David Thomas - The Austinot

Austin Books and Comics: Hooking You Up for 36 Years

May 23, 2013 by David Thomas Leave a Comment

The Incredible Hulk stands guard over Austin Books and Comics’ extensive collection of back issues

I don’t know when I was first exposed to comic books. Sometime in the early 80’s, I ended up with a box of mixed comics. I dog-eared issues of Conan, The Fantastic Four, Archie, The Uncanny X-Men, and who knows what else.

I can’t recall what happened to that box of comics. It disappeared along with my interest in comics until I was a sophomore in high school, when a buddy loaned me several X-Men related issues. This sparked a 10-year comic buying spree. Then I quit again.

Fast forward to 2010. My habit got another jump start, thanks to my good buddy Bryan, my fiancé’s son, and Austin Books and Comics.

[Read more…]

Fight for Air Climb: Can You Scale 31 Flights of Stairs?

April 18, 2013 by David Thomas 2 Comments

Participants wait their turn to scale the Frost Bank Tower!

Remember when your parents would scream at you to not run up the stairs? Guess what? The American Lung Association is telling you it’s okay: on April 27, 2013 this well-respected non-profit is having their 4th Annual Fight for Air Climb fundraiser event at the Frost Bank Tower.

Participating Austinites have the opportunity to climb roughly 31 flights of stairs!

In all seriousness, many of us know someone who is affected by lung disease and Jessica Vess isn’t any different. “My brother has asthma, my in-laws have struggled to stop smoking, and my husband’s grandfather suffered from [Read more…]

Thursday Night Social Ride Puts Butts on Bikes

March 13, 2013 by David Thomas 7 Comments

The Start of Thursday Night Social Ride in Austin

The group gathers for the start of Thursday Night Social Ride

I first encountered Social Cycling Austin in 2009, during SXSW. I was cruising about downtown on a 3spd beach cruiser with ape hanger handlebars. A couple of folks invited me on a group ride that was sponsored by the newly formed Social Cycling Austin group.

The years passed and my schedule never permitted me to join them in their rides again…until recently.

The Group: Social Cycling Austin

Social Cycling Austin was founded in 2009. Keith Byrd was very active in its organization and Brooks Goldsmith took care of their social media. The group’s goal is to bring awareness to bicycling in Austin. Their mission statement is summed up in their motto: “Putting Butts on Bikes since 2009.” [Read more…]

Monthly FrankenBike Austin Event Thrills Enthusiasts and Newbies

February 4, 2013 by David Thomas Leave a Comment

Brad’s tall bike

Austin is known as a bike friendly town. Bike lanes are all over the place, even in areas that see almost no bicycle traffic. City buses and MetroRail accommodate cyclists and there are seemingly countless bicycle shops in the Greater Austin Area serving countless riders with different preferences and riding styles. So it’s no surprise that an event like FrankenBike exists in Austin.

Franken-What?

On the morning of January 25, 2013, my girlfriend’s son and I loaded up our bicycles and headed south to 5th and Comal. We were going to FrankenBike. After a pit stop at McDonald’s, we parked near the corner of 5th and I-35. We unpacked the bikes and started our seven block trek through drizzling rain, construction and traffic and lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Sorry, I lost myself, though there was construction going on around 5th and San Marcos. [Read more…]

Hang Your Hat at Lustre Pearl for Laid-Back Night on Rainey St.

January 22, 2013 by David Thomas 5 Comments

Editor’s Note: The original Lustre Pearl closed down on March 30, 2014 to make way for a condo building. The house was moved to east Austin, where it is enjoying a second life as Lustre Pearl East. Lustre Pearl Rainey is now open at 94 Rainey Street.

If Rainey St. were a squad of soldiers flanking the downtown area of the Live Music Capitol of the World, Lustre Pearl would be the point man.

Leading the squad into downtown Austin’s bleary nights, Lustre Pearl – planted firmly on the corner of Driskill and Rainey St. – is an excellent showpiece for this revitalized, formerly residential district. [Read more…]

Colorful Words and People Fly: Austin Professional Wrestling Events

December 19, 2012 by David Thomas 6 Comments

Did you know that Austin professional wrestling events have existed since 2006? Did you know that the Mohawk Club on 10th and Red River has been hosting these events? Now you do. What are you going to do about it?

The Promotion

Anarchy Championship Wrestling (ACW) was founded by Austin locals Darin Childs, Rachel Summerlyn and their former partner, Jacob Ladder, in 2006. Since then, they have been holding monthly events on Sundays and dividing their time between Austin and Live Oak, Texas. With roughly six different title belts constantly changing hands, there is rarely a dull moment in the ring at ACW events. [Read more…]

Warrior Dash Texas Shocks Participants with Crazy Obstacles

November 27, 2012 by David Thomas 4 Comments

Warrior Dash participants begin their grueling journey

Rising in popularity, adventure racing usually involves two key ingredients: mud and obstacles. The Warrior Dash is no different. On November 10th, Warrior Dash Texas held its annual 5K race at Rusty’s Walnut Creek Ranch near Cedar Creek, Texas.

[Read more…]

Wizard World Comic Con Hits the Austin Convention Center

November 5, 2012 by David Thomas 2 Comments

Throngs of people descended on the Austin Convention Center from October 26-28th to partake in the annual geek festival known as Wizard World Comic Con. Whether you are costumed or not, a hardcore fan boy, or even the most casual connoisseur of sci-fi, fantasy and comics, Austin Comic Con has something for everyone. [Read more…]

Comedian Chris Cubas Speaks Out About Cosby, Austin Comedy & Hecklers

October 18, 2012 by David Thomas 5 Comments

Chris Cubas sits down across from me at a Jack-N-The Box, takes a sip from a grape Sprite and we talk about comedy, Austin, venues, and ever-present hecklers.

“I bought a Bill Cosby cassette tape at the store,” he begins. “I took it with me to school and ran a headphone wire up my sleeve. I would sit like this (he rests his head on his hand as if he was tired) and listen to it until the batteries in my cassette player died. I bought the video too and would watch it. I watched how he held the mike, and how he used his voice to control the crowd. He was a great storyteller. He did a fifteen minute bit called ‘To Russell My Brother, Whom I Slept With.’ Who else can talk for fifteen minutes about something like that and make it funny?” [Read more…]

The Group: Social Cycling Austin

Franken-What?

The Promotion

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