(NEW) THE TOWNSEND - Great Drinks, Food, Music, Art in an Elegant Space in Downtown Austin

                                              

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INTRODUCING: THE TOWNSEND 
Cocktail Bar and Performance Venue at 718 Congress Avenue

 

AUSTIN, TX-- An exciting addition to the revitalized arts and entertainment district downtown will open its doors in Spring 2015: The Townsend, an elegant high-end cocktail bar and performance venue. Located in a stunningly remodeled 3,400 square foot space in the Townsend-Thompson Building, an historical landmark, the Townsend offers exceptional cocktails and tasty food options along with creative performances in an acoustically dynamic setting. The Townsend’s visionary group of owners and their design team have worked closely to develop a unique concept that promises quickly to be a fixture in the downtown scene unlike any other in Austin.
“We hope the Townsend will become a special place in the downtown Arts district that is as beautiful and inspiring as our city — great drinks, food, music, and art in an elegant space,” says Steven Weisburd, the primary owner and visionary behind the Townsend. Weisburd’s partners in the Townsend include acoustics expert Scott Samson, Austin music hall of fame member Kathy Valentine, music industry veteran Roger Sandau, music, film, and television producer Kerry Brown, and film and television producer Stacey Sher.

Design
Guests entering the Townsend are greeted by a parlor room’s glimmering chandelier, an Italian black tile mosaic floor, coffered ceilings, warm furnishings, and an impressive view of the Paramount Theatre and downtown Congress Avenue. The parlor’s 13-foot antiqued custom mirror adds a dynamic element, reinforcing the theme that the Townsend reflects Austin, and its inhabitants. Adjoining the parlor is a 32-foot restored bar, along with a series of charcoal banquettes and designer bookshelves lined with

leather books and city relics, combining Austin tradition with clean-lined architectural modernity. Stylish slate-colored walls hold framed 65-inch UHD 4K televisions exhibiting a rotating display of artwork. At the end of the lounge, guests will find an impressive boxed skylight feature lit in soft colors, and the fresh flowers throughout the Townsend confirm its design as the epitome of understated sophistication with a beguiling air of fun and class.

Cocktail Program
The Townsend’s cocktail program is designed by Justin Elliott, winner of 2014’s Eater award for his cocktail work at Qui. “It’s super important to me, especially for a place as elegant as the Townsend, that the drinks themselves show a light touch and a playfulness. There’s a sweet spot there: balancing creativity with something classic and well-refined. And that’s the goal with everything in the Townsend, isn’t it? Creating a place that seems like it should have been here all along,” says Elliott. With additions like the delicate and floral gin-based “Blush of Youth,” the robust rye-featured “McKibbon,” and signature variations on a Pimm’s Cup, the Townsend’s diverse bar menu features a broad scope of locally sourced ingredients, premium spirits, select wines, and Austin-brewed beers. The Townsend’s management has also created an innovative royalty program that will feature select cocktails created by some of Austin’s top bartenders who will receive royalty payments for each drink sold. In addition, the Townsend will offer food on an expanding basis, starting with cheese and charcuterie plates along with other tasteful options to complement its cocktail program.

Performance
At the back of the Townsend is a live-music, private event performance space created with artists in mind. The Townsend’s performance space offers exceptionally high quality sound designed by acoustician Scott Samson. The room has 17-foot ceilings and features dramatically lit black curtains, a custom built stage, and stained concrete
floors. This acoustically adjustable live music venue can accommodate over 120 people standing, and will offer adaptable seating arrangements for events and certain performances. As Samson highlights, “Whether we have a single person on stage

speaking, a solo guitarist singer songwriter, or a full rock band, the Townsend performance space will be adjusted acoustically to match the performance on stage.” Kathy Valentine has agreed to help direct the Townsend’s performance programs. “As an Austin native, I have watched the city grow and change over the years,” says Valentine. “I’m thrilled that the Townsend provides the opportunity to combine the things I love: music, my city, and bringing people together.”
The Townsend will house several exciting musical lineups during SXSW, then will officially begin its legacy with a bang by hosting a formal Grand Opening party in April. Partygoers will be invited to partake in complimentary drinks and experience the exemplary sound system with special performances by friends of the Townsend. Austinites are encouraged to come in and take a tour of the space and sample the Townsend’s signature cocktail menu at a reduced rate during their daily Happy Hour from 4pm to 6pm. Events and performances — from live music, to comedy, to spoken word readings, to short plays — will be posted on the Townsend’s website and social media accounts.
The Townsend is the first Austin-based public project developed and managed by Penumbral Strategic Ventures, LLC. Please direct all general, media, and booking inquiries to Elizabeth.Campbell@PenumbralAustin.com.