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Black Star Co-Op: Good For Your Conscience

December 24, 2012 by

At Black Star Co-Op Pub and Brewery, you can enjoy tasty pub food without worrying your conscience. This north Austin brewpub is founded on ethics; sustainable, local ingredients, fair employment with a livable wage, and democratic management. Their menu is simple and offers traditional pub grub with just as many options for vegetarians as meat-lovers.  For example, in addition to offering traditional fish and chips made from locally sourced Texas redfish, they also offer fried portobello and chips.  Try their burger made from ethically raised meat that is ground in-house.  Customers love their crispy fries!  You don’t need to be a member to enjoy dinner at Black Star.  Although the co-op title might be intimidating, the staff is friendly and there are signs to guide you through; order your dinner in one line, beer in another, and you choose and clear your own table. Livable wages for staff make tipping unnecessary.
 

Black Star Co-Op Pub and Brewery
7020 Easy Wind Dr
Ste 100
Austin, TX 78752
(512) 452-2337
www.yelp.com/biz/black-star-co-op-pub-and-brewery-austin

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Who Are The Greatest Ever NASCAR Drivers?

December 21, 2012 by

People who aren’t NASCAR fans don’t understand what the big deal is about driving around in a circle for a few hours, but the difference between a good driver and a great one is staggering. If you’d like to learn more, look into the careers of these five drivers:

Bill Elliott
The first NASCAR driver to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated, Elliott was one of the most dominant wheelmen of the 1980s, being named the group’s Most Popular Driver a staggering 16 times and winning two Daytona 500 races and a NASCAR championship.

Darrell Waltrip
When you’re named after the scariest shark to ever hit the silver screen, you’d better have aggression in spades. Waltrip was one of the most outspoken drivers in the 1980s, helping create storylines that drew new fans into the racetrack. He also excelled behind the wheel, bringing home 84 wins throughout his career.

Jeff Gordon
One of the faces of the second generation of NASCAR drivers, Gordon’s good looks and confident personality helped make him a breakthrough star in the tail end of the 1990s. His four Brickyard 400 victories put him a class apart from every other driver in the sport today.

Richard Petty
With a total of over 200 wins in his NASCAR career, “The King” is by far the most successful driver to ever get behind the wheel. Seven NASCAR championships, an equal number of Daytona 500 victories, and both a father and a son in the business earn him a spot.

Dale Earnhardt Sr.
“The Intimidator” was exactly that – behind the wheel of his car, nobody would stand in his way. Starting his career in 1979, Earnhardt became one of the sport’s most notorious figures, and his passing in 2001 was a tearful moment for all race fans.

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Try a Flight and Buy a Bottle at Vino 100

December 18, 2012 by

Round Rock's Vino 100 is an easy and elegant way to shop for wine. Tucked away in an unassuming shopping center, it's a distinctive wine bar and store. Chef and owner Bryan Gano has created a cafe that features light meals and an extensive wine selection. Bryan and his staff are happy to help you choose a wine flight (several small samples) to pair with your meal. The menu offers unique and flavorful dishes like the spicy shrimp diablo or new twists on old classics, like lamb burgers. Customers rave about the bread pudding for dessert. It's a great place for a fun date — after finishing your wine flight and meal, you can put your new knowledge to use and take home a bottle. All wines in their store are accompanied by Vino 100’s standardized information sheet, which includes a wine barometer that indicates its flavor (fruity to dry) and body (light to full).  The store is laid out accordingly, which helps you find the best wine for you.

Vino 100
3021 S Interstate 35
Ste 120
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 255-0526
www.yelp.com/biz/vino-100-round-rock

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Happy Holidays!

December 14, 2012 by

Wishing you a wonderful and safe holiday season filled with warm memories!

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Why Shop Local?

December 13, 2012 by

You’ve probably noticed the big push toward buying local, especially when it comes to your food. If you’re wondering why “local” is so popular, or are interested in joining this movement, check out this list of reasons why local is truly great for all involved:

It supports the community – Buying locally grown and locally produced goods is a great way to support the economy in your town or community.

You know where it comes from – When you purchase your food in a grocery store, you have no connection to its roots. When you buy local, you get to know the farmer, bee keeper, or baker who is responsible for your edibles.

It’s “green” – Purchasing your food locally cuts down on transportation. Often, food travels thousands of miles to the grocery store, which means tons of pollution. Buying local eliminates that because you go straight to the source.

It’s more nutritious – Studies show that the fresher your food, the more nutrients it contains. Instead of eating week-old (or weeks-old) produce from the grocery store, get fresh picked delights at the local market – it’s better for your health!

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French Quarter Grille: Cajun Fare in Austin, Texas

December 11, 2012 by

If you’ve ever been to New Orleans, you know that Cajun food can be presented two different ways. There’s the quick and tasty plates of shellfish and oyster po’ boy style, and then there’s the upscale, French-influenced dining that brings out some of the most intense and nuanced flavors that the cuisine has to offer. The French Quarter Grille in Austin ably bridges the gap between those two styles, presenting excellent Cajun and Creole food at good prices in a classy atmosphere. Start your meal with an order of the crawfish beignets – these small French donuts are stuffed with spicy, tender seafood and come with a light jalapeno tartar sauce for dipping. Entrees are diverse and universally good, with some favorites including the exceptional blackened catfish gumbo, the pecan-crusted trout, and the blackened ribeye Ponchartrain, which updates surf & turf with a perfectly-seared steak topped with shrimp, crab and crawfish in a mushroom brandy cream sauce.

French Quarter Grille
13000 N. IH 35
Austin, TX 78753
(512) 832-9090
http://www.yelp.com/biz/french-quarter-grille-austin

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Five of the Most Beautiful Beaches in America

December 7, 2012 by
Do you love soaking up warm rays while listening to water lap the shore? If you’re like most people, you relish spending time on a gorgeous beach in the summer sun. The next time you’re daydreaming about a beach vacation, consider heading to one of these fabulous destinations:
 
The Outer Banks, North Carolina
The Outer Banks are a breathtakingly lovely chain of barrier islands off of the coast of North Carolina. They have long been one of the most popular East Coast beach destinations. The Outer Banks are known for their calm surf and great swimming conditions, as well as for the variety of great activities offered – horseback riding on the beach, hang gliding, and a variety of water sports. You can also tour shipwrecks, visit the famous Currituck Beach Lighthouse, or make a fascinating trek to the Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kill Devil Hill.
 
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is popular with people from all walks of life – well-moneyed vacationers, the 20-something party crowd, families with kids, and folks just looking for a low-key and relaxed getaway. The white sand beaches are stunning and the warm Atlantic water offers wonderful opportunities for recreation, including kayaking and surfing. There are excellent restaurants, shops, and spas in the area, as well as more serious cultural offerings like the Bass Museum and the Holocaust Memorial.
 
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle beach is located just a short drive from gorgeous Charleston, SC. It’s a favorite East Coast hotspot for beachgoers of all stripes. The area offers large resorts at reasonable prices, as well as opportunities for boating, myriad watersports, and snorkeling and scuba diving. Myrtle Beach is also a great choice for you if you’re looking to include some golfing in your vacation getaway, since the area boasts over a hundred high-quality golf courses. If you’ll be traveling with kids, make sure to visit the area’s hugely popular Family Kingdom Amusement Park. 
 
San Diego, California
San Diego is a destination that lets you relish the surf and sand while also enjoying a variety of urban attractions just nearby. The area is famous for its glorious weather, ever-sunny skies, vividly blue ocean water, and bright white-sand beaches. The opportunities for watersports (particularly surfing) are endless. When you’ve had your fill of the beach, you can head out to great cultural and recreational offerings like the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla and SeaWorld San Diego. In addition, the area offers wonderful hiking, walking, and running trails, like the hugely popular trails at the Torrey Pines State Reserve.
 
U.S Virgin Islands
This Caribbean hotspot offers you a wonderful combination of remote peacefulness and bustling entertainment. You’ll enjoy relaxing on the quiet and expansive beaches, as well as engaging in fun watersports like parasailing, snorkeling, and jet skiing. The area also offers wonderful restaurants and shopping venues. If you’re a history buff, you’ll enjoy learning about the colonial past of the U.S Virgin Islands, since there are ample opportunities for exploring the historical background of the area. There are three islands you can visit, each with its own unique flair – St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. Why not visit all of them while you’re there? 
 
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Upper Crust Bakery: Marvelous Bread and Pastries

December 4, 2012 by

Upper Crust Bakery is a family owned and operated business that creates European-style breads, pastries, and cakes. Here, you'll find stellar cinnamon rolls and big, full danishes. The bread is amazing, too, especially the varieties of croissant and stuffed brioche available. There's a huge selection, and it's all fresh and of the highest quality. These acclaimed offerings have been a delightful temptation for the past fifteen years, and Upper Crust's café menu makes for a satisfying lunch stop. A host of delectable soups, salads, and sandwiches are on hand to take care of your appetite, and the variety of teas and coffee drinks here complement them perfectly. The food at Upper Crust Bakery is sure to satisfy whether you want a fresh, healthy meal or a nice way to indulge your sweet tooth.

Upper Crust Bakery
4508 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 467-0102
http://www.yelp.com/biz/upper-crust-bakery-austin
 

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Five of History’s Most Eccentric Artists

November 30, 2012 by
A high degree of creativity has frequently been known to bring with it an ample dose of eccentricity. History is full of artists and other extremely innovative thinkers whose behavior fell outside the realm of the status quo. Read on to learn about some of the most idiosyncratic artistic figures that ever existed: 
 
Vincent Van Gogh, 1853 – 1890
Van Gogh was a Dutch post-Impressionist painter whose originality and brilliance made a huge impact on the visual arts. His eccentricities displayed themselves from an early age. He was unable to hold a job due to his wild emotional swerves and unusual behavior, and his personal life was a roller coaster as well – at one point, he stuck his hand in a flaming lamp in order to get the attention of a woman who had rejected his marriage proposal. His most iconic and famous act of eccentricity is an incident in which he cut off part of his ear.
 
Andy Warhol, 1928 – 1987
Andy Warhol was a major figure in the American pop art movement, creating works that explored the interactions between advertisement, capitalism, celebrity culture, and artistic expression. His public persona was noted for its unpredictability and eccentricity, and this way of acting (behavior focused on challenging social norms) added to his cache as an artist. 
 
Salvador Dali, 1904 – 1989
Salvador Dali was a Spanish surrealist painter whose highly innovative, imaginative, and vivid work continues to yield a huge impact on the visual arts today. He was famous for living entirely on his own terms, never concerned about fitting into the norms of mainstream society. He wore a dramatic fake mustache, kept an exotic ocelot as a pet, donned elaborate capes and walking ticks, and referred to himself in the third person during interviews, among many other eccentric tendencies. 
 
Henry Darger, 1892 – 1973
Henry Darger was an American writer and artist who became famous after death when his 15, 145 page manuscript was found, along with hundreds of drawings and paintings illustrating the book. He has become celebrated as a symbol of the “Outsider Artist” in American culture – that is, an artist who has not been formally trained and does not have any involvement with the art world. Darger lived a reclusive and eccentric existence as a menial worker at a hospital, befriending very few people and spending his spare time compulsively collecting bits of trash. 
 
Michelangelo
Michelangelo was a celebrated Italian painter and sculptor during the Renaissance period. His stunningly ingenious works and polymathic mind made him a major artistic figure of his time and long afterwards. He was also well known for his personality quirks and unusual tics – for example, there are many stories of him having temper flare-ups and screaming at statues. Michelangelo also distributed lifestyle eccentricities, living in squalor like a pauper despite his financial successes as an artist. His assistants claimed that he often slept with his shoes up and rarely changed his clothes. 
 
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Want To Improve Your Posture? Take These Steps

November 27, 2012 by

When you have good posture, you look thinner, feel better, and people will be pulled in by your confident stance. If you have a habit of slouching, it's important to know the effects it's having on your body. Poor posture can result in your inability to breathe fully, back pain, lost  sleep, or even illness. Check out these helpful tips that will keep your posture straight as an arrow:

Check your reflection. As you move through your day, try to catch your reflection, and notice your posture. If you’re hunched over, gently engage your stomach muscles to support your low back and lift your chin. Breathe in fully, and feel your spine growing taller.

Sit up straight. If you're work keeps you at a desk, try to sit with your back against the chair, with both feet flat on the floor, and with your knees in line with your hips. Keep your head held high, with your ears over your shoulders. If you're working on a computer, be sure the screen is high enough that you only have to gaze slightly downward to do your work.

Invest in good shoes. Our shoes do a number on our posture — high heels, ballet flats, flip flops, and sandals don’t give you the support you need to stand tall. Instead, invest in a comfortable, supportive, cushioned shoe that offers arch support, wide toe boxes, and no more than one-inch heels.

Exercise. Yoga, tai chi, and lesser-known disciplines such as Feldenkrais are all great for improving your posture. Attend a few classes, and see what works best for you! If you still have trouble, consider seeing a physical therapist.

Don’t take shortcuts. The only true way to improve posture is with dedication and consistent practice. So, don’t fall prey to commercials for braces or other “posture aids”. In truth, they could immobilize essentials muscles needed for a straight spine, and just make your posture worse!

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