Alexis "Lexipants" R.'s Profile

I LOVE THIS STORE!  

I think I also had an audible squee like another reviewer on here.  They tell you hello and goodbye in Japanese for crying out loud!

It reminds me a lot of Ichiban Kan in San Francisco.  Very cheap, but good quality Japanese items.  Everything is $2 and if it's higher it has a different color sticker on it.  But there's sooooo much to look at.  If you like Japanese kawaii, kitsch, whatever, you HAVE to visit this store.  It's on the second level and isn't visible from the street, so follow your map carefully!

I'll be making a trip to Fit and the rest of Chinatown often.

AWESOME!  It looks, smells, and feels like an Asian market should.  

We went there the first time yesterday.  It's a U-shaped mall, actually called Hong Kong City Mall.  The actual market is HUGE.  No lie, it has everything, produce, noodles, coffee, tea, snacks, housewares, even American items.  I had some major squeee time in the toy  and stationary stores.  The food court is mostly sea food, which I thought was pretty neat.  There's also pho and asian sandwich shops, music/video shops, health and gift stores.  Of course we had the obligatory tapioca drinks (aka bubble tea aka boba) on our way out.  I can't wait to go back, I'll probably make this a monthly visit.

I love Summermoon.  I am so glad my friend and I stumbled on this neat little coffee shop almost 2 years ago.  The Summermoon coffee drink is the best coffee drink I've ever had.  No, I take that back.  Actually, the best coffee drink I've ever had is the Wintermoon, the iced version of the Summermoon.  It's the best treat for a hot summer's night.  They have a super calm atmosphere and free wi-fi.  A grad student's dream.

I just wish I lived closer to it and that they had more parking.  Open up a north location already!

Ann Randall has been sewing for over 40 years!  With this wealth of experience, she runs a great little operation in Northwest Austin to teach others how to use a sewing machine.  In every class, even from day one, you take home a project that you made with your own two hands.  She offers everything from beginner's sewing to advanced quilting techniques and even has a handbag making class!  The Studio's prices for classes are extremely competitive with the giant craft stores.  On top of that, they are in the process sponsoring a program to provide the less privaleged with sewing lessons to make sure they have a trade that they can make a living with.

I took the beginners series of classes and am so glad I did.  I've already made many items on my own.  Great quality instruction!

The Spider House USED to be fantastic.  It was THE place to hang out my first and second year in college (6 or 7 years ago).  It had a cozy feel, great coffee and hip, but friendly, staff.  Now you'd be lucky to be seated, or find a seat, order since they make you order from them now, and enjoy yourself.  I'm ill informed as to what stimulated the big change, and maybe I'm living in the past, but Spider House nowadays just isn't like it used to be.  Find another little hole in the wall establishment that serves coffee if you'd really like to know what the Austin scene all about.

The food here is decent for the price. Just remember, when you go in, this is TEX MEX food, not Mexican.  Free chips and salsa.  The salsa is nice and hot!  I recommend any of the enchiladas.  Sometimes they overcook their Spanish rice.  

I don't think I've ever had a bad Margarita here.  The wait service is friendly, sometimes a little slow.  Oddly, I haven't ever seen a female worker here.  What's up with that?

This is my favorite coffee shop in Austin.  The coffee drinks are decent, they serve alcohol, and it's a wonderful atmosphere.  I've only experienced it at night, and always have a positive experience.  They are also open really late (early?) for students pulling an all-nighter.  

Sometimes they have live music to complement the atmosphere: relaxed and chill.  When there's not live music, they often play jazz or big band.  When I want to meet up with people in Central Austin, I always suggest La Tazza Fresca.

I used to love Texspresso, but over the last couple of years, the quality of their coffee has really gone down.  Something is just...missing...especially in the Alamocha.  I hope they turn it around soon.

The desserts are still really good, and it's a nice, large, quiet atmosphere to study or concentrate.  It's in a nice area of town off of Anderson Lane in the Alamo Village.

I love love love Jimmy John's.  My favorite sandwich is the #9 without onions.  I've had other sandwiches there, and they're ok.  I just always order the same thing.  Fast, friendly, delicious.  

This particular location is... interesting.  When we ate there recently they were playing really loud death metal music.  I enjoy hard core music, but it seemed a little... out of place for a sandwich shop.

I had the chicken pho, spring rolls, and iced milk coffee.  All of the food was good for the price.  I will definitely go back for the food.

The atmosphere.... a little confusing.  It was an asian looking restaurant, but they had a Bob Marley DVD playing on a very large, very loud flatscreen TV.  *Scratches head*

Also, the waitservice was lacking.  We were there at dinnertime and there were about 5 tables needing service and 1 waitress.  We were there for and hour and a half total for soup!  The wait was pretty ridiculous if you ask me.