Successful Uchiko & Swift's Attic Fundraiser; Half Step Soft Open Tonight; Chefs' Sketches

DOWNTOWN — Look at those happy chefs who have just donated their time being presented with beer. Uchiko and Swift's Attic's benefit dinner for Leah Ortiz was a success, raising $8,470 for the Uchiko server with the help of a matching donation. Those bills amount to a staggering $140,000; perhaps more benefits are in the works. [Eaterwire]

RAINEY STREET — The long-awaited Half Step bar at 75 1/2 Rainey is finally looking ready to launch. The bar reported on twitter that their soft opening is tonight. [Eaterwire]

ARTWIRE — Zagat slideshows five Austin chefs' sketches and the final dishes they created. The slideshow mostly focuses on fine-dining offerings with careful plating, but Sugar Mama's head cake decorator appears as well. [Zagat]
[Photo: Erica Wilkins/Official]