Eric Highland, Author at The Austinot

Austin Jazz: Church on Monday Event with Elias Haslanger and Friends

April 23, 2013 by Eric Highland 6 Comments

Church on Monday at Continental Club Gallery

The Continental Club hosts Austin jazz every Monday night

Jazz is restless, it won’t stay put and it never will.
-J. J. Johnson, Trombonist

While most seasoned musicians agree that jazz is difficult to define, few deny its worldwide appeal. With standard elements like improvisation and group interaction, this genre of music attracts the very best musicians to collaborate with one another. There are several weekly Austin jazz events. Though we haven’t attended them all, one that we highly recommend without reservation is Church on Monday at the Continental Club Gallery.
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Bandana Ball Gives Hope to Children & Their Families in Central Texas

March 27, 2013 by Eric Highland 4 Comments

Brooke Hester’s spirit of joy and hope was contagious at the 2013 Bandana Ball

Twirling and dancing on the lush green grass of Wild Onion Ranch, a little girl was wearing heart shaped sunglasses and sporting a smile that could melt a heart of stone. Though she was surrounded by a thousand other people, including philanthropists, press members, and even celebrities, she was clearly the star of the show.

And rightfully so.

Two years ago, five and a half year old Brooke Hester was diagnosed with Stage IV High Risk Neuroblastoma, a cancer that is common among infants and children, and difficult to treat. Upon learning the news, Brooke’s parents Beau and Jessica committed to do whatever was necessary, traveling wherever they needed to in order to find a cure. [Read more…]

Search for the Best Burger Joint in Austin: Cover 3

March 21, 2013 by Eric Highland 37 Comments

Cover 3 in Austin

If you’ve been looking for the best burgers in Austin, you’ve come to the right place. This post is part of a series on the Austinot.

Remember, I’m looking at not only the burgers, but the experience as a whole.

You’ll always get an honest take on the burger joints I visit. I’m not on any burger joint’s payroll.

After you’ve read my review, agree or disagree with a comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

First Impression of Cover 3

When I published my most recent burger joint review on Opal Divine’s Freehouse location on 6th, a few personal friends told me, “If you liked Opal’s, you are gonna love Cover 3.” Over time, quite a few folks have commented that this spot is a “must” for my burger joint review series. Finally convinced that I needed to pay Cover 3 a visit, I was pretty excited to check this place out.

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Flyboard in Austin: Ever Want to Fly Like Iron Man?

March 14, 2013 by Eric Highland 7 Comments

Getting ready to fly

Hollywood blockbusters tease our sense of adventure with enticing special effects.

The imagination revs up when we see gadgets like Marty McFly’s hoverboard in Part II and Part III of Back to the Future. Even though the technology may not exist in the real world, our desire to experience the fantastical is alive and well.

Face it. If you could hop on a real hoverboard or jump on the Green Goblin’s “Sky Stick” right here in Austin, wouldn’t you take the shot?

The question isn’t hypothetical. [Read more…]

The Buzz Mill Brings Lumberjack Life to East Austin

March 11, 2013 by Eric Highland 5 Comments

The Buzz Mill recently opened on the eastside, off of Riverside

Beavers coming out of the woodwork (literally), subdued mason jar lighting hanging from the rafters, a huge outdoor yard, BBQ from one of the most famous pits in history, fruit-infused liquor, all-you-can-eat flapjack breakfast for $5, free Wi-Fi, full bar, coffee, open 24/7…should I go on?

Anyone who keeps up with the Austin scene has already heard the clamoring about this new joint on East Riverside. But the chatter shouldn’t surprise anyone. When the owner of Bootleg Coffee gets together with the manager of Emo’s and the marketing director at Antone’s for a project, you know something special is on tap.

And they’re just getting started.

Since the grand opening of The Buzz Mill on January 19, 2013, we’ve had numerous Austinot readers ask us to pay them a visit. And so we did. [Read more…]

Toy Joy: Austin Icon and Worldwide Phenomenon

March 4, 2013 by Eric Highland 1 Comment

Few Austinites can avoid nostalgic recognition when the famed name of Toy Joy is spoken. It’s an Austin icon that has been exuding weirdness and evoking happiness for decades.

But Toy Joy’s reach is most definitely not limited to Austin. Shipping worldwide, Toy Joy has throngs of fans across the globe. [Read more…]

Best Austin Food Trucks: Pecos Tacos

February 27, 2013 by Eric Highland 9 Comments

Pecos Tacos food truck at 6th St. and Rio Grande

Enjoy Pecos Tacos after a night out on West 6th St.

The Austinot is consistently asked about where to find the best Austin food trucks. So we’ve decided to start a search for the best in town. As we run across Austin food trucks that we feel should be on this list, we’ll let you know. All of the posts in this series will start with “Best Austin Food Trucks.”

If you have a food truck to recommend, leave a comment at the end of the article. Tell us the name of the joint, what you like most about them, and where we can find them. We’re always willing to check out something new.

Pecos Tacos Is Among the Best Austin Food Trucks

Austin food trucks abound. With a nearly endless variety of trucks comes the overwhelming task of choosing which one to check out for yourself.

Well, you can never go wrong with a taco. Many Austin food trucks serve them up, but few serve them up like Jesse Catano, owner of Pecos Tacos. The tough decision here isn’t deciding which food truck to get your taco from. It’s finding Jesse and his illusive Pecos Tacos truck. [Read more…]

Best Austin Food Trucks: Big Fat Greek Gyros

February 14, 2013 by Eric Highland 7 Comments

Among the best Austin food trucks is Big Fat Greek Gyros

Happy customers at Big Fat Greek Gyros – one of the best Austin food trucks

Editor’s Note: Big Fat Greek Gyros has moved to the food truck park on Rainey Street.

The Austinot is consistently asked about where to find the best Austin food trucks. So we’ve decided to start a search for the best in town. As we run across Austin food trucks that we like, we’ll let you know. All of the posts in this series will start with “Best Austin Food Trucks.” This is the first review in the series.

If you have a food truck to recommend, leave a comment at the end of the article. Tell us the name of the join, what you like most about them, and where we can find them. We’re always willing to check out something new. [Read more…]

Experience Unique Cajun Dining at Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe in Round Rock

February 7, 2013 by Eric Highland 2 Comments

Ever ripped the tail off a properly spiced crawfish or taken a bite into some tender alligator meat? If you have, your mouth is probably watering already. If you’ve never had a chance to try these Cajun staples and they sound a bit too strange for you, don’t knock it ’til you try it.

The moment you start approaching Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe in Round Rock, you can tell that the place is going to be fun. People leaving are smiling, and the folks entering have that anticipatory look that says they know they’re in for a treat. Plus, the frog on their sign is playing an accordion. [Read more…]

13th Annual Austin Disc Golf Ice Bowl This Saturday at Zilker Park

January 31, 2013 by Eric Highland 1 Comment

Ice Bowl Disc Golf at Zilker Park in Austin

Gathering before the beginning of Ice Bowl at Zilker Park

Disc golf is one of those sports that almost everyone can play, that builds community, and is cost-effective to boot.

If you’ve never played a round of disc golf, don’t think it’s as difficult as golf. Sometimes comparing it to golf throws people off, pun intended, because people think you need years of practice to not look like a fool out on the course.

Look, if you can throw a frisbee, you can start cutting your teeth immediately with this incredibly fun sport. [Read more…]