Expect Live Music, Organic Coffee at Austin’s Monkey Nest

If you’re looking to start your day with a great cup of coffee, skip the chains and head to the Monkey Nest. This popular locally-owned cafe takes a socially responsible approach to its menu, serving only organic coffee and eclectic, internationally-influenced food.

The drinks here range from traditional espresso and drip coffees to some more unique concoctions. Try the Spicy Monkey Mocha, made with chocolate, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper. Monkey Nest also boasts a solid selection of teas if you’re not a coffee drinker. For food, the breakfast tacos can’t be beat; it's made fresh to order. The tuna and feta sandwich also wins raves.

Live music on the weekends draws a significant crowd, and the booking here is super diverse. From day to day you can see jazz, bluegrass, and even Eastern European dance music, a testament to the ethnic and cultural diversity of Austin. Best of all, there’s plenty of parking.

Monkey Nest
5353 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 505-8033
www.monkeynestcoffee.com
www.yelp.com/biz/monkey-nest-austin

4 Unique Dishes to Take to Your Next Potluck

A potluck dinner is a fun way to experience a wide variety of different cooking styles, inviting every guest to bring a covered dish to contribute to the meal. Whether you’re tired of your usual potluck recipes or you’ve never brought a dish to a party before, don’t sweat it. If you’re invited to an upcoming potluck but don’t know what to bring, these four recipes will help make your dish a hit.

Caramelized Onion and Bacon Tart [Oprah.com]

Best Broccoli Salad [Mr. Food Test Kitchen]

Make-and-Take Potluck Dishes [Chow]

Old Fashioned Pineapple Upside-Down Cake [All Recipes]

Public Domain/Public Domain

New Facebook Sweepstakes! Enter to Win an iPad Mini!

To enter the Sweepstakes, Like our Facebook Page and then look for the Sweepstakes tab (image shown below) located on our Facebook Page to enter. Sweepstakes ends June 30, 2014.

For mobile users ONLY, like our Facebook Page, and then click here to enter!

Rave on Vintage: Furniture Treasures

Rave on Vintage is an Austin spot where you'll find mid-century modern furniture in a fun, relaxed setting.

Situated in a 1500 square foot 1960s-era house, Rave on Vintage stages each room distinctively to help you imagine how the furniture will look in your own abode. Fans of this Austin store say their prices are nice and the staff is friendly and helpful. Visit to find things like space age metal star shaped clocks, vintage formica kitchen tables and chairs, or sleek Danish Modern dining sets. Not sure what you want or need? Stop by to browse and to see what treasures they have in stock!

Austin's Rave on Vintage is open Wednesday through Monday.

Rave on Vintage
1509 W. North Loop
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 215-2669
https://www.facebook.com/RaveOnVintage
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rave-on-vintage-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Wickerfurniture

Wheatsville Food Co-op: Fresh Food in Austin, Texas

You don’t have to be a member to shop at the Wheatsville Food Co-op, but if you do pay your $70 sign up fee, you can become a partial owner of the store. Visit this Austin spot to shop for all of your favorite items in a friendly, pleasant setting. You can buy in bulk to save money and reduce packaging: items available in the bulk department include wheat flour, dried fruits, brown & white rice, granola, coffee, oats, corn meal, nuts, beans and pastas.

Meat, poultry and seafood are also represented in the store, all sustainably raised according to environmentally friendly practices. Frozen foods? They’ve got those, too, with all of your favorite brands stocked in the store. About 80% of the fruits and vegetables here are organic and the deli has some yummy prepared foods to eat there or take home to 3500 Westlake.

Located near the University of Texas in Austin, the Wheatsville Food Co-op is open every day.

Wheatsville Food Co-op
3101 Guadalupe Street
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 478-2667
http://wheatsville.coop/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/wheatsville-food-coop-austin

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Looking for a Good Job With a Great Company?

Look no further! Come to the Greystar Career Fair.

Gusto Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar: Fine Wine and Dining in Austin

Gusto Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar features flavorful Italian fare served in a richly hued setting with a long mirrored bar and walls decorated to create a delightful ambiance. Happy Hour is a great time to cruise in for great discounts on food and drink — visit the Gusto Italian Kitchen website to find out more.

Gusto's pizza offerings include the Italian Job with sausage, mozzarella & goat cheese, and the Bianco with ricotta, cream, roasted chicken, spinach & caramelized onions. Spinach Lasagna, Spaghetti Carbonara, and Rostini alla Crema with chicken, spinach, walnuts, parmesan & cream are among the pasta choices. If you'd like to order something else, Gusto's menu of entrées includes Cioppino with salmon, shrimp, mussels, calamari & spicy tomato sauce, Grilled 10-Ounce Strip Steak with Brussels sprouts, Pan Seared Black Drum with roasted fall vegetables, and Braised Lamb Shank with creamy gorgonzola polenta.

Just a short trip from 3500 Westlake in Austin, Gusto Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar is open every day.

Gusto Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar
4800 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 458-1100
http://www.gustoitaliankitchen.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/gusto-italian-kitchen-and-wine-bar-austin

Resident Referral

Refer a friend or family member today and receive a $500 resident referral!

ACL Line Up!

Are you going to ACL this year?

http://www.aclfestival.com/2014-lineup/

How to Find Farmers’ Markets Near You

If you’re frustrated with the lackluster produce and crowded aisles at your usual grocery store, maybe it’s time you take your food shopping outdoors. Farmers' markets are popping up in just about every town around the country, and shoppers love them for their local goods and enjoyable atmospheres. Here’s how you can find farmers' markets in your area.

The PBS Website
The Public Broadcasting System website isn’t just for finding educational programming, it’s also a great resource for finding farmers markets nearby. A detailed map offers red dots for the location of each major farmers' market to help you visualize where they’re located, while a list of both local and national resources will help you to narrow down your specific area.

Local Harvest
Local Harvest is an organization dedicated to connecting farmers both to one another and to consumers in order to create a more farm-to-table grocery shopping experience. The website contains a search tool that allows you to browse by farms, CSAs, farmers' markets, or co-ops, and it offers a helpful field to enter your specific location as well. This is especially handy when you’re traveling and you want to check out the farmers markets in an unfamiliar city.

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