Nightlife - The Austinot

Guide to Austin’s Nightlife Districts for Bachelor Party Planners

July 24, 2018 by Jonas White Leave a Comment

You’ve seen them. Young men roaming the city, with an eye for adventure and matching t-shirts. They touch down in Austin on Thursday or Friday, live their best lives for as long as they can, and then go back to whatever reality they came from.

Bachelor parties are everywhere in Austin, and for good reason. Our city offers the best food, drink, and outdoor activities. There’s the amazing weather, and accessibility within the city that makes it easy to navigate from place to place. If you’re planning a bachelor party in Austin, know you have options–most of all the option to keep it uncomplicated and fun. [Read more…]

Be Transported to Roaring Twenties at Parker Jazz Club in Downtown Austin

April 13, 2018 by Joleen Jernigan Leave a Comment

Build the stage, bring the bands, and your audience will follow (Credit: Parker Jazz Club)

Step back in time to the Roaring Twenties at Parker Jazz Club in downtown Austin. Situated underground like all the coolest clubs, Parker Jazz Club acts as an incubator for the music and the sensibility of another era. Set your sights on a whole new music experience, complemented by classic cocktails and a sultry aura.

Despite Austin’s outspoken love for live music, we are somewhat lacking in world-class, traditional jazz. Parker Jazz Club intends to change that. Jazz music evokes a host of strong feelings for many, calling to mind a different time and place. Walking down the staircase into the dark, elegant club, I felt as though I could be in Chicago, New York, or Paris in the ’20s or ’50s. By design, Parker Jazz Club stands apart from the typical downtown Austin bar. [Read more…]

3 Places Where You Can Have the Most Magical Time in Austin

December 4, 2017 by Brittany Ballard Leave a Comment

Growing up, I went through a phase when I was eating up all the information I could about magic tricks and illusions. While I become a world-famous illusionist (which is what I wanted to be), I still take delight in anything that promises to add a bit of magic, literally, into my life.

Luckily, there are several locations locally that provide thrilling experiences in the art of illusion. You don’t even need to say “abracadabra!” to take a look at the magical side of Austin. [Read more…]

Kick Back at These 4 Bars in the Expanding Mueller Community

April 24, 2017 by Caitlin Johnson Leave a Comment

Mueller Lake Park

Mueller in Northeast Austin started 10 years ago as a 700-acre community. It has grown into a thriving, developed neighborhood. With public parks, farmers’ markets, and some of Austin’s hottest businesses, Mueller has it all.

It’s about time someone created a bar crawl guide for the expanding Mueller neighborhood. The Austin spots on this list are nestled within a small, walkable area on the east side of I-35, in the main Mueller development. [Read more…]

Drink to Old Austin at Circus-themed Carousel Lounge

March 29, 2017 by Ashley Alkek Leave a Comment

Arriving at Carousel Lounge (Credit: Wright Sulek)

There is a diminishing number of places in Austin that are truly and wonderfully weird. Carousel Lounge is one of them. Located at 52nd Street and Cameron Road in North Austin, Carousel Lounge is home to one of the most authentic atmospheres in all of the city.

You may have been there before, or your alternative buddy at work may have mentioned it a few times. No matter what day, month, or year you go, it’ll likely be an experience you’ll never forget. Here are a few reasons why Carousel Lounge is one of Austin’s most beloved offbeat bars. [Read more…]

My Favorite Moments Covering SXSW Comedy 2017

March 24, 2017 by Ashley Alkek Leave a Comment

Comedians and comedy fans alike worked hard to make SXSW 2017 memorable. It paid off because nearly all the comedy events were PACKED. In fact, you could hear the hearts breaking among those who didn’t make it in, after waiting an hour or more to see a show.

My main objective this year, while covering SXSW Comedy for The Austinot, was to witness raw, unadulterated comedy. I did just that, and the experience was electric. In case you missed the events this year, these were my favorite moments–a glimpse into what SXSW Comedy 2017 was all about. [Read more…]

Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-in Reopens in South Austin

March 13, 2017 by Yulia Dyukova Leave a Comment

For seven years, Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-in has been a place where families and friends can get together to watch movies under the open sky and relive childhood memories. The world’s first boutique drive-in movie theater has held fundraisers for diverse organizations in Austin and donated to charities, and has been a place for local up-and-coming filmmakers to showcase their talent.

So when Blue Starlite asked for help relocating to a new, permanent home in South Austin, its fans showed love, gratitude and support in return. [Read more…]

Missed Connections Ads on Craigslist Inspire Local Improv Troupe

March 8, 2017 by Ashley Alkek Leave a Comment

A troupe member reading a missed connection post from Craiglist at Missed Connections ATX (Credit: Wright Sulek)

Austin improv is thriving, as is the city’s dating scene. If you put the two together, you get one hell of a improv comedy show called Missed Connections ATX, at ColdTowne Theater. If you aren’t familiar with the term, I urge you to take a look at your local Missed Connections section on Craigslist. It’s used as a type of personal advertisement, posted and sent into the abyss after two people meet (or not), but are too shy (or not) to exchange contact details. This is comical, sometimes heart-wrenching stuff.

The brilliance of Missed Connections ATX is the way the improv group takes these online gems and runs with them in the most hilarious and creative ways. The event is lovingly described as, “an improvised show about lovesick Austinites seeking a second chance at romance online.” If you aren’t intrigued yet, keep reading.

Missed Connections ATX Improv Troupe

Missed Connections ATX Comedy Troupe in Austin

Missed Connections ATX comedy troupe (Credit: Wright Sulek)

Wowzers, the laughs are endless with this group of talented locals. When going to an improv show, it’s always inspiring to witness true collaboration. The dynamic these people have has undeniably evolved to a place where you are sucked into each scene, forgetting for moment that you’re even in a theater.

Actual Missed Connections

Reading a Missed Connection Ad from Craiglist

Credit: Wright Sulek

How it works is simple: a troupe member reads an actual Missed Connection post from Austin Craigslist. Then the other members riff on it, bringing each comical or devastating situation to life.

Chelsea Bunn, the show’s director, shared, “I have always had a fondness for Craigslist Missed Connections. My college roommate and I would stay up late scouring for the quirkiest ads. Additionally, I’m really drawn to a style of long-form improv which is premise-driven, and recently started practicing short form games. The show is a hybrid of these two forms of improv. In a way, it’s a marriage of the things that are really interesting me right now as a maker/performer.”

Witness Vulnerability

Missed Connections ATX Act Out a Craiglist Post

Getting physical! (Credit: Wright Sulek)

The act of putting yourself out there online (even anonymously) just to score a date with a cutie you were eyeing at the grocery store is straight-up brave. There’s something incredibly sweet about that sort of faith in the Internet gods. Hey, what could it hurt? Similarly, that’s the vibe at ColdTowne: let’s try it out. The result is hilarious, more often that not.

Golden Moments

Improv Troupe Members at ColdTowne Theater

Making connections at Missed Connections ATX (Credit: Wright Sulek)

When I asked Bunn about her favorite moments so far, she responded, “This cast is so funny, it’s hard to choose just one! The first time we ran “He said, she said” in rehearsal, I laughed so hard that I cried. Other favorite moments include a scene about a sub/dom couple playing putt-putt golf, and a scene about a witch whose murder of crows were doing evil deeds around Austin.” I mean, who doesn’t want to jump into that world for a hot minute?

The last Missed Connections ATX show is this Saturday, March 11, 2017. If you can’t make it, no sweat. You really can’t go wrong when it comes to live comedy at ColdTowne Theater.

4803 Airport Blvd. – Website

@theAustinot wants to know:

Who’s your favorite Austin improv troupe?

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Parallelogramophonograph Gives a Mouthful of Improv to Austin

February 22, 2017 by Susan Meyer Leave a Comment

The cast of Parallelogramophonograph, L-R: Roy Janik, Valerie Ward, Kaci Beeler, Kareem Badr
(Credit: Steve Rogers)

Not all improv groups are created equal. I’m a fan of improv theater in general, but I have to admit, I’ve been to some painful shows in the past. When done badly, improv theater can be downright uncomfortable to witness. But when a troupe has chemistry, energy and talent, and everything falls into place just right, you’re in for an incredible live theater experience. Austin local quartet Parallelogramophonograph (PGraph, for short) is improv done well. Very well. [Read more…]

Bajillion Nights of Fun at The North Door With Austin-Weird Events

February 10, 2017 by Joleen Jernigan Leave a Comment

moveitmonday at The North Door in Austin

Melody DanceFit’s #MoveItMonday helps kick-start your week (Credit: The North Door)

What is your favorite thing to do indoors at night? Astronomy? The North Door has a night for that! Literature? Heck yes! Dancercize? Check. Math? Uh huh. Nerdcore? You know it. Quiet Clubbing? Oh yeah. Comedy? Yes!

Owners Michelle Patronella and Mark Bradford have a unique talent for hosting Austin’s funky, interesting and even odd events. The North Door is a plucky if-you-build-it-they-will-come type of Austin success story. This is the kind of tale we Austinites embrace. [Read more…]