Ummmmm! The reverence I have for Coldtowne is unprecedented…read more.. I've been asked my whole life if I'm a comedienne... and thanks to Coldtowne, i can say I dabble. I've been taking improv classes here for the last year! And it's been the most fun to be playing make believe with grown ups! 10/10 recommend the classes. Coldtowne has a vibrant community from all walks of life and everyone is truly welcome here, just as they are. An inclusive space full of every flavor of weirdo (myself included) and I am HERE FOR IT Shows Thurs-Sundays, free jams, and there's stand up and workshops and classes. You can grab drinks or snacks at the bar. Shows are $10-30 (bargain) to see local and big act comedy. Coldtowne is actually HOT SHIT. Lvoe this space. Trust.

I visited ColdTowne to catch some stand up comedy, specifically Vanessa Gonzalez, a fellow Texan…read morebased here in Austin. She was hilarious! This comedy club not only hosts shows but has comedy workshops. It's a very inclusive venue where all are welcome so long as you're kind, open-minded, and ready to laugh.

Loved this experience. This place has definitely been around for awhile and I can see why. Got…read morethere early to scope out the location and upon entering you provide your name and they provide a paper to give upon entering the show room. There was a group on the patio area where you can order tacos, I did not partake. Then the bar area inside. You can take drinks into the showroom as well. Scoped out the venue which was bigger than anticipated and really enjoyed the fish tank TVs. So fun! The show was entertaining and up to date with references all relevant to the current times. Everyone on stage was great and their chemistry can be seen. The audience was laughing 99% of the time and the show went back fast! I'd totally go back for a local Austin night out with good laughs.

Esther Follies is an Austin staple!…read more They've been performing for 50 years, providing amazing entertainment for all guests attending their shows. They do a mix of comedy, magic, music , and just overall great entrainment for their shows. It's mainly themed around local and world politics + the LGBTQ community. Tickets are approximately $40. The show is about 90 minutes, with a 5 min break halfway through. They have a bar on site, and a taqueria that's connected to their building as well. Highly recommend the taqueria, it's authentic and delicious! Absolutely recommend for locals, visitors, and those who just want to enjoy a great show in the best city in the country!

This has to be one of the most unique and interesting ways to celebrate a milestone of any sort…read more From birthday celebrations to drag bingo, Extragrams has you covered. I've seen Extragrams do a surprise drop-by with a drag queen doing a drag telegram (virtually at that during a video call) and it was the most grandest thing to see. As a few months went by, I recently had the chance to see them in action hosting a live drag bingo night I attended and the comedy from the drag artist, Celia Light, was superb and A-star quality. I found myself laughing so hard because they were so dumb and knew how to get the crowd going. They are perfect for creating some priceless memories and I'll be booking them myself soon enough.

I LOVE Extragrams! They 100% know how to surprise and make you smile - and dance!…read more My first experience with Extragrams was when my bestie surprised me after I was simply having a bad week and not feelin' myself. She lifted my spirits with Extragrams, who showed up at my gate as I was leading a video team call. It was epic... I brought along my laptop so my team could witness the surprise at my door. I had SUCH a memorable moment that I booked Extragrams for a friend's birthday party since I couldn't be there in person. My friend to this day says that was the best gift he'd ever received! And to my surprise, he'd never seen a drag performance prior to Extragrams poppin' his cherry! If you want an epic gift for a friend or entertainment for a party, funciton, gathering... go with Extragrams. Important to note: Extragrams now services Houston, which is what these two experiences and review are based on.

I went on a date night here and we had so much fun! The staff was so kind, patient, and attentive…read more They play a nice back ground music through the whole store and have amazing lighting and vibes. I love how we both got to pick completely different projects that had detailed instructions. It was nice to be left with our own devices and not walked through all the steps by a person.

I came here for my sister's birthday because we wanted to do something a little more interactive…read morethan just going out to dinner. Funny enough, even though it's called Upstairs Circus, I kept calling it "Uptown Circus" for some reason and still do. My sister had been here once when she first moved to Austin, but it had been a while, so she was happy to go again. We tried to make a reservation for a Monday but found out they're closed that day unless it's a private event. So we ended up booking a Sunday evening during their Sangria Sundays event. Signing up online was quick and easy--no payment required upfront. When we arrived, we were seated at a table and given the option to sit side by side or across from each other. They handed us a laminated flyer with all the available project options, ranging from easy (about an hour) to more challenging projects that can take the full three-hour session. There was a good mix of household items (like coasters and magnetic shelves), jewelry, handbags, clutches, accessories, and even a pricier custom Nike shoe painting project. The sample projects looked very professional, but the final result really depends on your artistic skills and how focused you are during the session. My sister and I decided to pick different projects--she chose a handbag clutch, and I went with coasters. We got all our materials and instructions. One thing I noticed: this kind of activity is probably better suited for people who don't have a ton to catch up on while working. Since my sister and I hadn't seen each other for weeks, we were trying to talk and catch up, which made it harder for me to focus on the project. Some steps were time-sensitive, so juggling both conversation and crafting was a bit stressful. For my coaster project, I initially planned to use a stencil and transfer paper to trace a design, but it didn't work very well. I ended up switching to a simple two-color block design just to make sure I could finish in time. My sister's project was a bit more advanced--she had to do leather hole punching and threading--but she managed to finish and loved how her clutch turned out. Since it was Sangria Sunday, you get one complimentary sangria or mocktail with your reservation, and they keep a card on file if you want to order more drinks. I got a spicy cocktail that actually had really good flavor, even though I didn't finish it. Overall, this is a fun and unique activity if you want to do something creative with a friend or group. I'd recommend it more if you're looking to spend quality time doing something together rather than having a deep conversation--because focusing on the project definitely takes some attention. My sister was happy with her finished product, and I liked mine even if it turned out simpler than planned. It's a cool idea for a birthday, date night, or just a different kind of outing.

You say you can't actually get in to the official SXSW showcases with your…read morelow-end-of-the-totem-pole wristband? You say the badges are too expensive and the snooty doormen are too mean to let you in? You say the venue is too crowded and you can't see the stage? How about a cool event with no-cost beverages, tons o' swag, and 4 days of music? Oh, did I mention it's all free? This "unofficial" SXSW event just had its 9th year, and I can't keep this little secret to myself any more. The Levi's FADER Fort is one of my favorite music happenings every year, like a mini-ACL Fest, except the tickets and beer don't cost a dime, there's plenty of shady resting spots, and I can get directly in front of the stage any time I feel like it. They always showcase some great acts I've never heard of from a range of up & coming pop/rock/hip-hop/Americana artists (like MIA and Amy Winehouse before anyone knew who they were), as well as a few surprise appearances by classics (Lou Reed in 2007, Kanye West in 2009, Bone Thugs N Harmony in 2010). My favorites from this year were Chico Mann (very catchy electro-afrofunk) and Yelawolf (an Alabama version of Eminem with a much more gracious stage persona). Here's the deal: you must get on the FADER e-mail list, text list, or FB fan list so that you'll get the announcement when the RSVP system is open. Respond by email immediately and get on the list. About a week before UT's Spring Break, you'll get an email telling you where & when to get wristbands (usually the Tuesday of SXSW week); show up early on the first day and get your wristbands (FYI, your +1 must be there to pick-up in person, too). Then all you have to do is show up Wed-Sat after 1pm to hang out and listen to music while soaking up free libations until the last act leaves the stage around 9 or 10pm. Then you can shuffle down the street to one of the many other venues offering free music and smile as you realize that some of the best things in life really are still free (if you are 21 or older). P.S. The weekday afternoons and early evenings are definitely the best times to come if crowds give you anxiety. By 5pm on Saturday, the place is packed and it's a chore getting through the drink or port-o-john lines. I have secrets for getting around these little snags, too, but you'll have to discover those for yourself, young grasshopper.

This year it was located at 6th and Waller in a much smaller venue than before. For Fri and Sat the…read morelines were long and moved slow. If/when you got in it was totally worth it. Jack Daniels and Budweiser were the featured drinks. It was a very laid back event with a few hundred drunk yet tame folks chatting and enjoying the great line up!

Fantastic place to catch rock concerts or old classic films. But be aware of their insane security…read moreto get in and very high drink and snack prices. You won't successfully sneak anything in, so I always grab happy hour nearby if i must have a drink for a show. Also a great place to catch film premieres during SXSW.

We came here to see Justin Willman, a magic comedy guy whose special we saw streaming Jan…read more The place was late to fill up and never quite fully filled which was weird as when we got tickets it was already close to filling up. He does a family friendly show so there were a lot of people there with kids, Full families, moms, dads, grandparents. We were one of the few without kids. The staff was very friendly at the entrance, the bar, and when seating. The place is pretty big and has upstairs and downstairs seating as well as a bar on several levels. Two points that did bring the visit a little down. The seating, you are packed in like sardines. No room to stretch even a little, you bump against the stranger next to you or them into you. It is almost worse then an airplane. Two no handrails on several stairs which are also uneven. I have some ongoing spine and foot pain and it caused me issues but I saw several other people struggling and one almost falling themselves. Had it been just me or maybe one other person that would be bad enough but as several people struggled that is a huge safety issue and should be fixed. The ushers helped when they could but sometimes they were helping others and didn't see it happen. Still it was a fun time, if a bit cramped. The staff is great and I love the history but that also means it is very outdated and not very comfy to sit for an hour or more, especially with no intermission.

I heard that they can sho' nuff jiggle so well that they generate a High Wattage of clean energy!…read moreOne show can power a multi-lane car wash And a row of Condos!!! Highly eclectic electric even electronic show-ow-ow !!

This is my very favorite burlesque troupe. They always bring the most inclusive and talented…read moreperformances. So sexy and so fun! I always have an amazing time at their shows! Don't miss out!

NOT for the faint of heart, the conservative, the easily offended, the underage or your parents,…read moreBedpost Confessions is a sexually charged, raunchy, exciting, fun, silly, inspiring all-lady showdown of awesome. It was jampacked -- the most crowded some of the regulars have ever seen it I was told. We were ass to elbows up in there, trying to get drinks, jostling excitedly, waiting for the performance to begin. There was ruthless flirting, lots of goodwill and anticipation. What followed is really hard to describe -- so I wont. Suffice to say that the event was one of the most unique events I've ever been to. If you have the chance, I'd absolutely urge you to go to this. But get there early for chrissake. I confess I enjoyed every minute of this wild affair and will be there again next go round.

I am stuck between whether I am relieved or disappointed that my confession wasn't read during the…read moreNovember congregation of BedPost Confessions. The anticipation in itself was titillating, the solution is to keep returning and entering the story over and over until I get my satisfying anonymous embarrassment and move on with my life so I can become part of the regulars. One of us. One of us. I can't believe how well produced this show is for the bargain price of $10... I pay more to go to the movies for a less entertaining night 50% of the time. The show is vulnerable, hilarious, real, life affirming, brave, touching and damn exciting. I found the topics to be very vanilla, I don't know if that says more about me or I just went on a tame night. I think tame, but even so it was refreshing. I arrived right at 7 and that time worked out well for me and many arrived well after 7:30, so don't be too discouraged if you don't think you can make it by 6:30- it's worth a shot. If you do make it early, there are plenty of distractions including past Confessions projected on a wall and sponsor's tables with freebies, merchandise, and raffles. The drink prices are really reasonable- $5 for a stiff whiskey sour, you can order pizza, sandwiches, salads, and churro wraps in case you must.get.food.now. The people in attendance are some of the friendliest you'll meet in Austin (if you want to make a new friend bring extra pens for your neighbors to write their confessions) and there's a chance you can take home a free toy from one of the self-proclaimed Fairy Dongmothers! It is a totally enthusiastic fantastic discovery that I will return to ASAP (like Dec 19 seriously).