The Austonian Blog - Downtown Luxury Condo in Austin, Texas

Safety Measures in Place for The Austonian

This week, Fox News featured The Austonian in a story about safety measures in residential buildings. Although all residential towers require an automatic external defibrillator (AED) on site, The Austonian has taken the safety of its residents and their guests’ one step further. For the highest efficiency, one AED has been placed on each of the 57 floors, averaging 1 machine per 3 housing units. For more information about The Austonian, visit www.theaustonian.com.

Lance Letscher “The Perfect Machine” Show at d berman Gallery

This April, d berman gallery will show Lance Letscher’s “The Perfect Machine.” The exhibition will feature collage pieces and a new children’s book by the local Austin artist. Known internationally for his creative use of discarded vintage materials, Letscher has created a new showcase that emphasizes bold color, spatial shifts and visual composition. His work explores movement, technology and creative impulse through the mixture of cast-off papers with scribbles to vintage books and record covers. The children’s book, also entitled “The Perfect Machine” combines a whimsical story with his intricate graphics that engage the imagination.

The 45-day exhibit will begin April 1st; an opening reception will take place from 6-8p.m. on April 8th and a book signing is scheduled for April 24th at 1p.m.

Lance Letscher has art found across the globe, from the US to Barcelona, Paris and Munich. His work can be found in local collections of Austin Museum of Art, Blanton Museum of Art, California State University Print Collection, Long Beach, Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Southeast Texas, Texas State University Permanent Collection, and Tyler Museum of Art.

A large commissioned piece by Letscher is part of The Austonian art collection. The piece, entitled “Showboat” (below), is currently on view at The Austonian Sales Center, located at 300 West 6th Street.

The 33rd Annual Capitol 10K is Coming Up

The Austin American-Statesman will host the 33rd annual Capitol 10K on April 11, 2010. It is the largest 10K in Texas and the fifth largest 10K in the nation. In 2009, there were over 18,000 participants whose donations benefitted local non-profit organizations including Meals on Wheels.

The race starts on Saturday, March 11th at 8:45a.m. on the Ann Richards Bridge and continues up Congress Avenue through downtown Austin, to finish at Auditorium Shores. Capitol 10K race registration and information is available here.

(Photo courtesy of http://www.statesman.com/cap10k)

Spring Fling 2010, this Sunday, March 28

This Sunday, March 28th, Austin Dog Rescue and Lofty Dog will host Spring Fling 2010 for pet owners and their four-legged friends. The day full of dog-centered activities will take place in Republic Square Park from 12:30-4p.m. The event will include an egg hunt, a photo booth by Annie Ray, and a “fashound” show. Lofty Dog, who will assist The Austonian’s furry residents, will direct the runway show. Austin animals are invited to strut their stuff on the runway to benefit Austin Dog Rescue.

The event offers an opportunity to meet downtown pet care experts including Austin Urban Vet Center, Dirty Dog and Lofty Dog. All of these local businesses will offer their personalized pet care services at The Austonian luxury high rise when it opens this June. More information about pet services at The Austonian, which is home to a 10th-floor pet park and dog grooming area, is available here.

Downtown Austin Alliance’s Issues and Eggs: The Downtown Austin Plan (March 25)

The Downtown Austin Alliance hosts Issues & Eggs, a monthly breakfast and forum about challenges and opportunities in downtown Austin. This month’s event will be an extended meeting focused on sharing the downtown development regulations proposed in the latest version of the Downtown Austin Plan and providing feedback to the Downtown Austin Plan team.

The current phase of the Downtown Austin Plan includes proposed changes that place new interest on sustainability, land use and urban design. The proposed development standards include changes to building massing including setbacks, stepbacks and tower spacing; pedestrian-oriented ground level uses and architectural treatments; parking design and access; and service and loading.

The breakfast will be held from March 25 from 7:45-10a.m. at St. David’s Episcopal Church on 7th Street. RSVP by Monday, March 22 by emailing [email protected] or calling 512-381-6270.

Art in Downtown Austin

While residents and out-of-town visitors are swarming downtown Austin this week for SXSW, music and film aren’t the only art forms they will enjoy.

Art Alliance Austin, producer of Art Week Austin (April 21-25), has commissioned the curatorial team of Cook & Ruud to curate a series of downtown art installations.

Austin-based artist Carlos Rosales-Silvas is creating three storefront installations located within a few blocks of one another as the first chapter of “One swallow doesn't make a summer,” an exhibition that presents new and site-specific work in available storefronts and public spaces throughout the 2ND Street District and in Republic Square Park. The second phase, a group exhibition that explores the dynamics of the neighborhood, including its past, present, and future, opens April 21, 2010 as part of Art Week Austin and continues through May 28th.

Taco’s in the Morning? That’s the Routine in Austin

Today, the New York Timesonce again touted Austin’s culinary scene. However, instead of fine dining, tacos were the topic of discussion. The article points to Austin as the leader for breakfast tacos.

As many locals know, breakfast in Austin regularly comes in the form of a tortilla with delicious fillings (e.g. barbacoa, egg, avocado and/or migas). This homage to Mexican cuisine is a stateside creation and a reflection of our local culture. 

The New York Times article identifies a handful of taco venues located in the heart of the city, including:
Torchy’s Tacos  
Porfirio’s 
Tacodeli 
Tamale House  
Taqueria la Flor
Donut Taco Palace II 

Our additions to the list include places for great tacos in downtown Austin:
Taco Shack, located on the retail level of the iconic Frost Tower
El Chilito, on Congress Avenue between 9th and 10th Streets
El Sol y La Luna, at Red River and 6th Street

SXSW 2010 takes over Austin March 12-21

Reflecting both the creative and technological spirits of Austin, South by Southwest (SXSW) will take over Austin March 12- 21. Headquartered in downtown Austin, SXSW encompasses music, film and interactive programs and events.

Perhaps the most popular aspect of SXSW is the music portion, which features over 2,000 bands on more than 80 stages in nine days. Some of our favorite downtown Austin hotspots showcasing musical talent from Austin and all over the world include Auditorium Shores, Stubbs and the historic Paramount Theatre.

For more information, visit the SXSW website.

The Zilker Kite Festival: Sunday March, 7th

This Sunday (March 7), the 82nd Annual Zilker Park Kite Festival will fill the sky with color from 10a.m. – 5p.m. at Zilker Park, located minutes away from The Austonian along Lady Bird Lake This free event will include kite flying demonstrations, kids’ activities, rock walls, food booths, homemade kite contests and more. For more information, visit www.zilkerkitefestival.com.

Explore New Eateries and Enjoy Austin Restaurant Week Prices

The Austin culinary scene has been elevated to a national profile through the work of chefs and restaurateurs dedicated to the craft of great food. This coming week we are presented with an opportunity to discover local restaurants: Austin Restaurant Week.

Taking place March 7-10, Austin Restaurant Week offers the opportunity to nosh on some of Austin’s finest cuisine at fixed prices throughout the city. Prices range from $10-15 for lunch and $25-35 for dinner.

A few of our picks from The Austonian’s neighborhood include: Garrido’s Restaurant, III Forks and Lambert’s Downtown Barbecue.   

A full list of downtown restaurants involved in the event can be found here.