Bill Tucker - The Austinot

Austin-Based Texas Ball Hockey Lets You Get Your Gretzky On

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Bill Tucker

A goalie stares down the opposition during a Texas Ball Hockey game (Credit: Stephen Zielke)

When you think of Austin sports, what comes to mind? Jogging around Lady Bird? Co-ed kickball with Austin Sports and Social? Maybe you’re a fan of disc golf.

No matter which fitness activity you’re into, there’s a organization to scratch the itch. But what if you’re a hockey fan? Austin’s 100-degree summers are unkind to ice. And unless you grew up around the stuff, strapping on skates can be daunting. Enter Austin-based Texas Ball Hockey, an up-and-coming social street hockey group that gives local puck-heads the chance to get their Gretzky on. [Read more…]

The Townsend Introduces Gourmet Bar Bites to Complement Cocktails

Posted on June 29, 2016 by Bill Tucker

A mix of early century charm and modern cocktails await you at The Townsend
(Credit: Andrew Bennett Photography)

When we last left The Townsend bar, we raved about their speakeasy ambiance and clever cocktail list.

Almost one year later, this vintage-inspired lounge has added gourmet, yet accessible, bar bites to their repertoire. The Townsend is now one of the premier spots on Congress Avenue to eat, drink and get your Jimmy Stewart/Barbara Stanwyck on. [Read more…]

Revival Public House Blends Pub and Southern Comfort Downtown

Posted on June 16, 2016 by Bill Tucker

Bacon Wrapped Dates At Revival Public House

The bacon-wrapped dates are a must-try dish at Revival Public House (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Editor’s Note: Revival House has closed.

The corner of 2nd and Trinity can be a challenging one for new Austin businesses. When companies and trade shows invade the Austin Convention Center, profits soar. When they leave, it’s a different story. Located too far for the South Congress lunch crowd, and inconvenient for the Rainey/6th Street scene, blossoming restaurants have had a tough time maintaining a regular clientele.

Revival Public House hopes to change all that. Through an Austin-centric menu, décor and vibe, this new eatery offers up Southern comfort food with an ATX twist. The result is a delicious addition to the local foodie scene that’s well worth traveling the extra couple of blocks. [Read more…]

BaseCamp Aims to Elevate Austin Sports Bar Concept

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Bill Tucker

Live it up with drinks, eats and sports at Basecamp (Credit: Cultivate PR)

Sports bars can be overwhelming. Bar tops bathed in the harsh light of tightly packed TVs and beer sign neon. Average food options like bland wings, onion rings and the dreaded over-cooked nacho plate. Liquor ads serve as wallpaper, designed to distract you from the real mission: rooting on your favorite team. Sports bars don’t have to be “pinkies up,” but they don’t have to be blaring noise machines either.

With a cut above menu of comfort bar food, inspired cocktails and a modern yet welcoming ambiance, BaseCamp hopes to elevate Austin’s expectations of what a sports bar should be. [Read more…]

Austin Beerworks Marks Five Years as Local Go-to Brew, Announces Expansion

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Bill Tucker

Austin Beerworks has been working to become your go-to local craft beer since 2011 (Credit: Austin Beerworks).

When you think of a fun hang, your first thought typically isn’t about an industrial park. But that’s where I found myself on a beautiful evening. Friends and colleagues lined the outside picnic tables. Friendly bartenders served friendly beer in a friendly environment. Everyone had a brew in hand, enjoying the impromptu celebration.

And for good reason. With a balanced line of consistent crowd pleasers and beer geek favorites, Austin Beerworks has earned its place among the ATX craft beer elite. And with this month’s announcement of a massive brewhouse expansion, Austin Beerworks is celebrating its five-year anniversary in style. [Read more…]

The Broken Spoke: Austin’s Texas Dancehall Time Machine

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Bill Tucker

Welcome to the world famous Broken Spoke (Credit: Christopher Rose via Flickr CC)

The Broken Spoke isn’t just a venue. It’s a symbol of Texan defiance. You won’t take the Alamo without a fight and The Broken Spoke will never change. Even as South Lamar explodes skyward with apartment complexes and hotels, one of the most famous dancehalls in Texas remains intact. A genuine relic of Lone Star uniqueness.

In the course of a four-hour visit, I not only got a chance to breathe in everything this storied establishment has to offer, but I learned why it has endured over 50 years. Underneath the weathered bar neon and aging exterior lies a musical history and sense of family that are unlike anything else Austin has to offer. [Read more…]

Guide to the Ultimate Dog-Friendly Day in Austin

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Bill Tucker

Meet Mr. Ming. It’s been a long, harsh winter for this pampered Pekingese. The weather has been rainy. The squirrels are all hibernating. He hasn’t had a hair cut in months.

But now that spring has sprung, it’s time for Mr. Ming to head out on the town for a day of fun, sun and luxury. Is your dog feeling the winter blues? Let’s follow in Mr. Ming’s paw prints as he checks out some of Austin’s most dog-friendly spots during his best day ever in the ATX. [Read more…]

Duncan Fellows Delivers Evolving Indie Rock to Austin Music Scene

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Bill Tucker

Close family of music-playing friends, Duncan Fellows is a band worth watching (Credit: Duncan Fellows)

There’s nothing like conducting an interview next to a set of dumpsters on 6th Street. But that’s where I found myself, chatting with the members of Duncan Fellows before their Feb. 23 show at The Parish. Their demeanor was quiet and unassuming, much like their blend of emotional, harmony-driven gaze rock.

But don’t mistake these indie upstarts for boring. With a repertoire of well-crafted tunes about love, loss and longing, Duncan Fellows impresses with their range and simple power. And with a new record being released this summer, buoyed by a standout single, these Austin originals are on the verge of making a serious splash in the local music scene. [Read more…]

Four Short Stories About SXSW Music 2016

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Bill Tucker

Only two days old, SXSW is officially a memory. The mega stages are down; the tourists are gone. If you drive downtown for work today, it’ll be as if it never happened.

But from this festival, a million stories are born. Here are four of mine from five days of crazy at SXSW Music 2016. [Read more…]

KUTX, KGSR Showcases Deliver SXSW Music at a Bargain

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Bill Tucker

Quiet Company blew the roof off last year’s KUTX showcase (Credit: KUTX)

Missed the boat on a wristband? Didn’t feel like selling your dog to buy a SXSW Music badge? You’re in luck! Two of Austin’s most local-friendly radio stations are showcasing some of the most popular artists in town.

Austin’s own public radio station 98.9 KUTX is hosting their fourth annual Live at Four Seasons showcase, while 93.3 KGSR will be presenting their live morning broadcast from the W Hotel for the fifth consecutive year.

These low-cost, high-awesome showcases allow fans to check out some of the best local and national talent at SXSW 2016. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of these amazing, affordable shows.
[Read more…]

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