For about the price of a modestly-configured Aston Martin, South Korea's RNL Bio Co. is happy to bring back your beloved pooch from the afterlife. The biotech firm recently announced that it would start services in April. more ›

Shilla offers delicious beef and pork bulgogi, tabletop barbecuing for marinated ribs and the like, and whole broiled mackerel. Shilla also offers sushi that, while not exactly top-tier, is fresh and better than we expected. more ›

And you thought hipsters tried too hard. Soon taking over the space vacated by the Alamo Drafthouse is Pangaea, Austin's very own safari-themed nightclub in the Warehouse District. The so-called "ultra-lounge" will come decked out with various and sundry adornments meant to evoke visions of the Dark Continent and intrepid desert expeditions — we're guessing mounted zebra heads, tribal hunting gear, and the like. Unabashedly exotic and — if its London sibling is any indication... more ›

Today's New York Times has an interesting article on Austin gaming mogul Richard Garriott, the person behind the Ultima franchise. The eccentric millionaire is a self-described space junkie, but whereas other enthusiasts would be content to collect "normal" space-related objects — "astronaut autographs, mission patches, ... 'flown' goods" and the like — Garriott has the means to think outside the, err, box. To wit: a giant, Soviet-made aluminum replica of Sputnik, which he purchased... more ›

Excuse us while we step into the blogger battlefield compost bin. This isn't an attack; it’s just our new media way of recycling – turning lies into truth, melding age-old stereotypes into something a little more flattering. Al Gore is coming to town in October, people. It’s time to set things straight. Daisy Whitney runs a blog called “Trial and Error” over at TelevisionWeek where she keeps tabs on the ever-changing medium that is... more ›

If the closest you come to contemporary hip hop is dodging the Spiro's crowd on your way to Emo's, then we have news for you: there IS more out there. No, you need not subject yourself to the abrasive and, dare we say, bastardized sounds of Dirty South hip hop, nor need you dig up your old De La albums (though you should anyway) because tonight Talib Kweli is at Emo's to show you... more ›

Southwest Key sounds like something out of Florida, but it is a locally-based non-profit corporation that currently runs detention centers in a few states (including Texas). Their shelters serve as holding centers for immigrant minors who came to the US without parent or guardian. Southwest Key asserts that their programs are nothing like the immigrant family detention center in Taylor (the Taylor center is run by a for-profit corporation). The Austin organization, for which former... more ›

In our effort to help you sort through all of the excellent screenings at SXSW Film Festival, we've partnered up with Austin-based B-Side Entertainment, who create nifty online program guides for film festivals all around the world. Locally, they're responsible for the interactive schedules you might have encountered at Austin Film Festival, the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival, and Fantastic Fest. Here are just some of the things you do over at... more ›

We have one word for the project Chef Brenton Schumacher is about to unveil: finally. In the downtown Red River area – grossly underserved by questionable taco trucks and the like – the winds of change are blowing. Detroit native Schumacher, the innovative former Executive Sous Chef at Central Market, has thrown down the gauntlet with two projects. In its first year, his new catering company, Pink Avocado, has grabbed gigs with the Independent Film... more ›

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole. -- The Editors more ›

Attention all downtown residents or office jockeys who at this very moment need, say, a dozen eggs, a gallon of milk, or some Band-Aid brand bandages: The 2nd Street district's newest tenant, Royal Blue Grocery, will celebrate its Grand Opening this morning at 10:30 AM with a ribbon cutting by Mayor Will Wynn. more ›

Pervasive Software has become the first local high tech company to finally come to its senses. After just a few years of experimenting with offshoring software development, QA, IT, and more, they're throwing in the towel and moving jobs from India to Austin. (Yes, we're aware that several local companies have either hastily backed out of or withdrawn plans for offshored customer support work, but this is a first for dev, IT, and the like.) more ›

In America, we rock summertime barbeque. Hamburgers, ribs and the sacrosanct tofu pup all roast under our fair dominion. But soups are not quite within the purview. Austin's very own authority on the subject is trying to change that. His name is David Ansel, known to many as The Soup Peddler. He rose to fame locally in 2002 by delivering homemade soup to residents of Bouldin Creek (atop a yellow bicycle, of course, with... more ›

We’re dying from the heat. No, seriously. Luckily, we recently ran into one of our favorite wine experts, Twin Liquors’ Tim Graham, who implored us not to forget to drink the white wine this summer. “Tim!” we screamed at him with weak, limp voices. “What should we drink to ease the pain of this summer ache?” Tim replied quickly, “Campustella Albarino from Spain. It’s not effervescent but it dances on the tongue.” We asked... more ›

We've been so slammed with work these last few weeks after SXSW that we haven't had the chance to properly review the pile of CDs stacked next to our desk. But here are a few noteworthy albums that we're really digging -- actual reviews will appear shortly. The Boy Least Likely To - The Best Party Ever [online player] [myspace] [mp3] "Be Gentle With Me" The Lovely Feathers - Hind Hind Legs (4/18) [myspace] [mp3]... more ›

In the spring, weddings and marriage-chat seem to spread through the air like avian flu. Sunday night, I witnessed a public proposal (for the record: accepted). When I went to the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center on Saturday, one of my friends decreed the place an excellent wedding locale before we’d even picked up brochures. At work last week, I got stuck past my shift because some bride-to-be was just desperate for whimsical wedding favors.... more ›

Yep, you can get access to the spooky, retro basement of the Bank of America building, downtown Austin, for free this coming Friday only. The ever-clever folks over at Salvage Vanguard are kicking off a series of readings with Caridad Svich's Thrush (A Play With Slaughter Songs). The piece has been in workshop for the last two weeks with the playwright, director Jenny Larson, composer Adam Sultan, dramaturge Colin Denby Swanson, and actors Kathy... more ›

SXSW.com released an updated lineup for this year's SXSW Music Festival earlier today, and it's one hell of a list. The SXSW committee hastens to note that "This is a partial list of performers confirmed to appear at the 2006 SXSW Music Festival. This list is current as of 1/13/06. All of this information is subject to change." International acts include: Masahiro Nitta, DMBQ, Ellegarden, Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re, PE'Z, The Emeralds (Japan)... more ›

According to this week's Statesman, another Eastside loft development is being bandied about. The so-called TwentyOne24 is to be built at East Sixth and Robert Martinez Jr., a stone's throw from their already finished project, the Pedernales Lofts (and the bar that we simultaneously love and hate, The Peacock). Prices for the residential units are estimated at between $150,000 to $240,000, and will likely come with the standard "loft" amenities now found in virtually... more ›

Beginning this week, Austinist will be introducing several new columns written by various contributors. These columns will run the gamut from thoughts on television (which you have already come to love) to dipsomaniac observations and the like. These posts will be spoken in the first person singular by the individual contributors and do not represent the thoughts/opinions of Austinist as a whole. Today, we introduce "Candy and Flowers," from contributor Carly Kocurek. In "Candy... more ›

-The Editors more ›

Pitchfork today posted the initial lineup of confirmed SXSW XX artists, and the roster is ... well, see for yourself: The Adored, Annie, Arctic Monkeys, Belle and Sebastian, The BellRays, Be Your Own Pet, Blockhead, The Boy Least Likely To, The Brokedown, Calexico, Neko Case, Cat Power, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Clor, Jason Collett, The Cribs, Cuff the Duke, Jamie Cullum, Dashboard Confessional, Death In Vegas, Death Vessel, Dengue Fever, Destroyer, Die! Die!... more ›

We've been somewhat annoyed by the unseasonably hot and humid weather lately - after all, we're staunchly in the middle of Fall and we're still finding ourselves turning on the A/C at night. But according to the Statesman, this is all expected to change. Tonight. more ›

Hey Folks, this post is by future contributor Karin L. Kross. more ›

While visiting the d berman gallery this weekend to check out their current black and white photography exhibits - George Krause's Sfumato Nudes and Sean Perry's Transitory Series - we got ahold of a copy of Mr. Perry's limited-edition book of the same works being shown, "Transitory". In "Transitory", Sean Perry - who last year was among the Austin Chronicle's Top Ten Artists of 2004, and rightfully so - explores the geometrical subtleties inherent... more ›

Austin, for us and many of those whom we've met since moving here, is a town where one seeks an alternative from the coastal metropolis - such world-class urban enigmas often drip with the slime of pretense, precisely what our fair town eschews. Like our fellow transplants we are adopted Austinites. It's a testament to the sociability of the established community that we were able to so quickly embrace Austin and its quirks and consider... more ›