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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…]
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…]
Credit: Daniel Cavazo
SXSW Music is an invasion. A tidal wave of over 2,000 artists, bands, singers and musicians descend upon the Live Music Capital of the World for the annual sonic extravaganza. For five days, Austin is music.
But what about our local talent pool? Over 250 Austin artists are playing official showcases at this year’s festival, and I’ve gone through each and every one to find the cream of the crop. After hours of listening, note-taking and brutal decision-making, here are the 10 must-see Austin bands at SXSW 2016. Live local; listen local. [Read more…]
Jester King is just one of the many breweries that call Dripping Springs, TX home (Credit: Jester King)
The Austin beer scene has been exploding for years, and there’s no sign of it slowing down. Over 30 breweries make their home in the greater Austin area. It seems like a new one opens every month.
As a result, it’s not enough to visit one brewery. These days, you can make a day trip out of it. With four breweries in close proximity to each other, it’s possible to take a beer-drinking day trip to beautiful Dripping Springs, TX. Trekking around the Hill Country while sampling a wide variety of Texas brews? Your ticket to a perfect afternoon. [Read more…]
The new Antone’s blends beautifully into the new Austin scene (Credit: Marco Figueroa)
Unlike every other good thing discovered in Austin, I first learned about Antone’s in Mopac traffic. I was crawling north towards Route 183 when a ’70s-era van edged in front of me. On its back were hundreds of stickers. Stubb’s. Saxon Pub. Austin Beerworks. As a recently re-located East Coaster, I was still learning the language. But one of them stuck out: Antone’s. With a personal name and classic-looking logo, it looked like my kind of place.
From there, Antone’s was a folktale. Everywhere I looked, I saw references to a legendary blues venue closed only months earlier. Whispery rumors through faded bumper stickers and the weathered remnants of show posters pasted to bar bathroom walls. Whenever I mentioned it to locals, most would sigh and say, “I miss that place.” [Read more…]
Canvas People frontman Kyle Taylor wows the Stubb’s Indoors crowd (Credit: Austin T. Wells)
It was 11 p.m. on a school night, and the energy at Stubb’s Indoors was winding down. Thursday night was flirting with Friday morning as the still-healthy crowd milled about and chatted. Drink orders were being rushed out before last call. The crowd was attentive, but distracted.
But when Austin original Canvas People hit the stage and jammed out their first number, they got everybody’s attention. The room shut up and listened. And that’s what happens when this unassuming four-piece takes the stage and blows the brick off the venue walls. With spacey guitars, indie rock backbeats and three-part harmonies Grizzly Bear would respect, Canvas People creates stirring music that forces you to take notice. [Read more…]
Warm and welcoming with a dive bar edge: welcome to Mean Eyed Cat! (Credit: Mean Eyed Cat)
For 90% of the world, there’s only one Man in Black. Forget the Will Smith movies; ignore the X-Files. Johnny Cash, one of country music’s original rebels, is the only one who matters.
While you can trek to Nashville to pay homage, there’s a joint right here in Austin that honors the legend through its décor, drinks and demeanor. With more than just a novelty name for a dive bar, Mean Eyed Cat Bar hides quality cocktails, great food and exceptional service behind its roughneck exterior. The result is your new favorite local hangout. [Read more…]
This is the face of a dog who needs a visit to Yard Bar
Mr. Ming was looking to get outdoors. After a long holiday season spent watching his humans shop, wrap presents and go out, it was his turn. His time to sniff, bark and be merry.
Enter Yard Bar, Austin’s newest venue for furry friends to run, jump and be social. By combining food, drink and a variety of fun activities, this hidden gem on Burnet Road is quickly becoming the city’s premier doggy destination.
Like most things awesome, the inspiration for Yard Bar came from need. While frequenting the dog runs at Auditorium Shores, owner Kristen Heaney realized the sad reality of dog parks: there’s not much there for people to do. What if there was a place where pet owners could grab a drink and a bite while their dog frolicked in the park?
After testing a number of business models, Heaney leased the lot on Burnet Road where the old Putt-Putt Golf and Games used to live, and began building the dog park of her dreams. When it opened in August 2015, word quickly spread among Austin’s pet friendly community. Yard Bar was the place to be. [Read more…]
Fair warning: I am not a fitness guru. Between writing for three blogs, weekly visits to Alamo Drafthouse and an unhealthy obsession with “Fallout 4,” my life is a relatively sedentary one. My weekly exercise consists of long walks around town that inevitably end up at a craft beer bar. And I can’t stand gyms.
So, if I’m going to work out, it has to be fun. Running for hours on a treadmill doesn’t do it for me. Lifting weights makes me self-conscious. Luckily for those in the same boat as me, our city is filled with exciting ways to lose those pounds. Get up and get fit in Austin with these fun-filled suggestions. If they can motivate me to turn off the PS4, they can motivate anybody! [Read more…]
Friends, food and family. The three F’s of the holiday season. Amid the chaos, lights and Amazon wish lists, there’s one constant: the old-fashioned family get-together. A chance to reconnect with the ones you love.
But not everybody heads home for the holidays. For whatever reason, many of us will be hanging out in Austin for the holiday season. And Austin can become a ghost town over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
But don’t despair. Put on some real clothes, turn off Netflix and head out on the town. For those doing an Austin Christmas this year, here are eight events that’ll make your holiday full of memories and fun. [Read more…]
