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Growing up, service above self was emphasized in my household. One of the many ways my parents would give back was through blood donations. On days when she donated, my mother would come home and jokingly declare she could not possibly hold a cooking utensil with her sore arm. On those days, we would eat out to celebrate this good deed, and thus service and eating out were forever linked in my mind.
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“Dine Out End HIV” is the motto of Dining Out For Life, benefitting AIDS Services of Austin. That translates to unlimited, guilt-free eating at your favorite Austin restaurants during Dining Out For Life on Thursday, May 23, 2019.
Here’s how it works: Simply dine out at any of the 60+ local restaurants that day. Each restaurant commits to donating a portion of proceeds to Dining Out For Life that day. Calories don’t count when you’re helping our community by indulging in tasty food! Mind you, I’m no nutritionist, but for the love of Austin, it’s surely worth it.
The money from this hashtag-able event goes directly to AIDS Services of Austin and helps the organization serve more than 7,000 Austin residents living with HIV. AIDS Services of Austin also provides preventive screenings, education, outreach, and advocacy to at-risk populations.
Every 35 hours, someone in Travis County gets diagnosed with HIV, making AIDS Services of Austin’s work vital to the well-being of our community. Dining Out For Life furthers the cause tremendously. In 2018, this event raised more than $50,000.
When AIDS Services of Austin opened 32 years ago, it started on a small scale. The organization has slowly but surely grown its profile in Austin, expanding awareness and services. Dining Out for Life is one of the organization’s most visible annual events.
“We are thrilled to host Dining Out For Life for the 27th year in Austin along with Subaru of America,” said AIDS Services of Austin Chief Executive Officer Paul Scott. “This event is especially important for programs like our Helping Hands Food Bank, which provides supplemental food to our patients who might otherwise have to decide between affording their HIV medication or food on the table. We’re here to make sure they get both!”
Going out to eat on May 23, 2019, is the easiest way to be part of something good. All participating restaurants are donating proceeds from #DineOutATX sales that day, but there are more ways to get involved in 2019!
You can sign up to be a table captain on the day of. You’ll provide on-site information at a partner restaurant about AIDS Services of Austin and where diners’ money goes after Dining Out For Life. The training to be a table captain will take place on May 11, and you can volunteer by emailing joseph.breck@asaustin.org.
If you own or manage a restaurant, and want to be a Dining Out For Life participant, email mike.trevino@asaustin.org to get set up. The more the merrier! We’d love to see even more restaurants and food trucks involved.
If you are media and would like a press kit or more info, email taylor.stockett@asaustin.org.
Please photograph and post your photos to social media with the #DineOutATX hashtag to increase awareness for the event. Rally now, foodies and Instagram addicts of Austin! This is your time to shine, my darlings. Let’s do this awesome thing!
AIDS Services of Austin is extending outreach in the community through testing and educational programs. It’s also opening a clinic and pharmacy this year, in order to service more Austin residents who are either living with HIV or at high risk to contract the virus.
With the influx of people to Austin, there is a corresponding increase in HIV cases. Based on 2016 CDC statistics, 61 percent of people living with HIV are between the ages of 20 and 39. There has been a recorded 40 percent increase in HIV cases among people aged 15 to 24.
Among those with HIV, one in eight do not know they have it. This sobering data underscores the importance of extending the organization’s reach among high-risk residents.
The list of participating restaurants is long, but to whet your appetite, let’s talk about a few of the options you have for good eats this year:
See the full list of participating restaurants on the event website. On May 23, make plans with your favorite people, loosen your belt and your purse strings, and support #DineOutATX and these big-hearted Austin businesses who are giving back to our community. Make an even bigger impact by eating out for every meal that day!
@theAustinot wants to know:
Where will you be dining out on May 23?
We always have unique content on the Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like event tickets, gift certificates, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter two times/month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of the Austinot here!
With the chaos of SXSW 2019 firmly in the rearview mirror, the big story wasn’t Jordan Peele’s “Us” or Questlove’s set at The Main. Electric scooters dominated the headlines. With over 70,000 helmet-less attendees screaming through the streets and sidewalks of our great city, it felt like an invasion.
Determined to provide an alternative to this clean, convenient, yet flawed transportation model, one company feels it has the solution. Enter Austin Hoverboards and a brand new way to get from Point A to Point B without the need to touch a scooter, or even touch the ground.
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SX breakfast is the most important meal of your life (Credit: Stella San Jac)
You bought the wristband, took time off work, and scoured Twitter for free drinks and swag. But guess what, stalwart SX’er? By Thursday afternoon, you’re asleep under the convention center awning covered with showcase posters and HBO totes. Do you know why? You forgot to eat.
But never fear, fan of the festival! Here at The Austinot, we’re providing an easy-to-follow meal plan to keep you nourished, noshing, and knocking out meals like a culinary ninja.
Far East Fest brings Austin’s Asian restaurants and food trucks together for a day of fun (Credit: Sarah G. Tang)
Kimchi and curry and noodz, oh my! On Feb. 9, 2019, Far East Fest will scratch all those itches and then some. Year two of the festival is set to showcase dishes from Austin’s surprisingly diverse Asian food scene. A ticket earns you unlimited samples from around 30 food and drink vendors, live music and dancing, and a few surprises.
Good tidings, music fans! Another weekend is on the horizon and, with it, a brand new slate of local music. This week, we recommend blistering southern rock, spacey dream pop, and an award-winning Americana band. If nothing else, we have eclectic taste. As always, remember to listen local in Austin! [Read more…]
Happy New Year, music lovers! With the holiday season firmly in the rear view mirror, it’s time to dive back into our beloved local scene. And if your pockets are drained from a season of spending, then Free Week is here to relieve the pressure.
This week, we’re highlighting three standout shows from a slate of dozens, for your listening and attending pleasure. Show up to support the Red River District; enjoy the freebies; and listen local! [Read more…]
Austin’s New Year celebration at Auditorium Shores (Credit: Austin’s New Year)
If you haven’t committed to New Year’s Eve plans yet, or if you’re teetering between staying in and going out, then this list might help you make a decision. Many of these options are free or close-to-free, making party-hopping a viable option if you find it hard to settle at one event. Austin nightlife is always lively. But with the increased excitement of New Year’s, it can be tempting to sample more than one scene.
The way we choose to celebrate landmark moments is highly personal. Some like to dance; some like to sit and listen to music; some like heaps of food and drink; some would rather be outdoors; and some have tiny tots to look after. And if you fall into more than one category, then you can pick and choose as you please! [Read more…]
Pennybacker Bridge along Capital of Texas Highway (Credit: Rock Studios)
Congrats! You’ve survived the holidays! With the presents unpacked, dinners finished, and eggnog drained from every fridge, many may take the week between Christmas and New Year’s to curl up and Netflix binge.
But not you, stalwart seeker of holiday fun! Whether you’re thirsty for a cocktail and a conversation, or a parent sick of kids running up the walls, there’s plenty to do in Austin between Dec. 26-30, 2018. We’ve picked one event a day to keep the good times going during the season’s down-time. [Read more…]
With our fine city firmly entrenched in the holiday season, it’s easy to forget about personal time. If you’re looking for a break from the bustle, you should know live music is still running strong in the ATX. This weekend, we recommend a sultry soul singer, grunge/psych act, and a folk/pop foursome so bizarre that it may become your favorite band. Enjoy the weekend, happy holidays, and listen local! [Read more…]
