East Side Show Room Chef and Owner Sonya Cote’s hotly anticipated new specialty grocery and eatery Hillside Farmacy is expected to open its doors just in time for the annual invasion. For Cote, the farm to table movement is not just the latest culinary craze; it’s at the very core of her as a chef. more ›

Exploring the relationships between human memory, ambient memory in the form of the data glut, and aesthetic progressivism, Tag, We're It is a digital art installation where visitors are are encouraged to interact with a sea of Augmented Reality tags on display using their smart devices to access video memories. more ›

Pump Project's exhibition, From Specifics, From Concrete Evidence, From Things, features new work by Austin photographers, Adam Boley, Megan Carney and Rebecca Marino. more ›

The legendary Rabbit's Lounge at 6th & Chicon on the east side is closing. The come-as-you-are beer joint has been serving the east side community since 1969, and owner Rabbit (now 78 years old) has decided to lease the space to someone else while pursuing retirement, travel and some much-deserved rest. He told East Austinite's Leah Moss, "It’s the same old thing, a bunch of sad stories, men and women. Sometimes I think I need to get a collar. You know, become a priest." There's no telling who might move in to the space yet, but Rabbit is hoping to have a new renter in there within a few weeks. Time is running out to enjoy the mild weather with the crew at Rabbit's, and it looks like there will be a sort of farewell event around May 18th (Rabbit's birthday) to say goodbye and thanks to the neighborhood that has been his homebase since birth. When we know who will move in to the sacred spot at 6th & Chicon, we'll let you know. more ›

Like a neighborhood-wide housewarming party for only this hippest homesteads, E.A.S.T. allows us to peak briefly into the dozens of domiciles and workshops where Austin’s artists toil and create. This weekend and next, 150 recently swept and tidied studios will open their doors to hundreds of wanders who will flock to the east side of town for the tour. This year, studios will be open from 11am until 6pm on Saturday November 13th, Sunday November 14th, Saturday November 20th, and again on Sunday November 21st. There are more participating studios than there are places to buy breakfast tacos, so we here at the Austinist have updated our list of insider tips for enjoying the event, and are sharing a list of a few of our favorite stops. more ›

The pub crawl has evolved. Drunken stumbles are fine and all, but man cannot survive on beer alone. That's why the food trailer crawl is the new "taco the town." more ›

It's been a nice World Cup watching spot following its soft opening almost a month ago, but last week new Mexican food cantina Takoba officially opened on the east side. Precisely located at 1411 E. 7th St., Takoba serves up high-quality, family-recipe interior Mexican cuisine from the same folks who have run the El Tacorrido trailer on North Lamar for ten years. more ›

After 11 years on Austin’s East Side, the consummate cool Café Mundi will be shutting its doors on March 21st. more ›

The mysterious process of selecting a band name can only be the subject of conjecture among non-musicians. Case in point: local trio The Gary. How they came to name themselves after your dad is anyone's guess, but peculiar as it may be, The Gary's chosen handle is not the band's most interesting characteristic. There is, of course, the music to consider, principally that from their debut EP Chub, released earlier this year.

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The Independent sits on the corner of I-35 and E. 5th Street, just blocks from downtown destinations like Emo's, Red 7 and Beauty Bar. It's also a short walk to emerging east side hot spots like Shangri-La and Rio Rita. Its unassuming (and a bit office-like) presence has, until recently, been rolled into the Pilate and Latte vibe produced by its neighbors -- lawyers, designers and Progress Coffee regulars -- but that's all about to change. more ›

Every weekday morning we'll be featuring a photo (or two) from our readers. Please feel free to submit your photos (min 600px width) by adding them to the Austinist Flickr Group. more ›

Based on a dream that Dallas-based puppet-master Ricki Vincent had back in January, the show is set inside a tiny goblin tavern called The Nauseous Fairy. The theatre is a small space (seats 16!) tucked behind an actual tavern, The Peacock. Guests enter the dark venue shortly before the event begins and sit inside a fairy circle while the action surrounds them. We were warned not to leave the protected circle, or eat or drink anything that might be offered. more ›

Every weekday morning we'll be featuring a photo (or two) from our readers. Please feel free to submit your photos (min 600px width) by adding them to the Austinist Flickr Group. more ›

http://www.brainold.com/">Bryan de la Garza, Matt Rodriguez, Monica Vidal, Anna Krachey, Dave Bryant, Jonathan Marshall, Tim Brown, Sterling Allen, Nathan Green, Ryan Hennessee, Justin Goldwater, Josh Rios, Peat Duggins, Corkey Sinks, and Michael Sieben. more ›

Image via misterjingo on Flickr. Azul (1808 East Caesar Chavez)Now Closed[info]Last week, popular East Side coffee and food spot Azul closed down for good on the day before Thanksgiving. The converted house at E. Cesar Chavez and Chicon had been serving the neighborhood since 2000 with a mix of coffee, sandwiches, and breakfast items. It had been featured as one of Austin's best coffees in both Zagat's Texas restaurant guide and hipster travel guide eat.shop.austin.... more ›

Blue Bowl by Ryan MckerleyRyan McKerley with Lisa Crowder and Edmund Martinez (2710 E Cesar Chavez) A full-time studio potter since 1995, Ryan McKerley has been a fixture of the East Side Studio Tour since its inception. He makes contemporary functional stoneware and porcelain vessels, fired in a wood or soda kiln and decorated with earthy colors. Ryan really loves what he does, and it shows from his work. You won’t get a warmer welcome... more ›

Let's be honest: everyone loves SXSW week, but when it ends, you are secretly very ready to move on. Before we do, let's take a look at some of the isolated, crazy, and wonderful moments that make SXSW such an over-the-top sensory experience. – The dude at Girl Talk dancing with a broken pinata on his head. Then passing said pinata to someone else to dance with. – Isaac Hayes talking in his famous... more ›

That's right: it's time to heat up your winter nights again, with the 14th season of FronteraFest. The Short Fringe, the Long Fringe, or Mi Casa es su Teatro -- FronteraFest is five weeks of alternative, offbeat, new, and just plain off-the-wall fringe theatre presented by Hyde Park Theatre and Austin Script Works. For complete FronteraFest 2007 information, including times and locations for the Short Fringe, the Long Fringe and Mi Casa es su... more ›

On Thursday, City Council will hear a presentation from city staff regarding land banks, land trusts and funding options under the Homestead Preservation Act (HB 525), which was passed in the State Legislature after being filed by East Side state rep Eddie Rodriguez. The details are "complicated," but from what we understand, homeowners in the designated district (Town Lake to Manor Road, and I-35 to Airport Boulevard) would be able to donate or sell... more ›

Sunday. Usually, a quiet, contemplative day in the Blogosphere. But not here in the Ist-a-Verse. Nonono! Just look below and see all of the wild and crazy stuff our staffs are up to. In Austin, bands are beginning to confirm for SXSW and the rumor mill is up and running. Good thing, too, because we all know how much Austinites love live performances. Austin also found itself in the national spotlight, with Longhorn Legend... more ›

An article in Dwell this month about Portland's transportation system and generally awesome urban development program has us a little down on highway-centric Texas, so to try to get our mind off the toll-roads, we're thinking about something a little different this week: wide open spaces. Room to make a big mistake. Here are this weeks listings: 1400 Waldorf Avenue - $85,900. 1,040 square feet. Built in 1966. This looks like a shack in... more ›

Red's Scoot Inn may be headed into forced retirement in the not too distant future, but that hasn't kept them from hosting great shows. This Saturday, head over to the East Side and soak up some of the last music you might hear at the fabled venue. The first installment of the Bliss Out series will be there featuring a hearty chunk of Austin's vibrant, genre-spanning scene, and our sources have confirmed that you... more ›

Zagat's 2007 America's Top Restaurants Survey is out and although the setup on this one begs for an immediate rimshot, it's true - we love eating out. In fact, only Houston residents eat out with more frequency *snicker* than Austinites. Hungry Houstonians are eating out an average of 4.2 meals per week while residents of Austin and Dallas/Ft. Worth eat out an average of 4 times per week. Trailing in weekly eating-out outings are... more ›

Are you a wealthy UT fan who loves coming back to town for games but just can’t be bothered with making hotel reservations or driving in from your friend’s house in Rob Roy on Saturday mornings? Rest easy, the Texas Gameday Center is on the way. Atlanta-based opportunists of the nouveau riche developer Gameday Centers Southeastern LLC (warning: may wanna turn down your sound before clicking) will be converting the tired apartments at Dean Keeton... more ›

The East Side, as you may have heard, is hot. A certain awesome pick from last week (which already has a contract) got us excited that there may still be some deals over there. This week we've got two from the '02, one from outside the box (we heard you were looking for something under $150k and over 1,500 sqft) and a million dollar baby: 1313 East 13th - $279,900, 1,248 square foot cute... more ›

The spliffness. That’s right. Tonight it’s going to get hot Rastafarian over at The Peacock. And rumor has it that it’ll be a regular, weekly event. Every Tuesday. It is quite possible that the ever improving, and pretty badass looking environment of The Peacock may be the perfect stage for Caribbean rhythms. Sweet jeebs, that patio gets tighter and tighter with every visit! The DJs, Cubik Musik, appear to be newcomers to the Austin... more ›

First things first. Alamo Drafthouse EAT DRINK WATCH MOVIES events pretty much always kick ass, but the bar just may have been raised with the upcoming showing of Stephen Chow’s God of Cookery, loosely based on Japanese wundershow Iron Chef. Alamo South Lamar Exec Chef John Bullington and Alamo Village Exec Chef Trish Eichelberger face off Wednesday, August 30 at 7pm at The Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar. The stakes? The title of Alamo Iron... more ›

I’m just not sure that Austin is Keeping it Weird anymore. Seriously. For me, the real red flags are how our regular taco peddlers are totally under fire around these parts. Maria’s is being scooched to a Walgreen’s parking lot, Las Manitas is soon to become the lobby for traveling toilet salesmen from Indiana, and every mobile taco slinger on the East Side is about to get the business end of the City Councils’ Mag-Lite. Easy taco accessibility and general weirdness are inseparable. Mutually dependent. more ›

2101 E 13th St - Hmm. At least you'll be safe from the big bad wolf. more ›

In honor of the World Cup-winning Italian futbol team, we’ve assembled our own team of Italian delicacies to be had right here on the third coast. Mangia! more ›