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The Queen of Pies Wears the Crown at Home Slice Pizza

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Cris Mueller

Iconic Home Slice Sign in Austin

Home Slice’s Queen of Pies (Photo credit: WallyG via Flicker CC)

I approached the mustachioed, pig-tailed little lady who sits atop 1415 South Congress Avenue. High above the cozy and fragrant Home Slice, the “Queen of Pies” reigns with authority and a slice of home for many Austinites.

There’s no escaping the wafting, nearly visible garlic and tomato bouquet that emerges from the doors, sills, and kitchen vents of the 9-year-old pizza venue that introduced New York style pizza to Central Texans. Jeff Mettler, Executive General Manager at Home Slice Pizza and More Home Slice, said it all began with a mission to “create an Austin institution based on the original, unfailing goodness that is authentic NY Style pizza.”

And so began what is hands-down one of my favorite dining experiences to date, with a member of pizza royalty. Mind the gap during my venture of craft beer, upside-down pie, and layers of flaky dough, for the raw storytelling proves true to the experience one is intended to have at Home Slice. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Drink, Food, Food & Drink Tagged With: pizza, soco

Big Top Candy Shop: Rare and Massive Selection on South Congress

Posted on October 24, 2013 by Brittany Highland

Big Top Candy Shop Austin TX

Big Top Candy Shop on South Congress

You don’t have to be a child to be dazzled by the sight of shelves brimming with colorful candy. Walk off the sidewalk of South Congress into Big Top Candy Shop, and chocolate-covered happiness will whisk away any troubles you were carrying around outside the door.

This isn’t your shopping-mall-style candy store. And it isn’t your toy/candy variety store. Since 2007, Big Top has concentrated on candy, candy, and more candy with the kind of laser-beam focus that tends to lead to success.

And lead to success it has. Though the store’s average sale is around $6.50, there’s almost always a line on weekends and during special events. Customers are able to find candy that reminds them of their childhood, or candy that they’ve only ever seen overseas. A soda fountain with Blue Bell ice cream and various drink offerings is the other aspect of Big Top’s unique business model that keeps visitors coming back (especially on hot Texas days).

What other local business has won an Austin Chronicle “Best Of” award before they even opened for business? [Read more…]

Filed Under: Discoveries, Drink, Food, Food & Drink, Local Business Tagged With: soco

That Food Trailer with the Giant Cupcake on Top Isn’t Overrated

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Brittany Highland

Hey Cupcake Trailer on South Congress in Austin

Hey Cupcake! original location on South Congress (Photo credit: herlanieship via Flickr CC)

I never pictured myself driving all the way across town to buy a cupcake. But once you try Hey Cupcake!, I’m sure you’ll understand my craving.

Started almost six years ago out of a trailer on South Congress, Hey Cupcake! now has a total of four locations in the Austin area:

-The original SoCo trailer
-A retail store on Burnet, which doubles as the company bakery
-A trailer on Research Blvd. near Braker Ln.
-A trailer out on 620

What Makes This Cupcake

The Hey Cupcake! menu is home to some flavors that you can always find, with seasonal choices popping in and out throughout the year. My personal favorites right now are [Read more…]

Filed Under: Food, Food & Drink Tagged With: burnet, soco

Austin Jazz: Church on Monday Event with Elias Haslanger and Friends

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Eric Highland

Church on Monday at Continental Club Gallery

The Continental Club hosts Austin jazz every Monday night

Jazz is restless, it won’t stay put and it never will.
-J. J. Johnson, Trombonist

While most seasoned musicians agree that jazz is difficult to define, few deny its worldwide appeal. With standard elements like improvisation and group interaction, this genre of music attracts the very best musicians to collaborate with one another. There are several weekly Austin jazz events. Though we haven’t attended them all, one that we highly recommend without reservation is Church on Monday at the Continental Club Gallery.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Music Tagged With: soco

Lonestar Round Up – Austin’s Vintage Car Show & Music Fest

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Brittany Highland

Classic Cadillac at the Lonestar Round Up in Austin TexasTo say that the Lonestar Round Up is just another Austin car show is a crime, and this week’s Austinot podcast means to prove it to you.

This weekend only, this vintage car show and music festival takes over the Travis County Expo Center, filling it with the best in amazing rides, toe-tapping tunes, food and drink, and even shopping.

Make no mistake, these folks are purists. Car registration is open only to 1963 and [Read more…]

Filed Under: Archives, Austinot Podcast, Podcasts Tagged With: classic cars, soco, south congress

Austin Film Meet Mixer

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Brittany Highland

Stompin-Grounds-Coffee-&-Cocktail-LoungeIn our Facebook wanderings, we came across a Facebook event for the Austin Film Meet’s February mixer. Eric posted on the event wall and received a warm response from Anthony Spears – who runs the Austin Film Meet’s social networking accounts – so we decided to give it a shot.

The Austin Film Meet holds monthly mixers for networking and it seems to be a very friendly and supportive community for visual media folks in ATX. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Film Tagged With: film, soco

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