LEARN | HOW SUPER BOWL FOOTBALLS ARE MADE
What a video! So cool to see how such a small crew in Ada, Ohio makes all 216 (108 game balls per team) of the official Super Bowl footballs by hand. Hides, cutting, stamping, splitting, sewing, and turning; just wait ‘til you see the turning. That’s the best part. The laces that hold the bladders that hold the air. Then there’s the shaping, the inspection, the packing and so much more. What a trip! In this short video you get to see their faces, their hands, their pride, their passion and their teamwork (sounds kinda like a sports team). The ball isn’t something that many people think about. It seems to be a tiny part of one of the largest events in the world, but when you realize that that tiny part is the most valuable piece of the most important football game, it changes everything.
EAT | TINY PIES
Some think size matters, but when it comes to Tiny Pies, we beg to differ. Think of your favorite pie, shrink it down, and get ready for the best bite-size gourmet delicacies you’ve ever put in your pie hole! Founded by Austin-based mother/daughter duo, Kit and Amanda, the pies are made by hand in one of their two quaint Austin locations. Watch a fun video here and rest assured that they source fresh, natural, local ingredients from farms across Texas. You know you can’t go wrong when Oprah picks you out for being one of her favs. Not in Austin? Well they ship nationwide, so get on their website and order away!
READ | KOBE BRYANT, WHO MADE L.A. FEEL A LITTLE SMALLER
Amongst the sorrow and sadness following the death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and 7 other victims in last week’s helicopter accident, this piece by Chris Gayomali caught our eye. Written from a different perspective, he discusses growing up in LA, idolizing, rooting for and depending on a figure as complicated as Kobe and what he meant to Lakers fans. Seeing it from a local point of view, what it meant to be united with an entire city through one single man. The fun, the fears, and the flaws - this is a good read.
DRINK | BUZZ MILL COFFEE
Open since 2013, this Austin-born joint (and it’s new second location) is open 24/7. It’s called Buzz Mill Coffee but it’s so much more. From their morning caffeine to their midnight brews, the Mill has all the brew bases covered. Did someone say Buzz Mill events? Yes. Honeydip Comedy and Lost Pines music, converged with Lumber Society Nature Trivia, Primitive Fire Building and Knot Tying Workshops; you won’t likely experience the same thing twice. The interiors are tastefully just over the top (peep their Insta here) and we give the whole package a Best of Austin Merit badge.
photo courtesy of Heatherwick Studio
CONSIDER | THE CASE FOR MAKING LOW-TECH ‘DUMB’ CITIES INSTEAD OF ‘SMART’ ONES
We found this article to be exceptionally thought-provoking, and whether you’ve lived in rural towns, large cities, or somewhere in between, we think you will too. The first question of the piece is this: “High-tech smart cities promise efficiency by monitoring everything from bins to bridges. But what if we ditched the data and embraced ancient technology instead?” Making a city “smart” sounds so dynamic and alluring, but what if all the technology is having the opposite effect or simply doing nothing beneficial at all? Comparing aspects, structures and processes of the ancient past to the framework and movements of possibly not-so-distant future, this read is worth your time and will make you think differently about where we’re headed as a society.
SUPPORT | ATMPT
Some of our HELM homies recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund their new American Made activewear company. The line is intended to inspire people to “attempt” new things and improve community. Designed by runners for runners, the pieces are fabricated in NYC. We’re backin’ it!