Discover the Best Things to Do in Austin, Food & Drink deals and more!
Heather Wagner Reed with Juice Consulting team members, Amber LaFrance (L) and Madison Snelling (R), at Black Fret Black Ball (Credit: Juice Consulting)
“The creative energy is in my blood,” Heather Wagner Reed pointed out before detailing the abundance of work she’s accomplished over the years. [Read more…]
Credit: Chris Lawton via Unsplash
Guest article by Archana Vemulapalli
Austin is a book lover’s paradise. With numerous independent book stores, a world-renowned poetry festival, book readings, and one of the nation’s premier annual literary events, the annual Texas Book Festival, there’s something for everyone. It’s no surprise, then, that there’s an abundance of Austin book clubs for the bibliophiles among us.
Book clubs have a long history in the United States, with groups like Benjamin Franklin’s literary society in Philadelphia, called the Junto, and Hannah Adam’s reading circle in the late 1760’s. More than two centuries later, book clubs have expanded beyond the genteel in society. They span every genre and style, with the central theme always being a shared love of the written word.
While I’m still compiling an exhaustive list of Austin book clubs, I did have time to check out a few of the book clubs hosted by or at Austin’s independent books stores. Here are 10 interesting, fun book clubs, organized by genre. Choose one that suits you and find a group of kindred spirits. [Read more…]
Native hostel in East Austin (Credit: Charles Reagan)
Walking into Native hostel is like entering another world. A world full of hip decor, fantastic beats, and a team of people who look “too cool for school,” but are actually down to earth and friendly.
Since its opening in May 2017, Native has quietly climbed the ranks among the coolest places in Austin to grab drinks, get a bite to eat, hang with friends, meet new pals, and people watch. [Read more…]
Hookah Buzz combines traditional and modern approaches to its hookah lounge experience
I’ve been going to hookah lounges in Austin for years, and I love them. From their advent, they’ve offered a casual atmosphere where people can meet to discuss business, politics, or art. That is still the case in Austin. But I think my favorite aspect of local hookah lounges is the fact that I can meet individuals from all over the world when I visit.
Hookah Buzz is a new hookah lounge in way North Austin. It was founded in January 2017 by my new friend, Audi. A blend of Turkish and Moroccan-style hookah lounges is evident in the atmosphere. Think about the hanging lights and rugs you tend to find in hookah lounges–those come from Turkey. You won’t have to sit on the floor like they do in Turkey, though. Hookah Buzz adds modern elements from Moroccan culture into the lounge through music, sofas, and tall tables. [Read more…]
Austin Doga founder, Nicole Vykoukal (center), poses with her dog, Bonnie, and members of her class
Guest article by Sarah Snyder
For lovers of yoga who are invested in the tradition of keeping Austin weird, Austin Doga invites you and your dog to experience yoga together.
Appropriate for small, medium, and large dogs of all breeds, walking into an Austin Doga session is like walking into a room full of puppy love. Dogs are excited and people chat until founder Nicole Vykoukal begins [Read more…]
The Comal River in New Braunfels, TX. A huge thanks to Chevy for keeping our writers safe and comfortable this summer as we explore (Credit: Jason Babos)
New Braunfels was founded in 1845 by a German prince looking to start a colony in the Republic of Texas. Despite the fact that his dream of “New Germany” never happened, New Braunfels’ German influence has stood the test of time. Today, this small Central Texas town is one of the most authentic German-American communities in the country.
New Braunfels is a fun destination, with adventures for every type of visitor. Located between Austin and San Antonio, it’s a short drive for those coming from either city. New Braunfels is perfect whether you’re on a weekend trip, or planning your next epic summer day trip. [Read more…]
Hang out in the shallows below or swim above the dam at Blanco State Park
Road trips hold infinite promise and possibilities, and Austinites are spoiled with many easy Texas Hill Country day trip opportunities. Blanco lies less than an hour away, offering plenty of fun to fill your day. Here is my recipe for making the absolute best of a day trip to Blanco, Texas. [Read more…]
Gretchen O’Neil, Petals, Ink. farmer and founder (Credit: Petals, Ink.)
Gretchen O’Neil’s love affair with flowers began as a child, enamored by the confetti-colored tulips that sprawled across her grandfather’s yard. Flower growing became more than just a family pastime for O’Neil in 2002, when she started working on a small farm in the mountains of Vermont. After moving to Austin in 2003, it took the native New Englander about five years to acclimate to the sweltering heat before she could even begin to consider growing cut flowers in the Central Texas climate.
You see, many of the flowers O’Neil remembers from her youth simply won’t grow here. She gradually embraced a new genre of gardening that included sun-worshipping plants like agave, and concepts such as “xeriscaping.” Eventually, she discovered that–with enough planning–her fantasy of growing an abundance of blooms could be actualized. [Read more…]
The Refinery will be located in the heart of downtown Austin
A new co-working space is coming to downtown Austin. This one is different from what you may be used to, though. It isn’t a hub for tech entrepreneurs or Internet startups. The Refinery, which will officially open its doors in fall 2017, is a co-working space and studio for Austin’s artists and other creatives. [Read more…]
Nothing But a Pigeon turns traditional taxidermy on its head with cute crocheted creations (Credit: Taylor Hart)
The name, Nothing But A Pigeon, is a reference to a boy who used to tease Taylor Hart back in Ohio. He’d tell her she was a “plain Jane,” and she would amount to “nothing but a pigeon.” If only that young boy had known that Hart would successfully build a hobby into a full-time career.