Snowy Austin in 2010 (Credit: Jim Nix/Nomadic Pursuits)

Let’s face it: Austinites don’t know how to handle cold weather. We’re used to living in a land of perpetual summer, drinking our Topo Chicos and paddling across Lake Austin shirtless. When the temperature drops closer to freezing, however, we’re forced inside our homes to hibernate.

That doesn’t have to be the case! The cold season can be your opportunity to explore the parts of Austin you would otherwise ignore. There’s a whole world of local Austin originals waiting for you to walk in the door shivering. [Read more…]

Ready to recover from the holidays? We have tips and tricks to make it easy while keeping it local
(Credit: Nathaniel F via Flickr CC)

How was your holiday? Probably joyous, fun, and exhausting. Over a month of partying, shopping and traveling leaves most of us tapped out. We all need to recover from a December of debauchery. Luckily, The Austinot is here to help. Check out this surefire plan to use all-things-local to get back into the regular swing of things. [Read more…]

Nothing excites me more than the prospect of hosting a party. From creating menus to dreaming up goodie bags, I can’t get enough. Half of this enthusiasm comes from living in a city that makes party planning so easy. Last year as a maid of honor,  I convinced an entire bridal party to come to Austin because of all the bachelorette party potential!

Though I find the role of hostess exhilarating, I realize I might be in the minority. So let me be your hostess with the mostest, and introduce you to a few local Austin companies that can make any party a success. From birthday bashes for tiny tykes to bachelorettes for blushing brides-to-be, I’ve got ideas for everyone. [Read more…]

Credit: Creative Side Metal Works

Living in a city like Austin, with so much music and art around to enjoy, it’s no wonder we often feel an urge to tap into our creative side. Whether you already have a craft you dabble in or are looking for something new, you should consider the art of metalsmithing! Smithing is the craft of using metal to create items such as tools, kitchenware and jewelry, and is one of the oldest occupations. No wonder Smith is such a common last name.

Sounds like a difficult craft to try out, right? Wrong! Creative Side Jewelry Academy–and their latest expansion, Creative Side Metal Works–allows the average Austinite to tap into his or her creative side and learn how to forge, solder, melt and mold metal. [Read more…]