Films Filmed in TX - Part 1: AUSTIN

Films shot in ATX:

1) Dazed and Confused - IMDB >>

Matthew McConaughey   Photo Credit >>

The adventures of incoming high school and junior high students on the last day of school, in May of 1976.  imdb >>

Stars:

Jason London, Rory Cochrane, Wiley Wiggins | See full cast and crew






Toney Burger - Sunset Valley (Football stadium near end of film)

Bedichek MS - (Robert E Lee HS)

Top Notch Restaurant - 7525 Burnet Rd Austin, TX (Hamburger Place)

West Enfield Park in ATX - (Party Scene)
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2) Kill Bill Volume I - IMDB >> Uma Thurman      Photo Credit >> The Bride wakens from a four-year coma. The child she carried in her womb is gone. Now she must wreak vengeance on the team of assassins who betrayed her - a team she was once part of. Stars: Uma Thurman, Daryl Hannah, David Carradine |See full cast and crew ________________________________________________________________________________ 3) Office Space - IMDB >> Comedic tale of company workers who hate their jobs and decide to rebel against their greedy boss. Stars:  Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, David Herman |See full cast and crew Initech Building - 4120 Freidrich Lane - (exterior shots) Alligator Grille on South Lamar - (Chotchkie's) Other Locations >> __________________________________________________________________________________ 4) Spy Kids - IMDb >> The children of secret-agent parents must save them from danger. Stars: Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alexa Vega | See full cast and crew ________________________________________________________________________________ 5) Hope Floats - IMDb >> Sandra Bullock & Harry Connick,Jr. Birdee Calvert must choose between her morals and her heart after her husband divorces her and a charming young man, who her daughter disapproves of, comes back into her life. Stars: Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick Jr., Gena Rowlands |See full cast and crew 200 Main Street - (Snappy Snaps) Former Honey's Diner - (Diner) Smithville Elementary - (School) Huebel's Bier Garden - (Bar) 201 E. Eighth St - (Birdee's Mom's House) Watterson Hall - (Cherry Hill Dance Hall) ___________________________________________________________________________________ 6) Varsity Blues - IMDb >> In small-town Texas, high school football is a religion. The head coach is deified, as long as the team is winning and 17-year-old schoolboys carry the hopes of an entire community onto the... See full summary » Stars: James Van Der Beek, Jon Voight, Paul Walker | See full cast and crew The Landing Strip - (Strip Club) N Main Street - Elgin's Square - (West Canaan Town Ctr) Georgetown HS Stadium - (Eagle Stadium) Top Notch - (Drive-in) ____________________________________________________________________________________ Most Popular: 1. Lonesome Dove (1989) 2. Sin City (2005) 3. Spy Kids (2001), (2002), (2003), and (2011) 4. Wire in the Blood (2002) 5. Kill Bill, Vol. 1 (2003) 6. Route 66 (1960) 7. Office Space (1999) 8. Mortal Kombat (1995) 9. Miss Congeniality (2000) 10. Grindhouse (2007) 11. Blood Simple (1984) 12. 25th Hour (2002) 13. True Grit (2010) 14. Murderball (2005) 15. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993) 16. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982) 17. Friday the 13th (2009) 18. Dazed and Confused (1993) 19. Boys Don’t Cry (1999) 20. Hope Floats (1998) 21. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), (2003), and (2006)22. American Outlaws (2001)23. Lolita (1997) 24. Friday Night Lights (2004) 25. The Rookie (2002) 26. Where the Heart is (2000) 27. The Whole Wide World (1996) 28. Honeysuckle Rose (1980) 29. Outlaw Blues (1977) 30. Heartbreak Hotel (1988) 31. Varsity Blues (1999)32. The Newton Boys (1998) 33. Michael (1996) 34. Courage Under Fire (1996) 35. Home Fries (1998) _________________________________________________________________________________ Some of the Others - Alphabetical Order A The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D B Bandslam Beneath the Darkness C Casey Jones (film) Cherry Bomb (film) Computer Chess (film) D D.O.A. (1988 film) Dazed and Confused (film) Death Proof F The Faculty Fast Food Nation (film) H The Happy Poet Heartbreak Hotel (film) The Hunters (2011 film) I Idiocracy K Kill Bill Volume 1 The King (2005 film) M Machete (film) Machete Kills Man of the House (2005 crime comedy film) Mortal Kombat (film) N Nadine (1987 film) The Newton Boys O Office Space Open Windows (film) P Planet Terror Plastic Utopia Q The Quiet R Red Headed Stranger (film) Red, White & Blue (film) The Return (2006 film) S Saturday Morning Mystery A Scanner Darkly (film) Sin City (film) Sin City: A Dame to Kill For Slacker (film) The Soul Collector Spy Kids Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over SubUrbia (film) T Temple Grandin (film) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 U The Underneath (film) Untitled Terrence Malick project W Waking Life The Wendell Baker Story The Whole Shootin' Match

The Franklin Barbecue Experience

What BBQ line do you know that starts at 6:30am on a Saturday morning? If you guessed the unmistakable Franklin BBQ in Austin you correct! We didn't get there at 6:30 in the morning however. We arrived to contribute to the ever growing line at around 8:20 that morning and discovered that once Franklin opened at 11am we would have about an hour wait ahead of us but we were pretty much guaranteed the best BBQ you could find.

Getting closer to the main entrance! 

At around 9 in the morning Franklin BBQ associates would let us know about how long the wait would be and took estimated orders to insure the amount of meat being served would be enough. Sitting on the concrete in the early hours wasn't bad to start because the Texas heat takes a break from causing heat strokes in the mornings. But once 10:01am came around the corner so did the unforgivable Texas heat, but we were fully prepared and brought umbrellas and refreshments because we knew what to expect. Others opted to find additional shelter from the unforgivable Texas sun posted up near parked cars because the line went through and around the parking lot. Now Franklin BBQ doesn't open until 11am and it closes whenever they are completely sold out of products, at this time a sign that no one want to see is displayed in the window. 

Vintage looking signs like this were displayed throughout the restraunt

The associates are efficient and provide the best customer service even before the doors open. A couple of times before the doors opened a associate would walk down the line selling $2 Lone stars and $3 local beers including Shiner beers as well as a variety of different refreshments which were also available for cash purchase.

Shiner Beers shines bright at Franklin

Lone Star Beer was popular with the crowd

During our wait we counted about 5 huge BBQ pits that were parked behind the establishment. Old school country music filled the tin shade top just about an hour before opening that correlated perfectly with the environment of the restaurant. Aaron Franklin himself was spotted sporting our Texas BBQ shirt! We were lucky enough to snag a quick picture of him.

Aaron Franklin sporting the Texas BBQ TWT shirt

4 Tipsy Texans and 1 lb of brisket later we had our fill of Austin's most prided BBQ joint! Whenever
you are in town be sure to stop by Franklin BBQ. If you love barbecue as much as we do we guarantee you wont regret it.

Actors Born in Texas

Actors and Actresses Made in Texas:

Matthew McConaughey - Uvalde, Texas

Jennifer Love Hewitt - Waco, Texas

Forest Whitaker - Longview, Texas

Jennifer Garner - Houston, Texas

Dennis Quaid - Houston, Texas

Jamie Foxx - Terrell, Texas

Alexis Bledel - Houston, Texas

Gary Busey -  Goose Creek, Texas

Tommy Lee Jones - San Saba, Texas

Owen Wilson - Dallas, Texas

Renee Zellweger - Katy, Texas

Larry Hagman- Fort Worth, Texas

Ethan Hawke - Austin, Texas

Selena Gomez - Grand Prairie, Texas

Matt Bomer - Spring, Texas

Eva Longoria - Corpus Christi, Texas

Woody Harrelson - Midland, Texas

Jim Parsons - Houston, Texas

More actors and actresses from the Great state of Texas >>

The Cliftex Experience

The movie theater has long been an American staple. The movies offer an escape from the stresses of everyday life, and during summer they allow one to get away from the hot Texas sun and cool down with an iced soda. The movie theater has evolved as time has passed since they have gotten bigger, more complex, and more expensive. These modern theaters are a great feat of modern engineering, but they also lack much of the character of the theaters from yesteryear.

The Cliftex, located in Clifton, Texas, is the oldest continuously operating movie theater in Texas. Opened to the public in 1916, it offers a throwback to simpler times. The cinema plays a single movie at one time since there is only one screen in the theater. Admission is affordably priced, and five dollars will buy you popcorn and a drink. The interior and exterior of Cliftex reflects its rich, nearly century long history with many original art deco features. Interestingly, Cliftex still embraces the use of intermission in their showings. Before April 2011, 35 mm film was still in use at Cliftex, and therefore intermission was necessary for reel film changes. Although 35 mm film is no longer used today, the tradition of intermission is still maintained.

This charismatic movie theater keeps many Texas and cinematic traditions alive and accessible to the public. Located only about 45 minutes from Waco, it is well worth a trip down to Clifton to get a genuine 20th century small town Texas cinema experience.  

Tasty Tuesdays: Texas Salsa

We are Texans. You know what that means? We love GREAT food and we love salsa! It's true but many times Texans get caught up in the many faces of fried food art. Healthy choices are often compromised for flavor. Here is a super easy recipe that anyone can do and enjoy virtually guilt-free.

Pico de Gallo is super easy and it is where health and satisfaction harmonize.





6 Diced Roma Tomatoes (If you are making a lot)










1/4 diced Red Onion








1  diced Garlic clove







1 diced Full jalapeno








2-3 chopped Chives











1/2 cup of fresh cilantro leaves











1/2 a lime






Salt and Pepper to taste

 Mix and enjoy! If you want to keep the healthy motif going then replace those corn chips with some Beanitos. Gluten free bean chips!

Video Games Texas Edition

Texas is best known for its wide open spaces, unique culture, and amazing food, but what about technology? Texas is obviously technology forward as evidenced by the large number of tech companies that call the Lone Star State home such as Dell, Texas Instruments, and AT&T. What is less talked about in terms of technology in Texas is the entertainment side of technology. Take video games for example, the article “Four Video Games You Might Not Realize were Made in Dallas” from The Dallas Observer might surprise you.

See if you recognize any of these titles that were created thanks to input from Dallas based companies.  

1. Duke Nukem 3D

2. Borderlands

3. Doom

4. Call of Duty: Black Opse

Scenic Sunset Texas Edition

Picture this scenario; you’re by the pool on a beautiful summer’s evening, enjoying good food in the company of your friends, when all of a sudden, a group of 5,000 birds flies overhead. That would be a pretty incredible sight wouldn't it? Well now lets take that and adjust it fit the “everything is bigger in Texas” motto. How about seeing between 750,000 and 1,500,000 bats fly above the Colorado River? Now that’s more like it.

One of Austin’s biggest attractions that you must check out is the bat flight on Congress Avenue. Around sunset between the months of April and October, hundreds of thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue bridge in search of a meal. They are extremely interesting animals that are generally not well understood. For example, we’ve all heard the phrase “blind as a bat”, but believe it or not, bats actually have remarkably good vision.These amazing mammals, and yes they are mammals, not birds, are now a staple of Austin, and by seeing them in action, we can truly appreciate how wonderful they are.

Tasty Tuesdays!

We are so excited to share that we will be doing Tasty Tuesdays for all our readers to learn about various Texas inspired cooking, grilling, and baking recipes. We will be giving a short sneak peek at some of the types of food we will be covering. Be sure to come back every Tuesday to check out some of the recipes we will be revealing for you all! Find the full article in Texas Monthly. If you love Franklin's BBQ in Austin TX then check out the awesome shirt Aaron Franklin is wearing in Parade's Day in the Life Story 
HERE shoptwt.com

SMOKED BRISKET: AARON FRANKLIN ON HOW TO SMOKE THE PERFECT BRISKET

"To cook a worthy brisket at home, Franklin says, “You want an offset smoker—that’s the style with a firebox off to one end.” (If you’re buying your first one, Pitts & Spits, Oklahoma Joe’s, and New Braunfels Smokers are all good manufacturers; count on paying at least $300.) His preferred woods are oak or hickory because “they taste best and burn clean.” Purchase a ten- to twelve-pound brisket—it will feed about a dozen people—that is well-marbled on the interior. Trim the exterior fat to between a fourth and a half an inch and rub the outside generously with kosher salt and coarse black pepper. While the meat is coming to room temperature, put some kindling and paper sprinkled with vegetable oil in the firebox. Once they’re burning steadily, add logs and let the temperature rise to between 225 and 250 degrees (an oven thermometer placed at grate level—very important—works fine). Hoist the brisket onto the grill, with the thicker end toward the fire and the fat cap facing up. Fill a foil loaf pan with water and put it as close as possible to the firebox. Then find a comfortable chair and read War and Peace . During the eight or more hours it will take the meat to cook—allowing 45 to 60 minutes a pound—watch the fire closely. Check the temperature every 20 minutes and adjust the vent, flap, and door to keep the heat even. Replenish the water as needed, do not poke the brisket with a fork, and, Franklin admonishes, “Do not turn it.” When an instant-read thermometer registers 195 to 203 degrees, the brisket is done. It’s best to take it off the heat a little sooner, though, because it will continue to cook. Let it rest for 20 to 30 minutes. Then slice it—fat side up, against the grain—and serve." To read the whole article on juicy brisket - Texas Monthly

Hands On Museum

When you think of a museum, what do you picture? Abstract art? Expensive vases? Glass cases? Generally, the museum has a reputation for being a little bit, shall we say, clinical. Yes, there are great works of art and history located within their walls, but they are presented in such a cold and systematic way that the museum as a whole can sometimes hide the magic lurking within the individual exhibits.

For example, when you walk into most museums, the most important rule always seems to be "Don't touch". But what about if you were able to not only touch, but interact with the displays? That would change things. You might even forget that you are in a museum.

This trick of making the visitor believe that they are not in a museum, but in an interactive event, is what sets the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas apart. From the moment you set eyes on the building from the outside, you know that this is not a traditional museum. You walk in, and you are greeted by a boat with recycled bottles built into its frame, and a lobby that has moving sculptures.

There is a lot to do in the museum, with 3 floors dedicated to general admission exhibits, and a floor below the ground floor dedicated to seasonal exhibits. They are even connected with stairs that play notes when you step on them.

The exhibits vary from space based, to animal based, to engineering based, but something that they all have in common is that you can interact with the majority of the things in the exhibit. Would you like to create your own dinosaur, experience a high intensity earthquake, or fly like a bird? You can do all of that and more. You can even see the world's third largest gold nugget. Now you unfortunately really can't touch that one, but with so many things to explore, you might just need to stop by the excellent cafeteria for some fuel in order to be energized to do everything this place has to offer. Who ever said museums were boring?

QOTD: What do you think distinguishes Texas culture from the rest of the nation?

What do you think distinguishes Texas culture from the rest of the nation?

Texas is best known to successfully blend cultures that root from Southern tradition, Western and Contemporary style, and Mexican food. Could you even ask for much better? We love Texas because of the diversity that is notable around every corner. Texas has it all! Seeing the combination of all different types of styles is what distinguishes Texas from the rest of the nation. From the amazing food, to the constant changes in fashion, to the growing arts district, to the broad music industry, Texas knows how to take many different cultures and combine them to create that authentic Texas flare and that's why we love it!

Just a couple of things to show you what we are talkin' about!

Texas Skylines:

Texas landscape

Austin skyline

Texas Food:

(Every good food in Texas is a finger food)

Texas BBQ

Tex Mex

Let us know what you think... Leave a comment on this blog post or tweet us why you love Texas @TexasCultureHub We would love to hear your thoughts.

Marfa Monday: Marfa's Mysterious Lights

Marfa

It's Monday, that means Marfa facts and attractions are in our midst. Marfa is such a quirky unique town it's almost hard to not to find it completely compelling. Marfa is best know for the mysterious lights that draw in people from around the area and even from around the country. The question is: "What are they?", "Where do they come from?" Many people would think they are just car lights, aircraft lights, possibly ranch lights... Some even speculate they are sprites or another explainable light source. There are tons of different theories that overrun the internet but the lights that add to Marfa's unique thumbprint are truly amazing and add a special attraction to the area. The lights in this town are so important to the people that inhibit the area that they actually have an annual Marfa Lights Festival every September. If you are interested in reading up on this anomaly check out the various theories here.

The mysterious Marfa Lights