Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2008 > December > 10
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Your A-List: Best Place to Be Surrounded Pretty People
Yet every contest must have a winner. So it’s our duty to report that the top A-List spot went to Qua with 27 percent of the vote. The Fourth Street ultra-lounge made a splash last year when it installed sharks in a pool underneath the dance floor and because its dress code is slightly less casual than other Austin clubs’. (More recently, they’ve instituted college nights, when just about any attire goes.)
The Belmont, a little bit of old Vegas or Hollywood on West Sixth, came in second with 19 percent, while The Domain, the upscale shopping destination arranged like an amusement park, took third with 10 percent. Seven places — Second Street District, Beauty Bar, Four Seasons, Driskill, Union Park, J. Black’s and Pangaea — tied for fourth with 5 percent. Rain was not far behind with 4 percent, followed closely by Six with 3 percent. Red Fez, Peacock and Brown Bar took 2 percent or less.
Two credible write-ins: Parkside and Imperia
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Your A-List, Best Music Festival
Stranger things have happened. Yet it sends a little shock to the system to find that Heart of Texas — also known as the Heart of Texas Quadruple Bypass Music Festival and Texas Rockfest — won the A-List vote for best music festival. Ten years old, the March event receives a tiny fraction of the attention lathered on SXSW or ACL. Here, it trumped both with 48 percent of the vote. Not content, the fest’s fans increased its lead — RockFest won with 35 percent last year.
ACL came in second with 28 percent; SXSW third with 14 percent. All the rest — Kerrville Folk Fest, Fun Fun Fun Fest, Old Settler’s, Extreme Texas Metal Fest, Raggae Fest, Urban Music Fest and Chaos in Texas — accrued 3 percent or less each, totally less than 10 percent combined.
When will that blizzard hit?
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Your A-List, Best Sporting Goods Store
Where’s the best place to buy a heart monitor, for instance? A sporting good store. (That’s on my list this week.)
The winner of the A-List poll for best sporting goods store is a longtime Texas institution, which started, if memory serves, selling military surplus in crammed, old-fashioned stores. Academy Sports + Outdoors, now found in bright big boxes, took 38 percent of the vote.
REI, a higher-end outfitter, came in second with 18 percent. RunTex, snugly tied to Austin’s fitness community, scored third with 13 percent. Whole Earth, which takes an ecological angle on outdoor activities racked up 9 percent, while giant retailer Cabela’s nabbed 7 percent.
Settling for 3 percent or less were Bicycle Sports Shop, Sports Authority, Dick’s, Soccer World, Ozone Bikes, Austin Tri-Cyclist, Jack and Adam’s Bicycles and University Cyclery.
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Scaling back on holiday socializing, Part 5
See Parts 1-4 in posts below.
One recurring theme for holiday socializing: More domestic gatherings, fewer institutional events.
“(We’re) focusing more on at-home parties and celebrations,” said Vicki Callegari, executive director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
“The next few weeks will include a number of in-home joint cooking/dining experiences, several groups getting together to walk the Trail of Lights,” said Ballet Austin executive director Cookie Ruiz.
Despite the domestic trend, anecdotal evidence suggests that big, long-planned social events haven’t lost traction. Dec. 7, the second-ever Dancing with the Stars Austin, which benefits the Center for Child Protection, pulled in 900 guests and more than $400,000 at the Hilton Austin. Days before, the Silver Box Party attracted a full house of 300 and approximately $30,000 for Equality Texas at the Monarch.
Good company seems to trump band times.
“Cutting down on frivolous gifts? Yes,” said singer Erin Ivey. “Cutting down on out-of-state travel? Yes. Cutting down on stress? Yes. Cutting down on socializing? Heck no!”
“We always say we aren’t going to go to all the parties,” said philanthropist Maria Groten. “But then its difficult to pass up the opportunity to spend time with good friends during the holidays.”
As Sarah Rigdon, proofreader for the Texas Legislative Council and manager of the Dionysium said: “When times are tough the most natural response is to gather your acquaintances, friends, and loved ones, pool your resources, put your heads together, tell stories, and relax.”
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Scaling back on holiday socializing, Part 4
See posts below for Parts 1, 2 & 3
Others simply won’t let the Wall Street or Washington D.C. reports affect their holiday spirit.
“(It’s) little scary given all gloom and doom news,” said real estate developer and publicist Robert Nash, “but I’m going forward with my annual holiday open house full throttle.”
In fact, the political mood in mostly blue Austin may be stoking the social good cheer.
What about Austin’s vulnerable entertainment industry? Will people still gather for music, movies, theater and art?
“No cutbacks here,” said Alamo Drafthouse founder Tim League. “I’m bullish on socializing.”
“Most musicians who call me are looking for work, say the month is slow,” said music booker David Perkoff. “But I seem to have 17 dates so far that require ‘Santa Baby’ and other great tunes. Did have two cancellations due to mysterious economic causes.”
“Being in the music biz, not much happens the end of December (anyway),” said industry insider Cash Edwards. “So there’s wonderful guilt free time to spend with family and friends.”
The retail slump hasn’t dampened spirits of shop owners, either.
“As long as we can get a babysitter, we’ll be there,” said Gail Chovan, owner of Blackmail and Vivid boutiques. “Socializing is a big part of the holiday season and it’s a great diversion especially if retail sales are down. Despite the sluggish economy, we have a lot to be thankful for and much to look forward to in the next year.”
