Local Talent Takes the Stage at The Long Center

There are very few places in Austin that offer the variety of entertainment options provided by The Long Center, a non-profit that serves as a creative resource for the community. More than 80 percent of performances hosted here showcase the talent of local artists. Whether you’re interested in seeing ballet or the symphony, a local singer or flamenco guitarist, children’s theater or Shakespeare, The Long Center truly offers it all and then some (including one of the best views of the city skyline!).

Comprising multiple performance spaces, the building has been renovated over the years to keep with the times. The most impressive space within The Long Center is the grand hall, which seats more 2,400 people over three levels and features flawless acoustics. Most patrons seem to agree that there really isn’t a bad seat in the house.

Be sure to visit the website for a calendar of upcoming performances!

The Long Center
701 W. Riverside Drive
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 457-5100
www.thelongcenter.org

Fuel Up on Local Coffee at Texas Coffee Traders

If you’re the type of person who can’t start your day without a good cup of coffee, Texas Coffee Traders is a great place to get your java jolt in Austin. This local cafe and roaster creates its own blend of coffees from high-quality beans and expert roasting techniques, and it’s sure to impress even the most knowledgeable coffee fan.

Inside, Texas Coffee Traders has natural decor and an open, airy atmosphere, complete with walls of coffee filled with all kinds of brews that you can take home with you. There is also another retail section that boasts shelves filled with Chemex systems, pour-overs, and other methods for preparing coffee at home. The tasting area displays a few styles that customers can sample before buying, while the outdoor patio is the perfect place to sip a steaming mug with other local coffee lovers.

Texas Coffee Traders
1400 E Fourth St
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 476-2279
www.texascoffeetraders.com

Go for a Scenic Run at Town Lake Metropolitan Parks

Are you an avid runner? If so, Town Lake Metropolitan Parks is one of the most scenic spots in town to get in some outdoor exercise. This popular park features running trails that wind around the lake shores, offering beautiful views of the lake and even the bridges that go over it. The trail is smooth and well maintained for runners, and there are even benches set up at various points to give you place to sit down and take a breather.

If you’re not in the mood for running, it’s also fun to rent a kayak and spend the afternoon rowing down the river with friends. Many residents bring their four-legged friends to the leash-free dog park inside of the main park, and you can even walk them around the dog-friendly trails. Food trucks also often park nearby for those looking for lunch outdoors.

Town Lake Metropolitan Parks
Austin, TX 78701
Town Lake
www.yelp.com/biz/town-lake-metropolitan-parks-austin

Pease Park: Please Visit this Lively Community Park

Austin offers many outdoor parties and festivals at locations throughout the city, and Pease Park is one of those popular locales. This 42-acre park is part of the Shoal Creek Greenbelt, and it is home to Austin’s famous Eeyore’s Birthday party, a yearly festival featuring live music, food, and family activities.

The park features a very large area of playground equipment for young kids, and there’s also a splash park "sprayground" consisting of a few water features that gently spritz, dump, or spray water at gleeful children on hot Texas days. Pease Park’s many picnic tables and two large barbecue pits provide a picturesque setting for an outdoor barbecue, while the disc golf course, basketball courts and volleyball courts offer hours of outdoor sports fun.

Visit the Pease Park website for more information or to reserve facilities.

Pease Park
1100 Kingsburry Street
Austin, TX 78799
www.austinparks.org/our-parks.html?parkid=307
www.yelp.com/biz/pease-park-austin

Aim for a Strike at The Union Underground in Austin

If you’re looking for something fun and active to do this weekend, check out the bowling alley at The Union Underground. This fun bowling alley billiard hall is located on the bottom level of the Texas Union building at The University of Texas at Austin, which makes it a lively spot for people of all ages. (You don't have to be a university student to play here!)

Reserve one of the 12 bowling lanes to get a bit competitive with some friends from The Boulevard at Town Lake, and be sure to stop by on the weekends for the glow-in-the-dark Glow Bowl! If bowling isn’t really your thing, enjoy a game of pool on one of the many pool tables in the spacious billiards hall. Order a pizza from the front desk to enjoy with your game and you’re sure to have a great time.

The Union Underground is open 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 3 a.m. Sundays.

The Union Underground
2247 Guadalupe St
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 475-6599
www.utexas.edu/universityunions/texas-union/scene/underground
www.yelp.com/biz/union-underground-austin

The Red Room Lounge: An Austin Wine Bar

Whether you're a seasoned wine expert or a novice to wine drinking, the service and selection at The Red Room Lounge just might make this place your new go-to wine bar in Austin. The knowledgeable sommeliers are happy to put together tasting flights, make recommendations, educate you about the wine-making process, and help you find just the right vintage for your own particular taste.

The Red Room Lounge’s atmosphere is dramatic, featuring dim lighting, exposed brick, deep leather couches, and lots of dark wood. Note, however, that this is not a place where you should expect to get dinner along with your wine. The Red Room Lounge offers a small selection of cheese and charcuterie plates, but this dedicated wine cellar focuses mainly on drinks.

The Red Room Lounge
306 E. Third Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 501-1536
www.redroomatx.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-red-room-lounge-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
www.hopecampaign.org/hopeprojects/hope-outdoor-gallery
www.yelp.com/biz/hope-outdoor-gallery-austin

Esther’s Follies: A Mash-Up of Entertainment

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

Savory an Icy Treat at Sweet Caroline’s Snow Shack

New Orleans is known for its snowballs, a popular frozen treat that involves fluffy, white ice that is much smoother than that of a sno-cone. In Austin, you can find authentic snowballs at the family-owned Sweet Caroline’s Snow Shack. This small and colorful dessert shop is housed in a food truck complete with a bright yellow exterior and a convenient ordering counter where you can choose your tasty treat.

Snowballs from Sweet Caroline’s are served in large Styrofoam bowls and topped with colorful syrups including flavors like classic cherry and root beer, as well as more unique flavors like the Tootsie Roll, which is made with chocolate cream and silver fox syrups.

The mobile operation has two locations in Austin, so it’s always easy to stop in for a frozen dessert after dinner or to cool down on a hot afternoon.

Sweet Caroline’s Snow Shack
9528 Anderson Mill Road
Austin, TX 78729
(512) 234-7669
www.facebook.com/sweetcarolinessnowshack

Patika Coffee: Get Your Morning Coffee

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

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