End of Silence

Pizza Patron, a pizza chain based in Dallas, is getting some flack for their new promotion (via BoingBoing). I heard a story about this on Marketplace on Monday.

The peso promotion certainly focuses on families that may have traveled to Mexico to visit family over the holidays and may have some money leftover. It’s currently slated only to run until February. Of course, the media’s loving it as it plays into the national immigration issues and there are plenty of racist wingnuts who are willing to spout off against it. It’s an interesting idea, creating a pizza chain that focuses on a particular community. There doesn’t appear to be anything special about their pizza ingredients. They’re Spanish speaking friendly and it’s cheap. Domino’s web site is available in Spanish too though. I didn’t see that support on Papa John’s web site. How about a chorizo pizza? I’d try that.

According to their web site, Pizza Patron has 4 Austin locations. I’ve passed the Oltorf and South First location countless times over the past year and wondered what their pizza was like. It’s in the Domino’s / Papa John’s category, so I’m not expecting much. Anybody else have experience with them, positive or negative?

Their zip code search leaves something to be desired. I entered 78704 and didn’t get the location on Oltorf at South First. I realize that’s not the zip there, but it’s pretty much the same neighborhood. They must only search on exact zip codes. L-A-M-E.

I don’t give a shit who’s making the pizza as long as it tastes good. If Pizza Patron wants to take on the cost and operating overhead to run a deal like this, more power to them. It’s a global economy now. No reason why you shouldn’t be able to use the peso or euro or whatever as well. Some relatives from the UK send pound notes to us every Xmas for our kids and it’s always a pain in the ass to go get them exchanged. They’re certainly getting their money’s worth out of the deal in publicity.

It’s National Delurking Week.

Following the lead from some of the other Metroblogging cities, we’re asking you to step out of the shadows and participate, not just read. Share whatever you like in the comment thread but maybe answer one of these questions:

• Do you live in Austin?
• If yes, what neighborhood?
• If no, where do you live?
• Are you from Austin originally?
• What is your relationship with Austin? (e.g. you have a child living here)

Me, I live here. I’m just across I-35 from St. Ed’s (kinda near Mabel Davis Park). I’ve been there for 8.5 years. I’m not from Austin originally, but I’ve lived here since 1989 (with a two year sabbatical in NYC).

Now you.

I saw mention of this earlier, but ignored it because I assumed it was too far north to worry about it. It’s a bit of a big deal though.

The two outside southbound lanes of Mopac between 183 and Steck are closed due to collapse from all of the rain we’ve had over the last couple of weeks. If I read the News8Austin story correctly, they’ll be closed at least until early tomorrow morning, so those of you who take Mopac to get downtown from Cedar Park/Round Rock/Pflugerville may want to take I-35, 360 or 183 tonight and perhaps tomorrow morning. But don’t go the way I’m going because I don’t need any more damn traffic in my way.

Given our deserved or undeserved status as Live Music Capital of the World, you’d hope that a list of the top ten American rock clubs would include at least one local venue. Sure enough, Playboy included Emo’s in the top ten.

Emo’s has grown into quite the juggernaut over the past 10 years. I remember its humble beginnings in 1993 when you could see many, if not all, of the shows there for under $5. I was still lamenting the loss of the Cannibal Club when it opened and there wasn’t really another venue to take its place at the time. The demise of Liberty Lunch in the late 90’s and the subsequent stalling and, I assume, permanent death of its relocation left another void which Emo’s has filled along with Stubb’s, the only other possible contender with both an outdoor and indoor stage.
Continue reading »

I just saw word of the second water main break downtown in the past week. It was Bowie between 5th and 6th by Whole Foods on Tuesday and now it’s not too many blocks east and north at MLK and Nueces. Apparently, water will be off from 21st to 6th on Nueces for the next 6 hours. Good thing school’s still out, a lot of people are on vacation and the work day’s over for most.

It’s the cold weather, I guess? Or wide fluctuations in temperature throughout the day? Doesn’t seem that bad.