Man Bites Dog: Not Your Typical Hot Dog Stand!

Warning: this is not your typical hot dog stand! 

Man Bites Dog is South Austin’s hot dog hot spot, where signature franks are 1/5th of a pound.  The ingredients are fresh and flavorful, and you won’t find any boring buns here — they’re fluffy, sweet brioche that hold up the the mountains of toppings. The menu features inventive wieners like the Danger Dog — bacon wrapped, topped with jalapeños, hot sauce, and cotija cheese.  And, its not only beef franks on the menu; the Bruschetta Dog, for example, is made with Italian chicken sausage. These dogs are a full meal at a great price. (Smaller dogs are available for those that want a lighter snack.) There are even vegetarian franks, vegan chili, and gluten-free buns.

Man Bites Dog
3005 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 215-0422
www.yelp.com/biz/man-bites-dog-austin-4

Want To Be More Eco-Conscious? Shop “Green”!

If you're striving to be more green, then you'll love the new site that Amazon recently launched. Vine.com offers all things eco-friendly, and shoppers get to select from thousands of green products, from organic cleaners to sustainable furnishings.

Vine.com also highlights boutiques that are committed to Local, Fair Trade, Cruelty-Free, B Corporation, and Forest Stewardship Council-certified products. Plus, there is even a Shop Local section that features products made within 100 miles of your city.

Vine.com works to combine the convenience of shopping at a large online store with the benefits of shopping at locally owned businesses. Visit and see if it works.

Water 2 Wine: Make Your Own Wine

Have you ever wanted to try to make wine yourself? No, not like that old I Love Lucy episode where Lucy and Ethel stamp the grapes. Austin’s Water 2 Wine is a full-service custom winery that lets budding vintners blend their own wine, let it age and take it home when it’s done. The process is simple: each sessions starts with a tasting, where the staff lets you sample different wines and tells you about the grapes that produced it. Then you select a juice or blend to create your very own wine with, as well as “pitching” the yeast to start the fermentation process. It takes about 45 days for your wine to be drinkable, at which point they’ll bottle it and label it for you. If you don’t want to do it yourself, Water 2 Wine also offers an excellent selection of vintages from around the world.

Water 2 Wine
4036 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 428-9463
http://www.yelp.com/biz/water-2-wine-austin-2

Cru: Eclectic Wines

Housed in an elegant setting with a variety of seating options, Cru is the go-to spot to imbibe an eclectic array of wines. Wine flights, 30 wines by the glass and over 300 bottled varietals offer a wide selection of drinking options for even the pickiest grape-lover. Relax on the patio, sit at a communal table, or cozy up in a booth and sip to your heart’s content. If you need a bite to eat, order something delectable from the kitchen. Pan Seared Crab Cake, Cheese Fondue, Lamb Lollipops, Pan Roasted Chicken Picatta and Filet Mignon are among the dining options. Stone-fired pizzas are on the menu, too. Stop by on the weekend for Sunday brunch.

Cru
238 W. 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 472-9463
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cr%C3%BA-wine-bar-austin-3

Happy Memorial Day!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday as we honor our nation's heroes.

Outdoor Games to Enjoy With Your Kids

Warm weather is here, and that means spending more time outdoors with your children. If you’re looking for some new games to add into your outdoor play repertoire, look no further. Below are some fun, simple games to take outside with you this season.

Pick-Pocket Tag
Put a ribbon, bandana, or piece of cloth in each participant’s back pocket. Once the game begins, the objective is to try to grab each other's cloth without having your own stolen. The individual with the most ribbons at the end wins.

Clown Foot Relay
Give each player 2 shoe boxes, have them tape the lids onto the boxes, and then cut a narrow opening in each box top. Have the participants slip their feet into the boxes and then race.

Blind-Fold Walk
Build an obstacle path from one end of the play area to the other. Have the players line up, and allow them to have a good look at the path. Then, one at a time, blindfold the players, and have them navigate the path without looking. Record each participant’s time to see who does it the fastest.

Body Drag
Split up into 2 teams, and give each team an old sheet or blanket. Have one participant from each team lie down on the blanket, and then the teams must pull the person on the blanket from one end of the yard to the other. Whichever team crosses the finish line first, wins the game.

Patika Coffee: Drink Up

Looking for the perfect way to start your day? Head to Patika Coffee for some fantastic java. It’s a sweet little coffee trailer on Congress Avenue, so you can take in the sights and sounds of the area while you sip your cuppa joe. Their brew is made from fresh beans from  Austin’s premier roaster, Cuvee, so it has that robust taste without a trace of bitterness. Whether your coffee style runs to espresso, cappuccino, latte, or just a black cup with or without cream, you’ll love what they have to offer. Like your coffee flavored? They make their own super-yummy syrups. Not a java fan? Not to worry. They’ve got chai and Italian sodas, too. Open Monday through Friday from 7:30am unti. 5:30pm, Saturday from 8:00am until 2:00pm.

Patika Coffee
4th St and Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 535-3955
http://www.yelp.com/biz/patika-coffee-austin

Stick to Your Exercise Resolutions Throughout the Year!

We're well into 2013, a time when many people begin faltering on your New Year's Resolutions. If your goals are fitness-related, keep the momentum going and follow these simple steps for sticking with an exercise program.

Be realistic about your limits
Look at your schedule, your interests, and your current fitness level when selecting an exercise program. Be honest with yourself – taking on more than you can handle will only be discouraging. Make your goal something manageable and remember, small steps can have big results!

Try a few different workouts
Take your time finding an exercise style that appeals to you. The more you like it, the more likely you'll be to stick with it. Be open-minded and ask your friends and family for their favorite workout ideas – you never know what might work for you until you try it.

Set goals for yourself
Pick something that is challenging but within reach. Once you’ve met your goal, set a new one. Do something to reward yourself every time you meet a goal to keep your motivation at its peak.

Make exercise part of your daily routine
Try walking or biking all or part of your commute to and from work. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, every day. Work out while you’re watching TV. Build exercise into your routine and soon you won't know how to live without it!

Work out with friends
Set up a weekly walk, run or gym date with friends. You’ll have more fun, and you will serve as each other’s motivation. Also, it's a great way to hang out and visit with one another without going out to eat or for drinks.

Summer Fan Drive!

Hey Everyone!

It's time for the Summer Fan Drive!
For 23 years, Central Texas has rallied under the hot, Texas sun to bring relief and comfort to vulnerable seniors, adults with disabilities, and families. By Joining in on the Summer Fan Drive, we all can be a critical part of this effort!

How much can a fan really help?
When Family Eldercare knocks at the door of an older adult to deliver a fan, a connection is made. When they talk to that person, they may find that he or she is lonely, hungry, isolated, suffering abuse, or has unmet needs that can be addressed through one of other several programs offered by Family Eldercare.

So, what do we do to help?
The Summer Fan Drive asks that people donate NEW 20" box fans or NEW 12" (or larger) oscillating fans. The fans must be in NEW and in original packaging because of liability issues. They also accept donations. Preferably, donations should be made in $15 increments because a typical, 20" box fan is $15. NEW high-efficiency window a/c units can be donated as well.

Let's all get involved in this great event! The fan drive will be going on now through June 19. Please bring your donations to the leasing office, and we will get them to Family Eldercare!

Dine in Grand Style at Austin’s Green Pastures

Dubbed the “Grande Dame of Austin Restaurants" by the Austin Chronicle, Green Pastures offers a majestic dining experience on the grounds of a restored southern mansion in South Austin. Dining rooms are decorated with elegance, featuring antiques and fine china. You can enjoy a picturesque view of the grounds including stately live oaks, and peacocks that roam the property. The menu offers elegant French-inspired entrees with a southern twist, like pecan salmon with lobster bread pudding.  

Sunday Brunch at Green Pastures is a step into a better, more elegant world. Be sure to try their milk punch, which tastes like spiked vanilla ice cream. White linen service is friendly and top-notch, with customers swearing that the food is just as good as the atmosphere. This is THE place for an elegant special occasion meal — be sure to make a reservations.

Green Pastures
811 W. Live Oak Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-4747
www.yelp.com/biz/green-pastures-restaurant-austin

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