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These Austin theaters have entertained for more than 150 years

Michael Barnes @indelibleaustin.bsky.social · 22h

German beer halls to civil rights protests: Hidden history of Austin theaters www.statesman.com/news/history...

The Scottish Rite Theater was once a German beer hall, where suds flowed long after the curtain fell. Protests at the Varsity Theater helped integrate Austin.

Symbol of survival, Driskill Hotel has remained at the heart of Austin

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Michael Barnes @indelibleaustin.bsky.social · 4d

From cattle baron’s dream to near ruin: The Driskill’s history www.statesman.com/news/history...

"From the Archives" looks at some historical highlights of the newly renovated 1886 Driskill Hotel in Austin

Donut-shaped Airport Hilton built tough for the atomic age

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Michael Barnes @indelibleaustin.bsky.social · 6d

Good job!

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Michael Barnes @indelibleaustin.bsky.social · 6d

Austin history: Sordid tales from Hotel Vegas. Plus, which hotel hides a Cold War bunker? www.statesman.com/news/history...

A thorough Texan, Taylor Sheridan, places papers at Texas State

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Michael Barnes @indelibleaustin.bsky.social · 7d

A Texan comes home: Taylor Sheridan archives headed to San Marcos www.statesman.com/news/history...

The Texas filmmaker donates his archives to Texas State’s Wittliff Collections, joining legendary writers like Larry McMurtry and Cormac McCarthy.

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Michael Barnes @indelibleaustin.bsky.social · 7d

A thorough Texan, Taylor Sheridan, places papers at Texas State

The Texas filmmaker donates his archives to Texas State’s Wittliff Collections, joining legendary writers like Larry McMurtry and Cormac McCarthy.

From the Archives: A tribute to the folks who rescued Pease Park

Reposted by Michael Barnes

Bruce Mackay @brucemackay.bsky.social · 15d

Missed #HobbitDay this week but here's Bag End for you anyways.

Illustrated postage stamp of Bag End. A small tree-topped hillock with a round door and windows in the side. Small gate next to lane, autumnal leaves on surrounding foliage. Leaves blowing in the breeze. Overlapping orange and teal.

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Michael Barnes @indelibleaustin.bsky.social · 15d

Beautiful

Michael Barnes @indelibleaustin.bsky.social · 21d

Once raggedy, gray, denuded, Pease Park has bounced back for Austin www.statesman.com/news/history...

Third in our short From the Archives series on the history of Pease Park. This one covers its renaissance during the 21st century.

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Michael Barnes @indelibleaustin.bsky.social · 21d

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Michael Barnes @indelibleaustin.bsky.social · 28d

Lammes Candies, York Rite Temple, Capital Grille come with deep Austin history

After the founder of the Austin candy institution lost the business in a poker game, his son bought it back for $800.

Austin History Center enters new age with modern, expanded home

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Reposted by Michael Barnes

Grits for Breakfast @gritsforbreakfast.bsky.social · Sep 9

Inside the new Austin History Center: archives, exhibits and guided tours www.statesman.com/news/history...

On Sunday, the Austin History Center offered an advance look of its expanded and modernized home. There will be another preview on Austin Museum Day.

This is the job Texas is paying residents not to do

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Reposted by Michael Barnes

Grits for Breakfast @gritsforbreakfast.bsky.social · Sep 9

Finally, evidence of sentience in Texas Gulf Coast oyster management, though solutions must all come from private financing bc, as with so many issues in this state, the #txlege has left the process flailing and wholly ungoverned.

The state says it has seen dramatic results.

www.chron.com

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Reposted by Michael Barnes

Parker Welch @parkerwelch.bsky.social · Sep 9

Seattle is, at the moment, the only working model for transforming car-centric American cities

The Urbanist @theurbanist.org · Sep 8

Seattle's human population is growing fast, but its car population has stalled out. Between 2017 and 2023, Seattle added 35,000 households and about 80,000 residents, but just 3,300 cars, new Census data has revealed.

Story: www.theurbanist.org/2025/09/07/w...

While Seattle Population Spikes, Car Population Stalls Out » The Urbanist

# Seattle's human population is growing fast, but its car population has stalled out. Between 2017 and 2023, Seattle added 35,000 households and about 80,000 residents, but just 3,300 cars, new Census...

www.theurbanist.org

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Michael Barnes @indelibleaustin.bsky.social · Sep 9

Austin Symphony Orchestra conductor Peter Bay announces retirement plans www.statesman.com/entertainmen...

Enjoy Symphony conductor Peter Bay while you can, since he plans to retire

As part of a bundle of arts news, Conductor Peter Bay intends to retire as music director of Austin Symphony Orchestra in 2027

Austin History Center enters new age with modern, expanded home

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Michael Barnes @indelibleaustin.bsky.social · Sep 9

Inside the new Austin History Center: archives, exhibits and guided tours www.statesman.com/news/history...

On Sunday, the Austin History Center offered an advance look of its expanded and modernized home. There will be another preview on Austin Museum Day.

Pease Park: From wading pools and ball games to bonfires and Eeyore's Birthday

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Michael Barnes @indelibleaustin.bsky.social · Sep 7

Eeyore's Birthday, disc golf, gay cruising: More history of Austin's Pease Park www.statesman.com/news/history...

The second in our series on the history of Pease Park, given to the citizens of Austin in 1875, which was often used and misused by citizens

Tomlinson: Texans have $1.1 trillion in property at risk of extreme weather

Reposted by Michael Barnes

Anne Thériault @annetheriault.bsky.social · Sep 6

New York’s hottest saint is Elizabeth Ann Seton. Born into a prominent Episcopalian family, this saint has everything: a dead mom, a divorced dad, life set against the backdrop of the American Revolution, TUBERCULOSIS, a religious conversion, the composition of a banger top 40 hymn, the War of 1812

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Reposted by Michael Barnes

Chris Tomlinson @cltomlinson.bsky.social · Sep 5

Texas has $1.1 trillion in real estate at risk from severe climate change-related disasters, as the Trump administration downplays the danger and deletes research that could help protect from future storms. #txlege #climate #weather Trying a free link: www.houstonchronicle.com/business/col...

Insurers say $1.1 trillion in Texas real estate is at risk from extreme weather caused by climate change, preparations needed.

www.houstonchronicle.com

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Michael Barnes @indelibleaustin.bsky.social · Sep 4

Revisit Austin hotspots: Pearl House, Cedar Door, Volente Beach

In this edition of Jim Duncan's Austin, we look at the histories of Pearl House/La Pena, Volente Beach and Cedar Door.

New York City's High Line - An Elevated Park Experience

Reposted by Michael Barnes

Kerry Dexter @kerrydexter.bsky.social · Sep 3

In case mention of NYC's High Line Park on @marketplace.org has sparked your interest, my @perceptivetravel.bsky.social colleague @theseafarer.bsky.social takes you there in this story #NewYork #parks @kairyssdal.bsky.social perceptivetravel.com/blog/2025/08...

New York City's High Line elevated park on a former railway is such an appealing mishmash of "touching grass" and urban energy.

perceptivetravel.com

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Reposted by Michael Barnes

Damian Barr @damianbarr.bsky.social · Sep 2

It’s a privilege to be noticed by reviewers, as Books pages shrink. It’s an actual joy to be critiqued so closely by a reviewer who places me and you (the reader) in a threesome with The Two Roberts, my two central characters. 🍾

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/s...

The Two Roberts by Damian Barr review – lost story of a gay art duo

The lives of Scottish artists Bobby MacBryde and Robert Colquhoun, who found love and fame and lost it all, are vividly reimagined

www.theguardian.com

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Michael Barnes @indelibleaustin.bsky.social · Sep 2

Austin’s Pease Park turns 150. It's history is marked by celebration, neglect

As Pease Park turns 150, we look into the early days of Austin's oldest public park.

Michael Barnes @indelibleaustin.bsky.social · Sep 1

Galveston Movement steered 10,000 Jewish immigrants through Gulf port

A new book of family history revives interest in the Galveston Movement, which steered Jewish immigrants to the Texas port for dispersal in the American heartland.