The Austinot

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Austin Aquarium Coming to North Austin This Year

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Austin-Aquarium-Family-Activities

Editor’s Note, August 26, 2013: We were originally excited about the new Austin Aquarium and looking forward to its opening this year. But as news about the Covinos’ questionable business practices continues to come to light, we feel the need to protect our community and our reputation by officially stating that we do not endorse the Austin Aquarium. Please stay informed as news continues to unfold, and we will do the same.

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Our city already has a zoo and, with the opening of Austin Aquarium before the end of 2013, Austinites will be able to experience another facet of wildlife fun and education.

Austin Aquarium is owned by Vince Covino and his brother Ammon, creators of the aquariums in Portland, OR and Boise, ID. Having experienced success in the northwest U.S., the Covinos moved their families to Austin and launched construction on a new aquarium on Highway 183 near Anderson Mill, in northwest Austin. [Read more…]

Big Announcement: Winner of the 2013 Austinot T-Shirt Design Contest

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The first annual Austinot T-Shirt Design Contest was launched on June 13, 2013 with a Grand Prize package valued at over $2,000. We closed the contest last week with twenty-seven entries. We’re grateful to everyone who took the time to create and submit a design!

In choosing a winner, we (Eric and Brittany) were looking for a design that complied with our guidelines, captured the vibe of Austin as a whole, and appealed to a wide range of people. By no coincidence, the winning design we ended up selecting was also the community favorite, receiving the most votes and the highest rating among all of the entries.

Grand Prize Winner: Ten Things About Austin [Read more…]

Food for Thought Event to Aid Dropout Prevention Programs in Austin

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Food for Thought Austin Food Samples

Food for Thought guests will sample food from 22 Austin restaurants

The 18th annual Food for Thought event is coming up on September 12, 2013 at Austin Music Hall. From 6-9 PM, 650 guests will enjoy food samples created by 22 of the best chefs from prominent restaurants in Austin.

This palette-pleasing evening serves an important purpose. It’s the biggest fundraiser of the year for Communities In Schools, a non-profit that offers dropout prevention services and programs to students at 56 Central Texas public school campuses. Last year, 99% of the students served by Communities In Schools stayed in school or graduated. [Read more…]

That Food Trailer with the Giant Cupcake on Top Isn’t Overrated

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Hey Cupcake Trailer on South Congress in Austin

Hey Cupcake! original location on South Congress (Photo credit: herlanieship via Flickr CC)

I never pictured myself driving all the way across town to buy a cupcake. But once you try Hey Cupcake!, I’m sure you’ll understand my craving.

Started almost six years ago out of a trailer on South Congress, Hey Cupcake! now has a total of four locations in the Austin area:

-The original SoCo trailer
-A retail store on Burnet, which doubles as the company bakery
-A trailer on Research Blvd. near Braker Ln.
-A trailer out on 620

What Makes This Cupcake

The Hey Cupcake! menu is home to some flavors that you can always find, with seasonal choices popping in and out throughout the year. My personal favorites right now are [Read more…]

Hilah’s Texas Kitchen: Bringing Texas’ Rich Food History to Life

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Hilah Johnson of Hilah's Texas Kitchen

Hilah Johnson of Hilah’s Texas Kitchen

Austin food blogger and beloved YouTube personality Hilah Johnson recently launched a video series that I think you’ll love as much as I do.

In twelve episodes of Hilah’s Texas Kitchen, Hilah visits locations across Texas, samples their food, then takes you back to her kitchen and shows you how to recreate the food yourself. The series demonstrates how a rich blend of cultures has influenced food in Texas. Though non-Texans may try to group our cuisine into a “Southern food” category, Hilah’s research and adventures prove that we’re much more distinctive than that! Many comments on her videos have been along the lines of “This has changed my perception of Texas.” [Read more…]

Red Bull Sound Select Showcases Local Musicians in Free Monthly Concerts

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Stubb's Amphitheater AustinIt’s fabulous when big companies choose to support our local scene, so I’m all about Red Bull’s recent expansion into Austin with their Red Bull Sound Select program. Red Bull Sound Select is hitting cities around the country, using national music acts to increase fan support for local musicians.

Red Bull Sound Select concerts will take place in Austin monthly through December 2013. The latest show happened this past weekend at Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater. The Dandy Warhols of Portland and hip-hop artist Theophilus London headlined, with Austin bands Gentlemen Rogues and The Sour Notes kicking off the show. Local rapper Zeale emceed.

Red Bull Sound Select shows are free, but attendees have to earn their way through the gates. If you want to go to an upcoming show, you need to log onto RedBullSoundSelect.com, create a profile, and request a ticket. [Read more…]

Never Run Out of Things to Do and See at Gorgeous Inks Lake State Park

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Inks Lake State Park

Photo credit: Kim Anh via Flickr CC

I can’t get enough of Texas state parks, especially during the heat of summer. Just over an hour from downtown Austin, Inks Lake State Park outside of Burnet is a must-see destination. The park spans more than 1,200 acres, offering a wide range of activities for guests.

Also, the lake stays at a constant level, so activities like swimming and boating are unaffected by drought conditions. [Read more…]

Houston Zoo Exceeds Expectations Offering Full Day of Fun

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Giraffe at Houston ZooI’ve been to some of the larger and more reputable zoos in the country, including the San Diego Zoo, Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle and the Rio Grande Zoo in Albuquerque (surprisingly, a huge and awesome zoo). But during my recent vacation outside Austin, I saw exhibits and had experiences at the Houston Zoo that I’ve never seen or had at any other zoo. [Read more…]

Our Day of Exploration at Space Center Houston

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Saturn V Rocket Space Center Houston

Dwarfed and inspired by the Saturn V rocket at Space Center Houston

We’ve been on the road with the kids since last month, vacationing in areas not too far from Austin. I’ll be selecting some of the highlights to share with you this summer, in hopes that you’ll make a day trip yourself!

Last week, we stayed on Lake Conroe, north of Houston. Our friends at Buick were kind enough to lend us a 2013 Enclave for all of our adventuring – a vehicle large enough to fit six people, a large cooler, and our luggage.

On travel days that saw temperature spikes of up to 109 degrees, [Read more…]

Austin Involved: Your Opportunity to Make Austin Better

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Austin Community Steelband Volunteer Project

Austin Involved gives members the opportunity to meet great people and make a difference in our community (Credit: Austin Involved)

If you’ve been curious about how you can give back to the Austin community on a regular basis, and simultaneously spend time with like-minded people, I’ve found the organization for you. Austin Involved, a local program run by I Live Here, I Give Here, allows its members to vote for and support one fantastic Austin non-profit every month of the year.

When a non-profit is chosen by Austin Involved’s members, it benefits from a three-hour service project. Members also donate $25 per person each month to the same non-profit. That amount of money equates to what you might [Read more…]

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