LISTEN | PITCHFORK'S BEST 50 MUSIC SOUNDTRACKS OF ALL TIME
It’s probably not too difficult to think of a few of your favorite movie soundtracks. Purple Rain, Clueless, Pulp Fiction, Dazed and Confused...what are some of yours? There’s so much variety and diversity on this list that if you’re gonna give it a view, be sure you have time to take a walk, or better yet, a dance down memory lane. Have at it and get ready to cue up your Spotify, iTunes or, dare we say, record player? Heck, this list might even get you rewatching some of these classics. Popcorn!
WATCH | FREE SOLO
If you haven’t seen or at least heard about this documentary yet, it won an Academy Award and is utterly and completely terrifying. Not in a horror movie kind of way, but in a way that will make your palms sweat, and since it’s a true story, your heart beat like mad for the majority of the film. So if you don’t want a crazy trip, maybe pass, but otherwise this movie is worth the radical ride. Filmmaker E. Chai Vasarhelyi and world-renowned photographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin follow the emotional journey of solo-climber, Alex Honnold, as he prepares to achieve his lifelong dream: climbing the face of the world’s most famous rock...the 3,200 ft El Capitan in Yosemite National Park… without a rope. Yeah, you read that right - WITHOUT A ROPE. Holy heights!
EAT | CARPENTERS HALL
Located off South Lamar in the Carpenter Hotel, we think that the Austin Chronicle says it best by calling this restaurant, “Smart, Beautiful, and Almost Annoyingly Cool.” A conceptual ode to German, Czech, and Texan cuisines, they’re open three meals a day. We tested out the dinner and boy are we glad we did. We started with the Stracciatella on the in-house baked sourdough toast, and it seriously is the best sourdough bread we’ve ever had - anywhere. The Pappardelle with mushrooms and parmesan was splendid. Gonna wrap it up here because it’s probably all gold star, but don’t miss the Grilled Head-On Gulf Shrimp and, are you ready for it...the Sweet Onion Rings with Black Lime Salt. Beyond A-MA-ZING.
ADMIRE | TOM JEAN WEBB
For living and working in London, we especially appreciate TJW’s ability to instill the perceptions and experiences of the desert - maybe Santa Fe or Joshua Tree. Or Arizona. His artworks and murals evoke such strong feelings that he has quite a subterranean cult following of fans who even tattoo his work across their bodies. You can follow his Instagram here and see more work on his website. Lord knows it ain’t easy to make a living as an artist, and we’re backing Tom all the way.
READ | COMPANY OF ONE
The subtitle of this book is, “Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business.” Interesting, right? We’ve all heard “quality over quantity,” and in this book Paul Jarvis makes a compelling case for making your business better instead of bigger. There’s a new generation of entrepreneurs that value a rich life over riches of only money. Company of One is an official guide to building around the idea that staying small and avoiding too much growth too fast can be more durable and even more enjoyable than business as usual. What if he’s right? That the real key to richer and more fulfilling work could be to not create and scale something into a massive corporation, but rather, to work for yourself, determine your own hours, and become a highly profitable and sustainable company “of one.” Hmmm...maybe not necessarily just of one, but a few instead of a few thousand? Quite the conversation starter.
GIVE/HELP | LIGHTER LOADS ATX
We’re not always able to help people who need it most unless we’re willing to go out and find those who need it. Light Loads did just that. Their main focus is “making a difference one shower at a time.” They help the less fortunate get their confidence and dignity back by providing hot showers, clean clothes, and a lot of love. Here’s a news report with some more details on exactly what they’re doing and some additional services they offer. Thank you LLA for your kindness, devotion and generosity.