Discover the Best Things to Do in Austin, Food & Drink deals and more!
Snap Kitchen Westlake
I recently had the chance to sample Snap Kitchen’s summer menu, which will be available through September. During my first exposure to this healthy food shop, I was pleased by the neat lines and colorful aesthetic of the Westlake store I visited.
Snap Kitchen’s image and model seems to be serving them well. Although the first store opened in Austin in 2010, the company has managed to spread through [Read more…]
I swear by the beers I love. For this reason, it’s difficult for me to stretch beyond my usual suspects to sample all the exploding craft beer market has to offer. This article was an exercise in getting outside my comfort zone.
For the last two months, I, along with my courageous tasting team, dove gullet deep in Austin’s bombastic brew culture. We ventured into the cruel and recently very wet traffic to satisfy our insatiable desire to find the best beer flights in Austin.
Why beer flights? Beer flights are about relationships. They force you to consider not just what’s within the glass, but what’s between them.
We let our bartenders dazzle us with their selections, giving each one [Read more…]
Avenue B Grocery & Market in Hyde Park (Credit: Nomadic Pursuits)
I love Hyde Park for its quaint cottages, abundance of trees and multi-cultural vibe. You’re just as likely to see grandma walking her lapdog as you are a tattooed pedestrian on a unicycle.
But there’s another reason I gravitate towards this area of Austin. It’s a place where Star Wars and Brie imported from the Isle de France co-exist. A place where you can buy an ice cold soda pop and deli sandwich wrapped in paper and sealed with tape, then glide past squeaky screen doors to an outdoor picnic table to unwind amid the jaunty tune of birds serenading in oak trees.
This place is my little slice of Hyde Park heaven, Avenue B Grocery & Market. [Read more…]
Jacked Sangria at El Alma, served with a lime and maraschino cherry
There is nothing better than enjoying a sangria on a summer day. The warmth of the sun is offset by the fruity cold drink in your hands. It may taste delicious and look innocent enough, but don’t be deceived. Sangria can be strong–heightened as it is often is with liquors and liqueurs.
Check out my favorite sangrias in Austin in no particular order, and decide for yourself which version of this Iberian drink you prefer. [Read more…]
Dog House Drinkery Dog Park in Leander
Attention dog parents! You know that feeling when you come home from a long day at work and your best buddy is super excited to see you? You pet him and feed him, but after a long day you really want to go out and have a drink with some friends. The guilt of leaving the poor little guy at home without sufficient playtime starts to set in…
Turns out, you can have the best of both worlds at this bar/dog park. Bring your dog or dogs to Dog House Drinkery Dog Park in Leander and both you and your best buddies are sure to go home happy. [Read more…]
Guys. I just discovered a great dieting trick: only buy chocolates that are too pretty to eat.
Just kidding, that doesn’t work at all. But if you are looking to indulge, check out east Austin chocolatier, Maggie Louise Confections, where the treats look more like art than candy.
Guest article by Dawn Sarnecky
It’s no secret that Austin’s east side is a little grittier than the rest. I’m drawn to this kind of environment for its uniqueness and beauty. Since movin’ on up to the east side (thank you, Jeffersons), I’ve adventured out to discover gems that could give Sunday Funday on Rainey Street a run for its money.
Be prepared for some of the best bars in town to make your Sunday blues disappear and get a head start on the upcoming week with my guide to Sunday Funday in East Austin. [Read more…]
Cypress Creek Reserve Rum based in Wimberley, TX
There are three things I dread during summer: sweat, swimsuits and sunburns. Rum offers a hand, a beacon of hope and joy to make all of the above a little more bearable – and at times, enjoyable! Its reliability and comfort wash away cares and concerns. And it happens to be the companion of a colorful assortment of summertime beverages: mojitos, pina coladas, hurricanes and daiquiris.
This liquid gold is synonymous with good times. So as soon as I heard we had a rum distillery a stone’s throw from Austin that offers tastings and tours, I was there within 24 hours. [Read more…]
The migas breakfast taco at Veracruz All-Natural is scrambled eggs, pico, avocado, cheese and tortilla chips on a handmade corn tortilla = breakfast taco bliss
If you only had 36 hours to spend in Austin, what would you do?
By the time you read this article, I will be several hundred miles north of Austin on I-35 towards Minneapolis. For four years, my wife and I have called Austin home, but now it’s time to say goodbye to this wonderful place.
So I asked myself, “What will I do during my last 36 hours in Austin?” What resulted was an itinerary of sorts that I hope Austinities and visitors find useful for planning a spare weekend. More importantly, I hope this gets you thinking about what you would do if you had 36 hours left in Austin. Just don’t put off your exploration until it’s too late.
Austinites enjoy Trailer Food Tuesdays with a view of the downtown Austin skyline
(Credit: David Ingram via Flickr CC)
Boston has chowder. Philly has cheesesteaks. Austin has food trucks. Mobile, independent and wonderfully weird, mobile eateries are what make this city different. To celebrate Austin’s diverse food truck offerings, Trailer Food Tuesdays is back at The Long Center for another summer season of good eats and great fun. [Read more…]