this is life in austin & aspen » One-time event

Austin & Aspen: Blind Cafe Dinners

Lyssa — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:05:11 +0000

That’s right, a Boulder-based company is hosting two visiting events in the two cities I call home. The parallels!

The Blind Cafe comes to Austin January 26-28 and Aspen February 14. The Blind Cafe is a completely dark dinner, live music, and speaking experience. For more on the individual events in each of the cities, read on.

AUSTIN Blind Cafe

Keynote speaker Richie Flores will lead a Q&A and discussion on life with blindness. Richie is the president of the National Federation of the Blind in Austin, runs The BELL program (helping young blind children learn valuable life skills) and will also be doubling as a musician in the band.

Dinner is a delicious multicourse vegetarian/vegan meal prepared by local Chef Brian Henderson and includes a decadent, dark chocolate dessert. Then, guests indulge their ears during a full set of live music by Rosh & One Eye Glass Broken. Proceeds from The Austin Blind Café will be donated to support The BELL Program (a two week workshop for blind children in Austin).

Where: The Church of Christ (1903 University Avenue)

When: January 26th, 27th & 28th (Thursday – Saturday)

Thurs & Fri: (6:45pm check-in / 7pm seating)

Sat: (5:45pm check-in / 6pm seating)

Tickets: Available by calling 1-800-838-3006 and online at brownpapertickets.com/event/212981

Cost: *Special pricing note: Guests are asked to ‘pay what you can’ from $45-$95 (suggested ticket cost is $55) to keep the event accessible to all. Group rates (8+ people) call 720.495.7797

theblindcafe.com/austin-blind-cafe.htm

ASPEN Blind Cafe

Make this Valentine’s Day something extraordinary: spend an evening in an event completely unlike anything else. Visit the Sky Hotel in for a delicious three course meal, full concert and community awareness event in complete darkness. The servers at the event are blind and guests have the special opportunity to explore darkness with their keynote speaker, Gerry Lerry, who will lead a Q&A and discussion on life with blindness. Gerry has been blind since birth. He was a car mechanic for over 40 years and then shifted gears to pursue one of his great loves, coffee. Gerry taught himself the roasting industry and opened his own coffee roasting business and café, The Unseen Bean, in Boulder, Colorado.

Dinner is a delicious three course meal that includes a decadent dark chocolate dessert that will be prepared by the Sky Hotel’s star chef. Full set of live music by founder Rosh & One Eye Glass Broken. Then there is the Black Box. It’s something special for this Valentines Café. While in the darkness guests will open their Black Box. What’s inside? To figure that out, they’ll have explore their senses of smell, taste and touch!

The Blind Café is also committed to giving back and improving the lives of sight limited individuals in our communities and will donate 10% of proceeds to Challenge Aspen to help their efforts supporting the blind.

Where: Aspen’s Sky Hotel

When: February 14th (Two times: 5pm or 8:30pm)

Tickets: Call 1-800-838-3006 or online at brownpapertickets.com/event/215857

Cost: $195

theblindcafe.com/aspen-blind-cafe-valentines-day.htm

Austin: Grand Opening of Hiatus Spa + Retreat Tonight

Lyssa — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:49:21 +0000

Remember the awesome massage I had a few weeks back? The spa, though it has been open about two months, is having its grand opening tonight with lots of treats, including wine, cocktails, spa experiences, giveaways, discounts, and more. Stop by and check it out!

Aspen: Ashley Turner Yoga Bootcamp at King Yoga

Lyssa — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 04:47:19 +0000

Aspenites, if you can make time this week (8/30-9/2) from 11:30a-1p, you need to be doing yoga bootcamp. L.A.’s top yogini ASHLEY TURNER is doing a week-long bootcamp series at King Yoga. Based on Ashley’s upcoming DVD YOGA BOOTCAMP, this week program is specifically designed to wring out every nook and cranny of your body while radically shifting self-sabotage + negative habits in the mind and heart! Strongly recommended to be taken as complete series; individual classes may be purchased.

I went today and am signed up for all week. It’s a phenomenal experience, incredible mind and body workout. I can’t wait for the rest of the week!!

Click HERE to sign up! $25 drop-in.

Aspen: It’s Me or the Dog

Lyssa — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:56:33 +0000

As you probably know from my postings here and obsessively on twitter, it’s never going to be me or the dog. We are a package deal. I am one of those dog owners. Who has her dog on her phone case (I’d take a pic to show you, but I take most of my pics with my phone, so that is a physical impossibility). But for the Vermonster, it very well could come down to Him or the Dog. I won’t elaborate on who might win.

Perhaps to head off that terrible fate, I should attend this Saturday’s event. I mean, Nali dawg is a rescue dog and IS occasionally a pain in the ass. Like, any time I try to take her around strangers.

Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter (only THE best place ever to board a dog) is bringing Victoria Stilwell, the star of Animal Planet’s It’s Me or the Dog, to Aspen on July 23, 2011 for a series of events to raise money for its Spay/Neuter & Rescue Campaign. Wayne Pacelle, President & CEO of the Humane Society of the United States will make a special appearance at all events and John Oates, of the famed rock duo Hall & Oates, will attend and perform at a private patron dinner.

Victoria Stilwell and Wayne Pacelle will appear at a special luncheon for 100 VIPS at the Aspen Animal Shelter from 11:30am to 1:30pm on July 23rd.

At 5:30pm that evening they will appear at the Aspen Animal Shelter for a public event where Wayne will speak on animal welfare issues and Victoria will share her insight on positive-reinforcement dog training and explain why positive training is a better practice than punitive, dominance-based training techniques. She will address her fondness for rescue animals and will demonstrate her positive training techniques with several problem dogs.

To close out the evening, Victoria, Wayne and John Oates will attend a private dinner with 20 patrons at a local home where John will perform in an intimate setting. Tickets to all events are available through Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter at 970-927-1771 or email FAASaspen@gmail.com.

Event Pricing:
VIP Luncheon (luncheon only): $250/pp
Evening Event – VIP seating: $150/pp
Evening Event – General Admission: $50/pp
Patron Dinner: $2,500/pp

Packages:
Patron Package (All 3 events; VIP seating:) $2,800/pp
VIP Package (Luncheon, VIP seating @ evening event): $350/pp

Austin: Yoga for Good … Blackshear Elementary School

Lyssa — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 15:51:41 +0000

Community Yoga Austin Presents: FIRST SUNDAY for Blackshear Elementary School

How awesome is this? On Sunday, July 3^rd Community Yoga will collaborate with Eastside Yoga, Blue Dahlia Bistro, and other East Austin businesses to raise money to bring a weekly Yoga class to ALL of the students of Blackshear Elementary School, starting in Fall 2011.

Blackshear students are majority minority, with about 60% of its population being Hispanic and about 40% of the students being African American. 99% of the students are eligible for free and reduced lunch, so we’re dealing with an impoverished community without access to extracurricular opportunities that are often experienced by more advantaged students from higher socioeconomic backgrounds.

Yoga is an atypical extracurricular, but it’s such a cool opportunity for the kids. Exposure to and experience with yoga at such early stages in their development will help them internalize key elements of the practice in order to support and strengthen a sense of inner calm as they move about their daily lives. So without further ado, you MUST attend the fundraiser classes!

9:30-10:15 BY DONATION meditation class at Eastside Yoga

10:30-11:45 BY DONATION hatha yoga class at Eastside Yoga

*I say, do them both!

ALL DAY: 15% off ALL food & drinks at Blue Dahlia Bistro (with coupon that is available on the Community Yoga website) & Blue Dahlia will also donate 10% of ALL SALES from that day to support the program.

RAFFLE ITEMS: gift cards & items from the following businesses will be on raffle at Eastside Yoga, Blue Dahlia, and also online through the Community Yoga website: Zandunga Mexican Bistro, East Side Pies, Blue Dahlia Bistro, Give Back Yoga, & several more.

All proceeds from the classes, dining at Blue Dahlia, & the raffle will go to fund the semester of Yoga at Blackshear. This is an amazing example of how awesome the Austin community is—support it!

More info? community-yoga.org

Aspen: OUTSIDE in Aspen

Lyssa — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:51:58 +0000

This weekend, Outside Magazine again hosts its outdoor adventure weekend in Aspen! If you didn’t pay $100 to sign up for a guide-led activity (there’s still time, check the list here—you can climb Castle Peak with the original Bachelorette winner Ryan Sutter!), there’s still tons of FREE fun to be had.

SATURDAY:

8am–4pm Base Camp open to public: includes sponsor tents and giveaways and Birkenstock Recovery Lounge: Free chair massage and foot treatments, oxygen lounge, recovery smoothies, Spin to Win prize giveaways, Birkenstock demos and tune ups.

8-8:45am & 11-11:45am Yoga Class for all levels with Aspen Yoga Society

8am–4pm Outward Bound Trail Restoration Sign Up. Sign up at the Outward Bound Tent to help restore the Ute Trail on Sunday [the Ute Trail is one of my favorite quick hikes in the Aspen area].

2–3pm Autograph signing with First Ascent pro athletes Melissa Arnot, the only Western woman to have summited Everest three times; Jake Norton, Everest guide and adventure photographer; and Ben Stooksberry, professional kayaker. At ACES Kids Nature Corner tent in Gondola Plaza.

2–5pm Live Music Stage at Ajax Tavern featuring Colorado favorite band, Salem.

3pm Adventure Dog Demonstration with Mike Stewart of Wild Rose Kennels. At Outfitter Check-In Tent on Hunter Street.

SUNDAY

8am–4pm Base Camp open to public: includes sponsor tents and giveaways and Birkenstock Recovery Lounge: Free chair massage and foot treatments, oxygen lounge, recovery smoothies, Spin to Win prize giveaways, Birkenstock demos and tune ups.

8-8:45am & 11-11:45am Yoga Class for all levels with Aspen Yoga Society

8–10 am Dagger Kayaks Paddle with the Pros at Sky Hotel Pool. Learn techniques and tricks with Dagger pro Brad Ludden and Dagger head designer, Mark “Snowy” Robertson.

9am–2pm Outward Bound Trail Restoration Project. Meet at Outward Bound Tent to help restore the Ute Trail.

3-5pm Athlete Panel Discussion – The Outer Limits: the Risks and Rewards of Extreme Adventure. Panelists: Melissa Arnot, Michael Brown, Nick DeVore, Brad Ludden, and Ben Stooksberry. Followed by the Gear of the Year Giveaways.

This weekend is always a ton of fun, even if you don’t go on any of the guided tours, because there’s plenty of swag and free events with extreme athletes! Check it out

Austin: Ultimate Scavenger Hunt

Lyssa — Wed, 18 May 2011 20:01:37 +0000

The summer-staple scavenger hunt is all grown up with the Four Seasons Austin’s summer-long scavenger hunt, with the chance to win one of more than 100 prizes! From Memorial Day (May 30, 2011) through Labor Day (September 5, 2011), the Four Seasons Austin Hotel’s Ultimate Austin Scavenger Hunt contest encourages everyone from locals to tourists to see the sights of Austin.

“Our goal was to merge the fun of a scavenger hunt with modern technology and social media to encourage visitors to experience and share with others what makes Austin so unique,” says Rob Hagelberg, general manager.

To receive a prize, participants must complete at least 25 of 50 suggested photo tasks – ranging from two-steppin’ at the legendary Broken Spoke to viewing the Congress Avenue Bridge bats and tasting gelato at Whole Foods’ flagship store. You can’t upload until Memorial Day, but you can start snapping pics now! To view the 50 photo tasks, click on Ultimate Austin Scavenger Hunt contest website.

How to play? Photos must be uploaded to the “Contest” tab on the Hotel’s Facebook page, which will be visible starting May 30, 2011. The first 100 people to successfully complete 25 of the photo tasks will receive their choice of one of the following prizes:

One-night stay at Four Seasons Hotel Austin
Three-course dinner for two in TRIO, the Hotel’s award-winning restaurant
50-minute spa treatment in The Spa at Four Seasons

In addition, one grand prize winner – the finalist whose photo album is voted the most creative by Facebook fans – will walk away with a luxurious vacation package that includes a three-night stay at anyFour Seasons hotel or resort in the continental US, round-trip airfare for two people and $500 in spending cash. The three finalists selected by Four Seasons staff will be announced September 7, with Facebook voting for the grand prize winner taking place September 7 through 14, 2011. The grand prize winner will be announced September 15, 2011.

What are you waitin’ for?

Austin Food & Wine Festival

Lyssa — Tue, 17 May 2011 23:27:27 +0000

… just another way Austin and Aspen are uniquely synchronized:

The Austin Food & Wine Festival

C3 Presents with Chef Tyson Cole, Chef Tim Love & Jesse Herman are creating the Austin Food & Wine Festival March 30-April 1, 2012 in locations throughout Austin. It is presenting sponsor Food & Wine (yep, the same as Aspen)’s first festival involvement in Texas.

“Our passion for food is integrated into each of our festivals—with the influence of culinary ambassadors Graham Elliot at Lollapalooza and chef Tim Love at Austin City Limits helping keep the local flavor of each event on par with the entire festival experience,” said Charlie Jones, founding partner of C3 Presents. “It seemed only natural that we expand this passion to host a culinary destination festival in Austin, Texas dedicated solely to food and wine, where the food scene continues to surprise and delight us.”

The popular Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival will turn into a 501 C (3) nonprofit organization called the Austin Food & Wine Foundation and be the designated beneficiary of the Austin Food & Wine Festival.

www.austinfoodandwinefestival.com / facebook.com/austinfoodwine / twitter.com/austinfoodwine

*Aspen just released its one-day Food & Wine tickets for $395.

Austin: SHAPE Magazine Diva Dash!

Lyssa — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 18:21:38 +0000

SHAPE magazine, the #1 women’s active lifestyle magazine and place where I got my start in journalism, is bringing a women’s-only obstacle adventure race to Austin! I am so excited, these big magazine-sponsored events never happen in Austin!

SHAPE will hit Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park (6614 Blue Bluff Rd, Austin) on April 9 with an adventure filled obstacle race made up of running, swinging, climbing, and dashing. The journey will be held on 3 miles of road and trail, and the course will include stimulating activities along the way. This route will challenge participant’s strength, speed and balance with activities involving water, ropes, mazes and more and will offer alternative tracks designed for beginners.

The Diva Dash is for female runners and walkers of all abilities. More than 2,000 athletes are anticipated to participate—from novice to elite. Don’t feel up to the task quite yet? Two training plans have been created that will get participants ready to take on each obstacle. Already a pro? The training plans incorporate work outs suited for every level, one of which is a do-it-yourself training clinic developed by the fitness experts at SHAPE magazine. Training takes place twice per week at RunTex Riverside (422 W. Riverside Dr).

Each woman who crosses the finish line will receive a SHAPE Diva Dash pewter necklace, and the grand prize winner will win a trip to Aruba. Men are welcome to join the ladies at the after party, which will be held on-site and will be a celebration of the days success with music, prize contests, and other fun activities.

The SHAPE Diva Dash race benefits GENaustin, a non-profit organization serving teenage girls throughout the state of Texas. Presenting sponsors at the race include Acura, Athleta, and Luna.

Registration is now open, so sign up with your favorite ladies at www.DivaDash.com. Prices start at $35 in advance, and participants will also have the option to register the day-of.

SO EXCITED!!!!

Austin: Manuary Party for the Men

Lyssa — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 02:50:30 +0000

I have never heard of this Manuary idea, but as men are occasionally left out here at this blog (you may like my fashion posts a smidge less than the other fabulous things I write), I feel obligated to post. Plus I really like Dulce Vida tequila.

Sabia, Criquet Apparel, and Dulce Vida Tequila would like to invite your readers to our special Manuary party, next Thursday, January 27.

Details:

Mantastic Event! Thursday, January 27th, 4-8pm at Sabia

Manscape: Sabia hair stylists are offering complimentary neck clean ups on site during the event.

Dress: The gents from Criquet, a locally owned company featuring organic polo and golf shirts, will be on hand to style.

Shop: Enjoy 20% off all shaving tools and products, plus peruse Sabia’s amazing selection of gifts for gals.

Cyclist Wax: For a smooth ride (and legs), 20% off leg waxing for bikers

Imbibe: Anejo Old Fashioneds will be provided by Austin’s own Dulce Vida Tequila.

Sounds good for the fellas and the ladies, no?