Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Video game history on exhibit at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Art, Entertainment, Exhibits, Fun Stuff, Museums, Openings, ,

A new exhibit at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)  is all about the history of the video game industry and includes some original video-game-related art and artifacts related to the Austin-based development of such video game classics as Wing Commander, The Black Gate and Thief: Deadly Shadows.

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(Pen and ink concept art drawing by Denis Loubet for Ultima VI: the False Prophet; via Austin-Bergstrom International Airport)

In addition to sketches, storby boards and illustrations, the exhibit includes the paper punched tape used by Austinite Richard Garriott to record the video game code for one of his first games, Akalabeth..  There’s also a prototype cartridge of M.U.L.E.’s lost sequel, Son of M.U.L.E. and design documents from Warren Spector’s innovative classic Deus Ex.

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Behind the Screens is from the collection of the University of Texas, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History and is on display through January 26, 2010. Look for the exhibit in the pylon showcases located on the concourse between Gates 7-12.

New art exhibit at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Art, Music, ,

Elements, the newest exhibit at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), includes painting “with gravelly texture, collages layered with translucent, water-like colors, leafy items frozen in motion and metal coins fused together in hot wax.”

AUSTIN - Encaustic art

Hot wax? The work of four Austin artists – Sharon Kyle Kuhn, Kristy Darnell Battani, Michelle Belto, and Jacqueline May – is included and each of them makes encaustic art;  paintings made by melting beeswax and using it as a pigment.

For example, in her piece, Rocky Road, Sharon Kyle Kuhn takes a bicycle wheel, a rustic heavy chain and decomposed granite to comment on bike travel.

Austin - Rocky Road

The encaustic art exhibit is on display at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport through January 5, 2010, post-security,  in the Airside East Gallery, behind the Austin Article bookstore across from Gate 8.

While you’re there, don’t forget that Austin-Bergstrom has several performance venues in the airport and you can hear live music in the terminal every weekday. Here’s a link to the current schedule.

Big guitars, big hair, & prizes at Austin-Bergstrom Int’l Airport

Art, , ,

Fitting perhaps, that on the day we learn about the death of guitar legend Les Paul we have opportunity to post a short entry about a collection of 10-foot tall guitars now on display at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Austin Giant Guitars

The “Big Guitars,” souvenirs from a local fund raiser, are located on top of bag carousel three.

While you’re down in the baggage claim area at Austin Bergstrom International Airport, be sure to visit the restroom (both the men’s and women’s; if you can…)

The women’s room has several styles of “big hair” etched onto the mirror; in the men’s room, it’s a variety of hats.  The artwork is by Jill Bedgood.

Austin Mirror BedgoodAnd while you”re at the Austin airport, be sure to enter the “Park at ABIA and Win” contest.

Anyone who parks a car overnight at the airport – or fills out an entry form at the visitor center in the baggage claim area  – can enter. Prizes include Southwest Airlines tickets, free valet parking, meals, videos and other prizes.  The deadline is August 31, 2009. For more information, see the Austin Bergstrom International Airport Web site.

Don’t eat the art at Austin-Bergstrom Airport

Art, Exhibits

“To: Austin, From: Austin,” the new multi-media art exhibit on view at Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), includes “spiraling stalks of glistening steel, free poured bronze sculpture in amorphous shapes and the gentle grace of a ceramic winged foot.”  While the exhibit includes Austin-made works using traditional media such as metal, clay and wood, there’s also an unusual selection of art made from carved peanuts.

Yes, peanuts!

AUS peanut bat

(Ismael Cavazos’ The Bat)

Ismael Cavazos transforms peanuts into faces, animal shapes, and other images that are so small that you’ll need a magnifying glass to see them. Luckily, that’s how the peanut-art is displayed. So have fun peering at the peanuts!

AUS Peanut one

To: Austin, From: Austin is on display through October 26, 2009 at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, post-security, in the pylon showcases on the concourse between Gates 7-12.

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Pint-sized performers at Austin-Bergstrom Airport

Music, ,

In Austin, “Live Music Capital of the World,” Texas,  it seems as if everyone is a Grammy winner.  Or will someday be one.

So if you’re passing through Austin-Bergstrom International Airport today (Thursday) or Friday between 3:30 and 5:30 pm, be sure to stop at the Asleep at the Wheel stage at Ray Benson’s Roadhouse near Gate 10.

It’s Kid Band week at the airport. And you might want to be able to say “I saw them when…”.

On Thursday, Edison Chair is on the schedule. On Friday, The Aviators will appear. Check out the Aviators performing My Generation last year.

And this classic:

When they played at the airport last year, the Aviators didn’t even have a name for their group;  so they took inspiration from the airport.

Watch out Jonas Brothers!

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Photo by Sandy L. Stevens, Courtesy of ABIA

Birthday Party on Friday at Austin-Bergstrom Int’l Airport

Events, Free Stuff

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(Photo courtesy Sandy L. Stevens, ABIA)

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport turns 10 years old on Friday, May 22 (2009) and they’re having a party to celebrate with birthday cake, live music and free ticket giveaways.    The party continues on Saturday with discounts for everyone in all the airport shops and restaurants.

Here’s what’s on tap:

On Friday at 10:10 a.m., the Del Valle Elementary choir will sing “Happy Birthday” on the Asleep at the Wheel stage, birthday cake will be served to passengers, and Southwest Airlines will give on lucky passenger some round-trip tickets.

Other airlines will give away round-trip tickets at 10 minutes past the hour at various intervals throughout the day.  And Grammy award winner Rick Trevino will perform live from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at “Ray Benson’s Roadhouse.”

On Saturday, May 23, all the concessions in the terminal, including food, beverage and retail, are discounting purchases by 10%.

Have fun and Happy Birthday!

Solar powered airports? Yup!

Energy, Environment, , , , ,

Earth Hour, Earth Day and Earth Month may be over for this year, but the trend to go green is becoming a year-round thing at many airports.   Rare is the terminals that doesn’t at least have recycling bins these days.  And now many airports are embracing solar power and wind power.

My recent column in USAToday.com has a round-up of aiports generating some of their own juice.  Included: Denver International Airport, Fresno Yosemite International Airport, Oakland International Airport, Austin-Bergstrom Interrnational Airport, Long Beach Airport, Boston Logan International Airport and several others.

Here’s a link to the story: Solar Airports? It could happen.

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7 acres of solar panels field at Denver International Airport

Panini or weenie at Austin Bergstrom International Airport?

Food

The Highland Lakes Bar at Austin Bergstrom International Airport is now the Ray Benson Roadhouse with the Asleep at the Wheel Stage.  Airport concert organizer Nancy Coplin says “It looks great and will be a really fun place to hang out when you’re in the airport.”

Here’s a photo of NELO testing it out:

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The official grand opening is April 9th and in addition to the great music, the roadhouse will be serving Salt Lick tacos, weenies, and panini sandwiches.

(Photo by Sandy L. Stevens, courtesy of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport)

SXSW and live music at Austin airport

Festivals, Music,

Going to Austin for SXSW?

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The fun – and free stuff – starts at the airport.  Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has three live-music venues (all post-security) that together offer up at least seven free concerts each week.

And since Austin is chock-full of top-notch musicians and the concert organizer, Nancy Coplin, is plugged into the scene,  it’s a fair bet that you’ll hear great music anytime you pass through.

SXSW-season is no exception.  In fact, the entertainment gets notched up around this time.  So leave time to hang out at the airport.

Here’s the schedule for the year-round Music in the Air program:

Highland Lakes Bar – 3:30-5:30 p.m., Mondays thru Fridays

Lefty’s Bar & Grille on 6th Street – 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., Wednesdays & Thursdays

Earl Campbell’s Sports Bar – 3:30-5:30 p.m., Wednesdays thru Fridays

Waterloo Records/Austin City Limits – 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., Fridays

And here’s a link to the March line-up of airport concerts.

Here’s the special SXSW schedule.

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Wish I was there.

Airports offer sweet treats for Valentine’s Day

Food, Holidays, Kids, , , , , , , , , , , ,

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This month, my “At the Airport” column in USAToday.com is all about Valentine’s Day specials at the nation’s airport.  Here’s a link to the column and, below, some highlights.

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Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, so frequent travelers have a good chance of working out those plans to touch down in the same town as their sweeties. And while just showing up may get you a few extra points, arriving empty-handed just won’t cut it. Even if you have flown through three zones just to be there.

Romantic road warriors needn’t worry about making an extra stop at the mall. Many airports and airport shops around the country are rolling out love-themed art exhibits, giveaways, and special deals on romantic gifts you can grab-n-go in a heartbeat.

Hearts and art

To set the mood, a new exhibit titled Sweetheart Town – Loveland, Colorado at Denver International Airport is filled with items on loan from the Loveland Museum/Gallery, including Victorian-era valentines, historical photographs, memorabilia and new work by Loveland-area artists. Address one of the free exhibit-themed valentine postcards to your sweetie and the airport will take it to Loveland, 60 miles away, so it can be canceled with the town’s sweetheart postmark and then mailed for free. The exhibit is located pre-security in the walkway between the Jeppesen Terminal and the A gates.

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At Miami International Airport, the newly renovated mia Central Gallery (Concourse E, second level, post-security) is home to a 120-foot-long art installation that uses 10,500 brightly-colored silk flowers to spell out the words “All we need is love, love” in six-foot-tall letters. The oversized artwork is by Miami architect/artist team Rosario Marquardt and Roberto Behar, who call themselves R&R Studios. “People walking by start singing that Beatles song All You Need Is Love all the time,” says Yolanda Sanchez, the airport’s director of Fine Arts and Cultural Affairs. “So the artwork makes its own soundtrack.”

Sweets for you and your sweetie

On Feb. 13 and 14, the Food & Shops in the Central Terminal at LaGuardia Airport in New York will be distributing free chocolate kisses to all travelers. And through Monday, Feb. 16, the shops in the Central Terminal will be offering special prices on gifts displayed on tables marked “Gifts for Your Sweetie.”

On Valentine’s Day, folks from Boingo, the new Wi-Fi provider at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, will be handing out free one-hour service cards to 100 travelers on their way into the terminal from the parking area. (Think e-valentines.) And on Feb. 13, 14 and 15, local favorite Amy’s Ice Cream will be setting up a temporary shop in the baggage claim area so travelers can grab their luggage and some chocolate-covered strawberries on their way home.

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At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the Brighton stores in Terminal 4 will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with balloons and free cookies. The Paradise Bakery, which has locations in all three terminals, is baking up small and large heart-shaped cookies for sale. The large cookies weigh in at 30 ounces and need to be ordered at least two hours in advance (602-681-0909). Fresh Gourmet to Go, located in Sky Harbor’s Rental Car Center, will be stocking fresh long-stem roses and chocolates “for travelers coming to Phoenix to surprise their Valentines!”

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More sweets – and some relaxation

The Natalie’s Candy Bar shops at San Antonio International Airport, Indianapolis International Airport, and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport will be giving a free quarter-pound of red and white Gummi bears to all women who make purchases at a Natalie’s shop on Valentine’s Day.

At the AIRMALL at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Zona Mexicana is featuring Love Potion Margaritas until Feb. 14, and anyone who shows up with a heart-shaped anything (including a drawing of a heart on a piece of paper) will get a 10% discount on services at Destination Relax.

Finally, though Feb. 15, T.G.I. Friday’s, which has 18 airport branches (including 6 at DFW) is offering members of its Give Me More Stripes guest recognition program free Spiced Up Cupcakes with a side of ice cream when they purchase two entrees. Guests who visit Friday’s on Valentine’s Day will also receive a coupon for $5 off when they spend $15. (Coupons are redeemable between Feb. 15 and March 1. Joining the guest recognition program is free.)

For the complete article, see Airports Sweeten the Deal for Valentine’s Day here.