austin skate notes

Paul Zimmerman has accomplished the skatepark advocate’s dream: He successfully convinced a developer who was installing a concrete ditch to make it skateable. People in city and county government have often mentioned the possibility over the years. Specific cities strongly considered the idea, but it never happened anywhere. Now there’s an example that can be cited to give decision-makers more confidence in attempting this type of installation.

More information about Paul Zimmerman’s other skatepark advocacy successes can be found at the El Paso Skatepark Association website. More photos are in the Austin Public Skatepark Action Committee gallery.

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The Austin Chronicle last week released their special 20th Anniversary Best of Austin awards and Michael Sieben’s crew over at Okay Mountain were selected as the Best Art Gallery for 2009. Speaking of which, they’ve got an exhibit opening later this month featuring 2-D art by Devin Flynn, who worked on the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie.

The New York Times Magazine published an awesome article last week about Spike Jonze and his struggle to create the movie version of “Where the Wild Things Are.” I started reading the Jonze article on my iPhone while on the toilet, and found myself there almost an hour later before I finished it.

Sometimes-Austin-video-visitor, Jeremey Lavoi shot a great video for ESPN of this year’s Chili Bowl contest. Seems almost as excellent as last year’s Chili Bowl Contest at Mabel Davis Skatepark in Austin. Some of the same faces were competing. Wonder if they know what hot chili really is…

Ideal Skateparks poured this Sadlands replica at the Benbrook Public Skatepark in Leander earlier this morning. That park should be open in a couple months.

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Remember way back in like 2004 when we went to all those meetings around Travis County and lobbied for bond money to build a public skatepark in NE Metro County Park? Well, the County successfully convinced Austin-area tax payers that some of their county taxes should be collected in the sum of $600,000 and used to build a public skatepark. The project has finally moved into the design phase of the process and a meeting was held last month in Pflugerville to gather public input. Attendance was thin, perhaps because it was held at 6:30PM and Pflugerville isn’t the easiest place to drive north towards at that time of the day. So, now Travis County Planners have decided to hold a second input meeting in Austin to get the input of some of the hundreds of people who attended the bond input meetings back in 2004.

WHEN: August 12, 6:30PM-8:30PM
WHERE: Commissioner’s Court, 314 West 11th Street, Austin, Texas

Here is a flyer for the skatepark design input meeting. Spread the word.

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It was a kick in the gut to read that Gallery Lombardi is going to shut its doors in January. With the current economic recession, I might as well copy this text to my clipboard to paste into a long series of ASN blurbs about local businesses closing. For those unfamiliar, Gallery Lombardi is an excellent local gallery that has featured dozens of local skateboarders’ art in thoughtful exhibits. People like Andy Rihn, Michael P, Lee Brooks, and Michael Sieben are obvious examples that come to mind. Curator, Rachel Koeper was one of he panelists who selected the artist to create the public art for the upcoming skatepark in House Park.

Speaking of Chris Levack, during the recent East Austin Studio Tour, he displayed some drawings and scale models of the work he’s putting together for the House Park skatepark.

Leander is hosting its second public input meeting on its upcoming public skatepark next wednesday at 7:00 PM. There will be three conceptual designs presented at the meeting for attendees to discuss and vote on. Here’s a flyer for the meeting with location, date, and time.

After the meeting on Wednesday, a movie will open at select theaters starring Mickey Rourke and an academy award-winning actress. It’s called, “The Wrestler,” and also features a theme song crafted by Bruce Springsteen. Oh, and comedian, Todd Barry.

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Michael Sieben’s print, ‘Hang Five‘ can be seen in the R-comedy, “Role Models.” There were some laughs in addition to the fine art in that movie, but I had a better time watching ex-Madonna husband, Guy Ritchie’s, “Rocknrolla” this weekend. It’s a welcome return to gangsters and razor-sharp dialogue.

Independent has some more footage posted online from their 30th Anniversary Tour.

Working people lost an advocate two weeks ago when Studs Terkel passed away at the age of 96. Meanwhile, the Austin Museum of Art is hosting an exhibit containing some of Sebastião Salgado worker photos.

Leander skateboarders will want to attend the public input meeting to be held on Nov. 22nd. It’s the first meeting in the design process of that city’s first public skatepark.
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This past weekend was busy for Austin’s skateboarding ghouls. On Saturday evening, longtime Austin skateboarder, John Weiss, married Jessie. Many of Austin’s skate luminaries were in attendance including Andy Rihn, Adam Young, Kevin Trayhan, Michael Sieben, Sandy Carson, and Joe Rich. Well-wishers enjoyed a photo booth, vegetarian food, and a stack of donuts that would have burst all the buttons on Homer’s pants.

Last month’s issue (October 2008) of the skateboard mag featured my photos from the Houston Public Skatepark grand opening. Thrasher’s current cover is emblazoned with a great photo of Christian Hosoi’s backside ollie-tail grab that’s similar to my photo, but to clarify, that photographer was about two feet to my left. It’s not my photo. Speaking of Independent’s 30th Anniversary, this trailer showcases some Independent legends skating in San Antonio.

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