Hopdoddy Burger Bar: Enjoy Burgers in Austin
October 23, 2014 by
Just like peanut butter and jelly, burgers and craft beers are simply meant to be together. Austin’s Hopdoddy Burger Bar combines these two tasty indulgences, and it does so in a stylish location to boot. The South Congress location is often very crowded, which creates a fun, lively atmosphere that bolsters the restaurant’s overall funky vibe. The inside features modern decor with bold neon green chairs at the number of tables scattered throughout, as well as a spacious outdoor patio perfect for cooler evenings.
Unique burgers made entirely of antibiotic-free beef and housemade buns promise a fresh burger experience. Creative options like the tzatziki-smothered Greek or the Southwestern Terlingua feature Hopdoddy’s numerous toppings, and each one comes with Kennebec fries or chili con queso for even more delicious flavor. Finish your meal with a craft beer or one of Hopdoddy’s thick milkshakes—or splurge for both—and you’ll leave feeling full and satisfied.
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
1400 S. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 243-7505
www.hopdoddy.com
www.yelp.com/biz/hopdoddy-burger-bar-austin
How to Strike the Ideal Work-Life Balance
October 16, 2014 by
Between housework, errands, family obligations, and professional duties, maintaining a healthy balance between work and home life is nothing short of a juggling act. If you feel as though you're being pulled in a thousand directions, read these tips to help refocus your priorities and help shed some stress.
1) Ask for help.
As they say, "It takes a village." Reach out to friends, family, and neighbors for help on days when you're stretched especially thin. For instance, you might trade off carpooling or babysitting duties with a neighbor, or assign chores and errands to family members.
2) Just say no.
Establish clear boundaries. Train yourself to ignore unimportant work emails when you're off the clock. Similarly, do your best not to bring personal issues into the workplace. If you're overloaded with work, tactfully relay the fact to your employer, and ask for more time if handed additional assignments.
3) Make yourself a priority.
When you're responsible for the welfare of others, it's easy to put your own needs and ambitions on the back burner. However, you'll likely find that a little "me time" will go a long way in helping you deal with everyday obligations. Be sure to schedule time for your own hobbies and interests every week.
The Top 10 Tips for Balancing Work and Family Life [Mom MD]
14 Steps to Achieving Work-Life Balance [Salary.com]
6 Strategies for Work-Life Balance [Oprah]
Get a good balance between work and life [Action for Happiness]
CRAFT: Drop-in Studio Sessions and Art Workshops in Austin
October 9, 2014 by
If you’re interested in learning a new skill or hobby but don’t want to commit to a set time for a class, Austin’s CRAFT might be just the place for you. At any time during business hours, you can come into CRAFT and grab a workstation for a very reasonable rate of just $10 an hour. That rate includes access to a staggering amount of materials, including paint, paper, ribbons, stamps and ink, both air dry and polymer clay, collage materials, screenprinting screens, and much more. They also sell additional supplies, including canvases and frames, at a very reasonable rate.
If you’re not the free form type, CRAFT hosts a wide variety of events and workshops throughout the week. Some of the most popular include the weekly Intro to Screenprinting class, which gives you everything you need to print t-shirts, tote bags, and other fabric projects, as well as the Hearts & Crafts workshops on Wednesdays that focus on crafting as a means of personal development and self-expression.
CRAFT
1632 S. 1st Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 900-9957
www.craft-austin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/craft-austin
Wink Restaurant & Wine Bar: Fresh Food and Fine Wine in Austin
October 2, 2014 by
Austin’s Wink Restaurant & Wine Bar believes in supporting small farms and sustainable agriculture, and it is a member of the international slow food movement. Wink sources more than 75% of its menu items from within 100 miles of the restaurant, and the menu changes daily depending on what ingredients are fresh and available.
For diners who want to take a tasty tour of the day’s best offerings, Wink features a daily chef’s tasting menu of five or seven courses. Wink also features a daily farm and garden vegetarian tasting menu. Appropriate wine-pairings enhance each course. The elegant and intimate restaurant space fills up quickly, so reservations are recommended. Guests can also enjoy the full menu, and a more casual environment, in the Wine Bar.
The Wine Bar opens at 5 p.m. daily. The dining room opens its doors to dinner guests from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and from 5:30 p.m. ‘til 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Wink Restaurant & Wine Bar
1014 North Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 482-8868
www.winkrestaurant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/wink-austin
Sip Sangria, Bite Into a Crawfish Po’Boy at Red’s Porch
September 25, 2014 by
Austin’s a pretty relaxed town, all things considered, so many of its eateries keep a pretty casual vibe. One place that locals love to hang out is Red’s Porch, a fun and funky Southern restaurant that draws a big crowd of diners. Located around the back of the building, the space is airy and open, with patios on both sides of the restaurant that fill up quick on nice days.
Start out with a glass of sangria or margarita. When you move on to food, don’t miss the chicken-fried steak; it’s moist, tender, juicy and served with copious amounts of delectable gravy. Other fine menu options include the bacon-wrapped shrimp and jalapeno skewers with remoulade sauce and dirty rice, as well as the po’boy sandwiches (get the crawfish!).
Red's Porch
3508 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 440-7337
www.redsporch.com
www.yelp.com/biz/reds-porch-austin
Three Fun Halloween Decor Projects
September 18, 2014 by
Who said that Halloween is just for kids? From spooky cocktail parties to elegantly scary decorations, there are a number of ways to celebrate the year’s scariest season in a truly grown-up manner. Here are three Halloween decor projects that even the adults will love.
Cocktail Clip-Art Labels [Martha Stewart]
If you’re having a Halloween party for your of-age friends, they’ll certainly get a kick out of these cocktail labels. Sure, you know that your drinks are perfectly safe for human consumption, but with labels like Toxic Tonic, they might give your guests a bit of a fright.
Illuminated Pumpkin Topiary [DIY Network]
For something a bit more elegant than the usual stringy faux cobwebs, this pumpkin topiary makes a festive centerpiece on the kitchen table or mantle. Cover a few carving pumpkins with chic metallic spray paint, then drape them with beaded strands and white twinkling lights for a beautiful look that’s still a bit haunting.
Spooky Terrariums [Country Living]
Instead of filling a terrarium with plants and moss, place some spiders, dead branches, and even a creepy crow figurine inside. Place the terrariums on a shelf and you'll have a spooky decoration for a party.
End of an Ear: Buy, Sell or Trade at This Hip Record Store
September 15, 2014 by
In one of the country’s most musical cities, a great record store is imperative. End of an Ear is one such record store in the south Austin area, selling an eclectic mix of vinyl records, DVDs, and even some musical equipment in the back. The record selection includes new releases that are updated weekly, as well as old classics and even some underground gems that are hard to find at other stores.
The staff is incredibly knowledgeable, if a bit standoffish, as is to be expected from a busy record store. If you want to test out a record before purchasing it, there are a few turntables with attached headphones scattered throughout the store. Many customers also turn to End of an Ear to exchange old records or DVDs, and the shop offers generous store credit or cash for consignment items.
End of an Ear is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays.
End of an Ear
2209 S. First Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 462-6008
www.endofanear.com
www.yelp.com/biz/end-of-an-ear-austin
Equal Housing Opportunity