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Best Tacos in Austin: Whit Taco (top) with the Shrimp taco (bottom) at Pecos Tacos
Editor’s Note: This ‘Best Tacos in Austin’ article was originally published in 2014, now updated in 2021
At the Austinot, we embrace the taco culture of our city. The moist texture of the tortilla, the freshness of cilantro, the spice of housemade salsa…is your mouth watering yet? [Read more…]
As Austin’s restaurants scramble to adapt to the new reality we’re all living in, they must sell food or risk going out of business. We’re grieving the permanent closures of Shady Grove, Threadgill’s, NXNW, and Magnolia Cafe on Lake Austin Boulevard. We don’t want to see anyone else leave us.
And while we know you don’t need fancy enticements to support your favorite local businesses, we don’t want to waste this opportunity to share breaking news from restaurants around the city. Get excited, and then go place an order.
Here in Austin, we’ve all been impacted by COVID-19 in different ways. Some of have lost all of our income, or enough that it keeps us up at night.
Some of us are agitated during the stay-at-home, lonely by ourselves or overwhelmed with having the family together all of the time.
Some of us are on the front lines, essential workers who allow the rest of us to receive medical care–or eat.
And some of us are sick. Some of us have lost our lives to this virus. And some of us are hurting in isolation as people we love suffer.
Here at The Austinot, our volunteer team has been impacted. A number of us have lost our jobs. Our advertising revenue, which keeps the lights on, has been impacted. No one is searching for “guide to east austin” right now. (We don’t blame you.)
There’s no way around it: this is a challenging, dark time, and part of coping is acknowledging that truth. But we don’t need to stay there.
[Read more…]
Ice skate on the rooftop of Whole Foods Market, now through Jan. 20, 2020!
Austin ice skating has returned to the rooftop plaza at Whole Foods Market’s flagship store for its 15th season. Enjoy this festive, wintry activity at the landmark location on North Lamar Boulevard between 5th and 6th Streets. It is real ice, so Austinites can relive childhood memories or introduce their own children to this strange, frozen substance we don’t see much of in Austin.
[Read more…]
Sixteen bands performed on the iconic Paramount Theatre stage Saturday night, as Austin nonprofit Black Fret awarded $230,000 in grants to 19 local bands at its annual Black Ball. For all the gowns and tuxedos in the audience, the atmosphere was informal and upbeat. Excited whoops and friendly heckling were directed towards the stage, and the few technical delays were shrugged off with a sense of humor.
We were there to celebrate. The first award winner of the night, Jackie Venson, told attendees she wasn’t going anywhere because of Austin’s vibrant support system for musicians. “There’s no HAAM in New York. There’s no SIMS [Foundation] in Chicago.”
With a fair amount of negativity directed towards Austin’s growth and subsequent affordability issues, one might assume the ecosystem for musicians is in decline. While we have work to do as a city, Black Ball showcased a vibrant community of musicians being propelled toward success through Black Fret grants. [Read more…]
Celebrate 100 years of Zilker Park at Free Day this Sunday (Credit: JTPics.com)
It’s an unfortunate irony. We tend to put off doing and seeing the things that are in close proximity to us. We know the view from Mount Bonnell is arguably the best in Austin, but we haven’t been there in ten years. We’ve thought about taking a boat tour during bat season, but we’ve never done it. Those things are “too touristy,” and that’s not cool.
For too many of us, so it goes with Zilker Park. Never mind the huge events. Every day of the year, there’s something to do there: Barton Springs Pool, Zilker Botanical Garden, Austin Nature & Science Center, Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum, the Zilker Zephyr. [Read more…]
Tecovas showroom on East Cesar Chavez (Credit: Tecovas)
Most startup companies are obsessed with scaling, and design their business model around how to grow big and be as profitable as possible. Austin-based cowboy boot company, Tecovas, has no intention of stagnating. But instead of complying with industry norms, founder Paul Hedrick is pouring his energy into customer-centric values and high quality products. [Read more…]
The Park at the Domain (Credit: Eric Highland)
Is brunch about the type of food you eat, or is it about the experience? For General Manager Robert Van Delden and the rest of the team at The Park at the Domain, it’s definitely the latter. This Austin-based restaurant has a mission to cultivate a relaxing, memorable brunch atmosphere every weekend in North Austin, and at their second location on South Lamar. Fortunately, the importance of delicious comfort food isn’t forgotten along the way. [Read more…]
“The Tacos of Texas” authors Mando Rayo and Jarod Neece (Credit: University of Texas Press)
Credit: University of Texas Press
Just released by University of Texas Press, “The Tacos of Texas” is the latest book from the duo behind Taco Journalism, Mando Rayo and Jarod Neece. Pour yourself an horchata and get comfortable because you’ll feel like you’re on the patio chatting with friends as you flip through this conversational, colorful book.
“The Tacos of Texas” is the result of the best road trip ever. Armed with [Read more…]
Credit: Eye Gave
Here at the Austinot, we love Austin-based companies that integrate the entrepreneurial spirit with a heart for social good. So when I first found out about Eye Gave, a local eyewear startup trying to eliminate trachoma by 2020, I wanted to learn more.
Eye Gave has partnered with a nonprofit called Sightsavers to make a difference. For every pair of sunglasses purchased, Eye Gave funds a sight-saving operation for one person with trachoma, or enough medicine to prevent up to 22 people from getting the disease.
Trachoma is the most common infectious cause of blindness in the world. It starts off as a bacterial infection that can be easily treated, but over time it can cause blindness if left alone. These statistics are staggering:
Because the team at Eye Gave is composed of product developers, rather than eye doctors, it was important to them to partner with a respected organization. “Sightsavers will be doing the important work they specialize in,” lead designed Andrew Sanderson shared in a press release, “performing eye operations, dispensing medication and training locals to examine, treat and support people suffering from trachoma, while we concentrate on building a brand known for its loyalty to charities that do great things.”
Through Oct. 15, 2016, Eye Gave is running a Kickstarter campaign to fund their efforts. From each pledge, $12 will go towards a sight-saving eye operation, antibiotics to treat and stop the spread of trachoma, or training for eye health workers.
You almost want to buy a pair of these sunglasses just to support the cause. But it just so happens that these high-end sunglasses are polarized, well-built and stylish! Definitely the best of both worlds.
To learn more and get involved, watch the video below and go to Kickstarter to participate in the fundraising campaign.
@theAustinot wants to know:
What is your favorite social good company in Austin?
Disclosure: I was sent a pair of Eye Gave sunglasses for the purposes of this review. All opinions are my own.