Tribeza Talk May 2017
An Insider's Guide to Austin's Hidden Gems
A Taste of South America
Get a taste of South America in South Austin. Serving up confections like alfajores, empanadas, and pastaflora (sweet tarts), Café Nena’i brings the culinary treats of Argentina and Paraguay to the Montopolis neighborhood. The café, which opened in February, also offers a quick trip to Cuba with their cafecito and colada espresso drinks.
Moving Pictures
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Cine Las Americas film festival presents five days of international independent film. Highlighting films created by or featuring Latinos and indigenous peoples from the Americas, Spain and Portugal, the festival features dozens of full-length and short films, music videos and animation. Opening night kicks off with “Me Estas Matando Susana,” starring Gael Garcia Bernal (“Mozart in the Jungle,” “The Motorcycle Diaries”) and runs May 3 through 7. Catch screenings at the Blanton Museum of Art, Mexican American Cultural Center, and other venues.
Inspired Staycation
After living and traveling internationally for years Elizabeth Alderson settled in Austin to raise a family. She had twins in 2013, and when her mother and mother-in-law would visit, she’d send them out on guided tours to explore the city. “They would come back and have all these fun stories about everything they did in Austin—all the places they saw,” Alderson says. Inspired, she too hopped on the tours, but felt like they were overlooking Austin’s quirky side and hidden gems. The same year she launched Austin Detours. Now, offering a variety of tours, from Hill Country wineries to classic Austin music venues, the tours are always focused on creating a fun atmosphere. “Everybody ends up becoming friends,” Alderson says, “I feel like that’s how it should be.”
Anywhere I Lay My Head
If spending the better part of a year traveling around the globe sounds like the stuff of daydreams, for writer and podcaster Tsh Oxenreider it was how she, her husband, and their three kids (all under age 10) spent 2014–15. Looking for a way to give their kids a more global perspective the family charted a course through some 30 countries, stopping for longer periods in Thailand, Australia, and France. “I think a lot of people have this idea that you can’t travel with kids,” Oxenreider says, “But honestly, kids open up a lot of doors that you wouldn’t expect if you were going by yourself.” In her new memoir “At Home in the World,” Oxenreider chronicles their travels and relays her biggest takeaway from the journey: “You appreciate home when you’re not there and you appreciate being out in the world when you’re at home.”
tshoxenreider.com/athomeintheworld
Texas, Distilled
Travel back in history to the early days of Texas with Ben Milam Whiskey. Named for a leader in the Texas revolution, the spirit is the brainchild of Marsha Milam, who sought to honor her relative in the best way possible, with a good stiff drink. Try a glass at Shady Grove or savor the flavor at the newly opened Blanco tasting room. Photograph by Jody Horton.
Fresh Roast
As any world traveler knows, the best way to jump start a morning in a new place is with a solid cup of joe. That deep love for a warm mug spurred the creation of Atlas Coffee Club, a subscription service that brings hand-selected coffees from around the globe right to your door each month. Since fall 2016 Atlas has sent out colorful bags inspired by native textiles packed with coffees from Kenya, Ethiopia, Indonesia and beyond. “There’s 50-plus countries that produce coffee,” explains creative director Jordan Rosenacker, “And they all have unique flavors and personalities and profiles, so we kind of like to think we’re operating as caffeinated tour guides.”
Read more from the Travel Issue | May 2017