Eliza Weeks - The Austinot

Don Your Apron for Cooking School at Central Market

April 6, 2016 by Eliza Weeks Leave a Comment

A photo posted by Kelly Lynn (@kellyslynn) on Jan 31, 2016 at 5:09pm PST

As a child, I despised going to the grocery store. Walking down over-lit aisles scouting for sales was not my idea of a fun Saturday morning. With time, the grocery store grew on me. But it wasn’t until I moved to Austin that I learned what it meant to be really excited to set foot in a supermarket.

The moment I walked through the doors of Central Market, I knew I was encountering a small corner of Mecca. The bulk bins towered. There were samples of fine cheese. I lost count of the number of mushroom varieties, and the bottles of kombucha shone like jewels in a refrigerated treasure chest!

I’m almost embarrassed to admit that–despite my love of this local grocery palace–it has taken me more than three years to investigate one of Central Market’s best offerings: its cooking school. So when I was offered the opportunity to take a class, I bit in with gusto. [Read more…]

Take Back Touristy Austin With 10 Places Just for Locals

March 24, 2016 by Eliza Weeks 2 Comments

Credit: Holp Photography

Austin has something for everyone. Even those who don’t live here can easily find an excuse to visit the 512. Be it our Instagram-able food, waterfront views or our myriad of festivals, Austin attracts visitors like bats to the Congress Avenue bridge.

But where does it all end? Can’t we have our city to ourselves every once in awhile? Thankfully, there are a few places in the corners and crannies that the tourists haven’t discovered yet. These places offer everything Austin is known for, but they’re a bit quieter about it.

No lines, wristbands or badges, just authentic Austin for locals. So let’s take back our city! But shhh…don’t let anyone else know about it. [Read more…]

Austin-Based Esperanza Market Brings Hope to Nicaragua

March 9, 2016 by Eliza Weeks Leave a Comment

With each product sold through Austin-based Esperanza Market, a Nicaraguan artisan is supported and a solar-powered lamp is donated to a Nicaraguan child

While teaching and traveling around Nicaragua, Jennifer Simonson, founder of Esperanza Market, noticed something peculiar. The parks and streets of the town she was visiting were filled with school-aged children in the middle of the school day.

This scene was not uncommon, Simonson had noticed it before: potential students wandered around when they should have been in the class room, yet school was in session. Eager to know why so many young people were missing out on education, she began to do her own personal investigation. [Read more…]

Say Bye to the Bar With Sourced Cocktail Delivery

February 24, 2016 by Eliza Weeks Leave a Comment

Everything you need to create your own craft cocktails is delivered in an aged bourbon barrel (Credit: Sourced)

Much like James Bond, I love a good cocktail. I’ve spent many an evening transfixed by the hands of a bartender as she mixes, measures, muddles and presents fabulous concoctions that tantalize my tastebuds.

The art of cocktail-making is one the eager hostess in me dreams of mastering. But more than just skill and a penchant for measuring, proper mixology requires a great deal of tools and ingredients. Thankfully, Sourced Craft Cocktails is a new company in Austin that can make anyone’s dreams of hosting grandeur a reality. What’s better: they deliver everything to your door. [Read more…]

Celebrate Valentine’s the Pet-Friendly Way With Sit Stay Day

February 8, 2016 by Eliza Weeks Leave a Comment

The Sit Stay Day kit includes everything salty, sweet and sippable for a cozy evening in (Credit: Emancipet)

I think we’ve all struggled with the age-old question: should I go out tonight or should I stay curled up on the couch with my dog? While normally The Austinot would tell you to get off your couch and plunge into the incredible city surrounding you, Emancipet has convinced us that, for at least one day, we should definitely sit and stay in. [Read more…]

Discover Authentic Austin From A to Z

January 27, 2016 by Eliza Weeks Leave a Comment

Credit: ImagesFromTexas.com

There are so many incredible things about our city that sometimes it’s hard to keep track. We’ve made it easy for you. Here’s an essential list of authentic Austin favorites from A-Z. [Read more…]

Texas French Bread Is Deliciously Humble, Rich in Local History

January 13, 2016 by Eliza Weeks 1 Comment

Texas French Bread has been a supplier of artisan bread in Austin since the early 1980s (Credit: Whitney Arotegui)

In a city of fusion joints and a wack-a-mole-style skyline, where condos and businesses pop up and down by the season, Texas French Bread has been a staple since the early 1980s. The much-loved eatery and bakery has seen it all, while holding strong to values that have kept it afloat for decades.

It’s easy to be intrigued by the blue brick building on 29th Street with bread names cascading down the exterior. The afternoon I stopped by, loaves of bread with floured bottoms and scored tops were lined up on shelves, like trophies waiting to be claimed.

The tables were filled with a lunch crowd in no hurry to Instagram photos of their food as soon as it arrived. They sat comfortably, backs against exposed brick walls, chatting with lunch dates or clipping away at computers. The ease of these patrons told me they were regulars, and a restaurant of regulars means the food and service are worth coming back for. [Read more…]

How to Ring in New Year’s With Austin Style

December 22, 2015 by Eliza Weeks 2 Comments

Austin provides many ways to welcome the new year with a bang (Credit: Nathaniel F via Flickr CC)

New Year’s Eve is a night of grand expectations, especially for those of us who have been swept off our feet by movies like When Harry Met Sally. Hollywood makes perfect the one night a year when we ceremoniously bid the past 365 days adieu. NYE should be dedicated to sending off the old year and ringing in the new surrounded by good friends, a curated flow of danceable music and, of course, champagne fountains.

Well, maybe that’s just my fantasy as crafted by the clever mind of Nora Ephron, may she rest in peace. Maybe your perfect New Year’s Eve involves a ball drop, delicious meal or crazy costumes. No matter how you like it, this night of nights has a way of becoming more complicated than it should be.

The perfect New Year’s Eve takes planning, but thankfully we live in a city that provides something exciting to do for everyone. I’ve put together a list to get you started.
[Read more…]

The Ultimate Local Austin Gift Guide

December 8, 2015 by Eliza Weeks 1 Comment

Credit: Charlie Aguirrie

When it comes to giving gifts, my favorite part is the hunt for the perfect one. This joyous obsession may very well lead me to bankruptcy some day. But let’s not go there, yet.

If you have a list of names and an unsettled feeling in your stomach–because all you hear is crickets when it comes to knowing what gifts to give–this Austin gift guide is for you!

We’ve compiled hyperlocal suggestions to make your holiday gift-giving experience as simple as possible. Unfortunately, we can’t do the actual shopping for you. You’ll have to brave the hoards yourself. But fortunately, this ultimate guide will only lead you to local Austin treasures. No big box shopping nightmares from us. [Read more…]

Café No Sé on South Congress Combines Elegant and Funky

November 24, 2015 by Eliza Weeks 1 Comment

A visit to Café No Sé is a sweet treat for any patron. (Credit: Nick Simonite)

Although no se means “I don’t know” in Spanish, Café No Sé knows how to hold its own along one of Austin’s most well-known streets.

From my perspective, South Congress Hotel serves as a peek into Austin’s future. The minds behind this hotel that hosts Cafe No Sé are greater in number than Austin’s typical local business, but this doesn’t mean they’re any less invested in the spirit of our city than the mom and pop shop down the street. These Austin entrepreneurs have gone to great lengths to grow their hotel with Austin, as the city changes from a once-hidden gem of a town to a top destination. They acknowledge and embrace the cranes permanently caressing the skyline, but strive to preserve the infamous weirdness that put this city on the map. [Read more…]

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