Sink a Spoon into a Bowl of Tomato-Basil Soup at The Soup Peddler

Chicken soup with rice; tomato-basil soup; mulligatawny; Green Goddess. The soups of the day change every morning at each location of The Soup Peddler, so you can't necessarily expect all of these to be on the menu when you visit the Mary Street branch. But if you do see the tomato-basil, regulars highly recommend that you try it.

If you aren't a fan of soup, though, don't be deterred by the eatery's name. In addition to the daily soups, The Soup Peddler also offers a slate of freshly pressed juices, smoothies, and grab-and-go salads. If you want to sip on your fruits and veggies, order the Flotsam and Jetsam juice with cucumber, apple, kale, ginger, and lemon. For something sweeter, opt for the Busy Bee smoothie with local bee pollen, banana, goji berry, orange juice, and mango instead. You can also just pick up an iced coffee or a single detoxifying shot of juice at The Soup Peddler.

The Soup Peddler
501 W. Mary Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-7687
www.souppeddler.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-soup-peddler-real-food-and-juice-bar-austin-5

New Facebook Sweepstakes! Enter to Win an iPad Mini!

To enter the Sweepstakes, visit our Facebook Page and then look for the Sweepstakes tab (image shown below) located on our Facebook Page to enter. Sweepstakes ends June 30, 2016. We suggest you like our page to keep informed about future sweepstakes and community happenings.

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Don’t Miss Happy Hour at House Wine

Austinites seem to agree that happy hour is a great time to visit House Wine. Not only does the wine bar draw an energetic crowd in the early evening but also its drink specials slash the standard prices (which are pretty reasonable to begin with).

Every day, you can grab a glass of wine during happy hour for $5 or a bottle for $18, but each day also brings its own events. On Mondays, House Wine highlights 10 bottles that are only $20 each. On Tuesdays, come for a wine-tasting class with cheese included for $25. Wednesdays mean all-day happy hour, and Thursdays involve free apps and live music out on the patio. Any day of the week, you're welcome to grab a glass of House Wine's white sangria, a wine cocktail like the Juicy Ginger or Sorbet Sparkling wine float, or even a beer float at House Wine.

House Wine
408 Josephine Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 322-5120
www.housewineaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/house-wine-austin

Craving a Cupcake? Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop Can Help

Sugar Mama's Bakeshop does one thing, and they do it well: dessert. You'll find no breads or sandwiches here, just decadent treats designed to satisfy even the most persistent sweet tooth. From cupcakes to cookies, there's something for everyone—but regulars do have a few recommendations.

The Southern Belle cupcake features a red velvet foundation, but it's almost entirely obscured by sweet, soft cream cheese frosting. A single small red heart crowns the creation. The Marilyn Monroe cupcake, on the other hand, showcases vanilla cake with Madagascar bourbon vanilla buttercream on top and a dusting of pink sprinkles plus a heart-embellished arrow. The sweet-salty Odd Couple cupcake is almost as popular. Its Valrhona chocolate cake comes with a swirled blend of house-made salted caramel and vanilla cream cheese frosting, then a chocolate-covered pretzel as the final flourish.

Sugar Mama's Bakeshop
1905 S. First Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 448-3727
www.sugarmamasbakeshop.com
www.yelp.com/biz/sugar-mamas-bakeshop-austin-3

Don’t Miss the African Peanut Soup at Austin Java

When you're looking for a spot to hunker down for the day with your laptop and an exceptional cup of coffee, Austin Java should really be at the top of your list. The coffeehouse near Lamar Union offers its customers free Wi-Fi, carefully crafted java drinks, and New American bites to boot.

Leave your laptop at home and bring your dog along if you intend to eat out on the patio—he's more than welcome there. Breakfast is served all day, so you can always dig into some chicken and waffles, a stack of buttermilk pancakes, or eggs Benedict with lump crabmeat. But when you come for lunch or dinner, pair your piping-hot cup of coffee with popular dishes like the maple-glazed stuffed pork, the juicy burger, or the chicken-fried steak. You can also slurp up some of the popular African peanut soup.

Austin Java
1608 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 482-9450
www.austinjava.com
www.yelp.com/biz/austin-java-austin-2

Achieve Peace That Extends Beyond Class at Sanctuary Yoga

It's not just that Sanctuary Yoga lets students practice in a comfortable space—complete with knotted, towering trees outside and sun-dappled hardwood floors inside. And it isn't just the fact that Sanctuary Yoga lets pupils walk in for $15 (and snag deeper discounts when they buy multiple-class passes). The real appeal of Sanctuary Yoga lies in the fact that it's a nonprofit business, and whatever you spend on class goes directly to the Amala Foundation. The organization touts unity, compassion, and leadership as a way of achieving peace.

That makes Amala Foundation the perfect affiliate for a yoga studio, given that the practice of yoga itself is about internal and external peace. So grab your mat and attend one of the many classes held almost every day in this breathtaking space. From fast-moving vinyasa classes for all levels to slower-paced yoga and meditation, there's something for everyone at Sanctuary Yoga in Austin.

Sanctuary Yoga
1006 S. 8th Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 476-8884
sanctuaryyogaaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/sanctuary-yoga-studio-austin

Luke’s Inside Out: Order the Korean Barbecue Rabbit Sandwich

Luke's Inside Out may not have your typical kitchen or dining room, but that doesn't hold namesake (and chef-owner) Luke Bibby back. His food trailer, which sits right next to Gibson Bar, dishes out some of the most inventive fusion sandwiches and a killer Sunday brunch buffet.

Step right up to the olive green food trailer and check out the chalkboard menu for that day's options. In addition to rotating specials, you'll always find a handful of "shareables" and the same griddled sandwiches that earned Luke's a guest spot on the Food Network. Regulars highly recommend the rabbit sandwich, which features Korean barbecue sauce, kimchee, and tater tots, all stuffed inside toasted French bread.

Luke's Inside Out
1109 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 589-8883
www.lukesinsideout.com
www.yelp.com/biz/lukes-inside-out-austin

The Saxon Pub Hosts Live Music Every Night Near Lamar Union

Anyone looking to hear some live music should make plans to check out The Saxon Pub, a bar that is just down the street from Lamar Union. The music venue welcomes an assortment of musicians to the stage every day of the month and tends to host emerging musicians. On any given night, the stage could welcome three different acts for three different shows. For example, Johnny Nicholas, Bronco Jr., and Walt Wilkins are all slated to take the stage on March 30. Tickets, or cover, can generally be paid for at the door, but tickets for the most-anticipated shows are available online in advance.

In addition to music, The Saxon Pub serves beer and happy hour deals throughout each evening. The bar is also home to a number of televisions where guests can watch the latest sports games. The Saxon Pub is open daily until 2 a.m.

The Saxon Pub
1320 South Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 448-2552
www.yelp.com/biz/the-saxon-pub-austin
thesaxonpub.com/

Maudie’s Too: A Favorite Location of a Beloved Local Chain Near Lamar Union

The second location of a restaurant chain that has expanded through seven Austin neighborhoods, Maudie’s Too lives up to and exceeds the Maudie’s reputation for delicious Tex-Mex food served in a welcoming atmosphere. The Maudie’s franchise has been open since the early 50s, but the cuisine switched to Tex-Mex in 1992. It was definitely a good move for its patrons, who keep coming back for the cheese enchiladas, vegetarian breakfast tacos, and chicken chile relleno.

The extensive menu has everything your Tex-Mex-loving heart could desire, so you can try something new each time you visit. And, of course, there are tasty margaritas, bloody marys, and mimosas to wash it all down. Brunch is a favorite time to visit, and you can enjoy your meal while taking in a cool breeze on the huge patio. Maudie’s Too is right outside your door at Lamar Union, so if you haven’t checked it out yet, visit soon!

Maudie's Too
1212 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 440-8088
http://www.maudies.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/maudies-too-austin

Blue Cat Café Near Lamar Union: Hang with Cats for a Good Cause

Can’t get enough cats? Blue Cat Café is the first cat café in the state of Texas, and, lucky for you, it’s just down the road from Lamar Union. The cat café concept originated in Japan and is now sweeping the US in locations across the country. The idea is fairly simple: Blue Cat Café is a café that houses cats. You come in, order a snack or drink, and are free to pet and play with a variety of fine felines. If there’s one that steals your heart, you are welcome to adopt!

Delicious hotdogs, sandwiches, tacos, and snacks are on the menu here, all with cat-themed names. The décor is really fun, with cat furniture and plenty of perches for the kitties to hang out on. There’s also a shop in the front of the café, offering everything your four-pawed friend could desire.

Blue Cat Café
95 Navasota Street
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 368-3406
www.bluecatcafe.com/
www.yelp.com/biz/blue-cat-caf%C3%A9-austin-2

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