Spring has sprung! What is your favorite thing about Spring?
Austin Nature & Science Center: Foster a Love of the Natural World
April 7, 2016 by
In Northwest Zilker Park, just off Stratford Drive on the southern banks of the Colorado River, you'll find one of Austin’s hidden treasures for families, animal enthusiasts, and nature lovers alike. The Austin Nature & Science center houses all manner of birds, reptiles and mammals—many of them rescued from injury or orphaned—and provides them with care, medical attention, and food that they would be unable to access on their own in the wild.
Nearby, the Splash exhibit helps showcase local aquatic wildlife and illustrates the importance of clean, unpolluted water. The naturalist area at the center allows kids to share their knowledge of natural objects like shells, rocks, bones, feathers, or fossils, and trade such objects in for new artifacts. After a few minutes at the workshop, turn the kids loose on the Dino Pit so they can practice their skills at archeology. Best of all, this is all free of charge, so you can return as often as you like.
Austin Nature & Science Center
301 Nature Center 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
Banh Mi Tacos Meet Habanero-Infused Margaritas at The Peached Tortilla in Austin
March 24, 2016 by
The Peached Tortilla is a fusion in both make and menu, as this unique business operates a food truck and a brick-and-mortar location here in Austin. The food is expressive of the restaurant's personality: an eclectic mix of Southern- and Asian-influenced dishes, like bahn mi tacos for dinner and brisket hash with kimchi miso corn for brunch. Locals say you need to return regularly to ensure you taste a bite of every dish on the list.
The Peached Tortilla's hours vary during the week, so be sure to check the website before popping by, but don’t miss happy hour, offered 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily. (Make sure you try one of the specialty cocktails, particularly the habanero-infused margarita or the Wasabi Mary, which is garnished with Thai peppers.) Another popular time to visit is during the Sunday Brunch, served from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekly.
The Peached Tortilla
5520 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 222-8781
www.thepeachedtortilla.com
Think Outside the Frame With These Unique Wall Art Ideas
March 17, 2016 by
Looking for a way to decorate your walls without using the usual photos and posters? Here are three fun ideas that go way outside the frame—and best of all, you can even make them yourself.
3D Colorblock Wall Art [curbly.com]
If you’re a fan of all things mod, you’ll love this 3D display of colorful circles. Take a few different sized wooden circle cutouts from the local craft store and paint them in your choice of bright shades (or even soft, neutral hues). Use dowel rods to make some of them stick out farther from the wall, and then arrange them in a burst that creates a focal point in any room.
Paper Wall Art [ohohblog.com]
Attach two layers of decoupage leaves, flowers, or any other shape of your choosing to a large, paper sheet. Hang it banner-style using sturdy dowel rods for a modern take on the old-fashioned nature print.
Pixel Painting [witandwhistle.com]
This relaxing project is a fun one to do with a few free hours after work or on the weekend. By reducing the size of a photo down to just a few pixels wide, you’ll be able to see the photo in square, colored blocks. Imitate these blocks in a large scale on watercolor paper and then arrange them to create a truly unique work of art.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
March 17, 2016 by
May your day be touched with a little bit of the luck of the Irish!
Tour the Oval Office at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
March 10, 2016 by
There’s plenty to learn and even more to enjoy at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. The museum features numerous exhibits and mementos of the presidential career of Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ), including his presidential limo and a replica of the Oval Office. The library and research rooms also offer personal appointments with an archivist to source materials of interest during LBJ’s presidency. A single visit to the 10 level facility just isn’t enough.
The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Though regular admission is only $8 for adults, the museum admits children under 12 for free and offers several Free Admission Days, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day, August 27 (LBJ’s Birthday), President’s Day, and the Fourth of July.
Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum
2313 Red River Street
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 721-0200
www.lbjlibrary.org
Enjoy Upscale, Authentic Cajun Fare at Gumbo’s Steak and Seafood
March 3, 2016 by
New Orleans is eight hours away. Maybe you’ve been there, maybe not. If there are Cajuns in the audience, we apologize, but a quick primer for the uninitiated: Hurricanes get you a little (ahem) tipsy, “rat toes” are fried jalapenos stuffed with seafood, and gator tail is exactly what it sounds like. Got that?
Gumbo’s brings you upscale Cajun fare in the style of New Orleans legends like Antoine’s or Galatoire’s. All the classics are here: fried crawfish tails, blackened fish, remoulade, etouffee, oysters, fried green tomatoes, and a lobster bisque that puts Easterners to shame. It’s pricey — dinner entrees average $25 — but most locals love it and it beats the long drive. Lunch, brunch, and dinner are available.
Check Gumbo’s website for hours, events, and specials.
Gumbo’s Steak and Seafood
12823 Shops Parkway
Bee Cave, TX 78738
(512) 263-2711
www.gumbosbeecave.com
www.yelp.com/biz/gumbos-steak-and-seafood-bee-cave
Taste Curries, ‘Go Green’ at New India Cuisine in Austin
February 25, 2016 by
New India Cuisine on South Congress offers up homemade Indian food with an American twist. New India takes pride in using natural ingredients that are free from artificial colorings and MSG. Another bragging point: New India is the only restaurant in America that serves Malvani and Gomantak curries. There are also plenty of vegan and gluten free options, as well as delicious yeast-free naan.
Inside this cozy restaurant, you can select from traditional dishes like the gingery tikka masala or go for a quesadilla made with Indian seasonings. For drinks, New India is now serving craft beers and organic wines. There are also some yogurt based drinks that come in flavors like mango and cumin.
There's plenty of parking, but if you take your bicycle or walk here, the management will give you a dollar off your meal. It's the staff's way of encouraging people to go green.
New India Cuisine
2304 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 445-9727
www.newindia.us
www.yelp.com/biz/new-india-cuisine-austin
Beware of These Three Surprising Sources of High Fructose Corn Syrup
February 18, 2016 by
Avoiding high fructose corn syrup seems like it would be fairly easy if you read your labels and eat a plant-based diet. However, there are still ways in which this artificial sweetener can find its way into the food you eat. Here are three surprising sources of high fructose corn syrup that you might want to avoid:
- Salad dressing. Low-fat or not, many salad dressings contain high fructose corn syrup as a main ingredient. Make your own with oil and vinegar dressing or buy organic to avoid this.
- Honey-roasted peanuts. There are only seven ingredients in this sweet snack, and corn syrup is one of them. Choose raw or oven-roasted nuts instead.
- Ketchup. It might be no surprise that ketchup includes sugar, but some brands contain exceedingly high amounts. Look for all-natural brands or use ketchup sparingly.
Corn Syrup in Unexpected Foods [Huffington Post]
Surprising Products That Contain High Fructose Corn Syrup [Divine Caroline]
(Not So) Sweet: Surprising Foods Containing High Fructose Corn Syrup [Babble]
6 Popular Foods with High-Fructose Corn Syrup [FitDay]
Happy Presidents’ Day
February 15, 2016 by
On this day we honor all of the Presidents of our great country. If it weren’t for them, our country would not be what it is today!
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