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tsgaustintexas · 5 years

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My Austin with Slow North

It’s no secret... we love our city - and we certainly love our favorite haunts - so we always enjoy talking to our members about their Austin experiences. From neighborhood favorites to date night go-to’s, get to know Slow North’s Austin...

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Photography by Slow North

Tell us about Slow North’s history in Austin… We started Slow North out of our detached garage right here in Austin nearly four years ago. I feel fortunate to live in a town that is so supportive of independent businesses. I popped up at dozens of small vendor fairs, craft markets and events introducing the community to our essential oil candles. After two years, we started to outgrow our backyard studio space and decided to open a flagship retail store, which would also serve as our working studio where everything is made! We are about to celebrate our retail shop’s 2nd anniversary, and we couldn’t be prouder to call Austin home.

Where did the name ‘Slow North’ come from? A question I get asked a lot! The “Slow” portion of our name is inspired by the slow living movement because we take care to make our products in small batches and focus on stocking our store with other goods made by local artists. It’s centered around appreciating the process & heart behind the product. The “North” portion of our name is inspired by the concept of wayfinding our way through life. We don’t always know where our path will lead, but in using a compass we can know we’re on a positive track!

What’s your favorite season in ATX? My favorite season is Fall. We live in Brentwood, and there is a street in our neighborhood lined with trees that lose their leaves creating the most picturesque orange & red backdrop for our morning walks. It’s magical and our oldest son loves stomping through them!

What’s your favorite Austin event? There are so many! I really love the Trail of Lights. I grew up going to those drive-through Christmas light attractions, so I think it’s a little nostalgic for me. Walking the trail makes it even more magical!

What’s your favorite Austin neighborhood? I love our neighborhood! I guess it’s called the Brentwood/Crestview/Violet Crown area? I love walking to Little Deli and getting ice cream and playing pinball afterward at the newly-opened Violet Crown Clubhouse. I love seeing my neighbors out riding bikes and walking their dogs. I love having the option of walking to Brentwood Social House for a more kid-friendly coffee experience or to Thunderbird Coffee when I want to sip on a latte and do a little work. My oldest son goes to Crestview Barbershop to get his haircuts, and it’s straight out of the 50’s with the friendliest faces working there. I love building relationships with the owners of these businesses and feeling like I’m a part of a more thoughtful movement. The best part about my neighborhood is how our community shows up to support locally-owned businesses like ours.

What’s your go-to place for a drink? My girlfriends and I frequent El Alma for our girls’ night out (which we try to make happen every month). All the happy hour drinks are great, but my favorite is the Skinny Margarita.

What’s your go-to coffee shop? My favorite coffee shop is Epoch Coffee in the Village (conveniently right next door to our retail shop)! I love it because of the relaxed, welcoming environment, and they employ some of the nicest humans! My drink of choice is an iced latte with oat milk. I call it my second office because of how frequently I walk next door to work on something that requires a little extra focus.

What’s your go-to for a special night out? Our special place is Komé Sushi off Airport. My husband proposed to me there (in their old location), so the restaurant holds a special place in my heart. The sushi is incredible (my favorite rolls are Veggie and Love For Sale), and their dessert of Camembert Tempura served with honey is like nothing I’ve ever had before in the best way possible!

You know you’re an Austinite when…? You travel somewhere else in the country and wonder why they don’t serve breakfast tacos?! I grew up in San Antonio, so I’ve been raised on tacos. However, my husband is a transplant from Seattle, and when we go home to visit his Washington family he definitely misses his potato and egg tacos!

Favorite part about living in Austin? One of my favorite things about living in Austin is how friendly the town feels. I love how Austinites value local, independent businesses and show their support in a big way!

What’s it like to be an entrepreneur in Austin? I feel like I lucked out that we were living in Austin when we decided to start this business. I am surrounded by such a supportive group of entrepreneurs here, and they help raise the bar for everyone. This city is creative, vibrant and community-centered. From pop-up markets and fairs to small business meet-ups, there are so many ways to start connecting with like-minded entrepreneurs.

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