A friend of mine was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend and he then committed suicide. Today my…read morefriend's family had a celebration of life ceremony for her. This celebration of life ceremony was a deeply moving and beautifully planned tribute to her life well-lived. The ceremony took place in UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum. The grounds are serene and peaceful with art sculptures sprinkled throughout the garden. UMLAUF is strategically hidden behind Zilker Park in Austin, TX. The garden was a perfect place for my friend's celebration of life. She would have loved the tree canopy, small ponds, and the bronze and stone works in the garden. My friends passing caused me to think about life, death and the dash in between the two. The commentary today came from her younger brother, two friends and her aunt. Their glowing remarks intertwined with snippets of humor helped to soften the moment. One of the comments from her brother is that you need to keep in touch with family and friends, tell them you love them and do not miss those very important moments. Those thoughts resonated with me. Sometimes in this microwaveable society, we do not make time to be intentional and spend uninterrupted time with family and friends. I committed today to be more intentional from this day forward. When my mom and sister passed, I was selected by our family to do the eulogy, which is one the hardest things you can possibly do in life. How can you capture one's life in 15-20 minutes? What topics are most salient to discuss? Inevitably, my mind drifted to gratitude. I am so grateful for my family who loves me unconditionally. I am grateful to all my friends and especially those friends who have been riding with me for 25+ years. "The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience." Eleanor Roosevelt

We loved our visit. I didn't know anything about the art before coming here but was very pleasantly…read moresurprised. I'm drawn to classically influenced, figurative sculpture, rather than highly abstract contemporary styles. Umlauf's work was precisely that -- it focused on the human form primarily and touched upon themes of religion, war, love, beauty. There were some pieces that took my breath away, particularly the refugee mother and baby pieces. The garden itself is small (you'll likely spend an hour here, at most) but very pleasant to stroll around. The trees were bare when we visited but I can see it being even lovelier in spring/summer. Very reasonable admission fee ($8 per adult). Children 0-4 are free. Super friendly staff. The woman working the front desk was very kind to us and made our family feel so welcome (we brought our two small children). Small parking area but it wasn't crowded when we came (despite it being a weekend afternoon). If you're visiting Austin and you like classical and figurative sculptural work, make sure you add this spot to your itinerary.

Our visit here was wonderful! Farmer Preston was kind and had a lot of information to share. The…read morekids had the opportunity to feed the animals and were thrilled to see such a variety and learn more about them at the farm and then when we got home. We will be back again. Highly recommend!!

Very pleased with the presentation given by the folks at Crowes Nest Farm to educate the folks in…read moreour area about wildlife and helping the children ace their state mandated tests! All the animals are rescued and kept their for their own health and safety that run off of donations, sponsors, and special events to keep afloat. My favorites are the birds of prey! Definitely recommend for the experience, knowledge to be gained!

Free day? I'll take it…read more My experience here was nice. The staff was helpful and I was able to check in easily. The art exhibit was cool and it make a statement. The gallery was busy, but spacious. I loved the view upstairs and got really good photos. I want to attend more events here. The bathroom was clean.

One of two locations (Laguna Gloria on West 35th Street is the other), The Contemporary Austin --…read moreJones Center offers a stunning exterior mural ("Man Who Fell to Earth" by Manik Raj Nakra) but not much inside. Though it spans two floors, it's a small museum with little content. The few exhibits included lacked breadth: one consisted of variations of the same work. While the $10 admission does cover both locations, it definitely isn't worth it for Jones Center alone.

Very unique! If you are going to Austin, make arrangements for a tour. This house has been…read morefeatured in a lot of different books and magazines.

Keep Austin Weird is one of those phrases that is synonymous with Austin (in addition to barbecue)…read more There is so much interesting art here in Austin that you should consider looking into when visiting Austin, with Casa Neverlandia being one of them. Casa Neverlandia is a three story, colorful home located behind Goodwill Baptist Church, that was created by James Talbot, or as he referred to himself as "Talbot" when we met him for a private tour of his home. Casa Neverlandia originally started out as a one story home built in the early 1900's. Mr. Talbot purchased this home and started to transform it into what you see now in my photos and what you find online. According to Mr. Talbot, he grew up in a military family, traveling all around the world and living in some unusual places that includes a treehouse in Honduras. He has a college degree in architecture and has always been fascinated with building things, as you can see with his home today. To him, he builds this home for himself to reflect upon his spiritual side but also include some unique things for his physical needs, as he lives rather a green lifestyle. My husband and I, along with our little girl dog (yes Mr. Talbot allowed for us to bring our little dog with us) met Mr. Talbot outside of his home on a Sunday afternoon. We were lucky to be the only couple, as another couple was supposed to come but was told the date just didn't work with their schedule. Please note that it cost $15 per person for this tour and you can contact Mr. Talbot via phone or email to schedule a tour. At the front entrance of his home are numerous of doorbells, xylophones and bells. I believe there is over 40 of these things but Mr. Talbot says he can never have enough. He describes the mosaic tiles outside of the home, the snake, the outdoor patio seating area with the clouds element and so forth. Then inside, we see his living room with a beautiful and inviting fireplace and pit to help radiate heat for the first floor, indoor seating area that is meant to be an air alter with cool colors of green and a unique bookcase. We see some current artwork that he has for sale (no obligation to buy) that includes gorgeous hand beaded work and other things and then make our way to the small music room. Next, the kitchen has a lot of function to it more so than just design. Then we make our way up stairs. On the 2nd floor is a room that has a Thai like theme with the bamboo wall panels and red lacquered beams. This room has high ceilings and utilizes natural lighting since there is no lights in this room. Mr. Talbot says this is the room for parties and entertainment for guests. Then up one more floor is Mr. Talbot's room, which was featured on numerous of TV shows, magazines and books. From his bedroom, that has a safari theme to it, you can see a glimpse of downtown Austin. We were then lead to his bathroom where he is currently working on a bath tub with some kind of ocean wave like theme. Being that he has a background in architecture, he is able to create the structure of things the way he wants it. From his bedroom, we walk across a narrow plank bridge to his tree house or a tower. Climb a very narrow ladder and we are on the top of that tower and see great views of Austin. We eventually take a few narrow ladders down to the bottom, now in his backyard. From here, he takes us into his studio (built in the early 90's) and shows us what he is currently working on, which looks like a large clam shell. He uses soda cans that he has collected around Austin to decorate the shell. He also shows us this ocean like mural that will go with this clam shell. Then we eventually make our way outside. He tells us that he saves the rain water in large barrels, as he considers himself camping in his own home. He dresses up or down according to the weather and has a very low electric bill each month and water bill. Mr. Talbots has told us on the tour that he doesn't consider himself to be done with Case Neverlandia, as he is always building and changing things. And said that Casa Neverlandia may be different the next time we come back to Austin for another tour. Our tour lasted about 75 minutes, but we did make small talk with Mr. Talbot throughout. It was well worth our time to come out here and check out Casa Neverlandia and hope you will consider it too, especially if you are looking for something off the beaten path. You can see some of Mr. Talbot's artworks around Austin and a few other things in other states. Casa Neverlandia truly was a highlight of our visit to Austin and am so glad we were able to get a tour. Again as mentioned, it cost $15 per person for a tour and you can call Mr. Talbot at (512) 442-7613 or email him at talbot@talbotworld.com to inquire for a tour.

This wonderful museum (and theatre) sits on the campus of UT at Austin (from which my boyfriend is…read morea proud graduate). It's a modern and well-designed building that has housed exhibits from painters and artists to SNL productions, and current exhibits like Houdini and Gertrude Stein. Not to mention The Gutenberg Bible, The Count Cagliostro necklace affair and so much more. Why I've never reviewed this place before is beyond me especially as I've been here multiple times over the years. Today, 8/29/26 is the opening day for the Houdini Library which will run through January. Had been also wanting to check out the Gertrude Stein (Who, by the way, was born in my hometown...Pittsburgh) exhibit that's been here a couple of weeks now. What better way to spend a Saturday than visiting them both. Let me say that both are incredibly informative, well documented, and full of history. The profoundly talented curators put together installations that hold your attention and spark your imagination. Absolutely love being able to see such amazing works...and it's free! Donations are accepted upon entry...if you can, drop a couple bucks in.

I was raised on Saturday Night Live. My parents would always turn on Saturday Night Live every…read moreSaturday after I went to bed and as I got older, I would eventually get to stay up and watch the cast of the early 2010s. Even from there, my parents would show us SNL skits during their holiday specials as well as clips on early YouTube. SNL not only opened my eyes to some of the greatest comedians of this decade, but introduced me to more than just the artists heard on mainstream radio. SNL introduced me to so many great indie and alternative artists. Because of this, I became a huge fan of Saturday Night Live entering my adult life. After hearing how Lorne Michaels' private collection and archives would be heading to a free exhibit at the Henry Ransom Center, I knew I would have to check it out as soon as possible. With my girlfriend coming to town the weekend after my birthday, we made a plan to hit a few museums across the University of Texas campus starting with the Henry Ransom Center. Before you even see the Lorne Michaels Collection, you can see the Niépce Heliograph, the first ever photograph, and the Gutenberg Bible. The Lorne Michaels Collection is the highlight of the visit. As you walk through the exhibits, you first start with the history of comedy on SNL, Lorne's early work before NBC, and the origins of SNL. From there, you get to see the order of the show from the cold open, the monologue, sketches, pre-tapes, musical performances, and more. There is a real cue card from Paul Simon and Sabrina Carpenter's cold open performance from SNL 50 on display. From there, artifacts and history from each decade are highlighted, from Matt Foley's costume, the cowbell, a tribute to the first episode following the September 11 attacks, a Five-Timers jacket, and more. The best part of all of this is that the exhibit is entirely free to the public and there is so much more than what I am sharing. The collection is on display until March 20, 2026, and if you are a fan of Saturday Night Live, comedy, or television as a whole this is an exhibit for you. RIYL: Saturday Night Live, like duh?

I met Richard Samuel, owner of RichesArt (artist, curator, and creative leader) for the first time…read moreat an Art contest on yesterday. He said the gallery's name is a play off his name with an art emphasis. Rich shared that his gallery was the only African American art gallery in Austin, thus I was intrigued. Since we finished the Art contest judging sooner than anticipated, I popped by his art gallery also located in East Austin. RichesArt is mind blowing! The gallery feels like a full-on creative space. This is not your typical art gallery vibe with stark white walls where you cannot touch anything. This place is beaming with bright, bold colors that scream...this is art!!! The walls exude color, texture, life! There is a strong graffiti influence, mixed media, and pieces unapologetically authentic. The art gallery also serves as community hub. They host poetry slams, live jazz, a figure drawing class, art classes, and comedy shows. According to Rich, it's a creative playground for grown folks. While it was free to enter the art gallery, some of their events have an associated cost. The gallery environment is incredibly welcoming. A few folks were waiting to start a graffiti class. It appears folks come to RichesArt to connect and create. According to Rich, inclusivity is intentional and the gallery was built to reflect and celebrate culture.

Here's a refined and slightly expanded version that keeps your tone genuine while adding clarity,…read moreflow, and a bit more texture--perfect for Yelp: RichesArt Gallery is an absolute must-see for anyone visiting or living in Austin. The gallery showcases work from a truly diverse group of artists, each bringing a distinct and thoughtful approach to expression. There's a real sense of creativity and intention behind the curation. You don't feel like you're just walking through another generic art space. The owner is an exceptionally talented and kind young man, and that energy clearly sets the tone for the entire gallery. From the moment you walk in, you feel a warmth and openness that makes you want to slow down, look closely, and actually experience the art rather than rush through it. Beyond the main gallery space, there are outdoor installations that add another layer of interest, as well as a vintage boutique tucked away in the back that's well worth exploring. It feels like a place that's constantly evolving, with new details and updates that would make repeat visits rewarding. This is definitely the kind of spot I'd return to regularly just to see what's new. Unfortunately, I live in another state but for those of you in Texas, take full advantage of having a place like this nearby. It's absolutely worth the trip.

This is the coolest place! We visited while we were in town. My childhood friend participated in…read moretheir weekend studio tour and invited us to stop by. As soon as we approached the building, I knew I'd love it. The space is so colorful and vibrant, with amazing murals outside that are the perfect backdrop for pictures. There's a space in front of the building where some vendors set up. As soon as you walk in, your eyes are assaulted with so many options of where to look at. Every wall and corner is full of art waiting to be admired. If you decide to start on the left side, there's a space that's set up more like a gift shop, with visual art, prints, sculptures, handmade art, cards, and so many things other to buy. If you walk to the right side, you realize the building is a lot bigger than you expected. There's so many rooms that seem to be used by individual artists, all showcasing their art. We ran out of time before exploring it all but will definitely come back. There was one room that was all dark with black lights and had bright neon art, it was the coolest thing! I looked up their website and learned that they're the largest artist and creative complex in Texas, housing around 130 multidisciplinary artists, including painters, photographers, filmmakers, tech artists and more. They offer studio spaces available for rent, events, coworking, and lots of programming to invite the community to support the artists. Every city should have a place like this!

Love the concept of this little gallery/shop - I totally see the connection between art and…read morescience, and it's nice to see someplace celebrate that. It's not a huge space, but it's well worth a visit. We saw thought provoking works, pieces that made us smile, things that made us laugh, and we contributed to a guest-created collage of Charles Darwin for the gallery's Darwin Day celebration. :) Love the location at Canopy, which has loads of other work/display spaces for all kinds of artists and artisans - I can't wait to go to an Open Canopy (open house) event and see all the wonderful stuff that gets created there.

I'm giving this Art.Science.Gallery a three star not because I don't like it. It's because I wish…read moreit was bigger. I like the concept of seeing science as an art form. When I visit this gallery, they had art about birds. Not only they had paintings but there were screenprints and magnets too. I was disappointed there wasn't more birds because there's a lot of species. The location is where Sa-Ten is located along with galleries and shops. There's plenty of parking and it's worthy of checking out this place whenever you are in the Eastside.