Cupcakes. BBQ. Beer. FREE. Are you sold yet? Also, puppies -- does that officially seal the deal? This Saturday from 5pm to 8pm, new local brewery Hops and Grain will host the third edition of Miso Hungry's Cupcake Smackdown, a celebration of Austin's sweeter side. Admission to the event is free, but bring some cash for delicious BBQ from Chilantro and Sugar Shack and sweet treats from Austin Cake Ball, The Cupcake Bar, Hill Country Cupcake, and Sugar Mama's Bakeshop. Once you've had more cupcakes than you can handle, you'll probably want to launch the leftovers using the cupcake cannon. That's right, we said cupcake cannon. And since this year's Smackdown has an Angry Birds theme, you'll be taking aim at some evil green pigs. more ›

Cupcakes will be flowing like wine -- or at least rolling out of the kitchen pretty darn quick -- at Sugar Mama's Bake Shop this Sunday from 2-5 pm. That's when the family-owned bake shop on South 1st, which prides itself on 'keeping Austin sweet,' celebrates its two year anniversary. You are cordially invited to partake in the sweet shop's birthday festivities, which include cupcakes on the house! more ›

Who makes the best cupcakes in Austin? Determined to answer this question once and for all, Jennie Chen—the Austin food blogger behind Miso Hungry—organized a blind taste test last year: the original Cupcake Smackdown. The event was so popular it merited a round two, scheduled for this Saturday, August 21. more ›

Like many great ideas, the Johnny Cupcakes clothing line started completely by accident. Boston resident Johnny Earle printed a few shirts with his nickname from work (at the famed Newbury Comics) and the comic tenor of the name and logo started a regional sensation. Earle now runs three Cupcakes stores in Boston and Los Angeles as well as a thriving online site.

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• That sex-offender who escaped near Houston is still on the loose! Since he fled while being transported between two prisons, his flight has triggered questions for the TDCJ. There are now monetary awards of up to $15,000 for tips leading to his capture.
• Turns out all big-city crime labs aren’t like CSI. Houston’s fingerprint comparison unit is likely in for a major overhaul, re-staffing.
• This woman came to ACL, and claims she went home with the wrong kind of souvenir!

Sugar Mama's, our favorite little cup-o-cake purveyor on South 1st is offering a free baked good today to anyone who drops by the shop between noon and 8pm with two (or more!) non-perishable food items in tow. All of the donations collected will go straight to the Capital Area Food Bank, which is continually working to end hunger in Central Texas. more ›

"Delicious moist chocolate cupcake swirled with peanut butter chips, topped with creamy peanut butter buttercream and chocolate chips." Hungry to share your most provocative Austin food photos? Send them here. Make sure to include your name, where the photo was taken and a complete description of the food. more ›

Austinist staffer Aaron H. sent this in: "Left to right (top row first): Irish Cream, Triple Chocolate, Cinnamon Sugar, Chocolate Vanilla, Cinnamon Sugar, Vanilla Vanilla. Polkadots Cupcake Factory on 29th and Rio Grande. Awesome cupcakes." Hungry to share your most provocative Austin food photos? Send them here. Make sure to include your name, where the photo was taken and a complete description of the food. more ›