Join CB&TL for complimentary beverages and enjoy some precious art from very strong and talented children.

• Knowing and loving JB (my best friend ever). He taught me more than I knew I needed to know.
• The beach! Always love that. Quickie Rockport, Texas trip before a beautiful wedding!
  
• Successfully getting a frozen Mangia pizza from Austin to Aspen in my checked luggage. I’m the master.
• Bikram yoga in Austin three days in a row. New things to work on.
• 800 thread count sheets and a new mattress pad.
• My brother. My mom and dad. Dancing people salad dressing.

See last week’s Feel Goods here.

1. Euphoria Music Fest

For the deets and a discount, go here.

2. Grilled Cheese Week

Tillamook Grilled Cheese Week / Loaf Love Tour, the third annual cross-country mobile sampling tour dedicated to bringing tasty cheese to the people, eight local restaurants have created a unique grilled cheese:

Noble Pig Sandwiches serving a Pimento Grilled Cheese made with Tillamook Sharp Cheddar, sweet red peppers, pickled jalapeno and crispy bacon($8), Max’s Wine Dive serving a Smoked Duck and Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Watercress($14), Austin Daily Press featuring a Tillamook Black Forest Ham Grilled Cheese made with a blend of Tillamook Sharp Cheddar and Tillamook Monterey Jack cheeses served with Spicy Ranch ($6), J.Black’s Feel Good Lounge, serving an Open-Faced Grilled Cheese BAT with Tillamook Sharp Cheddar and Tillamook Monterey Jack,Niman Ranch Bacon, Local Texas Tomatoes, Arugula, and Lemon Aioli($8), FoodHeads, grilling up three specials including a Grilled Tillamook Monterey Jack with Turkey, Jalapenos, Cracked Black Pepper, House Slaw & Honey Dijon on Nine Grain ($7.95) and Hopdoddy Burger Bar offering their version of a grilled cheese in the I Love Lucy Burger, a “Hopdoddy style Juicy Lucy” featuring Angus Beef stuffed with Tillamook Sharp Cheddar ($8).

Saturday, look out for the tour all around town; April 10 they will stop at each of the featured restaurants.

3. Mighty Texas Dog Walk

At the 14^th annual Mighty Texas Dog Walk, you’ll have the chance to break 4 world records in one day: “Most Dogs Walked”, a record the event has already achieved two times, “Biggest Fur Ball”, “Most Dogs Sitting At Once” and “Most Dogs Wearing the Same Bandana”.

Fundraising benefits Texas Hearing and Service Dogs, and the Purina Incredible Dog Team will perform, with live music, dog and children carnivals, and much more. Check-in and registration open at 7a, the dog walk course opens at 9a at Auditorium Shores Park

4. 13th Annual Easter Pet Parade

The Hotel San Jose and Jo’s Coffee’s 13^th Annual Easter Pet Parade, Benefit and Fair benefits Austin Pets Alive. This year’s event pays tribute to Austin icon and South Congress regular Leslie Cochran (1951-2012) with a Pets In Drag theme. In celebration of Leslie, drag is encouraged for pets and owners, but all costumes are welcome.

Parade kicks off at noon on Saturday, April 7 at the corner of Congress and Annie Street and ends at Jo’s Coffee on 1300 South Congress. Judging will begin promptly after the parade and top awards for the best dressed pets include a night at the Hotel San Jose, Jo’s gift cards, trophies, and more! The event also features booths by local animal rescue and pet-related organizations as well as a bouncy castle and the Easter bunny for the kids. Pre-register at Jo’s Coffee on South Congress until end of day April 6th. Registration is $10 in advance and $20 the day of the parade between 10 am and the parade start at noon.

facebook.com/Euphoriafest / euphoriamusicfestival.ticketleap.com/euphoria/

Sort of like the Spartan 300 I used to take on with CrossFit, Spartan Race is a new revolutionary obstacle course—but with a twist—they give you a training protocol.

From beginner trail racers and mud run participants to hardcore warriors, tough guys and marathon runners, everyone comes out to test themselves on the insane obstacle races. There are three levels: Sprint, Super, and Beast. Spartan Race was created with the idea that working out is not always torturous … Spartan Race’s goal is simple: to get you off your couch, throw you in the mud & trails, and feed you one tough endurance event day that will be the adrenalin rush of your life.

Spartan Race provides its participants with a daily workout, a weekly newsletter, and inspiring blogs that will help them get from the couch to the finish line within 45 days. It really is as simple as signing up, showing up, and never ever giving up.

Spartan Race will be in Colorado at Fort Carson May 5th & 6th and in Texas in Burnet May 19th & 20th.

You will understand what it means to be a Spartan at the finish line …

For frequently asked questions and answers check out: spartanrace.com/spartan-race-obstacle-course-faq.html / To register: spartanrace.com

10 Worst Things About Living in Austin

1. It’s hard to make a list about terrible things about living in Austin.
2. The heat, when it’s above 110. Lower than that, you don’t really get to complain, you knew what you were getting in to.
3. When there’s no water in Barton Creek and it’s above 110.
4. That Barton Springs is closed on Thursdays. Who else accidentally goes every Thursday?!
5. Everyone complaining about everyone else moving there from LA/Dallas/Brooklyn/fill in the blank. Guess what, that’s also why we got a google, a facebook, Neiman’s, crazy creative restaurants, and other good stuff. At least you were there first.
6. Traffic during festival weekends. Austin was never prepared to be what it became.
7. Insane amount of badass startsups, companies, and services. How are we supposed to keep up?
8. Whole Foods corporate headquarters. There goes all my money.
9. It might not be a small town, but I run into someone I don’t want to see every. single. time. I go to Whole Foods. Particularly if I’ve just run/crossfitted/yoga-ed and look like a sweaty, red-faced mess.
10. Sometimes you have to stay friends with someone you don’t even really like just because they have a boat.

10 Worst Things About Living in Aspen

1. Trying to get out. Flights are expensive and anything worth visiting is at least four hours away.
2. Rent.
3. Stereotypes. The real people who live in Aspen are nothing like the Aspen people believe in.
4. Mud season. As the snow melts, it’s pretty gross.
5. Snow in May. We’re all over it.
6. Bears.
7. Our Gap has older merchandise than the big cities’ Gaps and it’s still full price. WTH?
8. Our restaurants are fantastic. Unfortunately, we cannot afford to eat at any of them.
9. It’s a small town. Everyone knows everything about everyone, sometimes before you know it about yourself: “Oh, I heard you got that job you wanted! That’s wonderful!” “Errrrrmmmmm, they haven’t called me back yet.” “Oh.”
10. You want socks or underwear? Order it online.

… according to the Las Vegas fella, perhaps he (we all?) need a European casino vacation to get perspective?

Did I miss any terrible things about living in Austin or Aspen that you need to add? Please please post in the comments so we can all laugh!!

• Best Hotel: Decker Creek Bed and Breakfast and Biscuit
  Of all the hotels visited thus far, Eko could live in the Decker Creek B & B & B forever. Behind the beautiful cabin there are 50 acres of fenced-in property where Eko was free to run around. Dogs are even welcomed at breakfast and offered homemade treats!
• Best Park: Zilker Park
  This park offers the best of both worlds: a path where pet-owners can walk their dog on a leash and a wide open area for dogs to run free, which Eko loved. Feeling more adventurous? Jump into a rented kayak or canoe and enjoy the beauty of Austin from the water!
• Best Hike/Run: Turkey Creek
  This offers the best hiking scenery and is the only place Will and Eko have found on their trip that allows dogs to be off-leash on a trail. The two-and-a-half mile trail crisscrosses the creek, giving dogs the opportunity to splash around in the water.
• Best Pet Store: Lofty Dog
  This pet store really matches the atmosphere of the city – laid back and welcoming. Pets are allowed to roam free, which made it easier for Will to shop for treats while Eko was busy playing with the very attentive staff.
• Best Restaurant: South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery
  Many Austin restaurants are pet-friendly, so Will and Eko chose this spot (also known as Torchy’s Trailer Park) for its unusual setup and fun environment. There are picnic tables, televisions, ping pong tables and foosball tables – what’s not to love!

“Austin is a unique city with an active pet-friendly community who were eager to share their favorite spots with us,” said Kearney. Fellow animal lovers can get inspired to start their own journey by logging onto Petcentric.com or using the Petcentric Places mobile app to find pet-friendly places and information anytime, anywhere.

• An art opening, Aspen Fashion Week parties, and an impromptu girls night
• Free Yoga at the Sundeck Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday at 9:30am. Yoga AND ski!
• My new Sevenly tee. I’m obsessed. Every week this company designs an awesome tee and donates money from it to a cause. This particular tee donated $13,769 to Mercy Ships, a hospital ship providing numerous people with life-changing cleft lip/palate, orthopedic, cataract and tumor removal surgeries in Lome, Togo, West Africa.
  
• Ben & Jerry’s Greek fro-yo. <3 Can’t wait to try the rest of the flavors!
• Green drinks! I don’t mean the boozy St. Patty’s kind, I mean the healthy kind. My secret green smoothie recipe? Spinach/kale, frozen cherries, SFH chocolate protein powder, a raw egg (you can’t taste it, I swear), cinnamon, turmeric, and water or coconut water. Blend. Love.

See last week’s Feel Goods here.

I remember joking about making a LOCAL badge in 2008. Finally someone really did it—good work, kids, good work. Click here to print the thing out, find out what the QR code says, and more.

Three more Local-y things this week for SXSW:

1. Local Band Achachay! Plays a Billion Venues

Thurs March 15th: Northeast by Southwest House Party @ 1180 Sol Wilson Ave (78702) 1-6 P (Free Beer and BBQ!)
Thurs March 15th: Townhouse, 10P
Fri March 16th: EchoCloud Unoffical SXSW Showcase, Hole in the Wall, 1A
Sat March 17th: Thirsty Planet Brewery St. Patty’s Day Party, 11A-2P
Sat March 17th: Betsy’s Bar, 10:30P

This is my baby bro’s band, go check them out amidst your busy SX music sched!

2. University of Texas’s student-run radio station showcases

3. Whole Foods Tunes

Friday, March 16:
O.N.E. Coconut Water Presents Live Music @ Whole Foods Market downtown (Lamar/6th) on a “O.N.E. of a KIND” stage, 3p–11p featuring The Cringe, Warner Drive, The Parlotones, Diane Birch, Imagine Dragons, The Chevin, The Silent Comedy, Standing Shadows and special guests—rumor has it Semi-Precious Weapons just confirmed.

Saturday, March 17:
Thrillcall Presents Live Music @ Whole Foods Market downtown (Lamar/6th) on a “O.N.E. of a KIND” stage, Noon–11p featuring Metro Station, Rachael Yamagata, Quiet Company, Graffiti6, Allen Stone, OK Sweetheart, Ume, Dead Sara, Retro Stefson, The Ettes, Loquat, Tommy Brunett, Native June, Brad Standley and the Foxflies and special guests.

Sponsors (free stuff): O.N.E. Coconut Water, KIND snack bars, Late July Organic Snacks, Duvel Belgian Beer, LaPan’s Food, Pirate’s Booty, House of Marley headphones, Logitech and UE earphones, Kala ukuleles, Propellerhead/Reason software, Seagate, TC Electronic

More: SouthwestInvasion.com

Bonus event: Not quite local but everyone still wants to go

Or will charging for his infamous party ruin demand for Perez Hilton’s ONE NIGHT IN AUSTIN?

Austin Music Hall / Saturday, March 17, 8p-2a.

“Music is the answer!” says Hilton. “For the first time ever, I am going to be selling tickets to my annual SXSW event! These tickets will GUARANTEE entrance to what is always the hottest party in all of Austin. This year, I have decided to donate all of the money raised through ticket sales to The VH1 Save The Music Foundation. It combines two things I am passionate about – music and inspiring youth. I can’t wait!”

Headliners will be revealed on PerezHilton.com day by day. The event will feature a Miami Oasis pop-up lounge from the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, as March marks their inaugural Miami Film Month. Official water sponsor FIJI Water will host a complimentary live screen printing bar where attendees can choose from one of four limited edition tee shirt designs. Guests will also be able to experience SOUL by Ludacris headphones in their dedicated onsite listening lounge.

Monday, February 13: Austin Pets Alive

• Doggie biscuits will be sold at local coffee shops, cafes and restaurants such as Progress Coffee and Jo’s for $2 with proceeds going directly towards a new Austin Pets Alive Mobile Adoption Center.

• Multiple adoption centers will be set up in the Second Street district from 10a to 2p for people to come out, meet the animals and ask any question they might have around animal adoption.

• At noon the community is invited to come out for a group dog walk, walking our furry friends around the downtown area, helping raise visibility for Austin Pets Alive.

Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, February 14: The Trail Foundation

Wednesday, February 15: Overton Elementary School

Thursday, February 16: AIDS Services of Austin

Friday, February 17: Center61 Happy Hour