Step off the plane into Austin-Bergstrom Airport, and the wafting scent of Salt Lick BBQ is one of the first indicators this town is going to woo you. Try not to swoon over the unmistakable guitar riffs of Stevie Ray Vaughan ubiquitous in bars around town. And if your heart doesn’t do a back flip when gazing […]
5 Reasons Austin Is a Perfect Home for Dedicated Runners
If you share anything in common with the 110 people who arrive at Austin’s doorstep every day, luggage in tow, you’re probably clued into the fact that our Central Texas city is obsessed with being active. From yoga studios on every corner to the dog parks that can’t keep up with demand, from the packs of cycling enthusiasts exploring […]
How to Keep Active While Staying Cool in Austin This Summer
The month of survival is upon us in Austin and its name around these parts is uttered like a four-letter word: August. Our survival gear to get through the worst days of summer heat (19 days over 100 degrees and counting) includes water-wicking tank tops, Chacos, shades, copious amounts of sunscreen and ice cold AC. This […]
How to Eat Your Way Down the Colorado River
What’s more quintessentially Texas than rolling hills, grazing Longhorns and small town charm, set against an idyllic, pastoral backdrop? While the small towns southeast of Austin nestled along the Colorado River–notably Smithville, La Grange and Round Top–are not considered part of Texas Hill Country, you only have to spend one afternoon basking in the river views and unrivaled hospitality […]
How to Day Trip Like a Texan: Tips and Packing List
Picture this (and hopefully it doesn’t sound familiar): you’re standing outside a state park, blistering and squinting under a blaring Texas sun. As you sit on the bumper of a dusty Prius, mosquitoes itching, 20 miles away from the nearest diner, you wonder whether the park rangers will accept four dollars in quarters as payment for a day pass. Murphy’s […]
Creative Ways to Explore the Texas State Capitol in Austin
Anyone who has been in central Austin has gazed at the architectural jewel in the heart of our city, the Texas State Capitol Building. Poised atop 22 acres of tree-filled land and elegantly framed by downtown buildings, this historic structure has been expertly maintained and curated by Texans since 1888 and is a lovely place to enjoy a day […]
Interview: Teo Prepares to Represent Austin at Gelato World Tour
Having built a tidy gelato empire in central Austin, fourteen years ago and counting, it would be reasonable to assume Teo Gelato owner Matthew Lee would want a few years to sit back and enjoy the fruits of his labor. But Lee is among the restless culinary artisans who are never satisfied to sit back. Even […]
What Not to Wear: Navigating Austin’s Casual Cool Dress Code
Austin’s casual dress code can be puzzling for those getting assimilated into the city. We’re nestled deep in the heart of a state that skews southern conservative, but we possess a distinct culture, mixed with a climate that dictates donning as few layers as possible. This makes it plausible to go out to a steak dinner wearing flip […]
Funky Chicken Coop Tour Inspires Urban Homesteading in Austin
I pull my beat-up pickup truck in front of an adorably hip family home and glance at my map nervously. I don’t want to walk into the wrong stranger’s backyard this morning, but I’m afraid this is a real possibility. That’s when I notice two women walking out across the front yard, clutching tour maps and wearing […]
Birds Barbershop Opens Eighth Location at North Austin’s Domain
The lead singer grins at me as she belts out an indie rock-infused cover of Coldplay’s latest radio hit. I return the smile and sip my icy cold Shiner beer, sitting back on the plush, mid-century modern couch, taking in the moment. No, I am not at some private SXSW showing. I’m just waiting to […]