Students Rally Last Minute Voter Registrants

Every time the walk sign allowed pedestrians to cross Guadalupe Monday, Huey Fischer quickly joined the crowd with his 'Register to Vote' sign proudly waving in the air.  The government major is rallying for last minute voter registrants to sign up to vote on the last day before it's too late.

In 2008, UT students were able to gain 6,000 voter registrants, and this year the politically-minded young people are looking to gather even more.

The students stayed on the West Mall all day, and other locations around town also registered people to vote until midnight.  Early voting begins in just two weeks.  The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Casino El Camino's Burgers, Abrasive Style, and Sense of Family

Casino El Camino (517 E. 6th Street / (512) 469-9330) is a bar in the heart of Austin's infamous 6th Street District, but it's also a hot little lunch spot for people who know this part of 6th Street in the daylight rather than bar-hopping hours.  I've heard how great Casino's burgers are but wanted to taste for myself.

I loaded up the car with two of my buddies and headed downtown, where parking can be limited but not impossible to find.  Just remember to take your quarters.  The new pay meters accept coins and credit but no paper money, which for me, sent me back out to the meter after changing in my dollars for quarters.  All three of us attempted a different burger or variation of burger.

Adolfo got the Amarillo Burger with roasted serrano chiles, jalapeno jack cheese and cilantro mayo.  The burger looked a little pink but according to my friend, the flavor couldn't be beat.  In fact, he said it's the best burger he's ever eaten - and that includes a couple of Lubbock burger joints that he says puts several Austin burgers to shame.  Check out all that green on there and it's all those chiles.  "Now that's one spicy burger," Adolfo said.

Next up, my buddy John got the Chicago Burger with Romaine lettuce, tomato and cheddar cheese.  This is one of the more traditional style burgers on the menu, but definitely not one that is lacking.  "You don't just get a tantalizing burger here, there's a whole story you may have never heard, it's a family unlike any I've ever seen and a place where the cooks can express however they feel while cooking and reading up on classwork all at the same time making an awesome burger.," John said.

That brings me to the portion of the story where I talk about the people.  Our waitress, Ginger Stevens, is very much a party of the Casino family.  For the last 16 years, she's been coming to this place.  She began working at Casino about a year and a half ago.  The other workers are, well, just like family - or at least they treat you that way, at times being downright rude, but it's all just a part of the charm.  Stitch, one of the cooks, is studying for his Ph.D and had his notebook opened as he rolled up the thick hamburger patties.  When I went to order at the window in the back, I'd asked him what I should get.  He told me it was a bad time because he was busy with bookwork.  But he did end up offering a suggestion: the Chicago burger (like John) but with the buffalo sauce!  It was a perfect suggestion for me since I love spicy dishes and I wanted to get a more traditional burger.  Put the two together and that became my Casino experience.



The fries were crunch and delicious and the burger came juicy. It's hard to get it all in your mouth but somehow, some way, people find it possible and eat these delicious burgers up. Casino was even featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives as a joint where customers dig the heat, employees mix up great burger recipes and the environment reminds you of being at home among family.

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Players Scores Big With Generations of Hungry Hamburger Customers

Walk into Players (300 West MLK) on the UT campus in central Austin and you'll likely by greeted by one of these gentlemen, Daniel and his uncle, Carlos Oliveira.  Carlos and partner Eddie Hempe started Players nearly 30 years ago and obviously has a winning recipe for great hamburgers, excellent customer service, affordable food and easy access to a wide variety of people.  The Longhorns graduates know how to cater to their audience.  You may spot the Longhorns head football coach Mack Brown or any number of sports team members eating a Players burger, maybe a politician or two, workers from neighboring businesses, and of course plenty of college students.  The name comes from the arcade games in the dining room, the number of sports team members who love to eat there, and the large flat screen TV you can always be sure to catch a game on!

I first walked into Players several years ago because someone I worked with recommended I go there immediately.  I did and yes, it's one great burger.  I've been in to dine many other times, so when I walked in Thursday with the intention of reviewing Players, I ordered a burger I normally don't get - the jalapeno cheese burger.

What you'll notice eating the burger right off the bat is that it's juicy and is loaded down with the fixings.  But what you'll notice after getting all the way through it is it stays enjoyable and juicy the entire time!  Some burgers will start off great, juicy, and full of flavor but gets less juicy and flavorful the closer to the end you get.  That's a big difference!

Daniel and Carlos say the secret ingredients to their success include fresh products, made to order burgers and patties cooked over an open flame.  Carlos says he also doesn't salt the fries, but rather leaves them plain so the customer can decide how salty to make it.

The affordable price is worth mentioning again.  Customers rarely can find a meal under $10 for lunch these days.  My jalapeno burger, along with a half order of french fries and a soda, cost me $7 flat.  For comparison, last week at Your Mom's Burger Bar, I paid a little over $14 for a hamburger, soda, an order of regular fries for me and an order of sweet potato fries for the little guy.  Carlos told me he knows workers nearby and college students can't afford to pay $10 or more for a hamburger.  He keeps his prices low and the burgers tasting great.  That, along with his winning combination of tasty food and being a truly local business in Austin, means you can't go wrong with Players.

Give Players a call at (512) 478-9299 and drop by to get a burger.  This is one Austin staple you can't afford to pass up.  You can listen to the podcast with Carlos and Daniel by clicking the play button above, and scroll through the pictures on the slide show below.

Under new Federal Trade Commission guidelines, which require bloggers to disclose information regarding potential conflicts for items reviewed in their blogs, the Austin Citysphere was not compensated for this story.

It's Official: We're Cell Phone Free

Tonight our cell phones ceased contact with Sprint. We're cut off from the mothership. We've sent out the emails telling people about the change, we've answered the questions, and we're starting to get a little bewildered ourselves.

Really, I'm fine with the change. I don't get that many phone calls anyway, and the people that need to contact me know how to do that. But I know that Ryan will have a harder time with the change than I will, because he has more of a need to be connected than I do.

Nevertheless, three days ago we pulled the trigger. Tonight the service is off. We are continuing to answer the questions of "how" and "why," even to ourselves, but it's become more than an exercise in frugality. We're throwing ourselves into what many are calling a social experiment - can a couple with a kid and full-time jobs survive in the modern world without the constant tether of a cell phone?

We spoke with Jay Carter of LivingInAustin.com and the Financial Survival Podcast about how the decision has affected us so far. The entire interview will be part of the Financial Survival Podcast next Thursday, but here's a preview (click the play button above).

The State of the Fourth Estate Through the Eyes of Two CBS News Icons

CBS News icons Lesley Stahl and Morley Safer offered a rare look inside their experience "growing up" with the Tiffany Network, working alongside newsman Walter Cronkite during some of the biggest stories in history.  The conversation touched on topics like how the 60 Minutes legends met Cronkite, women in the media, and the current state of the Fourth Estate.

Stahl, an eloquent speaker, told the audience inside the LBJ Auditorium at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas that she got her start, as many women did in broadcast journalism, because of affirmative action.

"There was a lot of concern the audience would not accept women as authoritative because we had never been in that position to tell the public what went on today," said Stahl.  "Would they accept us?  So we all had to lower our voices.  I remember very deliberately wearing glasses, which I do need.  But I could have taken them off for the camera.  My mother was always fighting me on this.  She kept saying, 'no one's ever going to ask you on a date if you wear your glasses!'  We were always trying to present ourselves as people of gravitas, people who had authoritative sounding voices, look serious."

Stahl remembered the time she smiled during a standup, when a reporter speaks directly into the camera for a story.  "I remember I told a funny story and I smiled.  The producer was livid at me because it was late and on deadline.  I had to go out and do it again.  It was funny but I wasn't allowed to smile because I was a woman and it would take away from my image."

Image in that day was very important as the evolving role of journalism slowly took hold of the American audience.  Safer said he learned Cronkite, who had a humorous side - throwing parties, doing impressions, and acting out a "strip tease" for his guests - would always stick up for his correspondents.  "He was a wonderful friend.  As a correspondent working 13,000 miles away, you really felt secure that he was somehow watching your back."

Stahl met Cronkite twice.  The first was at the local CBS affiliate, where she worked, in Boston.  Later, she was invited to a dinner party, similar to Safer, where she earned even more respect for him than she had before.  "My first story with having my first dinner with Walter Cronkite, getting to meet him personally,  was such a head spinner, I walked out kind of almost as if I was punch drunk in a funny way."  Stahl believed she became 'one of the guys' because Cronkite told these vile jokes with a woman present.  If he could do that with a woman in the room, she figured, she was in the club.

Broadcast Journalism, A Changing Scene

As time goes on, journalism has changed.  It's hard to believe, considering broadcast news still seems in its early years, that the media is changing even more.  Technology has a lot to do with it.

"We worked in film," Stahl said of her early career.  "Film had to be developed.   So you had actual time to think.  You had hours to make phone calls.  You could actually call people and get opposing views.  You could call an analyst and get some depth.  Then video came in and that time shrank.  The deadline wouldn't be so early.  And now it's instant.  They don't think at all.  The President speaks and two seconds later, the reporter's right there and he's telling you.  Or the story happens and before you can make a single phone call, you're called upon."

Safer, who credits 60 Minutes for still using the old fashioned formula of story telling and important investigations, believes the shrinking think time for journalists nowadays is sad.  "It really does a disservice to the audience."

Asked of the legacy Walter Cronkite left behind, and if it's still around:  "I think the legacy diminishes each year.  Part of it is the whole nature of broadcast news has changed so much," said Safer.

Stahl had a different take on Cronkite's legacy, saying the newsman actually shaped history.  "Time and again because Walter Cronkite was so trusted, the public listened to him more than they listened to the politicians.  He was able to affect the course of history and I would say his legacy is strongest in that sense."

Plenty has changed in broadcast journalism, but many things remain the same.  Despite the critics who choose not to trust the news, there are many journalists like Safer and Stahl who continue to make journalism an honored profession with people who work hard for viewers and the people whose stories they tell.

Punch Brothers Rock Bluegrass Like No Other at Bass Concert Hall

What fan gets to meet the members of their favorite band?  What fan gets to meet them three times?  If you answered Ryan and Sarah Loyd, you'd be correct!

Friday we saw Punch Brothers at the Bass Concert Hall on the UT campus.  It was a much different show than we've ever seen Chris Thile or the Punch Brothers perform - although all of the times we've seen him/them, it's been a different experience.  I'll clarify.  We've seen Chris a total of four times: two times with Nickel Creek and two with Punch Brothers.  The first Nickel Creek concert we ever went to was in Helotes at Floore Country Store.  That's where we also met our friend, Billy Jacob (pictured right with Sara Watkins).  We also saw NC in Dallas at the House of Blues.  That's the only time we did not get to speak with the band afterward.  More on that in a moment.  Our first Punch Brothers concert was at the Cactus Cafe, also on the UT campus.  Our most recent, of course, September 10, 2010.

They hit it out of the park, as always.  But Chris Eldridge, guitar, couldn't perform because of an apparent illness.  We hope he gets better soon.  So the remaining four, Chris Thile (mandolin), Gabe Witcher (fiddle), Noam Pikelny (banjo) and Paul Kowert (bass) had to do a little readjusting of their play list to make things work.  And it worked just fine!  We saw some amazing musicians, who may have not given the most polished performance, at their best.  I believe the last statement to be an excellent compliment because, although a little awkward, the men made up the absence of a very important fifth member.  Thile unplugged at one point, with the rest of the band off stage, made the spot light guy work and move the light to the edge of the stage, as he played Bach's Gigue from the Partita in D minor for solo violin.  Impressive.  Here's a YouTube video of him playing the same piece in New York.




I finally got to sit and think at the concert why I am so intrigued by Punch Brothers, Nickel Creek, and Chris Thile.  It's because the music is so driven and complex.  It keeps my busy mind focused and concentrating on every note, word, and instrument.

The fact that I've gotten to see Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek is crazy, but the fact that we've gotten to talk to the band members is incredible.  We spoke to Sara and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek, as well as Chris, outside of their tour bus at the Helotes show.  In Dallas, there were so many people there and we were at the back of the music hall that it was just impossible to get to the front or know where they were going to be afterward, so we didn't get to speak with them then.

After the first Punch Brothers show we saw at the Cactus, we didn't think we'd get to chat with any of them, but sure enough there they were!  Chris had a beer in his hand and I went right up to him.  I forgot to 'interview' him for the podcast until after I talked with him once!  So, I went up to him again after he finished chatting with some other folks and asked him a few questions. Check out that interview below.


Once again, with the exception of a line and a more organized meeting and talking to the band mates after the show, this most recent post-show was just as great!  I didn't get to ask Chris all the questions I wanted, but it's still cool that this band shows its fans a personal side and comes off the stage to talk.

The show, no matter how it's presented, is always fantastic.  We can't wait for PB to come back to Austin.  Until then, Antifogmatic will keep spinning in our cars.  At the signing table, from closest, is Paul, Chris, Gabe and Noam.

Come back to Austin soon, guys!

Stromberger Tells Secrets of What Makes a Great Burger

How fun would it be to review burgers? Chris Stromberger does just that for his site, Austin Burger News. Stromberger let us in on some of his secrets, including his Burger Statement, where he only likes a certain kind of cheese on his burger (and if that option isn't available, just forget it!) He also doesn't like bacon!

ACS got the chance to talk to Stromberger in this special audio podcast as our 7 best burgers of central Texas series rolls on. And stay tuned for our next stop at Max Parfait, which will be posted Sunday. Also stay tuned Sept. 12 for a special video podcast on Horny Toad in Cranfills Gap. You won't want to miss it.

It's a Blue Monday, Indeed

The legendary Larry Monroe wrapped up a nearly 30 year career Monday night at the close of his long-running program, Blue Monday, which airs on KUT radio.  Monroe himself began the program in 1981.

Monroe spoke to ACS on Monday, just hours ahead of the start of his final show.  He said he'll miss the people he speaks to every week via a microphone and some 'oldies but goodies' blues albums.  "I guess what I'll miss most is doing the programs, because that's an art.  I'll also miss the audience and the feedback that I've gotten that the programs mean a lot to them."

Monroe is proud of his career, and says some of his favorite memories include other Austin legends like Willie Nelson appearing on his show.  "In the early 90's, I booked Willie Nelson in for a live set on Easter.  Willie Nelson and his band played Gospel songs live on the radio for an hour and a half on Easter night."

 For his last guest on Blue Monday, Monroe featured blues musician James Cotton.  The last broadcast is similar to a typical broadcast.  Only this time, he made mention of his 68th birthday.  He told ACS he felt the "timing seems good."

A station spokesperson told ACS Monroe only gave notice of his retirement several weeks ago.  The station is still looking for a replacement for Blue Monday.  As of yet, they do not know what will take its place.  But, judging by the relationship Monroe gained with his listeners over the past three decades, nothing short of a miracle will replace the void left by a man who made it a priority to spend time with listeners over the years.  Said of his departure Monday, "I tried to be there for them.  I worked on holidays because I know that Christmas and other holidays are hard for people, so I tried to keep that constant for my listeners.  If they didn't have anybody else on Christmas, they had me on the radio that night."  Monroe said he believes it made a difference in their lives.

Radio personalities just don't come like that anymore.

Do You 'Go Local'?

The 'Go Local' campaign is apparently doing very well in Austin.  That's why there's a push for a new newsletter and a campaign letting people know exactly what going local is all about!

Erin Hickok with Go Local explains why there's plenty of people buying the cards and how it can help you the next time you check out at a local, participating store.

This Week on 'As Seen on Radio'

Listen to internet radio with Austin Citysphere on Blog Talk Radio

Get away before the summer is over!  Texas Monthly tells about five great getaways, and we discuss some of our own favorite places.

Also, it's one of the most highly debated city council vote.  Mayor Leffingwell and the council voted not to settle with the family of a shooting victim last year.  Hear with Austin's NAACP leader thinks, and we break down what some of the council members think.

Williamson County busts stores for selling tobacco to minors.  Was it successful?  Deputy Mike Pendley talks about the successful sting, even though stores knew the cops were coming!

It's all on this LIVE edition of As Seen on Radio, where we talk all about your city and the issues that matter.

Debbie Russell Talks What Justification Means in Sanders Shooting

As Seen on Radio Episode 2...

Find out how you can order your Round Rock Express concession food right from your seat from Brandon Lloyd, president of Bypass Lane.  The Dell Diamond is the only place in the country right now where you can do this.

Also, Debbie Russell talks about the possible settlement between the city of Austin and the Nathaniel Sanders family.  Will the city council vote this week to drop $750,000 to the family?  Will the settlement equal justice?

And a local Austin teacher wins a national award.  Hear from fourth grade teacher Sally Hunter and how her 30 years of molding young minds helped her win $2,500 and some time in the national spotlight.

Mayor Pro Tem Discusses Terms of Possible Shooting Settlement

Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez spoke candidly to AM 590 KLBJ talk show host Jeff Ward Tuesday about the possible settlement between the city of Austin and the Sanders family.  The city is proposing a sum of $750,000 to settle with the Sanders family, who lost their son, Nathaniel, after Austin police officer Leonardo Quintana shot and killed him outside of an east Austin apartment complex.

Martinez, who says he was on vacation at the time the city reached a potential settlement agreement, returned to learn about the situation.  After numerous discussions with city officials, Martinez said he reached his own decision, opposing the settlement and asking for the case to be tried before a judge and jury.

"I can assure you and the citizens," Martinez told Ward, "that it's not just $750,000 in the settlement agreement.  There are going to be provisions in the settlement agreement that stipulate that we can't discuss this moving forward; that we can't bring out conversations that were had in mediation; that we can't bring out information that was shared in the negotiated process.  That to me is inappropriate."

On the show, Martinez defended his position and his belief the city council will decide the right course of action.  "My decision... is based on what I believe is best for this entire community.  We can't move forward... if we don't fully vet this out," said Martinez.

Martinez told Ward the city is hiring an attorney to defend Quintana, who fired the fatal shots that killed Sanders.  Martinez points out the eventual termination of Quintana from the Austin Police Department because of a DWI charge, cannot be used in the trial, according to a judge's ruling.

Click the play button above to listen to the Martinez interview, conducted by Jeff Ward on the Jeff Ward Show, heard on AM 590 KLBJ Tuesday, July 20, 2010.  Content is edited.

As Seen on Radio, the Inaugural Broadcast Podcast!

This is the first edition of As Seen on Radio with Ryan Loyd and Thomas McDonald on The Austin Citysphere!

The hot temperatures and the city's strategy to save water, the recession, and the president of the Austin police association top the list of topics on the show.

As we talked about on the show, check out High Paying Jobs for your Personality Type if you're interested in a career move with a little extra cash.  To check out the top states for business, go here.  Plus, calculate your water usage (or waste) by using the city's online calculator.  And why does Texas beat California in a recession?

Find out more about these topics on As Seen on Radio on The Austin Citysphere!

Grupo Fantasma Jugador de Trompeta Encuentra la Pasión en la Música

Austin's Grupo Fantasma is celebrating its fifth album and a decade as one of Austin's most successful locally grown groups. The group's trumpet player, my friend, celebrates his own passion for music. Gilbert Elorreaga tells me it truly got him through times growing up when nothing else could.

The group is currently on tour across the U.S. and the world. Elorreaga talks about Grupo Fantasma's studio session for El Existential. Watch how they did it and got to empower more creative control.

ACS on BlogTalkRadio: Listen to the Show!

ACS on BlogTalkRadio is back!  After several weeks, we're back on the blogosphere's radio!  Hear about Liz Carpenter's passing, the remembrance, and how her ashes were scattered.

Plus, are you ready for a food revolution?  British chef Jamie Oliver is!  He's trying to overhaul the unhealthiest city in America.  How does it relate to Austin?  Plus, we've got the latest news of the week.

ACS on BlogTalkRadio

Lots of lively talk on the show, including one man's opinion about downtown cameras helping police catch criminals.  What do you think?  Leave a comment below.  Also, the primaries are coming up on Tuesday.  ACS Correspondent Ben Wright talks about the gubernatorial races and the other showdowns we should be looking at.  Plus, hear from Becky Ozuna, the writer of an open letter to Joseph Stack, the man who flew his plane into the Echelon One building in northwest Austin.  This is a must read!

Catch all this on ACS on BlogTalkRadio by clicking the play button on the above player!

A Conversation with AISD Superintendent Dr. Carstarphen

Thursday night, Austin ISD superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen, met with parents at Austin High School's performing arts center.

The focus of the Conversation with the Superintendent was on special education, and what parents feel is working in their child's education, as well as what is not working.

Janna Lilly spoke with ACS about the challenges AISD faces with its special education program.  Bethany Miller, the mother of eight year old Charles, who has a medical disability, talked about keeping music therapy as one program.  She says music therapy to Charles is like math to a non special needs student.

Victim of Hate Crime: "I'm Saddened"

Emmanuel Winston, the victim of an apparent hate crime that took place early Saturday morning near a popular gay bar in Austin, talks to ACS about the experience of being attacked by four men.

The suspects are still on the loose while Winston and friend Matt Morgan are dealing with the aftermath of the attack and questions about why it happened.  Read about the story published earlier by ACS.

Students Angry Over UT's Apparent Disregard for Free Speech

Editor's Note: ACS conducted the interview with Co-President of UT's Students for Debra Medina, Tyler Rosen, at 10 p.m. on Tuesday.  There has not been ample time for ACS to contact UT's attorney or other parties involved in this story.  What you hear below is a raw version of the interview with Rosen.  ACS will follow up with other sides of the issue on Wednesday and will report the facts given.  Until that time, Rosen explains his point of view that the university took down a Debra Medina sign and violated laws.


Tyler Rosen, the co-president of Students for Debra Medina on the University of Texas campus, is angry over an apparent violation of freedom of speech and laws that support campaigning.

Rosen said on Thursday, his group erected a 4' x 8' sign outside of the Flawn Academic Center - a Travis County early voting location - in support of Republican candidate for governor, Debra Medina, in the March 2 primaries.  According to Rosen, the university removed the sign around 5 p.m. Friday, and the group filed a theft report to the UT police department later that night.

Rosen explains that after getting no where, and losing weekend campaigning opportunities, Students for Debra Medina, in conjunction with Longhorns for Kay Bailey Hutchison, placed several more signs outside of the center on Monday.  By Tuesday, Rosen said the signs were removed as well.

Rosen tells ACS he has contacted UT's attorney, Jeff Graves, and expects the university to give him and his group the right to express their opinion as stated in the United States Constitution.  According to a press statement, Rosen said the university has infringed on students' rights:

Prior to placing the sign, group leaders conferred with the Texas Secretary of State who confirmed that the University of Texas, being a public institution, could not restrict political sign placement outside of the prescribed limits of a public early voting location. The Texas Election Code section 43.031 states that, “A polling place may not be located in a building … unless electioneering is permitted on the building's premises outside the prescribed limits within which electioneering is prohibited.” Jeff Graves claim that, “[the] sign was placed in violation of the University's rules regarding placement of signs.” However, the group maintains that University’s policy does not supersede state law.  

Hear Rosen in his own words by listening to the audio podcast below.

ACS on BlogTalkRadio: Aftermath of Austin Plane Crash