Austin's Music(?) Café

After the movie (see previous blog), my friend and I headed to Music Café on South Lamar (right across from Olivia—my favorite restaurant). I've been here a few times before and the great atmosphere is what keeps bringing me back. With trendy black couches, round, french tables and a soft lit patio, this wine and coffee bar is the perfect place for a drink after dinner or a coffee while studying—offering from my favorite teas (Mighty Leaf) to their great house wine... Not too wet, not too dry. Just right.


However, like anything great, the café has its drawbacks. For the cheese-hostile person (a.k.a. lactose intolerant) such as myself, there is absolutely nothing to order for food but chips. For you, I recommend having dinner or lunch before camping out and making ground here.

Sadly, another drawback is their low-quality sheesha (both the water pipe and tobacco). And having traveled the Middle East for approximately two months, I can confidently say I know what a good sheesha (argila, hookah, water pipe, etc.) is. These sheeshas aren't smooth, flavorful, relaxing sheeshas.

So, I know what you're thinking... where's the music in this? Good question. I have no idea! I've been there about five times now, and there is never live music there. I must be choosing odd nights to go. And while they do have a lineup about every other day, I feel the café has yet to earn the word "music" in their title. This is a quick fix. If you absolutely must hear music, check the lineup beforehand.

Albeit, it pains me to mention the ugly because I really enjoy coming back to this Eden like environment, sitting under trees with grapes hanging on every entrance. And they have a friendly staff. And really, I just want to like the place. Ultimately and unfortunately, their food selection is limited and their sheeshas, mediocre. But for the cheese-lover and non-sheesha-smoker, this is a place made in heaven (Austin).

A Thousand and One Nights

Sabaya

Sabaya, Austin's bellydance troupe composed of (from left) Lily, Yasmin, Maribel, Rania, and Stacey, will be performing tonight at Red Fez's An Arabian Night. Having had a lot of influence from well-recognized bellydancers, like Aziza and Suhaila Salimpour, Sabaya has achieved several noteworthy and international achievements.

I was first introduced to Yasmin, in a class under the instruction of Z Helene (little did I know then that Yasmin had been studying and performing for a long time herself). Not too long after studying under Z, I got a job at The Arabic Bazaar, a Middle Eastern import store owned by a Syrian woman, Zein. Naturally, I took classes under Zein. However, it was during my free time that I would watch a variety of bellydance performances, from the beginner student on VHS to professionals on DVDs. It is in that store where I saw all but one (Stacey) of Sabaya's dancers begin to evolve. The women of Sabaya, if I may speak so boldly, have come a long way.

Stacey, in my opinion, as bellydance student and performer myself, is definitely noteworthy. Check out Sabaya's Bellydance Collective Blog to see what she has achieved. It's definitely worth a look.

If you want to check out the troupe's performance tonight, here are the details:

Friday, August 28th, 8:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Red Fez
209 B W. 5th Street,
Austin, TX 78701