Tank Tops
Description: The 1940 White Sox featured some terrific payers: Wally Moses, Jack Knott, Rabbit McNair, Julius Solters, Muddy Ruel, Pete Appleton, Moose Haas, Joe Kuhel, Taft Wright, and the incomparable Luke Appling. Despite the talent, they finished with a record of 82–72, good enough to tie for 4th place under manager Jimmy Dykes. Celebrate the history of the Sox with this retro-vintage design. DYK? The White Sox were originally known as the Sioux City (Iowa) Cornhuskers, and the team was founded as a minor league organization in 1894. The club was purchased by Charles Comiskey at the end of its first season and was relocated to St. Paul, Minnesota.
Description: The club on 2015 E. Riverside was an icon to the Austin music scene for more than three decades before closing in 2006. What began as a no-frills biker bar wound up giving fans access to musical performances from a young Stevie Vaughan to skate-rockers Riddlin Kids, metalheads like HeKill Three and nloco, and was the first Austin stop for the Black Crowes, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains.
Description: Art’s Ribs & BBQ swung open its doors at 2330 S. Lamar Blvd. in August 1992. It was known for its sweet, St. Louis-style babyback ribs, chargrilled burgers, and an atmosphere that was all-Austin. It may have been the most underater barbeque in Austin, but that said, it was powerfuly well-known and liked. Over the years it attracted singer-songwriters and bluegrass musicians, like Sarah Elizabeth Campbell, and hosted regular Sunday bluegrass jams, in addition to its regular schedule of live music on weekends - with no cover charge. Artz closed in 2012, but we'll always remember Artz South Austin cheeseburger with grilled onion, jalapeno & bacon, his cheese steak tacos and his mesquite smoked baby back ribs.
Description: In 1979, an Austin entrepreneur opened a series of drive-in record stores called BOOGIE THRU. Modeled after the Fotomat chain that placed its photo development stores in drive-through kiosks in shopping center parking lots. Boogie Thru kiosks were situated in neighborhoods not serviced by big record stores, and were stocked with the most popular titles. If a certain album wasn't in stock, Boogie Thru offered the customer 10% off any other record in stock or the option to pick up the out of stock LP the next day. Boogie Thru closed in 1982.
Description: Austin's only professional sports team in the 1920s and 1930s, it's roster included Austin native (and future Baseball Hall of Fame inductee) Willie Wells, considered by many who saw him as one of the best shortstops to ever play. The Austin Black Senators were a minor league Negro league baseball team based in Austin, Texas that adopted the name of their white, Texas League counterparts. The earliest known published reference to them came in April 1908. Downs Field, on the east side of Austin, was home to many of their games where notable stars such as Satchel Paige, Willie Mays, Smokey Joe Williams, and Buck O’Neil competed and performed.
Description: A smoke shop with everything, Pipes Plus supplied enthusiasts not only for their home use, but picking up needed equipment and supplies on the way to events like Eeyore's Birthday, bat watching, SXSW, ACL Music Festival, the Austin Film Festival and more. The shop is no longer with us, but the memory and this design live on together.
Description: The Nighthawk. It began as a burger joint in 1932, at the corner of Congress and Riverside, then the Nighthawk Cafe opened on Guadalupe St., and became an instant hit with the UT crowd. Although it grew to include seven restaurants, with locations in San Antonio and Houston, its last remnant closed in 2018.
Description: The Boathouse broke new ground on the deserted Warehouse District in Austin. Their 10-cent drink nights (yes, 10 cents a drink) brought in the clientele, and Sunday nights featured drag queen Nicole. Other performers followed: Sweet Savage, Natasha Cole, and more. Then there was the dancing!. The boathouse sank from sight in the mid-80s, but its legend lives on. C'mon Austin, let's Dance.
Description: This is a recreation of the image that adorned the back alley wall at Liberty Lunch, where the groups loaded in and out at the Lunch. The loading dock enabled the road crews to unload the band's instruments and equipment cases, and gave them direct access to the stage at the legendary venue where for much of the 1980s and 90s, some of the very best rocked the Austin music scene.
Description: Barton Springs Pool measures three acres in size, and is fed from underground springs with an average temperature of 68-70 degrees. Ideal for cooling off with a surfing run or two. But you know that. What you didn't know that this design was available, so go get one for you or your friends.
Description: A modest restaurant in downtown Austin, from 1981 until 2008. It became increasingly popular over the years with a menu that grew to include Mexican and Central American dishes, such as breakfast migas and the weekend specialty: menudo. Las Manitas was forced out by development in 2008, but its memory, and legend live on as part of what made Austin cool.
Description: The International Code of Signals, currently maintained by the International Maritime Organization, is used by vessels to communicate important messages regarding safety of navigation and related matters, This design features the letters W and T, which when combined warns others of Deep Depression Approaching.
Description: It no longer exists, but it should. Mad Dog and Beans was one of those places that once you went to it, you had to go back. For faithful Austin-ites from the '80s, it was a must-go-to. It was simple food: darned good burgers, fries and malts, the kind of place so unique you wanted to take out of town company there. Mad Dog & Beans is no more, but you can visit it again, here.