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Christmas Lights in Austin Area – Best Holiday Lights 2021

Posted on November 29, 2021 by Joleen Jernigan

Bastrop Holiday Lights Trail
Christmas Lights in Austin, Texas: Bastrop is aglow with the warmth and twinkly lights of the season (Credit: Colin Guerra)

Are you looking for Christmas Lights in Austin area? Read on to find out the best places to enjoy holiday displays with your family in and around the Hill Country.

Hear, hear, the sparkly season is near! From now through the end of the season, festive holiday light trails adorn Texas Hill Country, and we’ve discovered the best and brightest dazzlers around.

We love love love the Trail of Lights at Zilker Park, yet if you want to set forth on an illuminated adventure beyond Austin’s most famous light trail, follow these shining beacons signaling from across Texas Hill Country.

These holiday light trails go above and beyond for those of us beguiled by the night and mesmerized by shiny objects. Yeah, I’m waaay into it. If you crave holiday glitz and are up for a quick road trip, then these nine Hill Country destinations will satisfy your quest to shine on.

One exciting new trend I’ve noticed this year is that some of these light trails have added even more events, attractions, and/or lights, and most of them are open longer than before. This gives you extra time to make the short road trip to experience these twinkly trails.

Note: I’ve added the distances to each trail from the Texas State Capitol this year to better help you plan your trip. Happy lights-gazing!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Archives Tagged With: Bastrop, christmas, johnson city, marble falls, new braunfels, san antonio, san saba, wimberley

Central Texas Breweries Come Together at Hops for Houses Craft Beer Festival

Posted on February 24, 2020 by James Lipari

The House That Beer Built Habitat for Humanity

Beer is such a wonderful thing! Of its many splendors, it tends to bring people together. And when it brings people together for a good cause, the beer tastes that much better. So…

We have another beer festival coming! On Feb. 29, 2020, Hops for Houses Craft Beer Festival will take place at Williamson County Expo Center in Taylor, east of Round Rock. Several Austin breweries will be represented, comprising nearly half of the total in attendance, with the others hailing from the towns surrounding us.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Archives Tagged With: craft beer

5 Free Ways to Bring in New Year’s in Austin

Posted on December 27, 2019 by Vi Chetan

Fireworks Downtown Austin
Fireworks over downtown Austin (Credit: Kumar Appaiah via Flickr CC)

2019 is almost over, guys! This year flew by in a heartbeat. Austin has inducted many new Austinites, welcomed new establishments, and said goodbye to some loved ones. With 2020 quickly approaching, we think it’s only fair to say so long to 2019 in style. Oh, and it gets better. What we have in mind is not only awesome, but also free to do!

Check out our list of free things to do on New Year’s Eve in Austin.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Archives Tagged With: new years, new years eve

10 Austin Restaurants Open Christmas Day

Posted on December 16, 2019 by Samantha Saenz

Geraldine's Open Christmas Day in Austin
Elegant Geraldine’s is one of our favorite Austin restaurants open Christmas Day (Credit: Geraldine’s)

The only thing harder than finding someone who was born and raised in Austin is finding a good restaurant that’s open past midnight on the weekends, or at all on major holidays.

Over Christmas, Austin can feel like a ghost town. If you find yourself in search of sustenance on Dec. 25, then here’s a list of Austin restaurants open Christmas day. Eat, drink, and be merry!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Archives Tagged With: christmas

Trail of Lights Returns for 55th Year of Christmas Magic

Posted on December 10, 2019 by Krista Hager

Austin Trail of Lights Aerial View

A crackling bonfire and the sweet smells of candied apples, popping kettle corn, and comforting hot cocoa tease your senses at one of the greatest Austin holiday traditions of all time. Oh, yes. Trail of Lights is back.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Archives Tagged With: christmas, for kids, trail of lights, zilker park

5 Volunteer Opportunities During Thanksgiving Season in Austin

Posted on November 14, 2019 by Krista Hager

Thanksgiving Volunteer Opportunities in Austin

Aromas of pumpkin spice and cinnamon fill our homes. Crackling fireplaces hold actual purpose in Austin this holiday season, with temperatures steadily dropping to legitimate fall weather. Thanksgiving peeks around the corner and invites us to let go of the chaos and give back to our local community.

Austin is home to thousands of nonprofits, so get out there and connect with one of these amazing charities this holiday season and beyond. Enjoy this handful of Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities sure to warm your soul and spice up your giving spirit.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Archives Tagged With: thanksgiving

Navigate Austin Restaurant Weeks Like a Pro and Support the Food Bank

Posted on August 13, 2019 by Camellia Falcon

Growing up, service above self was emphasized in my household. One of the many ways my parents would give back was through blood donations. On days when she donated, my mother would come home and jokingly declare she could not possibly hold a cooking utensil with her sore arm. On those days, we would eat out to celebrate this good deed, and thus service and eating out were forever linked in my mind.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Archives

Support AIDS Services of Austin During #DineOutATX on May 23

Posted on May 7, 2019 by Joleen Jernigan

Dining Out for Life at Via 313
Via 313 offers Detroit-style deliciousness

“Dine Out End HIV” is the motto of Dining Out For Life, benefitting AIDS Services of Austin. That translates to unlimited, guilt-free eating at your favorite Austin restaurants during Dining Out For Life on Thursday, May 23, 2019.

Here’s how it works: Simply dine out at any of the 60+ local restaurants that day. Each restaurant commits to donating a portion of proceeds to Dining Out For Life that day. Calories don’t count when you’re helping our community by indulging in tasty food! Mind you, I’m no nutritionist, but for the love of Austin, it’s surely worth it.

#DineOutATX

Fleming's Steakhouse Dining Out for Life
Fleming’s Steakhouse will host the 2019 #DineOutATX media event (Credit: Foodie is the New Forty)

The money from this hashtag-able event goes directly to AIDS Services of Austin and helps the organization serve more than 7,000 Austin residents living with HIV. AIDS Services of Austin also provides preventive screenings, education, outreach, and advocacy to at-risk populations.

Every 35 hours, someone in Travis County gets diagnosed with HIV, making AIDS Services of Austin’s work vital to the well-being of our community. Dining Out For Life furthers the cause tremendously. In 2018, this event raised more than $50,000.

From Humble Beginnings

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by AIDS Services of Austin (@aidsservicesaustin) on Apr 11, 2019 at 12:00pm PDT

When AIDS Services of Austin opened 32 years ago, it started on a small scale. The organization has slowly but surely grown its profile in Austin, expanding awareness and services. Dining Out for Life is one of the organization’s most visible annual events.

“We are thrilled to host Dining Out For Life for the 27th year in Austin along with Subaru of America,” said AIDS Services of Austin Chief Executive Officer Paul Scott. “This event is especially important for programs like our Helping Hands Food Bank, which provides supplemental food to our patients who might otherwise have to decide between affording their HIV medication or food on the table. We’re here to make sure they get both!”

Get Involved

Dining Out for Life at Grizzeldas
#DineOutATX participant Grizzeldas pours a pretty margarita (Credit: Feed This House)

Going out to eat on May 23, 2019, is the easiest way to be part of something good. All participating restaurants are donating proceeds from #DineOutATX sales that day, but there are more ways to get involved in 2019!

You can sign up to be a table captain on the day of. You’ll provide on-site information at a partner restaurant about AIDS Services of Austin and where diners’ money goes after Dining Out For Life. The training to be a table captain will take place on May 11, and you can volunteer by emailing joseph.breck@asaustin.org.

If you own or manage a restaurant, and want to be a Dining Out For Life participant, email mike.trevino@asaustin.org to get set up. The more the merrier! We’d love to see even more restaurants and food trucks involved.

Dining Out for Life Austin at Yuyo
The cebiches at Yuyo are light and refreshing (Credit: Yuyo)

If you are media and would like a press kit or more info, email taylor.stockett@asaustin.org.

Please photograph and post your photos to social media with the #DineOutATX hashtag to increase awareness for the event. Rally now, foodies and Instagram addicts of Austin! This is your time to shine, my darlings. Let’s do this awesome thing!

Where Do Proceeds Go?

Dining Out for Life Austin at Black Star Co-op
Beer and fish and chips at Black Star Co-op (Credit: Bill Tucker)

AIDS Services of Austin is extending outreach in the community through testing and educational programs. It’s also opening a clinic and pharmacy this year, in order to service more Austin residents who are either living with HIV or at high risk to contract the virus.

With the influx of people to Austin, there is a corresponding increase in HIV cases. Based on 2016 CDC statistics, 61 percent of people living with HIV are between the ages of 20 and 39. There has been a recorded 40 percent increase in HIV cases among people aged 15 to 24.

Among those with HIV, one in eight do not know they have it. This sobering data underscores the importance of extending the organization’s reach among high-risk residents.

#DineOutATX Participating Restaurants

Colleen's Kitchen Dining Out for Life
Colleen’s Kitchen is a #DineOutATX participating restaurant (Credit: @hermodern)

The list of participating restaurants is long, but to whet your appetite, let’s talk about a few of the options you have for good eats this year:

  • Fleming’s Steakhouse
  • Amy’s Ice Creams
  • Texas Chili Queens
  • Galaxy Cafe
  • Maudie’s
  • Hecho en Mexico – South
  • Guero’s Taco Bar
  • Grizzeldas
  • El Alma
  • Cherrywood Coffee House
  • Swift’s Attic
  • Garbo’s Lobster
  • Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill
  • Via 313
  • Roppolo’s Pizzeria
  • Fabi + Rosi
  • Wink
  • 34th Street Cafe
  • Hoover’s Cooking
  • The Hideout Theatre
  • Colleen’s Kitchen
  • Yuyo
El Chile's chocolate pie with ice cream during Dining Out for Life
El Chile’s Mexican chocolate pie is still a house favorite (Credit: Susannah Haddad)

See the full list of participating restaurants on the event website. On May 23, make plans with your favorite people, loosen your belt and your purse strings, and support #DineOutATX and these big-hearted Austin businesses who are giving back to our community. Make an even bigger impact by eating out for every meal that day!


@theAustinot wants to know:

Where will you be dining out on May 23?

Filed Under: Archives

Austin Hoverboards Promise Hassle-Free Alternative to the Scooter Craze

Posted on April 1, 2019 by Bill Tucker

Artist’s rendition of what’s sure to be Austin’s latest transportation craze (Credit: jessiiwarrhol via Flickr CC)

With the chaos of SXSW 2019 firmly in the rearview mirror, the big story wasn’t Jordan Peele’s “Us” or Questlove’s set at The Main. Electric scooters dominated the headlines. With over 70,000 helmet-less attendees screaming through the streets and sidewalks of our great city, it felt like an invasion.

Determined to provide an alternative to this clean, convenient, yet flawed transportation model, one company feels it has the solution. Enter Austin Hoverboards and a brand new way to get from Point A to Point B without the need to touch a scooter, or even touch the ground.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Archives

Here’s Where to Eat Every Meal During SXSW 2019

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Bill Tucker

Breakfast During SXSW 2019

SX breakfast is the most important meal of your life (Credit: Stella San Jac)

You bought the wristband, took time off work, and scoured Twitter for free drinks and swag. But guess what, stalwart SX’er? By Thursday afternoon, you’re asleep under the convention center awning covered with showcase posters and HBO totes. Do you know why? You forgot to eat.

But never fear, fan of the festival! Here at The Austinot, we’re providing an easy-to-follow meal plan to keep you nourished, noshing, and knocking out meals like a culinary ninja.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Archives Tagged With: sxsw

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