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Nickel City is the new bar to meet people and hang out off East 11th Street (Credit: Hunter Townsend)
If there’s one thing that’s certain in Austin, it’s the ever-changing scenery. Condos, hotels, and establishments keep popping up in and around our beloved neighborhoods, and too many Austinites don’t know where to seek refuge anymore. Fear not, locals! Nickel City is the spot where you can walk in, pull up a chair, and drink to your heart’s content.
Patrick Dean and Paul Oveisi, founders of Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden (Credit: Julia Keim)
Coffee and beer have to be the top two beverages Austin survives on. It’s easy to find either–and often both–at cafes and breweries all over the city. The newest member of the coffee-beer-hybrid is Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden off South Congress near Ben White.
Cosmic isn’t an ordinary coffee shop or beer garden, but the culmination of co-founder Paul Oveisi’s passions: live entertainment, sustainability, beer, coffee, and food. I had a chance to sit down with the entrepreneur for a chat about the interesting history behind Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden. This fascinating story is full of surprises. [Read more…]
Get haunted by the Ghost of Mary at Cannon + Belle (Credit: @dollarsaenz)
Whether you want to sip a socially acceptable cocktail with breakfast or nurse a brooding hangover, the Bloody Mary has become the standard go-to. The drink that has been around since approximately 1921 has incredible diversity, and it seems as though just about every restaurant has their own version–with our city being no exception. So whether you’re looking for the classic version, a peacock of garnishes, or something more exotic, here’s our guide to the best Bloody Marys in Austin. [Read more…]
Enjoy a cup of joe, hot or cold, indoors or out, at Vintage Heart Cafe
Vintage Heart Cafe has become many things to me. It’s where I can count on a delicious caffeine boost or find my productive side. On my less focused days, it’s a comfortable place to continue my quest to traverse the Internet’s outer limits. Recently, Vintage House Cafe has become something more to me and the Austin community at-large. It now includes a beautiful outdoor space, food options, and adult beverages.
Celis’ line of beers brings back old school flavors in new, exciting ways (credit: Jason Babos)
Welcome to 2018, craft beer drinkers! 2017 was a fantastic year for the local beer scene. New breweries, expanded offerings, and insane special releases made the year one to remember. As we look forward to another year of hoppy goodness, I asked some of Austin’s finest beer makers to share what we can expect from them in 2018. [Read more…]
It’s no secret Austin has one of the nation’s most vibrant and experimental food scenes. An army of unique food trucks (Wunder Pig Barbecue Co., Granny’s Tacos, Hey Cupcake!); vegan ice cream (Sweet Ritual); and fully dine-able movie theatres (Alamo Drafthouse, Violet Crown) are just a few signature elements.
However, unbeknownst to many, Austin boasts one of the most delectable secret food scenes, as well. Restaurants like Chuy’s, Frigid Frog, and Olamaie all feature legitimate, buyable food items that, whether it’s to boost mystique or keep chefs from drowning in a kitchen of their own complex creations, never make it to print.
It’s my job today to guide any and all curious Austinites through some of my favorite secret menu items in this city’s confidential cartes du jour. [Read more…]
Founders Ryan Campbell, Brent Looby, and Judson Kauffman produce an all-around Texan spirit
(Credit: Desert Door)
There’s a large number of craft breweries and distilleries surrounding the Austin area, so I wasn’t shocked to hear about the opening of another distillery. Until I heard the name of the spirit, that is. Sotol? Didn’t ring a bell.
But then I received an introduction, and we became fast friends.
Known to producers in northern Mexico and the West Texans who moonshine it, sotol’s extensive history still remains unknown to most people in our area. With Desert Door’s recent opening, however, that’s about to change. [Read more…]
Barrels of locally-made spirits at Still Austin Whiskey Co. (Credit: Bill Tucker)
Most people don’t spend Sunday afternoon relaxing in an industrial park, but that’s where I found myself. Outside, a jazz band was warming up, as a freshly-poured old fashioned chilled in my hand. On the bar, a beaker filled with strawberries and whiskey bubbled like a prop from Frankenstein’s workshop. If it weren’t for the area, I would’ve thought I was hanging out at a swank cantina, not a working distillery. [Read more…]
Enjoy a wine-oriented night at The Driskill Hotel (Credit: Charles Quinn Photography)
Cheers! Austin’s most anticipated and absolutely fabulous wine event, Big Reds & Bubbles, is right around the corner. This annual celebration of red and sparkling wine, put on by Wine and Food Foundation of Texas, goes down on Nov. 17, 2017, at The Driskill Hotel. Local chefs will be making food on site; live music will set the rhythm for the evening; and the wine will be flowing like a river.
A wide variety of fantastic beer awaits you at Hi Sign Brewing in Austin (Credit: Bill Tucker)
This article marks my three-year anniversary of writing for The Austinot. In my role as Contributing Blogger and now Lead Blogger, I’m proud to represent this unique blog and contribute to its mission of celebrating everything I love about this fine city. Looking forward to many more years of good eats, great music, and diving into the heart of Austin entertainment. As always, thanks for reading.
To stand out in Austin’s beer scene, you need to be different. Far too many breweries jump out of the gate with the standard “core four:” light beer, ale, IPA, porter. Five years ago, the strategy made sense. But with new competition popping up every month, up-and-coming brew masters need to bring something special to the table.
By peppering its tap list with a blend of left-of-center styles and traditional brews, Hi Sign Brewing has managed to make a quick, positive impression on the local beer scene. If you’re looking for something accessible yet different, this brand new spot is sure to satisfy beer lovers of every taste. [Read more…]