Bill Tucker - The Austinot

Newbie’s Guide to MotoGP at Circuit of The Americas

April 14, 2015 by Bill Tucker 2 Comments

This shot was taken in real time during the first lap of the Moto 2 race. These bikes fly.

This past weekend, the skies above Circuit of The Americas were dark and foreboding. Over three miles of world class track loomed before me. Off in the distance, motorcycles buzzed like a mob of angry bees. The air was full of adrenaline soaked tension.

The brand new race track on the outskirts of Austin was host to MotoGP, a Grand Prix motorcycle race I was lucky enough to attend, courtesy of the folks at GoPro cameras. As a newbie to the sport and venue, here’s what I learned: [Read more…]

How to Attend SXSW 2015 on the Cheap

March 13, 2015 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

With prices as high as $1,500 for an all access badge, having fun at SXSW 2015 can seem like an expensive affair. But fear not, intrepid penny pinchers. There are tons of free activities to enjoy during Austin’s biggest week of the year. You may need to RSVP, get there early and wait in line, but nothing screams Austin like doing SXSW on the cheap. Here are some great ways to do so this year. [Read more…]

Quiet Company’s Rocking Album Release Show

February 27, 2015 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

Quiet Company lead Taylor Muse

The outside stage at Empire Control Room was buzzing with electricity. Five outstanding bands had been playing since 7:30. Feedback Alliance provided the between set beats while East Cameron Folkcore brought their brand of layered folk rock to the inside stage.

Everyone was stoked to hear headliner Quiet Company blow away East 7th with their signature brand of guitar driven indie rock. A celebration of their new record Transgressor, the band’s February 21st release concert featured new music and old favorites from a bonafide ATX original.

Explosive Opening

Forged in the fires of the mid-2000’s East Texas music scene, Quiet Company has seen a number of changes through the course of four studio albums. The brain child of lead singer Taylor Muse, Quiet Company has grown from a one man show [Read more…]

Wine and Food Foundation of Texas Spring Events Released

February 18, 2015 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

Wine and Food Foundation of Texas Wine Glass

Fine wine and good eats await you! (Credit: WFFT)

Feel like planning a wine tasting getaway? Forget about flights and expensive hotels. Some of the best wine in the country lies in your own backyard.

Since 1985, the Wine and Food Foundation of Texas (WFFT) has been celebrating the best our state has to offer and this year is no exception. With a number of fantastic events on the horizon, the WFFT is poised to kick off their spring 2015 season in style.

Toast and Roast: March 1st

The fun kicks off in grand scale with Toast and Roast on March 1st, 2015. Taking place at Rancho Cuernavaca, the event is a celebration of wine, food and music. The highlight of the afternoon will be a tasting of every vintage in Texas Monthly’s 2014 Best Wines of Texas list. This is a rare and special opportunity to sample the best wine in the Lone Star State.

With food provided by [Read more…]

Hops and Grain: Austin’s Sustainable Brewery

February 18, 2015 by Bill Tucker 1 Comment

A glass of fantastic beer welcomes you at Hops and Grain (Credit: Hops and Grain)

Walking into the Hops and Grain taproom is like stumbling upon a hip family barbeque. Long picnic benches line the modest space. Board games are stacked up, ready to be played. A psychobilly band plays circus rock from the brewery loading dock.

Not only is this East Austin original one of the best breweries in town, but it’s also one of the most well rounded. With a fun vibe, great brews and an eye towards ecological sustainability, Hops and Grain has quickly become one of the crown jewels in the Austin beer scene. [Read more…]

Butterfly Girl: Remembering Abigail Evans

January 12, 2015 by Bill Tucker 10 Comments

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

December 5, 2014 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

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

November 21, 2014 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

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

November 6, 2014 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

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

October 22, 2014 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

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…]

Explosive Opening

Toast and Roast: March 1st

G’raj Mahal’s Humble History

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