Part magic show, part comedy set, part musical, the productions put on a Esther's Follies every week can't really be pigeonholed into any one category. It breaks down theatrical boundaries by mashing up political satire, music, and more in a single show every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night.

The theater has roots in the late '70s, when founders Michael Shelton and Shannon Sedwick through their first bash on 6th Street. Back then, it was nothing more than a haphazard hodgepodge of performances by singers, dancers, mimes, comics, musicians, and everyone in between. Although the show has more structure today, nearly 40 years later, it still brings the same level of energy and fun to the stage. Yelp reviewers award particular praise to magician Ray Anderson, who delights crowds not only with his tricks, but also with his own unique brand of humor.

Esther's Follies
525 E. 6th Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 320-0553
www.esthersfollies.com
www.yelp.com/biz/esthers-follies-austin-2

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Iwan Gabovitch

The sweet aroma of freshly baked breads engulfs you when you pass through the doors of Easy Tiger Bake Shop & Beer Garden in downtown Austin. The comforting, warm ambiance invites you to relax and stay while you enjoy the made-from-scratch menu.

The extensive coffee and tea list includes espresso, chai lattes, hot teas, and a variety of water, soda, and juice choices. Don't miss one of Easy Tiger's melt-in-your-mouth pastries, danish, cookies, and croissants. Snacks and sandwiches include beef jerky and pretzels, as well as house-smoked pastrami, turkey breast, and muffulettas. The restaurant also offers a variety of charcuterie boards and house-made sausages.

Easy Tiger has a full bar and the cocktail, beer, and reserves menu is extensive.

Easy Tiger
709 E. Sixth Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 614-4972
www.easytigeraustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/easy-tiger-austin

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/star5112

Shopping at a food co-op in your area is one of the best ways to obtain healthy, fresh foods and support your area’s local farmers and purveyors. Many people in small towns assume that they don’t have a food co-op in their areas, but they are actually more common than you might think. Here are two online tools to help you find co-ops near your home.

Co-Op Directory
This expansive website enables you to search by state in order to find the closest food co-ops. Each listing includes an address, phone number and links to the store’s website for additional information. Co-Op Directory also provides a short description of many of its stores, including the types of food that each store sells, its mission statement and other details.

Local Harvest
Local Harvest is one of the most popular websites for all types of fresh, local and organic foods, and it also offers a large directory of food co-ops in every state. You can search for your area by using the site’s interactive map, which offers pinpoints for each store. Once you find a co-op near you, Local Harvest provides all of the necessary driving directions, phone numbers and more.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Jeremy Seitz