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La Boite Coming To Downtown Austin’s Old Bakery Park

by | October 15, 2011 |2 Comments
la boite cafe austin, tx

La Boite Cafe will soon occupy an underutilized downtown Austin open space.

If you’ve driven down South Lamar recently, then you’ve no doubt seen the adaptively repurposed shipping container perched on the hilltop at Collier and S. Lamar.

The open space pictured below, just north south of the Old Bakery, will be the 2nd La Boite location and will feature a similar modified shipping container.

Now that Little City is gone, the northern stretch of Congress Ave needs a recharge of pedestrian and retail energy.  La Boite Cafe’s innovative design, broad audience, and placement next to the Old Bakery is a big step in right direction.

Kudos to Melissa Barry at the Downtown Austin Alliance for helping push this idea through.  We’re told La Boite will start site work next week, and once open they will keep normal business hours in addition to Saturday mornings. [Read more...]

Filed Under: austin lifestyle, austin parks, austin retail, austin small business Tagged With:

Rainey Street Stakeholders Hug It Out Over OMV Permits

by | August 21, 2011 |4 Comments
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Despite the trend of obstructionist politics, private parties interested in progress will collaborate and compromise to reach an acceptable solution. Seeking a resolution to Outdoor Music Venue compatibility in downtown Austin’s Rainey Street District is a good example.

Rainey Street is dominantly residential.  Ironically, the incredible residential density is a result of permissive CBD zoning.  CBD is a sword of a zoning definition that can cut both ways.  When the economy tanked, so did the opportunity for  Rainey Street bungalow owners holding out for big $$$ to cash out, and they were left holding an expensive property tax bill.

When you have CBD zoning on a small mid-block lot what do you do until you can be assembled into a larger development (like this)?   [Read more...]

Filed Under: austin lifestyle, austin neighborhoods, Rainey Street District Tagged With:

Forbidden Fruit Says Farewell To E. 6th Street District

by | August 10, 2011 |3 Comments
forbidden-fruit-austin

Kinky sigh.

A familiar icon of Austin small business, a lone downtown Austin retailer amidst a sea of E 6th Street bars, is shutting its downtown doors on August 28th.  The ABJ reports that Forbidden Fruit is redirecting its efforts on a better performing store.  From the article, owner Lynn Rairden says:

“We have seen a dramatic shift in customer base away from this location, with more of our patrons shopping at the store at 108 E. North Loop”

So, is North Loop just kinkier than downtown? I doubt that, but Forbidden Fruit is crowd sourcing their next location.

I will be sad to see it go.  I stepped into the store a couple of times in college, and since then I just enjoyed knowing it was there.  Forbidden Fruit’s downtown store was a beacon of hope for Austin small businesses anticipating that 6th Street can rebalance its mix of commercial use to include more retail.

Filed Under: 6th Street Historic & Entertainment District, austin lifestyle, austin small business, downtown austin

Pics From DANA Social at Annie’s On Congress

by | July 15, 2011 |1 Comment
DANA Urban Core Happy Hour

Thanks to Escobedo Esthetics and Annie’s Cafe for sponsoring this month’s Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association Happy hour! Escobedo just moved into the ground floor of the Spring Condos, and last night they brought with them a fancy skin care machine that yours truly experienced. Annie’s provided an outstanding spread of food, helpful staff, and terrific venue. [Read more...]

Filed Under: austin lifestyle, Austin photos, images, downtown austin

Downtown Austin Link Roundup

by | June 24, 2011 |1 Comment

The news didn’t stop to take a breath this week, at least as it relates to downtown Austin.  Lots of announcements, lots of speculation.  These are the stories we’re following.

1) 219 West is moving from Warehouse district to West 6th Street, into the old Union Park space.  (link)

2) In “how will they fit it in there?” news: a proposed tower between Shoal Creek and Spring Condos, behind Tiniest Bar In Texas. (link)  UPDATE: Zoning change approved (link)

3) The White Lodging Hotel on Congress Ave isn’t the only proposed hotel.  In fact, there’s another player looking at the lot next to the Palm School, and they are not seeking any fee waivers.  (link)

4) Austin City Council delays vote on the White Lodging (“Mega Hotel”) fee waivers. (link)

5) Permanent supportive housing should not be placed near other social services (link)

6) Gables Republic Park says they won’t build soon, or at least until Travis County gets a clear vision on its new downtown courthouse site.  (link)

Filed Under: austin lifestyle, austin neighborhoods, austin news, downtown austin, Downtown Austin Districts, Downtown Austin Link Roundup, Warehouse District

Second Bar + Kitchen in Downtown Austin

by | June 18, 2011 |4 Comments
Grilled Cheese from Second

Second Bar + Kitchen is aptly named for it’s Congress Ave @ Second Street location.  But don’t think for a second that the food isn’t first-rate (wakka wakka!).

On a whim, I ventured over to Second a couple of Sundays ago (after a morning coffee at the Austonian’s Caffe Medici) and was pleasantly surprised by the food and the atmosphere of the restaurant. I was seated on the second story, which was a small, covered balcony with simple tables and faux grass carpeting: [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2nd Street District, austin lifestyle, austin neighborhoods, austin recreation, austin restaurant reviews, austin small business, Congress Avenue District, downtown austin, life in austin, retail, small business

Is Austin Bicycle Theft On The Rise?

by | May 30, 2011 |3 Comments
austin-stolen-bike

There were more bike thefts reported in the heart of downtown Austin during the first five months of 2011, compared to 2010, according to city police records I compiled. However, reports are down in the South Congress area.

I know this because I decided to do my best Council Member Chris Riley impression — sans silver hair — and work on reducing my car usage in favor of pedal power to commute to the Capitol area. I bought a bike over the weekend, did some research and promptly shelled out another $200 for accessories, aimed mostly at anti-theft.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Austin Data & Statistics, austin lifestyle, austin recreation, austin traffic, austin transit, city council, crime, data, statistics, downtown austin, life in austin, rumors, gossip Tagged With: ,

Downtown Austin Home Bicycle Tour (Free Tickets – $44 Value)

by | April 20, 2011 |13 Comments
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We are awarding 2 free tickets ($44 value) to 1 lucky DAB reader for this AWESOME bike tour happening this Saturday, April 23rd, beginning at 9:30AM.  MEET UP AT WHOLE FOODS ON LAMAR.  Winner will also receive 2 FREE Downtown Austin Blog t-shirts (priceless?)! [Read more...]

Filed Under: austin lifestyle, austin neighborhoods, austin news, austin parks, austin recreation, austin small business, austin transit, downtown austin, life in austin, small business, urban family

Vote For Austin Bike Share

by | April 1, 2011 |4 Comments
minneapolis bike share

We’ve got some momentum on this: improving last-mile and recreational transit by installing bike share hubs throughout Austin’s urban core.   DAB readers know this is something I’ve been passionate about for years.  The idea has the attention of multiple Austin City Council members.  Take five seconds and **VOTE NOW**!

Filed Under: austin lifestyle, austin transit, downtown austin, urban planning Tagged With:

Live (Work, or Play) in Downtown Austin? Join DANA (Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association)

by | March 18, 2011 |Leave a Comment
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Jude and I are both on the board of the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association (DANA) – a grassroots community organization dedicated to improving the lives of those who live, work, and / or play in the Downtown Austin Community. It’s an organization that we believe in, and an organization that is affecting positive change in our community.

For our readers who are downtown residents (or, who spend a significant amount of time downtown for work or for pleasure), I urge you to become a member of the organization.

A little info: [Read more...]

Filed Under: austin condos, austin lifestyle, austin neighborhoods, austin news, austin parks, austin recreation, austin small business, development, downtown austin, Downtown Austin Districts, Downtown Austin lofts, condos, apartments, high rises, life, life in austin, miscellaneous, small business, urban family, urban planning
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