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See the Honeybees at the Austin Nature and Science Center

January 21, 2016 by

Have you ever wondered how honey gets from the hive to your tea? Less than two miles from Lamar Union lies the answer. It's at the Austin Nature and Science Center, a museum that recently unveiled an exhibit about honey bees fittingly called The Secret Lives of Honey Bees.

From now until May 8, you can visit The Secret Lives of Honey Bees and and learn all about how they pollinate wildflowers and make your honey. You'll also find out more about why pollination makes such a difference in nature, as well as what distinguishes a honey bee from your standard bee. You can actually watch honey bees work, buzzing around the observation hive, and play a pollination-themed video game to boost your honey bee knowledge even more. While you're at the exhibit, make sure to read up on the current threats to honey bees—they could affect your morning tea if left unchecked.

The Secret Lives of Honey Bees
Through May 8
Austin Nature and Science Center
2389 Stratford Drive
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 974-3888
www.austintexas.gov/department/austin-nature-and-science-center
www.yelp.com/biz/austin-nature-and-science-center-austin-2

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The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar Returns For its 40th Year!

December 4, 2015 by

The holiday season is upon us, which means it’s time to kick your shopping into gear. Luckily, the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar returns for its 40th year from Dec.15 through 24 with handmade goods from nearly 200 artisans. The featured products come in a range of prices to meet just about anyone's budget. Choose from items like small Secret Santa-appropriate gifts to more meaningful presents for loved ones. Expect candles, pottery, jewelry, paintings, sculptures, woodwork, leather goods and more.

In addition to shopping, a number of local musicians will set the tone with live tunes throughout the bazaar. Shoppers can stop for drinks at an on-site bar selling cocktails, beer, and wine. Food from Southside Flying Pizza will be available as well.

The market is open from from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and it's only one mile from Lamar Union. Admission is $8 for adults and free for those under the age of 12. Don't miss this one!

Armadillo Christmas Bazaar
Dec. 15-24, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
900 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX 78704
www.armadillobazaar.com

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Zilker Park Gets a Festive Makeover with the Trail of Lights

December 2, 2015 by

When the Austin parks and rec department held the city's first Yule Fest in 1965, they probably had no idea what a long-lasting mark the holiday festival would make. Now 50 years later, the Yule Fest is still delighting Austinites around the holiday—but today, it's known as the Trail of Lights.

Last year, more than 400,000 people experienced the Trail of Lights at Austin's iconic Zilker Park. Known across the country as one of Austin's biggest events, the Trail of Lights rings in the season with a display of twinkling lights and stunning holiday decorations. They include everything from wintry gingerbread houses and chugging trains to dinosaurs and Ferris wheels. Bring your whole brood along and get swept up in the holiday magic this year at the Trail of Lights at Zilker Park. The fun awaits just a hop, skip and a jump away from Lamar Union.

Trail of Lights
Zilker Park
7 to 10 p.m. Dec. 8 to 22
2100 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX 78704
austintrailoflights.org

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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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Get to Know Donn’s Depot, a Legendary Austin Watering Hole

November 18, 2015 by

It seems every dive bar fan in Austin (and beyond) has heard of Donn’s Depot, a famous spot with tons of live music and dancing that's only 1.5 miles from Lamar Union. BuzzFeed even included Donn’s Depot on a list of 35 must-do things in Austin!

The menu is pretty straightforward, with drafts like Budweiser, Shiner Bock an Guiness; bottles like Bud Lite, Tecate, Smirnoff Ice and Miller Lite; and a number of wines as well as cocktails.

What’s super cool about the bar is that it used to be an old Missouri-Pacific train depot, so the decor throughout the bar is full of some of the original pieces that filled the space — seating throughout the bar are real train cars and the women’s bathroom is the train’s caboose.

Live music rocks the bar six nights a week playing everything from swing to pop.

Donn’s Depot is open until 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and is closed on Sundays.

Donn’s Depot
1600 W. 5th St.
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 478-0336
donnsdepot.com
www.yelp.com/biz/donns-depot-austin-2

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Satisfy Your Hot Chocolate Cravings at Holy Cacao, A Food Truck for Chocolate Lovers Near Lamar Union

November 11, 2015 by

While the city is well known for its abundance of food trucks slinging tacos, barbecue, and other savory cuisines, Holy Cacao is Austin's first chocolate food truck. This mobile sweet shop has two locations in Austin: a rustic cedar-covered trailer at the original South First location about a mile from Lamar Union, and now a bright white trailer at the Rio Rancho Eatery.

Wherever you are in town, it’s easy to pop in to—or rather, outside of—a Holy Cacao trailer for a chocolatey treat to brighten your day. Grab an espresso or coffee drink first thing in the morning, or indulge with a famous frozen hot chocolate on a warm Austin afternoon. There are even vegan hot chocolates made entirely without diary. The shop’s trademarked Cake Shakes make the perfect desserts after dinner, while cake balls and other treats pair perfectly with any of Holy Cacao’s delicious drinks.

Holy Cacao
1311 S. 1st Street
Austin, TX 78704
www.theholycacao.com

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Soak Up Irish Tradition at the Austin Celtic Festival This Weekend!

November 3, 2015 by

Anyone with roots in Celtic culture (or just an interest in it) should mark their calendars for Saturday, Nov. 7. That's when the Austin Celtic Festival begins to unfold at Fiesta Gardens, about three miles away from Lamar Union. The two-day festival promises a little something from every area of Celtic tradition, from Celtic tunes to Celtic canines.

The lineup of Celtic performers is pretty impressive, the bands showcasing everything from the violin to the bagpipe. Some of the performers have actually played in Scotland and around Europe, so you won't want to miss their sets. Also keep your eyes peeled for the Celtic Dog Parade, which shows off pooches with roots planted across the pond (you can also see a sheepdog herding demo). If you want to learn more about Celtic history, try your hand at Celtic sports or dance, or attend a workshop hosted by the ACF School of Traditional Arts, you can accomplish all of these goals at the Austin Celtic Festival, too.

Austin Celtic Festival
Fiesta Gardens
Noon to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 and 8
2102 Jesse E. Segovia Street
Austin, TX 78702
www.austincelticfestival.com/index.html

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Celebrate All Hallow’s Eve at Highballoween This Year

October 27, 2015 by

If you're the type of person who always means to go out on Halloween, but somehow seems to end up snuggled up inside instead, The Highball is making things painfully easy for you this year. The bar is located a mere 300 feet from Lamar Union—it's actually in your complex. So that "I don't feel like going out" excuse is going to fall extra flat this year.

That's fine, though, because you won't want to miss Highballoween anyway. How often does Halloween fall on a Saturday? You need to take full advantage. The bar's ballroom morphs into a haunted house, complete with creepy music videos playing in the background and constant pranks. Don your best costume and jump in the photo booth with friends, but get professional help from a face painting artist before you do. You might snag $200 if your costume wins the contest. There will also be plenty of candy on hand, not to mention other autumn activities (think bobbing for apples).

Highballoween
The Highball
9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Oct. 31
1120 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 383-8309
thehighball.com/events/detail/27726
www.yelp.com/biz/the-highball-austin-2

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Pasta Artigianale: Freshly Crafted Italian Fare from a Food Trailer

October 21, 2015 by

Austin's laid-back approach to dining enables even chefs with modest means to get their food out there, particularly thanks to the rise of the food trailer. The chefs working in the cramped kitchen at Pasta Artigianale only recently joined that subset of chefs, unveiling their food trailer in August. It's permanently parked less than two miles from Lamar Union.

Don't let the size of the "restaurant" fool you; this Italian food is the real stuff. Chefs have time to really perfect each dish because they keep the menu so small, offering only six dishes. Each showcases freshly crafted pasta, starting with the bucatini alla amatriciana and ending with the lasagna. Rigatoni al ragu, spaghetti al pesto, penne al ragu di tonno, and spaghetti alla carbonara fill in the space in between. Enjoy your plate of fresh pasta at the picnic table situated right in front of the food window.

Pasta Artigianale
​900 Cesar Chavez
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 915-4855
www.yelp.com/biz/pasta-artigianale-austin

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Create a Farm-To-Table Meal with the HOPE Farmers’ Market

August 19, 2015 by

There’s something so appealing about having a true farm-to-table meal, but that’s getting more and more difficult to find. You can go out to a sustainable restaurant that buys their food from local sources, but it's much more challenging to achieve the same type of meal at home at Lamar Union.

That is, of course, unless you focus on shopping at farmers' markets. And there's no better place than the HOPE Farmers' Market. It brings together local farmers and merchants every Sunday so you can have the farm-to-table experience in your own home. The HOPE Farmers' Market is much more than a place where you can buy good food from local purveyors. It's a gathering spot for the East Austin community and it supports a regional food system that other places have replicated. There’s always an eclectic mix of vendors, the occasional live band or musician, and a variety of events and activities.

The HOPE Farmers Market is open every Sunday and is only 10 minutes away from Lamar Union. Be sure to get there early so you don’t miss out on what East Austin has to offer!

HOPE Farmers Market
11 a.m to 3 p.m. every Sunday
412 Comal St.
Austin, TX 78702
www.yelp.com/biz/hope-farmers-market-austin-2

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