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Spotlight on: Victory Grill
The history of the Victory Grill is as colorful and rich as the blues music that has reverberated through the East Austin establishment since the mid 1940's.
Johnny Holmes first opened the Victory in 1945 as a place of refuge for soldiers returning from the war. At the quaint spot at 1104 East Eleventh St., black and white soldiers mingled freely, without the fear of discrimination. Soon the joint was hopping every weekend.
B.B. King's career began at the Victory Gill, as did Austin favorite W.C. Clark's. "The first time I put on a guitar and played in public as a professional was right here," says Clark. Musical legends Ike & Tina Turner, James Brown, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Chuck Berry and even Janice Joplin graced the stage.
As Austin's oldest existing blues club, the Victory Grill is recognized as an "original chitlin circuit" juke joint and listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, archived by the Texas Historic Commission, and named as a Texas Treasure by Preservation Texas.
The Victory Grill still serves as a live music venue with regularly scheduled performances Wednesday evenings. It also accommodates approximately 150 guests for special events. A cafe adjacent to music venue is slated to open summer 2006. Contact Eva Lindsey at 512-391-0174 for booking information.
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Top 10 American Cities to be a MovieMaker
MovieMaker
(Winter 2006)
"In the six years we've been ranking the best places to be an indie moviemaker, the city has cracked the top five every year without breaking a sweat. But unlike what you may hear about those laidback Texans, popularity has not bred complacency with these folks. Each year, the Austin Film Commission manages to outdo itself in bringing exciting new programs and initiatives to the city, from the smallest to the biggest."
No Limits in Austin
Continental
(January 2006)
"Surprisingly, despite all the late-night revelry and belly-bustin' barbeque, Austin is actually a town full of health nuts who love to run hard, literally. As such, the Texas capital has one of the most pristine urban running trails in the country. The Town Lake Trail should hold a high slot on any visitor's to-do list. Lucky for you, it's right downtown."
Lone Star Jewel
House Beautiful
(January 2006)
"The yellow T-shirt said it all: 'Keep Austin Weird.' Worn by a woman in downtown Austin last summer, it speaks volumes about how far the city, formerly Quirk Central for Texas, has come."
"So don't worry, yellow T-shirt lady: Austin's still weird, and it's still wonderful."
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