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Burnet Bluebonnet Festival: Parades, Pets, Races & Small Town Charm

April 4, 2013 by Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

This guest blog post is by Tracey Louis.

Austin and Burnet contrast greatly from one another. Funky, urban-yet-outdoorsy Austin is only an hour away from quaint, traditional Burnet.

Yet they share some commonalities, including a love of reveling in springtime’s natural beauty, and fabulous hospitality inclusive of our beloved pets.

One of my favorite festivals is the Burnet Bluebonnet Festival, precisely because it does such a good job of showcasing Burnet’s small town charms, sharing the beauty of springtime wildflowers that paint the roadways and hillsides, and including our animal companions in the fun. [Read more…]

Milk + Honey Trades Up Downtown While Nurturing Reputation for Quality

April 3, 2013 by Brittany Highland Leave a Comment

Inviting spring specials at Milk + Honey downtown

The spa and salon arena in Austin is competitive. Consumers have their choice between large establishments that can easily provide a day’s worth of pampering, and smaller venues that excel in a particular set of services.

Many spas offer the familiar facials and massages, so most customers ultimately end up basing their loyalty on the finer details.

With two locations in the Austin area and another dedicated salon location at the Arboretum, Milk + Honey has the details down, with critical acclaim that testifies to their excellence. [Read more…]

Home Sweet Hostel at Firehouse Hostel and Lounge

March 28, 2013 by Cris Mueller 6 Comments

Firehouse Hostel and Lounge in the West Sixth District of Austin

This guest post is by Cris Mueller.

Firehouse Hostel and Lounge is a morsel of Austin history sitting quietly amongst the hustle of our fondly regarded West Sixth district and the bustle of our downtown office high-rises.

Business partners Kent Roth and Collin Ballard have tastefully occupied the legendary Washington Fire Engine Co. No. 1 with a boutique style hostel that offers seasoned backpackers and first time hostel goers a unique Austin experience.

Already have a place to sleep tonight? Even locals love Firehouse Lounge

[Read more…]

Bandana Ball Gives Hope to Children & Their Families in Central Texas

March 27, 2013 by Eric Highland 4 Comments

Brooke Hester’s spirit of joy and hope was contagious at the 2013 Bandana Ball

Twirling and dancing on the lush green grass of Wild Onion Ranch, a little girl was wearing heart shaped sunglasses and sporting a smile that could melt a heart of stone. Though she was surrounded by a thousand other people, including philanthropists, press members, and even celebrities, she was clearly the star of the show.

And rightfully so.

Two years ago, five and a half year old Brooke Hester was diagnosed with Stage IV High Risk Neuroblastoma, a cancer that is common among infants and children, and difficult to treat. Upon learning the news, Brooke’s parents Beau and Jessica committed to do whatever was necessary, traveling wherever they needed to in order to find a cure. [Read more…]

Wells Branch Disc Golf Course Eventually Wows

March 20, 2013 by Guest Blogger 10 Comments

This guest blog post is by Hunter Stanford.

Wells Branch is a course your grandfather would approve of. No bells, no whistles and it isn’t here to prove anything. Rather, one might consider this disc golf course to be a straight-shooter.

Maybe you’re still scratching your head. My grandfather doesn’t even know what disc golf is. To be clear, the Wells Branch disc golf course is as standard of a course as they come. There’s nothing incredibly hard, easy, varied or zany. Whether that’s a bad thing or not is really up to you and your expectations. [Read more…]

Flyboard in Austin: Ever Want to Fly Like Iron Man?

March 14, 2013 by Eric Highland 7 Comments

Getting ready to fly

Hollywood blockbusters tease our sense of adventure with enticing special effects.

The imagination revs up when we see gadgets like Marty McFly’s hoverboard in Part II and Part III of Back to the Future. Even though the technology may not exist in the real world, our desire to experience the fantastical is alive and well.

Face it. If you could hop on a real hoverboard or jump on the Green Goblin’s “Sky Stick” right here in Austin, wouldn’t you take the shot?

The question isn’t hypothetical. [Read more…]

Thursday Night Social Ride Puts Butts on Bikes

March 13, 2013 by David Thomas 7 Comments

The Start of Thursday Night Social Ride in Austin

The group gathers for the start of Thursday Night Social Ride

I first encountered Social Cycling Austin in 2009, during SXSW. I was cruising about downtown on a 3spd beach cruiser with ape hanger handlebars. A couple of folks invited me on a group ride that was sponsored by the newly formed Social Cycling Austin group.

The years passed and my schedule never permitted me to join them in their rides again…until recently.

The Group: Social Cycling Austin

Social Cycling Austin was founded in 2009. Keith Byrd was very active in its organization and Brooks Goldsmith took care of their social media. The group’s goal is to bring awareness to bicycling in Austin. Their mission statement is summed up in their motto: “Putting Butts on Bikes since 2009.” [Read more…]

Finding Vintage Glamour for Your Next Austin Dress-Up Party

March 7, 2013 by Laura Darby 6 Comments

Austin Influential Group Secret Society Ball

Austinites go vintage at Austin Influential Group’s Secret Society Ball!

We’ve covered a lot of the crazy dress-up events in Austin. Carnaval! The Mad Men Soirée! The Secret Society Ball (article coming soon)!

If there is one thing that Austinites LOVE, it’s dress-up parties.

So how do you get ready for one of these wild fêtes? I’ve found that there are lots of places to go in Austin to find vintage glamour and easy ways to make your night well-coifed!

Vintage Sass

Austin is filled with stylish vintage stores to make your night feel authentic. To prepare for the Mad Men Soirée, I went to Venus Envy, a consignment store in North Austin on West Anderson Lane. They specialize in costumes, formal wear and plus-sized things. I figured it would be a great place to start (and it might happen to be right around the corner from my house). [Read more…]

Toy Joy: Austin Icon and Worldwide Phenomenon

March 4, 2013 by Eric Highland 1 Comment

Few Austinites can avoid nostalgic recognition when the famed name of Toy Joy is spoken. It’s an Austin icon that has been exuding weirdness and evoking happiness for decades.

But Toy Joy’s reach is most definitely not limited to Austin. Shipping worldwide, Toy Joy has throngs of fans across the globe. [Read more…]

How to Have a Perfect Day in Kerrville, TX

February 28, 2013 by Brittany Highland 28 Comments

Situated two hours southwest of Austin, Kerrville, TX was placed toward the bottom of our day trip list because of its distance away. But after visiting Wimberley, Gruene, multiple state parks and so many Hill Country gems closer to us, we still kept hearing good things about Kerrville.

We woke up on a recent Saturday morning and spontaneously decided that our Kerrville day had arrived! I’ll jump to the end of the story and tell you that we had an amazing day and can’t wait to visit again. In hopes that you can have as stellar of a day trip as we did, here is my guide to having a perfect day in Kerrville, TX. [Read more…]

The Group: Social Cycling Austin

Vintage Sass

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