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The Hole in the Wall’s sign summons Austin residents and visitors to this iconic watering hole
Like a perfectly worn-in pair of cowboy boots, slipping into a classic dive bar to down a cold one provides true comfort. The Hole in the Wall is as divey as they come. I’m grinning from ear to ear as I order my tequila. [Read more…]
Austin has a number of karaoke bars to choose from (Credit: Dimitry Rostovtsev via Flickr CC)
For some people, karaoke is a time to sit back and marvel at (or laugh along with) vocally talented friends. For others, it’s a dream scenario come to life to hold a mic and squeeze every note out of a favorite song. Austin has a happenin’ karaoke scene. Even better, the community of karaoke-ers is usually very welcoming, no matter whether you sound like Adele or Tom Waits with a cold.
Karaoke is a perfect outlet to shake off stress built up during the week. Here are a few of Austin’s favorite spots to let loose with a microphone. [Read more…]
Credit: Austin Busker Project
Guest article by Jesselyn Parks
For those who find themselves on Austin’s famous Sixth Street on a weekend night, the sights and sounds of the city’s bustling nightlife radiate out in a familiar song. Cars and bikes zip through the streets, deep bass diffuses from lines of packed bars and, of course, a bucket drummer or two pulses rhythm into the supercharged atmosphere of “Dirty” or “West.”
However, when performers venture out to Austin’s streets, armed with their instrument, guitar case or bucket, many fear an encounter with police. Navigating the gray area of Austin’s city ordinances is tough, these buskers say, and many live in legal limbo. Unclear if they are operating under their First Amendment rights or simply waiting to be run off, street performers in Austin are forced to navigate swift waters. Even worse, according to buskers, the city is equally unsure of the law and benefits from keeping it that way. [Read more…]
There are three sections of Sixth Street in Austin: West, East and what locals refer to as Dirty. For locals, Dirty Sixth runs from Congress to I-35 even though technically, and according to street signs, East Sixth starts at Congress Avenue and runs east. But when you hear locals talk about East Sixth, we are referencing anything east of I-35. Don’t get confused by the street signs; you’ll be talking like a local in no time.
West Sixth is the section of Sixth Street that runs west from Congress Avenue. For the most part, the nightlife scene ends at North Lamar Boulevard, but for this article I’ll take us all the way to MoPac as there are several notable bars and restaurants in the extended stretch of West Sixth.
While you’ll find your fair share of bars here–no surprise for Sixth Street–West Sixth is much more diverse when it comes to local Austin businesses. This list highlights the cream of the crop. [Read more…]
Restored wood outlines the walls of Grizzly Hall, creating the same rustic vibe as co-owned Buzz Mill
(Credit: Dave Creaney)
The Buzz Mill on East Riverside has been serving caffeine and booze for the past three years, enticing customers with its lumberjack decor, live music, a spacious outdoor patio space and delicious in-house eats. I particularly enjoy grabbing a brunch plate of chicken and waffles paired with grapefruit mimosas and a large group of friends.
Now, the crew behind The Buzz Mill is expanding operations with Grizzly Hall, their debut music and event venue. Showcasing music and comedy shows, art exhibitions, film events, and beyond, the space is poised to become a popular nightlife option.
[Read more…]
Welcome to the world famous Broken Spoke (Credit: Christopher Rose via Flickr CC)
The Broken Spoke isn’t just a venue. It’s a symbol of Texan defiance. You won’t take the Alamo without a fight and The Broken Spoke will never change. Even as South Lamar explodes skyward with apartment complexes and hotels, one of the most famous dancehalls in Texas remains intact. A genuine relic of Lone Star uniqueness.
In the course of a four-hour visit, I not only got a chance to breathe in everything this storied establishment has to offer, but I learned why it has endured over 50 years. Underneath the weathered bar neon and aging exterior lies a musical history and sense of family that are unlike anything else Austin has to offer. [Read more…]
Guest article by Alicia Santiago
No, that’s not a misspelling or auto-correct inaccuracy. BYOV stands for Bring Your Own Vinyl. While this unique night has a long-standing presence at a couple of well-known local bars, BYOV nights are showing up in other venues across Austin.
Guest article by Laurie Engle
Not having grown up in Texas, one of the things I enjoyed most when I first moved to Austin was listening to live music and watching all the cute couples on the dance floor, having a blast two-stepping. At first, I didn’t know what type of dancing I was looking at, but I quickly decided I wanted to twirl around in a southern gentlemen’s arms wearing a sundress and boots.
You may have a secret desire to get out there yourself, but you’re concerned about not knowing what the heck you’re doing. No worries, I’m going to share with you where to take your two left feet for an awesome class with some of the best teachers in Austin. Our city has no shortage of amazing and truly historic joints to head to when you want to show off your new skills.
Here are three of my favorites. [Read more…]
The new Antone’s blends beautifully into the new Austin scene (Credit: Marco Figueroa)
Unlike every other good thing discovered in Austin, I first learned about Antone’s in Mopac traffic. I was crawling north towards Route 183 when a ’70s-era van edged in front of me. On its back were hundreds of stickers. Stubb’s. Saxon Pub. Austin Beerworks. As a recently re-located East Coaster, I was still learning the language. But one of them stuck out: Antone’s. With a personal name and classic-looking logo, it looked like my kind of place.
From there, Antone’s was a folktale. Everywhere I looked, I saw references to a legendary blues venue closed only months earlier. Whispery rumors through faded bumper stickers and the weathered remnants of show posters pasted to bar bathroom walls. Whenever I mentioned it to locals, most would sigh and say, “I miss that place.” [Read more…]
Dirty Sixth Street (Credit: Ian Aberle via Flickr CC)
Whether you love it or loath it, Sixth Street is one of the most iconic streets in Austin. It’s the epicenter of what made Austin the “Live Music Capital of the World.”
There are three sections of Sixth Street in Austin: West, East and what locals refer to as Dirty. West Sixth is the section of Sixth Street that runs west from Congress Avenue. For the most part, the nightlife scene ends at North Lamar Boulevard.
Technically, and according to street signs, East Sixth starts at Congress Avenue and runs east, but that’s not what you’ll hear from locals. We refer to the section of Sixth Street that stretches from Congress Avenue to I-35 as Dirty Sixth. Then East Sixth is anything east of I-35. Don’t get confused by the street signs; you’ll be talking like a local in no time.
There are actually quite a few wonderful businesses on Dirty Sixth that aren’t as “dirty” as you might imagine.
Looking for late night eats in Austin? Check out – 20 Restaurants Open Late in Austin!
And for the best places to eat at on sixth street & other downtown areas check out our – 10 Best Restaurants in Downtown Austin!