Bill Tucker - The Austinot

Basilflower Patisserie: Fresh French Flavors With an Exotic Edge

Posted on June 11, 2019 by Bill Tucker

Basil macarons by Basilflower Patisserie in Austin — Basil macarons by Basilflower Patisserie (Credit: Manisri Sivaraju)

Whenever I do a food tasting, it’s usually in a public setting. A small shop on 25th Street, a bustling dining room, or even in a commissary kitchen, surrounded by clouds of flour smoke and blazing ovens. Imagine my surprise when I found myself at the baker’s dining room table, tasting delectable treats for the purposes of this review.

A storefront isn’t necessary to create baked good magic. With a handful of pop-up events on its side and a menu of sensational sweet treats to share, Basilflower Patisserie creates unique takes on classic dishes and across-the-pond culinary delights.

[Read more…]

Superfónicos Brings Authentic Colombian Cumbia to Austin Stages

Posted on June 3, 2019 by Bill Tucker

Superfonicos Black Fret Show at Little Woodrow's Austin — Superfónicos bring down the house at Little Woodrow’s during a Black Fret showcase (Credit: Bill Tucker)

It’s 7:30 in the evening on a random Wednesday and Little Woodrow’s at Southpark Meadows is rocking. As smokey Colombian rhythm mainlines into my ears, my right leg refuses to quit jumping to the beat. A perma-smile is plastered to my face. With a quietly attentive Black Fret crowd behind me, everyone seems transfixed by the soulful, haunting sound of cumbia, salsa, and Latin jazz.

[Read more…]

Game Over Videogames Keeps Retro Gaming Alive

Posted on May 13, 2019 by Bill Tucker

Game Over Videogames Austin — Enter a mecca of retro gaming goodness at Game Over Videogames (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Forget Fortnite, ban Battlefront, and let go of League of Legends. For those of us who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, competitive multiplayer was Battle Mode in Mario Kart or slappers in Goldeneye. Decades removed from classics like Mario, Sonic, and Duck Hunt, those who yearn for the simpler days of gaming may feel like fossils.

Never fear, brave gamer. With Austin’s rich history of video games, it’s no wonder the retro scene is well-represented. Enter Game Over Videogames, purveyors and supporters of the games of yesteryear for well over a decade.

Whether you cut your teeth on the Atari 2600 or played the mess out of an NES, Game Over is a nostalgia overload of epic proportions.

[Read more…]

10 Austin Mocktails for Bar Crawl Without the Booze

Posted on April 29, 2019 by Bill Tucker

Best Austin Mocktails — Credit: Jaclyn Hubersberger

Mocktails. The mere mention of the word conjures up images of boring nights at the bar sipping cranberry-splashed tonic water, while your friends knock back whiskey, gin, and beer. Three years ago, when my wife was pregnant, we were literally laughed out of bars and restaurants for uttering the word. Those were dark times.

But now, there’s a revolution brewing. Many of Austin’s finest drinkeries and eateries are no longer embarrassed of the non-alcoholic cocktail. In fact, they’re treating mocktails with the respect and craft given to their boozy counterparts.

So whether you’re ditching alcohol for health, lifestyle, or recovery reasons, here are 10 local spots to snag outrageous mocktails in Austin.

[Read more…]

Austin Hoverboards Promise Hassle-Free Alternative to the Scooter Craze

Posted on April 1, 2019 by Bill Tucker

Artist’s rendition of what’s sure to be Austin’s latest transportation craze (Credit: jessiiwarrhol via Flickr CC)

With the chaos of SXSW 2019 firmly in the rearview mirror, the big story wasn’t Jordan Peele’s “Us” or Questlove’s set at The Main. Electric scooters dominated the headlines. With over 70,000 helmet-less attendees screaming through the streets and sidewalks of our great city, it felt like an invasion.

Determined to provide an alternative to this clean, convenient, yet flawed transportation model, one company feels it has the solution. Enter Austin Hoverboards and a brand new way to get from Point A to Point B without the need to touch a scooter, or even touch the ground.

[Read more…]

Who Wins the SXSW Music 2019 Superlative Awards?

Posted on March 21, 2019 by Bill Tucker

And just like that, it’s over. By the time you read this, the stages will be gone; streets once bulging with scooter-riding tourists will relax; and the city will deflate to normal. All we’ll have is our Instagram stories, swag bags filled with koozies, and the memory of 10 wild days of art, tech, film, and music.

For me, it’s all about SXSW Music. Over the course of six days, I saw over 20 bands, most of which were locals. Some well-known; some just discovered; all of them awesome in their own special way. As I do every year, I invent a random slate of awards you’d normally find in a high school yearbook to celebrate our hometown heroes. And the winners of this year’s Superlative Awards are… [Read more…]

Here’s Where to Eat Every Meal During SXSW 2019

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Bill Tucker

SX breakfast is the most important meal of your life (Credit: Stella San Jac)

You bought the wristband, took time off work, and scoured Twitter for free drinks and swag. But guess what, stalwart SX’er? By Thursday afternoon, you’re asleep under the convention center awning covered with showcase posters and HBO totes. Do you know why? You forgot to eat.

But never fear, fan of the festival! Here at The Austinot, we’re providing an easy-to-follow meal plan to keep you nourished, noshing, and knocking out meals like a culinary ninja.

[Read more…]

15 Must-see Austin Artists at SXSW Music 2019

Posted on March 4, 2019 by Bill Tucker

A tidal wave of music is approaching. On March 11, SXSW Music 2019 launches 2,000 bands and musicians into Austin’s cultural stratosphere. Of these, over 200 hail from our beloved city. After listening to every local artist on the schedule, I’ve picked 15 must-sees for this year’s festival. It’s my favorite and most exhausting list of the year. But if you find a new favorite, it’ll all have been worth it! [Read more…]

2019 Austin Music Awards at Moody Theater Will Be a Star-studded Affair

Posted on February 25, 2019 by Bill Tucker

Credit: Marco Figueroa

Music in Austin isn’t just a group of musicians or a marketing slogan. It’s a community. A clan of creatives pulling for and supporting one another in a city of limited stages and listener attention. For the 37th year, The Austin Chronicle honors our rich and diverse music scene with Austin Music Awards. A celebration of recognition, good vibes, and jaw-dropping music, Austin Music Awards is a crash course in Austin’s musical past, with an eye towards a glorious future. [Read more…]

Oz. Tap House Adds Clever Twist to Craft Beer Bar Concept With Self-service Tap Wall

Posted on February 11, 2019 by Bill Tucker

Oz Tap House Craft Beer Flight in Austin

Oz. Tap House gives you the freedom to go from flight to pint in a matter of minutes (Credit: Bill Tucker)

Finding your groove in the Austin restaurant scene is a challenge. With hundreds of amazing eateries slinging booze and food, aspiring businesses need a unique hook to stand out from the crowd. Enter Oz. Tap House, northwest Austin’s newest beer garden. By combining a state-of-the-art self-service tap wall with a rock star menu of pub favorites, this Four Points spot is poised to become a neighborhood favorite. [Read more…]

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