Drink Archives - Page 29 of 30

Zhi Tea: Succeeding in Austin Through Perseverance and Integrity

September 17, 2012 by Brittany Highland Leave a Comment

Like many small businesses, Zhi Tea started with a risk and a dream. Five years later, the company is celebrating a milestone anniversary and enjoying the love and support of its hometown.

Founding of Zhi Tea

By 2007, Zhi Tea Founder Jeffrey Lorien had sold his house in New York and had left his corporate job.

“I was waiting for inspiration,” he told us.

A love for tea, a background in inventory management and a supportive business partner found Jeffrey sleeping on the floor of a friend’s home in Austin as he launched his new company. [Read more…]

Corner Bar: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

July 11, 2012 by Eric Highland 5 Comments

Okay, so it isn’t Cheers. But whenever I’ve been to the Corner Bar in Austin, I’ve found that feel of familiarity. Customers are frequently greeted by name, and even new patrons are welcomed as if they had been there several times before.

Corner Bar is a small location in the growing South Lamar area, but the atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming. [Read more…]

Guest Blog: Guide to Specialty Drinks in Austin

July 5, 2012 by Guest Blogger 4 Comments

Pickletini at Kung Fu Saloon

This guest blog post is by Chris Lloyd.

Austin is a town that enjoys a drink or two (or more). Most of us have a favorite drink — our standard cocktail that we can order just about anywhere. But sometimes you may want to try something a little different. Here are some Austin options for the next time you’re in that situation.

Kung Fu Saloon prides itself on its pickle shots. Some swear the salt from the pickle juice helps with hangovers. I think it’s just a way to laugh at your friends’ faces after they drink it. There isn’t much to them, just a shot of vodka chased with a shot of pickle juice. I have seen some brave souls be more creative with pickle juice as an ingredient, though. Would you believe a pickle martini? If that doesn’t sound appetizing, you can always order one of Kung Fu’s specialty sake bombs. [Read more…]

Austin Coffee Shops Hunt #5: Hip and Young at Thunderbird Coffee

June 4, 2012 by Dustin Vegas 4 Comments

As you arrive at Thunderbird Coffee on Koenig, you’ll probably first notice how it glitzes up an otherwise drab street. Dogs and their owners may be lounging on the open-air patio. Bay windows cover most of the available wall space, allowing natural light to filter into the coffee house. The spacious interior of Thunderbird is marked by pastel-colored walls and obtuse hanging lanterns. If it’s not too packed, grab a seat at a table or couch.

Established in 2007, this coffee shop is where people come together – the type of place where you and yours can grab drinks and chat. Though the music may seem a bit too overbearing for casual studying, you’ll probably see many people clicking away at their laptops regardless. There aren’t many power outlets available, so those who do study will probably be planted for a while. The clientele is mostly composed of hip twenty-somethings who have time to kill. Still, the drinks and food at Thunderbird have cultivated a community of regulars of all ages. [Read more…]

Austin Coffee Shops Hunt #4: Bennu Coffee

May 30, 2012 by Dustin Vegas Leave a Comment

At first glance, Bennu Coffee adds a touch of elegance to the Austin coffee shops scene. Walk through its doors and you’ll see high-backed chairs surrounding varnished tables and counter tops. Elegant sofas line the walls beneath paintings and pictures from local artists. A grandfather clock slowly ticks across the room.

Look a little deeper though, scratch beneath the surface, and you’ll find that Bennu Coffee is more than an upscale coffee house. Over the years, it has partnered with many environmental, social and cultural organizations to make Austin, Texas a better place to live. Plus the coffee is delicious and it’s a great place to study – that too. [Read more…]

Austin Coffee Shop Hunt #3: Caffe Medici

May 22, 2012 by Dustin Vegas Leave a Comment

Caffe Medici is a local Austin coffee shop that has succeeded through its customer loyalty. This place has been recommended to me more times than any other coffee shop. Since the majority of the recommendations were positive, I decided to place it high on my list of shops to check out. Here is what I found out:

Founded in 2006, Caffe Medici opened up shop with a Clarksville location. The company was started with a simple mission: be responsive to customers, their neighborhood and the environment. Customers quickly began to appreciate Caffe Medici for its myriad of available coffee styles. You can get anything from an espresso, to drip coffee, French press, or latte. Moreover, the employees of Caffe Medici take the time to study each type of coffee so they can explain and customize for their customers. Soon, however, Caffe Medici’s reputation outgrew its small seating capacity. It was time to grow. [Read more…]

Austin Coffee Shop Hunt #1: Epoch Coffee

May 14, 2012 by Dustin Vegas 32 Comments

When it comes to living in Austin, coffee shops are a way of life. Austin is filled with different kinds of people, yet here you can find coffee shops that accommodate even our weirdest denizens.

Got a friend who loves martial arts? Send ’em to Kick Butt Coffee. Looking to impress a fine young lady on your first date? Maybe Mozart’s is the place for you. And if you’re looking to change the world, well, Dominican Joe is the place to go. They are ridiculously passionate about their support of non-profits in the Dominican Republic. What I’m getting at is simple: coffee is more than a drink in Austin. It is an expression of our individual identities and values.

So now I am on a mission to find Austin’s most unique [Read more…]

Austin Java: More Than Just Austin Coffee

May 2, 2012 by Eric Highland Leave a Comment

Editor’s Note: Austin Java is closing its Barton Springs location on July 1, 2018, due to rising property taxes. A new location will open at 5404 Manchaca Road.

Running an Austin blog, I have one of the greatest jobs in the world. Every day I get to explore Austin, meet fascinating people, and write about a city that I love to discover.

Most days, I’m out and about and normally have a long list of people who I’m meeting with. More often than not, my meetings are one right after the other. Because of this routine, I’m frequently looking for great local spots to work from for the day.

Enter Austin Java on Barton Springs.

I don’t know about you, but in order for me to plant myself for a few hours and get down to interviews and writing, I have certain things that I’m looking for when it comes to establishments. [Read more…]

Austinot Podcast, Ep. #5: Top 5 Austin Date Ideas

March 30, 2012 by Brittany Highland 7 Comments

Austinots Eric and Brittany are newlyweds, so who better to trust when you’re looking for the best Austin date ideas?

Planning dates can be a sticky business. You want to get it right every time, and we want to help!

In Episode #5 of the Austinot Podcast, your friends at the Austinot present their top five Austin date ideas:

Mozart’s Coffee Roasters
[Read more…]

Black Star Co-op Serves Austin Food, Beer and Democracy

March 28, 2012 by Dustin Vegas 7 Comments

Black Star Co-op is a revolutionary new Austin brewpub. So when I was told to review their food and beer, I solemnly bowed my head to the orders of Austinot Eric.

What can I say, we all must sacrifice occasionally. Neither stout nor IPA nor pilsner nor gloom of porters will stay this blogger from the swift completion of his appointed rounds.

Since its opening in 2010, Black Star Co-op has built its reputation around mixing the novel and traditional.

First, the business is a co-operative. All of its members, from top to bottom, own part of the business. All decisions are made through a democratically-controlled voting system. The first community-owned brewpub in America, one of Black Star’s tenets is to pay each employees a living wage, so they will respectfully decline if you try to tip them.

And you can become a shareholding member of Black Star as well! A hundred and fifty bucks gets you a membership. That means voting power, patronage ref [Read more…]

Founding of Zhi Tea

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