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The rapidly developing east side of Austin is filled with just about everything you want in plain sight. Well, almost everything. In the case of Milonga Room, you have a speakeasy that resides underneath Buenos Aires Cafe, which is anything but in plain sight.
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I heard about a speakeasy called Here Nor There in passing. The entrance was hidden. You needed to make a reservation on an app to get in. You could become a member for an annual fee. They served some of the best drinks in Austin and I had to visit because it was “an experience.”
For my second article spotlighting Austin’s best speakeasies, I visited Here Nor There downtown, to separate fact from fiction and see what the experience entailed.
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The Good Life Bar Bar, one of Austin’s speakeasy-style bars
Sometimes you don’t know what you’re looking for until you’ve found it. One day you’re getting a haircut at the barbershop you’ve been going to for 10 years, and the next you have an offer to open your own bar behind said barbershop. If that feels like a fairly specific example, it’s because…surprise!…it’s based on a true story. Meet Brian Hummel, owner and operator of the The Good Life BAR BAR, a cozy and unique speakeasy in the heart of downtown Austin. [Read more…]
While covering many of my favorite food options in Austin, I’ve learned that every food trailer has a story. For most, the story began relatively recently. A few years back, perhaps. It was then a dream was formed, idea hatched, menu created, trailer purchased. This relatively recent timeline is to be expected in a city with the rapid growth of Austin.
And then you have the OG’s. The Original Gangsters. The trailers that made their names before it was commonplace to expect fine dining meals to come out of a vehicle. Baton Creole’s story began back then. And now, the Cajun and Creole cuisine creator has Godfather status in Austin’s food trailer scene. Or Godmother status, perhaps. [Read more…]
Outside at 8 Track on Manor Road
We’re entering the few cold(ish) months of the year here in Austin. So what are we to do when it’s too chilly to kayak on Lady Bird Lake and we’ll only jump into frigid Barton Springs after losing a bet?
Here’s one guy’s solution: Grab a friend or 10 and head to your favorite sports bar. Below is a list of my five central Austin recommendations.
Airstream glamping at Lake Bastrop’s North Shore Park
I wouldn’t describe myself as an outdoorsman. Sure, I love sitting outside, preferably with a taco and a beverage. And yes, one of my favorite activities is riding my bicycle around Lady Bird Lake’s Hike and Bike Trail.
But I’ll be real with you guys. I’m not great at the great outdoors. Yet, there I was at Lake Bastrop’s North Shore Park in late November, sitting outside by a roaring fire as the temperature dropped below 30 degrees.
Kimchi pancake at Kimchi Jon’s on East Sixth Street
Noticing a new food trailer on your block is like seeing a new neighbor moving in. Questions flood your mind. When should I introduce myself? Will I be stopping by often? Does this unformed relationship have long-term potential? Can they cook?
When I saw Kimchi Jon’s parked in front of Zilker Brewing Company on East Sixth Street in August, I was excited to have Korean food so close by. I was hopeful that “Jon” could deliver on supplying one of my favorite cuisines. [Read more…]
T22 Chicken Joint opened on Burnet Road in March 2018
Each time I end up at T22 Chicken Joint, I leave promising myself that next time I’ll practice portion control. But I’m only human. In my humble opinion, this is the best fried chicken in Austin.
As an unabashed east Austin lover, I offer a warning to those who are making it their home: try not to fall in love with the neighborhood too much. Yes, it’s the most fun part of Austin. Yes, it has everything you need to live your best life. Yes, there are new bars and restaurants popping up every week that need to be tried. But, it’s still important to visit other parts of the city every once in a while. Maybe?
For the people flooding into the many, many new apartments and condos in the neighborhood, let me tell you it can be difficult to venture out. These days, I find myself lacking motivation to leave east Austin for even a few hours.
As my first year with The Austinot comes to a close, I’ve decided to pen an ode to my neighborhood, which doubles as a word of caution. What follows are the top 10 reasons you might find yourself never leaving east Austin. [Read more…]
Meet the Brown sisters, the creatives behind atx&o (Credit: Erica Tello)
Here at The Austinot, we highlight local businesses, events, and movers and shakers. So it makes sense for us to acknowledge those with a similar mission.
Few do local story sharing as well–or with as much style–as atx&o, the brainchild of sisters Ashley and Becky Brown. Whether through curated web series, quick hit spotlights, or events, atx&o is making waves and bringing people together.
I recently sat down with the Browns to flip the script and shine a spotlight on them, and the work they do.
