Lindsay "Staunch Woman" J.'s Profile

Thanks to the fabulous Kevin N., I felt like a movie star on Wednesday! There's something about the old hollywood chic and low lighting at the Highball that really brings out the classy lady in me- for a minute. And then I had three Maker's Mark cocktails in me.

Management here must really be paying attention to the recent lackluster reviews of the service, because the wait and bar staffs were top-notch that night. The roaming servers were smiling and everywhere, napkins at the ready! I sampled a really tasty shrimp thing and a pate thing on toast. Yum! I loves me some pate.

As always, the omnipresent Mark Couvillion took some amazing photos, providing a wry smile as he snapped away at all of our Mad Men mugs. I had an amazing time, once again.

I think I may be in love with Yelp Austin.

I gotta say, this was kind of a mixed bag for me. This review is probably more of a 2 1/2 star rating than a 2.

The vodka soda I ordered at the back bar had probably about a half ounce less booze in it than the one I ordered from the front bar. Hmm.

It's kind of disappointing to me how little they've done with the decor for a place with such a cool name. You'd think that the interior design would be a little more gothic, a little more interesting. The only thing that said, "chupacabra" to me were the logo etchings on the tabletops. I was hoping for a little more personality, especially since this is a bar owned by the same people who run The Jackalope, which has a very distinct personality and vibe.

Essentially, there's nothing about Chupacabra yet, for me, which would draw me back in. Maybe once I try the food, I'll change my mind.

Angela Casler transformed me. It's true!

Back in June, when I was asked to model for the Yelp fashion show, I presented Angela (who at the time was at the now defunct Anne Kelso Salon) with the idea of changing me from a bright blonde to a sassy redhead. I was unsure, and nervous, but she encouraged me to take the plunge. And then once she mentioned that she was board certified colorist, I told her to let 'er rip! Wow. I was a new person from that night on, and my inner pinup girl has come to full fruition.

Cut to last week. I wanted to refresh my color and possibly recreate the retro style that I wore in the fashion show for the Yelp Elite event at The Highball. Angela fit me in during a weekday, and I found myself at her adorable new home at Salon Sovay. It's so cute! She even has her own well-lit, private room. We discussed what I was wanting (cooler, darker red that still had a decidedly "fashion-y" feel to it; "fashion-y" is a stylist term that almost reminds me of "pitch-y" in it's colloquialism). We chatted as she worked about how she had been and what had been going on in my life as well since we had last seen each other. She has her Austin Fashion Awards golden boot sitting proudly on her table.

Angela loves her some Kevin Murphy products...she's almost like a groupie. But for good reason. I don't know what she put in my hair to set it with rollers, but the roller set you see in the photo I attached last for THREE DAYS. And I didn't even have to sleep standing up. It was amazing. I got tons of compliments at the party, and I'm very happy with my new color. This woman loves what she does, and it shows. A true artist.

After much debate and thought about where a long-lost friend and I would meet to have dinner, we decided upon The Highball. I had actually stopped in a few busy weekend nights just for a drink here and there, so I was looking forward to trying the food itself, and maybe one of the signature cocktails.

I adore the look of the place, very Nasa-chic and totally my style and speed. The Drafthouse folks have done a bang-up job of lovingly decorating and fixing up the old Salvation Army.

I arrived before my friend did, and was shown to my table. It was a Monday night, and only about four of the tables were occupied. Our server did not introduce herself, and came off as sour and put-out. I figured maybe she was just quiet. The Roseberry Fizz cocktail ($10) I had was absolutely delicious, and beautifully presented. The cheese plate ($10) was bountiful and had nice variety with pomegranate seeds, pickled beets, and three types of cheeses (I still lament that they took this item off the Drafthouse menu!) My meatloaf ($10) blue plate special was hearty and yummy; I devoured it.

I noticed that the servers and other employees take their smoke breaks out in front of The Highball, and I was able to smell cigarette smoke during the entire meal, and/or watch the employees stand around and smoke while I ate. Not exactly tactful. Are they not allowed in the alley behind the building? Our waitress remained dour and sometimes nonexistent when we needed her. She forgot our drink orders a few times. I saw her wandering back in from her cigarette break in the front after a separate length of time when we couldn't find her. At the end of the meal, when we needed our check, we had to track her down with a different server, and when she emerged from the back, she admitted that she had been rolling silverware in the back. Really? Where you can't see your tables? If management had asked her to do this and neglect her customers, I'd be worried about that judgment call.

Throughout the two and a half hours my friend and I were at The Highball, we ordered about $80 worth of food and drinks, and the service was most definitely not up to par with that price point.

Long story short: extremely talented kitchen crew and bar staff, terribly chosen and poorly managed wait staff. I'm sure I'll be back in again soon, it just won't be for dinner.

Last night I experienced not the first, but the second time I've walked into East Side Show Room and stood helplessly in the foyer being utterly ignored by every semblance of an employee. I'm talking not even a smile cracked by the bartender standing mere feet away, lazily mulling basil in a lowball glass on the counter. Not cool. Greeting me as I walk in the door goes a long way with me. I can more easily tolerate waiting for a table if I am at the very least acknowledged. Not saying 'Hello' to your customers is just lazy and in poor taste.

I get that they are popular right now, but for my dollar, I'd rather walk a few blocks down to The Good Knight, where I can get a big wave from the owner as soon as I walk in the door.

Nomad is solid. It's got a little bit of everything I like in a place to drink. The ladies' room is clean, there's a spacious outdoor patio for my smoker buddies to have a drag or two, and the bar itself is fully-stocked and even carries my favorite type of wine, vinho verde!

I like all of the masculine, well-built wood furniture and bar stools and I think it's neato that they have a library of travel guides to peruse. I will admit, though, that I always feel kinda bad about parking in front of other people's houses in the neighborhood when their parking lot is full.

I live south, but when my north-working friends want to meet halfway for happy hour, Nomad is right up there with my top choices.

P.S. Karaoke Apocalypse on Saturday nights is downright RAUCOUS.

I was the first Yelper to arrive and jumped into the photo booth as soon as I saw its' magnificence! Against my social anxiety disorder's wishes, I signed up for Dizzy Washers, and sipped, er, gulped, the delicious Trumer Pils while waiting for my fellow Yelpers to arrive.

I stayed until after the sun had set, and the second keg of beer had been tapped. I didn't win tickets to Norm MacDonald from Dizzy washers, but I had a blast, as usual, and left stuffed with goat cheese, yummy beer, and with a smile on my face. Thanks, Kevin!

I'll say it: Polvo's scares me.

I hadn't been back in almost 3 years because the place is pretty much a zoo, any night of the week, after about, say, 7 PM. Screaming children, drunk happy hour wastoids, and crappy parking add to the distaste I have for Polvo's. It seems to me that the flavors of this place are replicated in several other parts of town in more desirable eating environments (think Evita's Botanita's and Azul Tequila).

But a friend invited me to give it another try this week. I'd had a horrible day, and the prospect of a margarita and some salsa sounded quite nice, even if it was Polvo's. I was surprised! The service was attentive, and the pitcher of glorious rocks margaritas came out quickly. Not the best I've ever had, but they did the trick. The conversation flowed with the glasses of margs, and soon I was perusing the menu. Small families began to trickle in (I heart you, little girl in a Supergirl costume), and while there were a few kiddie outbursts and the occasional firing of a laser gun in my direction, the patio proved to be interesting people watching.

And then, I saw it: caldo! I ordered a bowl, and as soon as our food came to the table, my eyes grew large with delight! A HUGE, steaming bowl of caldo presented itself, complete with all the fixins and a foil roll of two flour tortillas. Heaven for me is delicious caldo, rife with chunks of fresh vegetables and flavorful broth, and there it was.

This experience alone has taught me that maybe there's a good reason why some places in Austin have been reviewed two hundred and some odd times-- sometimes it really is worth the madness and bad parking. This is more of a 3 1/2 star review, but since I walked away so happy and full, I'll bump it up to four. I'll give it a try again soon, once the weather takes another dip in temperature. That bowl of caldo de pollo as big as my head will be waiting.

9 times out of 10, I hate this place. It's too crowded, too hot for the summer or too cold for the winter, too full of tourists or the frat scene.

However, on occasion, a frosty cold chelada with Modelo Especial and lots of salt and lime is perfect on a lazy Sunday afternoon spent soaking up the sunshine.

After my last experience at Avenue 5 I Tweeted, "I never thought a beauty school could make me so happy!"

I've been twice now, both times for a single-process dye job and the first time I got a cut as well. I don't think I'd be as brave to try this place is what I needed done was highlights. But since I am now a redhead, I decided to go for it. I'm so happy I did! The students are very closely monitored by their instructors, and are very cautious about the decisions they make. Everything is discussed with you throughout the process.

One thing to mention: make sure you have plenty of time set aside. Both times I was at Avenue 5 for nearly 3 hours, and as I said earlier, the second time was only for dye, not even a cut. 3 hours. That said, my color looks AMAZING, and I'd always prefer a stylist to take their time than to rush through an appointment. The first time, when I received a cut as well, I thought it looked awesome, and I even learned a new way of blowing out my bangs!

For $25 plus tip, I think I look pretty damn hot (please see my attached picture). Plus, I have the peace of mind that I'm still putting quality products on my hair rather than horrible, harsh box dye. I highly recommend giving these ambitious students a shot.