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Meet Katie, queen of the cart
Austin is amazing, fun, and special because of its people. Yes, there are a lot of transplants, including me, but y’all made this city too lovable for us to stay away. I officially blame you, the locals, for making me fall in love with this city. Speaking of locals, I recently had a chance to meet a young lady named Katie. I learned about her from my office manager, who had circulated a flyer about her wonderful service, Katie’s Snack Cart. [Read more…]
Owners of Barbon’s Barbershop, Clarita and Sarita Sanchez
Guest article by Mathis Kennington
More female entrepreneurs are making a mark on industries that used to be the domain of men, and Austin women are leading the charge. Nowhere is this more evident than at Austin’s newest barbershop, owned by sisters, Sarita and Clarita Sanchez.
Barbon’s Barbershop started as a creative dream shared by Sarita, whose obsession with the art of barbering earned her a reputation as one of the city’s finest, and Clarita, whose business skills made her a perfect fit to run the shop. It’s pretty obvious this sibling pair is a match made in barber heaven. [Read more…]
Let’s face it: we all geek out. Whether you’re addicted to Candy Crush, obsess over “Sherlock,” or wait 10 minutes for a Marvel movie’s end credits scene, everyone indulges in some sort of fandom. Luckily, Austin is home to a plethora of stores, shops, and spots that exist to scratch that geeky itch whenever it strikes. Here’s our list of the best 22 geek culture spots in all of Austin. [Read more…]
Espresso and leather at Noah Marion Quality Goods
When you first step foot into Noah Marion Quality Goods on South Lamar, it’s evident that every detail of the space has been thoughtfully crafted, from start to finish. Most everything you see was made by Marion himself, whose true passions are building and creating things.
He built the 16-foot counter he stands behind, ready to talk about his leather goods, or whip up the caffeinated beverage of your choice. As soon as you start talking to him about his passions, you can tell he wholeheartedly puts himself into everything he sets his mind to. [Read more…]
Small section of Flashback’s vintage cowboy boot collection in South Austin
So many incredible, unique, and beautiful treasures are hiding in antique and vintage shops all around Austin. There’s a bit more than 30 within city limits, and that number is continues to grow.
While North Austin might take the crown for the most jam-packed neighborhood for vintage shopping, South Austin has cool places of its own to brag about. From 1800’s clothing boutiques to funky vintage furniture, it’s a blast gazing into the past through the treasures at these South Austin stores. [Read more…]
Heather Wagner Reed with Juice Consulting team members, Amber LaFrance (L) and Madison Snelling (R), at Black Fret Black Ball (Credit: Juice Consulting)
“The creative energy is in my blood,” Heather Wagner Reed pointed out before detailing the abundance of work she’s accomplished over the years. [Read more…]
Native hostel in East Austin (Credit: Charles Reagan)
Walking into Native hostel is like entering another world. A world full of hip decor, fantastic beats, and a team of people who look “too cool for school,” but are actually down to earth and friendly.
Since its opening in May 2017, Native has quietly climbed the ranks among the coolest places in Austin to grab drinks, get a bite to eat, hang with friends, meet new pals, and people watch. [Read more…]
Hookah Buzz combines traditional and modern approaches to its hookah lounge experience
I’ve been going to hookah lounges in Austin for years, and I love them. From their advent, they’ve offered a casual atmosphere where people can meet to discuss business, politics, or art. That is still the case in Austin. But I think my favorite aspect of local hookah lounges is the fact that I can meet individuals from all over the world when I visit.
Hookah Buzz is a new hookah lounge in way North Austin. It was founded in January 2017 by my new friend, Audi. A blend of Turkish and Moroccan-style hookah lounges is evident in the atmosphere. Think about the hanging lights and rugs you tend to find in hookah lounges–those come from Turkey. You won’t have to sit on the floor like they do in Turkey, though. Hookah Buzz adds modern elements from Moroccan culture into the lounge through music, sofas, and tall tables. [Read more…]
Gretchen O’Neil, Petals, Ink. farmer and founder (Credit: Petals, Ink.)
Gretchen O’Neil’s love affair with flowers began as a child, enamored by the confetti-colored tulips that sprawled across her grandfather’s yard. Flower growing became more than just a family pastime for O’Neil in 2002, when she started working on a small farm in the mountains of Vermont. After moving to Austin in 2003, it took the native New Englander about five years to acclimate to the sweltering heat before she could even begin to consider growing cut flowers in the Central Texas climate.
You see, many of the flowers O’Neil remembers from her youth simply won’t grow here. She gradually embraced a new genre of gardening that included sun-worshipping plants like agave, and concepts such as “xeriscaping.” Eventually, she discovered that–with enough planning–her fantasy of growing an abundance of blooms could be actualized. [Read more…]
The Refinery will be located in the heart of downtown Austin
A new co-working space is coming to downtown Austin. This one is different from what you may be used to, though. It isn’t a hub for tech entrepreneurs or Internet startups. The Refinery, which will officially open its doors in fall 2017, is a co-working space and studio for Austin’s artists and other creatives. [Read more…]