Sandwiches are not the first food that comes to mind when one conjures up gourmet cooking, but at the Noble Pig, putting together the best quality meats, cheeses and bread is an art form. They're so good, in fact, that they were served at the recent StarChefs awards alongside dishes from Contigo, Congress, and Uchiko. To help the home cook compete, Central Market is hosting Noble Pig chefs and co-owners John Bates and Brandon Martinez on Tuesday, March 27th at Central Market for an Italian charcuterie-themed cooking class. more ›

Austin has hosted dubstep-friendly traveling events like the HARD Tour, and places like Barcelona and even Ruta Maya have all experienced homegrown dubstep nights. But this is the first we've seen or heard about dubstep fusing with the sounds of the marimba. Marimba-step, anyone? more ›

Adam Lee is one of California's most esteemed Pinot Noir and Syrah winemakers, but he's not a West Coast native. Mr. Lee was born and raised right here in Austin, and is a graduate of Trinity University. Before decamping for California in the early 1990's, Lee worked as a salesperson and manager of the former Austin Wine & Spirits before moving on to a wine buyer role at Neiman Marcus in Dallas. At that job, he met his wife Dianna (who is still Lee's winemaking partner), and the two pooled their savings to move to California and start a winery - truly the stuff of legend. Over the past 15 years, the pair have produced literally hundreds of 90+ wines under the Siduri and Novy labels. Both Lees visit Central Market on Monday evening to host a tasting dinner, so we called Adam recently to discuss his thoughts on winemaking, Austin, and the best story he's ever heard over a glass of Pinot. more ›

We all need a little spice in our lives and, from August 18 to 31, Central Market's 15th annual Hatch Chile Festival is bringing the heat to Austin. The festival celebrates the pepper with hatch-infused foods like peppery pesto, spicy sausages and even tortillas. more ›

Argentina gained fame last year as the nesting ground of Governor Mark Sanford's illicit love affair. But there's more to the country than the lingering fragrance of a Republican romp. Argentina has tango. Soccer. World-class beef. And wine inspired by microclimates. This week, in honor of these more significant achievements, Central Market will begin hosting Passport to Argentina, a (literally) intoxicating 14-day lineup of cooking classes, wine tastings and free cultural events. more ›

It’s a typical Austin summer. It’s 105 degrees. The idea of stepping outside doesn’t exactly make you jump up and down with excitement. It would certainly take something special to get you out of doors. Something…unique. Unusual. Right? Well, how’s this--Transformers: The Movie outside Central Market on North Lamar Wednesday at dusk. We’re not talking about that Michael Bay seizure-inducing debacle (though we did enjoy watching Robosaurus chewing up cars at the Alamo). We’re talking about the 1986 animated adventure that only a robot-disguised-as-a-car/plane/tape deck/dinosaur-loving kid could love. more ›

Wednesday nights can be tough. It’s the middle of the week, you’re not quite over the hump, and there’s nothing to do—nothing on television (“So You Think You Can Dance?” Come on!),and you’ve got to get up early tomorrow anyway, so how to pass the evening? How about a magical journey back to one of the most unique movies ever made (and later, less uniquely, re-made). We’re talking, of course, about Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Your good friends at the Alamo and 101X present a special screening in the lawn of Central Market tonight. more ›

Photo courtesy Fossum Studios L Style G Style, a new gay and lesbian lifestyle magazine, hit the streets of Austin yesterday. Executed in a “two magazines in one” format, the print pub is flip-able, like the old Spiegel catalogs from back-in-the-day, with the "L" side tailored to ladies and the "G" side for the guys. “Our goal with the magazine is to offer the public a different view of the gay and lesbian community,” said... more ›

Just in time for Saturday's big game, the UT alumni behind Independence Brewing Co. have decided to bring back their special pro-Longhorn beer. Last year's "Oklahoma Suks" was such a hit that the local brewery opted to increase production for the second annual run — over four times the amount of last year's batch hit stores last week. Despite this, they still anticipate that the limited-run brew will sell out. "When we first released Oklahoma... more ›

Houston brewer St. Arnold released St. Arnold Divine Reserve 5 this week in Houston, DFW, San Antonio, and Austin. The Divine Reserve label goes on St. Arnold's single batch beers, and they sell out quickly. Reserve No. 5 is a Russian Imperial Stout which is a very big, bold stout with coffee flavors. Early ratings on RateBeer.com give it a 98 out of 100. Find it at Grapevine, Spec's, Whip In, Whole Foods or Central... more ›

*Editors' Note: Clearly Austinist does not encourage anyone to get soused in front of their children, thereby damaging their fragile psyches. For those responsible enough to kick a couple back without ultimately taking the kids on a dangerous and terrifying road trip, we offer the following:* If your version of the three martini playdate is to sit and sip microbrew near a playscape in the heat, Austin options abound. Whether you are a stay at... more ›

In case you hadn’t noticed, the watery pummeling we have been subjected to of late mercifully subsided, and the giant death ball in the sky has returned to rid the earth of its perpetual moistness. Hooray! We can get back to the business of summer, which is of course, sweating while walking, sweating while driving and sweating while watching movies on big blow-up outdoor screens. Wednesday night, all of this can be yours thanks to 101X, Central Market and the Alamo Drafthouse as they present Office Space. more ›

Tonight, 101X and the Alamo Drafthouse present The Princess Bride, in a special screening on the lawn at Central Market North. It's a no-brainer! Buy yourself a treat and indulge with everyone's favorite slice of 80's self-referential swashbuckling. A pre-Shepard Fairey-co-opted Andre the Giant! A pre-Penn Robin Wright! The so-hot-he's-cornz-Carey Elwes! Rodents of unusual size, cliff-scaling, and the six-fingered man! Vaudevillian troll Billy Crystal! And of course, sporadic interruptions from a whiny Fred Savage.... more ›

Say what you will about Tom Cruise’s career choices, religion, or personal relationships, the man has certainly made some fantastic action movies. Witness his sweaty brilliance firsthand tonight as 101X presents this week’s Summer Movie Series classic Top Gun. Cruise plays Maverick, a Naval Aviator whose record is less than pristine due to his high-flying high jinks and general loose cannon-itude. He makes it into the elite Fighter Weapons School by the skin of his... more ›

Friday, July 6artB Scene - Too Darn Hot! at Blanton Museum of Art, MLK at Congress ($5-$10) booksAlan Porter presents Before They Were Beatles, with Beatles cover band Daytripper at BookPeople (7:00pm) comedyJohn O’Connell with Jesse Pangelinian at Cap City Comedy Club comedyPunchline, open mic stand up comedy at ColdTowne Theater (10pm) comedyLovey and Lovey at ColdTowne Theater (8pm) comedyWeekly Improv Cage Match! at ColdTowne Theater (11:30) film"Bonnie & Clyde" and "White Heat" at The... more ›

Monday, July 2film"Clash By Night" and "The Asphalt Jungle" at The Paramount Theatre filmLast day of "Labyrinth" at Dobie Theatre film/awesomeRobosaurus Live with "Transformers" at Alamo South Lamar foodCentral Market Cooking Class: Empanada Workshop at Central Market Cooking School, 4001 N Lamar ($65, 6:30-9:30pm)musicCanada, Our Solar System, Ryan Anderson at Emo’s musicBurning Brides, Strange Boys, Black Earth, Blackmarket at Emo’s musicBurning Brides at Waterloo Records (Free, 5pm)... more ›

It's the your favorite bartender at Sao Paulo, or the girl in the cutoffs at El Chilito. It's the smokin' UPS guy, or one of the Lone Star Rollergirls. It's your local secret crush. It's hard to believe that it's been over sixteen years since Linklater's Slacker edified the collective and individual characters that make Austin, well, Austin. Although Liberty Lunch is long gone, the people that make our city great remain. And what... more ›

Monday, June 18musicHairy Apes BMX, Gabby La LA, Jetpaq Shakur at Stubb’s musicMenomena at Waterloo Records musicArt Brut Karaoke Party and "Caddyshack" at Beauty Bar filmThird Coast Night: "Leila Khaled, Hijacker" at Alamo Downtown filmMusic Monday: "Here We Come" at Alamo Downtown food/booksDr. BBQs Big-Time Barbeque Road Trip at BookPeople, 603 N Lamar Blvd (7pm)foodCentral Market Cooking Class: The Perfect Scoop with Chef David Lebovitz at Central Market Cooking School, 4001 N Lamar ($65, 6:30-9pm)... more ›

FRIDAY [15] juneteenth/parade • Alvin Patterson Battle of the Bands and Drumline Competition at Congress Avenue (2pm) books • Lama Surya Das presents Buddha is as Buddha Does at BookPeople (7:00pm) comedy • Billy D Washington with Doug Mellard at Cap City Comedy Club comedy • Punchline, open mic stand up comedy at ColdTowne Theater (10pm) dance • Constellation, a site-specific dance work from Sally Jacques at Pickle & Thornberry Federal Courthouses (9pm) dance... more ›

THURSDAY [14] dance • Constellation, a site-specific dance work from Sally Jacques at Pickle & Thornberry Federal Courthouses (9pm) art • Guest Tour with Ellen Cunningham-Kruppa at Blanton Museum of Art, MLK at Congress (Thursdays are always free at the Blanton,12:30-1:30pm) art • Opening reception for "Just Been Fired," the mostly at Gallery Lombardi (7-10pm) art and books • Blanton Book Club at Blanton Museum of Art, MLK at Congress 6-7:30pm) books • Reginald... more ›

MONDAY [11] film • Patton Oswalt live with "Ratatouille" sneak preview at Alamo Downtown film • Music Monday: "Harry Nilsson's Birthday Party" at Alamo Downtown food • Central Market Cooking School Class: Sushi 101 with Chef Timothy Thomas at Central Market Cooking School, 4001 N Lamar ($70, 6:30-9:30pm) music • Maserati, My Education, Lazar Wolf at Emo's music • Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Cheer Accident, Oh, Beast at Emo's music • Manu Chao at Stubb's... more ›

FRIDAY [8] music • DJ Krames (Cobra Kai), Prince Klassen at Beauty Bar (Free) books • Dominic Smith presents The Beautiful Miscellaneous at BookPeople (7:00pm) comedy • Punchline, open mic stand up comedy at ColdTowne Theater (10pm) film • "The Secret Mirror" at The Paramount film • Master Pancake Theatre: "The Breakfast Club" at Alamo Downtown film • "Severance" at Dobie Theatre food • Central Market Cooking Class: Manicotti Workshop with Foodie Barbara Sampson at... more ›

*The views expressed in Foodie Friday are those of the author and do not represent Austinist (and quite often our readership) as a whole. Ahh, the subjective nature of tastebuds.* -The Editors Growing up in Williamson County, culinary choice was abundant. If you wanted homestyle cooking, you could drive west on 620 to Pass the Bis'kits, Please, where you might be presented with a chicken fried steak and a - you guessed it -... more ›

(FIRST) THURSDAY [7] party • Official Space Launch Celebration at Salvage Vanguard Theater (9:30pm) music • Go Motion! at Beauty Bar music • The Dollyrots, Alright Tonight, The Sweethearts, Abby Birds at Emo's music • Vietnam and Greg Ashley, The Strange Attractors, The Golden Boys at Emo's music • Scott Miller, The Commonwealth, The Gougers at Stubb's music • An Evening with Old Crow Medicine Show at The Parish Room music • Locals @ La... more ›

WEDNESDAY [6] film • "Gunga Din" at The Paramount film • "The Man Who Would Be King" at The Paramount film • "5-25-77" at Alamo Downtown film • "Welcome Home, Brother Charles" with Jamaa Fanaka at Alamo Downtown film • Weird Wednesday: "Penitentiary" at Alamo Downtown film • Austin Film Festival screens "I'm Reed Fish" at Regal Arbor music • Ozma, Eastern Conference Champs, The Actual, The Laughing at The Parish Room music • Chris... more ›

MONDAY [4] film • "The Big Sleep" at The Paramount film • Eddie Muller Noir Night: "The Window" at Alamo Downtown film • Music Monday: "La Brune Et Moi" at Alamo Downtown food • Central Market Cooking Class: Knife Skills 101 with Chef Cindy Haenel at Central Market Cooking School, 4001 N Lamar ($60, 6:30-9:30pm) music • Lifesavas, Strange Fruit Project, DJ Marc Sense, Who M.I.?, Prawphit at Emo's music • Strange Fruit Project,... more ›

FRIDAY [1] party • Rare Magazine Summer Issue Launch Party at Mean Eyed Cat (5:30pm) bikes • Republic of Texas Biker Rally at All Over Austin dance/benefit • Project Transitions Hosts 12th Annual Texas Swing at Saengerrunde Hall and Scholz’s Beer Garten ($40, 8-Midnight) art • Opening Reception: Cantanker/us, the Cantanker Magazine staff show at Else Madsen Gallery, 411 Brazos, Suite 99 (7-11pm) art • The B Scene at The Blanton Museum of Art,... more ›

We first fell for Chef David Lebovitz's sweet masterpieces during a Central Market cooking class, but his talent is no secret. More than 12 years at the famed Chez Panisse and his passion for sharing his food philosophies regarding seasonal, sustainable farm-fresh foods in print have garnered him recognition from publications including Bon Appétit, Food and Wine and the New York Times, and he was named one of the "Top Five Pastry Chefs in the... more ›

THURSDAY [31] music • Scion Live Metro presents GZA, Fyre Department at The Parish Room (FREE, RSVP before 5pm!) art • Opening Reception: George Krause: The Elizabeth Portraits & Other Works at d berman gallery, 1701 Guadalupe St (6-8pm) books • Douglas Brinkley presents The Reagan Diaries at BookPeople (7:00pm) comedy • Russ Nagel, "America's Funniest Biker," with Trey Galyon at Cap City Comedy Club film • "Notorious" at The Paramount Theatre film •... more ›

WEDNESDAY [30] booze • "Sir Chris" and "Lord Gates" from Car Stereo Wars and Learning Secrets guest bartend at The Mohawk (5-8pm) music • Locals @ La Zona Showcase Two wih AM Syndicate, The Drawing Board, Jets Under Fire at La Zona Rosa music • Hawnay Troof, Best Fwends, The Carrots at Emo's music • Pompeii, Ryan Lindsey, Gazelles, The Heirs at Emo's music • Tribute to Sublime with Badfish, Indofin, Under the Gun at... more ›