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Second Bar + Kitchen in downtown Austin (Credit: Bread & Butter PR)
Second Bar + Kitchen landed in downtown Austin in 2010. From pizza to burgers, weekend brunch to happy hour, Second’s repertoire is extensive. The restaurant now has three locations, including a satellite at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, so you have plenty of chances to pay a visit. [Read more…]
Bring your friends and family for fun on the ice (Credit: Whole Foods Market)
Ice skate on the rooftop of Whole Foods Market, now through Jan. 15, 2018!
Austin ice skating has returned to the rooftop plaza at Whole Foods Market’s flagship store for its 13th season. Enjoy this festive, wintry activity at the landmark location on North Lamar Boulevard between 5th and 6th Streets. It is real ice, so Austinites can [Read more…]
The sun-filled parlor room at Native is perfect for co-working until the sun goes down (Credit: Charles Reagan)
As the market for alternative lodging accommodations continues to grow, many travelers are drawn to the affordable pricing and unique experience that hostels offer. Whether you’re traveling solo or with a group, looking for an affordable staycation, or welcoming out-of-town guests, local Austin hostels provide not just a place to sleep, but a communal experience fitting a variety of budgets. Some even provide cocktails, food, co-working, or live music for locals who aren’t looking for lodging at all. [Read more…]
I distinctly remember the first time I stumbled across Russian House. Still new to Austin, I was walking around downtown when I spotted the familiar khokhloma pattern on the side of a building. Above the name Russian House on the outside side, smaller letters read, “Na Zdorovye.” “Noooo,” I thought to myself, “No, no, no, no, noooo…Et tu, Brute?”
I was surprised to find a Russian restaurant in downtown Austin, but even more surprised to find a Russian restaurant using the term Na Zdorovye. You see, “na zdorovye” is what foreigners believe Russians say as “cheers.” But no native Russian has ever said that while drinking.
The misconception probably finds its roots in the fact that “na zdorovye” is indeed used in some eastern European countries. But if you want to drink like a real Russian, learning one phrase and saying it over and over is not enough, my friends. Here’s what you need to do. [Read more…]
Amidst the hustle and bustle of Sixth Street, with its never-ending chain of bars, live music pounding from open windows, and bright neon signs, is a restaurant that is quiet, cozy and feels like home. Our home. For that’s exactly what Chez Nous, the name of this French bistro off Sixth Street, translates to: “our home”, or “our place.”
How can such a cozy family restaurant operate in the Dirty Sixth district? Let’s rewind back to the late 70’s when three friends, Sybil Reinhart-Regimbeau, Robert Paprota, and Pascal Regimbeau, arrived in the capital of Texas from Paris, with hopes of introducing unsuspecting Austinites to the cuisine of their homeland. [Read more…]
The tart Green Velvet cocktail pairs nicely with Beet + Bibb salad, steak fries, and the smoked whitefish sandwich (Credit: Mike Thompson)
Editor’s Note: Boiler Nine is closing. The last day of service is Feb. 23, 2019.
Drop everything and call a friend now. You are going to want to make lunch plans at Boiler Nine Bar + Grill soon.
Boiler Nine, a steampunk fever dream bathed in natural light, sprawls across four floors of the old Seaholm Power Plant. It boasts a discreet basement bar and a cozy rooftop patio, along with two dining rooms and a regular patio. Places this pretty sometimes have difficulty ensuring the food is as appealing as the space itself. However, Boiler Nine more than meets the challenge. [Read more…]
On any of the more than 300 days of sunshine in Austin each year, there’s no better place to go than Lady Bird Lake. Whether hiking or biking the trails, doing stand-up paddle board yoga, or taking a river cruise, you’ll find no shortage of outdoor fun to be had in the heart of beautiful downtown Austin.
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A historically important park with strong connections to East Austin communities, Palm Park will be revitalized as a major entrance to the creek trail and a central gathering place. The redesigned park will host a variety of community programs including movie nights, open-air markets and outdoor exhibitions. (Rendering courtesy of Waller Creek Conservancy)
The city of Austin is home to more than 300 parks, but there’s always room for more, especially when we’re talking about accessible green space in the highly urbanized and rapidly growing downtown area. Waller Creek is a one and a half mile riparian ecosystem that begins at Waterloo Park and travels south along the eastern edge of downtown Austin to converge with Lady Bird Lake.
In partnership with the City of Austin and thanks to a $15 million grant from the Moody Foundation–the largest amount for parks and public open space ever gifted in the city of Austin–Waller Creek Conservancy will break ground on Phase 1 of its revitalization project later this year, beginning with Waterloo Park. [Read more…]
The cast of Parallelogramophonograph, L-R: Roy Janik, Valerie Ward, Kaci Beeler, Kareem Badr
(Credit: Steve Rogers)
Not all improv groups are created equal. I’m a fan of improv theater in general, but I have to admit, I’ve been to some painful shows in the past. When done badly, improv theater can be downright uncomfortable to witness. But when a troupe has chemistry, energy and talent, and everything falls into place just right, you’re in for an incredible live theater experience. Austin local quartet Parallelogramophonograph (PGraph, for short) is improv done well. Very well. [Read more…]
Welcome to Mort Subite, downtown Austin’s newest Belgian beer bar (credit: Bill Tucker)
With all due respect to local stouts, sours and IPA’s, I feel Belgium makes the best beer in the world. And while we have breweries dedicated to brewing in the Belgian style, it can be hard to find the real thing. Enter Mort Subite, a bar that not only specializes in beer from the land of waffles and chocolate, recreates the warmth and friendliness of a traditional Belgian pub. [Read more…]
