A number of Yelpers swear that Patika Coffee serves the best cup of joe in Austin. That's quite a compliment for this little coffee truck, but it's not a surprise. You see, the staff at Patika are committed to brewing coffee with the precision of a scientist. Each espresso shot, cup of steamed or foamed milk, and carafe of water is heated exactly to the temperature that will bring out the beans' richest, deepest flavors, and the beans themselves are locally roasted and sourced from sustainable farms.

Try a rich, foamy cappuccino, or treat your sweet tooth to a vanilla latte. Austin locals who have grown fond of the Patika Coffee truck’s wares will be happy to know that the shop also operates a brick-and-mortar cafe in South Lamar, where the same meticulously crafted brews are available, as well as an eclectic selection of wines and delicious baked goods.

Patika Coffee
2159 South Lamar
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 535-3955
www.patikacoffee.com/southlamar
www.yelp.com/biz/patika-coffee-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Evan Blaser

The Thinkery takes the STEM a step further, adding an A to the mix—for "arts." With the fields of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) in mind, curators for the children's museum have designed a collection of interactive exhibits that are as engaging as they are educational.

Many families particularly enjoy the Backyard, an outdoor play area where kids organically learn about body mechanics while they play. Its jungle gym is probably unlike any you've seen at a park, enormous and accessible for kids of all physical abilities. Watch while your little one scurries up the enclosed ramp to a bulbous watchtower or as he splashes in a winding stream. Inside the museum, kids can learn about the chemistry of cooking in the Kitchen Lab, let their creativity run wild in the Innovators' Workshop, or master the art of sewing or soldering in the Space 8 area (which is only open to ages 8 and older).

Thinkery
The Meredith Learning Lab
1930 Simond Avenue
Austin, TX 78723
(512) 469-6200
thinkeryaustin.org
www.yelp.com/biz/thinkery-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr stevendepolo

Happy Father's Day! We hope all of the Dads out there have a great day with loved ones! Let us know how you plan to help Dad relax today!