An Austinite Site

The creation of “An Austenite Site”was not a project that happened overnight. The formation of this website started as a dream, in which I could find a way of promoting the great city of Austin, Texas. The great thing about creating this website is that I was able to go out and adventure. Throughout the process of creating this website, I was exposed to many places in Austin that only would have happened with the formation of my blog posts. Now, let us dive into what this website has done for my life and how I hope to continue building on it.               

Throughout the last couple of weeks, “An Austenite Site” has stood for three different things. These qualities are honesty, respect, and passion. This website was formed out of love for the capital of Texas and the passion for promoting the great city of Austin. From the beginning, the primary purpose of this website was to target a wide range of audiences and be used as a promotional website. Right out of the gate, the main goal of “An Austenite Site” was to provide examples and descriptions of some of the best attractions in Austin.                          

“An Austenite Site” was created to show off specific sections of the city. These areas include South Congress, Sixth Street, and the main downtown area of Austin. Each post has shown a more in-depth insight into what the city is all about. For those who like to party, “An Austinite Site” has provided information about events such as music festivals like ACL to activities such as Eeyore’s birthday party. For families, this website has also provided information about family-friendly activities such as stand-up paddle boarding at Town Lake, theatre productions at Zilker Metropolitan Park, and, most importantly, some information about the top restaurants in town.                                                                                                                  

Only time will tell what the future holds. However, “An Austenite Site” is here to stay.

Since I was young, I have always struggled with technology. Once I graduated High-School, I wanted to change that. Joining Mass Comm 4381 would change my life forever.  

           As a sophomore in college, I have always had a dream of becoming a famous screenwriter and movie producer. Even though my major is in digital media and mass communications, I feel like the subject has helped me become a better writer and learn different key necessities that are needed to have a successful career in all sorts of television, whether its broadcasting or filmmaking. I didn’t learn all of this by myself, either. Through the great teachings of both Mr. Zmikly and Ms. Vannella, I have learned many things that I feel will affect my future for the better.

           Throughout the semester, I have been exposed to many types of technology, ranging from the basics of how to code, to creating my website, “An Austenite Site.” It was not an easy start for me either. At the beginning of the semester, I struggled to learn the basics of how to use technology and how to keep myself from imploding. I walked into the class unprepared, however not all hope was lost. Thankfully, through the help of my lab, I was able to grow as a student and develop the skills that I need for the next year of college.

           Throughout the semester, I developed many projects, my favorite being my website “An Austenite Site”. Throughout the semester, I wrote about the great amenities that the city of Austin, Texas had to offer. Looking back on it now, creating the website was a great experience for me. I was able to create an identity, and I feel successful in my work. According to the statistics, my post on Jos’ Coffee, “Take a Sip of Joe” was my most appreciated posts. However, I am not perfect, and I do have my regrets. I wish that I wrote more about events that were happening, and if I could go back in time, I would’ve included more about the nightlife in Austin.

           Overall, I have enjoyed this class. With the help of my classmates and my professors, I have become more knowledgeable about a topic that I thought I would never understand.

Downtown Austin is home to all sorts of great restaurants and bars. However, since the city is so big, many of these iconic local institutions have become hidden behind large office buildings or hotels. One of these places is known as Slake.

           Slake was founded in 2013 and has been serving downtown Austin ever since. The café is located next door to the famous intercontinental hotel, the Stephen F. Austin. The indoor environment of the restaurant is unique. Wall art makes up a majority of the indoor complex along with a tv located in the back towards the restrooms. Inside the building, the restaurant offers a lounge area as well as a bar right next to the bake case. 

           There is only one Slake location in Austin. The Caffe is perfectly planted right off of West Sixth Street to attract customers. When stopping by, people can choose to order inhouse or can grab and go. Slake’s menu offers many tasty pastry items, including scones, Sugar cookies, and muffins. The restaurant also offers cooked meals, including tacos and numerous other cuisines. The bar also serves alcoholic drinks for those who want to wind down after a long day’s work. However, if you’re not a drinker, feel free to grab a hot cup of their Ethiopian coffee or a bottle of Texas Tea from the bake case. Whether you want to order breakfast or lunch, Sake’s welcoming and happy staff are always wanting to help make a person’s day better. 

           Slake also caters to events. If someone is planning a wedding or just a get-together, they can select the “Catering and Events” tab on their main website. After the page loads, several text boxes will appear in which a person can fill out their personal information and information about the planned event. 

           Slake is like no other café in Austin. Whether you’re on Sixth and want a treat, or you want a nicely cooked meal, don’t hesitate to stop by and try Slake out!  

Austin, Texas, is home to many historical and Nationally well-known landmarks. Some of these places include the Driskell Hotel, the Capitol building, and the University of Texas campus. Another one of these iconic landmarks in the city is actually named after the man who is widely considered the “Father of Texas.” This man is named Stephen Fuller Austin.

           In 1924 a hotel was named after this man, and since then, it has become one of the most famous places in all of Austin. The Stephen F. Austin hotel is a luxury hotel located at 701 Congress Avenue. Since its founding, the hotel has been a notable spot for celebrities and public figures alike. Some of these people include former presidents, George H.W. and W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson. 

           Inside, the hotel is beautiful. After being greeted at the front door by the friendly valet staff, visitors will walk into a magnificent main entrance that provides a view of the hotel’s beautiful granite floor, a statue of a bull rider corralling multiple bulls, and the famous elegant golden staircase. To the right of the entrance will be the front desk, where visitors can check-in and out of their rooms. Along with that, the hotel is attached to the famous steakhouse “The Roaring Fork,” where visitors can grab a bite to eat with co-workers or friends and family. 

           The hotel rooms vary in price depending on what kind of place someone wants to stay. A one-bedroom place varies from $151.05 to $236.55, A two-bedroom room costs 179.55, and a Suite ranges from $265.05 to $293.55. Each room comes with a window that looks out onto the city as well as a phone that can be used for room service at any time during the day. The hotel also offers an equipped gym along with a lap pool.

           While the Stephen F. Austin Hotel is a little pricey, it is well worth the purchase. With a friendly staff and a beautiful environment, Stephen F. Austin is built to feel like a second home!

         “An Austenite Site” was a website I created out of the passion and pride that I have for my hometown. However, I am not the only person to have thought about marketing Austin, Texas, to the public. My inspiration to promote the city has come from turning to other websites for information about Austin. An example of one of these promotional sites is “The Austinot.”

           This website was founded by Eric Hyland and his wife Brittany in 2011. With the help of their close friends, they have expanded their blog outside of their home living room and have built a community of tens of thousands of people. In the “About” tab, it is mentioned that “The Austinot” is a blog focused only on the local businesses and organizations that were founded in Austin. Like “An Austenite Site,” “The Austinot” is a website that focuses on events, popular restaurants, and famous cultural and historical landmarks throughout the city.

           On the main page of the website, there are links to multiple different tabs. They range from ones that send the viewer to an event calendar to a tab that allows the viewer to access information about local restaurants and bars, all of which are located in different parts of the city. The home page also offers information about local cultural attractions. Under the “culture” tab, anyone viewing the website can find information about local artists and places that display some beautiful artwork.

           Exactly like “An Austenite Site,” the main source of content, is expanded upon with the description of events that are attached to a certain business. In one article, the lead blogger for “The Austinot,” Bill Tucker wrote about the Austin Music Awards and how it will be held at Moody Theater. He shares not only calendar and location, but also detailed information about upcoming events.  

           Any tourist interested in traveling to Ausitn should check out the “The Austinot.” It is a great website that offers a ton of information about what’s going on in this great city.  

There is more to downtown Austin than just the food. Beautiful hotels and local shops make up the streets on both sides of the river. South Congress Avenue is home to many of these iconic Austin venues, one being “Hotel San Jose.”

       The hotel has been a local landmark for a while now in Austin. Hotel San Jose was founded in 1936, to be used as a motor inn. However, as the years went by, the place became rundown and was a hot spot for drug trading and other sorts of crime. In 1994, Liz Lambert bought the property and began the revitalization of the hotel.

       Nowadays, Hotel San Jose is one of the most recognizable places in downtown Austin. The hotel is located on South Congress Avenue next door to Jo’s Coffee and across the street from the historic music venue the Continental Club. The base of the hotel is built around its beautiful nature-filled courtyard, where the hotel rooms are evenly placed next door to each other. The room rates range from $90.00 for a shared bathroom to over $500.00. Some of these rooms are also placed on top of one another with a balcony that offers a view of the courtyard. as well as parts of South Congress. Inside, the rooms are unique. One former guest explains that the rooms had a very “Los Angeles feel to it.” She shares that it has a very “modern look, as well as a very boutique, feel to it.”

       Inside the courtyard, there is an indoor/outdoor lounge. From Noon to Midnight, the lounge is accessible to all, as the hotel provides weekly performances by mellow DJ’s for the hotel guests, as well as visitors entertainment. While enjoying the show, guests can order food, such as a cheese plate, along with their favorite wine or beer. Hotel San Jose also hosts special events. Some of these events include the yearly 4-day music show South by San Jose that takes place annually around the same time as the widely known SXSW music festival. There is also the monthly Honky Tonk Amnesia and annual Pet Parade, to name a few. 

       Hotel San Jose is one of a kind. If you’re ok with spending a little money and want to stay somewhere with a modern feel, San Jose may be just perfect for you.

           Downtown Austin is a place like no other. The vibrant culture of the people, along with the great local venues around town, make this part of the city a great attraction. One of downtown’s popular venues is Jo’s Coffee. Founded by Liz Lambert, this locally owned coffee shop was established in 1999, and it has expanded ever since.

           Today it has grown to four operating locations in Austin, Texas. The original is located on South Congress Avenue, followed by a spot on West Second Street in downtown, as well as, two separate locations at St. Edwards University. Each venue offers the same great menu of treats, such as; coffee (i.e., Turbo, Belgium Bomber…), local tacos, sandwiches, and bakery items. Each location also offers its own unique environment.

           Every Austinite, as well many tourists, know the South Congress location by the “I love you so much” mural that is spray-painted on the side of the building. This location attracts the most out of town visitors, both domestic and foreign. At any given time that one might visit this spot, you are sure to see people posing for photo opportunities next to the famous mural. After ordering a nice cup of coffee or bakery item, customers can sit at a table or the patio bar and people watch.

           While the South Congress location is the most popular, it doesn’t have any indoor seating. However, both the St. Edwards and West Second street locations do offer tables indoors. The St. Edwards community offers two venues. One is placed nicely on the main campus strip in the Ragsdale Center and another in Doyle Hall. The Ragsdale Center has a street-side cafe, as well as a shaded area for tables.

 Students and campus staff can stop by and order their favorite food or drink while enjoying their beautiful campus.

           Jo’s Coffee on West Second Street is set up in the heart of the city with a nice indoor cafe and an outdoor patio that looks out onto the streets of downtown. Businessmen and women often come to this location during lunch breaks, or for meetings with clients and co-workers. This location often gets lost in all of the hustle that surrounds it. However, if you look for it, you will find the quality coffee and baked goods of the other two more easily found spots.

           Jo’s is not just about coffee, its also about community. All of Jo’s locations offer various events that bring people together. Jo’s downtown offers Burger Me Tuesdays and Rupaul’s Drag Race Screenings, to name a few. The campus location provides activities including an open mic night, poetry slams, band performances….  Jo’s South Congress is famous for many events, including the music festival held around the same time as SXSW called South X San Jose, the Pet Parade held around Easter, and the annual Chili Cook-Off.   

           Jo’s Coffee is iconic in the capital of Texas. Whether you are from Austin or just visiting, the love for Jo’s will always call you back.

Austin, Texas is known for all sorts of things. From the music and art festivals, bars, outdoor activities, and great scenic views; Austin offers an excellent experience for all who venture into town. The city provides excellent restaurants as well, from fine dining to food vendor trucks and famous barbeque and Tex Mex. Austin also has its fair share of rocking pizza joints.

           One of the most popular restaurants is known as Home Slice Pizza. Established in 2005, this locally owned company has quickly become a hometown favorite. With there now being two locations, including the original spot located on South Congress Avenue, and a recently brand-new location on 53rd street, the company is only growing.

           Home Slice Pizza’s secret to success, cuts deeper than just the pie itself. The company holds true to its name, offering a great dining experience, including service and ambiance. Located at 1421 South Congress Ave, the original location offers an upscale hole in the wall feel that offers a welcoming environment to all.  Seating is available both inside and out, with an outdoor ping pong table and bar to entertain those while they wait for their table.  While waits can be extensive at times, it is well worth it.  For those that do not want to wait for seating, a grab and bite station right next door is available.  The Austin vibe is well represented by the employees.  Servers are friendly and easy-going while being attentive to service.

           The new addition to the family at 501 E. 53rd St. Offers the same great New York-style pizza with a new and more modern take on a classic Italian eatery.  Red and white checkered tablecloths, coupled with red sparkle vinyl booths, dark wood, paintings, and murals create a fun and enticing atmosphere. They have an outside patio that features a green turf area for children to play while adults are visiting with each other. The new location has managed to carry over the same aura that Home Slice is known for.

           The South Congress location offers more than just the triangle.

They offer salads, antipasti, subs, calzones, and famous pie.  Mexican Coke and Fanta Orange round out the meal well.  Wine is available by the glass, carafe, and bottle. Beer can be purchased by the bottle, can, pint or pitcher.  The new location offers an expanded menu, including wings and a full bar. They offer a diverse selection of pizza from your basic cheese pizza; to white clam pizza; and one employee’s favorite of tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and meatballs. My preferred pizza is the tried and true pepperoni pizza. The crust is perfectly cooked, offering just the right amount of chew.  The red sauce and mozzarella are a sensation for the taste buds.

           Home Slice may not be the only pizza joint in town; however, after you visit, you might think it can’t be topped.