R.U. Steinberg

Contributing Writer, Mr. Smarty Pants

R.U. Steinberg joined The Austin Chronicle as Listings Editor in 1982, a position he held for six years. In 1988, he came up with the idea for Mr. Smarty Pants Knows while working as a proofreader at the Texas Capitol and has been writing it weekly ever since (he also writes occasional feature stories). Despite his column's logo – drawn by an Austin artist friend who prefers to remain anonymous – he gave up smoking his pipe in 2010.

29 entries
A Lagniappe About Mary Trump’s Book
A Lagniappe About Mary Trump’s Book
R.U. Steinberg recalls a childhood in the distant orbit of “the world’s most dangerous man”

Arts, July 23, 2020

Margaret Moser Tribute: Alice Berry
Alice Berry
On the Texas Blondes: “We were just cute girls who liked cute bands”

Music, June 29, 2017

No Smoking, Austin: 10 Years Later
No Smoking, Austin: 10 Years Later
Chronicle revisits smoking ban at bars, music venues

News, Sept. 4, 2015

A Lost Silent Film Is Found
A Lost Silent Film Is Found
Daughter of the Dawn starred Quanah Parker's kids

Screens, Jan. 23, 2015

Zen and the Art of YouTube Domination
Zen and the Art of YouTube Domination
Videographer Duke O'Connor brings ambient sounds from Central Texas to the world

Screens, Oct. 9, 2014

AISD Documentary Captures Spirit of Recent Initiative
AISD Documentary Captures Spirit of Recent Initiative
SEL improves grades, reduces absenteeism, and more.

News, June 4, 2014

Trivia Pursuit
Trivia Pursuit
Competing in Geek Bowl is no trivial matter

Screens, Jan. 23, 2014

Local Author Tim O'Brien Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
Local Author Tim O'Brien Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
'The Things They Carried' author on life, fiction, and truth

Books, Nov. 14, 2013

Put Down Roots
Put Down Roots
Austin woman among those to be featured on PBS' 'Genealogy Roadshow'

Screens, Oct. 10, 2013

The Spirit – and Spirits – of '76
The Spirit – and Spirits – of '76
Mr. Smarty Pants knows America's Alcohol History

Food, July 3, 2013

Stateside Serves 'Hey Bartender!' Straight Up
Stateside Serves 'Hey Bartender!' Straight Up
Documentary focuses on unsung heroes behind craft cocktail

Screens, June 20, 2013

Of Barbecue and Vampires
Of Barbecue and Vampires
An interview with Todd Lowe, True Blood's Terry Bellefleur

Screens, June 13, 2013

Drink Local Beer, Support Local Youth
Drink Local Beer, Support Local Youth
Hops and Grain, East Side Glass team up

Food, June 21, 2012

Baseball Hero To Be Honored With Mural
Baseball Hero To Be Honored With Mural
The late Willie Wells to be immortalized by Tim Kerr

Chronolog, Jan. 2, 2012

Create a Holiday Memory, Learn Something New
Create a Holiday Memory, Learn Something New
East Side Glass Offers Christmas Ornament Classes

Chronolog, Nov. 30, 2011

It's a San Antonio Squeeze Box Invasion!
It's a San Antonio Squeeze Box Invasion!
From Argentine tango to Zydeco, the accordion is versatile

Music, Oct. 4, 2011

sxsw: Japan night at Spider House
sxsw: Japan night at Spider House
Bands from Land of the Rising Sun meet River City

Chronolog, March 18, 2011

sxsw: Daily Texan Reunion
sxsw: Daily Texan Reunion
Another year older, another year wiser

SXSW, March 16, 2011

sxsw: Schmoozing with Ed Ward, et al.
sxsw: Schmoozing with Ed Ward, et al.
SXSW involves a lot of something called "schmoozing"

Chronolog, March 14, 2011

2011: Bring It On
2011: Bring It On
Celebrities dish up their New Year's resolutions

Chronolog, Dec. 28, 2010

You Want to Do What? Where?
You Want to Do What? Where?
Internal Pelvic Floor Therapy gives new meaning to inner journeys

Chronolog, Nov. 18, 2010

Cookin' Good for the Holidays With the Cola Sisters
Cookin' Good for the Holidays With the Cola Sisters
The Colas on Christmas, cyanide, and serial killers

Food, Dec. 12, 2008

Listening to the Bones
Listening to the Bones
Texas State opens the world's largest forensic anthropology research facility

News, April 4, 2008

Blind Leading the Sighted
Blind Leading the Sighted
Yellow Cab of Austin has become an employment option for people who are visually impaired

News, June 9, 2006

Lone Star Literature: A Texas Anthology
Lone Star Literature: A Texas Anthology
The Latest in Paper

Books, Feb. 24, 2006

Readings
The Night Attila Died: Solving the Murder of Attila the Hun
Here are the facts. We have a dead male, approximately 47 years of age, who once led a ruthless gang of killers.

Books, Aug. 26, 2005

Sticker Shock
Sticker Shock
Bad glue days at TxDOT

News, Aug. 19, 2005

Slide, Slide, Slippedy Slide
Replaying On Austin's Playscapes

News, July 26, 1996

Killer Green Information Environmental BBSs
BBS Basics

News, April 28, 1995

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