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Reenacting the Battle of Goliad, Texas and Goliad Massacre

April 3, 2012 by Brittany Highland 4 Comments

There are few Texans who don’t enjoy rubbing in the fact that Texas was once its own country. It’s one of the things that the rest of the country hates about us.

But many people, especially in my generation, don’t consider or even know about the decisive battles in the Texas War for Independence that led to victory over Mexico.

Growing up, I was lucky to have two younger brothers who were Boy Scouts. Because of them, I got to tag along on many camping trips and educational adventures. One such adventure was to Goliad, TX for the annual reenactment of the 1836 Goliad Massacre and the battles of Goliad leading up to the Massacre. Goliad was an important location during the Texas War for Independence. Though the events there were tragic for Texas and its allies, they compounded with the fall of the Alamo to galvanize Texas forces to continue the fight for freedom. [Read more…]

Austinot Podcast, Ep. #5: Top 5 Austin Date Ideas

March 30, 2012 by Brittany Highland 7 Comments

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Austinots Eric and Brittany are newlyweds, so who better to trust when you’re looking for the best Austin date ideas?

Planning dates can be a sticky business. You want to get it right every time, and we want to help!

In Episode #5 of the Austinot Podcast, your friends at the Austinot present their top five Austin date ideas:

Mozart’s Coffee Roasters
[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…]

Son of Sandlar Renaissance Boots and Garb

March 27, 2012 by Eric Highland 21 Comments

Have you ever run across a merchant artisan or vendor that you wish you could share with the world?

No, this is not a paid advertisement; we’ve not been compensated in any way for this post. We’ve just found a gem, and are so impressed that we want to share it with you.

Every artisan has a story and at the Austinot we love to hear these stories. Recently, we met up with Arik Helman at the Sherwood Forest Faire and asked him to share his story with us.

Arik is one of the driving forces behind Son of Sandlar, perhaps the finest provider of Renaissance boots for Renaissance faires and Live Action Role Play (LARP) events in the country, and quite possibly the world.

How can we make such a bold claim? The Helman family has been perfecting the craft of cobbling since long before anyone reading this post was around. They’ve been in the cobbler business for six generations.

How do craftsmen keep a legacy like this alive? Three words: [Read more…]

Kick Butt Coffee Closed In Triangle; Still Kickin On Airport

March 26, 2012 by Dustin Vegas 16 Comments

In the words of Douglas Adams: “Don’t panic.” Kick Butt Coffee is not closed for good. It just left The Triangle and went back to its roots.

Kick Butt Coffee’s empty space in The Triangle stands out like a missing tooth. The coffee shop’s here-today-gone-tomorrow departure has left a lot of people scratching their heads: “Is the business gone forever?”

Thankfully, the answer is no. Kick Butt Coffee’s Triangle location is gone, due to unfortunate financial circumstances. However, their Airport Blvd. location remains all the more kickin’.

I first wandered into the doors of Kick Butt Coffee on Airport almost three years ago. I was in the throes of a hard night’s [Read more…]

Austinot Podcast: Top 3 Day Trip Picks from Austin

March 23, 2012 by Brittany Highland 10 Comments

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It’s literally impossible to run out of things to do in Austin, but every once in a while it’s nice to get a change of scenery.

Lucky for Austin locals, Texas Hill Country and beyond is full of natural treasures, unique shopping options, and entertaining locations and events.

Rather than making you do all the research on your own, the Austinot Podcast presents 3 Top Daytrip Picks.

Listen as Eric and Brittany give you the skinny on…

Gruene, TX – an old Texas town thriving with unique shops and shoe-tapping Texas tunes.
Natural Bridge Caverns – a beautiful natural wonder that you have to see to believe. (Click HERE to read about our visit to the Caverns.)
Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve – a tropical paradise that you’d never believe [Read more…]

BrouHaHa Serves Up Non-Traditional Renaissance Fair Fare

March 19, 2012 by Eric Highland 9 Comments

I don’t know about you, but I really love traditional fair food: roasted corn, scones, turkey legs and funnel cakes. Just thinking of these things makes my mouth water, and I immediately want to pack the car and head to the nearest fair.

But what if I told you that perhaps the most popular dish at the Sherwood Forest Faire, named one of the country’s best Renaissance fairs and located just 35 miles east of Austin on Hwy 290, was not any of these traditional favorites…but – instead – an Ogre’s Toe.

Would you dare eat an Ogre’s Toe?

What if I told you that for 3 weeks, by far, it was the most widely talked about food item that I heard of while walking around the 25 acres of the Sherwood Forest Faire? Would you give it a try then?

Never in a million years would I have thought of an Ogre’s Toe as fair food, let alone something that I’d consider putting in my mouth. But read on my friend…if you want to try some of the best Renaissance fair fare ever invented, [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…]

Sherwood Forest Camping Weekend with a Renaissance Fair Clan

March 6, 2012 by Eric Highland 33 Comments

You’ve never been camping until you’ve camped with a Renaissance fair clan.

A clan is a group of people from different walks of life who, over many years, have formed a unique bond with one another. Through the magic of the Renaissance fair, they have become a true family.

Recently, I had the extremely rare opportunity of being a blogger who was allowed to camp at the Sherwood Forest Faire with an established clan. I could have camped in the general camping area, but I wanted to get the “full experience.”

So it was suggested to me that I ask a clan if I could camp with them.

To understand why this was such a privilege, remember that clans are a family and relatively private to outsiders. Allowing a stranger to pitch a tent in your clan’s campground is akin to allowing a complete stranger into your home to sleep.

Out of respect for their privacy, [Read more…]

Dads Do Playgroups, Too

February 28, 2012 by Eric Highland 6 Comments

By Austin Guest Blogger, Momma’s Bacon

“Kids spell love T-I-M-E.”
-John Crudele

If you follow my Momma’s Bacon blog you will know we are one of the many Austin families with a Stay At Home Dad (SAHD). What you might not know is that Austin has an active SAHD community through the Austin SAHD Yahoo Group with lots of supportive play dates and a monthly dad’s night out for its 200 (and growing!) members.

In fact, I am the proud spouse of the current Duke of Dad’s Night Out who currently spends a portion of his limited free time carefully selecting a monthly fantastic local watering hole with equally yummy food for their Austin SAHDs meet-ups. My husband meticulously plans these monthly locales alternating between north, south and central Austin locations with this month’s location held at Red’s Porch in south. How I love living in a city that takes such an important role of any parent who chooses to play an active role as primary caregiver seriously! All stay at home parents deserve a monthly, heck weekly, night out with their buddies regardless of [Read more…]

“Kids spell love T-I-M-E.” -John Crudele

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“Kids spell love T-I-M-E.”
-John Crudele