Everyone knows by now that North Korea has Austin as one of its missile targets. Austin…really? Jeff Bair wrote an entertaining article for the Houston Chronicle as to “why?” back a few weeks ago. I love his five reasons. Anywho, there was a great article explaining North Korea’s “logic” by Tim Sullivan in Sunday’s Austin American Statesman. Looking for logic in North Korea’s threats.
At various points over the past two decades, North Korea’s cycles of threats and belligerence have pressured the international community into providing billions of dollars in aid and, for a time, helped push South Korea’s government into improving ties. . . .”From their perspective, why should they evolve out of this? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
So basically…North Korea is the world’s spoiled rotten stepchild. I guess that explains the behavior of Kim Jong Un. Apparently, he’s never heard of “Don’t mess with Texas!”
Now I could’ve sworn I moved to Texas for the warmth, but alas ‘tis 2013 and freezing! However, Austin does not disappoint in activities! So what’s going on in Austin in January, you ask?
Let’s start with my favorite…the event that started this blog, MomCom! This is THE event for moms to connect, relax, and re-energize. If you’re a mom (or want to advertise to moms), join us at the Oasis on January 26.
Moving on to festivals, we’ve got Hyde Park Theatre’s Frontera Fest. The Austin American Statesman called it “The fringe theater event of the Southwest!” Four and a half weeks of theatre, comedy, and musicals. If that’s not edgy enough for you, we also have the Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival. Don’t worry, we don’t judge. Austinites love tattoos, including some of our police officers who are covered in them.
Holiday cash blues? Not everything has a price tag. And we are the live music capital of the world! Red River Free Week…time to music hop your way through the bars. If you’re looking to chill a bit more, January is free admission month at the Wildflower Center. Check out their Tree Talk Winter Walk on January 26. Dress warm!
Viking gorilla (Photo credit: ccarlstead)
One of the top new year’s resolutions every year is…to lose weight, get fit, etc. Austin is a fit town, and January delivers with the 3M Half Marathon and the Austin Gorilla Run. So run for the kids and run for the gorillas! This is assuming you have recovered from the Barton Springs Polar Bear Splash. If you were one the crazy people who participated in it, you shouldn’t have any problems running a 5K in a gorilla suit. No need to buy one. A gorilla suit will be provided for you.
Last, but not least, don’t forget the first Thursday events! Check out the art galleries on West Sixth. Most of them offer wine and art until 8pm. Then come to South Congress for everyone’s favorite block party. Shop and drink the night away!
Every time I fly into LAX, I have to visit Burbank…and spend lots of money. As a matter of fact, I save my money just for Burbank. A shopping spree at a certain “vintage” store that I absolutely love. “Vintage” as in vintage style clothing, not previously worn clothing. 40s and 50s outfits a la Dick Van Dyke and Donna Reed.
That’s all ending now. I no longer have a need for Burbank. It was only natural that my favorite area of downtown happens to have a boutique that carries my favorite line, Stop Staring! No, I wasn’t trying to be rude. The line is called “Stop, Staring!” And the boutique is Maya Star.
Maya Star carries a variety of vintage and current styles. The girls who work there are great and always ready to help. My suggestion is get there early, then go to Allen’s Boots, and grab some lunch (and dessert) at SoCo Cafe. Be ready to spend your money
Growing up in Indonesia, I only knew of one kind of racing. Of course, I didn’t realize that it was F1 until I went to the US Grand Prix this past weekend at the Circuit of the Americas. The thought ran through my head, “Now that’s a real race car!” I’ve probably just pissed off many Nascar fans, but I always thought it was weird that Nascar raced in “regular” cars. The race cars I played with as a little girl were F1 cars…loud, fast, and aerodynamic. You gotta love it!
So what was the F1 experience in Austin? Like many things in Austin, it was a great combination of many things, “eliteness” and “country”, foreigners and locals, F1 and well…Nascar. And now I’ve probaby just pissed off the “elite” F1 fans. Seriously though, let’s take a look at reality. Austin is not Monte Carlo, Shanghai, or Abu Dhabi, nor do we want to be. For goodness sakes, the track is surrounded by trailers and cows. I even saw a man bathing his horse in front of his trailer (not a horse trailer, a house trailer) on the way home. However, Austin is as unique and high tech as Montreal, Melbourne, and other cities who have hosted a grand prix.
(c)worldcarfans.com
I love that Hamilton, Vettel, and Alonso were all given cowboy hats on the podium. Just as often as I heard foreign accents and foreign languages being spoken at the track, I met just as many local F1 fans and supporters. The catered food at the suites included healthy salads and continental foods, as well as burgers and corn dogs. By the way foreigners at the cocktail table behind me, I can NOT believe that you had a plate full of untouched corn dogs. Share the love…I didn’t get any by the time I got up to the buffet table!
The circuit itself received positive reviews from drivers and fans alike. Taking into consideration sequences of turns from other classic and defunct circuits, Circuit of the Americas coordinated features from the Hockenheim, Interlagos, Istanbul, and Silverstone circuits. However, they did add their own little touch…a 133-foot climb to Turn 1. It’s been likened to a roller coaster ride and is apparently a new feature to the F1 circuits. I honestly don’t understand what the big fuss is. Anyone who’s driven Bee Cave Road, especially at night, can see the similarities. Oh wait, most of us don’t accelerate 0-125 mph in five seconds. Not that some haven’t tried.
F1 in Austin is awesome! Sure those globe-trotting billionaires were denied of having their glamourous parties on multimillion dollar yachts on Lady Bird Lake. Apparently, glamourous parties while paddleboarding or kayaking did not appeal to them. However, as evidenced by the foreign invasion of Allens Boots and our food trailers, a little cowboy glamour and Austin weirdness doesn’t hurt anyone! Kudos for having food trailers at the track. We want more of them! Austin can host F1 and its elite crowd as long as we stay true to our “down home” weirdness. Y’all hear that, boutique hotel, water park wielding developers?!
A Better Tripp New Year’s Resolution (Photo credit: A Better Tripp)
Now I know we have yet to have Thanksgiving and Christmas, but recent events have convinced me that perhaps I should set my New Year’s resolution early. So what are those recent events? The Texas Women’s Conference and the Bloggin’ Mama Social. Both great events, both helped me realize how important it is to consistently update my blog. The conference letting me know daily posts are ideal; and the Social understanding how important, but difficult it is to do so as a mom. For goodness sakes, laundry and dishes do not clean themselves, kids do not raise themselves, and business doesn’t run itself. Therefore, my resolution is to write a post every week…between my two blogs…or maybe every other week. This resolution is not starting well at all! How about you? Any resolutions you’ll be breaking…I meant making?
What am I talking about, you ask? There’s these really cool tote bags with maps of different cities on it. And awesome Austin is one of them. No, it’s not locally made…but we’re still representing. ”Texas’ favorite party town gets immortalized by CityFabric”…I love it!
By the way, it’s on SneakPeeq so you get a free gift AND $10 towards the Austin tote. Sale ends in 5 days. Be an Austinite, carry Austin on your shoulders!
Whole Foods will donate 5% of today’s net sales to HAAM, the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians. According to HAAM’s website, their mission is to provide access to affordable health care for Austin’s low income, uninsured working musicians, with a focus on prevention and wellness.
There will live entertainment at all four Austin stores, live broadcasts, and fun giveaways. Plus, Wednesday is double sales day, that means twice the number of products on sale!! Below is the schedule of entertainment:
What am I talking about, you ask? There’s these really cool tote bags with maps of different cities on it. And awesome Austin is one of them. No, it’s not locally made…but we’re still representing. ”Texas’ favorite party town gets immortalized by CityFabric”…I love it!
Whole Foods
