Local upscale Tex-Mex eatery La Condesa recently scored a People's Choice Award for best restaurant at this year's annual AIA Los Angeles Restaurant Design Awards. more ›

We really wanted to like the Belmont restaurant. In fact, after a shaky first experience, we decided to give it another chance. After all, talented Chef Ben Nathan, decor by Joel Mozersky, some decent word-of-mouth and a pretty website had us convinced that our first experience there--inconsistent cocktails, incompetent bar service and half-assed bar food--was most certainly a fluke. We're sad to say just how wrong we were. Our second trip offered really good... more ›

A visit to The Belmont, the new bar and restaurant project by Sucky Lucky Lounge owner Matt Luckie, proved to be simultaneously unsatisfying and promising. It seems like no one can shut up about their Belmont excitement level. Admittedly, the staff was friendly and the retro interiors by ubiquitous downtown designer Joel Mozersky were, as usual, spot on. We were especially excited to try Executive Chef Ben Nathan's creations. Unfortunately, an amazing Sidecar on the rocks paired with delicious calamari swimming in black pepper and lemon flavors butted up against inconsistent bar service that ranged from incredibly competent (downstairs) to nervous and rude (upstairs.) We were further sideswiped by a decidedly subpar second round of drinks and a cheeseburger and fries served without lettuce, tomato, onion, mustard or mayo. Weird. more ›

Combining the admittedly disparate ideas that Austin is both the Live Music Capital of the World and a burgeoning mecca for fashion and style, two locals are embarking on a bold new venture this summer: they're opening up a brand-new music venue ... that also happens to be a barbershop. more ›

::FRIDAY:: [music] Rogue Wave and Helio Sequence at the Parish Room [fashion] FactoryPeople Fridays with DJ Joel Mozersky, 10% of proceeds to benefit AIDS Services of Austin [music] South Side Musical Festivus, 6pm @ Jovita's - $7 [music] Willie Graham Benefit, 6pm @ Continental Club, $25/$30 ::SATURDAY:: [film] Splash Movie Night presents "Spy Kids 3D" @ Deep Eddy [film] Alamo Drafthouse Free Matinee [comedy] Michael Winslow and Police Academy, 7pm & 9:45pm @ Alamo... more ›

MONDAY [music] The Fags at Stubb's [film] A Skin Too Few: The Days of Nick Drake at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown, 9:45pm. One Dollar! [film] East of Eden and Rebel Without a Case at The Paramount Theatre. Through Thursday. [reading] BookPeople's UTTER Reading Series, 7pm TUESDAY [music] Neko Case at Antone's [film] Austin Film Society screens Godard's Une Femme Est Une Femme at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown, 7pm [art/books] Luis Alberto Urrea discusses his novel, The Hummingbird's... more ›