I’m a twitterin’!
Pobrecito El Chilito, no pudo sobrevivir en el centro. Pues, algo bueno pasó porque ahora se tranforme a El Chile!
What happened? The little chile couldn’t make it just selling tacos on 8th and Congree, so they expanded it to a full chile selling the same menu as the original and Far West locales. Until they get their liquor license, however, you know the drill: bebidas gratis!
Andale! Vaya con Dios.
Buffalo sliders. Champagne. Free-range happy local fried chicken. Fresh-baked fancy bread. (Relatively) Cheap wine. Relaxed atmosphere. Fried oysters. Exposed brick. Shrimp ‘n’ grits. Friendliest servers ever. What’s not to love?
Buffalo slider with homemade pickle and bread from Walton's (to open May 15)
Welcome to Max’s Wine Dive, the newest restaurant to hit 3rd & San Jacinto, that burgeoning corner where Rio Grande and Melting Pot have managed to carve out an existence earlier relegated to a-year-and-out eating establishments. Max’s Wine Dive is a Houston hotspot that’s made its way westward into Austin. This “dive” (laid-back atmosphere) focuses on upscale comfort food and carries more than 180 kinds of wine–the only list where you can buy a glass of anything. You can also buy the whole thing and take it home–Max’s maintains a retailer’s permit too. Score!
Max’s Wine Dive is the brainchild of owners Jerry and Laura Lasco, with fellow Rice grad Jonathan in the mix. Endearing Executive Chef Steve Super is passionate about the food, but fittingly his first love was music. A 20-year veteran of the Nashville scene, he toured with national act as well known as Brooks & Dunn. Just 5 years out of the New England Culinary Institute and a stint at the helm of wildly popular Steve and Erika’s (Vermont’s highest-rated restaurant in 2007) later, Steve is settling happily into life in the live music capitol.
Crazy Menu picks:
Nacho Mama’s Oysters (crispy, fried Gulf Coast oysters served over fried wontons and topped with habañero salsa and cilantro $8), Max & Cheese (tossed in truffle cream and a fresh mozzarella, gruyere and Grana Padano cheese blend, $11), Yama Kobe Beef Burger (topped with a triple-cream brie and freshly pickled jalapenos, $18), organic Southern Fried Chicken ($18), and the slightly/alot ridiculous “Haute” Dog (with Texas beer sauerkraut and venison chili, $14). The dishes “always start with fresh, seasonal, and locally-sourced ingredients.”
Happy hour starts at 4pm, but Max’s also has the badass Reverse Happy Hour with discounted food and wine during the last two hours of business!
www.MaxsWineDive.com, 207 San Jacinto Blvd. Open Monday through Wednesday 4-midnight; Thursday through Saturday 4pm-2am, and Sunday from 11am-midnight, with Sunday brunch from 11am-3pm (for drool-worthy photos, check out this blog).
Uchiko is the official name of Uchi II, the second incarnation of Austin’s hottest sushi spot, Uchi ( Voted #1 restaurant in Austin by the 2008 Zagat Survey and the 2008 Fearless Critics Guide). When I tweeted a couple of months ago about the new location (“between 38th & 45th on Lamar”), I think I personally caused a Fail Whale with the number of @ replies it garnered. Now I’m excited to share all the details I have:
Uchiko is loosely translated to mean “child of Uchi.” It will open over a year from now, in the Spring/Summer of 2010. Uchiko will occupy a portion of the space at 4200 N. Lamar. Finding the right spot within a neighborhood was important to Chef/Owner Tyson Cole, which is part of what took so long to get a second location going. This epicenter of several bustling central Austin neighborhoods presented a nice fit.
Cole says, “Uchiko will be Uchi in a new light. Identical to Uchi in almost every way, the new space will focus on a few changes that we would like to offer to our customers, but with the same incredible food and service.” One of those changes is that Uchiko will be divided into two separate rooms. The first will be a dining room for walk-in customers and the second room will be reservation-only seating–but both will offer the same full Uchi menu and bar seating.
“We have had long wait times at Uchi since we opened in 2003,” says business partner Daryl Kunik. “The timing was right to open a new location that allows us to serve more customers and meet the demand for reservations.” Michael Hsu, Uchi’s architect, will transform Uchiko’s space as well.
Looks like it’s a sushi day. Until next summer, go eat at Kenobi in the Arboretum for $2 rolls, or hit up Koi at the Triangle for a free drink this week…
This spring, Saks Fifth Avenue will once again partner with charity: water, a non-profit organization that funds freshwater wells in developing nations for as little as $5,000. Last year, Saks raised over $500,000 for the charity, which aided in the construction of over 100 wells that will serve 37,000 people in Central America, India and Africa.
Through June 30, Saks will offer charity: water t-shirts, bracelets and well sponsorships nationwide. The exclusive, limited edition t–shirts are made by Wet Cement. $35 from the sale of each $40 t-shirt, available in men’s and women’s sizes, will go to charity: water, providing seven people with clean water for five years.
Saks will also sell pairs of black rubber bracelets for $10, with 100% of the proceeds going to charity: water. Customers will be encouraged to keep one and give the other to someone they know, doubling awareness of the charity. Each bracelet represents the gift of clean water for one person for five years.
Finally, Saks customers will be able to sponsor an entire well for $5000. The donation will help a community of 250 people gain access to clean water for drinking, cooking and basic sanitation for 20 years.
ABOUT CHARITY: WATER
Since charity: water was founded and began activity in August 2006, they have funded the construction of more than 1.250 wells that, when completed, will provide clean drinking water to 650,000 people. charity: water uses 100 percent of the money it raises to directly fund freshwater well and sanitation projects in some of the poorest communities in Africa, India and Central America. More information on the organization is available at http://www.charitywater.org/.
Yo, this happy hour tomorrow is going to be absolutely phenomenal. $3 drinks, hot brunettes delivering said drinks, full gift bags when you buy your tix … see you at Lanai from 6-8pm.
DO IT!
So I’ve been meaning to post for awhile on the new (not so new now) boutique I serendipitously stumbled upon one morning while waiting for a table at the original Kerbey Lane. Caroline’s is an amazing boutique in the old lululemon spot. Caroline’s features fresh, affordable pieces, all walking that amazing line between perfect for a creative work environment and dinner/drinks/dates. LOVE IT. I bought a dress and a scarf, and whenever I’ve worn either, I’ve gotten compliments. Despite the fact that it’s mere blocks from my house, I haven’t revisited–but then this came into my inbox:
Drumz is having a drum circle in our parking lot tonight! There will be free fair trade coffee and chocolate, handicrafts from around the world, and wonderful music making! We [Caroline's] will be staying open late for this event. And here is the kicker–offering a discount! We will be offering 15% off your entire purchase from 7-9pm. Caroline’s also just got a shipment of new merchandise. We hope to see you all here for the great new deals!Have happy days!
Once you’ve drummed and shopped yourself silly, head to Birds on S. Congress for their 3-D GRAND OPENING at 9pm:
Come and break in the new shop with dancing, music, and viewings of the best old school 3-D films possible, including “Comin At Ya!” The event features free performances from indie hip-hop superstar Astronautalis, local boat party enthusiast Neiliyo and the Dj-ing skills of Andy (the Mouth) all night long. We’ll have a free 3-D photobooth, video installations and plenty of 3-D glasses to properly view the shop’s mural by local artist Luther Himes. Drinks will be provided by Sweet Leaf Tea, Tito’s Vodka, and Lone Star Beer. In other Birds news, we’re giving away a free shampoo to anyone who shows up on a bicycle at any of our four locations. May is Bike Month, but we’re throwing in hair washes for cyclists all summer long.
International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) is the largest and most comprehensive education initiative of the compost industry. It is celebrated each year in the first full week of May.
I thought composting was silly when my brother first suggested it, but he ignored my teasing and built us a compost just under the window that’s over our kitchen sink. But now I love it, because it’s easy to throw food out the window and the thought of using it to mulch the blackberry tree my hippie brother planted makes me really happy. More for the blackberries than the actual mulching.
To learn more about composting and International Compost Week, click here: www.compostingcouncil.org/programs/icaw/
I’ve heard good things about the Jeff Lofton Quartet and a Brunette teammate planned this event, so there’s nothing stopping me! $10 donation at the door will get you a raffle ticket and drink specials! The Belmont, 7-10pm
Relaxing Mom’s Night Out more your style?
UpSpring Baby is celebrating the first ever National Moms Nite Out on May 7. Come enjoy yummy food and drink, live entertainment, shopping and fantastic giveaways as we join together to salute mothers all over the country.
Features:
– Chocolate tasting and demonstration by Lina Husodo of Lina’s Coco Couture
– Live musical performance by Wendi Slaton
– Chair massages and stress relieving treatments
– Book signing by Mary K. Moore, author of “The Unexpected When You’re Expecting”
UpSpring Baby, makers of Milkscreen and Walking Wings, is an Austin-based company creating products that offer convenient solutions to everyday life and help improve overall health and wellness for children. Attendance is limited so be sure to RSVP to upspringbaby@gmail.com. 6-9pm at Touch of Sass, 500 N Lamar.
Want to support Blondes v Brunettes in double-time?
A combined Blondes & Brunettes happy hour at J Blacks Feel Good Lounge on Thursday, May 7th, 2009 to meet THE BRUNETTES and BLONDES playing in The First Annual Blondes vs Brunette Powderpuff Football Game. This event benefits the Alzheimer’s Association and supports research, awareness, and education about this devastating disease. You will be able to meet 100 of Austin’s finest Brunettes and Blondes along with their ridiculously good looking and intelligent coaches as they raise money for this great organization… (also, you must still COME TO LANAI on Saturday from 6-8pm)
During Cinco de Mayo block party yesterday, we forewent the long lines for un-free beer and ‘ritas inside the 21+ fence-tent and stopped by new 2nd Street spot Z Pizza. Inside, the two girls I was with and I peppered the counter guy with questions: “Is the chicken free range?” (no, but it’s “nitrate-free”) “Do you have X organic wine?” (they said they didn’t, but then brought out that exact wine and asked if it would work? yes, yes it will.) And the kicker: “Do you think you could take that Berkley pizza and put it on a salad?” I don’t know what made me get this hairbrained scheme, except that the Berkley, with its soy cheese and veggie burger crumbles and pesto and zucchini and tomatoes sounded pretty darn good, but I wasn’t willing to waste my carb consumption on crust when I knew I wanted a beer later. So the lovely counter guy, who we later learn is named Austin-apropos!-, nods and says, “Sure, ok, let me just figure out how to ring it up.”
Score. When the salad came out, it had no pesto, but everything else was there and I was happy as a clam. Or veggie burger. At a pizza place. With my organic wine. (This is a bad quality iphone pic)
But the best part about it was the counter guy’s easygoing attitude about it all. Like there was nothing odd about us asking a million questions, taking ten minutes to place three salad orders, and then getting his name and email so we could invite him to our Blondes v Brunettes Happy Hour on Saturday. (By the way, we are putting together some freakin’ SWEET gift bags. You’re gonna want to come on Saturday and buy your ticket, you get a free bag with ticket purchase!!)
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