Guest article by Janet Lee

Online shopping has become normal in this ever-growing digital age. It’s usually corporate businesses that drive products through digital marketplaces, attracting consumers through convenience. But where is our money going when we make purchases from large companies? This was the problematic question Thad Beversdorf dissected and acted upon. He’s the CEO of Spendindie, an online marketplace founded and based in Austin that exclusively supports independent businesses.

Launched during the 2018 SXSW Festival, where Spendindie was the presenting sponsor of SXSW Marketplace, the Austin business not only provides a convenient way to shop local, but opportunities to get paid to promote and discover local products.

With a mission to “create a convenient and engaging way for people to make more conscious spending choices,” Spendindie wants to change the way people spend, ultimately fueling a stronger community and economy. [Read more…]

Guest article by C. Cimmone

Here in Central Texas, we never really put away what little winter-wear we own. But we do burst out the door at spring’s first light and sigh, “Ahhhh…” Flowers are blooming in the Texas sun; mulch needs refreshing after winter freezes; and pesky weeds need pulling between sips of iced tea.

In between all of that hard work, I urge you to make a day trip out of visiting Austin’s best, local nurseries, which not only provide beautiful additions to your landscape, but may actually do the landscaping for you!

Here are my top three Austin nurseries, all locally-grown, just for you. [Read more…]

I have a special appreciation for local businesses that go out of their way to erect sculptural somethings to entice me. This includes eight-foot-tall gorillas. And 10-foot-long, fully-loaded sandwiches. And hippie church gospel taco queens, like Maria.

Here are 11 local business sculptures keeping Austin weird. [Read more…]