Joleen Jernigan - 5/6 - The Austinot

4 Austin Escape Rooms to Tickle Your Fancy and Your Brain

February 2, 2017 by Joleen Jernigan Leave a Comment

What would a hotel-based escape room be without a Wes Anderson-esque bellhop? (Credit: The Seventh Room)

Are you looking for a way to summon your powers of logic, observation and deduction? Do you need an affordable place to take out of town guests, especially those with kids? Want a fun way to blow off steam after exams? Look no further than one of these Austin escape rooms.

Every escape room has a similar overarching purpose: get a group of people together to solve a series of clues embedded in nearly every object in a room (or rooms). The following are four of the finest Austin escape rooms and what makes each one unique. They change out their themes to keep things fresh, but the standbys include some heist operation, some physical escape as from a prison or a sinking or hijacked ship, and some save-the-world spy mission. Whichever scenario you choose, you can count on having fun. [Read more…]

Old Austin Alive and Kicking at The Hole in the Wall Dive Bar

January 11, 2017 by Joleen Jernigan 2 Comments

The Hole in the Wall’s sign summons Austin residents and visitors to this iconic watering hole

Like a perfectly worn-in pair of cowboy boots, slipping into a classic dive bar to down a cold one provides true comfort. The Hole in the Wall is as divey as they come. I’m grinning from ear to ear as I order my tequila. [Read more…]

11 Uniquely Austin Gifts to Level Up Your Local Shopping Game

December 13, 2016 by Joleen Jernigan 2 Comments

Drazah Texas State Capitol Night Photograph

Local photographer Drazah’s close-up night shot of the Texas State Capitol would delight a history buff or devoted Austinite (Credit: Drazah Photography)

Scratching your head looking for that perfect gift? Searching for a memorable souvenir for out-of-town guests? Our guide to the city’s creative minds will help you find the Austin gifts you need to keep it local. [Read more…]

Kick Your Lady Mojo Into High Gear With #bossbabesATX

November 16, 2016 by Joleen Jernigan Leave a Comment

#bossbabesATX team L-R: Lauren Murray, Leslie Lozano, Jasmine Brooks, Jane Claire Hervey, Ashlee Jordan Pryor (Credit: Tess Cagle/#bossbabesATX)

Keep your ear to the ground in Austin and you’ll hear the rumblings of #bossbabesATX. This group’s near-viral momentum over the past year and a half shows no signs of slowing down. [Read more…]

Eat Like Italian Royalty at Vespaio Ristorante, Enoteca Vespaio in Austin

November 7, 2016 by Joleen Jernigan 2 Comments

Vespaio Ristorante and Enoteca Vespaio are co-located on South Congress Avenue (Credit: Joleen Jernigan)

Do you want freshly-made, locally-grown food served with a warm South Austin attitude? Vespaio Ristorante and Enoteca Vespaio bring both–with Italian passion–to the heart of South Congress Avenue.

These culinary cornerstones of the SoCo strip have been setting the standard for Italian food in Austin for decades. The kitchen staff at both restaurants is up and at it early, making pasta, bread, desserts and charcuterie, and prepping all of the daily specials in-house. Much of the food is made using ingredients from the on-site garden, Tecolote Farm in Manor and other local vendors. [Read more…]

TMBBQ Fest Brings the Heat and the Meat to Austin

November 1, 2016 by Joleen Jernigan 2 Comments

Table full of samples at TMBBQ Fest

Texas Monthly invited 27 BBQ purveyors to participate in the 7th annual TMBBQ Fest at the Long Center on Oct. 30, 2016. Austin pitmasters represented our city well, claiming five of the coveted spots at the festival and sharing the stage with others from among the top 50 pitmasters in Texas.

The pitmasters, crews and volunteers brought in their smokers early to set up for the meat-tasting extravaganza of the year. A hungry horde of roughly 3,500 eaters put on their game faces and lined up for grub. Some families planned their tasting strategy ahead of time, employing a divide and conquer strategy. Others meandered about, going where the day and their noses led them.

The five Austin participants included Franklin Barbecue, La Barbecue, Freedmen’s, Stiles Switch and Lambert’s. Here’s what you missed. [Read more…]

The SEED Redefines ESL Classes in Austin With Input From Students

October 28, 2016 by Joleen Jernigan Leave a Comment

Open discussion at The SEED class at Houston Elementary School in Austin (Credit: The SEED)

The SEED offers English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to adults in Austin, emphasizing participation and community building. Learners are engaged community members and participants in their own educational experience. They give input on various aspects of the classes, including what they want to learn, what type of outreach or fundraising they want to do, and how much time they want to spend on a given task. [Read more…]

5 Grown-up Austin Wine Venues With Tasty Food Options

October 13, 2016 by Joleen Jernigan 4 Comments

Lenoir’s sun-dappled wine garden also offers savory dishes and desserts

Find your wine-soaked bliss paired with delicious food at these classy Austin wine locales. All these places will satisfy your cravings for delicious wine and food, and won’t break the bank if you plan ahead. [Read more…]

Breathing New Life Into Historic Scoot Inn’s Funky Old Bones

September 23, 2016 by Joleen Jernigan Leave a Comment

Historic Scoot Inn has spruced up the front patio in celebration of 145 years

Why do dive bars capture our hearts so much? Historic Scoot Inn has tenaciously hung in there as one of the most popular dive bars in Austin. And now this east side venue has swept out the cobwebs with a facelift for its 145th birthday.

That’s right: this beloved East 4th Street location has served as some type of local business since 1871. While Historic Scoot Inn still possesses a tattered, endearing charm, it’s less tattered now. The owners just completed a remodel, gently nudging this East Austin icon into the modern era. [Read more…]

ALL ATX Showcase and CD to Support Austin Musicians

September 16, 2016 by Joleen Jernigan Leave a Comment

Todd Rundgren and other performing musicians thanking the crowd at the 2015 ALL ATX benefit concert
(Credit: ALL ATX)

ALL ATX advocates for and nurtures Austin’s musicians, and strives to aid Austin in keeping musicians here and cared for. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, ALL ATX is adding new beneficiaries this year to best meet the needs of local musicians, needs highlighted in the 2015 Austin Music Census Report.

The proceeds from the Sept. 29ALL ATX 2016 Showcase and accompanying CD, both titled “Low Down Violet Crown: Austin Rocks the Blues,” will go to the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM), SIMS Foundation, Black Fret and Austin Music Foundation, four organizations that give direct support to Austin musicians. [Read more…]