photo by Lauren Johnson
Of all the vending machines in Austin, only two save lives. Outside Sahara Lounge (1413 Webberville) and the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center (4430 Menchaca Rd.) sit mini stockpiles of the lifesaving overdose reversal drug Narcan (brand name of naloxone), available at the press of a button. Amid a raging overdose crisis, at a time when fentanyl lurks in everything, everyone should carry Narcan like they would Band-Aids or pepper spray. Funded by a grant from Austin Mutual Aid, Em Gray's N.I.C.E. Project (Narcan In Case of Emergency) is the first of its kind in Texas, and is leading the charge in making this vital tool for survival as widely available as it should be.
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A government-issued ID can open a lot of doors. But for certain populations, the logistical hoops required to procure an ID slams those doors shut. Enter the Austin Public Library, which launched a pilot program in May for “enhanced” library cards. The cards, which include a photograph and scannable barcode, don’t just allow you to access APL materials. They’re also recognized by many other city of Austin departments and local organizations as a valid form of identification – especially helpful for people experiencing homelessness, the formerly incarcerated, and immigrant communities. As Austin Public Library Director Roosevelt Weeks explained it, “Libraries exist to lift barriers.” We couldn’t put it better ourselves.
library.austintexas.gov/enhanced
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Image via library.austintexas.gov
photo by John Anderson
A hair salon teaming up with a nail salon? Boring. Expected. Been done before. A hair salon hitched to a kooky little vintage store? Genius. Scissor Sisters Salon sets out to make every customer feel like a star by working on their new 'do on stage, with theatre seats for friends who come along – and everybody in the crew gets a complimentary beer, frosé, or nonalcoholic refreshment. Under the same roof (and sharing an owner), Side Kitsch's winding halls and rooms full of retro goodies make the perfect place to show off that new look or kill time while your friend's bleach does its thing. The vintage inventory runs the gamut from Sixties magazines to midcentury modern furniture, making what could seem like a sideshow a star in its own right.
Scissor Sisters Hair Show Salon
6535 N. Lamar
512/660-5131
scissorsistersatx.com
Side Kitsch Vintage
6535 N. Lamar
512/660-5131
atxvintage.com
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It's no secret to anyone that this has been a rough year for the LGBTQIA2S+ community. With the Lege more focused than ever on making Texas a hostile place for queer families, many of whom are all but fleeing the state, we need safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces more than ever. Enter the Pride Shindig, a wedding expo for queer folks and their allies to explore vendors, get inspiration, and ultimately celebrate their love in whatever way they damn well please. Whether you're getting married or not, this particular safe space, with its eye definitively toward future queer happiness, is worth a visit. As the organizers put it, "Basically, if you give a damn about other people, you're our people." Amen to that.
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Courtesy of The Pride Shindig
Image via mfml.org
Although Mother Falcon released their last album in 2015, the local symphonic collective has continued to evolve with projects ranging from live music scoring to their Mother Falcon Music Lab summer camp. The latest offering from MFML aims at adults as much as kids though, with a workplace workshop that transforms the office. Using Ableton Live, the team records sounds around a space that evokes the experience of the job, and morphs them into provocative musical soundscapes that can reimagine the daily grind – transforming the 9-to-5 to 808s.
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It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Nope, it’s a pterodactyl. In fact, there’s a whole slew of prehistoric friends welcoming you to Jurassic Car Wash on South Congress. Four fully animatronic dinos keep you company as you finally wash off that layer of pollen that’s been building up on your car for weeks. Pull up to one of the four self-service bays, or opt for their full-service automated wash, which starts at an affordable $7 and includes an impressive selection of scented detergents. Might we suggest piña colada to kick off your summer? Don’t miss the dog washing booth, if your canine needs a wash, too. And good news, time travelers: This spot is open 24/7.
Jurassic Car Wash
4809 S. Congress
jurassiccarwash.com
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photo by Lauren Johnson
photo by Jana Birchum
Another year, another ice storm, another disappointing disaster response. But wait. One city agency went above and beyond when it came to not just cleaning up, but keeping everyone updated on what was happening and when. Austin Resource Recovery not only kept the trash from piling up, but worked for months to clear away the massive brush piles and stacks of branches that covered the melted city. Next time, can we just have them handle a crisis?
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Access to health care isn't just about money and insurance – it's about time, and about being able to find qualified health care workers near you. The volunteers at the nonprofit Hope Clinic see every patient as equal and every ailment as worth treating, giving their time and skills to bring top-quality care, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or religious affiliation – for anyone living in the Austin area. The $10 donation is a suggestion, not a demand, because they understand that not everyone has even that little to spare. It's a kindness that saves lives.
Hope Clinic
8101 Cameron #101
512/766-9979
www.hopeclinicaustin.org
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photo by John Anderson
You have a pet (or pets) and you're going out of town without them for a day – or even a stretch longer? Or your jobby-job requires you to be away from home for extended periods? Whatever the sitch, make sure your beloved critters are well cared for when you're away, with the help of this petsit service from Content Love Knowles, animal lover and longtime member of the Austin theatrical community. Her Harlequin service has been keeping stuck-at-home pets and their people happy since 2006 and is, paws down, a good choice for keeping dear Fido or Miss Fluff in finest fettle.
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Of the 6,355 people with AIDS in Austin in 2018, almost 1 in 4 lacked stable housing, and that situation only worsened over the pandemic. Housing these folks is what Project Transitions is all about, starting in 2020 with their first units. Now they've broken ground on their biggest development to date: The 61-unit Burnet Place in the Wooten neighborhood, with the goal of providing not just shelter but the wraparound care and services that will make this truly a home.
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Courtesy of Project Transitions
photo by Lauren Johnson
In a world where we’re surrounded by screens and tech gadgets, it’s no surprise there’s been a recent boom in analog photography. We crave something slower, more intentional. But shooting on film is more complicated than point-and-click on your phone, so you’ll need the folks at Holland Photo Imaging, in business since 1981. They’ll process, scan, and print both 35mm film (the most common) and large-format (120, 220), in a typical turnaround time of three to five business days. They provide easy file retrieval via WeTransfer, an after-hours dropbox, and a host of other services like passport photos and photo restoration. And the customer service is aces (love the bowl of Dum-Dums, y’all).
Holland Photo Imaging
2125 Goodrich
512/442-4274
www.hollandphoto.com
