north austin Archives - Page 5 of 5 - The Austinot

Stonebridge Coffee Represents One Man’s Willingness to Beat the Odds

March 5, 2014 by Brittany Highland 7 Comments

Stonebridge Coffee North Austin

Stonebridge Coffee at 6400 McNeil in North Austin

When Justin Forgey had a grand mal seizure and was diagnosed with late-onset adult epilepsy in 2008, his life changed instantly. For the next four years, he bounced around from job to job, having seizures along the way. “It made the typical 9-5 very difficult,” Justin reflected. “I was not the most reliable employee.”

But Justin chose not to be defined by his disability. He was eager to find a way to support his family. One day, he mentioned to his wife Jenny that he was considering self-employment, owning a brick and mortar coffee shop. She replied that they should talk more about it. The next day, Justin quit his job. [Read more…]

Dart Bowl, Your Neighborhood Bowling Alley for 56 Years

February 4, 2014 by David Thomas Leave a Comment

Dart Bowl Bowling Alley Austin

You can see Dart Bowl’s sign on Grover St. across from McCallum High School

Nestled away in the nooks and crannies of our fair city are tidbits of iconic Austin culture. One of those tidbits is quietly tucked away on Grover St., across the street from McCallum High School in North Austin. Dart Bowl is more than a bowling alley. It’s an Austin icon.

Dart Bowl’s Long History of Community Involvement

In 1958, Jerry and Betty Ray opened Dart Bowl in a shopping center near Anderson and Burnet Rd. (now a Bassett furniture store). They happily remained there for the next 38 years until 1996, when they took over the old Capitol Bowl on Grover St.

Along the way, the Rays also opened Highland Lanes at Burnet Rd. and 183, and Westgate Lanes on William Cannon Dr.

To be in business for 56 years is no small feat. Part of that success has got to be chalked up to Dart Bowl’s involvement with [Read more…]

Tasty Mediterranean Cuisine Abounds at Pars Deli in North Austin

January 13, 2014 by Cris Mueller Leave a Comment

Pars Deli Austin

Photo courtesy of Pars Deli

Amidst the traffic and slew of strip malls that occupy Burnet Road sits a glimmering oasis of Mediterranean fare. Sam Roostaie offers diners the essence of his native Iranian cuisine at Pars Deli, located at 8820 Burnet Rd, Suite 502.

Since the time of their opening in 2000, Pars Mediterranean Supermarket & Deli has relied solely on word of mouth advertising, boosted by accolades and stellar reviews from local press.

By understanding the value of a great review and the passion and integrity put into his cooking, Roostaie is able to welcome guests, fourteen years later, as if they were visitors at his own home. “I don’t eat fried food, and I won’t sell fried food” said Roostaie. The authentically Persian and Greek recipes that make up the vast menu at Pars are guided by appreciation for a healthy lifestyle and a great deal of taste testing. Recipes at Pars are rich with fresh [Read more…]

Adventurous Austinites Stay Fit at Austin Rock Gym

November 20, 2013 by David Thomas Leave a Comment

Austin Rock Gym

A climber at Austin Rock Gym looks up to where he lost his grip

Until recently, my experience in rock climbing was limited to a giant rock in Walnut Creek Park that my fiancé and I climbed for a picnic lunch.

It may be surprising, but Austin has quite a bit of outdoor rock climbing opportunities for adventurous types. Our glistening metropolis lies at the foot of the famous Texas Hill Country. A short trip to Lake Travis, Inks Lake or Lake Buchanan provides climbers with plenty of opportunities to practice their best Spider-Man impression.

But what is a newbie to do? The best option is to go to Austin Rock Gym.

Austin Rock Gym has two locations in north and south Austin. The north location is at 8300 N. Lamar Blvd. Suite B-102. My hardcore readers may [Read more…]

Best Austin Craft Beer Joints: Black Star Co-op Pub and Brewery

November 7, 2013 by Edgar Barguiarena 3 Comments

Black Star Co-op Pub and Brewery

Black Star Co-op off N. Lamar at Airport

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: Black Star Co-op Pub and Brewery

An Austinot walks into Black Star and orders a craft beer…stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Dustin did a great job reviewing the Black Star concept almost two years ago right here on the Austinot. But in light of recent news out of the Great American Beer Festival, I thought it would be a good time to revisit these guys, add them to the series, and finally check out a craft beer joint a bit further north. [Read more…]

Enjoy the Simple Things at Draught House Pub and Brewery

August 16, 2013 by Dustin Vegas Leave a Comment

Opening a bar in Austin is like entering the Thunderdome: two bars enter, one bar leaves. I have watched them come and go through the years. Themed bars, dives, sports bars, college bars – many pop up, trying to dominate their niches, but few have have staying power. Personally, no bar has held my attention long enough to make me a regular. All save one: Draught House Pub and Brewery.

The Draught House is my go-to tavern. It’s my watering hole, my place where everybody knows my name. I didn’t quite understand why, though, for a long time. I’ve been showing up to this pub for years without analyzing what made it so special. [Read more…]

Cocktails with Somersault at The Domain Will Make You Flip

August 15, 2013 by Cris Mueller 3 Comments

Mixologist Ryan Baird at Somersault at The Domain

Mixologist extrordinaire, Ryan Baird

In cocktail terminology, the word “flip” is one that has been in use since 1695. But when you want to turn that flip into a sexier, hand-crafted cocktail of 2013, you’ll find it at 11601 Domain Drive at Somersault.

Still in its early stages of creating innovative cocktails for fans of infusions, molecular cocktail gastronomy and gourmet edibles, Somersault is far from adolescent. With the creativity and sheer skill of Bar Manager and mixologist Ryan Baird, you are in for a unique and sometimes upside-down cocktail experience. [Read more…]

3 Reasons to Get Lost at Walnut Creek Park This Summer

June 12, 2013 by Dustin Vegas 5 Comments

Walnut Creek Park

Walnut Creek Park

Though you couldn’t tell by the heat, summer is officially here in Austin. The colleges have closed their doors and the river is filled daily with kayaks and stand up paddle boards. Since the Austinot has already given you some tips about how to beat the heat in Austin, I’m going to tell you about my favorite park in Austin: Walnut Creek Park.

Walnut Creek Park is a spot of wilderness among Austin’s sprawling northside. Just shy of 300 square acres, the park’s spiderweb of trails criss-cross for miles.

I feel like the protagonist from Heart of Darkness every time I enter the trees. Sometimes I half expect to see Marlon Brando and his skulls upriver when I play fetch with my dog in the water.

There are a million reasons why I love Walnut Creek Park. To save you some time, here are my top three. [Read more…]

Thai Cuisine Austin Offers Complimentary Lunch Bar & Noteworthy Dishes

March 18, 2013 by Brittany Highland 5 Comments

Thai Cuisine Austin on Parmer

Thai Cuisine Austin on Parmer

We recently relocated to the area near Parmer and Mopac, so we’ve been spending more time exploring northwest Austin. Ever since the conversation around our Titaya’s Thai Cuisine article, I’ve been wanting to visit a specific Thai restaurant that’s located in our new neighborhood.

Sitting at the end of an unpretentious strip mall on Parmer, Thai Cuisine has a colorful, welcoming interior that smacks of cleanliness. Our first visit was for a late dinner on a week night, but we returned a few weeks later for the unique lunch experience (also on a week day).

There were some commonalities across our two visits. But overall, lunch and dinner dining experiences at Thai Cuisine are extremely different from one another. And I do have a strong preference between the two, so keep reading for the inside scoop. [Read more…]

Search for the Best Burger Joint in Austin: Moonie’s Burger House

October 22, 2012 by Eric Highland 7 Comments

If you’ve been looking for the best burgers in Austin, you’ve come to the right place. This post is part of a series on The Austinot.

All the posts in this series start with “Search for the Best Burger Joint in Austin” in the title. Remember, I’m looking at not only the burgers, but the experience as a whole.

You’ll always get an honest take on the burger joints that I’ve visited. I’m not on any burger joint’s payroll. Agree or disagree, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

First Impression of Moonie’s Burger House in Austin

Moonie’s has four locations. I visited the North Austin location at 12001 N. Burnet Road, east of where Burnet and Mopac meet, in a little strip mall. I went to Moonie’s because it was suggested in a comment on one of my burger reviews. See folks? I do [Read more…]