Uchiko is a Japanese farmhouse style dining establishment on North Lamar. The ambiance is set with eclectic modern lighting and a mix of tile and wood accents that add to the upscale but comfortable farmhouse feel.

Award-winning chef and Uchiko owner Tyson Cole never fails to amaze with his culinary creations, which showcase bold flavors and fresh ingredients. The best way to try a bit of everything is to choose one of the chef’s tasting menus, which change daily and offer both hot and cold small plates. The dishes include highlights like fresh ceviche or a hot rock with Wagyu beef and ponzu sauce. Not only are the dishes bursting with flavor, they are so carefully plated that each is like a work of art.

Uchiko accepts only a few reservations daily to ensure they have room for walk-in guests. The restaurant is open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Don’t miss sake socials daily from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the bar!

Uchiko
4200 North Lamar
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 916-4808
www.uchikoaustin.com

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr blmurch

If you find yourself tucking away all of that extra clutter every time you clean your home, you may wonder how you can get rid of it for good. Instead of managing the clutter in your home, these smart, space-saving tips will show you how to control your clutter by getting rid of it completely.

• Take an assessment of your clutter. Where do you notice clutter the most in your home? Is it in the junk drawers in your kitchen, the entryway area or your bedroom closet? Make note of those places where clutter always seems to accumulate so that you can focus the majority of your energy there.
• Invest in storage systems. If the current storage systems in those areas just aren't working, it's time to reevaluate them. If clothes are always tumbling off of the shelves in your bedroom closet, add some affordable plastic drawers from your local home goods store; if you're always tripping over shoes in the doorway, add a stylish shoe rack.
• Get rid of clutter-prone areas. Those junk drawers that are always overflowing? Get rid of them! If you don't have that go-to spot for disposing of those unused items, you'll be forced to really think about where they go — or if you need them at all.
• Make it a part of your routine. If you don't usually think about where to put certain items, you might want to start. A big part of keeping a clean home is developing clean habits, so before you toss those shoes or that extra junk mail aside, take pause and deal with it right on the spot.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr …love Maegan

Jasper's Big Dog Saloon is a neighborhood favorite, filled with regulars every night of the week. The bartenders at this unpretentious Lakeway bar are skilled at mixing cocktails, and the beer selection is solid, too. The food menu focuses on elevated snack foods like broiled shrimp and bruschetta, as well as hot sandwiches and personal pizzas.

Jasper's Big Dog Saloon also hosts frequent special events, and you'll likely find that there's something going happening here nearly every night of the week. Depending on when you visit, you might find yourself singing karaoke, competing against your friends in a video trivia competition, playing a few hands of Texas hold-em poker, or dancing the night away to music provided by popular local DJs. Of course, you can always just play a friendly game of darts or pool with friends. And if you're lucky, you might even meet Jasper himself, a 130-pound Goldendoodle who is everyone's favorite pal.

Jasper’s Big Dog Saloon
1310 RR 620 South
Lakeway, TX 78734
(512) 432-5073
www.jaspersbigdogsaloon.com
www.yelp.com/biz/jaspers-big-dog-saloon-lakeway

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/ume-y