Andrew Chase - The Austinot

Round Rock Express: The Ball Club I Didn’t Know I Needed

Posted on August 21, 2015 by Andrew Chase

Round Rock Express Baseball at Dell Diamond

View of the Round Rock Express from right field

Let’s talk sports. As a huge sports fan from Boston, I’ve had a rough go as of late. I mean, this is a tough time of year for sports in general, being that all we have right now is baseball and golf (no offense, tennis). It doesn’t help that my Red Sox are sitting pretty much in last place and every time I say “Boston,” someone throws a hissy fit about deflated footballs. That’s another story and I’m not allowed to swear here, so let’s move on.

Anyway, the bottom line is I’ve needed some sort of competitive sporting event to get me by during these hard times. Luckily, Austin is home to the Round Rock Express, a minor league baseball affiliate of the Texas Rangers. I caught a game this past weekend and, beyond the game itself, the entire experience was incredibly enjoyable and just what I needed. [Read more…]

I Just Did Sensory Deprivation and Spaced Out at Liquid Floats

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Andrew Chase

Sensory deprivation tank at Liquid Floats

You ever just want to wake up at 6:30 AM on a Sunday, strip naked and lock yourself in a pitch black, soundproof tank filled with water for an hour and a half? I know, right? Sounds so good.

Well, that’s exactly what happened at the newly opened Liquid Floats in North Austin. And what did I do while trapped inside what’s referred to as a sensory deprivation tank? Nothing. That’s right – I just lay there, floating in about 10 inches of Epsom salt-filled water, and did nothing. Believe it or not, it just might have been the craziest and most interesting 90 minutes I’ve spent in a long time. [Read more…]

Top 3 Favorite Nachos in Austin

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Andrew Chase

I’m willing to be honest with myself. It’s important. With that said, the degree to which I am into nachos and the frequency at which I order them is astonishingly atrocious.

However, after two weeks of nutritionally preparing for this article (that’s a nice way of saying I’ve eaten nachos pretty much every night during this time period), I can tell you that nachos are best enjoyed in moderation.

My will was tested; my heart was burned. But I made it, and I’m here to showcase my top three favorite nacho platters that Austin has to offer. Keep in mind that, though I tried, I was unable to sample every nacho dish throughout the city. This is only the beginning.

I encourage you to comment below with suggestions, as I’d like this list to continue to grow over time. Additionally, please know I will do my absolute best to get through this article without using any cheesy “nacho” puns (okay, starting now). [Read more…]

5 of the Weirdest Things You Can Do in Austin

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Andrew Chase

A photo posted by Museum of the Weird (@museumoftheweird) on Jan 12, 2015 at 9:22am PST

Keep Austin Weird. What does that even mean? Is it just a self-proclaimed slogan we slap on coffee mugs to sell at gift shops? Is Austin even that weird, or are we just a bunch of hipsters who want you to think so?

I’ve been doing a bit of exploring to get to the bottom of this. My verdict? Yep, Austin’s weird.

Before I get into some examples of said weirdness, here’s a fun fact: “Keep Austin Weird” was adopted by the Austin Independent Business Alliance as a way to promote local, small businesses. Since being introduced, the slogan has inspired a cultural evolution, opposing commercialism and encouraging the city to instead adopt a sense of individuality. So think of it as a movement, rather than merely a slogan.

Anyway, enough with the history lesson. Let’s get to it. You want weird? Here are five can’t miss things to do in Austin that keep our weirdness alive. [Read more…]

5 Favorite Places to Meet People in Austin

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Andrew Chase

So I packed up all of my things and decided to move to Austin because, you know, nobody else is doing that nowadays. On my way down here, I had that restless feeling that I was forgetting something. We’ve all experienced this. It didn’t hit me until I had arrived, but there were actually two things I had forgotten to bring with me: a belt and friends.

While a belt is an easy item to replace, attempting to build an entire social network from scratch can be a tad arduous. Luckily, Austin is a remarkably welcoming city filled with tons of events and activities designed to bring people together.

In just two months of exploring what Austin has to offer, I’m here to tell you that making new friends in Austin is a lot easier than you think. Here are some of the best places to meet people. [Read more…]

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