downtown austin

Downtown Gets Magical This Weekend

Fred Schmidt | September 2, 2010 |

For something very fresh and different this weekend to drown our mundane laborous lives, check out these cool events on tap ’round the hood:

The 1St Annual Austin Street Magic Festival TONIGHT, 6th & Red River next to Esther’s Follies (home of our own fantabulous, Ray Anderson), 6pm-2am and FREE!

And that’s just the warm up.

For you uber fans of fun and illusion, there’s an entire gathering of renown magicians from across the lands assembling all weekend at the Austin Convention Center. Details here:

Austin 2010 TAOM — that’s the Texas Association of Magicians. Here is the TAOM Facebook page too.

Here’s a news story from News 8.

And also more info to be found on the pages of Austin corporate lawyer (but always a magician at heart — and skill), Hull Youngblood. You can check him out — and be his friend — via the TAOM Facebook link above!

Much fun for all so make like a bunny and vanish your abode already!

Royal Blue Grocery Pushes Forward With 3rd Store

Jude Galligan | September 1, 2010 |

Downtown Austin office and condo dwellers rejoice! Royal Blue Grocery, our favorite local bodega grocer, is preparing for their third location: 609 Congress Ave. Basically they are going to be a 100 feet north from 6th @ Congress Ave. Announced in July, according to this ABJ article, the new location will offer: “… 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.”

-Jude

A Taste Of Africa

Jude Galligan | August 31, 2010 |

Soft opening this week, Cazamance, is an outdoor African fusion concept opening in the Rainey Street District. Located on the northwest corner of Davis @ Rainey, and directly across from Clive Bar. This takes the place of where Container Bar was planned to go.

Iba Thian, a famliar face at Clive Bar, is spearheading the project in cooperation with Bridget Dunlap and Scranton Twohey.

You should be able to stop by tomorrow to pick up a menu and try it out. Just remember this only their soft opening.

Along with El Naranjo and G’raj Mahal, Rainey Street is starting to become a respectable destination for authentic cultural cuisine… al fresco style.

-Jude

Starr Building Renderings

Jude Galligan | August 30, 2010 |

Two renderings of the Starr Building, re purposed to include a parking structure at 5th and Colorado. A while back we showed you the history of this building before it was purchased by Kemp Properties. Not much newsworthy here, but this is the first time I’ve seen the renderings. At least the parking structure has retail underneath!

Downtown Austin Open Houses

Jude Galligan | August 27, 2010 |

downtown Austin open house listings for August 28th & 29th
(Got the wrong week? Click here)

Saturday

904 West Ave, 904 West Condos, 1bd/1ba $193,300 1-3pm [Urbanspace]

Sunday

360 Nueces St, 360 Condos #1103, 1bd/1ba $262,900 11am-3pm [Keller Williams Realty]
54 Rainey St, Milago Condos #Ph05, 3bd/3ba $475,000 2-4pm [Urbanspace]
54 Rainey St, Milago Condos #Ph02, 2bd/3ba $899,900 2-4pm [Urbanspace]
510 W 18th, Chestnut Square Condos #113, 1bd/2ba $259,000 1-5pm [Capital City Sotheby’s Realty]
360 Nueces St, 360 Condos #3011, 2bd/2ba $575,000 1-3pm [Urbanspace]
904 West Ave, 904 West Condos, 1bd/1ba $193,300 1-3pm [Urbanspace]

Expand your home search using DAB’s map-based Austin Property Search

When you’re done with the open houses, you can enjoy an afternoon on Lady Bird Lake by renting a canoe or kayak from at the Texas Rowing Center. Or, dine al fresco at Annie’s Cafe on Congress Ave for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Make sure to checkout my transaction report from July and discuss with a Realtor who lives and works in downtown Austin.

-Jude