Samantha Champion - The Austinot

Wearable Hope Makes Philanthropy Stylish

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Samantha Champion

The making of a Wearable Hope campaign shirt

One of the most beautiful things about our city is its charitable spirit. A recent Greenlights study revealed that the Austin area has more non-profits than any other major city in the southwest United States, 4,000 in Travis County alone.

No matter your passion, there’s a non-profit dedicated to supporting a cause you care about. But beyond volunteering, how do you show your support for the charitable organizations working to better our city? Austin-based Wearable Hope makes raising awareness as easy as getting dressed in the morning. [Read more…]

Battle of the Brunches Round 1: South Congress Cafe

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Samantha Champion

South Congress Cafe is located at 1600 S Congress Avenue. (Photo credit: South Congress Cafe)

Today marks the beginning of a six-part series entitled Battle of the Brunches, where a handful of the hundreds of brunch-serving spots in town will be evaluated based on the rigid criteria of deliciousness, enjoyableness, and overall awesomeness.

All six spots have been previously determined to be well above average, so think of my series as more of a brunch bucket list than a head-to-head bloodbath, if you will. I just really liked the image of quiche and frittata going at it in some underground fight club.

To kick us off, I’m honing in on what seems to be one of the most beloved brunch spots in Austin: South Congress Cafe. Nestled neatly among other ’04 favorites such as Vespaio, Uncommon Objects and Home Slice, South Congress Cafe has been serving some of the best food south of the river since 2003. Owned by the same folks as Trudy’s, South Congress is like the Tex-Mex joint’s hipper, more sophisticated sister. [Read more…]

Lunch Break? 7 Local Options Around 7 Dollars

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Samantha Champion

Looking for cheap lunch spots in Austin? You’ve come to the right place (Photo credit: The Jalopy on Facebook)

Every afternoon around 1 PM, I tell myself “today is the LAST day” I’m going to buy my lunch this week…that from now on, I’m strictly a brown-bag girl. I daydream about planning my meals over the weekend and grocery shopping in advance.

The next morning around 7 AM, I decide that ten more minutes of sleep is so insanely critical that I will most definitely die a slow and painful death if I get up any second earlier than is absolutely necessary in order to make it to work on time-ish. I bargain with myself. I even second-guess showering. I’m not exactly a morning person.

This scenario repeats itself at least four times a week, leaving me with no other choice than to head out in search of yet another cheap lunch option that doesn’t involve any sort of pink slime. Enter my list of some of my favorite affordable Austin lunch spots where you can find a relatively quick midday meal for around $7 (because $5 is just ridiculous, but $9 lunches seem so Manhattan). [Read more…]

Winflo Osteria: Modern Italian Gem in Old West Austin

Posted on March 10, 2014 by Samantha Champion

Editor’s Note: Winflo Osteria closed at the end of March 2018.

If you’re over the age of 22, you’ve probably already realized there is a Sixth Street beyond Congress Avenue. In fact, it extends west of Guadalupe, even beyond Lamar. This is Old West Austin, where historic charm and fresh modernity seamlessly blend together to create a different kind of Sixth Street.

Between Mopac and Lamar, the cracked sidewalks of West Sixth are lined with restaurants brimming with laid-back coolness. Among them are seasoned (pun intended) favorites like Z’Tejas (1110 W 6th), Cafe Josie (1200B W 6th), and Sweetish Hill Bakery (1120 W 6th). Newer additions to Old West Austin include Clark’s Oyster Bar (1200 W 6th), Blake’s On Sixth (1221 W 6th), and my favorite, Winflo Osteria (1315 W 6th). [Read more…]

Monument Market Puts a Fresh Spin on Going Local

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Samantha Champion

Monument Market is located at 500 S Austin Ave. in Georgetown

Hello, we are Austin, and we are addicted to food.

Fortunately for us, we’re addicted to the good stuff: local, organic, sustainably farmed foods that promote our health and economy. We live in a city that is proud of its backyard gardens, chicken coops, and home-brewed kombucha. We are aspiring farmers, brewmasters, and butchers (well, some of us).

Our passion for local food is reflected on the menus of the many restaurants around town that boast local, organic produce, meat, and dairy. One of my favorite restaurants with a commitment to responsible eating is [Read more…]

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