For over 20 years, Waterloo Records has been one of Austin's favorite record stores. Why? The selection of music is unbeatable. Shoppers will find every genre of music here, including current popular favorites and many Texas artists. Waterloo has supported the local music community for years, allowing bands a place to sell their handmade tapes, vinyl and CDs. The store is also famous for its large selection of imports and world music. If you are looking for music that is a little off the beaten path, this is a good place to start. If you are not sure what you are looking for, grab a set of headphones at one of the listening stations and sample anything your heart desires. The shop also carries a great selection of music-related books, magazines, posters and T-shirts. You will also find an excellent blank tape and CDR selection with pro-recording tapes available.
Walk in and breathe deeply. You're within range of 300,000 titles, all arranged on three floors, along with a coffeehouse and complete music department. This is one of the bookstore-as-community places, where shoppers are encouraged to put their feet up and read, or to sit at a convenient desk and copy a recipe from the latest cookbook. Children gather for story time every week, and a community room is available for book clubs and other meetings. Of course, they have a huge selection in every conceivable category, from anthropology to zoology. Notable are the shelves of small-press and foreign-press titles, as well as spiritual and religious books.
For aficionados of the chic movement, there is no better stop in South Austin than Uncommon Objects. It is crammed full of antique items and collectible furniture. Need a faded piece of crockery for the kitchen? You will find it here. Looking for a soft, old quilt for baby's bed? Most likely you will find a plethora to choose from. If you like to decorate your home with something that has character, then this is the place for you.
Crystal Works features a broad spectrum of crystals and minerals, loose or in various artistic settings. This dazzling shop carries a range of ethereal New Age products, including tabletop fountains, jewelry set with semi-precious stones and crystal window ornaments. There is a great selection of stone and polished amber fossils. A collection of Feng Shui books and literature details where to best place items like these calming decorative pieces in your home. The staff is friendly and very helpful. First time visitors receive complimentary lavender.
Upon viewing the curious building that houses Room Service Vintage, complete with a rooftop sculpture of a large, purple easy chair, aficionados of retro chic will feel right at home. The furniture department offers the most interesting items in the store. In fact, you will often find some of them reserved as movie props for locally produced films. It also offers a fairly small collection of vintage men's and women's clothing. Whimsical knickknacks from yesteryear abound.
A toy shop for grown-ups, Monkey See Monkey Do carries toys, games, and funky collectibles that run from kitschy to just plain silly. The mind-bogglingly large inventory is meticulously organized into an explosion of carefully controlled craziness. It's a great place to find gifts for the hard-to-shop-for person. Monkey See Monkey Do offers a wide array of toys and games, from sock monkeys and sea monkeys to action figures and robots.
Tom's Dive & Swim is one of the oldest dive shops in town, established in 1982 and serving Austin for over 25 years. It offers local diving trips and excursions to the coral reefs of the Cayman Islands and Honduras. The professional instruction team offers a variety of classes for all skill levels and the store is filled with ski equipment, scuba gear, rental equipment and a repair center. There are class schedules to fit your time frame. Check the website for further information.
Proprietor Clay Copeland has about 30 years experience as a jeweler. The store specializes in custom design and jewelry making, with gold and colored gem stones. You will also find repair services offered. The shop features pieces from several award-winning designers, and has a large selection of tanzanite. Don't forget to explore the selection of fine watches. Collections include the Hamilton Retro Line, Cyma, Citizen and Maurice Lacroix.
If you're into cheese and are in Austin, you should visit Antonelli's Cheese Shop. Owned and operated by the adorable couple, John and Kendall Antonelli, this cheese shop offers several kinds of artisanal cheeses that are sure to delight every cheese champion. You'd be greeted warmly, first by the overwhelming (bordering on stinky) aroma, and then by one of the employees who will politely divert your attention to the vast array of cheeses on display and guide you through numerous flavors and types till you pick some of your liking. Antonelli's also offers catering services wherein they deliver absolutely delish meat n' cheese platters that will definitely knock your event up a notch!
Spruce up your kitchen with exotic olive oils and balsamic vinegars that add a dash of zesty flavor to mundane dishes. At Con' Olio Oils & Vinegars, one can taste these condiments from sipping cups and gauge their potency before buying. It stocks a range of extra-virgin and infused variants of olive oils with additions like black truffle, green chilli and basil. A small selection of jams and mustard are also on sale.