Rave days are Thursday’s…Friday’s, Saturday’s or any day really! Since every day is a great day to dance, it’s become a habit of mine to attend the multitude of shows at the local venue, The… More
illsential
A brand new street wear clothing company has launched in Austin, TX by the name of “illsential,” that aims to make you feel absolutely ill, and extremely important at the same time. In the video below, you’ll see the local dream team feeling just that way in their promotional video for the launch of the clothing line.
Their product has a minimalistic approach with the occasional exception of colorful illustration tees like the Night Wolf. The product is designed and distributed locally in the Austin area and targets the urban street wear demographic. If you’re feeling ill, check out some of their classic dad hat and t-shirt looks below.
Adam Davis Photography
Adam Davis Photography
Pete La Flame Photography
Illsential will have more sick street wear coming your way, so be sure to keep up with them on your socials (@illsential) so you don’t miss out on their next launch for the line. In the meantime, have fun shopping!
Andiamo Ristorante
Wednesday’s are for wine! At Andiamo Ristorante in Austin, TX, Wednesday’s also mean 20 dollar bottomless bowls of pasta and half-priced bottles of select wines. With this being said, my girlfriends and I dressed up and made our way to the promise land of bottomless pasta.
Zagat, a notable review site for restaurants, marked this Italian gem as one of the best places to find housemade pasta in Austin.
Excited to taste, my friends and I sat down and indulged in their famous housemade cheese bread and a bottle of wine. The pasta’s that we indulged in are presented below with a description of each.
Ravioli ai 4 Formaggi
Amatriciana
Cacio e Pepe
A unanimous decision from the table revealed the ravioli was the best, and I would highly recommend giving it a try. The creamy tomato sauce has a flawless balance of acidity and sweetness leaving you craving another bowl–but hey, it’s bottomless, so why not!
Andiamo Ristorante has a sleek aesthetic and is great for getting dolled up and going out with your friends, or if you’ve been meaning to take a special someone on a date, this restaurant has the perfect romantic atmosphere.
Photo Credits: Andiamo Ristorante
Aloha, Hawaii!
Over winter break, I made the journey from Central Texas to the beautiful isolated islands of Hawaii, located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
As a young girl, I resided on the island of Oahu and lived the fairytale of beach bummin’ my way through life for two years before moving. Excited to return, I waited patiently as I passed over the Pacific. The plane landed, and 15 years since my departure, I had officially made it back to the islands!
In the video below, you’ll see me standing on the edge of South Point, which is famous for being the southernmost point in the United States. Check out the video to see 30ft jumps into the Pacific, as well as footage from the rest of our wild adventures.
The video features footage from Rainbow and Akaka Falls, Waipio and Pololu Valley, Ahalanui Beach Park, the cities of Hilo and Kona, Black Sand Beach, and Papakolea Green Sand Beach–one of only four located on the entire globe.
The green sand is created by a common silicate deposit of Big Island lava called olivine, which stays deposited on this beach because it is heavier than the other, lighter components of lava. To see this special spot where the green sand effortlessly contrasts with the clean blue ocean water, we embarked on a six-mile hike round trip. To say the least, the hike was well worth it!
Being on the island and basking in its exquisite beauty made me question how one could ever leave such a place. If you can’t tell by now, I never wanted too. Hopefully, it won’t be another 15 years before I return. Till next time, Hawaii!
Interview: Meet Alex
It seems like a lot of people I know are doing some really cool stuff with their lives and creating something out of their passions and desires, so I decided to go out and interview a friend who is doing just that.
Meet Alex Helm, a guy pursuing life through the lens, capturing all of his exciting moments with his Nikon D2300. Helm started his own multimedia brand, Helm Visuals, as an outlet for him to promote what he is capable of.
Helm captures his day to day life by taking portraits of his alluring friends and filming his hobbies. Some typical content you may see Helm produce consists of portrait style photos, as well as video footage of wakeboarding, longboarding, traveling, and of course, partying.
Helm is hard working, and his art naturally catches the attention of others. He has an eye for the water and surrounds himself with positive “beachy” vibes, all which were influenced from the West Coast in California. In the interview, he explains his passions, influences, and style in his own words. Check it out the video and meet, Alex.
In addition, check out Helm’s, “Daydreaming,” as explained in the interview as one of his “most memorable” and most recent productions.
Provided below are some portrait style photos taken by Helm.
Follow Helm Visuals on Instagram and Twitter to keep up with his most recent captures.
The Beauty of Blogging
Today, I was reflecting on the beauty of blogging and how running a site about my passions and daily activities has been so rewarding. For me, blogging has been a way for me to enhance what I share on my social media about my life. I’ve reflected my thoughts on blogging through a series of questions below. Have a look if you’re considering exploring the blogging lifestyle…
- Which tools are effective? Which aren’t?
In blogging, the effective tools to be successful include captivating photography, passion on the topic, and a creative writing style. If you don’t have any of these three things, it will be hard for an audience to follow.
- What would you want to improve or include within the blog?
The theme. I think the layout of a website can make or break whether it is successful or not.
- In what ways could the experience benefit you in the future?
I’m hoping to add more festival coverage and music-oriented content to the site. With that being said, I hope to further my career in the industry by growing as a writer and knowledgeable reviewer.
- Discuss how you might implement these tools professionally in the future, in a job or an entrepreneurial endeavor.
I plan on implementing the emmofe brand into my life long career. Where it’s going is unknown, but I plan on pursuing it as a personally owned brand, enhancing my life in a way that allows me to have multiple outlets of passion for focusing on, whether it’s music, life, art or food.
- What has been your most popular week, and how many views and visitors did you get that week?
October 3-9. I received 208 views and 88 visitors.
- Which was your most popular post of the year? How many views did it get? Why do you think it was the most popular?
My most popular post of the year thus far was titled “Meet Toyosi,” receiving 56 views. I think it populated the most views because Toyosi and I graduated from the same high school, so many of my friends on social media wanted to read about an old friends success.
- In all of the Site Stats data, was anything surprising to you?
Yes, I’m shocked by the amount of traffic I was able to draw in. I didn’t expect the audience I’ve been receiving, so I think I’ll keep pursuing it after the class with the numbers I’m seeing.
- Do you have any Twitter, Facebook or other social media stats you want to share?
No, but checking insights is always fun to see what impact you have on the online social community.
Louie’s Oyster House & Beer Garden
Football season is here…and so is the weekend! That means I’m out and about somewhere on the city streets enjoying the day as much as possible before sunset. By nightfall, I tend to hit the bars for happy hour with my sister, Miranda.
With football season in full swing, Miranda and I made arrangement’s to watch the Cowboy’s game at a local beer garden on the square in San Marcos, TX. Personally, I don’t care much for football, but I’m always down for drinks and good company. Our place of choice for the night was an outdoor sports bar with a surf and turf ambiance called, Louie’s Oyster House & Beer Garden.
Photo: Emily Ferris
Photo: Emily Ferris
Photo: Emily Ferris
Louie’s offers over 100 beers, along with a full bar and menu. However, the restaurant is family-friendly and offers an outdoor stage for live music and a playground for the kids. If crawfish is in season, the restaurant even hosts regular crawfish boils for the community.
Photo: Emily Ferris
Photo: Emily Ferris
Photo: Emily Ferris
Seafood is very prevalent on the menu here, but there are always other options for those who don’t eat fishy friends. Me being one of those people, I stuck to ordering one of their sides to snack on. The onion rings shown above are seasoned and battered with cajun spices that pair perfectly with a Deep Eddy Vodka soda or Dos Equis.
Next time you’re on the square and need a drink or some good fried food, stop by Louie’s and see what’s poppin’!
O’Neill’s House of Fashion
Cool brisk air sweeping in at 65 degrees, composed with the smell of firewood and christmas trees has finally caught wind and made it’s way to San Marcos, Texas.
A new season is always exciting because I get inspired when it comes to the wardrobe. There are so many opportunities to utilize last seasons finds with new ones. In other words, it’s time to get creative and put together something you’ll look captivating in!
Luckily, for anyone who feels underdressed or unprepared for the Winter season, O’Neill’s House of Fashion, a small boutique located on the square in San Marcos, is there to provide you with all that you may need. O’Neill’s House of Fashion is described as an upscale women’s clothing boutique, where shabby meets fashion. Essentially, it’s the perfect place to go if you need to spice up your attire.
The small boutique is filled with a variety of sweaters, jackets, leggings, winter dresses, and even a bangin’ collection of accessories. If any of you know me well enough, you’d know I’d be checking out the sunglass collection first.
If you have the time this season, or if you need a last minute holiday dress, stop by O’Neill’s and see what you can find that spices up your life. Get creative and have fun!
Follow O’Neill’s House of Fashion on Instagram and Twitter.
Sound On Sound Day Two – Pouya, Big Boi, Beach House
With little to no rain, the sun trying to break through the clouds, and festival attendees pouring through the gates, day two proved another successful day in the forest. There were three artist particularly on my radar for Saturday, including Pouya, Big Boi, and Beach House.
Starting at the Forest Stage for the second day in a row, I was shocked to find somewhat of a bleak crowd formed around the stage. From behind the speakers and light fixtures, and tall lanky white boy emerged onto the stage with the beat following. Pouya performed songs “Growing Pains” and “Energy 2,” which embody a lot of what kids these days are calling “hype.” Towards the end of his performance he told the crowd, “don’t sing, just mosh,” so with body parts flying around in the front, and people bumpin’ in the back, the show came to an end.
The next performer on my radar was Big Boi, a rapper best known for being a member of the hip hop duo Outkast, alongside Andre 3000. We’ve all shaken it like a polaroid picture once or twice, but Saturday night I was ready to get down and boogie. Unfortunately, Big Boi conquered the stage later than scheduled, but the wait was well worth it. He performed songs from his duo Outkast including, “B.O.B,” “The Way You Move,” and my personal favorite, “Mrs. Jackson.”
In addition to Big Boi’s notable work with Outkast, he played songs from his collaborative work with Phantogram, titled Big Grams. Although Phantogram was at the festival on day one, Big Boi performed their songs “Lights On” and “Fell In The Sun” solo. During the infectiously catchy song “Drum Machine” the crowd was bouncing, twerking, and shaking what their mama’s gave em’. The energy from the crowd out of control, and it was awesome.
Lastly and slightly later than scheduled, Beach House took the stage. Despite the anxious fans waiting, there’s nothing better than the moment you close your eyes and hear a sea of voices chattering go silent before cheering on an artist to take the stage. The base crept in, and with a steady beat, and the strings of guitars chiming in, Beach House took the stage opening with “Wild.” Beach House embodies a very melodic and soothing sound in many of their songs, creating a wonderful concert experience during songs like “Myth” and “10 Mile Radio.” With lots of swaying and subtle movements around the crowd, the show had a kind of feeling you’d experience while listening to a lullaby. It was breath taking.
Sound On Sound Day One – Clipping, Denzel Curry, Run the Jewels
Sound on Sound Fest’s first day of music was packed with talent and high energy performances. Making my way through the mystical Sherwood Forest, I saw performances by Clipping, Denzel Curry, and Run the Jewels. Can you tell I was ready for some rap?
Starting at the Forest Stage, titled due to it’s placement around tall beautiful trees, Clipping, an experimental hip hop artist was about to take the stage. With sounds of electronic music and quick thoughtful raps, the beats and energy from this guy we’re very pronounced. During his songs “Wake Up” and “Wriggle,” the crowd was groovin’ to the beat, despite how scattered the sounds may have seemed. Some songs we’re so top loaded with different melodies, it was almost hard to keep up dancing, but all in all it was a wild performance.
As I continued my ventures in the forest, I found myself lost trying to find The Keep stage, where rapper Denzel Curry was gearing up to take the stage. Once I floated around the festival, lost in thought, music, tents, and a sea of magical people, I finally found it. Like many rap shows, the energy from the crowd was rowdy, and Curry was there to light up the night. Before performing his hit “Ultimate,” he asked the kids in the crowd to get on stage, and for the ladies to step out from the middle of the crowd, so a wall of death could be formed. In other words, it was time to mosh, and mosh they did.
To finish my night off with one last rap performance, I saw Run the Jewels. With it being their first show in a month, they we’re ready to party. Unfortunately, the sound went out on the first song, but that didn’t stop Killer Mike and El-P from bouncing around the stage in front of the crowd. Once realizing what happened, they requested the volume be turned up “louder than legal” so the party could continue. With songs like “Blockbuster Night Part 1,” “Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck),” and “Lie, Cheat, Steal,” the crowd was headbanging and throwing their bodies around to the heavy beats. If you’ve never experienced a Run the Jewels show and you have the chance, I highly recommend you go jam with these guys. They’ll make you dance your socks off.
Sound On Sound Fest Day One – Setting the Stage
On November 4th, the first day of a new festival, Sound on Sound Fest, kicked off it’s inaugural year in the magical Sherwood Forest. Day one had an excellent line up, highlighting some of my favorite acts including, Clipping, Denzel Curry, Empress Of, Run the Jewels, and Phantogram. However, the fans we’re the real stars of the fest.
The attendees of Sound on Sound are amongst some of the most dedicated festival fans I’ve had the pleasure to fest with. Despite the weather, these people came with open minds, a raincoat, boots, and a tent, to set up camp for the weekend, while others embark on an hour long journey from the city each day.
Prior to the fest, many fans showed concern about the transition from Fun Fun Fun Fest, to this new mysterious festival in the woods. However, I found many attendees blown away with the new venue and set up of the festival.
Photo: Chad Wadsworth
Photo: Chad Wadsworth
Photo: Chad Wadsworth
Photo: Chad Wadsworth
At a glance, the fest lays on the grounds where an annual renaissance fair is held, so castles turned into stages, and marketplaces turned into eateries. While the map may seem a little spread out and confusing at times, the walk between attractions can be very mystic and mesmerizing with light embellishments hanging from trees, and unused renaissance attractions you can hang out by, like houses, chapels, and fountains. There’s even multiple interactive games to play between your favorite shows! The festival also posses a designated “sober space” where you can kick back before furthering your adventures around the festival.
Photo: Chad Wadsworth
Photo: Chad Wadsworth
Photo: Chad Wadsworth
Photo: Charles Hackleman
One of the most respected attributes of the festival was due to the spread out nature of it, which enhanced the quality of each individual stage by allowing enough space between stages, so artists can jam to their full potential without hearing other performers around the fest.
Photo: Charles Hackleman
Photo: Charles Hackleman
Now, on to day two for another magical day in the forest…see you there!
emmofe 