French Legation Museum: History Comes to Life

Back in the 1800s, The French Legation Museum in Austin housed the French delegation to Texas, back when France was still determining whether or not to consider the state its own country. In the 1950s, the building became a museum after its prior occupants moved out. Today, it's one of the best preserved pieces of southern French-American architecture in Texas, and tells the captivating story of the French-Texan relationship around the turn of the century. The French Legation Museum also plays host to several events throughout the year, like Bastille Day parties and raffles. Check the calendar on the museum's website to see what’s planned for the month.

French Legation Museum
802 San Marcos Street
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 472-8180

Austin Farmer’s Market: Farm-to-Table

One of the most encouraging trends in American food is the transition from factory-farmed fruits, vegetables and meats to locally grown, seasonal products. Farmer’s Markets are starting to become major keystones of grocery shopping, and are popping up in every city across the country. The Austin’s Farmer’s Market reflects the interests and values of this progressive enclave in the middle of the state. It offers an array of organic vegetables, humanely raised meats, and a wide variety of ethnic prepared foods – all of which regulars rave. As you wander, enjoy a cup of coffee—at two bucks a cup with a free refill, it’ll keep you alert as you shop for everything you need. The only complaint is that certain goods sell out early, so show up at sunrise to make sure you get everything checked off your shopping list. Best of all is the ambience—everyone is happy, laid back, and celebrating the joys of good food in a great city!

Austin Farmer’s Market
4600 Guadalupe St
Austin, TX 78751
(512) 236-0074

Fall Creek Vineyards: Wine Tasting and More!

First opened in 1975 by the Auler family, Fall Creek Vineyards goal is to take advantage of the unique Hill Country microclimate north of Austin. Since its opening, the vineyard has developed into one of Texas’s best wineries. Named after the gorgeous creek that winds through the property before emptying into the Colorado River at an amazing waterfall, visitors can tour the lovely property and also enjoy sampling many of Fall Creek’s high-quality wines. On nice days, sit outside and enjoy the great views of Lake Buchanan. Visitors remark that the tour is a little short, but it gets extra points for giving visitors the chance to get their feet in the action by stomping some grapes themselves. The winery has been in the news lately with the unveiling of Meritus, a new super-premium red that has won raves from critics all over the world as possibly the best wine produced in the state of Texas. Fall Creek also hosts a number of events throughout the year, so be sure to visit their website to check out all the fun offerings.

Fall Creek Vineyards
1402 San Antonio St.
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 476-4477

Museum of Natural and Artificial Ephemerata: Helping Keep Austin Weird

Hang out in Austin more than five minutes and you'll see a sign or bumper sticker campaigning to "Keep Austin Weird." The Museum of Natural and Artificial Ephemerata certainly does its part. Located in a private house, the Museum is dedicated to that most human of passions, collecting. Check out the constantly changing display of the weirdest, wildest, most unique stuff imaginable — if you can imagine it. There's urban phantasmagoria, celebrity collections, snowglobes, and what the husband-and-wife owners call “an entire wig collection dedicated to sleep.” The Museum hosts events, but if you're thinking weddings, dinners, or conferences, think again. True to its mission, you might find an after-hours seance or komboucha workshop here. Check out the website for more.

Museum of Natural and Artificial Ephemerata
1808 Singleton Avenue
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 320-0566
 

Blazer Tag Adventure Center: Have a Blast

With three stories of curated indoor terrain, Austin's Blazer Tag Adventure Center offers the largest laser tag center in the entire state of Texas. If you’re not familiar with laser tag, the concept is simple. Part tag, part real-world first-person-shooter, you’re equipped with an electronic vest and laser gun (non-lethal, of course!) and rack up points for yourself and your team by shooting the vests of the opposing players with beams of light. At the end of the game, find out how you did in your scorecard, which will give you your points, your team points, and your personal rank among everyone in the arena (the thrill of seeing you did the best can sometimes outdo the excitement of laser tag itself). Laser tag is a cardinal choice for kids during their birthdays, and Blazer Tag has accordingly packaged various party deals.

Blazer Tag Adventure Center
1701 W. Ben White Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 764-0202

The Hideout Theatre: Improvisational Fun

If you haven’t caught an act of improv since Drew Carey hosted Whose Line is it Anyway? (that would be the 90s, folks), it’s high-time you revisited the whimsical surprises of the art of improvisational comedy. The Hideout Theater has become Austin’s premier venue for improv, dabbling in the various schools of the art. Short form, long form, Chicago style, New York Style, Austin style… the sheer knowledge of which makes the Hideout Theater’s performers improv scholars compared to the rest of us. Most content is rated PG-13 (although some nights are worthy of an R), but The Hideout Theater also offers shows for the 4-10-year-old set, as well as adult and children’s classes. Check Hideout’s website frequently for schedules (it’s a theater, so the shows always change) and special deals for the week.

The Hideout Theatre
617 Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 443-3688

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Floral Paradise

Up to 30% of the world’s native plant life is at risk of extinction, and the flora in Texas is no exception. The late Lady Bird Johnson, first lady during the term of Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidency, recognized the threat posed to our ecosystem and our sense of beauty should these plant species disappear. That’s why in 1982, Johnson founded the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The Wildflower Center's since become not just an educational center and preserve for wildflowers, but one of the preeminent wildflower research institutions in the country. Visitors can tour the acres of flowers and learn about their unique places in the ecosystem. They can attend some of the center’s special events like shows put on by local Texas artists and even do some holiday shopping at the winter bazaar. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center also puts on a yearly Halloween show, perfectly situated on its rustic grounds!

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Avenue
Austin, TX 78739
(512) 232-0100
www.wildflower.org

Austin Playhouse: Local Theater

When it was conceived in 2000, Austin Playhouse became a point of convergence for much of the talent-replete city’s theatrical brainpower. Austin Playhouse brought together a wide array of producers, artists, and directors to work with local legend Don Toner, a luminary of Austin’s theater scene. Since then, Austin Playhouse has became one of the premier venues for local theater while still staying small. You won’t see massive reproductions of Don Giovanni here, but you’ll be able to catch shows like Boeing, Boeing (about a man’s attempt to juggle his love for three flight attendants) and an adaptation of A Room With a View. Tickets typically run around $24 for a show, but the playhouse offers deals for students, seniors, and members of the military. Check Austin Playhouse’s website for the current season’s schedule of shows.

Austin Playhouse
3601 S. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 476-0084
www.austinplayhouse.com

See a Show at the Paramount Theatre for the Performing Arts

It’s been 95 years since the Paramount Theatre opened its doors and since then, this renowned theater has continued to serve as the place to please the cultural, artistic palate. Through its years, the theater has hosted prima ballerinas, national touring companies, Broadway plays, and is one of the only theaters left to have shown Casablanca when it was originally released. There are a number of film series and performances scheduled for the upcoming season, so check out the website event calendar for more information and to purchase tickets. Besides shows, there is also an annual Paramount Break-a-Leg 5K to support the Paramount and State Theaters.

Paramount Theatre for the Performing Arts
713 Congress
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 472-5470
www.austintheatre.org

Marketplace Austin: Shop 'Til You Drop

Austin is home to a wide variety of people, and the Marketplace is a fantastic way to sample the magnificent diversity of the city all in one place. This unusual business venture was founded in 2001 in an abandoned Sam’s Club warehouse store. Austin resident Andrew Perkel saw the opportunity to create a unique retail space, and this must-visit weekend marketplace was the result. With over 90 stores, you can find just about anything you want here. Local artists and artisans display their wares in booths, but you can also buy cheap sunglasses, sexy high heels, car stereos, video games, and pretty much anything else you need here—all from local small business owners who appreciate you not going to big-box stores. A little nicer than a flea market, a little funkier than a normal shopping mall, Marketplace Austin is an awesome illustration of Austin’s go-to spirit that keeps money in the local economy.

Marketplace Austin
10601 North Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78753
(512) 491-8030
www.marketplaceaustin.com

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