Where to Shop Monogrammed Gifts Online

Whether you're shopping for yourself or a friend, a monogram instantly transforms an ordinary gift into a keepsake. Here are two places to shop monogrammed items online.

1) Mark and Graham
Chic and classic personalized gifts are the focus of this online-only retailer, a sibling brand to Williams-Sonoma, West Elm, and Pottery Barn. Shop initial pendants and wristlets for her, monogrammed tech cases and pocket squares for him—even customizable leashes and collars for Fido. Note that Mark and Graham's sibling brands also offer personalized gift items.

3) 2PreppyGirls.com
The web presence of this online retailer is rooted in "Southern charm and a love of all things pink and green." If your style skews preppy, you'll be delighted to peruse everything from monogrammed flip flops, aprons, and belt buckles to beach towels, car decals, and coasters.

Kayak Along Austin’s City Streets with Live Love Paddle

Austin has earned a reputation as one of the most outdoorsy cities in the nation, largely thanks to the presence of the beautiful Lady Bird Lake and series of rivers that snake between the bustling streets. Live Love Paddle takes full advantage of Austin's unique proximity to the water.

Tour guides take kayakers out on the various rivers to give them a new perspective of the city. Join one of the full-day river trips to coast along the San Marcos, Guadalupe, or Colorado River at a leisurely pace. Ogle the world's biggest urban bat colony, which resides under the Congress Avenue Bridge, from the comfort of your watercraft. You can also get a panoramic view of downtown from a kayak atop Lady Bird Lake or even take an overnight kayaking trip. Live Love Paddle rents out kayaks, as well, if you prefer a self-guided tour.

Live Love Paddle
1610 E. Riverside Drive
Austin, TX 78741
(512) 804-2122
www.livelovepaddle.com
www.yelp.com/biz/live-love-paddle-austin-2

Happy Fall!

With Autumn just arriving, we hope everyone enjoys all of the fun this season has to offer! Happy Fall!

Green Pastures: Elegant Austin Dining

Located on a lush Victorian-era estate with expansive lawns, strolling peacocks and spreading live oak trees, Green Pastures is known as ‘The Grande Dame of Austin restaurants.’ Go there for a splurge-worthy dining experience in an elegant, historic setting.

Sunday brunch is a favorite time to stop in for their famous Milk Punch spiked with bourbon, rum and brandy. The prix fixe brunch menu features a groaning board of dishes like Creole Spiced Beef, Green Lipped Mussels, Moroccan Chicken, Chilled Shrimp and Prime Rib. Lunch and dinner offerings include some yummy entrée salads, sandwiches and main dishes like Spiced Spring Rack of Lamb, Texas Redfish with Crawfish, Seared Duck Breast, Espresso Cocoa Ribeye, and Grilled Tofu with Spinach.

Green Pastures is open daily in Austin. Check out its website to find out more!

Green Pastures
811 West Live Oak Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-4747

www.greenpasturesrestaurant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/green-pastures-restaurant-austin

Turf N’ Surf Po-Boy: Don’t Miss the Mahi Mahi

It'd be accurate to call Ralph Gilmore a jack of all trades. He's worked beneath the hoods of ailing cars; he's constructed and sold customized bikes; he's designed modern living spaces. But he took on an entirely new type of venture in the early 2000s when he debuted Turf N' Surf Po-Boy, a food trailer that eventually spawned a more permanent kitchen (and sidewalk order window) on Lavaca Street.

You can choose to have your food one of three ways: as a po'boy, tacos, or a salad, Then just pick your fixings. The mahi mahi is a popular option, whether or not you go for a po'boy or taco. But you can also go for blackened ribeye with horseradish cream buffalo chicken with bleu cheese, or grilled veggies (known as The Hipster). You can also opt for a basket of fried shrimp, catfish, oysters, or even crawfish. On the side, order one of the popular costars from the menu: the cilantro fries or the jalapeno hush puppies.

Turf N' Surf Po-Boy
407 Lavaca Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 276-2763
lavacastreet.com/turf-n-surf
www.yelp.com/biz/turf-n-surf-po-boy-austin

Track the Journey of Your Dollar Bills on “Where’s George?”

Ever wonder where that rumpled, wrinkly dollar bill in your wallet has been? Chances are, the bill has done its fair share of traveling all across the U.S.

Curious about his bills' journeys, former tech consultant Hank Eskin launched a currency tracking project, Where's George?, in 1998, which quickly became a sensation among hobbyists. The premise behind the website is simple: Users input the serial number of a dollar bill into the website, which will email them if the same serial number is inputted again by another user. Then, the original user can log on to see how far their bill has traveled. (Typically, a user will mark the bill in some way to denote that the bill is part of the Where's George program.)

A visit to the Where's George summary page reveals the site's current statistics, from the number of bills entered to the number of bills that have made an appearance within the tracking program more than once.

If you'd like to follow the journey of your dollar bills, visit the website to start tracking. It's free and easy to use.

Where's George [Official Site]
Where's George?: The Trail Of $1 Bills Across The U.S. [NPR]

Sip the Fantasy Sweet Latte at Beware Coffee

A trailer parked in the lot beside Spider House. That's all that makes up Beware Coffee. Don't let its size—or parking spot—fool you, though. It may look like a coffee shanty on wheels, but Beware Coffee has earned five-star reviews almost across the board thanks to its exceptional java.

Owners Natasha and Braxton can be credited with much of the praise lavished on the coffee trailer. They're described as the "kindest, most accommodating people of all time" by one Yelp reviewer. And whether or not you agree with that statement, no one can argue that the pair crafts a mean cup of coffee. They use the AeroPress to quickly make each piping-hot mug of java as soon as you order it, and customers can taste the difference that this brewing technique makes. Locals also love the specialty drinks Natasha and Braxton create, especially the Fantasy Sweet latte with honey and coconut oil.

Beware Coffee
2908 Fruth Street
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 571-3392
www.facebook.com/BewareCoffee
www.yelp.com/biz/beware-coffee-austin

Happy Labor Day!

Wishing everyone a happy and relaxing Labor Day!

Strange Brew: A Weird and Wonderful Coffee Shop in Austin

Strange Brew is a cozy independent coffee shop that's equal parts relaxed and casual, which proves it to be the type of place where you can spend hours reading or chatting — without ever feeling rushed.

Here, baristas rely on beans from local roasters like Third Coast Coffee and Fair Trade Espresso, which they transform into rich and full-bodied espressos, lattes, and cappuccinos. (You can even get a 64-ounce growler of cold-brewed coffee to take home!) Pastries, paninis, cakes, bagels, and quiche are also on offer, and the majority of the food for sale is sourced from area bakeries. Vegan diners should request the hemp Italian slider, which arrives on a gluten-free onion bun.

There is free Wi-Fi available throughout the shop, as well as a number of cozy two-seater tables and leather armchairs in the art-filled sitting area. Like many popular Austin establishments, Strange Brew features live music just about every night of the week!

Strange Brew
5326 Manchaca Road
Austin, TX 78745
(512) 828-7636
www.strangebrewaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/strange-brew-austin-coffee-austin-3

Free Beer and Stellar Brisket: la Barbecue

Perhaps the only downside of eating at one of Austin's popular food trucks is that they always seem to have a line stretching away from the window, requiring would-be eaters to wait in the oppressive Texan sun. At la Barbecue, though, customers cross their fingers for a long line. The food truck offers a simple amenity to make the wait bearable, even pleasant: free beer.

Cool off your complimentary suds while you decide what to order. It should be a relatively easy decision, given the fact that la Barbecue's brisket is the favorite by far. However, pulled pork, sausage, turkey, and chopped beef are also on the menu. For some added flavor, order one of the specialty sandwiches like El Sancho Loco with your choice of meat and pickled red onions. Make sure you arrive well ahead of the lunch rush, though, because la Barbecue's opening hours are simply 11 a.m. to "sold out."

la Barbecue
902 E. Cesar Chavez
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 605-9696
www.labarbecue.com
www.yelp.com/biz/la-barbecue-austin-3

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