauren Bush teamed up with Whole Foods for her "FEED 100" reusable bag. Each bag will provide 100 school meals to children in Rwanda through the United Nations World Food Program's School Feeding Program.Darque Tan Owner Makes Two Astounding Discoveries
UT Law student takes on misleading advertising by Darque Tan in which the company advocates the resounding health benefits of UV tanning, such as increased vitamin D production and UV's ability to convert cholesterol into vitamin D.Pie Social and Film To Benefit Stephen Moser Sunday
The Chronicle's Virginia Wood and a collection of Austin's favorite restaurants joined forces to support Chronicle columnist Stephen Moser in his battle with prostate cancer.City Council Race Gets Interesting: Dirty Dialing Hijinks
An automated message service operating as "your neighbor Lisa" began dialing local residents, questioning some campaign promises supposedly made by City Council Place 3 candidate Randi Shade.Crace Archives Acquired by Ransom Center | Ransom Center Scores Double Coup: Letters by Tennessee Williams and John Steinbeck
UT's Ransom Center acquired the archives of Jim Crace, author of such award-winning novels as Being Dead (winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award) and Quarantine (Booker Prize shortlist). Later in the month, they announced two additional acquisitions: letters from cherished American playwright Tennessee Williams and equally cherished American novelist John Steinbeck.It's Official: Villa Muse Is Dead in Austin
"Yes, you can breathe again, Austin. The Villa Muse saga has, at long last, come to its fiery end. Which is fine by us, since we're kind of tired of writing about it. Ha-Ha. Um, but seriously."Truesday: Expecting and Expectations
"Unmanned, limping and in pieces, that Lincoln with all its suicide-door'd glory, launched over a small cliff on the edge of the parking lot, crossed 37th, and took out the Northeast corner of La Madeleine's outdoor patio. Destroyed it. Mowed over a dressed cement wall, and violently through some fancy bistro sets."ABC News to Partner with UT
ABC announced that it would establish multimedia bureaus at five different college campuses, with the UT School of Journalism being one of them. The new program would allow students the opportunity to create stories on local issues and produce content for "Nightline", "World News with Charles Gibson", mtvU, abcnews.com and more outlets under the ABC News umbrella.Hots On #10: Slipping Into Something More Comfortable
"Nine Inch Nails has become less about the music and more about the new and creative ways in which it is being marketed and consumed."
100 Wines, 3 Hours: Have A Spring Wine Fling At Zilker Park
The Wine and Food Foundation launched a new Spring tradition of wine-sipping at wedding hot spot Zilker Park ClubhouseAmazon.com May Owe Texas Millions in Uncollected Sales Taxes
Officials from the state comptroller's office investigated whether Amazon's Irving-based distribution center establishes a "physical presence" in Texas, which would make the company liable for untold millions in sales taxes.Red Light Cameras Coming Soon
Dubbed the "Keep Austin Safe" program, Austin's new red light camera system had some final adjustments made before being activated at the intersection of I-35 and 11th Street.Lance's Bike Store Open for Bike to Work Day
Unmellow Lance Armstrong's new bike shop, Mellow Johnny's on Fourth and Nueces, opened just in time for Bike to Work Day.Further Signs Of The Coming Apocalypse: Entire Texas Town Getting Swallowed Up By Giant Hole
A large sinkhole the size of three football fields was slowly eating up large parts of Daisetta, a tiny East Texas oil town 60 miles northeast of Houston. "All kinds of crap keeps falling into the tar pit-like cavern these days including a tractor, oil barrels, tires, two grain trucks, utility poles and a shitload of trees."

Austinist's Will Mills Gets Dunked For Charity [Video]








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