Austin Enchanted Forest has posted notice on their website that as of 7/17/08 the Enchanted Forest is being shut down by the City of Austin. Details aren’t presented, but they’re asking for help from any structural, civil, and environmental engineers, as well as lawyers and concerned citizens. I’m assuming it’s a code violation issue which is why their asking for engineering advice.
I’ve generally enjoyed each time I’ve gone to Enchanted Forest, whether it was for an art weekend or one of their parties. It is truly one of those things that Keeps Austin Weird. Check out these Flickr photos to see for yourself. It would truly be a shame for it to go away.
I’ve sent an email to their savetheenchantedforest@gmail.com email address asking that they post details, City of Austin phone numbers, and an online petition as soon as possible to take advantage of the early wave of interest. Hopefully the Enchanted Forest can be saved.
Update: More information from the property owner was just posted at the Austinist. It seems that the complaints were driven by Austin’s PACE program.
Michelle Greer asks you to come to the Blood Drive Tweetup. It’s an awesome idea and shows why Michelle is such a cool person. Her energy is boundless.
Do it.
Andy Skelton announced that Automattic is looking into opening an Austin WordPress Professional Office. The office would be open to designers and developers who earn their living primarily through WordPress.
If this sounds like something that might interest you, head on over to Andy’s blog and let ‘em know in the comments.
Austin Wordpress users: Andy Skelton announced that the May GeekAustin Happy Hour would be co-hosted with Wordpress on Tuesday, May 20th. Like the previous two GeekAustin events, this one is to be held downtown at J. Blacks on W. Sixth.
I can attest that LinearB throws a great party, so come out and have a drink with us! And, I’ll remind you, that there is a local Wordpress Meetup Group.
Mexico is getting so fuckin’ cheap. I mean, it was cheap before but c’mon!?
For the past year Aeromexico has offered non-stops out of ABIA for as low as $159 roundtrip.
http://www.aeromexico.com/usa/english/pages/specials/faresavers/departure_AUS.html
And now vivaAerobus will be offering flights to places like Cancun, Guadalajara, León, & Monterrey. Apparently vivaAerobus is the RyanAir of Mexico which means that it will cost you less to fly to Cancun than it costs to take a taxi to the airport.
Happy Hour in Cancun in ‘08?
http://austinist.com/2007/11/08/at_this_rate_we.php
If you don’t have it, get your frickin’ passport.
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
It’s that time of year again.
80,000 sweaty music-lovers will all descend upon Austin’s Zilker Park for three days of music. I’ve already been asked four times today “Are you going to ACL?” Yes, I am. I haven’t even picked up my wristband yet, so I’m assuming you ask everyone that?
View my schedule: http://www.austincitylimits.com/schedule/ftaf.aspx?sid=ACL3035307.
Notably, I’m definitely looking forward to seeing LCD Soundsystem, Bjork, Andrew Bird, Arcade Fire, Bloc Party, Ghostland Observatory, and STS9. Other acts are optional and may change depending on mood and laziness.
See you at the park!
Each time someone was interested in a local web design meetup here in Austin I would receive an email alert. This has been happening for many months since the first time I sought out such a group. There are already a number of other corollary groups that I attend that relate to this industry, Refresh Austin being the one I’m most closely associated, but it seems our fair city was lacking official an Meetup presence in this area.
With 146 and counting persons interested in an Austin Web Design Meetup and no way to communicate to them, I felt someone had to start it up if only as a social meetup or to steer them to more appropriate groups on Upcoming or Google Groups. So, I gulped and plopped down the fee to initiate one. (Why does Meetup charge so damn much for a service that so many other sites provide on an ad-driven model?)
Find us here: http://webdesign.meetup.com/457/. Join. RSVP.
Our initial meetup will be Thursday, May 17, 2007, 6:30 PM @ Halcyon (218 W 4th St, Austin, TX 78701)
I hope you can make it!
Paul Menard has taken it upon himself to start up Austin’s first Wordpress Meetup Group. If you use Wordpress as a blogging tool or are thinking about using it, then you should check out the Meetup.com and Google group. Same goes if you’re interested in using Wordpress as a CMS solution for client projects.
http://groups.google.com/group/wordpress-austin
http://wordpress.meetup.com/173/
The latest creation to come out of Google Labs has partnered with our own Capital Metro just in time to provide much needed guidance to all the out-of-towners in Austin for SXSW wanting to know which bus to take to get from the Alamo South Lamar to 6th street and then to Magnolia’s.
Try it here! To the left you’ll see the route I take to get to work and how long it normally takes.
While it provides essentially the same service as CapMetro’s existing Trip Planner, Google Transit mashes up CapMetro’s route/schedule database with Google Maps. And, as anyone who has ever ridden a bus/subway/train in a strange city, it’s always comforting to visually see the route you’ll be taking and which part of town you’ll end up in or near.
Do you think you’ll be using this new Google tool? Will it increase the number of people who use public transit? Comment below!
I look forward to them expanding their list of partner cities and services. I can definitely see myself using this service when traveling.
Thanks to Austinist for the heads up!
Not having anything better to occupy our time last night, Jade, Bryan, and I turned to our favorite pastime — DRINKING! But where? Two shots of whiskey later, we were ready embark on our journey. We didn’t so much plan on visiting any of these places as much as they became apparent through the novelty of mobile Internet and a will for discovery.
Scoot Inn
1308 East 4th St.
Apparently this bar (formerly Red’s Scoot Inn) was set to disappear from the libations landscape when the owners of Longbranch Inn saved the day and made it even better. This venerable East Austin bar was built in 1871. It’s very comfortable feeling with its inviting smells — in that earthy, old way — and old-fashioned wicker lamps. Oh, and it now features a large bier garten.
Longbranch Inn
1133 East 11th St.
I’d been to the Longbranch a few times before, but for Jade & Bryan it was a new experience. It had the largest crowd of our cold, Monday night sojourn and boasted the same friendly atmosphere that seems to perpetually hang around that place. I think the fact that they had a fire going helped.
Firehouse Lounge
605 Brazos St.
The Firehouse Lounge’s website lists it as “one of Austin’s best kept secrets” and after visiting I can attest to that. There’s nothing spectacular about the place, but if you’ve spent enough time on Sixth you’ll appreciate the comfortable atmosphere, music at a reasonable enough level to be able to hold a conversation, and LOTS of sitting areas throughout. This place seems pretty swanky. I look forward to visiting it again next time I seek a reprieve from the Sixth Street doldrums.
