I’ve mentioned that I started helping out on a ranch. There are 8 horses, over 1,000 acres, and over 22 miles of trails. It’s a little slice of heaven on earth, and the feeling of escape so close to town is simply amazing. We’re not quite into spring yet in Aspen, so expect some even better pictures when the grass is green, the wildflowers are bursting, and the horses are ready for their close-ups (thanks, shedding blade).
Chief, the horse I’m currently riding.
FareCompare had me write a Guest Post on what to do for Memorial Day Weekend. Part of it is excerpted below, and I’ve got two more shindigs added to the bottom of the list:
Memorial Day weekend in Austin means one thing: the lake. Austin’s hot summers call for long days spent in and on the water, and Memorial Day is the official unofficial kickoff to boating season. Most of the revelers will take to Lake Travis, where Devil’s Cove is wall-to-wall boats and nary a shirt is in sight, because the city’s in-town lake, Lake Austin, usually bans personal watercraft.
Boat
Hop on a party barge, like the one thrown by Austin Sports & Social Club. Rent a boat from Just for Fun–make reservations in advance. Or trailer your boat down if you’re road-tripping, there are plenty of public-access boat ramps.
Eat
All that time in the sun is sure to make you hungry, and Austin has no shortage of lakefront eateries. On Lake Travis, boat in to the newly-revamped Ski Shores and grab a legendary burger, or hit the landmark Oasis, though know that you’re there for the view and margaritas, not the food. On Lake Austin, try an Austintini at Hula Hut, where wait times can be over 2 hours but it’s more than worth it, or Abel’s on the Lake (they’re neighbors). Any of these spots is worth seeing even if you’re not planning on getting your feet wet.
At Night
Wanna see the sights but not down for $2 jaegerbombs at Latitude30 with the college kids? Walk the (in)famous East Sixth Street to get to Alamo Drafthouse at the Ritz, a movie theatre-restaurant where you can get a bucket of beer–or Jack and Coke–with your giant bowl of popcorn. If you’re still up for going out, be sure to check out Austin’s Kung Fu Saloon on West Sixth Street, the kind of bar that would only make it in Austin. It offers free skee ball–naturally.
Deep in the Heart of Texas
Austin may fool you into thinking its not like the rest of Texas most of the time, but hit up the Broken Spoke to be reminded that you are, in fact, in the Republic of Texas. Don boots you snagged at Allen’s Boots on the drag or Heritage Boots downtown, button up your pearl snap, and learn the two-step. It’s easy.
More Austin faves you need to check out:
Fancy dinner: Olivia, Uchi, Wink, or TRIO
Outside: Run Lady Bird Lake, throw a frisbee in Zilker Park, or walk South Congress
Snacks: Cupcakes at SugarMama’s Bakeshop or daily special from Odd Duck Trailer
http://www.austinwineandmusicfestival.com/tickets.html
And you KNOW you can eat a LOT of crawfish.
I can’t do this event justice, so I’m copy-pasting the email (original colors, spelling, and formatting preserved. Literal copy-paste here). If you can figure out what it means, probably means you’re cool enough to attend?
In the BACONATOR storyline, frynet was originally installed into the U.S. military mainfryer to control the national gravy supply. Shortly afterward it gained sentience and the panicking high ranking skilets, realizing the extent of its abilities, attempted to pull the plug. Frynet perceived the attempt to deactivate it as an attack and came to the conclusion that all of the outdated household appliances would attempt to destroy it. To defend itself, it came to one conclusion: Humanity must be baconated.
Before it could be deactivated, Frynet launched The Thingamabots under its command at Russia, to which Russia responded in kind by fryering as many of its breakfast sausages as possible back at the United States and its allies. As a result of the food fight, over three billion humans were killed in just minutes. Governments around the world collapsed and anarchy descended.
1215am Built By Snow
1115pm The Seas -CD Release
1030m STEREO IS A LIE
945pm Red Falcon
900pm Wave Hands Like Clouds
8pm DJ Czech + BACONATOR – Debut on the turn tables!!!!!!!!!!!!
FOOD FIGHT to commence in the outside area of ND.
Free Bacardi Mojitos from 8pm – 10pm!!!!!!!! FREE Sweet Tea Vokda 10pm -11pm!
Special EP Listening Party for The Seas new EP!!!!
RSVP for $5 Entry at Do512: http://do512.com/event/2010/05/29/baconator-vs-the-thingamabots
The South Central Regional at GSX in Fort Worth will be streaming live coverage all day Saturday and Sunday at http://live.crossfit.com.
I love taking Nali to one of the nicest off-leash dog trails around, a quick 2.5-mile trail out at Emma Long Park called Turkey Creek (http://www.austinparks.org/apfweb/park.php?parkId=666). With recent rains, the creek was flowing quickly, the weather was a perfect 65 degrees, and my Vibrams were perfect water-mud-rock combo shoes.
Nali, my beloved rescue mutt pup, used to be scared of water. But bringing her to Turkey Creek where she HAD to cross the water and letting her play with other dogs at Red Bud Isle who aren’t afraid has really brought her out of her shell. 
Happy dog=Happy Lyssa. 
Mark your calendars for this Thursday, November 5:
Do your RSVPin’ (they WILL close the list when they reach Mohawk’s capacity) right here, or head to the facebook invite to scope out the other attendees and click yourself attending.
As you can see on the flier, my lovely Austin Post is an event sponsor, so be sure to check it out for coverage–perhaps even in real time (the newest feature introduced over there)–from the event.
The dirty details:
$7 to get in w/ RSVP, Doors are 8:30pm at the 10th St. entrance! The party begins upstairs on the balcony.
THE GREEN ROOM:
8:30: Learning Secrets DJ’s (www.learningsecretsmusic.com)
LINEUP (OUTSIDE):
9:45: The Lennings (www.myspace.com/heynicevest)
10:30: Built By Snow (www.myspace.com/builtbysnow)
11:15: Corto Maltese (www.myspace.com/thecortomaltese)
LINEUP (INSIDE):
9:45: Politics (www.myspace.com/ilovepolitics)
10:45: Sad Accordions (www.myspace.com/thesadaccordions)
11:45: The Great Nostalgic (www.myspace.com/thegreatnostalgic)
ON THE BALCONY:
-Free eats by Mama Fu’s (www.mamafus.com)
-Free cocktails by Sweet Leaf Tea and Tito’s Handmade Vodka (www.sweetleaftea.com & www.titos-vodka.com)
-Pop-up shops by Prototype Vintage and Rene Geneva Designs (www.prototypevintagedesign.com & www.mycorset.com)
-A silent guitar auction benefiting Girls Rock Camp, for a guitar signed by Debbie Harry!! (www.girlsrockcampaustin.org)
Get there early and enjoy free Lonestar beers, generously provided by Birds Barbershop. (www.birdsbarbershop.com)
And commemorate your fabulousness in the Cory Ryan photo booth!! (www.coryryan.com)
First 50 arrivals will receive swag bags, filled with music and goodies ($50 Four Seasons Spa Gift Certificate, anyone?)
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