Nightlife Archives - Page 6 of 8

10 Austin Date Ideas: Best Romantic Things To Do in Austin

August 1, 2014 by Guest Blogger 6 Comments

Date ideas abound in Austin if you know where to look (Credit: Hunter Pontious)

This guest blog article is by Callie Musick.

Austin is known for being one of the best cities for singles, making it a city full of first dates and hopefully many others afterward.

Beyond the singles dating scene, anyone in a relationship has probably experienced how easy it is to get caught in a routine of go-to date night spots. Whether you’re craving something new with your current SO (significant other) or looking for an impressive first date idea, here are a few local suggestions that break the typical dinner-and-drinks mold. [Read more…]

Austin Poetry Slam: Not Grandma’s Spoken Word

July 8, 2014 by Guest Blogger 2 Comments

Austin Poetry Slam takes place every Tuesday at Spider House Ballroom

This guest blog article is by Jenny Forgey.

Slam poetry is all about community, or so I was told when I met my long time friend, Peter Nevland, at the slam tailgating he and his wife set up on the grassy triangle across the street from Spider House Ballroom & Cafe on the first Tuesday of every month.

Peter has been a part of the slam scene since the year 2000. He slams locally, but also tours around the country slinging words for eager audiences.

“I’ve travelled all over doing slam stuff,” he told me, “and I’ve never seen a scene like the one in Austin.” His wife, Vicki, added, “It’s not just the size of the crowd [that makes Austin unique], but the quality of the poets.”

It didn’t take long for me to see what they meant. [Read more…]

Moontower Comedy Festival Is Back and Bigger Than Ever

April 22, 2014 by David Thomas Leave a Comment

Fred Armisen is one of the headliners for the 2014 Moontower Comedy Festival.

Saturday Night Live alum Fred Armisen is one of the headliners at Moontower Comedy Festival 2014 (Photo credit: austinculturemap.com)

If you haven’t noticed already, I’m a fan of stand-up comedy. Fortunately for me, I live in Austin freaking Texas where the comedy scene has been so successful that Cap City Comedy Club is consistently referred to by nationally-touring comics as one of their favorite clubs. I live in a city where the successes of showcases like Punch! have paved the way for other showcases to take hold throughout town. I live in a city that now has its own comedy festival that’s now in its third year.

It’s a Comedy Buffet!

Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival is back on April 23–26, 2014. They aren’t pulling any punches this year, as their lineup represents the cream of the crop: nationally-known comics, high-end local performers and a reunion of the vaunted sketch comedy troupe, Kids in the Hall. Marquee comedians like Demetri Martin, Dennis Miller, and Mike Birbiglia are expertly teamed with local talent like Funniest Person in Austin Winners Matt Bearden, Mac Blake and Lucas Molandes, in a mix of shows spanning four nights, ten venues and over 100 performers. [Read more…]

Austin Business Brings Extravagant Vegas-Style Entertainment to Austin

April 1, 2014 by Meagan Vitek 1 Comment

Texas Poker Supply Casino Tables in Austin

Texas Poker Supply offers casino tables and staff for Austin-area parties and events

Austin is no stranger to jaw-dropping events. From the ever-evolving South by Southwest parties – equipped with celebrity artists, out of this world design and unforgettable performances – to ACL’s two-weekend spread, to the never-ending list of Austin-based festivals. We all know Austin is home to great events, where, really, anything goes.

With the help of local business, Texas Poker Supply, Vegas too has found its way to Austin. Custom-built casino tables, casino-style games, trained dealers, showgirls, fire-eaters and a girl on stilts are only a slice of what Texas Poker Supply offers. Always Keepin’ Austin Weird, right? [Read more…]

The Funniest Person in Austin Contest: 6 Weeks of Comedy Mortal Kombat

March 18, 2014 by David Thomas 7 Comments

2013 Funniest Person in Austin winner Mac Blake stays busy hosting Mac and Cheese and co-hosting Jazz Cigarette (Photo courtesy of austinculturemap.com)

What would you do if there was a contest showcasing something you love to do? Would you not be doing everything possible to participate? For Austin standup comics, their opportunity is the 2014 Funniest Person in Austin contest, hosted by Cap City Comedy Club.

The Laff Stop opened in 1986. Ten years later, the name changed to Cap City Comedy Club. A year after that, the club started its Funniest Person in Austin Contest. This contest, now in its 17th year, draws in enough contestants for the competition to last roughly six weeks, and has gained the attention of national entities like Comedy Central. [Read more…]

Peche Belongs on Your List of Go-To Cocktail Spots Downtown

December 5, 2013 by Brittany Highland 1 Comment

Peche in the Warehouse District downtown (Photo credit: Tim Meaney via Flickr CC)

Your downtown business meeting or special event just ended, and now all you want is a place to relax and enjoy a hand-crafted drink. If this is you, I recommend Peche.

Located in the Warehouse District, on 4th Street just east of Lavaca, Peche’s unpretentious exterior is easy to pass without a second look. But step inside and you’ll be greeted by a low-lit, romantic interior with decor that hints at times past.

The menu is filled with a variety of cocktail, food and wine selections. The venue’s claim to fame is its status as Austin’s first absinthe bar. Cocktails are pre-prohibition style, inspired by owner Rob Pate’s historical studies and time abroad. In fact, your visits to Peche will likely transport you to another time and place. [Read more…]

Laugh Out Loud with ColdTowne Theater: Alternative Comedy in Austin

November 11, 2013 by Dustin Vegas 4 Comments

ColdTowne is a hub for standup comedy in our weird city
(Photo credit: Eyton Z via Flickr CC)

Did you know that Austin, Texas is one of the funniest places in America? Everybody know about our live music, but what about other forms of entertainment? Enter ColdTowne Theater.

ColdTowne has an interesting history. Since 2005, it has been one of our staples for alternative comedy and film. The owners and creators of the comedy club hail from New Orleans. Michael Jastroch, Arthur Simone and Justin York created the venue after evacuating due to Hurricane Katrina. The trio decided to bring improv training to the Capitol City.

After hearing a lot about ColdTowne Theater while writing my article about The Show!, I decided to swing by and check out some open mic comedy. The theater is located [Read more…]

The Goodnight in Austin Refines Playground for Adults

October 16, 2013 by Eric Highland 2 Comments

Editor’s Note: As of May 2018, The Goodnight on West Anderson Lane has closed. A new location is planned for West Sixth Street.

The Goodnight in Austin sits an arrow’s flight away from Alamo Drafthouse Village on West Anderson. It’s an adults-only playground (18+ until 9 PM, 21+ after 9 PM) with an upscale menu, massive bar, bowling, ping pong, karaoke, shuffleboard and more.

Just shy of a year ago, our contributing blogger, Laura Darby, made a visit to The Goodnight in Austin. She was searching for a temporary replacement for The Highball, which was undergoing a long-term renovation project. Laura’s article, combined with the mixed comments left by readers, peaked my interest enough to want to check out The Goodnight for myself. [Read more…]

Find Your Spotlight at The Hideout Theatre in Downtown Austin

June 27, 2013 by Cris Mueller 2 Comments

Theatresports Show at The Hideout Theatre

Kissing the trophy at The Hideout Theatre’s Theatresports show (Credit: Dave Alley)

Remember that feeling you had on the first day of school, every year from the age of five to fifteen? When I walked into The Hideout Theatre, I had that same feeling of sneaking into some kind of secret society for the first time.

Tucked away amongst its varied neighbors, which include those of political, artistic and hotelier fame, The Hideout opens up beyond a narrow doorway at 617 Congress Avenue. Filling two theaters (one 50-seat and one 90-seat), with a coffee house that offers breakfast, lunch, drinks and desserts, The Hideout is much more than first meets the eye. [Read more…]

Bridget Dunlap: Gritty Imagineress Reigning Barefoot on Rainey

February 18, 2013 by Brittany Highland 6 Comments

Bridget Dunlap reigns barefooted

Visionaries are the ones who look at what’s in front of all of our faces, and have just enough careless abhorrence of common sense to imagine a metropolis where the rest of us see only a mound of dirt.

Successful Houston business owner Bridget Dunlap had visited Austin many times. Despite the economic bust of 2008, she was looking for opportunity when she parked in the dirt lot on the north side of Driskill St. near I-35.

The parcel of land on the northeast corner of Rainey Street at Driskill – now known as Lustre Pearl – was for lease. Signs communicated that the property was condemned, and the former home was completely boarded up. “You could barely walk up the stairs,” Dunlap recalled. [Read more…]

It’s a Comedy Buffet!

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