We just got home after an amazing weekend at the ranch. I surprised my wife for our first…read moreanniversary and her birthday and it did not disappoint!!! All of the staff were so helpful and kind! A special shoutout to Cheslea who took care of us when we arrived, as well as was our driver for the safari tour! Ohhhh the animals, my wife and I were in heaven. She misses her little Cashew and I won't forget my big boy Blue (see photo)! Our first time but will not be our last! Thank you again to you all!

Spent the weekend here and had great animal adventures. We stayed in the kangaroo cabins. The cabin…read moreitself had everything and was great accommodations. The place was clean and just the right size for my wife and I. Being city folks you forget how dark it is out in the country at nights. It was nice. We signed up for these adventures to make the weekend even more fun: 1. Feed baby kangaroo(Bodhi). This was about a 30 minute session where we got to feed him a bottle and kibble. It really was an amazing experience. 2. Bucket of food and self guided feeding of animals. We walked the property and hid to feed so many animals. All of the animals were friendly toward people. They were all very good motivated. We encountered a giraffe, donkeys, zebras, horses, cows, pigs, dwarf steers, camels, emu, deer, buffalo and more. The animals were often trying to bully their way to the front of the line. The cow Oreo who has not skipped a meal was always front of the line. 3. Afternoon safari ride in ATV. This was a fun ride around the property. Did not see any new animals but had a great time. The cows out at pasture were thrilled to be fed. 4. Giraffe encounter and meal. This was a little expensive but I would spend it again. The giraffes were super friendly and personable. We wanted to take them home because they were so much fun. The guide, experience and never felt rushed made this worth it. Our guide was top notch. I think her name was Jackie but could be wrong.

I met Richard Samuel, owner of RichesArt (artist, curator, and creative leader) for the first time…read moreat an Art contest on yesterday. He said the gallery's name is a play off his name with an art emphasis. Rich shared that his gallery was the only African American art gallery in Austin, thus I was intrigued. Since we finished the Art contest judging sooner than anticipated, I popped by his art gallery also located in East Austin. RichesArt is mind blowing! The gallery feels like a full-on creative space. This is not your typical art gallery vibe with stark white walls where you cannot touch anything. This place is beaming with bright, bold colors that scream...this is art!!! The walls exude color, texture, life! There is a strong graffiti influence, mixed media, and pieces unapologetically authentic. The art gallery also serves as community hub. They host poetry slams, live jazz, a figure drawing class, art classes, and comedy shows. According to Rich, it's a creative playground for grown folks. While it was free to enter the art gallery, some of their events have an associated cost. The gallery environment is incredibly welcoming. A few folks were waiting to start a graffiti class. It appears folks come to RichesArt to connect and create. According to Rich, inclusivity is intentional and the gallery was built to reflect and celebrate culture.

Here's a refined and slightly expanded version that keeps your tone genuine while adding clarity,…read moreflow, and a bit more texture--perfect for Yelp: RichesArt Gallery is an absolute must-see for anyone visiting or living in Austin. The gallery showcases work from a truly diverse group of artists, each bringing a distinct and thoughtful approach to expression. There's a real sense of creativity and intention behind the curation. You don't feel like you're just walking through another generic art space. The owner is an exceptionally talented and kind young man, and that energy clearly sets the tone for the entire gallery. From the moment you walk in, you feel a warmth and openness that makes you want to slow down, look closely, and actually experience the art rather than rush through it. Beyond the main gallery space, there are outdoor installations that add another layer of interest, as well as a vintage boutique tucked away in the back that's well worth exploring. It feels like a place that's constantly evolving, with new details and updates that would make repeat visits rewarding. This is definitely the kind of spot I'd return to regularly just to see what's new. Unfortunately, I live in another state but for those of you in Texas, take full advantage of having a place like this nearby. It's absolutely worth the trip.

I was able to purchase something over the phone for a patient and have it delivered and the…read morecustomer service was AMAZING. I appreciate her so much!

I recently wandered over to finally check out the new Dell Children's Medical Center. As a parent…read morewhose child started out with some significant health issues, I had been avoiding the place - I've had enough of hospitals for this lifetime! Still, I thought it would be a good idea to get my bearings in case we ever need to utilize the services. Plus, I wanted to see all of the many innovative features I'd heard about, from eco-friendly construction to an amazing gallery of sculpture and other artwork. Wow! This place is the most gorgeous, welcoming hospital I've ever seen. If you must be in the terrible position of having your child under hospital care, there can't be a more inviting one. The environment simply promotes calm & healing: no antiseptic odors or harsh lighting, soothing color palette, and many touches of whimsy to help one forget his/her situation for a while. After strolling through the public spaces and marveling at the many courtyards, fountains, gardens, atriums, playrooms, and art displays, I finally made my way to the gift shop. You know you're almost there when you have found the huge open lobby with the giant chiming Rube Goldberg machine and guitar sculptures. Walk toward the faux tree trunk and you've arrived. Like most hospital gift shops, the Treehouse is staffed by volunteers and all proceeds benefit the charitable work of the facility. Unlike most other hospital gift shops (at least the ones I've seen), the Treehouse has a truly awesome selection of high quality toys and gifts. Understandably, their specialties are toys and games most appropriate for use in quiet, small spaces: books, puzzles, handheld-games, dress-up sets, etc. These are great for travel, too. They also provide a decent selection of boutique-style gift items for grown-ups, cards & stationary, candy, and balloons, as well as a deals & steals table where sale merchandise is marked down by 50% or more. I made off with a cool little reusable shopping bag that collapses into a roll the size of a lipstick, as well as two cool magnetic themed play sets that will make great birthday presents for my soon-to-be 2 year old. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, the Treehouse is a swell place to pick up a special gift for a child. If you happen to be charity-minded, you can feel extra good knowing that your shopping supports a great cause. And if you know a child in the hospital, you can find a nice diversion for that little one here. Open: Mon-Fri, 9a to 5p; Sat, 10a to 4p; Sun, 12p to 4p Tip: You can order personalized gift baskets and gift certificates online at http://www.dellchildrens.net/gift_shop/

I went to this mosaic workshop and honestly, it was such an amazing experience…read more The space is very well equipped. They have so many colors and materials to choose from and everything is so organized. The people who work there is always walking around offering help and suggestions so you never feel lost. They also gave us mocktails and had snacks available, which made the experience even better. Everything was really good. If you like arts and crafts, this is such a fun activity. It's very relaxing, I felt so calm while working on my piece. Time definitely goes by so fast when you're focused and creating. Just a heads up, they include different mold sizes with your reservation, but if you choose a bigger one than what's included, they do charge extra. Overall, I loved it. It's perfect for a date night or for having a fun time with a group of friends. I would definitely do it again

What a fun evening! Have always wanted to learn how to do a mosaic. This was a simple, 2 hour…read moreclass and was so enjoyable! Great for a girls night out! Some of the pure art work on the walls was literally breathtaking! So much talent! The instructors were so very helpful and the mocktails were yummy! Will be back to try a larger piece!

Inside Outside School has been such a blessing for our family. Our kindergartener describes it…read morebest: "My favorite thing is that the weather is perfect there and we get to play outside all of the time. I also like that our classes have rainbow centers." This school has truly transformed the way our tender-hearted, introverted daughter feels about education. She used to dread school every single day, but now she cries when it's time to leave. The nurturing environment, emphasis on outdoor play, and creative learning spaces like the "rainbow centers" have made her feel so safe, happy, and excited to learn. We couldn't be more grateful to the teachers and staff for creating such a magical, supportive experience for her. Inside Outside School is a place where children truly thrive.

The Inside Outside School is a dream come true. Really. I've had a child at IOS for 4 years now and…read morewe couldn't be happier with our choice. We did a lot of research when selecting a school. A lot. We did all of the tours, but didn't find anything that felt like a true fit with any of the alternative schools that strictly follow one ideology. Waldorf felt too heavy, Sudbury felt too unorganized... We wanted something in between - a small school with aspects of democracy, a solid curriculum, mixed age classrooms, ample time in nature and a strong support system for the social/emotional development of each child. What we've gotten at IOS has been so much more than that. The small class sizes make it easier for the teachers to customize their lessons to each child. There's no "teaching to the middle" here. Communicating with the teachers is easy and enjoyable. The campus is straight-up magical - you have to see it to believe it. There's a creek on the property and acres of woods for the kids to explore. There are chickens, goats, guinea hens, even a donkey, that live on site. Sadly, IOS doesn't accept 35 year old 3rd graders, or I'd be all over it. It's not all about the curriculum or the democratic meetings or the farm animals the kids help care for. It's not all about the gardens they grow, the amazing community of parents and teachers or the social/emotional support given to (and subsequently created by) the kids. It's about all of it. It's about being in the conversation of cultivating human greatness with a group of families and teachers that think outside the box and truly care for every aspect of each child. There's so many reasons that I send my child to IOS, but the main reason is that I know she is Loved, Supported and Celebrated as a human when she's at school. She wakes up happy every morning, ready to get on the bus with her friends and get to school. What a gift!

Came into repair a piece of metal art. They jumped on it immediately and did a fine job in just 20…read moreminutes. Quality durable weld on difficult material (brass). Cool art for sale in their shop at reasonable prices. They do the impressive metal art you are seeing recently in San Antonio parks.

A fabulous company! Very attentive to your needs, informative, having a clear understanding of your…read moreneeds. Their custom work is top-shelf, highly professional, and tailored to your needs and desires. If you have custom needs, Wanderlust Ironworks is the company you need, no need to look any further! You will be as pleased as I am, I am sure!!

Captain Sean was the BEST!! My experience was nothing shy of AMAZING! He was educated, experienced,…read morefunny as EVER!!! I had the best time!!

Three years later we are back and brought family visiting from out of town. The captain was great…read moreand very informative without it being boring. We were a group of 11 ranging from age 11 through 94 and everyone liked it. You can either park on the street for free or at the Hyatt. If you park at the Hyatt, Capital Cruises will give you a coupon so the What a fun experience!

We heard about Rockabilly opening a little while back and wanted to wait until they had some of…read moretheir own beer on tap to check them out and Barks for Beers this month seemed like the perfect opportunity. We went yesterday afternoon and its a really nice property with tons of space. They have a cool stage area, a playground, several tables near the bar with view of the tv and some open inside space next to cornhole. I want to say they had about 8 of other breweries beers on tap (real ale bock and Pinthouse Scorpion Disco are the two I remember) and then they also had cocktails and 2 of their own beers: an amber, and then what I got: the tangerine cream ale. I thought it was pretty good which was surprising as usually, new breweries take a bit to get things figured out. It would be a solid beer for a warm day. The bartender was friendly and they also had a bbq truck on site that smelled delicious but we didn't have time to check-out this time. The only negative I'd say is there is zero inside space with A/C, its all open air. That's not a dealbreaker for me but as its only going to get even hotter, I'm curious how it will impact their business.

Very cool vibe/place! Laid back brewery and I ordered the blueberry lavender margarita. That was…read moredelicious. My sister got the rhubarb sour which was tasty too. Dog friendly and kind of a tree house on the hill vibe. The food truck was closed when we got there, but they had an event for Mother's day, so my guess was they sold out. Otherwise I would have never known of this brewery if it weren't for Barks for Beers!