November 2011

The Nutcracker will open its 49th year at Ballet Austin on Saturday, December 3rd, for 11 performances that will invoke the magic of the holiday season and exhibit the beauty and culture to be found in one of many iconic institutions of Downtown Austin. The ballet is associated with Christmas, but its story of defending the defenseless and the power of the imagination transcend time and boundaries, making it a classic part of both the Ballet and the holiday tradition.

Adults may remember school trips to theatres filled with classmates excited to spend the afternoon in the fancy velvet red chairs of a performance hall, or may recall performing on stage in a full-bellied mouse or glittering angel costume with the children’s troupes. Tchaikovsky’s

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Remember when no day was complete without story time? Storytime may have come while at school with a box of juice in hand, at night before going to sleep, or any time spent curled up cross-legged with a good book. The Austin Public Library is keeping storytime alive and thriving and can be enjoyed by both little people and their parents or guardians at one of the many branches throughout Austin.

The children's librarians of the Austin Public Library work to connect children and their caretakers with books through programs designed for youngsters. The catalog of storytime options for the youngest readers-to-be in the Austin community starts at the very beginning, for babies, and extends to programs for children who are around five years old. The

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Running is arguably one of the oldest, if not the oldest, form of cardio exercise humans have known. Trends in running have evolved from barefoot and hunting for prey to high-tech, arch supporting sneakers on cushioned tracks, back to barefoot and hunting for faster times coupled with exciting terrain. Austin makes finding fun and refreshing terrain to run on easy. With so many Austin running trails found in and around the city, it’s not difficult to find the ideal training ground for a running race preparation.

Races happen frequently both in Austin and in neighboring cities, often benefiting local charities. Lance Armstrong sponsors the Austin Marathon, known as the 26 for 26, since it supports 26 local charities, including Blue Dog Rescue, the Boys &

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Creativity and the city of Austin go together hand in hand, and that’s because Austinites are a band of innovative artists, philanthropists, athletes, businessman, chefs, filmmakers, and writers. Scott Sutton, a local children’s illustrator and author, is one of Austin’s creative trail blazers. Starting his career as a commercial artist in 1971, Sutton moved to exhibiting paintings that featured characters from his now-popular children’s books, The Family of Ree. “I’ve drawn since I was a little kid,” Sutton said, “I went to work right out of high school as an artist, part time, and then full time into commercial art. By 1978 I was a gallery artist...I wrote my first book The Family of Ree in 1969, some parts in creative writing class in high school.”

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Just south of Downtown Austin, one can discover a myriad of gifts that make this city special - not just for the weird and quirky but also for the more artistic and refined. One such place, the Long Center for the Performing Arts, is a new addition to the city’s cultural offerings. Architecturally stunning and providing true richness through its offerings, the center is “founded on the belief that the performing arts are essential components in the quality of life in our community.” The Long Center brings arts, education, and economic benefits to Austin and also serves as home to three founding resident companies, Ballet Austin, Austin Lyric Opera, and Austin Symphony Orchestra.

Originally conceived of by the City of Austin, with initial funding of $20

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The stars at night shine big and bright. And when the city isn’t awash in light pollution, those stars shine around the epicenter of one of the largest public universities in the United States, the University of Texas Tower. This beacon that stands tall in the middle of campus is a source of pride not only for the students, the alumni, and the citizens of Austin, but also for many Texans. When the tower glows orange, indicating an academic or athletic victory, a triumph over those who would stand before the might of the mighty Longhorns, it becomes an almost supernatural beacon, causing those who are drawn to it to mutter those two powerful words: “Hook ‘em.”

Originally erected in 1937, the 307-foot-tall tower in Central Austin was designed by Paul Cret

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Austin City Council has approved an extension and addition to the Lance Armstrong Bikeway that will finally connect Lady Bird Lake hike-and-bike trail, Downtown Austin, and East Austin. Austin City Council has approved $610,000 to complete the extension, bringing the total cost of the bikeway to $3.2 million, which includes grant and bond money. The new project is scheduled to start in January 2012 and is expected to take 210 days to complete.

The first part of the bikeway was started in 2007 and the second part in 2009. The final and easternmost leg will run from East Fifth Street and Shady Lane to the Airport Boulevard Bridge. With the completion of the eastern section of the bikeway, cyclists will be able to cross over the Colorado River to

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Austinites know driving through Downtown can get hectic. I-35 and Mopac may stay busy during weekdays, but on the weekend, it's downtown that locals still are avoiding due to traffic congestion. The City of Austin has decided to help drivers avoid the downtown streets that turn into parking lots by installing 13 digital signs on Central Austin roads leading to downtown, warning drivers where congestion is lingering.

The signs warning drivers will say a range of things such as, “use alternate route” or “road closed” and also will display travel times for motorists going through downtown Austin. The goal of the City is the provide motorists with knowledge of current traffic conditions before they get stuck in the congestion. The traffic signs will cost

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Tired of sugar swirling undissolved at the bottom of iced tea, or sweetener packets full of chemicals? Could that daily cup of joe use a pick-me-up?

If life could be a little sweeter, or you’re on the lookout for locally made, artisan-quality, inexpensive gifts for the holiday season, sweet news: Austin Sugarworks was handcrafted for you. About the same size as a traditional sugar packet - approximately five grams – Austin Sugarworks’ handmade sugars are 100% all-natural, easy-to-dissolve and available in a delightful variety of shapes and vegetable-derived colors.

Vanilla, rose, orange, lime, lemon, ginger, lavender, and peppermint—imagine what these flavors could do for a cappuccino, hot cocoa or earl grey tea! Mmmm. The possibilities are endless,…

Feng Shui is sometimes considered either a school of decorating or a new age spiritual practice. In truth, Feng Shui is neither, and instead is an approach to design environments for the best possible energy, creating a positive effect on whoever enters the space. Austin and Travis Country residents may feel a long way from Feng Shui’s origins in China, but Feng Shui can easily be incorporated into any home.

Kathryn Weber, a certified master practitioner of Feng Shui, is a local consultant who has been helping homeowners create peace in their home environments for over 19 years. Having studied from Kuala Lumpur to Austin, Weber runs the online magazine Red Lotus Letter, in addition to helping Austinites lay out their interiors and find Austin homes for

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