Space-Saving Storage Solutions for Bicycles

Whether you're a cyclist yourself or just share a space with one, you're likely already aware of how much square footage can be zapped up by bicycles. All's not lost, though: These space-saving solutions will show you how to store your wheels without too much obstruction.

  1. Purchase an apartment-friendly bike storage shelf. Many outdoor retailers and sporting goods stores sell large-scale shelving units that are designed especially for storing your bike in an apartment. They feature a large, open area where you can tuck the bike away, as well as smaller shelves below for storing things like your helmet or bike bag.
  2. Add a wall-mount bike rack. If you want to store the bike but don’t need the extra shelving, try a classic bike rack that mounts right onto the wall and can be easily removed when you move out.
  3. Try a two-bike stand. If you live with a fellow cyclist, store both of your bikes using one convenient setup with a two-bike stand. These vertical racks stand upright and stack one bike on top of the other in order to save the maximum amount of space possible.

Stylish Bike Storage Ideas For Your Home Or Garage [Decoist]
6 Clever Ideas for Bicycle Storage [Dwell]
14 Best Space Saving Bike Rack Solutions for Apartments [HiConsumption]

Finley’s Barber Shop: Get a Classic Cut at This Old School Shop

In a world where consumers are always looking for the fastest, most convenient options, the intricacy of a straight razor shave and a shoeshine goes a long way. Finley’s Barber Shop is an old-fashioned barber shop that's centered around this type of detail-oriented service, and the men who walk out of its wooden doors reflect the impressive difference a classic haircut makes.

The shop itself is located in the Warehouse District of downtown Austin, and inside of its large, glass-paneled storefront lies a exceptionally stylish barber shop with all of the classic trimmings. Vintage photo frames line the walls, antique pedestal sinks sit at the center of each station, and the industrial style of the exposed pipes adds even more character. Each customer is offered a cold beverage at the beginning of a visit, and then you can simply relax as one of the skilled barbers shaves, snips, and shines away.

Finley's Barber Shop is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended.

Finley’s Barber Shop
237 W. Third Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 298-2920
www.finleysformen.com
www.yelp.com/biz/finleys-barber-shop-austin-2

Jim Jim’s Water Ice: Cool Off With a Sweet Treat

Jim Jim’s Water Ice offers a cool, refreshing way to escape the Texas heat. Water ice is a traditional Italian treat that is most popular in Philadelphia, and it's made by blending real fruit with finely shaved ice to create a velvety soft texture.

Jim Jim’s operates out of a colorful storefront in downtown Austin, and customers order their water ice right from the front window like you would at an old-fashioned ice cream stand. The prices are just as old fashioned, and the friendly employees dole out extremely generous servings in each styrofoam cup. In addition to its classic fruit flavors, Jim Jim’s offers water ice with cream on top or smoothies and cups with soft serve ice cream blending into any water ice flavor.

Jim Jim’s Water Ice is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Jim Jim’s Water Ice
615 E. Sixth Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 708-8285
www.jimjimswaterice.com
www.yelp.com/biz/jim-jims-water-ice-austin

Javelina: Craft Beer and Fine Cuisine in Austin, Texas

Founded by four college pals, Javelina features what the owners call ‘Hill Country Soul.' It’s your go-to spot to kick back with a craft beer and a bite to eat while listening to some great music from Austin’s array of musicians.

Settle in with a craft beer or one of their signature cocktails like the Sandiamo with vodka, watermelon juice, fresh lemon and agave syrup. If you need a nosh, order something from the starter menu, like the all-time favorite Green Chile Pork Fries with your choice of plain or sweet potatoes topped with a heaping mound of pork-infused green chile. The yummy burger selection includes the Javelina topped with green chile pork, mustard & jack cheese, and the Miga with fried egg, tortilla strips & American cheese. Entree salads are also served.

Just a short trip from Mosaic at Mueller, Javelina is open every day.

Javelina
69 Rainey Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 382-6917
www.javelinabar.com
www.yelp.com/biz/javelina-austin

Shop for Discounted Home Decor on These Flash Sale Sites

Designing a magazine-worthy home can come at a steep price, but by shopping flash sale sites for decor and furnishings, you can furnish your living space without breaking the bank. Here are just three of the best places to shop online for deals on home decor.

One Kings Lane
Once you sign up for free membership on this flash sale site, you’ll be able to shop One Kings Lane’s gorgeous inventory of unique kitchen supplies, Art Deco furniture, and globally-inspired area rugs, all at a significant discount.

Dot & Bo
If you’re a fan of mid-century modern furniture but you simply can’t afford to invest in an authentic vintage piece, Dot & Bo is the answer to your retro decor woes. This flash sale retailer requires a free membership in order to shop, but once you sign up you’ll have access to teak credenzas, starburst wall clocks, and more unique accent chairs than you can even imagine.

Joss & Main
Joss & Main is a beautiful and charming home furnishing website that offers up to 70 percent off of some of the most popular design trends. Shop shabby chic dressers, dining tables inspired by the French countryside, and everything in between.

East Side Glass Studio: Glass-Blow Your Own Masterpiece

Shara Funari and Leigh Taylor Wyatt arrived at glass blowing from very different backgrounds. Shara didn't pick up the art until 2004, honing what was then a hobby at a public glass blowing studio in 2004. Leigh relocated to Texas in 2006 specifically to further her glass blowing career and to be closer to family. However, for both women, glass blowing eventually evolved into a passion; this is why they opened East Side Glass Studio in Austin.

At the studio, the public can come in to watch Shara and Leigh blow glass, or they can join in themselves. Intro classes are held a few times over the course of a month, teaching newbies the basics of glass blowing. Visitors can come in for a one-off experience where they learn the bare-bone fundamentals and then create their own glass masterpiece in a single session.

East Side Glass Studio
507 Calles Street
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 731-1702
www.eastsideglassstudio.com
www.yelp.com/biz/east-side-glass-studio-austin

Enjoy the Art and the View at HOPE Outdoor Gallery

HOPE is a collection of artists dedicated to making the world a more beautiful place, and they've made great strides in Austin. A previously desolate part of the city now exudes color and personality thanks to both local and international talents who've covered crumbling walls in bright, colorful panoramas.

Graffiti artists and muralists collaborate to create a masterpiece on the concrete walls that were once a blank canvas. According to those who've visited, the portraits are "mesmerizing" and "awe-inspiring." Each piece presents a different inspirational or educational message, and the collaborative piece is growing all the time. It doesn't hurt that HOPE Outdoor Gallery overlooks Austin's skyline, another breathtaking masterpiece in its own right. So if you have an afternoon to spare and you're looking for a photo op, head to this fresh-air gallery in downtown Austin.

HOPE Outdoor Gallery
1101 Baylor Street
Austin, TX 78703
hopecampaign.org/hopeprojects/hope-outdoor-gallery
www.yelp.com/biz/hope-outdoor-gallery-austin

The Bonneville: New American Fare and Signature Cocktails in Austin

A menu of New American fare highlights the freshest seasonal ingredients available at The Bonneville in the 2nd Street District of Austin. The casual restaurant is open, airy, and inviting with a vibrant, fully stocked bar.

After a signature cocktail, begin your meal with a steaming bowl of housemade soup, Prince Edward Mussels in a spiced coconut-curry broth, Korean barbecue-style lamb spareribs accompanied by pear butter and pickled vegetables, or a grilled pizza. Entrees feature a number of meat, poultry, and seafood dishes such as seared scallops with a grapefruit nage and a 12-ounce Angus strip steak with potato croquettes. Desserts do not disappoint, with the chef's salted caramel tart, sticky toffee pudding, and the chocolate espresso pots de creme all earning high marks from regular diners.

The Bonneville serves dinner daily, hosts Sunday brunch, and has a lively happy hour seven days a week.

The Bonneville
202 W. Cesar Chavez Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 428-4643
www.thebonnevilleaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-bonneville-austin

Deliciously Simple Ice Cream Cake Recipes

Those with a sweet spot for cake know that there's only one possible way to make the dessert even better: Combine it with ice cream! You might think ice cream cake is difficult to make at home, but these three tried-and-true recipes prove otherwise.

Frozen Chocolate Cookie Cake [Food Network]
Taste buds of all ages with do back flips for this recipe from Food Network star Sandra Lee. Requiring only 20 minutes of prep time, the recipe entails baking two chocolate layer cakes, then sandwiching the cakes around a molded slab of ice cream. To make the whole thing even more decadent, a rich chocolate ganache is poured over top. The best part of this recipe is its versatility; you can use whatever ice cream and cake flavors you desire!

Neapolitan Ice Cream Cake [Martha Stewart]
You'd expect a recipe from Martha Stewart to be time consuming and complicated, but this ice cream cake recipe is, well, a piece of cake! To create this neapolitan-style dessert, three different flavors of ice cream are layered within a loaf pan. For that signature cookie crunch that everyone loves and expects from an ice cream cake, chocolate cookie crumbs separate each ice cream layer. The most difficult part of Martha's recipe is just waiting for the cake to set up in the freezer.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Cake [AllRecipes]
To make this cake truly decadent, its crust is crafted from crushed chocolate chip cookies. Then, a layer of hot fudge is poured over top of the crust. After the fudge crust cools, the recipe entails spreading a layer of softened ice cream over the crust, then freezing overnight. A healthy dose of whipped cream on top takes the cake to a whole 'nother level!

Mecca Gym and Spa: A Luxurious Treat for Mind, Body and Soul

If you believe that working out should be a relaxing, enjoyable experience, Mecca Gym and Spa is the facility for you. This upscale, modern gym is located conveniently in downtown Austin, and it offers a feeling of classic luxury and a personalized fitness experience. Wall-to-wall windows fill the fitness area with natural light, and top-of-the-line cardio and weight machines are scattered throughout the spacious room.

The gym portion hosts a knowledgeable staff of personal trainers who help guests meet their fitness goals, whether those are to train for a triathlon or simply to shed a few extra pounds. The spa is elegantly decorated and soothing, with ornate architectural details, sparkling light fixtures, and comfortable furnishings in every service area. Talented technicians offer massages, facials, and waxing services in private rooms, while guests sip wine or champagne in the open, airy manicure area.

If you want to tone your body and then treat your self to a day of pampering afterward, Mecca Gym and Spa is the place to do it all!

Mecca Gym and Spa
524 N. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 381-2680
www.meccagymandspa.com
www.yelp.com/biz/mecca-gym-and-spa-austin

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