Home Slice has often been rated "Austin's Best Pizza" by the Austin Chronicle, and the title is well-deserved. This restaurant, which sells "New York style pizza," is as close to authentic as you can get in Austin. (Individual slices are served on paper plates and the menu even includes directions on how to fold your slice like a real New Yorker.) You can go in and sit down to eat, or you can purchase individual slices at the window after 9:30 p.m. until late into the night. They also serve all-American desserts like Rice Krispy treats and cookies and milk.
Tesoro's Trading Company, with a sister store on Congress Avenue downtown, has a collection of South American artifacts that will make your head spin. There are Mexican "Day of the Dead" figurines, religious relics, clothing, accessories, tapestries, decor items and more. They even sell purses made entirely of clothing buttons. In addition to all the Latin wares, there are some pieces of art and jewelry in the Indian and East Asian styles.
Uncommon Objects is an antiques shop unlike any other. You could not even begin to predict the kinds of items you will find once you step through the doors. Whether you are in the market for 19th century photographs, vintage toys and furniture, jewelry, clothing, books or trinkets, the objects in this store are truly uncommon. It is also great just for browsing, whether you intend to purchase an antique item or not. One item of note is a weaving made from the locks of hair of various women hundreds of years ago. There is also a taxidermy-style stuffed armadillo. Regardless of what you find strolling along the aisles and weaving in between the myriad customers, it will make for an interesting shopping experience.
The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store is another small treasure that bears noting. It carries not just used clothing but furniture, books, music, movies and toys. There is an entire second floor where the latter items can be found, a veritable goldmine if you're in the market for things like a 25-cent Babysitter's Club book or some cheap wine glasses.
Ten Thousand Villages is a beautiful store with a beautiful purpose -- to sell merchandise that was made by disadvantaged artists in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Shoppers can feel good about the fact that their purchases promote fair trade and actually make a difference in the world. Not only that, but the craftsmanship of the products Ten Thousand Villages carries is outstanding.
South Congress is also a unique part of the Austin real estate market. The area contains cute older Austin homes built in the 1940s. Although it was a rough neighborhood at one point the homes are highly sought after now because of the plethora of stores and restaurants in walking distance.
An ideal day could be spent exploring South Congress on foot, taking the time to peek in to each of these places as well as several others. Finish the journey with a cupcake from the Hey Cupcake! trailer, and spoil yourself with a free whippersnapper (injection of whipped cream straight to the center of the cake). There couldn't be a more perfect South Austin afternoon.
Austin is a great place for families. All year round the city is full of events that cater to its citizens young and old. One of the most popular destinations is First Thursdays on South Congress Avenue where once a month the shops stay open late and the entire street becomes a pedestrian friendly party that the whole family can enjoy. The South Congress Area (or SoCo as it is now called) has long had a reputation for its eclectic shops, art galleries, and restaurants. On First Thursday, everything stays open until 10pm on South Congress between Riverside Drive and Ben White Boulevard.
For those with kids in tow, you may want to make your first stop the Big Top Candy Shop. They carry a wide selection of vintage candy that you'll remember from when you were a kid as well as all the new verities that you may have not have tried. They also have an old fashioned soda fountain serving up hot chocolate, peppermint shakes, and desserts.
You may want to then head over to Lucy in Disguise, Austin's largest costume shop for a quick game of dress up. Lucy's opened its doors on April fools Day in 1984 and has grown into an 8,000 sq. ft. costume mega store. Whether it's a funny hat or a Mardi gras mask, Lucy's has something for everyone. It's a great place to get lost among the rows and rows of wacky costumes.
A new addition to South Congress is the Farm to Market Grocery. Inside you'll find a wide selection of specialty items and fresh fruits and vegetables. On First Thursdays it's a great place to stop in for a quick snack or to pick up a piece of fruit to carry with you down the street.
If you're looking for a gift, you should take a moment to step into Monkey See, Monkey! Doing their part of Keep Austin Weird, they specialize in bizarre gifts that you may not ever see again. Where else are you going to find a Sock Monkey Wine Coozy? They also claim to carry 7 out of the 10 stupidest gifts listed on yahoo.com. The best part is that they're proud of it.
When you get hungry from all the walking and shopping, there are a number of great food options. Guerro's serves up world famous Mexican Cuisine and some of the best Margaritas in town. It is also a favorite haunt of local celebrities and a great place to people watch. Homeslice Pizza serves up some of the best New York style pies in town. They're so serious about their pizza that they closed the whole shop for a week to take the staff to New York on a pizza tasting tour. If you have a sweet tooth, you should head over to Amy's Ice Cream, an Austin original that serves up their own unique ice cream flavors.
Fans of live music will have to check out the Continental Club, one of Austin's most well known music venues. Every night of the week, they showcase both local and national touring acts. You may also want to check out their new gallery space upstairs, a comfortable lounge with live jazz and blues every night of the week.
There really is something for everyone of South Congress and First Thursdays offer an amazing opportunity to explore every hot spot in the street. You never know who you'll see and are guaranteed to discover something new.
Both Dane & Ki Gray are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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