Be a Longhorn.

Today we went by the Blanton Museum of art to enjoy one of Austin’s most grand art pieces, Austin by Ellsworth Kelly. The piece is a testament to the life of a great American artist, his final piece, and his crowning jewel. 

Calling all pizza connoisseurs: Your pizza adventures start here! We stopped by Home Slice Pizza on this lovely day in Austin to grab a bite for lunch. Home Slice is a popular pizza joint that has been up and running since 2005, known and recognized for its authentic NY-style pizza.

Hula Hut is an Austin original with a menu of Mexonesian cuisine that includes coconut-fried shrimp, Hawaiian fajitas and their signature mango-poblano quesadillas. The corn and flour tortillas are hand-made right before your eyes, and the dining experience is made perfect by their lakeside patio views.

Don’t forget that your UT ID lets you ride Austin’s Capital Metro buses for free. Use their online Trip Planner to find a quick and easy route to the shores of Lake Austin.

The Harry Ransom Center is The University of Texas at Austin’s on-campus humanities research library and museum. Home to a Gutenberg Bible, Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s personal library and the first ever photograph, the HRC is both the site of scholarly work and host to museum shows that are free and open to the public. 

Exhibits change roughly every six months, but the Gutenberg Bible and the first photograph taken are permanently displayed in the lobby. Tours are available every Tuesday at 12 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. An exhibition on the history of vaudeville in America will be open through July 15.

For more information about the Harry Ransom Center, visit their website or stop by while you’re visiting campus!

Hook ‘em,

You’ve heard about Bevo, but do you know about UT Austin’s feathered friend?

“Tower Girl” is a peregrine falcon who has made her home in a nest box at the top of the Tower. Most peregrine falcons migrate, but Tower Girl lives in Austin year-round, spending time at both the Tower and in the downtown area.

When the fast pace of city life becomes overwhelming, it’s great to escape to one of Austin’s many green spaces. Today we got lost in the summer bloom of UT Austin’s Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

A mix of gardens and managed natural areas and wildlands, the center was co-founded by First Lady Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson in 1982 to conserve native plants, create sustainable landscapes and conserve resources. Guests can pursue research, visit educational exhibits, explore walking trails, enjoy picnics and take in Texas’ natural beauty in this 284-acre garden and arboretum.

Starting college is exciting, but it can also make it easy to forget to stay active and healthy. Luckily, Recreational Sports (RecSports for short), which offers intramural sports and fitness classes, is here to provide you with tons of fun exercise opportunities. In the heart of campus is Gregory Gym, and it has everything you need to stay fit: cardio equipment, a weight training room, a lap and leisure pool, a cycling studio, a rock wall, and group exercise classes. Not too far away is the Recreational Sports Center, which has most of the same great amenities and — pro tip — is often less crowded!

It is all here: the story of our time with the bark off... This library will show the facts, not just the joy and triumphs, but the sorrow and failures, too. — President Lyndon Baines Johnson at the dedication of the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum, May 22, 1971

The LBJ Presidential Library and Museum is a 10-story building located on a 30-acre site at The University of Texas at Austin. It houses several permanent exhibits, including the late president’s black stretch limousine, a life-sized animatronic LBJ and a 7/8th replica of LBJ’s Oval Office that includes his personal desk, telephone and the televisions he used during his White House years. Throughout each exhibit, there are telephones stationed in the rooms that contain about 643 hours of his recorded telephone conversations.

Upon entrance to the main floor, you can see “The Great Hall,” a four-story glass wall that encases more than 45 million pages of documents in red and gold binders. These documents are known as the LBJ Library Archives.

As a student, you can explore LBJ’s life and presidency for free — just show your UT ID card! The library is located behind the Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium and Bass Concert Hall, just a short walk from most places on campus.

Summer fun also means summer foods!

Today we cooled off with snow cones at Austin favorite Sno-Beach. Established in 1993, Sno-Beach was one of the city’s first food trucks and over the years has expanded their menu to more than 60 flavors, including some sugar-free options. Whether you’re a Bahama Mama kind of person or you want to get your hands on some sweet Dulce de Leche covered in cream, Sno-Beach won’t disappoint. Located just north of the UT Austin campus on Guadalupe, you can bike or use your ID to hop on a city bus and get there in no time.

Summer is here, and it’s as hot as ever! Luckily, there’s a perfect place to beat the heat in the middle of Austin: Lady Bird Lake. Also known as Town Lake (and technically a part of the Colorado River), this beautiful body of water has been calling us lately, so we had to go.

Since we didn’t have a bunch of paddleboards lying around, we visited the Texas Rowing Center, where you can rent canoes, paddleboards and kayaks without worrying about making a reservation! A couple of cool facts about the Texas Rowing Center: It’s the most popular rowing and paddling center in the state of Texas, and it’s the official home of the UT Austin rowing teams and Texas CREW, the university’s rowing club.

Hook ’em! 

If you want to study what goes bump in the night, we’ve got you covered.

1. R S 357 | Satan and the Idea of Evil | Elon Lang | Department of Religious Studies

The Devil—inspiring death metal tributes and making little girls projectile vomit since the dawn of time (or at least 1973). This class explores characters and questions inspired by mankind’s original adversary.

2. E 314L | Cult Classics | Alejandro Omidsalar | Department of English

American pop culture is riddled with tales of murder and gore. This course looks at stories of crime and warped minds, and why we can't get enough of them.

3. RTF 370 | Asian Horror Film | Lalitha Gopalan | Department of Radio-Television-Film

Some of the most brilliant and terrifying imagery to grace the silver screen—and then your nightmares—has come from Asia. This course questions how cultural style can shape the way we view a genre.

4. E 349S | Edgar Allan Poe | Coleman Hutchison | Department of English

You may have dabbled in Poe’s works in high school, but now’s your chance to dive deep. Study this legendary American author whose poetry, fiction and other works paved the way for modern horror and science fiction.

5. RHE 309K | Rhetoric of Evil | Zachary Sharp | Department of Rhetoric & Writing

What defines evil? This class looks at so-called devilish deeds and the motivations behind them, examining a range of works from philosophical texts to Hollywood blockbusters.

6. RTF 369 | Advanced Screenwriting: Sci-Fi/Horror | Beau Thorne | Department of Radio-Television-Film

Have an insanely twisted idea for a movie? In this writing workshop, you’ll have the chance to scare the pants off your classmates. But be warned—their ideas could be even freakier than yours.

7. E 350R | Vampires and Dandies | Elizabeth Richmond-Garza | Department of English

1. Start now.

A great essay is not a one-day project, so start early. Write a first draft, then revisit it after a few days to tweak and refine your ideas. Plan time to go over your essay with a teacher or friend with A++ writing skills to get their thoughts. And a final proofreading session is a must!

2. Don’t repeat your résumé.

The admissions committee will see your grades, activities and test scores elsewhere on your application. The essay is about showing them who you are--how you see the world, what you value or what motivates you. So...

3. Talk about what excites you.

Your writing doesn’t have to be academic. You could write about the 17 times you’ve auditioned for Master Chef, and how much better you are now at making a grilled cheese under pressure. What better way to show you’re persistent when you have a goal? Writing about something you’re passionate about will make your essay fun to read and demonstrate the enthusiasm you’ll bring to the university.

4. Show off your writing skills.

Admissions officers will be looking for more than just who you are--the way you tell them about yourself is equally important. Use the techniques you’ve learned over the years (have a clear thesis, use active verbs, etc.), but feel free to play around with structure and tone. This isn’t an SAT essay! It’s your chance to...

5. Tell a good story.

Use specific details to bring the reader into a scene that challenged or inspired you. Is it your dream to open a sanctuary for wounded ocelots? Tell the story of the animal encounter that incited that goal. Then expand into the broader context of the prompt you’re addressing.

6. Authenticity is key.