Our intro video is finally out. Our once ambiguous brand is now slightly less ambiguous. With Spencer back from his travels abroad, we’re ready to hit the ground running on our first official project. With a few subjects in mind to spotlight, we’re going to begin outreach this week so we can start storyboarding, interviewing, and making some kick ass merch. These biweekly check-ins are about to get a lot more interesting.

This week’s recommendation is a spot that isn’t even open yet: Koko’s Beer Hall on South Lamar, opening October 10th.

“What’s that?” you may be wondering. Well, I’ll tell you, but first let’s talk about the bar that graced 3003 S Lamar Blvd before it: Baker Street Pub. Reading that name in my head is bittersweet. A pub we met, fell in love with, and lost too soon.

Baker Street Pub was part of a small chain of pubs around Texas, but this specific location had its own charm. People knew it for its fish and chips, solid lineup of draft beers, and overall good vibes. We love Kelly’s and the Tavern, but Baker Street was reliable and always there for us. It definitely got packed, but never enough to stop you from grabbing a pint. Even when it was busy, its spacious interior and friendly faces kept you from popping into another pub. It wasn’t fancy, it wasn’t “the best,” but it was special. Baker Street will forever be remembered by locals, our rec league soccer team (Los Gringos Locos), and anyone lucky enough to step into that warm, welcoming pub.

Rest in peace, Baker Street.

So what is this Koko’s place all about? Will it live up to the legend of Baker Street Pub? We think it just might.

Koko’s Bavarian, co-founded by Konstantin Prinz von Bayern (an actual Bavarian prince), celebrates the deep German heritage woven into Central Texas. The menu leans into Bavarian classics like sausages, pretzels, hot dogs, and Belgian style fries, all built to pair with a strong lineup of local and imported beers. By blending Austin’s love of craft brewing with the timeless beer hall traditions of Bavaria, Koko’s is primed to become one of South Lamar’s coolest new gathering spots.

It’s almost the most wonderful time of the year, October. In a month that couldn’t be busier, ACL has cemented its place as a local holiday. It wasn’t always such a staple, though. At first, it started as a humble PBS show in 1974 meant to spotlight Texas musicians.

The very first episode of Austin City Limits featured Willie Nelson, and it set the tone for what would become the longest running music program in television history. Known for its no-frills style, just the artist, the stage, and the music, the show has captured legendary performances from Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Cash, and Dolly Parton to Radiohead, Kendrick Lamar, and Billie Eilish. It’s even won a Peabody Award and multiple Emmys, solidifying its place as one of the most important music showcases ever broadcast.

That spirit eventually spilled out of the TV studio and into Zilker Park with the first Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2002. What began as a single weekend has since grown into two, drawing more than 400,000 fans each year. The TV show and festival together helped fuel Austin’s claim as the Live Music Capital of the World, and ACL has become one of the city’s proudest cultural exports, equal parts local tradition and global stage.

It really is quite the experience, so if you can scour Facebook Marketplace for a reasonably priced ticket, we highly suggest you buy it. I’ve been going since eighth grade, and I don’t ever plan on missing a weekend. It’s really that fun. But the older we get, the more we realize it can be a lot if you don’t pace yourself, so here are some ACL Do’s and Don’ts:

Do:

Don’t:

We’ll be out there, so if you see us, say hey!

As always, thanks for stopping by

- Andrew (and Spencer, he’s busy finishing Netflix’s critically acclaimed The Summer I Turned Pretty)