Hold My Beer: Mug Muscles Start-Up Launches Exercise Beer Mug

Mug Muscles Early Prototype

An earlier prototype of Mug Muscles

This guest blog post is by George Hillhouse.

Growing up in Alabama, one of my favorite sayings was, “Hold my beer and watch this.” In fact, if that’s not the State Motto, it ought to be. Beer, or the consumption thereof, has inspired many otherwise rational people to do things they would never have thought possible. Sometimes subsequent hospital trips confirm they were right in the first place.

But do we demonize beer after one of these episodes? Hardly. Beer gets a pass, a get out of jail free card, even when we know we won’t get out of jail free for things we did on a beer binge. Beer may be unique in this regard. No one says, “Hold my meth pipe and watch this!” thinking that subsequent events will be explained away and forgiven. It takes a beer, or two, to get that kind of a pass. [Read more...]

WeViva Fitness and Nutrition Classes Bring Hope to Communities in Need

Free Yoga Classes Through WeViva

Find your Zen-Yoga with WeViva at KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program)

Living in one of America’s fittest cities, an Austin woman identified a lack of healthy lifestyle options for adults in low income communities, particularly in the areas of fitness and wellness.

Carolyn Haney, Founder of WeViva, created an amazing mix of lifestyle and social trials that are changing the way families in low income communities think about and implement exercise and nutrition in their daily lives. [Read more...]

Wimberley Zipline Adventures: An Unforgettable Experience

Wimberley Zipline Adventures

Brittany and me during our zip lining tour, with Hill Country in the background

In the Texas Hill Country, we’re spoiled beyond measure. Few places on earth compare to the natural beauty in our area.

Most drive through Central Texas and get the perspective from the ground. But everyone does that, right?

Why not see the majesty of the Hill Country in a way that you’ll never forget? It’s time to zip line in Wimberley, Texas!

Wimberley Zipline Adventures

I’ve had a pretty adventurous life, but soaring over the Texas Hill Country on a zip line was one of the most [Read more...]

Get Your Austin Kayak on With Customer-Focused Local Business

Austin Kayak Demo Days Hyde Park Quarry

Austin Canoe & Kayak Demo Days at Hyde Park Quarry Lake

Some of the best memories I’ve made in my lifetime have been on the water. Though I’ve spent many years out on the open ocean, I’ve arguably enjoyed my time on lakes and rivers just as much, if not more.

Thinking back on my childhood, there are few memories that compare with catching my first fish with my dad on a lake in the Pacific Northwest, or the seemingly endless summers spent on an inflatable raft with friends, pretending we were explorers. [Read more...]

After Decade on the Drag, Toy Joy Announces Downtown Move

Toy Joy Austin Texas

Located at Guadalupe and 29th St. for more than a decade, Toy Joy is relocating to downtown Austin this summer

After the last week of May 2013, you won’t be able to find Toy Joy on Guadalupe anymore.

Rumors have been circling for the past few months, but the iconic local toy store just officially announced a move to downtown Austin.

Toy Joy has called 2900 Guadalupe St. its home for over a decade, just north of The University of Texas campus.

The reason for the move? Ownership shares in an official press release [Read more...]

DIY or Drop Off: Dirty Dog Grooming and Self-Serve Dog Wash

Dirty Dog Austin Dog Wash

Dirty Dog’s Mesa location, one of six in the Austin area

This guest blog post is by Kelly Love Johnson.

Let me start by saying that I’ve been a regular at Dirty Dog’s Mesa location for about three years now, beginning a few months after I moved to Austin in January of 2010.

My Pomeranian, Lulu, was just a year old and no longer small enough to bathe in the kitchen sink, so I had been torturing both of us with bend-over-the-tub baths and 45 minutes of blow drying (with my not-professional blow dryer).

There was also the issue of her toenails.

Her vet clipped them for me before I moved. My one attempt to trim them myself resulted in one of us bleeding (dog) and the other in tears (me). [Read more...]

Have a Perfect Day in Driftwood: The Salt Lick & Duchman Family Winery

The Salt Lick in Driftwood

Entrance to The Salt Lick in Driftwood, TX | Credit: Cris Mueller

This guest blog post is by Cris Mueller.

Just thirty minutes southwest of Austin is our coy, neighboring hill country town of Driftwood that offers a posh day-trip, worthy to share.

Don’t be fooled by its peaceful nature. Rather, open your palette to experience a day chock full of infamous Texas cuisine and wineries on the Texas Wine Trail.

It’s the greatest time of year to pack up the car, take out your camera and venture off to Driftwood for wide open Texas skies, colorful wildflowers and foodie pics to make mouths water. Although there are many ways to wander the beautiful outdoors of Driftwood, I recommend you include two stops: a lunch of traditional Texas BBQ and a picturesque family vineyard. [Read more...]

Bearded Brothers Wholesome Snack Food Company Is All Natural

Bearded Brothers Energy BarsThis guest blog post is by Troy Herman.

Austin, Texas is known for many things worldwide: outstanding educational environments, LIVE music venues, an eclectic and accepting culture, sports and activities for everyone, and the birth of technology trends and startups.

On top of all that, this city contains a growing population of health-conscience individuals. So there’s no better place for Bearded Brothers to make energy bars that fuel the active Austin lifestyle in an 100% natural, raw, vegan friendly, gluten- and soy-free way. [Read more...]

Slades Wake Is Ultimate Guide for Local Lake Lovers

Slades Wake LogoWhether you’re a casual lake-goer or a hardcore water sports enthusiast, we’ve discovered an exciting new resource that’ll make your next local lake visit more enjoyable.

Slades Wake is the entrepreneurial venture of University of Texas graduate, Courtney Slade. Following graduation, Courtney took a hiatus to travel across the continental United States and abroad. A large part of her adventuring included sports like snow boarding and surfing. But when she returned home to Austin, she realized that there was no comprehensive resource for outdoor enthusiasts who wanted to enjoy lake sports and activities in the Austin area. [Read more...]

Burnet Bluebonnet Festival: Parades, Pets, Races & Small Town Charm

Texas Bluebonnets

Credit: Jeff Cohen

This guest blog post is by Tracey Louis.

Austin and Burnet contrast greatly from one another. Funky, urban-yet-outdoorsy Austin is only an hour away from quaint, traditional Burnet.

Yet they share some commonalities, including a love of reveling in springtime’s natural beauty, and fabulous hospitality inclusive of our beloved pets.

One of my favorite festivals is the Burnet Bluebonnet Festival, precisely because it does such a good job of showcasing Burnet’s small town charms, sharing the beauty of springtime wildflowers that paint the roadways and hillsides, and including our animal companions in the fun. [Read more...]

Milk + Honey Trades Up Downtown While Nurturing Reputation for Quality

Spring specials at Milk + Honey downtown

Inviting spring specials at Milk + Honey downtown

The spa and salon arena in Austin is competitive. Consumers have their choice between large establishments that can easily provide a day’s worth of pampering, and smaller venues that excel in a particular set of services.

Many spas offer the familiar facials and massages, so most customers ultimately end up basing their loyalty on the finer details.

With two locations in the Austin area and another dedicated salon location at the Arboretum, Milk + Honey has the details down, with critical acclaim that testifies to their excellence. [Read more...]

Home Sweet Hostel at Firehouse Hostel and Lounge

Firehouse Hostel and Lounge Exterior

Firehouse Hostel and Lounge in the West Sixth District of Austin

This guest post is by Cris Mueller.

Firehouse Hostel and Lounge is a morsel of Austin history sitting quietly amongst the hustle of our fondly regarded West Sixth district and the bustle of our downtown office high-rises.

Business partners Kent Roth and Collin Ballard have tastefully occupied the legendary Washington Fire Engine Co. No. 1 with a boutique style hostel that offers seasoned backpackers and first time hostel goers a unique Austin experience.

Firehouse Lounge Cocktail

Already have a place to sleep tonight? Even locals love Firehouse Lounge

[Read more...]

Bandana Ball Gives Hope to Children & Their Families in Central Texas

Brooke Hester at 2013 Bandana Ball

Brooke Hester’s spirit of joy and hope was contagious at the 2013 Bandana Ball

Twirling and dancing on the lush green grass of Wild Onion Ranch, a little girl was wearing heart shaped sunglasses and sporting a smile that could melt a heart of stone. Though she was surrounded by a thousand other people, including philanthropists, press members, and even celebrities, she was clearly the star of the show.

And rightfully so.

Two years ago, five and a half year old Brooke Hester was diagnosed with Stage IV High Risk Neuroblastoma, a cancer that is common among infants and children, and difficult to treat. Upon learning the news, Brooke’s parents Beau and Jessica committed to do whatever was necessary, traveling wherever they needed to in order to find a cure. [Read more...]

Wells Branch Disc Golf Course Eventually Wows

Straight Forward Wells Branch Disc Golf CourseThis guest blog post is by Hunter Stanford.

Wells Branch is a course your grandfather would approve of. No bells, no whistles and it isn’t here to prove anything. Rather, one might consider this disc golf course to be a straight-shooter.

Maybe you’re still scratching your head. My grandfather doesn’t even know what disc golf is. To be clear, the Wells Branch disc golf course is as standard of a course as they come. There’s nothing incredibly hard, easy, varied or zany. Whether that’s a bad thing or not is really up to you and your expectations. [Read more...]

Flyboard in Austin: Ever Want to Fly Like Iron Man?

Getting ready to flyboard in Austin

Getting ready to fly

Hollywood blockbusters tease our sense of adventure with enticing special effects.

The imagination revs up when we see gadgets like Marty McFly’s hoverboard in Part II and Part III of Back to the Future. Even though the technology may not exist in the real world, our desire to experience the fantastical is alive and well.

Face it. If you could hop on a real hoverboard or jump on the Green Goblin’s “Sky Stick” right here in Austin, wouldn’t you take the shot?

The question isn’t hypothetical. [Read more...]