AUSTIN | The Bowie | 423 FT | 37 FLOORS | Complete

[MichaelB]

Tiniest bar is a good neigborhood bar. What makes it cool is all the things that make no sense. I would be hard pressed to call it "Iconic". But I would be sad to see it go.
It's a great place to sit in a truly casual place in the middle of all the "glass".
Check it out. It's also cheap! And the food trailer there has some really good food.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

It really is an odd place for a bar. Doesn't Whole Foods have a bar? It's not really the kind of neighborhood around downtown where a bar makes a lot of sense It's near the hike & bike trail and kind of tucked away from the center of downtown's action. If anything The Bowie rising next to it is going to help its business and make it more legitimate. I know that if I lived at The Bowie I'd be visiting the bar since it would be extremely convenient.

Well, with all the residential around it is has that part of the market cornered, really, since there aren't any other bars nearby.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Tiniest bar is a good neigborhood bar. What makes it cool is all the things that make no sense. I would be hard pressed to call it "Iconic". But I would be sad to see it go.
It's a great place to sit in a truly casual place in the middle of all the "glass".
Check it out. It's also cheap! And the food trailer there has some really good food.

It reminds me of Miami, with the juxtaposition of modern skyscraper with shanty-shack.

[JT5]

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

It really is an odd place for a bar. Doesn't Whole Foods have a bar? It's not really the kind of neighborhood around downtown where a bar makes a lot of sense It's near the hike & bike trail and kind of tucked away from the center of downtown's action. If anything The Bowie rising next to it is going to help its business and make it more legitimate. I know that if I lived at The Bowie I'd be visiting the bar since it would be extremely convenient.

Back in the day, Tambaleo had a brief run over there, when nothing was around. Definitely on the other side of the creek. It's convenient in that it's right off the road, and easy to find parking. I have one friend who suggests it at times, if we're cruising on bikes. I've been there prob 5-6x. Just a patio/watering hole. No big deal.

Let's be real though. The Bowie wrapped around the corner with frontage off 5th and Bowie with retail/restaurant/bars off the sidewalk is far more sexier, and I'd find it hard to believe Endeavor didn't want that sliver of land.

[wwmiv]

Also, I don't think they'd have placed the entrance on 5th anyway, as it's a one-way - and a busy one-way at that. Having it on the side street is actually better for getting in and out.

[_Matt]

Originally Posted by JT5

Let's be real though. The Bowie wrapped around the corner with frontage off 5th and Bowie with retail/restaurant/bars off the sidewalk is far more sexier, and I'd find it hard to believe Endeavor didn't want that sliver of land.

One one hand, the Bowie could have been sexy fronting 5th, but on the other hand it gives the "Miami" feel as wwmiv commented. And there's always the chance Endeavor wouldn't have executed well. As a resident of the neighborhood, I drop into TTBIT more than any other bar just because it's so quick and easy, so I would be sad to see it go.

While I wouldn't call it "iconic" right now, it may become so as development pushes through the area.

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by _Matt

One one hand, the Bowie could have been sexy fronting 5th, but on the other hand it gives the "Miami" feel as wwmiv commented. And there's always the chance Endeavor wouldn't have executed well. As a resident of the neighborhood, I drop into TTBIT more than any other bar just because it's so quick and easy, so I would be sad to see it go.

While I wouldn't call it "iconic" right now, it may become so as development pushes through the area.

Matt, what's the capacity in that place not including the outside seating? It looks like only a dozen people, if that, would fit inside.

[_Matt]

Originally Posted by the Genral

Matt, what's the capacity in that place not including the outside seating? It looks like only a dozen people, if that, would fit inside.

Zero. Unless you want to stand next to the restroom door and the beer taps (actually that could be ideal).

There is seating for 30-40 outdoors at bar tables, picnic tables and other patio furniture. Now that I think about it, it's more of a beer garden than a bar.

[the Genral]

Originally Posted by _Matt

Zero. Unless you want to stand next to the restroom door and the beer taps (actually that could be ideal).

There is seating for 30-40 outdoors at bar tables, picnic tables and other patio furniture. Now that I think about it, it's more of a beer garden than a bar.

So this is more like a food trailer, only its a booze trailer of sorts, and the only time you enter the bar is to order drinks or use the bathroom? Charming....I imagine business is slow during inclement weather...

[The ATX]

Don't forget that the name on this place is The TINIEST Bar in Texas.

[migol24]

I'd always walk by the tiniest bar. It always looked boring to me.

[JT5]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Also, I don't think they'd have placed the entrance on 5th anyway, as it's a one-way - and a busy one-way at that. Having it on the side street is actually better for getting in and out.

An angled exit, before the creek bridge, avoiding the light, eastward onto 5th would've been a nice release valve. North on Bowie is the only major way out of there.

[JT5]

Originally Posted by _Matt

One one hand, the Bowie could have been sexy fronting 5th, but on the other hand it gives the "Miami" feel as wwmiv commented. And there's always the chance Endeavor wouldn't have executed well. As a resident of the neighborhood, I drop into TTBIT more than any other bar just because it's so quick and easy, so I would be sad to see it go.

While I wouldn't call it "iconic" right now, it may become so as development pushes through the area.

You don't think they could've executed less than 6k sq ft well? We're talking about sliding the footprint north, to the curb.

If you live down around there, I'm going to assume ALL of those bars are quick and easy on foot, unless you live closer to Lamar and don't want to go to or walk past West. In due time, TTBIT won't be the only watering hole west of the creek down there. They're coming.

[JT5]

Originally Posted by the Genral

So this is more like a food trailer, only its a booze trailer of sorts, and the only time you enter the bar is to order drinks or use the bathroom? Charming....I imagine business is slow during inclement weather...

Originally Posted by migol24

I'd always walk by the tiniest bar. It always looked boring to me.

Pretty much. Makeshift patio bar. If it stays, great. When the weather is nice, its a good pit stop with a cool backdrop. Better parking and cheaper beer. More weekday, happy hour, low-key. No, you're not going to see the same West 6th draw spilling into the street after 2am here.

Ultimately though, I disagree that the aesthetic of this place will complement the Bowie or that full rights to the SE corner of 5th wouldn't have really made much of an impact.

[OtherKevin]

[_Matt]

Originally Posted by JT5

If you live down around there, I'm going to assume ALL of those bars are quick and easy on foot, unless you live closer to Lamar and don't want to go to or walk past West. In due time, TTBIT won't be the only watering hole west of the creek down there. They're coming.

I live at 360. There are many options in the area. This is the most casual and there are times when that's what I'm looking for. Variety is important for the neighborhood.

[_Matt]

Originally Posted by the Genral

So this is more like a food trailer, only its a booze trailer of sorts, and the only time you enter the bar is to order drinks or use the bathroom? Charming....I imagine business is slow during inclement weather...

Actually I'd call it a beer garden mainly because it doesn't move and there are decks, heating lamps, and permanent outdoor seating.

Check out the photos of other beer gardens on Wikipedia and that's basically it. It feels a lot like hanging out in a back yard which is nice when you don't have one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_garden

It may not be for everybody though (they probably don't serve cosmopolitans).

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by _Matt

It may not be for everybody though (they probably don't serve cosmopolitans).

ture! Which is part of its charm. That and the owner/bartender just loves pouring! .... and pouring....and pouring...!

[JoninATX]

Looks like they will be raising the crane pretty soon.

[LoneStarMike]