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10 Minutes From Rainey Street

Jude Galligan | October 20, 2011 |

Starting in downtown Austin’s Rainey Street neighborhood, we approximate the distance we can travel by foot, by bike, or by car in 10 minutes.

You can try it, too, after the jump.

La Boite Coming To Downtown Austin’s Old Bakery Park

Jude Galligan | October 15, 2011 |

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…] about La Boite Coming To Downtown Austin’s Old Bakery Park

Lease Restrictions: A Noble Idea That Can Backfire On Owners

Jude Galligan | October 14, 2011 |

Lease restrictions are typically birthed with noble intent – to foster owner-occupancy and ensure that buyers can get loans for properties within the community.

When new lease restrictions are forcibly applied to limit rental activity in buildings and neighborhoods, it is a taking of property rights which can set off litigation from disgruntled owners.

This issue has impacted me as a property owner, and I’m familiar with the emotions and frustrations felt by advocates and antagonists to lease restrictions. A recent situation with a buyer was frustrating enough that I want to share my experience (which is not unique) about how lease restrictions can adversely impact current owners, sellers, and buyers.

Lease restrictions will do two things, guaranteed:

1) limit the number of renters in a community
2) limit the number of buyers for properties within a community

Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association – Urban Core Happy Hour Tonight (Thursday)

AG | October 13, 2011 |

Tonight! Come to Clive Bar in the Rainey Street District to enjoy a keg of beer and some sushi (compliments of How Do You Roll?) for the October Urban Core Happy Hour. It’s gonna be a great night to be outside on the patio, and a good chance to see what all the “Rainey Street” fuss is about. The event is TONIGHT from 6:30pm-8:30pm at Clive (609 Davis Street).

A Note: At Urban Core Happy Hours DANA Members get in free, however non-members will be asked to pay $5 or bring 3 cans of food. (The canned food will be donated to Caritas.) Entry into event includes food and drink tickets. Non-members will also have the opportunity to sign up to become a DANA Member on the spot and get in free to this and all Urban Core Happy Hours for the next year.

If you’re not a DANA Member and would like to be, you can sign up at the Urban Core Happy Hour, or you can click here to be directed to our Membership page to join now.

See you tonight!

Shhhh… Secret Lunch Spot

Fred Schmidt | October 5, 2011 |

Direct from my inbox today is a reminder about a unique (and rather unknown) once-weekly lunch spot that I’ve been meaning to share with the DAB community.

It is Cafe Divine at St. David’s Episcopal Church that rises to life only on Thursday’s from Noon-1pm.

There in the 3rd floor dining hall, Culinary Institute trained chef, Ray Trono, serves up a mighty tasty and healthy full MEAL of entree, two sides, desert and beverage for only $8.00 (50-cents more for take out) and served by some very nice folks.

Full details — and the menu du jour — can be found here. Tip: Enter from the little parking lot off San Jacinto between 7th & 8th streets. That leads you into a lobby where you will be directed to the 3rd floor. Just say “Cafe Devine”.

HAAM Benefit Day is Today

AG | October 4, 2011 |

Everyone is talking about it – so we thought we’d give H.A.A.M a, ahem, D.A.B. of love.

Today, in a variety of venues – many of which are in downtown Austin (City Hall, Whole Foods, Silicon Labs, Lambert’s, Plains Capital Bank, etc.), you can see live shows from musicians. And many of these venues are running sales / programs / specials that benefit HAAM (for instance, Whole Foods is giving 5% of the day’s proceeds to HAAM).

The entire performance schedule can be found here.

Austin’s Old Bakery: What Is Highest & Best Use?

Jude Galligan | September 27, 2011 |

In 1976, the City of Austin utilized federal Older American Act funds to establish a multifaceted gift shop selling handicrafts and original art by local artists 50 or better.

That was the mission for the Old Bakery & Emporium, located at 1006 Congress Ave.

I’m as surprised as you that this concept didn’t take off and IPO within a few years.

Alas, charming as it is, the Old Bakery has not generated much buzz to date, and stakeholders are looking for new ideas. [Read more…] about Austin’s Old Bakery: What Is Highest & Best Use?

Urban Wine + Liquor Takes Last Retail Space At The Austonian

Jude Galligan | September 23, 2011 |

The last retail space under downtown Austin’s Austonian condos will go to Urban Wine + Liquor and its proprietor, Austin-based wine expert Buckley Wineholt (great name for a wine expert).

The store will offer wine, spirits, beers, barware, imported cigars and cigarettes, and a choice of artisanal foods including Texas-produced items. The shop’s 2,615-square-foot storefront on Congress Avenue will be designed by local design-build firm Bercy Chen Studio.

The Austonian retail has turned out to be a boon for Congress Ave. I’m a big fan of the Caffe Medici space – one of my favorite coffee shops. This should be a compliment to the neighboring Second Bar + Kitchen, too.