Style Matters
Fly over to Birds for a rockin’ cut in a cool space
Austin American-Statesman (subscription), TX
South Austin has a new rock ‘n’ roll barbershop. Birds Barbershop was conceived by owners Michael Portman and Jayson Rapaport, childhood friends from Laredo, as an affordable alternative to salons and a local alternative to chains. The name Birds, slang for females, was chosen to offset the masculine connotations of a barbershop. It caters to both genders, takes no appointments and cranks up the music. The shop’s interior was designed by “The Real World: Austin” house designer Joel Mozersky
The highlight is the 40-foot screen-printed mural created by Door Number 3 Art Director Bryan Keplesky and installed by Sleepy Giant, aka Satch Grimley and Jaime Cervantes. Prices start at $15 for a buzz or mohawk, $19 for a short cut, $25 and up for a “Rock Star” layered cut, and $12 for kids younger than 12. Shampoos cost $5 and coloring starts at $50. The “Lady Bird” special for women includes a shampoo, cut and blowout for $39. Birds is at 2110 S. Lamar Blvd. Open seven days a week. Visit www.birdsbarbershop.com or call 442-8800 for more information.
Jewelry designer gets cover exposure
Susan Domelsmith, designer of Dirty Librarian Chains, a jewelry line known for seemingly haphazard jumbles of vintage chains and pendants, left Austin for New York this year, and her star is rising fast. One of her necklaces was modeled on the June/July cover of Teen Vogue by Lauren Conrad, star of “Laguna Beach” and “The Hills.” Factory People, where Domelsmith used to work as a buyer, remains the exclusive retailer of Dirty Librarian Chains in Austin. Prices are $24-$210. The Renew necklace, which has an iridescent shell pendant, is $170. Factory People is at 1325 S. Congress Ave.
A box with benefits
Do you need a spot to stash your pink breast cancer awareness pin? Pier 1 Imports, for the second year in a row, is offering the Komen Jewelry Box. The soft pink, raw silk box is adorned with Capiz shell buttons and a glass bead tassel clasp. The two-level jewelry box retails for $30, and Pier 1 will donate 25 percent of the purchase price to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Give from your heart at El Corazón
Cacti, like Austinites, thrive in the heat. The boutiques of El Corazón present their First Annual Cactus and Succulent Show from noon to 8 p.m Saturday. A large selection of plants from the Southwest and beyond, as well as paintings, pottery, clothing and photography inspired by cacti, will be featured. The shops will also serve Mexican food and drinks. Suggested donations and proceeds from the concessions will benefit the Sims Foundation, a nonprofit organization for the mental health and welfare of Austin’s musicians. El Corazón is at 2209 S. First St. For more information, contact Happiness boutique at 440-8600.
Have a major fixer-upper? Talk to TV show
This TV season, the experts at “Ask This Old House” are making house calls in Las Vegas, San Francisco, Sacramento, Denver and Boston, plus one mystery location in September. Austin could be the mystery location, provided residents from this area submit the best questions to the “This Old House” Web site at www.thisoldhouse.com. The city with the “most compelling home maintenance problems” will be selected as the sixth location visited by the “Ask This Old House” crew. Entries must be submitted no later than June 30.
jscheidnes@statesman.com; 445-3974; mspencer@statesman.com; 912-2519
