If you’ve ever been to Austin, heard of Austin, or seen a flyer for the city, you’d know that this is the live music capital of the world. Live music can be found anywhere, any day, in any season, in multiple ven-ues and performing multiple genres. We host several festivals, and dozens of world tours. It’s a vital part of Austin’s identity. But something no one really thinks about, as they might be visiting Austin for the first time, walking through the streets looking for the next local band or Willie Nelson impersonator, are the food spots.
Amy’s Ice Creams, and Summer Moon Cafe. These are only two eateries that started out as tiny holes in the walls, and have since become huge chains and icons for the city. They weren’t founded by multiple billionaires. They’re not central to a hub of world-famous chefs, and they’re not in cities on the international map. But now we can’t imagine Austin without them.
“How Austin Eats“ will be a documentary that will follow these restaurants in their current state throughout the city. Austin is a city of entrepreneurs. Restaurants are one of the most unstable businesses to go into, most lasting less than a year. And yet, right now, there are dozens of restaurants in Austin that started out as tiny food trucks or shacks, that are huge chains and famous throughout the city and country. I want to capture these places at the height of their fame, with lines out the doors on an average weekday lunchtime. People buy their t-shirts and wear them out. How did it become like this? Do people realise the fame of the places they go when they’re rushing to get food? Each of these.
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Summer Moon Avery Ranch from upstairs loft
Summer Moon began in Austin in 2002, and has since become so famous that mugs and t-shirts are sold in every location.
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Merchanise Shelf at Avery Ranch
Summer Moon began in Austin in 2002, and has since become so famous that mugs and t-shirts are sold in every location.
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Customers Working at Coffee Bar
Summer Moon proudly announces that their locations have free wifi, and its customers take advantage of this at the bar in front of the espresso machines.
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Cashier at Front Desk
Summer Moon in Avery Ranch only opened its doors in the far north of Austin in 2017, but even now
it’s a very popualr hangout with its own reputation in the suburbs around the city as a great coffee shop.
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Entrance to Summer Moon Avery Ranch
Much like the original, this Summer Moon is located in a strip mall in Austin's city limits, between a wine bar and a hair salon.
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Old Friends having their Favorite Coffee
Susie and Lenny have been going to this Summer Moon every Sunday for years. They are both from Austin, and love the homey feel of the place. When asked if they knew where the original one was, they didn’t know, but were very interested in visiting.
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Barista Mixing Coffee with Moon Milk
Out of everyone interviewed, the majority of people order Blue Moons, a latte made with espresso, lavender, and their special Moon Milk.
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Barista Mixing Coffee with Moon Milk
Out of everyone interviewed, the majority of people order Blue Moons, a latte made with espresso, lavender, and their special Moon Milk.
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Summer Moon South 1st Street
Moon Milk is made of seven secret, organic ingredients, and is put in almost every drink on the menu.
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Summer Moon #1b S 1st Street
Moon Milk is made of seven secret, organic ingredients, and is put in almost every drink on the menu.
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Coffee Car Summer Moon S 1st
location has its own way of giving people a place to work. With the original location being so small, a coffee bar island had to be made to accomodate as many people as possible.
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Amy's Ice Cream on 6th Street
Amy’s offers handmade chocolate-covered strawberries every year on Valentine’s day. They have become so popular that if you don’t reserve your dozen, you’re not guaranteed any, as they sell out most years.
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Amy's Ice Cream Photo Booth, "Older than Grandma"
Amy’s ice creams began in 1984 on Guadalupe Street. It now has over 12 locations around town, one in both Houston and San Antonio, and in 2009, owner Amy Simmons stated that she did not intend to rapidly expand the chain.
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Amy’s Famous List of Flavors 02-10-2019
The ice creamery is famous for their Mexican vanilla flavor, but they offer new flavors every month to keep their customers excited.
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Jeff Mixing Ice Cream and Chocolate Sauce
Jeff, known as Pu by his friends for the past 20 years by his work friends, has worked at multiple Amy’s Ice Creams. He recently served ice cream to Bonnie Wright and Neil deGrasse Tyson.
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Jeff Flipping the Ice Cream and Into a Cup
Jeff, known as Pu by his friends for the past 20 years by his work friends, has worked at multiple Amy’s Ice Creams. He recently served ice cream to Bonnie Wright and Neil deGrasse Tyson.
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Jeff Making a Coffee Lobster
Amy’s workers, known affectionately as scoops, have made a tradition of learning to do tricks as they serve ice cream. Most flip and toss the ice cream, and there is even an annual trick-olympics.
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Jeff Serving a Coffee Lobster
Amy’s workers, known affectionately as scoops, have made a tradition of learning to do tricks as they serve ice cream. Most flip and toss the ice cream, and there is even an annual trick-olympics.