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Birds Barbershop at The Domain (Birds Barbershop)
The lead singer grins at me as she belts out an indie rock-infused cover of Coldplay’s latest radio hit. I return the smile and sip my icy cold Shiner beer, sitting back on the plush, mid-century modern couch, taking in the moment.
No, I am not at some private SXSW showing. I’m just waiting to get my haircut at the newest location of Birds Barbershop at The Domain. [Read more…]
Guest article by Laurie Engle
The thrill of sorting through decades of funky, silly, elegant fashion and home decor is one of my passions. Vintage clothing and furniture give sense of style a dash of eccentricity. When I buy vintage, I’m buying nostalgia, and I’m a nostalgia kinda girl.
On North Loop, just east of Guadalupe in North Austin, you’ll find a community of vintage shops away from the tourist crowds on South Congress. This is one of my favorite places to spend a day in Austin, and the one I go to satisfy my craving for that idiosyncratic fashion gem.
Keep reading for a guide to five of my favorite places for vintage shopping in the North Loop neighborhood.
The Domain in North Austin
Look; I get it. The first time I went walking through The Domain, I passed places like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany’s and Michael Kors, ALL IN A ROW, and my first thought was, “Oh, crap. I need to get out of here immediately.”
All pretentiousness-bashing aside, I’m here to talk about why you shouldn’t necessarily jump to conclusions when you think about North Austin’s Domain. While your preconceived notion probably suggests it’s an uppity tourist trap with nothing to offer us common Austinites, I’m happy to report that you’re wrong. [Read more…]
I’m always on the hunt for a truly unique Austin restaurant experience. With the robust variety our city offers, something amazing can be just right around the corner.
At the same time, it takes a lot to impress when there are so many places that already stand out. Sala and Betty, a farm-sourced restaurant located on Airport Boulevard, is about to celebrate a full year since they opened their doors last February. The dining venue, which takes its name from owner and chef Teresa Wilson’s childhood nickname, effectively delivers a unique twist on high quality and delicious food.
Wanting to create something that combined quality with efficiency, Wilson developed a restaurant accessible to all kinds of schedules, but one ingredient stays consistent: quality. [Read more…]
Sensory deprivation tank at Liquid Floats
You ever just want to wake up at 6:30 AM on a Sunday, strip naked and lock yourself in a pitch black, soundproof tank filled with water for an hour and a half? I know, right? Sounds so good.
Well, that’s exactly what happened at the newly opened Liquid Floats in North Austin. And what did I do while trapped inside what’s referred to as a sensory deprivation tank? Nothing. That’s right – I just lay there, floating in about 10 inches of Epsom salt-filled water, and did nothing. Believe it or not, it just might have been the craziest and most interesting 90 minutes I’ve spent in a long time. [Read more…]
Galaxy Cafe’s new Northwest Hills location
During a recent tasting at the newest Galaxy Cafe on Mesa Drive in Northwest Austin, the food and service exceeded all expectations — not that Galaxy Cafe wasn’t great to begin with. I’ve visited many times, so I know they’ve been serving delicious, health conscious and environmentally friendly food to Austinites for years.
For those of you who haven’t been in a while, I highly recommend a return visit for any meal of the day. Their bread and produce is delivered daily, most of the ingredients used are organic or all natural and they have some of the best gluten free options in the city.
Galaxy Cafe is a great place to get a fairly quick, guilt free, homestyle meal with quality ingredients and options that cater to any diet. The Northwest Hills location is the largest yet. But it’s not only unique in its size and interstellar décor, but in the craft beer, coffee and wine selection it offers. Take a look at what you can expect when you visit. [Read more…]
Baked by Amy’s on Hwy 183 in northwest Austin
Erin Fellows, Head Baker and Managing Partner at Baked by Amy’s
Prepare to be smitten with Erin Fellows. Her crystal blue eyes and button nose are framed by blond locks of shoulder length hair, resembling the adorable animated Cindy Lou from Whoville, the knee-high girl with charms even the Grinch couldn’t resist!
But Erin has something Cindy Lou lacks. She can bake! To smell divine, some women spritz themselves with liquid botanicals. Erin’s presence is followed by the fragrant mixture of buttercream and chocolate. [Read more…]
Veggie Spring Rolls at Tam Deli in North Austin
Choosing where to go for lunch can be a challenge given the amount of options (or lack thereof) in North Austin. Something fast? A place where you can sit outside? Maybe something you’ve never tried.
Some of the best lunch spots in town can be found north of 2222. If you’re looking for a place to visit for lunch today or sometime soon, give these 5 North Austin lunch spots a shot. [Read more…]
You may be pleasantly surprised to learn that some of the best watering holes in town are in North Austin. Tucked away in strip malls and surrounded by business parks, these gems north of 183 are easy to overlook.
I’ve compiled my list of favorites for those who call North Austin home, and those who are unfamiliar with the area. So take a look at this guide to North Austin bars to see why up north is the place to be. [Read more…]
Tattooed Shawn Bonifay assists a customer with a single speed mountain bike
Here’s a little something about me: I love two wheeled vehicles. Motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, etc. So when a buddy told me about Austin Bike Farm, my ears perked up and I had to check the place out. It was right up my alley.
After working in bike shops for 13 years, Owen Weber — with the support of his wife, Christie — opted to start his own bicycle business.
He did, but he added a twist. The cool thing about Bike Farm is that it mixes bike sales, repair and salvage yard. When the Webers moved the business from Dallas to Austin five years ago, they settled on the corner of Brentwood St and Shirley Ave and have no plans to move. (In case you’re wondering where Brentwood is, it’s just north of Threadgill’s North and intersects Lamar Blvd.)
Since planting roots in our bike friendly city, the Webers have added [Read more…]