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Michael Barnes is the Austin American-Statesman's social columnist. He lives in South Austin with his partner, Kip, two dogs and two cats. More on Out & About.

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Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2010 > September > 28 > Entry

Austin: Open, Kind, Smart, Fit, Festive & Informal

By Michael Barnes | Tuesday, September 28, 2010, 10:40 AM

‘Hindus don’t just believe in karma for people, but also for places,” says local high-tech leader Ramkrishna Prakash. “Great souls are reborn in — or come to — great places like Austin.”

In that spirit, readers nominated — via Facebook — Austinites who engender a “karma of place” by being: open, informal, fit, festive, smart or kind (six of our city’s essential qualities, sometimes mixed in equal parts).

OPEN

Walk into any room. The faces and bodies say it all: We are open. To new people. To new ideas. Sure, we’ll fight to preserve what’s worth preserving of Old Austin. Yet we don’t close the door to what’s fresh. Just try that simple strategy in bigger, older cities — or out in the country.

Consider among us: singer Sara Hickman, bootstrapper Bijoy Goswami, movie mini-moguls Tim and Karrie League, Nobelity’s Christy and Turk Pipkin, high-voltage connector Eugene Sepulveda, Rabbi Steven Folberg, Casa de Luz’s Eduardo ‘Wayo’ Longoria, Little Longhorn’s Ginny Kalmbach, conductor Craig Hella Johnson, outgoing Joanie Bentzin, the Capitol’s Revlynn Lawson, theatrical socializer Rob Faubion, musician Ian McLagan, designer Linda Asaf, quiet do-gooder Lew Aldridge, playwright Kirk Lynn, psychologist Flint Sparks or ballet master Stephen Mills.

INFORMAL

We bow before few social idols here. Hierarchies matter little. That freedom is reflected in our buildings and apparel. Informality goes far beyond the seemingly intrinsic aesthetic of “funkiness.” A relaxed posture can be detected at the most ceremonious gatherings.

Think of: gender crasher Leslie, music scene propagator Willie Nelson, writer Spike Gillespie, artist Bob ‘Daddy-O’ Wade, novelist Sarah Bird, former Austin City Council Member Raul Alvarez, composer Peter Stopschinski, Octopus Club’s Mark Erwin, sagaciously funny Eddie Wilson or architect Emily Little.

I like Dan Crean’s nomination for this category: “Everybody?”

FIT

We adore the out of doors. One reason: Austinites move around in it year-round. Even in August. Along with those healthy bodies often come fit minds. Readers ask why so many hale and hearty figures appear in my columns. It’s an Austin thing. I don’t fight it.

Take into account: superstar Lance Armstrong, do-righters Sarah and Ernest Butler, yoga instructor Kalena Powell, fireman and diet author Rip Esselstyn, author Kristin Armstrong, Urban Animal’s Laura Cisneros, RunTex’s Paul Carrozza, fitness advocate Susan Dell, H.E.A.T. Bootcamp’s Cody Butler, dancer Deborah Hay, CoreFit Training’s Ryan Nail, Gladiator Ally Kelly Davidson or Gazelle Gilbert Tuhabonye.

FESTIVE

Staying healthy doesn’t douse the urge to revel. Planners have lost track of the number of festivals, parties, galas, games and other social events on the Austin calendar. One can always socialize in more intimate settings — often that’s the most rewarding — but as a city, we like to intensify our festivity through ever-increasing accretion.

Reckon with: party planner Camille Styles, Charity Bash’s Alex Winkelman, Mohawk’s James Moody, designer Gail Chovan, banker Eddie Safady, party artist Deborah Green, event producer Tiffany Craven, word-spreader Tolly Moseley, Esther’s Follies’ Shannon Sedwick, style avatar Stephen Moser, gala empress Bobbi Topfer, fashionista Connie Bakonyi, lawyer and bon vivant Mark Mueller, singer Eve Monsees, gracious billionaires John Paul and Eloise DeJoria, as well as pert party pair Kirk and Amy Rudy.

SMART

Much is made of our citizens’ intellectual achievements, especially in higher education. But street, job and home smarts count, too. Worry about our cultural standards? Chat up anyone at an Austin party. Or just ask your waiter about his doctoral dissertation.

For social intelligence on all channels, contemplate: altitudinous leader Lee Walker, filmmaker David Modigliani, ice cream queen Amy Simmons, Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez, games guy Rodney Gibbs, Texas Tribune’s Evan Smith, ballet smart cookie Cookie Ruiz, interfaith guru Tom Spencer, writer and coach Steven Tomlinson, strategic Anthony Haley, Whole Foods Market’s John Mackey or newly minted blogger Anne Elizabeth Wynn.

KIND

I can’t remember the last time I witnessed an act of deliberate cruelty. Oh sure, we’ll always commit sins of omission against people we fail to recognize, respect, help or dignify. But on the whole, this is a generous place, rich in charities, volunteers and deliberate acts of kindness. Maybe that’s why we take to second-generation social media, like Facebook, Twitter and Gowalla, which reward decency over harshness.

Regard: Foundation layers Donna and Philip Berber, lawyer and serial cause-backer Becky Beaver, miracle worker Caroline Boudreaux, universally loved Maria Groten, soft power pair Christine and Terrence Moline, Mobile Loaves & Fishes’ Alan Graham, social darling Carla McDonald, hilltop role models Joe and Tana Christie, nature lover Jill Nokes, all-encompassing Dr. John Hogg, heart-of-golders Marc and Suzanne Winkelman, or the dynamic team of Diane Land and Steven Adler.

Several readers recommended, posthumously: Lady Bird Johnson.

Not all nominations could be squeezed into this space. OK, now you can go back to complaining.

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By anthony haley

September 29, 2010 9:13 AM | Link to this

Humbled to be in the company of Amy Simmons. I'm gonna break open the pints of Mexican Vanilla with Junior Mint mix-ins, and Apple Pie ice cream in our freezer right now!