Discover the Best Things to Do in Austin, Food & Drink deals and more!
Firefly Cloaks by Austin Bright Light Design (Credit: George Trent Grogan/Mountain Trout Photography)
“What can we do to make you smile today?” Austin Bright Light Design founders, Gerry Gilligan and Jason Balcauski, asked themselves. The answer? Firefly Cloaks. These brightly lit garments bring smiles to faces, curiosity followed by intrigue, chased with a shot of glee. Austin loves its dance floors, festivals, and moments of abandonment. So what makes this local company so special?
Neighborhood dive bar Sam’s Town Point keeps south Austin tradition alive (Credit: Ramsay Midwood)
Dive bars used to be a dime a dozen in Austin, but these friendly hangouts are an endangered species due to the city’s ever-changing landscape. Sam’s Town Point, far south Austin‘s dive bar paragon, is quietly hanging in there, delivering up the coldest beer in town and tasty live music for those in the know.
Walk into Sam’s Town Point, a portal to Austin’s past, when everybody knew their neighbors, when half of the town hung out day-drinking and two-stepping at their local honky tonk. Live music has been a staple at Sam’s since the beginning. Today, a solid roster of local bands still play their hearts out on the tumbledown stage, under dim lighting and faded signs. [Read more…]
Ysabel LeMay’s hypercollage art highlights the intricacies and beauty of natural settings (Credit: Danny Allegretti)
Austin-based artist Ysabel LeMay holds a singular space in the world of fine art photography, with her mystical photo creations. LeMay’s pieces invite, even compel, viewers to come closer, to step into a world where light, mist, fog, water, and life play together.
Maria and Abdu welcome diners to The Flying Carpet
Editor’s Note: As of spring 2019, The Flying Carpet is closed until further notice.
“Love Wins.” The sign on the side of The Flying Carpet, a family-run Moroccan food truck, says it all. The Flying Carpet brings the rich cuisine of Morocco to south Austin with nothing but love.
Owners Abderrahim “Abdu” and Maria Souktori personally welcome diners as though they were guests entering their own home. The delicious food is sourced and prepped daily, and cooked to order on the spot. [Read more…]
Daddy Otis’s “Free Hugs!” I hope you said that in your best monster voice, because I always do. (Credit: @knowatx)
Austin mural artists continue to inspire us with their creativity and massive pieces of art. At the recent ReCreate event, the final spray-out day at HOPE Outdoor Gallery, 50 artists painted every inch of wall space there. Hundreds of people came out to watch, admire, photograph, and say goodbye to HOPE’s famous location. [Read more…]
Build the stage, bring the bands, and your audience will follow (Credit: Parker Jazz Club)
Step back in time to the Roaring Twenties at Parker Jazz Club in downtown Austin. Situated underground like all the coolest clubs, Parker Jazz Club acts as an incubator for the music and the sensibility of another era. Set your sights on a whole new music experience, complemented by classic cocktails and a sultry aura.
Despite Austin’s outspoken love for live music, we are somewhat lacking in world-class, traditional jazz. Parker Jazz Club intends to change that. Jazz music evokes a host of strong feelings for many, calling to mind a different time and place. Walking down the staircase into the dark, elegant club, I felt as though I could be in Chicago, New York, or Paris in the ’20s or ’50s. By design, Parker Jazz Club stands apart from the typical downtown Austin bar. [Read more…]
Credit: Liz Kreutz
Spring sends Austinites scattering across the city hiking the Greenbelt, walking our dogs, swimming in spring-fed pools, and drinking on patios. Another joy of the season is going to outdoor movie events in Austin. Our city’s movies in the park scene is like an infinity mirror–it keeps going and going. Here are five of the best, free outdoor movie events in Austin.
Bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on, picnic or tacos to munch on, and something to drink. Wherever Austinites go, food trucks follow, so food trucks will usually be an option at these movies. Remember, though, that alcohol is never allowed at these screenings, nor are glass bottles or Styrofoam containers. And while friendly dogs on leashes are allowed at some of these events, due to the booming speakers and crowds, it is unwise to bring them. [Read more…]
Fill up the table with Tex-Mex goodness at DK Maria’s in Austin
Imagine sitting around a campfire after a hard day of riding horses and herding cattle, tendrils of smoke wafting up from carne guisada in a cast iron kettle, and your stomach growling with hunger. You can recreate that satisfying sensation at DK Maria’s Legendary Tex-Mex in South Austin.
South Austin tends to feel like the epicenter of independent coffee shops. We have so many, in fact, that narrowing this list down to 12 places was a challenge! What they all have in common is what makes them so south Austin: a combination of organic, locally-roasted beans, free Wi-Fi, food to nosh on, and dog-friendly areas. Despite their similarities, each of these South Austin coffee shops holds a unique allure and has a legion of devotees. [Read more…]
Niz incorporates images from nature into her art, like this piece with owl wings and fox head and tail
Austin’s mural art covers the city’s walls, inside and outside bars, restaurants, schools, and museums. If you’ve spent any time in Austin, then you’ve seen the colorful creations of the following three artists. [Read more…]