Bill Tucker - The Austinot

Butterfly Girl: Remembering Abigail Evans

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Bill Tucker

Only Abbie Evans could be so relaxed while drinking from her feeding tube (Credit: butterflygirlmovie.com)

The Alamo Drafthouse on West Anderson was packed on a drizzly Sunday night. The lobby felt like a homecoming. Local Austin musicians chatted amongst pints of beer. Hands were shaken. Hugs were constant and everywhere.

Everyone was there to celebrate the life and legacy of Abigail Evans, a local Austin teenager whose battle with a horrific skin disorder is chronicled in Butterfly Girl. Full of real people and real moments, the documentary chronicles a two year period of Abbie’s battle with EB. Before the screening, I knew very little about Abbie and her disease. By the time it was all over, I felt like a member of the family.

[Read more…]

Trail of Lights 2014 Now Open! Here’s Your Preview

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Bill Tucker

Welcome to the 50th anniversary of Trail of Lights (Image courtesy of Rebecca Belcher Photography)

I love the holidays. Lights hung from every tree. Kids running around in breathless anticipation. It’s an opportunity to be young again. To plug into our past and find the little joys we forget about all year long.

The Trail of Lights, Austin’s long running celebration of holiday fun, is one of the best ways to ring in this amazing time of year. 2014 marks the event’s 50th anniversary, and the well-worn trail has some new surprises to go with the old favorites as it opens on Sunday, December 7, 2014. [Read more…]

G’raj Mahal: Indian Cuisine Meets Austin Cool

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Bill Tucker

Chandelier made from bike gears looks down on G’Raj Mahal Cafe’s dining room (Credit: Michael Sandoval)

To outsiders, Austin cuisine is the Texas Trinity: Mexican, barbeque and breakfast tacos.

We locals know better.

Quality ethnic fare is never too far away. With an exceptional menu in a laid back atmosphere, G’Raj Mahal Café and Lounge adds the flavors and flair of western India to Austin’s foodie culture.

G’raj Mahal’s Humble History

Like all things awesome, G’Raj Mahal has a fascinating history. Originally a food truck on Red River, the truck moved to Rainey Street where G’Raj was a go to spot for almost four years.

Almost immediately, owner Sidney Roberts and her husband Anthony knew a brick and mortar location was inevitable. Weekend wait times swelled to over two hours. According to G’Raj’s Marketing Manager Memo Jimenez, it was pure madness.

So when a location around the corner became available, the team jumped on the opportunity to give their loyal fan base a proper place to enjoy their food. [Read more…]

Drink Up, Chill Out at Hi Hat Public House

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Bill Tucker

Inviting, open and fun – Hi Hat welcomes you!

Everyone needs a neighborhood bar. A place that’s not just a convenient place you can walk to in the evening and stumble home from at night. But a social network inside walls. A place where people can meet, greet and become neighbors.

When East Austin grew out of its reputation as the wrong side of the tracks, local pubs became a necessity. Enter Hi Hat Public House, a laid back restaurant/watering hole that has quickly become the best place to eat, drink and be merry in East Austin.

As the cornerstone of the Villas on Sixth apartment complex, Hi Hat features a little bit of everything. Aside from having a respectable wine list, Hi Hat also sports an exceptional beer listing. [Read more…]

See for Yourself: The Highball Is Back

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Bill Tucker

The Highball at 1120 S Lamar

When The Highball closed its doors almost two years ago, it left a gaping hole in the Austin nightlife scene. Seriously. Where else could you grab a drink, sing a Miley Cyrus song and bowl ten frames without leaving the building? Now settled in its refurbished home, the South Lamar landmark is looking to reclaim its crown as one of Austin’s most distinctive hot spots.

[Read more…]

G’raj Mahal’s Humble History

Recent Posts

Welcome to The Austinot