Posts tagged ‘downtown’

March 6, 2012

Austin: Alamo’s New Cocktail Lounges Midnight Cowboy & 400 Rabbits

Alamo Drafthouse recently announced its first cocktail lounge, called 400 Rabbits. Which was cool enough, but THEN they announced that they’re looking for 400 Loyal Austin Patrons who will collectively be known as “The 400 Rabbits.” The 400 Rabbits will be determined by various methods including a Facebook Scavenger Hunt, Radio giveaways, onsite Geeks Who Drink Trivia nights, and more.

Each of “The 400 Rabbits” will receive a variety of prizes, including a 20% discount on their food and beverage in the 400 Rabbits lounge for one year and exclusive invitations to special events and tastings.

The first three methods of entry into “The 400 Rabbits” are detailed as follows: 

1. LOYAL CUSTOMERS: Customers are able to input their name into a drawing for every $10 they spend at 400 Rabbits. 40 people will be drawn at random to win a “rabbit” spot. Enter to win during 3/8 – 3/31. Winner drawn on 4/2.

2. ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE SLAUGHTER LANE GIVEAWAY: Alamo Slaughter Lane will randomly give away a Rabbit spot to one person every day from 3/8 – 3/31 for a total of 24 Rabbit spots.

3. TRIVIA NIGHTS: 400 Rabbits will host a Geeks who Drink trivia night every week throughout March and April. The winning teams will be awarded a Rabbit spot – 50 spots total.

For more on “The 400 Rabbits” promotion visit http://www.400RabbitsBar.com

The cocktail lounge will have its grand opening on March 22nd. The name is derived from the Aztec goddess Mayahuel; the lounge will serve a bar menu centered around agave spirits (tequila, mezcal, sotol) and food inspired by Latin American street fare. A sneak of some of the food and drinks:

400 Rabbits Food

Torta Ahogada – Carnitas, pickled onions, refried white beans, and cotija, on a toasted bolillo drowned in arbol sauce topped with fresh oregano and served with chips.

Sonoran Hot Dog – Bacon wrapped hot dog, flat grilled with green chile salsa, lettuce, white beans, pickled onions, tomato, jicama, cilantro mayo, and cotija in a bolillo.

Sherry Darling: Reposado tequila, orange infused sherry, grand marnier + La Playa Sunset: Silver tequila, Zyco coconut water, falernum, lime, bitters + Me Encante: no idea what's in that

Alamo beverage director Bill Norris took a sabbatical to Jalisco last year to learn the production methods and history of Tequila and to prepare the 400 Rabbits menu. Executive Chef John Bullington has created a selection of snacks that pair perfectly with Bill’s tequila-centric bar offerings. “The food is inspired by interior Latin American street food while using fresh and local ingredients” says Chef Bullington. I’ve always loved Alamo’s focus on local ingredients!

In Other News: Midnight Cowboy Modeling

Alamo Drafthouse is also opening a cocktail lounge, Midnight Cowboy on East Sixth Street, on March 9th.  For over thirty years, Midnight Cowboy Oriental Modeling operated as a brothel in plain sight. Now, that formerly nefarious spot has been transformed into Austin’s premier cocktail destination. Under a red light, through an unmarked door, come find a 48-seat, reservation-based cocktail lounge, featuring drinks designed by Alamo Drafthouse Beverage Director Bill Norris and Midnight Cowboy manager Brian Dressel (formerly of FINO, East Side Showroom and Bar Congress) and a luxurious interior design by Joel Mozersky.

Midnight Cowboy can accommodate groups of up to eight people, and Mozersky has transformed three former “massage” rooms into private tables for groups of six to eight people, with booths for smaller parties in the front room.

Cocktails will be prepared tableside by highly-experienced bartenders, feature hand cut ice, premium spirits and freshly squeezed juice from an innovative and rotating menu of original cocktails, obscure classics, and modern favorites from our bartender friends in other cities.

Reservations can be made at http://midnightcowboymodeling.com beginning on Tuesday, March 6th at Noon CST. When a reservation is made, guests will be provided with the procedure for entry through Midnight Cowboy’s unmarked door and welcomed into Austin’s first true luxury cocktail experience.

Midnight Cowboy House Rules

Midnight Cowboy is a relaxing oasis in the midst of the Sixth Street liveliness. To ensure this atmosphere, we don’t allow smoking, guns, cell phone calls, laptops, games, or rowdiness.  If you must smoke or make a call, please do so on the rear patio.  Please keep your conversations at a reasonable level, and enjoy fine cocktails and the finer company of your companions.

While our cocktails might loosen inhibitions and the building’s past might encourage licentiousness, we ask that you refrain from public displays of affection and unwelcome advances towards members of other parties.

Tables at Midnight Cowboy are available for reservation. Reservations are for two hours and no parties larger than 8 can be accommodated. All reasonable (and legal) services will be considered by your bartenders and hosts.

I always wondered about that whole brothel-in-plain-sight thing. So I pretty much pasted that press release verbatim … I can’t make this stuff up. Perfect for SXSW but will it last? 

January 17, 2012

Austin: Grand Opening of Hiatus Spa + Retreat Tonight

Remember the awesome massage I had a few weeks back? The spa, though it has been open about two months, is having its grand opening tonight with lots of treats, including wine, cocktails, spa experiences, giveaways, discounts, and more. Stop by and check it out!

December 5, 2011

Austin: Skate It Up

Austin’s lakes and ponds will probably never freeze in order to get that whole wintery skating thing going on (in contrast to Aspen, where it is TEN degrees as I type this), so we have to build rinks specifically for that purpose. The downtown Whole Foods started the trend a few years ago (and has updated it for 2011, read on), but the famous Oasis Restaurant with its brand new Oasis Texas village is upping the ante with a 1,760 square foot ice skating rink against the sunsets and Lake Travis views for which it is famous.

oasis skating rink

Oasis Texas now consists of five restaurants, four retail shops, entertainment, and office space. The rink is open through January 1. Admission to the rink is $10, which includes skate rental. Bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Marine Foundation’s Toys for Tots annual holiday campaign and get $1 off skate ticket. Oasis Texas is located at 6550 Comanche Trail. For more info: oasistx.com

Skating rink hours: Monday through Thursday 4-10p; Friday and Saturday 11a-11p; Sunday 11a-8p.
Christmas Eve: 11a-7p; Christmas Day: 1-10p; New Year’s Eve: 11a-10p; New Year’s Day: 11a-10p

Meanwhile, Whole Foods is introducing Disco Karaoke on Ice! Wednesday Nights Through January 15th from 7-9p . Disco Karaoke on Ice will include free hot chocolate, courtesy of Capital One Bank, to the first 50 guests. Plus, all karaoke guests will be entered into a chance to win a $250 gift card. Admission: $10/hour includes skates.

October 13, 2011

Austin: Target Downtown Cook-Off

Target, which btw donated $60,000 to Texas Wildfire Relief, is hosting a cook-off and grocery giveaway downtown. In celebration of the fresh food additions to Target stores in the Austin area, celebrity food critic Gail Simmons (judge and critic on Top Chef, host on Top Chef Desserts, and Food & Wine special projects manager) will host a cooking competition between local acclaimed chefs Shawn Cirkiel (parkside and the backspace) and Paul Petersen (Vivo Lake Creek). Target will also offer giveaways and sampling throughout the day while supplies last.

Friday Oct 14 / Congress Avenue and Fourth Street / 8:30a–5p / Cook-off 12:30–1:30p / Parking lot opposite Frost Bank Tower

… sometimes I miss working downtown. Perfect lunch break!

October 12, 2011

Austin: Put the Rumors to Rest on 219West

We’ve all seen the marquee outside the former Union Park (RIP BoomBoomRoom) announcing that 219West will be moving there sometime, but up until now details have been scarce. Until now. The Warehouse District location closes its doors for good after regular Saturday night service from 5p to 2a October 15.

219West’s new home at 612 W. Sixth St.—despite rumor, it is NOT the same address—will open mid-November.

219West’s new 8,600-square-foot location (2x the 4th Street location!) has been entirely gutted and refurbished. A new patio has been erected along the front side of the building, the massive rooftop deck is still there, and the inside will feature more private party dining rooms. 219West is perhaps most known for its six award-winning menus of tapas and fresh entrees with booze pairings of cocktails, beer, and wine, and these will remain staples at the new location. The new 219West location will feature a new signature 219Tini cocktail: a combination of cucumber vodka, fresh lime juice, a splash each of sour mix and 7UP or soda, and a dash of simple syrup.

More info: 219West.com

September 23, 2011

Austin: “Face the Day” Tour for a Free Mo’

It’s not quite Movember yet, but according to recent statistics, many men are embracing the mo’ and other facial hair throughout the year. A full 62 percent of guys sport facial hair sometime in a year. Lucky for guys, Wahl, the industry leader in barber tools, will dispatch its giant barbershop and team of experts to the Old Pecan Street Festival September 24-25 as part of a nationwide ”Face the Day” tour to help guys put their best face forward. 

Wahl will set up a 30-foot mobile barbershop to give guys FREE facial hair grooming and tips. Guys can also enter a national search for the best facial hair in the country. Plus, looking good supports a good cause: for every trim, Wahl will donate $1 to Movember, a non-profit organization that provides funding for Live Strong, Prostate Cancer Foundation, and Movember Foundation.

Free barbers austin

Get a free man mo’ on the streets of Austin this weekend.

August 26, 2011

Austin: Ferris Bueller’s Day on 6th Street

2nd Annual 6ixth Street Benefit Free Alamo Rolling Roadshow: FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF
A fundraiser to clean up and revitalize Austin’s downtown entertainment district, the sunset screening hosted by the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and parkside restaurant will be a sreet party on San Jacinto, between Fifth and Sixth Streets.
Gates open at 7:30p and the movie begins at 9pAdmission is free but $5 is the suggested donation.

parkside will provide a menu of upscale street food, cocktails and beer. Sponsors include Don Q Rum, Dos Equis Cerveza, Yelp, the Austin Chronicle, Alamo Drafthouse and parkside.

Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. For more information on the 6ixth Street Austin Association, 6thstreetaustin.com.

July 19, 2011

Austin: Day ‘o the Week Breakdown

I love nothing more than a theme party, so you can imagine how excited I was to hear that two Austin standbys, old and new, are hosting themed events every day of the work week throughout the summer! Check out the Day ‘o the Week Breakdown for West Sixth’s Star Bar and South Lamar’s Gibson—almost everything includes FREE food!!

Monday

Gibson: Mustache Mondays—$3 Maker’s special all night for everyone with a mustache. All guests receive a free mustache and prizes are awarded to the most impressive ‘stache.

Star Bar: Crock-Pot Creations—complimentary homemade soups or queso bar, all night happy hour and $4 Makers Mark.

Tuesday

Gibson: Trivia Tuesdays—free pub quiz starting at 8p complete with special prizes and bragging rights.

Star Bar: Texas Tuesdays—complimentary Frito pie, $3 local drafts (Live Oak, Independence and 512 brewing),  $3 Deep Eddy regular and sweet tea vodka served in mason jars.

Wednesday

Gibson: Wine Wednesday & Steak Night— complimentary cheese plate from Antonelli’s Cheese Shop (so hot right now!) with each purchase of a half or full bottle of wine beginning at 4p until the plates run out. Half bottle pricing starts at $10 and full bottles start at $15. Luke’s Inside Out also offers a grilled steak paired with two sides for $12 on Wednesdays.

Star Bar: Wine and Cheese Wednesdays–complimentary cheese plate from Antonelli’s Cheese Shop with each purchase of a half or full bottle of wine. Plate includes a variety of cheeses, Italian meats, grapes and flatbread. Half bottle pricing starts at $7 and full bottles start at $19.

Thursday

Gibson: Bubbles n Bitches (and Bingo)—Gibson has added Bingo to their popular Bubbles n Bitches night … In addition to complimentary variety plate of chocolates and strawberries with every order of bubbles, free Bingo begins at 8p with host Trevin from 101x and a chance to win great prizes.

Star Bar: Star Barrio(haha!)—happy hour complete with complimentary homemade salsas and an enchilada bar featuring Ranch 616 enchiladas, rice and beans. Drink specials include Palomas and buckets of iced Mini Sols.

Sunday

Gibson: Sinner Sunday– service industry happy hour all night.

Star Bar: Doublewide Sundays—complimentary chicken and waffles, Pop-Tarts and a variety of cereals. All day happy hour and drink specials include vodka Capri Suns, SunnyD Mimosas, Strawberry Quik White Russians, and $2 Lone Stars.

BONUS! Free Smoothie Fridays from McDonald’s: Try the new Mango Pineapple Real Fruit Smoothie at local participating McDonalds with free samples every Friday in July from 7am – 7pm.

I’m not endorsing your Mickey D’s stops, just letting you know about free stuff. The new Mango Pineapple Real Fruit Smoothie combines mango and pineapple with low-fat yogurt. It’s all about choices—visit this site for McDonald’s nutritional info.

July 5, 2011

[UPDATED] Austin: Wine-Down Wednesday

Update: Tomorrow’s Wine Down is CANCELLED.

In its stead, check out the first-ever open-to-the-public (normally just VIPs are invited) Davis Cup Draw Ceremony with Asleep at the Wheel, at ACL Live on Thursday. Tickets are $5 and benefit the Joplin Tornado Relief Fund.

Draw Ceremony at ACL Live

Doors at 11am, program and performance at noon.  The teams, including the US and Spanish teams, will be present at the event and the draw will be performed by Ray Benson. More information and tickets at acl-live.com. What a lunch break, huh?

Original post:

Have you heard about ACL Live’s popular Wine Down Wednesday nights? Basically, someone awesome comes to play, free food from awesome 2nd Street restaurants is had, with happy hour prices on Clos du Bois wine.

The series was so popular in June that they’ve added two July dates: Dan Dyer (who, I will add, played at my friend’s April wedding!) on July 6th with complimentary food (while it lasts) from Malaga Tapas & Bar and Wendy Colonna on July 13th with complimentary food (while it lasts) from TRACE.

Wine Down Wednesday is free and open to the public and takes place from 5 – 7 pm.

“Wine Down Wednesdays are a great way to celebrate the middle of the week, “ said Rose Reyes, Director of Music Marketing for ACVB. “Great Austin music, a world-class venue, fine wines and a breezy porch makes this the perfect spot for visitors and locals alike.”

For more information on the schedule of dates, acl-live.com.

… don’t be scurrrrred of falling glass! ;-)


June 10, 2011

Austin: Achachay! at Flamingo Cantina

One of the most energetic live shows you’ll ever see, funk rock band Achachay! is returning from a west coast tour to play Flamingo Cantina TONIGHT! The music starts at 9:30, Achachay! plays at 11pm. It only costs $5 and there are 3 great bands.

Purchase securely here: iTunes (Buy 2 tix in advance and email bookings@achachay.com for a free download of the EP Handy Escape Coach!)
*Disclaimer: Achachay’s charismatic frontman is my favorite—and only—little brother. He’s not exactly little in real life but he’s little to me!
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