Downtown Austin Districts

Boutique Hotel Coming to 400 Block of Congress?

Jude Galligan | May 22, 2010 |

The DAA has been working for years to recruit retailers and destinations to Congress Ave. Operating with a bold vision that Congress Ave can return to its pre-1950s prominence.

Many downtown Austin stakeholders (including this author) are concerned about “bar creep” from 6th Street and the Warehouse district.

Yesterday, the Statesman reported on a possible boutique hotel concept in the 400 block of Congress Ave. This is a step in the right direction. A hotel concept that embraces the historical nature of the building.

When done right, boutique hotels provide terrific branding for a city and a district. It’s hard to imagine SoCo without Hotel San Jose or the Austin Motel. Historic-ish structures that have been modernized.

One reason a hotel concept like this is so important to a burgeoning district is because boutique hotels are talked about outside of Austin. They are reviewed and discussed on travel forums and websites like TripAdvisor.

That discussion ends up having a significant role in branding and defining the character of a district. Years ago, Hotel San Jose helped revitalize SoCo into a destination for visitors. A boutique hotel like this could be another catalyst for Congress Ave.

I’d love to see this happen.

-Jude

John On Rainey Street

Jude Galligan | April 29, 2010 |

This is John Arley. Singer/songwriter. Hanging out on Rainey Street.

I was heading to El Naranjo for some din-din. They were closed, but directly across the street, John was playing guitar and waved me (a total stranger) over. Clearly he’d had a few beers, but was kind enough to offer me one. After a long day, there’s nothing better than a cold beer and hanging out on your porch/lawn/terrace/etc. I grabbed two beers and he commenced playing four original songs. All of them really good.

It was interesting. Lot’s of people walked by. He invited everyone to hear a song, but nobody took the bait. Most people are so caught up in their own world. I let my guard down for a second, and glad I did, because I was able to join him in just relaxing with good music, company (even a stranger), and cold beer. That’s what I love about Austin. John says he doesn’t know how to use a computer, but if he ever manages to get online I hope he finds this.

“Thanks, John!”

-Jude

Art House Movie Theater Coming To 2nd Street District.

Jude Galligan | April 12, 2010 |

2nd-street-cinema-movie — The Violet Crown art house theater is under construction, opening in December

At the west end of the 2nd Street District, directly above the soon-to-open How Do You Roll sushi restaurant, will soon be downtown Austin’s latest cinema – The Violet Crown. We reported back in January that 2nd Street District was getting a new movie theater. The Statesman’s Chris Garcia gets the latest info on The Violet Crown. Scheduled to have four screens, with bar/lounge, and opening in December.

The construction will actually expand the mezzanine level by a couple of feet over the sidewalk.

The Violet Crown should make a great addition to the district. At first glance it would appear they are taking on the Alamo Drafthouse head on. However, the Violet Crown might take on a more refined lounge-like experience, trading high ball glasses for buckets of beer.

The removal of the W Hotel’s street barricades this summer will unclog the pedestrian experience in the 2nd Street District, but will be especially welcome to the 400 block that includes BoConcept and La Condessa.

W Hotel Residences Sneak Peek

Jude Galligan | April 12, 2010 |

Members of the DANA were provided with a backstage pass to downtown Austin’s W Hotel Residences. We’ve always admired the sleek monolithic design of the building, and even through the construction dust you can envision the interior will make a similar impact.

DANA board at w hotel — DANA members on the 37th floor of W Hotel Residences

The contractor is expected to hand the keys over to the hotel portion in September/October. The doors won’t be open, but that should be the time when the hotel can begin to furnish everything. The Austin City Limits venue and residential condos will be ready in Q1 of 2011.

The most significant milestone will be the removal of the street barriers mid-summer! This is great news for any resident or retailer in the 2nd Street District.

Flickr Slideshow

mezzanine level seating for the Austin City Limits venue

2nd Street District Art Installations

Jude Galligan | March 13, 2010 |

This week and next, downtown Austin patrons will begin seeing sneak peaks of what’s to come for Art Week Austin. Local artist Carlos Rosales-Silvas is creating three storefront installations in the 2nd Street District. The first two have been completely installed and the third will go up early next week.

Rosales-Silvas’ installations are the first chapter in “One swallow doesn’t make a summer,” an exhibition curated by the team Cook&Ruud, that presents new and site-specific work in available storefronts and public spaces throughout the 2ND Street District and in Republic Square Park. The second phase, a group exhibition that explores the dynamics of the neighborhood, including its past, present, and future, opens April 21st as part of Art Week Austin and continues through May 28th.

Thanks to Jordan at Giant Media for the heads up!