Quack’s 43rd Street Bakery: Homemade Goodness

Texas may be known for its barbeque, but it’s also home to some cherished bakeries. If you're craving some fresh baked goods, consider stopping into Quack’s 43rd Street Bakery. The Austin staple is located not far from Lamar Union.

Quack’s 43rd Street Bakery is a coffee shop and bakery specializing in homemade goods. Since Quack’s opened years ago, its menu has expanded drastically. Originally only serving espresso drinks to customers, the menu now includes a wide range of hot and cold drinks and a deli sandwich menu. The bakery menu features a large variety of tasty treats, with more than a dozen flavors of pie, homemade layer cakes, and other pastries and muffins that can all be special ordered.

Read All About It at the Texas Teen Book Festival

One of the largest events of its kind in the country, the Texas Teen Book Festival is a one-day gathering of authors of young adult literature and those who love their books. Started in 2009 as the Austin Teen Book Festival, this event has grown exponentially over the years, with 35 authors participating and thousands attending. Mindy Kaling will be on hand to discuss her two comedic memoirs, and keynote speakers Laini Taylor and Leigh Bardugo will also share stories while kicking off the festival.

Authors will tout new works and conduct readings, autograph books, and speak in panels on a variety of topics. Other festival highlights include workshops teaching the basics of traditional and spoken word poetry and a literary costume contest. The Texas Teen Book Festival will be held at St. Edward's University, about two and a half miles from Lamar Union.

Texas Teen Book Festival
When: Saturday, Oct. 1
Where: St. Edward's University, 3001 South Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78704
texasteenbookfestival.org

BeerFeast Austin Returns With Craft Beer From 70 Breweries

Food trucks and beer are the name of the game at the annual BeerFeast Austin, which returns on Saturday, October 15th. The annual festival calls on the beer aficionados from Flying Saucer to curate a list of more than 100 beers from 70 breweries that will be readily available at the festival—many of the beers at BeerFeast are rare or limited brews. The beer list will be released as the festival date gets closer. Beyond drinks, there will be plenty of food available from local food trucks too.

The 21-plus festival runs from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at Triangle Park. General admission tickets are $35 in advance and include a commemorative tasting glass and 12 beer samples. Additional beer samples are available for an additional cost. Those who want to get the full experience can purchase VIP tickets for $68. VIP tickets include beer samples, food vouchers, a commemorative t-shirt, and entry to the festival a full hour earlier. Residents of Lamar Union who are beer enthusiasts should be sure to check out this festival—it’s happening just five miles away.

BeerFeast Austin
When: 2 – 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 15
Where: Triangle Park, 4600 W. Guadalupe Street, Austin, TX 78751
Cost: $35 for general admission, $68 for VIP
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beerfeast-austin-tickets-26154970220?aff=es2

WorkWell Austin: Check Out This Popular Spot for Massages and Spa Treatments

With an amazing staff that makes everyone feel at ease, WorkWell Austin is a beloved spot for massages, facials, and more. Located just a half-mile from Lamar Union, WorkWell Austin earns fans from all over the city for its excellent services and convenient hours. The staff goes above and beyond to make each client feel pampered, and they will use essential oils and wraps to hone in on any area that needs extra attention. The staff really cares about each guest as an individual, so you can be sure that you'll feel comfortable here.

It’s easy to book an appointment online, and you can often book just a day or two before you'd like your treatment. WorkWell Austin even has options for monthly memberships. The basic one is $60 for a 50-minute massage or any other service you’d like—and the services even roll over if you happen to be extra busy one month. Be sure to check out this great spot!

Enjoy a Paella and Wine Pairing at Barlata Tapas Bar

With all the ingredients for a fun night out, Barlata Tapas Bar is a great place for your next party. Using recipes from Northern Spain, owner and chef Daniel Olivella presents delicious dishes that are perfect for sharing. One favorite dish is the ceviche with shrimp, octopus, and scallops​ in a citrusy tomato sauce. Other impressive tastes are the fennel sausage in squid ink and the pequillo peppers stuffed with crab. Finish your meal with an amazing dessert like the vanilla churro ice cream.

Every tapas dish is half-price during happy hour, making this a really affordable choice for a weekday meal. The servers are happy to guide you to dishes that each member of your party will love. Each day has a special pairing of wine and paella for just $15 too. Barlata Tapas Bar has a parking garage if you need it, though the restaurant is just a short distance from Lamar Union. Be sure to check out this great local restaurant!

The Out of Bounds Comedy Festival Brings the Laughs All Over Austin

There's no better way to celebrate the impending arrival of autumn than a week-long lineup of the world's best comedians. That's precisely what you'll find at the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival, an annual tradition in Austin. For the fifteenth year in a row, this festival takes over Austin in the week leading up to Labor Day weekend, featuring performances by some of the funniest people from around the nation and the globe.

From sketch shows to improv to standup, the many forms that comedy takes during the Out of Bounds fest means that there's something for everyone. You can buy a pass to a single show that intrigues you, or snag a festival pass if you want to see every performance on the schedule (or at least a good handful). The pass grants you access to headliners too, including some local comedians and those with experience performing in big comedy markets like Chicago and L.A., including John Belushi's nephew, Rob Belushi.

Out of Bounds Comedy Festival
When: August 30 – September 5
Where: Various locations, Austin, TX
Cost: $45+
www.outofboundscomedy.com

Enjoy a Carafe of Your Favorite Tea at Zhi Tea

If you have a love for tea, you shouldn’t have trouble finding yourself among tea-loving-peers at Zhi Tea, a tea-centric cafe located not far from Lamar Union. Zhi Tea has an incredibly warm and cozy atmosphere, welcoming guests to have a cup and stay a while. If you have some work to get done, the environment is quiet and conducive to productivity, with its soothing deep red walls and friendly wait staff.

Guests can secure entire carafes of different flavored teas to enjoy while they hang out or take home tea to make at their leisure. You can also order sandwiches and other light bites to pair with your favorite tea if you work up an appetite. If you’re not in the Austin area, you can even order teas from Zhi Tea online, so be sure to check out this unique tea house.

Flat Track Coffee Co.: Enjoy a Carefully Sourced Cup

Even in the midst of a colorful roster of Austin cafes, Flat Track Coffee Co. became a local favorite almost immediately thanks to its carefully sourced javas. In fact, in early 2016, the beloved local cafe moved down Cesar Chavez Street to a larger storefront so that it could accommodate more customers. Head to the beautiful, spacious coffee house to try a sip.

There's the signature Dogspeed, which originates in East Africa and South America—typically from small farms in Ethiopia and Colombia—and features fruity flavors, particularly mango and blueberry, that give way to a chocolatey finish. You can also sip on the Sidepipe coffee, which comes from two regions in Colombia where coffee beans grow in higher altitudes. This roast creates a cup that tastes subtly of dark chocolate, cherry, and praline.

Sustainable Food Center Farmers’ Markets Run Four Convenient Local Markets Near You

You can shop fruit, veggies, meat, cheese, flowers, and more from Central Texas farmers and food producers at the Sustainable Food Center’s (SFC) farmers' markets. SFC runs four of the area’s most popular markets: SFC Farmers' Market Downtown, SFC Farmers' Market at Sunset Valley, SFC Community Farm Stand East, and SFC Farmers' Market at the Triangle. Each of the four markets occur on different days of the week. More information on specific dates times and locations is available online, so be sure to check out the website.

Each week, the markets welcome local vendors selling a variety of goods, including honey, meat, produce, fish, cheese, and ready-to-eat food. A number of the markets even offer activities and crafts. Live music often can be heard at the markets too. None of the farmers’ markets are far from Lamar Union, and their different schedules make it easy to shop local this summer.

Broken Spoke: One of Texas’s Last Dance Halls

Billed as the "last of the true Texas dance halls," the Broken Spoke is almost always hosting dance lessons, a live band, or both. Located on South Lamar in Austin, this old school dance hall offers two-step and swing dancing lessons Wednesday through Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Just show up a little ahead of class to sign up.

If you're already a solid dancer, just stop by any time the dance hall is open to show off your stuff. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. There's a live band every night from 6 to 8 p.m., so you shouldn't have any trouble picking up a beat. Of course, you can also skip the dancing and sit down for a meal. Broken Spoke's menu incorporates a full list of Texan fare and Mexican cuisine, ranging from the "famous" chicken-fried steak to quesadillas and fajitas.

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