Spider House

Walking into Spider House is like walking into an antique furniture shop, except that the furniture is not for sale. While you can't pick and choose from the antiques, you can pick from an abundant selection of coffee and an extensive beer and wine list. Step inside the poster-covered door and you'll find an antique cigarette and Coke machine, clocks, radios, and statues. The outdoor seating is perhaps the most interesting part, with mismatched garage sale chairs and tables and hanging holiday lights swooping down from the tree branches. There's an old motorcycle parked close to the outdoor stage, where a variety of local musicians play. The customers seem to be just as eclectic, with artists, musicians, students and many others whose appearance screams individuality. This coffee shop is all about change. The newest addition is the outdoor bar. Happy Hour is between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. each day, with $.50 off all beer. The prices are very reasonable. House coffees are only $.92 and include House, Kenya and Decaf. The Spider Bite is a jumbo cup of coffee with a shot of espresso. I would recommend the Mocha Latte, topped with whipped cream, and the Mocha Blanca, a white Ghiradelli chocolate latte. Other than the wide selection of java, Spider House has smoothies, shakes, Italian sodas, Jolt and Orangina. The cool thing about Spider House is that you don't have to take off when you get the late night munchies. There are always about four or five entree choices, from Tamales by Golly and the Pasta Plate to the Mayberry Bagel, named after a Spider House employee. The prices of the entrees range from $2.95 to $4.95. The parking lot behind the shop is small, but you can park next door at the old plasma center, or parallel park along Fruth or West, but the laid-back atmosphere and night breeze of Spider House will make looking for a space well worth it. And who knows, maybe the employees will let you buy that antique table after all. By Kat Lyon, Austin 360 Staff