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Like most hobbyist game designers, I was raised on games practically since birth. My first Super Nintendo sparked in me a passion for really good games and game companies, so I was elated when local game developer Minicore Studios invited me to talk about their games.
“It started out as an experiment, really,” said John Warren, CEO of Minicore Studios. “I wanted to see if it was possible to sustain a video game company that makes the kinds of games I like to play.”
The Incredible Hulk stands guard over Austin Books and Comics’ extensive collection of back issues
I don’t know when I was first exposed to comic books. Sometime in the early 80’s, I ended up with a box of mixed comics. I dog-eared issues of Conan, The Fantastic Four, Archie, The Uncanny X-Men, and who knows what else.
I can’t recall what happened to that box of comics. It disappeared along with my interest in comics until I was a sophomore in high school, when a buddy loaned me several X-Men related issues. This sparked a 10-year comic buying spree. Then I quit again.
Fast forward to 2010. My habit got another jump start, thanks to my good buddy Bryan, my fiancé’s son, and Austin Books and Comics.
An earlier prototype of Mug Muscles
This guest blog post is by George Hillhouse.
Growing up in Alabama, one of my favorite sayings was, “Hold my beer and watch this.” In fact, if that’s not the State Motto, it ought to be. Beer, or the consumption thereof, has inspired many otherwise rational people to do things they would never have thought possible. Sometimes subsequent hospital trips confirm they were right in the first place.
But do we demonize beer after one of these episodes? Hardly. Beer gets a pass, a get out of jail free card, even when we know we won’t get out of jail free for things we did on a beer binge. Beer may be unique in this regard. No one says, “Hold my meth pipe and watch this!” thinking that subsequent events will be explained away and forgiven. It takes a beer, or two, to get that kind of a pass. [Read more…]
Austin Canoe & Kayak Demo Days at Hyde Park Quarry Lake
Some of the best memories I’ve made in my lifetime have been on the water. Though I’ve spent many years out on the open ocean, I’ve arguably enjoyed my time on lakes and rivers just as much, if not more.
Thinking back on my childhood, there are few memories that compare with catching my first fish with my dad on a lake in the Pacific Northwest, or the seemingly endless summers spent on an inflatable raft with friends, pretending we were explorers. [Read more…]
Located at Guadalupe and 29th St. for more than a decade, Toy Joy is relocating to downtown Austin this summer
After the last week of May 2013, you won’t be able to find Toy Joy on Guadalupe anymore.
Rumors have been circling for the past few months, but the iconic local toy store just officially announced a move to downtown Austin.
Toy Joy has called 2900 Guadalupe St. its home for over a decade, just north of The University of Texas campus.
The reason for the move? Ownership shares in an official press release [Read more…]
Dirty Dog’s Mesa location, one of six in the Austin area
This guest blog post is by Kelly Love Johnson.
Let me start by saying that I’ve been a regular at Dirty Dog’s Mesa location for about three years now, beginning a few months after I moved to Austin in January of 2010.
My Pomeranian, Lulu, was just a year old and no longer small enough to bathe in the kitchen sink, so I had been torturing both of us with bend-over-the-tub baths and 45 minutes of blow drying (with my not-professional blow dryer).
There was also the issue of her toenails.
Her vet clipped them for me before I moved. My one attempt to trim them myself resulted in one of us bleeding (dog) and the other in tears (me). [Read more…]
This guest blog post is by Troy Herman.
Austin, Texas is known for many things worldwide: outstanding educational environments, LIVE music venues, an eclectic and accepting culture, sports and activities for everyone, and the birth of technology trends and startups.
On top of all that, this city contains a growing population of health-conscience individuals. So there’s no better place for Bearded Brothers to make energy bars that fuel the active Austin lifestyle in an 100% natural, raw, vegan friendly, gluten- and soy-free way. [Read more…]
Whether you’re a casual lake-goer or a hardcore water sports enthusiast, we’ve discovered an exciting new resource that’ll make your next local lake visit more enjoyable.
Slades Wake is the entrepreneurial venture of University of Texas graduate, Courtney Slade. Following graduation, Courtney took a hiatus to travel across the continental United States and abroad. A large part of her adventuring included sports like snow boarding and surfing. But when she returned home to Austin, she realized that there was no comprehensive resource for outdoor enthusiasts who wanted to enjoy lake sports and activities in the Austin area. [Read more…]
Inviting spring specials at Milk + Honey downtown
The spa and salon arena in Austin is competitive. Consumers have their choice between large establishments that can easily provide a day’s worth of pampering, and smaller venues that excel in a particular set of services.
Many spas offer the familiar facials and massages, so most customers ultimately end up basing their loyalty on the finer details.
With two locations in the Austin area and another dedicated salon location at the Arboretum, Milk + Honey has the details down, with critical acclaim that testifies to their excellence. [Read more…]
Firehouse Hostel and Lounge in the West Sixth District of Austin
This guest post is by Cris Mueller.
Firehouse Hostel and Lounge is a morsel of Austin history sitting quietly amongst the hustle of our fondly regarded West Sixth district and the bustle of our downtown office high-rises.
Business partners Kent Roth and Collin Ballard have tastefully occupied the legendary Washington Fire Engine Co. No. 1 with a boutique style hostel that offers seasoned backpackers and first time hostel goers a unique Austin experience.
Already have a place to sleep tonight? Even locals love Firehouse Lounge