The Alamo Drafthouse House - An Austin Staple

Movies are my favorite activity to undertake. Who doesn’t like a good movie? Be it a gripping melodrama, an action-packed blockbuster, or perhaps a tear-jerking chick-flick, there are movies for every audience. They can provide entertainment, they can educate, and they can speak to people on a personal level. But the biggest problem with movies today is the theater-going experience. Concerned only with the almighty dollar, most cineplexes today cram in as many uncomfortable seats as possible, charge and arm and a leg for a 10-cent bag of popcorn and box of candy, and they only offer the biggest studio releases to reach the biggest audience possible. Not only that, audiences are disrespecting the experience more and more with texting and talking during movies. All of these things add up to most of us electing to skip out on the theater this weekend, which is a shame, as it was a much-beloved childhood pastime of mine. Luckily, here in Austin, we have the Alamo Drafthouse.
You remember that youtube video a couple of years ago about the girl screaming about how she should be allowed to text in whatever theater she wants here in the “Magnited States of America?” Yup, that happened at the Alamo Drafthouse, who promptly threw her out of the theater for texting (after receiving a warning!). The Alamo also has a staunch no-talking policy, which they cleverly tell you before every screening in the form of a customized message for the Drafthouse by local and national celebrities or movie parody. It’s a policy I wish more theaters would adopt, and one of the main things that keeps me coming back to the Alamo.




Another thing that keeps me coming back is not only the ability to order quality food and beverage (alcoholic included), but because that requires a table in front you, there only half the seats in the house. This means more legroom and less chance of having someone’s gigantic cranium blocking your field of view. But back to the food and drink, the Alamo employs real chefs to design their menu, and does not employ freezer-bagged stadium food. You can enjoy freshly made pizza or quesadillas and wash it down with a tasty local beer (or a wide selection of imports).

The biggest reason, however, is the amount of events the Alamo hosts. Not only can you see the latest movie releases, but screenings of old cult classics, sing-a-longs, quote-a-longs, or see an MST3k style beat-down of a terrible movie by comedic professionals. They regularly offer something for every audience, be it a nostalgic 80s release, a fancy dress-up dinner and a movie, or an all-day marathon. Not only that, but since the Alamo is so widely renowned, celebrities will agree to come to screenings and performances to speak and do Q&As with the audience. It is the most fun one can have fully clothed.

We’re lucky to have the Alamo here in Austin. They have several different locations at every corner of the city, so if you haven’t been, do yourself a favor. Go. Support a local treasure!

Macy's Top 5

My Top 5:

1.  Restaurants - The thing I love the most about Austin is the wide array of places one can choose to eat.  Being that I am from Lubbock, Texas, I was more than thrilled to actually come to a place where local restaurants versus fast food chains, are scattered throughout the city.  If you want a more elegant vibe, downtown is the place for that.  There are so many great steakhouses and sushi places lining the streets.  For a more casual time, eating somewhere on Lamar is a great option.  Restaurants such as Matt's El Rancho and Maudies are perfect for a relaxed yet original experience.  The variety of places is what makes Austin so great.

2.  Bars - The nightlife in Austin is a huge part of why Austin is such an exciting place to visit.  Austin is known for "6th street" and many other hopping places.  You can always find college students at what some might consider to be the most popular bar/restaurant, "Cain and Abels".  Not only is this restaurant located in the heart of west campus, but it can also be found on Lake Austin.  In saying all of this, make sure you have the Yellow Cab number handy.  Cops are everywhere so be safe and have fun!    

3.  Fitness - Austin is the spot for exercising.  If you live in Austin, you will never have trouble finding a gym.  There is probably a gym on every corner in this city.  On top of that, outdoor exercising is extremely popular.  Town Lake is a really cool outdoor trail where hundreds of people go to walk their dogs, go on an intense run, or casually go to walk around and see the beautiful view.  Yoga, cycling, bar method, etc...Austin has it all.

4.  Water - I find it to be really fun that Austin is full of different lakes and swimming holes.  Although Texas has seen its better days with water, there is never a dull moment on Lake Austin.  In the summers it is nice to be able to take a 5 minute drive to the lake and enjoy a boat ride in the blazing sun.  It is also  fun to rent a "Duck Tour" or a "Barge" that can accommodate multiple people for special events and parties.  Another fun place to visit is Barton Springs.  Barton Springs is located in south Austin and is probably the best bet if you're looking to cool off.  The water is freezing cold even in the prime summer heat.  Make sure to bring a towel, there is plenty of grassy area to sit and enjoy the day.    

5.  Shopping - If you're like me, shopping is a big part of why I like certain places.  There are so many great boutiques and malls throughout the entire city.  My personal favorite boutique is C Jane.  C Jane is located on the "drag" (Guadalupe) and has amazing clothes.  Another personal favorite is the fairly new outdoor mall, The Domain.  The Domain has a variety of wonderful shops and restaurants.  On the outskirts of Austin, one will also find multiple outlet malls with great prices.

Keep Austin Weird & Hook 'Em Horns!

By: Macy Morris

Matthew's Top 5

My Top 5:

1. Austin City Limits Festival - My favorite time of the year is always when ACL rolls around. I have been going for the past 8 years and it's always the thing I look forward to the most during the year, and it's always the thing I miss the most once it's over. It's got music for all tastes, and having Austin as the Music Capital of the World attracts the biggest and best bands around. Next year they are expanding the festival to 2 weekends to accommodate more people, following in the footsteps of the Coachella music festival in California. Biggest downside to ACL is the continual increase in ticket prices... but we can only hope the overall quality of the festival will increase as well!

2. SXSW - South By Southwest is one of the biggest festivals in the country. Whether your a big movie buff, or music fan, SXSW has plenty for everyone. From the biggest upcoming films, to the top bands around, they are all here for the week of craziness. Something to watch out for is the Surprise bands that perform all throughout the festival. No one will know when or where these bands are going to play up until they actually come out on stage. Some in past that did this were The Black Keys, Metallica, and The Foo Fighters. For students in Austin, SXSW always occurs during their spring break, so a perfect thing to do for those who are staying in town that week. Biggest problem - badges are not cheap... Solution- Volunteer. It's fun and you get to meet a lot of people, and once you've put in your hours you get a badge for free.   

3. Food - This is obviously very vague but there is too much to be said about the amazing food scene in Austin. Some of my favorites: 

-HopDoddys Burger Bar- Try the Primetime burger, in my opinion the best burger in Austin. 

-La Condesa - I'd say the best mexican restaurant in Austin. It is authentic Mexican cuisine and it is    located in the rising 2nd St. downtown area. A little on the pricy side, but well worth it. If you're gonna go, plan on getting reservations, because they are always very busy and you could be waiting for hours if you go there during primetime. 

-Food Trucks - They are taking over the city, but it's not a bad thing. It feels like more of them pop up everyday always with some new delicious culinary twist. Try some of the ones in the food truck village down on South 1st Street, very very good. 

4. -Nightlife - From all the music venues, to 6th St., to South Congress, to Barton Springs, to Rainey St.,  to Campus, Austin really comes alive at night. If you're looking to party in any fashion, Austin will have it. 

5. -Outdoor activities - There are so many things to enjoy in Austin out on a sunny day. One of my favorites is going out on Lake Austin, or hanging out at one of the many creeks in the area. UT football games are always an exciting time of the year, and it feels like the entire city is alive on game day. 

There are so many more things that could be on this list and it is very hard to pick favorites. Overall I think the best part of Austin is the people and the lifestyle. I have lived here all my life, and I love the Austin culture which is ever changing but is always weird. 

By: Matthew Gary

Our blog is designed to help you make the most out of the great city of Austin. Austin is becoming increasingly popular and it isn't hard to see why. From it's great restaurants to one of the country's most vibrant music scenes Austin life can appeal the broadest spectrum of people . Low-key food trucks on South Congress, and scattered throughout, have become a staple of the city. At the same time downtown Austin is home to trendy bars and hotels. Basically what we are trying to is whatever you are looking for you can undoubtably find it here. So why not do it right?

In order to do this we will be posting our "Top 5." A list consisting of our five favorite things about Austin. This list could consist of anything from great places to eat, fun things to do, or major events happening around the city. Hope you enjoy!

By: Sydney Waldman, Macy Morris, Ethan Morris, Matthew Gary & Taylor Doyle