The Austinot

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You Wanna Be Crafty? Better Do What You Can and Bead It!

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Bead It Storefront on S Lamar

Welcome to Bead It on S Lamar

Show how funky strong your style is at Bead It. Baskets and bowls of beads cover table after table, while strings of jewelry hang on the wall like sparkling tapestries. Everything is arranged by color or grouped with like items to inspire and create a beautiful house of delicate trinkets.

Visit this South Austin shop to discover a vast array of beads to take home, or stay for a jewelry design class. Classes range from beginner to advanced, but every participant leaves with a creation of their own making. [Read more…]

See for Yourself: The Highball Is Back

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The Highball Austin

The Highball at 1120 S Lamar

When The Highball closed its doors almost two years ago, it left a gaping hole in the Austin nightlife scene. Seriously. Where else could you grab a drink, sing a Miley Cyrus song and bowl ten frames without leaving the building? Now settled in its refurbished home, the South Lamar landmark is looking to reclaim its crown as one of Austin’s most distinctive hot spots.

[Read more…]

Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar Now Open

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Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar Reopens

The all new Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar

I was planning on starting this article with my earliest memories of the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar location. But for the life of me, I can’t remember what movie I saw there first (though it could’ve been Star Wars: Episode III).

However, I can remember the last few movies I saw on South Lamar’s closing night. I capped it off with John Dies at the End and a Texas Chainsaw Massacre double feature with Austin born director Tobe Hooper in attendance. Sadly, the new Texas Chainsaw 3D ended up being the last movie I saw at South Lamar.

Then it closed for 20 months.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

I’m happy to report that this [Read more…]

aRoma Italian Kitchen Opens on South Lamar

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aRoma Italian Management

aRoma Owner Dave Whitney, Executive Chef Jason Garcia and Restaurant Manager Carlos Cueva

Editor’s Note: aRoma is closed as of November 2017. Another Italian restaurant named ManinPasta is expected to take its place.

As the outline of South Lamar continues to change and quickly rise upward, Austin welcomes a new kid to town, aRoma Italian Kitchen & Bar.

Located at 3403 S. Lamar, aRoma has cozied up as a neighbor to our beloved Broken Spoke, bringing with it a new chapter of local Italian cuisine that reaches the south end of Austin. The contemporary kitchen boasts rustic recipes complemented by sleek presentation and fresh, local flavors, plus from-scratch pasta, dough, mozzarella and more. [Read more…]

WhichCraft Is Austin’s First Craft-Only Beer Store

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WhichCraft Austin Logo

WhichCraft opened on April 19, 2014 in Austin

Editor’s Note: WhichCraft is closing its original location on Sept. 22, 2018. The newer Mueller location will remain open.

Do you ever get tired of sifting through all the crappy domestic beers at the grocery store to get to what you want? Come on, guys. I drank that stuff in college, but I’m grown now. I look for quality over quantity and I like to actually taste my beers and distinguish them from one another.

If you’re not looking for what you’re forced to drink at a baseball game, head over to WhichCraft, where you’ll probably be interested in nearly everything on the shelves.

WhichCraft has impressively filled a niche that was still available for the taking in Austin, by becoming the city’s first craft-only beer store. No sifting through the shelves here. You won’t find any of the watered-down lighter lagers from the big beer companies, or wine or liquor for that matter. When WhichCraft says craft beer only, they mean it. [Read more…]

House Wine: Go Out for a Glass of Wine at Home

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House Wine Exterior in Austin

House Wine exterior (Photo credit: austingastronomist.com)

If you’re looking for a place where you can enjoy a glass of well-selected wine and still feel like you’re in Austin, look no further than House Wine. It sits tucked away on Josephine Street, near P. Terry’s on South Lamar, and is perfect for a date or any good company if you’re seeking an intimate, laid back atmosphere.

The house has been around for decades, but has been renovated nicely to resemble a trendy bungalow in the midst of the city atmosphere. The decor is modern and comfortable and screams “relax.” In fact, if half of you wants to go out and half of you wants to stay at home, just go to House Wine. It’s that comfortable. [Read more…]

Pinot’s Palette: Painting Therapy in South Austin

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Though everyone is using the same inspiration painting, they can turn out very different!

Though everyone is using the same inspiration, paintings can turn out very different!

I once decided after a friend gifted me with his old easel that I was going to paint.

I went out to the local craft store and bought a starter kit, some brushes and some really cheap canvas. I wore an old white button-down shirt, ready to have it creatively splattered with paint. [Read more…]

Search for the Best Burger Joint in Austin: Wholly Cow Burgers

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Wholly Cow Burgers on South Lamar in Austin Texas

Wholly Cow Burgers is inside the Zen Food Mart on S. Lamar

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 Wholly Cow Burgers in Austin

Nestled inside the Zen Food Mart on way South Lamar, you’ll find Wholly Cow Burgers. [Read more…]

Corner Bar: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

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Corner Bar is on South Lamar by Austin PizzaOkay, so it isn’t Cheers. But whenever I’ve been to the Corner Bar in Austin, I’ve found that feel of familiarity. Customers are frequently greeted by name, and even new patrons are welcomed as if they had been there several times before.

Corner Bar is a small location in the growing South Lamar area, but the atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming. [Read more…]

Kerbey Lane Cafe Excels Among Local Austin Restaurants

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Kerbey-Lane-Cafe-New-LocationHave you ever had a craving for blueberry pancakes and hot queso at 4 AM in the morning? In most cities, you would be out of luck. But in Austin, you have Kerbey Lane Cafe.

From humble beginnings to word-of-mouth wonder, Kerbey Lane Cafe opened in May 1980. The owners, Patricia Atkinson and David Ayer, lived in the back of a little house on Kerbey Lane. The front of the house birthed what has become an icon in the Austin restaurants scene.

There are five locations in the Austin area, but we had the privilege of the visiting the newest location at 3003 S. Lamar. Karli Isiyel met at us at S. Lamar and gave us a bird’s eye view of Kerbey Lane’s history, achievements and goals that most casual visitors never get to see. Karli, a roller derby enthusiast and native Austinite, is the Marketing Coordinator for all of the Kerbey Lane Cafe locations.

We also got to meet Ben Wintle, who you’ve talked to if you’ve ever interacted with Kerbey Lane Cafe on Facebook, Twitter or any of the other social networks. [Read more…]

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