It’s now December and the Christmas season is officially in full swing. The Zilker tree is lit, the beanies and scarves have been pulled from the closet, and yuletide is quickly taking over the city.

What better way to get yourself into the spirit of the season than by attending the Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll this weekend on December 6th?

The event starts at 6 PM on the south steps of the Capitol and will be hosted by the Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA), KUT 90.5, Austin’s NPR station, and KUTX 98.9, The Austin Music Experience.

Attending won’t break the bank because all activities are free and open to the public, though it is suggested to bring non-perishable food items or cash donations for the Capital Area Food Bank. Over the past three years, donations have generated over 3,500 meals for Central Texans struggling with hunger. [Read more…]

Austinites are brimming with talent. While some art forms such as music are easily accessible, Big Medium is working to insure that artists and artisans aren’t left behind.

For the past 13 years, Big Medium has produced one of the most celebrated yearly art events in town: the East Austin Studio Tour (EAST). EAST is a free, self-guided tour through studios, galleries and exhibitions in – you guessed it – east Austin. It strives to bridge the gap between the art world and the local community.

To get you ready for this year’s Tour on November 15-16th and November 22-23rd, Here’s the scoop on Big Medium, art in Austin and this year’s massive event featuring 412 artists: EAST. [Read more…]

It’s 12:02 PM on a bright Sunday afternoon in Austin and 6th Street is completely empty of cars, trucks and delivery vans. It’s a little disconcerting at first – you’re not used to seeing 6th Street like this in the middle of the day. But as you turn a corner and near I-35, you see a group of kids and adults on yoga mats trying out a frog pose.

Although festivals shut down 6th frequently, the street usually isn’t quite this empty. For VIVA! STREETS Austin, that’s precisely the point. City Council Member Chris Riley, often a proponent of safer transportation options, has been a huge supporter of the event. “Ciclovías have been held regularly in Latin America since the 1970s, and our burgeoning bike and fitness culture makes VIVA! STREETS a perfect fit for Austin.”

The idea behind the event was to build community by transforming a street into public space and encourage active living through [Read more…]

Before Andy Roddick hit the legal voting age, he had already started a charitable foundation.

At the age of 17, still a kid himself, the Andy Roddick Foundation was established to work with the local community to expand opportunities for young people to learn, thrive and succeed.

The non-profit focuses on out of school programs that have a positive and lasting effect on students by keeping them safe, engaged and active.

Although Andy is not [Read more…]

Update: Congratulations to our ticket winner, Ryan Sanders! Thank you to everyone who participated. We do giveaways every other week through our newsletter, so check it out!

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Austin seems to have a big event every weekend, and it can be hard to choose between everything going on. For those looking for an alternative to ACL this weekend, there’s Wizard World, also called Austin Comic Con.

This year, Austin Comic Con is running October 2-4, 2014 at the Austin Convention Center. This event is one of the many fun things I look forward to every Autumn. What’s even more exciting for you, we’re giving away a Family Four Pack of tickets to attend! Keep reading to learn how to enter. [Read more…]

Editor’s Note: Bess Bistro is scheduled to close on September 20, 2015.

Bess Bistro has been a landmark in Austin for the past eight years. They have seen the city through many changes, and now they’re shaking things up themselves. With a new Executive Chef, Roman Murphy, Bess Bistro has unveiled a new fall menu to tantalize the Austin foodie’s ever-changing taste buds.

This West 6th restaurant is known for their Southern style cooking with a French/New Orleans flare. But now Chef Murphy is expanding diners’ options, taking advantage of Austin’s growing love for farm to table, locally sourced food while introducing Asian and Spanish elements.

If you’re a regular, don’t fret. The Sautéed Mussels, Shrimp and Grits and delectable Beignets have stood the test of time and you will still find them on the menu. And their fresh breads, accompanied by an array of salts and butter, still come from their sister restaurant, Walton’s. But Bess Bistro has added flavorful dishes such as Beef Tartare, Pan Roasted [Read more…]