Austinot Loves - 7/7 - The Austinot

Ronald McDonald House is a Quiet Hero for Families in Need

May 7, 2012 by Brittany Highland 6 Comments

If you have ever had a loved one sick with a serious illness, you know how life is turned upside down. Your ability to work is impeded by worry, and day-to-day necessities like eating and sleeping take the back burner to the nurturing of the one you care about. Having a sick child may be the most devastating scenario of all.

What if there was an organization that cared for families with sick or injured children, and met every one of their needs? What if that organization went the extra mile to provide all kinds of comforts, as a service to suffering families?

That organization exists. It’s in your community and you can be a part of it.

A few weeks ago, Austinot Eric and I had the privilege of touring the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Austin. Although both of us had volunteered at other Ronald McDonald Houses in the past, I had an incomplete picture of how RMHC functions and how much it provides for the community. [Read more…]

Black Star Co-op Serves Austin Food, Beer and Democracy

March 28, 2012 by Dustin Vegas 7 Comments

Black Star Co-op is a revolutionary new Austin brewpub. So when I was told to review their food and beer, I solemnly bowed my head to the orders of Austinot Eric.

What can I say, we all must sacrifice occasionally. Neither stout nor IPA nor pilsner nor gloom of porters will stay this blogger from the swift completion of his appointed rounds.

Since its opening in 2010, Black Star Co-op has built its reputation around mixing the novel and traditional.

First, the business is a co-operative. All of its members, from top to bottom, own part of the business. All decisions are made through a democratically-controlled voting system. The first community-owned brewpub in America, one of Black Star’s tenets is to pay each employees a living wage, so they will respectfully decline if you try to tip them.

And you can become a shareholding member of Black Star as well! A hundred and fifty bucks gets you a membership. That means voting power, patronage ref [Read more…]

Way South Philly Possibly The Best Philly Cheesesteak in Austin

March 15, 2012 by Eric Highland 6 Comments

When it comes to filling food for the working crowd, the party crowd, and the foodies in Austin, very few places compare to Way South Philly.

Possibly the best Philly Cheesesteak in Austin has been discovered by the Austinot.

First let me just say that if you know of a better Philly Cheesesteak joint in Austin, I’d like to hear about it. Until you prove me wrong, I’m going to have to give the nod for best Philly Cheesesteak in Austin to Way South Philly.

Located in a food truck lot on East 6th and Waller, just east of I-35, is a little red food truck. This little red truck packs such an authentic Philly flavor, it will have you humming the Rocky theme and looking to ring the Liberty Bell.

What makes this little truck so unique? Well honestly the lengths that Willy and Rich have taken to bring you the authentic Philly Cheesesteak experience. Check this out… [Read more…]

Let’s Get Ready to Rumble! – Boxing in Texas

February 10, 2012 by Eric Highland Leave a Comment

Boxing, or the “Sweet Science” as it is called by lovers of the sport, is all over Texas. Have you ever been to a professional fight? Let me describe it for you…

The atmosphere is electric, the tension palpable and the first time you hear Lupe Contreras say, “It’s time to see who’s mas macho!” Jimmy Lennon Jr say, “It’s Showtime,” or Michael Buffer with his signature “Let’s get ready to rumble!” you’ll get immediately hooked into this world of the professional pugilist.

There is nothing like sitting ringside at a professional fight, nothing. [Read more…]

Austin Carriage Presents Austin Tours of Downtown

February 9, 2012 by Brittany Highland 7 Comments

Recently we were INVITED to check out Austin Carriage, the original horse-drawn carriage company in the city of Austin.

These folks, who provide Austin tours via horse-drawn carriage, are fantastic. And no, they haven’t paid us a penny to say this.

So read on, fellow Austinot, and learn a little more about this company and what they are all about.

First off, let us tell you about the owner Cherie Cunningham. She’s been in the horse business since she was knee-high to a grasshopper. And given the chance she will animatedly tell you stories, with a sparkle in her eye, about her childhood growing up around horses. It is obvious that she has a love and respect for the horses she works with and [Read more…]

The Salt Lick Barbecue

January 23, 2012 by Brittany Highland 14 Comments

Looking for amazing barbecue food, Austin? Then let’s start with this question: Where is the best BBQ in Texas?

I love BBQ. Yes, love is a strong word, I know…but I could honestly eat good ol’ fashioned Texas BBQ three days a week and never tire of it.

I’m always looking for “the best of.” So I mentioned to one of my co-workers that I wanted to find the best BBQ restaurant in Texas. [Read more…]

Austin Nightlife on Sixth Street

January 20, 2012 by Brittany Highland 2 Comments

Sixth Street always seems to be the buzz phrase when it comes to Austin nightlife. On our most recent outing, the 6th definitely lived up to the hype.

We arrived before the crowds, so we were able to find street parking on Red River, right off of 6th. A short stroll (a little bit longer, since I realized I forgot my I.D. and had to go back to the car) brought us to our destination: Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar.

I must confess that being new to the scene, Austin bars are all about the same to me right now. But Pete’s is a place I’ve been wanting to visit for a long time, and it didn’t let me down.

There’s nothing like good drinks, happy people, and singing at the top of your lungs to your favorite songs. [Read more…]

Hitch for Bike Rack from Discount Hitch & Truck Accessories

January 18, 2012 by Brittany Highland Leave a Comment

After getting our new bikes at The Peddler, we picked up a Yakima Doubledown bike rack from REI. The next step in this long Austin biking adventure? A hitch for our bike rack.

When we get ideas into our heads, we usually want them done fast. This found us desperately calling hitch shops in Austin, TX, early on Saturday morning. The places we called either weren’t open, or they didn’t have the hitch we needed in stock. We couldn’t wait three days. We wanted to get our bikes out to Fredericksburg that day.

Finally, we found a shop that had our hitch in stock: Discount Hitch and Truck Accessories, on Ben White at South Congress. Sweet. Could they get us in for an appointment [Read more…]