House Pizzeria served Neopolitan-style pizza and salads.
House Pizzeria/Facebook
The restaurant closures may have slowed down since last year’s bloodletting, but 2017 is still finding plenty of ways to bum us out. The latest closure? Airport Boulevard mainstay House Pizzeria — a pioneer in the now-flourishing restaurant row.
The restaurant converted a former KFC location to a casual, eco-friendly space in 2009 and quickly became a neighborhood staple, serving wood-fired Neapolitan-style pies like their lauded rosemary potato and goat cheese pizza, simple appetizers, and hearty salads.
The eclectic jukebox – stocked with classic country, punk, and blues — and affordable local craft beer selection made House a popular hangout during its formative years. But recently, the parking lot has been empty, even at peak hours. Although the owners did not give a reason for the closure on September 24, no doubt Austin’s current restaurant free-for-all (and the impending opening of the second Home Slice location nearby) were on their mind.
Their final statement was posted on Facebook September 23.
“Thank you to all who helped make House Pizzeria everything it has become during the past 10 years. From the renovation of an old fast food place in 2007 to our first day of business in 2009, we’re proud of our accomplishments large and small and are full of gratitude for the friendships formed with staff members and guests in the 8 1/2 years since. Our last day of business is Sunday, September 24. Cheers to you. We created something special together.”
Christopher Carpenter is known for his minimal intervention approach.
Every year, the Austin Wine & Food Foundation (AWFF) chooses a featured winemaker for its Austin Wine Auction & Gala Weekend. For the 40th installation, that winemaker is Christopher Carpenter of Cardinale Winery, which is based in the Napa Valley, California. The Auction & Gala Weekend is scheduled for November 6 and 7, 2026.
AWFF is a nonprofit that fights food insecurity in Central Texas. It offers grants and scholarships, and it funds them through events and auctions throughout the year.
Carpenter is with more wineries than just Cardinale; he also works with Lokoya, La Jota Vineyard Co., Mt. Brave, and Caladan, according to a press release — all in Napa Valley. He also works with Hickinbotham in South Australia. His career has spanned two decades, and he is best-known for Cabernet Sauvignon and a philosophy of minimal intervention.
On NapaValleyWine.com, he put it succinctly: "Mother Nature does not conform to schedules or expectations."
"We are deeply honored to welcome Chris Carpenter as the featured winemaker for our 40th annual Austin Wine Auction & Gala Weekend," said AWFF executive director Sarah Weeks in the release. "He is one of the most respected figures in the industry today, and we look forward to giving our members and the Austin community the opportunity to experience his exceptional wines and hear more about his story and philosophy.”
Carpenter will show off some of his "most coveted offerings" at a luncheon at the JW Marriott Austin on November 6. The auction will follow the next day, November 7. It'll be hosted by wine auctioneer Charles Antin, who is the global head of wine auctions at Zachys. Then a gala wraps the event up with dinner and wine pairings from Austin pros.
Austinites who want a feel for the types of organizations AWFF supports should look to the following beneficiaries for 2026:
Green Corn Project helps Central Texans grow organic food gardens at home, as well as in schools and community centers. AWFF's support goes toward the spring dig-in program, which is for people who have limited access to healthy food.
Good Work Austin supports hospitality workers and locally owned businesses through community partnerships. AWFF supports the Community Kitchen program, which pays local restaurant workers to cook for people facing food insecurity. It delivers three meals a day to local shelters.
Sustainable Food Center, which Austinites may recognize from the farmers markets it hosts, also provides nutrition education and bolsters access to fresh produce. AWFF’s funding "helps double the benefits for those who use programs like SNAP and WIC to access nutritious foods," the release says.
Caritas of Austin provides housing to unhoused Austinites, and has been around for more than 60 years. AWFF funds help stock the Community Kitchen and its pantries.
Keep Austin Fed "rescues" unused food from restaurants, retailers, farms, and caterers. It then sends it to locals experiencing food insecurity. It helps the planet as well as the people who eat the food.
Sunday Lunchbox sends shelf-stable and easy-to-prepare meals to underserved Austinites. It has a program that utilizes crops that a farm has too many of, and gets them into people's hands before they spoil.
Registration for the 40th annual Austin Wine Auction & Gala Weekend starts April 15, 2026. Members will be able to purchase tickets early. Last year's Wine Auction tickets went for$375
