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Bennu Coffee: A 24 Hour Austin Cafe near Elan East

September 19, 2014 by

With soft lighting, comfortable chairs, and a friendly staff, this coffee shop is the perfect place to camp out with your computer and make yourself a feel at home, all in a spot not too far from home at Elan East.

One thing that sets Bennu apart from other coffee shops is its hours: this Austin cafe is open 24/7. Bennu Coffee serves up a full range of espresso drinks, filter coffee, and brewed tea. (The spicy hot chocolate is one popular option.) To complement your coffee, Bennu offers tasty food items from local Austin vendors like Torcy’s Tacos, Frianco’s Deli, the Green Cart, Russell’s Bakery, and Hoboken Pies.

Since the space is close to the university — and offers free Wi-Fi — it has become a popular destination for students planning all night study sessions. If you'd like to stop by and see it for yourself, visit Bennu Coffee's website to learn more.

Bennu Coffee
2001 E. MLK Boulevard
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 478-4700
http://www.bennucoffee.com

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See Original and Experimental Shows near Elan East at Austin’s Salvage Vanguard Theater

September 5, 2014 by

For a no-nonsense, high-quality theatrical experience, check out a performance at Salvage Vanguard Theater. Just a short trip from Elan East, this inviting theater venue offers audiences the opportunity to see powerful and experimental shows crafted by Austin-based artists. Visitors say you won’t find any artistic snobbery there. Instead, be prepared for a low-key atmosphere and engaging, original shows.

Their performances, which rarely walk the beaten path, are perfect for a thought-provoking evening. Audiences particularly enjoy their dark and dramatically compelling puppet shows. Just be sure to leave younger kids at home, as those performances sometimes deal with serious themes. There are also many more light-hearted shows. Plus, among the many classes offered by Salvage Vanguard Theater, there is a playmaking camp for tweens.

For more information on classes and upcoming shows at this nonprofit arts theater, visit the Salvage Vanguard website.

Salvage Vanguard Theater
2803 Manor Road
Austin, TX 78722
(512) 474-7886
salvagevanguard.org
www.yelp.com/biz/salvage-vanguard-theater-austin

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Morris Williams Golf Course: An Austin Golf Course Near Elan East

August 28, 2014 by

Most golfers who try to live up to the legend of Austin native Morris Williams, Jr. will fall short. The storied golfer got his hands on every trophy within his reach, from the Texas Junior Championship trophy to the National Air Force Trophy—the second of which was eventually renamed in his honor. Today his legacy lives on near Elan East at his namesake Morris Williams Golf Course in Austin.

Designed by famed golf course architect Leon Howard in 1964, Morris Williams Golf Course was only the third public course in Austin. Although the course looks a bit different today thanks to a recent renovation (check out the new clubhouse and cart "barn"), Morris Williams Golf Course still showcases rolling greens with contoured hills. Call to reserve a tee time at this popular Austin course, which was once the home of the University of Texas golf teams.

Morris Williams Golf Course
4300 Manor Road
Austin, TX 78723
(512) 926-1298
www.austintexas.gov/department/morris-williams-golf-course
www.yelp.com/biz/morris-williams-golf-course-austin

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Austin Daily Press: Tasty Food near Elan East

August 21, 2014 by

Even when the Austin Daily Press only existed as a food truck, it was already making waves nationwide. The flagship food truck participated as a contestant on the Food Network's The Great Food Truck Race. Its brick-and-mortar location on MLK Boulevard still serves up the same creative sandwiches that won it fans across the country after its stint on the reality show.

According to regulars, the Pineapple Express is well worth a taste. This sandwich is actually a Mexican-style torta, meaning it comes on a Telera roll with veggies pickled in-house and a medley of herbs. The Pineapple Express is layered with roasted chicken and Black Forest ham, a pineapple-ginger chutney, cheese, and spicy ranch dressing. The Lucy torta is another popular option, this one stuffed with lemongrass-braised pork, aioli and sriracha sauce, sweet and hot pickles, onion, cilantro, and cooling mint. However, Austin Daily Press also serves paninis, traditional deli-style sandwiches, and sliders.

If you'd like to try this Austin eatery for yourself, it's just a short trip away from Elan East.

Austin Daily Press
1900 E. MLK Boulevard
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 828-6463
austindailypress.com/
www.yelp.com/biz/austin-daily-press-austin-4

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The City Theatre: Fantastic Performances and Shows, a Quick Drive from Elan East in Austin

August 15, 2014 by

Whether you're looking to laugh, cry, grip your seat tightly with excitement, or come away deep in thought, the provoking productions at The City Theatre are said to be worth seeing.

The City Theater Company's goal is to "enlighten, enhance, and enrich" greater Austin by offering exceptional theatrical experiences. Their space certainly helps this goal; customers say the intimate quality of the small stage and seating allow for a more intense theatre experience. It lets audiences appreciate the humor of plays like Steel Magnolias, as well as feel the intensity of works like A Streetcar Named Desire.

With its close proximity to Elan East, The City Theatre is a perfect destination for theatre-lovers and occasional visitors alike. Customers say it is an excellent place to see great and affordable theatre, and that drinks and snacks are appropriately priced, unlike at many other venues.

To see their upcoming schedule, visit The City Theatre's website.

The City Theatre
3823 Airport Boulevard
Austin, TX 78722
(512) 524-2870
www.citytheatreaustin.org
www.yelp.com/biz/the-city-theatre-austin

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See an Outdoor Movie in Austin at Deep Eddy Pool’s Splash Movie Night near Elan East

July 31, 2014 by

Wholesome family fun can be a little tricky to come by after dark, but we have a suggestion: Splash Movie Nights! Hosted by the Deep Eddy Pool in Austin, Texas, this kid-friendly event shows blockbuster hits on an inflatable movie screen that stretches high into the sky, offering event-goers young and young at heart an unobstructed view of their favorite movie characters.

This Saturday, Deep Eddy Pool's movie night will bring the affable characters from Despicable Me 2 to this municipal pool near Elan East. As you take in the flick, you can lounge on a blanket spread out on the grassy hillside, float lazily on a raft in the historic, 600,000-gallon pool—or do both! Be sure to bring your favorite snacks and refreshments; you might work up an appetite wading around during the 98-minute movie. And don't forget to pack some towels!

Splash Movie Night at Deep Eddy Pool begins at dusk—around 8:45 p.m.— Saturday, August 2. Admission is a bargain, priced between $1 and $3. See the Deep Eddy Pool website for complete details.

Splash Movie Night at Deep Eddy Pool: Despicable Me 2
401 Deep Eddy Avenue
Austin, TX 78703
For more information, visit www.austintexas.gov/event/deep-eddy-movie-night-august-2-2014

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Hops and Grain: East Austin Microbrews

July 17, 2014 by

Texas has always had a proud and iconoclastic microbrewing scene, and one of the latest additions is Hops and Grain. They brew craft beers with a focus on sustainability. That translates into making sure that they package all of their beers into easily-recyclable aluminum cans, making dog treats from spent brewery grains, and giving back a portion of their profits to local environmental groups. They also work to source as much raw materials from community farmers and growers around Austin.

None of this would matter if the beer wasn’t good, but thankfully the brewers have excellent taste and produce some very well-regarded beer! Some of their most popular include the Half Nelson IPA and the bourbon-barreled Brown del Roble. At the on-site tap room, you can get pours of just about everything they offer for a very nice price, as well as take home some beer for later.

Hops and Grain
507 Calles Street
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 914-2467
http://www.hopsandgrain.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/hops-and-grain-austin-2

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East Side Glass Studio: Glass-Blow Your Own Masterpiece

July 10, 2014 by

Shara Funari and Leigh Taylor Wyatt arrived at glass blowing from very different backgrounds. Shara didn't pick up the art until 2004, honing what was then a hobby at a public glass blowing studio in 2004. Leigh relocated to Texas in 2006 specifically to further her glass blowing career and to be closer to family. However, for both women, glass blowing eventually evolved into a passion; this is why they opened East Side Glass Studio in Austin.

At the studio, the public can come in to watch Shara and Leigh blow glass, or they can join in themselves. Intro classes are held a few times over the course of a month, teaching newbies the basics of glass blowing. Visitors can come in for a one-off experience where they learn the bare-bone fundamentals and then create their own glass masterpiece in a single session.

East Side Glass Studio
507 Calles Street
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 731-1702
www.eastsideglassstudio.com
www.yelp.com/biz/east-side-glass-studio-austin

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Capital City Bakery: Sweet Treats

June 12, 2014 by

Austin has one of the largest populations of food trucks per capita of any United States city, and most of them are exceptional. One of the best on the East Side is the Capital City Bakery, a purveyor of delectable sweets that are also 100% vegan. Environmental responsibility is a big part of their business plan, with bakery boxes made from recycled materials and ingredients sourced locally whenever possible. This doesn’t come at the expense of quality, though – all of their products look amazing and taste even better.

Some of the favorites that locals rave about include the delicious cupcakes, available in dozens of flavors from rich, decadent chocolate to light, fruity strawberry and creamsicle. The dense vegan brownies are out of this world, as are the incredible cookie sandwiches – try the peanut butter cookies stuffed with Fluffer-Nutter. Prices are very reasonable and the bakers could be some of the nicest people in town.

Capital City Bakery
1110 E. 12th Street
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 666-7437
http://www.capitalcitybakery.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/capital-city-bakery-austin

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Treat Your Hair to a Trip to Salon Aura Veni

June 5, 2014 by

Salon Aura Veni isn't your typical hair salon. Yes, its stylists boast an array of specific talents (go to Leigh for short hair and Lori for hair extensions), and yes, they take on every styling task you can imagine, from cutting and coloring to curling and straightening. However, the stylists at Salon Aura Veni rely solely on the highest quality products to achieve their jaw-dropping cuts and colors.

These include Kevin Murphy products, a professional line that shies away from any harmful parabens or sulfates. Pureology, another brand the stylists enlist, also shirks all sulfates in favor of safer ingredients that won't damage strands. Moroccan Oil is another common name in professional hair care, one known for its powerful antioxidant ingredients and UV protection; it's generally used to condition hair to shiny and soft.

Salon Aura Veni
210 W. Riverside Drive
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 474-2872
www.auraveni.com/Salon_Aura_Veni/About.html
www.yelp.com/biz/salon-aura-veni-austin

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