Find the Perfect Gift for the Women in Your Life at Atown

Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for your mother, a friend or your significant other, you’ll find it at Atwon. This women’s clothing boutique and gift shop sells something for just about everyone, and they often have sales that benefit local charities and community organizations.

Browse the handmade cards and candles if you’re on the hunt for a small yet thoughtful gift, or peruse the nail bar, which is well stocked with polishes from top brands. There is always a great selection of artisan jewelry and accessories from makers around the Austin area, and it all pairs perfectly with the cozy flannel shirts, boho-style dresses, and graphic print T-shirts that you’ll often find in Atown’s clothing section.

Grab some complimentary cookies, agua fresca, or a glass of wine while you wander around this popular local boutique, and don’t forget to pop in to the other shops in the Allandale area!

Atown
5502 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 323-2533
www.shopatown.tumblr.com

Jasper’s: Gourmet Cookout Cuisine

While the words “gourmet” and “cookout” aren’t normally used in the same sentence, they are at Jasper’s restaurant in Austin. This uniquely conceptual eatery is stylish and upscale, but its menu of so-called backyard cuisine is anything but pretentious.

Enter the sleek, modern dining room, with its dim lighting and artistic décor, and you’ll be met with a menu filled with Maytag bleu cheese potato chips, Texas gulf crab cakes, and Pimentón Rotisserie Chicken, as well as slow-smoked baby back ribs prepared just like they are in backyards all across Texas. Cast iron sides are the perfect accompaniments, and Jasper’s full bar churns out thoughtful cocktails, craft beers and premium wines to go along with the meal. For a gourmet spin on a taste that’s truly Texan, Jasper’s is one of the very best spots in town!

Reservations can be made online or by calling Jasper’s directly.

Jasper’s
11506 Century Oaks
Austin, TX 78758
(512) 834-4111
www.jaspersaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/jaspers-austin-7

Three Awesome Ways to Decorate With Maps

These days, mobile maps can definitely be more useful for traveling than a paper map. However, paper maps are beautiful to look at! So why not use them in your home decor? Here are three creative ways you can decorate with a map.

  • Use a map to revamp your lampshade and give it a warm, vintage feel. All you need to do is find an atlas with pictures of beautiful maps inside, a lamp with a shade, and a few craft items. Make a template for your shade and test it out to make sure it fits perfectly. Then, just lay out your template on top of your map pages and make the pages match the size of the template. Finally, use some rubber cement to glue your map on and you're finished!
  • Cover the drawers of your plain-looking dresser with a map. You're pretty much going to use the same process you did for the lamp. Make sure to measure everything out perfectly and remember to cut out tiny circles for the knobs.
  • Give your living room a unique, vintage feel by covering the top of your glass coffee table with a map. If you have a large enough coffee table, you may even be able to see the whole map.

Vintage Map Lampshade [Pretty Handy Girl]
10 Ways to Decorate Your Home with Maps [Babble]
7 Ways to Decorate with Maps and Globes [Conde Nast]

Maverick’s Country Rock: Pull on Your Boots to Boogie the Night Away

Austin is known for its live music venues, but Maverick’s Country Rock shows off the city’s dance moves, as well. If you love to kick up your heels to upbeat country music, Maverick’s spacious dance floor and some of the area’s best DJs will ensure that you have a rocking good time.

The dance floor isn’t just your usual open space, however: Here, a 5,000-square-foot dance floor features state-of-the-art lights and sound and a number of multimedia projectors that work in time with the music. Outside, Maverick’s 3,000-square-foot deck area features lots of outdoor seating and another full bar to service those who wish to enjoy the Texas evening. The bar also makes a fun place to dance the night away.

Maverick’s is open 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Maverick’s Country Rock
1700 Grand Ave Parkway
Pflugerville, TX 78660
(512) 514-5650
www.maverickscountryrock.com
www.yelp.com/biz/mavericks-country-rock-pflugerville

End of an Ear: Buy, Sell or Trade at This Hip Record Store

In one of the country’s most musical cities, a great record store is imperative. End of an Ear is one such record store in the south Austin area, selling an eclectic mix of vinyl records, DVDs, and even some musical equipment in the back. The record selection includes new releases that are updated weekly, as well as old classics and even some underground gems that are hard to find at other stores.

The staff is incredibly knowledgeable, if a bit standoffish, as is to be expected from a busy record store. If you want to test out a record before purchasing it, there are a few turntables with attached headphones scattered throughout the store. Many customers also turn to End of an Ear to exchange old records or DVDs, and the shop offers generous store credit or cash for consignment items.

End of an Ear is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays.

End of an Ear
2209 S. First Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 462-6008
www.endofanear.com
www.yelp.com/biz/end-of-an-ear-austin

Happy Fourth of July!

Wishing you a Fourth of July filled with pride, honor, and lots of fun!

Truluck’s: Fete a Special Occasion Over Steak and Seafood

The next time you’re celebrating a special occasion, consider making a reservation at Truluck’s. This upscale steak and seafood restaurant in Austin has a festive feel, from its light-covered marquee and beautiful stone patio to its romantic, old-fashioned interior. The eatery is very large and features a dark wooden bar and spacious tables that can accommodate the whole family.

On the menu, Truluck’s offers premium cuts of steak, Florida stone crab, and Chilean seabass, and its extensive wine list and handcrafted cocktails pair perfectly with any entree. Appetizers like the famous smoking shrimp cocktail start the meal off right, while the dessert martinis and extravagant cakes conclude every meal on a sweet note.

Truluck’s serves dinner seven days a week. Happy hour is held between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. daily.

Truluck’s
10225 Research Boulevard
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 794-8300
www.trulucks.com
www.yelp.com/biz/trulucks-austin-2

Happy Father’s Day!

Today is a chance for us to recognize some very important people in our lives. May this day bring you many reasons to smile!

Happy Father’s Day!

Clean Up Your Home at Nalle Woods Naturally With These DIY Household Cleaners

Looking for a way to save a bit of cash while also removing chemicals from your home? Make your own cleaning products! It’s easy to duplicate of the most common household cleaners using all-natural ingredients, and they’ll even help to turn your home at Nalle Woods into a green household.

  • Glass Cleaner: Combine 1 cup of white vinegar with 1 cup of water and 1/4 cup of fresh-squeezed lemon juice to create a DIY window and glass cleaner. You can even add in your favorite essential oil for a fresh scent.
  • Laundry Detergent: While many store-bought laundry detergents are filled with chemicals, this homemade version is made using only natural ingredients. Combine a box of Borax with a box of baking soda and 1 bar of organic bar soap (such as Dr. Bronner’s). Then, blend it all together in a food processor until it reaches a powder form.
  • Bathroom Tile Cleaner: Remove grime from tubs and sinks using this all-natural bathroom cleaner. Simply mix baking soda with liquid castile soap and use it as a scrub.
  • All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar, 1 tablespoon of Borax, 1 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide, and 2 cups of hot water to create an all-purpose cleaner that you can use anywhere in the home.

Make These 69 DIY Cleaning Products For Pennies [Popsugar]
The Original Homemade Laundry Detergent DIY Natural]
27 Chemical-Free Recipes for DIY Spring Cleaning [Greatist]

Highland Lanes: Join a Bowling League at This Old-Fashioned Alley

If you’re looking for an old-fashioned bowling alley where you can enjoy an affordable game with your friends, Highland Lanes might be just the place near Nalle Woods. This well-maintained facility contains numerous lanes complete with electronic scoreboards and high-tech flatscreen televisions displaying your score. There is ample seating for your entire team at the end of your lane, and on weekends, you can even play in the dark using glow-in-the-dark equipment during Electric Bowl.

There are optional bumpers on each lane for the little ones, as well as a well-stocked pro shop where you can rent shoes and balls if you don’t have your own. Grab a juicy, grilled hamburger or a hot dog from the attached Lebowski’s Grill to make a day (or night) out of your bowling experience.

Highland Lanes is open 9:30 a.m. to midnight Sundays through Thursdays and 9:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Highland Lanes
8909 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 458-1215
www.highlandlanes.com
www.yelp.com/biz/jumpoline-park-austin?sort_by=date_desc

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