The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

Embrace Your Inner Kid at Austin Toy Museum

by 2 Comments

Austin Toy Museum

Welcome to Austin Toy Museum (Credit: Wright Sulek)

It seems appropriate that Austin would have a museum of toys, mostly due to how serious we are about playfulness. When it comes to fostering a playful spirit as a way of life, Austin Toy Museum has it down!

Imagination and nostalgia line the walls of Austin Toy Museum, which has over 40,000 rotating items for display. While visitors certainly get a glimpse into past childhood joy, Austin Toy Museum serves the community in surprising ways. [Read more…]

The Beer Museum Brings History, Education to Austin

by 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…]

5 Ways to Dig Into Science With Kids in Austin

by Leave a Comment

Planetarium at Museum of Science and Technology in Austin

Planetarium at Texas Museum of Science and Technology

Guest article by Dana Minney

Aristotle said, “In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.”As different as children can be, one thing they share is curiosity. We observe it in their expressive faces, wide eyes and (sometimes endless) questions. Luckily, in Austin there are many ways for kids to learn, have fun and stimulate their curiosity!

[Read more…]

B Scene at Blanton Museum With Art, Drinks, Live Music

by Leave a Comment

B Scene Blanton Museum of Art Event

The night is just getting started at Blanton Museum of Art

Blanton Museum of Art’s quarterly event, B Scene, offers open art galleries, crafts, food, drinks, dancing and live music. At this unique party, visitors get an exclusive experience of The University of Texas at Austin’s beautiful art museum. [Read more…]

Oddities Await at Museum of Natural and Artificial Ephemerata

by Leave a Comment

Museum of Natural and Artificial Ephemerata Entrance

Museum of Natural & Artificial Ephemerata entrance in East Austin

In a home off of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in East Austin reside Scott and Jen Webel, owners of the Museum of Natural & Artificial Ephemerata. I remember visiting the museum when I first moved to Austin, and since then it has remained in the back of my mind as an oddity I wanted to learn more about. Where did all of these weird items come from, and why are they in someone’s home? [Read more…]

10 Beautiful Sights from Umlauf Garden Party 2015

by Leave a Comment

Umlauf Sculpture Garden Sign

Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum is located at 605 Robert E Lee Rd near Zilker Park
(Credit: Rebecca Belcher Photography)

Last week, I joined local photographer Rebecca Belcher at Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum for one of the loveliest events in Austin, the 17th Annual Umlauf Garden Party.

This major fundraiser featured fare from 20 local restaurants, wine, a silent and live auction, live music and, of course, striking artwork. Though the humidity that night made us feel like we were in Houston, the event was unmistakably Austin with excited chatter, beautiful summer dresses and a garden full of sculptures made by a man who loved this city, Charles Umlauf (1910-1994). [Read more…]

Hill Country Science Mill Creating New Generation of Problem Solvers

by 1 Comment

Light Wall Hill Country Science Mill

Light wall at Hill Country Science Mill in Johnson City, TX (Credit: Kevin Tully/A Smith Gallery)

Guest article by Anne Hebert

A 40-foot wall of LED lights demonstrating the power of cell phone signals. A giant Romenesco broccoli-shaped sculpture illuminating fractals. A lifelike look at the inside of the Edwards Aquifer, showing the water cycle.

Would you imagine you’d find each of these inside once-defunct grain silos?

This is the new Hill Country Science Mill in Johnson City, a non-profit science museum that encourages interactive learning, creative thinking and scientific discussion.

The 14,000-square-foot space features more than 25 interactive and educational exhibits, plus hands-on maker stations and art installations, all designed to spark kids’ interest and help them fall in love with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). [Read more…]

14 Facts Before Your Visit: Austin’s French Legation Museum

by 7 Comments

French Legation Museum Grounds

Entrance to the French Legation Museum grounds (Credit: French Legation Museum and Daughters of the Republic of Texas)

The oldest wooden frame home in Austin sits alone on a hill with an unobstructed view of the State Capitol.

It dates back to the Republic of Texas, when France seized an opportunity to grab a piece of the new country and its wealth.

But the French sent the wrong man for the job. [Read more…]

Bonjour, Austin! Exploring and Celebrating Austin’s French Culture

by 3 Comments

Chez Nous Steak Bearnaise

Delicious French cuisine can be found in Austin, like the Steak Bearnaise at Chez Nous (Credit: Chez Nous)

Guest article by Kristella Montiegel.

Within the hip and diverse city of Austin, you’ll find an alluring presence of French culture and community. Fittingly so, since French colonization of Texas dates back to the the 1600’s. Traces of French influence – especially in historical locations, food and art – can be found throughout the Austin area.

While it might be a stretch to attribute the creative and experimental culture of Austin to the avant-gardism of modernist Paris, the fact remains that an impressive French community has been sustained through Austin’s growth and diversification. So, whether you’re a native of France or someone who’s simply curious about their customs, Austin has plenty of opportunities for you to get your daily dose of French lifestyle. [Read more…]

7 Things You Must See at the LBJ Library

by Leave a Comment

LBJ Library Austin TX

The LBJ Presidential Library

You eavesdrop on a phone conversation. You realize the voices are President Lyndon Baines Johnson and former First Lady and now widow Jackie Kennedy on the line. It’s an emotional discussion. Even though the phone call happened more than 50 years ago, you feel like a kid sneaking on the extension. Your ear’s glued to the earpiece, listening to these two have a personal and almost awkward discussion about Jackie’s access to the President. You hear Jackie confess she’s received more letters from LBJ in the last 10 days than she ever received from John F. Kennedy.

You put the receiver down, a bit drained and surprised at the closeness of the phone call, as though you’d listened to a friend talking on their smartphone set to speaker.

Two presidents from Texas have built libraries in Texas in the last two decades. But you need to see LBJ’s library. [Read more…]

Recent Posts

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy