Brittany Highland, Author at The Austinot

Breaking News From Austin’s Local Restaurants

May 18, 2020 by Brittany Highland 1 Comment

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.

Contigo Catering

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Living in Austin During COVID-19: Ways to Help, Things to Do

April 21, 2020 by Brittany Highland Leave a Comment

Organization Doing Good in Austin During COVID-19

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…]

Enjoy Austin Ice Skating on Whole Foods Rooftop

December 4, 2019 by Brittany Highland 3 Comments

Whole Foods Market Ice Skating — Bring your friends and family for fun on the ice (Credit: Whole Foods Market)

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…]

Black Ball Awards $230,000 to Austin Musicians at Paramount Theatre

December 10, 2017 by Brittany Highland Leave a Comment

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…]

Everything’s Free When Zilker Park Celebrates 100 Years This Sunday

April 7, 2017 by Brittany Highland Leave a Comment

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…]

Austin’s Tecovas Boot Company Challenges Industry Norms

October 19, 2016 by Brittany Highland 12 Comments

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 Makes Weekend Brunch All About the Atmosphere

September 22, 2016 by Brittany Highland Leave a Comment

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…]

Go on Mouth-Watering Tour With “The Tacos of Texas”

September 16, 2016 by Brittany Highland Leave a Comment

“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…]

Social Good Eyewear Company, Eye Gave, Seeks Kickstarter Boost

September 13, 2016 by Brittany Highland Leave a Comment

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:

Trachoma impairs the vision of approximately 2.2 million people around the world. Of those, 1.2 million are irreversibly blind.
10 percent of the world’s population is at risk of losing sight from trachoma.
Trachoma results in an estimated $2.9 billion in lost productivity per year.

A photo posted by Eye Gave (@eye_gave) on Jun 30, 2016 at 3:32pm PDT

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.

You can follow Eye Gave on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for updates.

@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.

Listen Here First: Ruby and The Reckless Release “Gold”

September 12, 2016 by Brittany Highland Leave a Comment

Ruby and the Reckless

“In My Head” album cover

Ruby and The Reckless, Austin’s fiery, fiddle-heavy pop/rock band, just came off a stint as KUTX Artist of the Month. In anticipation of their Sept. 23 album release of “In My Head,” the group is exclusively releasing “Gold” here on The Austinot.

Ruby and The Reckless, the latest collaboration by front woman Ruby Jane Smith, came together in 2015. That same year, the band received a grant from Black Fret, the philanthropist-led nonprofit that exists to support the most talented musical artists in Austin.

In the time since then, “In My Head” was recorded at Austin’s Bubble Studio with Frenchie Smith (Wild Child, JET, Gary Clark Jr., Santana). Written with bassist Austin Simmons and arranged by the full band (Miggy Milla, guitar and vocals, Sam Powell, keys, Chris Copeland, drums and vocals), the album has been described as “psyche-tinged, fiddle-driven, hook-laden ear candy.”

“Gold,” a cover originally by Australian Chet Faker, is the final track to be released before the entire album is made available later this month.

If you aren’t familiar with Ruby Jane Smith, here’s some background that reveals her immense experience:

Front woman Ruby Jane Smith has been taking Austin music by storm since the day she came to town almost a decade ago. Back in September of 2007 at the age of 12, Smith’s family made the move to Austin. That very same night, she joined legend Dale Watson on stage at Austin’s historic Continental Club. Crowned the youngest fiddler player invited to play Grand Ole Opry, Smith’s list of accolades is astounding–boasting a steady stream of awards from the title of Mississippi State Fiddle Champion at age 10 to touring as lead violinist for artists like Willie Nelson, Lady Gaga, Blues Traveler, Local Natives and performing alongside acts like Sheryl Crow and ZZ Top.

We look forward to the release of “In My Head” on Sept. 23. Until then, click the Play button below to be one of the first people to hear “Gold” off the upcoming album!

For updates and show information, visit rubyandthereckless.com and follow the band on Facebook and Instagram.

@theAustinot wants to know:

Have you seen Ruby and The Reckless perform live?

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