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Before the over abundance of Video on Demand, video stores were almost the only way to find most movies. Having vastly more of a selection than movie theaters, you could always discover older movies you had never heard of, or find goofy-awesome looking movies made for video.
Across the country, video rental is a dying business. But Austin loves its movie rental stores and these local businesses remain strong here. [Read more…]
Visitors flood to MedFest to enjoy food, live entertainment and Mediterranean culture (Credit: Emily Poole)
There’s nothing like Austin’s MedFest. Since this Mediterranean celebration has nearly made it to its 82nd year, it’s fair to assume a lot of Austinites feel the same way.
This year’s festival is scheduled for September 26-27, 2014. As always, it will be hosted by St. Elias Orthodox Church on 11th Street between Red River and Trinity. A little bit of trivia for you: MedFest was originally founded in the 1930’s to raise funds to build St. Elias. The church’s cornerstone was laid in 1934, but MedFest was too much fun to end. Generations of devoted volunteers have allowed this event to become the oldest continuously running festival in Central Texas.
Want to know why MedFest has proved so popular? It’s all about old world tastes and sounds that hold a foreign feeling of excitement. Here’s what you’ll find at MedFest 2014… [Read more…]
Wild Child
Guest article by Gina Sigillito
In the last year alone, the Austin natives of Wild Child have taken this city, and the rest of the world, by storm. They have graced the stage at ACL Live, had their songs “Crazy Bird” and “The Runaround” featured on NPR’s World Café, had their video featured on MTV Hive, and received glowing reviews in Pop Matters and Paste Magazine.
Most impressively, they gained a nationwide audience when they became the featured artists on CBS This Morning and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (Craig even wore the warpaint that has become the band’s signature).
Despite their overwhelming success [Read more…]
FFX Poster by Geof Darrow
September is an exciting month in Austin. The weather starts to cool down, it’s about time to get ready for Halloween, and Fantastic Fest happens.
Running September 18-22, 2014, Fantastic Fest is an annual film festival programmed by the people at Alamo Drafthouse who specialize in science fiction and horror genre films. The event typically brings big movie stars and film premieres to our fair city, and this year looks like it’ll be no exception.
There are a lot of special things happening at this year’s Fantastic Fest. In its tenth year, it’s the first festival to take place at the newly reopened South Lamar Drafthouse. South Lamar and then Highball had hosted Fantastic Fest every year, except for last year when it was held at the most northern location in Lakeline. This year, Fantastic Fest is back where it belongs (even if it’ll still be surrounded by construction).
Having been born here, it’s amazing to watch Austin get bigger around me. I genuinely believe Alamo Drafthouse and Fantastic Fest are partly responsible for that. I’ve talked to multiple people who all say, “I moved to Austin because of Alamo Drafthouse.” Fantastic Fest also brings many celebrities, movie stars and famous directors to Austin, exposing them to the opportunities here. [Read more…]
Austin Redskins fans (Auskins) take over Black Sheep Lodge every game day
Football season again. It may be easy for Longhorns, Texans and Cowboys fans to find a place to watch the big game in Austin, but what about those who aren’t believers? Where can they find like-minded fans to whoop and holler with? Though I may be stoned for it, I have a few suggestions. [Read more…]
Get a taste of the past at Blue Starlite (Credit: Cameron Bergeron)
Guest article by Lisa Taylor
Theaters have come a long way since I was a child. We have so many options open to us these days that it really just depends on what you want your movie watching experience to be.
Do you prefer things to fly out from the screen at you, while you’re wearing funky glasses and screaming in terror? If so, the 3D experience may be the way to go. If you’d rather “feel” the movie, then a trip to the Interactive Theater, replete with moving seats and blasts of air into your face may be more up your alley. Is full bar service brought straight to your recliner more your style? You can get that at a few places around town as well.
But we also have another movie watching choice in Austin. To experience it, we have to jump into our way back machines and head out to Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In. [Read more…]
Vintage First Thursday (Credit: David Ingram via Flickr CC)
I’m always excited to find our city supporting local artists, like you’ll find at 23rd Street Artists Market. It’s even cooler when it’s a whole neighborhood affair.
For several years now, businesses of all sizes have been congregating on South Congress Ave. for a monthly event called First Thursday. You can probably guess when this event takes place. Yes, the first Thursday of every month.
It is a neighborhood affair. The businesses up and down South Congress stay open late, many until about 10 PM. The bars in the area are known to offer drink specials for the monthly gathering, and parking areas and lot spaces are opened for artists to set up tents and sell their wares. [Read more…]
Ivy-covered facade at Hotel San Jose (Credit: Bunkhouse Group)
You may be familiar with Hotel San Jose, or its big red Jeep parked out front, or the famous Jo’s coffee shop which sits in the hotel’s parking lot. But did you know you can listen to live music at the San Jose? Did you know you can have your tarot cards read at the San Jose? And most importantly, did you know you don’t have to be a guest to enjoy these events or to simply hang out in the lounge and bar area? Yes, you read that right. One of the best kept secrets in Austin is [Read more…]
The light displays are always brilliant (Credit: John Reese via Flickr CC)
The Trail of Lights Foundation announced on Friday that they’ll be charging an entrance fee in 2014. Before you have a conniption, take a breath and consider the important facts: [Read more…]
Weston McGowen of Roadhouse Management
Guest article by Gina Sigillito
When Weston McGowen moved to Austin in 2009 from his hometown of Alexandria, Louisiana, he knew he wanted to work in the music business. As he recalls, “When I moved to Austin, I wasn’t really sure which facet of the industry I wanted to get a feel for, so I just started going to shows and talking to bands, and I began to understand the Austin music scene and what kind of support artists here were seeking.”
Little did Weston know that in five years, he would be running one of the top music management companies in town. Roadhouse Management has grown into a full-service company with an impressive roster of local and international clients, from the wildly popular local hard rock groups, Scorpion Child and The Well, to Orchid from San Francisco and Blue Pills from Orebro, Sweden. [Read more…]