It’s that time of year again! The Austin Gay and Lesbian Pride Foundation is hosting on the city’s Pride Festival on Saturday, Aug. 29, and it’s only three miles away from Elan East. Every year the number of guests and accompanying events grows, and it looks like 2015 may have the biggest celebration yet!

The Pride Festival is the largest LGBTQ fundraising and advocacy event in all of central Texas, and people from around the state and country come to town to celebrate. More than 140 vendor booths from local businesses will be on hand, in addition to some lively entertainment.

The Pride Festival begins at 11 a.m. at Fiesta Gardens, and performers such as singer Martha Wash and others will grace the main stage throughout the day, and DJs will be spinning tunes. The parade will start at 8 p.m. at the state capital, and it’s safe to say that the floats, pageantry, and fun will make for an unforgettable night.

The list of special guests keeps growing, so be sure to check their website for details on the day’s full lineup!

Austin Pride Festival 2015
Saturday, Aug. 22 beginning at 11 a.m.
Edward Rendon, Sr. Park at Festival Beach
2101 Jesse E. Segovia St.
Austin TX, 78702
(512) 468-8113
www.austinpride.org

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr @sage_solar

If you love spicy food, but your tastes go beyond what the average person considers “spicy,” you can finally enjoy a truly spicy meal surrounded by people who share your taste buds at Austin’s 25th Annual Hot Sauce Festival. An estimated 15,000 spectators attend every year, and there are more than 350 entries every year. This year's festival will take place at Fiesta Gardens on Aug. 23, and if you’re planning on attending you should be prepared to taste some of the spiciest foods imaginable!

All of the food and fun at the Hot Sauce Festival is for a good cause — it doubles as a fundraiser for the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, and last year’s festival raised over 45,000 meals in just six hours!

The event is only three miles from Elan East, and it's free and open to the public, but attendees are encouraged to donate three nonperishable food items or $5 to the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas.

25th Annual Hot Sauce Festival
Sunday, Aug. 23 starting at 11 a.m.
Fiesta Gardens
2101 Jesse E. Segovia St.
Austin, TX 78702
www.austinchronicle.com/hot-sauce

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr jeffreyw

Humans are omnivores by default, but those who love meat might use the word “carnivore” to describe their tastes. The chefs at Dai Due Butcher Shop and Supper Club love meat just as much, and you can experience their creations close to home — it's less than a half-mile away from Elan East. Dai Due was named one of Bon Appetit’s 50 best new restaurants of 2015, and once you taste a few things off of their menu you’ll understand why it was given this honor.

Dai Due doesn’t just create delicious dishes from prime cuts of meat. The chefs and owners also support local farmers and ranchers that share their vision of providing eaters with the highest-quality food possible. If you want to chow down on a meat-heavy meal and do something to support the community, make reservations at Dai Due!

Dai Due Butcher Shop and Supper Club
2406 Manor Road
Austin, TX 78722
(512) 524-0688
www.daidue.com

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Ben Husmann