Deja brew

Long-running local coffee shop brews up new location and fresh look

Austin Java will soon be buzzing on Manchaca Road.

Austin Java/ Facebook

In a year that saw one classic restaurant fold after another, one long-running Austin coffee shop is heading in a new direction. On December 3, Austin Java announced the latest edition to its chain, opening at 5404 Manchaca Rd. on December 7.

The debut of the South Austin space marks the end of a year of change for the brand. Following the closure of its original outpost in October 2017, Austin Java decided to call it a day at the Barton Springs Road location in July. Meanwhile, it expanded with two new locations — introducing an ambitious flagship in Dripping Springs in February and a shop at Met Center on Metropolis Drive in August.

According to a release, the Manchaca shop is the beginning of a new chapter for Austin Java. The company hired local creative agency Tilted Chair to refresh the more than 20-year-old brand and brought on designer Lilianne Steckel (Bird Bird Biscuit, Better Half, Flat Track Coffee) to give the interior a fresh look using the company’s signature yellow as an inspiration.

The all-day menu will be much the same as the other locations, focusing on American fare. As part of the chains recently created culinary advisory board program, guests will be able to participate in the creation of potential dishes by giving feedback on occasional samples.

Naturally, there will also be plenty of caffeine courtesy of the new Dripping Springs roasting facility and other nonalcoholic options like house-made sodas. Those craving something with more jolt can order local craft beer on tap, wine, or a cocktail from the full bar. The zero-proof drinks can be ordered online or through a drive-thru window.

Once open, the location will serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Hours are 7 am-10 pm Monday through Thursday, 7 am- midnight Friday and Saturday, and 7 am-8 pm on Sunday.

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Beach Days

Roller-skating Barbie café and cookie truck plan Austin visits

Photo courtesy of Mattel

The café will bring casual eats, roller-skating, and special events to Austin.

Move over, Red 3. Barbie is coming to town to paint the town pink in two different activations. One involves handing out health-conscious cookies from a fun truck February 11-13, and the other is a roller-skating pop-up café at Wanderlust Wine Co. that'll operate April 4 to June 15.

First the warm-up: Barbie has teamed up with Sweet Loren's, a bakery that caters to special diets. They'll be giving out beet-dyed, heart-shaped cookies for free at grocery stores around town. The purpose is to show off the product — pink cookie dough in ready-to-bake heart shapes — which is now available in stores. Fans might also win a year of free cookies.

Sweet Loren's avoids the top 14 food allergens like including gluten, dairy, eggs, and nuts. Founder Loren Brill realized a gap in the market for healthier cookies after the was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma in her early 20s. She overhauled her diet, but wished she could still buy cookie dough from the grocery store. Now the brand wants to make sure no one is left out when it comes to sharing food.

From a press release, find the truck at the following times and locations:

Tuesday, February 11 — 11 am to 2 pm at 9607 Research Blvd #300 (Whole Foods - Gateway store); 4-7 pm at 4301 W William Cannon Dr Bldg B Ste 800 (Whole Foods - Arbor Trails store)
Wednesday, February 12 — 11 am to 2 pm at 901 E 5th St. Ste 100 (Whole Foods - East Austin store); 4-7 pm at 11920 Domain Dr (Whole Foods - Domain store)
Thursday, February 13 — 11 am to 2 pm at 1801 E 51st St (H-E-B Mueller); 4-7 pm at 525 N Lamar Blvd (Whole Foods - Lamar store)

Next comes the pop-up café. This one takes its theme from the sporty Malibu Barbie, serving diner foods alongside a temporary skating "rink" with $1 roller skate rentals benefiting the charity partner Girls Inc. Even though it's hosted at Wanderlust, all ages are welcome, except for a "monthly" 21-and-up skate night. Other special events will include cupcake decorating classes and paint parties.

The fast casual menu was created by Chef Becky Brown, who has been a finalist on Master Chef and a champion on Chopped. Photos from other stops on the tour show pancakes with sprinkles, cheeseburgers, pita and hummus, and other brunch dishes — although a press release calls it "all-day fare."

“At Mattel we are always looking for exciting, new ways to bring the Barbie experience to life, said the brand's vice president of global location based entertainment, Julie Freeland, in the release. "From the décor to the menu, every detail has been thoughtfully designed to celebrate the iconic Barbie style."

$Malibu Barbie Caf\u00e9$ The Malibu Barbie Café will set up some fun photo ops.Photo courtesy of Mattel

Tickets ($25) for the café will be available starting February 17. For now, there's a waitlist to receive the first notifications that tickets are on sale. Wanderlust Wine Co. is located at 610 N. Interstate Hwy. 35. Times will become available when tickets are released.

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