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Life Is Literally a Box of Chocolates at Chocolaterie Tessa

February 1, 2017 by Jessica Pino Leave a Comment

Chocolaterie Tessa is not your usual chocolate store (Credit: Jessica Pino)

Finding the perfect gift can be a struggle. You want to give something thoughtful, but also something that won’t go to waste, or worse, be re-gifted. I’m happy to announce I’ve finally found the perfect gift! It can be given on any occasion, to men and women. It’s a gift guaranteed to be shared, but never re-gifted. And, best of all, it’s made right here in Austin, Texas. I’m talking about handmade chocolates from Chocolaterie Tessa.

This local chocolate shop in north Austin will protect you from any gift-giving faux pas. I recently met with Tessa Halstead for a tour of her factory, and to learn more about her handmade, small-batch chocolates. [Read more…]

Yard Bar Creates Dream Playground for Doggies and Their Owners

January 20, 2016 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

This is the face of a dog who needs a visit to Yard Bar

Mr. Ming was looking to get outdoors. After a long holiday season spent watching his humans shop, wrap presents and go out, it was his turn. His time to sniff, bark and be merry.

Enter Yard Bar, Austin’s newest venue for furry friends to run, jump and be social. By combining food, drink and a variety of fun activities, this hidden gem on Burnet Road is quickly becoming the city’s premier doggy destination.

Born From Necessity

Like most things awesome, the inspiration for Yard Bar came from need. While frequenting the dog runs at Auditorium Shores, owner Kristen Heaney realized the sad reality of dog parks: there’s not much there for people to do. What if there was a place where pet owners could grab a drink and a bite while their dog frolicked in the park?

After testing a number of business models, Heaney leased the lot on Burnet Road where the old Putt-Putt Golf and Games used to live, and began building the dog park of her dreams. When it opened in August 2015, word quickly spread among Austin’s pet friendly community. Yard Bar was the place to be. [Read more…]

The Peached Tortilla: Path from Food Truck to Brick and Mortar

March 16, 2015 by Cris Mueller Leave a Comment

The Peached Tortilla food truck (Credit: Megan Heller)

This past weekend, SXSW Southbites gathered four of the brightest, most inventive and hard-working individuals among food truck royalty to talk about more than just their food. The panel was about the legacy their brands will leave behind and what goes on behind the curtain when you’re talking food trucks.

Eric Silverstein, founder of The Peached Tortilla, was Austin’s local voice. He shared candid details about his path from street food to brick and mortar, and his story is one of the most interesting I’ve heard in recent years. [Read more…]

4 Places to Have Fun in Austin, 80’s Style

March 4, 2015 by David Thomas 2 Comments

The intersection of 183 and Burnet Road forms the epicenter of a half mile bubble of retro joy. If you were old enough to ride a bicycle in the 1980’s, this list of places to have fun in Austin should tickle the nostalgia center of your brain. Now you can roller skate, sing karaoke, bowl and visit an old school arcade without driving all over town.

#1 Playland Skate Center

Playland Skate Center Roller Skating in Austin

Making it look easy at Playland Skate Center

Playland Skate Center opened in 1973 at 8822 McCann Dr, just past Town North Nissan on southbound Research Blvd (Hwy 183). That’s four decades of roller skating fun. [Read more…]

Monkey Nest Coffee: Not Your Average Monkey Business

February 17, 2015 by Judy Rae Merhar 1 Comment

Monkey Nest Coffee at 5353 Burnet Road (Credit: Jim Nix/Nomadic Pursuits via Flickr CC)

I’m a sucker for monkeys. Their expressive eyes, curious nature and playful demeanor have captured my heart since childhood. And so it was no surprise the day my car veered into a parking lot off Burnet when I saw an animated circular face with tiny ears, resembling the classic 80’s stuffed sock monkey.

The little primate’s paws and curled tail grip a circular sign with bold letters identifying the establishment, Monkey Nest Organic Coffee and Bakery. [Read more…]

New Incarnation of 70’s Icon Taco Flats Is Worth a Visit

November 25, 2014 by Edwin Ochoa 1 Comment

One of the best seats in the house is Taco Flats’ bar

Taco Flats is remembered as a place where hippies, bankers, and just about anybody would gather to enjoy a beer, their famous hobo plate and maybe catch some live music. Sadly, the North Lamar establishment closed in the early 80’s.

That is, until fall 2014, when a local entrepreneur decided to present his own version of Taco Flats to our city. Today, the taco joint and bar is the latest addition to Burnet Rd. What resulted from my recent visit was a pleasant taco experience in one of my favorite parts of town. For a good taco and drink in a friendly environment, Taco Flats is a great bet. [Read more…]

How to Dress Like an Austin Local

September 17, 2014 by Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

Guest article by Dawn Sarnecky

Every Austinite knows that dressing appropriately for the Texas weather is an absolutely necessary task each day. The trick is to be comfortable as the beads of sweat drip down during summer and to be cozy during the winter (a.k.a. fall?). If you to dress like an Austin local with wardrobe pieces no one else will have, skip the mall action and check out these local stores.

Tip of the Brim at Hatbox

Hatbox (Credit: Ashley Brinkman)

If you are looking to cover your dome from the severe sun with style, then look no further than

[Read more…]

Stinson’s Bistro Manages Unique Mix of Coffee, Pizza

May 16, 2014 by Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

Smiling faces ready to welcome you to Stinson’s Bistro Deep Eddy

This guest blog article is by Michal Ann Morrison.

Stinson’s Bistro is a relatively new addition to Austin, but they’ve quickly built a reputation for great coffee. My espresso addiction being what it is, coffee is the very thing that took me there for my first visit. That and my roommates’ insistence that Stinson’s gluten-free options were too delicious to pass up.

At first I was skeptical that a place known for coffee could offer up pizza that was just as noteworthy. But one dining experience in and I was sold. [Read more…]

Best Austin Craft Beer Joints: Pinthouse Pizza

February 24, 2014 by Edgar Barguiarena 1 Comment

L-R: Electric Jellyfish and his big brother, the Nomura Double IPA (Credit: Bill Tucker)

The craft beer scene in Austin is blowing up. For every new brewery that opens, there are at least three bars that pop up, eager to serve you the best local beers that Austin has to offer. Continuing the tradition that Eric started with his Best Burger Joint in Austin series, I’m profiling and reviewing the best craft beer joints in Austin, with the occasional stop or two at bars that have room for improvement. I’ll take into consideration everything from beer selection to ambiance to overall value, and everything in between.

Please join me as I try to catalog your favorite watering holes in Austin, and let me know what you think in a comment below.

First Impressions: Pinthouse Pizza

Pinthouse Pizza has quickly become a staple in the Austin beer scene, though they’ve only graced the Burnet strip for the last year and a half. This review is timely, since the infamous Odell Microbrewery from Ft. Collins, Colorado is throwing a launch party at Pinthouse this month. What some people don’t know is that Odell’s former head brewer, Joe Mohrfeld, is the cofounder of Pinthouse. What better time to revisit one of Austin’s great brewpubs, as Mohnfeld returns to his roots. [Read more…]

Emerald Tavern: Part Tabletop Gaming Hangout, Part Beer and Coffee Bar

February 6, 2014 by Robert Luke Leave a Comment

Emerald Tavern is located at 9012 Research Blvd.

In the last few years, the North Cross area of town has become more and more exciting and lively. One of the newest additions to the neighborhood is Emerald Tavern. It’s not just another coffee shop and bar because it’s also a store and hangout for tabletop gamers.

Opened in October 2013, Emerald Tavern features a unique and relaxing atmosphere for gamers and anyone else who wants to sit down and have a drink. Owners Marshall Geyer and Erich Weidner “really wanted to recreate something that we do every weekend that we love: games, beer, food, coffee. Something we would do with our friends,” explained Geyer. “There are a lot of game stores in town. There are a lot of places to go drink in town. But there aren’t a lot of places that are friendly to do both at the same time.”

The atmosphere at Emerald Tavern is quite comforting as you walk in. It’s decorated in an English tavern style with a beer selection to your left and a game selection to your right, while being audibly blanketed with music from your favorite film and video game scores. [Read more…]

Born From Necessity

#1 Playland Skate Center

Tip of the Brim at Hatbox

First Impressions: Pinthouse Pizza

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