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Take a Spin Around the Rink at Ice Skating on the Plaza

November 23, 2015 by

Just because you live in Texas doesn't mean you should miss out on the classic holiday activities that signify the start of the season. Case in point: ice skating. The Whole Foods near downtown Austin, which isn't far from Lamar Union, wants to make sure that everyone gets a chance to take a spin around an ice rink. That's why the store welcomes guests to enjoy its ice skating rink from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. all throughout the holiday season.

For $10, you can rent a pair of skates and sail across the ice during open hours with a friend. Since the ice skating rink resides on the rooftop at Whole Foods, you can enjoy beautiful views of Austin while you slice your first figure 8 of the season into the fresh ice at the rink.

Ice Skating on the Plaza
Nov. 29 through Jan. 9
Whole Foods
525 N. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78703
www.wholefoodsmarket.com/store/event/ice-skating-plaza

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Go Texan Restaurant Round-Up at Carmelo’s: Taste Texas Ingredients in Every Bite

July 16, 2015 by

Go Texan Restaurant Round-Up celebrates the bounty of the Lone Star State. It rounds up restaurants interested in serving only locally sourced produce, meats, and wines for the entire month of July. This year, Carmelo's lands on that list. The Austin eatery resides only 2.5 miles away from Lamar Union, so head here before the end of July to sample its fresh Texas take on Italian cuisine.

Kick off your local meal with the lasagnetta, crafted from farro lasagna, burrata cheese, tomatoes, and pesto. Or try the spaghetti simmered in Fall Creek Cabernet and dusted with parmigiano reggiano. Save some room for the sauteed cod with puree of peas or the chicken scaloppine with summer veggies and cauliflower frittata. Dessert also showcases Texas-born ingredients, like the fresh dairy in the ice cream cake (also known as torta gelato). For each course, you can pick a wine pairing. Reds and whites from nearby vineyards are on tap, as is Saint Arnold's Shiner Bock beer.

Go Texan Restaurant Round-Up
Carmelo's
Now through July 31
504 E. 5th Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 477-7497
www.carmelosrestaurant.com/events?event=65
www.gotexanrestaurantroundup.com

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Strengthen and Lengthen Outdoors with Wanderlust Yoga at the Springs on Monday Evenings

June 12, 2015 by

There's nothing quite like doing yoga outdoors — the fresh air; the soft grass cushioning your mat; the natural soundtrack lulling you into a state of relaxation. These are all perks you can't get in a yoga studio, which is why many yoga instructors take their practice outside during the summer months. In Austin, you can enjoy a free yoga class outdoors courtesy of Wanderlust Yoga at the Spring.

This weekly event transforms Barton Springs Pool at Zilker Park, just a mile from Lamar Union, into a yoga studio—sans the walls. Just bring a mat and a bottle of water, and you can join in with the flowing poses at a vinyasa-style class. Yogis of all skill levels are welcome, and there's more to do after class commences. At 8:30 p.m., local cafe Blenders and Bowls will dole out free snacks. Nibble on the fresh food and then allow some time for your stomach to settle before 9 p.m., when open swim begins.

Wanderlust Yoga at the Spring
Barton Springs Pool at Zilker Park
7:30 p.m. Mondays
2201 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX 78746
www.facebook.com/media/set/wanderlustyoga

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Plan B Brunch at Historic Scoot Inn: Mimosas and Barbecue After Hours

May 15, 2015 by

Brunch is a beautiful thing, especially if you had a particularly fun night before. It's a time to stave off a hangover with greasy food or, if you had a quiet night, just fuel up for your day. There's only one problem: you have to wake up first. Plan B Brunch at Austin's Historic Scoot Inn takes care of that problem by holding brunch after hours.

From 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Sunday night in May, the Historic Scoot Inn hosts a late-night brunch that proves mimosas taste even better after dinner. Unfolding less than 3 miles from your home at Lamar Union, just a quick 10-minute drive, Plan B Brunch is a fun option if you're older than 21 and couldn't drag yourself out of bed earlier in the day. Local musician Flavor Raid will be laying down fast-paced electronic beats while you dance and dig into tacos, barbecue, and burgers provided by the Scoot Inn and popular local food truck Hot Mess. Of course, mimosas will also be flowing freely.

Plan B Brunch
Historic Scoot Inn
10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sundays through May 31
1308 E. 4th Street
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 394-5486
scootinnaustin.com

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Go for a Run Around Sunset near Lamar Union at Austin’s Lady Bird Lake

April 3, 2015 by

From the path that winds around Lady Bird Lake you can see the entire Austin skyline etched into the sparkling blue Texas sky. It's a breathtaking sight, particularly at sunrise or sunset. Go for a spin around the lake as the sun peeks over Austin's buildings to get a glimpse of the pretty panorama in a spot not too far from Lamar Union.

Along the way, take a break under the shade of a knotty tree. Or you can skip the run all together and pack lunch, a good book, and a blanket, and sprawl out on the grass for an afternoon. Striking purple flora lines the trail here and there, making for a colorful distraction in the midst of your stroll or jog. Don't forget to stop by the Steve Ray Vaughan Memorial Statue during your tour of Lady Bird Lake. It pays tribute to the iconic American musician born and bred in nearby Dallas. He presides over the lake from a sunny perch right by the water.

Lady Bird Lake
Austin, TX
www.austintexas.gov/page/lady-bird-lake
www.yelp.com/biz/lady-bird-lake-austin

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Learn More About a Literary Icon at the O. Henry Museum near Lamar Union in Austin

January 30, 2015 by

The literary icon who would write The Gifts of the Magi, The Ransom of Red Chief, and The Cop and the Anthem once made Austin his home, and Austin's lucky to have a collection of O. Henry's archival materials. The space draws literature scholars, of course, but it's also an interesting place to visit for readers who'd like to learn more about the life and times of this renowned writer.

At the O. Henry Museum in Austin, you can learn more about this enigmatic artist by exploring the home that O. Henry shared with his wife and daughter. It still contains memorabilia of their time there, and it often hosts workshops about writing short stories like O. Henry did so well.

This Austin museum is just a short trip from Lamar Union, making it easy to visit to see it for yourself.

O. Henry Museum
409 E. 5th Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 472-1903
www.austintexas.gov/department/o-henry-museum
www.yelp.com/biz/o-henry-home-and-museum-austin

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