We met at one of his current favorite spots in Austin, LoLo Wine Bar in East Austin, where our conversation carried into the evening as the light shifted. He’s been here since 2018 and reflected on how the city has changed, and how it’s shaped him along the way.

The first in a series of conversations.

**Dereion Toussaint Lolo Wine Bar Austin, TX 2026**

Blackness feels curated

“I feel like Black experiences in Austin feels curated.”
“I’m trying to find my Blackness wherever I can find it… it feels like a game of cat and mouse.”

Out of My Comfort Zone

"Austin got me out of my comfort zone. And I'm like, I love the outdoors. I was so excited to move to this area… being from Southern Texas, you do not get in the water. And so coming here, and I'm like, there's clear water you can get into, and then there's, like, hiking trails, and I can be outside, and I'm not like getting ate up by mosquitoes. So it was just like a complete change to where I'm from."

Where You Find Your People

“Do the things you enjoy, and the right people show up. Keep going to the spots you like — eventually, you’ll see familiar faces. Places that interest you, that’s where you find your people.”