Esther’s Follies: Austin Entertainment

Turn off the TV, get up off the couch and head out for some zany fun at Esther’s Follies. The Follies’ home is located at the historic 280-seat Cactus Theatre on Austin’s vibrant 6th Street. It’s a Texas-style revue featuring a melodious mélange of comedy skits, magic acts and political satire. The stage features two large windows that look out on the action on bustling 6th Street.

Now in its 36th season, this Austin hallmark is a must for anyone who loves creative, cutting edge live entertainment. Master magician Ray Anderson is a favorite for his seamless melding of magic and comedy. The theatre features five shows weekly – one on Thursday and two each on Friday and Saturday. Book your tickets in advance, as it sells out regularly.

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

Public Domain/Public Domain

Trace: Fine Austin Dining

Trace restaurant adds to the Austin food scene by combining farm to table cuisine with a chic, modern ambiance. Known for his seasonal menu of Texas cuisine, Chef de Cuisine Lawrence Kocurek uses ingredients sourced close to home. Trace even has a bee hive on its roof to source honey as locally as possible! The New American menu is ever-changing, making it enjoyable to return time and again.

Customers rave over the Drunken Doughnuts — cinnamon sugar-dusted doughnuts served with three liquor-infused sauces, including a tequila chili fudge sauce. Prices reflect the high quality of the dishes at Trace, but it offers a total sensory experience, from taste and smell to sight — even sound. Saturday brunch features live music, as do Thursdays, which also include a special menu. Reservations recommended.

Trace
200 Lavaca Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 542-3660
www.traceaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/trace-austin

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille: A Classic Austin Steakhouse

Rave reviews abound for Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille, a swanky eatery at Austin’s historic Norwood Tower.

Settle in for your dinner with a classic prohibition-era cocktail, like a Sidecar or Manhattan, and a starter like Prime Beef Carpaccio, Fresh Oysters on the Half Shell or Tempura Fried Lobster Tail. Choose an entrée from the Signature Selections menu, like the Prime Three Peppercorn New York Strip, Chateaubriand For Two, Petite Surf & Turf, or Southwest Filet Mignon. Poultry and seafood are also on the entrée menu. Sides include Creamed Spinach, Jumbo Steamed Asparagus, Whipped Potato Puree, Roasted Sherried Mushrooms and Lyonnaise Potatoes. Don’t skip a decadent dessert like the Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, Rocky Road Bread Pudding or Bananas Foster!

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille
114 W. 7th Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-6300
www.perryssteakhouse.com/locations/austin/downtown
www.yelp.com/biz/perrys-steakhouse-and-grille-austin

Public Domain/Public Domain

Can You Solve This Puzzle?

Like solving word problems? This one requires a bit of critical thinking. If you get stuck, you can consult the Wikipedia page on the "Fox, Goose, and Beans" puzzle — but you should try to solve it on your own before peeking at the answer.

Here's the puzzle:

A farmer on his way home from the market was carrying his three purchases: a fox, a goose, and a sack of corn. The farmer came to the bank of a river and rented a boat to cross, but the boat only had enough room to carry the farmer and one of his purchases at a time.

However, if they were left alone, the fox would eat the goose, and the goose would eat the corn.

How did the farmer use the boat to get across the river with everything he purchased intact?

East Side Glass Studio: Glass-Blow Your Own Masterpiece

Shara Funari and Leigh Taylor Wyatt arrived at glass blowing from very different backgrounds. Shara didn't pick up the art until 2004, honing what was then a hobby at a public glass blowing studio in 2004. Leigh relocated to Texas in 2006 specifically to further her glass blowing career and to be closer to family. However, for both women, glass blowing eventually evolved into a passion; this is why they opened East Side Glass Studio in Austin.

At the studio, the public can come in to watch Shara and Leigh blow glass, or they can join in themselves. Intro classes are held a few times over the course of a month, teaching newbies the basics of glass blowing. Visitors can come in for a one-off experience where they learn the bare-bone fundamentals and then create their own glass masterpiece in a single session.

East Side Glass Studio
507 Calles Street
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 731-1702
www.eastsideglassstudio.com
www.yelp.com/biz/east-side-glass-studio-austin

Uncommon Objects: Austin Curiosities

‘Antiques, oddities and curious goods’ is the tagline behind Austin's Uncommon Objects. That means it’s a fun place to shop for those one-of-a-kind items you won’t find anywhere else. More than 20 stalls are artfully arranged with items gleaned by the store’s collectors.

Go there to amble among treasures like antique typewriters, vinyl records, costume jewelry, neon signs, old license plates, old rock posters, taxidermy snakes, Brady Bunch lunchboxes, armadillo lamps, brass skeleton keys and more.

Whether you’re looking for something specific, or just want to relax while strolling through this veritable bazaar of the odd and unusual, you’re sure to have fun doing it – and you just might leave with a treasure you never knew you wanted.

Uncommon Objects
512 S. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
http://www.uncommonobjects.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/uncommon-objects-austin

Public Domain/Public Domain

Iron Cactus: Brunch and More in Austin, Texas

Brunch is a favorite meal at Austin's Iron Cactus. Stop by on Saturday or Sunday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. to feast on yummy delights like Peel & Eat Shrimp, Fajitas, Omelets, Waffles and Roast Beef Au Jus. Bottomless Mimosas are sure to add a festive spirit to your daytime meal. Happy Hour is another great time to get your party on with some tasty discounted libations and snacks.

Entrée favorites served at the eatery include Baja Fish Tacos with Iron slaw with black bean relish, Stacked Pork Enchiladas with red corn tortillas, Pescado Del Sol with roasted tomato-lobster cream sauce, Chipotle Glazed Salmon with sweet & spicy chipotle glaze, and Tournedos de Tejas – beef medallions grilled with southwest spices. Burgers are also on the menu. Iron Cactus is open every day.

Iron Cactus
10001 Stonelake Boulevard
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 794-8778
http://www.ironcactus.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/iron-cactus-austin-3

Learn about Different Business Structures with These SBA Guides

If you'd like to learn more about different kinds of business structures, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s website offers helpful guides describing things like S-Corps, LLCs, and sole proprietorships. Here are some of the basic differences:

Sole Proprietorship
This is the simplest business structure, and it is also the most common among new businesses. Sole proprietorships have no distinction between the business itself and the owner of the business, and the two operate as one entity.

Limited Liability Company
LLCs are business structures somewhere between sole proprietorships and corporations. They're their own entities — often owned by multiple shareholders — but they retain some of the flexibility of sole proprietorships.

Corporations
Corporations, or C-Corps, are more complex business structures, with distinctive tax and legal requirements. This form is more typical for large businesses, but small businesses sometimes use the form, too, if they're anticipating rapid growth or outside investment.

Public Domain/Public Domain.

Pick Up Flowers, Cookies, and a Sandwich at Walton’s Fancy and Staple

What do macaroons, a deli, flowers, and Sandra Bullock have in common? They can all be found at Walton's Fancy and Staple in Austin. This charming cafe serves made-to-order deli sandwiches and is filled with fresh made pastries, cakes, and cookies. Stop by during lunch and try the customer favorite "Turkey Sweet," a turkey sandwich with applewood smoked bacon, caramelized onions, apples, and white cheddar on a croissant.

Walton's also offers a small breakfast menu. Don't miss the challah French toast, made with a creme brulee batter and topped with fresh berries and real maple syrup! Grab several sweets to take home and a bunch of fresh flowers to cheer up your space. Although it's a casual spot with counter service, the space is full of charm with antique warehouse decor crossed with Parisian cafe elements.

Walton's Fancy and Staple
609 W Sixth Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 542-3380
www.waltonsfancyandstaple.com
www.yelp.com/biz/waltons-fancy-and-staple-austin

The Best Wurst: An Austin Dining Destination

Head to The Best Wurst when you have a hankering for a hearty hotdog at a bargain price. It’s a friendly food trailer with two – yes, two – locations on Austin's 6th Street! Why is their wurst the best? They’ve been making these babies for more than 20 years, plus they’ve got some of the yummiest toppings imaginable.

Order the Bratwurst and you get a juicy, German-style pork sausage that’s double-ground with nutmeg and pepper. The Smoked Italian is seasoned with cayenne and fennel, and the Smoked Jalapeno is a spicy pork and beef variety. Want just a plain, all-beef wiener? They’ve got that, too. Pile on toppings like grilled onions, sauerkraut, curry ketchup and spicy mustard, and you’ve got a feast on a bun. Salt Potatoes are also on the menu.

The Best Wurst
201 E. 6th Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 912-9545
http://www.thebestwurst.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-best-wurst-austin

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