Thinman

Travis House, photo by thinmanOn October 13th, the Planning Commission (PC) considered the Historic Landmark Commission's recommendation that Travis House be designated as a historic building. The owner's lawyer told Planning that the 1945 building was in bad shape and contaminated with lead, mold and asbestos. Susan Villarreal, Senior Planner... continue reading on Austinist

Jonathan Safran Foer, photo by thinmanLast Sunday during the Texas Book Festival, I sat down for lunch with Jonathan Foer, author of Eating Animals. I wanted to talk about his new book and at the same time introduce him to one of Austin’s treasures: the vegetarian food at Casa de... continue reading on Austinist

photo by thinmanTexas is playing on the road, the weather should be great, so your excuses are scant. Two hundred and twenty authors and box loads of new books will be arriving. And, according to Clay Smith, this is an excellent year to be a reader. Be sure and check... continue reading on Austinist

photo by Jay BrousseauImagine sitting in prison for a crime you did not commit. Then, ten years into a life sentence, another prisoner confesses, names an accomplice and signs an affidavit. That should be enough to get you out of jail, right? That is not how the system works. In... continue reading on Austinist

Bill Hobson photo by ThinmanSpeaking last Friday at City Hall, Mayor Leffingwell estimated there are around 4000 homeless people in Austin, with about 600 of those chronically homeless. Bill Hobson, Executive Director of Seattle's Downtown Emergency Service Center, spoke to those fighting the problem in Austin: city and county agencies,... continue reading on Austinist