The eight wonders of the world
Our little piece of it, anyway
Alexandra Richmond
The Cathedral Of Junk
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Austin may not boast anything as wacky as the world’s largest ball of twine (that’s all you, Cawker City), but our town has enough in the way of fantastical public art displays, beautiful natural formations, and generally engaging landmarks that we really don’t need to resort to corny kitsch to get people’s attention. No offense, Colton, California—you should be proud to boast the world’s largest sack of cement—but it’s nothing compared to these eight wonders of our world.
Bee Caves (4000 Galleria Pkwy., 767-6600)
Yes, the town once known as Bee Caves (perplexingly shortened to just “Bee Cave” in 2006) was named after an actual series of bee-infested limestone caves discovered by settlers in the 1800s. The caves remain—although you’ll have to encroach on some private property to visit them—but the bees are long gone. Depending on your masochistic tendencies toward getting stung, that’s either a plus or a minus.
Okay Mountain
This art gallery with the misleading name has a lo-fi, unpretentious feel—fitting, since it’s basically a garage. Since opening in April 2006, Okay Mountain has consistently brought unparalleled contemporary art, experimental music, and scene-making gatherings to its side of East Austin. Its current exhibit, Slow Cooked, features five new artists from Kansas City, while the upcoming Warren Oates In The Economic Crisis Of 2008 (Jan. 17 through Feb. 21) takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the Awesomest Depression.
The Cathedral Of Junk (4422 Lareina Dr., 299-7413, by appointment only)
Vince Hannemann is not unlike other South Austinites in that he has a bunch of shit all over his lawn. Though in his case, this shit has been so carefully molded, constructed, and cared for, to call it anything other than “art” does his self-proclaimed Cathedral Of Junk a great disservice. For years Hannemann has labored on this bricolage of discarded items, and today his testament to recycling towers three stories, a precarious heap of bicycle parts, Star Wars figures, pinwheels, washing machines, and much, much more.
The Enchanted Forest
Hidden just beyond Oltorf on Lamar, you’ll likely miss the entrance into the three acres of weirdness its denizens like to call The Enchanted Forest. Each year, the Forest holds a number of events that call Austin’s bohemians to its leafy bosom to experience art in a wholly different context. From March’s Art Outside to October’s spooky art-cum-horror-house The Haunted Forest, every event sees its creators trying to work with nature, not overtake it. Unfortunately not everyone is enchanted with this forest: The Austin Fire Department revoked its temporary use permit in July after receiving a nebulous "complaint." Owner Albert Deloach is still in an ongoing battle with City Hall to remain open.
Taniguchi Japanese Garden (2220 Barton Springs Rd.)
Part of the Zilker Botanical Garden, the Taniguchi Japanese Garden was first laid by its namesake, Isamu Taniguchi. In the late ’60s he spent 18 months laboring to turn an unremarkable hillside into a little slice of Japan, adding a teahouse, Togetsu-kyo bridge, and two koi-filled ponds. Even more remarkable: Taniguchi was 70 when he started his passion project.
Deep Eddy (401 Deep Eddy Ave., 476-4521)
Back when sousaphone music was all the rage and men and women wore swimsuits that doubled as winter wear, Deep Eddy kept Austinites cool and entertained. Today Deep Eddy is the oldest manmade pool in Texas, fed by a well that keeps temperatures permanently chilly at around 70 degrees. When the area doubled as a resort, visitors were met with old-timey entertainments like horse diving and other nifty (but socially unconscionable) pleasures. PETA wouldn’t stand for that these days, but at least you can still catch a movie here.
Texas State Cemetery (909 Navasota St., 463-0605)
In Europe, visiting mausoleums and fancy graves is part of the tourist experience, yet our own celebrity-filled boneyards barely warrant a mention on the Austin Duck tour. This particular cemetery is so fancy that you pretty much have to be a state official, Confederate veteran, or someone else with a street named after you to even make it in. Thirteen governors are buried here (including Kennedy assassination survivor John Connally and the recently deceased Ann Richards), as are author James Michener, some Texas Rangers, a handful of U.S. Senators and Representatives (including Barbara Jordan), a baseball Hall Of Famer—and one anonymous 17th-century French sailor, just to keep it interesting.
The Rhizome Collective (300 Allen St., 385-3695)
This East Austin cooperative has defied all cynical expectations of being a dilapidated pot-growing front led by slacker idealists. On the contrary, co-founders Scott Kellogg and Stacy Pettigrew have watched their testament to sustainable living receive accolades from the EPA and the Austin community for its innovation. Today it continues to thrive, and Kellogg and Pettigrew offer courses in R.U.S.T. (Radical Urban Sustainability Training) to those eager to similarly get their compost on; their DIY book Toolbox For Sustainable City Living is out on South End Press now.
Bee Caves (4000 Galleria Pkwy., 767-6600)
Yes, the town once known as Bee Caves (perplexingly shortened to just “Bee Cave” in 2006) was named after an actual series of bee-infested limestone caves discovered by settlers in the 1800s. The caves remain—although you’ll have to encroach on some private property to visit them—but the bees are long gone. Depending on your masochistic tendencies toward getting stung, that’s either a plus or a minus.
Okay Mountain
This art gallery with the misleading name has a lo-fi, unpretentious feel—fitting, since it’s basically a garage. Since opening in April 2006, Okay Mountain has consistently brought unparalleled contemporary art, experimental music, and scene-making gatherings to its side of East Austin. Its current exhibit, Slow Cooked, features five new artists from Kansas City, while the upcoming Warren Oates In The Economic Crisis Of 2008 (Jan. 17 through Feb. 21) takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the Awesomest Depression.
The Cathedral Of Junk (4422 Lareina Dr., 299-7413, by appointment only)
Vince Hannemann is not unlike other South Austinites in that he has a bunch of shit all over his lawn. Though in his case, this shit has been so carefully molded, constructed, and cared for, to call it anything other than “art” does his self-proclaimed Cathedral Of Junk a great disservice. For years Hannemann has labored on this bricolage of discarded items, and today his testament to recycling towers three stories, a precarious heap of bicycle parts, Star Wars figures, pinwheels, washing machines, and much, much more.
The Enchanted Forest
Hidden just beyond Oltorf on Lamar, you’ll likely miss the entrance into the three acres of weirdness its denizens like to call The Enchanted Forest. Each year, the Forest holds a number of events that call Austin’s bohemians to its leafy bosom to experience art in a wholly different context. From March’s Art Outside to October’s spooky art-cum-horror-house The Haunted Forest, every event sees its creators trying to work with nature, not overtake it. Unfortunately not everyone is enchanted with this forest: The Austin Fire Department revoked its temporary use permit in July after receiving a nebulous "complaint." Owner Albert Deloach is still in an ongoing battle with City Hall to remain open.
Taniguchi Japanese Garden (2220 Barton Springs Rd.)
Part of the Zilker Botanical Garden, the Taniguchi Japanese Garden was first laid by its namesake, Isamu Taniguchi. In the late ’60s he spent 18 months laboring to turn an unremarkable hillside into a little slice of Japan, adding a teahouse, Togetsu-kyo bridge, and two koi-filled ponds. Even more remarkable: Taniguchi was 70 when he started his passion project.
Deep Eddy (401 Deep Eddy Ave., 476-4521)
Back when sousaphone music was all the rage and men and women wore swimsuits that doubled as winter wear, Deep Eddy kept Austinites cool and entertained. Today Deep Eddy is the oldest manmade pool in Texas, fed by a well that keeps temperatures permanently chilly at around 70 degrees. When the area doubled as a resort, visitors were met with old-timey entertainments like horse diving and other nifty (but socially unconscionable) pleasures. PETA wouldn’t stand for that these days, but at least you can still catch a movie here.
Texas State Cemetery (909 Navasota St., 463-0605)
In Europe, visiting mausoleums and fancy graves is part of the tourist experience, yet our own celebrity-filled boneyards barely warrant a mention on the Austin Duck tour. This particular cemetery is so fancy that you pretty much have to be a state official, Confederate veteran, or someone else with a street named after you to even make it in. Thirteen governors are buried here (including Kennedy assassination survivor John Connally and the recently deceased Ann Richards), as are author James Michener, some Texas Rangers, a handful of U.S. Senators and Representatives (including Barbara Jordan), a baseball Hall Of Famer—and one anonymous 17th-century French sailor, just to keep it interesting.
The Rhizome Collective (300 Allen St., 385-3695)
This East Austin cooperative has defied all cynical expectations of being a dilapidated pot-growing front led by slacker idealists. On the contrary, co-founders Scott Kellogg and Stacy Pettigrew have watched their testament to sustainable living receive accolades from the EPA and the Austin community for its innovation. Today it continues to thrive, and Kellogg and Pettigrew offer courses in R.U.S.T. (Radical Urban Sustainability Training) to those eager to similarly get their compost on; their DIY book Toolbox For Sustainable City Living is out on South End Press now.
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