Eric Highland - The Austinot

I Can’t Believe I Didn’t Know About Corona Cafe

July 18, 2012 by Eric Highland 15 Comments

Left to right: Kesley, Austin and Sunny White of Corona Cafe

When three young adults ages 19, 17 and 16 are the owners and operators of an Austin cafe, you’d probably expect mediocrity and anticipate the worst.

But you would be wrong. Very wrong.

Enter Austin (19), Kesley (17) and Sunny (16): Native Austinites and the children of Greg and Jenn White.

If you’ve been looking for that perfect gem of a coffee shop in Austin, we’ve found it. Located in the Windsor Park neighborhood, Corona Cafe is unlike any other cafe in the city. [Read more…]

Corner Bar: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

July 11, 2012 by Eric Highland 5 Comments

Okay, so it isn’t Cheers. But whenever I’ve been to the Corner Bar in Austin, I’ve found that feel of familiarity. Customers are frequently greeted by name, and even new patrons are welcomed as if they had been there several times before.

Corner Bar is a small location in the growing South Lamar area, but the atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming. [Read more…]

Exclusive: Saints of Valory Untold Story

July 9, 2012 by Eric Highland 24 Comments

Loud drums, loud bass and chemistry.

This is the story of the Saints of Valory, never fully told or published until now.

Before you go any further, know that if you ever decide to take on chronicling a band’s history, take my advice and get all of the band members together in one room, chain them to their chairs and get all your questions answered in one sitting.

Anything short of this is likely to drive you insane. [Read more…]

Search for the Best Burger Joint in Austin: Mighty Fine Burgers

July 3, 2012 by Eric Highland 26 Comments

I’m a huge burger fan. Anyone who knows me knows that burgers are one of my all-time favorite foods. If my metabolism weren’t so darn slow, I’d eat them four days a week. I’m always looking for that next great burger joint.

When I first started blogging in Austin, I wanted to do a series on the best burgers in town, so I started actively looking for recommendations on places to go from friends and colleagues. [Read more…]

Visionary GM Takes Control of The Belmont in Austin

June 27, 2012 by Eric Highland 1 Comment

Raul Garcia, GM of The Belmont in Austin

Humility and honor are worth more than wisdom.

These words are boldly tattooed on the chest of Raul Garcia, the new General Manager of The Belmont.

Raul is a visionary with years of high-end experience in the restaurant/nightclub/bar industry.

Originally from South America, Raul has worked and managed some of the top spots in Miami Beach and New York City. He now brings his wealth of experience and his original ideas to the Austin area.

Expect to see great things from The Belmont. [Read more…]

3 Reasons Blanco State Park Should Be on Your Austin Summer To-Do List

June 19, 2012 by Eric Highland 5 Comments

Summer is here in Austin and we’re already starting to feel the heat. For those of you new to the area, it’s only going to get hotter. But there’s good news. Early summer in Austin is one of the best times of the year to break out the picnic basket and get your outdoor time in.

At the Austinot, we love state parks. The parks within a day’s drive of Austin are some of the best in the entire country. Each state park is unique, and every time we write an article we share tips on what to bring, what not to bring and what to expect. Click here to check out related articles on state parks.

One of the parks we visited recently was Blanco State Park. Whether you’re looking for camping, swimming, hiking, [Read more…]

Johnny T’s BBQ: Mouthwatering Texas Joint in Round Rock

June 13, 2012 by Eric Highland 4 Comments

I’m always looking for those great Texas BBQ spots anywhere close to Austin, and you know that when I’ve found one I’m going to share it. Those that have kept up with the Austinot also know that when we review a spot, we shoot straight from the hip.

Recently, Brittany and I were out and about just north of Austin in the Round Rock area. We were hungry after a long day of work, so we did a quick search on our phones and found that people were pretty happy with Johnny T’s BBQ. We decided to check it out for ourselves. [Read more…]

Why BarCraft Austin Is Becoming a Local Phenomenon

May 24, 2012 by Eric Highland 20 Comments

Imagine 120,000 people live in a stadium shouting at the top of their lungs. They aren’t watching soccer, football or a concert. They are watching world championship eSports, specifically StarCraft II.

Competitive live video game tournaments are taking the world by storm, and Austin has been impacted as well. As a matter of fact, Austin City Limits’ Moody Theatre is hosting a StarCraft II event May 26th-27th. Fans from all over the world are coming to watch a live match right here in Austin. In addition, there are multiple events that take place monthly in Austin where you can check this phenomenon out. [Read more…]

Is Angel Sword the Best Sword Maker in the World?

May 15, 2012 by Eric Highland 149 Comments

A few months ago, if someone had asked me who makes the finest swords in the world I would have replied without hesitation, “the Japanese.” This shows my level of local ignorance.

What if I told you that one of the world’s most talented master sword makers lives and operates in Austin’s backyard?

Don’t believe me? It’s true. Not only that, but this American master sword maker has blown away every single world record in Japanese sword cutting and they aren’t getting the trophy back any time soon. He hasn’t beaten the Japanese by a small margin; he has decimated them. This master owns the charts.

All of them. [Read more…]

Austin Java: More Than Just Austin Coffee

May 2, 2012 by Eric Highland Leave a Comment

Editor’s Note: Austin Java is closing its Barton Springs location on July 1, 2018, due to rising property taxes. A new location will open at 5404 Manchaca Road.

Running an Austin blog, I have one of the greatest jobs in the world. Every day I get to explore Austin, meet fascinating people, and write about a city that I love to discover.

Most days, I’m out and about and normally have a long list of people who I’m meeting with. More often than not, my meetings are one right after the other. Because of this routine, I’m frequently looking for great local spots to work from for the day.

Enter Austin Java on Barton Springs.

I don’t know about you, but in order for me to plant myself for a few hours and get down to interviews and writing, I have certain things that I’m looking for when it comes to establishments. [Read more…]

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