The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

12 Free Date Ideas for the Frugal Austinite

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You're My Butter Half Street Art Austin

You butter believe you’re going to love this list of free date ideas (Credit: Lane Becker via Flickr CC)

Guest article by Michele Eilertsen

From feasting on delectable dishes at local restaurants to laughing until your eyes well up with tears at over-the-top comedy shows, living in a city as quirky as Austin provides a plethora of options when it comes to dating. Planning a fun outing with your romantic interest is a surefire way to show them how much they mean to you. However, contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to spend an exorbitant amount of money to impress your partner. Truth be told, there are an abundance of places in Austin that make excellent choices for date night (or afternoon), and won’t break the bank. [Read more…]

Gain (More Than) Outdoor Survival Skills at Earth Native Wilderness School

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Learn survival skills at Earth Native Wilderness School

Learn survival skills at Earth Native Wilderness School (Credit: Scott David Gordon )

Guest article by Caitlin Jackson

In Austin, we are fortunate to have so many natural spaces to enjoy. We have lakes, rivers, and hiking. But simply being in nature is only one part of forging a deeper connection with it. Many of us have felt the need to acquire survival know-how. But for those of us who spend the majority of our time within city limits, learning these skills can be a daunting task. Where do we begin? Luckily, we have a starting line and it’s located at Earth Native Wilderness School.

[Read more…]

Enjoy Moonlight Bat Float and Support Texas River School

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Austin's Famous Bat Bridge

Austin’s famous bat bridge along Congress Avenue (Credit: He.Who.Wanders)

Guest article by Caitlin Jackson

You’ve seen the bats from the bridge, but how about from the water? Under a full moon? Texas River School has an event that allows you to do both. It’s called Moonlight Bat Float. Guided by moonlight and entertained by live music, you set out on Lady Bird Lake in a flotilla of kayaks and canoes. Just as the sun goes down, the bats fly overhead while you glide on the water, away from traffic and noise.  

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Austin’s Only Women-owned Barbershop Offers Fresh Cuts in Vintage Style

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Owners of Barbon's Barbershop in Austin

Owners of Barbon’s Barbershop, Clarita and Sarita Sanchez

Guest article by Mathis Kennington

More female entrepreneurs are making a mark on industries that used to be the domain of men, and Austin women are leading the charge. Nowhere is this more evident than at Austin’s newest barbershop, owned by sisters, Sarita and Clarita Sanchez.

Barbon’s Barbershop started as a creative dream shared by Sarita, whose obsession with the art of barbering earned her a reputation as one of the city’s finest, and Clarita, whose business skills made her a perfect fit to run the shop. It’s pretty obvious this sibling pair is a match made in barber heaven. [Read more…]

8 International Desserts in Austin to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

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Epicerie Beignets and Coffee in Austin

Beignets and coffee at épicerie (Credit: épicerie Cafe and Grocery)

Guest article by Archana Vemulapalli

For those of you with a sweet tooth here in Austin, you already know there are plenty of places for fresh bites to satisfy those cravings. But what you may not know is that Austin’s local businesses offer international desserts for the times when you want to indulge in something different. Get ready to travel around the world without having to leave Austin city limits.

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Your Biker Gang Turns Up Street Style With Guided Tours of Austin

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Your Biker Gang Austin Tours

Credit: Your Biker Gang

Guest article by Caitlin Jackson

They’re not motorcycles. They’re not Segways. They’re electric minibikes. And you can ride one, too.

Austin has a novel way to explore the city. For two hours, you can be a part of your very own biker gang. Your Biker Gang, a guided tour company using electric minibikes, turns up the street style as its team takes you and your friends around town. [Read more…]

Wildwood Bakehouse, Austin’s Go-to Gluten-free Restaurant and Bakery

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Wildwood Bakehouse Gluten-free in Austin

Wildwood Bakehouse

Guest article by Sarah Snyder

Coming from someone who has been gluten-free for 16 years due to a celiac disease diagnosis, Wildwood Bakehouse is heaven-sent. In business for over 15 years, everything at Wildwood Bakehouse is 100 percent gluten-free. They have vegan and carb-free options available, as well. The restaurant and bakery also maintains an association with the Celiac Disease Foundation.

[Read more…]

Snow’s BBQ Ranks as Best Barbecue (and Line?) in Texas

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Snow's BBQ Meat Plate

Snow’s holy trinity: brisket, jalapeño sausage, and pork steak

Guest article by Cristopher Rubio

I had been craving Snow’s BBQ for a couple months, the eatery ranked number one among Texas Monthly’s “Top 50 Barbecue Joints in Texas.” So a few Saturdays ago, I convinced my in-laws, Mayra and Jorge, to join me for a visit. The following is a running diary of an excellent day spent with excellent people, eating some of the best barbecue in the state. [Read more…]

Live Music Meets Tubing at Float Fest 2017

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Float Fest 2017

Credit: Brandon Navarro

Guest article by Brandon Navarro

If there is one thing that immediately comes to mind when I think about the city of Austin, it’s the music. On any given night, you can go into coffee shops, hole in the wall bars, and restaurants, and there will be live music of every kind playing. Everything from live shows to music videos are celebrated here. Not only that, but Austin is home to music festivals that range from well-known to new: SXSW, ACL Fest, Levitation, Reggae Fest, and Austin Food + Wine Festival are just a few of the many that come to mind.

Many don’t realize it, but there’s a new kind of festival in the Austin area. In its short lifespan of four years, Float Fest has grown into something people have been and will keep talking about. When a river can cool you off and spit you out right where the good music starts, that’s where most of us want to be.  [Read more…]

10 Austin Books Clubs at Independent Book Stores Cover Range of Genres

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Austin Book Clubs

Credit: Chris Lawton via Unsplash

Guest article by Archana Vemulapalli

Austin is a book lover’s paradise. With numerous independent book stores, a world-renowned poetry festival, book readings, and one of the nation’s premier annual literary events, the annual Texas Book Festival, there’s something for everyone. It’s no surprise, then, that there’s an abundance of Austin book clubs for the bibliophiles among us.

Book clubs have a long history in the United States, with groups like Benjamin Franklin’s literary society in Philadelphia, called the Junto, and Hannah Adam’s reading circle in the late 1760’s. More than two centuries later, book clubs have expanded beyond the genteel in society. They span every genre and style, with the central theme always being a shared love of the written word.

While I’m still compiling an exhaustive list of Austin book clubs, I did have time to check out a few of the book clubs hosted by or at Austin’s independent books stores. Here are 10 interesting, fun book clubs, organized by genre. Choose one that suits you and find a group of kindred spirits. [Read more…]

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