May 10, 2012

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Although you should honor thy mother every day, Mom’s extra-special day is coming up this weekend.  Here are some ways you and your Momma can share the day together in Austin:

1. Mother’s Café and Garden is an adorable spot in Hyde Park to take your mom out for Mother’s Day brunch.  Their vegetarian and vegan menu is inventive and has a taste for everyone.  We recommend the Enchiladas Mole—with special ingredient unsweetened chocolate—or the Banana Walnut Pancakes.  Both are oh-so tasty!

2. Lake Austin Spa offers a Mother-Daughter Delight package in their Day Spa. The treatment includes an 80-minute massage for two, followed by a pedicure and manicure in the salon. The package also includes lunch and a gift for each of you. This option is a little on the pricey side, but we think Mom’s worth it.

3. If you won’t get to see your Mom this Mother’s Day, but want to send a card home to show her that you’re thinking of her,  head to the Paper Source on Lamar.  This is the ultimate spot for unique cards—the paper and color options are virtually endless.  They also carry a selection of gifts, making it incredibly easy to build a chic care package for mom.

ut,

Although you should honor thy mother every day, Mom’s extra-special day is coming up this weekend.  Here are some ways you and your Momma can share the day together in Austin:

1. Mother’s Café and Garden is an adorable spot in Hyde Park to take your mom out for Mother’s Day brunch.  Their vegetarian and vegan menu is inventive and has a taste for everyone.  We recommend the Enchiladas Mole—with special ingredient unsweetened chocolate—or the Banana Walnut Pancakes.  Both are oh-so tasty!

2. Lake Austin Spa offers a Mother-Daughter Delight package in their Day Spa. The treatment includes an 80-minute massage for two, followed by a pedicure and manicure in the salon. The package also includes lunch and a gift for each of you. This option is a little on the pricey side, but we think Mom’s worth it.

3. If you won’t get to see your Mom this Mother’s Day, but want to send a card home to show her that you’re thinking of her,  head to the Paper Source on Lamar.  This is the ultimate spot for unique cards—the paper and color options are virtually endless.  They also carry a selection of gifts, making it incredibly easy to build a chic care package for mom.

May 9, 2012

tcu,

With Horned Frog graduation upon us, this week is all about you, seniors.  You’ve turned in your last blue book, and now it’s time to celebrate with friends and family in style.  Here are a couple of places around town that guarantee good times and good eats.  Not only are they all a short distance from campus, but most of them are exclusive to Cowtown.

Reata

From the roof top bar to its cowboy cuisine, Reata is the perfect place to celebrate your graduation! Not only will you get that true Cowtown feel with its rustic-themed dining areas, Reata also offers several private rooms—perfect for a celebratory get-together with the fam. You can find this popular joint nestled in Sundance Square in historic downtown Fort Worth.

Silver Fox

Known for its steaks and abundant wine selection, you and your family will be set to enjoy a hardy meal at Silver Fox.  Enjoy a menu with delicious steak, prime rib, salmon, and other amazing entrees along with various delectable sides. Less than five miles from campus, Silver Fox couldn’t be a more convenient place to stop by after the commencement ceremony. You can even make your reservations online!

Ellerbe’s

Without a doubt, Ellerbe’s is Magnolia’s best-kept secret. This inventive local spot is perfect for lunch or dinner. Their menu offers a fresh array of entrees and delicious appetizers featuring farm fresh ingredients. With the restaurant’s cool, casual feel, you and your family will feel relaxed and right at home. Also, don’t forget to tell mom to take a peek into Ellerbe’s precious market shop. Maybe you can snag an extra grad gift or two before you leave…

May 4, 2012

am,

A fabulous girl like yourself can only take so many college parties where the cocktail of the evening is “PBR.” If you’re looking to put some class into your evening plans, head to Uncorked in downtown Bryan at Main and W. 26^th.  Doubling as a wine bar and restaurant, you and your guests can enjoy tasty pizza, dessert and—of course—a delicious glass of wine.  The live music goes well with good company and the couches and outside seating make for a warm and friendly atmosphere.  Make sure to stop by on Tuesday nights for Uncorked’s Pizza Special where you can snag an entire pizza and a glass of wine for only $10.

April 23, 2012

smu,

If you’re a fan of grub on the go via food trucks, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve tracked down the best food trucks in Dallas!

Nammi Truck: This cruisin’ Vietnamese fusion ride serves up banh mi, Vietnamese tacos, spring rolls and a lot more to the Dallas area. If you want to try something different, this is the place! The Nammi crew has such a variety of food that you can’t go wrong. Follow them on Twitter to find their location as it changes daily!

Order: BBQ Pork Tacos or a Grilled Pork Banh Mi with a Fresh Basil Mint Lemonade

Green House Truck: This truck delivers healthy, gourmet food made from scratch daily. They use fresh, seasonal ingredients to keep their dishes tasting delicious. Staying true to their name, they use 100% biodegradable and compostable containers, plates and utensils. Go to their Twitter to see when you can visit the Green House Truck!

Order: Miso Steak Sandwhich with Sweet Potato Fries or Gazpacho Soup

Little Vessel: The Little Vessel will surprise you and your taste buds with their unique flavors and presentation! You will have a good time picking out what to order from the fun array of items like “Browns Bombshells” and “Fire in the Hole.” Check out their Facebook to stay up to date on where they are to catch some of these great eats!

Order: Blowin’ Steam or Barque at the Moon with the herb garlic fries

Easy Slider Truck:  A “slider” is the perfect sized burger if you aren’t very hungry or if you want to try more than one flavor combo! Don’t let the unique combinations like strawberry jam, bacon and goat cheese throw you off…it’s one of the most popular items on the menu and you will be so glad that you tried it! Rockstar Bakeshop gourmet whoopie pies are served as a “sweet slider” in exclusive flavors like Banana Pancake and many others. Follow them on Twitter to see where they will be next!

Order: Sweet & Lowdown Slider or Black & Blue Slider with the Homemade Salted Carmels

April 22, 2012

baylor,

Tucked away in the heart of Waco’s Uptown, Sironia houses over 40 stores under one roof.  Read: convenient one-stop-shopping. Discover trendy clothing, fine jewelry, home furnishings, and other unique finds in this historic building. You don’t even have to leave to grab a bite to eat, because Sironia Café has tasty fare for lunch made from fresh ingredients and desserts made from scratch.  Tip: the chicken salad is to die for!

April 21, 2012

tcu,

We doubt daydreams in Sid Rich stray far from happy hour when the afternoon rolls around.  Lucky for us Horned Frogs, Rahr and Sons Brewery is only minutes away from campus.  You’ll be able to taste every beer the brewery offers or take in a tour any Wednesday or Saturday for only $10! Started in 2004 by TCU grad’s Fritz and Erin Rahr, the brewery has won 15 national awards, including a bronze medal at the 2008 World Beer Cup for Bucking Bock and a 2009 National Grand Champion nod from the United States Beer Tasting Championships for Iron Thistle—these guys know what they are doing! They even allow you to rent out the entire facility, perfect for a birthday gathering or a sorority/fraternity event.

April 20, 2012

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If downtown Bryan is home to a multitude of culture and life around A&M, then The Village is its main hub.  Part café, part art gallery, part music venue, The Village is full of life, color and great sandwiches.  Supporting every local specialty it can, from food and coffee to local musicians, it’s a feel-good place to grab something to eat when the sun is up, and a choice party spot when the stars come out.  There’s live music and talent every evening after 5pm and they even offer salsa lessons on Wednesdays!

April 14, 2012

am,

If you haven’t been already, you’ll need to check out Grub Burger Bar on University.  A new addition to the College Station scene, this eatery is already establishing itself as a chic hangout with a big city feel.  The atmosphere is amazing and the burgers are absolutely decadent.

April 5, 2012

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Austinites of all ages know that when it comes to dining, Perla’s, Lamberts, and Bridges Ranch are some of Austin’s finest. But, what you may not know is that the owners of these three fabulous dives have opened up a new café that everyone’s talking about! Elizabeth St. Café is a French Vietnamese café located downtown on South 1^st Street. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, this chic café is the perfect spot for a delicious croissant, chic dinner with girlfriends or a to-go stop for picnic munchies by the lake.  What is “French Vietnamese” cuisine, you ask? Well, featured items span from croissants, bún, phỏ and báhn to mî, tea and Vietnamese coffee.  If the only words you could pronounce were “croissants,” “tea” and “coffee,” we’re in the same boat.  But take our word for it, this stuff is delicious.

March 29, 2012

am,

The rising temperature means you can absolutely justify bi-weekly trips for a frozen yogurt pick-me-up. Recently we’ve been digging Spoons, an Aggie-owned and operated frozen yogurt shop with two locations in College Station.  Not only do we get a (relatively) guilt-free cool down, but photos from local photographers are on display at both Spoons locations.  We love supporting a local business who returns the love!