Hammer It Out's Guide to Zilker Park

In Austin, people do not often leave their own neighborhood. When you are from somewhere else it does not take you long to settle into the groove of your little slice of town. The one exception to this is the community park. Zilker Park is one of the most important pieces of Austin, without this sprawling green space I do not think we would have as large of an outdoor culture as we do. You could spend days exploring the park starting with the Zilker Botanical Gardens learning about all sorts of flora and fauna. The Garden is booked as a perfect backdrop for weddings year round. You can take a dip in Barton Springs, a natural feed public swimming pool. Then stroll on over to the Umlauf Sculpture Gardens to get inspired by an amazing collection from the works of Charles Umlauf.

Special events include the Kite Festival on March 6th that will have the sky filled with kites that you can learn to make at the park as well as the South Asian New Year's Festival April 9th. At the The 54th Annual Zilker Garden Festival March 26th-27th you can buy plants and art from local vendors, and hear talks from experienced gardeners about planting in Austin. Zilker Park is where you also will see the fireworks on the Fourth. Patrons of the Hill Side Theater are treated to Shakespeare in the Park, movies outdoors, musicals, and concerts. You can also visit Splash! to learn about the Edwards Aquifer. The park is also the home of the Zilker Tree which is lit during the holidays each year. It is built on a replica of one of 17 of Austin's remaining Moonlight Towers that provided light at night since 1895.

Now down to the important stuff food and beverage. Barton Springs Rd., leading out of Zilker Park, is stuffed to the brim with amazing local fare. You will first run into Chuy's and if you love enchiladas and Elvis, you and he will get along just fine. If you would like a place to sit, have a drink, and a chat, check out Flipnotics. If you need some Bar-B-Que, which I completly understand, The Green Mesquite will get you all fixed up. If you need Bar-B-Que and an awesome brew made on site by Brian Peters then Uncle Billy's Brew & Que will cure what ales you.

If only a burger will do, make a bee line to the Shady Grove which is also known for its live outdoor shows. When you find yourself dragging from all the great music and fun head into Romeo's Cafe for a big bowl of pasta. Austin Java has a little bit of everything to please a large group. You can end your day at the Barton Springs Saloon, a neighborhood bar with a great patio to watch the rest of the town go by.

-Megan Russell
www.hammeritout.etsy.com
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BabyBolt's Guide to South Austin

Living in South Austin for nearly ten years, we've seen a lot of change - the biggest being where we go since having a kid. Parents of young children, this guide is for you!

SOUTH LAMAR BLVD. AREA:
We used to drive way up north to the original Phil's Ice House/Amy's Ice Cream. Thankfully South Austin now has its very own location. While Phil's has amazing burgers (great veggie burgers, too!), sweet potato fries, and the best homemade buns around, the real attraction is the playground. Phil's colorful playground is fenced in, allowing parents to relax with a draft beer while their kids tear it up and make room for a post-burger dessert from Amy's. Across the street, you'll find kids' boutique GaGa. GaGa features wonderful natural parenting toys and gear from brands you trust, as well as lots of offerings from Austin designers.

Open 24 hours, Kerbey Lane Cafe is a great, kid-friendly diner. Plus, kid's eat free every Tuesday! They serve plenty of local produce and have an extensive selection of vegan/veggie options. They also cater well to those with food sensitivities. Our five-year-old loves the French Toast; we love the Migas!


Anna's Toy Depot is a great place to swing by after a brunch at Kerbey Lane. It's right next door and is filled with the best selection of used toys in town. Your kids will have fun digging through bins of PlayMobil, Lego, and random action figures and you'll get nostalgic when you come across that exact same PlaySkool farm house or record player you had when you were small!

Looking for totally low key, all Vegetarian/Vegan fare? Check out Mr. Natural. What it lacks in ambiance,it more than makes up for in tasty foods your body will thank you for.

While the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar is known for its fun pre-show entertainment, food service, beer, film fests and more, it's also known and loved for its strict throw-you-out-on-your-butt-for-talking-during-the-movie policy. However, every Tuesday, all films that begin prior to 2 pm are baby friendly. What does this mean? It means you bring your baby, you eat,
they sleep, you get a nice break, and if they cry, no one is going to make you feel bad about it. This screening is for you, not the grumpy, childless guy in the back who can come whenever he wants. See whatever you want; it's glorious!


SOUTH 1ST ST. AREA:
100% vegetarian Bouldin Creek Coffee House recently moved from an old house to a sleek, new building a block away. While the new location lacks a lot of the charm of the original, it's decidedly more child-friendly. We love the soy lattes, lemonade, eggs, and breakfast tacos.


Sugar Mama's Bakeshop has the best cupcakes in town, hands down. Do yourself a favor and go eat one. "Jack's Lemon" is divine.


Fabric and craft lovers, meet your new favorite place: Stitch Lab! Situated on S. 1st, just south of Barton Springs Rd., in a sweet converted house, sits the best local resource for sewers. Everyday something new is happening at the lab; from classes, to sales, to open troubleshooting sewing help. The shelves are teeming with gorgeous fabrics, expertly selected by the uber-talented gals of Stitch Lab. Bringing your kid while you shop? No problem; they've got you covered with coloring books and puzzles to keep the kiddo busy while you swoon over textiles.

If it's a nice day or evening, you'll definitely want to pull into the South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery - home to the trailers of Torchy's Tacos, Man Bites Dog, and Holy Cacao. You'll also find plenty of outdoor seating and a rad gameroom. Once it gets dark, the fire pit gets lit and the twinkly lights go on. Rainy day? Try the brick-and-mortar Torchy's Taco's a few miles further south on S. 1st. So good. Try the fried avocado - yum!


(SOUTH) SOUTH CONGRESS AVE.:
Further south, past the main strip of South Congress Ave., there are a few family-friendly spots worth checking out.


Austin is full of Public Parks and Playgrounds. Our personal favorite? Little Stacy Playground, it's shaded, small and just right for the under 7 crowd. It's just a bit east of South Congress, at 1400 Alameda Dr. For the killer summers, there's also a wading pool.

Ruta Maya is an Austin institution. A community-focused coffeehouse with locally-roasted, ethically farmed beans, they also host live music, workshops, and classes. Most importantly, they host the weekly Ruta Maya Kids Show every Sunday at 10:30 AM. Bring the kiddos for a rotating lineup of music, puppet shows, circus acts, and usually a little weirdness. While they watch and play, you can caffeinate.

Becka

www.babybolt.net

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