Kaleidoscope Toys: Where Education Meets Recreation in Round Rock

Since their invention in the early 19th century, kaleidoscopes have entertained the young and young at heart by presenting the ordinary world in a new and extraordinary way. Kaleidoscope Toys in Round Rock thinks that quality toys, activities, and games can do the same thing for children today: awaken their minds to new possibilities, stoke their creativity, and delight them with the beauty of the world.

This locally-owned Round Rock toy shop features all manner of educational and enlightening toys, books, and fun kids' stuff that you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. Know that the staff is always willing to help out with advice and recommendations.

Kaleidoscope Toys is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Be sure to follow the shop on Facebook to get the latest scoop on special events and sales!

Kaleidoscope Toys
110 North Interstate 35
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 388-5048
www.kstoy.com
www.yelp.com/biz/kaleidoscope-toys-round-rock-2

Check Out What’s New at the Round Rock Public Library

Curling up with a good book can be a great way to spend a lazy weekend afternoon, and what better place to do so than at Round Rock Public Library? This local branch is cozy and well-maintained and offers thousands of books to choose from on its shelves, from spine-tingling mysteries and instructional manuals to self-help books and children's reads. What's more, books are available in both traditional hardback and digital formats.

Round Rock Public Library also offers plenty of community programming, including local orchestra concerts, teen-centered craft and science sessions, family film screenings, and storytime hours for kids. And don't forget that the librarians are happy to assist with open-ended homework and research questions in addition to helping you locate specific books.

Check out the Round Rock Facebook page to see what's happening at this bustling community resource!

Round Rock Public Library
216 East Main Avenue
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 218-7001

www.facebook.com/RoundRockPublicLibrary
www.roundrocktexas.gov/departments/library

Spice Up Your Fitness Routine at N’Caliente Fitness in Round Rock

After opening its doors in 2012, N’Caliente Fitness quickly established itself as a powerhouse of a fitness club in Round Rock. Here, the focus is on creating a welcoming environment through unique workouts that appeal to people of all ages, shapes, sizes, and athletic abilities.

That said, N’Caliente offers many innovative workouts. Aqua zumba, for example, takes the popular dance-based workout into the water for the added benefits of resistance training, while Piloxing combines the principles of standing Pilates with a non-stop cardio workout that includes boxing moves. In other words, if you find yourself feeling a little bored with your current fitness routine, signing up for a class at N’Caliente Fitness might be just the way to spice things up!

Half a dozen professional instructors lead classes throughout the day, seven days a week, so you should be able to find something that works with your schedule. Follow N'Caliente Fitness on Facebook to keep tabs on class schedules and special events!

N’Caliente Fitness
2111 Sam Bass Road
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 773-7790
www.ncalientefitness.com/about.html
www.yelp.com/biz/ncaliente-fitness-round-rock

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

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

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

Fuse Glass or Paint a Masterpiece at Ceramic Lodge

Whether you just have an afternoon to spare or you're interested in a unique night out with friends, Ceramic Lodge in Round Rock can oblige. This painting studio welcomes folks to walk in and start painting or attend one of the structured classes to learn a little bit more about crafting with their fellow pupils.

You don't need to make reservations ahead of time to handpaint one of the bisque pieces at Ceramic Lodge. They line the shelves, everything from mugs to picture frames, and they start at just $12 each. Pick one, decide on a color scheme, and get to painting. Once your masterpiece is completed, leave it behind to be fired and swing by a week later for the finished product. You can also attend a fused glass class (held twice a month) to learn the ins and outs of the process. Classes are only $18 a head, and that's including everything you need to make your own work of art. If you've already attended a class, you can stop by any time to create a colorful plate or coaster with your own two hands.

Ceramic Lodge
18 Chisholm Trail Road
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 248-2100
www.ceramiclodge.com
www.yelp.com/biz/ceramic-lodge-round-rock

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

Finley’s Barber Shop: Get a Classic Cut at This Old School Shop

In a world where consumers are always looking for the fastest, most convenient options, the intricacy of a straight razor shave and a shoeshine goes a long way. Finley’s Barber Shop is an old-fashioned barber shop that's centered around this type of detail-oriented service, and the men who walk out of its wooden doors reflect the impressive difference a classic haircut makes.

The shop itself is located in the Warehouse District of downtown Austin, and inside of its large, glass-paneled storefront lies a exceptionally stylish barber shop with all of the classic trimmings. Vintage photo frames line the walls, antique pedestal sinks sit at the center of each station, and the industrial style of the exposed pipes adds even more character. Each customer is offered a cold beverage at the beginning of a visit, and then you can simply relax as one of the skilled barbers shaves, snips, and shines away.

Finley's Barber Shop is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended.

Finley’s Barber Shop
237 W. Third Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 298-2920
www.finleysformen.com
www.yelp.com/biz/finleys-barber-shop-austin-2

It’s Always Tee Time at Teravista Golf Club in Round Rock

Teravista Golf Club is one of those unique facilities that has managed to combine a state-of-the-art golf course with breathtaking scenery. In fact, it's not unusual to find golfers pausing from their game for a few minutes to admire the 50-mile vistas that are visible from the hills of this 7,200-yard course. Course amenities include a well-stocked pro shop with everything you need to improve your game, as well as impressive practice facilities, including greenside and fairway bunkers, a chipping green, and the largest practice green in all of Austin.

Individual and group lessons are available for beginners who want to learn the fundamentals of the game, as well as for seasoned players who are looking to perfect their technique. And don't forget the on-site restaurant, which is a convenient place to relax after your game with a burger and a brew.

Tee times start at 7 a.m. and are easy to book online.

Teravista Golf Club
4333 Terra Vista Club Drive
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 651-9850
www.teravistagolf.com
www.yelp.com/biz/teravista-golf-club-round-rock

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