Everyone knows that a city hasn’t really made it big until it stars in a fast food TV commercial–amiright? So if Real World Austin or the controversial Austin-centric McDonald’s mural didn’t make us cool enough, a new commercial for Wendy’s might help finally put Austin on the map. Stitching together hip things like vintage clothing, a retro catchphrase, and consumer-friendly trendy South Congress, the commercial shows that not only is Austin probably the coolest city in the US, but that Wendy’s understands Y-O-U!!

Check it:

If you’re the type that skips commercials, here are the meaty bits:

Some waifish (maybe German?) tourist is visiting Austin. Trying to fit in, he visits New Bohemia on South Congress and looks for a vintage tee. To NewBo’s credit, I’ve never seen a cardboard box of discounted clothing.

The German dude probably hasn’t seen the 80′s commercial from which this quote came; rather, he chooses the shirt because he thinks the words are funny.

As he buys the shirt, the cashier is the first in a series of folks to ask the dumbfounded dude,”Where’s the beef?” For the record, This girl’s outfit is too mainstream for NewBo. Them folks have style and class.

As he crosses Monroe heading north on South Congress, the dude ditches his dreary duds and puts on his new, hip shirt.

I can’t help but notice that there are no cars parked on South Congress. Apparently no one wanted to be caught on video trying to awkwardly back-in park.

This shot confuses me. First off, when did Allen Boots start selling vintage clothes and antique spinning wheels? And second, is this business guy propositioning the tourist?

Seriously: Fellas, how would YOU interpret a guy ogling your bare midriff as he says, “Where’s the beef?” To be honest, depending on how drunk/stoned I was, I might just head over to the parking garage behind Hopdoddy and make a few extra bills–naw mean?

Oops, he’s heading south now. When did Off the Wall, a clothing store, or Big Top, a candy store, start serving salads and burgers?

What’s more confusing: Having everyone you encounter shout your shirt at you OR walking down South Congress and then magically being teleported to 6th and Congress?

(Side note: Some coworkers and I were walking on the opposite side of 6th when they shot this! OMG! ALMOST FAMOUS, Y’ALL!!)

Now he’s down at the end of Rainey Street at the Mexican American Cultural Center. One too many drinks at Clive bar? And again, another awkward encounter with a lonely man. Get a clue: Just walk around the corner, show him your beef, take the money and run.

Man, this commercial is more geo-temporally effed up than an episode of LOST. For realz: He’s back walking alongside of the South Congress Baptist Church!!

After a few more blocks, he discovers the Wendy’s at SoCo and Ben White. In lieu of showing the actual Wendy’s store from the commercial, we present you with this close-up of plastic-looking cheese.

Insider’s tip: There’s now a P.Terry’s right across Ben White. It’s healthier and local.

Gotta give Wendy’s some props: It takes balls to shoot a commercial in the heart of Whataburger territory. And while it’s nice that y’all shot a commercial in Austin, Wendy’s, in the end, no matter how many commercials you shoot here, I’m gonna keep hittin up my local burger places, like P.Terry’s and Hopdoddy. And if I’m feeling really like I need some fast food, I’ll be hittin up Texas-based Whataburger.

A couple of reasons why P. Terry’s and Hopdoddy kick ass:

• P.Terry’s uses “All-Natural Black Angus beef; hormone-free, antibiotic free while raised on and all-vegetarian diet.” Their chicken burgers come from locally-raised chickens. Plus, P.Terry’s is about the same price as the big chains.
• Hopdoddy, to me, is the future of restaurants. Not only do they source all of their meats locally, but they also bake their own buns (including gluten-free) daily, and compost or recycle everything.

And that, friends, is why Austin is cool.

.

Find something Austin-related that you want to share? Photos, screen shots, articles, news? Email us attips@republicofaustin.com.

Want more RoA? Be our friend on Facebook. Add our RSS feed! [what’s that?]. Start your morning with Republic of Austin in your InBox. Or read us 24-7 on Twitter!

There are rare moments rolling around Austin when I see something that makes me slam my brakes, pull my bike over and snap a photo.  I’m not talking about a nude cyclist, Leslie, or something similarly commonplace. It usually has to be some dope guerilla art, a ginormous cloud, or something completely out of the ordinary in the purported city of the weird.

And so it was earlier this year while cycling down South Congress, when what to my eyes should appear, but a giant alien-like sculpture surrounded by tile mosaic laying gear. Peering behind the fence, it looked like one of the magical benches from Anton Gaudí’s Parque Güelle in Barcelona.Tediously placing the tiles was Austin artist James Edward Talbot.

If you’ve ever gotten lost in South Austin, you may have stumbled across one of Talbot’s other creations, Casa Neverlandia. Completely covered in mirrors and tiles, this 3-story chalet-style house in Bouldin Creek looks like something from the set of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. Are you sensing the whimsical trend yet?

Detail of Casa Neverlandia (photo from SacredShardMosaics.com

(Side Note: Casa Neverlandia has a whimsical story of its own)

As part of the South Congress Improvement Project, Talbot was commissioned by the city to build the structure at South Congress and Live Oak. After months of laying tile, the sculpture will soon be unveiled. Once complete, the piece will join a slew of other works by Austin-area artists as part of the Art In Public Places program, which includes Open Room (the madhatter’s table by the power plant) and the Nightwing by the bat bridge.

So now that the sculpture is mostly complete, we’ve got pics!! Sorry for the awkward angles, there’s still a boarded fence around it. Also, the colors are WAY more vibrant in person.

Rear view of the sculpture on South Congress.

From the back, it looks kind of like the underside of a lilly pad or some flower.

Detail of rear view of the sculpture on South Congress

Front view of the sculpture on South Congress

To me, the front looks kind of like an alien chair, an Aztec throne, or a giant ant.  But then again, those wheels could be chakras with the moon/halo looking thing the crown chakra, making it like a 3D Alex Grey painting. Can you look through the top hole and get your picture taken on the other side?

If you haven’t done so yet, peek over the fence!

What does the sculpture look like to you?

.

Find something Austin-related that you want to share? Photos, screen shots, articles, news? Email us attips@republicofaustin.com.

Want more RoA? Be our friend on Facebook. Add our RSS feed! [what’s that?]. Start your morning with Republic of Austin in your InBox. Or read us 24-7 on Twitter!

Today is First Thursday on South Congress–and what in my InBox this morn should appear, but a funny viral video about a fight on SoCo with folks in mascot gear. Yup, a reader sent in a new video from Austin director Marko Slavnic. And I have to say, I kinda like it.

The video, shot on SoCo, involves two mascots (one a chicken, the other a penguin) fighting to get customers into neighboring sandwich shops.  The mascots come to fisticuffs that lead to a surprise unmasking. It’s a cute video–and seeing how the facade of New Bohemia was converted into the two sandwich shots is a def bonus! Check it out:

Chicken Vs Penguin by  Marko Slavnic

And while you’re down on South Congress this evening, head over to Jo’s Coffee, where our friends from South Side Sanctuary and Sneak Attack will be hawking their wears and kicks. There will also be a live performance from frenzy-inducing Austin band Soul Mind. Oh yeah, and a bouncy castle!!!

.

Find something Austin-related that you want to share? Photos, screen shots, articles, news? Email us at tips@republicofaustin.com.

Want more RoA? Be our friend on Facebook. Add our RSS feed! [what’s that?]. Start your morning with Republic of Austin in your InBox. Or read us 24-7 on Twitter!

A couple of months ago, fellow RoA blogger Ari had her beloved bike bag and purse stolen. Ever since then, she has been in dire need of a new replacement. Knowing that Ari wanted to keep it green and not buy something new, we hit up vintage stores south of the river to score a unique find. Her requirements: long, adjustable strap, vintage but not too worn, solid color. Here’s what happened:

GypsySun / Big Rig Vintage (1601 South First Street Austin, Texas 78704)

First stop: My personal go-to shop, GypsySun. A bit off the traditional SoCo strip, it occupies a garage space on Monroe and South 1st. It opened right before SXSW this year.

So many options as we start off our shopping adventure at GypsySun

My absolute favorite thing about the purse selection here is that owners Eryn Brooke and Lindsay Lipscomb keep things color coordinated.  Not only does this make it super easy to quickly spot something, but it just looks so stinkin’ purdy!

Love when vintage shops organize things for you, makes digging around so much easier!

Ari ignored all purse requirements and scored a beautiful, tan computer/ over night bag.  She also spotted a couple of black purse options that met her “must fit a book” requirement. Since it was our first stop, however, she wasn’t ready to settle on anything just yet.

Ari buying her new overnight bag from co-owner Eryn Brooke

Prototype (1700 1/2 South Congress, Austin, Texas 78704)

More traditionally known for their eclectic furniture pieces, our next stop was Prototype. I’ve always had good luck finding great things here at the last minute. It was no different for Ari. Check out this  deep, white leather bag, unique and in great condition:

If Ari doesn't get this one, I want it!

The price was right, but Ari wanted to keep shopping. And since they were closing soon (7:00 p.m. on weekdays), we asked if they could hold it (24 hr holding policy). They were more than happy to help a shopper in distress.

Loved the design detail on this clutch, not for Ari though - only purses with straps!

New Bohemia (1606 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704)

We then hit up the vintage cowboy super store, New Bohemia. I haven’t been here in a while–and I can’t seem to remember why. They carry so much stuff and are reasonably price. The great thing about New Bohemia is that they are open till 10PM, way later than most of the South Congress shops, so we didn’t feel rushed trying to beat day light.

Ari found a couple of great deals, but she was really looking for something that went a little bit above and beyond just your plan brown or black purse.

We also stopped by Feathers, one of my favorites boutiques that seems to specialize in vintage clutches, and Cream Vintage, which didn’t seem to have much of a purse selection – although their denim cutoff choices can’t be beat!

At the end of the day, Ari wasn’t 100% successful. And even though she wasn’t able to find the exact black purse she envisioned, she now has a few more options to be stylish and stay green at the same time. Oh, and she did score an awesome overnight bag from GypsySun.

So…our saga continues. Stay tuned next week when our shopping adventure takes us to the drag!

Where are your favorite places to go purse shopping?

What’s the hottest purse style this summer?

.

Like what you see? Be our friend on Facebook. Add our RSS feed! [what’s that?]. Start your morning with Republic of Austin in your InBox. Or read us 24-7 on Twitter!

Local jewelry designer Brooke MacFarlane shows off a self-designed necklace at First Thursday

Last Thursday, we rolled on over to South Congress for First Thursday.  It was a scorcher out, so we decided to hit up the Mambo Berry trailer (@mamboberry on Twitter) and chat with owner Jacob and his lovely wife Erin [click here to see an outtake of the interview with the Mambo Berry peeps]. On the way there, we ran into Brooke (@beincreative on Twitter), a jewelry designer who designs with African beads and then sends 50% of her proceeds back to buy cows for villagers. After tearing up a  frozen yogurt with blueberries and fruity pebbles (nom nom nom), we cruised across the street and checked out the latest tees from our buds over at Southside Sanctuary.

Mambo Berry owners Jacob and Erin Boone beat the heat inside their trailer on South Congress

We didn’t stay too long, cause like a vampire on the thirst for blood, the setting sun triggered the “gotta get a drink” portion of my brain.  Dodging zombie-like, patchouli-soaked Free Huggers, we made our way down to the Hotel San Jose.  Along the way, we joined the feeding frenzy for free Sweet Leaf Tea and played with a couple rescued puppies from Austin Pets Alive.

Check out the video to get a sample of the sights, people and sounds of July’s First Thursday.  Oh yeah: Since neither one of us had slept much the night before–Tim  hungover from his Pre-Birthday celebrations (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TIMMY!) and me cause I’m a mad scientist–neither one of us are physically in the video. You’ll have to be happy with my voice

Special thanks to all y’all who met us out.  If you couldn’t make it out: Come hang with us next time!

While watching the 3-minute video,try to spot the following:

Sweet Leaf Tea's Limo is P-I-M-P

• “Joy” made from copper and beads
• Ragtag drum corp
• Granny from Sweet Leaf Tea’s pimped out limo
• Cute wittle puppy playing with his food bowl
• A century plant blossom that actually looks like a giant stick of asparagus

Chris Interviews Jon Pattillo from South Side Sanctuary

Last night Jasmine and I headed over to South Congress to hit up First Thursday.  Although she’s lived here for over 10 years, this was her first time to take part in the monthly South Austin tradition.

After a lot of walking (and drinking), we decide to hit up the lot in between Vespaio and Austin Art Glass and check out T-Shirts designed by one of our favorite Austin artist collectives–and superstar Twitterers (@SanctuarySouth)–South Side Sanctuary.  In today’s video transmission, Jon Pattillo shows us a couple of designs and tells us a little bit more about the local t-shirt company.

Thanks to everyone who met us out last night for First Thursday on South Congress.  Extra big special thanks to South Side Sanctuary! It was great meeting our readers, and we can’t wait till next First Thursday!

While watching the 2-Minute video, look out for:

• “Boobs” spelled with a calculator

Chris loves the Virtual Dancers t-shirt from South Side Sanctuary

• Capoeira dancers in a circle behind Jasmine
• The local band on the front of Chris’ t-shirt
• David Carradine’s Resurrection?
• The sounds of the Congress Street Choir across the street (that was while they were singing, not when they dissed our gay friends)
• Jasmine’s SECRET!