by Sr. Editor on April 12, 2010
Austin is known for its great bars and live music scene, but this college town also has some great karaoke clubs. If you are looking for a fun night out in a place where you can let loose and sing your heart out, here is a list of some of the more popular Karaoke bars in Austin.
Image: Masochismtango (flickr)
Austin Karaoke
6808 N Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78752
With a relaxed atmosphere, Austin Karaoke caters to fun-loving karaoke singers who are looking for a no-frills place to sing their favorite songs. The private, sound proof karaoke rooms are equipped with a couple of flat TV screens, a few microphones and plenty of room to dance. The club’s BYOB policy is a sweet deal too for those who do not like to pay retail for over-priced bar drinks. So, if a huge room with coolers full of drinks where you can gather your closest friends to sing Karaoke is appealing to you, give Austin Karaoke a try.
National Karaoke League – Austin Division
Ego’s Lounge
510 S Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78704
The National Karaoke League is competitive team karaoke. It works like this: You sign up with a team (i.e. fun people who will sing and probably drink with you) and you compete in five rounds of karaoke each week. Some rounds are solo and some are group rounds (duets count). Everyone in the bar gets a ballot to vote on their favorite performances each round and at the end of the night the winners are announced. There are costumes, sets, choreographed dance moves and everyone’s favorite – beer. If you are serious about karaoke and are not shy about meeting new people, this is a great place to meet new friends, have some fun and let your inner rock star free.
New Seoul Karaoke Studio
500 Pampa Dr
Austin, TX 78752
This is the real deal when it comes to authentic Korean karaoke. New Seoul Karaoke Studio stays open late at night and serves Korean “junk food”. The song list is largely in Korean, but they have a large database of songs in English as well. If you are too embarrassed to stand in front of a room full of strangers, you will appreciate the Korean-style private karaoke rooms. They have various room sizes to accommodate one to a party of 20 or more. You have to call ahead if you want to reserve the big room for a party. With the ring of a button located in your room, a server will show up to take your order or answer questions. Do not be surprised to see strange accommodations in the rooms such as a bed, reading glasses or other props. Also, be prepared to crack up at the kooky videos playing while you sing.
The Highball
1142 S. Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78704
Bowling, ski ball and finally, karaoke: The Highball has it all. This is one of the few Karaoke places in Austin that is not BYOB, so be prepared to pay retail for bar drinks. If you love to dance, drink, play games and, of course, sing Karaoke, this is the place for you. You may find yourself in a private Karaoke room called “Paradise City,” an 80s hair metal themed room with leopard print carpet and walls. The Karaoke themed rooms range from 80s to 90s to sci-fi to get you in the mood for the perfect karaoke evening. The drinks are strong and inexpensive, and you can always expect attentive service.
Ego’s
510 S Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78704
Ego’s is the best karaoke dive bar in Austin –just ask the folks at the Austin Chronicle who rated it as such. This small bar is easy to miss if you are not familiar with the area. This fun, kitschy atmosphere will make you want to sing “Purple Rain” in front of all your friends after you belly up to the bar and order up some cheap and strong drinks to give you some liquid inspiration. Do not expect to find any fancy seats or décor. This place does not take itself too seriously like many other karaoke bars in town. Humor and fun are the keys to getting through your song selection. Their karaoke catalog is huge. If they don’t have your song, it probably doesn’t really exist anyway.
April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in Austin
by Sr. Editor on April 12, 2010
Photo Credit: NathanMarx (iStockPhoto)
If you live in Austin and like barbecue, you’re in luck – Austin is located in central Texas, which is also in the middle of four distinct style of barbecue. Plus, Austin’s neighbor, Lockhart, has four major barbecue joints that serve 250,000 people each year.
Whether you crave pork shoulder, pork ribs, beef brisket or German-style barbecued chicken, Texas has it all, served with thin, vinegary sauce, thick, sweet sauce or no sauce at all. After you’ve seen the Alamo and the Texas capital, take a Texas-inspired barbecue road trip through the following places.
Central Texas
German and Czech settlers inspired the barbecue found in central Texas, which heavily relies on ribs, brisket, sausage, beer-marinated chicken, a vinegar-based potato salad, pickles and baked beans. Cities with names like New Braunfels and Fredericksbrug might seem out of place in the Lone Star State, but they could be responsible for the South’s earliest barbecue influence. Look for the best central Texas has to offer here:
• Kruez Market, Lockhart
• Friesenhaus, New Braunfels
• Salt Lick, Driftwood
• Louie Mueller, Taylor
• Zimmerhanzel’s Bar-B-Que, Austin
• New Braunfels Smokehouse, New Braunfels
• Smitty’s Market, Lockhart
• Franklin Barbecue, Austin
East Texas
Similar to southeastern U.S. barbecue, barbecue in Houston, Dallas and Corpus Christi centers around pork shoulder and pork ribs smoked over hickory wood. The tomato-based sauce is sweet and thick. This barbecue style can be found throughout Texas, but look for the tastiest plates here:
• City Market, Luling
• Goode Co. Barbecue, Houston
• Angelo’s Barbecue, Fort Worth
• Dickey’s, Dallas
• Mike Anderson’s Barbecue, Dallas
West Texas
If your barbecue is a little pink in west Texas, don’t worry. That rose-colored ring in the meat is a west Texas signature mark of flavor and a sign of its being slow-cooked over mesquite wood in a pit. Commonly called “cowboy barbecue” because of its origin from Anglo cattle ranchers, this style is primarily beef brisket and shoulder with no sauce. Discover real west Texas barbecue at these restaurants:
• Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Q, Llano
• Pappy’s Barbecue, Monahans
South Texas
Primarily influenced by Mexican flavors, south Texas barbecue differs very little from the meat cooked by its south-of-the-border neighbors. This originates from the birthplace of the Texas ranching tradition, when Mexican farmhands were paid for their work with cheaper cuts of meat, such as skirt steak, the cow’s head (barbacoa) and cow tongue (lengua). Slow-roasting and smoking these meats tenderizes them, and then they can be folded into tortillas and served as tacos. Serve them up with pinto beans as a side, and condiments such as salsa, onions and jalapeňo peppers, and you’ve got the makings of an authentic Tex-Mex barbecue. As for where to find it, try these places:
• The Smokehouse, San Antonio
• The County Line, San Antonio
• Tom’s Ribs, San Antonio
• Rudy’s Barbecue, San Antonio
• Howard’s Barbecue, Corpus Christi
by Sr. Editor on April 9, 2010
You live in the live music capital of the nation. It would be a shame to miss out on these Austin music festivals lined up for the summer season 2010. Whether you are into jazz, funk, blues, alternative or even folk music, there is a music event happening this summer for you in Austin.
Image: Dustinj (flickr)
Austin Reggae Festival
Friday – Sunday, April 16-18
Auditorium Shores in Austin
Come get your reggae on at the Austin Reggae Festival. Featured artists include Easy Star All Stars (Friday, April 16), Mighty Diamonds (Saturday, April 17) and Sierra Leonne Refugee All Stars (Sunday, April 18). The 17th annual Austin Reggae Festival benefits the Capital Area Food Bank. Enjoy incredible music, tasty foods, arts and crafts, plus premium people-watching at one of the city’s most popular outdoor venues.
Austin Psych Fest
Saturday, April 24
The Mohawk in Austin
Founded in 2008, Austin Psych Fest was formed to honor the legacy of psychedelic rock music. Austin is considered the birth place of psychedelic rock. This festival showcases the best of vintage and modern artists presented with wild visual art and multi-media to accompany the “mind expanding” music. If you are not shy about exploring your artistic side, this is the concert for you. The Austin Psych Fest will be held at the Mohawk, a multi-stage, multi-level venue with a friendly, organized staff and great sound.
Lone Star State Jam
Saturday, April 24
Waterloo Park in Austin
Bring your picnic blankets and sunscreen. This all-day music festival features local artists from across the state of Texas including Kristen Kelly & Modern Day Drifters, Aaron Watson, Stoney Larue, Jack Ingram, Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Micky & the Motorcars, Honeybrownie, the Casey Donahew Band and the Eli Young Band. This music festival is held at Waterloo Park and is presented by Young Texans Against Cancer.
Texas Rockabilly Revival
Saturday and Sunday, May 7 -8
The Nutty Brown Amphitheatre in Austin, TX
The Revival is an annual music festival that celebrates the genres of Rockabilly, Country, Blues, Honky Tonk, Punk and Americana. Party with some old throwbacks and feel free to join perfect strangers as they dance the swing at any given point during the festival. If you like the look and sound of good stand up bass players, tight guitar riffs and a swing inducing jive, you don’t want to miss this Revival Festival. Artists include Asleep at the Wheel, The Supersuckers and Lee Rocker, well known from his days with the Stray Cats.
April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in Austin