J. M. Coetzee is probably the only Nobel Prize winner for Literature with a degree from UT. He spent several years in Austin in the 1960’s, playing intramural cricket, protesting the Vietnam War in the pages of the Daily Texan, and writing a dissertation on Sam Beckett’s novels. A few years later, he returned to South Africa, the country of his birth, and started writing one amazing book after another. (He hasn’t really stopped since then.) He’s visited Austin a few times since then, including a stint in 1995 as a visiting professor at UT. more ›

Here's another batch of bands from my ACL Artist Previews Page; remember you can check out the whole site at any time. David Ford - "State of the Union" is quite possibly the most amazing song I have stumbled upon while writing these previews, proving that David Ford is not just another singer/songwriter. (full preview) Ghandaia - Austin's Ghandaia is a nine-piece "Latin groove ensemble" that blends as many influences as there are members... more ›

A mere four miles from The Salt Lick, Driftwood Vineyards is an ideal detour for those shuttling out-of-town guests to the BBQ haven out in the Hill Country. The tasting room sits at the top of a long, unpaved road and overlooks Driftwood's grapevines and some beautiful countryside. While the setting was enjoyable, we had our suspicions about Texas' ability to compete with California or Oregon wines, some of which were confirmed. We began... more ›

Sydney Pollack's The Interpreter opened this weekend here in Austin. We saw it at the Gateway, snuggled between a guy with a serious popcorn eating compulsion, and a teenage girl who admired our purse. We ate peanut butter M&Ms accompanied by a small coke -- not a bad dinner by our standards. Yes, sometimes Austinist goes to the movies alone. And we are okay with that. more ›