May this autumn bring you a harvest of fun times and laughter with family and friends!
Sip a Craft Beer at South Austin Brewery & Taproom
September 22, 2016 by
Craft beer is one of Austin’s specialties, and you’ll find it in spades at South Austin Brewery & Taproom. This cool and creative brewery offers its own distinctly Austin brews, which come complete with musical pairings in their descriptions.
The brewery recommends sipping its Six String Saison while listening to Kris Kristofferson and rocking out to Jerry Jeff Walker with a cold Kol’Beer, but it also notes that any of its well-made beers taste great while checking out a local band’s set in South Austin Brewery’s spacious taproom. Here, you’ll find a comfortable wooden bar, a red curtained stage, and even an outdoor barbecue grill that occasionally churns out juicy sausage wraps and other barbecue fare.
Beer aficionados in particular will enjoy taking a tour of the brewery, but just about everyone will enjoy sampling flights at the fun, lively bar area.
South Austin Brewery & Taproom
415 E Saint Elmo Road
Austin, TX 78745
(512) 354-BEER
www.southaustinbrewery.com
www.yelp.com/biz/south-austin-brewery-austin-3
The Emerald Restaurant: Authentic Irish Cuisine in Austin
September 15, 2016 by
Celebrate a special occasion with an authentic meal at The Emerald Restaurant in Austin, Texas. The restaurant's 1927 cottage setting is decorated with Irish lace and china. The quaint ambiance transports you across the Atlantic and makes you feel like you're dining in someone’s home. Many customers enjoy the three course meals for two. “The Kinsale” is especially popular which includes the famous potato soup, a tenderloin steak with a Madeira mushroom sauce, and Irish Whiskey cake. Plan for a leisurely pace meal, as everything is made from scratch and cooked to order. The Emerald can seem pricey, but keep your eye out for discount deals and coupons. Reservations are required at this elegant West Austin restaurant.
The Emerald Restaurant
13614 W Highway 71
Austin, TX 78738
(512) 963-4272
www.theemeraldrestaurant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/emerald-restaurant-austin
How to Give Your Rental Home More Pizzazz and Personality
September 15, 2016 by
You want your home's surroundings to reflect your personal style, but this can sometimes prove difficult as a renter. Follow these tips to help give your rental home more life and character!
- Keep fresh flowers and potted plants around to add warmth and life to your space.
- Change out the hardware on your kitchen and bathroom cabinets and drawers. It will make a big impact, and it's easy to change back when you move out.
- Add area rugs to help define your space and to add warmth and color.
- Use temporary wallpaper to create a statement wall and bring some color or bold patterns into your space
- Changing out your light switch plates is such a small detail but can really make a difference. Plus, this is also something you can change right back when you leave.
- Hang your favorite art pieces around to brighten your mood and inspire you. Instead of hammers and nails, use 3M hooks to hang framed photos and posters.
How to Decorate a Rental [Style Me Pretty]
Dos and Don'ts of Decorating a Rental [HGTV]
5 Easy, High-Impact Rental Decorating Ideas (That Can Move With You) [Apartment Therapy]
Public Domain/Flickr/Anna Bieniek
Falconhead Golf Club: Stay On Par at This Scenic Course
September 9, 2016 by
Falconhead Golf Club is one of the more popular public golf courses in Austin. Whether you want to work on your swing or get competitive by joining a league, this scenic course has something for golfers of every skill level. The course was designed by the PGA Tour Design Center to make it both challenging and fun for new golfers, and it features five sets of tee boxes that enable players to customize their own round. You’ll be able to see for miles from Falconhead's many rolling hills, which are signature to the Central Texas Hill Country where Austin is located.
Leagues for men, women, and seniors add a bit of friendly competition to the game, while the Falconhead Golf Shop offers everything you need to keep your golf bag stocked. Finish the day with dinner and drinks at Talon’s Bar and Grill!
Book your tee time on the Falconhead Golf Club website.
Falconhead Golf Club
15201 Falcon Head Boulevard
Austin, Texas 78738
(512) 402-1558
www.falconheadaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/falconhead-golf-club-austin
Free Beer and Stellar Brisket: la Barbecue
September 1, 2016 by
Perhaps the only downside of eating at one of Austin's popular food trucks is that they always seem to have a line stretching away from the window, requiring would-be eaters to wait in the oppressive Texan sun. At la Barbecue, though, customers cross their fingers for a long line. The food truck offers a simple amenity to make the wait bearable, even pleasant: free beer.
Cool off your complimentary suds while you decide what to order. It should be a relatively easy decision, given the fact that la Barbecue's brisket is the favorite by far. However, pulled pork, sausage, turkey, and chopped beef are also on the menu. For some added flavor, order one of the specialty sandwiches like El Sancho Loco with your choice of meat and pickled red onions. Make sure you arrive well ahead of the lunch rush, though, because la Barbecue's opening hours are simply 11 a.m. to "sold out."
la Barbecue
902 E. Cesar Chavez
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 605-9696
www.labarbecue.com
www.yelp.com/biz/la-barbecue-austin-3
The Flying Carpet: Truck It to This Tasty Moroccan Eatery
August 25, 2016 by
Austin’s culinary scene is well-known for its diverse assortment of food trucks, and The Flying Carpet is one of the city's most popular mobile eateries. This Moroccan fare restaurant cooks and serves its food from inside of a colorful food truck, and it also hosts a dining room inside of a separate building in front of the truck. This quirky layout makes The Flying Carpet a bit difficult to find for first-time visitors, but once you figure it out it becomes quite convenient. If you prefer to sit outside on a warm Austin afternoon, The Flying Carpet also offers a few shady tables on the outdoor patio.
Dishes like the Big Abdu consist of freshly baked pita bread, ground meats, and seasoned vegetables, and many regular guests order a pot of fine Moroccan tea to pair with their meal. With affordable prices and a knowledgeable staff, The Flying Carpet is ideal for an adventurous lunch.
The Flying Carpet
504 West Oltorf
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 744-5651
www.tfctheflyingcarpetaustin.com/#about
www.yelp.com/biz/the-flying-carpet-austin
5 Ways to Dress Up Your Apartment Using Cool, Colorful Wallpaper Swatches
August 18, 2016 by
While you may not be able to wallpaper your entire wall in a rental apartment, there are still a number of ways to use wallpaper to add some color to your space. Check out these creative tips for using wallpaper swatches all over your home at Lantana Hills.
- Line your bookshelves. Give your bookshelves a colorful makeover by adding colorful, patterned wallpaper to the backs of the shelves.
- Create framed art. Fill some small frames with mix-and-match wallpaper scraps to create an eclectic (and budget-friendly) gallery wall.
- Line your drawers. Keep drawers clean while also making them more festive by lining them with wallpaper (just make sure that you can remove it once you move out).
- Revamp an old lampshade. Cover an old lampshade with a larger piece of decorative wallpaper. Simply cut it to size and attach it using tape or hot glue.
- Top a table. If you find a sturdy but scratched table at your local thrift store, give it an easy makeover by placing a piece of wallpaper on its top. Simply cover it with a piece of cut glass to keep the corners from peeling.
Creative Uses of Wallpaper in Any Room [Better Homes and Gardens]
10 Uses for Wallpaper Scraps [This Old House]
Unexpected Uses for Leftover Wallpaper [Real Simple]
The Stitch Lab: South Austin Crafts
August 11, 2016 by
Austin is great place for crafters, with tons of people learning sewing, knitting and other fun crafts. If you'd like to take up crafting as a hobby, one of Austin's best resources might be The Stitch Lab.
The Stitch Lab's owner Leslie Bonnell is a former costume designer who realized that there was a market for truly skilled sewing instruction, so she started offering classes out of her home in 2001. The concept took off quickly and she expanded into a retail location in 2009, hiring a number of other instructors to supplement her offerings.
All of the teachers here win raves from regular patrons – they’re patient, skilled and capable, willing to take as much time as they need to make sure that you’re really understanding the material. The Stitch Lab also has a sizable retail area which sells a variety of cute and funky fabrics from all over the world, as well as thread, floss, embroidery patterns and other notions.
Visit The Stitch Lab's website to learn more about this Austin craft shop!
The Stitch Lab
1000 S 1st Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 440-0712
www.stitchlab.biz
www.yelp.com/biz/the-stitch-lab-austin
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