Sommer Brugal - The Austinot

Dinner, Dancing, Bubbles: Here’s What Austin Has to Offer This New Year’s Eve

December 23, 2016 by Sommer Brugal Leave a Comment

Austin provides many ways to welcome the new year with a bang (Credit: Nathaniel F via Flickr CC)

It’s hard to believe, but 2016 is coming to a close. Whether you prefer a casual celebration or choose to ring in the New Year dancing the night away, Austin has something for you. To help you decide what to do, I’ve curated a list of dinners, bashes and even a few activities for the morning after (hangovers welcome).

So here’s to you, to the end of this year and to the start of another. Let’s get this party started. [Read more…]

Con Mi MADRE Nurtures Young Latinas on Journey Towards College

December 16, 2016 by Sommer Brugal Leave a Comment

In 1992, a Latina baby girl had less than a one percent chance of acquiring a college education. It was a grim statistic, one Austin Latinas and fellow women took to heart. It was a statistic they set out to change. The result was Con Mi MADRE.

What began as a mother-daughter program in 1992 has become a thriving nonprofit that serves more than 600 young Latinas and their mothers in the greater Austin area. For the past 24 years, Con Mi MADRE has worked to change the expectations and stigmas for young Latina women.

Today, the organization works to open doors for members, exposing them to opportunities they never thought possible. [Read more…]

How to Shop Small and Shop Local This Holiday Season

November 25, 2016 by Sommer Brugal Leave a Comment

Becky Simpson, the creative behind Chipper Things, encourages you to shop small with her signature flow chart

There’s nothing more exciting than finding the perfect gift for a loved one or close friend. Sometimes it jumps out and screams, “buy me!” Other times, you have to spend a little time searching.

Luckily, there are plenty of opportunities to shop. Mark your calendars because we’ve compiled a list of our favorite pop-ups, markets and bazaars around town this holiday season. These are the shopping events you won’t want to miss. [Read more…]

What’s New at the Whole Foods Market Flagship Store These Days?

November 14, 2016 by Sommer Brugal Leave a Comment

Red Okra boasts a locally-sourced menu, including wine and beer options (Credit: Red Okra)

When you think of Austin, a few essentials may come to mind: delicious tacos, outdoor activities, live music and Whole Foods Market. Whether you regularly shop at the Austin-based store or not, you probably know that a visit to Whole Foods Market’s flagship location is more than a trip to the grocery store—it’s an experience.

The store boasts both take-out and dine-in meal options, a wine bar, a sushi and seafood bar, a juice bar, a taco bar, and a sit-down café. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t eaten all three meals there before. If you’ve visited recently, you may have noticed a few more additions, including a new farm-to-table sit-down restaurant, Red Okra. [Read more…]

Find Old South Austin Flare, Delicious Sandwiches at G’s Dynamite Deli

October 17, 2016 by Sommer Brugal Leave a Comment

G’s Dynamite Deli cooks up delicious sandwiches, soups and salads in South Austin

G’s Dynamite Deli is quintessential Old South Austin. Tucked away at South 1st Street and Oltorf, G’s unassumingly serves up delicious sandwiches, salads and soups.

Staffed with friendly people, decorated with crayon-colored, sandwich-inspired art and stamped with stickers from neighboring South Austin businesses, G’s is the perfect spot to grab a quick yet satisfying bite for lunch or dinner. [Read more…]

Chipper Things’ Becky Simpson Creates Illustrations That Inspire

October 3, 2016 by Sommer Brugal Leave a Comment

Becky Simpson in her studio (Credit: Constance Higley)

“When something inspires you to create, you have to run with it,” says Becky Simpson. It’s a motto she lives by, that led her to where she is today.

Simpson began working as an illustrator after an idea for a flow chart popped into her mind while she was sitting at Caffe Medici. At the time, she was working as a graphic designer in Austin. Though we often ignore our ideas, promising ourselves we’ll “get back to it later,” Simpson ran with hers. She allowed herself to focus and develop the concept until it was complete.

Today, the flow chart she created—“Should I Wash My Hair Today?”—is one of her signature pieces. [Read more…]

The Beer Museum Brings History, Education to Austin

September 7, 2016 by Sommer Brugal Leave a Comment

The Beer Museum Artifacts in Austin, Texas

Artifacts from The Beer Museum in Austin (Credit: Kim Giles)

For some, the ideal evening beverage is a 12 oz. stout. For others, it’s an IPA. And for others still, it’s a smooth pale ale. But for Matt Benavidez, Virginia Benavidez and Cameron Paxton, it depends on the night, and more times than not, it’s all the above.

Beer is a way of life for this group of friends. It always has been and always will be. So it’s no surprise they’re behind Austin’s first Beer Museum. [Read more…]

10 Austin Breakfast Sandwiches to Choose From This Week

August 22, 2016 by Sommer Brugal Leave a Comment

Cenote’s breakfast sandwiches overflow with local ingredients and pasture-raised eggs

Before we begin, and in an effort to avoid any hurt feelings, I should make one thing clear: I love breakfast tacos. The combination of scrambled eggs, black beans, pico de gallo, and avocados on a freshly-made corn tortilla is one of the most satisfying meals I could ever order. It’s a dish that hasn’t let me down yet.

But when I relocated to Austin from the East Coast, my taste buds longed for something familiar to home: I was craving a breakfast sandwich. When my first Sunday morning in town rolled around, I set out to find the best breakfast sandwich Austin had to offer.

Sure enough, I found it. Actually, I found ten.

Here’s a list of my favorite Austin breakfast sandwiches that are sure to please East Coast natives and Austinites alike. [Read more…]