Lizzy Newsome - The Austinot

Spotlight on the Darkest Bar in Texas

May 23, 2014 by Lizzy Newsome 1 Comment

The Cloak Room, known as the darkest bar in Texas

Have you noticed how much Austin has changed? In the past 10 years, Austin has risen to become the 11th largest city in the nation, and it has the stretch marks to show for it.

An ever-increasing metro population has led to growing pains in the form of construction cranes, an increased cost of living, and traffic that seems to go nowhere. It’s great to live in a popular city, but it can be a bit exhausting.

Still, if you search hard enough, you can find pockets of the old Austin, thriving amid the development and high-rises. Case in point: Austin’s darkest bar [Read more…]

A Taste of Texas Chefs Featured at Austin Food and Wine Festival 2014

May 7, 2014 by Lizzy Newsome Leave a Comment

Food at Trace Austin Food and Wine Festival Event

Dishes created by Trace at the 3rd Annual Food Republic Interview Lounge

You can still smell the smoke! The recently concluded Austin Food and Wine Festival celebrates the constantly evolving tastes of Texas, the flavors, aromas, cultures, and characters. Itself evolved from the earlier Texas Hill Country Food and Wine Festival, it brings chefs from all over the world to our fair city to showcase their skills and knowledge to attendees and contemporaries.

Once confined to more populous metros such as New York and LA, the chefs of honor at this exclusive culinary event are more likely than ever to call Texas home. We all know that we live in a state full of delicious dishes, but have you ever looked up from your brisket to thank the cook? [Read more…]

Award Winning Olive Oil Sprouts in Heart of Texas

April 24, 2014 by Lizzy Newsome Leave a Comment

Bella Vista olive oil made in Texas Hill Country

How much do you know about olive oil? Due to its growing prevalence in our restaurants and kitchens, there’s a good chance you’ve partaken in the extra virgin variety today!

Between salads, sautes and emulsions, it’s easily possible to consume olive oil every day of the week. Yet how often do we stop to consider the origins and characteristics of this transformative anointment? Recent press has highlighted the importance of vetting your olive oil supplier, and where better to start than close to home? You may not know this, but there is olive oil production within 50 miles of Austin! [Read more…]

Always Oktoberfest at Sixth Street’s Easy Tiger

April 10, 2014 by Lizzy Newsome Leave a Comment

Easy Tiger on 6th Street in Austin

There is a sweeter smell wafting down the alleyways of Dirty Sixth. The aroma is sweet enough to tempt the most finicky of eaters, and may even make established Austinites question their preconceived notions about our city’s most notorious street.

While 6th Street’s strongest associations may be cheap liquor and cover bands, hidden restaurant gems have been here for years. A more recent addition to the list is Easy Tiger, a somewhat unexpected mix between bakery and bar that has quickly become a local favorite.

I’ll take the yummy one!

[Read more…]

Toy Joy for Sale: Open Letter from the Owners About the Past 7 Years

March 7, 2014 by Lizzy Newsome 83 Comments

Lizzy Newsome and Trevor Yopp, Toy Joy owners

We’ve been the owners of Toy Joy for the past 5 years, and the management team for the past 7. A lot has happened, and we’ve been asked to share our story. No names, just an account of our
experiences.

There is a TL;DR at the bottom for you lazy lurkers. I know this is a long read.

My husband and I started working at Toy Joy in 2006. My first holiday season, I worked 55 hours a week. We LOVED it. The colors, the excited customers, the smell of plastic. We started at $7.50 an hour, but we didn’t care. And we were good at it. Within 1 year, we had both been promoted up to store managers, and learned a lot of amazing things about my favorite store. I was selecting the toys to put in the store, and building displays, and making the signs. Some things were odd – the owners only showed up every month or so – but it was our first experience working at a small business right out of college. We were happy being a part of Toy Joy.

Becoming Owners

Toy Joy on 29th Street – interior

In 2007, the owners approached us with the suggestion that we purchase the store. We were shocked, and concerned. We couldn’t imagine our beloved store going away. We wanted it to be there forever, an icon to wonderfully weird Austin. My husband talked me into considering it. That was all it took. Once you start putting work into getting an SBA loan, you don’t want to give up. Our families saw that we were good at our jobs and supported us. We had no idea what we were getting them into. [Read more…]

New Cafe Causing Coffee Ruckus in Downtown Austin

February 21, 2014 by Lizzy Newsome 2 Comments

Cafe Ruckus is located at 409 W 2nd St.

Editor’s Note: Cafe Ruckus closed in July 2017.

Every day, the population of Austin is growing. I have heard many different numbers thrown out, but they all point to the same thing. A booming population. While opinions vary on the growing influx to our fair city, one thing is certain…we are going to need more coffee.

If seating is scarce at your favorite wi-fi-enabled caffeine dealer, there is a new spot for you at Cafe Ruckus. Located in Austin’s new “Coffee District” (aka the 2nd Street District), this fresh locale is eager to win over new regulars. [Read more…]

Austin Blooms: Show Your Local Florist Some Love

February 7, 2014 by Lizzy Newsome 3 Comments

Consider this your warning: Valentine’s Day is almost here!! Does the object of your passion know the depths of your regard? Does your best friend know that your friendship will bloom forever? Does your mom know she’ll always be your Valentine?

Regardless of your current relationship status, flowers should be on your shopping list this year. While last minute orders from generic floral websites may relieve a lover’s conscience, they do little for our local economy and the result is often disappointing (baby’s breath and carnations are so 1986!). [Read more…]

Hopfields Is French for Yummy

January 24, 2014 by Lizzy Newsome 1 Comment

Hidden at the end of a rather stark commercial building sits one of the shiniest hidden gems in the treasury of Austin dining spots. There are many choices for lovers of food and libation in Austin, but Hopfields is the only bar I have discovered so far that manages to please the pickiest eaters, as well as the most discerning craft beer fans.

As an eager drinker of brews both local and distant, the copper wall of taps is a welcome sight. It can be overwhelming to the uninitiated, but the bartenders here are helpful experts. Let them know your tastes and they will make recommendations accordingly. If beer isn’t your thing, Hopfields also has a lovely selection of Ciders, with a rotating tap as well. There is a very complete wine list – and a list of clever sounding wine cocktails. Enough to tempt even the most stoic beer-drinker away from their old standard. [Read more…]

Austin’s Best Downtown Happy Hours Ready to Wet Your Whistle

January 10, 2014 by Lizzy Newsome 5 Comments

According to Wikipedia, the origins of “Happy Hour” are shrouded in mystery, but we are grateful nonetheless. Just as mysteriously, finding the perfect happy hour can be difficult in a city full of watering holes, but the well informed won’t have to travel far.

Believe it or not, some of the city’s more affordable cocktail hours happen to be in the heart of downtown, conveniently close by to that afternoon meeting of yours. Maybe happy hour should even be combined with the meeting?

The following four locales are a great place to start any evening, but this list is just the tip of the happy hour iceberg. [Read more…]

2013 Nutcracker Features Vibrant New Costumes from Ballet Austin

December 19, 2013 by Lizzy Newsome 1 Comment

Ballet Austin will be performing the Nutcracker daily through December 23, 2013

Do you have a holiday sweet tooth? This year, the visions of sugar plums that dance through Austin will look a little different than year’s past. For the 51st annual production of Ballet Austin’s Nutcracker, attendees will experience an entirely transformed vision. The tutus are fuller, the tiaras have more glitter, and the sets are covered in sprinkles. Even the rats are furrier. This year, the Nutcracker features an entirely new compliment of costumes and sets! [Read more…]