Congress Avenue District

amber gugino | September 11, 2011 | Leave a Comment

Jazz at Annie’s: Jim Cullum Jazz Band Returns to Annies Café & Bar

Looking for date night ideas this week or next? Try this:

After playing to standing-room-only crowds of die-hard jazz fans at a sold-out, mid-winter residency at Annie’s Café & Bar, the historic Congress Avenue bistro has arranged to have Jim Cullum return to Annie’s as summer draws to a close – this time presenting the electrifying new jazz prodigy, clarinetist Evan Arntzen. Austin jazz fans once again will have a rare opportunity to hear the world-renowned Jim Cullum Jazz Band as well as Arntzen’s exuberant new talent that has won awards and generating buzz around the world.

It’s all at a special jazz and dinner series hosted by Annie’s Café & Bar at 319 Congress Avenue on Thursdays, September 15 & 22. Seatings will be at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. There will be no cover charge with entrée purchase.

Filed Under: austin restaurant reviews, austin small business, Congress Avenue District, downtown austin

@JacobDirr | September 1, 2011 | 6 Comments

New Life For Congress Ave Store Fronts

More tenant changes are on tap in the shadow of the Capitol on on Congress Avenue.

Middle Eastern restaurant Marakesh Cafe & Grill, at 9th and Congress, closed its doors and has a sign indicating its looking for a new location, but its fate is questionable.

Jude Galligan | June 27, 2011 | 8 Comments

And Then There Were Two

A well timed announcement for a 50+story hotel at Red River and Cesar Chavez has shifted the attention away from the Mariott Marquis seeking a waiver of $4MM in development fees.

The latest hotel announced by Manchester Texas Financial Group is receiving good reviews for its design, ambition, and potential for embracing the Waller Creek District Master Plan.

To be clear, there really isn’t a choice here. Each project is pushing forward on their own merits. But the timing begs the question “which building can break ground first?”.

Both would be significant additions to the skyline and economy. Development fee waivers, if any, will likely go to the project that is most prepared and that can begin construction soonest.

That’s incentive!

Below is a rendering of the “Grand Hotel” at Waller Creek

Filed Under: Congress Avenue District, downtown austin, Downtown Austin Districts, Real Estate, Red River District Tagged With: austin hotels, marriott marquis

@JacobDirr | June 21, 2011 | 10 Comments

Mega Hotel Subsidy Draws Fire From Austin Council

It seems that having Armbrust & Brown attorney Richard Suttle as the representative of the hotel developers I wrote about Monday may be a little too hot for some council members to handle.

On Tuesday morning, Council Members Bill Spelman, Sheryl Cole and Laura Morrison seemed skeptical that his clients need almost $4 million in city breaks to help to build a hotel downtown.

Students of city politics should note that the power base at city council has now shifted from Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez and Chris Riley — who are losing defeated incumbent Randi Shade — to the other council members, who are gaining Kathie Tovo next month.

@JacobDirr | June 20, 2011 | 7 Comments

New Mega Hotel Planned, City Waiving $3.8M In Fees

News broke Friday that the shelved White Lodging Services Corp. plans for a 1,000-plus hotel at 2nd Street and Congress Avenue are back on the stove.

The news seems to echo what Assistant City Manager Robert Goode told council at a recent hearing: “We are a big city, get over it.”

amber gugino | June 18, 2011 | 4 Comments

Second Bar + Kitchen in Downtown Austin

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

Jude Galligan | March 11, 2011 | 3 Comments

Caffe Medici Opens Under The Austonian

Just in time for SXSW, Caffe Medici opens its third location. Located in the Austonian on Congress Ave, I was immediately impressed with the finish out. Great layout, great light, great coffee. We’ll soon need to update our Best Coffee Shops In Austin list. A couple of quick android pics after the jump. [Read more...]

Filed Under: austin small business, Congress Avenue District, downtown austin, retail Tagged With: austin coffee, austonian

amber gugino | March 4, 2011 | 2 Comments

Dress Shop Austin

Perhaps you’ve noticed the elegant fashions in the window next to Annie’s on an evening stroll down Congress Avenue. Perhaps you’ve seen the sign with the simple, but apt, words “Dress Shop.”

Perhaps you haven’t.

But you should.

Dress Shop is, you guessed it, a dress shop selling dresses, jewelry, handbags, and ladies undergarments. It’s located 315 Congress Avenue, right above the Elephant Room, and just south of Annie’s. And the dresses are [Read more...]

Filed Under: austin small business, Congress Avenue District, downtown austin, life, life in austin, miscellaneous, retail, small business

Jude Galligan | February 2, 2011 | Leave a Comment

State Theatre Sign Is Back On

I was thrilled to see the State Theatre sign illuminated (again) nast night,… I can’t remember the last time I saw it turned on. This particular sign – its scale, its history – adds so much life to Congress Avenue. It’s easier to see at night than during the day when a tree blocks part of the signage. Last night’s featured guest, Christopher Titus, was the the first stage performance in several years.

-Jude

Filed Under: Congress Avenue District, downtown austin

Jude Galligan | January 18, 2011 | 7 Comments

416 Congress Ave: Boutique Hotel Renderings

Downtown Austin Blog learned this past May about a project to erect a boutique hotel over what is currently Sky Lounge. Known simply as “416 Congress” we now have images and renderings from Dick Clark architecture that will be presented to the Downtown Commission. The proposal calls for 130 rooms and 26 stories. Downtown Austin rarely sees tall mid-block construction.

This could be a harbinger for more mid-block development and we hope the city supports the concept, not that it’s perfect. Expect some discussion around parking and sidewalk width. The site is not encumbered by a Capitol View Corridor, but there are setback requirements. The developer is seeking CBD-CURE zoning in order to bump the FAR from 8:1 to 13:1.

More info and pics after the jump. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Congress Avenue District, development, downtown austin