Ready to recover from the holidays? We have tips and tricks to make it easy while keeping it local
(Credit: Nathaniel F via Flickr CC)
How was your holiday? Probably joyous, fun, and exhausting. Over a month of partying, shopping and traveling leaves most of us tapped out. We all need to recover from a December of debauchery. Luckily, The Austinot is here to help. Check out this surefire plan to use all-things-local to get back into the regular swing of things.
Cure the Holiday Food Coma
Downtown farmers’ market (Credit: Lars Plougman via Flickr CC)
I don’t know about you, but the amount of fat, sugar and carbohydrates I consumed last month was enough to fuel me for a whole year. A healthy diet kick is just what the cardiologist ordered.
Crucial parts of any cleanse are fruits and vegetables from one of Austin’s many farmers’ markets. My favorite is the SFC (Sustainable Food Center) on Guadalupe. Packed to the brim with over 100 vendors, this weekly gathering of local goods is a foodie’s dream. And don’t be afraid to grab a brownie from Korrie’s Kakery while you’re there. We won’t tell your nutritionist.
SFC Farmers’ Market is located at Republic Square Park every Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. For other farmers’ markets in Austin, check out our guide.
Restart the Exercise Routine
Taking a spin class while overlooking a lake? Incredible! (Credit: Pure Fitness Austin)
Despite what you may think, running around Lakeline Mall does not replace your regular exercise routine. But don’t despair. You probably haven’t had time to work out. My favorite way to get back on track is to get on a spin bike. For a 100 percent local experience, Pure Austin Fitness is the way to go. Not only do they have heart-pounding spin, but they offer personal training, a host of classes and a private lake at their Quarry Lake location. A rad way to work away those Christmas cookies.
Pure Austin Fitness has two locations. Go to pureaustin.com for class schedules, pricing and more information.
Ease Up on the Boozing
Oasis Brewing specializes in low-alcoholic and brews (Photo credit: OTXBC)
Feeling a little woozy? It’s probably from the excessive quantities of booze you’ve imbibed over the past month. But there’s no shame here! Nothing says Happy Holidays like champagne, eggnog and craft beer.
Giving your liver a break doesn’t have to mean swearing off happy hour. Why not give non- and low-alcoholic cocktails a try? Ever since Bar Congress closed its doors, it’s been hard to find an actual mocktail menu in Austin. But the fine folks at Peche and drink.well. have always been good at conjuring delicious booze-less drinks upon request. And they won’t make you feel like a jerk for asking.
For low-cal craft beer, Oasis Brewing has you covered. While their entire main line features purposefully low ABV’s, their Metamodern IPA is one of the best “session” IPAs in town. An excellent choice for those looking to ease back into the world of normal drinking.
Peche is located at 208 W. 4th St.; drink.well is located at 207 E. 53rd St.; and Oasis Brewing is located at 6550 Comanche Trail.
Start Rebuilding Your Bank Account
Chicken & Veggie Pho at Pho Please in Austin (Credit: Jaclyn Hubersberger)
Have you looked at your checking account yet? Don’t. It’ll depress you. No matter how well you budget, gift wrapping, shipping costs and last minute Secret Santas swell credit cards to the limit. Rather than search in the couch cushions for lost change, pinch your pennies while dining out.
While my go-to for cheap yet delicious eats would be Mission Dogs, bacon-wrapped hot dogs are not exactly healthy. For that, hit up Pho Please. Light, delicious and reasonably priced, this Vietnamese eatery is a surefire cure for the light-in-the-wallet blues.
The main Mission Dogs truck is located at 1701 E. Cesar Chavez and Pho Please is located at 1920 E. Riverside.
Recover From Absolute Exhaustion
Above all things, you’re probably tired. Holiday shopping, wrapping, running around Trail of Lights. Your body needs a break. Pamper yourself at Myo Massage. With a variety of back rubs, acupuncture treatments and stretching routines to cure any ailment, your holiday-twisted body will be born anew. And if you haven’t had a bath since you were in grade school, Myo’s therapeutic baths will make you a believer. Rubber Ducky not required.
Myo Massage has two locations, one on East 5th and the other at The Triangle.
Spend Alone Time Away From Family and Friends
Umlauf Sculpture Garden (Credit: Kelli McDonald)
We all love our families. But there’s a reason we don’t live with mom anymore or see Aunt Ethel every weekend. A crowd of twenty people all trying to make Christmas dinner brings tempers to the brink. Add to the mix holiday parties, gatherings and crowds, and you have more stress than you can possibly handle.
Now that it’s over, enjoy some alone time. Just me, myself and I. One of the best places to detox from the world around you is Umlauf Sculpture Garden. With over 100 stunning sculptures in a natural setting, you can get lost in the splendor and reconnect with yourself. Feels zen just talking about it.
Umlauf Sculpture Garden is located at 605 Robert E Lee Road.
@BillTuckerTSP wants to know:
How will you be recovering from your month of holiday revelry?
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