Nitro Swimming is Austin's leading competitive swim team and swim teaching center. Led by Head Coach and former 11-time NCAA All American Mike Koleber, Nitro is home to six-time Texas age group champions and is one of the USA's top five swimming programs. Both Austin area locations have state-of-the-art Olympic pools, as well as lessons-only pools with temperature and water quality specially calibrated for beginning and advanced swimmers.

The hand-picked staff includes several former Olympians; they love kids and take joy in helping to mold lifelong swimmers. Parents and young swimmers praise the staff's patience, skill, and attention to detail. Nitro also offers a full program of fitness-based adult swimming instruction.

Check Nitro's website for information on classes, teams, events, and more.

Nitro Swimming
15506 D Highway 71 West
Bee Cave, TX 78669
(512) 861-7946
www.nitroswim.com
www.yelp.com/biz/nitro-swimming-bee-cave

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Lee Edwin Coursey

A funky mix of exposed brick and polished wood creates an industrial aesthetic at Verde's Mexican Parrilla. It's certainly not what you'd expect of a standard Mexican restaurant, but it works well with the chefs' gourmet take on classic south-of-the-border eats. In addition to quesadillas and tacos, the kitchen team crafts upscale fare from fresh ingredients, worthy of a fine dining establishment (despite Verde's relatively laid-back vibe).

Regulars highly recommend the signature bone-in pork chop. It's equal parts sweet and spicy thanks to a honey-chipotle glaze on top. The pollo palomino, another house specialty, also impresses patrons. It showcases a tender breast of grilled chicken smothered with gooey cheese, poblano peppers, and a creamy poblano sauce. Pair your main with a side such as cilantro-lime rice, roasted corn and chipotle aioli, or poblano cream mashed potatoes.

Verde's Mexican Parrilla
2200 Interstate 35 Frontage Road
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 255-6587
www.verdesmexicanrr.com
www.yelp.com/biz/verdes-mexican-parrilla-round-rock

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr WordRidden

The next time you host guests in your home, prepare in advance by setting a game plan well ahead of time. These smart and stress-free tips will show you exactly how to get your home ready for houseguests, even if you don’t exactly have a separate guest wing to work with.

1. Create a designated space. Everyone likes to have a feeling of privacy and a place to decompress, which you can easily create for your guests even if you don’t have a closed-off guestroom. Simply give them free run of a living room or den, or create your own guest quarters by investing in a room divider.
2. Test out the bed. Since you don’t normally sleep in the guest bed (or air mattress, or sofa…), it’s always smart to test it out first to ensure its comfort. If it’s not up to snuff, add a foam mattress topper, more blankets, or other affordable improvements.
3. Create an overnight kit. Stock a small caddy with shower supplies, water bottles, pain relievers, and snack bars, as well as anything else that your guests might ask for.
4. Change the linens. Be sure to put clean, fresh-smelling sheets on the bed and provide enough clean towels for all of your guests.
5. Feel out their schedules. Once they arrive, work around their schedules to prevent stepping on any toes.

Make Your Overnight Guests Feel at Home [Southern Living]
Hosting Overnight Guests [Life Your Way]
Real Life Advice: Hosting Guests Without a Guestroom [Apartment Therapy]
Getting Ready for Overnight Guests [Real Simple]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Rhian vK