Shop talk

MARGARET AUSTIN • Outline

CULTURE & LEISURE • Friday Routine

MARGARET AUSTIN • owner • Outline
Neighborhood you work and live in: Boerum Hill

It’s Friday afternoon, how are you rolling into the weekend?
I own a women’s clothing store on Atlantic Avenue called Outline. Weekends are our busiest time and when we get the most foot traffic. Because of that, I try to keep my Fridays pretty laid back. My husband and I will go out to dinner somewhere in the neighborhood, like Rucola. We also love going to BAM — we’re members, and they’re always playing the best movies.

Where are you drinking or dining this weekend?
We like to go out for breakfast before I open the shop. We’ll walk down to Cobble Hill Coffee Shop on Court or Montague Diner in Brooklyn Heights. For lunch, we recently discovered the falafel sandwich at Damascus Bakery on Atlantic Ave. — it’s so good. Everything there is great. For dinner, my parents live in Brooklyn Heights, so we’ll sometimes meet them at Noodle Pudding on Henry, a classic. Or, back on Atlantic, at al Badawi, an amazing Palestinian restaurant.

How about a little leisure or culture?
I’m a really big theater fan, honestly. Two friends and I joke that we’re a “Broadway Club” (but it’s also very serious!). We just saw Gypsy and Sunset Boulevard. I did ballet growing up, so I also love to go to the New York City Ballet. I usually go with my mom, but my husband has recently been turned onto it too.

Any weekend getaways?
My family has a house in East Hampton, so that’s where we go the most when I can get time off from the shop. I love the beach in the off-season. They recently opened a Grindstone Donuts in East Hampton, so that’s been great for breakfast while we’re there. Sam’s is an old school Italian restaurant that’s good for dinner on the main drag of East Hampton, especially their broccoli rabe pasta. Sometimes I’ll join my dad at the public driving range at Poxabogue too.

What was your last great vacation?
After I went on a buying trip for Outline, my husband and I did a long weekend in Rome. Neither of us had been since we were kids, so it was a first-time of sorts. We stayed at Hotel Locarno, which I think is a perfect hotel — the best combination of luxury and feeling homey. It has an incredible breakfast, beautiful courtyard, and everyone who works there is so nice. Another highlight was the Etruscan Museum, in a beautiful 16th century papal villa. They have very well preserved Etruscan tombs and jewelry. Our favorite meal was at La Campana — supposedly the oldest restaurant in Rome. We had fried, steamed, and marinated artichokes, all of which I recommend.

What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
The Tatung stainless steel rice cooker.

What store or service do you always recommend?
All of the stores on Atlantic between Hoyt and Bond!!! The Primary Essentials, Consignment BK, and Layla and particular favorites of mine. I also like facials from Dorian Skin Studio, pilates at Brooklyn Born Pilates, energy/bodywork from Jon Boschetto, and haircuts by Shelby Samaria or Anna of Boy Luv Girl.