Archive for January, 2010

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January 30, 2010

Sidewinders: Leather Layers

One of the essentials to dressing in Austin is layering. If it’s cold outside, it’s hot inside; if it’s hot outside, it’s freezing inside. We Texans don’t do happy mediums, we do extremes. Luckily leather is great choice–almost seasonless, it’s the first piece into your closet in winter and the last out in the summer. You can pair it with lightweight dresses or denim and boots. The latest styles are sidewinders, sleek and chic jackets that cross or zip up the sides for a hip zipped silhouette and unzip for a breezy, layered look. Can’t go wrong with the following pics (love the buttery yellow vest!)

Tip for the side zip: DO NOT BUY IT TOO SHORT! These styles have a tendency to be sold in “cropped” versions, which baffles me. This is not flattering on anyone. Make sure the jacket at least hits the top of your jeans, or right about your hip. Avoid anything shorter to avoid cutting yourself in half and making yourself look fatter than you are. No one wants that.

Posted in fashion | Leave a Comment »

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January 28, 2010

Rock ‘n’ Swap

When I was in middle school, I organized a clothing swap for three friends and myself. Unfortunately, I was a rad 5’9″ in 8th grade, and the rest of the girls, well, weren’t. So they might have scored some sweet new threads for free, but I don’t remember any great takeaways.

However, this has not diminished my love for the IDEA of a clothing swap–you bring stuff you were going to get rid of anyway and trade it for NEW stuff. In my adult life, I participated in a swap at the CrossFit gym and walked away with a few steals–including a Marc Jacobs wristlet!

Point being, in the entire city of Austin, there must be other hip 5’9″ chicks:

Plus you score free drinks, cupcakes, and all the dancing you can handle.

I really think this is one of the coolest events Austin has ever seen, and I can’t wait to see how it goes down (what if I get in a fight with someone over another Marc Jacobs wristlet?!) It’s gonna be absolutely amazing, so come swap it up!

Posted in fashion, free, Going Out, One-time event | Leave a Comment »

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January 28, 2010

Girls Night at the Gallery

Get culture, gems, and buzzed all in one place: what could be a better girls night than that?! Art on 5th is hosting a new series of female-focused events, held once a month at its new The Art of Jewelry, a boutique exhibit thing featuring artistically-crafted jewelry designs of artisans from Austin and across the country.

The drink of the evening will be the Shimmering Gem Cocktail from Bombay Sapphire’s Most-Inspired Bartender Garrett Mikell. The Shimmering Gem: Bombay Sapphire Gin, fresh mint, lemon juice, simple syrup and champagne.

Complimentary mini-makeovers from Avant, with makeup refresh and hair styles plus Dear Charli Photography capturing a photo of the moment for each guest–free!

Lastly, enjoy 10 percent off jewelry purchases at the Art of Jewelry.

Sounds like the beginnings of a great Friday night!
Art on 5th’s The Art of Jewelry, 1501 West 5th Street
6-8:30pm

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January 27, 2010

VIP at The Carillon

For once, I’m not talking about me being VIP. Wait, yeah I am. Well, I mean, I was, when I was there (again) last night sampling some of the new menu. And there was magnificent pork belly, being prepared in the open kitchen:

Put together to look like this:

That’s thinly-sliced pear on top. Absolutely amazing. Also from happy pig, from Snake River Farms, a special kind of Berkshire pork called Kurobuta. Exec chef Josh Watkins himself told me all about it, and his passion and intimacy with the food is evident after just a few minutes.

So The Carillon is a bit of a mystery: this gourmet restaurant with this young, award-winning celeb chef, but in the AT&T Center. And the restaurant (and bar, which is a whole ‘nother story … coconut water mixed drinks?!) has been open for about a year but is only now REALLY opening just this week with a new seasonally fresh-focused menu.

Oh, but back to the VIP treatment … The Carillon is offering a chef’s table experience to the first 20 reservations this opening weekend, Jan. 29 – 30. These 20 reservations will receive VIP treatment and a specially crafted tasting menu with Chef Watkins providing tableside commentary and insight into his acclaimed cuisine (and let me tell you, the boy has INSIGHT). Do it: 512-404-3655.

The Carillon, 1900 University Ave. Breakfast 7-10am; Dinner 5:30-10pm Tuesday through Saturday. www.MeetAtTexas.com/Restaurants

Posted in Eating | 4 Comments »

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January 27, 2010

I love my Alma Mater

Because some really cool kids made this: a Calculus Rap. Calculus. Rap.

Nerdom over and out.

Posted in Thoughts | 1 Comment »

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January 26, 2010

Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival

Making it to 25 is a huge milestone–while I was pretty sure I’d see 25, I had some friends I was worried about. The Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with some really cool events and a really cool deal–tix to Sunday Faire are only $25!

If you’re a Wine and Food newbie, here are the top five events (check the site for all the others):

THURSDAY APRIL 15 Texas Culinary Masters 6:30pm – 9:30pm   BUY NOW – $150
The Four Seasons Hotel – Lakeside Lawn

The grandaddy of events always features masterful chefs and multiple courses. This year, nationally-acclaimed chef Kent Rathbun (of Abacus and Jaspers in Dallas), Stephan Pyles (of Stephan Pyles Restaurant in Dallas) and Brian Caswell (of Reef restaurant in Houston) will join TRIO’s Elmar Prambs and Naomi Gallego to create an amazing dinner under the stars. If you’ve got the dough, go. Sells out quickly.

THURSDAY APRIL 15 Texas25 7:00pm – 9:00pm   BUY NOW – $25
Whole Foods Market – Rooftop Plaza

A brand new event this year, the brainchild of a new executive director is a $25 event featuring 25+ reasons we love Texas—all related to food and drink. The perfect intro to the Texas Wine & Food festival!

FRIDAY APRIL 16 Stars Across Texas Grand Tasting 7:00pm – 10:00pm   BUY NOW – $100
Stars Across Texas VIP Lounge
Long Center for the Performing Arts

Like the Culinary Masters dinner, this is an amazing feast from celeb chefs. But unlike the more intimate dinner, Stars Across Texas is a gala affair on the patio of the Long Center, with sweeping vistas of downtown and sweeping gowns all around. Also … it gets lively once the wine starts flowing!


SATURDAY APRIL 17 Local Focus: Texas Wine & Cheese Pairing – $50
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Whole Foods Market Culinary Center

For cheese lovers, this is a can’t-miss event. World-renowned cheese expert Cathy Strange of Whole Foods will teach you the synergy and sense in pairing Texas wines with Texas cheeses. It’s art, so learn it.

SUNDAY APRIL 18TH
Sunday Fair 12noon – 5:00pm   BUY NOW – $25
The Vineyards at The Salt Lick

Everybody’s favorite low-key wine and food event is the cheapest it’s been in years–just $25! Head out to Driftwood for booths filled with wine, food, and goodies from local wineries, restaurants, companies, and more. It’s a grown-up festival that’s fun rain or shine (trust me, last year was rain and it was still a muddy blast!)

Go here to order tix or check out any of the other events: http://www.texaswineandfood.org/

Posted in Eating, Going Out, Things to Do! | Leave a Comment »

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January 23, 2010

Lovely on the Catwalk

Join Lovely Austin Boutique for their debut fashion show featuring exclusive “Lovely-Style” ensembles from cutting edge and trendy to vintage and timeless. While I’ve yet to visit the cute boutique on S. 1st street, check out this fantastic description one of the owners gave me:

We’re aiming for “Couture Consignment” and attempting to take the “thrifty mothball wading through racks of crap in search of the one treasure then needing to take a bath in Purell” feeling out of resale.

We also carry furniture, home décor-y types of coolness and pieces from local designers – both clothing and jewelry.  Oh…and my favorite: estate jewelry!

Come check out the mothball-free clothing with a fab fashion show and experience the warm ambiance of Blu Saturday night from 7-9pm*. Enjoy drink specials and the hip sounds of DJ 27.

January 23rd from 7-9pm / Blu Cafe Bar & Lounge, 360 Nueces St

Styling provided by J. Buccio Salon and MYKA Cosmetics.

*Even if you don’t go to the fashion show, be sure to stop by the Lovely Austin Boutique to scope out all their sweet finds!

Posted in fashion, Going Out, Shopping | Leave a Comment »

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January 22, 2010

Scaled Nights Out

Many people would call CrossFit an inside joke. Though it is simply a style of working out, its gyms and clients are notoriously cult-ish, while the sport itself has its own terminology — WOD? AMRAP? RX? — and the people who play large roles often become highly characterized versions of themselves (for example, see the JT Facts at the bottom of each of Ben’s blog posts, a Chuck-Norris-style joke which stems from a facebook group of Jeremy Thiel admirers who have never met the man … my fave? JT CAN believe it’s not butter).

Anyway, the point of this is to basically excuse myself for posting the following, which will only be funny to CrossFitters. It’s an email sent to me by fellow CrossFitters Lisa and Alex, who were talking about needing less drinking and more sleep on the weekends, so we need to start SCALING OUR WEEKEND WODs.

Key:
WOD: Workout of the Day
AMRAP: As Many Rounds As Possible
Tabata: 20 seconds of work, 10 seconds of rest. Usually 8 rounds (4 minutes).
Scaled v RX: RX is as prescribed, scaled is less weight/different movements

WOD 1: Molotov
3 rounds
1 bourbon drink
1 water
1 song of Big Mike dance
2 songs freestyle dance

WOD 2: 5th and Congress Chipper
Up 3 flights of stairs to Lanai
2 L7 Martinis
Tabata Water Consumption
Down stairs to Marq
AMRAP dancing rest of night

WOD 3: Girls Night Couplet
Max Effort:
Bottle of Wine
Movie

Of course, we still can decide to go crazy every once in a while. Even Central has 3 WOD days.

Posted in Going Out, Sports/Fitness | 4 Comments »

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January 20, 2010

Grounded in Music’s New Kids Recording Studio

My affinity for Grounded in Music, the nonprofit that brings music education back to kids, is no secret, as I’ve covered the organization here many a time. Equally transparent is my affinity for Jack Ingram, who hugged me yesterday. It was a side hug, and just for a picture, BUT STILL. He and Patty Griffin were at the Boys and Girls Club for the groundbreaking of their brand new studio, funded by Grounded in Music.

The brand new state-of-the-art charitable media and recording studio at the Boys and Girls Club in South Austin is a fully-functioning studio made possible through contributions raised from various local donors is complete with the latest technology in recording software and will be used to record single artists and full bands.

Kids will be given the opportunity to record and mix, of course, but Grounded in Music Founder Joe Stallone also notes that “We’ll teach them marketing, how to build web pages, to do music videos … we wanna light a fire for these kids.”

Patty Griffin, a Grounded in Music board member, agrees: “I benefited as a kid from some free music programs. I don’t know if I would have known music was playable, that anyone could do it, without those. This came to me through public education and that doesn’t exist anymore. We have to make sure the kids have access to this stuff.”

(Sweet stacked leather bracelets, Patty!)

Patty and Jack recorded a little song in the studio:

Tomorrow night, Thursday January 21st, Patty Griffin, Jack Ingram, and Scott Miller will perform at the 3rd annual VIP fundraiser for Grounded in Music at the Paramount Theatre located at  713 Congress Ave. in Austin. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $35 purchased here.

For more info on the organization, check out www.groundedinmusic.org

Posted in Good people/services, Music | Leave a Comment »

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January 19, 2010

Raising Money for Haiti

Austin, being the philanthropic, giving city we are, has already seen many benefits and fundraisers in the short week since an earthquake rocked Haiti to the core. Here are a couple of places I’ve donated and a few benefit events coming up this week.

Thirst No More’s PAKs

Austin company Thirst No More has been active in major disaster areas and found that one of the most important things we can do for people on the ground is give them help with basics. Their PAKs (Primary Assistance Kits) are usually involved in Thirst No More’s initial responses to major disasters like the Haiti earthquake. For families who have literally lost everything, a PAK gives them some essential items to help them begin their recovery. A typical PAK will include a cooking pot, utensils, rice, beans, a flashlight, pain medicine, a towel, soap, toys, and a container that can be used to carry water.

You can purchase and deliver a PAK for a family in Haiti for $50. http://www.thirstnomore.org/

Doctors Without Borders via CrossFit Central

Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières or MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971. Today, MSF provides independent, impartial assistance to those most in need, like the victims of the Haitian earthquake.

CrossFit Central, where I train, is collecting donations here. Doctors Without Borders is backed by big-name celebs like Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Gisele Bundchen, who have donated over a million dollars each to the organization, but you can help in whatever you can while taking comfort in knowing that 87% of donations go to directly funding programs (in the nonprofit world, that’s a pretty high percentage).

If parties are more your style, check out Wednesday night’s CharityBash at Molotov:

… or Sunday, Jan 24′s crazy fundraiser put on by Direct Events at Austin Music Hall.

The lineup includes almost every big-name band from or somehow related to Austin that there is, including Asleep at the Wheel, Band of Heathens, Bruce Robison, Charlie Sexton, The Flatlanders, The Gourds, Guy Forsyth, Jack Ingram, Joe Ely, Kelly Willis, Kinky Friedman, Patricia Vaughn, Paula Nelson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Reckless Kelly, Robert Earl Keen and Shawn Colvin.

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

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