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Heart, Strength, and Soul

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Wilhelmina Delco

“All of Austin’s diversity is right here.”

A few years ago when we interviewed Wilhelmina Delco, the first Black legislator from District 50, she shed light on a number of important topics that relate to East Austin and its community. Mrs. Delco moved to Austin in 1957 and has lived in the same home just south of MLK Boulevard for 59 years. She shares that while she wouldn’t live anywhere else in Austin today, initially she didn’t have a choice. It used to be that no African American was allowed to buy a house or live anywhere west of I-35. If they tried and were caught, the city shut off the property’s utilities, forcing Black Austinites to seek a better quality of life on Austin’s Eastside.

Fast forward 50 years, and she now fears with so many new people flooding into the area that “one day, we might wake up and never know Black people were here,” she states, while talking about the bike lane that had just been constructed on MLK Boulevard.

East Austin’s sense of community is extremely important to Mrs. Delco. While there are many things she doesn’t want it to lose, one main thing is the annual traditions and celebrations such as the annual Juneteenth celebration which serves as an example of how longtime residents and newcomers alike can learn about and preserve the stories, people, places, and events of East Austin’s early inhabitants.
Read Wilhelmina Delco’s full story here.

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John Aielli

From Broadcasts to Books

For more than 50 years, John Aielli has been a steady source of familiarity on the Austin airwaves. Though the KUTX personality never intended for radio to become a lifelong career, his spirited dedication to sharing cultural commentary and all of the goings-on around Austin has cemented his presence in the city as a legend, and we’re proud to call him a fellow Eastsider. 
Continue reading about John here.

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Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette 

President of Huston-Tillotson University

Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette has been leading the way at Huston-Tillotson University as President and CEO since 2015. Being both African American and female, Dr. Burnette is no stranger to swimming upstream against the social current. She attributes her grit to both her upbringing in inner city Cleveland, Ohio, and the inherent need for women to work harder to rise above in their careers. 

When EASTside Magazine spoke to her, she shared that she has dedicated a large portion of her work to helping young women harness their full potential. “As I have gotten older and I’ve clearly progressed in my career, I try to instill a sense of confidence in young women that I didn’t know I had,” she explains.
Read more of Colette Burnette’s story here and to read more about Huston-Tillotson, here.

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Delores Duffie

Community Leader

A prominent figure in the Cherrywood neighborhood and beyond, Delores Duffie is the embodiment of community. When we interviewed her, she had been in her Cherrywood home for 51 years and had arguably built her surrounding community to what it is today through her many roles over the years: community activist, chair of Precinct 127, president of the Maplewood Elementary PTA, and a stint in the county attorney’s office. 
Throughout her life, Mrs. Duffie has been consistently active in the East Austin community. The Delores Duffie Recreation Center was named in her honor, and if there were people who needed a voice, Mrs. Duffie has always been there to be a voice to the voiceless.
Read about Delores Duffie here.

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Ballet Afrique

From China to East Austin

At Ballet Afrique Contemporary Dance Company, the culture of African diaspora meets classical ballet. East Austin native China Smith, founding executive director of Ballet Afrique, opened her dance studio in 2008, with a goal that was two-fold. One was to explore African American culture through dance, and the other was to create something that wasn’t available when she was young. China believes that art can create avenues to more opportunities, and her goal is to contribute to the youthful art community through her studio. She says, “I’m in [East Austin] because I’m from this community. I grew up in this community, and I wanted to provide something I didn’t have access to when I was growing up.”
Read more of Ballet Afrique’s story here.

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Jennifer Balkan

Beneath the Mask

As one of the founders and instructors at Atelier Dojo, a fine arts school, Jennifer gives us a glimpse into her creative process, her light-filled studio, and her story. With a Ph.D. in sociology, Jennifer’s fascination with the human psyche directly translates to her paintings which focus exclusively on imaginative figures and life-sized portraits. 
Read more here...

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Eli Halpin

Nature at Play

Growing up in Anchorage, Alaska, Eli was surrounded by the majesty of untamed nature, and she learned to live by its rules. As a result, her larger-than-life whimsical oil paintings are filled with animals depicted in a rainbow of brushstrokes that celebrate nature’s inherent division between beauty and savagery. Her work can now be viewed at her colorful studio, Eli Halpin Gallery.  Read more here...

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Estrada’s Cleaners

Family Legacy

As one of the longest-running businesses on East 7th Street, Estrada’s Cleaners has played a central role in East Austin’s history. The patriarch of the entire operation, Fidel Estrada, Jr., worked for various dry cleaners before opening his own in 1960. He began their operation in the backroom of a garage and gas station on Webberville Road before eventually opening up shop at their current location in 1962.

When Fidel retired several years ago, he left his longtime business in the hands of his son, Danny Estrada. Growing up at Estrada’s, Danny was witness to the influential business leader in his father. Like other well-known businessmen in the community, such as Rudy Cisneros of Cisco’s and Roy Velasquez of Roy’s Taxis, Fidel was very involved in East Austin’s community and the politics that surrounded it. These leaders were the voices for the rest of the community at the time, and their legacy will live on.  Read more about Estrada’s here… | 2618 E 7th St.

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Mi Madre’s

Morning Coffee

After nearly 30 years of serving the community, Mi Madre’s is one of the oldest brick-and-mortar restaurants on Manor Road. Founded in 1990 by Aurelio and Rosa Torres, Mi Madre’s has grown with the neighborhood. What began as a small mom and pop eatery has become an Austin staple with several extensions to the brand, including their next door neighbors, School House Pub, run by the Torres’ son Edgar Torres and Vida Pura Juicery run by his daughter, Veronica Torres. Read more about Mi Madre’s here... | 2201 Manor Rd.

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Boggy Creek Farm

Family Legacy

Larry Butler and Carol Ann Sayle were pioneers of the urban farming industry. As one of the first urban farms in the United States, Boggy Creek Farm was unlike anything Austinites had ever experienced in 1992. As both a farm stand and historic farmhouse with rich history, Boggy Creek Farm regularly gives tours of the property, educating people not only on the process of urban farming but also on the history that’s rooted there. 
Visit their weekly farm stand, and read more about Boggy Creek Farm at here… | 3414 Lyons Rd.

MOST READ

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Intero Ristorante

Entirely Italian at Intero

Located in the East Cesar Chavez neighborhood, Intero—which means “entire” or “complete” in Italian—approaches upscale Italian in a warm, understated way. Combining artisan elements like delicate chocolates with farm-to-table offerings and locally-sourced ingredients, the family-run Italian restaurant is an inviting community space, while their attention to detail and service shine through every bite and their layers of flavor are always a comforting surprise.

Chocolatier Krystal Craig and her husband, Chef Ian Thurwachter, opened Intero in early 2018. The team not only chose East Austin for nostalgic reasons—Krystal grew up with the Meza family of nearby Juan in a Million—but also for the area’s focus on art and community. It’s clear that this team has accomplished that unpretentious, authentic community atmosphere that they set out to create.
Read more here…
2612 E Cesar Chavez St., Suite 105

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Austin Secret Kitchen

Eat, Drink, & Be Merry

In a dining scene as creative as Austin, it’s simply not enough to dole out delicious dishes. Creating a memorable experience is also key for any food concept trying to make its mark, and Austin Secret Kitchen does both. 
Read more about Austin Secret Kitchen here… | @austinsecretkitchen

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Micklethwait Craft Meats

Best Barbecue in the East

Fourth generation Austinite, Tom Micklethwait, has spent his entire life in Austin—and a majority of it on the Eastside. Though he opened his namesake barbecue truck on Rosewood Avenue with his own recipes made from scratch, he recently shared how he’s adapted his business to better serve and grow with the community. Moreover, Tom has reinvented the wheel and taken on a new barbecue concept with Taco Bronco food truck which is currently operating out of their main location on Rosewood Avenue.
Read more here… | 1309 Rosewood Ave. | craftmeatsaustin.com

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Bird Bird Biscuit

Birds of a Feather

Since opening in 2018, Bird Bird Biscuit has quickly earned the love and patronage of many Eastsiders with a craving for breakfast and lunch biscuits. Head Chef and co-owner, Brian Batch, is the creator behind these signature sandwiches and the “genius of Bird Bird,” according to partner, Ryan McElroy.
Read more here… | 2701 Manor Rd.

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Suerte

Spirit, Soul, & Suerte

With a focus on masa, chefs Fermín Núñez and Sam Hellmann-Mass created a menu for Suerte that combines traditional Mexican dishes with the creativity of East Austin. Their masa filled a void in the Austin food world, both as an ingredient in their tortillas and what Fermín calls the “canvas of Mexican cooking,” as he explains the concepts behind the depths of flavors on their menu.
Read more here… | 1800 E 6th St.

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Vixen’s Wedding

Food: A Fusion of Cultures

Serving Goan and Portuguese-inspired dishes, Vixen’s Wedding has brought a unique dining concept to East Austin. The fusion cuisine is underscored by the vibrant interiors that make up the East Sixth Street restaurant concept inside Arrive Hotel. 
Read the full story here…| 1813A E. 6th St.

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Juniper

The Triad Negroni 

Though Negronis have graced traditional cocktail menus for ages, this drink has seen a resurgence in recent years, particularly as a go-to summer sip. We highlighted the high-end Negroni served at upscale Italian restaurant, Juniper, because though there are a thousand renditions, there is nothing quite like Juniper’s version.
Read more about Juniper here… | 2400 E Cesar Chavez St. #304

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La Holly

Community Spirit

With an affordable and highly curated cocktail menu, which includes the vibrant frozen margarita, La Sancha, La Holly aims to be a purveyor of community. Owner Simon Madera kept their Tejano neighborhood top of mind when crafting the bar. “It’s important for us to keep our menu affordable so that the community can keep coming here,” says Simon when talking about their intent to honor the neighborhood as they carefully craft cocktails with simplicity and authenticity.
Read more here… | 2500 E 6th St.

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Hillside Farmacy

The Turmeric

Located in a historic building that previously operated as Hillside Drugstore in the ‘50s, Hillside Farmacy offers elevated comfort food classics alongside a creative cocktail menu. We showcased one such cocktail, The Turmeric, as part of Sip Back and Relax feature story which even made the cover of the 2018 Escapes Issue.
Read more here… | 1209 E. 11th St.

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Curcuma

Golden Mylk

Chef and owner of Curcuma, Rachel Musquiz, is a trailblazer for being the first in Austin to offer Golden Mylk, an all-natural beverage made with turmeric. Their signature drink is among many other nutritious, medicinal, and delicious plant-based, vegan items on the menu.
Read more here…| 2324 E Cesar Chavez St.

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Richard Overton

Supercentenarian
May 11, 1906 – Dec 27, 2018

Mr. Richard Overton was a supercentenarian, World War II veteran, and an East Austin legend. The homegrown hero was celebrated around the country for being the oldest living veteran before his passing at the age of 112 on December 27, 2018. In our interview with him in 2016, he shared a few of the things that remained constant in his long life. He smoked 12 cigars a day, he ate ice cream every night, and he was dedicated to the community where he lived for well over half a century.

Born outside of Bastrop in 1906 to Jim Gentry Overton and Elizabeth Franklin, Richard Overton moved to East Austin in 1945, when he bought his home for $4K. “That was a lot of money back in those days,” he noted. 

He recalled seeing his first car at a time when East Austin only had dirt roads and vividly remembered the Austin streetcar that carried passengers east to 12th and Chicon. He married twice, sadly losing each of his wives to cancer, and never had any children.

Fans and visitors came to his door almost daily, and he graciously welcomed them in as they’d take pictures, shake his hand, and drop off some cigars or whiskey. Inevitability, he was asked about his secret to longevity. He would scoff, say he doesn’t know, and chalk it up to good luck. However, the amount of goodwill Mr. Overton created in his life is evident in the smiles of anyone who came near him.
Read Mr. Overton’s full story here…

Did you know?

Hamilton Avenue, the street where Mr. Overton lived, was given an honorary name of Richard Overton Avenue in 2017. And in 2019, nearly a year after he passed, Austin City Council further memorialized his life by deeming his house historic.

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Nubian Queen

Soul Queen

For years, Lola Stephens-Bell served the unseen Austin community at her signature place called Nubian Queen. Lola opened Nubian Queen on Rosewood Avenue just as a flood left her homeless. She then dedicated all of her time to serving Creole meals and compassion to those in need. Though the Nubian Queen moved from its longtime Rosewood location to Taylor, Texas, in 2017, Lola’s generous spirit and colorful Cajun cooking left a lasting impact in the community.   
Read more about Nubian Queen here…

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Springdale Farm

Opened in 2009 by Glenn and Paula Foore, Springdale Farm was an essential building block of East Austin’s urban farm scene. The family-run farm, which was located on three acres off Springdale Road, provided fresh produce to longtime establishments, like the Driskill Grill and Justine’s, and served locals with their weekly farm stand. The farm also played a major part in the East Austin Urban Farm Tour. Eden East chef and owner, Sonya Cote, purchased the farm from the Foores in 2018 and has now moved the farm to Bastrop while Eden East has moved west, now known as Eden West.  
Read more about healthy edge sustainable food center and Eden East.

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Cheers to a Long Run

Through the years East Austin has been home to handfuls of diverse and creative watering holes, such as Craftsman, Weathered Up, and Buzz Mill Coffee-Shady, plus stunning restaurants and flavorful diners, such as the ones listed below. To read more about some of these places we had come to know and love, read below and visit eastsideatx.com for even more.

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Urban Roots

More than a Farm

Set on three acres of fertile floodplain a mile east of Highway 183, Urban Roots is a youth development organization that uses food and farming to teach life, job, and leadership skills through farm internships. The internships give students ages 14-17 the chance to grow food and understand its beginnings. The farm also produces more than 30,000 pounds of food a year which is then donated to local food pantries or is sold at farmers’ markets. 
Read more here… | 7651 Delwau Ln.

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Casa Marianella

Where Hope Lives

During the past 31 years, East Austin’s own Casa Marianella has lived up to the best American ideals, providing hope and assistance to those starting a new life in America.
Casa Marianella, or simply Casa, is an emergency homeless shelter that serves recently-arrived immigrants and asylum seekers from around the world. An Interfaith Task Force opened Casa Marianella in 1986 to provide hospitality to the wave of people fleeing their homes during the Central American wars of the 1980s. What started as one home providing shelter for men, women, and children has grown into 13 homes that provide shelter and transitional housing for more than 100 people at any given time. 

Casa’s staff of more than 20, along with the work of hundreds of volunteers and community support, helps immigrants transition into their new life in America by offering food and shelter, English classes, and assistance finding work, among many other services which are desperately needed when rebuilding a new life from scratch in a foreign city. 
Read more about Casa Marianella here…
821 Gunter St. | casamarianella.org

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Community First! Village

Mobile Loaves & Fishes 

Community First! Village is a 51-acre master planned community run by Austin-based nonprofit Mobile Loaves & Fishes. The village was developed to provide affordable, permanent housing and support for the chronically homeless in Central Texas. In 2020, Community First! partnered with ICON, the company that constructed the world’s first 3D-printed home, to create a series of leading-edge 3D-printed homes for the community. 
Read more of the story here… and to read about ICON’s tiny homes, visit Austin’s New Iconic Home and Innovative Communities.
9301 Hog Eye Rd. | mlf.org

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Forklift Danceworks

City Dance

At Forklift Danceworks, creative directors and choreographers Allison Orr and Krissie Marty reimagine the work of a variety of city departments and reinterpret their everyday functions into a beautiful study and expression of form and motion. The award-winning dance group led a three-year artistic residency called My Park, My Pool, My City in partnership with the City of Austin Parks & Recreation Department Aquatics Division that focused on East Austin pools, their history, and their care as an initiative to raise awareness for these community staples. 
Read more here… | forkliftdanceworks.org

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J. Leonardi’s 

Family, Community, BBQ

J. Leonardi’s is driven by the community. Keeping with that, the barbecue trailer began donating sandwiches to school children every Tuesday and Thursday when Austin ISD shut down in March 2020. Owner Jerome Leonardi says, “I have kids at home, and I know how empty my fridge is. I can only imagine how empty our neighbor’s fridges are, too.” There’s more than one reason this tasty barbecue joint earned its spot in both of EASTside’s barbecue issues over the last five years.
Read more about Leonardi’s here… | 1124 E 11th St.

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