The Ballroom
Illustration by Jason Stout/Getty Images
Volume 39, Number 44
ON THE COVER:
WE HAVE AN ISSUE:
BY Kimberley Jones
news
Chronicle Endorsements
July 14 Primary Run-off Election and Senate District 14 Special Election
BY THE CHRONICLE EDITORIAL BOARD
Nursing-Home Families Want Answers as COVID Comes Back
Still seeking safety as the data remains unclear
BY MARGARET NICKLAS
Austin at Large: Every Day is Juneteenth
Yes, freedom is worth celebrating. But it also bids us to do some serious reflection.
BY MIKE CLARK-MADISON
Public Notice: Pushing Our Limits
Time to take COVID matters into our own hands
BY NICK BARBARO
Headlines / Quote of the Week
Civics 101
AISD Hears Loud and Clear: No Cops in Schools
Austinites call for schools to defund its police, too
BY AARICKA WASHINGTON
As the D.A. Delays, Michael Ramos' Killers Remain on Duty
The Ramos probe plods on
BY AUSTIN SANDERS
Jimmy Flannigan Kicks Off Reelection Campaign
Northside council member promises "uncommon approach" to policing, mobility
BY BETH SULLIVAN
City Unveils Possible Plans for Old Home Depot Site
City to St. Johns: We can do it. You can help.
BY AUSTIN SANDERS
ACC Is Almost Entirely Online and Students Are Enrolling in Droves
Start here. Stay home?
BY CLARA ENCE MORSE
UT Announces Mandated Masks, Flexible Learning for Fall Reopening
News comes amid COVID-19 surge, especially in young adults
BY BETH SULLIVAN
Will Texas Sex Ed Come of Age?
After 23 years, the State Board of Education might be ready to make some changes
BY BETH SULLIVAN
food
Pie Fighters: Top 10 Finalists
Who will reign supreme in the Austin pizza galaxy? Vote now!
BY THE FOOD STAFF
Austin’s Downtown Bar Scene Rides a Malfunctioning Roller Coaster
Local business owners attempt to navigate an impossible situation
BY KEVIN CURTIN
Austin's Best Food and Drink Events This Week
Dinner parties, farmers' markets, beer, wine, and more for the week of July 2, 2020
BY WAYNE ALAN BRENNER
music
Colombian Folkloric Post-Punks Nemegata Drop Four-Star Debut
Local trio finds the fire of the jaguar
BY THOMAS FAWCETT
Faster Than Sound: New Cocktail Lounge Takes Over Ex-Sidewinder Space
Run by former Scoot Inn and Longbranch owner James Stockbauer, Birdie Num Nums maintains the outdoor stage.
BY RACHEL RASCOE
New Austin Music Worth Your Bandwidth This Week
Our favorite albums, videos, and performances
BY RAOUL HERNANDEZ, DOUG FREEMAN, DEREK UDENSI, RACHEL RASCOE, KAHRON SPEARMAN AND GREG STITT
Live Music / Livestream Listings
BY GREG STITT
screens
LIGHTS, CAMERA, SAFETY
Lights, Camera, Safety: Film and TV Production Is Coming Back to Texas
Now producers and unions are making sure no one gets sick
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Robert Rodriguez Brings His Next Project Back to Austin to Trailblaze Safe Production Protocols
Troublemaking in the time of pandemic
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
A Primer on the Texas Guidelines for Film Production in a Pandemic
The ABCs of lockdown filmmaking
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Pandemic Production: Yvonne Boudreaux, Art Director
“The plan is to get a plan”
BY SOFIA TAFICH
Pandemic Production: Karen Wacker, Producer
“It’s not fun telling a whole bunch of people that they’re not going to be working for a long time”
BY SOFIA TAFICH
Pandemic Production: Meredith Johns, FX Artist
“Grab what you need from the trailer, we don’t know when we’re coming back”
BY SOFIA TAFICH
Pandemic Production: Matt Poitras, Props Manufacturer
“Nobody had $400 to spend on a Han Solo belt."
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Pandemic Production: Aaron Arizpe, Editor/DP/PA
"I have a mask, and 70% ethanol to wipe everything down"
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Pandemic Production: Brad Graeber, Powerhouse Animation
"We have more pitches and more interest than we ever have had.”
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Pandemic Production: Justin Kirchhoff, Director/Director of Photography
“If you're not comfortable wearing a mask, you won't be on set."
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Pandemic Production: June Lien, Founder, Liendani Creative
"It's like the 1920s business world. We do whatever we can."
Pandemic Production: Aaron B. Koontz, Director
“I’m lucky to have two movies coming out. I can’t complain too much.”
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Pandemic Production: Martin Jones, Austin Studios
"Everything keeps sliding. End of June, Fourth of July."
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Coming Attractions
Our guide to which Austin-area cinemas will be opening in July
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Film Reviews
Followed
Social media is the real horror here. Wait, no, it's serial killers and ghosts.
Hamilton
Lin-Manuel Miranda's era-defining political musical brings hope home on Disney+
John Lewis: Good Trouble
The life of the indefatigable civil rights champion
Skyman
Alien abduction faux documentary puts tragedy ahead of effects
The Truth
Binoche and Deneuve clash exquisitely as mère et fille
arts & culture
Motorblade Postering Returns, With a New Owner
Austin’s premier postering service is no longer on the Fritz and is ready to roll & rock with Ricardo
BY WAYNE ALAN BRENNER
"Lee Albert Hill: Signs" at CAMIBAart
This solo exhibition asks, What happens when shapes run away to join the circuits?
BY WAYNE ALAN BRENNER
Arts Listings
Virtual galleries, streaming improv, and more
BY WAYNE ALAN BRENNER
Community Listings
Donation and volunteer opportunities, job openings, online fitness classes, and more
BY KATHERINE MCNEVINS
columns
We Have an Issue: Ready to Roll?
The film industry prepares to reopen during a pandemic. Plus: How to be a true patriot this Fourth of July.
BY KIMBERLEY JONES
Opinion: Another Unfair Burden Put on Texas’ Public Schools
Greg Abbott and Mike Morath have put Texas schools in an impossible decision: shift to online learning, which is not as effective, or put students and families at risk by returning in the fall.
BY ALYSSA POTASZNIK
Qmmunity: An Ode to Janna Zumbrun
In praise of our queer elders
BY BETH SULLIVAN
Day Trips: The Grotto, San Antonio
Man-made cave part of “Art on the River”
BY GERALD E. MCLEOD
The Luv Doc: Undecided
Waiting for an answer that may never come.
BY THE LUV DOC
Mr. Smarty Pants Knows
BY MR. SMARTY PANTS
Free Will Astrology
Your weekly horoscope, July 3-9
BY ROB BREZSNY
The Common Law
Child custody & COVID-19
BY LUKE ELLIS
Feedback
Letters to the editor, published daily
sports
Soccer Watch
BY NICK BARBARO
comics
