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6th Street + Ghostbusters = WIN!

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Got to give it up for Parkside and the sponsors of last night’s Rolling Roadshow/blockparty screening of Ghostbusters.  I hemmed and hawed about going because recently it’s been hotter than the warm side of hell, but I cowboy’d up with my lawnchair and headed out.  I’m glad I did, too.  Temperature was fine, beers were cold, admission was cheap $5 (donation), City Council Member Chris Riley was in the audience, and Bill Murray was on the screen.

The turnout was easily 750+ people.  That’s pretty solid attendance, especially for a hot August Sunday night.  We should do more of this.

6ixth Street Austin, Director, Josh Allen

Is This The Next Bar On Rainey Street?

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86 Rainey Street

The Rainey Street Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and new businesses must get approval from the Historic Landmark Commission before commencing with any building rehab.   I have to give credit to businesses coming into Rainey Street.  They are doing a great job at rehabbing the old bungalows and creating an enjoyable atmosphere.

But, with 1,000+ door fronts in the district, let’s shoot for more mixed uses.  Are we approaching market capacity for new bars in downtown Austin’s Rainey Street District?  It’s a fair question to ask.

Rainey Street is zoned CBD, and this is a good thing!  However, the density entitlements of CBD sit idle (potentially for years) and the district is dominated by residential uses.  The Downtown Austin Plan expresses five Urban Design Priorities for Rainey Street District.  One of those states: “Limit the number of cocktail uses allowed.”

When are we going to see some day time retailers and restaurants, eh? Truth is the district is lacking sidewalks and offers little parking to support many uses except for bars, which are listed below.

1) Lustre Pearl (97 Rainey Street) is has applied for Rainey Street’s first Outdoor Music Venue permit, to the chagrin of many neighbors fearing a trend.
2) Clive Bar (609 Davis Street) is a great bar that we love to go to.
3) “96” Rainey Street under construction, and will soon be a sports bar.
4) Icenhauer’s (83 Rainey Street) is under construction, and should be open on September 20th.  It will be a bar.
5) 86 Rainey Street (pictured above and below) has started down the path towards becoming… something.

Back in April, I found myself hanging out in front of 86 Rainey Street, drinking cold beers with John Arley – an affable guy who sang a few songs for me.

Food Fight on Sixth: Bratwurst VS. Oysters

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Over the past few weeks, an interesting “struggle” has been growing between Austinites on the issue of whether the Best Wurst sausage cart should have its sidewalk permit renewed to vend in front of Parkside Restauarant.  The scene is the southeast corner of East 6th Street at San Jacinto, the heart of the East 6th Historic & Entertainment District.

Best Wurst has been selling yummy treats from its cart there for 17 years and has grown quite a popular customer following.  The owner, Jon Notarthomas, is a hard-working Austin musician and entrepreneur.  He pays $450 per year for the vending permit and transacts tens of thousands of dollars in business from his cart.

Parkside is a lovely fine-cuisine restaurant that opened in the circa-1920 building where Dan McKlusky’s steakhouse previously existed.  Shawn Cirkiel, the chef, and his Austin family purchased their building, valued by TCAD at $1.6 million, and completely renovated the property when opening the restaurant a couple of years ago.

Sidewalk vending permits must be renewed every 3 years and it is now that time for Best Wurst.  Parkside is opposing the renewal.  There are many reasons involved but the basic one is simply “incompatibility”.  This restuarant is not happy with having another food vendor directly outside of its front door.  City officials are caught in the middle.

There are many opposing perspectives arising through discussions of this matter:

“Old/Iconic Austin” versus “New/Emerging Austin”.

Upscale dining versus inexpensive street food.

Property owner rights versus temporary permitted uses.

Large investments and big taxes on property+liquor+sales versus modest investments, small fees and sales tax only.

The sensibilities of Austin’s sidewalk vending permit process versus national best-practices for kiosk-style vending in public common areas.

The growing desire for East 6th to revitalize itself to make better 24/7 use of its century-old historic district presence versus maintaining its more recent four-decade reputation as “Dirty 6th” where young folks go to get shitfaced.

Phew.  That’s a lot to take in right there.

What do you think about all of this?

Loads of media coverage and other resources available if you’d like to absorb further before weighing in:  News story on the Austin American-Statesman’s Austin 360.  TV coverage on News 8, Fox News and KXAN.  Best Wurst’s website and its new Save The Wurst Facebook site with some 3,000 fans.  Parkside’s website.

Royal Blue Grocery Lands 3rd Downtown Location

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Great news for the neighborhood…

Our favorite downtown Austin bodega, Royal Blue Grocery, is preparing to open its third location.

609 Congress Ave, the east side of the street, just north of the 6th & Congress intersection, will soon house “… a full kitchen preparing in-house, grab-and-go foods as well as lunches from Meditrenean Chef, Rios Brazilian, TacoDeli, Upper Crust Bakery, Rock Star Bagels and East Side Pies. Stores also sell pastries, breakfast tacos, coffees, drinks and everyday grocery items.” according to this ABJ article.

Best part is the hours they’re planning on being open:  7am – midnight, everyday.

-Jude