Discover the Best Things to Do in Austin, Food & Drink deals and more!
Entrance to the French Legation Museum grounds (Credit: French Legation Museum and Daughters of the Republic of Texas)
The oldest wooden frame home in Austin sits alone on a hill with an unobstructed view of the State Capitol.
It dates back to the Republic of Texas, when France seized an opportunity to grab a piece of the new country and its wealth.
But the French sent the wrong man for the job. [Read more…]
Reason number 8,693 that we love Austin: Our ever changing landscape of gastronomic and cocktail excursions.
I recently moved to a new neighborhood and have since found my way into a wonderland of neighborhood jaunts I can’t seem to get enough of. Take a gander at my short list of East Austin happy hour favorites and you may find a new refuge of your own. [Read more…]
Old design and log book at Clayworks, a local business dating back 35 years
If there was a book called Cool Things in Austin You Should Know About, Clayworks Studio/Gallery and the Gray Family would be in the first chapter.
The gallery on East Sixth Street displays tables, art work, tiles, architectural ceramics and more that the Grays have created. A working studio sits behind the gallery, where the Grays make and fire products for individual and company contracts.
Austin landmarks such as the Texas State Capitol Building, The Driskill Hotel and The University of Texas at Austin all house their creations.
The story of the Grays is a story, in microcosm, of what has happened in East Austin for the last three decades. [Read more…]
Inviting, open and fun – Hi Hat welcomes you!
Everyone needs a neighborhood bar. A place that’s not just a convenient place you can walk to in the evening and stumble home from at night. But a social network inside walls. A place where people can meet, greet and become neighbors.
When East Austin grew out of its reputation as the wrong side of the tracks, local pubs became a necessity. Enter Hi Hat Public House, a laid back restaurant/watering hole that has quickly become the best place to eat, drink and be merry in East Austin.
As the cornerstone of the Villas on Sixth apartment complex, Hi Hat features a little bit of everything. Aside from having a respectable wine list, Hi Hat also sports an exceptional beer listing. [Read more…]
Smokey Denmark’s food truck
According to Bill Dumas, head pitmaster at Smokey Denmark’s, “Barbecue is the most bastardized word in the English language.” And it’s true. When most people hear the word barbecue, they imagine the Fourth of July with burgers, hotdogs and pool parties. But if you live in Texas, you know better – or at least you should.
You might not be totally familiar with the name Smokey Denmark’s, but I’m certain you’re familiar with their product. They’ve been smoking sausages and other meats since 1964. Their smoked sausages are served in several restaurants around town, such as Banger’s Sausage House on Rainey Street, where you can get Smokey Denmark’s andouille sausage.
After smoking meats for 50 plus years, they’ve decided to venture into the food truck world, taking their meats to the open road. Or in this case, right next to their meat shop at 3505 E 5th St. [Read more…]
Cuvee Coffee Bar exterior
Cuvee Coffee has long been in the hearts of Texans and Austinites alike, and visiting their new location in East Austin is an experience you’ll want to have again and again.
The company, founded over a decade and a half ago, has taken their time opening a cafe for customers and fans, and it shows. Everything from the modern, stripped down decor to the individualized ordering process makes it obvious that a lot of thought and hard work were put into opening the operation.
I recently stopped by their new place (2000 E 6th) and was immediately greeted with smiles and genuine warmth, something you won’t find at every coffee shop in Austin.
Having never been there, I asked for a recommendation and was astounded by [Read more…]
Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile on East Cesar Chavez in East Austin
Austin just gained something special, an exciting new addition to our city’s already impressive repertoire of dining and drinking options.
Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile opened its doors on August 20, 2014. Austinites are welcomed into a modern dining room with rustic overtones that leads out to an equally charming, breezy back porch. This ranch to table spot is located on East Cesar Chavez at the far east side of town, along the banks of the Colorado River. [Read more…]
Edgar and Christina Torres outside School House Pub
School is back in session, and there’s no better place to get “studious” than School House Pub in East Austin. Located off Manor Road among what seems to be an ever expanding collection of go-to bars and restaurants, School House Pub brings you inside the classroom where food and drinks are always allowed.
The small, but cozy interior is cleverly decorated with schoolbooks, chalkboards and charts galore. Their cocktails are quirkily named (Teacher’s Pet, Intro to Spanish, Extra Credit) and are some of the most reasonably priced in town ($7-9). When you walk in, look up and you’ll be staring at the pub’s flagship school bell hanging from a well-lit tower. [Read more…]
There is nothing short about this beef (Credit: Edgar Barguiarena)
There is a moment. A moment when you’re utterly certain you’re trying what could possibly be the best version of your favorite food group. A moment you take in as you stare down at a heaping brontosaurus beef rib sitting on a tray.
You know you couldn’t possibly balance the tray with one hand, for fear you might spill your prize, as everyone who has been standing in line for over an hour looks on.
La Barbecue has been smoking meat in Austin for over two years in two different locations. They are ready to [Read more…]
With Owner Steven Dilley at Bufalina
Those who know me, know that I’m a pizza fanatic. My infatuation with this amazingly simple dish began at a young age, which was easy with Italian immigrant parents who owned a pizza shop. You could say it’s in my blood.
So when I met someone equally enthusiastic about pizza, I may have shed a tear. When talking with Bufalina owner Steven Dilley, his passion for cooking is very apparent. With every return visit, I continue to be be amazed.
Some might place Bufalina in the up and coming category of Austin restaurants. But with its atmosphere, service and pizza combinations, I think it has made it to the big leagues.
Now, don’t beat yourself up if you haven’t tried Bufalina yet. But do yourself a favor and go eat there. Immediately. [Read more…]