Bill Tucker - The Austinot

Vigilante Gaming Bar’s Custom Touches Result in Tabletop Game Paradise

Posted on February 17, 2017 by Bill Tucker

Tabletop Games at Vigilante Gaming Bar Austin

Welcome to the world of tabletop gaming at Vigilante Gaming Bar in Austin

Below a strip of condos on North Lamar, battles are being waged. Warriors and wizards, orcs and elves. Card wielding combatants drink pints of mead as they clash in contests of skill, bravery and treachery. In this realm, games are serious business.

They’re also a ton of fun. Vigilante Gaming Bar, a brand new spot dedicated to tabletop and social card games, is carving out a unique niche in the Austin bar scene. Whether you’re a hardcore Dominion expert or disgustingly good at Cards Against Humanity, Vigilante caters to anybody looking for a good time, and an even better game. [Read more…]

Dream Attics’ Fresh Indie-Electronic Sound Hits Austin Scene

Posted on February 7, 2017 by Bill Tucker

Dream Attics takes the Swan Dive stage before their first show (Credit: Katie McDowell)

Swan Dive on Red River was eerily empty the night I first saw Dream Attics. Reddish purple light glowed against the stage’s curtain backdrop. Dimly lit chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Minutes before their first live show in their new home town, the three-piece milled about, drinking beer and chatting with friends.

By the time Dream Attics had finished their seven-song set, the stagefront was full of head bobbing music fans. Some danced, some grooved, but everyone dug the band’s somberly energetic brand of atmospheric electro-indie. Full of songs reflecting love, loss and long nights sipping drinks while dreaming of tomorrow, Dream Attics is poised to become a serious player in the Austin music scene. [Read more…]

Beer Lovers Seek Mort Subite for Sip of Belgium in Downtown Austin

Posted on January 16, 2017 by Bill Tucker

Welcome to Mort Subite, downtown Austin’s newest Belgian beer bar (credit: Bill Tucker)

With all due respect to local stouts, sours and IPA’s, I feel Belgium makes the best beer in the world. And while we have breweries dedicated to brewing in the Belgian style, it can be hard to find the real thing. Enter Mort Subite, a bar that not only specializes in beer from the land of waffles and chocolate, recreates the warmth and friendliness of a traditional Belgian pub. [Read more…]

Your Pocketbook and Waistline Will Thank You for This Holiday Recovery Plan

Posted on January 2, 2017 by Bill Tucker

Ready to recover from the holidays? We have tips and tricks to make it easy while keeping it local
(Credit: Nathaniel F via Flickr CC)

How was your holiday? Probably joyous, fun, and exhausting. Over a month of partying, shopping and traveling leaves most of us tapped out. We all need to recover from a December of debauchery. Luckily, The Austinot is here to help. Check out this surefire plan to use all-things-local to get back into the regular swing of things. [Read more…]

7 Austin Desserts to Try Before Your New Year’s Resolution Kicks In

Posted on December 19, 2016 by Bill Tucker

Austin is full of delicious desserts to try before your New Year’s Resolution kicks in (Credit: Bill Tucker)

What will your New Year’s resolution be? If you’re like 95 percent of the world, losing weight will be high on the list. Pack the gym, cut the carbs, dust off the Shake-Weight. It’s time to get fit.

But not now! It’s the holiday season, so why not live it up before cupcakes, pies and ice cream become strictly forbidden? Here are seven Austin desserts to try before your New Year’s resolution kicks in. [Read more…]

5 Ways to Winterize Your Holiday Season in Austin

Posted on December 5, 2016 by Bill Tucker

Credit: John Cabuena

The holiday season in Austin can be magical. The Zilker Tree. Armadillo Christmas Bazaar. Brightly decorated cedar trees along Route 360. Everything falls in place for a beautiful season, with one exception: cold weather.

Growing up back east, Christmastime was synonymous with freezing temperatures. Bundling up to go shopping, frost covered windows, parks and forests transformed into Norman Rockwell paintings by blankets of snow. In Austin, not so much. It’s tough to get into the holiday spirit while wearing sandals and shorts.

Luckily, there’s a number of ways to add a little “brrrr” to your holiday season in Austin. It may not be a winter wonderland, but a touch of Christmas cold can lead to extra warmth in your heart. Let’s get chilly! [Read more…]

St Elmo Brewing Co: Newest Beer Lover’s Hotspot in South Austin

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Bill Tucker

Fine beer and good vibes await those visiting St Elmo Brewing Co (Credit: Trey Crowe)

For years, the term “St. Elmo” conjured up images of an awful Rob Lowe movie and an amazingly cheesy John Parr song. After checking out St Elmo Brewing Co, I can add rock solid beer to that list. Situated on the same street that bears its name, this South Austin brewery looks to deliver well-crafted, quaffable beer to a neighborhood thirsty for a brand new hangout. [Read more…]

827Ray’s Brings Casual Elegance to Lake Travis Area

Posted on November 9, 2016 by Bill Tucker

The baked goat cheese appetizer is one of a dozen reasons to visit 827Ray’s (Credit: 827Ray’s)

Ever stare at a restaurant menu and start to panic? Feel your mind spin as you frantically search Google for food definitions? What’s a haricot vert? Why would I want a deconstructed tuna tartar? Can’t I just get a steak?

While I love exploring the new flavors and exciting techniques of Austin’s exploding food scene, sometimes I crave simple goodness. Enter 827Ray’s, a new French-inspired restaurant in northwest Austin by Lake Travis. A refreshing blend of upscale class and down-home charm, 827Ray’s delivers quality cuisine without the need for a dictionary or pretense. [Read more…]

Local Austin Film ProGamer Premieres This Week at Austin Film Festival

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Bill Tucker

Professional gamer White Ra competes for big cash and glory in ProGamer (Credit: ProGamer)

Imagine an NBA arena packed to the rafters on a Saturday. Stage lights flash across the at-capacity crowd. Monstrous displays broadcast the evening’s match-ups. An exuberant emcee walks onto the stage and announces the first bout. The crowd roars as the combatants go to their respective corners, put on headphones, and man their mouse and keyboard.

Oh, I’m sorry. Did you think I was talking about professional wrestling? A heavyweight bout? I was actually setting the scene for an eSports tournament. Professional gaming has become a worldwide sensation, attracting millions of fans through webcasts and live events. “ProGamer,” directed by Austin native Justin Agnew and premiering at this year’s Austin Film Festival, provides an inside look into this pixelated phenomenon and the personalities that make it tick. [Read more…]

20 Things I Learned During Weekend One of ACL Fest

Posted on October 4, 2016 by Bill Tucker

The ACL Fest entrance welcomes music lovers from all over Austin, and the world
(Credit: John Cabuena/Flipintex Fotos)

Confession time: Weekend One of Austin City Limits Music Festival was my first ever. As a newborn at the event, I attempted to absorb as much as possible from three days of crowds, sun and mind-blowing music. Not only did I walk away with a greater appreciation for one of Austin’s most anticipated concerts, but I was re-invigorated by our community’s love for live music.

Here are 20 things I learned during Weekend One of Austin City Limits Music Festival. Maybe you’ll make similar discoveries during Weekend Two. Most of all, I hope you’ll have a memorable experience that’s uniquely your own. [Read more…]

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