“You don’t know me, but I know you,” I said to the hitchhiker when he opened the door and hopped in my car. It was the middle of the day in the middle of the week bookended by Christmas and New Year’s Day. Not my favorite time of the year, but I’d made it past the dreaded 25th without falling into my usual dark hole, and the prospect of soon flipping the calendar to 2011 had me in a nearly cheerful mood. This borderline buoyancy was elevated by earlier occurrences that day, and would rise higher still later on. Because, like Dickens’ Scrooge, I unwittingly found myself being reminded of some important lessons about life in general, and Austin in particular, just when I needed them most. more ›

The El Chile chain of restaurants plans to open its second El Chilito taqueria in South Austin this August, taking over the corner site previously occupied by Gypsy's Italian Bistro. more ›

Food. I fucking love it. But I have had plenty of weird food issues over the years and, as is so fun to do with one’s issues, I like to hang much of the blame on my childhood. I am not dissing my mother here. Considering she had nine kids to feed on my father’s trucker salary, she did an admirable job. But if I never see a deep freezer or drink powdered milk again in this lifetime, it’ll be far too soon. I’ve never had a steak in my life. More than one person has suggested that if I were to try one, I’d reintroduce land animals into my diet. I’m not interested. I quit beef when I was eighteen and looking back it was less about hurting the cows (though I love them enough to have two tattooed on my body) and more about what passed for meat when I was growing up. more ›

The APD could adopt a more compatible attitude, one that sees violent crime on the East Side as another inevitable casualty of gentrification, one that will eventually succumb to the gradual transition. Essential to all parties accepting responsibility for these mixed-race, mixed-income neighborhoods is that transition from negative stigma includes a reduction of all forms of violence. more ›

Narrowing down the vast selection of tacos found in Austin is a near-impossible feat … and claiming to be experts on the Tex-Mex folds is an assertion worthy of an internet ass-kicking. But we have eaten our fair share of breakfast tacos, sport tongues trained for tortilla-tasting, and feel pretty much obligated to share our worthy opinions with alla y’all. (And we’re ready for whatever verbal lashings come our way.) With that, we give... 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 ›

They're all over the place these days. The deck at Spiderhouse: on the cover Austin Music Magazine. Eating a taco at El Chilito, on the cover of The Chronicle. Pick up a copy of XL at Jo's on 2nd: there are their sweet faces yet again. The handsome Austin quintet Voxtrot, it seems, are kind of a big deal. We already knew they've been loved up by bloggers the world over, but magazine covers?... more ›

It's the hot Astanga instructor at Yoga Yoga South, or the girl in the cutoffs at El Chilito. It's the smoking UPS guy or your favorite Lone Star Rollergirl. It's your local secret crush. Our column returns with an interview with one of Austin's local gallery owners and artists: E. Moises Diaz of Urban Roots Gallery. We received a request to interview him by a married lady (gasp!) who wrote not just on her behalf,... more ›

Another special night of local music beckons Friday at the baby Emo’s (Lounge). Headlining will be fast rising favorites Golden Bear, featured recently as the Artist Of The Day by Spin Magazine, while fellow Austinites Peel celebrate the release of their self-titled debut out now on Peek-A-Boo Records. Sandwiched between the two are the Midgetmen who specialize in beer infused punk n’ roll fit to kick off any weekend, or week-day for that matter.... more ›

The Austin Chronicle kicked off its 19th Annual Restaurant Poll yesterday with a ballot deadline of April 23. Each year the Chronicle covers all the bases from best comfort food to best bathrooms to best wine list. The results will be featured in the May 18 issue of the Chronicle. Here's who we're voting for: FAVORITE RESTAURANT One: El Gringo Two: Vespaio Enoteca Three: Uchi BEST DISHES Appetizers: The Bar at the Roaring Fork... more ›

Our favorite local posts of the week:And She Wrote About Austin has Leslie on her fridge. Michael A. posts on his disappointment that one of his Dobie Food Court options has gone away. SxSW Baby! rates local breakfast taco joints so we don't have to (although we notice that El Chilito is missing on their list). Omar G. visited the set of Friday Night Lights and took some great photos. Eileen posts on TXU... more ›

It's the handsome downtown gallery owner with curly hair or the hot Astanga instructor at Yoga Yoga South. It's the girl in the cutoffs at El Chilito or your favorite Lone Star Rollergirl. It's your local secret crush. Just in time to scope him out while you're hopping among downtown venues for SXSW, Austinist brings you this edition's interview: Drew, The Cute Pedicab Driver With the Slightest Southern Accent. Drew continues the streak of awesome... more ›

The first-ever Fun Fun Fun Fest is this Friday, December 1st, at Waterloo Park. Over two dozen great acts are on the bill, including Spoon, Peaches, The Black Angels, Prefuse 73, and DJ Mel. Tickets are $20, and can be purchased online. Octopus Project perform on the Indie stage at 3:30pm. -- The Editors What's your favorite thing about playing festivals? (Or do you prefer not to play them?) Festivals are rad! We very... 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 ›

The "cutie with the ruffly shirt" who (according to a separate admirer) "is adorable" talks to us about her new DIY craft addiction, rock climbing and a sentimental love of all things Sufjan. more ›

It's the girl in the cutoffs who works mornings at El Chilito or the long-haired Crown n' Anchor bartender with all the ink. It's the Saturday Hatha instructor at YogaYoga South. Or the red-haired guy who works the counter at the Whole Foods. It's your local secret crush. We kick off our recurring interview series by getting the down-low on the Hideout coffee shop guy. Unfazed by the knowledge that he is the object of... more ›