Balero’s and catsuits and fly pants… OH MY!!! You will find all that and more at Austin’s new “IT” store, Gypsy Streetwear. A unique boutique that began it’s journey on the west coast, has migrated south and landed on SoCo. Run by power couple, Nera and Timothy Laurel, who turned this old house into a new must stop and shop spot for festies and performers alike. They offer a unique blend of West coast tribal styles, boho chic and burner fashions made to frame any body type.
Locally owned and operated, they also support community designers and local artisans by featuring their creations in the store. They offer the best selection of accessories in the city. From belts, to cuffs, to earrings and hats, you can build a complete outfit, head to toe.
You may have seen the infamous headdress that has brought in half of Austin, riding around on the Interstellar Transmissions bus for First Thursday. Those of us that made it out had the opportunity to take a look at the store and the exclusive line, Firefly created by owner, Nera Laurel. She designed the eye-catching catsuits, colorful skirts and sexy tie tops that can be worn on their own or layered to create the perfect outfit for any occasion. Try the tie top with a one of a kind leather vest or a shirt with a trendy balero. The options are limitless.
The very first store opened up in August 2011 in San Francisco, CA. For owners Nera and Timothy Laurel this was a natural progression in their mutual passion for style. Nera has worked in women’s high end retail fashion for the last 15 years and attended Academy of Art for their fashion program. She likes to blend her depths of knowledge about the human psyche with fashion and is fascinated by how the two influence one another. She lives by the moto, “good style is good life,” which shows in her clothes.
Tim has worked as a videographer and carries a bachelors degree in marketing. His visual acuity and sense of style help shape the Gypsy Streetwear look. His technical proficiency led to forward thinking in the retail environment. Tim has spent time grounding himself with world travel, acrobatics, and attending a yearly arts festival in black rock city for the last 15 years. His exposure to multiple cultures and arts brings a compassionate philosophy that integrates ecological conscious with performance; making sure Gypsy Streetwear stays at the forefront of cultural trends.
Together, they have created a retail heaven for Austinites.
Embrace and enhance your style with Gypsy Streetwear.
Doors opened a few weeks ago, but the official grand opening party will take place tomorrow afternoon from 3pm-8pm. (Check out the invite and RSVP http://www.facebook.com/events/406181459393274/). Get there early for a chance to win a $200 gift certificate. Stay late to enjoy the music, fire performers and tarot card reader. Their lineup is sure to keep you entertained for hours on end and may unleash the inner gypsy in you. Stop by to see why Gypsy Streetwear is all the rage!
(EDITORS NOTE: Huge shout out and thank you to photographer, Alexander Dupree for his amazing work on these concepts and photo’s. Check him out on facebook).
Spring is in the air. All around us, flowers are blooming, birds are chirping and the sun is shining. For Austinites that means the heat is on! Time to put away the knit leggings and long-sleeved shirts to make room for cute sundresses and tank tops. Before you hit the shops in search of that perfect outfit, here is the list of must have’s this Spring/Summer. (Support our Austin economy by purchasing these new trends from local boutiques featured under each picture).
1. Think BIG with a dramatic earring. Luckily, everything is bigger in Texas so these won’t go out of style any time soon.
Gypsy Streetwear; the new IT store in Austin; has one of the best selections of earrings in town.
2. Think pink. Molly Ringwald won’t be the only gal lookin’ pretty this season.
This pleated dress is anything but plain. (From Plain Ivey Jane on 2nd St).
3. Think mellow and add some yellow; it’s the new neutral.
Check out this cute romper from Estilo on 2nd St.
4. Think prints. Let the colors of the season inspire you to brighten things up.
Visit Etcetera, etc. for this and many more colorful options.
5. Think strapless. Right now, it’s all about the clutch. Get your hands on one!!
Feathers Boutique is THE place for handbags!
6. Think fancy. Sassy pants are hitting below the belt with vibrant colors and dramatic patterns.
SoLa is ahead of the curve with several trendy options for Spring.
7. Think sporty. Take your wardrobe to the next level with some comfy-casual items that can transition from the gym to the grocery store without sacrificing style.
Yoga City has some of the most well made, comfortable and stylish work out attire in the city.
8. Think native. Tribal prints are all the rage right now. From raves to runways; these prints are a little bit funk and a little bit rock and roll.
We are only a week into April and Festival month is already in full swing. Now that Austin is finally caught up on sleep, with a few weeks to recover from SXSW, we can focus our attention on the next BIG event; Euphoria Music Festival makes its way to Kyle, TX. That’s right; I said it… KYLE!!! Nothing short of a giant dance party could attract the attention of the glitterati and festies in ATX. Thus, the migration has begun!
In just two short hours, the flood gates open to the public. Tidal waves of drum and bass will sweep over the masses, carrying us into a Euphoric state until 5am. The lineup includes electronica and dubstep DJ’s in addition to world-renowned belly dancers, fire performers, Go-Go dancers and visual artists. “It’s a really cool mix of different types of electronic music, live performers, DJ’s and amazing performers making original music,” said Marcus Swagger, festival spokesman. “There’s also some pretty good local talent from around Texas.”
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“Yeah it’s pretty crazy,” said Sarah Johnston, a production and creative consultant known to Austinites as Agent Red. (She will be performing tonight as well as running her own stage). Check out her stage/lineup pictured above….
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To the people who live here, the sleepy suburb of Kyle might seem like an odd choice for an all-night electronica party; but the promoters of Euphoria Music Fest see an ideal setting for 5,000 people to dance their faces off. Even the FAA is on board, having given the go-ahead for a green laser that will beam into the night. If the night is a success, it could turn into an annual event. Here’s to hoping… Leave the drama at home folks, and please party responsibly!!! We WANT this to be a yearly event. See you at Thunderhill!!! GET YOUR GLOW ON and wear a costume.
With all the musical talent running around in Austin, we often over look the fact that we have some of the most amazing and diversely talented artists/entertainers in the country. From photographers, to painters, sculptures and fashion designers; our city is rich with creativity. One of those great hidden gems is a creative masterpiece all on his own. Hiding right under our very noses, this South Austinite has devoted himself to nothing else but mastering his craft. Leaving the conventional world behind for a life of love, beauty and FIRE; which is evident when you walk into his home/art gallery. This house screams JADE LOVE!! From the red front door that he hand painted to the walls inside adorned with colorful, light activating 3Dstructures, to the staffs and poi balls that are lounging around in the corners of several rooms; he is the epitome of what makes Austin “weird.” He’s been one of our best kept secrets, but as the saying goes, “you can’t keep a good man down.” This up and coming artist has a talent so vast that even the great state of Texas won’t be able to hold him!! He is this months RawArtists featured Artist and will be unavailing his stunning 3D structures to all of Austin this Thursday, the 29th at the Parish. I sat down with him to get the 411 on the man before he becomes myth and legend. It won’t be long now…..
1. What first interested you inart? I had constant visions of art in many forms flowing through my mind while I danced and listened to music. Once I started to expand my knowledge and gather supplies, I realized I had the ability to create anything I wanted if I truly focused. This connection to something greater coupled with personal evolution was exponentially motivating. It’s what drove me onward to truly manifesting art in as many forms as possible!!
2. How long have you been creating art? 3 years.
3. What types of art do you create? I build multiple styles of large-scale 3D art structures that are inspired by sacred geometry. I am also a digital artist and graphic designer. My styles include conceptual art, fantasy, light reactive structures, animations, artistic videos, marketing supplies and designing websites. I am also a professional fire spinner and lights performer. I utilize tools such as Staff, Poi, Swords, Double Staff and fire wings coupled with my dancing to create art through light and movement. I also build practice props and tools for fire dancing, such as poi kevlar and rope (monkey fist), hand carved wood staffs that I also paint and burn designs into. I also make fire wings, armor and fashion accessories including jewelry, hair accessories, holsters and crowns. I work with many kinds of materials from leather to wire to create unique designs that are practical yet stylish.
4. Where/how did you learn the skills that have enabled you to create your artwork? The technical aspects of construction I gained came mostly from trial and error and the constant influx of new ideas I pick up every day from just working on them. I also learn a lot from examining the art work and designs of other artists.
5. What materials do you use?Card stock prints, cut concave metal framing, plywood, duct tape, construction staples, satin finish, clear finish (optional full weather proofing), string, rope, paint, feathers, leather, sea shells, wire, precious gems, stones and lots of super glue.
6. How many hours a day do you work at your craft?4-16 hours.
7. What inspires you?Evolution, my imagination, sacred geometry, nature, music and dance. The movie Avatar has been a huge inspiration as well. I am also inspired by other artists such as Krystel Smith. I was fortunate enough to get a personal viewing of her collection at Bonnarroo. Immediately after seeing her work, I went back to my tent and completely designed and decorated the 1st art piece I’ve ever made.
8. Why do you create?It is my contribution towards the evolution of art and humanity as well as my personal pursuit of perfection.
9. What do you hope to accomplish with your art?I hope to have large galleries and art collectors housing my art work and I want to build massive collections of amazingly huge stage props that can create epic displays for some of the largest shows and events in the world! In the end, I want to create an entire show that includes all of my current artistic skills! I want to have my 3D structures on display and setup completely; my art videos and art projected on the wall, music I produced playing, assistants and support performers in my gear, performing a full show with lights and fire in front of the masses.
10. Walk me through your process. From conception to finished product, what is going on in your head?I am always trying to make the highest quality product and build something that I would actually wear or buy! During conception I will sit and draw on paper the shapes of the structures and different ideas that I have to make the decision process more clear because I am on a budget and can only take on so many projects at once, so I make an effort to develop my craft as quickly and efficiently as possible. Consequently, I focus on really exciting ideas and work almost obsessively until they are complete.
11. What is your favorite part of the process?Knowing that I made a sacrifice of time and energy to something that is much greater than myself. The fact that the evidence, inspiration and personal evolution that making a piece caused can never be taken away.
12. How do you feel when you are creating?During the conception process it is very fun and my mind can go a million different places and crate infinite possibilities and when I’m constructing the pieces I am concentrated and working diligently on the task and feel it is a time of sacrifice to a greater cause so I justify it easily with the fact that I only have a certain amount of time to leave my legacy behind and evolve myself as a person, so I have to keep moving!!!
13. How do you feel after a piece is finished?When I’m finished, I am relieved for sure and excited that what I created is truly something that is an expression of myself and all my inspirations/visions in a crystallized state.
14. What was the 1st piece you evercreated? It was a staff for my martial arts training. At the time I was simply training on basics of spinning staff and combat skills. I wrapped the staff like a candy cane with artistic tape and then drew very intricate free-flowing designs and patterns up the staff.(This was the first of many more to come). My 1st art piece was created as a practice tool for my martial arts practice, but it was also very essential to what would become a great passion and later my full-time career as a fire spinner.
15. When I first met you, I knew you only as a fire spinner and had no idea you were an artist until recently. Tell me a little bit about fire spinning. How did you get into it? MUSIC was my spark into EVOLVING and this amazing journey as the character/artist/performer known as Jade Love, all began in the summer of 2009 while touring music festivals across the U.S. including Wakarusa, Bonnarroo and Sonic Bloom. I began to combine elements of dance and martial arts with tools such as staff and poi and gave myself the goal of learning 1 new trick per day. I was inspired to start poi by my friends who spun glow sticks and are generally called “Tech Spinners” or “Stringers.” My first burn was in October of 2009 at The Renaissance Fair using a staff I made from scratch with chicken wire, a broom stick and candle wicks. My first fire spinning gig came in July 2010at Suite 101 with The Oracles; a crew I created when I moved to San Marcos from Houston. Today my primary crew is called Sangre de Sol, but I also perform with the GoGo Gadgettes from time to time and have been a part of The Lunar tribe, The Polaris Tribe and Tropical Productions.
16. I remember seeing you at several events and recall Sangre de Sol blowing my mind at Art Outside this past October. What other big shows or events have you spun fire for?Most recently, I performed at several shows for SXSW. Some of the bigger shows have included Art Outside,Future Fest, Electro Circus, Reggae Fest,Spring Love, Praia Urbana, Rodeo Austin, The Auto Trader Convention, Fire and Ice, Day Glow, Lights All Night and the Austin Police Convention.
17. Of all those shows that you spun at, which was your favorite? Day Glow was one of the best crowd responses. They cheered so loud it made my chest vibrate! It was exhilarating but my favorite performance was during my first gig for the GoGo Gadgettes. We performed for George Acosta at Future Fest in 2010on the roof of the sunken stage at Apache Pass over 100 feet in the air with around 2000+ in the crowd.My best show was during Zombie Ball 2010. It was the largest team I’ve ever hired; 10 people and we killed it for the crowd!!! We performed for the White Ghost Slivers.
18. How has your art evolved over the years?I started experimenting with everything from clothes, jewelry, art collages, dancing and martial arts. I realized I had a very good eye for what I believe to be very striking art work and I wanted to have more freedom to express myself so I started on my journey towards becoming a true artist and began producing different forms of art from scratch. From there I began to draw, wood burn and work on the computer a lot more. In the summer of 2009 I began practicing dance flow style and contact staff after being inspired by a performer at Sonic Bloom. By October 2009 I was spinning fire with a staff I made from scratch using chicken wire, a broom stick and candle wicks which developed into the creation of several more hand carved staffs. My first fire spinning gig came in July 2010. In 2010-2011 I made the artistic evolution to leather armor and began printing my designs on a larger scale with stretched canvas. I also started making feather jewelry and feather hair extensions as well as costume gear including a fur whip, a barbarian outfit, bear hats, crowns and fire tools. In January of this year, I began making my 3D structures and started the process of creating more advanced multimedia art pieces.
19. What are you working on right now?I’ve spent the last 3 months focusing on my 3D art structures and fire spinning, which is my full-time job and primary source of income at the moment.
20. What inspired your 3D art structures?I’d been wanting to make my art multimedia for a long time and it all began with me trying to recreate my art piece into something “out of this world” in a 3D form. I built one pyramid and then another in a different design. I began to realize how much I loved them just by themselves. Then I started to make several styles and started to just bunch them together because they looked awesome together! From there I realized I could start to design sacred geometry shapes with the parts I was building and my dream of 3D sacred geometry art structures came to life!
21. Where did you get the idea to make your artwork come “alive” using lights? ”Analog Mapping” is what I call it. I got the idea from certain pictures in different ways under specific lighting. I began using multiple lights at that time and started creating and watching basic animations on my computer. From there I was able to figure out how to make images that would highlight certain aspects in different light settings. Over time, I learned how to make them appear to be moving under strobe and black lights.
22. What are your favorite pieces?My favorite of the 3D structures is actually my latest piece from the Activate Series that I call “Techno Rainbow.” My favorite print of my digital art is a piece I call “Monarch Angel.” (You can view more of his work on his facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/JadeLovefireknight ).
Original design and art by Jade Love Description- 4 three sided pyramids and 3 four sided pyramids make up a three sided star. Size-4x4ft and 10 inches tall Created- March 2012 Design- Techno Rainbow
23. What are you working on now?I’ve focused most of my energy over the past 3 months on creating these 3D structures and on my fire spinning, but I’ve also began to think about creating more avant-garde structures and have been drawing plans for those 3D creations.
24. What’s next for you and your art?I want to take my 3D structures even further to create these avant-garde pieces that are full compositions so that they are gorgeous works of art on their own without being light reactive. These full themed compositions are going to be a lot more intricate as well. I want to give them more dimension using things like mirrors, wire, stone and paper cut outs to give them life in a whole different way.
25. What about your art show that’s coming up? Aren’t you excited about that? For sure I am! This is my first actual show happening on the 29th at the Parish. I’m not going to be spinning there, but will be featuring my 3D structures and celebrating my my fire career and 50th professional fire event. I’m also giving away a free print of my digital art to anyone that purchases pre-sale tickets from me. (Here is the link for Jade’s upcoming show this Thursday from 8pm-midnight at the Parish). http://www.rawartists.org/
Here is a great gluten-free recipe for Pumpkin Bread in case you are ever in the mood for something sweet and healthy.
Ingredients:
4 tbsp melted butter
1/2 cup sugar or substitute
2 large eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
1 1/3 cup Pamela’s Gluten-Free Baking & Pancake Mix
Directions:
Pre-heat over to 350 degrees. Beat together butter, sugar, eggs and pumpkin. Add remaining ingredients and mix together. Pour into 8 x 4 loaf pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or when toothpick inserted comes out almost clean. ENJOY!
East 6th, West 6th, The Warehouse District, SoCo; these are not just areas of Austin Texas, they are portals into a world of bright lights, beautiful people and what our city is most known for; music. It’s no wonder that Austin is called ‘The Live Music Capital of the World.’ Between the hours of 9pm and 2am, the epicenter of this bustling metropolis becomes a living, breathing squeezebox of pulsating energy. Clubs and bars pump dynamic beats into busy streets, entrancing people inside. As you weave through crows, your ears are penetrated by an eclectic mix of genres and styles. A medley of melody that you can feel pulsating into your very soul.
Music connects us all. It is the canvas on which we paint the memories of the night, and is the audible expression of the celebration known as ‘Life.’ The club scene is a direct extension of our desire to express ourselves through movement and sound. The exhilarating experience of our downtown nightlife is held together by rhythm and rhyme, and while 90% of t he time it fades into t he peripheral of our focus, the absence of music could case the collapse of Austin’s Entertainment District.
After all, what would 6th Street look like without this medium of art? Imagine for a moment, you and your friends standing at a bar ordering drinks and listening to…. well other people order drinks. The stage and DJ booth are empty. There’s a faint static humming resonating from an unused speaker. The whole atmosphere feels pretty different now and going out seems pointless.
As incredibly fundamental as the music is to our culture as Austinites, many times it is taken for granted. Most of the live shows in Austin are free, meaning musicians are paid low rates or are relying solely on the tip jar for compensation. Residents in the downtown area complain about the excessive volume from neighboring venues, calling Cops who come busting in raving about the noise ordinance. Have we forgotten how lucky we are to have been blessed with the gift of music? Every night there are DJ’s, Bands, Symphonies, Orchestras and Soloists bearing their souls to us. They don’t deserve to go unnoticed.
Living in Austin is a real treat for music lovers. Moving back after a decade was, for me, like stumbling upon a vast Oasis in the middle of the Sahara Desert. Music has been a driving force in my life since a very young age. Austin has truly made me feel at home. Whether it’s a DJ scratching out a set of House, Techno, or Dubstep; a guitarist of a blues band fingering the fret board until it purrrs; music is my drug of choice. I invite you to explore with me the inner circle of Austin’s culture and nightlife. Together we will surf the waves of sound.
I moved to Austin about 2 years ago. I recently acquired a group of amazing girl friends. It took me awhile to find them…but it was totally worth the wait. I feel so lucky to have met them because we are all alike yet so different. We all happen to share a love for health and fitness. I love getting together with my girlfriends and doing a killer workout in my apartment gym. We put on our workout gear, tie our hair up, blast good music and squat till we can’t stand it anymore. We enjoy working out and eating right together. On a girls night out you will catch us shaking our booty’s to dance music. We choose to be the healthy hot girls at the club…not the wasted sloppy kind.
Here are a couple of benefits to working out with friends:
People tend to push themselves harder when working out with a buddy.
When you are working on your fitness goals with friends you hold each other accountable.
Bonding time!!
Friends help keep you motivated.
Working out with a partner will keep you distracted and make time fly!
If you’re a runner and you want to improve your speed and shave seconds, maybe even minutes off of your race times, then you should try pyramid intervals. Shorter, harder intervals at or above your anaerobic threshold (AT), will improve both. You will be able to run faster without losing your breath. Trust me; I spent an entire month testing this workout. I started on January 23rd running 3 miles in 31:03. I finished my experiment on March 1st with a time of 27:43. I don’t know about you, but I don’t need any more proof than that! I am about to start my triathlon training on Monday and I’ve decided that pyramid intervals are too legit to quit! Here is my routine: (I usually run 3 – 4 times a week).
Warm up jog or walk 5 min. (average pace)
Go hard 5 min (a bit faster than your average pace)
Sprint 30 sec (as fast as you can go without passing out)
Go hard 1 min
Sprint 45 sec
Recovery jog 1.5 min (average pace)
Sprint 1 min
Recovery jog 2 min
Go hard 45 sec
Recovery jog 2 min
Go hard 30 sec
Cool down 10 min (average pace jog or walk)
I guarantee, if you put in the work, you’re gonna get results. To push yourself even harder, try this routine on the open road or hit the trails. Unexpected up’s and down’s as well as obstacles will make you unstoppable! BEEP, BEEP!!!
We feel the Flats on Wilson is truly a one of a kind place to call home. The B1 and B2 plans each feature private rooftop terraces with incredible views of Austin. All homes are completely carpet free with wood laminate floors. Our kitchens feature stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. Select units have a private fenced yard.
The Flats on Wilson is currently under construction. We have begun accepting leases for move-ins starting June 1, 2012.
All units require a $1000 refundable security deposit. Pets require an additional $500 per pet with a limit of 2 pets per unit and a combined weight limit of 75lbs.
You may have seen the infamous headdress that has brought in half of Austin, riding around on the 
Interstellar Transmissions bus for First Thursday. Those of us that made it out had the opportunity to take a look at the store and the exclusive line, Firefly created by owner, Nera Laurel. She designed the eye-catching catsuits, colorful skirts and sexy tie tops that can be worn on their own or layered to create the perfect outfit for any occasion. Try the tie top with a one of a kind leather vest or a shirt with a trendy balero. The options are limitless. 
acuity and sense of style help shape the Gypsy Streetwear look. His technical proficiency led to forward thinking in the retail environment. Tim has spent time grounding himself with world travel, acrobatics, and attending a yearly arts festival in black rock city for the last 15 years. His exposure to multiple cultures and arts brings a compassionate philosophy that integrates ecological conscious with performance; making sure Gypsy Streetwear stays at the forefront of cultural trends.
