Savor a Taste of Italy at Gelateria Gemelli

A bite of authentic Italian gelato from Gelateria Gemelli might be the shortest distance between Austin and Rome. The owners established Gelateria Gemelli after taking a tour around Italy to learn the time-honored craft of making gelato, which many refer to as the Italian equivalent to American ice cream.

At Gelateria Gemelli, gelato is made in small batches using organic milk and locally sourced ingredients. Staple flavors remain on the menu year-round, but most changing out seasonally. Try a decadent Valrhona chocolate or a refreshing pineapple-mint sorbetto if you’re looking for something dairy-free. After your gelato, try a signature Italian negroni or a sip of Amaro, an herbal infused Italian liqueur used to cleanse the palate. They offer a full list of cocktails, beer, wine, and prosecco if you want to sit and linger.

Gelateria Gemelli is open noon to 11 p.m. daily. If you find a flavor you can’t live without, you can take a pint of it home with you!

Gelateria Gemelli
1009 E. Sixth St
Austin, Texas 78702
(512) 535-2170
www.gelateriagemelli.com

Toy Time: Where It’s Always Time to Play

Just about every store in the Austin area is a bit quirkier than most, and Toy Time is one of those truly unique establishments. This independent toy store carries a wide selection of toys that you won’t find at most big box toy stores, and it even offers pop culture memorabilia that adults will love, as well.

The colorful, jam-packed shop is small, but it’s filled to the brim with children’s dolls and toys. The candy selection includes hard-to-find items like chocolate rocks, and the walls are lined with electronic games, costumes, model kits, and much more. Toy Time also includes a party room where guests can book fun-filled birthday parties. This room is set up like a treehouse, and the affordable package includes your choice of entertainers ranging from magicians to princesses and even full-scale petting zoos.

Toy Time is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, and the store is closed on Sundays.

Toy Time
101-B Pecan Street West
Pflugerville, TX 78660
(512) 990-8697
www.toy-time.com
www.yelp.com/biz/toy-time-pflugerville

Hop in the Saddle With Help From Austin’s Bicycle Sport Shop

Whether you’re looking for your first bike or your tenth, a rental or repair, a pair of shoes or bike shorts, you should check out Bicycle Sport Shop on Lamar Boulevard. Locals say the service is top notch, and even someone looking to try their first ride will feel welcome here.

The sales floor hosts a wide range of bicycles, components, and accessories, from road bikes and kids' bikes to bib shorts, jerseys, helmets, locks, shoes, wheels, bike racks—the list goes on. All of the top brands are represented, as well, including Specialized, Surly, Electra, Trek, Bontrager, and Thule. What's more, the employees at Bicycle Sport Shop are trained in bike repairs, bike fitting, and maintenance and repair.

If you’re looking to meet new people or trying to log more time in the saddle, the store hosts group road rides, sorted by beginner, intermediate, or all-level riders. Bicycle Sport Shop also offers annual Bicycle Club Membership options that offer perks like free access to speakers and clinics, club gear, rental coupons and more.

Bicycle Sport Shop
517 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 477-3472
www.bicyclesportshop.com

Take a Spin on Your Trusty Bike Around the Barton Creek Greenbelt

Craving some outdoor adventure in Austin? You won’t find many places more exciting than the Barton Creek Greenbelt. This popular hiking, biking, and running trail winds its way around the city through lush, green areas, across rolling rivers, and even right in front of hidden caves that many locals don’t even know about.

This weekend, set out on foot or hop on your trusty bike to explore the miles and miles of trails around the beloved outdoor space. Individual portions are well marked to keep you right on track, whether you’re looking for a short 2-mile hike or to spend the day attempting to make your way around the entire belt. Stop in at a natural swimming hole to cool off from the Texas heat, or even hike to a waterfall and admire the surrounding scenery.

Barton Creek Greenbelt
3755-B Capital of Texas Highway
Austin, TX 78704
www.ci.austin.tx.us

Browse Unique, Fair-Trade Gifts at Tesoros Trading Company

If you frequently peruse the South Congress shopping district and have yet to stop by Tesoros Trading Company, then you should make it a point to drop by on your next outing. Inside, you'll find a large selection of one-of-a-kind goods from all over the world, as well as items made here in the United States.

Tesoros is dedicated to providing customers with ethically sourced goods that help support the artisans' local communities. The shelves are crammed with interesting things to look at, especially "little somethings" that can make a great birthday gift or thoughtful trinket. Among the selection is musical instruments, dolls, folk art, weavings, and more. Be sure to look through the jewelry for a piece to complement your outfit, and keep an eye out for in-store trunk shows.

Tesoros Trading Company
1500 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 447-7500
www.tesoros.com/homepage.html
www.yelp.com/biz/tesoros-trading-company-austin

Discover Your New Favorite Gelato Flavor at Dolce Neve in Austin

For area foodies with an undeniable sweet tooth, there are few dessert spots better than Dolce Neve in Austin. This quaint and charming dessert shop is furnished with white farm tables and industrial light fixtures that create a comfortable space for relaxing with dessert after dinner in the area, and it also has a wooden front porch perfect for chatting with friends on a lazy afternoon.

The gelato menu at Dolce Neve contains all of your favorite classic flavors, as well as brand-new combinations like Thai basil and buttermilk, butternut squash and sage, and mascarpone and fig. Enjoy one or two scoops in a small dish or a homemade waffle cone, and you'll likely find that the gelato is so decadent that you’ll only need a bit to really experience the taste!

Dolce Neve
1713 S. First St.
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 804-5568
www.dolcenevegelato.com

Sunstone Yoga: Practice Yoga at This Welcoming Studio

Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or a beginner looking to get into the practice, Sunstone Yoga has a class for everyone. This open, airy studio is located in the Great Hills area of Austin, and it’s in a plaza convenient to other businesses.

Inside, there’s a colorful, welcoming entry area where guests can sign into class, borrow a mat, or check out the selection of yoga apparel for sale. The instructors and owners are all friendly and welcoming no matter your situation, and they’re especially accommodating to beginning guests or people with injuries and medical conditions. Try one of the Water, Wood, or Fire classes depending on your personal yoga preference, and the studio will even provide you with free towels and mats if you don’t have your own.

For a full schedule of all of Sunstone Yoga’s classes, visit Sunstone's convenient website.

Sunstone Yoga
10710 Research Boulevard
Austin, TX 78759
(214) 764-2119
www.sunstoneyoga.com
www.yelp.com/biz/sunstone-yoga-austin

Blue Velvet: A Vintage Clothing Store with 20 Years of History

With a long-standing community presence and a loyal customer base, Blue Velvet is considered one of the best vintage clothing stores in a city that boasts quite a few. In fact, Austin’s Blue Velvet clothing store has been in the area for so long, many of the items that came out when it opened are now considered vintage! The prices are very reasonable for the items that the store sells, and the knowledgeable, stylish salespeople are friendly, but not overly pushy.

Blue Velvet offers a wide variety of women’s dresses and skirts, vintage band t-shirts, men’s jackets and buttondown shirts, and a number of retro accessories. From the fedora hats to the rows up on rows of vintage jewelry and sunglasses, this store sells the types of items that you’ll wear for years to come.

Blue Velvet is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.

Blue Velvet
217 W. North Loop Boulevard
Austin, TX 78751
(512) 452-2583
www.bluevelvetaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/blue-velvet-austin-2

The Long Center for the Performing Arts: Where Austin Soaks Up the Limelight

Check The Long Center’s for the Performing Arts' calendar and you’re sure to find something you’ll enjoy. This live entertainment venue aims to be a community gathering place, emphasizing local art and talent while creating a fun and welcoming place for residents to come together.

Both outdoor and indoor concerts are held at The Long Center for the Performing Arts, either inside the spacious, round venue or outside on the attached City Terrace. The programming is diverse, and you’ll often find many different types of performances ranging from Shakespeare in the Park to touring rock groups and even comedy shows throughout the week. Theater buffs will enjoy seeing musical theater performances, while fans of ballet will likely want to check out a night with Ballet Austin.

The Long Center for the Performing Arts
701 W. Riverside Drive
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 457-5100
www.thelongcenter.org
www.yelp.com/biz/long-center-austin

Speakeasy: A Retro Cocktail Lounge That’s the Cat’s Meow

If you love all things inspired by the Roaring ‘20s, there might not be a better spot to grab a drink in the Austin area than Speakeasy. As its name implies, this ‘20s-style bar and music venue is inspired by the speakeasies of the Jazz Age, featuring three levels of dimly lit, mysterious spaces for listening to live music, sipping a cocktail, or checking out the view on the rooftop lounge, Terrace 59.

The cocktail menu includes old-fashioned options with names like the Godfather and the Perfect Storm, and ordering bottle service makes your visit even more enjoyable. With so many different levels and seating areas, you can even enjoy your drinks anywhere you please. Challenge your friends to a game of darts or shuffleboard, check out great local music, or just plan a swanky night out at this retro local favorite.

For a full schedule of music and events, visit the Speakeasy website.

Speakeasy
412 Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 476-8017
www.speakeasyaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/speakeasy-austin

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