MOD Fitness Studio: Shake Up Your Exercise Routine at This Stylish Studio

If a traditional workout routine simply doesn’t excite you or going to the gym just doesn’t work with your schedule, MOD Fitness Studio is a high-energy alternative that Austin residents rave about. This unique fitness facility combines strength, cardio, and flexibility in each of its fun classes, and upbeat music will keep you motivated to push yourself a bit further each time. Workouts like MOD Barre and MOD Burn combine techniques from yoga, Pilates, and resistance training, and each class is offered at different times throughout the week in order to accommodate your busy schedule.

The studio itself is stylish and welcoming, featuring hardwood floors, chic decor, and a small, comfortable layout that is less overwhelming than larger gyms. If you need a bit of a boost to shake up your exercise routine, MOD Fitness Studio is a great choice.

MOD Fitness Studio is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and from 8 a.m. to noon weekends.

MOD Fitness Studio
2041 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 765-5663
www.modfitnessaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/mod-fitness-studio-austin

Tsunami Cycles: Tune Up Your Bike at This Friendly Local Shop

Austin residents certainly love their bicycles, and local cyclists insist that Tsunami Cycles is one of the best shops in the city to keep those bikes in working order. Whether you’re in the market for a new bicycle or you need to pick up some parts for your current one, this well-stocked shop is the place to go.

The store itself is located conveniently on Austin’s South Congress Avenue, and it stocks a large selection of new and used bicycles and a full-service repair shop to meet any area cyclist's needs. Tsunami Cycles offers tune-ups, brake and gear adjustments, and complete building services on new bikes, and they’ll even pack your bike up and ship it anywhere in the country for just a bit more. Throw in a staff of friendly, knowledgeable employees who are anything but intimidating, and it’s easy to see why this shop is a staple of Austin's cycling scene.

Tsunami Cycles is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends. The shop is closed on Tuesdays.

Tsunami Cycles
2114 1/2 S Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 448-9725
www.tsunamicycles.com
www.yelp.com/biz/tsunami-cycles-austin-2

Savor 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
www.yelp.com/biz/sweet-carolines-snow-shack-austin-2

You Deserve Dessert from Dolce Neve

If you’re the type of person with more refined tastes in desserts, you’ll love South Austin’s Dolce Neve. This eclectic sweet shop serves gelato, frozen yogurt, and ice cream all under one roof, and its gourmet flavors make it just as delicious for grown ups as it is for the little ones. Gelato comes in flavors like buttermilk blackberry, lemon goat’s milk, and ricotta honey pistachio, while elaborate creations like the Cassata combine ricotta gelato with chocolate chunks and candied orange peels to create a dessert that's exciting to the senses.

Inside, the cozy dining room at Dolce Neve is just as enticing as its delicious frozen treats. Reclaimed wood tables and farm-style light fixtures fill the room, and there are lush green plants lining the windowsills to create a truly cheerful ambiance.

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

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

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

Sip a Craft Beer at South Austin Brewery & Taproom

Craft beer is one of Austin’s specialties, and you’ll find it in spades at South Austin Brewery & Taproom. This cool and creative brewery offers its own distinctly Austin brews, which come complete with musical pairings in their descriptions.

The brewery recommends sipping its Six String Saison while listening to Kris Kristofferson and rocking out to Jerry Jeff Walker with a cold Kol’Beer, but it also notes that any of its well-made beers taste great while checking out a local band’s set in South Austin Brewery’s spacious taproom. Here, you’ll find a comfortable wooden bar, a red curtained stage, and even an outdoor barbecue grill that occasionally churns out juicy sausage wraps and other barbecue fare.

Beer aficionados in particular will enjoy taking a tour of the brewery, but just about everyone will enjoy sampling flights at the fun, lively bar area.

South Austin Brewery & Taproom
415 E Saint Elmo Road
Austin, TX 78745
(512) 354-BEER
www.southaustinbrewery.com
www.yelp.com/biz/south-austin-brewery-austin-3

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

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

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

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