{"id":142371,"date":"2026-01-29T07:31:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T07:31:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/142371\/"},"modified":"2026-01-29T07:31:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T07:31:07","slug":"remembering-john-magnuson-tracking-restaurant-shake-ups-and-other-culture-updates-the-austin-chronicle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/142371\/","title":{"rendered":"Remembering John Magnuson, Tracking Restaurant Shake-Ups, and Other Culture Updates \u2022 The Austin Chronicle"},"content":{"rendered":"

James Magnuson, Michener Center\u2019s founding director, passed away at age 84 on Jan. 18 after a long battle with ALS. The prolific, multi-talented writer led the esteemed writing program for 23 years, infusing it with his human-first teaching style and polymorphous approach to storytelling. \u201cI hope we set a tone of kindness and generosity with one another,\u201d he told<\/a> the Chronicle in 2017, when he retired as director. \u201cThroughout his life, Magnuson gave freely \u2013 of his time, advice, laughter, fellowship, bear hugs \u2013 and always with intent,\u201d wrote<\/a> Robert Faires in memoriam for the Chronicle. \u201cHe chose to be generous. So when you measure this man\u2019s impact on American letters, that must be taken into account alongside his novels, stories, and plays.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hyde Park Bar & Grill founder Bick Brown sold the beloved neighborhood establishment late last year, according<\/a> to the Statesman. \u201cIt\u2019s an old-time business that needs some new energy,\u201d Brown told the publication. \u201cI think it\u2019s a very positive thing. I\u2019m excited for the future of Hyde Park Bar & Grill.\u201d Fans of the 44-year-old American eatery fretted online about potential changes to the menu, especially the beloved buttermilk fries that, alongside the giant fork sign, have become synonymous with the longstanding fine-casual restaurant. The new owners, Brian and Angela Luke, who\u2019ve run Artemis Mediterranean Grill since 2019, say they\u2019ll maintain the fry recipe \u2013 plus some extra seasoning \u2013 and the North Central staple\u2019s approachable, elevated diner menu.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Calamity is the latest name to christen the back room bar at Hole in the Wall, previously known as Amity\u2019s. The karaoke lounge and coffee bar reintroduced themselves on January 11. \u201cThe new name reflects the energy, creativity, and community that have always lived here. Cheers to Chaos!\u201d the nostalgia-inspired spot wrote on their Instagram<\/a>. The name change precipitates a few minor alterations to the space and its offerings, including waived fees for alternative milk in coffee drinks and an incoming DVD library, according to the announcement.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Barrett\u2019s Too and Achiame will split the North Loop coffee shop and taco bar once known as Double Trouble. After closing for a few days of renovations, the neighborhood bar reared a rebranded face on Jan. 23. Barrett\u2019s Coffee owner Travis Kizer co-opened the eatery in 2023 with Vegan Nom\u2019s Chris Rios, who left the business several months later, according to Eater<\/a>. The new name emphasizes the relationship between the St. Johns roasterie and its more central outpost and separates the partially vegan kitchen from the bar. The menu and \u201cvibes\u201d will remain consistent, according to the eatery\u2019s announcement post<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We Love Austin Music Week is happening across Austin schools until Friday, Jan. 30. Cafeteria concerts and live performances celebrate \u201cAustin\u2019s music legacy, support student well-being, highlight music\u2019s economic impact, and foster appreciation and proper audience etiquette among students,\u201d according to the Texas Cultural Trust\u2019s Arts Access initiative. Casey Elementary\u2019s student rock band The Rest Notes will take the stage late this week, following student band performances at Elgin on Tuesday. St. Elmo Elementary welcomed their music teacher\u2019s band, Deer Bunny, on Monday and Creedmoor Elementary hosted a harpist from the Austin Symphony on Wednesday, thanks to a collaboration between the Texas Cultural Trust and KUTX.<\/p>\n

This article appears in January 30 \u2022 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A note to readers:\u00a0Bold and uncensored,\u00a0The Austin Chronicle\u00a0has been Austin\u2019s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community\u2019s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands. <\/p>\n

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