Each year, the Austin International Poetry Festival brings poets from all around the world right to your neighborhood. In fact, over the past 25 years since the festival began, it has hosted artists from more than 45 countries. So don't miss your chance to meet some of the most renowned international poets at this year's Austin International Poetry Festival from April 6th to 9th.

At cafes and other local venues scattered throughout the city, Austin Poets International brings both professional and novice poets in front of audiences. You can actually sign up for one of the open mic nights and debut your own original works during the Austin International Poetry Festival. Of course, you can also just sit back and enjoy the live poetry performances, attend a workshop, or take part in the poetry symposium at the Austin International Poetry Festival.

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Chef Jesus Mendoza, Jr. crafts breakfast, lunch, and dinner without any meat—often without any animal products at all or even wheat or gluten—at Mr. Natural. These days, he does so with ease. After all, he's been an integral part of Mr. Natural's kitchen since it first opened in 1988.

Come in on Monday for a special dish like the mole enchiladas, or stop by on Wednesday for veggie stir-fry with black beans on the side. Crispy tacos, fried eggplant, and tamales are just a few of the other Mexican-inspired eats on the menu throughout the week at Mr. Natural. Mr. Natural has branched out into baking as well, so if you're looking for a specialty cake made with fresh, healthy ingredients, consider checking in with his team about crafting something sweet for your next event.

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Austin is known as a hub for fresh and fun live music, but until 12 years ago, its local music scene had a noticeable gap. The Urban Music Festival filled this gap when it debuted in 2005. Now more than a decade later, the fest continues to bring the city's best performers—both big names and up-and-coming acts—right to your backyard.

This year, come out and enjoy shows by artists including Tony! Toni! Toné!, Letoya Luckett, and MC Lyte on Friday night. The roster on Saturday evening includes Keith Sweat, The Whispers, Althea René, Kyle Turner, and Michael Ward. The event will be held at Auditorium Shores at Town Lake on March 31st and April 1st, and tickets start around $40.

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