Austin Museum Day: Free Entry to More Than 35 Local Museums

The Austin Toy Museum. The Austin Nature and Science Center. The Texas Music Museum. These are just a handful of the venues participating in this year's Austin Museum Day on Sunday, September 18th. From sunrise to sunset, some of the city's coolest museums welcome guests for free.

So if there's a spot you've been meaning to check out, see Austin Museum Day's list of more than 35 participating museums. From the Asian American Resource Center all the way to the Women and Their Work Gallery, the spread of local museums offers something for everyone. Plus, many of them will have special programming and events for Austin Museum Day, like docent-guided tours and interactive activities. So mark your calendar for Austin Museum Day.

Austin Museum Day
When: Sunday, Sept. 18
Where: Various locations around Austin
www.austinmuseums.org/museumday
www.facebook.com/events/1174464119293916

The Austin City Limits Music Festival Hosts Mumford & Sons, Kendrick Lamar, and Other Popular Artists This Year

Mumford & Sons. Kendrick Lamar. Radiohead. There will be no shortage of famous faces at this year's Austin City Limits Music Festival, and these headliners are just the tip of the iceberg. The Chainsmokers, Chris Stapleton, Haim, Cage the Elephant, Major Lazer, and Cold War Kids are just a few of the other trending artists slated to take the stage between September 30 and October 9.

Dubbed the "live music capital of the world," Austin is the perfect place to host this ever-growing annual music festival. It's one of the largest and most popular in the nation, and not just because it brings in major performers every year. The stunning setting, Zilker Park, is also a big draw. This beloved Austin landmark is rich in natural beauty all year round, but during the ACL festival, it's also the site of an Art Market, a kid-friendly mini festival, and even phone-charging stations for festival goers who want to keep their followers informed of the goings-on.

Austin City Limits Music Festival
When: September 30 – October 9
Where: Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78746
Cost: $100
www.aclfestival.com
www.facebook.com/aclfestival

Sesa Pure: Loose-Leaf Teas Directly from India

Mango black tea. Jasmine green tea. Moroccan mint. These are just a few of the loose-leaf teas you'll see on the shelves at Sesa Pure, a self-described "craft infusion lab" and "garden direct" tea house. Sesa Pure sources its teas and coffees directly from the gardens of India, so it lives up to its name.

Come to the cafe and grab a drink if you just want to sample a sip. You can savor a cup of coffee in the calm, quiet atmosphere or try one of the many teas. If you taste something you like, take it home with you. Sesa sells loose-leaf teas and coffee so that its customers never have to go without their morning beverage. It also offers a few non-tea specialty items, such as bottled agave. Both traditional and flavored agaves are available, including an almond-flavored agave, so pick up a bottle if you want to sweeten your tea at home.

Catch a Show at the Spiderhouse Cafe and Ballroom

If you're looking to visit a great music venue this weekend, be sure to check out Spiderhouse Cafe and Ballroom. Spiderhouse is both a cafe and music venue that’s been serving the area for decades. Located right next door to each other, the cafe and ballroom are just 20 minutes from Folio.

The Spiderhouse Cafe offers covered outdoor eating areas, and festive string lights provide a cozy and super casual environment for guests looking to grab a bite before or after a live show next door. The outdoor areas are also great to enjoy on warm summer nights. For food, this cafe's menu includes everything from fresh margaritas and tacos to handcrafted salads. Spiderhouse Ballroom hosts events of all kinds, from live music to live storytelling events, and most shows are very affordable or even free. Details on events can be found on the ballroom’s website. Check out these great venues for a fun night out this weekend!

Feel the Magic at “The Fine Art of Disney” at ART on 5th Gallery

On July 8 and 9, the ART on 5th Gallery in South Austin invites you to celebrate the opening of one of its most high-profile exhibits, The Fine Art of Disney. On display through August 21, this special exhibit showcases pieces by 10 licensed Disney artists, and you'll likely recognize the characters.

Although these works have never been displayed in Austin before, they feature players from some of Walt Disney's most popular films. He himself had the vision to create these characters and their colorful worlds, and he found the very best animators and artists to make them into a reality. Explore the one-of-a-kind works of Disney art at the ART on 5th Gallery this Friday and Saturday. If you RSVP ahead of time, you'll gain free entry to the opening—so you'll be among the first to ogle the beautiful pieces filled with your favorite heroes and villains.

Grand Opening of The Fine Art of Disney
When: 7 – 10 p.m., July 8 and 9
Where: ART on 5th Gallery, 3005 S. Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704
arton5th.com/calendar/070816-the-fine-art-of-disney-exhibition/
www.eventbrite.com/e/the-fine-art-of-disney-saturday-reception-tickets-26161457624?aff=ebapi

Sahara Lounge: A Historic Spot for Live Music and Libations

In its 50-year lifespan, the building located at 1413 Webberville Road has been the site of various bars and music venues. It started out as the Lincoln Drive-In back in 1962, then transformed into TC's Lounge for the next three decades. In 2011, Sahara Lounge took over the space, and it's been delighting locals ever since.

The Sahara bills itself as a dive bar that captures "Austin as it used to be." That means no pretense, no frills, just good music, a relaxed atmosphere, and plenty of booze. The Sahara has signature craft cocktails, so grab something sweet when you come here for a show. You can enjoy it out on the patio on a warm Austin night, or stay indoors where you can really hear the live tunes coming from the stage.

Cupcaking Desire: Check Out This Mobile Bakery Near You

The pastry chefs at Cupcaking Desire have been known to create some of the most beautiful cupcakes and cakes in Austin, and they pride themselves on providing exceptional cakes you just can't find anywhere else. Not only are the cakes and cupcakes beautiful, but they are also delicious. Many patrons believe that Cupcaking Desire offers some of the tastiest baked goods in the area.

The made-from-scratch cakes and cupcakes come in a range of flavors, so whether you're craving the lemon raspberry, the chocolate fudge, the snickerdoodle, or the red velvet, you'll be able to your favorite flavors at Cupcaking Desire. Interestingly enough, Cupcaking Desire is actually a food truck—one of the first of its kind in the area—and one of the most sought-after food trucks in Austin at that. You can find Cupcaking Desire just two miles from Folio.

Keep Austin Weird Festival & 5K: Let Your Weirdness Show

There is no better way to celebrate culture and love for your city than to celebrate the things that make you different. The Keep Austin Weird Festival & 5K sets out to do just that. This annual festival will be held on June 25th, 2016 from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Aside from food and drink stands set up by local Austin vendors, there will be a ton of activities for festival participants to enjoy, like a costume contest and a sideshow that will be introduced to the festival for the first time. The sideshow will feature oddities like big toe wrestling and armadillo racing. There will, of course, also be a 5K race. But this isn’t just any 5K—it’s meant to be the slowest 5K ever, as the course is set up with “fun stops.” Make sure to show up in your weirdest outfit.

Keep Austin Weird Festival & 5K
404 Atlanta Street
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 524-2953
keepaustinweirdfest.com
www.facebook.com/Keep-Austin-Weird-Festival-5K-121126484577639

Stay Fit This Summer at CrossFit Rep

Anyone who is looking to stay fit for the summer should check out CrossFit Rep, a CrossFit gym that is known for its challenging workouts, supportive coaches and close-knit members. For residents of Folio, CrossFit Rep is super convenient—it’s less than two miles from the residences. The CrossFit studio offers a variety of classes every day of the week, including barbell, Olympic lifting, gymnastics, and competition training. In addition to group workout sessions, all coaches also offer private training by appointment too.

Unlimited monthly group classes cost $130 and include all the classes you would like to attend. Drop-in classes are $20 per class and $60 for a week-long pass—note that those who would like to drop in should have ample CrossFit experience. Anyone who is unsure about joining a CrossFit gym can contact the coaches for a free assessment. Will you be checking out this local gym sometime soon?

Austin City Limits Music Festival: Experience Austin Live

Festival season is officially upon us, and if you live in Austin and are looking to get a taste of the live music near you, check out the Austin City Limits Music Festival. This year, the festival will be held at Zilker Metropolitan Park—just a short trip from Folio—from September 30 through October 2 and October 7 through October 9.

This is the 15th year for the Austin City Limits Music festival. The line up changes every year to attract new people to the show, and this year’s lineup includes big-name musical acts, including headliners Radiohead, Kendrick Lamar, and LCD Soundsystem. Festival goers can buy single-day passes or tickets that will give them admission for several days' worth of performances. Food from local vendors will also be available throughout each of the weekends.

Austin City Limits Music Festival
Zilker Metropolitan Park
2100 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 974-6700
www.aclfestival.com
www.facebook.com/aclfestival

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