Category: Essay and Opinion

When volunteering is scary

The 14-foot spider in the garage was a sign that Halloween had spun out of control. In early July, my husband started building “Charlotte” as a prop for this year’s Haunted Trails at the...

Helping the evacuees, one family at a time

Sitting in the front seat of Felecia Williams’s ex-husband’s truck on a warm September morning in Austin’s Rosedale neighborhood, I can safely say that three weeks ago, neither of us expected to be there....

The burnt orange gates

With South by Southwest upon us, our city is awash in recording industry executives with multiple digital devices, layers of flunkies and hot and cold running bar tabs. We are surrounded by college students...

Top 10 Y2K Top 10 Lists

Things To Do With All That Leftover “Year 2000” Crap 1. Create a time capsule; everything is already labeled. 2. Save for next New Year’s Eve. Invite clueless guests to next year’s bash. 3....

Over the 8 Ball

Imagine how children across America will feel when they discover that one of their most enduring and popular toys is actually a tool of the occult! We’re not talking about the Ouija board, despite...

Book Me, Danno!

Each summer, a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of vintage Hawaiian shirts. This is troublesome for me, as it only brings up memories of watching Hawaii Five-0 as a child. I admit it....

The Year of the Bunny

Ah, it’s spring! Nevermind that freaky Austin weather has had us swimming since January; spring proper is marked by the arrival of a certain long-eared, short-tailed burrowing mammal. March may come in like a...